In reading a Spurgeon Devotional this morning, he talked about Jesus being the light. Just as a jewel shimmers more brilliantly when direct light is placed upon it, so we as believers can only be visibly righteous because of the light of Christ.

Many people are unwilling to be transparent and come into the light of Christ for fear of their spiritual blemishes being seen. Many churches have watered down the principles of sanctification because the culture has become immune to self-conscience behavior. They have attempted to widen the road which Jesus said was narrow and few find it. During this fasting time I desire to allow the Holy Spirit to illumine those things in me that hide the brilliance of Christ’s light from being visible.

I love the early morning hours. It is so peaceful and still. Psalm 46 is a beautiful Psalm about the refuge we have in God. It talks about the river that makes glad the city of God.

I enjoy watching a river. It is in constant motion. It flows and moves. Every moment is new. Watching the stream is calming to my spirit. As I dwell in the presence of the Lord, I can receive of this mighty river that flows from His throne.

As we get anxious and fearful we need to hear the Lord say, “Quiet! Be Still!” He is God and nothing happens that takes Him by surprise. I can remember talking to my children when they get rambunctious, “Quiet! Be still!” The difference was that I wanted the quiet. It was for my peace of mind. The Lord wants us to be quiet for our sakes.

This passage speaks to me every time I read it. Perhaps it is because I don’t do it enough to know the true impact it can have on the busyness of my life!

When Jesus was standing before Pilate, Caiaphas cried out, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!” He was so desperate to eliminate this threat to his position and power that he was willing to sacrifice everything, even future generations, in order to have the threat eliminated.

It seems that we are reliving this same scenario here in America. Our government officials are willing to sacrifice future generations in order to eliminate the threat that freedom and liberty have over their power and control. The more freedoms they take over and the more money they use to buy control will certainly collapse any form of capitalism in the future.

The major difference here is that the blood of Christ was necessary for the salvation of all future generations. Caiaphas was just a tool of Satan to try to eliminate the power of Christ. Instead, the power has been multiplied and millions have been saved.

It is our job, as American Christians to pray for our country and leaders, to see the will of God accomplished. His ways are not our ways. What may seem like a hostile takeover may simply be the plan of God to bring His kingdom to earth.

“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

1 Kings 13 has a very interesting story of a man of God who delivered a message to Jeroboam, King of Israel. The King invites him to stay and eat, but the man says that the Lord told him not to eat or drink in that land.

On his way home, an old prophet convinced him by lying to come home with him and to eat and drink. While he was still eating the old prophet gave the man of God a word from the Lord. He would be cursed for his disobedience. On his way home he is killed by a lion.

This has many levels of teaching. The main thing it speaks to me is that when you have heard from God you cannot listen to anyone who would counter that revelation. The enemy can use anyone who is weak enough to be manipulated. If someone is not speaking a confirming word, it’s time to get back in the prayer closet and see if you heard the right thing from God.

Don’t give up on the vision given you by the Lord because someone who claims to be a Pastor or Prophet tells you something in direct conflict with that vision or command from the Lord.

On another level, we who are Pastors or in a position of influence must be careful when we believe a person is in error to what he or she heard from God. We must lovingly help them process the vision or commandment according to the Word of God and not according to our opinion.

The old prophet lies to the man of God to get him to do what the prophet wants. While the man of God is still eating, the prophet lowers the boom and tells him what the Lord is saying for real.

That’s just wrong!

I’m trying to finish my Master’s degree by conducting research in my spare time. It doesn’t work too well. I need some concentrated time to be able to flow well. I read something and make notes about it then I may not read something else for a couple of days. By that time I can’t remember what I read a few days earlier. I’m going to make it. But it will take some time…..

Mark 3:22-30

²²And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebub! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

²³So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? ²⁴If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. ²⁶And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. ²⁷In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house. ²⁸I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. ²⁹But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin.”

³⁰He said this because they were saying, “He has an evil spirit.”

In this passage, Jesus talks about blaspheming the Holy Spirit by calling Him evil. Many people are not discerning enough to determine what is of God and what is of Satan. This comes only by praying and fasting. As we draw closer to the Lord and He draws closer to us, we are able to distinguish which Spirit comes from Him and which one comes from Satan. There is no reason to fear the act of blaspheming the Holy Spirit if we are intimate with Him.