Controlled or Governed, Part 1 & 2

Jesus was not ‘controlled’ by anything or anybody.

He was ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit.

What made the difference?

He walked in an ‘agape’ relationship with His Father.

He was solely desirous to please His Father.

Therefore He did everything orderly and obediently.

In doing so, His Father’s kingdom was manifested on earth as it is in heaven.

Let me explain.

[The two words in the title of this post are not original.]

These two words were taken from a, Lifechanger’s 72, video teaching by Bob Mumford, entitled ‘Governed, Not Controlled’.

Over the past fifty plus years, the Lord has used Bob Mumford as a teaching mentor in my life, and Christine, my wife.

For a few months, I have been reflecting upon the prayer that Jesus gave as an example of prayer to His disciples answering their inquiry to teach them to pray.

See Luke 11:1-3; Matthew 6:5-15.

I have also, for many years, reflected upon, prayed, and sought to live by the words Jesus spoke in Matthew 11:28-30.

Matthew 11:28-30 comes in the midst of much controversy.

See the context in Matthew 11.

If you are a regular reader of the posts at livingwordsofencouragement.com, then you may recollect that the previous two passages of scripture have been important to us as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Recently, I have been asking the Lord to help me understand clearly the meaning of Matthew 11:28-30.

I have known it in measure; but I would like to more clearly understand the wholeness of the passage.

I asked the Lord, ” What does it mean that Your ‘yoke is easy and your burden is light?’ “

The teaching of Matthew 11:28-30 is bracketed by ‘weary and heavy laden’ and ‘easy and light’ and each is related to Him giving us rest.

These two phrases appear to be polar opposites of each other.

The rest spoken of receiving in Matthew 11:29 is the result of taking His yoke upon me, and learning that He is ‘gentle and lowly’ in heart.

Picture this, between the first rest, and the second rest, is the heart of God.

{Note: I recommend that you read Dane Ortland’s book, ‘Gentle and Lowly’ The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers }

In this passage of scripture, there is a rest that is given to us, from Him (vs.28); and there is a rest in Him (vs. 29).

What is the difference?

The difference is found in understanding the distinction between being ‘controlled’ or ‘governed’.

The emphasis of the teaching by Bob Mumford emphasized that God doesn’t ‘control’ us; He ‘governs’ us.

I concur with his understanding.

Q: What is ‘controlling’ your life as a follower of Jesus Christ?

Q: Is coming to Christ, daily, the focus of your life?

Q: What gets in your way and takes precedent over you spending time with the Lord?

Not spending time with the Lord will bring weariness and heavy burdens.

I am becoming more disciplined regarding coming to the Lord at the beginning of my day; therefore, I can testify, that I as I begin my day with the Lord (this works for me), intentionally coming to Him, and casting all my cares upon Him because He cares for me (I Peter 5:7); then, as I walk with the Lord, I am experiencing Him ‘governing’ my life, and that His ‘yoke is easy and His burden is light’.

This does not mean that I am without personal struggles.

This does not mean that I am not confronted with challenges.

This does not mean that I do not face temptations, trials, or stressful situations.

What I am learning is that having come to my Father and casting all my cares upon Him, I am experiencing His care for me.

Q: What am I talking about?

A: My cares are the worry, the anxiety, the stress, the depression, the stressful interactions that I face throughout my day that seek to ‘control’ my life.

Those cares are influenced by the world, the flesh, and the devil.

But ‘in Christ’, we can overcome.

See I John 2;15-17; Ephesians 2:2-10; James 4:7-10

All of our cares, were crucified at the cross, when Jesus died for the sin of the world.

Several years ago the Lord gave me a clearer understanding of Philippians 4: 5b-7. “The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (NKJV)

[From that understanding has grown into what this post is sharing.]

The ‘work of the cross’ is finished.

I am justified ‘in Christ’.

The ‘way of the cross’ is now being fulfilled in me as I ‘abide’ in Christ.

Please read John 15:1-11. The word ‘abide’ in the NKJV is used ten times.

At the conclusion of John 15:11, NKJV, Jesus says, “These things I have spoken , that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

I am experiencing that joy.

Jesus’ death on the cross put to death the ‘controlling’ influence of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Please read Romans 6,7,8.

God ‘governs’ His children by the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God.

Please read Romans 8:12-17; John 14:25-28; Ezekiel 36:22-27; 2 Corinthians 3:8-18.

Believers ‘in Christ’ experience the government of God in their lives as the Holy Spirit ‘governs’ their lives, and bring them into rest ‘in Christ’.

Christ is our rest!

SELAH.

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Q: What did the nation of Israel rebel against in the wilderness?

A. The government of God.

He had brought them out from under the government of ‘control’ in Egypt and brought them to Himself to ‘govern’ them.

Q: What was in their heart?

A. Discontent. They grumbled and complained and wanted to return to Egypt.

As I have heard it said, God had brought them out of Egypt; but Egypt still existed in their heart.

Q: What was God seeking for them to understand?

A. God, our Father, wants to care for His children as a loving Father. He does not want to ‘control’ our lives but ‘govern’ them. That has always been His original intention.

(I recommend DeVern Fromke’s book, ‘The Ultimate Intention’.)

How is this accomplished?

Please read Hebrews 4:1-16.

Entering into God’s rest is stated in Hebrew 4:10 NKJV, “For he who has entered His rest has himself ceased from his works as God did from His.” (emphasis mine)

Consider this: I cease from my own works, when I yield to the government of God, submitting myself to be ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God.

SELAH

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I will explain it this way. religion ‘controls’; relationship ‘governs’.

Q: What do you worship?

Q: What do you give ‘worth-ship’ too?

Q: What do you consider more important than your relationship to God?

Anything more important to you than God is an’ idol‘in your life; and by definition that is ‘religion’.

Read Exodus 19:1-4.

The truth is, it does not have to be a carved image to be an idol.

Jesus said you cannot serve God and mammon.

Please read Matthew 6:19-34.

Consider His teaching in light of everything shared so far in this post.

We need to ask the Lord if there is something in our lives that we serve, give our attention too, that robs us of our relationship to Him.

If there is, then my ‘attention’ given to that is idolatrous; so then by definition a religion that ‘controls’ me; and I am not ‘governed’ by God.

I John 5:21 NKJV, the Apostle John instructs us, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”

SELAH

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Strong words, B.U.T. (Believer Understand This) …hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.

Remember: religion controls; relationship governs.

Galatians 5:1 NKJV, “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again in the yoke of bondage [not yoked to Christ]. (emphasis mine, emphasis mine, [insert mine] )

Romans 8:1-2, NKJV, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit [‘governed’ by the Spirit] For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. ” (emphasis mine; [insert mine])

John 8:31-32, NKJV, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed in Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (emphasis mine)

These verses do not advocate a teaching that instructs us to ‘do your own thing’.

Judges 21:25, NKJV, “In those days, there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

Israel had put off the ‘governing’ authority of God and lived their lives unto themselves.

They lived an ‘ungoverned’ lifestyle, or was it?

Not really, they ‘governed’ themselves!

And they were enslaved to their own ‘control’ of themselves.

Q: What did Jesus say to His followers regarding following Him?

A. Luke 9:23-24, NKJV, Jesus explaining the true cost of being His disciple said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let Him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake shall save it.”

See Matthew 6:24, John 8:31-32, I Peter 2:21, John 10:27.

The ‘governing’ factor of this teaching is found in the following statement spoken by Jesus to His disciples.

John 13: 31-35 NKJV, [the night of Jesus’ betrayal] “So, when he [Judas] had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and glorify Him immediately. Little children, I shall be with you a little while longer. You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’, so now I say unto you. A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (emphasis mine) [inserts mine]

Jesus did not share His love with anyone or anything that was more important than maintaining His ‘unshared love’ for His Father.

He lived out that relationship with His Father. What He is instructing His disciples is that, in order, to love another, it begins with an unbroken love relationship with the Father. You cannot love one another if you do not abide in Him, as He abides in His Father’s love, and His Father’s love for Him.

Anything that you allow to come between yourself and your love for God, the Father, is idolatrous. That idolatry prevents His disciples from loving one another, and/or loving any other person.

Q: What does the history of the relationship between God and His chosen people show us?

A: His ‘unshared’ steadfast love for them was never ending; but their love for Him was a ‘shared’ love, worshipping other gods.

Q: What does God, the Father desire from His children?

A: Their ‘unshared love’ for Him, and Him alone.*

(*source: Bob Mumford)

Please read Exodus 20:1-6; Exodus 34:10-16; Deuteronomy 4:23-24; Deuteronomy 6:10-15; Joshua 24:14-28.

The Book of Judges follows The Book of Joshua.

Compare what you just read to the last verse of The Book of Judges.

Judges 21:25.

Q: Did they keep their promise to God?

SELAH. END OF PART 1.

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BEGINNING OF PART 2.

Vision yourself in the Upper Room.

Jesus is instructing His disciples for the last time as a group the night of His betrayal, His arrest, His trial, and His crucifixion.

These words are prior to the Cross.

On the cross, He fulfilled completely what the Father had sent Him to accomplish.

Jesus said, hanging on the cross, “It is finished”.

John 19:30, NKJV, “So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

Jesus has died. He has been buried. Three days later, He was raised from the dead.

We are now on the other side of the cross, on resurrection ground.

I encourage you to read, two previous posts. “The Other Side of the Cross, Part 1″; and” The Other Side of the Cross, Part 2″.

On the cross, the ‘work of the cross’-justification: our position ‘in Christ’ is finished.

After Christ’s resurrection,and our acceptance of Him as our Lord and Savior, we embark on learning the ‘way of the cross’-sanctification: we embrace being conformed to the image of Christ; growing in our relationship to God the Father; maturing as a son of God; learning to please our Father; and completing the work that He has purposed for us before the foundation of the world.

See Ephesians 2:1-10.

With this understanding, as a son/daughter of God, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, as a member of the Body of Christ, let us consider the prayer that Jesus spoke to His disciples when they asked Him to teach them to pray.

See Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:1-4.

Please turn to Matthew 6:9-10.

In this prayer, it begins giving our attention to our heavenly Father who is in heaven.

Next, we declare that our Father is Holy and totally separate from all other gods…”Hallowed be your name”.

Jesus then says these words, “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

What is the implication of praying these words?

In heaven, there is no disorder, or disobedience.

Every thing is in ‘order’ and done in ‘obedience’.

Is that true on earth?

No.

Q: Before Adam and Eve sinned, was everything being done according to God the Father’s ‘order’ and ‘obedience’ on earth as it was in heaven?

Yes.

Q: Were Adam and Eve ‘governed’ by God or ‘controlled’ by God?

A. They were ‘governed’ by God.

They walked with God exercising the government of God on earth as it was in heaven, ‘orderly’ and ‘obediently’.

Q: What was Satan’s purpose?

A. To change that.

Q: Was that accomplished?

A. Yes

Jesus came to do what His Father required to reconcile that broken relationship between Himself and humanity.

Jesus came to satisfy the wrath of God against sin; to provide atonement for mankind; and to restore His Father’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

That is the message of the Gospel.

This is what is being accomplished now in the age in which we are living (between the ascension of Christ and His return ). Ephesians 1:20-22.

How?

All authority has been given unto Him in heaven, and on the earth (Matthew 28:18-20) and by inference under the earth (Philippians 2:10).

Q: What does it mean, then, when we pray to the Father, “Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” ?

Remember, in heaven, everything is in ‘order’ and ‘obedient’.

A. It means that whatever the Father asks to be done on earth is to be done in ‘order’ and ‘obedience’.

This happens all the time.

Absolutely, yeah right!

I am, we are, never negligent knowing what God asks us to do, correct; nor, am I,nor are we, disobedient to what He has asked us to do?

Q: Has such a life ever been lived on the earth in human flesh?

A. Yes.

Jesus did it!

How?

God’s A.I.-‘Adonai’s Incarnation’.

Please read Philippians 2:1-11.

The Son of God, came, took on human flesh, set aside His prerogative as God, which included His Glory, and became fully human, as the Son of Man.

Jesus said of Himself, as the Son of Man, John 8:28-29, NKJV, “Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father has taught Me, I speak these things. For the Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”

See John 12:49-50; 14:10; John 5:19-21.

Jesus only said and did what His Father told Him showed Him.

He did it according to His Father’s ‘order’ and in ‘obedience’.

Therefore, when He did that, His Father’s Kingdom came; and His Father’s will was done “on earth as it is in heaven”.

Well, that was easy for Him to do, He is the Son of God!

Q: Was it?

A. He did this as the Son of Man in human flesh.

On the night on which Jesus was betrayed, before His arrest, Jesus went to the garden of Gerhsemane.

Q: What happened there as Jesus prayed?

Q: Did the Son of Man struggle in the flesh of His human body to do the will of God on earth as it is in heaven?

Q: In the garden was Jesus being ‘controlled’ by God, or struggling to please His Father ‘governed’ by the Spirit, knowing what His Father told Him to do, and that it required His obedience?

He absolutely knew what the Father had asked Him to do; and He was struggling in the flesh of His human body to obey the Father.

Q: What did Jesus verbalize as He prayed in garden?

Q:What words epitomize His struggle?

Q: What was Jesus’ desire?

A. To obey His Father’s will.

He loved His Father; and His Father loved Him.

The Father and the Son are One.

See John 10:22-33.

Jesus and the Father have always been One from before the foundation of the world.

Now Jesus, the Son of God, who became the Son of Man in human flesh, is struggling.

Hebrews 5:5-11.

Please read His words as recorded in the gospels of Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42;or Luke 22:40-46.

Q; What was Jesus’ petition, His concern, His struggle?

A. Matthew 26:39, NKJV, Having entered the garden, and instructing His disciples, Peter, James and John, “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless , not as I will, but as You will.”

He was struggling in human flesh, completely desirous of pleasing His Father, experiencing everything that we experience when we walk as a child of God wanting to please our Father in our earthly body struggling to be obedient.

We know there is a difference.

That difference is stated in Hebrews 12:3-4.

What Jesus did for us, we will never experience.

That is the grace, mercy, and love of God sending His only Son to be the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Doing the will of the Father, as it is done in heaven on earth, brought about the Father’s kingdom, His rule, and ‘governing ‘authority into a world of darkness to be released “in Christ”, through the body of Christ, governed by the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God, not controlled.

SELAH

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It is time to intersect these two passages of scripture.

Matthew 6:9-10 and Matthew 11:28-30.

I am coming to understand how meaningful Matthew 11:28-30 is for us as believers ‘in Christ ‘walking out our journey with the Lord from the day of my salvation until the day that I will stand in His Presence (Jude 24-25).

Between the two words, REST, exists the pathway of discipleship, growth, and understanding of the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and the heart of the Father for His children.

Prior to the first word, rest, Jesus says come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. That rest is from what ‘controls’ our lives. Without that rest, we are not free from sin, the world, the flesh,and the devil. In the ‘finished work of the cross’ we are free from their ‘control’. This is our objective position ‘in Christ’.

The second word, rest, is preceded by entering into the ‘way of the cross’.

We are to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.

Doing this we embrace the ‘work of the cross’ experientially.

How?

Jesus calls us to abide in Him,meaning to take His yoke upon us, and to learn that He is ‘gentle and lowly’ in heart toward us.

He is not out to ‘control’ us.

He wants us to respond to His love for, to submit to His love, and allow that love to ‘govern’ our lives.

The positive result of our response to Him is that we will experience the ‘way of the cross’ that is not ‘controlling’ but ‘governing’ us by His Spirit, according to the Word of God.

Our relationship will not be governed by ‘control’ but through the realization that His ‘yoke’ is easy’ and His’ burden is light’.

Our rest in Him is found being delivered from our adversary’s ‘control’ and being ‘governed’ by Him.

During the final week of Jesus’ life in Jerusalem, prior to the Passover, Jesus made it very clear that the Pharisees were controlling the people through their religion.

Jesus’ life was the complete antithesis of being under the control of religion.

He lived His life ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit and fulfilled the written Law, in human flesh, and offered Himself as the spotless Lamb of God as an atoning sacrifice to His Father.

What love, what grace, what mercy!

Religion (idolatry) ‘controls’ , what do you worth-ship.

Relationship with God, the Father, longs for His ‘governing’.

In Christ, we have been set free, from ‘control’; and made free to be ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, shares that the fruit of wisdom from below is demonic; it ‘controls’ us negatively; however, the fruit of the wisdom from above does not control us but ‘governs’ us positively.

James 3:13-18

The Lord is speaking to His Church.

“He that has ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”. Revelation 2:7

He wants His Church to focus on Him, set aside everything that diverts us from being attentive to Him, meaning allowing Him to reveal to us, what He sees ‘controlling’ our lives as a believer, setting it aside, renouncing it, and repenting and asking forgiveness as necessary; and learning to be ‘governed ‘by His Spirit, according to Word of God.

I encourage you to seek the Lord while He may be found.

We are living in days of Seismic Spiritual Shaking.

It has come; it is coming; and it will come with greater intensity.

The Body of Christ needs to be ready.

Are you ready?

Are you rest-ing ‘in Christ’, yoked to Him, learning to be ‘governed’ by the Spirit according to the Word of God, surrounded by His love.

I am reminded of these words.

“There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God. A place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God. O Jesus, blest Redeemer, sent from the heart of God; hold us who wait before thee, near to the heart of God.” (If you know the tune, then sing these words.)

In this place of rest we are like a weaned child laying on the breast of his/her mother.

Read Psalm 131.

blessings, your brother in Christ, deo

The Need Of The Hour is Prayer!

Do you remember the word ‘W.R.A.P.’ from the previous posts?

Jesus had emphasized four significant words to us from Matthew 24,25.

Those four words were be watchful, be ready, be alert, and be prayful.

Each of these four words are imperative for us as we move forward with the Lord in the midst of the turmoil in our nation.

However, one word, PRAYER, is the foundation of everything as we seek to abide in the Lord.

Therefore, in the midst of God’s Seismic Spiritual Shaking, what is the posture of the Church?

PRAYER!

Our nation is being awakened to the real spiritual battle that it faces every day of its existence.

‘Unprecedented unrest’,’ the spirit of antichrist’, ‘unrestrained lawlessness’, ‘increased violence’, and ‘virulent rhetoric’ come to mind to characterize our nation’s atmosphere.

On February 28,2026, the nation of Israel, with the backing of the United States launched an attack on Iran.

What took place during the night, as we slept, has changed the atmosphere of the world.

When we awoke, things were not the same.

Now what?

In previous posts (The Battle of Authority-The Conflict in the Heavenly, Part 1,2) the Church was reminded of its position before the Lord functioning in the world.

The Church must understand and remember that God is Sovereign.

This understanding is a TRUTH upon which we stand.

All the leaders of the nations are in their places of leadership because of God’s will and purpose.

Each leader is individually responsible to God .

God will judge and reward each national leader’s performance carrying out their duty.

The Church is responsible to pray for the administrative leadership of their nation and submit ‘orderly’ and ‘obediently ‘to their authority within the guidelines of the Word of God.

Please read 1 Timothy 2:1-7.

Why are we to pray? 1.”that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence”; 2. “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior”; 3. God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”.

In the midst of the turmoil, God is at work in the lives of mankind seeking them to turn to Him and be saved.

The members of the Church are first citizens of the Kingdom of God, then citizens of the nation in which they live.

Each individual member of the Church lives his/her life in the world but not a part of the world. (John 17:14-16; John 15:9)

In Christ, we are separated from the world, the flesh, and the devil. (I John 2:15-17)

We are being conformed to the image of Christ. (Romans 8:28-30)

We are functioning as members of the Body of Christ, fulfilling our assigned spiritual vocation, using the spiritual gifts given to us to build up the Body in love; and fulfilling the work that God Himself has designated for every believer before the foundation for the world. (Ephesians 2:8-10)

Q: Do you remember Jesus’ anger in the Temple overthrowing the money changers and the merchandise stands of those selling in the courtyard?

He did it twice. Read John 2:13-17 (the first Passover of His ministry); and Luke 19:45-46 (the third Passover of His ministry, during the week prior to His arrest and crucifixion)

Q: What did Jesus exclaim during His final week? “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a ‘den of thieves‘?

Consider this, I Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s.” (See I Corinthians 6:12-20 for context.)

Q: If the Church is being called to prayer, what might need to be ‘cleansed’ from me in order for my body, “the temple of the Holy Spirit” to be a ‘house of prayer’?

Q: What ‘dens of thieves’ need to be removed from me?

I know that question can be hard to process; but is it a question that each of us must ask the Lord in order for us to ‘stand’ with Him, and move forward in faith, separated from the world, in the hour in which we live?

I encourage you to stop, reflect, and ask the Lord to show you what needs to be removed.

Moving forward requires repentance of what is wrong in order to be set free from darkness and walk in light with the Lord. (1 John 1:5-10)

If we focus on the venom of the verbal rhetoric that is being spewed forth daily in our nation that rhetoric can infiltrate into our heart and mind, and darken our soul.

What happens within us if we focus on such negative rhetoric?

We are ‘bound’ spiritually.

We will find ourselves coming into alignment with the ‘spirit of the world’ and not in alignment with the Spirit of God.

Q: Will that affect our prayer life?

Absolutely.

How do I know this?

I have been there; and I must constantly guard myself against listening to the offensive political rhetoric and subtly embracing the mindset of the world.

I confess to you that is very easy to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think; believing that you are strong enough to listen to the world’s rantings and assume that it will not affect you.

Wrong!

I have been there believing that ‘I can handle this’; and that I can criticize those in authority over me; and it is not affecting my personal attitude.

Fact: I am not strong enough.

Why? I am human just like you.

I am a sinner, saved by grace; and it is God’s grace that enables me to overcome ‘in Christ’.

The Lord has graciously showed me my fallacy; and He helped me to overcome my weakness.

In the midst of the administrative upheaval since the re-election of President Trump, our nation has been experiencing a political earthquake that has resulted in a daily ‘shaking‘ of the political landscape that has unsettled many people.

I supported the re-election of President Trump.

I am aware there are many people in this nation, and around the world that do not support his re-election.

Many despise and hate him; yet, there are many who support the changes he is bringing to our nation.

Many citizens of this nation voted for him because of what he promised he would change.

Others supported him, because they did not support the Democratic platform and their agenda to govern the administration of this nation.

In previous posts, I have explained my personal struggle and my conclusion as to why I chose to vote for the Republican party platform.

The bottom line for me was a matter of ‘personal conscience’ before the Lord.

Each individual believer will one day stand alone before the Lord to give an account of their life as a follower of Jesus Christ.

My eternal salvation is not dependent upon who I voted for in each election during my lifetime.

My desire is to please my heavenly Father.

The choices that I make, the words that I speak, the works that I do, either glorify the Lord or they do not bear witness to His life in me.

We are told to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)

If the Church is going to live up to its calling and walk as children of light in this world of darkness, then it must learn and practice the teaching of Ephesians 4-6. (especially Ephesians 5:20-26.)

Please read these verses in the context of what I have been sharing.

As previous posts have explained, I believe Psalm 64 will be fulfilled.

( I recommend that you read the post: A Time To Read it Again)

God has shot His A.R.R.O.W.

Adonai’s Righteous Revelation Of Wrongdoing is being exposed.

There are many who are being wounded, and will be wounded by the revelation of their own malicious words that they have spewed out upon others. Their words will ‘boomerang’ and come back and wound them. (Psalm 64:7-10)

What will be revealed will not be pleasant.

God doesn’t take sides politically.

He is no ‘respecter of persons’. (Romans 2:11-16)

God will judge righteously.

God is not mocked; individuals will reap what they have sown.

(Galatians 6:7-8)

I offer the following as a word of caution.

The Church must pray for President Trump and his administrative team as they implement changes in this nation.

Why?

If you recall prior posts about the nation of Israel, and God’s intended purpose to bring them out of the bondage of Egypt and into the Promised Land, then you will recall that the original leadership of Moses and Aaron were not allowed to enter into the promised land.

Why?

Because they disobeyed what God had told them to do.

God had told Moses to speak to the rock.

God said that He would bring out water from the rock to provide ‘drink’ for His people that were ‘grumbling and complaining’ about the lack of water.

Ironically, this is a repeat of what happened just 3 days after God had brought His people out of Egypt; through the Red Sea; and had drowned Pharaoh and his army in that same Red Sea. (Exodus 15:22-26)

At that time God told Moses to strike the rock. Moses struck the rock and the water came forth.

In Numbers 20, Moses did not speak to the rock as God had instructed him; he struck the rock twice out of frustration and anger.

Moses, throughout his entire lifetime of leadership had listened to the people he was leading ‘grumble and complain’. He had gone before the Lord, sought His wisdom, and followed His directions.

However,

After 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, at the very precipice of entering the land of promise, when he was confronted once more with the people’s ‘grumbling and complaining’, Moses seeks God about how to handle the situation.

God tells him what to do; and He tells him what He will do.

Moses and Aaron, carrying out their administrative appointment, as the governmental leaders of the nation of Israel, did not follow God’s directive.

I, submit, that Moses and Aaron, listened to the ‘grumbling and complaining’ of the people, allowing the spirit of the people, entrance into their own spirit, influencing them to disobey God’s word to them.

The consequences was that Moses did not execute his office of leadership according to the Spirit of God through obedience according to God’s directive; but he exercised his leadership, influenced by the lawless spirit of the people of Israel that ‘grumbled and complained’; and he struck the rock twice. (Numbers 20)

Moses struck the rock out of anger (his personal rebellion and lawlessness) ‘governed’ by his own spirit.

God graciously met the need of His people.

The water came out of the rock.

The people received what they had ‘grumbled and complained’ about.

Moses and Aaron’s disobedience misrepresented the character of God.

God’s Spirit is gracious and merciful, because He loves His people.

That does not mean He approves of their sinfulness.

God judges His people for their sinfulness.

Moses and Aaron’s disobedience went beyond what God had told them to do.

This is my concern for President Trump and his administrative team and all whom God is using at this time to bring about ‘change’ in our nation.

I am not insinuating that President Trump has gone beyond the Presidential ‘guidelines’ of the Executive Office.

That evaluation is for God alone to judge.

I am concerned that President Trump will stay within his Presidential guidelines.

Therefore:

I pray, and ‘beseech’ the Church to pray that those in the places of authority, raised up by the Sovereignty of God, will stay within their appointed leadership boundaries, asking and doing what God directs them to do; and not allow themselves to be influenced by the opposing rhetoric that is shouting, grumbling, complaining, and hurling venomous rhetoric at them.

I pray that the ‘words’ of the world’s wisdom will not influence the minds and hearts of those in authority over us, so that they are negatively influenced in their decision making.

We must not be ‘governed’ by individuals who ‘govern’ out of their own ‘self-government’ and not the government of God, i.e.’governed’ by the Spirit of God.

Remember, the Church is called to stand against the principalities, power, and evil rulers that seek to influence our lives. (Ephesians 6: 10-18)

In March 2025, Pastor Kent Dresdow, Senior Pastor at North Creek Church, made it very clear what happens to individuals, whom God has sovereignly chosen to use for His purposes, taking matters into their own hands, and going beyond the boundaries that God had originally planned for them to accomplish.

I recommend that you read Isaiah 10.

To summarize Pastor Kent’s teaching, when a person goes beyond what God intends, that person becomes arrogant and boastful.

God hates arrogance and boasting.

As mentioned before, God will judge such individuals with righteous justice.

Why?

The source of pride and arrogance is Satan, himself, who had said that he will be like God. (Isaiah 14:12-17)

Our task as the Church, is to pray that President Trump and his administrative team will not become arrogant and prideful; that President Trump and his administrative team will stay within the Sovereign purposes of God that He has ordained for this nation and the nations of the world, as he exercises his office as the President of the United States of America.

As the Lord taught us to pray, our prayer is that the Lord will not lead them (President Trump and his team ) into temptation, but deliver them from the evil (evil one[Satan]), because the kingdom is God’s “and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9-13, as paraphrased by myself)

The enemy, the devil, seeks to influence negatively those in authority that seek to do the will of God.

Thank you for praying for our leadership as I Timothy 2:1-7 directs us to do it daily.

Remember, that the enemy, Satan himself, is relentless, constantly fighting against the work of God.

Therefore, the Church must pray. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

The Church must humble itself before the Lord, resist the devil, and he will flee. (James 4:7-10) [Read the context in James 4:1-17]

Our battle is daily, until ‘that Day’ when God ‘ends’ it; however, until ‘that Day’, our refuge is in Christ, and in His TRUTH we stand.

(See rpmministries.org, 36 Scripture Passages on Safety and Refuge in God: Home, Safe, and Sound)

I am sure that you have your own personal scriptures that you seek out for refuge.

I encourage you to seek out that personal passage of scripture that is yours when you seek refuge in the Lord, and rest in its TRUTH.

In our refuge, we are to be watchful, be ready, be alert, and to pray.

blessings, a brother in Christ, who takes refuge in our Lord, deo

(Psalms 62, Psalm 46, Psalm 37)

“Be Anxious For Nothing”

What is the alternative to worry, anxiety, and/or stress?

Philippians 4:5b-7 (Tree of Life translation), “The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything–but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made-known to God. And the shalom(peace) of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Messiah Yeshua.”

Are you feeling worried, anxious, or stressed out?

Have you asked yourself why?

Are you a Christian?

What is your spiritual foundation?

Can it weather a severe storm?

Have you built wisely or foolishly?

If we are honest with ourselves, I am sure everyone of us can identify something that we are uneasy about whether we are a believer or a non-believer.

How many times in God’s Word are we told, encouraged,or reminded, not to be worried, anxious, or stressed out?

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explicitly teaches in Matthew 6:25-34 not to concern ourselves ‘about the economy’.

I recommend that you read Matthew 6: 25-34.

I also know I am taking a great liberty here; but I ask you, does the text ‘fit’ the time in which we are living?

I am sharing from the TLV, Tree of Life Version, Matthew 6:25-34.

“So I say to you, do not worry about your life–what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They neither toil nor spin(they don’t get anxious or stressed out!). Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these(I take this to mean that Solomon was not as relaxed as the lilies of the field in spite of all he possessed). Now if in this way God clothes the grass–which is here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow–will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith. (I do not believe this is a demeaning comment by Jesus. Our faith may only be the size of a mustard seed; but Jesus said it could move a mountain.) Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans(non-believers) eagerly pursue all these things! But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you(believers in Christ). Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (emphasis mine, inserts mine)

Worry creates(visualizes) its own drama!

Our words can animate and escalate the drama with anxiety which leads to stress; or our words can quiet the drama and bring peace, calm, and stillness.

What is your habit pattern?

Sounds daunting, but there is hope in the Lord.

There is HOPE because of the CROSS.

(H.O.P.E. : Hope Offers Peace Everyday; (and) Hope Offers Peace Eternally)

Do you remember singing these words, *”My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness…” (if you do, then sing them…)

Let’s consider the word for worry. Using the Word Wealth found in the Spirit Filled Life Bible (pg 1415) {6:25 worry, merimnao (mer-im-nah-oh); Strong’s #3309: From Merizo, “to divide into parts.” The word suggests a distraction, a preoccupation with things causing anxiety, stress, and pressure. Jesus speaks against worry and anxiety because of the watchful care of a heavenly Father who is ever mindful of our daily needs.”}

How many of us have cried out to God, “don’t you see what’s going on?”,”don’t you care?”, “do you even realize what I am facing?” or some similiar ‘anxious’ plea!

In the hour in which we are living, there are certainly enough reasons to be distracted, preoccupied, anxious and stressed over the economy.

But, can we be at rest in an ‘uncertain economic’ condition?

Yes!

In the commentary, on the same page as mentioned above (pg 1415) , it comments about Matthew 6:25-34: “Jesus assumes the theme of single-hearted devotion to God and deals with the related attitude of freedom from anxiety over daily needs. He illustrates the worthlessness of worry by showing that it is unnecessary (vv. 26,28-30), unfruitful (vs. 27), and unbecoming to a Christian (vv. 31,32).

Yeah, right; that is easy for someone to write; but how about living it out.

That is another thing.

But the truth is, it must be attainable because Jesus spoke directly to this problem in real life.

It is important to note that this admonition, teaching, encouragement comes immediately after He has just said in Matthew 6:24(TLV) “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate one and love the other, or he will stick by one and look down on the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (emphasis mine)

Q: Are we as a nation serving ‘money’ (mammon)?

Money and the economy are complements; they feed each other or they starve each other; but they do go hand in hand.

Q: What is my, your, our heart’s relationship to money?

If the economy fails?; if the stock market crashes?; if the housing market bottoms out?; if I lost my job? (actually I am retired); if social security stopped?

How will I, you, we respond?

Will we be worried, anxious, and/or stressed out?

Probably so, but this does not have to happen.

There is an alternative.

Where is my trust focused?

I may not be in the same circumstances as you; but the questions are still relevant to me too.

Christians are not immune to an economic downturn.

I am not saying the economy is going to crash (it might); but the nation is struggling with indebtedness. (insert mine)

This nation is $38+ trillion in debt today, 3-6-2026 (and climbing).

Jesus, after His teaching in Matthew 6:25-32, NKJV, makes this statement in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things (what things? what you shall eat, drink, and wear) shall be added unto you.” (insert mine)

The question again is, what are you focused on?

Am I, are you, are we so focused on the economy that it causes us to worry, be anxious, and stress out?

The economy is a ‘what’.

We should be focused on the Lord.

The Lord is a Person.

What does Jesus tell us to focus on? vv.33–“to seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness.”

I submit that that is a deepening personal relationship with the Lord.

I can testify to you that “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.” (Psalm 23:1).

Does that mean that I have never ‘wanted’?

No.

What I can share with you is that He has provided for me and my family.

What the Lord wants to develop in my life and your life is a growing personal relationship that comes from learning to walk with Him in righteousness.

Let us examine that:

Paul, in his letter to the Romans makes this statement. Romans 14:17, 18 (TLV), “…for the kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking, but righteousness and shalom(peace) and joy in the Ruach ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit). For the one who serves Messiah in this manner is pleasing to God and approved by men.”(inserts mine)

What did Paul tell the Romans to focus on?

The kingdom of God and its righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

How are we going to accomplish that? by “serving” the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ.

If you have read my previous posts about the ‘unprecedented unrest’, we, like Noah and his family, are in God’s A.R.K.(Adonai’s Righteous Kingdom); and our A.R.K. is a Person, Jesus Christ, Who is Adonai’s Righteous King.

Now you can understand why we must “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”.

We are to keep our focus upon Christ.

The storm clouds have gathered.

The clouds are emptying a deluge of rain(chaos, confusion, lawlessness, turmoil, see 2 Timothy 3:1-17) upon the earth.

The flood waters are rising; the nations are in unrest; and the ARK is being tossed about.

The irony is that Hebrews 12:25-29 tells us that everything that can be shaken will be shaken; but in Christ we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

Why?

Because our God Reigns!

Our helmsman is Christ.

What will be shaken?

Everything that is “earthly and temporal” (Spirit Filled Life Bible, Hebrews 12:25-29 commentary, NKJV)

Will this happen in the church?

Absolutely.

In this year, 2026, there is coming, has come, and will be coming a Seismic Spiritual Shaking.

This ‘shaking’ is not man made; it is God ordained.

Q: How much in the church today is worldly, temporal, or even unrighteous?

Your reaction to these words may be that I have overstepped my bounds making such a statement; but I ask you to reflect upon the ‘state of the church’ in our nation, and in the world.

Is the church fulfilling its mission?

The one the Lord purposed for it to do.

If not, why not?

Have you ever asked yourself which one of the letters written to the seven churches in Revelation, Jesus would send to His church today?

Or, if Jesus were to write a letter to His church today, what would He say?

[Note: Eric Metaxas wrote a book entitled, Letter to the American Church, reflecting upon this question.]

There are many who teach that the letter to the Laodicean church (Revelation 3:14-22) represents the church in the last days; therefore, this letter or this type of letter would be sent to the churches today. (insert mine)

I am personally confident if such a letter was written to the Church today in 2026, it would end with these words, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Ruach (Spirit) is saying to Messiah’s communities.” (TLV)

These words are included at the end of each of the seven letters to the churches found in Revelation 2:1-3:22

Q: Is the Church ‘ hearing what the Spirit’ is saying in this hour?

The Apostle Peter writes in 1 Peter 4:17-19, (TLV), “For the time has come for judgment to begin with the house of God (who is the house of God? believers). If judgment begins with us first, what will be the end for those who disobey the Good News of God? Now if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what shall become of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then, those who suffer according to God’s will–let them trust their souls to a faithful Creator while continuing to do good.” (insert mine)

I am so thankful for the grace and mercy of God. Thank you Father for the ARK. Thank you Father for Jesus Christ, Who is our ARK in the time of the storm. The ride may be rough but ‘in Christ’ we are safe and secure in the midst of the ‘shaking’.

(See Psalm 46).

Being tossed ‘to and fro’ is anything but peaceful and calm. Jesus said, in the Upper Room, to His disciples, prior to His arrest, “These things I have spoken unto you, so that in Me you may have shalom(peace),[for what purpose?] In the world you will have trouble (tribulation:in the midst of which, Jesus is promising His peace; which means that we do not have to have worry, anxiety, or stress in the midst of the tribulation, the storm, the unprecedented unrest, the turmoil, etc. PTL), but take heart! I have overcome the world!” (Matthew 16:33 TLV) (emphasis, inserts mine)

Such may be our experience during the ‘unprecedented unrest’ that is escalating each day before our ‘eyes’; and will ‘shake‘ our nation and the nations of this world.

The Church will experience an unsettling due to the storm; but all that are ‘in Christ’ are safe and secure.

(Read Psalm 91)

At the outset of this post, I highlighted the issue of the economy. There are many other issues that our nation is facing that have and are causing worry, anxiety, and stress among believers (and non-believers). (insert mine)

What stands out in your mind?

What brings you worry, anxiety, stress?

Before we go forward, let me ask, how should we be praying in the midst of the ‘unprecedented unrest’?

How do we rest, in ‘unprecedented unrest’?

I suggest the following to quiet the unsettling in your heart and mind.

Philippians 4:4-7 Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible), “Rejoice in the Lord always: Again I will say– Rejoice! Let your considerateness (forbearance,friendliness, kindness, mercy, etc.) be known unto all men, The Lord is near (at hand):–For nothing be anxious, But in everything by your prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, Let your petitions be made known unto God; And the peace of God, which riseth above every mind shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” (insert, emphasis mine)

Selah.

As a nation, we have witnessed the systematic destruction and decay of the very institutions that have been the foundation of our nation and the stability of our society.

What pillars are fundamental to all stabilized nations?

They are their government, their business, their educational system, their justice system , their economics, their culture, their media, and the strength of their family units.

What have I not mentioned?

The Church.

Have the above mentioned pillars undergone deterioration in our nation? in the world?

I am not suggesting that these pillars have not been without sin throughout their existence in our nation or any other nation.

What I am saying is that our Judeo-Christian foundation, that was a major influence in the founding of this nation under God, is being maligned, assaulted, questioned, and marginalized.

Our foundations are on a ‘slippery slope’.

People suggest and strongly argue that our Judeo-Christian roots have no place in our government.

The problem with that is you have to ignore what is written in our Constitution; and that is exactly what they are doing and refuse to acknowledge that God, Himself, was instrumental and influential in establishing this nation.

Those who adhere to such a belief assert that there must be separation between church and state.

Our Declaration of Independence says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

This is very straight forward and simple to read and understand, unless you have an agenda that seeks to disprove these words.

The scripture says in Psalms 33:12, (TLV), “Blessed is the nation whose God is Adonai…” (I recommend that you read Psalm 33 for the context of this verse); and yet, we are witnessing the Divine intervention of God exposing the evil agenda in this nation, and bringing our nation back to its roots.

Not everyone agrees with the restoration of our Judeo-Christian roots.

There is however, a larger issue that needs to be reckoned with; and that issue is what God Himself is doing, and why He is doing it?

This is called the Sovereignty of God.

Q: Do you believe in the Sovereignty of God.

I would like to share an analogy.

Our nation was established on a foundational rock of Biblical principles and belief in a Sovereign God.

There are many in our nation today that do not share that belief.

That foundation is being ignored, not taught, re-written, and removed deliberately from our mental and moral consciousness.

Our nation that was built upon a foundation of ‘rock’ is being ‘de-constructed’ and built upon ‘sand’.

Jesus told a parable about building on a ‘rock’ or on ‘sand’.

He spoke this parable at the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, (Matthew 7:24-29, please take time to read the parable).

Prior to telling this parable, Jesus sternly warned His listeners (Matthew 7:15-23, TLV) “Watch out for false prophets“, and ended with “…get away from Me, you workers of lawlessness.” (emphasis mine)

“False prophets” and “lawlessness”, two significant thoughts found in Matthew 24,25. (emphasis mine)

After a major confrontation with the Pharisees at the Temple, Jesus and His disciples left the Temple area. Jesus’s disciples for some reason decided to point out “the buildings of the temple” (Matthew 24:1 NKJV). Jesus responded with information about the destruction of the Temple. This prompted the disciples to ask Jesus three questions which Jesus answered in Matthew 24,25. (insert mine)

In previous posts, I have shared about Jesus answering His disciples questions.

What needs to be emphasized at this time?

Are we personally prepared to walk with the Lord through the Seismic Spiritual Shaking and the ‘unprecedented unrest’ that has come and is coming to our nation.

Remember, we are safe and secure in the ARK; we are in Christ, Who is our ARK.

Remember, the Seismic Spiritual Shaking will affect His church also.

He will shake out what is not of ‘His Church’, not of ‘His Word’, and not of ‘Holy Spirit’ from its midst.

In conclusion, recalling, Jesus’ instructions (from Matthew 24/25) , He told us to watch, (be) ready, (be) alert, and pray*. He warned us not to be deceived by false prophets (Matthew 24: 4,11) and said that lawlessness (Matthew 24:12) would be rampant; but those who endured to the end (Matthew 24:13) (when He returns) would be saved. There will be troubled times (count on it); but there is work to be done (this Gospel will be preached(Matthew 24:14) throughout the whole world, to all nations, and then the end will come). (inserts and emphasis mine) [*See the previous post, “THAT’S A W.R.A.P.”]

He exhorted us to be like the wise virgins (Matthew 25:1-13) who were prepared for the bridegroom’s coming, and not to be like the unwise virgins who were unprepared, complacent, and not ready for the coming of the bridegroom. He also instructed us to be responsible servants/stewards (Matthew 25:14-30) doing, fulfilling, and carrying out the tasks and using the gifts that have been given to us, as we wait for His return.

Our foundation for accomplishing this means that we need to be watchful, be ready, be alert, and be praying. These disciplines will keep us prepared to respond like the wise virgins, and be responsible like faithful servants of the Lord. (emphasis mine)

Being obedient to His Word builds a living, vibrant relationship and life, walking with the Lord, establishing our foundation on a solid ‘rock’ and that ROCK is Christ Jesus our Lord. (emphasis mine)

Closing the parable, Jesus tells us how to build on a solid foundation.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and yet it did not fall, for its foundation had been built on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and winds blew and beat against that house; and it fell–and great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27 TLV)(emphasis mine)

Q: Are you going to build on rock or sand?

Q: Are you going to live as wise or foolish?

Your answer to these two questions will determine your lifestyle and your relationship with the Lord.

Your answers to these two questions will determine the worry, anxiety, and stress you encounter in your daily life.

Christians are not immune to these two questions; in fact, this teaching was directed to Christ’s disciples.

Remember singing these words, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.” *

The four words, watch, ready, alert, and pray are to be our lifestyle, witness and testimony.

Selah. For your encouragement I recommend the song to you My Soul Will Wait, Sovereign Grace Music, January 20, 2022

Blessings, a brother in Christ, deo

*My Hope is Build on Nothing Less, written by Edward Mote (1797-1874), music by William Batchelder Bradbury (1816-1868)

“That’s A W.R.A.P!”

What if Jesus said to you “That’s a WRAP!”?

What does that mean to you?

In today’s vernacular, He would be telling you that “a situation, project, or event is finished, concluded, or over” (Googled)

Many Christians are beginning to ponder seriously, if the return of Christ is imminent.

i.e. – ‘That’s A Wrap’.

Jesus made it perfectly clear that only the Father knows when He will give the ok for Jesus to return. (Matthew 24:36)

God, the Father, may be very close to telling His Son, “That’s a WRAP!”

It’s time for you to return.

I will leave the pondering of how close that is; and under what circumstances, Jesus will return.

As we embrace the turmoil in our world, the words of Jesus spoken to His disciples in Matthew 24 ring out loud and clear.

In the midst of the troubles, the ‘unprecedented unrest’, the lawlessness, the chaos, confusion, feelings of anxiety, dismay, and shock caused by something unexpected, God is moving, in midst of all this, throughout the nations of the world by the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is being preached, people are being saved, healed, delivered, water baptized, and filled with the Spirit.

Matthew 24:14, NKJV says, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world, and then the end will come.”

And when the end comes, ‘That’s A Wrap’!

The Gospel is being preached.

This is happening throughout the world and most of the known world is oblivious to it; even the Church.

When God is present one of two things takes place.

The first is John 3:16-17.

This results in justification as mentioned above.

The second is John 3:18-20.

This is the reality of God’s justice.

God is Sovereign over all the nations of this world.

We are living in an hour of increasing unrest, uncertainty, and upheaval.

The nations of the world have witnessed the judgment of God against evil this past weekend on February 28, 2026 in the nation of Iran.

This teaching of justification and judgment is found in the Word of God.

God’s redemptive plan of salvation and His judgment against sin, are clearly taught throughout the Word of God.

Both of these issues and the increase of evil at the ‘age’ are clearly taught in the Word of God.

2 Timothy 3 is one such passage of scripture.

In a little over a month*, many throughout the world will focus upon Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem prior to His crucifixion on the Cross.

*Palm Sunday is March 29, 2026, Good Friday is April 3, 2026, and Easter Sunday is April 5, 2026.

On the Cross, the wrath of God against sin, and the love of God for humanity intersected in the Person of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The result of this Seismic Spiritual Shaking completely satisfied the wrath of God and provided justification through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ that was declared totally righteous and justified by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

That is the message of the Gospel of G.R.A.C.E.-

God’s Redemptive Activity Changed Everything

In an upper room, the night of His betrayal, Jesus said to His disciples, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, “I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, NKJV)

I do not think it is unreasonable to believe that many Christians today are not at peace in the midst of the tribulation that is happening in our nation and in the nations of the world.

Therefore what would Jesus say to us in this ‘hour’?

Remembering the words of Francis Schafer, he said, “How Shall We Then Live?”

Jesus, will tell us, “How Shall We Then Live?”

Jesus has a WRAP!

His W.R.A.P. consists of four words.

_______________________________________________

Jesus taught us four important words.

In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus speaking to His disciples prior to His ascension gave them instructions which have been identified as the great commission. 

What we must must keep in perspective is that before the disciples embarked upon the great commission, Acts 1:4-8, NKJV, says that Jesus, “being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which”, He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (emphasis mine)

I wonder how many times, we (me included) have hurried off to accomplish the work of the Lord, we have been assigned to do, and have not stopped long enough, to be sure that we are prepared to move forward ‘in’ and ‘by’ the Spirit of God.

We just take it upon ourselves to go ahead and do the work.

The Lord had, commanded, them to wait. 

What if they had just run off in their own strength? 

What would be the outcome? 

Do believers do that today?

Does the Church do that today?

I suggest that much activity done by the Church is not governed by the Holy Spirit. 

I believe that the Lord is going to ‘shake’ His Church during the coming ‘Seismic Spiritual Shaking’ and realign His Church so that it will accomplish the great commission as He intended it to be done.

This realignment will be part of the Seismic Spiritual Shaking in 2026.

Like the disciples in Acts, the Church needs to wait in their ‘Jerusalem’ for the Promise of the Father.  

The Church cannot do the ministry of the Lord, as He intended it to be done without the governing direction of the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit is the CEO of the Church–the Chief Executive Officer.

The Promise of the Father was explained to the disciples in the Upper Room the night of Jesus’ betrayal and arrest.

Please Read John 13-17.

The Promise of the Father, was the ‘rain’ of the Holy Spirit that came down on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem to ‘reign’ in the Church.

The pouring out of the Holy Spirit was to empower His followers to do the work of ministry. 

The coming of the Holy Spirit was the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to enable believers to live the new life that now resided in them in this world of darkness. 

Jesus had told them in the Upper Room in John 14:15-18 NKJV, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever–the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”

Acts 2:1-4 records the coming of the Holy Spirit.

At this time, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, rises (Acts 2:14) to the occasion and says, “But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ”And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh…*The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon into blood, Before the great and awesome day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Acts 2:16,17a,20-21 (NKJV). (See *Matthew 24:29)

As we begin this new year, let us wait on the Lord; let us ask Him to pour out His Spirit upon us; let us be empowered by the Spirit to do the works of the Lord during the ‘unprecedented unrest’.

Let us identify Jesus’ four words.

I want to turn our attention to Matthew 24:42-44 (NKJV), it reads,

“Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour Your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

What instructions is Jesus giving to His followers?

What words in the text would you underline and/or highlight in your Bible?

I would like to suggest the following:

In Matthew 24:42, underline “watch”, Strong’s Concordance #1127, it means to keep awake, be vigilant, wake, (be)watch(ful). This is the same word Jesus used speaking to Peter, James, and John in the Garden of Gethsemane. He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death. Stay here and watch with me.” (Matthew 26:38 NKJV) In Matthew 24:43, He uses the word watched speaking to them, the exact same word that He used previously.

In Matthew 24:44, underline be “ready”, Strong’s Concordance #2092, it means prepared, (make)ready(-iness, to our hand) This is the same word Jesus used in His parable of the wedding feast. Matthew 22:4-8 NKJV, “Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and fatted calf are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding. ” ‘…”Then he said to his servants, The wedding feast is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.”

Our first two words are watch (Matthew 24:22) and ready (Matthew 24:44).

I would like to suggest two additional words. 

In the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples did not watch with Him. 

Three times He found them asleep. 

In Matthew 26:40-41 NKJV, “then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping and said to Peter. ”What could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray lest you fall into temptation. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” (emphasis mine)

In our watching, we need to pray. Paul writing to the Colossian church, says in Colossians 4:2 KJV, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” The NKJV reads, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. Paul is exhorting our ‘watching earnestly in prayer‘.

Diligent watching includes our persistent praying.

The third word is the word pray.

The Greek word for watch, gregorio, Strong”s #1127, means either literally to be or keep awake (possibly as in vs.43 and parallels) or figuratively to be watchful and alert (as here) {Matthew 24:42}. No NT usage appears to be entirely without some sense of being watchful, on guard, or vigilant. The word came to be used more or less absolutely as a Christian virtue (see I Cor. 16:13) and to designate watchful preparedness for the Lord’s return (see Rev. 16:15; see also Col. 4:2) In I Thessalonians 5:10 it takes on the metaphorical meaning of being alive. The word is also used in Matthew 26:41. [Word Wealth: Spirit Filled Life Bible, page 1422]

Here is the fourth word that I would like to add to our list, one which is implied; it is mentioned in the above Word Wealth,the word is alert. 

The concept of being alert is the basis of the meaning of Matthew 24:43 NKJV, “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched (been alert)[see above], and not allow his house to be broken into. (inserts mine) (emphasis mine)

As mentioned above, the word watch is found in I Corinthians 16:13, NKJV; Paul writes, “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” To watch is identified as a Christian virtue, that is united with “standing fast in the faith, be brave, be strong”. All of these are virtues that a believer needs to exhibit in their walk with the Lord, especially in the last days.

In the Book of Luke, we have a parallel passage of Jesus’ teaching of the passage that we have been considering in Matthew’s Gospel.

The parallel account is found in Luke 21:34-38 NKJV.

Jesus says, “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and cares of this life, and the Day come on you unexpectedly.” (This is expressly referring to the Second Coming of the Lord; but do you see its application? Just “as it was in the days of Noah”? What is the implication? Are we paying attention to what is going on in the world.) “For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Insert mine)

All four of these words are woven into the fabric of thought found in Jesus’ words in the above text.

I suggest that in order to ‘be counted worthy to escape’, that in addition to watching and praying, you would need to be ready and alert.

What are the four words that have been emphasized: watch, pray, alert, ready.

What is the importance of these four words? 

As we walk with the Lord in the end times, there will be ‘unprecedented unrest”.

As we are abiding in the A.R.K. (Adonai’s Righteous Kingdom) of His refuge; we need to be watchful; we need to be praying; we need to be alert; and we need to be ready.

These four words are given to help us pay attention to what is going on in the world.

It might help you to think of the word WRAP to remember these four words: Watch, Ready, Alert, Pray–W.R.A.P.

Well, that’s a WRAP for this post. (lol)

These four words are foundational stepping stones paving our pathway as we walk with the Lord in good times and/or in tumultuous times. 

Jesus has highlighted these four words for our spiritual guidance, strength, knowing, comfort, and peace, His peace (John 16:33). 

Question: What adjustments, if any, do you need to make at this time in your life as you walk with the Lord? 

I encourage you to ask Him.

I would like to suggest that you read Matthew 24:45-51, Matthew 25:1-13, and Matthew 25:15-30.

These passages are the context of Jesus’ teaching regarding the four words.

Blessings, deo

What are the N.E.E.D.S. of the Hour?

Whether or not you immerse yourself in the headline news, national podcasts, cable news networks, conversations at the office water-cooler, family discussion regarding our surrounding world events, you do have a inkling, a knowledge, a knowing, that things are not right in the world in which we live.

The previous post ended with this: Seismic Spiritual Shaking.

The context of those words have been discussed in several of the previous posts.

These words were first shared in December 2025.

The development of the importance of these three words have been brewing, from my perspective, in the past decade, since the 2016 election.

Even before the election of 2016, there was a formidable animosity growing against Donald Trump and the realization that he was going to seek the Presidency of the United States.

The truth is that his political desire to be President became a driving force for what has turned into uncovering a political agenda that had been developing for many years in our nation.

Unfortunately, the public and private conflict that has evolved because of his desire to be President and to seek to ‘Make America Great Again’ has been like the discovery of a ‘kidney stone ‘stuck in this nation’s ‘political bile duct’; and the certain political physicians in our nation have wrestled over how to remove ‘him’, not the ‘stone’, so that things can ‘flow’ again in the same way that things were flowing before he became President.

The problem is that Mr. Trump is not the ‘kidney stone’.

The ‘kidney stone’ has been enlarging for many years in our nation because of the diet of politics this nation has been fed; and now with its painful realization, we are experiencing its effects due to its size and its difficulty to remove.

Q: Is there a doctor in the house?

The focus on removing the President, keeps the nation’s attention on him, and diverts the attention away from the ‘blockages’ in our governmental system.

The two political parties are like opposing doctors prescribing their diagnosis and treatment needed to remedy this nation and make it well.

As President of the United States, Mr. Trump becomes the ‘physician in chief’.

“We the people” make up the body of this nation.

We are the ones suffering because of our political doctors.

The pain is real, the complications are severe, the potential consequences can be devastating.

A ‘kidney stone’ that is not properly taken care can be terminal if not properly treated.

Just recall the demise of the nations of this world throughout history.

People of this nation are concerned about the political well-being of our nation.

Will our political ‘kidney stone’ pass on its own?

Will it pass out of our system with political medications?

Or will it require an extensive surgery to remove our political ‘kidney stone’?

Many are ‘waiting’ it out.

Meaning what?

This ‘stone’ will become more tolerable to live with and with its pain when Mr. Trump’s presidency is over.

Then we can consider what ‘surgery’ is needed to remove the ‘stone’.

Maybe.

Others are seeking to expedite the removal of this ‘stone’ surgically.

This type of ‘surgery’ is called ‘the political process’.

How do I know this?

It is not hard; consider the intense battle over voter identification.

The problem is that throughout Mr. Trump’s terms as President, many have not been in favor of him as the ‘physician-in-chief’ to perform the operation(s) needed to remove the ‘stone’.

Mr. Trump is characterized as a President (resident physician) with a very poor ‘bedside’ manner.

He has exhibited many positive ‘operating skills’ as ‘physician-in-chief’; but in ways that often offends his listeners.

Unfortunately, Mr. Trump’s ‘bedside’ manners make the headlines; but many of his positive results performing a successful ‘operation’ have been ignored and/or purposely overlooked.

Please understand I, too, am grieved by his ‘bedside’ manners; but I am grateful for the ‘successful operations’ he has performed seeking to restore this nation to make it well again.

It is a daunting task; especially when you are constantly being accused of and sued for ‘malpractice’.

So, here we are, in the second year, of Mr. Trump’s second term of being President, and the political diagnosis, the political gamesmanship, the political wrangling continues.

Is anyone else weary of the political rhetoric; the media’s daily pontificating; and/or the self proclaiming critics that see it as their duty to keep the public informed of the ‘wrongs’ that daily beset this nation?

I choose not to watch or listen to the hysterical headline news.

I do read headlines and choose which ones to pursue so as to have an understanding of what is going on in our nation and the world.

I have assumed a personal wait period of 48-72 hours before jumping to conclusions.

I have found that this is a more reliable way to find out what the truth of a reported news story is really about.

Most of the time this works; but not in every case.

I have allowed myself to be ‘sucked’ in, only to find out, I was not patient enough.

I have even had people tell me, that I have missed it.

That’s ok.

Then how do we, as believers, keep in touch?

Refocus our attention.

Be disciplined in our walk with the Lord.

Read the Word of God.

Listen carefully to what the Holy Spirit is saying.

Consider this: The three words: Seismic Spiritual Shaking will bring change.

The greatest Seismic Spiritual Shaking happened at the CROSS.

Please read Matthew 27:45-55.

Did you notice that an earthquake occurred?

The Lamb of God had died to take away the sin of the world.

That event was a cataclysmic Seismic Spiritual Shaking!

In The Revelation of Jesus Christ, there are 5 key earthquakes (shakings) spoken of: Revelation 6:12-14; Revelation 8:5; Revelation 11:13; Revelation 11:19; and Revelation 16:18-21.

Is there an earthquake (shaking) that takes place when Christ returns?

Yes!

Please read Zechariah 14:4.

Jesus, Himself, speaks of earthquakes being a sign of the end times.

Please read Matthew 24:1-8.

Things being ‘shaken’ are not foreign in the Word of God.

On the Day of Pentecost, what transpired in the upper room is ‘symbolic’ of a ‘shaking’ from heaven. Acts 2:1-4.

(See also, Acts 4:13-31; Acts 16:16-34)

God uses ‘shaking’ to get peoples’ attention.

The Seismic Spiritual Shaking that is coming will get people’s attention.

Buckle Up!

What makes this Seismic Spiritual Shaking possible?

The ‘stone’ was removed that had sealed the tomb in which Jesus, who was crucified, was laid.

The ‘stone’ did not prevent His resurrection.

The removal of the ‘stone’ allowed His followers to see the empty tomb.

The Lord Jesus Christ is Risen, just as He said.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead brings newness of life and our blessed hope.

Why is there a Seismic Spiritual Shaking ?

Because God is moving by His Spirit throughout the earth.

The Lord Jesus Christ is coming to perform His surgery upon this nation and in the lives of His children individually, and the Church, collectively, which is His Body.

The Word of God is being preached; people are getting saved; water baptized; filled with the Spirit; healed, and delivered evil spiritual bondage.

The Book of Acts is unfolding before us in this hour, just like it happened when the Church began as Luke recorded it.

What is happening today has happened throughout the history of mankind.

What the nations of this world are witnessing is the grace, mercy, and love of God being made available to those who will receive the Gospel of truth about the person of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s word is being confirmed with signs and wonders following.

This is happening throughout the world and will continue to grow, and then the end will come.

What will be witnessed is the reality of the Seismic Spiritual Shaking that took place on the CROSS where Jesus, the Begotten Son of God, was crucified.

There on the cross, a collision took place, a Seismic Spiritual Shaking.

A collision between the love of God and the wrath of God.

I call it, The L.A.W. of the Cross.

The Love And Wrath of the Cross.

The CROSS is the focal point of the spiritual battle between God and Satan.

It is the place where God, Who is Life, took on human flesh, chose to die in that body, satisfying His wrath against sin; defeating Satan; and being raised from the dead conquered sin and death.

It is hard to comprehend that God, Who is Life, chose to die, that we might live; but that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The good news is that He is Risen.

The conflict of the CROSS was God, the Father’s, idea before the foundation of the world.

The victory of the CROSS is ours to enter into, enjoy, and to live forever with our heavenly Father who loves us.

The title of this post was: What are the N.E.E.D.S. of the Hour?

A question that NEEDS to be answered.

The ‘N’ stands for Nehemiah. We need to work together and stand against the world, the flesh, and the devil, as the Lord builds His Church.

See Nehemiah 1-13.

The first ‘E’ stands for Ezra. We need to read, to study, to meditate upon, and obey the Word of God.

See Ezra 7-10.

The second ‘E’ is for Esther. We need to fast and pray, intercede for those in authority over us, and take a stand against evil.

See Esther 4.

The ‘D’ stands for Daniel. We need to pray. We need to confess the sins of our nation, fast, and intercede for our nation, and wrestle against the principalities and powers of darkness in the heavenlies.

See Daniel 9-10.

The letter ‘S’ represents the need to take a stand.

Each of these individuals were used sovereignly by the Lord to ‘be’ an instrument of need in the ‘hour’ in which they lived.

They took a STAND.

Today, the Lord is looking for individuals that will ‘stand in the gap’ and be available to Him to be an instrument of need (significance) in the ‘hour’ in which we are living.

Hebrews 12: 25-28 NKJV, says, “See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying,”Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” Now this, “Yet once more”, indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.” (boldness mine)

I encourage you by the grace of God to serve Him acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

I encourage you to seek the Lord, and ask Him, “Lord how can You use me to serve you in this hour?”

Please read Titus 2:8-10.

Please read James 5:17-18.

Just as the Lord used Nehemiah, Ezra, Esther, Daniel, and Elijah, He can use you, too.

The Lord knows you.

Allow Him to ‘call you’, and give you the task of His choice to meet a NEED.

Be an instrument of difference, taking a ‘stand‘, in this hour of Seismic Spiritual Shaking.

a brother in Christ, deo

The Time to STAND!

Franklin Graham has spoken the Word of the Lord to this nation.

On January 14, 2026, he said, “I would like to call for a time of prayer and repentance today, Jan. 14, at noon.

Why did he call us to prayer?

“As a nation, our sins are so great. We have increasingly turned our back on God and His commands, embracing godless secularism. We need to ask His forgiveness and seek His face.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

He went on to say, “Pray for our leaders, and pray that God would bring calm to our streets.” ( 1 Timothy 2:1-7)

He continued, “There are many who would like to stir things up-there are even those who would like to destroy this great country. Pray that these efforts would be thwarted and their plans would be brought into confusion.” (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Addressing the Church he said to “Ask God to use His Church to be His instruments of peace in this time of great uncertainty.”

Concluding, he reminded us to “…give God the glory for this great nation and thank Him for His hand of blessing, protection, and mercy.”

He has expressed clearly and emphatically what God sees!

Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-27.

God’s heart longs to forgive our sin.

God is telling us to turn from our wicked ways.

God wants to heal our land.

What is my response?

What is your response?

What will be the response of the Church?

What will be the response of this nation?

This is not a political issue!

This is an issue of the heart of our nation.

And because it is an issue of the heart not everyone in our nation will humble themselves and pray.

Some have severely criticized Graham’s call to prayer.

That is not surprising.

Why?

Because their heart seeks to take care of the things of life, and this nation, apart from God.

The fact is that we cannot separate ourselves from God and His Sovereign reign over the nations of the world.

See Psalm 22:28; Psalm 47:8; Daniel 2:21; Proverbs 21:1; Matthew 28:18; Revelation 11:15.

This nation is in spiritual conflict; and we are witnessing, daily, in our nation, through the natural lives of humans, what is taking place in the angelic realm in the heavenlies. Ephesians 6:10-18.

There is conflict.

What does this conflict look like?

Please Read Matthew 24-25; 2 Timothy 3:1-9; 1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Peter 3:1-18; Jude 14-19.

I also encourage you to read or re-read the previous post entitled, ‘Arise, Shine For Your Light Has Come’.

Why?

Because, before we can arise and shine as believers, we must repent of our sins; turn from our wicked ways;and live a life set apart unto the Lord; In short we are “… turn our eyes upon Jesus and look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

This is not about what we know intellectually, doctrinally ,or how many are the works that we are doing for the Lord.

This is not about our political opinions, preferences, or people in places of authority in our nation’s government.

This is about realizing that apart from God, there will be no change.

That is the emphasis of Franklin Graham’s call to prayer.

The people of this nation must come to the understanding that the government is not going to save us.

Our hope as a nation is dependent upon God intervening and bringing about change in our hearts.

Therefore, we need to call out to God; seek Him; ask Him to forgive us for turning our backs on Him; ask Him to intervene in the affairs of this nation; and bring healing to this nation.

As believers in Jesus Christ, we are not exempt from this calling out to God.

The truth is that we, too, are responsible for the condition of despair in this nation.

Our crying out, our seeking God’s face, our asking for forgiveness, our acknowledgement of our wrong, our plea to heal our land, places upon us a greater responsibility.

How so?

It means being in the world; but not a part of the world. (John 17)

It means living a different lifestyle.

This is a personal decision for each one of us, who confesses the name of Jesus as Lord and Savior, must decide.

How am I going to live in the midst of this conflict?

When you make that decision, you will be taking a STAND.

Your STAND may be before one person, or many people.

Your STAND may be in your immediate family; or it may be at your place of employment.

When you STAND up for the Lord, you will always have an audience of One, Acts 7:54-57.

Stephen saw Jesus STANDING at the right hand of God.

Jesus went to cross for Stephen; when Stephen took a STAND for JESUS, JESUS took a STAND for him.

When you take that STAND, will you continue to STAND?

Or will you compromise?

What will STANDING look like?

Jesus told us what to expect. (Matthew 5:5-11; 1 Peter 3:13-4:19)

How severe can this ‘suffering’ get?

Ask Jesus, He went to the cross.

Q: What did Jesus tell Peter when they were walking on the shore of the lake after His resurrection? John 21:15-23.

There are other passages of scriptures that tell about the same types of outcome.

See Hebrews 11:32-40; Acts 7:1-60; read the history of the lives of the Apostles and how history records their dying; read the Book of Martyrs.

Q: What has it cost the followers of Jesus Christ, Who is the Way, throughout the history of the Church?

Q: What is it costing the persecuted Church today throughout the world?

[See Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN), cbn.org; see Voice of Martyrs (VOM.org); see Open Doors( opendoorsus.org); or you can just: Google -persecution of Christians.]

Jesus said, If you want to follow Me, then you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.

Revelation 12:10-12 tells us of our potential cost. (Read Revelation 12 for the context.)

“Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of God, and the power of His Christ have come; for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” NKJV

The Spirit Filled Life Bible, KJV, pg. 1964 makes this commentary for Revelation 12:11. “They overcame him by appropriating the victory of the finished work of Christ, by the public confession of their faith and patient endurance (see note on 1:9) even in the face of martyrdom (13:10). The church’s constant posture under the authority of the cross’s victory by the blood of the Lamb and steadfastness to the promise and authority of God’s Word-the word of their testimony– is the key to their overcoming.”

The MacArthur Study Bible, pg 2008, notes for Revelation 12:11 NKJV, says, “blood of the Lamb. No accusation can stand against those whose sins have been forgiven because of Christ’s sacrificial death. (see Romans 8:33-39)”

Note the relationship of standing and the forgiveness of sins. We can stand because we have been forgiven. Therefore, we need to repent and receive forgiveness of our sins so that we can stand.

Continuing with Revelation 12:12, pg 1965,(Spirit Filled Life Bible) the commentary says, “The defeat of the devil causes rejoicing among God’s people but woe among people of the world. Note the intensification of evil workings of hell as the age progresses and adversary knows he has a short time.”

Q: Are we living on such a day where we are witnessing “the intensification of evil workings of hell as the age progresses” to its end; and our “adversary knows that he has a short time”?

Today there is ‘unprecedented unrest; increased lawlessness; rebellion against authority; chaos, confusion, insurrection; and as 2 Timothy 3:1, NKJV, records, “But know this that in the last days perilous (marginal note: times of stress) times will come.

Yes, we are living in stressful times.

We are living in the last days.

These days are increasingly perilous-extremely stressful.

Q: How are we to handle stress ?

We are encouraged to take refuge in the Lord.

Read Psalm 46.

In this hour, believers are told to STAND.

The Church is told to STAND.

But, remember, before you can STAND, you must REPENT .

In order to move ahead with God, WE MUST REPENT.

How do we know this?

Jesus instructed us to repent. Matthew 6:12, Amplified Version, “And forgive us our debts (note: sins, moral failures) as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment].

Q: What is the implication if we do not ‘daily’ repent? (1 John 1:5-10)

[See Grace To You, gty.org, “What is Biblical Repentance?; See GotQuestions.org; “What does the Bible say about Repentance?”]

I will share AI’s, googled answer.

“In the Bible, repentance is a profound Spirit-led change of mind and heart that results in turning away from sin and towards God, involving sorrow for wrongdoing, a decisive shift in attitude, and a commitment to a new, obedient life under God’s sovereignty, of demonstrated through changed action like confession and restitution. It is more than just feeling sorry; it’s an active return (Hebrew: shuv) and transformation (Greek: Metanoia) of one’s entire life direction, leading to forgiveness and spiritual renewal.”

When you choose to ARISE,(STAND), your light will shine, and”the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.“

What does it mean to STAND?

The reality of the ‘ meaning’ to STAND will be understood when you make your confession that Jesus Christ is your Lord and Savior, and you experience the reaction of the hearer(s) of your words.

For the Church, Ephesians 6:10-18 explains our ongoing spiritual conflict.

This conflict is also applicable to each believer in Christ.

Read Jesus’ interaction with Nicodemus. See John 3:1-21.

At the close of the dialogue with Nicodemus, Jesus explains the spiritual conflict regarding the depravity of the human heart.

Jesus knows what is in man’s heart. See John 2:23-25.

Look closely at John 3:16-21, and you will see the resistance that is in each human heart regarding being told that they are a sinner in need of a Savior.

STANDING against humanity’s sin nature is confrontational.

Confrontational does not mean being arrogant, presumptuous, haughty or unloving.

It means learning to speak the truth in love( Ephesians 4:15), seasoned with grace (Colossians 4:6).

It also means that it is ok to be” angry and sin not”; but, “not to let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26-27).

And added to this, Jesus in another context said these words, “… let your heart be troubled” (John 14:1).

I am not sure that I can STAND all of this! (pun intended)

STANDING is what the Lord Jesus Christ is saying in this hour to His Church by His Spirit according to the Word of God.

It is a clarion call.

Will you hear it?

How will you respond?

It’s time to STAND UP for the Lord!

Buckle Up!

There is a Seismic Spiritual Shaking coming!

In the midst of this shaking, our Father God will be there for His people.

“On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.”***

[Wow! I just saw this, when you remove the letter ‘t’ from the word ‘stand’, you get the word ‘sand’. Consider this: if we assign the letter ‘t’ for TRUTH, then when you take your STAND based upon the TRUTH of the Word of God, you STAND on the solid Rock, Christ Jesus; but if your standing is not based upon the truth of the Word of God, then you are standing on sand (no letter ‘t’, no truth),and no firm foundation.”

(That reminds me of a song, “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord…”—I better stop, I am getting carried away)]

Be encouraged!

Isaiah 4:2-6; Psalm 91:1-16; Psalm 62:1-8.

a brother in Christ, deo

***AI comment: “The phrase “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand” comes from the hymn “My Hope is Built on Nothing Less” by Edward Mote, inspired by the Biblical text passages like Matthew 7:24-27, where Jesus speaks of building a house on rock (obedience to His word) verses sand (hearing but not doing). Key Old Testament verses that use the “rock” imagery for God include Psalm 62:2 (“He only is my rock and my salvation”) and Psalm 18:2 (The LORD is my solid rock, my fortress, my rescuer”)

“In essence, the phrase points to the Biblical concept of Jesus Christ as the unshakeable foundation for faith, as described in passages like Matthew 7 and the Psalms.”

[Note: the capitalization of the word Biblical is my editing.]

Arise, Shine, for Your Light Has Come

The Lord is making a spiritual adjustment in His Church.

Isaiah 60:1-3, NKJV, the prophet declares to God’s people, “Arise, shine; for your light has come! For the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” (emphasis mine)

Q: Are you ready to witness the glory of the Lord to “be seen upon you”?

This admonition was given to the nation of Israel who were to be a light to the nations around them. God’s people were to be a witness/ testimony of the reality of the living God, the Creator of mankind, actual Presence (His glory) in Israel. Their lifestyle was to be set apart unto Him and different from the pagan nations. (emphasis, insert mine)

Israel witnessed it!

These words are also prophetic of the coming of the Son of God.

Jesus, is the One of whom the Apostle John said, “In the beginning was the Word, and Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (marginal note, overcome) it. There was a man sent from God , whose name was John (John the Baptist). This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He (John the Baptist) was not the Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He (Jesus) was in the world, and world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came unto His own and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God (that is the message of the Gospel), to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:1-13, NKJV (emphasis, inserts mine)

John 1:14 NKJV, makes possible the transfer of God’s design for His people,[ the nation of Israel, who was set apart to be the light to the nations of the world in great darkness], to the Church, the Body of Christ, to be that same light to the nations of the world since its inception manifesting the glory of God.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14, NKJV) (emphasis mine)

2 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV) elaborates on John’s words, “For it it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness (Genesis 1:3), who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (please read the context for this truth: 2 Corinthians 3:1-4:18) (insert mine) (emphasis)

The glory of God walked in a human body in the Person of the Son of God /Son of Man in Judah.

The light that was to shine through the nation of Israel,(past); was birthed through the Incarnation of the Son of God into this world in a human body (Luke 2); Jesus was the Light of the world, (then), (John 8:12); and that Light is (now) resident in His Body, the Church, and that Light, is to be shining brightly in the world of darkness. (see Matthew 5:14-16). (inserts, emphasis mine)

Therefore, Church: Arise, shine for your Light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. (paraphrase of Isaiah 60:1) (emphasis mine)

Q: What is our responsibility today?

A. The glory of the Lord is to be witnessed in His Body, the Church in the world.

Q: How?

A. By the light that it shines!

Church it is time to remember and sing the children’s chorus, “This little light of mine I’m going to let it shine…”

{Let us read the fulfillment of the word transference* as written by the Apostle Peter. *The word ‘transference’ is used by Dane Ortland in his book,‘Surprised By Jesus’, chapter 11, pgs. 161-172, copyright 2021 by Dane Ortland.}

“To the pilgrims of the Dispersion on Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied…Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, Now this is the word which by the Gospel was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:1,2,22-25 NKJV)

“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the mild of the word, that you may grow there by, if indeed, you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. Coming unto Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices (Romans 12:1) acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,“Behold, I lay in Zion, A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who (marginal note: disbelieve) are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble being disobedient to the word, to which they were appointed. ” (1 Peter 2:1-8 NKJV) (insert mine)

Q: What has the Church been chosen to be?

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praise of Him who called you out of the darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10, NKJV) (emphasis mine)

Do you see that, what was purposed by God for His people Israel, has been transferred to the Church, the Body of Christ, through the coming of the Son of God born in a human body?

Consider this: In the same way that God observed Israel, so the Lord Jesus Christ observes His Church, and observes the light they are shining in a world of darkness.

Q: Is the Church,today,in 2026, shining forth the light of the Lord Jesus Christ in this darkened world?

Peter pleas, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, they when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” (1 Peter 1:11-12, NKJV)

We are witnessing a ‘day of visitation’ in our world today!

The glory of God is being manifested in the earth.

What was originally intended by God, that His people would be a light to the nations, was extinguished by their willful disobedience, ignoring His Word, turning away from Him, and living like the nations of the world surrounding them.

They embraced the ‘darkness’ of the pagan nations.

The birth of Christ, in human flesh, brought into this world, the Light of the world, because in Him was “That true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” (John 1:9, NKJV)

Remember Jesus said, (John 8:12, NKJV) “…I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, have the light of life .”(see John 1:4).

Q: Is there darkness in the Church covering the light?

Please read Matthew 5:14-16.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived in human flesh; a human body in which its Creator now resided; a human body in which God took up His residence that was filled with His “glory and truth”. (John 1:14)

Consider the incredibility of this truth.

Therefore, a human body in which the Son of God now lived radiated “the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ..”( 2 Corinthians 4:6) was now walking in the midst of His creation.

Recalling the disciple Philips words to Jesus (John 14:8, NKJV), “Lord, show us the Father and it is sufficient for us.” Jesus responded, (John 14:9, NKJV), “…Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father, so how can you say, “Show us the Father?”

I am reminded of the question I posed in a previous post.

Q: Can the Lord Jesus Christ say to an individual, “If you have seen My Church, then you have seen Me?”

In the previous post, GOD’S L.E.D., Christ’s letter to the Church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7 was discussed.

Jesus, the Head of the Church, is speaking to the believers in Ephesus through a letter He directed the Apostle John to write.

Historically, the Church in Ephesus was a dynamic, living body of believers. The Apostle Paul was instrumental in its growth, teaching, and establishment as a vibrant Church.

Jesus , in His letter to the Church in Ephesus, assesses their ministry as a Church in a darkened world, telling them that they need to repent because they have left their first love.

What is that first love?

Their love for Him.

Jesus tells them that if they do not repent, He will remove their lampstand.

Q: What is the purpose of a lampstand?

A. To be lighted and shine forth its light.

Q: What is Jesus bringing to their attention?

A. Their light is flickering, diminished, close to smoldering.

Strong words, but Jesus Christ is the Head of His Church, the Body of Christ.

Q: What is the implication of them not repenting?

This means that their influence to shine the light of the Gospel and the glory of God, in the city of Ephesus. will cease.

Jesus is not questioning their salvation.

He is setting aside their spiritual influence in the city of Ephesus.

{Note: The city of Ephesus does not exist except for its pagan ruins. There are no ruins that show that Christianity once existed there. Therefore, the Church in the city of Ephesus did not repent and its lampstand was removed.}

The letter to the Ephesian Church ends with a clarion call.

Note: This clarion call is spoken to all of the seven Churches. See: Reveation 2:7; 2:11; 2:17; 2:29; 3:6; 3:13; 3:22.

Jesus says, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (NKJV)

What is the Spirit saying to the Church today?

‘Arise Shine for your Light Has Come’

Q: Does the Lord Jesus Christ, our Great Shepherd, our Savior want to remove the lampstand?

A. No, that is not His heart’s desire.

See Isaiah 42:1-25 for context.

Isaiah 42:3, NKJV, ” A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench…”

This is our Father’s heart expressed through Isaiah regarding His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, “Behold My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He will not cry out, nor raise His voice; Nor cause His voice to be heard in the street,a bruised reed he will not break, and smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.” Isaiah 42:1-3, NKJV (emphasis mine)

The fact that Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, is addressing His Church, tells us and shows us, that His heart longs and yearns for His Church to walk in right relationship with Him; to love Him with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength.

However, as the Head of the Church, He governs His Church, by the Holy Spirit, according to the Word of God.

Remember, He is the Word of God.

According to the written Word of God, the Church, composed of born again believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, is to manifest the life of Christ that is within them. (Galatians 2:20; 2 Corinthians 4:8-11; the letter to the Galatians.)

The life of Christ, is the light of Christ, the manifested glory of God that is to shine forth in this darkened world.

The letter to the Church at Ephesus in Revelations 2:1-7, tells us that the Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, longs for us to return to our first love for Him so that His life and light will shine brightly in the midst of darkness, thereby manifesting the glory of God.

I know I am being redundant; but the Spirit of God, is saying to the Church that the Lord Jesus Christ is checking out His Church.

He is calling His people to repentance.

The only way a believer can go forward with the Lord is by repentance. That is not a harsh statement.

This is the grace of God.

Jesus, the Lamb of God, has taken away the sin of the world.

I am justified by faith in Christ. I am born again. The work of the cross is finished.

But,

The blood of Christ is not a one time event in our life.

A believer needs to be daily cleansed from their sins by the eternal precious blood of Christ.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, then we make Him a liar and the truth is not in us. I John 1:9-10 NKJV.

He wants to restore the flickering light that resides in many of His followers; and brightly rekindle the true Light that should be influencing the community in which His Church resides.

The reality is that He, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the Church, can and will put out the light of spiritual influence in the life of a believer ;and/or the spiritual influence of a local church. (Reminder, the Church in Ephesus is no more)

Let me say again, the Lord is not taking away one’s salvation (John 10:28-29).

The Lord is calling those who He desires to use for His kingdom purposes; and setting aside those who do not respond to His call His kingdom purposes.

The Apostle Paul, addresses this same idea in 2 Timothy 2:1-26.

In 2 Timothy 2:19-21, NKJV, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God *stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who name the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel of honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” (emphasis mine)

Q: Why am I emphasizing the word STAND?

A. Because this word, emphasizes what is and will be required of us individually and the Church collectively living in the ‘last days’.

(See I Thessalonians 5:1-28; 2 Timothy 3:1-4:5; Matthew 24:1-25:46; 2 Peter 3-18.)

When an individual, a local Church body, or any group of believers in Jesus Christ answer the clarion call spoken by the Holy Spirit to the Church, you can be assured that there will be spiritual conflict.

All spiritual conflict is a spiritual warfare between light and darkness.

It is the Kingdom of Light in a spiritual battle against the kingdom of darkness.

Satan seeks to be in relentless conflict, at war, with God.

Satan is a defeated foe.

The reality is that Satan can never be in a position of dominance over God.

The cross made it possible for us to be justified in Christ and the wrath of God to be satisfied regarding His relationship to humanity.

It also removed Satan’s influence and dominance over humanity.

(Colossians 2:13-15; I Peter 2:24; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 2:20; John 19:20)

Why? Because the kingdom of darkness by its influence wars against the influence of the Kingdom of Light.

The Biblical enemies of the believer are the world, the flesh, and the devil. (Ephesians 2:2-3)

The more you determine to abide in the Lord; press into Him; spend time with Him in His Word; be obedient to the Holy Spirit governing your life; the more you will be rebuffed, thwarted, tempted to stop, assailed, persecuted, be discouraged, in short be in conflict, at war, with the world, the flesh, and the devil.

This is the normal Christian life for the followers of Christ every day of their lives.

We are witnessing ‘unprecedented unrest’ in our nation and the nations of the world.

The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ has always been under persecution in the world. (1 John 3:13; John 15:18-21; John 17:14-19)

Believers are rmaligned, ridiculed, persecuted, threatened, put in prison, and killed for their loyalty to Jesus Christ. (Matthew 5:10-11; 1 Peter 4:12-19)

This opposition is increasing literally throughout the world in this ‘hour’ in which we live. This is not conjecture. This is reality.

The enemy of our souls wants the light, life, and influence of our Lord Jesus Christ removed, stopped, and ceased in this world.

In short, put out the light of the glory of God, shining brightly in this darkened world.

The day that Jesus died on the Cross, the religious leaders, the Roman government, Satan and his angels, even Christ’s disciples believed that the influence of Jesus in the world had come to an end.

No more light!

What does the scripture say, Matthew 27:45-46 NKJV,”Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour, there was darkness over all the land.”

The darkness of death believed that it had put out the light of life.

Darkness had won, right!

Wrong, John 1:5 NKJV, “And the darkness did not comprehend it.”

What does this mean? comprehend is better understood as, “overcome”.

The MacArthur Study Bible, pg 1573, notes for John 1:5 says, “Darkness is not able to overcome or conquer the light. Just as a single candle can overcome a room filled with darkness, so also the powers of darkness are overcome by the person and work of the Son through His death on the cross.”

Read Revelation 1:9-20 to catch the vision of the exalted Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded by the Apostle John.

Bask in The Revelation (Revelation 1:1) of His Brilliance and Glory!

The reality is that the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ unleashed a greater powerful influence of life and light (Revelation 1:9-20) and that influence came into being with the birth of the Church.

On the Day of Pentecost, a rushing mighty wind filled the place where the disciples were gathered. The promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled.

The Church was born.

The Word of God was preached by the Apostles.

Persecution arose, the leaders of the Church, continued to let their light shine.

The result was a scattering of the Church unto the ends of the world.

Guess what?

Today, the Lord Jesus Christ, is moving by the Holy Spirit; the Word of God is being preached; the Holy Spirit is ministering throughout the world; people’s lives are being changed; people are receiving the Lord; followers are being water baptized; followers are being filled with the Holy Spirit; the Lord Jesus Christ is performing signs and wonders confirming the preaching of the Word of God.

The Lord is addressing His Church, today.

Q: Are we listening?

The Lord is asking: Are you ready for My visitation in your life? Are you ready for My visitation in your local Church? Are you ready for My visitation in your local community?

I have come to ‘anew’ and to ‘afresh’ My Presence through My Church in the nations of this world.

I have come to communities, colleges, and gathering venues in this nation(USA).

I am going to increase My Presence and the manifestation of My visitation on the earth, and in this nation.

My call to My Church is to “Arise, shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord is risen on you.” Isaiah 60:1 NKJV (emphasis mine) (paraphrased)

Q: What is your response?

If your response is to live and to be the light of the Lord, shining forth the glory of God, then be prepared to STAND.

See Ephesians 6:10-18.

Why do I bring this to your attention?

I Peter 4:12-19 NKJV, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange things happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evil doer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now,“If the righteous one is scarcely saved? Where will the ungodly sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.” (boldness mine)

Q: Is it too bold to say?

This is where we are, at this moment, according to God’s redemptive plan, bringing an end to the condemnation of Adam’s disobedience, and providing justification because of Christ’s obedience according to the CROSS. (See Romans 5)

Just prior to the end of 2025, the Lord spoke to me these words for 2026.

A ‘Seismic Spiritual Shaking‘ is coming.

The Lord is making ready His Bride for His return with His visitation to the nations of this world.

His visitation will bring judgment and justification.

Judgment for those who are to receive judgment; and justification to those who hear and believe the Word of God. (See John 3:14-21.)

Again, it is time to STAND.

God told Moses, Exodus 14:13-14, NKJV, “And Moses said to the people, Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you will see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” (emphasis mine)

John 16:25-33, In the midst of religious fervor, political chaos and confusion, and unprecedented unrest (does that sound like the climate of our nation?), Jesus is concluding His final words to His disciples just before He prays to His Father.

Jesus says, “Do you now believe. Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” (NKJV)

Q: Do you believe that?

In the midst of today’s ‘unprecedented unrest’ of chaos, confusion, rebellion, ungoverned lives and insurrection, you are not alone, just like Jesus said that He was not alone. Jesus said, that He will never leave us nor forsake us. (Hebrew 13:5; Deuteronomy 31:6; Joshua 1:5)

As we move forward with the Lord, during the calendar year of 2026, remember, Jesus has overcome the world. (John 16:33)

As a believer, you have overcome the world in Him. (I John 5:1-12)

That is your position.

The Church will experience the reality of its position ‘in Christ’ walking with the Lord; governed by the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God; united with a community of believers who chose to, “Arise, Shine For Their Light Has Come”; and are ready to stand to do spiritual warfare; and to stand and see the salvation of God in their midst-and the glory of the God will rise upon them.

To quote, Paul Washer, “Buckle Up” (from his teaching on ‘The Power of the Holy Spirit’, You Tube 2023)

This is a lot to reflect upon.

I encourage you to read, reflect, and pray.

Seek the Lord and ask Him about the light and influence that is shining through you in this world of darkness.

Q: What area of your life do you have daily conflict? the world? the flesh? the devil?

Let Him speak to you as He did to the Church at Ephesus.

He loves you.

What He reveals to you, be quick to repent; so that the light of the glory of God may shine brighter through you.

He wants to shine His Light through you to others; so that they will be drawn to the Lord by the Spirit of God.

Remember to sing, ‘This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine…’

Be Blessed, your brother in Christ, deo

GOD’S L.E.D.

As the nations of the world embark upon the beginning of a New Year, many of this world’s inhabitants are making personal New Year resolutions resolving to do this, do that, etc. looking optimistically to bring about a personal change in some habit, behavior, or lifestyle that they have identified as needing attention for their own well being.

If we will be honest with ourselves, most of us know that our New Year resolutions are short lived. We all start with good intentions; but our good intentions quickly fade unless we have the discipline to persevere.

One of the areas that we have no control over involves the nations of this world.

But is that absolutely true?

No, the Lord Jesus Christ uses the Body of Christ in spiritual warfare as He builds His Church.

See the letter to the Ephesian Church written by the Apostle Paul.

Over the past decades, the inhabitants of the nations of this world have witness with trembling as nation has risen against nation; famines occurring; devastating earthquakes happening throughout the world; horrific weather patterns transpiring bringing loss of homes, communities, flooding, complete ruin, and even death.

All these varied devastations, Jesus said were the “beginning of sorrows”-meaning birth pains. [See Matthew 24 for context]

In Isaiah 42:14-17, NKJV, this same picture, regarding ‘birth pains’, is spoken of by the prophet Isaiah.

“I have held My peace a long time, I have been still and restrained Myself [Isaiah is voicing what God is speaking to His nation Israel.]. Now I will cry like a woman in labor [margin-child birth], I will pant and grasp at once [exhibiting birth pains]. I will lay waste the mountains and hills, and dry up their vegetation [sounds like famine]; I will make their rivers coastlands, and I will dry up the pools [withhold the rain]. I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them. They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, who trust in carved images, who say to the molded images, you are our gods.” [Inserts mine] (boldness mine)

God’s people have forsaken Him. God brings an awakening. He comes and speaks to what His people need the most in the land in which they live. They are dependent upon water; and God chooses to withhold it to get their attention.

God loves His people. He intervenes to show them the error of their ways. He remembers His covenant; but despite His intervention, and their conviction of shame, will they turn to Him? (see Isaiah 42:18-25)

Q: Are we ass a nation in a similar place where God looks upon us, a nation, that He has blessed and says, I have waited in silence, now it is time for Me to arise and intervene in the affairs of this nation; it is time for Me to come and bring My personal visitation to this nation and the nations of the world.

The truth is God is doing this.

His Spirit is visiting this nation and the other nations of the world.

There is an awakening taking place.

There is the preaching of the Word of God.

Many are receiving Christ as their Savior; many are being water baptized; many are being filled with being the Spirit; and God is healing, and delivering people from their illnesses and bondage.

The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D. is being manifested throughout the nations of the world; even in this nation.

God’s Light is shining brightly.

It is shining in this nation on college campuses; in local communities; and places where people gather and call upon the Name of the Lord.

Q: Is this light shining brightly in the local churches in our nation?

The nations of the world dwell in great darkness, but they shall see a great light.

That light is now burning brightly throughout the world.

Isaiah 60:1-3, NKJV, the prophet Isaiah declares, “Arise shine for your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold darkness shall cover the earth; and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will rise over you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” (boldness mine)

Q: Is this happening in the local churches in the nation where you live?

In context, who is the light?

Israel, God’s people is to be the light to the nations.

Unfortunately, their light was ‘maybe’ flickering because of a very small remnant.

Let’s expand the thought of light.

Is it Messianic? Absolutlely.

John 1:1-5 NKJV, The Apostle John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word as with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness comprehended not.” (boldness mine)

In John 8:12, NKJV, Jesus said, “…I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (boldness mine)

Matthew 5:14-16, NKJV, Jesus taught, “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and I giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (boldness mine)

Listen to the words of the Apostle Paul writing to the Church at Ephesus.

Ephesians 5:8-14, NKJV, “For you were sometimes darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light: for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore he saith, Awake you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.”

It is important to see clearly that Paul is speaking to believers.

They are light in the Lord.

We are light in the Lord.

The Church is light in the Lord.

Christ is the Light that is in us.

It is His Light that shines through us in this darkened world.

Q: How bright is the Light of the Lord?

Q: Is His Light shining through His Church, the Body of Christ in the darkness of the world today?

Consider this: The Revelation of Jesus Christ, begins with these words regarding the purpose of the revelation of the exalted Jesus Christ.

Revelation 1:1a, NKJV, says, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, God gave Him to show His servants…”

God the Father has given to God the Son, the exalted Lord Jesus Christ, a revelation for Him to communicate to His followers, His Church, the Body of Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ chose the Apostle John, to be His instrument to write down what He wanted communicated to His Church.

I encourage you to read Revelation 1:4-20.

One of the things that John saw and said was that Jesus Christ held in His right hand “seven golden lampstands”.

Q: What is the purpose of a lampstand?

In the Old Testament, this referred to the ‘menorah’ in the Holy Place in the Tabernacle in the wilderness. It was the light of the Holy Place. It was one piece with seven branches.

Here in the New Testament, John sees seven lampstands, or lamps.

Revelation 1:19-20 NKJV, John is told to “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this. The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”

I want us to focus on this fact: Jesus said “the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”

Q: What is the purpose of a lampstand? (see Got Questions: What is the significance of the lampstand in the Bible?)

A. To shine forth light.

Q: What light? Whose light? (see John 1:6-9)

A. The Light of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I believe Revelation 2:1, sets the spiritual tone for all the seven letters that John composed.

“To the angel (the elder, pastor) of the church at Ephesus write, [this letter is addressed to the leadership of this church], These things says He (the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church) who hold the seven stars in His right hand, who walks in the midst of the seven golden lampstands: “I know…” (NKJV) (inserts mine)

Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, the Body of Christ. The leadership of each local church is the undershepherd of the Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ. (I Peter 5:1-4)

In short, the Chief Shepherd is addressing His Church.

Much has been said, written, and discussed about the meaning of these letters.

Let us focus on this.

The One who is the Light, is concerned about the light that is being manifested through His Church that exists in a world of darkness.

Q: How bright does the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ shine through you?

Q: How bright is the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ shining in the community in which you live? (the nation in which you live?)

Why is this important?

Jesus, knows their works and commends them; He knows their failings and seeks to correct them. He does the same thing in each of the other six churches.

Writing to the first Church, the Church at Ephesus (Revelation 2:1-7) a church that John is significantly related too*, Jesus says, “Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else (emphasis mine) I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place-unless you repent…” [*diu.edu, How Do We Know the Apostle John Ministered in Ephesus?]

Jesus is NOT questioning their salvation. He is saying that He will remove their spiritual influence in the community where they exist.

George Ladd in his book ‘A Commentary on the Revelation of John’, makes this observation, of Revelation 2:5. (pgs 39-40, copyright 1972 by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.)

“The loss of love was no trivial matter; it is treated as though it involved a fall from the Christian life. The Ephesians are warned to remember the fervor of their first Christian experience, to repent because they have fallen into sin, and to do the works they did at first, i.e., works of love. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, all good works done in the name of Christ are empty if they are not motivated by love (I Cor. 13:1-3) Unless the Ephesians repent, Christ will come to them and remove their lampstand from its place. Some interpreters see here a reference to the judgment inflicted by Christ at his second coming, but it is more likely that these words refer to some kind of visitation which will bring a historical judgment upon the church so that destruction will befall it and it will cease to exist as a church.”

I concur with Ladd’s understanding.

Q: How many churches have closed since 1900?

Q: How many churches have closed in the last decade in the United States?

I googled a question regarding how many churches have closed since 1990.question.

I received the following bullet points: (AI answer)

U.S. Statistics (Recent) In 2024, over 4000 U.S. Protestant churches closes verses fewer openings. A decade ago, openings slightly outnumbers closures in the U.S.

UK Statistics (Recent): Over 3500 churches closes in the UK in the past decade.

Reason for Closure: Demograpahics (fewer young people, rise of “nones”), dwindling funds, changing neighborhoods, and neglect to contribute. [I recommend that you Google the term “nones” for further understanding]

Global perspective: While data is sparse, trends suggest waning attendance in Western nations, contrasting with potential growth elsewhere.

AI Summary statement: In essence, while a total figure for the last 125+ years is elusive, recent decades clearly show a significant trend of closures, particularly in traditionally Christian Western nations, driven by broader societal shifts away from organized religion.

Accepting at face value the statistical analysis, I see the world’s point of view why there have been church closures.

But the world’s point of view does not understand and therefore does not reflect the reality of spiritual warfare.

Jesus said, “…I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” (see Matthew 16:18)

The crux of His statement is spiritual warfare.

The Kingdom of Light wrestles against the kingdom of darkness.

This is not new ‘news’. (See Ephesians 6:10-18)

Therefore, the calendar says, we have embarked upon a New Year.

Q: What will the tenor of this New Year?

B.U.T. (Believer Understand This) the New Year is fraught with battle, unprecedented unrest, chaos, confusion, rebellion, disobedience, insurrection, ungoverned lifestyle, murder, persecution, death of Christians, betrayal, deception, false teaching………[see I Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-9, Matthew 24:1-14].

Is there darkness in the world,?

Absolutely.

I refer you to the daily headline news, media, daily newspaper articles, political talk shows, etc.

They report verbally what I have just outlined with words that characterize what the Bible describes as signs of the end times.

I recommend that you seek out Christian headline news, ministry sources, Christian commentators who share what God is doing throughout the world.

If you only focus on the agenda of the mainstream media, you will dwell in darkness; however, if you seek out what God is accomplishing by His Spirit, you will dwell in light.

There is a simple chorus that the Body of Christ needs to embrace.

“God is moving by His Spirit, moving in all the earth, signs and wonders, when God moveth, Move oh, Lord in me.” (Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir)

This is happening today throughout the nations of the world.

The Glory of God, His Presence, His Light is dispelling darkness in the earth.

This is God’s L.E.D.

God’s Light Exposing,[engaging, eliminating] Darkness.

The Light is the Light of Life, found in the Light of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Light of the world.

This Light is going to shine brighter and brighter.

I close with this passage of scripture.

“He who has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 2:7a, NKJV

Proverbs 4:14-19 NKJV, “Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of evil. Avoid it, do not travel on it; Turn away from it and pass on. For they do not sleep unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the just is like the shining sun (light), that shines brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.” (insert, boldness mine)

Church!

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1,2 NKJV) (boldness mine)

Meditate on this last sentence: “But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.”

His Light will be manifested through you in a darkened world, to your family members, neighbors, co-workers….

It’s here; it’s increasing; and it will be seen as a witness in this darkened world.

Our God reigns, a brother in Christ, deo

Call to Prayer

Wednesday, January 14, at Noon eastern time, Franklin Graham, has called the Church to pray, repent, and seek the Lord for our nation (United States of America).

I encourage you to go to the Samaritan’s Purse website and read is call to prayer.

As the Word of the Lord was spoken to King Solomon, regarding prayer, so God’s Word applies to us today.

God does not change. He is the same “yesterday, today, and tomorrow”.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Our nation is sinful, we have turned from God, and we are reaping the ravages of our sinful lifestyle.

Let us humble ourselves and pray, not only today but daily (2 Timothy 2:1-3)

Blessings, a brother in Christ, deo

Merry Christmas

Christine and I want to wish you all a very blessed celebration of our Lord’s birth.

Joy to the Lord, the Lord has come.

May the Lord richly bless you as you continue to walk with Him each day of your life.

2026 brings a New Year.

Many see that also as a new beginning in their daily walk with the Lord.

I encourage you to stay focused on your Lord Jesus Christ.

I encourage you to read the Word of God.

I encourage you to allow the Holy Spirit to govern your life.

I encourage you to fellowship in a community of like minded believers who focus on Christ, hold fast to His Word, and are submitted to the Holy Spirit because Jesus Christ is Lord.

May the Lord bless you, strengthen you, guide you, and give you daily His mercy, grace, and love.

your brother in Christ, a fellow journeyer, deo, (and Christine)