What’s Growing In Your Garden?

“I am against you,” declares the LORD Almighty. “I will lift your skirts over your face. I will show the nations your nakedness and the kingdoms your shame.” (Nahum 3:5 NIV)

Who is the Lord against? The inhabitants of Ninevah who were living in opposition to God’s Will. Jonah was sent to Ninevah to warn them they were about to face the wrath of God and the people repented, but later turned back to the ways of evil and the city was destroyed.

That was then, this is now. Is there a place or people to whom the Lord is saying, “I am against you?”

Before I answer this question, let me explore how history is repeating itself. Many have warned the nations against their wicked ways, but most have refused to listen. Throughout man’s history, whenever flesh dictated reason, people lived outside the will of God. Many were the prophets who spoke what God gave them and though some heard them, many did not and because the prophets spoke against evil and wickedness, many of them were killed. They were killed by those in authority who did not wish to stop wickedness–primarily that of worshipping idol gods which included sexual immorality and sacrificing of children.

Small wonder these practices continued since those in charge were evil incarnate. Moving to the 21st century, do we not have those in authority who are more concerned about appeasing man’s fleshly appetites for evil than God’s Will? Absolutely! Not much has changed when fleshly dictates override the spirit–the constant war between flesh and spirit–good and evil–and those who promote evil–living in opposition to God, will have much to answer for in the end.

Now, back to the question as to whether or not God is saying He is against some.  Yes, He is and we who know The Word–have a right relationship with Him–know this and are warning the nations, but once again, not many are listening. And once again, we shall see the wrath of God–His removal of His hand of protection–from all who are against Him–and He knows those who are His Children. All we need to do is go back and review history–not just the Bible, but remember the bible is a summary of the history of man.

Either we are for God–living according to His Word or we are against Him–living in opposition to His Word. God knows where we stand and so do we–if we’re honest with ourselves. Of course, those who are influenced by the god of this world–are blinded to the Truth of God’s Word and they have managed to spread evil like wind-blown seed into high places, planting more evil everywhere the seed lands.

It is time for the gardeners–to pluck up the weeds of evil–and plant the seeds of goodness, righteousness, and love for God and His people. Wherever we see the seeds of evil sprouting, we pluck them up and replace them with God’s Truth for His love is shed abroad in our hearts and because we love Him, we obey Him.

Now, who do you think God will be against? The gardeners of righteousness or those who deliberately plant seeds of evil? We do have a choice and it’s time to make the right one if we plan to reign with Jesus. Today, not tomorrow, is the time for change in what we plant.

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Spiritual Israel!

“So the LORD will cut off from Israel both head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day; the elders and dignitaries are the head, the prophets who teach lies are the tail. Those who guide this people mislead them, and those who are guided are led astray” (Isaiah 9:14-16 NIV).

Sometimes, when trying to understand the events of the day, we have to look at the events of the past and know that the same God who allowed things to happen then, is the same God of today and tomorrow. When God is angered due to our disobedience and refusal to heed those who warn us, His wrath falls–upon everyone–until a remnant returns to Him.

God has always used the few to save the multitudes. He had Gideon cut down the size of his army from thousands to mere hundreds. He saw the faith of Joshua and Caleb who were bold enough to speak out of faith rather than fear.. He used Elijah to cut down false prophets. There has always been a few–faithful and committed to pleasing God–who turned to Him and He heard their pleas and honored them.

We are Spiritual Israel–every Believer has been adopted into the family and are spiritual descendants of Abraham. So, whatever happened to Israel in the past, is recurring today and as long as the multitudes defy the Living God, tragedies will continue to happen, until God chooses to hear the remnant, again.

There are some days when I only want to write “positive, uplifting, encouraging” words, but when I know that God is speaking to my heart, I have to be a voice–speaking what He says, reminding people that He is yet alive and sees all that is happening in our midst and for the most part, He is not pleased.

Therefore, I will remind the leaders–of all nations–that God is watching everything that happens and He is not pleased with those who deliberately mislead and cause the people to follow evil and wickedness. This includes elected officials, dictators, church leaders, and heads of households. Anyone in a leadership position that is not leading the masses per God’s instructions shall incur His wrath. Those of us who know God and how He sees things must be the remnant to seek God’s wisdom and intercede on behalf of the masses.

We are His people–called by His name–and we shall continue to pray–that all will hear and obey and seek His face and do all things according to His wisdom. He will hear us when those in leadership repent and confess their error in misleading people and then, He will heal the land and we shall abide in His peace! Glory Hallelujah! For all who are Spiritual Israel and know what we must do in this time–for all of Israel. For whatever happens in Israel shall happen to the world.

If we don’t turn to God we shall see His wrath unfold in even greater events that lead to destruction of the masses for He will not allow His chosen to suffer long. Spiritual Israel–The remnant that knows–it is time to seek Him, turn from our wicked ways, and obey Him, only!

Because They Have Forsaken God!

“Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place, and upon the inhabitants thereof, even all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah: Because they have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore my wrath shall be poured out upon this place, and shall not be quenched.” (2 Chronicles 34:24,25)

What happens when we forsake God and forget about all He has told us to do? Ugly things happen and continue to happen until people repent–usually after they have been reminded of what God has said.

This was the case with the King (Josiah) who got rid of all the high places where people burned living children in sacrifice to a hand-made God, where they worshipped the works of their own hands and falsely believed those who told them to kill children to appease their hand-made God. Josiah repented after hearing The Words of God that had been forgotten and forsaken. He finally understood and obeyed and his obedience kept him from falling into the judgment of those who refused to repent.

The same God–not made by hands–who is self-existing and needs no one else to counsel Him–who allowed judgment to fall upon entire kingdoms because of their disobedience then, will do the same thing today–if we continue to forsake God’s Word!

Perhaps, the problem is that many refuse to attend places of worship that have made the Word of God of no effect because of their traditions. Perhaps, the problem is because no one is reading The Word, seeking understanding of how God wants us to live. Perhaps, the problem is because many people spend far more time worshipping those things that man’s hands have made and they cannot see or understand the importance of knowing what God has said.

People worship their cars, their jobs, their bank accounts, their homes, their children, their spouses and when people and things become more important than God--we go astray. We forget to read The Word; we forget to hear The Word; we forget to study The Word and seek Him for understanding. With all of this forgetting about The Word–we disobey God and create (in our minds and with our own hands) new rules–that contradict God’s Word. We create laws and statutes that are in total opposition to what God has said and we do it–to be politically correct and inclusive–desiring to please men, more than God!

And when we forsake God–all the ugliness of the world–is exposed to the light and we see the end results–chaos, unrest, and violence, not realizing that sin impacts our environment and the just and unjust suffer the same consequences.

The solution to all the aforenamed problems is simply for everyone to get in The Word, understand what God has said and repent–humbly seeking His forgiveness for all we have done that is not of Him.

When we forsake God and His ways, He forsakes us and allows us to do our own thing–obtaining our own results–without His involvement. God does not cause the problems we have in our society–we do–because we have forsaken God!

Help us, O Lord, to get our priorities right and come back to the place where we can receive The Word and forgiveness for all the wrong we have done. Have mercy on us, O Lord, and lead us to the place You would have us to be–always focused upon You and what You would have us to do so we can achieve greatness to Your glory!

No Fear For Doing Right!

“For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended” (Romans 13:3 NIV).

When we look at what is occurring all over the world and we see the effects of misguided leadership, we need to pray. Apparently, they did not understand what this means; especially those who proclaim to know the Living God! They have forgotten that their leadership is limited and should have guided by the One who truly rules and when all do right–there is no need to fear, but when they do wrong–look out!

If we desire freedom from fear from God (not mankind), when we do what is right, we can be confident in walking in His favor. But if we do what is wrong in order to appease misguided leadership, then we should be fearful of the wrath of God. For His wrath will fall on the just as well as the unjust.

The rulers Paul references in this passage of scripture are those who are led by the Spirit of God in their governance of people. And when we know that leadership has gone astray, being influenced by another spirit, we must pray that God will remove the scales from their eyes and they can see themselves clearly, as everyone else does.

When leadership allows all manner of people into an environment that should be sanctified and holy, the spirits of all those who are not holy, are left behind and they congregate to influence all who come into their presence. When we pray, we must pray against the influence of evil spirits who inhabit and dwell in places when given room to do so. And we pray that God’s Will is fulfilled in all that is done. However, when we see leadership actively opposed to God’s purposes, we must remove ourselves before we are also infected with wrong thinking and doing likewise.

In order to take fear out of the equation–love unconditionally and do what is right at all times. God will take care of the rest, according to His purposes and plans.

 

Can You Hear Me Now?

“But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2 NIV).

Are we listening to God through His Word, when His spirit speaks to us or are we bombarded by the chaos that reigns in the midst of confusion and disobedience? I can only imagine what  God might be thinking about what is happening in the land, He created for our good.

“Good morning, children,” God said.

“I have much to say to you concerning this world.”

“On this planet, I had devised the means for your survival and even for you to prosper in it.”

“On this planet, I had determined my purposes for your lives if you would surrender your all to me.”

“Over and over again, I have sustained a remnant of people who will obey and do what I have asked them to do.”

“Throughout the generations, I have loved you, warned you, and even sacrificed myself for you, yet you do not hear me.”

“You have not heeded my warnings or learned from your past mistakes, and even when I attempt to correct you, you turn from me.”

“You have defiled yourselves in all manner of abominations and turned what I have said is evil to good–for your own selfish purposes–to appease your flesh.”

“You have ignored my teachings so your children will be upstanding, productive people and now instead they are whore-mongers, warmongers, and haters of self and parents, and me.”

“You care more about what people think that what I have said and you constantly change your views to adapt to people, but you constantly ignore what I have said that does not change.”

“You attempt to talk to me when things go south and then you expect me to act on your behalf as though I am a magician.”

“You refuse to obey me, but you get angry when the consequences of your actions are made known to all.”

“When I am attempting to talk to you about your behavior, you tune-me out or try to justify your actions.”

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? I Am God and I change not, nor do my purposes for you change.”

“Nevertheless, since you insist on doing things your way, I will abide by my word and remove my hand from your lives and allow the consequences to fall upon the just and the unjust.”

“There is no more need to seek me for direction, when you refuse to hear me.  I will not hear you because you do not listen to those I have appointed and anointed for such a time as this.”

“And when you hear the sounds of war knocking at your borders, do not wonder why.  You know why.  Do not point fingers at others until you have realized your part in all of the world’s undoing.”

“Know that I love you, but I will not tolerate your blatant disregard of my people, my Word, or those I purposed to serve your needs.”

“Since you love the praise of men more than your relationship with me, and will praise others more than you praise me, I will leave you to serve what you desire and you will hear from me–no more!”

“C A N   Y O U   H E A R   M E   N O W?”

What is your response? O God, I hear and ask for Your abiding love to sustain us against evil and that You will create in us a heart to hear, a will to do, the courage to speak out against evil and a determination to get it all done, to Your glory! Cut away everything in our lives that keeps us from true repentance, so that we may honor You with our lives!

New Mercies

No matter how difficult things appear to be, or even if it seems like we are on the receiving end of God’s wrath; it is only for a moment. Because of His loving kindness, His mercies are new every morning. Thank God for new mornings and new mercies! Hallelujah!