Who's Carrying The Vision?

The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” And the LORD said to Samuel: “See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make the ears of everyone who hears about it tingle. I Samuel 3:1, 9-11 NIV

The Word of The Lord was rare--God was not speaking to many people who chose to ignore Him after they "crowned" their king so they could be ruled like other nations. But Samuel--given to God to serve Him by a mother who was grateful for the blessing of a child--was destined to speak for The Lord.

Throughout the Old Testament--we see how God removed Himself from a haughty groups of people (tribes) who forgot what He had said through other prophets and we also see the outcome. A nation without God is bound to lead to negative consequences. Under each king--the people either suffered or they prospered--depending upon the leader's attitude towards God. Under good kings--those who remembered God's Word--they prospered and under evil kings--the people were doomed. When God's prophets were ignored in favor of the king's prophets--calamity occurred every time.

Now--who is God speaking to and through today? To whom has He given a vision--that will benefit the people--warning them of the dire consequences that will fall upon them if people ignore it?

We have so many people who claim to be prophets of God and visionaries that it's almost comical. Not one of them have prophesied anything that has come to fruition.

Before I fell asleep last night, I saw in a vision a mist covering the earth and people changing their behavior for the better. There were no arguments, no violence, and everyone treated others with respect and kindness. So, my prayer was--"Let it be, Daddy. Let it be."

I'm not claiming to be a prophet, but that vision made me think about who God can trust to impart a vision to them. God must find us worthy to entrust us with His visions and if we attempt to move forward by our own visions--tragedy is imminent. I know--I've seen it happen. People claim God has given them a vision when in actuality, their vision overtakes them and they never see the end of the matter.

We don't have to wait for a prophet to speak to us--reminding us of God's Word--we have His Word in written format--the bible--and when we submit to Him, Holy Spirit reminds each of us what God has said and shows us those things to come--the good and the bad. Therefore, we who Believe should be trustworthy enough for God to use to build the kingdom to His glory!

Who Has Bewitched You? (Part 3)

Yet Talking to Preachers, getting to the heart of the matter!

“Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God” (I Corinthians 6:9-11 NIV).

             

             People have a chance to get things right with God, but repentance must take place, first—total turning away from all acts of sin—and turning to God and living according to His Word.  Jesus died so we would have access to heaven and though there are some who believe that our time on the planet now is either heaven or hell, I choose to believe God and will wait for His Son’s return so I can be with Him for all eternity. 
           There have been myriad attempts to justify man’s behavior by saying, “it’s not in the Bible.  God didn’t say anything about homosexuality.  Jesus never mentioned anything.” I have to wonder about the reading comprehension levels of people saying such things.

          When the woman was caught in the "very act" of adultery and brought to Jesus for condemnation, this was the conclusion of the matter for Jesus when He asked about her accusers.


"No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin (He addressed every sin included in the law already revealed—Notice, He did not say “sins” because any and all sin is sin)" (John 8:11 NIV).

The following is a list of words that are not mentioned in the bible, but the acts for the most part are graphically described and those acts were later “defined and labeled by contemporary society.” Note that while some “labels/names” used now were not used then, the intent or the act is still the same and so are the consequences.

Homosexuality—Already discussed in Leviticus and Romans.  A label given by man.

Rape—Not mentioned but clearly understood by those who have adequate reading comprehension in the reading of those stories as told by Moses in Genesis, Numbers, and by what happened to David’s children. A label given by man.

Incest—not mentioned, but clearly described.  A label given by man.

Molestation—not mentioned, but clearly described.  Label given by man.

AIDS/HIV—not mentioned, but already discussed in Deuteronomy. Labels of illnesses, given by man.  “The LORD will also bring on you every kind of sickness and disaster not recorded in this Book of the Law, until you are destroyed” (Deuteronomy 28:61).

Depression—not mentioned, but clearly identifiable when reading comprehension is above average.  A label given by man.

Depravation—(to make morally bad or evil or corrupt) not mentioned in the Bible, but clearly identifiable by descriptive acts throughout the Bible.  A label given by man.

Political Correctness—certainly mentioned in the bible and I cannot even clearly discern a description of such as we attempt to promote it.  It is simply a label given by man, to make sure people maintain their status in a politically charged arena.

            

             There are many other “labels” we have given people and things that do not appear in the bible—too many to list in the space of this commentary.  We, “mankind,” have always determined what labels are applied to people and things.  Many forms of illnesses were not named, until someone decided to name them.  The symptoms or results of the illness did not change—only the name.  The act of sexual depravation has not changed, only the name.

The bottom line is this—people are going to do exactly what they want to do—in total opposition to God and self.  So, just get to it.  But do stop trying to twist God’s Word so you won’t have to feel guilty.  God knows better.  Remember this—there are consequences for our actions—good and bad—we choose our consequence by what we do; especially when we say—we have a relationship with God.  Don’t let the enemy continue to bewitch you—see the need to seek God and know that He has only your best interests in mind.  God loves you and so do I. The enemy could care less about you.  So, don’t get the truth twisted. Open your heart to hear what the Spirit of the Lord has to say, not the fickle-mindedness of man. Those who deceive and lie have neither heaven nor hell for us for our eternal resting place.  Gratification of the flesh for a limited time is not worth losing a mansion for eternity or living with the negative consequences of disobedience. It’s a choice we all have to make—follow Christ or follow the enemy. The choice is now yours!

Father, in the name of Jesus, Help us to understand that Your Word is our guideline for living and in positioning ourselves to receive Your best for us. Help us to shield our minds from the tricks of the enemy who will influence any caught up in the lust of the flesh.  Help us to stay focused on being everything You desire us to be.  Speak to our hearts and help us to turn away from anything that is not like You.  Help us to love unconditionally, so others will come into a true knowledge of what it is to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  We declare all lies exposed and all liars exposed for all to see who really know who You are and how we are to live.