"Why Seek Ye the Living Among the Dead?"

 

The crucifixion of Christ, and His resurrection are the cornerstones of the Christian faith. There is no point to Christianity without them. The resurrection alone, is what makes Jesus different from all other spiritual figures, and is also a necessary part of the atonement work of Christ:

"And if Jesus be not raised, your faith is in vain; ye are yet in your sins."  1 Cor. 15:17

All four Gospels contain an account of the empty tomb, and the resurrection of Jesus (Mt. 28, Mk. 16, Lk. 24, Jn. 20). The Gospels tell us that on the first day of the week, as the women went to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His body, they were shocked to find that the large stone, with which the tomb had been sealed, had been rolled away. Angels who were present there spoke to them and told them, "He is not here", and "He is risen" (Mt. 28:6, Mk. 16:6, Lk. 24:6). In one account, the resurrected Jesus Himself asked one of the women, "Whom seekest thou?" (Jn. 20:15). In Lk. 24:5, the angel asks, "Why seek ye the living among the dead?" They were all saying the same thing: if you are looking for Jesus, you have come to the wrong place. He is not to be found among the dead.

Not only did Jesus attain this great resurrection victory for Himself, but He attained it for all of us as well. What a great thing we have to celebrate! Yet in the Church, and in our lives as believers, we have placed Jesus back among the dead by changing the day proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus Christ into a day of Easter baskets, Easter bunnies, Easter eggs, Easter hats and parades, and pretty, new pastel Easter outfits. None of these things have resurrection life in them. They are all things that will pass away. He is not there. He is risen.

With our Easter traditions, we have also made the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ unrecognizable to the Jews, because we, the Church, have systematically removed these awesome events from their true contexts of Passover, and the Feast of First Fruits, of which they are very much the central meaning and Messianic fulfilment. By using the word "Easter", we have associated this day, instead, with false goddesses, including Ishtar and Ashtoreth. These pagan gods are not lovely and harmless, as we like to consider our Easter traditions, but they represent, instead, something very dark and carnal indeed, and have nothing to do with Jesus Christ. He cannot be found in it. He is not there. He is risen.

We are making it impossible for ourselves, our children, and others to find the resurrected Christ, because of these godless customs and traditions in which we have entombed Him again.

On the day of resurrection, when the women found the tomb empty, and heard the revelation of the angels, they ran to tell the disciples. However, the disciples did not believe them (Mk. 16:11, Lk. 24:11). Our failure to declare the resurrection of Christ on this day, really reflects the same unbelief. Not only have we again entombed Jesus in our dead traditions, but we have rolled an even larger stone, a stumbling stone of unbelief, back over the entrance of that tomb.

 

In the early Church, believers would greet each other saying, "He is risen!", and the answering declaration would be, "He is risen indeed!". Today we greet each other saying instead, "Happy Easter".

The angel is again asking the Church, "Why seek ye the living among the dead?", and Jesus Himself is asking, "Whom sleekest thou?"

 

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It's Time to Wake Up - A Prophetic Alarm

 

One of the great parables of Jesus is found in Mt. 25:1-13. It serves as a wake-up call, as a warning, and as a picture of the miraculous work of the salvation of God through Christ. This parable immediately follows the vivid prophetic description Jesus gives us in Mt. 24, of the tribulation and shakings that will occur at the end of the age, just before His return. It is clearly evident, when we read Mt. 24, that we are seeing in our time these described prophetic signs come to pass. It is at this point, that the parable of the ten virgins and an impending wedding, takes place.

To understand the setting of the parable, it is necessary to understand the Jewish marriage customs at the time of the parable. Two families enter into a covenant of marriage. The bridegroom then goes to prepare a place for himself and his soon bride in his father's house. When the father of the bridegroom is satisfied that all preparations for this bridal chamber have been completed, he tells his son to go and get his bride. The bridegroom then goes to "steal" his bride away from her house, and brings her to their marriage chamber. Jesus describes Himself as this bridegroom according to the Jewish customs, in the following verses:

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house, are many mansions (dwelling, to wait for, await one, to tarry, to endure, to remain as and not to become something different): if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye my be also. And wither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Jn. 14:1-4

Of the timing of His return, Jesus again refers to the Jewish wedding customs when He says:

"...when ye shall see all these things (the prophetic events of Mt. 24), know that is near, even at the doors...But of that day and hour knoweth no man,...but My Father only. But as the days of Noe (Noah) were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be."  Mt. 24:33-37

Since we are seeing the fulfillment of Mt. 24 taking place before our very eyes, it is important to learn from this parable of Mt. 25.

The ten virgins have gone out (Rev. 18:4) to meet the bridegroom, taking their lamps with them. Jesus tells us that five of the ten are wise, because they took an additional vessel of oil (the Holy Spirit, the oil of gladness, the oil of anointing that sets apart, and consecrates) with them, as well as their lamps. The five remaining are called foolish, because they are not well prepared, and have no oil. The bridegroom tarries, is delayed, so the ten virgins, even the wise, fall asleep. At midnight the cry (shriek, scream, Heb. thunderings) sounds, "Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet Him." (v. 6). All ten virgins rise to go out again, and they trim the wicks in their lamps to prepare them for lighting. The five foolish virgins, having been ill-prepared, do not have any oil left with which to light their lamps. Since the Bridegroom was delayed, and didn't appear when they had thought He would, the foolish five, still did not prepare to have the extra oil on hand for the actual coming of the Bridegroom. They had the opportunity to do so, because of the delay, but did not.

The meaning of the word "wise"  used in the parable means to know, to be thoughtful, discreet. It also means to reign in, or curb, feelings and thoughts in order to (properly) perceive and judge. The delay of the Bridegroom served to show who was genuinely prepared for His coming, and who was not. His failure to appear when and how expected caused the unedifying emotions, and preconceived ideas regarding His return, and the timing and the circumstances of His coming, to be exposed in the foolish. Their true feelings were shown in their lack of preparation.
The "wise" virgins, on the other hand, shone in the light of their oil-filled lamps. The wise had prepared themselves, and like the wife in Revelation, "had made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7).The prophet Daniel describes the wise:
"And they that be wise shall shine (send out light, be light) as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever." 
                                                                                                             Dan. 12:3
The five unprepared, foolish virgins in this parable were not allowed to enter in with the Bridegroom.
Don't be "fooled". The season is upon us. The prophet Daniel tells us that the final portion of the prophetic age began when the Messiah was cut off (Dan. 9:25-26). Jewish Rabbis know that the prophetic timetable has brought near the appearing of the One they await, their Messiah. Matthew 24 tells us the specific signs of the season of His appearing, and the end of the age, which we are seeing fulfilled.
There is another important piece of information in this parable to keep in mind. The cry that the Bridegroom comes came at midnight. The word "midnight" has great spiritual meaning. Many important events in scripture happened at midnight.

There are two Hebrew words used for midnight. One means the depth of night, a season, calamity, misery, protective covering, from a root meaning winding spiral stairs that fold back upon themselves. As in climbing a spiral staircase, facing one direction lay calamity and misery, but at the same time, and in the same space, at the turn of the spiral, a different direction provides a protective covering. The two exist in the one space.
A second Hebrew word for midnight means an arrow dividing, to divide or cut in two, to halve, pierce or sever, to cut off in the midst, be finished. It is a time when there is a division or separation from, when something is cut off or finished.
In Ex. 11:3, the plague of death struck the Egyptian first born at midnight, but passed over the homes of the Hebrews, who had covered their doorposts and lintels with the blood of the lamb. In one direction lay death, and in another came deliverance.
In Judges 16:3, although the enemy had set an ambush for Samson ("like the sun", glittering, shining) outside the city of Gaza (strong, mighty, fierce), Samson tore out the protective gates and posts of the city at midnight, and left it defenseless.
In Ruth 3:8, Boaz awakens at midnight, and finds Ruth at his feet. His personal destiny, and the future line of Messiah, suddenly take a turn.
In 1 Kings 3:20, a dead and living child are switched at midnight, and the wise King Solomon, discerns the true mother's heart by threatening to divide the living child into two halves (see definition of midnight).
Job 34:20 describes a moment, which occurs at midnight, when even the rich and powerful fall into the hands of God, and all of their power becomes useless.
In Psalm 119:62, the psalmist rises, like the ten virgins, to give thanks (yadah) at midnight because of the righteous judgments of God.

When the cry sounds at midnight proclaiming the coming of the Bridegroom, don't let it catch us unprepared. Let us be wise, prepared, and shining with the light of the abundant oil of our lamps, having made ourselves ready.

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God's Timetable in Our Generation

 

 

Historically speaking, 2017 marks an important milestone anniversary for several world-changing events:

• 120th anniversary of the First Zionist Conference (1897), with the goal of seeking to establish a home for the Jewish people in Palestine
• 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration (1917), announcing British government support for the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine
• 70th anniversary of the United Nations Partition Plan for Palestine-mandating the establishment of a state of Israel
• 50th anniversary of the re-capture of East Jerusalem by the Israeli army

In the last few years, there have also been noteworthy signs in the heavens, including full lunar eclipses and blood moons occurring on Jewish Feasts.

These unusual events, and more, should be putting us on alert to watch, and prepare for the return of Christ.

On top of all of these things, in Mt. 24:3, Jesus spoke privately, with only His disciples, about the signs of His coming, and the end of the age (not the end of the world, as translated incorrectly from the Greek KJV).  These were things He wanted not only His then disciples to know, but also His present disciples, you and me. He wanted us to have this information, in order to protect us from deception:

:And Jesus answered and said unto them, "Take heed that no man deceive you."  Mt. 24:4

"Deception" is most often mentioned by Jesus as a danger of this age before His return-both those who wish to deceive, and those being deceived (V. 4, 5, 11, 23, 24, 26). Christ's first instruction to us is in regard to this wide-spread deception: "Take heed" meaning in the Greek "beware (or be aware), see, perceive, discern, understand, weigh carefully, examine". The deception involved will be very seductive, and convincing, and many will fall victim to it, even those who should be the least likely to fall, the elect (V. 24). Included in the powerful deception of this age will be the arising of those who claim to be Christ (Messiah), those who falsely claim to be prophets, and those who declare Christ has returned, or will return, in a false manner (V. 5, 11, 26).

One reason the false Christs and false prophets will be so convincing to many is because they will work great signs and wonders.

In our time, we have seen this happen with news stories of false Messiahs and false "messengers" and prophets leading many to ruin, and even death. All over the world, people are following these deceptive leaders. Many are murdering in the names of false prophets.

Jesus also warns that warfare, racial, and national hatreds will dominate this age (V. 6-7). Hatred and violence in all nations against believers will escalate (V. 9-10). Racial, ethnic, and national violence rages today like never before in history, and anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, and anti-Christian hatred and persecution are on the increase around the world. The same United Nations that originally mandated a state of Israel, now officially condemns it.

Jesus tells us that in this time, before He returns, lives will be destroyed by famines and pestilences (V.7). Famines have indeed decimated many areas of the globe, and plagues of deadly diseases have spread through nations and continents.

Even the earth itself, will be in upheaval with quakes (V.7). We are now seeing more frequent, and greater intensity quakes than ever previously recorded. This turmoil is not limited to the earth, but enters the heavens also (V. 29). Stars will fall, bodies of light will dim, and heavenly powers will be shaken.

As the heavens, earth, and nations twist in violence, the individual soul will also see turmoil. The soul will be burdened by offenses and betrayals (V. 10). In droves, people have walked away from their churches, and even their faith, as real and imagined offenses and betrayals have entered in.

Jesus also warned that there would be a great increase in sin and iniquity around us. It will cause our own love of God and each other to grow cold (V. 12). In our own time, our hearts and souls have been grieved as the world has demanded that sin and perversity be considered as righteousness, and goodness, and cause for celebration. The human soul is being twisted and torn, as truth is being twisted and torn. It has now become evil in the eyes of men, to stand for righteousness, and believe the Word of God.

All of these troubles and more, will intensify as the return of Christ draws nearer.

Those who have heard and understood the words of Jesus, when they see all of these things, will know that His appearing is near, even at the doors (V. 33). Jesus gives this description of the approaching time:

"But as the days of (Noah) were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that (Noah) entered into the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be...Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come."  Mt. 24:37-39, 42

What are believers to be doing as we see the time drawing nearer? Jesus tells us:

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."  V. 14

Remember:

"Behold, I have told you before."  Mt. 24:25

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Is The Bride Ready to Say, "Come Quickly"?

 

 

So many signs around us point to the lateness of the hour. From the time that the nation of Israel was miraculously re-established in 1948, and the subsequent triumphant entry into Jerusalem in 1967, those who love the Lord's appearing have been on high alert.

Preparations have been made by some of the Jewish people to re-build the third temple, and to re-establish temple worship. Priests' garments have been prepared according to the Law of Moses, utensils used in temple worship have been made, a cornerstone of a new temple has been hewn, and the ashes of the last red heifer have been found.

The nations of the world are lining up according to prophecy.

The prophetic stage is set, the curtain is about to go up, the other players are all in place, but the key player is missing from the scene. The clock is ticking, and the audience, which is all creation, is getting restless, and beginning to call out. However, the curtain will not go up, and the greatest event of all time, the return of Christ, the Messiah, will not begin, until the lead player, the Church, is in its proper place, playing the role for which she has been ordained, and speaking the words from her heart that have been written for her to speak by the Author and Finisher of our faith.

Why is the Church missing from this stage? What is the Church's role in this great event? What are the words written, which the Church is to speak?

The first question, "Why is the Church missing?", can be answered with examples from scripture. In Lk. 14:15-24, Jesus told a parable about a certain man who prepared a great supper, and invited many to come: "Come; for all things are now ready." (v. 17). Every invited guest began to make excuses for why they could not be there. The excuses all had to do with the common cares and distractions of daily life. The man who had prepared this great supper was angry, and commanded his servant to bring in any poor stranger on the street, even those not usually held in esteem. There was still room, so the servant was told to go into the highways, and the countryside outside the city, and "compel them to come in that my house may be filled." (v. 23).

The Church, so caught up with daily cares, activities and needs, has chosen to send our excuses for our absence, and we have also not bothered to compel others to come so that the house may be filled.

There are also those who are supposed to be in place, but because of their own lusts, have chosen to walk in those desires, untransformed, unrenewed. They have become scoffers of the return of Christ saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."  (2 Pet. 3:3-4). For these people, the return of Christ is not desirable, nor convenient, so they choose to ignore the signs of the times, and the role they are supposed to play in these times.

Jesus said that there are those who are called "Jerusalem, the City of God", who refuse to be gathered and covered. They would rather kill the prophets who are calling and warning them, than heed and obey. They are determined to be their own lord and master, under the cover of religion, and as a result, they will become desolate (a flock deserted by the shepherd; a woman neglected by her husband, from whom the husband withholds himself). Jesus warns that these will not see Him again until the time comes when they cry out "Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord". (Lk. 13:34-35, Ps. 118:26).

What is the Church's starring role in this great upcoming event?

 

 

The Church has been called to become the Royal Bride. The Bride is lovingly and eagerly awaiting the great moment of the coming of her Bridegroom, Jesus Christ. This Bride is not distracted from her preparations. She is not dreading, delaying, nor avoiding the day because she desires others. She is not refusing because her Father has set the date and place, rather than herself. This Bride knows that the time of her departure is at hand. She stays on course to complete her role. She has prepared and made herself ready, clothing herself in the fine, clean, white linen of righteousness (Rev. 19:7-8). She faithfully plays her regal role with a crown of righteousness upon her head:

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing."  2 Tim. 4:8

The Church, who is to be in her proper place on stage, will be there because she desires not to be anathema, accursed, but, instead, to be Maranatha, "O Lord, come!"  (1 Cor. 16:22).

From offstage, we hear the Bridegroom proclaiming, "Behold, I come quickly...and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be...Surely I come quickly."                                                                                       Rev. 22:7,12, 20

The Bride now stands in the center of the stage, joined with the Holy Spirit, to speak those words which have been sovereignly written for her, and only her, to speak, "Come... Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus." (Rev. 22:17, 20).

 

 

"And let him that heareth say, "Come."

 

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Purim- Now is the Appointed Time

Esther exposes Haman before the King

 

Because of her great beauty, Esther was chosen to become the new queen of King Ahasuerus. He was the king of Persia and Media. His kingdom stretched from India to Ethiopia (Esther 1:1). Esther entered the palace, and lived a pampered, luxurious life. Esther, whose real name was Hadassah, hid her Jewish identity by posing as a Gentile on the advice of her uncle, Mordecai.
 

Persian "pur" or lot

One of the king's most honored counsellors, Haman, an ambitious and evil man, had persuaded the king to sign a command that all of the Jews in the kingdom should be destroyed, and the spoil taken into the king's treasury. Haman cast lots (dice) called pur, to determine the date when the Jews were to be destroyed (Est. 3:7). The root word pur, means to break, crush, bring to naught, to utterly take. The king even gave his ring of authority to Haman to accomplish this terrible deed (Est. 3:9-12). Although Haman cast lots to find the best date for the Jews' destruction, the lots were really forecasting the date of his own destruction, as we shall see.

Mordecai came to Esther, and asked her to intercede with the king to stop Haman's plans. She was reluctant and afraid, because anyone who approached the king, without being summoned by him first, was subject to death. Mordecai convinced her by saying:

"...who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"  Est. 4:14

Esther told Mordecai that he should have all of the Jews pray and fast before God for three days, and on the third day, Esther entered the king's inner court, where he was enthroned. 

The next problem for Esther was how she might expose Haman, the king's closest advisor, and change the king's mind. However, in order to expose Haman, she would have to expose herself, and reveal her own Jewish identity. The dangerous situation was a great risk for Esther, but the people of God had fasted and prayed. Haman was successfully exposed by Esther, and he was ordered to be killed by the king. Esther rose in great authority in her husband's kingdom:

"Then Esther the queen....wrote with all authority, to confirm....these days of Purim in their times appointed,...and the decree of Esther confirmed these matters of Purim; and it was written in the book."   Est. 9:29-32
Not only was Esther's authority established in her husband's kingdom, but also the authority and favor of all of God's people:
"For Mordecai the Jew was next unto King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews,...seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed."  Est. 10:3
During this time of Purim, we are reminded that God's people, like Esther, are set in specific places, even king's palaces, for appointed times and purposes.
The prophet Daniel received revelations from the LORD regarding appointed times, and the vital role played by God's believing people. As it was with Esther, these appointed times are dangerous, and risky, but this is exactly when the people of God are called to impact these times with the power of the Kingdom of God. It is interesting to note that Daniel's king, Darius, was the son of Esther's husband, Ahasuerus.
The point of impact into the perilous times spoken of by Daniel, began with his fasting and repentance on behalf of himself, and all of God's people:
"And I set my face unto the Lord (Messiah: Ps. 110:1, Mt. 22:42-46)) God, to seek...and I prayed unto the LORD (YHWH, Jehovah) my God, and made my confession, and said,...We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments,...yet made we not our prayer before the LORD God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth....O Lord, hear; O Lord forgive; O Lord, hearken and do...for thy city, and thy people are called by thy name."  Dan. 9:3-5, 13, 19
Prayer and repentance should also be our beginning point in impacting our appointed times. Daniel's heartfelt prayer of repentance was answered immediately with the appearance of the angel, Gabriel, who explained and revealed to Daniel the awesome purpose God would fulfill through His people in the appointed time of the perilous last days. God wants His people to know and understand the appointed times, and the role we are to play in them.
As revealed by the angel to Daniel, the appointed time dealt with the last week of Jeremiah's seventy weeks of years. This is the time in which we are now living. According to Daniel, desolations and war, and "troublous times" will come to God's people, and to the city of God (Dan. 9:25-27).
However, in the midst of this time of intense spiritual and natural warfare against the saints, "the time came that the saints possessed (root- to lay up in store, to heap up, to be strong) the kingdom" (Dan. 7:22). Even though a "king" will arise speaking against the Most High, seeking even to change the appointed times, and wearing out the saints (v. 25), the saints of this time shall "take away his dominion, to consume and destroy it unto the end" (v. 26):
"And the kingdom, and the 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. Hitherto is the end of the matter...but I kept the matter in my heart."  Dan. 7:27-28
During this appointed time of which Daniel prophesied, though wickedness seems to be prevailing, God's people will be a people of understanding, and will instruct many, and "the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits"  (Dan. 11:32, 33, 35).
The Book of Revelation also talks about an appointed time of great spiritual warfare that begins in the heavens, but soon impacts the earth. The enemy uses deception, persecution, and accusation against the brethren (Rev. 11:7-8, 12-13). However, this appointed time will also be the time of the overcoming of this evil enemy by the brethren in the power of Christ:
"And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, "Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ"...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. 12:10-11
As we see the signs of the times around us during these days of Purim, we also know that we, the people of God, have been called for this appointed time of Daniel and Revelation. We, like Esther, have come into the kingdom for such a time as this. Let us begin our impact upon this appointed time as Daniel did, and as the Jews of Esther's Purim did, with fasting, and prayers of repentance on our own behalf, and on behalf of our nation, which is covered with iniquity and wickedness. Like Esther, we are Jews (Rom. 2:29) hidden amongst the Gentiles. We are the beautiful Bride of the King, called during this appointed time to accomplish, through the power of Christ, a great work of deliverance. AMEN.

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You Might Be A Reprobate

 

The term "reprobate" in both Hebrew and Greek describes something that is rejected, cast away, not approved, refused. Reprobate describes something that "does not prove itself as it ought", and as "not standing the test". The word was especially used regarding metals and coins that did not prove themselves up to grade. Jer. 6:30 says:

"Reprobate silver shall men call them because the LORD hath rejected them."

These of God's people, who were rejected by Him, are further described as "grievous revolters, walking with slanders: brass and iron; they are all corrupters." (v. 28). God's people, who were supposed to be silver, turned out to be brass and iron when tested, and were therefore rejected.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul tells believers in the Church to "Examine (test, prove, scrutinize) yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves...except ye be reprobates...do nothing against the truth, but for the truth."  2 Cor. 13:5, 8

The truth is the Word of God. How many in the Church have rejected God's Word as truth, and have accepted the words and ways of the world instead? A Church that was called to be the salt of purification, and the light of truth has become - something else.

Paul describes reprobates as those who seemingly have a form of Godliness, but their words and actions deny the power of God (2 Tim. 3:5). They are described as men who resist the truth, having corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith (v. 8). Because they resist truth, and have become reprobate, they are despisers of those who are good, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, without natural affection (v. 3-5), never able to come to the knowledge of truth (v. 7). Paul says that these reprobates seek to lead away others. This is confirmed also by the Hebrew letters of the word for "reprobate":

מָאַס

The Hebrew word for "reprobate" is ma as. The Hebrew letters of the word are mem, aleph, and samek. The pictographic meaning of these letters is "the source or beginning flow of power that causes a slow twisting or turning aside (like a plant propped to turn or lean a certain way).

Paul warns that this reprobate condition is even more prevalent in the last days (2 Tim. 3:1). Perhaps this is because the testing and proving of one's faith and faithfulness are at the most intense level during these days.

In Titus1:16, Paul gives a further description of reprobates:

"They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."

Paul says that reprobates teach falsely for the sake of money (v. 11). They teach untruths and commandments of men that turn (see Hebrew letters above) from the truth (v. 14). Their mind and conscience is defiled (v. 15).

The Church today, which is supposed to bring truth, light, and life from God's Word to those who are perishing, is instead, more and more frequently, bringing the darkness and death of compromise, worldly ways, and the politically correct commandments of men, in order to please men, and prosper.

Paul warned that as men deliberately turned away from the knowledge of God that had been revealed to them, their hearts and imaginations would be darkened:

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."  Rom. 1:20

Ultimately, Paul said, God would give them up:

"Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause, God gave them up unto vile affections...women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise, also the men...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."   Rom. 1:24-28 (excerpt)

As these chose to become reprobate, their souls and bodies were turned, and they became, even to the depths of their nature and being:

"... filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful;"

                                                                                               Rom. 1:29-31

Can there be a more accurate description of the condition of our society today, both in and out of the Church? Is the reason we who believe don't speak the delivering truth about the darkness, torment and captivity of sin, really because we don't want to "exclude" and offend? Or is it that we no longer believe that God has the power to heal and deliver, and set the heartache of captive souls free? Then we are reprobate. Is the reason we do not speak the name of Jesus in public really because we want to respect others' beliefs? Or is it because we no longer believe that the name of Jesus has the power to save? Then we are reprobate. Is the reason that we are silent on the true nature of the abomination of abortion, and its terrible spiritual toll on those involved with it, because we really believe it is a "private matter"? Or is it because we do not believe the Word of God about the shedding of innocent blood (Deut. 19:10, 21:9, Ps. 106:38, Prov. 6:16-17)? Then we are reprobate. When we teach the acceptance of sin in our churches, is it really because we are expressing the "love of God"? Or is it because we want to please men, have larger numbers, exploit the skills and talents of those in sin, and ultimately prosper? Then we are reprobate.
Paul begs the Church:

"I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (spiritual worship). And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and that ye my prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

                                                                                              Rom. 12:1-2

We are to continually renew our minds in the truth of God's Word, not in the lies of the spirit and "wisdom" of this world. We are to offer continually to Him our spiritual worship and sacrifice of self, not the worship of self, self-will and imaginations, that we may be proven to be those who fulfill the will of God, which is everything good, everything acceptable to Him, and everything which is perfect in Him.

 

 

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Hosea and Gomer:Yeshua and America

 

The prophet Hosea, whose name, like Jesus' name, means "salvation", "deliverer", was instructed by God to marry a prostitute named Gomer, and have children with her. Many times, Hosea had to go out and find his missing wife, and buy her back from one of her male customers. This marriage was a prophetic picture of how God sadly viewed His relationship with Israel. Like a prostitute, Israel was unfaithful in her relationship with God, her Husband (Hos. 1:2). Gomer's name can mean either "completion" or "failure" in Hebrew. The dichotomy of Gomer's name represents a crossroads in God's relationship with His people, Israel.

Just as Israel came to this crossroads of choice in her relationship with God, America has come to a very similar crossroads of choice with Jesus, Yeshua. The choice we make at these crossroads, as with Hosea's Israel, will determine the future of America. Will we, the people of God in America, choose the road to "completion" in Christ, or "failure"? As Israel was the bride of God, the Church is the bride of Christ. This is a very serious turning point in our history as a nation, which will hinge upon the choice made by God's people-not the politicians, nor unbelievers, but by His own people, called by His name.

We will see clearly the choice that lays before us as we examine the very similar conditions

between the nation of Israel during Hosea's time, and the America of today.

Israel was brought to a crossroads of choice because she forgot her God from whom all of her blessings came, and worshipped instead false gods and idols:

"For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Ba'al."   Hos. 2:8

Though God had blessed Israel, Israel turned to blood-thirsty false gods, who demanded even the sacrifice of their children in fire. Similarly, God's people of America have forgotten the source of her riches and blessings, and have used these abundant riches from God to indulge self, and to enrich the idols of our souls- our own desires, our own will, comfort, entertainment and adornment. We have wrongly believed that the power to get wealth has been a power of our own hands.

Israel saw God remove His wealth and blessings from her (Hos. 2:9-13). America, including God's people, is seeing the same removal of God's blessings in our own economy. Although we are seeking to become economically great again, we will find "failure" instead without seeking God first in repentance. God rewards those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6).

As with the economic similarities between Hosea's Israel and America today, so also are the political, spiritual, and moral similarities. Israel fell into political chaos and division, as well as a spiritual vacuum, as they forgot God:

"For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod (chest piece of a priest's robes which includes the Urim and Thummim) and without teraphim (a figure, or idol, from which oracles are sought)...there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land."  

                                                                                                      Hos. 3:4, 4:1

The chaos of the political condition, and the emptiness of the spiritual condition of Hosea's Israel, was also reflected in the fallen moral condition of God's people at that time:

"By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and everyone that dwelleth therein shall languish...My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge, because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."   Hos. 4:2, 3, 6

We cannot help but see these same things today in America- economic loss, political division and chaos as never before. Truth, faith and morality are at an epic low. And our children! God help the children of America, who, having been raised without the knowledge of God, are treading in the darkness of that loss.

These sad conditions were also reflected in the names of the children Hosea fathered with his wife, the prostitute, Gomer:

Jezreel- God sows/scatters (casting in various directions)

Lo-Ruhamah- no mercy, compassion, nor tender affection

Lo-Ammi- not My people/kindred

Even the Hebrew letters of Gomer's name, gimel, mem, and reysh reflect the spiritual condition of God's people illustrated in the above verses: rising up from the knees in pride, floods of chaos, and what or who is the highest, the most important in our lives.

Like Gomer, God's people in America, have lifted themselves up off of their praying knees, full of pride and self-importance. What has become most important in our lives seems to be everything, and anything other than God. We have given everything to the temporal, the things that pass away, and ignored the eternal, the things that are lasting. Floods of chaos have come into our lives and nation as a result. Truth, mercy, and the knowledge of God, have been replaced by swearing, lying, killing, adulteries, and bloodshed upon bloodshed. We have, as a result, been brought to a crossroads with God.
 

The good news, as it was with Israel, is that God  and "completion" are waiting at these crossroads to forgive, heal, and restore, if we will seek Him, seek His face, once again returning to our knees in prayer, repenting and making Him, and Him only, the God of our life (2 Chron. 7:14).

"...and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said to them, "You are not My people", there it shall be said to them, "Ye are the sons of the living God."

"And I will betroth them unto Me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies. I will even betroth thee unto Me in faithfulness: and thou shalt know the LORD....And I will sow her unto Me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not My people, "Thou art My people"; and they shall say, "Thou art my God."

"Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the LORD their God, and David their King (Messiah);and shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter days."

                                                                            Hos. 1:10, 2:19, 20, 23, 3:5

We are living in the "latter days". Hosea and Gomer: Yeshua and America. We are at the crossroads of decision with God.

 

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