The power of the Holy Spirit is set loose to do the will of the Father every time we forgive others and ourselves. The victory over evil is proclaimed daily in the perfect prayer. Our Father in heaven, holy and powerful is the name of Jesus. The kingdom of God Almighty reigns without end. Our heavenly Father’s will is being done on earth as it is in heaven. He gives us our daily sustenance, and He forgives us our bloopers, our missed marks, and our transgressed ways. As far as the East is from the West, when God forgives, it is erased. Let us forgive others and ourselves as completely as God does. The Holy Spirit leads us away from the temptation to gossip, to whine, complain, blame and speak curses. Our Father, moment by moment,  delivers us from evil as we trust in Him alone. AMEN! Today, and for the rest of our days, we trust in God as we speak the name that is above and beyond all powers, we speak JESUS, and He straightens out our path to peace. AMEN

An open door may appear very inviting. A church may seem to have an atmosphere full of the spirit, but what spirit?  The lyrics of music stir your heart, but with what message? A sermon may include many out of context Scriptures that invoke a curious feeling of trust. Who are we to trust? The Spirit of God or our feelings?  BEWARE: Satan was the most beautiful angel who convinced a legion of angels to rebel against God’s Word. Do not be fooled by enticing sounds. Satan is the master masquerader. His words are cleverly designed to deceive.  Satan knows that empty folks are attracted to things that make them FEEL good. People attend churches that do not offend their all-inclusive beliefs.  To prefer only comfortable messages, many ignore the doctrine of repentance.  Believing once saved, always saved, folks no longer need church because they do not fear God. Wisely, we stopped looking for a perfect church. We simply choose to congregate with like-minded, flawed folks to worship a perfect God. Hallelujah!

Many choose to date Jesus to see if He is compatible with their comfortable lifestyle. Youth imagine that they will be married to Jesus, and then all their troubles will be over. Some couple up with the Word of God, then jest that all their troubles began after their surrender to Jesus. Wisdom does not entertain that thought. With the certainly of faith in God’s promise, married or not, troubles continue to test all hearts. A marriage takes three to sail through the certainty of choppy waters. A gentle groom, a humble bride, and with Jesus in the boat, all storms are calmed. Observe the fruit of the Spirit in your behavior, before and after your commitment to Jesus. A soul married to Jesus, is not all sweet nothings whispered in the ear. True love comes with conviction, correction, and change. Our Spiritual Husband is Jesus, and as His bride, we are well yoked, only when the Counselor is in charge.

A praying couple carry the joy of His life in them. When two or more gather to pray, the Counselor,  in their midst, ushers in courageous humility.  Submitting to His prompt, we confess our pride and ask for mercy and forgiveness. Humility is the lace that gently binds us to our Groom.  Our joy is made complete as He lessens our troubles. Wearing the ring of faith in He who abides within— we trust Him to guide us through the trials on our journey back home. In this world, lawlessness currently rules, so we must depend on our Guide.

Imperfections are equal on both sides of a marriage between a man and a woman. When love abides in both, God’s peace reigns. Where there is much love, there is much to love. Marriage to God was indeed honored in the garden with the first Adam. Jesus honored his commitment to God the Father with His first miracle.  Jesus provided unlimited wine (blood) at a wedding supper. “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” – Mark 10:45  ❤️ “A wife (bride) of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband (Jesus) has full confidence in her (the church) and it lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31 ❤️ The church is to bring the name of Jesus good, not harm, all the days of our life. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5 ❤️ There is such mighty power in the ongoing flow of His blood. Our Father arranged to keep His Bride without spot or blemish until Jesus returns as our everlasting Prince of Peace.

GOD WARNS US: Do not be distracted or deceived. The earth, and man’s church foolishly has included many ideas. BUT GOD! His Church has rules. It is NOT a church that ignores it’s Creator. A church that never mentions sin, repentance, or what God commands operates in a danger zone. The church of Jesus Christ does not promote same sex marriage. His church is filled with His Spirit, and as the preacher shares God’s Word, the Spirit convicts hearts, and it offends all the deluded self righteous. Do NOT seek what feels good, appears fantastic, or a sermon that tickles your ears. Speak the name of Jesus and ask for wisdom and discernment.

Deuteronomy 5:32-33 “So be careful to do what the Lord your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” “Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to BE WISE about what is GOOD, and DISCERN evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.” RM 16:19.

Pray for Holy Spirit to give you ears to hear and discern by the Spirit what is from the Father. The zenith of deception is when a church looks Christian but it has zero power. Nobody comes forward, no new baptisms or lasting change occurs. Church members are comfortable and they do not seek miracles or healing. The greatest threat to Christians is Christianity. It may appear grand, but without the whole truth, many are deceived, not saved.  A mega church full of progressive programs never produces change that lasts.  It may captivate the listeners, but the enemy pounces on those who hold onto a form of godliness, but exhibit zero change. “Have you received the Holy Spirit? ” Paul questioned the followers. Acts 19:2 “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”  Sermon July 1884 by Charles Spurgeon.

A person who is led by their feelings; is very easily led astray. Jesus said Martha, Martha — Mary chose what is good, sit and listen to Me, not your feeling of injustice. Eve was the first woman to follow her heart instead of God’s Word. 1 Timothy 3:11 “The women are to be worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.”

Be aware that the cunning Deceiver never stops. BUT GOD! His Word never fails. Deuteronomy 11: “Love the Lord your God and keep His requirements, His decrees, His laws and His commands always. Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. See, I am setting before you today a BLESSING and a CURSE —the blessing if you OBEY the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the CURSE if you DISOBEY the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known. Be sure that you OBEY ALL the DECREES and laws I am setting before you today.”

“For in this HOPE we were SAVED. But HOPE that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we HOPE for what we do NOT yet have, we wait for it PATIENTLY. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit HIMSELF intercedes for us through wordless groans. And HE who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” Romans 8:24-27

Hope Rising

Cultural Debate