Tag: choices

Which Word Will Dominate Your Life In 2016?

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There are a lot quizzes and games on Facebook, and each one is without error; if you believe everything they say. 

A fairly recent one is floating around, “Which Word Will Dominate Your Life In 2016?” 

Call me gullible, but I had to try it. 

And was I ever glad I did!

Our word, for Phyllis and I, is HAPPINESS. Every day of the year we’re going to have happiness. Yep, happiness. 

I read it on Facebook. 

I’d like to ask you the same question, with a bit of a twist. No, I don’t have any special quiz or “push this button and discover…”, but it’s something you can use to help you stay on the right course throughout 2016. 

“Whose word will dominate you in 2016?”

Let’s try a few different words, inserting some of the most popular ones into the scenarios.

The Media: It doesn’t matter which station, channel, blog, or newspaper. No one simply reports any longer. Basic reports do not sell subscriptions. If Media dominates you, no matter which way you lean, you’re still leaning. And he who leans while he walks will have a very difficult time walking straight.

The Politicians: As everyone knows, 2016 is an election year. A lot of words are being tossed around, with each one carefully chosen to affect your thinking, and voting. If you’re dominated by the word of the politician, be prepared to vote for your candidate and maybe not your conscience. The politician is fishing for your vote. Instead of listening to what they SAY, look at their record. What HAVE they accomplished before they started campaigning? How are they managing THEIR lives? Can you trust them with yours?

The Preachers: I kind of hated to include this group; after all, they are my own kind. And while MOST preachers are honest and sincere, there are some who will confuse you and put you into greater bondage rather than freedom. So if the word of a preacher, whether a big name, little name, or no name preacher, dominates you in 2016, you’ll probably wind up not hearing exactly what you need to be hearing.

It’s human nature, and you and I are human, to search out things and people who AGREE WITH US. So typically, we gravitate to those who preach the things we want to hear. 

The Bible refers to it as having “itching ears”. Wrong thing to be dominated by.

There are a number of others words we allow to dominate us; like entertainment, work, hobbies, sports, fitness, and even such wholesomeness as family. They all can be fine words, if kept in proper perspective; never our master.

But the word that SHOULD DOMINATE our 2016 and beyond is God’s Word!

To live, to live pure, to live pure, compassionate and productive lives, we must have God’s Word!

It needs to DOMINATE our thinking and our actions.

Here are some words to get you started.

“But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”” (Matthew 4:4 ESV)

“How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:9-11 ESV)

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:1-3 ESV)

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 ESV)

“And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” (1 Thessalonians 2:13 ESV)

“And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32 ESV)

The year has just begun, and it could very well be your best year ever! Not because I said so; and not because some politician, television station, or slick tongued preacher gave you “a word” (for your generous donation of $50). 

No, we have a more sure word (2 Peter 1), and the more you and I pay attention to it, the more abundant our life will be.

What word will dominate you this year?

I hope it’s God’s word. 

Three Prophetic Words For 2016

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Three prophetic words from a casual observer, and a prophet-in-training.

Okay, so maybe I’m not a prophet, or maybe I am; but I’ve got some things to say about this coming year that need to be heard. Because I say them? No. Who’s Jan Grace, anyway? 

No, not because I say them, but because they just may come to pass. You and I need to be prepared.

Three words come to my mind, and burn intensely within my spirit. Three words I believe God is speaking to the American people, and especially His Church.

Acceleration, Depravation, Demarcation 

“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.” (2 Timothy 3:1-9 ESV)


Acceleration

Throughout the ages there have been difficult, stressful times. But things are beginning to accelerate, faster and faster. Seasons are becoming mixed up, weather patterns skewed. But more importantly, the season of ministry is quickly coming to a close. 

I don’t say that because I’m calling for this year to be the year of the Lord’s return, but because of a second word I’m hearing, which I’ll share in a moment.

The things happening in the natural realm are indicators of what’s taking place in the spirit. People, even some of God’s people, are becoming mixed up, no longer bearing fruit in season. And this is being accelerated to the point where men and women are becoming picked off by the enemy at a faster rate. What we used to “get by with” now becomes a major issue overnight and unless we repent quickly, we wake up to someone we no longer recognize. Ourselves.

Why else would Peter say, “Judgment must begin in the house of God, and if it begins with us, what’s going to happen to those who don’t obey the gospel?” (1 Peter 4)

If WE are scarcely saved…? 

Peter also wrote, “Be sober, be vigilant, because YOUR adversary, the devil, goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may DEVOUR…”

Only NOW, his advances are accelerating! 

“Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!” (Revelation 12:12 ESV)


Depravation

The closets are open, and everything imaginable is being released on society. Even some things beyond our imagination! 

The depravity of the unregenerate human heart is being celebrated as the new freedom, and the more perverse something is the greater it’s lauded. 

Couple this word with the first, acceleration, and 2016 will not be an easy year. You and I will not get by with a wish and a hope so. 

Depravity is like poisonous fungi, attaching itself to areas in our lives that haven’t fully embraced the life giving power of the gospel. Those areas where we’ve allowed compromise; and have tried to live for Jesus and our flesh at the same time.

In fact, fungi live on dead or decaying things. It thrives on death. It grows, multiplies on death. 

Depravity feeds on spiritual death, and perverseness paves the way for more perversity. 

“Gay rights” will soon be “tame” compared to what’s being conceived in the heart of the wicked. 

2016 will end, sadly, with many church going, bible quoting, Christians falling because they’ve succumbed to the depravation in the world.
Demarcation 

“Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith.” 2 Timothy 3:8 ESV)

A line, such has not been seen since the earliest days of the church, will begin to be pronounced in 2016. 

A difference will be declared, and demonstrated, by the true believers in Jesus. 

“…and that ye may make a distinction between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean…” (Leviticus 10:10 ASV)

“Depart, depart, go out from there; touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her; purify yourselves, you who bear the vessels of the Lord.” (Isaiah 52:11 ESV)

As it was in the Book of Acts, so will it be even in America.

“Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico. None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem.” (Acts 5:12-13 ESV)

Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, and the Romans and Jews opposed the gospel. A morally deprived society opposes God on almost every issue these days. But the line has been drawn in the sand.

The word is demarcation, a clear distinction between God’s people and the rest. 

The stage is being set for a showdown. As Moses faced Pharaoh with God’s holiness and power, so it will come to pass shortly. And as the Egyptians were overjoyed when the Israelites finally left Egypt, well, this world’s gonna party like crazy when their critics are gone.

Preacher, pastor, prophet: don’t hold your tongue. You will not win the world with your silence, and you will not carry out your assignment hiding behind your 501c3 status. 

As Mordecai said to Queen Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king’s palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this”(Esther 4:13-14 ESV), I believe the Lord is declaring to His witnesses today:

“If you attempt to compromise My Truth, to water it down so others will receive YOU, I WILL find others to do what I told you to do. But you will lose out.”

The line of holiness is clearly stated in the scriptures, and without holiness one cannot see the Lord. Preach it and demonstrate it. 

Acceleration, Depravation, and Demarcation. 

2016 is going to be quite a ride.

 

Choice of Punishment

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Did you know that the Lord, many times, allows wrong doers the opportunity to choose their own punishment? Their own fate? It’s true. People have had a choice of punishment. Here’s an example with King David:

“But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the Lord , “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, Lord , for doing this foolish thing.”

“The next morning the word of the Lord came to the prophet Gad, who was David’s seer. This was the message: “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the Lord says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’” So Gad came to David and asked him, “Will you choose three years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land? Think this over and decide what answer I should give the Lord who sent me.”

“I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.” (2 Samuel 24:10-14 NLT)

David realized he had disobeyed God. He acknowledged his sin before the Lord, and the Lord, through the prophet Gad, gave him three punishment options. David had a choice of punishment.

David did the right thing and put his fate into the just and loving hands of God. He decided to let God choose.

That was then. This is now. God hasn’t changed, and neither has man.

True, God has judged sin once and for all through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But people must make a personal decision either for, or against Christ. And if mankind would only have the sense (and faith) to call upon Him, my, how different the world would be.

If the people of this nation would truly repent of their selfish ways and receive Jesus as their Lord, this nation would turn around over night.

But they don’t. They keep living as if God isn’t real; or, if He is, He didn’t mean what He said. They won’t humble themselves before God, as David did.

So God has given the people of the U.S. a choice; a choice of punishment. “How will you be punished for your lawlessness, selfishness, and arrogance?”

What choice did Americans make?

Well, America voted on it. The voters, the votes of the electoral college, the pen and phone of the president, the lobbyists, and even the Supreme Court have all gotten into the act of replacing God; removing Him from society. The nerve, and downright arrogance, of this country. “We’ll decide once and for all if same-sex marriage is right.”

The majority will have their say.

And that will be America’s punishment. America will have to learn how to fend for themselves. God won’t force His ways upon anyone. Not then, not now, not ever.

He’ll let them have their say; their way.

Good luck, America.

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