Author: Deo Padgett

The blog that I am about to share has created in me, not a fear to write it, but a fear to publicly share it. Why? Because of a fear that I perceive is growing in this nation. I am wondering if a person still has the ‘freedom of speech’ to have an opinion different than the thoughts of our current administration and share that opinion without fear of personal ramifications, such as, being labeled as a threat to the nation. Sounds drastic, doesn’t it, but I am not sure if one’s freedom of speech and thought has been drastically curtailed if it doesn’t agree with the administration’s rhetoric. I will share my thoughts, and…we shall see.

B.U.T. Believer Understand This: “For God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power and of love ad a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV)

As the hours, minutes, and seconds wind down to November 8, 2022, a fiery rhetoric has heated up to an exceedingly hot temperature that reminds me of a story in Book of Daniel. Nebuchadnezzer, who was the king of Babylon, had made an edict that for the space of a month, the people of his kingdom were to bow down to a golden image that he had had constructed.

I am sure that many of you who are reading this blog are fully aware of the story. As you will recall, three Hebrew young men, refused to bow down to the image and obey the king’s edict. The penalty for not bowing down to the image was to be thrown into a fiery furnace.

Because these three Hebrew young men had defied the king’s edict, they were “cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.” (Daniel 3:21b, NKJV)

So intense was the heat of the furnace; and so ‘harsh’ was the king’s anger, Daniel 3:22 (NKJV) says, “Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego (to the furnace to throw them in) (insert mine).”

As I mentioned earlier, assuming that most of you know the story, then you know the outcome. Three men were bound and thrown into the fire; but when the king looked into the furnace himself, Daniel 3:25 (NKJV) says, “”Look! he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the fourth is like the Son of God.”

The Spirit Filled Life Bible notes on this verse says (page 1237, for 3:19-27) “This is a dramatic illustration of the personal presence and protection of the Lord with His people who suffer for their testimony. The fourth man is a Christophany (pre-incarnate appearance of the Messiah) who Nebuchadnezzer recognized to be like the Son of God. ” 3:26-28 says, “Nebuchadnezzer acknowledged that the deliverance was of God.”

My concern is that the voting electorate of the nation has been challenged with a fiery rhetoric that commands us to vote as our current administration has told us. This is not the true spirit of democracy. The electorate’s freedom to vote for whomever it chooses is the definition of democracy not a fiery rhetoric that seeks to tell the voters of this nation how it must vote.

On November 8, 2022, the voting electorate must choose whether it will acquiesce to the fiery discourse of our administration or ignore its ‘command’ and be willing to be thrown in the fiery furnace of the results of the election and its consequences depending upon its outcome.

Like you and many others I have been praying for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven (paraphrase Matthew 6:10) for this election.

I have been praying to the Lord asking Him to fulfill Psalm 64 in behalf of this nation. What does that mean? Pease read Psalm 64.

In short, I am asking the Lord to shoot His arrow as it says in Psalm 64:7.

Psalm 64:7-9 says (NKJV), “But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly they shall be wounded. So He will make them stumble over their own tongue; And all who see them shall flee away. All men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; For they shall wisely consider His doing.

Psalm 64 is the fourth man in the fiery furnace of this election that is being heated up rhetorically. Count on it, the rhetoric will heat up more these last few days. Nebuchadnezzer saw in the fiery furnace God’s sovereign intervention.

God’s A.R.R.O.W. is an acronym that says, A Righteous Revelation Of Wrong-doing. May God’s ARROW do its intended work.

If you are interested, you can go to livingwordsofencouragement.com and read The A.R.R.O.W. of God.

Let us go forward in the boldness of the three Hebrew men!

blessings, remember to pray, a brother in Christ, deo

I am sure that almost everyone has heard of the idiom “the straw that broke the camel’s back”. It is interesting to read its etymology. There does not seem to be a consensus of opinion. No problem. What I want to share with you is my own version of this idiom.

My idiom is ‘the straw that breaks religion’. Consider this acronym for the word straw. S.T.R.A.W. = (be )Still, Take His yoke, Rest, Abide, Wait.

The STRAW that breaks religion’s hold on the believer is to BE STILL, and TAKE HIS YOKE, so that you will find REST for your soul; and in your REST you will learn to ABIDE in Him, and become able to WAIT for the Lord.

Reflecting upon those words will loosen religion’s hold and grow your relationship with Christ.

I want to encourage you to do your own follow up regarding each of the words used in the acronym for the word STRAW.

For instance:

BE STILL: Psalms 46:10, NKJV says, “BE STILL and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

TAKE HIS YOKE: Matthew 11:28-30, NKJV says, “Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. TAKE MY YOKE upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For MY YOKE is easy and My burden is light.”

REST: Hebrews 4:9-10, NKJV says, “There remains therefore a REST for the people of God. For he who has entered His REST has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”

ABIDE: John 15:4, NKJV says, “ABIDE in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it ABIDES in the vine, neither can you, unless you ABIDE in Me.”

WAIT: Psalm 27:14, NKJV says, “WAIT on the LORD; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; WAIT, I say on the LORD!”

What you will discover when you use a concordance or the cross references in your Bible, is how many of these words intersect their thought in the scripture.

The nation and the world in which we are living is besieged with rhetoric that is inflammatory, deceitful, full of lies, and creating an atmosphere of lawlessness.

Christ is our Rock, our Refuge, our Shield, our Fortress in these turbulent times.

Christ is the Word.

John 1: 1-5, 14,16,18, NKJV says, ” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and 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 it…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…And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace…No one has seen God at ay time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.“

Our refuge is in Him, and His Word.

Let us unite ourselves in Him afresh, by being STILL, taking His YOKE, finding our REST in Him, ABIDING in Him, and WAITING upon Him.

“Psalm 62:5-7, NKJV says, “My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.” (emphasis mine)

a sojourner in Christ, deo

Malachi 3:6 (NKJV) says, “For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.”

What a statement of grace and mercy. God’s people have forsaken their God and chosen to live as the nations of the world. They have not kept the covenant between themselves and the LORD. God would have every right not to uphold His end of the covenant with His people and severely judge them. What keeps the LORD from doing that? He loves His people. He is a Righteous Judge; but He is also a God of Mercy. He will judge His people; but He is going to personally intervene in the life of His people and and the nations of the world.

Malachi 3:1-3 (NKJV), “”Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, who you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold He (The King is Coming) is coming,” Says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness.” (insert mine)

The Father sent the Son. Jesus came, born of a virgin, to be the Savior of the world. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, was crucified on a cross. He shed His blood for the forgiveness of sin. He died, was buried, and three days later, was resurrected from the grave. He ascended back to heaven. And one day, He will return again to this earth and finish His Father’s plan of salvation which was determined before the creation of the world.

The King is Coming…

Between now and His return there will be many signs and wonders, as outlined in Scripture, performed in/on the earth. Today (10-3-2022), I read this on Facebook. It said, I have stopped looking for the signs and wonders that are to happen before Christ’s return; I am listening for the sound of the trumpet.

The King is Coming…

I Thessalonians 4:15-18 (NKJV), says, “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet (emphasis mine) of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

In my previous blogs centered on Malachi 3:6, I have emphasized that Jesus told His disciples/apostles that signs and wonders would accompany their preaching of the Word. It was also pointed out that God performed signs and wonders in the land of Egypt confirming Moses words to Pharaoh when Pharaoh refused to let God’s people go. When studying the Old Testament, you will also read about God performing signs and wonders confirming the words of His prophets; and God intervening with signs and wonders miraculously helping His judges and kings as they governed God’s people.

Our God is an awesome God.

Signs and wonders permeate the Word of God. Signs and wonders are enumerated in Revelation. Their meaning and timing have caused an immense amount of study and speculation. The controlling thought regarding Revelation is Jesus’ own declaration found in Matthew 24:29-36 (NKJV).

“Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and the all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with and great glory. and He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. so you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near–at the doors! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My word will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (emphasis mine).

The King is Coming…

There will be much speculation. There will be many theories. There will be many who claim to understand. I am not saying that the Church will be groping in the dark.

The believers in Thessalonica were confused about the return of the Lord. Paul set the record straight.

I Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NKJV) “But concerning the times and the seasons brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep (see I Thessalonians 4: 13-18), we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”

The King is Coming…

As the tension increases in our nation and the world, we are not without hope. Our hope is in the Lord and His Word. There will be signs and wonders. God’s Word tells us that. This is a time to edify and encourage one another in the Lord.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NKJV), “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

The Day of the Lord is approaching. When is that Day? Only the Father knows; but we are encouraged and instructed by the Word of God to remain in fellowship with our brothers and sisters in the Lord, and to encourage and exhort one another.

The King is Coming…

May the Lord richly bless you, and strengthen you, and give you peace,

a brother in Christ, deo

A continuation of “I am the LORD. I do not change.” Malachi 3:6

When one reads the Book of Exodus, I wonder if people ponder the TENsion that was created in both the people of Egypt and the nation of Israel as they experienced the affects of Moses appealing to Pharaoh to let God’s people go and Pharaoh’s persistent resistance. I am sure you are aware of the basic conversation. Moses requests from Pharaoh the release God’s people. Moses was instructed to say, “Let My people go, that they may serve Me.” (NKJV) Pharaoh’s reply was in essence, ‘No Way’. That is a simplistic summary of his response. But because of Pharaoh’s persistent decline to release God’s people, a series of 10 plagues were released upon the nation of Egypt. The nation of Israel lived in Egypt in the land of Goshen. The history of their presence in Egypt is the story of the Sovereignty and Providence of God in the life of Jacob, his sons, and in particular, Joseph.

Exodus 1:1-7 gives us a summary of their coming into Egypt. Beginning with Exodus 1:5-7 (NKJV), it says, “All those who were descendants of Jacob were seventy persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already). And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation. “But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.” (emphasis mine) . Joseph, and his family have a legacy in the nation of Egypt. But over the course of time that legacy was forgotten.

It is now 400 plus years later. Exodus 1:8-14 sets the scene and the tone for the story of the conflict between the Pharaoh of Egypt and Moses, the hand-picked leader of God, for Israel. Let’s get a feel of the tension in the air.

Exodus 1:8-14 (NKJV), “Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happens, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage–in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which which they made them serve was with rigor.”

From Exodus 1:15 through Exodus 4:31, the narrative recounts the events surrounding the incarceration of Israel; the birth of Moses; the Sovereignty and Providence of God watching over the life of Moses; the ill-fated choices that Moses made; the fleeing of Moses into the wilderness; the change bought about in Moses’ life living in the wilderness; God’s revelation to Moses at the burning bush; the reluctance of Moses to lead; God’s determined will being done in the life of Moses. (see, Hebrews 11:23-26)

When Moses came back to Egypt from the wilderness, he and his brother Aaron “gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. And Aaron spoke all the words which the Lord had spoken to Moses. Then he did the signs in the sight of the people. So the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel and that He had looked on their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshiped.” Exodus 4:29-31(NKJV)

(Isn’t it interesting that the words that Aaron spoke were followed by signs following. This is what Jesus told His disciples in Mark 16:15-18 would happen when they preached the gospel. Mark 16:20 (NKJV), And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.”)

In Exodus 5:1-3, the initial confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh is recorded. This sets the tone for what will take place between Moses, God’s spokesman, and Pharaoh, Egypt’s ruler. It reflects the spiritual battle between God and Satan. God calling His people out of Egypt, a type of the world, to worship Him; and Pharaoh, a type of Satan, the ruler of the world, seeking to keep Israel (humanity )in bondage. It contrasts the worship of the One True God, with the worship of the false gods of Egypt. Each of the plagues were against an Egyptian god.

Exodus 5:1-3 (NKJV), Moses and Aaron went in and told Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.” And Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel to? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.” So they said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days’ journey into the desert and sacrifice to the Lord our God, let He fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword.”

The initial confrontation sets the tone. The TENsion has been planted in seed form. What follows next in the Book of Exodus is God, through Moses, revealing to Pharaoh, to the nation of Egypt, and to the nation of Israel who He is, and why they need to obey His voice. Remember, it has been 400 plus years since the arrival of the family of Jacob coming into the land of Egypt. God had made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. That story is the bulk of what is recorded in the Book of Genesis. God has not forgotten His covenant. He is also having His plan of salvation lived out on the earth.

Here is my premise. What has been planted in seed form at the time of the first confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh will sprout and grow into full bloom as God backs up His word as Moses confronts Pharaoh to let His people go. God backs up Moses words by sending 10 plagues throughout the course of the confrontations. The TEN plagues cause the TENsion to rise in the nation of Egypt and in the nation of Israel. The study of the 10 plagues is fascinating. The TENth plague is especially riveting because it follows a plague of darkness. The TENth plague foreshadows Christ as the Lamb of God who takes the away the sin of the world. Christ is the Passover Lamb. The TENth plague is when God passes over all the households in Egypt to kill the first born in each household. There is a death in each household where the Lord does not see the blood of a lamb, that had been killed, applied on the lintel and on the two doorposts of the house (picture of the cross).

Exodus 12:12-13 (NKJV), The Lord said to Moses, “For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night (the night of the TENth plague), and will strike all the first born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast. (Notice, there is no differentiation stated at point between Egyptians and Hebrews.); and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord(emphasis mine). Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you (the blood makes differentiation); and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” (parentheses mine).

A series of TEN plagues has been witnessed and experienced by the Egyptians and the Hebrews. All TEN plagues affected the Egyptians; however, not all TEN plagues directly affected the Hebrews as they did the Egyptians. The Hebrews lived in the land of Goshen situated in the nation of Egypt and God made differentiations between His people and the nation of Egypt. For example, when the darkness of the ninth plague blacked out the nation of Egypt for three days, there was light in Goshen. Exodus 11:21-23 (NKJV), “Then the Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt. So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another; nor did anyone rise from his place for three days. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.”

God is Sovereign over all, and in His Providence He cared for, and differentiated for His people.

Israel had cried out to God (Exodus 2:23-25), He heard their cry, remembered His covenant, and providentially interrupted Moses’ life for a leadership assignment.

What God intended to do through Moses was not to make people feel good. His intervention was confrontational, revelational, and fearful. I submit is caused TENsion.

Pharaoh had boasted to Moses saying, “Who is Lord that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, nor will I let Israel go.” (Exodus 5:2, NKJV). The truth is that he did not know who the Lord was, , therefore, why should he acquiesce to what God was asking him to do?

The scripture tells us, man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks upon the heart. (I Samuel 16:7). God knew the heart of Pharaoh. God knew Pharaoh’s constant response to Moses would be negative and He knew that Pharaoh would hardened his heart as he repeatedly said, no. God will have His people released from Egypt. God will show Pharaoh, and the Egyptians who He is; and God will show the nation of Israel that He is the God of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and that He loves them and will keep the covenant that He had made with them.

From this initial confrontation, Pharaoh increases the burden on the people of Israel; Moses leadership is challenged by the people of Israel; Moses complains (Exodus 5:22-23, NKJV) to God; “God why have you brought trouble on this people?”; “Why is it You have sent Me? For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all.” I don’t get it God. God reassures Moses, I have got this under control,(my paraphrase). “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now you shall see (emphasis mine) what I will do to Pharaoh. For with a strong hand he will let them go, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.” (Exodus 6:1, NKJV). In Exodus 6:2-8 (NKJV), God has Moses undivided attention, and God continues, “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, but by My name LORD I was not known to them. I have also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, in which they were strangers. And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant. Therefore say to the children of Israel: “I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. And I will bring you into the land which I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and I will give it you as a heritage: I am the LORD.” (emphasis mine).

I wonder if Moses had a mental flashback to his encounter with God at the burning bush. (Exodus 3:1-12) Notice the bracketing (vs 2 and vs 8) of God’s Word to Moses: “I am the LORD”. That is straight forward, succinct and all inclusive. Moses is hearing from God; the Holy One of Israel; the Creator of the universe; the One True God; the Almighty God; YHWH, the LORD, I AM THAT I AM.

Now what?

Exodus 7:1-5 (NKJV), “So the Lord said to Moses: “See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother shall be your prophet. You shall speak all that I command you. And Aaron your brother shall tell Pharaoh to send the children of Israel out of his land. And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt. But Pharaoh will not heed you, so that I may lay My hand on Egypt and bring My armies and My people, the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD (emphasis mine), when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

God has spoken His Word to Moses. Moses is to speak God’s Word, through Aaron, to Pharaoh. God will confirm His Word with signs and wonders (plagues) following .

Moses will come before Pharaoh and speak to him God’s Word to let His people go. Pharaoh will respond in different ways; but the end result is always a negative response, and a continuing hardening of his heart.

There are TEN plagues. The TEN plagues are sent in response to Pharaoh’s refusal to let Israel go. The TEN plagues are miraculous interventions by God. God’s manifestations through Moses create a growing atmosphere of apprehension, of fear, and TENsion. Question: Does the continuation of the plagues make ‘believers’ of the people regarding God’s Word through Moses? Do they take it to heart? Is the realization setting in that when Pharaoh says, NO, Moses is instructed by God to ‘stretch out your hand toward heaven so that there will be… ‘ And what God says will happen does take place. Now now having seen and experienced the the outcomes of the previous nine plagues and being told what is going to transpire with the tenth plague, will God’s people, heed the instruction of God regarding the TENth plague.

Exodus 12:1-3,5a,6,7,11b-13 (NKJV), “Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, “This month shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household’…Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year….Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it…It is the LORD’s Passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the first born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD (emphasis mine). Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you and the plague will not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” (the blood differentiates. It did then, it still does.)

The TENsion that had been planted in seed form when Moses first spoke to Pharaoh has grown and will now culminate in death; except where the blood of the lamb has been applied “on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they (Israel) eat it(the lamb).” (Exodus 12:7 NKJV,)(emphasis, insert mine)

God has used a series of TEN signs and wonders (plagues) to authenticate His Word through Moses to the Egyptians and to the Israelites. It is interesting that some of the plagues, God allowed to afflict the Egyptians and the Israelites. As the plagues progressed, God differentiated between the Egyptians and His people. He allowed some plagues to affect Egypt but not affect Israel. The first two plagues had no distinction; in fact the magicians of Egypt were able to duplicate the plagues. God allowed it. Satan does have the ability to counterfeit things. However, when the magicians tried to duplicate the third plague, they were unable to do so; why? may I interject my thought? The dust of the ground was struck and life was created out of the dust of the ground. How was Adam formed? Out of the dust of the ground. This time the dust was struck and lice were formed. The point is that God is the Creator of life. The magicians of Egypt could not duplicate this. Their response was, Exodus 8:19, (NKJV), “Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them (Moses/Aaron) as the Lord had said.” (insert mine). Plagues 4,5,7,9 says that Israel was not affected by the plague. God made a difference. Plagues 6, 8 do not say that Israel was not affected. We need to remember that God is Sovereign of all; and that He is Providential toward His people.

I do not believe that I am out of place saying that the people in the land of Egypt were feeling the TENsion growing within them personally and in their surrounding atmosphere as the plagues continued to come just as Moses had declared they would. One wonders what took place in the minds of people who were not close to source of conflict between Pharaoh and Moses. There is no internet or cell phones, no fast communication. But, I do not think it is unreasonable to suggest that the Egyptians were wondering what will happen next?

God is making believers out of everyone in the nation of Egypt, whether they are Egyptian or Hebrew. Is it possible some didn’t believe? Absolutely. It doesn’t say. The one who was affected the most was Pharaoh. Is it safe to say that he came to believe what Moses was telling him was going to be true; but his heart was hardened so that he could not say yes until after the TENth plague. Only then could he call for Moses and tell him to take the people and go. His pride was strong and it hardened his heart. Exodus 12:29-32 (NKJV), “And it came to pass at mid-night that the Lord struck all the first born in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and the first born of the livestock. So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, “Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the Lord as you have said. Also take your flocks and you herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.” But it didn’t end there, “And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might send them our of the land in haste. For they said, We shall all be dead. ” Exodus 12:33, (NKJV). Israel exited in haste.

Why all the preparation? The TENth plague is coming. The TENth plague is the crescendo for the deliverance of God’s people. It is a foreshadowing of the teaching that points to the foundation of God’s plan of salvation. The coming of the Son of God, who is the Passover Lamb, the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world. He will come and be killed. His death on the cross will be an act of propitiation that will completely satisfy the wrath of God against sin. His death, burial, and resurrection will conquer death, hell, and the grave. His death renders Satan powerless. Death has died in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection.

In the age in which we are living, there is a growing TENsion that is building in the atmosphere of this world. The Kingdom of God and kingdom of darkness are both maturing. The wheat and the tares are sown in the earth. We are witnessing an exponential rise of evil throughout the world. The enemy of our souls has become very bold. Jesus says in John 10:10 (NKJV), “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” There is spiritual warfare.

Remember, Romans 5:20,21, (NKJV), “Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (emphasis mine)

I believe we are going to see a manifestation of God’s Grace by the power of the Holy Spirit in these last days. Just as God confirmed His Word, through Moses, in Egypt, a type of the world; He will confirm His Word through the His Church to the world today. The Lord will raise up a standard of righteousness by the power of His Spirit through the preaching of the Word; He will confirm the message of the Gospel with signs and wonders just as He said He would to His disciples in Mark 16.

Change is coming, the Holy Spirit will come with Pentecostal renewal and power to the Church, as it did on the day of Pentecost.

I believe in the ministry of the Word, with signs following.

So, I ask again, why all this preparation? Because there is going to be another deliverance of God’s people, those who are believers in Jesus Christ.

Acts 1:9-11, (NKJV), “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. and while they looked steadfastly t0ward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, “who also said, “Men of Galilee, who do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from y0u into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Before Christ returns again, there is going to be a growing TENsion. It is all part of God’s plan of salvation.

Are you under the blood? Have you passed from death unto life by accepting Jesus Christ as your Passover Lamb?

Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I do not change.”

Amen, Thank you LORD.

a believer in Christ, deo

Non-Christians believe that they have a right to do with their bodies as they desire. Are they wrong? No, because they do not care what the Bible says, nor do they desire to do as God says. They object vehemently to Biblical restrictions expressed as law in our culture. They rail against them. They honestly believe that the Constitution gives them the constitutional right to decide what to do with their body. What they find hard to believe is that the Constitution does not establish this right. That is what the ruling overturning Roe v. Wade was all about. [Bloomberg, Equality, Read the full text of the Supreme Court Ruling on Abortion Rights] “Alioto wrote of Roe (expressing the majority opinion): Roe was on a collision course with the Constitution from the day it was decided…Wielding nothing but “raw judicial power,” the Court usurped the power to address a question of profound moral and social importance that the Constitution unequivocally leaves for the people.” The dissenting judges “said that the majority had relegated women to “second class citizenship”. “

Overturning Roe v. Wade, in essence, said that the Supreme Court had overstepped its boundary as written in the Constitution. In the Wall Street Journal, Opinion commentary, the headline read, June 24, 2022, “The Supreme Court Reclaims Its Legitimacy”, “In the 1973 abortion case, not today the justices overstepped their boundaries and made their institution political.” That is at the heart of the controversy regarding overturning Roe v. Wade from the political point of view.

What non-Christians, and I assume some Christians, find hard to believe is that the Constitution does not elaborate the right that a woman can do what she wants with her body regarding abortion. The SCOTUS returned that decision to the states and its citizenry. That is our Constitutional Republic’s democratic process. Regarding abortion, our democratic process has been misused, maligned, and taken advantage of by the ideology of progressive liberalism that has championed that our Constitution is antiquated and needs to be updated, and interpreted in light of the culture and society in which we are living in the twenty-first century.

Such is the cultural war within our nation. Our Constitution was framed incorporating Biblical thought. August 19, 2019, the following was printed in the Chicago Tribune. “The Bible stands as the supreme constitution for all mankind.” From the writings of Rev. Billy Graham,

Question: Americans live by the Constitution of the United States, and I have heard it said that the Bible is the Constitution for Christians. Is this true? C.L.

Answer: A constitution is made up of principles by which a nation, or a people are governed. The Bible stands as the supreme constitution for all mankind, not just Christians. Its laws apply equally to all who live under its domain, without exception or special interpretation. God’s Word was given not only to those who believe in Him and follow Him, but to all mankind. Unbelief in God does not excuse anyone from God’s ultimate judgment.

As the U.S. Constitution is the highest law of the land (in America), so the Bible is the highest law of God. The American Constitution itself was founded upon Biblical standards. It is the Bible that sets forth spiritual laws and records God’s enduring promises. The most wonderful message of this document is that it reveals God’s plan of redemption for the human race.

Many citizens today do not know much about the U.S. Constitution, and many know less about God’s Word. The presupposition of the constitutional framers was that law was absolute. People were to be free, and they were to know what the law required and also what the law could not do. No judge was to be unfair but was to judge cases as the law required.

True Christianity finds all of its doctrines (truth) in the Bible; true Christianity does not deny any part of the Bible; true Christianity does not add anything to the Bible. Believing and following God’s Word brings the greatest freedom, because God’s truth declares His judgment against sin, and broadcasts his forgiving love to the whole world.”(This column is based on the words and writing of the late Rev. Billy Graham.) (c)2019 BILLY GRAHAM LITERARY TRUST DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC. copyright (c) 2022, Chicago Tribune

If our nation has progressed in opposition to Biblical thought, then it is only natural that a large swath of our population is in opposition to God, Himself; the Word of God; Christianity; and others that promote Biblical standards.

Our nation has become distressingly divided. Our division can be attributed to moral and ethical issues.

What are our moral and ethical issues that we are facing? The following are from news.gallup.com, Moral Issues/Gallup Topic, Polling Matters June 17, 2022, entitled “Untangling Americans’ Complex Views of Morality”

“Americans have negative views of the state of moral values in the nation, but at the same time have become more accepting of a variety of moral behaviors.” The following are Gallup headlines: “Record High 50% of American Rate U.S. Moral Values as ‘Poor’ (Politics, June 15, 2022); Americans say Birth control, Divorce Most ‘Morally Acceptable’ (Politics, June 9, 2022); Abortion poised to Be a Bigger Voting Issue Than in Past (Politics, June 6, 2022); ‘Pro-Choice Identification rises to Near Record High in U.S. (Politics, June 2, 2022); Same-sex Marriage Support Inches Up to New High of 71% (Politics, June 1, 2022); LGBT Americans Married to Same-Sec Spouse Steady at 10% (Politics Feb. 10, 2022); Changing One’s Gender is Sharply Contentious Moral Issue (Politics, June 11, 2021); American Still Oppose Overturning Roe v. Wade (Politics, June 9, 2021); Record-High 47% in U.S. Think Abortion is Morally Acceptable (Politics, June 9, 2021); Mixed Views Among Americans on Transgender Issues (Politics, May 26, 2021); Is Marriage Becoming Irrelevant? (Politics, Dec. 28, 2020).”

Each of these headlines have a story. I have not included their stories, just the headlines, to present a sampling of the moral and ethical issues that confront this nation according to Gallup polling.

I believe that the list of moral and ethical issues and their corresponding polling data is the result of one’s world view. In a Journal Article entitled, “Different Worldviews, Different Morals: America’s Culture War Divide”, Lene Arnett Jensen, says, “In this article, it is argued that moral reasoning is premised upon more comprehensive worldviews, and it is suggested that moral behaviors in part serve to maintain these worldviews. A worldview is defined as providing an account of what it means to be human, the nature of reality, and the reasons and remedies for human suffering, interviews with adults whose moral evaluation and reasoning place them on opposite sides of the current American culture war are used to illustrate the argument. It is argued that these adults differ in their moralities because of differences in their worldviews.” (jstor.org, 1997)

I agree. Therefore, I present the following paradigm. The two major world views are the secular world view and the Biblical world view. A secular worldview is said to “deny the existence of a transcendent, divine, or spiritual dimension of reality and affirm that reality has a different makeup, and it is the basic features of this reality that have importance for how we should understand live our lives.” (May 5, 2021) [googled]

“A Biblical worldview, also called a Christian worldview, is built upon the framework of ideas and beliefs through which a Christian individual or group interprets the world and interacts with the world. Our worldview shapes the physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual dimensions of our lives. “[googled]

I do not believe that it is a stretch of the imagination to put each of these worldviews at opposite ends of the spectrum. The liberal progressive left embodies the secular worldview, and the conservative Christian right embodies the Biblical worldview.

Making that comparison puts our thoughts into midst of the political arena where we find our nation battling it out. Between these two endpoints are a myriad of combinations of thought where most people in our nation live, think, and struggle morally and ethically most every day. This political struggle has caused a chasm of division in our nation.

What is the root of the division? The root of the division is not the color of one’s skin; one’s economic status; one’s nationality; one’s political position; or one’s world view. The root of the problem of division is the condition of one’s heart.

The problem of one’s heart is an issue for a Christian as well as for a non-Christian.

Proverbs 4:23,24, says, ” Guard your heart diligently for from it flow the springs of life. Put away perversity from your mouth and keep devious lips from you.” (Tree of Life Version)

Jesus said, ” Out of the good treasure of his heart the good man brings forth good, and out of evil, the evil man brings forth evil. For from the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45, Tree of Life Version)

[Note: only two categories of humanity are mentioned: good and evil, nothing is said about skin color, economics, nationality, politics, or belief system)

Jesus, speaking to the pharisees, the religious leaders of the Jewish nation, says, “Either make the tree good and its fruit good or make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten; for the tree is known by its fruit. Your brood of vipers! How can you are evil say anything good? For from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man from his good treasury brings forth good, and the evil man from his evil treasury brings forth evil.” (Matthew 12:33-35, Tree of Life Version)

Jesus follows this truth up with a statement of fact. “But I tell you (that’s certitude) that on the Day of Judgment, men (humanity) will give account for every careless word they speak. For by your words, you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37, Tree of Life Version)

It matters what we say. What we say is a matter of the heart. The condition of our heart is based upon our world view. As a believer, our world view is based upon the Word of God, and who do we say Jesus is? A non-believer’s worldview does not consider the God, the Word of God, or Jesus the Son of Man, the Son of God.

Jesus talking with His disciples inquired of them, “When Yeshua came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do men say that the Son of Man is? They answered, “Some say John the Immerser others say Elijah, and still others say Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” He said, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Yeshua said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven!” (Matthew 16:13-17, Tree of Life Version)

Question: Who do say Jesus is? Who does our nation say that Jesus is?

The answer to that question will bring healing to our nation.

TBC, praying for the visitation of God to our nation, a brother in Christ, deo

I am currently thinking how to discuss the following that is absolutely true.

God delivered His people from Egypt and brought them into the wilderness and encamped them at the base of Mt. Sinai. It was there that God called Moses up to the top of the mountain and gave to him the 10 commandments. God established His law for His people to abide by; however, we know that it was impossible for His people to keep the law. Why? Because of their human nature. They had unregenerated hearts. At the base of Mt. Sinai, God was establishing His government for His people.

Today humanity lives in their nations that have their individual forms of government. Some nations adhere to rules better than others; however, in all nations there are many unregenerated people. These people break the laws of their nation. The fact is that many Christians also break the laws of their nation.

Today in our nation, the United States of America, we are witnessing lawlessness. We are watching indiscriminate murder. On the 4th of July in Chicago, there was a gunman who killed at least 7, and wounded over 20 others.

Where am I headed with these thoughts? God’s people did not obey Him, and He corrected, disciplined, and punished His people. Our leaders believe that if we pass more laws this will curb the problem. I disagree. We are witnessing the rise of evil in our land from people who have unregenerated hearts. Unfortunately, a major contributor to this growth of lawlessness, is a lack of correction, discipline, and punishment. I am not saying that we ignore individuals that have real and serious problems. I am making an observation.

We as a nation are trying to fix our problems by passing more ‘laws’. It won’t work. It won’t work because the human heart needs to be changed; and that change is a spiritual change. It will take time and effort to bring about such a change; but it is possible by God’s grace and His work in our midst.

That’s the hope of the Gospel.

TBC, praying for our nation, a brother in Christ, deo

Recently, I just read that Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus has been revived and that they will start touring again. However, they will be performing without elephants. In another article that I read, it said, “Circus Returning After a Year’s Long Hiatus–Without Animals. The iconic show will return in the fall of 2023. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey is relaunching show next year with plenty of thrills and high-flying acts, but not with the controversial presence of animals.” [May 19, 2022, by Alison Fox, travelandleisure.com]

How cool is that? I am not sure that I could enjoy a circus without animals. Animals were a major enjoyment for me when attending the circus. So, what’s the purpose of bringing up the subject of the circus?

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey was promoted as the THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. In 1952, Cecil B. DeMille directed a blockbuster film of the same name. The film won Oscar’s for Best Picture, and for Best Writing Motion Picture Story.

On Monday June 6, 2022, it will have been 17 months “since the attack on the U. S. Capitol that disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress in the process of affirming the presidential election results.” [The United States Attorney’s Office of the District of Columbia] This disruption happened as the Congress was ratifying the Presidential election of 2020.

I am not questioning the actions that have been investigated. I am concerned about how this investigation has been carried out, and more specifically how the findings of this investigation will be disseminated to the American public.

Why is it necessary to schedule the findings of the committee on prime time T.V. at 8 P.M. on all the major television stations?

For me, this appears to be a staged event. It has all the potential of the being The Greatest Show on Earth. In short, a political circus. And to take it one step further, there will be no elephants. The GOP has virtually been ignored in the process of the investigation.

Why do I make this assertion? Since the beginning of President Biden’s term of office, the general trend of the progress of the administration has been on the downside. What do I mean? What is the state of the economy? What is happening at the southern border of our nation? What is happening with our gas prices? What is the state of the covid pandemic? These are major issues. Have they successfully been attended too?

The Democratic Party is scrambling to shore-up their resume for the upcoming mid-term elections. What we will be witnessing will be watching and listening to dialogue advancing their cause but at the expense of diverting the American public from the real issues that the administration needs to be focusing on.

I call this–THE GREAT DIVERSION-A SPECTICAL OF DECEPTION. Harsh words? I do not believe so. This type of politics has been going on for years. This is how I assess the Democratic plan for the mid-term elections. They will focus on any subject from now until November 8, 2022, that will emotionally endear their voting base to once again salivate their hatred toward our former President, Mr. Trump, the Republican Party, and conservatism.

This approach will be masterfully displayed during the televising of the January 6 Committee’s findings aired on prime time T.V. The findings will be fawned over by the media, the liberal talk show hosts, late night T.V. programs, and the social media.

The Republican Party and conservative talk show hosts will seek to dispel what the Democrats are saying and dissuade the voting public from the Democratic message.

It will be a war of words. There will be accusations, name calling, and incessant amount of media ‘spins’.

Hoping that the nation will be caught up in the preoccupation of this political circus, the Democrats will seek to also focus on other ‘high-strung’ emotional issues. I am thinking specifically about gun-control and abortion.

These issues are important and must be addressed. In view of the current, horrific massacre of young children in Uvalde, Texas, gun-control must be address. But like, Steve Kerr, coach of the Golden State Warriors, said, how many more of these massacres must we experience before something is done. He went on the say, in essence, let’s do something instead of trying to figure out how you as politicians can remain in power. Ah, there’s the rub.

There needs to be some sane, rational approach to gun-control, as prescribed in the second amendment, not some ‘knee-jerk’ reaction of gun-control passed just for the sake of ‘look what we did’, vote for us. If you think this is far-fetched, it’s not; it’s how politics works. It is why politicians are unwilling to really sit down and discuss an issue and come to a conclusion that benefits the nation, not themselves. This is on both sides of the isle.

Just today, as I was preparing this blog, I came across this headline’ [source: Politics on Late Night], “Bill Maher fears Republicans are ‘gonna steal the issue’ of marijuana from Democrats”. There it is. What is Maher’s concern? Who gets the political leverage when it comes time to cast your vote?

Please do not think I am ignoring the school massacre in Uvalde, Texas. It is horrific. In spite of this tragedy, it must not be isolated and handled individually, but collectively with all of the other atrocities of murder that permeates our nation.

Another emotional issue will be the SCOTUS ruling regarding Roe v. Wade. If Roe v. Wade is overturned what effect will that have on the Democratic platform of abortion. Abortion has been a mainstay of the Democrats to solidify their voting base. It is for sure that there will be a horrendous outcry of emotional turmoil if Roe v. Wade is overturned. The question is will there be civility or incivility in our nation if Roe v. Wade is overturned? Or should I ask, will there be civil violence on our nation’s streets? I sincerely hope that is not the case.

I have outlined three emotionally charged issues that I believe the Democrats will use to rally their base in order to keep themselves in power. These same issues will be counter-acted against by the Republicans to dispose the Democrats of their power and assume power through the upcoming mid-term elections.

The goal of the politicians is to remain in power and/or gain power.

The Greatest Show on Earth is about to be displayed in our nation. Its goal is to divert attention from what really matters.

We, as a nation, have lost our civility. We are a nation in chaos, turmoil, and conflict. We have broken/lost our moral compass. It appears that we are on the brink of social unrest, economic disaster, and societal failure.

Our leaders are scrambling to ‘do’ all they can to impress us as voters, promising results as they pursue their policies; but coming up empty handed in reality.

In Washington, Congress is more interested in pursuing the policies they deem important to ensure their re-election than focusing on the economic disaster we face with surging inflation, an immigration policy out of control, a floundering foreign policy, gasoline prices rising continually. These a but a few of the major problems facing our administration. What is disappointing is the insistence that most of this is all under control and that these issues are not the current administration’s fault.

There is so much rhetoric and so little follow through and reality of accomplishment. Everyone is posturing for power to be re-elected, pandering to their own party’s voting base. It’s all smoke and mirrors. I am fully aware that sharing like this divide an already divided electorate.

These words on the whole are not uplifting at all. They paint a grim picture. Sometimes I wonder if we really see and understand what is taking place. I know that many citizens in this nation truly understand. It hurts to watch a nation implode from within. Some might say, that can’t happen. This is the United States of America.

Let me pose a question. When all is said and done, if a nation seeks to make laws that are absolutely against the Word of God, who wins? The nation or the Word of God. If a nation has set aside its moral compass and its lifestyle is composed of elements that are absolutely against Word of God, will God hold that nation responsible for its sins?

Proverbs 14:34, NKJV, “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach (shame or disgrace) to any people.”

Galatians 6:7, NKJV, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

The Church, the Ecclesia, of God needs to be encouraged by Isaiah 60:1-4.

“Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is rise upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over, and His glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes all around, and see: They shall all gather together, they shall come to you; Your sons and your daughters shall be nursed at your side.” [NKJV]

Ephesians 4:8-16, [NKJV], “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, 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 shameful 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 what makes manifest is light. Therefore, He says, “Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

Arise Church, let your light shine, and the glory of the Lord will be seen on you.

Believe it, a brother in Christ, deo