Church leaders -
Perhaps there’s an angel who will come to you and ask you to think how you are going to lead your church this coming year. The angel might say, "Are you going to stay connected to the written Word of God, or are you going to turn your eyes away from The Light and look to the left or the right? Will you bend? Will you build your house upon sand? Will you loosen God’s doctrine to meet the world’s demands?" Pastors - this is the age of the Church. God has entrusted you and put the church in your hands. What will you do? How will you respond? Will you stand on His Word and take a bold stand? I impress upon you the high expectation that comes with your position. It’s no different than what God has placed upon me by hearing His voice and speaking aloud what He says. You can not read His Word and be led by His voice, and then turn around and make your own choice! I am accountable for the words He puts in my mouth. You can not follow your flesh and chase your own desires when other souls have been put in your hands. How dare you, says the Lord. How dare you do what you want and leave me alone! You can not abandon something that is not yours. Can’t you see that I am your God? Here I am! Standing at the front of your line. Why do you look past me to accommodate the common man? Why? Why can’t you see? What log has blinded your eyes? But you can hear me! I know that you can! I see you but you don’t see me! I hear you calling out to me. I can hear the thoughts clouding up your mind, when all you need to do is take on the mind of Christ. You can hear me! Do not put your fingers in your ears. You are blind but you are not mute. You can hear me! I know that you can! You hear my voice! You hear my voice calling you into and out of the wilderness! You hear my lead but still you circle around the same old mountain! Why - when I have shown you the Way? Imagine what would happen if you became bold! Imagine how many lives would be led into the promised land! There is no hiding from Me. I see everything you do! You are accountable for the choices that you choose. I have put my trust in you. It is time to pull up your pants, gird up your loins and go to war! It is time to pick up My Sword! It is time to speak out the truth! It is time to lead My Church! You are responsible for raising up disciples who follow Christ, not wolves who follow false doctrine. You can choose to look at My Word and reflect my light, or you can follow your lead and look to the left or the right. You will bend and become distorted and darkened. But you are accountable! Do you choose Me or do you choose the world? Do you choose My love or do you choose the falsehood that is offered by Satan? I have called your name! I see who you are! I am depending on you to expose false doctrine. Look at my people going to and fro! They don’t even know who they are! There is no fear of the Lord! They believe following their dreams and the desires of their heart is more important! They believe in gut instincts and humanistic thinking. They believe in a distorted form of love, and you are the leaders who have taught them! What have you done? Where are the spiritually mature? Why aren’t baby Christians growing anymore? Baby Christians need to be taught and need to develop as my church is supposed to function. There is no room for all this false doctrine. You are growing a pack of wolves! Do not be deceived - the Pastor is not the only mouthpiece in the church! Look around! I am raising up prophets, and my prophets still expose. The Pastor is responsible for leading My sheep, and the sheep are responsible for listening to My voice and doing what I say! The Word of God is the Sword of the Spirit - and the Holy Spirit grows within the body of Christ. The head of THIS body is who the people should follow. The Head is Jesus! The mind of Christ is the ground that should be tilled and turned over until it is fertile. The Bible was not written for your own narrative. The Bible was written so that My people could know who I am, and the promise I made to them. Don't you know - "You are called to destroy people’s arguments, and tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. You are called to capture every thought captive and make it give up and obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 There are many false doctrines that destroy My church. One is the belief that humans are like God and that you can decide what good and evil is; I did not create humans to exalt themselves, I created humans FOR worship. Another false doctrine that is killing my children is the belief that humans should be like the world. What are you thinking? This is absolutely NOT My truth. Don't you remember that you are NOT “to conform to the pattern of this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is God’s will - his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2 Jesus prayed and said, "Father, I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” John 17:14-17 Church Leadership, Don’t you know that being at peace with the world is like being in enmity with God? You are called to be a light on the hill, not to put the truth under a basket. It is time to rise up! Babylon is rising, and the harlot is coming! It is time to ready yourselves! Just look at the children of the world. Where is their hope? Why is the spirit of suicide killing ten year olds? Why are they so alone? Why are they so confused? Why don’t they know who I am? Why don’t they know what My Word says? Have you lost my book? Church Leadership - There is something greater than a child’s thoughts and feelings. Why do you keep bending to humanistic thinking? There is something greater than this fallen world! Why can’t you see? Why have you been so manipulating? Do you think you can hide My Word away from them? Don’t you know that I always leave a remnant? Hope can only be found in Christ alone; and Christ Is the fulfillment of My Law. I know you can hear My voice! I am the creator of this fallen world! It is My will to destroy Heaven and earth, and make it brand new. I am making a New Jerusalem, and I am building my stones. I am putting new names on them, and there is a cornerstone. Christ is the first fruit and He is My Word. Christ is the Seed of Promise! He is my faithful witness. Can’t you see - all who follow Jesus are My chosen children, and my children do not belong to this world. My children do not accommodate or tolerate false doctrine. They expose the truth, and they stand on My every Word! They are the promised generation. Leaders of the church - choose for yourself who you will serve! I am raising up a remnant. Josiah is coming before the great tribulation. Will you listen? Will you respond with renewed conviction? Be encouraged, these words are attached to those who abide and continue.
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This poem is about a church
that was lukewarm - the Laodicean church as reflected in the Revelation of Jesus given by the Messiah to His Apostle John. Laodicea was an ancient city located in the Lycus River Valley of Anatolia (in Asia Minor a.k.a. - Western Turkey) near Colossae (the Colossian church) in the Denizli province. Laodicea was founded in the 3rd century BC by Seleucid King Antiochus II in honor of his wife, Laodice. The town was originally called Diospolis, “City of Zeus.” This area was under the influence of the Greeks. Many inhabitants were Jews. Antiochus III, also called Antiochus the Great, transported 2,000 Jewish families to this area from their Babylonian captivity. This area had heard about the Good News, and in it rose up a Christian church. Jesus said to John, “Write this to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Here is a message from the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of all that God has made." I love how Jesus said, “Here is a message from the Amen.” “The word "amen" is a most remarkable word. It was transliterated directly from Hebrew into the Greek, then into Latin and into English and many other languages, so that it is a universal word. Amen has been called the best known word in human speech. The word is directly related - almost identical - to the Hebrew word for "believe" (aman), or faithful. Thus, it came to mean “sure" or "truly", an expression of absolute trust and confidence.” This information came from the Blue Letter Bible. It's an excellent resource for comparing word translations and meanings. Jesus said, “I know what you do.“ Jesus sees everything - we have absolutely no excuse. Jesus said, “You are not hot or cold. I wish that you were hot or cold! But you are only warm - not hot, not cold.” So I am ready to spit you out of my mouth.” Jesus does not like the taste of Christians who are lukewarm. He said to the Laodicians, “You say you are rich. You think you have become wealthy and don’t need anything. But you don’t know that you are really miserable, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked.” The same thing happened to Adam and Eve, and Israel. The "chosen" chose to follow their selfish desires. Jesus said, “I advise you to buy gold from me - gold made pure in fire.” Have you heard about God’s refining process? It’s how He makes His children His most precious form of metal. The refining fire involves going through a tribulation process, to burn away all the impurities that do not belong in the human heart. Jesus said, “Then you will be rich. I tell you this: Buy clothes that are white. Then you will be able to cover your shameful nakedness.” What the world sees as rich is just the opposite. God sees wealth as purity in heart. Jesus said, “I also tell you to buy medicine to put on your eyes. Then you will be able to see.” The medicine Jesus speaks of is comprised of two parts - (1) the water that comes from Jesus’s mouth, and (2) the mud that comes from the earthly ground. This is also called the anointing. The Spirit of God entering a human body. This is what happened with the Virgin Mary; and this is what happens within you and me, when we accept Jesus Christ as our righteous King. Jesus said, “I correct and punish the people I love. So show that nothing is more important to you than living right.” This is why Hebrews 12 is my favorite chapter and my favorite verse. It’s all about God’s correction and keeping our eyes focused on Jesus. Through taking our thoughts captive we are able to “Change our hearts and our lives.” We are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Jesus said, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you. And you will eat with me.” Hearing the Voice of Christ is an absolute must! Every true Jew is a Christian who hears the Voice of God and does what His Spirit says. Every Christian is equipped to be a prophet of God - and has the ability to testify and give witness to Christ. Jesus said, “I will let everyone who wins the victory sit with me on my throne. It was the same with me. I won the victory and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Everyone who hears this should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. These are the verses that came from Revelation 3:14-22. I invite you to go and read these verses yourselves. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, and soon we will be together with Him in His Kingdom. Church - It does not pay to be lukewarm. Jesus says we are to be like water that is either hot or cold! Both are equally good conditions, and have perfectly favorable functions. But a lukewarm Christian, on the other hand, is like water that is plain and unremarkable, marked by a heart full of apathy and indifference. This message should pierce each of us straight to the heart! What message is written beneath your plain white shirts? This message extends from Revelation 3:7-13 where Christ speaks to the Philadelphia church through His beloved friend, John. Jesus said, “I know what you do. I have put before you an open door that no one can close. I know you are weak, but you have followed my teaching. You were not afraid to speak my name. Listen! There is a group that belongs to Satan. They say they are Jews, but they are liars. They are not true Jews. I will make them come before you and bow at your feet. They will know that you are the people I have loved.” Revelation 3:7-9 What do you think he means? Who is this group that called themselves true Jews but are really spawns of Satan? Who is this group who call themselves true Jews that will bow before the church of Philadelphia? What do you think Jesus meant? Well, when Jesus was alive (at least in physical form) Jesus told John, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 So in my mind, a true Jew is not one of ancestry, a true Jew is a person who is strong in faith in God. A true Jew is only saved by the blood of Christ. The angel of death only passes over the blood of the true Passover Lamb. For a Jew to be saved, they must come to the Father through faith in Jesus Christ. His blood covers all who have been and all who will be strong in their faith. I do not believe physical ancestry guarantees a spiritual conversion. I believe a child of God is anyone who believes in Jesus Christ. I believe in what the whole scripture says. I believe every person, Jew or Gentile, has the same potential to be conceived by the Holy Spirit - which can only be attained by having faith in Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul said, “A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code.” Romans 2:28-29 Being of Jewish descent does not make heaven one’s home. Being physically circumcised does not guarantee a place in the kingdom of God. Kingdom citizenship only comes from the grace of God, through faith alone in Jesus Christ, the Promised Seed of God. Jesus said to the church in Philadelphia, “You followed my command to endure patiently. So I will keep you from the time of trouble that will come to the world - a time that will test everyone living on earth." Does this mean the church of Philadelphia will rise up before the great and terrible Day of the Lord? Jesus said, "I am coming soon. Hold on to the faith you have, so that no one can take away your crown." Does this mean that our faith can wane and we can lose our salvation; or does it mean we can lose our power in God? Once saved, always saved is quite questionable. The real question is, Did they really love God at all? James said, "My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins." James 5:19-20 Paul said, "See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end." Hebrews 3:12-14 Jesus said, "Those who win the victory will be pillars in the temple of my God. I will make that happen for them. They will never again have to leave God’s temple. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God. That city is the new Jerusalem. It is coming down out of heaven from my God. I will also write my new name on them. Everyone who hears this should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:7-13 In the end, the mind and the heart make up a person’s ground; It is either fertile and open to God’s love, or it is hardened and totally overgrown. “So faith comes from hearing the Good News. And people hear the Good News when someone tells them about Christ.” Romans 10:17 You have been told. Jesus has eyes all around,
and He is so perceptive that He calls us out! Literally, He chases down. This poem is about the church in Sardis, and after you read it I want to know were the church members dead or alive. In Revelation Chapter 3, Jesus said to the angel of the church in Sardis: “I know what you do. People say that you are alive, but really you are dead.” So who is right? The people who see a church full of God, or Jesus who says the church in Sardis is really dead? How is it even possible for believers of Jesus to be called “the walking dead?” Aren’t all “Christians” supposed to be saved? Aren't all "Christians" really alive? Jesus is addressing the angel of the church, but He is telling him that the church is dead. Well, in 2016, I had a dream about the walking dead, and it left me stunned. I heard a trumpet call three times, then I saw city gates swing open wide. Thousands of dead people marched right in. They appeared to be blindly walking to a rhythmic beat, and an evil lion lurked behind them. I had too much fear to call out to them so I prayed in my closet for God to save me from the evil lion walking behind them! I was a coward! I was not bold! I was too afraid to awaken them! About two years later, I had a vision. I saw them again, but this time I screamed “Awaken!” In an instant, I saw their eyes open. They turned about and faced the evil that was trying to destroy them. I was emboldened. Jesus said to the church in Sardis, “Wake up! Make yourselves stronger before what little strength you have is completely gone. I find that what you do is not good enough for my God.” Oh my God - Did you hear Jesus? He said, "I find that what you do not good enough for my God.” Believers in Christ - We can not be weak! We have to tread on the head of the serpent! We must be strong! There is work to be done. We must endure the labor. Jesus said, “So don’t forget what you have received and heard. Obey it. Change your hearts and your lives! You must wake up, or I will come to you and surprise you like a thief. You will not know when I will come.” Church - What do you think this means? Jesus said he will come like a thief. Is it possible that He can give you His Word and then take it back if you have not heard? I wonder - is it possible to think you are alive, but really be dead? Is it possible to say you know Christ, but have no idea who He is? Jesus said to the Sardis church, “But you have a few people in your group there in Sardis who have kept themselves clean. They will walk with me. They will wear white clothes, because they are worthy.” Of all the members in the church in Sardis, only a few people kept themselves clean. Only a few people became the remnant. Nonetheless, it is encouraging to see, that even when a whole congregation is deceived, there is always a remnant who is saved. Jesus said, “Everyone who wins the victory will be dressed in white clothes like them. I will not remove their names from the book of life. I will say that they belong to me before my Father and before his angels. Everyone who hears this should listen to what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:1-6 Many of us think we are the witness, but the truth is - Jesus is the one who witnesses to us! He is the Righteous One who stands on the right hand of the Father and judges us. He gets to choose who belongs to Him before his Father and before his angels. The Church in Sardis was mostly dead, most of the church would be cut off. Thank God, Jesus has eyes all around, and He is so perceptive that He calls us out! Literally, He chases down. “Wake up! Make yourselves stronger before what little strength you have is completely gone. I find that what you do is not good enough for my God.” |
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