Monthly Archives: May 2022

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Outta your house…

“And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended (took heed) unto the things which were spoken of Paul. And when she was baptized and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us. ACTS 16:14,15

Still in ACTS 16: Paul and Silas were arrested shortly afterward, mainly because of a demon possessed girl who had been fortune-telling being delivered and therefore cutting the purse strings from her masters, But Paul and Silas rejoiced in God, and even after having been beaten and literally striped by whips, they STILL prayed, praised God and sang in that prison until God sent an earthquake and opened the prison doors, my favorite part which holds all symbolism is that also in that great quake, ALL the prisoners bands were loosened, God loves to break the chains that hold prisoners captive!

We’ll pick up after God had sent that mighty earthquake of freedom.

ACTS 16:27-34: “And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing the prisoners had been fled.

But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang (ran) in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas.

And he brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?

And they said BELIEVE on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, AND THY HOUSE.

And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.

And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, HE AND ALL HIS HOUSE.” 

ROMANS 16:3-5 ” Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus; who for my life laid down (risked) their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet THE CHURCH THAT IS IN THEIR HOUSE, salute my well beloved Epaenetus, who IS the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.” 

Well, I guess you are starting to dig where this is going. Many other scriptures mention the “churches in their house”, now I do realize that this is when the church was forming and that there were many home churches, but I also want you to keep in mind, that the Temple of God is IN US!

Lydia worshipped God, she just needed a little clarification about Him and the teachings, she “came in” and once doing so, her household came with her!

But she also wanted to be a blessing to the disciples. probably one of the first examples of GALATIANS 6:10 coming into view, “As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good unto all men, ESPECIALLY unto them who are of the household of faith.”

We see with the story of the jailor, who was going to take his own life before it would be taken from him because the prisoners had escaped on his watch, how God’s compassion moving through the heart of Paul, would be used, not only to save this man from committing suicide, but also to save his soul and the souls of his household!

Priscilla, who was the minister of her house is mentioned several places and many, many others again with the reference of churches in their houses. And the thought with this is that I, like many others have become so discouraged by what we have seen, as we know that we are in the time of the “great falling away” but we still hold to the promise of the outpouring of the latter days, I know this can be argued many ways, but I am not here to argue.

I personally believe, based on scriptural studies that this indeed did begin, even fulfilling some of Revelation, with the Apostles but I do believe the major outpouring is still for the end days and it well on its way.

But either way, as it stands at the moment, we have a brief window, many denominations are “dying” away and new candy-coat churches of the “world” are growing like algae in a hot swamp and are spreading their infectious false, poison doctrine like the wildfire that it is and burning up gullible souls in the process because the truth is being smothered out by shouts of bigot and intolerant.

So what do we do? We can’t get the lost in church because they are being pulled in two directions by two different “Gospels” the true Gospel of Christ and the new modern “gospel” of anything goes, the god created in their image that has no rules, no regulations, and welcomes all with a “No Repentance Required” sign flashing at the spiritual door and I guarantee you to their sorrow, that no repentance equates to absolutely NO SALVATION, believe a lie…. we know that scripture. You got to add in all the pagan religions and total it all up, it looks rough for the home team but these verses give us hope and I want to sit all those verses upon this one and form a solid, sure foundation for this thought.

ISAIAH 58 deals with the Lord explaining to us in a no holds barred fashion what we are required to do IF we really want to see His goodness come to pass, and IF we really want to see people delivered and saved, and IF we know that it is not for us, but for THEM. 

He first addresses the issue of fasting, for strife, for debate, to “make our voices to be heard on high’ and proclaim fasting as we still hold anger and unrighteousness and then question God as to why He doesn’t “see” us as we fast.

And  then He asks these questions, ISAIAH 58: 5-7 ” Is NOT THIS the fast that I HAVE CHOSEN? to LOOSE the bands of wickedness, to UNDO the heavy burdens, and to LET THE OPPRESSED GO FREE, and THAT YE BREAK EVERY YOKE?

Is it NOT to deal (share)THY BREAD TO THE HUNGRY , and to BRING the poor that is cast out (WANDERING) to THY HOUSE? when thou seest the naked, that THOU COVEREST HIM: and that thou HIDE NOT THYSELF FROM THINE OWN FLESH? 

This is GOD, HIMSELF telling us what HE expects us to do! Maybe there are the great churches of apathy, who seem to have an attitude of we got ours, get yours and who cares about those that are falling through the cracks? I have not made many friends with that, but you know what? IT IS THE TRUTH and I will stand before the Lord one day and give account and they will too and when He asks did they not know they were accountable for His flock, ALL of His flock, then they will not be able to say no one warned them, because I did and I have taken being labeled a “black sheep” as my hire from them.

I will not stop warning from the wall, from the rooftop, from every possible angle God gives me because people are hurting, people are in trouble, and they are dying as they fall through those jagged cracks. I heard a radio interview with a lady that works with the homosexual community, she is born again and came from that community, so she has a really clear insight and the most compelling thought she gave, that came as no shock, is that they have a fellowship and a closeness that is lacking in most churches today, that everyone had each others backs and people have that network of support that WE ALL NEED.

With is why God also told us that HIS idea on this is to fast for others and to undo heavy burdens, to care for each other, break all those yokes, through Him. To SHARE the bread of life with those who are starving in this world. And to bring those who are lost, hurting, and wounded into our “house” sharing the love and goodness of God with them and showing them that there is a better way, to help those we can and to hide not ourselves from our own flesh, share with them our testimonies of where God brought us from and care more for another than we do ourselves, just as Priscilla and Aquila considered supporting and ministering the Gospel during times of persecution of a greater value that even their own lives.

So for the rest of us, take every moment, every opportunity to reach out to someone hurting and GIVE of yourself, GIVE of the bread of life that He has freely GIVEN you, take a moment to reach out to someone whom you haven’t seen in a while, take the extra time to be different, and if God is dealing with your heart and you have been holding out waiting for others to “come in”, think about those who brought others in by coming in!

WHAT IMPACT DOES YOUR LIFE HAVE? Not just for you and eternity but for those of your house?  

Think about it today, I want to lay out a little challenge, just try this and see what happens, reach higher, stretch farther, and see the impossible for you and YOUR Household!

Let those blessing flow from your house into theirs and be glad eternally that you did!

I promise you will not regret it

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω  NBJ 2016

***Original post date: 01/11/2017 Revisited 05/28/2022***

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OLD GOAT AND THE CANDY COATS/ PART 2 "SUGAR DECAY"

We are often told that too much of anything can be really bad. Dentists love to tell us to lay off the sugar or it will rot our teeth. And too much sugar-coated gospel will damage your soul or maybe I should say it will lead to the condemnation of your soul.
 I like sweet things! I know the Lord is love, he is mercy, forgiveness and grace BUT he has rules he established that we should all live by and they are for our good! He will not accept anything less. He will not change his word to suddenly declare a behavior acceptable after he has already said that it is not. I want people saved and I know what is being taught today, so please read these scriptures, read the Bible for yourself and never let anyone “fool” you out of your soul by pleasing your flesh.
Last time we looked at scriptures that were given to give us a heads up about these people and the dangers of being anywhere near them and believe me that did not even skim the surface of the amount of Bible teaching on the subject.

Titus 1:10-11,13,15-16: “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially those of the circumcision: WHOSE MOUTHS MUST BE STOPPED, who subvert whole houses, TEACHING THINGS WHICH THEY OUGHT NOT, FOR FILTHY LUCRE’S SAKE (MONEY) This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke the sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. Unto the pure all things are pure:  BUT UNTO THEM THAT ARE DEFILED AND UNBELIEVING IS NOTHING PURE; EVEN THEIR MIND AND CONSCIENCE IS DEFILED. THEY PROFESS TO KNOW GOD; BUT IN WORKS THEY DENY HIM, BEING ABOMINABLE, AND DISOBEDIENT, AND UNTO EVERY GOOD WORK A REPROBATE.”

2 Peter 2:12-14,17-19: “But these as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of things they understand not: AND SHALL UTTERLY PERISH IN THEIR OWN CORRUPTION; and shall receive the reward of their unrighteousness, as they count it pleasure to riot in the day time.

Spots they are and blemishes, SPORTING THEMSELVES WHILE THEY FEAST WITH YOU; HAVING EYES FULL OF ADULTERY, THAT CANNOT CEASE FROM SIN;

BEGUILING (ENTICING) UNSTABLE SOULS: AN HEART THEY HAVE EXERCISED WITH COVETOUS PRACTICES; CURSED CHILDREN:

THESE ARE WELLS WITHOUT WATER, CLOUDS THAT ARE CARRIED WITH A TEMPEST; TO WHOM THE MIST OF DARKNESS IS RESERVED FOR EVER.

FOR WHEN THEY SPEAK GREAT SWELLING WORDS OF VANITY,THEY ALLURE THROUGH THE LUST OF THE FLESH, THROUGH MUCH WANTONNESS, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

WHILE THEY PROMISE LIBERTY, THEY THEMSELVES ARE SERVANTS OF CORRUPTION: for of whom a man is overcome, and of the same he is brought in bondage.”

 Jude:11,12: “WOE UNTO THEM! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward (profit), and perished in the gainsaying of Core, THESE ARE SPOTS IN YOUR FEASTS OF CHARITY, WHEN THEY FEAST WITH YOU, FEEDING THEMSELVES WITHOUT FEAR: CLOUDS THEY ARE WITHOUT WATER, CARRIED ABOUT OF WINDS; TREES WHOSE FRUIT WITHERETH, WITHOUT FRUIT, TWICE DEAD, PLUCKED UP BY THE ROOTS; “

 We are told almost verbatim, a couple of things, they claim to represent God but their actions  prove otherwise, they are wells who have no water, dry and lacking the spirit, they are clouds being blown in every direction with every new  fad because they go in the way that will profit them financially and in pleasing the popular crowd.

So let’s look at their ultimate end and what GOD has to say is their demise.

Isaiah 5:18-21,23,24:  “Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were a cart rope: That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!   

WOE UNTO THEM THAT CALL EVIL GOOD, AND GOOD EVIL; THAT PUT DARKNESS FOR LIGHT, AND LIGHT FOR DARKNESS; THAT PUT BITTER FOR SWEET, AND SWEET FOR BITTER!

WOE UNTO THEM THAT ARE WISE IN THEIR OWN EYES, AND PRUDENT IN THEIR OWN SIGHT! WHICH JUSTIFY THE WICKED FOR A REWARD, AND TAKE AWAY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RIGHTEOUS FROM HIM!

Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, SO AS THEIR ROOT SHALL BE ROTTENNESS, and their blossom shall go up as dust: BECAUSE THEY HAVE CAST AWAY (DISREGARDED) THE LAW OF THE LORD OF HOST AND DESPISED THE WORD OF THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.”      

Finally, flee from them, have no part and do not listen to their poison doctrine, even out of curiosity because it is a disgrace. and it is cursed!

.Galatians 1:6-9: “I marvel not that you are so soon removed (turning away) from him that called you into the gospel of Christ UNTO ANOTHER GOSPEL: WHICH IS NOT ANOTHER;BUT THERE BE SOME THAT TROUBLE YOU, AND WOULD (WANT TO) PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.

BUT THOUGH WE, OR ANY ANGEL FROM HEAVEN, PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU, LET HIM BE ACCURSED.  AS WE SAID BEFORE, SO SAY I NOW AGAIN, IF ANY MAN PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT YE HAVE RECEIVED, LET HIM BE ACCURSED.” 

             
He wants you saved, He died for YOUR SINS, so if the candy coats tell you that there is no sin, well as the Bible says that if any of us say we have no sin, we are liars,  just think of them as a little too sweet,  fake friends who smile in your face as you pull a knife out of your back, because a real friend will love you enough to tell you the truth.

 Part 1:  OLD GOAT AND THE CANDY COATS

All rights reserved. Rev. Nina Brown Johnson 2015 *Original post date: 03/26/2015/ Revisited 05/27/2022

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OLD GOAT AND THE CANDY COATS/ PART1

One of our most beloved historical events in American history is the ride of Paul Revere, as he proclaimed “The British are coming! The British are coming!”

I kinda got this in my head as I pondered my lead in for this blog, I feel like Chicken Little sometimes too. 

Are they ever going to believe me that the sky really is falling?

But as a messenger of the Lord, I haven’t the option of being a chicken, so I’ll go with Revere, only I am kinda short so I’d have to ride a Shetland Pony, but it’s all gonna end the same!

My proclamation would be, “The candy coats are coming! The candy coats are coming! Then half way through I’d dismount my trusty steed, because THE CANDY COATS ARE ALREADY HERE AND NO ONE EVEN TRIED TO RESIST THEIR INVASION!

2 Timothy 2:1-7: “This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous (money lovers), boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, slanders (without self-control), fierce (brutal) despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady(reckless) high minded (haughty and proud) lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof; FROM SUCH TURN AWAY.

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and  lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, EVER LEARNING, AND NEVER ABLE TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.”
                                    
Sound familiar? Pretty accurate description of the condition of the present world. They are the false teachers, false prophets who “preach” to ears that do not want to hear the truth, ears that want to be reassured that there is no eternal punishment for sin and that Jesus is gooey love and just begs to be worshiped with no prerequisite  for entering his presence.

No, He is Holy, we worship him, he does not worship us! We were created for his pleasure, he doesn’t exist for our pleasure!
They refuse to mention Hell, it must be called Hades, because we can’t scare people, well, HELL, HELL, HELL, not saying it is not keeping people from going there every day!

I love people, I do not bash “sinners” we were all sinners, but if you do not tell people the truth, how are they being helped?

And using the old routine to invite them into church and love on them and it will eventually rub off is a joke!
We are saved by conviction through the Holy Spirit revealing to us what miserable, wretched creatures we are.

The “rub off” theory only gives people a false sense of security that they are eternally safe. That is not true, one of the greatest old sayings is this, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”.

Satan is using the very ones that were supposed to lead them to the Lord to instead lead them straight into hell.
As I’ve said before I know where I came from and I thank God for the people he put in my life that really did love me enough to tell me the truth!
So we can’t mention sin, we can’t mention hell but we can sure mention offerings and church events and preaching to X number of people.

Gonna look great with your doctorate degree but don’t think it’ll win you a crown.
As Jesus said, they are the children of their father, the Devil.

Jude 3-8,10,13: “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and EXHORT YOU THAT YOU SHOULD CONTEND (FIGHT) FOR THE FAITH THAT WAS ONCE DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS, FOR THERE ARE CERTAIN MEN CREPT IN UNAWARES (UNNOTICED) WHO WERE BEFORE OF OLD ORDAINED TO THIS CONDEMNATION,UNGODLY MEN, TURNING THE GRACE OF OUR GOD INTO LASCIVIOUSNESS (MORALLY UNRESTRAINED) AND DENYING THE ONLY LORD GOD, AND OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

I will therefore put you in remembrance, though you once knew this, how that the Lord, HAVING SAVED THE PEOPLE OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT, AFTERWARD DESTROYED THEM THAT BELIEVED NOT.

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, HE HATH RESERVED IN EVERLASTING CHAINS UNDER DARKNESS UNTO THE JUDGMENT OF THE GREAT DAY.

EVEN AS SODOM AND GOMORRAH, AND THE CITIES ABOUT THEM IN LIKE MANNER, GIVING THEMSELVES OVER TO FORNICATION, AND GOING AFTER STRANGE FLESH, ARE SET FORTH FOR AN EXAMPLE, SUFFERING THE VENGEANCE OF ETERNAL FIRE.

Likewise these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.

But they speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally as brute beasts, IN THOSE THINGS THEY CORRUPT THEMSELVES.

Raging waves of the sea, FOAMING OUT OF THEIR OWN SHAME; WANDERING STARS ( When Lucifer was cast out of heaven he took one-third of the angels with him, written as a third of the stars) TO WHOM IS RESERVED THE BLACKNESS OF DARKNESS FOREVER.” 

Now to get a Sister a little back up! It would be one thing to dispute me, but Apostle Paul is a different matter:

“Wherefore I take to you record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 

TAKE HEED therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

FOR I KNOW AFTER MY DEPARTING SHALL GRIEVOUS (SAVAGE) WOLVES ENTER IN AMONG YOU, NOT SPARING THE FLOCK.

ALSO OF YOUR OWN SELVES SHALL MEN ARISE, SPEAKING PERVERSE THINGS, TO DRAW AWAY DISCIPLES AFTER THEM.

THEREFORE WATCH, AND REMEMBER, THAT BY THE SPACE OF THREE YEARS I CEASED NOT TO WARN EVERY ONE NIGHT AND DAY WITH TEARS.” Acts 20:26-31

Lord’s will, next time we’ll get into a little judgment that the Lord is going to bring down on all these. I guarantee you, it will not be a fruity  flavored dish either, it’ll be more like an extra, extra rare steak, juicy, meaty and really, really bloody.

Part 2: “OLD GOAT AND THE CANDY COATS/ SUGAR DECAY

All rights reserved. Rev. Nina Brown Johnson 2015 *Original post 03/22/2015/ Revisited 05/20/2022

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GUMDROPS, LOLLIPOPS AND CANDY COATED CHRISTIANITY

*From the archive*

New, news and more news. Oh, what you can discover during a very snowy week with plenty of extra time on your hands. mention of time, what time is it getting to be anyway?
All that is required is to turn on any major network news, this week alone, within the span of a very, few days the tale is told.
 The fact that ISIS has managed to enrage America, Britain, Japan, France, Syria, and Egypt (Because in order for the anti-Christ to come into power all nations must have a common denominator enemy, as he promises peace, they will give him their power, uniting a one world order, henceforth, “through peace he shall destroy many.”

Russia versus the Ukraine, Iraq has been a mess for quite a while. While in America it is the tip of the iceberg… literally, with Niagara Falls appearing much like one. Maine hit with a record fifty below zero, while Boston struggles to contain nearly one hundred inches of snow, meanwhile a six point nine magnitude earthquake hit Japan, threat of tsunami (Biblical sea waves roaring) and according to NBC NEWS, worldwide earthquakes have TRIPLED over the last decade.
New, aggressive strain of the HIV virus is discovered in Cuba, (just as the travel ban has been lifted) return of the long thought dead measles. “Super bug” thought to be linked to surgical equipment now hitting three states, new tick virus.  CDC announcing Ebola has claimed at least nineteen hundred lives, we could go on for days on the weird, freaky medical woes.

Two hundred and fifty Jewish graves were desecrated in France and ISIS with what they believe to be their holy war beheading twenty-one Egyptian Christians, who according to a CNN report did indeed die with the name of Jesus on their lips, moving on with their reign of terror, they torched forty Iraqi policeman and tribesman.

Unconfirmed reports, that along with their human trafficking business that they may now also be selling the organs of their murdered victims on the black market.

Even secular experts stressing to the media that they are attempting to fulfill prophecies of their own to rush in an apocalyptic war.

  John 16:2: ” They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.”

That time has come! They really, really believe this and it is really hard to fight people who are not afraid to die.
The “icing on the cake” as it were, in the way of prophetic fulfillment came when Prime Minister Netanyahu calls for all the scattered, European Jews to come home.  Announcing that Israel is fully prepared to welcome them in.

Turn off the news and surf the web, check out huge Christian website with all kinds of goodies, how to think, how to dress, how to market your church, a virtual how to manual on being the politically correct, well dressed, good-looking, prosperous church of the twenty-first century.
Complete with a tab to click titled” Fifty shades of Grey”, I had heard about this movie, was pretty sure it was originally a book, knew the subject matter and pretty confident that Ariel Castro and the Boston Strangler would have both given it two thumbs up.

It was slated to be “THE” valentine movie that most couples would be attending. And it’s ticket sales did go through the roof.
So I was curious what this “Christian” site had to say on the subject, it was an open comment piece on how people who profess Christ should reconsider watching this, mingled and heavily presented with the colorful, crunchy candy coating that so many have now come to stand for.

WHY SHOULD THEY HAVE TO BE TOLD? It should be known, it comes down to the last few years of “ministers”
(they are not real one’s, they are a disgrace) candy coating everything about God and about his word and all that he stands for. All to bring in members for financial gain and RELIGIOUS prestige. God is nowhere near that mess, he requires repentance and everything from him is completely free!

Now, for Jesus’ take on the news: Matthew 24: 6-8,33: “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye not be troubled: for ALL THESE THINGS MUST COME TO PASS, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places.  ALL these ARE the BEGINNING of sorrows. So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, KNOW that IT IS NEAR, EVEN AT THE DOORS.”

Isaiah 51:9-12: “Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the Lord; awake as in the ancient days, in the generations of old, Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab and wounded the dragon? Art thou not it which hath dried up the sea, the waters of the great deep; that hath made the depths of the sea a way for the ransomed to pass over? Therefore the RANSOMED OF THE LORD SHALL RETURN, and come with singing into Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away. I, even I am he that comforteth you: who art thou that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and the son of man which shall be made as grass.”       

But I suppose with secular Christendom one would be far too busy pondering the truly important question of how dirty can you get before it shows on the outside of your fluffy white coat of self-righteousness, to care about your brothers  who are being slaughtered for the name of Christ.
The candy coats use the name, a name they are willing to wear haute couture, but a name they are unwilling to live for and a name I am sure they are NOT ready to die for.
Ready or not, this is happening to our brothers and sisters in other areas of the world and it is becoming a real possibility that we will be faced with the question of will you renounce Christ or will you die? How will any of us have the faith to answer that if we have never been taught the truth? And we all face that danger.

Luke 21:34-36: “And TAKE HEED to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and the cares of this life, and THE DAY COME UPON YOU UNAWARES. For AS A SNARE SHALL IT COME ON ALL THEM THAT DWELL ON THE FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH. WATCH ye therefore, and PRAY A:WAYS THAT YE MAY BE ACCOUNTED WORTHY TO ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS THAT SHALL COME TO PASS, and TO STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN.”

He told us to watch and that day is here. We will only stand rooted and grounded in HIM and Him alone and without the indwelling of His Holy spirit and his guidance, no one will be able to survive it.

Judgment must begin at His house, that means getting OUR hearts right!

Unless some major revivals, house cleanings and true conversions take place, all I can say is, God help us, and if someone doesn’t start standing up and speaking against all this spoon fed fluff that these people are digesting everyday in lieu of the true Gospel, and realize Christianity is serious, and that church is not a country club, then really don’t know what will become of us.

Oh, Yeah, what time is getting to be again? Time to look up…

Luke 21: 28: ” And WHEN these things BEGIN to come to pass, then LOOK UP, and lift up your heads; for YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH.”

Φλογιζω/ All Rights Reserved. Rev. Nina Brown Johnson 2015 Revisited 05/16/2022 

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“Irreverence for the Reverential Fear of God”

“For if we sin willingly after we that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

He that despised (has rejected) Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

Of how much sorer (worse) punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden (trampled) under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing (common), and hath done despite (insulted) the Spirit of grace? 

For we know him that hath said, VENEGENANCE BELONGETH UNTO ME, I WILL RECOMPESE (repay), SAITH THE LORD. And again, THE LORD SHALL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:26-31

Now to explain the title just a little, 

Irreverence.

Irreverence literally means this: “a lack of respect for people or things that are generally taken seriously”

Just when I think I have heard it all, I suddenly discover that I have obviously been living under a rock, since I was unaware of Drag Queen “preachers”, and I do make a truly diligent effort to keep up on our jacked up little world, but this was a new one on me.

Evidently a church in South Carolina has decided to take the open door approach a little too far and even more disturbing to me is that this is heralded as a “Lutheran” church.

I do believe Martin Luther would take great offense to the absolute disrespect and downright mocking of God, his holy word and a house supposedly called by God’s name.

Not only is homosexuality still a sin, and the candy coats, and the old goat are seemingly moving at the speed of light    

and with such sheer disbelief and mockery as to make the church, or the building they call a church, nothing more than a circus.

They may be serving the god of themselves and their flesh but the true God is no where near this and it is a disgrace and an absolute insult to Jesus.

If people want to congregate, and they want to get together, and set about performing good deeds or whatever, that would be one thing but to usurp the name of Christ

They could not even possibly believe in him, otherwise they would be terrified to openly, blatantly sin while having the audacity to profess his name.

Here is what God says in the Bible, the real one   concerning those who use his word, with no intentions of repentance or regard for him or his statues, only to use his word for their convenience, for gain, for prestige, or whatever their motive and agenda may be.

Psalm 50:16-22: “But unto the wicked, God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statues, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?  

Seeing that thou hats instruction, and castest MY WORDS behind thy back. 

When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partakers with adulterers.

Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sitteth and speaketh against thy brother, thou slenderest thy own mother’s son. 

These things thou hast done, And I kept silence; thou thoughest that I was altogether such a one as thyself; but I will reprove (rebuke) thee; and set them in order before thine eyes. 

NOW consider THIS, ye that forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, and there be none to deliver.”

Notice what he is saying, that the wicked, now this is God speaking in that passage, he is calling them wicked and gives a few of the reasons why, and he is asking them how they can even justify proclaiming his statues or taking his word into their mouth when they clearly will not repent, they hate instruction, they hate what he stands for and cast away, throw away his real word, behind them as they continue on in their deception.

And again, this statement is from God, and He very clearly ends it with his warning for consequences of playing with his word, because they are playing with fire. 

Mention of fire… let’s check out some of that judgment raining down on those who thought long ago about playing games with the house of God.

“And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in mine house, and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell there upon me.

Then I beheld, and lo the likeness as the appearance of fire: from the appearance of his loins (waist) downward, fire; and from his loins even upward, as the other appearance of brightness, as the colour of amber.

And he put forth the form of an hand, and took me by a lock of mine head (hair); and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven, and brought me in the visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the inner gate, that looketh toward the north; where was the seat of the image (idol) of jealousy, which provoketh to jealousy.  

And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision that I saw in the plain.

Then said he unto me, Son of man, lift up thine eyes now and the way toward the north. So I lifted up mine eyes the way toward the north, and beheld northward, at the gate of  altar this image of jealousy in the entry. 

He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? even the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary?  but turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater (worse) abominations. 

And he brought me to the door of the court, and when I looked, behold a hole in the wall.

Then he said unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I digged in the wall, behold a door.

And he said unto me, Go in, and behold the wicked abominations that they do here. So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed (carved) upon the wall round about.

And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients (elders) of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up. 

Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery (room of his idols)? for they say, The Lord seeth us not: the Lord hath forsaken the earth. 

He said also unto me, Turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do.

Then he brought me to the door of the Lord’s house which was toward the north; and, behold, there sat a woman weeping for Tammuz (pagan fertility “god”) 

Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? turn thee yet again, and thou shalt see greater abominations than these.

And he brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty and five men, with their backs toward the temple of the Lord, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east. 

Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O Son of man? is it a light (trivial) thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here?  for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger; and lo, they have put the branch to their nose. 

Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye will not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet, will I not hear them.

He cried also in mine ears (hearing) with a loud voice, saying, Cause (let) them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand.

And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher (upper) gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in and stood beside the brasen altar. 

And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house (the temple). And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer’s inkhorn by his side.

And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set (put) a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and cry for (over) all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. 

And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite; let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: 

Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark: and begin at my sanctuary (temple) Then they began at the ancient men (elders) which were before the house (temple). 

And he said unto them, Defile the house (temple) and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. 

And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left (alone), that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord God! will thou destroy all the residue (remnant) of Israel in thy pouring out of thy fury upon Jerusalem?

Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood (bloodshed),and the city is full of perverseness. for they say, The Lord hath forsaken the earth, and the Lord seeth it not.

And as for me also, mine eye shall not spare neither will I have pity, but I will recompense their way upon their head. 

And, behold, the man clothed with linen, which had the inkhorn by his side, reported the matter, saying, I have done as thou hast commanded me.” Ezekiel 8: 1-18 & Ezekiel 9:1-11

I know that is a lot of scripture, but these are the stories that are seldom told!! God was very angry and rightful so.

As he showed the prophet first- hand the abominations that were being committed, worshipping the graven images, worshipping false gods, notice when they were worshipping the Sun, turning their backs on the true house of God, doesn’t that sound familiar?

So many today refusing the truth and believing the lies of self and the devil, believing in this nonsense of make your own Christianity, believing a lie and in the process, as scripture states, being damned, on their way to an eternal hell, if they don’t forego the fairy-tale and accept the truth.

The biggest insult of all in our story is that the common justification between them is that God no longer watched over the earth, his call for the angels that watched over proving otherwise, and they were so delusional that they thought they could hide their abominations from God, bragging in their hearts that he would never see.

Well, we see how far they got with that, God is very patient, but He will not tolerate irreverence and the defilement of his house.

And while we are on it, again He mentioned all the bloodshed, now people, like the president trying to bring God into the abortion “debate”, still trying to figure out how anyone can say this is not murder, but with Biden saying it’s a right of a child of God is insane, Commandment number 6, “Thou shalt not kill.”

Why has he not been ex-communicated yet? Well, him, Kaine, and Pelosi? Many Catholics have been ex-communicated for far less, must be special political privilege!

We all know what it is don’t we?

There is absolutely no way for this country or this world to slither out from under the judgment of God. It is too far gone and there is no coming back.

Proverbs 6:15: ” Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.’

That is what happens to the wicked who refuse repentance.

And think of this, if those in ancient Israel who thought God did not see their abominations in his house faced such a judgment, imagine what those who now at openly, mockingly defile his house are in danger of.

And do they care? No of course not because again, they could not possibly believe at all, and as the Bible teaches us, only a fool says in his heart that there is no God.

Please keep yourselves holy, that simply means keeping yourself in God’s word and keep your mind, heart, and soul protected from this world.

Stay away from all these abominations and don’t even watch them as a curiosity because it is an absolute disgrace.

This has nothing to do with being gay, being a drag, being whatever, it we be no different than if an atheist, who does not believe at all or a satanist, or voodoo priestess, Buddhist, Scientologist, anyone who has not repented according to the word of the Lord, decided to “hold service” lead worship, read scripture and take on a title for a position that they have never been called to nor qualified for.

One must be saved, and washed in the blood of Jesus, repentant of all things his word declares as sin, and having stepped away from those things, in order to be to be a true servant of God. 

We can’t have a list of Jesus’ teaching that we like and are willing to adhere to and at the same time reject the Bible’s teaching on other subjects, that we may not feel should be sin, but God word says otherwise.

We can’t have it both ways, we either want God or we want the world.

That is why so much absolute heresy is going on today. It has become a money-making machine for many, without ever a thought that one day, a very real God will want answers as to why they have used His Name and His words without any fear, belief, or respect of him whatsoever.

God will never allow anything to contradict his word, and he never changes, nor will this world ever change him, and that includes his judgments.

In my post concerning miracles I had referenced going back to later verses in that chapter also, for this post ,so here that is.

1 John 5:16-21: ” If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life  for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.  

All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

We know that whosoever is born of God(born again) sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and the wicked one toucheth him not.

And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

And we know that the Son of God is come, and given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, even his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen “

This is in reference to people becoming reprobated, when they go so far over the line, against God that they well…they have just gone too far and that is why we are told to not pray for them, and that is a truly horrific thought.

Speaking things against God, against his people, and his statues is very dangerous especially having no spiritual discernment to understand that what they are saying is not just spoken toward a group of people that they do not like but that they can be speaking themselves into eternal damnation.

“And whosoever speaketh a word against Son of man, it shall be forgiven him, but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” Matthew 12:32

When we have leaders professing that abortion is a right as “a child of God” and groups protesting for the right to slaughter children, on the very day set aside to honor motherhood, and to do so on God’s holy ground of his churches. And to make a mockery of his ministry, it is quite clear to see how close many in this nation are coming to the point of no return.

Φλογιζω NBJ 2022/ Rev. N. Brown Johnson

 

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“Virtuous”

“The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him, What, my son? and what, the son of my womb? and what the son of my vows?

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings” Proverbs 31:1-3

Before I get to far into this, how about I tell ya what we are doing here?

One thing that has came from the “social isolation” is families spending time together, reconnecting, and being a part of one another’s lives that they normal would never be exposed to. 

Parents working from home, kids getting a bird’s eye view of just why it is their parents may be tired, sleepy, and even just a little grumpy after a day at the “office” and parents now have to ‘home school” their children are getting a glimpse of just how differently academic standards can change in  a generation and can quickly realize the stressful expectations modern education truly lays on the shoulders of students.

And the beauty in all this bustle is this…  families are also spending time together , doing dinner together, sharing household chores together, fending off boredom by entertaining themselves together, gardening and planting flowers together and all sharing in the responsibilities of protecting the family from the virus by acting very consciously together.

And of course this would in no way be ideal in a dysfunctional family or those who may be temporarily living in an abusive or emotionally controlled home because that is not love and in my belief, God would never want anyone  being treated abusively and God gives us his mercy, his courage to believe for a better day

That is why I say temporarily because He will take care of you but you also must be willing to make those first steps, letting him deal with the ashes and thorns so that you can  free yourself from that relationship or in certain cases that freedom comes as a circumstance has to change.

So now that’s enough links to cover the flip side of this coin, I want to talk about the wonderful opportunity that God has placed right in the middle of all this fear and worry and to do that we are going to hit verse by verse through Proverbs 31.

Thinking  a little about the meaning in each line and the importance of a mother’s  role in not only teaching her children but the express wisdom she imparts to her children and bear in my mind that often theses conversations in the Bible are between mothers and adult offspring. 

It is never too late as this verse begins by informing us that he is relaying the words of his mother, meaning he listened to her and those were kept in his heart and mind. She first gave him confirmation, triple confirmation, of their bond.

Her first warning to him was the dangers of being seduced away, by letting lust lead him into destruction, the cross references to these verses actually take you to the dangers of adultery and the danger of that day, when men had multiple wives, which was NEVER God’s intention, people often think because something is “in” the Bible that it means that whatever those mentioned were doing must have been okay with God, but NO!

The Bible is full of stories of people who were, well just that… people and the stories are in the Bible to let us know that God forgives and we are all kinda messed up but the people in those stories did all kinds of things that were never part of God’s plan, that is why Jesus came to save us.

So the Mama was warning her son to stay away for the traps and snares that would ruin him and in modern society celibacy until marriage is thought comical BUT God’s word is eternal and so are the reasons it was taught then and those reasons and the reasons given against affairs are as valid now.

It ruins lives, ruins families and that grass that was greener will fade and withered brown and once it has there will be no going back to what was once had.

God does repair but people are left with pain and regret that they must allow God to heal. 

Proverbs 31:4-6: “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine; nor princes to drink strong drink; 

Lest they drink, and forget the law, and pervert judgment (justice)of any of the afflicted.

Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto him that be of  heavy (biter) heart.

Let him drink and forget his poverty, and remember his misery no more.”

Now she is warning him to pitfall, that again is viewed almost comedic in modern culture.

But again, just as clearly defined and the reasons that God gives us to avoid alcohol is also clearly defined for our benefit an dour families benefit, and as Mama is explaining to him, as a ruler being intoxicated will cause he to forget what is right and will cause and lead to an absolute miscarriage of justice against those who desperately need help the most.

And that “strong drink” should be reserved for those on bed of death and wine only for those whose heart is full of sorrow, I think as spiritual, new wine, God making all things new, as God gives us spiritual wine, we are no longer poor, maybe materially but not spiritually. Jesus said ye are rich, rich in him and the Kingdom of God which is not of this world, but the next. Making his followers forget the misery that their lives once was.

Now she is ready to dispense her most sage advise for sons, for daughters, for all her children and her children’s children children, advice that would be for the ages… because after all it has survived ages.

“Open thy mouth, for the dumb (speechless)in the cause, of all such as appointed to destruction. Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and PLEAD the cause of the poor and the needy” Proverbs 31:8-9

“She” is speaking her of the need and the responsibility to lift up our voice on behalf of others and following the golden rule and being diligent for all to do our part in speaking out when others can’t and seeing to needs when we see those needs.

And now the beauty and the truly remarkable attributes of being a woman, a wife, a mother and I can never do anything dealing with marriage without pointing out the fact that God loves women, and the old man made thoughts that women are subservient an dare objects to be owned, is just that man made. 

Men were to love and cherish their wives, as Christ loved the church, and he does not harm the church, he loved the church enough to die for us all.

God says in his words that marriage means this, two become one, so marriage is a union, not of one versus one, both of two producing a family unit that was intended to act as one, for the good and love of all.

Proverbs 31:10-12: “Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safety trust in her, so that he hath no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.”

Virtuous translates to wife of valor and meaning that her son would do well to find a woman of honesty, integrity and in doing so that her impact in their life would be greater than as if they possessed the world’s greatest riches.

Just as mothers desire that daughters marry men who will be good husbands in treating their wife and family well.

Not always the case, we now have many many virtuous women who have the roles of father, mother, provider, care giver, everything duty of parental guidance solely upon their shoulders as they take on the role of solitary family guide, in not way fair or right but it is now the norm and these ladies should be honored by us and in our society. the next verses are perfect for these leading ladies of life, navigating solely, sacrificing their own needs for their benefit of their children, parents, and communities.

They give so much and are often overlooked and given nothing in return, or so it seems… God sees it all, he sees their hurt, their worry, he sees the abuse they have suffered, he has seen the adultery on the behalf of the spouses that lead them to this solitary path. And these next verse surely apply to those who do it all while feeling that they are alone.

Proverbs 31:13_21:”She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willing with her hands. She is like the merchant’s ships: she bringeth food from afar.

She rises also while it is yet night, and giveth meat (food) unto her household, and a portion unto her maidens.

She considereth a field, and buyeth it: and with the fruit (earnings) of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengthen her arms.

She preceiveth that her merchandise is good; her candle (lamp) goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

She strectcheth (extends) her hand to the poor, yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.

She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

She maketh herself coverings of  tapestry; her clothing is silk (fine linen) and purple.”

We’ve got a lot of mirroring going on in these verses.

This lady is a worker, she is seizing every opportunity for the betterment of her household, she is up working, as everyone else sleeps,  her light shines brightly even the dark night.

She is good to everyone, not just her family, she is good to her friends and she is especially good to those in need, even “reaching’ out to them to help them also.

She prepares for tomorrow as she has her family reading for coming season and mirror scarlet to having her family saved clothed under the blood of the Lamb, she herself wearing fine linen, her robe of righteousness given to her from God, and purple as she is the daughter of the King.

The next verses apply to the married ladies and the blessing that they bring to their husbands and family:

It reminds me so much of the wives of pastors, who are often the sweetest, kindest women who give so much of themselves for the church the love and are blessings to all they mingle with and again referencing all their hard work.

Proverbs 31:23-24: “Her husband is known to the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles (sashes) unto the merchants.” 

And now back to the virtue in virtuous, for all his daughters.

Proverbs 31:25-31: ” Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in the time to come.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. 

Her children rise up and call her blessed; and her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously (well) but thou excellest them all. 

Favour  (charm) is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but  a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. 

Give her the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.”

Women, daughters, wives, mothers, grandmothers, pastors, ministers, doctors, lawyers, food workers, factory workers, home school mama’s. librarians, college deans, every job imaginable and all the “domestic engineering” in between, bold, between, kind, and often unseen.

So on this special day, Bless all of you who are mothers as you impart these wisdom’s, as Lemuel mother did as you have this time with your children.

Know that as we ended with her works will praise her, your work time and love will bring multitudes of joy in the days ahead and your children will always remember what you have did for them and they will never forget.

Know this my friends, you may not be a mother yet, but maybe you “mother” those around you, sisters or brothers or maybe you even feel like you have to be a mother to your own parents, or you are a “den” mother caring for every stray that comes your way, no matter what “woman’ you are, maybe life has been hitting you so hard and you feel like no one sees, know one knows but I promise you, one does, His name is Jesus and HE is watching over you, every single step from above!

Φλογιζω/ NBJ 2020 Reverend Nina Brown Johnson

REVISITED 05/09/2021 & 05/07/22 Have a Blessed Mother’s Day!

This song has nothing to do with being virtuous, it is actually “Virtuoso” the reprise version and it is about the beauty of God and His sovereignty over our lives.

It is just one of my all time favorites and for some reason it had just been in my heart and my head for this post so it you have never heard it, please check it out. 

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“Miraculous” In the knowing that He hears

“WHOSOEVER believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and everyone that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

That he came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.

And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one.

And there are three that beareth witness in earth, the spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one.

If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater, for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself; he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

And this is the record (testimony), that God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

He that hath the Son hath life; and that hath not the Son hath not life.

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the son of God.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. 

And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired (asked) of him.”   1John 5:1-15

To dig what I am getting into, please read my last post to get a better understanding of the stories I will be referencing.

I want to point out a few noteworthy aspects from the stories I used in that one to help establish how we get our hearts, and more importantly our minds in the realm of the miraculous, so that we can see the impossible becoming reality.

I also want to quickly mention that I will be going back to our verse above in my next post and continuing with the remainder of that passage, and it will be a scathing judgment post  concerning the mind-numbing abominations against God that are taking place on a whole new level, just when you think people can not possibly become more deviant, it’s like think again!

I have an unusual calling, I am a messenger and it is quite difficult at times to balance the love and mercy that Jesus has to all, as he stands waiting to forgive any who will only ask with the pronounced judgments that we set in motion long, long ago.

So here’s the deal, as I love to point out, prophets are accountable for failure to warn and pronounce given judgments.

So even if those who those warnings are sent to decides to ignore those warnings, they can never try to reason to God when they are judged that they were never told to repent.

But  at that same time God has messages for his people to encourage them and strengthen them to hold on in faith and patience    and that is exactly what this post is for.

Shew, now that that is out of the way!

We started the last post with the verse where Jesus tells us that if we can only believe, all things are possible, and yet for us mortals, that is often easier said than done.

And why is that? Multiple reason, being human, being born into a world that shapes our minds to believe only what we can see, or analyze, or is logical, probable, and in the world’s view possible. 

And all these are contrary to the Word of God, in the supernatural realm of God, which is far more real than the world we inhabit, all things are possible.

As our verse above notes, if we know that we belong to God and we know that he hears us and we know that what we are asking lines up with his Word, that he will honor that request.

And all we need does line up with hiss promises. But like if I asked the Lord for a brand-new Black Cherry ‘Vette when I have a functioning vehicle, that would not be a wise request, even though I would totally dig having one, there is no justification for asking because it would be to “consume it on my own lusts.”

However, if I had no vehicle or was in need of repair, that would certainly be something well worth requesting because as he tells us in scripture, he knows what we have need of.

If you notice in the last post all these stories were needs, food, and water, clothing, and safe dwelling, and safe passage,.

And even desperations, such as the ax head that the Lord allowed to be retrieved, the ax was borrowed and would have been a monetary obligation if lost.

And the widow who had to pay off the debts, because at that time people could be enslaved until debt was paid.

And think of the coin in the mouth of the fish to save the reputations of him and the disciples, as the one questioned did they not pay tribute, an occasion to be evil spoken of. Absolute miracles of rescue, and resurrections.

Which, Lord’s will, we will get into more of those soon also. What I want you to also notice about those stories is this, how the recipients of those wonders were no way shocked or puzzled at what they received.

Elijah is not mentioned at all as having thought it odd that the Lord had a raven brought him meat and bread twice a day,

And the widow, who actually told him that she was gathering sticks to prepare the last meal for her and her son, because she only had one meal left and then they would die, she knew they would starve to death once that meal was eaten, but think of this God had already told Elijah that he had commanded the widow there to provide for him before she told Elijah that, so God knew her heart he knew she would do what was asked of her, and Elijah had to make the request of her to set all the faith in motion for the miracle God already had planned to save this lady, her house, and feed his prophet.

It has to be requested along with the act of faith.

And faith is simply believing he will simply because you have need and you ask believing he will simply because he is God, you are his child and he loves you enough to make the miraculous happen for you or whomever you are making that request on behalf of.

before I go any farther with that, to point out a few more examples of the knowing, when the angel fed Elijah, he is not mentioned to have jumped to his feet and shouted, “What on earth! An angel!” or questioned, “Why is an angel cooking for me?”

No, he went back to sleep, no words are recorded of him even replaying to the angel when the angel spoke to him.

Because Elijah knew, he knew God and there was no need for him to question any of it because it was not odd to him, because he knew his God.

And Hagar, I have such a spot for Hagar, she really went through it and then there she was, he and her child thrown out into the desert, all the water gone, and for the second time in her life, she is visited by an angel, and again, like Elijah, she is not blew away by this angelic visit, Why? Because she knew  the existence of the miraculous.

And she rejoiced in knowing that He does live and He did see her, her tears, her affliction and heard the cried of her child.

He heard the prayers cried out on behalf of Peter and again sent a mighty angelic rescue, this time Peter not quite sure if it was real or a vision, and of course he soon discovered it was real.

I feel like God wants his chosen, you, there this world over, every nation, every kindred, every tongue, and tribe of people, to know now, at this moment, this hour, in this time, he does hear you, he does see you and all you need to do is put your faith in action with the knowledge of who he is and have that confidence that John spoke of, and know that he will deliver you and give you the desires of your heart.

But you have to get into that secret place of the Most High, this world, the devil, and even our own minds will tried to convince us that we can’t ask for certain things because it is impossible, again I tell you, Jesus said that nothing is impossible.

So if you are praying for the “impossible”, get in your prayer closet and surround yourself with the presence of the Lord, talk to him, open, honest, raw, pour out your requests and pour your heart, and praise him with songs that you feel says what your heart would sing to him.

And when you are praying for others always remember how they may be praying.

A morbid example, us praying for a miraculous healing for someone who may be terminal when that person may be praying to go home. Whose prayer do you think would take precedence?

Something else I want to point out, when you are praying for the miraculous, keep it on the down low as much as possible, Jesus makes intercession for us, the Spirit intercedes for us, that is why it is so important to have the confidence in knowing your relationship with him.

And he loves all his children, there are no favorites and you have to just let him love you and not listen to the not worthy nonsense satan tries to whisper to you, none of us are worthy, it’s not about being “worthy”, Jesus died to save us.

It’s not about worth, but if it were, Jesus felt we were worth his very life, I think it’s insulting to him for us to keep saying we aren’t worthy to receive anything from him, cause again, we will never be worthy, he just loves us, his reason for everything is because he loves us, we are the ones that have a problem accepting that.

Sometimes the less the world and the devil know about what you are praying for, the better your chance of receiving it, I know social media can be good for some things, but it bothers me when people request prayer and people who are not even saved or profess Christ are “praying” too, and I am not trying to be harsh but people can not post nasty trash, post profanities slamming others and then they are going to “pray” for the requests? Who are they praying to?

There is a reason that Jesus made everyone leave when he resurrected Jarius’ daughter, and There is a reason that Elijah took the child to his chambers when he prayed for life the enter back into him. There is a reason that Peter, also made everyone leave so that he could pray for Dorcas.

No doubt, no doubt, no doubt, can’t stress that enough, and while those who are dead obviously don’t need faith to be resurrected, those who are to be healed do.

Which brings me to my last point, healings and miracles go hand in hand with faith, and miracles and healings are also a gift, gifts must be stirred  but God also blesses his people which divine miracles and deliverances during times of need outside of that gifting, and any of his children can ask for that  and I believe receive that.

When it comes to healings, the one who does the praying has to believe in the healing and the one needs healing also has to believe in that healing.

“And there sat a certain man, impotent (without strength) in his feet, being cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.

The same heard Paul speak who steadfastly beholding  (intently observing) him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 

Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked.” Acts 14: 8-10

The crippled man listened, he heard and his faith stirred and Paul perceived that faith in him and they joined their faith with the belief that God would heal him and God did.

If this man had doubted, if he had listened to any voice whispering in his ear trying to dissuade him, if someone rose up and shouted, “You have never walked a day in your life! Are you seriously thinking that you are going to walk now?!” Well, he would have never walked.

It takes both, and the supernatural takes a stern disposition to seek, to believe, and to persevere until you reach that knowing and believe me when you do, you will know, and you will be amazed, and remember you can pray for the miraculous for anyone, any place, like that old song, “If we never meet again this side of heaven “but more like people you will never meet until heaven, and your prayers answered through God can truly change the world, just let God guide you, Peter is never mentioned to question Jesus as to why the coin was in the fishes mouth, it’s not our job to question, it is only our job to believe.

Blessings and Peace, Thanks for reading and sharing your time with me!

Φλογιζω NBJ 2021/ Rev. Nina Brown Johnson