The Lord showed me in a devotional, the night before getting hired as a deck hand aboard the Lightship Chesapeake; “we are to be Vessels of Light for Christ”; thus the name of this Lightship Ministries.
This IS my experience as well; those without HIM cannot understand this, as they have not received this grace, Spiritual enlightenment to their natural minds. Studying the Bible is fine, but it WILL NOT make you a child of God, as it is ONLY GOD, the Father who chooses and adopts into his family. Systematic theologies, make NO difference using natural teachings to bring others to Christ… Sorry, it just won’t happen, and is moving independently from God, at least in ignorance; if not downright rebellion!
Be careful you actual disciples and followers of Christ, Satan has set up a close counterfeit to the truth – and most cannot, or even “will not see”,
IF – they have actually started with the Lord.
This is why Jesus told his disciples to enter in the narrow way (spiritually), which leads to spiritual life “now”. Instead of the broad road, to fit in comfortably with the world (for those who have started their walk “IN” him), but ultimately move farther, and farther away from Christ, who IS their only chance at salvation; which we must all be “found in,” when we meet our maker.
“Satan is a 24 K Bastard”, as a brother has said privately to me… And the false Church or Ecclesia is a major weapon in his arsenal, meant to destroy the actual follower!
We must all fight the good fight, and run the good race set before us, should we wish to enter into the kingdom of heaven NOW. This is why it is written; if the righteous scarcely be saved, where should the lost (those called and chosen who fail to walk with the Lord), and sinners (the wicked, whom God has not drawn to himself) appear?
This is a rhetorical question, of course; the answer being “outside of Christ” and later, judged and burnt. This is not a make you feel good, and comfortable in the world teaching – but rather is the hard and serious truth of God, only found by abiding in Christ, Jesus and one with the Father NOW. After our bodies pack up; all hope is lost in ever being able to come to Christ! Most will hate the truth of God, as I have attempted to express here – but only a small remnant shall enter the kingdom of heaven the scripture teaches; and this is precisely why.
Yes indeed dear brother, we are sons of God, who are “born of the spirit of God”, and not servants!
Yet like the Egyptians, Church people wish to enslave the children of God, as they only follow a different spirit, (which is the spirit of anti-Christ). These broad road and nominal Christians, are enemies of the cross; not so much in words, but rather in deeds!
“Brothers and sisters, we live at a time in history that the Bible describes
as an age of “strong delusion” (see 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). According to Jesus, thousands of pastors and parishioners think they are saved, but are not
(see Matthew 7:21-27). The Old Testament prophet Hosea described
a similar time in Israel when outwardly the nation was experiencing
a time of prosperity and growth, but inwardly, moral corruption
and spiritual adultery permeated the people and the priests:‘Listen to the word of the Lord… For the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land… There is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land…
So you will stumble by day,
and the prophet also will stumble with you by night…
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being my priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.'”
–Hosea 4:1,5-6, bold mine
And it would be fair to say, indeed it would be quite an understatement to say, that some “church leaders” weren’t happy about it.
“But let no one dispute (find fault); let no one argue,
for My (God) case is against you priests.”
–Hosea 4:4, parenthesis mine
The Old Testament’s Jeremiah described our time this way:
“A horrible, terrible thing
has taken place in the land.
The prophets prophesy falsely,
and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it like this.
But what will you do at the end of it?”
–Jeremiah 5:30-31, bold mine
Indeed, the multitudes love it when preachers and church leaders customize their Christianity. Roughly two thousand years ago God warned us about this very thing:
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;
but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for
themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,
and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” –2 Timothy 4:3-4
What role does the word of God play in your life, oh professing Christian?
“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you.”
–Colossians 3:14
Does it? Does the word of Christ “richly dwell within you?” How so? Could you name the 6th book of the Bible? Could you find the book of Philemon without a table of contents? How many verses do you have memorized? 3? 30? 300?
“This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth,
but you shall meditate on it day and night…”
–Joshua 1:8
Does this describe your lifestyle, oh professing Christian? Is the word of God on the “tip of your tongue?” Is it consistently in your thoughts throughout the day? Are you, “always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you?” (1 Peter 3:15).
Brothers and sisters, we live at a time in history that the Bible describes as an age of “strong delusion” (see 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). According to Jesus, thousands of pastors and parishioners think they are saved, but are not (see Matthew 7:21-27).
The Old Testament prophet Hosea described a similar time in Israel when outwardly the nation was experiencing a time of prosperity and growth, but inwardly, moral corruption and spiritual adultery permeated the people and the priests:
“Listen to the word of the Lord… For the Lord has a case against the inhabitants of the land… There is no truth, no faithful love, and no knowledge of God in the land…
So you will stumble by day,
and the prophet also will stumble with you by night…
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you from being my priest.
Since you have forgotten the law of your God,
I also will forget your children.”
–Hosea 4:1,5-6, bold mine
“God always forgives, but the Earth does not,” Says the Argentine Pope Francis…
Is this a window into Revelation 11:13 – And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb – and he spoke as a dragon…
“God always forgives, but the earth does not,” the Argentine pope told the Second International Conference on Nutrition (CIN2) in Rome, a three-day meeting aimed at tackling malnutrition, a global scourge which afflicts poor and rich alike.
In a very strange message, Pope Francis warned that the Earth “would not forgive us” and would “respond with destruction” to man’s greed. Looks like Francis has become a New Age Universalist, steeped in Babylonian eccumentalism, pluralism, and multiculturalism, “in mixing it all together” (like the feet of Iron and clay, found in Daniel) – which will be destroyed; when the Lord returns for judgment….
Will he be the man who announces (reveals) the “man of sin” to the world, the great whore church, and her daughters? PROBABLY SO, and even according to Roman Catholicism’s legend, this Pope is said to be the last Pope on earth!
Rev. 13: 11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb – and he spoke as a dragon…
Two horns“like a lamb” is a big, big, clue; to be worshiped as GOD – but speaks like a dragon…
I think it is interesting that this Pope charges humanity with; the earth not forgiving : this appears to me like “Satan will soon be revealed”, and worshiped as God. That wicked, the son of perdition playing God – who shows many signs and lying wonder: looks to be transpiring – even as we speak! “Who sits upon the beast (church systems): having 7 heads, 7 mountains, 7 hills of ROME; 7 kings, having 7 types of governments..?
*Of course you can only understand this, if given revelation by the Holy Spirit – and not just Bible academia from the natural mind, which receives not the things of God.*
Luke 8:4-15 Many different doctrines have been written concerning these passages of scripture, but what is the truth – that you might be saved?
Explaining away the revelations of God is Satan’s favorite pastime. It is intellectual and carnal, and is independent of the Holy Spirit, which is sin; and done by enemies of the cross!
This is why Jesus said it has been given unto you (spiritually) to understand, whereas others will not… And this “is engineered” purposely by God, in protecting his flock!
The “others” are those which do not have enlightenment spiritually to this passage; as either they have never seen Him or known him; or the particular heart of the one who would “add or take away from this text” has a heart which is anything butgood ground, and is labeled as an anti-Christ by the Apostle John, who coined the phrase!
My point is that, many, many men in carnality use the scriptures to “bring men into themselves”, but they will not yield to the Holy Spirit of truth, who is Jesus Christ himself; as they have not a love for the truth, that they might be saved!
The “Church system” of today is infected by such men, who build institutions to teach their particular brand of heresies. Jesus Christ never intended this for HIS people, and the apostles “corrective” letters to the early brethren reflect this trend of moving independently of the Holy Spirit; who is Jesus Christ, the only truth of God, who is the ONLY mediator (spiritually) which a disciple must abide in, or be cut off and burnt!This pure truth of God, if you will, has been lost in many a sea of error, and natural understanding. Yet it can still be tapped into by those who love the Lord, who IS the only truth of God that the lost sheep, might be found!
Carnal denominationalism, attempts to explain away naturally – what I have written in the spirit – to make the truth of God, (only found by abiding in Christ, Jesus) more palatable to those, which would take the broad road; (which leads to spiritual death). And to the nominal, or “self righteous religious – Christian”who was never even elect of God to begin with!These two types of brethren, enjoy each other’s company, and “fellowship together” as they are both moving independently from the Lord in carnality; as they are both either spiritually dead, or dying!
The Bible is written to the actual Ecclesia, or elect of God – in particularly,the one who manifests that they are good ground, which Jesus spoke of; and NOT the others types of ground, who will embrace the “spirit” of error, which will deceive many!
Satan knows this principle full well, and continues to mobilize, and when he can, deploy his troops in amongst the sheep, to deceive and destroy their spiritual walk! Most commonly using the natural mind or (intellect) in understanding the scriptures, independent of God. They then often go and build institutions or temples to the Lord, just like Peter recommended to Jesus; prior to the day of Pentecost!
Luke 8:4-15 *ESV
The Parable of the Sower
4 And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
The Purpose of the Parables
9 And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, 10 he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others, they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ *(the Gospel is not intended for everyone)11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. *(Which is not the Bible; but rather the Holy Spirit)12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. 14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.* (Babes in Christ)15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.*(The Narrow Way, which leads to life).
Attempts to explain this away from different viewpoints, independent of the Holy Spirit is described in, (unsound doctrine) *2 Timothy 4:3 – but rather is heresy, and of the spirit of error, which is anti-Christ, and no matter how exacting, (naturally) and to the letter it might be taught, if independent of the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Truth.
Jesus is describing precisely what he intends to teach, which does not allow for interpretations, as found in Armenian, Calvinist, Universalists, or any other man orchestrated doctrines.
The truth of God, only found by abiding in Christ, is the spirit and in truth; that we might be saved. If you are moving independently of the Holy Spirit, you are in fact moving away from Christ, who is your only salvation unto spiritual life, (now) and into eternity!
Marriage is our most important and timeless social institution. Marriage is a personal promise between a husband and wife that accomplishes a unique and special public purpose — providing children with a secure social and legal attachment to both their mother and father (while also binding together the mother and father themselves). Redefining marriage fundamentally undermines this public purpose by saying (legally, socially, and culturally) that both men and women — moms and dads — are not essential to children, the family, or our future.
*diamerismos (Greek) noun: “division, dissension” (Luke 12:51). Matthew (see Matthew 10:34) translates these words of Jesus as, “machaira,” or “sword,” which indicates “dissension.”
“Do not think that I (Jesus) came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword… Do you suppose that I (Jesus) came to grant peace on earth?
I tell you, no, but rather division*…division**…division**…division**.”
–Matthew 10:34; Luke 12:51; John 7:40-44; 9:16; 10:19-21 bold mine
(see Where Is This Jesus 1)
That Jesus came to bring division upon the earth is among the clearest teachings in the Bible. “He who is not with Me, is against Me” (Luke 11:23). The big question is “Why?”
Why did Jesus come to bring division on the earth? Because of His commitment and desire that we be made free!
And what does “freedom” have to do with “division?”
The source of all freedom is truth and Jesus IS the Truth. To reject Jesus is to reject the freedom that He offers. Thus, the world of bongage in which we live. see John 8:32, 36; 14:6
By definition, truth is a divider. It divides that which is true from that which is not true. Thus, true representatives of Jesus will encounter the same kind of responses by the world that He, Himself endured.
NOTE: Sincere pastors and church leaders in the United States are KILLING BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY by exchanging the truth of the Bible for a “unity and peace” with the very same world that crucified Jesus in the first place.
The photograph is a depiction of “Jeremiah the prophet” by Daniel Murphy, and was copied from his website, with his permission. Please support this brother if you are able… @ http://www.expressionsbymurf.com/
ACTS 2:
16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;[Joel 2:28-32]
17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
My dream as of 10/15/14 was a rare spiritually given one, which in my entire life; I have had about three now. In being a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, I do not write these truths which were revealed to me for my personal edification; to be looked upon by others for the sensationalism of them, or that I might be viewed as delusional by a non-believer. As with all things I post, this is about my personal relationship with my Lord. I try and post about firsthand experience, and not “learned up” or “contrived mystical experience”, which I believe is now common in the near death community or worse; are demonically derived experiences which can take the form, of a close counterfeit, to those given to God’s actual sons and daughters. Since Satan was once “the angel of light”, he has no problem with promoting his “dynamic light shows”, to confuse and deceive the elect, away from God and onto himself. My experience with my NDE was so simple, that most have shown little interest in it; as opposed to those who have described spectacular heavenly events; which may or may not have been of God. Please understand, it is not my place to judge (condemn) anyones experience. Yet it is my place, to discern by what spirit someone is of, and dismiss or embrace it as being of God. In short, it has been my experience that God does not normally “use the spectacular” to try and win or communicate with his children. He is simple, and non evasive to the soul; and one who is born again, must be quiet within their human spirit, to be able to discern his voice or presence within them; if and when He should choose to speak to those who are his.
This personality trait of my Lord is simply because he will not violate the free will; which he has freely given to all peoples. To do so would be contrary to who God is, he is not manipulative and or deceptive in nature. Now, with that being said; he will sometimes grace those whose hearts diligently seek him, with some types of spiritual experiences, simply because they are his children, and he wishes to encourage their faith in Him. If the experience in any way, shape or form detracts from drawling his children closer to him: I would venture to say that the experience is not of God, but rather is a distraction away from “a love of the truth of God” (Jesus Christ), so that “they” might be saved. I share to simply draw attention to my Lord, and how he works, for the edification of the brethren, who might be encouraged by my sharing the events of Christ, (the Holy Spirit) within me. It makes no difference to an actual child of God, if that experience is on this side of eternity, or the other.
If we are with him now, we will be with him when absent from our bodies! (2 COR. 5:6) If you cannot see him now working in your life, you are either very spiritually young; or you do not know him, and will not be any closer to him, after your death.
My dream…
The other night I awoke, after “briefly seeing” into the heavenlies.
The dream was a glimpse into a chamber, or what we would call a “board room of sorts”, today. It was filled with “white as snow, wise old council, having long curly beards” shoulder length hair, all in white robes, (at least the one I could see from the side did).
They were sitting at a long “wooden” table, (wood – the symbol of man) discussing the present day conditions upon the earth, and seemed to be planning just how they would proceed, with the Lord Jesus Christ, his people, and his angels, upon his return to the world.
That’s about it: however the wisdom, confidence and competence of these men, were unlike any natural “board of directors” which I have ever known. They were graced by the all knowing presence of God, and seemed to be discussing what would be the most effective means, in attacking evil head on!
I do not know how long into the future it will take for these events to transpire, and it took about three days, to take root in my natural understanding, concerning what I had seen.
It is like that with the spiritual things of God, and he gives us understanding only when we are able, and he is ready to show us; always within his time.
Most go out and try to “convert the world for Jesus”, but a disciple will simply remain still, until he is sent.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Family Research Council renewed its call today for Houston Mayor Annise Parker to completely drop her subpoena that demands the communications of five pastors – including emails, and text messages. Despite reports of “backpedaling” yesterday, the subpoenas remain in place.
Family Research Council President Tony Perkins made the following comments:
“The mayor made it quite clear throughout the entire ‘bathroom bill’ debate-that she’ll use her bully pulpit to bully pulpits across Houston. Despite reports yesterday, the mayor’s office has not withdrawn the subpoenas. The city may eventually backpedal on a narrow portion of the subpoena dealing with sermons, but are still demanding pastors’ emails and other private communications.
“Pastors not only have the right to speak to the moral issues of the day – but an obligation to do so. The pulpit is to be governed only by the Word of God, and the chilling effect of government scrutiny of our pastors is unconstitutional, and unconscionable. Mayor Parker’s use of her bully pulpit to silence pulpit freedom must be stopped in its tracks.
“Family Research Council, and the more than 25,000 people who have signed our petition in the last 24 hours, stand with the Houston pastors and their churches, and call on Mayor Parker to immediately retract these demands and issue a clear statement in support of the free speech of all people,” concluded Perkins.
Houston Mayor Annise Parker has issued an unprecedented legal demand that several key pastors turn over sermons, emails, and text messages, even communications with members of their congregations, under the threat of fines, imprisonment or both. The pastors that have been targeted are pastors who have spoken out against Parker’s LGBT special rights ordinance.
Mayor Parker has breached the wall of separation between the state and the church. This attack on religious freedom and the freedom of speech should be universally repudiated by all Americans who value our constitutional freedoms.
Thomas Jefferson once wrote that “religion is a matter which lies solely between Man & his God, that he owes account to none other for his faith or his worship, that the legitimate powers of government reach actions only, & not opinions.” The pulpit is to be governed only by the Word of God, and the chilling effect of government scrutiny of our pastors is unconstitutional, and unconscionable. Mayor Parker’s use of her bully pulpit to silence pulpit freedom must be stopped in its tracks.
We, the undersigned, stand unapologetically with the Houston pastors and their churches, and call for the City of Houston to retract their demands and issue a clear statement in support of the free speech of all people.
There is an age old truth; if you lie big enough, long enough, and persistently enough people will believe you, as you override their capacity to believe anyone would be so evil as to lie to that extent.
How do you tell if you’re moving in Christ, or the flesh? If you are actually his; you will develop the ability to tell when God is moving in your life; (provided you actually love him enough) as you are his work and not that of men! LOVE NOT the world; which most people “who claim his name” love more than the truth – who is Christ in you, if you are being regenerated into his likeness. The only thing a disciple must learn to do is “be still”, listen and then move – but most “broad roaders” and “nominal Christians” will not: and they will be irritated by Christ in his actual disciples!
Footnotes: {The men mentioned below are the ones I couldn’t remember the names of, in this video…}
By 26 May 1870, 1,722 children were being accommodated in five homes, although there was room for 2,050 (No 1 House – 300, No 2 House – 400, Nos 3, 4 and 5 – 450 each). By the following year, there were 280 orphans in No 1 House, 356 in No 2, 450 in Nos 3 and 4, and 309 in No 5 House.[11]
Through all this, Müller never made requests for financial support, nor did he go into debt, even though the five homes cost over £100,000 to build. Many times, he received unsolicited food donations only hours before they were needed to feed the children, further strengthening his faith in God. For example, on one well-documented occasion, they gave thanks for breakfast when all the children were sitting at the table, even though there was nothing to eat in the house. As they finished praying, the baker knocked on the door with sufficient fresh bread to feed everyone, and the milkman gave them plenty of fresh milk because his cart broke down in front of the orphanage.
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