Archives: Episode

A Biblical Curse Is a Pronouncement of God’s Judgment

 

This is the 13th article in a series entitled Wonderful Counseling. You can view the rest of the articles by clicking on the link above.

 

A Pronouncement of God’s Judgment

Because the word “curse” is often used quite differently by moderns, it is very important to understand the biblical meaning.

In the Old Testament, a curse was a pronouncement of judgment by God on those who violated covenant stipulations.

When a covenant was made or “cut,” an animal was sacrificed and cut in two. The covenant makers would walk between the pieces of the dead animal, invoking a curse upon themselves should they violate the covenant. The following is an example of the curse or pronounced judgment attached to would be covenant violators.

“Therefore, thus says the LORD: You have not obeyed me by proclaiming liberty, every one to his brother and to his neighbor; behold, I proclaim to you liberty to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine, declares the LORD. I will make you a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. 18  And the men who transgressed my covenant and did not keep the terms of the covenant that they made before me, I will make them like the calf that they cut in two and passed between its parts— Jeremiah 34:17-18 (ESV)

 

A Revelation of God’s Justice

The curse or pronouncement of judgment was a revelation of God’s justice in that it provided the proper warning and punishment for disloyalty to God.

Adam and Eve betrayed God when they chose self-rule over his loving lordship by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil instead of the tree of life. They valued and believed the serpent’s words more than God’s. The judgment upon their sin was the pronouncement of God’s justice in the form of a curse.

The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. 15  I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring;he shall bruise your head,and you shall bruise his heel.”16  To the woman he said, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;in pain you shall bring forth children.Your desire shall be for your husband,and he shall rule over you.”17  And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you,‘You shall not eat of it,’cursed is the ground because of you;in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;18  thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.19  By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread,till you return to the ground,for out of it you were taken;for you are dust,and to dust you shall return.”Genesis 3:14-19 (ESV)

The curse contained the following components, including a messianic promise.

  1. The serpent would be cursed or judged more than any other animal.
  2. He (Satan) would be ultimately crushed by the coming Messiah.
  3. The woman would suffer great pain in birthing children.
  4. The relationship between the husband and wife would be strained.
  5. The entire earth (creation) would be cursed, making life much more difficult for people and animals.
  6. The final aspect of the curse was the penalty of death.

It should be clear to us that, as descendants of Adam, we participate in this curse. The explanation we will explore later is that the effects of the curse were passed down to succeeding generations.

A Curse Pronounced by Jesus

Below I quote a New Testament example of a “curse” pronounced by Jesus over the residents of Jerusalem who were about to reject and crucify him, the ultimate act of covenant disloyalty.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30  saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31  Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32  Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33  You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell? 34  Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35  so that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36  Truly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation. Matthew 23:29-36 (ESV)

Jesus understood that succeeding generations inherit the judgment earned by their ancestors. Do we?

Accumulated Looming Judgment

We see in Jesus’ words the principle that unconfessed and unforgiven sin accumulates judgment that looms over the generation of descendants still living.

Jesus linked the generation he was speaking to with their forefathers and their sins. The innocent blood shed by their forefathers still cried out to heaven for vengeance (Genesis 4:10), which God had been storing up to release on a future day.

God held (holds) successive generations corporately responsible for the sins of their fathers, especially if they chose (choose) to actively participate in those sins.

To the modern Westerner this seems very strange and maybe even wrong. To the New Covenant theologian, it also seems to violate the Law’s pronouncement that children will not die for the sins of their fathers.

Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their fathers; each is to die for his own sin. Deuteronomy 24:16 (NIV)

Surely Jesus knew about that law; yet, he made the pronouncement quoted above. There is something going on here that deserves a better explanation. This goes to the heart of grasping what is the nature of generational sin, curses, and the consequent devastation. In my next article, I will explore in greater depth the nature of corporate sin, guilt, and judgment.

Share this post...

Overcoming Generational Devastation: Overview

This is the twelfth article in a series entitled Wonderful Counseling. You can click on the link to find the entire listing of articles.

One of the least understood and most controversial areas of bondage is related to the sins that are repeated generationally in families. When these sins are not acknowledged and forgiven by God, they invite his judgment, resulting in generational devastation. We have all witnessed the repetition of certain sins in certain families, be they abuse, alcoholism, divorce, etc. There can be numerous reasons for these sins to continue generationally, one of which is the modeling of destructive behavior, setting up an expectation for repetition. Another might be a genetic propensity toward something such as an addiction to alcohol. We cannot rule out a spiritual component to sins continuing down through the generations either.

Most Bible students are aware of God’s Old Covenant warning that he will visit the sins of the fathers on the third and fourth generation of those who hate him.

...I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6  but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:5-6 (ESV)

The concept of generational curses or judgments being able to continue running through the families of born again believers as a result of the sins of their ancestors is highly controversial in light of what Christ accomplished through his death and resurrection. Our Lord Jesus broke the power of sin, guilt, condemnation, death, disease, and everything else that seeks to hold us in bondage; yet, I also have seen generational sins repeat even in families that love the Lord. What gives? Is there a way to prevent this from happening? Can we tap into Christ’s finished work in a way that will stop these family sins from afflicting the next generation? I believe the answer is an authoritative “Yes!”

How we can cooperate with the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ’s finished work to overcome the effects of generational sin is what I plan to lay out in the next several articles under the sub-heading of “Overcoming Generational Devastation.”

I will examine what exactly is a curse in the biblical sense and how that relates to the principle of sowing and reaping. I will also take a look at the nature of corporate guilt, repentance, and judgment, and how blessings, sin, and sinful patterns are passed down through families and even nations. I will also cover what Christ did to liberate us, and what is our responsibility in the matter. I will also examine the nature vs. nurture argument and show how both are true.

My purpose in writing is to help people like us experience the fullness of what Jesus died and rose to win for us. Isaiah prophesied that in the coming days, God’s followers would rebuild what was previously destroyed and ruined, which he identified as being generational desolation or devastation.

Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations; And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations. Isaiah 61:4 (NASB)

Followers of Christ who have been set free from the power of sin, have been given the enormous privilege and responsibility to help others find freedom in Christ. Rebuilding what sin has devastated over generations can be hard work and requires tremendous courage and perseverance. Our Lord has already done the “heavy lifting” through his death and resurrection, but we have a part to play, just as those who witnessed Lazarus’ resurrection were told to “unbind him and let him go.” (John 11:44)

I hope you will stay with me as I cover these various aspects of generational sin, the devastation it causes, and the the way out through Christ. I believe it will be well worth the effort.

Share this post...

Meditations on God’s Greatness Inspire Faith, Peace, and Worship

 

Every day when we look upon God’s creation, we are meant to be profoundly impacted by it. What God made reflects who he is.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Psalm 19:1 (NLT)

Think about what we know about the heavens. When we look into the night sky, we are impacted by its mystery and immensity. Modern telescopes have revealed that the universe is much larger than we ever would have imagined, with thousands of gigantic far off galaxies filling the heavens. How big is the universe? What else have we yet to discover?

Our meditations on the universe point us to the Creator who is also far greater and more mysterious than we ever could imagine.

Like the heavens, which draw us to explore them, God wishes his people to be drawn toward him in a never ending quest to know him better.

Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.” Hosea 6:3 (NLT)

Consider the oceans. One cannot help but be impressed with their grandeur, power, and immensity. The seas can be incredibly peaceful and terrifyingly angry and threatening. The power of a storm tossed ocean can sweep away everything man-made from a shoreline. The calm drum of the surf beating upon the sand can also give us a wonderful background noise for an afternoon nap. Who knows what mysteries still await exploration in its immense depths? What animals reside there which have yet to be discovered? All of this points our hearts toward the Creator, if we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to understand.

The grandeur of the mountains inspire us with God’s greatness, too. Their stability encourages us to be at rest in our hearts and let go of our pointless striving and worry. Imagine the incredible power it took to push them up from the surrounding plains! Imagine the God who created all of what we see from the Word of his power and upholds everything moment by moment.

And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3  The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. Hebrews 1:2-3 (NLT)

The Creator God has the power to uphold life or snuff it out in an instant. Our continued existence depends upon his conscious and deliberate maintenance of his upholding power. For God, nothing is too difficult. What we see as impossibilities are not even a challenge.

No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand. Isaiah 40:15 (NLT)

Nothing can overcome God’s plan for this world and our own lives. He is unchanging in his purpose to bring glory and honor to his Son by bringing every single being and thing into proper submission to him.

After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. 25  For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. 26  And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27  For the Scriptures say, “God has put all things under his authority.” (Of course, when it says “all things are under his authority,” that does not include God himself, who gave Christ his authority.) 28  Then, when all things are under his authority, the Son will put himself under God’s authority, so that God, who gave his Son authority over all things, will be utterly supreme over everything everywhere. 1 Corinthians 15:24-28 (NLT)

Never fear. Nothing can stop the inexorable movement of all creation toward God’s intended purpose.

All the people of the earth are nothing compared to him. He does as he pleases among the angels of heaven and among the people of the earth. No one can stop him or say to him, ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’ Daniel 4:35 (NLT)

Our proper response to God’s greatness is to worship.

How can we not surrender fully to such a God? How can we not worship him? In addition, we are to rest in his greatness.

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10 (NLT)

I encourage all of us to meditate often upon these things. It will inspire faith, help us to enjoy peace, and promote worship. Hopefully the result will be our growth into a greater knowledge and appreciation of our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer.

Share this post...

How do so many people end up being so deceived?

I have friends who attend United Methodist churches that are embroiled in the process of disengaging from that denomination because of their radical views regarding LGBTQIA+. (The list of letters gets longer as time goes by.) One has to admire the courage and passion that Charles Wesley, the founder of Methodism, possessed. I believe he would be appalled at what has happened to those who claim the name of Methodist today. Where did this once powerful force for the gospel of Jesus Christ go wrong?

The Babel principle is that every man-made organization always slides toward centralization, self-rule, and self-glorification.

This is true of denominations, individual churches, governments, businesses, clubs, etc. It is a human problem that is generated from the sin nature we receive from Adam at conception, which, by default, leads us to abandon God’s leadership and establish our own kingdom. Christ died and rose again to bring us back into the kingdom of God, but, until the resurrection from the dead, even we Christians still have conflicted souls and are plagued by tendencies to rebel against God. Therefore it should not surprise us at all that the Methodist denomination has corrupted itself and abandoned the truth.

How did it happen?

I believe the slide into deception begins for any group or individual when we abandon our faith and conviction that God’s Word is inspired and the gold standard for truth.

When I became a born again Christian in 1971, I began to talk with other believers who regarded the Bible as infallible and the highest authority in their lives. As you can imagine, I struggled a bit with this for a while, but I finally reasoned that if Jesus rose from the dead and believed the Bible was infallible (John 10:35); so should I. I have never looked back.

When we accept the Bible as the gold standard for faith and practice, it impacts our lives tremendously. If we refuse to let God’s Word change us where needed, we experience a certain internal tension between what we want to do and what God says. If the tension is great enough, it begs for us to do something about it – either repent (change our minds) and align with the Bible’s teaching or deny that the Bible is true and authoritative.

We are in great danger of deception when we choose to believe some parts of the Bible and reject others that do not agree with what we think is right or desirable.

Let us look at a couple of current day examples.

  • Evolution. The Bible clearly teaches that the earth was created in six days and is “young” by geologic standards. Since unregenerate man automatically rejects the idea of a Creator, to whom we would be accountable by default, alternate explanations are required, no matter how nonsensical or self-contradictory. Children are taught to believe in the Big Bang theory, without giving thought to where the original matter and energy came from. We are taught that highly complex life self-generated from chaos, which contradicts the second law of thermodynamics. We are taught that humans have been on the planet for millions of years, despite the fact that genetic entropy does not allow for this kind of time line. Once we abandon what God says, we go careening off course into wilder and wilder levels of error and deception. It is unavoidable and tragic. Professing ourselves to be wise, we become fools. (Romans 1:22)
  • Transgenderism. The Bible clearly teaches that God created humans as male and female. (Genesis 1:27) I have lived for seventy years, and it is only very recently that people have been confused about this order of things. It should not surprise us, however, that people would adopt such nonsensical thinking. When we abandon God’s Word, we have nothing upon which to base anything when it comes to the truth. Truth becomes subjective. No matter what chromosomes and genitalia I may have, I can be whatever I deem myself to be, which is deception pure and simple. It remains to be seen what kind of destruction results from this sort of thinking. Those who encourage children to abandon their God-given understanding of gender and embrace something different are engaging in child abuse. The rejection of our God-given gender is simply another form of rebellion against the Creator.
  • Judgment. It is currently fashionable to believe that since God is love, he will not condemn anyone to hell. This sort of universalism contradicts Christ’s clear teaching and negates God’s justice. It also denies the necessity of Christ’s death for our sins. If God does not condemn, why did Jesus have to die? Why did Jesus tell the Pharisees that they would die in their sins, if they did not believe in him? (John 8:24) Why did he say that we should fear him who will cast people into hell? (Luke 12:5) The desire to escape God’s judgment against sin cannot and will not negate his judgment against sin. It is deception. Those who teach such things misrepresent God and deny the truth.

Jesus said that his disciples would be lovers of truth who would be liberated by adherence to his words.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (NLT)

The opposite is also true. If we reject God’s Word, we will descend into deception and bondage. In fact, we cannot even be saved without having a love of the truth. (2 Thessalonians 2:10)

The choice is ours. What will we decide? If you are struggling whether or not to surrender your life to Jesus and be governed by the Bible, you are not alone.

The Holy Spirit was given to us to help us on our spiritual journey. You can turn to him and ask him to guide you into truth.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. John 16:13a (NLT)

You can trust him to show you the way. He did so for me.

Prayer

Holy Spirit, I am at a crossroads in my life. I can live according to the Bible’s teachings or continue to try to figure things out on my own. I do not want to make a mistake on something this big. I am struggling to know if I can really trust that the Bible, in its entirety, can be fully trusted to guide me in life. Please help me in my search for truth. Open my eyes and understanding. Help me to believe more fully. Amen.

Share this post...

The Great Bait and Switch

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the oldest tricks in the book is the bait and switch. We get lured into talking to a sales person by responding to an amazing sounding deal only to find out midstream that that particular product is no longer available, but something more expensive is. Satan used something like that on humanity. He lured Adam and Eve into disobeying God by telling them they would not die, despite God’s warning to the contrary. Now that we have fallen victim to that lie, he continually uses the great switcheroo against us. Now the enemy of our souls uses the fear of death to enslave us and keep us from obeying the Creator. It would be like making a lot of money by doing one little thing for the mafia, only to find out later that there is no way out and the demands keep escalating. Is there any way out of this trap?

Jesus came as a human being to set us free from this most basic of fears.

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15  Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. Hebrews 2:14-15 (NLT)

The only way for us to escape the enslaving power of the fear of death is to put our faith and allegiance in the only One who has actually conquered death. Anyone who can predict his own death and resurrection and pull it off, is someone worth following. He is the most important person who ever lived. His name is Jesus the Messiah. He is the Lord of life.

I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave. Revelation 1:18 (NLT)

The Lord of life is also master over death and the grave. He taught us that those who put their faith and allegiance in him actually will never die.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 (ESV)

So, Satan told us we would not die, which was a lie. Now he tells people that obeying God will cause us to die. Is that not how he deceived the Israelites into rebelling against God’s command to conquer the Promised Land the first time around? Satan is still at his old game of telling us that God brings death, but he brings life. Despite the Bible’s clear teaching that the wages of sin is death, people overwhelming fall for Satan’s lie that sin does indeed bring fulfillment and life. Do you ever wonder why God has gone to such lengths to redeem people like us? I do.

Jesus told his disciples that the truth will set us free. (John 8:31-32) The truth is that Jesus and his teachings bring life. Faith in Jesus transfers us out of the kingdom of darkness, death,and slavery into the kingdom of light, life, and freedom.

We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, 12  always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. 13  For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14  who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:11-14 (NLT)

Nevertheless, many, if not most, still actively choose satanic tyranny over God’s freedom.

Why is this? Simply put, we prefer to believe a lie than the truth. We would rather run our own lives, even if it leads to bondage and death, than serve the Creator.

The way out of this lunacy is to accept God’s amazing offer called the Gospel.

God sent his Son to pay the penalty for our rebellion against God. Jesus died for us so our sins against God and other people might be forgiven and we might be reconciled and restored to God the Father as his children. He died and rose again to liberate us from the tyranny of the devil and bring us into the glorious freedom of God’s children!

the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. Romans 8:21 (NLT)

Isn’t it time for you to make the switch? Stop following the father of lies and declare allegiance to the Truth, our Lord Jesus the Messiah King. Start truly living!

If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10  For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)

 

Prayer

Creator God, I am amazed at how patient you have been with your rebellious creatures. Forgive me for my part in all this. I now realize that I have been trying to live independently from you. I believe that you raised your Son from the dead and I now accept that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive the forgiveness he died to provide for me. Thank you for reconciling me to yourself and making me your child. Holy Spirit, come live your life in and through me. I devote my life to you now, my God. Use me as you see fit. Help me to boldly tell others about this glorious good news. Amen.

If you prayed this prayer and meant it, your life will never be the same! Now I encourage you to find a group of believers who can assist you on your discipleship journey. Get water baptized to make a public declaration of your allegiance to Christ. Receive the baptism in the Spirit to empower you to be a bold witness. Share your faith with others. Grace and peace be to you.

Share this post...

Are We on the Verge of the Apocalypse?

 

 

 

 

Just how close are we to the Apocalypse? No one knows for sure. Many do not even know what the word means. In Greek apocalupsis simply means a revealing; hence, the book of the Bible called Revelation, which reveals Jesus’ glory and authority. In fact, Jesus is the focus of the entire Bible, the goal of history, and the absolute Lord of all creation.

The Apocalypse will be the final unveiling of his true identity to the world for all to see.

And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. Matthew 24:30 (NLT)

His Second Coming will bring about the conclusion of history, the final judgment of everyone who ever lived, and the beginning of the final state of things, which will include a new heaven and earth. This will be the final and most glorious revelation of Jesus’ true identity, but let’s go back in time to see how this unveiling has progressed over the centuries.

Just after the first man and woman fell for the devil’s lie and betrayed their Creator, God told the serpent, who led them astray, that one day in the future a descendant of Eve would crush his head.

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel." Genesis 3:15 (NIV)

This was the first mention of the coming Messiah King who would defeat Satan and restore the human race and the creation itself to God. Much later God promised the then childless Abraham that through his descendants the entire earth would be blessed. (Genesis 12:1-3) Paul, who encountered the risen Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus, understood that this promise came to pass through one particular descendant.

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, "And to seeds," as referring to many, but rather to one, "And to your seed," that is, Christ. Galatians 3:16 (NASB)

Much later, God revealed something further about his coming One. Not only would he descend from Abraham, more specifically he would be the “seed” of King David and inherit his throne – forever. In other words, he would not only be a blessing: he also would rule over God’s eternal kingdom. (2 Samuel 7:12-13) This was a second major unveiling of God’s plan for the coming Messiah King.

There were others who “saw” by revelation this coming One. King David wrote Psalms about him, Psalm 22 being a prophetic preview of his crucifixion. Job saw by faith his future appearance on the earth to raise the dead. (Job 19:25-27) Isaiah saw his glory (Isaiah 6:1) and predicted his suffering and death (Isaiah 53). Jeremiah revealed that Jesus would be God’s means of bringing righteousness through a new covenant. (Jeremiah 31:31-34) Zechariah saw his glorious appearing to the Jews who would believe in him at the very end. (Zechariah 12:10) All of these people saw something glorious without ever completely knowing what it all meant. That would only be unveiled much later.

This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this gracious salvation prepared for you. 11  They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ’s suffering and his great glory afterward. 12  They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen. 1 Peter 1:10-12 (NLT)

Let’s skip forward in time to a huge turning point in human history when the angel Gabriel appeared to an unassuming young unmarried woman in Israel with this unprecedented message.

"And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32  "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33  and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." Luke 1:31-33 (NASB)

God chose Mary to be the mother of the Messiah King. Jesus’ conception and birth initiated a series of remarkable unveilings of the identity of our Lord. Contrary to all expectations, God became a human being, a baby born to relatively poor parents with no apparent prestige or standing in the world. He came inauspiciously, hidden from the view of everyone except those whose spiritual eyes were opened by the Spirit of God: Mary, Elizabeth, Joseph, the shepherds, the magi, as well as Anna and Simeon, who were in the Temple when Jesus was circumcised eight days after his birth. When Simeon saw the baby Jesus, he prophesied:

“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. 30  I have seen your salvation, 31  which you have prepared for all people. 32  He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” 33  Jesus’ parents were amazed at what was being said about him. 34  Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, the baby’s mother, “This child is destined to cause many in Israel to fall, but he will be a joy to many others. He has been sent as a sign from God, but many will oppose him. 35  As a result, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” Luke 2:29-35 (NLT)

Imagine being able to see past the Messiah’s humble condition as a little baby into his glorious future role!

The ability to see what is true about Jesus, which is hidden to most people, is called revelation, which comes via the Holy Spirit. Only those who had eyes to see and ears to hear the Spirit were able to discern his true identity. The same is true today.

The next key person to whom God revealed the Messiah was John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin and Elizabeth’s son. God’s choice of John was even more significant because we usually are unable to accept that someone in our own family is especially called and gifted by God. Nevertheless, God used John to reveal to the world Jesus’ true identity as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29) God also showed to John that Jesus is the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, the one who empowers the church to fulfill the Great Commission. In addition, John identified Jesus as the Son of God, which was the same as calling him the Messiah and Lord. John the Baptist saw by revelation Jesus’ entire earthly ministry – Savior, Lord, and Baptizer in the Spirit.

John testified saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33  "I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.' 34  "I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God." John 1:32-34 (NASB)

When John’s followers heard these pronouncements, some of them elected to follow Jesus as disciples. They saw something in our Lord that pulled them toward him. Eventually, Jesus asked his followers a very important question: “Who do you say that I am?” He wanted to know what had the Spirit shown them. Peter spoke up.

...“You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17  Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Matthew 16:16-17 (NLT)

The Bible makes it clear that it is impossible for us to recognize Jesus’ true identity as God’s chosen Messianic King and Lord without our spiritual understanding being opened by the Holy Spirit.

The nature of revelation is that it depends on God. We play a part by responding to the inner working of the Spirit, but we cannot open our own sin-blinded eyes. Until we receive this divine impartation of revelation from God, we cannot see as we should.

But the people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ. 15  Yes, even today when they read Moses’ writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. 16  But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17  For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18  So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image. 2 Corinthians 3:14-18 (NLT)

Most of the people in Israel in Jesus’ day did not know his real identity. Some said he was a good man, a prophet, a teacher, or even a blasphemer. Only those whose eyes were opened were able to see that he was and is the Messiah.

God revealed Jesus’ identity a little more on the mount of transfiguration, where three disciples saw him glorified beyond anything seen before by men. (Matthew 17:1-8) His face shined like the sun and his clothes were a dazzling white like light itself. This brief encounter with Jesus’ glory awakened those three disciples to a heavenly reality not before experienced, but they still did not understand. In their minds, Jesus was on a par with Moses and Elijah, not in a class by himself. That would all change at the resurrection.

After Jesus suffered and died as God’s Lamb to expiate our sins, he was buried and after three days rose from the dead. Paul wrote the following summation.

The Good News is about his Son, Jesus. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4  and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 5  Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. Romans 1:3-5 (NLT)

When God the Father raised Jesus from the dead through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus came out of the grave as the glorified Lord of Lords, to whom all authority in heaven and earth has been given. (Matthew 28:18)

The only proper response to the gloriously risen Jesus is to acknowledge his supreme authority and lordship and to follow and obey him. That is what God wants us to do.

This takes us back to the Garden of Eden where Adam refused to recognize, honor, and obey his Creator God, causing humanity to plunge into the abyss of rebellion against our Maker. Mankind in general continues to choose slavery to the devil over submission to the Creator. By so doing, humanity has embraced tyranny, evil, destruction, poverty, sickness, and death. By dying in our place and rising again, Jesus conquered the prince of darkness, paid the penalty for our rebellion, and made it possible for us to return to God’s benevolent rule. We do this by turning from our wicked rebellious ways and the wicked one’s rule and by declaring allegiance to the risen Lord. In other words, we switch kingdoms. Paul said it this way.

For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14  who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:13-14 (NLT)

Those first disciples were given the glorious privilege of personally seeing, touching, and conversing with the risen Lord. Thomas was famous for saying that he would not believe that Jesus rose again unless he personally put his fingers into the nail holes in his hands. Jesus granted this request, at which point Thomas exclaimed, “My lord and my God!” Jesus replied:

..."You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” John 20:29 (NLT)

Even when we cannot see with our natural eyes because Jesus has ascended into heaven, we can see with spiritual eyes.

Paul prayed:

[I] do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17  that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19  and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might Ephesians 1:16-19 (NASB)

All who are granted the ability to see who Jesus is by revelation and who put their faith and allegiance in him will be saved.

Those who eyes still are blinded by sin will not see, receive, or submit to his benevolent rule. They will suffer the condemnation and punishment that all traitors deserve.

There is soon coming a point in history for the final and most glorious revelation of Christ to the world – the Apocalypse. This time every eye shall see him for who he really is, the glorious Son of Man, the judge of all the earth.

According to prophecy (Daniel 7:13-14) and Jesus’ own words, already quoted above, he will come in the clouds with great glory. His authority to judge and rule will at that time be apparent to all. The Bible says that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that he is Lord.( Philippians 2:9-11) For us who have already acknowledged his lordship, it will be a joyous day! For the rest, it will be the acknowledgement of the condemned that they deserve judgment for rejecting his rightful kingship.

Which camp will we be in, those who rejoice to see his coming or those who are terrified?

Now is the time to join the first party, if you have not already. The Bible says that, if we confess that he is the Lord and believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved. (Romans 10:9-10) God is more than ready to help us in this matter. Fifty-one years ago this Spring, I made the decision to invite this King into my life. I was not yet convinced that he had really risen from the dead, but I knew that, if he had, it was the most important event to date in the history of the world. I asked him to reveal himself to me, if he were truly the risen Son of God. As you have no doubt figured out, the Holy Spirit soon opened my eyes to that glorious reality. Faith filled my heart, and I experienced God’s presence all around me. As God gave me a new birth, spiritually speaking, everything became new. (2 Corinthians 5:17) I was filled with an amazing joy and a desire to tell everyone about this God who can be known. I want you to know him, too.

Prayer

Jesus, I have heard about you and realize that I have been living as my own little god, calling the shots in my life without regard to you. I have changed my mind and want you to be my Lord from now on. Please come into my life as my Source, my Life, my Peace, and my Lord. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead to make me right with Father God. I profess allegiance to you as my Lord and Savior. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Empower me to be your witness to the world. Amen.

If you prayed this sincerely, God will do his part. Find a disciple making church where you can publicly announce your allegiance and faith in Christ to the world through being water baptized. Start reading your Bible, praying, worshiping, and regularly attending meetings with other disciples who can help you grow in the Lord. Be sure to tell others that they can know him, too.

Share this post...

Expand Your Impact by Narrowing Your Focus

 

To have significance is one of life’s basic longings; yet, most of us live in relative obscurity and wonder how important are we in the grand scheme of things? Few of us directly impact the lives of large numbers of people. Instead we touch a relatively small number of individuals. How can we make a more significant mark in life?  I believe it can happen by narrowing our focus.

If we were given the choice between preaching to a thousand people or discipling one, which would we choose? Few of us would be comfortable as that preacher, but most of us can see ourselves taking on a single disciple. Barnabas in the Book of Acts was significant enough to be mentioned several times in the Bible, but what was his main claim to fame? He was an encourager. In fact that is what his name means. He came alongside two men in his his lifetime who were operating in relative obscurity. One was Paul and the other was John Mark. God used Barnabas to help lift those men into major ministries that eclipsed Barnabas’. Paul became perhaps the greatest of all the apostles and the author of much of the New Testament. John Mark wrote one of the gospels and became a faithful co-laborer with Paul. We do not know much about anything else Barnabas went on to do. His reward and significance will be forever connected to those he helped.

Significance in life is largely measured through those we help along the way.

Barnabas was able to encourage others because he was full of faith.

When the church at Jerusalem heard what had happened, they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23  When he arrived and saw this evidence of God’s blessing, he was filled with joy, and he encouraged the believers to stay true to the Lord. 24  Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and strong in faith. And many people were brought to the Lord. 25  Then Barnabas went on to Tarsus to look for Saul. 26  When he found him, he brought him back to Antioch. Both of them stayed there with the church for a full year, teaching large crowds of people. (It was at Antioch that the believers were first called Christians.) Acts 11:22-26 (NLT)

The ministry and art of encouragement hinges on our having faith and vision for people beyond what they currently have for themselves. With God’s help, parents can see things in their children and help them develop. Husbands and wives can do the same for each other. This is also true for others God brings into our lives. We should consider that our significance derives from helping others flourish. Our joy should be increased by making others successful. Seeing them eclipse us should be our crowning achievement.

For the majority of us personal significance will be found in how well we love, encourage, and develop those around us.

Parents’ most important disciples are their children. The future of the kingdom of God somewhat rests on the shoulders of the upcoming generations. How well parents invest in their children will have a great impact. God blessed my wife and I with four amazing children. They have expanded our impact in the world beyond anything we could have done personally. We fully expect their children and grandchildren to keep the chain going.

What if all of us decided to narrow our focus to discipling and encouraging at least one person to fulfill his or her calling in God in the coming year? How would that impact the world? What if we narrowed our focus to helping others? Perhaps we could all become like Barnabas by leaving an indelible mark on the world through the people we touch and encourage along the way.

Share this post...

Satan’s Strategy to Legitimize and Normalize Perversion

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Bible forewarns us that every society that refuses to acknowledge and worship God will sink into the abyss of sexual perversion. (Romans 1:21-27) The definition of perversion is the turning away from what is right, proper, or good. Any time we stray from God’s intended purpose for anything in creation, it is a perversion and turns into something that dishonors God and hurts us. This is especially true regarding sex. What God intended for great good has been used to bring incredible harm.

Satan’s strategy in the garden of Eden was first to bring into question the truthfulness of God’s words. That remains one of his chief weapons of mass destruction.

He began by asking Eve a seemingly innocuous question.

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the LORD God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” Genesis 3:1 (NLT)

The serpent couched an accusation inside his question. The Bible calls the devil the “accuser of the brethren” for good reason. (Revelation 12:10) In fact, God generously permitted his first people to eat from any tree of the garden, except one. Satan twisted that into God’s saying they could not eat from any of the trees, which put Eve on the defensive immediately. The penalty for eating that fruit would be death. Eve quickly revealed that she did not fully understand God’s command, which was perhaps the purpose of the probing question. She thought the prohibition also included not touching the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Perhaps Adam added that extra bit when he passed on the commandment to Eve, thinking it would strengthen what God said and make the fruit seem even more “off limits”. Whatever the case, we can safely say that it is never a good idea to add to God’s words. That is where most legalism starts.

Next Satan escalated his attack by flatly contradicting God’s warning.

“You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5  “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” 6  The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7  At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. Genesis 3:4-7 (NLT)

What so quickly convinced Eve that God was a liar? Why did she so soon turn against her Creator and doubt his good intentions toward her and Adam? If we learn nothing else from this account, it is that humans are extremely susceptible to deception and more quickly accept lies than truth.

Humanity took a nose dive that day. God’s beautiful creation was perverted at its core, setting the course of history into a downward spiral which continues to this day. Only God can and will save us. In fact, that is just what he did when he sent his Son to live, die, and rise again. Jesus’ death and subsequent resurrection set in motion God’s great reclamation project which will culminate at Christ’s Second Coming, which will include the generation of a new heaven and earth. In the interim, we, the church, are engaged in a worldwide operation called the Great Commission by which God is offering to forgive us for our participation in the satanic rebellion. Those who accept his offer and put their trust and allegiance in Christ become part of God’s ever growing eternal family, those who will reign with Christ eternally.

For all practical purposes, the war was won and the final outcome determined when Jesus rose from the dead some 2000 years ago. Nevertheless, skirmishes and battles continue as human history moves toward the glorious return of God’s Son.

The Lord is working to increase his family through preaching the gospel and making disciples. Satan is likewise advocating a false gospel of humanism and  developing his own followers who will take his lie globally.

Yuval Noah Harari is often referred to as “the prophet.” He is an openly gay pro-transhumanist who is obsessed with rejecting the God of his fathers and turning humans into gods. He is the lead advisor to Klaus Schwab and has been praised by Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Silicon Valley, the New York Times, TED, Stanford, Harvard, and the World Economic Forum. He made the following statement.

“History began when humans invented gods, and will end when humans become gods.”

Let’s examine this lie. History did not begin when humans invented God. Rather, it started when God created humans. However, the last part may indeed be true. God may bring history to a close when men make their final attempt to throw off God’s rule by proclaiming themselves to be God. (Psalm 2) In the interim, Satan seeks to inflict as much damage to God’s creation as possible, dragging as many souls with him into the lake of fire as he can. One way he does this is by continually calling into question God’s Word. When we reject the Bible’s truth we have nothing upon which to stand.

In the realm of sexuality, he is especially active. The Bible says that God made us “male and female.”

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 (NLT)

For most of human history this has been a “no brainer,” but no longer. A great number of people once again have fallen for the serpent’s lie.

Now, contrary to thousands of years of historical precedent, male and female are no longer an absolute thing.

One can declare oneself whatever one wishes and even use surgery and hormone therapy to make the change look somewhat real. However, the truth is that we can never alter our DNA. Men have X and Y chromosomes, and women possess a double X. As much as we may wish and as hard as we may try, how God made us is irreversible. Some things we must simply accept and play the hand we were dealt.

Behind the push to deny and pervert how God created us is an implacable rebellion against the sovereign choice of the Creator.

Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? 2  The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one. 3  “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” Psalm 2:1-3 (NLT)

Sexuality goes to the core of our identity. Today we see Satan’s hand at work in bringing confusion to gender and sexual identity. What was formerly obvious has now become complicated. The government, in an attempt to play God, increasingly demands that everyone accept and affirm the new politically correct order of things, even as we observe the obvious negative consequences. Little girls are put at risk when males self-identifying as females enter the women’s bathroom. Women are unfairly losing to men identifying as women in athletic competitions. Common people understand the insanity of these things, but governmental elites are forcing them down our collective throat.

This is a clear sign of the devil’s activity and his determination to corrupt God’s creation, demoralize the nation, and include as many as he can in his rebellion against the Creator.

Today this rebellion has escalated into a push for more laws to legitimize and normalize sexual and gender perversion and to punish those who will not accept and affirm the new order of things. Freedom be damned in the tyrannical push for new societal norms. As Larry Fink, the chairman and CEO of BlackRock, the world’s largest investment firm with $10 trillion in assets, a firm that has at least a partial ownership of almost every major corporation in the world, including the big media and Big Tech companies, has said:

“Behaviors are going to have to change and this is one thing we are asking companies, you have to force behaviors and at BlackRock, we are forcing behaviors.”

Fink believes the government has the responsibility to force compliance with mandated thinking and behaviors with businesses assisting in the process.

This is a form of fascism, an anti-God tyranny of the mind and soul which we see playing out everyday at one level or another, whether it is in the realm of medicine, sexual identity, gender, or politics.

In addition, the education establishment now is actively grooming young people to accept and adopt such thinking and behavior, often against the knowledge and wishes of parents. This is why Florida recently passed an anti-grooming law, which prohibits schools from engaging in this sort of activity. None of this should surprise us, in light of biblical prophecy.

Bob Chapek, the CEO of the Walt Disney Company, opposes the new law, calling it the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. (The Left always tries to capture the vocabulary and frame the argument to its advantage.) Here are his remarks.

“I called Gov. DeSantis this morning to express our disappointment and concern that if legislation becomes law it could be used to unfairly target gay, lesbian, nonbinary and transgender kids and families,” Chapek said. “The governor heard our concerns and agreed to meet with me and LGBTQ+ members of our senior team in Florida to discuss ways to address that… We are committed to support the community going forward.”

Satan always twists things. Rather than protecting God’s created order, the bill is framed as targeting people who do not accept or embrace God’s order for his creation.

The Left’s push is to affirm and normalize deviance from God’s intended purpose and function and to shame anyone who does not accept and affirm this perversion.

It is interesting that what formerly was called the LGBT community now has expanded to LGBTQIA+. A quick search for how many genders we currently recognize reveals that “experts” cannot agree. There are anywhere from 15 to 76, instead of just two. Where will this insanity eventually lead us?

Sin has twisted humanity. Yes, there is such a thing as gender dysphoria. Yes, plenty of people are confused regarding sexual identity and gender, but this does not mean that we abandon God’s original intention for his creation and affirm the confusion as being normal. We can affirm that we love people no matter what they think about sex or gender, but that does not include affirming their behavior.

When a society rejects God, it eventually descends into the kind of rebellion that actively recruits and encourages sinful behavior in others.

They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. Romans 1:32 (NLT)

It is vital that we who know the truth stand up for what is right. We cannot afford to bow before the anti-God forces at work all around us.

We must teach our children to stand for truth and resist the efforts to enfold them into cultural acceptance of the current rebellion against God’s created order. If necessary, we must remove them from any school system, church, or other institution that works to groom adults and children to accept these blatant attacks against God’s truth. Let’s demonstrate to our children and others who may be watching how to make a stand for truth before it is too late. God wants us to openly and unashamedly declare our allegiance to our Lord Jesus and to the truth contained in the Bible.

Taking this stand will likely be costly, but if we are not willing to make a stand, who will? If we lose freedom of speech, which has already happened to a great extent, we will find out who is still courageous enough to speak anyway.

Loyalty to Jesus includes standing for biblical truth in the marketplace, not just when giving a gospel presentation in a church meeting.

Share this post...

21st Century Idolatry

 

 

 

 

 

 

Modern man prides himself in having progressed beyond the superstitions and ignorance of our forebears. Yuval Noah Harari is an influential thinker among globalists. President Obama recommended his books. He is a counselor to Klaus Schwab and a spokesperson at World Economic Forum events. Recently he gained some notoriety among conservative and Christian circles due to some quotes he made regarding the use of under the skin surveillance which may be linked to the mRNA vaccines. Mr. Harari provides us with a very good example of modern idolatry, which I define as the replacement of God with humanism.

Humanism, the belief that man is the measure of all things, began in the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve decided that they wanted to be like God. (Genesis 3:5) The desire to remove the necessity of God has plagued humanity ever since. The tower of Babel was the next clear cut example of human beings attempting to be God. Before the Lord stopped that venture, he said that unless he intervened nothing would be impossible for humans. (Genesis 11:6) The confusion of languages that God afterward imposed stopped man’s progress toward self-determination for some time. Now that mankind has developed computers and gene editing capabilities, those who are considered to be global “elites” have once again begun to build their version of the tower of Babel.

Here is a relevant quote from Mr. Harari.

“There are no gods in the universe, no nations, no money, no human rights, no laws, and no justice outside the common imagination of human beings.”
― Yuval Noah Harari, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

The further we drift from a belief in God, the more easily people accept the notion that there is no Creator, no being to whom we owe our existence, allegiance, and worship. Once we adopt such a stance, the next step is for us to take things into our own hands as much as possible. Harari declares that there is no such thing as God, heaven or hell, or free will. According to him our actions, feelings, etc. have nothing to do with the human soul or being made in the image of God. We are simply products of mechanistic evolutionary processes and random chance. He claims that eventually authority will be transferred to artificial intelligence by way of algorithms that will understand us better than we do. In this brave new world, societal elites enabled by amoral scientists will rewrite our genetic code and attempt to create an injectable brain – computer interface that will combine biology with human engineering. Harari states that we may be the last homo sapiens because our genetic code is being rewritten. We believe this is taking place with the mRNA vaccines to some extent already. This new world will include injectable digital monitoring systems that will surveil us at all times. What could possibly go wrong in this scenario? This new world order abolishes all accountability to God.

Humanity has been Satan’s dupe for far too long; yet, we never seem to learn. He never has our best interests in mind and he is on the losing team. Those who follow him have adopted his hatred for God and are attempting to finally rid themselves of any and all accountability to the Creator. But God will have none of it. Here is what King David wrote well over 2500 years ago.

Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans? 2  The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the LORD and against his anointed one. 3  “Let us break their chains,” they cry, “and free ourselves from slavery to God.” 4  But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. 5  Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. 6  For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.” Psalm 2:1-6 (NLT)

Nothing Satan and his minions plan ever turns out well for them. Eventually their futile efforts will come  crashing to the ground. The Lord will return in glory to judge the living and the dead. We look forward to the day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. Until then, boldly keep the faith and boldly declare your allegiance to the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

Share this post...

Confession of a Conspiracy Theorist

Over the past few years, I have endured being labelled as a conspiracy theorist by some, even people I consider friends, because I have openly shared my belief that the so called mRNA vaccine is dangerous and that eventually Trump will be restored to office, and not through the traditional voting process. It became clear to me that holding such positions put me outside the realm of respectability in some circles and even perhaps made me a false prophet.

The warning about the mRNA jab was based on sound reasoning and research. The reason it was considered foolish was because Big Medicine, Big Tech, the Government, and the MSM all sounded a unified chorus assuring us that it was both safe and effective, both of which now have been disproved. It is not effective or safe. The eventual damage to the health of those who received the jab is yet to be seen.

We are witnessing an erosion in trust in what have been the great institutions in our society that have held us together: the presidency, our legislatures, our voting system, the medical system, the Supreme Court, etc. What is left to us now? We have been fed such a stream of lies by the media that many throw up their hands in complete confusion and demoralization, believing that now truth is nowhere to be found. Society has accepted the mantra and truth is subjective and we must find our “own truth.” Paradoxically this turn of events has set the stage for a great return to God. Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, (John 14:6) is still the answer.

When everything around us is shaking and falling, we can run to the Rock that will hold strong. (Hebrews 12:27)

My belief that Trump will be restored is based on prophetic revelation and a deep “gut” instinct, which are much more subjective and put me and others much farther out on a limb of our own making. The jury is still out on this conviction, and I will grant you that it is taking much longer than I ever expected. I also realize that I could be wrong and, if so, am prepared to accept the consequences my error. However, I am also prepared to be right.

Sometimes we must stand up for what we believe, even if it makes us look foolish. Playing it safe is not always the best option.

For years many of us have been praying that God would uncover the hidden evil at work in our government and bring it to justice. No one I know had any inkling how deep, wide, and pervasive the corruption really was. It is still coming to light. Sometimes when we ask God to do something, when he begins to answer our prayers, we think it is the work of the devil. What we are seeing unfold before us on the world stage is God’s answer to our prayers. He is uncovering evil and will bring it to justice. I guess this belief also qualifies me as a conspiracy theorist.

Another conspiracy I believe is Romans 8:28. God is working everything out for good in the lives of those who love him and are called according to his purposes. Nothing life or the devil can throw at us will ultimately bring us harm. God will always work it for good. The Bible teaches that God is the Sovereign Lord over his creation, working all things out according to his master plan. (Daniel 4:35) That is another conspiracy that even some Christians do not believe.

The Sovereignty of God one of the most important foundational truths in the Bible.

I have noticed that many of my Christian brothers and sisters desire to be considered wise by others. They are hesitant to accept anything that seems to be too far “right” or “left.” They try to take the middle section of the road. They are afraid of being labelled as a fool. They want to have the good opinion of other moderates in the church and in the world, thinking somehow that will make them a more credible witness for Christ. This is a great deception, in my opinion.

The Christian faith is founded on one of the world’s greatest “conspiracy theories” – the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

After Jesus’ death and burial, what was then the Jewish “Deep State” spread the lie that the disciples stole his body in order to be able to say that he rose again from the dead. (Matthew 28:13) You have to admit that the Jews’ version of events is much more plausible than ours! It is completely outlandish to believe that the founder of our faith died and rose again; yet, that is what we unashamedly believe and confess, making us to appear to be fools to a skeptical world.

So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense. 24  But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25  This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. 1 Corinthians 1:23-25 (NLT)

We also believe such things as that the Bible is inerrantly true, God created the world, Adam and Eve were the first humans, Noah survived the flood in an ark, Jonah spent three days and nights alive inside a great fish, and one day Jesus will come again in the clouds with great glory as Lord of Lords to raise the dead and judge all humanity. Not one of these things seems reasonable to the modern world. As long as we do not openly declare our faith in these things in public places, but instead confine these confessions to church meetings, the world tolerates us. However, when we publicly pronounce that we hold such things to be true and others should believe likewise, we are told that this is foolish, dangerous, and unwelcome. The world does not tolerate the news that Jesus is Lord of all, just as it did not tolerate the news that the mRNA jab should be avoided.

Could it be that we are afraid of being labelled as conspiracy theorists because we have not come to terms with the outlandishness of the gospel? Do we really think that it is reasonable in the world’s eyes to believe that Jesus is Lord?

Now, don’t get me wrong. I am not equating the gospel with the belief that the mRNA jab is dangerous or that Trump is coming back. Far from it. However, the gospel is every bit as far fetched in the minds of many people as the other two positions.

I have to confess that once I discern that someone is closed or antagonistic to information about the jab, I tend to stop sharing with them. I justify this by thinking that I should not throw my “pearls before the swine,” but is this really the reason? Could it be that I am simply afraid to be labelled as a fool by these people or incurring their displeasure? Could my silence be the reason that some went ahead and took the jab and now must pay whatever health consequences may come? These are heavy thoughts indeed.

Likewise, do I go silent about the gospel when I realize that someone is hostile because I am ashamed of Christ or afraid of their displeasure? Could my silence sentence them to an eternity in hell? This is far more serious than worries about health problems from a dangerous jab.

We must come to accept that bravely holding on to truth in the face of opposition is part of our calling as people of God. One of the marks of a true disciple is unwavering public allegiance to Christ and to truth in general.

Let’s break out of our false security of trying to appear wise to the world and embrace the foolishness of the gospel. Let those in the world think of us in any way they see fit. It is far more important what God thinks. He will reward our faith and allegiance to our Lord Jesus and to the truth.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32  And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (NLT)
Share this post...
Share this post...