“Suitable” for Who?


The Garden of Earthly Delights [detail]. Neder...

The Garden of Earthly Delights [detail]. Nederlands: De Tuin der Lusten [detail]. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I had thought for many years that the creation of Eve was only that God had compassion on Adam.  I thought God considered loneliness in His man.  And that Eve was simply created to fill that void.  But after reading it again (with the new eyes the Lord Jesus has given me to see with), I see something new; something true and continuous from the truth I have come to realize over the years.

The word “suitable” is what turned my understanding.  I had thought that loneliness and companionship were the target of that creation.  Now I see that the word “suitable” stands out as the key to understanding the meaning of Eve’s creation from Adam.

Suitable for who?  Is the proper question to ask.  Suitable for Adam?  From Adam’s perspective?  Absolutely not.  Wasn’t God with him?  Wasn’t it Jesus who walked in the garden to fellowship with Adam?  How much more peace can a man get than to know the Lord of creation in person?  I have never seen Him.  Yet, by the faith He has given me, I see enough of Him to enter even into death with an enormous peace and contentment.  No.  It was not for Adam’s lack that Eve was created.  Suitable has to do with what is purposed by God Himself.

What was suitable for God was to create a place of testing for a people He would later gather into an eternal kingdom.  This was His purpose all along.  And we know that Jesus was crucified from the foundation of the world.

I have often told people who asked, that the two trees were placed in the Garden to create a people to redeem.  The trees were the engine which would Glorify the Son of God.  And then, at the first bite we can hear the engine start up.  Did Adam know this?  How could he?  All Adam knew was that his kind creator had made someone just like him; someone who he would be so attracted to that he would obey any desire she had.

She was weaker, for she was not built from the ground up.  She was built from a small piece of the man.  She was not first.  She was last.  She was the one who was tempted.  And she succumbed because God had planned, all along, that She would bring Adam into sin.

I read that Adam was told not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  And I perceive that obedience was primary within the man.  Where obedience is full, there is no temptation.  So God created a creature which would reach deep inside the man’s heart and pluck out his obedience to the Lord.

All the Glory goes to Jesus.  And that, for the Glory of the Father in heaven.  For He has created this place to produce a crop of holy people who have passed the same test His Son underwent.  Don’t we read that those who overcome will be given the same glory as that of Jesus, short of ownership of all power, authority, strength, and such.  We are designed by God to endure by the power of the Lord Jesus so that God will gather for Himself a people who will never fail to obey Him, regardless the temptation.

All the more then, we struggle to reach out to the God who made us.  The God who tests our hearts, rebukes us as we wander, softens that hardness of heart which the serpent has, and leads us in His eternal ways.  The proving of the man of God is NOW.  Please don’t believe those who say that we can do as we please now.   They say that God will transform us when we see Him face to face.  Please don’t believe that lie.  Submit now and you will enter into the very place God has in mind for you.

By His Grace.

What is Coming, Our Response.


Rising or setting sun - NARA - 557629

Rising or setting sun – NARA – 557629 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Shadows, Against the Setting Sun

You perceive and are concerned at the approach of what is coming.  What is appearing is new to the earth’s people.  No one has ever seen what is about to unfold.  Yet all of God’s people sense a new and darker night.

All around you is terror, the blackness of sin. The whispers of troubles are like the buzzing of flies around a carcass; though you are not near enough to see them you hear them.  The smell of blood is so pungent, it is even heard in your ears; thick and palpable.

Steady and unceasing they come.  One by one the stolid are crushed by the laws of lawless men.

Wickedness assails your walls and laughs, that they enter what is sacred.  They rip at what has been respected.  And they mock at what has been plainly understood as Holy in ages past.  With gleaming eyes of joy they marvel at the ease of conquest.  It has become their day to shine in darkness.

It was spoken of them by all the true prophets of God centuries ago.  And now they appear on the horizon as shadows, in the brightness of the setting sun.  As shadows they advance, mute before God, all the while screaming wickedly vile words to men.  They appear before us now.  As the sound of an approaching army’s feet can be heard before they crest the hill.  So these men are but a precursor of the lawless one.  He must come, for our God has given him his proper place at the proper time.  The shadow of the lawless one now fills the land.

Your children huddle against you and cry with bone felt terror.  The mother of your children quakes and trembles.  And the father looks about anxious at the advancing horde.  With perplexity; they pester like gnats, with perplexity.

God’s people stand unsure of what is coming.  For no one of us have seen this before.  The weak capitulate, for they did not gain strength. Blind in their way, they give in to wicked words.  But the strong will see the hand of God redeem them!  With wisdom and understanding He will redeem them.

By command of law they order the end of sacrifice to the Living God, through Jesus.  But they will not prevail.  Those whom He has loved will not leave His side.  These are blessed to endure.

Fear not!  Our God has eyes to see.  Do not be amazed at their bold folly.  Though they tear you apart, they simply render what is God’s to God.  He will take care of you forever.  And He will soon enough respond to the wicked who have sent you to Him.

Stand with strength at the onslaught of wicked men.  Lies are their gods, and they worship them with a fever.  They will not stand before the God who will take you as His very own.  He has promised salvation to all who call upon His Holy name, with a holy faith in His Son Jesus.  He does not lie.  And He is not powerless.

Strength my brothers!  Flex your tired limbs.  Prepare yourself for the sake of your children (either by blood or by Spirit).  Cause them to know what “The Faith” really is.  Increase yourself in “The Way” for the sake of His Holy Name.  Honor His gift of salvation before men.

Prepare, for the day is approaching with speed and certainty.  If you wait too long there will be no time to prepare.  And you will be caught in the whirlwind of the wicked many, who even now, are plotting your ruin.

At the sound of a trumpet they will break their amassing.  And they will be sent out to deliver evil in every possible form.  Death goes with them.  Prepare.

As it always was, it will be forever.  Those who put their trust in the Living God will flourish under trial.  They will rise up as victors at the sound of His voice!

You who are not prepared and have not taken understanding from the Lord, now is the time to rectify what is lacking.  When it appears in full bloom it will be far too late to fortify your faith.  You will become paralyzed with the fear they have come to inflict.

Do not mistake their ability, they do their duty to their master, the liar, exceedingly well.

Do not think to yourself that you can hide behind the word “Jesus” as men who stand before advancing lava with a cross.  It is that very string of letters the wicked are coming to destroy.  They will seek to wipe out His Holy name from this earth.  But all they perceive is a word.  Of the Spirit, they know nothing.  And when they are finished with that task they will turn their blood thirst on one another.

They have come to perplex.  But they have been born from that same weapon.  They command all to lie, for they are liars themselves.   A confession of faith without the resulting actions of the proof of a holy life, is but waste into idolatry.

Rise up and serve the Living God in truth, wisdom, and the Spirit of God.  This is the proof He is looking for.  This is the Spirit within His people.  This is the saving religion of Christianity.

With their lies comes a fake (ungodly) sincerity.  They work the works of their own imagination, perceiving themselves to be godly.  Do not be fooled.  He who serves the Living God does the works of the Living God.  He who does not, stands against Him.

Stand the ground He has given you to retain.  And do not be swayed by their apparent “righteousness”.  They are liars who promote the welfare of man, while they have no regard for the Living God.

Do not be fooled by the sweetness of the incense they carry.  It is a foul smelling incense created at the imagination of man’s desire to rebel against the will of God.  They seek their own glory; an abomination before the Most High God.  It is folly they burn as if to a god.

They repel at the mention of His Holy Name.  His name sickens their heart.  For they consider their ways far more entrancingly beautiful.  They are like men who saw their way through the fortress wall, thinking a window, with a breath taking view of their gore, is better than the “perceived safety” of “The Way”.  All the while they hire the enemy to do the work for them, and how glad he is to help for a price.

“Peace.  Peace”, they say.  But they will not promote true peace of God, nor allow others to obtain it so as to live by it.  Peace is found in obeying the will of the Father in heaven through Jesus, the very thing they detest.

Do not stand with them, nor welcome their words.  We live by a far greater Word.  They will be shown and known by the message they bear.  Prison, public rebukes, out-casting, and even death are their weapons of choice.  And they will retain the power to carry them through for a season.  Do not be fooled, nor allow yourself to continue sleeping.

Remember the true word spoken to us:  “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect.”  (Mark 13:22)  The Lord Jesus has told us ahead of time what will come.  And now we are seeing it unfold.

Fear belongs to the wicked.  Strength remains in those who put their trust in the Living God’s Son, Jesus.  There is a peace which passes all understanding.  This peace is received from He who is Eternal Peace.

Though the wicked call on His name, they use only their lips, for their hearts are as hard as stone.  They do not receive what they desire so they contrive their own methods of “peace”.  It will not satisfy their thirst for the wickedness of self glorification however.  And they will grow restless to the point of riot.

This word is sent out to encourage, strengthen, warn, and define limits.  God divides what is His and what is not.  If you read this and are unsure of where you stand with Him, I encourage you to make every effort to enter in now.  There is a day coming when the door will be shut.

24 “Exert every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, ‘Lord, let us in!’ But he will answer you, ‘I don’t know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will reply, ‘I don’t know where you come from! Go away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves thrown out. 29 Then people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet table in the kingdom of God. 30 But indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”  (Luke 13)

Beware.  Identifying yourself with the religion of man (even if it comes dressed as Christianity) does not identify you as belonging to the Lord Jesus.  There is a distinct difference between traditions of man and the Spirit of the Living God.

I can do no more than post this message.  I ask that it be passed to those who might benefit.  Or at least the summation of this message would do well in the hands of those blessed with understanding.  May God grant that it is a cool drink of pure water to a parched people.

Night is falling upon the world.  And what a dense black night it will be!  And may He grant wisdom to understanding for those who lack knowledge in the Spirit of God.  Amen.

The Pastorate is not Gained by Man


Church of Body of Christ in Kaunas. Lietuvių: ...

Church of Body of Christ in Kaunas. Lietuvių: Dievo kūno bažnyčia, Kaunas. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

How shall a man determine that he should stand in the body of Christ in a certain place?  Is he to render himself to the Lord and speak like this:  “Lord, Most High God, I will stand here and do these things for I am worthy.”  Is it not the Lord who places each of His people among the body?  We have heard of gifts given to man by the Lord, and that for the building up of the body of Christ.  Yet some suppose, in their vain imagination, that they possess certain gifts.  And so they provoke, prod, push, and tender their way to a position.  Some have even had the gall to become teachers in the Church with this pompous attitude.  These are those who consider that the Word of God is all that is necessary to achieve position.  Yet they miss the mark.  And the Church today suffers under the oppression of their folly.

It is the Lord Jesus who gives position to man.  If there were but one teacher appointed by the Lord he would do great things beyond ten thousand presumptuous men.  There is nothing accomplished, which will last eternally, if it is not accomplished by the power of the Lord Himself.  A man should become promoted to position because he has shown the power of God within him to accomplish that post.  The ability to read and speak are no sign of the power of God among us.

May the Lord Himself give insight into these things.  May all His people search for His Holy will with all their might.  May wisdom from God be first, and the will of man be last.  Unless the Lord builds the house the builder builds in vain!

There are those who will take your money to give you a position in the Church.  And there are people who will take you in to lead them and call you pastor, priest, even “father”.  But I urge you to consider this:  You are a man.  They are but men.  Shall the blind lead the blind down, what the Lord Himself has called, “the narrow way”?  Decide for yourself what is right.  Who shall know the mind of God but the Spirit of God within us.

In ALL things it is first and last Jesus, the Lord and King of all righteousness.  Seek Him aside from man.  Search out His will.  Why would you pay money for what you cannot eat?

Lord I ask that you give insight into these things for all who seek to serve You.

By His Grace.

I Will Speak.


"Jeremiah Lamenting the Destruction of Je...

Image via Wikipedia

They whisper to me, “silent, be still.  Do not speak of the Lord, so much, in public.”  And in days past I tried to remain silent.  Time would pass and I would speak again.  Some would attack my words.  And in unpreparedness, I drew back.  But now I speak with a fluent desire.  I will be with Him forever.  What is it to me that I should be ridiculed for such a short time.  He, the Lord Jesus, received far worse from His own people and had no sin in Him.  Who am I to think I should not encounter opposition and isolation because of His word?  He speaks for me to the Father, why should I keep my lips closed for Him?

And I think of another man who spoke for the Holy name of the Lord, Jeremiah.  What do we hear him speak regarding this plight even now?

Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction.   So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long.  But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,”  his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in;  indeed, I cannot.  I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side! Report him! Let’s report him!” All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, “Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him.”  But the LORD  is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.  They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced;  their dishonor will never be forgotten. (Jeremiah 20: 8-11)

Therefore, I will speak.  For I know I am not alone!  I will not allow Jeremiah to stand alone.  Though he is now at peace, we will all stand together as one on the day of God’s judgment and release for those who love Him.  And what shall be said of the tens of thousands of men, women and children who stood their ground in the face of certain death for the sake of the Gospel?

No, I say.  As long as the Lord gives me breath I will speak of His Lovely Way.  And what shall I say to those who watch with desire.  In their hearts they say, “Oh please don’t stop speaking the word of the Lord.”

By His Grace.

How to Make Friends?


Image representing Facebook as depicted in Cru...

Image via CrunchBase

Some days are clarity.  Some days are a fog of stupidity.  These are three posts I made on facebook this morning.

Like getting little children to eat what’s good for them (and worse), it is impossible to convince most people that serving the Lord Jesus is the very best of life.  Try to force, if you want to, but you’ll end up simply smearing the Gospel in places where it’s not welcome.

Look to do what the Lord has placed right into your lap.  We are told to do good for the family of God and to live such good lives that even if we are accused our lives will prove otherwise.  But if our lap is covered with materialism and selfishness, how can we see what the Lord has put there?  Stand up. Empty your lap.  Then you can see what remains.

Why are so many transfixed on the body?  It is as though their body is the ultimate religion.   Don’t they realize that in just a very little while that body they love so much will be a rotten stench and food for worms?  The priorities of man are so very trivial and foolish.  It is the soul that should get all that attention.  That is the part of you that will remain forever.  Either to your horror or to your great joy.

Listening to Glenn Beck panic.  He thinks America can reverse the current direction by uniting as a people.  I doubt that he will recognize that it is God who is allowing this degeneration of America.  The only way out is to individually unite with Jesus.  This might not stop what is happening.  But it will ensure that we have a distinct hope where others won’t.

 

Are there rumors about you being spread?  Are they bad?  Personally, I have no doubt that rumors have floated about regarding me.  And likely many of them are bad.  I find it easy to shed the burden of this plight.  For if those who spread the rumors knew the truth about me, they would kill me.  What power, then, does any rumor have that the truth hasn’t already supplied?

You judge for yourself how they received.  I didn’t expect to make friends by posting them.

He is Not Idle!


English: Mighty oak, Bonehill

Image via Wikipedia

I have written many things regarding God.  And every word is written by the Grace of God.  Who is the Grace of God?  Jesus is the Grace of God!

I woke this morning considering people I know.  How many times I have lifted them to the Throne of the Most High God, by His Glorious Grace in Jesus.  A level of worry surrounds this frantic prayer life.  And this is not good.  This morning I realize that God is not deaf.  He is not idle.  He has heard my prayers for them.

I go to Him this morning, filled with anxiety for their sake.  And the steady, calm, and reassuring voice comes to me.  “A tree does not sprout up over night.  It grows steady and sure.  It does not explode to a mighty Oak, only to shrivel back to a twig.  It takes time to grow strong.  Be patient.  And do not be concerned.  The trees of God endure much wind and chaos.  This is what makes them strong.  There are seasons for every tree.  There are leaves to sprout, fruit to develop, and a time of winter.”

Our God will not leave our prayers on the Holy Altar which lay before Him.  He is not idle!  He is already moving among us with the speed of ETERNITY.  Before we kneel before Him to present our requests, He has already seen us.  Do you believe?  Are you truly ready to see the hand of our God move among us?

Oh how I desire to know Him, to trust Him with the full measure of the faith He is willing to give!  So I rise from prayer with a determination to trust.  The sun will rise soon.  This day will begin.  Oh how blessed I am to know Him!  To know in my soul that God has not let His Holy One see decay!  Blessed is the Lord Most High!  For He has done these things at His marvelous pleasure.  And He will do exceedingly more for all who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus!

Take heart!  Take heart!  Take heart!  He knows your name!  He knows where, who, and what you are.   He, the I AM, is our Lord!  He is God!