Saturday, May 30, 2020

May 30

What more could happen to stir the anger of the enemy? Tomorrow is Pentecost, and the enemy hates when we celebrate Jesus, and the Church. If you don’t recognize the torment of the day as a spiritual war, you need to pray that your eyes be opened. This current trouble is not about flesh and blood, it’s about the power and principalities of the air. I went to bed praying Psalms 91, a prayer of protection, and I woke up to the same prayer, but the Holy Spirit added Psalms 51, which is a psalm of repentance. The enemy wants us to think this current tragedy was brought on by humans, but the truth is that a demonic presence was stirred in the heart of a depraved individual, and it released a legion of demons bringing an uprising in hearts that are weak, and unprotected by the Holy Spirit. This war looks like one thing in the flesh, but something different in the spirit. The world thinks it’s a fight over race relations, but the enemy knows that if he can destabilize the world, he can conquer it. He will not win! Those on his side will lose, and their fate is inevitable. Hell is rejoicing; but not for long. With the prayers of those who love the Lord, “no evil shall be allowed to befall you”, and “You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked.” Armor up!

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

Friday, May 29, 2020

May 29

Do you think God listens to the prayers of the unsaved? My pastor friend posed a question about strange fire that was mentioned in Leviticus. Two of Aarons sons were excited to be newly advanced to the priestly service; they got carried away by their excitement, and stepped out of bounds by offering fire and incense to God, which was strictly forbidden by the law. It’s possible that on this day Aaron was the only one to perform such duties. My thoughts are that they wanted a bigger, more prestigious role, and because of their arrogance, God struck them down. That day, they had been appointed to assist, not lead, and God was not going to have it, and took them out. 

Many people, who do not know the Lord, take for granted that he listens to them, even when they have no relationship with him. God has a particular order, and if you haven’t surrendered to Jesus, he can’t hear you. Aarons sons neglected God’s order and paid the price with their life. The same thing happens when the unsaved pray; they’ve neglected God’s particular order, so he can't hear them, and will pay the price unless they surrender to Jesus first. As Christians, we are of the priestly order, and can go to God because of our relationship with Jesus; he is our High Priest, and intercedes for us. We are not worthy to stand before God without him.

And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Leviticus 10:2

We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. John 9:31

Thursday, May 28, 2020

May 28

What we, “The Church,” have just experienced, by being unable to meet together, could be called an Elijah moment, because we were not physically standing in the gap together for our sinful world. During the time of Elijah, Israel was full of idolatry and being ruled by Ahab and Jezebel, who were wicked in the eyes of the Lord. Elijah was sent by God to stay near the brook Cherith for three and a half years, during that time he prophesied that the heavens would be closed up without rain, thus causing a horrible drought. Elijah was in hiding, as well as the other prophets of that time, and unseen by anyone, so he and the prophets were unable to bless them with their presence, or give them hope. Has the cry about the coronavirus been a trial for the churches, or a way to bring about change in our sinful world? When we come out of hiding, like Elijah, will eyes be opened, like the prophets of Baal, when their fake gods didn’t answer their call to burn their sacrifice? My prayer is that something significant happens on Pentecost to show the world that God is the only God, like what happened when God burned up the water saturated sacrifice that Elijah presented. Israel saw what God had done, and fell to their knees; we can only hope that this happens around the world on Pentecost.

Then the fire of the LORD fell and consumed the burnt offering and the wood and the stones and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and said, “The LORD, he is God; the LORD, he is God.” 1 Kings 18:38-39

Wednesday, May 27, 2020

May 27

I miss church. There is something beautiful about congregating with our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, and this absence has made my heart grow fonder. We are fairly new to the church we are attending, but even then, I still miss the comfort of being around others who are saved by the grace of God through Jesus. Is this the gift of the pandemic? Is it a great reset in our hearts to remind us of how important The Church is? Whatever sinister act created this plague, I expect that God will gain the most from it, because he always does; then he will hand the harvest over to his beloved. Though I’ve been taking every precaution, I’ve not lived in fear, because God replaced my spirit of fear, and has given me a sound mind. Use this opportunity to reset your mind to focus on Jesus, and the peace he brings, and to avoid the chaos brought on by the media; as we can see, the media has been bought and paid for by the enemy. Listen to what God is telling you, because that is good news, and don’t get caught up in the hysteria.

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

May 26

I’ve never seen more friendly birds than those that are on Clearwater beach. They don’t move out of your way when you walk by, and they seem to have little fear of humans. My daughter and I were sitting on the beach watching my grandson play by the water's edge, and out of the blue, a cormorant waddled over to him, and was so close that he could have reached out and grabbed him. Why did that bird feel safe, even my dogs are a bit scared of him? I was amazed, and had never seen anything like it. These birds must not watch the news, where everyone is taught to fear. It’s a sad day when a wild bird is less fearful of humans than humans are of other humans. We are to love one another, and greet one another with a holy kiss; now if I don’t know you, you better not kiss me, but I might hug you upon introduction, at least I would have, before this pandemic. Now I see people who are walking for exercise, wearing masks, and avoiding people by walking around them by 10 or 15 feet, and not even acting friendly about it! Are we becoming antisocial? That’s what the enemy wants, for us to fear one another! I’m with the bird, greet others without fear, or social awkwardness, and for goodness sakes, be friendly, even though you aren’t in close proximity; we still represent Jesus, make sure he shines through.

Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. 2 Corinthians 13:11-12

Monday, May 25, 2020

May 25

There are false prophets, and evangelicals, who have been sent to lead gullible people in the wrong direction. I have encountered the followers of one such minister, who teaches in our area. I’ve watched as families from all over the United States, and beyond, come at his call while he offers them free things such as education, housing, bills paid, and so on. This one poor, and desperate family, who had moved to our area because of him, came into the place I worked, looking for help. It seemed as though this evangelist hadn’t held up his end of the bargain, and sent them out into the community to seek help on their own. In addition to that, because our business is home rentals, we had several of his people rent from us, of which none were able to continue to pay as required by their lease. These same people had quit their jobs, being drawn away from security, to follow this evangelist. Don’t think you won’t be held accountable for following someone like this; God has given you every opportunity to do your own research to see if a church leader is sent from him. I looked into this evangelist’s teachings, and found that he had twisted some scripture to suit himself; I washed my hands of him! Please, don’t let anyone lead you in the wrong direction; do your research.

for it was said to me by the word of the LORD, ‘You shall neither eat bread nor drink water there, nor return by the way that you came.’” And he said to him, “I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you into your house that he may eat bread and drink water.’” But he lied to him. 1 Kings 13:17-18... And after he had eaten bread and drunk, he saddled the donkey for the prophet whom he had brought back. And as he went away a lion met him on the road and killed him. And his body was thrown in the road, and the donkey stood beside it; the lion also stood beside the body. 1 Kings 13:23-24

Sunday, May 24, 2020

May 24

The people who fought and died for our American freedom are brought into memory on this Memorial weekend. Many faced the battlefield to save us from tyranny, but more and more it seems that we’ve forgotten their sacrifice, because the freedom we love is slipping away, one law at a time. Why is it so easy to forget all that God has done for us through these great warriors? 

Did you know that God appeared to Solomon twice? God had given him wisdom, and riches beyond anyone, and yet he forgot, and turned away from him, and built high places for other gods. How are we any different than Solomon? God has given us freedom through those who fought for us, and yet here we are, forgetting their sacrifice and allowing our local officials to rule over us. I hope God uses this tragedy to shake out those who are evil among us, so we make better decisions on who we elect in the future. Don’t let this weekend slip away without honoring those who have fought and died for us. Keep their memory in the forefront of your mind so we may keep the freedom we love. 

And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the LORD commanded. 1 Kings 11:9-10