The Train of His Robe Filled the Temple

This verse has been repeatedly coming to mind over the last few days. “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple.” (Isaiah 6:1 NIV)

The prophet Isaiah was grieving when the Lord opened his eyes to a spiritual vision and a throne-room experience which led to the Lord commissioning Isaiah. I’m always inspired by this passage of Scripture where Isaiah says to the Lord “Here am I. Send me!” (That exclamation point speaks volumes.)

This Scripture text (in Isaiah 6) is largely about proclaiming that the people have been wayward from the Lord’s instruction. They have been spiritually deaf and blind. Maybe that’s why these words have often inspired me. Imagine for a moment that I was asked to read this passage aloud in front of a congregation where women were often silenced if men were present. Seriously, I don’t know how the Lord pulled that one off. But it happened. It was the day that the Lord publicly commissioned me to go and speak truth to the nations. It was years later, however, that He told me in prayer that I was His prophet to the nations. Listen, I would NEVER be so brazen as to call myself a prophet if the Lord had not said it (and He continues to call me His prophet). The train of His robe fills the temple. He is Lord! (But don’t believe me … ask Him yourself!)

That exclamation point in Isaiah’s proclamation “Send me!” is often less enthusiastic when persecution comes, and the prophet finds herself weighed down by the mire and muck of dredging through things of this world. It’s hard to constantly be pushed away and ignored by those who God has sent me to at the same time that God commands me to focus in on specific people and doctrines. I want to do the Lord’s work. I really do. But I don’t have the power to open their spiritual eyes or ears. All I can do is keep stepping forward as the Lord directs.

I want to share what I have learned from Him in more than 20 years of hearing His voice. How can I teach people that have no interest in learning? How can I show them God’s heart if they are spiritually blind? How can I hope for their spiritual ears to be opened when they can’t hear me tell them how? I did ask the Lord to “Send me!” all those years ago. So here am I … and the train of His robe fills the temple.

Closed Doors Trek?

The Lord has been showing me closed doors lately. He allows me to glimpse in and then closes the door with finality.

I’ve been looking for office space so that I could have room to work on finishing the Discipleship magazine. Two years ago, I closed my office and moved everything into storage. I hate paying for storage and not having my things easily accessible. For weeks and months, I have been following God’s lead about possible office venues. But most have just been way too expensive and would keep me financially strapped. And for what? All to create a magazine that nobody really wants?

This week, God directed me to an office that was affordable and just exactly right. I sent an email to the broker and patiently waited for a response. But God would not let me call the broker. The next morning, I was being impatient with God about it, and He said “If I want you to have it, it will be yours.” I took that to mean that nobody was going to interfere. But what it really meant was that God didn’t want me to have it. When He finally allowed me to call the broker later in the afternoon, they had JUST signed the lease with someone else. I was disappointed. I was already imagining having a workspace again. But God wanted a closed door instead.

Of course, at any time I could have chosen to ignore God’s leading and just do what I thought was best and I’d probably have an office space by now. But there would never be peace in my heart. I know that with certainty. It makes me wonder how everyone that doesn’t hear God’s voice gets where they are going. Does peace elude them?

The closed doors are painful at times. But being separated from God for even a moment would be unbearable beyond understanding. Behind every closed door is something that God doesn’t want for me. I receive that and will try to glimpse inside those temporarily open doors with much greater inspection of God’s heart for me. I do know that His plans are rarely ever the easiest trek. But why would I need to be His “mighty warrior” if things were destined to be easy?

Where You Belong?

Some of you don’t get it. I’m not worried about me. I have a relationship with God. I hear His voice in prayer. I follow His leading.

It’s you that I’m worried about. What are you going to do if we find ourselves walking in the last days? What are you going to do if there is a sudden disaster? Will you know how to ask God for direction? Will you be under His protection?

I’m not worried about me. I’m worried about you. What if tomorrow your life is demanded from you? What if God finally has had enough of your false teaching? What if God chooses an eternity in hell for you because you couldn’t be bothered to learn to hear His voice? What if God allows the devil to torment you?

I’m not worried about me. I’m right where I belong. Are you?

Rewards For Obedience?

Do you think that the Lord rewards us for our obedience? I do. And I also think that He punishes us when we refuse Him. Rebellion is ugly to the Lord. But when we submit to Him we are rewarded with more intimacy of heart and sometimes tangible blessings.

Let’s talk about obedience first. Recently, the Lord asked me to once again offer a Bible Study to teach about hearing His voice. I already know that most people are too lazy to put in any real effort to show up, study, and seek God. But, my obedience is not contingent on how many people attend the study. My obedience is in walking intentionally on the path that God has for me. I can’t take it personal when there is not as much interest in the Bible study as I might hope. I’m not responsible for how other people respond to the invitation. That’s between them and God. My rewards are tied to pleasing God with my faith. So, even though my expectations may be low for how others will respond, I’m going to keep stepping forward in obedience. Every time that I’ve done this in the past, God has increased the anointing that He delivers through me. I want that.

Now let’s talk about disobedience and ignoring God. What if I instead said to God that I know that nobody is interested and why should I waste the energy? Should God be pleased with that response from me? Should He reward me for thinking that I know better than Him what the outcome should be? Seriously, I don’t need to know the outcome. I just need to know the next step forward. That’s how God does things. So, please don’t think that I’m naive about people wanting to learn to hear God. I know that most don’t want to. It’s up to God how He chooses to discipline or punish those people. I just need to keep stepping forward with a positive goal to please God.

What about you?

The Gullible One?

I’m sorry to be so blunt but you CANNOT interpret the Scriptures correctly without hearing the voice of God!

The devil is a liar. His whole scheme is deception. If you’re reading the Bible without God present, you are going to be deceived. When you study the Bible, you must do it while listening to God teach it to you. Ask questions to Him if anything is vague. The reason why there are so many misinterpretations and bogus doctrines is because they have left God out of their study.

Look at all the variations of religions that are out there. Some pray to statues. Some pray to Mary and saints. Some pray to themselves. Listen, Christians pray with God and hear His voice. At least, that’s the expectation. Without it you are lost!

I’ve spent the last 20 years offering to teach Christians to hear God’s voice in prayer. This is the anointing that God has placed on me. I’m not a singer. I’m not a musician. I’m not a historian. I’m a child of God trying to lead others to hear His voice so that they can refute the false doctrines in the churches. It’s not complicated.

We all want Christian community. We are want to be received and loved. But it seems that it becomes all about something else when we can’t agree on doctrine. Why can’t we agree on doctrine? Seriously, God is not going to give us different answers where doctrine is concerned. If we believe different doctrines it can only be because some aren’t submitting to God’s authority and teaching when they study doctrine. It’s frustrating especially when those that teach falsely claim to hear God’s voice. Really, how long does it take to ask a question to God like “Are there three Gods?” “Is the trinity doctrine correct?” “Is there a God sitting next to another God on thrones in Heaven?” It shouldn’t take weeks or months to ask a simple question if you really hear God’s voice. How long does it take to ask “God, do you want me to remove the word ‘trinity’ from the church website?”

I’ve been more than patient, but at some point you have to believe that “they” don’t want to address these issues with God. Their seat of honor is more important than being right with God. He sees it. He’s not naive or gullible. They can fool audiences that don’t know God, but they can’t fool God.

Native Language Tongues

If you have ever had the Lord speak through you in the gift of tongues, this will not be a foreign concept for you. Evidently, some of the pastors that I’ve been asking to seek God about the trinity doctrine, don’t know how to assess if they are hearing their own internal silent prayer voice, the spirit voice of the enemy, or the voice of God. So, God asked me to write about how they can be sure when God is the one answering their questions about doctrine.

There are two ways to be sure that you’re hearing from God.

1) Test the spirits. (1 John 4:1-3) I’m not going to elaborate on this method for today because I believe the second way is the most effective way for those who can yield themselves to the Holy Spirit. If you want to know more about testing the spirits, I am happy to answer questions.

2) Allow the Lord to speak aloud through your voice just as He does in speaking in tongues. God can speak in your native language just as He can speak in tongues of angels or foreign languages of men. The devil cannot speak through your voice only God can. I do recommend that you do this in a private space where you and God are alone. Below is my conversation with God asking Him the questions that I provided to dispute the trinity doctrines to give a glimpse into how He answers these questions. He spoke these answers aloud through me.

Me: “God, is there more than one God in the Christian religion?”

God: “No, child. I am the Lord, your God. There is no other.”

Me: “What is your name, God?”

God: “I am Jesus. My name is revealed through the Scriptures.”

Me: “God, what do you think of the trinity-of-Gods theology?”

God: “It is garbage theology that has been used to deceive many.”

Me: “Is Jesus a separate God from the Father?”

God: “Child, you don’t need to ask that question because you know Me.”

Me: “It was awkward asking it because it seems so foolish, but this is supposed to be a role-playing question and answer session. How would you answer one of the pastors asking that question?”

God: “I would answer it differently based on their level of understanding. This is where I would let them get to know me more intimately. Each of them comes from unique perspectives including areas of false doctrines that they have not yet overcome.”

Me: “The final question that I listed in my suggested questions is: ‘Is the Holy Spirit a separate Spirit from the Spirit of God?’ How would you answer that question?

God: “I am the Lord, there is no other.”

So, if those pastors are reading this, please allow the Lord to answer those same questions through your voice. Let Him speak aloud through you so that you know that it is not an enemy spirit voice speaking to you in the spiritual realm.

Whenever I have any doubt about what I’m hearing in prayer from God, I ask Him to speak through me so that I have all assurance that I know His will before moving forward. The enemy does not have the power to speak through you in tongues. It is a manifestation of the Spirit*. Also, remember that you can ask as many questions of God as is needed until you have peace and until you can speak with authority about those answers. Don’t come away from the conversation feeling vague. Keep asking questions until you are certain of the truth. God has all the time in the world to spend with you. Don’t rush the conversation.

*See manifestation of the Spirit gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; See also Mark 16:17; Acts 2:1-4; Acts 19:6; 1 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Corinthians 14:39.

To those same pastors, I will not publicly humiliate you if you privately contact me with questions on hearing God. You asking the questions shows a humility that God honors. It’s when you don’t bother to ask the necessary questions that I mock you and your false theologies. I can forgive being blocked on Facebook and your earlier refusals to respect me appropriately.

The Pharisees had “book” learning. In contrast, the disciples were able to learn at the feet of Jesus. Which are you: a Pharisee or a disciple? I want you to learn at the feet of Jesus which means hearing His voice. If I can assist you with learning to discern His voice, I want to do exactly that. I hope this post helps.

Where is the Son?

Often I hear pastors wrongly refer to the Son as sitting next to the Father. When I point out their error, they will inevitably bring up one of the Scriptures listed on the attached page, “Who Is At The Father’s Side?”, because they don’t understand that these are figurative language. There can only be one God in a one-God religion. God doesn’t need an heir to His throne because He is not going to die. God is all powerful, ever present, and all knowing. He doesn’t need help being God.

I think those pastors believe that I am somehow excluding Jesus from the throne. But they are the ones relegating Him to a lesser throne. I’m saying that Jesus is the Everlasting Father, not the Son of the Father. The Father who is Spirit robed Himself TEMPORARILY in Son-of-Man flesh to step into human history. He used that flesh as an atonement sacrifice and priestly intercession at the cross so that we could come to the Most Holy Place in prayer to confess our sins to restore covenant relationship without a priest or a blood sacrifice. God no longer has a need for the temporary Son-suit. God is Spirit. There is nobody sitting next to Him on a second throne. But don’t believe me. Read the one-God Scriptures for yourself (or better yet, ask God!).

What is your belief statement?

Yesterday, God had me write out a little sticky note reminder. He wanted me to create a belief statement that could replace the trinity (false doctrine) belief statements to model the possibilities for correct doctrinal statements for the local pastors. His hope was to make it easier for them to change their “What We Believe” statements to truth. It seems that most of them don’t really know exactly what they believe.

This morning, I went to Sunrise Bread Company, and sat down to handwrite the result of my discussion with God. While enjoying a hot cup of coffee and a huge cinnamon roll, I penned the words below.

***
We believe that there is only one God. God is invisible Spirit (also known as the Holy Spirit). He made Himself known visibly and audibly to mankind while He walked on Earth, robed in Son-of-Man flesh, 2000+ years ago. Today, He makes Himself known to us individually as we choose Him as our God. As His disciples, we should expect to hear His voice, experience His presence, and walk in His supernatural power when we are yielded to Him in covenant relationship. His name, made known to us, is Jesus. He is the one and only God. He will not compete for lordship.

The attributes of God are:
*God is Spirit. (John 4:24)
*God is invisible. (John 1:18)
*God is Creator. (Genesis 1; Psalm 139)
*God is sovereign. (Genesis 15:2)
*God is omnipresent: always present. (Psalm 139:7-10, Jeremiah 23:23-24)
*God is omnipotent: all powerful. (Psalm 33:6, Job 11:7-11)
*God is omniscient: all knowing. (Isaiah 46:9-10)
*God is eternal/Alpha & Omega. (Deuteronomy 33:27, Jeremiah 10:10, Revelation 22:13)
*God is infinite. (Colossians 1:17, Psalm 147:5)
AND
*God is love. (1 John 4:7-8)
*God is holy. (Revelation 4:8)
*God hates evil. (Zechariah 8:17)
*God is just/justice/righteous judge. (Deuteronomy 32:4)
*God is good. (Psalm 34:8, 34:22)
*God is merciful. (Romans 9:15-16)
*God is wisdom. (Romans 11:33, Proverbs 8, Job 9:4)
*God is gracious. (Psalm 145:8, Ephesians 2:8, Exodus 33:19, Matthew 5:45)
*God is sin-forgiver. (Micah 7:18)
*God is faithful. (Deuteronomy 7:9, 2 Timothy 2:13, 1 Corinthians 13:12)
*God is jealous. (Exodus 20:3)

*** End of example

A belief statement could also describe how to mend a broken covenant relationship. It could describe how God’s salvation method provided us each individual access to Him to ask for His forgiveness and to hear His response. There are lots of great things that the “What We Believe” sections could include. But know this, trinity false doctrine is NOT one of those things. All it does is show how little the church leadership actually knows God. If you want to advertise that, then go ahead. That’s your choice. But you could instead choose to use your website to equip people for covenant relationship and hearing God. Evangelize to a lost world or further confuse it?

He’s Not Here?

It’s strange that we “celebrate” the death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ at Easter. He was beaten, tortured, and crucified on a cross. And He left us! … or did He?

What is the miracle of Easter? Others were crucified on crosses. Lazarus was resurrected from the dead by Jesus before His own resurrection. And Enoch and Elijah are recorded to have ascended bodily to Heaven too. So what is the real Easter miracle? At Christmas, we celebrate the miraculous virgin birth of the Christ child. I wonder with our focus on miracles have we missed the most precious thing to celebrate? God with us! The creator robed Himself in human flesh and walked visibly with our forefathers. He proved Himself to be real. He didn’t have to do any of the things that He did.

God always had the power to forgive sins, He didn’t need the cross for that. God always had the power to remove His own wrath. God always had the power to open the way to covenant restoration conversation without shed blood or a priest. He didn’t need the cross. He didn’t need to be born of man. He didn’t need to perform miracles. He didn’t need any of it. He chose it. Why?

All of this drama after 400 years of silence. Why? Certainly, it wasn’t so that we could have Christmas gift-giving or Easter-bunnies and egg hunts. Maybe He did it so that we would recognize Him. Maybe we needed to have a historical timeline of His human existence. Maybe we needed a tangible God so that we would know how to love Him. Without His voice, presence, and power made known to us, He could be just a far away mythical being. But now we have this place in history where we can come individually to Him in private prayer and know Him. I mean really know Him.

Some do all the talking in prayer and they miss the best part. They miss God making Himself known. They miss hearing His voice. They miss knowing His comfort. They miss learning from Him as His disciple. They miss the dearest parts of our Lord. He didn’t leave us. He didn’t forsake us. He makes Himself known. We get to hear His creation voice. We get to feel His manifest presence. We get to walk in His supernatural power. But some choose to ignore His voice. Some choose to forfeit His presence and power in exchange for material wealth or recognition from men.

How can we show our love to the Lord? We can listen for His voice. We can consult Him on everything. We can choose Him above all else. We can desire to see His face. We can tell others about Him. He can be our God. He is God with us! He is here! Why have we missed that?

But hey, go do the Easter-bunny thing with the churches who teach false doctrine and continue to ignore God. You’re good at that! Make sure you wear your best dress and smile pretty for the camera.

Kingdom Wisdom

It has always been more important to me that I convince “you” that you should hear God, than to convince you that I hear God. That’s why my publications’ tagline is “Don’t believe me … ask God yourself!” It’s also why I always offer to teach how to position yourself to hear God and to discern His voice. I want you to hear God for yourself. I don’t want the responsibility of relaying messages that you might misinterpret. I’m more than willing to step aside and trust God with that responsibility.

Jesus said that secrets of the Kingdom are for His disciples, not for others. (Reference Matthew 13:11.) If you hear God, then you should ask God. The trinity doctrine is a bogus theology that needs to be thoroughly discussed with God (as I have for the last 20+ years). Various religions have multiple gods but Christianity, unlike Trinitarianism, is a one-God (monotheistic vs. polytheistic) religion.

Attached is one of the pages at the end of the revised “Jesus, The Everlasting Father” magazine. Please tell me what you think.