The Scourge Of Racism
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My mother used to steadfastly resist my beggarly appeals to go do what the other kids were doing with, “If all the kids go jump off a cliff, are you going to do it too?” Of course, I said “no.” However, for all of the sinful things I did do following after the crowd as a youth, I may as well have said yes. Similarly, many pastors, elders, church leaders and professing Christians as members shamefully follow after each other’s breaks with God’s Word and worldly compromises in sin. Like the carnal Corinthians of old, contemporary professing Christians have even divided themselves up with short hand labels (1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 3:1-4).
The Lord’s call to take His side in these latter days has nothing to do with the carnal divisions and labels of sinful human invention--or is the Lord to be blamed for this evil as some would have us believe by the fanatical loyalties they display to their political, social and theological factions? No, but it is the Lord Jesus who dogmatically declared, “…every city or house divided against itself will not stand,” (Matthew 12:25, NKJV). Clearly, the many in the divided house of American churches have decided an apparently dead Jesus was wrong on this point though the evidence of collapse to the contrary is all around us. In this blog, the Lord leads me to briefly talk about what His side looks like.
Originally Published January 2011
In these days of tolerance and avoiding even the appearance of being divisive, calling for Christians to take the Lord's side sounds extreme. However, those who think this act as if the Lord Jesus is dead. Such persons show their willful disregard of Bible truth and the reality that if Christ is proclaimed as risen from the dead, He is in fact, alive right now! This is exactly the truth and reality that is intended to be communicated in the post-resurrection and ascension descriptions of encounters the apostles had with the Lord (Acts 9:1-6, 10:9-16, 18:9-10, 23:11; Revelation 1:9-20).
If the Lord Jesus is alive as Scripture testifies and every truly born again believer knows from personal experience, then He knows the contemporary condition of His churches. If the Lord knows the contemporary condition of His churches, then He as Lord would speak to and deal with them in perfect consistency with the whole counsel of God found in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. This is what He is shown to be doing in Revelation 2:1-3:22 among seven churches of Asia Minor. As He did not speak to those churches in terms of worldly political labels such as conservative and liberal, so He does not speak to us this way either.
The Lord has His own side that stands in judgment of our sin driven divisions in and among the churches. Indeed, as the Strong Man of God, Jesus Christ perfectly models the divine heart plainly laid out in Scripture which those bent on corruption distort to their shame and destruction (2 Peter 3:14-16)! He is neither politically conservative nor liberal. He is however, biblically conservative in preserving God's Word as it is written and therefore, simultaneously liberal in love. His biblical worldview colors every aspect of His dealings with this world. He calls every aspiring strong man of God to embrace His example as those taking His side.
The Lord made it clear to even the strictest of Pharisees shackled by legalism and manmade religion, He did not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17-20). In preserving God’s will in His written Word for example, the Lord Jesus (our Creator in the flesh) is completely opposed to murder. Human life is sacred and so it is written in the Ten Commandments, '''You shall not murder,'" (Exodus 20:13, NKJV). By His design human life begins at conception (Psalm 139:13-16). Therefore, to forcibly terminate a human life in the womb after conception is murder in the eyes of the Lord. Professing Christians that support abortion for any reason are not on the Lord's side.
The Lord Jesus taught and put the love of God on display through forgiveness, a myriad of healing works and His death on the cross for our sins. Tragically, Satan has deceived many that call themselves liberal Christians into believing that the Lord's acts of love were done outside of the Law. They were not. The love displayed by the Lord Jesus was in concert with and fulfilled the Law as He had declared (Mark 12:28-34; Romans 13:8-10). Consequently, those calling themselves conservative Christians that tell a man to get a job, but then with cold hearts block his way through racial discrimination are not on the Lord's side.1
The scribes and Pharisees of Israel were meticulous observers of the Law and yet, were called hypocrites by the Lord because they pursued minor elements such as tithing, but neglected the weightier provisions of justice, mercy and faith. Jesus said they should have done both (Matthew 23:23). Many conservative Christians in like manner fail to display God's love poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5) while upholding His Word. Many liberals with fallen human love fail to uphold God's Word (1 Corinthians 13:4-6). Sin is never downplayed in the Bible at the expense of being loving or socially concerned (Isaiah 1:16-17; John 8:2-12). The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, "Who is on the Lord's side?"
1 See my booklet, The Scourge Of Racism, (Portland, OR: Open Door Communication Ministries, Inc., Publishing Division, 2005), p 57. Purchase the booklet on the Resources Page, www.fromslaverytovictory.org.
Just in case anyone was wondering if the Lord had led me to write anything about the 2012 Presidential election, He did with a prophetic edge! This edited (punctuation and a footnote added) 2012 repost is one of a few corollary postings inspired of and to follow the four-part blog, “God Of Restoration And Judgment” under the category, The Cause among three others. Needless to say, after this past bizarre 2016 election year, I am even more personally exasperated with elections and lack of candidates with a biblical worldview. I hope, though, that you will also see in this blog as I have and am encouraged, that in my frustration with the present state of affairs, God is preparing my heart for the coming of His righteous King!
Originally Posted October 7, 2012
Elections are a fact of life in a Democracy. As a Christian with a biblically conservative worldview (preserving the Word of God, its truth and instruction as it is written) however, I confess that I have become weary with the endless cycle of local, state and national elections. It is especially frustrating to me when fewer and fewer of the candidates share my worldview. This nation’s founders victoriously concluded their rebellion against the British monarchy by instituting a democratic form of government--called the best men ever invented. They did acknowledge that this experiment in self-government would only work if the people stayed connected to their Creator (most seemed to agree this was the One, true God of the Bible) and His moral precepts found in His Word.
In the well over 200 years since that auspicious and unapologetically Christian beginning, many of the people have not simply drifted, but in effect staged another revolt.1 This time, it is against their Creator! This revolt, it seems, has ebbed and flowed in intensity depending on how much our nation’s leaders stood for God and His Word or not. The back and forth reflected in elections and especially those for President exposes a major flaw in the democratic form of government that it shares with human monarchies: the well being of the nation can rise and fall based on the men or man in power as Solomon in God’s wisdom saw (Proverbs 29:2) and Israel’s experience also shows (2 Chronicles 33-34).
Depending on the make-up of Congress and who the President is, our nation has gone back and forth in its policies; up and down in its economic fortunes and spiritual climate. Of late, the only constant we have seen is the steady spiritual and moral decline of our nation that has not been reversed by the last several Presidents from different political parties. President Obama has given support to the evil rebellion against God clearly unfolding through his social policies. This is why every aspiring strong man and great woman of God needs to consider that in this upcoming Presidential election we will be selling our nation out by simply voting for which candidate has the best short-term economic recovery plan.
Truly, economic upheaval and scarcity to the end are foretold (Revelation 6:5-6). Thus, either candidate’s economic plan on paper might be academically sound, but what we know for certain is that it is not sinful man’s wisdom in play here. It is the grace of an Almighty God that our nation needs for even a temporary recovery, but which now hangs in the balance because the many are in revolt against Him (Psalm 33:16-22, 127:1-2). For this reason, I am afraid for our nation in the short and long-term if we continue with President Obama who is a professing Christian at the helm or elect Mitt Romney a member of a cult form of Christianity to take his place.
In their first Presidential debate this past week, as part of his answer about the role of government Mr. Romney said, “We're a nation that believes that we're all children of the same god...” I know what he may have meant generically. After all, it was my forefathers who in great simplicity and hopeful hearts first uttered similar words to get bigoted white folk professing to be Christians to let up off of their hurtful oppression and like us. However, as a Bible student, I know that the statement is inaccurate. We are all God’s creation, but not all are His children. Only those who have put their faith in the Jesus Christ of the Bible, the Son of the living God become sons (John 1:12-13, 3:3-8; Romans 8:14-17).
What did or will Romney the Mormon mean spiritually by his statement? I believe Romney as President will do what his camp has done during the campaign in further attempting to legitimize and mainstream a cultic, false religion calling it Christian. President Obama will continue to assert his biblically liberal Christian credentials if he is re-elected. Meanwhile, the nation will continue to falter as neither the people in the majority or their leaders are able to connect to the God of the Bible who holds our future in His hands due to rebellion and spiritual ignorance respectively.
In my weariness I will vote in this Presidential election and urge all of my fellow citizens to do the same. Too, I will thank God for the options to explore other candidates besides the two the media has offered or responsibly write in a selection as my choice in this democratic form of government. Nevertheless, I will also keep waiting eagerly for the coming of God’s permanent King, my Lord, Jesus Christ (Psalm 2)!
1 Read my posts dealing with “Christianity” and being a “Christian” as Americana, September 4-18, 2016 under the category, Call To Repent.
Like the proverbial sweater that unravels from one loose thread, so, the disobedience of one pastor, group of elders, other church leaders and teachers unchecked leads to the disobedience of the many spreading eventually to other churches and beyond. As it is written, “Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore, purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened,” (1 Corinthians 5:6-7, NKJV). Yet, in these latter days first one then another among those serving as leaders and teachers in American churches have backed away from full obedience to the Word of God on some issue for any number of evil motives.
These disobedient men (and now women in keeping with the rebellious times) continue to loudly profess their undying love for Jesus while they openly parade their disobedience; deridingly labeling those of us sent by God to cry out against their sin “Pharisees” and my personal favorite, “narrow minded.” (Thank You, Jesus, my detractors confirm I have entered “by the narrow gate” as You have taught—Matthew 7:13-14, NKJV!) On His side the Lord has given a definition and set the standard for the real demonstration of love for Him as I write about in this week’s blog. You will note that this blog and the four that follow serve as my uncompromised stand for the family and men as God’s chosen leaders embodied in the cause of the strong man of God and building toward the pre-first release in June 2011 of The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics.
Originally Published February 2011
One of the four distinctive characteristics of the strong man of God I have been led of Him to teach and write about in the forthcoming book is that he obeys God to the death. As perfectly modeled by Jesus Christ--the Strong Man of God, steadfast obedience to God's Word is driven by a love motivated desire to please Him and do His will! It is not about being overly strict or legalistic to obey what is plainly taught as God's will in His Word. It is about truly knowing and loving Him. Since He intimately knew and loved His Father, Jesus Christ set His heart to obey His Word and do His will in everything even to His death on the cross (John 3:35, 8:29, 48-58, 10:30, 14:30-31, 18:1-11).
Every man that will follow Jesus Christ and be a strong man of God in His image displays the same characteristic of obedience to the Word of God unto death. The motive for such obedience is the same as it was tor the Lord Jesus: love for God. The Lord Jesus very directly and clearly taught those who would be His disciples, “If you love Me, keep My commandments,” (John 14:15, NKJV). It is so simple and plain that even a little child can understand this. Yet, in these near the end of this world system days, in and out of churches all over America are professing Christians that claim to love the Lord, but are willfully disobeying His Word.
In no way is this disobedience more apparent than in what is going on in so many professing Christian homes and the churches where God's Word on male and female roles, marriage and family has been cast aside and discarded as outdated. This is done to keep in step with the world and because God's Word is seen as an impediment to personal freedom, ambition and happiness. The fact that this rejection of God's Word is causing devastating family and social ruin does not seem to bother the rebels taught as they are by demons (1 Timothy 4:1). It is also laying the groundwork for the ultimate fulfillment of Psalm 2:1-3--a prophetic Word given by God millennia ago.
Whoever is on the Lord’s side does not take their instruction from Him and demons too (1 Corinthians 10:21-22)! Indeed, every aspiring strong man of God in the image of Christ and on His side faithfully honors and obeys His Word bound up in seven major pillars as it concerns human existence and social organization in this present age.
1. Man the creature has been created by God with purpose--Genesis 1:26-28.
2. Marriage has come from God as a gift to man and instrument for fulfilling His pur-
poses in this present age--Genesis 2:18-25.
3. Marriage is intended by God to be a lifelong commitment between a man and a
woman. Divorce is acceptable only on the grounds the Lord gives in His written
Word--Matthew 19:3-9; 1 Corinthians 7:10-16.
4. All sex outside of marriage between a man and a woman is sin before the Lord--
1 Corinthians 6:9-7:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8.
5. God has permanently ordained in this age that a married man is the head of his
wife and family--Genesis 2:7-8, 3:16b; 1 Corinthians 11:3, 8-9; Ephesians 5:22-24;
1 Peter 3:1-7.
6. In God's order, male headship is to be honored beyond the home and especially in
the churches which belong to Him--Matthew 16:15-18; 1 Corinthians 14:33-40;
1 Timothy 2:11-15.
7. Children are a blessing from the Lord even when they come outside of the marital
bond. Their lives begin at conception and they are not to be murdered in or outside
of the womb--Psalm 127:3-5, 139:13-18; Matthew 19:13-15.
These seven pillars erected from God's Word are indisputably plain and straight forward. Therefore, any man--president, apostle, prophet, bishop, pastor, preacher, priest or teacher--that teaches otherwise is not operating on the Lord's side no matter how much they profess to love Him. For He has taught our love is shown by our obedience (John 14:15, 21-24). The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, "Who is on the Lord's side?"
Some of our readers may have wondered why I have been reposting blogs. Our Ministry has been suffering great satanic opposition that has included the sudden disappearance of a Web Site that formerly hosted The Strong Man Of God Blog from May 2011 through January 2014. Another question others may have concerns the origin of the line, “The risen, living Christ continues His cry among American churches, ‘Who is on the Lord’s side?’” which periodically concludes my blogs. With great soberness not only do I share with you in all candor that the Lord Jesus spoke that question into my spirit, but also in this blog, I present the biblical and spiritual circumstances that led to it.
Before and since beginning to write an internet blog, I have been writing a commentary for our Strong Man Of God Monthly Newsletter, a print publication Strong Man Ministries publishes. In prayerfully seeking the Lord for the subject and content of the December 2010 issue, He took me to Exodus 32 and led me to write the words that are the specific content of this and the next two blogs. I invite you as Scripture does to judge whether I truly speak from the Lord’s heart, mouth and written Word seeing that I have found no reason to be ashamed of or edit what I previously wrote except for greater grammatical accuracy (Deuteronomy 18:15-22; 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22). In the event you have not noticed as a regular reader, I fear God!
Originally Published December 2010
History is an excellent teacher when men are wise enough to learn the lessons it offers. For example, the Old Testament is filled with historical lessons individual Christians and our churches are even told by the apostle Paul were written for us to take warning (1 Corinthians 10:1-11). But from the highly compromised spiritual state so many American churches are in, it is very apparent the warning of Paul and Israel's Old Testament experiences are going unheeded. Indeed, spiritual adultery is so brazen and prolific the time has come to echo the cry of a righteously indignant Moses throughout the land, "Whoever is on the Lord's side--come to me," (Exodus 32:26, NKJV)!
The voice echoing Moses is that of the Lord Jesus Christ delivered by His faithful prophets and church pastors; men who are God rather than people pleasers. Men unlike Aaron who after Moses had gone up on the mountain to God, listened to the people to make them a god that would go out before them (Exodus 32:1-6). This took place after just a scant forty days had gone by when Aaron and all the people had heard the very voice of God commanding them to neither put any god before Him or make an image of anything and bow to it. But there it was, a golden calf that the people bowed to and indulged themselves in pagan revelry to honor (Exodus 32:7-20).
When Moses returned he demanded to know what the people had done to Aaron to make him bring this sin on them. After first blaming the people for the evil in their hearts, Aaron then wants Moses to believe he cast their gold into the fire and magically the idol appeared (Exodus 32:21-24). Before you laugh, realize that is exactly the same kind of tall tale many pastors are telling each other today. They have to give the people what they want even if it means compromising God's Word or the people bent on evil will leave. The Lord Jesus who died to redeem sinners is not buying it and in righteous indignation is about to deal severely with American churches (Revelation 2:12-17).
Before that day very near, the Lord is crying out among us to find out who is on His side? Who is that servant that has remained faithful while the Lord Jesus like Moses has been away on Heaven's mountain with the Father; the servant who understands the local church is not his personal kingdom to rule as he sees fit, but a stewardship responsibility for which he will give an account (Matthew 24:45-51)? When Moses cried out for the people to take sides, only his brethren of the tribe of Levi answered the call to be on the Lord’s side. They went through the camp slaying those that continued in rebellion even after Moses had destroyed the idol (Exodus 32:25-29).
For those with ears and will hear, the strong man of God cause is bound up in the Lord's call to His people at this hour to take sides. Of the many golden calves American churches have built, compromising God's Word on the family, male and female roles in the home and churches is especially wicked. They have given heed to the world and corrupted God's Word to support this idol as did Aaron (Exodus 32:5). Churches, aiding and abetting Satan in destroying humanity's God ordained foundation: families and the men who lead them! Let every man who fears the Lord and is guilty repent while His mercy is still near.
Let every pastor who is guilty repent and issue the Lord's cry to His people you have been entrusted to shepherd and supposedly love. Destroy the golden calves of compromise with the world in your midst. For the destroying angels of God's judgment have already unsheathed their swords and are about to move among the churches to deliver His great displeasure. It is certain; it is done because Christ has already made atonement for the sins of the guilty that have looked to Him. But the rebels who continue defiantly in their way will be plagued by the Lord (Exodus 32:30-35). Who will learn from Bible history and be on the Lord’s side? Let him come to the Lord right now!
As the Lord led, I offered this related, edited post-script in this Ministry’s newsletter that immediately followed the February 2013 main Commentary I posted on February 3, 2019 entitled, “Christianity In Black And White,” under the category, Black History. The intent then was not to bash President Barack Obama (as it is not now) with some worldly, partisan political agenda in writing the brief post-script. But as even those who fully disagree with things the Lord leads me to write certainly know by now, my intent was to faithfully represent the God of the Bible’s view from His Word in this case of a social vision for our nation that does not line up with it in any form except by corruption!
Every American President is rightly expected to lay out his vision for America when he takes office. If--as will eventually be the case--our Presidents offered an entirely secular vision for the nation devoid of any even implied reference to a Judeo-Christian moral underpinning, it would be one thing. But nearly all have attempted to curry divine and Christian favor by incorporating a social component in their national vision that includes a show of sensitivity for the less fortunate and those challenged in some way. President Johnson had his “Great Society” to address poverty and racial injustice and H.W. Bush “A Thousand Points Of Light” for community service as notable examples.
No longer in office, Mr. Obama and those sharing his social vision of equality are still pushing black Americans to adopt it even though it involves accepting sinful behavior practiced within a coalition of allies falsely claiming God approves.1 No, folks; be students of biblical and world history to see how such a move in rebellion against God ends in disaster every time (2 Kings 17:1-12; Isaiah 30:1-5, 31:1-3; Jeremiah 17:5-6). You cannot be an ally with evil and expect righteousness to result; you are being deceived (Galatians 6:7-8)! Labor for what has been morally right in the Lord’s eyes forever (Malachi 3:6) while waiting on His return to reign (Isaiah 11:1-5; 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12).2
Originally Published February 2013
How appealing is the second term social vision for America laid out by our nation’s first African-American President, Barack Obama. For the descendants of slaves,3 such a vision of inclusion, fairness and equality speaks directly to the heart of everything our forefathers endured their plight to realize except for one thing. Those that were truly born again, faithful Christians would not embrace Mr. Obama’s inclusion of rebels against the divine order in their own vision (John 14:15).
The hope of freedom, racial equality and justice faithful black Christians from slavery through the Civil Rights Movement suffered for was completely in line with God’s moral order as presented in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. However, to implement Mr. Obama’s vision of social justice and equality, one must trample upon God’s Word to accept immoral feticide and same sex marriage.4
Black Christians faithful to God know “we have come this far by faith leaning on” not slapping away the succoring arms of the Lord in rebellion. Therefore, in faithfulness, our President’s social vision must be rejected as an affront to God and mockery of our forefathers’ suffering (Psalm 40:1-4). Racial and all other loyalties of this present age end where divergence from God’s Word begins! Already the Lord challenges this abominable vision with increasing severity to come (Revelation 8-9).
1 Read the May 14, 2017 post, Mother’s Day Joy And Sadness, under the category, Holidays.
2 This is the heart of every aspiring strong man and great woman of God in the image of Jesus Christ I write about in my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics.
It is available at all major internet booksellers, by order at your favorite brick and mortar bookstore or in the Strong Man Store.
3 This Black History Month, make it a point to visit https://fromslaverytovictory.org the official Web Site of the From Slavery To Victory Education Project presenting a bib-
lical worldview of the black American experience.
4 See the January 20, 2019 post, The Unborn Cries For Social Justice, under the category, Biblical Worldview and Developing Men: The Equality Trap, posted December
10, 2017 under the category, The Cause.
As noted by not a few conservative Christian commentators, one of the buzz phrases of the secular culture today is “the right side of history.” When secularists or even professed Christians say this in tragic support of pressing their social agendas that transgress God’s Word in the Bible, they are most certainly failing to grasp the stark testimony of history. For the physical ruins of every ancient kingdom and empire of men are with us to this very hour as a reminder mortals cannot finally prevail in having their way against the living God!1 Consequently, those who oppose God are on the wrong side of history as His fulfilled prophetic Word to date through Daniel among others certifies.
Having reached the end of his prayer of confession, repentance and intercession seeking God’s mercy for Israel through forgiveness and restoration, Daniel receives a prophetic reply from God by way of an angel that is staggeringly far beyond the immediate historical situation. Praying as he was near the end of Israel’s seventy years of dispersion from the land and captivity to Babylon, God gives Daniel a prophetic timeline with key events in it that not only affect his people, but originating from them, the whole world and reaching into eternity! Daniel was instructed by God’s messenger, Gabriel, to ‘“consider the matter, and understand the vision,’” (Daniel 9:23, NKJV).
First, God set ‘“seventy weeks’” as the time length for all of His purposes and the events of His prophetic timeline to be fulfilled (Daniel 9:24-27, NKJV). While Israel was in the midst of finishing seventy literal years of captivity, the seventy weeks are not intended to be understood as literal seven day weeks which would yield four hundred and ninety days. No, here is where the author of the study notes in my New King James Bible and other reputable contemporary translations agree that “weeks” in the Hebrew should literally be understood “sevens” as in seven year spans. Consequently, it is seventy sevens or seven year spans totaling four hundred and ninety years. There is a plan and end!
Second, Daniel was told this period of time was ‘“determined’” by God ‘“for your people and for your holy city’” that had so concerned him in his prayer ‘“to finish the transgression, to make an end of sins, to make reconciliation for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy,’” (Daniel 9:24, NKJV). God’s answer to Daniel’s prayer for Israel is in complete concert with His purposes of salvation for them and us Gentiles! During the time allotted, Israel is to finish their specific transgression against God bound up in their unique historical covenant relationship with Him as descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exodus 3:15, 19:1-6).2
Too, in God’s prophetic timeline an end of sins that hopelessly separated all men from and reconciliation back to Him would occur. Truly, God is telling Daniel of things only He could accomplish! How, is powerfully signaled by the specific mention of Israel’s long before Daniel foretold ‘“Messiah the Prince’” and His intercessory agency (Genesis 22:15-18, 49:10; Isaiah 49:5-6, 61:1-3) in Daniel 9:25-26, NKJV. Messiah would also cause eternally enduring righteousness to come to redeemed mankind and under His up close royal administration, end the prophetic ministry as well as gloriously restore the Temple of God in Jerusalem (Isaiah 9:6-7, 11:1-10, 60:13; Jeremiah 23:5-8).3
Last, God’s vision to Daniel is very specific about the events and their timing in His timeline which history recorded in and out of the Bible proves to be perfectly accurate. Indeed, they follow in order after the official end of the Babylonian captivity with the decree of Persian King Cyrus who was himself divinely foretold (2 Chronicles 36:15-23; Isaiah 44:24-45:5). Interestingly, while it is not stated in Daniel 9:25, as Ezra and the post-exilic prophets Haggai and Zechariah record, building the second Jewish Temple is a priority of God when the people returned from captivity. Almost one hundred years pass before ‘“the command to restore and build Jerusalem’” in 445 B.C. and the attending troubles Nehemiah writes about launch God’s seventy sevens timeline (Daniel 9:25, NKJV).
Clearly, God’s timeline vision uniquely given to Daniel foretells when Israel could expect to see their Messiah since after the command concerning Jerusalem, seven sevens (49 years) and then sixty-two sevens (434 years) for a total of sixty-nine sevens (483 years) are set for as it turns out, His first coming.4 Nothing could or did stop His coming as Jesus of Nazareth who was conceived (Matthew 1:18-25), born where (Matthew 2:1-12), lived and ‘“cutoff, but not for Himself (declaring at His death, ‘“It is finished!’”)’” as foretold (Isaiah 53; Daniel 9:26a; John 19:14-42, NKJV). While not included in this vision to Daniel is the triumphant resurrection of Messiah after three days He foretold (Luke 18:31-34) or His ascension (Acts 1:9-11), in one earlier he saw His coronation (Daniel 7:13-14)!
Meanwhile, as the Lord Jesus Christ also foretold in complete agreement with the vision given to Daniel and history, nearly forty years later the Roman Empire--‘“the people of the prince who is to come’”--destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple yet again leaving them desolate in 70 A.D. (Daniel 9:26b; Matthew 23:37-24:2; Luke 19:41-44, 21:20-24, NKJV). An attempt by the Jews still living in the land to retake it and Jerusalem in 135 A.D. was also crushed by the Romans. From that point on as warned and foretold, they were scattered to the nations (Leviticus 26:27-35; Deuteronomy 28:64-66; Matthew 21:33-46). In under four hundred years after this, the Roman Empire joined its named predecessor Babylonian, Medo-Persian and Greek Empires among the ruins of history or did it?
1 This is the reason I hardly blink when critics among professed Christians insinuate this Ministry’s faithful instruction on the strong man and great woman of God is not in step with current popular Christian themes. God’s Word will never fail to stand right and true whatever the times or popular acceptance of people. If you want a life changing, enduring biblical word from the Lord on what you are supposed to be about as a Christian man or woman, get my book, The Strong Man Of God: Back To Basics along with its companion works The Strong Man Of God Men’s Group Study and Great Woman Of God Women’s Group Study available at your favorite internet book seller and in the Strong Man Store.
2 Read the two-part post that begins January 16, 2022, Arriving At These Times, under the categories Bible Prophecy and Call To Repent.
3 Daniel 9:24 is another place in Scripture that asserts God’s intent to end the prophetic ministry during the Kingdom reign of Christ on earth at His return and not before as the erroneous, contrary presupposition held by many especially conservative religious educated elites maintains. See the two-part post that begins August 2, 2020, Flavor- less Salt Is Worthless, under the category, Call To Repent taking special note of the fourth footnote in part one.
4 See the August 22, 2021 post, The King Of Israel, under the category, Bible Prophecy.
With the Lord, I find sadly humorous those professing Christian leaders that exalt and admire the Old Testament prophets for their at times very harsh rebuke of Israel in sin who then turn around and condemn the contemporary prophets in this New Testament era sent to them for so easily finding critical things to say about the churches in sin declaring, “God is about love.” Hypocrites! Most assuredly “God is love” (1 John 4:8, NKJV), but He is also holy, righteous and just and therefore, judges sin wherever it is found including among those who profess to know Him as His people (Hebrews 10:30-31).
It is because God loved Israel that He sent the prophets to warn them of His judgment for their sins if they might repent, but they did not (2 Chronicles 36:15-16). It is because God loves sinners that He sent Christ into the world to die for our sins so that those who believe might be removed from eternal condemnation on the condition of their continuing faith and mutual love motivated obedience (John 3:16-21, 5:24, 14:19-24; 1 John 3:4-9). Otherwise, there is no other remedy for practicing sinners whether they never place faith in Christ or “draw back” from it in disobedience (John 8:21-24; Hebrews 10:26-29, 35-39, NKJV). Even so, our gracious God is ready to forgive the repentant!
Not the proud man who stubbornly resists admitting he has been wrong, but it is the man who humbles himself in brokenness and repentance from his sins that enjoys God’s grace in forgiveness (Psalm 32:1-5, 51:16-17; Proverbs 3:34; Isaiah 57:15; James 4:4-10; 1 Peter 5:5-6). If you, Christian leader that is guilty, will not repent seeking to save face among other reasons in the flesh, be reminded that knowing the right thing to do, but refusing to do it is sin (James 4:17). Also, as you have no doubt proclaimed to others, pride and haughtiness precede destruction (Proverbs 16:18). Know too for a certainty that God has warned and called you to repentance through this His servant and yours in the 2013 blog series on worship and this edited epilogue He led me to post. As a result, I fulfill the ministry He in love for you called me to (Ezekiel 33:1-11; Romans 12:3-8; 2 Timothy 4:1-5)!
Originally Posted September 29, 2013
In wrapping up the series of blogs the Lord led me to write entitled, Worshipping God Without God beginning September 8, 2013 there were a number of things that were left unsaid that I now present in a series of short statements.
To the triune God, Maker of the heavens and the earth, my God, my hope, my joy and my life; to You be my heartfelt worship, praise and adoration for all of who You are and all of your goodness to me both now and forever--Amen! Father, there is no one greater! Lord Jesus, my Savior and Champion: how awesome You are and pleased I am to praise You forever as one eternally grateful for your work to save a wretch like me! Holy Spirit, my constant Companion and Helper: thank You for bringing the love of the triune God to me and making possible my expression of it back to You! O God, you deserve so much better than what You are being offered as worship from us on earth.
To my Jewish brothers in Christ for whom I rejoice and am well pleased to be among and share as a Gentile in God’s salvation through grace by faith effected as of a first priority for you (Romans 1:16): you are of God’s continuing elect of your people since the earliest Jewish disciples that have enjoyed the initial realization of His promises in Christ (Romans 11:1-15) who is the Son of God and David soon to return to sit on His throne at Jerusalem (Psalm 110:1-2; Matthew 22:41-46).
As He spoke to the woman at the well “salvation is of the Jews,” so is everything pertaining to it historically (John 4:22; Romans 9:1-5, NKJV) and in the prophetic future yet to be fulfilled through Christ that true worshippers among the Gentiles celebrate with you (Isaiah 49:22-23; Zechariah 8:20-23). To the extent this is not true among any Gentiles professing to be Christians, forgive their willful ignorance and very importantly, do not compromise what you know is right from God’s Word following after their corruptions especially in worship! Instead, you who have suffered double persecution, lead the way before us in what pleases God through your obedience as did your first century Jewish predecessors, the Lord’s apostles most prominent among them (Revelation 3:7-9).
To my white brothers especially of Conservative Evangelicalism who are guilty not as you judge, but God: loving me and all of your black brothers has not been given to you as an option by God. It is commanded! Therefore, all failure to love your brothers in the Body of Christ is willful disobedience. As a result, your covert racism toward black Americans (trotting all over the third world helping and taking pictures with Africans and other people of color does not remove your guilt) causes you not only to continue to offer up polluted worship to God that is rejected, but many professors of Christ among you have died and will die entering eternity without Him because of clinging to it (Matthew 7:21-23; 1 John 3:10-15).
Also, the love Christ commands is not to be just words spoken insincerely in theory, but backed up by deeds (1 John 3:16-24). Repent now so God may send Holy Ghost revival that will supply His love to the many cold, dead hearts unable to love your brothers of color as equals and on an equal basis as you love yourselves. Nevertheless, many that read this will perish refusing to obey the call to repentance because it is coming from a black man. Surely, God is wise in all of His ways (Proverbs 27:12)!
To my black brothers in all of the major denominations caught up in Christianity the religion of men passed down to you by your former masters who are guilty: you pride yourselves on being free from the control of white men. So then, who is now holding you captive to carry on all of your traditional practices that cancel out obedience to the Word of God as it is written and pollute your world renowned, enthusiastically offered worship to God; worship which only pleases you and those entertained by all of your performance not God? While it is true from God’s Word that “where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Corinthians 3:17, NKJV), the Spirit will never sanction sin or lead God’s people to sin in offering worship polluted through disobedience (1 John 1:5-7).
If you are truly free in Christ, then realize you are free to serve Him faithfully and obediently as a lifestyle of worship as He requires and not just a Sunday only affair where performers help you get your happy on! Also, our Christian slave forefathers learned singing to God lifts burdened hearts not as some cathartic release induced by the singing itself, but through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit in faith filled hearts fulfilling the words of Christ found in Matthew 11:25-30. Repent, therefore, from your “old time religion,” wicked ways practiced even on Sunday and any bitterness of heart toward your white brothers in Christ which has already sent many to Hell, so you may offer up an authentic worship to God (Mark 11:25-26; Hebrews 12:12-17).
Finally, to my sisters in Christ who are guilty especially those of my own race and culture that beyond question have all of the right stuff in spiritual fervor and leadership skills to lead anybody’s worship of God: repent and voluntarily relinquish your leading of the worship of the whole church! Remember the divine response to Miriam when she challenged the leadership calling of her brother, Moses, and Sapphira when she blindly followed in the sin of her husband (Numbers 12; Acts 5:1, 7-10).
Your fervor for God, desire and ability to lead His worship is not somehow wasted because He has not elected you to lead the whole church in usurpation of men whom He has chosen. Thinking like this comes from the sinful flesh; a desire to be seen and heard by mortal flesh rather than the eternal God who has put His holy fire in you and called you to honor Him first with submission in this present age (Luke 1:38)! It is not about you in performance, but it is about what God has required for His own worship (1 Corinthians 14:34-37).
As an aspiring great woman of God in the image of Christ, pleasing Him in love and obedience should be your highest concern (John 14:15). Stop letting Satan deceive you into believing out of a rebellious, worldly feminist disgruntlement that you are being short changed by glory hogging men that want the spotlight all to themselves. Woe to any man in the flesh that is doing this as a worship leader or preacher! Instead, like Miriam before her sin, joyfully lead your daughters as well as fellow sisters in the churches, prisons and scattered as lost sheep in the community who need your fervor for Christ and leadership among them (Exodus 15:20-21). Your faith, submission, self-control and service will be richly rewarded by the Lord here and now as well as eternally if you will obey!
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