The bible tells us to love the truth

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish;
because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 
And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion,
that they should believe a lie: 
That they all might be damned who believed not the truth,
but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

There is a reason we are told to love the truth and fear God
That is because when we come across things we do not like that we can remember that we are not God, but He is
God has kept His word
He has kept His word in the way that He has protected His word
and He has kept His word in the way that His promises are true
and He keeps His promises

Seek to know the Lord

Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit;
through deceit they refuse to know Me, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 9:6
This is the same as loving the world, the same as dwelling among sin
The same as letting it permeate every thought and refusing the Lord

Some say, lower your expectations.
For yourself?
For others.
For God?

The answers are often of the flesh.
We have no secret weapon against disappointment.
We might be disappointed for something very small or something very large.
It’s like a cut or a scrape along the way, that we receive and it hurts or stings for a time, then we can reconcile with whatever it was and keep going.

In the Old Testament, God was often disappointed with the choices His people made. Sometimes those choices were life long, sometimes the people changed directions, some were following the Lord, some were fair weather followers.

Just like any emotion, we can allow it to take control.
We are made in the image of God and we have feelings.
Just like any feeling, we can give it more credence than it deserves.
Or some feelings just affect us deeply. They can debilitate us.

Of the many experiences we endure. we can glean from them
or just chalk them up for being on this Earth.
The Lord sends rain on the just and the unjust.

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:
for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good,
and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:4

That is why Jesus came as a man. He already knew what we endured,
but He chose to live in the flesh and be tempted with all the things we are tempted with, yet without sin.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 
For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;
but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16

God is much more gracious than we give Him credit for.
Let us learn to be gracious to ourselves and to others
and try to let all of the lessons we learn
and the tough challenges we go through develop our inward man.

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Psalm 66:18

Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount:
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar,
and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
Leave there thy gift before the altar,
and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother,
and then come and offer thy gift. Matthew 5:23-24

That means if you have unforgiveness in your heart, and even more,
if you have not done your best to reconcile with your brother
when there was an issue between the two of you,
God wants you to do what you can to make peace with that person.
Then, He will welcome you.

Another example: Paul warns husbands that their prayers will be hindered
if they do not treat their wives well.
Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge,
giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel,
and as being heirs together of the grace of life;
that your prayers be not hindered. 1 Peter 3:7

Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself,
but shall not be heard. Proverbs 21:13

This one is significant of the mercy we show others.
We cannot expect mercy from God if we refuse to extend it.

For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy;
and mercy rejoiceth against judgment. James 2:13

Think of something you have done that God has forgiven you for.
Ask Him to give you that same mercy for others.
Jesus is the just judge, we are not.

If you only pray one prayer, it will be heard by our Lord.
If there are more needed, He will prompt the pray-er.
If not, keep going and do your work that Jesus has given you to do.

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: Psalm 66:18

Pray God’s will.
Pray in the Spirit.
Pray with tongues of angels.
Pray without ceasing.
Pray with forgiveness in your heart.
Pray with joy in your heart.
Pray with love in your heart.
Pray with the fundamental mission we all have to share the gospel.
Pray with meekness, in other words, do not pray with condemnation.
Pray knowing the Lord sees all and will answer even impossible prayers.
Pray for the wicked who are speaking what is inside of their hearts.

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Luke 6:28

Pray for the unsaved.
Pray for those whose hearts have not yet become a part of the kingdom of God.
Pray as the Holy Spirit leads, knowing He hears and if we ask, we shall receive.

Utter Chaos

The world will be spinning into utter chaos.
The world you know will no longer be.
There will no solid place except in Me. -Jesus

The Shepherds are to feed the flock.
The Shepherds are to care for the flock.
Their job is to oversee us, to help us to stay on the straight and narrow road.

Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
Though the earthly Shepherds come and go and prevail and fail,
Jesus is our constant.
He is the One we look to to fulfill all of our missions while we are here on Earth.

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth His life for the sheep.
But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth:
and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.
The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd, and know My sheep, and am known of Mine.
John 10:11-14

It is of ultimate importance that we know and follow Jesus as our first and foremost Shepherd. We have no obligation to any man. They are God’s servants just like we are and we can willingly follow them to an extent, but Jesus is our main Shepherd. He is our mainstay.

If there is an adoration to a human shepherd, that can interfere with God’s plan in your life, with the relationship we have with God. Our adoration belongs to the Lord. While we respect those in authority over us, if we adore them, if we give them more honor than they deserve, that can become a problem.

I have great concern for one such church and its people. Their shepherd is leading them astray and they have not seen it yet.

I also believe that if the people are loving the truth and seeking God on their own, He will show them that the shepherd is not leading them to the truth.

We are living in times of great deception. Jesus warned us that there will be false christs and false prophets. The difficult part of that is that we become intertwined with the people, like Delilah. Samson loved Delilah and she kept deceiving him and he could not see that her love was false until it was too late.
Such is the way with false prophets. They play both sides, like a harlot.

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; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth,
and shall be turned unto fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Keep Jesus, the Good Shepherd, as your paramount Shepherd, unrivaled, supreme, the highest ranking Shepherd. Seek His face always.

If you think you know what is inside someone’s heart, that is haughtiness.
While we can guess, and we might even be right sometimes,
the only One who is able to see the inside of a person’s heart, is God.
Looking on the heart is how God sees.
If you have given yourself that honor and privilege, you are mistaken.

That is the ultimate judging. Judging someone else’s heart.
We humans do not hold that power or authority or insight.
We know what the word of God says.
God looks on the heart. Man looks on the outward appearance.

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance,
or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him:
for the Lord seeth not as man seeth;
for man looketh on the outward appearance,
but the Lord looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

The next time you think you are able to decide
what the thoughts and intentions of another human being are,
you have missed it. Only God can do that.

The Kiffness x Rushawn – It’s a Beautiful Day (Original song by Jermaine Edwards)

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God:
and if it first begin at us,
what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 1 Peter 4:17

I just left a church. I know I was sent there for a time, for a few reasons.
The Pastor and I struck an impasse.
I believe Jesus should be the center and he did not.
The Lord gave me a word for that Pastor:

This House will Crumble and Fall

“Nothing will be left standing.
I have given you many warnings.
I have sent many to you to allow you correction.
That has not happened.
Thus saith the Lord,
Your kingdom shall fall down to the ground.”

Jesus gives us many warnings when we are not walking in His ways.
If we resist, our hearts become hardened.
We might not be able to hear anymore.
We can become insensitive to the Spirit of God.

Cain was so mad at Abel because God was pleased with Abel.
Cain’s sacrifice to the Lord was refused, but God honored Abel’s sacrifice.
Where was Cain’s humility?
He could have asked the Lord, why aren’t you pleased with my sacrifice?
Cain could have asked the Lord to allow him
to see things the way that God saw them.

God did not coddle Cain.
And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth?
and why is thy countenance fallen? 
If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?
and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door.
And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. Genesis 4:6-7

Cain could have asked for forgiveness and understanding and wisdom.
He did not. He was angry because he did not please God.
He got deeper into the mire and killed his own brother.
Cain had to have heard the same instructions that Abel did regarding sacrifice.
Cain refused to do what was required and chose his own way.

Those who choose their own way will not last.
God will bring a hammer down at some point.
God is angry with those who are not caring for His flock.
Leading the people to a relationship with Jesus so they can do His will
is what should be taught. That is the crux. Each of us, following Jesus and learning about Him, learning to hear His voice, learning to obey Him.

Those pastors or teachers who toot their own horns and deny adoration of Jesus will be removed. It is that time. It is that season. The here and now. The church will be spotless and pure before Jesus’ return.

Those pastors who elevate anything or anyone above Jesus will be exposed.
The pride and haughtiness of man will be brought low.
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased;
and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. Matthew 23:12

God told Samuel, let them have what they want.

And the Lord said unto Samuel,
Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee:
for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me,
that I should not reign over them. 1 Samuel 8:7

Imagine having God reign over your land.
That would be so amazing.
People like their power. They like their authority.
People have a hard time humbling themselves before the Lord.
It’s not always easy to do so.
It takes practice. It takes determination. It takes choosing God, constantly.

King Saul was anointed by Samuel the Seer, some called Samuel a Judge.
Samuel was a humble man whom the Lord spoke to and shared His heart with.
Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him,
and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee 
to be captain over His inheritance? 1 Samuel 10:1

King Saul disobeyed the Lord and did things his own way.
He blatantly disobeyed directions from Samuel.
The Lord chose to remove Saul’s anointing as king.
David was soon anointed King in Saul’s place.

King Saul did not get removed right away.
He never repented. Saul’s sin was rebellion.
Saul never made reconciliation with the Lord about his disobedience.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft,
and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord,
he hath also rejected thee from being king. 1 Samuel 15:23

The rest of the story is well known: Saul was removed by the Lord
and King David was anointed in his stead.
Saul never did make peace with God before he died.

The question that begs to be answered is: Can we lose our anointing?

Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast,
that no man take thy crown. Revelation 3:11

The answer is unequivocally, Yes!
The hard part is, we may not know if we lose it
or we may see someone else lose their anointing and they might not be aware.
It is an act by the Lord
and people have chosen to be in deception or rebellion.
Their chances of coming back are to be determined, but likely,
not something that will happen.
That is where keeping our eyes on the Lord Jesus is the best choice.
Some things cannot be fixed, even with prayer. God does not answer all prayer.

If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask,
and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.
There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. 1 John 5:16

Shall we be afraid of this happening?
We should have a fear of the Lord and never lose it.
We have to figure this out for ourselves with wisdom from God for our lives.
God gives us guidance and examples in His word.
As many sins as King David committed, he never had the anointing removed.
Solomon seemed to be a different story,
although the bible does not specifically use that term about Solomon.
And the Lord was angry with Solomon,
because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel,
which had appeared unto him twice, 
And had commanded him concerning this thing,
that he should not go after other gods:
but he kept not that which the Lord commanded. 1 Kings 11:9-10

God promised to rend the kingdom from him,
but retained some of it for David’s sake and for Israel’s sake.

It seems to be a line that gets crossed.
Where people are warned and they choose to do what they want to anyway, regardless of what God has made clear to them to do.
There are many times when God loses His patience,
when He just gets fed up with the way people treat Him or ignore Him,
doing their own thing, choosing their own way, making their own rules.
There might be quite a few of these people walking around. We do not know.
We cannot always see the spiritual.

And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion,
that they should believe a lie: 2 Thessalonians 2:11
God can and does send deception upon people.
I would rather not. If God does it, who could get free from that?
Let us never take God for granted.
We cannot assume we are right with Him once
and that moment lasts without checking in with Him often.

And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23
Every single day.
Don’t leave Him out. The days can turn into weeks and then,
you may miss the boat because you lost your way.