Anthem

Praise be to you alone Jesus, forever and ever!

The Equivalent of a Demon?

"You believe that God is one; you do well [to believe that]. The demons also believe [that], and shudder and bristle [in awe-filled terror—they have seen His wrath]!" James 2:19 

The demons know who God is. They cried out in terror when Jesus Christ walked the earth.

"And they screamed out, “What business do we have [in common] with each other, Son of God? Have You come to torment us before the appointed time [of judgment]?”" Matthew 8:29 

Demons even have some insight into Gods ways, understanding that Jesus' 1st coming was not His time to bring judgment against sin.

Most importantly, demons tremble in fear at the presence of Jesus Christ because they know that - in spite of their belief - they are still damned to Hell. They understand that the mere knowledge of who Jesus is will not save them from eternal damnation.  Can we let that sink in for a minute?

The majority of Christians think they are "saved" because they acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for their sins. With this contemporary Christian faith, what people believe (in their heads) has no affect on who they are (in their hearts).  I "believe", yet fornicate.  I "believe", yet lie.  I "believe", yet steal. I "believe", but I am filled with profanity...  If this is the totality of their faith, then it makes them the equivalent of demons...and they will face the same destiny.

What is the Chaff to the Wheat?

"The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD." Jeremiah 23:28 

Be emboldened brothers and sisters! Stand unwavering on the truths of God as outlined in His word, for He is with you. His word will not return void, but it will accomplish what He has sent it forth to do.

There will be mockers who try to entice you into worldly and ungodly discourses. Ignore them. Your words are not for them, but for those who have ears to hear. The Lord knows those who are His. 

While you sow seeds of life to draw others to Christ, keep your eye single and remember this, "What is the chaff to the wheat?"

The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil

Confessions of a Busybody

I had always thought being a busybody meant that you were a gossiper, talking about other people.  That understanding is also consistent with Scripture.

"For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies." II Thessalonians 3:11

"And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not." I Timothy 5:13

busybodies: Greek word periergazomai meaning to bustle about uselessly, to busy one's self about trifling, needless, useless matters; used apparently of a person officiously inquisitive about other's affairs

busybodies: Greek word periergos meaning busy about trifles and neglectful of important matters; esp. busy about other folks' affairs

Gossiping about others was not my problem; in fact, I make it a point to stay out of such conversations. However, that is not the only meaning of the word. I recently came across a slightly different understanding where I have to admit I was a real offender.

Who is the God of Your Ministry?

The Relationship Idol 

"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-12

ministry: Greek word diakonia meaning service, ministering, esp. of those who execute the commands of others; of those who by the command of God proclaim and promote the Gospel among men.

Every single believer in Christ Jesus is to do the work of the ministry.  However, notice that the word "ministry" in the text above is singular.  In God's eyes, there are different callings and distinctive works supporting each calling, but there is still only one ministry. The only valid ministry is that which has been birthed by command of God, coming from His calling and being empowered by His Spirit to do one thing: proclaim and promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I don't care if there is a "ministry" on how to clean your house, how to make money in your business, how to manage finances, taking care of the homeless, how to raise children, how to be a strong woman, how to find a spouse...if it is not primarily focused on the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is not a ministry inspired or recognized by God. The Body of Christ has many needs which God equips the Church to meet, but the focus is always Christ.

"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Acts 20:24

Please hear me.  Ministry is not a word you can just slap on to something for which you think you have a gift. It is not a platform for making money or developing a following; neither does calling something a "ministry" automatically make it a work of God. The essence of ministry is NOT that you are doing something for Christ, but that Christ is at the center of what you do.

Women's Empowerment

Being Teachers of "Good Things"

I have been seeing a lot of "Christian" meetings focusing on the "Women of God", "Women's Destiny" or the more common phrase, "Women's Empowerment".

empowerment: the giving or delegation of power or authority; authorize, especially by legal or official means; to enable or permit; warrant, commission, license, qualify. the giving of an ability.

My initial thoughts were, "Where are the men's empowerment sessions? Where are the children's empowerment sessions? Why are women being singled out so often for empowerment? Who is empowering them and what are they being empowered to do?"

The closest word to empowerment in Scripture that I could find is the following:

power: Greek word exousia meaning power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases; physical and mental power; the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege); the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)

Now, Every Day is Freaky

As I indicated previously, I am compiling and amplifying posts from this blog into book format in preparation for the time when this blog is no longer available.

There is one book in particular which has taken quite some time to compile because the Lord continues to show me that the topic is deeper than I had previously documented.  That book is, "Turning the World Upside Down: The Spirit of Homosexuality and the Last Days."

As I worked on the book, I was reminded of a movie I saw as a child called Freaky Friday.  It was about a Mom and her daughter who switched places spiritually, although each still looked the same on the outside.  The Mom still looked outwardly like the Mom; and the daughter still looked outwardly like the daughter.  Yet, on the inside, they had switched roles.

This is what happened in the Garden of Eden when Adam & Eve fell into sin.  They switched roles: Adam became the submissive one and Eve became the authority.  This upside down perversion - where a man becomes inwardly like a woman and vice versa - is the root of the homosexual spirit.

Everybody's Not Playing

I remember years ago, shortly after I first got saved, I attended a church service where we were singing praise and worship.  I lifted my hands and head, closed my eyes, and tried to look spiritual. Why? Because I wanted to look like everyone else...or at least what everyone else looked like to me.

I remained that way for a while after the song ended, and when I finally opened my eyes, one of the sisters in the church was looking at me quizzically.  She asked, "Where were you?"

"I don't know." I responded in an aggravated tone, "Where were you?"  I have to admit that I didn't appreciate her calling me out like that.  Why would she ask me that when I was doing exactly what everyone else was doing?  Wasn't this what we were all supposed to do anyway? Was I just not doing it right? That is when I realized, "Not everybody is playing."

See, I thought you got saved in order to become religious.  You came to Jesus, acknowledged that sin is wrong (which is not the same as repentance by the way), joined a church, and tried to live as a good person.  Nobody was really changed.  Nobody could really know the Lord, let alone hear Him speak directly to them.  Nobody could really overcome sin.  God knows we are flawed human beings and all that He expects is that we try our best to do what is right.  Aren't we all just trying our best to do right?

And Adam Was NOT Deceived

"And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression." I Timothy 2:14

Have you ever wondered about this verse?  I have. When I first read it, I am sure my physical expression looked dumbfounded.  What in the world did it mean?

Didn't both Adam & Eve disobey God?  Yes.

Didn't they both eat of the forbidden fruit? Yes.

Didn't they both fall into sin?  Yes.

Then what distinction was God making here?

deceived: Greek word apataō meaning cheated, beguiled, deceived

Satan subtly tricked Eve into believing that his words were true.

"But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty..." Corinthians 11:3a

Yet Adam, who was with her, was not deceived (Genesis 3:6).  He knew that Satan was perverting God's words and knew that Satan's words were lies.

So that begs the question, why didn't Adam correct & stop Eve?  Why also did he partake of the forbidden fruit?  Knowing fully that such would bring death, why would Adam choose to follow Eve's error?  The answer is clear in God's judgement.

September 2015

And They Overcame...

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." Revelation 12:11

What is it like to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and what can you expect to happen when you do?  As the overview of the book And They Overcame states, that path is as distinct and diverse as each one who traverses it.

Here is a great resource detailing testimonials of a few who have come to know Jesus Christ. These testimonials not olny speak to the continued veracity & relevance of the Scriptures, they affirm that Jesus Christ is still very much alive today!

I hope this book blesses you and strengthens your own testimony in the faith.

This book is comprised of 21 personal handwritten testimonies of how real people entered into salvation and how Jesus Christ became a reality in their lives. Each account is different and distinct because every person on earth is faced with a different set of circumstances and living situations. Even though all of these people are coming from different backgrounds, they all have one thing in common; Jesus Christ has brought salvation to their souls and is delivering them from the shackles of sin and death.

Drifting Away From My Core

Please take time to read this testimony from a Sister in the Lord.

I can attest to this struggle, having gone through it myself. In fact, I can say that I still encounter situations where I have to make this choice and the Lord uses those to show me other areas in my life where soul ties with these familiar spirits need to be broken.

Drifting Away From My Core

I will make an honest confession.  I care what people think about me.  Sometimes to my own detriment.  I encountered a  situation today that left me somewhat emotional.  While I attempted to fight back tears, I had to ask myself why I felt so hurt.  When I came to the realization of the origins of those feelings, I let the tears go and cried. I cried, not because of what the person said to me, but I cried due to the realization that I still greatly care about what people think of me and how they view me.  I was heartbroken that this person I have known and loved for years would utter comments towards me that were not in the affirmative because of a difference in opinion, and I was hurt.  My reaction caught me off guard. 

I'd done so well pretending not to care how I was perceived by certain groups or individuals and talked big talk like I was ready to let things run off my back like water.  I thought I had shaken the feelings of needing to be liked and accepted by others because of the personal stances I took on certain issues.  I thought I was as strong on the inside as my talk would lead one to believe, but the talk proved to be a smoke screen for something weak on the inside.

Boldness

"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion." Proverbs 28:1

I have been praying lately for more boldness. This is something which also the disciples asked for prayer.

"And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word." Acts 4:29

"And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." Ephesians 6:19-20

Variations of the world "bold" appear various times in the Scriptures, but do you know where it appears the most?  In the book of Acts.  At the birth of the church, the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples of Jesus Christ and changed them dramatically.  Where they had once been afraid, they were now bold.  I can think of few other words which so appropriately describe their preaching.

"Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled..." Acts 4:13

"...they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness" Acts 4:31

"...he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus." Acts 9:27

"And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus..." Acts 9:29

"Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold..." Acts 13:46

"Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord" Acts 14:3

"And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue..." Acts 18:26

"And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months..." Acts 19:8

They needed boldness, not only because they were facing persecution, but because the pressure against Christians to be quiet is supernatural.  The satanic powers in the heavenlies attempt to pervert the atmosphere globally so as to prevent the Gospel from being preached. There are spiritual powers at work to stop the mouths of Christians and prevent the testimony of Jesus Christ from being proclaimed, because Satan knows that once this happens, the end will come (Matthew 24:14).

Man Up Mountain Meeting

All men are invited to attend the Man Up Mountain retreat for a time of fellowship and preparation for the days to come in the mountains of Helen, GA.  The Lord is looking for a few good men to lead the battle for souls in these last days.  Could you be one of them? Come young and old to get recharged and focused for the Lord.

When: October 2nd- 4th, 2015

Where: Tanglewood Cabins Lodge & Conference Center
3387 Highway 356, Sautee, Georgia 30571

More info can be found on the following Facebook page:  Man Up Meeting

The ManUp Mountain Meeting is a retreat away from all of the madness without distractions like cell phones and computers in order to zero in on the real problems plaguing the church.

The only power in the universe to impact and transform the mind is Holy Ghost power projected through men of God that are committed to prayer and fasting to break the chains that bind the masses.

Accommodations will be reserved based on the response, so it is imperative that when you commit to attending the meeting you immediately send your $100 deposit Omega Ministries, noting that it is for the ManUp Meeting.

We need more manpower to overcome the devil's power...it's time to MANUP!!

Come Fellowship at a Teaching Ministry

As our family returned from church this week, my father asked, "What do you all do there all this time?"  I offered for him to come with us and see for himself, but he declined.

I then said, we sing praise and worship for a while, we pray and there is teaching.  "What kind of teaching?", he asked.  I told him teaching out of God's word.

The purpose of church has been largely lost in terms of spending time studying and meditating on God's word versus being entertained.  Yet, there is a ministry whose focus is on building up disciples for the Body of Christ, and I invite you to come out and join us if you are able.

What:  Dunamis Tabernacle

Location: Atlanta Renaissance Hotel
1 Hartsfield Center Parkway
Atlanta, GA 30354

When:  Every Sunday, 10:00 am EST

Alternately, you can tune in via Livestream at the following link:  http://livestream.com/accounts/2720052

I hope to see you there!

The Normal Christian Birth

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:3-7

The following sermon is from Min. David Pawson as he explains what it means to be born again.

Many do not understand what it means to be born again and therefore are unprepared to live the Christian life.  They have not been born again, but have simply undertaken religious rituals without understanding what they mean or what they require in order to walk them out.

I believe that this series will be a tremendous blessing for many.  Please take some quiet time to listen and study regarding what has been said; it is worth it.  May God give us ears to hear His word.

What is the New Birth?

• The new birth is not instantaneous, but is a process.
• How you begin your spiritual life impacts how you live your spiritual life
• Many are leading others to Christ with religious euphemisms instead of biblical truths
• The Bible indicates four steps necessary to be born again:
• Repent
• Believe
• Be Baptized in Water
• Receive the Holy Spirit
• All four steps are acts of men (constituting conversion), but they are also acts of God (constituting regeneration).  At every stage, man is doing something and God is doing something; it is a beautiful cooperation.

It's the Same Son

During my doctor's visit on Saturday, the Lord gave me the topic for this article and told me what the title should be.  When I got home, I started writing it.  However, there was one Scripture He wanted me to include, and I told Him that I wasn't sure how to tie that all together.

Since I had some questions, I stopped writing it until I received the answer.  Then in church the next day, a video was shown that answered every question (I have included that below).  It is so wonderful to me how the Father is a personal God.  He knows and hears every petition of our hearts.

Okay, so I have an easy science question for you. Let's say you set some ice cubes out before a hot sun. What is going to happen?  The cubes are going to melt.

Now let's place some clay pots before that same sun.  What will happen?  The clay will get harder. See, I told you this was easy. :-)

Is it the sun which causes the ice to melt?  Yes.

Is it the sun which causes the clay to harden?  Yes.

So how can the same sun cause such different reactions? The difference is due to the varying make-up of the objects in the sun.  It is the same with God.  Some people can be exposed to God and their hearts will melt; others can be exposed to God, and the hearts become harder.  It is the same God who causes the result, but the difference is based upon the condition of the object.

The Purpose of the Church?

The purpose of the church is to reflect the life of Christ in the world. Unless you are transformed to bear the image of Truth - who is Jesus Christ - you will seek hopelessly to emulate this life. Being ignorant of this distinction, most church folks are walking in the flesh, but calling it walking in the Spirit.  It is critical to know the difference.

The Deception of Religion

But I Follow After

"Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:8-14

As I read through the above text today, I saw a breakout to the text which I hadn't seen before.  I am sharing it below, not to redefine how you see the text, but to outline what I saw in case it benefits your own studies.

There seemed to be a relationship to the words that I hadn't previously noticed.  Paul expresses several goals in this text, as well as what is needed to reach each goal.  His goals are to:

Goal	Requirement
Win Christ	Suffer the loss of all things by counting them all as loss and considering them all as dung in exchange for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus.
Be Found in Christ	Made right with God and being imparted His righteousness through faith in Christ, not pursuing my own righteousness (self-righteousness) by attempting to follow the law (or any other self-effort).
Know Christ	Experience the power of His resurrection, share in His sufferings, and be made conformable to Christ's death.
Attain the Resurrection of the Dead	All of the above: win Christ, be found in Christ, and know Christ.

Jezebel By Any Other Name

Someone referenced the news article, Bill Cosby’s wife says accusers ‘consented’ to drugs and sex, saying that her stance is an example of unconditional love.

This is not unconditional love. If you don't take anything else from this blog, I hope you get this absorbed into the deepest part of your being: the requirement for love to be present is selflessness.  If someone is pursuing their own interests, reputation, pleasure...that is NOT love.

Neither does this show that Camille Cosby is a "ride or die" chick, as she is being called by some now.  What this really presents is a glimpse of the behind the scenes reality when sodomites marry, presenting only an illusion/mockery of the institution of marriage (if you don't know what that means, see the link).

You have the weak, lust-filled man who is up front as the puppet, while the hard, "without natural affection" woman pulls the strings.

It is tragic. It is sickening.  It is damnable.

Go Tell That Fox!

"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." Luke 13:31-32

It just tickles me to no end to read things about my Lord and Savior which shows that He was a real person.  The world likes to paint a caricature of a Jesus who is always smiling with open arms as people spit in His face. Yet Jesus told it like it was.

One of the first things that stands out in this text is the hypocrisy of religious people. The Pharisees come to Jesus under the guise of warning Him about Herod, so that He would not be killed. Yet, they wanted Jesus dead too and were conspiring to kill Him (Matthew 26:3-5; Matthew 21:45-46; Luke 19:47-48; Luke 22:2; John 11:47-53).  In fact, when Jesus later confronted them about this fact, they denied it, claiming He had a devil.  (John 7:19-45; John 8:37-59).

Isn't that just like religious folks?  They smile in your face, but all the time are plotting to stab you in the back. And when you call out their lying out, you're the one who is supposed to have a demon!

Nesting

When a woman is pregnant and close to giving birth, it is said that she might feel a burst of energy and the instinctive need to start ensuring her house is in order to prepare for the child's soon arrival. They call this "nesting".

Well, I am not sure if that is what is going on with me, but I feel the need to get things in order.  I feel as if I am preparing for a transition, and not in the religious/worldly way that term is often thrown around.  I have no idea what God is preparing me for, but I have really felt the urge to close out a lot of those "I'll get to it one day" items and to get my house in order.

God had already shown me some years ago that this blog would have its end.  That was almost 4 years ago, and I think, "Gosh Lord, it sure has been a long time since then."  Yet, then I remember that God informed David that he would be King some thirty-odd years before it actually happened, so...

No, I am not comparing myself to David or saying I will be a king.  LOL  I am merely noting that sometimes God gives us advance warning of a change because He was to take a while to forge us into what we need to be in order to take that next step with Him.

God Wants to Save You

God wants to save you, but you must make a choice: an eternity with Him or an eternity without Him.

The Lord doesn't force you to choose. He leaves it up to you.

He also doesn't hide anything from you; He openly tells you the result of each choice.

• An Eternity with the Lord - An abundance of life (Matthew 25:46; John 10:10; I John 2:25). No more death and no more tears (Isaiah 25:8).  There is a specific place prepared for you akin to a mansion (John 14:2).  You will be clothed in righteousness and covered by the presence of the Lord, to worship Him night and day (Revelation 7:13-15).  You will never be hungry or thirsty again and Jesus will comfort your every concern (Revelation 7:16-17).  There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore and you will receive all that is in the Kingdom of God as your inheritance (Matthew 25:34; I Peter 1:4; Revelation 21:4-7).  Priceless riches permeate the city, made of pure gold and precious stones (Revelation 21:18-21).  There is no concept of aging and you will enjoy the fruits of your own labor, for every work you perform will be productive (Isaiah 65:19-23).  There will be no more curses, no more night time at all, and no need for any light outside of the light that comes from Jesus; you will reign with God in the Kingdom (Isaiah 60:19-20; Revelation 3:21; Revelation 21:22-25; Revelation 22:3-6). You will have fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).
• An Eternity without the Lord - Everlasting fire, everlasting contempt, everlasting punishment, and everlasting destruction (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41-46; I Thessalonians 1:9). Eternal fire where the worm never dies (Mark 9:44-49; Jude 1:7).  A resurrection unto damnation (John 5:29). Eternal torment in a lake of fire and brimstone causing weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:42-50; Luke 16:22-24; Revelation 14:10-11; Revelation 21:8).

Just consider these options at face value.  No one in their right mind would choose an eternity of torment in Hell fire over an eternity of joy, peace, and love. Yet people do every single hour of every day. Why? Because they have fallen for the okey-doke.

Proving Yourself to the World

I have seen some Christians seemingly list a number of disclaimers prior to attempting to speaking the Gospel.

I am not trying to judge...I love everyone... I hate the sin, but love the sinner...I am not trying to push my beliefs on anyone...I respect everyone's rights... 

Why take such pains to prove that you align with what the world considers a "Christian"?

Why go to such lengths to prove that you are "loving"?

Why the preface to prove that you are not "judging"?

Why feel the need to prove yourself to the world?

I don't recall any disciple of Christ ever taking this attitude, and I have to think it is because they just didn't care.

I am not saying that they didn't care about the people.  Clearly they cared about the people anytime they took the time to tell them the truth.  I am saying that they didn't care how people responded to the message.  Why?  Because they trusted the Holy Spirit.  The trusted the Holy Spirit to guide them in what to say (and how to say it) and they trusted the Holy Spirit to give understanding to those with ears to hear.  And they knew that many would not have ears to hear.

Two Natures At War

All around the world, we are seeing evidence of two natures at war. Do you know why? Which one are you?

Will You Secede?

"Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." John 14:30

The prince of this world is coming. Does he have anything in you?

If so, then it is time for a secession.

It is time to break ties with anything that looks, tastes, feels, or sounds like the world.  It is time to break off all alliances and end all compromises.  It is time for us to become crucified to the world and for the world to be crucified to us.

"But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." Galatians 6:14

We have held on long enough to people, possessions, relationships, reputations, hurts, fears, etc. You cannot drag these things into the Kingdom of God.  Yet at the same time, these things will keep you back from the Kingdom.

There are people lying to you, telling you that the Kingdom of God is all about building up some earthly dominion in this world.  They call it "Kingdom Business" as they focus on making money, acquiring possessions, expanding professional networks, and becoming a person of renown.  There is nothing wrong with having possessions, just don't let them start to possess you.

Haven't you heard that the Kingdom of God is not of this world; it is righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14:17)?

"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." John 18:36

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?

"And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way. 

And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

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.

The Old Cross and the New

I was asked by a brother in the Lord to share an article which was originally posted on our expired message board, so I thought I would post it here.  It is an excerpt from The Dwelling Place of God (1966) by A. W. Tozer.

The old cross was a rugged, worn, blood-stained torture device used to bring about the death or end of the man hanging on it.

The new cross is reduced to a mere symbol of that, becoming a source of pride for the flesh to show off, while affecting no change in man...except perhaps to make him worse.

Thank God for men such as A.W. Tozer, who could see the pitfalls in the Church even back then and didn't hesitate to sound the warning.

A. W. Tozer, Man, the Dwelling Place of God
ALL UNANNOUNCED AND MOSTLY UNDETECTED there has come in modern times a new cross into popular evangelical circles. It is like the old cross, but different: the likenesses are superficial; the differences, fundamental.

From this new cross has sprung a new philosophy of the Christian life, and from that new philosophy has come a new evangelical technique-a new type of meeting and a new kind of preaching. This new evangelism employs the same language as the old, but its content is not the same and its emphasis not as before.

The old cross would have no truck with the world. For Adam's proud flesh it meant the end of the journey. It carried into effect the sentence imposed by the law of Sinai. The new cross is not opposed to the human race; rather, it is a friendly pal and, if understood aright, it is the source of oceans of good clean fun and innocent enjoyment. It lets Adam live without interference. His life motivation is unchanged; he still lives for his own pleasure, only now he takes delight in singing choruses and watching religious movies instead of singing bawdy songs and drinking hard liquor. The accent is still on enjoyment, though the fun is now on a higher plane morally if not intellectually.

The new cross encourages a new and entirely different evangelistic approach. The evangelist does not demand abnegation of the old life before a new life can be received. He preaches not contrasts but similarities. He seeks to key into public interest by showing that Christianity makes no unpleasant demands; rather, it offers the same thing the world does, only on a higher level. Whatever the sin-mad world happens to be clamoring after at the moment is cleverly shown to be the very thing the gospel offers, only the religious product is better.

The Whole Truth

A sister in the Lord contacted me saying that she had attempted to post a comment to the last article, but for some reason was unable to.  Therefore she sent it to me directly.

In the comment was a link to a blog post speaking about how the "Mother" Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, SC - the scene of a recent tragic slaying - was an apostate church steeped in freemasonry.  She wanted me to post it on her behalf because she thought it was important for people to know the whole truth about this situation.

Honestly, I knew that this church was a part of Babylon when the news referenced the church's women pastors.  Anyone who is born again would know that women cannot be pastors in the Church of God.  Somehow, that knowledge was enough for me.  While I don't dispute the research presented in the linked blog post, I have to wonder, "Why was that necessary?"

In a recent article about the shootings, the interim pastor stated:

"The blood of the Mother Emmanuel Nine requires us to work until not only justice in this case, but for those who are still living in the margin of life, those who are less fortunate than ourselves, that we stay on the battlefield until there is no more fight to be fought."

Is it not clear that this is a worldly endeavor?  They are not waging a spiritual war empowered by the blood of Jesus Christ.  They are fighting to defend the blood of man in order to bring people a perceived version of justice and comfort in this life.  Such is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Get Off Your Knees & Stop Praying!

"Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." Luke 21:10

The Scriptures warn that in the last days "nation will rise against nation."

The word translated as "nation" here is the Greek word ethnos, which references in part ethnicity.  It lets us know that racial tensions will be prevalent in the days before Christ's return. This makes perfect sense because II Timothy tells us what the character of those outside of Christ will be in the last days:

"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 

For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." II Timothy 3:1-7

The root of the peril we will increasingly face is because men have become lovers of their own selves. Whether manifested as racism, gay pride, etc., this love of self, or pride, is the root behind every other wicked attribute noted in the above Scripture.  Satan was cast out from Heaven due to pride, and those who are inspired by his spirit will have that same trait.

Is there such a thing as racism?  There sure is!  Is that the real battle?  No it is not.  I don't mean to imply that the repercussions of racism are not real.  They certainly are.  My point is that there is another war behind the facade which has nothing to do with race.

It is a shame to watch evil occur and do nothing.  It is a crying shame to be deceived by a false flag into fighting a battle that will never bring victory because the true enemy is not in your targets.

Why The Gospel HAD To Be Organic

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." Romans 1:16

I recently posted that the book The Organic Gospel is now available, both in print and in eBook format.  I urge you again to get and share a copy of this book.

Friends, this is not about mere book promotion, but about getting into the hands of those who love God and those who need God (and that should be everyone) a message that cuts through the deceptions of religion and points you to the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The devil has done a wonderful job of blinding the minds of men to God's plan of salvation (even those in church) because he aims to pervert the image of God in man.  As long as he can keep man from being born again  - being supernaturally and organically transformed by the Spirit of God to be a new creature - he can keep man bound and alienated from God (Colossians 1:21). Yet, if we can present to people the truths of the Gospel, then there will be a clear call upon their hearts to make a choice. While they may not choose the True & Living way, it will no longer be due to ignorance.

The Cross In My Life

The following message from Derek Prince is entitled, "The Cross in My Life."  It is a great message for those desiring the pure milk and meat of the Gospel.

The Organic Gospel

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

I had mentioned previously that my pastor and I were writing a book entitled, "The Organic Gospel".   Praise be to God, the book has been printed and is now available.

It is our hope that this book will be a resource for those looking beyond mere religion to find once again the simplicity that is in Christ.  Too many people - including professing Christians - claim to be saved, but have no knowledge of what salvation really is.

• Why must man be saved?
• What are we being saved from?
• How is salvation wrought in the life of man?
• What does it mean to be "saved"?

The story of man's salvation is manifested in the Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation, to be a supernatural, organic work of God as He transforms man into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ.

The Private War of a Saint

For all of those who are fighting a personal private battle, may the Lord strengthen and encourage you to trust and fight until you receive your breakthrough.

It is Simple...He Lives

As I was listening to a radio station today, they started playing a snippet from a local minister's sermon.  His topic: Why I believe in Jesus.

"Okay", I thought.  "This should be interesting."

Then the man proceeded to speak about all the evidences for Jesus' resurrection and how the accusations trying to dispel this fact - such as Jesus' body being stolen by his disciples - just didn't make sense.

I was immediately saddened to hear this.  THAT is why he believes in Jesus?  Because his mind tells him that such is the logical choice?  What about when it comes to things he doesn't comprehend? What happens when someone is able to poke "logical" holes in his understanding?

It is wonderful to have logical evidence to support your faith in Jesus Christ.  He is after all the logos (John 1:1, 14) and there are many evidences to His existence.  However, that alone cannot be the foundation of your faith.  Your faith in God cannot merely be the product of your own mind, your own way of thinking, or what you think is provable in the here and now.  In such cases, you are no better off than the Buddhist or the Muslim, who have sincere faith, but are sincerely wrong.

You're In The Army Now

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." II Timothy 2:3-4

I have been traveling quite a bit with my job lately.  On a recent trip, I was in a shuttle van with military doctors.  The most senior doctor told us many stories on the way, but this one in particular stuck out to me.  He stated:

I was assigned for three months on the base, and a soldier came in to have his wisdom teeth pulled.  The soldier said, "My brother-in-law is a dentist, and he said that I don't have to have my wisdom teeth pulled."

I asked him, "Son, is your brother-in-law a military dentist?"

"No", he replied. "He is a civilian." 

"Well son," I said, "From the day you signed up for this Army, your life and your body have belonged to Uncle Sam.  And Uncle Sam has decided that you need to get your teeth pulled.  So you can either sit in this chair and get your teeth pulled or you can walk out and be discharged from the Army." 

Still, the soldier kept questioning, "But I don't understand why I have to do this...Can you just explain to me what the reasoning is...Why can't I just leave them in?"   

I said, "Look, you have two choices.  Sit in this chair or leave and get discharged from the Army."  Honestly, I was so tired of all his sissy talking that I was ready for him to leave either way.

This guy actually wrote a letter to my Colonel complaining about how I didn't properly explain to him why the procedure was needed and what I was going to do.  When my Colonel called me before him, I thought I might be in trouble, but he balled up the letter and threw it in the trash saying, "We don't have time for this.  We are trying to fight a war."  

The Army of God

"The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. 

Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD. 

So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. 

Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army." Ezekiel 37:1-10

The Lord is bringing together again His Body for a time of refreshing and fellowship at The Army of God conference.  Look forward to seeing you there!

For more information & registration details, please see below:

The Army of God
May 22 - 25, 2015
One Hartsfield Centre Parkway Atlanta, GA 30354

Agenda: http://omegaministries.org/Events/Home/Event?eventId=9

Registration: https://omegaministries.org/Events/Home/Register?eventId=9