BUT WHILE MEN SLEPT, HIS ENEMY CAME

As I look at the history of America, I am convinced that the “falling away” or “rebellion”  spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3, began to occur before many of us were even born.  Just in looking back at the movies and television in America, from the time of the “Dick Van Dyke Show” 1961 (where they would not even allow people portraying a husband and wife to be filmed in bed together.)  to now where there is all kinds of sex and perversion on even prime time shows for all the kids to see.

When you are born into something - it is easy to think it is “normal” until a light is shined on it and a revelation of God’s Holy Word is brought before you.  Even then - it often takes repeated exposure to God’s standard of truth written in His word before you can even begin to comprehend how far off this world has traversed.

It takes humility to be able to see and receive the truth.  That pretty much all of society, in all nations, has fallen away from the standards God - Our Creator, set up for us in this creation of His.  But once you get past the acknowledgement of that truth, it is absolutely shocking how far society has fallen away.

Matthew 13:24,25  “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field;  but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way.”

I’m not sure when it began, but television certainly put it on the fast track.  Even looking at “The Wizard of Oz”  filmed in 1939,  you can see a complete departure from the reality of God’s Word and standards.  Instead the subtle introduction of a wizard having the answers and that goodness and answers come from man - without the need of God, and entertainment became the pursuit of much of humanity. (a modern idol - even the Oscar is a golden statue of a man) This departure was subtle and cunning.  

I think television and media was (and is)  the most powerful tool in Satan’s hand to reshape mankind into a non believing and self centered, entertainment seeking, moral less group of people - and it has taken decades to slowly move it to this point.  It is heartbreaking, but mostly for those that are under it’s spell of brain washing, where man is his own god and his own standard maker.  Again, it happened before most of us were born.  A departure from the Word and ways of God.  There is no condemnation towards us - we can’t help that we were born into a time of great deception.  But truth is also readily available to anyone seeking to find it.  For that we are accountable.

It takes a great commitment to follow God’s word.  As I spoke in the beginning 2 Thessalonians  2 talks about the rebellion and falling away of those that claim to believe in Christ.  John 1 says that Jesus is the living Word of God and came to dwell among us.  If you are a believer you must “fight the good fight of faith”.  To stick out in a generation that is going down stream and choose to fight the current to go upstream towards Gods ways and standards.  Doing that now may mean the difference between life or death.  Eternity in heaven or hell.  This is no light matter, and to stand up and walk in God’s ways will require a sacrifice (taking up your cross daily)  but that sacrifice is small compared to what Jesus did for us.  He is a good God and always has our best interest at heart.  He is for us and not against us.  (Romans 8:31)

One day this will all come to an end.  One day we will stand before God and receive a reward for following Him, or suffer loss for not.  Heartbreaking loss.  Your story is dependent on your heart choices.  God alone can empower you to walk the walk in this degenerate society, but the rewards for choosing to follow Jesus and His word, will last into eternity.

My heart goes out to us all.  May God shed His light within us by His Holy spirit and may we have the grace to keep looking to Him who is the author and finisher of our faith and run this race with patience, enduring until the end.  God bless each and every one of you.  We are a chosen generation.  May God help us fight the good fight of faith.

Amen

Your sister in Christ, Jean

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

What is “A Thorn In The Flesh”

Hi Guys!!  I’ve always wanted to explain something about my illnesses and the scriptures that I believe the Lord gave me and to show you a balance that the Word of Faith /Healing  movement so often left out.

The Thorn in the Flesh

2 Corinthians 12:7-10    

And lest I (Paul) should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Everyone doesn’t have a “thorn in the flesh”  ,  but we all have trials and tribulations for various reasons.  God still heals people,  but sometimes things are there for a reason for a season!  

God is good in all He does and allows.  Romans 8:28  “He works all things together for good to those that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose.’

Always look for the treasure within .  Then even if it’s a move by Satan to steal , kill and destroy  (John 10:10)  God can always bring something good out of it.  

Okay.  LOL.   My sermon for the day!   ❤  

A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Did you know…..King Solomon – the wisest man that lived, wrote the entire book of Proverbs and was chosen to build the temple of God.  Did you know that he fell away from God and worshipped idols at the end of his life?  I don’t think I have ever heard a sermon on it, though I had read it in the Bible.  And still, it shocks me today.  Here is the account in 1 Kings.

1 Kings 11:4-10   “For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David.  For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom[b] the abomination of the Ammonites.  Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David.  Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon.  And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.

 So the Lord became angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned from the Lord God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice,  and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he did not keep what the Lord had commanded.

So the reason I bring this up is because of the following scripture below concerning the falling away

2 Thessalonians 2:3,4    “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,  who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

At end of his life, after such a life of glory – he fell away from God.  Soloman!!   How could this be?   It is actually quite simple.  He did not obey God in everything and ignored God’s warnings and command.   

1 Kings 11  “But King Solomon loved many foreign women, as well as the daughter of Pharaoh: women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites— 2 from the nations of whom the Lord had said to the children of Israel, “You shall not intermarry with them, nor they with you. Surely they will turn away your hearts after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love.

It is often that we do the same things.  Cling to the very things God has asked us to let go.  We stay in the “worldly mindset” and don’t renew our minds and lives to the Word of God and God’s ways.  It may not matter for a long, long time – but look at the end results.  

This should be a warning, especially in this hour to listen and obey God’s directives.  Lest we think, like Soloman, and dismiss some of  God’s commands and end up snared and trapped.  Apart from God we can do nothing…

I know it’s a lot to think about.  But we are living in the last days and things can’t be taken for granted.  We need to live under the shadow of the Most High (Psalm 91)  where our good Father just wants to protect us and keep us safe.  

Lord show us any area we have been ignoring and blowing you off.  Keep us safe in the shadow of Your wings and protect us in the hour.  Amen

SPIRIT, SOUL, AND BODY