fencepostdigest

Every Believer possesses knowledge only because of the Divine Presence of God in their bodies. Convinced that God has given me the ministry of exposing sin to the local churches my personal need to receive encouragement from His Word is paramount. Sometimes my heart is so very heavy with the understanding of the darkness lurking within the buildings and lives of many people attempting to worship in them. The sin of which I speak mostly does not indicate that Believers are living in sin for they cannot. The problem is simple, lost people have been allowed into the membership of local churches claiming faith in Jesus Christ while deceiving friends and neighbors who are faithful Followers of Jesus Christ. 

Every Believer possesses knowledge only because of the Divine Presence of God in their bodies. Convinced that God has given me the ministry of exposing sin to the local churches my personal need to receive encouragement from His Word is paramount. Sometimes my heart is so very heavy with the understanding of the darkness lurking within the buildings and lives of many people attempting to worship in them. The sin of which I speak mostly does not indicate that Believers are living in sin for they cannot. The problem is simple, lost people have been allowed into the membership of local churches claiming faith in Jesus Christ while deceiving friends and neighbors who are faithful Followers of Jesus Christ. 

Paul encourages the Body of Christ to remain firm in their faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ at every turn and mostly do. However, we must understand the clarity of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ as being eternal in nature, not temporary. Some amongst us teach a false narrative that salvation can be lost by the foolishness of sinful acts by those who claim faith in Jesus Christ. My question is easy, “How so?” Paul writes in Galatians 5:2-6, “Listen! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you at all! 3 And I testify again to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace! 5 For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait expectantly for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision carries any weight—the only thing that matters is faith working through love.”

First off, close observation of the NT demonstrates Paul’s foundation in God’s grace for he utilizes the word ‘grace at least 100 of the 155 times it is found in therein. We can fully understand the impact of God’s gift of salvation is never, NEVER withdrawn from a Believer…ever. Paul’s statement in verse 4, “you have fallen away from grace” is not an indication that a Follower of Christ loses salvation in Him. Please read contextually the following texts to know this truth: John 1:12, 3:16, 36, 5:24, 6:47, 10:28-29; Romans 8j:31-19 and many other examples can be noted as well.

The legalists Paul addresses in his letter to the Galatians clearly demonstrate the error of attempting to tie faith in Christ and the Mosaic Law is foolishness, especially the Jewish tradition of circumcision. Obviously, spiritual circumcision is at the heart of the Gospel Message.

And for our purposes here, we must realize that a Believer who commits a sin does not lose salvation, neither cannot live a life of sin because of the Presence of the Holy Spirit in the life of the Believer. God’s mercy and grace enables every Believer to overcome both the temptation to sin and the presence of sinful behaviors in others because:

“Therefore, since we have this ministry, just as God has shown us mercy, we do not become discouraged. 2 But we have rejected shameful hidden deeds, not behaving with deceptiveness or distorting the word of God, but by open proclamation of the truth we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience before God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing, 4 among whom the god of this age has blinded the minds of those who do not believe so they would not see the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your slaves for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the one who shined in our hearts to give us the light of the glorious knowledge of God in the face of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:1-6.

As Christ lives in our hearts we possess the light of the knowledge, the glorious knowledge of God because of the Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. This ministry empowers us to overcome being discouraged in spite of the shameful deeds and presence of those who are lost, but do occupy the seats around us in the local church. We are and can be aware of them because of the darkness surrounding them. This veil of darkness keeps them from the light of Christ as they are spiritually blinded by their lostness just as Judas Iscariot was. As slaves or disciples of Christ our ability in Him surpasses the weakness of their god, Satan.

Every Believer is a ‘Herald’ of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ and as Paul writes i 1 Corinthians 1:18-24, “For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and I will thwart the cleverness of the intelligent.” Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Mosaic law? Where is the debater of this age? Has God not made the wisdom of the world foolish? For since in the wisdom of God the world by its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe by the foolishness of preaching. For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom, but we preach about a crucified Christ, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. But to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.” 

Yes, the local church is abounding with folks who claim to be ‘Christians,’ but they are foolish disciples of darkness without understanding of the Message of the Cross they speak of. We who know the Christ are spiritually discerned and are enabled to see their darkness because of the Cross. Our wisdom is Godly wisdom while theirs is worldly foolishness. The Christ of the Cross arose from the grave to demonstrate His victory providing us with the same victory over spiritual darkness and eternal death and damnation. 

Jesus is Lord!!

“Now Jericho was shut tightly because of the Israelites. No one was allowed to leave or enter. The Lord told Joshua, “See, I am about to defeat Jericho for you, along with its king and its warriors. Have all the warriors march around the city one time; do this for six days. Have seven priests carry seven rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day march around the city seven times, while the priests blow the horns. When you hear the signal from the rams’ horns, have the whole army give a loud battle cry. Then the city wall will collapse, and the warriors should charge straight ahead.” Joshua 6:1-5.

America, if not the Nations of the World, has now come to a crisis with profound implications. My thoughts are in multiples, divided and shaken down to one thing: the Presence of Almighty God. However, the crisis of which I speak also includes the on-going Presidential Election in America and the Pandemic becoming political. Socialism now threatens to overtake us all. 

The story of Jericho, and other biblical stories, can be characterized as taking place in our Nation today. Take a look, “America has been shut tight because of the Socialist Democrats. No one was allowed to leave or enter particular places because of the Pandemic because of ‘social distancing.’ The Lord has told us, “See, I am about to defeat the Socialists for you, along with their leaders and supporters. Have all your Patriots stand against the evil-doers for as long as it takes to expose and defeat them. Appoint someone to lead the attacks against the Socialists using the Constitution for protection being reminded of the biblical foundations thereof. The words of the Constitution and the Bible are sufficient for sound direction to be given by the Preachers. The faith of the Patriots and Preachers in God is enough to cause the Socialists to collapse and the Patriots will be able to charge ahead.”

As I have said over and over again, I agree 100% with the Apostle Paul, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of God for I am crucified with Christ, filled by His Spirit, am empowered by Him, and as he instructs the Armor of God is what I wear each and every day. With this understanding God is my Enabler for every daily evil confrontation. The said evil giant comes into focus as I cross the Valley of the Shadow of Death, but God is always with me, not shadowing me and not carrying me, but indwells my body with His Holy Spirit. The wall of evil, the wall of Socialism is about to collapse, not because of me, but because of the Spirit of God.

“The angelic messenger who had been speaking with me then returned and woke me, as a person is wakened from sleep. He asked me, “What do you see?” I replied, “I see a menorah of pure gold with a receptacle at the top. There are seven lamps at the top, with seven pipes going to the lamps. There are also two olive trees beside it, one on the right of the receptacle and the other on the left.” Then I asked the messenger who spoke with me, “What are these, sir?” He replied, “Don’t you know what these are?” So I responded, “No, sir.” Therefore he told me, “This is the Lord’s message to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength and not by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” Zechariah 4:1-6.

Okay, everyone; this I believe: If Trump wins, and I believe he may, it will come to pass because of God’s Spirit Who is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. No doubt, God is on to this blatant discourse of attacks upon the Constitution and Rule of Law in America. Certainly there are many, many variables with the Key being the outright denial of God within the United States. President Trump has enjoined his Legal Team to bring this controlled walk around the Walls of Socialism in order to bring them down. Millions of prayers are being spoken to God, not necessarily for Mr. Trump, but for our Nation’s success over this Socialist attack upon us as a Nation. Will we prevail? Only if God allows the victory to be ours driven by Him. 

Yes, indeed, this is Our Jericho for Jesus is Lord.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.” John 1:1-5.

People in darkness cannot and therefore, refuse to listen to truth because of spiritual blindness in every feasible manner. They are sometimes associated with evil by supporting and protecting particular kinds of people who are evil themselves. And the Inspired Writer tells us, “all unrighteousness is sin…” 1 John 5:17a. (please read in context.) However, we know Jesus is more than life, He is “the light of mankind.” John 1”4c. Sadly, many continue to walk in darkness even though they claim life in Jesus Christ.

But, does this translate into life where you are? Yes, a thousand times, YES!! But, how? This kind of statement and thinking, ‘guilt by association’ offends many claiming to be Christians. The fact is too often evildoers are not simply protected by some who claim to be so, but are supported by them as well. Darkness only translates into life in Christ by the new birth as described in John chapter 3, Ephesians 2 and other places. However, for present purposes there are clear statements in God’s Word concerning guilt by association with others who are in denial of God by their life of sin.

Indeed, personal sin affects others by association and is obvious when there exists ‘sin in the camp’ as people infect the whole community and cause severe consequences. In Joshua 6:18-19 is found this command from God, “ But be careful when you are setting apart the riches for God. If you take any of it, then you will make the Israelite camp subject to annihilation and cause a disaster. All the silver and gold, as well as bronze and iron items, belong to the Lord. They must go into the Lord’s treasury.”  However, look at what happened in Joshua 7:1, “But the Israelites disobeyed the command about the city’s riches. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, stole some of the riches. The Lord was furious with the Israelites.” Only Achan stole some of the confiscated riches intended for the treasury of the Lord and “the Lord was furious with the Israelites” each and every one. Why? Guilt by association with the thief.

The question then arises, “Are you somehow guilty before because of the sins of some members of your church?” I responded with Hebrews 13:17, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls and will give an account for their work. Let them do this with joy and not with complaints, for this would be no advantage for you.” Taking into consideration the previous verses 1-16, every church leader whether they be deacon or pastor, “will give account for their work” before God. For this reason every Pastor must preach and teach the truth concerning the teachings of Jesus Christ. Why? There is Light that penetrates.

Pastors are responsible for “giving an account for the souls” he leads and must present the Gospel as the power of God for salvation. But, there is another responsibility sometimes forgotten and “God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member, so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another. If one member suffers, everyone suffers with it. If a member is honored, all rejoice with it. Now you are Christ’s body, and each of you is a member of it. “ 1 Corinthians 12 24b-27. We must also work diligently to help those who are hurting, confused and do all possible to prevent division that is sometimes present, too.

Division always comes along lurking in pervasive darkness of sin present in the lives of some who are not born-again, but are actively involved in the local church. An interesting note is a warning from Paul for us not to share in this sin.

Paul writes in Ephesians 5:11-14, “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.  For the things they do in secret are shameful even to mention. But all things being exposed by the light are made visible. For everything made visible is light, and for this reason it says: “Awake, O sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you!” And in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 we are told, “For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Are you not to judge those inside? But God will judge those outside. Remove the evil person from among you.” The Apostle directs the words of God directly to today’s  local church for we have allowed unbelievers to direct far too many activities.

Paul often speaks against darkness creeping around in various churches to whom he writes. He told the church in Thessalonica, “ But we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who lives an undisciplined life and not according to the tradition they received from us. For you know yourselves how you must imitate us, because we did not behave without discipline among you, and we did not eat anyone’s food without paying. Instead, in toil and drudgery we worked night and day in order not to burden any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give ourselves as an example for you to imitate,” 2 Thessalonians 3:6-9 and almost in the same pen stroke is found, “But you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing what is right. But if anyone does not obey our message through this letter, take note of him and do not associate closely with him, so that he may be ashamed. Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” 2 Thessalonians 3:13-15. 

The light of the Gospel is Jesus Christ penetrating the darkest corner of every heart, no space is hidden from Him. “And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.” John 1:5. No matter the evil existing in the hallway, Jesus’ light always overcomes the darkness of evil. All that has been presented here presents only the activity of evil in the local church in order to encourage everyone within the Body of Christ to stand strong in the Gospel to overcome darkness. We must not step backward, but forward just as the Crucifixion is not the end of hope, but simply the beginning.

Jesus is Lord.

As an artist one of my favorite expressions of God is an approaching thunderstorm. From those towering clouds is pictured various bolts of lightning and thick sheets of rain. The name I gave to the painting is, “God Is the Storm.” Yes, I understand that God is never described as being a storm, but I am able to see His unleashed judgment upon rebellious people as being a storm of unparalleled power and destruction from which there is no hope of recovery. Is America in the path of His ‘Perfect Storm?’

In Psalm 18 and again in 2 Samuel 22 God inspired David describes God, not being the storm, but he most certainly speaks of what might be called ‘the Perfect Storm.’  As a result David paints the terrible results of God’s Presence, “Then the earth shook and quaked;the foundations of the mountains trembled; they shook because He burned with anger.” Psalm 18:7.  Words of human understanding are unable to describe the powerful and towering Presence of the Almighty, but David tells us, “Smoke rose from His nostrils, and consuming fire came from His mouth; coals were set ablaze by it. He parted the heavens and came down, a dark cloud beneath His feet. He rode on a cherub and flew, soaring on the wings of the wind. He made darkness His hiding place, dark storm clouds His canopy around Him. From the radiance of His presence, His clouds swept onward with hail and blazing coals. The Lord thundered from heaven; the Most High projected His voice. He shot His arrows and scattered them; He hurled lightning bolts and routed them. The depths of the sea became visible, the foundations of the world were exposed, at Your rebuke, Lord, at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.” Psalm 18:8-15. NET2.

For days now I have hoped beyond hope and made statements of the same, “Trump will prevail at the end of the day.” Today, on this 29th day of November, 2020 my confidence in the USA remaining the Nation of law and order is waning. Hope for favorable results at the Supreme Court has dimmed because I really think God’s patience for our Nation has finally run its course. God is angry and the approaching storm is God’s judgment upon the decisions of rebellious people turning away from Him.

 “Therefore you shall prophesy against them all these words, and you shall say to them, ‘The Lord will roar from on high and utter His voice from His holy habitation; He will roar mightily against His fold. He will shout like those who tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.  ‘A clamor has come to the end of the earth, because the Lord has a controversy with the nations. He is entering into judgment with all flesh; as for the wicked, He has given them to the sword,’ declares the Lord.” Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, evil is going forth From nation to nation, and a great storm is being stirred up From the remotest parts of the earth. Those slain by the Lord on that day will be from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be lamented, gathered or buried; they will be like dung on the face of the ground.” Jeremiah 25:30-33.

The evil ones have ensnared local churches to follow their folly with the idea of being ‘tolerable’ for all sorts of deviant behaviors and appearance of sin. There is no longer a sense of absolute truth among many who claim the Name of Jesus Christ. Their claims are hollow in sight of Holy God. Sinfulness is acceptable because empty seats must be occupied even if unrighteousness is in the air. Everyone will receive a reward of some sort ‘because they have participated.’ 

Is God the coming storm? Yes, I am able to believe and say that He is…the storm being His day of judgment. This will not be the Day of the Lord nor the Day of Judgment as expressed in His Word, but the coming storm is His Presence of wrath. Fire will come forth from His nostrils and fire from His mouth as He pronounces the verdict. God is about to install a new form of government over a land we once knew at the United States of America united by freedom. That freedom will soon be released by Socialism/Marxism ideals described by many as ‘unity.’ There will be none to be found in darkness of evil. 

For eternity, Jesus remains Lord.

Listening to the news sources I envision sort of a ‘doomsday’ outcome for our Nation, but I know there is a rational reasoning. If Joe Biden, indeed, becomes our President everything will change…EVERYTHING! The Social Liberals who seem to dominate the Democrats have plans to change America from her Constitutional moorings. This certain strikes concerns of fear in my heart.

At this moment, President Trump’s Legal Team is doing its dead level best to steer the hopes of his election for a 2nd term in the White House. This Team seems to have a plan to get the Supreme Court to  send the conclusion to the state legislatures and/or the House of Representatives in Congress. This seems to be the only hope America has for a good conclusion to this 2020 Presidential Election. 

But wait! There is more, much more. The final word has yet to be determined. What about the Church? What are we to do? Jesus clearly points to many things, but here are three examples from our Lord:

Matthew 5:9, “The peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called sons of God.”

Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth.”

Matthew 5:14, “You are the light of the world.”

No doubt, each Believer has taken a particular view of both of these events unfolding in our Nation. While each of us is affected by these decisions we must be involved because whether we like it or not we have the moral obligation to be peacemakers, salt and light in our local communities.

Notice that Jesus says, “the peacemakers are blessed, for they will be called the sons of God.” Realizing the truth of these words can only be known if, indeed, His Followers are the salt and light of the world. And we cannot be the salt if we are not somehow calming tensions and we cannot be the light if we are not proclaiming the Good News.

Jesus is Lord.

We Must Be Obedient During Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare is real…very, very real and we are not only observing an intense battle for the soul of American culture at this moment, you and I are actively participating as well. However, this battle is far different from any observed prior to what is going on in the political arena of American history.

This war has been raging since the moment Eve submitted to Satan’s temptation in the Garden of Eden by taking a bite of that piece of fruit; whatever it was. Satan has tempted every person at every level of possibility available to him and he has won many battles, but he lost the war on that cross outside the wall of Jerusalem many centuries ago. However, the battles will continue with some being more intense than others.

The political skirmish we now are engaged in is particularly important to world history and perhaps has ‘End-time’ importance as well. I know the ‘end-time prophets’ have been actively portraying their wares and they may be absolutely correct in saying the next event is the Rapture of the Church and, or the Tribulation. No one knows this for sure. However, the obvious truth is the spiritual battle for the soul of America’s culture and the souls of humankind. What I have found interesting is the international interest and observers AND the participants; Donald J. Trump and Joe Biden. We are watching this on television in real time.

Another point of intrigue is the fact that the Lawyers on Trump’s Legal Team have been quoting the Name of God and pointing to the Bible, but I have not seen that coming from Joe Biden side of the aisle. I may have missed something, have I?

Please read Romans chapter 6 to discover what Paul instructs here,  “So what benefit did you then reap from those things that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. But now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit leading to sanctification, and the end is eternal life. For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Paul includes but 2 places of occupancy available to everyone who has lived, lives or will live: eternal life or eternal death. Before eternity is fixed for you or me the battles of spiritual warfare will be waged, and we are actively involved, always.

In Ephesians 6:10-18 Paul informs us concerning Spiritual Warfare;

“Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason,

• take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. 
• Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, 
• by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace,
• and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 
• And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). 
• With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints.”

Whether we admit to it or not, every person alive is a participant in these ongoing spiritual battles. Just as Jesus was personally confronted by Satan, so are you and I…each and every day. To the Devil’s chagrin everyone who is born-again by grace and through faith in Jesus Christ this fallen angel is defeated by the Risen Christ. There is one major difference: Jesus and Satan were face to face in the desert, but you and I are confronted by the minions of Satan, his demonic forces. The reason for this is simple. Satan is a created being bound by time and space as you and I are, and he is not omnipresent as is Jesus Christ. He is unable to be present everywhere at the same moment as is God. Therefore, he sends his demons to confront us with his instructions in hand. But, they are losers as they tempt us just as their Patron Saint is defeated already. 

Returning to our present reality we find Satan attacking the forces of righteousness in this political and spiritual arena. Personally, I believe Mr. Trump will win this battle only because of the presence of the Holy Spirit. This too, I believe is applicable to the situation we are presently involved,

“Then the angel of the Lord exhorted Joshua solemnly:  “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, ‘If you follow my ways and keep my requirements, you will be able to preside over my temple and attend to my courtyards, and I will allow you to come and go among these others who are standing by you. Listen now, Joshua the high priest, both you and your colleagues who are sitting before you, all of you are a symbol that I am about to introduce my servant, the Branch. As for the stone I have set before Joshua—on the one stone there are seven eyes. I am about to engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘to the effect that I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. In that day,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘everyone will invite his friend to fellowship under his vine and under his fig tree.’” Zechariah 3:6-10. (I wish to encourage you to read the entirety of Zechariah for the context.}

However, I believe these words to be applicable for but one reason: we must be obedient to the Lord God of Heaven to “invite his friend to fellowship under his vine and under his fig tree.” The Righteous of God must adhere to His divine call or He will not bless.

Jesus is Lord.

We Must Be Obedient During Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare is real…very, very real and we are not only observing an intense battle for the soul of American culture at this moment, you and I are actively participating as well. However, this battle is far different from any observed prior to what is going on in the political arena of American history.

This war has been raging since the moment Eve submitted to Satan’s temptation in the Garden of Eden by taking a bite of that piece of fruit; whatever it was. Satan has tempted every person at every level of possibility available to him and he has won many battles, but he lost the war on that cross outside the wall of Jerusalem many centuries ago. However, the battles will continue with some being more intense than others.

The political skirmish we now are engaged in is particularly important to world history and perhaps has ‘End-time’ importance as well. I know the ‘end-time prophets’ have been actively portraying their wares and they may be absolutely correct in saying the next event is the Rapture of the Church and, or the Tribulation. No one knows this for sure. However, the obvious truth is the spiritual battle for the soul of America’s culture and the souls of humankind. What I have found interesting is the international interest and observers AND the participants; Donald J. Trump and Joe Biden. We are watching this on television in real time.

Another point of intrigue is the fact that the Lawyers on Trump’s Legal Team have been quoting the Name of God and pointing to the Bible, but I have not seen that coming from Joe Biden side of the aisle. I may have missed something, have I?

Please read Romans chapter 6 to discover what Paul instructs here,  “So what benefit did you then reap from those things that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. But now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit leading to sanctification, and the end is eternal life. For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Paul includes but 2 places of occupancy available to everyone who has lived, lives or will live: eternal life or eternal death. Before eternity is fixed for you or me the battles of spiritual warfare will be waged, and we are actively involved, always.

In Ephesians 6:10-18 Paul informs us concerning Spiritual Warfare;

“Finally, be strengthened in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Clothe yourselves with the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. For this reason,

• take up the full armor of God so that you may be able to stand your ground on the evil day, and having done everything, to stand. 
• Stand firm therefore, by fastening the belt of truth around your waist, by putting on the breastplate of righteousness, 
• by fitting your feet with the preparation that comes from the good news of peace,
• and in all of this, by taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 
• And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God). 
• With every prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit, and to this end be alert, with all perseverance and petitions for all the saints.”

Whether we admit to it or not, every person alive is a participant in these ongoing spiritual battles. Just as Jesus was personally confronted by Satan, so are you and I…each and every day. To the Devil’s chagrin everyone who is born-again by grace and through faith in Jesus Christ this fallen angel is defeated by the Risen Christ. There is one major difference: Jesus and Satan were face to face in the desert, but you and I are confronted by the minions of Satan, his demonic forces. The reason for this is simple. Satan is a created being bound by time and space as you and I are, and he is not omnipresent as is Jesus Christ. He is unable to be present everywhere at the same moment as is God. Therefore, he sends his demons to confront us with his instructions in hand. But, they are losers as they tempt us just as their Patron Saint is defeated already. 

Returning to our present reality we find Satan attacking the forces of righteousness in this political and spiritual arena. Personally, I believe Mr. Trump will win this battle only because of the presence of the Holy Spirit. This too, I believe is applicable to the situation we are presently involved,

“Then the angel of the Lord exhorted Joshua solemnly:  “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, ‘If you follow my ways and keep my requirements, you will be able to preside over my temple and attend to my courtyards, and I will allow you to come and go among these others who are standing by you. Listen now, Joshua the high priest, both you and your colleagues who are sitting before you, all of you are a symbol that I am about to introduce my servant, the Branch. As for the stone I have set before Joshua—on the one stone there are seven eyes. I am about to engrave an inscription on it,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘to the effect that I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. In that day,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘everyone will invite his friend to fellowship under his vine and under his fig tree.’” Zechariah 3:6-10.

However, I believe these words to be applicable for but one reason: we must be obedient to the Lord God of Heaven to “invite his friend to fellowship under his vine and under his fig tree.” The Righteous of God must adhere to His divine call or He will not bless.

Jesus is Lord.

Having not read Esther for a couple of years, today’s reading opened my eyes once again to the relevance of the Word of God. Older preachers of my early years often said, “The Bible is as current as this morning’s newspaper!” How true that statement was, but today’s newspaper is dated before the ink is dry for we are now living in a ‘vertual world,’ are we not? The 1828 Webster’s Dictionary defines ‘virtual’ as being, “Being in essence or effect, not in fact.” What happened a moment ago, indeed, happened, but what is happening now has changed what happened 10 minutes ago. That was factually true, but now is now and is being recorded around the world NOW. News from a moment ago, well, is not effective as it was when it happened. THIS is the reason that Joe Biden may not be our 46th President and Donal Trump may yet continue to be our 45th President for 4 more years. In essence, Biden is President-elect, but in fact he is NOT our President now.

I have no doubt that the next 4 years are to be very, very difficult for every American; no matter who is sitting in the White House. If Trump is, indeed, re-elected there is no end in sight as to the attacks that will be made upon him. And if Biden is inaugurated on January 20, 2021 so many things will change about us that a whirlwind will not describe the effects. An F-5 Tornado within a Category 5 Hurricane with sustained winds for 4 years will only touch the surface of the horrible damages that will occur. New words will be in need of manufacture to describe the aftermath of a Joe Biden presidency. “The rest of the story” will only be found in history books for years and years to come for these records will be “in infamy.”

Have you read the book of Esther recently? You should for, in fact, this story is foreboding. Change a few names and the events depict in many ways what we are seeing now and will most likely be living in the coming days ahead. To precisely change the names is a bit of an exaggeration, perhaps, but the storms through which we are presently passing seem to jump out of Esther. This is strangely “Back to the Future” kind of thing. Do you recall that series of films of yesterday?

The only thing that we might find difficult is the hanging death of Haman on the gallows he had constructed for Mordecai, the father of Queen Esther. I see Haman’s death as being the death of Biden’s Presidency and Mordecai as President Trump. The King Ahasuerus of Susa, for my purposes, could easily represent “We the People” or the Constitution of the United States. Ancient Susa is located in Iran; that is appropriate is it not?

And I truly understand that many folks out ‘there’ will not agree with my assessment of the interpretation of Esther for this moment in time. But, think about this for a moment. There are at least 3 people worth mentioning here: Donald Trump, Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell for they could be mentioned along the way, too. No doubt, the gallows are for the hopes and crazy dreams of the Socialist/Marxists of our time for I find it difficult to believe that God will permit them to intervene before their appropriate moment arrives before the Rapture and Tribulation arrive. Something worse than they will appear, but not today…

Just take about an hour to read Esther and absorb the story, and then make the appropriate application of God’s on-going history. Thrilling and compelling.

Jesus remains Lord!!

Are we observing the very last days before what we know of as the End of Time arrives? THAT no one is able to address with certainty for history after the Resurrection of Christ is littered with failed prophetic statements about the End of Time, the Rapture and the Tribulation. We may or may not be there, but one thing is certain there is a veil of darkness through which we are about to pass. In America this veil has been threatening for some time and many of our populace has ignored it and observed others around us being absorbed by it. But there is an answer, a solution.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see. 2 For by it the people of old received God’s commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible. 4 By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he was commended as righteous because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith he still speaks, though he is dead. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he did not see death, and he was not to be found because God took him up. For before his removal he had been commended as having pleased God. 6 Now without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, when he was warned about things not yet seen, with reverent regard constructed an ark for the deliverance of his family. Through faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.” Hebrews 11:1-7. 

I know that I have been lamenting the demise of our once great Nation for many years and have said often the end of it is near. Today, I fear that sense  and smell of death is nearer than ever. Although I am unable to give a date of the final end of Constitutional law and order we have enjoyed for my lifetime, the beginning of that finality will come January 20, 2021. But there is hope for everyone who are Following the Lord Jesus Christ; those who belong to Him.

Abel died by the hands of his brother, but found peace with God. Enoch please God and escaped physical death. Noah trusted God, followed His instructions to build an ark for the survival of mankind. The answer was and remains to be faith. Manley Beasley is quoted to have said, “Faith is acting as if it is so in order for it to be so because with God it already is so.”  And the Hebrew writer tells us, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1. The songwriter sings, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.” And as we look at this veil of approaching darkness our faith in Jesus Christ is able to surpass that darkness for in Him is our strength and light; our faith MUST rest in Him alone.

Our ark is not a boat, but our ark is the Risen Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jesus told His disciples, “I am with you always, to the end of age.” Matthew 28:20b. He is always our Present Help in Need. We also find in the Gospel of John seven “I am” statements of Jesus:

1. Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35.
2. Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 8:12. 
3. So Jesus said again, “I tell you the solemn truth, I am the door for the sheep. All     who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” John 10:7-10.
4. Jesus replied, “Your brother will come back to life again.” Martha said, “I know that he will come back to life again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies,  and the one who lives and believes in me will never die.” John 11:23-26.
5. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11-15.
6. “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. He takes away every branch that does not bear fruit in me. He prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit.” John 15:1-2.
7.   “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6.

Yes, there is a heavy and dark veil in our present physical future in America, a veil that has been approaching for some time. Many of us, including myself, felt that Donald Trump might have been the one person who might possibly bring us some hope, some light for the future of our Nation. However, there simply are not enough of us ‘Patriots,’ as we have been called. The evil forces we are facing are a ‘Clear and Present Danger’ all around us. These forces are real and most likely are bringing an end to the Law and Order our valued Constitution has allowed for more than 200 years. Fearfully, this may be coming to an end, soon and very soon.

However, our hope is, indeed, built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. We must most certainly now stand on the gift of faith our God has given us in Jesus Christ.

Jesus is Lord!!