I was thinking about how I (all people) should never make a promise because no human being can ever FULLY keep their promise. God is the only One who can make a promise and keep it FULLY. We say our vows on our wedding day, or make promises to our children or to whoever, but we are not able to keep all the vows or promises we make. BUT, when God makes a vow or promise, He keeps it.

I’m reminded of the account in the Bible about God and Abraham when God called Abraham into a covenant with Him. (Genesis 15) God knew Abraham was just a man, and therefore, God fulfilled both sides of the covenant showing us that although we make vows or promises to God with the right ‘intent,’ God will fulfill OUR promise or vow, as well as His own. Abraham was called by God to a purpose that would affect the whole world. And God, knowing that Abraham was just a man, a sinner like us all, a person unable to keep a promise fully, fulfilled both required sides of the covenant God was making with Abraham. Abraham finished what God gave him to do with his life on earth because God was with him all the way. Therefore,
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going….And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. Hebrews 11:8-12

God sees our heart, the desire of our heart, and as long as our desire is Him, He turns our lack of measuring up to our commitment/vow/promise – to us experiencing who He is and how He works “all things for our good.” The reason why God is ALL IN for us is that we are ALL IN HIS SON and His Son is IN us by His Spirit – when we first made our commitment to Jesus our Savior. Just like God did with Abraham in bringing him all the way to God’s promise, He will do with us.

Jesus told His first disciples that only because of His word to them can they remain CLEAN before the Father. (John 15:3) He went on to tell them that the only way they (we) can bear ‘good’ fruit is by HIS life in us. We can do things that appear good and feel good, but without His life in us – none of it will stand up to the fire when all our works are put to the test as the end.

I’m thankful that all the LORD is after is my sincere love for Him. If I keep Jesus Christ first, there is nothing God won’t do for me that would help me keep my vow to my Savior. Jesus said to His disciples: “As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Now REMAIN IN MY LOVE. If you keep My commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.” John 15:9-10

He even gives us a promise: “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples.” John 15:7-8

So again, I see that it’s all about Jesus my God and Savior. Nothing good lives in me apart from HIM!

Jesus was praying to His Father:
“May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent me. I have given them the glory that You gave me, that they may be one as WE are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent me and have loved them even as You have loved me.” John 17:21-23

Imagine that! The Creator, our heavenly Father, will lavish His love on us with just as much favor as He has for His own Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ stands at the right hand of His Father defending those who are IN HIM by faith, faith in who HE IS according to the Scriptures. Jesus stands at the right hand of the Father as our HIGH PRIEST, with His own shed-blood covering us so we are as white as snow in the Father’s eyes. It’s ALL HIM!

We love because HE FIRST loved us. (1 John 4:19)

“And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

It gives me peace and joy to know that Jesus will NEVER leave me nor forsake me, for HE SAID SO, and HE KEEPS HIS PROMISES. I also KNOW, that even though all my sins are forgiven, that my disobedience will have earthly consequences.

Father God says to me:
“Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as His children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all….No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it PRODUCES a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:7-8,11)  I have felt His discipline a few times, and I pray I’ll never give Him another reason!

So, God is fulfilling what He started in me (us) because of Jesus Christ, who is also called the “author and finisher of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2)

All VICTORY is in Jesus!

I really don’t like reading the books of the prophets in the Holy Bible (God’s Word) because of how those warnings and condemnation speaks so loudly today to America! God’s prophets were sent to Israel (Judah and Jerusalem) but I see so much similarity with America today. Both nations began by God calling a man/men to His purpose ‘for His people’ who were living under forced slavery with oppression/persecution. (Slavery/oppression came to them by their own fault.) 

After 400 years, God called Moses to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. And over 2 centuries ago God called the Pilgrims out of Great Britain to this land we call America, where they would live UNDER GOD and not under the GB king’s religious tyranny. America, the land of the free and home of the brave, where God would show His people how to live with His blessings of protection and prosperity, and to end forced slavery of all kinds.

When God leads and helps men with HIS purpose, it’s critical to have that purpose carried on by each generation after. Otherwise, there will be a progression of national defilement and ruin of the land God gave His people. If fathers (and mothers) do not continue in the faith, hope and love of God (the true God: Jesus Christ) then what we see happening today in America is the result of it; our ruin from the inside out. 

As I have been reading and meditating on the words of God given to Ezekiel His prophet for Israel, there is so much that we (America) have allowed to happen here that has stirred up God’s wrath on our nation: *open rebellion to God’s laws and principles for God-given rights 

*false narratives spoken by liars and wicked visionaries

*publicly whitewashing the evil deeds of men in power for political gain

*shedding the blood of the innocent (abortion – sacrificing children – sex-trafficking)

*idolatry – worshipping created things

*priests and pastors defiling God’s laws and holy things and committing lewd acts

*taking people’s treasures and precious things

*all kinds of shameful and detestable violations and activities, robberies and lawlessness

*accepting bribes to shed blood and ruin livelihoods

*exacting interest, unfair taxing to make a profit

*force unjust gain, extortion

*denying true justice in the land; tearing down righteous justice/justices

*removing boundaries and not protecting the walls of the land (borders) 

*lying and killing to remain in power over an unsuspecting people 

*YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN ME, SAYS THE LORD GOD. (Ezekiel 22:12)

“I will surely strike My Hands together at the unjust gain you have made and at the blood you have shed in your midst. Will your courage endure or your hands be strong in the day I deal with YOU? I WILL DO IT! I will put an end to your uncleanness. When you have been defiled in the EYES OF THE NATIONS, you will KNOW that I AM THE LORD.” 

To Israel’s leaders at the time of scattering the Jews to other lands, God commanded: “Remove your crown! It will not be as it was. I will make it a ruin! The crown will not be restored until HE to whom it rightfully belongs shall come; to HIM I will give it.” Ezekiel 21:26-27

And who is “HE?” The KING of kings and LORD of lords: JESUS CHRIST, the only “Faithful and True.” “With justice He judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His Head are many crowns. His Name is written on Him: The Word of God. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood. The armies of heaven follow Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of HIS mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will RULE them with an iron scepter.” (Revelation 19:11-16) 

“And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; His kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.” Daniel 7:27

As it was in Israel’s day, it shall be for this whole world when all the ‘nations’ have FORGOTTEN THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, when no nation’s government upholds God’s Word with His laws and justice system any longer. Will America continue to have any LIGHT of the LORD left? Will His Gospel be regarded as a violation against society? 

With all these investigations of people in America’s high seats of authority, even the seat of POTUS, having used their power to promote themselves, personal financial gain and ungodly policies and ideologies, I guess we will see. We’ll see who America votes in these next elections, which will either give us more time to stand as the greatest nation on earth because of God’s blessings… or fall to the enemies of God. 

“ANY nation who refuses to obey Me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the LORD, have spoken.” Jeremiah 12:17

And yet God’s amazing GRACE still stands through the Gospel of His Beloved Son, the only hope of the nations and people personally.

“For a child was born to us, God’s own Son was given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

“It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man (or any nation) stands before you healed. Jesus is the stone you builders (of nations) rejected, which has become the CHIEF cornerstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:10-12

Praying for our nation! Preparing for the LORD’s return to do all He said He’d do. Halellujah!

I was thinking about how Jesus was with His boys whom He called to Himself, those whom He loved and taught and used to start His Church worldwide. Being with the Lord of Life, they matured from boys, to men of great faith and worth to the Savior of the world. We have the Holy Bible because of that. We have God’s Holy Spirit whom He sent in place of Jesus Christ in bodily form.

When I sit down with the Word of God, I’m sitting with Jesus to hear what God has to say to me. Jesus is called the “living Word of God” who lives forever. “For the word of God is living and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, even penetrating as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) “Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to him for protection; He defends those that reverence Him.” Proverbs 30:5

When I pray, I’m responding to Him and what He says to me from within His Word. “Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah 29:12) “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” Psalm 119:11

When I go about my day, I’m in continual fellowship with Jesus because He poured His Spirit in me so I can. I walk with Him wherever I go, and He’s with me in all that I do. I’m always aware of how He feels about all that I do.

At times I know that what I’m doing isn’t what He wants me to do, but I go ahead and do it anyway, like a rebellious child that still gives in to her sin-nature. “Yet there are some in the church….. who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.” Revelation 3:4

But I know that because HE LIVES IN ME, like He physically lived with His boys, never leaving them or me, I can stand on the truth that Apostle Paul learned and passed on to us about our sin-nature:

“So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:21-25

“But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way.” John 4:23

I love the book of Jude. It warned us and still warns us, of the days leading up to our Lord’s return to end all evil and rebellion on the earth; that deceivers and scoffers who do not have God’s Spirit but rather follow their own ungodly desires, work to divide us. Jude also encourages those who have God’s indwelling Spirit and Word - to persevere in the truth of God’s Word and praying in the Holy Spirit as we wait for the Lord Jesus Christ to bring us to Himself, the eternal life of God.

“KEEP yourselves in God’s love as you WAIT for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt;” (Do not judge them for their lack of knowledge, but instead tell them why you trust and love the Lord.) “save others by snatching them from the fire;” (Warn them of the coming judgment of God and PRAY for them to turn to Jesus their Savior with repentance.) “to others show mercy, mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corruption.” (Be around unbelievers without being comprised in the least; be in the world but not of, and like the world.)

The Spirit of Christ is this, according to Jesus Christ’s own words about His Holy Spirit: “He will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears from Me, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify Me because it is from Me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” John 16:13-14

And we are told to "test the spirits," because the spirit we are listening to may not be Christ's Holy Spirit. How do you test the spirits; you test what you hear by what the Word of God says about EVERYTHING.

We hear today so many so-called Christians using God’s Word to mask their own evil agendas. Or like the apostle John says about those who say they believe in the Son of God, yet they run ahead of His pure teaching with their OWN fine-sounding teaching and prove themselves to not have God living in them at all by His Spirit. (2 John 2-10)

John warns us that we are not to welcome ‘false teachers’ into our houses of worship (church organizations or private homes); that any such person is a deceiver of the antichrist. “Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.”

It grieves me that most American churches today have compromised the Word of God and therefore have ignorantly allowed deceivers to infiltrate their houses of worship. What church leaders should be able to discern and protect, they have not, but rather forfeited the power and presence of the Lord’s Holy Spirit to serve their own “religions,” instead of serving the Lord Jesus Christ who is the chief cornerstone of His Church worldwide. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Body of all believers.   

John says that anyone who welcomes a “deceiver” shares in their wicked work. (2 John 11)

A deceiver is not the same as one who is searching for the truth to believe in the truth. The deceiver KNOWS the truth but twists, perverts, and works to destroy ALL truth from God. Satan, the great antichrist, knows the truth better than anyone and uses the Word of God to deceive and destroy faithfulness to the Lord Jesus Christ. If Satan and his deceivers can’t stop someone from believing in Jesus Christ as their Savior, he will work just as hard to keep a believer from their reward of faith in what God has called them to do.

How many believers today faithfully sit down each morning with God’s Word, and to pray? If the Word does not live in us, we can be easily deceived. If the Holy Spirit does not live in us, we cannot understand the Word of God as it should be understood. To all faithful believers…..

“To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy – to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before ALL ages, now and forevermore! Amen.”  Jude 24-25