Tag Archives: Hatred

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“He allowed no one to oppress them;
    for their sake he rebuked kings:
Do not touch my anointed ones;
    do my prophets no harm.” (1 Chronicles 16: 22)

The Glory of the Lord has gone out as a testimony through His people.  But who, among the world, has listened?  Who, among his people, has believed?

The world does not perceive the Holy power of God among men.  And so they continue in their way.

They hate God, for they perceive he interrupts their joy and ambition.  They cannot touch him so they reach out to his people.

In the past God has reached out to such men.  First to warn them.  Then to restrain them.  Finally to destroy them.

The promises of God are sure.  And all his judgments are righteous and lasting.  The Holy One is the same yesterday, today and forever.

While patient endurance escapes those who hate the Lord, they are brought back to sanity by the power of His Holy hand.  As it was in centuries past so it shall be forever. 

But who among men is wise to perceive what is?  They attribute misfortune to the chaotic ways of this world.  They do not perceive what is, as it might come from the Living God.

This is of their willing blindness.  This is of their stubborn rebellion.  They are blinded in their unholy desire.

Come then, and continue on with what you will not cease.  Despise, ridicule and litigate against the Lord’s people.  He is strong enough to cause all men endurance; the evil endure in their evil ways.  While the righteous endure with holy perseverance.

His promise is true for those who diligently seek His face.  His promise is also true against those who hate him and despise his rule over them.

Come then, and continue on with what you will not cease.  If you love him, then continue.  If you hate him, then by all means, continue.  Both groups will see the end of God’s Just response.

By His Grace

Losing the War

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I have made complaint, over and over, as to how the world is plummeting to destruction.  I have said, over and over, it is because they denied the truth of the living God among them.  But this morning, understanding comes, as to the mechanics of this plummeting to destruction.

No doubt this subject requires a rather lengthy book.  But I am forced by the willing restraint of the reader to keep it short.  Keeping it short however, will mean a loss of important trains of thought.  So I will leave it to the reader to fill in the blanks.

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I do as my daddy taught me.  His teaching is like a shadow lurking in my mind.  I listened to him speak.  I watched him act.  I gathered the trains of thought in his mind and made them my own.  So also, was the influence of my mother. 

To some extent, their example remains within me.  No matter how I try to shake it with the truth of God, I cannot completely undo their influence.

This is true of every man and woman.  The better the example of truth, the more readily truth is received when we mature. 

But let us now look to the larger scale of things.  Adam and Eve could have told us what perfection was like.  Not so our parents.  And if the destruction of truth was made apparent in Cain, their son, how much more so is it today?

On and on, through the generations to now, the truth has been obscured and forsaken.  If perfection was squandered within one generation how much more so now?

The miracle of change is not the destruction of society.  (The constant pulling away from what is real) The miracle is that truth even remains at all.   The miracle is that the human race is not destroyed already.

What has prevented complete and catastrophic failure in humanity?  The power of God has restrained destruction among us.  As it is written, “Unless the LORD Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.” (Isaiah 1:9)

The world speaks of truth as it applies to society at the moment.  But God has raised up men and women who know the truth according to Eternity.  They have lived among us and taught what they knew.  Those whom God inspired, listened to them and did likewise.

If we want to know why we continue to fail, it is because of the unseen shadow of lies we were taught as children.  Add to that, our natural proclivity toward rebelion, and destruction will run rampant in our streets.

To whatever degree we find ourselves willing to obey the Living God in Christ Jesus, we will become shining examples of what is true and faultless.  But to whatever extent we agree with man, that truth is relative, we will remain filthy examples of rebellion.  (Of which, by the way, are vastly more than those who teach the truth.)

A man’s response to these things, is determined by his desire to love the living God.  Will he allow himself to be used as an agent of truth; helping to sustain life?  Or will he continue in his fellowship with the agents of destruction?

The Lord Jesus is able to change a man’s perception.  Many things we were taught as children remain.  But they are subdued by His holy words that live within us. 

The choice belongs to every man to accept or reject this message.

I will add this final note.

The world will be destroyed. 

The moment will come when God will send His Holy Son take all of his people from this place.  Along with the absence of these people will be the absence of His Holy Spirit among men; that Great Spirit of influence that saves humanity from utter, and catastrophic failure.

Consider this, if you are willing.  When the Lord returns, this place will plummet to destruction.  Violence, chaos, illicit and immoral behavior, will become the norm, within a day. 

Within 24 hours blood will fill every street.  Hatred and violence will rise as the preeminent behavior of all men.  Add to that, the horrors God has promised to unveil in that time. 

We live as a people under duress.   By compulsion we are forced to grapple with these things.  We want to live.  But by ourselves there is no eternal life in us.  We are only wicked animals waiting to devour one another.

You, like I am, are forced to make a choice.  Receive the Lord Jesus, and obey Him, or die a most hideous death for eternity.  The wicked nature of man has no place in heaven.  And without the restraint of God’s Holy Spirit we are nothing more than wicked animals.  Those who think otherwise are convinced of the lie they were taught as children.

The Lord Jesus will return without notice.  It could be today.  It could be a hundred years from now.  It will certainly be when you die and leave this place. 

We are under duress let’s make a choice.

By His Grace

News Flash!

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You’ve heard what the world calls news.  Have you heard what God calls news?

1 “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” (2 Timothy )

3 “Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” (2 Peter 3)

By His Grace

Depravity Without End

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All men are the same.  Though life is found in billions of variations, at their base, all men are the same.

I could point to our need to be loved.  But there are men who do that in a seducing manner already.  They use our need to be loved, as a tool to get what they want.  From soap, to sex and to acceptance, there are men who manipulate that necessity.

I could point to our physical frailty.  But there are men who exploit every facet of the human body.  From ailments to physical beauty, men exploit others for the sake of gain. 

I could point to our mutual end; that inevitable place of death.  But even there: inheritances are fought over.  The plot of land is sold at a high price.  The casket is ornate and costly.

But I will speak of our depravity.  How worthless men are for doing what is purely good.  And how completely unable we are to change our situation.

Let us lay aside our former sins, and we would still find ourselves unable to do what is pure and good.  We are hopelessly depraved.  The judgment of God waits to receive us.  Yet who among us has considered the severity of our plight?

Men are careful to look for the singular things they do, which will draw judgment upon them.  With meticulous mind they strive to avoid the obvious.  Murder, adultery, hatred, discord, jealousy, lies, and the like, are the focus of their eyes, as they peruse their situation. 

They look for the obvious, while they miss the subtle.  But any sin, no matter how small, can throw us into condemnation on the day of judgement.

With diligence, men strive to avoid these obvious pitfalls.  But the size of such sins masks the horror beneath.

“I have not murdered.  Therefore I am better than my brother who has.”  “I have remained faithful to my wife (or husband).  Therefore I am a righteous man (or woman).”  “I am patient and compassionate to those of lesser value.  Therefore I am merciful even as God is merciful.”

With endless proclamation, men justify their life.  It is as if they rehearse what they will say to the living God on that day.  And they prepare by comparing!  Oh how men love to compare!

Billions of dollars are earned for the sake of man’s valued comparisons.  One is left to eat from the trash bin, because he was found unable to compete.  He was compared by society, to what is held in high esteem, and thrown to the wolves for his lack.

Another counts himself beautiful and well endowed.  He competes with great skill.  Comparatively speaking his body is beautiful.  And comparatively speaking, his mind works well, to gain what he desires.  He is the one who is honored among men.  For he is compared to the man who eats from the trash bin.  And the beautiful one is exalted to the highest places.

For our pride, we will be judged, by he who is perfectly humble.  For the sake of our greedy desire to gain, we will be judged by he who has given everything he has.  For the sake of our love of division, we will be judged by he who is the same yesterday today and forever.

If you have thought that you can stand before God on the Judgment Day, it would be good for you to rethink your position.  The Holy One has spoken that no man will stand on his own.  God has proclaimed that every man is a liar.  And the smallest infraction against his Holy Law, is deserving of only death.

Men conveniently overlook their own faults.  With desperation, they search themselves for what might be considered good.  Though what good they find is small and rare, they hold to these things with a deadly grasp.  But God sees the entire man.

At whatever place you think highly of yourself, you are severely mistaken.  You have compared yourself to others.  This is the source of your confidence.  But men fail to compare themselves to the Living God or his Holy Son Christ Jesus.

If you are still willing to listen I will tell you a truth of hope.  All need not be lost!  A way has been made for every man to stand strong on the Day of Judgment.

Your complete lack of what is good has been seen by the Holy Lord.  His Holy and Faithful Son’s sacrifice can cover you with confidence on that day.  But do not think you will wait for his covering when you appear before the Most High God.

There is holy work to do within you even now.  To appear with confidence before the Most High God requires a certain garb.  A man must be dressed in righteousness, holiness, a distinct lack of willingness to compare, and a vibrant willingness to forgive the sins of others.

As I pointed out before we are not capable of such attire.  Man, if left by himself, can only become dressed in everything that is wicked.  The very place we live demands it. 

Accept the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.  Put down your own perceived righteous behavior.  Learn from the Lord what he expects from all men.  Humble yourself before the Living God.  Pray, and seek His face.  Present yourself to him as you are.

If you wait until the day of judgement you will be sorely hateful of yourself.  You will not be welcomed with open arms.  You will be cast away without the slightest regret.  On that day, no amount of tears or violent anger will change his mind.

There is a transformation that needs to take place here.  We must learn to submit to his leadership.  We must become worthy. 

Without him we can do nothing.  But with him we can overcome the selfish desires of man.  By the work of God within us, we can become like the Lord Jesus.  But this requires a humble submission from us.

There are millions who think they have a free pass to eternal life.  By speaking of few words, they count Jesus as their Savior and Lord.  But there is no change in their heart, mind or desire.  These, very many people, will be horribly surprised.  For man is condemned before he appears before God!

The only ones worthy of eternal life are those who do the will of the Sovereign God in Christ Jesus. 

If you do not fully understand what I have said here, do not bother to ask me to explain.  The Bible is freely available in almost every place of the world.  And prayer is only a knee bend away. 

If you are looking for a man to tell you what to do, you are looking in vain.  Only Jesus the Christ is able to save your soul.  We can point you to him, but we have no strength to save you. 

And if you look to men to help you are, by comparison, ignoring the command of God. 

You will stand all alone and naked on that day.  The teaching of no man can clothe you sufficiently.  To put it in the way of the Bible, you need to be washed and clothed in the Holy Blood of Jesus.

By His Grace

Foster Child

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In the language of men there are the words, “Foster Children”.  The meaning of the phrase is to embrace, teach. love and include. 

Ideally such children are brought into a family because they have been considered as human trash.  Their prior value was nothing more then to be disposed of on a heap of hatred and abuse. 

With all hope, they are included into a new family and caused to prosper.  With all hope, in time they will forget that they were hated by the very ones who ignored their obligation to love them.

So it should be with our love and craving for God. 

The War of Necessities

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I am nothing and I am no one.  I have seen clearly the wickedness that is within me.  But for the hope of Christ Jesus I remain worthless, anonymous and wicked forever.

I have seen the way of men.  By means of simple necessity, they are forced into slavery.  They must eat.  They must provide shelter.  And they must belong.  So they become victims of the greed of others.

On top of that, as if a poisonous frosting on a cake, men have devised ways to take advantage of the necessity of others.  They have conceived in their heart, “I will rise above at the expense of my brother”.

So they give profitable work, and social belonging, to those of lesser ability.  In the interest of profit for all, so they say, they quickly demand too much.  A man is placed where he does not belong by the engine of greed and vanity.

Fear races across this world that we may perform the things for which we have no resource.  Hundreds of thousands become taskmasters, while millions become slaves.  And the slaves say, “If I do not perform a task as is required, or do as they say, I will lose my place”.

With smiles, rewards and contrived encouragement, (“I care for you!”) the taskmasters provoke to produce.  And production is made, at the expense of your freedom.

So it has been from the beginning.  So it is now.  Fear breeds defensiveness.  Every man builds a fortress.  And regardless the face they wear, every man is enemy to another.  The friend against a friend.  A father against his son.  A son against his father.  A mother against her daughter.  A daughter against her mother.  Siblings tear at one another. And all are in the process of dying a needless death.

The battle is encouraged by necessity.  As long as there is want there will be war.  There is war between the nations.  There is war between the countries.  There is war within the cities, towns and villages of this world.  There is war within groups of men.  And there is war within the families.

All of this to ask a simple question.  Is there remedy?  The answer is yes.

The world will continue in this futile, ceaseless and horrific war.  But each man can cease a war like life.

You do not have to fend for yourself.  You do not have to wake every morning preparing for battle.  You do not need to endure sleepless and fitful sleep.  You do not have to put on hatred as if clothing.  And you wear selfishness for no reason.

The answer is not a method.  A method would require too much of you to perform.  You would have to study a method.  You would have to learn by practicing a method.    None of which the the world gives you time or resources to do.

The answer is the kingdom of God in Jesus, the Holy One of God.  You may ask, “Is it really that simple?”   The answer again is yes. 

He is not religion, organized or individual.  He is the Son of the Living God.  He is willing and able to release you from this war of necessities.  He is willing and able to release you from your own guilt and greed.

The world has told you that God is in heaven.  The world has told you that God cannot and does not help man in his basic necessities.  Or that if he does, it is in the small measure.  Yet you cry out when you have need.

I testify to you as one who has been released from the war.  I do not speak to you as one who does not know.  He provides everything I need.  And he never fails. 

He is called Emmanuel.  Perhaps you have heard the name.  The name means “God with us”.  The world has lied so that you will not understand.  For if you understand their grip is torn away.  So they continue to entice you with lies and promise of worthless reward.

Those who are in the kingdom of God find themselves progressively released from the war of necessities.  Though the burdens of this world are placed upon them they find they have strength where before they did not.

He provides for those who are hungry for provision.  He provides for those who have come to understand they have no strength. 

Are you hungry?  Do you recognize your weakness?  Are you courageous enough to call out in faith?  Has the world reduced your pride so that you can look up for help?

His promise is to provide.  It is impossible for God to lie.  He will keep his promise.  And those to search for him in truth will find him true.

But do not think he will provide for you what the world calls necessity.   He will appear to provide what you need.  He will not appear to provide what you want.  Greed and vanity have no place in the kingdom of God.  He has give you life.  He will also provide everything you need.

Those who ask for the trinkets of this world will be turned away.  The world may give you such things.  But it will also demand an accounting.

Have you truly had enough of this war?  Are you ready to receive the things that God is willing to give?  Then simply humble yourself and ask.  Place yourself at his mercy.  When the time is right he will give you strength.

By continuance in faith you will receive the freedom he promises. 

All day long men and women are entering into the kingdom of freedom in Christ.  They are finding the freedom to live.  All the while you suffer needlessly.

It has been so since the days of John the Baptist.  And it will continue until the Lord returns.  But cowards and the faithless will never enter the kingdom of God; they will never taste the freedom of Christ.

Has the world reduced your pride?  Have you reached a place of hopelessness so that all is this is left is for you to call out to God?  Are you strong enough, courageous enough, of faith enough. to call out to the Holy One of Israel?  If so, you will find him pleasantly willing.