Showing posts with label worship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label worship. Show all posts

Thursday, September 17, 2026

I Don't Want to Learn Today!

 


Heard this story from my husband today and wanted to share this believing God is in the midst of it!  Here given by my husband:  we call him “Little Man” the grandson of maintenance personnel at the dam. In this, a five year has a good word for folks if you are 5! Yes, he came to grandparents at about 3 am. He is dropped off to finish his night rest and get ready for the day. Little Man pokes Umpa, and speaks…..

At this point it is Little Man who continues to ask if school is that day…being today and a Wednesday. He tells him yes, it is a school day. And response….Little Man speaking, : Umpa, I don’t want to learn today! Umpa in his wisdom says Little man might as well get use to it because it is something that happens every day no matter if you’re going to school or like Umpa going to work.

With errands his parents had to do started early that day, so grandparents take Little Man to school. But his heart was set for that day off from learning.

Out of the mouths of Babes, he surely spoke as the five year old, still we can see forty- somethings and twenty- somethings do the very same thing. For yes, if working, you learn something each day you go to work. When one actually rolls the body out of bed to get a start on that learning, they find they might need to know a new computer update. That might know of some changes to the work area. They also learn CPR.  As working with children for many years, I also learned that you learned about the people you work with and the very work you are to do in that specific day.

Proverbs 1:2-7,20-23, 33 NKJV To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, 3 to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; 4 To give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion----5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son hear the instruction of your father and do not forsake the law of your mother, 9 for they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.

20 wisdom calls aloud outside; she raise her voice in the open squares. 21 she cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words; 22 How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning and fools hate knowledge. 23 Turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.     And verse 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely. And will be secure without fear of evil.

1.            Instruction in wisdom, justice, judgment and equity: Proverbs 2:9-10…..NKJV……Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path 10 when wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul.

2.            How desperate are you to be protected from those who enjoy doing evil, whose paths are crooked, whose house sinks down to death…God feeds the hungry. God only has the wisdom required!

3.            From verse 8 hear instruction from your parents, this will enhance one whose God is the Lord and whose paths are made straight.

4.            A wise man will hear and increase learning. A man of  understanding will attain wise counsel…to understand a proverb and an enigma…those words of the wise and their riddles.

5.            If you lack an appetite for God’s word , ask Him for a spiritual appetite: Psalm 42:1 as the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God, when shall I come and appear before God?

We should have that spiritual appetite for God and His word. And what about “Little Man”……… should he not have one for physical learning: that using our brains to think on subjects like reading, arithmetic , and writing our own names?  Should we be thinking on learning those important things to get through life created for us to live? Little Man is set on a “ great fishing day with Umpa”. He would like that fun day. But we must consider him who does not work will not eat. ( found in 2 Thessalonians 3:10  )

As the young child, we must encounter school days. We must learn to read, write and do math at many levels. The same is knowing God by encountering Him: His providential grace is of Him. And we have  seen that God works providentially to draw very different people to Himself. He does it through the same gospel message, proclaimed by His servants. The same is true when people are actually taught to read, to do math correctly and write not only your name but many written on topics one should study to get that diploma.

To Know God is to Encounter Him: 2 Cor. 3:16-18 NKJV Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is Spirit & where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

1.            We reflect what we behold, Are we beholding God in our sights? Has He captured our eye?...James identified Jesus as the glory in James 2:1; He is the glorious manifestation of the presence of God among His people!

2.            What you behold in Him you will speak; see a facet of God & be excited

3.            What do we see in Jesus to be thankful for Him, be thankful in Him and glory in His presence

4.            Jesus came to reconcile us back to God, not just to bring us  a pass to stay out of hell but to actually have a relationship with Him the Father through Jesus Christ;   We go from glory to glory by the Holy Spirit

Residing in Glory :Eph. 1: 2-12 Amp..bible….2 May grace (God’s unmerited favor) & spiritual peace [ which means peace with God & harmony, unity & un-disturbedness] be yours  from God our Father & from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 May blessing (praise, laudation, & eulogy) be to the God & father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual given by the Holy Spirit) ……..4 Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated & set apart for Him) in love.                                                                                                                                                  

1.            You & I had favor with God thousands of years before we were born

2.            My husband & I planned for our daughter…..a place for her ( a home) a room, things for comfort and food for nourishment, comfort in warmth…she has shoes, clothes….she had a space

3.            He destined us to His grace, that unmerited favor and spiritual peace to be in harmony with Him: Are you asking Him about the things He has planned for you and have you asked where your place is…???

But many today want the fun without learning much and rely on “free” stuff so they can sleep late and eat all day at home. Many want to get without giving anything as of themselves to work and take care of a family.

Ephesians 1: 5 For He foreordained us ( destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [ because it pleased Him & was His kind intent]----- 6 [So that we might be] to the praise & the commendation of His glorious grace (favor & mercy,) which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.                                           

Ephesians 1: 7 In Him we have redemption (deliverance & salvation through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings & trespasses), in accordance with the riches & the generosity of His gracious favor. 8 Which He lavished upon us in every kind of wisdom and understanding (practical insight  & prudence),   …you can use this in business, to make decisions…as in a corporate board or to a town meeting… or in your home and within your marriage!

Ephesians 1:9 Making known to us the mystery (secret) of His will (of His plan, of His purpose). [And it is this:] In accordance with His good pleasure, (His merciful intention) which He had previously purposed & set forth in Him. 10 [He planned] for the maturity of the times & the climax of the ages to unify all things & head them up & consummate them in Christ, [both] things in heaven & things on the earth.11 In Him we also were made [God’s] heritage (portion) & we obtained an inheritance; for we had been foreordained (chosen & appointed beforehand) in accordance with His purpose, who works out everything in agreement with the counsel & design of His [own] will. 12 So that we who first hoped in Christ [who first put our confidence in Him have been destined & appointed to] live for the praise of His glory!  That is a beautiful thing!

1.            From v.10 consummate them in Christ: Isaiah 9:6 Government is on His shoulders

2.            Man will no longer have dominion for the ruler-ship will be in the rightful place: Jesus Christ

3.            A beautiful  thing indeed: He is perfect, His word proven, Psalm 18:30

He will Implant His thoughts into Our Minds: 1 Cor. 2:9-12  NKJV 9.But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God…  THIS IS in Jesus Christ!         

Spiritual Health Needed in These Days: We are to live lives that reflects the favor of God we have. What we do for the Lord will always flow from faith/ love that honors God. ………We are to grow in godliness as the darkness appears:  1 Thess. 5:1-10  NKJV  But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.  2 For you your-selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.  3 For when they say, "Peace & safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.& they shall not escape.  4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.  5 You are all sons of light & sons of the day.

Dialogue is present when Love Protects! Seeking His counsel, spending times of refreshing with Him; and by loving Him and walking closely with Him through every day, we enter into a sheltered place of promise not only regarding our health but the love that protects. This is salvation, a walk of regarding God, and resting in that refreshing time with Him.

John 14:24-27 Amplified Bible 24 Anyone who does not [really ] love Me does not observe and obey My teaching. And the teaching which you hear and heed is not Mine, but [comes] from the Father Who sent Me. 25 I have told you these things while I am still with you. 26 But the Comforter  (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And he will cause you to recall ( will remind you of, bring to your remembrance ) everything I have told you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled].

Jesus had dialog with the Father: 24 Anyone who does not [really ] love Me does not observe and obey My teaching. And the teaching which you hear and heed is not Mine, but [comes] from the Father Who sent Me. 25 I have told you these things while I am still with you.

1.   The person fearful, intimated, cowardly and unsettled will walk with hands outward, not to worship God but to complain in their muddied water…muddied condition…a muddied environment!

2.   Holy Spirit gives clear counsel, gives us ability to remember everything Jesus spoke when we know what He has spoken

3.   Jesus said: “do not permit” yourselves to be the agitated, disturbed, fearful, intimidated, cowardly and unsettled; Peter was warned: love others as I have loved you; Being a disciple of Jesus we are to love other disciples of Jesus, We are to love our neighbors as ourselves!

From verse 27 “Peace I leave with you”: Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.   Christ’s peace is to control our thoughts and emotions. AND to Be the thankful! Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1.   Phi. 4:9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.  We are to focus our thoughts on that which is pure, lovely, virtuous and praiseworthy.

2. "The Psalms will certainly speak to your heart when dealing with any sickness or disease. I rely on it daily! Psalm 27: 1 The Lord is my light and salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Maintaining God’s peace by focusing with interest & ambition heavenward to cultivate His values: Colossians 3:1-16 NKJV  If then you were raised with Christ seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, & your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth, fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire,& covetousness, which is idolatry. 6Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

1.   So Paul lists those things we once lived in as to: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness which is idolatry

2.   These come under the wrath of God and pertain to disobedience...........  Why stop these? Because the wrath of God is coming upon those who participate and practice that disobedience.

3.  Idolatry is the activity of the “human heart” :It starts in the heart, craving, wanting, enjoying, being satisfied by anything that you treasure more than God. This covetousness, a disordered love or desire, loving more than God what ought to be loved less than God and only for the sake of God.

4.   Jesus warned Peter! Peter was to make note to “love one another; as I (Jesus) have loved you, that you also love one another. It is a heart ordered right in God and in His image!

Colossians 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

1.   Living under that old man lifestyle : we are to put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language

2.   We are to speak no evil

Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10  &  have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all & in all. 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy & beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, & forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

 The new man does not lie: but only gives what is that renewed knowledge of God and according to the image of God;  New man is merciful, kind, humble, meek, longsuffering and always forgiving 

Colossians 3: 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.  16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Bond of perfection is God’s love: Put it on! With the Holy Spirit, hardness will turn soft, will turn from “me, myself and I” to God’s purpose on earth! AGAIN  From Colossians 3:1 we are to seek that which is from above, the heavenly, not the worldly. We must discipline ourselves. We know that we are to "put off" those things that do not reflect the image of God and to "put on" the characteristics that do.

It is easy to see those who walk in lawlessness. We pray for our leaders and we vote for righteous leaders.. And we will become those daily who reflect the glory of God.

We are not Little Man, for we are not five years old. We are supposed to be the mature. Not lying to others but renewed as the New Man. Your five and may want ice cream at bedtime, or go for a walk in a rainstorm, but the renewed man is one knowing he must learn everyday to reflect the beauty of our Lord. Truly we are those who have salvation, repentance to turn from wicked ways, it is seen as a place where we have put on love and have the peace of God to rule in our hearts. We are seated in heavenly places!

Enjoy the day Little Man, for one day you will grow up with responsibilities. We pray for you all…… those who are our future in this nation.

     Teaching at: Voice of Prayer 

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 


Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching

 

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Hooked to the World by an App

 

Revelation 13:1-18 NKJV Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. 2 Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne and great authority. 3 And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. 4 So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying “Who is like the beast?” Who is able to make war with him?” 5 And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. 6 Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. 7 It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue and nation. 8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9 If anyone has an ear, let him hear. 10 He who leads into captivity shall go into captivity; he who kills with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and faith of the saints.

11 Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb and spoke like a dragon. 12 And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. 14 And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. 15 He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of beast, should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed. 16 He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, 17 and no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.

In the first two chapters of Genesis reveals the beginning of God’s plan which was purposed to putting a man in the garden. And in that, a deception came to disrupt….a voice from the dust.  And Genesis 3:1 tells us that the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. Yes a voice came from the dust as a beast.  BUT in the last two chapters of the Bible is the book of Revelation and in this that which was planned in the Beginning is resumed in the glory of God, of His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.                                                                                      

From Revelation 21:6 reveals that there was no more sea. For this was done away with in Revelation 20:11 for the earth and the heaven will flee away from God of  the White Throne judgment.  So “this sea” in this passage does not mean water, but of a spirit pertaining to the spiritual and a beast…….that is, it is a sea that holds a perpetual unrest as seen from Mark 4:39 where the wind and wave obeyed Jesus! This sea represents a “beast” …an unruly hostile "troubler" of God’s people: His name is Thay--reon. This troubler is seen in Revelation 13:1 and 13:11, he is equipped in demonic magic and ventriloquism.  Revelation 13:1 Then I stood on the sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous name. Yes, this beast will be done away with as described as the sea Jesus speaks of in Revelation 21:6!

Judgment will come and that sea will give up her dead. All that Thay—reon took captive. This beast will cease to destroy or disturb. If we truly look at this, we find the first beast is a man, the troubler with demonic ties. But when we look at the second "beast", this word has the meaning of not man but an idol. And behind every idol is a lie.

Where are idols found in this world, well, one is found in your phone. It is like a lifeline to the world. And this world, apps are provided to simplify your life. Oh, yes there is an app for you to use. And the "beast" will have this idol at your fingertips so that he can keep connected to you for his own intent! It will lie to you and tell you that you "really" need this app.

(In referring to the hand, it is considered the right hand when having a connection to fellowship: "the right hand of fellowship".)

 Galatians 2:9-14  NKJV 9 and when James, Cephas (Peter), and John who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. 11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12   for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 14  But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews?

In verse 10 of Revelation 13..the call is for endurance and faith of the saints. Faith is required ….it should be a knowing of the past faith walk in Him, that although He is neither chaotic nor is He haphazard, but the end times have been orchestrated by Him. It is you and I who are to walk like a beautiful song on a stormy day, to live in harmony with God seated in heavenly places while hell is breaking loose….on earth.

Faith people exhibit a language that speaks the new spiritual life and where Christ the true is praised. Those of faith hold truth and speak it as Jesus spoke !

Faith people make room for life and living…..they make room to rest in Him and abide in His presence. For it is in Him we learned to praise Him in the midst of trials and tribulations and see His glory cover our land.

 In this hour we should imagine God waving a caution flag before us. He is revealing an area of danger in that life line to the world. For you and I will not be involved in any of the same political, social, and military circles as the Beast who is alive today. His political wisdom and flattery's are exhibited in his public policies. He is an unconverted man.  His use of political strategies will essentially appeal to the lust of flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life found 1 John 2:15-17. His appeal will be for us to abandon our own faith and give cooperation to his agenda. It involves a trust and loyalty to him. It is submitting not to God but to political programs. He will have his umbrella of peace and safety.  Should we now consider and keep to the fore front of our thinking that when his seduction and subversion through flattery's fail, it is truly of reign of terror that will ensue where persecution begins.

Thank you to all who give heed to the Lord. We are thankful for His truth in this hour of chaos. In a past teaching from about 4 years ago, I had written where we would not be part of the end times, that the United States would not be there. But I was wrong! What I have seen, read and learned from the past few years from a different frame of thinking and walking. But today, I can see and hear the good Shepherd. He is for us and we are under the shadow of the Almighty. We reside in His peace and His safety. We learn by being in His presence. We understand Him by His commitment to truth He has given. He never changes! Amen!

.

    Teaching at: Voice of Prayer 

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 


Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching


Now Posting to Rumble 
Voice of Prayer
And
Life Giving Wells
    Life Giving Wells now on Spotify Podcast!

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/xashcfy9ez


Friday, March 6, 2026

The Crowds Who Walk Away


What lying cheats exist today? Well, what news do you watch? Did you watch that big game last month? We did not, but have heard much about it though.  I have been thinking the swamp the President wants to get rid of is growing bigger everyday. What about those blaming DHS and their leaders when bigger fish lie before you and call it all good!
Who lies, who cheats, who deceives: well his name is devil. And Jude reminds us to learn from past mistakes. Believing God is so important today. It is the importance of staying safe in a vile environment. In God's kingdom it truth and justice. He has wrapped us in His mercy and grace, not the language of hate, nor dancer's poles. Faith is to grow in us as the world grows darker! If we know not His truth, we follow some crowd of Know-It-Alls!

We must speak for Jesus and truth. We should not follow crowds to doom!

Jude Reminds Us to Learn from Past Mistakes …“But I want to remind you, though you once knew this…” (Jude 1:5)

These are Jude’s introductory words before he pulls three significant references from the past indicating the sins of the people and the consequences:

1.       The Israelite's

2.       The fallen angels

3.       Sodom and Gomorrah

Though the audience were very familiar with these incidents, people are forgetful, and he wanted to remind them. The past is an excellent teacher.

1. The Unbelief of the Israelite's: First, Jude quotes the example of the Israelite's.

“...the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.” (Jude 1:5)

It was with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm that God brought the Israelite's out of Egypt (Psalm 136:12). However, they quickly forgot God’s power and sovereignty. Their unbelief took over, and they doubted God on several occasions after their historic and divine exodus.

When Moses left Aaron in charge to go up to the mountain and receive the Ten Commandments, the people persuaded Aaron to build a golden calf for them to worship. This angered the Lord, and about three thousand men died that day (Exodus 32:28).

Despite having received their daily allowance of manna, the delicious food from heaven, the people still complained. They went so far as to reminisce and crave the food of Egypt, where they were slaves. This displeased the Lord, and His anger was aroused. He sent them more food, this time some quail. But while they were still chewing the meat, He struck them with a great plague (Numbers 11:33).

These are two of the many occasions where the Israelite's forgot God’s power, might, and faithfulness as they grumbled and complained. Eventually, they angered God one last time after the spies who explored Canaan brought in strikingly different reports. They went so far as to say, “Let us select a leader and return to Egypt”(Numbers 14:4). And God decided to shun their generation from the promised land except for Joshua and Caleb (Numbers 14:29-30, 35).

Time and again, God came to their aide, parting seas, providing daily servings of food, and granting victory over enemies on every side. Yet, they were too quick to forget. Their faith had the focus of a goldfish. The mercies of God are abundant and last a thousand generations. Let us never forget His wonderful and marvelous works for us. For by them, we have the joy of salvation and the hope of eternal life.

Jude 1:6-9  NKJV    6 And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day; 7 as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 8   Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of dignitaries.  9 Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"

Jude is attacking false prophets, and thus men and demons are interwoven in the context. He indicts these false prophets for three sins:

1. Lust: They defile the flesh, allowing a feeling to take them over the edge into sin. (lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life)

2. Rebellion: They flout authority in general, but primarily that of Christ. It is hidden in the Greek, but the word authority is really "lordship." It normally refers to Christ and His lordship over us. ( They want their voice heard as the authority.)

3. Disrespect or disregard of spirit beings.

This third sin is interesting because he is saying that it is not that these false prophets will not talk about Satan, but their speech is gratuitous, despising, or denigrating of angelic powers. Their preaching suggests that these demons are not something Christians need to be concerned about. They side-step the issue.

Why would they do that? Because a false spirit is leading them, so they downgrade the existence and powers of demons through their preaching. This is clearly seen in Protestant Christianity, especially the mainline denominations that have gone to the point that they almost universally agree that Satan the Devil and his demons do not really exist. It shows how successful the demons have been in their deceptions.

One could have sat through the Super Bowl and know without a doubt, satan is alive in the flesh. For we saw the lust, rebellion and disrespect. We find those who invite you in by their hospitality and then spit on you, bullies  you, and then send their word that you like it or leave it. Well, they might find many leaving that house knowing that they would never were on the right page with football. Sad to say many now are taking to shaking odd parts of bodies to get more acclaim. They want their 15 minutes of such fame. They carry their own microphone with them.

We had always thought you had to have a top 100 hit to get to the Super Bowl. But seems like just to make it to 80+ plus on your created music makes you some kind of a star in some form. ( maybe overseas in other nations)  But to invite one who does not speak English in an English speaking country, surely makes you know you are not welcome in the house of football or anything like that thing!!  (makes you wonder who will perform in the next one, if there is another)

Jude describes the apostates as “ungodly” and as those who use God’s grace as a license to commit unrighteous acts. Beginning with “ungodly,” Jude describes eighteen unflattering traits of apostates so his readers can more easily identify them. Jude says the apostates are ungodly (vs. 4), morally perverted (vs. 4), denying Christ (vs. 4), ones who defile the flesh (vs. 8), rebellious (vs. 8), people who revile angels (vs. 8), who are ignorant about God (vs. 8), those who proclaim false visions (vs. 10), self-destructive (vs. 10), grumblers (vs. 16), fault finders (vs. 16), self-satisfying (vs. 16), people who use arrogant words and false flattery (vs. 16), mockers of God (vs. 18), those who cause divisions (vs. 19), worldly minded (vs. 19), and finally (and not surprisingly), devoid of the Spirit/unsaved (vs. 19).

Third, Jude says apostates “deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” How do apostates do this? Paul tells us in his letter to Titus, "To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. They profess to know God, but by their deeds they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed" (
Titus 1:15-16, emphasis added).

1.   Through their unrighteous behavior, the apostates show their true selves.

2.   Unlike an apostate, a true believer is someone who has been delivered from sin to righteousness in Christ.

3.   With Paul, they ask the apostates who promote licentious behavior, “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)

But the apostates’ false teaching also shows their true nature. Peter says, “But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves” (
2 Peter 2:1). Another aspect of true believers is that they have been delivered out of spiritual darkness into light (Ephesians 5:8) and therefore will not deny core truths of Scripture like Arius did with the divinity of Jesus.

Ultimately, the sign of an apostate is that he eventually falls away and departs from the truth of God’s Word and His righteousness. The apostle John signifies this is a mark of a false believer: “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:19).

Ideas Have Consequences
That God takes apostasy and false teaching seriously is evidenced by the fact that every New Testament book except Philemon contains warnings about false teaching. Why is this?

1.   Simply because ideas have consequences.

2.    Right thinking and its fruit produces goodness, whereas wrong thinking and its accompanying action results in undesired penalties. As an example, the Cambodian killing fields in the 1970's were the product of the nihilistic worldview of Jean Paul Sartre and his teaching. The Khmer Rouge’s leader Pol Pot lived out Sartre’s philosophy toward the people in a clear and frightening way, which was articulated in this manner: “To keep you is no benefit. To destroy you is no loss.”

( We see this today: they allow those who illegally came into U.S. only to murder like they did in their own country or nation. These in authority consider it no loss if you die by their hand. So sad indeed when we love not one another.)

3.   It should be remembered that Satan did not come to the first couple in the Garden with an external armament or supernatural weapon; instead, he came to them with an idea. And it was that idea that condemned them and the rest of humankind, with the only remedy being the sacrificial death of God’s Son. ( Which would you desire, the world's ideas or God's plan?)

The great tragedy is, whether knowingly or unknowingly, the apostate teacher dooms his unsuspecting followers. One of the most frightening verses in all of Scripture comes from the lips of Jesus. Speaking to His disciples about the religious leaders of His day, He said, “Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14, emphasis added). This verse is alarming because Jesus affirms that it is not only the false teachers that go to destruction, but their disciples also follow them. Christian philosopher Soren Kierkegaard put it this way: “For it has never yet been known to fail that one fool, when he goes astray, takes several others with him.”

In this Conclusion:  In A.D. 325, the Council of Nicea convened primarily to take up the issue of Arius and his teaching. Much to Arius’s dismay, the end result was his excommunication and a statement in the Nicene Creed that affirmed Christ’s divinity: “We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of all things visible and invisible; and in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten of his Father, of the substance of the Father, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father.”

Arius may have died centuries ago, but his spiritual children are still with us to this day in the form of cults like the Jehovah’s Witnesses and others who deny Christ’s true essence and person. Sadly, until Christ returns and every last spiritual enemy has been removed, tares such as these will be present among the wheat (
Matthew 13:24-30). In fact, Scripture says apostasy will only get worse as Christ’s return approaches. “At that time [the latter days] many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another” (Matthew 24:10). Paul echoes Jesus in his inspired writings as well. The apostle told the Thessalonians that a great falling away would precede Christ’s second coming (2 Thessalonians 2:3) and that the end times would be characterized by tribulation and hollow religious charlatans: “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be . . . holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; avoid such men as these” (2 Timothy 3:1-2,5).

Those who choose to leave God behind follow crowds with their own beliefs!  It was Jesus, Paul, Peter, Jude and John who warn against the encroachment of antinomianism or this lawlessness. We told this in Matthew 24:11-12 ( in His Olivet Prophecy, Jesus speaks, "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." And what will happen to such lawless people? Jesus spoke this:

Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" (Matthew 7:22-23)

Among Paul's end-time prophecies is his prediction of a great apostasy that results from the unrestrained assault of "the mystery of lawlessness" (2 Thessalonians 2:1-7). This comes with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. . . . Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught. . . . (verses 10-12, 15) We see this today, how they are continuing in their strong delusion, believing the lie.

Peter and Jude use similar language in their books to counter the antinomian teaching extant in their congregations ( 2 Peter 2:9-10, 12-13, 15, 18-19; 3:17-18; Jude 3-4). John's epistles are likewise full of warnings against antinomian heresies. For instance, notice these passages:  Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (I John 2:3-4) ...Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. (1 John 3:4) .....In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:10)   ....By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. ( 1 John 5:2-3)....This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. . . . Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. . . . If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds. (2 John 6, 9-11)

 Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God. (3 John 11)

 Deceptions & the Depravity of the False Teachers: 2 Peter 2:9-22 NKJV 9 Then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations & to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 & especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness & despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries, 11 whereas angels, who are greater in power & might, do not bring a reviling accusation against them before the Lord. 12 but these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught & destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, & will utterly perish in their own corruption, 13 & will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots & blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, 14 having eyes full of adultery & that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, & are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way & gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but he was rebuked for his iniquity; a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. 20 For if, after they have escaped the pollution's of the world through the knowledge of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them & overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. 21 For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “ a dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “ a sow, having washed, to her allowing in the mire.”

What about Balaam?  Revelation 2:14-15  NKJV  14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. (15) Thus you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

The structure of this paragraph ties together the doctrine of Balaam, the sins of eating things sacrificed to idols and committing sexual immorality, and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. Christ implies that all three are the same basic heresy under different guises. This antinomian teaching affected the church in Thyatira as well (verses 20-21).

Moses records Balaam's story in Numbers 22-25, 31. Balak, king of Moab, hires Balaam to curse the Israelites, but every time he tries, Balaam instead blesses them. He then counsels Balak to send Moabite and Midianite women into the camp of Israel to seduce the men and invite them to the sacrifices of their god (Numbers 25:1-2; 31:16). Clearly, Balaam's instruction included getting the Israelites to commit idolatry and sexual immorality.

(Even today we saw a Muslim woman running for office in North Carolina. She was dressed in all black covering most face area and body. But she is of another faith ....one that carries a sword under that black garb. ) (She is for her nation and wants death to America)

Interestingly, these two practices arise in the Jerusalem Council in AD 49. Paul and Barnabas, with Peter's help, convince the assembled elders that Gentile converts to Christianity should not be required to be circumcised and keep the law of Moses, Judaism's rigorous "yoke" of picayune laws (Acts 15:10). However, the Council enjoins the Gentiles on four points of typical Gentile religious practice:

For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell. (verses 28-29)

 We have people speaking evil of those as dignitaries. They mock truth and justice and live in lawless ways. We find this in the book of Numbers, where the group Korah (or company) were speaking out against leadership. It amazes me where you have a leadership like we had for four years (did nothing but bring catastrophic measures, that people demand good leadership and repair the last four years of mess! It will take longer when you consider past leaders who did nothing but try to set up barriers stopping God's plan for life.

Numbers 16:12-16 NKJV & Moses sent to call Dathan & Abiram the sons of Eliab, but they said, “We will not come up!” 13 “Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk & honey, to kill us in the wilderness, that you should keep acting a prince over us?” 14 Moreover you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk & honey, nor given us inheritance of fields & vineyards. Will you put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up! 15 Then Moses was very angry, & said to the LORD, “Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I hurt one of them.” 16 & Moses said to Korah, “Tomorrow, you & all your company be present before the LORD---you & they, as well as Aaron.  ALL be there!                                                                     Refusing to leave their tents, Dathan & Abiram scolded Moses & his leadership….sounds like tempers were flaring into tantrums!  These mock saying: that from the promise of Ex. 3:8 that God would bring them into “ a  land flowing with milk &honey” their complaint revealed sarcasm speaking that Moses instead had brought them out of a land flowing with milk & honey ( Egypt) & had brought them into the land not flowing with milk & honey …that was the desert. A land flowing with milk and honey is the promised in the kingdom of God…revealed by Jesus…this is found in salvation& that redemption is of repentance & of faith. It is a spiritual life of living by faith when keeping His commands & by obedience to His will for each of our lives! God has brought each of us out…an Exodus….from Egypt into the Promised Land…. living by faith… serving Him….for His glory founded on Jesus Christ the Cornerstone

Numbers 16:17 Let each take his censer & put incense in it, & each of you bring his censer before the LORD 250 censers; both you & Aaron, each with his censer. 18 so every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense on it, & stood at the door of the tabernacle 
It is critical, now more than ever, that every believer pray for discernment, combat apostasy, and contend earnestly for the faith that has once and for all been delivered to the saints. The Word of God has been given to teach us and raise our faith toward the Father. The Lord is to be our song in the night and His guidance at noonday. We should be men and women of the light to bring others to know His goodness in the land of the living.

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world----our faith. ( 1 John 5:1-4)

Faith is what overcomes and it is in Christ Jesus! We are to activate spiritual weapons and not those silly carnal ones.  2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Behind every stronghold is a lie----a place of personal bondage where God’s word has been dominated or controlled to an un-scriptural idea or personally confused belief that is held true. Behind this lie is fear and behind the fear is  an idol!

No man can keep you down, but lies as a stronghold can. If you believe you are still in slavery, guess what, You are still in slavery. You can be in slavery to what your parents taught you but was not God’s wisdom. ( Another I heard last weekend was that of being born as the "bastard child". Yes, true in the word of God out of wedlock presents a dark presence in those born in this atmosphere of lust. But repentance on the part of the father will bring the children back to their futures in God! )

Faith is what holds us in truth and if you do not know the truth, then destruction is all around you.  God is faithful and He will reveal truth to us when we search for Him. It is not looking for a particular place, for any closet would do. But what is important is that with eyes wide open we look for God in our heart and when He is seated there, no devil in hell can hurt you ever!



   Teaching at: Voice of Prayer 

Visit my You Tube channel Voice of Prayer for more teaching 


Visit Life Giving Wells You Tube Channel for more teaching


Now Posting to Rumble 
Voice of Prayer
And
Life Giving Wells
    Life Giving Wells now on Spotify Podcast!

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/xashcfy9ez


Is Culture Only Rubbish?

  Philippians 3:7-9   NKJV   7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things l...