christianity – Living Words of Encouragement

Foundational Treason!

‘Treason’ is a very strong word.

One would think that it is inappropriate in the context of the ‘Foundational’ posts.

The Apostle John concluded his first epistle with the following verse.

I John 5:21, NKJV, reads, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen”

This is the only instance the Apostle John uses the word ‘idol’ in his writings.

Q: Throughout the entirety of the Word of God, has the subject of ‘idolatry been an issue?

A: Yes.

The Apostle John was inspired by the Holy Spirit to make this clear understanding regarding the Lord Jesus Christ: “…but these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:31, NKJV)

Q: Does ‘idolatry’ mitigate against that truth?

A: Yes.

The substance of the Apostle John’s first epistle is summarized at the end of the epistle when he says, “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” (I John 5:18-20, NKJV)

(Please read the previous post,’Foundational Truth!’, for further understanding.)

Therefore, in the context of the Apostle John’s summary, it is not surprising that he would end his epistle with this admonition to “keep oneself from idols”.

Why?

Because an ‘idol’ will move one’s center of attention from the truth found in the Lord Jesus Christ to another center of attention, a life centered and dependent upon another god.

Jesus, Himself, addressed this same thought in the Sermon on the Mount, when He said, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:24, NKJV; context Matthew 6:1-34)

In short, idolatry is ‘treason’ against God.

Consider these acronyms for Idol(s). I.D.O.L.(S.)

Idols Deceives Our Love Spiritually.

Idols Destroy Our Lives Spiritually.

Idolatry’s Darkness Obliterates Light.

The Apostle John’s last sentence is the antithesis of the Absolute Truth found in the Lord Jesus Christ because an ‘idol’ deceives our living for God in His Love, His Life, and in His Light.

The word ‘treason’ is a turning from, a rebellion against, a disloyalty to, an act of betrayal.

“In the Bible, treason primarily means betrayal of trust, conspiracy against civil or divinely appointed leadership [i.e.: Lord Jesus Christ], or spiritual unfaithfulness to God. Because Israel functioned as a theocracy and later as a monarchy, disloyalty was treated as a severe crime against both the state and God Himself.” (source AI: christianconcern.com) [insert mine]

The Meriam-Webster Dictionary defines treason: “the offense of attempting by overt to overthrow the government of the state to which the offender owes allegiance or to kill or personally injure the Sovereign or the sovereign’s family.

[Thought: ponder that definition reflecting upon this scripture: “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. But I have come that they may have life; and they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10, NKJV)]

Jesus is not the thief. But there is a thief?

Jesus spoke these words when He shared that He was the Good Shepherd, John 10:1-30.

Selah.

The motivation for treason can be multi-faceted; but it has but one foundation, and that foundation is pride.

Q: What is the source of ‘treason’?

A. Lucifer/Satan. (Isaiah 14:12-15)

Satan’s pride was an act of rebellion against God’s authority.

Satan’s pride is an act of ‘treason’.

Q: What is the issue of the universe?

A. Who is in charge?

The Word of God leaves no doubt about who is in charge of the universe.

Let us look at one verse of scripture the is representative of many others.

Psalms 103:19, NKJV, “The Lord has established His throne in heaven, and His kingdom rules over all.”

In the Amplified Version, the words, “His kingdom rules over all” are rendered: “His sovereignty rules over all [the universe].”

Just before Christ’s ascension back to His Father, He said to His disciples, “…All authority has been given unto Me in heaven and one earth.” (Matthew 28:18, NKJV)

Paul writing to the Church at Philippi, explaining to them the coming of Christ, the Incarnation of the the Son of God, who took on human flesh, becoming the Son of Man, and having obediently completed the work that His Father had asked Him to do, says, “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (NKJV) [Context Philippians 2:5-11]

The Lord Jesus Christ is the One who the Apostle John said our enemy, Satan, would attempt to turn our hearts away from the truth found in Him.

John 1:14, NKJV, says, “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.” (emphasis mine)

When Lucifer/Satan said, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God…(Isaiah 14:13b, NKJV), he committed ‘cosmic treason’.

[Note: ‘Cosmic Treason’ is the title of an article written by R.C.Sproul, May 1, 2008]

When you read the account of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness, His temptation was ordained by the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 4:1-3)

Prior to being sent into the wilderness, Jesus had come to the River Jordan to be baptized by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13-17). After Jesus’ water baptism, the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus ‘like a dove’, and a voice from heaven came and said, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 4:1, NKJV, says, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.”

Why?

Jesus is the Son of God in human flesh.

In human flesh, He is, now also, the Son of Man.

What is the significance of this?

Just as Adam was spoken to by Satan in the Garden of Eden; so Jesus, the Son of Man is going to be spoken to by Satan in the wilderness.

In the Garden, Satan asked a question, “Has God indeed said…?”; in the wilderness, Satan said, “If you are the Son of God…”

Satan questions God’s word to Adam. (Genesis 3:1-8)

Satan sought to manipulate God’s word spoken to His Son. (Matthew 4:1-11)

Jesus did not succumb to Satan’s temptations in the same way that Adam and Eve succumbed to Satan’s temptations.

Jesus stood against Satan’s deceptive words and lies, responding, “It is written”. (Matthew 4:4,7,10)

Satan’s third temptation is a revelation of his pride.

Matthew 4:8-11, NKJV, says, “And again the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give you if You will fall down and worship me.” “

[Note: Where did Satan get the kingdoms and the glory? He stole them. He is the thief of John 10. He stole them in the Garden from Adam.]

These words express the root of pride that Satan had voiced from his heart, “I will ascend into the heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest side of the north*; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:12-14, NKJV) [* ‘the side of the north’ reminded me of Psalms 48:1-2]

The very thing that Satan was offering to Jesus “if He would worship him”, was what Paul told the Church at Philippi (Philippians 2:1-11) Jesus received from His Father because He fully obeyed what His Father had asked Him to do, “…He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, …”.

Think about the irony that exists between what Satan desired for himself and who Satan was speaking too, the Son of God/Son of Man.

The nations and the glory that Satan was offering to Jesus was stained with sin.

Jesus, the Creator (Colossians 1:17) did not need the kingdoms of this world; nor did He need the glory.

Jesus left the Glory (John 17:1-4) that He had in heaven to come to the earth.

Jesus came into what He had created originally without sin.

Therefore He didn’t come for the ‘glory’ and ‘position’ Satan was offering him. ( John 10:25-30)

Jesus came to take back what was stolen?

How?

Jesus came to fulfill His Father’s desire for Him to be the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. (John 1:29b, NKJV)

Because Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s spoken word to them, they committed ‘treason’ against God.

Disobedience to God’s word is sin.

Sin is ‘treason’ against God’s authority.

As previously written, “treason primarily means betrayal of trust, conspiracy against civil or divinely appointed leadership, or spiritual unfaithfulness.”

The immediate consequence of Adam and Eve’s sin was the forfeiture of their spiritual relationship with God through spiritual death.

Adam and Eve’s sin also had other consequences, see Genesis 3:13-24, which culminated in them being driven from the Garden (“expelled from the Garden, Tree of Life Version).

[It is important to point of the heart of God regarding His love from Adam and Eve. Yes, God, is a God of justice; but He is also a God of grace and mercy. Genesis 3:21-22 speaks loudly regarding God’s love. These two verses point us to the cross.]

Q: Why did the Son of God come, take on human flesh and become the Son of Man, and die on the cross?

A: Through the finished work of Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, mankind-the descendants of Adam and Eve-all humanity has been offered the way to be forgiven of their sin, be reconciled to God, restored relationally to God, and brought back into God’s presence, no longer “expelled” from Him.

What is offered is a free gift to all of mankind; but it was provided at the highest cost-the cost of God, the Father, giving His Son for the ‘cosmic treason’ of the world(that is not universalism), so that we might have eternal life. (Isaiah 52:13-53:12)

Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden.

They lived on the earth but existed under the conditions specified by God because of their disobedience. (Genesis 3)

Because of the sin, they were governed by their own authority; but not God’s direct relational authority.

God’s authority is still absolute over all of His creation.

That authority is both Sovereign and Providental.

Adam and Eve governed themselves; yet are subject to, like all humanity to God’s Sovereignty and Providence.

Adam and Eve governed themselves.

Or did they?

Their disobedience had consequences as mentioned before; but it also had far reaching consequences.

Their sin subjected them to death, both in their spirit and in their natural body.

Romans 6:23 tells us that “the wages of sin is death”.

Their sin resulted in having a different, relational father, Satan himself. (John 8:44, context John 8)

Satan is also the God of this world. (see 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:2; John 12:31; I John 5:10)

Satan is the father of lies. (John 8:44, context John 8)

Satan is a deceiver. (2 Corinthians 11:14-see context 2 Corinthians 11:5-15)

Satan’s goal is to deceive the whole earth. (Revelation 12:9)

Adam and Eve, all of humanity, because of their sin nature, not only govern themselves; but they are influenced by, and governed by the world, the flesh and the devil (Satan).

All humanity is descended from Adam and Eve, and all are born with a sin nature.

Therefore, as born sinners, we are all in need of a Savior. (Romans 3:23)

Enter the Son of God. (Luke 2)

Knowing Christ as our Lord and Savior does not exempt us from temptation.

As believers, we too, are susceptible to being influenced by the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

The entirety of scripture addresses this ‘cosmic foundational failure, its cause; its remedy; its purpose, and its ultimate hope. Ephesians 2:1-10)

But God…

Jesus spoke directly to this issue when He was talking with Nicodemus. (see John 3:16-18; context John 3:1-21)

The Apostle Paul writing to the Church at Ephesus elaborating on God, the Father’s, heart that is set into motion before the foundation of the world(Ephesians 1:1-18) says, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world*, according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan)*, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of the flesh* and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in ^mercy^, because of His great ^love^ with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, make us alive together with Christ (by ^grace^ you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His ^grace^ in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by ^grace^ you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” {emphasis mine}

[Note: what is also highlighted*: the believer’s three enemies- the world, the flesh, and the devil, Satan.]

(Note: What are the three ^words^ that are highlighted that reveal to us God’s heart? They are mercy, love, and grace{4x}.

Remember, “where sin abounded, grace abounded much more” (Romans 5:20b; context Romans 5:12-21)

This is the longing heart of God of God, the Father for his fallen humanity.

I encourage you to read again about His mercy, love, and grace; ponder what He brought us out of and what He has brought us into ‘in Christ’. (Colossians 1:13, context Colossians 1:1-18; I Peter 2:9)

Our man-made idols are formed when we desire not to be ‘governed’ by God: the Father; the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; the Holy Spirit-according to the Word of God.

Consider what you forfeit: John 17:3, NKJV, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

I recommend that you read John 17.

This post has been a long journey; but I trust it has been a blessing to you who completed its entire reading and study.

Q: Why is this important to understand?

A: Our Father desires your ‘unshared love’ for Him.

It’s time for a break; you and me.

blessings, a brother in Christ, deo

To Be Continued

Foundational Truth!

This post is a continuation of the previous post entitled, ‘Foundational Thoughts!’

I encourage you to read the previous post if you have not read it so that you have the background thinking for this post.

At the close of the previous post, the following verse was quoted.

1 John 5:21, NKJV, reads, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”

The Amplified Bible reads, “Little children (believers, dear ones) guard yourselves from idols–[false teaching, moral compromises, and anything that would take God’s place in your heart.]

Q: Why do you think the Apostle John closes his first epistle with these words?

Q: Are these words of admonition applicable to the Church today?

If so, then why?

Let’s start with reading 1 John 5:18-20, NKJV.

“We know that whoever is born of God does not sin*; but he who has been born of God keeps (guards) himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.” {boldness mine} (marginal note)

*NKJV Bible commentary found on page 1790; 5:18, Does not sin: See note 3:6-9, when John teaches that anyone whose life is unrepentantly characterized by sin does not belong to the family of God. The reason that a Christian does not persist unrepentantly in sin is that he who has been born again of God keeps himself, or as may be also be translated, “He (Jesus) who was born of God keeps him (the believer) from the relentless temptation and snare of the wicked one. {Who is the wicked one? Satan}

The Amplified Bible reads, We know [with confidence] that anyone born of God does not habitually sin; but He (Jesus) who was born of God [carefully] keeps and protects him, and the evil one does not touch him. We know [for a fact] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] lies in the power of the evil one [opposing God and His precepts]. And We [have seen and] know [by personal experience] that the Son of God has [actually] come [to this world], and has given understanding and insight so that we may [progressively and personally] know Him who is true–in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life (please read John 17:3) [boldness mine]

Q: What do these verses tell you personally about your/our Foundational Truth?

Q: What does the Apostle John share that ‘we know‘?

If you are ‘ok’ with underlining words, phrases, scripture in your Bible, then underline the words, ‘we know‘; followed by, underlining ‘what we know‘.

I encourage you to read, reflect, and respond personally to each of your ‘we know‘ underlinings.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you, the truth of these words and how they personally apply to your life, today.

I encourage you to journal your thoughts.

Q: What is the overall ‘Foundational Truth’ of these verses?

A. Our spiritual foundation of truth is a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus Christ is “…the true God and eternal life.” (1 John 5:20b)

How incredible is this: The Apostle John was chosen by God, under the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, to write about His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

John composed one Gospel, three epistles, and The REVELATION of Jesus Christ.

Beginning with the Gospel of John:

John 1:1-5 NKJV, “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 by 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 did not comprehend it.” {The Amplified Bible reads, “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did understand it or overpower it or appropriate it or absorb it [and is unreceptive to it].}

Throughout the Gospel of John, his words are focused on accomplishing one thing–Jesus Christ is our Foundational Truth.

Near the conclusion of his Gospel account, John writes:

John 20:30-31, NKJV, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you have life in His name.” (boldness mine)

In the first Epistle, the Apostle John writes:

1 John 1:1-5, NKJV. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us–that which we have seen and heard we declare to you that you may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”

Reading these words, we understand that John ‘knew’ what he was talking about; why he knew what he was talking about; and wants you to ‘know’ too, and says, just as ‘we know’, you too, can know. And he tells us why he wants us to know? underline these two words, ‘fellowship’ and ‘joy’.

Q: Where is that fellowship and joy found? with other believers, and “with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

King David said it this way:

Psalm 16:11, NKJV, “You will show me the path of life; In your presence is fullness of joy; At your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Selah.

In John’s second epistle, he declares:

II John 9, NKJV, “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.”

And in John’s third epistle, he rejoices:

III John 3,4 NKJV, “For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”.

The essence of John’s written words are that ‘we may know‘ Him, who is Foundational Truth, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle John’s last composition is: The REVELATION of Jesus Christ.

Q: What thoughts come to the forefront of your thinking regarding the last book of the Bible?

The REVELATION of Jesus Christ is the ‘capstone‘ of the Foundational Truth found in the Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, throughout the entirety of Scripture.

Throughout The REVELATION, the Lord Jesus Christ is worshipped,exalted, extolled, and declared worthy to be praised.

Therefore, not only is Jesus the cornerstone (Matthew 21:42, 1 Peter 2:6) of scripture; but He is also the capstone of scripture.

(See Got questions: What is the significance of a capstone in the Bible?)

“Theological Significance: In biblical theology, the capstone represents the culmination of God’s redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. As the capstone, Christ is the essential and final piece that completes the spiritual structure of the Church. His role as the capstone signifies His authority, preeminence, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. The imagery of the capstone also serves as a reminder of the rejection and subsequent exaltation of Christ. Though initially dismissed by the religious leaders, Jesus’ resurrection and ascension affirmed His position as the cornerstone of faith. Believers are called to build their lives upon this foundation, ensuring their spiritual edifice is aligned with the truth and grace found in Christ.”

“Practical Application: “For Christians, the concept of the capstone is to recognize and honor Jesus as the central figure in their faith journey. It encourages believers to rely on Him as their source of strength and stability in their spiritual lives. By acknowledging Christ as the capstone, Christians are reminded of the importance of aligning their lives with His teaching and example, ensuring their faith is built on a solid and enduring foundation.” (Topical Bible:biblehub.com, Capstone)

The entirety of John’s writing, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, was to explain, exalt, and exemplify, the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

Pastor Jack Hayford, in his teaching of The REVELATION of Jesus Christ, encourages us to focus upon Jesus, the Lamb of God, and the worship of Him in heaven that permeates this last book of the Bible.

Yes, there is an abundance of eschological substance in the last book of the Bible regarding end times; but Pastor Hayford reminds his audience not to lose the primary focus of ‘Who is returning?’; ‘Why is He returning?’; ‘When He is returning?’; And what will be accomplished because He returns?

(See Revelation 1:7,8; Revelation 21:1-8, 22-27)

I submit to you, our understanding of the answers of these questions explain Christ as our ‘capstone’.

Quoting GotQuestions: “The capstone, like the cornerstone, is an important metaphor for Jesus and His prominence as Head of the Church and the kingdom of God.”

[Note: I recently read a statement by Pastor Mike Woodruff that said, if you want to understand what happens throughout the entirety of scripture, then you must clearly understand Genesis 1,2 and Revelation 21,22.]

What was originally created by God was desecrated by Adam’s disobedience; and Christ’s obedience at the cross destroyed the source of the desecratration by His death(See Romans 5:12-21).

The cross is the place chosen by God the Father to satisfy His wrath against sin.

The cross is the place where judgment and love collide taking away the sin of the world; the place where death died; and the place where Satan’s authority is disarmed.

Christ’s death, burial and resurrection declares His victory over the power of sin, death, and Satan’s authority; and His ascension signifies that His earthly work was completed; and He was restored to His original glory with His Father.

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, was the promise of the Father validating that the ‘work of the cross’ was finished; and now the ‘way of the cross’ was governed by the Holy Spirit, according to the Word of God, in accordance with the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Head of the Body of Christ, fulfilling God, the Father’s plan of salvation until the end of the age.

Basking in the Foundational Truth that resonates in the Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle John concludes his first epistle with these words.

1 John 5:21, NKJV, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (emphasis mine)

In all of John’s writings, the word ‘idol’ is only used once, in this verse.

I find that remarkable; yet extremely profound.

Why?

Because an ‘idol’ is the absolute antithesis of everything that John has written about finding the absolute real truth in the Person, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, 5/15/2026, I read the following in Mike Woodruff’s, ‘The Friday Update’:

“A man was meant to be doubtful about himself, but undoubting the truth; this has been exactly reversed.” G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6, NKJV.

Q: Do you believe that?

Looking forward to the next post, I offer this acronym for the word idol.

I. D. O. L. — (an) Idol Desecrates Our Life

The first post was entitled, Foundational Thoughts!

This post is entitled, Foundational Truth!

The next post will be entitled, Foundational Treason!

Yes, treason is a strong word, but it fits.

a brother in Christ, deo

‘Foundational’ Thoughts!

In our world of darkness and brokenness, in our nation of division and strife, in our daily headlines news of murder, anarchy, lawlessness, and rebellion, where do individuals turn to find hope, rest, and peace?

The answer is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Not all headline news is despair, loss, and devastation.

Did you know that the Lord is saving souls, healing, and delivering people from their bondages in this nation and the nations of the world?

There has been a tent crusade, in Stockton, California, where many are finding Christ, being miraculously healed and delivered. [Mario Murillo Ministry]

This past weekend on May 2, at Pirates Cove, in southern California, many were water baptized. The headline read, “Hundreds Declare Jesus Lord in ‘Baptize California’ at Pirate’s Cove, and It’s Not Over”.[CBN.org]

Do you know about or remember Pirate’s Cove? That was where many young people found Christ in the early 1970s; the place where the Jesus Revolution happened.

Article dated 5/4/2026: Hundreds Declare Jesus Lord in ‘Baptize California’ at Pirate’s Cove, and it’s not over. “Hundreds of believers took the plunge at Baptize California over the weekend, publicly declaring their faith in Jesus Christ.” [CBN.org]

Did you know that the Lord throughout this year has been moving on college campuses?

Article dated 4/29/2026, Hundreds of Students ‘Go All in with Jesus’ at OSU as Spiritual Awakening Keeps Spreading. Quoting the article: “Thousands of college students have rallied once again in pursuit of Jesus Christ, with hundreds saying “yes” to the Gospel, this time in a huge outreach held on the campus of Oklahoma State University. It’s proof that the spiritual awakening among America’s college students is still spreading as the UniteUS ministry reaches for the next generation with the message of salvation.” [CBN.org]

I recommend that you also visit Global Christian . Please read the article TOP 20 COUNTRIES WHERE CHRISTIANITY IS GROWING THE FASTEST, February 27, 2025. It will amaze you. [Global Christian relief.org]

I also recommend a podcast found at Voice of Martyrs, regarding what is happening in the nation of Iran during this ongoing conflict with Israel/USA. The Church is growing in the midst of the turmoil, the hatred, and the persecution of believers for their faith in Jesus Christ, which has resulted in many deaths. Also there is an ongoing number of Muslims that are coming to faith in Jesus Christ.

It is not all bad news.

The truth is that this type of headline news is not wanted in the mainstream media.

Why not?

Consider this headline from Intercessors For America, it read: TWO VISIONS OF AMERICA AT 250: REDEDICATION OR REBELLION? (dated 4/30/2026)

Strong words!

What picture of our nation comes to mind when you read those words?

A chasm of division?

An irreconcilable future?

A grieving nation?

A lost way?

When our nation was in verbal debate regarding its founding, a stark realization came to the forefront.

The establishment of a new nation needed the blessing and guidance of God. Not everyone in the room was a believer, but the overriding thought was that without God’s guidance and wisdom, the gathering of the founders to create a new nation would flounder and probably fail.

Understanding their need for God, I interject this thought.

They realized that their own personal motives, hearts, and minds had to be ‘right’ in order to formalize a nation ‘under God’.

This was then, and still is, a very tenuous position for our nation.

When this nation was founded, its future, as our founders realized depended upon its citizenry to be moral and ethical.

In short, this nation as it proposes to do that which is moral and ethical has a greater chance of survival, than if it departs from morality and ethics.

But isn’t this a basic historical truth that has led to the downfall of nations throughout history.

John Adams said, “We have no Constitutional government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Corruption, revenge, ambition, or envy will break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

I believe we are witnessing the truth of these words.

Our nation has unloosed itself from its moral and ethical foundational moorings and seeks to chart its own course apart from the oversight of God.

While we as a nation may say ‘God bless America’ with our mouth, where is our heart?

Our citizens are divided into two major groups struggling for the helm of the ship.

At this point I desire to ask you, the reader a series of questions.

Q: Do you want to see this nation return to its founding roots or not?

Q: Do you want order restored or lawlessness to continue?

Q: What is your own personal desire for this nation?

Q: What is troubling you in your own heart regarding the state of this nation?

Q: What do you believe is the ‘crux’ of the problem?

Reading the concerns of our founding fathers, they understood that the future of this nation was dependent upon the unity of the ‘hearts’ of those that lived in this nation to adhere to basic morality and ethical behavior.

Q: What is the state of this nation’s basic morality and ethical behavior?

I am not asking you what political party you are a member of.

I am not asking you if you are a believer or unbeliever.

I am not asking you if you are a citizen of this nation.

I am asking you as an individual person if you are pleased or grieved by the morality and ethical behavior of this nation?

The answer of your heart determines your reaction to the overall political atmosphere and attitudes lived out daily by you with your family, at your work place(unless retired like me), with your friends and neighbors, and other meaningful associations that comprise your daily activity.

Your ‘heart’ attitude is revealed by the words of your mouth.

Are you a person seeking to ‘divide’ with your words and actions?

Or, are you a person seeking to ‘unite’ with your words and actions?

If it was you were at the ‘helm’ of this nation’s ship, what course would you chart for its future?

The title of this post was ‘FOUNDATIONAL THOUGHTS!

Where is the next post headed?

I John 5:21, Amplified Version, “Little children(believer, dear ones) guard yourselves from idols-{false teachings, moral compromises, and anything that would take God’s place in your heart}

riding out the ‘storm’ with you,

a brother in Christ, deo

I recommend to you a podcast found on Voice of Martyrs, about what is happening in the nation of Iran. The Church is growing there in the midst of the turmoil, the hatred, and the persecution of believers for their faith in Christ, which has resulted in many deaths.

What is the N.E.E.D. of the Hour? Pt.2

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 has 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 the uncovering of 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 political physicians of 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 that it 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 and we are the ones suffering from 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 this ‘stone’.

Mr. Trump is characterized as a politician (physician-in-chief) with a very poor ‘beside’ manner.

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

Unfortunately, Mr. Trump’s ‘beside’ 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 ‘beside’ manners; but I am grateful for the ‘successful operations’ that 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 tired of the political rhetoric; the media’s daily pontificating; and/or the personal agenda of 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 are believers keep in touch?

Refocus our attention.

Be disciplined in your walk with the Lord.

Read the Word of God; listen carefully to what the Holy Spirit is saying.

Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, had the Apostle John write down what He wanted to say to seven churches.

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

The greatest Seismic Spiritual Shaking happened at the CROSS, Matthew 27:45-55.

The Lamb of God took away the sin of the world.

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!

Zechariah 14:4.

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

See Matthew 24:1-8.

Things being ‘shaken’ are not foreign to 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 people’s attention.

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

Buckle Up!

What makes this Seismic Spiritual Shaking possible?

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

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

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 nailed.

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.

a brother in Christ, deo

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)

“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?

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.

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.

We are to ‘serve as called’.

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.

We are to be ‘separated as convicted’.

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.

We are to ‘submit as chosen’.

See Esther 4.

The ‘D’ stands for Daniel. We need to pray for our nation. We need to confess our sins, fast, and intercede for our nation; because we wrestle against principalities and powers of darkness in the heavenlies. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

We are to ‘standfast as covenant’ people

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.]

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.

“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

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