Tuesday, January 30, 2024

The Lamb Slain

 The Lamb Slain

A Word on God's Eternal Plan




I do not believe in Dispensationalism. I believe that God is all knowing and does not change. I believe that we should look at history according to what we can understand about God's power, goodness and character.

Dispensationalism is the basic belief that God has treated mankind differently, at different times in history. It also puts forth the idea that God's treatment of mankind was different before Christ died, and before the Holy Spirit came. 

I disagree.

My view of these things comes from the Bible, and biblical concepts. The foundational view is the all powerfulness of God, and the fact that He changes not.(Mal. 3:6)

He does not change, therefore His treatment of man has not changed, despite what we see or believe. In Malachi chapter 3 referenced above He plainly states that His promises and His workings do not change. We change. We suffer consequences or blessings but His plan does not change.

The scriptures imply that God is a master builder. That means that He has a blue print of what He is building. But, unlike a human builder, the structure is already completed in heaven. It is already done in God's eyes.

Things have occurred "in the fullness of time" on this Earth. You cannot have a roof until the foundation is built. That is a process. This is what dispensationalists see. The process. But, by faith and the power of God, it is already "finished". (Eph. 1:10) Nothing can stop it. Ephesians chapter 1 explains this.

It's like your salvation. When you got saved, you are so saved that according to God, you are already seated in the heavenly places with Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:6)

History is like that. It's already done. The kingdom is already built. But, it is coming to pass in the flesh, which shall pass away.

Pray on this verse.

" ...book of life of the lamb slain at the foundation of the Earth" (Rev. 13:8)

In the last days the Anti-Christ will make war against the Saints. The saints are the true believers in The Book of Life. 

The next section says "the Lamb SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH."

That means Jesus was killed as our sacrifice in the eyes and plans of God, before He created the Earth. (Gen.1:1) as Ephesians chapter one explains, in regards to our salvation.

So, what does that mean?

It means that God has been working the same plan from the beginning. This can be seen in Cain slaying Able. That is a picture of the Jews slaying Christ. Brother killing brother. When we see Cain slaying Able, Cain is then sent to wander. Just like Israel was sent to wander in the Diaspora which began in 70 AD. after Christ was slain.

So, from the point that Death and Sin entered the world, God already had the problem solved.

It means that every person who has turned to God by faith, since time began are saved the same way we are today.

As Paul and James said, "it was imputed righteousness unto Abraham  that He believed God."( Romans chapter 4, James 2:23) (James does not preach works, despite what some would have you believe. The works he speaks of are belief, confession, baptism, communion, and service, among other things. Confessing Jesus is the Lord, is a work.)

When Abraham believed the word given to him, God put him in Christ, the lamb slain from the foundation of the Earth. He was written in the Lambs Book of Life.

How does the book work?

When we are born, we are in the book. Babies do not go to hell. This is explained in Romans chapter 5. When Paul says " For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law." (Romans 5:13) Babies have no understanding of right and wrong. Therefore, the guilt of sin is not imputed upon them till they have an understanding.

There comes a point in our lives when God has determined that we understand enough. Then, we are tempted and if we choose to sin, then guilt is imputed upon us. We are covered in Sin and facing the consequences. We know in our heart that whatever it is is wrong. Our conscience warns us. Something tells us. Do not steal that thing. Do not have that sexual action. Do not hurt that person.  Whatever it is. We know it's wrong, and we do it anyway.  Boom. We die spiritually.

When we sin the first time, knowing it's a sin, we are blotted out of the Book of Life.. We then abide in Eternal Death, which is separation. We are headed to hell when we die because we are not washed in the Blood of Jesus to be cleaned. We cannot enter Paradise, or else heaven would be tainted with Sin forever.  Think of a quarantine, and a virus.

When we hear God's call and turn to Him, with faith, believing in Him and confessing Jesus as our Lord, we are saved.

We receive a new name and are written in the Book of Life, never to be removed again.

Just like Abraham. All the saints from Adam till the last one are saved the same way. Because it was already finished at the Foundation.

The Holy Spirit, comes to live in a clean vessel, washed in the Blood. There is nothing that says this changed from days of old.

Jesus tells us that when He leaves, the Comforter comes to be with us and in us. He doesn't say that this is different from the past. The Holy Spirit has worked with and dwelt in people from the beginning, when they are saved.

That's why the scriptures are "God Breathed". By inspiration. The scriptures tell the life of Saints. If they didn't have the Spirit then how could their lives be special enough to put in the Word? It's not just the words, it is the person's life and events described in the Word.

The Holy Spirit has always dwelt with the Saints. Sometimes there's a greater infilling, but He is there, from the Foundation of the Earth.

Paradise is heaven. That is where saved people go when they die to be with Christ. Paradise will come down to Earth. The City of God which is in Paradise will come to Earth when God creates a New Sky (heaven) and New Earth, after it is cleansed. (Luke 23:43, 2 Cor. 12:4, Rev. 2:7, Revelation Chapter 21)

The Saints of Old are in Paradise, and have been since they died. 

God defeated Death, Sin and Satan, before anything was created. We are just watching the building being built.

But it was already finished. Long before.
 
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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

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Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

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Friday, January 12, 2024

Elder Brother, Younger Brother

 Elder Brother, Younger Brother

A Word on Acceptance



In the parable of the prodigal son, we see many truths about our spiritual lives. But, there is one aspect that I would like to point out here. (Luke 15:11-32) First we have the prodigal son who goes into the world and lives for himself. He lives a riotous life, that mirrors what a rock star might live. You get the picture. He took the blessings of the father and went into the world and partied with it.
      

We also see in the parable that there is an elder brother, who stays at home with the father. He obeys everything the father tells him to obey. He lives a humble, austere life at home. He never ventures out into the world very far. He grows bitter, resentful, and judgmental. He feels he is owed a blessing for obedience.
      

We can see these two characters played out today in our churches. You have the person who grew up living in the world and went full tilt in it. Then trouble comes into his life and God uses that time of trouble to draw him to be saved. Then, the person starts trying to live right and do what they are being led by God to do. But, they are still very rough around the edges, and know it. They then come to church where they encounter the elder brother.
      

This is the person who grew up in church. The elder brother never strayed too far from the laws of God. Oh sure they “sinned”.  They missed church that Sunday, and kissed a boy behind the woodshed. They went to that party and got drunk and had to call their parents from jail that one time. “Never again!” they promised God, and they kept it. But, they did other things secretly, or unknowingly, or unadmittedly.
      

The Elder Brother thinks, whether they know it or not, “This guy comes to the church, because he’s in trouble. He took the life, and the gifts, and the image of God and then wallowed in the mud with the pigs. He’s not well churched. He doesn’t talk right. He’s rough, and he doesn’t fit in. He will never totally fit in. He still smokes, he cusses, he has a woman he meets, he drinks, and he just tries to hide it all. He won’t last long.”
      

The younger brother feels it. He can feel that some people in the church will never accept him because of who he was. He can tell by how they look at him and exclude him, that he is not one of them. Oh sure they invite him. But, it feels like charity or pity. He hears the sermons and listens to the teachings and knows he doesn’t measure up. He knows that he never will. But, they all seem to. They seem to be perfect, even though he knows they aren’t. Next Sunday he’ll just sleep in.
      

This scenario plays out in churches all across this land. Someone wants to change their lives, but the perfect people become a stumbling block to them. The person who has been involved in church their whole life cannot understand that the person who has been in the world, has many layers of things that God must remove over time. It doesn’t happen overnight.  A person gets saved the minute they confess Jesus as their Lord, but it takes a life time to get totally healed of the damage that has been done to them.

      
Don’t let the elder brother drive you away from God or from church. Church is a place to learn, and to grow. It is a place to serve and reach out to others. It has great value in your spiritual walk. Seek people in your church who have a similar background, or who are more understanding. They are there. Pray and ask God to show you. Likewise, Elder brothers need to realize this occurs and figure out ways to make it easier for folks to integrate into the Body.   
 
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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Photo by the writer. A Creepy Alley

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

The Pre-Tribulation Rapture

 The Pre-Tribulation Rapture

A Word on what the future might hold.




I’m not going to argue scripture over the timing of the rapture. Because, the scriptures do not tell us when the rapture will occur, nor when Jesus will return. It’s not there. I have heard many views on the timing of the rapture. Pre-trib, mid-trib, pre-wrath, post trib. I have heard that there will be two raptures. I have heard scripture twisted and turned in every way possible to make their own view fit.
   
 

I have seen prophecy guru’s claim that the Soviet Union was part of the last day’s scenario and built whole story lines about it. They called anyone who didn’t agree with them a heretic, who didn’t know scripture or didn’t know the original language. Then, the Soviet Union fell.
    
 

I’ve seen these people swear up and down that the European Union is the 10 nation confederacy. If you don’t believe it then you don’t know the Word! They’d claim. But, then the European Union went past 10 nations. Then, Britain left the Union. So, what now?  Well, now the experts scramble to come up with explanations that fit their ideology.
     
 

I love prophecy, and I believe Jesus is coming soon. I believe we are in the last days, and there might be a pre-tribulation rapture at any moment…But…Hold on…There might not be.
     
 

Now before you burn me at the stake as a prophecy heretic, please realize that my desire is to follow Jesus Christ. I want the truth. I want to follow the Holy Spirit who leads me into all truth. I don’t want to join a camp or group of Christians who believe a certain way, and refuse to listen to anyone else.
     
 

I want to believe what the apostles believed. They believed that Jesus Christ was coming soon; in their lifetimes. They seemed to believe they would face tribulation, because they were already facing it. Like Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation.” (John 16:33)
     
 

I lean in the direction of pre-wrath. The Bible says that believers are not afforded to wrath. I think that this is referring to God’s final wrath. It doesn’t mean we won’t face tribulation. There are some guru’s who call the entire 7 year tribulation God’s wrath. I’m talking about the final destruction. Jesus said, “As in the days” of Lot and Noah, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be. (Luke 17:37) In both instances the righteous or the believer, was left living beside the unbeliever until just before the flood came or the fire fell. Noah did not sit in the ark for 7 years having a feast. Lot did not sit in the mountains for seven years as things got worse, in Sodom. In both cases, the door was shut, and the person was removed or made safe, just before the final doom fell. The door being shut, I believe is the end of the Gospel; the end of grace. (Genesis chapters 5-9 and chapter 19)
     
 

We see in the Exodus story that God sent plague after plague upon Egypt. But, His people were protected from the plagues. There was a distinction made between the Egyptians and God’s People. In the Bible Egypt is often viewed as a picture of the world. God can protect His people through trouble. It will be said that this is referring to the Jews and the Jews will be here but Christians will be gone. My argument is that we as Christians are grafted in. The Bible says it. (Romans chapter 11) God can protect us through tribulation.
     
 

I think there is plenty of reason and evidence to suggest that believers will be here for large parts of the tribulation period. One reason is that we will be here to try and get more folks saved, up until the time the door is shut. Another possibility is that the church will be weeded out. Just like Lot’s wife, and the great falling away. Which I believe will be one event, but it will also be over time. Time will work on folks to pull them away, and there will be a final event that will bring about the great falling away and create the apostate church. Tribulation could be the reason folks start falling away, and God leaves us here for that to happen. It could be much like the cleansing of the temple. He drove out the money changers. (2 Thess. 2:3)
     
 

The church could be here, as the Anti-Christ makes war with them. The times are bad, plagues are falling and the saints are telling people about Jesus, but other folks, who have practiced churchianity, instead of Christianity start to fall away, because they never knew Him. The believers are protected, for the most part, but we stay on the earth to save the lost and wake up the backslider, and for God to weed out the unbeliever. Then, Christ returns and we go to meet Him in the air, as God pours out is wrath upon the Earth. Then we return with Him for judgment, and the marriage supper.
     
 

I’m not saying I’m right. But, I believe that American Christians need to start exercising their faith and start expecting to see tribulation. To me, it’s far wiser for Christians to be ready to endure through hardship, than to expect to be removed. God will remove us when He sees fit. In my experience God almost never does things the way we want Him to. We don’t want to suffer. But, I think we might have some.
     
 

Anyway, I want to encourage every believer to read God’s Word, and study prophecy. Look at the different views. We do not know the hour. But, we can prepare for whatever might come.

Draw closer to the Lord. When the time comes and if the Church is going through the Tribulation period. It will be very hard to try to build more faith in the Lord at that time. Things will be happening and you will need to make decisions that will lead you down some dark paths. You need to know the Lord is there. That comes through experience and relationship.

Do you really know Him?

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Photo by the author


    

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Our First Love

 Our First Love

A Word on Prophecy, The Love of Money and Brokenness



    
I see folks on Facebook talking about praying to God to heal the land, and to stop the evil in the land, and to drive away pestilence and all of that. I've heard it for years.  But, do they consider how God will do this? Are you really ready for it? Maybe the problem isn't the things YOU think are the problem. Maybe those things are the symptoms. Maybe our love of money is the problem? We are like fish swimming in the love of money. It is everything we breathe, even if we don't want to believe it.

Remember, the love of money is the root of all evil. (1 Timothy 6:10)


When God brings a person to Himself, He often breaks the person. He has to get them to let go of everything and turn to God only. That is how it works in real life, that is how it works in God's Word. It works that way with individuals, and it works that way with nations. God does not see things the way we see them.

 So, are you willing to be broken? Are you willing to be poor? Are you willing to suffer, and trust God? What if God allows our economy to be destroyed? Would you help the poor? If he makes you one of them? When Christ returns He judges the nations. He says nothing about abortion, racism, homosexuality, pornography, drugs, or any of the other things preachers preach about. He says..."What you did unto the least of these you did unto me...."  (Matthew 25)  He judges based upon whether we loved. Whether we helped the poor, the sick, the naked, the prisoner.   THAT! is good stewardship. That! is what a good and faithful servant does. He acts as His master and let's the sun shine on the just and the unjust.

Yes, we are saved by Grace through faith, being born again and confessing Jesus as our Lord. But, people who are really saved hear His voice and love others. They do the things the Lord would do. That is Godliness.

Remember in God's Word, when God sent the people into Babylon, he does it because they were greedy and destroyed the land. They allowed no rest for the land or the people. Just money, money money. Greed. They did not trust God to take care of them while they let the land rest. They did not trust God. So, He put them in a situation where they had no choice but to trust Him. And the land rested. The debts were forgiven. All the wealth was taken away. (I'm not going to give you the verses. You need to learn God's Word, and learn how to use a concordance. There are great ones online. Read Jeremiah)

 Are we really ready for God to help us? Are we really ready to realize that maybe the abortion we cry about are caused by our love of money? Are we willing to see that our children are handing our land over to the enemy because of our love of money?  Are we willing to believe that our love of money, keeps us from being good stewards, and helping those around us?  Are we willing to see that every industry and institution is corrupted by the love of money? Even His houses of worship makes decisions because of  the love of money, instead of people?

The time is drawing short. Revelation speaks of the Black Horse, which is obviously an economic collapse with famine. (Rev. 6)

The Book of James has this to say about the same event.

"
Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.

Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.

Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you."  ---James 5:1-6

Don't think that rapture will remove you. It's better to turn to God and let Him break you. That is real healing. It's coming.

So...

Don't be surprised when we are broken.
Don't be surprised when we need wheel barrows full of cash.
Don't be surprised when we run to Egypt to sell all we have for some corn meal.
Don't be surprised, when the cows of Bashan, walk around in filthy rags. (Look it up)
Don't be surprised when we are sold into Babylon
Don't be surprised when we must choose between Christ and a bite of food, or the Mark.


Do you really want God to heal us? Do you trust Him enough to let Him break us? Joy comes in the morning; when we remember our real first love.

Who is your first love? God or Mammon? Be honest? 

This is not condemnation, this a call to turn to God.

The love of money is very deceptive and hides well.

Who is your first love?

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Photo by the Author, A sunrise over Alexandria, Virginia



Saturday, December 16, 2023

God's Contract

 God's Contract

A Word on Service


 


God has moved in my life many times. He has moved to bless me. He has moved to correct me. He has moved to save me, and He has moved to protect me. He has also moved in ways that I have not understood, and still don’t understand. He is God, and we can trust Him.

In my life God often moves because I ask Him. Just simply because I ask. He loves me.

Other times, it’s based upon faith. I trust Him, and step out, believing His Word.

But, other times, it’s based upon sincere brokenness.

I am done.

I am spent.

I can’t do it anymore.

I give myself totally to Him, and I’m willing to take whatever comes.

God knows our heart. He knows if we are being real with Him. He knows when we offer ourselves, unleavened, to Him. He knows.

In the early days of walking with God, I was not living a life I’m proud of. God was working on me, but I was far from where I am today. Not that I’m Mr. Perfect. But, I was pretty jacked up at the time.

Regardless of that fact, Jesus saved me, and was working on me. He was calling me to serve Him, and to draw closer and have a relationship with Him.

I didn’t know what to do, but I knew He was calling. Just like He is calling you.

So, I spoke to a pastor friend of mine and told him what I was feeling from God.

The pastor told me, to pray to the Lord, and imagine in my mind a contract. Just a blank contract. Then, to imagine signing it and giving it to God. Allowing God, the freedom to fill it out as He saw fit. So I did.

This was not my salvation, I was saved long before this. But I do believe this was the beginning of my ministry. The beginning of my service to Him. I became His servant.

After that prayer, great movement occurred in my life. Things started to change, and shift.

I do not want to go into details, but there is no doubt it was Him.

So, if you are saved and confused about what direction God has for you. Try praying this prayer.

Be real with God and surrender totally to whatever He might have.

But, understand that He might remove people from your life. He might do things to make you totally dependent upon Him. He might remove a job. Or give you a different job. He might take your home, and cause you to move. He might shake things so bad that people just abandon you. You might meet new people, or have your life rocked, in order to remove problems, or make you a better person.

When you give yourself totally to God, He must mold you. He must burn off the dross to purify the Gold. He must shake you to get rid of the chaff. He might break you to reshape you, and make you more useful for His kingdom.

It doesn’t have to be all bad. It can be full of joy as well, as you spend more time with Him. But, often we see changes as bad, even when they are not.

God has a purpose beyond our own purposes. He cares for us, but ultimately our eternal security, and blessings are far more important than our current life. Our kingdom work, and helping to save others is what matters most.

So, no matter how God moves. The final purpose is to draw us closer to Him. Every thing that happens, works together for our good. Because drawing closer to Him, and having that relationship is the best thing we can imagine.

God knows you. He loves you. He has what’s best for you. Trust Him.

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Photo by the writer,  an old train tunnel in Southern Illinois. Tunnel Hill Trail

Saturday, December 9, 2023

No King, But Jesus

 No King, But Jesus

A Word on Real and False Leaders

 


 

 When we look at scripture, we see Samuel rebuking Saul. He says “Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as idolatry. (1 Sam. 15:23)

      
Now, a lot of preachers love to preach that this means we should bow down and obey false authority. But, this verse is talking about rebellion against God. It’s about being stubborn toward God.
      
How are we saved? We are saved by confessing that Jesus is our Lord. We are saved by surrendering to God, and letting Him guide our lives, and sanctify us. When we don’t it is rebellion, and stubbornness.
    
 Some folks will tell you that this is referring to being obedient to them. They put themselves in the position of God. God is real, and He can lead us. He does it through His Spirit, and by such means that develops the fruits of the Spirit in us. He allows things into our lives that cause us to be patient, loving, joyful, and peaceful. Be brings things that cause us to learn these fruits. Not as men see it, but as God sees it.
      
So, where did Saul come from? He was made King by God, when the people demanded a king (1 Sam. 8:1-22)
    
 Before Saul, the people had no king but God Himself. They listened to His Spirit, and went as the Spirit led. They also followed their own flesh and did not follow God. They refused to keep Him in their heart. They refused to keep Him before their eyes. Just the same as we do. They had the law and followed it or not.
      
The scripture says “They did what was right in their own eyes.” (Judges 21:25)  Now, a lot of preachers condemn this. They see it as rebellion. I disagree, because there is no evidence of God condemning it. He had Samuel the prophet, but there’s no evidence that God told Samuel to preach against it. God was fine with the way things were. Not saying God accepted sin. But, this was the system God set up. A system whereby He was in charge, and the people had a means to have their sins cleansed if they continued to abide in God. It wasn’t the sin, it was that they did not really believe, and did not really confess sins on the sacrifice. Why would God oppose His own system?
     
 So, what happened? The people demanded a King. Why? Because they could not handle the freedom God had given them. They wanted someone to control their neighbor. They wanted someone they could buy and control, in order to get their way. They rejected the Spirit of God. They rejected His freedom and grace, for rules and control.
    
 So, they cried out for a king, and God plainly states, “They are rejecting me”. He does not applaud them. He doesn’t have a problem with them doing what was right in their own eyes, because they are listening to His Spirit as He guides them. Not perfectly, but not wickedly either.
      
So, God gives them Saul. Saul is a curse. Saul is there to take over and impose the law, and all of the things God says will come upon them, if they reject Him. (1 Sam. 8:10-18) So, by accepting a king, they are bringing these curses. This is a foreshadowing of what will happen with the Anti-Christ. We accept that king, instead of the real King.
     
 Real authority loves the people. Real authority does not steal from them. Real authority allows freedom, not control. Real authority is a picture of Christ. Not a perfect picture, because we are humans and we sin. But, there is a difference between real authority from God and false authority.  Understand what I am saying here. The scriptures teach that God gives us the Authorities. It teaches that we should respect them for the position they hold, but Jesus said not to be like them. God put Saul in authority, but Saul became wicked. He was put there as a curse and to teach a lesson. Just because someone is in authority, does not change the nature of their authority. Some is real, and some is false.  Understand this, and realize that we have freedom from God to speak against evil, to resist evil, and to not be like them. However, we still respect the position of authority, and try to be wise and fair. Prophets spoke against evil kings. Jesus spoke against evil authority.
      
So, remember the crucifixion of Jesus. He had been beaten terribly, and was brought to Pilate again, and he presented him to the people. The religious leaders, who were listening to demonic entities, got the people to demand His death. They got the people to choose Barabbas instead of Jesus.  They chose Satan, a murderer, rebel, and thief  instead of Christ. This is the same spirit that led the Israelites, to reject God and demand a false king. God gave them Saul. This is the same anti-christ spirit, which will eventually lead people to reject Christ, and choose the final false king. The Anti-Christ. That spirit will likewise use religious leaders who have accepted a one world religion, so they can keep control, wealth and power, just like they always do.
    
 That spirit has worked in the children of disobedience since before the Flood. It led humans to build the tower of Babel, in order to be united and fight God.
      
That spirit is building a tower today, and uniting humans against God; preparing them to choose a different king.
      
Don’t fall for it, no matter what; even if the whole world is facing a plague, and economic collapse, and starvation, and destruction. Choose God. Follow His Spirit. Confess Jesus as your Lord. Ask Him to save you. Choose freedom, and reject the enemy. The love of money is the root of all evil. Be wise. Be content. Love your neighbor enough to allow them to be free.
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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming AddictionHis newest book is called "The Future is Coming" and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public


 Photo by the writer. The Bald Knob Cross of Peace in Southern Illinois.



Monday, December 4, 2023

But Without Faith...

 But Without Faith...

A Word on Faith  




“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a Rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”—Heb. 11:6

God has given each one of us a measure of faith so that we are able to believe in Him and believe His promises. That is why we are without excuse. We have the ability but we refuse, or become distracted or deceived by Satan.

God loves us and comes to each of us, asking to have a relationship with us. Trying to save us and give us a hope and get us out of bondage to the enemy.

When we turn to Him He delights in saving us and working in our lives. He rewards us in many ways for putting our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, and believing the promises that God has given us in His Word.

When we turn to Him, and acknowledge Him in all our ways He will direct our paths.

Just pray about everything. And you will find Him moving before you and showing where to go before you even get there. Your relationship will be such that you will see his pillar of fire and smoke, going before. You will hear His still small voice guiding your life.

He is real. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. When you put your faith and trust in Him you will see His presence.

Are you really trusting Him?

When He says “Whatsoever you ask in my name I will do it?” Do you believe?

When He says “If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed…” do you believe?

Or do you create excuses for why it might not be true?

Stop caring about outcomes, and start delighting in seeing Him work.

He is able. He is able to save, He is able to release you. He is able to heal. He is able to solve the problem.

He is able. Say it.

He is willing because He loves you. Say it.

He is going to do it, one way or another. Say it and trust it. Say it over and over

He is there. He hears. He loves and He is moving. He delights in seeing your faith grow.

Your relationship with Him is all that matters.

Abide in Him and Trust.

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming AddictionHis newest book is called "The Future is Coming" and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

 

Photo by the Author. Sunrise over Hot Springs, Arkansas