Wednesday, December 15, 2021

Potato Head Christianity

 


When our daughter was but a small child, they had come out with toy that resembled a potato and it came with parts to show whether it was of a Mr. or a Mrs.   At the beginning of playtime, it went well, but then after being bored with it, all kinds of things appeared on the potato not resembling anything but a Frankentato!

Now our daughter would put her toys away when finished, would take Frankentato apart and place back in the box. But her mom put the Mr. back on the potato in the box!

Today we have Christianity much like that potato. We find people who dislike what God created in them to be and will today find some kind of specialist to change their body to that whim that suits them for a moment! Had recently read an article of a mother who had fought a faith fight in winning her daughter back to the Lord, by prayer and by supporting her enough to say that the life she sought was fantasy. And her mother was so right about it! She went into detail of how she came through it, but it took a belief that her daughter would see Jesus as Jesus sees her!

The world likes to feed a person with some fake things, those false narratives about people and ride the backs of those who choose to live the life God planned for them. Christianity is in Christ Jesus. Christianity is not a fad, a false narrative, a fluke, nor is it of chaos! The is only one way to God: Jesus Christ!  Believing in the Lord, is believing He died for us. That He gave His all for us to have life, delivered from the enemy, given truth to reside in His peace and to be an influence to the world who wants only fleshy types and that kind of existence. But in Jesus, we reside in truth and live in His peace with faith expecting His will is done in our lives.

In thinking about this in the last two days, I thought of King Herod. He did not want Christianity. He heard John the Baptist and even said that he would hear him again on what he taught, but Herod’s heart was flesh, was set for lust with no boundaries and so he became the brutal king!

Of certainty you know his tale, he is found in the pages of the Gospel Matthew 14. At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus, 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him” 3 For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. 7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter.” 9 And the king was sorry; nevertheless because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. 10 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it and went and told Jesus.

 

Many issues are evident here with Herod. He offered a gift of up to half his kingdom: this debase act in entertainment would come back to haunt him. There was no “fear of God” only for entertainment and to exploit that which is sensuous to the eyes of the flesh where far more is thrown toward that one thing where the depraved get off by their having their way. It is the one who has “a title of sorts” to exert cruelty on another as God’s ambassador: John the Baptist. Herod chased flesh and he got flesh, a mouth full indeed!

Herod had issues with the birth of Jesus. Now Herod the Great had been king until 4 B.C. So the newest Herod would be trying to live like the previous king had been ,being “great” and all, when Jesus arrived in Bethlehem. And when this king would hear of this child which would be living, all male children were put to death up to two years of age. When Herod died, Joseph would return Jesus and Mary his mother back to Nazareth from Egypt. He turned aside to take them into Galilee.

  Matthew 2: 13-18 NKJV 13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young child & His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.” 14 When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, 15 and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the Prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all male children who were in Bethlehem & in all its districts, from two years and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet saying,: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping & great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”

Yes, Herod had a lustful life! He liked being king and he catered to those who would take him where he was desiring to go. He had a party! He had Herodias, his brother’s wife with him. And not only that, he also had her daughter with them as well.

Immorality was found among Herod & Herodias; lust bound him to more oppressed and dark tastes leading to murder. And it was Herodias’ daughter Salome who danced a most provocative dance before this king in the celebration of Herod's birth!

Considered the minor ruler over Galilee: Herod Antipas; Mark 6:17-27 NKJV 17 For Herod himself had sent & laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. 18 Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife; for he had married her. 19 Therefore Herodias held it against him & wanted to kill him, but she could not; 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Mark 6: 21 Then the opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, & the chief men of Galilee. 22 And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl. “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23 He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 24 So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”  25 Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent an executioner & commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, 28 brought his head on a platter & gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.

 

This same king Herod had seduced his niece Herodias, who was married to Herod’s brother Philip. He, who with the face of evil, persuaded her to divorce her husband and marry him where he in turn divorced his own wife! Can you see that potato head horror taking place?

 

It was John the Baptist who held the objective before Herod & Herodias that God was not pleased with the situation. In plain language he told them that it was not lawful for him to have her! Still Herodias had evil in her heart! This celebration brought celebrities before the king & Herodias arranged for her daughter to dance. Pleasing the king, he was going to give her half of his kingdom which was not lawful for him to do! She would glory a short time in this diluted thinking though!

 

Yes, the woman was disturbed indeed to bring her illicit pleasures as that to her daughter, but her flesh spoke loudly as the adulterous wife, and as one who propagated actions to her daughter.

From the Matthew Henry’s Com., the king no doubt was hardened in wickedness in that although he was convinced John was a prophet, one owned of God, still he does not express sorrow for his sin in putting John to death by being beheaded.

It would the king, a leader of a region who would wield his authority to use a “teen” who he lusted after to bring John the Baptist to his death. Today, we see that going on in this nation and other nations as well. Leaders set on destruction to a certain few so that they might party on till the cows come home using the youth of this nation in the same vein of deceit and fantasy! They teach everything but truth and desire to live in lust of pleasure and pride! They speak everything is free and will cost them nothing, but it will in the end!!

 

John the Baptist was sent to prepare the way for that of Jesus and the kingdom which had come. It is an identity in the spiritual of God. It is not the spiritual of this world which is demonic and is fading away. It is God or Nothing! It is our having identity in Christ! And that identity is knowing him, trained by the Scripture of the Gospel He delivered so that we would anticipate him and recognize His voice in His speaking!

As children we saw the Babe in the manger. As one growing up in Him, we saw the Cross, the brutality of hate against another and what sin looks like when it rears its ugliness against that which is the righteous and the true!

Jesus is returning: Revelation 19:11-12 declares this Now I saw heaven opened, & behold a white horse, and He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were may crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. 13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood & His name is called the Word of God.

We dance in His presence, once as children, now as His sons. We live in the atmosphere of Him, where health is viewed in wholeness of mind, soul and body. We see His flaming eyes of fire, and see that beautiful garment dipped in blood…for He is majesty on high and we ride with Him to claim the earth for His glory and to His praise. We ride on horses, and where we are dressed all white and clean……we ride with the King of glory!

No, no Frankentato’s please! As for me and mine, we serve the Lord! We expect His appearance and we know how He will be dressed and what He will say to us! But if you play in fantasy land, living in deceit, then you might be waiting for some kind of potato head in your own kind of Christianity and if it is Frankentato…..RUN!

 

                                             New teaching at: Voice of Prayer 

Called to Purpose to be Seated in Life

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 

New teaching at: Life Giving Wells
Worshiping Images or Worshiping God No Blurred Lines

Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching

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