It Feels Good So I’m Doing It!

Before I dive into the deep end on this topic, what I write about here affects all of us, impacts all of us. I deal with it every day, so know I’m not commenting as though I’ve got this completely under control and you don’t. Nor does God expect us to be perfect in this, but He does expect us to address it, according to His instructions in His Word.

We face serious issues today, including worry about those elected (and those unelected) whose commitment is to the destruction of our nation, perversion and sexualization of our children, as well as reduction of our global population, and a desire to remove Jesus from our hearts, minds, and lips. Serious as these are, there’s an additional danger we face with short-term and eternal ramifications. And not only face, but voluntarily, willingly participate in: Friendship with the World and, therefore, enmity with God. This applies to atheists, apostates, those who believe they’re saved but aren’t, and, sadly, those truly Saved. Like what, you ask? A number of ways, but here’s the one that keeps coming to mind to address: “Love covers a multitude of sins, while dark counsel loves to uncover the sins of others through slander…. Slander is one of the abominations that the LORD lists in the Scriptures.” - Benjamin Baruch, Out of the Darkness (See book cover below.)

We’ve caught a virus the Adversary has loosed upon the whole world: A gnawing hunger to shame others. All media and social sites are for us akin to what a bakery is to a diabetic: Poison. Shaming is void of forgiveness. All media is rife with it, as are—if you’ll pardon the repetition—atheists, apostates, those who believe they’re saved but aren’t, and, sadly, those truly Saved. “Unforgiveness is as powerful a deceiving and destructive force in our lives as pride. These are your worst enemies, for pride and an unforgiving spirit are the most dangerous adversaries you face…. and to the degree that we forgive others, so we too will be forgiven.” - Benjamin Baruch

Baruch also wrote, “People will say things like, ‘I forgive them, but I have to stand for righteousness. I have to stand by my convictions.’ In our self-deception, we hide the true motives of our heart within our righteous garments of the flesh. We will destroy a brother’s good name, murder their reputation and hide it all behind the false pretense of asking people to pray for them. But the bottom line is this, pride is an abomination and if we do not humble ourselves and also learn to forgive from the heart, then we are not forgiven.” We are to pray for the lost. We are to speak truth to them in love, not berate them to their face, behind their back, or online. Jesus stated clearly in His Word that He considers shaming, slandering, and gossiping abominations because they are forms of murder—His words, not mine. And He clearly commands, Thou shalt not murder. Taking this into consideration, basically, every news source engages in a form of spiritual slaughter every day. And if we engage with them longer than the few minutes it takes to get news we really need to know, we’re like the Romans watching the lions and Christians. Exchange that time for time in the Word or Prayer Closet or helping where help is needed. (FYI: The original 10-Commandment word is “murder,” not “kill.” Big difference regarding what God was telling us.)

A small population segment we’ve labeled “Woke” has been taught not only extreme versions of unforgiveness but to punish as well via shaming and slander (ahem, they were not self-taught in this regard). It’s a satanic entrapment—for them and for us—so that they and we will not be forgiven by the Father. It wasn’t just a nice turn of phrase Jesus instructed in The Lord’s Prayer, He meant what He said: If we forgive some people but not others, then some of our sins will be forgiven but not all. That makes for a very bad time for us, yes?

Jesus said His people are to be a Peculiar people: NOT like the World, but instead like HIM. Any true Christian who, from this moment on, shames, slanders, and or gossips rather than fasts and or prays for those who are lost, for the faltering Church, and for those in positions of authority, is—according to Jesus—also guilty. In fact, maybe more so because we, as Christians, supposedly not only know better but are commanded to do better, following God’s Word to, yes, experience righteous indignation and speak truth in love when needed, but also to be wise as serpents but harmless as doves, to be angry but do not sin, to lie upon our beds at night and think on this.

Tempting as it is to vent, we need to stop venting about others to anyone: This harms us, the person we’re venting about, and the person we impose this upon. God told us what to do: Vent to Him only, and then forgive and pray for the person or people we’re upset with or about. Scripture tells us the most righteous man offends God at least seven times a day. If we paused to count our own sins we wish forgiven by Him, the number is astronomical. Yet, consider how we handle ourselves when we feel offended, for whatever reason: we enter the land of Bitterness and Unforgiveness.

Every Christian might revisit Matthew chapters 5, 6, and 7, to be reminded of what Jesus taught. Something many don’t realize is that the Beatitudes (Sermon on the Mount), plus the other teachings there, are not how to get saved, but what a person who is saved is supposed to do and be like in order to represent God’s Kingdom. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers,” not the pot-stirrers and accusers (like Satan) of others—public or private. God hates it. Satan loves it. We need to stop it. When we give in to this sin, Holy Spirit leaves us and takes the Power of God through Christ Jesus that is ours, with Him, until we exit Carnal Road and return to His Spirit through obedience.

Jesus said the world would know who is His by their fruit. Those who are His are to produce good fruit, the kind of fruit that represents the Vine we are grafted onto. We’re not to produce thorns and thickets that wound and trap others – and ourselves. That behavior originates from the wrong kingdom. Anyone can attend church services or watch services or videos online, attend and even teach Bible study, quote Scripture – in other words, “Do Christian.” But unless a genuine supernatural change of heart takes place, that person may behave as the World’s perception of a Christian might be, but NOT God’s expectation of one of His. He told us in His Word how we are to be, but it feels good to satisfy the carnal nature rather than obey Him and operate with the Spirit of God in us. I mean, how Peculiar does He really want us to be? Very—to the point of leading others to salvation through Him via how we represent Him and especially His love to and in the World.

“The prayers of a righteous man availeth much.” Neither verbosity nor volume in prayer are evidence of God’s Power operating in us. God considers obedience as righteousness. As long as we continue to do what’s been written about above, the less righteous we are and the less Power of God we possess (if any) to do the work He commands us, His Body here on Earth, to do: Win souls to Christ Jesus for eternal salvation. I’d say most of us—my hand is raised high—have work to do, starting on our knees, getting humble before our LORD, and repenting.

SIGNIFICANT: “The issue of forgiveness is hard for some of us, because some of us have been really abused; some of us have been deeply wounded and it was a lot more than just a thoughtless word or an inconsiderate act. There has been some serious hurt handed out and if that is you, then you have to learn to pray this through in your life. If we do not pray this through, these areas of unforgiveness in our lives can become demonic strongholds, and a spirit of bitterness will take hold. In order to release that bondage, we have to learn how to fast and pray for this kind only comes out through prayer and fasting. We have to learn to fast and pray to break through the unforgiveness in our hearts, through the strongholds of pride, and to prepare our hearts to receive the healing and the salvation of the Lord.” - Benjamin Baruch

Here’s a solid recommendation, because let’s face it—sometimes we really need to vent or criticize or slam someone or something unjust or evil that’s happening. And as much as that IS happening now, it’s about to get a whole lot more frequent and more intense. SOLUTION: Turn to the Psalms. Use God’s own words to cry out your frustrations and fears to Him. Read them aloud to the LORD. Seriously. Let His Word and Spirit comfort and guide you in righteousness: thought, word, and action—so that you can then speak truth with love to whomever...or stay silent, if that’s His wish.

Fellow Christians, understand that Jesus told us it’s going to get bad in the End Times. More and more each day, we’re seeing the beginnings of this prophesied time now (the videos/podcasts/book offered below are worth the time). We are commanded to remain strong through Jesus, and as in Joshua 1:6-9, and NOT become like the World, which is the Adversary’s kingdom (prison). We’re to be a beacon of the Light of our Lord Jesus in the Darkness. This means we cannot – must not – sound like or behave like the World, but like our LORD Jesus. Think on these things.

May God give us clean hearts and renew in us right spirits, making room in us for His Holy Spirit to guide us in all things, for our Father’s Divine purposes and pleasure. I pray this in the Name and Nature of my Savior and LORD Christ Jesus.

Recommended Videos, Podcasts, and A Book:

In this 48:23-minute video, Jamie Walden tells it like it is and is going to be: It’s already started. For some, it’s first time you hear these facts: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBzIK2L0SZ4

“A Call to War” (Pay special attention to Frank’s warning about slander and gossip): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SnpY2gRf9M

“Matters of the Heart” with Benjamin Baruch (plan for the length of time, plan to be changed by his powerful message): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofCMjOv84lQ

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF

Right from the start, I want to stipulate that my mental vocal-tone is gentle and my purpose for commenting about that particular verse -- Love your neighbor as yourself -- is ... well, that comes toward the end...

A funny thing happens often these days if a Bible-believing person goes against the cultural norm of a person's I-did-it-my-way "Christianity" by bringing to their attention how "their way" may not be God's way, according to His Word: They often come back with, "You're not loving your neighbor as yourself, as you should, and that's also in the Bible."

True. Galatians 5:14, to be specific. 

But as so often happens, too many forget that no verse is a stand-alone; every verse fits into the larger context. For example, what comes before and after Galatians 5:14? Let me assist by sharing an easier version to read from the Complete Jewish Bible, translated by David H. Stern. I used this version because it's closer to the original meaning of the language and cultural idioms of the time in which it was written--which matters, and Stern is a renowned Hebrew scholar and translator.

Starting with Galatians 5:13, we read:

13 For, brothers, you were called to be free. Only do not let that freedom become an excuse for allowing your old nature to have its way. Instead, serve one another in love. 14 For the whole of the Torah is summed up in this one sentence: “Love your neighbor as yourself”;[a] 15 but if you go on snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other!

16 What I am saying is this: run your lives by the Spirit. Then you will not do what your old nature wants. 17 For the old nature wants what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit wants what is contrary to the old nature. These oppose each other, so that you find yourselves unable to carry out your good intentions. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, then you are not in subjection to the system that results from perverting the Torah into legalism.

19 And it is perfectly evident what the old nature does. It expresses itself in sexual immorality, impurity and indecency; 20 involvement with the occult and with drugs; in feuding, fighting, becoming jealous and getting angry; in selfish ambition, factionalism, intrigue 21 and envy; in drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you now as I have warned you before: those who do such things will have no share in the Kingdom of God!

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 humility, self control. Nothing in the Torah stands against such things.

24 Moreover, those who belong to the Messiah Yeshua have put their old nature to death on the stake, along with its passions and desires. 25 Since it is through the Spirit that we have Life, let it also be through the Spirit that we order our lives day by day.

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

But don't stop there, continue with Galatians 6:1-10...

6 Brothers, suppose someone is caught doing something wrong. You who have the Spirit should set him right, but in a spirit of humility, keeping an eye on yourselves so that you won’t be tempted too. 2 Bear one another’s burdens — in this way you will be fulfilling the Torah’s true meaning, which the Messiah upholds. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something when he is really nothing, he is fooling himself. 4 So let each of you scrutinize his own actions. Then if you do find something to boast about, at least the boasting will be based on what you have actually done and not merely on a judgment that you are better than someone else; 5 for each person will carry his own load. 6 But whoever is being instructed in the Word should share all the good things he has with his instructor. 7 Don’t delude yourselves: no one makes a fool of God! A person reaps what he sows. 8 Those who keep sowing in the field of their old nature, in order to meet its demands, will eventually reap ruin; but those who keep sowing in the field of the Spirit will reap from the Spirit everlasting life. 9 So let us not grow weary of doing what is good; for if we don’t give up, we will in due time reap the harvest. 10 Therefore, as the opportunity arises, let us do what is good to everyone, and especially to the family of those who are trustingly faithful.

What -- and who -- does the apostle Paul mean by "those who are trustingly faithful," because we don't want to guess or leave anything out (again), do we? After all, look at ALL that's left out of the whole message of Chapter 5--it doesn't start and stop with verse 5:14. Vital information follows, information too many forget or fail to be aware of, information that completes what's being conveyed. The best way to identify this meaning ("trustingly faithful" and who it refers to) is to start at the beginning of Galatians and read all 6 chapters. Here's the link so you can do that:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+1&version=CJB

It's been said: "It takes a whole Bible to make a whole Christian," though I don't readily recall who said it. People who freely use Galatians 5:14, ignore or don't know the rest of it, and usually recite it because they are defending their or the rights of a person to continue in his or her sin, called sin by God, though the world may have even made it legal. And their approval -- which they mean to be loving by -- is not an example of Christian/Messianic love. Jesus came here to save people from the prison of sin and the wages of sin, and from the Adversary's clutches and deceptions that lead to eternal death in Hell. 

If you think my posting this is unkind or unloving or stern, I invite you to read 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 at

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+5&version=CJB

The only reason any of us believe that it's more loving to allow others to die in their sin is because we have believed a false Gospel and in a false Jesus. The God of the Old Testament is the same Jesus (God) of the New Testament -- and God does not change. [For intelligent, qualified, thoroughly researched understanding of Scripture, I invite you to check out Dr. Michael Lake's videos at https://www.youtube.com/user/biblicallife/videos ]

I remember while in college, I got out of a class on the first floor and went to the restroom on the third floor before my next class. My mirrored reflection showed ink on my face. Not one friend, acquaintance, or stranger had brought this to my attention. And that was just ink that washed off fairly easily. I ask you to ponder this: Is it more loving to let someone die in their sin by keeping silent or risk angering or losing them for a while in this life so a seed is planted that Holy Spirit nurtures within them to save them for God's Kingdom? If God commands us to speak His Truth to power, how much more so to those we love or know He does? However, this doesn't mean to nag them. Tell them once, then pray and trust God. 

May the peace of the Lord our God be with you. 

 

It’s Your Fault I’m No Longer A Christian!

The pundits’ voices played as white noise in the background—until one of them said she’d left Christianity because people claiming to be Christian didn’t behave as she thought they should. She didn’t give specifics as to what she meant, but it stung, partially because she had a point—but only partially.

Please go here to read the rest of the article (and how God responded when I prayed to Him about this):

https://putoldonholdjournal.com/its-your-fault-im-no-longer-a-christian/ 

SHARE THE PRAYER

Copied and pasted from Mario Murillo Ministries' Facebook page. 

What if this is the hour God has been waiting for?

When humanity is at the end of itself.

When human systems can simply "take no more."

When what is facing humans is insurmountable.

When every corner of our communities are desperate for hope.

So, let's take a stand - will you join us?

We say WELCOME to the SUPERNATURAL DISPLAYS OF GOD'S GLORY!

We say, Father, step in and take over

- our businesses

- our families

- our children's education

- our community needs

- our legislative committee hearings

- our relationships

- our board meetings

- our media airwaves

- our family's needs

- our desperation for community

- our burden for this nation

- our hurting industries

- our lonely seniors

- our teenagers and college students in despair

- our lawyers and Judicial systems

- our hospitals and rescue services

- our food industries

- our manufacturers

- our churches

- our neighborhoods

- the prisons

- the classrooms ...

Lord, in EVERYTHING and EVERY CORNER of this nation, we say have YOUR WAY now!!!!

Let there be SIGNS AND WONDERS on every

- street corner

- every Zoom call

- in text messages

- in grocery stores

- in business offices

- in courtrooms

- in Legislative chambers

- in living rooms

- in front yards

- at gas stations

- everywhere!

From this moment forward, may there be a RUSH of DIVINE INTERVENTION, SUPERNATURAL signs and wonders, and and rush of the solutions and help of a Mighty God!

We declare that there will be testimony upon testimony coming forward of men and women, boys and girls who say "in this moment I saw God. In this moment, I surrendered. In this moment, Jesus stepped in and made all the difference."

THANK YOU GOD for these moments when we can experience our limited-ness as humans and when YOU get to step in and say, "It's My turn now ..."

Holy Spirit COME!

- MMM Team

ALL IN ALL, YOU'RE JUST ANOTHER BRICK???

About Bricks

While the Tower of Babel was made of bricks, their use for an altar to God is forbidden in Scripture (Deuteronomy 27:5). God requires uncut stones for His altar because it represents the body of Christ and the power of our sanctified uniqueness in its construction. Nimrod and the spirit of Babylon demand conformity, uniformity, and interchangeability. With this in mind, you can now better understand many of the current political winds within the Progressive and Socialistic Movements worldwide--from wealth redistribution to removing the distinction of the sexes toward a unisex philosophy. We must all conform and be interchangeable, so we can serve as bricks in the new Tower of Babel that the Illuminati Elite are building.

The above is a Briefing Note excerpt from Dr. Michael K. Lake's book, The Shinar Directive: Preparing the Way for the Son of Perdition, published in 2014.

Here's the (familiar to some) Pink Floyd song, with lyrics--but please finish reading this brief message before you go to the song--thanks!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN5Z28Dfl7o

2014 -- 6 years ago as I write this. And don't we all feel the Progressive pressure these days to fall into place, with or without covid. Thankfully, you are not and never will be "just a brick" to our Lord God, the Almighty, in Whose image you and all humans are wonderfully made.

Here's the EU (European Union) Tower of Babel poster. Please note that the humans are -- bricks. Also notice the Baphomet-styled stars. I highly recommend Dr. Lake's books--all of them, starting with this one, where he explains more about what stars represent and the significance of how they're positioned. (If you don't know who Baphomet is, look it up. Some of the bigger box stores sell Baphomet items these days. Like bricks in a wall, the dots connect; you just have to be able to discern dots when you see them. Ask God to instruct you about this.)

May God's peace and strength fill you and yours. In Jesus' name. Amen

ANOTHER REASON FOR JUDAS

     Everything included in the Bible is for us to learn from in some way and measure, including why Jesus--knowing who Judas was and what he'd do--allowed Judas to be with Him from almost the start of His ministry, until the betrayal in Gethsemane. I'm going to skip over the obvious reason and move on to one that came to me during time in the book of Mark this morning:

    Judas was never all-in as a true follower of Jesus. 

    And this made me think of the prophecy Jesus spoke of, about how some who believe they are Christians will Do Church, maybe even for decades, but never actually Be the Full-On Church Jesus instructed His followers to be, which is another way of taking the Lord's name in vain... taking it on in vain and not actually representing Him as we're supposed to.

    Not only that, but how many of us who call ourselves Christians could hold up under what some in the world are experiencing? If we really are in the End Times, and if Tribulation is about to unfold, how many will "endure to the end"?

    It's something for all of us to think about. I mean, Judas was with Jesus pretty much every day for three years. A 24/7 gig. And he still didn't get it. Why? He never surrendered his life to the purposes of God. I get it: It can take a while to reach that point for some of us, but it is required. That takes absolute trust in God. 

    My prayer, uttered nearly every day and often more than once a day, especially if I feel myself judging another or others (or did it), is to repent and ask God to open the eyes, ears, hearts, and minds of ALL OF US to His Truth, His Righteous Ways, and His Kingdom Ways so we walk in Kingdom and represent our King well in the world and in the spiritual battle we're engaged in. Because, we want to be those who not only stand but withstand, as instructed in Ephesians 6 and elsewhere in the Word.

    May the peace, joy, and strength of our Lord be upon you and your loved ones. In Jesus' name. Amen.

HOW CAN YOU PROVE YOU LOVE JESUS?

Christ Jesus determines who are His by the Weapons of War, the Sword, that He observes in their hands: "Whoever says, 'I know Him,' but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected" . . . "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words." -- 1 John 2:4-5, John 14:23-24

The above is an excerpt from Jamie Walden's amazing book, which prepares remnant Christians for such a time as this.

Do you DO CHURCH or are you THE CHURCH?

     SADLY, too many of us have been taught how to Do Church rather than what's required of the true Church of Christ Jesus. Hear the God-inspired message Jamie Walden gives in this stunning, fast-paced presentation.

   Description:
The handwriting is on the wall in this nation and across the globe! It is time for the claimants of Christianity to count the costs of being "all in". If you find it to be too high, go ring the bell; but for those who know the exceedingly great reward that is set before them, the costs are as nothing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-MPMbBPzzs

YIELD YOUR HEART TO THE LORD

As we have wrestled out, the Lord is good to draw those He loves into the wilderness places; to "Gethsemane". It is the place where we begin to quiet our over-inflated sense of self and yield our hearts to the Lord. It is a place of preparation, of repentance, and of dying to the things that will hinder our ability to demonstrate the power of God.

- Jamie Walden, Omega Dynamics: Equipping a Warrior Class of Christians for the Days Ahead

What Blocks Prayers Being Answered?

During my morning time with God, and while reading Matthew 20 and 21, this realization entered my mind and heart:

Absolute faith (trust) in God requires absolute humility before and to God.

And then I opened Paul E. Billheimer's book, Destined for the Throne, to pick up reading where I'd left off, which happened to be about Paul's "thorn in his side," which he asked three times for God to remove, and each time, God refused for a specific reason: For Paul's protection. The following two paragraphs are found in that section on page 86.

     "... The sands of time are strewn with the wrecks of the broken lives of many who were once mightily used of God, but who suffered shipwreck upon the rocks of spiritual pride. This explains why Watchman Nee says that God's great work is to reduce us, that is, our ego. For until God has wrought a work of true humility and brokenness in His servants, He cannot answer some of their prayers without undue risk of producing the pride that goes before a fall. If God could trust the petitioner to keep lowly, who knows how many more answers to prayer He would readily give.

    "This principle may also explain why answers to prayer for healing sometimes are not received. If the answer to prayer for healing in Paul's case was hazardous to him, how much more so may it be in many others. Although no one since Paul has ever had as much reason to be exalted because of the abundance of revelations, very few have his ability to keep humble. Is it possible that one reason why some are not healed is that God sees they too might be lifted up with spiritual pride and 'fall into the condemnation of the devil'? If God felt it advisable to withhold the answer to Paul's prayer for healing to keep him humble, may this not explain the failure of some other prayers for healing?"

This pride-factor is something each of us, who call ourselves Christians, needs to be aware of. It's far too easy for any of us, and most especially those with a more public standing as representatives of His Church, to forget it's always, always, always about Yeshua/Jesus. The micro-second it becomes about us, we're falling out of humility and into Satan's camp. I know--I know! It's all to easy to do so, especially because ....

That "dead-on-accurate" meme that "puts them in their place," or the one we create or share that degrades "those people who deserve it," and on and on, wherever our Satan-directed pride takes us, takes us further from where we need to be as representatives of our Father and His Kingdom, as well as obedient to His commands about such matters. 

Pride. It's the greatest and trickiest stumbling block Satan has in order to capture us and lock us into a prison with bars invisible to our spiritual awareness. He's an expert in pride--it's what got him cast out of Heaven and made him an eternal spiritual orphan (something he works very hard at making all of us; after all, what better way to hurt a Father than to destroy His sons and daughters made in His image). 

Pride causes us to make fun of others, or degrade or criticize them, or do all sorts of things other than what God commanded: Pray for them. I do this a little differently: I ask Him to forgive me, starting with the sin of pride and where it leads me far too often. I ask Him to forgive all of us who are saved and those who still can be, to cover all our sins with the blood of Yeshua/Jesus -- not one of us can claim to be free of sin. Not one. I ask Him to continue to open all our eyes, ears, hearts, and minds to HIS TRUTH.

Our world, our country (USA), our lives have been turned upside-down, relatively overnight. For His Remnant, part of our prayers is that His Kingdom come, His will be done here on Earth as it is in Heaven. To us, those are more than a line of words of a prayer recited too often by rote, rather than meant with full heart-and-soul reverence for our Father God and how they relate to what He has promised us. These upside-down times require trust in the Lord. And, I offer that this needs to be absolute trust that needs to grow exponentially, sooner than later. 

We cannot do this on our own. This is the work of Holy Spirit in us: We must ask the Father for His help with this. Just know that the cleaner and clearer we are as temples of God, the more uncluttered space we provide for Holy Spirit to abide in us. If you wouldn't say it or do it with Yeshua/Jesus standing next to you, it probably doesn't belong in your temple.

Absolute faith (trust) in God requires absolute humility before and to God. 

What is the full measure of absolute humility before and to our Father God? 

THE BEST BOOK ON PRAYER and A Christian’s Duty to Intercede I’ve Ever Read

THE BEST BOOK ON PRAYER and A Christian’s Duty to Intercede I’ve Ever Read

Excerpts from what Max Lucado referred to as “A profound study on the topic of prayer,” Paul Billheimer’s book, Destined for the Throne.

From page 53:

Although to the natural mind this seems utter nonsense, it is nevertheless true. In spite of all her lamentable weaknesses, appalling failures, and indefensible shortcomings, the Church is the mightiest force for civilization and enlightened social consciousness in the world today. IT WAS TRUE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD THAT AS THE KNOWLEDGE OF AND REVERENCE FOR GOD DISAPPEARED, MORAL CORRUPTION AND CRIME COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE SOCIAL ORDER. [Emphasis mine.] ….

It is the same today. The only force in the world that is contesting Satan’s total rule in human affairs is the Church of the living God…. If it were not for the totally selfless love displayed on the cross, total selfishness would reign supreme. And total selfishness means total hostility. Total hostility means total anarchy—AND THAT MEANS HELL. [Emphasis mine.] ….

From page 55:

Daniel Webster said, “If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we or our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.” IN THE LIGHT OF THE PRESENT DISSOLUTION OF OUR EXISTING SOCIAL AND POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS, THESE WORDS SEEM AMAZINGLY PROPHETIC. [Emphasis mine.] ….

WILL EVERYONE BE SAVED?

From page 56:

Knowing that IT IS GOD’S WILL TO SAVE ANY PERSON WHO HAS NOT CROSSED THAT MYSTERIOUS BOUNDARY KNOWN AS THE DEADLINE, may the Church pray for the salvation of a specific individual in the assurance that he will be saved? Or, must the Church’s faith be tempered by the fact that that person is a free moral agent and that God never saves anyone against his will? Must we say, as we often do, that because so and so is a free moral agent, all we can do is to pray and leave the rest to him and God? [Emphasis mine.]

Since God has assured us that it is His will that all men be saved, we therefore know that when we pray for the salvation of anyone WHO HAS NOT CROSSED THE DEADLINE of final and permanent impenitence, we are praying according to His will. [Emphasis mine.] ….

THE DETERMINING FACTOR IN SALVATION

From page 57:

Is not this the general pattern of the journey from rebellion to surrender? Jesus says, “No man can come to me except the Father . . . draw him” (John 6:44). And the Father always draws by means of His Spirit. Since God is no respecter of persons and wills that all shall be saved, and therefore without exception faithfully seeks all (John 1:9), why is the Spirit’s wooing successful in some cases and not in others? Is it because in some instances God is so “powerless” that He cannot prevail? Or is it that some are the subjects of powerful, importunate, and believing intercession, while others have no one to pray for them? If Wesley is correct in saying that “God does nothing but in answer to prayer,” then this must include the salvation of souls. This, then, means that no soul is saved apart from intercession, and that every soul who is saved, is saved because someone—WHO WOULD NOT GIVE HIM UP TO SATAN—prayed. [Emphasis mine.]

A Point of Interest about the First Adam and the Last Adam (Yeshua/Jesus)

 Adonai, God, made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.

- Genesis 3:21 CJB

God said the wages of sin is death, hence the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament and in the New--up to the point of the Victory of the Cross. The blood of the animals didn't cleanse people of their sins, but God made it so that the blood covered their sins.

Which brings me back to Adam and Havah/Eve in Genesis 3:21. They had sinned and felt their nakedness (spiritual as well as physical). The wages of sin is death... but, it seems, not solely for the sinners. In order for their now-sinful spiritual and physical nakedness to be covered, God had to shed blood in order to cover their nakedness and, therefore, their sin. 

If you don't know this already, you may appreciate learning that the Hebrew meaning of Yeshua is Salvation; so every time you read the word "salvation" in the Old and New Testaments, you're reading the name of Yeshua/Jesus. 

Yeshua/Jesus -- the Last Adam, aka as the Second Adam to some -- God come to Earth in the flesh, shed HIS OWN BLOOD to pay for OUR sins, should we choose to receive the Redemption He paid for us, and all that comes with that, that is, what is required of us as Born Again in the Spirit.

I find that what I call "a first" as written about above also connects to another "first" found in Matthew 15:21-28 CJB.

Yeshua left that place and went off to the region of Tzor and Tzidon. A woman from Kena‘an who was living there came to him, pleading, “Sir, have pity on me. Son of David! My daughter is cruelly held under the power of demons!” But Yeshua did not say a word to her. Then his talmidim came to him and urged him, “Send her away, because she is following us and keeps pestering us with her crying.” He said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Isra’el.” But she came, fell at his feet and said, “Sir, help me!” He answered, “It is not right to take the children’s food and toss it to their pet dogs.” She said, “That is true, sir, but even the dogs eat the leftovers that fall from their master’s table.” Then Yeshua answered her, “Lady, you are a person of great trust. Let your desire be granted.” And her daughter was healed at that very moment.

This woman was a Gentile. She didn't have the benefit of the heritage and generations of teachings the Hebrews did. Most of them missed the signs of the time; she had no idea about what to look for--only what she could see with her own eyes and hear with her own ears. She, untutored, through her powerful love for her daughter (a perfect love that cast out all fear), believed He, Yeshua/Jesus, could set her daughter free from the demonic prison that held the girl and their family captive. She wasn't going to let go of this. But it wasn't her persistence that made the difference--it was her total trust in Him and His authority--that she had either witnessed or heard about. 

Just as Yeshua/Jesus was the First Fruits of the Resurrection, this mother was the first fruits, you might say, of the Gentiles.

Havah/Eve persuaded Adam to sin, which led to God's first sacrifice to cover mankind's sins that required blood to be shed.

The First Adam sinned and brought death upon us. The Last Adam redeemed us, giving us the choice to choose eternal resurrected life or the eternal second death.

Yeshua/Jesus shed His blood to cleanse our sins, first, when we receive what He did for us on the Cross, and then each time we repent for our sins.

Havah/Eve "persuaded" the First Adam to sin; the Gentile mother "persuaded" Yeshua/the Last Adam to Save.

The Gentile mother's love caused her to not leave Yeshua/Jesus alone until He saved her daughter. Yeshua/Jesus' love for us is what kept Him on the Cross; it certainly wasn't the nails.

The love of that mother opened the door to Redemption for Gentiles. The love of our Lord not only opened that door but keeps it open as long as possible for even the most rebellious to receive the Gift of Grace and Redemption He paid for us with His blood.

As Pastor J.D. Farag says, it's a matter the the A, B, C's:

Admit you're a sinner.

Believe Jesus paid with His blood on the Cross to redeem you.

Call on the Lord and ask Him to lead you.

Signing off now... thankful to have left the New Age Deception for the Faithful and True Rock of Ages...

The peace of the Lord be upon you and yours.

What's Your Joy Quotient Today?

 One time in prayer, Jesus asked me, "Where is your joy in me?"

There Is Only One Side for A True Christian

 If we're not on God's side, we're on the wrong side.

We Are More

 Are you more focused on the empty cross and suffering than on the Empty Tomb and the Victory?