Return to the Holy Ground!

Isaiah 53:6King James Version (KJV)

6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Exodus 3:5King James Version (KJV)

5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

Our country is at a crossroads. Politically, we seem to be divided 50-50 on almost every issue. The values that made this nation great are teetering on the brink. We have seen a slow decay of godly morals and values and a lifting up of the profane and ungodly.

In the 1960's we saw prayer removed from schools and the removing of the ten commandments. Worse, our children are being taught that they were not created special by a loving God. No, they are just a genetic mistake who can do as they will and create their own right and wrong. This led to the aborting of millions of unborn children. CHILDREN!!!!!!

Now, children are taught that they are not born male and female. Now, in spite of their genetics, they can choose what gender they wish to be. What madness! The courts are even forcing gay marriage down the countries throats! 

As Br Arnold once said, "Right is wrong, wrong is right. And whatever's gray, have a happy day." 

Why is our economy barely hanging on? Why is there rioting in the streets? Why is evil seemingly winning the day?

Proverbs 14:34King James Version (KJV)

34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

We have left righteousness behind and are exalting sin. Only in a return to Jesus can we hope to stem the tide of evil overflowing our country. If ever we needed revival, it is today!  

Government cannot make policies to lift us out of our mess. Businesses cannot invent products that can cover over our sins. The military could defeat every nation on earth and still we would be a fallen nation. 

We need Jesus! We need Jesus! WE NEED JESUS! 

Let us remember from whence we have fallen and fall on our faces before God almighty! Let repentance and rededication be the heart cry of every red blooded human being! 

Let us come before him like Moses- removing anything in our lives that could hinder us from being right with God. 

Lord, please forgive our sins and help us to walk uprightly before you and stand against the tide of evil in our world. Let us return to prayer. Let us return to fasting. Let us return to lifting you up before an ungodly world and declare that Jesus is the only way! Help us Lord, before it is too late!

An equitable, if unfortunate, solution to the same-sex marriage debate.

Luke 17:28-29King James Version (KJV)

28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

Not since the civil war has America been so divided on a subject. Even though sexual orientation is 100% the choice of the individual (and not like a race that you are genetically born with), the liberals in this country have managed to frame the debate as a "civil rights" issue. Recent polling shows that Americans are almost 50-50 when it comes to gay marriage. And the Supreme Court will bring forth a ruling next month that will likely decide the issue for generations to come. We need to pray that they choose rightly and godly. 

But, even if they choose to say that same sex marriage is not a right, this will surely not end the debate. If they choose to say it is, the debate will still rage. Like it or not (and we, as Christians can neither like nor support it), according to the words of Jesus in Luke 17, the day will come where widespread immorality (including gay marriage and God knows what else) will be the law of the land. 

So, is there a solution that would work for all? Is there something that could be done that would level the playing field and work for all involved? 

Yes. 

Step 1) Remove marriage from the purview of all governments- federal, state, and local. Rather than issuing marriage licenses (and charging taxes- err, fees- to those who wish to be married), why not have the states just issue legal civil unions to all couples? The governments can then have varying (if ungodly, in some cases) classes, or types of civil unions. Then, whoever wishes to join in a union is free to do so. 

Step 2) Return marriage to religious organizations. In this way, whatever religion you follow, it can join you in marriage. You don't back down on your beliefs. You don't have to compromise your convictions. Nobody has to. You get married. Then, you fill out the necessary paperwork for the civil union. Then, the government recognizes your union. 

Step 3) Strengthen and maintain (or create, where you have to) religious protection laws. In this way, no person, or business, is forced to take part in ceremonies (or give benefits to) of any couple that goes against your religious rules. This protects everyone involved. 

Will this make everyone happy? NO. The left is hell-bent on forcing everyone to accept gay marriage. Many of us on the "religious right" are doubling down for a fight to defend marriage. But, what about "blessed are the peace makers?" 

To me, this seems to be the best (albeit unfortunate) way to bring peace to a bad situation. Is it perfect? NO. But, I think it's the best we will be able to do until the Lord returns. What say you?   

A little salt for our nations wounds: our pain will bring revival.

Colossians 4:5-6King James Version (KJV)

5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

I try, sometimes successfully, to live my life in obedience to this passage of scripture. It is never my intention to hurt anyone on purpose. But, sometimes, you just have to say what needs to be said and hope it will help others- at worst, maybe they will be "pricked in their hearts." (Acts 2:36-37)

So, here goes:

We live in a troubled time. The economy is floundering. Our national leaders seem clueless. Gangs and violence are on the upswing. Our schools no longer teach true science, history, and math. Entertainment is all about sex, parties, and violence. Our churches seem to be more concerned with preaching prosperity and collecting funds to fix up the bathrooms than they are with reaching and teaching the lost. On the whole, there appears to be no hope on the horizon. 

But, behind the scenes there's a fervent prayer going up from God's remnant. The ones who want the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. And my friends, God is listening. And according to scripture, there will be a revival. 

But, as good as that sounds, lets look and see the events that lead up to revival in scripture. 

Acts 2:36-37King James Version (KJV)

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Notice here, it says the hearers were "pricked in their hearts."

The term pricked here means: "to pain the mind sharply, agitate it vehemently, especially of the emotion of sorrow." The word "heart" here means, in part, "the center of all physical and spiritual life."

My friends this is not a fun feeling. This is not a warm, fuzzy feeling. As the world's fitness freaks like to say, "No pain. No gain." 

Revival always starts with pain- a pain that gets into the deepest parts of your heart. It changes you from the inside out because it causes a total reevaluation and revamping of everything you are and believe. People never change as long as we're comfortable. Change never happens to the coddled. Today's "pat you on the back" sermons are just a modern version of what Paul says of the people "having itching ears." (2 Timothy 4:3)

Modern congregations, too many times, have no interest in truth. All they want is someone to tell them what they want to hear. And many preachers know that if they don't play the game, they will be out on their ears with no income. Yes, truly, "the love of money is the root of all evil." (1 Timothy 6:10)

Acts 5 tells the story of a couple who lied about how much money they made from the sail of a possession. They then gave part of the price to the church- claiming that they gave it all to make themselves look better in the eyes of the people. They were struck dead- BY GOD- for lying to God about what they had done. The result: revival broke out because people realized that God meant business. 

Are we ready for this type of a move of God? 

In Acts 6, revival broke out because the church was organized in a godly manner to reach out to the needs of the people and (at the same time) keep on preaching the truth. 

This is what the modern church needs to do. Reorganize in a way that fits the scriptures. This is one of the few times in scripture that revival came without the judgement of God. Why? Because the church changed! Oh, Lord Jesus, let us do the same in this day and hour! 

In Acts 8, church persecution began. This was a dark time for the early church. However, when the church was scattered into the countryside, revival broke out everywhere they landed. When God moved his mighty hand and converted Saul (later to be known as Paul), the persecution lessened. By then, many had become children of God, as a result of the great persecution and loss of life of God's people. 

In Acts 12, great persecution again began, this time at the hand of the king. Again, great revival broke out everywhere the people of God fled. This continued until God struck down the king. 

Do we see the trend? In the early church, it was pain that caused repentance, and repentance brought revival. 

We live in dark times. We are praying for revival. God wants revival. So, why should we be surprised that times are dark? Persecution of God's people is beginning anew. Followers of Jesus are being beheaded in foreign lands. Followers of Jesus are being ran out of business here in America for standing for their faith. Prayers are beginning to rise to the heavens for revival.

How bad will the times get in order to bring this revival? I don't know. How many will have to die before revival begins? I don't know. But, God allows his children to go through pain so that we remember that it is in HIM that we move and breath and have our being. And when we repent, it will effect the whole country and bring revival. 

So, as bad as things seem to be- as bad as things will get- let's keep praying and keep our eyes on Jesus. If we do, he will change us and bring the revival that he wants to bring to our currently very ungodly country and world. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 

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

Why some of us go to hell: the real reason.

Acts 2:37-39King James Version (KJV)

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Hebrews 12:14

Follow peace with all men, and holiness,without which no man shall see the Lord:

John 16:7-9King James Version (KJV)

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Hebrews 10:10

By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

I want to start off by making something crystal clear: I am an Apostolic Pentecostal believer. I believe that Jesus is God all by himself and that the only plan of salvation is found in obeying Acts 2:38 and in holiness thereafter.

That said, I learned something today. I felt impressed to read John 16 this morning. In doing so, verse 9 jumped out at me. 

John 16:9King James Version (KJV)

9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

Jesus said here that the spirit of God would convict men of sin. That part is not an earth shaking revelation. We all know that. 

What was a revelation to me was the fact of the sin that was listed. He didn't name the 10 commandments. He didn't even name the two greatest commandments. What he said was, we would be convicted of our sin of..... NOT BELIEVING IN HIM. 

Did you catch that? 

Why did he say that? Why didn't he say the sins of (this), (that), and (the other)?

Here's the simple answer: Because he died once for all! Because he shed his blood as a sacrifice for all of our sins- past, present, and future. 

Did you catch that? He paid the price for all of our sins! The only thing left is whether or not we will believe and obey him. 

If we believe in him, we will obey him. We will repent of our sins, be baptized in Jesus name, allow him to fill us with his spirit, and strive to live for and follow him for the rest of our lives. 

If we do not believe in him, we will go to hell. But, the sin that will send us there is not the cursing, drinking, carousing, and such. No. All that's already paid for. The sin that will send us to hell is because we chose not to believe in him. 

He spends 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, trying to get our attention- trying to gain access to our hearts. He died so that we might have a real relationship with our creator. He places stop signs in our paths to try and get us to change directions and go to him. He will keep trying to have that relationship with us until our final breath.

But, if we refuse, we will burn for eternity for the simple reason that we rejected his forgiveness. We rejected his love. 

So, what will it be my friend? Your sins are already paid for because God almighty became a man and died to wash them away.

Will you do as he says and believe, repent, be baptized in Jesus name, be filled with the Holy Ghost, and follow him daily?

Or, will you reject his sacrifice and die in the one sin that is left: failure to believe him. 

Failure to believe who he is. Failure to believe in his love. Failure to believe in his mercy. Failure to obey his words. 

The choice is yours. There's only one sin left. Can you not let that one sin go and believe?

 

A message for America.

Two nations in world history have been founded and dedicated to God: Israel and America. Just as ancient Israel allowed evil and idolatry to come in and thrive (and paid the price for it), so America is doing the same thing.

Good is being vilified and beaten down. Evil is being glorified and expanded. God had a message for Israel then, and it applies to America now. 911 signaled the taking down of America's hedge of protection. Rather than repent, we have defiantly believed in our own strength and went further and further away from God and his ways.

It matters not who we will elect to what political position in this country. Our problems will not be fixed by our politics and politicians. Only national repentance will stop the slide into destruction that our country is currently on. 

The Lord waits with open arms for our people to repent and return to him and his ways. He longs to hold his repentant children in his loving arms. He cries at the punishment he will have to bring, if we do not repent. His heart yearns to stop the cycle of judgement that we have placed ourselves into through our sins. 

Read what "thus sayeth the Lord." Read, repent, and obey. May God have mercy on us all! 

Isaiah 5 King James Version (KJV)

5 Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill:

2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.

4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

5 And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down:

6 And I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.

7 For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.

8 Woe unto them that join house to house, that lay field to field, till there be no place, that they may be placed alone in the midst of the earth!

9 In mine ears said the Lord of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.

10 Yea, ten acres of vineyard shall yield one bath, and the seed of an homer shall yield an ephah.

11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!

12 And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands.

13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.

14 Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.

15 And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:

16 But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.

17 Then shall the lambs feed after their manner, and the waste places of the fat ones shall strangers eat.

18 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope:

19 That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it!

20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink:

23 Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him!

24 Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

25 Therefore is the anger of the Lord kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:

27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:

28 Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind:

29 Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it.

30 And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.

Blessings come in the darkness.

Exodus 20:18-22King James Version (KJV)

18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.

22 And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven.

God's goal has always been to be in close relationship with mankind. When man sinned, it drove a wedge between God and man. Ever since then, man has tried to find ways to placate God, but without making any real change. It's called religion. 

Here in Exodus 20, God lays down the law for Israel. Yet, when the people saw what an awesome God he is, they grew deathly afraid. Rather than responding to the invitation of Moses to enter God's presence and gain that relationship, they decided they'd rather have one man go and speak to God for them (and for God to them.) They chose religion. 

Religion requires an appearance of godliness, but denies (or declines access to) the power thereof- for it is a divine relationship with the almighty that produces true godliness. 

Religion goes to church and returns home unchanged and unaffected. Relationship causes a person to become a part of the church- for a church is not a building or organization. The church is the born again believers of Jesus Christ. 

Religion gives comforting platitudes that make you feel better. Relationship helps you to face your issues and become who God is calling you to be. 

So, the people (having rejected Moses' call to relationship) stood back and watched as Moses walked deep into the darkness. Why did he do that? Could he not hear the thunder and see the lightning? Could he not feel the shaking of the mountain and surrounding areas? Why would this crazy man willingly choose to enter into such a dangerous place and into such obvious danger?

Because he knew that God was there in the midst of all they saw and feared. He longed for and desired a closer relationship- a covenant- with the God of the universe. He understood that he had to willingly choose God over the wants and desires of his flesh. 

God allows us, indeed puts us into, storms. He calls us into storms at times, in order to work out things in us that need to come out. He allows our world to be shaken so that we will learn that our refuge is him. He leads us through darkness so that we will know that he is our only light in a dark world. 

Hard times teach us to rely on him. This, in turn, allows us to help other people who are going through what we have already been through. We, who have been through the storm, can look into the storm and encourage those that are still going through it. 

In other words, it's not about us. It's about God. It's not about us. It's about helping other people to survive what we have already lived through, by pointing them to the only one who can pull them out- Jesus. 

Don't run from the storms and rely on religious platitudes. God is calling you into the high country. Storms are prevalent in those high places. But, God has called us to dwell in heavenly places with him. And the only way to do that, is to take his hand and walk through the storm. 

Is love really blind?

1 Peter 4:8King James Version (KJV)

8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

1 Corinthians 13 King James Version (KJV)

13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

How many times have you seen a couple that seemed to be an odd mix? The one seems to be a good person. The other seemed to be a rough looking character. When you see this couple, how often have you shaken your head and said (or thought), "Love really must be blind?"

It hit me the other day with this thought: "Is love really blind?" 

Do we love people because they are so good and perfect? Does our love stop every time our spouse hurts us, or does us wrong? Do we have to "fall in love all over again" day after day? 

No. 

You see charity defined is "love in action, or love being given in a tangible way." The Bible doesn't say that "love is blind." It does say that charity (love being given), "beareth all things,..hopeth all things, endureth all things..." 

How can a loving parent endure the evil acts of an unrighteous child? Because they love their child.

How can a spouse continue to stay with their spouse when they continue to make bad choices and cause bad circumstances? Because they love their spouse.

How does Jesus, the Lord and creator of all the universe, tolerate us when we give in to temptation and fall, when we get angry and react unrighteously, when we look down our noses at the "unsaved trash" that populates the world? Because he loves us! 

Love given (charity) covers a MULTITUDE of sins. That's not one sin. That's not even a thousand sins. That's a multitude! The word in the Greek can mean "a great number of men or things, the whole number,..." 

Did you catch that? The word there for charity is "agape." It is God's unconditional love. So, God's unconditional love covers the whole number of our sins! How? a) because he loves us so much that he took action. His love became charity and caused him to b) become a man and go to Calvary. His shed blood covers our sins. 

And not just once. My wife showed me a coffee filter that we've had for years. It looks brand new. It's not brown and dirty looking like on would expect it to be. Why? She said that God reminds her every once in a while to clean it with Clorox to remove the stains. 

That's why, every so often, the Lord will call his people (that he loves!) to repentance. He'll apply the blood he shed on Calvary all over again, so that (once again) we are white as snow. He removes the stains that our newer sins, and the stains that this world can leave on us, and cleans us all over again. 

As long as we keep holding onto him,  "that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 1:6)

That means that, as long as we let him, he will continue to work on us until it is time for him to call us home. No, his love is not blind. Rather his love acts to cover our many sins- over and over, day by day, sin by sin. How can anyone refuse a love like that?