Stand My Watch

“And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:4) John 3 tells us that God sent His Son into the world not to condemn the world, but that through Him the world might be saved. And that he who believes in Him will not be condemned. But the world chose to crucify Him. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest their deeds be exposed. John also tells us in 1 John 1:5-8 “This is the message which we have heard Him from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His son cleanses us from all sin.” John further states a profound warning in 1 John 2:21-22, “I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know the truth, and that no lie is of the truth, Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.” We can say we believe in Jesus or that we’re “Born Again” but in our works or our walk we can be disobedient and willful. We deny His commands to love our brother and though we may still try to walk the walk we are disqualified.

Charles Spurgeon said “No sooner is there a good thing in the world, than a division is necessary. Light and darkness have no communion; God has divided them, let us not confound them. Sons of light must not have fellowship with deeds, doctrines, or deceits of darkness. The children of the day must be sober, honest, and bold in their Lord’s work, leaving the works of darkness to those who shall dwell in it forever. Our churches should by discipline divide the light from the darkness, and we should by our distinct separation from the world do the same. In judgement, in action, in hearing, in teaching, in association, we must discern between the precious and the vile, and maintain the great distinction which the Lord made upon the world’s first day.” Yet somehow, we have come to a place where following that which is contrary to what Christ taught is commonplace. And it is excused as necessary to bring about a kingdom which has no place in Him and will be utterly wiped away. Proverbs 4:19 states, “The way of the wicked is as darkness, and they do not know what makes them stumble.” Isaiah 59:9-10 says, “Therefore justice is far from us. Nor does righteousness overtake us. We look for light, but there is darkness! For brightness but we walk in blackness. We grope for the wall like the blind, And we grope as if we had no eyes; We stumble at noonday as at twilight. We are as dead men in desolate places.” Isaiah speaks of our transgressions being multiplied. Justice is turned back. Falsehood is increased. And truth falls in the street. Are we much different from that today? Half our nation and over half the “Church” follow the epitome of that which has been birthed by darkness. One who has never walked in the fruit of the spirit and openly displays the works of the flesh as if that was to be admired. And that same one openly states they have nothing to repent of. Walk from this one and the evil he has surrounded himself with. They are of the same ilk.

Peter states the same warning in 2 Peter 2 that is given in Proverbs 26:11. We have seen the Light and know it is the only way. Anything else only promises corruption and bondage. But like a dog returning to its vomit, a fool returns to his folly. And like a sow, having been clean, returns to wallowing in the mire. What I speak of is much more than a warning to the loss of our democracy. This is your very life in Him. Have no part in the unfruitful works of darkness. Expose them even to your own detriment. I pray He is a shield about you in this battle. Speak and walk in the words of Micah 6:8 each day. “He has shown you what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord your God?” I pray you stand and cast off this darkness. Blessings.

For too long, we have set aside what is necessary in following Him. We have become enamored with so much that promises something but delivers nothing. Empty promises. From politicians to teachers, to pastors, to prophets, to each other. So many claim to have seen and heard His word and plans for us, but they are like that one Paul spoke of in 2 Corinthians 3. That veil is still needed to see His glory, and whereas we through Christ have been afforded the blessing of spiritual sight, too many have found it acceptable to shield our eyes or see through the lens of those who distort His image and dirty the lens we see through. And yet they say what they see, and we believe them. People like Donald Trump, Elon Musk, evangelicals who have lost their way, false prophets and teachers, oligarchs given access to running and overtaking our government, and people appointed to oversee cabinet positions and government agencies that do not have the interest of the people at heart because they are mirror images of Donald Trump. Time is running short for lifesaving vision.

There are times we seem accepting of the lie that the Lord only speaks direction through select individuals. If the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you, how is it that your sight is contingent on another’s interpretation even when it is contrary to His word. His prophetic servants still speak, but their words are drowned out by those who offer promises pleasing to the flesh. To a man-made gospel. C.S. Lewis says, “He shows much more of Himself to some people more than others—not because He has His favorites, but because it is impossible for Him to show Himself to a man whose whole mind and character are in the wrong condition. Just as sunlight, though it has no favorites, cannot be reflected in a dusty mirror as clearly as a clean one.”

The Lord had the prophet Samuel anoint Saul as King. His character was flawed and He served self over God. His mantel was removed and given to David. When how we see Him is blurred by our own desires over His, all that we see will be out of focus. And then how can one tell the listener what they truly see? Would you take directions from one you know needs glasses or a hearing aid? We’re doing that right now. We see half of our country follow a man elected president who has surrounded himself with like-minded evil from being traitorous, to sexual deviants, liars, thieves, lovers of self rather than those seeking Him, and those who seek to enrich themselves with no regard to the well-being of those they purport to serve. And we are no different today than when the prophet Jeremiah said that “The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own power: And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?” (Jeremiah 5:31) The prophets who missed it in 2020 are back. They say they actually got it right when trump didn’t win saying that the second term just came now. They again herald his lies and selfish, egotistical and narcissistic ways as being God’s way to bring the second coming of our Lord. And the fear of Trump’s demonic threats has caused so many in Congress to bow the knee. To Trump not the Lord. Somewhere worship and belief have become so distorted it’s basically impossible to see a way out. As C.S. Lewis wrote, “That is why horrible nations have horrible religions: they have been looking at God through a dirty lens.”

We must do as it is written in James and “lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21) As James said, we must truly be hearers and doers of the word. If not, we deceive ourselves. We look through a lens that is dirty and blurred and then we forget what kind of person we are to be. We become spiritually deaf and blind. Like spoken of by Isaiah. We keep hearing but do not understand. We keep on seeing but do not perceive. We cannot expect to truly hear and walk with Him, avoiding pitfalls, when we follow after that presented by fallen man. Take that spiritual cloth and clean the lens by how you see the Lord and His written directions and promises. Jesus said “Follow Me” over 20 times. That is the only way out of this blurred walk so many of us are in. Blessings.

Jude, identified as a brother of Jesus, warned of false teachers who would cause divisions in the church. They would infiltrate and eventually take over Christian meetings and later congregations, and cause divisions within the body of Christ. Jude said certain ungodly men have crept in and have turned the grace of our Lord into lewdness. Denying our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude warned that the Lord saved the people out of the land of Egypt but afterward destroyed those who did not believe.

Exodus 35 tells of Moses coming down from Mount Sinai after receiving the two tablets of the Book of the Law and the people could not look at him because his face shown from being in the presence of the Lord. So, he had to wear a veil as the people of Israel were afraid to come near him. We are called to be in His presence. In John 14 Jesus tells us that if we love Him we will keep His word. And that they will love us and make their home with us. But somehow, we’ve have become like the Israelites that could not look on Moses’ face. It’s easier to follow the face and teachings of one who only “says” they have been in His presence and then go about telling us what they want us to hear. And so many follow right into a pit filled with lies and greed. False direction. A place that speaks of God but in actuality has only a form of godliness without his goodness or perfect leading. A place that eventually leads us so far from His presence we can no longer see Him.

C.S. Lewis writes in Mere Christianity that we question a world with absolute goodness as the governing power from Him who is everything. We do so because to not question a world that He supremely rules means we agree with His words and then that would make us a liar as we choose to follow wrong doctrine. Lewis wrote, “The trouble is that one part of you is on His side and really agrees with His disapproval of human greed and trickery and exploitation. You want Him to make an exception in your case, to let you off this one time. But you know at bottom that unless the power behind the world really and unalterably detests that sort of behaviour, that He cannot be good. On the other hand, we know that if there does exist an absolute goodness, then all our efforts are in the long run hopeless. But if it is, then we are making ourselves enemies to that goodness every day. God is the only comfort. He is also the supreme terror: the thing we need the most and the thing we most want to hide from. He is our only possible ally as if meeting the gaze of absolute goodness would be fun. They need to think again. They are only playing with religion. Goodness is either the great safety or the great danger – according to the way we react to it. And we have reacted the wrong way.”

No different today as when C.S. Lewis wrote this. Who among us can unquestionably say they could look upon His face without a veil? So many have an image of Him they have concocted and it truly does not resemble what He taught. If so, why are we where we are today? How can we follow doctrines of demons? How can we lift up those who are lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, unloving, unforgiving, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God?  They claim to have a form of godliness but in effect, denying its power. Turn from such people as the Apostle Paul wrote in warning that so applies to today. How can we venerate one who sells bibles with his name on top and is a sexual deviant? Rape is excused and so are those who this sexual pervert has surrounded himself with. I fear we are at a place from which there is no return and I watch so many I know and love go forward fully believing this path of hatred and perversion will bring them face to face with a god that will say well done. But you had better have your veil handy. Carefully follow His doctrine and His words that bring life. Turn from this path that will only lead to destruction. Seek Him and His ways. Face to face. Blessings.

I’ve been reflecting on what I’ve watched transpire politically over the last month and a half. I questioned the “whys” of what has happened and heard the Lord gently nudge me to reread what I’ve been writing/warning for quite a while. I spoke of the warning sound the Lord showed me from a shofar called a Teruah. It was to bring us clarity and focus to the approaching evil. In September, I warned that we are on a fraught filled road that will bring even more ill will in the next two months. And I said to not become troubled along the way. I ignored my own warnings and looked for a different outcome. I need to listen closer and realize that warning was for me also.

A few weeks ago, I was watching TV and the movie Mississippi Burning came on. Love this movie and it is still so relevant today. I see the same evil hatred toward people of color, sexes, nationality, religion and many other biases that seem to be passed down as if they were the deleterious effects of in-breeding. We see an end result being undesirable genes causing heart disease, genetic disorders, and schizophrenia. Yet we see this displayed in how people treat one another. At the end of the movie, an FBI agent is talking to the lead investigator, Alan Ward, played by Willem DaFoe. He asks why the mayor hanged himself since he wasn’t the main fault of why the evil had happened and said he wasn’t even in the KKK. Agent DaFoe answered and said: “Oh, he’s guilty. Anyone is guilty who watches this happen and pretends it’s not. All of them. Every Governor or Senator who allows hate to fester to gather a few votes. Every college kid who laughed at a racist joke. Everyone who chewed their tongue when they should have spoken up. Mr. Mayor was guilty alright. Just as guilty as the fanatics who pulled the trigger. Maybe we all are.”

The French philosopher Simone de Beauvoir said, “The oppressor would not be so strong if he did not have accomplices among the oppressed.” And this is where we are today. Again. Every day. Too many sit idly by knowing something is very wrong and knowing we should respond but are content to remain as sheep watching the wolf devour those on the outskirts of the flock hoping they will not penetrate too deeply and endanger us. 2 Thessalonians 5 tells us we should not render evil toward anyone but always pursue what is good for all. Ephesians 5 tells us we are to have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness but rather expose them. Yet I see so many embracing this encroaching evil. Proverbs 31:8-9 tells us we are to open our mouth for those who have no voice. We are to plead the cause of those in need. In fact, Isaiah 58 tells us we are to lift up our voices like a trumpet and expose these transgressions. We are at a place where many are being called to withstand this tidal wave of trouble and wickedness, yet are not only stepping back, but considering the positives of that which is the antithesis of all Jesus taught. We border on a majority of citizens who are comfortable with one who is a felon, liar, traitor, rapist, sexual deviant, cheater – a godless man who has knit a disease filled cloak of Christianity that he wears and is received by so many in the church as one approved of/sent by the Lord. Proverbs 24 asks us if we can say of evil being perpetrated, “Surely we did not know this.” If He who knows our soul is aware of this, will He not render to each man according to his deeds? Something to think about.

James 4:17 says, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” And Romans 12:21 tells us, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” As it says in Ephesians 6, we are encountering rulers of darkness and spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places. And they operate and roam freely in people lusting after power and those that are comfortable being led by that which is unholy. Put on the full armor of God that you may withstand this which we face and will see increase. Pray without ceasing. Blessings.

In Exodus 32, Moses was on Mt Sinai for forty days and nights. On his way down the mountain, the Lord spoke to Moses and told him the people had corrupted themselves and made a golden calf and had worshipped it and sacrificed to it. Were it not for the pleading intercession of Moses, God would have destroyed the Israelites right then. I’ve always found Exodus 32:17-18 quite interesting. On his way down the mountain, Moses met Joshua who had waited for him those forty days and nights. Hearing the clamor from below, Joshua told Moses he heard the noise of war in the camp. The kind of noise signifying the celebration of victory. Moses said it is not the shout of victory, but the noise of the cry of defeat. The sound of singing as in celebration of worship. But to idols rather than to God. It was a sound of rebellion. Israel could wait no longer and therefore made a god to themselves. A golden calf. Fashioned for them by Aaron with gold the Israelites wore. Yet Aaron’s excuse when confronted by Moses was that the people were set on evil and when he put the gold in the fire the golden calf just magically appeared.

A heavy price was still to be paid. Moses took the calf which they worshipped and ground it to powder and made the children of Israel drink it. Did they all have to drink it? Some say certain ones that didn’t take part in worshipping the golden calf didn’t have to. Some say the Levites didn’t have to, as they were used by God to kill 3000 Israelites considered to be ringleaders of the rebellion. Yet, Aaron was a Levite and definitely took part, but wasn’t put to death. And Moses’ parting words to the Israelites before he went back up Mt Sinai again were for them to consecrate themselves that God may bestow a blessing on them for every man has opposed his son and his brother.

This is a picture of where I see us today. We have all opposed our brother. Rancor and hate are rampant and has become like a flesh-eating bacteria. “Love your brother” are words with no valued meaning. We have lost sight of the responsibility of following what Christ himself demonstrated. The Apostle John says in 1 John 2 that he who says he is in the light but hates his brother, is in darkness. If you love your brother, there is no cause for stumbling. Verse 11 states, “He who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.” We have entered into a political arena filled with evil and darkness. We are not ashamed at actions of support for those without principles and moralities if it empowers us. Lying has become an art form. The support of one who is a racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, anti-Semitic, vindictive, lying, self-indulgent, narcissistic, violence inducing, fear mongering, hateful, traitorous man is now acceptable. A man who has mocked the disabled, denigrates our military and embraces dictators. One who is a rapist and convicted felon. One who many notable ministers embrace as a means to an end of gaining power. Aligning with that which is the antithesis of what they are ordained to preach. And we are being told by many that this is a lesser of two evils situation. And yes, there are issues that should bother us from both platforms. But this is not Republican vs Democrat. This basically is trying to keep democracy. Ministers that spoke during the lead up to our country’s revolution like John Mayhew, Samuel West, and John Knox stated that though we look to governing authorities, we must stand against and resist that which is or looks to be tyrannical. Lincoln said we cannot escape history. We can honor or dishonor the foundations of our nation. He stated we nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of earth. And yes, I know that only in God must we rest our hope, but he was a man that invoked his creator.

Proverbs 22:24-25 says, “Make no friendship with an angry man and with a furious man do not go. Lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul.” This man, Donald Trump, is before us constantly and is embraced rather than rejected outright by so many believers. I am reminded of a line in the song “Behind Blue Eyes” by the Who that says, “If I swallow anything evil, put your fingers down my throat.” I am doing that figuratively right now. I urge you, as Paul warned the church, to avoid those who cause divisions and offenses. The words God spoke to me about Donald Trump on October 31, 2016 rings as ominously true now as they did then. A grave warning. One not heeded. I ask your forbearance and even forgiveness if my delving into this election, more than is my norm, has caused any ire. But I feel the “gods of this world” have blinded the minds of believers and unbelievers alike, and I feel it is necessary to warn of the sounds of war, rebellion and dissension that have embraced us with a choking and blinding fury no different than it did to the Israelites in Exodus 32. Even though our path may be veiled by shifting shadows and a cacophony of lies, pray without ceasing. Blessings.

I’ve thought about a verse in 2 Corinthians 2:15-17 for a long while and how it applies to all I see and all I hear spoken. Especially currently, as so many who proclaim to speak for the Lord voice their opinion rather than God’s word on one who seeks to again serve as President. The Amplified Bible says of these verses, “For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ (which exhales) unto God, (discernible alike) among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing: To the latter it is an aroma (wafted) from death to death (a fatal odor, the smell of doom); to the former it is the aroma from life to life (a vital fragrance, living and fresh). And who is qualified (fit and sufficient) for these things? (Who is able for such a ministry? We?) For we are not, like so many, (like hucksters making a trade of pedaling God’s word (shortchanging and adulterating the divine message); but like men of sincerity and the purest motive, as (commissioned and sent) by God, we speak His message in Christ (The Messiah) in the very sight and presence of God.” Pure motives? Sincere? Speaking one’s own motive rather than God’s? That should cause great fear into those truly sent by Him for there is always a place where we will stand before Him and all our words will be laid bare.

These verses basically state we, and what we speak, must be like that pleasing aroma to the Lord like that offered up to Him in Leviticus 1. A sweet aroma. This fragrance should be the essence of the overflow of our intimacy with the Lord. Expressing our knowledge of Him. How is that possible when words spoken cause division and hatred? When lies, cheating, defaming, and basically saying through our tacit approval that one’s actions that are diametrically opposed to His teachings are OK with us. These words we speak or embrace have consequences. We can speak life and do our best to be a living example of what He requires through our love, obedience, sacrifice and thanks or we can embrace the polar opposite of His teaching. One diffuses the fragrance of Him and His knowledge everywhere and is seen in how we conduct ourselves and what we speak while the other brings that fragrance of death. And often it comes in sneakily, concealed in increments, and the rot it is causing is not seen until it may be too late. Agree with just a few things that are not in what He teaches and then the door is open for more. And then death is the fragrance you emit. Not life.

I’ve watched so many that have a platform where they speak for the Lord. They’ve spoken of these very verses in 2 Corinthians. They speak of being an offering to Him through our service and our giving. This has been done throughout time. Say you wish your walk and deeds to be a pleasing offering to the Lord but live contrary to that premise. The prophet spoke to that in Isaiah 1. He said God was tired of their offerings. He said put away your evil doings. Learn to do good. Seek justice. Rebuke the oppressor. Defend the fatherless. Plead for the widow. Isaiah later tells the people that their princes are rebellious and companions of thieves. That everyone loves bribes and follows after their own rewards. He says the Lord will turn His hand against them and says these people that walk in this injustice and those who align with them will be dealt with together.

I’m reminded of the song by Lynyrd Skynyrd, “That Smell”. It says the smell of death surrounds you. When you align with that marriage of church, service to Him, and the politics of Trump, you make it an act of your will to embrace that odor of putrefaction. Of death leading to death. It’s like people standing to get a view of a large Titan Arum flower. Also called a corpse flower. Yes, interesting to see, but it smells like rotting flesh, an odor it uses to attract its pollinators to the flower that love to feed and breed on flesh. No different than what we see right now from those embracing an evil man in DT who works to destroy the very underpinnings of our democracy and the very fabric of what we say we embrace in our walk with the Lord. David tells us in Psalm 37 to not fret because of evil doers because they will be cut off. The wicked believe they can plot and do evil without repercussion, but the Lord laughs at them for He knows their day is coming. We are to commit ourselves to Him and He shall bring forth our justice. In all this, I say what Paul said in Romans 1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Be that “pleasing aroma” before Him and to all He puts in our path. Blessings.

There are times I read through the Bible and I look at areas I’ve highlighted or underlined in past readings. Just recently, the verse Genesis 45:24 stood out to me like a Rhema word. Joseph was providing his brothers with supplies and donkeys and carts to carry them to his father Jacob in Canaan and bring them back to Egypt where they would survive the famine that was in the land. These were the same brothers who approximately 20 years earlier sold him into slavery. As they were departing, Joseph spoke to them in Genesis 45:24, “See that you do not become troubled along the way.” In the midst of promised blessings for his family and reunion with his father, Joseph sees the potential for trouble. Some translations say do not quarrel along the way. In the midst of what would be life-saving provision and promised blessings from the Lord, Joseph prophetically sees the propensity for strife leading to division.

Joseph’s brothers had hated the dreams he shared with them which always seemed to place Joseph in authority over them and they wanted him dead. They sold him into slavery and covered up their crime by telling their father, Jacob, that a wild animal had killed Joseph. And now here was the one they betrayed showing God’s love and provision to them. And now Jacob would know the truth to what really happened. Proverbs 17:14 says, “The beginning of strife is like releasing water, therefore stop contention before a quarrel starts.” It’s like breaching a dam and rushing water can swoop up everything in its path. So, Joseph warns them so that the good being done is not ruined. He knew this was God’s plan to save his family.

This contention, quarreling and jealousy is as old as the beginning of brothers. In Genesis 4 we see this with Cain and Abel. Cain was jealous of how his offering was received by the Lord compared to his brother Abel. The Lord warned Cain in Genesis 4:7, “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at your door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” Some translations say sin lies at your door like an animal waiting to attack. Sort of like the animal Joseph’s brothers said killed Joseph. And yet Cain still killed Abel.

We’re told in 1 Corinthians 3 that where there is envy, strife and divisions among us we behave like ordinary men. We’re supposed to show the love and character of Christ. Yet betrayal, unforgiveness, hatred and strife seem to be what we see wherever we turn. The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 4 that we should show brotherly love toward one another, not hatred. Give preference to one another. Honor one another. Bless and do not curse. Even with those who persecute you. Rejoice with one another. Weep with those who weep. Don’t set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Don’t be wise in your own opinion. Do not repay evil for evil. And if possible, and this depends on us, live peaceable with all men. Can we honestly say this is what we see on a regular basis?

We are in the midst of a conflict that has been going on for the past decade that has produced some terrible quarrels and division. Its roots go back a long way. Just like Cain and Abel in Genesis 4 and Joseph in Genesis 37. We may not face the famine in America that we read of in Genesis, but I feel that the warning here is that which was spoken of in Amos 8. A famine not of bread and water, but of hearing His true word. Of seeking it as we would water in a barren and arid land. We hear so many words that seem to contradict, yet purport to come from the same source. And we see people running to and fro seeking the word of the Lord. How is this possible when we have been given all that pertains to life and godliness? So, we continue to get caught up in quarrels and division. And through our words we throw many into captivity because we don’t like their opinion. And we seem to not have the wherewithal to call on the Holy Spirit who should be our guide. These quarrels and the dissension we see in the midst of us only bring further division and hate. So much seems to be political opinions, but it’s deeper than that. It’s what is in the heart of man.

We read in 2 Timothy that in this great house there are those who produce honor and good and those who produce dishonor and disputes. It is incumbent on us to know the difference and follow the path of truth. If you see one path that is strewn with lies, deceit and ungodly character that only leads to more dissension, turn from that path. When you hear one that revels in stirring up strife and feels he can benefit from the ensuing chaos, turn away from that person. See that you do not render evil for evil. Pursue that which is good. Pray without ceasing for we are on a fraught filled road that will reveal even more ill will in less than two months. See that you do not become troubled along the way. Blessings.

Friday, August 30, 2024 at 7 P.M. I was just sitting and reflecting. I had finished my Bible reading an hour earlier. I was preparing to turn on the T.V. when the Lord spoke to me and said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of you.” I knew the verse well but had to look up the address of the scripture. It’s Matthew 18:20. As I sat and listened, more explanation was given to me as to His insight for sharing this specific scripture.

So often we see and hear those who profess Christ get into in depth discussions as if they have been sent to discuss these things by the Lord himself. We see it in our places of worship and in many facets of our travels. But where it’s most often seen and abused is on social media sites. Ministers of the Gospel, to those who’ve been following Jesus, to those who just want to share their opinion, all try to get their view known. Some to their own detriment or to the hurt of those they try to inject their opinion. So many experts on what the Word says, yet too often colored with one’s own strongly determined bent. Galatians 6:3 says, “If anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” There are way too many experts with opinions that seem to fade quickly when exposed to His light.

We seem to forget that yes, when we do come together and bandy about His name, even on social media, He truly is there in our midst, and I’m sure He’s not always pleased as to how we represent Him. Jesus quoted Isaiah in Mark 7:6-7 saying, “This people honors Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of Men.” He was speaking to hypocrites. Too often we can enter a discussion with wrong motives. We need to get our view heard. We feel we must respond to some post and get the writer, and those who share their views, to hear what you feel can be the only correct answer or opinion. I find myself responding less and less to what I see even among those I once always read and found to have good points to make. We neglect the warnings of Christ who warned us in Matthew 7 and proceed without caution. Seemingly unaware that out of our hearts proceed evil thoughts, deceit, wickedness, blasphemy and prideful ways all contrary to Him. Our stubborn refusal to believe that just because we were taught certain things in our upbringing or in our church life, doesn’t not mean that there is not error in our processing. It can often boil down to the most simplistic explanation. “A good man out of the treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45) We must discern what is correct in our hearing Him.

We often do not realize that we must give an account of what we say. And by our words we will be justified or condemned. (Matthew 12:37) I can honestly say that over the years I’ve seen people believe something, and years later hold a different view. In politics, it’s called flip-flopping. In the Word of God, we often find it was based on what another person said or taught. We must delve into His word that we may be enlightened and strengthened. Psalm 19 says His word makes wise the simple. If we truly look at the content of many discussions on social media, we may come to realize that yes, the Lord’s name was mentioned and scripture was cited, but then things went astray. And too late we may become aware that yes, He was in our midst, but as things turned, He left. And yet we still go on with mindless and often incorrect banter, fully believing we are representing Him with the expressing of our views and interpretations. Thankfully, the Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy.

We need to remember and be aware that He is in our midst and our words and deeds are used as a representation of who He is. And that we are often wrong in how we represent Him. We say that we believe in Him and our actions show whether or not that is true. Jesus said in John 7:38, “He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” Blessings.

We so often look to set our own path regardless of the Lord’s promises for us. We start out with great faith and trust but then look to our own way and in essence we bring forth our own Ishmael. In Genesis 12, we see God promise Abram that He would make of him a great nation even though Abram was old and had no children, as his wife Sarai was barren. God tells him to leave where he was and travel to a land He would show him. Abram obeys and seemingly believes. But when Abram enters Egypt on his way to the land God had for him, he becomes fearful of the Egyptians and concocts a plan for Sarai to be his sister so they won’t kill him and take Sarai. God rescues Abram by bringing plagues on Egypt and Pharaoh rebukes Abram for his deceit and lets them depart with all his possessions.

God again promises children to Abram in Genesis 15. He appears to Abram in a vision and tells him that He is Abram’s shield and great reward. God tells Abram of the land he will inherit. But Abram and Sarai come up with their own plan to bring forth God’s promise. So, in Genesis chapter 16, Sarai has Abram lie with her maid, Hagar, and a child is brought forth. Ishmael. Sarai comes to regret this decision and deals harshly with Hagar who then runs away but is consoled by the Angel of the Lord. The Angel tells Hagar she shall have a son and to name him Ishmael. “He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, and every man’s hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” (Genesis 16:12)

The Lord still was merciful in His blessing of Abram and Sarai and appeared to them again (Genesis 18) and reiterated His promise of a child for them. Yet in Genesis 20, Abram again lies to Abimelech, the king of Gerar, saying Sarai is his sister, as Abram feared for their safety. God again intervenes, and in a dream, warns Abimelech of impending death if he doesn’t restore Sarai to Abram. This all leads to a great test in Genesis 22. I posit this for consideration. These are solely my thoughts, but others have had similar. What if Abram had fully trusted that God’s promise was true and nothing could stop it? From the times he lied to protect himself and Sarai, from what he saw as impending doom, to believing that he and Sarai could come up with a plan to fulfill God’s promise of a great nation through their servant Hagar and see God’s promise via Ishmael? Do you think that God would’ve called Abraham to sacrifice Isaac if he had believed all God’s promises to him? And therein lies the problem we still face every day. “All the promises of God in Christ Jesus are yes and amen to the glory of God through us.” (2 Corinthians 1:20) Yet how often do we feel we have a better way? A plan that will work just as good as His?

Old Testament scriptures point to the coming of our Messiah and how He would be received and what would be necessary for Him to go through for us to be redeemed. But when He came, they had a better idea. They wanted a Messiah who would take power with the Pharisees and rule right then. This is a shadow of what we see today with the church feeling it must be in charge of all things from government, to arts and education, to the media, religion, family and business. And that display of power by those in the know will accelerate the second coming of Jesus. And they’ll reign and rule with Him. This 7 Mountain theology has only caused division and strife. It doesn’t look like God’s promise any more than those that banded together to form our country. Noble ideas, but many often used a God of their own making. It was made by select men and did not represent all men. Especially those not of wealth, or women, or those of color. And this system was abused until a great war of division resulted in our own Ishmael. The cinders of that fire still burn bright today and many are blowing on them to reignite them. It’s working. We get into wars like Vietnam and Iraq believing we know what’s best, when in essence these were not God’s plans for us. We always find out after, but then the damage has been done. We look to leaders that offer promises or appeal to the worst in many via prejudices and hate. Those that have nothing in their own life that speak of an actual relationship with the Lord, and yet somehow, we feel we can have them bring forth a vision that looks like Isaac, the seed of promise, and not Ismael. Just look at the Middle East today and it seems like that which produced Ishmael has been proven in Proverbs 16:25 saying, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is the way of death.”

Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:13, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go by it.” Right now, I feel we’ve just knocked over the gate and trampled on the path He’s called us to walk on. In my life I’ve created my own Ishmaels. They’ve only produced hardship and regret. Hard lessons. I still pray His grace to keep me on the right path. “We truly see through a glass, darkly.” We believe we see the promise or the way, but that which triggers passions, emotions, fears, prejudices, hatred, and decisions based on past experiences bring us to birth Ishmael in our lives. We must do as we see in Proverbs 3:5-6, “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.” Be that one who knows that we plan our ways, but only He can truly direct our steps. Be that one who follows the promise. Blessings.

The book of Numbers tells us of a seer named Balaam. In chapter 22, Balak, the king of Moab, looks to hire Balaam to curse Israel for him as he was afraid of the power of Israel. He sends messengers to hire Balaam as Balak is aware of Balaam’s power to bless or curse. But God speaks to Balaam and tells him he cannot curse Israel for they are blessed. So, Balaam tells the men Balak has sent to return to their land for God will not allow him to curse Israel. Balak undeterred, sends a greater retinue of men with promises of great honor for Balaam. He played to Balaam’s vanity.  Balaam still refuses to curse Israel, but he then adds of his own volition that he would not curse Israel no matter how much silver or gold was offered to him. But as yet, the amount of riches was not discussed, so why did Balaam broach the subject of riches? And therein lies the problem with many prophets today that seek after riches to be compensated for the words that they give. And though Balaam had protested he would not curse Israel, he still went with the messengers of Balak the next day. An angel of the Lord stood in Balaam’s way to meet Balak and were it not for his donkey recognizing the angel and speaking to Balaam in his own tongue, Balaam would have been struck dead by the angel. It’s sad yet funny how following a destructive path can cause us to miss signs so glaring as a talking donkey. But the lust of money and fame can do just that. Balaam temporarily heeded the angel’s warning, but Balak again pressured him to curse Israel and took Balaam to the high places of Baal where offerings were made to the false god Baal.

Balaam, even from the high places of idol worship and sacrifice, could not help but hear God. In fact, he eventually speaks one of the more important and prescient prophecies over Israel regarding the coming Messiah. The Lord gave Balaam an open-eyed vision of His love and plan for Israel. Balaam knew the voice of the Lord, yet foolishly lusted after fame and riches only realized by disobedience to the Lord. Proverbs 14:33 says, “Wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding; But what is in the heart of fools is made known.” Balaam’s heart was not fully dedicated to the Lord. His name means one who makes a profession of religion for the sake of gain. Even with his knowledge of and encounters with the Lord, Balaam still lusted after that which was contrary to God. And we see in Numbers 31 that he once again aligned with lust and greed and was killed when Israel defeated the Midianites.

Jude 11 and 2 Peter 2 speak to the errors of Balaam and those that follow in his footsteps, like so many “prophets and apostles” today who follow the path of Balaam in their love of the wages of unrighteousness. They follow a doctrine of empty promises and promises based on their own lusts and leanings. They are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest. They speak great swelling words of emptiness and they allure through lusts of the flesh. They promise liberty while they themselves are slaves of corruption. The psalmist Asaph wrote of this in Psalm 50:16 saying, “But to the wicked God says; What right have you to declare my statutes or to take My covenant on your lips.” Yet these words do not deter any more than they did with Balaam when misdirection due to one’s own self- seeking only reveals the darker motives. And today, prophets can totally get it wrong, but rather than say it was because of wrong motives, they make excuses.  I recently listened to R.T. Kendall speak to this saying how prophets are giving their take on what will happen with Trump and how so many got it wrong with the last election. But he added they used the excuse of a stolen election as the reason that they erred.  His question then was why didn’t God tell you that was going to happen when you called the election for Trump initially? This is still going on. Those who call themselves prophets call people to follow one who diametrically opposes all Christ taught. To follow those who will make quick waste of our constitution. To basically say it’s acceptable to lie, steal, cheat, denigrate, falsely accuse, slyly or overtly embrace racism, anti-semitism, xenophobia, and nationalism. To invoke the name of the Lord while climbing to your high places of idol worship. We all sin and fall short of His glory, but this is something far more insidious. Much darker. We find warnings of this in Micah 3:11, “Her judges passing verdicts for a bribe, priests pattering oracles for pay, and prophets divining for money, and all the while relying on the Eternal, saying Surely the Eternal is among us: no evil can befall us.” (Moffat Translation) But as it says in 1 Thessalonians 5, they may say peace and safety when sudden destruction comes upon them. So, it is incumbent on all of us to not be aligned with these increasing false words from these self-serving “Balaams,” ascending to high places of self-adulation with no regard to who they cause to fall in their false ascents to their high places. Come out from among them and be separate. If there is self- seeking and that which does not truly line up with His word, reject it outright. Seek Him. Take His yoke upon you, not that of one seeking their own gain. He is gentle and humble in heart. Rest in Him. Blessings.