No Worries

Cares are like cast-iron manhole covers that are thrown onto the well of joy within the heart of a follower of Jesus. He wants us to live free of them.

‎”Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.”

This is a matter of practical discipline, where we must put the brakes on, stop, come, and sit before Him… then allow Him to show us the list, one by one, of the cares that we are carrying, that He wants to remove from our backs.

Try it… you like it!!!

End Time Events

I’m about to share some things regarding events that are soon to be upon us. This is not done out of a desire that my theological insights be praised, but out of concern that many people are being misled. If they are, their belief could cost them dearly in the days ahead. I encourage you to study these matters for yourself, and then to help get the word out, if you come to the same conviction.

Let me clarify some terms I’ll be using here.

First is trib or tribulation: As used here, it denotes the seven-year period of the beast’s (antichrist’s) reign, marked by 3.5 years of persecution, followed by 3.5 years of God’s wrath.

Next, the beast, or antichrist: The world ruler who will violently oppose all that is of God, whom Jesus will destroy at His second-coming.

I’ve been ruminating on end time events for several years now. In doing so, I came to believe things, independent of others’ views, that are contrary to what I was taught as a child, which was the Pre-Trib Rapture theology. Imagine my surprise to find later, that others had come to the same conclusion, that being, the persecution of the Bride, followed by a Mid-Trib Rapture.

The Scripture makes it clear that “all of those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus, will suffer persecution.” Because of its wealth and prestige, the Church in the Western world has for some time, felt itself above it all. It’s about to get a rude awakening.

In the book of Daniel, we are told that the king who is to come, i.e. Antichrist, will wage war with the saints and will overcome them.

Dan 7:25
“He shall speak pompous words against the Most High,
shall persecute the saints of the Most High,
and shall intend to change times and law.
Then the saints shall be given into his hand
for a time and times and half a time.”

In Revelation 11, we see the two witnesses, the two lamp-stands, the two olive trees, who torment the earth with the testimony of Jesus and demonstrations of the power of God. At the end of the first 3.5 years of the reign of the beast, he kills them. After 3.5 days of the world’s drunken boasting, God raises them from the dead and calls them with, “Come up here!” The unbelieving world is gripped with terror and on the cusp of God’s wrath.

Dan 12:7
“Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was
above the waters of the river, when he held up
his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and
swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be
for a time, times, and half a time; and when the
power of the holy people has been completely
shattered, all these things shall be finished.”

OK… my thoughts…

I believe the two witnesses to be believing Israel, and believing Gentiles: the Bride of Christ, the Church… the natural olive tree, and the wild one grafted-in. At this time, she has been purified by the Lord to the extent that His power in her is unmistakable. She opposes the beast and all that he stands for. She is persecuted by him, even to the point of a worldwide slaughter, that wipes out the power of the Body of Christ (see Dan 12:7 above).

Jesus asked His disciples this question, “Is the servant greater than his master?” Just as His power was crushed at the cross (seemingly), so too will the Bride be shamed and put to death by the beast. Immediately afterwards (3.5 days), the “rapture” occurs. (This is why Paul wrote by the Holy Spirit, “…we who are alive and remain…”) And just as Jesus was raised in triumph over the enemy, so too will the faithful-unto-death Bride be accorded that honor. The table is turned once again… for all time.

So, if you believe that the Church is to be taken out of the world before the antichrist appears, you may want to dig a little deeper. Yes, we will escape the wrath of God… but, we will not escape the great persecution.

Lest you believe I’ve jumped the tracks, please know that this is not solely my take on these events. Many other saints see it this way.

Dream From The Lord

I had a dream last night: I was in a worship service, when we got word of a Muslim attack on another church. Several of us left and started walking to it. It was up in the mountains.

When we arrived, we saw that the compound where the church was, had been burned. And there, standing in the midst of it, was the post and beam framing of a new sanctuary that had been under construction. We entered it, to see that the interior, which was plank paneling, and the framing itself, were unmarked by fire.

I became aware that there were some Muslims in our midst, but that didn’t stop us from loudly praising Jesus for the miracle of preserving the new construction. At this point, I became aware that one of the Muslim men was actually the leader of the mob that had burned the compound. He became enraged and started threatening me. As the threats were coming forth, myself and some others started praying silently.

I was praying that the Lord would fill the sanctuary with His glory and that He would cause the Muslims there to see Him for who He is. As I prayed, I could see a change beginning to come over the two men who remained, one of whom was the leader. I prayed more intently as I saw this.

At first, it was if they were encountering angels, as they became combative. Then they started weeping as further revelation broke over them. Then, as I was watching the leader, I saw the Glory of God rest on him for a moment and then lift. He began to weep more and I began to pray more. Specifically, that God’s Glory would fill the sanctuary and never leave it, and that everyone who came to see the miracle of the unburned church would encounter God. Finally, the Glory returned to him and stayed. A new brother had been born.

I and the others, took him back down the mountain and introduced him to the church family where we had been worshiping. I became aware that we were in the south of France.

Next, I became aware that I was praying that my daughters would come there and go to see the unburned church.

I next found myself back on a dusty country road, walking with my backpack, just as I’d came to be there.

That was the end of the dream.

Wow, what a dream!

Love’s Expression

I spent eight years in a major Evangelical movement. They were for the most part, good years for me. I grew tremendously and healed from major trauma. It was because the focus of that body was on the the tender aspects of Jesus. But the more I grew, I started being disquieted regarding what seemed an unbalanced view of Him. Based in the notion that He is mainly positive and doesn’t go around upsetting people’s apple carts, it didn’t appear the well-rounded Jesus we see in the Bible.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t run around longing for the warrior side of Jesus to be expressed to me or to those whom I care about. But, He is that and more. And in these last days in which we are living, it is vital that the Bride know that. Preferably before He proves the point by some manifest means, as he warned the seven churches in Asia.

So the next time you’re in that place of intimate worship where it seems you’re sitting in His lap with your head against His breast, meditate on the fact that it’s a Lion’s heartbeat that you’re listening to. Then let the awe of that and who He fully is, take you to a new and deeper place in Him.

Does It Pass?

I’m a firm believer in the power of God. According to the scriptures, it is the hallmark that follows the proclamation in the true Gospel of Jesus. The proof of God’s love, demonstrated by signs and wonders. Apart from such affirmation by the Lord himself, the message and/or the messenger are suspect and could be proclaiming “another” gospel. Such are accursed. The Lord’s words, not mine.

Knowing that God chooses to make himself known to His children in a visibly manifest way, our enemy seeks to discredit Him through imitation. All for the purpose of leading the elect astray and into heretical practices. He has been fairly successful of late, it would seem.

We’re told that the Holy Spirit bears witness to the truth. When He lives within us, He makes known to us the real from the fake. It’s called discernment. We’re admonished to employ it, by “Do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22.

It’s past time that we became doers of the word here, and ceased allowing any and everything that claims to be of God to flourish in our midst. If it doesn’t meet the test, kick it to the curb. We’d better, else we be found cohabiting with serpents.

Clarification: The apostle Paul knew one Gospel, that of the cross of Jesus and His grace to save, the proclamation of which always being affirmed by the manifest power of God in signs and wonders. To him, proclamation and manifestations were inseparable, and together comprised what he knew as the Gospel of Jesus. They still are when the true Gospel is presented in the power of the Holy Spirit. Don’t let man or lying spirits tell you otherwise. Read the Bible and see what God says to you about it.

Stop The Presses!

There is a teaching that is making the rounds in the Body of Christ today. It is that Adam was culpable in the temptation and subsequent fall of his wife. There’s a bit of a problem with that. It isn’t supported by scripture.

Prior to the fall, everything was perfect. Including Adam’s relationship with his wife. The first mistake that was made, was her listening to the serpent. The fact that Adam didn’t intervene, in no way mitigates her choice. Where he was, is not known. Was he right there when it happened, or off naming some animals? Even if he was right there, how was he to know what was going on in her head, as that is where the serpent was doing his thing? No, the sole responsibility for her choice, according to scripture, falls on her. No other argument can be made.

I have to wonder, if this isn’t a beachhead into the Body of Christ by the man-bashing spirit that so pervades the world’s thinking. Is its ultimate goal, to rewrite the story and place the blame on man? Well, this one isn’t buying the pitch. My choice is to believe what God had to say about it, and let every man be found a liar, if it comes to that. I’m just stubborn that way.

Thanksgiving, Yet With Sorrow

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the USA. It’s a national holiday. Family and friends gather together all across this beautiful country and celebrate the blessings of life. And for those of us who name the name of Christ, we acknowledge the source of those blessings. All while engaging in a feast. Yet sadly, it isn’t possible for many of our brothers and sisters around the world, even should their custom be the same.

For you see, they’re members of a select minority in the Body of Jesus. A called few, who shall be renowned for all eternity. Some of them, even now ready to win a crown. That of the martyr.

So as you go through your day with it’s many blessings, don’t forget your brothers and sisters who are being persecuted. And take some time to make their causes known to your family and friends. Because I tell you in truth, our Father’s eyes are on them, and I just can’t help believing that He takes special note of those who do the same.

To learn more about the suffering Church, please visit The Voice of the Martyrs.

Return From The Dead

Hello Everyone,

Sorry that I’ve not been posting recently. I’ve been rather ill with a chronic sinus infection that has been very difficult to kick. Refraining from posting was a conscious decision, as when I’m sick I don’t trust myself to see things clearly. I hope you understand. And while I’m at it, I’d appreciate your prayers for my complete recovery, as I’m still battling with it.

Thank you and God bless.

Reprising It

Have you ever noticed how deceptive our flesh is? Take for instance, how we think we have this great spiritual insight, only to have the Lord strip away the scales from our blinded eyes and give us an “Isaiah tours Heaven” experience. That happened to me today.

My life with my mother was not a pleasant one. Due to her upbringing, she developed a very unhealthy way of relating – that of constant criticism. It found its zenith in our relationship and deeply wounded me as a child. I still am, it would seem.

The Lord had me move in with she and dad to care for them about a year ago. (He told me to a year prior, but I didn’t want to believe He’d do that to me.) Dad passed away in March (read about that here). Well, she has not changed for the better and today, I lost it with her. After she refused to cease a critical attack upon my asking her to do so, I found myself delivering a very stern, “The Lord rebuke you! May the Lord rebuke you!” Being that it came from deep within, I was convinced that the Holy Spirit had just spoken.

In speaking about it with a close friend a little later, he was used of the Lord to open my eyes. It would seem that our wounds can express themselves. The scripture that comes to mind is, “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;” Heb 12:15  By the time our conversation was finished, I’d had one of those holy moments where the Lord lovingly scourges us. So at church in the morning, I hope to get prayer for my all too human condition.

Jesus Is Our Refuge

There is great value in being aware of the enemy’s tactics and schemes. Especially from a prophetic perspective, when they pertain to the days in which we live. As there are many machinations afoot at all levels of society, most notably governments, we don’t want to be blind-sided. However, it is vitally important to realize that there is a danger in staring into the abyss. A dark fascination if you will, that can be mesmerizing. If given the chance, it will suck you right over the edge.

Jesus is our refuge. It is in Him that our safety lies, as does all wisdom and knowledge. We need to understand that He wants us to keep ourselves hidden in Him at all times. He will then direct our attention to the particular issues with which He desires us to be concerned. And as long as we stay sheltered, those issues will not overwhelm us or steal our joy.

So the next time you’re tempted to go traipsing off down the trail to gaze over the edge at a fascinating display of Satan’s dark ploys, stop and ask yourself, “Did the Lord send me on this mission?” If “No”, then please, turn around and head for home. Your very life may depend on it.