The Calm Before The Storm

October 30th, 2013

When I was a child, I never considered getting a college degree in Economics.  As a senior in high school, that degree was not on my radar at all.  For what ever reason, Our Heavenly father steered me toward that field of study.  It appears that its relevance was to be fully appreciated at this time in my life.  My parents were able to enjoy their golden years in a stable economic environment.  They lived the dream.  Interest rates were stable enough for them to retire and live on a modest income without concern for their next meal.  It does not appear that my generation will be so fortunate.  We live in a different economic reality today.

Many people have prophesied of economic or financial events occurring at specific times.  Those of you with Iraqi Dinars know this all too well.  It’s imminent revaluation has been predicted how many times?  Some of you have been so focused on the revaluation, you have probably missed opportunities to be fruitful in other areas.  Macroeconomic events never happen when men think they will.  Why?  There is no sure measurement technique of fear and greed.  Fear is even more difficult of the two to measure.  The “flight” mechanism in man is triggered by some subtle event that is not easily identified.  If the study of Macroeconomics was more precise, the Federal Reserve would not be in the mess it is in now.

How can we protect ourselves from the coming financial storm?  It must be done on all levels: spiritually, financially, emotionally, mentally, and physically.  It has become clear that Our Heavenly Father is using Servias Ministries to help people through the coming events.

Spiritual preparation is more important than any other preparation one can pursue.  Those who are fully prepared in this area will suffer least in the coming weeks, months, and years.  To be spiritually led is the key to properly preparing in other areas.  We must shift our paradigm of historical thought and focus on hearing Our Heavenly Father.  As times become difficult, HE is the only One Who can properly navigate your life through the coming turmoil.  Knowledge and skill alone are not enough to be successful in these times.  If that were the case, the think tanks in Washington would have steered us away from the coming storm.  Each of us needs wisdom and understanding.  We need Wisdom from Above and that is only obtained by hearing HIS Voice.  As we hear HIS Voice, we receive understanding.  How is Servias able to help you mature in this process?  I believe the four books we published, our blogs, and our weekly Bible study are designed to help you through the coming tumultuous times.  Those who assume that life will go on without any significant change are in for a rude awakening.  I wish I was wrong but the numbers don’t lie.  There is no mathematical way to sustain the current path for much longer.  Only Our Heavenly Father knows the day and the hour that the “fear factor” will kick in.  When that happens, it will be too late to prepare.  Your pain will be in direct correlation to your various states of preparation with the Spiritual state being the most critical.

Our Heavenly Father may have you take some actions the are counterintuitive.  As an example, HE may have you give money when you are trying to hoard as much as you can.  Why?  You are planting seed for future harvest.  Farmers know to set aside seed for next year’s crop.  It is a simple Spiritual Law.  Investing in the Kingdom has the greatest future return on investment.  My wife and I actively support the Kingdom with our own finances.  We support Servias and other ministries just like some of you do.  Servias has no payroll.  I would suspect that we at Servias are getting the most “bang for the buck” through the donations.

The Sunday Bible Study broadcasts are specifically focused on your preparation for the coming storm.  I am rather surprised at the low number of viewers versus those who read our blogs.  If a person gets just one revelation out of each broadcast, the 60 to 75 minutes was well worth it.  People would rather be entertained than to uncover some new revelation reserved for this time.  When the storm comes, those areas of entertainment will not matter.  When the strongman comes to take your house, it will be too late to go buy a set of barbells and prepare.

I expected to begin our Bible Study broadcasts on the book “Raising the Remnant” at the time of Tabernacles but that did not happen.  It was needful for us to spend the extra time on understanding Divine Intent and the quantum versus the non-quantum.  There is some foundational understanding required at this time in history and thus we needed the revelations found in this book.  The “Remnant” Bible study will focus on maturing the Saints.

It is better to over-prepared rather than under-prepared for the coming storm.  The apparent delays are a blessing to those who are still preparing.  I believe the 3rd Baptism is reserved for those who are called to serve mankind in the coming storm.  Some of you have wondered about your calling.  It may be revealed soon as we get closer to the storm.  Jesus Christ has power and authority over all of the particles of creation.  Our Heavenly Father will appoint certain men and women with that same power and authority when the bottom falls out of the current illusion of monetary stability.  HE is preparing those who have ears to hear.  I trust our books, blogs, and broadcasts are part of HIS plan.  They certainly weren’t my idea.  I am simply serving at HIS Pleasure!

The Spirit of Burning

October 29th, 2013

We had a special broadcast on Sunday concerning the 3rd Baptism. at http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/40253755

The following is from an email that confirms to me why we could not delay the above broadcast discussion:

The Spirit of Burning
“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.” (Malachi 3:1-3)

Briefly, beloved (and this ties in with the most recent messages), there MUST be a fiery clearing away of everything that is of the fallen nature before the Lord will “come” in fullness to His temple. Though we have received of imputed righteousness by faith through the blood of Jesus Christ and an “in part” anointing of the Spirit, the Word declares a time when God’s people will present actual offerings of righteousness to God, meaning; there will no longer be the defiled nature of Adam at work in them, and at this time they will be ready for THE FULLNESS.

As I have shared, this will only be made possible through an unprecedented fiery work of God’s Spirit which has been reserved for these, the last days of the age. The apostle Peter wrote of this “salvation” that would be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:5, 9). The prophet Isaiah also had some insight as to how this amazing work of God would be accomplished in men. Isaiah wrote…

“It will come about that he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy – everyone who is recorded for life in Jerusalem. When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and purged the bloodshed of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning…” (Isaiah 4:3, 4)

It is true, beloved, that unprecedented fiery purgations will be sent by the Lord upon the whole world eventually, but before this fiery flood comes to the world “the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning” will be sent to a remnant people that they may present “offerings of righteousness” to the Lord and also demonstrate to the world holiness and righteousness made manifest IN A PEOPLE. Prophets throughout the ages have spoken of this. I shared something from Jane Leade recently about this, something that was written in 1679. Take a look at an excerpt from that again now…

“This will be a fiery trial through which a very few will be able to pass or bear up in it. Whereby the waiters for this visible breaking forth are strictly charged to hold fast, and wait together in the unity of Pure Love. This trial will be of absolute necessity to all for the clearing away of all remaining infirmities of the natural mind, and the burning of all hay, wood, and stubble. For nothing must remain in the fire, for as a refiner shall He purify the sons of the kingdom.”

Dear friends, Our Father will have for Himself a corporate WITNESS in the earth like nothing that this world has ever seen before, but before this manifestation can occur there must be a fiery coming of the Lord to a remnant people “in the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning” that all infirmities of the natural mind and soul might be removed from them.

Regarding this, I don’t believe that this particular work is mandated necessarily, but is something that comes when one fully gives themselves to God as a FREE WILL OFFERING. This is saying that the saints upon whom the end of this age has now come have THE OPPORTUNITY now to present themselves as living sacrifices upon the altar of God and that there is very great reward for doing this.

Along these lines, a brother asked me recently to tell him why I think it is that the church today is so spiritually weak and that most people in the church today can’t hear God as they ought to. I said to him that I think that is because very few Christians today have gone before God and cried out to Him with every molecule of their being that they want to KNOW HIM in the power of Christ’s resurrection and that they care not what the cost of knowing Him in this way is. This brother then asked me if I had ever done that, prayed in such a way, and I shared with him that I pray that prayer almost every day, but that I first prayed it (on my knees and in tears) about 15 years ago. That is when my whole life got turned upside down. That is when I got stripped of all of my material possessions and entered into the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings in a way that many times I thought that I would rather die than carry on with it. I always carried on and made it through to an eventual reprieve. Now though, this fire seems HOTTER THAN EVER, and there appears to be no reprieve in sight. I suspect that this is because this is the part of the journey represented by Jesus’ walk from Gethsemane to Golgotha. I may share more on this subject later as it relates to us not only being in the fire, but us becoming it, and thereby no longer able to be “hurt by the second death.”

A second email with further understanding about why we had to identify the spirit of Jezebel who was attempting to distract us from this revelation:

For many of us this past season has been an immersion in fire. This is because we are being brought to judgment in preparation for the next order of the Kingdom. The Lord, whom we seek, will suddenly come to His temple, but first He must sit as smelter and purifier of our metal, Him purifying the sons of Levi and refining them like gold and silver that they may present to the Father offerings in righteousness.

Along these lines; demonic entities are being NAMED and are being THROWN DOWN from positions of influence which have been held over many of us. This too is a necessary part of the spiritual fulfillment of the Day of Atonement. I believe that those who humble themselves and allow the Spirit of God to cleanse them in this way will be brought into the spiritual liberty of the coming age and Kingdom, but those who do not allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse them in this way (whether because of their objection based on doctrinal misunderstanding, spiritual pride, or love for their sins) will remain bound, kept from their inheritance by spiritual adversaries and left to await a judgment of another time.

Beloved, we have been told by John the Baptist that a time would come when the Lord Jesus would baptize us in fire. This baptism is for the purpose of reconciling every part of our personality to the Presence and will of the Father. It is important to remember, as we are going through the dealings of the Lord, that the joy of the Lord is our strength, meaning; strength can be found in the knowledge of the purpose and in knowing that our willingness to be subjected to the fire is pleasing the Father.

It is easy to fall into gloom and pessimism, to complain, and to become frustrated and discouraged when being judged. I think that this is the reason that the spiritual fulfillment of the Day of Atonement is placed toward the end of the process of our redemption, for it would not be possible for us to endure the fiery tribulations, dealings, probings and testings at an earlier stage of our spiritual development.

The Bride of the Lamb is to be without spot, wrinkle, blemish, or any flaw or stain of any kind, beloved. There must be no corruption in her. She has been called to be the complement of the Lord Jesus Christ. God is bringing about such perfection in us and we are to bear patiently with the Lord until He is satisfied with His handiwork. Divine workings have brought us from the chaotic condition of those who are without Christ and they will bring us all the way to perfect, complete union with God through Christ. Let understanding of that be a joy set before you in this day, as you endure your cross.

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It is becoming evident that this 3rd Baptism is at hand and once it is fulfilled, the power and authority from On High will be manifested among the Remnant.

Insuring Against the Unknown

October 28th, 2013

Here is the problem in the current pension fund environment.  Many pension funds make long-term assumptions, typically optimistic.  The following graph show an expected 8.75% annual return on investment on $1,000:

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For each $1,000 invested, in 30 years you would end up with $13,800 at 8.75% interest rate.  What happens when the interest rate drops to 3% for an extended period of time?

CropperCapture[216]

You end up with $10,000 less.  This is what the shortfall in the pension funds is all about.  They are in denial and continue to expect improved performance.  With short-term money at .7%, the deficit to be made up intensifies.

The Federal Reserve continues to suppress rates and print more money.  Life Insurance companies are using the same assumptions as pension funds.  At some point there will be a “Great Leveling”.  Your whole life insurance may go into the deep red, your pension fund may be grossly underfunded, and your saving dollars’ purchasing power is disintegrating.  This is why I personally view having at least 10-20% of savings in physical assets.  However, you should contact your investment advisor to determine your optimum investment position.

Who could run J.P. Morgan?

October 28th, 2013

 

In the following video, Matt Taibbi and Sam Seder tackle this all important question.  In our special ustream broadcast yesterday, we discussed “The Corrupt Church” in Revelations.  As has been said in the past: the church reflects society and its leaders.

 

This clip provides a perspective on the newsworthiness of the financial media and the fact that lawlessness is intrinsic to the too big to fail aspect of banking.  Our Heavenly Father does not agree with this view.  HE will have a corrective interview at some point.  When this happens, we should not be surprised by the magnitude of judgment.  Don’t be part of the collateral damage, simplify and protect yourself from the tsunami sure to come to the corrupt financial system.

Today’s Two Broadcasts

October 27th, 2013

At 3 PM Central Daylight Time we will have our next Bible Study live on the Internet. Servias Ministries offers this to allow our brothers and sisters around the world to pursue the most important characteristic of Our Heavenly Father with us. HIS Love is the primary motivation in which all of creation is framed. All aspects of understanding the depth of Scripture require us to view revelation from a standpoint of Love.

Notify your friends of our Bible Study and give them an opportunity to join us. As the Revelation of Love expands our the globe, people’s lives will be transformed.

This week we will continue our study that follows Dr. Speckhart’s new book: "Quantum and Non-Quantum States of the Lord Jesus Christ" and he will be with us for this broadcast and we plan to continue our the discussion at Chapter 19.

 

After our 3PM CDT normal broadcast, we will have a special discussion on a couple of blogs I posted this week about the 3rd Baptism.  I expect this to begin around 4:15 PM.

To participate live or watch this Bible study as a recording afterwards, go to http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-baptism-of-love

The chat room will be open at this time.

I Know Your Works

October 27th, 2013

In The Revelation of Jesus Christ, seven churches are addressed:

The Loveless Church

Rev 2:2 “I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars;

The Persecuted Church

:9 “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.

The Compromising Church

:13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

The Corrupt Church

:19 “I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first.

The Dead Church

3:1 “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

The Faithful Church

:8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name

The Lukewarm Church

:15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

Jesus Christ in this revelation is described (1:14): “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire”.  When addressing one of the above churches (The Corrupt Church), He is once again described in this manner: “And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write, ‘These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire”.  In each of these churches, Jesus gives promises to “He that overcomes”:

-He who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.

-To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.

-To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.

-And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations.

-He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

-He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.

-To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

Those who were found in each church were told of their opportunity to overcome the situation they found themselves in.  In one particular church, the corrupt church, Jesus is described with eyes like a flame of fire.  This particular church had many positive works of love (agape), service, faith, and patience yet it was dealing with the corrupt nature.  The spirit of Jezebel is mentioned as a problem in this church.  She was known for her persecution of the Remnant of Grace in the days of Elijah (1 Kings 18:4; 19:14).  Jezebel’s goal is to derail the anointing associated with the 3rd Baptism of Love (by fire).  This spirit of Jezebel will use compromise, envy, strife, idolatry, and other means to distract those who are called to be overcomers.  Jezebel’s spirit is a usurper of authority.  The 3rd Baptism is the culmination of authority given be the One whose eyes are like a flame of fire:

Rev. 19:12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.

Jesus Christ’s return was connected to those in the fourth church dealing with the Jezebel spirit.  His Baptism of Love by fire will remove any corruption or chaff and their works of love, service, faith, and patience will be rewarded.  What condition are your “works” in?

The Spirit of the Lord

The Seven Spirits of God were distributed to the Seven Churches. These Seven Spirits mentioned in Rev. 1:4 are listed in Isaiah 11:2. These correlate with the seven churches as follows:

Church Spirit Given Reward
Ephesus Spirit of the Lord Tree of Life
Smyrna

Understanding

Crown of Life
Pergamos Counsel White Stone
Thyatira Knowledge Morning Star
Sardis Wisdom White Clothes
Philadelphia Strength (Might) Pillar in Temple
Laodicea Fear of the Lord Sit in Throne

The Black Swan of Fear

October 26th, 2013

Throughout history, a sudden fear coming upon the populace could be described as a “Black Swan” event.  When the truth is exposed and the perception of an ongoing illusion is shattered, fear will grip a multitude of people whose faith was in the current system rather than in Our Heavenly  Father.

2 Kings 7 provides us an excellent example of a “Black Swan” event:

3 Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.” 5 And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there. 6 For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!” 7 Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact—their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—and they fled for their lives.

The Syrians were living a normal life one day and then a corporate fear gripped their hearts, they fled for their lives.  Their economy collapsed.  At the same time, Israel’s economy flourished.  Each and every day, the current economic system appears to be moving toward a precipitous event where the populace suddenly wakes up to the reality that the current monetary system is unsustainable.  When that happens, fear will overwhelm the masses.  I believe the globalists are preparing for such an event.  The rule of law has been gutted, marshal law is ready to be implemented, and emergency exercises have been conducted in preparation for such an event.

The U.S. Dollar as the reserve currency is on its last leg.  Other countries continue to employ measures to bypass its use.  At the same time, they are increasing their official gold reserves in order to return to a reliable monetary system.  Disengaging from the Dollar will be chaotic.  There will be no smooth transition, there never has been in history.  Our Heavenly Father will make sure we survive the transition.  However, our individual level of pain will correlated to our willingness to hear and respond to HIS Voice.  Delay of an economic collapse should not be viewed as an indication of success from preventing it.  Instead, we should view this time as HIS mercy in allowing us to get our ducks in order.

‘Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! For in one hour your judgment has come.’

That statement in Revelation 18 is the classic description of a “Black Swan” event.  What caused this event?  The following explains it:

Rev 18:1 After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory.

Illumination of the Truth exposed the lie of Mystery Babylon.  Global debt having fiat currencies as its foundation is simply one big illusion.  Creating something out of nothing and then putting the multitudes into bondage to it is the greatest deception.  It was the very scenario created in the Wizard of Oz and it is now reaching its zenith.  Once the illumination from Heaven fills the earth, Mystery Babylon will fall.

Our Heavenly Father has issued a warning:

:4 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.”

This is a clear indication that “My People” have been living within the current system.  Recall the parable of the wheat and tares.  They resided together in the field until it was time for the harvest.  The tares were judged, gathered up, and burned.  The fiery Law prevailed.

:23 The light of a lamp shall not shine in you anymore, and the voice of bridegroom and bride shall not be heard in you anymore. For your merchants were the great men of the earth, for by your sorcery all the nations were deceived.

The word “sorceries” (pharmakeia)

  1. the use or the administering of drugs

  2. poisoning

  3. sorcery, magical arts, often found in connection with idolatry and fostered by it

  4. metaph. the deceptions and seductions of idolatry

The use of drugs is now an epidemic problem in the U.S. and many other countries.  The use of herbicides and pesticides on crops is poisoning our bodies with toxins in the food.  Professional sports and entertainers are the epitome of idolatry.

Could it be that this “Illumination from Heaven” be the full revelation of the Baptism of Love (Fire) that I wrote about yesterday?  Could it be that once this Baptism of Fire comes forth, Mystery Babylon falls?  Once the Saints, by their righteous acts, are fully prepared to receive the Bridegroom, the earth is ready for a change:

Rev 19:.. His (Jesus’) wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Could it be that this 3rd Baptism of Love that I wrote about in both books be the tipping point of the fall of Mystery Babylon? 

1 John 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

Selah!

The Shulamite to Her Beloved

October 25th, 2013

Song of Songs 8:6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is strong as death, passion fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a raging flame.  (NRSV)

Set me as a seal on thy heart, as a seal on thine arm, For strong as death is love, Sharp as Sheol is jealousy, Its burnings are burnings of fire, a flame of Jah! (YLT)

Recently, I had a dream where I was given a Scripture.  When I awoke, I wanted to recall that Scripture and I knew it was located in the Song of Songs.  That Scripture eluded my consciousness until now.  A seal is like a signet ring and I believe it refers to a “circumcised” heart of Love.  A seal upon the arm refers to the strength of Love, even unto death.  True Love has a fierce passion that is more certain than death.  This Love is likened unto a raging flame.  This is the focus of this writing- the baptism of Love.

Luke 3:16 John answered, saying to all, “I indeed baptize you with water; but One mightier than I is coming, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Is it possible that we assumed John’s declaration of baptisms were two events when actually he was declaring three separate events?  Three separate baptisms at three separate times?  The water baptism is not the issue here, it is the separation of the baptism of Holy Spirit and the baptism of fire.  When I was 20 years old, I was baptized in the Holy Spirit.  It was a unique experience and I had virtually no understanding of its impact at the time.  I simply submitted myself to receive this baptism.  Was the old man burned up at the time?  Unfortunately, No!  Since then, I have operated in the various Gifts of the Spirit at certain times, but not in full measure by any means.  Our Heavenly Father’s grace and mercy have prevailed over my life, for sure.  Being pragmatic, I must say that I have yet to be fully baptized in fire for I must deal with my fleshly old man as everyone else does.  It is my innermost desire to be fully baptized in Love and I believe this is the baptism of fire that John declares in Luke 3:16.  I believe he was actually speaking of two separate events rather than the one in Acts 2:

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

In the above Scripture, a flame of fire “sat upon” each of them, it was not a raging fire.  I am looking for that fire that entirely consumes that fleshly old man, the ego.  Circumcision is to remove the fleshly covering.  The first step upon entering the Promised Land was for the men to be circumcised:

Joshua 5:2 At that time the LORD said to Joshua, “Make flint knives for yourself, and circumcise the sons of Israel again the second time.”

Could the “second time” point to the second baptism of fire in John’s declaration?  Do you know anyone who has been baptized with fire as of today?  Could this dream indicate that the Baptism of Fire and Love is upon us?  Bring on the fire!

Identifying Distractions

October 24th, 2013

Each of us has a unique calling, one given by the Divine Intent of Our Heavenly Father.  When we walk in this calling, we are deemed vessels of honor.  Our calling should produce fruitfulness of Love, life, and growth.  As we pursue our calling, we will be tested with many distractions.  Those distractions come in many forms.  They may be generated by our own ego or they may come from external sources such as other people who are walking as vessels of dishonor.  It is up to each of us to identify those distractions and deal with them, ultimately removing them from influencing us.

In the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the devil attempted to distract Him.  Three temptations were presented to challenge His calling.  Thankfully, the devil failed to tempt Jesus from fulfilling His calling.  This challenge was designed to derail the calling before it could come to full fruition and cause Jesus to question His entire existence.  The devil used Scripture in a twisted manner as part of his attempt to manipulate the path of Jesus.  Further, he attempted to stroke the ego, hoping to find a weakness to exploit.  A distraction will typically find your inherent weakness and exploit it until you succumb to the temptation of redirecting your focus.

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

Jesus warned us of false prophets.  How do you know if they are false prophets?  Jesus tells us to look at their fruit, we are called to be fruit inspectors.  False prophecy causes us to become focused on some future event that never occurs.  In the meantime, we do nothing, we produce no fruit ourselves.  Our calling goes dormant.  If you are constantly awaiting some event to occur and your focus has been placed solely on that event, you will not mature in your calling.  You have simply deferred the maturing process.  I remember the booklet “88 Reasons for the Rapture to occur in 1988”.  It didn’t happen, it was false.

Matthew 9:3 And at once some of the scribes said within themselves, “This Man blasphemes!”

4 But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts?

Jesus, the epitome of Love, called a spade, a spade.  He did not condone or enable evil.  Love responds in a righteous manner and exposes evil when necessary.  A challenge to your calling is another form of distraction.  Men who are envious and walk according to their lusts will challenge your calling in an effort to justify their own actions.  They will rationalize their own thoughts by using some Scripture to attack you.  They will judge you, convict you, and sentence you based on their own self interests.  Jesus discerned their hearts.

Matthew 10:16 “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. 17 But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues.

One of the insidious methods of distracting a calling is to use man’s legal system in a corrupt manner.  In the U.S., lawsuits abound.  Men use the legal system to intimidate others into submission.  This is just another form of manipulation.  Doesn’t the false prophet manipulate those who have itching ears?  Men think the legal system is the best way to right a wrong.  However, Our Heavenly Father’s methods are more effective and HE knows the thoughts and intents of men.  In the end, HE will appropriately deal with them.

Vessels of Honor are vessels of Love.  We may have functioned as a vessel of dishonor in the past (or even the present), but there is hope.  The potter has authority over the vessel of clay.  HE doesn’t destroy the vessel but judges it, breaks it down, then remolds it into a new vessel, able to be productive and fulfill the purpose of the potter.  Don’t let distractions keep you from fulfilling your calling.  Once identified, it may be necessary to remove the distraction from your midst.  At any rate, you must not let anything compromise your fruitfulness.  Let us all fulfill our calling and be fruitful in every good work.

Luke 6:37

October 23rd, 2013

Luke 6:37  “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

Do you want to be judged and condemned?  Jesus was rather emphatic about His position, which is also the position of Our Heavenly Father.  As I have said before: We judge ourselves by our intent, but everyone else by their actions.  Our egos easily forgive ourselves of hurtful actions toward others but then “go for the throat” when others respond to our actions in a less than forgiving manner.  This is an indication that we simply don’t want to change.  Our ego wants everyone else to change and conform to us, thus feeding the ego and making it even stronger and more unmanageable.

We must die to self, that is the bottom line.  It means we must not respond to behavior that promotes the ego.  We must not acknowledge and perpetuate lawless behavior.  When we attempt to make the other person do our bidding, we will generally fail.  Why?  Even though we can modify their behavior, we do nothing to change their heart, and the heart is where the problem lies.  We should ask Our Heavenly Father to minister life to all involved.  Until we are perfected by Love, we must assume that our heart needs further development as well as the other.  During the process of maturing, we must keep Luke 6:37 before us at all times lest we fall into the same ditch as we perceive the other person to be in.