A Sleeping Narcissist

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Jonah 4:9-11 And God said to Jonah, Do you do well to be angry for the loss of the gourd? And he said, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die!10 Then said the Lord, You have had pity on the gourd, for which you have not labored nor made it grow, which came up in a night and perished in a night.11 And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons not [yet old enough to] know their right hand from their left, and also many cattle [not accountable for sin]?

All Jonah cared about was himself and his comfort. His self-centeredness went so deep that he turned a blind eye to the possible deaths of 120,000 children. What’s really interesting regarding this passage is that God not only cared for the cruel Ninevites, and their children, He also cared for the cattle that would die if He brought judgment and destruction. But not Jonah.

In the 1980’s the psychological designation of narcissus began to pick up popular, cultural steam as it entered pop psychology designating someone we used to categorize as self-centered. Sunday, August 24 I googled the question: What do you call someone who stubbornly refuses to change their behavior? I was surprised by one of the articles I discovered. It stated: “People with narcissistic personality disorder are extremely resistant to changing their behavior, even when it’s causing problems.”

What is repentance? Change. First it begins with an acknowledgement that you have missed God’s Perfect Way of Love. Next it culminates with a change of mind which leads to a change in lifestyle. Elul is a time of conversion and repentance in order to seek God.

Jnh. 1:5-6 – Jonah refused to have his mind changed – refused to be teachable – regarding his responsibility for his neighbors. How many messages have you heard, repeating the same theme, that you have refused to change your mind, behavior, actions or attitude about? Are you Christ-centered or self-centered in your lifestyle and actions? Is it possible to be a follower of Jesus and still remain a narcissist? Are you teachable? Is your thinking aligning more with the truths of God’s Word and the example of Christ than the lies of this world and popular culture? Has your thinking and lifestyle been changed to be more in line with Jesus and His Word in the past year or would others state you have remained relatively the same?

Jnh. 1:6; 2:1-2 – Jonah had become faithless in prayer – choosing sleep over praying for his neighbors. Jesus told Disciples – Followers of Jesus – to watch and pray. Would you characterize your spiritual life as watching and praying? Do you watch and pray with Jesus? Do you have a daily quiet time with the Lord? Do you sleep while a small minority remain faithful in prayer? Are you sleeping while third world countries and believers are spending sleepless nights in prayer? Are you spending time in leisure while brothers and sisters around the world faithfully pray as they face the threat of death, rape, persecution, torture, beating and imprisonment? What does your prayer life reveal about your faith?

Pitch Black

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Jonah 2:4 But the Lord sent out a great wind upon the sea, and there was a violent tempest on the sea so that the ship was about to be broken.

How many of you know that when a storm breaks out on the ocean it becomes pretty dark? Now imagine being Jonah in which the storm looks dark, and angry. Most likely the sun is obscured from his view. Now multiply that darkness by being throwing into the ocean depths in which you begin sinking down out of what little light was available to you. Finally, let’s add to your darkness a fish that engulfs you – whole. But wait. It becomes worse. You are alone without God because you have been fleeing from His Presence. That’s a tangible darkness – thick and unending (like being in a cavern when they turn out the light).

What do you do? Psalm 119:130 The entrance of Thy Words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. That word simple can mean foolish or open-minded. Our culture has been engulfed in darkness by being so open-minded their brains are falling out. Sadly, many have yet to recognize they are drowning in destruction, sinking into a hell that will never spit them out. What’s greater than a lost person’s darkness? The darkness of being a so-called follower of Jesus, and not living up to who He created you to be. The good news is Psalm 119:130. Jesus’ Light comes through the entrance of His Word. His word can enter any situation when you break agreement with what has plunged you into spiritual darkness. Simply by confessing where you have missed His Way and His Word – His Vision for mankind – you come back in to alignment harmonizing with the One Who (according to the rabbis) sung you into existence.

How did Jonah loose the Light of God’s Word into the darkness of His situation? Acknowledging God’s existence, and inadvertently confessing where He had walked away from God. Strangely, Jonah never seems to recognize his own glaring sins. What were some of the sins of Jonah that we share in?

Jnh. 1:5-6 – Pagan sailors feared God’s judgment more than Jonah. Many of the parables of Jesus, and 1 Corinthians 3 makes it clear that our works will be judged by fire. Paul simply asks in 1 Corinthians 3, Don’t you know that you are a temple of God and you will be rewarded or possibly lose your reward – in the Final Judgment? Scripture reveals in the book of Revelations Jesus will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Why are they crying? Do unbelievers fear God’s Judgment more than you? Do unbelievers fear the Scrutiny of God’s judgment more than you? Sure, they talk a good talk until they know eternity approaches. What about you?

Jnh. 1:5-6 – Jonah chose apathy and complacency over the spiritual condition of Assyria and Nineveh. Do you have an apathetic and complacent view regarding those around you who may spend an eternity in hell? Do you pray regularly for the lost? Do you engage people in conversations regarding eternal matters or does fear of man silence your voice? Do you fear man more than you fear God?

    How Low Can You Go?

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    Jonah 2:1, 5-6 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the fish’s belly,…The waters compassed me about, even to [the extinction of] life; the abyss surrounded me, the seaweed was wrapped about my head.6 I went down to the bottoms and the very roots of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever. Yet You have brought up my life from the pit and corruption, O Lord my God.

    You don’t get much lower than being surrounded by the abyss and traveling to the bottoms of the mountains. But that’s how low Jonah was lodged in the fish’s belly. How many of you have been there? Isolated, alone, and feeling like the only thing you have left is God (and even that doesn’t feel like enough). The interesting paradox is you are not alone. Others are feeling alone, and that God has abandoned them to their circumstances. Yet Scripture says that is precisely the place He can be found: Isaiah 57:15 “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

    What does it mean to be contrite? It means that you feel like you have been crushed, broken, cast down, and made to feel very small. The word lowly implies you have gone as low as you can go, or to humble yourself. Interestingly the Hebrew word for lowly finds it reference to a mountain. How does a mountain become low? The implication is, physically speaking, from an earth bound perspective a mountain is about as high as you can get. For that mountain to be humbled it would have to be leveled, scraped from the earth, sifted, and its debris leveled.

    How do you get delivered from the belly of this world system that seeks to chew, devour, and spit you out? Seek for and meet with God. Not in the heights of Heaven but in the depths of your earth. You see you are a son or daughter of Adam. In other words you are but dust. The good news is this is the very place Jesus kneels to make you new. The Hebrew word for bless implies kneeling before, or bending low in order to impart favor, grace, and prosperity. Picture that: The Creator of the Universe kneels before you to impart Grace. What does this mean? If you want to meet with the Godhead you have to join Him in the dust of that which is out of alignment, and harmony with His Holiness (otherness, uniqueness, separateness from all that is average, normal, and expected) In other words you have to acknowledge where you have sinned, or broken agreement with Who He is and God’s original design.

    Susanah Wesley, the mother of John and Charles Wesley, was once asked to define sin. She defined it as: anything that weakens one’s reason, impairs their conscience, obscures their sense of God, or diminishes their interest in spiritual things. Essentially, anything that gives the body undue influence over the mind, even if seemingly innocent, is considered sin. Interestingly enough you can actually find a list of things to confess simply by reading the book of Jonah. If you want to seek Jesus in order to meet with Him you have to meet Him in the dust of confession, agreeing with Him about where you have broken agreement.

    May I encourage you that during this season of repentance and seeking God that you commit to pray daily the prayer of Jonah for forty days, identifying with Jonah, and his many sins? Here are a few of Jonah’s sins you may need to confess:

    Similarities Between Jonah and Us:

    1. Jnh.1:1-3 – Jonah Seeks to run in disobedience from the Word of the Lord – ignoring it. Are you presently obeying all you know from the Word of God, or from His revealed will? Was there something preached yesterday you experienced conviction and correction that you need to put into practice today?
    2. Jnh. 1:3 – Seeks to pay a price to flee from God’s Presence , serving God, and others. Are you seeking God’s Manifested Presence and if so do seek to remain, or to abide? Are you currently, and actively seeking to serve God in personal worship, praise, thanksgiving and prayer on a daily basis? Are you currently serving others in your church or have you been more consumer oriented, centered in yourself, your wants, likes, and dislikes?

    Stuck in the Mud

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    Jonah 2:6 But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. What pit was Jonah referring? The belly of the great fish or the spiritual condition that led to the belly of the fish? Jonah 2:6 echoes Psalm 40:2. Psalm 40:2 states: He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings. What is miry clay? muddy, boggy or swampy soil conditions; deep, wet, sticky earth that is difficult to move through; damp, and squishy earth; wet spongy earth that is difficult to navigate or escape.

    Once Jackie and I were spending time with some good friends, Mark and Valerie Nelson, on an island in the Chesapeake Bay. Valeries Dad took us out in his boat to check on his crab pots near some of the marshy areas in the bay. Unfortunately we became stuck in the shallows and there was only one solution to getting unstuck. Get out of the boat and push it into deeper water. Thankfully Mark had the presence of mind to recommend we remove our flip flops before plunging over the side of the boat. Why was that a good thing? When we jumped out of the boat we sunk knee deep in slimy, squishy, stinky mud. The flip flops would have become a permanent possession of what the Psalmist referred to as miry clay. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing miry clay you know that it is difficult to walk and navigate through. (As the Nelsons and the Shaws soon discovered). For you see we had to lift our knees near our chests to simply get them unstuck from the muck (and oh, how delightful we smelled). Each step required considerable effort and after several steps we dislodged the boat.

    Why do we need to seek God? Life’s circumstances quickly lead us to being swallowed up in its’ grip causing our lives to begin to stink with the miry clay of this world system. Like Jonah, the big fish of life begins swallowing us whole, digesting, and reducing our lives to a living waste.

    Initially, it seemed strange to discover that at the height of Jewish repentance their go-to book in the Bible was, and still is, Jonah. It was strange until I began meditating realizing that I too had been swallowed by a great fish. That I too had become stuck in a pit, and in the miry clay of the Babylonian, Jezebel world system. It had taken its toll. The awareness of my spiritual plight grew as I prayed Jonah’s prayer. As I prayed my mind protested, How does this apply to me? I’m not like Jonah. I haven’t run from what God commanded me to do. I’ve not jumped ship, gone AWOL, or UA from my responsibilities. I’m not derelict in my duty, nor have I deserted my post. All of that sounded good till the Lord broke through my protest asking, What are you standing on Robert? Are you standing in humility, and obedience? Are you fighting the good fight of faith? Is your life marked by a constant changing of your thoughts to conform to My Word and the Spirit? Has your love for the lost and prodigals become like Jonah’s? If you love Me why don’t you obey Me without question? (For obedience is Jesus’ love language) When was the last time prayer wasn’t a chore or labor?

    After the smoke cleared from the fires of my conviction I realized that the book of Jonah was indeed a great guide for leading us to repentance. Yesterday’s blog asked, How do we go about seeking the Lord? Today revealed part of the answer. Humble yourself. Humble yourself admitting you have need of Jesus and you have not arrived in all that you have ascertained of Him.

    “We leak!”

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    James 4:7-8 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 

    The Jewish month of Elul begins today, Monday, August 25 and extends to September, 23, 2025. What significance does that have for us as followers of Yeshua? Elul prepares the Jewish people for the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah (Monday, September 22 – Wednesday, September 24, 2025 or according to God’s Calendar then year 5786). This new year is followed by a ten day period of prayer, self-examination and repentance. It is the custom that during the month of Elul, the celebrations of Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur that a shofar (ram’s horn) is blown indicating that it’s time for the spiritually complacent, those who have fallen asleep spiritually, are needing to wake up. Is this what Paul had in mind when he wrote: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”? (Eph. 5:14) Some may be tempted to say, Well that’s simply legalism; an Old Testament practice. Why do we need to seek God when we already have Him living in our hearts? Which, on the surface, appears to be a good question. Yet, they totally discount the New Testament Scripture that exhorts the same. It’s interesting how we have a selective process of reading Scripture. We often look for the things that support our opinions rather than allowing the truth to change us and lead us to change our thinking and way of living. Case in point? James 4:7-8 was written as an exhortation to the church; people that were followers of Jesus. What did James exhort them to do? Submit, and draw near to God, resist the devil, cleanse your heart, etc. Why would these people, who have Jesus living inside, are temples of the Spirit, have forgiveness of sins, and have been declared that they are not guilty, need to seek after God? For the same reason that “these” people have left Jesus outside of His church service – knocking trying to get in, have become lukewarm in their love and zeal for Jesus, and His Word, have become hard-hearted, and the list just keeps on giving. C.H. Spurgeon was once asked, Why do we need to keep asking to be filled with the Spirit? His response? “We leak!”

    I guess a more pertinent question would be to ask, Do you believe Jesus is about to return at any time? Do you believe He will come and tabernacle with us? (indicating the time of year He is planning on returning – the Feast of Tabernacles) Your answers to these questions results in a follow up question: Do you desire to have Jesus say to you, Well done, My good and faithful servant? or Depart from Me I never knew you? Many would say, But I know Jesus. To which I would reply, Are you making Jesus known? Any of us who claim to know Jesus would be about the business of making Jesus known. Any one of us who knows Jesus would be demonstrating their love and gratitude through uncompromised obedience, submission, and surrender to His Spirit and Word. Any one of us who truly knows Jesus would be living a lifestyle of having their thinking, and lifestyles changed to conform more fully to His example and word.

    Renewing our seeking after the Presence of Jesus calls us back to True Center of Who we have drifted from. In other words, We leak! Now the question becomes, How do you seek after Jesus? What does that look like in a follower of Jesus’ life?

    The Stance of the Gospel of Peace

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    Nahum 1:15 Behold, on the mountains the feet of him who brings good tidings, who proclaims peace! O Judah, keep your appointed feasts,
    perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; he is utterly cut off.

    The root meaning for the root word “good tidings” especially pertained to military encounters whose messenger was fresh from the field of battle. The news that would be brought regarding the battle was the good news of victory. The prophet Nahum refers to the “wicked one.” The New Testament equivalent for this word is Belial. Paul refers to it in 2 Cor. 6:15: What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? NIV Paul is using this name to refer to satan.

    What’s the good news of Nahum? Belial, the wicked one, has been utterly cut off. How is he cut off? By the message of the Good News. What is the message of the Good News? For us as believers in Jesus it’s all about the His Blood. But how is this Good News Activated? It’s in the feet of those who proclaim peace or shalom. Paul refers to this in Ephesians 6:15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. The messenger stands on Peace and in Peace. That is their warfare because their trust is in the Prince of Peace. This is how they fight the Good Fight of Faith.

    A stance is everything in fighting. It’s your foundation and base. If your foundation, or base, is out of balance you will surely fall. If your foundation, or base, is out of balance neither your offense nor your defense will be effective because the enemy already has you off balance. We overcome our enemy by the Good News of the Blood and the Peace that Good News brings. Revelation 12:9-11 (911!!!) reminds us: And the huge dragon was cast down and out—that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him.10 Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come—the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out!11 And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].

    That Blood works because of the One Who sacrificed His Life that we might live. Yet it’s only activated in those who do not cling to life but face death head on. The Apostles were always facing death and Paul reminded us of it: Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter.37 Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us.38 For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers,39 Nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 8:36-39)

    Yet in the midst of their for Jesus, to themselves, and for others, they became more than conquerors and gained a victory. This is why Paul reminded the Ephesians: Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. (Eph. 6:11) He repeats this topic of standing in verses 13-14: Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth….(Eph. 6:13-14) The conclusion? Tighten up on the Truth, the Gospel, the Blood of Jesus. Know what His Blood and Gospel has secured and fight the Good Fight of Faith knowing that Resurrection Life awaits those who gladly lay down their lives for the Reward of the Lamb and for His suffering! The Battle is won by the proclamation of what His Blood has done. When you feel defeated and discouraged begin to remind the enemy what Jesus’ Blood has done and proclaim it aloud never forgetting your stance is everything. Remember your stance is everything.

    Two Minds?

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    1 Corinthians 2:16 For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart.

    This is a profound promise. It’s truly intriguing when you compare 1 Corinthians 2:16 with Romans 12:2. Romans 12:2 states: Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude],….

    Since we have the Mind of Jesus according to the promise of 1 Corinthians 2 why do we need to renew our minds, or our thought processes? How can a born-again, follower of Jesus have the perfect, untainted mind of Jesus and have a mind that needs to be transformed (metamorphosised), and renewed to the Mind of Christ? James 1:8 echoes this: [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything…To make matters worse the Apostle Paul states: Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].7 [That is] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God’s Law; indeed it cannot. In this passage in Romans 8:6-7 Paul states that not only do we have the Mind of Christ, we have the Mind of the Holy Spirit. In fact verse seven states in some translations that the mind of the flesh or soul is at enmity with God. It’s at war with God, hostile toward God, and is His enemy.

    How can this be? According to the Bible you can deduce we are triune in similar ways the Godhead is Triune. We consist of body, soul, and spirit. Now I can’t speak for you but my experience has shown that even after I know I have been born-again, and have a personal relationship with the Godhead, I have done, and said things that were not Christ-like. How can this be? I have Jesus living in me. One day my body is going to die. Does that mean Jesus dies with my body or is there a more powerful explanation to the paradox? I have experienced some pretty demonic, dark, and evil thoughts in my mind and at times those thoughts seem to override anything I know in Scripture, and seemingly even Jesus Himself. How can this be since Jesus lives in me? Other questions arise: How can one be a born-again follower of Jesus and still be sick: mentally, emotionally, spiritually or physically? The answer is simple when you include the trichotomy of man: body, soul and spirit. My spirit possesses the Mind of Christ; it is sanctified, saintly, and holy; its seated in heavenly places with Jesus; it is not guilty, washed in the Blood of Jesus; brought to life through Jesus. BUT my soul fights against the things of God; houses unclean things; needs the transforming power of the Spirit and the Word. The mind of my soul needs to come into conformity to the Spirit and Word of God. But not the mind of my spirit.

    So what is the solution to this paradox? 1 Corinthians 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified. To know Jesus and Him crucified is more than knowing the facts of Jesus’ Crucifixion. It is to know the crucified life Jesus was born into and lived every day of His human existence. To know this aspect of Jesus is to seek to live it. In other words to be crucified with Jesus; or to pick up your cross daily and live the crucified life with Him. To embrace the Truths of His Word by putting them into practice and obeying them – all of them. Quite simply if you were to disregard the “Thou Shalt Not’s” and make your focus the “Thou Shalts” you will have plenty of opportunities to die with Jesus, and see that soulish, rebellious mind submit to the Mind of Jesus. The good news? Resurrection awaits each death and you never out give God. You reap what you sow into: soul or spirit. You become more fully alive spiritually to Jesus, Who has lived, and in some respects presently living the crucified life. (He is still long-suffering for us in prayer)

    Burning With Zeal, Sons of God, Volcanos and Earthquakes

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    Micah 1:2 Hear, all you people; listen closely, O earth and all that is in it, and let the Lord God be witness among you and against you, the Lord from His holy temple.

    What is going on? Have you read some of the headline news regarding global, seismic events? Scientists Give LAST WARNING as Mount Rainier Triggers a Chain Eruption Across the Cascades; Russia earthquake has caused a ‘parade of volcanic eruptions’; Scientists warn one of world’s supervolcanoes is awakening: ‘It will plunge the planet into chaos’

    Why are these volcanoes and earthquakes being triggered around the world? Romans 8:19-22 states that there is a connection between mankind and earth: For [even the whole] creation (all nature) waits expectantly and longs earnestly for God’s sons to be made known [waits for the revealing, the disclosing of their sonship].20 For the creation (nature) was subjected to frailty (to futility, condemned to frustration), not because of some intentional fault on its part, but by the will of Him Who so subjected it—[yet] with the hope21 That nature (creation) itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrance] into the glorious freedom of God’s children.22 We know that the whole creation [of irrational creatures] has been moaning together in the pains of labor until now. Nature, earth, and all creation is linked to our freedom, as the manifest sons’ of God.

    Jesus used nature as a sign symptomatic of His Return inMatthew 24:7-8: For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in place after place;8 All this is but the beginning [the early pains] of the birth pangs [of the intolerable anguish]. Are the earthquakes and volcanoes increasing because the birth pangs, or spiritual contractions of all creation are hearing the Voice of the Lord, the Living Word of God approaching? Question is, Are we listening?

    Seven more signs are listed in Matthew 24:10-14: And then many will be offended and repelled and will begin to distrust and desert [Him Whom they ought to trust and obey] and will stumble and fall away and betray one another and pursue one another with hatred.11 And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error.12 And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity,13 But he who endures to the end will be saved.14 And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end. What are the seven signs? Offense, Distrust or Unbelief, Falling Away from Jesus, Deceit, Love Grows Cold, Multiplied Lawlessness, AND the Gospel being preached to the whole world.

    1 Peter 2:7-8 states: To you then who believe (who adhere to, trust in, and rely on Him) is the preciousness; but for those who disbelieve [it is true], The [very] Stone which the builders rejected has become the main Cornerstone,8 And, A Stone that will cause stumbling and a Rock that will give [men] offense; they stumble because they disobey and disbelieve [God’s] Word, as those [who reject Him] were destined (appointed) to do. What is Peter saying? A similar thing that Jesus is saying: To the believer – the one trusting in Jesus, and obeying His Word – Jesus is Precious. They love and adore Him. But to those who are not trusting, who do not consider Jesus and His Word Precious, they are getting offended; they are stumbling over the offenses; they are falling away from the Lord. Their love for Jesus, His Word, and others is growing cold. They have forsaken what they were destined and appointed to do. To become sons of the Living, Most High God! To become little Christ’s – little anointed ones running with His Vision; His mission. Is that the point that Jesus is making to the Laodicean church? So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude]. (Rev. 3:19) Another way of stating burning with zeal is to say you are boiling hot. Jesus is the Burning Man and those who draw near to Him will burn with His fire. Is this why earthquakes and volcanoes are increasing?

    The Burning Man’s Approach is nearing and repentance begins with changed minds. Is your mind changing or have you been digging in your heels to an earth that is already shaking; already changing preparing to erupt? The sons of God are about to be revealed and the earth knows it. Question is: Will you be counted among their number? Are you listening?

    I’m Sorry I Love You, Man Eating Chicken, and Let’s Eat Grandma!?

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    Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a [real] Jew who is only one outwardly and publicly, nor is [true] circumcision something external and physical.29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and [true] circumcision is of the heart, a spiritual and not a literal [matter]. His praise is not from men but from God.

    Punctuation, or the lack thereof, can create multiple misunderstandings. Consider the following: Let’s eat Grandma! or Let’s eat, Grandma! Another example: I’m sorry I love you versus I’m sorry; I love you. One more example: Man eating chicken or Man-eating chicken?

    When the Bible was originally written there were no punctuation marks, or paragraphs. These were inserted and delineated by translators of the original texts. Case in point is the culmination of thought found in the passage listed above (Rom. 2:28-29). Paul lists several things that true Jews do and don’t do. (And may I add Paul was not advocating that Christians replaced Jews. That’s a heresy). One of the things true “Jews” don’t do is found in Romans 2:1 Therefore you have no excuse or defense or justification, O man, whoever you are who judges and condemns another. For in posing as judge and passing sentence on another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge are habitually practicing the very same things [that you censure and denounce]. True Jews, and by implication, true followers of Christ do not judge others. Now there is a lot of confusion regarding this topic. A popular cultural saying is, “Don’t be judging,” in response to anyone who disapproves of their lifestyle, behavior or actions. What could be confusing about this issue is when one erases the chapters, verses, and paragraphs of the Romans 2:1 passage. Why is this confusing? Let’s clump Romans 1:18, 31-32 with Romans 2:1: For God’s [holy] wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative.[They were] without understanding, conscienceless and faithless, heartless and loveless [and] merciless.32 Though they are fully aware of God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them. Therefore you have no excuse or defense or justification, O man, whoever you are who judges and condemns another. For in posing as judge and passing sentence on another, you condemn yourself, because you who judge are habitually practicing the very same things [that you censure and denounce]. Back to the original question: Why is this confusing? Isn’t Paul being “judgey” in denouncing the actions of those in the world, and “judgey” of the believers? Add to that, Aren’t we supposed to look at the world practicing the aforementioned sins and abominations and determine that those who live like this and approve of these actions deserve hell? The point the Apostle Paul is making simply echoes Jesus’ teaching on the matter. We are called to be fruit inspectors. In other words, That’s good fruit, and that’s bad fruit. But what we are not called to do or be is God. The key to understanding judging others is found in this phrase: “and passing sentence on another,…” Judging others crosses the line over into God’s jurisdiction. Only He knows the thoughts and motives of another. Only He can pass sentence on their actions. In other words, inspect the fruit, but leave the sentencing and verdict up to God. In addition to all of this, fruit inspectors do not, and will not repress and hinder the truth (Jesus) or make it inoperative. In other words fruit inspectors are not amateur Providences (reference Oswald Chambers often used classification) – dulling or softening the impact of the Sword which proceeds from Jesus Mouth. Why not? There’s the kiss of resurrection life and encountering Jesus on the other end. Why would any True Follower of Jesus, or Spiritual Jew, want to prevent that?

    Do you smell that?

    /in /by

    Jonah 1:3 So he paid the appointed fare and went down into the ship to go with them to Tarshish from being in the presence of the Lord [as His servant and minister].

    One question comes to mind: What price are you paying to NOT be surrendered to the Lord’s Presence in serving others? It’s a shame that ministry has been perverted, and twisted to the degree that is hard to recognize Jesus in the ministers who claim to represent Him. Where so-called ministers of the Lord become the served rather than the servers. I find it humorous that over the years some have felt the “call” to the ministry while having no desire to serve Jesus or the Body of Christ – they simply want a platform for their “gifts” or talents. Others seek to be in the “ministry” simply because it’s easy money and they don’t have to work like the rest of the world. But I digress.

    Another way of restating the previous question is to ask, What price are you willing to pay to NOT die for Jesus, or others? What’s the least you can give to Jesus and others and have the benefits of eternal life? I just spent some time journaling seeking to process some of the things that have transpired in my life since April. From the untimely death of my sister till now I listed at least seven different challenges that have assailed, and buffeted me. When I listed them one question rose to the surface: What purpose do these difficulties serve and why have I been spiritually assaulted? While pondering the answer to this question I recalled that several others have been going through similar challenges. Painful challenges. Following this realization the more pressing question became, What is on the horizon spiritually that the Lord is preparing us for its inevitability? Jonah’s fleeing from the Presence, and service to the Lord led to his life sinking into the belly of a fish. (Imagine how bad he stunk following the fish spitting him out on dry land).

    Only once in my walk with the Lord have I smelled His fragrance. I have known others within our church who have smelled the beauty of His visitation. Which raises the greatest question. The question we should all be asking: What difference is there between Jesus, you and me, and Jonah’s life? Are we getting closer to smelling like Jesus or Jonah? Jesus’ embrace of His Father’s Presence, and serving others, has caused His life and Presence to smell sweet. On the other hand, Jonah’s avoidance of God’s Presence, and his unwillingness to serve God and others caused his life to stink. The moral of the story? Self-centeredness stinks. Dying for Jesus, and to yourself, causes the fragrance of Jesus to be released bringing life to those around you. Isn’t it interesting how we send flowers to those who are grieving or sad? The flowers have to surrender their lives to bring sunshine and sweet, smelling fragrances to those who are enshrouded in darkness, and the stench of hopelessness, discouragement, and despair. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 states: But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere,15 For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:16 To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh]. And who is qualified (fit and sufficient) for these things? [Who is able for such a ministry? We?]

    Spirit-Filled

    /in /by

    Acts 2:42-47 And they steadfastly persevered, devoting themselves constantly to the instruction and fellowship of the apostles, to the breaking of bread [including the Lord’s Supper] and prayers.43 And a sense of awe (reverential fear) came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were performed through the apostles (the special messengers).44 And all who believed (who adhered to and trusted in and relied on Jesus Christ) were united and [together] they had everything in common;45 And they sold their possessions (both their landed property and their movable goods) and distributed the price among all, according as any had need.46 And day after day they regularly assembled in the temple with united purpose, and in their homes they broke bread [including the Lord’s Supper]. They partook of their food with gladness and simplicity and generous hearts,47 Constantly praising God and being in favor and goodwill with all the people; and the Lord kept adding [to their number] daily those who were being saved [from spiritual death].

    I was on a plane returning home from Africa and had a lengthy discussion with a retired pastor from a fundamental denominational persuasion. During our discussion I was often flabbergasted at his misinterpretation of Scripture, not to mention his self-assured, arrogant ignorance. Not only did he believe the supernatural manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit were limited to the 12 disciples, (and ceased to exist after their death) but he believed the church was birthed during the ministry of Jesus. What he failed to realize is that the church couldn’t be the Church, the Body of Christ, apart from the crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus. The other glaring truth, often ignored by modern Christians, he failed to recognize is that the church ceases to be the church apart from the Holy Spirit (Who birthed the Church in the Book of Acts). Let that sink in deep. You can’t be the church apart from the Spirit. You can’t be born-again apart from the Spirit. You can’t know Jesus apart from the Spirit. You can’t know the Word apart from the Spirit. You can’t get into Heaven apart from the Spirit. You can’t worship the way God the Father wants you to worship apart from the Spirit. Individual Christian or so-called Churches can do nothing of eternal significance apart from the Spirit. Is this why so many buildings with Church lettered on the outside have so little of God’s Presence on the inside? And is this the key to why so many church attenders believe church attendance is optional? Why so many believe devotion to the Word (the Apostles teaching), fellowship, communion, praise and worship, prayer, giving, gathering in each other’s homes – is optional? Because Baptism, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit has been ignored and dismissed?

    Years ago I mistakenly learned that the sign someone had been baptized in the Spirit was speaking in tongues. I say mistakenly because it’s only – A Sign – one sign, of the Baptism but not the only sign. The other signs of a Spirit-filled life are listed above. This is what made the gathering of the believers more than a day at the country club, or gathering around a table playing bridge. All these “signs” – devotion to the Word (the Apostles teaching), fellowship, communion, praise and worship, prayer, giving, gathering in each other’s homes – were Filled, Baptized, and Immersed in the Presence of the Holy Spirit. And it’s these signs that accompany, and follow those who are Baptized, Immersed, and Filled with the Spirit. Now many questions arise: Are you baptized in the Spirit? Is our church? Is your church? Can you call a church a church that has left Jesus and the Spirit outside of its “services?” And who are the services for? For that matter can you really claim to be a follower of Jesus divorced from communion with the indwelling, and infilling of the Spirit?

    Spiritual Limbo

    /in /by

    Obadiah 1:3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you dweller in the refuges of the rock [Petra, Edom’s capital], whose habitation is high, who says in his heart, Who can bring me down to the ground?

    George Gordon Liddy, Watergate conspirator, was released from prison in 1977. Once he stated: “I have found within myself all I need and all I ever shall need. I am a man of great faith, but my faith is in George Gordon Liddy. I have never failed me.”  Statements and attitudes like his crack me up. It’s like the clever vacuum cleaner salesman who closed hundreds of sales with this line: “Let me show you something several of your neighbors said you couldn’t afford.” In truth you cannot afford to NOT humble yourself before the Lord. But what does that look like or better yet what doesn’t it look like? James 4:7 begins where we all have to come to an end: Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. You can’t resist the tempter whose fall from Grace began with I will. If you refuse to be submitted and surrendered to God in obedience then you can be assured that you are most definitely not walking in humility, and you most certainly will not be able to resist the devil. It’s interesting that a similar thought is found in 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. Many a Christian has lost the battle of seeking to resist the devil while failing first to surrender and submit to God in humility. Another passage used quite often here in America is 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people who are called by My Name will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways – then will I hear from Heaven…” True Biblical humility is accompanied by prayer that seeks the Face and Presence of God. True Biblical humility is accompanied by turning from wicked ways. Unfortunately this has been reduced to legalistic, moral formulas: “don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t chew, and don’t hang out with those who do.” Turning in humility to Jesus and His Word has a greater focus on what you Should Do than what you shouldn’t. Over the years we have learned ways to talk ourselves out of obedience to Jesus and His Word. For example, Jesus said, Go to the Nations and make disciples. I’ve have heard so many excuses for not obeying the Lord in this area that frankly amazes, and confounds me. (Paul called it the mystery of lawlessness – 2 Thess. 2:7) If I am truly humbling myself before the Lord I am going to seek to obey Him in every way that I am conscious and aware of.

    Once I had someone state that they could attain God’s Perfection. To achieve this requires that you obey the Word of God completely in every way. (By the way: this is completely impossible. If it were possible we wouldn’t need Jesus – the only PERFECT sacrifice). Yet, although sinless perfection is impossible, we are not excused from seeking to obey Him in every way. This is called sanctification or set apartness. We are called to be set apart uniquely to God, or as Paul designates us: to be saints. To be sanctified, and saintly is to be holy. To be holy is to be uniquely different from everything that is considered normal, average, and expected. It is to be a cut above the rest. In other words, you stand out, and are distinct, and distinguished from others. Thus you could sum holiness up with another word, humility.

    One more thought regarding humility: it is like the Limbo Dance originating in Trinidad, and Tobago. Just as the limbo bar is progressively lowered to the ground for its’ participants so humility grows progressively as you bend your soul before God’s Word, Spirit, and Grace. With each passing phase Jesus truly becomes your Petra – your unbending, and immovable rock – and to Him you can crawl and hide. As one of the smartest men in the Bible discovered and experienced: When I am weak then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:10)

    Draw from the lessons of nature found in some Eastern proverbs: ‘A tree that is unbending is easily broken’, or as the religious classic, the Tao Te Ching states: ‘The hard and strong will fall, the soft and weak will overcome.’ In a nutshell this is Jesus’ teaching on meekness which simply means power restrained like the bridling of a horse.

    Jesus Was There

    /in /by

    John 2:1-3 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.2 Jesus also was invited with His disciples to the wedding.3 And when the wine was all gone, the mother of Jesus said to Him, They have no more wine!

    I’ve restarted a personal meditation series I began a year ago – but life happened and distracted me. What is the topic of my quest? Looking for the humanity of Jesus in the Gospels. When I initiated my search I utilized the Gospel of John (probably because it is my favorite of the Gospels). After prayer I sensed the Lord wanted me to begin with the Gospel of Mark. Why Mark? More than any of the Gospels it expresses the humanity of Jesus like none other. For example: Mark 7:34 And looking up to heaven, He sighed as He said, Ephphatha, which means, Be opened! Mark 8:12 And He groaned and sighed deeply in His spirit and said, Why does this generation demand a sign? Positively I say to you, no sign shall be given this generation. Meditating I came upon two passages: Mark 1:10-11 And when He came up out of the water, at once he [John] saw the heavens torn open and the [Holy] Spirit like a dove coming down [to enter] into Him.11 And there came a voice out from within heaven, You are My Beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.

    Several things stand out: Since Jesus was conceived by the Spirit why did He need the Spirit to enter Him? Jesus knew He was God’s Son why did the Father believe He needed His affirmation? (Which incidentally was tested by the devil, If You are the Son of God... not Since You are the Son of God) When we look at Jesus strictly from the perspective of Divinity, discounting His humanity, we dismiss everything He wrestled with as a man. In other words, He wouldn’t have needed encouragement from His Heavenly Father, and satan’s temptation wasn’t really a test.

    As I continued reading Mark 1 I stumbled upon this verse: What have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God! (Mark 1:24) Even the demon acknowledged the humanity of Jesus: What have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? He acknowledged where Jesus was from – Nazareth. (a town in Israel – not Heaven) In my limited experience of deliverance ministry I have been surprised that demons know the truth better than a lot of Christians. Yet, simultaneously the demon acknowledges Jesus’ Divinity: I know who You are—the Holy One of God! Unfortunately most Christians see Jesus only from the Resurrection and Ascension – downgrading His humanity as if He were hiding behind humanity like a mask. What should truly alarm us is this Scriptural fact: But when the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) comes, Whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of Truth Who comes (proceeds) from the Father, He [Himself] will testify regarding Me. (John 15:26) The Holy Spirit testifies about Who Jesus is. Why is that alarming? If I am not seeing, knowing, and recognizing Jesus as fully God and fully Human I am disconnected from the One Who teaches, testifies, and reveals these things. In other words, I am not abiding in Him. John 15 warns if I am not abiding, or remaining in His Presence, I will be broken off and thrown into the fire like a withered branch. (John 15:2)

    Why am I saying all of this? Returning to our opening passage in John 2 a couple of things stand out: Wine is a symbol of the Holy Spirit (See Ephesians. 5:18). They had no more “wine.” (Implying, they were low on the Spirit). Jesus’ mother, and disciples were in need of more of the Spirit. But here is what captured me: Jesus was there! Jesus, as a man, conceived by the Spirit – needed more of the New Wine of the Spirit. If we are going to walk with Him in His Third Day Resurrection, then surely we – who have been born-again of the Spirit, raised to walk in His Resurrection Life, – need more of the infilling of the Spirit. Since Jesus was there – in need of MORE of the Spirit! Why wouldn’t we also need more of His Spirit? On the other hand, where Jesus is – there is MORE of the Spirit. Did you catch that? In other words, if we have Jesus dwelling and reigning within us – we will have more of the Spirit manifesting through us. Now the question is, Who and What is manifesting in and through you? More of the Spirit? More of Jesus? or More of you? More of the Devil? Those who have had the MORE of Jesus and the Spirit – quickly recognize when they are running low.