Wednesday, June 24, 2009
New Location
For all of you who have been following me at this blog site, I have moved to www.insimplicity.wordpress.com. I would love it if you would visit me there! Add it to your favorites! Love you all!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Leading Questions...
OK, before I begin, let me just lay the foundation of what I am about to write with two passages…
Acts 1:8, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth”
Psalm 23:2, “…he leadeth me…”
I was studying Psalm 23 and was looking into the word “lead”, when I came upon this very interesting definition and it quickened me.
lead: to suggest to (a witness) the answer desired by asking leading questions
Now based on the two passages above, I would like to make this statement.
The Shepherd asks leading questions….
I began searching where, at different times in the word and under completely different circumstances, God has asked questions. God has never asked a shallow question. He is not a surface God! His interest in us, searches us and any question He would ask, would be one that would cause us to take inventory of our beliefs because our answer turns out to be our “outcome”. And He is interested, very much in our outcome!
Here are a few examples of questions God asked in the Word:
Genesis 3:9, “Where are you?”
Genesis 4:9 (of Abel), “Where is your brother?”
Genesis 4:10, “What have you done?”
1 Kings 19:13, “What are you doing here?”
Ezekiel 37:3, “Can these bones live?”
Matthew 9:28, “Do you believe that I can do this unto you?”
Matthew 16:15 & Mark 8:29, “But who do you say that I am?”
Luke 24:5, “Why seek ye the living among the dead?”
Now, just for a moment, let God ask you these questions. Every question is an invitation to come to Him…the answer, your reality.
For all of you who have been following me at this blog site, I have moved to www.insimplicity@wordpress.com. I would love it if you would visit me there! Add it to your favorites! Love you all!
Acts 1:8, “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth”
Psalm 23:2, “…he leadeth me…”
I was studying Psalm 23 and was looking into the word “lead”, when I came upon this very interesting definition and it quickened me.
lead: to suggest to (a witness) the answer desired by asking leading questions
Now based on the two passages above, I would like to make this statement.
The Shepherd asks leading questions….
I began searching where, at different times in the word and under completely different circumstances, God has asked questions. God has never asked a shallow question. He is not a surface God! His interest in us, searches us and any question He would ask, would be one that would cause us to take inventory of our beliefs because our answer turns out to be our “outcome”. And He is interested, very much in our outcome!
Here are a few examples of questions God asked in the Word:
Genesis 3:9, “Where are you?”
Genesis 4:9 (of Abel), “Where is your brother?”
Genesis 4:10, “What have you done?”
1 Kings 19:13, “What are you doing here?”
Ezekiel 37:3, “Can these bones live?”
Matthew 9:28, “Do you believe that I can do this unto you?”
Matthew 16:15 & Mark 8:29, “But who do you say that I am?”
Luke 24:5, “Why seek ye the living among the dead?”
Now, just for a moment, let God ask you these questions. Every question is an invitation to come to Him…the answer, your reality.
For all of you who have been following me at this blog site, I have moved to www.insimplicity@wordpress.com. I would love it if you would visit me there! Add it to your favorites! Love you all!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
A bramble...for king?
Judges 9:7-15
And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
For His own purposes, God has been bringing me to this passage in scripture and He has instructed me to begin prophesying to the olive trees, “leave your fatness”, to the fig trees, “leave your sweetness” and to the vines, “leave your cheering influence” and govern!
Why..would a tree that carries the anointing, that is equal to no other… to both save, heal and deliver, ever refrain from using such an anointing? Why would a tree that yields such fruit, a taste that can give sight to who God really is, ever refuse those who hunger for it? And furthermore, why would a vine that carries a wine that can minister to both the mind and body of anyone who wants a drink, refuse to give it?
Instead, the lost are looking to the bramble. To the thorns, to the curse and saying, “Come and reign over us!” The bramble can also be translated as the world system and the bramble is more than willing to comply! We can so easily be deceived to think that we can trust in a shadow… when in truth, we should trust in the ONE who’s shadow is a result. What if we saw the bramble for what it really is? Would we still trust it?
There is one in whose shadow we can fully trust…”He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1
And that same shadow can be cast from us and is most certainly a place prepared for others…”Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.” Acts 5:15
Peter was a tree uprooted…walking about! He had kingdom roots that looked very much like feet!
Olive tree, Fig tree, Vine…there is a time to plant and a time to uproot what was planted! (Ecclesiastes 3:2) Uproot and go! Cast your shadow!
And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us. But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us. And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.
For His own purposes, God has been bringing me to this passage in scripture and He has instructed me to begin prophesying to the olive trees, “leave your fatness”, to the fig trees, “leave your sweetness” and to the vines, “leave your cheering influence” and govern!
Why..would a tree that carries the anointing, that is equal to no other… to both save, heal and deliver, ever refrain from using such an anointing? Why would a tree that yields such fruit, a taste that can give sight to who God really is, ever refuse those who hunger for it? And furthermore, why would a vine that carries a wine that can minister to both the mind and body of anyone who wants a drink, refuse to give it?
Instead, the lost are looking to the bramble. To the thorns, to the curse and saying, “Come and reign over us!” The bramble can also be translated as the world system and the bramble is more than willing to comply! We can so easily be deceived to think that we can trust in a shadow… when in truth, we should trust in the ONE who’s shadow is a result. What if we saw the bramble for what it really is? Would we still trust it?
There is one in whose shadow we can fully trust…”He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1
And that same shadow can be cast from us and is most certainly a place prepared for others…”Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.” Acts 5:15
Peter was a tree uprooted…walking about! He had kingdom roots that looked very much like feet!
Olive tree, Fig tree, Vine…there is a time to plant and a time to uproot what was planted! (Ecclesiastes 3:2) Uproot and go! Cast your shadow!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
For A Time
Hello to my friends...I am beginning a fast today and will not be blogging again until the Lord releases me to do so.
I will leave you with two thoughts. One from the book of Proverbs, chapter 27 verse 21. "A hot furnace tests silver and gold, and people are tested by the praise they recieve."
And the other is a quote I read just today..."The challenge -- never negligible -- regarding the Christian Scriptures is not getting them read, but read on their own terms, as God's revelation."
~ Eugene Peterson
I am entering into a time of reading the scriptures on their own terms, as God's revelation. His words alone are always enough...
I will leave you with two thoughts. One from the book of Proverbs, chapter 27 verse 21. "A hot furnace tests silver and gold, and people are tested by the praise they recieve."
And the other is a quote I read just today..."The challenge -- never negligible -- regarding the Christian Scriptures is not getting them read, but read on their own terms, as God's revelation."
~ Eugene Peterson
I am entering into a time of reading the scriptures on their own terms, as God's revelation. His words alone are always enough...
Friday, May 22, 2009
Yet another Bible Bill Blog
OK since the Bible Bill is according to Yahoo, the most blogged about bill...I guess I can get in on this as well. This is an exerpt from an article that I read on Yahoo just this morning on this subject.
Broun’s simple congressional resolution aimed at honoring the Good Book has produced a push-back of biblical proportion in the blogosphere, with critics dismissing it as either unconstitutional or a waste of time. Jews in Congress and atheist activists are dismissing the resolution, while none of the many Democrats in Congress who are Christian have bothered to sign on as co-sponsors.
According to GovTrak.us, the resolution is among the most-blogged-about pieces of legislation, with most posts less than complimentary in nature.
“Does that mean 2009 is not the year of the Bible?” mocked Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who is Jewish. “What is 2012 the year of? The Quran?” ...
...“Right now, we’re seeing atheism on such a rise,” said David Silverman, vice president and national spokesman of American Atheists, a group dedicated to fighting for the civil rights of atheists.
“We are seeing Christianity on such a dramatic decline that we’re not particularly worried about it. We’re thinking that this kind of old-style George W. Bush Republicanism is about to go away,” Silverman said, referring to the latest Pew Forum survey of American religious life, which showed nonreligious Americans as the fastest-growing group.
OK, let me just insert here for just a moment. This is my opinion of that statement by Silverman. HA HA HA HA....hahahahahaha! Getting a good belly laugh out of that one! First of all to be an "atheist" is to believe nothing. And if you believe nothing you do nothing. You don't get up. You don't sit down. You don't go to the left or to the right. You quite frankly will never move forward and most certainly cannot be on "the rise". Atheism has made complacency a religion. Continuing now....
And it may be the best-selling book of all time, as Broun’s resolution points out, but the Bible isn’t such a popular legislative topic.
A search of Thomas, the online congressional database, for “Bible” yields just one other bill: a resolution to have the “Lincoln-Obama Bible” on permanent display in the Capitol Visitor Center.
Listen, I don't think that anyone's bible should be on display. It's more important for it to be opened and in their lap at this point! Until you have lived it, it has no place as a memorial. And I say this with the most respect possible. I pray that someday, President Obama's well used bible finds it's place alongside of Lincoln's. But don't lay your hands on a bible that another man lived and gave his life for an think that it qualifies you, without looking into it yourself.
I quote our President Obama from yesterday's Yahoo article concerning Guantanamo, "But if we continue to make decisions within a climate of fear, we will make more mistakes."
I have news...the only counterpart to fear is true faith and love for God and His Word and mistakes will be made in any other climate, irregardless. Galatians 5:6 says, "faith works by love." And faith and love can only be found in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 1:14)
1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:" The only perfect love is the love of Father God. God so loved us...and so did many of our founding fathers who laid the foundations of this great nation. Love was their motive and their faith yeilded results!
Broun’s simple congressional resolution aimed at honoring the Good Book has produced a push-back of biblical proportion in the blogosphere, with critics dismissing it as either unconstitutional or a waste of time. Jews in Congress and atheist activists are dismissing the resolution, while none of the many Democrats in Congress who are Christian have bothered to sign on as co-sponsors.
According to GovTrak.us, the resolution is among the most-blogged-about pieces of legislation, with most posts less than complimentary in nature.
“Does that mean 2009 is not the year of the Bible?” mocked Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who is Jewish. “What is 2012 the year of? The Quran?” ...
...“Right now, we’re seeing atheism on such a rise,” said David Silverman, vice president and national spokesman of American Atheists, a group dedicated to fighting for the civil rights of atheists.
“We are seeing Christianity on such a dramatic decline that we’re not particularly worried about it. We’re thinking that this kind of old-style George W. Bush Republicanism is about to go away,” Silverman said, referring to the latest Pew Forum survey of American religious life, which showed nonreligious Americans as the fastest-growing group.
OK, let me just insert here for just a moment. This is my opinion of that statement by Silverman. HA HA HA HA....hahahahahaha! Getting a good belly laugh out of that one! First of all to be an "atheist" is to believe nothing. And if you believe nothing you do nothing. You don't get up. You don't sit down. You don't go to the left or to the right. You quite frankly will never move forward and most certainly cannot be on "the rise". Atheism has made complacency a religion. Continuing now....
And it may be the best-selling book of all time, as Broun’s resolution points out, but the Bible isn’t such a popular legislative topic.
A search of Thomas, the online congressional database, for “Bible” yields just one other bill: a resolution to have the “Lincoln-Obama Bible” on permanent display in the Capitol Visitor Center.
Listen, I don't think that anyone's bible should be on display. It's more important for it to be opened and in their lap at this point! Until you have lived it, it has no place as a memorial. And I say this with the most respect possible. I pray that someday, President Obama's well used bible finds it's place alongside of Lincoln's. But don't lay your hands on a bible that another man lived and gave his life for an think that it qualifies you, without looking into it yourself.
I quote our President Obama from yesterday's Yahoo article concerning Guantanamo, "But if we continue to make decisions within a climate of fear, we will make more mistakes."
I have news...the only counterpart to fear is true faith and love for God and His Word and mistakes will be made in any other climate, irregardless. Galatians 5:6 says, "faith works by love." And faith and love can only be found in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 1:14)
1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:" The only perfect love is the love of Father God. God so loved us...and so did many of our founding fathers who laid the foundations of this great nation. Love was their motive and their faith yeilded results!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Time to burn some bushels
Zephaniah 1:12
"And it shall come to pass at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And punish the men Who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart, "The LORD will not do good, Nor will He do evil.”
The Lord has been speaking this passage to me for quite some time now and once again, I feel a conviction in my heart. God says he is sending out his lamps or the King James says “candles”. In prayer last Sunday night, this was made very clear to me. Rather than seeing cute little wax candles or even enclosed lamps, I saw what would be "fires” going forth. I saw or have the idea that we are to be "consuming" bushels, as it might be. All of this, yet I did not have a clear understanding of what a bushel by definition is. I looked it up and this is what I found in John Gill’s exposition..
1. anything which may hide and cover it, and so hinder its light and usefulness.
2. The Greek word (modiov) , rendered a "bushel", answers to the Hebrew (hao) , "seah", which is the very word used in Munster's Hebrew Gospel; and this was a dry measure that held about a gallon and a half; and accordingly is rendered here by the Syriac (atao) .
3. The design of the expression is, that Christ has lighted the candle of the everlasting Gospel, and given gifts to men for the ministration of it, not to be concealed and neglected, or to be used as the servant did his lord's money, wrap it up in a napkin, and hide it in the earth. Ministers are not, through slothfulness, to neglect the gift that is in them; nor, through fear, to hide their talents, or keep back any part of the Gospel, or cover anything out of sight, which may be profitable to souls…
Which leaves me wondering if this “bushel” that was meant to contain a “measure” is the same thing that contains our “measure of faith” that God has given us or even like the basket and store that Deuteronomy 28:5 mentions. “Blessed be thy basket and thy store.”
And what’s more interesting…and I don’t’ recall having seen this before is that in Mark 4:21 Jesus suggests that some might even hide their light under their bed. It says this, “And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?”
How interesting…putting a flame or a fire under a bed or a place of “sleep” or settled ness. As the Greek defines it, a place of repose, which means lack of activity or to remain still.
And the original wording in Zephaniah, in the KJV, says “men, settled on their lees.” This is what John Gill’s has to say about that…
...like wine on the lees, quiet and undisturbed; in a good outward estate and condition, abounding in wealth and riches, and trusting therein; and which, as the Targum paraphrases it, they enjoy in great tranquility; Moab like, having never been emptied from vessel to vessel, (Jeremiah 48:11) and so concluded they should ever remain in the same state, and became hardened in sin, or "curdled", and thickened, as the word signifies…
Oh glory…we are meant to be emptied from vessel to vessel! I don’t want this vessel of new wine to become settled on it’s lees. I have a feeling that in order to be filled up again and again, we must pour out! That’s why sometimes I drink the new wine and feel it’s effect and can just drink and drink but other times, I feel like I’m too saturated…not thirsty enough. I haven’t emptied out at all.
And then, here comes the part that has gripped my heart. The Lord said, “Who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart, "The LORD will not do good, Nor will He do evil.”
That in our complacency, in our proclaiming to be a Christian yet lacking the actions, not willing to execute the Word given us, we demonstrate to others, that this is what God himself must be like. When we don’t do the good…save, heal, supply the need, minister peace and edification…do we give the impression that neither does He? When we don’t stand in defiance of what is unjust and declare the result of that…do we then give the impression that God is disinterested as well and that there will be no consequence?
I will be the first to repent…Father, forgive me for believing in my heart and speaking with my mouth, the Lord Jesus Christ and then nothing of who and what you are. Forgive me for misleading men and women…my family, my friends and even perfect strangers to believe that you are at all like me. Transform me today Lord. Transform me in such a way that they realize that I am altogether like you! I love you Lord and I want everyone to know it! Don’t let me walk by that woman and young man with downs syndrome ever again, thinking that they won’t want me to pray because they are an obvious target and have been prayed for time and time again with no result. Forgive me for supposing that they don’t have the faith to see it healed, just because he is already a man and has been living with this a long time. That’s saying that you think downs syndrome is not something you are interested in healing and that you are OK letting them live with it. Oh God…forgive me! And I thank you Lord for another opportunity…
Charles Swindoll said it best! “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”
And I like this one as well… “Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.”
"And it shall come to pass at that time That I will search Jerusalem with lamps, And punish the men Who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart, "The LORD will not do good, Nor will He do evil.”
The Lord has been speaking this passage to me for quite some time now and once again, I feel a conviction in my heart. God says he is sending out his lamps or the King James says “candles”. In prayer last Sunday night, this was made very clear to me. Rather than seeing cute little wax candles or even enclosed lamps, I saw what would be "fires” going forth. I saw or have the idea that we are to be "consuming" bushels, as it might be. All of this, yet I did not have a clear understanding of what a bushel by definition is. I looked it up and this is what I found in John Gill’s exposition..
1. anything which may hide and cover it, and so hinder its light and usefulness.
2. The Greek word (modiov) , rendered a "bushel", answers to the Hebrew (hao) , "seah", which is the very word used in Munster's Hebrew Gospel; and this was a dry measure that held about a gallon and a half; and accordingly is rendered here by the Syriac (atao) .
3. The design of the expression is, that Christ has lighted the candle of the everlasting Gospel, and given gifts to men for the ministration of it, not to be concealed and neglected, or to be used as the servant did his lord's money, wrap it up in a napkin, and hide it in the earth. Ministers are not, through slothfulness, to neglect the gift that is in them; nor, through fear, to hide their talents, or keep back any part of the Gospel, or cover anything out of sight, which may be profitable to souls…
Which leaves me wondering if this “bushel” that was meant to contain a “measure” is the same thing that contains our “measure of faith” that God has given us or even like the basket and store that Deuteronomy 28:5 mentions. “Blessed be thy basket and thy store.”
And what’s more interesting…and I don’t’ recall having seen this before is that in Mark 4:21 Jesus suggests that some might even hide their light under their bed. It says this, “And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?”
How interesting…putting a flame or a fire under a bed or a place of “sleep” or settled ness. As the Greek defines it, a place of repose, which means lack of activity or to remain still.
And the original wording in Zephaniah, in the KJV, says “men, settled on their lees.” This is what John Gill’s has to say about that…
...like wine on the lees, quiet and undisturbed; in a good outward estate and condition, abounding in wealth and riches, and trusting therein; and which, as the Targum paraphrases it, they enjoy in great tranquility; Moab like, having never been emptied from vessel to vessel, (Jeremiah 48:11) and so concluded they should ever remain in the same state, and became hardened in sin, or "curdled", and thickened, as the word signifies…
Oh glory…we are meant to be emptied from vessel to vessel! I don’t want this vessel of new wine to become settled on it’s lees. I have a feeling that in order to be filled up again and again, we must pour out! That’s why sometimes I drink the new wine and feel it’s effect and can just drink and drink but other times, I feel like I’m too saturated…not thirsty enough. I haven’t emptied out at all.
And then, here comes the part that has gripped my heart. The Lord said, “Who are settled in complacency, Who say in their heart, "The LORD will not do good, Nor will He do evil.”
That in our complacency, in our proclaiming to be a Christian yet lacking the actions, not willing to execute the Word given us, we demonstrate to others, that this is what God himself must be like. When we don’t do the good…save, heal, supply the need, minister peace and edification…do we give the impression that neither does He? When we don’t stand in defiance of what is unjust and declare the result of that…do we then give the impression that God is disinterested as well and that there will be no consequence?
I will be the first to repent…Father, forgive me for believing in my heart and speaking with my mouth, the Lord Jesus Christ and then nothing of who and what you are. Forgive me for misleading men and women…my family, my friends and even perfect strangers to believe that you are at all like me. Transform me today Lord. Transform me in such a way that they realize that I am altogether like you! I love you Lord and I want everyone to know it! Don’t let me walk by that woman and young man with downs syndrome ever again, thinking that they won’t want me to pray because they are an obvious target and have been prayed for time and time again with no result. Forgive me for supposing that they don’t have the faith to see it healed, just because he is already a man and has been living with this a long time. That’s saying that you think downs syndrome is not something you are interested in healing and that you are OK letting them live with it. Oh God…forgive me! And I thank you Lord for another opportunity…
Charles Swindoll said it best! “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”
And I like this one as well… “Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.”
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Me...a tyrant?
Psalm 51:12
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
OK, you may think that I have gone off the deep end but I sure hope so. I bought this little daily devotion calendar from the book of Psalms at a yard sale the other day for a dollar and it had never been opened. First of all, it was 366 devotions and God has been prophetically speaking that number to a friend of mine for years now because that is her house number. He has been saying, “I am going to visit your house.” So, in turn, He has been speaking to me.
When I got home, I opened it to the current date and this is the passage that was on that page. Simply, “uphold me with your free spirit”. Well…I haven’t been able to just read over it and go on! Praise God!
I lay on my bed last night at what others might call an ungodly hour but Oh…it was Godly! God was there…I could almost feel the bed weigh down with His presence as He sat reading the word with me.
Holy Spirit. Free spirit. Uphold me with your free spirit. That word free is quite an interesting word. Not only does it mean what we would think it means…voluntary, willing, without price. It also means generous & liberal, MAGNANIMOUS!
That word magnanimous suggests a courageous spirit or nobility of feeling or generosity of mind. Uphold me with your courageous spirit Lord. Uphold me with the generosity of your mind.
And if that’s not enough…this is where I am astounded at Holy Spirit! The word free means… "sometimes a tyrant”. Now, I read that and thought…what? Now why would that be there? What does that have to do with Holy Spirit…free spirit?
So I began to search this word out. What does being a tyrant really entail? Look with me at the definition of tyranny. It means, “government in which absolute power is invested in a single ruler.” You see, there has been a perversion of what we understand to be “free” in America. We have called this country, “one nation under God”. According to my estimation, that should very well translate, “government in which absolute power is invested in a single ruler.” But freedom, taken out of context, has become the tool in the hand of the tyrant (counterfeit freedom)…the one who is unrestrained by law or constitution, a usurper of sovereignty. A tool used to eliminate the freedoms that have been given us and are rightfully ours.
Matthew 11:12 says, The kingdom of heaven, suffers violence (counterfeit freedom) and the violent (the tyrant, the truly free) taking it by force. Now there's a thought! Turn about...fair play!
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
OK, you may think that I have gone off the deep end but I sure hope so. I bought this little daily devotion calendar from the book of Psalms at a yard sale the other day for a dollar and it had never been opened. First of all, it was 366 devotions and God has been prophetically speaking that number to a friend of mine for years now because that is her house number. He has been saying, “I am going to visit your house.” So, in turn, He has been speaking to me.
When I got home, I opened it to the current date and this is the passage that was on that page. Simply, “uphold me with your free spirit”. Well…I haven’t been able to just read over it and go on! Praise God!
I lay on my bed last night at what others might call an ungodly hour but Oh…it was Godly! God was there…I could almost feel the bed weigh down with His presence as He sat reading the word with me.
Holy Spirit. Free spirit. Uphold me with your free spirit. That word free is quite an interesting word. Not only does it mean what we would think it means…voluntary, willing, without price. It also means generous & liberal, MAGNANIMOUS!
That word magnanimous suggests a courageous spirit or nobility of feeling or generosity of mind. Uphold me with your courageous spirit Lord. Uphold me with the generosity of your mind.
And if that’s not enough…this is where I am astounded at Holy Spirit! The word free means… "sometimes a tyrant”. Now, I read that and thought…what? Now why would that be there? What does that have to do with Holy Spirit…free spirit?
So I began to search this word out. What does being a tyrant really entail? Look with me at the definition of tyranny. It means, “government in which absolute power is invested in a single ruler.” You see, there has been a perversion of what we understand to be “free” in America. We have called this country, “one nation under God”. According to my estimation, that should very well translate, “government in which absolute power is invested in a single ruler.” But freedom, taken out of context, has become the tool in the hand of the tyrant (counterfeit freedom)…the one who is unrestrained by law or constitution, a usurper of sovereignty. A tool used to eliminate the freedoms that have been given us and are rightfully ours.
Matthew 11:12 says, The kingdom of heaven, suffers violence (counterfeit freedom) and the violent (the tyrant, the truly free) taking it by force. Now there's a thought! Turn about...fair play!
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