Golden Calfs

It was near the end of Jesus ministry, and He had some final words to say to the religious leaders. It was a harsh discourse, which began with seven woes. These warning came from the Father's heart. Jesus said to them, “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees...” Jesus still loved them and He would proved it a few days later by hanging on a cross. But for now He had some things to get off His chest. Jesus had been patient long enough and their hearts needed to be exposed. The scribes and Pharisees had accused, harassed, argued, and questioned Him for over three years, and now they were plotting to kill Him, their Messiah. I believe, these seven woes from Jesus was a despite attempt to open their eyes and heart for the need for a savior before they faced Him at the judgment seat; where He would say to the depart from Me for I never knew you.

Each woe shed light on their darken hearts. However, there is one that I would like to highlight at this time, and that has to do with the swearing by the gold of the temple. The Pharisees believe that those who swore by the gold were more obligated to what they said. Jesus told to them, “You fools, which is more important the gold or the temple that sanctified it.” The Pharisee had made the gold of the temple more important than the temple itself, which ultimately represented Jesus Christ and His Bride. They place a greater value on the material substance than the spiritual, things that were done by man’s effort and labor. Just as the Israelites had Aaron build a golden calf in the wilderness, so too the Pharisees, in their minds, had taken the place of Aaron and made something for the people to worship.

Many ministers today would not see themselves as modern scribes and Pharisees. Yet many have placed a higher value on the church building, their ministry and even their words or beliefs, than on the word of God or the examples of Jesus. They will do very thing to protect their domain and the control over the people than to consider the heart of the Father. Just watch them and see what happens when any of that stuff is threatened. They would consider it an attack from the satan rather than a rebuke from God, just as the Pharisees felt toward Jesus. And even though they would never consider killing someone, many certainly have done it with their words. God has been very patient and gracious, but there will come a time when the prophets will rise up and confront them and it won’t be very pretty. If Jesus did it then, you can be sure God will do it again. It was a prophecy of things to come.

Sure it would be easy for us to point finger at the religious system and leaders, but how about us. Are there things or ideas that we still hold dear to us that they have become our Golden Calf. Things that we feel are more important and swear by them as if they were of God. I felt that way about some things and I was wrong. Idolatry comes in many shapes and forms, including people, places and things and traditions.

Have we become just as guilty claiming not to be like our forefathers the Pharisees, when in reality we’re not that much different? Jesus Christ is the Gold Standard that we should live, buy and invest more time in. And the more we have of Him the less we will want of the other.

What Do You See?

This past year, when Sheldon and I met on Friday nights, God had told us to think big, and not to despise small beginnings, and to see the future. And so we have prayed some incredible prayers. However, now that I’m working more solo, I’m still trying to take some pretty big steps in my prayers of faith as God would lead me.

Lately, the Lord has been asking me, “What do you see?” And as a son I understand that my Father wants me to see beyond the obvious, and then to pray about it. He has also told me not to think or pray small prayers. They don’t necessarily have to be long prayers, but ones that simply reflect God’s heart and will. So I have been doing it. For example, one day a couple months ago I was back in central Washington, where I used to live. I was looking at some fields that surrounded our acreages that were once was covered in natural grasses and wildflowers, but now they were covered mostly with weeds that had spread or blown in; chocking out most of the other plant life. It was a shame to see what had happened over the past twenty years in this county. It was an endless battle trying to kill all the weeds. And this has been happening all over the world. But, it wasn’t supposed to be like this. The garden that God had made for mankind was meant to be beautiful. So I prayed and asked God to remove the curse off our property, our country, and the earth as the result of Adam’s sin in the Garden of Eden. And to remove the weeds from our hearts that have also hindered or chocked our relationship with God. What usually happens in the spiritual realm also reflects and affects the natural realm one. This is why we need to change first. As it says in II Chron. 12:7, “If My people who are called by My name, will humble themselves, pray and turn from their wicked ways, then I will forgive them and will heal their land.” (Most of us do not see our own wickedness, that’s the reason the world is the ways it is. But we have to start some place and so it must start with the church, by faith through repentance our prayers.)
 

Another time I was sitting in the car waiting to get a pizza, and I felt the Lord ask me, what do you see? I looked and saw a young woman get out of a car and she was extremely skinny. I thought that doesn’t look natural and so I prayed that God would help her and that I cast down that spirit of anorexia and declared that she is free, and that she would see herself through Christ‘s eyes. I also prayed that God would also set others free across the planet from their eating disorders.
 

Then a few days later, I was in a J.C. Penny department store and I felt God asked me, what do you see? From where I was standing, I saw large photographs of beautiful people everywhere, and manikins draped in the latest clothes fashions, plus racks and tables displaying all kinds of new clothes. I told the Lord, “I see vanity.” Everything there was to try and make people look better on the outside with no thought or cares about the inside. The stores only interest was in making money. (Many people in America have far more clothes than they need while other poor nations struggle to have something to wear. I remember one time seeing a large 40’ container filled with new and use clothes, because there was no longer any interest in them at the Goodwill Store, so they were hauling them to the dump, because it was too expensive to do anything else with them. That to me was a shame on our society.) Anyway I asked God to forgive us, and America, for our vanity. To help us see our true self. Some people spend more time in front of the mirror, than they do considering what is really mattered to God. “Man looks on the outside, but God looks on the heart.”
 

Again, one evening I went out for a walk and I saw papers and trash all over the street and in yards that people had thrown from their cars after leaving a local convenient store. I was seeing how lazy and careless some people had become. This was reflection of their heart and attitude. Garbage in and garbage out, and where are we going to put it all? Only God can clean up the mess we’ve made of His creation, both on this planet and of mankind. Again I prayed, Father forgive us for we know not what we do. I wondered what this world would look like a hundred or even a thousand years from now. God help us! And give us wisdom on how to restore this world and people’s lives. On my way back to our apartment, I picked up some of the garbage and then put it in a trash bin.
 

Then this last week I saw lots of moths in one of our fir trees and lots of rust on the water pipes I was repairing, I prayed that God would remove the curse of pestilences, rust and mildew from the earth that devour the beauty of His creation. I also prayed that He would remove the pride, greed and thoughts of lust from my heart that devour my time and emotions that I seem to be unable to remove.

My point in sharing all this is that as sons and daughter of God we need to speak bigger prayers—to declare things as though they are. I know to some people this may sound crazy, but God wants us to restore this world and His people. So how is it going to happen if we don’t pray and speak those things that are not as though they are? That’s what faith is all about. Right? We need to think outside the box, beyond our self and beyond our personal family. We need to speak and act on behalf of future generations. God wants us to pray, and pray His will and see heaven on earth once again. “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Miracle of Multiplication

"I telling you tonight that the miracle of multiplication is your inheritance to perform just as it was for Abraham and as it was seen through Jesus and His disciples, that which you saw in the Bible. Whatever things you ask for when you pray. Whatever you desire in your heart; these things will be yours.

It's been a long...It's a Beatles song. It's been a long and winding road. It's been a long road, and it seems like it's been going on for half your lives. And you know, it's gone on for thousands of years, because your simply living out Abraham's life in modern clothing. I have invested a lot into you. I'm investing everything into you. I'm investing everything into you. I'm not going to be testing you to see if your worthy of it, just to pull it away and give it to someone better another day, that's not the Bible. I've been grooming you your whole life, to be placed upon a lampstand for my house keeping. And I know your flesh wrestles with that...You know the heart of the Father and that He loves people and that He has invested all that He has in you, just as He did before you were born. And He seeks for you, both of you to understand how He has always seen you. We've see you without that sin nature. Oh, He recognizes The Fall of mankind, of course, but He sees you beyond that, without that.

You see, you may spend a lot of time and attention about that stuff. And I really don't like it when you do that. It really isn't that helpful. I like it when you come up here and put your head against My chest and you start hearing My heart and desires; to know My heart and ways.

On Wednesday night, David, you quoted the prophet Jeremiah to the people, 'that Yahweh loves you with an everlasting love.' Through those words you will convince My people that the Father's plans for them are for good, that the Fathers hearts is all Good, And the more people receive and accept those words the more His presence will come into people's lives, to that "church." You see, that great move of God is simply allowing God in the door."  

(A portion of prophecy from Sheldon David on 2-04-2011)

Every son of God has to walk out the life and faith of Abraham, even Jesus did. Christ was also in Abraham. The gift of multiplication is available to all of them. However, there are many churches today who are teaching there congregation how to lead people to Christ, but often ignoring the most important thing. As "good" as that may be, it is not the way of God. People get save, because someone paid a price and spent time in the presence of God, just as Jesus and His disciples did. Then on the Day of Pentecost they saw the results. It is the presence of the Holy Spirit the bring conviction and salvation, not clever words or principles.

Although some people may get a few results following these methods, the best results will come from those who are true sons and daughters of God. Hundreds and thousands of people will be set free; physically and spiritually, because their life and prayers transcended time and space for future generations. They will even break bread to feed the hungry multitudes. This is the miracle of multiplication.

God's Chosen People

"Since you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory..."   

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. [Put on His robe of Glory.] Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3: 1-18 brackets mine)

Sonship takes God's words to another level by faith. They are not deceived, but lead by His Holy Spirit, therefore they have a different life style. They see and do things from a different perspective, and the future God has planned for them is awesome. "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." (I Corinthians 2: 9) 

Note: Sometimes it best to just let the Bible speak for itself.