Monthly Archives: April 2016

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“Playin’ favorites”

“And as for you, O my flock, thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I judge between cattle and cattle, between the rams and the he (male) goats.

Seemeth it a small thing unto you (you seem to think it is a trivial thing) TO HAVE EATEN UP THE GOOD PASTURE, but ye must TREAD DOWN (trample) WITH YOUR FEET the residue (remainder) OF YOUR PASTURES? and to have DRUNK OF THE DEEP WATERS, but ye must FOUL THE RESIDUE WITH YOUR FEET?            EZEKIEL 34:17,18

What He is saying is this, He will decide and do justice between “sheep”, His people.

It seems that to these that it is no concern of theirs and nothing to them, if the other sheep have no food, because they greedily gobble it all up and then crush and trample the little that remains.

They have no care or concern as they guzzle down all the available water, as they stand in it with their  dirty feet with no regard that others who are dying of thirst will only have this to drink. 

And they ARE the favorites of the shepherds of those fields, so no one dares to question. Playing favorites, man, I could actually write a book, maybe two just on the subject alone. But I don’t need to write anything since it has already been written and wonderfully fit for a time such as this.

The favorites of the shepherds, the chosen few, the “pets”, the family, the friends, the social status cliques, the biggest tithe givers, and I am sure some that fall into the category of, “Oh, I just like you, you remind me of a younger me” and of course they do like ones that are like-minded and share agendas.  

This is the separation: EZEKIEL 34:19-22: “And as for MY FLOCK, they EAT THAT WHICH YE HAVE TRODDEN WITH YOUR FEET; and THEY DRINK THAT WHICH YE HAVE FOULED WITH YOUR FEET.

Therefore thus saith the Lord God unto them; Behold, I, even I, WILL JUDGE BETWEEN THE FAT (FED)  SHEEP AND THE LEAN (STARVING) SHEEP.

Because YE HAVE THRUST (pushed)  WITH SIDE AND WITH SHOULDER, and PUSHED (BUTTED) ALL THE DISEASED (WEAK) WITH YOUR HORNS, TILL YE HAVE SCATTERED THEM ABROAD.

Therefore WILL I SAVE MY FLOCK, and they will be no more a prey; and I WILL JUDGE BETWEEN CATTLE (SHEEP) AND CATTLE (SHEEP).” 

Notice the pushing and shoving, those who, when they see one stumble, rather than help them up they will merely use the fallen back as a bridge to snatch a morsel out of the mouth of a another. The ones who shamelessly take credit for the work of others. The ones who mistakenly believe that they are of a greater importance to the flock and to the kingdom. They push and they shove the weak, notice the horns, adding to the wounds of those who are  injured, and hurt. They never feel one ounce of regret or remorse because getting all they can grab is what they are all about.

I love how  the Lord had these passages go hand in hand in the book of Ezekiel, He first speaks to the Shepherds, who are in for a world of hurt and then He goes on to the “fat cattle, the difference that are made by the shepherds who have their own agendas which are “ME, MYSELF, AND I” and if you can’t expand my pasture   ( help bring sheep and FURTHER THEIR ministry) well, just go on down the road, someone will take you in.

It is so funny, I have heard a thousand times by many different mouths, words such as “So and so will be here, come on out and make him welcome” “I‘ll be at ….. come bring friends” “ I am starting a new teaching series, come on out ” and of course the “great new” books that you just can’t live without, of course you have to pay for it but they really want to get this “must have” into your hands and teach you secrets of the kingdom! So funny, there is ONLY ONE book that you must have and that is the Bible and they want you to have it so bad, and you “need” it so bad, but they sure aren’t going to give it away now are they????? But you NEVER hear “Come check out my sheep” “Look at this fine flock” never, never because IT IS NO LONGER ABOUT THE FLOCK.

Another fine example of what He is getting at:

JAMES 2: 1-10 ” My brethren, have ye not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, (do you not profess to be of Christ) with respect (partiality) of persons?

For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel (expensive clothing), AND there came in ALSO a poor man in vile raiment (filthy clothes); and YE HAVE RESPECT (PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION) TO HIM IN GAY (FINE) CLOTHING, and say unto him, SIT THOU HERE IN GOOD PLACE, and SAY TO THE POOR, STAND THOU THERE, OR SIT HERE UNDER (AT) MY FOOTSTOOL.

Are ye NOT then partial in YOURSELVES, (Have you not DISCRIMINATED) and are become judges of evil thoughts?

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath God not chosen the POOR of this world rich in faith, and HEIRS OF THE KINGDOM which he hath promised to them that love him?

But YE HAVE DESPISED (dishourned) the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw (drag) you before the judgement seats? Do not they blaspheme the worthy (noble) name by which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF, ye do well.

But IF YE HAVE RESPECT (PARTIALITY) TO PERSONS, YE COMMIT SIN, AND ARE CONVINCED (CONVICTED) OF THE LAW AS TRANSGRESSORS. For whosoever shall keep the law, and yet offend (stumble) in one point, he is guilty of all.”

I often wonder what it would be like now if Jesus or the disciples were to walk into a modern church. Would it be like it was when he came to earth?

You know when the Jews and Pharisees just didn’t think He fit the bill for being the Son of God, He didn’t look like royalty, He sure didn’t act the part, He refused to share their religious snobbery and woman hating misogyny.

And Oh, my goodness…. Can you believe that HE ACTUALLY LET MARY TOUCH HIM?????? He actually healed the sick without giving them a speech about how they should have taken better care of themselves. He actually cast out the demons that troubled them (without asking a fee) he raised their dead not to make Him a mega minister but actually OUT OF COMPASSION for their pain. He dined with “sinners” hung out with fishermen. He even let His disciples eat with unwashed hands. And all those that pointed fingers at Him questioning His authority to do these things were met with the finger of God pointing back at their own wicked hearts, sure, cast the first stone, oppress the widows, sell the orphans, slaughter his lame sheep. 

I really don’t think they would recognize Him here, do you???? Wonder if they have ever pondered the fact that the least of these will be the greatest in heaven? That does not mean high and lofty, that means Jesus came to serve not to be served and this is what He expects from His followers. So if they do not want to do it on this earth and they want a “higher” position then they can expect to have a reversal of that position in the kingdom of heaven.

And THAT is gonna be a lot of fun! I am quite excited about it, as my own struggles dealing with shepherds and pushy- shovy sheep, in the forms of Alpha Male Ministers and Cattle Prodding Pastors, Church House Divas and my favorites the “Is she wearing PANTS” crowd. I have to ALWAYS keep the tongue in check and know that HE IS MY SHEPHERD and know that no matter how scruffy, malnourished, or thirsty I may get and contrary to who likes me or who doesn’t that HE will always feed me, water me, and love me because I am HIS, and I know if I don’t learn to just deal with them, look over them, and see it for what it is, that hate will grow and I will lose my relationship with the Lord and no one is worth that, no one is worth becoming a child that will bring heartache to the Father and His is the only opinion that should matter.

Right?…. Wrong, the problem with the shepherds and fat cattle is that it looks so good to the weak, diseased, hurting, hungry, and thirsty sheep and they flock to it, hoping the “grass is greener” hoping they will get healed, delivered, fed, and watered, only to arrive and be met with those horns as the “home” sheep  continue in their own self survival. Then the little lambs are in even worse shape because now they are in a foreign pasture left to the side to die and wondering what they did wrong. They didn’t do anything to deserve this treatment. God explains it all for exactly what it is.

This is why the accountability will also be for all those who had been driven away by cruel shepherds, and no one has looked for or cared for these wounded sheep. They have been left, lost in the wilderness, to be prey for wolves and devoured by the beasts. 

Something to ponder as we continue to look for the day of the Lord, pray and weep in humility and correct those things that we can, never turn away His sheep, love and nurture them. Jesus IS THE SHEPHERD and we will all give account to Him.

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω  Rev. Nina Brown Johnson 2016

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“Cryin’ on the floor”

“Let the priests, the MINISTERS OF THE LORD, WEEP BETWEEN THE PORCH AND THE ALTAR, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine inheritance TO REPROACH, that the heathen (nations) should rule over them: Wherefore should they say among the people (peoples) Where is your God?”                             JOEL 2:17

Now, this passage of scripture comes as the entire congregation is warned to seek the Lord with seriousness and fervor.

But this particular verse holds quite a thought for today. Notice this is NOT “outside” and yet it is NOT at the altar where THEY SHOULD BE, ministers are to SERVE. They are in the building but not quite where they SHOULD be. And they are told to WEEP.

Why? Because something obviously is not quite right with what has been going on inside. God has to have a prophet come along and point out that they may just want to get a little serious before they will be destroyed by enemies that they apparently can’t even see coming, as the scripture includes a PLEA to not give them over to those enemies.

Weep, cry and howl in repentance for the state of the flock or most of the flock, weep for what that house has become and weep for the lost and scattered sheep they will account for.

Ezekiel 34: 2a-4: “Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not a shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with wool, ye kill them that are fed (fatlings): but ye feed not the flock.

The diseased (weak) have ye NOT strengthened, NEITHER have ye HEALED THAT WHICH WAS SICK, NEITHER have ye BOUND UP THAT WHICH WAS BROKEN, NEITHER have ye BROUGHT AGAIN THAT WHICH WAS DRIVEN AWAY, NEITHER have ye SOUGHT THAT WHICH WAS LOST, but WITH FORCE AND WITH CRUELTY (harshness) HAVE YE RULED THEM.”

Dude.. that so awfully familiar. “Fat cat” shepherds and preachers who only want to preach for the all mighty dollar, would never offer to go pray for the sick or dying, or just visit someone who is down.

Offerings taken up left and right for them and yet no one ever hears the words, “This is for…..”  would be nice just once to hear ANYTHING other than money being raised for building something that is to serve them,  how about for legitimate church debts, maintenance, or to donate to a food bank, or heaven forbid raise money for widows, single moms, or those crushed in this economy.  

And to hear over and over ministers WHO should be concerned with the LOST constantly brag about the obscene amounts of money for this and for that COMES to them.

Two stories always leap to mind with this, Daniel who WOULD not take the fabulous gifts offered to Him for the gift of  interpretation of dreams that GOD HAD GIVEN HIM. And Elisha who knew God gifts belong to God and are FREE to those who receive them but had one close to him that thought otherwise and would lie in his name to get what he wanted.

Daniel 5:16,17: (Belshazzar speaking to Daniel) ” And I have heard of thee, that thou canst make (can give) interpretations, and dissolve doubts (explain enigmas) now if thou canst read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of GOLD about thy neck, and shalt be third ruler in the kingdom.  

Then Daniel answered and said before the king, LET THY GIFTS BE TO THYSELF, AND GIVE THY REWARDS TO ANOTHER, yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.”

Notice the fine clothes, fine jewelry to BE DISPLAYED, and all that POWER in THAT kingdom, that group, that circle, that has bought a many of them.

Ah.. those who would make money from the gifts of God, EVEN if they are not the vessel through which that gift is bestowed. 2 KINGS 5, to break it down Naaman had leprosy and had been told to go visit the Prophet Elisha who told him to go dip in the Jordan seven times and we will pick up after God had granted his healing:

2 KINGS 5:15-16,20-27:  And he (Naaman) returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came and stood before him; and said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, but in Israel; Now, therefore, I pray (ask) thee, take a blessing of thy servant (take a gift) .

But he (Elisha) said As the Lord liveth, , before who I STAND, I WILL RECEIVE NONE. and he urged him to take it; but HE REFUSED.

{ So he goes on his way }   BUT  Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in NOT receiving at his hands that which he brought: BUT as the Lord liveth, I WILL RUN AFTER HIM, AND TAKE SOMEWHAT OF HIM ( something from him).

So Gehazi followed after Naaman. And when Naaman saw him, he lighted down from the chariot to meet him, and said, Is all well? And he said, All is well, My master hath sent me, saying, Behold, even now there be come to me from mount Ephraim two young men of the sons of the prophets, give them, I pray thee,  A TALENT OF SILVER, AND TWO CHANGES OF GARMENTS.

And Naaman said, Be content, (of course) take two talents. and he urged him, and bound two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of garments, and laid them upon on two of his servants, and they bare them before him.

And when he came to the tower (hill), he took them from their hand, and bestowed (stored) them in the house: and let the men go, and they departed.

But he went in, and stood before his master. And Elisha said unto him, Whence comest thou, (where have you been) Gehazi? And he said, Thy servant went no whither ( no where). 

And he (Elisha) said unto him, Went not mine heart (Did not my heart go) with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? IS IT A TIME TO RECEIVE MONEY, and TO RECEIVE GARMENTS, and OLIVEYARDS, and VINEYARDS, and MENSERVANTS, and MAIDSERVANTS? 

THE LEPROSY therefore of Naaman, SHALL CLEAVE UNTO THEE, AND UNTO THY SEED FOR EVER. And he WENT OUT FROM HIS PRESENCE A LEPER AS WHITE AS SNOW.”

Wonder how many started a good race and let the greed for all these worldly possessions take them out of the presence of God also???? Elisha asked “Is it time” because NOW is not the time, we are NOT to receive rewards. We are to put up treasures IN HEAVEN.

So… where are we? We are now dealing with the sick and diseased sheep who are not healed. Hummm….    nothing like looking at people standing at an altar for prayer only to be told that they should all just pray one for another, oh but only based on gender.

Kinda funny, pretty sure that the Bible states that “healing and miracles”  are one of the gifts and God gives those to whomever he chooses. And we are neither male nor female in God and in the Spirit: GALATIANS 3:24-28. So maybe,they should try to take that argument up with God.

Who dictates whom God is ALLOWED to work through???? And of course it would be helpful to really actually care who these sick sheep are and actually care whether or not they were healed.

Ones that profess Christ and are an endless spew of off-color comments and downright vulgar thoughts towards the lost. Shaming the poor and those with public assistance and ever pleading “the cloth”  to hide behind “the cloth” well, they are going to need something to hide behind.

Who is being saved again????

Wounded and driven sheep, see someone sitting crying, sure leave them there, let ’em cry,  they’ll be okay.  SOMEONE else will deal with helping them, yeah, BECAUSE GOD will send someone else to them later on. BUT that does not excuse accountability by a long shot.

Sheep that have been driven away, driven with rods of iron and harshness and threats of taking away what God himself  has given. Forced into position of black sheep for “obeying God rather than man” and other sheep ALLOWED to be driven away through the “fat cattle” by harshness and by ones who have a superiority complex. (We’ll get to the “fat cattle” next time, Lord’s will)

Sheep driven out to become unprotected prey and eaten alive by every “beast of the field” no one watching and no one caring. So starved that some die through malnutrition by becoming prey to those jackals who win their trust by feeding them fluff, only to let them die anyway.

Sheep that have been scattered because they are different or just don’t fit into the groove the flock wants to project. Again accountable,  and accountable on ALL counts.

Ezekiel 34:8-11,16: “As I live saith the Lord God, surely because my flock became A PREY, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field, because there was NO shepherd, NEITHER DID MY SHEPHERDS SEARCH FOR MY FLOCK, BUT THE SHEPHERDS FED THEMSELVES, AND FED NOT MY FLOCK;

Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the Lord; Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I WILL REQUIRE MY FLOCK AT THEIR HAND, AND CAUSE THEM TO CEASE FEEDING THE FLOCK (SHEEP); NEITHER SHALL THE SHEPHERDS FEED THEMSELVES ANY MORE; FOR I WILL DELIVER MY FLOCK FROM THEIR MOUTH, that they may not be meat for them. 

For thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I, even, I, WILL BOTH SEARCH MY SHEEP, AND SEEK THEM OUT.  I WILL SEEK THAT WHICH WAS LOST, AND BRING AGAIN THAT WHICH WAS DRIVEN AWAY, AND WILL BIND UP THAT WHICH WAS BROKEN, AND WILL STRENGHTEN THAT WHICH WAS SICK; BUT I WILL DESTROY THE FAT AND THE STRONG; I WILL FEED THEM WITH JUDGMENT.“

Pretty good reasons to cry, and without some real realization and some real humility between that porch and that altar, it will be just as it is and just as it has been. We all say we want to see all the miracles and healings and salvation but WHAT is our motive? And for those who have an agenda other than the Kingdom of God, well, they are in for a very rude awakening.

All things are for the GLORY OF GOD, they are not for the glory of the church, or this minister, or that minister and I do believe God will use some “foolish to confound the wise” when He begins to work through those who were thought of the least and does not work through those who seem to think it is only for them. And NO ONE tells God who, when, how, or why.

” But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it, lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.” ACTS 5:29

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω  Reverend Nina BrownJohnson 2016

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“Oh, say can you see……”

“For thus saith the Lord of hosts the God of Israel; The daughter of Babylon is like a threshingfloor, it is time to thresh her; (when it is) yet a little while, and the time of the harvest shall come.

Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will plead thy cause (for justice), and take vengeance for thee; I will dry up her sea. and make her springs dry.

And Babylon shall become heaps (heaps of ruins), a dwellingplace for dragons (jackals), an astonishment, (a gazing stock of horror to those who see the destruction of it), and an hissing, without inhabitants. 

I will bring THEM DOWN like lambs to the slaughter, like rams and he (male) goats. How Sheshach (code word for Babylon) and how is the praise of the whole earth surprised! (the COUNTRY that all other countries aspired to match in wealth and strength IS SEIZED)  How is Babylon become an astonishment (DESOLATE) AMONG THE NATIONS.

Therefore, Behold, the DAYS COME, that I WILL do (bring) JUDGMENT UPON THE GRAVEN IMAGES OF BABYLON: and her WHOLE LAND shall be confounded and ALL her slain shall fall in the midst of HER. Then the HEAVEN and the EARTH, and all that are therein SHALL SING for Babylon (REJOICE BECAUSE IT IS DESTROYED): for the spoilers (plunderers) shall come upon her from the north, saith the Lord.

Though Babylon should mount (ascend) up to heaven, and though she should fortify the height of her strength ( attempt to be strong against the enemies) YET FROM ME shall the spoilers (destructive forces) COME unto her.

Because the spoiler is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men ARE taken, every one of their bows broken (their weapons will be useless), FOR THE LORD GOD of recompenses SHALL SURELY requite, (repay, bring DIVINE JUDGMENT against “her”) And I WILL make drunk (senseless and lose all logic) her princes, and her wise men, her captains (governors), her rulers, and her mighty men shall sleep, and not wake, saith the KING, whose name IS the Lord of hosts.

Thus saith the Lord of hosts; The broad walls (protective forces) shall be utterly broken (laid bare), and her high gates shall be burned with fire, and they shall be weary.” JEREMIAH 51:33,35,37,40,41,47,48,53,56-58

Now that is a tiny, tiny sample of the judgments because the end time judgments are so numerous that they were written double-sided. Read the chapter for yourself and ask God for guidance and He will reveal it to you, if your heart is toward him.

The warnings of the judgment are  for the believers in that we will know as it comes to pass and God always warns those slated to destruction, although the common message to the prophets was this “although they will not hear you” translated, even though they will not listen, they can never stand in front of God and try to plead innocence through ignorance to the facts because whether they believed or they didn’t, they were told.

This prophecy was actually a double-header, it took out original Babylon but it was set against a futuristic (at the time, that future is NOW HERE) SPIRITUAL BABYLON, the DAUGHTER of Babylon, which is:

REVELATION 17:5 : “And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT….

Now the common teaching for years was that somehow Iran or some small country would rise to power and BECOME this great wealthy, powerful nation and another thought was that the Catholic church would hold this spot.

Well, problem is, kinda like when Wall Street crashed in America and everyone decided they were “just too big to fail”. You can also look at it like this, when King David had Uriah murdered because he had slept with Uriah’s wife, and when Nathan the Prophet came and told him the comparison of his sin, he DIDN’T even realize that Nathan spoke of him, until Nathan told him that “he was the man”.  

Let’s look at what God had Jeremiah do after giving him this prophecy:

JEREMIAH 51: 60,61: “So Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon, even ALL these words that  against BABYLON.

” And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou  comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and SHALT READ ALL  these words:”  Words God gave Jeremiah, spoken, as they have to be by another agent when he “came” to Babylon and “saw” that IT WAS BABYLON,   some will dig that at the right time. 

To continue, 63 ,64: Then thou shalt say, O, Lord, that thou hast SPOKEN against THIS place, to cut it off, that NONE shall remain in it, NEITHER man nor beast, but that it shall be desolate (laid waste) FOR EVER.

And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of reading this book (Finished reading the proclamation over that Babylon), that thou should (you are to) bind a stone to it, and cast (throw) it into the Euphrates: And thou shalt say, THUS SHALL BABYLON SINK, AND SHALL NOT RISE FROM THE EVIL THAT I WILL BRING UPON HER: and they shall be weary. Thus far are the words of Jeremiah.”

This is good to know when dealing with false prophets and false doctrines and those who keep screaming “peace”. THERE WILL BE NO PEACE! The same false spirit lied to the sin seduced minds of old, like the ones who were destroyed in the Old Testament also. Telling them they could do whatever they want because God loves them.

God is merciful, HE IS kind, IF you repent and LIVE FOR HIM. He has never, will nor He ever BLESS SIN!

He will NOT fight your battles, nor will he BLESS YOUR LAND when the land and the people have turned  against Him and spat in his face! HE said “Woe unto the nation that turns AGAINST God, that NATION SHALL BE TURNED UNTO HELL”  Does that sound like  peace to anyone other than the soul stealing candy coats?

Peace IS NOT coming, the judgments ARE ALREADY on the way. Just as Jesus said HE IS COMING “TO BRING A SWORD”!

Scream PEACE, scream tolerance, scream acceptance all you want, people scream this because THEY DON’T WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR OWN SIN! SO THEY LIE AND TEACH OTHERS THAT THEY AREN’T ACCOUNTABLE EITHER.

Scream all they want because they will have a different scream, when they are screaming for the rocks to fall on them and hide them from the face of Jesus, if they serve him and speak for him in all this promised peace and prosperity, why will they need to hide?

They will beg to die and will not be able to die, God will supernaturally perform it so that no matter what someone does to their human body in attempt to flee His justice, that they CAN NOT die!

Yeah, sounds real peaceful, sounds like He is just as thrilled with humans as he was in the days of Noah and the days of Lot. But this go round will be totally different because THIS BABYLON couldn’t just sin, No, THIS BABYLON sinned and committed every imaginable and some unimaginable abominations and had the unbridled audacity and sheer stupidity to PUT HIS NAME ON IT and TRY TO HIDE BEHIND A CROSS.

Ready for a healthy dose of revelation? Nothing is so big that God cannot bring it down, David was that man, and “MYSTERY” is a hidden truth with a spiritual meaning.

Mystery solved: HER IDENITY: “BABYLON THE GREAT” = “AMERICA THE GREAT”.

I studied this for years and diligently tried my best to flee this calling and had more questions than answers as to how the sinking suspicion of “HER” identity could be. But now I think we can all see.  I often asked the Lord what could we as a nation possibly do that was so bad to bring about such destruction.

Well, I hadn’t lived long enough because, I think now WE ALL SEE.

America fits every single criteria written for “MYSTERY”. There are so many it is hard to list them all but here are a few, we dwell on many waters, we are abundant in treasures and delicacies, we are the nation of “mingled” people, mixed of all races, we are a young nation, the most powerful on earth, we are a society that can not get enough which leads us to be the number one importer of cheap goods, which fulfills these prophecies:

REVELATION 18:9-13  : And the kings of the earth who have committed fornication and lived deliciously (luxuriously) with her, shall bewail (weep for) her, and lament for her, when they see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for FEAR of her torment, saying, Alas, Alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for IN ONE HOUR THY JUDGMENT IS COME. and the MERCHANTS OF THE EARTH shall weep and mourn over her; FOR NO MAN BUYETH THEIR MERCAHNDISE ANY MORE:

The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner of vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and of iron, and marble,

And cinnamon, and odours (incense) and ointments (perfumed oils), and frankincense, and wine, and OIL, ad fine flour, and wheat, and beasts (cattle) and sheep, and horses, and chariots,  and slaves (BODIES), and SOULS OF MEN.”

Now the reason “all the kings” have committed fornication with “HER” is this, since being founded, others have fled to America, they have sought “the American Dream” and all nations have followed us in suit, not because they like us (they don’t) but to aspire to have the wealth and power of this nation.

BUT unfortunately this nation made the tragic mistake of believing we had all this wealth and power because we are just groovy when WE HAD IT BECAUSE GOD HAD BLESSED AMERICA.

BECAUSE IT WAS THE ONLY NATION OTHER THAN ISRAEL FOUNDED FOR HIM AND UPON HIS WORSHIP. For years I could not understand the “souls of men” and I would be like, “God, we don’t have slaves now” but NOW I SEE.

The dead bodies of aborted babies picked apart in pie tins and sold to the highest bidder. Ancient Babylon had a nasty little habit of building their houses on sacrificed children for “good luck” and were known to keep baby bodies in jars for the same purpose.

NOW I SEE, a far worse slavery, sexual slave trafficking is a multi billion dollar  a year business and yes, alive and well here in the good ol’ USA.  Thanks to a rampant sexual culture that would indeed shame Sodom

We see on home and garden channels, people who have million dollar budgets and all homes shown  to them are “too small”  and the never-ending  song of no matter how big, how nice, how new it still “needs updated” because the Babylonians can never get enough that why so much is mentioned of the merchants.

To continue, REVELATION 17:14-19:  And the fruits thy soul lusted after ARE DEPARTED from thee, and all the things which were dainty (are rich) and goodly (splendid) ARE DEPARTED from thee, and thou shalt find them NO MORE at all.

The merchants of these things, WHICH WERE MADE RICH BY HER, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, Alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

For IN ONE HOUR so great riches is come to nought (absolute destruction). And EVERY shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and AS MANY AS TRADE BY SEA, stood afar off. And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city!

And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein WERE MADE RICH ALL THAT HAD SHIPS IN THE SEA, by reason of her costliness ( wealth)! FOR IN ONE HOUR SHE IS MADE DESOLATE ( A WASTELAND) .

What country on earth could at its destruction bring ALL the global economy to its knees? What country has made all the other countries money by buying droves, and droves of imports because they are a people who just can never get enough?

How does this tie to Jeremiah? Well, all things prophetic involve acts and reactions, mirroring between heaven and earth.

REVELATION 17:20,21 :  “REJOICE OVER HER, THOU HEAVEN, AND YE HOLY APOSTLES AND PROPHETS; FOR GOD HATH AVENGED YOU ON HER. (Mystery Babylon holds such a disgust in the eyes of God BECAUSE they turned from Him, that He holds it personally accountable for ALL the blood, including that of the prophets)

verse 21: And a mighty ANGEL TOOK UP A STONE, like a great millstone, AND CAST IT INTO THE SEA, saying, THUS WITH VIOLENCE SHALL THAT GREAT CITY BABYLON BE THROWN DOWN, AND SHALL BE FOUND NO MORE AT ALL.”

If a watchman sees the sword and fails to warn, then that watchman is accountable for all. I am sure this will be met with much criticism, especially from the candy coats and money preachers, (but their judgment is so soon coming) and those who will scream anti-American, well, I am not, I love my people enough to tell them the truth and the truth is this. America is ALREADY under judgment, a sword is upon her treasures and the enemies are flocking in droves.

Jesus NEVER gave instructions to Christians  in his end time teachings, He gave instructions only for those living in Jerusalem.

Why? Because WE WILL NOT BE here. The destruction of Babylon is with the end time events BUT it is a separate judgment BEFORE the anti Christ and mark of the beast and forthcoming plagues. 

The only way out is in the rapture that will happen just as Babylon is destroyed through a coordinated attack waged by multiple enemies. So my prayer today is that you will see and know and believe.

Again, don’t kill the Messenger, I will not stand before God and give fear of rejection as a reason for not sounding a trumpet. And if you do see, do NOT be afraid, trust God, live for Him ACCORDING TO HIS WORD, not according to the candy coats and false doctrines, read the BIBLE for yourself and KNOW He is bringing all these things to pass for the fulfillment of His Kingdom on earth, when peace will exist and kindness and mercy WILL RULE.

It is like His suffering and His death on the cross, there is no other way. People are like they were in the days of Noah and they are worse than those in Sodom and only when he reigns will there be change for the innocents who suffer.

I’ll leave you with His words from MATTHEW 24:43: “ But KNOW THIS, that if the goodman (owner) of the house had KNOWN in what watch (time) the thief would come, HE WOULD HAVE WATCHED, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up (broken into)“

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NB 2016

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“Sex & Violence”

“And as it was in the days of Noe  (Noah), so shall IT BE also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, UNTIL THE DAY Noe (Noah) entered the ark, and THE FLOOD CAME, and DESTROYED THEM ALL.

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; BUT the SAME DAY that lot went out of Sodom IT RAINED FIRE AND BRIMSTONE from heaven and DESTROYED THEM ALL.

Even thus shall IT BE IN THE DAY WHEN THE SON OF MAN IS REVEALED.”  LUKE 17: 26-30 Of course Jesus speaking there concerning the end times and how to discern the time. So how was it in the days of Noah? Well, much like today, people were full of violence and hatred bred and became a spiritual force that ran one to another.

GENESIS 6:5-7,11,12 : “And God saw that the wickedness of man (humankind) was great in the earth, and that EVERY imagination of the thoughts of his heart (a persons thoughts and intents) was ONLY EVIL CONTINUALLY ( a pure evil all day long). 

And it repented the Lord THAT HE HAD MADE MAN on the earth (HE WAS SORRY THAT HE CREATED HUMANS) and IT GREIVED HIM AT HIS HEART.

And the Lord said, I WILL DESTROY MAN WHOM I HAVE CREATED FROM THE FACE OF THE EARTH; both, man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air, for IT repenteth me ( I am sorry) that I have made them.

The earth also was corrupt before God, and THE EARTH WAS FILLED WITH VIOLENCE. And God looked upon the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; FOR ALL FLESH (people) had corrupted (perverted) his way upon earth.”

Most know his reference to Lot and Sodom but for those who may not, check out GENESIS chapters eighteen and nineteen. To highlight the story, Sodom and Gomorrah was two nasty little places. Abraham’s nephew Lot lived there with his family and much like today, the “cry” of the sin of the cities was reaching into heaven and God and two angels came down to see if it was as bad as they thought. God is very merciful and He is very just and He will not bring down judgments unprovoked. So, sure enough it really was that bad. In fact so bad, so twisted, and so possessed with sex that JUDE 7 states this:

“Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them IN LIKE MANNER, (doing as they did) GIVING THEMSELVES OVER TO FORNICATION, AND GOING AFTER STRANGE FLESH (SEX, SEX, AND MORE SEX) are set forth FOR AN EXAMPLE, SUFFERING THE VENGENACE OF ETERNAL FIRE.”

So when God sent the two angels to get Lot and his family out before the destruction, that the men of the town demanded that the “men” be handed over to them to be gang raped instead they were blinded by the angels and the next day:

 GENESIS 19:23-25,28: ” The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar, Then the LORD RAINED UPON SODOM AND UPON GOMORRAH BRIMSTONE AND FIRE FROM THE LORD OUT OF HEAVEN; and he overthrew (DEVESTATED) those cities, and all the plain, and ALL THE INHABITANTS of those cities, and that which grew upon the ground. And he (Lot) looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.”

Jesus using these two stories to give us the last day warning of this, when you see the world taken over by violence and hatred and when you see the sexual desires of those people take precedence over every single aspect of human existence then you will know that AS ASSUREDLY as they keep right on running until the day they WERE destroyed then also in these days it will be the same. So if God was SAD that HE EVER EVEN created humans in Noah’s time, how much more sorrow do you think he feels now?

We have far surpassed the violence of Noah’s day, People beating people just for the thrill of it, kidnapping and holding people as slaves, mothers PAY to have babies murdered and the murderers then sell the body parts. School kids shooting schoolkids, road rage, no sense of human decency and any shred of kindness to be found, everyone angry because of their color, their rights, their anything, just as long as they have a reason to let the anger of hell reside within them and unleash it on others.

It is no longer safe to go to a movie, or the mall, or even the workplace without the real possibility of being gunned down by a hate filled person. Oh I almost forgot, it is not the unhinged people who kill people, it is the guns! More of the same demonic lies that have led us to where we are. WE ARE at the end of the road.

The spirits of Sodom are just as Jesus said it would be when we have a society that no one can just keep their sex life to themselves, no, they have to wear it like a tag and now to believe that we can’t even have separate bathrooms because someone always has to be made to feel accepted. I don’t care, I do not want to use the bathroom with any guy, even if he is confused and wants to be female and may not be interested in females at all but what about the predators who only want a fabulous opportunity to attack more victims?

And what about the guys who do not want to use the bathroom with chicks whether the want to fit in with the boys or not? WHERE is my right to MY PRIVACY? Where are your rights? That does not make any one a bigot and I am so sick of hearing how they are all victims and everyone else is either prejudice or homophobic.

Just more of the divide, conquer and let everyone destroy themselves. I really thought I had seen it all, but last night I saw a site that for a donation will send you a cute, little bumper sticker of a cartoon animal holding a sign that says “Save the baby humans” and another story on a  certain possessed former Disney star that is doing her thing with abortion rights touting a pin that tells us all with a four letter word, what we can do if we don’t like women’s rights to murder their babies.

And just as those days came, So is the day of the Lord. Can you only imagine how angry He is now?

It is times like these that I just can not believe this world. Even knowing all the things that WILL come to pass, I still find it hard to believe that we have hit this level and it is just as He said it would be. I know all the arguments, the ones that laugh, that mock, that do not believe, and that is okay, He answered that also, they will do their thing until THAT DAY and they will not even know what hit them. The general thought in the world is to let people do as they wish, but you know what? To say nothing is to condone and when judgment comes no one will be able to say that did not know. If you have heard the Gospel and even by reading this, you know and God does too.

Matthew 24: 35-37,42,44: ” Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. BUT of THAT DAY and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. But as the DAYS of Noe (Noah)  WERE, SO SHALL ALSO THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN BE. 

WATCH therefore: FOR YE KNOW NOT what hour your Lord doth come. Therefore  BE YE ALSO READY for in such an hour as ye THINK NOT the Son of man COMETH.”

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NB 2016

 

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I WILL…..

“I will bless the Lord at all times……” PSALM 34:1.

All times, times of joy because the joy of the Lord is our strength. Times of rejoicing when our souls have rejoiced in His presence and He has made us rejoice over our enemies.

Times of patient waiting because in waiting He will renew our strength and we will rise as eagles. Times of sickness because  He will “make” our sick bed and He is our healer.

In times of raging seas because He is the calm in the storm. In time of fleeing from the attacks and troubles of the world because He is our high tower.

In times of anguish because He is our High Priest who knows how our pain. In times of persecution, aggravation, and dealing with the condescending attitudes of others and it is ever so hard to not let our flesh just have at it and this is the time that I will…. because no one is worth our relationship with Christ and Jesus proves out all works in his time and it is in these moments that remembering that we will bless HIM in all things, even while others are trying to get under our skin and when we don’t understand what we see around us and how this all pans out:

Psalm 37: 1-13  : Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like grass, and wither as the green herb.

Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed (feed on His faithfulness). Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Commit ( roll off onto) thy way unto the Lord: trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.  And he shall bring forth thy righteousness (right standing with God) as the light, and thy judgment (justice) as the noonday.

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man that bringeth wicked devices (schemes) to pass. Cease from anger and forsake wrath: fret not in any wise (any way) to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off (destroyed) but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.

For yet a little while, (in a little while), and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider (look for) his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in peace. The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.  The Lord shall laugh at him; for he seeth that his day is coming.”

Three times we are reminded to “fret not” which means to just not let it get to us, obviously if the Lord had it written three times that is a good indication that these are going to be situations and attitudes of others that are really going to try our patience in not getting angry or rather not keeping that anger. And to not be jealous or resentful of how it seems that they constantly prosper and get by with it and are never called out on it. But as you see we are trust, delight in Him, rest, and wait on his judgment. And in ALL times bless Him and He will bless you and no one can take that away.

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω  Rev. Nina Brown Johnson 2016

 

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Watching your two-step……

“Enter ye in at the strait (narrow) gate: for WIDE IS THE GATE, AND BROAD IS THE WAY THAT LEADETH TO DESTRUCTION, and many there be which go in thereat (through it): Because strait is the gate, and narrow (difficult or confined) is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” MATTHEW 7:13,14 

 The spiritual dance of stepping into the will of God and His call upon the life of every believer. The true test in this is trying to always move two steps forward while being careful to not slide the three steps back. During times of testing, crisis, and uncertainty we can quickly give up on trying to learn the new step and be easily swayed into sashaying back to that same old waltz with the world that we have grown accustomed to. We are creatures of habit and sometimes slow learners.

 But we never dance alone and often we don’t realize that there are others who watch us and our moves, and sometimes our faulty footwork can not only harm them, it can ultimately destroy them.

Pressure from the world, Pressure from the enemy (constantly reminding us that we may fail) and the most dreadful one, pressure from our self. Pressure that tells us we must get this right, that we have one shot and it is over. This “performance” pressure does not come from the Lord. HE IS merciful and HE IS patient, even if we are quite challenged with the tempo and have two left feet. 

 I want to give a few examples of why it is imperative to wait on the Lord, go forward but be careful to not let our flesh and need to excel “outrun” Him and His desires to teach us those steps himself. Because if we do, we will run head on into disobedience and that carries a hefty price that no one can afford.

Lesson #1 TRUST NO OTHER INSTRUCTOR:  

1 KINGS 13 tells, what to me is one of the scariest stories in the entire book, and of course, I’ll have to highlight, but if you have a moment please read it. God had called forth a Prophet, who is just referred to as “The man of God”  He had sent him by His word and with signs to “cry” against a pagan altar at Bethel. After Jeroboam had asked him to pray to the Lord on his behalf he invited him to dinner, and that is where we will pick it up:

1 KINGS 13:7-9: “And the King said unto the man of God, Come home with me, and refresh thyself, and I will give thee a reward. And the man of God said unto the King, if thou wilt give me half thine house, I WILL NOT go I with thee, NEITHER will I eat bread nor drink water IN THIS PLACE; FOR so WAS IT CHARGED ME (COMMANDED TO ME) BY THE WORD OF THE LORD, SAYING, EAT NO BREAD, NOR DRINK WATER, NOR TURN AGAIN BY THE SAME WAY THAT THOU CAMEST.”

So the story goes on and the man did as he had been commanded and went another way. Meanwhile, there dwelt “an old Prophet” whose sons had came and relayed the entire story to him. The old man asked the sons which direction the prophet travelled in and pursued after him.

Now, this is what I really want to point out in this story: verses 14-17: “And went after the man of God, and found him sitting under and oak { not going forward}: and said unto him, Art thou (are you) the man of God that camest from Bethel? { if he were legit he should have KNOWN} and he said, I am. Then he said unto him, Come home with me, and eat bread.

And he said, I MAY NOT RETURN WITH THEE, NOR GO IN WITH THEE; NEITHER WILL I EAT BREAD NOR DRINK WATER WITH THEE IN THIS PLACE: for it was said to me BY THE WORD OF THE LORD, THOU SHALT EAT NO BREAD NOR DRINK WATER THERE, NOR TURN AGAIN TO GO BY THE WAT THOU CAMEST { NO GOING BACKWARD}.

Now for the deception, the “old” prophet speaking, verse 18-26:” He said unto him, I am a prophet also as thou art; and an ANGEL spake unto me by the word of the Lord, saying, Bring him back with thee into thine house, that he may eat bread and drink water: BUT HE LIED UNTO HIM.”  

So  he went back with him, and did eat bread in his house, and drank water. And it came to pass, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord  came unto the prophet that brought him back:  And he cried unto the man of God that came from Judah, saying, THUS SAYETH THE LORD, FORASMUCH AS THOU HAST DISOBEYED THE MOUTH OF THE LORD, AND HAST NOT KEPT THE COMMANDEMENT WHICH THE LORD GOD COMMANDED THEE. But camest back, and hast eaten bread and drunk water in the place, of which the Lord did say to thee, Eat no bread, and drink no water; thy carcase  shall not come unto the sepulchre of thy fathers ( your corpse will not come to the tomb).

And it came to pass, after he had eaten bread, and after he had drunk, that he saddled for him the ass, to wit, (so you will know) for the prophet whom he had brought back. And when he was gone, A LION MET HIM BY THE WAY (ON THE ROAD), AND SLEW (KILLED) HIM, AND HIS CARCASE WAS CAST IN THE WAY, AND THE ASS STOOD BY IT, THE LION ALSO STOOD BY THE CARCASE.    

AND behold men passed by, and saw the carcase cast (laying) in the way, and the Lion standing by the carcase: and they came and told it in the city where the old prophet dwelt (lived). And when the prophet that brought him back from the way heard thereof, he said, It IS THE MAN OF GOD, WHO WAS DISOBEDIENT UNTO THE WORD OF THE LORD: therefore the Lord hath delivered him unto the lion, which hath torn him, and slain him, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake unto him.”

#2 DANCING A LITTLE TOO FAST….

JUDGES 11:29-31: ” Then the spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

And Jephthah VOWED A VOW unto the lord, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, THEN IT SHALL BE THAT WHATSOEVER COMETH FORTH OF THE DOORS OF MY HOUSE TO MEET ME WHEN I RETURN IN PEACE FROM THE CHILDREN OF AMMON, SHALL SURELY BE THE LORD’S, AND I WILL OFFER IT UP FOR A BURNT OFFERING.”

As our story continues he has an awesome victory but as we pick it up with verses 34,35 we will see that his OWN words ensnared him to a terrible price:

” And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and behold, HIS DAUGHTER came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: she was his ONLY child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent (tore) his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter!  Thou hast brought me very low, and art one of them that trouble me: FOR I HAVE OPENED MY MOUTH (GIVEN MY WORD) UNTO THE LORD, AND I CANNOT GO BACK. (go back on it).”        

Now, by that scripture, God WAS already with him and God did not ask him to make this vow. But sometimes people can fall into the trap of questioning their relationship with God and feel that they must “bargain” with him to gain victory. God only asks that we trust him to lead us and guide us. He NEVER asks for us to bargain anything with him for his goodness toward us. The Bible states God “maketh rich and addeth no sorrow with it” of course that means fruitful in many things and he does not hurt us in doing so.

#3 NEVER TRY TO OUTDANCE THE MASTER:

Saul, Saul, Saul, an endless volume of books could be written dealing with King Saul. One of whom, yet again, Israel was warned about. They wanted a King because everyone else had a king, God was like, I AM your King and they were like no, we want a king like they have. So even after being warned by Samuel the prophet about just how bad this guy was gonna be, they still wanted him, he was tall, striking and looked like a king to them, what if had a few undesirable personality traits?

So we know that he was a bad king and very disobedient to God in always doing it his way and doing his own thing and so the time comes when God had commanded that all who practiced witchcraft be destroyed out of the land and of course, Saul being Saul did not live up to this command. God grew tired of all of it and took his spirit away from Saul and had David anointed as his successor. As Saul’s sanity vanished farther and farther away as he was filled with hatred and jealousy, he would commit one final act that would also hurt those who were innocent and cost the lives of his sons.

  1 SAMUEL 28, to break it down, the Lord was no longer with Saul and Samuel had died, so instead of accepting his state, Saul full of self will took one more shot at trying to out maneuver the master, with yet again more disobedience.

1 SAMUEL 28:7 ” Then said Saul unto his servants, Seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit (psychic, medium) that I may go and enquire of her. And his servants said unto him, Behold there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.”

So here he is, disguising himself, as if he can really sneak this one by an all seeing God, and he goes to this witch, who points out that KING SAUL has called for the death of them all, and realizes that he IS Saul. He reassures that no harm will come to her, but little does he know the harm that is coming to him and his entire house. He calls for Samuel, God ALLOWS one final message: verse 16-19 :

Then said Samuel, WHEREFORE THEN DOST THOU (WHY DO YOU) ASK OF ME, SEEING THE LORD IS DEPARTED FROM THEE, AND IS BECOME THINE ENEMY? 

Because thou OBEYEDST NOT the voice of the Lord, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the Lord done this thing unto thee this day.

MOREVER the Lord will deliver Israel  with thee INTO THE hand of the Philistines:  and TO MORROW SHALT THOU AND THY SONS BE WITH ME { Saul and his sons would be dead by the next day}…..”

1 SAMUEL 11  recounts the battle, verse 6: “ So Saul DIED, and HIS THREE SONS, and HIS ARMOURBEARER, and ALL HIS MEN, THAT SAME DAY TOGETHER.”

All of this tells us some simple truths that we need to always keep hold of, God is faithful. God calls us, and you do not have to beg Him your job. He equips us as we need equipping, with whatever we need to do our work for the Kingdom and to follow Him and do His will we need only to TRUST. He opens doors in HIS TIME and when he opens them no one can shut those doors.

So be patient and walk as He has called you and wait on those answers, don’t be tempted to run ahead or go sliding back, you will miss the entire dance and all the wonderful moves he wants to teach you! 

PROVERBS 3: 5, 6: “ TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL THINE HEART: AND LEAN NOT UNTO THINE OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL THY WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.”

Φλογίζω Εαλπιζω NB 2016

 

 

 

 

 

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Checkin’ out some rockin’ waves

“The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.” EXODUS 15:9.

Wow, that is quite a statement but that is the plan Pharaoh had for the Hebrews as the fled from Egypt. Most know the story, Israel had been in held as slaves to Egypt for four hundred and thirty years.

A bondage that God had foretold Abraham about and I believe was a result of Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers but that is a thought for another post.  So we know that God sent Moses to Pharaoh to inform him that God wanted them freed,  and of course he refused. God starts sending the plagues on Egypt and each time Pharaoh agrees to free them only to change his mind once the plague had been stayed.

Now, the interesting thing with this story is that it was GOD who was hardening Pharaoh’s heart, that does not mean that God made Pharaoh evil, he was already wicked and cruel but God made his heart even harder because he would become the perfect candidate for God to pour out his fury upon. With each plague God displayed his majesty, His power over all creation.

From controlling the tiniest of things, turning dust to gnats, sending locusts, frogs, flies, to controlling the grander of creation, displaying His power  over water, and cattle, and  sending hail, three days of  darkness, sending boils and then His control over life itself, by sending death upon their firstborn. 

All of Egypt knew that there was none who could stand against the God of the Hebrews. And most certainly God wanted the Hebrews to understand this.

So we’ll pick up at the Red Sea, they had been released and fled Egypt but now they see in the distance behind them the pursing armies of Pharaoh and they first cry unto the Lord and then complain to Moses, that they should have just stayed slaves in Egypt rather than die in the wilderness. Moses assures them that they would see the salvation of the Lord and that after that day the Egyptians they would see no more. This says a lot about stopping mid battle:

Exodus 14:15: ” And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore (Why) criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that THEY GO FORWARD” 

Ever feel like you fight the same battle over and over again? That when it seems victory has been won, only to see what is sneaking up behind you again?  God wanted them to know and to understand that He and He ALONE was their deliverer and no matter how many times He triumphed over Pharaoh, they still failed to see this.

Some things we go through are necessary for our growth because God wants us dependent on Him and Him alone in all in all situations. I think if we were all to be honest, we have all been there and some of us (notice I said US) seem to go there often.

We will continue in that wilderness, hung up on whatever stumbling stone that is there until we grow enough, trust enough and react with the reaction that He has desired in us. But He NEVER leaves us to our enemies and He NEVER leaves stranded before those seas alone.

EXODUS 19-31 “And the angel of the God, which went BEFORE the camp of Israel, removed (moved) and went BEHIND them: and the pillar of the cloud with before their face, and STOOD BEHIND THEM:

And IT came BETWEEN the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel, and IT WAS A CLOUD OF DARKNESS TO THEM, but  IT GAVE LIGHT BY NIGHT TO THESE; so that the one come not near the other ALL THE NIGHT.

And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and THE LORD caused the sea TO GO BACK by a strong east wind ALL THAT NIGHT; and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.

And the children of Israel went into THE MIDST OF THE SEA UPON THE DRY GROUND: and THE WATERS WERE A WALL UNTO THEM ON THEIR RIGHT HAND, AND ON THEIR LEFT.   And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, EVEN ALL PHAROAH’S  HORSES, HIS CHARIOTS, AND HIS HORSEMEN.

And it came to pass, that IN THE MORNING WATCH, that the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians THROUGH the pillar of fire and of the cloud and troubled the Egyptians. And TOOK OFF THEIR CHARIOT WHEELS, that they drave (drove) them heavily;  so that the Egyptians said, LET US FLEE from the face of Israel FOR THE LORD FIGHTETH FOR THEM against the Egyptians.

And the Lord said unto Moses; Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength ( full depth) WHEN THE MORNING APPEARED; and the Egyptians fled against it (tried to run away from it); and THE LORD OVERTHREW (SHOOK OFF) THE EGYPTIANS IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA.

And  the waters returned, and COVERED the chariots, and the horsemen, and ALL the host of Pharaoh THAT CAME INTO THE SEA AFTER THEM; THAT THERE REAMINETH NOT ONE OF THEM.

But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters WERE a wall unto them on their right hand, on their left. Thus the Lord saved (delivered) Israel THAT DAY out of the hands of the hand of the Egyptians ; and Israel saw the Egyptian’s dead upon the sea shore. And Israel SAW the great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians; and the people feared the Lord (stood in awe of Him), and believed the Lord and his servant Moses.”

We all battle and what is no problem for you may take me to my knees and something I could have the faith to move a mountain about could be the area that endlessly torments another. But we all have Egyptians, Red Seas, and spiritual Pharaohs  to deal with on our journey for the Lord.  But as with these passages the Lord was telling them to just go, go on, and keep going FORWARD because of course they couldn’t turn because they would be running into the very thing they were running from. God does not want us to run from anything. He wants us to trust Him and know that even though it is dark, it is night, but that those waves are rocking. Even though you may not see what is going on in the spirit world rest assured that God is always at work and He is setting things in motion to bring deliverance to your situation. But only  a deliverance and divine plan that leaves no doubt that it is the hand of God on your life. Sometimes the sea you think that you are going to drown in can be the very one that God uses to form walls of protection around you. So don’t look back, don’t question, don’t complain, just trust and remember four hundred and thirty years was a very, very  long time, but  deliverance always comes with the morning.

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NB 2016

 

 

 

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“Envy and strife, and not being very nice….”

“For WHERE ENVYING AND STRIFE (self-seeking) IS (exist) ,THERE IS CONFUSION AND EVERY EVIL WORK.” JAMES 3:16

Don’t have to watch much to see the spirit of anger and self defensiveness that has taken over the world.

Just watching the American presidential  debates will give all quite a little insight into how these attitudes have boiled up out of the belly of the beasts through the mouth and flooded out  all sense of human civility and composure. It has thoroughly saturated the fabric of society.

And on all counts, I think my favorite display of this was a couple of years ago when Vladimir Putin’s people could not resist the pettiness and one- up man ship of tweeting a photo of Putin with a leopard cub mirrored to a photo of Obama holding a poodle. Evidently real men play with leopards, or at least in Putin’s never-ending need to prove his bravado he seems to think that.

But seriously, whatever happened to social graces for the sake of being graceful? We are now a dissed, self-righteous society who will tell off anyone and anything that dares cross our perfect path or attempt to change the way we view our highly superior selves. And of course, we just don’t have to take it because we only answer to the one that matters, US, good old number one. And it is truly sickening.

But nevertheless, it is here and it is wide open and it will not be ceasing anytime soon. The bad news here, all these nasty attitudes and disgruntled people screaming over their rights and their rights to hate everyone who disagrees with them ( remember THEY are superior, ACCORDING TO THEM) are not going anywhere. At least not for a while and as the Bible points out they will only grow worse and worse.

The concern for us is when the nasty little beasts rear their ugly little heads in the church world and THEY HAVE BEEN since the days of the disciples. Only now they too have grew worse and worse and are now the Candy Coats, THE NUMBER ONE AGENCY OF SATAN are using it to pervert and lead away the flocks that should belong to the true Shepherd. 

So lets look at ENVY, which is jealously, resentment, and my favorite, has the effect of causing one to “regard maliciously” and it often runs amok in a quite underscored tone among the brethren, especially “ministers” because so many are consumed with one thing and one thing only, promote and prosper their personal ministry and doctrine. And you know after a while  it doesn’t even have anything to do with seeing the lost saved. It is about their numbers and how they can “out preach” fifteen pastors and a missionary all at once.

I only wish I could forget the ones that I had the most trouble coming to terms with when I was a new Christian, you know that blessed state when you see everyone through “non-flesh” colored glasses. These are those who are superior to all and speak with anger and condemnation and everyone is going to hell EXCEPT them because they are the only one for five hundred miles that truly live it. 

Yep, those are the guys, I have often wondered how these will fare when one day the Lord asks them something like, did they even ever know who He is? They are also the ones who are too good to ever speak to anyone and wear their anger as a shield and NEVER need prayer or anything from anyone. They do not lead people to Christ they  cause people to run away. Here’s Paul description:

“Some INDEED PREACH CHRIST EVEN OF ENVY AND STRIFE; and some of good will: THE ONE PREACH CHRIST OF CONTENTION ( SELFISH AMBITION), NOT SINCERELY, supposing to add affliction to my bonds.” PHILIPPIANS 1:15 

Translation, they were playing a game of “Whatever Paul can do, we can do better” of course that is game that they will never win because God SEES the heart and WEIGHS the intentions and as Jesus said they have their reward.

So we got jealousy, cattiness, and very non-Christlike competition all being Envy at it’s finest.

STRIFE: Good ol’ conflict, animosity, resentment, friction which ultimately leads to its final and planned resting place, DISCORD (as in “among the brethren”)  often born of envy and self-will, this one is coming on strong in the form of the lack of caring among brethren, so many have turned again like with the ministers, “IF IT DOES NOT AFFECT ME, THEN IT IS YOUR PROBLEM.” And those who want others and the entire congregation to pray spiritual gifts for THEM, we can’t pray anointing on anyone, only God gives that and to whom he wants to work through and I have wanted to ask, what about everyone else’s gifts?

But what about all the OTHERS who have needs or are going through difficult times, well, again, it is not their problem. Again THIS IS NOT “AIMED” at any particular church. This is the accumulation of many years of observation from  many angles. This is a warning call to watch and don’t fall into it and don’t let it jump off others on to you.

Animosity BREEDS animosity and strife will breed more strife and God WILL never work in an environment with one smidge of ANY of it. It is pure flesh:

JAMES 4:5 ” Do   ye think that the scripture saith in vain, THE SPIRIT  THAT DWELLETH IN  US (OUR ) LUSTETH TO ENVY (YEARNS JEALOUSLY)? 

Now for the CONFUSION and EVERY EVIL WORK: Did you know that there is  a church” of the world? I don’t mean the candy coats who preach that there is no need of repentance and that you can commit any sin whatsoever and still be a child of God. I mean the CONFUSION of those who ARE in the world, NEVER have accepted Jesus as their Savior, NEVER born again and yet they quote scriptures one to another. They promise prayers one for another. They obviously believe in God and they believe in his power BUT they have never accepted him and are still lost. They have seen so much of the “holier than thou’s” and so much flesh from those who claim the cross and so much out of the money-grubbing candy coats, well, what are they supposed to believe? The true Gospel is tucked away under all this mess and God is nowhere near any of it. He wants the lost saved and his work to be done but until we all get these things out of us, we will only continue to serve ourselves.

Strife’s mother is pride, so it will first require people to ADMIT they are not perfect and ASK God to help them overcome it. Pray against it in whatever church you belong to, ask God to open eyes so we can be in the unity that we HAVE to be in to see all the promises to come to pass, ask him to weed the garden of those whose intentions are not toward the kingdom, because we will either unite in the harvest or we will fall divided. God gave us the instructions, now it is up to us to implement them.

“My brethren, be ye not many masters ( let not many of you be teachers) KNOWING that we shall receive the greater condemnation (stricter judgment).”

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge (has understanding) among you? LET HIM shew (show) OUT OF A GOOD   COVERSATION  (CONDUCT) HIS WORKS WITH MEEKNESS AND WISDOM.

BUT IF YE HAVE BITTER ENVYING AND STRIFE IN YOUR HEARTS, GLORY NOT (DO NOT BOAST) AND LIE NOT  AGAINST  THE TRUTH.

This wisdom descendeth not from above, but IS EARTHY , SENSUAL, AND DEVILISH (DEMONIC) for where envying and strife is, there is confusion and EVERY evil work. BUT THE WISDOM THAT IS FROM ABOVE IS FIRST PURE, THEN PEACEABLE, GENTLE, AND EASY TO BE INTREATED, FULL OF MERCY AN GOOD FRUITS, WITHOUT PARTIALITY, AND WITHOUT HYPOCRISY. And the fruit of righteousness is SOWN IN PEACE of them that make peace. JAMES 3:1,13,18

Σαλπιζω Φλογιζω NB 2016