Now that we are all awake, where’s the fire? Man, that’s a good question, especially when you consider scriptures such as “For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29 “Who maketh his angels spirits and his ministers (servants) a flaming fire.” Psalm 104:4 The fire Jesus refers to when he said “I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15,16 Lukewarm Christianity is like lukewarm anything. It is a spineless, gutless attempt to lay claim to a massive inheritance of untold worth while denying the very one it is handed down by. That is why the Lord tells them without question that he knows their works, and he wants to give him their all or give him nothing but don’t try to play the middle. Today we have become so worried about offending people and being politically correct, that we will choke back anything while the true church is ran into the ground. The prophet Jeremiah also went through this in his time.
“For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision daily, Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak anymore in his name.
But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing and could not stay.” Jeremiah 20:8,9 Jeremiah had absolutely the worst job in the Bible, he is often referred to as “the Prophet of doom”. It was his job to proclaim the forthcoming judgment on his own people, the very people who instead of heeding his warnings would ridicule him, even to the point that he would have rather not have been born as to have to carry out this task. But the fire of God and the holy calling on him, that had been placed on him before he had been formed in his mother’s womb, was so strong and burned so deep that it could not be contained and it prevailed. God wants to use some people in these last days that are wiling to just let Him burn in them and do the work his has created them for. People like Martin Luther who took on the entire church of his day, because a fellow named Tetzel had cooked up quite a money-making scheme, enough money to help build Saint Peter’s Cathedral, by selling what he called “indulgences”. A get out of purgatory free certificate, ( purgatory being the Catholics belief in pre-hell, a place we know does not exist, because the rich man in the story of Lazarus had lifted up his eyes in hell) Luther being disgusted and knowing for himself the truth of God nailed his understanding of that truth to the church door. John Brown, who finally became so tired of the injustice done to the slaves that he started his own movement, which regrettably became violent, bloody and cost lives. One of the last photos taken of him before his execution, tells all there is to tell, as a small, black child hugs him as they lead him away to his hanging. When he had been asked how he justified what he had done, this was his reply “Upon the golden rule. I pity the poor in bondage that have none to help them, that is why I am here, not to gratify any personal animosity, revenge or vindictive spirit. It is my sympathy with the oppressed and wronged that are as good as you and are as precious in the sight of God.” Luther suffered excommunication and the threat of death but took his cause forward. Brown paid with his life, I am sure he never wanted to see any lives lost, but I am equally as sure that the hug he received before going to his death was worth it all because he knew he had lived for something other than himself. Two very different men, both having a common fire, burning for truth, justice and to see others truly free. That fire could be contained.
Nor should it today, pray for that fire. If one voice can affect the entire world, what can we accomplish with our voices collectively speaking as one?
Original Post: 12/20/2013 FOWC/AVENUE Rev. Nina Brown Johnson 2015 REVISITED 02/02/22 Φλογιζω Also listen as podcast at: https://anchor.fm/phlogizo
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
Have you ever cried yourself to sleep? Your mind so exhausted and your heart so troubled and broken that you end up lulled into some sort of almost hypnotic state of sub consciousness? Unlike our sleeping beauty from Song of Songs, there is another kind of sleep. the sleep, I believe the Disciples suffered from, a sleep born from the repeated attacks waged against the soul of every believer. The literal, Biblical “wearing out” of the saints. Sometimes we do become shell-shocked warriors in the unseen battle between heaven and hell, as we constantly war with the principalities of the air and their embodied counterparts on earth. Elijah the Prophet, whom at his request God had sent fire down from heaven, even he became so discouraged that his soul desire was for God to just take him home. John the Baptist, whose very life was to fulfill the prophecy that the Lord would send Elijah the Prophet before him, and John came in the spirit of Elijah. Remember this is the man who was so spirit filled that he had leapt for joy in his mother’s womb. He was considered a wild man and he was never afraid to proclaim the kingdom of God. It never bothered him who may be offended by his preaching or just who would have to be told off. Jesus himself referred to John as the GREATEST prophet ever born. Yet, even he, after being locked away by Herod started to hear that little voice of doubt whispered by the enemy telling him that just maybe, he had been wrong about everything. But the Lord is always faithful. He sent Elijah an angel to comfort him. To John he sent back his word that erased every doubt and fear the enemy had tried to place in him. Jesus in his agony prayed three times that the cup might pass from him, his answer came as his sweat turned to drops of blood, signifying that he would indeed die, upon receiving his answer angels appeared to strengthen him for the horror that lie ahead. So many today have suffered things so unbearable, ordeals so hard to fathom, that others can not even begin to understand. Know this, if you have been through a season in life that has weakened you so much that you feel you can’t take another step or shed even one more tear, and you are so tired, tired of even trying to fight any longer. You love the Lord and want to serve him but you are just so shell-shocked you can’t get out of that trench. Want to give you some hope, no matter how alone you feel your not, I promise you there is a God that loves you and those tears are precious to him. Just as he himself had to be strengthened to endure what he went through, he wants to strengthen you. Even though this is technically a repost, I know this is for someone and whoever you are, you know it too and I promise you he is there and as he promised he will never leave you or forsake you and the only reason you are standing even now is because he is holding you. “There hath no temptation (trial)taken you but as such that is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but with the temptation will make a way of escape that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 Translating, it means as long as we are on this earth, various troubles, death, and heartache will come to us all but he will never let it be more than your soul can bear. And with it all he will strengthen you and see you through. Even when we feel like we can’t handle it, through his spirit he allows us to. “Wherefore seeing that we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witness, let us lay aside EVERY WEIGHT and the sin which doth so easily best us, and RUN with patience the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 See, the weight of those heavy, heavy burdens the pain, the heartache, that we try to carry alone, if we are not careful and be sure to give those burdens to the Lord, they will unwittingly lead to sin. We have to lay down, at his feet, at the cross all those things we carry that make us unable to run that race. We have to lighten the load before we are able to even take that first step. Paul a man well acquainted with suffering and persecution wrote this, ” For I reckon the sufferings of this world are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 “For our light affliction WHICH IS FOR A MOMENT worketh in us a far more exceeding and ETERNAL weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen TEMPORAL but the things which are not seen are ETERNAL.” 2 Corinthians 4:17,18 The things that trouble you will pass, the weight of those burdens will lift. The burdens of this earth eventually lighten, they are temporary but holding onto your faith, keeping your eyes on the prize will one day produce an excellent weight (sheer amount) of glory eternally. Don’t quit, Don’t give up and above all NEVER SURRENDER. Let me leave you with Matthew 11:28 the words of our beautiful Lord, who is your ever-present him in the time of trouble. “COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” Please take these words, sharpen your spiritual sword and endure hardness as a good soldier and make your Captain proud! He’s counting on you!
Original companion post to PLEASE WAKE UP !!! Available as podcast: https://anchor.fm/phlogizo Original post date 11/30/2013 FOWC/Avenue Φλογίζω / All rights reserved. Nina Brown Johnson/ baresoulphlogizo 2015 ***REVISITED 01/26/2022***
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
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!
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
Now that we’ve admitted that not very many can lay claim to the titles of “Patty Purity” or “Captain Celibate” and in reality it would be more along the lines of ” A Randy Dandy” or “Backstreet Barbie” but there is hope, so much hope! The moment that we realize our sins, mistakes and failures, when true conviction comes and suddenly our minds and spirits are faced with the realization of what miserable creatures we really are. Once that takes hold, real change soon follows and the spiritual “brain damage” due to “sin”trifugal force of this world is both reversible and completely curable. But it requires a most awesome physician, Jesus is that physician.
He heals mind, spirit, body, and soul. He is the great potter, taking the old, marred and cracked vessels, gently re-firing them, he then shapes those lifeless, lumps of clay into beautiful, new creations that don’t even resemble the broken mess they once were. Each one a vessel strong and new that can now hold the goodness of his spirit and also has the strength to withstand the wear and tear of this world. He takes minds that were completely broken and renews them to such clarity that his very mind can now be in us. He takes all the shame, guilt and pain, and he casts it into his sea of forgetfulness, never again to be remembered by him. As he flung the stars into the sky at creation, he flings all those sins as far as the east is to the west. “COME NOW, AND LET US REASON TOGETHER, SAITH THE LORD; THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET, THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW; THOUGH THEY BE RED LIKE CRIMSON, THEY SHALL BE AS WOOL.” Isaiah 1:18 He doesn’t care where you have been, or what you did while you were there, he died to save us from all of that. He knew our sins would be worthy of a price that we could not afford to pay. He only cares about where you are going and wants to help you every step of the way, His promises are “Yes” and “Amen”. He has never been up there with a chalkboard, keeping score, just waiting to send you to hell and he will do everything within his power to keep you from going there. BUT WE HAVE TO ACCEPT HIM. Most make their fatal mistake in believing the lie that Satan tells them, that they have gone too far that God would never accept them now or that they have to be able to change themselves. Number one, if a person had gone too far to be saved, then conviction, or a conscious knowledge of the need for salvation would never enter their mind! Number two, WE CAN NEVER, NEVER, EVER CHANGE OURSELVES! So put that to rest right away. That is why we must be washed in the blood of the Lamb, He changes us! You will not even think the same or have the desires you once had. He allows us to be able to live a life holy and pleasing to him through the indwelling of his Holy Spirit, which leads us and guides, gently nudging us in our spirit as to what we should do and most importantly what not to do. Think of “Rahab, the Harlot” her name being referenced in many sermons, she is actually referred to in the Bible as “The Harlot” but because of her kindness to the servants of God and her desire to repent, the Lord saved her and her family while everyone else there were destroyed. Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus cast seven demons out of went on follow him faithfully, never looking back but pressing forward and she was the first that he appeared to upon resurrection. And how can we forget our favorite trip junkie Samson, who after a lifetime of running wild and doing his own thing, finally, this great warrior of God, saw the light. God never belittled any of these or countless others, who were as prodigal sons and daughters that once they realized they were wallowing with pigs, they longed for home and the Father eagerly welcomed them back in. He cleansed them, healed them, answered their prayers and never once put the burden of their sin on their own shoulders, now that is why he gave his life. How did they receive God’s mercy, peace, and forgiveness? They confessed their sin to him, asked for forgiveness and never looked back. Remember, you never have to tell a church house full of people your darkest secrets, and you certainly are not required to tell it to any man, you are only required to ask Jesus, and Jesus alone to forgive you of your sins. So whatever you’ve been through, leave it right there, get yourself to the cross and let his precious holy blood wash you whiter than snow. Original Post Date:11/29/2014. All rights reserved. Φλογίζω/ Nina BrownJohnson 2015
REVISTED and linked 06/27/2021 NBJ 2021
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
“Aha Peasant, EN GARDE!” the command shouted for one of several reasons, maybe a random sword welding D’Artagan wannabe has just pounced out from behind an innocent looking bush and challenged you to a duel or maybe your being gently warned to be on your guard. I am taking for granted that you who are reading this are nowhere near any bushes so we’ll go with the latter. I’ve been noticing something for a long time now and it is not the easiest subject to bring up but it needs addressed. Churches and Christians as a whole have become a wee lax in the area of respect to the Holiness. This is not aimed at any one person and if we go to church together, please, please, don’t think that! Movies, and the media have for a long while made fun of us and of God. The onslaught of the white bottomed candy coats with their ever-increasing need to market Jesus as the cool, hip, and never offended by what YOU may do God of ALL YOUR FLESHLY DESIRES have produced an array of off colored jokes, and Christianity related acronyms that seem to find their way printed on everything that makes one wonder are they referring to a Deity or are they selling laundry detergent. Tacky, questionable off-color jokes and even more tasteless greeting cards with everything from the Ark to Wise Men. Little animal and snowmen, and anything else you can imagine Nativity figurines now widely available. (Still pretty sure he was born as a man!) In it all, what bothers me most is the jokes about Pentecostals and the never-ending parade of “Cool Jesus” picture posts and “religious” memes and the never-ending saga of share to be blessed with twenty thousand dollars. Again I am not being harpy, I have struggled with trying to tell people who maybe they really need to THINK about WHAT THEY ARE SAYING AND WHAT THEY ARE LAUGHING ABOUT and I have to keep MYSELF on guard. My Mother told me that she prays especially for forgiveness for sins that she may never have realized that she committed. Because as she said, something we may not even think is a problem could be absolutely vile to God, and that is true. We have accepted all this and you can share to be blessed, but share your time, your heart, or an uplifting thought or scripture. God is Holy, The Holy Ghost the most Holy of Holiness and think about it, Moses was commanded to take his shoes off because THE VERY GROUND was sacred, if one wrong move was made toward the Ark someone was going to die, dishonor the Sabbath, someone was going to die and on and on through the Bible and falling at feet of the Lord out of absolute respect and awe of His majesty. We have let it sneak in slowly and it has to be dealt with before it defiles our temples and alienates our minds to the true Gospel. Jesus is not groovy, He’s not your hip buddy. He is Holy and is to be only addressed with adoration and consummate respect. He is our friend and our Savior but we have to not let that line blur and if we want cool and hip we might need to look up Michael Buble because God doesn’t play that. Again I do not believe it is intentional, I think it has come through by the world seeping in on us, because we have let down our guard. See it for what it is and who is behind it and get the rollers under and put it out of your life and walk away from those who try to drag it back to you. EPHESIANS 5:4: “Neither filthiness, nor FOOLISH TALKING, nor JESTING (coarse jesting, crude or off-color jokes) ARE NOT CONVENIENT (do not become Christian conduct or Christ like behavior) But rather give thanks.“ I personally believe God has a fabulous sense of humor and “laughter is merry medicine”, but it has to be in the right context, instead of pleasing the flesh with bad humor use that same voice to give him honor and praise.
PHILIPPIANS 4:7 :And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, SHALL KEEP (GUARD) YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.” His peace will keep your hearts and mind alert to these insidious little cracks in the flesh but you must stay aware of them. So EN GARDE! And I am totally not hiding behind a bush! Φλογίζω/All rights reserved/ NBJ 2015
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
“Aha Peasant, EN GARDE!” the command shouted for one of several reasons, maybe a random sword welding D’Artagan wannabe has just pounced out from behind an innocent looking bush and challenged you to a duel or maybe your being gently warned to be on your guard. I am taking for granted that you who are reading this are nowhere near any bushes so we’ll go with the latter. I’ve been noticing something for a long time now and it is not the easiest subject to bring up but it needs addressed. Churches and Christians as a whole have become a wee lax in the area of respect to the Holiness. This is not aimed at any one person and if we go to church together, please, please, don’t think that! Movies, and the media have for a long while made fun of us and of God. The onslaught of the white bottomed candy coats with their ever-increasing need to market Jesus as the cool, hip, and never offended by what YOU may do God of ALL YOUR FLESHLY DESIRES have produced an array of off colored jokes, and Christianity related acronyms that seem to find their way printed on everything that makes one wonder are they referring to a Deity or are they selling laundry detergent. Tacky, questionable off-color jokes and even more tasteless greeting cards with everything from the Ark to Wise Men. Little animal and snowmen, and anything else you can imagine Nativity figurines now widely available. (Still pretty sure he was born as a man!) In it all, what bothers me most is the jokes about Pentecostals and the never-ending parade of “Cool Jesus” picture posts and “religious” memes and the never-ending saga of share to be blessed with twenty thousand dollars. Again I am not being harpy, I have struggled with trying to tell people who maybe they really need to THINK about WHAT THEY ARE SAYING AND WHAT THEY ARE LAUGHING ABOUT and I have to keep MYSELF on guard. My Mother told me that she prays especially for forgiveness for sins that she may never have realized that she committed. Because as she said, something we may not even think is a problem could be absolutely vile to God, and that is true. We have accepted all this and you can share to be blessed, but share your time, your heart, or an uplifting thought or scripture. God is Holy, The Holy Ghost the most Holy of Holiness and think about it, Moses was commanded to take his shoes off because THE VERY GROUND was sacred, if one wrong move was made toward the Ark someone was going to die, dishonor the Sabbath, someone was going to die and on and on through the Bible and falling at feet of the Lord out of absolute respect and awe of His majesty. We have let it sneak in slowly and it has to be dealt with before it defiles our temples and alienates our minds to the true Gospel. Jesus is not groovy, He’s not your hip buddy. He is Holy and is to be only addressed with adoration and consummate respect. He is our friend and our Savior but we have to not let that line blur and if we want cool and hip we might need to look up Michael Buble because God doesn’t play that. Again I do not believe it is intentional, I think it has come through by the world seeping in on us, because we have let down our guard. See it for what it is and who is behind it and get the rollers under and put it out of your life and walk away from those who try to drag it back to you. EPHESIANS 5:4: “Neither filthiness, nor FOOLISH TALKING, nor JESTING (coarse jesting, crude or off-color jokes) ARE NOT CONVENIENT (do not become Christian conduct or Christ like behavior) But rather give thanks.“ I personally believe God has a fabulous sense of humor and “laughter is merry medicine”, but it has to be in the right context, instead of pleasing the flesh with bad humor use that same voice to give him honor and praise.
PHILIPPIANS 4:7 :And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, SHALL KEEP (GUARD) YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.” His peace will keep your hearts and mind alert to these insidious little cracks in the flesh but you must stay aware of them. So EN GARDE! And I am totally not hiding behind a bush! Φλογίζω/All rights reserved/ NBJ 2015
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
I just wanted to take this time to thank you guys for being so kind as to republish my posts without my knowledge or consent. Had you asked I could have made a few suggestions that would be much more beneficial for your reading needs!
I also enjoyed the fact that you also posted the “Shout Out” post by “History with Brandon” which contains live links to other blog sites.
Quite interesting, Alcoholics Anonymous is a self-help group for people who have a very real addiction to a very real substance.
Narcotics Anonymous is another self-help group for people who have yet again, a very real addiction to very real substances.
So I suppose that since you feel the need to surround yourselves with Christian works from across the board, and yet, protest with your slogan, your belief in God, but since the other two are real, obviously HE IS ALSO!
So why do you hate God? Did you grow up with bad examples of Christianity? Did you pray for something that you felt like he did not answer you or that he abandoned you?
You know trying to mock and ridicule others for having a relationship that you obviously desire is not really promoting your beliefs.
IT IS BULLYING, and republishing posts without consent in hope of making others look in your opinion foolish and uneducated is the worst type of bullying, especially for adults!
Maybe you could change the name to “UNBELIEVERS ANONYMOUS” OR “ANGRY BECAUSE I THINK GOD DOESN’T LOVE ME THE WAY I FEEL I DESERVE ANONYMOUS” But man, the Christian thing just leads people to believe that you are a closet Christian and are trying to fight the addiction!
But in the meantime, you laugh, make fun, do whatever makes you feel better about you at the expense of others.
AS for me I LOVE JESUS! I AM ADDICTED TO JESUS!
Not because I was taught to believe that, I DID NOT GROW UP IN CHURCH and as far as all the other little problems you can use to try to disprove his existence, WELL, welcome to the club! WE HAVE ALL HAD PROBLEMS!
Not all of us choose to use them as an excuse to bully other people.
NO I AM ADDICTED TO JESUS BECAUSE I KNOW JESUS!And I think that may be your problem, you can’t stand others to have something you can’t understand. SO if YOU can’t understand it, then it must just not be real? HUM?
But hopefully my hijacked posts will get some hits!!!
um, yeah, by the way, three points:
#1.Jesus Christ is Lord!
#2.The gates of hell shall never prevail!
#3.ONLY A FOOL SAYS IN HIS HEART THAT THERE IS NO GOD!
Since you like posting the word, those are some good ones, straight from the book!
Toby Mac has a great new song “Feel it” you guys should really post that!
Φλογίζω/ALL RIGHTS RESERVED (AS IF) NBJ/2015
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
“Who changed (EXCHANGED) the truth of God into a lie (for the lie),andworshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. Romans 1:25 Oh My, where do I start? Where are the Walton’s and Little House on the Prairie”? What happened to love thy neighbor and “together we will stand”? We now have such a hodgepodge of freak show culture that is no real shock that when God gave Daniel the vision of the latter days, his knees went out from under him. How could this man from that time period, even with the senseless violence and torture he had seen, mentally digest what the future held? “And the vision was of the evening and the morning which was told is TRUE: wherefore shut (seal) thou up the vision; for it shall be for many days (refers to many days in the future) And I Daniel FAINTED, and WAS SICK certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; And I was ASTONISHED at the vision, but none understood it.” Daniel 8:26,27 Once God allowed my spirit to feel the revelation of the anguish of several of the scriptures of Daniel, I wept also, as I often weep, I weep for this world, I weep for their arrogance, I weep for their pride, I weep for their blindness as they continue to laugh, and mock, and stubbornly, viciously contend they do not to be saved by him, in whom they do not believe. I weep because I know, I know the absolute carnage that will rain down on this earth, the plagues mirroring what he laid down on Egypt, only this time it will cover the entire earth because he will have removed his people exclusively for this purpose. But there is yet a more grave concern, Mystery Babylon the Great and what shall become of her. Oh America, America, What have you done? You have traded your protection of heavenly grace for a covering of filth, abominations and blood. What did Daniel see? He saw the depravity, he saw the filth, he saw sexual immorality that defied anything he could have possibly imagine. He saw men with men, women with women, He saw people having their genders surgically altered and in doing so becoming national heroes. He saw people literally dying to have their bottoms surgically enhanced in seedy motel rooms while caring absolutely nothing for their souls. He saw babies being slaughtered as form of birth control. He saw humans beings kidnapped and sold to the highest bidder to be used for sex. He saw parents so stoned that they could not even hear or even care about their children’s cries. He saw children sacrificed to the devil through schools and false teaching, and absolute ungodliness. He saw nations, people’s, and tongues filled with such hate toward the one true God that they will hunt down and kill all who worship them. But the clincher, what drained his body of every ounce of strength was this, He saw not only the rebellion against God but the audacity of some to profess him when in actuality they are those “who crept in unawares” and he saw the perverted, twisting of the future “church”. God is merciful, He is gentle and very, very forgiving BUT he has one big line that no one is to cross, those claiming HIS NAME and live for the kingdom of hell! Such as the prominent Pastor and his “guy-wife” who also adopted a baby saying that it was God’s will for them to raise this child, the article also stated that they took communion at their first “wedding” and won praise as one of the ten most inspiring families. Once it hit buildings professing to be “churches” that line crossed and not only have we crossed it we have run gunnin for it, as a nation we strive to see who wins the prize of most shocking, most raunchy, and outrageous while screaming there is no God. And we wonder why our enemies are at our doorstep? Why the economy crashed, why there are school shootings, and every disease and trouble imaginable. It is because he is taking his hand off, and just as Queen Babylon so full of sickening pride touted in Revelation that she sits high and “is no widow” and shall not see sorrow, the day fast approaches that the “queen” would only dream to be even a beggar’s daughter. As we as a culture emulate to become that sin infested sewage pit, our spiritual sister Gomorrah, we gladly convince ourselves we are right, we are ever so careful to prove we are different, we are only respecting the rights of others to be who they really are and embracing them with love. Not only has the spirit of Sodom and Gomorrah taken possession of our land, we have welcomed it, fulfilling every word spoken by the prophets. The line has been crossed, there is no turning back now… “As it is written, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE: THERE IS NONE THAT UNDERSTANDETH,THERE IS NONE THAT SEEKETH AFTER GOD.THEY ARE ALL GONE OUT OF THE WAY, THEY ARE TOGETHER BECOME UNPROFITABLE; THERE IS NONE THAT DOETH GOOD, NO, NOT A ONE. THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN SEPULCURE(GRAVE) WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY HAVE USED DECEIT; THE POISON OF ASPS (SNAKES) IS UNDER THEIR LIPS: WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS: THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD: DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR WAYS: AND THE WAY OF PEACE HAVE THEY NOT KNOWN: THERE IS NO FEAR (RESPECT) OF GOD IN THEM.” Romans 3:10-18 Repent for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand Join me next time for part two, “MS MYSTERY”.
08/10/2015*****AUTHORS NOTE: PLEASE BE AWARE THAT IF YOU ARE VIEWING THIS ON ANY SITE OTHER THAN MY PERSONAL SITE THAT IT HAS BEEN REPUBLISHED WITHOUT MY PERMISSION! FINAL WORD” JESUS CHRIST IS LORD AND “ONLY A FOOL SAYS IN HIS HEART THAT THERE IS NO GOD!” Φλογιζω/ All rights reserved. NBJ 2015
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
Now that we are all awake, where’s the fire? Man, that’s a good question, especially when you consider scriptures such as “For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:29 “Who maketh his angels spirits and his ministers (servants) a flaming fire.” Psalm 104:4 The fire Jesus refers to when he said “I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” Revelation 3:15,16 Lukewarm Christianity is like lukewarm anything. It is a spineless, gutless attempt to lay claim to a massive inheritance of untold worth while denying the very one it is handed down by. That is why the Lord tells them without question that he knows their works, and he wants to give him their all or give him nothing but don’t try to play the middle. Today we have become so worried about offending people and being politically correct, that we will choke back anything while the true church is ran into the ground. The prophet Jeremiah also went through this in his time.
“For since I spake, I cried out, I cried violence and spoil; because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision daily, Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak anymore in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing and could not stay.” Jeremiah 20:8,9 Jeremiah had absolutely the worst job in the Bible, he is often referred to as “the Prophet of doom”. It was his job to proclaim the forthcoming judgment on his own people, the very people who instead of heeding his warnings would ridicule him, even to the point that he would have rather not have been born as to have to carry out this task. But the fire of God and the holy calling on him, that had been placed on him before he had been formed in his mother’s womb, was so strong and burned so deep that it could not be contained and it prevailed. God wants to use some people in these last days that are wiling to just let Him burn in them and do the work his has created them for. People like Martin Luther who took on the entire church of his day, because a fellow named Tetzel had cooked up quite a money-making scheme, enough money to help build Saint Peter’s Cathedral, by selling what he called “indulgences”. A get out of purgatory free certificate, ( purgatory being the Catholics belief in pre-hell, a place we know does not exist, because the rich man in the story of Lazarus had lifted up his eyes in hell) Luther being disgusted and knowing for himself the truth of God nailed his understanding of that truth to the church door. John Brown, who finally became so tired of the injustice done to the slaves that he started his own movement, which regrettably became violent, bloody and cost lives. One of the last photos taken of him before his execution, tells all there is to tell, as a small, black child hugs him as they lead him away to his hanging. When he had been asked how he justified what he had done, this was his reply “Upon the golden rule. I pity the poor in bondage that have none to help them, that is why I am here, not to gratify any personal animosity, revenge or vindictive spirit. It is my sympathy with the oppressed and wronged that are as good as you and are as precious in the sight of God.” Luther suffered excommunication and the threat of death but took his cause forward. Brown paid with his life, I am sure he never wanted to see any lives lost, but I am equally as sure that the hug he received before going to his death was worth it all because he knew he had lived for something other than himself. Two very different men, both having a common fire, burning for truth, justice and to see others truly free. That fire could be contained. Nor should it today, pray for that fire. If one voice can affect the entire world, what can we accomplish with our voices collectively speaking as one?
Original Post: 12/20/2013.
All rights reserved. Rev. Nina BrownJohsnon 2015
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
Now that we’ve admitted that not very many can lay claim to the titles of “Patty Purity” or “Captain Celibate” and in reality it would be more along the lines of ” A Randy Dandy” or “Backstreet Barbie” but there is hope, so much hope! The moment that we realize our sins, mistakes and failures, when true conviction comes and suddenly our minds and spirits are faced with the realization of what miserable creatures we really are. Once that takes hold, real change soon follows and the spiritual “brain damage” due to “sin”trifugal force of this world is both reversible and completely curable. But it requires a most awesome physician, Jesus is that physician.
He heals mind, spirit, body, and soul. He is the great potter, taking the old, marred and cracked vessels, gently re-firing them, he then shapes those lifeless, lumps of clay into beautiful, new creations that don’t even resemble the broken mess they once were. Each one a vessel strong and new that can now hold the goodness of his spirit and also has the strength to withstand the wear and tear of this world. He takes minds that were completely broken and renews them to such clarity that his very mind can now be in us. He takes all the shame, guilt and pain, and he casts it into his sea of forgetfulness, never again to be remembered by him. As he flung the stars into the sky at creation, he flings all those sins as far as the east is to the west. “COME NOW, AND LET US REASON TOGETHER, SAITH THE LORD; THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET, THEY SHALL BE AS WHITE AS SNOW; THOUGH THEY BE RED LIKE CRIMSON, THEY SHALL BE AS WOOL.” Isaiah 1:18 He doesn’t care where you have been, or what you did while you were there, he died to save us from all of that. He knew our sins would be worthy of a price that we could not afford to pay. He only cares about where you are going and wants to help you every step of the way, His promises are “Yes” and “Amen”. He has never been up there with a chalkboard, keeping score, just waiting to send you to hell and he will do everything within his power to keep you from going there. BUT WE HAVE TO ACCEPT HIM. Most make their fatal mistake in believing the lie that Satan tells them, that they have gone too far that God would never accept them now or that they have to be able to change themselves. Number one, if a person had gone too far to be saved, then conviction, or a conscious knowledge of the need for salvation would never enter their mind! Number two, WE CAN NEVER, NEVER, EVER CHANGE OURSELVES! So put that to rest right away. That is why we must be washed in the blood of the Lamb, He changes us! You will not even think the same or have the desires you once had. He allows us to be able to live a life holy and pleasing to him through the indwelling of his Holy Spirit, which leads us and guides, gently nudging us in our spirit as to what we should do and most importantly what not to do. Think of “Rahab, the Harlot” her name being referenced in many sermons, she is actually referred to in the Bible as “The Harlot” but because of her kindness to the servants of God and her desire to repent, the Lord saved her and her family while everyone else there were destroyed. Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus cast seven demons out of went on follow him faithfully, never looking back but pressing forward and she was the first that he appeared to upon resurrection. And how can we forget our favorite trip junkie Samson, who after a lifetime of running wild and doing his own thing, finally, this great warrior of God, saw the light. God never belittled any of these or countless others, who were as prodigal sons and daughters that once they realized they were wallowing with pigs, they longed for home and the Father eagerly welcomed them back in. He cleansed them, healed them, answered their prayers and never once put the burden of their sin on their own shoulders, now that is why he gave his life. How did they receive God’s mercy, peace, and forgiveness? They confessed their sin to him, asked for forgiveness and never looked back. Remember, you never have to tell a church house full of people your darkest secrets, and you certainly are not required to tell it to any man, you are only required to ask Jesus, and Jesus alone to forgive you of your sins. So whatever you’ve been through, leave it right there, get yourself to the cross and let his precious holy blood wash you whiter than snow. Original Post Date:11/29/2014. All rights reserved. Φλογίζω/ Nina BrownJohnson 2015
REVISTED and linked 06/27/2021 NBJ 2021
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
“And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And that great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil and Satan, WHICH DECEIVETH THE WHOLE WORLD: he was cast out INTO THE EARTH, AND HIS ANGELS WERE CAST OUT WITH HIM.” Revelation 12:7-9 Demons, the fallen angels, whom so many in this world are so much more than thrilled to run after,entire cult religions exist to give them praise. Hollywood can’t produce movies fast enough to glorify them, and deceived people flock to watch, never realizing what is behind that door they open. They are real. As real as we are, actually more so. They are eternal and have no internal conflicts as to who they are. They are evil in its purest or should I say most impure form . They have one agenda and one agenda only, to do the work of their master. They have interacted with humans since they were kicked out of heaven. “There were giants (fallen ones) in the earth in those days; and ALSO AFTER THAT, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and THEY BARE CHILDREN TO THEM , the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.” Genesis 6:4 This is a disturbing description of just how far Satan went to sow in his perverse seed. As Jesus told us the parable of the wheat and the tares that are allowed to grow together until separation during the great harvest. These are the ancestors of Goliath and the giants, bearing a genetic oddity, (that I will not get into at the moment) being one of the markings of this people and the most prominent proof of their lineage being their immense cruelty. The one who profess Satan also have what the consider sacred days, which falls dead on all hallows eve better known as Halloween. It’s roots go back to the sixteenth century,but we know how far it really goes, don’t we? Rooted in all demonic superstitions and appeasement of demonic beings, right down to the god ol’ carved pumpkin, and if you knew what that involved you would want no part of it. Bear all this in mind, physics, (THOSE WHO ARE POSSESSED WITH A SPIRIT OF DIVINATION, ( Acts 16: 16) notice that they are not “gifted”, THEY ARE POSSESSED BY A DEMONIC SPIRIT! So many think they can confess Christ and yet fool with this junk! Horoscopes, card reading, palm reading, all the movies and all the music it is NOT entertainment! Humans will follow blindly after anything they think will give them some sort of special knowledge. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS GOOD WITCHCRAFT OR WHITE MAGIC! IT IS ALL EVIL AND ONES THAT KEEP MESSING WITH WILL FIND THAT OUT WHEN ONE DAY THEY LIFT UP THEIR EYES IN HELL! It is all demonic and all the” secrets” they reveal to people about their late loved ones is demonic and lies. The Bible never says these things are not real, but that they come from Satan, and if you really believe you are dealing with anyone other than him YOU ARE DELUSIONAL AND HE KNOWS HE IS GOING TO HELL AND WANTS NOTHING MORE THAN TO TAKE YOU WITH HIM! Anyone that what’s to pretend that they are a minister of God and tell others these things are okay to do, I will tell you and be glad to tell them to their face they are an absolute liar, and the truth is not in them. Jesus said, they do the work of their Father the devil, and you now have been warned to not partake of the things. “And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto him that hath familiar spirits (physic’s) and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? To the law and to the testimony: IF THEY SPEAK NOT ACCORDING TO THIS WORD, IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO LIGHT IN THEM.” Isaiah 9:19-20 What he is saying here is simple, just because the world says it’s acceptable that does not mean we should. God wants us to seek him for our answers, not the dead. The are just that, they are dead and demons are responsible for any communication that is uttered on their behalf. You are seeking advice and guidance from the very ones who are responsible for all murders, school shootings, lying, cheating, rampant sexual culture, all forms of abuse, self-destruction,and self-mutilation (cutting) can be traced back to the man referred to as Legion, who had been possessed by thousands of demons (Mark 5:5) They are responsible for it all! We should never associate with or encourage any interaction with them, only Jesus and Jesus alone can defeat them. It is truly horrifying that groups of people go about supposedly ridding others homes of them, you can almost hear the devil laughing at just how deceived he has them. The book of Acts tells us about a group of guys, who decided that since the disciples were casting out demons that to make a good show they would do it too. Bad idea getting ready to get a little worse. Acts 19:13,15,16 “Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists TOOK UPON them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And the EVIL SPIRIT ANSWERED AND SAID, JESUS I KNOW, PAUL I KNOW; BUT WHO ARE YE? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, AND PREVAILED against them, SO THAT THE FLED OUT OF THAT HOUSE NAKED AND WOUNDED.” You cannot pray the name of whom you do not know. And even when we do know him, then it is nothing of us, it is the power of the Holy Ghost that removes them. They were “Torn up from the floor up”. The late Pastor Wayne Scott pointed out years ago, while preaching for believers not to fear them, the good news in this story is that it did not possess them, so demons can’t just stop by and take over your soul. They have to have an entrance. Certain people I believe have an ancestral background that promotes having problems with them, but the majority of it comes from opening doors, such as watching horror movies and dabbling in things that should be left alone, and even the influence of the wrong friends and relationships. Be careful what you have in your home, keep only items that honor God, be careful of items that were owned by unpleasant people or you have no idea of their origin. Some would scoff at this but stolen accursed items caused trouble for all Israel until they were discovered and the camp was cleansed of them and the person responsible for bringing them in. The items had been forbidden by the Lord because they had belonged to pagans and when Achan stole them, they now became doubly cursed through the attachment of the sin of theft. (Joshua 7) Translation, no matter how much you loved your late, great-uncle keeping his favorite goat headed, triple six tee-shirt as a keepsake is really not going to add to the spiritual harmony of your of your home. Think of it this way, would you really want Charles Manson’s prized possession blue jeans hanging the back of your closet? Spiritually it does matter, when believers prayer over prayer cloths, the faith, love goodness of God’s anointing is transferred into that tiny little piece of fabric, you do not want the opposite of that anywhere near you! Please remember, there are very few ministers even gifted in the area of dealing with the demonic and once those doors are open the outcome will truly be horrific. Refrain from the acknowledgement of the occult or any of its practices, no matter how insignificant it may seem. In the spirit world, nothing is minor. It all has power, and that power either belongs to God or to Satan. There is no middle ground and humans are powerless against either. We are protected only by the indwelling of the Holy spirit and his shield over us. Which does not guarantee immunity but they can never overtake us. So “give no place to the devil” and the best news of all, “thou believest in one God; Thou doest well: THE DEVILS ALSO BELIEVE, AND TREMBLE” James 2:19 Original post date:10/10/2014. Φλογιζω/ All rights reserved. Reverend Nina BrownJohnson 2015
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
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 […]
Have you ever cried yourself to sleep? Your mind so exhausted and your heart so troubled and broken that you end up lulled into some sort of almost hypnotic state of sub consciousness? Unlike our sleeping beauty from Song of Songs, there is another kind of sleep. the sleep, I believe the Disciples suffered from, a sleep born from the repeated attacks waged against the soul of every believer. The literal, Biblical “wearing out” of the saints. Sometimes we do become shell-shocked warriors in the unseen battle between heaven and hell, as we constantly war with the principalities of the air and their embodied counterparts on earth. Elijah the Prophet, whom at his request God had sent fire down from heaven, even he became so discouraged that his soul desire was for God to just take him home. John the Baptist, whose very life was to fulfill the prophecy that the Lord would send Elijah the Prophet before him, and John came in the spirit of Elijah. Remember this is the man who was so spirit filled that he had leapt for joy in his mother’s womb. He was considered a wild man and he was never afraid to proclaim the kingdom of God. It never bothered him who may be offended by his preaching or just who would have to be told off. Jesus himself referred to John as the GREATEST prophet ever born. Yet, even he, after being locked away by Herod started to hear that little voice of doubt whispered by the enemy telling him that just maybe, he had been wrong about everything. But the Lord is always faithful. He sent Elijah an angel to comfort him. To John he sent back his word that erased every doubt and fear the enemy had tried to place in him. Jesus in his agony prayed three times that the cup might pass from him, his answer came as his sweat turned to drops of blood, signifying that he would indeed die, upon receiving his answer angels appeared to strengthen him for the horror that lie ahead. So many today have suffered things so unbearable, ordeals so hard to fathom, that others can not even begin to understand. Know this, if you have been through a season in life that has weakened you so much that you feel you can’t take another step or shed even one more tear, and you are so tired, tired of even trying to fight any longer. You love the Lord and want to serve him but you are just so shell-shocked you can’t get out of that trench. Want to give you some hope, no matter how alone you feel your not, I promise you there is a God that loves you and those tears are precious to him. Just as he himself had to be strengthened to endure what he went through, he wants to strengthen you. Even though this is technically a repost, I know this is for someone and whoever you are, you know it too and I promise you he is there and as he promised he will never leave you or forsake you and the only reason you are standing even now is because he is holding you. “There hath no temptation (trial)taken you but as such that is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but with the temptation will make a way of escape that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 Translating, it means as long as we are on this earth, various troubles, death, and heartache will come to us all but he will never let it be more than your soul can bear. And with it all he will strengthen you and see you through. Even when we feel like we can’t handle it, through his spirit he allows us to. “Wherefore seeing that we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witness, let us lay aside EVERY WEIGHT and the sin which doth so easily best us, and RUN with patience the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 See, the weight of those heavy, heavy burdens the pain, the heartache, that we try to carry alone, if we are not careful and be sure to give those burdens to the Lord, they will unwittingly lead to sin. We have to lay down, at his feet, at the cross all those things we carry that make us unable to run that race. We have to lighten the load before we are able to even take that first step. Paul a man well acquainted with suffering and persecution wrote this, ” For I reckon the sufferings of this world are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18 “For our light affliction WHICH IS FOR A MOMENT worketh in us a far more exceeding and ETERNAL weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen TEMPORAL but the things which are not seen are ETERNAL.” 2 Corinthians 4:17,18 The things that trouble you will pass, the weight of those burdens will lift. The burdens of this earth eventually lighten, they are temporary but holding onto your faith, keeping your eyes on the prize will one day produce an excellent weight (sheer amount) of glory eternally. Don’t quit, Don’t give up and above all NEVER SURRENDER. Let me leave you with Matthew 11:28 the words of our beautiful Lord, who is your ever-present him in the time of trouble. “COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.” Please take these words, sharpen your spiritual sword and endure hardness as a good soldier and make your Captain proud! He’s counting on you! Original post date 11/30/2013 post
Φλογίζω / All rights reserved. Nina BrownJohnson/ baresoulphlogizo 2015
Thanks for reading Φλογιζω! For posts dealing with a multitude of subjects please check out the side menu on desktop or on a mobile device, please click any post title and once it opens scroll to bottom of screen for links to other options. If you have been encouraged please considering sharing post via any option below. God Bless you! Rev. Nina Brown Johnson
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
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