Psalm 9: 19-20
Arise, O Lord, let not man triumph; Let the Nations be judged in Your presence. Strike them with terror, O Lord; let the Nations know they are but men.
King David here writes of other Nations around Israel, but today he could have written of the inner machinations of a bureaucracy; extensive tenticles reaching into every part of the citizens' lives. Some of this government is good, but much of it is just to further the politicians' power at the expense of the people.
Many of these men and women do not admit that they are mere men and women, but consider themselves as gods who are not subject to the same laws and rules as the rest of the people. They promote policies that they claim to be "for the people," but only serve to line the pockets of those promoting them, as they reduce the freedoms that the Constitution grants the populace. And in the process, they are destroying people, Nations, and economies. They are robbing the people, and the people are the frog in the pot that is being heated gradually--and the water is very near boiling, killing the frog as it sits contentedly.
Wake us up, O Lord! Open our eyes to see what is going on! Raise up men and women who know You and understand Your ways to take over the reins of government and implant the policies that would be for the genuine good for the people, in rightousness and honest judgment!
And Your Name will be glorified, honored and praised for Your great wisdom, compassion, and power.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
A Little Folding Of The Hands To Rest
Proverbs 6: 9-11
How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
Proverbs 19: 15
Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry.
Proverbs 20: 13
Do not love sleep, lest you become poor; open your eyes and you will be satisfied with food.
Proverbs 24: 33-34
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
As I read 20:13 I was falling asleep in my chair! And God repeats 6:10-11 in 24:33-34, because He knew I needed it reinforced!
How many times have I sat down just to rest my eyes "for a moment" and fell sound asleep!
How often have I stayed up too late and had a hard time getting up in the morning! How often have I "slept in" when I didn't have to go anywhere that day!
How many days have I just schlepped around the house without even getting dressed!
O my Father, You impressed me with this concept years ago, and I am still working on my ability to have the self-control to maintain some kind of schedule so that I won't waste away the hours and moments and days You give me.
Father, give me victory over laziness and slothfulness. I seem to get better for a while, then fall back into it again, but not as bad.
Father, before You came to me and redeemed me, I was trying to be a better person, but each time I fell back then was worse.
Now I find that my relapses in this matter are not like the other problem I had before, that You healed me of, and I've remained healed. Now when I grow weary and want to sleep in, it's a one-time occurrence, not a continuous habit.
And the days that happens are getting fewer and farther between. Continue to help me, Father. Show me each day the good work You have for me to do, so that I will be encouraged to be ready each day for whatever You have for me.
Strengthen me, Father, to accomplish the tasks before me each day, to prepare for what is coming in days to come. Both the work You have for me to do, and also to lean on You when the hard times come. Help me to be fully prepared for both.
Let my life be a good example to follow, to lead others to You, Father, and into Your ways. Let my walk agree with my words, so that integrity will hold me together.
And You will receive all the glory, Father. You will be praised and honored and blessed by every tongue in all Creation; in Earth, under the Earth, above the Earth, and in Heaven, and throughout all the New Heaven and New Earth through all eternity, forever and ever!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
Proverbs 19: 15
Laziness brings on deep sleep, and the shiftless go hungry.
Proverbs 20: 13
Do not love sleep, lest you become poor; open your eyes and you will be satisfied with food.
Proverbs 24: 33-34
A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--and poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
As I read 20:13 I was falling asleep in my chair! And God repeats 6:10-11 in 24:33-34, because He knew I needed it reinforced!
How many times have I sat down just to rest my eyes "for a moment" and fell sound asleep!
How often have I stayed up too late and had a hard time getting up in the morning! How often have I "slept in" when I didn't have to go anywhere that day!
How many days have I just schlepped around the house without even getting dressed!
O my Father, You impressed me with this concept years ago, and I am still working on my ability to have the self-control to maintain some kind of schedule so that I won't waste away the hours and moments and days You give me.
Father, give me victory over laziness and slothfulness. I seem to get better for a while, then fall back into it again, but not as bad.
Father, before You came to me and redeemed me, I was trying to be a better person, but each time I fell back then was worse.
Now I find that my relapses in this matter are not like the other problem I had before, that You healed me of, and I've remained healed. Now when I grow weary and want to sleep in, it's a one-time occurrence, not a continuous habit.
And the days that happens are getting fewer and farther between. Continue to help me, Father. Show me each day the good work You have for me to do, so that I will be encouraged to be ready each day for whatever You have for me.
Strengthen me, Father, to accomplish the tasks before me each day, to prepare for what is coming in days to come. Both the work You have for me to do, and also to lean on You when the hard times come. Help me to be fully prepared for both.
Let my life be a good example to follow, to lead others to You, Father, and into Your ways. Let my walk agree with my words, so that integrity will hold me together.
And You will receive all the glory, Father. You will be praised and honored and blessed by every tongue in all Creation; in Earth, under the Earth, above the Earth, and in Heaven, and throughout all the New Heaven and New Earth through all eternity, forever and ever!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Monday, January 21, 2019
"Sin Not To Death"?
I John 5: 16-17
If anyone sees his brother committing sin not to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not to death. There is sin to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not to death.
This has been a very enigmatic puzzle of a verse for me, that I have thought on and prayed about for some time.
I can only think it means that if a friend has a habitual sin (an addiction), but they haven't died yet, then we are to pray for him.
But someone who has already died in his addiction will not be resuscitated no matter how hard we pray for him, his earthly life is over.
Since all sin leads to death, and no one gets out of this life without dying because we've all sinned; then this "sin not to death" must refer to someone who hasn't died yet. There is still hope that they will turn to God and turn their life around.
I know that had God not found me and rescued me when He did, then I would have died long ago, because my lifestyle at that time was very unhealthy and dangerous. God turned me around completely that day.
So someone who is continually committing a sin that will lead to an early death still has hope, because they haven't died yet; so we are to pray for that brother and share with him if we have the opportunity to talk to him, and God can rescue him, too.
I have seen impossible situations miraculously turned around, when there was no Earthly reason it would be, when God stepped in and worked His wonders in the life and situation. So no one is too far gone if they haven't died yet.
I've even seen an old woman with dementia and no short-term memory finally admit that she deserved death, and let Jesus take her place on the Cross one morning. And that evening, she remembered it as "long ago," because God put that decision directly into her long-term memory. Nothing is too hard for God.
So as long as someone is breathing, God still has purpose for them, and can even save them.
Don't write off anyone. Even in a long-term addiction, even having rejected God for many years, even someone with Alzheimers! There's still hope. Do not neglect to pray for them!
O my Father, I know that You are Almighty God, You can do everything You want to do, no one can hinder you or thwart Your plans. You do everything well, you always finish what you start, and You will receive all the credit when this movie is over.
You alone deserve all the glory, all the honor; You will be praised and admired throughout all eternity for Your greatness and Your goodness; for Your mercies and grace, for your patience and perseverance and faithfulness.
Because You alone are God!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
If anyone sees his brother committing sin not to death, he shall ask and God will for him give life to those who commit sin not to death. There is sin to death; I do not say that he should make request for this. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not to death.
This has been a very enigmatic puzzle of a verse for me, that I have thought on and prayed about for some time.
I can only think it means that if a friend has a habitual sin (an addiction), but they haven't died yet, then we are to pray for him.
But someone who has already died in his addiction will not be resuscitated no matter how hard we pray for him, his earthly life is over.
Since all sin leads to death, and no one gets out of this life without dying because we've all sinned; then this "sin not to death" must refer to someone who hasn't died yet. There is still hope that they will turn to God and turn their life around.
I know that had God not found me and rescued me when He did, then I would have died long ago, because my lifestyle at that time was very unhealthy and dangerous. God turned me around completely that day.
So someone who is continually committing a sin that will lead to an early death still has hope, because they haven't died yet; so we are to pray for that brother and share with him if we have the opportunity to talk to him, and God can rescue him, too.
I have seen impossible situations miraculously turned around, when there was no Earthly reason it would be, when God stepped in and worked His wonders in the life and situation. So no one is too far gone if they haven't died yet.
I've even seen an old woman with dementia and no short-term memory finally admit that she deserved death, and let Jesus take her place on the Cross one morning. And that evening, she remembered it as "long ago," because God put that decision directly into her long-term memory. Nothing is too hard for God.
So as long as someone is breathing, God still has purpose for them, and can even save them.
Don't write off anyone. Even in a long-term addiction, even having rejected God for many years, even someone with Alzheimers! There's still hope. Do not neglect to pray for them!
O my Father, I know that You are Almighty God, You can do everything You want to do, no one can hinder you or thwart Your plans. You do everything well, you always finish what you start, and You will receive all the credit when this movie is over.
You alone deserve all the glory, all the honor; You will be praised and admired throughout all eternity for Your greatness and Your goodness; for Your mercies and grace, for your patience and perseverance and faithfulness.
Because You alone are God!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, January 20, 2019
Snatch Them Out Of Fire
Jude 22-23
And have mercy on [and convince] some who are doubting; save others snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
What are we commanded to do here? Convincing the ones who are doubting and questioning, this is not hard to understand.
How do we snatch some out of the fire? This seems to involve violence.
Then on some to have mercy with fear--Zechariah's vision of Joshua the high priest depicted Joshua's sins as filthy garments. Is this hating the sin while loving the sinner?
We need our thinking clarified on these things, to see with God's eyes to have His perception and gain His understanding of these verses.
O my Father, how do I obey these commands? Please help me to perceive what You want me to do, and how to do it.
Enlighten my understanding, Father, to accomplish Your will according to Your plan for me.
Then You will receive all the credit, all the glory for all that You have accomplished, even in and through me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
And have mercy on [and convince] some who are doubting; save others snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.
What are we commanded to do here? Convincing the ones who are doubting and questioning, this is not hard to understand.
How do we snatch some out of the fire? This seems to involve violence.
Then on some to have mercy with fear--Zechariah's vision of Joshua the high priest depicted Joshua's sins as filthy garments. Is this hating the sin while loving the sinner?
We need our thinking clarified on these things, to see with God's eyes to have His perception and gain His understanding of these verses.
O my Father, how do I obey these commands? Please help me to perceive what You want me to do, and how to do it.
Enlighten my understanding, Father, to accomplish Your will according to Your plan for me.
Then You will receive all the credit, all the glory for all that You have accomplished, even in and through me.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Saturday, January 19, 2019
The Way Out Of Trouble
Ecclesiastes 8: 5-6
He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, when a man's trouble is heavy upon him.
I had gotten myself into a financial trouble when I didn't follow one of God's principles to not co-sign on a loan (Proverbs 6:1-2). I had made an exception in this case (Proverbs 17:18), but then later, this financial burden started to weigh heavy on me (Proverbs 11:15).
That's when I found these verses, and God told me what to do. His wisdom gave me the proper procedure to follow (Proverbs 6:3-5), and I waited on Him for His time to execute it.
My "royal command" was to pay all the bills I owe, even those that were only assigned to me secondarily (Romans 13:8). So I called the debt-holder to negotiate the liquidation of this debt. We went back and forth for several months, and I even had a lawyer friend lend his authority on my behalf.
Finally they agreed to accept my payment of a fraction of the total amount in full payment of the entire bill. I was certain to require of them the proper legal document to prove the full payment of the entire amount, so that they could never again come after either me or the primary signer for any portion of it.
This relieved both of us in this matter, and we could both rest easy now that it is fully accomplished.
God's Word is so good! He has told us how to handle every kind of thorny situation, in a right and polite and honest way.
There really is "a proper time and procedure" for everything to work out for our "delight," our good.
Thank You, Father, for giving me Your wisdom to know how to handle every kind of troublesome situation according to Your good ways. You have already seen my path, You know what mistakes I've made that result in problems, and You have taught me some of Your ways that I needed to use in this wisdom to solve these problems, in a righteous and honest and complete and final way.
Father, You are my Source of everything I need, everything I will ever need! You have given us this Earth and provided in it all we need to live and prosper here on it. You have devised all the mechanisms of how everything works together, and You have even shown us how to extract ourselves from the sticky situations we find ourselves in.
Father God, You are amazing! You are fantastic! You are monumentally Glorious! Your wisdom is clever and even humorous at times! You provide fun and laughter, even as You give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3).
And You, Father, will receive all the credit, all the honor, all the glory for everything You have done. You will be praised for all Your good ways, and all the wonderful delights You lavish upon those You love, who follow Your ways!
He who keeps a royal command experiences no trouble, for a wise heart knows the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every delight, when a man's trouble is heavy upon him.
I had gotten myself into a financial trouble when I didn't follow one of God's principles to not co-sign on a loan (Proverbs 6:1-2). I had made an exception in this case (Proverbs 17:18), but then later, this financial burden started to weigh heavy on me (Proverbs 11:15).
That's when I found these verses, and God told me what to do. His wisdom gave me the proper procedure to follow (Proverbs 6:3-5), and I waited on Him for His time to execute it.
My "royal command" was to pay all the bills I owe, even those that were only assigned to me secondarily (Romans 13:8). So I called the debt-holder to negotiate the liquidation of this debt. We went back and forth for several months, and I even had a lawyer friend lend his authority on my behalf.
Finally they agreed to accept my payment of a fraction of the total amount in full payment of the entire bill. I was certain to require of them the proper legal document to prove the full payment of the entire amount, so that they could never again come after either me or the primary signer for any portion of it.
This relieved both of us in this matter, and we could both rest easy now that it is fully accomplished.
God's Word is so good! He has told us how to handle every kind of thorny situation, in a right and polite and honest way.
There really is "a proper time and procedure" for everything to work out for our "delight," our good.
Thank You, Father, for giving me Your wisdom to know how to handle every kind of troublesome situation according to Your good ways. You have already seen my path, You know what mistakes I've made that result in problems, and You have taught me some of Your ways that I needed to use in this wisdom to solve these problems, in a righteous and honest and complete and final way.
Father, You are my Source of everything I need, everything I will ever need! You have given us this Earth and provided in it all we need to live and prosper here on it. You have devised all the mechanisms of how everything works together, and You have even shown us how to extract ourselves from the sticky situations we find ourselves in.
Father God, You are amazing! You are fantastic! You are monumentally Glorious! Your wisdom is clever and even humorous at times! You provide fun and laughter, even as You give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3).
And You, Father, will receive all the credit, all the honor, all the glory for everything You have done. You will be praised for all Your good ways, and all the wonderful delights You lavish upon those You love, who follow Your ways!
You alone are God, our Almighty King and Potentate; our Maker and Creator; and Every creature which is in Heaven, and on the Earth, and such as are in the Sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying, Blessing and honor and glory and power, be unto Him that sits upon the Throne, the Lamb, forever and ever! (Revelation 5:13). Amen and amen!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, January 18, 2019
Set On Fire Of Hell
James 3:2
In many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
But:
James 1:26
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.
Because:
James 3:6
The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of Nature; and it is set on fire of Hell!
This is a common problem among all of us. We use our tongues in ways that are good and bad, encouraging and condemning. We are so quick to use our tongues without even thinking first, on automatic.
Our words pour out what is overflowing in our hearts, and what's in our hearts is put there by our attitudes, formed by our beliefs. Do we believe that our hearers have worth, that they deserve our respect? Sometimes our words deny that.
Then we set on fire someone's self-worth or a situation, to destroy and decimate the good creation God made. How many of us see ourselves as worthless, because someone we respected told us so when we were children?
How many situations spun out of control because of the hatred spewed forth?
Our words have great power, because God made us in His own image, and His Word is Creative. So our words can also be creative, or destructive.
That's why we need to be very careful to pause and consider the words we are about to speak (or write, or type, or text). If the words that automatically erupt are not beneficial to the hearer, then we need to examine our own hearts to find out what it is we believe, and what our basic attitude is toward that person or situation.
Are we seeing them through God's eyes? Are we valuing them as He has set their worth? Are we aligning our thinking processes with His thoughts for us?
It's not easy. Like James said, if any of us can be perfect in our words, then we can live a perfect life. But that's not possible until we are Resurrected, and our corruptible puts on incorruption, and our mortal puts on immortality (I Corinthians 15:51-56).
So we all need to work on this, continually. I know that I have been aware of this situation for many years, and I have been dealing with this problem every day that I interact with other people all this time. I can't say I've made much headway--I still find it difficult to pause to think in the heat of a passionate exchange.
But that is what is needed for us to consistently build one another up, instead of tearing down.
And we also need to build ourselves up, using God's Truth about us. If we have a diminished self-worth, then we need to re-program our thinking to align with how God thinks of us. He loves us and values us with the highest worth, and when we see ourselves as He sees us, in His mercy and grace, and how He originally designed us to be before Adam sinned; then we will love who He loves, ourselves, and we will love others with His love.
It is said that, "hurt people will hurt people," but people who know their high value will also highly value other people. We all actually do "love others as we love ourselves."
Jesus was giving us a "new commandment" when he told us to love others as He loves us! He loves us more than we can imagine; without limits or conditions--unconditionally. That's how He wants us to love one another!
Even if they have hurt us. Even those who hate us. Even the people who have destroyed everything that was good, when they were supposed to support us, that we depended on and trusted. Those wounds really gouge deep.
That's why we are to forgive as we have been forgiven. Every one of us has done that to our loving Father. And He has loved us anyway, sending His own, precious Son give up everything good to take our place in death, individually, so we can be cleansed of all the filth that stains us, and be forgiven. That's how we are to forgive those who have sinned against us, even grievously.
Then we will have a handle on controlling our tongues. We need to be vigilant and careful and watch ourselves continually, while we still live in our corruptible flesh.
God has given us His Holy Spirit to live in our spirits, to teach us and strengthen us and protect us. Let us avail ourselves of His help, and turn to Him in the midst of temptation in our words.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
In many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
But:
James 1:26
If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.
Because:
James 3:6
The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of Nature; and it is set on fire of Hell!
This is a common problem among all of us. We use our tongues in ways that are good and bad, encouraging and condemning. We are so quick to use our tongues without even thinking first, on automatic.
Our words pour out what is overflowing in our hearts, and what's in our hearts is put there by our attitudes, formed by our beliefs. Do we believe that our hearers have worth, that they deserve our respect? Sometimes our words deny that.
Then we set on fire someone's self-worth or a situation, to destroy and decimate the good creation God made. How many of us see ourselves as worthless, because someone we respected told us so when we were children?
How many situations spun out of control because of the hatred spewed forth?
Our words have great power, because God made us in His own image, and His Word is Creative. So our words can also be creative, or destructive.
That's why we need to be very careful to pause and consider the words we are about to speak (or write, or type, or text). If the words that automatically erupt are not beneficial to the hearer, then we need to examine our own hearts to find out what it is we believe, and what our basic attitude is toward that person or situation.
Are we seeing them through God's eyes? Are we valuing them as He has set their worth? Are we aligning our thinking processes with His thoughts for us?
It's not easy. Like James said, if any of us can be perfect in our words, then we can live a perfect life. But that's not possible until we are Resurrected, and our corruptible puts on incorruption, and our mortal puts on immortality (I Corinthians 15:51-56).
So we all need to work on this, continually. I know that I have been aware of this situation for many years, and I have been dealing with this problem every day that I interact with other people all this time. I can't say I've made much headway--I still find it difficult to pause to think in the heat of a passionate exchange.
But that is what is needed for us to consistently build one another up, instead of tearing down.
And we also need to build ourselves up, using God's Truth about us. If we have a diminished self-worth, then we need to re-program our thinking to align with how God thinks of us. He loves us and values us with the highest worth, and when we see ourselves as He sees us, in His mercy and grace, and how He originally designed us to be before Adam sinned; then we will love who He loves, ourselves, and we will love others with His love.
It is said that, "hurt people will hurt people," but people who know their high value will also highly value other people. We all actually do "love others as we love ourselves."
Jesus was giving us a "new commandment" when he told us to love others as He loves us! He loves us more than we can imagine; without limits or conditions--unconditionally. That's how He wants us to love one another!
Even if they have hurt us. Even those who hate us. Even the people who have destroyed everything that was good, when they were supposed to support us, that we depended on and trusted. Those wounds really gouge deep.
That's why we are to forgive as we have been forgiven. Every one of us has done that to our loving Father. And He has loved us anyway, sending His own, precious Son give up everything good to take our place in death, individually, so we can be cleansed of all the filth that stains us, and be forgiven. That's how we are to forgive those who have sinned against us, even grievously.
Then we will have a handle on controlling our tongues. We need to be vigilant and careful and watch ourselves continually, while we still live in our corruptible flesh.
God has given us His Holy Spirit to live in our spirits, to teach us and strengthen us and protect us. Let us avail ourselves of His help, and turn to Him in the midst of temptation in our words.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, January 17, 2019
An Appalling And Horrible Thing
Jeremiah 7: 23-24
But this is what I commanded them, saying, Obey My voice, and I will be your God and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.
Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.
Jeremiah 5: 30-31
An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?
This was the Nation Israel, and Jeremiah was lamenting how the people were suffering. He could see that God wanted to give them good, the bounty He placed in this Earth for their benefit. But the people didn't want God. They had a "better idea"!
So the Prophets, the ones who were to give the people God's instructions, gave them false "visions" that they made up themselves, to tell them what they wanted to hear. And the priests, who were to bring their offerings to God and mediate in their disputes, based their rules on their own understanding, instead of researching what God had said.
These two constituted the government in Israel before they had a king. And were to counsel and guide the king in his rulings.
But they were wrong. So they steered the people in the wrong direction, backward instead of forward. And the people lost the ability to prosper, lost the understanding of how God designed the Earth to function, and built their world on it defectively; so it didn't work.
And the people were conquered and carried away to a far-away country as slaves.
Today we need to observe their errors and consequences, and take to heart the cause-and-effect process they experienced. That should encourage us to search deep in Scripture for the basis of the bounty God put here for us. Learn from their mistakes, and determine to follow God in His ways, the ways He told us to interact with one another and with our environment.
We need to understand the priorities God gives to all the elements of Creation, to count as more valuable what God values highly, and less valuable (but not worthless) the other parts.
There is a system of authority that is intrinsic in all our World, and to recognize that hierarchy of authority and live according to it is what Jesus complimented the Centurion in Capernaum on as having "great faith" (Matthew 8:5-10). This soldier saw that Jesus had in the spiritual realm the same kind of authority that he had in the military: as under authority, and having authority over others.
When our priorities get skewed and twisted out of shape, this is what happens.
When governments and church leaders forget that they are under God's authority, they set themselves up as the final authority, and rule and teach their own ideas, which come from their own understanding, and are therefore in error, coming from our sin-nature.
They want to have authority over others without submitting to the Authority that is over them.
This results in governments imposing tyrany over the masses of people, imposing on them many rules and regulations that only benefit the ones in power.
And churches that approve of what God condemns as harmful to us, and goes so far as to excommunicate members for disagreeing with their demonic demands, and even for mere personality issues.
O Father, thank You for giving us our Maker's instructions: the system of loving You and one another as the foundation; and all the particulars of the rules and precepts laying out how we are to do that--how we can consider other as better than ourselves, and how to worship You alone, giving You the honor and glory You alone deserve.
O Father, I pray for all those who are in authority over us, whether in our governments, our employment, our churches, or even our families. As Your children, teach us to honor all who have power over us, to obey and live our lives in humility and meekness.
And guide and direct those who are over us to submit to You as Final Authority in their ministry of serving all of us. Whether as king, president, governor, police officer, pastor, mentor, boss, parent, or whatever other position we/they hold, help us to live our daily lives under Your rule, and under and over others that You have given us to benefit us so we can help one another.
Father, even in this time period I am living in, I have seen how You bless a people when their leaders are godly, and how as the moral tone of a Nation declines away from Your standards, we lose the benefits we had, and suffer loss and dysfunction and troubles and sorrows.
And when the moral slide continues, Father, all Your godly children find themselves under persecution, as is already in the World now, and is spreading.
Help us, Father, to be effective witnesses to Your Truth that benefits the whole World; and strengthen us to withstand the persecution, at whatever level, we will encounter as we do so.
Continue to work Your Plan that You revealed to us in the writings of Your prophets, as You direct and control everything that relates to it. Continue to use all the acts of Your people, as well as all the works of those who reject You, as You bring this World into accepting the lie of the devil to welcome the One World Government that will attack Your people Israel and bring our Great King to defeat them!
Even so,come, Lord Jesus!
But this is what I commanded them, saying, Obey My voice, and I will be your God and you will be My people; and you will walk in all the way which I command you, that it may be well with you.
Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.
Jeremiah 5: 30-31
An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule on their own authority; and My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?
This was the Nation Israel, and Jeremiah was lamenting how the people were suffering. He could see that God wanted to give them good, the bounty He placed in this Earth for their benefit. But the people didn't want God. They had a "better idea"!
So the Prophets, the ones who were to give the people God's instructions, gave them false "visions" that they made up themselves, to tell them what they wanted to hear. And the priests, who were to bring their offerings to God and mediate in their disputes, based their rules on their own understanding, instead of researching what God had said.
These two constituted the government in Israel before they had a king. And were to counsel and guide the king in his rulings.
But they were wrong. So they steered the people in the wrong direction, backward instead of forward. And the people lost the ability to prosper, lost the understanding of how God designed the Earth to function, and built their world on it defectively; so it didn't work.
And the people were conquered and carried away to a far-away country as slaves.
Today we need to observe their errors and consequences, and take to heart the cause-and-effect process they experienced. That should encourage us to search deep in Scripture for the basis of the bounty God put here for us. Learn from their mistakes, and determine to follow God in His ways, the ways He told us to interact with one another and with our environment.
We need to understand the priorities God gives to all the elements of Creation, to count as more valuable what God values highly, and less valuable (but not worthless) the other parts.
There is a system of authority that is intrinsic in all our World, and to recognize that hierarchy of authority and live according to it is what Jesus complimented the Centurion in Capernaum on as having "great faith" (Matthew 8:5-10). This soldier saw that Jesus had in the spiritual realm the same kind of authority that he had in the military: as under authority, and having authority over others.
When our priorities get skewed and twisted out of shape, this is what happens.
They want to have authority over others without submitting to the Authority that is over them.
This results in governments imposing tyrany over the masses of people, imposing on them many rules and regulations that only benefit the ones in power.
And churches that approve of what God condemns as harmful to us, and goes so far as to excommunicate members for disagreeing with their demonic demands, and even for mere personality issues.
O Father, thank You for giving us our Maker's instructions: the system of loving You and one another as the foundation; and all the particulars of the rules and precepts laying out how we are to do that--how we can consider other as better than ourselves, and how to worship You alone, giving You the honor and glory You alone deserve.
O Father, I pray for all those who are in authority over us, whether in our governments, our employment, our churches, or even our families. As Your children, teach us to honor all who have power over us, to obey and live our lives in humility and meekness.
And guide and direct those who are over us to submit to You as Final Authority in their ministry of serving all of us. Whether as king, president, governor, police officer, pastor, mentor, boss, parent, or whatever other position we/they hold, help us to live our daily lives under Your rule, and under and over others that You have given us to benefit us so we can help one another.
Father, even in this time period I am living in, I have seen how You bless a people when their leaders are godly, and how as the moral tone of a Nation declines away from Your standards, we lose the benefits we had, and suffer loss and dysfunction and troubles and sorrows.
And when the moral slide continues, Father, all Your godly children find themselves under persecution, as is already in the World now, and is spreading.
Help us, Father, to be effective witnesses to Your Truth that benefits the whole World; and strengthen us to withstand the persecution, at whatever level, we will encounter as we do so.
Continue to work Your Plan that You revealed to us in the writings of Your prophets, as You direct and control everything that relates to it. Continue to use all the acts of Your people, as well as all the works of those who reject You, as You bring this World into accepting the lie of the devil to welcome the One World Government that will attack Your people Israel and bring our Great King to defeat them!
Even so,come, Lord Jesus!
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