Tiny Flowers

Each of us has a place and a purpose in the body of Christ. Don’t dishonor God by comparing yourself to others. Instead, bloom where you are planted.

Within your own circle of influence, take advantage of the opportunities that God brings into your life and be obedient to Him. When we humbly submit, and remain thankful even in what seem to be poor and lowly circumstances, we bring pleasure to God.

We don’t have to do grand and wonderful things. We just need to be who He made us to be, and allow Him to display Himself through us.

He is the same God who planted tiny little flowers in the grass. You may not think much of them as you tread them underfoot–but if you take the time to examine them with a magnifying glass, you will see the intricate beauty and care that He puts into each one of them, just as He does with everything He makes. Then step back and see the beauty they add, when thousands of them are strewn throughout a meadow.

Don’t ever think you are less important or less worthy than anyone else. You may just be . . . smaller.

Chastisement

America is under God’s judgment. The stench of America’s sins have reached to heaven. Are we not Americans too? Have our sins not added to the stench? Why should we join with those who rebel against the judgment of God and shake their fist in His face when judgment comes? Should we be yoked with those who continue defiantly in their sin–or should we not set an example for them, by bowing our heads in submission to God’s chastisement and acknowledging that He is righteous in judging our nation?

Yes, hard things are coming: loss of our rights, loss of our sovereignty, loss of many things. But we must entrust ourselves to God, and be examples of those (Americans) who ACKNOWLEDGE their sins and REPENT. We must walk in humility, not stiffen our necks as judgment comes upon us. How can we ever hope for the wicked to repent, under God’s hand of judgment, if WE don’t be an example of the proper mindset towards our rightly deserved judgment?

The Tithe

Not quite what the modern, money-hungry preachers teach about the tithe . . .

‘When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase THE THIRD YEAR, [which is] the YEAR OF TITHING, and hast GIVEN [IT] UNTO THE LEVITE, THE STRANGER, THE FATHERLESS, AND THE WIDOW, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled;

Then thou shalt say before the LORD thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of [mine] house, and also have given them unto the Levite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me: I have not transgressed thy commandments, neither have I forgotten [them] . . . ‘

(Deut. 26:12-13)

This passage is referring back to the Biblical guidelines for tithing, given in the Old Testament, as part of The Law of Moses:

‘Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.

And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; [or] if the place be too far from thee, which the LORD thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the LORD thy God hath blessed thee: Then shalt thou turn [it] into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose:  And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,

And the Levite that [is] within thy gates; thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.

At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year, and shalt lay [it] up within thy gates: And the Levite, (because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,) and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which [are] within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God may bless thee in all the work of thine hand which thou doest.’  (Deut. 14:22-29)

Who knew that tithes were brought and used for a great big, generous feast every third year?!

The tithe is not commanded for Gentile Christians.  You will find no instructions pertaining to it in the New Testament.  But now, as in all things, we should look to the Holy Spirit and The Word, to guide us in keeping the SPIRIT (rather than the letter) of The Law. 

More on the tithe (so you can have a balanced and informed understanding) can be found in Leviticus 27:30-33, Numbers 18, Deuteronomy 12, 2 Chronicles 31, Nehemiah 10:28-39, 12:44-47.

Jesus Promised to Rebuke and Chasten the Laodicean Church–That’s Us!!

‘These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world YE SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’  (Jesus, John 16:33)

‘I PRAY NOT THAT THOU SHOULDEST TAKE THEM OUT OF THE WORLD, but that thou shouldest KEEP THEM FROM THE EVIL. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. SANCTIFY THEM through thy truth: THY WORD IS TRUTH.’  (from Jesus’ prayer to the Father on behalf of Christians, John 17:15-17)

‘ . . . But they said, We will not walk [therein].  Also I set watchmen over you, [saying], Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.’  (Jer. 6:16-17)

‘And it was given unto him* TO MAKE WAR WITH THE SAINTS, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.’  (Rev. 13:7)

*’The Antichrist’

‘ . . .  the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end. MANY SHALL BE PURIFIED, AND MADE WHITE, AND TRIED . . . ‘  (Dan. 12:9-10)

‘After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne . . . And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they WHICH CAME OUT OF GREAT TRIBULATION, AND HAVE WASHED THEIR ROBES, AND MADE THEM WHITE IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.‘  (Rev. 7:9, 13-14)

Have you ever stopped to wonder how the American/ Laodicean, last-days, lukewarm Church goes from their condition in Rev. 3:17 . . .

‘Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art WRETCHED, and MISERABLE, and POOR, and BLIND, and NAKED . . .’  (Jesus, Rev. 3:17-19)

. . . so disgusting to the Lord that He promises to spew them out of His mouth in verse 16 . . .

‘ . . . I will spue thee out of my mouth.’  (Rev. 3:16)

. . . to being in white robes, washed in the blood of The Lamb in Rev. 7:14?  There are two ways it can happen, verse 19 explains:

‘As many as I love, I REBUKE AND CHASTEN: BE ZEALOUS THEREFORE, AND REPENT.’  (Rev. 3:19)

Some will heed the call to be zealous and repent.  The rest will be rebuked and chastened.

How does a Christian get into such an awful condition, but by neglecting to study and live by God’s Word?  The Word WILL SANCTIFY those who know it AND LIVE IT, but I believe that those in these last days who refuse to be sanctified by The Word, will be sanctified by persecution and tribulation instead.   All of us must, by whatever means, be sanctified (made holy).

The preTrib Rapture doctrine is false.  As we can see, the American portion of the Church (where this deception thrives) is anything BUT ready to make their entry into the presence of God in Heaven.  So, what’s YOUR motive for believing this false teaching?

‘Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.’  (Luke 17:33)

While you’re believing a lie, you’re busy missing the truth.  And you’re also missing the comfort and increased faith that the Lord is giving to those who ARE willing to accept the truth.  The irony is, your fear of facing tribulation and persecution may be the VERY thing that puts you in the position of having to go through it.  Walk in faith instead, knowing that God is able to deliver those who put their trust in Him.

‘But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’  (Hebrews 11:6)

Adopt Paul’s attitude:

‘Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ,’  (Philippians 3:8)

Take Jesus’ words seriously:

‘And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.’  (Matthew 10:38)

And remember

‘He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.’  (John 12:25)

‘For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.’  (Romans 8:18)

At the end of it all, we win!

‘And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.’  (Rev. 12:11)

‘And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.’  (Daniel 7:27)

‘Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.’  (Luke 12:32)

Why Would You Even WANT To (celebrate pagan holidays)?

For some reason, God has chosen to wake a bunch of us up and reveal many things to us. I believe we, therefore, are to be examples to those around us, of really LIVING the truth of The Word, that God is revealing to us. . . not continuing on as though we were still ignorant of the time in which we are living. If we who KNOW these things will not have the courage to obey God, then who will?

What do we have in common with the world? Yet many who call themselves Christians want to celebrate these pagan holidays with them. How odd is that? What if every Passover, Jewish synagogues filled with witches who wanted to celebrate it too? Wouldn’t that strike you as odd? How strange it seems to the world, that we want to DO as they do, then tell them that they are not going to Heaven because they have different BELIEFS!! (Do we REALLY suppose our BELIEFS will save us, irrespective of whether our actions line up with those beliefs?)

‘Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial*? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in [them]; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Wherefore COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM, AND BE YE SEPARATE, saith the Lord, and TOUCH NOT THE UNCLEAN [THING]; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.’ (2 Cor. 6:14-18)

* Belial:

• As a noun, unprofitableness; wickedness.  In a collective sense, wicked men.

At what point are we Christians finally supposed to be obedient to these words in Scripture? (Are we not in the end times now?) If not now, then when??

Why would we have any desire to continue to walk in darkness and ignorance, after having been shown the light? What communion DO we have with darkness, knowing what we know now? Why would we want the unsaved world to be confused as to what is good and what is evil, by seeing us mingle the two? What pleasure do we have in unrighteousness now . . . if we are righteous?

 

IT IS NOT the Holy Spirit from God that leads us to do things that are displeasing to Him! There is no condemnation for us, WHEN WE ARE WALKING AFTER THE SPIRIT . . . being LED BY His Spirit.

‘[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.’  (Romans 8:1)

But walking after the flesh . . . being ‘carnally minded’ . . . brings death and destruction.  When we go our own way, instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us, we are displeasing to God.  The carnal mind hates God, and rebels at the very idea of being in submission to Him.

‘For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.  Because the carnal mind [is] enmity* against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then THEY THAT ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD.‘  (Romans 8:6-8)

* Enmity:

•  The quality of being an enemy; the opposite of friendship; ill will; hatred; unfriendly dispositions; malevolence. It expresses more than aversion and less than malice,and differs from displeasure in denoting a fixed or rooted hatred,whereas displeasure is more transient.

 

Some who say they are Christians like to say that we are ‘under grace, not under The Law’, we have ‘freedom in Christ’, ‘nothing is sinful, in and of itself’, but these people do not rightly understand the Word of God.  Does Romans 8:7 not speak of the law of God?

‘Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God . . . )

Does 2 Corinthians 6:17 not say that some things ARE ‘unclean’?

‘Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing] . . . ‘

 

The Old Testament is not something that was done away with.  It is our FOUNDATION for understanding the New Testament.  The New builds upon the Old. We are STILL called to be a holy, set-apart people who walk in righteousness.  Is it not enough for us, to realize that we are the temples of the living God and that He dwells in us? What disrespect to drag Him along to the places we used to go, to do the things we used to do, now that we know better! He pleads with us to come out, and to be separate, and to touch not the unclean thing. Have we no respect for Him at all? Who IS Lord in our lives? Either we are led by His Spirit, to do HIS will, or we are walking according to our own carnal desires.

 

‘Abstain from ALL APPEARANCE of evil. ‘ (1 Thess. 5:22)

‘And have NO FELLOWSHIP with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather REPROVE* [them].’ (Eph. 5:11)

* Reprove:

• To blame; to censure
• To charge with a fault to the face; to chide
• To blame for; with of; (as, to reprove one of laziness)
• To convince of a fault, or to make it manifest
• To excite a sense of guilt. (The heart or conscience reproves us.)

‘Follow peace with all [men], and HOLINESS, WITHOUT WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD:’ (Hebrews 12:14)

‘And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:’ (Acts 17:30)

Guidelines for the Family of God

As Christians, we are a family. We all have room for improvement in how we treat others.  God has not designed a dysfunctional family. He desires that His family have healthy, loving interactions. To that end, His Word gives us some concrete guidelines:

LOVE:

‘And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.’ (1 Peter 4:8)

MEEKNESS:

‘[Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.’ (Philippians 2:3-4)

TEAM SPIRIT:

‘ . . . be likeminded, having the same love, [being] of one accord, of one mind.’ (Philippians 2:2)

FORGIVENESS:

‘Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.’ (Matthew 18:21-22)

DISCRETION:

‘Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he will not hear [thee, then] take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell [it] unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.’ (Matthew 18:15-17)

GRACE:

‘Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.’ (Galatians 6:1-2)

COMPASSION

‘Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.’ (James 5:19-20)

RESPECT:

‘Rebuke not an elder, but intreat [him] as a father; [and] the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity.’ (1 Timothy 5:1-2)

PATIENCE:

‘ . . . walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.’ (Ephesians 4:1-3)

HUMILITY:

‘Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all [of you] be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.’  (1 Peter 5:5)

‘Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant . . . ‘ (Philippians 2:5-7)

Can A Christian Be Deceived?

So many ‘Christians’ (using modern Bible translations) take false security from the following verses, thinking they say that Christians CAN’T be deceived. Yet what the KJV says is very different–the KJV shows THEY will be the target!   It does NOT say they can’t be deceived.

Compare:

NIV: ‘For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles TO deceive the elect–if that were possible.’ (Mark 13:22)

vs.

KJV: ‘For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, To seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect.’ (Mark 13:22)

 

and

 

NIV: ‘For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect–if that were possible.’ (Matthew 24:24)

vs.

KJV: ‘For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.’ (Matthew 24:24)

 

One must understand that, in the KJV, when words are in brackets they were ADDED for clarity of understanding.  But what added clarity in the 1700’s might not be as helpful today.  It is absolutely permissible to remove those words.

 

Bottom line:

Contrast the clearly misleading translation of the NIV . . .

‘ . . . to deceive the elect– if that were possible.’  (The implication being that it is not possible.)

with the WARNING in the KJV

KJV message: ‘ . . . TO seduce, if possible, even the elect . . . ‘, ‘ . . . insomuch that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect.’

 

You CAN be deceived! As a friend said

‘If you think you can’t be deceived, you’re deceived already.’

Rebellion

This was God’s prescription for rebellion:

‘If a man have a STUBBORN and REBELLIOUS son, which WILL NOT OBEY THE VOICE OF HIS FATHER, or the voice of his mother, and [that], WHEN THEY HAVE CHASTENED HIM, WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO THEM: Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son [is] stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; [he is] a glutton, and a drunkard.

And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.’ (Deu. 21:18-21)

(What was this man’s sin? He broke the Commandment to ‘Honour thy father and thy mother’ (Ex. 20:12)) Do you really believe this same God winks at the sins of rebellious so-called Christians today? You think it all changed when Jesus came? What did Jesus say?

‘Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, TILL HEAVEN AND EARTH PASS, one jot or one tittle SHALL IN NO WISE PASS FROM THE LAW, till all be fulfilled.’ (Matthew 5:17-18)

If you do not WALK by the Spirit, then you are still under the law!

‘For IF YE LIVE AFTER THE FLESH, YE SHALL DIE: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.’ (Romans 8:13)

Your beliefs are not your WALK. . . your WALK is your actions! Does the Holy Spirit determine your actions, or are you guided by your own (‘fleshly’) desires? It’s a matter of life and death.