Time To Fatten Up

Carpe Diem is a Latin phrase that means, "seize the day." I sense that we are in a unique moment in time where we need to take advantage of it in a spiritual sense. Spurgeon once said, "hoist the sail when the breeze is favorable, and times of refreshing ought not to pass over us unimproved." In some ways the season we are in, is similar to one that is found in the book of Genesis. Here is part of a dream that was told to Joseph the son of Jacob, by Pharoah ruler of Egypt:

Genesis 41:17-21 So Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, "In my dream, behold, I was standing on the bank of the Nile; and behold, seven cows, fat and sleek came up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the marsh grass. "Lo, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such as I had never seen for ugliness in all the land of Egypt; and the lean and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows.
"Yet when they had devoured them, it could not be detected that they had devoured them, for they were just as ugly as before. Then I awoke.

Jospeh would go on to interpret the dream, telling Pharoah that 7 good years would be followed by 7 bad years, those bad years would  be so severe they would swallow up the 7 good years as if they never happened.

Joseph then advises Pharoah that to avoid catastrophe he should use the 7 good years to store up as much as he can, and in that way, he would survive what was coming. Pharoah listened to Joseph and appointed him in charge of the storing up. Not only was Egypt saved, but the fledgling Jewish nation wound up being saved during the 7 famine years by going to Egypt and getting food.

The point of this story for us, is that I believe, we are in a season of calm before the storm. It is a time to pray more, not less. A time to attend church more not less, a time to give more, not less. It is time to fatten up spiritually for what is ahead of us. Jesus clearly told us near the time of His return there would be 5 wise and 5 foolish. The wise are not those who stored up food, or hid money, but those who had their lamps filled with the oil of the Spirit. 

Every fall bears that hibernate fill themselves as much as they can to prepare for the winter ahead. It is such a time. Fatten up now, the time is coming when you will need to draw from the reserves you put away now. The church is going to face a season of testing such as never was before. To him that hath will more be given, and he that hath not, even what he has will be taken away. Little faith will not see you through what is coming. Time in His presence, and in His word are two things for which there are no spiritual substitutes.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness, lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, he that soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly. The world asks, "can your retire on what you have laid aside?" The age in which we are living asks, "can you survive on the spiritual stores you have laid up?"

Fasten your seatbelts, we are in for a crazy ride. Keep your fire burning.

 Standing In The Counsel Of God

Jeremiah 23:18 But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?

This passage speaks of taking time to get with God and hear what He is concerned with. God is using Jeremiah to rebuke false prophets who haven't been with God, and don't have a clue with what He is wanting to speak to the Jewish nation. 

I want to take the text in a slightly different direction. Standing in the counsel of God means remaining firm in the things He has said. Paul in Ephesians 6 speaking of the armor of God says: Ephesians 6:13  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. After you have equipped yourself with armor, stand firm. It is one thing to put on armor it is another to stand firm when an enemy is attacking.

It is one thing to claim a promise in the bible, it is another to stand firm in claiming it. That is exactly what the writer of Hebrews is saying in this passage: Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. That text tells that there is often a lag time between doing what God wants and getting what He has promised. The text implies God put some conditions on receiving, they were fulfilled but the promise has not yet come.

Standing in the counsel of God, is refusing to give up on His promises.

Standing in the counsel of God is remaining firm even when we don't see results. 1 Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Standing in the counsel of God is remaining firm in the things God has taught you. 2 Timothy1:13  Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Standing in the counsel of God, is not allowing your standards to slip, or to go back to behaviors God delivered you from. God calls that returning to vomit.

In short, having done all stand, and keep on standing.

 Revelation 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Put in your sickle and reap, because the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe."

All the dominoes are lined up, they just need a little push. I believe we are on the verge of what will be known as the triggering event. A triggering event is a barrier that once breached sets off a cascading chain of other events. Covid was a foreshadowing of just how quickly life around the "world," can change.

We are one (super)natural disaster, one war, one plague, from the initiating of the great tribulation. I feel in my spirit it is close even at the door. This world is going to be rocked by an event that will trigger and quickly be followed by all the judgments written in the book of Revelation

For years I have felt that the word of the Lord was, "get ready, get ready, get ready." I heard it first from TD Jakes and he meant it as get ready for blessing. The Lord took it and applied it to me with the sense that I was to get ready, the Lord's coming is near! I no longer believe the word is get ready, but it is now - be ready! There has been a shifting in the timeline. The time is being shortened.

In Matthew 25 the virgins who tried to get ready were shut out, only those who were ready joined the bridegroom. In Exodus, at the first Passover, this is how the Jews were instructed to eat that meal:

Exodus 12:11 ‘Now you shall eat it in this manner: [with] your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste — it is the LORD’S Passover.

In other words, eat it, and be ready to move out. There will be no time for preparation when the Lord says it's time to leave Egypt, He comes in the twinkling of an eye - there will be no time for getting ready. You are ready or you are not. Any day now it will happen.

Jesus told this parable to His disciples:

Luke 12:35-40 "Be dressed in readiness, and [keep] your lamps alight.  "And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open [the door] to him when he comes and knocks.  "Blessed are those slaves whom the master shall find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself [to serve,] and have them recline [at the table,] and will come up and wait on them. "Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds [them] so, blessed are those [slaves]. "You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect."

Then He gave this warning and prophecy of what some will be like in that day:

Luke 12:45  "But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, [both] men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk Luke 12:46  the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect [him,] and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

He describes someone who shrugged off the warnings that the time was near and began to regress spiritually. As goes the twig so goes the tree. It is not a time to regress, but to press in. If this day finds you slipping back, hear the voice of the Lord, and turn your ship around. Lest that day find you unprepared.

This world is going to be shaken like no other time in history. There will be tribulation such as never was since the world began, FEMA will be broke, too many catastrophes, and all the resources of man will fail because of the magnitude of judgments. There will be no bunkers to keep anyone safe. If this sounds scary, it is, because that is the way the bible presents it. We are only one triggering event away from it beginning. The chess pieces are all arranged, the board is set, it simply awaits God to make one final move to set it all in motion.

To all those who are fearful listen carefully to what Jesus advised:

Luke 12:4 And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. Luke 12:5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

More than ever, keep your fire burning

Engraved With A Diamond Pointed Pen Of Iron

 

 

How God took a man who was down on his luck, and wrote into his heart and life, a message of love that he will never forget.

 

David, one of the men in our church spoke this past Sunday and shared a wonderful testimony of something amazing God did that he was privileged to be a part of. In telling his story I need to back up a little and put it in context.

David has always been intrigued by people who say, "God told me this...", or "God spoke to me and said..." He heard about people saying that had dreams and visions, but never felt God had ever done anything like that with him. He knew God spoke to him through the bible, his conscience, circumstances, and through others. Yet, he felt and sensed there was more for him. That God wanted to communicate things personally through the Holy Spirit. So he began praying and seeking to hear God's voice. Not necessarily an audible voice, but that God would speak to him in such a way that he could, "God told ME this..."

With much and prayer and seeking, little by little he began to hear God speaking to him. What began as a trickle, developed into a stream. With that as a background, here is his amazing testimony he shared with our church yesterday.

David was on his way home from work in the Detroit area, and stopped for gas in what many would call the rougher part of town. While filling his car he noticed a man digging through the gas stations garbage can looking for bottles and cans, but he seemed to be finding none. It was at this point David felt the Lord speak to him and say, "Give him four dollars." David rarely carries cash, he almost exclusively uses debit/credit cards, so he pushed the thought aside, thinking he had no cash with him. He felt God speak to him the second time, "Give him four dollars." He was starting to think God was speaking to him, but said to the Lord, "I don't have four dollars", so he pushed the voice aside again. For the third time, he felt God say, "Give him four dollars."

Unable to resist the voice of the Lord anymore he reached for his wallet, and to his utter amazement there were four one dollar bills in his wallet, no more no less. Then he remembered a week or so earlier he needed some cash and his wife Cathy gave him ten dollars. He bought something for six dollars, put the change in his wallet, forgot about it, and there it sat until God called for it.

David went over to the man, and was a little uncomfortable giving him just four dollars. How could four dollars really make a difference in his life after all? David introduced himself and said, "God really loves you, and He wanted me to give your this four dollars." He gave him the money, talked for a moment and then returned to his vehicle, but looking back at the man he saw he was now bent over and shuddering. David realized he was crying and walked back to the man to talk to him some more.

He then told David the most amazing thing. He said that while he was digging for bottles and cans hoping to get some money for food, he became discouraged realizing there was nothing in the can. In desperation he uttered this simple prayer, "God if you are real, let me have four dollars." It was at that very moment, David showed up, and with the four dollars in his wallet, turned that man's day around and left a permanent mark in his life of God's faithfulness and care for him.

David encouraged him, and was able to pray with him about some of the circumstances of his life. Though the man didn't get saved that day, I am convinced he will because when God starts something He sees it through to completion. Philippians 1:6  There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.

David heard God speak, responded, and God made a mark on that man's heart and life that is the equivalent to being engraved with a diamond pointed pen of iron. We all wind up with marks in life that are made by people. Some will be cherished memories, some will be scars and painful. But when God marks a man or woman, He does it to be a permanent reminder of His goodness and love. He marks us, in the same way He Himself is marked. We read this in Isaiah 49:16  "Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands..."

Like David I can point to many times in my life, where I could say, "I felt the Lord tell me..." Hearing his testimony yesterday burned in me a fresh fire to hear God like David did that day, so that someone living in a desperate situation could have a token of God's love deposited in their heart. Jesus said, "My sheep know My voice," May God bless our spiritual hearing so that we can bring life giving words to others. Keep your fire burning!

Approaching The Point Of No Return

In my last blog I posted on the question, "How long O Lord?" and showed some verses where people told God they had enough and wanted a break. Today we are going to flip the script and look at the time where God says He has had enough.

Zechariah 7:12  "And they made their hearts like flint so that they could not hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets; therefore great wrath came from the LORD of hosts. 

Zechariah 7:13  "And it came about that just as He called and they would not listen, so they called and I would not listen," says the LORD of hosts;

The message version for verse 13 says in part: ..."So [[this is what GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies said]] if they won’t listen to me, I won’t listen to them.

If they won't list to me, I won't listen to them. The ramifications of this passage are enormous, it details a time when humanity has so closed it's ears to God, that He in turn, will close His ears to them. There comes a time when even II Chronicles 7:14 won't fully apply.

2Ch 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This text was primarily directed at Israel, though many have claimed it for their nation. However if we have a crossed a line God never intended to be crossed, it wont be enough for His people to be praying, it won't suffice for the judgment looming over those who continue to harden their hearts. I know that sounds radical, but consider this passage concerning two of the greatest intercessors and men who changed the destiny of their nation because of their influence with God:

Jeremiah 15:1 Then the LORD said to me, "Even though Moses and Samuel were to stand before Me, My heart would not be with this people; send them away from My presence and let them go!

We live in a time where evil is called good and good evil. We won't be able to pray away all the calamities that are coming. But as long as we are here, let us roll up our sleeves, pray for mercy, and hope that the midnight is not yet upon the earth, for our sakes, and the sakes of those in the world with us. While recognizing there is a time where God will simply say, "I have had enough!"

How Long O Lord?

Ps 6:1  Please, GOD, no more yelling, no more trips to the woodshed.

Ps 6:2  Treat me nice for a change; I’m so starved for affection. Can’t you see I’m black and blue, beat up badly in bones

Ps 6:3  and soul? GOD, how long will it take for you to let up?

This type of prayer is repeated in several other places in the Psalms here are two more examples:

 Ps 13:1 Long enough, GOD—you’ve ignored me long enough. I’ve looked at the back of your head long enough.

Ps 80:4  GOD, God of the angel armies, how long will you smolder like a sleeping volcano while your people call for fire and brimstone?

When life is full of pain, it becomes doubly frustrating when you don't know why it is happening or how long it will go on for. And when that happens, please, please don't simply tell me to be patient. I know I have to wait on God, and I know that weeping lasts the night but joy comes in the morning. 

What I need, and what you need in moments like this is not much more than the comfort of a friend to help carry a load I am struggling with. Yes tell me what the bible says, just do it in a gentle uplifting way, that is what my soul needs in moments like this. Don't overly correct me if I say something stupid, God included the complaints of His people in the scriptures above without His annotations on how and why they were wrong. He just let them vent. Let's let people vent, and yes correct them if they really need it, but most of all let's love and encourage them. Isn't that what you would have others do for you?

When someone's fires is burning low, don't discourage them any more, help them stoke it.

        

No Sweating Allowed

No Sweating Allowed

Ge 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.
Eze 44:15  "But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary...
Eze 44:16  "They shall enter My sanctuary; they shall come near to My table to minister to Me...
Eze 44:18  "Linen turbans shall be on their heads, and linen undergarments shall be on their loins; they shall not gird themselves with anything which makes them sweat.

Man was originally placed in the garden to cultivate and keep it. (Genesis 2:15) There was work

involved but apparently it didn't produce the frustration, labor and sweat that would come as a result of the fall. Interesting side fact the name Noah means rest and Jewish authorities credit him with the invention of the plow which made farming a whole lot easier.
Ge 5:29  Now he called his name Noah, saying, "This one shall give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed."

Now we jump ahead to the commandments given priests in the book of Ezekiel, specifically they could not wear anything that causes sweat. We know from 1 Corinthians 10:11 that many things that happened in the OT were to be examples to teach us.  So what could possible be the reason God instructs His priests not to wear anything that causes sweat?

John 15 comes to mind, I am the vine you are the branches. The vine supplies what is necessary for the branches to produce fruit. It is also true that the branches in and of themselves are incapable of producing fruit so effort to produce fruit by themselves is foolish and will consume great deals of energy with no net effect. It is only as we rest in Christ, whose yoke is easy and His burden is light, that we avoiding sweating to do God's work.

So the admonition for God's priests to not wear anything that causes them to sweat is a reminder rest and rely on the Lord. Does that mean we shouldn't work? Absolutely not, but our work should always be tempered by trusting and relying on God to do the lion's share.

Remember this teaching of Jesus: Mt 6:27 -33 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'hat shall we eat?'or 'hat shall we drink?'or 'what shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (NIV)

In other words, don't sweat it. Worry is a garment you can put on,

refuse to wear, or wake up and take it off, if you have been sweating about things God says not to worry about. More specifically when it comes to Christian service, don't sweat it, Hebrews 4 teaches that there is a rest available for the people of God, but some seem to come short of it. (Hebrews 4:1ff)  He is the vine that supplies, that is not your job. Blessings!