Economic Failure, Starvation, World War, Desolation – the Annihilation of the Human Race looms large.
So many wonder where God is amidst this horror. Why won’t God help us?
Water-Baptised, Praying, Fasting, Spirit-filled Christians bow to their knees and plead, begging God to intervene in our darkest hour. These Christians are wasting their time.
As the world plunges into human extermination, it is useless to implore God to intervene.
God will not intervene – because God cannot intervene.
Amidst mass human carnage, God is powerless to intervene.
However, all hope is not lost. Saving the world (well, bits of it) is still possible.
Men like Abraham and Moses did what was necessary to save a remnant of the human race. And, right now, we can do likewise.
But, to save, Abraham and Moses did something very specific, very distinctive.
Despite being renowned men of the Bible, the Church would be infuriated at this action of Abraham and Moses – condemning it outright.
What particular action did these Patriarchs of the faith undertake – that modern Christians would abhor? How could these friends of God save their people? – setting a template for us today?
In a distinctive moment of swift assistance, these valiant fathers of the faith surprised everyone. They disobeyed God.
2 Chronicles 34:3-5
…in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images.
And they brake down the altars of Baalim in his presence; and the images, that were on high above them, he cut down; and the groves, and the carved images, and the molten images, he brake in pieces, and made dust of them, and strowed it upon the graves of them that had sacrificed unto them.
And he burnt the bones of the priests upon their altars, and cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.
Wild boys!
Wild boys!
Wild boys!
Wild boys fallen far from glory
Reckless and so hungered
On the razor’s edge you trail
With the rise of tyranny, authoritarianism – and viral videos of faceless officers in riot gear oppressing ordinary liberty-lovers – the world’s people cry out for freedom!
Indeed, any concept of heaven or heaven created on earth would need freedom as a prerequisite.
In fact, we have pursued (or even daydreamed) of our freedom – our version of paradise.
Perhaps we are driving our dream super-car. Or we are trying on the latest fashions at a posh and exclusive shop.
Or we are traveling the world – a voyage of discovery. And we find a lovely ancient mansion – that is empty. Perhaps we meet the love of our life. (She doesn’t realise that we were meant for each other.)
But the hefty speeding ticket tempers that heaven on earth. (There were pedestrians in that area.) And that five-finger discount was the only way you could afford that Dolce and Gabbana – causing problems for a small business. And the police said that you were squatting in someone else’s mansion.
(And did you notice that modern consent laws never seem to account for true love? Romance anyone?!)
Understandably, The Law and its derivatives prevent your heaven becoming others’ hell.
That being said, as we all navigate the rules of life (some incontrovertible and necessary rules, some questionable rules) – we cannot say that we have true freedom.
Perhaps you were driving on a sunny, dry day on an empty road. And you could pay the vendor for that name-brand merchandise on a scale geared toward your income. And those vacant properties should be at least temporarily open to those in need. (A bill regarding that is being debated in the Senate.) And she did acknowledge that she loved when you took the initiative.
But the laws in your jurisdiction don’t reflect these nuances. Maybe you’ll have to lobby to have these laws changed – lobby for a few decades.
The Law and other laws are written in stone or ink – and are inflexible.
2 Corinthians 3:7
But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones…
In our quest to rock on, to express ourselves, to let it all hang out – the Law creates wrath. If only we could have life eternal without any Law.
Romans 4:15
Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Mercifully, we have been blessed with freedom-lovers. They’ll show us the way. Honest they will.
You know those people. They have freedom rallies and barbeques and say some Bible lines here and there. Compelling stuff.
But are these freedom-lovers any different from the progressives?
Progressives are for today’s current thing – but these freedom-lovers oppose today’s current thing (but are for yesterday’s current thing).
Progressives are for transgender rights, and the freedom-lovers are for women’s equality in the workplace and accepting of gays.
Our freedom-lovers are conservative because they hate the latest, new, progressive, edgy stuff – until society gets used to it – and these freedom-lovers decide they still want to be popular.
Former Assistant Secretary of Housing Catherine Austin Fitts said: “The easiest way to build the prison is to get freedom-lovers everywhere to build the prison for you. To me, Bitcoin has always been the prototype on the way to building the all-digital crypto system that they would love to put into place. You have $400 trillion in fiat (currency) and it needs a place to go. If you are trying to buy up all the gold, silver and farmland, the last thing you need is competition from retail. They want to shift them into crypto and get them to build the crypto train tracks. In a funny kind of way, it’s brilliant.”
With the infrastructure built and social acceptability created by freedom-loving patriots, authoritarian governments can finally flip the switch on their Mark of the Beast financial system.
Similarly, the same freedom-lovers have worked diligently to destroy our freedoms – building our prisons of enslavement.
When we ponder what liberty could be for us – we turn to our leaders for guidance. They could be teachers, politicians, social media influencers, intellectuals, etc.
We rightly realise that those promoting big government rules and mandates or corporate ideologies will limit our freedoms. In fact, any rules or laws or mandates from religion, academia, politics, or ‘isms’ will kill liberty.
So, we turn to those espousing deliverance – a liberation from all of the above so that we can truly be free.
But the problem is that freedom-lovers don’t know what freedom is.
They don’t know what freedom is because they don’t realise what captivity is, and that they are themselves captives.
A popular expression regarding freeing slaves is: ‘I could have freed a thousand more slaves if only they knew they were slaves.’ This is actually scriptural.
Right now, most people don’t realise that they are the property of the Devil. They don’t know they are slaves.
Isaiah 61:1
…to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
Psalm 107:2
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
The god of this world, the Devil, has blinded people to their captivity. Those in the darkness don’t see that they are of the Devil.
2 Corinthians 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
The Devil comes to do three things: steal, kill, and destroy.
John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Satan steals, kills, and destroys our abundant life – a life of growth in so many different ways – unlimited potential. Instead, those in the Devil’s grip accept his killing – a deathly life not of growth, but of winding down to routines, rules, slowing down as you get old, worry, playing it safe, dull repeated days.
And our freedom-lovers speak this deathly prison-like world into existence by repeating those talking points we all know.
We all know what the freedom rally will feature – speakers saying that we need to ‘restore power to working families.’ We need to ‘defend others’ freedom to speak – even if we don’t agree with that opinion.’ ‘We need true change.’
‘Make them accountable.’ ‘We need leaders of the people for the people.’ ‘Freedom to offend.’
These liberty-lovers can even seamlessly say what progressives say ‘My body my choice’ – in response to medical mandates – because those for freedom and those for imposing progressive ideologies are essentially the same by repeating the same dull talking points over and over again – a world of boring labels.
Both freedom-lovers and progressives build a prison, a deathly life of captivity.
Those talking of liberty engrave into stone our spoken reality – much like the algorithms engraved in the logic and silicon chips of Facebook’s Metaverse.
As we curry the favour of our peers, we end up with a path of the easy grooves (routines) of life like engraved letters in stone.
Like The Law, speeches of freedom limit our behaviour – creating captivity – that dull, label-oriented, bland stunting of growth.
Romans 7:10
And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
What is the solution?
Mosaic Law and its derivative laws and rules can’t provide liberty.
As we get so used to laws and rules, and a life fading away to routines and common sense, we cannot even imagine a world without them. We can’t even conceptualize a life of unlimited potential where we grow and grow (in so many different ways) and discover newness eternally. And thusly we don’t even know that we are captives.
The solution is repentance to break out of this 666 world. Repentance is a decision to change your mind (from living to please yourself to living to please Christ). You turn around from moving away from God to moving towards God.
But repentance is more than a one-time change in one’s life.
Christians follow Christ – they follow the Lamb wherever he goes.
Revelation 14:4
These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.
John 10:27
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me
As your life goes on, you will have to make major and minor corrections to your path in life – especially your opinions and points of view.
If God reveals new wisdom to you, you need to repent to change your point of view. That is growth. That is life.
The stubborn and stiff-necked refuse to repent – and that lack of growth is the definition of death.
Acts 7:51
Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
2 Kings 17:14
Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God.
Key to following the Lamb is learning about the Lamb that is Christ.
Matthew 11:29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
Right now you think that ‘dignity’ is a virtue.
The Hollywood machine and the government’s education system have programmed you to believe this. Being captive of the Devil, you don’t realise that embracing dignity is death.
Ecclesiastes 10:6
Folly is set in great dignity, and the rich sit in low place.
Habakkuk 1:7
They are terrible and dreadful: their judgment and their dignity shall proceed of themselves.
When you read your Bible and learn of Christ, you have life eternal.
For example, you break out of exalting ‘dignity’ – and you realise that dignity is the opposite of freedom – freedom towards growth that is the definition of life.
John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
For example, dignity is saying that ‘face masks are great. I wasn’t wrong.’
Dignity is saying that ‘feminism has some good points. I wasn’t wrong.’
Never being able to repent and make minor or major corrections (which results in growth in you) locks you into a static ideology.
A preacher who has for decades preached “Once saved always saved” won’t want to repent of that. He may have books and videos saying this. It’s embarrassing to admit being wrong.
Another preacher might have preached that confession of sins is not important – and has books and videos that say this.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
But only by wholeheartedly repenting can these preachers accept what God has shown them and truly grow – freedom to embrace ourselves in a world of possibilities. God will not give you new revelation if you refuse to repent (and change your mind).
Learn of Christ.
Luke 18:38
And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
Matthew 15:22
…Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil.
Jesus was of the lineage of King David – and was referred to this way.
Romans 1:3
Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;
And King David was exalted by God. Psalm 89:20
I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him
King David was truly free. He had true liberty. Why? Because he was undignified.
When Nathan the Prophet confronted King David regarding stealing Bathsheba, King David could have said that he was the king and he could do this.
But the royal King David, who could have had Nathan killed and demanded respect as the king, instead repented and humbled himself before God.
2 Samuel 12:5-7
And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.
And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man.
Most people (especially those of high position and in the public eye) will embrace dignity and not fully repent as King David did.
It’s too embarrassing.
King David’s repentance resulted in Psalm 51.
Psalm 51:1-4
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
At best, most will sort-of walk back their views, and minimize what they have discovered to be wrong in their views.
(In contrast, King David recorded his wholehearted repentance in Psalm 51 for all to read – even to this day.)
Half-hearted repentance is the Old Testament equivalent of what so many Biblical kings and peoples did – not fully repent of false gods.
1 Kings 22:43
And he walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD: nevertheless the high places were not taken away; for the people offered and burnt incense yet in the high places.
2 Kings 14:3-4
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.
Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.
2 Kings 15:3-4
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done;
Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places.
2 Kings 15:34-35
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done.
Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places. He built the higher gate of the house of the LORD.
2 Kings 17:41
So these nations feared the LORD, and served their graven images, both their children, and their children's children: as did their fathers, so do they unto this day.
Zephaniah 1:5
And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;
Rather than sort-off walking back their views on ‘once saved always saved,’ or a ‘rapture’ silliness before Christ actually returns, or minimizing the importance of confession of sins – God would prefer that these preachers be fully given over to the Devil by being fully stubborn.
That would cause less confusion amongst God’s people regarding true teaching.
Revelation 22:11
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
And those who, with dignity, refuse to fully repent, end up as people-pleasers – bland persons who cultivate going along with the ways of the world – boringly indifferent towards God.
Luke 6:26
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
The worst thing that you can do in life is be indifferent, boring, dull, bland, tiresome, mundane, blasé, apathetic.
Revelation 3:15-16
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
We are here on earth to create love.
John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Unfortunately, you’ve been programmed by the machine through movies, television, and love songs to believe that love is some sappy, goopy fluffiness born out of hugs at end of a predictable Hollywood script.
And, you have been programmed to believe that hate is the opposite of love. No, indifference is the opposite of love.
Love is complex and multifaceted.
Romans 12:9-15 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
Hate is a consequence of the ability to love – which may be negative:
1 John 3:14-15
He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 4:20
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
Or positive:
Psalm 139:21-22
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
Luke 14:26
If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
And so many times, hatred is as nuanced as love.
Romans 12:19-21
Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Matthew 18:15-17
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.
But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
God loves his people.
Jeremiah 24:7
And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.
God is love. 1 John 4:16
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
And God shows his love with blessings. Deuteronomy 28:3-6
Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
Galatians 3:14
That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
But God also shows his love another way. Leviticus 26:21-22
And if ye walk contrary unto me, and will not hearken unto me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.
I will also send wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your high ways shall be desolate.
Revelation 8:12-13
And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!
Hebrews 12:6
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
The Apostle Paul’s love was at various extremes:
1 Corinthians 4:21
What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
And Paul’s love was varied and nuanced.
2 Corinthians 12:15-16
And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
But be it so, I did not burden you: nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you with guile.
Galatians 2:11
But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
We are to love our fellow man – and we try to please our fellow man within our pursuit of love.
But we are in danger of being a people-pleaser – and to eschew pleasing mankind may be viewed as some form of hatred.
Galatians 1:10
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Colossians 3:22
…not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God
Cultivating love and its many shades and consequences including sorrow, mercy, joy, patience, judgement, and even hatred – can result in something rather than nothing.
Indifference (doing nothing) always results in nothingness of desolation.
Matthew 22:4-7
Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
But they paid no attention and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Matthew 11:16-17
But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows,
And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.
Those who are indifferent are of a scoffing nature, who will always find a way to criticise.
Matthew 11:18-19
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil.
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children.
And the results from the complaining critics is not a decision made, nor a plan of attack, nor a constructed building, nor completed art – but the nothingness of destruction – the nothingness that results from the blasé nature of being boring, cultivating dullness, being one of the crowd, playing it safe, plainness – nothingness – a gospel of ‘don’t.’
Matthew 11:20-24
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
The apathetic face God’s wrath.
Zephaniah 1:6-11
And them that are turned back from the LORD; and those that have not sought the LORD, nor enquired for him.
Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests.
And it shall come to pass in the day of the LORD'S sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king's children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.
In the same day also will I punish all those that leap on the threshold, which fill their masters' houses with violence and deceit.
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that there shall be the noise of a cry from the fish gate, and an howling from the second, and a great crashing from the hills.
Howl, ye inhabitants of Maktesh, for all the merchant people are cut down; all they that bear silver are cut off.
Alternative translations to ‘settled on their lees’ read: self-satisfied, complacent, stagnant, comfortable.
These bland people expect blandness from the Lord.
Zephaniah 1:12
And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.
But desolation is the result.
Zephaniah 1:13-18
Therefore their goods shall become a booty, and their houses a desolation: they shall also build houses, but not inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, but not drink the wine thereof.
The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness,
A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.
And I will bring distress upon men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung.
Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD'S wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make even a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land.
Esau (the firstborn son) didn’t care about what God had for him.
Esau discarded his birthright – while the younger brother, Jacob, hungered for the birthright.
Genesis 25:29-34
And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:
And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.
And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?
And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.
Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.
Consequently, God (who is not indifferent) loved Jacob and hated Esau.
The descendants of Esau (Edom) had a heritage of wastelands.
Malachi 1:2-5
I have loved you, saith the LORD. Yet ye say, Wherein hast thou loved us? Was not Esau Jacob's brother? saith the LORD: yet I loved Jacob,
And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness.
Whereas Edom saith, We are impoverished, but we will return and build the desolate places; thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall build, but I will throw down; and they shall call them, The border of wickedness, and, The people against whom the LORD hath indignation for ever.
And your eyes shall see, and ye shall say, The LORD will be magnified from the border of Israel.
Rather than desolation – so many preachers do a great job and, with revelation, build upon the cornerstone that is Christ.
1 Peter 2:4-5
To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:20-22
And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Revelation 3:12
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
But when these preachers are finished constructing their story upon the building, they build a roof.
And when someone with fresh revelation comes along and blows the roof off – these same preachers oppose the new revelation.
Promoting new revelation might destroy your ministry. But what are you willing to give up for the Lord?
The only way for your baby (that may be your ministry) to grow properly in God’s light – is to give up that baby (not seeking to assert your own claim over it).
1 Kings 3:24-27
And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword before the king.
And the king said, Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one, and half to the other.
Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.
Then the king answered and said, Give her the living child, and in no wise slay it: she is the mother thereof.
Our true freedom, which is a prerequisite for paradise – heaven, or heaven brought to earth, is only possible with hell and the lake of fire – a desolation of burning to nothingness. Why?
Because when the human race exercises free will – hell on earth will result from so many people.
So many people will insist that you, your friends, children, and all wear face masks in response to a bad flu season.
So many people will at some point encounter some fear-driven narrative regarding a disease and insist that we do something insane like impede our own breathing with a cloth over our faces.
When presented with proper scientific evidence that face masks cause health problems and mental problems – these people will still insist that face masks are glorious and demand that all wear them.
We plead with these people – to no avail.
The bitter reality is that the people who insist on face masking everyone will cause problems in any sort of heaven – and cannot be let in.
Similarly, so many people demand that beauty be destroyed – particularly the height of beauty, the nude female form. We can plead and logically explain how all beauty is derived from and benchmarked by the female form, and, if these people are professing Christians, we can demonstrate Biblically how important female beauty is, (linked to Grace) – especially her nudity, which is a portrait in flesh of repentance.
You can explain how the plague of transgender surgeries began with the Church.
You can explain how the false doctrine of ‘modesty’ culture in the Church created a generation of young women who are ashamed of their bodies (who hit puberty and feel guilty about their beauty and want to hide their breasts under shapeless clothing). And this shame and guilt begets another generation of young women who fall prey to those promoting the transgender surgeries. (Why just hide womanly curves underneath baggy clothing, when you can get rid of the problem by cutting the breasts off?)
But the reality is they won’t listen.
Exodus 33:5
For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people
Nehemiah 9:16
But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not to thy commandments
If we were to talk to professing Christians of a denomination, and in conversation politely indicate that the rules of denominations are in fact in opposition to the freedom of the New Covenant – the overwhelming majority of these professing Christians would vehemently insist their denomination is correct. Mark 7:13
Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
This is death that is hell and the lake of fire – professing Christians not being able to grow by accepting even slight changes in the course of life – repentance to break out of the Devil’s captivity.
We plead – as God pleads with his people.
Jeremiah 25:31
A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.
Ezekiel 20:35-36
And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face.
Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God.
Micah 6:2
Hear ye, O mountains, the Lord's controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the Lord hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel.
But, the bitter reality is that, with free will, and proper freedom, so many people will demand face masks, or destroy beauty, or stop fossil fuels, or insist on Pfizer injections, or demand worship of ‘free-markets’ or worship of democracy, or some other imposition – creating a corruption which will result in hell on earth. You can try to stop it by pleading as God pleads. But you can try and see how far you’ll get.
It’s so difficult to admit that we were wrong on even minor points – and repent to change course and grow – a growth that is the definition of life.
We insist that the 666 prophecies in the Bible are just a coincidence, that our tribe is correct and will always be, and that our daughters will become scientists (even as careers disappear because of automation).
It pleased God to bruise Christ, to put Christ, God’s son, to grief. Why?
Isaiah 53:10
Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Because God despises sin.
And Christ was an offering for sin. Christ took our sin.
1 Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
To understand God, we need to be familiar with the Word.
God hates this sinful world, and will repay its sinful people with destruction.
Daniel 9:14
Therefore hath the LORD watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the LORD our God is righteous in all his works which he doeth: for we obeyed not his voice.
Psalm 78:50
He made a way to his anger; he spared not their soul from death, but gave their life over to the pestilence;
2 Thessalonians 1:8-9
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
As our world heads deeper into turmoil, understand that God unleashes its destruction.
As the world legally belongs to the Devil, God rightfully can only bring to the world what he brings to the Devil.
Matthew 25:41
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels
The increasingly disturbing news headlines we read are the will of the Lord.
Micah 1:12
For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.
Amos 8:3
And the songs of the temple shall be howlings in that day, saith the Lord GOD: there shall be many dead bodies in every place; they shall cast them forth with silence.
Amos 9:2-4
Though they dig into hell, thence shall mine hand take them; though they climb up to heaven, thence will I bring them down:
And though they hide themselves in the top of Carmel, I will search and take them out thence; and though they be hid from my sight in the bottom of the sea, thence will I command the serpent, and he shall bite them:
And though they go into captivity before their enemies, thence will I command the sword, and it shall slay them: and I will set mine eyes upon them for evil, and not for good.
Isaiah 37:36
Then the angel of the LORD went forth, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses.
So many professing Christians cry out to the Lord imploring that he act and change the rotting course of this world. Not only do these professing Christians fail to understand God’s will for this world’s destruction – these professing Christians miss a rather important point: God cannot intervene.
God is powerless to stop the destruction of this world.
Wait. What? Really? God cannot stop the destruction of this world?!
Yes. God is unable to intervene.
To understand God, we need to be familiar with the Word.
Because he could find no one greater to swear by – God swore by himself.
Hebrews 6:13-14
For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
God is honourable.
Jeremiah 22:5
But if ye will not hear these words, I swear by myself, saith the LORD, that this house shall become a desolation.
And God gave the world to be under the authority of the man Adam. Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
But when Adam and Eve obeyed the Devil, rather than God – the world was under the Devil’s authority.
Genesis 3:4-6
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her
husband with her; and he did eat.
The world – the Devil’s to give:
Luke 4:5-6
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
Being honourable and righteous, God will not, and simply cannot, intervene (rescue us) in the Devil’s legal territory: the world – a world of demonic corruption where death, dust and ashes are the inevitable conclusion.
Genesis 3:19
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Because Adam legally ceded his authority from God to the Devil – God looks for a man (a son of Adam) who can take legal authority of the world back.
God wants to allow demonic destruction on this sinful world, which is the legal territory of Satan – and the only reason God will hold back extermination of this sinful world and its people is if a son of Adam will reverse the Devil’s legal right to this world.
Ezekiel 22:30-31
And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.
Isaiah 59:15-16
Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
After resurrection, Jesus’s victory gave him the authority over the earth that Adam had lost to the Devil.
Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
But Jesus immediately delegated this authority to Christians.
Matthew 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
And, of course, all of this brings us to today – our present time.
With our communities, our economy, our supply chains under fire from the Luciferians who have taken control of our governments – desperately we turn to Christ and the Church. We look for some remedy to the demonic oppression.
But God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will not, and cannot intervene.
To understand this, we need to understand what ‘the hedge’ is, ‘the gap,’ is in Ezekiel 22:30.
Luke 16:25-26
But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
Between the heaven of comfort and the hell of torment, there is a great gulf (and Abraham stood in this gulf).
In our world, corruption will eventually, and certainly reign. Descendants of people who are generous and loving will be overcome by those who prioritise the promise of pleasure now via consumerism, pride, materialism for the masses.
Our world will eventually, and certainly be reigned by mechanized logic of algorithmic analysis of the human – resulting in a metaverse of you chronicled in ones and zeroes (binary 101101001010) – an attempt at ‘more human than human’ – a bland world of efficiency and corporate profitability – a blandness destroying any semblance of what it is to be the art of human. Christ describes hell being the corruption of worms and fire – a destruction.
Mark 9:46
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
You might work at a factory or an office or a retail establishment or something similar.
Hell abounds with those who demand adherence to silly rules, such as meticulous completion of government forms, those who listen to the women who are offended by something a man said, and those who forward unscrupulous marketing tactics.
Hell abounds with those who are too serious to dance at the office Christmas party, those demand endless health and safety protocols, and those who promulgate feminist talking points: “Oh my wife would never let me do that.”
In contrast – the lamb-like nature sacrifices self – to be the life of the party. “I don’t care if I look silly.” “I’ll be me and more of me.”
And then that goof-ball at the office party ends up missing out on the promotion.
“Did you see Hendrickson last night? Embarrassing.”
Yes, the tight-laced, serious, non-expressive, bland employees are the ones who will be promoted. That is the soulish reality.
In a real and practical way – the interesting people at your workplace provided fellowship that interceded for moments of elation and joy – wishing ourselves beyond the data entry, the completed forms, the painted-on smile for commitment to five-star customer service – those people will lose influence over time, pushed aside in favour of the automated: “please listen carefully to our menu options, as some have changed.”
There is no place anywhere in the Old or New Testament where we are told to pray to God to do anything about the Devil or demons or fallen angels.
There is no instruction in the Bible where we are to pray to God to rebuke the demonic. If we pray in that way, we are wasting our time.
Unless the faithful do something about the Devil and his demonic, nothing will be done.
After resurrection, Jesus’s victory gave him the authority over the earth that Adam had lost to the Devil.
Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
But Jesus immediately delegated this authority to Christians.
Matthew 28:19-20
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
The Gospel of Mark continues this theme, noting the first sign of believers being casting out the demonic – exercising authority over the Devil.
Mark 16:15-17
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils;
It’s not God or Christ or the Holy Spirit or angels laying hands on the sick or taking up serpents or treading on the enemy – it’s Christians with this authority and putting it into action.
Mark 16:17-18
…they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Luke 10:19
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
We are to resist the Devil – not praying to God and asking for him to do that.
James 4:7
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
The Devil will flee from us in terror if we are sober, vigilant, and remain steadfast in faith.
1 Peter 5:8-9
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Don’t give the Devil any place in you.
Ephesians 4:27-29
Neither give place to the devil.
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
If you give place to the Devil, grieving the Holy Spirit, there’s nothing God or Jesus can do about it.
Ephesians 4:30-32
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
If we, via our free will, choose not to follow God, and choose not to walk in love – if we persist in filthiness, foolishness, coveting, false idols – there’s nothing God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit can do about that.
Ephesians 5:1-7
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Heaven – or heaven brought down to earth – will always demand free will where we can do as we like – our human nature.
To stop this corruption, from heaven to hell, the Devil’s world of corruption of death – God seeks someone (of the Adamic race) to stand in the gulf between heaven (freewill, joy, love, health) and hell (destruction, dust, death).
With World War on the horizon, starvation looming, and hope fading – you might wonder who or what can save us. God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit wonder as well.
Proverbs 20:27
The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.
When God saw a stubborn people who clung to their false gods, God sought that Moses would leave God alone so that God could destroy the people (and start the people again with Moses as father).
Exodus 32:9-10
And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people:
Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
But Moses did something that would surprise church-going Christians. Rather than hearken politely and go along with what God said – Moses disobeyed God and would not leave God alone, and Moses defended Israel – citing God’s potential loss of glory.
Exodus 32:11-14
And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand?
Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.
And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
Similarly, the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was great – and God was ready to rain down destruction.
Genesis 18:20-21
And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
But rather than simply agree, obey, and acquiesce regarding what God and his angels were intending to do – Abraham acted in a rather shocking manner.
Defiantly, Abraham stood in the way of God’s destruction.
Genesis 18:22
And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
In opposition to God's plans, Abraham questioned God regarding what would be God’s glory: Shouldn’t the Judge of earth do right?
Genesis 18:23-25
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Again God wanted Moses to get away from the congregation so that God could destroy the people.
Numbers 16:44-45
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Get you up from among this congregation, that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.
But Moses and Aaron did not get away from the congregation – disobeying God – they stood in the gulf.
Numbers 16:46-48
And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.
And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation; and, behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people.
And he stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.
In fact, under the Old Covenant (Testament), the high priest (Aaron) bore the iniquity (rebellion) of the people.
Exodus 28:38
And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD.
The Israelites knew that God’s fellowship with them would be death, and they needed Moses to be the go-between – to stand in the gap.
Exodus 20:19
And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
Numbers 11:1-3
And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.
And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the LORD, the fire was quenched.
And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.
Numbers 21:4-9
And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.
If you want to understand what it means to stand in the gap or the hedge in a real and practical way, we can examine examples from everyday life.
When you enter your workplace in current year, you enter a world of company policies, protocols, numbered files and lists, data input, efficiency upgrades, key performance indicators, etc.
However, you might work with a person, or some people, who provide moments to alleviate corporate reality – perhaps with jokes, compassion, enjoyable excursions, or amiable interactions – real human fellowship. These people stand in the gap between the hell of drudgery and the heaven of a party. By example and influencing others to do the same, they hold back the inevitable corruption that will be brought in by the efficiency consultants.
But, the soulish/physical/logical reality is these fun people will never get promoted or experience career advancement under the inevitable regime of consumer targeting via new personal data mining and isolation techniques, and interactive smartphone apps.
Similarly, a woman who cultivates her own beauty creatively stands in the gap between the hell of unisex, casual, off the rack, gray clothing and the heaven of unexpected, enjoyable, inventive, and original garments and accents of the female form. She brings heaven to earth for her own and makes it acceptable for others to do likewise.
Of course, the soulish/physical/logical reality is that she falls to the accuser. The accuser could be gossipy neighbours, or religious people covering her up with their various burkas, or corporate dress codes. (Of course, these accusers are trying to ‘help’ her.)
At best, she can only exist in a world of logical/practical finance where she justifies her creativity by modeling for youtube clicks, or even Onlyfans payment.
Furthermore, someone who has discovered and promotes the virtues of natural, non-toxic foods stands between the hell of prescription pills, calorie-counting, and low-fat packaged items for your 'health' – and the heaven of cooking with spices like ginger, paprika, garlic, turmeric, eschewing Canola oil in favour of coconut and olive oil, and learning how to garden for yourself.
But, the soulish/physical/logical reality is this person will fall to the corporate establishment of big pharmaceutical and conglomerates making big profits from their wares – which includes keeping the population unhealthy to keep the medical industry running.
God needs someone to stand in the gap, the hedge, the gulf, to keep world from becoming completely hellish, and maintain some sort of heaven on earth.
But you might wonder – if the soulish/physical/logical reality is that those who stand in the gap will fall – why is God searching for someone to stand in the gap?
“Give it to Holden. He’s good.”
Well, Holden was good in the past.
God did allow people to walk as they pleased in the past.
Acts 14:16
Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.
But with the Bible travelling around the world, and the new reality of Luciferian plans like the ‘Great Reset’ spreading globally – Holden is not good enough.
Acts 17:30
And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent
God needs the old Blade Runner.
(God doesn’t just want or call for the old Blade Runner – God needs him.) Why? He needs the magic.
The magic is the only way that a man standing in the gap between heaven and hell can be successful.
Only by tapping into our spiritual connection to God, can we defy the undeniable reality of decay that exists in the world of soulish/physical/logical corruption.
What do we have to do to achieve this spiritual connection – to be a proper man standing in the gap?
We have to die.
2 Timothy 2:11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him
A lot Christians talk about dying with Christ and being resurrected/reborn with Christ – but what does that actually man?
Romans 6:8
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him
1 Thessalonians 5:10
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
It means that we live our life with true freedom.
We live as we please.
We are like Christ who could use the f-bomb to insult the king.
Luke 13:31-32
The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
Or even repudiate the king with silence.
Luke 23:8-9
And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.
Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.
Of course, like all who exercise true freedom, standing in the gap, we will experience trouble, and fall – dying like Christ.
When you exercise true freedom – they want to crucify you – and they do.
2 Corinthians 4:8-11 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
The crucifix, the cross, is a place of defeat – where we become weak and lose. By truly exercising freedom, standing the gap – we fall to the soulish reality.
2 Corinthians 13:4
For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.
We have the Holy Spirit to bear witness to our plight – with power – as we fall to soulish reality and are then raised up – reborn, resurrected with Christ.
Reality is that the only way to heaven is through the cross – and its difficult life.
Acts 14:22
…we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
If we play it safe with corporate logic and socially correct tribal interactions – we are not bearing our cross and cannot follow Christ.
Luke 14:27
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Like your workplace fun-friend, or the woman cultivating her innovative beauty, or the nutrition expert, King David fell to the enemies.
2 Samuel 15:14
And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword.
Psalm 17:9
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
But King David was different when he fell – as he relied on his spiritual connection with the Lord – to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Psalm 118:10-14
All nations compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD will I destroy them.
They compassed me about; yea, they compassed me about: but in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
They compassed me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns: for in the name of the LORD I will destroy them.
Thou hast thrust sore at me that I might fall: but the LORD helped me.
The LORD is my strength and song, and is become my salvation.
King David didn’t rely on soulish logic – where he twice had the opportunity to kill King Saul (who was trying to kill David).
1 Samuel 24:6-7
And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul.
1 Samuel 26:11-12
The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.
So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they gat them away…
Creating freedom isn’t about endlessly repeating some slogans about the First Amendment or your Constitution or your Rights.
Creating freedom isn’t about repeating that which is normal as acceptable.
Creating freedom is about stretching reality.
When you hang upside-down from a tree dressed in your fluorescent green suit (just to wow your friends) – or you combine the most bizarre ingredients for a dinner that puts everyone’s senses on fire – or you find, sample, and put to music the most interesting sounds by clanging that which you found in your garage – or you facially express that which you are truly feeling (beyond any plastic smile) – you strive to normalise that which is not acceptable.
John the Baptist was an oddity.
Mark 1:6
And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;
In contrast, at the other extreme, Jesus came eating and drinking – and provided the good wine for the party.
Luke 7:33-34
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.
The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!
Both John and Jesus were rejected by the world as they stretched reality at either end of the extremes – true freedom by being extreme. As true prophets, they were rejected – especially by God’s people.
The world, and the established Christians, and its normality lies in wait to accuse those who step out of normality into true freedom.
Luke 11:54
Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.
By stretching reality, Jesus and John fell to reality – the reality that crucified Jesus and beheaded John the Baptist.
Psalm 22:16
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
Matthew 14:10
And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
Key to freedom is not only stretching reality – normalising that which is not normal – but acknowledging that the powers of this world – reality – will crucify you if you stretch reality – like your office buddy who rejects corporate norms.
Key to freedom is understanding our limitations – that we are weak, subject to defeat by those with soulish power – who can destroy us.
Consider your limitations.
Luke 14:31
Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Psalm 22:12-13
Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round.
They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
Psalm 17:11-12
They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
Be realistic – understand and accept that those who don’t conform to the normal activities of their tribe, and stretch reality by expressing their true individuality – will fall.
This commitment to the quest of finding your true self will always result in your death.
If this is your faith, your enduring commitment, then your only survival is by dying with Christ and rising with Christ.
Romans 13:1
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Proverbs 24:21-22
My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:
For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?
Every authority with power is from God – good or evil.
Realistically, you simply don’t have the raw power to negotiate peace with the evil authorities of these last days.
Job 41:1-7
Canst thou draw out leviathan with an hook? or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down?
Canst thou put an hook into his nose? or bore his jaw through with a thorn?
Will he make many supplications unto thee? will he speak soft words unto thee?
Will he make a covenant with thee? wilt thou take him for a servant for ever?
Wilt thou play with him as with a bird? or wilt thou bind him for thy maidens?
Shall the companions make a banquet of him? shall they part him among the merchants?
Canst thou fill his skin with barbed irons? or his head with fish spears?
Even if you are an atheist, as a matter of bitter reality – you have to accept those who wield power over you. You can scream about your Rights or your Constitution as long as you want – but the only thing that matters is raw power.
Inevitably the Rothschilds and Rockefellers and those with George Soros money will seize power and rule over you.
Soulishly, at best, you can sacrifice yourself, your death, like that man standing in front of the Chinese tank in Tiananmen Square (probably getting run over), or those Washington DC protestors from January 6th 2021 (probably incarcerated).
Perhaps protest with a hunger strike or set yourself on fire.
2 Samuel 5:12
And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.
Yes, the Lord raised David as king.
Acts 13:22
And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
Why was David so exalted by God – as a man after God’s heart?
Because David stretched reality – the creation of true freedom.
The fleshly/carnal/soulish/physical/logical reality is that to rule, we have to curry the favour of our peers, we have to plan our campaign strategy or attack – some logical, physical, sensible path to victory.
But this was not so for David.
A boy who was young – a bit of a pretty-boy (not a battle-hardened look) – normally wouldn’t be chosen as captain.
1 Samuel 16:10-13
Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these.
And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
Why was David exalted by the Lord? Because did not accept the physical/fleshly/logical/carnal/soulish reality.
David knew that something beyond our senses – our logic – existed.
1 Samuel 17:45-49
Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.
This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.
And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.
And it came to pass, when the Philistine arose, and came and drew nigh to meet David, that David hasted, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine.
And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
By tapping into his spiritual connection to the Lord, David could stretch reality – and speak into existence a reality (in faith) that would slay the larger opponent: Goliath.
Reality/the physical/the fleshly/the carnal/the logical/the soulish is great.
Critical thinking, game theory, logic is all great – and does aid us in navigating reality.
But when we are honest and logically confront reality – we have a sorry tour of our dark nature – where greed rules, money changes people – and corruption will invariably emerge.
The natural course of this world is corruption.
For a time, we will have free and fair elections conducted by men of honour. But, invariably, someone will pay those who count the votes, and pay those who write the headlines – and that person will seize power, and arrest his political opponents – ignoring the men of honour.
Yes, the first political party to demonize and arrest the members of the opposition party will rule the decade and beyond.
And, the vendor who uses ‘bait and switch’ tactics, collusion against rivals, and misleading advertisements will, over time, out-sell the honest vendor.
And, a business which prizes face-to-face interaction and fellowship amongst its customers and suppliers will be replaced by the efficiency of the machine – featuring replaceable drone workers who stare at coloured screens all day.
Matthew 25:32-33
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
If the goats are on your left side, and the sheep are on the right – over time, the number of goats will grow, and the number of sheep will decline – the inevitable nature of corruption.
Eventually all will be corrupt, and we will live in a world of will-timed advertising slogans (aimed at the profitable demographic), products which will fall apart just after you gave them a positive review on Amazon (planned obsolescence), and video games giving you that dopamine rush right when you need it – over and over and over again.
God’s only way to stop and reverse the destruction of this world is if he can find a man to stand in the gap – the hedge between heaven and hell. (Jesus won this authority with his resurrection, but he immediately delegated this authority to the human race.)
Heaven is true freedom and carefree expression of our true, silly, even embarrassing selves, and hell is corporate logic, bland clothing, conforming to your tribe’s ideologies – becoming a dignified, robotic label.
But when we stand in the gap between heaven and hell – the logic of efficiency over artistic expression, greed over charity, ‘your name is a number’ over love – will always result in our defeat and death.
…will always result in our defeat and death unless we tap into our spiritual connection to God. Only if the Lord’s Holy Spirit bears witness to our plight, and resurrects us (as Christ was resurrected with power) – only then can we have victory.
Then we can stretch reality – growing ourselves and our environment – creating new definitions of what is acceptable (that which is innovative, weird, and bizarre to those who scoff and accuse).
By standing in the gap between heaven and hell, we grow, we stretch reality, by increasing heaven’s territory, and shrinking hell’s territory. What do we call this? Glory.
Many wonder, if God is so good and amazing – why did God create evil? Why does God tolerate evil?
Isaiah 45:7
I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.
Amos 3:6
Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
God created evil and tolerates evil for his own glory.
Ask yourself: does the existence of evil make us appreciate, revere, and understand God’s good nature more? Yes it does.
Our quest in life should be for glory.
Specifically, we should be seeking God’s glory.
Sin, by definition, is falling short – of the glory of God.
Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
God’s people were created for his glory.
Isaiah 43:7 Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Glory is one of those words like ‘love’ – with its shades and accents – in which we can spend an eternity exploring.
We can start by noting that glory brings something tangible to this world that we can sense.
Isaiah 43:7-8
…for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.
Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.
Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
John 1:14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Isaiah 40:5
And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Habakkuk 2:14
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.
We can physically (bringing even down to the fleshly/carnal/physical level) take part in God’s glory.
1 Corinthians 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Matthew 5:16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
In the battle between heaven and hell, with God we glory.
Psalm 3:3
But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
Glory in battle:
Psalm 24:8-10
Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
Psalm 45:3
Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
Towards glory, we bring: praise, honour, reverence, thanksgiving, renown, exaltation.
1 Peter 4:11
…that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Chronicles 29:11
Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.
So how are we to seek this ‘glory’?
We are to bring more heaven to earth – more life, more abundance, more blessings, more love, more expressions of our true selves, more generosity, more mercy – more, more, more.
We stretch our reality by bringing more, more, more.
God stretched out the reality of heaven – and laid the foundation of the earth.
(But note that after laying the foundation of the earth – man has spiritual connection to God.) Zechariah 12:1
The burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
God made the earth, and established the world, and he stretched out heaven and earth.
Jeremiah 10:12
He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
Psalm 136:6
To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Our quest is to glorify God by bringing heaven to earth – an abundant heaven of unlimited potential for the human race. We are to stretch out our world as God stretched out heaven and earth.
With your guidance from the Holy Spirit, you might have found your place in life – your role.
You might be a trainer of animals, or a constructor of buildings, or a refined chef, or a modifier of cars.
But, to grow further, as God wants you to – you need resources.
Training that old border collie (which still seems to be mildly retarded), just isn’t fulfilling your mission from God.
Similarly, building that shed out of Home Depot lumber was great – but you have that nagging feeling that God wants more from you.
And, you did add Tumeric and Himilayan salts to the beef stew – but aren’t there other culinary lessons?
And, you did soup-up that old, rusty Dodge Dynasty. Its throaty start-up sound is impressive, but is there more?
Where are we to get the resources to stretch our reality?
The Old Testament (Covenant) gives us physical examples and patterns that we bring to life in ourselves – like Moses’ tabernacle of the broken Law being below the mercy seat.
Hebrews 8:4-5
For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:
Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.
Similarly, God’s example people, the Jews, could have declined to conquer the promised land of Israel.
(Initially they did decline conquering the promised land – because of the evil opposition.)
Numbers 13:28-29
Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.
The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.
Numbers 14:4
And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.
But, after 40 years in the desert, under the leadership of Joshua – the remnant conquered the promised land.
Joshua 12:1-2
Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east:
Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;
In a similar sense, under the New Testament (Covenant), God offers a land of promises to his people. And, Christians can choose not to conquer the land of promises.
In fact, most do decline conquering.
Those of Christ are not to seek after the demonic.
Leviticus 19:31
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God.
Leviticus 20:6
And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
But, Christians have to accept that this world is in wickedness.
1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
John 14:30
Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
The prince of this world, the Devil, reigns over this world.
If you are a travelling preacher, taking an airplane to reach your destination in your Christian outreach – you have to use aerospace technology. To travel to your Christian gathering, you will use aerospace technology pioneered by Jack Parsons, a Thelemite occultist, an associate of Aleister Crowley.
If you are a Christian preacher using Youtube, Google, or any part of the internet to get your message out – you are using the technology pioneered by CERN (The European Organization for Nuclear Research). CERN, led Luciferians, regularly conducts Satanic rituals and features esoteric language and imagery.
Corporate logos that we might see every day have Satanic meanings.
Even saying names of the week invokes false gods.
Sunday is the “Sun’s Day” – the name of a pagan Roman holiday.
Monday comes from the Anglo-Saxon ‘monandaeg’ which is the “Moon’s Day”.
Tuesday is named after a Germanic god – Tiu (or Twia).
Wednesday means “Woden’s Day” (in Norse, ‘Odin’).
Thursday is “Thor’s Day”, named after the Norse god of thunder and lightning.
Friday is associated with Freya, the wife of Woden and the Norse goddess of love, marriage and fertility.
Saturday derives from “Saturn’s Day”, a Roman god associated with wealth, plenty and time.
And, our whole culture is steeped in gossip, materialism, accusation, idle talk, envy, spiritual blindness, arrogance.
Yes, in a world steeped in evil – similar to Joshua and the remnant of Jews conquering the promised land – Christians are to conquer the land of promises.
As Christians, where are we to get resources to be the people God wants us to be?
Proverbs 13:22
…and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.
Proverbs 28:8
He that by usury and unjust gain increaseth his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.
Psalm 18:44
As soon as they hear of me, they shall obey me: the strangers shall submit themselves unto me.
Do you believe that money and what money can buy is important for a life of unlimited potential?
For unlimited potential, money is very important.
So many professing Christians believe that money is evil.
Love of money is evil – but money itself is not.
1 Timothy 6:10
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Christ knew that money and resources are important.
Matthew 17:27
Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
Luke 22:38
And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.
Critical to understanding the perfect work of Christ on the cross – is to understand that Jesus exhausted the poverty curse with his death.
2 Corinthians 8:9
For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
God didn’t leave the fruits of this world, the food, the gold, the houses, the cars, the mansions, etc – for the Luciferians to enjoy. God left the fruits of this world for his people.
Isaiah 1:19
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land
Deuteronomy 28:11-12
And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
Joel 2:24
And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil.
Under the curse from The Law, we were destitute.
Deuteronomy 28:38-44
Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.
Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.
Thou shalt have olive trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil; for thine olive shall cast his fruit.
Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them; for they shall go into captivity.
All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.
The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low.
He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.
Joel 1:4
That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.
To reverse the Devil’s ‘steal, kill, and destroy’ – we do the opposite: we live and build.
But what do we need to live abundantly? We need money and resources. We need to reverse the Devil’s stealing.
For most of us – perhaps all of us, the Devil has stolen that which should have been ours for so many years.
We need restoration. We need a reclamation of these resources.
Joel 2:25
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.
Luke 15:21-24
And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
But where do we get these resources? How do we get money?
Revelation 6:2
And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
We go conquering and to conquer (conquering with emphasis).
But most professing Christians don’t conquer the demonic world.
They fall short of the mark, the definition of sin by doing nothing – a gospel of ‘don’t.’
In the promised land, the children of Israel conquered a land full of false gods and idols and unspeakable practices, but New Covenant Christians mostly are not interested in conquering.
Similar to those Old Covenant Jews who died after 40 years in the desert – Christians die after refusing to conquer.
When you look at the West’s churches – you regard the gospel of death.
Why is it death? The Law.
Romans 7:9-11
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
The failure of professing Christians in the West – is that they found The Law (which was ordained to life) is unto death.
What happened?
The professing Christians took the easy road – death.
Exodus 20:1-17
And God spake all these words, saying,
I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Thou shalt not kill.
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Thou shalt not steal.
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
Professing Christians embrace death – a gospel of ‘shalt not’.
Go look at a dead body. That body does not steal or kill or blaspheme or fornicate.
So many professing Christians are so pleased with their gospel of ‘don’t’.
They don’t do this and that – but they never live and bring a brokenLaw to a life – a new human level (with a better Covenant).
So many professing Christians are so pleased with themselves that they don’t party, gamble, smoke, drink alcohol, fight, go to the movies, go to the pub, dress up, act undignified, view porn – well – do anything.
We might be correct that smoking, putting smoke into one’s lungs, can never be healthy, our bodies being a temple of the Holy Spirit.
But is a friendly bet amongst friends on an outcome wrong? – or drinking at a party?
Thank God Jesus brought the good wine.
John 2:10
And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
Deuteronomy 14:26
And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink…
With righteous judgment, all things are lawful for us – and we must judge that which is not expedient and edifying.
1 Corinthians 10:23
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
The gospel of ‘don’t’ is death (slowing down, retirement, give it to Holden) the easy way out – never taking chances to live – never learning how to party.
The easy way is viewing people as simple labels – in a robotic sense.
To most professing Christians, there is no complexity to bringing scripture to life inside us as temples of the Holy Spirit.
To most professing Christians we are binary ones and zeroes – like a computer program.
We either drink no alcohol, or we are raging alcoholics.
We either never look at female skin below the neck, or we are porn addicts.
We either are super nice, speaking softly and agreeably to everyone, or we are full of hatred to our fellow man.
We either engage in polite, non-offensive, bland social gatherings, or we are drug-fueled Sodomites at a swingers’ party.
Christians need to learn to party.
Nehemiah 8:12
And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.
Esther 9:22
As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.
1 Kings 8:65-66
And at that time Solomon held a feast, and all Israel with him, a great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt, before the LORD our God, seven days and seven days, even fourteen days.
On the eighth day he sent the people away: and they blessed the king, and went unto their tents joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the LORD had done for David his servant, and for Israel his people.
People often view the book of Job as a book of failure.
But this is not the case, as Job had triumph in the end.
Job 42:12
So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.
A clear indication of Job’s victory is, of course, hot chicks.
Job 42:15
And in all the land were no women found so fair as the daughters of Job: and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.
God unusually highlights this victory – the victory of hot girls.
Usually, the Bible records the genealogy of males – rather than females.
Ezra 8:1-6
These are now the chief of their fathers, and this is the genealogy of them that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king.
Of the sons of Phinehas; Gershom: of the sons of Ithamar; Daniel: of the sons of David; Hattush.
Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males an hundred and fifty.
Of the sons of Pahathmoab; Elihoenai the son of Zerahiah, and with him two hundred males.
Of the sons of Shechaniah; the son of Jahaziel, and with him three hundred males.
Of the sons also of Adin; Ebed the son of Jonathan, and with him fifty males.
Matthew 14:21
And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
1 Chronicles 2:5-9
The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul.
And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all.
And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed.
And the sons of Ethan; Azariah.
The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai.
But to highlight this victory of beauty – God noted the names of the hot women, rather than the men.
Job 42:13-14
He had also seven sons and three daughters.
And he called the name of the first, Jemima; and the name of the second, Kezia; and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.
Moreover, these hot chicks also shared in the inheritance – an inheritance normally reserved only for sons.
Numbers 27:4-9
Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.
And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.
And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.
And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.
Women’s beauty is universal, and we can see this victory from a worldly perspective.
What photo report on a billionaire’s yacht would be complete without the beautiful bikini-clad women?
Even the world recognizes the winning life that begets a gorgeous ‘trophy wife.’
Not only are hot women a marker of victory – but they are victory.
Sexy ‘gamer-girls’ have brought coolness to video gaming – where previously a lack of hotties rendered video gaming uncool – like single, lonely neckbearded men living in their mother’s basement, or the audio-visual club at high school, or the role-playing gamers of ‘Dungeons and Dragons.’
On the other side of the equation, many shopping chains have been reluctant to embrace ‘plus-size’ clothing for women – due to the possibility of being branded as the fat-girl store.
Of course, particularly in the West, beautiful women have been in short supply, due to the obesity epidemic.
Leading the charge towards defeat (rather than victory) is, of course, the Church of the West.
What happened?
The Bible belt needs to loosen its belt. The tubbies in the Bible belt went plus-size.
Choose life??
Choose salad.
Romans 4:15
Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
1 Corinthians 15:56
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
The Church of the West fell with their gospel of ‘don’t’ – succumbing to death.
Proudly, professing Christians don’t enjoy sports, anything sexual, fellowship in unseemly establishments like bars, rock’n’ roll, outrageous fashions, exotic cars, etc.
What’s left to enjoy in life?
Well, we can go through life not drinking alcohol, not gambling, not enjoying hot girls on film, not going to rock concerts – but we all have to eat and drink – or we will die rather quickly.
So, professing Christians’ only enjoyment in life is eating and drinking (non-alcoholic).
And their acceptable sins are gluttony, body abuse (with unhealthy foods), and obesity.
And thusly the Church of the West’s fruits is fat girls. Matthew 7:20
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Could someone please explain to today's Church that cherry-flavored Coca-Cola is not a fruit?)
The glory of man is woman. 1 Corinthians 11:7-8
…the woman is the glory of the man.
For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
And glory is tangible.
(I was hoping that this glory would be less tangible – about 50 kilograms per woman less tangible.)
Maybe world-wide famine wouldn't be the worst thing.
Painting ourselves into a corner where we don’t speak unseemly, don’t enjoy artistic pursuits, don’t appreciate women in garter belts and stockings, don’t delve into the political shenanigans of the world – a gospel of don’t – will never result in our true freedom.
Rather than panic, being scared of our own shadow – we are to be bold before God.
Hebrews 13:6
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
Psalm 118:6
The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?
But what is the solution?
How can we obtain true freedom?
We go conquering the demonic world around us for glory.
Nahum 3:3
The horseman lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcases; and there is none end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses
But if we don’t step outside of our comfort zone, we’ll never overcome and possess God’s blessings.
Joshua 1:3
Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
Okay, how are we to conquer this world that lies in relentless evil?
You probably drive a Corolla, not an Abrams tank.
And, the best cavalry you can find is at a petting zoo.
Well… start your conquest by singing a song.
In the 18th Century, composer Giuseppe Tartini wrote the ‘Violin Sonata No. 3 in G minor.’
This sonata is better known as the Devil’s Trill Sonata, because Tartini confessed he learned it from the Devil.
Similarly, with more modern music, we can see the influence of the Devil.
For example, U2 sings of “I stand with the sons of Cain” in their song: ‘In God's Country’ (1986).
Genesis 4:5
But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.
Similarly, in: ‘Say Goodbye to Hollywood’ (2002), rapper Eminem indicates “I sold my soul to the devil, I'll never get it back.”
And, country star Kenny Chesney sings:
“'Cause when I'm not chasing demons
There's demons chasing me
So roll one up and light it
Pick up my old guitar
I'm playing crossroads” in his song: ‘Demons’ (2007).
(Crossroads refers to the place where legendary blues artist Robert Johnson sold his soul to Satan for musical fame.)
Glam-rocker and changeling David Bowie, steeped in the occult, often referenced the demonic in his lyrics.
In ‘Quicksand’ from the album: Hunky Dory (1971), Bowies references Satanist Aleister Crowley’s group: the ‘Golden Dawn.’
“I'm closer to the Golden Dawn
Immersed in Crowley's uniform of imagery.”
In the title track from the album Station to Station (1976), Bowie references Kether to Malkuth of the Kabbalah’s tree of life.
“Here are we, one magical movement from Kether to Malkuth
There are you, you drive like a demon from station to station.”
On the same album, Bowie previewed life inside the machine with his song: ‘TVC 15.’
“Up every evening 'bout half eight or nine
I give my complete attention to a very good friend of mine
He's quadraphonic, he's a, he's got more channels, a
So hologramic, oh, my TVC 15
I brought my baby home, she, she sat around forlorn
She saw my TVC 15, baby's gone, she
She crawled right in, my, my, she crawled right in my
So hologramic, oh, my TVC 15
Oh, so demonic, oh, my TVC 15
Maybe if I pray every each night I sit there pleading
"Send back my dream test baby, she's my main feature"
My TVC 15, yeah, he just stares back unblinking
So hologramic, oh, my TVC 15
One of these nights I may just jump down that rainbow way
Be with my baby, then we'll spend some time together
So hologramic oh my TVC 15
My baby's in there someplace, love's rating in the sky
So hologramic, oh, my TVC 15
Transition
Transmission
Transition
Transmission
Maybe if I pray every, each night I sit there pleading
"Send back my dream test baby, she's my main feature"
My TVC 15, yeah, he just stares back unblinking
So hologramic, oh, my TVC 15
One of these nights I may just, jump down that rainbow way
Be with my baby, then we'll spend some time together
So hologramic, oh, my TVC 15
My baby's in there someplace
Love's rating in the sky
So hologramic, oh, my TVC 15.”
One of Satan’s fortes is music.
He is described as being an entity of musical instruments.
Perhaps he was the worship leader with music for God before he fell.
Ezekiel 28:13-15
…the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.
We are to sing to the Lord.
Psalm 96:1-2
O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
Psalm 95:1-2
O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
Sing for the Lord’s glory.
Psalm 66:2
Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.
Psalm 138:5
Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the Lord: for great is the glory of the Lord.
Many of King David’s Psalms are songs – but the music has been lost to history.
Psalm 66:1
{To the chief Musician, A Song or Psalm.} Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:
You’ve seen on this website how God has used the Blade Runner movie (a movie created by the demonic Hollywood system, a movie that glorifies the Devil in Roy Batty) for God’s purposes to teach the Bible.
But revelation and blessing through the conquered territory of the Devil should be normal, everyday life for Christians.
It glorifies God when we are able to conquer the Devil’s territory and take it back for God’s purposes.
Matthew 12:28-29
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and plunder his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will plunder his house.
And we are the ones conquering.
Yes, we are strengthened through Christ, but if we don’t strike the deathblow, the job of defeating evil will not be done.
Deuteronomy 33:26-27 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.
Jesus will supervise the execution of his enemies, but Christians are the ones who will do the killing.
The slaughter is our job.
Luke 19:27
But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.
And, in Blade Runner, I wondered why God had represented himself to me as Captain Bryant, who was a bit of a tubby.
God immediately answered via my Youtube music stream. The song that happened to be playing was from the Stone Temple Pilots – ‘Sour Girl’ (2000). And the lyrics God spoke were: “I was a Superman, but looks are deceiving.”
If you want to hear God speak to you – all you have to do is read your Bible.
But God may also speak to you how he pleases – via billboards, paintings, news headlines, Netflix scripts – or, before big media, a donkey.
Numbers 22:28-30
And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in mine hand, for now would I kill thee.
And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden ever since I was thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. And note that the Stone Temple Pilots sang in their hit ‘Big Bang Baby’ (1996): “Sell your soul and sign and autograph.” So, their music and lyrics are likely inspired from a demonic source.
With conquering however – when, in the same song, the Stone Temple Pilots sing: “Nothing’s for free” – you can cast this down, and bring it into obedience of the Word by proclaiming and singing: Nothing’s for free – except for Grace – a free gift from God that we cannot earn.
And, as a new Christian, when the Stone Temple Pilots sing, in the song ‘Sour Girl’: “What would you do if I followed you?” – you can ask the same of Christ.
Similarly, if you listen to the song ‘Station to Station’ by David Bowie, when he sings:
“And oh, what will I be believing
And who will connect me with love?”
You can answer with: Christ.
And in the same song, when Bowie sings: “Does my face show some kind of glow?” – you can be reminded of Moses.
Exodus 34:35
And the children of Israel saw the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face shone: and Moses put the vail upon his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
And you can be reminded that if God doesn’t bear witness to our intervention, all is lost.
Psalm 80:3-7
Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved
O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?
Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure.
Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves.
Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
2 Corinthians 10:5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
As overcomers and conquerers for Christ, we are supposed to be casting down imaginations, and every high thing – bringing them to Christ. Look at the big purple thing at the top of this website.
We are supposed to be taking back territory that the Devil controls for the Saints in Christ.
We are to bring stories, thoughts, fantasies, imaginations, plans, creation to Christ.
Our world is steeped in the Devil, but bring everything to Christ – our example human acting out (in a tangible way) all culture and activity – in a glorious, selfless, sacrificial, agape way.
Don’t shy away – Pull down those strongholds that are of the Devil!
2 Corinthians 10:4
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
For example, God showed me that I could sing some lyrics from ‘The Valley’ by Duran Duran to emphasize Psalm 23.
“I've been walking
Through the valley
Through the tall grass
And the shadows”
(‘The Valley,’ by Duran Duran, from the album Red Carpet Massacre, 2007)
Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
As you listen to this song – of course, the walker becomes a runner.
"Well I'm running
Through the valley
Through the tall grass
And the shadows”
God might show you movies, or architecture, or political movements, or fashion changes – and all is in the hand of Satan.
Boldly step forth as the Holy Spirit guides you to take back portions of what God wants to you conquer.
Not all will be useful to the kingdom of God – like all the lyrics of a song will not be useful.
But some situations, poetry, arguments, journeys, attitudes, shadows, exalted towers – will be useful to the kingdom of God.
Examples:
“Think you’re happy
Think you’re free
Maybe we're just
Comfortably deceived”
(‘The Valley,’ by Duran Duran, from the album Red Carpet Massacre, 2007)
The lyrics “Blood is like wine.” (as we remember communion) from the song ‘Machinehead’ by Bush (1994).
The lyrics “Freezin' rests his head on a pillow made of concrete again” from the song ‘Even Flow’ by Pearl Jam (1992).
Genesis 28:11
And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.
My listening to the Mamas and the Papas song: ‘Twelve Thirty’ (1967) inspired a whole webpage: Restoration – with the lyric: “To say Good Morning and really mean it.”
The act of conquering always demands that we focus on the Godhead.
Matthew 22:36-40
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We focus on God with love, and secondly focus on mankind with love.
By being God-centric first, we can enjoy properly relations with our fellow man – including man-made products like songs, movies, buildings, weekend plans, clothing, paintings, etc.
By being God-centric, we can see that colourful Gay-pride flag, and, yes, note the fall of society into being prideful, drug-oriented, and sexually sinful. But, we can also be reminded of God’s covenant with all of us – the rainbow.
Genesis 9:16
And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.
Thusly, you can grab bits of even Gay Pride month for Godly purposes – truly conquering like the Israelites conquering the idol-filled land of Canaan.
Nothing should replace or supersede reading your Bible, and praying, fasting for the Lord.
The guard-rails of life’s journey is the Word. If something does not agree with the Word – you should recognize that.
But, especially in our busy world, by walking, or driving, and reading/hearing/seeing various cultural products in life – a mature Christian will bring all to the obedience of Christ.
Your will says: “I want.”
Your intellect says: “I think.”
Your emotions say: “I feel.”
You replace “I want” with what God wants for your life.
You replace “I think” with what God’s Word says.
You replace “I feel” with the impressions of the Holy Spirit.
I felt an impression that the next song on my Youtube feed would have a special message for me.
I was a bit apprehensive and braced a bit. But the message simply justified my previous actions.
Without fellowship from men, and really out of desperation, I had launched angels successfully.
Hebrews 1:13-14
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
Matthew 26:53
Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
John 14:12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
The message was in a song called ‘Wild Boys’ from the band Duran Duran.
(Could these lyrics come from a demonic source – turned to God's purposes? The lead singer of Duran Duran, Simon Le Bon, sung in 1985, in an off-shoot band called Arcadia, “Oh El Diablo, El Diablo, won’t you sell me back my soul?” – in the song ‘El Diablo’ from the album: So Red the Rose.)
From ‘Wild Boys,’ the message from God was:
“Wild boys wonder where is glory?
Where is all you angels?
Now the figureheads have fell”
Being politically incorrect, I guess I am a Wild Boy.
And God is correct – as with fallen leadership, I do wonder where is glory. I proclaim to launch angels in place of human fellowship, because human leadership whom I have contacted – through spread of this website – (you know who you are!) – have fell.
And pondering ‘where is glory’ has inspired this webpage.
Guidance from lyrics of the past (behind me):
Isaiah 30:21
And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
One man who knew glory was King David.
One reason that King David was so highly favoured by God is that David confessed that his sin of stealing Bathsheba from Uriah was a sin that was solely against God.
Psalm 51:4
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
We should, like King David, be focused on God.
To interpret and cultivate love, we avoid the trap of becoming a people pleaser by focusing on Christ on the cross – a portrait in flesh of self-sacrifice, giving up all for your fellow man.
By focusing on the Godhead – we can manifest properly the various shades of proper love.
Philippians 4:7-9
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
King David not only confessed that his sin was God-centric – that is, solely against God – but David knew that the glory was God-centric – solely directed towards God.
Psalm 115:1
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.
Psalm 29:2
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
By keeping focused on God – like David, Christians can share in the glory.
John 17:22
And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one
2 Thessalonians 2:14
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 2:12
That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
With a proper focus on Christ – we can navigate the nuances of cultivating proper love (rather than being programmed by Hollywood – where love is hugs and life lessons at the end of a predicable script).
We can thusly navigate the many angles of love, including opposing shades of mercy and judgement.
Paul wrote thusly:
Titus 3:2
To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
And a few lines later:
Titus 3:10-11
A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;
Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.
From television, to movies, to the education system, to the internet – you’ve been programmed by the machine, and you don’t even know it.
Your definition of love tells you to spend time with your family and friends – the ones you truly love.
Your definition of loving fellowship is knowing that your true friends accept you just the way you are.
So when you read that God’s love for us caused him to sacrifice his only Son for us – and we should have similar love for each other – we are confused.
None of the moral resolutions at the end of movies or sitcoms – or children’s shows with life lessons – none of them mentioned sacrifice.
Even the Hallmark greeting cards failed to mention sacrifice.
1 John 4:10-11
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
In contrast to King David, we might wonder by President Donald Trump failed in 2020.
I was rooting for him to stay in power – but Trump left the White House.
Like Herod, President Trump didn’t give the glory to God.
Acts 12:23
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
So many times, we’ve heard President Trump’s speeches where he took credit for rebuilding the US military, negotiating trade deals, securing peace accords, and energizing the US economy.
Like King Nebuchadnezzar, Trump had taken the glory for himself.
Daniel 4:30-31
The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?
While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.
And, like Nebuchadnezzar, Trump has gone crazy – becoming a Covid vaccine pusher.
Daniel 4:32-33
And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.
The same hour was the thing fulfilled upon Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and did eat grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till his hairs were grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
God did anticipate Trump’s development of pride, arrogance, ego, taking the glory for himself.
God reckoned that after a few years presidents might develop their own emotional responses. You know, pride, arrogance, egotism, hubris.
So he built in a fail-safe device.
Which is what?
Four year presidential term.
And, being a David Bowie fan myself, I’ve realised what we should all have realised – that the Devil wanted to start his Great Reset – fourth industrial revolution – Agenda 2030 – or New World Order under President Joe Biden.
‘Saviour Machine’ – by David Bowie – from the album: The Man Who Sold The World (1970).
“President Joe once had a dream
The world held his hand, gave their pledge
So he told them his scheme for a Saviour Machine
They called it the Prayer, its answer was law
Its logic stopped war, gave them food
How they adored 'til it cried in its boredom
"Please don't believe in me
Please disagree with me
Life is too easy
A plague seems quite feasible now
Or maybe a war
I may kill you all"
Don't let me stay, don't let me stay
My logic says, "Burn," so send me away
Your minds are too green
I despise all I've seen
You can't stake your lives on a Saviour Machine
I need you flying
And I'll show that dying
Is living beyond reason, sacred dimension of time
I perceive every sign
I can steal every mind
Don't let me stay, don't let me stay
My logic says, "Burn," so send me away
Your minds are too green
I despise all I've seen
You can't stake your lives on a Saviour Machine”
Analysis:
Song Title: Saviour Machine
The machine's algorithmic logic is a replacement for our Saviour Christ.
Album: The Man Who Sold the World
Joe Biden sold the free world's leader (USA) to China, Ukraine, and probably some other countries.
1970: recording and release of this album: commercial failure in USA and UK.
1970: Joe Biden begins his political life by winning elected office, New Castle County Council, Delaware.
1972: (following Ziggy Stardust fame) re-release of this album with chart success in the USA and UK.
1972: Joe Biden's political career moves into high gear, as he becomes the sixth-youngest US senator in American history.
President Joe once had a dream
Of course Sleepy Joe Biden had a dream.
The world held his hand, gave their pledge
With Trump out of the way, the globalists can embrace establishment Joe Biden.
So he told them his scheme for a Saviour Machine
The Machine plans, with computer logic, to save the world from turmoil, a replacement of Christ.
They called it the Prayer, its answer was law
The Machine, with its data, algorithms, and computing power, will lord over us with rules, rules and rules; the demonic solution, which replaces Christ, is Law.
Its logic stopped war, gave them food
Any world war and food shortages will be solved by logic and reason of the machine.
How they adored 'til it cried in its boredom
They adored the machine - until we all realised how boring life is now.
Ramp up another war for Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.
I may kill you all"
The Devil comes to steal, kill, and destroy.
Don't let me stay, don't let me stay
A moment of honesty.
My logic says, "Burn," so send me away
Its logic leads to dust and ashes.
Your minds are too green
We are morons, as God pleads with us.
I despise all I've seen
Devil's hatred of humanity and human authority.
You can't stake your lives on a Saviour Machine
A moment of honesty (but our minds are too green, and we will ignore the Devil disclosing this).
I need you flying
Prince of the power of the air:
Ephesians 2:2
...according to the prince of the power of the air...
And I'll show that dying
It's a death cult.
Is living beyond reason, sacred dimension of time
The Devil wants to step out of time, grasping the spiritual (beyond the reasoning logic of the soulish), for immortality.
I perceive every sign
False signs and wonders; Mark 13:22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
I can steal every mind
Computers monitors your keystrokes, and we will be linked into the machine via neuralink.
Don't let me stay, don't let me stay
above
My logic says, "Burn," so send me away
Your minds are too green
I despise all I've seen
You can't stake your lives on a Saviour Machine
from the album:The Man Who Sold The World
Say it isn't so Joe - you sold us out?
Most people are not of Christ, but are of the world.
Most people have fellowship with the world.
1 John 4:5-6
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Most people will not reach for unlimited potentialwith Christ, growing ourselves by stretching reality – doing that which the world (our tribe) believes to be weird, unusual, innovative, or odd.
Those in the darkness of the world stay in darkness (fellowship with the worldly), and those in the light of Christ stay in the light (fellowship with those of Christ).
2 Corinthians 6:14-15
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
Those in Christ have their mind on the heavenly things above, and look beyond our death – towards life with Christ and glory.
Colossians 3:1-4
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
With fellowship – the New Covenant (Testament) with Christ, we look beyond mortal death.
Philippians 3:20-21
For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
To achieve immortality, we need to understand what death is.
Death is an enemy that can be dealt with.
Hosea 13:14
I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.
1 Corinthians 15:25-26
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1 Corinthians 15:54-55
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
Those who are not of Christ have fellowship with death. These worldly people are sensible and rational, and look forward to winding down to routines, and playing it safe so that we can appease our tribe.
Rather than the New Covenant with Christ, those of the world have a covenant with death.
Isaiah 28:15
Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:
(Those in Christ break away from the covenant with death.)
Isaiah 28:18
And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.
Hell and the dead know their own.
Isaiah 14:9-10
Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations.
All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us?
When God found the man Moses who would stand in the gap – God could legally and honourably bring heaven to earth.
When heaven came to earth, the flame did not die with the normality of corruption.
And, Moses had to take off his shoes so that the dirt from earth would not enter the holy heavenly.
Exodus 3:2-5
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.
And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.
After Moses’ death, his body went to the angel Michael rather than follow the natural world’s way of corruption.
Jude 1:8-10
Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
With faith, that enduring commitment, we look beyond this world – to make the invisible into the visible. What is tangible item that we bring? Glory.
Hebrews 11:6-8, 13-14
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
…These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
If we endure to the end, we are saved. Why?
Those of Christ have no fellowship with the world, and are hated.
Matthew 10:22
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
If, when we die, we are committed to stretching reality in faith, doing what the world sees as not simple dust and ashes – but bringing more mercy, temperance, joy, purity, sacrifice, righteousness to our bit of the world – then death cannot fellowship with us.
It cannot greet us as one of its own as we do not have fellowship, any agreement, with the natural course of corruption.
Moses wanted to see God’s glory.
Exodus 33:18-19
And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
But Moses had already seen God’s glory many times with the likes of the ten plagues and the parting of the Red Sea.
Psalm 105:28-36
He sent darkness, and made it dark; and they rebelled not against his word.
He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish.
Their land brought forth frogs in abundance, in the chambers of their kings.
He spake, and there came divers sorts of flies, and lice in all their coasts.
He gave them hail for rain, and flaming fire in their land.
He smote their vines also and their fig trees; and brake the trees of their coasts.
He spake, and the locusts came, and caterpillers, and that without number,
And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground.
He smote also all the firstborn in their land, the chief of all their strength.
Psalm 106:9
He rebuked the Red sea also, and it was dried up: so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.
But Moses wanted more, more, more. He desperately wanted to experience more of God’s glory.
But even Moses could only see God’s back, not the glory of God’s face.
Exodus 33:20-23
And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.
And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock:
And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by:
And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen.
Similarly, we are limited in our ability to experience God’s glory, because when we contemplate the timelessness of ‘I am,’ and knowing the beginning from the end, or how even the waves, rocks, and trees cry out for God – our heads are liable to explode.
John 8:58
Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Isaiah 46:10
Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure
1 Chronicles 16:32-33
Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein.
Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth.
Luke 19:40
And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Pondering being forgiven, healed, made righteous, sharing his life, blessed, abundance, glory, acceptance, etc. may seem overwhelming. And it should be overwhelming – as immortality should encompass possibilities that are mind-boggling.
The nuances of all these terms brought to life in us should make us realise that we have been dying in a world of labels, limitations, common sense, and routines – rather than an unlimited life and world of multivalence, accent, inflection.
(No, looking up the meaning of ‘multivalence’ is not good enough – as your life’s expressions should be beyond words.)
When we are desperate for more, more, and more glory – hell and death cannot claim us.
Matthew 16:18
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
With the New Covenant, we have a legal right to be bold and approach God for more glory, bursting through the barrier of death, taking heaven by force.
Matthew 11:12
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.
When I met with God, I burst through the door.
I
didn’t ring the doorbell with hope.
Hebrews 10:19
Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus
With diligence in faith, we have a legal right to eternal life for more, more, more.
2 Peter 1:10-11
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
As we stretch our reality with more and more glory, we need more time, eternity even, as a lifetime isn’t nearly long enough.
Writing these webpages (the long ones) hasn’t been easy (because of my normal busy day-to-day life's time restrictions, and the initial written parts are rather disjointed until the final product brings them together). Only when I am on the edge of my abilities, desperate for wisdom and knowledge revealed (revelation) can these pages make sense.
God emphasized this from my youtube music feed (with lines that sum up my experience writing this website – something singable for me to the Lord):
“Finding revelation
Out of desperation
Always stretching time
But it's never long enough”
(‘The Valley,’ by Duran Duran, from the album Red Carpet Massacre, 2007)
In contrast, King Solomon, cut off from God by time he wrote the book of Ecclesiastes, was cynical and brooding.
Solomon thought like most people think today.
For Solomon, death was the end, and the living fade away.
Ecclesiastes 1:11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.
Ecclesiastes 3:20
All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.
For Solomon, there was no redemption for evil people.
Ecclesiastes 1:15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered.
For Solomon, the best we could do was enjoy the days of our life.
Ecclesiastes 8:15
Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun.
Freedom is not someone repeating the old boring slogans said at a ‘freedom rally.’ Freedom is anything and everything in your role in the body of Christ – which is truly you.
Your role in the body of Christ is not constricting – but is truly who you are – growing with unlimited potential.
Rather than a social justice/politically correct ‘diversity’ – freedom is truly a diversity of excellence.
Diverse excellence is a meeting of majesty and meekness, authority and humility, rulership and servitude, victory and failure – and all in between. What is this? Glory.
And glory can be of a sustainable, eternal, and thriving world as all of the many shades of love (affection/hatred, mercy/judgement, correction/forgiveness, sacrifice/pleasure) can be summed up in our emulation of God as human being Christ Jesus.
As we bring the word of a broken Law to a new level, a new human level (with us as living epistles), we truly share in the victory that is Christ’s glory.
Everything, including you, was created for God’s glory.
Revelation 4:11
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Romans 11:36
For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
Gloriously – with World War on the horizon, food shortages and starvation, riots in the streets – how can we save the world (or at least enduring parts of it)?
When the Apostle Paul sailed for Rome, his ship encountered a disastrous storm, which threatened to kill all onboard the ship.
Acts 27:18-20
And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;
And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.
And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.
But Paul learned that, because of his journey, all the ship’s passengers (which included Paul) would survive.
Acts 27:23-24
For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,
Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.
Because of that one man (Paul), God was willing to save all on that ship.
When God was about to destroy the sinful cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham asked for the conditions to spare the cities from God’s wrath.
Would God spare the cities if they had 50 righteous people? 45? What about 40? 30? 20? 10?
God agreed to spare the cities if 10 righteous were found.
Genesis 18:20-32
And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.
And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?
That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.
And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:
Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.
And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake.
And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.
And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake.
And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake.
But, God could not find 10 righteous, and destroyed the cities.
Genesis 19:24-25
Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;
And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
Oh – if Abraham had talked God down to one man – just one man.
All God needs is one man – just one man – to justify holding back his judgement (plagues, fire, starvation, destruction).
Jeremiah 5:1
Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
Psalm 106:23
Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath, lest he should destroy them.
In Genesis, God was going to destroy mankind and every creature on the earth.
Genesis 6:5-7
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
But, because of one man (Noah), God spared Noah and his family and creatures of the earth. Genesis 6:8
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Genesis 6:18-20
But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee.
And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.
In a time of turmoil, we might look to heroes.
We look for the Bat-signal to call for Batman – or Superman or Spider-Man to save us (programming from the machine).
Certainly the triumph of the will can save us? Right?
But reality is much more bleak.
Our only hope is a weeping man like Jeremiah who contends with the Lord, arguing to spare bits of it.
God’s wants destruction on this world (and God contends with intercessors like Moses and Samuel).
Jeremiah 15:1-2
Then said the LORD unto me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.
And it shall come to pass, if they say unto thee, Whither shall we go forth? then thou shalt tell them, Thus saith the LORD; Such as are for death, to death; and such as are for the sword, to the sword; and such as are for the famine, to the famine; and such as are for the captivity, to the captivity.
But one man, Jeremiah (a man cursed by the world and God’s people, as all true prophets are), contended that God should save a remnant, a bit of this world.
Jeremiah 15:10-11
Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me.
The LORD said, Verily it shall be well with thy remnant; verily I will cause the enemy to entreat thee well in the time of evil and in the time of affliction.
As we read the headlines of the latest horror – we should realise that God wants to send evil upon this sinful world.
Psalm 78:49
He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.
Our only hope is that an intercessor or intercessors emerge.
The intercessor says: "Yes, God, I know that righteously you want to smite this world with judgement: plagues, fire, starvation, destruction. But, I am here on this earth, finding my place, guided by the Holy Spirit. I’m growing in Christ – becoming the man you want to cultivate.
Yes, God, you can destroy this world. That is your right. You hate the sin of this evil world.
But, God – you’ll have to smite me first, because if you annihilate this world through nuclear war, starvation, or poisoned food – you’ll have to destroy me first – because like Moses and Abraham – I’m standing in the way.
Yes, God, like Paul – I would like to die and be with Christ. But, like Paul, it’s better that I remain alive and on this earth for the remnant – and you know it."
Philippians 1:23-25
For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
1 Corinthians 13:8
Love never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
1 John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
We are here to love.
But are we to end up as some people pleaser – currying the favour of our tribe?
Or are we to love like some sappy Harlequin romance novel, or some high school nostalgia piece on the television, or some feel-good remembrance from our spinning class where we all can pretend we aren’t disgusted with each other?
Our pursuit of proper love is intertwined with glory, kindness, judgement, righteous, temperance, mercy, praise, honour, faith…
1 Peter 1:7-9
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Importantly – the glory is not self-centred.
We do not focus our glory on mankind.
Jeremiah 9:23
Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches
But we focus on the Lord for love, glory, kindness, judgement, righteous, temperance, mercy, praise, honour, faith…
Jeremiah 9:24
But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
When King David stole Bathsheba from Uriah, David knew that his sin was solely against God.
Psalm 51:4
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
For us to be purified – we have to be focused on Christ – seeing the man on cross who gave it all for us.
Our focus has to God-centric to find proper glory, love, honour.
For example, God wanted to destroy the children of Israel and start anew with Moses as the father of a new generation. Exodus 32:10
Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation.
This would have great for Moses (glory for Moses). But Moses, being so meek, and properly focused on God’s glory – Moses spoke to God of God’s glory (not Moses’ glory).
Moses explained that the history of God would be that God could bring his people out of Egypt, but not to the promised land. Exodus 32:11-14
And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people.
Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.
And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people.
By being God-centric, Moses set a pattern for us all.
Moses wasn’t interested in his own glory – but God’s.
And thusly, Moses was able to participate in God’s glory.
Moses sacrificed his self for God’s glory. Matthew 16:25
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Similarly, to be perfected, we focus on God’s glory.
We don’t wake up in the morning and set about protecting our own reputation. We don’t focus on currying the favour of our tribe.
We have that man Christ Jesus who was willing to give up all for us, and we do likewise. 1 John 2:6
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
We eschew any notion of ‘followers’ for ourselves – on social media, or in real-life social situations.
Instead we explore the endless glory of victory from the foundations of the world. Psalm 104:24-35
O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. So is this great and wide sea, wherein are things creeping innumerable, both small and great beasts.
There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.
These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good.
Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust.
Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth.
The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
He looketh on the earth, and it trembleth: he toucheth the hills, and they smoke.
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
For glory, love, honour, righteousness – we sacrifice.
As we focus on Christ, and his sacrifice, giving up all for his fellow man, God in the form of man – we emulate Christ.
We walk in the steps of Christ – and we sacrifice.
For the Apostle Paul who was a Pharisee, being a refined, knowledgeable public speaker would have been paramount.
As a Pharisee, if you weren’t a learned, eloquent orator – you were nothing.
But Paul was willing to give this up, and he did.
1 Corinthians 2:1-2
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
2 Corinthians 11:6
But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.
This sacrifice, like Jesus scourged and defiled on the crucifix – this sacrifice abases us like it did Paul and David. 2 Corinthians 11:7
Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?
Are we willing to be abased, to give up our dignity, and let others be exalted? This is sacrifice. This is love.
Paul’s love exalted others, while he was abased, without dignity. 1 Corinthians 4:8-13
Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
The only love that can create a sustainable, thriving heaven (including heaven on earth) is ‘agape.’
Agape is a selfless, sacrificial love.
John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
The King James Version of the Bible translates agape as ‘charity.’
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Key to this love is sacrifice.
We have a sacrificial love as Christ did. Being God-centric, we focus on the crucifix.
1 John 3:16
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
To see this love going towards God and then towards our fellow man, we can use a simple, small example.
You might have kept your classic Ford Mustang in great condition for car shows.
You’re a car guy – so that is expected.
As a Christian, being God-centric, you thank God for everything.
Ephesians 5:20
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
You thank God for your classic Ford Mustang, and the abundance of parts and accessories.
And you then remember to thank God for your mechanic who has helped you out many times.
Sure, you also personally thanked your mechanic, as we all say ‘please and thank you.’ But did you really mean it?
The next time you see your mechanic, you make sure to thank him and really mean it.
You give glory for the beautiful classic car to God – but you sacrifice your self-image as a car guy by thanking your mechanic and meaning it.
By manifesting that agape you’re on your way to proper fellowship – beyond mechanical, robotic interactions (please and thank you).
But to do so, you have to let a little of yourself die, that esteemed ego.
When you die, you can’t take it with you.
All your money, cars (even the Ford Mustang), houses, gold, silver will be left behind.
Do you believe this? – that when you die, you can’t take it with you?
Because it’s wrong. It’s a lie.
When you die, you can take it with you.
Yes, we do have ashes to ashes, where everything of this world will be in the dust bin.
2 Peter 3:10-12
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Yes, for most, you can’t take it with you when you die – it all burns to dust.
Revelation 20:15
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
But for those in Christ, we look to a new heaven and earth.
Revelation 21:1
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
And 2 Peter 3 continues after the burning fire with new heaven and earth.
2 Peter 3:13
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Yes, your accumulated wealth can pass to a new heaven and a new earth.
1 Corinthians 3:12-15
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Matthew 6:20-21
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Your accumulated wealth could be your money, gold, silver, cars, house, clothing, social media following, fame, relationships with people.
The only way that your accumulated wealth can pass to the new heaven and new earth is if you spend it for God’s glory.
King David, being God-centric, spent his gold and silver on God’s temple. 1 Chronicles 29:3
Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, which I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house
The glory of this temple remains preserved today – in the words of the Bible.
And he challenged others to spend likewise (service spent). 1 Chronicles 29:5
And who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the LORD?
The Apostle Paul’s wealth was his heritage and status. Philippians 3:5
Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
And Paul was a Roman citizen.
Acts 22:25-29
And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and uncondemned?
When the centurion heard that, he went and told the chief captain, saying, Take heed what thou doest: for this man is a Roman.
Then the chief captain came, and said unto him, Tell me, art thou a Roman? He said, Yea.
And the chief captain answered, With a great sum obtained I this freedom. And Paul said, But I was free born.
Then straightway they departed from him which should have examined him: and the chief captain also was afraid, after he knew that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.
Being a Pharisee and a Roman, Paul could have spent this glory on himself.
Paul could have had an easy life with this high status.
Glory is tangible, a substance.
If Paul spent his wealth (status as a Pharisee and Roman) on himself, he would have had a glorious house, chariots, clothing, jewelry – but all this would burn – ashes to ashes.
Only by being God-centric, would Paul’s wealth pass to a new heaven and a new earth.
Paul spent his high status – sacrificing his reputation. Paul used his high status to logically and scripturally explain how Christ is the Saviour proclaimed in the Old Testament.
Acts 18:28
For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
Acts 17:2-3
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.
Only a man of the status of Paul could explain to learned elders and rulers that the one they crucified was the Christ foretold in the Old Testament. Isaiah 50:6
I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.
Isaiah 28:16
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.
Zechariah 13:6
And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.
Rather than spend his wealth (status) on himself (a temporary self-centered glory), Paul spent his wealth on God’s glory – and, writing the bulk of the New Testament, Paul’s writings are gloriously represented in the words that will pass onto a new heaven and a new earth – as all 66 books of the Bible consolidate in Christ Jesus. Luke 21:33
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
John 6:68
Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
With starvation, wars, plagues, and seemingly no hope for this world, you might wonder: where is God – amidst the horror.
However, God sees this world from a different perspective.
Under the Old Covenant (Testament), God needed a man of the Adamic race to hold back his wrath on this world.
Under the New Covenant (Testament), Jesus (God/man) took back authority over this earth from the Devil, but Jesus immediately delegated this authority to the human race.
So, again, God needs a man of the Adamic race to hold back his wrath.
God wants to bring good news, but is astonished when he can’t find one man to intercede.
Isaiah 41:27-28
The first shall say to Zion, Behold, behold them: and I will give to Jerusalem one that bringeth good tidings.
For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counseller, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.
To be an intercessor, one has to have that ‘agape’ love – that is a sacrificial love. An intercessor needs to be willing to give up all, sacrifice all – emulating Jesus Christ.
When King David sinned, he knew that all he could ask from God was to not sever Spiritual connection to God.
Psalm 51:10-12
Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Luke 12:10
And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
King David had no right to ask to keep his wealth, his family, his kingdom – because all those are God’s anyway – and King David’s agape love would sacrifice all that for God.
No Old Covenant burnt offerings (sacrifices) were necessary, as God already had David’s broken spirit and broken heart.
Psalm 51:16-17
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
Psalm 69:20
Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
And similarly, when you made commitment to Christ, you might have given up all.
But – critically, are you still committed to giving up all for Christ?
Moses spent his life giving up status and wealth.
Hebrews 11:24-27
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Importantly, all his life, Moses sacrificed what he had and what he could have had because of faith.
God promised Abraham a multitude of descendants.
Genesis 15:5
And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
But by faith, Abraham still gave up his miracle child, Isaac.
Genesis 22:9-10
And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
By that sacrificial attitude, both Moses and Abraham could stretch reality – doing that which is new and innovative.
Moses faithfully gave up traditional dignified wealth and status.
Moses wouldn’t say to God: “I have to get dressed for this ceremony, and then deliver this speech, and then attend the banquet for my school-children.” By giving up in faith, Moses could deliver the unusual and odd – stretching reality. Moses’ view of himself as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter wouldn’t get in the way.
Exodus 9:22
And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch forth thine hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.
Exodus 14:16
But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
If Moses did not sacrifice himself, the old high status, his dignity, then wealthy, dignified Moses would have told God: “Yes, I can raise an army to fight the Egyptians. We’ll need chariots and swords as usual – right?”
By faith Abraham sacrificed himself, and was willing to sacrifice his son Isaac as a burnt offering – and God was able to stretch reality through Abraham – creating a pattern of the sacrificed son – Isaac being a precursor to Christ.
Thusly, those in Christ could enter the blessings of the family of Abraham.
Galatians 3:29
And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
God promised Abraham’s seed would make a great nation.
Genesis 12:1-2
Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:
And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing
If Abraham did not have that sacrificial love, agape, then Abraham would have not have stretched reality – Abraham would have done that which is normal regarding growing a family (not be willing to sacrifice Isaac, and not being willing to send Ishmael away).
Abraham would have told God: “Yep, got two sons, Ishmael and now Isaac. Family is growing well – just like you said. But I know I heard you wrong regarding Isaac as a ‘burnt offering’ and sending Ishmael away. That just doesn’t make sense.”
Hebrews 11:8-9
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise
The kingdom of heaven is for the child-like nature.
Matthew 19:14
But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Heaven is only for those who eschew dignity, pride, arrogance, adult seriousness – and become like children: humble, teachable, silly, open-minded, wondrous, unashamed, outlandish, whimsical. Matthew 18:3-4
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
In contrast, God cannot stretch reality through you, he cannot bring forth the unusual, the ridiculous, the weird, the odd, the innovative – because of you and your lack of faith.
Matthew 13:58
And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
For example, you are anxious about the fall of Western democracies. You ponder: how can we have secure computerized voting systems? Should we go back to paper ballots? What is the solution?
You need to sacrifice that bit of you that speaks of voting districts, ground-game campaigns, run-off balloting, persuading the independent voters.
With this sacrifice, God can use you to implement an interesting and unusual way to bring about changes in leadership.
But you have to have faith to give that bit of you up to God – let that political studies person in you die.
Daniel 2:21
And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding
Proverbs 21:1
The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will.
1 Kings 19:15-16
…anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:
And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel
Psalm 18:43
Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the head of the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me.
If you insist on persisting with ‘election integrity this’ and ‘fraudulent that’ – then you are resisting anything exciting God has regarding stretching reality. God can do no mighty works through you.
Similarly, with activist judges, money-oriented governments, and a decline of separation of authoritative powers, you might be disturbed by the lack of proper justice in this world.
You might be spending your time researching class-action lawsuits, regional laws, favourable judges.
And you might tell God: “We just need some more donations, and we will be able to have justice in your great land.”
But God wants you to sacrifice the aspiring lawyer in you, and with faith, you can obey and be part of something radical, outrageous, and unexpected.
Ezra 7:25-27
And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.
And whosoever will not do the law of thy God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him, whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
Blessed be the LORD God of our fathers, which hath put such a thing as this in the king's heart, to beautify the house of the LORD which is in Jerusalem
If you insist on holding onto the little lawyer in you, with your lack of sacrifice and faith, you resist God’s purposes, and he cannot stretch reality through you.
Mark 6:5-6
And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
And he marvelled because of their unbelief.
Unbelief – that which is not of faith is sin.
Romans 14:23
…for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Christian faith is believing for mighty works!
If you’re not interested in this – if you just want to do the bland, day-to-day act of buying lunch from the food truck, then what God has for you will pass you by.
Mark 6:36-37
Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.
He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat.
Mark 6:41-42
And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.
And they did all eat, and were filled.
If you hold on to your view of the world, your self-esteem, your reputation, your dignity, your common sense – not having faith to sacrifice yourself in love that is agape – you can’t be part of the amazing, the spectacular, the bizarre, the fantastic.
If Joshua didn’t sacrifice his strategic-warrior self, Joshua would not have been able to take on giants in faith.
Numbers 13:33
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
Numbers 14:6-8
And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:
And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.
If the LORD delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.
But by faithfully sacrificing a sensible and rational self – God could work the preposterous, perverse, and extravagant through Joshua.
Joshua 10:12-13
Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
Joshua 1:9
Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
2 Timothy 2:1
Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
Be strong in the Lord. The Bible doesn’t say anything about being strong in the natural world. We are not striving to navigate the local tax laws with strength.
We are not striving to be the strongest regarding unravelling computer code to find Twitter bots. We are not striving to have the best self-defence plans with guns, knives, and boxing skills.
When we are strong in the Lord, the Lord fights for us.
Haggai 2:4
Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts
2 Corinthians 2:14
Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
The Hebrew term for ‘Satan’ is the one who resists/opposes.
And, being property of the Devil, humans similarly resist what God has for them.
What does God have for them? Freedom.
Everyone has a desire for something beyond their routines, the hum-drum, the boring, the day-to-day wage slavery.
For example, when Peter saw Jesus literally walking on water, Peter wanted to do the same.
Matthew 14:25-29
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Similarly, we have a desire to see some sort of freedom by moving beyond what constrains us – which could be laws, physical limitations, or lack of resources and money.
We tend to express our desires through fantasy novels or movies, video games, or research into the paranormal.
But reading a romance novel, pondering some Star Wars fantasy, or researching an Elon Musk inter-stellar voyage which will never happen – is far from what God wants for us.
Fantasies and images on the screen just are not the glory – the tangible result – that God wants for us.
Romans 1:21-23
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
You might be on your traveling ‘ReAwaken the USA’ show. You’ve got a jam-packed programme – with speaker after speaker.
As you preach ReVitalizing America around the nation, you can say to God: “We have so many God-fearing people electrifying audiences – speaking the truth – from coast to coast!”
But you miss what God had for you, as you were so busy, you never took time to listen to what God had to say to you.
1 Corinthians 14:29-34
Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge.
If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.
For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.
Would the silence of waiting for and judging prophecy be too uncomfortable?
You might be a nutrition expert, committed to healing the world through proper food.
And you are logical and learned like the Apostle Paul. But, Paul had to do things God’s way to bring Paul’s Old Testament knowledge to a new level.
For that, Paul had to sacrifice himself completely so that God could use him to do the extra-ordinary.
But if that nutrition expert tells God: “We’re expanding operations, and phoning people for more supplies, and testing new products” – then that nutrition expert will miss God – being so busy that he will crowd out what God has for him, resisting the amazing, and settling for the day-to-day routines.
2 Kings 4:40-44
O thou man of God, there is death in the pot. And they could not eat thereof.
But he said, Then bring meal. And he cast it into the pot; and he said, Pour out for the people, that they may eat. And there was no harm in the pot.
And there came a man from Baalshalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.
And his servitor said, What, should I set this before an hundred men? He said again, Give the people, that they may eat: for thus saith the LORD, They shall eat, and shall leave thereof.
So he set it before them, and they did eat, and left thereof, according to the word of the LORD.
2 Kings 2:19-22
And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth: but the water is naught, and the ground barren.
And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him.
And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast the salt in there, and said, Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land.
So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake.
You might be a journalist who is committed to fighting corruption and exposing the lies.
You tell God: “I’m committed to truth and I’m researching and fact-checking. With light we will uncover the crimes of the elites.” And, you never find victory in Christ, as you never were committed to God’s path for you.
You never exposed the lies the way God wanted you to.
Acts 5:1-11
But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession,
And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?
Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God.
And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him.
And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in.
And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much.
Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out.
Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband.
And great fear came upon all the church, and upon as many as heard these things.
You might be fighting those tyrannical governments that promote abortion.
You might tell God: “We just need a few more signatures and the governor will have to listen to us. We have that database of supporters almost ready.”
And, you miss what God has for you, because you never sought God and realized that a sinful nation warrants a punishing rulership.
Nehemiah 9:37
And it yieldeth much increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins: also they have dominion over our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.
You never prayed for and thanked your enemies in government.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
By sacrificing your old self which wanted to accuse abortionists – your old self which wanted to rally your tribe – God can then use you for the powerfully remarkable, as you proclaim Psalm 55:9.
Psalm 55:9
Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
Genesis 11:6-9
And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.
Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.
So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.
Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
Under the Old Covenant (Testament), kingship and priesthood were strictly separate.
Only those of the line of Aaron (Levites) could offer sacrifice to God.
Numbers 16:40 To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the LORD; that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to him by the hand of Moses.
2 Chronicles 26:18
And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God.
Under the New Covenant (Testament), Jesus is our high priest – and also a king.
Hebrews 6:20 - 7:1
Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;
Hebrews 7:11-12
If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?
For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
Melchisedec is a king and priest, even before The Law.
Genesis 14:18
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
Under the New Covenant, we have freedom as a king; we can do as we please.
But, under the New Covenant, to reign as a king, we have to also be a priest.
Revelation 1:5-6
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 5:10
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
Importantly, a priest offers sacrifice to God – as Jesus did.
So to reign as kings, we have to sacrifice as priests.
And a sacrifice, by definition, is something that you do not want to give.
Luke 22:42-44
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
In order to enter a realm of the Father where all things are possible, we have to do what we do not want to do, and say: “nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.”
Mark 14:36
And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
When the three kings (king of Judah, king of Israel, and king of Edom) raised their armies to fight the king of Moab…
2 Kings 3:7-8
And he went and sent to Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, saying, The king of Moab hath rebelled against me: wilt thou go with me against Moab to battle? And he said, I will go up: I am as thou art, my people as thy people, and my horses as thy horses.
And he said, Which way shall we go up? And he answered, The way through the wilderness of Edom.
…these three kings encountered a drought and became weak.
2 Kings 3:9-10
So the king of Israel went, and the king of Judah, and the king of Edom: and they fetched a compass of seven days' journey: and there was no water for the host, and for the cattle that followed them.
And the king of Israel said, Alas! that the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab!
But by becoming weak, these three kings acted properly and followed God (by finding the prophet Elisha, who had the spirit of Elijah upon him).
2 Kings 3:11-12
But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may inquire of the LORD by him? And one of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, Here is Elisha the son of Shaphat, which poured water on the hands of Elijah.
And Jehoshaphat said, The word of the LORD is with him. So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him.
And, of course, Elisha was a bit of a jerk.
2 Kings 3:13-14
And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the LORD hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.
Immediately, however, Elisha provided spiritual guidance to victory by calling for a minstrel.
2 Kings 3:15
But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.
As the three kings did – give up your strength and be strengthened only by blade running towards the way God wants you to prevail:
“When I think I'm being strong
And I lose direction
Then a life starts looking mischievous”
(‘The Valley,’ by Duran Duran, from the album Red Carpet Massacre, 2007)
The result stretched reality – an amazing victory where the enemy king even sacrificed his own son. (Yes, victory featured a royalty-laden, blood red surface – well… a Red Carpet Massacre.)
2 Kings 3:16-27
And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches. For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.
And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand.
And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good piece of land with stones.
And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the country was filled with water.
And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and upward, and stood in the border.
And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:
And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.
And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward smiting the Moabites, even in their country.
And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about it, and smote it.
And when the king of Moab saw that the battle was too sore for him, he took with him seven hundred men that drew swords, to break through even unto the king of Edom: but they could not.
Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt offering upon the wall. And there was great indignation against Israel: and they departed from him, and returned to their own land.
If you want freedom, if you want the glory of victory, you can have it right now.
Against insurmountable odds, you can prevail.
You can stand in the gap between heaven and hell, and conquer the forces of darkness with light.
As God rightfully rains down destruction on this earth, you can say to God – “Not this time Lord. I’m here.”
Psalm 37:25-26
I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.
But you have to do that which upheaves all of Creation.
You have to do the perverse and unimaginable.
Rather than acquire capability and power, you have to do the opposite.
You have to become weak. You have to sacrifice.
You have to give up your most precious possession: yourself.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Revelation 3:8
I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
1 Samuel 2:6-8
The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.
