Category Archives: of the light

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“Protecting the Vines”

“And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priest and the scribes came upon him with the elders. And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gavest thee this authority?

And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: The baptism of John, was it from heaven or men? 

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? But if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us; for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

And they answered, that they could not tell where it was hence (where the authority came from). 

And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth (leased it out) to husbandmen, (tenant farmers) and went in a far country for a long time.

And at the season (vintage time) he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard; but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty (empty-handed) . 

And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entratedhim shamefully, and sent him away empty. And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. 

Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the HEIR: come, let us kill him, THAT THE INHERITANCE MAY BE OURS.

So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him, What therefore shall the lord (owner) of the vineyard do unto them?

He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,THE SAME IS BECOME THE HEAD OF THE CORNER? Whosoever shall fall on that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 

And the chief priests and scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and (but) they feared the people: for they perceived (knew) that he had spoken this against them. 

And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves as just men (pretend to be righteous men of God) that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.” Luke 20: 1-20

A lot going there, of course we know Jesus was referencing the fact that God had leased out earth, if you will, and even the term husbandmen- literally, tenants, farmers living there and owing the owner a portion of those crops.

And as he sent the servants, we know these are the prophets, and instead of heeding the words of the prophets, they chose to beat and ostracize them, and what I really love about this passage is this, when the owner sent his son, they KNEW he was the son, never once says anything otherwise, they knew exactly who he was, they wanted him dead for one reason only, so that they could take his inheritance. 

And we also know that Jesus was also speaking to the fact that his own people had rejected him and in their doing so the vineyard would be given to others.

The priests and scribes who were supposed to be in service to him wanted not him, only the power and prestige that their positions brought them and they wanted that so much so that they will kill the very heir to ensure they kept that statue. And we also know that in their rejection of him, that vineyard was given to “others”, we know also that that means “us”, us being those as Jesus said “whosoever will-come”.

That rejection by his own people opening the door for all nations, all kindreds, and all tongues, as it is written, everyone, anywhere the world over now being offered that beautiful vineyard because those who were to keep only wanted to keep it for themselves. 

But we can also see so much more in this.  as the Bible tells us, “nothing new under the sun”, one of my go to scriptures, and there’s not. 

Is there really that much difference from those of  that day beating the servants and killing the son in order to hold on a little longer to what was nevers theirs to hold on to, and those of today that will try to destroy the servants of that same vineyard in order to keep power and prestige of this day? 

Those who will deny the very existence of God, sanction and even enforce the slaughter of the unborn, euthanize the elderly and those they consider “broken beyond repair” all the while pretending it is all for “the greater good” spreading hatred and division, inflaming others to pledge allegiance to them, being worked into such a frenzy that they never stop to investigate a little farther exactly what and who they are pledging that allegiance to. 

Same vineyard, different keepers and they will so anything, anything to try to keep an inheritance that is not theirs.

We know Jesus was talking about this earth and we know that just as they persecuted him, even sending out pretenders to spy on him, to listen to him, to try to trap him and we know he has children the world over under the same persecution today.

Same vineyard, same owner and same old devil working through those who want to take what belongs to a kingdom that shall never be taken.

So think about it today, and see it for what it really is, all the politics, all the power struggles and those who would sell their souls to the devil himself to feed the power hungry beast inside of them, who only want recognition and power and control over others and in gaining that control they will do everything in their power to keep that control, so choose your allies carefully and if it does not adhere absolutely to the word of God, don’t align yourself with it.

And if those “husbandmen” that are like those before that beat the servants, killed the son, are now persecuting you, know this wonderful thought, they did indeed kill the Son but he ROSE and that the next visitor to the vineyard will be the one who created it and he will protect and he is coming back to defend it.

Φλογιζω NBJ 2020/ Rev. Nina Brown Johnson

 

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Light scent…

  John 12:35,36: “Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. WHILE ye have light, BELIEVE in the light, THAT YE MAY BE THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT. These things spake Jesus, and departed and did hide himself from them.”  

 I love scented candles, and even more, I love a gift my sister gave me several years ago, a lighted wax warmer, you know it is basically a really pretty decorative pot that has a light bulb that heats scented wax, providing a beautiful aroma along with a gorgeous soft glow. 

It is as beautiful as a candle and much safer because it is electric rather than actual flame, but if the bulb gets loosened or the cord happens to get frayed, it can be more time-consuming to repair than just relighting a candle. But it is more than worth the effort to experience the result.

Sometimes we can be like the heated scented wax burners, you know our “bulbs” become loose and we flicker on and off and just can’t get that wax melted enough to produce a beautiful scent.

The word flicker is actually defined as this, “to UNPREDICTABLY  FLASH on and off at RANDOM” you never know whether it will give light or disappoint you with darkness.

If it were completely burned out, you would know to replace the bulb, but when it flashes at “will” burning brightly for a moment and suddenly reverting back to utter darkness it can be a problem with the lamp itself.

I think this happens sometimes with the Christian “lamps”,  the”lights of the kingdom” we have “problems” with OUR own connection.

Think about it, all we really are physical “outlets” if you will, for the greatest power source in the universe, and what power!

The power of the Spirit of the Living God, the power so great that it lights the world, the heavens, the sun, moon, and stars.

Imagine if we, each of us, would just obediently let that LIGHT shine, that light that he commanded should SHINE through us into the world. 

The Lord counsels us to our folly concerning many things in Isaiah chapter fifty-eight, but I want to use one verse in particular to prove out just HOW BRIGHTLY he wants our shine to be.

Isaiah 58:8-10: ” THEN shall THY LIGHT BREAK FORTH AS THE MORNING (SPLITTING darkness), and thine health (healing) shall spring forth speedily: and righteousness shall go before thee; The glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward (rear guard). 

Then thou shalt call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, HERE AM I, if thou take away from the midst of thee THE YOKE, the putting forth of the the finger (accusing one another) and speaking vanity (WICKEDNESS);

And IF thou draw out thy soul (offer help. extend a hand) to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; THEN  SHALL THY LIGHT RISE IN OBSCURITY, AND THY DARKNESS WILL BE AS NOON DAY.”

So you see ALL these good things we receive are a blessed result of allowing that LIGHT, light so bright that EVEN at it’s very darkest would be is STILL as bright as noon day.

And as we also note, the human, fleshy issues are “defective flaws” in our own lamps, NOT a problem with the main power source, so it is never a question of “just can’t get a prayer through” it is question of check our own lamp for weak spots in our “cords” because there is NO weakness coming from the source.

The biggest cause of becoming a dull, dimming, and flickering light and loss of “power” can be explained with Ecclesiastes 10:1: “Dead flies cause the ointment of apothecary (perfume) to send forth a STINKING savour (HORRID odor): SO DOTH A LITTLE FOLLY HIM THAT HATH A REPUTATION FOR WISDOM AND HONOUR.”

And what that means is this, for a person who IS known as a representative of the kingdom of Christ, and as a light and are respected FOR their wisdom and reputation for doing “the right thing”, honoring God and playing by the rules to suddenly switch seats and let the flesh have its way either with actions, or words, or downright willful sin, whatever the means, it becomes equivalent to having traded off a beautiful aroma for a rotting, maggot invested stench.

Notice the word LITTLE, it can happen fast and it can happen very easily.

And we have ALL said and done things in our Christian walk that we regret, or at least I know I have.

And it IS so imperative to admit when we have hurt another with our words or our actions and be quick to ask them for forgiveness and to make a sincere effort through prayer and fasting to overcome that issue within ourselves that is causing the problem.

For many it can be temper, pain, participating in inappropriate activities, even inappropriate jokes and movies because God sees our every move and hears our every word.

We can easily fall into that folly through something as simple as us “having a bad day” and running with that loaded emotional gun, keeping the anger and just waiting for “one more person to say one more word” before we lose it and unleash the venomous poison of our mouths and thoughts.

And it is those days that we have to seek the Lord all the more, because once the enemy gets “your dander up” he is not letting up until you take it to the Lord and let it go.

Again, not picking on anyone, been more than guilty enough myself of having days of “spirit versus flesh” and finding all too true that the “flesh is weak” and it that weakness becoming too strong in anger and self-will to even listen to the little voice that tells us to calm it down and get a grip. 

We have to let go of foolishness such as false pride and stubbornness, God HATES these attitudes and He will help us overcome them IF we are sincere and if we refuse that help we will be left with the “pride cometh before a fall” repair. 

The greatest tragedy is when others have looked for guidance and hope and that spoken “wisdom” in us and they see flesh and all the the same attitudes of the “world”, they then become discouraged, disheartened, and twice hard to be won to the Kingdom.

If the light they see is not constant, burning bright in good times and completely out in the bad, if they see the flickering, and wavering, what are they seeing any different from what they see in the world?

If the light seems to brighten and dim at will, randomly deciding what is shown in light and what undesirable behavior is to be hidden in the darkness Then does that light not run the risk of having the source of that light “hidden” from itself?

As Jesus “hid” himself from them after he had warned them to WALK in that light WHILE they had that light, and to BELIEVE in that light so that they would also be children of light, should we not also carefully consider his warning for our present day?

Our biggest issue with this in this present time is the “war with the world”, we have so caved into the thoughts and ideologies of this world that we have weakened our own beliefs of the Gospel to the point that even the “church” as a world body has lowered the standards that were never negotiable, to the point that scripture can be twisted to fit any “belief” desired whether or not that belief is of a sound Godly doctrine . 

If it is to change, we must change our own thinking.

We will only be responsible for our lives and by that same token WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR LIVES!

We will have no recourse in telling the Lord one day that “everyone else was doing it to” or that “the church down the road taught…”

No, He gave us his word and his word we live by, He gave his Spirit to lead us and to guide and when we are continually walking in the flesh and sin, with no desire to repent or change and far worse, NOT EVEN seeing why we need to change.

We are to be lights and no one is going to find their way off a darkened path by using a lamp that has a burned out light bulb!

Today IS a NEW day, and God’s will, tomorrow will be a NEW day.

Let us all remember that each and every day and REMEMBER who we are called to be, lights offering up the fragrant scent of prayer and of praise to Him and letting all we do be done in hope of glorifying His name.

Ephesians 5:1,2,7-16: “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;  And walk in love, as Christ hath also loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to god for a sweet-smelling savour (a beautiful aroma). 

Be not ye therefore partakers with them  (darkness of sin of this world) For ye were sometimes (once) darkness, but NOW are ye LIGHT IN THE LORD: WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT:

( For the fruit of the Spirit IS in all goodness and righteousness and truth)

PROVING what IS ACCEPTABLE unto the Lord.

And have NO fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 

For it is a shame to even to SPEAK of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the LIGHT: for whatsoever doth make manifest IS LIGHT.” 

1 Thessalonians 5:5: “YE ARE ALL THE CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT, AND CHILDREN OF THE DAY: We are NOT of the night, NOR of darkness.”

 Matthew 5: 14-16: “Ye ARE the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

Neither do men light a candle (lamp), and put it under a bushel (basket) , but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto ALL that are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

The choice is ours and it is time to make the right one, CHOOSE to be that light, even if you weren’t yesterday, or last month, or even last year, CHOOSE today to be that light for Him.

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω Εξυπνιζω NB 2018