A NEW YOU IN THE NEW YEAR!

LOOKING FOR AN AWESOME NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION?

Usually, at least one resolution is about food. How about this year you combine diet with growing your relationship with Abba Father ... honoring His commands about food is one way.

"Did you know that God is concerned about what you eat? Have you examined what the Word of God says about the existence of clean and unclean animals before Moses? Did you know that what you eat can affect your soul? Did you know that Gentile believers ate according to Leviticus 11 in New Testament times? Over the years, our traditions and carnal appetites have skewed our interpretation of what the Old and New Testaments teach about food. We have also taken many Scriptures out of context as prooftexts to justify our eating habits. Isn’t it time to return to a lifestyle that is completely biblical? Eating God’s Way provides an honest and balanced hermeneutical examination of every major Scripture that deals with what God wants us to eat, what He wants us to avoid, and why. Let Eating God’s Way become your handbook for learning (and explaining) God’s instruction for spiritual and physical health!" Eating God's Way by Dr. Michael K. Lake

A Prayer for the Reign of Grace over Your Life from Pastor Mark Driscoll

This prayer is too significant and needed by some not to share it as much as possible--by me, by you--with anyone in need of grace for one or more of the challenges listed in Pastor Mark's prayer. The link to his knock-your-socks-off teachings on the book of Romans is listed below.

For the Christian who is aware of their sin, and the pains and problems it causes, we can be so consumed looking down in shame that we forget to look up and see our Lord Jesus Christ ruling and reigning over our lives. Thankfully, His reign is a reign of grace that rains down grace upon our lives in the times and ways that we need. I prayed this prayer over the dear people at The Trinity Church in Scottsdale where I pastor and I am praying it over you as well.  Dear shame-filled saint who gives grace to others but not to yourself - The Holy Spirit has grace for you to cover your shame forever in Jesus’ righteousness. Receive the grace of God!  Dear religious saint who keeps making rules and punishing people – The Holy Spirit has grace for you both to transform your relationships with God and others. Receive the grace of God!    Dear theological saint who keeps making God into a concept to master rather than a Person who is a friend – The Holy Spirit has grace to pour out the love of Jesus into your heart. Receive the grace of God!  Dear burdened saint who is haunted by your past – The Holy Spirit has grace for you to transfer your burdens to Jesus who carries them for you and with you. Receive the grace of God!   Dear abandoned saint who keeps getting disappointed in people who ignore and use you when you need them most – The Holy Spirit has grace for you from Jesus who will never leave nor forsake you. Receive the grace of God!  Dear weary & broken saint who is struggling to pull it together – The Holy Spirit has grace to heal you and strengthen you and will not stop until you are with Jesus and like Jesus. Receive the grace of God!  Dear failed saint who feels they don’t measure up – The Holy Spirit has grace to lift you up into the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Receive the grace of God!  Dear addicted saint who is ensnared by a dark desire – The Holy Spirit has grace to set you free and change your desires because who the Son sets free is free indeed. Receive the grace of God!  Dear fearful saint who is anxious about the future – The Holy Spirit has grace waiting for you in the darkness of tomorrow from Jesus who rules the future. Receive the grace of God!   Dear controlling saint who fears that giving people too much grace will permit them to sin – The Holy Spirit has grace that not only forgives and covers us but transforms and empowers us. Receive the grace of God!  To find the free Romans study guide for individuals and small groups, hear Pastor Mark’s entire sermon series on Romans, or find a free mountain of Bible teaching visit realfaith.com or download the realfaith app.

In Him,  Pastor Mark

And here is the link to his phenomenal (awesome, amazing, Holy Spirit-filled, etc.) sermons based on the book of Romans. Fourteen such sermons are posted at the link at the time of this publishing, but Pastor Mark still has more to cover. Yay!!!                 https://realfaith.com/sermon-series/romans/ 

WHY ARE WE A DIVIDED NATION, YOU ASK?

EACH SEES THE OTHER AS DELUDED. ONLY ONE OF THEM IS CORRECT.

Question: "Why is God going to send a strong delusion in the end times?"

[Copies and pasted from https://www.gotquestions.org/strong-delusion.html]

Answer: The Bible makes it clear why God is sending a strong delusion in the end times: “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). Simply put, God sends a strong delusion to those who choose not to believe the gospel of Christ. Those who take delight in mocking and rejecting Him, He will condemn.

It is a person’s choice whether to accept and believe the truth of Jesus Christ as presented in the Scriptures. To receive the truth and the love God offers is in keeping with its teachings, “This is love for God: to obey His commands” (1 John 5:3). Conversely, to know the truth and not obey it is to face the wrath of God: “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness” (Romans 1:18). Frankly speaking, there is no more dangerous condition for man than to know the truth and refuse to obey it. To do so is to harden the heart and make God’s condemnation sure.

When one knows the truth and refuses to obey it, he is subject to any lie, any deception, any untruth that humanity can conjure up. “For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:21-22). Paul goes on in the next few verses to describe the mindset and behaviors of those who disbelieve (see Romans 1:29-31). As a result of human foolishness and arrogant disdain of the things of God, “God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done” (Romans 1:28). And correspondingly, “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things, but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:32).

Isaiah puts it succinctly: “They have chosen their own ways, and their souls delight in their abominations; so I [God] also will choose harsh treatment for them and bring upon them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in My sight and chose what displeases Me” (Isaiah 66:3-4).

When people know the truth and refuse to receive it, when they refuse to obey it and hold it in unrighteousness, “they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:12 NLT).

“God is love” (1 John 4:16). He is not some cruel monster who deliberately and inwardly delights in preparing people for everlasting condemnation. But He earnestly and lovingly proclaims the gospel of Christ, “not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Throughout the Scriptures, God urges people to accept the truth. But when people reject Him and spurn His message, then—and not until then—God hardens them and turns them over to a deluded mind to wallow in their wickedness to their eternal damnation. This is what the Lord says about those who choose to reject the truth: “They greatly love to wander; they do not restrain their feet. So the Lord does not accept them; He will now remember their wickedness and punish them for their sins” (Jeremiah 14:10).

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.

Has Your Brain (and Life) Been Hijacked?

 

During these covid-driven, quality-of-life-affecting months (it’s mid-October 2020 as I write this), those with eyes to see and ears to hear have observed how many of our idols and addictions are junk food, a false substitute for what genuinely nourishes us. Some fell deeper into that deceptive miasma, and desperately need our prayers. Some, once their attention was diverted, sat up and took notice of what they’d given too much of themselves to that wasn’t worth it. They saw what could be lost if they didn’t shift their attention to who and what is important. They realized that while too many have spent hours out of touch with God, the Adversary got serious about taking up squatters rights in our country, our families, and our lives.

Continue reading the full article here:

https://putoldonholdjournal.com/has-your-brain-and-life-been-hijacked/

Who Wants A Makeover?

Many would go to a makeover artist and surrender completely, saying, "Make me into a new creation." God is the greatest makeover Artist from eternity past to eternity future.

                                            Painting title: Prince of Peace *** Artist: Akiane

In Ezekiel 13:10-14, God used an example to make a point, stating that people who build a wall with faulty mortar (or none) and then whitewash it to fool others into believing the wall is solid won't, of course, fool Him. He told the people through His prophet Ezekiel that He'd send stormy weather that would knock down such a wall and reveal its lack of foundation and, therefore, lack of lasting strength and value (I'm paraphrasing).

When I read this, several thoughts came to me at once.

1. This whitewashed, mortar-lacking wall is the difference between knowing about God and being in an intimate relationship with Him. Kind of like the difference between an external makeover with a haircut and maybe some cosmetics or doing what's needed to start your makeover from the inside out (becoming a clean temple where God's Holy Spirit can live, as well as make you healthier).

2. This whitewashed, mortar-lacking wall is the difference between a preacher giving congregants "feel-good" words that "tickle" their ears or feeding them the word of God as it appears in the Bible, and as He commanded shepherds to feed their flock (His flock). Remember, God said He has a BIG problem with anyone who changes even one jot or tittle of what He wrote. There are many individuals, including in pulpits, doing exactly that these days. As Jonathan Cahn said, "Do not bend the word of God to fit your life. Bend your life to fit the word of God."

3. This whitewashed, mortar-lacking wall is the difference between a minister providing entertainment to churchgoers or calling down the Glory of God so as to fill the people with Holy Spirit refreshment they can then share with others when they leave the building.

4. This whitewashed, mortar-lacking wall is the difference between congregants showing up at church expecting to be fed or bringing their portion of the Bread of Life with them.

5. This whitewashed, mortar-lacking wall is the difference between an individual or family having the appearance of a relationship with God (cosmetic only) or being strong in the Lord and the power of His might.

Do we have a wall of faith built with strong mortar? Is our faith foundation strong in the Lord--strong enough to keep covenant with Him by keeping His commandments, commandments He made a point to state in both the Old Testament and the New Testament? (By the way, it takes a whole Bible to make a whole Christian.)

Or is our faith and relationship actually loose stones and whitewash?

What's a good way to check this, you ask?

When you say or do anything that goes against God's way and will--if you do anything at all that He labeled as a sin or transgression in the Bible--do you feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit? I mean, really feel it? That's also a good way to know if you're truly saved or not: Holy Spirit conviction vs. silence.

If God said it's a sin and you do it anyway (or someone says it's okay and even passes a law saying it's okay), and you feel no conviction from the Holy Spirit, you're following the king of the other kingdom. Unless that's the king you choose to serve and the kingdom you wish to spend eternity in, forever separated from our loving Father, it's best if you run straight to the Makeover Artist of All Time and have a talk with Him.

What is a makeover, anyway? It's a revival of sorts, isn't it? The thing about revival is that it has to start with repentance, followed by a sincere effort to do only that which supports the new image. If--make that when--we stumble, we are to repent and start again. And, God doesn't expect us to do this on our own. We can't. We need Him to help us. Ask--and you shall receive.

Here's something wonderful and encouraging to keep in mind:
Those who are called by His name are God's possession, and He is our portion.

May God shine His face upon you and yours today and everyday.