In association with Messiah Media, author & Bible teacher D. L. Dunnaville shares Kingdom insights called "Spiritual Food for Thought," updates on his Rescuca book series, Messiah Music videos & more!
There is nothing new under the sun (Eccl 1:9). Gods of old still exist today, only with different names. Just as children were offered in the fires of Moloch, millions of babies are sacrificed today to the goddess Libertas (freedom & independence) in the form of abortion. Large graven images of this goddess stand proudly in various places of the world (e.g. Liberty Island, New York City, NY). Sun gods like Baal are paid homage every winter solstice in the form of Christmas and Yuletide. The goddess of fertility, Eostre, is still honored with a tradition which bears her name (Easter). In the name of careers and capitalism, Mammon (Luke 16:13) is served more than the One True God, Yehovah.
~ When when the "fling things" end? "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." - 2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)
Have you been deceived and misled by the mainstream machine? - Watch this video to find out!
Christ's Mass (Xmas/Yuletide), Easter, everlasting torture in Hell, Sunday Sabbath, Halloween, etc. etc. - These are just some of the things which were inherited by Protestantism from Roman Catholicism. Roman Catholicism was part of the Great Compromises of 4th century AD. - If you go to a typical denominational church on your average street corner, then odds are...you're part of mainstream Christianity (m~C). And that's fine and dandy until the customs and traditions within that system are in direct contrast and opposition with the clear Word of God. The Truth will set you free. Choose Truth over tradition!
On the specific topic of the Bride of Messiah observing pagan holiday rituals: Let's not celebrate anniversaries of old boyfriends or have their pictures lying around everywhere in our homes while we are engaged to be married to the King of Kings!
"What am I saying then? That an idol is anything, or what is offered to idols is anything? Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?" - 1 Corinthians 10:19-22 NKJV
Many of us have heard the saying “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” Well, that might sound cute and make a child feel better temporarily but it’s far from being true.
As believers we know that God created the entire world by the power of words. And being created in His likeness, our words as humans have the power to either build up or tear down. Never ever take this for granted. In fact, this topic is so important that our Lord took the time to teach us divine strategies and spiritual “martial arts” [so to speak] when engaging in spiritual warfare.
At Colossians 2:15 (NIV) we read,
“And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (stake).”
The context here is humanity’s liberation from bondage to sin and death. We see here that the key to this victory was the Lord being crucified. And as followers of God, we too must be willing to die to ourselves. We must be willing to take offense rather than return blow for blow. Remember, we’re called to bless others (Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:14). We are instructed to pray for them. This makes little sense to the carnal mind but as we saw in the first movie clip, even the world is aware of the fact that we as human beings rarely feel better after we’ve torn someone down with our words. Everyone loses in that case.
And so, I urge all brothers and sisters in the faith to actually take God at His word. I know this is much easier said than done but please believe and obey God when He instructs us to pray for and BLESS those who do and speak evil against us. I can guarantee you based on the Word of God that you will feel better in the end and see far better results in the long run. Even if you find yourself yelling, make sure you’re yelling out blessings. Do this and you will NOT be sorry. Thus says the LORD in His Word.
We as humans need food or we die. We need water or we die. We need God, or we die. Per our Creator's design, a number of CONDITIONS have to be met in order for us to thrive and survive. Love, holiness, righteousness and obedience are no exception to this phenomenon. It's for our own good that we must live a certain way to keep us in right relationship with our Ultimate Source of Life - Yehovah!
You’ve probably heard a number of times that God’s love for us in “unconditional.” People will often quote verses like Romans 5:8 which states,
“But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.””
People will say “See, God loves you just the way you are, no matter what. You don’t have to be good enough for God." While there is truth in those statements, we have to be careful not to take them too far. And we must take note as to who the “us” is who God demonstrates His love toward. Far too often, writings from early church fathers are taken out of context. Let’s look at John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
Notice how Romans 5:8 and John 3:16 actually parallel each other. God loves His creation universally just as we all should, but it’s those who believe who qualify themselves as beneficiaries of God’s redemptive and saving love. Believers are the “us” to whom the Apostle Paul was referring in his letter to the Romans. And like Abraham being willing to sacrifice his son Isaac, our belief is demonstrated by our actions. If you believe a $1 million check is real which you just won, then you’ll go cash it. Likewise, if you believe a train is going to hit you, you’ll move out of its way. There are a number of things a person will DO and NOT DO if he truly believes in God and His plan of salvation. This will include repenting, turning from sin, being baptized, praying, trusting God, having faith, loving God and loving his fellow person.
I specifically mentioned “saving love” earlier in order to distinguish between that and the universal love which God shows to all. We see God’s universal love at Matthew Chapter 5 where His Son Yeshua preaches:
“But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.”
This is like a person having an inner circle of close family members and friends versus an outer circle of mere associates. We as people should aim to be kind to all, but if someone is going to be close to us, then conditions are a given. If a man has a wife, he expects that wife to remain faithful and be committed to him and no one else. Think about it: All of creation started this way. Adam and Eve enjoyed one type of relationship with God while living in obedience in the Garden but once they disobeyed and broke covenant, that right standing was lost. The same was true for Israel when God’s people kept the commands of God versus the times they worshiped idols.
Believe it or not, conditional love is good for us! It keeps us honest and faithful; clinging to good rather than evil. Additionally, our own love is made worthwhile and proven by our commitment to covenant. God is love and His Son Yeshua is Salvation. We are to abide in this Salvation to live. It is love which God is trying to develop in the children He is saving. God doesn’t want robots but rather a faithful bride for His Son. Now…does our Father stop loving us when we do wrong? Of course not. But whether or not we enjoy and prosper in His love is very much so dependent upon our participation.
Some will label all of this as “works-based salvation.” On this topic, I’ll make the point that even those who believe in simply praying a prayer and “accepting Jesus” (as they say) are still preaching works. According to their own belief system, praying and accepting are still things one must DO in order to be saved.
In conclusion: God’s love might be many things to include unbiased, uncritical, unchanging and unfailing, but it definitely entails conditions. The myth of unconditional love is that God’s love is somehow free of covenantal responsibility on our part. Many are led to believe that they can come as they are, STAY as they are and God will still love and save them all the same.
I will argue that both salvation and sanctification are processes which very much so call for our commitment and faithfulness. We are to continually endure, die to ourselves daily, persevere, pray, seek, hope, trust, forgive, love and have faith in God. Kingdom living isn’t taking a walk in a park; it’s engaging in a war! And love happens to be the greatest weapon in that fight.
Message & Prayer:
People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. – Fill our hearts with your love and your forgiveness towards others, Lord Jesus.
Month of October, when the nights feel like they’re colder
Found out another victim just got bitten by the cobra
Still looking for some closure, still trying to make some sense of it
Emotions can be sensitive when family and friends in it
I learned revenge can be sweet when you getta tasting it
But in the end, it turn bitter, you getta hatin it
And plus it leaves a sour feeling in your stomach
And who am I to say when other humans should be punished
I’m not approving of the crime that been committed
Crying in the courtroom when the killer gets acquitted
Help me Jesus to be righteous and not wicked
Purify this heart of mine and fill me with forgiveness
Whether you murdered or the one doing the murdering
If you ain’t accepted Jesus it’s a pit that you’ll be burning in
God sent His only Son to save you from destruction
Open up your Bible and follow basic instructions
[Chorus]
You know every hair on my head
And you hold every tear that I shed
I couldn’t run from you, Lord, even if I tried
I couldn’t hide from you, believe me Lord, I tried
So I give, I give everything that I have
Cuz you died so I can live and only your love will last
I lift up both my hands and sing about your faithfulness
I lift up both my hands cuz Jesus made a way for us
[Verse 2]
And who am I, just a man that used to thug
Living in the liquor store and always in the club
Pothead, wicked man yet Jesus still loved me
When I didn’t love myself remember Jesus still loved me
It wouldn’t be no tears if there was never no sorrow
It wouldn’t be a future if it was never tomorrow
It wouldn’t be no courage if there was never no fear
And if God wasn’t real then me and you wouldn’t be here
The generation’s so corrupted, devoted to what’s destructive
Gluttons, cussers, drunkards a bunch of sluggards
Creator of the Universe, the Author of Perfection
Compassionate and loving, an incredible reflection
How could I hide from you, how could I run from you
How could you love me after everything I done to you
You sent your only Son to save me from destruction
So I submit my life to you and follow your instructions, yes
[Chorus]
Message:
Hey,
“Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven. Blessed are those whose sins are covered
Blessed are those who sin and the LORD will not ever count against them.” (Psalm 32:1&2; Romans 4:7&8)
See He liberates, He elevates, or He educates, He compensates He motivates or regenerates and He activates! Let Him set you free; don’t compromise with evil! Hold on to Christ, submit to God with everything you got, my brother! Jesus loves you, be strong my soldier – Yes!
[Ending Chorus]
So I give, I give everything that I have
Cuz you died so I can live and only your love will last
This is probably the one and only time I'll ever dare to go there: of all the years that people have awaited the ushering in of the new age by the Messiah, this upcoming [Hebrew] year 5777 may very well be it! I'm very glad I heeded the LORD's leading and took off work for all of 2016 in order to keep God's appointed times (Sabbaths).
Close to You
I need Your grace
Shallow waters
Can never satisfy my thirst, Jesus
I want more of You
Shallow idols
Can never satisfy my hunger, Jesus
I need more of You
[Chorus]
My praise
My worship
My adoration
I wanna go deeper
My love
My joy
My reverence
I wanna go deeper
Verse 2
Mold me
Use me LORD
For Your awesome glory
Shape me
Fill me LORD
With Your awesome presence
Shallow waters
Can never satisfy my thirst, Jesus
I want more of You
Shallow idols
Can never satisfy my hunger, Jesus
I need more of You
[Repeat the Chorus]
[Bridge]
I wanna go deeper
[Ending Chorus]
My praise
My worship
My adoration
I wanna go deeper
My love
My joy
My reverence
I wanna go deeper
intentionally causing the death of another human being after rationally considering the timing or method of doing so
I thank the LORD that I've never personally been in a situation where I had to decide between allowing harm to my family or somehow disabling an attacker. I do know, however, that just as my sports team coaches used to say..."we practice how we play and play how we practice!" In other words, if I decide in advance that I'm going to purchase a lethal weapon while simultaneously telling myself that if anyone ever tries to break into my home and do harm to my family, I'm going to kill that person; then odds are...that's exactly what I'll do if ever put in such a situation. I will have premeditated in my heart that I'm going to murder someone. This is in contrast to deciding and determining in advance that I will exhaust all non-lethal methods available to me at the time of an attack.
I could say much more about this topic and quote a ton of Scripture (e.g. Proverbs 23:7; Matthew 26:52) but instead, I'll just leave you with this [adapted] excerpt from the book "The Myth of a Christian Nation" by Greg Boyd.
"Jerry Falwell Jr, the president of Liberty University, recently encouraged the students to arm themselves saying, 'I always thought that if more good people had concealed-carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they walk in and kill.' In the light of Christ’s teaching, what should be our response?
First, the NT is quite clear, commanding us never to “repay anyone evil for evil,” but instead to overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:17; 21). Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you (Lk 6:27-28).
At the same time, we have to admit that it’s hard to take this teaching seriously when it comes to extreme situations. Not only would most of us resist the evildoer, even killing if necessary, but most of us would see it as immoral if we didn’t use violence to resist such an evildoer.
This presents us with a dilemma. Isn’t it more loving, and thus more ethical, to protect yourself and others from such evil acts?
Jesus said, 'Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also' (Matt 5:39). It helps somewhat to remember that the word Jesus uses for “resist” (antistenai) doesn’t imply passively allowing something to take place. It rather connotes resisting a forceful action with a similar forceful action. Jesus is thus forbidding responding to violent action with similar violent action. He’s teaching us not to take on the violence of the one who is acting violently toward us. He’s teaching us to respond to evil in a way that is consistent with loving them.
Everybody instinctively hates those who hate them and believes they are justified in killing people who might kill them. But the whole point of Jesus’ teaching is to tell disciples that their attitude toward “enemies” should be radically different.
Jesus’ teachings aren’t a set of pacifistic laws people are to merely obey. Rather, his teachings are descriptions of what life in God’s domain looks like and prescriptions for how we are to cultivate this alternative form of life. He’s not saying 'Act loving toward your enemy even though you want to kill him.” He’s rather saying, 'Cultivate the kind of life where loving your enemy becomes natural for you.'
A person who lives within the normal tit-for-tat kingdom-of-the-world mindset would instinctively resort to violence to protect himself. But how might a person who cultivated a nonviolent, kingdom-of-God mindset respond?
For one thing, such a person would have cultivated a kind of character and wisdom that wouldn’t automatically default to self-protective violence. Rather, this person would see nonviolent alternatives if they were present. This person’s discipleship in love would have given him wisdom that a person whose mind was conformed to the pattern of the tit-for-tat world would not have.
Not only this, but this person’s day-by-day surrender to God would cultivate a sensitivity to God’s Spirit that would enable him to discern God’s leading in the moment, something the “normal” kingdom-of-the-world person would be oblivious to. This Christlike person might be divinely led to say something or do something that would disarm the attacker emotionally, spiritually, or even physically.
In addition, a person who has cultivated a kingdom-of-God outlook on life would have developed the capacity to assess this situation from an eternal perspective, embracing the truth that living in love is more important than life itself. This person would have cultivated a trust in God that would free her from defining winning and losing in terms of temporal outcomes.
What we must never do is acquiesce to our worldly condition by rationalizing away Jesus’ clear kingdom prescriptions. We must rather strive every moment of our life to cultivate the kind of mind and heart that increasingly sees the rightness and beauty of Jesus’ teachings and thus would naturally respond to an extreme, threatening situation in a loving, nonviolent manner."
—Adapted from The Myth of a Christian Nation, pages 162-167
Win 1 of these 3 Christian music CD's by answering July's IP2RR Challenge Question! The question based on Rescuca: Savior of the Realm will be posted to this blog on Friday, July 1st by 7:00pm (Central)!
NOTE: IP2RR prizes will only be mailed to addresses within the continental U.S!
I love and appreciate the Living Waters ministry. Nonetheless, when they mailed me a letter kindly asking for more financial support, I took the opportunity to mail them this letter with the provided reply envelope:
Hello Fellow Saints! - I love your ministry and will continue to support. Meanwhile, I pray your hearts be humble and [spiritual] eyes opened to the simple and plain truth in God’s Word regarding the doctrine of hell. The portrayed image of the One True God weighs in the balance.
“The truth is that since the very beginning, Church history has been rife with unrest, conflict, and even bloodshed—primarily over matters of establishing orthodoxy. And with today’s easy access to the annals of Church history, it’s time for us churchgoers to rethink the myth of orthodoxy, and begin re-evaluating what we’ve been taught.
For instance, many Christians insist that if you question hell, you are rejecting what has always been agreed upon by the Church, yet the doctrine of eternal torment was not a widely held view for the first five centuries after Christ, particularly in the early Eastern Church, the Church of the early apostles and Church fathers such as Paul, Clement of Alexandria, St. Gregory of Nyssa, Origen, and others.
What we do see during this time is the expansion and proliferation of pagan myths about the afterlife, which were then repackaged as eternal, fiery torment in the Western (Catholic) Church, primarily by Latin theologians and Church leaders from Rome. It seems this was most likely motivated by political expediency. The idea of eternal torment was a prime tool for controlling the average churchgoer with fear and was congruent with secular mythologies of the time. Later, pop culture added fuel to the fire (pun intended) through imaginative works like Dante’s Inferno.”
Live-Die-Repeat
= Sums up the Christian walk, until the Lord returns!
"Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?"
- Luke 9:23-25
“…knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him…”
- Romans 6:6-8
Did you know that placing your hands on a steering wheel in the 10 and 2 o’clock positions is now considered outdated and unsafe? Due to time and technology, that is…the invention of air bags, it is now considered safer to put your hands in a much lower position on a steering wheel while driving. Well, that particular 10 & 2 might’ve become obsolete, but let me share with you another 10 & 2 which will always stand the test of time (pun intended)!
I spent about 15 years in the career of air traffic control. While working in control towers, there was saying we had whenever someone wasn’t giving their full attention to the job at hand. We would say “Ten and Two…Ten and Two!” What this meant to the hearer was “Turn around, get focused and pay attention to what’s in front of you. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by what’s behind you.” This was an effective phrase and it’s still used today. As profound as that might be, there is an even better 10 & 2 which pertains to our focus and is far more important!
Through a man named Moses, the God of our universe delivered to mankind a set of divine instructions known as the Ten Commandments. In both the Old and New Testaments of a Christian Bible, you’ll also find Two Great Commands which sum up the Ten Commandments. The Two Great Commands instruct us to love the LORD our God (YHVH our Elohim) with our entire being and to also love our fellow person the same way we love ourselves. Yeshua, the express image and likeness of the Father and Source of all existence, told us that all of the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commands.
Now, if you know your history regarding the Israelites, then you’ll know they had a very hard time keeping the commands of YHVH; His divine 10 & 2. And so, at Hebrews 8:8-10 we find the writer declaring:
“Because finding fault with them, He says: “Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
So if you have had a hard time living for God, you’re not alone. You’re probably just missing the key ingredient which will energize you now and be used later to resurrect you as an immortal creature. I’m referring to the Spirit of Yeshua…the Holy Spirit of YHVH. Again, as you would’ve read in a previous article, all children of Adam and Eve are destined to die and the only thing that will grant us everlasting life (which we don’t not currently have) in God’s Kingdom is the holy stamp of His Spirit on our souls.
If you have not yet received the Spirit of God and been made a new person, then I encourage you to first ask the LORD for this great gift. Ask Him for a new heart which desires to keep His commands and grieves at the thought at displeasing Him. If you haven’t done so already, be sure to repent and change your mind regarding any wrong living which you have made room for in your life; no matter how big or small it might seem to you. Confess these things as a means of cleansing and then put all of your faith and hope in Jesus the Christ; Yeshua the Messiah who took on the same flesh you and I have and suffered and died so that we might live forever with Him in His Kingdom by the power of His resurrection!
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[Verse 1:]
Standing here in your presence
In a grace so relentless
I am won by perfect love
Wrapped within the arms of heaven
In a peace that lasts forever
Sinking deep in mercy's sea
[Chorus:]
I'm wide awake, drawing close, stirred by grace
And all my heart is yours
All fear removed, I breathe you in, I lean into
Your love, oh, your love
[Verse 2:]
When I'm lost you pursue me
Lift my head to see your glory
Lord of all, so beautiful
Here in you I find shelter
Captivated by the splendor
Of your face, my secret place
[Chorus:]
I'm wide awake, drawing close, stirred by grace
And all my heart is yours
All fear removed, I breathe you in, I lean into
Your love, oh, your love
[Bridge:]
Your love so deep is washing over me
Your face is all I seek, you are my everything
Jesus Christ, You are my one desire
Lord, hear my only cry, to know you all my life
[Chorus:]
I'm wide awake, drawing close, stirred by grace
And all my heart is yours
All fear removed, I breathe you in, I lean into
Your love, oh, your love
Unless you were trying to be funny, you wouldn’t pull over and ask a jogger on the side of the road if he or she needed a ride. And if you’re a gentleman but find yourself at a gym where you see a lady about to lift weights, you don’t stop and offer to pick those weights up for her.
There is a time, place and season for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1). In the cases mentioned, these people are trying to get in shape or stay in shape and you stepping in trying to spare them the exercise would only defeat the objective. It would also show that you’re missing the bigger picture.
Well, likewise…there are times when the LORD is trying to “workout” something in one of His children and as much as we would like to be helpful or a gentleman, it is more important that we are in prayer and in tune with God’s “bigger picture”. Like playing tug of war with weights, our stepping in and trying to spare someone pain might actually do more damage than good. We the helpers might end up hurting ourselves and the defeating the purpose of the other person’s trial. It’s important for us to remember that pain is one of life’s greatest teachers and God is the ultimate Principal.
Though this should be the exception and not the norm, there are certain cases when a person in sin might actually need to pay the due consequences of his or her actions, for the person’s own good. The Apostle Paul once wrote:
“…you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”
– 1 Corinthians 5:5 (ESV)
Even more severe is the case we find in the book of Jeremiah where YHVH has declared His judgment on His people and told His prophet things such as:
“As for you, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you.
– Jeremiah 7:16; 11:14
Now let me remind you; this should be the exception and not the norm. I am definitely not advocating that we don’t pray for our brothers and sisters when we know they are in need or struggling. In the case of Jeremiah, God Himself had proclaimed judgment through His prophet.
So unless you know you’ve heard from the LORD and therefore should not pray, be sure to keep interceding! Meanwhile, it would be a good idea for you to see what you can also learn from your brother or sister’s ordeal. Ask God what it is He might want to teach you through another’s experience. As a human race, we are all connected. Our lives and actions have eternal ripple effects and so any lesson that helps one, ultimately helps us all.
Perhaps you were right in guessing that the correct answer is none of the above. But, before we dive right in to answer the question at hand, let us first take the time to examine the term “death” and observe its real meaning.
According to standard dictionary definitions, “death” is most often described as:
the permanent and total cessation (end) of life in an organism
Notice the words “permanent” & “total” above. From cover to cover, God’s Word would confirm this standard definition. Naturally speaking, death is not something temporary nor is it the mere separation of one part from another (e.g. one’s soul from his body).
When a person dies, his or her breath leaves the body, the body turns to dust, & then he or she ceases to exist as a person. At this point, the deceased escapes time and the next thing he or she will be aware of is the Resurrection. To everyone else still living and affected by time, the deceased person is in a type of sleep.
It’s as if the human brain and body are a computer with its various parts. Like computers, we humans sleep at night which is temporary but there is now unfortunately a permanent sleep which we incur which, also known as death. This is like the power to a computer being killed when its cord is unplugged. The computer becomes completely useless in terms of what it was created for. However, all memory, information and files remain and the computer is simply in permanent sleep mode until power is restored. Again, for human beings, this very moment of restoration is the Resurrection.
John 5:28-29 reads:
“Do not be amazed by this; the time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.”
The “death” that one should mostly be concerned about is the “second death.” This is when a person’s entire being (i.e. body, soul~life, spirit~breath) is cast into a consuming fire which no one but God can quench or put out (Matthew 10:28; Luke 3:17). Upon being completely destroyed by fire, the condemned will forever cease to exist & “be as though they had never been” (Obadiah 1:16). It is with this second death that there is no hope of resurrection or return.
Question: Most everyone will sleep a first death, but why will so many die in the second death & “consume away” to “be no more” (Psalm 37:10, 20)? Why will many receive the horrific punishment of being burned up by fire & made ashes (Malachi 4:1-3)?
Answer: Because so many suffer from the number one disorder in America & in the world [for that matter]. This disorder is called disobedience. Another name for it is “sin” & God’s Word says that “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). Despite one’s beliefs, all who continually disobey the Lord will die in the second death (Jude 1:15).
In the beginning, it was Adam’s sin and disobedience that brought death into this world. Following in his steps, mankind continually lives in sin to this day. Wars, rapes, murders, and even many diseases all come from man’s sinful choices and are not God’s will (James 1:13-15; 4:1&2). To ensure a perfect world in this age, God could destroy each and every person who sins... the very moment he or she breaks His laws, but He doesn’t! If He did, who among us would remain (Romans 3:23)? Who among us has never committed a sin (1 John 1:10)?
Throughout all of human history, YHVH has set before mankind two choices: life and death (see Genesis 2:15-17 & Deuteronomy 30:19). He gives man the opportunity to live for himself and his own personal agendas or give up his life and live entirely for the LORD (Luke 17:33). In love, God patiently waits for men to turn from worthless and ungodly ways (2 Peter 3:9) and although He is patient, He will not wait forever.
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“The Four Pillars are the source of all power and like icebergs in the middle of an ocean, the bulk of them is under the IT…supporting it. That is the nature of true power. You seem to have missed this grand mystery.”
The above quote is from the final chapter of Rescuca: Savior of the Realm. The Four Pillars mentioned here actually represent the Four Letters for the name of God, YHVH, and the speaker is referring to the power which comes from serving and submitting. The IT represents all that exists and we learn in this book that service and submission are the power lines through which all power flows within God’s creation.
It’s particularly the topic of submission which I want to discuss today. For many, the word “submission” brings to mind weakness and inferiority and this bad association gives way to fear and doubt. Because of negative things we see and hear, we question whether or not any authority can really be trusted and we begin to “lean on our own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5) rather than trusting the Word of God.
It’s for this very reason that Adam and Eve failed the very first submission test in human history and all of mankind came under a curse. Later, however, our faith-father Abraham passed his submission test and became the vessel through which all nations would be blessed. Moving forward in history, we see King Saul fail to fully submit his will to God and his authority was passed on to a young and submissive David; a man after God’s own heart who would do everything God wanted him to do (Acts 13:22). And we know that through this same David the Messiah Himself eventually came and displayed perfect submission; going as far as to wash the feet of His human creations and be crucified to set us free from the original curse. It’s by faith in His submission and sacrifice for us that we can be blessed with God’s Spirit, raised to life at the resurrection and inherit this [renewed] earth, just as Abraham was promised (Genesis 17, 22; Galatians 3:29). - Look at how POWERFUL submission is!
So how can we tap in to this amazing power and be blessed today? Well, the answer is in God's Word to us through His saints. Children are to honor & submit to their parents & be blessed (Exodus 20:12; Ephesians 6:2). Wives are to submit to their husbands and unlock God's power in their homes and be blessed (Ephesians 5:22). Men and husbands are to submit to each other and the authorities placed over them in their lives by God and thereby release submission power into this entire world (1 Peter 2:13-17). To be successful in this effort though, we must first have our minds reprogrammed to see things God’s way. Isaiah 55:8 reads,
“My thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares YHVH.”
In his first letter to the Corinthians, the Apostle Paul quotes Isaiah when he writes,
“For who has known the mind of YHVH? Who will counsel Him?
But we have the mind of the Messiah.
- 1 Corinthians 2:16”
The Messiah is our example and He is our key. Yeshua the Messiah came in the flesh making many things known to us that were completely contrary to the way mankind typically thinks. For example: Jesus taught that it’s better to give than to receive (Acts 20:35), that the humble will be exalted and the last shall be first. He taught that we are to repeatedly forgive our fellow person even when he repeatedly sins against us. Yeshua taught that the law was actually full of God’s mercy (Matthew 23:23) and that God’s law was made for man and not man for it (Mark 2:27). Most notably, Christ taught that in order to truly live, we must first die to ourselves. And it’s when this happens that His Spirit can come live in us and through us and we have His program renewing our minds each day. This is what the Apostle Paul was referring to in his letter to the church.
Now, with all of that being said, we must still be warned. The accuser, tester, and enemy of our souls also knows the power of submission and this is why all people are tempted just as the Messiah was tempted by Satan. We are tempted to question God’s perfect system and design. We are all tempted to say "My will be done" instead of "Thy will be done". We are tempted to dominate and rule over our fellow person rather than put him first, serve others, and submit to authority.
Fellow creations of God, let’s get with God's submission program so that His Kingdom may come and His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven!
I don't know of any film that gets everything right 100% according to the Bible but then again, even the various gospels themselves differ on the details. Overall...Great movie!
If you need me to mail you a copy (when it's available on the 24th), let me know!
Question: In Rescuca: Savior of the Realm...Yearning, Halation, Vitality & Hatred are the Four Pillars which uphold the IT. Who or what do the Four Pillars represent?
To submit your response, you may use this post's comment option, the ip2rr.com Contact Form, or the contact form at the bottom of this blog.
A teenager can no longer stand living under her parents' roof because of their restrictive rules and so she runs off and moves in with her boyfriend; a college couple decides that now is just not the right time to have a child and so both parties agree that the mother should have an abortion; a group of states and colonies decide they no longer want to pay high taxes and be part of a unified government and so they form an army to fight and kill in the name of their individual rights. - What do all of these have in common?
All of these situations involve clear violations of the Ten Commandments of YHVH and are classic examples of what I call “Freedolatry”. Any time something becomes so valuable to us to the point where we are willing to pursue it at all costs, rather than obey the One True God…that is idolatry. And in America, freedom is chief among this list of misguided pursuits. In truth, any supposed "freedom" outside of the laws of God is no freedom at all. It’s actually bondage. The Apostle Paul wrote:
“Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?”
– Romans 6:16 (NKJV)
Although many overlook this, it is terribly fitting that one of the chief symbols of America’s craving for independence, the graven image of the Roman goddess Libertas, is in itself a violation of God’s command. The 2nd of the Ten Commandments reads:
“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods.”
- Exodus 20:4&5a (NLT)
At this point you might be thinking as I did long ago: “That’s silly, we don’t bow down or worship any idols or graven images today. And surely no one worships the Statue of Liberty!”
Well, pretending that actual idol worship does not still exist in various places in the world today, let’s take a quick look at the definition of “worship” found at dictionary.com. Worship is defined as…
“reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage,
or to any object regarded as sacred”
You can be certain that around the world and definitely in the United States, the goddess Libertas and her graven image is most definitely honored and paid homage. It is reported in a NYC tour guide (nyctourist.com) that an estimated 3.2 million people go to the expense of visiting the giant-sized image of the goddess in New York each year. This same goddess is featured as an icon on coins, flags, and many other items of everyday life.
You see, the U.S. nation was founded on the notion of freedom first, at all costs. My particular high school was named after Patrick Henry who is famous for stating “Give me liberty or given me death!” This is the spirit of independence on which America was founded and it still reigns in this nation today. I myself, over an eight year period, proudly served in two different branches of the United States armed forces. This was all in the name of freedom and independence. In reality, I had sworn an oath of allegiance to be willing to kill or be killed, all in service to the false gods in my life; gods such Libertas. Contrarily, in both Old and New Testaments, the One True God instructs me to love my neighbor which now specifically includes my enemy. I’m not to murder my neighbor with guns or grenades. Nor am I to support the killing of babies while in the wombs of mothers; or violently rebel against my government because I don’t agree with its policies.
Does all of this make political sense? – Not necessarily. It’s not intended to…just as the Son of God did not come in the flesh with the intention of fixing the Roman government. As a saint, politics are not to be my primary concern. My primary concern is to be modeling my life after my savior Jesus Christ, Yeshua the Messiah, and serving Him and His Kingdom, no matter the earthly consequence. Rather than follow the ways of this world, Yeshua obeyed the will of the Eternal Father and all saints are to faithfully do the same.
I've owned and used three different types of weed whackers in my time. I’ve had the cordless kind which call for a battery pack, the gas-powered type, and then the electric version which has a cord you have to plug in to an outlet. I’ve learned the hard way that each type of weed eater comes with its own set of strengths and weaknesses. All said and done, my personal preference is the cordless electric version. However, its primary weakness is the fact that it inevitably runs out of power before the whole job is done. This then becomes a time to go get another battery pack, move on to another job, or simply take a break.
With a fully charged battery, you can set out to accomplish a whole week’s worth of edging and trimming in one shot but most likely, that battery is going to run out well before you’ve gotten even half of your job done. At some point, you’re going to have to recharge and then go back to get the job done correctly. Even if you have multiple battery packs, at some point they will all need recharged.
I guess in theory, you could go out with a weed whacker which doesn’t have any power at all and try to trim things that way. You might actually be able to accomplish some results. Odds are though, those results are going to be pretty messy and your initial goal was to make your lawn neater, not messier.
One day it hit me that all of this is much like our spiritual walk with our Creator, the One who made the heavens and the Earth. With our personal actions as well as our corporate governments, it’s no question that we as mankind have made a mess of things. And the minute we solve one problem, it seems like we create another. I’m thinking this is primarily because on both local and global scales, we typically do not make decisions while being charged and led by the Holy Spirit of YHVH; nor do we regularly seek His divine counsel. Proverbs 3:5&6 reads:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”
Later, in the Book of John, we read where Yeshua said,
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me,
and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
– John 15:5 (NKJV)
So name the problem in the world – unless we the created ones are seeking Holy Spirit input and energy from our Creator, our resolve will always be shortsighted, short-lived, and ultimately a failure.
Now let’s say you did seek the LORD on a matter; something such as a conflict you were dealing with or a major life decision you had to make. From there, it is vitally important that you keep seeking the LORD on a regular basis and remain in Him so that He will remain in you. You need to live in such a way that you continually seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit of God. You need to keep getting recharged. A one-time filling is not going to get the job done...just like charging a battery pack once will not last a lifetime. This is evident in the Apostle Paul’s instruction in Ephesians where he writes:
“Do not be drunk with wine, which will ruin you, but be filled with the Spirit.”
– Ephesians 5:18 (NCV)
Though it would sound a bit funny in English, the Greek word (i.e. plerousthe) here translated as “be filled” would more accurately be rendered as “be being kept filled”. In other words, it’s a continual process. A careful reading of the Book of Acts will show you that the disciples were seeking more and more filling of the Holy Spirit well after the initial outpouring which occurred during the feast of Pentecost (e.g. Acts 4:23-31; 13:52). Again, we must abide in the LORD and get our ideas, energy, desires, hope, and ultimately our lives from Him. There really is no other way!
In closing I leave you with this quote to chew on:
“If you believe you can coast into tomorrow with yesterday’s filling
of the Spirit, then there is a lesson you need to learn today!” - Clay Vessel
Most all supremacists do this; employees can do it when it comes to their employers; employers with their employees. Children might do this with their parents; wives when it comes to their husbands. Mankind sadly does it when it comes to God Himself. What am I talking about? – I’m talking about doing and falling for the oldest trick in the book; the book we call the Christian Bible which provides us the [true] story of man’s beginning. The name of this trick is: Vilify to Validate!
VILIFY TO VALIDATE
Whether it’s obtaining something we want or avoiding doing something we know we ought to do, one trick the devil, the Enemy of our souls, has been to get us to vilify our fellow person or the authority in our lives in order to validate our own negative words and actions against them.
You see, most all of us have what is called a conscience. This built-in mechanism helps to keep us from hurting others as well as ourselves [when we end up paying for our own harmful words or actions]. Now, it seems that the easiest bypass and workaround for this defense system is condemnation and projection of guilt. That is – if we can make the source of the true standard something substandard, then we feel more justified in doing our own thing.
For example: If in my mind, I make the company I work for a bad company, then I feel a little better about myself when I secretly leave work early or show up late.
If I paint my parents as only being mean and unfair, then I don’t feel bad when I disobey them and do what I want when they're not around. This list of scenarios could go on and on and unfortunately, they happen every day!
People of the planet, understand that we’re all connected and any negative action committed by any one of us, ultimately creates negative ripples that affect all of us. I won’t get into the details of that in this short video article but just think about it.
Meanwhile, be aware that there is a serpent, the “prince & power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), who does not have you or your wellbeing in mind at all. In fact, he seeks to destroy you. Please learn to be aware of the evil thoughts the Enemy quickly tries to plant in your mind against other people and institutions. Once those thoughts are planted, you have to decide if you’re going to give them a place in your heart or cast them out. Now, in some cases a person or institution may in fact do evil things but we must still guard our hearts against a spirit of hatred and condemnation.
Titus 3:1-5 (NIV) reads:
“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient,
to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit…”
So we have here the antidote for the oldest trick in the book. To avoid vilifying to validate, we should aim to be humble, obedient, peaceable, and most importantly…renewed by the Holy Spirit of God. Without God’s Spirit, we will continue to be tuned in to the frequency of the Evil One, listening to how he would have us view YHVH and all He created.
Perhaps you were a star athlete in high school or growing up and now you’re a "Custodial Engineer", also known as a janitor. Or maybe you spent tens of thousands of dollars on a 4 to 6 year college degree and now you’re a "Family Relations Manager", also known as a stay-at-home parent.
Maybe...just maybe, you actually made it BIG in this life! Perhaps you’re the real deal – a walking talking celebrity. Well, regardless of your history or current occupation, the one question I have for you is:
Q: Are you a “Celestial Celebrity”?
There are at least three types of Celestial Celebrities found in Scripture. – Daniel 12:3 reads,
“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens,
and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.”
This goes out to all the teachers, preachers, and evangelists out there who have done an outstanding job and gone through much turmoil to share the Good News of the Kingdom. This verse and others (e.g. Luke 6:22&23) indicate that a great heritage awaits those who have labored well for the cause of Christ.
Another type of celestial celebrity can be found at Proverbs 19:17 (NIV) which declares,
“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD,
and He will reward them for what they have done.”
Elsewhere we read:
“Yeshua said to him, ‘If you are serious about reaching the goal, go and sell your possessions, give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven.
Then come, follow me!’”
- Matthew 19:21 (CJB)
So we see here that kind deeds done for others (especially those done privately) help boost our celestial "bank account". If you have tended to the needs of others, then you have tended to extensions of the LORD Himself and He will reward you for this!
Finally, we have what I think is my personal favorite among the different kinds of celestial celebrities. At Luke 15:7 we see Yeshua preaching:
“I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who turns to God from his sins than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need to repent.”
If you were living for this world, your flesh, and the devil one day but then “unplugged” from that matrix and started living for God; you then became famous among the angels in heaven. That’s the clout I’d be concerned about. Those are the Likes I’d be trying to receive. And so, back to you the reader. Q: Are you rich and famous where it really matters? The life in this age is but a vapor (e.g. James 4:14). Life in the next age on the New Earth is never-ending!
Savior of the Realm (SOTR) is now available as an audiobook! Hear the story come to life with professional actor Kevin Theis as the voice of Rescuca and narrator. Click on sample link to listen to an excerpt:
I'm not affiliated with any particular denomination or organization; I just have to "call it like I see it" in Scripture. Death is the very reason why the resurrection to life (John 5:24-30) is so important! Let's not take away from that or confuse matters.
There will be a day when the children of Adam are made up of more than just divinely animated dust (Genesis 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:42-49) but that time has not yet come:
“So listen to what the parable of the sower means. Whoever hears the message about the Kingdom, but doesn’t understand it, is like the seed sown along the path — the Evil One comes and seizes what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is like a person who hears the message and accepts it with joy at once, but has no root in himself. So he stays on for a while; but as soon as some trouble or persecution arises on account of the message, he immediately falls away. Now the seed sown among thorns stands for someone who hears the message, but it is choked by the worries of the world and the deceitful glamor of wealth, so that it produces nothing. However, what was sown on rich soil is the one who hears the message and understands it; such a person will surely bear fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirty times what was sown.”
– Matthew 13:18-23 (CJB)
In terms of living for the Kingdom, I believe Yeshua's parable above applies both generally and specifically. It applies to every [called] person in regards to the overall message of the Gospel as well as specific commands and truths within God’s Word. One such truth is the instruction found in the fourth of the Ten Commandments.
The Fourth Commandment instructs God’s people to set apart the seventh day of the week as holy unto Him. The seventh day (Sabbath rest) is to be God’s “Date Night” with His people. It begins at sunset Friday evening and ends at sunset on the day we call “Saturday”. As with most all instructions from God, the Sabbath is FOR us and not against us. And just as with all commands of God, the rule was made for us and not us for the rule (Mark 2:27).
Rather than get into all of the theological technicalities and debates surrounding whether or not the Sabbath instruction still applies to God’s people today (e.g. Romans 14:5 & Colossians 2:16), I’ll just break down the meaning of the parable for now:
The 1st Wife
The first wife represents churches who believe Christ was resurrected on Sunday and therefore the first day of the week is now “The Lord’s Day”. This group sincerely believes that Sunday is the Sabbath of the New Covenant and effectively shifts the honor due to the seventh day onto the first. These churches see Sunday as the day we should rest and abstain from work. To this group, I would quote Isaiah 58:13 which declares the seventh-day Sabbath as God’s “holy day.” Contrary to popular Christian belief, it is only the true Sabbath which can rightfully being called "The Lord's Day" (Revelation 1:10) according to Scripture.
I understand from reading church history that much persuasion, politics, and persecution from the Evil One occurred which influenced the Christian shift from the seventh day Sabbath to the “venerable day of the sun” (Sunday). However, I believe it is time we wake up and smell the propaganda. Satan has learned that if he can get us as a people to not honor THE day, it won’t be long before we’re not honoring any day at all. And this is actually the case today. What was once taboo in America to take place on Sundays is now commonplace. Just ask the post office workers who deliver my Amazon packages on Sundays now. ~ Much Christian credit to all the saints in history who died and were tortured for their obedience to God’s Fourth Commandment! If only we today can learn to be so committed to the things of God without fear of being called things like "legalistic" by our own Christian kind.
The 2nd Wife
The second wife represents church members who appreciate and embrace the concept of the Sabbath but aren’t willing to live out the principle due to its incompatibility with their lifestyle. This actually described me for the latter 10 years of my Christian life. I had been keeping a Sabbath but this day was always up for negotiation based on my employers and so on. In truth, I wasn’t keeping a Sabbath at all. There was no day which was genuinely set aside for God, rest and [undistracted] worship.
The 3rd Wife
The third wife represents those who are entangled with the things of this age and view the Fourth Command of God as an archaic Old Testament law; something Yehovah gave to “those Jews”. These saints don’t rest at all and basically abuse the grace of God, to their own detriment. Why do I say this? – Because a Sabbath rest is beneficial both practically and spiritually. Our bodies are composed of dirt and dirt needs physical rest. It needs time to recoup and recover from use (Leviticus 25:4; 1 Corinthians 15:48). Spiritually, it is great to live in covenant with the Living God and it’s also a good practice telling the world, our flesh, and the devil that we can’t be bought or bribed. Obeying God and disobeying Satan communicates to powers and principalities exactly Who we belong to (Romans 6:16; 1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23).
May Yehovah bless all who seek to honor Him by at least setting aside “a” day as holy. Nevertheless, for unity sake, it is my hope that all saints come to be in accord and return to simple obedience to the simple command of God.
Q: How many saints are there who aren’t in consistent fellowship with others due to conflicting schedules? If all saints drew a clear line in the sand with the world and their employers when it came to violating God’s holy day, then schedule compatibility issues would hardly exist among saints. Conflicts would be limited to those who are specifically called to “do good on the Sabbath” which interestingly, Yeshua defended as being perfectly lawful (Matthew 12:12). This group might include firefighters, doctors, nurses, etc.
The 4th and Final Wife
It is my prayer that in these "Last Days", we the people…of the united church of Yeshua…all be that fourth and final wife who faithfully follows her husband’s instructions and is accordingly blessed! After all, are we here to please ourselves or were we created for Him (Colossians 1:16)? I think it's time we collectively get with His program which is detailed in His event planner; not our own!
"As for your friend Thaed here, I can assure you that
he will not survive the transition."
~ This was the final question for the 2015-16 IP2RR season which included $100 and $300 cash prizes. Congratulations to the following readers for their total winnings for the season:
TOTALS =
Shameka C. of Roanoke, VA - $300
D’Carlo B. of Ada, MO - $300
Nicolas R. of Lititz, PA - $100
Hannah R. of Springfield, MO - $100 (Amazon Gift Card)
LORD allowing, IP2RR will resume regularly on September 7, 2016 and prizes for that [second] season will consist of Christian books, DVD's, music CD's, and more! Be sure to FOLLOW me on this blog, Facebook or Twitter for information and updates and BE READY FOR THE IP2RR CHALLENGE!
~ Meanwhile...may the LORD bless you and keep you!
