I WANT YOU TO KNOW ME!
CHAPTER 1: The Dreams
On January 31st of 1993 I had a
dream. I was in a room teaching at a chalkboard. I drew a picture and was
explaining it. As I put the chalk into the ledge I heard the Lord say,
"My people perish for a lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6) The lack of knowledge they have is that they do not know nor understand who I am. Tell my people that I want them to know me personally and understand who I am. I want them to know me and understand my personality. My personality is: "I am that I am" (Exodus 3:14).
John 3:16
On February 3rd of 1993 (three days later) I had another night vision. In this vision, I saw a white sheet put in front of my face. On the white sheet, it looked as though I saw words but they weren't very clear. As I tried to make them out, I could see that it was written in what looked like morse code . . . a line of 3 black dots in three rows. I couldn't make it out and I didn't know what it meant. I turned my head to the left and saw whiteness for what went on for eternity, no images. I then looked back at the sheet. On it was JOHN 3:16 written in large black letters where I had seen the black dots. It looked like this:
JOHN 3:16 JOHN
3:16 JOHN 3:16
JOHN 3:16 JOHN
3:16 JOHN 3:16
JOHN 3:16 JOHN
3:16 JOHN 3:16
JOHN 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
On August 1, 1998 while asleep, I saw myself go to the local grocery store. In front of the store were several newspaper holders. I opened the lid, took out a paper and on top of the page, making headline news, were these words: " I AM THAT I AM " in large black letters with news about God .
The Lord God wants you to know Him in a personal, intimate way. Some think that changing evil ways, clothes, habits, cutting hair or putting on a suit and going to church will be more acceptable to God. That may be true in the religious circles, but it doesn't matter a thing to the Lord. He wants you just as you are. He will take you in when no one else will. You are important to Him. He desires to spend time with you and be intimate!
Jeremiah 29:11
" For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope."
The Lord has a plan for your life
that He wants to put into effect. He wants you to know Him intimately. Most people don't
have a personal relationship with the Lord until a tragedy occurs, such as a funeral. Then
they may visit him on Easter, Christmas and an occasional wedding. They only have
"head knowledge" but no " heart knowledge". These type of people know
God intellectually but not personally. That is not relationship. He is after your heart.
CHAPTER 2: Who is God?
God is a Spirit
Matthew 7:24
" God is a spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."
Father God is not the "man upstairs" who sits on a cloud and brings down judgement upon the earth, flinging lightening bolts, every time someone does something wrong. God is love and mercy. Even though He also can and will pour out judgement, it is at a time when all else fails.
In this scripture below we get a full description of how Jesus looks in His radiance and glory.
Revelation 1:12-18
" When I turned to see who was speaking, there behind me were seven candlesticks of gold. And standing among them was one who looked like Jesus who called himself the "Son Of Man", wearing a long robe circled with a golden band across his chest. His hair was white as wool or snow, and His eyes penetrated like flames of fire. His feet gleamed like burnished bronze, and His voice thundered like the waves against the shore. He held seven stars in His right hand and a sharp, double bladed sword in His mouth, and His face shone like the power of the sun in unclouded brilliance. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead: but He laid His right hand on me and said, " Don't be afraid! Though I am the First and Last, the Living One who died, who is now alive for ever more, who has the keys of hell and death--don't be afraid! " [5]
We are made up of 3 parts:
1. body
2. soul
3. spirit
How are we able to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth if we do not know the truth or have never learned to worship? We are spirit beings. We live in a body, have a mind (soul), and have a spirit. Your spirit is hungry for the good things of God. There is a war in your flesh because it rebels against God and wants to do it's own thing. Your spirit deep inside knows right from wrong at all times.
God Is Love
I John 4:7-8
" Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loveth is born of God and knoweth God, He that loveth not knowth not God, for God is love."
Many do not know that God is love. We live in a love hungry society.The love He has for us is beyond our comprehension. God's ultimate love was unveiled in His son Jesus who loved us so much He was willing to give up His life so we could live. God's love is real and everlasting for eternity. It will go beyond our wildest dreams and imaginings. His love is real. It is everlasting.
God is Holy
1 Peter 1:16
"But He that has called you is holy, so be ye in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, " Be ye holy as I am holy".
God Is Perfect
Matthew 5:48
" Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."
God is Good
Exodus 34:6
" The Lord passed by before him and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, merciful. and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth."
God is Wise
Jude 25
" To the only wise God, our Savior, be glory and magesty, dominion, and power, both now and forever. "
Jesus is the Ancient of Days
Daniel 7:9-10 " I
beheld until the thrones were casted down, and the Ancient of Days, did sit, whose garment
is white as snow, and the hair of His head like the pure wool: his throne was like the
firey flame, and His wheels as burning fire. A firey stream issued and come forth before
Him: thousand thousands stood before Him ; the judgement was set and the books were
opened. "
CHAPTER 3: Knowledge of God
2 Timothy 3:1-3
"You may as well know this too. Timothy, that in the last days it is going to very difficult to be a Christian. For people will love only themselves and their money, they will be proud and boastful, sneering at God, disobedient to parents, ungrateful to them, and thoroughly bad. They will be hard hearted, and never give in to others, they will be constant liars, and troublemakers, and will think nothing of immorality. They will be rough and cruel, and sneer at those who try to be good." [ 5]
This is describing our generation:
1. Love themselves and their money
2. Proud and boastful
3. Sneering at God
4. Disobedient to parents
5. Ungrateful to parents
6. Throughly bad
7. Hard hearted
8. Constant liars
9. Troublemakers
10. Think nothing of immorality
11. Rough and cruel
12. Sneering at those who try to be
good
We no longer are slaves but are free through the blood of Christ. If you are not serving Jesus Christ as Lord and Master of your life, then you are a slave to sin. And sin causes death. Even though sin is fun for a while, it carries a high price tag: death.
Romans 6:16 -18
" Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, resulting in death, or obedience resulting in righteousness? But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed, and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."
Head knowledge is not the same as heart knowledge. Knowing about Him is not the same as having a personal relationship with Him. Just knowing Him will not save my soul. It is like someone once said: " Going to McDonald's don't make you hamburger any more than going to church makes you a Christian." It has to be personal. I have to believe it and accept it as truth.
Take this as an example:
If a person was to come up and hit you on the head with a hammer, it would hurt, a lot! But if someone were to relate a story of a person who had been hit on the head with a hammer yet had not experienced it, they would have no knowledge of the pain that was suffered, from being hit over the head. The person with the bump on the head definitely would have personal knowledge of the situation firsthand. The second person would only have the head knowledge and that is second hand knowledge. That person who never got to know the feeling of pain, could only talk about it. That's the way it is with knowing the Lord. You can not get to know Him without spending time with Him and learning His ways through the word of God and prayer. You could only tell people you know who God is or what you think the bible says. That is second hand knowledge. Most people think they know God because their parents did, got baptized, go to church regularly or said a prayer in a hymnal. There is a vast difference between those who serve God with their hearts and those who do it out of repetition. Many do not know of His mercy and grace! Many are trapped in the world of "good deeds or dead works".
Hosea 4:1
" Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, no mercy, no knowledge of God in the land."
The Lord has a bone to pick with us because we do not have a personal relationship with Him. It isn't just a problem for us personally, but as a nations. Whole nations have turned thier backs on God to worship idols. Judgement will be on a nation and will continue as long as we murder babies, vote for liars, adulterers and put them into a leadership position of any kind. As long as we believe that a little sin is okay, take God's name in vain and out of the courts, schools and homes, there will be judgement. If any nation is ever going to be healed from it's wounds then there has to be a major repentance among the people of that nation. There always has to be a starting place. And that place always starts with leadership. In Hosea 4:6 He is talking to the leadership, the priests, the headship of the nation.
2 Chronicles 7:14
" If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will I heal their land." [8]
If you are one of God's people, then this is for you. These are the conditions:
1. Humble yourselves
2. Pray
3. Seek my face
4. Repent
In the Hebrew the word knowledge is: da'th from the root word Yada, which means, to know, to have understanding, familiar friend, kinsman, have knowledge, instruct, discern, discover, declare, acquaintance.
How could anyone say they have a
relationship with the Lord when they can't sit still long enough to hear what he has to
say? In churches there are "church frogs" hopping here and there, looking for
something that does not exist. Some follow prophets to get words of knowledge that tickle
their ears and make them feel good. These people do not have a knowledgeable relationship
with Christ and Satan can cause them to be deceived. I could give a "word" to
some of those prophet seekers: " repent, read your Bible and seek God for yourself!
" Adam and Eve walked and talked with God, in person, everyday, yet they became
deceived. What makes you think that can't happen to you? "Knowing " actually
means intimacy. It is the same word used when a man knows a woman sexually. "
Knew" is used 169 times in 165 verses concerning sex between men and women.
That is extreme knowledge of the personal kind.
Chapter 4: He is Jehovah
There are several places in the Bible
where the Lord God reveals himself in a personal way. If you do not know him and
desire to, then read the scriptures. They will lead you to Him. We live in a time where
everything is at our hands. You can read the bible on the internet in just about any
language. You can go to a bible study, bible college, seminaries, read devotionals,
scripture cards, Christian magazines, be in church every Sunday morning, evening and
Wednesday, but still miss what He is saying.
I knew of one couple that attended Bible school and said that they got so wrapped up in the school they lost their relationship with Christ. It can happen. Pastors get wrapped up in church duties and neglect the very thing they are supposed to protraying: Jesus.
Many times the Lord makes a declaration about himself. He is declaring himself righteous and holy. One of those places is in Exodus 3:14. Moses was comfortable in his Sheep Pastoring position. One day he went up the mountain to see a sight of a bush that burned but did not get consumed. There he met the Lord and received his commissioning as one of God's great Prophets.
Exodus 3:1
" Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert,and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire, but the bush was not consumed."
Moses tried to get out of this calling by saying he was not a good speaker because he stuttered, so the Lord sent his brother Aaron to be his mouthpiece. If you have a call on your life, don't try to get out of it, or tell the Lord you can't. Just do it.
Exodus 3:14
"And God said to Moses, I am that I am: and thou shalt say to the children of Israel, I am that I am hath sent me unto you."
In the Hebrew, the name 'I Am That I Am' is "Eheyah Asher Eheyah". It means, " I am that (who or what) I am" or " I am the self existing one , the Eternal, the one who always will be". This is shortened to I Am, the Everlasting, the Ever-Present, and the Living One. It is equivalent to " Jehovah the Eternal " or " Jehovah "- -" self subsiding".
In other words, "I Am.... so don't even try to figure this one out." [12]
The Hebrew name Jehovah is generally translated in the authorized version by the word lord printed in small capitals to distinguish it from the rendering of the Hebrews Adoni and the Greek Kurios which are also rendered lord, but printed in the usual type. The Hebrew word is translated "Jehovah" only in Exodus 6:3, Isaiah 12:2, 26:4 and Psalms 83:18" [12]
Psalms 83:11
" That all men may know that thou, whose name is Jehovah, art the most High over all the earth."
Isaiah 12:2
" Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song, he also has become my salvation."
Isaiah 26:4
" Trust ye the LORD forever, for in the Lord Jehovah, is everlasting strength."
Exodus 6:3
" And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac and unto Jacob, by the name God Almighty but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them."
Exodus 3:13-14
Then Moses said to God, " Indeed, when I come to the children of Isreal and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,: and they will say to me, " What is His name?" what shall I say to them? And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, " Thus you shall say to the children of Isreal, "I AM has sent me to you."
The Egyptians worshipped idols but the Lord wanted them to know that he is the only true God. He sent Moses back to where he was exciled and left for dead. It must have been a real shock to the Pharaoh to see his face again. The burning bush was a point of contact, a way of getting Moses attention. God wanted to get up into the Pharoh's face and say," LET MY PEOPLE GO! " He had a hard heart full of pride which God wanted to break. What do you think would happen today if the Lord sent you to the President or the head of a foreign country with a powerful message? Could you actually do it? Or would you argue with God saying, you're too young, too dumb, too insecure, uneducated, or unable to speak? Many talk the talk, but don't walk the walk. They are all show and no go.
There are 12 redemptive names that reveal God's personality:
1. Jehovah- Roi..the
LORD OUR SHEPHERD ( Ps. 23:1)
2. Jehovah-Jireh..the
LORD OUR PROVIDER (Gen. 22:14)
3. Jehovah-Tsidkenu..the
LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS ( Jer. 33:16)
4. Jehovah-Shalom..the
LORD OUR PEACE ( Judges 6:24)
5. Jehovah-Rapha..the
LORD OUR HEALER (Exodus 15:26)
6. Jehovah-Mekkeh..the
LORD WHO SMITES (Ezekiel 7:9)
7. Jehovah-Elyon..the
LORD MOST HIGH ( Gen. 14:18)
8. Jehovah-Mekadsekum..the
LORD WHO SANCTIFIES ( Ex. 31:43)
9. Jehovah-Gmdah..the
LORD OF RECOMPENSE (Jer. 51:6)
10. Jehovah-Nissi..the LORD
OUR BANNER ( Exodus 17:15-16)
11. Jehovah-Shabot..the LORD
OF HOSTS ( 1 Sam. 1:3)
12. Jehovah-Shammah..the LORD
IS THERE ( Ezekiel 48:35)
If we had no more than these 12
names to pattern our lives from, we could have a shepherd, provider, have righteousness,
peace, healing, sanctification,love, protection, a warrior, and someone to be there
whenever we need them. All of these names represent what Christ has
already done for us but wants us to
accept it and receive all the benefits.
Almighty God or "El Shadday"
Genesis 17:1
" And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him, I AM the ALMIGHTY GOD: walk before me and be thou perfect."
Elohim
The word Elohim is the most frequent Hebrew word for God, being used 2,050 times in the Old Testament. The origin is prehistoric, therefore incapable of direct proof. It is the earliest name of God in the Old Testament, and most likely roots mean either, " be strong " or " be in front of ", suiting the power and preeminence of God. Jesus was quoted as using a form of this on the cross: Eloi (Mk. 15:24) and Eli ( Matthew 15:24). In this scripture the word for God is Elohim. Since Elohim is always plural, we then have to come to the conclusion, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were present at the creation. Otherwise why would God have said, " Let us make man in our image" ? [1a]. The name Jehovah Elohim ( Lord God), is used 6,528 times in 5,522 verses of the Old Testament. Elohim is used 2,605 out of 2,249 scriptures. [1]
Genesis 1:1
" In the beginning God (Jehovah-Elohim) prepared, formed, fashioned, and created the heaven and the earth." [6]
Genesis 2:4
" This is the history of the heavens and of the earth when they were created . In the day that the Lord God (Jehovah-Elohim) made the earth and the heavens ."[6]
Genesis 1:26
" God said, Let Us (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) make mankind in Our image, after our likeness; and let them have complete authority over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the [tame] beasts, and over all the earth, and every thing that creeps upon the earth. "
El , Eli, Elim
"El is the primitive, generic word for God in the Semitic language. In the Old Testament, El is used over 200 times for God. The Hebrews borrowed the name El, from the cannanites. El has a plural, Elim, occasionally ELHM, but the Hebrews needed thorough plural term, Elohim was their regular name for God. Much discussion has been made concerning this name. When the Hebrews took over this name, taking it from the Cannanites, which was then an evil name, the name El then became a name for the Hebrew God and lost it's evil-ness, and became a tribute to the high quality of the character of the God of Israel." [1b]
Eloah
The word used here for God is Eloah means Elohim, the object of worship. The name used when God is contrasted with idols [3]. I believe that Satan knew of the importance of the word Elohim and deceived Eve into believing she would be like God if she ate the fruit from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The name of the tree in itself, says something.
Genesis 3:5
" For God [Elohim] knows in the day that you eat of it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be as God [Elohim], knowing the difference between good and evil, and blessing and calamity."
Listen to the lie that is implied here:
1. God knows
2. Your eyes will be opened
3. You will be as God
4. You will be as smart as God
Who wouldn't be tempted to accept this as truth? He told her everything she wanted to hear. She was not hearing from the Lord. The Lord had told Adam something different:
Genesis 2:16-17
" Then the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, from any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat , for in the day you eat from it, you shall surely die." [6]
This was the truth:
1. Farm the garden
2. Eat from any tree except the tree
of the knowledge of good and evil
3. If you eat from it, you are a dead
man
Adam knew he should not eat from that tree. Yet when his wife, Eve, offered him the fruit and told him what Satan had said, he ate it. Adam must have been mental. He was in charge of the garden, which is why God gave him the command. He did not give it to Eve. He lied to God and said, " my wife made me do it. " (Genesis 3:12) He blew it big time with the Lord and lost his position in the garden, and caused the entire human race to fall into sin having the need for a Savior.
Satan always tries to plant the seed of doubt in your mind about what God is really saying. God was speaking of a spiritual death. Sin will kill you. The price tag on sin is spiritual death (Romans 6:23). Adam and Eve were now " knowledgeable" of sin, and hit themselves because of their nakedness. Thier eyes were now wide open to sin and it's results. They now were seperarated from thier God.
Instead of becoming like God, they became fearful of him. Some people have no fear of God nor the consequences of their sin. Very few are preaching repentance, the fear of God or about the wages of sin being death. It was never in God's plan for man to know the difference between good and evil. God wanted them to live forever. He wants us to live forever also with Him in Heaven.
Genesis 3:20-22
Then the Lord God said, " Behold the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now. lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever " --therefore the Lord God sent him outof the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life."
Prophet Rick Joyner, in his book, " The Final Quest" says: " The knowledge from that tree made us all insecure and self-centered. The knowledge of good and evil makes the true knowledge of God seem fearful, when in fact, every truth from above leads to an even greater peace and security. Even the judgments of God are to be desired, because all of his ways are perfect." [11]
Psalms 19:7-10
" The law of the Lord is
perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure making wise the
simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandments of
the Lord are true; and they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold,
yes, than much fine gold. Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the
honeycomb."
Chaper 5 : False Teachings
Many have their minds seared with
"new age" thinking. They have been searching for God in all the wrong
places, accepting any kind of teaching or ideas that come from humanistic thinking.
2 Timothy 3:4-9
" They will betray their friends; they will be hotheaded. putfed up with pride, and prefer good times to worshipping God. They will go to church, yes, but they won't really believe anything they hear. Don't be taken in by people like that. They are the kind who craftily sneak into other people's homes and make friendships with silly, sin-burdened women and teach them new doctrines. Women of that kind are forever following new teachers, but they never understand the truth. And these teachers fight truth just as Jannes and Jambres fought against Moses. They have dirty minds. warped and twisted, and have turned against the Christian faith. But they won't get away with all of this forever. Some day their deceit will be well known to everyone, as was the sin of Jannes and Jamres"[5]
Man's ideas and plans have to be deminished. God's plan for salvation is simple. Some times we make it harder for a person to be a Christian than it is for him to go to heaven. If you are involved in any sin right now, repent (turn around and go the opposite direction) and ask the Lord to forgive you and he will. It is that simple. It is better to admit you have sinned and get it over with than to spend eternity in Hell regretting it.
Matthew 7:21-24
" Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father, who is in Heaven. Many will say to me on that day , Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name and driven out demons in your name and done many mighty works in your name? and then I will say to them, openly, publicly, I never knew you; depart from me, you who act wickedly----disregarding my commandments."
How many are using the name of Jesus to gain popularity among the masses today in our society? Notice in this scripture alone, the Lord cuts to the chase:
1. Not everyone will enter Heaven
2. Not by prophesying
3. Not by casting out demons
4. Not by doing mighty works
5. Only he who does the will of the Father
Some people who have never done mighty works, deeds or lead thousands to Christ, will be the most important in Heaven because they have been obedient in the small things that no one else thought was important. They are ignored, but God sees what no one else sees. His ultimate will for our lives is to have a personal relationship with him through prayer, fasting, and the word of God.
The word " knew " in the above scripture ( Matthew 7:21-24), is the word " failure." Not knowing the Lord in a personal intimate relationship is a failure you do not want to make. We spend hours trying to perfect something that we lose interest in, but when it comes to the matter of our soul and eternal life, we pass it off as something to do in the future when we're old. This failure can cause eternal damnation.
God calls a person not interested in knowing Him, a fool ( Psalms 14:1-4) and departing from knowledge, prostitution (Hosea 1:2). Being a good person and doing "spiritual " or "religious" good deeds will never get you into Heaven, those are filthy rags! (Isaiah 64: 5-7) You might want to look that up and find out what the word 'filthy rags' refers to.
What are your motivations for serving Christ? Are they pure and clean? Or filled with unrighteous desires or selfishness? I once had a friend who had a terrible accident and met Christ face to face. He was not kind to her. He told her that if he let her die she would go to Hell. She argued with Him that she was a Bible School teacher, a Sunday School teacher and held position in the Church. Can you imagine arguing with Christ face to face?? He put a large sheet in front of her face of all the sins she had in her life which were black and dirty. He told her that was her heart. She said it was the ugliest thing she'd ever seen. It caused her to scream in horror.
Let us all be like the Apostle Paul:
Phillipians 3:10
" For my determined purpose is that I may know Him-that I may progessively become more deeply and intimately aquatinted with Him perceiving and recognizing and understanding ( the wonders of His person) more strongly and more clearly , and that I may in some way come to know the power out flowing from His resurrection ( which it exerts over believers) , and that I may so share His sufferings, as to be continually transformed ( in spirit to His likeness even) to His death, (in the hope)". [6]
This is what God said to Israel when it's heart had turned from Him and began to worship idols:
Hosea 6:6
" I don't want your sacrifice, I want your love: I don't want your offerings, I want you to know me! " [5]
The Lord is not interested in your offerings. He doesn't want your sacrifices. He wants relationship. He wants you to know Him. Offerings will not take the place of knowledge neither will the sacrifices you think are important.
Hosea 4:1
"Hear the word of the Lord, you children of Israel; for the Lord has a controversy against you--a pleading contention --with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness, loving kindness, pity, mercy, or knowledge of God [from personal experience with Him] in the land." [6]
1. No faithfulness
2. No lovingkindness, pity or mercy
3. No knowledge of God
If we neglect having a relationship the Lord and reject His knowledge, then the ultimate result is destruction. Do you see a formula here?
Your rejection of God and His ways + God's rejection of you and your ways = destruction.
You don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that out. Some of the destruction spoke of here is due to the false teachings and doctrine within the church. This speaks of anything that falsely represents the truths in the Word of God, or the character and plans of Christ Himself.
Romans 1:28
" And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient "[6]
This scripture above will give us a real good clue of why some things happen. God will not be mocked. There are times when the Lord just gets tired of what he sees and lets people have their own way.
I once heard that a reprobate mind is " a mind that no longer functions as a mind." It actually means : worthless, rejected, castaway.
Consider the "Burning Man Festival", held in Black Rock Desert, Nevada on Labor Day, 1996. It had 10,000 participants. There they ask Satan to take them to Hell. They erect an idol called, Helco to worship that stands 40 ft. high and made of timber, wrapped in wax-soaked burlap and studded with Roman candles. It is torched at the final rites supposedly to bring forth the spirit cave man, and ancient mummy called " Papa Satan ". In one area you can dare God to consume you with brimstones, do blasphemous dance and orgies. You can go to a presentation called, " demons eating my flesh and drinking my blood" as a guest of Vestibule of Hell. If that is not enough then you can go through the "Gates of Hell" that has an inscription of " abandon hope all ye who enter ". Then for the finale you can see the tormented dragging boxes on leases, or the tormented screaming. The article said that many that attended were admitted former Christians. Some of those brought children as young as 10 years old. This ritual happens in our country every year and the crowds are increasing!
Why would people subject thier minds to such garbage? I have seen this on T V. It is a big joke to these participants. Unfortunately, it will some day be a reality for some.
People will basically worship anything without God in thier lives. Worship is something put on the inside of us by God. Consider this:
" Devout Indians living abroad are prostrating themselves in front of computer screens to worship images of Indian gods being transmitted on the Internet. A growing number of religious organizations and temples in India have set up their own web sites offering an on-line devotional service for those too lazy, too ill-or too far away-to travel to their local temple. Wherever they are in the world, Indians in need of spiritual guidence can now revieve the darshan or audience of their favoite god, goddess or guru at the click of a mouse.Devotees can now worship glowing, full color images of gods such as the elephant-headed ganash, India's most popular diety, who represents good fortune, Krishna, the god of love, or Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth. Many temples also offer CDs, videos and custom designed prayers, while ashrams such as the Sai Baba temple in South India offer photographs of the wooly haired guru and chatrooms for devotees to exchange adulatory thoughts.The Hari Krishnas, boast of computerized robots of Indian gods with moving limbs...."[18]
Proverbs 1:7 " The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and the principle and choice part of knowledge ---that is , it's starting point and it's essence; but fools despise skillful and godly wisdom , instruction and discipline." [6]
According to the word of God, we are a "perishing", "foolish" ( lack of common sense, not understanding, stupid, deranged) people without knowledge. You can see the efforts of mankind in his own ways and the destruction it has brought, and the people that perish because of it. How about those waiting for a spaceship to take them away, believing in some lucky charm, thinking suicide is the answer or calling the psychic hotline? These are destructive things. Salvation is in Jesus Christ. No one else can save you from destruction.
Proverb 4:20 "He sent His word (Jesus the Living Word) and healed them and delivered them from their destruction."
The Word that was sent was Jesus Christ, THE WORD of GOD ( John 1:1-5; Revelation 19:1-16). There is no other truth. Jesus said, " I am the way the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father but by me" (John 14:6). Just believing there is a God isn't even enough. The demons believe and they tremble. None of them will be in heaven. Hell is a place of torment, created especially for the devil, his fallen angels, demons and those who do not serve Jesus Christ as thier Lord. Some are afraid of accepting Christ and do not want to give up their lifestyle or afraid of what others might think. They won't go to heaven either. There are several different types of people that will not enter Heaven:
1. Cowards, Fearful, an ungodly
fear of God, Fear of man not God, Full of Pride
2. Unbelievers in Christ, faithless
to Christ, Athiest and Agnostics
3. Perverts, homosexuals,
ponographers, masterbaters, rapists, peeping toms, incestors,lustful
4. Murders, Hateful, spiteful,
vengeful (also in your heart)
5. Adulterers, Lustful, Seducers
(also in your heart)
6. Magicians, all of those who
practice any form of witchcraft, sorcery and idolatry
7. All Liars including ' little white
lies ', and distorting the truth for your benefit, backstabbers,
gossipers
Revelation 21:8
" But as for the cowards and the ignoble and the contemptible and the cravenly lacking in courage and the cowardly submissive; and as for the unbelieving, and faithless; and as for the depraved and defiled with abominations; and as for murderers and the lewd and adulterous and the practicers of magic arts and idolators [those who give supreme devotion to any one or anything other than God] and all liars [those that knowingly convey untruth by word or deed, all of these shall have], their part in the lake that blazes with fire and brimstone. This is the second death. " (Isa. 30:33] [6]
Here are some reasons some people think they can go to Heaven:
1. Getting baptized or
baptized as a baby
2. Being your own "god".
3. Going to church every
Sunday..(James 2:19-20 )
4. Being a good person..i.e. no
cussing, using drugs, alcohol, good lifestyle, good deeds.
(Romans 4:4-5 )
5. Being good (Ephesians
2:8-9)
6. Reading the bible
7. Wishing you can go to heaven
8. Giving a lot of money to
charities, or tithing a lot of money
9. Believing in God only and not in
Jesus or the Holy Spirit
10. Visiting a psychic and having
them tell you that God is pleased with you and you'll go to heaven,
having them give you or quote a
scripture to you about God. That is white witchcraft. It is a spirit of deception.
11. Once saved always saved (1 John
1:9 is for Christians)
12. Near death experiences with
angels telling you are in heaven and being sent back to earth to do good deeds. (This will
accomplish nothing if you do not know Christ)
13. Visitations from angels who tell
you they are from God (Not all angels are sent from God)
14. Being "holy" (this is
just self righteousness)
15. Being "religious" (this
is pride)
16. Not by confessing your sins
to a priest (Jesus is the High Priest.....Hebrews 7:17-22)
17. Family salvation (parents saved
so are you, I don't think so...)
18. Praying to a dead relative or
saint
These things may happen to you or you may have done them, but it won't produce eternal life.
Acts 4:12
" Now is there no salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
John 3:16-18
" For God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but
have everlasting life. He that believeth is not condemned, but he that believeth not is
condemned already because he hath not believed in the name of the the only begotten
Son of God."
CHAPER 6: God is Love
I John 4:7-8
" Beloved let us love one another. For love is of God and everyone that loveth is born of God and knoweth God, he that loveth not knowth not God for God is love."
It was the love of the Father that sent Jesus Christ his only Son to the cross to die of agony and pain. He gave His only begotten Son. How many of you would put one of your children naked on a cross and allow them to be beaten, spit upon, stabbed in the side, hair pulled out by the roots and cursed? God gave his only son for you! Love is the Father's heart of God. Love is his personality and his attribute.
There are 6 truths we must remember:
1. Without knowledge of God, idol
worship is inevitable.
2. Without His knowledge, God calls
us foolish.
3. Departing from the knowledge of
God leads to spiritual adultery and prostitution.
4. Without the knowledge of God, he
will not bless our children.
5. Rejecting the knowledge of God leads
to destruction which leads ultimately to death.
6. Satan and all of his demons knew
who Jesus was when He was on earth and knowsnow if He lives in us.
I ask boldly today, is Jesus Christ really living inside of you? Do you really know who He is?
Romans 1:19-20
" For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God (Himself) has shown it to them. For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity have been intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made--His handiwork's. So (men) are without excuse--altogether without any defense or justification: because when they knew and recognized Him as the God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God, or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking--with vain imaginations, foolish reasoning and stupid speculations--and their senseless minds were darkened. " [6]
The scriptures in chapter 1 of
Romans, continue to say and point out the consequences of foolish and senseless behavior.
CHAPER 7: JESUS CHRIST
is " I AM "
The name I AM invites us to fill in
the blank to meet our needs. When we are in darkness, Jesus says I AM the light, when we
are hungry, He says, I AM the bread of life, when we are defenseless, He says, I AM the
Good Shepherd. God is the becoming one, becoming what we need." [17]
John 1:1-3,10
"In the beginning [before all time] was the Word [Christ] and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him: and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being. He came into the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him, did not know Him." [6]
Jesus Christ is I AM in the flesh. He always has been and always will be. Nothing will ever change that.
JESUS SAID:
I AM the way, the truth and the
life...John 14:6
I AM the Bread of Life...John 6:35,
48
I AM the Living Bread....John 6:51
I AM the Ressurrection and the
Life....John 11:25
I AM the Light of the
World..........John 8:12
I AM the Alpha and
Omega.........Revelation 22:13
I AM ....John 8:38
I AM the True Vine......John 15:1
I AM the Vine....John 15:1
I AM the Good Shepherd...John
10:11
I AM the Door...John 10:9
I AM HE that liveth and was
dead....Revelation 1:18
Jesus Christ is:
LORD JESUS CHRIST
THE CHRIST
LORD OF LORDS, KING OF K INGS,
PRINCE OF PEACE, MIGHTY GOD,
EVERLASTING FATHER,
COUNSELOR, WONDERFUL.....Isa. 9:6
HOLY ONE....Mark 1:24
LORD OF ALL...Acts 10:36
MESSIAH....John 1:41
SAVIOUR.....2 Peter 2:20
LORD OF LORDS....2 Peter 2:20
LAMB OF GOD.....John 1:29,36
PRINCE OF LIFE....Acts. 3:15
LORD GOD ALMIGHTY ( EL SHADDAY)
.....Revelation 3:15
LION OF THE TRIBE OF
JUDAH....Revelation 3:5
ROOT OF DAVID....Revelation 22:16
AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR
FAITH......Hebrews 2:2
DAY SPRING......Luke 1:78
LORD OF ALL.....Acts 10:36
SHEPHERD AND BISHOP OF SOULS......I
Peter 2:25
AVOCATE.....1John 2:1
JESUS.....Matthew 1:21
EMMANUEL.....Isa. 7:14
CHEIF CORNERSTONE.....Ephesians 2:20
RIGHTEOUS JUDGE....2 Tim. 4:8
MORNING STAR....Revelation 22:16
SON OF RIGHTEOUSNESS...Mal, 4:2
LORD JESUS CHRIST...Acts 13:11
CHEIF SHEPHERD...1 Peter 3:4
HORN OF SALVATION....Luke 1:69
GOVERNOR......Matthew 2:6
BEGOTTON SON OF GOD....John 3:16
EXALTED ONE......Phil. 2:1
KING OF THE JEWS....Matt. 2:2
BROTHER......Gal. 3:26
SHEPHERD....Psalms 23:1
ROCK OF MY SALVATION......Psalms 95:1
LIFTER OF MY HEAD....Psalms 34:1
LORD, MY ROCK....Psalms 19:14
CHRIST, SON OF THE LIVING
GOD...Matthew 16:16,17
FAITHFUL AND TRUE.....Revelation
19:11
ROSE OF SHARON, LILLY OF THE
VALLEY.....Song of Sol. 2:1
ROCK.....Ps. 19:4
REDEEMER....Isa. 49:26b; Job 19:25;
Isa. 44:6; 54:5
LORD YOUR SAVIOUR .....Isa. 60:16; 1
John 4:14
HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL....Matth. 28:15;
Isa. 60:9; Micah 5:2
BROTHER...Galatians 8:26; Heb. 2:11
FRIEND....John 15:12-15
ARM OF GOD...Isa. 1:18
THE WORD OF GOD...John 1:1
GENTLE WHISPER....1 Kings 19:11-12
THE JUST...Acts 3:14
KING OF SAINTS....Revelation 15:3
ANCIENT OF DAYS...Daniel 7:9-10
Revelation 19:11-16
" Then I saw heaven opened and a white horse standing there, and the one sitting on the horse was named " Faithful and True"---the one who justly punishes and makes war. His eyes were like flames, and on His head were many crowns. A name was written on His forhead,and only He knew its meaning. He was clothed with garments dipped in blood, and His title was "The Word of God". The armies of heaven, dressed in finest linen, white and clean, followed Him on the white horses. In His mouth He had a sharp sword to strike down the nations; He ruled them with an iron grip; and He trod the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. On His robe and thigh was written this title: " KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS."
Revelation 1:8
" I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End." says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." And in verse 11 says, " I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last," in verse 17 says, " Do not be afraid, I am the First and Last". In verse 18 says, I am He that lives and was dead, and behold I am alive forever more, amen. And I have the keys of Hell and of Death." In Chapter 22 he repeats himself in verse 13, " I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." In verses 16-17, " I, Jesus have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Rock and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star." And the Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, " Come!" And let him who thirsts come. And whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."
All that He has to offer us is
free. Salvation is free, the gifts of the Spirit are free, the water for our soul, which
is the Word of God is free to us for the taking. Jesus has already paid the price for all
our sins. There is no more sacrifice. I AM simply implies :He is any thing and
everything that you will ever want at any time all of your life no matter who you
are or what you have done. He asks us to come and partake of his goodness and live a
free life. All you have to do is come to him and ask him. It is an open invitation to all.
In conclusion
Think about these scriptures below.
You have a choice. You can either serve Jesus Christ and make him the Lord of your life
and go to heaven, or you can believe that because you are good enough to get there without
Him, end up lost eternally. The choice is up to you. If you are straddling the fence today
or you are just playing games when it comes to serving the Lord, then you have already
made up your mind. Dropping dead at this point may not be a choice you will want to
make.Time is running out because you refuse to submit to His Lordship and surrender your
life to Christ. He is willing to give those who have turned thier on him another chance,
and those who have never accepted Christ an opprotunity to do so.
Salvation is simple:
A. Accept Jesus Christ as Lord of your life by praying (talking to God) and asking His to forgive you for all of your sins.
B. Believe that He is the Son of God, was born of a virgin, shed His blood on the cross and died for your sins, and that He rose from the dead 3 days later and that He is alive today.
C. Confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord.
If you prayed and asked Jesus
to be the Lord of your life --
EMAIL ME : honeydoo@saa.net
Revelation 20:10-15
" Then the devil who had led them astry--decieving and seducing them--was hurled into the fiery lake of burning brimstone where the beast and false prophet were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever--through the ages of ages. Then I saw a great white throne and the One Who was seated upon it, from Whose presence and from the sight of Whose face earth and sky fled away and no place was found for them. I [also] saw the dead, great and small; they stood before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened. Then another book was opened, which is the [Book of] Life. And the dead were judged [sentenced], by what they had done ["their whole way of feeling and acting, their aims and endeavors] in accordance with what was recorded in the books. And the sea delivered up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades [the state of death or disembodied existence] surrendered the dead in them; and all were tried and their cases determined by what they had done--according to their motives, aims and works. Then death and Hades [the state of death or disembodied existence] were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if any one's [name] was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire."
Is your name written in the BOOK OF LIFE?
Work cited
1. Abingdon's Strongs Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
2. The Jerusalem Bible
3. Dake's Annotated Reference Bible
4. The Pictorial Bible Dictionary P. 298, 239-240
5. The Living Bible
6. The Amplified Bible
7. On-line David Guzik Commentary/
Blue Letter Bible
[ http://www.
khouse.org/blueletter/index.html )
8. The King James Bible
9. Goshen On-line Study Bible [http://www.goshen.net/osl/]
10. Charisma and Christian Life Magazine Online, " Invasion From the Dark Side" by George Otis Jr., March 1997
11. " The Hordes of Hell are Marching ", On-line, taken from "Morning Star Journal", vol. 5, nos. 2-4 by Rick Joyner
12. Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary/ Blue Letter Bible
13. Quick Verse for Windows
14. Nave's Topical Bible
15. Easton's Bible Dictionary
16. The Shepherd's Rod by Bob Jones [http://www.eaglestar.org/calltoarms/srod1997.htm#M'kaddash]
17. The NIV version of the Bible
18." gods on a website answer
the call to prayer for Hindus", by Julian
West,Intercessors Network,October 12,1998
[http://www.crossnet.se/bonelaget]
[http://home5.swipnet.se/~w-54890]