Category Archives: Awaken

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BREATH of GOD

“The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,

And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and lo, they were very dry.

And he said unto me, Son of man, can these dry bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest (you know)

Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.

Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into ye, and ye shall live.

And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.

So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to bone.

And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.

Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD, Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the house of Israel: behold they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.

Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves and bring you into the land of Israel.

And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,

And shall put my spirit within you, and ye shall live, And I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.” Ezekiel 37:1-14

There are so many things in that passage and is amazing foreshadowing of what God would do spiritually through Jesus.

We are born into sin and what we often do not understand is that even though we are alive until we accept Jesus, we are spiritually dead.

It is only when we accept him that we are truly alive both in body and spirit, and soul.

Mention of bodies, this is also gives us a glimpse of what the great resurrection would be like.

The dead in Christ, raised again, no matter how their death came, no matter what is left of their mortal bodies in the grave when the trump of God sounds, the dead in Christ will arise.

Even from ashes, God created all our bodies, and everything that is and everything that will be.

“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether the be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him.” Colossians 1:16

He is quite capable of creating a completely new body from nothing, if that is what is needed as our bodies will be made new, likened unto his.

We also see the salvation of Israel, we see the sorrow, the sadness, and the feeling of desolation we also see the promise that all will know that He Is God.

Adam, who had been fashioned from clay, the dirt of the earth, a body, a form, beautiful I am sure, perfectly complete with all his limbs, fingers and toes, but completely lifeless until God literally breathed his own breath into him, giving him life.

Think about Jesus when he appeared to the disciples after his resurrection.

“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews (the place where they were hiding) came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

And when he had so said, he shewed (showed) unto them his hands and his side, 

Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.” John 20:19-23

Now to go back to our passage from Ezekiel, God commanded Ezekiel to prophesy for that breath to come and it brought life back into those dead bodies.

We see a clear picture through all these of the anointing of God and we need the anointing more than we need our next breath.

Let’s look at few examples of the power of God and the strength of that power, this is my favorite of all time.

To give a little background, Elisha is the prophet that replaced Elijah when he had became discouraged. and asked the Lord to take him, and Elisha had asked for a double-portion of the anointing that had been on Elijah.

“And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming of the year. 

And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that behold, they spied a band of men (saw the enemy coming); and they cast (tossed) the man into the sepulchre of Elisha; and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood up on his feet.” 2 Kings 13:20,21

The power of God was so strong and powerful in his life that it seeped into the very bones of Elisha the prophet and the man’s dead body just touching those bones brought him back to life.

Not even death or being buried had any effect on that power, the same power that resurrected Jesus, the same power that still even today can break chains, heal the sick, and brings life into those that are spiritually dead, and newness to those who have grown weary or cold.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.” Isaiah 10:27

That is a description of the yoke breaker, the yoke breaker is the anointing of God.

Couple of more prime examples of the power of God working through his servants and the strength of that power.

“And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul; So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” Acts 19:11,12

Paul, as the others had given himself completely to God, once Jesus revealed the truth to him. He had given himself completely to the work of God’s kingdom and often referred to himself as the Prisoner of Christ.

In reference to the preaching of the Gospel, he had said that it wasn’t whether or not that he would, it was that it was woe unto him if he did not.

“And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with evil spirits: and they were healed everyone.” Acts 5:14-16

We know that Peter walked with the Lord and the Lord even allowed Peter to walk on water, Peter also knew the pain of denying Christ in his moment of fear and he had also been foretold by Jesus that he would die for the Gospel.

Both suffered tremendous persecution, ridicule, abuse, and finally martyrdom.

They both gave everything that had to give and emptied themselves and their lives for Christ and even as Paul said the more, he suffered the greater the power of God rested on him.

He knew that the more he was crushed the greater the anointing would flow and the greater presence of God he would enjoy.

It is really sad, there are so many who believe that all the wonders were just for “Bible Times” and so many more who just don’t believe at all, and others who do believe, just don’t believe in that.

Yeah, Kinda the reason there that Jesus made them leave the room when he resurrected Jarius daughter and the reason he did not do many miracles in his hometown, he could do anything he wants, he is God.

It was because of their unbelief, same attitude as that of those who heckled him telling him that if he was the Son of God to save himself.

God sends what God wants to send when he wants to send it, just like the breath he told Ezekiel to prophecy.

I still believe and it may be next week, it may be three days before the rapture, but I still believe.

God has promised to pour out his Spirit and we have seen it happening in many places across the world, but it is not going to happen for those who don’t want it or only want it to happen under their conditions, none of this, nothing of God is for our personal use or for our time schedule.

Read those stories again and look at the context between the servants of God and the recipients.

It is to reveal to the world that God is real and that he does love them.

Please seek the Lord, seek him in prayer, communion, and pouring out of your heart, the more we pour out the more he flows in and the more we seek him, the greater his presence and we need his presence on this earth and in these last days.

He can still breathe life into that which is spiritually dead, and he can still ignite a bare flickering ember into an awesome flame burning in our hearts for him.

That is after all the meaning of the Greek name of this blog, and it is my prayer for us all.

Φλογιζω NBJ 2024/ Rev. N. Brown Johnson

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“PLEASE WAKE UP!!!”

How many of us have tried to wake someone and finally in complete exasperation utter that all familiar phrase, “Would you PLEASE get up?!!”

The Beloved written about in Song of Solomon surely must understand this.

 ” I sleep, but my heart waketh: It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew and my locks with the drops of the night.”

I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile(dirty) them?

My beloved put his hand in the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him (heart stirred with longing).

I rose up to open to my beloved: and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet-smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.

I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him;

I called him, but he gave me no answer.” Song of Solomon 5:2-6

Ah, the most misunderstood book in the Bible.

Most have difficulty reading it without misunderstanding it in the carnal mind and according to one Jewish tradition, men were required to be at least thirty years old and married and women were strictly forbidden to read it all.
It would seem that the American church suffers the same affliction as our lady in song of Songs.

Please do not take these remarks as attacks on any specific church, some of these attitudes and problems seem to creep into almost all churches at one point or another.

That is why we must always stay on guard: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8

The church like our lady here, in comparison to what it was intended to be, having been built on diligence, fortitude, tenacity, and above all the blood of Christ, the prophets, and all the martyrs. The church also has become quite comfortable seeming to have forgotten where it came from and the astonishing price that was paid for its continual existence.

Even though our lady is asleep, thankfully heart is still attentive to the voice of her one true love.

He is standing outside a door that has been locked against his presence, beaten beyond recognition,

the “dew” that had fallen during the tortures of the night he has just endured to take her punishment and to purchase a freedom she could have never been able to afford.

Pleading with her to take note of the “drops of the night” his hair completed saturated by his precious blood, a result of the excruciating crown of thorns that encircled his head, each piercing thorn driving into his flesh, a crown he wore in torment to free her troubled mind, bringing all thoughts captive, buying her salvation, while ensuring that one day he would reign as her King.

All she can come up with as he pleads with her from behind that locked door, is excuses of why she can’t get up, why it would be such an inconvenience, a burden to get up and answer his call on her heart, her soul, and her life.
Her first reason being that she is quite comfortable, right where she is, tucked in the warmth of her cozy bed, her complacency of more value to her than the value of the love she has for him.

Her second reason is that her feet are clean, oh, how can she possibly admit to maybe walking the wrong paths, imperfections, or heaven forbid, she admits any wrongdoing or much less admit blatant sin?

There is no way that she is going to answer to him and let him see her without her coat, how can she stand humbly before him, bearing all that she is, her very soul, without the protection of her coat of self-righteousness? No, she simply can’t do it.

Thankfully the sound of his voice had stirred her heart, it was then that she remembered, she remembered all the shame, all the suffering, all the love and mercy that also poured out as the ground flowed red with his blood while his life was given in exchange for her.
She remembered that her precious coat of self-righteousness, had only be crafted from the filthy rags of her own righteousness and without being clothed in his righteousness, she was less than nothing.

She remembered that without him and the guidance of his hand to her every step, that those feet, that she so arrogantly believed to be clean would only lead her into temptation and swift destruction.

In the span of time it took for her to realize this, he was gone, but in his desire that one day the locked door between them would open, he left her the key. 

As the myrrh dripped from her hands, it let her finally see that the door could only be opened by the purification of her own heart, soul and spirit and by dying to her flesh, her desires, and humble herself completely to him, giving every single thing in her, both good and bad, over to him until they became one.

We are living in the midst of the most exciting time that has been or will ever be. The last day outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a harvest of souls to end it all.
But so many have grown comfortable or are just simply asleep, proclaiming Christianity while those in the world around us are lost, enslaved to drugs or alcohol or one of the many addictions that snare and trap.
Sometimes we refuse to reach out because of the lifestyles of others, we can’t be seen talking to them or associating with what hypocritically we refer to as “that kind” of person, this comes from wrongly believing that we are so holy, and so good that we forget we were once in those shoes.

“Therefore let us not sleep, as others do; but let us watch and be sober (seriously mindful) For they that sleep, sleep in the night (spiritual night on earth) and they that be drunken are drunken in the night, but let us who are of they day, be sober (minded), putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8

As Jesus said in John 9:4: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

I have often heard people say they believe in Jesus, but they don’t accept him because they don’t want to be a hypocrite, or they feel like they can’t change.

 I respect that to the utmost measure, but the good news that we can never change ourselves, he does that for us!

All he requires is a reasonable service, no one is perfect, nor will we ever be on this earth.

When the Bible uses the word “perfect” it means “blameless” doing the best we can and some days that may be not so good, this is why his mercy is renewed every, single day and when we make mistakes, we ask for forgiveness, get up and go on! 

If you don’t want to be a hypocrite, that’s a good indication that you would never be anyway!

But I am pleading with you as a servant of God, we are in the last days and if you have never committed to the Lord, please, please, hear his voice, hear his invitation, before all hell breaks loose on this earth, and I promise you, it has already begun.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

Simply put just answer him!

Let him come in! He doesn’t give a list of requirements there does he? Ask forgiveness for your sins and ask him to be Lord of your life and save you!

End of story, your sins are washed completely away, and he never brings them up again.

As we all will stand before the Lord and give account for the life he has given us, the saddest excuse we will ever give for not completing the work he has entrusted us with is having to say “Lord, I just couldn’t get up.”

 Φλογίζω /   Nina Brown Johnson/ baresoulphlogizo 2015 all rights reserved.
Original post:11/21/2013  01/22/2022, This was originally written for another site, but it is the VERY FIRST post I had written. *REVISTED* 02/20/2023

I hope you enjoy it and that it is thought provoking because that clock has counted down to mere seconds now and we must do what we are called to do before the trumpet calls us home and there will be no more time to work or do those things that we could have.  Thank you for reading!

Podcast available at: https://anchor.fm/phlogizo

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Starting Fresh

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts:.” Psalms 139:23

You know to me, that is a scary prayer, to be honest, it probably is for most of us.

And I like many have prayed that and asked the Lord to rid me of all the self-inflicted fleshly thoughts and attitudes that we, as humans often suffer from.

I want to take a break from that thought for a minute to lighten up a bit and ask that you please forgive any misspellings you happen across in my posts, I threaten myself often in my own mind, that one day I will write a post and title it “Fun with Dyslexia”, not making fun of it, but because I seriously have it!

It can make writing quite interesting, more like comical in my case.

Now that I got that out of the way and corrected many a word up to this point, let’s think about starting fresh!

Despite the cold, and the snow in my part of the world, I always make it through the winter by holding on to one single statement, “It’ll be spring soon.” sometimes we have to remind ourselves spiritually of that fact.

Back in the day, I loved it, being out the cold and walking in the snow, the Laplander in me I suppose, but after I got some age on me, I can’t quite go it. I still love to see it but now from the inside rather than out.

And on that note, sometimes the hardest sight for us to see if what is on the inside, others see us from the outside and we can present many different images, such as being brave in the face of danger when inside we are truly afraid.

Others professing us as strong, when we ourselves feel weak, and breaking.

Others may tell us we are smart, and inside we don’t even feel anything close to even being competent.

And then life has a way of bringing challenges that stretch us to our limits and push us to points we feel are past return.

Those times make that verse all important, when we invite God to examine us, and help us understand why we feel the emotions we feel, why a simple word or comment can bring a reaction from us, that we would have never seen coming nor could have imagined. These are the signals that the issues are in us, not necessarily all those goes on around us.

It’s getting to the root of why do they make me feel so inept? Why did that hurt me so bad? Why do I struggle with this over and over?

All emotions, all usually reactions rooted deep inside, hurt, and lack of self-worth looming, leftover from something long past.

We all have issues, I, myself have had plenty of them, like many, been through many rough spots in life.  I am sure you have also.

And that my dear friends took the power of the Holy Ghost to deliver me from wounds the past, and to say I don’t struggle at times would be comical.

But God has taught me how to look to Him and ask for His guidance in why I am experiencing something that I was shocked to feel, and He never fails to help us and guide us, and most of all heal us and make us new, and give us a fresh new start each and every day, all we have to do is ask and be willing to not only look within ourselves but allow him to advise us concerning what He already sees. 

I want to give you another passage to help on this journey, if you feel this would be for you.

Song of Solomon 4:6:“Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and the hill of frankincense.”

This is our Biblical instruction on accomplishing this very task.

When we desperately need that spiritual day break, from the gloomy days, dark evenings, and long nights life sometimes brings.

Notice if you will the use of shadows, what are shadows?

Shadows of everything past, shadows of hurt, regret, sorrow, and pain, even shadows of joyful times since gone, memories lingering playing a sorrowful song, longing of times and departed loved ones, seasons long past, seasons that changed far too fast and whispering fear and dread, threatening the emptiness that lies ahead.

Shadows, shadows that must acknowledged, shadows, whose purpose is only to attempt to block that glorious light , the light that wants to shine, the only force that has the power to send those shadows away, leaving clarity, peace and the hope for the dawning of a new spiritual day.

Inviting the light to conquer the shadows requires us to take action also, we start by having an honest conversation with Jesus, complete honesty about what prompted the shadows to loom, and complete honesty about what is going in our hearts, He already sees it, He knows, and He will help us, but we have to be willing to die to all those wrong thoughts and attitudes that the enemy has left us falsely believing from our time dwelt in the land of gloom.

The myrrh being the mountain, that one is the toughest, that myrrh representing the process of dying to ourselves, our old thoughts, and allowing God to minister in us His thoughts concerning us, which is love, mercy, kindness.

He only wants joy, peace, and hope for us, that is not to say bad things will never happen, that is to say, He will deliver you from the damage that has already been and help you through the “what may be’s.”

You are never too young, never too old for a brand-new start, or even just a refreshing after a particularly tough season.

Here’s His promise.

Isaiah 46:4: “And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar (gray) hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

Allow Jesus to take care of all those things that you can’t on your own and find a joy and peace unlike any you have ever known in submitting yourself into His perfect will for your life and I promise you will never regret it and you will never be the same and when you look back over the years, one day you will see just how those shadows fled and how futuristic dread was turned to joy in hope of the days now ahead.

Jesus strengthens us, He holds us up when we cannot stand on our own and Him living inside of us and when others see you, they will still see you, but they will see you decorated with a beauty and grace that only comes from him!

Blessings & peace till next time!

Φλογιζω NBJ 2023/ Rev N. Brown Johnson * RAINY DAY RERUN*01/09/2024

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Spiritual “Labor Day”

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS; AND THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM.” Revelation 14: 13

Ahh, tomorrow, here in America, we celebrate “Labor Day”.

A day of course, set aside to honor the hard-working men and women who make our country strong and whose diligence in countless areas of service keep the economic ball rolling for our nation.

And also there are so many, such as nurses, doctors, firemen, emergency workers, repair people, and food service employees, many whom are actually required to work on Labor Day.

I do admit that while pondering the best “spin” to propel the thought of the post, that I felt the need to tell all of you, I am NOT a Ballerina, nor do I dance, but this is for me, in relaying this message, that I am performing a grandiose version of “Swan Lake” WHILE wearing steel-toed work boots.

So if it seems a bit “ungraceful” and if the heavy boots donned during the dance step on toes, including my own, please pardon. I would also like to point out that this is not for new converts to Christ, this is for “seasoned” workers of the Kingdom, who once knew these things and now just need a “note attached to their time cards” to remind them that they can lose benefits due to poor job performance.

Better to hear it now, than to hear, something much like what Jesus told the Disciples, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour IS at hand….  Here, my friends is the first of the very awkward “dance moves”, I must make, We can not work our way to salvation.

 Ephesians 2:8-10: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man boast. For we are his workmanship (creation)  created in Christ Jesus unto (for) good works, which God hath before ordained (prepared) that we should walk in them.” 

Notice in our first verse the voice said that they may rest, and Jesus told them to take their rest.

There is a very clear difference between trying to do our own work that we think is good enough for salvation, which again is an impossibility and doing the work that God preordained us to do. 

And then to decide that we will take our own rest rather than to have him grant us that rest.

But we still are required to work in the Kingdom. And I believe in grace! I thank God for grace! I could lay at His feet for a thousand years just thanking Him for the grace He gave me, saving me, a miserable creature who in no way deserved that grace!

And that is what Paul was referring to. I have heard some on television completely blow off the judgements and really come against the teachings of those judgments.

I can’t figure this out because God has a Bible full of people WITH that job, without the forced warning from Jonah, Nineveh would have never repented, it was the warning God sent that made them aware that they were doing wrong and the Bible is full of warnings.  

My Goodness, People! To reiterate this for anyone who has not read prior ancient posts, there ARE TWO Babylon’s, the first ancient Babylon, the Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed the destruction and judgments against it.

BUT Jeremiah also proclaimed the judgment and destruction of future, spiritual Babylon.  

The fulfillment of this is what is spoken in Song of Solomon 7:9: ” And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, (smoothly) causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.”

Jeremiah wrote the judgments that the Lord had commanded, Jeremiah 50:62-64: ” Then shalt thou say, O Lord, 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 a desolate for ever. And it shall be when thou hast made and end (finished) reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast (throw) it into the midst of Euphrates ; And thou shalt say, thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her…”  

There is so much Bible prophecy linked up with the Euphrates, it has angels ‘bound in it  that will be released and it dries up to prepare the way for the mighty war… Has this already happened?  No! Neither has many of the absolutely horrifying events foretold, but we have hope in the sealed words of the seven thunders and that is why we need to be so diligent now.

The fulfillment of the words of Jeremiah are Revelation 18:21: ” 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.” 

No matter what country a person chooses to believe that “Mystery Babylon” IS, one fact remains…

This is Bible and this will happen and those who live in that country will be going about everyday life, many unsaved and completely unaware of these prophecies yet to be fulfilled, and many more who have been force-fed “grace” to the point that they think they do no wrong in the eyes of a Holy God and have been taught that repentance and work are not a even  a requirement in our modern day and suddenly “Babylon” is attacked, from all sides and without warning, other than the Biblical truths of teaching of Jesus in how we know  these things shortly come and to be living lives accounted  worthy to escape these things, Babylon will be destroyed in one hour, one day from off the face of the earth.

How can anyone be perfectly comfortable not sharing the Gospel, not leading others to Christ, not using the gifts and talents he has given them?

How about all those who sit in bound in chains of demonic bondage of drug addictions, pornography, alcoholism, and so many other bondage, when  God has given someone the prayer of faith, given someone the gift of healing and miracles, and others sit in dread and terror, while God has already given someone a word of knowledge, and a word of prophecy, a word to be “fitly spoken in due season” that would free that person’s mind and bring the peace they need. 

Gift after gift, talent upon talent, wasted and unused, because we are too busy, too lazy, too comfortable to be the light that he left us here to be while the world suffers in almost pitch black darkness, no wonder Jesus warned us, Revelation 2:4,5: ” Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and remove thy candlestick (lampstand) out of his place, except (unless) thou repent.” 

Anyone want to argue that He does not expect us to work for the Kingdom? 

So, if you are saved, sure, you are saved but when our work is tried by fire to ensure purity and purpose, motive, and measure, and the Lord gives crowns and rewards and treasures in heaven, you will come up lacking and the saddest part is the difference made in the difference that should have and could have been made in someone else’s life will have been left undone on your shift.

The work he asks is quite simple, Love Him, spread His love, go to His house, worship Him, Keep His commandments, and Honor Him in your life and in advice you give others, do as He asks when He prompts you in heart, help someone else to carry their burdens, show mercy and be kind. And he is not asking much! 

And one thing you do not want to do is ever let Him catch you sleeping on the job, you may just sleep your way right through a God-given opportunity to impact this world while we still barely have enough light left to work by.

If you doubt any of these things pray, read your Bible, and try something so simple as watching the news. It is here people, nothing is changing it and maybe those who preach against preaching warnings really believe that they can just get everyone saved and bypass the judgments.. well, could be true, those saved and raptured WILL be spared many things, but what if those who did just simply omit these thoughts, these verses, find themselves on that day, not accounted worthy and NOT escaping these things and left here to do a job that should have been done right the first time!

Love and peace, don’t kill the messenger. My ministry started with this thought, my very first post PLEASE WAKE UP !!!   on a church site that God had blessed me to write for, it was November 2013 and I was so scared that everyone would hate me, but now it is not fear of hate, it is anger, every time I see those who are hurt, wounded, and know that things could change, if we would change.

God said if we “would humble ourselves” but see that is still the problem, it is all about us, when it should be about Him, the Kingdom, and the work that needs done.

It is so sad that so many are still sleeping on the job, but I have come to believe that maybe, as we know great revival comes during great persecution, that maybe it is going to take quite a wake up call… please don’t wait too late.

And if you are working for Christ, volunteer with Him for more work! Offer to do the jobs others won’t and He will bless you for going that second mile when your brother has only asked you to go one!

BTW, HAPPY LABOR DAY!

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2017 REVISTED 09/05/2021 & 09/05/2022 and o9/03/2023

Also for more please check out:

“Eleventh Hour…working till it’s too dark to work”        

“An “A” for effort but “0” still equals nothing . “

“A talent…or two”

“They’re hungry, YOU feed them”

“Outta your house”

“Laying down some odds, How about 450 to 1?”

“Shepherding the black sheep”

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BLESSED / THE BETROTHED AND THE BEHEADED PART 1

*Archived*

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first;

Then those that are alive and remain (are saved) shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  

Wherefore COMFORT one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

The rapture of the church, the return of the Lamb to retrieve his Bride, having paid her bride price with his own blood.
Giving his life that she may live, the ancient Jewish customs proving faithful as the souls of believers confess “You are my Savior” echoing “I am my beloveds and he is mine.”
Having gone away to prepare a place for her, being  reminiscent of the protective, seclusion of the wedding canopy.
He will now return with the army of his companions to take her away to the “secret dwelling place of the Most High” until all things can be fulfilled on earth.
 And he does this because we could not bear to witness the carnage and bloodshed that will overflow this earth.
As in Ezekiel, when those who were supposed to be his servants  filled his temple with filth and abominations, at the cries of his people who could not stand seeing his temple defiled, he then determined that the end for them had come, he called forth his angels. 

Ezekiel 9:4-6 “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and SET A MARK upon the foreheads of the men ( humans) that sigh and cry for the abominations that are done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing (so I could hear), 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.”
Just as judgment must begin at the house of the Lord.
He always deals with his people first and we shall see one day just as with this story, what will become of those who hold doctrines not quite true to the word of God.
Lets do a little mirror image on this and see the reflection.
“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, HAVING THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea. Saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, TILL WE HAVE SEALED THE SERVANTS OF OUR GOD IN THEIR FOREHEADS.” Revelation 7:2,3
As all things foreshadow those which are to come, only it will come on a much grander scale.
Revelation 9:4 “And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any tree; but only those men which HAVE NOT THE SEAL OF GOD IN THEIR FOREHEADS.”
We who are alive and have remained faithful to our bridegroom and kept our faith, will be removed from this earth just as he protected Noah and his family from the flood.
Lot and his daughters were spared from the destruction of Sodom, on behalf of the intercession by Abram.
This is what the Lord speaks over us:

Isaiah 26:19,20
“Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. AWAKE and sing, ye that dwell in the dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, AND THE EARTH SHALL CAST OUT HER DEAD.
COME MY PEOPLE, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut the doors about thee: HIDE thyself as it were, but for a moment, UNTIL THE INDIGNATION BE OVERPAST.”
We must be ready when that call comes, because only those who have accepted Christ will be in this gathering.
THOSE WHO REMAIN ON THIS EARTH AFTER THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH WILL ONLY BE SAVED BY  REFUSING TO WORSHIP THE ANTI CHRIST  AND REFUSING TO TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST AND BEING BEHEADED.
Maybe people who may not yet be ready to commit will soon see, all we need to do is watch the news.

Israel is almost completely surrounded by enemies as the Lord said would happen and the heart breaking beheading of the first two journalists revealing an eerie clue, the first a Christian, the second a Jew.
Facts probably unknown at the time to their captors, all things are prophetic when you look at what is really there.
So to all who are not saved, please do not wait, if you feel the tug of God, please accept him before it is to late.

You do not want to be left on this earth.
His promise to us: Revelation 19:7-9  “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he said unto me. WRITE. BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE CALLED UNTO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB. and he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”
Please accept his invitation, because this is one dinner you do not want to miss.
Original Post Date: 09/19/2014. All rights reserved. Rev. Nina BrownJohnson 2015 Revisited 08/20/2023

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“Am I too late?”

Most have experienced the pain of waiting too late.

Too late in making a decision and living with that regret for years or sometimes life. Being late to an event or the fear that maybe you have already arrived too late and lost out on something you had long looked forward to, or feel that if you could only go back and change this or do that, everything would be different.

I feel like this goes on in the kingdom pretty often, people feel like they have waited too long in moving out into their calling, or they were hurt and rejected once they did step out.

I promise you that is just part of the deal, you step out for the Lord you’re gonna be hurt AND rejected but take it for the compliment that it is!

The enemy is NOT going to waste his time (because he knows it is short) fighting people for fun, he fights what he knows is a threat.

So they feel like they maybe they were mistaken about even being called, (another trick from the enemy) they feel they can’t “go back” to “that” church or “those” people because there is just “too much water under the bridge.”

Have you ever thought of it this way, maybe the WATER under that bridge is exactly what the enemy is trying to keep you out of!

Maybe you think you missed your calling, waited too long, and too much time has passes, too many struggles have ensued…

Got some good news on that story, what if you discovered one day that it was ALL part of the plan for your life to get you EXACTLY where you need to be spiritually in order to go EXACTLY where God wants to take you?

We’ve got two situations going here so we will hit them both.

It is NEVER too late!

Until you are dead and in the ground, then it is too late to pursue the call of God on your life no matter if it was given fifty years ago because: “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (ARE IRREVOCABLE).” Romans 11:29

Which means God is NEVER going to say, “Oh sorry, I really did not mean to give you that, let me just take that back.”

NO it means He has given them for ever and ever.

And for whatever reason they have been unused I want you to be encouraged, get back up, get back on that boat, do not care who likes you, who doesn’t and do the will of your Father because it is Him that we answer to and sometimes, we are required to swallow our pride for the kingdom because pride does not belong in the kingdom and God ALWAYS deals with those who come against you and your calling, but if you hide it and refuse to use it, what reason would he have to exonerate you from your enemies, and prove them wrong?

Now to prove it is not too late, remember in Revelation when Jesus is warning and encouraging the churches as to what he expects of them, He is speaking to the church of Ephesus, who left their first love, I just want to use part of this verse, because these people WERE saved, they WERE known to Him, “Remember therefore from whence (where) thou art fallen, and repent, and DO THY FIRST WORKS;“ Revelation 2;5 (1)

So He is telling them DO your FIRST works.

I want to get this out-of-the-way, I know there could be the argument against this, because of the verse “called in one hope of your calling” but if you do not accept your ONE hope on this earth to do your job, and use your calling, you sure aren’t going to need it in heaven or New Jerusalem because everyone there will already be saved.

So if you are reading this, rest assured it is NOT too late!

I do want to warn you of a common snare with this, once “people” find out you are called, many of them can not wait to give advice and tell you what you should do” it is YOUR job from the Lord, HE will put in your heart or give to you by prophecy what you should do.

Don’t need it, please don’t listen to it unless you want to ask your Pastor, or prayer partner their thoughts on the best way to go about something, but please don’t let anyone influence you in your work for God, He calls us all differently.

Situation two, we’ll call, “You are growing, growing, growing”

Think about David, do you realize that David was anointed THREE times, anointed means to be separated for a specific purpose, the first time He was only about fifteen years old, and this was done privately, only in the presence of his family,

1 Samuel 16:13:” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day FORWARD….”

From this point on, the spirit of God was with him, and even though he had ALREADY been anointed to be King, the time was not yet, and when he was sent to Saul, it was NOT as his replacement but as his harpist!

His next task would be to fight the mighty giant Goliath and I don’t even think David was even thinking about his future or the job he was already in training for, when he ran AT Goliath it was in confidence of the Lord, that no one was going to threaten and enslave the people of the Living God, and at NO point did he tell Goliath “I come to you as the future King” He told him that he came in “NAME of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel”.

He then went on to endure Saul’s insane jealously, hiding and fearing for his life, battling bloody battle upon battle, growing and growing into who he had been created to be.

He is anointed a second time, 2 Samuel 2:4,”And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah….” this time is publicly with his countrymen.

And on he goes… growing and growing, battling and battling, “friend” and foe, learning to deal with situations and all the qualities he would NEED, imperative to his success and survival.

He has been anointed privately, publicly, and now he will be anointed and accepted by the elders as King over all of Israel.

“So all the elders of Israel came to the king, to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.” 2 Samuel 5;3,4

The fulfillment of that promise unfolded over the period of his life that he was fourteen, fifteen years old until he was thirty, and even NOW part of the divine purpose for the throne of David is STILL unfolding and will be until the return of Christ!

How much do you think he matured and grew and learned and developed over those fifteen odd years? What if he had given up half way through and decided to “rethink” what had been told to him at that private anointing?

David was successful in that long journey because he never lost focus of the big picture, and allowed himself to be exactly what Go wanted, a vessel and David knew that no army, no power, nothing of this earth could defeat God or stop His divine will for Israel and this is what keep David going… and going.. it was NEVER easy and I am sure he experienced many moments of absolute sorrow during those dark times but he always held on and we must also!

Do not give up on your calling!

I love the story of Nehemiah and it has been encouragement many times for me personally, I actually have it written and taped in the front of my Bible, along with many other verses, we NEED this encouragement.

This took place  as Nehemiah set about to rebuild the wall and the enemies came forth to STOP THE WORK and I love this verse, Nehemiah 6:9; “ For they ALL made us AFRAID, saying, their hands SHALL BE WEAKENED FROM (because of) the work, that it not be done. NOW THEREFORE, O GOD, STRENGHTEN MY HANDS.”

This is a great verse to remember when “people” are telling you that “it” is impossible to accomplish what GOD SAID you could and trying to discourage you with the thought that the work is too hard and you can not possibly finish it.

Maybe what you think is a little too late could actually be right on time.

“Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is NOT unto death, BUT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he heard therefore that he was sick, HE ABODE (stayed) TWO DAYS STILL IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE HE WAS. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again.

His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou hither again? ( why are you going back)  Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in a day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

These things said he; and afterward he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; But I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death; but they thought he had spoken of taking rest in sleep.

Then said Jesus unto them, plainly, LAZARUS IS DEAD. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, TO THE INTENT THAT YOU MIGHT BELIEVE;…John 11:1-15 

Most know the rest of the story, the sisters go on to tell Him, if He had only been there, their brother would still be alive.

We often think about our pain in what we go through, but it was NOT easy for Jesus to allow them to go through this sorrow and everyone is crying and now HE IS crying also, and I ALWAYS have to point this out because it just tells you WHO HE IS, He KNEW that in matter of moments Lazarus would be very much alive, it just broke His heart seeing them hurt, it does break His heart to see His children cry, NEVER doubt that.

“Jesus said, Take ye away the stone, Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh; for HE HATH BEEN DEAD FOUR DAYS.

Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, IF THOU WOULDEST BELIEVE, THOU SHOULDEST SEE THE GLORY OF GOD?” John 11:39,40

As we know from the verses, He LOVED them, but Lazarus was allowed to die so the GLORY would be revealed. But it was not the END of Lazarus’s  story and EVEN four days dead was still not too late! 

Just as He said, it was that the GLORY OF GOD WOULD BE REVEALED AND THAT THEY WOULD BELEIVE!

It may look dead, doesn’t mean it is dead!

May just not be as late as you think it is after all!

So if you find yourself asking.. “Am I too late?”, Have faith.. it all may just be right on time!

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016 *REVISITED 04/25/2023 Rev. N. Brown Johnson 

 

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THE LAMB “Hell trembles and Earth Quakes”

“Jesus, when he had cried with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost (died).

And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom (torn in half), and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent (split);

And the graves were opened; and many of the bodies of the saints that slept (had died) AROSE.

And came OUT of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Now when the centurion and they that were with him, watching (guarding) Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things which were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. 

And many women were there beholding afar off (watching from a distance), which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

When the even was come (it was evening), there was a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:

He went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean line cloth. And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against (opposite) the sepulchre.

Now the next day, that followed the day of preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 

Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure (secure) until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead; so the last error shall be worse than the first.

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch (guard): go your way, make it as sure (secure) as you can.

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure (secure), sealing the stone, and setting a watch (guard). 

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre (tomb).

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment (clothing) was white as snow:

And FOR FEAR OF HIM. THE KEEPERS (guards) DID SHAKE,AND BECAME AS DEAD MEN (fainted).

And the angel answered and said UNTO the women; FEAR NOT YE; for I know that ye seek Jesus. which was crucified, HE IS NOT HERE: FOR HE IS RISEN, as he said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him, lo, I have told you.

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples his word.

And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail (Rejoice).

And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there they shall see me. 

Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch (guards)  came into the city, and shewed (told) unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel (talked about it), they gave large (much) money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept.

And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure (protect) you. (it would have been death to them if they had really slept).

So they took the money and did as they were taught; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  Matthew 27:50-66 and Matthew 28:1-20

Wow, can you imagine how awesome it would have been to see that angel come down, roll away that stone, as the guards literally stood there shaking in their boots,  the angel then actually sitting on top of the stone, almost as if to say to the guards, ” Try moving it now, boys” and at this sight they were so horrified that they actually fainted.

And then the angel in display of the gentleness of the one he serves, tells the ladies to Fear not! Please also forgive my capitalization, it is not intended as shouting, it is to highlight, it’s hard to preach in silence.

You may be wondering about other common verses, such as the doubting by Thomas, but I chose to go with the account from Matthew as it had been used in the previous post, but I encourage you to read the accounts of Mark, Luke, and John also as each tells a little more of the story in his own words.

Lord will, we will highlight those accounts also in the next post on the way to Pentecost.

But back to this one, it is so wonderful, the fulfillment of this prophecy, Hosea 13:14:”I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death; O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction; repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.”

Written this way in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57: “O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”

As we read in the last post  those of the day clung to the law but had no mercy, love, and kindness toward any, but Jesus came to teach us the truth of who he is, delivering us, teaching us that faith in him is the way to salvation.

And the picture of the ultimate resurrections, as the saints of old were resurrected on that day as Jesus rose in His power and might and the earth quaking in prelude to the ultimate quake when he returns to earth and Mount Olive will split in two and those of earth who are still rebellious, cruel, and unyielding in accepting salvation will beg those rocks to fall on them and hide them from his face but there will be no hiding from the one who created it all.

Jesus fulfilled every promise God had made that he would again reconcile us back unto him and he did it all with his blood, his love, and his desire to save us.

Jesus is kind, he is merciful and he does not want any one lost or left to the devices of enemy, and satan and his demons  cower in his presence, one descriptive verse written this way, James 2:19: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; THE DEVILS ALSO BELIEVE AND TREMBLE.”

Today, REJOICE, REJOICE!

Revelation 1:18: “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead, and he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last; I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys to hell and death.” 

God bless you and have a wonderful Holy Day!

Φλογιζω NBJ 2021/ Reverend Nina Brown Johnson REPOST 04/09/2023

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“Done Deal”

When Jesus chose to come to earth through the womb of a humble virgin and chose a stable as the destination for his arrival and He chose a poor carpenter as His earthly step-father, it would be to the confusion and confounding of those who awaited the Messiah to be born in splendor, in the finest of palaces with the proverbial golden spoon in His mouth.

And it worked quite nicely, He wanted those who come to Him to come to Him because of  who He is.

Not because of whom thought THOUGHT Him to be.

Only a true King could have such a test to reveal His true servants from those who just wanted His prestige.

As we know even after hearing His very words spoken in their own ears, the Pharisees and Jews could still not grasp the thought that the loving, gentle, ORDINARY man could possibly be the Son of the one true God.

Although He did come as ordinary and unpretentious, No matter how it may have appeared we know that HE IS ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY!

I am not so sure that we have moved quite far enough away from those thoughts that also easily sway our minds.

We often ignore that still small voice because our ears are striving to hear a loud proclamation. Sometimes we are so enamored with the thought of having our worlds rocked that we completely miss the fact that the ground IS already shaking.

We can completely miss what is right in front of us, simply because it does not look like we had pictured it to look.

It does not sound exactly as we thought it would and by holding onto to OUR thoughts we can miss out on a lot.

Just as He said, His ways ARE higher than our ways and His thoughts ARE higher than are thoughts, it rests on forgetting what we ever thought in the first place and acknowledging His will.

I used this particular passage in a former now non-existent post, but I would like to revisit that SAME thought here, again. This is the amazing story of Peter being arrested, imprisoned, supernaturally  freed and those who WERE praying for his freedom, NOT BELIEVING when he literally showed up on their doorstep!

We’ll pick up here:

ACTS 12:4-16: “And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions (squads of four) of soldiers, to keep him: intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

Peter was therefore kept in prison: but PRAYER WAS MADE WITHOUT CEASING OF THE CHURCH UNTO GOD FOR HIM. And when Herod would have (was about to) bring him forth, the same night, Peter was sleeping BETWEEN two soldiers, BOUND WITH TWO CHAINS and the keepers before the door kept the prison (guards were also at the door).

And, behold, the ANGEL of the Lord came upon him (stood by him), and  A LIGHT SHINED  IN THE PRISON: and he smote Peter on the side, and RAISED HIM UP, saying, Arise up quickly. and HIS CHAINS FEEL OFF FROM HIS HANDS.

And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals (get dressed and put shoes on).  And so he did. And he saith unto him cast thy garment about thee, and FOLLOW ME.

And he went out, and followed him: and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel (did not know for sure if it was real) but THOUGHT he saw a vision. 

When they were passed the first and the second ward (guard posts) they came unto the IRON GATE that leadeth into the city; which OPENED TO THEM of his own accord (opened WITHOUT ANY HUMAN HELP): and they went out, and passed through one street; and the angel departed from him.

And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety (for certain), that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod,  and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

And when he had considered the thing, he CAME to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where MANY WERE GATHERED TOGETHER PRAYING.

And as Peter KNOCKED AT THE DOOR OF THE GATE, a damsel came to hearken (answer the door) named Rhoda.

And  when she KNEW Peter’s voice, she opened NOT the gate for gladness (she was so happy that she actually FORGOT to open the door) but RAN IN, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

And THEY SAID UNTO HER, THOU ART MAD (OUT OF YOUR MIND). BUT she CONSTANTLY affirmed that it was even so (true). Then they said it is his angel.  But Peter CONTINUED KNOCKING: and WHEN THEY HAD OPENED THE DOOR, AND SAW HIM, THEY WERE ASTONISHED.”

So much there, they were praying and praying, seeking and seeking and Rhoda answers the door and she is so happy and overjoyed that she just forgets to open it. When she tells the others they just simply DO NOT BELIEVE it.

Now again, maybe if God has sent an old dude leaning on a staff, with a long gray flowing beard, using terms such as”Hearken, grand prayer warriors…” or sent thunder and lighting to flash as Peter approached, well maybe that was WHAT they thought they should receive as acknowledgment that their prayers had been heard. But no, they got Rhoda, and what they told her, actually translates to, “YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND” so they are like, ” Well, that is just that crazy Rhoda,, making up stuff, just ignore her….you know she isn’t quite right in the head anyway.”

Cute side note, Rhoda must have not been too crazy, she did, after-all get an honorable mention in the book :)!

But even after all that praying they STILL REFUSED TO BELIEVE, and decided that it was his angel.

If it does not make sense to our human minds, we must FIND an explanation for it, right?

Not sure why we do these things.

Do we doubt that our prayers will be answered? Do we really believe that it just COULD NOT be THAT simple?

When actually, IT IS that simple.

Do we feel that we need more grandeur?

And do we feel we need that for the glory of God… or is it for us?

Do we just dislike the messenger and feel that we are worthy of a higher, more “spiritual” messenger You know, like waiting on a group of herald angels to break down the door and proclaim the answer you have been seeking when actually all that is needed is FOR SOMEONE JUST ANSWER THE DOOR!

And acknowledge WHO is standing there! 

We can miss many wonderful events by our own refusal to let God be God and answer AS HE calls and not get so caught up in the delivery or manifestation of these events.

Just as His humble arrival to this earth heralded the greatest event of all time. What if the wise men had decided that the place the star led just didn’t look the part?

The humble shepherds NEVER expected to hear an angelic chorus praising the birth of the Saviour… which IS EXACTLY WHY they were allowed to hear it!

Don’t lose out on a done deal just because you refuse to open the door.

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016 Revisited 03/28/2023 Rev.N Brown Johnson 

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“THIS IS THAT”

“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all were in one accord in one place.

And suddenly  there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave the utterance.

Now when this was noised abroad (told), the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galileans?

And how hear we every man in our own tongue (language), wherein we were born?

Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia.

Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews, and proselytes.

Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, What meaneth this?

Others mocking said, These men are filled with new wine,

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words.

For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day.

But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.” Act 2: 1-16

I am sure everyone has seen reports of the great revival that is manifesting as all the woes. and troubles,  and terrors are bringing the birth pains of this world to an excruciating deliverance.

We have been seeing for years now those events which Jesus told us were the beginning of the sorrows, and as the world is in that spiritual labor with pain and suffering on all sides, but the beauty to be revealed will far outweigh the pain

So many of us have lived for this very moment in time, the fulfillment of all that Jesus promised and the fulfillment of those promises.

And all this will go hand in hand, as the troubles increase so will the number of salvations.

But, as the old saying goes, “You ain’t seen nothing yet!” I know I had included this in a post once but I can’t remember which one, I have almost six hundred on here, so I am clueless what I titled it,as I do get funky with those sometimes:)

I used the passage above to correlate with this, I know I have used it before but it had to be again, I wanted to share this.

I want to share what I believe is coming with this, I believe we are in the realm of what we have been waiting for, and many that believed that also, and have went on home now, but like those of Hebrews chapter eleven, they died still believing this would one day come.

And it has been stirring, I had an absolute divine revelation of such, May 19,2012, I had an appointment to preach and those of us there were worshipping and the Spirit fell in an incredible way,  now this was a Spirit filled church, there were two, one of which was my late sister, who had the awesome gift along with tongues that allowed them to sing in tongues, which is a sound unlike anything you could ever imagine,we had a wonderful pastor, who has also went on now, but God blessed our services, but this particular night was profound.

As we worshipped the Spirit just came and every person’s gift manifested, and this was simultaneously, the entire group with different manifestations of the Spirit, and I heard  crystal clear a portion of that verse above.

And when I got home, I went to Book of Joel, but I had to go to the Book of Acts to find what was spoken to me, it referenced Joel, but it was stated in Acts.

I was so amazed by what I had saw and what I had heard that I wrote down the date, I couldn’t even tell you now what my sermon was on that night, but I can tell you what really held the importance of that moment.

And I believe that is what we are going into, as the harvest is coming in, we will see manifestations of the gifts and miracles unlike anything this world has ever seen or will ever see again.

The simplistic truth of miracles is this, they are for those who do not believe, they are to show onlookers that what has transpired has no human explanation and are of the supernatural realm, that is why the disciple prayed  for the signs and wonders to follow them and as Jesus told us they do follow those who believe.

I don’t want to get into that too much, but it’s been quite clear why  we hadn’t seen those things as we should in the American churches

There has been some much animosity in ministry at least from my prospective  there is so much one-upmanship, and “Anything you can do I can do better” attitudes that go on behind the scenes that it’s no shock the false doctrines have taken such a hold, but that’s all over now, because we are in the days that there will be that separation and the works will be done through those who are now being prepared while those who couldn’t get past a false sense of competition will be in for a sad realization, think of that as when Moses realized his disobedience prevented him from entering the promised land.

The fire now is for them who are falling at the feet of Jesus, with true humility and repentance, desiring only His forgiveness, mercy, and grace.

When we truly have Christ, it is no longer about us, or even this world, it is about bringing all we can to Him, for His glory and for the Kingdom, and to see souls who were tormented made free, and the greatest goal, to witness his Kingdom come to this earth and Him take His rightful place as King

To sum it all up, hold on to your hats, as the saying goes, the crazy is just going to get crazier, the woes are going to grow dreading more woeful, but as the manifested glory falls, it will be unparalleled in wonder.

Joel 2:1-31: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is at hand;

A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains; a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even the years of many generations.

A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them.

The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run.

Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.

They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks:

Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.

They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withhold their shining.

And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

Who knoweth is he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him: even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God?

Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:

Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chambers, and the bride out of her closet.

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 should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?

Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people.

Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine,a nd oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen.

But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savor shall come up, because he hath done great things.

Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things.

Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength.

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.

And I will restore to you the years the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.

And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD you God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.

The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come.

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.”

All winding up, all coming together, and as always if you have not received the salvation of the Lord as yet, do not hesitate and if you desire more of him, pray and seek His face and you will never be the same!

Blessing and Peace till next time!

Φλογιζω NBJ 2023/ Rev. N. Brown Johnson

 

 

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Starting Fresh

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts:.” Psalms 139:23

You know to me, that is a scary prayer, to be honest, it probably is for most of us.

And I like many have prayed that and asked the Lord to rid me of all the self-inflicted fleshly thoughts and attitudes that we, as humans often suffer from.

I want to take a break from that thought for a minute to lighten up a bit and ask that you please forgive any misspellings you happen across in my posts, I threanen myself often in my own mind, that one day I will write a post and title it “Fun with Dyslexia”, not making fun of it, but I seriously have it! And it can making writing quite interesting, more like comical in my case.

Now that I got that out of the way and corrected many a word up to this point, let’s think about starting fresh!

Despite the cold, and the snow in my part of the world, I always make it through the winter by holding on to one single statement, “It’ll be spring soon.” sometimes we have to remind ourselves spiritually of that fact.

Back in the day, I loved it, being out the cold and walking in the snow, the Laplander in me I suppose, but after I got some age on me, I can’t quite go it. I still love to see it but now from the inside rather than out.

And on that note, sometimes the hardest sight for us to see if what is on the inside, others see us from the outside and we can present many different images, such as being brave in the face of danger when inside we are truly afraid.

Others professing us as strong, when we ourselves feel weak, and breaking.

Others may tell us we are smart, and inside we don’t even feel anything close to even being competent.

And then life has a way of bringing challenges that stretch us to our limits and push us to points we feel are past return.

Those times make that verse all important, when we invite God to examine us, and help us understand why we feel the emotions we feel, why a simple or comment can bring a reaction from us, that we had never saw coming nor could have imagined, these are the signals that the issues are in us, not necessarily all those goes on around us.

It’s getting to the root of why do they make me feel so inept? Why did that hurt me so bad? Why do I struggle with this over and over?

All emotions, all usually reactions rooted deep inside, hurt, and lack of self-worth looming, leftover from something long past.

We all have issues, I, myself have had plenty of them, like many, been through many rough spots in life, the most damaging of course, being held over the fire of an open stove at the age of five years, being threatened to be burned alive,

And that my dear friends took the power of the Holy Ghost to deliver me from the horror of that, and to say I don’t struggle at times would be comical.

But God has taught me how to look to Him and ask for His guidance in why I am experiencing something that I was shocked to feel, and He never fails to help us and guide us, and most of all heal us and make us new,and give us a fresh new start each and every day,all we have to do is ask and be willing to not only look within ourselves but allow him to advise us concerning what He already sees. 

I want to give you another passage to help on this journey, if you feel this would be for you.

Song of Solomon 4:6:“Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and the hill of frankincense.”

This is our Biblical instruction on accomplishing this very task.

When we desperately need that spiritual day break, from the gloomy days, dark evenings, and long nights life sometimes brings.

Notice if you will the use of shadows, What are shadows?

Shadows of everything past, shadows of hurt, regret, sorrow, and pain, even shadows of joyful times since gone, memories lingering playing a sorrowful song, longing of times and departed loved ones, seasons long past, seasons that changed far too fast and whispering fear and dread, threatening the emptiness that lies ahead.

Shadows, shadows that must acknowledged, shadows, whose purpose is only to attempt to block that glorious light , the light that wants to shine  ,the only force that has the power to send those shadows away, leaving clarity, peace and the hope for the dawning of a new spiritual day.

Inviting the light to conquer the shadows requires us to take action also, we start by having an honest conversation with Jesus, complete honesty about what prompted the shadows to loom, and complete honesty about what is going in our hearts, He already sees it, He knows, and He will help us, but we have to be willing to die to all those wrong thoughts and attitudes that the enemy has left us falsely believing from our time dwelt in the land of gloom.

The myrrh being the mountain, that one is the toughest, that myrrh representing the process of dying to ourselves, our old thoughts, and allowing God to minister in us His thoughts concerning us, which is love, mercy, kindness.

He only wants joy, peace, and hope for us, that is not to say bad things will never happen, that is to say, He will deliver you from the damage that has already been and help you through the what may be’s.

You are never too young, never too old for a brand new start, or even just a refreshing after a particularly tough season.

Here’s His promise.

Isaiah 46:4: “And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar (gray) hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.”

Allow Jesus to take care of all those things that you can’t on your own and find a joy and peace unlike any you have ever known in submitting yourself into His perfect will for you life and I promise you will never regret it and you will never be the same and when you look back over the years, one day you will see just how those shadows fled and how futuristic dread was turned to joy in hope of the days now ahead.

Jesus strengthens us, He holds us up when we can not stand on our own and Him living inside of us and when others see you, the will still see you, but they will see you decorated with a beauty and grace that only comes from him!

Blessings & peace till next time!

Φλογιζω NBJ 2023/ Rev N. Brown Johnson

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Spiritual “Labor Day”

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS; AND THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM.” Revelation 14: 13

Ahh, tomorrow, here in America, we celebrate “Labor Day”.

A day of course, set aside to honor the hard-working men and women who make our country strong and whose diligence in countless areas of service keep the economic ball rolling for our nation.

And also there are so many, such as nurses, doctors, firemen, emergency workers, repair people, and food service employees, many whom are actually required to work on Labor Day.

I do admit that while pondering the best “spin” to propel the thought of the post, that I felt the need to tell all of you, I am NOT a Ballerina, nor do I dance, but this is for me, in relaying this message, that I am performing a grandiose version of “Swan Lake” WHILE wearing steel-toed work boots.

So if it seems a bit “ungraceful” and if the heavy boots donned during the dance step on toes, including my own, please pardon. I would also like to point out that this is not for new converts to Christ, this is for “seasoned” workers of the Kingdom, who once knew these things and now just need a “note attached to their time cards” to remind them that they can lose benefits due to poor job performance.

Better to hear it now, than to hear, something much like what Jesus told the Disciples, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour IS at hand….  Here, my friends is the first of the very awkward “dance moves”, I must make, We can not work our way to salvation.

 Ephesians 2:8-10: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man boast. For we are his workmanship (creation)  created in Christ Jesus unto (for) good works, which God hath before ordained (prepared) that we should walk in them.” 

Notice in our first verse the voice said that they may rest, and Jesus told them to take their rest.

There is a very clear difference between trying to do our own work that we think is good enough for salvation, which again is an impossibility and doing the work that God preordained us to do. 

And then to decide that we will take our own rest rather than to have him grant us that rest.

But we still are required to work in the Kingdom. And I believe in grace! I thank God for grace! I could lay at His feet for a thousand years just thanking Him for the grace He gave me, saving me, a miserable creature who in no way deserved that grace!

And that is what Paul was referring to. I have heard some on television completely blow off the judgements and really come against the teachings of those judgments.

I can’t figure this out because God has a Bible full of people WITH that job, without the forced warning from Jonah, Nineveh would have never repented, it was the warning God sent that made them aware that they were doing wrong and the Bible is full of warnings.  

My Goodness, People! To reiterate this for anyone who has not read prior ancient posts, there ARE TWO Babylon’s, the first ancient Babylon, the Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed the destruction and judgments against it.

BUT Jeremiah also proclaimed the judgment and destruction of future, spiritual Babylon.  

The fulfillment of this is what is spoken in Song of Solomon 7:9: ” And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, (smoothly) causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.”

Jeremiah wrote the judgments that the Lord had commanded, Jeremiah 50:62-64: ” Then shalt thou say, O Lord, 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 a desolate for ever. And it shall be when thou hast made and end (finished) reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast (throw) it into the midst of Euphrates ; And thou shalt say, thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her…”  

There is so much Bible prophecy linked up with the Euphrates, it has angels ‘bound in it  that will be released and it dries up to prepare the way for the mighty war… Has this already happened?  No! Neither has many of the absolutely horrifying events foretold, but we have hope in the sealed words of the seven thunders and that is why we need to be so diligent now.

The fulfillment of the words of Jeremiah are Revelation 18:21: ” 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.” 

No matter what country a person chooses to believe that “Mystery Babylon” IS, one fact remains…

This is Bible and this will happen and those who live in that country will be going about everyday life, many unsaved and completely unaware of these prophecies yet to be fulfilled, and many more who have been force-fed “grace” to the point that they think they do no wrong in the eyes of a Holy God and have been taught that repentance and work are not a even  a requirement in our modern day and suddenly “Babylon” is attacked, from all sides and without warning, other than the Biblical truths of teaching of Jesus in how we know  these things shortly come and to be living lives accounted  worthy to escape these things, Babylon will be destroyed in one hour, one day from off the face of the earth.

How can anyone be perfectly comfortable not sharing the Gospel, not leading others to Christ, not using the gifts and talents he has given them?

How about all those who sit in bound in chains of demonic bondage of drug addictions, pornography, alcoholism, and so many other bondage, when  God has given someone the prayer of faith, given someone the gift of healing and miracles, and others sit in dread and terror, while God has already given someone a word of knowledge, and a word of prophecy, a word to be “fitly spoken in due season” that would free that person’s mind and bring the peace they need. 

Gift after gift, talent upon talent, wasted and unused, because we are too busy, too lazy, too comfortable to be the light that he left us here to be while the world suffers in almost pitch black darkness, no wonder Jesus warned us, Revelation 2:4,5: ” Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and remove thy candlestick (lampstand) out of his place, except (unless) thou repent.” 

Anyone want to argue that He does not expect us to work for the Kingdom? 

So, if you are saved, sure, you are saved but when our work is tried by fire to ensure purity and purpose, motive, and measure, and the Lord gives crowns and rewards and treasures in heaven, you will come up lacking and the saddest part is the difference made in the difference that should have and could have been made in someone else’s life will have been left undone on your shift.

The work he asks is quite simple, Love Him, spread His love, go to His house, worship Him, Keep His commandments, and Honor Him in your life and in advice you give others, do as He asks when He prompts you in heart, help someone else to carry their burdens, show mercy and be kind. And he is not asking much! 

And one thing you do not want to do is ever let Him catch you sleeping on the job, you may just sleep your way right through a God-given opportunity to impact this world while we still barely have enough light left to work by.

If you doubt any of these things pray, read your Bible, and try something so simple as watching the news. It is here people, nothing is changing it and maybe those who preach against preaching warnings really believe that they can just get everyone saved and bypass the judgments.. well, could be true, those saved and raptured WILL be spared many things, but what if those who did just simply omit these thoughts, these verses, find themselves on that day, not accounted worthy and NOT escaping these things and left here to do a job that should have been done right the first time!

Love and peace, don’t kill the messenger. My ministry started with this thought, my very first post PLEASE WAKE UP !!!   on a church site that God had blessed me to write for, it was November 2013 and I was so scared that everyone would hate me, but now it is not fear of hate, it is anger, every time I see those who are hurt, wounded, and know that things could change, if we would change.

God said if we “would humble ourselves” but see that is still the problem, it is all about us, when it should be about Him, the Kingdom, and the work that needs done.

It is so sad that so many are still sleeping on the job, but I have come to believe that maybe, as we know great revival comes during great persecution, that maybe it is going to take quite a wake up call… please don’t wait too late.

And if you are working for Christ, volunteer with Him for more work! Offer to do the jobs others won’t and He will bless you for going that second mile when your brother has only asked you to go one!

BTW, HAPPY LABOR DAY!

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2017 REVISTED 09/05/2021 & 09/05/2022 and o9/03/2023

Also for more please check out:

“Eleventh Hour…working till it’s too dark to work”        

“An “A” for effort but “0” still equals nothing . “

“A talent…or two”

“They’re hungry, YOU feed them”

“Outta your house”

“Laying down some odds, How about 450 to 1?”

“Shepherding the black sheep”

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“And Yet….” Part 2, being a wee witchy

*Original post 09/04/2016′ revisited as reminder of what the word of God foretells *

“And the rest of the men (humans) which were not killed by these plagues  yet repented not  of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood, which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:  Neither repented they  of their murders, nor of their sorceries,……” REVELATION 9:20

Hence therefore, subject two, I just love Old English! Well anyway a frightening number have fallen in love with something else.. the need to attempt to understand things that were never meant to be understood and the chasing after “mediums” and the pursuit of FALSE knowledge of how passed on loved one are faring in the afterlife are opening many up to the occult and demonic forces.

Remember a little something, it is NOT just the one who is playing with demonic spirits in order to project that they have some secret knowledge that is affected it is also the ones who SEEK after these people to inquire for that knowledge.

The full realm of “sorceries” can cover a staggering list of human possibilities, tea reading, card reading, and everyone’s favorite, horoscopes, think it is funny?

You won’t when it becomes a HORROR SCOPE, illusionist, magicians, and of course, seances, and ouija boards, funny thing I web searched a spell check (ironic term there) the word, who really using that word often?

Anyway, the first thing pulled up was a link to, YES, get a demon to communicate with you! Wow, how you know you are barking up the right tree! The devil always makes things look pretty and his favorite hook, is grief and the promise of these people to give you special knowledge and that will be our main focus, because if you do not see a problem with wanting to talk to demons than you’re gonna need much more help than a blog post can offer you!

Onward! First you have to reiterate the fundamental Gospel that NEVER changes. God NEVER changes, HIS WORD NEVER changes. His commandments that you are to stay AWAY from these things NEVER changes. The reason He commands us to STAY AWAY from it will NEVER CHANGE.

Lucifer was thrown out of heaven, he is one of the most powerful beings in the universe, his desire is to DESTROY all that God has created, ESPECIALLY humans. He is running the same game he used on Eve and the sermon has been preached from end of the earth to the other through eons of time and YET… we are more entangled with sorceries and  the occult than ever before in the history of the world.

Why? Because like Eve, EVERYONE wants what they think is SECRET knowledge that WILL MAKE THEM WISE and make them THINK that they are as smart as God!  Read it, that was one point of the seduction, she wanted to “know” good and evil, as God knew and the this is the same reason He STILL commands it to be shunned, HUMANS can not handle Satan, never have, never will.

God wants us to be safe and not destroy our own souls through our own lusts for whatever purpose we may be seeking after. My main goal with this is to hit the point of grief, I have heard it, people who wish that they had money to visit a certain televised physic to know that a deceased loved one is well, that is scary.

The people claim to have “gift” but it is a possession that the use for the same purpose it has always been used to make money. How do you know? Well, you can read in Numbers 22-24, that a false prophet had been commissioned to CURSE Israel and God intervened and FORCED blessings to be spoken from his mouth in the presence of the one who wished them harm. ACTS 16  deals with a girl who WAS POSSESSED WITH A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION, I have used this story before but for anyone who is not familiar with it:

ACTS 16: 16: And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel POSSESSED with the SPIRIT of DIVINATION met us, which BROUGHT HER MASTERS MUCH GAIN (lots of money) BY SOOTH SAYING (fortune-telling) ”

Now the story goes those this girl FOLLOWED them and KEPT saying that THEY WERE MEN OF GOD that others should hear them. So what was so wrong with her proclaiming that they were indeed the servants of God and that others should hear them? Sounds like that would be a good thing, right?

NO, IT WAS NOT! Because it was NOT GOD who TOLD HER TO PROCLAIM THESE THINGS! And when good is present evil is often there also! If those there that heard her proclaim theses things and then SAW the miracles and wonders of God come down and people saved THEN the demons could use that to their advantage, by mingling her “message” with the work of the Apostles and thereby VALIDATING this girl even farther.

Imagine the money they would have made from her then! Remember when the other demon spoke to the Jewish exorcists in ACTS 19:14-16, and told them “Jesus I know, Paul I know” and I asked WHO where they?

Evil always TRIES to weave itself in with good and you HAVE to see it for what it is. To farther prove this out, back to ACTS 16:17,18:

“The same (girl) FOLLOWED Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew us the way of salvation. And this she did MANY DAYS but Paul BEING GRIEVED, (greatly annoyed), turned, and said TO THE SPIRIT, I COMMAND THEE IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST TO COME OUT OF HER, AND HE CAME OUT THE SAME HOUR.”

Now, if it was a demon then that came through her, IT IS STILL demons today that use the bodies of these supposed physics, and again you can see by that story, they may seem nice, they can say things that really seem not so bad, BUT it is still a demon.

People have mingled the word of God and the teachings of the Bible and watered down the truth to the point that we are unwilling to shun anything and often people are not even taught that these things are STILL wrong.

Satan is and always has been and always will be a liar and to listen to those lies and seek after those lies in the name of comfort is just absurd. They can tell you anything and they can say that see this one or see that one but it will never change the fact that if those who passed on have not repented, if the psychics don’t repent and those who use them do not repent, they are not going to be in heaven and where ever the tell you they are is just another one of the lies to trap you and turn your mind against the truth of God’s word. But at no time can you have God and devils. God is Holy and you want answers you seek him. He WANTS you to seek HIM and HIS ways, ISAIAH: 18,19:

” BEHOLD, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me ARE for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

 And WHEN THEY SHALL SAY UNTO YOU, SEEK UNTO THEM THAT HAVE FAMILIAR SPIRITS (ARE MEDIUMS) AND UNTO WIZARDS THAT PEEP (WHISPER) AND THAT MUTTER: SHOULD NOT A PEOPLE SEEK UNTO THEIR GOD? FOR THE LIVING TO THE DEAD?“

So, when THEY  TELL you to go ask a physic, you are NOT to go. You are to SEEK GOD. Why ask the dead questions pertaining to life, when all the issues of life belong to a very living God??? God HAS sent His Son, He has sent signs, He has sent wonders and all they can offer you is a cheap intimation of the things He wants to give you.

 It would take DAYS to discuss the warnings and thoughts the Bible gives on the subject, but the most classic, most horrifying, and most you better believe this can happen to anyone, example is the story of King Saul, remember that was once upon a time King of Israel, who CHOOSE the curse of disobedience over the blessing of obedience to the commands of God.

King Saul had a little habit of thinking because he was King that God’s commands did not apply to him, he had a little problem with that, the Lord had Israel FOREWARNED that Saul would NOT be a good king, but much like us THEY WANTED HIM ANYWAY.

So he had been commanded to rid the land of any who practiced magic, witchcraft, and any pagan “art”. A command he did not quite fulfill, once God had left him and the SPIRIT of jealousy had overtaken him, insanity began to set in. He still refused to conceded to the fact that God was not going to answer him and instead of repenting, this is that path he choose. 1 SAMUEL 28:7-10: 

“Then Saul SAID unto his servants, Seek ME a woman that hath a familiar spirit (is a medium), that I may go to her, and ENQUIRE of her, and his servants said unto him, Behold there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

And Saul DISGUISED himself, and put on other raiment (clothing) and he went and two other men with him, and they came to the woman BY NIGHT; and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me BY thy familiar spirit, (conduct a séance for me) and bring him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off ( put to death) those that hath familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: Wherefore then layest thou a trap for my life? (why are you setting a trap) And Saul SWARE to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee in this thing.” 

Brief interjection time.. Okay, he is sneaking off disguised in the middle of the night, thinking GOD or no one else will ever know or see him, God ALWAYS knows and then he drags two other people into this sin with him and finally, even the witch knows that this is death penalty business and Saul has then unthinkable audacity to promise HER by THE LORD that she will not be punished!! That is why God TELLS us when they tell us that it is okay to partake in these abomination, DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM!

Onward! Same Chapter, picking up at verse 11-19: “Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said Bring me up Samuel. And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake unto Saul, saying Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul (you are Saul).

And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods (a spirit) ascending out of the earth. And he said unto her, What form is he of? (what does he look like?) And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. 

And Samuel said unto Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up?  And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams, therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I should do. 

THEN said SAMUEL, WHEREFORE THEN DOST THOU ASK OF ME, (why are you asking me) SEEING THAT GOD IS DEPARTED FROM THEE, AND IS BECOME THINE ENEMY?

And the Lord hath done to him (David), as he spake by me: for the Lord hath rent (tore) the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbor, even to David: BECAUSE THOU OBEYEST NOT THE VOICE OF THE LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, THEREFORE THE LORD HATH DONE THIS THING UNTO THEE THIS DAY.

Moreover, (Also)  the Lord will deliver Israel WITH THEE INTO THE HANDS OF THE PHILISTINES, AND TOMORROW SHALT THOU AND THY SONS BE WITH ME:..”

That story SHOULD be enough to make anyone think twice, even when you feel like you need answers, wait upon the Lord and live life and be saved so HE will answer, we HAVE to be His to partake in His promises and there will always be things we don’t understand.

This DOES NOT allude to a display of physic power either, NOTICE the LORD ALLOWED this to happen. And in his sin SAUL DESTROYED HIS OWN SONS. HE DIED AND THEY DIED. Sin HURTS everyone you love.

Now for the bad news and the good news.

The bad news, back to our starting scripture they repented not… WHO can stand in the presence or against God? This is HIS words concerning the forces of darkness PROTECTING themselves against Him, just as Saul thought he could hide and he thought he could promise the witch protection. ISAIAH 47:12,13: “STAND NOW, with thine enchantments, and with the MULTITUDE of thy SORCERIES, wherein thy hast laboured since thy youth (practiced all your life to prefect), IF SO BE THOU ABLE TO PROFIT, IF SO BE THOU MAYEST PREVAIL.

THOU ART WEARIED (WORN OUT) IN THE MULTITUDE OF THY COUNSELS, LET NOW THE ASTROLOGERS, THE STARGAZERS, THE MONTHLY PROGNOSTICATORS, STAND UP, AND SAVE THEE FROM THESE THINGS THAT SHALL COME UPON THEE.”

 He is telling them to go ahead, stand, stand in their witchery and see how far they get and let all the demons they have trusted in to STAND AND SEE IF THEY CAN SAVE THEM FROM HIS WRATH.

Now for the good news.. THIS IS AND YET… they REPENTED NOT. So that means ALL the things that were listed CAN be REPENTED OF! God really does want people saved. That is why the Bible was written and why these verse exist. If King Saul was not spared, why would we be? If God hated it before why would He suddenly say oh, well twenty first centurions , have at it? He won’t! That is why we have and yet…..  

Back to ACTS 19, the story of the demon who defeated  the exorcists who KNEW NOT  Jesus, they were NOT saved, they DID NOT have the Holy Ghost with them to drive out those demons, so they were overthrown. The people who witnessed this were horrified and THEY REPENTED!

ACTS 19:17-19:” And this was known to ALL the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and THE NAME OF THE LORD WAS MAGNIFIED. and many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

MANY OF THEM WHICH USED CURIOUS ARTS (PRACTICED MAGIC) BROUGHT THEIR BOOKS TOGETHER, AND BURNED THEM BEFORE ALL MEN: AND THEY COUNTED THE PRICE OF THEM, AND FOUND IT TO BE FIFTY PIECES OF SILVER.

So mightily grew the word of God and PREVAILED.” 

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016

For the rest of this series please check out these posts; And Yet… Part 1 “paganism”

And Yet part 3 “Still sin”

and DEMONS, THE DEVIL AND THE DECEIVED/ PART 1 FALLEN  

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“Epitome of Unassuming Grace”

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3r7oMTUWPyPz69Yw1vkCxu?si=29e4ea67fa5d422b

“The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre (tomb), and seeth the stone rolled taken away from the sepulchre. 

Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple (John), and came to the sepulchre.

So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the lines clothes lying, yet went him not in.

Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

And the napkin (face cloth), that was about 9around) his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together (folded) in a place by itself.

Then went in also, that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

For as yet, they knew (understood) not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. 

Then the disciples went away again unto their own homes. 

But Mary stood without (outside) at the sepulchre weeping; and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre.

And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been.

And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

And when she had thus said, she turned herself back (around), and saw Jesus standing there, and knew not that it was Jesus.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seeketh thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto to him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence (carried him away), tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Jesus saith unto her, Mary, She turned herself, and saith unto him Rabboni, which is to say, Master (Teacher).

Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the first day of the week, when the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

And when he had so said, he shewed (showed) unto them his hands, and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 

Then Jesus said to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 

And he when he had said this, He breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: Whose soever sins ye remit (forgive) they are remitted (forgiven) unto them: and whose soever sins  ye retain, they are retained.

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

The other disciple therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except (Unless) I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 

And after eight days again his disciples were within (inside), and Thomas was with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet they believe. 

And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciple, which are not written in this book.

But these are written, that ye might (will) believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing ye might (will) have life through his name.” John 20:1-31

Even with the millions, billions of words in our human language that could be used to describe Jesus, there are still none that would ever completely describe His grace.

The grace that He extends to us as we try to find our way, as our human thinking tries so unsuccessfully to understand the absolute miraculous

I love so much about the accounts above, they all suffered the same doubts, as all humans would, when faced with his death, a death that most witnessed with their own eyes, and as we are told, they had not at this time, understood, exactly what had been foretold to them.

It has often been asked why He revealed himself to Mary first, and I love what I believe to be the answer, and I love it because it is just such a perfect example of who He is.

Mary needed him the most,

Jesus sees us from day one, our entire life, all the pain, sorrow, and sufferings that many go through, and often some more so than others.

And some do seem to be stronger, while others carry wounds that in order to be healed require a touch so gentle, that it can only come from the Master’s hand.

I also love the verse taht tells us Jesus wept, he wept because Mary and Marth were crying, they were crying because there brother Lazarus died, but Jesus knew that He was going to resurrect Lazarus from the dead, He was crying because it broke his heart to see his daughter weep.

He wanted to comfort Mary and dry all those tears by letting her know that He indeed lived.

Notice also when He appeared to the disciples, he knew that they would be confused and afraid, the first word he says is peace, and while they did not ask for “proof”, He invited them to feel his hands and side.

He wanted them to be reassured in his peace.

And even though we quite often hassle Thomas in our day by calling him “Doubting Thomas”, many would have felt the same, again, knowing that Jesus had been crucified.

But Jesus knew what Thomas had said, and even more so He knew what Thomas needed in order to believe.

And at no time are we told in scripture that Jesus questioned them as to How could they not believe what they had been told, or that he in any way chastised them or belittled them for being human, and having doubt.

Quite the opposite, as scripture says this: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men (humans) liberally, and upbraideth not (without reproach): and it shall be given him.” James 1:5

That means wisdom and understanding of anything, any are, any question.

And that is with the promise that God will in no way make us feel silly, or chided for our need to understand or the need to have our faith strengthened.

Jesus is beautiful and Holy  and there are so many stories in the Bible about just that, His grace toward us, so many examples of letting humans speak their minds, asking for something, while he all the while knows the desire of their heart that they are getting around to asking.

Because for some reason as humans we feel like we have to convince him of the reasoning why we are asking for whatever it is we are asking, but this is not what he asks of us, he just asks us to ask him and believe,

He is so gracious, just as the verses above that He will give us whatever it is that we need to believe, and to strengthen our faith or any other obstacle that need eliminated so that we are not hindered in our walk with him.

Have faith in that today and whatever you need, He has more than enough grace to give it.

Thank you for reading. Love & peace to you till next time! Mention of which, please join me over the next thirty days, as it was on my heart to do a short post, each day, on His teachings.

Starting with this one, so we’ll take a refresher on the Word, straight from The Word’s words!

Φλογιζω NBJ 2022/Rev. N. Brown Johnson

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DOUBLE-EDGED PART 3 / LOVESICK….

As the love saga in the Book of Solomon plays out we find that the couple are madly in love, the common thread that weaves the story is her proclamation that “His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me” now that is pretty close, the left hand being the tenderness and gentleness and the right hand in reference to the protection and justice of God, she is completely covered.

As we know she get to comfy and refuses to answer his call and once she does decide to drag herself out of bed, he’s gone.

Now the embrace that was becomes the embrace that should be, she is no longer in his arms, she is no longer under his protection.

Desperate to get him back, she frantically runs through the city, and as compared to our backslidden states and the rude awakening of the lukewarm, sleeping church, in the frenzied hunt she is wounded, she is hurt, and her dignity is taken away but she doesn’t give up.

As lovers often do, she begs her friends to please relay a message if they were to run into him and she is met with the question that we as believers are often met with.

Song of Solomon 4:7-9: “The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote (struck) me, they wounded me, the keepers of the walls took my veil from me.

I charge (beg) you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, THAT YE TELL HIM, that I AM SICK OF LOVE (lovesick).
Her friends reply: “ WHAT IS THY BELOVED MORE THAN ANOTHER BELOVED?…

What was it about him again? What was it that made her proclaim “Draw me, we will run after thee”…
Our main thought from part two, so what does that mean?

Well we need a reason, something that we desire that propels us to “press toward the mark.”

So how does he draw us, what is it about him that makes us follow?

Hosea 11:5: I DREW THEM WITH CORDS of a man (gentle cords), WITH BANDS OF LOVE; I was to them as they  that take off the yoke on their jaws (heavy burdens off their neck), and I laid meat unto them (STOOPED AND FED THEM).“

His Mercy, His Grace, but as He himself stated, His gentleness, coming down to care for us.

Psalm 85:10: “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
His mercy meeting us in our sin stricken state and the truth of his love and forgiveness washing us white as snow, right standing and peace of God, peace in God, and the peace of God forming a beautiful union.

Psalm 18:35:“Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden (held) me up, AND THY GENTLENESS HATH MADE ME GREAT (victorious).”

Matthew 11:29: “Take MY yoke upon you, and learn of  (from) me; for I AM meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble) ; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

So when did she find him? We’ll get his answer:

Jeremiah 29:13:“And  ye shall SEEK ME, and FIND ME,WHEN YE SHALL SEARCH FOR ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART.”

I  so totally wanted to end that with an exclamation point but…. I don’t want in trouble!

But as we wrap this up please hold onto that thought, remember that love, that drew you to him and rekindle that flame, remember who HE IS.

He draws us with his gentleness and that love. 
Next time we’ll see why that love, that mercy, and above all that gentleness that forgives, that saves, and heals also turns to the other side of that double-edged sword.
It will bring justice, judgment, and unimaginable horror beyond human comprehension to this earth.
Without the understanding of that love and being embraced in that love and without the acceptance of his will and our place in the midst of it all, we will lose that love and that love and that love alone is all that can keep us through these days.
Φλογιζω/ NBJ/ 2015 Original post date: 10/05/2015 REVISTED 2021/ Rev. Nina Brown Johnson & 02/09/2022





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PLEASE WAKE UP !!!

How many of us have tried to wake someone and finally in complete exasperation utter that all familiar phrase, “Would you PLEASE get up?!!” The Beloved written about in Song of Solomon surely must understand this.

 ” I sleep, but my heart waketh: It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew and my locks with the drops of the night.”

” I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile(dirty) them? My beloved put his hand in the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him ( heart stirred with longing).

I rose up to open to my beloved: and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet-smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.” Song of Solomon 5:2-6

Ah, the most misunderstood book in the Bible. Most have difficulty reading it without misunderstanding it in the carnal mind and according to one Jewish tradition, men were required to be at least thirty years old and married and women were strictly forbidden to read it all.
It would seem that the American church suffers the same affliction as our lady in song of Songs.

Please do not take these remarks as attacks on any specific church, some of these attitudes and problems seem to creep into almost all churches at one point or another. That is why we must always stay on guard, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour..” 1 Peter 5:8

The church like our lady here, in comparison to what it was intended to be, having been built on diligence, fortitude, tenacity, and  above all the blood of  Christ, the prophets, and all the martyrs. The church also has become quite comfortable seeming to have forgotten where it came from and the astonishing  price that was paid for its continual existence.

Even though our lady is asleep, thankfully heart is still attentive to the voice of her one true love. He is standing outside a door that has been locked against his presence, beaten beyond recognition, the “dew” having fell during the tortures of the night he has just endured to take her punishment and to purchase a freedom she could have never been able to afford, even pleading with her to take note of the “drops of the night” his hair completed saturated by his precious blood, a result of the  excruciating  crown of thorns that encircled his head, each piercing thorn driving into his flesh, a crown he wore in torment to free her troubled mind, bringing all thoughts captive, buying her salvation, while ensuring that one day he would reign as her King.

All she can come up with as he pleads with her from behind that locked door, is excuses of why she can’t get up, why it would be such an inconvenience, a burden to get up and answer his call on her heart, her soul, and her life.
Her first reason being that she is quite comfortable, right where she is , tucked in the warmth of her cozy bed, her complacency of more value to her than the value of the love she has for him.

Her second reason is that her feet are clean, Oh, how can she possibly admit to maybe walking the wrong paths, imperfections, or heaven forbid, she admit any wrong doing or blatant sin?

There is no way that she is going to answer to him and let him see her without her coat, how can she stand humbly before him, bearing all that she is, her very soul, without the protection of her coat of self-righteousness? No, she simply can’t do it.

Thankfully the sound of his voice had stirred her heart, it was then that she remembered, she remembered all the shame, all the suffering, all the love and mercy that also poured out as the ground flowed red with his blood while his life was given in exchange for her.
She remembered that her precious coat of self-righteousness, had only be crafted from the filthy rags of her own righteousness and without being clothed in his righteousness, she was less than nothing.

She remembered that without him and the guidance of his hand to her every step, that those feet, that she so arrogantly believed to be clean would only lead her into temptation and swift destruction.

In the span of time it took for her to realize this, he was gone, but in his desire that one day the locked door between them would open, he left her the key. As the myrrh dripped from her hands, it let her finally see that the door could only be opened by the purification of her own heart, soul and spirit and by dying to her flesh, her desires, and humble herself completely to him, giving every single thing in her, both good and bad, over to him until they became one.

We are living in the midst of the most exciting time that has been or will ever be. The last day outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a harvest of souls to end it all.
But so many have grown comfortable or are just simply asleep, proclaiming Christianity while those in the world around us are lost, enslaved to drugs or alcohol or one of the many addictions that snare and trap.
Sometimes  we refuse to reach out because of the lifestyles of others, we can’t be seen talking to them or associating with what hypocritically we refer to as “that kind” of person, this comes from wrongly believing that we are so holy, and so good that we forget we were once in those shoes.

“Therefore let us not sleep, as others do; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night (spiritual night on earth) and they that be drunken are drunken in the night, but let us who are of they day, be sober (minded), putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8

As Jesus said in John 9:4: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

I  have often heard people say they believe in Jesus but they don’t accept him because they don’t want to be a hypocrite or they feel like they can’t change. I respect that to the utmost measure, but the good news that we can never change ourselves, he does that for us! All he requires is a reasonable service, no one is perfect, nor will we ever be on this earth. When the Bible uses the word “perfect” it means “blameless” doing the best we can and some days that may be not so good, this is why his mercy is renewed every, single day and when we make mistakes, we ask  for forgiveness, get up and go on! 

If you don’t want to be a hypocrite, that’s a good indication that you would never be anyway! But I am pleading with you as a servant of God, we are in the last days and if you have never committed to the Lord, Please, please, hear his voice, hear his invitation, before all hell breaks loose on this earth, and I promise you, it has already begun.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

Simply put just answer him! Let him come in! He doesn’t give a list of requirements there does he? Ask forgiveness for your sins and ask him to be Lord of your life and save you! End of story, your sins are washed completely away and he never brings them up again.

As we all will stand before the Lord and give account for the lives he has given us, the saddest excuse we will ever give for not completing the work he has entrusted us with is having to say “Lord, I just couldn’t get up.”

 Φλογίζω /   Nina BrownJohnson/ baresoulphlogizo 2015 all rights reserved
Original post:11/21/2013 FOWC/THE AVENUE  REVISTED 01/22/2022, This was originally written for a church site, but it is the VERY FIRST post I had written, I hope you enjoy it and that it is thought provoking because that clock  has counted down to mere seconds now and we must do what we are called to do before the trumpet calls us home and there will be no more time to work or do those things that we could have.  Thank you for reading!

Podcast available at: https://anchor.fm/phlogizo

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Love Is……

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity (love), I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the GIFT of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have ALL faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love), I am nothing.

And though I bestow ALL my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love), it profiteth me NOTHING.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Love, love, sweet glorious love! We say it, we think it but just how often are we really showing it?

Think of it though He SPOKE with the heavenly languages, given through the gift of tongues, so that all could hear the word of God for themselves and though He even SPOKE the language of the heavenly host, the language of the angels, as marvelous and wonder striking as that, still without love, his voice would be nothing other than the sound of a common instrument.

Though he had the very gift of God MANIFESTED in his life, through prophecies could understand and relate even the darkest of parables, though he had faith to even pray the most insurmountable mountain down to the ground and call it dust, without love it is nothing.

And giving all he had and even his life, if it was without love, it would hold no value eternally and there would be no reward for any of those acts.

He was giving us a very valuable lesson here, we CAN be saved, we CAN be working in the kingdom, we CAN have the manifestation of the gift of the Spirit, and yet we can be so one minded, so religious, and so hard-hearted that it will not be effective and none of it will last eternally.

Doesn’t mean a person is not saved, just means they are not producing the most precious of fruit and without producing love, nothing else is going to grow. 

Love IS….  “Charity (love) suffereth long, and IS kind; charity (love) envieth not; charity (love) vaunteth not itself (does not brag on itself), it not puffed up (arrogant),

Doth not behave itself unseemly (rudely), seeketh not her own (is not self-seeking), is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things. Charity (love) NEVER fails….” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8(1) 

So LOVE IS… forbearing, willing to tolerate a lot before blowing its top. LOVE IS kind, gentle, merciful, looking over things and looking through others to see the best and see the causes before passing judgment, giving of itself rather than to be given to, thinking of others before itself. 

LOVE IS not boastful, or proud,  it never reminds you of what all it has done for you, never thinks you owe it anything, never expects anything in return, love is never arrogant in thinking that it is number one, but always allowing the favored position to other, love gives a hand up not a knock down.

LOVE IS never rude, cocky, or bossy, or better than anyone or anything, never self-seeking and self-fulfilling, never self-willed.

LOVE IS not easily angered, chooses to see the good, even when it is aware of the bad.

LOVE IS never pleased with lies, and hypocrisy but is overjoyed with the truth.

Love walks along the paths of this life with us, walks through all the sorrow, all the sadness, and all the grief with us, and when we become to weary to walk, love will carry us to the end of that journey.

Love holds on,  ever clinging to the side of a mountain as everything around it starts to quake and tumble down, never giving up and never letting go. Love never fades, never dies, never gives itself credit, it always protects, always perseveres and NEVER, EVER FAILS. 

We gotta put this baby in reverse, to fully understand just why we need to know what love really is: 1 John 4:19: “ We love him because HE FIRST LOVED US.” 

We are not even capable of love in our own selves, we only love at all because HE LOVED US FIRST, and even then we are still not capable of the level of love that He has.

“Beloved, let us love another: for LOVE IS of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth NOT knoweth NOT God; for GOD IS LOVE.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be propitiation for our sins. Beloved, IF GOD SO LOVED US WE OUGHT ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” 1 John 4:7-11 

So is it love? Is it real, real love? Titus 3:1-4 “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers (authority), to obey magistrates (obey laws of the land) to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers (not contentious) but gentle, shewing meekness unto all men.

For WE OURSELVES WERE ALSO SOMETIMES foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures (running wild doing whatever they pleased), living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. BUT AFTER THAT THE KINDNESS AND LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR TOWARD MAN APPEARED.”

There you have it, Paul stating what we all have been but AFTER all that the love and kindness of Jesus showed us all EXACTLY what LOVE IS!

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω  NBJ 2016 /RP/02/13/2017  ****01/14/2022 REVISITED*** Rev. Nina Brown Johnson 2022

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“Assurance…Guaranteed”

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, HE THAT HATH THE KEY OF DAVID, HE THAT OPENETH, AND NO MAN  SHUTTETH; AND SHUTTETH, AND NO MAN OPENETH;

I know thy works; behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; for thou hast little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience (my command to PERSEVERE) , I also will keep the from the hour of temptation (trial), which shall come upon ALL THE WORLD, to try (test) them that dwell upon the earth.

Behold, I come quickly; hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Revelation 3:8-11

Jesus gave us these words as comfort and assurance, Jesus as he taught us in the Gospel Luke 21;19: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” And what is patience? It means perseverance, it means to hold on and to look not at this world or what is around you.

But to look ahead, forward, so much so in fact that you are looking toward heaven and the life that ONLY begins when this earthly life ends.

For those who have been with loved ones who were afflicted with terminal illness, you may understand this well, often those in Christ are prepared for their journey to meet Jesus, while us the family are distraught and heart broken,never desiring to be separated form those we love, but God in his blessed compassion gives them peace, peace that allows them to look ahead and not see it as the death of this life but as the rebirth of an eternal life with no sorrow, no pain, no suffering, no want, no lack, no hunger, and no thirst.

But a life that will be FOREVER in the presence of Jehovah God, Jesus, the host of heavenly angels and loved ones that have already arrived in that heavenly location.

He gives peace to make that crossing as he himself prayed from the cross, Luke 23:46: “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT; and having said this, he gave up the ghost (he breathed his last).

Stephen, the martyr, echoed those words as he was stoned because the truth he proclaimed convicted and angered the evil crowd, they felt is easier to kill him that to admit their own evil trespasses.

Acts 7:54-69: ” When they heard these things, they were cut (furious) to the heart, and they gnashed on (at) him with their teeth. 

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and SAW the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

And he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man, standing at the right hand of God. And they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord (attacked him as one mob). 

And cast him out of the city, and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.

And they stoned Stephen, calling (as Stephen called on God), and saying, LORD JESUS, RECEIVE MY SPIRIT. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge (please don’t hold this them).

And when he had said this, he fell asleep (died). 

As Jesus referenced the church in Philadelphia, it is noteworthy to mention to key facts, this church would have been at Turkey during Bible times but the name literally means “brotherly love” and in my belief, it can be even as with denominations, we can belong to a”church” meaning that sheepfold, and not necessarily be in that exact geological location, just as we are brothers and sisters in Christ the world over, even though we may NEVER meet each other in this life, we will in the next, because the Kingdom of God is comprised of his children from “all nations, and kindreds (tribes), and people, and tongues, (languages)”

Jesus also gave us that blessed hope in knowing that perseverance is the key, and perseverance means “do not give up, no matter what, do not give up” and as he also warned to let anyone take your “crown’, just as he also promised to keep you from all the terrible,terrible things that are coming to this world, he did not at any time say how he would keep you. It could be through the rapture, of the saints, or it could be as with Stephen, and so many others, who have died in Christ and for the Word of Christ.

His promise is all that even matters, and his promise is that you will be protected and preserved, and what I feel is one of the most awesome promises,a promise that will be fulfilled not only to those who have already suffered persecution and death through the ages, but for a blessed promise to those who are suffering now for the word of Christ and their choice to serve the one true God, the maker of heaven and earth, who will NEVER leave you or forsake you, I want to remind you of this, what will one day happen as Christ is REINTRODUCED to this earth. 

Revelation 6:9-17: “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain (murdered) for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and AVENGE our blood on them that dwell on earth?

And white robes were given unto every one of them, and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season (while), UNTIL their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be (will be) killed as they were, should be fulfilled (happens).

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo,  there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs (drops it’s late fruit) when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

And THE HEAVEN DEPARTED AS A SCROLL WHEN IT IS ROLLED TOGETHER (the sky split apart); and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens (caves) and in the rocks of the mountains;

And said to the mountains and rocks, FALL ON US, AND HIDE US FROM THE FACE OF HIM THAT SITTETH ON THE THRONE, AND FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB. For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to abide (stand) in it?” 

This is what Jesus referenced when he said this in Luke 21:27: “And then shall THEY see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” 

This is not just those who believe or just a wake up call for those who don’t, this will be the entire earth beholding their creator, and those who rejoice at his return, his children who know him as he is, lovely, beautiful, holy, and kind, gentle, and forgiving and mercy divine.

Those who have prayed for deliverance shouting for joy that that deliverance has come, mirrored to those who have hated him, hated the good, and fought and martyred the faithful, hated his chosen Israel and tried to take and destroy his chosen city of Jerusalem, either way we shall all see him and see him in his glory.

Revelation 1:7: “Behold, he cometh with clouds,  and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and ALL the kindreds of the earth shall wail (mourn) because of him. Even so, Amen.”

Which fulfills the promise in Philippians that even those who pierced him will see him, this is because ALL, those in heaven, those in erath, and those under earth.

ALL from ALL time will see him.

And all who have hated him, his word, and all who have hated you because you are his child and you bear his word, will suddenly be faced with him and his return, and the beauty is this, they can hate us, they can kill us but they will NEVER kill Jesus again, they will NEVER stop the Gospel, and once they are faced with the horrifying realization that He is indeed real, as they watch the sky itself LITERALLY open up to reveal Jesus and the host of heaven that none of us can even begin to fathom and I believe many will repent at that moment but those who have hated and made their threats and their claims and tormented and killed his people will know assuredly one thing, there is nothing, absolutely nothing in their power that will stop Him or His will and all those with their great threats of annihilation will now be begging to die rather than face Almighty God.

It’s easy to oppress other humans but not quite going to get it when trying to oppress the one WHO CREATED HUMANS including them.

As God had promised by his word that this will take place, Romans 14:11: For it IS written, AS I LIVE, SAITH THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD.” 

I don’t even propose to know what you face today but I do believe that God wants you to rest in him and just hold on, hold on to the PROMISE that he has given you and that the God who will strike terror in their hearts at his return is the same God who will also hold you close comfort you, and dry every tear and he will, in that day, make your enemies to know that you are loved by him, the very beloved of him.

Finally keep your mind on this and this hope, REMEMBERING in your own mind the hope Jesus kept in his, as this passage encourages us to think as Jesus thought as his Father’s promises allowed him to keep focused on the joy ahead.

Philippians 2:5-11: “Let THIS MIND be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.

But made himself no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men;

And being found in fashion (appearance), he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 

THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, OF THINGS (those) IN HEAVEN, AND THINGS (those) IN EARTH, AND THINGS (those) UNDER THE EARTH;

AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS (admit and acknowledge)THAT JESUS CHRIST IS  LORD, TO THE GLORY OF THE FATHER.”  

God bless you today and just keeping looking up, help is on His way.

Φλογιζω NBJ 2020/ Reverend Nina Brown Johnson    REVISITED 11/11/2021  Original post date: 09/03/2020

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Spiritual “Labor Day”

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS; AND THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM.” Revelation 14: 13

Ahh, tomorrow, here in America, we celebrate “Labor Day”.

A day of course, set aside to honor the hard-working men and women who make our country strong and whose diligence in countless areas of service keep the economic ball rolling for our nation.

And also there are so many, such as nurses, doctors, firemen, emergency workers, repair people, and food service employees, many whom are actually required to work on Labor Day.

I do admit that while pondering the best “spin” to propel the thought of the post, that I felt the need to tell all of you, I am NOT a Ballerina, nor do I dance, but this is for me, in relaying this message, that I am performing a grandiose version of “Swan Lake” WHILE wearing steel-toed work boots.

So if it seems a bit “ungraceful” and if the heavy boots donned during the dance step on toes, including my own, please pardon. I would also like to point out that this is not for new converts to Christ, this is for “seasoned” workers of the Kingdom, who once knew these things and now just need a “note attached to their time cards” to remind them that they can lose benefits due to poor job performance.

Better to hear it now, than to hear, something much like what Jesus told the Disciples, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour IS at hand….  Here, my friends is the first of the very awkward “dance moves”, I must make, We can not work our way to salvation.

 Ephesians 2:8-10: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man boast. For we are his workmanship (creation)  created in Christ Jesus unto (for) good works, which God hath before ordained (prepared) that we should walk in them.” 

Notice in our first verse the voice said that they may rest, and Jesus told them to take their rest.

There is a very clear difference between trying to do our own work that we think is good enough for salvation, which again is an impossibility and doing the work that God preordained us to do. 

And then to decide that we will take our own rest rather than to have him grant us that rest.

But we still are required to work in the Kingdom. And I believe in grace! I thank God for grace! I could lay at His feet for a thousand years just thanking Him for the grace He gave me, saving me, a miserable creature who in no way deserved that grace!

And that is what Paul was referring to. I have heard some on television completely blow off the judgements and really come against the teachings of those judgments.

I can’t figure this out because God has a Bible full of people WITH that job, without the forced warning from Jonah, Nineveh would have never repented, it was the warning God sent that made them aware that they were doing wrong and the Bible is full of warnings.  

My Goodness, People! To reiterate this for anyone who has not read prior ancient posts, there ARE TWO Babylon’s, the first ancient Babylon, the Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed the destruction and judgments against it.

BUT Jeremiah also proclaimed the judgment and destruction of future, spiritual Babylon.  

The fulfillment of this is what is spoken in Song of Solomon 7:9: ” And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, (smoothly) causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak.”

Jeremiah wrote the judgments that the Lord had commanded, Jeremiah 50:62-64: ” Then shalt thou say, O Lord, 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 a desolate for ever. And it shall be when thou hast made and end (finished) reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast (throw) it into the midst of Euphrates ; And thou shalt say, thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise from the evil that I will bring upon her…”  

There is so much Bible prophecy linked up with the Euphrates, it has angels ‘bound in it  that will be released and it dries up to prepare the way for the mighty war… Has this already happened?  No! Neither has many of the absolutely horrifying events foretold, but we have hope in the sealed words of the seven thunders and that is why we need to be so diligent now.

The fulfillment of the words of Jeremiah are Revelation 18:21: ” 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.” 

No matter what country a person chooses to believe that “Mystery Babylon” IS, one fact remains.. This is Bible and this will happen and those who live in that country will be going about everyday life, many unsaved and completely unaware of these prophecies yet to be fulfilled, and many more who have been force-fed “grace” to the point that they think they do no wrong in the eyes of a Holy God and have been taught that repentance and work are not a even  a requirement in our modern day and suddenly “Babylon” is attacked, from all sides and without warning, other than the Biblical truths of teaching of Jesus in how we know  these things shortly come and to be living lives accounted  worthy to escape these things, Babylon will be destroyed in one hour, one day from off the face of the earth.

How can anyone be perfectly comfortable not sharing the Gospel, not leading others to Christ, not using the gifts and talents he has given them?

How about all those who sit in bound in chains of demonic bondage of drug addictions, pornography, alcoholism, and so many other bondage, when  God has given someone the prayer of faith, given someone the gift of healing and miracles, and others sit in dread and terror, while God has already given someone a word of knowledge, and a word of prophecy, a word to be “fitly spoken in due season” that would free that person’s mind and bring the peace they need. 

Gift after gift, talent upon talent, wasted and unused, because we are too busy, too lazy, too comfortable to be the light that he left us here to be while the world suffers in almost pitch black darkness, no wonder Jesus warned us, Revelation 2:4,5: ” Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and remove thy candlestick (lampstand) out of his place, except (unless) thou repent.” 

Anyone want to argue that He does not expect us to work for the Kingdom? 

So, if you are saved, sure, you are saved but when our work is tried by fire to ensure purity and purpose, motive, and measure, and the Lord gives crowns and rewards and treasures in heaven, you will come up lacking and the saddest part is the difference made in the difference that should have and could have been made in someone else’s life will have been left undone on your shift.

The work he asks is quite simple, Love Him, spread His love, go to His house, worship Him, Keep His commandments, and Honor Him in your life and in advice you give others, do as He asks when He prompts you in heart, help someone else to carry their burdens, show mercy and be kind. And he is not asking much! 

And one thing you do not want to do is ever let Him catch you sleeping on the job, you may just sleep your way right through a God-given opportunity to impact this world while we still barely have enough light left to work by.

If you doubt any of these things pray, read your Bible, and try something so simple as watching the news. It is here people, nothing is changing it and maybe those who preach against preaching warnings really believe that they can just get everyone saved and bypass the judgments.. well, could be true, those saved and raptured WILL be spared many things, but what if those who did just simply omit these thoughts, these verses, find themselves on that day, not accounted worthy and NOT escaping these things and left here to do a job that should have been done right the first time!

Love and peace, don’t kill the messenger. My ministry started with this thought, my very first post PLEASE WAKE UP !!!   on a church site that God had blessed me to write for, it was November 2013 and I was so scared that everyone would hate me, but now it is not fear of hate, it is anger, every time I see those who are hurt, wounded, and know that things could change, if we would change.

God said if we “would humble ourselves” but see that is still the problem, it is all about us, when it should be about Him, the Kingdom, and the work that needs done.

It is so sad that so many are still sleeping on the job, but I have come to believe that maybe, as we know great revival comes during great persecution, that maybe it is going to take quite a wake up call… please don’t wait too late.

And if you are working for Christ, volunteer with Him for more work! Offer to do the jobs others won’t and He will bless you for going that second mile when your brother has only asked you to go one! BTW, HAPPY LABOR DAY!

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2017 REVISTED 09/05/2021  Also for more please check out “Eleventh Hour…working till it’s too dark to work”         &  An “A” for effort but “0” still equals nothing . & “A talent…or two”

“They’re hungry, YOU feed them”  & Outta your house…& “Laying down some odds, How about 450 to 1?”

Shepherding the black sheep

Love this song!

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“BLESSED” / THE BETROTHED AND THE BEHEADED PART 1

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then those that are alive and remain (are saved) shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore COMFORT one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

The rapture of the church, the return of the Lamb to retrieve his Bride, having paid her bride price with his own blood.
Giving his life that she may live, the ancient Jewish customs proving faithful as the souls of believers confess “You are my Savior” echoing “I am my beloveds and he is mine.”
Having gone away to prepare a place for her, being  reminiscent of the protective, seclusion of the wedding canopy.
He will now return with the army of his companions to take her away to the “secret dwelling place of the Most High” until all things can be fulfilled on earth.
 And he does this because we could not bear to witness the carnage and bloodshed that will overflow this earth.
As in Ezekiel, when those who were supposed to be his servants  filled his temple with filth and abominations, at the cries of his people who could not stand seeing his temple defiled, he then determined that the end for them had come, he called forth his angel

Ezekiel 9:4-6 “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men ( humans) that sigh and cry for the abominations that are done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing (so I could hear), 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.”
Just as judgment must begin at the house of the Lord.
He always deals with his people first and we shall see one day just as with this story, what will become of those who hold doctrines not quite true to the word of God.

Lets do a little mirror image on this and see the reflection.
Revelation 7:2,3 “And I saw another angel ascending from the east,  having the seal of the living God; and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea. Saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees,  till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” 

As all things foreshadow those which are to come, only it will come on a much grander scale.

Revelation 9:4 “And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.” 

We who are alive and have remained faithful to our bridegroom and kept our faith, will be removed from this earth just as he protected Noah and his family from the flood.
Lot and his daughters were spared from the destruction of Sodom, on behalf of the intercession by Abram.

This is what the Lord speaks over us: Isaiah 26:19,20
“Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise.

Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs,  and the earth shall cast out her dead. 
 Come my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut the doors about thee: hide  thyself as it were, but for a moment, until the indignation be overpast.”
We must be ready when that call comes, because only those who have accepted Christ will be in this gathering.
 Those who remain on this earth after the rapture of the church will only be saved by refusing to worship the anti-Christ and refusing the mark of the beast, and being beheaded for that refusal. 

Maybe people who may not yet be ready to commit will soon see, all we need to do is watch the news. Israel is almost completely surrounded by enemies as the Lord said would happen and the heart breaking beheading of the first two journalists revealing an eerie clue, the first a Christian, the second a Jew.
Facts probably unknown at the time to their captors, all things are prophetic when you look at what is really there.
So to all who are not saved, please do not wait, if you feel the tug of God, please accept him before it is to late. You do not want to be left on this earth.

His promise to us: Revelation 19:7-9  “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.

And he said unto me.  Write. Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.  and he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”

Please accept his invitation, because this is one dinner you do not want to miss.

Original Post Date: 09/19/2014. All rights reserved. Rev. Nina Brown Johnson 2015  REVISTED 08/21/2021 This is one of the subjects people always wonder about when dealing with scripture, and now more than ever when you look at this world you can see just how close this day is dawning.

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“ASCENSION” PART3 / CLIMB

Song of Solomon 4:6: “Until the day break, and the shadows flee, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense.”
Mountain climbing, some saying simply “because it is there” but that really doesn’t get it in the spirit world now does it?
That verse tells us a couple of things, we are going somewhere, to the mountain of myrrh, where we will die to our flesh and shed all the excess junk we are carrying on this trip, because the higher we climb the more junk and baggage we will toss to lighten the load and make it easier to climb.
The hill of frankincense, the place of effective spiritual intercession is our goal and we have determined that we will get there and we will stay there until day breaks over the spirit world and the shadows of death and hell flee away.
The myrrh is a mountain and the hill is frankincense because the hardest part of dying to our own flesh and coming to the place of purification that we can stand in that place of prayer, it is NOT about being a great person or most “spiritual” it is about having a heart for God.
As David said, the one thing he would seek after to inquire in the temple and worship God in the beauty of HIS holiness, (not ours) once that is accomplished the intercession isn’t quite daunting a task.
It takes a determination, a very wise man once chatted with me about a very simple biblical truth, “many are called but few are chosen” many are saved and are happy right where they are and that is perfectly okay, but God is looking for those who seek more, who are aware of the needs of others and KNOW there are greater works to be done in these precious, blessed last days.
They have the heart as Isaiah’s which echoes “Here am I Lord, send me” and those will be his chosen vessels to accomplish the works and bring in the harvest.
There are nine spiritual gifts, and I do believe there will be people who the Lord flows these gifts through on an as needed basis.
So many have chosen not to seek the gifts God has given them, but the work still has to get done and I do believe it will be by a multi-tasking army.
So some may start climbing that mountain and decide it is a little too steep and the trip is just not worth it, and ask “How do we even know anything is up there anyway?”
Some may have to stop on the way and reach down to help another back up and there may be times that we are carrying each other until strength returns.
You have to know why you want to climb that mountain, I determined long ago that I’d climb the bloody thing or I would die on the way up, because I know my motivation, I know my prayers to the only one who holds it all in his nail scarred hands, when I just want to tell him just how much I can’t do this, how I just simply cannot go one more step, I remember, I remember he was completely stripped, beaten beyond recognition and brutally nailed to a cross and displayed for the whole world to ridicule and he did it because he had a mountain to climb, the hill of the ultimate intercession, a hill named Calvary, the intercession to save all of mankind, and the only way for him to do that was to climb that hill.
Then I remember, he forever holds me, I have no strength in me, but through him I can do all things, and I ask myself what am I climbing for anyway?
I climb on behalf of every child that lives in horror and abuse, I climb for every animal tortured, I climb for every victim of ethnic cleansing after seeing the hollow soul stripped eyes on CNN of the genocidal rape victims of the Taliban, I climb for every elderly person that lives at the complete mercy of others in nursing homes and privately.
I climb out of my pain, the awareness that there are stripe scars on my soul so deep that they are my cross to be borne, and a very personal vendetta against hell itself, to see it brought to its knees and maybe the chance to scream a list of “things that are just not nice to do to people” at Satan when Jesus casts him and his angels into an eternal fire of hell.
If you could see this mountain in the spirit world, I think you would have to compare it to stairs, the light of that place being the soft glow of lamplight and a single file journey, an ascension upward of prayers, starting with the gathering censers of incense ( prayers of the saints) and as they persist, maybe feeling like they aren’t getting anywhere at first, oh, but it is, as they climb higher and higher, a change takes place, that cumbersome clothing will become robes, symbolic of the covering of the righteousness of God.

The censers of incense will become the effectual, fervent spoken prayer of the righteous offered up in the presence of God unlike anything some of them have ever known.
The Holy Spirit leads us, the Holy Ghost overtakes us, and while you know all that, there is a manifestation of his presence, just as when he came to the disciples and Paul, you may not see him but you will know he is standing right there.
On that mountain top, or after the ascension of those spiritual “stairs”, however you choose to relate to it, it will be “Ask and it shall be given” And if this is your desire, get your motivation, remember those you “climb” for, keep climbing till you reach the top.

Psalm 65:4:“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts; we will be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even thy holy temple.”

Psalm 12:7: “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, Now will I arise, saith the Lord: I will set him in safety from him that puffeth (torments) at him.”
Remember why you climb, and climb.

Φλογίζω/original post:01/17/2015. All rights reserved. Rev. Nina Brown Johnson 2015 REVISTED 08/20/2021

Ascension Part1 Night watchmen     Ascension part 2 Intercession

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ASCENSION PART 1 “NIGHT WATCHMEN”

The sun may be shining, but it is night. The birds may be singing but it is night. For most, everything may appear well-lit and crystal clear but in the spirit world it is night.
For the addict who is one hit away from the mouth of hell, it is night. For the prostitute who is one trick away from the wrong John, who will be the devil incarnate come to assure her entrance into hell, it is night.
For the bullied teenager who is one razor blade away from ending it all, it is night. For those widowed and alone, whose loneliness eats away at their souls more viciously than any cancer, it is night.
For those persecuted and imprisoned for their beliefs or simply for the sick pleasure of the forces of hell, still the brightest of days with the greatest, blinding magnification of the sun is the suffocating blackness of the  most darkest of nights.
Night Watchmen, those hired to protect and oversee the goods and properties of their employer.
These particular watchmen actually being the biblical laborers hired in at that vital eleventh hour, because as dusk starts closing in, that harvest must not only be gathered, it must also be protected from the beasts of the field that attack to destroy it, even while the laborers work exhaustively to gather it.
As it is the eleventh hour, this work must be done in complete unity, all while following one light that will light their way through the rows, showing both the ready crops and revealing the awaiting dangers.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105
These are the night watchmen of the Lord, they stand in the night hours when destruction and mischief are most common, and sin tries to take cover under the darkness of night.
While the rest of the world “sleeps”, these are they who will keep vigil, pray down strong holds, plead the blood of the Lamb over ones they have never even known and through intercessory prayer they will make a difference between life and death. They will through that prayer under the unified anointing of God will stand in the gap and make up the hedge around those who are unable to do it for themselves.
Their petitions before the throne of grace will break chains of abuse and addictions and the anointing of God will break the chains of abuse and addictions.
“BEHOLD, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.” Psalm 134:1
Watchmen know who they are, and Night watchmen even more so.

Be vigilant, do not get discouraged and know that the power of the anointing of the secret prayers you pray alone are known of God, “who sees in secret, and will reward you openly”.

Ask that your prayers be accepted in agreement of unity with all those who are called as you are.
Know this also that as this is the last Psalm in the “Songs of Degrees” (steps, stairs) and just as being “compassed about with songs in the night”, this is going somewhere, it is blessed and it is beginning of the “prayers of the saints.”
Φλογίζω/ Original Post:01/01/2015. All rights reserved. Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

**REVISITED 03/05/2021**   REVISTED again 08/17/2021 because now more than ever we need to

stand in prayer for those who are suffering persecution.

Please consider reading the remainder in this series, the links are below.

ASCENSION Part 2 INTERCESSION

ASCENSION Part 3 CLIMB

AWAKENING / THE FORGOTTEN CHILD

Resurgence of Ruth/

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“He’s got ya…”

“Then the eleven disciples went way into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted.

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to all things whatsoever I have commanded you; 

And, lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the world. A-men,”  Matthew 28:16-20  

I am sure that you are very familiar with those verses, and I have used them many times myself over the years.

And when my thoughts for this post were hitting, I had actually thought about a television commercial. And I know how strange that may sound, and it wasn’t about the product or service offered, it was about the support. 

A trainer is encouraging a person by telling her “I got you” and that has always just reminded me of how Jesus encourages us, that when storms that we had expected to cease somehow still swirl all around us and the battles that we have entered into full of hope, faith, and determination assured that victory will come and we can find ourselves doubting, questioning as that battle seems to go on endlessly in an exhausting dead heat. 

We often wonder and question, much like the disciples that found themselves doubting. just like Thomas when he had doubted that Jesus rose from the dead. And they found themselves in the place that he had destined them to be, the place they were told to go.

That is the deal with the doubt and uncertainty that comes at us when life goes upside down, the first thought the enemy brings to us is, “IF”, IF you were where you should be with the Lord, none of this would be happening.” 

Has that ever went through your mind?

I am sure, if we would be honest, this has went through many minds. Because that is how the enemy uses doubt and it is one of his more powerful weapons, and that is how you have to view, nothing more, nothing less. 

As I have “preached” many times in this little blog, reiterating Romans 8:38,39 NO ONE and NOTHING can ever separate us from God so the enemy uses doubt to cause us to separate ourselves from God through the false belief that somehow we are out of his will when nothing in our lives feels like it could possibly be his will. 

It causes us to THINK…RETHINK… and finally OVERTHINK  everything that we have been taught about the Word of God and about God and make us completely question our relationship with him. So don’t!

Try out a new weapon of your own. Change your battleplan.

Jesus promised us many things but it ultimately up us to believe those promises and sometimes we have to look at things differently, because how we view a situation or an expected outcome is not always how he views it and when those things go a way not of our choosing NEVER means that he does not love and NEVER means that he has suddenly changed his mind and DECIDED to go against his own word and forsake us. He will NEVER do that.

And once we understand that we can see truly step back away from  our battles and see the truth that we can’t fight life and we certainly can not fight death but we can have peace in knowing that he is the ONLY one who holds our tomorrow and the only reason we can get through today.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.

For as the rain cometh down, and snow from heaven, and returneth not thither (it does not go back up), but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void (empty, without fruit) but it shall ACCOPMLISH that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I send it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace…” Isaiah 55:8-11a 

Trust him, remember his promises and don’t let doubt steal that joy, joy that you need, joy that is your strength, the joy OF the Lord, joy not in this world but the joy in knowing that the God of the universe loves you! 

He’s “got” you and he is NEVER going to let you go and know that it is in that joy in him, joy in soul, not to be confused with being joyous in this world, it is hard to be cheerful when your heart is broken, so no, it is not cheerful joy, it is the joy in salvation and the promise of eternity.

And that is the joy that will bring you out of the wilderness and lead you forth out of that battle in his peace.

“RESTORE unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free (generous) spirit.” Psalm 51:12 

For something to be restored it had to have already be possessed, And when we start our journey with Jesus we are full of that joy, the joy that comes with the realization that his grace and mercy had spared our through our days of darkness and sin.  

Then as we mature in him and life comes as life does we find ourselves in that doubt… forgetting that joy.

He never changes, he accepts and loves us just as much as he did the day we accepted his salvation, the change lies within us. that why he tells us of his thoughts and our thoughts, and I have been very guilty of this myself, we have our thoughts of what should happen on earth but he gave us promises NOT of this earth an dour true hope and salvation are not of this earth.

Being human we want all the promises fulfilled here(and some are) but our hope is supposed to rest in the ETERNAL outcome. And that is your joy, that is your hope, that EVERY single morning while you are in this world, on this earth, HIS mercy is renewed every single morning and His mercy endures FOREVER. NOTHING will ever change that, nothing.  Get in your prayer closet and spend time with him in the Holy Ghost, let heaven bless earth remember those words that will NEVER return to him unfruitful… I AM WITH YOU ALWAY… 

And He’s got ya! He did not create you, love you, and save you, so that he could then just suddenly decide to throw you out to the wolves! Jesus does not work that way!

Have a blessed week! Love and peace till next time…  Praying it’ll be a blessing to you TODAY!!

Rev. Nina Brown Johnson / phlogizo360  2019   REVISITED 07/20/2021, Φλογιζω NBJ/2021

If you have never heard this, please check it out, (from YouTube)

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THE LAMB “Hell trembles and Earth quakes”

“Jesus, when he had cried with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost (died).

And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom (torn in half), and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent (split);

And the graves were opened; and many of the bodies of the saints that slept (had died) AROSE.

And came OUT of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Now when the centurion and they that were with him, watching (guarding) Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things which were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. 

And many women were there beholding afar off (watching from a distance), which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.

When the even was come (it was evening), there was a rich man of Arimathea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:

He went to Pilate and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.

And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean line cloth. And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.

And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against (opposite) the sepulchre.

Now the next day, that followed the day of preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 

Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure (secure) until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead; so the last error shall be worse than the first.

Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch (guard): go your way, make it as sure (secure) as you can.

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure (secure), sealing the stone, and setting a watch (guard). 

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre (tomb).

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment (clothing) was white as snow:

And FOR FEAR OF HIM. THE KEEPERS (guards) DID SHAKE,AND BECAME AS DEAD MEN (fainted).

And the angel answered and said UNTO the women; FEAR NOT YE; for I know that ye seek Jesus. which was crucified, HE IS NOT HERE: FOR HE IS RISEN, as he said, Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him, lo, I have told you.

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples his word.

And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail (Rejoice).

And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there they shall see me. 

Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch (guards)  came into the city, and shewed (told) unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel (talked about it), they gave large (much) money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept.

And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure (protect) you. (it would have been death to them if they had really slept).

So they took the money and did as they were taught; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.

And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ALL power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost;

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  Matthew 27:50-66 and Matthew 28:1-20

Wow, can you imagine how awesome it would have been to see that angel come down, roll away that stone, as the guards literally stood there shaking in their boots,  the angel then actually sitting on top of the stone, almost as if to say to the guards, ” Try moving it now, boys” and at this sight they were so horrified that they actually fainted.

And then the angel in display of the gentleness of the one he serves, tells the ladies to Fear not! Please also forgive my capitalization, it is not intended as shouting, it is to highlight, it’s hard to preach in silence.

You may be wondering about other common verses, such as the doubting by Thomas, but I chose to go with the account from Matthew as it had been used in the previous post, but I encourage you to read the accounts of Mark, Luke, and John also as each tells a little more of the story in his own words.

Lord will, we will highlight those accounts also in the next post on the way to Pentecost.

But back to this one, it is so wonderful, the fulfillment of this prophecy, Hosea 13:14:”I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death; O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction; repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.”

Written this way in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57: “O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”

As we read in the last post  those of the day clung to the law but had no mercy, love, and kindness toward any, but Jesus came to teach us the truth of who he is, delivering us, teaching us that faith in him is the way to salvation.

And the picture of the ultimate resurrections, as the saints of old were resurrected on that day as Jesus rose in His power and might and the earth quaking in prelude to the ultimate quake when he returns to earth and Mount Olive will split in two and those of earth who are still rebellious, cruel, and unyielding in accepting salvation will beg those rocks to fall on them and hide them from his face but there will be no hiding from the one who created it all.

Jesus fulfilled every promise God had made that he would again reconcile us back unto him and he did it all with his blood, his love, and his desire to save us.

Jesus is kind, he is merciful and he does not want any one lost or left to the devices of enemy, and satan and his demons  cower in his presence, one descriptive verse written this way, James 2:19: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; THE DEVILS ALSO BELIEVE AND TREMBLE.”

Today, REJOICE, REJOICE!

Revelation 1:18: “And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead, and he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last; I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys to hell and death.” 

God bless you and have a wonderful Holy Day!

Φλογιζω NBJ 2021/ Reverend Nina Brown Johnson

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“Heeding the “1” in 2021″

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for you life, (Do not worry about)  what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what shall you put on. Is not the life more than meat, (food) and the body more than raiment (clothes)?

Behold the fowls of the air: they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

And why take you thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed (clothed) like one of these.

Wherefore, IF God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith.

Therefore take no thought, (Do not worry about) saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink?, or, Wherewithal (with what and how) shall we be clothed?

(For after all these things do the Gentile seek;) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and ALL these things shall be added unto you.

Take no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things  of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil (trouble) thereof.” Matthew 25-34 

What a year 2020 has been! And we all know that just because the calendar flips to the new year it really doesn’t make anything new, it just usually gives us a sense of hope, hope that we can start over if you will, Hope that we can look to a better year ahead.

And we do NEED that hope, we NEED to have dreams, and we NEED to have goals set for our future because once we lose hope, all is indeed lost.

And more than ever we must depend on Jesus to give us that HOPE for  anew day, and must invite Him and aske him to restore our dreams and renew our vision so that the dark times of the present world will not hinder the plans and the calling and purpose that He has placed in our lives.  Even when it is dark and all seems hopeless., all seems lost, He is still God and He is still never going to leave you or forsake you.

Once you give your life to Him, and remember WHOSOEVER will call upon the name of the Lord SHALL be saved, it doesn’t take a special prayer or any preacher laying hands on you (which that can be very good) but what I am saying is that Jesus comes to us right where we are, we ask him to forgive us and come be with us and save us and He does, and it is just you and Him, you don’t have to wait until you can find an open church, you can ash him any  moment of the day.

He is there and He never slumbers and He never sleeps, He is Omnipresent, so he can be with you in your pain, your tears, your need for Him to ease all your fears and yet, He can be simitalentouly seeing to the needs of ALL His children the world over, even the ones who don’t that they are his yet, just think of Paul, who was Saul when Jesus called him from the road to Damascus, where Paul was on his way to TORMENT Christians for their beliefs, but God had other plans and God knew exactly where Mr. Saul was that fateful day and He know where we are this day!

And for the upcoming New Year, let’s all take Jesus’ advice from our scripture above, we can never change anything by worrying and fear, my late Mom always told me that we often worry about things that never happen and we all know that fear is the devils number one weapon, but it will change nothing, only gives place to him.  It is a normal human reaction to worry about the things we have no control over because we like to feel in control but God wants to be in control, He is already in control we just have to acknowledge that in order to have the peace He wants us to have.

So raed the verse above, study it, ponder it, and let the Lord speak to your heart today, because He does CARE for you and He does not want you to worry about things that we will never have control of.

“Humble yourselves therefore UNDER the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in DUE TIME: CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM; FOR HE CARETH FOR YOU.” 1 Peter 5:6.7

May God bless you with a better brighter year ahead and remember take it ONE DAY AT A TIME!

Φλογιζω NBJ 2020/ Reverend NIna Brown Johnson

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“Assurance…Guaranteed”

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, HE THAT HATH THE KEY OF DAVID, HE THAT OPENETH, AND NO MAN  SHUTTETH; AND SHUTTETH, AND NO MAN OPENETH;

I know thy works; behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; for thou hast little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

Because thou hast kept the word of my patience (my command to PERSEVERE) , I also will keep the from the hour of temptation (trial), which shall come upon ALL THE WORLD, to try (test) them that dwell upon the earth.

Behold, I come quickly; hold fast that which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” Revelation 3:8-11

Jesus gave us these words as comfort and assurance, Jesus as he taught us in the Gospel Luke 21;19: “In your patience possess ye your souls.” And what is patience? It means perseverance, it means to hold on and to look not at this world or what is around you.

But to look ahead, forward, so much so in fact that you are looking toward heaven and the life that ONLY begins when this earthly life ends.

For those who have been with loved ones who were afflicted with terminal illness, you may understand this well, often those in Christ are prepared for their journey to meet Jesus, while us the family are distraught and heart broken,never desiring to be separated form those we love, but God in his blessed compassion gives them peace, peace that allows them to look ahead and not see it as the death of this life but as the rebirth of an eternal life with no sorrow, no pain, no suffering, no want, no lack, no hunger, and no thirst.

But a life that will be FOREVER in the presence of Jehovah God, Jesus, the host of heavenly angels and loved ones that have already arrived in that heavenly location.

He gives peace to make that crossing as he himself prayed from the cross, Luke 23:46: “And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, INTO THY HANDS I COMMEND MY SPIRIT; and having said this, he gave up the ghost (he breathed his last).

Stephen, the martyr, echoed those words as he was stoned because the truth he proclaimed convicted and angered the evil crowd, they felt is easier to kill him that to admit their own evil trespasses.

Acts 7:54-69: ” When they heard these things, they were cut (furious) to the heart, and they gnashed on (at) him with their teeth. 

But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and SAW the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

And he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man, standing at the right hand of God. And they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord (attacked him as one mob). 

And cast him out of the city, and stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul.

And they stoned Stephen, calling (as Stephen called on God), and saying, LORD JESUS, RECEIVE MY SPIRIT. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge (please don’t hold this them).

And when he had said this, he fell asleep (died). 

As Jesus referenced the church in Philadelphia, it is noteworthy to mention to key facts, this church would have been at Turkey during Bible times but the name literally means “brotherly love” and in my belief, it can be even as with denominations, we can belong to a”church” meaning that sheepfold, and not necessarily be in that exact geological location, just as we are brothers and sisters in Christ the world over, even though we may NEVER meet each other in this life, we will in the next, because the Kingdom of God is comprised of his children from “all nations, and kindreds (tribes), and people, and tongues, (languages)”

Jesus also gave us that blessed hope in knowing that perseverance is the key, and perseverance means “do not give up, no matter what, do not give up” and as he also warned to let anyone take your “crown’, just as he also promised to keep you from all the terrible,terrible things that are coming to this world, he did not at any time say how he would keep you. It could be through the rapture, of the saints, or it could be as with Stephen, and so many others, who have died in Christ and for the Word of Christ.

His promise is all that even matters, and his promise is that you will be protected and preserved, and what I feel is one of the most awesome promises,a promise that will be fulfilled not only to those who have already suffered persecution and death through the ages, but for a blessed promise to those who are suffering now for the word of Christ and their choice to serve the one true God, the maker of heaven and earth, who will NEVER leave you or forsake you, I want to remind you of this, what will one day happen as Christ is REINTRODUCED to this earth. 

Revelation 6:9-17: “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain (murdered) for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held.

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and AVENGE our blood on them that dwell on earth?

And white robes were given unto every one of them, and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season (while), UNTIL their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be (will be) killed as they were, should be fulfilled (happens).

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and lo,  there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs (drops it’s late fruit) when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

And THE HEAVEN DEPARTED AS A SCROLL WHEN IT IS ROLLED TOGETHER (the sky split apart); and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens (caves) and in the rocks of the mountains;

And said to the mountains and rocks, FALL ON US, AND HIDE US FROM THE FACE OF HIM THAT SITTETH ON THE THRONE, AND FROM THE WRATH OF THE LAMB. For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to abide (stand) in it?” 

This is what Jesus referenced when he said this in Luke 21:27: “And then shall THEY see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” 

This is not just those who believe or just a wake up call for those who don’t, this will be the entire earth beholding their creator, and those who rejoice at his return, his children who know him as he is, lovely, beautiful, holy, and kind, gentle, and forgiving and mercy divine.

Those who have prayed for deliverance shouting for joy that that deliverance has come, mirrored to those who have hated him, hated the good, and fought and martyred the faithful, hated his chosen Israel and tried to take and destroy his chosen city of Jerusalem, either way we shall all see him and see him in his glory.

Revelation 1:7: “Behold, he cometh with clouds,  and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him; and ALL the kindreds of the earth shall wail (mourn) because of him. Even so, Amen.”

Which fulfills the promise in Philippians that even those who pierced him will see him, this is because ALL, those in heaven, those in erath, and those under earth.

ALL from ALL time will see him.

And all who have hated him, his word, and all who have hated you because you are his child and you bear his word, will suddenly be faced with him and his return, and the beauty is this, they can hate us, they can kill us but they will NEVER kill Jesus again, they will NEVER stop the Gospel, and once they are faced with the horrifying realization that He is indeed real, as they watch the sky itself LITERALLY open up to reveal Jesus and the host of heaven that none of us can even begin to fathom and I believe many will repent at that moment but those who have hated and made their threats and their claims and tormented and killed his people will know assuredly one thing, there is nothing, absolutely nothing in their power that will stop Him or His will and all those with their great threats of annihilation will now be begging to die rather than face Almighty God.

It’s easy to oppress other humans but not quite going to get it when trying to oppress the one WHO CREATED HUMANS including them.

As God had promised by his word that this will take place, Romans 14:11: For it IS written, AS I LIVE, SAITH THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS TO GOD.” 

I don’t even propose to know what you face today but I do believe that God wants you to rest in him and just hold on, hold on to the PROMISE that he has given you and that the God who will strike terror in their hearts at his return is the same God who will also hold you close comfort you, and dry every tear and he will, in that day, make your enemies to know that you are loved by him, the very beloved of him.

Finally keep your mind on this and this hope, REMEMBERING in your own mind the hope Jesus kept in his, as this passage encourages us to think as Jesus thought as his Father’s promises allowed him to keep focused on the joy ahead.

Philippians 2:5-11: “Let THIS MIND be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.

But made himself no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men;

And being found in fashion (appearance), he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 

THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, OF THINGS (those) IN HEAVEN, AND THINGS (those) IN EARTH, AND THINGS (those) UNDER THE EARTH;

AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS (admit and acknowledge)THAT JESUS CHRIST IS  LORD, TO THE GLORY OF THE FATHER.”  

God bless you today and just keeping looking up, help is on His way.

Φλογιζω NBJ 2020/ Reverend Nina Brown Johnson

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“PREPARED” Part #1, Preparing for the wedding of a King

“And the Spirit and the bride say, COME. And LET him that HEARETH say, COME. And LET him that is athirst COME and take of the WATER OF LIFE freely.” Revelation 22:17 

This is quite an invitation and what I love about this verse, it that it IS an invitation.

This is a wedding that had not happened because although they ARE speaking as one they are named SEPERATELY so what am I even talking about? So glad you asked:)!

We all know that marriage in all cultures is considered a covenanted  process, a beautiful celebration with the families giving their very best to provide for that wedding, depending on your location and beliefs, either the grooms family or the brides family but either way, ALL cultures hold marriage with the same honor, reverence, and life long commitment. 

No shock that the enemy has chosen marriage, TRUE marriage as God intended between a male and a female as his hottest battle ground. If he can pervert the very DEFINITION of marriage, he can attempt to confuse and twist one of the MAJOR end time teachings of the New Testament.

As Paul said, the great MYSTERY that IS Christ, His bride, which IS the church and the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb, which the absolute culmination of ALL things that have ever been since He spoke everything into creation, ALL that has been and ALL that will EVER be will be merged into oneness at that wedding.

Just as he came to the garden and walked and talked with Adam, just as he came down and spoke with Abram, as he let Moses just glimpse his glory, just as he spoke through the prophets, giving each a little insight into his WORLD, his beauty and his majesty, that they could NEVER effectively put into words.

He came down as a baby and even in that humble beginning, His great glory and majesty could not be concealed. The angels HAD to worship, they had to ANNOUNCE the arrival. 

Offerings in the form of gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh HAD to be brought before him because ALL kings and ALL nations WILL bow before him. People of ALL nations, languages, and tribes WILL bring their offerings of praise before him in that day. In that day our WORLDS will become ONE.

Prophecy had been given since the dawn of time to ease humans into this, all the prophecies as they eagerly awaited his arrival on earth as Messiah. Thousands of years, with prophets FULFILLING the words of OTHER prophets, which tells us a little of what level of preparation was needed. Think of John the Baptist, who fulfilled the words of the prophet Isaiah and Malachi.

John 1:15-23:   “John bare witness of him and cried, saying, THIS IS HE OF WHOM I SPAKE, He that cometh after me is preferred before me. And of his fullness have ALL received, and grace FOR grace.

For the law was given by Moses, but GRACE AND TRUTH CAME BY JESUS CHRIST.

No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath DECLARED him.

And THIS is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am NOT the Christ.

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elisas? {they knew the prophecy but Jesus said that John WAS the foretold voice fulfilling this prophecy} And he said, I am NOT. Art thou that prophet? And he answered and said, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? THAT WE MAY GIVE AN ANSWER TO THEM THAT SENT US, What sayest thou of thyself?

He said, I AM THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD, as SAID the prophet Esaias (Isaiah).” 

They could HEAR “the voice” that just did not want to “hear” they did not want to acknowledge the time they were entering, just as those today have “sent” their messengers in attempt to tear down the Gospel of Christ, hoping to silence THE VOICE that WILL NOT SILENCED, that VOICE shall bellow from the very mountain tops.

So just what DID Isaiah say? Isaiah 40:3-5:”  The VOICE of him that crieth in the wilderness, PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE STRAIGHT IN THE DESERT A HIGHWAY FOR OUR GOD.

EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE EXALTED (lifted up)  AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL SHALL BE MADE LOW : AND THE CROOKED PLACES SHALL BE MADE STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH PLACES PLAIN  (smoothed out): 

AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHALL BE REVEALED, AND ALL FLESH SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER: FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HATH SPOKEN IT.”

WHY? Why WAS and IS a preparation needed?

Well, think about those verses, this was to prepare people for an encounter with God.

In preparing for this preparation, EVEN the angel Gabriel was SENT to Zacharias, to proclaim that he and his aged wife would have a child, a chosen child and even that there were to name him John, which literally means “grace” and given John’s commission BEFORE he was even conceived in Elisabeth’s womb. 

And this was that commission, the words of the angel Gabriel as recorded in Luke 1:17: “AND HE SHALL GO FORTH IN THE SPIRIT AND POWER OF ELIAS, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS TO THE CHILDREN, AND THE DISOBEDIENT TO THE WISDOM OF THE JUST; TO MAKE READY A PEOPLE PREPARED FOR THE LORD.”

How do you prepare people to the fact that their worlds are about to be rocked by the arrival of one, who will have the ability to miraculously heal the sick, restore sight to the blind, cause those bound by paralysis to rise and not only walk, but run and leap because of the joy he also placed in their recovered souls.

One who will SPEAK to the storms and command them to cease. SPEAK to demons and they should fall at his feet and  tremble in terror of him.

That he would have the ability to look through us, into our very souls and perceive EVERY single thought of not only our conscious mind but also our soul and heart.

One who would have such a gentleness and absolute tenderness that he would verbally defend women against the spoken and unspoken hatred and judgment of others, healing them not with touch of his hand but with his LOVE, giving them access to his very heart.

One who cried in sorrow with those who grieved. One who would walk on water and be transfigured into his glorious light before the very eyes of a select few, as he spoke with Moses and Elijah.

That he would not only raise the dead but that his own dead body would raise up (some symbolism in that, the resurrection his church NOW desperately needs).

HOW do you prepare people for that? Just as the Hebrews were  SCARED absolutely to death of him at Mount Sinai, they did not want to talk to him, they pleaded with Moses to be a go between.

As scared as they were, even SEEING his mercy, glory, and protection. How much more terrified would people have been had they NOT been prepared by these prophecies of what they should expect.

Now, as our scripture from Revelation tells us, those VOICES are to be heard and the first voice mentioned IS the voices speaking TOGETHER the SPIRIT and the bride speaking in complete unison.

God dealt with me several years ago, about the need for that surrender by his church a submission that would truly allow that merging, it is an old post, from 2014 and revised in 2015, but if you have a moment, please read it and it will help in understanding this one: Click here> merge,

I really believe that we have come into that unison, those who have sought have found and I also believe that the “invitations” are already being delivered.

I believe it is that close.

So I want you to look at a couple of things in that verse, okay, they are technically still separate, BUT they are speaking as ONE so that separation is merely location.

Remember with the Jewish grooms of the Old Testament, the groom RETURNS for his bride, there is NO question about their relationship ONLY the FINAL PREPARATIONS to be made so that she can join him.

So next time, I’ll get into our starter verse and we’ll look at that “wedding invitation” a little closer and decipher our “duties” in getting other PREPARED for the reign of Jesus Christ on this earth.

And no longer is it just an “invitation”, it is that they should be WASHED, clean,”clothed” and ready to enter into the doors.

And NOTHING will EVER fully prepare THIS WORLD to meet its maker, who will not be visiting for walks in the cool of the evening or teaching chosen disciples but WILL take his place AMONG his people and for that I am not sure they could ever be completely prepared.

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω  NB 2018

Original post 2018 but more than ever we need to remember and be encouraged that there is so much greater ahead!

Other posts in this series:

Prepared Part #2 Oxygen to Fire

Prepared Part #3 Would-be wedding crashers washed inside out

PREPARED Part #4

 

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“Temple”

white and brown house

Photo by Arvid Knutsen on Pexels.com

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

I have fed you with milk and not with meat (solid food): for hitherto (until now) ye were not able to bear it, neither yet are ye able.

For as ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you enving, strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

For while one saith, I am of Paul, and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal? WHO then is Paul, and WHO is Apollos, but ministers BY whom ye believed even as the Lord gave to every man?  1 Corinthians 3:1-4

GOOD MORNING! and if it is not Morning for you, then may I wish you a wonderful evening and blessed night. We are actually going to finish up with that passage in just a bit, but I wanted to stop and relay a few points, First Paul was expounding to them that it was time for him to speak with those who listened with a little more depth, things that they should be getting on a spiritual level, but they were still not quite ready.

We also deal with those that we are to minister to, sometimes a little too softly, not wanting to “choke” them with truths that can be very hard to swallow. But Paul had to enlighten them to the truths that all the envy and jealousy and one upmanship was just not going to get as behaviours for those in the Kingdom of God.

And I love the fact that he is pointing out so clearly, asking who is Apollos, even asking who, he himself was, as much as we honor them and rightfully so, they were still ministers that God had sent to led his people home.

As the old timers say ” No little “I”s and big “U”‘s and that is one thing I do very much believe is going to come out of this pandemic. Restrictions placed about and that many can no longer attend church because the church is not there to attend (Some serious symbolism in that)

So there will be none of the envy, strife, and divisions spoke of and there will be no favorite pastor, minister, preacher, or singer that helped spark those divisional fires that have helped consume the church from her original state, you can’t have one mind and one accord if there are minds present that are full of discord.

But now, the churches, like most everything else are closed and some are having “Parking Lot” and “Drive by” church which is an awesome ideal, reminiscent of the old tent revivals that we need to get back to.

People are going to be there because they want to be there not out of some weird sense of duty or family commitment but because they want the Word of God.  And Paul is saying that God has many “ministers” that God sends his Word and His offer of salvation through many different workers.

And I want you to think about something, if you are saved, you ARE sent and if you are not saved the moment you repent, you WILL BE sent, your life, your light, and above all your decision to accept Christ and proclaim, especially in this world of unbelief, your faith in God and your belief that not only is His Word true but also the truths of the life after this can, does, and will absolutely change the course of the lives of  those around you.

Back to our verses, shall we? 1 Corinthians 3: 5-16

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but GOD gave the increase.

SO then neither is he that planteth any thing , neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 

Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward for his labour.

For we are labourers (workers) together with God: Ye are God’s Husbandry (field) ye are God’s builders.

According to the grace of God which is given me as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But every man take heed how he buildeth thereon.

For another foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try (test) every man’s work of what sort it is.

If any man’s work abide (endures) which he hath built thereon, he shall receive a reward.

If any man’s works shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved, yet so as by (through) fire.  Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you.”

Now Paul went on to set forth some warnings after that verse, but I want to use it to encourage you today.

You ARE the TEMPLE of God, your body is a CHURCH of God, when you have the Holy Spirit LIVING inside of you you become the church on this earth!

How exciting is that? I know we are faced with a dreadful, dreadful time but during that time if you remember that God has a plan and purpose for you in these days. God does not make mistakes and he does nothing out of “season”  He could have chosen you to have been born hundreds of years, or even thousands of years ago, or He could have chosen to never send your soul to this earth, but He chose this time, this season for you because ye have work to do and only God knows that work that He predestined for you to accomplish for his Kingdom, BEFORE He laid the foundations of this earth.

And I want to give you those scripture also quickly, because this is meant to be heard by someone today. 

In THESE times, in THIS hour and THIS season that God has chosen for you, as bad as it all appears at the moment.

Romans: 8:28-30: ” And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are THE CALLED according to his purpose.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did PREDESTINATE to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also CALLED, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” 

So maybe you can’t get to a church but remember that you are the church.

And remember that God uses it all, all the bad, all that we do not understand, He will use it for the Kingdom. Let your light shine, do whatever God puts on your heart, reach out by card, letter, or phone to whoever he is bidding you to reach out to. Use this season to know Him more and deepen your relationship with him and if he leads you to, share that “meat” of his Word with others around you, we often do not want to hear the rougher stuff but we are coming down to the wire and we have much work to do.

Among all the pain and uncertainty we still have a great promise, the outpouring of God’s Spirit “upon all flesh” this began at Pentecost, but we have the promise of a great outpouring in the last days, so plant that seed, the word of God shown in love and mercy, kindness, water if that is your job, water those seeds that someone has already planted because you are one in  those action and ask God blessing on your “hands” as you work in his field, He will, he never sends us unprepared and He never send us alone.

You are His Temple, and you are His church, be it and just watch what grace, blessings, and miracles unfold!

Φλογιζω NBJ 2020/ Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

 

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AWAKENING / THE FORGOTTEN CHILD

 

“Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?

I raised thee up(awakened) under the apple tree:…”  Song of Solomon 7:5

The wilderness the daughters of God have been very acquainted with since the dawn of time.
Since the fall of man, the enemy has ensured that we would be considered no more than property and every day countless of us are raped, abused, forced into prostitution and in many countries we are still property at the complete mercy of often unmerciful husbands.

While in other corners of the world, unable to carry lineage names daughters are aborted and others sold into slavery.
Christianity of old.

Tainted by MEN also seemed to teach that women are inferior but the truth is far from that.
My biggest struggle in coming to Christ was this very topic, I was like, Why are women always the bad ones? Misguided teaching of confused or intentionally biased doctrine has kept many away and who could blame them?
Many modern women who have been left to support their children completely alone, who have struggled to pay their bills, put food on their tables, educate themselves and their children, just barely surviving through the world.

And if they happen into the wrong church they will hear that they are of a lesser value to God than their male counterparts. To “fit in” they will need to change everything about themselves and sit down and above all shut up.
Even after God had enlightened me to the truth and helped me understand his word, I still had trouble wrapping my head around a few things.
I did most of intense studying before my child was school aged, after everyone was asleep and my house cleaned, I would stay up and read until I could not function any longer.

One night I happened upon Judges 19 which in my opinion contains the most disturbing and gruesome story in the entire Bible.
It mirrors the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, ironically found in Genesis 19, when Lot had offered his virgin daughters to the deviant, demon possessed pagans, who were demanding he turn over his male visitors to them, “that they may know them” translated, so they could gang rape them.  

The Bible clear to point out that Lot offered these girls with a “do whatever you want to them” agreement to try to get them to take them instead of the male visitors.

To break Judges 19 down, a Levite had a concubine, it says she “played the harlot”.
I’m not sure how that worked since she was “kept” for that purpose, double standards of the day, which still equate in our culture as the difference between a guy being a “player” and a woman being a “slut”.

Another problem Jesus addressed when he came to earth, he wants two people married, period.
Enlightening them to their double standards when they wanted judgment against the adulterous woman, of course it takes two, but they seemed to have forgotten to bring her partner in this sin before the Lord, His answer to them translating to this, if they themselves had no sin, go ahead hit her.

Standing in front of a Holy God they couldn’t do it.

But at the time of Judges, men could have as many women as they wanted but it was never God’s plan.
To get on with the story, she went back to her father’s house, so he comes after her to talk her into coming back, finally she agreed, and after being detained several days they went on their way.

He refused to stay anywhere other than lands belonging to the tribes of Israel and insisted on traveling to a city of the tribe of Benjamin, they had nowhere to stay, so an old man invited them to stay with him, pleading that they not stay outside, soon just as with Sodom, there were men at his door demanding he turn over this man to them that they “may know him”.

Picture perfect to Sodom, only lacking the presence of the angels that saved Lot’s daughters. So the old guy offers his daughter and the concubine, again with the agreement to whatever they wanted to them, just do not touch the man.

They refused, they still wanted the man, so the guy just takes the concubine and throws her out to them and they repeatedly gang rape her until the morning and then they let her go.

She makes it to the door of the house where she collapses, she just lies there helplessly until he gets up, opens the door and finds her and he actually tells her quite simply, to get up they have to get going, needless to say she is dead.
He dismembers her body into twelve parts and sends a part to each of the tribes and war is waged.
It wasn’t that they raped her or that she was dead that bothered him, it was because they destroyed his property.

I read this and I was alone with my shock and absolute horror and knowing the Lord, I just asked “Why, Why are we of so little value?”
These “men” would not even try to fend off these monsters, not even try to muster up an ounce of anything remotely resembling courage to fight for themselves.

Forget chivalry, or protection, an ounce of some sort of compassion, but to just offer these women as less than nothing and to do it to save themselves. I just could not understand it.

I do understand that at the time the thought of this being done to men was so unthinkable that they were desperate to prevent it. But they could have tried to prevent it for happening to any of them.

The God I know would never sanction this stuff or ever condone it and I was in tears, and it just hit me to keep reading, the bottom line is this, at the very end of Judges, “In those days there was no king in Israel: Every man did what was right in his own eyes.”

This was never God!

He never put these things in men’s hearts and for years it was falsely taught and still is in many places.

Men still do what is right in their own eyes and only God can make them see the truth.
But it is time for the awakening of his daughters.

No matter what false beliefs that women have been brainwashed by, we have to let them know that this is not what Jesus is about.
He does not hate women and did not create us to be objects of amusement to fulfill the twisted lusts of men nor to be their gender indentured servants.

If we are ever to see those that are oppressed be saved and free, they have to know the truth about him and who he is and most of all who they are in him.

A forgotten child, much like David, when no one would even waste their time to call him to be presented before Samuel the Prophet, because in their eyes why would a prophet possibly want to speak with someone so unimportant and simple?

A forgotten child from the greatest of tribes, who just happened to be a woman, a sister to the twelve tribes of Israel, a forgotten child that no one bothers to mention because she was not as important as her brothers, or so they thought.

Dinah, the seventh child Leah bore to Jacob, a woman who also a thing or two about pain and substandard treatment, who had been raped and used as a bargaining chip which led to a mass slaughter.

Her bloodline STILL offering an inheritance. because she was one of the tribe.

The most prophetic beauty with Dinah is the meaning of her name, “JUDGEMENT.”

It is awakening time for the sisters, the beautiful, forgotten army who have a straight shot to the heart of the Father.

You are so strong, so powerful, and yet, you do not even know WHO YOU ARE in HIM, and so unaware of your predestined place in this end time end game.

You are the spiritual virgins and maidens forever following to proclaim the majesty, beauty, and holiness of the Kings of Kings.

It is the love and proclamations that Hannah, and Mary, and never forget Mary Magdalene, He came to her first because she needed him the most.

Take your place in the kingdom, it is not going to be accomplished with half an army.
The adoration and praises from hearts that have known sorrows and pain that men can never begin to understand.

A relationship to God who will bring justice for others on behalf of the cries of the souls of his daughters.
Unlike the time of Judges, unlike the women who are your sisters the world over, who are oppressed and in bondage. 

You have access to a King, the King, and The King over heaven, and earth, and the entire universe, He will plead their cause if you bring them before his throne in that secret prayer closet.
He will bring justice for those your tears flood the altar for, when you allow your soul to be awakened under that tree, awakened by a love so strong, so powerful, so consuming that you wear that love as a covering for the whole world to see.

“I AM the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among the thorns so is my love among the daughters. as the apple tree among the trees of wood so it my beloved among the sons.

I sat down under his shadow with great delight his fruit was sweet to my taste.  He brought me into the banqueting house and his banner of me was LOVE”  Song of Solomon 2:1-4

Translated: KNOW HIM for who HE IS, allow his love to bloom in you, in spite of the valleys and thorns, breathe in his sweetness and lift you up out of those ashes and hide in the secret place of the Most High, under the shadow of his wings, taste the goodness of his salvation and let him bring you into his house of feasting and the love of Jehovah Nissi is his war flag over his daughters and the love is the secret to it all.

Φλογίζω / 02/05/2015. All rights reserved. Rev. Nina BrownJohnson 2015

For later posts in the realm of all things feminine, check these out:

Resurgence of Ruth

 “Misplaced pearls”

“Something needs to break”

“Grinding the ax” 1 “acknowledgement”

“Grinding the ax” 2… “Real Love?”

“Grinding the ax” #3 “Anger Danger”

“Grinding the ax” #4 “STRANGLE HOLD”

REVISTED:08/01/2019  I like to revisit these older posts, because sometimes we just need to be reminded of who Jesus REALLY is and who he has called us to be in him.

 

 

 

 

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AND YOU ARE?

Don’t you just love it when you voice an opinion in mixed company only to have the person with the opposing view look at you and say in that smug tone laced with sarcasm and disgust at the mere thought that you could possibly question their obviously superior intelligence, and they say “And you are???
I for one love it! Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of exactly who we are in God.
Elijah the prophet of God, who was allowed to pray that it not rain, pray the rain would return and pray that fire would come down from heaven in the presence of his enemies.
Elijah started those prayers with this statement “If I be a man of God..”

Paul, in his writings dubbed himself “The prisoner of the Lord”.

James refers to himself as “Servant of Jesus Christ”.

John the “Beloved”. 

And Mary who never gave herself a title but at his feet she knew exactly who she was and she fell absolutely, helplessly in love with him, a love born from being touched by love itself in it’s purest form, a love so gentle, humble so powerful that it had restored her soul.

She knew to be separated from Him would be a fate far worse than hell.
They and so many more throughout the Bible have a very common denominator, they knew who they were in God and never let anyone convince them otherwise.

Today we hear so many voices telling us what to think what to eat, what to buy, what we should wear, and who would should be, our minds can become so clouded that we don’t even know who were are and we become too quick to forget who were are in Him.
To achieve our purpose in these blessed last days God has chosen us to be born into, please give up a little you time, or TV time, just make a little time to get in that prayer closet, your personal secret place that is just and God, pray and fast, and remember this does not have to be food, you can fast anything.

Salvation and grace are completely free gifts, but to get in position for the last day outpouring of the spirit and great harvest of souls, and to allow him to stir the gifts and the calling he has placed in you, well it requires diligence on your part.
2 Thessalonians 2:3, tells of the great falling away of the church, we’ve been seeing that come to pass over the last few years.
It is a time to weed out those who serve one day a week or for some reason other than a relationship with Christ and they will fall away.

 Those who are willing to make any sacrifice necessary to see His Kingdom come will be those left standing, the approved of God .
The ones before us who held on, no matter what suffering, ridicule and persecution they had to endure. and when they fell they sought God to lift them up again.
David was human just as human as we are, yet he made tragic mistakes but he sought forgiveness.
God said David was a man after his own heart, I know the common thought on it, but I really take it as David sought the very heart of God, to know Him and be part of the very heart of God.
His praise was constant and he continually sought to have his heart searched, cleansed, restored and anything that may stand between them to be removed.
God wants to help us and there is nothing inside of us that He doesn’t already know.

He is a supreme gentlemen, he will never embarrass you, or tell the whole world all of your secrets. 

He wants us to bring everything to Him and  admit that we have problems so he can help us.
Everyone needs trusted prayer partners but you also need that one on one with God, seek purification, seek out the calling and gifts and seek confirmation of them at church.
We can feel led in certain areas, but I tell you ,whatever area of ministry that stirs your heart is usually where your calling will be found BUT always study God’s word and if seems like a foreign language in the King James, get the New King James, it’s more easily understood, there several of versions of the Bible out there but I personally stop here, but no matter what you are called to do, you must have a good foundation of the word of God. It protects you from false doctrine especially when you are seeking.

“Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which is given thee by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” 1 Timothy 4:14

I feel this is another shortcoming of modern churches today, we are to seek these gifts because they are not for us, they are needed to accomplish the work in the Kingdom.

“Meditate upon these things, give thyself wholly unto them; thy   profiting may appear to all. TAKE HEED UNTO THYSELF, AND UNTO THE DOCTRINE; CONTINUE IN THEM: FOR IN DOING THIS THOU SHALT SAVE THYSELF AND ALL THAT HEAR THEE.” 1 Timothy 4:14,15

The time has come to seek and stir up those gifts of God, as he said if you will do these things you will see the lost saved.
And while seeking, the enemy will rear his head to attempt to discourage you, and he will ask “And you are?” 

Take your answer from Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:10 (a)”But by the grace of God I am what I am; and his grace which was bestowed on me was not in vain:..”

We are the generation chosen to seek His face, now it is up to us to believe that!


Original Post Date: 02/15/14  Φλογίζω/  All Rights Reserved.  Nina BrownJohnson/ 2015 Revisited 06/19/2019  

 

 

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“It’s gonna have to be stirred, but who’s got the stick?”

“Neglect not THE gift that IS in thee, which was given thee by prophecy.with the laying on the hands of the presbytery (elders). 

MEDITATE upon these things; GIVE THYSELF wholly (ENTIRELY) to them; that thy profiting may appear (be evident) to all.

TAKE HEED unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; CONTINUE in them; for in doing THIS thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. ” 1 Timothy 4:14-16

I hope that the bold and underline type really hits what I want to get at with this, it is hard to preach without a “voice” but thankfully bold type can be quite loud.

I am first and foremost a “messenger” and this particular message is that most ignored message anyone can ever give and I know that, because once I delivered it live, went home and another person told me about the message at the church they had attended that  same night, it was essentially the same message, different delivery person and you know we should be paying attention to other churches and other ministries also because I do believe that it is seven times Jesus tells us in the Book of Revelation,“He that hath an ear, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAITH UNTO THE CHURCHES…” 

That has been a very long time and despite all the messengers God sends, those gifts, NOT to mention the CALLINGS are still being neglected and if you doubt that look at this world.

Where are the miracles? Miracles, mention of which we need to be reminded of the fact that miracles are NOT for believers , but are for those who DO NOT believe, to prove the existence of God. Miracles are not for our benefit but to bring those who do not believe to Christ Where is the healing? Healing, the gift that is given from God along with the working of miracles. These two gifts are actually one and are given together, so where are they?

Where is the deliverance? Where are those who are supposed to make up that hedge between the world and those who have not yet surrendered to God? Where are  words of wisdom and the prophecies to help believers stand in times of trouble? 

Where is the gift of faith? Not the measure of faith given to all believers, but the gift of faith, that pulls down strong holds, released chains and does battle against the absolute forces of hell through the POWER of the Holy Ghost and there it is, we can do nothing, and no matter how much we speak, think, or hope without the power of God and the effectual working of those gifts in our actual callings, nothing in this world is going to change, if the “church” as a whole doesn’t wake up soon and put God and his work before their personal work, personal lives and comfort, thoughts and opinions it is only going to get worse.

God has bestowed these gifts on individuals for the work of the kingdom, so where are they?

Are they held captive inside an unwilling vessel?

Are they tucked away inside someone who sits at home inside of attending church because they have been hurt and offended that no one has tried to reach out to?

Are they wasting away inside of a believer sitting on a church pew that has no idea what is even inside of them, much less how to nurture and use that gift.

And again this is not even getting into all of it or the callings that are not being fulfilled.

Why? Because the neglect is not always intentional, sometimes it comes from the lack of being stirred and to nothing can stir itself, I do realize we can encourage ourselves in the Lord, through His word and that we are to “stir up” our faith, but this kind of stirring requires a “stick” and we can’t stir this in ourselves, we can help feed it, help nurture it, but you can read from these scriptures that it requires an elder, a prophet, or some other trusted individual of God to do the “stirring”.

2 Timothy 1:6: “” Wherefore I put thee in remembrance (want to remind you) that thou stir up the gift, which is in thee by the putting (laying) on of my hands.”

Paul had the “stick” he prayed for counted people, God granted him miracles and marvelous displays of the power of God, which through many, many were saved.

He wrote most of the New Testament and he wrote these things to Timothy to “stir” him because was his spiritual son, and we are all siblings in the Lord and should want to see those callings fulfilled on other’s lives and we all need those gifts working.

So we know that God has those who do have “sticks” and it is part of their job to STIR OTHERS.

Teaching is also a calling, we don’t just wake up one morning knowing all these things and when we come into Christ we have to learn, and to learn we need teachers.

I have always felt that why so many “go back out” they are treated like they should already know these things when truly how on earth could they?

They get discouraged and think that there is something just wrong with them and end up back out.

Of course the Bible tells us that we have no need that a man teach us, because God teaches us, but I don’t think He means every little thing, I think He is referring to the more personal things and “one on one” situations.

Lord’s will, there will be several more posts dealing in more detail about the gifts and callings, but for now let’s REALLY think about “stirring”.

Many definitions of “stir”: To affect strongly, to excite, to BECOME active, to rouse from INDIFFERENCE, to provoke deliberately, to MOVE, especially RISING FROM SLEEP, to move AWAY from USUAL POSITION. To HAPPEN, To BEGIN.

Stirring stick: Is used to mix ingredients and if you think in terms of God living in us and as scripture says “to make in himself of twain (two) one new man” and that hearing the Word of God must be mixed  with faith, as we are told of those that we NOT profited because the word was NOT mixed with that faith. Just as we are saved by faith through grace, there are combinations and those combinations must be right. Which brings us to “stirring rod” which is used to mix gently and slowly and carefully as to not cause adverse reactions when dealing with dangerous chemicals. 

Think of this in terms of a cake that is half-baked, not that cake has anything to do with danger, but a calling that is not fulfilled or a person burned out or certain callings that left in the “natural” will actually destroy the vessel.

I’ll give this, if a person had a calling that dealt in certain realms of the supernatural and the battle against that calling came full force and made them a feel like a Gazingstock  or if they had felt that they had been running an impossible gauntlet it would be very easy for them to just give up if no one ever told them that this is just part of the deal.

With billions addicted to drugs, people committing suicide every single day, people hurt, lonely, and feeling that they have nowhere to turn and turning to all the wrong things. The church growing smaller rather than earth yielding her promised increase, wickedness running amok rather than that promised righteousness spring forth.

And every single second counting more precious for the eleventh hour watchmen knowing that God left us to do this work and we will be held accountable for all we do and yet all we fail to do, shouldn’t we finally figure out who has that stick and who supposed to be doing the stirring?

Φλογιζω NBJ 2019

 

 

 

 

 

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“Waning under the weight of waiting”

Now that title is quite a mouthful, try saying it fast three times, could be a pretty good tongue twister 🙂 but I am hoping it’ll make for a much better thought provoker!

Hebrews 12:1a: “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us…”

Used this scripture before, we all have I am sure, but for the moment I want to concentrate on what a weight waiting can be.

Ever think about it? When people or even our own selves come up with every known imaginable reason why we can not serve God or why we can’t accomplish his will or why we can’t live for him… just now, maybe in the future but now we can’t because we are waiting, waiting on some magical, mystical desire to take place or we are waiting on someone else to “come in” then we’ll “get right” with the Lord.

How could ANYTHING of this world be more important than your soul?

How? Never mind the demons, and the spiritual world that surrounds our natural world every single day and if it were not for God’s divine protection do you think you would be so safe from all the traps and snare that are laid for your feet?

Never mind the lack of peace, never mind the constant struggles inside your mind because “to him that knoweth to do good and do it not, it is a sin” completely IGNORING all those things for a moment, how does anyone take the comfort that their eternal soul is secure out of the daily equation, in seemingly “never-minding” that we are never once promised that we have all the time in the world to WAIT while allowing the weight of all those earthly hindrances to steal day after day while we have no promise of the next day. 

It is ALL of the world, the world that scripture warns us and warns us to stay out of. The world can mean many different struggles for different people.

It is not always about money, but it all equates the same. ANYTHING we place above God or the service and ANYTHING that prevents us from following him with our whole hearts and lives completely surrendered to him.

That is why we are told that WE must LAY ASIDE all these weights.

God does not place that weight on us… the world does and we have to be willing to refuse to carry it and we can’t blame that one on God. 

This is one Jesus’ warnings on the subject.

Luke 12:15-20: ” And he said unto them, Take heed, and BEWARE of covetousness: for a man’s life consiseth not in the abundance of things he possesseth. 

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?”

And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow (store) all my fruits and my goods. and I will say unto my soul,  Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. 

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?”  

He went on to encourage us to lay up those treasures in heaven because the concerns and desires of this world that became as weights will drag us down. And this is also so clear in his parable of the sower and the seed, AGAIN warning us about this world and getting caught up in it rather that the things of God.

Matthew 13:3-9: “And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;

And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured  them up;

Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth; and forthwith they sprang up, because they had no deepness of earth: and when the sun was up, they were scorched: and because they had no root, they withered away.

And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up and choked them:

But others fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.”  

Do you recognize all the different human conditions going on here?

Think about it, the way side, just going through life, not caring one way or another and those are absolutely devoured because no one is caring if they make it or not.

The stony places in hardened hearts and unrepentant, unyielding, stubborn, and prideful.

Too “shallow” to make the long haul, all for it until the going gets tough and then they gotta get going… their own way, AWAY from God. 

And the thorns of this world, the pain, the sorrow, the hurt, and injustice, all those things that prick, mar, and scar.

BUT Jesus told us this in his word, Song of Solomon 2:1,2: “I AM the rose of Sharon, and  the lily of the valleys. 

As the lily AMONG the thorns SO IS my love among the daughters.”

 For every single human condition there is a relief and cure in God’s word, IF we will seek it and have faith to believe it.

That faith and assurance, NOT in ourselves or our abilities but faith that He is and He will fulfil all his promises to us IF we do what his word tells us to do.

That is that good ground that he cultivates for his seed and to bring forth HIS fruit. And as he told us to “hear if we have ears to hear” meaning if our heart is set on him and our thoughts on things eternal to HEAR him.  

Continuing, Matthew 13:18-23: “Hear  ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one hearth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it  not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth (snatches) away that which WAS sown in his heart. This is which received seed by the way side. 

But he that received the seed into stony places,  the same is he that heareth the word, and anon (immediately) with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth (endures) for a while:  for when tribulation OR persecution ariseth BECAUSE of the word, by and by he is offended. 

He also that received seed among thorns is he that heareth the word : And the CARE OF THIS WORLD, and the deceitfulness of riches, CHOKE THE WORD,  and he becometh unfruitful. 

But he that received seed in the good ground IS he that heareth the word, and understandeth it;  which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”  Those “places” those weights. those are the things that prevent our growth, prevent us from bearing fruit and will certainly crush that precious seed planted by the Lord himself and eventually even crush us under them.

God never told us to wait on this world or to wait for things in this world to change.

We are to FOLLOW HIM and WAIT for him, not this world and we can never carry that weight. We were never meant to.

The only one who can is the only one who already holds it ALL in the middle of his nail scarred hand.

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω  NB 2018

 

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“PREPARED” Part #1, Preparing for the wedding of a King

“And the Spirit and the bride say, COME. And LET him that HEARETH say, COME. And LET him that is athirst COME and take of the WATER OF LIFE freely.” Revelation 22:17 

This is quite an invitation and what I love about this verse, it that it IS an invitation.

This is a wedding that had not happened because although they ARE speaking as one they are named SEPERATELY so what am I even talking about? So glad you asked:)!

We all know that marriage in all cultures is considered a covenanted  process, a beautiful celebration with the families giving their very best to provide for that wedding, depending on your location and beliefs, either the grooms family or the brides family but either way, ALL cultures hold marriage with the same honor, reverence, and life long commitment. 

No shock that the enemy has chosen marriage, TRUE marriage as God intended between a male and a female as his hottest battle ground. If he can pervert the very DEFINITION of marriage, he can attempt to confuse and twist one of the MAJOR end time teachings of the New Testament.

As Paul said, the great MYSTERY that IS Christ, His bride, which IS the church and the great Marriage Supper of the Lamb, which the absolute culmination of ALL things that have ever been since He spoke everything into creation, ALL that has been and ALL that will EVER be will be merged into oneness at that wedding.

Just as he came to the garden and walked and talked with Adam, just as he came down and spoke with Abram, as he let Moses just glimpse his glory, just as he spoke through the prophets, giving each a little insight into his WORLD, his beauty and his majesty, that they could NEVER effectively put into words.

He came down as a baby and even in that humble beginning, His great glory and majesty could not be concealed. The angels HAD to worship, they had to ANNOUNCE the arrival. 

Offerings in the form of gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh HAD to be brought before him because ALL kings and ALL nations WILL bow before him. People of ALL nations, languages, and tribes WILL bring their offerings of praise before him in that day. In that day our WORLDS will become ONE.

Prophecy had been given since the dawn of time to ease humans into this, all the prophecies as they eagerly awaited his arrival on earth as Messiah. Thousands of years, with prophets FULFILLING the words of OTHER prophets, which tells us a little of what level of preparation was needed. Think of John the Baptist, who fulfilled the words of the prophet Isaiah and Malachi.

John 1:15-23:   “John bare witness of him and cried, saying, THIS IS HE OF WHOM I SPAKE, He that cometh after me is preferred before me. And of his fullness have ALL received, and grace FOR grace.

For the law was given by Moses, but GRACE AND TRUTH CAME BY JESUS CHRIST.

No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath DECLARED him.

And THIS is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am NOT the Christ.

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elisas? {they knew the prophecy but Jesus said that John WAS the foretold voice fulfilling this prophecy} And he said, I am NOT. Art thou that prophet? And he answered and said, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? THAT WE MAY GIVE AN ANSWER TO THEM THAT SENT US, What sayest thou of thyself?

He said, I AM THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD, as SAID the prophet Esaias (Isaiah).” 

They could HEAR “the voice” that just did not want to “hear” they did not want to acknowledge the time they were entering, just as those today have “sent” their messengers in attempt to tear down the Gospel of Christ, hoping to silence THE VOICE that WILL NOT SILENCED, that VOICE shall bellow from the very mountain tops.

So just what DID Isaiah say? Isaiah 40:3-5:”  The VOICE of him that crieth in the wilderness, PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE STRAIGHT IN THE DESERT A HIGHWAY FOR OUR GOD.

EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE EXALTED (lifted up)  AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL SHALL BE MADE LOW : AND THE CROOKED PLACES SHALL BE MADE STRAIGHT, AND THE ROUGH PLACES PLAIN  (smoothed out): 

AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD SHALL BE REVEALED, AND ALL FLESH SHALL SEE IT TOGETHER: FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD HATH SPOKEN IT.”

WHY? Why WAS and IS a preparation needed?

Well, think about those verses, this was to prepare people for an encounter with God.

In preparing for this preparation, EVEN the angel Gabriel was SENT to Zacharias, to proclaim that he and his aged wife would have a child, a chosen child and even that there were to name him John, which literally means “grace” and given John’s commission BEFORE he was even conceived in Elisabeth’s womb. 

And this was that commission, the words of the angel Gabriel as recorded in Luke 1:17: “AND HE SHALL GO FORTH IN THE SPIRIT AND POWER OF ELIAS, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS TO THE CHILDREN, AND THE DISOBEDIENT TO THE WISDOM OF THE JUST; TO MAKE READY A PEOPLE PREPARED FOR THE LORD.”

How do you prepare people to the fact that their worlds are about to be rocked by the arrival of one, who will have the ability to miraculously heal the sick, restore sight to the blind, cause those bound by paralysis to rise and not only walk, but run and leap because of the joy he also placed in their recovered souls.

One who will SPEAK to the storms and command them to cease. SPEAK to demons and they should fall at his feet and  tremble in terror of him.

That he would have the ability to look through us, into our very souls and perceive EVERY single thought of not only our conscious mind but also our soul and heart.

One who would have such a gentleness and absolute tenderness that he would verbally defend women against the spoken and unspoken hatred and judgment of others, healing them not with touch of his hand but with his LOVE, giving them access to his very heart.

One who cried in sorrow with those who grieved. One who would walk on water and be transfigured into his glorious light before the very eyes of a select few, as he spoke with Moses and Elijah.

That he would not only raise the dead but that his own dead body would raise up (some symbolism in that, the resurrection his church NOW desperately needs).

HOW do you prepare people for that? Just as the Hebrews were  SCARED absolutely to death of him at Mount Sinai, they did not want to talk to him, they pleaded with Moses to be a go between.

As scared as they were, even SEEING his mercy, glory, and protection. How much more terrified would people have been had they NOT been prepared by these prophecies of what they should expect.

Now, as our scripture from Revelation tells us, those VOICES are to be heard and the first voice mentioned IS the voices speaking TOGETHER the SPIRIT and the bride speaking in complete unison.

God dealt with me several years ago, about the need for that surrender by his church a submission that would truly allow that merging, it is an old post, from 2014 and revised in 2015, but if you have a moment, please read it and it will help in understanding this one: Click here> merge,

I really believe that we have come into that unison, those who have sought have found and I also believe that the “invitations” are already being delivered.

I believe it is that close.

So I want you to look at a couple of things in that verse, okay, they are technically still separate, BUT they are speaking as ONE so that separation is merely location.

Remember with the Jewish grooms of the Old Testament, the groom RETURNS for his bride, there is NO question about their relationship ONLY the FINAL PREPARATIONS to be made so that she can join him.

So next time, I’ll get into our starter verse and we’ll look at that “wedding invitation” a little closer and decipher our “duties” in getting other PREPARED for the reign of Jesus Christ on this earth.

And no longer is it just an “invitation”, it is that they should be WASHED, clean,”clothed” and ready to enter into the doors.

And NOTHING will EVER fully prepare THIS WORLD to meet its maker, who will not be visiting for walks in the cool of the evening or teaching chosen disciples but WILL take his place AMONG his people and for that I am not sure they could ever be completely prepared.

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω  NB 2018

Original post 2018 but more than ever we need to remember and be encouraged that there is so much greater ahead!

Other posts in this series:

Prepared Part #2 Oxygen to Fire

Prepared Part #3 Would-be wedding crashers washed inside out

PREPARED Part #4

 

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“Not for sale”

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

It has been truly awesome to watch the steady uprising of women who are tired of being chased around the proverbial desks. Those who have grown weary of the sexual harassment and unwelcome comments that have plagued women since the dawn of our time outside the garden.

I love how all have drawn courage from the others and rising one by one, proclaiming that they are simply not taking it any more. It has produced  a beautiful domino effect, as we watch powerful male after powerful male fall one on top the other. And that is TRUE feminism.

But we still have battles to fight, and roads to pave, because although we are TO BE considered “equal” on the surface while LIVING daily lives in a sub-culture of the under current of  being “fair game” in the workplace and honestly, many other places, we know we still have  along way to go.

We had only skimmed the surface and NOW we are dragging  the net and hauling all the predators out of our waters.

As a little girl I grew up during the feminist movement and I do realize that was a privilege because societal chains were being broken as many celebrities began using their star power to influence those just like me, the younger generation with their messages of equality sans ownership.

And as an American, I KNOW how blessed we are.

I know that in many countries our sisters live under the rule of men and even younger male relatives that they must “ask permission” of before making any decisions. The have NO rights, NO rights for freedom, NO rights for themselves, and no legal recourse whatsoever, and feel that they have NO way out, and often they don’t.

So we are blessed, we have the right to make our voices be heard. We have the rights to truly pursue those things that our constitution PROMISED us.

We have the right to seek legal remedy (though that has often been a bad one-sided joke, favoring the male) but fortunately that also is changing.. for the better. And we are blessed among nations in having those rights, that have been won through hard-fought battles.

Now time has come and the most basic of battles is being fought. But you know, as far as we have come, we are never going to get to where we need to go until we realize WHO we are.

I really think what happened along the way is that as we fought for those rights and became a prominent force outside of the home and as more women chose not to marry and the enemy spoon fed us the line of sexual freedom, it left us as vulnerable prey to the wolves of the world because the were NO clear-cut rules.

Only now they can use the “misunderstanding” plea. The is no way to EVER misunderstand someone’s unwanted, unwelcome attention. There is NO way to misunderstand lewd comments and gestures.

But for years, decades, eons, women had felt forced to tolerate this behavior as “part of life”, part of being in a “man’s world”. God never intended this as part of life, nor did He ever intend this to be a man’s world.

We ARE all created equal, at birth we ARE equal, and in God, as scripture states, “….There IS NEITHER male nor female; for ye are ALL one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

We have allowed OURSELVES to be silenced, no one did that to us, we feel for that trick and now, finally awakening has come but we also need to awake to the truth. The truth of Jesus Christ.

The truth that all the beautiful reasoning’s of the heart and soul of the woman IS there because we were created by a beautiful Holy God who chose to place those things inside of in identifying us, as just that, womankind.

Different, because we are CREATED to be different and to ever buy into the lie that we are to just “grin and bear it” and accept behavior that hurt us, degrade us, and humiliate us as just “part of life” has been a greater tragedy that any prejudice shown us.

And while accepting this pack of lies that in order to play on an equal field we have to allow ourselves to be covered and in filth and mud from the other players, we have also bought into the biggest of those lies against us, that God is a woman-hater who is responsible for arranging the players on that field.

We have been guilty of selling ourselves for “nought”, which means nothing. We have accepted this offer for our “rights” that still keep us bound in chains of substandard humanism.

When Christ died to make us FREE, He came that we might not only have life but have it more abundantly and our freedom WAS purchased by Him in His blood.

Not given to us by any man or demanded through the court ordered through passage of laws. But given through Him and His death on the cross. He said, that we WILL know THAT truth and THAT truth WILL make us free.

NOW is the time, the time, as all this comes to light, as this “discussion” (I fail to see what there is to discuss, when “keep your hands off and your nasty thoughts to yourself ” should be evident and go without saying in ANY workplace) but as the discussion is finally taking place, it is prime time to also win women back to Christ through the TRUE Gospel.

Which is love, mercy, kindness, and best of all ABSOLUTE equality, protection and justice for us, and for all who have been oppressed. Embrace it! Whatever you ministry is, or if you have just felt led and not actually started a ministry yet. Pray about it and do it!

Take every opportunity given during this time of awaking, as women awake to the realization that we do not have to suffer this and we can change the world for our daughters and our daughters daughters, if time stands.

Through the example of only one person standing against any injustice, others are encouraged and inspired, and strengthened to also make that stand.

Wherever He has placed you today, use that place to stand and show others the truth and wisdom, and power in the word of God and encourage them to STOP selling themselves for nothing and to NEVER sell out their identity in God.

Εξυπνιζω NBJ 2017

 

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Don’t blink..

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Put (add) your burnt offerings unto your sacrifices,and eat flesh. For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices; 

But this THING I commanded them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and WALK ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you. 

But they hearkened not (did not listen), nor inclined their ear, but walked in the counsels and  in the imagination (stubbornness) of  their evil heart, and went BACKWARD, and not forward.” Jeremiah 7: 21-24 

I have been brushing up on the book of Jeremiah in a whole new light, I will share it as a blog page in my “page” section” Juggling Jeremiah and encourage any who are interested in end time prophecy to check it out and study it also.

But back to my point, I have been just a wee afraid that we are on borrowed time… actually I KNOW we are.

And hate the new president or not, we were STILL blessed with answered prayer. Many, many churches and families were having special prayer meetings just for the sole purpose of praying about the last American presidential election.

And I truly believe had it not gone the way it went we would have had some major trouble with certain “mother” land. But I am concerned that if we fail to make the most of this season, when we are absolute liberty to express our christian beliefs and use every resource given us to evangelize and spread the good news of the Gospel that a time will come, and is already quite still looming on the horizon when those original freedoms that were just so recently hard-fought to regain could be at even a greater risk than what we have known.

I don’t think anyone is naive enough to believe that the anti-God counter-culture that rose up under the prior administration has just vanished, conceded defeat, threw in the towel and retired from the ring.. forever. Not even close.. Au contraire… they are recouping, regrouping, and regaining momentum to fight another day.

A battle that many will not even see coming and if you blink you may just miss it before it rises up in a whole new kind of power. I’m not even going to get into the socialist, anti-God, anti-American thoughts and actions that ALMOST split our country into but we do all know that hatred in the name of tolerance, which is such an oxymoron in itself, spread like wild, group against group, hatred and violence spewing persona against person, no one to blame and YET everyone blamed one another.

But we all know as a truth “history is apt to repeat itself” if we forget that history.

And it has for a season tempered down a little and it is in this season that whatever difference is to be made, must be made.

We can’t be taking it easy, resting on our lees, when we have to keep fighting the good fight and keep fighting to keep the rights that were becoming so sketchy and shaky as we saw the white house go rainbow, traditional marriage “go south” and bakers fined hundred of thousands of dollars for refusing to bake cakes to celebrate what they hold as absolute abominations to God, and truly it would be no different from baking cakes honoring Satanic worship, pagan deity, or anything they hold personally offensive and morally wrong… however had they refused to bake a cake honoring, celebrating, or encouraging dog-fighting, or elder abuse, or even slavery the whole world would have been behind them cheering them on in the defiant stand for those PERSONAL beliefs.

Yeah.. as long as those beliefs CONDONE their behaviors or condemn the “unsavory” and SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE behaviors that they PERSONALLY find despicable.

Funny how it works out that way! Good old socialism and how dare you refer to a transgender person by other that what they PREFER? That’ll get you a fast trip on the money tree express to lawsuit city.

And God help anyone who would accidentally saw the wrong thing or be confused in their true intent with a comment or thought expressed, or heaven forbid their own PERSONAL OPINION.

Ahh.. I remember the days when we actually had our opinions and people were ENCOURAGED to form their own opinions.

Now we are to CONFORM to the supposed popular opinion.. which is THEIR opinion or face their wrath of “love, peace, and tolerance” of being called names and accused of hate crimes.

Romans 12:2:” And be ye NOT conformed to this world; but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may PROVE what IS that good, and ACCEPTABLE, and perfect ( BLAMELESS) WILL OF GOD.” 

So don’t get too comfortable just yet, don’t start taking it easy and keeping your voice to yourself because there is still that horizon, and there is still that “champion” to be sent, just as Goliath was sent forth as the champion for the Hebrews to fight against or become slaves to their enemies.

A new “champion” is rising with a whole new agenda to “preach” against, an agenda that if not dealt with in a Godly way, taken serious and rectified, as it was intended.. for freedom, that agenda will be used to usher in a much darker one than anything we have yet seen.

So remember what God told us, to obey HIS laws and GO FORWARD, do not go backward and do not take the easy path of retreat being fully prepared for a battle truly determines the outcome of that battle and sometimes in being well prepared a battle can even be avoided.

Stand your ground and stay strong in the Word and in God, be ready at all times as the word tell us to be “instant in season and out of season.” don’t forget where we have been because we sure don’t want to go back.

Σαλπιζω NLB 2018

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“Not for sale”

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32

It has been truly awesome to watch the steady uprising of women who are tired of being chased around the proverbial desks. Those who have grown weary of the sexual harassment and unwelcome comments that have plagued women since the dawn of our time outside the garden.

I love how all have drawn courage from the others and rising one by one, proclaiming that they are simply not taking it any more. It has produced  a beautiful domino effect, as we watch powerful male after powerful male fall one on top the other. And that is TRUE feminism.

But we still have battles to fight, and roads to pave, because although we are TO BE considered “equal” on the surface while LIVING daily lives in a sub-culture of the under current of  being “fair game” in the workplace and honestly, many other places, we know we still have  along way to go.

We had only skimmed the surface and NOW we are dragging  the net and hauling all the predators out of our waters.

As a little girl I grew up during the feminist movement and I do realize that was a privilege because societal chains were being broken as many celebrities began using their star power to influence those just like me, the younger generation with their messages of equality sans ownership.

And as an American, I KNOW how blessed we are.

I know that in many countries our sisters live under the rule of men and even younger male relatives that they must “ask permission” of before making any decisions. The have NO rights, NO rights for freedom, NO rights for themselves, and no legal recourse whatsoever, and feel that they have NO way out, and often they don’t.

So we are blessed, we have the right to make our voices be heard. We have the rights to truly pursue those things that our constitution PROMISED us.

We have the right to seek legal remedy (though that has often been a bad one-sided joke, favoring the male) but fortunately that also is changing.. for the better. And we are blessed among nations in having those rights, that have been won through hard-fought battles.

Now time has come and the most basic of battles is being fought. But you know, as far as we have come, we are never going to get to where we need to go until we realize WHO we are.

I really think what happened along the way is that as we fought for those rights and became a prominent force outside of the home and as more women chose not to marry and the enemy spoon fed us the line of sexual freedom, it left us as vulnerable prey to the wolves of the world because the were NO clear-cut rules.

Only now they can use the “misunderstanding” plea. The is no way to EVER misunderstand someone’s unwanted, unwelcome attention. There is NO way to misunderstand lewd comments and gestures.

But for years, decades, eons, women had felt forced to tolerate this behavior as “part of life”, part of being in a “man’s world”. God never intended this as part of life, nor did He ever intend this to be a man’s world.

We ARE all created equal, at birth we ARE equal, and in God, as scripture states, “….There IS NEITHER male nor female; for ye are ALL one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

We have allowed OURSELVES to be silenced, no one did that to us, we feel for that trick and now, finally awakening has come but we also need to awake to the truth. The truth of Jesus Christ.

The truth that all the beautiful reasoning’s of the heart and soul of the woman IS there because we were created by a beautiful Holy God who chose to place those things inside of in identifying us, as just that, womankind.

Different, because we are CREATED to be different and to ever buy into the lie that we are to just “grin and bear it” and accept behavior that hurt us, degrade us, and humiliate us as just “part of life” has been a greater tragedy that any prejudice shown us.

And while accepting this pack of lies that in order to play on an equal field we have to allow ourselves to be covered and in filth and mud from the other players, we have also bought into the biggest of those lies against us, that God is a woman-hater who is responsible for arranging the players on that field.

We have been guilty of selling ourselves for “nought”, which means nothing. We have accepted this offer for our “rights” that still keep us bound in chains of substandard humanism.

When Christ died to make us FREE, He came that we might not only have life but have it more abundantly and our freedom WAS purchased by Him in His blood.

Not given to us by any man or demanded through the court ordered through passage of laws. But given through Him and His death on the cross. He said, that we WILL know THAT truth and THAT truth WILL make us free.

NOW is the time, the time, as all this comes to light, as this “discussion” (I fail to see what there is to discuss, when “keep your hands off and your nasty thoughts to yourself ” should be evident and go without saying in ANY workplace) but as the discussion is finally taking place, it is prime time to also win women back to Christ through the TRUE Gospel.

Which is love, mercy, kindness, and best of all ABSOLUTE equality, protection and justice for us, and for all who have been oppressed. Embrace it! Whatever you ministry is, or if you have just felt led and not actually started a ministry yet. Pray about it and do it!

Take every opportunity given during this time of awaking, as women awake to the realization that we do not have to suffer this and we can change the world for our daughters and our daughters daughters, if time stands.

Through the example of only one person standing against any injustice, others are encouraged and inspired, and strengthened to also make that stand.

Wherever He has placed you today, use that place to stand and show others the truth and wisdom, and power in the word of God and encourage them to STOP selling themselves for nothing and to NEVER sell out their identity in God.

Εξυπνιζω NBJ 2017

 

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Beautifully Broken

“While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell (fragrance) thereof. A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me….” Song of Solomon 1:12, 13 line 1.

The book of Solomon, a book that I think every woman in the world should read, should study, every single verse has something that will encourage, strengthen, and free us.

As I have said one hundred times and probably will say it at least one hundred more, you have to pray for spiritually interpretation and not get all hung up on the romantic comparison to human relationships.

And even the initials.. think about it.. Song of Solomon… S O S recognized the world over as a cry for help, immediate, desperate need for rescue. I was to post my personal testimony this go round, and actually I did last week.

After much prayer and a few hours of tears and consulting with two that lived it with me, I pulled it. Which I will share it some day, if even only in ‘live” environment. This is after all the world-wide web and there was no way of sharing it to my sisters without running a high risk of “stirring up a hornet’s nest” as the saying goes. But I still want to continue on with part of it.

My story basically came down to being in the world, as far into the world as one could possibly go and I point that out for this reason… God KNOWS where we are whether we are where we should be or not. And He knows how we were led there.

And as God has a plan for ALL of our lives, so does the devil. this is the reason so many women suffer abuses, whether physical, emotional, or sexual, many of those suffer LIFE-LONG.

Many coming from broken homes with abusive fathers marrying abusive, dominating men and NEVER breaking that cycle. NEVER knowing the freedom and love Jesus has for them and some are even brainwashed spending their entire lives in church while still suffering ungodly treatment at home.

And some of us.. well, we are so hurt, so wounded, so broken that we self-destruct because we will never allow anyone close to us again and settle neatly into lives of acceptance in our own circles, but often those circles are anything other than holy.

My story was such and while working at a specialty shop, I became a victim of acquaintance stalking which with the progression of time overshadowed even existence and damage that went far beyond anything anyone could have seen coming.

People can be truly evil and now being in Christ, I truly believe this particular person was truly demon possessed.

I also believe that the enemy sets up events to lead people right where he wants them and that is his pre planned point of destruction. And I can tell you assuredly that my very life was divinely and supernaturally spared.

And I can also tell you that these events and that supernatural intervention is the force that broke me. Joseph told his brothers that what they had meant for evil, God used for good. And had I not went through my ordeal I would not have come to Christ.

Anyone else out there have that problem?

BELIEVE in God, KNOW He is real, but your vessel is so full of hurt, rage, a false sense of guilt and shame, that you have became convinced that you are ALREADY condemned?

A good warning to anyone who feels the leading to change your life, don’t believe the lies of the enemy that God will not save you. Because when the enemy knows your under conviction and evaluating your life, he will hit you with everything he has if you do not run to Christ fast enough, which is what happened to me.

The only way my circumstances could have ever been different is had I never been on the road the enemy had me on.

And God knows I spent months and months crying as life had forced me to look at all the things inside myself that I did not want to look at and had spent a lifetime running from. And we can run but we can never outrun ourselves.

We can function, smile, try to live life but all the pain, hurt, and inner torment of our souls and all the negativity that goes with it starts to crack those alabaster boxes.

We can for a while patch those cracks with things of this world, put on our happy faces, tell ourselves that  life is well, we are strong, and it is such a joke.

I promise those patches are only temporary and those vessels will leak again unless you surrender to Jesus.

BROKEN vessels can not be repaired they MUST BE MADE NEW.

So after being touched by what was undeniably divine, I was left with the fact that there was something so broken inside of me and that there was NOWHERE to run or hide and the only option had been to acknowledge the fact that I was absolutely helpless in the ability to free myself from the prison of myself and seek that freedom or die there.

I cried, and cried, prayed, and prayed, always felt like I was praying to a God in the middle of the universe whom had indeed spared my life but that I had no right to ask for anything, and I begged Him to just “fix me” and this was a long painful process. This wasn’t a just for a week or a day, this was constant and even though, I thought I was broken already, the moment, the true moment, that my soul absolutely broke, my Dad was praying with me and I was baptized with the Holy Ghost, and I did not know how to explain what I had experienced but I knew WHO I had experienced.

I had no idea this experience existed. He was no longer a God in the middle of the universe, He was my very present help.

My trauma went so deep that I had to be given the Holy Ghost before I could even deal with all of it. And the next day I was absolutely delivered and set free from chains that had bound me almost my entire life.

And I can also tell you that whoever I had been died right there on my floor and I was born again unto the presence of the God of the universe and freedom that I had never known.

Freedom, joy, and a peace that nothing would ever be the same because now I KNEW God, I KNEW that my sins were forgiven and I KNEW He was REALLY there and really accepted me.

But sometimes even knowing all that we still wrestle with the issue of the scars that have to be dealt with once and for all. For about two months even after I was saved, I struggled, I struggled with nightmares, and the same old lies the enemy had tried to whisper to me for years.

I went to church one Sunday night and at this time I knew nothing really about the word of God, just the very basics, and the sermon was out of the Book of Solomon and at the end the preacher kept saying that “someone” had been going through this, more or less, free but still needing to BELIEVE that freedom. They did this altar call about three of four times and I knew it was me and I was so scared,  they made everyone close their eyes and keep praying and said that they were going to ask one more time for this person to come.

Finally I did make it up there and could not stop crying and my pastor at the time had one wrist and the preacher had the other because I was seriously considering running completely away.

Then I felt this presence next to me and there are no words to describe it, just the sweetest presence, and I was still crying with my thousands of reasons why I was not worth saving and the preacher told me, “He’s here” and I said “I know, He is standing right there” couldn’t see Him, but He was there.

And I know there is so many people would think that is just insane, but until you know Him for yourself, don’t be so sure about what you think is possible. Because NOTHING is impossible with God. The preacher gave me a very specific word about what I had been through and a certain word about the garden of God and as soon as I heard that word, I was just absolutely overwhelmed by this gentleness that had almost like a humility with it. It so hard to explain, I don’t think it can be explained I think you have to experience it for yourself.

But the moment my soul choose to BELIEVE and just surrender to a love that is so indescribable and I have never ever been the same and all the torment that the devil had put me through was absolutely washed so completely away by all I can even describe is a love that is NOT of this world, is nothing like we feel as humans and I was so overwhelmed by His Presence that honestly if He had manifested I could not have even made eye contact.

Again I know the world is full of naysayers and doubters but all I know is what I know and I know that I have a world full of sisters who need, just as my soul needed a manifestation of His presence to truly free them and make them new. 

I also know that there are so many teaching that the miracles and wonders of old were for the disciples and stopped with the book of Acts. That is okay if those who believe that want to stop there. Just because they believe that does not make it true for everyone.

But I had been “IN” The world and had no idea the power and wonder of Jesus UNTIL I experienced Him. God is NOT a respecter of persons, as the Bible teaches, what He does for one HE WILL DO FOR ANOTHER. And it changes everything.

He takes every hurt, every wound, every sorrow and He replaces it with His love, His mercy, and still the one I still stand in awe of is His gentleness. As I said I did not understand the Holy Ghost or anything else, I just knew that there was nothing I could do for me.

And for some us that is what it takes, complete destruction to be made beautifully new.  Many things can “break” us, I love the story of Hannah and her story has nothing to do with violence, her heartache resulted from her inability to bear a child.

It is not always violence, our hearts hold many secrets and fortunately we CAN dwell in secret place of the most High.

I’ll hit and miss verses in this, but please read it if you have a moment. 1 Samuel 1 tells us of Hannah’s heart.

This took place at that time men had multiple wives, (again multiple wives WERE NEVER God’s idea) and even though Hannah was the favored wife, she was unable to conceive so she was ridiculed and constantly tormented by the other wife, she suffered this year after year.

So 1 Samuel 1:10 tells us: “And she was in bitterness of soul, and wept sore.”

She then prayed a vow to God, promising him that if He gave her a son she would give him to the service of the Lord. As she prayed, she prayed in her heart but her lips moved,without audible words, so Eli the priest thought she was drunk.

This is a good thought for when people misjudge and accuse us when we are going through something they do not understand.

1 Samuel 1:14,15: ” And Eli said unto her, how long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. 

And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit;  

I have drunk NEITHER wine nor strong drink, BUT HAVE POURED OUT MY SOUL BEFORE THE LORD.” 

The story goes on for a bit and he tells her to “go in peace” remember this is also what Jesus told Mary.

1 Samuel 1:18: “And she said, Let thine handmaiden find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way and did eat, and her countenance was NO more sad.” 

She goes on to conceive and give birth to her son and when she returned him to the temple to honor her vow, she prayed this prayer of joy, rejoicing, and a proclamation of His power and majesty.

1 Samuel 2:1-10: “And Hannah prayed, and said, my heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn (strength) is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over (smiles at) mine enemies; BECAUSE I rejoice in thy salvation.

THERE IS NONE HOLY AS THE LORD: FOR THERE IS NONE BESIDE THEE: NEITHER IS THERE ANY ROCK LIKE OUR GOD.

Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: FOR THE LORD IS A GOD OF KNOWLEDGE, AND BY HIM ACTIONS ARE WEIGHED.

The bows of the mighty men are broken: and they that stumbled are girded (clothed) with strength. They that were full have hired themselves out for bread; and they that were hungry ceased (had been fed): so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed (has grown) feeble.

The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up. He maketh poor, and maketh rich; he bringeth low, and lifteth up.

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory, FOR THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH ARE THE LORD’S, AND HE HATH SET THE WORLD UPON THEM.

HE WILL KEEP THE FEET OF HIS SAINTS, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; FOR BY STRENGTH SHALL NO MAN PREVAIL.

The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces, out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: then Lord shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and EXALT THE HORN (STRENGTH) OF HIS ANOINTED.”

So I know this is not for everyone, if you’re happy inside and have a great relationship with God, that is wonderful. But if  are struggling with issues or you have never trusted Him as your Saviour and you KNOW that there is no “fixing” you, or the problem that weighs you down then please, please, seek Him, trust Him, and rest your tortured soul in His mercy.

Get His opinion of you before you throw one more moment of your life away. What better time than as we celebrate all the things we have to be thankful for.

Psalm 110:4,5: “ENTER into his courts with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: BE THANKFUL UNTO HIM AND BLESS HIS NAME. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

In his presence, we find that table at which the King sits and notice with our starting verse, our SOS, He sits at His table but it is our “spikenard” that gives the aroma. Just as Mary came to him and broke her flask .

We SEEK Him, He is already there but we have to seek Him because He will not just take us over, He does not work that way. We have to be willing to break our own flasks and once we do that precious oil flows forth.

We can NEVER purify ourselves which is why  HE IS is the “bundle” of myrrh that forever dwells with us and in us, in our heart, in our soul.

Just as Esther bathed in myrrh for purification, we are washed IN Him, in His purification of us. And in that split second that TRUE surrender takes place and that we DIE to ourselves and are simultaneously reborn into him 

And just as the sorrow and sadness of Hannah was  replaced by joy and peace, and she was given victory over her enemy. You will be also once your pour out your soul to the only one who can pour His strength into you!

Εξυπνιζω NBJ 2017

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Resurgence of Ruth

“Now when every maids turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, ( for so were the days of their purification accomplished), to wit, six months with the oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odours, and with other things for the purifying of the women.” Esther 2:12

This is the scariest post I’ll ever write.. for me anyway! The first ANYTHING is always the scariest, just like the first impressions we all sometimes worry about making.

And I think we all, especially as women have those secret places in our hearts and souls that we may not always want to share.

Not because we are unwilling or prideful but because they are so personal, so private and your personal worship of the Lord IS private, it IS personal and pouring your heart out and pouring your soul out, seriously pouring out every single thing in you at His feet is something not many would want an audience for.

And for me, I know “Simon’s”, I have even written about “Simon’s” and I really don’t like their condescending stares any more than any of you do, and I am sure many of you have a few “Simon’s”, male or female, all your own to contend with.

But as Isaiah 53:12 says of Jesus: “Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; BECAUSE HE HATH POURED OUT HIS SOUL UNTO DEATH;…”   

And if I can’t pour out my love, my worship, my heart for Him,and to Him and about Him, then honestly I have no business asking Him for anything especially asking to be in His Presence.

Neither would anyone else who is unwilling to wear that love and that praise for all the world to see, no matter who it is in the world that is seeing.

And we will get into all that when the timing is right and that is where the “myrrh” will come in very handy.

But here we are and I KNOW there is so much more for the daughters, the sisters, the literal “maidens” of Christ.

And I KNOW as I have read the Book of Ruth, and was studying over a little something last night, that as Ruth was allowed to sit at the TABLE with the REAPERS and have a meal, that the “left over” grain that FELL to the ground as the reapers came by became her lot to collect, that WE also have much to be gathered that has fallen and just been left laying on the ground.

To background the next verses, a lady named Naomi and her husband, who was of Bethlehem Judah and their two sons moved to Moab because of famine and her husband died.  The sons married two women from there, but Moab was pagan, and eventually the two sons died and Naomi was left with her and her daughters-in-law, so she decided to return to her own land as the famine had since lifted.

She asked her daughters-in-law to go back to their own families and remarry, because at that time, women were solely dependent on husbands, sons, kindness of or others, or so it would have seemed.

After many tears and much lingering, Orpah decided to go her way, but Ruth absolutely refused to leave Naomi.

Now God is awesome, He has ALWAYS been awesome, and always will be awesome. And many of the Old Testament laws he laid down were actually designed to PROTECT women, but over the course of time, so much has been “preached” through many men, who seem to not notice many of the things the Lord actually said and prefer to twist scriptures to enslave us rather than lead us to freedom, but that is another subject, I’d better bet get back to this one.

God had a provision that  during harvest grain that fell was left so that the poor or hungry could come by and gather it so that they would also have food.. told you, HE IS AWESOME. So they make it back to Bethlehem, and this verse is really important to their entire purpose of what we have before us, not just this post, but where this should be leading.

Ruth 2: 2: ” And Ruth the Moabitess, said unto Naomi, Let me NOW go to the field, and glean ears of corn after HIM IN WHOSE SIGHT I SHALL FIND GRACE.And she said unto her, Go my daughter.”

So she ends up in the field of Boaz, and I don’t want to get all hung up here, we’ll be in and out of their business enough as our journey goes, but for this we just need a little more background, basically they meet, they talk, and we will pick it up at verse fourteen:

“And Boaz said unto her, At mealtime come thou hither (you come here) and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And SHE SAT BESIDE THE REAPERS: And he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.”

We know we are also in harvest season and just as Jesus told us “the harvest truly is great but the laborers are few” we also know that traditionally what has been reaped by the men of God working the fields of the world, but I truly believe the greatest amount of that “wheat” of the kingdom is still lying on the ground in the fields of this world, lying in drug addictions, poverty, abuse, and chains they can not break themselves out of without divine intervention from God.

And I truly believe that much of this harvest belongs to His daughters,  that have been invited to sit at His table and been fed from His table with things that He personally has given them and then they will set by the reapers and glean the fields.

But just like Esther, you can not just sit yourself down at the table of a King, there is preparation. Of course this is not about salvation, we do not prepare ourselves to be saved, we only ask, God saves us.

This is about those who are already saved preparing to take their place in the Bride that we were told to be prepared to be.

So now you can see a little where this entire blog will be headed, embracing who we are, learning the Bible truth about who HE says we are, NOT what has been and still often is drilled into our heads, but HIS WORD to us, and preparing to sit at that table with our King and glean those fields with the absolute resurgence of the character and virtue of our Sisters Esther and Ruth, because that is what it is going to take to get our job done.

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω Εξυπιζω NBJ 2017

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“Labor” Day

” And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, THAT THEY MAY REST FROM THEIR LABOURS; AND THEIR WORKS DO FOLLOW THEM.” Revelation 14: 13

Ahh, tomorrow, here in America, we celebrate “Labor Day”, a day of course, set aside to honor the hard-working men and women who make our country strong and whose diligence in countless areas of service keep the economic ball rolling for our nation.

And also there are so many, such as nurses, doctors, firemen, emergency workers, repair people, and food service employees, many whom are actually REQUIRED to WORK on Labor Day.

I do admit that while pondering the best “spin” to propel the thought of the post, that I felt the need to tell all of you, I am NOT a Ballerina, nor do I dance, but this is for me, in relaying this message, that I am performing a grandiose version of “Swan Lake” WHILE wearing steel-toed work boots.

So if it seems a bit “ungraceful” and if the heavy boots donned during the dance step on toes, including my own, please pardon. I would also like to point out that this is NOT for new converts to Christ, this is for “seasoned” workers of the Kingdom, who once knew these things and now just need a “note attached to their time cards” to remind them that they can lose benefits due to poor job performance.

Better to hear it now, than to hear, something much like what Jesus told the Disciples, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour IS at hand….  Here, my friends is the first of the very awkward “dance moves”, I must make, WE CAN NOT WORK OUR WAY TO SALVATION.

 Ephesians 2:8-10: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that NOT of yourselves: it is the gift of God; NOT OF WORKS, lest any man boast. For WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP(creation) CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS UNTO (for) GOOD WORKS, which GOD HATH BEFORE ORDAINED (prepared) THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN THEM.”

Notice in our first verse the voice said that they may REST, and Jesus told them to take their rest. There is a very clear difference between trying to do our own work that we think is good enough for salvation, which again is an impossibility and doing the work that GOD preordained us to do. And to decide that we will rest as to have him grant us that rest.

But we still are REQUIRED to work in the Kingdom. And I BELIEVE in grace! I thank God for grace! I could lay at His feet for a thousand years just thanking Him for the grace He gave me, saving me, a miserable creature who in no way DESERVED that grace!

And that is what Paul was referring to. I have heard some on television completely blow off the judgements and really come against the teachings of those judgments.

I can’t figure this out because God has a Bible full of people WITH that job, without the forced warning from Jonah, Nineveh would have never repented, it WAS the warning God sent that made them AWARE that they were doing wrong and the Bible is full of warnings.  

My Goodness, People! To reiterate this for anyone who has not read prior ancient posts, there ARE TWO Babylon’s, the first ancient Babylon, the Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed the destruction and judgments against it.

BUT Jeremiah also proclaimed the judgment and destruction of FUTURE, SPIRITUAL BABYLON. The FULFILMENT of this IS what is spoken in Song of Solomon 7:9: ” And the roof of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved, that goeth down sweetly, (smoothly) causing the lips of those that ARE asleep TO SPEAK.”

Jeremiah wrote the judgments that the Lord had commanded, Jeremiah 50:62-64: ” Then shalt thou say, O Lord, 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 a desolate for ever. And it shall be WHEN thou hast made and end (finished) reading this book, THAT thou shalt bind a stone to it, and cast (THROW) it into the midst of EUPHRATES; And THOU SHALT SAY, THUS SHALL BABYLON SINK, AND SHALL NOT RISE FROM THE EVIL THAT I WILL BRING UPON HER;..”  

There is so much Bible prophecy linked up with the Euphrates, it has angels ‘bound”in it  that will be released and it dries up to prepare the way for the mighty war… HAS THIS ALREADY HAPPENED????? NO! Neither has many of the ABSOLUTELY HORRIFYING events foretold, but we have hope in the sealed words of the seven thunders and that is why we NEED to be so diligent NOW.

The fulfillment of the words of Jeremiah are Revelation 18:21: ” 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.”

NO MATTER what country a person chooses to believe that”MYSTERY BABYLON” IS, one fact REMAINS.. THIS IS BIBLE, IT WILL HAPPEN and those who live in that country WILL be going about everyday life, MANY unsaved and completely UNAWARE of these prophecies yet to be fulfilled, and MANY MORE who have been force-fed “grace” to the point that they think they do no wrong in the eyes of a Holy God and have been taught that repentance and work are not a requirement, and SUDDENLY “Babylon” is attacked, from all sides and without warning, other than the Biblical truths of teaching of Jesus in how we KNOW these things shortly come and to be living lives accounted WORTHY TO ESCAPE these things, Babylon will be destroyed in one hour, one day FROM off the face of the earth.

HOW can anyone be perfectly comfortable NOT sharing the Gospel, NOT leading others to Christ, NOT using the gifts and talents HE has given them? How about all those who sit in bound in chains of demonic bondage of drug addictions, pornography, alcoholism, and so many other bondage, when GOD HAS GIVEN SOMEONE the PRAYER OF FAITH, given SOMEONE THE GIFT OF HEALING AND MIRACLES, when human beings sit in dread and terror, when GOD HAS GIVEN SOMEONE A WORD OF KNOWLEDGE, AND WORD OF PROPHECY,  A WORD TO BE “FITLY SPOKEN IN DUE SEASON” that would free that person’s mind and bring peace.

Gift after gift, talent upon talent, wasted and unused, because we are too busy, too lazy, too comfortable to be the LIGHT that HE LEFT US HERE TO BE while the world suffers in almost pitch black darkness, no wonder Jesus warned us, Revelation 2:4,5: ” Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do thy first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and remove thy candlestick (lampstand) out of his place, except (unless) thou repent.” 

Anyone want to argue that He does not expect us to work for the Kingdom? 

So, if you are saved, sure, you ARE saved BUT when our WORK is tried by fire to ensure purity and purpose, motive, and measure, and the Lord gives crowns and rewards and treasures in heaven, you will come up lacking and the saddest part is the difference made in the difference that SHOULD have and COULD have been made in someone else’s life will have been left undone on your shift.

The WORK he asks is quite simple, Love Him, spread His love, go to His house, worship Him, Keep His commandments, and Honor Him in your life and in advice you give others, do as He asks when He prompts you in heart, help someone else to carry their burdens, show mercy and be kind. And HE IS NOT ASKING MUCH!

And one thing you DO not want to do is EVER let Him catch you sleeping on the job, you may just sleep your way right through a God-given opportunity to impact this world while we still barely have enough light left to work by.

If you doubt any of these things pray, read your Bible, and try something so simple as watching the news. It is here people, nothing is changing it and maybe those who preach against preaching warnings really believe that they can just get everyone saved and bypass the judgments.. well, could be true, those saved and raptured WILL be spared many things, BUT what if those who did just simply omit these thoughts, these verses, find themselves on that day, NOT  accounted worthy and NOT escaping these things and left here to do a job that should have been done right the first time!

Love and peace, don’t kill the messenger. My ministry started with this thought, my very first post PLEASE WAKE UP !!!   on a church site that God had blessed me to write for, it was November 2013 and I was so scared that everyone would hate me, but now it is not fear of hate, it is anger, every time I see those who are hurt, wounded, and know that things could change, IF we would change.

God said if we “would humble ourselves” but see that is still the problem, it is all about us, when it should be about HIM, the Kingdom, and the work that needs done.

It is so sad that so many are still sleeping on the job, but I have come to believe that maybe, as we know great revival comes during great persecution, that maybe it is going to take quite a wake up call… please don’t wait too late.

And if you are working, VOLUNTEER with Him for more work! Offer to do the jobs others won’t and He will bless you for going that second mile when your brother has only asked you to go one! BTW, HAPPY LABOR DAY!

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2017 

 

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MISSION….Staying the course

“Then Jerubbaal who IS Gideon, and ALL the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod; so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.

And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are TOO MANY for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt THEMSELVES AGAINST ME, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.

Now therefore, go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid, let him return and DEPART early FROM mount Gilead. And there returned (left) of the people twenty and two thousand; and THERE REMAINED ten thousand.

And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet (still) TOO MANY; bring them down into the water, and I will try (test) them for thee THERE: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee; and of whomever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.

So he brought down the people unto the water: and the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shall thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink.

And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were THREE HUNDRED men;  but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water.

And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand; and let all the other people go every man into his place (home).” Judges 7:1-7

Most know the story of the oppression by the Midianites and they were fierce and when God called Gideon  to lead the people to freedom, he wanted some assurance and…. a little more.. well much more  reassurance that this was God’s will and that is a very good and noble desire. So I would imagine that deep down Gideon pictured this battle taking place with a multitude of the strongest of the strong and with the host of heaven as guard and with back ups for his back ups.

We too, fall into this human realm of thinking, we want that back up, that assurance that our numbers are far superior than those of our enemies, but as Christians, we have our enemies we see and we have the many, many more unseen enemies to our salvation and our walk. God sees things a bit differently, He wants the enemies, the world, and US to know that our victories come through Him and through Him ALONE.

Zechariah 4:6: ” Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This IS the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, NOT by might, NOT by power, BUT BY MY SPIRIT, saith the Lord of hosts.” 

Things that may not always look quite right to us can be EXACTLY right on target with God’s plan. Our problem come when we question, ponder, and consider the why’s , why not’s, and the dreaded what-if’s.

Instead of pondering we need to go down to that water for a little bit, what was so different about the three hundred?  For starters, twenty-two thousand left for fear, and there is nothing wrong with admitting fear.

And there is nothing wrong with being afraid, that IS why God gave us so much comfort through His word, with scriptures such as, “What TIME I am afraid, I WILL trust in thee” and His promise to “NEVER leave us or forsake us” but that is sometimes and there are sometime when we have that fear we have to just set it out and wait for that fear to pass, because we have all been afraid in life, BUT in the operations of battles of faith, there IS no room for fear. Fear and faith can not coincide because it will lead to double mindedness and we can not waver into fear creating doubt against the very thing we are believing for, that is why we were warned over and over again about fear, remember, ” For God hath NOT given us the SPIRIT of fear; but OF POWER, and of LOVE, and of a SOUND MIND.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

Those fears play over and over attacking our minds with the what-ifs, and why’s and why not’s and that creates doubt and discouragement that stifles the faith that He has given us and the working of His power in our lives and His perfect love which casts out ALL fear.

So now he is down to ten thousand, still quite a number, but STILL too many, because it would have been a little too easy for the flesh to rise up and convince people that they were strong and that was what won the battle.

And God likes to work in the realm of IMPOSSIBLE, that IS His specialty! The test was in the water… they were ALL at the water, the separation came based on how they chose to drink it. The MAJORITY just bowed at the water and the three hundred paid attention and stayed on alert and they USED what they had, they brought the water to their mouth by hand and they weren’t afraid of being inappropriate or considered uncivilized, they had a mission and the mission was there only concern. 

I think this is how the last day harvesters are going to play out, as the separation continues, as we are in the great falling away but we know we are also approaching the pouring out ( I think we have actually already entered into it) people have to know their mission and not look to the left or to the right, ONLY to the Lord because it IS all Him, just like the mighty victory He gave Gideon. Gideon needed ONLY to obey and God gave him every encouragement he could have dreamt of along the way.

Maybe your church doesn’t look quite as full as you’d like, or your ministry seems stuck on auto pilot, life may seem to be taking you everywhere but where YOU WANT TO GO. Have faith, you have no ide what God is doing behind the scenes and if you give up, you WILL never know hat could have been, so DON”T EVEN ENTERTAIN THAT THOUGHT.

The army of the Lord is not for quitters and once you make that conscious decision to stand, even if you are the last one standing, you will be glad you did, when all looks hopeless, when all looks impossible, THAT is when the sweetest victories come, and it makes you stronger in the Lord because you KNOW, HE has allowed you to stand, in the face of the enemy, in the face of your fears, in the face of your hurt, sorrow, and despair, you then can show others, that they too can stand.

Don’t despise the “small things”, don’t question things you may not understand at the moment, stay your course and accept your mission, USE what He has given you, no matter what others may think, when you find yourself at that water, don’t be too afraid drink!

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2017

 

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Am I too late?

Most have experienced the pain of waiting too late. Too late in making a decision and living with that regret for years or sometimes life. Being late to an event or the fear that maybe you have already arrived too late and lost out on something you had long looked forward to, or feel that if you could only go back and change this or do that, everything would be different.

I feel like this goes on in the kingdom pretty often, people feel like they have waited too long in moving out into their calling, or they were hurt and rejected once they did step out, I promise you that is just part of the deal, you step out for the Lord you’re gonna be hurt AND rejected but take it for the compliment that it is! The enemy is NOT going to waste his time (because he knows it is short) fighting people for fun, he fights what he knows is a threat.

So they feel like they maybe they were mistaken about even being called, (another trick from the enemy) they feel they can’t “go back” to “that” church or “those” people because there is just “too much water under the bridge.”

Have you ever thought of it this way, maybe the WATER under that bridge is exactly what the enemy is trying to keep you out of! Maybe you think you missed your calling, waited too long, and too much time has passes, too many struggles have ensued… Got some good news on that story, what if you discovered one day that it was ALL part of the plan for your life to get you EXACTLY where you need to be spiritually in order to go EXACTLY where God wants to take you?

We’ve got two situations going here so we will hit the both, It is NEVER too late! Until you are dead and in the ground then it is too late to pursue the call of God on your life no matter if it was given fifty years ago because: “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (ARE IRREVOCABLE).” Romans 11:29

Which means God is NEVER going to say, “Oh sorry, I really did not mean to give you that, let me just take that back.” NO it means He has given them for ever and ever.

And for whatever reason the have been unused I want you to be encouraged, get back up, get back on that boat, do not care who likes you, who doesn’t and do the will of your Father because it is Him that we answer to and sometimes, we are required to swallow our pride for the kingdom because pride does not belong in the kingdom and God ALWAYS deals with those who come against you and your calling, but if you hide it and refuse to use it, what reason would he have to exonerate you from your enemies, and prove them wrong?

Now to prove it is not too late, remember in Revelation when Jesus is warning and encouraging the churches as to what he expects of them, He is speaking to the church of Ephesus, who left their first love, I just want to use part of this verse, because these people WERE saved, their WERE known to Him, “Remember therefore from whence (where) thou art fallen, and repent, and DO THY FIRST WORKS;“ Revelation 2;5 (1)

So He is telling them DO your FIRST works. I want to get this out-of-the-way, I know there could be the argument against this, because of the verse “called in one hope of your calling” but if you do not accept your ONE hope on this earth to do your job, and use your calling, you sure aren’t going to need it in heaven or New Jerusalem because everyone there will already be saved.

So if you are reading this, rest assured it is NOT too late! I do want to warn you of a common snare with this, once “people” find out you are called, many of them can not wait to give advice and tell you what you should do” it is YOUR job from the Lord, HE will put in your heart or give to you by prophecy what you should do. Don’t need it please don’t listen to it unless you want to ask your Pastor, or prayer partner their thoughts on the best way to go about something, but please don’t let anyone influence you in your work for God, He calls us all differently.

Situation two, we’ll call, “You are growing, growing, growing” Think about David, do you realize that David was anointed THREE times, anointed means to be separated for a specific purpose, the first time He was only about fifteen years old, and this was done privately, only in the presence of his family,

1 Samuel 16:13:” Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren; and the spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day FORWARD…….”

From this point on, the spirit of God was with him, and even though he had ALREADY been anointed to be King, the time was not yet, and when he was sent to Saul, it was NOT as his replacement but as his harpist!

His next task would be to fight the mighty giant Goliath and I don’t even think David was even thinking about his future or the job he was already in training for, when he ran AT Goliath it was in confidence of the Lord, that no one was going to threaten and enslave the people of the Living God, and at NO point did he tell Goliath “I come to you as the future King” He told him that he came in “NAME of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel”.

He then went on to endure Saul’s insane jealously, hiding and fearing for his life, battling bloody battle upon battle, growing and growing into who he had been created to be.

He is anointed a second time, 2 Samuel 2:4,”And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah….” this time is publicly with his countrymen.

And on he goes… growing and growing, battling and battling, “friend” and foe, learning to deal with situations and all the qualities he would NEED, imperative to his success and survival. He has been anointed privately, publicly, and now he will be anointed and accepted by the elders as King over all of Israel.

“So all the elders of Israel came to the king, to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord; and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.” 2 Samuel 5;3,4

The fulfillment of that promise unfolded over the period of his life that he was fourteen, fifteen years old until he was thirty, and even NOW part of the divine purpose for the throne of David is STILL unfolding and will be until the return of Christ!

How much do you think he matured and grew and learned and developed over those fifteen odd years? What if he had given up half way through and decided to “rethink” what had been told to him at that private anointing?

David was successful in that long journey because he never lost focus of the big picture, and allowed himself to be exactly what Go wanted, a vessel and David knew that no army, no power, nothing of this earth could defeat God or stop His divine will for Israel and this is what keep David going… and going.. it was NEVER easy and I am sure he experienced many moments of absolute sorrow during those dark times but he always held on and we must also!

Do not give up on your calling! I love the story of Nehemiah and it has been encouragement many times for me personally, I actually have it written and taped in the front of my Bible, along with many other verses, we NEED this encouragement.

This took place  as Nehemiah set about to rebuild the wall and the enemies came forth to STOP THE WORK and I love this verse, Nehemiah 6:9; “ For they ALL made us AFRAID, saying, their hands SHALL BE WEAKENED FROM (because of) the work, that it not be done. NOW THEREFORE, O GOD, STRENGHTEN MY HANDS.”

This is a great verse to remember when “people” are telling you that “it” is impossible to accomplish what GOD SAID you could and trying to discourage you with the thought that the work is too hard and you can not possibly finish it.

Maybe what you think is a little too late could actually be right on time,”Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.) Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick. When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is NOT unto death, BUT FOR THE GLORY OF GOD, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. When he heard therefore that he was sick, HE ABODE (stayed) TWO DAYS STILL IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE HE WAS. Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judea again.

His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou hither again? ( why are you going back)  Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours in a day? If any man walk in the day, he stumbleth not, because he seeth the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbleth, because there is no light in him.

These things said he; and afterward he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; But I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death; but they thought he had spoken of taking rest in sleep.

Then said Jesus unto them, plainly, LAZARUS IS DEAD. And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, TO THE INTENT THAT YOU MIGHT BELIEVE;……John 11:1-15  most know the rest of the story.. the sisters go on to tell Him, if He had only been there, their brother would still be alive.

We often think about our pain in what we go through, but it was NOT easy for Jesus to allow them to go through this sorrow and everyone is crying and now HE IS crying also, and I ALWAYS have to point this out because it just tells you WHO HE IS, He KNEW that in matter of moments Lazarus would be very much alive, it just broke His heart seeing them hurt, it does break His heart to see His children cry, NEVER doubt that.

“Jesus said, Take ye away the stone, Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh; for HE HATH BEEN DEAD FOUR DAYS. Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, IF THOU WOULDEST BELIEVE, THOU SHOULDEST SEE THE GLORY OF GOD?” John 11:39,40

As we know from the verses, He LOVED them, but Lazarus was allowed to die so the GLORY would be revealed. But it was not the END of Lazarus’s  story and EVEN four days dead was still not too late!  Just as He said, it was that the GLORY OF GOD WOULD BE REVEALED AND THAT THEY WOULD BELEIVE!

It may look dead, doesn’t mean it is dead! May just not be as late as you think it is after all! So if you find yourself asking.. “Am I too late?”, have faith.. it all may just be right on time!

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016

 

 

 

 

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Love Is……

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity (love), I am become as a sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the GIFT of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have ALL faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love), I am nothing.

And though I bestow ALL my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity (love), it profiteth me NOTHING.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Love, love, sweet glorious love! We say it, we think it but just how often are we really showing it?

Think of it though He SPOKE with the heavenly languages, given through the gift of tongues, so that all could hear the word of God for themselves and though He even SPOKE the language of the heavenly host, the language of the angels, as marvelous and wonder striking as that, still without love, his voice would be nothing other than the sound of a common instrument.

Though he had the very gift of God MANIFESTED in his life, through prophecies could understand and relate even the darkest of parables, though he had faith to even pray the most insurmountable mountain down to the ground and call it dust, without love it is nothing.

And giving all he had and even his life, if it was without love, it would hold no value eternally and there would be no reward for any of those acts.

He was giving us a very valuable lesson here, we CAN be saved, we CAN be working in the kingdom, we CAN have the manifestation of the gift of the Spirit, and yet we can be so one minded, so religious, and so hard-hearted that it will not be effective and none of it will last eternally.

Doesn’t mean a person is not saved, just means they are not producing the most precious of fruit and without producing love, nothing else is going to grow. 

Love IS….  “Charity (love) suffereth long, and IS kind; charity (love) envieth not; charity (love) vaunteth not itself (does not brag on itself), it not puffed up (arrogant),

Doth not behave itself unseemly (rudely), seeketh not her own (is not self-seeking), is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things. Charity (love) NEVER fails….” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8(1) 

So LOVE IS… forbearing, willing to tolerate a lot before blowing its top. LOVE IS kind, gentle, merciful, looking over things and looking through others to see the best and see the causes before passing judgment, giving of itself rather than to be given to, thinking of others before itself. 

LOVE IS not boastful, or proud,  it never reminds you of what all it has done for you, never thinks you owe it anything, never expects anything in return, love is never arrogant in thinking that it is number one, but always allowing the favored position to other, love gives a hand up not a knock down.

LOVE IS never rude, cocky, or bossy, or better than anyone or anything, never self-seeking and self-fulfilling, never self-willed.

LOVE IS not easily angered, chooses to see the good, even when it is aware of the bad.

LOVE IS never pleased with lies, and hypocrisy but is overjoyed with the truth.

Love walks along the paths of this life with us, walks through all the sorrow, all the sadness, and all the grief with us, and when we become to weary to walk, love will carry us to the end of that journey.

Love holds on,  ever clinging to the side of a mountain as everything around it starts to quake and tumble down, never giving up and never letting go. Love never fades, never dies, never gives itself credit, it always protects, always perseveres and NEVER, EVER FAILS. 

We gotta put this baby in reverse, to fully understand just why we need to know what love really is: 1 John 4:19: “ We love him because HE FIRST LOVED US.” 

We are not even capable of love in our own selves, we only love at all because HE LOVED US FIRST, and even then we are still not capable of the level of love that He has.

“Beloved, let us love another: for LOVE IS of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth NOT knoweth NOT God; for GOD IS LOVE.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be propitiation for our sins. Beloved, IF GOD SO LOVED US WE OUGHT ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” 1 John 4:7-11 

So is it love? Is it real, real love? Titus 3:1-4 “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers (authority), to obey magistrates (obey laws of the land) to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers (not contentious) but gentle, shewing meekness unto all men.

For WE OURSELVES WERE ALSO SOMETIMES foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures (running wild doing whatever they pleased), living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. BUT AFTER THAT THE KINDNESS AND LOVE OF GOD OUR SAVIOUR TOWARD MAN APPEARED.”

There you have it, Paul stating what we all have been but AFTER all that the love and kindness of Jesus showed us all EXACTLY what LOVE IS!

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω  NBJ 2016  ****01/14/2022 REVISITED*** Rev. Nina Brown Johnson 2022

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“Vexing Vineyard Variances”

“Now will I sing to my well beloved a song touching (concerning) his vineyard, My beloved has a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes and it brought forth wild grapes. 

And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray (ask) you, betwixt (between) me and my vineyard. WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE DONE TO MY VINEYARD? THAT I HAVE NOT DONE IN IT? wherefore, when I looked that is should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? ISAIAH 5:1-4

As God describes the planting of his vineyard, he chose a spot with rich, fertile soil, He cleared out all the weeds, briers, and all that could hinder and choke the new plantings.

He then removed all the rocks and debris that could hold back the tender shoots and He then planted the absolute best of vine, He himself being the tower in the midst of it. Watching and protecting the young vines, as they could grow without disturbance as beasts would try to trample and destroy them.

The winepress ready and waiting the harvest of grapes that was to come and produce magnificent. new wine, the Father’s own personal signature selection. But instead of producing the grapes needed for this particular vintage, wild, bitter, strong, unpleasant, nasty grapes grew instead. He tells us to judge this matter for ourselves…  Is the problem with the planting or is it a problem with the vineyard itself?

HE THEN ASKS THE QUESTION…that should terrify us all, What more could MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE THAT HE HAS NOT ALREADY DONE?

Kinda what is going on with the “falling away” we are now under, like the breaks and wounds body of Christ that are allowed to continue without remedy and without even caring to heal them, and churches of the modern-day that are seemingly unaware that when one member hurts, we ALL hurt, and continue to allow the Gospel to be falsely advertised and outright sold and not only do they not speak out against these things, they often help promote the very ones who perpetrate these “crimes” committed against the cause, verse 7:…. and he looked for judgement (justice), but beheld oppression; for righteousness but beheld a cry.”

To not speak out on behalf of the truth, makes us all guilty of these things, and too easily we forget that we,  ALL the members,ALL the churches, ARE ALL ONE BODY and “in that day His name shall be one” and we’d better start getting in that ONE mindset here or we just not make it to even be there.

What more could He do for us? And as we know, and I will not get repetitive, even though I really want to.. but we all know the major problems of today. There is often not enough love, caring, and general goodwill  between members of the vine, which cause essential growth nutrients to be siphoned away from the small grapes and over ripening the mature ones and too much money-grubbing, self promoting, ulterior motive impeding the vine’s overall general growth.

He will absolutely not lose His harvest because of a bunch of bad grapes! I really believe  major change is coming soon and the vineyard will be pruned, all the vines, as He says, that do not produce fruits will be cut away and all the bad grapes, all those who have held the positions and the ministry that have further alienated people AWAY from the Gospel through their false representations of the heart of Christ, will allowed to fall to the ground, just as when a grape withers and rots away on the vine, finally falling useless to the ground.

Whatever places they held will be given to the “new grapes” that are growing up into the vine as we speak, and that new wine will be wine for all, not just a select few and they will have a heart for God and for His people, they will see to the widows, and the fatherless, and they will care for those who are outcast, sick, and spiritually wounded.

They will be the leaders and ministers for the church and know that they ARE for the church, and not fall for the power tripping trap that the CHURCH IS FOR THEM. They will go forth in faith knowing that God will supply all their needs in unfolding ministries and that He is quite capable of furnishing the house and they will be those who “instead of thy fathers shall be thy children”… these will be the true fruits of God’s vineyard.

Time to check what’s growing and do some pruning and purging, better to tend what we can than to be cut down, cast out, and burned up, never, ever to grow again.

 

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω  NBJ 2016

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New Direction, >>>>>>> 2017

Hard to believe another year has come, starting off with the freshness of a new fallen snow and gently waving into a cool summer breeze, Autumns splendor having been replaced by a multitude of beautiful twinkling lights, and will be gone with the blasts of horns and whirls of confetti, as 2017 will be ushered in.

How time flies so quickly is beyond me, but I do believe the “shortened” days of the Bible are being fulfilled. In a blink of an eye, the days, and months have passed by and we once again evaluate ourselves, what we have accomplished, and what we have most importantly learned.

Many, many have been through tough times, not only this past year but the years preceding, faith has been tested and endurance has been stretched but I believe hope is on the horizon, chains will be broken,  doors will be opened, damages will be repaired and things can be made new IF we forsake our OWN paths and our OWN ways and be willing to go in a NEW direction, in courage, boldness, not fearing the unknown and more importantly not fearing failure of rejection by others.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of PEACE, and NOT of evil (calamity), to GIVE YOU AN EXPECTED END ( a FUTURE and a HOPE).

Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye search for me with all your heart.” JEREMIAH 29:11-13

I think sometimes, even though it is not our intention, we kinda run off in our own path, like little lambs, headed for what we are going after, when the Shepherd is standing there like, “Where are you going?” and being the lambs we are, we just baa-baa and take off running even faster  after what has caught our eye and lured us into believing that the grass may be greener over there, running until He comes to our rescue and pulls us from the edge of the cliff at the moment we are almost ready to topple over it.

Some cliffs are man-made and those are the worst, you know the areas that we voluntarily dwell in, in the forms of bad relationships and trying to shoulder burdens that were never ours to carry, and that heavy burden you have chosen to put on your own back will certainly either knock you down the hill or roll you over your own cliff, whichever comes first.

There really are times in life that we are required to JUST LET situations and relationships GO! Say Adios, Asta LA vista, Good-bye and if you have too, hum a little chorus of “Na-Na, Na-Na, hey-hey, good-bye”!

You know when your joy has been sucked out and misery is at your door,  you feel trapped and overwhelmed,  then THIS IS NOT THE PATH OF THE LORD  and when you feel unable to worship the Lord as openly as you wish, this lets you know that this ground is toxic and nothing you attempt to plant there will grow, and this field is toxic and nothing you attempt to harvest will prosper in these polluted  fields.

Trouble is, we find ourselves in these fields begging the Lord to change things or move obstacles, when actually this was NEVER the place you were supposed to be!

So think about that for 2017, where have you been, what have accomplished, what ratio are you reading negative to positive in your life goals and your relationship to God and ministry in the Kingdom.

If you’re not happy with it or feel rather lacking, this is the opportunity dead center of the road and do a u turn back to the Shepherd, who will be waiting there to lead you on the RIGHT path.  As He said, when we SEEK HIM, with ALL our hearts, we WILL find Him  and THEN our prayers will be answered. Let’s us know real fast that we can “think” we are committed and yet still being seeking and serving half-heartedly with that other half dedicated to something that was never ours.

“My son forget not my law; but let thine hearts keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find FAVOUR and good understanding (high esteem) in the sight of God and man.

TRUST in the Lord with all thine heart; lean NOT unto thine OWN understanding. In ALL thy ways acknowledge him, and he SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS.

Be not wise in thine own eyes, fear the Lord, and depart from evil. IT shall be health to thy navel (body) and marrow (strength, refreshment) to thy bones.

Honour the Lord with thy substance (possessions), and with the firstfruits of all thine increase. So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall BURST OUT WITH NEW WINE.” PROVERBS 3:1-10

We are to trade that heavy yoke around our neck for mercy and truth to carry, as Jesus said His yoke is light, again we are warned to not be wise in our own thoughts, sometime we feel that we should do this or that and that something IS our obligation, when God actually wants us away from that problem.

That is why is so important to compare natural to natural, spiritual to spiritual and if God has given you a great life but yet you are lacking peace because of a toxic relationship, then you know, God is not making you stay there and that is when letting go comes in, He will not make you but don’t be shocked if he doesn’t sway things to your liking.

He will save anyone who asks, BUT they have to want to be saved and that is often the point we miss and we are not called to be emotional martyrs or to perform clean up and deliverance for people when only GOD ALONE CAN PERFORM THESE TASKS.

So try changing directions this new year, I think we all could always use a little “new wine” and let God Bless you, lead you, and guide you, ALL of you, in HIS paths!

 

As the song asks, “Should auld acquaintance be forgot?” YES! YES! “Remember ye NOT the former things (what is in the past), NOR CONSIDER the things of old. {Don’t bank on experience as a test of thinking you already know what you don’t REALLY know}

Behold, I will do a NEW thing; now it shall spring forth; SHALL YE NOT KNOW IT? I will even make a WAY IN THE WILDERNESS, and RIVERS in the desert.” ISAIAH 43:18.19

To borrow another familiar term, for 2017 lets all live up to the advice of “out with the old and in with the new” and we will be made new too!

Here’s wishing you a beautiful New Year with new direction, new hope, newness of joy, newness of life, new peace, new love, and an overwhelming newness and refreshment of His spirit on your life.

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016

 

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“As the music slowly fades……”

“But the Pharisees and lawyers (experts in the law) rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken this generation? and to WHAT ARE THEY LIKE? 

They are like unto CHILDREN sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, we have piped (played the flute) unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. 

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine: and ye say, he hath a devil, The Son of Man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebidder, a friend of publicans (tax collectors) and sinners! But wisdom IS justified in her children.”  LUKE 7:30-35.

We can surely attest to this. Trying to win the lost to the Kingdom, trying to win the offended back to the house of God, trying to sway the self-righteous thinking of the holier than thous and trying to convince those whom satan has blinded to the truth that yes, they really NEED salvation and trying to sway delicate, wounded minds and souls that yes, God does love them and will save them from all their heartache.

Jesus in determining what could even He compare them to, came up with this, they are childlike in maturity and anyone wanna argue the point that our modern society tends to go backward when it comes to growing up and taking responsibility for our lives and more importantly our own actions?

Got problems, go on a talk show, tell the whole world, blame everyone and often that IS true, but at the end of the day we are accountable for ourselves, numeral Uno and will stand alone with that when all is said and done. Maybe you are a jerk because someone was a jerk to you first or you were raised by a pack of wild jerks but when your middle-aged and kill over you are still, on your own, making your own decisions and you have consciously decided to just be a jerk too!

We ALL know that there is a major, major lacking in this society. So ministers have “played music”for these “children”… sweet songs of hymns and salvation, and glory unspeakable, peace everlasting, who would NOT want that?

But NO! Beautiful tune, sounds sweet and lovely, maybe even soothing to the savage beast which lurks inside..but NO! They NOT going to dance to it,they flat-out refuse and NO ONE will dare tell them what they should do!

Because as the Lord referred to a certain ‘stiff-necked” (meaning unyielding) group, as “sottish” children, meaning helplessly spoiled. They want God to cater to them, and win THEIR approval and they must receive all the attention or else they will just go serve another God, HE REALLY DOES NOT PLAY THAT!

So we try mourning… delivering the cold hard truth and reality of the woe, upon woes which is to come and offering an escape route. But again NO! WE WILL HAVE our own way and if that means hell.. well then.. FINE. And there ARE those who have stated that they KNOW they are on their way to hell but will they repent? Again NO! They would rather toast than submit to a higher power, (of course it is a lack of believing.. but they WILL believe) but for the point it is a chant of No! No! No!

Which is where “repented not” came into play, but of course if they continue in this rebellion, which the Bible states is “as the sin of witchcraft”, well, all we can say is that like the rich man lifted up his eyes in hell and was told that the was nothing more that could be done for him, they will also and I really don’t think they will be many “Oh, well’s” uttered in hell, when the Bible describes it as gnashing of teeth and gnawing their tongues because they are in so much agony.

They didn’t like John, he was too scary and his cry to REPENT was “too stern” for their tender little ears, he was too on fire and it curdled their blood, so they decided he must just be crazy!

Jesus came gently, meekly, loving all he met, not judging or condemning and sharing His Gospel with all who would hear, but No, He wasn’t “strict” enough for the holier than thous because of course, they were special and would never be in the same group as those “prostitutes, and peasants” and heaven forbid they set next to the poor.

My favorite quotable scripture: “Nothing new under the sun” but I’m going to tell you something that will be “new” to these people. “WISDOM IS JUSTIFIED IN HER CHILDREN.” As the saying goes “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink”, they act like this because they have NO desire whatsoever to repent. We can’t change minds that do not want to be changed, those who refuse to hear, do not want to hear. But those who DO WANT to hear, WILL HEAR, because they ARE the children of wisdom and they hear “her” and attest to the fact that what wisdom speaks is true.

Those who do not want to hear, those who wish it would all go away and we would all just shut up, will ONE DAY get that wish granted, BUT it will be to their destruction NOT to their relief.

 ISAIAH 59: 4-14: “None calleth for justice (seeks what is right) NOR any pleadeth for the truth: they trust in vanity (empty words), and speak lies, they conceive mischief, and bring iniquity.

They hatch cockatrice eggs (hatch out vipers) and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. (Their sin spreads and infects all it touches) Their web shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves in their works: (They can not hide their sin from God) their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.

 Their feet RUN to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction IS in their paths. The way of peace THEY KNOW NOT; and there is NO JUDGEMENT (justice) in their goings (tracks) THEY HAVE MADE THEM CROOKED PATHS: WHOSOEVER SHALL GOETH THEREIN SHALL NOT KNOW PEACE.

Therefore judgment (justice) is FAR from us, neither dost justice (righteousness) overtake us: WE WAIT FOR A LIGHT, BUT BEHOLD OBSCURITY (darkness); FOR BRIGHTNESS, BUT WE WALK IN DARKNESS. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: We stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. 

We roar like bears, and mourn (moan sadly) like doves: we look for judgment (justice) but there is none; FOR SALVATION BUT IT IS FAR FROM US.

For our transgressions as multiplied before thee, and OUR SINS TESTIFY AGAINST US: for our transgressions ARE with us; and as for our iniquities, we KNOW them.

IN TRANSGRESSING AND LYING AGAINST THE LORD, AND DEPARTING AWAY FROM OUR GOD, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And JUDGMENT (justice) IS TURNED AWAY BACKWARD, AND JUSTICE (righteousness) STANDETH AFAR OFF: FOR TRUTH IS FALLEN IN THE STREET.” 

Basically, truth will be trampled in the street, they did not want it so… when they SEEK it, it will be too late. When Hades starts to break loose upon earth, they rethink their stubborn self-righteous views and hunger and thirst for relief:

AMOS 8:9-12 ” And IT SHALL come to pass in THAT DAY saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I WILL DARKEN THE EARTH in the clear day (broad daylight):  

And I WILL TURN YOUR FEASTS INTO MOURNING, and ALL YOUR SONGS INTO LAMENTATIONS (weeping and wailing);and I will bring sackcloth upon every head: and I will make it as the mourning (grieving for) my only son, and THE END THEREOF AS A BITTER DAY.

BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME, SAITH THE LORD GOD,THAT I WILL SEND A FAMINE IN THE LAND, NOT a famine of bread, NOR a thirst for water, BUT OF HEARING THE WORDS OF THE LORD:

And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro TO SEEK THE WORD OF THE LORD, AND SHALL NOT FIND IT.”

Those feasts that were chosen to be so much more joyous than the invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb, turned to heartache. The songs that were held so much worthy for joyful dance as the songs of Zion and those piped by the heralds of the King, turned to wails of sorrow and tears.

And the ultimate of all things lost, those who have scoffed at his words, closed their ears, mocked and hid their heads to avoid hearing, will beg to hear it one more time and it will not be found.

REVELATION 18:23 a,b): “And the Light of the candle (lamp, word of God) shall SHINE NO MORE AT ALL IN THEE; AND THE VOICE OF THE BRIDEGROOM (JESUS CHRIST) and THE BRIDE (HIS CHURCH) WILL BE HEARD NO MORE AT ALL IN THEE:…..”

 I strongly suggest today to listen to that music, don’t march to beat of your own drum, do not be wise in your own eyes, all souls will do one of two things, no more, no less, either hear the sweet sounds of Jesus calling our souls to rest and life eternal or we will hear the sound of that death march that will soon be sounded upon this earth.

ISAIAH 55:6: “SEEK YE THE LORD, WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND, CALL YE UPON HIM WHILE HE IS NEAR: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him RETURN TO THE LORD, AND HE WILL HAVE MERCY UPON HIM; AND TO OUR GOD WHO WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON.”

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016

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“And Yet….” Part 2, being a wee witchy

*Original post 09/04/2016′ revisited as reminder of what the word of God foretells *

“And the rest of the men (humans) which were not killed by these plagues  yet repented not  of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood, which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:  Neither repented they  of their murders, nor of their sorceries,……” REVELATION 9:20

Hence therefore, subject two, I just love Old English! Well anyway a frightening number have fallen in love with something else.. the need to attempt to understand things that were never meant to be understood and the chasing after “mediums” and the pursuit of FALSE knowledge of how passed on loved one are faring in the afterlife are opening many up to the occult and demonic forces.

Remember a little something, it is NOT just the one who is playing with demonic spirits in order to project that they have some secret knowledge that is affected it is also the ones who SEEK after these people to inquire for that knowledge.

The full realm of “sorceries” can cover a staggering list of human possibilities, tea reading, card reading, and everyone’s favorite, horoscopes, think it is funny?

You won’t when it becomes a HORROR SCOPE, illusionist, magicians, and of course, seances, and ouija boards, funny thing I web searched a spell check (ironic term there) the word, who really using that word often?

Anyway, the first thing pulled up was a link to, YES, get a demon to communicate with you! Wow, how you know you are barking up the right tree! The devil always makes things look pretty and his favorite hook, is grief and the promise of these people to give you special knowledge and that will be our main focus, because if you do not see a problem with wanting to talk to demons than you’re gonna need much more help than a blog post can offer you!

Onward! First you have to reiterate the fundamental Gospel that NEVER changes. God NEVER changes, HIS WORD NEVER changes. His commandments that you are to stay AWAY from these things NEVER changes. The reason He commands us to STAY AWAY from it will NEVER CHANGE.

Lucifer was thrown out of heaven, he is one of the most powerful beings in the universe, his desire is to DESTROY all that God has created, ESPECIALLY humans. He is running the same game he used on Eve and the sermon has been preached from end of the earth to the other through eons of time and YET… we are more entangled with sorceries and  the occult than ever before in the history of the world.

Why? Because like Eve, EVERYONE wants what they think is SECRET knowledge that WILL MAKE THEM WISE and make them THINK that they are as smart as God!  Read it, that was one point of the seduction, she wanted to “know” good and evil, as God knew and the this is the same reason He STILL commands it to be shunned, HUMANS can not handle Satan, never have, never will.

God wants us to be safe and not destroy our own souls through our own lusts for whatever purpose we may be seeking after. My main goal with this is to hit the point of grief, I have heard it, people who wish that they had money to visit a certain televised physic to know that a deceased loved one is well, that is scary.

The people claim to have “gift” but it is a possession that the use for the same purpose it has always been used to make money. How do you know? Well, you can read in Numbers 22-24, that a false prophet had been commissioned to CURSE Israel and God intervened and FORCED blessings to be spoken from his mouth in the presence of the one who wished them harm. ACTS 16  deals with a girl who WAS POSSESSED WITH A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION, I have used this story before but for anyone who is not familiar with it:

ACTS 16: 16: And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel POSSESSED with the SPIRIT of DIVINATION met us, which BROUGHT HER MASTERS MUCH GAIN (lots of money) BY SOOTH SAYING (fortune-telling) ”

Now the story goes those this girl FOLLOWED them and KEPT saying that THEY WERE MEN OF GOD that others should hear them. So what was so wrong with her proclaiming that they were indeed the servants of God and that others should hear them? Sounds like that would be a good thing, right?

NO, IT WAS NOT! Because it was NOT GOD who TOLD HER TO PROCLAIM THESE THINGS! And when good is present evil is often there also! If those there that heard her proclaim theses things and then SAW the miracles and wonders of God come down and people saved THEN the demons could use that to their advantage, by mingling her “message” with the work of the Apostles and thereby VALIDATING this girl even farther.

Imagine the money they would have made from her then! Remember when the other demon spoke to the Jewish exorcists in ACTS 19:14-16, and told them “Jesus I know, Paul I know” and I asked WHO where they?

Evil always TRIES to weave itself in with good and you HAVE to see it for what it is. To farther prove this out, back to ACTS 16:17,18:

“The same (girl) FOLLOWED Paul and us, and cried, saying, These men are the servants of the most high God, which shew us the way of salvation. And this she did MANY DAYS but Paul BEING GRIEVED, (greatly annoyed), turned, and said TO THE SPIRIT, I COMMAND THEE IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST TO COME OUT OF HER, AND HE CAME OUT THE SAME HOUR.”

Now, if it was a demon then that came through her, IT IS STILL demons today that use the bodies of these supposed physics, and again you can see by that story, they may seem nice, they can say things that really seem not so bad, BUT it is still a demon.

People have mingled the word of God and the teachings of the Bible and watered down the truth to the point that we are unwilling to shun anything and often people are not even taught that these things are STILL wrong.

Satan is and always has been and always will be a liar and to listen to those lies and seek after those lies in the name of comfort is just absurd. They can tell you anything and they can say that see this one or see that one but it will never change the fact that if those who passed on have not repented, if the psychics don’t repent and those who use them do not repent, they are not going to be in heaven and where ever the tell you they are is just another one of the lies to trap you and turn your mind against the truth of God’s word. But at no time can you have God and devils. God is Holy and you want answers you seek him. He WANTS you to seek HIM and HIS ways, ISAIAH: 18,19:

” BEHOLD, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me ARE for signs and wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion.

 And WHEN THEY SHALL SAY UNTO YOU, SEEK UNTO THEM THAT HAVE FAMILIAR SPIRITS (ARE MEDIUMS) AND UNTO WIZARDS THAT PEEP (WHISPER) AND THAT MUTTER: SHOULD NOT A PEOPLE SEEK UNTO THEIR GOD? FOR THE LIVING TO THE DEAD?“

So, when THEY  TELL you to go ask a physic, you are NOT to go. You are to SEEK GOD. Why ask the dead questions pertaining to life, when all the issues of life belong to a very living God??? God HAS sent His Son, He has sent signs, He has sent wonders and all they can offer you is a cheap intimation of the things He wants to give you.

 It would take DAYS to discuss the warnings and thoughts the Bible gives on the subject, but the most classic, most horrifying, and most you better believe this can happen to anyone, example is the story of King Saul, remember that was once upon a time King of Israel, who CHOOSE the curse of disobedience over the blessing of obedience to the commands of God.

King Saul had a little habit of thinking because he was King that God’s commands did not apply to him, he had a little problem with that, the Lord had Israel FOREWARNED that Saul would NOT be a good king, but much like us THEY WANTED HIM ANYWAY.

So he had been commanded to rid the land of any who practiced magic, witchcraft, and any pagan “art”. A command he did not quite fulfill, once God had left him and the SPIRIT of jealousy had overtaken him, insanity began to set in. He still refused to conceded to the fact that God was not going to answer him and instead of repenting, this is that path he choose. 1 SAMUEL 28:7-10: 

“Then Saul SAID unto his servants, Seek ME a woman that hath a familiar spirit (is a medium), that I may go to her, and ENQUIRE of her, and his servants said unto him, Behold there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

And Saul DISGUISED himself, and put on other raiment (clothing) and he went and two other men with him, and they came to the woman BY NIGHT; and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me BY thy familiar spirit, (conduct a séance for me) and bring him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done, how he hath cut off ( put to death) those that hath familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land: Wherefore then layest thou a trap for my life? (why are you setting a trap) And Saul SWARE to her by the Lord, saying, As the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee in this thing.” 

Brief interjection time.. Okay, he is sneaking off disguised in the middle of the night, thinking GOD or no one else will ever know or see him, God ALWAYS knows and then he drags two other people into this sin with him and finally, even the witch knows that this is death penalty business and Saul has then unthinkable audacity to promise HER by THE LORD that she will not be punished!! That is why God TELLS us when they tell us that it is okay to partake in these abomination, DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM!

Onward! Same Chapter, picking up at verse 11-19: “Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said Bring me up Samuel. And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake unto Saul, saying Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul (you are Saul).

And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods (a spirit) ascending out of the earth. And he said unto her, What form is he of? (what does he look like?) And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself. 

And Samuel said unto Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up?  And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams, therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I should do. 

THEN said SAMUEL, WHEREFORE THEN DOST THOU ASK OF ME, (why are you asking me) SEEING THAT GOD IS DEPARTED FROM THEE, AND IS BECOME THINE ENEMY?

And the Lord hath done to him (David), as he spake by me: for the Lord hath rent (tore) the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbor, even to David: BECAUSE THOU OBEYEST NOT THE VOICE OF THE LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, THEREFORE THE LORD HATH DONE THIS THING UNTO THEE THIS DAY.

Moreover, (Also)  the Lord will deliver Israel WITH THEE INTO THE HANDS OF THE PHILISTINES, AND TOMORROW SHALT THOU AND THY SONS BE WITH ME:..”

That story SHOULD be enough to make anyone think twice, even when you feel like you need answers, wait upon the Lord and live life and be saved so HE will answer, we HAVE to be His to partake in His promises and there will always be things we don’t understand.

This DOES NOT allude to a display of physic power either, NOTICE the LORD ALLOWED this to happen. And in his sin SAUL DESTROYED HIS OWN SONS. HE DIED AND THEY DIED. Sin HURTS everyone you love.

Now for the bad news and the good news.

The bad news, back to our starting scripture they repented not… WHO can stand in the presence or against God? This is HIS words concerning the forces of darkness PROTECTING themselves against Him, just as Saul thought he could hide and he thought he could promise the witch protection. ISAIAH 47:12,13: “STAND NOW, with thine enchantments, and with the MULTITUDE of thy SORCERIES, wherein thy hast laboured since thy youth (practiced all your life to prefect), IF SO BE THOU ABLE TO PROFIT, IF SO BE THOU MAYEST PREVAIL.

THOU ART WEARIED (WORN OUT) IN THE MULTITUDE OF THY COUNSELS, LET NOW THE ASTROLOGERS, THE STARGAZERS, THE MONTHLY PROGNOSTICATORS, STAND UP, AND SAVE THEE FROM THESE THINGS THAT SHALL COME UPON THEE.”

 He is telling them to go ahead, stand, stand in their witchery and see how far they get and let all the demons they have trusted in to STAND AND SEE IF THEY CAN SAVE THEM FROM HIS WRATH.

Now for the good news.. THIS IS AND YET… they REPENTED NOT. So that means ALL the things that were listed CAN be REPENTED OF! God really does want people saved. That is why the Bible was written and why these verse exist. If King Saul was not spared, why would we be? If God hated it before why would He suddenly say oh, well twenty first centurions , have at it? He won’t! That is why we have and yet…..  

Back to ACTS 19, the story of the demon who defeated  the exorcists who KNEW NOT  Jesus, they were NOT saved, they DID NOT have the Holy Ghost with them to drive out those demons, so they were overthrown. The people who witnessed this were horrified and THEY REPENTED!

ACTS 19:17-19:” And this was known to ALL the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and THE NAME OF THE LORD WAS MAGNIFIED. and many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds.

MANY OF THEM WHICH USED CURIOUS ARTS (PRACTICED MAGIC) BROUGHT THEIR BOOKS TOGETHER, AND BURNED THEM BEFORE ALL MEN: AND THEY COUNTED THE PRICE OF THEM, AND FOUND IT TO BE FIFTY PIECES OF SILVER.

So mightily grew the word of God and PREVAILED.” 

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016

For the rest of this series please check out these posts; And Yet… Part 1 “paganism”

And Yet part 3 “Still sin”

and DEMONS, THE DEVIL AND THE DECEIVED/ PART 1 FALLEN  

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“Done Deal”

When Jesus chose to come to earth through the womb of a humble virgin and chose a stable as the destination for his arrival and He chose a poor carpenter as His earthly step-father, it would be to the confusion and confounding of those who awaited the Messiah to be born in splendor, in the finest of palaces with the proverbial golden spoon in His mouth.

And it worked quite nicely, He wanted those who come to Him to come to Him because of  who He is.

Not because of whom thought THOUGHT Him to be.

Only a true King could have such a test to reveal His true servants from those who just wanted His prestige.

As we know even after hearing His very words spoken in their own ears, the Pharisees and Jews could still not grasp the thought that the loving, gentle, ORDINARY man could possibly be the Son of the one true God.

Although He did come as ordinary and unpretentious, No matter how it may have appeared we know that HE IS ANYTHING BUT ORDINARY!

I am not so sure that we have moved quite far enough away from those thoughts that also easily sway our minds.

We often ignore that still small voice because our ears are striving to hear a loud proclamation. Sometimes we are so enamored with the thought of having our worlds rocked that we completely miss the fact that the ground IS already shaking.

We can completely miss what is right in front of us, simply because it does not look like we had pictured it to look.

It does not sound exactly as we thought it would and by holding onto to OUR thoughts we can miss out on a lot.

Just as He said, His ways ARE higher than our ways and His thoughts ARE higher than are thoughts, it rests on forgetting what we ever thought in the first place and acknowledging His will.

I used this particular passage in a former now non-existent post, but I would like to revisit that SAME thought here, again. This is the amazing story of Peter being arrested, imprisoned, supernaturally  freed and those who WERE praying for his freedom, NOT BELIEVING when he literally showed up on their doorstep!

We’ll pick up here:

ACTS 12:4-16: “And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions (squads of four) of soldiers, to keep him: intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

Peter was therefore kept in prison: but PRAYER WAS MADE WITHOUT CEASING OF THE CHURCH UNTO GOD FOR HIM. And when Herod would have (was about to) bring him forth, the same night, Peter was sleeping BETWEEN two soldiers, BOUND WITH TWO CHAINS and the keepers before the door kept the prison (guards were also at the door).

And, behold, the ANGEL of the Lord came upon him (stood by him), and  A LIGHT SHINED  IN THE PRISON: and he smote Peter on the side, and RAISED HIM UP, saying, Arise up quickly. and HIS CHAINS FEEL OFF FROM HIS HANDS.

And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals (get dressed and put shoes on).  And so he did. And he saith unto him cast thy garment about thee, and FOLLOW ME.

And he went out, and followed him: and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel (did not know for sure if it was real) but THOUGHT he saw a vision. 

When they were passed the first and the second ward (guard posts) they came unto the IRON GATE that leadeth into the city; which OPENED TO THEM of his own accord (opened WITHOUT ANY HUMAN HELP): and they went out, and passed through one street; and the angel departed from him.

And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety (for certain), that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod,  and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

And when he had considered the thing, he CAME to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where MANY WERE GATHERED TOGETHER PRAYING.

And as Peter KNOCKED AT THE DOOR OF THE GATE, a damsel came to hearken (answer the door) named Rhoda.

And  when she KNEW Peter’s voice, she opened NOT the gate for gladness (she was so happy that she actually FORGOT to open the door) but RAN IN, and told how Peter stood before the gate.

And THEY SAID UNTO HER, THOU ART MAD (OUT OF YOUR MIND). BUT she CONSTANTLY affirmed that it was even so (true). Then they said it is his angel.  But Peter CONTINUED KNOCKING: and WHEN THEY HAD OPENED THE DOOR, AND SAW HIM, THEY WERE ASTONISHED.”

So much there, they were praying and praying, seeking and seeking and Rhoda answers the door and she is so happy and overjoyed that she just forgets to open it. When she tells the others they just simply DO NOT BELIEVE it.

Now again, maybe if God has sent an old dude leaning on a staff, with a long gray flowing beard, using terms such as”Hearken, grand prayer warriors…” or sent thunder and lighting to flash as Peter approached, well maybe that was WHAT they thought they should receive as acknowledgment that their prayers had been heard. But no, they got Rhoda, and what they told her, actually translates to, “YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND” so they are like, ” Well, that is just that crazy Rhoda,, making up stuff, just ignore her….you know she isn’t quite right in the head anyway.”

Cute side note, Rhoda must have not been too crazy, she did, after-all get an honorable mention in the book :)!

But even after all that praying they STILL REFUSED TO BELIEVE, and decided that it was his angel.

If it does not make sense to our human minds, we must FIND an explanation for it, right?

Not sure why we do these things.

Do we doubt that our prayers will be answered? Do we really believe that it just COULD NOT be THAT simple?

When actually, IT IS that simple.

Do we feel that we need more grandeur?

And do we feel we need that for the glory of God… or is it for us?

Do we just dislike the messenger and feel that we are worthy of a higher, more “spiritual” messenger You know, like waiting on a group of herald angels to break down the door and proclaim the answer you have been seeking when actually all that is needed is FOR SOMEONE JUST ANSWER THE DOOR!

And acknowledge WHO is standing there! 

We can miss many wonderful events by our own refusal to let God be God and answer AS HE calls and not get so caught up in the delivery or manifestation of these events.

Just as His humble arrival to this earth heralded the greatest event of all time. What if the wise men had decided that the place the star led just didn’t look the part?

The humble shepherds NEVER expected to hear an angelic chorus praising the birth of the Saviour… which IS EXACTLY WHY they were allowed to hear it!

Don’t lose out on a done deal just because you refuse to open the door.

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016 Revisited 03/28/2023 Rev.N Brown Johnson 

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BEHIND THE SHIELD PART 1

“Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden (held) me up, and thy GENTLENESS hath made me great.” PSALM 18:35

I write from two places warnings, judgments, and scriptures that flood my soul and my own soul and all the things I wish someone had told me before I had destroyed my pre-Christ life. This will be a Bare soul moment! We will be working back on the shield and a continuance to “Awakening/The Forgotten Child” .

The greatest plague Christianity has ever faced is the biased, outright oppressive teachings that have been held against women. The old school “obey” marriage rule, as for the record, dealing with obedience, the scripture only says that “children are to obey their parents in the Lord” and when you apply this, if a person had ungodly parents who encouraged them to sin, and go against the word of God, then the children would NOT be under this rule because it applies to GODLY parents but it does not apply to married couples but we will get into what it does mean in a little bit.

Back to the oppression, women have since the dawn of time been owned, beaten, and viewed as baby making servants who are to bow to their master husbands. And if Satan didn’t get you with that he has an army out there waiting to make sure that some point in life that it will be driven home that you are inferior and created for the sexual pleasure of men and nothing more.

The true damage comes when it is falsely taught and I believe intentionally in most cases, and they TRY TO HIDE BEHIND GOD’S NAME TO JUSTIFY IT. But I am here to tell you some playhouses are going fall and it will fall on their heads because they have used their position in the family unit for cruelty and twisted His word to make it seem right, well, I assure you that one day they are not gonna wanna play there anymore! It is my job to reply these things and they have hid their sins behind him long enough and they will no longer have a cloak for that sin.

First of all if you have been in one of these relationships or a victim of satan’s hench boys, please let Jesus heal you and I’ll get into that in part two (which will post today also)  and I promise I never go there without personal experience and scripture to back me up. And in my own life, Satan has had an ax at my feet since the moment I came from my mother and I had scars so deep that God had to fill me with the Holy Ghost to even acknowledge certain things so He could deal with them. I understand the MISPLACED guilt, shame, hatred, resentment, and self loathing that comes with it. And I understand the flip side of that coin and how if untreated it will send us on a hell-bent path of self-destruction that requires a true miracle of God to return from. That is the reaction the enemy wants, and he rarely lets up.  When you are faced with unwelcome attitudes in church settings it is even more difficult and after a while you do really just get to the point that you don’t know whether to pray for them or slap ’em and drag them to the altar. But I think it would be cool sometimes, if the Lord would just send something that body parts would just fall off on the spot! Yes, I know that is mean, what I am going to say? I am human and God is nowhere near those messes. And I am telling you this so you will know to never base God or your relationship with Him on other people’s actions.  And if these things have happened or happen to you, don’t think it is just something wrong with you. Children of God or not, we live in the devil’s world and everyone at church is not always actually saved. And if you are in a relationship where you are treated with anything other than love and respect GET OUT OF IT NOW. They don’t change, you can’t change them, only the Lord can and only when THEY WILL LET HIM.

  Let’s look at what God says about anger and angry people.

“ Make NO FRIENDSHIP (that would be ANY kind of relationship) WITH AN ANGRY MAN; AND WITH A FURIOUS MAN THOU SHALT NOT GO ( have nothing to do with them). Lest thou learn his ways and GET A SNARE TO THY SOUL.” PROVERBS:22:24,25 

“AN ANGRY MAN STIRRETH UP STRIFE, AND A FURIOUS MAN ABOUNDS IN TRANSGRESSIONS.” PROVERBS 29:22

” As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire, so is a contentious ( argumentative)  man to kindle strife.”  Proverbs 15:18

That says all there is to say and love has nothing to do with it because true love never hits, belittles, or hurts you. And you ARE much to valuable and precious to God for Him to want you to have anything less for your life. God’s plan was only for one man, one woman becoming as ONE, and  in one is all there is, no me, no you, but US.

That was his plan. He also NEVER condoned the multiple wives and chicks on the side from the Old Testament. A lot of people think because it is in the O.T. that it means it’s okay but THAT IS NOT what it means. The Old Testament is stories about humans, making bad, bad mistakes and God forgiving them for those mistakes and teaching them a better way. It is stories about what NOT to do! I really believe He wants ALL His daughters to know HIM for who HE IS.

No matter where you are in your life, if your like the woman at the well who was living with a guy and had evidently been there and done that four times before or like Mary at His feet, who had made mistakes, mistakes which Simon sure never wanted her to forget, or the woman whom they were going to stone for committing adultery (of course they didn’t bring the man, no they let their buddy go, he was just doing what guys do, right?) BUT every single time Jesus met these ladies with what HE does best, HIS LOVE, HIS FORGIVENESS, and HIS ARMS OPEN WIDE. THE command for what HE WANTS you to have in a marriage:

EPHESIANS 5:25-33:   “HUSBANDS LOVE YOUR WIVES, EVEN AS CHRIST ALSO LOVED THE CHURCH, AND GAVE HIMSELF (DIED) FOR IT. That he might (would) sanctify and cleanse it WITH THE WASHING OF THE WATER BY THE WORD. That he might (would) present it to HIMSELF a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH.

So ought (should) men  love their wives as their own bodies, He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; BUT NOURISHETH AND CHERISHETH IT, EVEN AS THE LORD THE CHURCH; For WE ARE members OF HIS BODY, OF HIS FLESH, AND OF HIS BONES.

FOR THIS CAUSE SHALL A MAN LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER, AND SHALL BE JOINED UNTO HIS WIFE, AND THEY SHALL BE ONE FLESH. This is the great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Nevertheless LET EVERY ONE OF YOU IN PARTICULAR SO LOVE HIS WIFE EVEN AS HIMSELF; AND THE WIFE SEE THAT SHE REVERENCE (RESPECT, HONOUR) HER HUSBAND.” And that is HIS thoughts on it!

Please join me for part 2 and we’ll look at TRUE SUBMISSION, WHY IT IS A SPIRITUAL MUST, AND THE MEANING OF THE SHIELD OF THE KING.

Φλογίζω εξυπνιζω/ ΝΒ 2016. Revisited 10/14/2020

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DOUBLE-EDGED PART 3 / LOVESICK….

As the love saga in the Book of Solomon plays out we find that the couple are madly in love, the common thread that weaves the story is her proclamation that “His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me” now that is pretty close, the left hand being the tenderness and gentleness and the right hand in reference to the protection and justice of God, she is completely covered.

As we know she get to comfy and refuses to answer his call and once she does decide to drag herself out of bed, he’s gone.

Now the embrace that was becomes the embrace that should be, she is no longer in his arms, she is no longer under his protection.

Desperate to get him back, she frantically runs through the city, and as compared to our backslidden states and the rude awakening of the lukewarm, sleeping church, in the frenzied hunt she is wounded, she is hurt, and her dignity is taken away but she doesn’t give up.

As lovers often do, she begs her friends to please relay a message if they were to run into him and she is met with the question that we as believers are often met with.

Song of Solomon 4:7-9: “The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote (struck) me, they wounded me, the keepers of the walls took my veil from me.

I charge (beg) you, O daughters of Jerusalem, If you find my beloved, THAT YE TELL HIM, that I AM SICK OF LOVE (lovesick).
Her friends reply: “ WHAT IS THY BELOVED MORE THAN ANOTHER BELOVED?…

What was it about him again? What was it that made her proclaim “Draw me, we will run after thee”…
Our main thought from part two, so what does that mean?

Well we need a reason, something that we desire that propels us to “press toward the mark.”

So how does he draw us, what is it about him that makes us follow?

Hosea 11:5: I DREW THEM WITH CORDS of a man (gentle cords), WITH BANDS OF LOVE; I was to them as they  that take off the yoke on their jaws (heavy burdens off their neck), and I laid meat unto them (STOOPED AND FED THEM).“

His Mercy, His Grace, but as He himself stated, His gentleness, coming down to care for us.

Psalm 85:10: “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”
His mercy meeting us in our sin stricken state and the truth of his love and forgiveness washing us white as snow, right standing and peace of God, peace in God, and the peace of God forming a beautiful union.

Psalm 18:35:“Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden (held) me up, AND THY GENTLENESS HATH MADE ME GREAT (victorious).”

Matthew 11:29: “Take MY yoke upon you, and learn of  (from) me; for I AM meek and lowly in heart (gentle and humble) ; and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

So when did she find him? We’ll get his answer:

Jeremiah 29:13:“And  ye shall SEEK ME, and FIND ME,WHEN YE SHALL SEARCH FOR ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART.”

I  so totally wanted to end that with an exclamation point but…. I don’t want in trouble!

But as we wrap this up please hold onto that thought, remember that love, that drew you to him and rekindle that flame, remember who HE IS.

He draws us with his gentleness and that love. 
Next time we’ll see why that love, that mercy, and above all that gentleness that forgives, that saves, and heals also turns to the other side of that double-edged sword.
It will bring justice, judgment, and unimaginable horror beyond human comprehension to this earth.
Without the understanding of that love and being embraced in that love and without the acceptance of his will and our place in the midst of it all, we will lose that love and that love and that love alone is all that can keep us through these days.
Φλογιζω/ NBJ/ All rights reserved 2015 REVISTED 2021/ Rev. Nina Brown Johnson





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GOLDEN RULE X2



“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” MATTHEW 7:12

“And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.” MATTHEW 5:41,42

Quick interjection, if someone needs you to go a mile , go two. And I know people prefer the “modern English” of the scriptures and No, Jesus did not speak Old English, BUT we were given our Bible through men who risked and often lost their lives for sharing the Word of God and William Tyndale was STRANGLED AND BURNED AT THE STAKE FOR TRANSLATING THE GOSPEL, SO THAT OTHERS WOULD KNOW THE TRUTH! So for me the KJV is the only Bible it is gonna be.

How often do we really apply this to life and how often do we respect one person above another?
God himself has respect to no one person, as the parable of the hired laborers teaches us.
The eleventh hour laborers received the same wage as those who had worked all day, even though the others had worked longer hours, the latter ones had to work harder because they  had only one hour to get the job finished.
Of course the first group was angry because in their opinion they deserved more because they had toiled longer BUT the owner of this job paid the same to all  employees, such as is the kingdom of heaven, when we accept Christ we are all the same and he values none of us above the other, so a person who has served God for forty years will receive no greater reward than one who just accepted salvation!

Now that is fair and that is just! We see that God doesn’t play favorites and if God does not work that way, and neither should we!
When it comes to respect and common courtesy in the world there is often a lot left to be desired.
How often does this happen, people being ranked higher or lower on the scale of importance, and treated in a lesser fashion due to name, social status, or what they have to offer, or rather what they do not have, all of a sudden they are expendable and not quite worth the time.

As Jesus, said with everything that we do, with everyone we encounter, we should keep this well in mind BECAUSE WE WILL RECEIVE EXACTLY what we have shown BUT the BIG difference is that we will be the one on the other end of that spectrum, and for many THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE A PRETTY PLACE!
Mark MY words, YOU will be on the flip side of whatever someone else is facing today.

GALATIANS 6:7 “Be ye NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED: for whatsoever a man (human) soweth, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP.“

If you receive a prophet, you will receive a prophets reward. Just as the lady blessed of God for helping a prophet, whose oil and flour did not run out during famine and spared her and her son a slow death of starvation.
Another lady who was blessed through the oil that flowed supernaturally that it could be sold to pay off debt sparing her and her family from servitude.
The borrowed ax head miraculously surfacing to save another, yet again from debt based slavery.
Jesus himself resurrecting the grief-stricken widow’s only son, knowing that he himself the only begotten son of the Father would also resurrect.
What if any of these had pulled a big “Well, I’ve got enough problems without having to fool with you a-tude”?
Kindness is repaid, God with not be indebted to any that have shown kindness to his people.

ACTS 9:36-42 ” Now there was a Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was FULL of good works and almsdeeds (charitable deeds) which she did.
And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, AND DIED: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber.
And forsomuch as (because) Lydia was nigh to (located closely to) Joppa, the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent unto him two men, desiring that he would not delay to come to them.
Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come (had arrived) they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing him the coats (tunics) and garments which Dorcas had made, while she was with them.
But Peter put them all forth (out) and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to THE BODY said, Tabitha, arise.
And she OPENED her eyes: and when she saw Peter she sat up.
And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her ALIVE.
And it was known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.”

Now the beauty in that is that many were made believers through seeing the hand of God resurrect this lady, a great gift she was given, the Bible clear to point out the love SHE had for those she helped clothe and the love THEY had in turn for her, calling upon the Lord and he answered.
Could have ended very differently had she not held this testimony, had she had an attitude of indifference and never helped anyone other than herself and her circles of friends.

So beware and very aware of how you treat others, because what holds true in life today may not hold true tomorrow.
You could find yourself wearing the shoes someone else just took off, following down a rough and rocky road they have just trod and God’s principles never change and how well you survive your own trying seasons heavily depend on how well you score on the character “testing” points of today.

GALATIANS 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in DUE season WE SHALL REAP, IF WE FAINT NOT.”

IF we faint not tells a little of just how hard some of these seasons can be.
Simon of Cyrene was called upon to carry the Lord’s cross just as he commanded US to pick up our cross and follow him, and if while on that path another asks us to walk with them, we need to remember this lesson, it would be better to walk two miles with our brethren than to sow indifference and as a result reap the walking of four miles absolutely alone.

 ORIGINAL POST@FOWC 08/29/14Φλογίζω/   NBJ 2015/ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Golden Rule X2 N. BrownJohnson/ Φλογιζω















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AWAKENING / THE FORGOTTEN CHILD

 

“Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?

I raised thee up(awakened) under the apple tree:…”  Song of Solomon 7:5

The wilderness the daughters of God have been very acquainted with since the dawn of time.
Since the fall of man, the enemy has ensured that we would be considered no more than property and every day countless of us are raped, abused, forced into prostitution and in many countries we are still property at the complete mercy of often unmerciful husbands.

While in other corners of the world, unable to carry lineage names daughters are aborted and others sold into slavery.
Christianity of old. Tainted by MEN also seemed to teach that women are inferior but the truth is far from that.
My biggest struggle in coming to Christ was this very topic, I was like, Why are women always the bad ones? Misguided teaching of confused or intentionally biased doctrine has kept many away and who could blame them?
Many modern women who have been left to support their children completely alone, who have struggled to pay their bills, put food on their tables, educate themselves and their children ,just barely surviving through the world.

And if they happen into the wrong church they will hear that they are of a lesser value to God than their male counterparts. To “fit in” they will need to change everything about themselves and sit down and above all shut up.
Even after God had enlightened me to the truth and helped me understand his word, I still had trouble wrapping my head around a few things.
I did most of intense studying before my child was school aged, after everyone was asleep and my house cleaned, I would stay up and read until I could not function any longer.

One night I happened upon Judges 19 which in my opinion contains the most disturbing and gruesome story in the entire Bible.
It mirrors the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, ironically found in Genesis 19, when Lot had offered his virgin daughters to the deviant, demon possessed pagans, who were demanding he turn over his male visitors to them, “that they may know them” translated, so they could gang rape them.  

The Bible clear to point out that Lot offered these girls with a “do whatever you want to them” agreement to try to get them to take them instead of the male visitors.

To break Judges 19 down, a Levite had a concubine, it says she “played the harlot”.
I’m not sure how that worked since she was “kept” for that purpose, double standards of the day, which still equate in our culture as the difference between a guy being a “player” and a woman being a “slut”.

Another problem Jesus addressed when he came to earth, he wants two people married, period.
Enlightening them to their double standards when they wanted judgment against the adulterous woman, of course it takes two, but they seemed to have forgotten to bring her partner in this sin before the Lord, His answer to them translating to this, if they themselves had no sin, go ahead hit her.

Standing in front of a Holy God they couldn’t do it.

But at the time of Judges, men could have as many women as they wanted but it was never God’s plan.
To get on with the story, she went back to her father’s house, so he comes after her to talk her into coming back, finally she agreed, and after being detained several days they went on their way.

He refused to stay anywhere other than lands belonging to the tribes of Israel and insisted on traveling to a city of the tribe of Benjamin, they had nowhere to stay, so an old man invited them to stay with him, pleading that they not stay outside, soon just as with Sodom, there were men at his door demanding he turn over this man to them that they “may know him”.

Picture perfect to Sodom, only lacking the presence of the angels that saved Lot’s daughters. So the old guy offers his daughter and the concubine, again with the agreement to whatever they wanted to them, just do not touch the man.

They refused, they still wanted the man, so the guy just takes the concubine and throws her out to them and they repeatedly gang rape her until the morning and then they let her go.

She makes it to the door of the house where she collapses, she just lies there helplessly until he gets up, opens the door and finds her and he actually tells her quite simply, to get up they have to get going, needless to say she is dead.
He dismembers her body into twelve parts and sends a part to each of the tribes and war is waged.
It wasn’t that they raped her or that she was dead that bothered him, it was because they destroyed his property.

I read this and I was alone with my shock and absolute horror and knowing the Lord, I just asked “Why, Why are we of so little value?”
These “men” would not even try to fend off these monsters, not even try to muster up an ounce of anything remotely resembling courage to fight for themselves.

Forget chivalry, or protection, an ounce of some sort of compassion, but to just offer these women as less than nothing and to do it to save themselves. I just could not understand it.

I do understand that at the time the thought of this being done to men was so unthinkable that they were desperate to prevent it. But they could have tried to prevent it for happening to any of them.

The God I know would never sanction this stuff or ever condone it and I was in tears, and it just hit me to keep reading, the bottom line is this, at the very end of Judges, “In those days there was no king in Israel: Every man did what was right in his own eyes.”

This was never God!

He never put these things in men’s hearts and for years it was falsely taught and still is in many places.

Men still do what is right in their own eyes and only God can make them see the truth.
But it is time for the awakening of his daughters.

No matter what false beliefs that women have been brainwashed by, we have to let them know that this is not what Jesus is about.
He does not hate women and did not create us to be objects of amusement to fulfill the twisted lusts of men nor to be their gender indentured servants.

If we are ever to see those that are oppressed be saved and free, they have to know the truth about him and who he is and most of all who they are in him.

A forgotten child, much like David, when no one would even waste their time to call him to be presented before Samuel the Prophet, because in their eyes why would a prophet possibly want to speak with someone so unimportant and simple?

A forgotten child from the greatest of tribes, who just happened to be a woman, a sister to the twelve tribes of Israel, a forgotten child that no one bothers to mention because she was not as important as her brothers, or so they thought.

Dinah, the seventh child Leah bore to Jacob, a woman who also a thing or two about pain and substandard treatment, who had been raped and used as a bargaining chip which led to a mass slaughter.

Her bloodline STILL offering an inheritance. because she was one of the tribe.

The most prophetic beauty with Dinah is the meaning of her name, “JUDGEMENT.”

It is awakening time for the sisters, the beautiful, forgotten army who have a straight shot to the heart of the Father.

You are so strong, so powerful, and yet, you do not even know WHO YOU ARE in HIM, and so unaware of your predestined place in this end time end game.

You are the spiritual virgins and maidens forever following to proclaim the majesty, beauty, and holiness of the Kings of Kings.

It is the love and proclamations that Hannah, and Mary, and never forget Mary Magdalene, He came to her first because she needed him the most.

Take your place in the kingdom, it is not going to be accomplished with half an army.
The adoration and praises from hearts that have known sorrows and pain that men can never begin to understand.

A relationship to God who will bring justice for others on behalf of the cries of the souls of his daughters.
Unlike the time of Judges, unlike the women who are your sisters the world over, who are oppressed and in bondage. 

You have access to a King, the King, and The King over heaven, and earth, and the entire universe, He will plead their cause if you bring them before his throne in that secret prayer closet.
He will bring justice for those your tears flood the altar for, when you allow your soul to be awakened under that tree, awakened by a love so strong, so powerful, so consuming that you wear that love as a covering for the whole world to see.

“I AM the rose of Sharon and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among the thorns so is my love among the daughters. as the apple tree among the trees of wood so it my beloved among the sons.

I sat down under his shadow with great delight his fruit was sweet to my taste.  He brought me into the banqueting house and his banner of me was LOVE”  Song of Solomon 2:1-4

Translated: KNOW HIM for who HE IS, allow his love to bloom in you, in spite of the valleys and thorns, breathe in his sweetness and lift you up out of those ashes and hide in the secret place of the Most High, under the shadow of his wings, taste the goodness of his salvation and let him bring you into his house of feasting and the love of Jehovah Nissi is his war flag over his daughters and the love is the secret to it all.

Φλογίζω / 02/05/2015. All rights reserved. Rev. Nina BrownJohnson 2015

For later posts in the realm of all things feminine, check these out:

Resurgence of Ruth

 “Misplaced pearls”

“Something needs to break”

“Grinding the ax” 1 “acknowledgement”

“Grinding the ax” 2… “Real Love?”

“Grinding the ax” #3 “Anger Danger”

“Grinding the ax” #4 “STRANGLE HOLD”

REVISTED:08/01/2019 Because sometimes we just need to be reminded of who Jesus REALLY is and who he has called us to be in him.

 

 

 

 

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“ASCENSION PART3 / CLIMB”

Song of Solomon 4:6: “Until the day break, and the shadows flee, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense.”
Mountain climbing, some saying simply “because it is there” but that really doesn’t get it in the spirit world now does it?
That verse tells us a couple of things, we are going somewhere, to the mountain of myrrh, where we will die to our flesh and shed all the excess junk we are carrying on this trip, because the higher we climb the more junk and baggage we will toss to lighten the load and make it easier to climb.
The hill of frankincense, the place of effective spiritual intercession is our goal and we have determined that we will get there and we will stay there until day breaks over the spirit world and the shadows of death and hell flee away.
The myrrh is a mountain and the hill is frankincense because the hardest part of dying to our own flesh and coming to the place of purification that we can stand in that place of prayer, it is NOT about being a great person or most “spiritual” it is about having a heart for God.
As David said, the one thing he would seek after to inquire in the temple and worship God in the beauty of HIS holiness, (not ours) once that is accomplished the intercession isn’t quite daunting a task.
It takes a determination, a very wise man once chatted with me about a very simple biblical truth, “many are called but few are chosen” many are saved and are happy right where they are and that is perfectly okay, but God is looking for those who seek more, who are aware of the needs of others and KNOW there are greater works to be done in these precious, blessed last days.
They have the heart as Isaiah’s which echoes “Here am I Lord, send me” and those will be his chosen vessels to accomplish the works and bring in the harvest.
There are nine spiritual gifts, and I do believe there will be people who the Lord flows these gifts through on an as needed basis.
So many have chosen not to seek the gifts God has given them, but the work still has to get done and I do believe it will be by a multi-tasking army.
So some may start climbing that mountain and decide it is a little too steep and the trip is just not worth it, and ask “How do we even know anything is up there anyway?”
Some may have to stop on the way and reach down to help another back up and there may be times that we are carrying each other until strength returns.
You have to know why you want to climb that mountain, I determined long ago that I’d climb the bloody thing or I would die on the way up, because I know my motivation, I know my prayers to the only one who holds it all in his nail scarred hands, when I just want to tell him just how much I can’t do this, how I just simply cannot go one more step, I remember, I remember he was completely stripped, beaten beyond recognition and brutally nailed to a cross and displayed for the whole world to ridicule and he did it because he had a mountain to climb, the hill of the ultimate intercession, a hill named Calvary, the intercession to save all of mankind, and the only way for him to do that was to climb that hill.
Then I remember, he forever holds me, I have no strength in me, but through him I can do all things, and I ask myself what am I climbing for anyway?
I climb on behalf of every child that lives in horror and abuse, I climb for every animal tortured, I climb for every victim of ethnic cleansing after seeing the hollow soul stripped eyes on CNN of the genocidal rape victims of the Taliban, I climb for every elderly person that lives at the complete mercy of others in nursing homes and privately.
I climb out of my pain, the awareness that there are stripe scars on my soul so deep that they are my cross to be borne, and a very personal vendetta against hell itself, to see it brought to its knees and maybe the chance to scream a list of “things that are just not nice to do to people” at Satan when Jesus casts him and his angels into an eternal fire of hell.
If you could see this mountain in the spirit world, I think you would have to compare it to stairs, the light of that place being the soft glow of lamplight and a single file journey, an ascension upward of prayers, starting with the gathering censers of incense ( prayers of the saints) and as they persist, maybe feeling like they aren’t getting anywhere at first, oh, but it is, as they climb higher and higher, a change takes place, that cumbersome clothing will become robes, symbolic of the covering of the righteousness of God.

The censers of incense will become the effectual, fervent spoken prayer of the righteous offered up in the presence of God unlike anything some of them have ever known.
The Holy Spirit leads us, the Holy Ghost overtakes us, and while you know all that, there is a manifestation of his presence, just as when he came to the disciples and Paul, you may not see him but you will know he is standing right there.
On that mountain top, or after the ascension of those spiritual “stairs”, however you choose to relate to it, it will be “Ask and it shall be given” And if this is your desire, get your motivation, remember those you “climb” for, keep climbing till you reach the top.

Psalm 65:4:“Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts; we will be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even thy holy temple.”

Psalm 12:7: “For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, NOW WILL I ARISE, saith the Lord: I WILL set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.”
Remember why you climb, and climb.

Φλογίζω/original post:01/17/2015. All rights reserved. Rev. Nina BrownJohnson 2015

Ascension Part1 Night watchmen     Ascension part 2 Intercession

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ASCENSION PART 1 “NIGHT WATCHMEN”

The sun may be shining, but it is night. The birds may be singing but it is night. For most, everything may appear well-lit and crystal clear but in the spirit world it is night.
For the addict who is one hit away from the mouth of hell, it is night. For the prostitute who is one trick away from the wrong John, who will be the devil incarnate come to assure her entrance into hell, it is night.
For the bullied teenager who is one razor blade away from ending it all, it is night. For those widowed and alone, whose loneliness eats away at their souls more viciously than any cancer, it is night.
For those persecuted and imprisoned for their beliefs or simply for the sick pleasure of the forces of hell, still the brightest of days with the greatest, blinding magnification of the sun is the suffocating blackness of the  most darkest of nights.
Night Watchmen, those hired to protect and oversee the goods and properties of their employer.
These particular watchmen actually being the biblical laborers hired in at that vital eleventh hour, because as dusk starts closing in, that harvest must not only be gathered, it must also be protected from the beasts of the field that attack to destroy it, even while the laborers work exhaustively to gather it.
As it is the eleventh hour, this work must be done in complete unity, all while following one light that will light their way through the rows, showing both the ready crops and revealing the awaiting dangers.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105
These are the night watchmen of the Lord, they stand in the night hours when destruction and mischief are most common, and sin tries to take cover under the darkness of night.
While the rest of the world “sleeps”, these are they who will keep vigil, pray down strong holds, plead the blood of the Lamb over ones they have never even known and through intercessory prayer they will make a difference between life and death. They will through that prayer under the unified anointing of God will stand in the gap and make up the hedge around those who are unable to do it for themselves.
Their petitions before the throne of grace will break chains of abuse and addictions and the anointing of God will break the chains of abuse and addictions.
“BEHOLD, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord, which by night stand in the house of the Lord.” Psalm 134:1
Watchmen know who they are, and Night watchmen even more so.

Be vigilant, do not get discouraged and know that the power of the anointing of the secret prayers you pray alone are known of God, “who sees in secret, and will reward you openly”.

Ask that your prayers be accepted in agreement of unity with all those who are called as you are.
Know this also that as this is the last Psalm in the “Songs of Degrees” (steps, stairs) and just as being “compassed about with songs in the night”, this is going somewhere, it is blessed and it is beginning of the “prayers of the saints.”
Φλογίζω/ Original Post:01/01/2015. All rights reserved. Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

**REVISITED 03/05/2021**

 

 

Please consider reading the remainder in this series, the links are below.

ASCENSION Part 2 INTERCESSION

ASCENSION Part 3 CLIMB

AWAKENING / THE FORGOTTEN CHILD

Resurgence of Ruth/

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BLESSED / THE BETROTHED AND THE BEHEADED PART 1

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then those that are alive and remain (are saved) shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  Wherefore COMFORT one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18
The rapture of the church, the return of the Lamb to retrieve his Bride, having paid her bride price with his own blood.
Giving his life that she may live, the ancient Jewish customs proving faithful as the souls of believers confess “You are my Savior” echoing “I am my beloveds and he is mine.”
Having gone away to prepare a place for her, being  reminiscent of the protective, seclusion of the wedding canopy.
He will now return with the army of his companions to take her away to the “secret dwelling place of the Most High” until all things can be fulfilled on earth.
 And he does this because we could not bear to witness the carnage and bloodshed that will overflow this earth.
As in Ezekiel, when those who were supposed to be his servants  filled his temple with filth and abominations, at the cries of his people who could not stand seeing his temple defiled, he then determined that the end for them had come, he called forth his angels, Ezekiel 9:4-6 “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and SET A MARK upon the foreheads of the men ( humans) that sigh and cry for the abominations that are done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing (so I could hear), 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.”
Just as judgment must begin at the house of the Lord.
He always deals with his people first and we shall see one day just as with this story, what will become of those who hold doctrines not quite true to the word of God.
Lets do a little mirror image on this and see the reflection.
“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, HAVING THE SEAL OF THE LIVING GOD: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea. Saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, TILL WE HAVE SEALED THE SERVANTS OF OUR GOD IN THEIR FOREHEADS.” Revelation 7:2,3
As all things foreshadow those which are to come, only it will come on a much grander scale.
Revelation 9:4 “And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any tree; but only those men which HAVE NOT THE SEAL OF GOD IN THEIR FOREHEADS.”
We who are alive and have remained faithful to our bridegroom and kept our faith, will be removed from this earth just as he protected Noah and his family from the flood.
Lot and his daughters were spared from the destruction of Sodom, on behalf of the intercession by Abram.
This is what the Lord speaks over us: Isaiah 26:19,20
“Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. AWAKE and sing, ye that dwell in the dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, AND THE EARTH SHALL CAST OUT HER DEAD.
COME MY PEOPLE, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut the doors about thee: HIDE thyself as it were, but for a moment, UNTIL THE INDIGNATION BE OVERPAST.”
We must be ready when that call comes, because only those who have accepted Christ will be in this gathering.
THOSE WHO REMAIN ON THIS EARTH AFTER THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH WILL ONLY BE SAVED BY  REFUSING TO WORSHIP THE ANTI CHRIST  AND REFUSING TO TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST AND BEING BEHEADED.
Maybe people who may not yet be ready to commit will soon see, all we need to do is watch the news. Israel is almost completely surrounded by enemies as the Lord said would happen and the heart breaking beheading of the first two journalists revealing an eerie clue, the first a Christian, the second a Jew.
Facts probably unknown at the time to their captors, all things are prophetic when you look at what is really there.
So to all who are not saved, please do not wait, if you feel the tug of God, please accept him before it is to late. You do not want to be left on this earth.
His promise to us: Revelation 19:7-9  “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for fine linen is the righteousness of the saints. And he said unto me. WRITE. BLESSED ARE THEY WHICH ARE CALLED UNTO THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB. and he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God.”
Please accept his invitation, because this is one dinner you do not want to miss.
Original Post Date: 09/19/2014. All rights reserved. Rev. Nina BrownJohnson 2015

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AND YOU ARE?

Don’t you just love it when you voice an opinion in mixed company only to have the person with the opposing view look at you and say in that smug tone laced with sarcasm and disgust at the mere thought that you could possibly question their obviously superior intelligence, and they say “And you are???
I for one love it! Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of exactly who we are in God.
Elijah the prophet of God, who was allowed to pray that it not rain, pray the rain would return and pray that fire would come down from heaven in the presence of his enemies.
Elijah started those prayers with this statement “If I be a man of God..” Paul, in his writings dubbed himself “The prisoner of the Lord”, James refers to himself as “Servant of Jesus Christ”, John the “Beloved”  and Mary who never gave herself a title but at his feet she knew exactly who she was and she fell absolutely, helplessly in love with him, a love born from being touched by love itself in the most pure form, a love so gentle, humble so powerful that it had restored her soul. She knew to be separated from Him would be a fate far worse than hell.
They and so many more throughout the Bible have a very common denominator, they knew who they were in God and never let anyone convince them otherwise.

Today we hear so many voices telling us what to think what to eat, what to buy, what we should wear, and who would should be, our minds can become so clouded that we don’t even know who were are and we become too quick to forget who were are in Him.
To achieve our purpose in these blessed last days God has chosen us to be born into, please give up a little you time, or TV time, just make a little time to get in that prayer closet, your personal secret place that is just and God, pray and fast, and remember this does not have to be food, you can fast anything.

Salvation and grace are completely free gifts, but to get in position for the last day outpouring of the spirit and great harvest of souls, and to allow him to stir the gifts and the calling he has placed in you, well it requires diligence on your part.
2 Thessalonians 2:3, tells of the great falling away of the church, we’ve been seeing that come to pass over the last few years.
It is a time to weed out those who serve one day a week or for some reason other than a relationship with Christ and they will fall away.

 Those who are willing to make any sacrifice necessary to see His Kingdom come will be those left standing, the approved of God .
The ones before us who held on, no matter what suffering, ridicule and persecution they had to endure. and when they fell they sought God to lift them up again.
David was human just as human as we are, yet he made tragic mistakes but he sought forgiveness.
God said David was a man after his own heart, I know the common thought on it, but I really take it as David sought the very heart of God, to know Him and be part of the very heart of God.
His praise was constant and he continually sought to have his heart searched, cleansed, restored and anything that may stand between them to be removed.
God wants to help us and there is nothing inside of us that He doesn’t already know. He is a supreme gentlemen, he will never embarrass you ,or tell the whole world all of your secrets. He wants us to bring everything to Him and  admit that we have problems so he can help us.
Everyone needs trusted prayer partners but you also need that one on one with God, seek purification, seek out the calling and gifts and seek confirmation of them at church.
We can feel lead in certain areas, but I tell you ,whatever area of ministry that stirs your heart is usually where your calling will be found BUT always study God’s word and if seems like a foreign language in the King James , get the New King James, it’s more easily understood, there several of versions of the Bible out there but I personally stop here, but no matter what you are called to do, you must have a good foundation of the word of God. It protects you from false doctrine especially when you are seeking.

“Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which is given thee by the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” 1 Timothy 4:14

I feel this is another shortcoming of modern churches today, we are to seek these gifts because they are not for us, they are needed to accomplish the work in the Kingdom.

“Meditate upon these things, give thyself wholly unto them; thy   profiting may appear to all. TAKE HEED UNTO THYSELF, AND UNTO THE DOCTRINE; CONTINUE IN THEM: FOR IN DOING THIS THOU SHALT SAVE THYSELF AND ALL THAT HEAR THEE.” 1 Timothy 4:14,15

The time has come to seek and stir up those gifts of God, as he said if you will do these things you will see the lost saved.
And while seeking, the enemy will rear his head to attempt to discourage you, and he will ask “And you are?” 

Take your answer from Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:10 (a)”But by the grace of God I am what I am; and his grace which was bestowed on me was not in vain:..”

We are the generation chosen to seek His face, now it is up to us to believe that!


Original Post Date: 02/15/14  Φλογίζω/  All Rights Reserved.  Nina BrownJohnson/ 2015

 

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AMONG THE THORNS

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2yDaEq1XiQjhPo7x9tBlcK?si=e9554cfa55fc4fcf

“As the lily among the thorns, so is my love among the daughters” Song of Solomon 2:2
The beautiful spiritual garden of the Lord, filled with every plant and flower to be imagined and the plot he has chosen for you to grow in.

You have been created in the image of God, the enemy knows this and he knows the value of the true beauty which you possess. He despises it, so he plants his briers in your life to rip and shred that image until there is nothing left but bloody, twisted, painful wounds.

Thorns, the gnarled twisted vines that entangle us and who we believe ourselves to be.

Their razor-sharp points piercing our souls, preventing our movement in either direction for fear of their sharp sting. If left to grow they will completely take over our souls.

Proverbs 12:18(a): “There is that (one who) speaketh like the piercings of a sword.” 

We go through some pretty rough stuff in this life but often the real damage to us is not caused by physical sufferings but rather through words.

Words are so powerful, that is why Jesus is referred to as “THE WORD”, He spoke everything into existence and the enemy loves nothing more than to battle you with his own perverted, twisted, destructive words.

As the Bible states, those words stab our hearts, souls and spirit to a greater degree than any dagger ever might, because these cuts go straight to the heart.

“Four Eyes”,

“Dumb”,

“Stupid”,

“Wimp”,

“Fat”,

“Bone rack”,

“Flat chest”,

” Slut”,

“Idiot”,

“Cry Baby”,

“Should have never been born”,

“Never will amount to anything”.

Of course, they are always offered to us with the all too familiar, “YOUR…” which automatically red flags our minds which have been programmed to the values of this world and our social need to conform to default to self-blame.

It hurts just reading them doesn’t it?

These words are so powerful and carry so much force that even not being spewed hatefully at us, they still affect our emotions.

Words piercing our souls, and so many young men and women in our world today have listened to those words and the thorns that accompanied them are now strangling everything a Holy, loving Father has created them to be.

Society has set levels of supposed beauty and social conduct that are both impossible to achieve and disgraceful.
We have all been there at one point or another in life, maybe you are there now and the effects of these words can linger for life.

Self destruct mode takes over when those thorns have convinced us that rather than rid ourselves of them, that we must instead change ourselves to accommodate their presence.

IF we were prettier, more handsome, bigger busted, more muscular, slimmer, sexier, had better skin, whiter teeth, had more friends or could get that perfect date.
Maybe we could fit if… we drank more, tried the cool drugs, give our virtue away to everyone who asked, losing a little of our soul each time, joy, self-esteem and self-worth being strangled out, while depression, guilt and shame moves insidiously and comfortably into their spot.

Achieve one goal and a new one will be set because that score board is rigged and it forever changes to keep the players on the field right where the enemy wants them.

If it is so grand, why do so many celebrities commit suicide and die from drug overdoses?
Their souls have become so covered by thorns even all the money, fame and power can’ take the pain away, they are so miserable inside that they can no longer survive the torment of living.

These thorns manifest themselves in many, many ways the most common alcoholism, drug addictions, pornography and gambling addictions, cutting and eating disorders and host of self-destructive behaviors.

We, as Christians must get our heads out of fairy land and see what is really taking place in the lives of those Christ sent us to minister to and start acknowledging that these problems are very real and offer help to the untold number of teens and adults that suffer alone in silence, fearing that they will be farther ridiculed if their secrets are out.

We have to teach them that is okay to talk about these things and that there is help and most of all there is hope.
The realization has to come that THERE IS NO STANDARD!

We are fearfully and wonderfully  created, completely on purpose by someone who loves and does not make mistakes.

He wants us all to feel beautiful from the inside out and most of that our true value will be found in Him.

That we would understand that true beauty comes in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors and personalities.

Just as roses, daisies and orchids are completely different and yet all equally as stunning.
His love is as the lily, the beautiful precious thing, completely surrounded by those thorns.
His love and His love alone is the only force that can cut all the thorns away and allow us to grow in that beautiful garden, being ourselves, just exactly who he intended us to be.

Hold on to God, give him all your pain and trust him because “HE IS THE ROSE OF SHARON AND THE LILY OF THE VALLEYS” and you are beautiful in Him!
Original Post Date:06/06/2014 

All rights reserved. Nina BrownJohnson/ baresoulphlogizo 2015

Part 1 ASHES

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ASHES

Ashes, sometimes all that is all that is left of what once was your life all that was held precious and dear, all that is left of what once was and most importantly what will be never again. Maybe you feel that way today, maybe you have wounds that are so deep, wounds that are […]

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PLEASE WAKE UP !!!

How many of us have tried to wake someone and finally in complete exasperation utter that all familiar phrase, “Would you PLEASE get up?!!” The Beloved written about in Song of Solomon surely must understand this.

 ” I sleep, but my heart waketh: It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew and my locks with the drops of the night.”

” I have put off my coat; how shall I put it on? I have washed my feet; how shall I defile(dirty) them? My beloved put his hand in the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him ( heart stirred with longing).

I rose up to open to my beloved: and my hands dropped with myrrh, and my fingers with sweet-smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock. I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: my soul failed when he spake: I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.” Song of Solomon 5:2-6

Ah, the most misunderstood book in the Bible. Most have difficulty reading it without misunderstanding it in the carnal mind and according to one Jewish tradition, men were required to be at least thirty years old and married and women were strictly forbidden to read it all.
It would seem that the American church suffers the same affliction as our lady in song of Songs.

Please do not take these remarks as attacks on any specific church, some of these attitudes and problems seem to creep into almost all churches at one point or another. That is why we must always stay on guard, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour..” 1 Peter 5:8

The church like our lady here, in comparison to what it was intended to be, having been built on diligence, fortitude, tenacity, and  above all the blood of  Christ, the prophets, and all the martyrs. The church also has become quite comfortable seeming to have forgotten where it came from and the astonishing  price that was paid for its continual existence.

Even though our lady is asleep, thankfully heart is still attentive to the voice of her one true love. He is standing outside a door that has been locked against his presence, beaten beyond recognition, the “dew” having fell during the tortures of the night he has just endured to take her punishment and to purchase a freedom she could have never been able to afford, even pleading with her to take note of the “drops of the night” his hair completed saturated by his precious blood, a result of the  excruciating  crown of thorns that encircled his head, each piercing thorn driving into his flesh, a crown he wore in torment to free her troubled mind, bringing all thoughts captive, buying her salvation, while ensuring that one day he would reign as her King.

All she can come up with as he pleads with her from behind that locked door, is excuses of why she can’t get up, why it would be such an inconvenience, a burden to get up and answer his call on her heart, her soul, and her life.
Her first reason being that she is quite comfortable, right where she is , tucked in the warmth of her cozy bed, her complacency of more value to her than the value of the love she has for him.

Her second reason is that her feet are clean, Oh, how can she possibly admit to maybe walking the wrong paths, imperfections, or heaven forbid, she admit any wrong doing or blatant sin?

There is no way that she is going to answer to him and let him see her without her coat, how can she stand humbly before him, bearing all that she is, her very soul, without the protection of her coat of self-righteousness? No, she simply can’t do it.

Thankfully the sound of his voice had stirred her heart, it was then that she remembered, she remembered all the shame, all the suffering, all the love and mercy that also poured out as the ground flowed red with his blood while his life was given in exchange for her.
She remembered that her precious coat of self-righteousness, had only be crafted from the filthy rags of her own righteousness and without being clothed in his righteousness, she was less than nothing.

She remembered that without him and the guidance of his hand to her every step, that those feet, that she so arrogantly believed to be clean would only lead her into temptation and swift destruction.

In the span of time it took for her to realize this, he was gone, but in his desire that one day the locked door between them would open, he left her the key. As the myrrh dripped from her hands, it let her finally see that the door could only be opened by the purification of her own heart, soul and spirit and by dying to her flesh, her desires, and humble herself completely to him, giving every single thing in her, both good and bad, over to him until they became one.

We are living in the midst of the most exciting time that has been or will ever be. The last day outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a harvest of souls to end it all.
But so many have grown comfortable or are just simply asleep, proclaiming Christianity while those in the world around us are lost, enslaved to drugs or alcohol or one of the many addictions that snare and trap.
Sometimes  we refuse to reach out because of the lifestyles of others, we can’t be seen talking to them or associating with what hypocritically we refer to as “that kind” of person, this comes from wrongly believing that we are so holy, and so good that we forget we were once in those shoes.

“Therefore let us not sleep, as others do; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night (spiritual night on earth) and they that be drunken are drunken in the night, but let us who are of they day, be sober (minded), putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8

As Jesus said in John 9:4: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.”

I  have often heard people say they believe in Jesus but they don’t accept him because they don’t want to be a hypocrite or they feel like they can’t change. I respect that to the utmost measure, but the good news that we can never change ourselves, he does that for us! All he requires is a reasonable service, no one is perfect, nor will we ever be on this earth. When the Bible uses the word “perfect” it means “blameless” doing the best we can and some days that may be not so good, this is why his mercy is renewed every, single day and when we make mistakes, we ask  for forgiveness, get up and go on! 

If you don’t want to be a hypocrite, that’s a good indication that you would never be anyway! But I am pleading with you as a servant of God, we are in the last days and if you have never committed to the Lord, Please, please, hear his voice, hear his invitation, before all hell breaks loose on this earth, and I promise you, it has already begun.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

Simply put just answer him! Let him come in! He doesn’t give a list of requirements there does he? Ask forgiveness for your sins and ask him to be Lord of your life and save you! End of story, your sins are washed completely away and he never brings them up again.

As we all will stand before the Lord and give account for the lives he has given us, the saddest excuse we will ever give for not completing the work he has entrusted us with is having to say “Lord, I just couldn’t get up.”

 

Φλογίζω /   Nina BrownJohnson/ baresoulphlogizo 2015 all rights reserved
Original post:11/21/2013 FOWC/THE AVENUE