Author: Ed Craddock

B.A. University of Connecticut Licensed 2002 World Ministry Fellowship Ordained 2005 World Ministry Fellowship In April of 1992, I was in the hospital with my 3rd heart problem. The doctors were having difficulty trying to keep me stable and keep my LAD vessel open. It finally failed and I went into cardiac arrest for 18 minutes. They immediately had to open my chest up and started performing CPR. For 14 of those minutes, they manually did CPR inside my chest with my heart in their hands. The doctors completed an emergency double by-pass surgery, but then told my family there was still a 50/50 chance that I might not survive. And even though they performed CPR and massaged my heart to keep my blood circulating, there was also a 50/50 chance I could have brain or kidney damage from being in cardiac arrest for so long. Obviously, I survived. But the next week in the hospital was filled with supernatural manifestations of the Lord. I saw things that I won’t get into at this point and had dreams showing me what I would be doing for Him in my life. Throughout my life I felt I knew things ~ sometimes ahead of time. I wrote it off to coincidence or maybe even being psychic. I was always a “believer,” but that was all. After coming home from the hospital in 1992, He spoke to me audibly. I finally said yes to whatever He wanted and had purposed for my life. I know that hearing His voice and ministering prophetically is real and from the right source. I have been doing my best to serve Him for quite a few years. I hope to continue serving in some capacity as long as I have breath.

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!

These words, “Are You Not entertained,” were spoken by the one-time Roman general Maximus played by Russell Crowe in the movie Gladiator. It has been said that line was ad-libbed, but has remained as a crucial and noteworthy line. He shouted these words after being forced to fight opponents in the arena. Maximus then asked, “Is this not what you came for?” He had been cast into slavery as a gladiator for his refusal to give his allegiance to the new emperor Commodus. He had previously given his allegiance to Commodus’ father, Marcus Aurelius. But Commodus was not a man deserving of favor. And today we see a similar fate to anyone who does not show blind faith to a wanna be emperor in Donald Trump.

America is watching as our White House is being further debased as Trump has the seat of our nation’s capital turned into a UFC fighting ring. This is to be a distraction from all the blunders of a war started to distract us from his personal foibles. This in turn has led to high prices for gas and staple items, leading to further discontent in America. The political backlash of people speaking against him and plummeting poll numbers has led Trump and his cronies to once again look for a diversion. So, like the emperor Commodus, he uses a spectacle of people fighting to gain appeal. One can see the similarity of Trump striking out against those he feels have slighted him.

I sincerely doubt Trump has ever pondered the words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt saying, “I never forget that I live in a house owned by the American people and that I have been given their trust.” If only someone would read to him the words of David in Psalm 101: 7 saying, “He who works deceit shall not dwell in My house. He who tells lies shall not continue in My presence.” This would scare a seeker of the Lord. Trump has his own god.

We are watching a combining of Flag Day, our Nation’s 250th year of independence, and Trump’s birthday. And we are seeing who he is in the display of this garish spectacle. In actuality, this is no different than his grifts of selling phones that won’t be delivered, to sneakers, to bibles, to watches, to digital trading cards, to victory gold medallions and so much more. All under the guise of God and country. All the while injustice increases. Proverbs 28:5 says, “Evil men do not understand justice.” We are told to abstain from all evil, not follow it. 

Commodus used similar ploys to distract the public. Increase in brutality in the Roman Colosseum. Some said a million animals were sacrificed in fights with gladiators. And then the start of using Christians as fodder for wild animals. There was money for those in power, but the country was being bankrupted. The cost of the games put on to distract was exorbitant. All the while allies were falling away and invaders like the Goths, Germanic tribes, and other invaders took advantage of a nation weakened by greed and excess. This was the beginning of the end of the Roman Empire. Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

We already have allowed barbarians at our gates. We turn a blind eye to extreme brutality and murder by ICE agents. We see foreigners gain quick acceptance into our country if they are of the same mindset as Trump and willing to do his bidding. And some of them have the billions to do this before our eyes. And they must show an affinity for the political maneuvering acceptable to Trump. And yes, they are usually white. Our acceptance of the sin of racism, elitism, maligning those without power to fight back, stealing from the poor to further pad the pockets of the uber wealthy, sitting back while the anti-Christ work of Christian Nationalism gains traction, and closing our eyes to the evil of pedophilia has opened our gates to evil. We have basically allowed the Vandals to do as they want as long as they don’t hurt us. Delusion has dulled our senses to what is before our eyes.

So, do we hear the words, “Are You Not Entertained” from one who resembles all the evil in Roman rulers like Commodus, Domitian and Nero? Could we even imagine what words we would hear if our founding fathers like Jefferson, Adams, Madison, Washington, and Franklin could attend this display of debauchery? Yet, here we are. We must stand in this time of adversity. We must remember that to be silent is to be complicit. We must remember the words of Peter in Acts 5 telling us we must obey God rather than men. 

Paul warns us in Ephesians 5 to let no one deceive you with empty words for God’s wrath will come upon the sons of disobedience. Do not partake. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them. We must be ever vigilant. I have no part in this ungodly spectacle other than to speak to it. Nor should you. Stand and pray without ceasing. Blessings.

Lavinia

I am perplexed by the consistent reports of certain congressmen saying they will read the list of people spoken of as perpetrators of evil in the Epstein files. Yet we move on without this happening. Great monied interests seem to be influencing what we can or cannot be privilege to. And those girls who were raped and abused are now women still being silenced. They have been threatened and their lives have been put on hold. While those that committed these horrific crimes are still in positions of power and continue to accrue wealth. So, when I read proverbs 28:13 saying “Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper” I must realize that this is not focusing completely on money. A price will be paid.

In the play Titus Andronicus by Shakespeare, we see a similar depiction of such evil played out in graphic extremes. We see opposing factions seeking vengeance for wrongs suffered. As an act of revenge, two brothers rape Lavinia, the daughter of Titus Andronicus. To conceal their crime, they cut off Lavinia’s hands and cut out her tongue so she cannot reveal who her attackers were. Despite her inability to speak or write, Lavinia uses a staff to write the names of her attackers in the sand and points to a story in a book to communicate her violation. The brothers are killed by Titus and their bones ground to dust and baked in a pie and fed to the mother of the two rapists. Horror filled and graphic. But so was the initial crime.

We can look at all that has been done to the victims of Epstein and his cronies and see that they have been similarly violated as Lavinia was. To this point their words speaking to their abusers are as if they cannot be heard. Their voices have been silenced in that no amount of sharing the horrid details and pointing to the abusers can be heard. They to this point have been muted. Their hands cannot point to those who perpetrated these horrific acts of child sexual abuse because these despicable men are cloaked with a veil of secrecy from powerful interests. Even from some beyond Epstein and Trump that will probably surprise many. Countries like England, Norway, France, Poland, and Slovakia have started prosecution of men involved with Epstein yet here in America there seems to be no end of excuses and cover up for those who committed this evil. We have watched as one of the architects of the Epstein crimes, Ghislaine Maxwell, has been moved to a much more comfortable jail and is listening to talk of a pardon from Trump. And the woman who brought much of this crime to light, Virginia Maxwell, committed suicide. It’s no longer who will speak for her. Who will demand justice?

We read in Numbers 23 that your sin will find you out. And Jesus tells us in Luke 8:17, “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to the light.” Yet will we see these women cast aside and ignored while men of privilege use their power and money to cover their crime? Will it be no different from Lavinia who was mutilated to be kept silent? Or will these women find their cries heard even if they must point to a story or draw names in the sand to expose their violators? It is time for this to be unveiled. It is past time for so many in the church to stand and say no more. This evil will be judged. I pray we continue to pray without ceasing. I pray we stand. Blessings.

Sonnet 29

I recently watched a recitation from memory of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29 by Dame Judi Dench the marvelous English actor. She was quite moved by this sonnet and one could see tears as she read it. It speaks to one in despair. One crying out to a deaf heaven. But in the end remembering their beloved and having their spirits lifted. Remembering and grasping a love of such immense wealth that the speaker feels enough content to scorn trading places with a king.

It should be noted that Shakespeare in his will said, “I command my soul into the hands of God my Creator, hoping and believing, through the merits of Jesus Christ my savior, to be made partaker of life everlasting.”

Sonnet 29:
“When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
I alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to no one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
(Like to the lark at break of day arising from sullen earth)
Sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.”

In this sonnet we can hear the cries of David in Psalm 13 where he asks the Lord, “How long O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Yet he says I will trust in Your mercy. Or in Psalm 30 where David cries to the Lord saying, “You hid your face and I was troubled.” Yet he still hopes in God. And Psalm 31 where David cries to the Lord saying, “You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities but ends with “He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the Lord.”

We are in troubling times. There are those that go about proclaiming His word but walk contrary to all God has commanded. We are told that we do not fight against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers. Against rulers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness. (Ephesians 6) But still this battle against that which seeks to set up a kingdom of demonic forces making its presence known in Christian nationalism and maga Christianity has become oppressively wearisome. I have to remind myself who I trust in. I know the end of this battle. Yet the constant and increasing evil seen daily in this country can cause spiritual fatigue. I daily recite Psalm 130:5-6 “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord, More than those who watch for the morning- Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.” We must pray without ceasing. In all things I seek Him. Stand. Blessings.

Idols

Psalm 115:4-8 says, “Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat; Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them.”

Throughout the presidencies of Donald Trump, he has lusted after images of his own likeness. No different from Stalin, Saddam Hussein, or Mao. No different than Nebuchadnezzar in the book of Daniel. Making an image of oneself and hoping people will bow to it. To worship it. As if that alone would cause one to respect you. The more people see your image and feel the need to worship it by any means, the greater your power. With Trump, it is about power and the grift. Making money from anything you can sell that bears your name. Sadly, there were people that were on hand to see the unveiling of a gold statue of Trump at his Doral golf club in Miami. Evangelical Pastor Mark Burns led a dedication ceremony for it. It seems that this pastor used bible white out on the passages in Daniel where Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose being thrown into a raging fire than to bow to an idol. Some people say this isn’t to that degree, but it is. Trump looks to be worshipped. He’ll even sign your bible…for a price.

The prophet Habakkuk asks what profit does one obtain from this idol worship seeing it’s a molded image, a teacher of lies. There is no breath in it. As the Apostle Paul warns, flee from idolatry. Do not entertain even a thought that it’s not harmful. Yet so many today just shrug and foolishly believe there is no harm in this. Every idol made by man will be no different than Dagon in 1 Samuel 5, the god of the Philistines that fell before the presence of the Lord and lost its hands and head. An image conjured by man and made with hands that look to another god. And if we worship images made by corruptible man, know that God will give you over to the debased mind you appear to possess.

Charles Spurgeon wrote that the flesh sets up its altars wherever it can find them. He asked “Why are we so bewitched with vanities? We pity the poor heathen who adore a god of stone, and yet worship a god of gold. Where is the vast superiority between a god of flesh and one of stone? The principle, the sin, the folly is the same in either case, only that in ours the crime is more aggravated because we have more light, and sin in the face of it. The heathen bows to a false deity, but the true God he has never known; we commit two evils, inasmuch as we forsake the living God and turn into idols. May the Lord purge us from this grievous iniquity.”

We must take a stand for righteousness. Cast off and reject all that is being presented to us on a daily basis that is so obvious in its anti-christ spirit. Seeking to separate us from His presence. Yet many evangelical ministers and prophets still maintain the lie that Trump is sent by God and is God’s man. Reject this lie. As I’ve stated before, you do not want to be embracing anything from this diabolical man when God speaks His judgement. While it is yet today, separate yourself from this idol worship. If you’ve supported his self-serving sin, repent. Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. As stated in 1 John 5:21, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” Stand. Blessings.

Sirens

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth and be turned aside to fables.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

In Homer’s “The Odyssey,” we see Odysseus traveling a route he knows is filled with distraction and destruction. Death. He wants to travel a route he knows he should avoid. It’s one inhabited by Sirens, the mythical creatures that lure sailors to their death on the rocks they inhabit. But Odysseus wanted to be the first to hear the voice of the Sirens and live. So, he had his men fill their ears with beeswax so as not to be lured into the rocks. But he had his men tie him to the mast and promise to not untie him no matter how much he pleaded. By doing this, Odysseus rendered himself incapable of rational thought and experienced severe anguish and temporary insanity. He could have lost his life and the life of his men. This situation, though fiction, mirrors much of what we see in real life.

We have been given all we need for a life and a path that will keep us from the pitfall of following a doctrine of demons. But many still depart. They seek to follow the sound of the Sirens. Wishing to hear that fabled discordant voice luring them to a path of ruin and death. We somehow entertain those who speak a gospel that wars against that of what Christ taught. We watch as proud and ungodly people push an agenda that is destitute of truth, all the while enriching themselves. Paul tells us in 1 Timothy to withdraw from such people. Yet they are still given charge of the helm of this vessel that is America. And we’re listening to the Sirens.

We watch as many in the evangelical church have decided to make a shortcut to the second coming of Jesus. Doesn’t matter that Jesus says only the Father knows the time. But Sirens are giving directions to take over all the seven mountains of our government, and when the church is in charge, we’ll obviously hasten the return of Jesus. Or, we can make laws that put America First Christians in charge of everything and forgetting the tenets of love thy neighbor or take care of the poor, the homeless, or those in need of food or medicine. Those are tenets that can be washed up on the rocks like the dead sailors lured by the Sirens. Same demonic voice. And we’re coming to a place and time where we will look for help in the midst of our anti-Christ behavior and will hear the most heart-breaking words that could be spoken… “I never knew you. Depart from Me you who practice lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:23)

We must change course. We cannot entertain even the thought of listening to a voice that will drive our vessel onto the rocks. Our country. Our church. Our lives. That which we’re hearing on a daily basis is not some auditory phenomenon. It is voiced by our adversary the devil who is a liar. Why would you follow such a ruinous path? We’re told to be sober minded and to watch as our adversary seeks to devour us. The Psalmist warns us in Psalm 81 that the Lord would give us over to our stubborn heart and walk in our own counsel. Not His. I pray His counsel be our guide. That our ears be closed to the voice contrary to His word. That there be supernatural beeswax to close our ears to all the obvious evil masquerading as acceptable to Him. Pray for His voice to be the one that steers us. Cast off every direction trying to impersonate Jesus. Pray without ceasing. Blessings.

Undertow

Many years ago, when I was 14, I was with my family on vacation in Morehead City, North Carolina. I had ventured out into the ocean and was enjoying myself. But suddenly I was being pulled away from shore. I was caught in a rip current. I was not even aware of this deadly phenomenon. As a boy I was on a swim team and was a strong swimmer. But that was in pools and this was different. And I had no knowledge of how to react when caught in this dangerous situation. I tried swimming straight to shore. A wrong move. I was getting tired and then a bit scared. I was being pulled farther out to sea. I waved and yelled toward shore. No one seemed to notice. Including the life guard. I was losing strength and hope that I’d overcome whatever was pulling me away from safety. Suddenly something pushed me forcibly through whatever forces held me. It wasn’t my time.

I told my parents some of what had transpired and was just told to stay near shore. Looking up, I saw the lifeguard appeared to have seen nothing, even with his vantage point. I’ve realized over the years that there was angelic intervention that pushed me out of what held me. I wish there was such forceful intervention many other times in my life where I’d gotten into difficult situations of my own making. There very well may have been.

I feel this is so similar to where we are spiritually in our country right now. Except we are fighting even against spiritual help. Like we are warned in Hebrews 2, we need to give much more attention to that which is spiritually eroding in our lives and in our country lest we drift away. There is an undercurrent that is so diabolical and deadly that has been allowed into every facet of our lives and our world. And so many seem to willingly embrace it even though it will bring death. Physically and spiritually. This undercurrent is most dangerous as it moves away from shore. Out to sea. Like so many false teachings that appear safe on the surface, but below is a current bringing you to ruin.

These undercurrents of lies and that which is contrary to what Christ teaches us look to 1) Cause compromise. Get you to accept a little that is off all the while waiting to pull you toward spiritual ruin. 2) Give you a sense of false security. Sounds and looks like the Word so it must be safe. But as it says in Proverbs 14:12, its end is death. 3) Accept wrong doctrine. On the surface certain words and mannerisms appear to mimic that which the Word says but it is based on lies and duplicity of the devil to cause you to follow a path of deception. 4) Apathy starts to creep in and what we once felt strongly about no longer has importance in our spiritual walk. 5) Spiritual exhaustion from wrong theology starts to wear you down and you no longer stand and fight against what you know is wrong, nor do you seek to hold onto the truth which is your life-giving force.

Just like the lifeguard, your vantage point for better sight makes no difference when your vision has become compromised. And even your spiritual family may not be looking out for your safety through prayer and warnings. We have cast off the warnings Paul gave the church of Galatia in that we have followed again after false teaching when all that is necessary for life is right before you. Yet you, by your actions and beliefs, desire to go back into bondage. And that pulls you farther out into an ocean of bewitchment of the evil of this world.

Just look at how many ministries are walking contrary to the ways of our Lord. Teaching doctrines of demons. Embracing leaders who are the epitome of those who teach and follow a doctrine of Baal. Casting off the Sermon on the Mount. Not caring for the poor or marginalized. Enriching themselves. Standing in solidarity with those who cover up pedophilia. And agreeing with wars to distract. Many of them are falling. More to come. As Oswald chambers said, “The most pitiable of all these wrecks are those inside the harbor.” They are visible to all if you care to watch and learn from their mistakes. Hold onto the words spoken by the Apostle John. “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” Press into Him. Pray without ceasing. Blessings.

Adonijah Spirit

Two weeks ago, I was awakened by the Lord early in the morning. He started showing me a parallel between Adonijah, a son of King David, and the spirit that was in him causing him to cast off God in his quest for power. The next night, the Lord again awakened me and showed me how Adonijah grieved the Holy Spirit and how that is being done by leaders in our country today. All for power and self.

In 1 Kings 1 we see a King David that is old and soon to die. Advanced in years and unable to stay warm. The servants of David searched throughout Israel to find one to look over David and keep him warm. They found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king. In her we see a symbolic parallel to the Holy Spirit. She was a caregiver. Quiet and humble. Not looking to draw attention to herself. A caretaker that embodies the goodness of the Spirit of the Lord. This was not an arrangement like that with other Kings who had a caretaker in their last days. David never knew her. (1 Kings 1:4)

After King David died, Adonijah sought the kingship of his father. But it was promised to David’s son, Solomon. So Adonijah sought to work behind the scenes to take the kingship. When he became aware that his brother Solomon had been anointed King by Nathan the prophet and Zadok the priest, he sought underhanded means to gain power. He asked for Abishag, the Shunammite woman who was King David’s caretaker, as his wife. This would give him standing and maybe a chance to usurp the throne. His evil plans were thwarted and his life was forfeited. And today we watch as so many use the name of the Holy Spirit to try to attain power and influence. This will not end well.

Today we watch and listen to people who compare Donald Trump to Jesus. We see people like Paula White and Franklin Graham extol the virtues of Trump and are basically saying he walks in the blessings of the Holy Spirit. One like Jesus. We listen to constant profane and deranged messages daily from Trump. We see him attack any religious leader who does not stand with him and his ongoing war of words with the Pope who has called him out for his ungodly ways. And we just recently saw Trump post a picture of himself as Jesus the healer. Only He can heal you. But with the backlash, he’s now saying that was a picture of him as a doctor.  

What we see today in our country, especially with maga Christianity/politics, is that same spirit that operated in Adonijah. No sin is too wicked if it gets what you want. That Adonijah spirit is seen in all who would basically prostitute the Holy Spirit if it could attain power for you. Jesus said in Matthew 12:31-32, “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or the age to come.” Yet so many have no fear when they equate the works of the Holy Spirit to men looking to gain power. To men seeking greater riches. To men who care nothing for their fellow man and look for ways to harm the disenfranchised. To steal from. To murder. To cover up the rape of children. To do whatever evil one can to maintain power.

We are at a place where there is scant time left to cast off this wickedness. To call out those who openly display that Adonijah spirit seen in so many today. To walk from it and in no way provide anything that shows support. Even remaining silent in the face of this grieves the Holy Spirit. All unrighteousness is sin, but this spirit that would use His Spirit to gain power will call for a terrible reckoning. Turn from this now. To not turn away is to physically embrace one who has the most virulent form of leprosy.  But still, we should realize it is not as terrible for what awaits one who would use the Holy Spirit like Trump and his minions.

We are of God and He has given us understanding to what is true. Yet we see that the world is under the sway of the wicked one. Recognize this Adonijah spirit that would prostitute the Holy Spirit for power. Turn from it. Keep yourselves from idols. Pray without ceasing. Stand! Blessings.

Folly

I see a fitting parallel by the choice of our country’s allies today opting to sit back and not participate in another Trump international folly to that of King Jehoshaphat in 850 B.C. They have seen a mad king look to garner more power and riches for himself. And they have watched him expect their obeisance when he just said they had never done anything for the United States. This said after many countries had given the lives of their service people to come to our aid after 9/11. Yet Trump expects blind loyalty and in anger threatens to leave NATO over this perceived slight. And our allies now sit and watch the idiocy of madmen unfold.

King Jehoshaphat of Judah made the mistake of aligning with evil King Ahaziah of Israel, the son of Ahab and Jezebel. Jehoshaphat had previously been warned by the prophet Jehu to not help the wicked or show love to those who hate the Lord. He didn’t etch those words in his memory. So once again he went along with a request to aid the evil King Ahaziah and send his ships along with Israel on a venture in Tarshish to secure gold. These riches would help secure their economic prosperity and lead to more world power. But God sent a storm and totally destroyed the ships before they could set sail. A great financial loss. And God sent a prophet, Eliezer, to tell Jehoshaphat, “Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, the Lord has destroyed your works.”

How many countries that have always aligned themselves with America now sit back and weigh each situation because of the lies and treachery of Trump and those he surrounds himself with? They have wisely opted to not take a major role in this war of convenience for Trump. A war to gain personal power. To attempt to frighten those that stand against him. To acquire more wealth. With no care as to the innocents killed or the loss of lives of our service people when we previously had a treaty in place (the JCPOA that Trump withdrew from in 2018) giving us oversight of Iran’s nuclear abilities. The right to send in inspectors. And we supposedly had already “obliterated” all their capabilities 8 months ago. So much for that doing the trick. And now all Americans are paying a price.

We can expect more obfuscating at the highest levels in our government. More outright lies. More timelines changed to fit a fictitious narrative. These nations we call allies are wise to stand back from this evil of Trump. Proverbs 16:5 says, “Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.” And even in all this evil and death, Trump is looking to gain riches. Proverbs 21:6 warns us, “Getting treasures by a lying tongue is the fleeting fantasy of those who seek death.” And this is folly. A war of Trump’s own choosing. As we are warned in Ephesians 5:11, “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.” And this is darkness and evil from one in Donald Trump in whom no good thing resides. We must take a stand against all this evil so present in our country right now. We must pray without ceasing. Do not repeat the folly of King Jehoshaphat and align with that which has no place in God. Blessings.

Slain in the Spirit

A most revealing truth regarding the deity of the man Jesus Christ is revealed in John 18. Jesus has just agonized in prayer, sweating great drops of blood, in the Garden of Gethsemane. Judas comes to betray Jesus with a detachment of Roman troops. Some believe it could have been 500-600 men. Either way, a large group of soldiers. Jesus asks them who they are seeking. They answer, “Jesus of Nazareth.” He answers with words and a phrase indicating who He was and the power and authority He walked in. He said “I Am He.” At that point all the soldiers, and Judas, fell to the ground. They could not stand in even the briefest presence of His authority being revealed.

This is often cited as the origin of the phrase “slain in the spirit.” No one could stand in the revealed presence of the Lord. John, the beloved disciple, the one who laid his head on Jesus’ breast, could not stand before His majesty and authority in Revelations 1:17. When John saw Jesus in all His power and majesty, he said “I fell at his feet as dead.” Yet the Roman soldiers and Judas still arrested Jesus after they got up. It seems incredulous that they could be this addled, but this was allowed.

From this most holy and fearful moment in time, the church used the phrase “slain in the spirit” to explain people falling under the power of the Holy Spirit, especially when the one ministering to people laid hands on them. At times, this phenomenon was quite powerful. People would be laid out for minutes to extended periods of time. They could experience extreme peace, to shaking, to heat, to trembling, to electricity coursing through their body. This was common and became an expected sign at many church meetings. People were delivered from great problems to physical healing. But after a while, some came more for the signs than for the presence of the Lord. Some even fell back to avoid having hands laid on them, and some did it out of expectation that this was what you were supposed to do. I’ve experienced this and know it was real. I’ve seen great signs and wonders during this, but it came to be misused. I’ve witnessed it being misused too often. And now it seems some of that Holy Spirit power that once seemed to be so present, has become infrequent in presence and power. Quite sad. When present, it’s glorious.

I feel what is most important to note is that all those soldiers and Judas were not ripped from their evil appointed task by sheer awareness of the presence of God. “I Am” was right before them. He touched them. Yet they continued on their hell-bent mission. And today we watch as so many who claim to know Jesus follow doctrines of demons. They have no problem with ignoring the poor or hating their neighbor. Of justifying one who sits in our oval office free and protected of crimes of sexual misconduct, lying, stealing, grifting, using the name of the Lord for his own interests, and covering up the crimes of pedophilia. We have His story before us to know the true path, yet so many follow the path of the evil one. And they do so while proudly wearing a cross. While loudly claiming to know Him.

The great “I Am” is coming soon. Many believers will spend Easter acknowledging what Jesus did. But many need to realize they’ve been following a different gospel. A Jesus of their own making. A gospel that will not stand when placed before Him. All will bow before Him. It’s best to do so now. While it is yet today do not harden your hearts or remain on a path that leads you away from His truth. Endeavor to enter His rest. To fall before Him in love and worship. He is worthy. Blessings.

Words We Speak

We often, in fits of pique, speak things so contrary to what we as Christians are taught to say. Hopefully those are aberrations and not our norm. We so often can be put on display whereby people can see us or read us as living epistles. One set aside as ministers of the one we say we worship, Jesus Christ. Where thoughts contrary to His teachings can be cast down and brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians10). Yet, as is spoken in Romans 3:23, “We all sin and fall short of the glory of God.”

But we also see in Romans 1 that many do fall considerably short. Many are filled with unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness. They are backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving and unmerciful. This is a good part of the character that we find in Donald Trump. And these disgusting personality traits are becoming more on display each day. The words “love your adversaries” is not something he cares to understand.

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt or unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only that which is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear.” Former FBI chief Robert Mueller just recently died. He led the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election that Trump won. Mueller was a man of integrity. He served under 5 administrations, both republican and democrat. A former Marine who served in Vietnam and was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor and a Purple Heart. He’s in the Ranger Hall of Fame. He was a man of faith and decency. A tireless public servant. Unassuming. Yet on the day of his death we hear more evil from Donald Trump saying, “Good. I’m glad he’s dead. Now he can no longer hurt innocent people.” Trump of course is referring to himself as innocent of any wrongdoing.

I’m still looking for the “Evangelical Christians” to speak to this constant double standard they have for Trump. 2 Corinthians 5 tells us that if we are in Christ, we are new creations. The old man must be put away. We become new creations. I realize this doesn’t happen overnight, but there is no scripture you can show me where some people are exempt from ever having to put on Christ. To cast off the old man of sin. To not weigh each word that proceeds from our mouth. When Proverbs 17:5b says, “He who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished,” I cannot find a verse that refutes that. We reap what we sow and Donald trump has sown to the flesh his entire life. Yet his defenders in the faith are too numerous to be numbered.

The Apostle James asks us if a spring can send forth both fresh and bitter water from the same opening. Yet we do that with our words. And the same people that say they bless God, use the same mouth to steadfastly bless Trump. They invent and justify ways to glorify him. They say anything from “he’s sent by God, one who will bring in Jesus and win Armageddon,” to “he’s a baby Christian and not responsible for his conduct.” We are responsible for our words and deeds. And thank God we can come before Him and repent and be cleansed. Yet in Trump we’ve found one that has nothing to repent of. Time to realize that there is none without sin and words do matter. We must come before Him and confess always. The deity Trump worships does not care about repentance. Only about doing that which is contrary to Christ. Step away from this man of perdition and seek His embrace. Cast off every word that does not produce life. Pray without ceasing. Stand. Blessings.