Needed: Reformation – Chapter 14

Who is Man? Part 5

 

If paradise has been lost it can be regained. Man can be regenerated. The image that we had can be renewed. This is one of the great truths in the Word of God. Instead of the devil’s image of pride, malice and envy – the righteousness and goodness of God’s image can be recovered.

 

Colossians 3:10 “…and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

 

This image repair can be accomplished only by God. In Hebrews 1:3 it says: “…who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.” He is the only One that can restore His image in us. How did He do this? This is what the Cross of Jesus is all about. This is why reformation is so important. It brings us back to the cross and what it means. In Adam we die, but in Christ we are made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22)

 

Truly God does all things well. In the future there will not only be the blessings of the resurrection, eternal life, immortality and all being manifested with Christ, but also a restoration of the dominion that we lost through sin.

 

When Christ returns He will exercise all the power over His creation that was lost through sin. (Hebrews 2:6-8) “But there is a place where someone has testified: “What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels; you crowned him with glory and honor and put everything under his feet.” Psalms 8:4-8

 

It is through His grace that those who are ‘in Christ’ will share in His glorious reign. When God raises us up in Christ we possess a dominion that Adam would never have known had he remained innocent all his days.

 

We will be given a new name. It is interesting to see that what Nimrod and the people of his days wanted was to make a name for themselves, but God gives us a new name through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. In Genesis 11 we learn that they wanted to make a name for themselves, but in Genesis 12, where Abram is chosen, we read “I will make your name great.”

 

Later in his life we read that God gave to Abram the name Abraham. Genesis 17:1 “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him. No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.”

 

Most of the world, with the different religions, are like Nimrod leaving God out of the picture and trying to gain their own righteousness, but His righteousness is being offered to us by grace through the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Needless to say that reformation brings us back to this truth: IT IS ALL GRACE AND NOTHING OF WORKS.

Daily Devotional

Lord, please hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help, and help me to stand up for Your truth.

 

Son, I am sending My children prophets, wise men and teachers, so obey whatever they tell you. Some of these leaders of Mine will be killed, beaten, and chased from city to city.  They will face hostility even from so called churches by people that say, “These leaders are crazy fools!” But these leaders of Mine are watchmen preparing My children for what is coming. For the time of punishment has come, and it will be a terrible day when I turn away and leave!

 

The false prophets and leaders of today spout empty words and make promises they don’t intend to keep. Therefore, injustice springs up among My people like poisonous weeds. So My children do not follow what they teach. Everything they do is for show and profit.

 

My children must think about all that I said, and ask themselves, “What are we going to do? Who’s going to speak up for God’s truth and with true wisdom for this day; for these leaders have committed a terrible and shameful crime by not speaking what is right and true.”

 

I tell you the truth, judgment has begun, and My children will be hated all over the world because they are My faithful followers. They must prayerfully plow up hard hearts and make them ready to receive My seeds of salvation and righteousness. They will preach My Good News throughout the whole world; for now is the time to seek Me. Every nation will hear it and then the end will come. Heaven and earth may disappear, but My Word remains forever and fulfilled.

 

Son, to the faithful I show My faithfulness, so be ready at all times to speak and act for Me. Do not be afraid. I will rescue the humble but humiliate the proud. My way is perfect. My promises are trustworthy. I am the shield for all who look to Me for protection.

Daily Devotional

Soon, you will want to marry and have a family. But let me tell you what kind of woman you should stay away from. She will be the one who will catch your eye, because she knows what will attract you. She will say, “How can you tell me, ‘I love you,’ when you don’t share your secrets with me?” She will torment you with her nagging day after day until you are sick to death of it. She will manipulate you by trying to make you feel guilty until you have no strength left. You will be so warn out trying to please her that you won’t realize that you have spent no time with your Lord – to know what truly pleases Him. You will become a man with no vision, bound with chains of guilt, and forced to grind out a living that is never enough.

 

When you marry you are no longer two but one. God has said that no one better split apart what God has joined together.  If you want a great family then lead your family by following the Lord, not your wife. Humanly speaking, this might seem impossible, but remember that with God everything is possible. When you lead – you must lead by being a servant. Show her what true love is by getting to know her beyond her beauty. Lead your wife and children as a man being lead by the Lord; for the Lord will cover you.

 

Lord, I give my grandsons to you, and I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because You will answer my prayer by each of them recognizing a jezebel woman. You will show them each the wife best for them, and they will be blessed like I have been blessed.  

 

 

Daily Devotional

Lord, it seems that there is very little faithfulness, kindness and knowledge of You. People make promises only to break them. There is violence everywhere, one murder after another; the wicked strut about and evil is praised. The foundations of law and order have collapsed, so what can Your children do?

 

Son, in the last days there will be a great revival, when people will tremble in awe of Me and of My goodness. They will return and devote themselves to Me. For My children love righteousness and justice; they will see My face. They will remember that all of My promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace; purified seven times over. They know I protect them and preserving them forever. 

 

When My children realize that if they have faith even as small as a mustard seed, they can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move. Nothing will be impossible. When they agree on anything and ask My Father in heaven – He will do it for them. When two or three are together in My Name they will know that I am there. So My children, be humble and keep your heart sensitive towards Spirit and be obedient to My word.

 

I am coming SOON!

Daily Devotional

Son, in the coming days My children will be troubled by what they see and hear. It is at this time My children must not be afraid but take courage; for I am here. They must not doubt My promises!

 

A man has arrived, and has begun his quest to be in power. He is a despicable man, and will take control by flattery and intrigue. He will make deceitful promises, and make various alliances. He will become strong despite having only a handful of followers. He will distribute the wealth of others by saying, “It isn’t fair.” He will flatter and win over the wicked, and then encourage them to  continue in their wickedness, and none will understand what is really happening.

 

But, My children must be wise and strong to resist him. I will raise up wise leaders and give them My instruction, but some of these leaders will be jailed or killed. During these persecutions, little help will arrive, and many who join My children will not be sincere. When My children fall victim to persecution, their bodies may lie dead and buried, but they will rise up to My everlasting life. So My children, take courage for these trails will purify, cleanse, and refine you. The Day I promised; that My children will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for them – it will come! It will not be late or too soon. It will be exactly like I said. So, REJOICE ALWAYS, and be faithful to the end.

 

Daily Devotional

Lord, I am sick at heart by what I see and hear today, so please listen to my cry for help, for I pray to no one but You. Every morning I bring my requests to You and wait expectantly. Because of Your unfailing love, I can enter Your presence, so lead me by making Your way plain for me to follow.

 

I know that You protect Your children by surrounding them with Your shield of love. But Lord, America has sinned and done wrong. It continues to rebel against You and Your Word. America refuses to listen to Your prophets. Because our leaders have not followed Your instructions, judgments will be poured down on us. Every judgment written down in Your Word about any rebellious nation – will come true.

 

Son, listen to what My prophets are saying and you will be greatly encouraged. Take My yoke for your life, and remember that My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your soul.

 

My name is the only hope for America and for all the world. Anyone and any nation that isn’t with Me – opposes Me, and all those that don’t work with Me are actually working against Me. They will reap the consequence of dishonoring Me and ignoring My servants that I send with warning and instruction.  

 

Son, you must protect your heart; for whatever is in your heart determines what you say, and your words will either acquit you or condemn you.

 

Remember that My Kingdom is forcefully advancing, and there are violent people attacking it. But they cannot stop the Kingdom of God from coming, and neither will they enter it. My Kingdom is coming whether they believe it or not.

Daily Devotional

Son, I cannot help those who think they are righteous, but I will help those who know they are sinners. I will show them My compassion. I see their confusion and helplessness; they are like sheep without a shepherd. Today the harvest is great, but so few are willing to do what I ask of them. So pray for more workers who will listen to Me. Then they can go in the strength they have, because I am sending them with everything they need. They don’t need to be afraid; for they will know that I am going to help them, and everything will happen just like I said!

 

I will send My obedient children out as sheep among wolves, and they must be shrewd but harmless. Some of My children will be handed over to the courts because they are My followers. But this will be their opportunity to testify of Me. So if they are arrested, they don’t need to worry about how to respond or what to say. I will give them the right words at the right time. It will not be them speaking, but it will be My Spirit speaking through them.

 

Soon all nations will hate you because you are My children.  So don’t be afraid of those who threaten you by saying they can kill you; for they cannot touch your soul. I am the only One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. In the coming days don’t be surprised that some of My enemies are in your own household! My children must remember that if they love their family more than Me, they are not Mine. If My children refuse to stand for Me and obey what I ask of them, they are not worthy of Me. If they cling to their life, they will lose it, but if they give up their life for Me – they will find true life.

 

A man of intrigue has begun to wage war against My children and he will defeat them until I judge in favor of My children. This master of intrigue has begun to rise in power, because sin is rampant everywhere. He is becoming very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate My children. He will be a master of deception and will become more arrogant than any before him. He will destroy many without warning, but he will be broken, though not by human power.

 

Lord, I thank You that soon You will be given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that every race and nation and language will obey You. You rule is eternal, it will never end. Your kingdom will never be destroyed, and Your children will rule with You forever and ever. Therefore, I can pray to You and You will answer me. Because You are watching over me I can have peace today and every day. I know You hold my future.

Daily Devotional

Son, there is another generation in America that does not acknowledge Me or remember the things I have done.  They have abandoned Me by going after other gods, serving and worshiping them. They refuse to give up their evil practices. How quickly America has turned away from the path of their ancestors, who had walked in obedience to Me. Each generation is behaving worse than those who lived before them. They have become so arrogant by saying that there are many roads to Me.

 

My children must realize that they do not need to defend themselves against this generation, because I am able to save them. For I will bless and care for those who realize their need for Me; hose whose hearts are pure, and are persecuted for doing what is right. So My children, be happy that you do not fit in with the world! Be very glad about it; for a great reward awaits you in heaven! Remember that I know exactly what you need even before you ask Me!

 

Lord, since I cannot understand all of Your activities, let me rejoice every day that you have given me to live. May Your Name be kept holy in my life, and may Your Kingdom come soon. Forgive me of my sins, and rescue me from the evil one. Help me not to worry about the things I have no control over, and to live righteously with the help of Your Spirit in me. 

 

I love Your Word because when I read Your word it takes away the fear and worry about tomorrow. Your word promises me that You will give me everything I need. You will rescue me by Your supreme power. But even if You do not rescue me, I want to make it clear to all that I will serve only You, and I am willing to die rather than serve or worship any false god; for You alone  are the One True God.

 

 

Needed: Reformation – Chapter 13

Who Is Man? Part 4

 

When we think of man we cannot forget what evolution has done. However, evolution did not start with Darwin, but with philosophers known as “Pre-Socratics,” around sixth to mid-fifth century B.C. These were philosophers bouncing ideas back and forth before the coming of Socrates. They were not interested in ‘who’ created the earth, but ‘what’ the universe was created of. They thought that all of life was just “matter” (stuff). For them, even if ‘the gods’ did exist they too came out of the same cosmos soup.

 

This type of thinking has been with us ever since and today it shows up in our class rooms as evolution. In this type of thinking, here in the West especially, it doesn’t always mean that they are against God, but that He does not really matter. He is insignificant. Therefore, the evolution of man has taken the place of God and man can manage on his own.

 

Yet, when we read the Bible we find that it is completely different than what we are learning in the class rooms of our universities. Who is right? What is truth? Some will say that evolution does not oppose the Bible account of the origin of man.  However, they are wrong and here are a few questions by Herbert Lockyer that they can give us an answer to:

 

1. At what point in the ascending scale do moral questions emerge, or where does irresponsible animal passion pass into moral obligation? 

 

2. At what point does a spiritual nature, carrying the gift of immortality, appear? 

 

3. At what particular stage in the development of a semi-animal, semi-savage creature, can we apply the words: “Made in the image of God?” 

 

4. How does the theory affect the Person of Jesus Christ, and how far back along the process of development does His redemptive work take effect?

 

I am reminded of the philosophers of the Apostle Paul’s day.  Paul, in particular said, “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” (1 Corinthians 1:20-21) What Paul is doing is putting out a challenge and saying to these people that if you have the answers to life’s questions then step forward and let us hear! But they have nothing to say. Truth brings us back to who man is and why he is here, and reformation starts when people accept the Word of God: Truth.  What we have today is man’s prideful opinions based on his opposition to the truth, which reveals his hatred for God and His Word. His Word is truth.

 

Why is all of this important? It is important because we need to see that we are the creatures and God is the Creator.

 

The philosophy I was writing about that somehow we can do the work of God in the flesh, without the Holy Spirit, has penetrated the churches here in the West and is causing untold damage.

 

In Galatians 3:3 Paul said: “Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?”

 

How much of what we do with our church programs, missions, evangelism, etc. is truly a direct result of ‘waiting on the Lord’ for His direction and timing? Are we fulfilling our own plans that seem or feel good to us? God’s work, when it is done in the flesh, is nothing more than ‘dead works,’ according to God (James 2:26) that “the body without the Spirit is dead.”                           

 

 

 

 

Daily Devotional

Son, when you come to the end of your life, you will be empty-handed just like the day you were born. So learn to enjoy your work and do what I ask of you. Remember it is gift from Me to receive wealth, and to have good health to enjoy it. I will keep you so busy enjoying life that you will have no time to think about the past.

 

People who find no satisfaction in life are unhappy people, and are never content. They do not know how to enjoy what they have, because they always desire more. They think that wealth brings true happiness!

 

So live your life knowing that I am coming soon, and you will be blessed. When you read My words of prophecy that are in My book, you will see that I am coming soon. When I come I will bring rewards and crowns with me to give to My children. My home will be with My children, and I will live with them forever! Nothing evil will be allowed to enter My home; only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

 

When I come I will judge everyone: the living and the dead, the great and the common, the free and the slave; everyone who has lived will stand before My throne. I will open My history books and all those not found in My Book of Life will be judged according to what they have done with what I gave them for eternal life. Anyone whose name was not found recorded in My Book of Life will be thrown into the eternal lake of fire.

 

To those who are thirsty for the truth, I give it freely. So come and drink in the pure water of life while there is still time; before I say that – it is finished, and the door is shut!