Joseph Herrin (04-29-2012)
A number of brothers and sisters in Christ wrote to me prior to this most recent Passover season saying they felt it would be a significant one. Although no significant event occurred during this season that were along the lines of major disaster befalling the nations, or judgment falling upon the house of God, I believe there were things transacted in heavenly realms that have set a soon coming judgment in motion.
I set the following two prophetic experiences before you for your consideration. The first one occurred on the first day of Passover, and was shared publicly by a sister in Christ that I have recently come to know. Her name is Bonita Catherine Petroff and she has a blog site that can be found at the following Internet address.
http://crossinthewilderness.blogspot.com/
Over the years I have learned to exercise restraint in making mention of other people’s writings and ministries. The apostle Paul exhorted Timothy with the following words:
I Timothy 5:22
Do not lay hands upon anyone too hastily and thereby share responsibility for the sins of others; keep yourself free from sin.
Laying hands on someone was a form of endorsement. A modern example of such an event was the “apostolic” gathering of men and women who laid hands upon Todd Bentley toward the end of what was called “The Lakeland Revival.” A number of men and women who are considered to be people of repute among certain circles within the church met and prayed for Todd, speaking blessings over him, prophesying of a continuation and an expansion of the revival that had begun.
Just a few days later it became publicly known that Todd Bentley was acting in a very immoral and godless manner at the same time he was supposedly conducting a world renowned “move of the Spirit.” There were reports of drunkenness, of abuse of funds donated by people who were often induced to give sacrificially so that they might receive healing or some spiritual impartation. This revealed a gross absence of the fear of Yahweh. Todd was also discovered to be having sexual relations with a woman on his staff, and after this came out he divorced his wife and married this woman. Rick Joyner, one of the ministers present at Todd Bentley’s commissioning ceremony later testified that there were even more serious sins committed than the one’s listed, promising to disclose them after a process of restoration had been accomplished. To my knowledge, these greater sins have not yet been declared.
Those men and women who “laid hands” on Todd, appearing on stage with him to endorse his ministry, became partakers of his sins. Wittingly or not they set their seal of approval on this man (sins and all). Some even pretended to speak for God, declaring blessing and reward to Todd in His name.
As a disciple of Christ, and a man who has received a public ministry from Yahshua, I desire to lead the body of Christ in the way of truth. I would turn them to righteousness, and exhort them to acquit themselves in a manner that will meet with Yahweh’s approval on that day when all must give an account. My preaching has been that of the disciple’s cross, of self-denial, and a life surrendered to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I want to be careful to lead the saints to others who have the same heart, and who are preaching a similar message. Invariably, those speaking truth in this hour are not drawing huge crowds such as Joel Osteen and Rick Warren (or Todd Bentley). There are relatively few who attend to their words for the message coming forth from their lips and pens is not one of ease, prosperity and a sensual life. Christ said of the afflicted path that leads to life that “few there are who find it.”
I have shared once or twice a word posted by Bonita Petroff. I have had the opportunity to correspond with her some in recent months, and it is my judgment that she is a true sister in Christ. I have been impressed with her humility and her desire to be found pleasing and acceptable in the eyes of Christ. On her blog she shared a prophetic word that was given to her on the first day of Passover. This word was also attended by an act of obedience that spoke louder to me than the words on the page. This sister who has had long, beautiful hair, was directed of the Spirit of Christ to cut it short. Following is an excerpt from the blog post in which she wrote of this event.
If you have been following my articles, my testimony, you will know that long hair meant and means a lot to me, but I knew what the Lord was asking me to do. My hair was down to the middle of my back.
But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. [1Cor 11:15]
On the first day of Passover, when the Lord gave me the scriptures again, I heard what He said.
Cut off your hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath. [Jer 7:29]
The condition that a vast majority of the churches are in, along with the ‘sacrifices’ of millions of aborted babies is part of what has angered the Lord. Yet, the nation as a whole refuses to repent (same as other nations). America has been as Rome, in its power, wealth and military strength for the last couple of hundred years. When the Lord moved on me to cut off my hair, which I did with bitter tears, He also let me know:
Ichabod
This is an outward sign to America of its spiritual condition. America is cut off! Yea, it is Ichabod, My child, for My glory has departed from America. The time of her tribulation is upon her and still the nation will not repent. Travail, My child, pray for those who will yet turn to Me.
Do not give up on the people, but know that the glory of the nation has been removed. Fear not, stand fast and pray for the people.
The Lord has been warning all along.
(1) War Warning (2) Approaching Horses (3) Repent, Be Holy, A Warning
These warnings are from one voice, but He has spoken through countless others. Just as in Elijah’s day, when he went under the Juniper tree discouraged, the Lord reminded Elijah that there were still 7,000 prophets (that Jezebel hadn’t killed) that had not bowed their knee to Baal.
You know that these 7,000 prophets of Yhwh/God plus Elijah all came with the same message, which is why Jezebel was killing them. It is the same today; the Head (Y’shua/Jesus) sends the same message throughout the Body. We must listen, but not fear. Press into God now!
I break out crying many times when I go to touch or brush my hair, or catch a glimpse of it in the mirror. Ichabod! The glory of God has departed from America!
[End Excerpt]
Cutting her hair was not a light thing for sister Bonita. It was a bitter experience. That she was directed of the Father to do this on the first day of Passover speaks loudly to me. I believe the testimony of the Father is that America and the church among her will no longer be Passed Over by His judgment.
Consider the type and shadow Yahweh has given to us in the first Passover. Passover begins with the Feast of Unleavened Bread. For seven days the Israelites were commanded to eat bread without leaven in it. The Feast begins on day one by removing all leaven from the home. Leaven represents sin. Even as leaven reacts with the gluten in flour used for baking bread, causing it to rise up, so too does the flesh of man rise up in the presence of sin. The removal of leaven from the home signifies the removal of sin from one’s life.
On the final day of the Passover Feast the death angel passed over the land of Egypt and examined every household. He looked for the blood of the Passover lamb on the doorposts and lintel of the home. If he observed it there he Passed Over and no one in the home died. I believe the Father has been examining homes and lives at this time. In most instances, even among professing Christians, He has not found that which would cause Him to delay His hand of judgment any longer. I believe what Bonita was led to do in cutting off her hair is a symbol of the judgment of God.
Cut off your hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for Yahweh has rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath.
(Jeremiah 7:29)
The generation of His wrath... What do these words mean? They indicate that this generation is the one in which the cup of iniquity has become full. Not only has the nation committed abominations, but so have the people of God. There is no fear of Yahweh among those who call themselves Christians. The overall condition of the church is one of apostasy and sensuality, where pandering to the flesh has replaced holiness. The people of God have not departed from their sins. They have not removed the leaven from their households. Yahweh will no longer Pass Over His people in judgment. Even as a person greatly afflicted might cut off their hair as a sign of intense mourning, the Spirit is indicating that great tribulation is near at hand.
Bonita shared a word of prophecy in the same post, and I will include some excerpts here. You can read the entire post at the following link:
http://crossinthewilderness.blogspot.com/2012/04/o-jerusalem-o-america.html
I know what the King is saying. Here is the message:
Since the day that your fathers came forth out of the land of Egypt unto this day I have even sent unto you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them:
Yet they hearkened (listened) not unto Me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck: they did worse than their fathers.
Therefore you shall speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken (listen) to thee: you shall also call unto them; but they will not answer thee.
But you shall say unto them, This is a nation that obeys not the voice of the LORD their God, nor receives correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.
Cut off your hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on high places; for the LORD has rejected and forsaken the generation of His wrath.
For the children of Judah have done evil in My sight, saith the LORD: they have set their abominations in the house which is called by My name, to pollute it.
And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came it into My heart.
[Jer 7:25-31]
How long have I pleaded with the people to seek Me? How long have I been silent while the churches bring abominations into My presence, into the house called by My name; calling evil good and good evil? How long shall you play the harlot to seduce the people? You heap teachers to yourselves to scratch your itching ears for you will not endure sound doctrine. How long have I patiently listened when the prophets speak smooth things to the people and prophesy deceits? Yea and yea, judgment has begun in My own house.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [2Tim 4:3]
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits. [Is 30:10]...
Take up a lamentation. Weep and travail before Me, for great shall be the judgment upon this nation. It shall spread to every nation upon this earth, for such is the corruption; great is the evil. It is as in the days of Noah, and as in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah...
To My people, I say, Do not be dismayed or downtrodden, nor look around you in terror, for the day of My Christ Y’shua/Jesus is at hand. Put away the unclean thing and walk holy, then shall you be sons and daughters of Mine.
Stand fast. Now is not the time to weary; now is the time to come before Me and worship Me in spirit and in truth.
But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him. [Jn 4:23]
Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.
Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.
Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, says thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman (manager, farmer, steward) to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.
[Amos 5: 15, 16]
[End Excerpt]
A couple days ago I received an e-mail from Andrew Eberly, a brother in Christ in Indiana who is precious to God and to me. He shared with me a dream he had a few days ago.
Brother Joseph,
Even though you posted this blog yesterday (Referring to the blog relating the deaths of Don Cornelius and Dick Clark), I did not read it until this morning. I actually had a dream last night, however, which I feel is a further confirmation of some of the things you referenced regarding the music dying.
I do not have dreams very often so when Yahweh gives me one that causes me to wake up from my sleep, I pay attention to it. If you recall, I worked for JP Morgan Chase bank in Fort Wayne, Indiana for 8 years after graduating college until the end of 2007 when they let me go (due to cutbacks as the economy was falling). It has been over 4 years since I left and I have not been back to visit my place of work or my former colleagues.
Well, in this dream, for some reason I went back to the bank and was visiting with the regional president of the bank..., and he was taking me around to different areas of the building. I don't remember the content of our conversations, but when I was getting ready to leave, I got on the elevator to go down to the main floor. The elevator had a glass side overlooking the city in my dream even though the building is not like this in real life. When I got on the elevator I saw my old boss and started talking to him. All of a sudden, I felt the building starting to lean and sway and realized that we were having an earthquake. As I'm looking out the glass, I remember hoping that the building would come back erect, but it leaned too far and I knew that the entire 27-story building was coming to the ground almost like a tree toppling over from the base. As we were falling to the ground, great fear gripped me and I started praying in tongues thinking that I was about to die, I even remember saying, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit.”
I don't know how it happened, but I amazingly made it to the ground safely. I remember looking back and seeing the building like a felled tree cut off from about the 2nd or 3rd story with the remaining stories laying flat on the ground with people coming out of the opening almost like ants escaping from a disturbed nest. My children weren't with me in the earlier part of the dream, but somehow I knew that they were still in the building. I found a high place to stand on overlooking the crowd that was fleeing the scene and began calling for Jonathan. To my relief, Jonathan, Hannah, and Joanna came safely out of the building and were able to find me. Then I woke up. I looked over at my clock and it was 4:4X am. I'm not sure on the minute, but it was close to 4:47 a.m. I think...
[End Quotation]
Andrew shared some regarding what the dream might mean and asked me for any insight I might have to help him understand it. I wrote back the following:
Dear Andrew,
Thank you for sharing your dream with me. My immediate impression as I was reading the description of your dream, before I came to your interpretation of it, is that the Father was showing you that the financial system represented by JP Morgan Chase is about to come down in a sudden and catastrophic collapse. It also came immediately to mind when you mentioned the building is 27 stories that this is (9+9+9) which symbolizes a fulness of judgment.
I believe the fact that there were two or three stories remaining is indicative of what will be left when the economy collapses. This is approximately 10% of the original height of the building. Many people have been speaking of a tremendous devaluation of the dollar, and I would not be surprised to find that people wake up one day to find that their money has lost 90% of its value.
It is interesting that you are not certain of the exact time, but you did note the first two digits of the time both being the number 4. Four denotes humility and Yahweh is about to abase His people and this nation. Those who walk humbly with the Father will survive. I believe this is partly demonstrated in the fact that in your dream your three children all survived, for children symbolize those who are humble, being small of stature. Also, the collapse occurred as you were heading "DOWN" to leave the building. This descent signifies a determination to go lower even before the judgment falls. I am reminded of the following verse:
Zephaniah 2:3
Seek Yahweh, all you humble of the earth who have carried out His ordinances; Seek righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of Yahweh's anger.
[End Reply]
I have more to share on this subject of judgment falling upon the nations soon, but I will wait until another day to share further some of what I am seeing the Father do in my own life to get all in readiness.
May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.
Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com
Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Double Witness - The Day the Music Died
Joseph Herrin (04-25-2012)
The year 2012 has opened with the deaths of two men who stood as symbols of the American Music scene. On February 1st Don Cornelius, founder and longtime host of Soul Train, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot. He had been in much pain and suffering for years due to physical infirmities.
Don Cornelius - Soul Train
September 27, 1936 – February 1, 2012
Two months later, another icon of the American Music scene died. Dick Clark had hosted American Bandstand for decades and was inextricably linked to music in America. He also created and hosted Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve from 1975 to 2004. The program has continued with a new host after Dick Clark suffered a stroke.
Dick Clark - American Bandstand
November 30, 1929 – April 18, 2012
There are perhaps no greater symbols of the American music industry than these two men. Their longevity was renowned, and they became the face of music to generations. For one of these men to die would be noteworthy, but for both of them to die within weeks of one another speaks loudly of the end of joy and mirth in America.
Yahweh establishes His testimony through two or more witnesses.
Deuteronomy 19:15
On the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.
In 2007 and 2008 Yahweh gave a profound witness of the fall of America. During the Miss Universe Pageant both years, the young woman representing America fell on stage during the evening gown portion of the competition.
Miss USA 2007/2008
In 2007 Rachel Smith was representing the USA when she slipped and fell on stage. In 2008 Crystal Stewart did the same thing. That same year the mortgage bubble imploded taking down banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, and numerous other businesses. Emergency stimulus money totaling trillions of dollars was injected into the economy to stave off economic meltdown, yet the nation has not recovered. The economic peril is far greater today than it was in 2008.
I had mentioned at the time that Yahweh uses a double witness to indicate that a matter He is prophesying to occur has been settled in His mind and will occur quickly. Joseph provided this understanding when he informed Pharaoh of the reason that his dreams of 7 years of prosperity followed by 7 years of famine were repeated.
Genesis 41:32
“Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about.”
In saying the matter is “determined” by God, Joseph was declaring that God would not relent, or repent, of what was revealed. No amount of prayer, intercession, repentance, or sacrifice would induce Yahweh to alter what had been determined. Joseph further declared that the repetition signified that these things would not delay.
This proved to be true regarding the fall of Miss USA in 2007 and 2008. The economic downfall arrived swiftly. Today there are tens of millions of Americans who have lost homes and jobs, and who have fallen from a position of prosperity into a daily struggle for subsistence.
I believe this double witness of these two icons of the American Music Industry dying in close proximity to one another serves as a witness of another judgment soon to befall America. To understand what is symbolized by the music being brought to an end in a nation, we can look to the Scriptures. The removal of music is associated with judgment on unrighteousness resulting in destruction.
Ezekiel 26:11-13
“With the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets. He will slay your people with the sword; and your strong pillars will come down to the ground. Also they will make a spoil of your riches and a prey of your merchandise, break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses, and throw your stones and your timbers and your debris into the water. So I will silence the sound of your songs, and the sound of your harps will be heard no more.”
Isaiah 24:3-9
The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for Yahweh has spoken this word. The earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away. The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left. The new wine mourns, the vine decays, all the merry-hearted sigh. The gaiety of tambourines ceases, the noise of revelers stops, the gaiety of the harp ceases. They do not drink wine with song...
The removal of music in the passages above was attended with a loss of wealth, homes, and property. A people who had been prosperous and at ease were brought to poverty, lowliness, and sorrow. Loss of life was also a prominent experience of those whose nations were judged by Yahweh.
Even among the people of God, Yahweh speaks of their music becoming detestable to Him. When righteousness and justice, humility and the fear of God, have departed from His people, their music appears as nothing more than discordant noise in His ears.
Amos 5:21-24
“I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
A time of judgment is at hand for the nations and for the church. The signs have been all around us. Christchurch, NZ was twice shaken by earthquakes resulting in great damage and the condemnation of many parts of the city. Hidden faults were exposed. The Costa Concordia disaster was a parable of the affluence and ease of the nations, particularly Europe and America, coming to a sudden end.
As Christians we are exhorted to walk soberly, understanding the times. We are not to be as those who walk in darkness, not knowing the things which are at hand and the events soon to take place. The most recent Super Bowl had a half-time program that celebrated the rising of Satan’s kingdom in the earth. It ended with a message of “World Peace.”
Phoenix Rising From the Ashes- World Peace
The Scriptures warn of that which will occur at such an hour as this.
I Thessalonians 5:3-6
While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.
The earth must experience her birth pangs as mature sons are brought forth in the image of Christ. There will be an end to mirth and music. It is truly a time to be sober and to focus upon bringing to completion and maturity those things that have been lacking in our lives. As yesterday’s blog testified, the Father is bringing into focus that which is lacking in the lives of His sons and daughters. He does not wish that His children experience loss of their spiritual inheritance, nor that they would be ashamed when they stand before Him.
The hour is late “so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.”
May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.
Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com
Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063
The year 2012 has opened with the deaths of two men who stood as symbols of the American Music scene. On February 1st Don Cornelius, founder and longtime host of Soul Train, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot. He had been in much pain and suffering for years due to physical infirmities.
Don Cornelius - Soul Train
September 27, 1936 – February 1, 2012
Two months later, another icon of the American Music scene died. Dick Clark had hosted American Bandstand for decades and was inextricably linked to music in America. He also created and hosted Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve from 1975 to 2004. The program has continued with a new host after Dick Clark suffered a stroke.
Dick Clark - American Bandstand
November 30, 1929 – April 18, 2012
There are perhaps no greater symbols of the American music industry than these two men. Their longevity was renowned, and they became the face of music to generations. For one of these men to die would be noteworthy, but for both of them to die within weeks of one another speaks loudly of the end of joy and mirth in America.
Yahweh establishes His testimony through two or more witnesses.
Deuteronomy 19:15
On the evidence of two or three witnesses a matter shall be confirmed.
In 2007 and 2008 Yahweh gave a profound witness of the fall of America. During the Miss Universe Pageant both years, the young woman representing America fell on stage during the evening gown portion of the competition.
Miss USA 2007/2008
In 2007 Rachel Smith was representing the USA when she slipped and fell on stage. In 2008 Crystal Stewart did the same thing. That same year the mortgage bubble imploded taking down banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, and numerous other businesses. Emergency stimulus money totaling trillions of dollars was injected into the economy to stave off economic meltdown, yet the nation has not recovered. The economic peril is far greater today than it was in 2008.
I had mentioned at the time that Yahweh uses a double witness to indicate that a matter He is prophesying to occur has been settled in His mind and will occur quickly. Joseph provided this understanding when he informed Pharaoh of the reason that his dreams of 7 years of prosperity followed by 7 years of famine were repeated.
Genesis 41:32
“Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about.”
In saying the matter is “determined” by God, Joseph was declaring that God would not relent, or repent, of what was revealed. No amount of prayer, intercession, repentance, or sacrifice would induce Yahweh to alter what had been determined. Joseph further declared that the repetition signified that these things would not delay.
This proved to be true regarding the fall of Miss USA in 2007 and 2008. The economic downfall arrived swiftly. Today there are tens of millions of Americans who have lost homes and jobs, and who have fallen from a position of prosperity into a daily struggle for subsistence.
I believe this double witness of these two icons of the American Music Industry dying in close proximity to one another serves as a witness of another judgment soon to befall America. To understand what is symbolized by the music being brought to an end in a nation, we can look to the Scriptures. The removal of music is associated with judgment on unrighteousness resulting in destruction.
Ezekiel 26:11-13
“With the hoofs of his horses he will trample all your streets. He will slay your people with the sword; and your strong pillars will come down to the ground. Also they will make a spoil of your riches and a prey of your merchandise, break down your walls and destroy your pleasant houses, and throw your stones and your timbers and your debris into the water. So I will silence the sound of your songs, and the sound of your harps will be heard no more.”
Isaiah 24:3-9
The earth will be completely laid waste and completely despoiled, for Yahweh has spoken this word. The earth mourns and withers, the world fades and withers, the exalted of the people of the earth fade away. The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they transgressed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant. Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who live in it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men are left. The new wine mourns, the vine decays, all the merry-hearted sigh. The gaiety of tambourines ceases, the noise of revelers stops, the gaiety of the harp ceases. They do not drink wine with song...
The removal of music in the passages above was attended with a loss of wealth, homes, and property. A people who had been prosperous and at ease were brought to poverty, lowliness, and sorrow. Loss of life was also a prominent experience of those whose nations were judged by Yahweh.
Even among the people of God, Yahweh speaks of their music becoming detestable to Him. When righteousness and justice, humility and the fear of God, have departed from His people, their music appears as nothing more than discordant noise in His ears.
Amos 5:21-24
“I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer up to Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them; And I will not even look at the peace offerings of your fatlings. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; I will not even listen to the sound of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
A time of judgment is at hand for the nations and for the church. The signs have been all around us. Christchurch, NZ was twice shaken by earthquakes resulting in great damage and the condemnation of many parts of the city. Hidden faults were exposed. The Costa Concordia disaster was a parable of the affluence and ease of the nations, particularly Europe and America, coming to a sudden end.
As Christians we are exhorted to walk soberly, understanding the times. We are not to be as those who walk in darkness, not knowing the things which are at hand and the events soon to take place. The most recent Super Bowl had a half-time program that celebrated the rising of Satan’s kingdom in the earth. It ended with a message of “World Peace.”
Phoenix Rising From the Ashes- World Peace
The Scriptures warn of that which will occur at such an hour as this.
I Thessalonians 5:3-6
While they are saying, "Peace and safety!" then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.
The earth must experience her birth pangs as mature sons are brought forth in the image of Christ. There will be an end to mirth and music. It is truly a time to be sober and to focus upon bringing to completion and maturity those things that have been lacking in our lives. As yesterday’s blog testified, the Father is bringing into focus that which is lacking in the lives of His sons and daughters. He does not wish that His children experience loss of their spiritual inheritance, nor that they would be ashamed when they stand before Him.
The hour is late “so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.”
May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.
Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com
Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
A Time of Healing
Joseph Herrin (04-24-2012)
Ecclesiastes 3:1-3
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven - a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal...
On April 15th I headed to Jekyll Island to meet with a family there to enjoy some fellowship and to share with them about spiritual matters. It had been about 3 weeks since I broke my left leg (again). The bus has a very heavy clutch in it which made driving difficult, even with a protective boot on. I asked George to drive. George has been staying with me the past few months. He formerly has worked as a truck driver and a bus driver. Yahweh plans all things perfectly and had a provision for a driver for the bus when I was unable to drive.
Marc Liebermann, His Daughter Adrielle, and I
(Click on any image to view larger)
I spent 8 days on Jekyll Island, and rode my bicycle around the island every day I was able. There were two days that my back was bothering me so I stayed off the bike to rest it. All other days I did the 18 mile circuit of the island, often going out for additional rides during the day. My top distance this past week was 37 miles in a single day. By the end of the week I was feeling stronger and my left leg was much improved.
Adrielle, George and Marc on the Bike Trail
Marc’s wife Honesty, his younger daughter Salome, and Honesty’s mother Dalene were also with us on the island. Dalene commented one night about the loneliness encountered as one walks the path Yahweh has appointed to them. I have found this to be true of my experience and that of others who are following Christ down the afflicted path that leads to life. Yahshua said “few there be that find” the path to life (Matthew 7:14). There is an abundance of company on the broad path that the soul chooses for itself. This is why ministers such as Joel Osteen who preach a message of “Your Best Life Now” are able to attract tens of thousands of members to their churches and sell books by the millions. The gospel of ease, comfort and prosperity attracts legions of followers, but the end of that path is not life. Multitudes will realize too late that they chose good and pleasant things for themselves in this life, forfeiting the inheritance of those who take up their cross to follow Christ.
Luke 6:20-26
And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.”
The family I met with has known much suffering and heartache, and the trials continue. The path is lonely. Most Christians cannot relate to the sufferings of the disciples of Christ (present day or past). The church tends to avoid those who weep, who suffer, and whose lives are not manifesting ease and prosperity. Those following in the steps of Christ are ostracized by their own brothers and sisters in Christ. This makes it all the more precious when Yahweh does grant us times of fellowship with other disciples of His Son. Such experiences are like encountering an oasis during a long desert journey. I found the time on Jekyll Island refreshing. It has been a long time since I have been blessed to be a part of the life of another family, to hear the children laugh, and see the family interact with one another in a spirit of love, honor and caring.
The time also proved healing to my body. Another week saw much improvement in my broken leg. Heading back to middle Georgia I was able to drive the bus myself without pain, or discomfort.
The Father has often used my visits to Jekyll Island as a time to speak to me, giving me revelation and understanding of that which He is doing in my life and among a remnant of His people. This visit was no different. I have much to share and, as the title of this post indicates, it relates to the subject of healing.
I have written recently about the chastening of the Father I have experienced in the area of ruling over the appetites of the flesh. The Adamic nature goes “on its belly.” It is a slave to the desires and passions of the flesh. I was born a slave to the flesh, but Christ came to set the captives free. It is righteous and just that He should chasten us when we continue to walk as slaves to the flesh when we have been called to freedom. Our heavenly Father desires sons who walk as spiritual beings, ruling over the flesh, not enslaved to the flesh’s desires.
The gospel today has been altered to accommodate the flesh and its desires. The cross that disciples are called to bear has been removed from the preaching of the church. The message delivered by Christ and His apostles has been replaced with a message of self-indulgence, of selfish pursuit. Ministers proclaim a message that advocates sating the fallen nature of Adam, not withholding from self anything the soul desires. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life all find a comfortable place among the churches of today. The apostle Paul said this would be the character of the church in the last days (II Timothy 3:1-7). He said that Christ would not return until the apostasy, a great falling away from the truth, occurred first.
Yahweh is seeking perfected sons. He is actively at work to lead a firstfruits group unto maturity that they might be conformed to the image of Christ.
Ephesians 4:13
Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Christ perfectly ruled over the desires of His flesh. This was revealed at His first temptation in the wilderness when He was tempted by Satan to turn the stones to bread after He had been fasting for forty days and was hungry. Yahshua refused for He had no command from the Father to satisfy his fleshly desires in this way. It was more important to Him to do the Father’s will than to satisfy the loud clamoring of His flesh.
I have been far from perfect in this area. I have been slow to attain conformity to Christ. Rather than buffeting my body and keeping it under subjection to the Spirit within, I have often given myself over to a fulfillment of the desires of the flesh. This has led the Father to discipline me, for He desires that I share His holiness. At one point I carried nearly 285 pounds on my 5' 9" frame. I was a walking example of the fleshly Christian. I lacked conformity to Christ.
Over the years the Father has dealt with me as a son. He has chastened me to draw my attention to this area in which I had been walking as a flesh man rather than as a spiritual man. I became diabetic in 1998 and was thereby prompted to lose 50 pounds. Ten years later I had a heart attack and lost another 50 pounds. Still, I had not reached that goal Yahweh had given me of staying under 165 pounds. I got down to 165 twice in the past couple years only to put 20-30 pounds back on.
To some, this seems like a small thing. It seems extreme that God would be concerned with a son being overweight, or eating the wrong foods, or too much food. There are so many other things that appear of much greater weight (pardon the pun). Is it not enough to be giving, to be kind, to walk in truth, to seek to perform the ministry with integrity, to live a moral life? To walk as Christ walked we cannot compromise with the flesh. If we are to be holy as He is holy we must rule over every passion and desire of the flesh.
It is not as if the Father had not spoken to me regarding this area of my life. I have known for years what constituted obedience and disobedience. I knew the will of the Father for my life. The Spirit of Christ in me desired to obey, but the flesh waged war against the spirit. I failed to exercise my spirit man by rising up and ruling over the flesh. Contrary to the will of God, my flesh was rising up and taking ascendancy over the spirit. I was not walking in obedience to the promptings of the Spirit of Yahweh.
If we are teaching a child to obey, it really does not matter what the subject of the obedience is. Perhaps we are telling a son or daughter to put their clothes in the laundry hamper rather than throwing them on the floor. In one sense, this is a minor issue. The world will not come to an end if dirty clothes are on the floor. However, very large issues are at hand as we test whether the child will obey in even a small thing, or whether they will manifest a spirit of rebellion and self-will.
If the child is disciplined, then the matter is brought to weigh more on their mind. Now when they have dirty clothes they will think about their being a cost to their disobedience. Suppose, however, their laziness, or an intractable spirit, or some other motive, leads them to continue to cast their clothes on the floor. They are falling short of obedience. They are manifesting dishonor to the parent. They are revealing that their own comfort, or desire, bears a higher priority than honoring and obeying the parent.
The parent may have to bring further discipline. This may induce the child to correct themself for a season, but then that old, lazy Adamic spirit kicks in again. They begin to obey intermittently. At times they will put the dirty clothes in the hamper, and other times they will reason to themselves that they are too tired, and it is really not harming anyone to throw them on the floor. Will the parent be satisfied? Not if they want to see their child arrive at maturity and become a morally responsible person.
This is the heart of our Father. He desires sons who are lacking in nothing. He wants sons who are as committed to obedience as Christ.
John 4:34
Yahshua said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”
John 6:38
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”
In the area of eating I have been self-indulgent. I have often chosen my will over the will of the Father. Because my Father does not want me to forfeit any good thing that is planned for overcoming sons, He has scourged me at times to elicit greater effort from my spirit man. He wants me to exercise the spirit and rule over the flesh.
Galatians 5:16-17
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Whether we obey the voice of the Spirit is a major issue in the eyes of Yahweh. No matter what He asks us to do, He is looking intently to see if we will obey. Ruling over my appetite for food is not as much an issue related to my physical health as it is to my spiritual health. Yahweh has prepared an inheritance, thrones and dominion, for sons and daughters who have overcome sin, Satan and the world. Yahweh will not be satisfied for any to fall short of attaining to a mature conformity to the image of Christ.
Yahweh has so designed our bodies and the creation that we might be encouraged to learn obedience. It is not the will of Yahweh that we be ruled by our appetites (I am speaking of all fleshly appetites here, not just food.)
Philippians 3:18-19
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly (appetite), and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
If I choose to eat sweet, sugary, fatty, or high flavor but highly refined foods that are unhealthy, my body is designed to bear forth negative consequences for this indulgence. Garbage in, garbage out. The body will compensate for a time, but by prolonged abuse, putting into the body that which is toxic, or destructive, or barren of nutritional value, the body will begin to manifest distress. Rather than being lean and energetic, the body will put on fat and become lethargic. The joints will suffer from carrying increased weight. The heart will suffer as the arteries become clogged with plaque. Breathing will become more labored. Thinking will become clouded. Perhaps diabetes will develop, or some other health issues.
These things are Yahweh’s method of getting our attention. Living to sate the flesh is contrary to the will of God. He has therefore designed things so that when we give ourselves over to fleshly desires that our bodies break down. It is not coincidental that sexual promiscuity leads to venereal disease, or that drug abuse leads to mental and physical problems, or smoking causes lung cancer and emphysema. The negative consequences of an indulgent lifestyle are designed to stimulate us to make changes. Yahweh wants His sons and daughters to rise up in the spirit and exercise mastery over the flesh with all of its passions and desires.
The Adamic nature is very stubborn. The flesh is not ruled over easily. Christ stated:
Matthew 11:12
“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.”
One application of these words is that the kingdom of God, which Christ said is “within you,” will only be established by great effort and warfare. Even as the Israelites had to wage war to take possession of the land of Canaan, we too must wage war to transform our bodies into a kingdom of peace and righteousness. The flesh is not going to submit meekly. This is why Paul spoke of crucifying it, putting it to death, and in another place of beating his body into subjection. Many of us are spiritually acting like the 98 pound weakling. We are easily bullied by the flesh when we should be fighting back. Christ has promised the victory to those who do so with persistence.
I have been burdened in my spirit at the absence of victory in eating right and having my weight under control. My conscience has troubled me. I have lacked that peace and confidence that comes when one knows they have fully, and with good effort, performed the will of God. There have been seasons when I have stirred myself up and walked in victory, choosing to be led of the Spirit rather than the flesh. During these seasons I have had an extraordinary peace. I want to abide in that place of peace at all times. I have often prayed that Yahweh might bring me to that place of victory where my conscience does not condemn me in anything. This too is the will of the Father, but it is a rare experience in this hour of sensual living in which the church has departed from the truth of the disciple’s calling.
Isaiah 42:18-20
Hear, you deaf! And look, you blind, that you may see. Who is blind but My servant, or so deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is so blind as he that is at peace with Me, or so blind as the servant of Yahweh? You have seen many things, but you do not observe them; Your ears are open, but none hears.
It is bad to be slow to obey and have to be instructed by repeated blows, yet I am thankful that the Father has persevered with me. He has been merciful. Although I have had physical afflictions, and even now my body is suffering due to my not obeying fully in the area of obeying the leading of the Spirit in my eating, I thank God for His discipline. I want to be a pleasing son. I want to end this life as an overcomer, knowing that I conquered every enemy in the land of my flesh, that I did not make a peace treaty with any giant, or idolatrous entity that stood against Yahweh. Although Yahweh has stricken me, He has shown me grace.
The tragic state of the church reveals that many are not even hearing the voice of the Spirit. They have become inured to the voice of conviction. I am often reminded of those Christians in Corinth whom Paul wrote to. He told them that some were sick, and others slept (had died) due to sin in their midst. Why was it necessary for the apostle to point out to them the reason for these things? They had grown callous in their sensuality and their spiritual perception was dulled. Even after Paul pointed out the connection between sin and sickness, and even death, I am certain that there were those among them who continued to suffer without ever recognizing the chastening hand of God in their lives.
Psalms 6:1-3
O Yahweh, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your wrath. Be gracious to me, O Yahweh, for I am pining away; Heal me, O Yahweh, for my bones are dismayed. And my soul is greatly dismayed; But You, O Yahweh - how long?
At a recent dental appointment the dentist spoke of my blood pressure being higher than it should be. I have developed a nagging cough that is related to heart disease. Yet God has revealed to me that I need not die prematurely of heart disease if I will walk in obedience going forward. The medical profession often gives people no hope of reversing heart disease. They do not address the root of the issue (diet and lifestyle). They treat symptoms only. The patient therefore does not make life changing alterations that could restore bodily health. Instead, they continue to abuse their bodies with lifeless and harmful foods and their condition deteriorates.
Yahweh led me to a book last year titled Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, by Caldwell B. Esselstyn, JR. M.D.. The book gives great hope to those who are willing to make radical alterations to their diets. It is revealing that the first group of twenty patients that Dr. Esselstyn was able to convince to adopt his dietary regimen were absolutely desperate. They had received every possible medical intervention including heart bypasses, stents, angioplasties, and loads of medication. Their physicians told them there was nothing further that modern medicine could do for them. They received a death sentence and could only await the day of their demise which appeared close at hand.
These men and women were so desperate that they were willing to adopt what were to them radical dietary changes. As Christians we should not be so resistant to adopting new habits and behaviors at the leading of the Great Physician. Yet, Christians are often less self-controlled than those in the world. Perhaps it is so much false preaching that you can live any way you want and still receive a glorious reward in heaven that has contributed to this intransigence among Christians.
To Dr. Esselstyn’s patients it may have appeared that life was greatly diminished by not being able to eat whatever the flesh desired. However, even a diminished life looked better than no life at all. Some who embraced these changes to their diet were living in constant pain, and in fear of dying. Some couldn’t even walk across a room without severe pain. Dr. Esselstyn writes:
Almost all of those who came to me, who had been told there was little hope, today - twenty years later - are alive, their arterial diseases receded.
The testimonies and examples in this book are truly encouraging. There is hope presented from a medical standpoint that immediate and lasting changes in diet and lifestyle can create an environment for the body to heal itself and to reverse the effects of heart disease. Lest some should accuse me of leading people to the arm of the flesh to be healed, my defense is that Dr. Esselstyn is merely saying the same thing the Spirit has been telling me for most of my adult life. “Cut out the fats and sugars. Eat a diet primarily of whole foods, of grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables.” The Spirit has been whispering these things to me for decades. At times He has spoken loudly to arrest my attention.
Even now the Spirit is saying that victory is within my grasp. It will require effort. It will take discipline of this body, ruling over my appetites. A return to good physical health (and spiritual growth) will require that I consciously make changes, rather than “winging it.” The Spirit has already been speaking to me, instructing me in what to do. As I obey my spirit man will be exercised and Christ within me will increase as the Adamic man decreases. It is interesting to see in this particular area of ruling over the flesh that the decrease of the Adamic man is visible. It is not always the case.
Many are being convicted of the Spirit to make changes in their lives that are just as important in the eyes of God, yet are less easily discerned by others. Some have been living for their appetites, though their bodies have not revealed it in excess weight. Perhaps they are addicted to cigarettes, or watching television, or spending too much time on the Internet, or visiting the wrong websites. They may be sating the flesh by shopping continuously for the things of this world that their soul craves; clothing, household ornaments, gadgets, or games. Some give into the flesh by reading unwholesome books, listening to worldly music, and the list goes on and on.
Do not permit yourself to put off obedience by reasoning that the things the Spirit is convicting you in are small, and are really inconsequential. When we stand before Christ to give an account, these things will not appear small at all. They will define who we are. We will either be declared overcomers, or the overcome.
Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Will we be given white robes of righteousness, or will the Master ask us how we came to be at the wedding feast without a wedding garment?
Matthew 22:12-14
So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."
When I returned from Jekyll Island, my e-mail revealed that Yahweh has been active in the lives of others to stir them up at this time. Some are experiencing serious bodily illness caused by diet and lifestyle. Others have been led to think about what that day will hold for them when they stand before the Lord. One brother, Kevin O’Connell shared with me the following.
I had a bad few minutes last Friday night. As I lay in bed praying prior to sleep, I was overcome with remorse and guilt for falling so short of the mark. My past vile sins came to mind, along with my current failures. I was despondent - sure there was no way I could be an overcomer. I wasn't even sure for a few minutes how God could love me. I had the thought that maybe I should just "give up" on the "God stuff" and try to enjoy life, knowing that I was too stained to be saved. Then it came to me that satan was whispering in my ear, playing on my guilt to knock me off course. I rebuked him and my fears were relieved.
The first thing I read the next morning was from Tim Tebow's autobiography, “Through My Eyes” and I wept in thanksgiving as I read it. Tim recounted the national championship game the Gators won in the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma in 2008. Then, he wrote:
“After the final touchdown I walked over to Coach Meyer. He pulled off his headset, opened up his arms, gave me a great big hug, and said, "Atta boy. Great job. You finished. I love you." It was a great feeling to hear him say that, after filling all the roles he had in my life as a coach, a friend, and a father figure.
As great as that was, how much greater will it feel when we get to heaven [not exactly, Tim, but that's okay! - Kevin’s note] and Jesus takes off his headset, opens up His arms, gives us a big hug and says, "Atta boy. Great job. You finished. I love you." I talk to kids about that all the time - finishing strong. It's great for football. You have to finish in football; you have to learn to finish in the weight room, through the line, finishing a sprint; everything gets hard. Finish. Eventually some people are going to stop, some people are going to quit, and some people are going to start going slower, but the people who can finish and finish at the same pace or stronger than when they started, those are the ones who are going to succeed, those are the ones who are going to be great. Those are the ones who are going to have an impact in this world and on the lives of others around them. How much more so in life to finish strong. For yourself. For the world. For others. For the God who created you.”
Tim's words brought to mind the line that was repeated several times in the movie Courageous. Reflecting on his role as a father, Alex, the lead character said, “I don’t feel like I started well, I want to finish well.”
What Kevin shared speaks profoundly. We live in an hour when many must be purged, purified and refined. The flesh must be crucified. The Spirit man must be exercised. Perhaps you are experiencing the chastening hand of God in your body, or in your mind. Yahweh has not given up on you. He is chastening you. He wants you to finish strong. If you obey then there is a possibility that the thing which is now serving as a goad in your life to urge you to exercise your spirit man will be removed. Health can be restored. Situations can be overturned. Yahweh’s goal is mature sons and daughters, not vengeance.
Let us ask God to heal us in both body and spirit.
Jeremiah 17:14
Heal me, O Yahweh, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise.
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Ecclesiastes 3:1-3
There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven - a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. A time to kill and a time to heal...
On April 15th I headed to Jekyll Island to meet with a family there to enjoy some fellowship and to share with them about spiritual matters. It had been about 3 weeks since I broke my left leg (again). The bus has a very heavy clutch in it which made driving difficult, even with a protective boot on. I asked George to drive. George has been staying with me the past few months. He formerly has worked as a truck driver and a bus driver. Yahweh plans all things perfectly and had a provision for a driver for the bus when I was unable to drive.
Marc Liebermann, His Daughter Adrielle, and I
(Click on any image to view larger)
I spent 8 days on Jekyll Island, and rode my bicycle around the island every day I was able. There were two days that my back was bothering me so I stayed off the bike to rest it. All other days I did the 18 mile circuit of the island, often going out for additional rides during the day. My top distance this past week was 37 miles in a single day. By the end of the week I was feeling stronger and my left leg was much improved.
Adrielle, George and Marc on the Bike Trail
Marc’s wife Honesty, his younger daughter Salome, and Honesty’s mother Dalene were also with us on the island. Dalene commented one night about the loneliness encountered as one walks the path Yahweh has appointed to them. I have found this to be true of my experience and that of others who are following Christ down the afflicted path that leads to life. Yahshua said “few there be that find” the path to life (Matthew 7:14). There is an abundance of company on the broad path that the soul chooses for itself. This is why ministers such as Joel Osteen who preach a message of “Your Best Life Now” are able to attract tens of thousands of members to their churches and sell books by the millions. The gospel of ease, comfort and prosperity attracts legions of followers, but the end of that path is not life. Multitudes will realize too late that they chose good and pleasant things for themselves in this life, forfeiting the inheritance of those who take up their cross to follow Christ.
Luke 6:20-26
And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.”
The family I met with has known much suffering and heartache, and the trials continue. The path is lonely. Most Christians cannot relate to the sufferings of the disciples of Christ (present day or past). The church tends to avoid those who weep, who suffer, and whose lives are not manifesting ease and prosperity. Those following in the steps of Christ are ostracized by their own brothers and sisters in Christ. This makes it all the more precious when Yahweh does grant us times of fellowship with other disciples of His Son. Such experiences are like encountering an oasis during a long desert journey. I found the time on Jekyll Island refreshing. It has been a long time since I have been blessed to be a part of the life of another family, to hear the children laugh, and see the family interact with one another in a spirit of love, honor and caring.
The time also proved healing to my body. Another week saw much improvement in my broken leg. Heading back to middle Georgia I was able to drive the bus myself without pain, or discomfort.
The Father has often used my visits to Jekyll Island as a time to speak to me, giving me revelation and understanding of that which He is doing in my life and among a remnant of His people. This visit was no different. I have much to share and, as the title of this post indicates, it relates to the subject of healing.
I have written recently about the chastening of the Father I have experienced in the area of ruling over the appetites of the flesh. The Adamic nature goes “on its belly.” It is a slave to the desires and passions of the flesh. I was born a slave to the flesh, but Christ came to set the captives free. It is righteous and just that He should chasten us when we continue to walk as slaves to the flesh when we have been called to freedom. Our heavenly Father desires sons who walk as spiritual beings, ruling over the flesh, not enslaved to the flesh’s desires.
The gospel today has been altered to accommodate the flesh and its desires. The cross that disciples are called to bear has been removed from the preaching of the church. The message delivered by Christ and His apostles has been replaced with a message of self-indulgence, of selfish pursuit. Ministers proclaim a message that advocates sating the fallen nature of Adam, not withholding from self anything the soul desires. The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life all find a comfortable place among the churches of today. The apostle Paul said this would be the character of the church in the last days (II Timothy 3:1-7). He said that Christ would not return until the apostasy, a great falling away from the truth, occurred first.
Yahweh is seeking perfected sons. He is actively at work to lead a firstfruits group unto maturity that they might be conformed to the image of Christ.
Ephesians 4:13
Until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Christ perfectly ruled over the desires of His flesh. This was revealed at His first temptation in the wilderness when He was tempted by Satan to turn the stones to bread after He had been fasting for forty days and was hungry. Yahshua refused for He had no command from the Father to satisfy his fleshly desires in this way. It was more important to Him to do the Father’s will than to satisfy the loud clamoring of His flesh.
I have been far from perfect in this area. I have been slow to attain conformity to Christ. Rather than buffeting my body and keeping it under subjection to the Spirit within, I have often given myself over to a fulfillment of the desires of the flesh. This has led the Father to discipline me, for He desires that I share His holiness. At one point I carried nearly 285 pounds on my 5' 9" frame. I was a walking example of the fleshly Christian. I lacked conformity to Christ.
Over the years the Father has dealt with me as a son. He has chastened me to draw my attention to this area in which I had been walking as a flesh man rather than as a spiritual man. I became diabetic in 1998 and was thereby prompted to lose 50 pounds. Ten years later I had a heart attack and lost another 50 pounds. Still, I had not reached that goal Yahweh had given me of staying under 165 pounds. I got down to 165 twice in the past couple years only to put 20-30 pounds back on.
To some, this seems like a small thing. It seems extreme that God would be concerned with a son being overweight, or eating the wrong foods, or too much food. There are so many other things that appear of much greater weight (pardon the pun). Is it not enough to be giving, to be kind, to walk in truth, to seek to perform the ministry with integrity, to live a moral life? To walk as Christ walked we cannot compromise with the flesh. If we are to be holy as He is holy we must rule over every passion and desire of the flesh.
It is not as if the Father had not spoken to me regarding this area of my life. I have known for years what constituted obedience and disobedience. I knew the will of the Father for my life. The Spirit of Christ in me desired to obey, but the flesh waged war against the spirit. I failed to exercise my spirit man by rising up and ruling over the flesh. Contrary to the will of God, my flesh was rising up and taking ascendancy over the spirit. I was not walking in obedience to the promptings of the Spirit of Yahweh.
If we are teaching a child to obey, it really does not matter what the subject of the obedience is. Perhaps we are telling a son or daughter to put their clothes in the laundry hamper rather than throwing them on the floor. In one sense, this is a minor issue. The world will not come to an end if dirty clothes are on the floor. However, very large issues are at hand as we test whether the child will obey in even a small thing, or whether they will manifest a spirit of rebellion and self-will.
If the child is disciplined, then the matter is brought to weigh more on their mind. Now when they have dirty clothes they will think about their being a cost to their disobedience. Suppose, however, their laziness, or an intractable spirit, or some other motive, leads them to continue to cast their clothes on the floor. They are falling short of obedience. They are manifesting dishonor to the parent. They are revealing that their own comfort, or desire, bears a higher priority than honoring and obeying the parent.
The parent may have to bring further discipline. This may induce the child to correct themself for a season, but then that old, lazy Adamic spirit kicks in again. They begin to obey intermittently. At times they will put the dirty clothes in the hamper, and other times they will reason to themselves that they are too tired, and it is really not harming anyone to throw them on the floor. Will the parent be satisfied? Not if they want to see their child arrive at maturity and become a morally responsible person.
This is the heart of our Father. He desires sons who are lacking in nothing. He wants sons who are as committed to obedience as Christ.
John 4:34
Yahshua said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”
John 6:38
“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”
In the area of eating I have been self-indulgent. I have often chosen my will over the will of the Father. Because my Father does not want me to forfeit any good thing that is planned for overcoming sons, He has scourged me at times to elicit greater effort from my spirit man. He wants me to exercise the spirit and rule over the flesh.
Galatians 5:16-17
But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Whether we obey the voice of the Spirit is a major issue in the eyes of Yahweh. No matter what He asks us to do, He is looking intently to see if we will obey. Ruling over my appetite for food is not as much an issue related to my physical health as it is to my spiritual health. Yahweh has prepared an inheritance, thrones and dominion, for sons and daughters who have overcome sin, Satan and the world. Yahweh will not be satisfied for any to fall short of attaining to a mature conformity to the image of Christ.
Yahweh has so designed our bodies and the creation that we might be encouraged to learn obedience. It is not the will of Yahweh that we be ruled by our appetites (I am speaking of all fleshly appetites here, not just food.)
Philippians 3:18-19
For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly (appetite), and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.
If I choose to eat sweet, sugary, fatty, or high flavor but highly refined foods that are unhealthy, my body is designed to bear forth negative consequences for this indulgence. Garbage in, garbage out. The body will compensate for a time, but by prolonged abuse, putting into the body that which is toxic, or destructive, or barren of nutritional value, the body will begin to manifest distress. Rather than being lean and energetic, the body will put on fat and become lethargic. The joints will suffer from carrying increased weight. The heart will suffer as the arteries become clogged with plaque. Breathing will become more labored. Thinking will become clouded. Perhaps diabetes will develop, or some other health issues.
These things are Yahweh’s method of getting our attention. Living to sate the flesh is contrary to the will of God. He has therefore designed things so that when we give ourselves over to fleshly desires that our bodies break down. It is not coincidental that sexual promiscuity leads to venereal disease, or that drug abuse leads to mental and physical problems, or smoking causes lung cancer and emphysema. The negative consequences of an indulgent lifestyle are designed to stimulate us to make changes. Yahweh wants His sons and daughters to rise up in the spirit and exercise mastery over the flesh with all of its passions and desires.
The Adamic nature is very stubborn. The flesh is not ruled over easily. Christ stated:
Matthew 11:12
“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.”
One application of these words is that the kingdom of God, which Christ said is “within you,” will only be established by great effort and warfare. Even as the Israelites had to wage war to take possession of the land of Canaan, we too must wage war to transform our bodies into a kingdom of peace and righteousness. The flesh is not going to submit meekly. This is why Paul spoke of crucifying it, putting it to death, and in another place of beating his body into subjection. Many of us are spiritually acting like the 98 pound weakling. We are easily bullied by the flesh when we should be fighting back. Christ has promised the victory to those who do so with persistence.
I have been burdened in my spirit at the absence of victory in eating right and having my weight under control. My conscience has troubled me. I have lacked that peace and confidence that comes when one knows they have fully, and with good effort, performed the will of God. There have been seasons when I have stirred myself up and walked in victory, choosing to be led of the Spirit rather than the flesh. During these seasons I have had an extraordinary peace. I want to abide in that place of peace at all times. I have often prayed that Yahweh might bring me to that place of victory where my conscience does not condemn me in anything. This too is the will of the Father, but it is a rare experience in this hour of sensual living in which the church has departed from the truth of the disciple’s calling.
Isaiah 42:18-20
Hear, you deaf! And look, you blind, that you may see. Who is blind but My servant, or so deaf as My messenger whom I send? Who is so blind as he that is at peace with Me, or so blind as the servant of Yahweh? You have seen many things, but you do not observe them; Your ears are open, but none hears.
It is bad to be slow to obey and have to be instructed by repeated blows, yet I am thankful that the Father has persevered with me. He has been merciful. Although I have had physical afflictions, and even now my body is suffering due to my not obeying fully in the area of obeying the leading of the Spirit in my eating, I thank God for His discipline. I want to be a pleasing son. I want to end this life as an overcomer, knowing that I conquered every enemy in the land of my flesh, that I did not make a peace treaty with any giant, or idolatrous entity that stood against Yahweh. Although Yahweh has stricken me, He has shown me grace.
The tragic state of the church reveals that many are not even hearing the voice of the Spirit. They have become inured to the voice of conviction. I am often reminded of those Christians in Corinth whom Paul wrote to. He told them that some were sick, and others slept (had died) due to sin in their midst. Why was it necessary for the apostle to point out to them the reason for these things? They had grown callous in their sensuality and their spiritual perception was dulled. Even after Paul pointed out the connection between sin and sickness, and even death, I am certain that there were those among them who continued to suffer without ever recognizing the chastening hand of God in their lives.
Psalms 6:1-3
O Yahweh, do not rebuke me in Your anger, nor chasten me in Your wrath. Be gracious to me, O Yahweh, for I am pining away; Heal me, O Yahweh, for my bones are dismayed. And my soul is greatly dismayed; But You, O Yahweh - how long?
At a recent dental appointment the dentist spoke of my blood pressure being higher than it should be. I have developed a nagging cough that is related to heart disease. Yet God has revealed to me that I need not die prematurely of heart disease if I will walk in obedience going forward. The medical profession often gives people no hope of reversing heart disease. They do not address the root of the issue (diet and lifestyle). They treat symptoms only. The patient therefore does not make life changing alterations that could restore bodily health. Instead, they continue to abuse their bodies with lifeless and harmful foods and their condition deteriorates.
Yahweh led me to a book last year titled Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, by Caldwell B. Esselstyn, JR. M.D.. The book gives great hope to those who are willing to make radical alterations to their diets. It is revealing that the first group of twenty patients that Dr. Esselstyn was able to convince to adopt his dietary regimen were absolutely desperate. They had received every possible medical intervention including heart bypasses, stents, angioplasties, and loads of medication. Their physicians told them there was nothing further that modern medicine could do for them. They received a death sentence and could only await the day of their demise which appeared close at hand.
These men and women were so desperate that they were willing to adopt what were to them radical dietary changes. As Christians we should not be so resistant to adopting new habits and behaviors at the leading of the Great Physician. Yet, Christians are often less self-controlled than those in the world. Perhaps it is so much false preaching that you can live any way you want and still receive a glorious reward in heaven that has contributed to this intransigence among Christians.
To Dr. Esselstyn’s patients it may have appeared that life was greatly diminished by not being able to eat whatever the flesh desired. However, even a diminished life looked better than no life at all. Some who embraced these changes to their diet were living in constant pain, and in fear of dying. Some couldn’t even walk across a room without severe pain. Dr. Esselstyn writes:
Almost all of those who came to me, who had been told there was little hope, today - twenty years later - are alive, their arterial diseases receded.
The testimonies and examples in this book are truly encouraging. There is hope presented from a medical standpoint that immediate and lasting changes in diet and lifestyle can create an environment for the body to heal itself and to reverse the effects of heart disease. Lest some should accuse me of leading people to the arm of the flesh to be healed, my defense is that Dr. Esselstyn is merely saying the same thing the Spirit has been telling me for most of my adult life. “Cut out the fats and sugars. Eat a diet primarily of whole foods, of grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables.” The Spirit has been whispering these things to me for decades. At times He has spoken loudly to arrest my attention.
Even now the Spirit is saying that victory is within my grasp. It will require effort. It will take discipline of this body, ruling over my appetites. A return to good physical health (and spiritual growth) will require that I consciously make changes, rather than “winging it.” The Spirit has already been speaking to me, instructing me in what to do. As I obey my spirit man will be exercised and Christ within me will increase as the Adamic man decreases. It is interesting to see in this particular area of ruling over the flesh that the decrease of the Adamic man is visible. It is not always the case.
Many are being convicted of the Spirit to make changes in their lives that are just as important in the eyes of God, yet are less easily discerned by others. Some have been living for their appetites, though their bodies have not revealed it in excess weight. Perhaps they are addicted to cigarettes, or watching television, or spending too much time on the Internet, or visiting the wrong websites. They may be sating the flesh by shopping continuously for the things of this world that their soul craves; clothing, household ornaments, gadgets, or games. Some give into the flesh by reading unwholesome books, listening to worldly music, and the list goes on and on.
Do not permit yourself to put off obedience by reasoning that the things the Spirit is convicting you in are small, and are really inconsequential. When we stand before Christ to give an account, these things will not appear small at all. They will define who we are. We will either be declared overcomers, or the overcome.
Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Will we be given white robes of righteousness, or will the Master ask us how we came to be at the wedding feast without a wedding garment?
Matthew 22:12-14
So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen."
When I returned from Jekyll Island, my e-mail revealed that Yahweh has been active in the lives of others to stir them up at this time. Some are experiencing serious bodily illness caused by diet and lifestyle. Others have been led to think about what that day will hold for them when they stand before the Lord. One brother, Kevin O’Connell shared with me the following.
I had a bad few minutes last Friday night. As I lay in bed praying prior to sleep, I was overcome with remorse and guilt for falling so short of the mark. My past vile sins came to mind, along with my current failures. I was despondent - sure there was no way I could be an overcomer. I wasn't even sure for a few minutes how God could love me. I had the thought that maybe I should just "give up" on the "God stuff" and try to enjoy life, knowing that I was too stained to be saved. Then it came to me that satan was whispering in my ear, playing on my guilt to knock me off course. I rebuked him and my fears were relieved.
The first thing I read the next morning was from Tim Tebow's autobiography, “Through My Eyes” and I wept in thanksgiving as I read it. Tim recounted the national championship game the Gators won in the Orange Bowl against Oklahoma in 2008. Then, he wrote:
“After the final touchdown I walked over to Coach Meyer. He pulled off his headset, opened up his arms, gave me a great big hug, and said, "Atta boy. Great job. You finished. I love you." It was a great feeling to hear him say that, after filling all the roles he had in my life as a coach, a friend, and a father figure.
As great as that was, how much greater will it feel when we get to heaven [not exactly, Tim, but that's okay! - Kevin’s note] and Jesus takes off his headset, opens up His arms, gives us a big hug and says, "Atta boy. Great job. You finished. I love you." I talk to kids about that all the time - finishing strong. It's great for football. You have to finish in football; you have to learn to finish in the weight room, through the line, finishing a sprint; everything gets hard. Finish. Eventually some people are going to stop, some people are going to quit, and some people are going to start going slower, but the people who can finish and finish at the same pace or stronger than when they started, those are the ones who are going to succeed, those are the ones who are going to be great. Those are the ones who are going to have an impact in this world and on the lives of others around them. How much more so in life to finish strong. For yourself. For the world. For others. For the God who created you.”
Tim's words brought to mind the line that was repeated several times in the movie Courageous. Reflecting on his role as a father, Alex, the lead character said, “I don’t feel like I started well, I want to finish well.”
What Kevin shared speaks profoundly. We live in an hour when many must be purged, purified and refined. The flesh must be crucified. The Spirit man must be exercised. Perhaps you are experiencing the chastening hand of God in your body, or in your mind. Yahweh has not given up on you. He is chastening you. He wants you to finish strong. If you obey then there is a possibility that the thing which is now serving as a goad in your life to urge you to exercise your spirit man will be removed. Health can be restored. Situations can be overturned. Yahweh’s goal is mature sons and daughters, not vengeance.
Let us ask God to heal us in both body and spirit.
Jeremiah 17:14
Heal me, O Yahweh, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, for You are my praise.
Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com
Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063
Friday, April 13, 2012
Preparing to Depart
Joseph Herrin (04-13-2012)
Exodus 12:11
“Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste -- it is Yahweh’s Passover.”
A number of people have written to me, or forwarded to me links to videos and teachings, indicating that they sense a special significance to this year’s Passover Festival. Passover is not to be confused with the pagan Easter (Ishtar, Astarte, Astoreth) celebration. Passover is a Biblical festival established by Yahweh while Easter is a pagan celebration that originated in ancient Babylon as the worship of the Sun and the goddess of fertility (hence the symbols of fertility like bunny rabbits, Ishtar eggs, flowers, and Sunrise services). To read more on Passover and Easter, and their incompatibility, I recommend the following writing.
http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/fat-tuesday-mardi-gras-ash-wednesday.html
Related to this, I would like to share a note for your consideration and prayer. Steve Kaempf, a brother in Christ I was blessed to meet in my travels across the nation in 2010, wrote and shared that he sensed this Passover season, and the following “counting of the omer” to hold special significance this year. One thing Steve noted is that 430 years ago the Gregorian calendar was adopted, replacing the Julian calendar.
You may ask, “Why is this significant?” The Gregorian calendar was created for the express purpose of establishing permanently a civil and religious calendar that insured Easter would always be observed at the appropriate time. The central focus of this calendar reform was getting th Easter date right.
It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582...
The motivation for the Gregorian reform was that the Julian calendar assumes that the time between vernal equinoxes is 365.25 days, when in fact it is presently almost exactly 11 minutes shorter. The error between these values accumulated at the rate of about three days every four centuries, resulting in the equinox being on March 11 (an accumulated error of about 10 days) and moving steadily earlier in the Julian calendar at the time of the Gregorian reform. Because the spring equinox was tied to the celebration of Easter, the Roman Catholic Church considered this steady movement in the date of the equinox undesirable.
The Gregorian calendar reform contained two parts: a reform of the Julian calendar as used prior to Pope Gregory's time and a reform of the lunar cycle used by the Church, with the Julian calendar, to calculate the date of Easter... Lilio also produced an original and practical scheme for adjusting the epacts of the moon when calculating the annual date of Easter, solving a long-standing obstacle to calendar reform.
[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendar]
I hope the fact was not lost upon the readers of this blog that President Obama, a man who has proven by his words and actions that he is anti-christ; who has championed the murder of the unborn; who has exerted great influence to promote homosexuality in the military and in society; a man who calls evil good and good evil; who has defended Islam as a religion of peace and faith while choosing to not participate in the Christian day of prayer; a man who has supported the removal of all things overtly Christian from society did indeed celebrate Easter at the White House with much enthusiasm. Why? Because Easter is not Christian. It is a continuation of pagan Sun worship and is attended with many obscene symbols, rites and practices. (I encourage the interested reader to study the connection to Carnival in Brazil and other nations, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, etc., to discern how many debauched practices are associated with the fertility goddess Ishtar/Easter.)
Barack Obama with Easter Bunny
I guarantee you there was no Passover observance at the White House. There was no commemoration of the death, burial and resurrection of Yahshua. The focus was upon the Babylonian Easter festival.
Barack Obama - Rolling Easter Eggs on the White House Lawn
It is rather telling that a Roman Catholic Pope would place so much emphasis upon getting the date of Easter right. It reveals that the Roman Catholic Church is truly the ancient Babylonian Sun religion thinly disguised as being Christian. See the following post:
http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/syncretism-part-four-apostles-of-sun.html
It was Pope Gregory the 13th who codified the new calendar into law. The number 13 holds an evil connotation for society at large, but few realize that the number from the earliest times has been used of Yahweh to denote rebellion and apostasy. I refer the reader to E.W. Bullinger’s study of the Biblical significance of this number.
http://www.philologos.org/__eb-nis/eight.htm#205
The year 2012 marks 430 years that the church (Roman Catholic and Protestant) has adhered to the Gregorian calendar that was devised to promote the celebration of the fertility rites of Easter at the precise time when the Sun (Spring equinox) and the lunar cycle were perfectly aligned for the correct Babylonian celebration. Like the Israelites in Egypt, the church has been brought under the sway of a fallen world system that made central the worship of pagan deities. (There is a reason that the Biblical Sabbath has been reinterpreted as falling on SUNDAY, rather than the date Yahweh established it to fall upon. It was the influence of Rome with its Sun worship that led to the change.)
It was the will of Yahweh that after 430 years of dwelling in Egypt that His chosen people should leave that pagan nation with all of its false religious practices.
Exodus 12:40-41
Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, all the hosts of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt.
Is it possible that after 430 years under the influence of the Gregorian calendar, a period in which the church has dwelt in spiritual Babylon and Egypt, that Yahweh is calling her out and that a wilderness journey lies before her at this time? I have considered this, noting specifically that Yahweh has testified to me that I should be used of Him as a guide to His people through their wilderness journeys. I have shared previously that vehicles symbolize ministry, and Yahweh has provided for me a bus (Carpenter Body Works) that was built in 1972. The bus is 40 years old this year. Forty is a number associated with wilderness journeys, for the Israelites were led through the wilderness for forty years, and Christ fasted in the wilderness for forty days.
During the past month and a half the Father has been indicating to me that a time of transition is at hand. I had spent 14 months prior to this camped in one spot in Perry, Georgia. Since that time I have been led to relocate and to make certain renovations to my bus to ready it for travel and usage in coming days. Quite beyond any choosing by myself (the reservations were made by friends) I find that my very first time of travel will be on the morning of April 15th. Passover ends April 14th. Thus, even as the Israelites found themselves traveling on this date 3,500 years ago, I find that I will also be at the beginnings of traveling in my bus.
I am not stating that the wilderness journey of the church in the wilderness will begin at this time. God has not given me any specific dates, or shown me events what will precipitate the departure of His people from their dwellings in Babylon and Egypt to enter into a wilderness period. I do believe, however, that we are at a special point in time when a remnant of God’s people are hearing the call to come out of Babylon and to surrender to be led of the Spirit in all they do even as the Israelites were led by the pillar of fire and cloud.
What would you be doing if you were an Israelite in Egypt 3,500 years ago and God had been telling you to get ready to depart? The Israelites were told to be in readiness, having their sandals on their feet and their staffs in their hands. They were to have all their possessions packed. What is often not considered is that they had to cut many ties to the world they had been living in. For more than four centuries the Israelites had been dwelling in Goshen, a fertile section of Egypt that was suitable for flocks and herds.
The Israelites had dwelt in this place for many centuries. They had built homes. They had planted gardens. They had become a settled people, thoroughly under the influence of Egypt. They knew God to be saying to them that they were to be ready to leave it all behind.
Back in 1999 the Father led me to leave everything behind that I had known. I was led to leave my employer of fourteen years and to follow wherever His Spirit led me. This resulted in my being led to surrender my house, furnishings, and many worldly possessions. I had to leave family and friends behind in order to walk with Yahshua. At that time I became a wilderness wanderer upon the earth. The following passage seems especially pertinent at this time.
Hebrews 11:24-28
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
The apostle Paul then continues by writing of others who walked similar paths as they followed God in obedience.
Hebrews 11:36-38
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Wanderers in desert places. Just like those who departed from Egypt 3,500 years ago. The wilderness places the Spirit of Christ has led me through in the past decade and more have at times included actual wilderness places, but more often I have been in the cities and towns as I have followed the Spirit. There have been mockers, afflictions, and destitution at times. There has even been imprisonment. Similar things are ahead for the sons and daughters of God who will follow the Spirit faithfully in this hour. There is a wilderness way to be trod. It is an afflicted path, but there is sufficient grace all along the way. The God of all comfort will walk with His people.
In recent days the Spirit has been directing me to specific preparations. I do not fully understand what they are for. I do not know the specific character of coming days, or the needs that will be present. Nevertheless, I have sought to obey that leading I have discerned of the Spirit. In a sense, I have experienced what those Israelites in Egypt must have felt when they knew that their departure from Egypt was nearing. Decisions had to be made, and preparations taken, to prepare for a journey whose details were unknown to them. They only knew they had to be mobile. They had to let go of those things that bound them to Egypt. They needed to be free to go wherever the Spirit of Yahweh led them.
The Spirit is indicating that a similar journey is near at hand for His people. The Scriptures testify of such an experience.
Revelation 12:6
Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
Revelation 12:14
But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
For a long period of time the church has taken her nourishment in the presence of the serpent. Satan had introduced many unclean foods for the church to feed upon. The doctrines of the church have been thoroughly leavened with falsehood, idolatry, and immorality. The church must experience a period of time when she is fed with pure food, that she might be established in righteousness and truth. This feeding will occur in the wilderness as the Ekklesia, the called out ones, are borne along by the Spirit of Christ.
For those who embrace it, the journey ahead will appear to be a wilderness way. The abundance of material things, of ease, comforts and pleasure, will be absent. The remnant of God’s people must endure hardship. They must have their minds girded up to follow a difficult path without murmuring or complaint. They need to encourage themselves with the knowledge that this will be a transforming journey. It will be a journey that takes fleshly men and women with minds set upon things of the earth and transforms them into spiritual beings with the mind of Christ.
I encourage you to be sensitive to the voice of the Spirit in this hour. Ask Him to show you how to make ready for that wilderness journey ahead of you. Ask Yahweh to show you what you must do to be enabled to depart from Egypt, from Babylon, and to begin that journey to Zion. Let the Spirit of Christ be your guide.
May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.
P.S. I will most likely not be posting anything for the next two weeks as I will be traveling from the 15th through the 22nd. I am making final preparations now, and will be busy for some days after this time period.
Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com
Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063
Exodus 12:11
“Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste -- it is Yahweh’s Passover.”
A number of people have written to me, or forwarded to me links to videos and teachings, indicating that they sense a special significance to this year’s Passover Festival. Passover is not to be confused with the pagan Easter (Ishtar, Astarte, Astoreth) celebration. Passover is a Biblical festival established by Yahweh while Easter is a pagan celebration that originated in ancient Babylon as the worship of the Sun and the goddess of fertility (hence the symbols of fertility like bunny rabbits, Ishtar eggs, flowers, and Sunrise services). To read more on Passover and Easter, and their incompatibility, I recommend the following writing.
http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2009/02/fat-tuesday-mardi-gras-ash-wednesday.html
Related to this, I would like to share a note for your consideration and prayer. Steve Kaempf, a brother in Christ I was blessed to meet in my travels across the nation in 2010, wrote and shared that he sensed this Passover season, and the following “counting of the omer” to hold special significance this year. One thing Steve noted is that 430 years ago the Gregorian calendar was adopted, replacing the Julian calendar.
You may ask, “Why is this significant?” The Gregorian calendar was created for the express purpose of establishing permanently a civil and religious calendar that insured Easter would always be observed at the appropriate time. The central focus of this calendar reform was getting th Easter date right.
It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582...
The motivation for the Gregorian reform was that the Julian calendar assumes that the time between vernal equinoxes is 365.25 days, when in fact it is presently almost exactly 11 minutes shorter. The error between these values accumulated at the rate of about three days every four centuries, resulting in the equinox being on March 11 (an accumulated error of about 10 days) and moving steadily earlier in the Julian calendar at the time of the Gregorian reform. Because the spring equinox was tied to the celebration of Easter, the Roman Catholic Church considered this steady movement in the date of the equinox undesirable.
The Gregorian calendar reform contained two parts: a reform of the Julian calendar as used prior to Pope Gregory's time and a reform of the lunar cycle used by the Church, with the Julian calendar, to calculate the date of Easter... Lilio also produced an original and practical scheme for adjusting the epacts of the moon when calculating the annual date of Easter, solving a long-standing obstacle to calendar reform.
[Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendar]
I hope the fact was not lost upon the readers of this blog that President Obama, a man who has proven by his words and actions that he is anti-christ; who has championed the murder of the unborn; who has exerted great influence to promote homosexuality in the military and in society; a man who calls evil good and good evil; who has defended Islam as a religion of peace and faith while choosing to not participate in the Christian day of prayer; a man who has supported the removal of all things overtly Christian from society did indeed celebrate Easter at the White House with much enthusiasm. Why? Because Easter is not Christian. It is a continuation of pagan Sun worship and is attended with many obscene symbols, rites and practices. (I encourage the interested reader to study the connection to Carnival in Brazil and other nations, Mardi Gras in New Orleans, etc., to discern how many debauched practices are associated with the fertility goddess Ishtar/Easter.)
Barack Obama with Easter Bunny
I guarantee you there was no Passover observance at the White House. There was no commemoration of the death, burial and resurrection of Yahshua. The focus was upon the Babylonian Easter festival.
Barack Obama - Rolling Easter Eggs on the White House Lawn
It is rather telling that a Roman Catholic Pope would place so much emphasis upon getting the date of Easter right. It reveals that the Roman Catholic Church is truly the ancient Babylonian Sun religion thinly disguised as being Christian. See the following post:
http://parablesblog.blogspot.com/2010/02/syncretism-part-four-apostles-of-sun.html
It was Pope Gregory the 13th who codified the new calendar into law. The number 13 holds an evil connotation for society at large, but few realize that the number from the earliest times has been used of Yahweh to denote rebellion and apostasy. I refer the reader to E.W. Bullinger’s study of the Biblical significance of this number.
http://www.philologos.org/__eb-nis/eight.htm#205
The year 2012 marks 430 years that the church (Roman Catholic and Protestant) has adhered to the Gregorian calendar that was devised to promote the celebration of the fertility rites of Easter at the precise time when the Sun (Spring equinox) and the lunar cycle were perfectly aligned for the correct Babylonian celebration. Like the Israelites in Egypt, the church has been brought under the sway of a fallen world system that made central the worship of pagan deities. (There is a reason that the Biblical Sabbath has been reinterpreted as falling on SUNDAY, rather than the date Yahweh established it to fall upon. It was the influence of Rome with its Sun worship that led to the change.)
It was the will of Yahweh that after 430 years of dwelling in Egypt that His chosen people should leave that pagan nation with all of its false religious practices.
Exodus 12:40-41
Now the time that the sons of Israel lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. And at the end of four hundred and thirty years, to the very day, all the hosts of Yahweh went out from the land of Egypt.
Is it possible that after 430 years under the influence of the Gregorian calendar, a period in which the church has dwelt in spiritual Babylon and Egypt, that Yahweh is calling her out and that a wilderness journey lies before her at this time? I have considered this, noting specifically that Yahweh has testified to me that I should be used of Him as a guide to His people through their wilderness journeys. I have shared previously that vehicles symbolize ministry, and Yahweh has provided for me a bus (Carpenter Body Works) that was built in 1972. The bus is 40 years old this year. Forty is a number associated with wilderness journeys, for the Israelites were led through the wilderness for forty years, and Christ fasted in the wilderness for forty days.
During the past month and a half the Father has been indicating to me that a time of transition is at hand. I had spent 14 months prior to this camped in one spot in Perry, Georgia. Since that time I have been led to relocate and to make certain renovations to my bus to ready it for travel and usage in coming days. Quite beyond any choosing by myself (the reservations were made by friends) I find that my very first time of travel will be on the morning of April 15th. Passover ends April 14th. Thus, even as the Israelites found themselves traveling on this date 3,500 years ago, I find that I will also be at the beginnings of traveling in my bus.
I am not stating that the wilderness journey of the church in the wilderness will begin at this time. God has not given me any specific dates, or shown me events what will precipitate the departure of His people from their dwellings in Babylon and Egypt to enter into a wilderness period. I do believe, however, that we are at a special point in time when a remnant of God’s people are hearing the call to come out of Babylon and to surrender to be led of the Spirit in all they do even as the Israelites were led by the pillar of fire and cloud.
What would you be doing if you were an Israelite in Egypt 3,500 years ago and God had been telling you to get ready to depart? The Israelites were told to be in readiness, having their sandals on their feet and their staffs in their hands. They were to have all their possessions packed. What is often not considered is that they had to cut many ties to the world they had been living in. For more than four centuries the Israelites had been dwelling in Goshen, a fertile section of Egypt that was suitable for flocks and herds.
The Israelites had dwelt in this place for many centuries. They had built homes. They had planted gardens. They had become a settled people, thoroughly under the influence of Egypt. They knew God to be saying to them that they were to be ready to leave it all behind.
Back in 1999 the Father led me to leave everything behind that I had known. I was led to leave my employer of fourteen years and to follow wherever His Spirit led me. This resulted in my being led to surrender my house, furnishings, and many worldly possessions. I had to leave family and friends behind in order to walk with Yahshua. At that time I became a wilderness wanderer upon the earth. The following passage seems especially pertinent at this time.
Hebrews 11:24-28
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
The apostle Paul then continues by writing of others who walked similar paths as they followed God in obedience.
Hebrews 11:36-38
And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Wanderers in desert places. Just like those who departed from Egypt 3,500 years ago. The wilderness places the Spirit of Christ has led me through in the past decade and more have at times included actual wilderness places, but more often I have been in the cities and towns as I have followed the Spirit. There have been mockers, afflictions, and destitution at times. There has even been imprisonment. Similar things are ahead for the sons and daughters of God who will follow the Spirit faithfully in this hour. There is a wilderness way to be trod. It is an afflicted path, but there is sufficient grace all along the way. The God of all comfort will walk with His people.
In recent days the Spirit has been directing me to specific preparations. I do not fully understand what they are for. I do not know the specific character of coming days, or the needs that will be present. Nevertheless, I have sought to obey that leading I have discerned of the Spirit. In a sense, I have experienced what those Israelites in Egypt must have felt when they knew that their departure from Egypt was nearing. Decisions had to be made, and preparations taken, to prepare for a journey whose details were unknown to them. They only knew they had to be mobile. They had to let go of those things that bound them to Egypt. They needed to be free to go wherever the Spirit of Yahweh led them.
The Spirit is indicating that a similar journey is near at hand for His people. The Scriptures testify of such an experience.
Revelation 12:6
Then the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared by God, so that there she would be nourished for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
Revelation 12:14
But the two wings of the great eagle were given to the woman, so that she could fly into the wilderness to her place, where she was nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.
For a long period of time the church has taken her nourishment in the presence of the serpent. Satan had introduced many unclean foods for the church to feed upon. The doctrines of the church have been thoroughly leavened with falsehood, idolatry, and immorality. The church must experience a period of time when she is fed with pure food, that she might be established in righteousness and truth. This feeding will occur in the wilderness as the Ekklesia, the called out ones, are borne along by the Spirit of Christ.
For those who embrace it, the journey ahead will appear to be a wilderness way. The abundance of material things, of ease, comforts and pleasure, will be absent. The remnant of God’s people must endure hardship. They must have their minds girded up to follow a difficult path without murmuring or complaint. They need to encourage themselves with the knowledge that this will be a transforming journey. It will be a journey that takes fleshly men and women with minds set upon things of the earth and transforms them into spiritual beings with the mind of Christ.
I encourage you to be sensitive to the voice of the Spirit in this hour. Ask Him to show you how to make ready for that wilderness journey ahead of you. Ask Yahweh to show you what you must do to be enabled to depart from Egypt, from Babylon, and to begin that journey to Zion. Let the Spirit of Christ be your guide.
May you be blessed with peace and understanding in these days.
P.S. I will most likely not be posting anything for the next two weeks as I will be traveling from the 15th through the 22nd. I am making final preparations now, and will be busy for some days after this time period.
Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com
Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
The Chastisement of Sons - A Jonah Story
The following testimony was sent to me by Tom McManus. I believe it will speak to many who read this blog, and affirm to them what the Father is speaking about the discipline of sons. Tom's experience reveals the chastening hand of the Father when one of His sons embraces the American ethos of seeking wealth, and making it a focus of one's life. I pray you might be profited as you read.
A Story of Jonah
Tom McManus
Once upon a time there lived a man that lived in a beautiful stone house on a quaint windy street in a trendy affluent neighborhood. The stone house had wonderful arches and a thick wooden front door that fit into one of those arches, like a hobbit door. The man added a second floor to the property which added much value to his house, since he built it for less than the s.f. sale price of other comparable beautiful stone houses in the neighborhood. The new addition had a big master bedroom and master bathroom with atrium doors that swung out to a covered deck with columns on the side. There was even enough room for an office and a sitting area. The addition had 5 different dormers, great roof lines, stain glass, ceiling fans and more.
The man decided to use the equity in his house to buy other houses that he could buy inexpensively from foreclosures, short sales or other distressed situations, rehab them, and then sell them for a good profit. This worked well and he decided to be at ease, eat, drink (but not too much), and be merry, along with going to church and having a bible study at his beautiful stone house.
When he first came to the Lord he was on fire and lived humbly, but he started to get to be the most luke warmest as one could be, he definitely wasn’t cold. Then things started to get harder, his properties didn’t sell, he dropped the prices, but they still didn’t sell. He decided to rent some of them and the people would rent them and then stop paying the rent. It was very frustrating to this man because he heard so many different stories of why the rent could not be paid and/ or why the houses would not sell. The man worked very hard and took more “get rich quick real estate seminars” not so much to be a millionaire, but to just pay the note on the beautiful stone house he was living in. One solution was to refinance with a very low monthly payment which, took the pressure off for a while or at least until the adjustable rate started readjusting. And still the houses wouldn’t sell and the different stories from the renters became more and more elaborate. The man had a hard time looking at the books and although he seemed to be working harder, he was just getting deeper and deeper in debt. He even charged some more seminars in the hope of finding the answers he needed, but the answers didn’t come. Even his prayers didn’t get answered.
A prophet spoke to him and said the Lord gave me two words for you, “reluctant prophet”, I don’t know what that means that’s just what I got. He then realized he had Hepatitis C which required him to take medication which made him feel even more depressed and more tired and everything seemed to be caving in. He took medication for his depression and pills to get asleep, but they became less and less effective. He realized he needed to sell his house. He thought to himself Oh no there must be another way; the Lord will make a way. Lord? Lord? Oh no, what will people think? Where will I go? What will I do? But this is a very very nice stone house, on a quaint windy street in a trendy affluent neighborhood. Oh God what will people think? He walked away saddened for he was a man of great wealth. He began packing the boxes and put his nice stone house up for sale. He thought somehow God would intervene, see his plight and deliver him. He paced back and forth throughout the night, with anxious thoughts filling his mind. The medication wouldn’t quench the fears and he could find no rest. He cried to the Lord, read scripture, sang, listened to worship music again and again. It gave him only momentary relief and then he would be overcome with fear, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, self pity, shame….He paced back and forth for three days and three nights, when at 3AM he balled up in his bed like a baby and fell into a pit.
Now this is not just a story about any man this is about me. I can not explain fully the depth of darkness I experienced. When I have been in dark places before, my eyes would be drawn to any semblance of light as my eyes adjusted to the dark, to a crack of light, the end of the tunnel , where was up, down.. This was different because it was pitch black and was getting blacker and blacker and blacker, not only that but it was expanding all around me, getting deeper and wider and higher. It felt like realizing you were on the edge of a cliff and about to fall into a bottomless pit, except I didn’t have feet to stand on and this pit was all around me, up down, sideways. I had nothing to hold on to and I froze for fear of falling. I was so afraid I could not speak. I remembered David’s’ plea “take not your holy spirit from me” God was not here, it was devoid of God. I’ve never been in a place like this. I was on my own, I wanted to escape but there was nowhere to go to. A thought flashed of killing myself to get away from this, but I thought I could be trapped here. Is this hell? What is going on? How could I be in a place like this? Had my religion been a fake, a sham-I never knew you? I thought to plead to God, but my thoughts were nothing but shallow canned prayers that were disgustingly selfish and lifeless and mocked God, I can’t say that, I can’t say anything..I couldn’t say anything ..I was being choked. I had nothing worth saying. I’m lost, I deserve this, this could be it, I don’t know how to get out…I’m drowning in darkness being swallowed up. I yelled out GOD HELP ME!! I was overwhelmed, my sin flooded me extending into the darkness, I couldn’t confess because my mouth was vile where do I begin, haven’t I been doing exactly what I want, I was over taken by my sins. I started thinking, I got to do something, I got to do something, I need to get out. I need to get out. GOD HELP ME!!
Then I remembered a scene vividly, earlier that day, like I was there. I was packing boxes feeling depressed, lifeless and confused as to what to keep and what to throw away. I remembered what I was thinking. We didn’t know where we were going, or how much storage we’d have. Should I sell this? Give it away? throw it away? I can’t believe I’m in this mess, why? why? What am I doing? What am I going to do? Then I could hear Janie’s voice saying, “Tom, I don’t know about taking all those real estate books, I don’t think we should have them” It was a crystal clear rewind of what she said. I remembered thinking when she said that, that she was not only unimpressed with the various “ get rich quick” real estate books, tapes and manuals, but understood that there was a deeper root of greed, lust and mammon that was at work in them. When I heard her say that I thought, hey I chew the meat and spit out the bones, I’m just gaining some valuable insights and techniques, besides I really don’t care for big boats, cars or flashy clothes, besides I’ll tithe and be able to contribute to the kingdom, besides this is what I do and I’ve spent a ton of money on this stuff. Being in the depressed mood I was in at the time I decided to put it off along with every other decision for another day.
Wait what is happening here I’m covered in darkness, I’m lost. I’m over taken by my sins and a 10 second conversation is brought to my mind. Does Janie have a point here? My justification seemed obviously pathetic. Are these tapes worldly, full of lust and greed? Are they bad to have around? The more I thought about it the more darkness thickened, they were not only bad they were evil, corrupting, and vile. Lord help me! If you think these things are evil and you want me to get rid of them I will. Do you want me to get rid of them? NOW !!!!!!!! I jumped out of bed ran over to bookshelf threw on the light and started at top of the bookshelf and started pulling every book that had anything to do with “get rich quick”. I went left to right, top to bottom, filled up my arms and ran down three flights of stairs and threw them into a city trash container and ran back up stairs. When I got to the top of the stairs Janie was sitting up in bed and said Tommy what are you doing at this hour? I was so afraid I couldn’t even speak and I filled my arms up again and again and again. I went over every bookshelf, draw and cabinet again to make sure I got everything. The last load filled that trash barrel and I swung the lid shut. Exactly when that happened the darkness broke and I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit!! I can’t tell you how that feels, how do you go from fear to no fear, from despair to peace in a moment, it was not something I did, it happened to me. When I got to the top of the stairs Janie was sitting up in bed. She had seriously felt I had lost my mind that the stress and the lack of sleep had pushed me over the edge. When I stood at the top of the stairs she looked at me in amazement and said, what happened to you? Within the time it took me to run down and up the stairs, I was transformed from someone who was running from death to someone who was at total peace. I knew that I was going to be OK. As I came to bed I took with me a pen and notebook. Janie said what happened? I kept saying WOW Oh WOW God just showed up. We started praising and thanking and weeping and rejoicing in the goodness of God. I brought a pen and paper because I had more instruction to get from Him and I wanted to remember what He was telling me. He specifically brought to mind two women that were renting from me who had not been paying me rent. They had been lying and stealing from me but, the Lord showed me I was to not only forgive them but, give particular things to them. The pressure to pay my bills to keep afloat my sinking ship made me embittered towards them. I am sad to say that one of the girls just had a baby and what really went through my mind was Oh no, she couldn’t pay the rent without a baby how is going to do it now? He showed me His heart for them. I repented with thanksgiving and continued to write down what I was impressed that I needed to do. We continued to worship until I fell into a deep restful sleep.
When I awoke my first thoughts were, what was that? One of my questions with what happened was what was that with the outer darkness, how does that fit with my eternal security doctrine; I thought nothing could separate me from you?
As I settled into prayer with that question in mind Janie felt the Lord was directing us to the book of Jonah. Since I wanted to hear everything the Lord had for me I read the description of the book from my NIV Study Bible which I rarely do. It said and still says… Jonah was a reluctant prophet….Woooooow oh I have heard that before, the prophet gave me that word. As I read the book there was some striking similarities. Jonah was also a religious man, who knew God. (Jonah 4:2) Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, I was up for that long without sleep.
The Lord was definitely redirecting Jonah (storm, whale, vine, worm, scorching wind) and perfecting him through these trials. Then Chapter 2 leapt out at me. Had I missed this before, Jonah is praying from inside the fish. Jonah was somehow stuck in the whale for he was ready to die by being thrown over the boat than do what the Lord had for him to do. And although this is a relatively short prayer that can be spoken in minutes, it was over a period of three days before he was vomited out. I understood the darkness he must have been covered with, the pressure the depths, the not knowing whether he was he was up or down, floating and swept back and forth like seaweed on a rock
Jonah's Prayer
1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. 2 He said:
"In my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave [a] I called for help,
3 You hurled me into the deep,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
4 I said, 'I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.'
5 The engulfing waters threatened me, [b]
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you brought my life up from the pit,
O LORD my God.
7 "When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, LORD,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.
8 "Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
Salvation comes from the LORD."
10 And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
Now here is something that I never saw before. What caused Jonah to be spit out. Look at verse 8 Jonah says 8 "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” Jonah didn’t want to preach to Nineveh because he didn’t want God to have mercy on them. He realized that his vain ideas were nothing but worthless idols, compared to Gods’ perfect plans. If he went his way he was forfeiting the grace of God, leaving it behind. Idols are man made and so was Jonahs reasoning.
Verse 9 He is thankful for understanding this, tosses his idol away which is really no sacrifice because its worthless, especially compared to the wonderful grace he is receiving in return. He repents, commits to turn around by saying “What I have vowed I will make good” Followed by “Salvation comes from the Lord”. This is a big proclamation of truth. Can you hear God saying, Hmm I thought Salvation came from Jonah J . Now even though Jonah would need this revelation worked into him some more through more trials, he had learned this lesson for now and pop he is vomited onto dry land.
You can imagine the wow when I read this. This just happened to me. Interestingly in verse 2 “From the depths of the grave [a] I called for help, .The word for grave in Hebrew is sheol. Here is the definition from Strongs:
1) sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit
a) the underworld
b) Sheol - the OT designation for the abode of the dead
1) place of no return
2) without praise of God
3) wicked sent there for punishment
4) righteous not abandoned to it
5) of the place of exile (fig)
6) of extreme degradation in sin
So three days and nights of anguish and an idol is revealed. I get rid of it and pop I am vomited onto dry land. I go from darkness to light.
Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com
Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063
A Story of Jonah
Tom McManus
Once upon a time there lived a man that lived in a beautiful stone house on a quaint windy street in a trendy affluent neighborhood. The stone house had wonderful arches and a thick wooden front door that fit into one of those arches, like a hobbit door. The man added a second floor to the property which added much value to his house, since he built it for less than the s.f. sale price of other comparable beautiful stone houses in the neighborhood. The new addition had a big master bedroom and master bathroom with atrium doors that swung out to a covered deck with columns on the side. There was even enough room for an office and a sitting area. The addition had 5 different dormers, great roof lines, stain glass, ceiling fans and more.
The man decided to use the equity in his house to buy other houses that he could buy inexpensively from foreclosures, short sales or other distressed situations, rehab them, and then sell them for a good profit. This worked well and he decided to be at ease, eat, drink (but not too much), and be merry, along with going to church and having a bible study at his beautiful stone house.
When he first came to the Lord he was on fire and lived humbly, but he started to get to be the most luke warmest as one could be, he definitely wasn’t cold. Then things started to get harder, his properties didn’t sell, he dropped the prices, but they still didn’t sell. He decided to rent some of them and the people would rent them and then stop paying the rent. It was very frustrating to this man because he heard so many different stories of why the rent could not be paid and/ or why the houses would not sell. The man worked very hard and took more “get rich quick real estate seminars” not so much to be a millionaire, but to just pay the note on the beautiful stone house he was living in. One solution was to refinance with a very low monthly payment which, took the pressure off for a while or at least until the adjustable rate started readjusting. And still the houses wouldn’t sell and the different stories from the renters became more and more elaborate. The man had a hard time looking at the books and although he seemed to be working harder, he was just getting deeper and deeper in debt. He even charged some more seminars in the hope of finding the answers he needed, but the answers didn’t come. Even his prayers didn’t get answered.
A prophet spoke to him and said the Lord gave me two words for you, “reluctant prophet”, I don’t know what that means that’s just what I got. He then realized he had Hepatitis C which required him to take medication which made him feel even more depressed and more tired and everything seemed to be caving in. He took medication for his depression and pills to get asleep, but they became less and less effective. He realized he needed to sell his house. He thought to himself Oh no there must be another way; the Lord will make a way. Lord? Lord? Oh no, what will people think? Where will I go? What will I do? But this is a very very nice stone house, on a quaint windy street in a trendy affluent neighborhood. Oh God what will people think? He walked away saddened for he was a man of great wealth. He began packing the boxes and put his nice stone house up for sale. He thought somehow God would intervene, see his plight and deliver him. He paced back and forth throughout the night, with anxious thoughts filling his mind. The medication wouldn’t quench the fears and he could find no rest. He cried to the Lord, read scripture, sang, listened to worship music again and again. It gave him only momentary relief and then he would be overcome with fear, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, self pity, shame….He paced back and forth for three days and three nights, when at 3AM he balled up in his bed like a baby and fell into a pit.
Now this is not just a story about any man this is about me. I can not explain fully the depth of darkness I experienced. When I have been in dark places before, my eyes would be drawn to any semblance of light as my eyes adjusted to the dark, to a crack of light, the end of the tunnel , where was up, down.. This was different because it was pitch black and was getting blacker and blacker and blacker, not only that but it was expanding all around me, getting deeper and wider and higher. It felt like realizing you were on the edge of a cliff and about to fall into a bottomless pit, except I didn’t have feet to stand on and this pit was all around me, up down, sideways. I had nothing to hold on to and I froze for fear of falling. I was so afraid I could not speak. I remembered David’s’ plea “take not your holy spirit from me” God was not here, it was devoid of God. I’ve never been in a place like this. I was on my own, I wanted to escape but there was nowhere to go to. A thought flashed of killing myself to get away from this, but I thought I could be trapped here. Is this hell? What is going on? How could I be in a place like this? Had my religion been a fake, a sham-I never knew you? I thought to plead to God, but my thoughts were nothing but shallow canned prayers that were disgustingly selfish and lifeless and mocked God, I can’t say that, I can’t say anything..I couldn’t say anything ..I was being choked. I had nothing worth saying. I’m lost, I deserve this, this could be it, I don’t know how to get out…I’m drowning in darkness being swallowed up. I yelled out GOD HELP ME!! I was overwhelmed, my sin flooded me extending into the darkness, I couldn’t confess because my mouth was vile where do I begin, haven’t I been doing exactly what I want, I was over taken by my sins. I started thinking, I got to do something, I got to do something, I need to get out. I need to get out. GOD HELP ME!!
Then I remembered a scene vividly, earlier that day, like I was there. I was packing boxes feeling depressed, lifeless and confused as to what to keep and what to throw away. I remembered what I was thinking. We didn’t know where we were going, or how much storage we’d have. Should I sell this? Give it away? throw it away? I can’t believe I’m in this mess, why? why? What am I doing? What am I going to do? Then I could hear Janie’s voice saying, “Tom, I don’t know about taking all those real estate books, I don’t think we should have them” It was a crystal clear rewind of what she said. I remembered thinking when she said that, that she was not only unimpressed with the various “ get rich quick” real estate books, tapes and manuals, but understood that there was a deeper root of greed, lust and mammon that was at work in them. When I heard her say that I thought, hey I chew the meat and spit out the bones, I’m just gaining some valuable insights and techniques, besides I really don’t care for big boats, cars or flashy clothes, besides I’ll tithe and be able to contribute to the kingdom, besides this is what I do and I’ve spent a ton of money on this stuff. Being in the depressed mood I was in at the time I decided to put it off along with every other decision for another day.
Wait what is happening here I’m covered in darkness, I’m lost. I’m over taken by my sins and a 10 second conversation is brought to my mind. Does Janie have a point here? My justification seemed obviously pathetic. Are these tapes worldly, full of lust and greed? Are they bad to have around? The more I thought about it the more darkness thickened, they were not only bad they were evil, corrupting, and vile. Lord help me! If you think these things are evil and you want me to get rid of them I will. Do you want me to get rid of them? NOW !!!!!!!! I jumped out of bed ran over to bookshelf threw on the light and started at top of the bookshelf and started pulling every book that had anything to do with “get rich quick”. I went left to right, top to bottom, filled up my arms and ran down three flights of stairs and threw them into a city trash container and ran back up stairs. When I got to the top of the stairs Janie was sitting up in bed and said Tommy what are you doing at this hour? I was so afraid I couldn’t even speak and I filled my arms up again and again and again. I went over every bookshelf, draw and cabinet again to make sure I got everything. The last load filled that trash barrel and I swung the lid shut. Exactly when that happened the darkness broke and I felt the presence of the Holy Spirit!! I can’t tell you how that feels, how do you go from fear to no fear, from despair to peace in a moment, it was not something I did, it happened to me. When I got to the top of the stairs Janie was sitting up in bed. She had seriously felt I had lost my mind that the stress and the lack of sleep had pushed me over the edge. When I stood at the top of the stairs she looked at me in amazement and said, what happened to you? Within the time it took me to run down and up the stairs, I was transformed from someone who was running from death to someone who was at total peace. I knew that I was going to be OK. As I came to bed I took with me a pen and notebook. Janie said what happened? I kept saying WOW Oh WOW God just showed up. We started praising and thanking and weeping and rejoicing in the goodness of God. I brought a pen and paper because I had more instruction to get from Him and I wanted to remember what He was telling me. He specifically brought to mind two women that were renting from me who had not been paying me rent. They had been lying and stealing from me but, the Lord showed me I was to not only forgive them but, give particular things to them. The pressure to pay my bills to keep afloat my sinking ship made me embittered towards them. I am sad to say that one of the girls just had a baby and what really went through my mind was Oh no, she couldn’t pay the rent without a baby how is going to do it now? He showed me His heart for them. I repented with thanksgiving and continued to write down what I was impressed that I needed to do. We continued to worship until I fell into a deep restful sleep.
When I awoke my first thoughts were, what was that? One of my questions with what happened was what was that with the outer darkness, how does that fit with my eternal security doctrine; I thought nothing could separate me from you?
As I settled into prayer with that question in mind Janie felt the Lord was directing us to the book of Jonah. Since I wanted to hear everything the Lord had for me I read the description of the book from my NIV Study Bible which I rarely do. It said and still says… Jonah was a reluctant prophet….Woooooow oh I have heard that before, the prophet gave me that word. As I read the book there was some striking similarities. Jonah was also a religious man, who knew God. (Jonah 4:2) Jonah was in the belly of the whale for three days and three nights, I was up for that long without sleep.
The Lord was definitely redirecting Jonah (storm, whale, vine, worm, scorching wind) and perfecting him through these trials. Then Chapter 2 leapt out at me. Had I missed this before, Jonah is praying from inside the fish. Jonah was somehow stuck in the whale for he was ready to die by being thrown over the boat than do what the Lord had for him to do. And although this is a relatively short prayer that can be spoken in minutes, it was over a period of three days before he was vomited out. I understood the darkness he must have been covered with, the pressure the depths, the not knowing whether he was he was up or down, floating and swept back and forth like seaweed on a rock
Jonah's Prayer
1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. 2 He said:
"In my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave [a] I called for help,
3 You hurled me into the deep,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
4 I said, 'I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.'
5 The engulfing waters threatened me, [b]
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you brought my life up from the pit,
O LORD my God.
7 "When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, LORD,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.
8 "Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
Salvation comes from the LORD."
10 And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.
Now here is something that I never saw before. What caused Jonah to be spit out. Look at verse 8 Jonah says 8 "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs.” Jonah didn’t want to preach to Nineveh because he didn’t want God to have mercy on them. He realized that his vain ideas were nothing but worthless idols, compared to Gods’ perfect plans. If he went his way he was forfeiting the grace of God, leaving it behind. Idols are man made and so was Jonahs reasoning.
Verse 9 He is thankful for understanding this, tosses his idol away which is really no sacrifice because its worthless, especially compared to the wonderful grace he is receiving in return. He repents, commits to turn around by saying “What I have vowed I will make good” Followed by “Salvation comes from the Lord”. This is a big proclamation of truth. Can you hear God saying, Hmm I thought Salvation came from Jonah J . Now even though Jonah would need this revelation worked into him some more through more trials, he had learned this lesson for now and pop he is vomited onto dry land.
You can imagine the wow when I read this. This just happened to me. Interestingly in verse 2 “From the depths of the grave [a] I called for help, .The word for grave in Hebrew is sheol. Here is the definition from Strongs:
1) sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit
a) the underworld
b) Sheol - the OT designation for the abode of the dead
1) place of no return
2) without praise of God
3) wicked sent there for punishment
4) righteous not abandoned to it
5) of the place of exile (fig)
6) of extreme degradation in sin
So three days and nights of anguish and an idol is revealed. I get rid of it and pop I am vomited onto dry land. I go from darkness to light.
Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com
Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063
Friday, April 6, 2012
No More Liberty
Joseph Herrin (04-06-2012)
West Liberty, KY Main Street Before Tornado
West Liberty, KY Main Street After Tornado
Psalms 119:67
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.
Before speaking about the message to be observed in a devastating tornado that destroyed the city of West Liberty, Kentucky I want to share some thoughts regarding the chastisement of sons. I have recently been posting a series of writings on this topic, and I have related to those who read this blog that on March 21Yahweh broke my leg as an act of discipline. For many years the Father has patiently dealt with me in the area of ruling over my appetite for food. To say that I have been stubborn in this area would be accurate. The Father has had to deal sternly with me, for He is absolutely committed to His sons sharing in His character of righteousness and holiness, manifesting self-control over the flesh.
It has seemed objectionable to some for me to declare that Yahweh is interested in what to them seems to be a petty matter. To declare that He would break a son’s leg for bad food choices does not fit with the image of God they have embraced. Some have challenged my testimony of the Father bringing such a hard correction for a failure to submit to His will in the area of eating. Yet, the Bible is filled with testimonies of men and women who were either severely chastened, or disqualified for the birthright and blessing, because they did not rule over their body’s appetite for food.
Hebrews 12:15-16
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God..., that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
Numbers 11:33-34
While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of Yahweh was kindled against the people, and Yahweh struck the people with a very severe plague. So the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had been greedy.
I Corinthians 11:29-31
For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.
Yahweh did not strike me with the rod of correction because I chose sweet and sour over a plate of beans and rice. He chastened me because I was acting in a greedy manner. I was choosing to sate my fleshly appetites rather than to buffet my body and keep it under subjection. I was choosing to walk according to the passions and desires of the flesh, rather than by the Spirit. Such conduct is unbecoming one who is a son of God.
Yahshua demonstrated the righteousness and self-control that is pleasing to the Father as He abstained from all food for forty days at the direction of His Father. What the Father requested of me was much less demanding. He asked me to choose to eat healthy foods, and to eat in moderation. My flesh, however, cried out for that which is sensual, and I was greedy in wanting more food than my body physically needed. It was a just act for Yahweh to correct me, and I consider a broken leg to be a mild correction when compared to those accounts from Scripture listed above.
I have observed something as I have been recovering from this broken leg. I do not have a car. My only transportation is my bus/RV and a bicycle. I am unable to drive the bus with the broken leg (my left leg) as the bus has a very heavy clutch. I can ride a bicycle with the protective boot I have for my leg, but I cannot carry my crutches on the bicycle, so I am limited in where I can go. I have found in the past couple weeks that I am unable to run to the store, or to visit a restaurant, etc., due to this decrease in mobility. Before I broke the leg I would think nothing of riding my bicycle across town to a store to purchase whatever I desired or needed. This freedom has been removed from me.
Not only this, but there are two restaurants in town that I used to like to frequent. One was a Chinese buffet. It had been in business for many years here in town, but it closed down some months back. The other is Chick-fil-A. There is a very well managed Chick-fil-A restaurant in town, and it always does a big business. A couple weeks ago it closed for remodeling. Their sign says it will be closed for a month. I find that my eating options have been greatly curtailed. The things I formerly desired have either been taken away, or getting to them has been rendered so difficult that I find that it takes little effort for me to resist those impulses that would formerly have resulted in quick and impulsive action to satisfy the cravings of my flesh.
I believe there is a message here. Yahweh often lames His sons and daughters to keep them from running so freely after that which their flesh desires. He has used the imagery of inflicting an injury to a person’s walk consistently throughout the Bible. The angel touched Jacob in the socket of his thigh, and Jacob had to lean on his staff afterwards.
Genesis 32:24-31
Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him... Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh.
When a man is afflicted in some manner where walking becomes difficult, or painful, he becomes more contemplative in choosing where he will go. The man has an inducement to limit unnecessary travel. Experiencing the discomfort, or pain, of walking is embraced at necessity. The casual carelessness of such decisions is gone.
If I find that a craving for a chocolate bar comes upon me I am led to consider my way to a greater degree than I did formerly. I might ride my bicycle to the store (carefully), but when I get there I will have to put weight on my injured leg for I cannot carry my crutches on the bike. I know to do so will be uncomfortable, and will likely prolong my recovery, so although I could do such a thing, I am inclined to put the craving out of my mind, which is what I should have been doing when walking was much easier.
This form of correction is common among the sons of Yahweh. Those who are called to journey to Zion, the place of the overcomers in Christ, will frequently bear upon their bodies the marks of Yahweh’s discipline. The remnant traveling to Zion is a broken company who walk haltingly upon injured limbs. This encourages them to not stray far from the path.
Micah 4:6-7
"In that day," declares Yahweh, "I will assemble the lame and gather the outcasts, even those whom I have afflicted. I will make the lame a remnant and the outcasts a strong nation, and Yahweh will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on and forever.”
It is humbling to confess that apart from Yahweh’s frequent corrections, severe at times, I would be far off the path that leads to Zion. I know this to be true, however. Apart from the regular chastening of my Father in heaven I would be a most careless son and would lack any close resemblance to my elder brother Yahshua. Like a stubborn mule that keeps straying from the path that leads to his master’s destination, Yahweh has had to strike me with a rod repeatedly while instructing me to return to The Way that leads to life.
All those who arrive at Zion under such a hand of correction will have nothing to boast about pertaining to their flesh. They can only state, “It is because my Father loved me that I have arrived at this place. It is because of His faithful correction that I remained on the path of life.”
Romans 9:29
And as Isaiah said before: "Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a posterity, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made like Gomorrah."
People of God, I know the wickedness that is bound up in my flesh. I thank God for His faithfulness to discipline me that I might not be given over to wickedness and depravity. In one of the articles I posted on the Christchurch earthquakes where unknown “faults” led to great loss and ruin, I wrote the following:
The flesh must constantly be ruled over. Apart from the restraint of the Spirit of Christ I would long ago have made a shipwreck of my own life. If Christ had granted Satan permission to sift me as wheat, I would have shown all the world what depths of sin I am capable of. When I hear of some failure of another human being, whether it be a Christian minister, or some secular person of renown (Lindsay Lohan, Katy Perry, for example), I know that if the Father had left me to myself, and I had been given the wealth and freedom they have to pursue anything the soul desires, that I would easily have done far worse.
People of God, I do not write these things to excuse unrighteous behavior, nor would I lower the standard of righteousness one centimeter. We are called to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Rather, I write these things to declare that those who have not yet attained to this perfection (myself included) should tremble when they hear of the fall of another. It could be you or I, but for the grace of God. So let us avail ourselves of the moment of grace we have received. Let us humble ourselves before the Father. Ask Him to not give us over to the sin and depravity that resides within, but to establish us in righteousness and truth.
I encourage you to consider the ways in which Yahweh has labored to keep you “in line” and on the path of life. Have you at times complained that He did not give you the wealth, or health that you have desired? Have you thought His withholding such things has been counterproductive, hindering you from performing the breadth of ministry you might have accomplished if you had been more affluent, or physically stronger? Yahweh chooses what is best for His sons and daughters. He knows that a position of strength (financially or physically) leads to careless living and a diminishment of the fear of God in our lives. Our weakness physically, financially, or in some other area, keeps us from running far astray from Him. Even the apostle Paul needed help to keep his pride in abeyance.
II Corinthians 12:7-10
Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me -- to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
I could offer up my complaint to God. I could say, “Father, I want to be able to run without hindrance.” But He would say, “My son, you would run into error and grievous harm.” I could say, “Father, I want to be free and unhindered by this broken body!” In my heart, I know He has chosen what is best for me for He perceives that an unfettered freedom would be turned to licentiousness. I am content, therefore, to be one of those whom Yahweh has afflicted, who is making his way haltingly toward Zion.
Having shared this, I would now recount a recent story that was in the news. I was made aware of it this morning when a sister in Christ sent me a link to a blog she had written about a recent ministry trip to help the people of West Liberty, Kentucky. On March 2nd a tornado passed right through the center of the town of some 3,500 people. It has been categorized as either an EF3 or EF4 tornado with winds between 150 and 165 miles per hour. The damage it inflicted was catastrophic. Homes and businesses were damaged, or in many cases totally destroyed. This sister wrote the following:
Unless you have personally visited a site that has been affected by a tornado as large as the one that struck West Liberty, you cannot be prepared for the devastation that meets your eyes. Places where homes once stood now bear only the foundations that bore them. The buildings that are standing have no windows, roofs are torn off, parts of the building are gone and are marked for demolition and/or for repair. Trees are knocked over like bowling pins in an alley. Trees that are standing have been visibly changed with splinters sticking out where leaves and branches used to be. The most notable thing, though, is the people and the haunted look in their eyes; at least the ones who have lost everything.
[Source: http://theincrediblegift.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-journey-into-serving-from-girlhood.html]
According to Wikipedia, the National Weather Service determined that the tornado was on the ground for 86 miles and left a swath of damage over a mile wide. Six people were killed by this tornado and at least 75 injured. West Liberty is the county seat for Morgan county. Significantly, both the old courthouse that had been built in 1907, and a new courthouse that was 60% complete, were determined to be a total loss. This detail speaks of Yahweh holding court and judging His people.
1 Peter 4:17-19
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
West Liberty United Methodist Church Before Tornado
West Liberty UMC After Tornado
This expression, “those who suffer according to the will of God” does not speak only of those who encounter persecution due to obedience in following Christ. It is also a reference to those who are chastened by God that they might learn to walk in holiness. In either case, we are exhorted to trust God to do what is best and needful toward us, for He is a faithful Creator.
I believe this tornado is a further sign of that judgment coming quickly to the Western world. The Western nations have long been regarded as offering the most freedoms and liberty to their citizens. The Liberty in these Western nations will be abruptly brought to an end, even as the town of West Liberty was suddenly, and calamitously, reduced to ruin.
The Father has been speaking of the misuse of liberty for many years. The World Trade Towers that were destroyed on September 11th, 2001 were located at the corner of Church Street and Liberty Street in Manhattan.
The church has misused her liberty and has pursued trade with the world. Yahweh must therefore judge His people. He will remove their liberty that they might learn to walk in righteousness. If they will not voluntarily abstain from a pursuit of the world and the things in it, He will induce them to do so.
I John 2:15-17
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
Those things coming to the nations will be devastating in a natural sense. What could be worse than a loss of liberty? To have one’s freedom taken away is tragic. Yet, when that freedom has been used to pursue a course of sensuality, living to please the flesh, it is well and good that it be removed. Even then, it will be a remnant that turns to righteousness, holiness, and truth. For the sake of the remnant, Yahweh will do these things.
Isaiah 26:9
For when the earth experiences Your judgments the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
One interesting note that has come out of the tornado aftermath was recorded on a site I visited. The following was stated:
A temporary Courthouse is open for business. The Morgan County office of the Circuit Court Clerk is open for business and providing full services out of a temporary location at 155 University Drive in West Liberty. One of the most popular services provided so far has been replacing lost driver's licenses.
A loss of mobility is observed in these words. Many drivers lost their licenses in the storm. Yahweh will bring such circumstances to the world in coming days that His people will not run to and fro as they once did. They will not casually, with little consideration, run after those things that were so easily pursued in days of prosperity, ease and freedom. Yahweh will cause His sons and daughters to give heed to their ways, and to walk circumspectly in the midst of a wicked generation.
The liberty God’s people once possessed, and employed in a manner displeasing to Yahweh, will come to a sudden end. God’s people will no longer be able to run freely after the things of the world, or to pursue with ease the satisfying of the passions and desires of the soul. Yahweh will afflict them. That which He afflicts them with will slow them down and cause them to consider carefully their way. I will close this post with the same words that were used to open it.
Psalms 119:67
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.
Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws
Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com
Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063
West Liberty, KY Main Street Before Tornado
West Liberty, KY Main Street After Tornado
Psalms 119:67
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.
Before speaking about the message to be observed in a devastating tornado that destroyed the city of West Liberty, Kentucky I want to share some thoughts regarding the chastisement of sons. I have recently been posting a series of writings on this topic, and I have related to those who read this blog that on March 21Yahweh broke my leg as an act of discipline. For many years the Father has patiently dealt with me in the area of ruling over my appetite for food. To say that I have been stubborn in this area would be accurate. The Father has had to deal sternly with me, for He is absolutely committed to His sons sharing in His character of righteousness and holiness, manifesting self-control over the flesh.
It has seemed objectionable to some for me to declare that Yahweh is interested in what to them seems to be a petty matter. To declare that He would break a son’s leg for bad food choices does not fit with the image of God they have embraced. Some have challenged my testimony of the Father bringing such a hard correction for a failure to submit to His will in the area of eating. Yet, the Bible is filled with testimonies of men and women who were either severely chastened, or disqualified for the birthright and blessing, because they did not rule over their body’s appetite for food.
Hebrews 12:15-16
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God..., that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
Numbers 11:33-34
While the meat was still between their teeth, before it was chewed, the anger of Yahweh was kindled against the people, and Yahweh struck the people with a very severe plague. So the name of that place was called Kibroth-hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had been greedy.
I Corinthians 11:29-31
For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.
Yahweh did not strike me with the rod of correction because I chose sweet and sour over a plate of beans and rice. He chastened me because I was acting in a greedy manner. I was choosing to sate my fleshly appetites rather than to buffet my body and keep it under subjection. I was choosing to walk according to the passions and desires of the flesh, rather than by the Spirit. Such conduct is unbecoming one who is a son of God.
Yahshua demonstrated the righteousness and self-control that is pleasing to the Father as He abstained from all food for forty days at the direction of His Father. What the Father requested of me was much less demanding. He asked me to choose to eat healthy foods, and to eat in moderation. My flesh, however, cried out for that which is sensual, and I was greedy in wanting more food than my body physically needed. It was a just act for Yahweh to correct me, and I consider a broken leg to be a mild correction when compared to those accounts from Scripture listed above.
I have observed something as I have been recovering from this broken leg. I do not have a car. My only transportation is my bus/RV and a bicycle. I am unable to drive the bus with the broken leg (my left leg) as the bus has a very heavy clutch. I can ride a bicycle with the protective boot I have for my leg, but I cannot carry my crutches on the bicycle, so I am limited in where I can go. I have found in the past couple weeks that I am unable to run to the store, or to visit a restaurant, etc., due to this decrease in mobility. Before I broke the leg I would think nothing of riding my bicycle across town to a store to purchase whatever I desired or needed. This freedom has been removed from me.
Not only this, but there are two restaurants in town that I used to like to frequent. One was a Chinese buffet. It had been in business for many years here in town, but it closed down some months back. The other is Chick-fil-A. There is a very well managed Chick-fil-A restaurant in town, and it always does a big business. A couple weeks ago it closed for remodeling. Their sign says it will be closed for a month. I find that my eating options have been greatly curtailed. The things I formerly desired have either been taken away, or getting to them has been rendered so difficult that I find that it takes little effort for me to resist those impulses that would formerly have resulted in quick and impulsive action to satisfy the cravings of my flesh.
I believe there is a message here. Yahweh often lames His sons and daughters to keep them from running so freely after that which their flesh desires. He has used the imagery of inflicting an injury to a person’s walk consistently throughout the Bible. The angel touched Jacob in the socket of his thigh, and Jacob had to lean on his staff afterwards.
Genesis 32:24-31
Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob's thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him... Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh.
When a man is afflicted in some manner where walking becomes difficult, or painful, he becomes more contemplative in choosing where he will go. The man has an inducement to limit unnecessary travel. Experiencing the discomfort, or pain, of walking is embraced at necessity. The casual carelessness of such decisions is gone.
If I find that a craving for a chocolate bar comes upon me I am led to consider my way to a greater degree than I did formerly. I might ride my bicycle to the store (carefully), but when I get there I will have to put weight on my injured leg for I cannot carry my crutches on the bike. I know to do so will be uncomfortable, and will likely prolong my recovery, so although I could do such a thing, I am inclined to put the craving out of my mind, which is what I should have been doing when walking was much easier.
This form of correction is common among the sons of Yahweh. Those who are called to journey to Zion, the place of the overcomers in Christ, will frequently bear upon their bodies the marks of Yahweh’s discipline. The remnant traveling to Zion is a broken company who walk haltingly upon injured limbs. This encourages them to not stray far from the path.
Micah 4:6-7
"In that day," declares Yahweh, "I will assemble the lame and gather the outcasts, even those whom I have afflicted. I will make the lame a remnant and the outcasts a strong nation, and Yahweh will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on and forever.”
It is humbling to confess that apart from Yahweh’s frequent corrections, severe at times, I would be far off the path that leads to Zion. I know this to be true, however. Apart from the regular chastening of my Father in heaven I would be a most careless son and would lack any close resemblance to my elder brother Yahshua. Like a stubborn mule that keeps straying from the path that leads to his master’s destination, Yahweh has had to strike me with a rod repeatedly while instructing me to return to The Way that leads to life.
All those who arrive at Zion under such a hand of correction will have nothing to boast about pertaining to their flesh. They can only state, “It is because my Father loved me that I have arrived at this place. It is because of His faithful correction that I remained on the path of life.”
Romans 9:29
And as Isaiah said before: "Unless the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a posterity, we would have become like Sodom, and we would have been made like Gomorrah."
People of God, I know the wickedness that is bound up in my flesh. I thank God for His faithfulness to discipline me that I might not be given over to wickedness and depravity. In one of the articles I posted on the Christchurch earthquakes where unknown “faults” led to great loss and ruin, I wrote the following:
The flesh must constantly be ruled over. Apart from the restraint of the Spirit of Christ I would long ago have made a shipwreck of my own life. If Christ had granted Satan permission to sift me as wheat, I would have shown all the world what depths of sin I am capable of. When I hear of some failure of another human being, whether it be a Christian minister, or some secular person of renown (Lindsay Lohan, Katy Perry, for example), I know that if the Father had left me to myself, and I had been given the wealth and freedom they have to pursue anything the soul desires, that I would easily have done far worse.
People of God, I do not write these things to excuse unrighteous behavior, nor would I lower the standard of righteousness one centimeter. We are called to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48). Rather, I write these things to declare that those who have not yet attained to this perfection (myself included) should tremble when they hear of the fall of another. It could be you or I, but for the grace of God. So let us avail ourselves of the moment of grace we have received. Let us humble ourselves before the Father. Ask Him to not give us over to the sin and depravity that resides within, but to establish us in righteousness and truth.
I encourage you to consider the ways in which Yahweh has labored to keep you “in line” and on the path of life. Have you at times complained that He did not give you the wealth, or health that you have desired? Have you thought His withholding such things has been counterproductive, hindering you from performing the breadth of ministry you might have accomplished if you had been more affluent, or physically stronger? Yahweh chooses what is best for His sons and daughters. He knows that a position of strength (financially or physically) leads to careless living and a diminishment of the fear of God in our lives. Our weakness physically, financially, or in some other area, keeps us from running far astray from Him. Even the apostle Paul needed help to keep his pride in abeyance.
II Corinthians 12:7-10
Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me -- to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
I could offer up my complaint to God. I could say, “Father, I want to be able to run without hindrance.” But He would say, “My son, you would run into error and grievous harm.” I could say, “Father, I want to be free and unhindered by this broken body!” In my heart, I know He has chosen what is best for me for He perceives that an unfettered freedom would be turned to licentiousness. I am content, therefore, to be one of those whom Yahweh has afflicted, who is making his way haltingly toward Zion.
Having shared this, I would now recount a recent story that was in the news. I was made aware of it this morning when a sister in Christ sent me a link to a blog she had written about a recent ministry trip to help the people of West Liberty, Kentucky. On March 2nd a tornado passed right through the center of the town of some 3,500 people. It has been categorized as either an EF3 or EF4 tornado with winds between 150 and 165 miles per hour. The damage it inflicted was catastrophic. Homes and businesses were damaged, or in many cases totally destroyed. This sister wrote the following:
Unless you have personally visited a site that has been affected by a tornado as large as the one that struck West Liberty, you cannot be prepared for the devastation that meets your eyes. Places where homes once stood now bear only the foundations that bore them. The buildings that are standing have no windows, roofs are torn off, parts of the building are gone and are marked for demolition and/or for repair. Trees are knocked over like bowling pins in an alley. Trees that are standing have been visibly changed with splinters sticking out where leaves and branches used to be. The most notable thing, though, is the people and the haunted look in their eyes; at least the ones who have lost everything.
[Source: http://theincrediblegift.blogspot.com/2012/04/my-journey-into-serving-from-girlhood.html]
According to Wikipedia, the National Weather Service determined that the tornado was on the ground for 86 miles and left a swath of damage over a mile wide. Six people were killed by this tornado and at least 75 injured. West Liberty is the county seat for Morgan county. Significantly, both the old courthouse that had been built in 1907, and a new courthouse that was 60% complete, were determined to be a total loss. This detail speaks of Yahweh holding court and judging His people.
1 Peter 4:17-19
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.
West Liberty United Methodist Church Before Tornado
West Liberty UMC After Tornado
This expression, “those who suffer according to the will of God” does not speak only of those who encounter persecution due to obedience in following Christ. It is also a reference to those who are chastened by God that they might learn to walk in holiness. In either case, we are exhorted to trust God to do what is best and needful toward us, for He is a faithful Creator.
I believe this tornado is a further sign of that judgment coming quickly to the Western world. The Western nations have long been regarded as offering the most freedoms and liberty to their citizens. The Liberty in these Western nations will be abruptly brought to an end, even as the town of West Liberty was suddenly, and calamitously, reduced to ruin.
The Father has been speaking of the misuse of liberty for many years. The World Trade Towers that were destroyed on September 11th, 2001 were located at the corner of Church Street and Liberty Street in Manhattan.
The church has misused her liberty and has pursued trade with the world. Yahweh must therefore judge His people. He will remove their liberty that they might learn to walk in righteousness. If they will not voluntarily abstain from a pursuit of the world and the things in it, He will induce them to do so.
I John 2:15-17
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.
Those things coming to the nations will be devastating in a natural sense. What could be worse than a loss of liberty? To have one’s freedom taken away is tragic. Yet, when that freedom has been used to pursue a course of sensuality, living to please the flesh, it is well and good that it be removed. Even then, it will be a remnant that turns to righteousness, holiness, and truth. For the sake of the remnant, Yahweh will do these things.
Isaiah 26:9
For when the earth experiences Your judgments the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness.
One interesting note that has come out of the tornado aftermath was recorded on a site I visited. The following was stated:
A temporary Courthouse is open for business. The Morgan County office of the Circuit Court Clerk is open for business and providing full services out of a temporary location at 155 University Drive in West Liberty. One of the most popular services provided so far has been replacing lost driver's licenses.
A loss of mobility is observed in these words. Many drivers lost their licenses in the storm. Yahweh will bring such circumstances to the world in coming days that His people will not run to and fro as they once did. They will not casually, with little consideration, run after those things that were so easily pursued in days of prosperity, ease and freedom. Yahweh will cause His sons and daughters to give heed to their ways, and to walk circumspectly in the midst of a wicked generation.
The liberty God’s people once possessed, and employed in a manner displeasing to Yahweh, will come to a sudden end. God’s people will no longer be able to run freely after the things of the world, or to pursue with ease the satisfying of the passions and desires of the soul. Yahweh will afflict them. That which He afflicts them with will slow them down and cause them to consider carefully their way. I will close this post with the same words that were used to open it.
Psalms 119:67
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.
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