Tuesday, November 26, 2013, 6:53 a.m. – the Lord Jesus woke me with the song “Living Water” playing in my mind once again. Speak, Lord, your words to my heart. I read Hebrews 13:1-16 (ESV).
This morning the Lord Jesus directed me to read two news stories in relation to the nuclear deal the P5+1 (US, UK, France, Germany, China & Russia) just made with Iran (references at end of this writing). He also put the name of the musical production “South Pacific” in my mind. The setting for the story is an island in the South Pacific during WWII. The US tried to coerce a man living on the island to help them in “a reconnaissance mission against the Japanese, but he refuses; having run away from the outside world… He sees no reason to become involved in a war which he did not start and in which he had no interest,” but when his love interest “refuses his proposal of marriage, having nothing to lose,” he agrees to go on the mission” - http://www.fandango.com/southpacific_v45781/plotsummary
Then, in reading the two news articles, with this scenario (above) in mind, the Lord Jesus gave me a picture of this “deal” different from the picture being painted for us in the government-controlled media. What I believe the Lord is showing me here, to the best of my understanding, is that the “deal” is more like a proposal of marriage, i.e. an engagement. The second article actually alludes to this scenario. Yet, the two parties making the deal (the US/P5+1 and Iran) are “married” to other people, i.e. to their own people, so they must “divorce” their own in order to make this engagement work. As well, the Lord is showing me Iran here as this Frenchman who at first refused the US request for help in dealing with the Japanese, but who later agrees to get involved in a war not of his own making or interest. I believe, thus, that this “deal” with Iran has more to do with getting their assistance in dealing with all opposition (hard-liners) to the New World Order.
A Hard-liner is “a conservative who is uncompromising; a person who is reluctant to accept changes and new ideas.” - http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hardliner Basically, a hard-liner is anyone who politically disagrees with the New World Order (a global government) and who refuses to make the necessary concessions and compromises in order to be part of the “international community,” such as may exist within our own Congress and local governments within the US, and within the governments of other nations. As well, a hard-liner is also a believer in Jesus Christ who holds fast to the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and who refuses to compromise their faith in order to fit in with the world around them; and is one who proselytizes their faith, i.e. who shares the gospel of Jesus Christ so that others can come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. These hard-liners must be dealt with (pushed back against) suggested one of the articles. The hard-liners “will be weakened,” stated the same article (#2).
What Can Man Do?
In a world filled with evil, hate, deception, lies, manipulations and the forcing of others to comply with the New World Order “Beast” or pay the consequences, we must let godly love for our fellow humans continue, even if it costs us our lives. We must continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and show the love of Jesus to the world around us. And, we must remember in our thoughts and prayers those throughout the world who are being persecuted for their testimonies for Jesus Christ and for holding firm to the truth of the gospel, many of whom are then martyred for their witness for Jesus Christ. And, we must remain loyal and true to our marriages and to our marriage relationship with Jesus Christ.
As well, we must face the reality of the times in which we live and that refusal to bow to the beast and to take its mark may mean death, persecution, and will definitely mean that we cannot buy or sell, so we will have to learn to be content with what we have. We will be cut off from society as a whole, and we will be completely dependent on the Lord Jesus (the Living Water) to sustain us. Yet, although our political and even religious leaders, family members, friends and neighbors may forsake us (divorce us), Jesus Christ will never leave us or forsake us. Amen! He is our helper, so we don’t need to fear mankind or what they might do to us. God will see us through whatever difficulties lie ahead for us, and he will take us safely home to be with him in glory when our time on earth is finished (completed).
Do Not Be Led Away
The leaders we must remember here are those who hold to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, not those who have compromised with the world and have thus diluted the gospel message to make it more appealing and acceptable to the world. We should only imitate the faith of those who are truly following Jesus Christ with their lives, walking in his holiness and purity, and who are proponents of the true gospel. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. His word and his gospel do not change with the passing of time, either. So, we must be students of the word of God and not believe everything we hear or read from human teachers and preachers, because not everything that is passed off as truth is really truth. Some is straight out lies, but the most dangerous of all “strange teachings” are those with subtle lies blended in with the truth so that many unsuspecting “follower,” due to lack of knowledge of the word, is led astray to what is false and is misleading.
The most dangerous of all “strange teachings” in today’s church, I believe, is what I call a “false grace.” I think most Christians today, though not all, have fled legalism and works-based salvation, which depends on what is external to save us instead of relying upon God’s grace. Yet, many of these have bought into this false grace instead of believing in the true gospel of salvation. Titus 2:11-14 offers us an accurate summary of the grace of God:
This is the purpose of God’s grace, i.e. this is the reason Jesus Christ went to the cross and took upon himself the sins of the entire world. He died so that we who live might no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died and rose again on our behalf (See 2 Co. 5:15). Jesus said that if we want to come after him, we must disallow our self-life, die daily to sin and self and follow him in obedience and surrender to his will for our lives. He said if we hold on to our old lives of sin, we will lose them for eternity, but if we willingly die to our old lives of sin and self, we will gain eternal life with him in glory (See Lu. 9:23-25).
We are also taught in scripture that the way in which we come to know Christ is by forsaking our former lives of living in sin, by being transformed (made new) in heart and mind of the Spirit of God, and by putting on our new lives in Christ, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (See Eph. 4:17-24; cf. Rom. 6; 1 John; Gal. 2:20, et al). This is true grace, it is the working of the Holy Spirit of God in our lives as we cooperate with that work, and this is the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, don’t be led astray by those who tell you otherwise. True grace opens spiritually blinded eyes and turns them from the darkness of sin to the light of truth (the gospel; Christ’s righteousness and holiness), and from the power of Satan to God so they can receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus (See Ac. 26:16-18).
Outside the Camp
They killed Jesus, not because he was Mr. Nice Guy, but because he told the people the truth about their sin, he called them to repentance and to faith in him, he told them that he was the only way to the Father, and that coming to him meant leaving everything else behind, i.e. it means death to self and sin, and it means following him in obedience and surrender. This is true faith. Many of his followers deserted him because they said his teaching was too hard. His own disciples deserted him, and his own people crucified him. And, becoming his disciple means we will be treated as he was treated. He suffered outside the religious political system, i.e. he suffered because he did not compromise with the world or with sin (See 1 Peter 2:21-25). And, they hated him because of that. And, when we choose to not bow to the “beast,” and we choose to not compromise with the world of sin, and we choose to maintain our testimony for Jesus Christ, which is “outside the camp” of modern society’s norms, we will face the very reality of death, too. Yet, we should continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, “that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name,” and lips which are never ashamed to tell of him and his gospel.
Living Water / An Original Work / November 21, 2013
Based off Various Scriptures
My people have forsaken Me,
Their Savior, who died on a tree;
Made idols, and they worshipped them;
So empty, they will ne’er fulfill.
Lord, You are the hope of Your chosen ones.
Those who turn away from You will be shamed;
The Spring of Living Water left behind.
Living Water satisfies.
The thirsty, let them come and drink;
Believe in Jesus as their King;
The gift of Jesus given them,
So they will never thirst again.
Indeed, the Living Water flows within.
It springs up like a fountain cleansing sin.
Eternal life in heaven promised them.
Living Water glorifies.
Oh people, won’t you come to Him?
Obey Him and repent of sin.
Let Jesus come and live within.
Surrender all your life to Him.
My people, won’t you turn your hearts to Me?
Forsake your idols and then you’ll be free.
Won’t you come now to Me on bended knee?
Living Water sanctifies.
http://originalworks.info/living-water/
News Stories: 1) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/can-the-us-and-iran-bring-the-deal-home/article15589390/; 2) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/as-iran-opens-to-the-world-canada-is-left-behind/article15583538/
This morning the Lord Jesus directed me to read two news stories in relation to the nuclear deal the P5+1 (US, UK, France, Germany, China & Russia) just made with Iran (references at end of this writing). He also put the name of the musical production “South Pacific” in my mind. The setting for the story is an island in the South Pacific during WWII. The US tried to coerce a man living on the island to help them in “a reconnaissance mission against the Japanese, but he refuses; having run away from the outside world… He sees no reason to become involved in a war which he did not start and in which he had no interest,” but when his love interest “refuses his proposal of marriage, having nothing to lose,” he agrees to go on the mission” - http://www.fandango.com/southpacific_v45781/plotsummary
Then, in reading the two news articles, with this scenario (above) in mind, the Lord Jesus gave me a picture of this “deal” different from the picture being painted for us in the government-controlled media. What I believe the Lord is showing me here, to the best of my understanding, is that the “deal” is more like a proposal of marriage, i.e. an engagement. The second article actually alludes to this scenario. Yet, the two parties making the deal (the US/P5+1 and Iran) are “married” to other people, i.e. to their own people, so they must “divorce” their own in order to make this engagement work. As well, the Lord is showing me Iran here as this Frenchman who at first refused the US request for help in dealing with the Japanese, but who later agrees to get involved in a war not of his own making or interest. I believe, thus, that this “deal” with Iran has more to do with getting their assistance in dealing with all opposition (hard-liners) to the New World Order.
A Hard-liner is “a conservative who is uncompromising; a person who is reluctant to accept changes and new ideas.” - http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hardliner Basically, a hard-liner is anyone who politically disagrees with the New World Order (a global government) and who refuses to make the necessary concessions and compromises in order to be part of the “international community,” such as may exist within our own Congress and local governments within the US, and within the governments of other nations. As well, a hard-liner is also a believer in Jesus Christ who holds fast to the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and who refuses to compromise their faith in order to fit in with the world around them; and is one who proselytizes their faith, i.e. who shares the gospel of Jesus Christ so that others can come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. These hard-liners must be dealt with (pushed back against) suggested one of the articles. The hard-liners “will be weakened,” stated the same article (#2).
What Can Man Do?
In a world filled with evil, hate, deception, lies, manipulations and the forcing of others to comply with the New World Order “Beast” or pay the consequences, we must let godly love for our fellow humans continue, even if it costs us our lives. We must continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and show the love of Jesus to the world around us. And, we must remember in our thoughts and prayers those throughout the world who are being persecuted for their testimonies for Jesus Christ and for holding firm to the truth of the gospel, many of whom are then martyred for their witness for Jesus Christ. And, we must remain loyal and true to our marriages and to our marriage relationship with Jesus Christ.
As well, we must face the reality of the times in which we live and that refusal to bow to the beast and to take its mark may mean death, persecution, and will definitely mean that we cannot buy or sell, so we will have to learn to be content with what we have. We will be cut off from society as a whole, and we will be completely dependent on the Lord Jesus (the Living Water) to sustain us. Yet, although our political and even religious leaders, family members, friends and neighbors may forsake us (divorce us), Jesus Christ will never leave us or forsake us. Amen! He is our helper, so we don’t need to fear mankind or what they might do to us. God will see us through whatever difficulties lie ahead for us, and he will take us safely home to be with him in glory when our time on earth is finished (completed).
Do Not Be Led Away
The leaders we must remember here are those who hold to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ, not those who have compromised with the world and have thus diluted the gospel message to make it more appealing and acceptable to the world. We should only imitate the faith of those who are truly following Jesus Christ with their lives, walking in his holiness and purity, and who are proponents of the true gospel. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. His word and his gospel do not change with the passing of time, either. So, we must be students of the word of God and not believe everything we hear or read from human teachers and preachers, because not everything that is passed off as truth is really truth. Some is straight out lies, but the most dangerous of all “strange teachings” are those with subtle lies blended in with the truth so that many unsuspecting “follower,” due to lack of knowledge of the word, is led astray to what is false and is misleading.
The most dangerous of all “strange teachings” in today’s church, I believe, is what I call a “false grace.” I think most Christians today, though not all, have fled legalism and works-based salvation, which depends on what is external to save us instead of relying upon God’s grace. Yet, many of these have bought into this false grace instead of believing in the true gospel of salvation. Titus 2:11-14 offers us an accurate summary of the grace of God:
This is the purpose of God’s grace, i.e. this is the reason Jesus Christ went to the cross and took upon himself the sins of the entire world. He died so that we who live might no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died and rose again on our behalf (See 2 Co. 5:15). Jesus said that if we want to come after him, we must disallow our self-life, die daily to sin and self and follow him in obedience and surrender to his will for our lives. He said if we hold on to our old lives of sin, we will lose them for eternity, but if we willingly die to our old lives of sin and self, we will gain eternal life with him in glory (See Lu. 9:23-25).
We are also taught in scripture that the way in which we come to know Christ is by forsaking our former lives of living in sin, by being transformed (made new) in heart and mind of the Spirit of God, and by putting on our new lives in Christ, “created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (See Eph. 4:17-24; cf. Rom. 6; 1 John; Gal. 2:20, et al). This is true grace, it is the working of the Holy Spirit of God in our lives as we cooperate with that work, and this is the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. So, don’t be led astray by those who tell you otherwise. True grace opens spiritually blinded eyes and turns them from the darkness of sin to the light of truth (the gospel; Christ’s righteousness and holiness), and from the power of Satan to God so they can receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus (See Ac. 26:16-18).
Outside the Camp
They killed Jesus, not because he was Mr. Nice Guy, but because he told the people the truth about their sin, he called them to repentance and to faith in him, he told them that he was the only way to the Father, and that coming to him meant leaving everything else behind, i.e. it means death to self and sin, and it means following him in obedience and surrender. This is true faith. Many of his followers deserted him because they said his teaching was too hard. His own disciples deserted him, and his own people crucified him. And, becoming his disciple means we will be treated as he was treated. He suffered outside the religious political system, i.e. he suffered because he did not compromise with the world or with sin (See 1 Peter 2:21-25). And, they hated him because of that. And, when we choose to not bow to the “beast,” and we choose to not compromise with the world of sin, and we choose to maintain our testimony for Jesus Christ, which is “outside the camp” of modern society’s norms, we will face the very reality of death, too. Yet, we should continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, “that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name,” and lips which are never ashamed to tell of him and his gospel.
Living Water / An Original Work / November 21, 2013
Based off Various Scriptures
My people have forsaken Me,
Their Savior, who died on a tree;
Made idols, and they worshipped them;
So empty, they will ne’er fulfill.
Lord, You are the hope of Your chosen ones.
Those who turn away from You will be shamed;
The Spring of Living Water left behind.
Living Water satisfies.
The thirsty, let them come and drink;
Believe in Jesus as their King;
The gift of Jesus given them,
So they will never thirst again.
Indeed, the Living Water flows within.
It springs up like a fountain cleansing sin.
Eternal life in heaven promised them.
Living Water glorifies.
Oh people, won’t you come to Him?
Obey Him and repent of sin.
Let Jesus come and live within.
Surrender all your life to Him.
My people, won’t you turn your hearts to Me?
Forsake your idols and then you’ll be free.
Won’t you come now to Me on bended knee?
Living Water sanctifies.
http://originalworks.info/living-water/
News Stories: 1) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/can-the-us-and-iran-bring-the-deal-home/article15589390/; 2) http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/as-iran-opens-to-the-world-canada-is-left-behind/article15583538/