Category Archives: Holiness

by

DWELLING PLACE

“Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them upon the face of the earth.” Amos 5:8

We know what could be said, I personally can never say it enough.
He is omnipotent and omnipresent, no matter where you are, He is with you. 
He is holy, beautiful,  complete in glory and majesty and yet having a gentleness and humility unlike anything of this world.

 He is the Lord and beside Him, there is no savior.
Jeremiah 23:23″Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off ? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.”

When he revealed himself to Saul, who was on his way to arrest all the Christians that he could round-up, Jesus told him it was useless to resist him, my question would be who could?

He then transformed Saul to his chosen vessel Paul, who would go preach the very gospel he had so adamantly fought against! With thirteen books of the New Testament having been authored by him.

Now that is a true transformation of mind and soul!
So many atrocities are committed in the name of God, but he is nowhere near of any it.
Jesus is gentle and merciful and does not condone beating children, animals or anyone.

He himself, suffered a horrific beating before His crucifixion, in our place, so why would He want us to beat others or be subjected to it?
Evil always pretends that it is for the cause of good, because Satan is a liar and the father of lies.

The Bible recalling work after work of the Lord  with the heavens, the earth, and the seas, and all of creation declaring His glory.
His will and purpose for us equating into that plan when we should be so small, so insignificant, but the God of the universe has called His followers, His friends!
The nations are as but a drop of water in a bucket to Him and yet He has called us his peculiar treasure.

Maybe that is why we are a peculiar treasure, that He would think of us and walk with Adam and Eve in the garden, and speak with Moses, first from a burning bush and then face to face, visit with Abraham and spend time with the disciples before returning to heaven and cry when we cry and hear us when we call and heaven comes down to visit earth.

No matter how we profess our love for Him, the truth of the matter and the secret to it all, is HIS love toward us!

A love so far beyond our human comprehension and defying all our human logic.

And the best part is His word and His word will not return void, it will do what He sent it to do.
So no matter where you are on this earth, what persecution and ridicule that you may be suffering today, I want you to know He does love you and He sees all that you endure.
Hold onto to Him, don’t try to figure anything out on your own, give it all to Him and He will guide you in the way you need to go.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”   Proverbs 3:5-6

“The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth him out of all their troubles.
The Lord is nigh (near) unto them that are of a broken spirit and saveth such as be of a contrite (crushed) spirit. 

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.”       Psalm 34:15, 17-19

 

“He that dwelleth  in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, HE IS my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.
He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:  his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for (of) the terror by night; nor the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence (trouble) that walketh in darkness; nor the destruction that wasteth( lays waste) at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 

For he shall give his angels charge over thee.”  Psalm 91:1-6,11

“Because thou hath made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation (dwelling place);” Psalm 91:9


The Lord’s answer follows:
“Because he has set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will deliver him:
I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him.”

Again him, being a generic term for all humans.  

Literally living, breathing, being kept hidden from the adversary under the protective presence of all-powerful, all-knowing God.

“For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me: he shall set me upon a rock.

And now mine head shall be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle (presence) sacrifices of joy:

I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

Hear, O, Lord when I cry with my voice: have mercy upon me and answer me. 

When thou saidst Seek ye my face: my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.”   Psalm 27:5-8

Life is never fair.

Things happen, it rains on the just and the unjust.

Trials and heartache come, but there is a presence of God, a place of safety, a place that assures you peace even in the midst of a storm raging all around you.
A reassurance that can only be found in  His everlasting arms, under the shadow of his wings.

If you need this today, all you have to do is ask Him, He does understand, He created you in the palm of His hand and yet those wings spread so far that He can cover the entire world with them.

That is who HE IS and that is one of the many reasons we love Him and worship Him and He never forces us to do any of it.

“And ye will seek me and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”   Jeremiah 29:13

My sincerest prayer for you today is that the Lord keep you, bless you and make his face shine upon you and give you peace, in the name above every name, Jesus of Nazareth.  AMEN

Φλογιζω/ All rights reserved. NBJ 2015
Revisited 2019 * I wanted to revisit this post again as we still watch the heartache that plays out in our world, and it can cause feelings of helplessness and overwhelming hopelessness, but don’t lose heart, God always wins! 

by

“How do I love thee?”

“Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord; And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words,which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.” Deuteronomy 6:4-6

Old school groove, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways” that one has been around for ages! But it is  wonderful question, once Jesus gives us those new hearts and leads us in His paths, we are met with that question, once the true realization of His presence and love is known to you, as He said, He will give you a heart to KNOW him, then we are faced with the humanly overwhelming question of how do you relay your love back to the God of the universe, who created heaven and earth , and who can hold time, space, and eternity in the palm of His hand and if He wanted, He could speak one word and completely destroy every single thing that now exists?

Obviously, as mere mortals, it would seem that we have nothing, nothing to offer as a token of our love in return, our love to Him for creating us, caring for us, and most of all dying on a cross for us so that we could be saved, and never giving up on us.

So how do we love Him and what exactly is it that He wants? Well, we are created in His image and He wants the same thing we want from Him, He wants our love and our heart, and He does not want a little portion of our hearts, you know a spot that remains empty while the main space is taken by other people, other things that we cling too while He gets whatever love is left. He will not go for that, not now, not ever.

No He wants ALL our heart or none of our heart, that is why he said to seek Him with our WHOLE heart. he wants a real relationship and not to be a God in the distance in our lives, He wants fellowship with us and this has become so messed up in the world thinking. He is love BUT He also tells us if we love Him, we WILL keep His commandments and when you think about it, there is nothing on that list that is unreasonable and every single command He has ever handed down is FOR OUR GOOD.

So we have to get into that thinking that He IS love and He IS our friend but we are also required by that love to do as He asks. Our world has major rebellion problems on this one, it is taught as well He loves us, we can do what makes us happy, No, that is NOT loving Him, that is trying to compare His goodness toward us with some sort of fairy godfather who grants your every whim. And that is in no way loving Him or respecting Him, that is loving our flesh and being so arrogant as to think our DESIRES are of a higher value than His Holiness, and that kinda thinking will get a person a quick trip to the grave.

“But the hour cometh, and now IS, when true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. GOD IS A SPIRIT: and they that worship him must worship him in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.” John 4:23,24

So we know with Jesus arrival on earth, all things were changed and no longer were prayers and sacrifice made by a priest needed and all who truly believe could be allowed entry into the Holy of Holies through his presence with the gift of the Holy Ghost.

This is where we must worship in TRUTH, truth to who He is, truth of His commands, truth of His word, and keeping our lives and actions subjected into and under that TRUTH. We worship Him in Spirit, in His presence  in the “places” of salvation:

“But thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise” Isaiah 60:18(a)

Believers are surrounded by those walls of salvation in your worship time and praise is the gate by which we enter and there you worship in fellowship, love, and adoration and there you know Him and receive joy, peace, and assurance and rest from your troubles. 

So here is a scriptural checklist:

Deuteronomy 10:12 : “And now Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee? But (only) to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God WITH ALL THY HEART and ALL THY SOUL.” 

Deuteronomy 11:13-14:  “And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, and the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather  in thy corn, thy wine, and thine oil.”

That is His promises to us of all good things, and the word of God, the bread of life, his blessings, His anointing. So now we answer the question.. “My Dear Lord HOW do I love thee?  We enter into your presence with thanksgiving and praise, and in the safety of your pavilion surrounded by those walls of your salvation we will allow ourselves to be taught, loved, and led!

This is  how you count the ways! Seek Him, Love Him, Honor Him, and get to know Him, and let His blessings and His mercy transform you!

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016

Revisited 02/07/2020 , I like to revisit these from time to time, HIS love NEVER fails!

by

“How do I love thee?”

“Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord; And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words,which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.” Deuteronomy 6:4-6

Old school groove, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways” that one has been around for ages! But it is  wonderful question, once Jesus gives us those new hearts and leads us in His paths, we are met with that question, once the true realization of His presence and love is known to you, as He said, He will give you a heart to KNOW him, then we are faced with the humanly overwhelming question of how do you relay your love back to the God of the universe, who created heaven and earth , and who can hold time, space, and eternity in the palm of His hand and if He wanted, He could speak one word and completely destroy every single thing that now exists?

Obviously, as mere mortals, it would seem that we have nothing, nothing to offer as a token of our love in return, our love to Him for creating us, caring for us, and most of all dying on a cross for us so that we could be saved, and never giving up on us.

So how do we love Him and what exactly is it that He wants? Well, we are created in His image and He wants the same thing we want from Him, He wants our love and our heart, and He does not want a little portion of our hearts, you know a spot that remains empty while the main space is taken by other people, other things that we cling too while He gets whatever love is left. He will not go for that, not now, not ever.

No He wants ALL our heart or none of our heart, that is why he said to seek Him with our WHOLE heart. he wants a real relationship and not to be a God in the distance in our lives, He wants fellowship with us and this has become so messed up in the world thinking. He is love BUT He also tells us if we love Him, we WILL keep His commandments and when you think about it, there is nothing on that list that is unreasonable and every single command He has ever handed down is FOR OUR GOOD.

So we have to get into that thinking that He IS love and He IS our friend but we are also required by that love to do as He asks. Our world has major rebellion problems on this one, it is taught as well He loves us, we can do what makes us happy, No, that is NOT loving Him, that is trying to compare His goodness toward us with some sort of fairy godfather who grants your every whim. And that is in no way loving Him or respecting Him, that is loving our flesh and being so arrogant as to think our DESIRES are of a higher value than His Holiness, and that kinda thinking will get a person a quick trip to the grave.

“But the hour cometh, and now IS, when true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. GOD IS A SPIRIT: and they that worship him must worship him in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.” John 4:23,24

So we know with Jesus arrival on earth, all things were changed and no longer were prayers and sacrifice made by a priest needed and all who truly believe could be allowed entry into the Holy of Holies through his presence with the gift of the Holy Ghost.

This is where we must worship in TRUTH, truth to who He is, truth of His commands, truth of His word, and keeping our lives and actions subjected into and under that TRUTH. We worship Him in Spirit, in His presence  in the “places” of salvation:

“But thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise” Isaiah 60:18(a)

Believers are surrounded by those walls of salvation in your worship time and praise is the gate by which we enter and there you worship in fellowship, love, and adoration and there you know Him and receive joy, peace, and assurance and rest from your troubles. 

So here is a scriptural checklist:

Deuteronomy 10:12 : “And now Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee? But (only) to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God WITH ALL THY HEART and ALL THY SOUL.” 

Deuteronomy 11:13-14:  “And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, and the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather  in thy corn, thy wine, and thine oil.”

That is His promises to us of all good things, and the word of God, the bread of life, his blessings, His anointing. So now we answer the question.. “My Dear Lord HOW do I love thee?  We enter into your presence with thanksgiving and praise, and in the safety of your pavilion surrounded by those walls of your salvation we will allow ourselves to be taught, loved, and led!

This is the how you count the ways! Seek Him, Love Him, Honor Him, and get to know Him, and let His blessings and His mercy transform you!

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016

Revisited 02/07/2020 

 

by

Turning down the Tide-Pod teasing temptation…

“In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judaea. And saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias( Isaiah), saying, THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.

And the same John had his raiment (clothing) of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle (belt) about his loins (around his waist); and his meat (food) was locusts and wild honey. 

Then went out to him, Jerusalem, and all of Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan. And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to (for) his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, WHO hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 

Bring forth therefore fruits meet (worthy of) repentance. 

And THINK NOT to yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT GOD IS ABLE OF THESE STONES TO RAISE UP CHILDREN UNTO ABRAHAM.

And NOW the ax IS laid unto the root of the trees, THEREFORE EVERY TREE WHICH BRINGETH FORTH NOT GOOD FRUIT IS HEWN DOWN, AND CAST INTO THE FIRE.” Matthew 3:1-10

You know John was an expert on the wilderness and I can only imagine WHAT would have been said about John IF God had saved his ministry until our present day. Can you only imagine the late night monologues, and the endless stream of John jokes and memes on social stream?

There would be a virtual field day ridiculing EVERY thing about him. His clothes, his food, his wilderness way.

But most of those of John’s day had a couple of qualities that this world severely lacks, FEAR OF THE LORD and good old-fashioned TACT. 

There isn’t much difference in those addressed between the two spans of time… VIPERS… all that can be said.. POISONOUS BITING BEASTS who lay wait to attack WHATEVER moves or comes their way.

And just as John warned those vipers of his day, I think those present vipers may do well to take heed.

Clearly as John made mention that they should not THINK to themselves that they have some special “escape clause” that allowed them to do whatever they wished or behave anyway they wanted, and made them exempt from the wrath of God BECAUSE they were Abraham’s descendants.

It seems that even believers can get a little to chummy with the world and FORGET that GOD does NOT need us for His kingdom, WE ARE ACTUALLY THE ONES IN NEED.

So maybe you are wondering what on earth am I talking about?

I am talking about all this insane laughter over people EATING tide pods and the Tide pods are ONLY a drop in the bucket!

People will MAKE FUN of anything and make bad tasteless jokes about ANYTHING! Whether or not grown people are doing this, still does not change the fact that INNOCENT children have been harmed by accidentally ingesting these and there IS nothing funny about that and if anyone thinks it is remotely humorous than they are demonically possessed because only true evil could find this funny.

And when “church goers” get on board with it and call people “stupid’ and “ignorant” that will make them accountable for THEIR words because Jesus told us this concerning calling people these “names”

Matthew 5:22:

 “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:

and whosoever shall say to his brother Raca (empty head) shall be in danger of the council: 

but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” 

Think that clarifies His opinion on it.

God help us, it is no  shock that the word is in the state it is in, it is not a shock that it is not going to get any better, actually it will get a lot worse BEFORE it gets better.

And as long as we keep “liking” “sharing” and giving a “thumb up” to this junk we ARE running our OWN risk of running the risks Jesus warned us of.

So think really carefully before you post, share, or repeat. Think carefully before you make a joke about anything or anyone because if it is something that hurts others or is an act that has caused another hurt, whether you are joking or not, you are still promoting that.

And believe it or don’t but we will be responsible for BEARING fruit and if we spent a little more time on cultivating the gardens of the Kingdom we’d have a lot less time to spend helping spread the trash of this world.

Σαλπιζω NB 2018

by

Turning down the Tide-Pod teasing temptation…

“In those days came John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness of Judaea. And saying, Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias( Isaiah), saying, THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, PREPARE YE THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.

And the same John had his raiment (clothing) of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle (belt) about his loins (around his waist); and his meat (food) was locusts and wild honey. 

Then went out to him, Jerusalem, and all of Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan. And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to (for) his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, WHO hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 

Bring forth therefore fruits meet (worthy of) repentance. 

And THINK NOT to yourselves, We have Abraham to our father; for I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT GOD IS ABLE OF THESE STONES TO RAISE UP CHILDREN UNTO ABRAHAM.

And NOW the ax IS laid unto the root of the trees, THEREFORE EVERY TREE WHICH BRINGETH FORTH NOT GOOD FRUIT IS HEWN DOWN, AND CAST INTO THE FIRE.” Matthew 3:1-10

You know John was an expert on the wilderness and I can only imagine WHAT would have been said about John IF God had saved his ministry until our present day. Can you only imagine the late night monologues, and the endless stream of John jokes and memes on social stream?

There would be a virtual field day ridiculing EVERY thing about him. His clothes, his food, his wilderness way.

But most of those of John’s day had a couple of qualities that this world severely lacks, FEAR OF THE LORD and good old-fashioned TACT. 

There isn’t much difference in those addressed between the two spans of time… VIPERS… all that can be said.. POISONOUS BITING BEASTS who lay wait to attack WHATEVER moves or comes their way.

And just as John warned those vipers of his day, I think those present vipers may do well to take heed.

Clearly as John made mention that they should not THINK to themselves that they have some special “escape clause” that allowed them to do whatever they wished or behave anyway they wanted, and made them exempt from the wrath of God BECAUSE they were Abraham’s descendants.

It seems that even believers can get a little to chummy with the world and FORGET that GOD does NOT need us for His kingdom, WE ARE ACTUALLY THE ONES IN NEED.

So maybe you are wondering what on earth am I talking about?

I am talking about all this insane laughter over people EATING tide pods and the Tide pods are ONLY a drop in the bucket!

People will MAKE FUN of anything and make bad tasteless jokes about ANYTHING! Whether or not grown people are doing this, still does not change the fact that INNOCENT children have been harmed by accidentally ingesting these and there IS nothing funny about that and if anyone thinks it is remotely humorous than they are demonically possessed because only true evil could find this funny.

And when “church goers” get on board with it and call people “stupid’ and “ignorant” that will make them accountable for THEIR words because Jesus told us this concerning calling people these “names”

Matthew 5:22:

 “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:

and whosoever shall say to his brother Raca (empty head) shall be in danger of the council: 

but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” 

Think that clarifies His opinion on it.

God help us, it is no  shock that the word is in the state it is in, it is not a shock that it is not going to get any better, actually it will get a lot worse BEFORE it gets better.

And as long as we keep “liking” “sharing” and giving a “thumb up” to this junk we ARE running our OWN risk of running the risks Jesus warned us of.

So think really carefully before you post, share, or repeat. Think carefully before you make a joke about anything or anyone because if it is something that hurts others or is an act that has caused another hurt, whether you are joking or not, you are still promoting that.

And believe it or don’t but we will be responsible for BEARING fruit and if we spent a little more time on cultivating the gardens of the Kingdom we’d have a lot less time to spend helping spread the trash of this world.

Σαλπιζω NB 2018

by

“How do I love thee?”

“Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord; And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words,which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.” Deuteronomy 6:4-6

Old school groove, “How do I love thee? Let me count the ways” that one has been around for ages! But it is  wonderful question, once Jesus gives us those new hearts and leads us in His paths, we are met with that question, once the true realization of His presence and love is known to you, as He said, He will give you a heart to KNOW him, then we are faced with the humanly overwhelming question of how do you relay your love back to the God of the universe, who created heaven and earth , and who can hold time, space, and eternity in the palm of His hand and if He wanted, He could speak one word and completely destroy every single thing that now exists?

Obviously, as mere mortals, it would seem that we have nothing, nothing to offer as a token of our love in return, our love to Him for creating us, caring for us, and most of all dying on a cross for us so that we could be saved, and never giving up on us.

So how do we love Him and what exactly is it that He wants? Well, we are created in His image and He wants the same thing we want from Him, He wants our love and our heart, and He does not want a little portion of our hearts, you know a spot that remains empty while the main space is taken by other people, other things that we cling too while He gets whatever love is left. He will not go for that, not now, not ever.

No He wants ALL our heart or none of our heart, that is why he said to seek Him with our WHOLE heart. he wants a real relationship and not to be a God in the distance in our lives, He wants fellowship with us and this has become so messed up in the world thinking. He is love BUT He also tells us if we love Him, we WILL keep His commandments and when you think about it, there is nothing on that list that is unreasonable and every single command He has ever handed down is FOR OUR GOOD.

So we have to get into that thinking that He IS love and He IS our friend but we are also required by that love to do as He asks. Our world has major rebellion problems on this one, it is taught as well He loves us, we can do what makes us happy, No, that is NOT loving Him, that is trying to compare His goodness toward us with some sort of fairy godfather who grants your every whim. And that is in no way loving Him or respecting Him, that is loving our flesh and being so arrogant as to think our DESIRES are of a higher value than His Holiness, and that kinda thinking will get a person a quick trip to the grave.

“But the hour cometh, and now IS, when true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him. GOD IS A SPIRIT: and they that worship him must worship him in SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.” John 4:23,24

So we know with Jesus arrival on earth, all things were changed and no longer were prayers and sacrifice made by a priest needed and all who truly believe could be allowed entry into the Holy of Holies through his presence with the gift of the Holy Ghost.

This is where we must worship in TRUTH, truth to who He is, truth of His commands, truth of His word, and keeping our lives and actions subjected into and under that TRUTH. We worship Him in Spirit, in His presence  in the “places” of salvation:

“But thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise” Isaiah 60:18(a)

Believers are surrounded by those walls of salvation in your worship time and praise is the gate by which we enter and there you worship in fellowship, love, and adoration and there you know Him and receive joy, peace, and assurance and rest from your troubles. 

So here is a scriptural checklist:

Deuteronomy 10:12 : “And now Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee? But (only) to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God WITH ALL THY HEART and ALL THY SOUL.” 

Deuteronomy 11:13-14:  “And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, and the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather  in thy corn, thy wine, and thine oil.”

That is His promises to us of all good things, and the word of God, the bread of life, his blessings, His anointing. So now we answer the question.. “My Dear Lord HOW do I love thee?  We enter into your presence with thanksgiving and praise, and in the safety of your pavilion surrounded by those walls of your salvation we will allow ourselves to be taught, loved, and led!

This is the how you count the ways! Seek Him, Love Him, Honor Him, and get to know Him, and let His blessings and His mercy transform you!

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016

Revisited 02/07/2020  & 01/21/2022

 

by

“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

by

“Swimming Practice”

Like most, I have been spending many evenings during this big nasty heat wave checking out the Olympics. Last night an American broke a world record and of course won gold.

What was fascinating is that if you walked in late during the race it would have appeared that she was actually BEHIND the others because she was using a new strategy that gave her a lead. She and her coach had spent time reviewing footage of the style and techniques used by another Olympic great and evidently the extra “studying” paid off quite nicely. An action plan I think we could all benefit from in the kingdom.

2 TIMOTHY 2: 14,16: ” Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they STRIVE NOT about words to no profit, but to the subverting (ruin) of the hearers. 

STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings (worthless talk) for they WILL increase unto MORE UNGODLINESS.” 

My new favorite song is “What you want” I posted with my last post, the reason for this is the simple truth of too many leaders and not enough followers in the Kingdom.

Everyone IS a leader, everyone HAS a title, and YET the GIFTS are not flowing, because we can’t choose our titles and our jobs, it has to be WHAT GOD HAS CHOSEN. And often what GOD wants is NOT exactly what we had in mind!

The other problem is that no one wants to complete the course of spiritual “schooling”these ministries require. And I DON’T mean Seminary! And of course there are those who KNOW everything anyway, and they are right and everyone else is wrong. Those I think are quite hopeless.

One who has stepped on my toes time after time leaps to mind, I had made a suggestion, something I knew WAS NOT of my own thinking, because I had been under such an anointing when the thought came, and it took so much courage to make the suggestion AND I have never REGRETTED anything so much in my life.

They absolutely lined me out and even accused me of wanting to do something BECAUSE other churches did it! And I took a bath in spiritual reproach coming off this person and after much prayer, trying to figure out why on earth they got so angry, I KNEW the reason they became so angry was NOT the suggestion. IT WAS because the suggestion CAME FROM ME and they felt SUPERIOR and was actually INSULTED that I would DARE suggest anything to THEM.

And it did create enough static to shut down the work I felt God had me in that place and at that time to do. But God is a good God and this is where “being approved” come into play. Maybe someone has hurt you or discouraged you, or like me, you ALMOST become  convinced that somehow you jumped the gun, when actually sometimes we need to re-evaluate who we truly are “workers together” with in the kingdom.

I think sometimes we view people differently than they really are and God has to let us see, what we do not want to see, so we will move on into the direction HE WANTS. But again God is God and He will never leave us twisting in the wind, if it is of Him, IT WILL COME TO PASS.

It was so funny, close to a YEAR later, I was still receiving page notifications from this particular place, and you can imagine when one popped up that they were having a “special” service incorporating the very thing, I had been spiritually keel-hauled over!  It took every single ounce of restraint I have to not comment on it, to the effect of “Sounds familiar, thought for sure I asked about that… Well good luck with that… but next time you may want to try it when THAT DOOR is open!”

But I didn’t and I don’t know it could have went great but…. People like that, because this one has a way of offending the anointing, and I say that because IT IS NOT MINE, it belongs to God and when people demand things such as gender based laying on of hands, it pretty much sums up to this. If whoever is doing the laying on, IS NOT the one God chooses, well all they are doing is “praying” their own will over that person and without the power of God performing those things, IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

But I see a future change in that also because God has a way of teaching people humility and correcting their own biases. I truly believe the day will come when that person needs something major from God and it will not come they way they THINK it should and the will be required to learn the fine art of humility.

But that is where we are running into obstacles, too many people with THEIR agenda, and way too many leaders who still should be learning how to follow. One comes to mind that needs to get themselves right before they play Pied Piper, but since that is the game they are playing… where did those children go in that story again? Oh yeah, right..  the story ended with no one EVER knew where they ended up.

IT is not a game, you can’t just decide that you are this or you are that and jump head first in the pool to drown because you will drown a lot of others with you, when you get into the deep end and find out you really don’t know how to swim as well as you THOUGHT you could, because that lesson was one you bothered not to show up for!

 No one WILL EVER know “everything” we ARE to be workers together and together means just that. one mind one accord working for the good of the kingdom, not a race to see who’s best and who can reach that finish line with the greatest moves.

The words mentioned in our verse, words if they are not seasoned, if they are not tempered by the spirit of God WILL RUIN others. Words spoken without the power of God and the timing of God are just that words and they only cater more and more to worthless, human vanity, which is why we now have so many claiming to be representatives of Christ, who are so far AWAY from the truth that the have deceived THEIR own mind by THEIR OWN words into their own damnation and are committing things that are true abominations to God and yet believe they have punched ticket straight to heaven.

Truly believing within themselves that they can just proclaim and claim every chosen blessing from the book and yet ignore all scripture that provides the BREAD for that sandwich they are attempting to eat. And we know if they are to still be fed with milk THEY WILL choke to death on the meat of God’s true Holy doctrine.

And the problem is ALL the others who follow after them, never questioning, never allowing their conscious to feel conviction that leads to repentance and again we know this leads to having their conscious seared with a hot iron.

How did we ever become so vain and high-minded that we can “choose” our gifts, choose our callings? When God CHOOSES for us! We have no word in these matters. None, read the Bible, read those who tried to argue out of these calls.

Abraham LEARNED to follow God. Moses LEARNED to listen to God and spent real time in His presence, so much time, that his face shined to the point that he had to cover it because it SCARED the Hebrews.  Maybe learning to flow in the gifts and presence of God will cause people to be uncomfortable around you.. maybe that is a hold up, but do you really want to please God or would you rather fit it?

Your never going to fit in under the anointing of God, a friend to the world (and this does also mean candy coat fake Christians) will make you an enemy to God.

 John the Baptist dwelled in the wilderness. Apostle Paul studied THREE years and also participated in the vow of the Nazarite. And we all know Peter’s trails, struggles and most of all his overcoming all these things. Peter was learning, being educated in the disposition required to be an Apostle of Jesus Christ. We ALSO KNOW the end of that story, Peter, in dying to himself, and making the kingdom of heaven HIS Goal became so filled with the power of God that not only were prayer cloths taken from him, to heal diseases and cast out devils BUT that the sick were brought outside his home that EVEN THE SHADOW OF HIM PASSING BY might heal them.

STUDY, study the word, study the history, STUDY an elder, one that you know for certain, lives, breathes and sleeps for the kingdom. We have problems with that also, and we should never follow anyone if we do not know their life, know HOW they live in their own home, outside of a church house. Jesus IS our example, but just as the lady mentioned earlier, there is no harm in learning how an elder has “made” it, how they coped, how they gained strength and use that as part of our training manual.

Never be discouraged,of course, it will come, there will always be those who try to make you give up, and often they are the ones who you really believe will encourage you the most, when I first started training in ministry, my Pastor gave me some excellent advice, he told me that it was NOT “those” out there that we had to worry about, as far as picking apart your every word and saying mean hurtful things, it was those inside the church, and those in the family, they are often the ones who will discourage us the most. I found that to be true.

God places His call upon you and His gifts inside of you, but after that it is up to YOU, to nurture those gifts. Remember when God asked Moses why was he crying to Him, He had ALREADY given Moses what he would be equipped with, it was up to Him to have faith and use that gift. The Anointing does not come easy, nor does it come cheap. You will give up some things, and probably a few people, your desires and your flesh and it will cost you, time, and some trips to that refining furnace, and it will require diligence, and it will require PATIENCE.

ROMANS 12:7: ” Or Ministry, let us WAIT on our ministering…” nothing, nothing is going to happen outside the perfect timing of God, and we can not go off all half cocked and try to rush what can not be rushed. God works in His time and when that time is right, no matter how many have hurt or discouraged you, that time will not be stopped.  The ONLY person who can destroy the call on your life is YOU!

ISAIAH 43:13:” Yea, BEFORE the day was I AM he; and THERE IS NONE THAT CAN DELIVER OUT OF MY HAND: I WILL WORK, AND WHO SHALL LET IT ( who shall REVERSE His work)?“

NO ONE, NO ONE overrules the preordained plan of God. They can try but they will only succeed, IF YOU let them. And to pursue the call you may as well learn to fight now, because THERE will never be a time when the fight for that calling will cease. As a soldier you are required to fight UNTIL the Captain calls you off the field, which in this army is when you leave this world.

 REVELATION 3:7:  “And to the angel (messenger) 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.”  

 Don’t worry if your technique looks backward to your teammates, Don’t worry if sometimes, it looks like your not even swimming in the right direction, because in due time the Captain will perfect your moves. Just wait for HIS guidance, Keep learning, keep studying, never give in and never give up and never let anyone keep you from that finish line!

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016

Is ONCE really ever enough?

by

"EN GARDE !!!"

“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

 


by

“EN GARDE !!!”

“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

 


by

The perfecting of the Saints

What has been and what shall be and the mirror image between the two.
                               

1 Corinthians 12:4-11:“Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God that worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.(all) for to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit: To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit: To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy;to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another  the interpretation of tongues:
But all these worketh that one and selfsame  Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.”
I believe the reason for multi gifts is due to others refusal to use them, like the parable of talents and God wants vessels that he can do whatever he wants through.
Ephesians 4:11,12: “And he gave some apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting (equipping)of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.
 
Exactly that, the equipping of the church to do the work that is before us. The prayer of faith to ask for the impossible, the tongues and miracles to show proof to those who don’t believe, words of wisdom and knowledge and true prophecies that will reveal never uttered mysteries.
 
As He is the Bridegroom who saves his best wine for last and the wine symbolic of the holy spirit cannot be put into old vessels, I believe this wine will be so strong and so pure that just as it is written if these vessels were not made new it would completely destroy them. Consider it training on all your farm equipment before harvest, because otherwise we will not know what’s in the shed or how to even use it and lose all the crops. 
 
It would be nice to have time  to preach against sin and injustice and evils of the world. But to be honest I don’t think we have that kind of time, the world has grown so dark, that the sin of it is very close to reaching into heaven (Revelation 18:5)
This happened with Sodom when He came down to see if it was as he had heard, and Ezekiel chapters 8&9 when the very ones who were supposed to be his priests were having a pagan free for all in the temple, he wiped them out, just as he did Sodom, I have often wondered what would compel God to send down the end time judgment that goes so far beyond just killing them, but to the point that people will be begging rocks to fall on them, and the seek death and it flees from them.
I have spent many hours and countless tears studying this. It is the blood of the innocent that the earth has became so full of that it can no longer contain it. It is the children, those who have suffered unmercifully and their numbers growing higher each day, It is the abominations.                                          
Nina BrownJohnson/Φλογίζω-Αλληλουια
FOWC/ 02/15/2014