in Harmony, as Your wind blows over me.

At Night I love to Sing, the melodies within my Heart… unto Thee

as Your day sweeps Peace my way, and Your wind blows…Quiet, Quiet unto me.

Confusion, Perplexities, Logical Reasoning in the Imagination of the Mind

Assumations

Accusations

Aggravations… raging inside.

Shut out the voices, Shut out the voices, Shut out the voices… Tonight.

Come, unto Me… The Lord God Almighty

Oh come, unto Me… The Lord God Almighty

Be still and know that I am your God

Be still and know that I am your God

Be still and know that I am your God.

Then you will want to Dance among the Trees in Life’s Romance,

In Harmony as My wind blows over thee

And you will want to sing, the songs within your Heart unto Me,

as My day sweeps Peace your way… and My wind Blows… Quiet, Quiet unto thee.

After realizing the weakening effect this had on me I excused myself to go inside my home.  Quickly I turned the water on over the sink, ran my hands under the water and began to splash my face.  I stood there numb for a few minutes and then asked God:  Lord Jesus what just happened?   I stood in my kitchen trying to understand why my mind was reeling; yet found myself in a giggle.

June of 2010 I had a heart attack.  Instead of going to the hospital, or lying down I got angry.  I headed toward the upstairs bedroom and while running up the stairs I stopped for a moment, laid my hand on my chest and began to pray to Jesus to help me.  I continued up the stairs to find my blood pressure device and went back downstairs to the kitchen.  My sister tried to convince me to head to the hospital, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to be saved.  I was only certain of one thing:  if God allows me to live tonight then I shall live, but if I die then I wasn’t losing anything.

A series of tests proved I was a Healthy individual at the age of 55.  Each hospital treated me with loving care, but the Doctors were not convinced that Stress played the key role in the Heart Attack.  Another series of tests proved again I was a Healthy Individual.  During these months I had decided to do myself a favor:  begin a new approach to Healthy eating, Healthy exercise, and Healthy habits.  Less 68 pounds later I have found myself to be:  less tolerant, irritated, frustrated, insecure, unmotivated, unmoved, and an emotional wreck.  My insecurity stemmed from being wounded in Heart:  degraded, humiliated, stripped of self worth, and feeling as if all doors shut, and I was pressed on every side.  I felt as if I was boxing my way out of a box.  No more listening to a multitude of Advice, telling me what I needed to do, or should not do.  Stop listening to people who only want to Teach, and not listen.  Go against those who want to protect you at all cost, because without Risks, and without Chance what is the use of living?  My Heart felt Dead and I wanted so badly to Live.   And then that voice crept up inside of me:  “For What”?  Live for What?  Not long ago you were saying:  ” if God allows me to live tonight then I shall live, but if I die then I wasn’t losing anything”.

The back and forth Battle began… Live for What?  What do I have to Live for?  Why on earth or in heaven would God want me to live if my Heart is Dying.  My heart wasn’t dying literally, but it felt Dead… dead to the Word, dead to hearing what others were saying, dead to the Preacher Man, dead to the Christian Cliches, and dead to the prayers going up.  What is your calling?  Hell if I know what my calling is!  Never been told what my calling is, so why should I say I have a calling.  What is your mission?  What is your purpose?  Why aren’t you:  getting in, getting on board, and making it to the finish?  Learn to love yourself first, then maybe you will learn to love others.  Do this, don’t do that, you may be saying this, but what you really mean is… ?

What I really mean is what I am saying:   when all doors close, and none are there to open for one to step forward, step out, and believe then Life becomes Dead… no vision, no dream, nothing to look forward to except to be taken out of this World and being with the Lord.  If all hopes for anything Good to come to us while on this earth is Stopped, and all of our Dreams and Desires for anything Good to come to us while on this earth have stopped… then the only Hope that could ever remain would be the Hope that in Death I would see GOOD.   For only God is Good. 

I have become a different person over the last year and a half:  Bolder, Confrontational,  and Unyielding.  As I read the writing on the  Picture of Footprints in the Sand I purchased at the Five and Dime I stop for a moment and say:

Lord, I can only Hope and Believe that at this time it is true what I am reading :

“My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you.”

To the Devil… that Serpent called Satan.

You have found a way to wound me, for my Heart was Wide open.

You found a way to strip me of my dignity.

You found a way to tear me down, and you sought to use me on your unfair ground

yet haven’t you known by now

I don’t belong to you?

Strike your blows with arrows, and toss all your darts

yea, makes for a bleeding Heart

Yet,

 God speaks to me saying:

Bolder I must be raised

to set my face like Flint these days,

Unyielding to the ways which would take me off the Narrow.

]]> http://oxysmoron.wordpress.com/2012/01/11/spell-bound/feed/ 0 oxysmoron http://oxysmoron.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/exchanging-the-natural-use-for-what-is-against-nature/ http://oxysmoron.wordpress.com/2011/03/31/exchanging-the-natural-use-for-what-is-against-nature/#comments Thu, 31 Mar 2011 20:13:36 +0000 oxysmoron http://oxysmoron.wordpress.com/?p=1043 ]]> The Just Live by Faith

16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

For in it… this is The Gospel of Christ… The Power thereof unto Salvation.

For in it… The Gospel of Christ… The Righteousness of God is Revealed.

For in it… From Faith to Faith.   An Increasing of your Faith to which only God is able to Work.

Yes, The Just, The Believer Shall Live by Faith.

God’s Wrath on Unrighteousness

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

Most times in hearing this passage ministers stress the point of Homosexual sin, yet recently my mind has been challenged by another thought, to which was stimulated by this question: ‘ is it wrong for a man or woman to appease their natural Lusts/Desires through the means of Masturbation, and/or Pornographic material?’

I was always able to understand the statement: women exchanging the natural use for what is AGAINST nature, and also men leaving the natural use of the woman, BURNED in their Lust for ONE ANOTHER… men with men; yet there was something colorful in this statement… the term NATURAL.

The Natural Desire; for Women…

desire to be Married

desire to bare Children

cleaving to thy Husband

The Natural Desire; for Men…

desire to be Married

desire to have Children

desire to have a Help Meet/Wife

For women and men to Desire one another; even if they do not produce Children would be the Natural Order in Creation.   The man was made in “Our Image”.  ”Let US make man in OUR Image”… the Image of God.  First Order is Man.  Because Man is in the Likeness of God; although he (man) is dust of the earth,  and God is Spirit. he (man) is only an imitation, or reflection of God.  Therefore God is Masculine.  The woman in Creation was formed by God from the Rib of Adam:  ”flesh of my flesh, and bone of my bone”.  The second order is Woman; who is an Extension of Man.   Children become the Extension of both man and woman as the Natural Use of their Desire is properly used.  The desire does not end in the case of a Barren Woman, nor does it end in the case of a Non Productive Male… inability to produce children.  The Natural Order is Man, and Woman.

The Unnatural…

women exchanging the natural use for what is AGAINST nature.

Today I hear more and more young woman who aren’t married, and more Christian Women who are married speak of their Playful Sexual Experiences with their partners.  These women are  open to share; even excited about expressing their avenues of pleasure.  I am Alarmed.  I believe  there is nothing new under the sun, therefore these playful and dangerous practices should not be surprising, or shocking to us; yet these practices seem to be Quite Favorable, and have become more widely Accepted among Christian Men and Women.

Why is it both men and women do not WANT to see these Vulgar Practices as Unnatural?   I will be honest here…

The Natural Order of our mouth was created to speak and ingest, and the anal canal was made  for solid waste elimination. Neither one of these were to be used AGAINST the Natural Order in which they were created.  The Perversions of the Imagination is what leads to Sexual Immorality; also known as:  a Debased Mind.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

² that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

These men are called ‘sons of God’.   These daughters are called ‘daughters of men’.    For some reason I could not understand the difference between the two sets of men.    One group of men are called ‘ sons’, while the other group are just called ‘men’.   They both are men right?    Yet as I say ‘sons’ of God, my mind can only relate to ONE SON… The Only Begotten Son; Jesus.

These sons are not capitalized; which makes me believe they were mere men.  Although being mere men, they now have been given an honor by being called ‘the sons of God’.    They who follow God are His children.    I wonder if these men were set apart by God unto Himself.   And if this be the case these men allowed themselves to be separated from God by going after strange fire… the daughters of men… daughters of men who were taught by their fathers; not taught of God.   Even Adam was given a wife in marriage so this would say:  God does approve of marriage; yet God chose Eve for Adam.

This particular group of men set their sights on ‘the daughters of men’ and found them to be ‘beautiful’.   Quite a temptation!

… and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.

“Whom they chose”… NOT whom God chose.    Made me think to repent when I read this.    Repent for being envious of they who go after Worldly women, who are ‘the daughters of men’, marry them, and begin to live out their dream… in a Worldly way.   Women should be on guard too,  if you are a professing child of God.   It is a great temptation for your desire to lure you into settling for a worldly man, because you believe you may never get married once you pass your youth.  The generations of men have produced both wicked daughters, and wicked sons, and upon this earth few are truly serving the Lord Jesus.   Let us see the whole part of Genesis 6

Genesis 6

The Wickedness and Judgment of Man

¹ Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, ² that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.
³ And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.” ⁴ There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
⁵ Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ⁶ And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. ⁷ So the LORD said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them.” ⁸ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Noah Pleases God

⁹ This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God. ¹⁰ And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
¹¹ The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. ¹² So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.

The Ark Prepared

¹³ And God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth. ¹⁴ Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch. ¹⁵ And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits. ¹⁶ You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower, second, and third decks. ¹⁷ And behold, I Myself am bringing flood-waters on the earth, to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die. ¹⁸ But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the ark—you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you. ¹⁹ And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. ²⁰ Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them alive. ²¹ And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them.”
²² Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.

The Distinction between the two groups of men was ‘ sons of God’, and these men once separated UNTO God now were choosing for themselves what they wanted… ‘ daughters of men’; NOT women of God.   This group had an offspring who were called ” Giants on the Earth”; ‘mighty men who were of old, men of renown’.    Were these really Giants? They certainly got attention, and must have been Very Proud.   I am not so certain these Giants were mighty with physical strength.   Today we see mere men rise to power in Political Arenas.   Also we see them greatly influencing others by becoming Athletes, or Celebrities, or even Great Religious Leaders.  And the worst  yet is to Combine the Whole Swoop;  Politics, Athletes, Celebrities, and Great Religious Leaders under a term:  “Sons of God”.

Sounds odd, and even though I haven’t watched the Film, when I hear the term ‘Giants’, I tend to think of  Tall, Mighty, and Strong, yet for some reason those words did not come to mind tonight.   The term “ELEVATED” came to mind.   Elevated, lifted up, put into High Places, Greatly Esteemed, Noted for, and Worshiped.   Very well packaged isn’t it?  And to think the Whole Package is not only offered up every Sunday, the Influence is encouraged… by those who call themselves:  ‘ the children of the King, the King’s little princess, daughters of the Prince, and of course the sons of God’.   These men became accursed. Might make you think twice to call God your daddy.

Afterward I began to think about how much Christianity today is in direct contradiction/rebellion with God’s Word.   On the one christian hand we can read the recorded statistics  which tell us how many are coming to Christ daily.  On the other christian hand we read where the field is ready for Harvest and billions will be lost if we professing christians do not act now.   What’s the hype?   Why do they both contradict?   The Holy Ghost is not in the business of turning the followers of Jesus against one another.   This means we are being lied to, and it is not the Holy Ghost.

“for the earth is filled with violence through them”… ” and behold I will destroy them with the earth”… “to destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the earth shall die.” God gave to every individual who has lived, and gives to those who will live the breath of life.   Since this is true I do NOT understand why we desire for God to breathe on us.   His breath is already in us.  Yet it looks like tho we live we are dead.  Adam being the first created had the breath of life put into him that he would live, yet was taken out of the garden so that he would not be given the opportunity to taste of the Tree of Life.   Knowledge must have had a thought toward the Tree of Life.

There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

… in those days, and also afterward?

Bread of Life:  Jesus

John 6

²⁶Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

²⁷Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

²⁸Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

²⁹Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

³⁰They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

³¹Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

³²Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

³³For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

³⁴Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

³⁵And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

³⁶But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

³⁷All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

³⁸For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

³⁹And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

⁴⁰And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 14

⁶Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

⁷If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

The Giants of this Age will in no manner be able to give you the Bread of Life, nor will they ever be able to tend to your thirsty souls; for their messages will be liken unto a diet of Excitotoxins, and although your senses may seem to enjoy the short lived taste, the damage will be made known by it’s eternal effect.   The fruit of that which we see today, even inside the Structured Church, is because we as professing believers want to party like demons, while holding near to our heart a plastic Jesus.

The Lord is so good to give His Spirit of Joy unto us.

Yes, dear one the Joy does make one Laugh, and Cry, and Laugh, and Shout, and Laugh some more.

Thank You Jesus!

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2010

SOMETIMES WE GROW AND DON’T KNOW IT

Some believers can tell you all about their spiritual growth. And you can
clearly see the changes in their lives. They testify to you about how the Holy
Ghost has vanquished the enemy for them, and you rejoice with them in their
victory.

Yet these kinds of Christians are the exception. Most believers are totally
unaware of any spiritual progress in their lives. They pray, read the Bible and
seek the Lord with all their hearts. There’s no obstruction to spiritual growth
in them.

But they can’t discern any growth in themselves. I’m an example of this type of
believer. I know I walk in the righteousness of Christ, yet I never sense I’m
making progress. In fact, I occasionally get down on myself whenever I do or
say something un-Christlike. It causes me to wonder, “I’ve been a Christian for
years. Why don’t I ever learn?”

I think the Thessalonian Christians were stunned when they heard Paul’s glowing
assessment of them (see 2 Thessalonians 1:3). They probably thought, “Me,
growing exceedingly? Paul must be kidding.”

Yet Paul knew that spiritual growth is a secret, hidden thing. Scripture likens
it to the unseen growth of flowers and trees: “I will be as the dew unto Israel:
he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches
shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as
Lebanon” (Hosea 14:5–6).

God is telling us, “Go to the lilies! Just try to watch them grow. I’m telling
you by day’s end you won’t see any growth whatsoever. But know this; I water
the lily every morning with the dew I send—and it’s going to grow.” The same
is true of most spiritual growth. It’s imperceptible to the human eye!

When some people get saved, they never seem to struggle with a besetting sin.
They testify, “The moment I came to Jesus, the Lord took that temptation out of
me. And I’ve been free ever since.” I know many former drug addicts who’ve had
this experience.

But for multitudes of Christians, it’s a different story. Years after their
conversion, an old corruption has broken loose in them—something they hated
and never wanted to see again. Yet no matter how hard they struggle, that one
remaining lust simply won’t let go. Over time they grow discouraged. Their soul
cries out, “How long, Lord? When will this chain ever be broken?” And eventually
the devil comes to them, saying, “You’ll never make it. You know there’s no way
you could grow spiritually in this kind of condition.”

Take heart, friend—I’ve got good news for you. You are growing in the midst
of your struggle! In fact, you may be growing by leaps and bounds because of
your struggle.

Rest assured—if you have the fear of God in your heart, you’re going to
emerge from the storm much stronger. You see, when you’re doing battle with the
enemy, you’re exercising and calling forth all the graces and powers of God. And
even though you may feel weakened, those graces and powers are strengthening
you. For one, you’re becoming more urgent in your praying. And, second, you’re
being stripped of all pride. So, the storm is actually putting you on
“spiritual guard” in every area of your life!

http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/devotions/2010/sometimes-we-grow-and-dont-know-it

<*************************************************************************************>

I am not certain if David Wilkerson wrote this, yet I am quite encouraged by the message.

In the beginning when I began receiving these encouragement messages I had a thought run through my mind… it sure doesn’t sound like Wilkerson, maybe I do not want to receive them.   The messages seem soft, and honestly most of what I had heard from D. Wilkerson had always been warning, warning, warning.  I will admit, there was a day when soft encouragement was welcomed, but then when all you ever hear is serious sermonizing, the soft seems to scream unfavorable.   It was as if I were reading Dick and Jane all over again… remember Dick and Jane?

Over time my heart began to look forward to the encouraging words.  I found myself asking questions after I would read the daily encouragement message:

- Lord, what is going on here?

-Lord, surely this journey is not all about ‘ Heretics’, ‘False Prophets’, and ‘what the heck are Christians doing?’

-Lord, I am so sick of hearing what Christians aren’t doing, that I don’t want to be around Christians!

-Lord, I am not sure You want us to be constantly thinking ‘where is the enemy, I just know he is here somewhere’, nor would You want us to never think ‘he has nothing to gain from bothering me’.

-Lord, why would You make it so hard for us to be Christlike, and honestly what is wrong with us when we constantly point out so many wrongs within the Church, and how much the more we should be liken unto the Early Church?

At times I would look up Anti-Theist Quotes.   I would giggle at some of them.  And too, I would ponder over why some of those quotes would be considered Anti-Theist.  Then scripture would come to mind, and I would giggle again, and found it challenging to read the quotes, and see if I could find scripture to disprove the quote.  The Holy Ghost is very good to help me in the matter.  Thank You Holy Ghost.

You see, many times I find Christians who are very serious about being a Christian/Christ-like can be overwhelming, and too intimidating.  I am not sure they see themselves this way at all, yet it can lead a beginner/born again to think this is the way God wants me to be.  Not necessarily.  Sure it is good to listen to a person who has been on this journey for more years than yourself, yet I find many babes in Christ have many questions, and those questions aren’t always pertaining to the Word.   I enjoy talking to them, and I enjoy guiding them to the Word; yet I find what they aren’t ready for, isn’t necessarily going to make sense to them… but I tell them to be patient, read the Word anyway, and wait upon the Lord for the seed to sprout.

The brokenness of people is so evident, and too, many are asking, and seeking the Lord in areas they never thought were of any real importance before.  Has America really lost it’s savor/salt?  Well, all I can say is as far as America goes, if you are a Born Again Christian, and you are living in America, and you know Jesus walks with you, then you are salt.  If you are listening to the Lord, and the Word/Jesus is in you, and you are ready for opportunities the Lord is going to send your way, then you haven’t lost your savor.  Salt is rough, and is dry; yet it does add flavor.  The Lord did say ‘salt’, not stone, and the stones are being tossed about so much so, it has become a trend.  America is a place where a Christian lives.  America is a country, like many other countries.  And like many countries America will be judged by God.

I enjoy reading passages in the Word where it says:

God with-held the rain.

it rained 40 days and 40 nights

ye shall plant 6 years and in the 7th year ye shall let the ground rest

I  with-held you from sinning against Me

the plagues were sent into Egypt, yet God’s people were saved

I smile when I read passages like this, because I then know that when God Judges a Nation He keeps His own.   I really do not believe we should continually question God on matters of this World.  I remember Jesus weeping over the unbelief of the people; even those close to Him as He was demonstrating the power of the Resurrection… tomb of Lazarus.  The teaching of this Chapter is generalized to Jesus wept over Lazarus… No, He was not weeping over Lazarus.  Why should He if He knew Lazarus was going to come up from his grave when He called unto him?  Jesus groaned within Himself, and the Holy Ghost groaned with Him… because of the people’s unbelief.  Jesus even said unto a Hebrew woman:  weep not for Me, but for your people.  We cry all the time at the death of martyrs, yet why?  Is it the emotional connection to the fear of dying, or how one might die for Christ?  I will be honest…Martyrdom scares the behemoth out of me, and how those men and women died makes my stomach churn with pain; yet through the tears comes something most wonderful… a REJOICING!  For in my heart I know only God could have given them the power, courage, and strength needed to willingly embrace the Cross.

Only God knows when your time is done here on this earth.  And I know there are a multitude of angelic beings working on God’s behalf.  They listen to Him, and they do as He tells them to do.  He allows what He allows, and it is for His Good Purpose.  Evil Leaders?  Evil Pastors?  Evil Congregates?  Evil Teachers, Prophets, Entertainers, Heretics, Wolves; even wolves in sheep’s clothing, and other such gross wickedness continues to parade about to and fro, and seeks to bring you down to your knees so that you can worship that Evil, and Not God; yet still God is, was, and will always be The Authority.  One needs to rethink about how some of those thoughts enter into our head.

Abimelech was a King who thought he could take Sarah for a wife, but the Lord spoke to him in a dream:

I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.

I kept you from sinning against Me?

God must have done something to keep that man distracted in order to keep him from going into Sarah

So, the next time you think a distraction is of the enemy… Think twice; for it may have been God doing something in you to keep you from being evil.

Then God says:

Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.  Genesis 20:7

See, God will do what God is Justified in doing, and when He sets out to have it done, no one is going to stand in His way; not even the evil one.  Although this King may have been with good intent, he had no idea who he was up against when he took Sarah for his wife.   I just cannot believe ministers who say that if God can’t get the job done through you, He will just go to someone else.  NOT!   When God sets His mind to something, and if you are the one He has chosen you best bet on it that God will do in you what He has planned to do!  And that also goes for those ministers who began well with God, and are now Twisted in their sermonizing.  These ministers were already pegged to be people who would betray God.   Yet if any one of these ministers were chosen by God, then you better hold onto your tongue, because God will do what is in His Good Purpose.

Peter betrayed, and was reconciled.

Judas betrayed and hung himself.

And yet the Lord chose both.

I have a question today for you/the reader…

you feel like a piece of carpet at times?

you feel like you always give in?

you feel like you are the one who is always making the sacrifice, while others sit idle, and allow you to do it all?

you feel as if you enable more than fix?

Do you allow yourself to listen to more of what the World says about you, or do you allow Jesus to help you in bearing the weight of the Cross?

To be a servant to Christ is, was, and will never be an easy task; yet the burden is LIGHT if you will allow Him to bear the Cross with you.

And too,

it may surprise you just how much God is working; not only in your life, but also in the lives of others…

His works cannot be seen if we aren’t a witness to them.

Luv 2 U in Christ Jesus,

oxysmoron

Many shall come with seducing spirits and hold out lustful enticements. You will find that after I have visited My people again, the way shall become more and more narrow, and fewer shall walk there in. But be not deceived, the ways of righteousness are My ways. For though Satan come as an angel of light hearken not to him; for those who perform miracles and speak not righteousness are not of Me. I warn you with great intensity that I am going to judge My house and have a church without spot or wrinkle when I come. I desire to open your eyes and give you spiritual understanding, that you may not be deceived but may walk with uprightness of heart before Me, loving righteousness and hating every evil way. Look unto Me and I will make you to perceive with the eyes of the Spirit the things that lurk in darkness, that are not visible to the human eye. Let me lead you in this way that you may perceive the powers of darkness and battle against them. It is not a battle against flesh and blood; for if you battle in that way you accomplish nothing. But if you let Me take over and battle against the powers of darkness then they are defeated, and then liberation is brought to My people.

I warn you to search the Scriptures diligently these last days. For the things that are written shall indeed be made manifest. There shall come deceivers among My people in increasing numbers, who shall speak forth the truth and shall gain the favor of the people. For the people shall examine the Scriptures and say, “What these men say is true.” Then when they have gained the hearts of the people, then and THEN ONLY shall they bring out these wrong doctrines. Therefore, I say that you should not give your hearts to men, nor hold people’s persons in admiration. For by these very persons shall Satan enter into My people. WATCH FOR SEDUCERS. Do you think a seducer will brandish a new heresy and flaunt it before the people? He will speak the words of righteousness and truth, and will appear as a minister of light, declaring the Word. The people’s hearts shall be won. Then, when the hearts are won, they will bring out their doctrines, and the people shall be deceived. The people shall say, “Did he not speak thus and thus? And did we not examine it from the Word? Therefore he is a minister of righteousness.

“This that he has now spoken we do not see in the Word, but it must be right, for the other things he spoke were true”.

Be not deceived. For the deceiver will first work to gain the hearts of many, and then shall bring forth his insidious doctrines. You cannot discern those who are of Me and those who are not of Me when they start to preach. But seek Me constantly, and then when these doctrines are brought out you shall have a witness in your heart that these are not of Me. Fear not, for I have warned you. Many will be deceived. But if you walk in holiness and uprightness before the Lord, your eyes shall be open and the Lord will protect you. If you will constantly look unto the Lord you will know when the doctrine changes, and will not be brought into it. If your heart is right I will keep you; and if you will look constantly to Me I will uphold you.

The minister of righteousness shall be on this wise — his life shall agree with the Word, and his lips shall give forth that which is wholly true, and it will be no mixture. When the mixture appears then you will know he is not a minister of righteousness. The deceivers speak first the truth and then error, to cover their own sins which they love. Therefore I exhort and command you to study the Scriptures relative to seducing spirits, for this is one of the great dangers of these last days.

I desire you to be firmly established in My Word and not in the personalities of men, that you will not be moved as so many shall be moved. I would keep you in the paths of righteousness. Take heed to yourselves and follow not the seducing spirits that are already manifesting themselves. Diligently inquire of Me when you hear something that you have not seen in the Word, and do not hold people’s persons in admiration, for it is by this very method that Satan will hold many of My people.

I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly, that you may triumph where I triumphed. On the cross I triumphed over all the power of Satan; and I have called you to walk in the same path. It is when your life is on the cross that you shall know the victory I have experienced. As you are on the cross, and seated in Me, then you shall know the power of the resurrection. When I come in My glory, the principalities and powers in the heavenly places shall be utterly broken. Fear not, for I have given you power whereby you may tread down the powers of darkness, and come forth victorious through every trial. As you are on the cross then you are victorious. It was on the cross that I triumphed over all the powers of the enemy. My life shall flow through you as you enter into these precious truths. Look unto Me, and appropriate My life. As your eyes and desires are toward Me, and you know what it is to be crucified with Me, then you shall live, and your anointing shall increase. It was not in My life that I walked upon the earth, but it was in My life when I was upon the cross that I openly spoiled principalities and powers.

I am showing you truths that shall cause you to overcome, to have power over the wicked one, truth that will liberate you and those round about you. You shall know also the fellowship of My sufferings. There is no other way whereby you may partake of this heavenly glory and reign with Me. “If we suffer with Him we shall reign with Him.” I desire to make those truths real within you. As you keep them before you, you will liberate many who are in bondage. You will have revelation of those who are in darkness and will have the keys to liberate the captives. Many seek to liberate, but they have not the keys. Upon the cross continually you will know the power of My resurrection that you may also partake of My glory. As you are willing to walk with Me and rejoice in your sufferings, you shall partake of My glory. Look unto Me for you have need of power to overcome the wicked one, and the bondages in other lives.

If you will indeed judge yourself you shall not be judged. As you seek My face and desire to be cleansed by Me in all truth and sincerity of heart I will judge you in the secret place, and the things that are in the secret place of your heart shall not be made manifest to others. I will do it in the secret place and no man shall know it. And the shame that shall be seen on many faces shall not be seen on your face. Therefore in love and mercy I am instructing you. And therefore I have said that if a man judge himself he shall not be judged. It is not My good pleasure that the shame of My people be seen by all. How can I judge the world if I judge not first My own house? Hearken unto these things I am telling you. If you will not hearken unto Me thy shame shall be evident to all.

I would have you consider My life on earth – the anointing upon Me was great and yet the temptations were great on every side; in one form and then in another, offering Me first the glory of the kingdoms of the earth and then reviling and persecuting Me. There will be great glory given to My people, and yet the temptations shall be intensified from every side. Think not that with the glory there shall be no temptations or persecutions. The glory of My church shall be great, and so shall be the temptations from the enemy to turn My people from My paths. I am warning you that when the glory shall be manifested, the temptations shall be great, until very few that start shall finish. First there shall be offered them great worldly possessions, and then great revilings and unbelief.

Consider your Lord, that as He walked so it shall be for you. There shall be need of great intensity of purpose. At times everyone shall rise up against you, simply to turn you from the course that I would put you in. It is written of Me that I set My face as a flint to go to the direction My Father had prescribed for Me. If you will finish the course the Lord has laid down for you, you will have to set your face as a flint. With great determination you must walk in the course laid down for you. Many of your loved ones and those who follow with you shall persuade you and try to turn you from the course. With many words that seem right in the natural will they speak to you. Did not Christ rebuke Peter who would turn Him from the course God had prescribed?

Understand these two things and meditate upon them solemnly – the persecution and the darkness shall be as great as the glory in order to try to turn the elect and the anointed ones from the path the Lord has laid down for them. Many shall start but few shall be able to finish because of the greatness of grace that shall be needed to be able to endure unto the end. The temptations and the persecution of your Lord was continuous. He was tempted by Satan in many forms throughout His entire life and even to the cross when the ungodly cried out, “If thou be the Christ come down from the cross.” Think not that there shall be a time of no persecution, for it shall be from the time of your anointing until the end. Difficulties, and great persecution to the end. The Lord must prepare you to be an overcomer in all things, that you may be able to finish the course. The persecution shall increase even as the anointing shall increase.

In paths of judgement and righteousness shall the Lord God lead His people and bring them into that place which He has chosen for them. For the Lord has chosen a place for His people, a place of righteousness and holiness where He shall encamp round about them. And all who will be led of the Lord shall be brought into this holy place. For the Lord delights to dwell in His people and to manifest Himself through His people. The holiness of the Lord shall be manifested through His people. Let the Lord lead you and He will lead you in difficult places. He led His people of old through a place where no man dwelt, where no man had passed through, in a place of great danger and in the shadow of death. The Lord will indeed again lead His people through such places, and yet He will bring them out into a place of great glory. Understand that the way toward the glory is fraught with great danger and many shall fall to the right or to the left, many shall camp on lesser ground. But the Lord has a place of holiness and no unclean thing shall dwell among His people.

Put your trust in Him and He will bring you into a place of holiness. He desires to bring His people into great glory — the like of which has never been seen for what the Lord will do for those who put their trust in Him. It is a place of darkness and great danger that separates His people into the place He would have them walk in. He will protect them from the voices that would turn them from His path. He will bring them through the dark places, and through the treacherous paths, out into the light of His glory. He will rejoice greatly over His beloved and cause you to be filled with joy unspeakable. He seeks to lead His people into a new place of grace and glory where He will indeed encamp among them. Put your trust in Him and He will surely bring you into this new place.

Fear not the days to come, but fear this only — that you shall walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord. In this time I am ordering and setting up My church and it shall indeed be pure, without spot or wrinkle. I will do work in My beloved that has not been seen since the foundation of the world. I have shown you these things that you may seek the Lord diligently with all your heart, and that you may be a preserver of His people.

Run not to this one nor to that one, for the Lord has so ordained that salvation is in Him and in Him alone. You shall not turn to this shepherd or to that one, for there shall be a great scattering upon the earth. Therefore look unto Him for He will indeed make these things clear to you. You shall not look here nor there, for the wells that once had water shall be no more. But as you diligently seek Him He shall increase your strength and your faith, that He may be able to prepare you for this time that is coming.

The truths that I have revealed to you must become a part of you — not just an experience, but a part of your very nature. Is it not written that I demand truth in the inward parts? It is the truth of the Lord expressed in your very being that shall hold you. Many shall experience the truth, but the truth must become a part of you, your very life. As men and women look upon you they will hear not only the voice but see the expression of the truth. Many shall be overcome because they are not constant in My ways, and because they have not permitted the truths to become part of them. I am showing you these things that you may be prepared, and having done all, to stand.

13 When Samuel reached him, Saul said, “The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.”

14 But Samuel said, “What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?”

15 Saul answered, “The soldiers brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but we totally destroyed the rest.”

16 “Stop!” Samuel said to Saul. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.”

17 Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel. 18 And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; make war on them until you have wiped them out.’ 19 Why did you not obey the LORD ?

20 “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. 21 The soldiers took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of what was devoted to God, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”

22 But Samuel replied:

“Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices

23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination,

and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.

24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the LORD’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the people and so I gave in to them. 25 Now I beg you, forgive my sin and come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD.”

26 But Samuel said to him, “I will not go back with you. You have rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you as king over Israel!”

His kingship was never recovered.   It is a Huge responsibility when God calls on you to carry out as He instructs.  This can and will interfere with friendships, family, vacations, having fun, and also the local Church you may attend. It can interfere with time restraints, planning, promises, what you desire, and how you obtain it. Never mind how much you tithe, and never mind how much time you serve in church… never mind how much schooling you have, or how much memorization you have of the Word… listen to the audio.

“you have rejected the Word of the Lord, and the Lord has rejected you as king over Israel”.

The Greatest Sin in the Church

Thank You Jesus, and thank You for Sermonindex.com

to hear, click on link, and go to the end of post, or click to copy link to your browser and enter.

http://pjmiller.wordpress.com/2010/06/12/audio-a-nation-abandoned-by-god/

or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hbg1FFvLL9A&feature=player_embedded#!

by John Mac Arthur

Question…  if America is truly Blessed by God then why would such GROSS wickedness ABOUND?

Look around you.  Listen to the secular media.  Visit other churches than your own.  Talk to your neighbors.  Look… Listen… Observe… Perceive… really pay Attention!

If you have only concluded it is because we are sinners, then you are only relying on your own reasoning.   However, if we were to only consider that we are sinners then one must also agree Judgment is to follow.    What about the warning?  The warnings have been laid down, yet these are only a handful of responses to the Word of God:

• why do you do that!

• why do you always have to do that!

• why can’t you just leave things be!

• why can’t you just shut up!

• I don’t want to HEAR about those things!

• who put you in charge of Judging!

• oh no, we don’t do things like that around here.

• you do have a voice, and we want to hear what everyone thinks, but the majority vote is the final word.

• I am sure Hell and Damnation messages served a purpose for it’s time, but today people do not want to listen to such negativity, and who are we trying to convince; after all we are speaking to Christian Believers aren’t we?

While listening to this two things were brought to mind:  white ash, and a white horse; both representing Just Judgment.   America is on fire, yet it is not for the Lord God in whom we profess to believe in… her Fire is the Burning Lust of her Heart… Gross Wickedness.

Why does God HATE the practices of the Nicolaitans?

Who were these mysterious people?

“But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.” (Revelation 2:6, KJV)

“But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ” (Revelation 2:6, NIV)

When our Lord Jesus Christ walked among men, He taught His disciples to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, whom He denounced as hypocrites. With them He classed the chief priests and officials of the temple, together with the recognized teachers, (scribes, or “professors” Ferrar Fenton Translation) in the Synagogues. He declared they had so corrupted the truth of God, which they were supposed to preach, with the doctrines and ordinances of men, that the truth, as originally given, was no longer with them. That which these blind leaders of the blind were giving forth as truth of God was making their converts twofold more the children of hell than they were before accepting the [schi]ism by these corrupt teachers.

Do Not Become Exalted

Therefore, as a warning to those who were joining themselves to Him, the Lord said that these non-spiritual men made long prayers for a “pretense,” a public “show” which, while having a form of humility, was for the purpose only of being seen of men. What these men really loved were the highest seats in the Synagogues; the uppermost rooms at the public feasts; the greetings they received in the market places from truly humble and sincere men, whom they hoped would esteem them as superiors, and who addressed them as Rabbi, Rabbi, my master, my master. But our Lord commanded:

“Be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren …. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant,” (Matthew 23:8-11).

This was a double command for a double purpose: Do not allow men who are your brethren in Christ, and who compose the assembly of God, to call you Master, for One alone is your Master. Do not allow yourself to become possessed with such a carnal spirit that you want men who belong to the body of Christ to call you “Master.” Hypocrites Also, added to the carnal desire to be “uppermost” in the eyes of the Lord’s people, these leaders were charged with extortion and accused of devouring the homes of widows, and of excess. Jesus accused them of being hypocrites who aspired to be regarded as dignitaries of the congregations of the Most High God. Such conditions as described exist only in the assemblies across whose ethical portals, before the God of Holiness, has been written the name, “Ichabod” — the glory of the Lord has departed. The word “excess,” as used above, means the carnal abuse of lawful things; things lawful and right carried to extremes. For it is true that there is a legal and God approved honor given to certain selected ones: “We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves,” (1Thessalonians 5:12-13).”Let the elders that rule well [guide; lead; preside well] be counted worthy of double honor, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine,” (1Timothy 5:17). Guide, not Rule Why guide and lead, instead of rule? Because those who are over us in the Lord are shepherds who must lead and guide, but not dominate. Rule is arbitrary government, and the Church may be “subject to Christ” only. “One is your Master, even Christ.” The following Divine instruction is from one of the inspired Spirit-filled elders: “The elders which are among you exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [not rulership] thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock,” (1Peter 5:1-3). The “blind guides” would say, but not do. The Divinely anointed elder will both say and do, and thus be an example to the flock, whom the people will love and esteem very highly for his work’s sake, and who in his heart will never desire to be lord over the heritage of his Master. It is this aspiration on the part of men to become lords over God’s heritage that God hates. “The doctrine of the Nicolaitans (Nicolaitanes)” is just what the word Nicolaitan itself declares. Proof: In the book of the revelation of Jesus Christ, it is both “the deeds” and “the doctrine” of those in the two “churches” specified (Revelation 2:6, 15). The Lord demands repentance on the part of those who hold and practice these things and He threatens drastic punishment if they do not obey Him: “Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth,” (Revelation 2:16). The name, Nicolaitans (Nicolaitanes), is a compound word which is composed of three Greek words, and which, because of being a proper noun, is transferred instead of being translated into English. As thus transferred, it is subject to the laws of Greek construction in regard to ellipsis, contraction and phonetics. The Greek words used in its construction are first: “Nikos,” of which we use the English equivalents instead of the Greek letters, as we shall also of the other two. Nikos is defined as “a conquest; victory; triumph; the conquered; and by implication, dominancy over the defeated.” Another transferred name in which this term is used is “Nicopolis,” i.e., Niko – conquest; polis city. Hence, the city of conquest, or city of victory. Also Andro — nikos a man of conquest, of victory. The second term used in the name under consideration is “laos,” — people, another use of which is Nicolas, which is transferred and is composed of Nikoslaos and means one who is “victorious over the people,” the letter “s” being, in both words, the nominative case ending, which is retained only at the end of the word to denote the case, while “a” short and “o” short are contracted into “a” long. Laodiceans Also, a still further transferred use of “laos” is found in the name Lao(s)diceans, compounded with dike or dice as the Greek “k” is the equivalent English “c.” Thus, in the name Laodiceans, we have laos — “people” and dice judgment, or vengeance, i.e., the people of my judgment, or of my vengeance. Also the Greek word la(ic)os means “laymen,” of which laos is the root and stem, which selfsame word, with the “o” short contracted to “i”, to which root and stem the plural definite article ton is joined to form laiton — is a Greek phrase meaning “the laity.” The third and last word entering into the construction of the proper name Nicolaitans (Nicolaitanes) is ton, in which omega, the long “o”, is contracted into long “a”, thus making the word “tan” which is the genitive case plural in all the genders of the definite article ‘the.’ Therefore, we have, without the legal Greek construction, the English hyphenated word Nickos-laoston, but which, with its lawful elisions and contractions, becomes the English name: Nicolaitans (Nicolaitanes), the full meaning of which, in its native tongue and in its ecclesiastical setting, is that the bishops and prelates of the Church have gained a triumphal victory or conquest over the laiton – the laity — until they have been compelled to submit to the arbitrary dominion of men who have become that thing which God hates – ‘Lords over God’s heritage’: “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight [thereof], not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over [God's] heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. ” (1Peter 5:1-3, KJV) Hierarchy has ranks The evidence of this is found in all our common school dictionaries, among which we find the following definition of the term “hierarchy: the power of dominion, government by ecclesiastical rulers,” to which the following is introduced in evidence: “If anyone shall say that there is not in the Catholic Church a hierarchy established by the divine ordination, consisting of bishops, presbyters and ministers, let him be anathema, Council of Trent (trans) XXIII 6.” (Century Dictionary.) In other words, let anyone who will have the temerity to say there is not a hierarchy, not a collection of human beings, who have been given the power, by other men of dominion, as ecclesiastical rulers over churchmen, who are declaredly God’s heritage, let that man be accursed; i.e., let death and hell and the devil get him. Surely, the thing in which that ecclesiastical company is glorying is their shame! Furthermore, Webster defines the word “episcopal” as “the power of government, belonging to, or invested in, bishops or prelates. Government of the church by bishops.” Also “In episcopacy, the order of bishops is superior to the other clergy, and has exclusive power to confer orders.” In this definition it is affirmed that a certain portion of presbyters (elders) were even “in apostolic times superior in authority to ordinary presbyters,” and also mentions the fact that episcopacy recognizes “episcopal rank” which is created by the institution thus governed; all of which affirms that any church in which episcopal government obtains is practicing the very carnal and fleshly iniquity of creating “Superiors” in what should be a holy brotherhood. The use of this appellation makes “inferiors” out of “brethren” who are in the selfsame clergy. Rank Creates Divisions The approbation of “ordinary elders” demands a “set” of elders who are superordinary, thus creating “rank” (caste) in the otherwise Divine brotherhood, all of which destroys holy fellowship, creates division and strife, and fosters envy. No marvel that our Lord should hate a thing like that, condemn it, and demand that those who are guilty shall repent. But will they? Yes, some will when the tribulation is on. Others, however, will stick to their ecclesiastical crowd, vainly imagining that their boasted “superiority” will carry them through that time of the greatest trouble the world has ever known, or will know. They must go down with the rest of the hosts of anti-Christ. And yet, one of the most unfortunate features of all this is that there are those in the Christian Church who do not hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, but who practice “their deeds” of dominating the laity by lording it over the Church of Jesus Christ, which should be subject only to one Divine Master. It is often true that these have assumed this lordship because they are esteemed very highly in love for their work’s sake, but have become vainly puffed up in their fleshly mind. Beloved, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” Written by: J. H. Allen

The Seven Prophetic Churches of Revelation

Ephesus – Smyrna – Pergamos – Thyatira – Sardis – Philadelphia – Laodicea