TRUTH WORKS
Greetings to those of you who have emailed concerning my sabbatical. Between starting the church and my other duties, I have been less than studious in writing. But recently the Lord gave me two words concerning the church and some events that have gone on in the world. He gave me both words before I knew what was taking place. Both words were God "interrupt us" type words. What I mean by this are those moments where we think we're going one way-in a present form of truth that was "God-for-the-moment" but then without warning, IT CHANGED. And the change also happened to be God. God does not change and nothing surprises Him. The reality is we change and we can't always handle all the information that is going to happen at once. We are not all-knowing. So from our perspective this looks like change.

The reality is that it happens to be a present truth that we are not aware of. All folks walk in what they consider truth-atheists, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims-or any other persuasion you can name. The reality is that because we are human none of us have a market on truth unless we tap into the God of truth. And frankly, even then, because of our humanity, we can get it wrong. Our willingness to admit that we don't understand the God who calls Himself Yahweh-translated as Lord in our Bibles but the Hebrew translates into modern English as I AM THAT I AM-is when we are humble enough to experience change or more implicitly, Yahweh's perspective on truth. For us this change looks new, but the Bible tells us that there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). So I'll share the first word as embracing God's truth and the second word next month as it was delivered to me by the Holy Spirit as embracing the new things God can do in our lives as we leave the old aside.

I was awakened one morning in early November 2007 with shouting in my ear to remember Isaiah 17 as the truth. Without going into a lot of detail concerning this whole experience I grabbed for my Bible and began reading. Isaiah: "An oracle concerning Damascus: 'See, Damascus will no longer be a city but will become a heap of ruins. The cities of Aroer will be deserted and left to flocks, which will lie down, with no one to make them afraid. The fortified city will disappear from Ephraim, and royal power from Damascus; the remnant of Aram will be like the glory of the Israelites, declares the Lord Almighty. In that day the glory of Jacob will fade; the fat of his body will waste away. It will be as when a reaper gathers the standing grain and harvests the grain with his arm-as when a man gleans heads of grain in the Valley of Rephaim. Yet some gleanings will remain, as when an olive tree is beaten, leaving two or three olives on the topmost branches, four or five on the fruitful boughs, declares the Lord, the God of Israel. In that day men will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense altars their fingers have made. In that day their strong cities, which they left because of the Israelites will be like places abandoned to thickets and undergrowth. And all will be desolation. You have forgotten God, your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress. Therefore, though you set out the finest plants and plant imported vines, though on the day you set them out, you make them grow, and on the morning when you plant them, you bring them to bud, yet the harvest will be as nothing in the day of disease and incurable pain. Oh, the raging of many nations-they rage like the raging sea! Oh, the uproar of the peoples-they roar like the roaring of great waters! Although the peoples roar like the roar of surging waters, when he rebukes them they flee far away, driven before the wind like chaff on the hills, like tumbleweed before a gale. In the evening, sudden terror! Before the morning, they are gone! This is the portion of those who loot us, the lot of those who plunder us."

Let me share a few comments concerning a word like this. First we have to understand that our truth is not always Yahweh's truth. In fact even the Prophet Isaiah's truth when he wrote this down originally was not entirely the same truth or total understanding that was in the mind of the Lord when He spoke it to Isaiah, and here's why: God lives outside of time and yet can live inside of time-all at the same time if He so chooses. Of course we cannot. And so many-not all-but many of the prophecies that we read in the Bible have what I'll call different fulfillment categories. God is not a waster of material like we are. He made all creatures from roughly the same material, whether they are human, animal or even plant. We even share some atoms with water and clouds, if not specific DNA. So when He speaks one word, especially in light of the inner workings of the Hebrew language itself, that one word can carry within it the fulfillment of several different time codes. Let's look at a word Isaiah spoke in chapter 7. We know the Scripture well. "Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall be called Immanuel." Well, as Christians our truth is that Isaiah was referring to Christ by this prophecy. For Jews the truth is that Isaiah was referring to his own son which was born a year later. Who's right? Both-and more. In fact many Christians miss the fullness of this Scripture. God uses one prophecy by one prophet to fulfill four different time frames. The first is the initial fulfillment, the second is called the anticipatory fulfillment, the third is called the progressive fulfillment and the last or fourth is called the final or cumulative fulfillment. The Hebrew word that we translate as 'virgin' is the word almah. Now what's interesting about this word is that it carries with it the understanding of a young woman or damsel from a certain stage of life, somewhere between the ages of 10 to 18 or 12 to 20, as a ballpark number. The reality for that time period-and even in some parts of the world today, is that if that girl was not married she was a virgin. There are no two ways about it. The hard reality is if she wasn't a virgin and she wasn't married she was dead at the hands of her family or neighbors. While the Jews were less likely to murder her, we know all too well that there are still whole groups of people today in the world that would do so with the thought that they were doing God a favor! I know that's sick, but it is what it is. While liberals and the media like to blame all religions for these homicides, the historic fact is that wherever the true gospel of Jesus Christ has been preached, these killings have been outlawed and stopped. Because of the difference in our present day understanding of a woman of a certain age and Isaiah's time period, the translation of virgin in English bibles and young woman, girl or handmaiden in Hebrew to English translations has to be noted when talking about these prophecies.

Getting back to the specifics of Isaiah, we can see the initial fulfillment of his prophecy one chapter later. In Isaiah 8 we see that Isaiah's own almah, his own wife (young woman falling into a certain age group) gives birth to a son. The next portion after Isaiah 7:14 talks about what will happen even before this son is weaned. This also took place during Isaiah's life time. But over 700 years later another almah gives birth to a son, and the translation of Immanuel (God with us) comes to pass as Mary gives birth to Jesus. An even more progressive or ongoing virgin birth takes place as the third fulfillment every time that we, as the virgin bride of Christ, give birth to new Christians as we share the miraculous change that takes place when Jesus is accepted as Lord and Savior and 'Immanuel' comes to be with those who accept Him. The final or cumulative fulfillment of this prophecy takes place as Jesus comes again and is 'birthed' on earth with the saints in glory. So we can see a conceptual relationship in using the same words, or same DNA, if you will to fulfill four different truths or realities. In other words, births are both real and spiritual, sons are still sons and they also carry a spiritual component. Enemies and allies carry the same component, as is the case in the Scripture that we originally looked at in Isaiah 17.

When we read Isaiah 17 we see that God is judging Israel for making allies that will do things for Israel that in the long run will not be beneficial for either party. A few days after my experience from the Lord concerning Isaiah 17, I was still wondering what God was talking about or what He had in mind when He discussed this passage. I had read the history and some of the Hebrew meanings for the words and was basically coming to the understanding that this had something to do with present Israel. It was at that time that a news broadcast informed me that a peace conference was going on the following week in Annapolis concerning Arab leaders and their lack of enthusiasm in attending. The comment from this station was short but immediately I knew that was what the Lord was referring to when He spoke Isaiah 17 in my ear. While no mention had been made concerning Israel by the commentator, I felt for sure Israel was involved. I normally catch my news on the run by phone, computer, TV and on occasion, radio. So it took several days for me to realize that this was an attempt at a peace conference. While my human nature loves peace and getting people together to work it out as a great idea, the reality is that I had a word ahead of time concerning this attempt that could not be ignored. This word has ramifications for us also as a nation for the fulfillment reasons that we see a pattern for with these types of prophecies.

Isaiah 17, as Isaiah understood it has already come to pass. The fulfillment is found in Isaiah 37:36, immediately after a repetition of the prophecy in full and it is also recorded in 2 Kings 19:35, 36. Syria and Israel are forming a league to protect them against the Assyrians. While the players may change their names, Israel is being rebuked for trusting in something other than Yahweh as her source of strength. The language in this prophecy is also interesting. Usually Syria is rebuked for attacking Israel. But these two countries have had a love-hate relationship for a long time. What I find interesting about the language is the mournful prediction of Israel's ally at this time. The Lord definitely does not want Syria judged for this alliance. If we fast-forward today, I'm afraid to say that the US is now Israel's ally. I find it interesting that the first few times I heard about this conference in the news it related only to the reluctance of Israel's neighbors to come and be supportive. Deep down in the heart of hearts of these Arab nations they and their father's fathers have watched God's dealings with Israel. This is not new territory for them. They may worship a different god now, but anyone who has lived as long as they have next door to the God of Israel knows full well that 'something' greater than man-made divinity is at work here. I find their wisdom in not wanting to show up telling. I only wish that the US would be so wise. Any peace deal that negotiates something that God does not want negotiated is doomed to failure. And any nation that sticks her nose in that affair is flirting with disaster. If history is any guide, whenever you play with the boundaries of the land of Israel you play with something that is increasingly too hot to handle for mere human beings. This prophecy talks about the land east of the Jordan (Aroer) and Ephraim, which is Israel's northern edge (as it relates to this passage). The Valley of Rephaim is just a southwest 'hop' from Jerusalem or a suburb of that city. Let's see, aren't they fighting about land east of the Jordan and didn't the bombs fall the last time in Israel's northern parts? And I don't think there is ever a time since I've been alive that they haven't been fighting about Jerusalem. I don't know, call me crazy but I think that the God of Israel still talks today. If that's the case, then this prophecy is looking to me like it will have a second time of fulfillment. Frankly, as the US is Israel's ally now and not Syria (remember the players may change in these type of prophecies but the components stay the same), I really don't want to be involved in 'Fulfillment, Part 2.' There is no other city that we are ever commanded to pray for the peace of in the Bible except Jerusalem. (Psalm 122) I've always been a big proponent of not adding to or taking away from the Bible. It says to pray for peace, not divide and separate. The Bible really will teach us a history lesson, without us having to be made an example as the lesson! While human truth is a funny thing, divine reality never changes. If I'm going to gamble, I'll always bet on the historical winner every time.

Rational people would say what's the big deal here? If it doesn't work out it doesn't work out. Normally I would agree. But in this case we are dealing with judgment as Israel's ally. You might say, 'Oh, God is loving and wouldn't do that to ignorant people.' And normally I might agree with you there. But we are anything but ignorant in God's dealings with His people. While I respect the devotional prayer life of a Muslim, nowhere does Mohammed ever claim that following his teachings will take someone to heaven. The Koran only promises heaven for them that kill in Allah's name. The discipline of Buddhist and some Hindu priests has always been legendary, with some supernatural experiences taking place that can be documented scientifically. But if you have ever been among this one side of supernatural and then experienced the God of the Old and New Testament's supernatural, the difference is astounding. While I respect the devotion and discipline of other religions, I could never claim ignorance when it comes to God's love and His commands. He lovingly takes me to heaven, all I have to do is believe. He gives me the strength to be disciplined in following Him and then supernaturally heals those we pray for and keeps me healthy in ways that still boggle my mind. If we were Muslims or Hindus in America we might be able to claim ignorance in this matter. But the teachings of a Jezebel and religious spirit have permeated churches for years. And while it is true that some of those teaching about these spiritual forces have been doctrinally questionable, if we wanted to walk in God's truth in this matter we could.

When you meet up with the God of the Old and New Testaments you meet up with a supernatural love and experience that I have never seen other religions experience. You also immediately understand that there are spiritual ramifications to our lives. Not only does the Holy Spirit help you live but He also shows you areas to avoid. It is sad that many claim Christ but their tradition keeps them away from experiencing Christ as He is in the supernatural, while living very naturally here on earth. How sad that St. Patrick was able to conquer spiritual forces in Ireland while so many of my fellow Irish blood rarely ever experience Christ in this way. It's not that they can't, they can, if they so choose-and this is why none of us as Christians can claim ignorance when we fall prey to these spiritual forces. A religious spirit, very simply put is an entity or individual that started with a God-ordained mission but then sidestepped from that mission and began doing its own thing. The first religious spirit was called Lucifer. When he rebelled from his God-ordained purpose his name changed to satan. He watched God for eons create and ordain through the power of His Spirit and Word. Isaiah 14 documents this rebellion. After he was thrown out of heaven, he needed to make his own empire. Being a spirit he can't function on earth without a body. He needs flesh. The more religious the flesh with the more authority that person carries in the natural realm, the easier he can function through them.

In the Old Testament God makes it very clear not to mix certain things that He does not want mixed. The Hebrew word Shaatnez has to do with mixing things in matters in which only God is allowed to mix things. Under the Old Covenant fields, crops, clothing and animals fell into this category. This mixing or Shaatnez (Hebrew) produces a toxic atmosphere for God on earth and among what He has created called Tamei (also Hebrew). In fact the first radioactive poison we see is documented in the Bible and this is what the word Tamei is most often translated as "tainted or polluted." The best understanding here is that as we mix what we should not, the environment around us becomes so charged by the radioactive toxicity of our sin that God leaves. Here's the subtlety of radioactivity. In and of itself it is not toxic. What makes it toxic is that it fools you, causing you to exchange the real for the fake. Radioactive chemicals such as Strontium 90 mimic calcium, Cesium 137 mimics potassium and Carbon 14 mimics nitrogen. Our bodies depend upon calcium and potassium for good health. Every plant that grows on our planet needs nitrogen. When the real calcium, potassium or nitrogen is not present our bodies will substitute whatever counterfeit they find that mimics the real to survive. Plants do the same thing. In fact, this acceptance of counterfeit minerals is so dangerous that even after a small amount of exposure, our bodies can begin preferring the substitute counterfeit instead of the real even when the real is available because the counterfeit becomes easier to assimilate. While the word Tamei dealt more with the pollution of the sanctuary, vessels and people, Shaatnez encompassed what and how people survived outside the temple. Mixing could only be accomplished as God deemed fit, not according to their individual human judgment.

For eons the devil watched God mix and create through His word and Spirit. Since the devil is not a creator nor can he procreate like we can, he needs to expand his own empire building program. The only way that he can is through the word. But he cannot speak the word in power, frankly only we can. Additionally, mankind has been given authority on planet Earth by God. So the devil needs our authority and the words of our mouth while he substitutes his 'good' ideas for our own and his spiritual desires for what God wants; thus mixing what could be potentially holy (mankind's God-ordained authority) with the devil's desires. This is why a religious spirit in conjunction with a Jezebel spirit is needed, the two must join to create the devil's desire on earth. Do humans get caught up in this game? All the time. The sad reality is that many Christian ministers get caught too easily. Thinking we know what we're doing is probably the first problem, then thinking that everything we do is 'God' would be our second. When we get good ideas, or even good desires planted, nurtured and taking root above what God's desires and ideas are, that's when we become increasingly open to these spiritual forces, and without repentance, can then become subject to judgment. The more we resist, the easier it is to confuse God's genuine voice for these 'good' ideas. In fact it becomes so twisted that eventually you can have whole groups of people believe that the only way to heaven is murder and the way to discipline is through rape. This is how sincerely religious people sincerely go wrong.

And now to our great idea about creating peace in the Middle East through giving away land and mixing up situations that God does not want done-obviously the Bible states Israel's boundaries plainly. We, as Christians know better. Israel's Arab neighbors know better too. There is a true peace solution that neither Israel nor her neighbors want to function in. It is humbly coming to the God of the Old and New Testaments-sitting in fasting and prayer and waiting for His answer. Trust me, He owns the heavens and can answer through signs and wonders, if that's what our human minds need. Some people need that and I have seen Him do it. But as Americans, we should have no part in it except to protect Israel from total annihilation at the hands of her neighbors. Making her borders smaller isn't going to cut it, and forcing people to convert to violent religious beliefs is not going to work either. I applaud governments and people that desire peace for trying different solutions, but it's obvious that this one is not going to help. For those of you who love freedom and even those of you who love the liberty to live like heathen, pray those involved would be open to attaining real solutions and a peace that will outlast their own lifetimes. Log on next month for more………….