There are really only three possibilities with regard to accepting the Lord’s Word; Rebellion, Excuse or Surrender.  Increasingly, people are leaning toward the rebellious end of this triumvirate with a ballooning segment coming from those who are desperately trying to excuse themselves from participation via ignorant misinterpretation of the scripture.  Many, like children, believe that “not knowing” produces the comfortable excuse of “naivete”.  Others claim that, “it doesn’t say that”, when confronted with the unavoidable truth of Scriptural direction, not willing to verify their suppositions of incorrectness.  For the battle between Good and evil is simple, either you openly serve the enemy, serve the enemy by serving your own views or you openly serve God.  There are only two sides, fence sitting, ignorance, excuse, misinterpretation, rebellion and misunderstanding are not unlike a golf green with a false face leaning toward a bunker.  The reality is that if you do not surrender to God’s Will for our lives and believe in the grace He has offered through Christ, then you will find that you have rolled back, fallen from the fence or been blown by the winds of fate in the depths of eternity away from God.

What I say matters little, except where I extol the name of Jesus Christ, deliver the Gospel message of repentance, surrender and longevity in faith or encourage those seeking God.  Because through all three of those steps I will lead those who hear my voice or read my words to seek, then see the truth of God where they will never again be led astray by the voices of enemy, illusion, misunderstanding or self.  To the believer, scripture is simple and clear, leading us toward a greater likeness and understanding of God, shaping us to faces of righteousness and lives of truth.  The believer fully understands the danger of sitting in the undecided zone of self-service, indifference or indecisiveness especially where it concerns individual interpretation.  The Bible is clear about what we are to do even in the instances where disagreement is found in the Body of Christ.  There is no gray area, though this world will preach desperately at you to find one.  I say preach because make no mistake, the enemy has an array of false prophets, teachers and preachers occupying the pulpits and street corners for satan.  That is why it is crucial at this, arguably the most important time in Humanity’s history, to be on the watchtower, stage, pulpit or town square proclaiming the Gospel of Truth.  The enemy has enjoyed the unchallenged position of authority in our absence.

We are the priest and kings of the Lord.  He has given us the mantel of responsibility for disbursing the Word of God.  How much will it cost us?  In the short turn, maybe everything.  In the long run, any efforts made for this purpose, on His behalf will be rewarded exponentially.  We cannot even conceive the benefits of service.  So, the question again is simple will we serve the thought processes of success and reward governed by the world’s short term philosophy requiring misinterpretation and luke-warm faith or will we serve the eternal expectations of a jealous God, who wants everything from us now and will give us more than everything later.  Truly only two positions.

I pray each of us do the self-analysis and investigation that leads to an original surrender to Christ or a re-dedication to service.  The truth is precise and the Word of God divides all nonsense, nullifies all opinion and dismisses all illusion.  His sword is sharp enough to remove any doubt by separating “soul from spirit”.  Have we even stopped to consider what that means?  What is soul and what is spirit and why would the Lord wish to divide them?  Perhaps you will do some analysis of this principle and you will see how the Lord uses His word in your life to protect you from the powers and principalities.  If you have some thoughts or need some direction please ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and if I may be of any service to Him and you, please let me know.  Honor Christ the King.  Amen.

So many lost, so many disillusioned, so many within the church loosely dedicated to a story that they don’t fully understand.  A story that astounds the angels in its unimaginable mercy, patience and grace.  A story of God, who has all the authority, might and justification to make humanity serve Him, but who demonstrates His indescribable Love and Glory by serving us in an effort to bring us in to His presence.  A story of God giving up His immortality for a time to rescue His children, and offer all who would respond to His invitation a place in eternity as bride.  A story of the King of Glory walking among us and leaving behind a “instruction” manual, to guide us lead us and provide us a place to find reason in a chaotic world.  A story of the Spirit of God Living within each believer, sealing them for eternity, changing them forever and continuously purifying them to His Likeness.  A story that no other can rival, one that brings the enemies of God to furor at its mention, a Book that creates controversy by its simple existence in the hands of believers.  Unlike other stories, told at bedtime to eager children this one is history, present and future, beyond the limits of human vision and imagination.  It is the Story of a plan conceived by God in which each of us find ourselves character.

I do not presume to know the mind of God, but I know Him.  He is my Father, Friend and Savior.  The Book He has given us is a reminder of His Love and builds me up, removes my wickedness, weakness and ignorance.  It gathers me to those who also serve the Savior as He served us in His moment of astonishing sacrifice, demonstrating for posterity how much we are loved.  What a book, even reminding me to be cautious of those carnival salesmen perpetrating magic and wonder so that I may not be mesmerized by illusionary wisdom.  A Book, truly a treasure map to Glory, leading us Home to Be with the King of this and every Universe, Space, Time and Territory.  A Love Letter to Humanity from God who did not need to pay us even a moments attention but instead orchestrated the forces of nature, science and reason to work toward the objective of our eternal salvation.  If angels be amazed then we should be utterly astounded being the subjects of so Great a King possessing the Humility to Serve an undeserving nation of sinners who believed.  Bless Your Name Father in all that You do, have done and is still to come.  Jesus deserves the Glory.  Amen.

Does doing His work involve losing the ground you’ve plowed personally?  Is there something for which you’ve invested time, treasure, emotional capital and sweat equity that will disappear the moment you accept the Lord’s direction?  Wow, I feel for you.   Those are the decisions we avoid and also the moments for which we live.  To know in an instant what really matters based upon what we are willing to give up in order to serve God is a tremendous blessing.  Boy, but in the heat of that moment it doesn’t seem so pleasant.  The long time love, the job, position, membership or fellowship that must be dismissed in order to receive God’s best, consistent with His will is never easily released, even when we know that it is the right thing to do.

Do you feel blessed that the Lord has confronted you with such a choice?  That the thing He has for you to do is righteous, important or that He is asking you for sacrifice and in so doing your path will be forever re-directed.  Why has He chosen each of us for the work set before us?  We have to know that it is because He loves us, but the truth is that it is His prerogative.  His Will Be Done.  Remember saying that over and over throughout your life, proclaiming it without really considering what it truly meant?  Well now the time has come, that moment where you get to prove yourself true or false.  God help you to make the right decision.

In Jesus Name I pray.

That change in the weather, not measurable but still somehow perceivable that lets you know a new season is on its way.  Ripe for harvest the fruit weighs heavy on the vine, sagging toward the ground, where bushels will lay to rot.  Call all hands to the fields, just as that moment when storm approaches a vessel, all prepare for coming winds and the length of winter’s test.  Is it something in the temperature, something on the wind, a smell or a color to the tree and grain which tells us of this change?  Or is it something programmed into our senses like a characteristic given us by our fathers, perhaps it is ingrained like migration directions to a goose.  I do not know the origin but I suspect it was put there by the Father, akin to the urge He gave us to seek Him out.  We all know it is coming, this world is ripe for harvest and the time rapidly approaches.

Isaiah, prophesied what must happen in Egypt, Syria and Israel as preparation for the scenes to follow.  Now that stage has been set, all the props and players have taken position anticipating curtain rise.  I do not know the catalyst, but soon there will be lit a spark, that fosters flame which will put his Earth to blaze.  A riotous time of emotional expression, rather than reason, where law has been twisted to breaking point incapable of protecting the innocent.  This will be the time where the strong will consume the weak in a prolonged moment of frenzy, driven by internal monsters, and there shall be no voice of governance, until the pale rider comes.

This is the moment for which history has waited.  The turning, tipping, crossroads moment when all can say that the change began.  The day where the world was forever transformed.  The moment, just like that second of His last breath upon the Cross, when things would never again be the same.  The Second Coming is near, and unfortunately for the Earth this means that tragedy will roost in advance of His arrival.  He must set things right and all the forces, spirits and powers of evil know their end of freedom approaches.  This knowledge will drive them to do their worst until His Glorious Appearing.  Prepare worker and bystander alike for the harvest approaches.  God help the innocent and deliver the brave to speak Your name at their last.  Amen.

Do you see the changes?  Is it palpable, observable, real?  Do you see Christ reflected, however minutely in your behavior, spirit and character?  Humility causes us to take honest stake of our lives for Christ.  As the Lord demonstrates dominion in each believers life, the changes will become prevalent and hopefully “apparent” to us and those who see us regularly.

Have you become a new creature?  Are you the same old person, who exclaimed, “That’s just me, I have been that way my whole life”?  If you haven’t changed, what do you believe that the Lord is waiting for until He fulfills this process?  Why is He waiting at all?  Do you feel that He has an “appropriate” timing at which He plans to re-create you?  Or perhaps, is the Lord waiting for you to do something before He shapes and molds you to His likeness?  Words, like surrender, willingness, commitment, sacrifice are typically not well received, especially those who “like” their lives or are enjoying their present circumstances.  Ever notice how the most zealous Christians are those who come from life disasters?  People who are in tragedy, pain, illness or poverty are excited about the Lord’s changes, wanting desperately to “sacrifice” themselves to God’s Creative Hand.

What separates each of us from that zealous commitment to the Lord’s Will?  Is there something in your life you are unwilling to place on the altar of sacrifice to the Lord, Almighty?  Do you maybe fear what He will ask of you?  Is there anything you are unwilling to give up?  He asked Abraham for his son, but then never took Him?  If He put Abraham to the test, what makes you believe that He would not measure your faith?  What is He asking you to offer up?  If you truly wish to become the man or woman that the Lord intends, then please be honest with yourself and volunteer to Him that thing which He is waiting for you to give.  Just like Abraham, the sacrifice, commitment and trust will bring the blessings of transformation.

Father, give me the courage to trust You in all things.  Show me those things that cause You to pause when considering my transformation.  Teach me to surrender my life to Your Shaping.  Clarify Your intention for my life so that I may be where, when and in right mind as You need me.  Teach me to love without measure.  Praise You in Your Infinite Glory.  Amen.

What does it mean to be ready?  Do you feel ready?  If you don’t that is a component of defining your belief and understanding surrounding readiness.  Readiness includes being completely prepared, equipped, adjusted, arranged, educated or fit for an immediate action or event.  There is also a component of willingness involved, for example being “ready to forgive”.  That unease or lack of confidence when asked about your preparedness is the conscience based alert telling us that something is missing, lacking or in an unprepared state.  Christianity requires honesty and a steadfast adherence to truth.  The truth is we as a “body” of Christians are far from ready.  Considering, the Lord Jesus, the prophets and the Apostles all continually commanded, recommended and preached readiness, then essentially, we have not “believed” the Word of God.

Where did we fall down?  I think we stumbled in complacency, exhaustion, fear and laziness.  We have become complacent in our comfort, forgoing the commitment to hear and obey the Word of God thinking ourselves sufficient when we are actually, “poor, naked, tired and alone”.  We have become exhausted, depending upon our own faculties and strength, forgetting that our peace, energy, direction and comfort are found only in Christ Jesus.  We have become afraid of enemy threats, decay, intimidation, widespread wickedness or the probability of persecution that is increasingly facing those dedicated to the Faith.  We have abandoned our call the readiness and action forgetting the choice which once set us free and the Words of the one “we serve”.  We are no longer slaves to sin, but we have forgotten that we are now slaves to righteousness.  And as good slaves we should be compelled to obey the Lord’s call to readiness.

Can we be prepared?  Yes.  The Lord clearly stated that there would be, two in the field or at the mill and one of them would be taken.  So it is clear that some will be prepared, but the horrible reality is that others will not.  How do we put the “oil” in our lamps so that when the Master comes we will have the light necessary to see our steps to safety?  There are those who will wish to argue with me but the oil is obviously the “Holy Spirit” residing within each born again Christian.  This is supported by the Word as the Holy Spirit is what seals each Christian for eternity.  The Lord Jesus would not let the Apostles leave Jerusalem until they received the indwelling of the Spirit and once they had they were “ready” to do the work for which He had prepared them.

So how do we get the Spirit?  We ask through prayer, accept the Blessing when it comes and then honor the Lords reconfiguration of our hearts and minds.  If there are no fruits of the Spirit in any believer’s life then it is pretty safe and sane to say that the Spirit has not yet come.  We must be honest with ourselves and each other when it comes to the topic of readiness.  This is not something for which we can afford to be wrong.  Ask the Lord for His Holy Spirit and then seek the evidence of His presence in your life and the lives of your families.  We cannot guess the motivation of a man’s heart, but everyone knows genuine faith when they see it.  The Spirit’s leading is obvious, but even if we falsely believe ourselves, righteous, that does not forgive us for not surrendering to the Lord’s continuing attempts to mold and shape us.

We must consistently make ourselves “ready” by being “willing” to receive the Spirit’s guidance, rebuke and prompting.  Not being able to clearly discern the Will of God for your life is pretty solid evidence that He may not be present.  Just as the Jewish People did not hear from Him for four hundred years, you should be a bit alarmed if you cannot determine what the Lord is saying to you.  Unlike the Jews the Lord told us that He will never leave us or forsake us, so if he isn’t speaking either we have forced Him out of our lives, or even more frightening is that He was never present.  The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord.  That fear should be, that because we have not accepted the Lord into our lives, and been sealed for eternity by Spirit that we are still subject to His Wrath to Come.  That should frighten every fiber of our souls.

Becoming ready for the things to come requires understanding Prophecy.  Get in your Bibles, join a mature study group that is committed to learning what will soon happen as part of God’s unfolding plan.  Then once you know, the desire for readiness will become apparent and necessary.  Keep oil in your lamps so that when the Lord comes at an day and hour that no man knows, He will find you ready and accept you into His bosom that very moment.  Do not fear man in His attempts to label you foolish for being ready, for the eyes of men have been veiled to the truth that is God.  Men have been turned over to the lie of their own imaginations and wickedness.  Be strong and stand against the wiles of the enemies of God in their attempt to cull you from the ranks of Christianity.  Stay close to your Christian Brothers and Sisters, collectively armored in Faith and Righteousness, Truth, Salvation, Peace and Word of Almighty God, safe from the Wrath to Come.

Walking through the open doorway to blessings offered by the Lord God.  That is what we picture ourselves doing, taking that sigh, as the smile spreads across our cheeks feeling somehow that the light has become a bit brighter.  Everything that we do or have done is seeking love, acceptance and authentic attention.  This world and the enemy would have you substitute that true joy with placebo, but there is no replacement for observing God’s generosity and care when His righteous blessings are bestowed.  We can go through years, nigh decades of misery and all of it is wiped away at that grateful moment of reward.  The only thing that the enemy may do to prohibit that blessing is magnify our personal and private fears causing us doubt and ample trepidation necessary to stop us from walking through the portico.  We must remember our victory may not be stopped only surrendered.

My sin is not just reward for righteousness, in fact it cannot be categorized as a reward at all.  There are those who will attempt to convince us that we deserve judgment for our continual sin and that we are undeserving because we do not find ourselves perfect, incapable of sin.  Do not diminish the glorious gift of grace we were given.  It is sufficient, the sacrifice paid in our stead, what Christ did completed the payment for all sin if only we will accept that gift.  I know emphatically that if the Lord intended me to be righteous at the moment I accepted the truth of His death, resurrection and ascension, then He would have taken me to heaven right then, for my tasking here would have been finished.  But, I am still here, suffering through my weakness, finding His strength, writing His Word upon my heart and standing in the face of tragedy, deception and fear.  My victory over sin is assured, I am no longer a slave to sin, nor am I driven by the fear of it.  My sanctification is now, my purification is now and fortunately will continue throughout the rest of my life on this planet.  The only way that the enemy may have any measure of impact in my life is to hope that somehow the powers and principalities offer up temptation and I do not seek Christ to aid me in resistance.  Again the enemy’s only impact in my life comes through my surrender to sin. I pray that the Lord protect me and deliver me from temptation by filling my mind with the thoughts of Christ.

We are not weak, though we may falter.  We are not strong though we may seem confident.  He is sufficient in all things, to humble my self reliance and fill me with adequacy.  I am meant for His Work.  Illusion is not truth and certainly we will suffer for the short term, but victory is not in the moment but eternity.  And though all things must and will pass away, some will remain, in the presence of Almighty God, shaped for permanency.  Lord give me what I need and take from me what I should not have.  Let Your Word and its Truth be the lamp stand that guides us to Your Promises.  Give us faith, greater than a mustard seed, the kind necessary to stand in the face of those circumstances which must shortly come to pass.  Deliver us and grant us peace in this life and the next.  Praise God in the Mighty Name of King Jesus.  Amen.

Wouldn’t it be simple, if your sin was my greatest problem.  Observing it, defending it, denying, decrying it, left free of my own conscience and self inspection, free to dally in your delinquency?  Never having to search the scripture or go the Lord in prayer, seeking forgiveness and direction.   Always knowing that every word I pronounce over your works or misdoings are rational, deserved and of divine introspection.  But your sin is my problem, in and only in two ways; first it offends God and I know you don’t want to do that, and second it cheapens the fresh start you were given when you were washed clean by the Precious Blood of the Lord Jesus.  Other than that your sin should not concern me, unless of course we share the intimacy of accountability through which we would share the obligation of sharpening each other.   I love you but I hate your sin, as I hate my own.

This is not simple.  The Christian life in fact is tremendously complicated in that we are expected to make and live by choices.  The choice to serve sin or serve God, the choice to be faithful and walk a life of righteousness and truth or serve ourselves and the circumstances in doing whatever is expedient.  I used to dread each night, when the enemy would have access to my heart and mind, egging me to serve my own selfish wants and disobey what I knew to be right.  But the Lord did not give us the Spirit of Fear, but of Love, Power and of a sound mind, so now I cherish the ability to review my actions, be abhorred at the evil I still do and go to the Lord for discipline and reconfiguration.  I am just thankful that I do not also have a responsibility for your choices, for I cannot control myself, God forbid sway the actions of another.  His Word is sufficient.  I trust that it will produce the same growth in you if you choose to reside in it.  That is my only wish, that you remain close to the Word for it is the Power to transform our lives.

I want and I wish and I will and I wait.  Yes, the voices that drive each of us ring clearly and repeatedly in my head, with my only respite being the commitment to wait upon the Lord.  It ain’t easy to shut off those desires of flesh, eye and pride, that must be done through practiced prayer and patience in the Lord.  There is no short cut.  In fact I am willing to bet that if you see a short cut that you may be certain that the great deceiver is behind the perpetration of said illusion.  Life is it’s own meaning, and the living of it is the prize.  Through the embarrassment, the victories, the wounds, the successes and the blunders we arrive at the outcome.  Not a destination but still palpable, still real, still an achievement.  Run the race, rest, reward and everlasting fellowship with the Almighty lay beyond the finish.

Praise Him in His infinite patience waiting upon all the Earth to come to Him in honesty and truth.  You are the Awesome God.  Amen

Not kidding myself that anything I have said or will say provides any “new” information not previously covered in God’s Word.  But that is not what ministry, in my words is necessarily about.  I do not seek a ministry where my name becomes popular enough to positively impact the sales of my next book or seminar.  I do not wish to have a popularized ministry that brings people to my plateau, grotto or cave to tap my endless source of wisdom as some oracle.  This is the ministry of a child of the Most High God, reaching out to those in need, those seeking to share Spirit filled direction and a ministry devoted to showing people that Christianity is about Love, common sense, victory and reason.

We have been provided salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.  This salvation is universal in that it is offered and intended for every person on the Earth that is the “grace” of God extending His offer to all.  However, although the offer is universal the acceptance is governed by very strict guidelines that are not “universally” inclusive, meaning; there are not many roads which lead to salvation but only one, and His Name is the Lord Jesus Christ.  That immediately sets up a complicated conflict by which men will attempt to manipulate that truth for their own power, to justify some inconsistent behavior or to somehow rationalize themselves out of the segment of mankind on the receiving end of God’s judgment.  I will not prattle.  I do not hold the keys to death and Hades, those have been “earned” by the works of the Lord Jesus on the Cross, where He laid down His life for humanity’s sake and took it back up of His own authority to demonstrate His sovereignty.

This is not the ministry of one man, this is a body of Christ, devoted to surrendering themselves to that authority.  This is a group of believers, so taken by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that they feel empowered to do the things which God has called us, reaching out to spread the seed of God’s Word to each and every plot of soil.  This is the “Path to Life”, that road by which every man must be tested, tempted and measured on his individual journey and growth in relationship and likeness to the Lord Jesus.  My words are not Gospel, but the story I tell is about how the “Good News” of Christ has so affected my life that I am led to do things I would not choose for myself.  I am called to share my testimony, my love for Christ and my love for His Church.  I am not called to judge any man, that right is reserved for “He who is without sin”, and last I checked there is only one man who fit that description.

I am a poor ambassador, a weak leader, a decent at best representative for the Lord Jesus, but I will still strive to do the work that is before me.  I may have poor capacity for love, patience, trial and explanation, but I will still labor into the night in my attempt to quiet one restless heart or lead one more person to the foot of the cross.  I cannot provide salvation, redemption or rescue for any person, especially those who do not wish to be led into the light, but I can be there to help them find the light switch.  My greatest strength is my realization of my own incapacity to do this work.  I am a sinner, in need of a savior and thank the Lord God that He has provided one by which we all may be delivered.  His Name is Jesus Christ, The King of All Creation.  The One true God, outside of time, who chose to step into His creation in order to provide a pathway back to righteousness.  We are all alone, perhaps we can be alone together in our knowledge, love and dedication to Christ Jesus.  Praise His Holy Name and let it be reflected in all that we do, say and believe.  Christ Jesus the King.

The word, “works” implies something fake to Christians.  In fact, we have become so adverse to the image it creates, placing our salvation in question, that we have stopped doing any “works” at all.  Most churches are null, void, dead, reclined or simply disinterested in doing the work to which we have been commissioned.  For much of the Christian family there will be no harvest for there has been no planting, fertilization, weeding or watering.  Church ranks once burgeoning with “On Fire Christians” have diminished or been replaced with a new brand of indifferent, uncommitted or dare I say, “Luke Warm” bodies.  We have become the church at Laodicea.  The worst of it is that we don’t even deny it anymore, we accept this position without the minutest fear of the Lord’s admonition.

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.  I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot.  I wish you were either one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm–neither hot nor cold–I am about the spit you out of my mouth.  You say, ‘I am rich, I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’  But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.  I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve for your eyes, so you can see.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest, and repent.  Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”  Revelation 3:14-21 NIV

This letter, an epistle from the Lord Jesus Christ himself delivered through the committed Apostle, John, is written to each of us.  How am I luke warm?  How have I convinced myself of my wealth and safety denying the truth of my own frailty and weakness.  How can I repair what I have altered and return to the road of authenticity and surrender to Christ?  How can my “Works” be real and produce bounty for the Kingdom of God?  How can I receive the blessings of an overcomer and sit with Christ upon the throne?  How can I take to heart the warnings of God and be what He sent me to become?

This is difficult word, but I receive it in the Love by which it was intended.  I must rejoice in God’s correction for He disciplines those whom He loves.  Father, let me have the ear to hear Your Spirit’s proclamation to the body.  Let us individually and collectively do that which was predetermined before the beginning of time.  Give us clarity in faith.  Let our “works” match the abundance of our hearts.  In Christ Jesus I pray to You Father.

http://www.wnd.com/2013/07/the-perils-of-watered-down-christianity/?cat_orig=faith