Stand My Watch

The hearing ear and the seeing eye ~ the Lord made them both (ESV Proverbs 20:12). It’s sad we tend to hear and see what we want, or what others present to us, rather than make an informed decision based on His precepts. With all we read of the words of Christ and the wisdom and life giving knowledge that can be ingested, we are no different than the person who, with a healthy, organic feast placed before them, instead opts for a meal of fast food. Proverbs 2:2 says, “Make your ears attentive to wisdom and your heart to understanding.” It’s hard to do that when we have a steady diet of foolish babblings from every corner disguised as wisdom. But it is incumbent upon us to know the difference between what is actually truth and wisdom and that which is lies, innuendo and the voice of evil to lead us astray.

G .K. Chesterton said “There’s a lot of difference between listening and hearing.” Few seem to know the difference. The ability to truly listen and hear comes with spiritual maturity and heeding His command to pay attention to what He says. We are not to lean on what others may say with words that tickle the ears. These words may hit a nerve, but they lack any profound depth. As I’ve said before, the ditches are filled with those who follow after those who speak empty promises and appeal to our more ignoble instincts. The issue to be questioned is what is in us that would cause us to follow things we should be rejecting outright.

People everywhere are desperate for someone to truly hear what they have to say. The problem is that too many listen only so they can then give their opinion as a comeback. They are not hearing. Most people are then basically repeating what they already thought. They lost the opportunity to learn something and squandered the opportunity to help someone. You’d be surprised how much you can help someone by listening without the need to reply or judge what they’re saying. I’ve had conversations for up to two hours with people I’ve counseled or just friends that needed someone to be there, and probably spoke no more than 10-15 minutes. The quieter you are, the better you hear, and the more someone might actually feel they have been heard. Too many reply because they love the sound of their own voice. The ESV translation states, “If one gives an answer before he hears, it is to his folly and shame.” But turn on any debate on cable news and it’s becoming rarer to hear someone actually give a cogent reply to what was just said. Their response was ready to be said regardless of what they heard.

In Mark 4:3 in the parable of the sower, the first word Jesus spoke was “Listen” and was highlighted with an exclamation point. He said multiple times that we have ears to hear but we do not. The Pharisees were given every chance to hear Him but did not. They spent their time trying to trick Him into saying something they could use against Him. Sounds quite like what we hear in politics and the church today. Senior Pastor Andy Stanley of North Point Community Church said, “Leaders who don’t listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing to say.” But people continue to talk incessantly without once thinking about listening. This only leads to misunderstanding, quarrels and contention. Kingdom dynamics are pushed aside. Getting one’s way and getting in the last word are all that seems to matter.

James 1:19 says “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” Bridle your tongue and open your ears. The Lord spoke through Solomon in Proverbs 4:20 and said, “Pay attention to My words and incline your ear to My sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; For they are LIFE to those who find them, and HEALTH to all their flesh.” There is a pervasive sickness throughout our country. Take hold of His words and LISTEN. Blessings.

I have not written on my blog for awhile. But, I have been listening intently. With all the noise and chaos swirling about all of us in this country and in this world, one has to hear very carefully. So much masquerades as truth or wisdom from far too many people. Having ultra-keen senses can give one an advantage. For Ted Williams, it was his eyesight. He said he could see the spin on the baseball as it approached him at home plate. He was probably the greatest hitter ever. Derek Jeter had the ability to be in the right place at the right time to make important plays. His sense of timing was impeccable. For some reason, hearing/listening is not valued as it should be. Too many people are busy speaking or allowing their emotions to affect what they hear and then respond out of that mindset. As it has been said, the word “listen” contains the same letters as “silent.” There is far too little of both.

We read of just a tiny percentage of conversations Jesus had with His disciples. He told them, and all who listened in Matthew 13, that they were blessed for what they were hearing with the parable of the sower. In Mark 8, He told His disciples they had ears but did not hear, nor did they remember what He had done with the miracle of multiplying the bread and fish. We still do that. We hear something that we know is true and valid. But then something happens that angers us or causes emotions to weigh in, and it’s as if that actual truth that we heard before has somehow become lost to us. Our understanding becomes dull and incapable of reason. The disciples were keyed in to His words and teachings, yet so many things were different than they were used to hearing.   And so many miracles were being done before their eyes, they at times could not fathom the depths. They had a difficult time hearing and seeing what was right before them. In Matthew 17, the disciples should have been listening to what was transpiring during the miraculous transfiguration. Peter allowed his own understanding to provide an answer and God basically told him to be quiet and to listen to Jesus. That got their attention. But that was then. They still missed all He was telling them to prepare them for what was coming.

Today, and especially in this political climate, so many are weighing in with what they are telling you God is saying about all we see and hear. So many speak from the dictates of their own hearts, and for many they are setting up their own mini kingdoms. They will crumble and be seen for what they are. God has supplied all that is necessary to weigh what should be viewed as righteous and accepted as His will. If it does not line up with His word, then it must be rejected. Do not follow blindly. There are enough people who lack the ability to hear Him that are already in that ditch. It’s getting quite full. As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:7, “There is a time to remain silent and a time to speak.” We really need to keep quiet and listen right now. Jesus said His sheep hear His voice. How can you hear if so many other voices have your ear?

Isaiah 30:15 says “In quietness and confidence shall be your strength.” He is telling us that a sense of comfort and knowing is ours if we can quiet ourselves before Him. There are so many disparate voices vying for our attention. It’s like walking into a stereo shop to hear a pair of quality speakers, but every other speaker and system is on at the same time. There is no way you can make an informed decision as to what speakers to purchase. A high end stereo shop will have a private room that is soundproof. Only the speakers you wish to hear will be heard. It’s the same with hearing today. Too much external stimuli. And so much is pure crappola. Realize that even a fool can appear wise when they remain quiet. But one who listens and measures what they hear to His word will find truth and wisdom and maybe peace.

We must try to emulate a young boy named Samuel in 1 Samuel 3. After the Lord called to him twice, he answered the third time, “Speak, your servant hears.” He fined tuned his listening. He heard, even though this was new to him and there was much chaos in the land. We can do that also. James 1:19 says, “Be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.” We all must follow that. Blessings.

 

We all have immigrant roots, and at one time we were all immigrants. One would never know that the original inhabitants of this land called America ever had any status. They were treated shamefully. Even today, things promised them are empty words. Harsher restrictions, fueled by xenophobic furor and hatred, are being talked about as solutions to our immigrant problem. It’s a complex predicament that we are now ALL part of. How we respond will show what type of people/Christians we are.

My maternal grandparents emigrated here from the small towns of Falbaterra and Frosinone, Italy in 1911. They landed at Ellis Island. They married soon after arriving and eventually settled in Barrington, R.I. They spoke no English. They never really got past “broken English.” But they had a dream to settle in America and start a family and hope for a better life. But it was a hard life. Louis worked extremely hard as a laborer in mason work, and Maria was a housewife and mom to seven children. The three oldest girls had to quit high school and go to work to help with expenses for the family. Even being poor, and with no education to hope for a better job paying more money, they managed to buy a home. That’s impossible for so many today in the U.S. The fourth child, Gene, quit high school and joined the army after World War 2 started. He had a tough time of it in the Pacific theater, but all he wanted was to get home alive and see his dad. That was not to be. Louis Santilli died of a heart attack while Gene was still in the Pacific. Gene was awarded a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for his service. He never spoke of it. We only found out in January of 2016 when he died, just two weeks shy of his 97^th birthday. His younger brother found them in a box of his things. My mother, Tresa, was the 5^th child and was the first to graduate high school. Her younger sister, Flora, and younger brother, Louis, also graduated high school. Louis went into the Air Force and then went on to college. He did so well that he made Who’s Who in America. He still lives in the family home.

The American dream is so visualized in this family. All of the cousins in this family that started with the Santillis are still close and stay in touch. The Christian ethic of treating your neighbor well and doing unto others as you would have them do to you is alive and well in this family. Leviticus 19:33 and Deuteronomy 10:18-19 speak a commandment from the Lord that is an ongoing theme throughout the bible. “He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing. Therefore love the stranger, for you were once strangers in the land of Egypt.” Jeremiah 7 speaks of not oppressing the strangers and fatherless, and in Malachi 3, a stern warning is given to those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and those who turn away an alien. In Luke 10, it’s significant that Jesus uses the story of the Samaritan, a people despised by the Jews, as an example of love and compassion for a wounded, half dead Jew attacked by thieves. They didn’t like the parable, but Jesus told them to go and do likewise. He told us to love our neighbor. He made no exceptions.

Today, immigration, and how we treat these people, is a hot topic causing many to be angry and looking to enact laws to harm. I do not agree in open borders. I believe people from certain countries must be thoroughly vetted. But is everyone who’s deficient in English a person who should not be allowed in? Does your country of origin or race or creed dictate whether or not we’ll let you come to the U.S.? We need to do some soul searching. My grandparents came here under conditions many won’t tolerate today. Back then, they were seen by some as Wops, Dagos, Guineas and Guidos. We have similar and much worse names for so many people today that we feel are different from us. That’s really sad. But in the midst of all these things spoken about people we would rather not have near us because they are different, we need to check our hearts. Are we contributing to the hatred? Do we sit back and do nothing when all the vile rhetoric and still echoing political campaign promises sound a discordant note? If so, then we are helping to perpetuate evil. I have written before of how Paul told us in Philippians 2 that we were to be as shining lights in the universe. Offering words of eternal life. It is impossible to do that when hatred spews from our mouths. How we treat others can even cause us to either entertain or reject angels. We never know who every stranger is. If we walk as a believer, it will be seen by others. Jesus said the two most important commandments were we must love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind and we shall love our neighbor as yourself. You cannot separate them. Remember, we are all one if we are in Christ. We are heirs to the promise. There is an ever growing evil that looks to have us take part in a belief that sows hate and discord. It is not Christ. Examine yourself by His standards to see if you are in the faith. I thank God for Louis and Maria Santilli. I am thankful America opened the door of hope and promise to them all those years ago. We still are a land of promise. Blessings.

SHINE! That’s what I’ve been hearing that the Church must do and we are the church. John Lennon said that “We all shine on. Like the moon and the stars and the sun.” But most of us don’t. Matt Redman said “We will shine like stars in the universe. Holding out Your truth in the darkest place.” That’s much closer to where things are. No matter how dark or dismal it seems, we are to follow what Christ said in Matthew 5 when He told us that “You are the light of the world. You are to shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Something needs to burst forth in us so that light is released!

In Judges 7, Gideon is listening to God’s orders in preparation for war against the Midianites and the Amalekites. The army of Gideon is finally pared down to 300 so that all would know that it was God, not man, that brought this victory. Each man carried a sword which can be seen as a metaphor for the word of God in Ephesians 6. They also carried an empty pitcher in which they would put a torch, and upon breaking, would burst forth and shine. At the command to attack, they all yelled, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” They then broke the pitchers and ran into battle with a sword in one hand and a torch in the other. The enemy was routed. This is what we are to envision when we face great odds and overwhelming circumstances. We must embrace what the Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not us.” When He touches us to reveal His son to others, we are actually broken open to overflow to those He has appointed for us to touch with His glory. As a vessel of God, this light that has been revealed must shine forth.

No matter what the odds, we have Christ in us, the hope of glory. Quitting, because we feel beat down and persecuted, is not an option. Even though we feel our outer person is wearing out, we need to remember that our inner being is being renewed daily. We need to believe that we are overcomers. That regardless of the circumstances, we will stand. We all watch and read things on a daily basis that cause us to wonder what will become of this world and our place in it. What we believe in and who we follow is crucial to overcoming. Read Isaiah 58 and see that we are required to watch for the less fortunate and at all times do your best to worship the Lord. Then your light shall break forth like the morning. And He will guide you. Jesus said in Luke 8 that we are to shine forth. We are not to be put under a basket, but on a lampstand for all to see. But to some, you may appear as a nuisance and they will try to extinguish you. Now, more than any period in a long time, we need to stand up and proclaim who we are. If you wish to follow what man says, then expect to be quite disappointed when you see the end result. Many, who say they represent Christ, are walking hand in hand with politicians and merchandisers and will lead you into a ditch. That is counterfeit light. And all that shines there is a spirit of deception.

Ephesians 5:8 says, “You were once in darkness but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children light.”  We are to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of those who remain shrouded in darkness. Speak truth that will expose what they are doing. Remember, Jesus promised us that if you follow Him you will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. And that which is being perpetrated by so many that are called to be leaders, is to only cause confusion and division. In the midst of brutal and perverse culture, be innocent of evil and that which harms your fellow man. Represent Christ so that He is seen in you and attracts, rather than repels, those who are lost. As it says in Philippians 2:15, “Appear among them as shining lights in the universe, offering them the words of eternal life.” Blessings.

Someone says to you, “follow me.” Do you know what that entails? Where are they going? What is it that they want from you? What will be the cost of following them? After all these years of doing things a certain way, do I just make a drastic change in my life, and forsaking all, just follow that person?

In the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Jesus posed this question to His disciples. In most cases the word for “follow” was the Greek word “Akoloutheo.” It basically is an invitation, but also an exhortation to follow Him. This man, Jesus, who tells them that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, is showing them a new path. It leads to all they’ve heard or read about, but it’s a scary path into the unknown. Following this Christ is going to upset a lot of people. Especially religious people. But these new followers have been doing things a certain way for a long time. But in the words of Bono, they “still haven’t found what they’re looking for.” But now, here it is – and not how they’d ever imagined. This Jesus seems to not only know the Word, but is the living Word. And He seems to be able to use it at times that really upset the religious hierarchy. He’s doing things that were previously contrary to the Law. Healing on the Sabbath. Touching lepers and healing them. Talking with a Samaritan woman and even having women follow Him. But He could also be tough and to the point, as seen in His biting rebuke of Peter in Matthew 16 and in John 21. These rebukes are lessons to Peter, the disciples, and to us. Lessons that we are to be mindful of the things of God and not the world, and that even if someone else seems to be in a position where they may forgo death, we are to just pay attention to His command. “Follow Me.”

They did follow Him. Right to the cross. Then, everything seemed to be out of order. They no longer made sense. How could this be? But He had told them this would happen and that He’d return and would not leave them orphans, but give them the Holy Spirit as guide and Helper. All but one followed. Most to their deaths as martyrs. They followed when words He spoke in John 6 caused many to fall away. And that same command of “Follow Me” echoes resoundingly now. His word is still a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. But are we following this path? For some reason, too many seem to follow after darkness and shun the light.

We have the words that give truth and life before us, but we follow the dictates of an unsettled life. Anger, wrath, malice, filthy expressions of what we feel, and basic disregard for His command to love one another, while completely disregarding His words in Matthew 28 to “observe all that I’ve commanded you.” Jesus said in John 15 that we’re His friends if we do what He has commanded us to do. For some reason, people seem to believe that they can follow others who act in ways contrary to the teachings of Christ, yet still abide in the vine. That cannot happen. Rather than asking God to search our hearts and see if there is any wicked way in us, we go about carrying a banner with His name on it, while at the same time doing great harm to His Kingdom. That’s a double minded person.

Every day in the news, and constantly for the past 1 and 1/2 years, we have seen things masquerading as being in step with Jesus. They are not. Men clothe themselves in holy robes and presume to tell us that this is God’s will. Those same men, clothed in holy robes 2000 years ago, said Jesus was not to be followed and was false. What we are seeing today in politics, government and too many church circles, is to be prayed for but not followed. Judge it by the fruit you see. These trees are twice dead. Plucked up by the roots. We are either children of light or darkness. You can’t have it both ways. Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 6 that we are to avoid disputes, arguments and strife, and instead pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness. I see so little of this being done. In the book of Hebrews, we are told to pursue peace with all people. If you listen to many of our government and spiritual leaders today, you seldom hear that. A most terrible root of bitterness has grown in our midst, and no matter the command to “Follow Me” by our Lord, we are out of step. That command has no expiration date. And if you have fallen short, then repent and get right back into line. As John tells us in 3 John: 11, “Do not imitate what is evil, but what is good.” Ask God to cleanse you from even your secret faults. Jesus told us that His sheep know His voice. Do not follow the voice of another. You can truly find what you’re looking for. His way is the only way. Follow Him. Blessings.

What’s in a name? Proverbs 22:1 says “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.” One can make a grievous error and it will stick to their name forever. But we also remember the names of those who did great exploits. Most people remember that Joshua and Caleb were the only two of the twelve that were sent out to spy the land in Exodus and came back with a good report. But who remembers Shammua or Palti, or Ammiel and so on. They were three of the ten who did not believe God would be with them and came back with a bad report. They never entered the Promised Land.

It works the same way with those who were infamous for their actions. Most know Judas Iscariot was the disciple who betrayed Jesus. Most remember John Wilkes Booth was the man that assassinated President Lincoln. The saying “Your name will be mud” is most often attributed to Dr. Samuel Mudd who conspired with Booth and was sentenced to life in prison for his role. Although the saying may have originated before that, most people, when asked, believe it has to do with Dr. Mudd’s treason.

Joshua, chapter two, tells the story of Rahab the harlot. Joshua had sent out two men to spy out the land of Jericho. They lodged at her house. When the king of Jericho heard men were spying out their land and were staying with Rahab, he ordered them to be given over to him. She lied and said that they were there but had left. She hid them. Rahab did this without them asking her to hide them. She had prophetic insight. She had heard of the God of the Israelites and the many miracles and how God, in His power, was with Israel. She stated in Joshua 2:11, “And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven and on earth beneath.” Rahab asked the two men to show kindness to her and her family for her kindness. She was essential to their escape and to the necessary plans to defeat Jericho.

The men were true to their word and Rahab and her entire family was spared by her faith in this God she had heard of prior to any involvement with the Israelites that allowed. Her faith is spoken of in the New Testament book of Hebrews 11:31. And in James 2:25 she is said to be justified by her works in saving the two Israeli spies. Yet just about every time she is mentioned in the bible, she is referred to as ‘Rahab the Harlot”. You’d think the part of her name that had to do with her prior occupation could have been dropped. But amazingly, she was given great honor. She ended up staying in the midst of Israel all her days and married Salmon. Some believe he was one of the two spies she helped escape. From that union came Boaz the great grandfather of David. Rahab became part of the Davidic covenant leading to Christ. She was truly justified by her faith and her works.

This can be seen as a precursor of the promise Paul gave to his jailer in Acts 16:31 when he told him, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your whole household.” Sometimes a name is just a name. Rahab became a mother of the line that brought forth David and eventually Christ. All need to listen to what they hear of the Lord. Don’t go by the actions of some that turn you off to who He truly is. Seek Him out. He knows your name. He always has. Even before you were born. You might be surprised to see what is written about you by His recording angels. He is looking for what you do now as opposed to your past. When you ask forgiveness for your sins, He is faithful and just to not only forgive you but to cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Rahab believed without seeing and walked into His grace and wonder. The same awaits everyone. We are called as children and heirs of God.

Isaiah 43 tells us that He has called us by name. We are His. Do not remember the former things. He says He will do a new thing with us. Even making roads in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. There is no one that can reverse His works. Proverbs 3:34 says “The wise shall inherit glory.” What’s in a name? Ask Rahab when you see her. But for right now, ask Him. He gives grace and glory and will withhold no good thing from those who walk uprightly. Blessings.

Sometimes it seems like your spiritual insight into a matter or a person is better than 20/20. You meet someone and realize they are not just special, but that God has His hand on them. Andrew, the follower of John the Baptist and soon to be disciple of Jesus, had that prescient insight of who he saw Christ to be, which is evidenced in these next few illustrations.

John 6:1-13 tells the story of Jesus multiplying five barley loaves of bread and two small fish. Jesus was with His disciples by the Lake of Galilee and saw a great multitude of people that had followed Him. The number was 5000, but that was likely just a headcount of the men. It could very well have been 15,000 to 20,000 people counting women and children. Jesus then asks Philip, “Where shall we buy enough food to feed all of these people?” Jesus said this to test Philip’s faith, as He already knew what He was going to do. Philip’s reply was, “Even if we give everyone a small portion, it would cost more than 200 pieces of silver.” That was equivalent to about 8 months of wages for the average person. It was also a bit of a trip to get back to town.

Andrew had an idea and felt there was something special that might be done here. He had been a disciple of John the Baptist and had heard his teaching on the coming of the Christ. Andrew most likely witnessed John baptizing Jesus. He heard him say that this was the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. I’m sure he heard the voice of God speaking and saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Andrew knew this was the Messiah and upon invitation immediately followed Him. But Andrew also became the first evangelist for Christ and went and told his brother, Peter, “We have found the Messiah.” He then took his brother to Jesus who changed his name from Simon to Cephas, which means Peter the Rock. Andrew knew that he saw one with the ability to transform your very essence, not just change your name.

Andrew next sees Jesus perform a miracle of immense proportions by rescuing the hosts of a wedding that had run out of wine. This changes the path of Jesus’ ministry walk. Miracles bring out believers and also those just wanting to have a look. Jesus has the servants fill six stone water pots to the brim with water. Each one of those pots held twenty gallons. That was 120 gallons of wine. And not just average wine, but the best wine. I am sure those people never tasted wine like that again.

Andrew hears Jesus witness and minister to Nicodemus and then the Samaritan woman at the well. He next sees Jesus heal the paralytic man by the pool of Bethesda. Andrew is seeing and hearing things that he had hoped to one day witness as a believer in the coming Messiah, but this was more than he had imagined. He is hearing the words of life being spoken by the Living Word. So when Philip is not sure how to really answer Jesus’ question as to how to feed the multitudes, Andrew is reminded of all he has already seen and heard firsthand by Jesus. So he sees that if this man that could change water into wine and heal a nobleman’s son without even going to see him and lay hands on him, then just maybe the five barley loaves and two small fish could be turned into a feast. So Andrew says, “Look! Here’s a young boy with five barley loaves and two small fish…but how far would that go with this huge crowd?”(Passion Translation) Andrew just knew that the Lord would do something amazing but even still he had a tiny amount of wondering exactly how his Lord would do it. And man did he see. Jesus blessed the food and then gave it to His disciples to pass out to the crowd. They saw it multiply as they distributed the food. They gave out meals to thousands and there was still food there to feed the people. It is one thing to marvel that so little could feed so many as an onlooker at Gods’ restaurant but quite another to be a server and never have to say you’ve run out of food. And when they were done there were twelve baskets of food left over. A basket for each disciple.

Jesus could have just had manna drop from the heavens like it did with the Israelites in the desert. But that would still not have had the effect this miracle did. He was also saying He is the bread of life. The manna could not do what He would do. He is the living bread which came down from heaven. He was showing them eternal life. He who believed in Him would have everlasting life and He would soon go and prepare a place for those who believe.

Andrew means brave. He stepped out and brought his brother to Jesus with no doubt. His spiritual insight sort of got things rolling with the disciples. He preached the word in vast areas and at the end was told to stop by the proconsul in the city of Achaia and told to join in sacrificing to heathen gods. For his refusal, he was crucified on a cross shaped like an X. During the days he was suffering and dying, he was still exhorting onlookers to embrace or adhere to the faith of Jesus.

We have access to see things in so many venues. Many of us have seen mighty things done by the Lord right before our eyes or have heard the testimonies of miraculous works. Andrew was not disobedient to that heavenly vision. He tasted of that heavenly gift. 1 John 3:1 says “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God.” What is ours through belief in Him did not come cheaply. This is faith at work and it was at work in Andrew before he saw Jesus. He knew. I leave you with the James Moffat translation of 1 Corinthians 2:9, “What no eye has ever seen, what no ear has ever heard, what never entered into the mind of man, God has prepared for those who love Him.” We have inherited the same godsend and ability for spiritual insight as Andrew. Blessings.

Fake news is heard over the airwaves and seen in print every day. You cannot get away from it. If you don’t like something, or if it has a percentage of content that doesn’t hold water, then it’s called “fake news.” It is a favorite phrase of politicians and it really just gained traction in this most recent election cycle. Much of what is called fake news isn’t, and at the same time, reports you hear that seem to be valid, are not. This is not new. Fake news has been here since the dawn of time.

In Genesis, Satan convinced Eve that God hadn’t really said you’d die if you ate the fruit from that tree. But he twisted the words. Threw in just enough to entice and cause doubt. And then Adam joined her. They didn’t die right then, but death entered in, and man, things have been screwed up ever since! They were seduced by the “good” of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. We still look at the so called good in things that are very dangerous and have death tangled up in their meaning.

In Numbers 13, God had Moses send out a man from each tribe of Israel to spy out the land that God said He was giving to the children of Israel. Even though God had already decreed that He was giving them the land, 10 of the men, believing what they saw with their eyes, came back with a false report. There were giants in the land and the inhabitants were too strong to overcome. Yet Caleb and Joshua believed the promise of God and knew they would take the land. But the people believed the report of those who did not believe the promise of God. They went even further and attempted to select a new leader and return to Egypt. This error in discerning His truth caused a 40 year wandering in the desert. Believing in fake news is a killer.

In 1 Samuel 17, David went to the battlefront to see how things were going and to bring a bit of lunch to his brothers and a snack of cheese for a few others. When he got there, he found the whole army in fear of the Philistines and their champion, Goliath. David believed the report of the Lord, yet the others believed a false report of threats and what their eyes told them. They forgot how many times God had delivered them. David not only stepped up to fight this giant, but spoke with him and told him what he would do to him. And he would use Goliath’s own sword to do it. What hutzpah! He was true to his word. When he felled the giant, he then took Goliath’s sword and cut off his head. A teenager with faith killed a giant and THEN the people followed and routed the enemy. We, too, need to discard so much of what assails our ears and eyes and cause us to follow outright lies and half-truths. They are destructive!

In the Gospels, we see Jesus bringing light to areas clouded by fear and belief in wrong doctrine. He showed what belief could accomplish. Jesus told His cousin, John the Baptist, who was in prison, “The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” Yet with all Jesus did for 3 and ½ years, they eventually lost faith. They feared the Pharisees. They heard what was true and saw with their own eyes, but all deserted Him. They had all the prophecies available to them, foretelling of what would happen, but did not hold fast to that which was true. So, Jesus was crucified. Yet the Pharisees feared that this belief in Jesus could become a following. So they had Pilate place guards around the tomb of Jesus. That didn’t work. They had no answer as to why Jesus did not stay in the tomb. Believing He was resurrected was out of the question. So they bribed the soldiers that were to have guarded the tomb and started a fake news story that Jesus’ disciples came at night and stole His body. Of course, no word as to how they were able to move the large boulder in front of the tomb and to do it without alerting the guards. But hey, a story is a story, and if you spread it around enough, people start to believe it. And many still do today. But, as it says in Zechariah 12:10, “They will look upon Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” There’s a penalty for those who believe the false and cast off the truth.

1 John 4:1 says not to believe everything you hear. You must test it to see if it’s true. This isn’t just from preachers, but all you read and hear. You have the Holy Spirit in you who will guide you into all truth if you listen. We should be progressing in our understanding and have gone from milk to solid food as it says in Hebrews 5. But people become dull in hearing. Still needing teachers to lead them and explain the difference between right and wrong and what is or is not from God.  Ephesians 2:2 states that Satan is the prince of the power of the air. He works to bring discord and division among all people, but especially in the body of Christ. And it’s working. Spend 15 minutes scrolling through comments on Facebook or posts that people like and repost. When you see such extreme reactions, you must realize that you’re ceding ground to the enemy of truth. If you’re not surprised by some stance taken by people that you know to be Christians, then you need to examine yourself as to your position in the faith. You are already infected and in danger.

The world is caught up in this like a person who has fallen off their horse, but their foot is still in the stirrup and being dragged through a spiritual minefield that will leave you bloodied and bruised. Stop and take an accounting of what you are allowing to be received as facts. Does it line up with what Jesus taught? If not, then it’s a lie. Proverbs 3 talks of the one who finds wisdom and gets understanding as being blessed. The epistle of James says to ask for wisdom and God will give it liberally. We have all that we need to guide us into what is true, yet we allow that which hits right in the middle of our soulish realm to affect us. This causes us to walk in a spirit of error and lies which brings death. Death to truth, life, healing, understanding, being able to evangelize, and most importantly, to our spiritual walk with God. We can ask for discernment to navigate these troubled waters, but you first must realize that by being a part of this, you are helping to cultivate this evil crop of fake news. Come out from among them and be separate. Don’t be cheated by the philosophy of men or basic worldly principles. Follow Christ.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” This includes all you see and read and hear. All you take in. He is faithful. As it says in Proverbs 2:2, “Incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding.” It is there for all of us. I pray light to break this ever increasing confusion and darkness and that your understanding will be enlightened. Blessings.

I wrote in my blog titled “Soul Ties” that we connect with someone via our mind, will, or emotions and form a soul tie. Some ties can be positive, others negative. The advent of the cyberspace age has introduced a new peril far more dangerous than anything we have yet seen.

Since the beginning of time, the spoken word had the ability to keep others engrossed and even mesmerized. From stories and oral history, to plays and books, and eventually progressing to radio. This offered a different fascination in that one’s imagination was quite engaged. They found that serials of different shows like The Spirit or The Lone Ranger had people talking and waiting for the next episode. People began to relate to characters on many radio shows. Orson Welles scared thousands with his radio story of an alien invasion as if it was happening right as people listened. People began to see the power of this medium and how it could be used to make a lot of money. Television brought in a whole new form of communicating. Now you could “see” what you previously just heard. Soaps, named for soap advertisers on these continuing shows, had people so enraptured they started to act as if they knew these characters. As TV evolved, this was the case with many series. Just as with early movies, producers and directors got people hooked by using cliffhangers. You had to see the next adventure to find out what happened to your hero. So far, much of this seems tame and benign. But this was a nascent medium so far. TV series became more sophisticated and started pushing the envelope with censorship, and now we have pay TV where little is left to the imagination. People were becoming more tied to many things that were able to erode at the basic foundation of core values ~ not so much in what was shown, but from the doors that were being opened from this evolving electronic medium.

Sex sells. As soon as video joined with this, it became a multi- billion dollar business. And cyberspace has allowed this industry to increase exponentially. Porn became accepted, but the damage it has done is increasing in severity. The worst parts of these industries became even more dangerous in how it contributes to sex slave trade and abuse of children. The evil practices of idol worship under ancient civilization had nothing in comparison to what is going on today. People everywhere, including the church, are seriously addicted. It has become a worldwide pandemic evil. And surprisingly, with the advent of 24 hour news, we have a new pathological problem infecting us.

I’ve lived long enough to have seen much in the form of communication increase, but I find that which we now see in social media to be a different form of danger. What started as people catching up with each other and networking has become a venue to spew hate and hide behind a degree of anonymity. As Christians, we have no excuse to be ignorant of Satan’s devices. As it states in Ephesians 2, he is the prince of the power of the air and works diligently in the hearts of those who are disobedient to the truth of God. The enemy appeals to the natural thoughts and cravings of a rebellious mind. This is not new. Satan was a liar and a murderer from the beginning. But if we’re in Christ, we are a new creation. Old things have passed away and all things become new through our place in Him. It states in 2 Corinthians 4, that “the gods of this age has blinded the minds of those not walking in God’s truth.”

The enemy works to divide and sow discord. As it states in 1 Peter 5, “Our adversary (Satan) goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.” A big roar, but actually it is bereft of power, as Christ defeated him and we are in Christ, far above every power and principality. We are told to resist the devil and remain steadfast in the faith. By submitting to God we are empowered to overcome. In Luke 10:19, the Lord tells us, “I give you power and authority over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall by any means harm you.” But we keep conceding this territory right back to the enemy when we become constantly embroiled in this chaos and come into agreement with that which only tears down through hate and unforgiveness. Rather than pray to build up, we end up cursing through our following a wrong voice. This discord displayed in social media has caused soul ties with people you might not even converse with in person. And if you were in proximity to them, the discourse could very well be of a more conciliatory nature. But couple that with a political atmosphere that seems to just breed more contempt and division, and you can see how easily the vitriol escalates. The ties people are now making with others, commenting on views shared on TV and radio, are becoming toxic to the point of eroding even our relationship with God. He has no part in this. I clearly heard Him say that “this spirit of lies from the father of lies has filled the airways and is doing irreparable damage. And those who say they are believers have jumped in with both feet. And those who should be looking after you and protect you, are powerless because they are under the same spirit.” This is like what we heard in Matthew and Mark in the parable of the sower. The enemy comes in to steal that good word put in you. Hate and division have no part in His kingdom.

We must stop and realize how this hate spewed venom compels us to be tied to others that cause us to stay in a place that destroys our peace and our relationship with the Lord. And how can we seek to expand His kingdom when we are undermining it with our actions? Do not be partakers with these deceivers and workers of discord. Come out from among them and be separate. The Message Bible says in 2 Corinthians 10 that we don’t fight as the world does and “The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing and manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire corrupt culture.” Every warped philosophy and every evil induced argument that exalts itself against the knowledge of God must be brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. If you’re part of the problem, you cannot be used as part of the solution which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

If you’ve made soul ties with those you interact with on social media, you must realize that it causes an erosion of your relationship with God. I pray you renounce it and all other attachments that have been established with people bringing about negative connectivity. Ask God to cleanse you from all that has attached itself to you through these soul ties. You need to also realize that every word spoken and all thoughts created through this media become ingrained in you, and are always before Him. They are at odds with His Spirit of truth. Pray for wisdom and a discerning ear to hear. Unlike the words spoken in cyberspace, every word of God is pure and He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Blessings.

I felt led to speak a different Easter message than is normally given. This message testifies to the gift given to us by Christ and Christ giving His life for us that speaks of things which would melt the heart of David.

In 2 Samuel 7, David proposes to Nathan the prophet his wish to build a house for the Lord which would house the ark of God. Nathan agrees with him and tells David to do all that is in his heart. But the Lord later speaks to Nathan and tells him to tell David that he cannot build a house for the Lord. He has shed too much blood. The one who will build it will be David’s son, Solomon. Yet every part of the architectural plan, to the most tiny and exacting detail, was given to David who then instructed his son, Solomon. But David was not left out. God instead told David that He would build him a house. The Davidic covenant. His bloodline and throne would be established forever. The bloodline of Jesus the Messiah. David’s words show his understanding of this and his humility. He says in 2 Samuel 7:18, “Who am I, O Lord God? And what is my house that You have brought me this far?” He then verbally confirms his place in God’s decision and prays a prayer to the Lord in verses 28-29 saying, “O Lord, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Now therefore, let it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue before You forever; for You, O Lord God, have spoken it, and with Your blessing let the house of Your servant be blessed forever.”

David knew full well of the magnitude of what God had promised him. A blessing beyond imagination. David was a man after God’s heart. His love for God was without question. The temple that Solomon built was done to perfection. The stones that were made were done so outside of the temple. They were so perfectly made that no finish work was necessary when placed in the temple. This speaks to us in Ephesians 2. Through the death of Jesus we are given a house of the Lord also. Us. Our body. The Passion Translation says in verse 21-22 that “This entire building is under construction and is continually growing under His supervision until it rises up completed as the holy temple of the Lord himself. This means that God is transforming each one of you into the Holy of Holies, his dwelling place, through the power of the Holy Spirit living in you.”

Jesus spoke to His disciples in John 14 and told them that He was going away. The full impact of His dying on the cross was not understood. Jesus tells them He must go but that He will not leave them orphans. The Passion Translation of John 14:16-17 says that “I will ask the Father and He will give you another Savior, the Holy Spirit of Truth, who will be to you a friend just like Me – and He will never leave you. The world won’t receive Him because they can’t see Him or know Him. But you will know Him intimately, because He will make His home in you and will live inside of you.” He promised to make us His habitation. He said the Helper would guide us into all truth and would glorify Jesus.

Do you realize that it states in Romans 8:11, that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us? And in Romans 5:5, that the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us! In 2 Corinthians, we see that the Holy Spirit was given to us as a guarantee. But more like a deposit with redemptive value. So, when we give up these earthly tents, we will be present with God. Paul asks us in 1 Corinthians 3, if we know that we are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you. The very concept of this is only conceived in our hearts by faith. And this, too, is a gift of God. This Christ in us, the hope of glory, lives in me. And this life I live in the flesh, I live BY the faith of God, who loved me and died for me.

In 1 Corinthians 2:9 it says, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor has entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” We have been given the Holy Spirit as His gift to dwell in us. We did nothing by works to deserve this. It is His love for us that is so profound and deep that He sent His son to die for us that we might not only have eternal life and forgiveness of sins, but an earthly abode for His Spirit to dwell in us and guide us. We were bought at a price that cannot be calculated in our understanding. We are redeemed by His blood according to the riches of His grace. And the temple we provide for Him speaks of our love for Him. We are all fixer uppers. There are times I seem to have forgotten who lives in me. Parts of me have been closed off to Him. I took my eyes off the prize. We all do this yet He is faithful. And when we confess, He forgives. Only in Him are we complete. We must all check daily to see if we are in the faith. To see if we are a house that even we would want to live in, much less the Spirit of God. We must have the heart of David and say to our heavenly Father, who am I that You would dwell in me? That You would die for me, a sinner, and then make me a temple of Your Spirit. This seems ineffable. Too sacred and special to be put into words. Yet I receive this love.

I pray we all have a walk worthy of the Lord. Fully pleasing Him. Increasing in the knowledge of Him. I pray we are strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power and that we endure and remain steadfast and know His joy. I thank Him that He has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light, and to realize that He has delivered us from the power of darkness and transported us into the kingdom of the Son of His love. This Easter meditate on the gift He has given to all of us. We are “His house” and we are sons and daughters of the Most High God. Blessings.