Tag Archives: wake up church

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CRAWLING OUT OF THE CAVE #1

“But he answered and said, It is written MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.” Matthew 4:4

Not only as Christians but just as humans we go through many seasons in life and all these seasonal changes can often leave us  disillusioned, drained, despondent and the most dreaded and deadly of the “D” words, discouraged.

It rains on the just and the unjust and that is THE “go to” scripture for all who are weary and when winds blow and the devil wants to convince us that if we were right we wouldn’t be going through this.

But again we all know that he IS the liar of all liars and everyone born upon this earth will suffer heartache whether they choose to follow Jesus or not.

As a watchman who no longer has a tower and now sits perched upon a precariously wobbly wall only hoping that the shouts reach the ears of those for which they are intended, I can more than ever relate to all of the above. 

January 2015 my Dad was hospitalized and it really did not look like he was going to make it, before going to visit him one morning I got prayer and I had never before nor have I since received a word at that particular church.

Of course my nerves were a whole new level of shot and after the service a man came back and told me that when they had been praying he had received a word for me, and it was that 2015 WOULD BE a good year for me, I knew by the delivery of the message and the eyes of the messenger, that it translated to this, there would be NO time during the coming year that it would FEEL good and that NO MATTER what IT looked like or how trying it became that somehow in the spiritual realm it would be working for a greater purpose and all in all in the book that God keeps of all our lives that it would be recorded as a positive.

I think we tend to look at prophecy sometimes as we wish to see it and not so much as what GOD IS TRYING TO TELL US!

It is often something we may not want to hear but had we not known it we have lost hope and the dreaded “D” word would lead us straight back out into the world under bondage to the other “D” word.

I thank God for the word he sent me, it kept my eyes focused through an extremely painful year.

My Dad had also received a word at the worst of his illness that his work was not quite finished and had he not received that, he may have not had the will to go on.

But still sometimes enough wind, enough rain, and just enough cold from feelings of disconnection can turn us to cave dwellers.

We like to believe it is a place of shelter, a place of rest, and most of all a surrounding to block out all those nasty attacks and the only way they can get us is head on and we will be able to see that coming.

Right? Well, no, Not quite. Caves are very dark, isolated, and filled with bones of whatever had made it a prior shelter and never made it back out, and your not going to get much rest if you have to always keep watch for fear of what is going to come through that “door”.

Elijah tried it.

1st Kings 19, God had already done mighty, mighty works through Elijah, really think about seeing this with your own eyes, FIRE FALLING FROM HEAVEN, PROVISIONS THAT WOULD NOT FAIL, A HUMAN FED BY  RAVENS,THE DEAD RAISED TO LIFE.

And yet even he, who had absolutely NO DOUBT anywhere in him concerning the power of God, ran for his life, he had became so weary that he just wanted it all over and just wanted to go home.

God always patient and merciful sent an angel to feed him and strengthen him, showing us as always God knows right where we are, even when he did not send us in that direction and even though he continued on his emotionally self propelled journey God provided for him.

Once he made it through the forty day journey and found the refuge of his cave the Lord asked very point blank “WHAT DOEST THOU HERE ELIJAH?” 

After Elijah gave his reasoning to the Lord GOD CALLED HIM OUT OF THE CAVE.

Now God gave a rather majestic display of His power and might over all the universe, and sometimes we also could use a refresher course.  

ALL POWER IN HEAVEN AND EARTH.

Psalm 97:1-6 “The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of the isles be glad thereof.

Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation (FOUNDATION) of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.

HIS lightnings enlightened the world: THE EARTH SAW, AND TREMBLED. THE HILLS MELTED LIKE WAX AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD OF THE WHOLE EARTH.

THE HEAVENS DECLARE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THE PEOPLE SEE HIS GLORY.”

ISAIAH 45-5-7 “ I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me:

I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

THAT THEY MAY KNOW FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN, AND FROM THE WEST, THAT THERE IS NONE BESIDE ME.

I AM THE LORD, AND THERE IS NONE ELSE. I FORM THE LIGHT, AND CREATE DARKNESS: I MAKE PEACE, AND CREATE EVIL (CALAMITY):

I THE LORD DO THESE THINGS.” 

ISAIAH 54:16  “Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument (weapon) for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.” 

This is the power that created the universe.

The voice that spoke everything into existence.

The one who named the stars and flung the into existence. The sun and moon will cower in His presence and the very mountains will flee from before Him.

Heaven is His throne and earth is but His footstool.

And all nations and people will bow before Him and the same small voice who spoke to Elijah is still that same voice that speaks to us today.

He is calling us out of the caves and His word is the way.

Please join me next time, Lord’s will, and we’ll look at David’s caving and follow up with that voice and the word of his promises that will help us see a brighter day OUTSIDE of the cave.

Φλογιζω/ NBJ 2016

Revisited 05/19/2023

Original post date: 01/14/2016 to read the remainder of this series, please check out: “CAVES” Part 2 “Cavin’ with Dave”

“RESONATE”Crawling out of the cave #3

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“Done Deal”

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

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

Not because of whom thought THOUGHT Him to be.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We’ll pick up here:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not sure why we do these things.

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

When actually, IT IS that simple.

Do we feel that we need more grandeur?

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

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

And acknowledge WHO is standing there! 

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

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

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

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

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

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“Today and the tomorrow that may never be”

“But exhort one another daily, while IT IS called TO day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.  While it is said, TODAY IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS, AS IN THE PROVACATION (rebellion).” Hebrews 3:13,14 

Wouldn’t we all love to have a blank calendar or a calendar from the past that we could go back and “x” off certain days, days of hurt, sorrow, or days that we made tragic mistakes and maybe not make those mistakes again?

And wouldn’t we all love to have God’s calendar? You know that is why He tells us some much in His word, TODAY, TODAY, TODAY and even saying, in Matthew 6:34: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

What He is warning us against here, is our human habit of worrying about tomorrow, while not realizing that we may not even be able to handle today and EACH day comes with its own set of either joys, or heartaches, victories, or trails, but either way LET TOMORROW WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW and just be concerned with YOUR TODAY.

The REAL problem with the TOMORROW mentality is when people apply it to their spiritual health and salvation. Got to give my beautiful big Sis credit on this, I had called her for prayer about something I was going through and we got off on the subject of so many people that the enemy sells the same old line to, that THEY SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THEY FEEL LED TO GO TO GOD.

What kind of thinking is that? You know that is NOT from God, God said COME unto me and even in the end at Revelation AGAIN, the SPIRIT and the BRIDE TOGETHER are URGING ALL WHO WILL to COME!

I hope to give more than enough scriptural proof with this post that there should no longer be any doubt as to whether or not the Lord has sent out those invitations to ALL who will, ALL who will come to Him, His household, and His Kingdom.

So I want to go back to our starting verse to establish just what goes on here, with that deceived thinking, notice that is says “lest ANY of you be HARDENED THROUGH the DECEITFULNESS of sin” and what that means is that you are to call on the Lord TODAY, because sin will hardened your heart and LIE to you and have you “put off” salvation, “put off” the call of God, as sin tells you must wait on a formal invitation.

An invitation that has ALREADY been sent in the form of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ on earth, an invitation that has already been sealed by the blood of His Son bearing the approval of His signet, and invitation that was DELIVERED when His dead body rose victorious.

And the words “WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD, SHALL BE SAVED” recorded in His word for the ENTIRE world to receive.

So it is not that they have no invitation, they are simply REFUSING to open it!

We always use the thief on the cross to prove this out, the man WAS slowly dying, he had NO time, and he KNEW he had NO tomorrow and he KNEW that it was then, there, TODAY or never.

And as we all know Jesus response, pure gold and blessed with assurance so that not even one doubt could have entered the mans mind, Verily I say unto thee, to day thou shalt be with me in paradise. 

No going down to the altar, no church introduction, no baptism, no time to do “ministries”, not even time to tell any person that he was sorry for any wrong he had done them.

But time, that day, that was his last TODAY on this earth, and his first TODAY in glory with Jesus Christ!

We are all given ONE life, and we have ONE day, yesterday is gone, gone forever and ever and will never, ever come again, and tomorrow is NOT guaranteed,

James 4:13-14: ” Go to now (come, listen) ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain (make money) WHEREAS (because) YE KNOW NOT WHAT SHALL BE ON THE MORROW (you do not know what tomorrow holds); for WHAT IS YOUR LIFE? IT IS EVEN A VAPOUR, THAT APPEARETH FOR A LITTLE TIME, AND THEN VANISHETH AWAY. FOR THAT (for this reason) YE OUGHT TO SAY, IF THE LORD WILL, WE SHALL LIVE, AND DO THIS, OR THAT.”

So you have TODAY, TODAY is YOUR responsibility and TODAY we have the responsibility to DAILY exhort those who may not have to tomorrow, that they should consider TO DAY, so for any who “lost” the invitation, that they failed to open, consider this:

Isaiah 55:6-7: ” 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 unto the Lord, and HE WILL HAVE MERCY UPON HIM; AND TO OUR GOD, FOR HE WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON.”

Simply put, SEEK God, give up your ways that are leading to destruction, return to God and He will take care of the rest!  2 Corinthians 6:2: “( For he saith, I HAVE HEARD THEE IN A TIME ACCEPTED AND IN THE DAY OF SALVATION HAVE I SUCCOURED (helped) THEE:  behold (pay very close attention) NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.) 

So as you see, above there is a completely blank calendar, you did not know your beginning, you certainly do not know your ending, but YOU do know your TODAY.

Lamentations 3:22,23 : “ IT IS of the LORD’S MERCIES THAT WE ARE NOT CONSUMED, BECAUSE HIS COMPASSIONS FAIL NOT it is only because of  his mercy that we have not been destroyed). They (His mercy) ARE NEW EVERY MORNING, great is thy faithfulness.”

Chose, chose today and let that calendar represent a new life, a new hope, and a new future eternal, count every day, and count every day as the precious opportunity a gift that it is. 

Help us understand the full POWER of TODAY.

Psalm 90:12: “So teach us to NUMBER our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Hope you have a blessed today, tomorrow, and always! Love & Peace

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2017   REVISTED 10/14/2022

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Part 1:  OLD GOAT AND THE CANDY COATS

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

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OF MADMEN, MARTYRS, AND MAIDS/ PART 2

We all have a Bible, one we often take for granted. Humor me for a moment, if you will, close your eyes and picture a man tied to a stake surrounded by fodder and as a crowd looks on, now imagine him being strangled and set on fire, his last words spoken on this earth having been a prayer, that God would open the eyes of the King of England.
That is the price William Tyndale paid. He was fluent in eight languages and it was his soul desire to bring the true word of God to the smallest of the world.
Despite constant adversity and the destruction of his work, he carried on.
The last seventeen months of his life spent in prison diligently translating the Old Testament into English, a work which was completed by a friend after his death.

So much of the true roots of the church and sacrifices made by others to give us the freedom we have today have been all but forgotten.
Replaced by agendas of man-made doctrines, and denominational bickering over who is going to hell, because they hold a slightly different view. I’m still pretty, pretty sure that only God has the authority to make that judgment.

Picture again, if you will, a man driven to near madness after the murder of his wife, and  with his people enslaved to England he decided to lead a revolt against their oppressors.
Being quoted as once having said “Fight and you may die, run away and you will live at least for a while, and dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies, that they make take our lives but they will never take our freedom”
Picture this man tortured, disemboweled, and emasculated while still alive, his tormentors repeatedly offering him a quick death if he would renounce his acts.
Sir William Wallace would not. He died for his beliefs and because of his thirst for freedom and his love for his people he endured.
Just as Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:22 “Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake: but he that endureth to the end shall  be saved.”
It is time for us to follow that burning in our souls. What is your hearts desire today? What group of people whose suffering brings tears to your eyes and breaks your heart?
What is the still small voice of the Lord prompting you to do?
The world will always smash your dreams, that is why you don’t look at the world. Some of the wisest words ever spoken were “Anything that is worth having is worth fighting for.”
What if Tyndale had just given up,  and said “Oh, well, sorry” and never translated another word or destroyed his own work.
What if Wallace had pledged allegiance to England and surrender a breath of God save the King?
We would be at the mercy of someone else concerning our salvation, we would be told only what they wanted us to believe.
Scotland would now be a distant memory, a land only visited in history books.
The sad reality is the “church” as it was created to be is also in danger of becoming a memory, a place to be visited in history books, well actually secular schools would never want to acknowledge churches existed, so maybe passed down through folklore.
It is time to stand up against false doctrines and blatant sin that has opened up shop under the guise of a “church”.
If we never breathe a word against injustice, whether it be human rights, animal rights, or the false doctrines hiding behind the misuse of the word Christian, we all become guilty by omission. Not to speak against it is as the same as condoning it.
Jeremiah could not stop that fire in him, you shouldn’t either, let it out, “If God be for you, who can be against you?”
And if they refuse to listen, take it as a compliment!
” For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves, teachers having itching ears (ones who tell them what they want to hear) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned into fables (believe lies) But WATCH thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
                                  2 Timothy 4:3-5
God had us warned throughout the New testament that these days would come, the false teachers would come and the false prophets and at the time of Paul’s writings, he said they were already here! Imagine now.
Stand for the truth, let it be known, Let the lord lead you and guide you and stay in his word.
Share the truth and if it falls on deaf ears, don’t worry, you have done your job and while they are still here praying to their God of gumdrops and lollipops we will be at the biggest Jewish wedding the universe will ever know!

Original Date: 12/29/2013.FOWC/Avenue Rev. Nina Brown Johnson 2015 REVISITED 02/05/2022 Φλογιζω  also listen as podcast at: https://anchor.fm/phlogizo

For other two posts in this series: OF MADMEN, MARTYRS AND MAIDS/ PART1 and OF MADMEN, MARTYRS AND MAIDS/ PART1

Post note: I realize the Wallace quote was used in the movie, but it is nevertheless listed with quotes accredited to him.

 

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PLEASE WAKE UP !!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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“ASCENSION” PART 2, INTERCESSION

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:8,19

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, this is so striking in three examples of the sun bearing proof of the exchange between heaven and earth.
Our very light-giving force, exceedingly huge and deadly in power but without objection bending to the will of the one whose very word spoke it into creation.

Joshua 10:13,14 : “And the SUN stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies, Is it not written in the book of Jasher?

So the SUN stood in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down a whole day. And there was no day like before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.”

When Hezekiah was told to set his house in order that he would soon die, he sought the Lord in prayer, and the Lord agreed to extend his life and as reassurance this would be his proof .

Isaiah 38:7,8: “And this shall be a sign unto thee from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that he hath spoken:

Behold, I will bring again the shadow of degrees, which is gone down in the sun-dial of Ahaz, ten degrees BACKWARD, So the SUN returned ten degrees, by which it had gone down.” 

Thanks to Chuck Hall for sharing his revelation on this, because in order to accomplish this the Lord actually had to spin earth BACKWARD! It wasn’t moving a dial, it was the hand of heaven reaching down spinning the very earth!

Another wonderful example, the thief on the cross that believed.

Luke 23:42-45: “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the SUN was darkened, and the veil of temple was rent in the midst.” 

Refusing to even glimmer upon on the land that now flowed red with heaven’s holy blood, each hour symbolic of the days he would spend among the dead securing our redemption, keeping his promise made at the cross.
Each act of intercession, from Moses, whose constant prayer often saved the lives of Hebrews, as they continued to provoke God’s Holy wrath.

The prayer of Abram on behalf of any righteous that may be found in Sodom.

The never-ending prayers of the prophets as they begged mercy for those so blinded to will and holiness of Lord.

As he desires us to stand in the gap.

Psalm 106:23: “Therefore he said that he would destroy them. HAD NOT MOSES  his chosen  STOOD BEFORE HIM IN THE BREACH to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.” 

As Jesus was given the heathen as his inheritance, as he gave his life to save us all, we as joint heirs with him can ask the same, he wants us to ask the same, give our heart and prayers to him to ask for them, ask for all the hurt, wounded, and messed up of this world and he will give them to us as our inheritance by saving them to the kingdom.

Stand arms linked in the spirit world, as the gates of hell rush as a flood to overtake those they wish to destroy, stand in between them and the forces of hell as a hedge and know we will not be overtaken, and know that the gate between heaven and earth is open.

If you BELIEVE that and you BELIEVE that he still send fire down from heaven, opens up the earth to swallow those who come against his prophets, spring wells in the wilderness.

He still has all power in heaven and earth, and at his name demons still flee, he can still command the sun to stand still, the earth can still be spun backwards, and the sun be darkened by his Holy will.

Not only is he “I AM” but he is “THE I AM THAT IS” and he will forever be. It is a journey that begins here, the forming of the hedge.

Φλογίζω / Original post:01/09/2015. All rights reserved. rev. Nina BrownJohnson 2015  REVISITED 08/19/2021

Ascension #1 Night Watchmen

Ascension #3 Climb

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Valued Vulnerability

“Thus saith the lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him: and I will loose the loins (armour) of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates (double doors); and the gates shall not be shut; 

I will go before thee, and make the crooked way straight; I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder (half) the bars of iron;

I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I,the Lord, which call thee by thy name, AM the God of Israel, 

for Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me:  I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west (to its setting), that there is none beside me, I am the Lord, and there is none else.

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil (calamity); I the Lord do all these things.

Drop down (rain down),ye heavens, from above, and let the skies POUR down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord hath created it.” Isaiah 45:1-8

Proof positive that God does what he wants, when he wants, and most importantly, through who he wants. Notice it starts by pointing to the fact that Cyrus is his anointed, chosen to be used for a very specific purpose according to will of God. And he goes on to establish the fact that he will open up the “door” to accomplish that purpose, a very wide path,a s it is double doors, and that no would, no one, no power on earth or even, not of earth, would be able to stop the plan that God has laid out. And as he goes before, his wonder, his majesty, his anointing all will now from one end of earth to the other that the God of Israel, Jehovah God is the only true God.

And to make this even more thought  provoking to those who would be witness is this, as he referenced, though they had not known him, though they had certainly not, but yet they certainly would.

He outlines his plan in this, that they will know that it is he that creates light, dark, peace, and calamity, and that does not mean that God brings evil upon innocent people, satan is responsible for that, but God does bring judgment and calamity upon his enemies and those who try to destroy his children.

His purpose is that even though they had not known and had not believed that they would see and they would know and his righteousness would be poured down like rain from heaven itself.

Now for my big question, how much more is God speaking to those who already know him? Time for some vulnerability, mention of vulnerability, we don’t really need me to point this out, but as a refresher, I am totally going to point it out again, because talk about famous last words…

Revelation 18:7:”How much hath she gloried herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I SIT as a queen, am no widow, and shall see no sorrow,” 

We know this is The Great speaking, “Mystery, Babylon the Great” as “she” is referred to by Revelation 17:5, she is a not a woman, :she” is a country, and she is not just any country, she is a country that was founded for the glory of her “husband” but as some point those beautiful bridal veils started to be removed one by one in nothing that can be described other than a spiritual strip tease for all the world to see, as morals, reverence, purity, and above all holiness was auctioned off to the highest bidder, selling herself to the agenda that is willing to pay the most.

The spiritual wickedness in high places polluted even the queen’s sense of decency, love and compassion, as babies, who Babylon, in a sickening justification attempt, has now been renamed as “products of conception, that are an “inconvenience” to those who conceived them are simply disposed,murdered, period, even as they like to say “aborted”, sounds like a mission that one decided to forego, and let’s not forget RU486, the “symbolism” in the name itself is mind blowing, break this down, RU= “Are you”, 4= “for”, 86= To be removed, such as a restaurant item removed from a menu, it is “86ed”. but in this case, RU486 is to 86 the baby’s life.

Can’t make this stuff up, the dictionary is going to need updated every week to contain all the changes that society has made to words in an attempt to  take the stinging truth out of what they don’t want to hear, old cop shows used to end with “The names have been changed to protect the innocent” but now we know in real life the names are being changes to protect the guilty, but God is not going to give any free passes, if repentance does not come, he will call it exactly as it is.

So the Queen had alienated her mind, sold her soul and in her sin ridden sickness had the audacity to brag about her sin and to even laugh at her husband the King, as she praises herself, that she is Queen and boasts that she does not need him or care what he thinks and then goes on to arrogantly boast taht she will see no sorrow. Does this sound familiar? We also know another Queen who is referred to as The Great,  we also know the beautiful beginning, we know the sin,we know the current state  and unfortunately we can read how that story is going to end and Babylon the Great will not be spared BUT there is still a chance for those who will to be saved out of Babylon before the destruction, which you can read about in Revelation 18, It had written on it quite extensively in the past, but had pulled many of those posts while we were in  a season of reprieve and that season is now over and those forces have risen,a nd risen with a vengeance, and a hatred, and a desire to silence true voice of God, as the candy coats  will continue to be welcomed.

We also know that God is very merciful and gracious to forgive, we can be made new anytime, anyplace just for the asking. So you could ask why the destruction, it is one thing to sin, it’s one thing to have inhabitants that sin but the nation itself still honor God, but when the nation becomes polluted, the laws perverted and the prevalent desire is to remove God from the equation, then God will remove himself, and that includes his protection and that nation comes under judgment. It is important to be careful here and remember that God still cares for his people, think of the Hebrews having light while all of Egypt was in utter darkness and the death angel passing over the homes of those who had the blood applied.

God’s mercy and blessing were bestowed on those who humbly, vulnerably came to him, those who had been persecuted in their own land for their desire to worship him, as he gave then a new land, a new beginning, and blessing to become the greatest nation on earth.

Fast forward through time as little by little those veils were danced off until that has become vulnerable again, not to the hope of the mercy of God and his favor, but vulnerable to all the nations she has danced for, and all that have followed her in that dance.

Revelation 18:3:”For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies”

ALL the nations of the earth have made profit exporting to Babylon, the abundance of her delicacies meaning the inhabitants cane never get enough, never have enough , keeping a steady flow of imports coming to her shores.

ALL looked to Babylon as a standard for wealth and power and through that all were tainted, monkey see monkey do, and if your country can’t pay for their abortions, American taxpayers will foot that bill for you.

As she chose to turn “her” back on God and mock him, her vulnerability that once had been shielded under the hands of God has now become bare, for all the world to see, and as those “she” touted as friends watch as those veils fall, they will attack, because they weren’t real friends after all. “that she will realize once it’s too late are actually her enemies and she chose to ridicule and mock God, trusting in “herself”, her power, her strength, God will give her to these enemies but he will save those taht are his before destruction comes.

Revelation 18:4: “Come out of her, my people, be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have REACHED unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.”

A picture of the rapture, and I am sure it could be argued that this would mean to be  “seperated”, act right, to not do as they do, but no, this is when he is going to destroy it.

No one will have time to get saved, if your not committed to Christ when this happens you will not have a chance once it does, the destruction of Babylon is a separate judgment, it is in with the end time events but it’s destruction is sudden, so even though there will be those who are saved out of the end times, the inhabitants of Mystery, Babylon the Great will NOT have that luxury.

We’ll pick this up after the verse when she announced herself Queen.

“Therefore shall he plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she will be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who Judgeth her.

And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication (spiritual wickedness) and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her (weep for her),and lament when they see the smoke of of her burning,

Standing afar off for fear of her torment, saying, Alas, that great city Babylon, taht mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.

And the merchants of the earth sha;; weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more.

The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple (dye), and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner of vessels of ivory, and all manner of precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble.

And cinnamon, and odours (incense), and ointments (fragrant oils and frankincense, andwine,and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts (cattle),and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men (human trafficking).

And the fruits that thy soul lusted after (longed for) are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty (are rich) and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all.

The merchants of these things, which WERE made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls!

For in one hour so great riches is come to nought (nothing). And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off.

And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning,saying, What city is like unto this great city!

And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping, and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness (wealth)! for in one hour is she made desolate (a wasteland).” Revelation 18:8-18

Going over that list you can certainly understand why all the exporters wail and cry, financial devastation but you can also see very clearly why it is said that she lived deliciously, it is said taht they are not crying over any of those who have perished at the destruction only at the loss of their income because the babylonians really like shopping and don’t care how made it, how it was made, they will buy anything and according this verse that includes people.

You know, I have studied this for years and I would always get stuck on taht part, and I’d be like, Lord we don’t do that anymore… boy, was I wrong, just hadn’t seen the horrors that have panned out and on that same note, those who have disputed the Queen’s identity or continue to dispute just had not or have not seen quite enough, but they will, the farther it goes the worse she becomes and don’t kill the messengers, they don’t always like the message but they still have to deliver it.

Mention of messengers, How are people going to be saved out of all this? By God’s messengers realizing the need for their own vulnerability in service to God.

Here’s’ the definition: Vulnerability: “the quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being attacked or harmed, either physically or emotionally.”

No one like to feel vulnerable, no one wants to feel put on the spot, no one wants to be attacked or laughed at or whatever the fear may be, but in these last days we need God’s people to stand up and be willing to tell the whole world taht yes, they do believe and to share the Gospel with all God would allow them to and even more so to allow God to fill them with His spirit and use them in miraculous ways.

I think sometimes we become so self conscious that we can hinder the work God has for us and hinder the development of the gifts he has for us and more so hinder the use of those gifts for the kingdom, and make no mistake, without the Holy Spirit nothing will be effective, we could minster to a thousand people but without the anointing of God, it will fall on deaf ears and I feel that today, that someone, somewhere is wrestling with these things and you know the time and you see the signs and you know you have a call on your life, but you feel really vulnerable, I want to encourage you, be vulnerable, submit to God and all he has for your life and more importantly helping others on that path to salvation, no one knows the hour of Christ return but we have to be ready when he does, and we want everyone possible to be ready to.

So submit to God, submit to the Holy Ghost and do not ponder who will think what allow his POWER to fill you and guide you because it is his power taht changes all things and without it nothing will change.

Φλογιζω 2021 NBJ/ Reverend Nina Brown Johnson

 

 

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CRAWLING OUT OF THE CAVE #1

“But he answered and said, It is written MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.” Matthew 4:4

Not only as Christians but just as humans we go through many seasons in life and all these seasonal changes can often leave us  disillusioned, drained, despondent and the most dreaded and deadly of the “D” words, discouraged. It rains on the just and the unjust and that is THE “go to” scripture for all who are weary and when winds blow and the devil wants to convince us that if we were right we wouldn’t be going through this.

But again we all know that he IS the liar of all liars and everyone born upon this earth will suffer heartache whether they choose to follow Jesus or not. As a watchman who no longer has a tower and now sits perched upon a precariously wobbly wall only hoping that the shouts reach the ears of those for which they are intended, I can more than ever relate to all of the above. 

January 2015 my Dad was hospitalized and it really did not look like he was going to make it, before going to visit him one morning I got prayer and I had never before nor have I since received a word at that particular church. Of course my nerves were a whole new level of shot and after the service a man came back and told me that when they had been praying he had received a word for me, and it was that 2015 WOULD BE a good year for me, I knew by the delivery of the message and the eyes of the messenger, that it translated to this, there would be NO time during the coming year that it would FEEL good and that NO MATTER what IT looked like or how trying it became that somehow in the spiritual realm it would be working for a greater purpose and all in all in the book that God keeps of all our lives that it would be recorded as a positive.

I think we tend to look at prophecy sometimes as we wish to see it and not so much as what GOD IS TRYING TO TELL US!

It is often something we may not want to hear but had we not known it we have lost hope and the dreaded “D” word would lead us straight back out into the world under bondage to the other “D” word.

I thank God for the word he sent me, it kept my eyes focused through an extremely painful year. My Dad had also received a word at the worst of his illness that his work was not quite finished and had he not received that, he may have not had the will to go on.

But still sometimes enough wind, enough rain, and just enough cold from feelings of disconnection can turn us to cave dwellers. We like to believe it is a place of shelter, a place of rest, and most of all a surrounding to block out all those nasty attacks and the only way they can get us is head on and we will be able to see that coming.

Right? Well, no, Not quite, caves are very dark, isolated, and filled with bones of whatever had made it a prior shelter and never made it back out, and your not going to get much rest if you have to always keep watch for fear of what is going to come through that “door”.

Elijah tried it, 1st Kings 19, God had already done mighty, mighty works through Elijah, really think about seeing this with your own eyes, FIRE FALLING FROM HEAVEN, PROVISIONS THAT WOULD NOT FAIL, A HUMAN FED BY  RAVENS,THE DEAD RAISED TO LIFE. And yet even he, who had absolutely NO DOUBT anywhere in him concerning the power of God. He ran for his life, he had became so weary that he just wanted it all over and just wanted to go home.

God always patient and merciful sent an angel to feed him and strengthen him, showing us as always God knows right where we are, even when he did not send us in that direction and even though he continued on his emotionally self propelled journey God provided for him. Once he made it through the forty day journey and found the refuge of his cave the Lord asked very point blank “WHAT DOEST THOU HERE ELIJAH?”  After Elijah gave his reasoning to the Lord GOD CALLED HIM OUT OF THE CAVE.

Now God gave a rather majestic display of His power and might over all the universe, and sometimes we also could use a refresher course.   ALL POWER IN HEAVEN AND EARTH.

Psalm 97:1-6 “The Lord reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of the isles be glad thereof. Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation (FOUNDATION) of his throne. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. HIS lightnings enlightened the world: THE EARTH SAW, AND TREMBLED. THE HILLS MELTED LIKE WAX AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD, AT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD OF THE WHOLE EARTH. THE HEAVENS DECLARE HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THE PEOPLE SEE HIS GLORY.”

 

ISAIAH 45-5-7 “ I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: THAT THEY MAY KNOW FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN, AND FROM THE WEST, THAT THERE IS NONE BESIDE ME. I AM THE LORD, AND THERE IS NONE ELSE. I FORM THE LIGHT, AND CREATE DARKNESS: I MAKE PEACE, AND CREATE EVIL (CALAMITY): I THE LORD DO THESE THINGS.” 

ISAIAH 54:16  “Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument (weapon) for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy.” 

This is the power that created the universe. The voice that spoke everything into existence. The one who named the stars and flung the into existence. The sun and moon will cower in His presence and the very mountains will flee from before Him. Heaven is His throne and earth is but His footstool.

And all nations and people will bow before Him and the same small voice who spoke to Elijah is still that same voice that speaks to us today. He is calling us out of the caves and His word is the way.

Please join me next time, Lord’s will, and we’ll look at David’s caving and follow up with that voice and the word of his promises that will help us see a brighter day OUTSIDE of the cave.

Φλογιζω/ NBJ 2016

Original post date: 01/14/2016 to read the remainder of this series, please check out: “CAVES” Part 2 “Cavin’ with Dave”

“RESONATE”Crawling out of the cave #3

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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

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“Today and the tomorrow that may never be”

“But exhort one another daily, while IT IS called TO day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end.  While it is said, TODAY IF YE WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, HARDEN NOT YOUR HEARTS, AS IN THE PROVACATION (rebellion).” Hebrews 3:13,14 

Wouldn’t we all love to have a blank calendar or a calendar from the past that we could go back and “x” off certain days, days of hurt, sorrow, or days that we made tragic mistakes and maybe not make those mistakes again?

And wouldn’t we all love to have God’s calendar? You know that is why He tells us some much in His word, TODAY, TODAY, TODAY and even saying, in Matthew 6:34: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself, sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

What He is warning us against here, is our human habit of worrying about tomorrow, while not realizing that we may not even be able to handle today and EACH day comes with its own set of either joys, or heartaches, victories, or trails, but either way LET TOMORROW WORRY ABOUT TOMORROW and just be concerned with YOUR TODAY.

The REAL problem with the TOMORROW mentality is when people apply it to their spiritual health and salvation. Got to give my beautiful big Sis credit on this, I had called her for prayer about something I was going through and we got off on the subject of so many people that the enemy sells the same old line to, that THEY SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THEY FEEL LED TO GO TO GOD.

What kind of thinking is that? You know that is NOT from God, God said COME unto me and even in the end at Revelation AGAIN, the SPIRIT and the BRIDE TOGETHER are URGING ALL WHO WILL to COME!

I hope to give more than enough scriptural proof with this post that there should no longer be any doubt as to whether or not the Lord has sent out those invitations to ALL who will, ALL who will come to Him, His household, and His Kingdom.

So I want to go back to our starting verse to establish just what goes on here, with that deceived thinking, notice that is says “lest ANY of you be HARDENED THROUGH the DECEITFULNESS of sin” and what that means is that you are to call on the Lord TODAY, because sin will hardened your heart and LIE to you and have you “put off” salvation, “put off” the call of God, as sin tells you must wait on a formal invitation.

An invitation that has ALREADY been sent in the form of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ on earth, an invitation that has already been sealed by the blood of His Son bearing the approval of His signet, and invitation that was DELIVERED when His dead body rose victorious.

And the words “WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD, SHALL BE SAVED” recorded in His word for the ENTIRE world to receive.

So it is not that they have no invitation, they are simply REFUSING to open it!

We always use the thief on the cross to prove this out, the man WAS slowly dying, he had NO time, and he KNEW he had NO tomorrow and he KNEW that it was then, there, TODAY or never.

And as we all know Jesus response, pure gold and blessed with assurance so that not even one doubt could have entered the mans mind, Verily I say unto thee, to day thou shalt be with me in paradise. 

No going down to the altar, no church introduction, no baptism, no time to do “ministries”, not even time to tell any person that he was sorry for any wrong he had done them.

But time, that day, that was his last TODAY on this earth, and his first TODAY in glory with Jesus Christ!

We are all given ONE life, and we have ONE day, yesterday is gone, gone forever and ever and will never, ever come again, and tomorrow is NOT guaranteed,

James 4:13-14: ” Go to now (come, listen) ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain (make money) WHEREAS (because) YE KNOW NOT WHAT SHALL BE ON THE MORROW (you do not know what tomorrow holds); for WHAT IS YOUR LIFE? IT IS EVEN A VAPOUR, THAT APPEARETH FOR A LITTLE TIME, AND THEN VANISHETH AWAY. FOR THAT (for this reason) YE OUGHT TO SAY, IF THE LORD WILL, WE SHALL LIVE, AND DO THIS, OR THAT.”

So you have TODAY, TODAY is YOUR responsibility and TODAY we have the responsibility to DAILY exhort those who may not have to tomorrow, that they should consider TO DAY, so for any who “lost” the invitation, that they failed to open, consider this:

Isaiah 55:6-7: ” 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 unto the Lord, and HE WILL HAVE MERCY UPON HIM; AND TO OUR GOD, FOR HE WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON.”

Simply put, SEEK God, give up your ways that are leading to destruction, return to God and He will take care of the rest!  2 Corinthians 6:2: “( For he saith, I HAVE HEARD THEE IN A TIME ACCEPTED AND IN THE DAY OF SALVATION HAVE I SUCCOURED (helped) THEE:  behold (pay very close attention) NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME; BEHOLD, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION.) 

So as you see, above there is a completely blank calendar, you did not know your beginning, you certainly do not know your ending, but YOU do know your TODAY, and Lamentations 3:22,23 : “ IT IS of the LORD’S MERCIES THAT WE ARE NOT CONSUMED, BECAUSE HIS COMPASSIONS FAIL NOT it is only because of  his mercy that we have not been destroyed). They (His mercy) ARE NEW EVERY MORNING, great is thy faithfulness.”

Chose, chose today and let that calendar represent a new life, a new hope, and a new future eternal, count every day, and count every day as the precious opportunity a gift that it is.  Help us understand the full POWER of TODAY.

Psalm 90:12: “So teach us to NUMBER our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”

Hope you have a blessed today, tomorrow, and always! Love & Peace

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2017

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“Mingled, Tinged, & Tainted”

” And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought the out of the land of Egypt,out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have NO others gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Thou shall NOT BOW DOWN thyself to them. nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of THEM THAT HATE ME; and SHEWING (showing) MERCY unto thousands of them that love me, and KEEP my commandments.” Exodus 20:1-6

Well, I guess you can reason by the title where this is going.. the place no one seems to want to go lately. Why does spiritual “purity” now seem to always equate to social snobbery?

Former generations and many other “religious” groups have NEVER been questioned when they taught that you can not allow your beliefs to be “mingled” with other beliefs, but somehow we have swallowed this as Christians that we should be more “open” in the influences we allow on our lives, in our churches, and in the name of our God.

And in doing so, in the name of “being tolerant”, accepting, and open we HAVE bowed ourselves down to them. And we question why we do not see the mighty moves of God such as recorded in the Bible, when we all know that our present world is DESPERATE for such deliverance, restoration, and renewal, but UNTIL we choose to walk on the side of the road that He told us, rather than running down the middle for fear of offense and wavering, voicing no real opinion and trying to make everyone FEEL accepted, we are not accomplishing anything for the kingdom and ONLY causing more confusion.

I LOVE people, I WANT everyone to feel safe, accepted, and to KNOW their TRUE VALUE in Christ, but if I hang with them and KNOW they have other beliefs, OTHER gods, and pat them on the back and tell them “It’ll be alright, you’ll figure it out” than I have accomplished is to cheapen the true Gospel down to AN OPTION, rather than THE ONLY WAY to salvation, and have let THEIR beliefs bow them and us  down.

As far as “tolerance”, this is just another one of satan’s trap, just because you do not agree with someone’s beliefs DOES NOT mean you hate them or that you feel superior and in overcompensation against being misunderstood as this, we have LOWERED the requirements for the true worship of Jehovah God.

This has led to so many FALSE beliefs, beliefs in a spirit world afterlife of no heaven, no hell, and certainly NO JUDGEMENT. Belief that you can be “good” person and go “to heaven” without the acknowledgment and acceptance of Christ as Savior.

The belief that is acceptable to seek and be advised by “mediums” and ” physics”. That it is perfectly okay to have sexual relationships OUTSIDE of marriage, or with the same-sex. That there “is more than one way to heaven” which IS the biggest lie of them all. The constant FALSE reassurance given to the world that ” It all works out and that EVERYONE will be saved” NONE of this is RIGHT!

God is VERY clear on ALL subjects through His Word and we have to start teaching this, living this, and applying this and just be brave enough to deal with the fact that not everyone is going to like us or appreciate it, because God did say to be a friend of the world is an enmity against Him and that means being  a “friend” to this world, the thoughts, attitudes, teachings, and actions of popular thought and society IS considered HOSTILE against God.

Let that soak in! Think about it in terms as nations, when a nation commits an act that is considered HOSTILE against another nation, war often ensues, how much more can be expected from committing HOSTILE acts against the Living God, who controls life, death, and heaven, and hell simply by the Word of His Mouth? And who on earth is capable of taking Him on in battle?

That my dear friends is why we need to rethink our approach in dealing with this. You don’t have to be everyone’s best friend, you can be social to them and leave it at that but when you start getting too chummy with their beliefs in the name of fellowship, they are NOT going to get converted to the true Gospel and all your going to get is a snare to your own soul and the Bible is full of story after story, including King Solomon, who had been CHOSEN of God to build the temple, and even HE FELL to paganism through the influence of pagan wives and forgetting everything he had been taught and falling to the trap of self-assurance in his OWN self-righteousness.

And do you think if he, a man whom God had spoken to and offered to give WHATEVER he asked of him, and if he could fall prey to the deception, what are earth makes any of us believe we are so much spiritually stronger and so much wiser than even Solomon?

So here is a little refresher course, from the WORD of the ONE whose never changes and whose word is for ever settled in heaven and WILL never change, while giving the Ten Commandments, and the reverence and fear the Hebrews experienced that we would do well to remember now.

Exodus 20: 18,24: “And ALL the people saw the thunderings, and the lightenings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain SMOKING: and when the people saw it,  they removed (trembled) and stood afar off (far away).

And they said unto Moses, Speak thou now with us, and we will hear: but let God NOT speak with us, LEST WE DIE.

And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove (test) you, and that his fear be before your faces (the fear of Him, His power and majesty) THAT YE SIN NOT (so you WILL NOT sin against Him).

And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven . Ye shall NOT make WITH ME gods of silver, NEITHER shall ye make unto you gods of gold.

An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shall sacrifice therein thy burnt offerings, and thine peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in ALL places where I record my name I WILL COME TO THEE, AND I WILL BLESS THEE.”

The people HEARD, they KNEW, and the were wise enough to respect his majesty and omniscience. And He did this so they would be aware of who brought them out and whose commands they were to keep. And He warned them to absolutely NOT make, or have other “gods” along with Him.

The altar of earth foreshadowing His plan that one day His Temple would be in the earthy vessels as our bodies ARE the temples of God and His will done in these earthen vessels of our bodies as His will is done is the mighty realms of the heavens.

And also notice that HIS PROMISE to us in keeping this command in ALL places (regardless WHERE you are or WHO  your hanging with) is that  HE WILL COME TO US and HE WILL BLESS US but we have to do our part first. 

And even so to the point that He commands us to NOT even MENTION the names of these pagan “gods”. Which RULES out studying them to understand them, RULES OUT  discussing the pros and cons of that particular “religion”, IT RULES OUT THE RISK OF THESE FALSE DOCTRINES POLLUTING YOUR SOUL BY BECOMING MINGLED WITH THE TRUE GOSPEL, TAINTED WITH CONFUSION AND DECEPTIONS AND TINGING YOUR WHITE GARMENT WITH FILTHY SPOTS THAT WILL FORFEIT YOUR ENTRANCE INTO THE KINGDOM.

Exodus 23: 13: “And in ALL things that I HAVE SAID UNTO YOU BE CIRCUMSPECT ( wary, heedful, watchful, attentive, alert, careful, cautious, and UNWILLING to take a risk): and MAKE NO MENTION F THE NAME OF OTHER gods, NEITHER LET IT BE HEARD OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.”  

So that IS God’s word about it and we know that He is the final WORD and Authority on ALL subjects. But here a few more verses to encourage you to flee friends, co-workers, whoever, whatever that hold and adhere to false doctrines, again you can be nice but as God told us to be very careful and very alert and be UNWILLING to EVEN RISK become impregnated by those other beliefs because we care for and genuinely like the person who holds those beliefs, that is how it attached itself to Solomon. 

Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Just as God told us, He is jealous, He is jealous for our heart and we must keep our heart pure in Him and for Him.

James 1:27 (c)…” and to KEEP himself UNSPOTTED FROM THE WORLD.” Again, please notice that this requiring is to KEEP our own selves unspotted, doesn’t say God will keep us unspotted, this is on us, to be diligent against false doctrine and anything that could possibly worm its way into our hearts and souls.

And finally, we all desire to hear those faithful words of comfort as the last day judgment hits and God will call His people OUT of the mighty  city of Babylon (Revelation 18:4) that they “not be partakers of her plagues” and they be spared the destruction, we must also HEED the call of the Lord when He tells us to COME OUT and be SEPERATED. We must quit playing footsie with the devil, with pagans, and lose the fascinations with false doctrines when the Lord has FORBADE us to EVEN speak their names! Stay away from them and be blessed, be visited, be delivered, and SEE the salvation and Glory of God COME to this earth.

2 Corinthians 6:15-18: “And what concord (accord, agreement with) hath Christ with Belial (pagan devil)? OR what part hath he that believeth with an infidel (unbeliever)?

And what part hath THE TEMPLE OF GOD WITH IDOLS? for YE ARE THE TEMPLE OF THE LIVING GOD; as God hath said, I WILL DWELL IN THEM, AND WALK WITH THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE.

WHEREFORE COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPERATE  (separated FROM them) saith the Lord, AND TOUCH NO UNCLEAN THING; AND I WILL RECEIVE YOU, AND WILL BE A FATHER UNTO YOU, AND YE SHALL BE MY SONS AND DAUGHTERS, SAITH THE LORD ALMIGHTY.”

Notice the PROMISES of I WILL, we honor Him and HE WILL be everything we need, want, or even could possibly imagine!   Till next time, Love, Peace, & prayers for a joyous week ahead!

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2017

 

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Taken

“Until the day in which he was taken up , after that  through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed (presented) himself alive after his passion (suffering) by many infallible (unmistakable) proofs, being seen of the forty days, and speaking to them of things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

And being assembled together with them, commanded that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but WAIT for the PROMISE of the Father,  which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

For john truly baptized with water; be ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. (not many days from now).

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou (will you) at this time restore again the kingdom of Israel? 

And he said unto them, It is NOT for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. (authority) BUT ye shall receive power after when the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received (covered) him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly TOWARD heaven, behold, two men stood BY THEM in white apparel;

Which also said, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? THIS SAME JESUS, WHICH IS TAKEN FROM UP FROM YOU INTO HEAVEN, SHALL SO COME IN LIKE MANNER AS YE HAVE SEEN HIM GO INTO HEAVEN.” Acts 1:2-11

Undoubtedly the scariest subject for most humans, the second coming, the rapture, and all the horror that shall befall earth in the end days. God has done some seriously major work in me.. If I were not me, I would not believe that I am the same person who was so horrified by these events and even being a believer and eagerly awaiting His return, I would still be in terror if it were not His hand and His grace over me.

And for most it is very fearful to think about it, much less talk about these events. As I say, I did not grow up in church, but I know I was blessed to receive serious divine intervention, but my Dad was in and out of church and my Mom had been raised in church but as a family, the snares of the enemy had run roughshod over what could have been and we were left with what was.

So even though my Dad tried, he did not have the support of a family to help him stay the course and as a family, his often stern behavior did not make us want to go running to service with him. And that is not a blame thing.. that is reality.. we ALL need a support system and as Christians, we are to shine a light to our unsaved family members.

We all NEED each other, if we are going to make it home. But all is well now and when I was saved it was my sister and Him that came and prayed with me when I received the Holy Ghost and we were baptized (well his second) on the same day, so we all try to help one another stay the course and we have been blessed in that.

Back to my point, even though I was not in church with my Dad, we would read together often, and I thank God so much NOW for the blessing I was being given at the time that I did not even realize was anything other than doing what I was asked, a good lesson in NEVER taking for granted something that may seem common, it may be so much more, that will one day actually CHANGE your present and certainly impact your FUTURE and your divine destiny.

I was about thirteen and we had been reading and I still had his Bible in my room and for some reason i just went to the book of Revelation and I always had this thing, that I really, really “got” Jesus but reading the stories of the Old Testament, GOD ABSOLUTELY SCARED ME TO DEATH!

And once I read some of Revelation, I just looked out of my window and it was just this overwhelming feeling of “it is already here” and I just was horrified and I just put the Bible away and tried to block it out. And so when I tell people that I really REALLY understand how scary it can be, I really do!

That is why we need the Holy Ghost, only He can enlighten us to things so far BEYOND our comprehension and only He can ease those fears of the future, and only He can show us the necessity in these things and help us understand that the fulfillment of all scriptures is NOT the END but it is rather THE BEGINNING.

Scriptural references in comparison to childbirth as absolute right on the mark because labor IS sorrow, labor IS painful, and birth IS a very bloody process BUT once that child is born, the JOY, PEACE, and CONTENTMENT is well worth every single moment of it.

And rather than fear scaring people about the return and the tribulation, we must begin to TEACH on these things so they will be ready, as He is coming for a “bride who hath made herself ready” and view it as the beautiful birth of the “firstfruits” of a kind” and look forward to that expected end and not be so caught up in anticipating and dreading the pain. 

Romans 8:19-23: “For THE EARNEST EXPECTATION of the creature (creation) WAITED for the manifestation of the sons of God.

For the creature (creation) was made subject to vanity (decay),not willing BUT BY REASON OF HIM WHO HATH SUBJECTED the same IN HOPE.

Because the creature (creation) ITSELF shall BE DELIVERED from THE BONDAGE OF CORRUPTION (futility) INTO GLORIOUS LIBERTY OF THE CHILDREN OF GOD.

For we know that the whole creation GROANETH AND TRAVAILETH (suffers birth pangs) TOGETHER until now.

And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan, within ourselves, WAITING (EAGERLY AWAITING) FOR THE ADOPTION, TO WIT (be sure to understand) the REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY.” 

So to be certain that as the Bible tells us, ALL these things MUST come to pass before that Glorious and wondrous day. And Jesus told us many times, so shouldn’t we also tell others? And then also tell them about what also comes NEXT?

Matthew 24:30,31:  “And THEN shall appear the SIGN of the Son of man in heaven: and THEN shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall SEE the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and shall GATHER together his elect  (chosen ones)  from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

 Mark 14:61,62 : ” But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and he said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

 And Jesus said, I AM and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and COMING IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” 

Luke 21:27,28:  “THEN shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things come to pass, THEN look UP, and LIFT up your heads; for YOUR REDEMPTION draweth nigh.” 

That redemption that ALL of creation longs for and we are to eagerly await. So don’t be afraid, just believe, and rejoice in knowing that in that day, as He said, ALL things will be made new!

I did not want to get repetitive.. so there is a list below of much more on the rapture and the signs Jesus spoke of, and that we’ll get us ready for the final part of this on His earthly reign and what a beautiful, beautiful time that will be!

 

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2017

For more teachings on end time please read: 

   ANCIENT, BUT NOT ALIEN / The deception

   ARRHYTHMIA (HEART SERIES PART 1)

   HEART FAILURE ( HEART SERIES PART 2)

   FLAT LINED ( HEART SERIES PART 3)

   CARDIAC SHOCK (HEART SERIES PART 4)

 

 

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“Vexing Vineyard Variances”

“Now will I sing to my well beloved a song touching (concerning) his vineyard, My beloved has a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes and it brought forth wild grapes. 

And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray (ask) you, betwixt (between) me and my vineyard. WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE DONE TO MY VINEYARD? THAT I HAVE NOT DONE IN IT? wherefore, when I looked that is should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? ISAIAH 5:1-4

As God describes the planting of his vineyard, he chose a spot with rich, fertile soil, He cleared out all the weeds, briers, and all that could hinder and choke the new plantings.

He then removed all the rocks and debris that could hold back the tender shoots and He then planted the absolute best of vine, He himself being the tower in the midst of it. Watching and protecting the young vines, as they could grow without disturbance as beasts would try to trample and destroy them.

The winepress ready and waiting the harvest of grapes that was to come and produce magnificent. new wine, the Father’s own personal signature selection. But instead of producing the grapes needed for this particular vintage, wild, bitter, strong, unpleasant, nasty grapes grew instead. He tells us to judge this matter for ourselves…  Is the problem with the planting or is it a problem with the vineyard itself?

HE THEN ASKS THE QUESTION…that should terrify us all, What more could MORE COULD HAVE BEEN DONE THAT HE HAS NOT ALREADY DONE?

Kinda what is going on with the “falling away” we are now under, like the breaks and wounds body of Christ that are allowed to continue without remedy and without even caring to heal them, and churches of the modern-day that are seemingly unaware that when one member hurts, we ALL hurt, and continue to allow the Gospel to be falsely advertised and outright sold and not only do they not speak out against these things, they often help promote the very ones who perpetrate these “crimes” committed against the cause, verse 7:…. and he looked for judgement (justice), but beheld oppression; for righteousness but beheld a cry.”

To not speak out on behalf of the truth, makes us all guilty of these things, and too easily we forget that we,  ALL the members,ALL the churches, ARE ALL ONE BODY and “in that day His name shall be one” and we’d better start getting in that ONE mindset here or we just not make it to even be there.

What more could He do for us? And as we know, and I will not get repetitive, even though I really want to.. but we all know the major problems of today. There is often not enough love, caring, and general goodwill  between members of the vine, which cause essential growth nutrients to be siphoned away from the small grapes and over ripening the mature ones and too much money-grubbing, self promoting, ulterior motive impeding the vine’s overall general growth.

He will absolutely not lose His harvest because of a bunch of bad grapes! I really believe  major change is coming soon and the vineyard will be pruned, all the vines, as He says, that do not produce fruits will be cut away and all the bad grapes, all those who have held the positions and the ministry that have further alienated people AWAY from the Gospel through their false representations of the heart of Christ, will allowed to fall to the ground, just as when a grape withers and rots away on the vine, finally falling useless to the ground.

Whatever places they held will be given to the “new grapes” that are growing up into the vine as we speak, and that new wine will be wine for all, not just a select few and they will have a heart for God and for His people, they will see to the widows, and the fatherless, and they will care for those who are outcast, sick, and spiritually wounded.

They will be the leaders and ministers for the church and know that they ARE for the church, and not fall for the power tripping trap that the CHURCH IS FOR THEM. They will go forth in faith knowing that God will supply all their needs in unfolding ministries and that He is quite capable of furnishing the house and they will be those who “instead of thy fathers shall be thy children”… these will be the true fruits of God’s vineyard.

Time to check what’s growing and do some pruning and purging, better to tend what we can than to be cut down, cast out, and burned up, never, ever to grow again.

When we know it is ABOUT HIM and not us!

Φλογίζω Σαλπιζω  NBJ 2016

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THIS day…

I often ponder how we wish our lives away. Anyone else who just could not wait to turn the magical eighteen, as teens often do because we are always in a hurry, striving to reach some momentous peak in our aging process that, as in a fairy tale world will change our lives and fill us with wonder and awe.

We wish our childhood away, we wish our school years away and like an old country song, we wish it away until there is nothing else left to wish away. Some people have OCD, I have GHACH, “Gotta have a clean house” I think sometimes this is all in order to please some imaginary visitor who peradventure may pop in during the wee hours of the morning and horrifically gasp at my most untidy kitchen.

My hips were hurting, my back was aching, battling a long standing incurable dental condition, struggling as I put clothes away in the closet, almost complaining to myself that I will surely fall over dead one day, right there on the floor, something else dawned on me. If I live long enough, there WILL be a day when I will think back and yearn for one more visit to this time in my life. My beautiful daughter, my beautiful husband, my “wild kingdom friends” and my parents, we have a prayer meeting each week and I started really realizing how blessed I am (not that I ever questioned it) but there is something so endearing about sitting on a couch with your feet not quite touching the floor with two “well seasoned” seniors, (although quite vivacious) and each time them insisting that I spit out my gum and do not swallow it, before we pray, we go through this every time and each time it is just as sweet as it was the last time and I still really don’t believe that I have a giant ball of gum inside my body that will one day be my doom, however If I die that way please know that I had been warned!

I know I am blessed with every single moment that I have with them and everyone else I love because I know far too many who have had to say goodbye to their parents far too soon. My friend Genia and I have often discussed this.. approaching fifty and the days of our inseparability and constant companionship of my late brother with us seems ONLY mere years ago, although we JUST couldn’t wait to grow up, be our “own” women, make our own decisions and yet either of us would gladly time travel back for just a second too laugh one more time, to not have a care in the world, and to have never knew the true growing pains that come with being a grown up.

In our good times, happy times, and bad times as in the Books of Jeremiah and Job, when they wrote of times they felt such pain they wished that they were never even born.

Times of tragedy and heartache, why and what ifs but it is all woven in a one of a kind tapestry of time crafted by the master Himself and as we know there WILL also be a day “when TIME shall be no more” endless and infinite and time WILL be just a word, no real meaning because it will no longer exist.

EPHESIANS 5:16-20: “Redeeming the time, because the days ARE evil. Wherefore be ye NOT unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in YOUR heart to the Lord. Giving thanks ALWAYS for ALL things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 Redeeming the time, making good use of every day, every second and every breathe in that new day because the days are “evil” …bad world, bad times and time itself as an enemy against mere mortals in this realm where we are subjected to its harsh, unyielding, authoritative rule over us.

“Give us THIS day our daily bread” Spiritual Bread of life,  natural bread for nourishment and the breaking of that bread with those we love and hold dear.

PSALM 90:12-17: ” So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts to our wisdom. Return, O Lord, how long? Let it repent thee concerning thy servants (have compassion on us).

O  satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN ALL OUR DAYS. Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. Let thy work appear into thy servants,and thy glory unto their children. 

And LET THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD OUR GOD BE UPON US:  and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands ESTABLISH thou it.”

Only the Lord can take our yesterday, our hurts, our joy, our memories our pain, all the things that are woven into that tapestry that is the Master’s piece of OUR personal time and fashion it into sometime so beautiful, so complex and ours and ours alone. Forget the past, don’t cry for the days that have long since passed, try not to question the losses of relationships and seasons that were seemingly blessed more than others.

ECCLESIASTES 7:10-14: Say thou NOT, What is the cause that the former days WERE BETTER than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this (do not ask why the “good old days” were better, we are not using wisdom when we ask this)

For wisdom is a good WITH an inheritance: and by it there is a profit to them that see the sun. For wisdom is a defence , and money is a defence: but the excellency (advantage) of knowledge IS that wisdom GIVETH LIFE to them that have it.

CONSIDER the work of God, for who can make that straight which he hath made crooked? In the day of posterity be joyful, BUT IN THE DAY OF ADVERSITY ( rough days)  CONSIDER: GOD HATH ALSO SET UP THE ONE OVER AGAINST THE OTHER, (surely has appointed the one as well as the other) TO THE END THAT MAN SHOULD FIND NOTHING AFTER HIM.”

So life happens, but every single day IS blessed, God is WITH US in all things IF we will allow him to be. Don’t worry quite so much about yesterday, let it go and be thankful for the moments that were had, and remember as the other old saying goes, yesterday was once tomorrow and all you truly have is TODAY, THIS DAY.

If today is full of  sorrow and uncertainty, and pain, know that it will soon be over, hold to God’s promise that we will never be forsaken or forgotten and every tear will be away by HIS own hand. If you are having a good day, be glad, be thankful, savor every single moment of that precious time.

PSALM 118:24 ” This IS the day which the Lord hath made; WE WILL BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN IT.” Never take for granted what will never be again and never count on time that we may not have, serve Jesus, enjoy what is to be enjoyed and live and love as though it were the very last thing you will ever do.

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ2016

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“As the music slowly fades……”

“But the Pharisees and lawyers (experts in the law) rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken this generation? and to WHAT ARE THEY LIKE? 

They are like unto CHILDREN sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, we have piped (played the flute) unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept. 

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine: and ye say, he hath a devil, The Son of Man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebidder, a friend of publicans (tax collectors) and sinners! But wisdom IS justified in her children.”  LUKE 7:30-35.

We can surely attest to this. Trying to win the lost to the Kingdom, trying to win the offended back to the house of God, trying to sway the self-righteous thinking of the holier than thous and trying to convince those whom satan has blinded to the truth that yes, they really NEED salvation and trying to sway delicate, wounded minds and souls that yes, God does love them and will save them from all their heartache.

Jesus in determining what could even He compare them to, came up with this, they are childlike in maturity and anyone wanna argue the point that our modern society tends to go backward when it comes to growing up and taking responsibility for our lives and more importantly our own actions?

Got problems, go on a talk show, tell the whole world, blame everyone and often that IS true, but at the end of the day we are accountable for ourselves, numeral Uno and will stand alone with that when all is said and done. Maybe you are a jerk because someone was a jerk to you first or you were raised by a pack of wild jerks but when your middle-aged and kill over you are still, on your own, making your own decisions and you have consciously decided to just be a jerk too!

We ALL know that there is a major, major lacking in this society. So ministers have “played music”for these “children”… sweet songs of hymns and salvation, and glory unspeakable, peace everlasting, who would NOT want that?

But NO! Beautiful tune, sounds sweet and lovely, maybe even soothing to the savage beast which lurks inside..but NO! They NOT going to dance to it,they flat-out refuse and NO ONE will dare tell them what they should do!

Because as the Lord referred to a certain ‘stiff-necked” (meaning unyielding) group, as “sottish” children, meaning helplessly spoiled. They want God to cater to them, and win THEIR approval and they must receive all the attention or else they will just go serve another God, HE REALLY DOES NOT PLAY THAT!

So we try mourning… delivering the cold hard truth and reality of the woe, upon woes which is to come and offering an escape route. But again NO! WE WILL HAVE our own way and if that means hell.. well then.. FINE. And there ARE those who have stated that they KNOW they are on their way to hell but will they repent? Again NO! They would rather toast than submit to a higher power, (of course it is a lack of believing.. but they WILL believe) but for the point it is a chant of No! No! No!

Which is where “repented not” came into play, but of course if they continue in this rebellion, which the Bible states is “as the sin of witchcraft”, well, all we can say is that like the rich man lifted up his eyes in hell and was told that the was nothing more that could be done for him, they will also and I really don’t think they will be many “Oh, well’s” uttered in hell, when the Bible describes it as gnashing of teeth and gnawing their tongues because they are in so much agony.

They didn’t like John, he was too scary and his cry to REPENT was “too stern” for their tender little ears, he was too on fire and it curdled their blood, so they decided he must just be crazy!

Jesus came gently, meekly, loving all he met, not judging or condemning and sharing His Gospel with all who would hear, but No, He wasn’t “strict” enough for the holier than thous because of course, they were special and would never be in the same group as those “prostitutes, and peasants” and heaven forbid they set next to the poor.

My favorite quotable scripture: “Nothing new under the sun” but I’m going to tell you something that will be “new” to these people. “WISDOM IS JUSTIFIED IN HER CHILDREN.” As the saying goes “you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink”, they act like this because they have NO desire whatsoever to repent. We can’t change minds that do not want to be changed, those who refuse to hear, do not want to hear. But those who DO WANT to hear, WILL HEAR, because they ARE the children of wisdom and they hear “her” and attest to the fact that what wisdom speaks is true.

Those who do not want to hear, those who wish it would all go away and we would all just shut up, will ONE DAY get that wish granted, BUT it will be to their destruction NOT to their relief.

 ISAIAH 59: 4-14: “None calleth for justice (seeks what is right) NOR any pleadeth for the truth: they trust in vanity (empty words), and speak lies, they conceive mischief, and bring iniquity.

They hatch cockatrice eggs (hatch out vipers) and weave the spider’s web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. (Their sin spreads and infects all it touches) Their web shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves in their works: (They can not hide their sin from God) their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands.

 Their feet RUN to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction IS in their paths. The way of peace THEY KNOW NOT; and there is NO JUDGEMENT (justice) in their goings (tracks) THEY HAVE MADE THEM CROOKED PATHS: WHOSOEVER SHALL GOETH THEREIN SHALL NOT KNOW PEACE.

Therefore judgment (justice) is FAR from us, neither dost justice (righteousness) overtake us: WE WAIT FOR A LIGHT, BUT BEHOLD OBSCURITY (darkness); FOR BRIGHTNESS, BUT WE WALK IN DARKNESS. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: We stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. 

We roar like bears, and mourn (moan sadly) like doves: we look for judgment (justice) but there is none; FOR SALVATION BUT IT IS FAR FROM US.

For our transgressions as multiplied before thee, and OUR SINS TESTIFY AGAINST US: for our transgressions ARE with us; and as for our iniquities, we KNOW them.

IN TRANSGRESSING AND LYING AGAINST THE LORD, AND DEPARTING AWAY FROM OUR GOD, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And JUDGMENT (justice) IS TURNED AWAY BACKWARD, AND JUSTICE (righteousness) STANDETH AFAR OFF: FOR TRUTH IS FALLEN IN THE STREET.” 

Basically, truth will be trampled in the street, they did not want it so… when they SEEK it, it will be too late. When Hades starts to break loose upon earth, they rethink their stubborn self-righteous views and hunger and thirst for relief:

AMOS 8:9-12 ” And IT SHALL come to pass in THAT DAY saith the Lord God, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I WILL DARKEN THE EARTH in the clear day (broad daylight):  

And I WILL TURN YOUR FEASTS INTO MOURNING, and ALL YOUR SONGS INTO LAMENTATIONS (weeping and wailing);and I will bring sackcloth upon every head: and I will make it as the mourning (grieving for) my only son, and THE END THEREOF AS A BITTER DAY.

BEHOLD, THE DAYS COME, SAITH THE LORD GOD,THAT I WILL SEND A FAMINE IN THE LAND, NOT a famine of bread, NOR a thirst for water, BUT OF HEARING THE WORDS OF THE LORD:

And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro TO SEEK THE WORD OF THE LORD, AND SHALL NOT FIND IT.”

Those feasts that were chosen to be so much more joyous than the invitation to the marriage supper of the Lamb, turned to heartache. The songs that were held so much worthy for joyful dance as the songs of Zion and those piped by the heralds of the King, turned to wails of sorrow and tears.

And the ultimate of all things lost, those who have scoffed at his words, closed their ears, mocked and hid their heads to avoid hearing, will beg to hear it one more time and it will not be found.

REVELATION 18:23 a,b): “And the Light of the candle (lamp, word of God) shall SHINE NO MORE AT ALL IN THEE; AND THE VOICE OF THE BRIDEGROOM (JESUS CHRIST) and THE BRIDE (HIS CHURCH) WILL BE HEARD NO MORE AT ALL IN THEE:…..”

 I strongly suggest today to listen to that music, don’t march to beat of your own drum, do not be wise in your own eyes, all souls will do one of two things, no more, no less, either hear the sweet sounds of Jesus calling our souls to rest and life eternal or we will hear the sound of that death march that will soon be sounded upon this earth.

ISAIAH 55:6: “SEEK YE THE LORD, WHILE HE MAY BE FOUND, CALL YE UPON HIM WHILE HE IS NEAR: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him RETURN TO THE LORD, AND HE WILL HAVE MERCY UPON HIM; AND TO OUR GOD WHO WILL ABUNDANTLY PARDON.”

Φλογιζω Σαλπιζω NBJ 2016

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“Done Deal”

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

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

Not because of whom thought THOUGHT Him to be.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We’ll pick up here:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Not sure why we do these things.

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

When actually, IT IS that simple.

Do we feel that we need more grandeur?

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

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

And acknowledge WHO is standing there! 

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

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

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

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

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

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"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

 


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“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

 


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“ASCENSION PART 2, INTERCESSION”

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be shall be loosed in heaven.” Matthew 16:8,19

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, this is so striking in three examples of the sun bearing proof of the exchange between heaven and earth.
Our very light-giving force, exceedingly huge and deadly in power but without objection bending to the will of the one whose very word spoke it into creation.

Joshua 10:13,14 : “And the SUN stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies, Is it not written in the book of Jasher?

So the SUN stood in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down a whole day. And there was no day like before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.”

When Hezekiah was told to set his house in order that he would soon die, he sought the Lord in prayer, and the Lord agreed to extend his life and as reassurance this would be his proof .

Isaiah 38:7,8: “And this shall be a sign unto thee from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that he hath spoken:

Behold, I will bring again the shadow of degrees, which is gone down in the sun-dial of Ahaz, ten degrees BACKWARD, So the SUN returned ten degrees, by which it had gone down.” 

Thanks to Chuck Hall for sharing his revelation on this, because in order to accomplish this the Lord actually had to spin earth BACKWARD! It wasn’t moving a dial, it was the hand of heaven reaching down spinning the very earth!

Another wonderful example, the thief on the cross that believed.

Luke 23:42-45: “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the SUN was darkened, and the veil of temple was rent in the midst.” 

Refusing to even glimmer upon on the land that now flowed red with heaven’s holy blood, each hour symbolic of the days he would spend among the dead securing our redemption, keeping his promise made at the cross.
Each act of intercession, from Moses, whose constant prayer often saved the lives of Hebrews, as they continued to provoke God’s Holy wrath.

The prayer of Abram on behalf of any righteous that may be found in Sodom.

The never-ending prayers of the prophets as they begged mercy for those so blinded to will and holiness of Lord.

As he desires us to stand in the gap.

Psalm 106:23: “Therefore he said that he would destroy them. HAD NOT MOSES  his chosen  STOOD BEFORE HIM IN THE BREACH to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.” 

As Jesus was given the heathen as his inheritance, as he gave his life to save us all, we as joint heirs with him can ask the same, he wants us to ask the same, give our heart and prayers to him to ask for them, ask for all the hurt, wounded, and messed up of this world and he will give them to us as our inheritance by saving them to the kingdom.

Stand arms linked in the spirit world, as the gates of hell rush as a flood to overtake those they wish to destroy, stand in between them and the forces of hell as a hedge and know we will not be overtaken, and know that the gate between heaven and earth is open.

If you BELIEVE that and you BELIEVE that he still send fire down from heaven, opens up the earth to swallow those who come against his prophets, spring wells in the wilderness.

He still has all power in heaven and earth, and at his name demons still flee, he can still command the sun to stand still, the earth can still be spun backwards, and the sun be darkened by his Holy will.

Not only is he “I AM” but he is “THE I AM THAT IS” and he will forever be. It is a journey that begins here, the forming of the hedge.

Φλογίζω / Original post:01/09/2015. All rights reserved. rev. Nina BrownJohnson 2015

Ascension #1 Night Watchmen

Ascension #3 Climb

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OLD GOAT AND THE CANDY COATS/ PART 2 “SUGAR DECAY”

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

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

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

Spots they are and blemishes, SPORTING THEMSELVES WHILE THEY FEAST WITH YOU; HAVING EYES FULL OF ADULTERY, THAT CANNOT CEASE FROM SIN; BEGUILING (ENTICING) UNSTABLE SOULS: AN HEART THEY HAVE EXERCISED WITH COVETOUS PRACTICES; CURSED CHILDREN: THESE ARE WELLS WITHOUT WATER, CLOUDS THAT ARE CARRIED WITH A TEMPEST; TO WHOM THE MIST OF DARKNESS IS RESERVED FOR EVER. FOR WHEN THEY SPEAK GREAT SWELLING WORDS OF VANITY,THEY ALLURE THROUGH THE LUST OF THE FLESH, THROUGH MUCH WANTONNESS, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. WHILE THEY PROMISE LIBERTY, THEY THEMSELVES ARE SERVANTS OF CORRUPTION: for of whom a man is overcome, and of the same he is brought in bondage.”

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

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

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

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

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

WOE UNTO THEM THAT ARE WISE IN THEIR OWN EYES, AND PRUDENT IN THEIR OWN SIGHT! WHICH JUSTIFY THE WICKED FOR A REWARD, AND TAKE AWAY THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE RIGHTEOUS FROM HIM! Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, SO AS THEIR ROOT SHALL BE ROTTENNESS, and their blossom shall go up as dust: BECAUSE THEY HAVE CAST AWAY (DISREGARDED) THE LAW OF THE LORD OF HOST AND DESPISED THE WORD OF THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL.”      

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

.
Galatians 1:6-9: “I marvel not that you are so soon removed (turning away) from him that called you into the gospel of Christ UNTO ANOTHER GOSPEL: WHICH IS NOT ANOTHER;BUT THERE BE SOME THAT TROUBLE YOU, AND WOULD (WANT TO) PERVERT THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. BUT THOUGH WE, OR ANY ANGEL FROM HEAVEN, PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU, LET HIM BE ACCURSED.  AS WE SAID BEFORE, SO SAY I NOW AGAIN, IF ANY MAN PREACH ANY OTHER GOSPEL UNTO YOU THAN THAT YE HAVE RECEIVED, LET HIM BE ACCURSED.”               
He wants you saved, He died for YOUR SINS, so if the candy coats tell you that there is no sin, well as the Bible says that if any of us say we have no sin, we are liars,  just think of them as a little too sweet,  fake friends who smile in your face as you pull a knife out of your back, because a real friend will love you enough to tell you the truth.

 Part 1:  OLD GOAT AND THE CANDY COATS

All rights reserved. Rev. Nina BrownJohnson 2015

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OF MADMEN, MARTYRS, AND MAIDS/ PART 2

We all have a Bible, one we often take for granted. Humor me for a moment, if you will, close your eyes and picture a man tied to a stake surrounded by fodder and as a crowd looks on, now imagine him being strangled and set on fire, his last words spoken on this earth having been a prayer, that God would open the eyes of the King of England.
That is the price William Tyndale paid. He was fluent in eight languages and it was his soul desire to bring the true word of God to the smallest of the world.
Despite constant adversity and the destruction of his work, he carried on.
The last seventeen months of his life spent in prison diligently translating the Old Testament into English, a work which was completed by a friend after his death.

So much of the true roots of the church and sacrifices made by others to give us the freedom we have today have been all but forgotten.
Replaced by agendas of man-made doctrines, and denominational bickering over who is going to hell, because they hold a slightly different view. I’m still pretty, pretty sure that only God has the authority to make that judgment.

Picture again, if you will, a man driven to near madness after the murder of his wife, and  with his people enslaved to England he decided to lead a revolt against their oppressors.
Being quoted as once having said “Fight and you may die, run away and you will live at least for a while, and dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies, that they make take our lives but they will never take our freedom”
Picture this man tortured, disemboweled, and emasculated while still alive, his tormentors repeatedly offering him a quick death if he would renounce his acts.
Sir William Wallace would not. He died for his beliefs and because of his thirst for freedom and his love for his people he endured.
Just as Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:22 “Ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake: but he that endureth to the end shall  be saved.”
It is time for us to follow that burning in our souls. What is your hearts desire today? What group of people whose suffering brings tears to your eyes and breaks your heart?
What is the still small voice of the Lord prompting you to do?
The world will always smash your dreams, that is why you don’t look at the world. Some of the wisest words ever spoken were “Anything that is worth having is worth fighting for.”
What if Tyndale had just given up,  and said “Oh, well, sorry” and never translated another word or destroyed his own work.
What if Wallace had pledged allegiance to England and surrender a breath of God save the King?
We would be at the mercy of someone else concerning our salvation, we would be told only what they wanted us to believe.
Scotland would now be a distant memory, a land only visited in history books.
The sad reality is the “church” as it was created to be is also in danger of becoming a memory, a place to be visited in history books, well actually secular schools would never want to acknowledge churches existed, so maybe passed down through folklore.
It is time to stand up against false doctrines and blatant sin that has opened up shop under the guise of a “church”.
If we never breathe a word against injustice, whether it be human rights, animal rights, or the false doctrines hiding behind the misuse of the word Christian, we all become guilty by omission. Not to speak against it is as the same as condoning it.
Jeremiah could not stop that fire in him, you shouldn’t either, let it out, “If God be for you, who can be against you?”
And if they refuse to listen, take it as a compliment!
” For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall heap to themselves, teachers having itching ears (ones who tell them what they want to hear) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned into fables (believe lies) But WATCH thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”
                                  2 Timothy 4:3-5
God had us warned throughout the New testament that these days would come, the false teachers would come and the false prophets and at the time of Paul’s writings, he said they were already here! Imagine now.
Stand for the truth, let it be known, Let the lord lead you and guide you and stay in his word.
Share the truth and if it falls on deaf ears, don’t worry, you have done your job and while they are still here praying to their God of gumdrops and lollipops we will be at the biggest Jewish wedding the universe will ever know!

Original Date:12/29/2013. All rights reserved. Rev. Nina BrownJohnson 2015
Post note: I realize the Wallace quote was used in the movie, but it is nevertheless listed with quotes accredited to him.

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PLEASE WAKE UP !!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

Φλογίζω /   Nina BrownJohnson/ baresoulphlogizo 2015 all rights reserved
Original post:11/21/2013 FOWC/THE AVENUE