The time of judges was a turbulent and chaotic era in Hebraic history. The Hebrews spiritual disobedience and rebellion— apostasy, kept them immersed in a vicious cycle of idolatry, sin and subjugation.
Refusing to acknowledge God is not mocked. He will not allow Himself to be ridiculed, nor treated with contempt, nor allow His precepts to be scornfully set aside. For whatever a man sows, this and this only is what he will reap. For the one who sows to his flesh— his sinful capacity— his worldliness— his disgraceful impulses will reap from the flesh ruin and destruction, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Galatians 6:7
I believe we are living in such a time.
A time when there are more cultural Christians than authentic disciples of Christ.
Are you a disciple of Christ? How many of these statements describe you?
Committed to serving Jesus as Lord, Savior and the Son of God.
“I, Jesus will open their spiritual eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of satan to God. That they may receive forgiveness and release from their sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified, set apart, made holy by faith in Me.” Acts 26:18
Papa— God requires commitment, repentance from sins and love for fellow believers. Don’t be deceived. There are ALWAYS consequences for disobedience.
You adulterers! Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again. If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. Do you think the Scriptures have no meaning? They say that God is passionate that the Spirit He has placed within us should be faithful to Him. He gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor. James 4:4-10
Your personal relationship with Papa, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, not outward appearances, is the focus of your life.
I am the Good Shepherd, and I know without any doubt those who are My own, and My own know Me and have a deep, personal relationship with Me. Even as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father. I lay down My very own life. Sacrificing it for the benefit of the sheep. John 10:14-15
The entire bible is the true, inspired word of God. It, not the culture defines truth.
The word of God is living and active and full of power. Making it operative, energizing and effective. It is sharper than any two-edged sword. Penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit— the completeness of a person and of both joints and marrow— the deepest parts of our nature, exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
Being a disciple of Jesus requires radical sacrifice and a backbone.
If anyone wishes to follow Me as My disciple, he must deny himself— set aside selfish interests and take up his cross daily. Expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come and follow Me. Believing in Me. Conforming to My example in living, and if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me.
For whoever wishes to save his life in this world will eventually lose it through death, but whoever loses his life in this world for My sake. He is the one who will save it from the consequences of sin and separation from God. For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world— wealth, fame, success and loses or forfeits himself? For whoever is ashamed here and now of Me and My words. The Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and the glory of the heavenly Father and of the holy angels. Luke 9:23-26
If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.
Do you remember what I told you? “A slave is not greater than the master.” Since they persecuted Me, naturally they will persecute you. If they had listened to Me, they would listen to you. They will do all this to you because of Me, for they have rejected the one who sent Me.
They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin.
Anyone who hates Me also hates My Father. If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did. Yet they still hate Me and My Father. This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures. They hated Me without cause.” John 15:18-25
Papa is drawing a line in the sand. Separating the “ME! ME! Christians” from His faithful remnant. A remnant He promises to put into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, “They are my people.” And they will say, “The Lord is my God.” Zechariah 13:9
I believe the COVID madness is part of this refining process. (Fall On Your Knees 3/19/20 and Love Story For Then Ages 4/01/20) Revealing idols and false paradigms that oppose Papa’s truth, righteousness and will for His children.
A refining that will increase in frequency and severity as the return of Christ nears.
Why?
So we, like John witnessed in the book of Revelation, will gratefully shout.
“Then I heard something like the shout of a vast multitude, and like the boom of many pounding waves, and like the roar of mighty peals of thunder, saying, ‘Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all reigns.
Let us rejoice and shout for joy! Let us give Him glory and honor. For the marriage of the Lamb has come at last, and His bride the redeemed has prepared Herself.’
She has been permitted to dress in fine linen, dazzling white and clean. For the fine linen signifies the righteous acts of the saints—the ethical conduct, personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character of believers. Revelation 19:6-8
AMEN!
letsloveothers 