This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him.

Jesus said that false prophets would rise, and all the more once His Day approaches. He was right. There are many who want to be prophets, but instead of waiting on the Lord, they force the issue.

Let me give you some clues about the false prophets today.

First off, they like to use the prophets of old to justify their sinfulness. For example, Elijah was grumpy and had a temper. Moses “spoke unadvisedly” when he found the people giving into idolatry. Well, if they did it, then it is okay, right?

“This is my beloved Son. Hear Him.”

This is what the Father said when Jesus appeared transfigured with Moses on one side and Elijah on the other.

Jesus Himself said that of all the prophets, none were as great as John the Baptist, and he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is even greater than John.

Stop using Old Testament prophets to excuse your wickedness. You are abusing the word of God, and you might find that two-edged sword slicing you up.

We are called to a higher calling in Christ Jesus.

Jesus and the Apostles said some things that we cannot forget, and it is so tempting to in this time.

We are to turn the other cheek. We are not to overcome evil with evil but overcome evil with good. We are to be wise as serpents but harmless as doves.

Many so-called prophets today have it backwards. They bite as a serpent and their wisdom fails them as drunkards. They are drunken off of their love of violence, love of being something great in the kingdom of God, and love of one-upping people who oppose them in love, trying to get them to wake up from their drunken stooper.

It is fitting to “abhor evil and cleave to what is good.” Abhor evil. Abhor wickedness. Call out the works of darkness and expose the workers of the wicked in high places. We are called to do so. But, if you are wise as a drunkard and harmful as a one who tears with their teeth and stings with their tails, if you are one who out of their mouth is frowardness “smoke and fire and brimstone” then you are not God’s prophet. You are Satan’s.

And you make things worse. You give the enemy fuel for their fire, you draw them nearer to the flock of the Lord, and you probably don’t convince any of them to repent.

Repent yourself and wait on the Lord. He will give power to those who are self-controlled, humble, lovers of peace, and lovers of all that is righteous and haters of all that is wicked including the false prophets.

I trust that the Lord will deal with the brethren and none who love Him of a truth—even if they are acting as false prophets presently—will fall away. That’s my hope. God will use them, and perhaps as Paul they will be even more zealous for speaking the fire of God and not the fire of the serpent.

If you are listening to someone who stirs up feelings of wrath and self-righteous indignation, who uses the word of God to justify works of the flesh, who is a lover of violence, then stop listening to them.

On the other hand, if you are listening to someone who is all peace and love without abhorring that which is evil, but instead justifies the wicked and refuses to stand against the works of evil, stop listening to them also.

It can go to the extreme in both cases. In Christ, we are to walk a balance. We are to find that “straight and narrow way” that often is found in the middle of extremes. Seek the Lord to part the waters for you, so to speak, so you can walk in the right way.

“Take heed to yourselves.” Seek Jesus and focus on your own areas of sin first, because many false prophets are out there with huge beams in their eyes. There are many who would cause you to forget the love of God on one hand and those who would have you justify the wicked on the other. So, again I say, “take heed to yourselves.” Seek Jesus for yourself so that you can be filled with the Holy Ghost. He will teach you all things.

As for delivering people to Satan, as Paul did, this can be necessary. However, if you are drunken then your aim is going to be off and you might find yourself being judged by your judgment. I dare anyone to attempt to deliver me to Satan. I have been delivered from him already by the Mighty God, and I am with Him now. I know Satan when I see him. Try me.

The 7 Churches of Revelation: Smyrna

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. – Revelation 2:8-11

Jesus, who is the first and the last, was dead and is alive, and by whom we can overcome the second death, offers words of comfort to Smyrna.

Smyrna is a gathering of believers who do not neglect the suffering of a Christian. They know that “it is not given to us only to believe on Jesus, but to suffer for His sake.” This is a “take up your cross” kind of church.

They die to themselves and to this world, and as result, they go through many difficulties in this life. They put Jesus above riches in this world, esteeming riches in the Kingdom of Heaven to be far greater. They also view themselves to be “poor in spirit,” always seeking the Lord for more of Himself so that they can better conform to His image in this present world and live faithfully to Him.

Though they are poor in this life and consider themselves to be “poor in spirit,” Jesus says to them, “you are rich.” They have treasure in Heaven, both in this present world through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and His works in them and also in the Kingdom of Heaven to come. Jesus will reward them for all the suffering they endure for His Name’s sake.

Yet, more suffering is to come. As they have always suffered for the Name of Jesus, so will they suffer when the False One and his Whore Bride come into full power. These will persecute Smyrna, cast them into prison, put them on trial, and sentence them to death because they refuse to accept the False One as Lord.

Jesus tells them to expect more suffering, but do not fear. Jesus knows all things and your reward in Heaven is waiting for you, even everlasting life.

Who is the Synagogue of Satan mentioned here?

This is the hard truth we are exploring and one of the main reasons why we are considering the messages to the churches. The Synagogue of Satan carries the name of Jesus, but they do not follow Jesus as they should, but the things of this world and the princes thereof.

They are given time to repent, and if they repent, they will join in with the spirit of the faithful churches, one of which is Smyrna.

If they do not repent, then they are at risk of falling away (having their candlestick removed) during the time of great deception when the Son of Perdition (I like to call him the False One) will appear and reign “for a short time.” He will cater to the unfaithfulness of the churches and lure many into worship of himself. Many will think he is God and they will forsake the brethren and persecute them to death. Once it goes this far — once they are found “drunken and smiting their fellow servants” — Jesus will return and count them among the unbelievers.

How does this apply now?

I believe that we all have something in part to repent for within the household of the Christian faith. However, I also believe that it is Jesus’s faithfulness we trust in. If we love Him of a truth, He will open our hearts so that we can see how we have gone astray in the many generations since He left. Through Him and the Spirit, we will “rebuild the wastelands and desolations of many generations.” Yet, we will be persecuted by those who fall away into full apostacy.

As of now, there is a spirit of apostacy that we all must face honestly. The “synagogue of Satan” is not a physical or genealogical church, but a spiritual church. In Christ, a Jew is not a Jew outwardly, but inwardly as the scriptures say.

If Jesus is Lord of our life, then we are grafted into His house and His church, New Jerusalem. We are grafted into the natural olive tree, as Paul the Apostle said. As Jesus said, if we abide in Him and He in us, we will bring forth much fruit as a fruitful branch that abides in the True Vine of Jesus Christ.

Abiding in Christ means suffering in this world. We suffer because the world hates what Jesus stands for. We suffer when God chastises us as sons for our sin. We suffer sometimes simply because we live in a fallen world, but through patient endurance and praising Jesus we bring glory to His Name all the more because of our suffering.

Christian teachings that deny suffering are not of God. Remember what Jesus said when He spoke to Peter who rebuked Jesus when He said He must die. Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan. You savor the things of man and not of God.”

To all who expect a Christian life to be one of ease and comfort, worldly prosperity, popularity in this world, and claims “I sit a queen and am no widow and shall see now sorrow,” we say, “Get behind me, Satan.” Lord willing, these will repent and turn their hearts to Jesus and away from the false security and comforts of this world—security and comforts that lead to only one outcome: death.

Is a Christian who might be considered rich in this world barred from being of a Smyrna spirit? I don’t think so.

Jesus said that is not good for a man to be rich in this world but not rich towards God. You can have both. However, worldly riches can be a distraction and lead to a false sense of security that values the world’s security over Jesus. Jesus said that few rich would find the Kingdom of God, but with God, all things are possible. Paul the Apostle said that he had learned to both abound and be abased. Both are good in their season as the Father wills it.

If a person is financially well off, understands that this is from the Lord, and does not condemn the poor as being forsaken of God but understands that the Lord blesses us all in His own way for His own purposes; if they are compassionate towards the poor and themselves “poor in spirit” — which is the real poverty that matters here for Smyrna — then I see no reason why they should be viewed as outside of the spirit of Smyrna.

However, in the last days when no man can buy or sell without worshiping the False One, we may find that we are all made poor in this world, but this is blessing. We can see the Lord work and provide for us, most importantly, in the Spirit as we are strengthened of Him.

Am I as Smyrna? Not as much as I’d like. For more, see I Could Be More Like Smyrna Too

The 7 Churches of Revelation: I Have Been as Ephesus Too

In my previous article I discussed my interpretation of the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2. If you have not read it, I recommend that you do so that you might understand better what I write now, which are ways in which I have also been as Ephesus.

The point of this article series is not to condemn other believers, but to encourage us to consider ways in which we are unfaithful to Jesus so that we can repent, seek the Lord for mercy, and better stand with Him against all works of the Adversary.

When Jesus performed His ministry, He said that He did not come to condemn the world, but to save it because they were condemned already. Hard truth and I try to take the same approach. If we reject our calling as Christians, though Jesus deals long and patient with us, we are as dead men walking, ready to welcome the false Christ who will pander to these traits we see in the rebuked churches.

Let us trust in Jesus, knowing that He is faithful to perform all things within those who love Him and trust in Him. However, He is also faithful to send us a wake-up call when we need it. So, let us hear and consider.

As for myself…

The struggles of Ephesus speak to my own struggles within Christian ministry. Especially during the early years. I had considered myself to have a strong grip on doctrine, and I was ready to contend with anyone who opposed—but I did not do so in love—but in arrogancy and pride.

I have continued to struggle with loving the brethren as I should. Jesus told us that “because iniquity will abound, the love of many will grow cold.”

I relate to this. I have to stay on-guard constantly, reminding myself that I love the commandments of Jesus: commandments to love Him with all our heart and our brethren. Also, our neighbors in general, even our enemies.

I love this because I have needed His love too. I love this because His love transforms and renews. His love is wise, pure, and the only thing that will endure forever. Though all things pass away, Jesus and His love will never pass away. How I love it!

Yet, my heart can become cold and hard at times. This is a defense mechanism that is common to man. I have also experienced this: the more I seek Jesus with this struggle honestly, the more He opens my heart to love better. “I will run in the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.”

We can mourn over sin, over deception, and over many forms of corruption in our churches and in the world. It is good to. Jesus is there to comfort those who mourn.

However, let us not grow cold.

If we put Jesus first, everything else will fall into place according to His perfect will and timing.

We also need to be willing to challenge some of our secondary beliefs, knowing that we all “see in part and know in part.” Our brethren have understanding that we might miss, but if we are willing to consider all things more fully, we can get to know God better. The true body of Christ is not scattered, as it so seems, but waiting to edify one another in a remarkable way! However, we must lay aside our prideful self-love and assumptions about our ability to know all truth and condemn others.

In humility, we will find the Kingdom of Heaven, and we will all rejoice in the amazing working, mercy, and patience of Jesus who is Himself Lord of all Lords and King of all Kings!

The 7 Churches of Revelation: Ephesus

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitanes, which I also hate.

7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. – Revelation 2:1-7

The letters to the churches begin with a descriptive attribute of Jesus and end with a promise. I use these to inform my understanding of what is being communicated to the churches.

For Ephesus, Jesus opens by stating that He is “he who holds the seven stars in my right hand and walks in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.”

This reminds Ephesus that Jesus is within all of the churches and it is He who holds the ministers of the Lord in His hand. We will consider why this matters in a moment.

On one hand it is good that they labor diligently with all patience as they expose evil and false apostles.

On the other hand, they have “left their first love.”

What is their “first love” if not Jesus Himself? It is also true that we cannot love Jesus and claim to know Jesus if we do not also love our brethren.

For all of their trying of deceitful workers, even if they are accurate and bring people out of deception which is needful, they have lost their love.

Jesus reminds them that He is in the midst of all churches and He holds all ministers in His hand—not just Ephesus. Perhaps Ephesus prides itself on being a church above churches, able to discern who are truly of God and who are not—yet ironically—they do not know God themselves as they should because they have left their first love, Jesus and the brethren they esteem as lesser than themselves.

Even so, this one thing they have: They hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which God also hates.

What are the deeds of the Nicolaitans?

My take is this: we can replace the deeds/doctrine of the Nicolaitans with carnal Christianity in general. Perhaps there is a specific doctrine that God hates above all others, but we can safely assume that any teaching that encourages carnal Christianity will fit.

What do I mean by carnal Christianity? Carnal Christianity is worldly Christianity. It justifies works of evil using the blood of the Son of God wrongly. Carnal Christianity creates many false apostles and deceitful workers, which the church of Ephesus diligently pursues. Carnal Christianity can include several other things, and we will tailor this “doctrine” or “deed” of the “Nicolaitans” accordingly depending on the context for each church for which this is mentioned. I think this idea is couched in an obscure term for a reason because it is meant to encompass many things.

In closing, Jesus says that those who overcome will be given to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Jesus is the Physician, and we are all in need of Him—including Ephesus. They forget that they too need to be healed. They too have blind spots, misconceptions about God, and lack in the righteousness of God. They once were zealous for Jesus and His teachings, but supposing to have it all figured out, they stopped seeking and started passing judgment on others (even if rightly) while esteeming themselves too highly.

What can we learn from this?

It is fitting for us to pursue what is true, to call out the works of evil, to stand against false apostles and the like. It is fitting for us to hate that which God hates, which are all forms of carnality in His church.

However, if we do not stay focused on what matters most, which is love of our Lord, Jesus and a desire to continue seeking and getting to know Him, we will fall short. We will also lose love for the brethren as we esteem ourselves too highly, thereby forgetting that Jesus holds all of us and we all depend on Him.

I have seen this in ministry. I have visited churches that claim to be the true, bible believing church while they point out the sin of other Christian sects and condemn them as being forsaken of Jesus. I have visited churches that are so set in their ways and understanding that they have long stopped seeking Jesus, supposing that they have Him all figured out. This also reminds me of some online Christian apologists.

We do not want to be this way.

We want to make Jesus our first love, and by extension, our brethren. There is always more to learn and more to gain of the Physician. Though there are the fundamentals of the faith we hold to as we contend for the faith, we are not to be as “old wine skins” either, unable to accept new information and consider that some of our brethren that we disagree with have things to add to us.

To read about my own Ephesus-like struggles, check out: The 7 Churches of Revelation: I have been as Ephesus too.

Do you have thoughts about what we might learn from the church of Ephesus? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section!

My Use of “Man” Statements Do Not Indicate a Critical Stance Against the “Patriarchy.”

Do any of you wonder why I use the term “man” or “men” when speaking of corruption within the church and its leadership? Do you suppose that I am among those who want to overthrow the “patriarchy?” I don’t know much about these arguments. I’m not even sure what the “patriarchy” is, but I have noticed a push against the masculine. I do not support this.

You might have also noticed that I refer to all of us Christians as “sons.” I would not do so if I were concerned with the oppression of males in particular. In Christ, there is neither male nor female, as the scriptures say. However, in this world, there is male and female—despite what some might say—and I appreciate the masculine and the feminine. These are according to God’s design and meant to go together in many ways, to strengthen all of us and to bring glory to God. I also appreciate strong men in leadership, both in the world and in the church.

However, I have noticed that the push against the masculine seems to cause some Christian men to be overly sensitive about their masculinity. They boast of their physical strength, intellect, leadership skills, and so on. This can lead to pride and a “unjust scale” that values the physical over the spiritual. In Christ, there is strength in Spirit that is more valuable than strength in the flesh.

Instead of boasting in physical strength or other male characteristics, boast in the fact that you know Jesus is Lord.

All of this is to say that when I refer to “man” I merely mean mankind as a whole with the understanding that in Christ there is no division of this sort that amounts to much, as far as I can tell.

However, I also appreciate the troubles that come with women teaching the things of God, because in this world, there are differences between men and women both psychologically and physically. There is a tendency for women to want to make things overly soft and more palatable for people at the expense of hard truths. There is a tendency for women to shy away from saying things that are difficult emotionally. Women who take a stand in Christ could also find themselves under greater threat of violence because of their physical limitations.

Women in ministry also face problems and accusations just as men do. Men get pegged with accusations about being oppressive and women get pegged with accusations of being a usurper and deceiver comparable to the female villains of the scripture.

I have had some strange things thrown at me in recent years, both those that thought of me too highly and those that made me wonder if I wasn’t a villain and didn’t know it. I don’t like it when this is done to me and I will not do this to anyone else.

All Christians can face difficulties, limitations, and accusations because of gender. However, among the household of the faith, we should help each other and work together so that we can attain a unifying goal that is not gender specific, and that is attaining the Christ-like nature.

I don’t think I’m doing a very good job of explaining my stance here, but I hope I at least make it known that my use of “man” or “men” is not an attack on males.

The 7 Churches of Revelation: Important Point on the Best Perspective of Interpretation

Before I get into the scriptures concerning the 7 churches of Revelation, I want to clarify something about the proper perspective when considering these churches.

I will later amend the introduction article so that it includes this point.

Some say that the churches represent a progression of the apostacy. I do not see it that way. I also will not identify any church with another past or present-day church explicitly. For example, I will not say that one of the 7 churches represents Catholicism and another represents Protestantism.

These are not to be considered churches of time or place, but of type. Heart types.

Why?

We are “hearing” what the “Spirit says unto the churches.” The Spirit will speak concerning the spirit of a matter, not according to the letter of the law. Meaning, not according to the understanding of the literal or of the flesh. Flesh sees physical churches of time and type. Spirit sees the heart.

When I consider these churches, I’m considering their heart towards God and fellow Christians. Therefore, we might be of one or more of these churches at the same time in spirit. Though we might think about correlations between denominations or sects today, it is more profitable that we consider our own selves individually, lest we become accusers, slanderers, and hypocrites.

The 7 Churches of Revelation: Introduction

There are differing approaches when dealing with prophetic scriptures. Some say these things were fulfilled already. Some say these things will be fulfilled in the future. My take on prophecy is a “was and is and is to come” mindset. Meaning, there are past fulfillments, present fulfillments, and future fulfillments. In the final days, there is a final fulfillment.

I want to take some time to consider the 7 churches in Revelation and what we might learn from them today.

First, I want to look at a passage that introduces the 7 churches.

The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches. – Revelation 1:20

In the right hand of the Lord are seven golden candlesticks and seven stars. The seven stars are symbolic of the angels of the seven churches and the seven candlesticks are symbolic of the seven churches.

There are two main points I want to make in this introduction. The first is that the letters to the seven churches are addressed to the angels of the seven churches.

Who are the angels of the seven churches? Angels could be literal angelic beings or they could be messengers in general. I tend to view this as a symbol for messengers of the churches, not of the angelic sort, but regular people. I think anytime we speak in the name of Jesus, we are taking upon us the judgment of a messenger of the Lord.

It is a big deal to take up the name of the Lord and to convey His word to the world, whether our ministries are small or great. These are judged first, and those who are led of them are also judged because each person is responsible for working out their own salvation.

Therefore, when considering the messages to the angels of the churches, we can also consider these as messages to the general assembly of believers. Whether we have a ministry or not, we should consider what we might learn in these letters to the seven churches.

Why does it matter?

Here is the second point I want to make:

Of these seven churches, five are rebuked and threatened to have their “candlestick removed out of its place.” In Revelation 11, we see two candlesticks remaining. It would seem as though the five were indeed removed. I believe that I was rightly taught that the two witnesses of Revelation include the two faithful candlesticks or churches. These are also represented as two olive trees.

The focus right now is on the messages to the seven angels and the rebukes that lead five of the seven candlesticks to being “removed.”

What is this removal? This could happen in a couple of ways. It could be that the five rebuked churches repent and become as the two faithful churches, or it could mean that they did not repent and went on to full apostasy as the Great Whore of Mystery Babylon—the church and “queen” of the false prophet and false Christ who says, “I sit a queen and am no widow and shall see no sorrow.”

I tend to think that both are the case. I tend to think that we all have something to repent for, and if we do, then we might be counted among the two candlesticks that remain. However, I also think it is true that many will not repent and they will later join themselves with the false prophet and “son of perdition” as they persecute the saints of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, let us consider with all diligence what we might learn from these seven churches, so that by the grace of God, we may repent and turn our hearts to Jesus more fully.

At the close, I want to consider the two olive trees and the “son of perdition,” Lord willing. If it is the will of the Father, I will return to the Proverbs and Parables after this series is complete.

Tarry in Jerusalem

 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:

 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen. – Luke 24:49-53

I don’t know when these things will be, but it seems that the Lord is unveiling some things rather rapidly. However, it is true of the scriptures and of prophesy in general that these things are not given of any “private interpretation.”

There are many interpretations and fulfillments depending on the time we are in. Then there is the culmination of all things. When that day comes, there will be no question about it because the whole world will be shaken. We are not in those times.

However, some sort of time, if not those times, are filling up as the world adds sin to sin, disregards Christ, and defiles the covenant bought with His blood.

Though many things are out of sorts, there is always a preserved people that will testify to the truth of the gospel of the kingdom of Jesus Christ. Since we are a body that is knit together in Christ, and since the Holy Spirit is made available to all who seek to keep the commandments of Jesus and His teachings, I believe that many will take a stand with Him.

We do not do so alone. The Holy Spirit will remain and strengthen those to whom God says, “these are my beloved sons, in whom I am well pleased.” To the others, their “candlestick is removed out of its place.” I have some things to write about this, because we all need to consider ways in which we are as the unfaithful.

Repentance is needed for all of us in some measure. It is those who assume that they have it all, that they are the only true churches or true Christians that are in the most danger because they do not see their lack. They are not “poor in spirit” but consider themselves to be “rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing.” “Wretched, poor, bloody, and naked” are these.

It is by the blood of Jesus that we are cleansed. There is no other way. However, we must be faithful, by the grace of God, to the calling we have received of Him. I know that all who have faith were given faith by God, and none can take His chosen away from Him. He is merciful, patient, and faithful to complete the work in us that He began. So, have faith. Fear God also, seek mercy, show mercy, and put Jesus above all others.

If we are the faithful church, then we are as Jerusalem. If we “tarry at Jerusalem” as those who are the “temple of God not built with hands” as those who honor Jesus, praise Him, trust in Him, fear Him, and seek His will for us, then we will receive power from the Holy Spirit so that we can overcome more fully for His Name’s sake.

Say no more, “the house of the Lord,” or “isn’t it good the be in the house of God?” all you corrupt and profane pastors who defile the way of the Lord!

Those who are sincere will not leave the sheep scattered, because they are not “hirelings” but true servants of God and faithful stewards. Yet, you must be willing to step down, stewards, knowing that your King returns. However, we also remember that the False One comes first. When he makes war with you, know it is the will of God because many religious leaders are power hungry. They do not want to see their fine buildings and fat ministries come to naught.

Jesus came to overthrow the barriers between man and God, not so that many men could erect more of them!

Though faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God, and though we cannot know of the gospel without a preacher, and though we cannot understand without a teacher—these are but men—and many are treated as demigods. We all have the same access to God, and the more we depend on these men and women the fatter and lazier in spirit we become. We have to mature, realize that WE are the temple of God, and seek Jesus with our whole heart.

That way, when it is said again that “there shall not be left one stone upon another that shall not be thrown down,” we will not be moved by this. We will know that this is the Lord’s doing. He gives the world into the hands of our enemies as He has always done, to purge the unfaithful from us as they are “taken” by the false prophet’s deceit. It is a woeful day, but we can stand with Jesus in that day, as the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace.

However, we must “tarry in Jerusalem” until we receive power from the Lord. This is not literal Jerusalem, but spiritual Jerusalem. The Jerusalem of the faithful church, not built with hands, but by the Holy Spirit of God and paid for with the blood of the Lamb of God and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

I suppose I do write as if it is near. The Lord knows. This could be a near fulfilment, or perhaps something for many years ahead. Maybe God is good to give us time to prepare. I do not desire to see That Day, because it is a woeful day, but “even so, come Lord, Jesus.”

On a final note, Paul the Apostle said the Jesus will judge all of our works, and Paul himself did not judge himself. I cannot judge myself either. I know my heart has been tried of the Lord, and I think I am sincere and speaking the truth. However, many seem to think they are sincere too and from where I stand they have grievous errors. So, “let God be true and every man a liar.” We must do our part to seek Jesus ourselves, so I encourage you who read this to do the same.

Considering Proverbs 11:1

A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.

What is a false balance, and why is this an abomination to the Lord? Let’s say someone is selling a product by pound. You buy a pound at the agreed upon price, but unbeknownst to you, the seller gave you slightly less than a pound. Maybe he adjusted his scale so that it was inaccurate purposefully. God hates this because He despises dishonesty, deceit, robbery, and using people for our own gain.

This is a literal example of what this proverb means, but we can also consider this symbolically.

A false balance can represent unfair judgments.

For example, if we tip the scales in our favor when considering our sin yet we weigh the same sin in another heavily, we are using a false balance.

We can use a false balance when we consider good things to be evil and evil things to be good. We can use a false balance when we justify the wicked and condemn the upright.

We can use a false balance when we highly esteem man but take smaller regard for our Lord and God.

We can use a false balance when we misuse the scripture as we focus too heavily on a topic of lesser importance while ignoring something more needful.

We can do as Jesus said to the religious leaders of His day: “You strain out the gnat and swallow the camel.”

Sometimes we get so caught up on little matters that we miss the larger and more important point. We have to seek Jesus so that He can teach us what matters most, and in so doing, we can lay aside a lot of the small disagreements we have among the brethren and properly glorify God together—instead of highly weighing our favorite doctrines, denominations, or pastors that we value entirely too much.

There are many unjust balances in this world. I’m sure you can think of a few. Our government is full of unjust balances as they misuse funds and lead us into financial ruin. Many social movements are full of unjust balances, especially as they glorify criminals as martyrs and rob the afflicted of them of their justice. Science is foolish when it weighs knowledge of vanity and pride over the wellbeing of their fellow man. Big businesses thrive on unjust balances when they neglect the poor and fill themselves full.

However, it is most needful for us to consider our own. First, we look to our own lives. What things do we weigh unjustly and why does this matter to God? Once we straighten that out, then we can consider how unjust balances affect our brethren in Christ. Then, we might be able to do something about the unjust balances in the world at large. However, to each his own calling in the Lord.

The Book of Revelation mentions an unjust balance.

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. – Revelation 6

When man deals with unjust balances—literally and symbolically—famine will come to that land.

God hates unjust balances, and as we continue in them, we can expect His judgment.

There will come a time when man will no longer care for just balances—this is already true in many ways—but when this comes to the full, there will be famine. Famine of bread and water, and also as the scriptures say, “not a famine of bread but of hearing the word of the Lord.”

It is also true that those who are for judgment of others will find that judgment sent to them. Those who are for famine will go through a famine.

Those who rob people of the word of God will find the word of God removed from them. They will lose their understanding. Their prophecies come to naught. Their “candlestick is removed out of its place” and the Holy Spirit is heard no more in their ears.

Those who rob people in the things needful for life and justice will find themselves robbed when no more rain comes to replenish the lands and souls they stole, turning their plentiful fields into barren waste lands.

God is not kidding around.

Let us consider our unjust balances so that we can repent and flourish in the knowledge of the Lord and find provision of the Lord when famine comes to this world through His true prophets. He sent manna once. He can do it again. Both literally and symbolically. God provides for those who serve Him and trust in Him faithfully, or at least have a sincere desire to learn how.

This is part of a series of articles considering the Proverbs from a Christian mindset and applying these lessons to present-day events. You can find all of the Considering Proverbs writings here. Subscribe to receive future posts by email.

GODLY INSTRUCTION IS GOOD, BUT IT IS BETTER THAT WE SHOULD DISCUSS SO THAT WE ALL MAY EDIFY ONE ANOTHER AND GLORIFY GOD. Let no man Lord themselves over you. Including me. Feel free to share your thoughts below and begin a discussion. I would so love to hear from you!

Many Honor God with Their Lips and Not Their Heart

“Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.” In a recent post, I said that our words matter because they testify to God and to man what is in our hearts.

I try to meditate on the things I write so that I can catch errors or explain more fully things that I miss. I missed something here — another good example of why we should not overly rely on anyone other than Jesus.

It is also true–and very often so–that people will speak lies with their mouths.

It is also true–and very often so–that people will honor God with their mouths yet their heart is far from Him.

It is also true–and very often so–that people will “kill you thinking they do God’s service.”

We need to seek to have a heart that is for our Father in Heaven, then our words may follow. “Take heed to your selves.” Meaning, seek to your own heart because we cannot properly discern the heart of another.

“For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God know no man, but the Spirit of God.”

Sometimes the Holy Spirit makes things manifest, but we should be very careful because we are naturally prone to misjudging people. Lest we accuse or slander, in our heart or openly, take care what you think you perceive in the words of another.

Isaiah 29 (KJV)

29 Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.

2 Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel.

3 And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.

4 And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.

5 Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passeth away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.

6 Thou shalt be visited of the Lord of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.

7 And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munition, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.

8 It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.

9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.

10 For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us?

16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?

17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?

18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.

19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

20 For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:

21 That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of nought.

22 Therefore thus saith the Lord, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.

23 But when he seeth his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.

24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.