Wednesday, May 10, 2023

My White Horse and the Rider's Cloud

 Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rose Murdock
Email: Connect@Bibleseed.org
(248) 923-0524
Bibleseed.org

Author’s Fourth Book is an Imaginative Fictional Fantasy Adventure with a Delightful Spiritual Twist

Xulon Press presents exciting, thought-provoking fiction; a story with a unique perspective on biblical truths that will be appreciated by believers and non-believers.

 


MAITLAND, FL—Author
Rose Murdock presents compelling fiction with spiritual principles for readers of any age to enjoy in My White Horse: And the Rider's Cloud ($22.49, paperback, 9781662878312; $9.99, e-book, 9781662878329).

 Murdock takes readers on an adventure through the clouds and into a fascinating realm outside of time and space; a place where each visitor is given a new name and a white horse. The story unfolds as members of one family explore this new world on their own, unknowingly meeting one another along the way. After an encounter with a mysterious “Rider,” the family grows to know and love this person, remaining unaware of his important role in their destinies. Readers will be delighted as truth begins to be unveiled and their belief in this mysterious one grows as they seek to know him for who he really is.

 When asked what inspired this author to write this book, Murdock said, “I started developing the characters for this book through writing a series of short stories for my granddaughter. Then after having dreams about a white horse, I combined the stories and dreams into a book. Of course, the basic premise is Revelation 19:14.”


Rose Murdock is also the author of Living in the Land of Your Anointing, The Epistles Pen and The Good Wine: Miracle at Cana. For more information about the author, her blog, her books and more, visit Bibleseed.org.


Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the world’s largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 15,000 titles published to date. My White Horse: And the Rider's Cloud is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.




Sunday, March 26, 2023

Knowing by the Spirit

2 Corinthians 5:16:

16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.

Paul said they no longer knew Christ according to the flesh, even though they, (not Paul but the other apostles), did once know Him in the flesh. Those who knew Jesus when He was here on Earth, didn’t continue to base their relationship with Him on a fleshly level once He died and was resurrected. In the same way, Paul said, they didn’t recognize anyone according to the flesh—whether they were Jew or Gentile, rich or poor etc.

So how did they know Christ, and others, if not through their fleshly relationships? By the spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:11:

11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.

No one knows the mind of a man except the spirit that is in him. And no one knows the mind of God except the Spirit of God. The only way to know God is through His Spirit. The only way to know people is through their spirit. If we want to know God’s thoughts, we have to know His Spirit, and the same is true with people. (It’s worth noting that when we come across people who are filled with the Spirit of God, we already “know” them to a certain degree because we share the same Spirit).

So, if we are to get to know someone by their spirit, how do we find out what is in their spirit?

Matthew 12:34-35

34 …the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35 The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.

You know what is in a person’s heart by what they say. This is how you get to know people, through talking with them—through words. We get to know God through His Word as well.

John 6:63:

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

Jesus’ words are spirit and life. Words are spiritual. They reveal the spirit they come from. Jesus’ words give life because He is life (John 14:6) and comes from the Father of life. We come to know Him and His life through His words.

John 6:67-69:

67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 69 We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”

Peter told Jesus that they knew He had the words of eternal life. Through these words they had come to know and believe that He is the Holy One of God—the Messiah. They came to know Him through His Word.

John 14:25-26:

25 “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

While Jesus was here in the flesh He spoke directly to His disciples, but once He ascended to the Father, the Holy Spirit came in His place. The Holy Spirit teaches us and reminds us of all that Jesus has said and done. We know Jesus, and the Father, through the Spirit, and the words which reveal His Spirit. We get to know our brothers and sisters in Christ this same way—by getting to know their spirit, through their words which reveal their spirit.

In the Garden, Adam and Eve walked and talked with God daily, but when they sinned, they didn't want to talk to Him. They didn’t want Him to know what they had done. They knew their words would give away what just happened, and they did (Genesis 3:8-11).

Matthew 7:21-23

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

These ones that the Lord will tell to depart from Him, even though they did miracles and prophesied in His name, are those whom He doesn’t know. Those He never knew. Those who are not of the same Spirit as He is. They are those who practice lawlessness—who sin—those who do not do the will of the Father.

The Lord knows those who do the will of the Father—who keep His Word. These are the ones He knows. He doesn’t know a person just because they use His name to prophesy, cast out demons or do miracles.

If we want a relationship with the Lord where we know Him and He knows us, we need to spend time in prayer—walking and talking with Him—to get to know each other. We know Him through His Word; and by keeping His Word He knows us, recognizing that we are of the same Spirit.

Consider these verses from the gospel of John:

John 15:

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

We are to abide in Him, and He in us if we are to bear fruit.

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

If we abide in Him AND His words abide in us, our prayers are answered. We become fruitful. Those not abiding in Him are thrown away as a branch that has dried up.

8 My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.

The Father is glorified when we bear much fruit, and in so doing we prove we are His disciples.

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

When we keep His commandments, we remain in His love, and His commandment is to love each other as He has loved us.

Once again, by spending time daily with the Lord, abiding in Him, allowing His Words to abide in us, we will develop a relationship with the Lord, come to know Him more intimately, bear fruit which glorifies the Father, and ensure that He knows and us, recognizing that the same Spirit which is in us is in Him.


Loving the Unseen God

 1 John 4:20:

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.

What does this mean?

When John wrote that one who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen, he didn't mean we must love what is seen (your brother) first before we can love God. We know this is true because Jesus said the first commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and the second commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. (Matthew 22:35-40). We are to love God first, then others.

Yet John is saying that we can’t say we love God if we don’t love our brothers and sisters in Christ, or we’d be lying. Why is this?

Because if we love God, we’ll keep His commandments.

John 14:15:

15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

What is His commandment?

John 15:12:

12 “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

So if we love God, we will keep His commandments to both love Him (Matthew 22:37) and each other (John 15:12). If we don’t love each other then we are not keeping His commandment, and if we don’t keep His commandment then we don’t love Him.

Simply put, our love for God is evidenced by our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ.

John 13:35:

35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Everyone will be able to tell we are disciples of Jesus by our love for other believers.

However, this kind of love is a sincere love, not just hypocritical deeds to make it look like we’re a good Christian. The proper motive for loving other believers is that we are doing so because we love God and want to keep His commandments.

1 John 5:2:

2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments.

In other words, when we love God, and love others out of obedience to Him, then we know that we really do love His children. We have the proper motive. Our love is genuine.

Yet remember, it’s not just the appearance of love that is evidence of our love for God, but genuine love which comes from loving God first. This will only work if our love for the Lord remains alive.

Matthew 22:37-39:

37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Notice the order Jesus gives. We are to love God first, then people. If we love any person before God, then we have placed an idol before God. They have become an idol in our lives, something worshiped above God Himself. They will take a higher priority in our time, money, etc. God is a jealous God, and this does not set well with Him!

When we place people as a higher priority in our lives above God, then even our prayers can become manipulative as we seek the will of the person we are praying for above the will of God.

As always, it’s important to look at our heart motives in the things we do, including our love for others. On the one hand, we don’t want our love for people to take a higher priority over our love for God. Yet on the other hand, our love for people is evidence that we love God.

Taking time daily to revive our love for God through intimate time with Him in worship and prayer will help us guard against this kind of idolatry and keep our motives pure.

Monday, March 20, 2023

The Fruit of Faithfulness


I believe God is cultivating the fruit of faithfulness in His Church. I believe the lack of it has been why we have not seen certain victories we'd like to. I believe He's teaching us:

  • Faithfulness over rebellion. 
  • Humility and submission to His will over brute force. 
  • Proper prioritization, patience, and peace. 
  • True faith and trust in Him. 
  • Not to fight with stubbornness, thinking it’s our stubborn "faith" that will win a battle.
  • We need faithfulness —loyalty to Him, no matter what comes our way.
God cares about our heart and priorities which is why we need to hear from Him and be faithful to that.

Stubbornness is from the root of pride, and rebellion. Faithfulness is from humility and submission to the will of God. Faithfulness goes a lot farther in dispersing the enemy out of areas he has illegally occupied because its backed by the Spirit and power of God. We speak the Word of God in faith, or faithfulness. We are faithful to His Spirit and to His true intention of those words.

Stubbornness is a false faith. It’s forcefully exerting our will over another’s. It takes a lot of energy, and it will wear you out. If we get our way as a result of this false faith, then our pride and rebellion are reinforced. It’s the mercy of God that we don’t get “answers” to our “prayers” when we’re operating in this kind of stubbornness.

The goal of the antichrist spirit is to exalt another’s will above God’s (or anyone else’s). This is witchcraft as well as rebellion. A message which puts greater priority on people seeking things they want above seeking God’s leading falls into this category and is flat out wrong.

There was a lot of preaching back in the 1970-1980’s by people who looked down on those who said, “If it be Your will” when they prayed. They were sometimes ridiculed. Of course, some were saying that to replace seeking God’s will, more as an excuse or a way to place blame when things didn’t work out right. But in spite of those errors, our intention should always be for God’s will to be done above ours. Jesus confirmed in the garden before He died that He was committed to God’s will being done rather than His own (Luke 22:42). If you don’t know the will of God, consider that an invitation to ask Him, but don’t assume that your will is automatically His, or that you know what His will is in each situation without seeking Him first.

Some of those preachers back then, and even today, were sincere in their efforts to get people to know the will of God and pray it boldly, without doubt. But some were actually feeding their own lusts and encouraging others to do the same. And some went farther than that and took advantage of Christians with out-of-control lusts using that for their own selfish purposes.

In any case, many listeners to these messages were not strong enough in their faithfulness to God to resist the temptation to believe they could get whatever they wanted if they just stuck it out long enough—if they just had stubborn faith. These words preached to them were planted in an immature, covetous, or lustful heart and produced stubborn “fruit,” a false “faith,” not the fruit of the Spirit which is faithfulness. We must be emptied of all stubborn selfishness and sinful cravings of the flesh to keep from falling into this kind of deception and error.

Stubborn “faith” takes a lot of energy. When Saul when was persecuting Christians, he thought he was working for God, pleasing God, but he was really opposing him. In Acts 26:14 the Lord told him it is hard to kick against the goads. Fighting God takes a lot of energy. Some people today are getting burned out. They are fighting many battles in their own strength. Political battles. Other battles. They are getting worn out fighting God, or an enemy on the wrong battlefield. They may think they have a determined faith when in reality they’re kicking against the goads or in a battle they were not sent to fight.

When things are difficult we must discern whether it's because we’re engaging the enemy we were sent to confront, or whether it’s because we’re fighting God. If we’re on the wrong battlefield He will tell us, and draw us back to Him. If we don't respond to Him, then we end up fighting Him. We need discernment. 

We might think we’re engaging the enemy when all we’re doing is trying to fight him in our own strength. Our motivation is not that we were sent by the Spirit into this battle, but that we are angry, fearful, full of despair, or just arrogant enough that we refuse to do anything that would look like retreat. Complete surrender to God and His way is what we need to “win” our battles. And winning to God often looks different than what winning looks like to us.

Any teaching which sends the message that if you just had real faith, you would always get what you want, rather than focusing on how to hear the Spirit of God reveal the will of God to you, cultivates stubbornness and rebellion in a person. It’s like tares sown among wheat. When a vulnerable person hears this, especially a new believer, they are not receiving the true message of the Gospel. Once a child is spoiled on candy, it’s hard to get them to eat their vegetables. They will end up viewing God as their servant, expecting Him to give them everything they want just like a spoiled child. The sad thing is, this causes great harm to themselves and to the body of Christ.

New believers need to be taught that not only are they entering a family with an inheritance when they are born-again, but they are entering a kingdom, an army. They are soldiers. They will be inconvenienced at times. It will be hard at times. Yes, Father God will bring them through the tough battles, but if the enemy can keep them off the battlefield while looking for the pleasures of life, or lead them to the wrong battlefield altogether, they’ll be fighting the air, wearing themselves out, and not accomplishing anything for the kingdom of God in their lives or others, despite their best efforts.

Let’s respond to God cultivating the fruit of faithfulness in us. The body of Christ needs this fruit maybe more than we ever have before. Let us pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done.” (Matthew 6:10). Let’s find out the gardens and battlefields He wants us to work in, and then do what He says. He’s not going to neglect taking care of us. We don’t have to worry about that. If we seek His kingdom and His righteousness first, all of that will be taken care of (Matthew 6:33).


Sunday, February 5, 2023

Healing from the Wounds of Sin

 


Numbers 21:4-5

4Then they set out from Mount Hor by the way of the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; and the people became impatient because of the journey. 5The people spoke against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this miserable food.”

The Israelites had been miraculously delivered from slavery in Egypt and were heading towards the Promised Land--the land God had promised to give to the descendants of Abraham whom He had entered into covenant with. However, they became impatient along the way--many times. In this case they also spoke against God and Moses. They called the manna God miraculously provided for food "miserable" and said they loathed it. Unfortunately, complaints had become common with them on this journey.

Prior to this incident, a generation of them had already become destined to die in the wilderness because of their unbelief that God could give them the Promised Land that He said He had given them. Twelve spies were sent to check out the land and ten of them came back and said they couldn't take it. The giants in the land were too big. God determined at that time that they would die in the wilderness, all except for the two spies who said they could take it--Joshua and Caleb. The rest would die and their children would be the ones to possess the land (Numbers 13-14).

On another occasion they complained about the manna, missing the food in Egypt, and saying they wanted meat. The Lord sent them enough quail to last for a month. However, people became greedy and while the meat was still in their mouth  they were struck with a severe plague and died (Numbers 11).

God was in covenant with the Israelites but they didn't seem to understand that covenants are not one-sided. They were to be participants in this covenant. They had an important part in God's purposes in the Earth. They were to carry the oracles of God and birth the Messiah who would save the nations. Yet, their slavery mentality kept them in bondage. They were in a habit of complaining about their captors--those in authority over them. After being delivered from slavery they continued complaining, yet with the complaints directed towards God and Moses instead of the Egyptians.

Early on in the Israelites journey out of Egypt, they came to Marah where they found the waters were bitter. They couldn't drink it and they complained. Moses cried out to the Lord who showed him a tree. Moses threw the tree into the water and they became sweet so the people could drink. At that same place, the Lord made a statute and a regulation that if the Israelites would listen to Him, hear His commandments, keep all His statutes and do what is right in His sight, then He would not put any of the diseases on them that He did the Egyptians. (Exodus 15:22-27). 

He would provide for them, but they would have to listen to Him and do what He says. He was teaching them what it was like to be in covenant.

Now, back to what happened after they complained and spoke against God and Moses:

Numbers 21:6-9

6The Lord sent fiery serpents among the people and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7So the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, because we have spoken against the Lord and you; intercede with the Lord, that He may remove the serpents from us.” And Moses interceded for the people. 8Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard; and it shall come about, that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.” 9And Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on the standard; and it came about, that if a serpent bit any man, when he looked to the bronze serpent, he lived.

After these serpents came, the people recognized that they had done wrong and repented. They asked Moses to pray and remove the serpents. However, instead of removing them God told Moses to set a serpent on a pole for them to look at after being bitten, and they would be healed. So he made a bronze serpent and set it up on a pole. A type of Jesus up on the cross.

These serpents are an example of how sin wounds. Sin poisons. Your sin wounds you, your sin can wound others, and other's sins can wound you. The serpents were like the manifestation of their sin and the damage it caused. Like an object lesson, God was showing them what their heart attitude and their words were doing to them--it was poisoning them and killing them.

So, they repented. They had done this many times before and knew what to do when things didn't go right. Yet it seems that their repentance had been very shallow. They would repent, yet turn back and do the same thing again. However, this time they would have to "feel the pain" of their sin for a little while until they could get to the pole and be healed.

True repentance is painful. It's tempting to say a quick, "Please forgive me, Lord," prayer and not fully address a sin we have committed. If we keep doing this we end up searing our conscience which decreases our sensitivity to the voice of God. God wanted them, and wants us, to understand the importance of true repentance.

Dutch Sheets has a good teaching on the four-step process of repentance. Briefly summarized as: 

First we have remorse--sorrow. Sorrow because we feel the pain of that sin, not just because we "got caught." In the case of the Israelites, this was the pain of the snakebite.

Next is the revelation of the consequence of that sin and where it leads. What it does to you and others.

Then we have a more true repentance because of the remorse and understanding we've received about our sin.

Finally, we have the desired result--we turn from that sin and don't return back to it. Our repentance was not shallow, we walk away from that sin.

So, what do we do when we sin, and how do we recover completely from it?

We truly repent and receive forgiveness and cleansing from our sin. 

1 John 1:9

9If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

He forgives us and cleanses us when we confess our sins. Yet, we might still need to receive the healing, the recovery from this sin, and the strengthening from the weakness that it has caused. If we don't allow this full recovery, then our walk with the Lord can get out of alignment as we'll see in just a bit.

We might keep the wounds of our sin open thorough guilt. If we do not fully repent and/or fully receive God's forgiveness and cleansing, guilt will work against us like that poison from the snake.

Let's look at a New Testament Scripture to see how we must receive this full cleansing and healing so our walk stays in alignment:

Hebrews 12:1-13

1Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Nor faint when you are reproved by Him; (Job 5:17) 6For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.” (Proverbs 3:12).

When we don’t understand that we must stand against sin at all costs, then He disciplines us for our own good, so we can live.

7It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

God disciplines us for our own good. Our earthly fathers disciplined us and, though its not pleasant, we learned from it. How much more should we subject ourselves to our heavenly Father so we may share in His holiness, and live?

12Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble, 13and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed.

The context here is of overcoming sin, striving against it to the point of shedding our own blood if necessary, and receiving God's discipline when needed. In this context, we strengthen our weak hands and feeble knees. We make straight paths for our feet. We don't adjust our path to accommodate our lame limbs. We don't learn to live with our sin, or accept it as a character defect, or make excuses for it. No, we receive His strengthening and His healing so we are strong and aligned on our path--His righteous path.

 What do we do regarding other's sin against us?

We've been talking about when we sin, repent, and receive healing and strengthening from the wounds that were caused. But the same is true of other people's sin towards us. It wounds us, we forgive, and turn them over to God for Him to deal with them.

Forgiveness means we don't seek vengeance. If there is any resentment, unrighteous anger, bitterness, or even self-pity, we are keeping that wound open allowing the poison from the snake to remain in our system working against us. And if we don't fully forgive, then we get ourselves into sin and start that whole process again. It's not worth it. We need to address sin properly and completely so it doesn't keep a foothold in our life. Whether its sin we've committed, or the sin of others, it needs to be dealt with completely, once and for all, so as not to get us off balance and off track.

James 5:14-16 

14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Every sickness is not caused by a person sinning. However, confession of sin, sickness, prayer, faith, anointing with oil, healing and forgiveness are all mentioned together here. Often there are connections. If there is any sickness, any nagging guilt, any lingering resentment, bitterness etc. going on in your life, its worth it to take some time examining your heart before the Lord to get these things resolved once and for all.


Psalm 51:7-10: “Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

Examine your heart:

  • Think of anything regarding sin that bothers you, that isn't resolved. Whether it's sin you've committed, or sin others have committed against you.
  • It could be something you've done that has been a sin against God. Or something that has wounded or affected others. Or something you've done that has harmed yourself.
  • Even if you have already repented, you could still be carrying guilt in regard to this, or maybe you haven't fully repented.
  • Notice if you feel you haven't really repented and felt real sorrow over this sin. Ask the Lord to reveal the reality of those things so you can truly repent if necessary. So its not just a shallow repentance.
  • Take a moment because sometimes our conscience becomes calloused and we need to give these things time to surface.

  • If someone has sinned against you, notice if you feel you haven't really forgiven them.
  • If you think you have forgiven them, yet there is still be a wound causing pain, if there is still any anger, resentment, bitterness, or self-pity, it still needs to be addressed. Let go of the pain and fully forgive. Get the poison of the snake out of your system. Decide to forgive.

  • Ask the Lord to bring all these things to light and become aware of their reality. Ask Him to help you recognize the wounds that are still open. Even if its slight. If you think about something that happened and feel even just a twinge of a wound, address that while praying.
  • If you can't think of any specific sin that is left un-dealt with or that has left an unhealed wound, still pray for any strengthening that needs to occur in any vulnerable areas.


Prayer:

Father God, I come before You in the Name of Jesus.

Please show me any sin I have committed that I haven’t fully repented of. Show me the full consequence of this sin. Show me how I have hurt You, myself, or others. I am truly sorry for these sins. I repent and turn away from them. Please forgive me and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I receive Your forgiveness and cleansing. I forgive myself. I let go of all guilt, or any pride, I might have had, in regards to any sin.

Also Father, please show me anyone who has wounded me, or sinned against me, that I haven’t truly forgiven. I forgive everyone who has sinned against me.  I turn them over to You, the Righteous Judge. I let go of all anger, resentment, bitterness, vengeance, criticism, self-pity, or any other ungodly attitude towards them.

Now Holy Father, I ask for Your healing, from any wounds caused by sin—my sin, or the sin of others. Heal me, spirit, soul, and body. Strengthen me where I’ve been weak, so the power of Christ dwells in me, and I can walk the straight path of Your will. I also ask for the healing, of those whom I have wounded by my sin.

I allow these wounds to be healed. I will not prevent their healing. I will not hold the wounds open, but allow full healing, and restoration, to take place, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

 

Use anointing oils for cleansing, healing, and strengthening. 



Wednesday, January 4, 2023

The Power of Vocabulary

 

There is a powerful weapon which exists that is often misunderstood or not realized at all. Unfortunately, Satan, and those who do his bidding, understand this weapon more than many of God’s people do. This weapon is vocabulary.

Many people understand the power of words. They know that God created and maintains all things we see by speaking words—the visible from the invisible. The temporary from the eternal (Genesis 1:1-3, John 1:1-3, Hebrews 1:1-3, 2 Corinthians 4:18). Yet, this subtle attempt to change one’s understanding of words through changing definitions is a tactic we need to be aware of.

Isaiah said woe to those who call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). When we define something differently from what God says, which is what the true meaning of that word is, then we are in trouble, and we sow seeds of trouble. Little by little our understanding of right and wrong, good and evil, is redefined without us realizing it. This becomes a stronghold in the mind. What is acceptable in a society can slowly be changed through the words used to describe them.

In some countries, we see entire concepts being removed by removing the words that define them, like love, or changing the definition of a word to something completely different. By changing the vocabulary, false belief systems will be established as strongholds in the minds of the people who are not paying attention—particularly those who are not seeking truth.

What the enemy is doing is trying to call what is, something else—a lie. It’s not this, it’s that. It’s a diversion. It’s seductive and hypnotic. It’s slippery, and like a chameleon, hidden in plain sight. They call what is (evil) something else to make it better received, with a spell attached to it, so deception is implanted. The enemy is trying to corrupt vocabulary by calling what is evil good, and what is good evil. Isaiah says woe to them.

Changing definitions has a somewhat hypnotic effect. It deceives. It removes understanding from the people, keeping them in darkness. It uses false assumptions, distorted logic, and plays on emotions, so people pity evil rather than realize its dangers. Censorship is a tool of this—trying to change society’s understanding of words and concepts by hiding those who expose the truth about them. Forbidding these truth-tellers from talking about them, calling them the evil ones, and shaming the people who dare to think those thoughts. In the process, good and evil are re-defined for those who accept the lies.

Paul gave a safeguard against deception—loving the truth. He said those who do not love the truth, but take pleasure in wickedness, will be deceived (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12).

In spite of all this, it is not inevitable that our vocabularies will be redefined, and our speech controlled.  Words are from God. His Word will not change. We must seek Him for the proper understanding of His words.  

His words are a weapon as well as a creative tool. He has given His church the authority to speak His words—to bind and loose. We can use this authority to bind the efforts to change our vocabularies, and we can loose God’s definitions, thoughts, and concepts so people will know truth—the truth that will make them free. We can release accurate definitions of words according to His truth, and release His truth into our definitions and vocabulary.

Consider these Scriptures:

  • Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, substitute darkness for light and light for darkness, bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. (Isaiah 5:20).
  • The Word of God is alive, powerful, and sharp, piercing to divide soul and spirit, joints and marrow, judging the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
  • Seducing spirits and doctrines of demons sear the conscience and cause a fall from faith (1 Timothy 4:1-2).
  • You nullify the Word of God by your tradition. (Mark 7:9-13)
  • The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but divinely powerful for destroying fortresses—speculations, lofty things, and thoughts that rise up against the knowledge of God  (2 Corinthians 10:4-6).
  • The mouth speaks from the heart (Matthew 12:33-37).
  • You have heard it said…but I say…(Matthew 5:21-48).

Consider this prayer:

Father, forgive me for any corrupt vocabulary I have received into my mind and heart. I repent of allowing this deception to take place. I cast it out, remove it from my spirit, soul, body, and environment. I repent of deception and receive and embrace Your truth---Your words, Your vocabulary, thoughts, concepts, ideas, and definitions. I embrace the truth.

I bind this spirit of deception, this seductive and hypnotic spell, and all associated spirits with it, from influencing me, my family, my church, my community, and government. I bind this spirit from influencing those who influence and instruct our children, our churches, and our society.

I loose Your words, definitions, vocabulary, thoughts, concepts and understanding—Your truth, Your illumination and enlightenment into my life, family, church, community, government, education system, our children, our future, all areas of influence—culturally and otherwise in Jesus’ Name. I loose the Spirit of God, Your words and definitions to freely flow in our society and into the minds and hearts of the people.

The corrupt vocabulary is bound. Truth is loosed. The enemy’s strongholds are bound and torn down. We bring every thought, concept, and definition captive to the obedience of Christ.

Change the dictionaries to align with Your truth!

I release the Word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ, to be preached, taught, and proclaimed throughout the land. In every county, city, township, and village. In every church, home, school, and university. Over the airwaves—television, internet, radio, social media, etc. with the parresia anointing. (click here for the parresia anointing article). 

Let Bible studies arise. Let home churches arise. Let churches preach the truth of the gospel. Let them teach and preach Your Word, discipling people in Your ways. Let the children be taught the Word of God all the days of their lives. I release a hunger for God’s Word and a thirst for righteousness—that sin becomes undesirable and despised in the people’s own lives. That Christians rise up in love and the preparation of the gospel of peace. That they pick up their armor and stand for truth, taking up the sword of the Spirit—the Word of God. Let the revival begin and the true disciples of Jesus Christ grow and multiply in numbers, strength, and maturity.

Thanks be unto God who always causes us to triumph in Christ Jesus! 

Friday, November 25, 2022

Find Your Field

 


Several years ago, I was awakened in the middle of the night by a booming loud Voice which I heard in a dream. The Voice was so loud, it shook my entire being and immediately woke me up. It simply said, "MICAH 4:4! FROM THIS DAY FORWARD!!" Of course, I looked up the Scripture and it says this:

Each of them will sit under his vine
And under his fig tree,
With no one to make them afraid,
For the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

In context, it's speaking of the last days when the "mountain of the house of the Lord" will be established as the chief of the mountains. People from many nations will go there to learn the ways of the Lord (Micah 4:1-2).

Micah 4:3 says:

And He will judge between many peoples
And render decisions for mighty, distant nations.
Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares
And their spears into pruning hooks;
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
And never again will they train for war.

I was curious about this hammering of swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks, so I looked further into this and found that during times of war they would hammer, or re-shape, their farming tools into weapons to fight with. In times of peace, they would be hammered back into farming tools so they could plow, plant seed, and grow crops.

We read of this in Joel 3:9-10:

Proclaim this among the nations:
Prepare a war; rouse the mighty men!
Let all the soldiers draw near, let them come up!
10 Beat your plowshares into swords
And your pruning hooks into spears;
Let the weak say, "I am a mighty man."

There is further study into this which is worthwhile, however I think there are some principles here which can be applied today. It has to do with recognizing the time we are in, so we may know whether we will need tools or weapons.

There are fields in our spiritual land which are sometimes farming fields and sometimes battlefields. We need to recognize what time we are in, so we know what type of field we are to engage in. Then we will know whether we are to plant or to war.

I see at least three different fields as being important right now, with each containing battlefields and farming fields at the same time.

1.      Leadership / Accountability

Leadership in the farming field. Honest people of integrity and godliness who are called into leadership might run for an elected governmental position, or obtain another leadership position in society, where they can sow seed and tend to these various “gardens” in our land to preserve our rights and prepare us for the future. Those in this field include those who support these leaders in various ways—as support staff, financial backing etc. When this field is neglected, weed seeds grow and take over allowing ungodly leaders to (knowingly or unknowingly) take the people in a direction that is oppressive and harmful.

Accountability in the battlefield. On this field we hold accountable those leaders and elected officials who have lost ground for what is good and right and allowed that which is harmful to come into our society and take root. Whether because of incompetence, carelessness, corruption, lack of courage etc. these weeds need to be pulled out, roots and all. Some are called to fight in this field and hold people accountable, engaging in legal battles when necessary. All voters have a responsibility to pay attention to what their elected officials are doing and to communicate with them when their rights are infringed upon, so all Americans are to engage in this field to a certain degree.

2.       Influence / Argument

Influence in the farming field. Everyone carries a certain amount of influence over others in their life, such as families, friends, and co-workers. Parents have tremendous responsibility and influence over their children. Some may be called to more public positions of influence such as education, media, religion, science, business etc. to accurately speak the truth, facts, history, and work to maintain and preserve this accurate information, and to do so without censorship, for the future. These are not just professionals, but include anyone who enlightens, exhorts, encourages, or influences others through discussion or example. Parent’s education and influence over their children is vital, but so is anyone who has a godly affect in their sphere of influence.

Argument in the battlefield. An argument, in the true sense of the word, is where opposing ideas are exchanged, discussed, and debated. It’s not a mean-spirited, hateful communication, but it’s when a person gives reason for his/her opinion or belief, and presents the basis for that belief—whether logic, Scripture, experience etc. This uncensored process exposes misinformation, indoctrination, and the evil influence that the enemies of what is good and true have had over the people. It is a fight to undo the strongholds of lies and deception which have taken hold within the mind. Some may respond when truth and facts are revealed this way, but others may require spiritual warfare to root out any embedded deception in their thinking.

3.       Christian Growth / Spiritual Warfare

Christian Growth in the farming field. This includes the growth of both the number of Christians and their maturity in Christ. When the Word of God—the gospel of Jesus Christ—is preached, people come to believe in Him, and the church grows numerically such as what occurred in the early days of the church recorded in the book of Acts. The teaching of this same Word (the Bible) causes Christians to grow in maturity, more accurately living by the standards of the Word of God, becoming His disciples.

Why is Christian growth so important to the preservation and stability of our republic? True believers in Christ who come to know the Lord personally and grow in the knowledge of His Word, will live biblical lives which brings God’s blessing and favor, protection, and provision upon our land. When we teach our children the ways of the Lord, our future is hopeful. As children and adults learn the Word of God, develop a relationship with Him and a love for His Word, they will know the truth, have discernment to recognize what is truly good, and be alerted to unwise or deceptive tactics which would bring us into bondage. There is only one standard of Truth. To know it, and live by it, is the only thing that brings true freedom.

Spiritual Warfare in the battlefield. Believers in Christ who know their authority in Him, will directly confront the deceptive influences which deceive and oppress people in various ways. There is an enemy which not only opposes the faith of individual Christians but opposes God Himself and mankind as a whole (because we’re made in the image of God). As the church realizes the spiritual authority given to us as the ecclesia—God’s governing body on the earth—we will more effectively win these battles for the soul of our land. The same Word of God which brings spiritual life and maturity to believers in Christ, is the weapon used against this enemy who uses lies, deception, addictions, lust, greed, all types of sin, despair, hopelessness, etc. to try and paralyze the church so he can carry out his plans. Just as Jesus used spoken Scripture against him, so is this the primary weapon of the Church today. As long as we remain ignorant of the authority and responsibility the church has been given by the Lord Himself, we are neglecting the most powerful weapon we have to maintain our freedom, but when the church matures to this point of awareness and maturity, she will confront the evils of the land, bring others into the kingdom of God, and open up the windows of God’s blessing.

The Word of God not only brings numerical growth to the church through people hearing and believing the gospel of Jesus Christ and accepting Him as Lord and Savior; it brings maturity to the church as people receive the teaching of Scripture and live accordingly. The Word of God is also the primary weapon used against the enemy of God and His church. It’s vital that the Word of God remain free in our nation and all areas of our lives.

Fields of Home and Family

I don’t want to neglect to mention here that each one of us has a field in our own lives and homes. As you make decisions to live according to what is good and right—to not rebel against God and truth—you win a battle that affects the land you live in and the body of Christ as a whole, which you are a part of as a Christian. Don’t think that your decisions to do the right thing and make good and godly choices don’t have an impact. When you win a battle in your own life, you win a battle for the entire kingdom of God on earth. This impacts an entire region, as God responds to His people in a land. As you take the time to study the truths of God’s Word, allowing yourself to be discipled by His truths, you become equipped and prepared to recognize and confront error and lies. You and your life are not insignificant.

I’m not saying these are the only “fields” that exist but seek to find your place in these areas. Are you to engage, or support others, in a leadership field to directly affect the governing of our nation, state, local government or other areas? Are you called to an influential field to give people factual, accurate, truthful information to enlighten minds and teach others to think for themselves based on truthful standards? Are you called to a spiritual field to preach or teach the gospel of Jesus Christ resulting in changed and renewed hearts so good is called good again and truth is truthfully defined?

Once you find your field, determine what time it is in your season. Is it time to battle, or time to farm? I believe both need to occur at the same time right now. Some will engage on the battlefield of their particular field—driving out that which has invaded and planted poisonous crops. And some will prepare for the future by plowing the hard ground, removing deep roots, stones, and overgrown weeds, planting seed, tending to it, and maintaining it.

All that is going on in the world today really emphasizes the fact that the only rightful leader is King Jesus, and the only truthful law is the Word of God. The more we align with Him and His Word, the more we’ll maintain a level of peace and victory that is unattainable any other way.