Looks Are Deceiving

In today's world one has to be very careful when buying something. Sometimes you aren't quite sure what you are getting unless you read the small print, open the box, or take it for a test drive. As they say, "never judge a book by its cover." Even when we watch a commercial or a movie, it's hard to know what is real and what is not. What they are able to do with computer generated scenes is amazing. If you didn't know better, you would swear aliens disintegrated the US capitol and other countries, tornadoes destroyed Los Angeles or all kinds of giant monsters really exist, including dinosaurs in the twenty-first century. Hollywood makes deception an art form for entertainment and profit. There are also magicians who demonstrate incredible illusions. And then, there are the bad guys who deceive in order to take advantage of or hurt others for their own selfish benefit.

Much of life has become an illusion that many prefer to live in. They often try to put on the appearance of something other than what they really are, trying to give the impression they are better, happier, sexier, more powerful or more successful than others. It has become challenging to determine what is genuine and what is not.

Webster — illusion: 1. the act of deceiving 2. something that objectively existing in such a way as to cause a misinterpretation of its actual nature

People who live without God in their life are living an illusion. Pretending they are in control of their lives and destinies. They believe they don't need God, or if there even is a God. And if there is a God, he may or may not help people, because that is just the way they see him.

Because of the fall of mankind, our hearts were harden towards God and so was our way of thinking. Mans tendency has always been to satisfy his own wants rather than the will of God. Therefore, God allowed us to believe a lie in hopes that we would eventually see our need for a savior. Some have, but many more have not. To think that all is well without God is an illusion and a deception of the enemy that keeps our minds veiled from the truth, like a magician's black cloak. Satan is the master of deceptions and illusions. Everything he says is a lie. (John 8:44)

Sad to say, many Christian think the same way, that just because they go to church and occasionally read their Bible they are OK with God. Others even try to give the impression that they are better than others because of their religious believes or activities. We have all fallen short of the Glory of God (Roman 3:23). That Gift and Glory is Jesus Christ. (John 3:16 and Romans 6:23).

Jesus Christ was the only one who walked on earth who was not deceived by the lies of satan (Is.53:9) The more closely we follow His example, of doing only what He sees the Father doing and saying only what He hears the Father saying, then we also will be less deceived ourselves. And people will want to hear and listen to what we say because we walk in God's love and authority just as Jesus did.

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

 (I Thessalonians 5:18) 


Our Heavenly Father is faithful and He will never stop loving us.

Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

One night the Lord shared with us His feelings about blood sacrifices and the sufferings of certain individuals and groups of people that changed the course of both Biblical history and American history. I regards to America, He said, "America is held together by a cord of red. A nation of remembrance and God can't forget her."

There were a multitude of Americans in the past who helped establish and protect the United States. They did so at great cost to themselves, their families and others. Many were murdered and their possessions were burned. Through the years tens of thousands have shed their blood on the battlefields in order to free their country and their brothers from slavery. They have also fought on foreign soil to help free other nations from the oppression of evil dictators.

Still others have sacrificed their lives on mission fields, sharing the Gospel and helping the poor and the needy. God said, "A bloodline has been laid around America" and God intends to honor and protect America, because of these sacrifices and for being "a safe harbor" for His people.

God has and will continue to bless America more than she deserves, all because of the promises he made. But at the same time, God stated, " I am a Father, I do not give my rights to another to discipline. It is in my hands, not in terrorist's hands, not in China's hands, not in anyone else's hands, only in mine. I am her Father...I will not allow attacks. The blood line has been drawn around this land and who is going to by-pass that. Only God has that authority to discipline this nation... The Father disciplines those he loves and He has chosen to love America, because she is Rehab the harlot, that saw the Father's favor upon another and sought to harbor the spies. Just as America sought to harbor the Jewish people. And I cannot turn away from that. America is about to lead the world again, but first the discipline." The blessings that are coming to America will be far greater, because of the awesome love of the Heavenly Father.

All blessings from God are released through a Covenant Blessing (Gen.12:1-3), and established by blood sacrifice. Those blessings began with the sacrifices made by the Patriarchs. Abraham was willing to leave his family, his land and even offered his greatest possession, his son Isaac, in obedience to God, and so it has been with all (Abraham's & God's) spiritual sons. Unfortunately, we do not see the same kind of passion in America today.

The Lord said, "Love must be sacrificial...Many nations have had martyrs and they are so ripe for an absolute move of My Spirit. But, the American Christians have mocked suffering... And that is why there has not been a great move of God in America in a long time." Blessings are not based on American Christian's abilities to improve their self-worth or possessions, but on their obedience and their sacrifices to help others. The Prosperity Gospel is deceptive and the grace of God should not be taken for granted.

The Lord said that in the Kingdom of God, "Love will be the administration, and never, ever disassociate the sacrifice, the pain and the blood from the love; it is the same." He continued to say that, "The Father wants to save a people and He wants to see true martyrs and suffering to be seen in this land. He wants humility to be the foundation in which the flag can stand... I'm looking for a man who loves all the way to the point of death, so I can raise him up to a high position. So the love of God is the real issue in the coming days...God is looking at the heart. He's looking at the blood."

To sacrifice our life for the sake of God and helping his children, including the lost and the poor, is the purest form of love and worship. It has been that way from the beginning of time, from the shed blood of Abel, the prophets and all the saints of old, until the last saint has poured out his or her blood. Their shed blood will be honored, because of the shed blood of Jesus, two thousand years ago on the Cross. God's Son, Jesus Christ, made the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of all humanity. It was there that He gave His life, so we might have life. There was no greater love or sacrifice.

Today, we need to get a fresh vision of Jesus' tortured body seared into our minds so that we understand exactly what it took for Him to set man free. This is the Gospel's message: love forgives everything and withholds nothing. It would be wise to remember His sacrifice and honor Him above all others.

Note: God also honors and blesses all countries and nations that will bow their knees to Him. America will also bow. It only takes a small percentage of righteous people to begin turning the heart of the Father. He also appreciates every individual who sacrifices for Jesus' sake and the Gospel, at home and abroad. They too will be greatly blessed. God is no respecter of persons or nations who choose to honor Him. The earth is the Lord's, and He is worthy of every nation's praises.

Also, to those who have sacrificed and suffered extreme injuries, both physical and mental because of wars and service to their country, I honor you and tell you that your sacrifices were not in vain or unnoticed, even by God. It is God's desire to see people's lives restored—physically, mentally and spiritually—in the days and years ahead, if we'll only place our trust in Him. Nothing is impossible with God. This means absolutely nothing is impossible. We are about to see the greatest display of God's grace and supernatural powers in ways we have never seen before. So don't give up hope; place your trust in His love and healing power. He won't let you down; just reach out and touch him. His hand is reaching out to save, honor and bless you for your sacrifices.

"For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation." (Psalms 149:4)