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How to Really Discern Who are the Evil Prophets?

Studying the book of Isaiah, we recognize God hates sin because it separates us from Him.  There were many false prophets in Isaiah’s time.  The ones who led the people astray while professing themselves to be righteous.  The same is true today.  Many profess to be Christians, who have never bowed down to the authority of Jesus Christ in their lives.  They teach a watered-down feel-good religion devoid of truth.  Then there are the politicians who profess their acts as seeking justice and righteousness, while spewing hate and venom.  And the secular humanists who impart ideas that humanity is its own god, needing no other, while developing egotists with no conscience of right or wrong.  And the socialists who enchain the people by promising everything for free. So, how do we really discern who are the evil prophets?

It is not enough to just say, follow God’s word unless we learn how to rightly divide the word of truth.  With so many voices proclaiming they know the truth, how can we discern what is right and who are the evil prophets sent to confuse?  Peter and Jude describe these false prophets who bring confusion in detail.   But how do we discern?

Paul warned Timothy, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15).  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12).

Therefore, if we hope to discern who are the false prophets, we must study God’s Word.

A Call to Righteous by Faith and Grace

Continue reading How to Really Discern Who are the Evil Prophets?

How Are We Absolutely Certain God will Judge Evil?

How are we absolutely certain God will Judge Evil?  We know that all that He has said in the old Testament, He did fulfill.  From the days of Noah to Sodom and Gomorrah, He did just as He said in judging evil.  Throughout the time the Israelites were slaves in Egypt and their ultimately release, He just as He said He would do.  Then during the long passage through the wilderness.  He did exactly what He said He would do in judging evil both within His people and those nations opposing them.  Never was there a time that He did not fulfill all that He promised—both in judging evil and in preserving and saving the remnant who believed in Him

 

Therefore, we can be absolutely certain God will do all that He has foretold in the future as well.  We can rest assured in His unfailing Word of Truth.  All the prophecies came to be fulfilled exactly as foretold, apart from those which are yet to come.

 

Isaiah 28

 

 At that time[l] the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will become a beautiful crown
and a splendid diadem for the remnant of his people.
He will give discernment to the one who makes judicial decisions,
and strength to those who defend the city from attackers.[m]

The Lord Will Judge Jerusalem

14 Therefore, listen to the Lord’s message,
you who mock,
you rulers of these people
who reside in Jerusalem.
15 For you say,
“We have made a treaty with death,
with Sheol[ac] we have made an agreement.[ad]
When the overwhelming judgment sweeps by[ae]
it will not reach us.
For we have made a lie our refuge,
we have hidden ourselves in a deceitful word.”[af]
16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord, says:

“Look, I am laying[ag] a stone in Zion,
an approved[ah] stone,
set in place as a precious cornerstone for the foundation.[ai]
The one who maintains his faith will not panic.[aj]
17 I will make justice the measuring line,
fairness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away the unreliable refuge,[ak]
the floodwaters will overwhelm the hiding place.
18 Your treaty with death will be dissolved;[al]
your agreement[am] with Sheol will not last.[an]
When the overwhelming judgment sweeps by,[ao]
you will be overrun by it

 

Absolutely Certain God

 

Just as it was for Jerusalem’s destruction due to evil, so shall it be that He will return to bring judgement upon the whole earth as it is written.  We can be absolutely certain God will judge humanity for their choices to worship the creature rather than the creator.  Not because He is cruel.  Rather He knows how utterly destructive their own worship of the creature is.  He knows that joy, hope, peace, and true love can only be found in Him.  After all only He can fulfill every need that we have.  He created us and knows each intimate detail of what can bring us true joy.  Wanting the best for us, He willing sacrificed and endured all our foolishness so those who would choose Him could know eternal life filled with His Glorious love and joy forever.

 

22 So now, do not mock,
or your chains will become heavier!
For I have heard a message about decreed destruction,
from the Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies against the entire land.[aw]
23 Pay attention and listen to my message.[ax]
Be attentive and listen to what I have to say![ay]

29 This also comes from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
who gives supernatural guidance and imparts great wisdom.

Concluding Thoughts

 

What was true then, remains true today.  Though all may look like chaos and all seems to be lost, God will accomplish His plan.  We can be absolutely certain God will bring judgement against all the evil.  The remnant of believers will be redeemed. And we shall be with Him eternally in a new heaven and new earth where no sin has touched it.  Hold on, keep the faith, and tell everyone you know, “Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.  In Him is fullness of joy evermore.  So, again, Hold on, He is still on His throne and this is but a moment in time leading to the promised land.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Or if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Poetry Books Available

If you enjoyed this poem perhaps you would like to read more of my poetry in my newest book which can be found on Amazon

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Previously

I Seek You Lord In the Darkest Night

 

How to Find Perfect Peace in Chaotic Times

Disclosures

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2020
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

Photo by David Brooke Martin on Unsplash

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

I Seek You Lord In the Darkest Night

I seek You Lord

 

I seek You, Lord in the darkest night

And wait upon your dawning light

I rest now in Your perfect peace

At Your command, the storms will cease

 

Submitted to thy will I rest

Knowing for me You choose Your best

And though I may not always see

Your Grace and Love they carry me

 

My rock, my fortress in the storm

Wrapped in Your arms I am safe and warm

Those icy arrows aimed at my heart

Your breath, they melt and fears depart

 

As nations rise and nations fall

While prideful people snub Your call

With blinded eyes they do not see

Your Glory, Grace, and Majesty

 

And when Your grace shine forth so bright

They choose the darkness, not the light

When judgement comes for evil deeds

They curse You Lord while Your heart bleeds

 

They are the only ones to blame

For all the evil and the shame

They spit upon Your lovely face

Your hand still stretches out with grace

 

They think themselves wiser still

Professing they are the righteous will

Oh foolish ones who cannot see

Destruction is their destiny

 

And though the darkness doth surround

I pray dear Lord Your grace abound

You are my joy, my hope, my peace

My trust in You will not cease

 

I seek You, Lord in the darkest night

And wait upon your dawning light

I rest now in Your perfect peace

At Your command, the storms will cease

 

Submitted to thy will I rest

Knowing for me You choose Your best

And though I may not always see

Your Grace and Love they carry me

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.

For Prayer or Comments

If you have a prayer request feel free to email me by clicking here

Or if you would like to share your story or thoughts, you can comment here

Poetry Books Available

If you enjoyed this poem perhaps you would like to read more of my poetry in my newest book which can be found on Amazon

 

 

Disclosures

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2020
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Credits

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

 

How to Find Perfect Peace in Chaotic Times

It was certainly chaotic times when Isaiah wrote the words God gave him to write.  He knew that the people were not even going to listen.  Therefore, he knew judgement was coming.  But that did not deter him, because he was commissioned by God to continue to speak to the remnant.  For through them, the brightest shining hope would one day emerge.  The Messiah, Jeshua would be born of a virgin.  He would face every temptation of humanity; yet remain fully obedient to the Father’s will.  Rejected by the very ones He came to save, He would die on the cross, bearing the full weight of God’s wrath against sin.  He would rise again from the grave, that all who believe in Him might know and have perfect peace with God.

It is our sin filled nature that separates us from the only true source of peace.  People are incapable of truly laying aside their humanistic pride.  This inborn ideology that we are the center of our universe.  What I feel must be more important than anything else!  Afterall I must pursue joy above all else!  What other purpose must there be?  Yet, in our foolishness, we cannot see that the only true source of joy is a harmonious relationship with our creator.  Only in Him can we find perfect peace even in chaotic times such as now.  We foolishly chase after power, sensuous pleasures, and self-exaltation only to find those to add to our separation from God and separation from the joy and peace we desire.  Never enough!  They are never enough!

 

Can a Nation Find Perfect Peace in Chaotic Times?

Continue reading How to Find Perfect Peace in Chaotic Times

All that He has Planned Will Be Accomplished!

If you listen to the news, it will seem all is lost.  Riots, fighting, political discord, socialism, pandemics, suffering, and no solutions.  You would think this is the worse of times and no hope exists for us.  Perhaps it is the final judgement coming and we cannot turn the tide.  As we read Isaiah, it would seem he was writing about us, our nation.  Intermingled throughout the book of Isaiah are truths that seem to have repeated themselves multiple times in history, despite it being written to Judah.  Beyond that it speaks of prophecies yet to come as well as those completed.  It stands as a symbol of the fact that we can rest assured all that He has planned will be accomplished.

Isaiah Chapter 13 through 24 detail the rise and fall of many nations surrounding Israel and Judah, including their roles in bringing judgment to Israel and Judah for their sinful, woeful disobedience to God.  This despite God’s great pouring out of blessings and mercy repeatedly toward them.  Yet, nothing has ever taken God by surprise.  He knew their choices and still had a plan to bring salvation to the world through His son.  His plan and promise to Abraham never swayed.  The remnant of believers, those who believed God in the worst of times, though humbled and meek would be the line through whom Jesus was born.

Isaiah 25 (NET)

Continue reading All that He has Planned Will Be Accomplished!