Sunday, April 19th, 2020. 6:33 PM.
It is written:
“I asked the angel who talked with me,
‘What are these, my lord?’
He answered, ‘Do you not know what these are?’
“No, my lord,’ I replied.
“So he said to me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel:
“Not by might nor by power,
but by my Spirit, says the LORD Almighty.”
-Zechariah 4:4-6. NIV Study Bible.
Our Country Is Suffering!
Who Are We Listening To?
We aren’t listening to the true God.
That’s Why We’re Suffering.
He is showing us, by this plague, that if we don’t repent and believe the gospel of Christ,
WE ARE GOING to be blown away by the righteous winds of His just wrath against an ungodly people – an ungodly people who kill their own unborn babies and even celebrate their legal “right” to do it – thanks to the ungodly they vote for — who make laws so the people may do this evil free of legal responsibility and free of justice – in the world that lies in wickedness.
Well, how are we enjoying our freedom now – our freedom to stay home and wash our guilty hands; our freedom to go shopping with our faces covered — like the bandits in the old days wore when they robbed banks and people? Are we not guilty? A nation 25 trillion dollars in debt — and yet it’s rulers are giving away trillions to the rich. There is no end to their wickedness and greed. They do not turn to God but rather to washing their hands and covering their faces and giving money away. They speak of opening up the economy when they should be turning to God Almighty in prayer and opening their hearts to Him and reading His Word and believing in His Son and the gospel.
“Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” -Matthew 6:1-4. NIV Study Bible.
Let the eyes of our understanding be opened by the light of Christ through faith in the gospel of God; so that we may see what God is doing. Let’s believe in Him – rather than our selves. Let’s turn from our own viewpoint and see from God’s viewpoint – since our viewpoint is resulting in His wrath upon us to such an extent that we are even losing our freedom to work our jobs and socialize with our friends. Our way of being self-centered in our ways is becoming sickening and self-destructive to all life on God’s earth.
We the People are destroying our country and the earth and causing God’s will to be done – the ending of the world that lies in wickedness.
And when His Kingdom comes in glory and righteousness and peace throughout His New Heaven and New Earth to be populated and enjoyed by His children who are born again by His grace – through faith in His Son – those unrepentant unbelievers will never see it – because they rejected His Righteousness; and, instead, tried to establish their own righteousness – the self-righteousness of the ungodly and unholy and unmerciful and disobedient.
Only those who believe Him will see His Kingdom come.
This Kingdom | Hillsong (Featuring Darlene Zschech)
“Righteousness exalts a nation,
But sin is a reproach to any people.” -Proverbs 14:34. ESV Study Bible.
We are suffering His reproach.
By being merely smart and washing our hands and covering our faces, we are not turning away the wrath of God.
We need to turn away from our selves — by turning to Him and His Word.
We must believe in Him – not in our selves.
We must become Christ-centered – not self-centered.
If this nation does not turn to Almighty God – in spirit and in truth —
This Nation will continue to receive His wrath against all the ungodliness of men who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
We as a country have fallen under the influence of “the god of this age” —
Just as Eve did in the garden of Eden.
Sinners listen to their self.
The sons of God listen to Christ.
The sons of God point to Christ the Lord.
Christ sends His Holy Spirit into the hearts of those who receive Him as Lord and Saviour.
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth and the Spirit of understanding.
See Isaiah 11 and John 14-17.
The self is of the world and by the world and for the world that lies in wickedness; and consequently is under the influence of “the god of this age.”
And that one, “the god of this age” — his influence is by the spirit of error/the spirit of falsehood —
“the god of this age” leads away from truth and understanding; and away from the wisdom of the true God.
Remember the famous words in the movie, “A Few Good Men”?
“You can’t handle the truth!”
Well, the truth is this:
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.” -John 14:6-11. NIV Study Bible.
Can you handle the truth?
Do you believe what Jesus said? —
Or, are you still among the children of the world, the world that is “under the influence” of that spirit of error/falsehood – the spirit of error that promotes the so-called human right to have one’s unborn baby murdered in the womb – the spirit of error that celebrates the so-called human right to murder rather than motherhood; the spirit of error that celebrates greed and avarice for money; that worships Mammon — rather than the true God?
In the stubbornness and false pride of your self, will you continue to be unrepentant; and continue to march with the mass of unbelievers and continue to take false comfort in the herd mentality of unbelief as they go toward their destruction?
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” -Matthew 7:13, 14. NIV Study Bible.
“Therefore Jesus said again, ‘I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. -John 10:7-13. NIV Study Bible.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.”
“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” -Romans 1:18-25. ESV Study Bible.
Who do you love – the only true God?
Or, the world and the things of the world?
Whose side are you on?
Who do you worship:
The false god of this age?
Or
Do you worship the only true God?
God knows our hearts.
He already knows who His children are.
We become His children by hearing and believing His Word:
The Gospel of God,
The Gospel of Christ.
The children of God are Christ-centered.
The children of the world are self-centered.
We must be born again to become God’s children and to live in His Kingdom
And to be led by His Holy Spirit and
Filled with His Holy Spirit.
The children of the world are in outer darkness, without understanding.
They are under the influence of “the god of this age.”
On Election Day, the children of this world vote for the world and for the things of this world –
Its politics; its business; its capitalistic ways of making money; its capitalistic so-called healthcare industries; its drug-pushing industries of exorbitantly priced prescription drugs, with their deleterious and insidious side-effects.
The children of God stay away and — as Jesus taught us to pray —
They go to their room and close the door and pray to their Heavenly Father.
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” -Matthew 6:5-15. NIV Study Bible.
And those who say, “O, I believe in God – and I also believe in voting and war and abortion rights and no public praying in public schools; and capitalism and whatever “isms” tickle my itching ears . . . I can do whatever I want!
That isn’t what God’s Word teaches is the way the truth and the life.
That’s double-mindedness/double-dealing — resulting in double-trouble and the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” -Ephesians 2:1, 2a. The Open Bible [KJV].
That’s only pretending to be a child of the true God.
The Holy Spirit gives discernment and insight; so that we can see the difference between right and wrong and between good and evil.
In the garden of Eden, Eve did not exercise that discernment.
When the devil tempted her, she listened to and believed the lies that he spoke to her.
Jesus Christ gives us light and His Holy Spirit’s help so that we can turn away from “the god of this age” and his lies and deceits and delusions.
Romans 8:1-39. ESV Study Bible.
Crown Him (Majesty) – Chris Tomlin
What a Beautiful Name w/ Break Every Chain – Hillsong Worship live @ Colour Conference 2018
God’s Way of Salvation (John 3:16)
This Kingdom | Hillsong (Featuring Darlene Zschech)
“Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.’” -Matthew 16:13-18. ESV Study Bible.
So, reader:
Who do you believe is I AM?
Do you believe the truth of God’s Word:
That Jesus Christ is I AM;
That Jesus Christ is Lord;
That Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour?
With All I Am | Hillsong (Featuring Darlene Zschech)
2 hours non stop christian praise and worship songs with lyrics
Hear and understand:
The “god of this age” is not the true God.
The “god of this age” is the one that unbelievers are under the influence of —
the one that leads them into wickedness through lies taught in hypocrisy [pretending].
The “god of this age” is the one the Son of God exposed as the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning who holds not to the truth, for there is no truth in him. [see John 8:42-47. NIV].
John, chapter 8
2 Corinthians, chapter 4
Ephesians 6
“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” -John 8:31, 32. NIV Study Bible.
“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” -2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. NIV Study Bible.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-17. NIV Study Bible.
The Rapture
Coming Soon
Who are you listening to? Who are you waiting for? Who do you believe in?
Who are you conforming your life to?
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.” -Romans 12:1-2. NIV Study Bible.
Romans 12:1-21. NIV
God’s Way of Salvation (John 3:16)
Who are you listening to?
Who do you believe in?
Who are you taking refuge in?
“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” -Mark 1:14, 15. ESV Study Bible.
This Kingdom | Hillsong (Featuring Darlene Zschech)
“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.” -Ephesians 5:6. The Open Bible [KJV].
Ephesians 5
“Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” -Hebrews 2:1-4. ESV Study Bible.
Hebrews 2
Blessed Assurance – piano instrumental hymn with lyrics
Victory in Jesus – piano instrumental hymn with lyrics
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.” -Romans 8:1-4. NIV Study Bible.
“’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” -Zechariah 4:6b. NIV Study Bible.
Mark's Imaginings 