Ephesians 5:13-17 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore he says, “Awake, sleeping ones! And arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light.” See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
For those who have been following us, we have been ‘re-deployed’ to the United States at this pivotal moment in history. For those who know me personally, my heart is for revival and for preparing the Bride of Messiah to meet her Creator.
We are now at a “Ninevah” moment in history … a great divide focused on the issue of freedom. Will true and lasting repentance preserve our freedom in the West to preach the Gospel unhindered in the years ahead? Or will darkness and tyranny overtake us forcing the battle for revival to continue in a context of governmental opposition or even captivity?
I cannot pretend to answer this critical question. (The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know, and how much less I can predict); only that my deep conviction and ultimate security lies in the unshakable confidence that God loves me and holds me firmly in His powerful hands… And that by His grace I will walk in the works He has prepared for me, and that my food is to do his will and to finish the work He has given me.
With prophecies all around, a great need for discernment, and a growing atmosphere that seems utterly out of control, we are desperately in need of a sure compass. And thank God, “True North” has never changed. The cross of Yeshua the Messiah points as certainly as ever in the direction of Eternal hope. Are you afraid of losing control? Don’t give in to it. You can maintain poise and equanimity by choosing to submit yourself to the will of God, and by trusting Him unreservedly. If another awakening IS in God’s plans, you will participate in it, individually, by STANDING at the CROSSroad, where Yeshua’s triumph over sin was purchased and demonstrated in bodily resurrection. May a TRUE Christ-centered move of God penetrate this growing darkness!
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]For the past two weeks we have examined lessons from the OT account of Israel’s Exodus from Egypt in hope of avoiding the errors and attitudes of the children of Israel. This week we will draw connections between the Exodus and the prophecies in the book of Revelation.
For the past two weeks we’ve been building life lessons derived from the Exodus wanderings and from Paul’s exhortations to the church in Corinth. Notice carefully that Paul says, “these were written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages have come”…
…that is, written for us today! – admonitions from Paul to learn lessons from the history of the children of Israel.
Paul exhorts the church at Corinth about grumbling and complaining. He reminds the believers of the judgments that befell the 10 spies who brought a bad report of the land – and were struck down by a plague, and terrible fate of Korah and those aligned with him that came against Moses and Aaron and were swallowed up by the ground under them.
Here we have a stark word. Here we see the Lord testing Israel: “He gave you manna to eat in the wilderness, something your ancestors had never known, to humble and test you so that in the end it might go well with you.” [Deuteronomy 8:16]. Yet Paul says that they put Him to the test. A great irony occurs when God is testing us, and we despise His discipline, thereby testing Him.
The Apostle Paul continues his warning to the Corinthians against idolatry by referring to Israel’s celebration/worship of the golden calf. Aaron’s proclamation, “These are your gods (plural) O Israel” could be one of the earliest declarations mixing the worship of the true and living God, YHVH, with idols. This is called “syncretism”. Dictionary.com defines it: ” the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion.”
The Apostle Paul’s admonition in 1 Corinthians 10:6 against desiring evil as they did, would seem to point to the obvious sins – lying, stealing, adultery, fornication, etc. – and following their deliverance from slavery, many of the children of Israel were certainly guilty of some of these. But this passage in Numbers describes a type of sin we don’t normally consider: it was simply their desire for the foods they ate in Egypt.
When I was in school, it seemed they ran a “fire drill” at least once a year. A long, loud, kind of scary bell would sound and we knew it was either a real fire, or, more likely, just another drill. We were formed into lines, ushered down the halls, and out the doors we went. Of course, the point was practice….so we would be prepared for a real fire.