Tag Archives: Bible

Negotiating the Winding Path of Prophecy

I can’t believe this is all happening so fast! Never thought I’d live to see the end coming, but here it is, bearing down on us like a runaway freight train. Right now, Satan is on his game as never before – he knows his time is about up, and he’s lighting this world up with every weapon in his arsenal. If they aren’t pointed at us, we’re doing something wrong.

I’m old now and retired, so if the weather’s not right for outdoor work I sit around watching videos on social media, and I’ve seen a lot of changes lately in the things that are presented. Recently there are lots of shows about end time prophecy with presenters giving differing viewpoints on what’s going on, in fact there are so many interpretations out there right now, if a person isn’t rightfully discerning, it would be easy to get confused. That’s what this post is about, we need to take a deep breath and get back to the fundamentals of our faith. We were told things would come unwound at the end, and if we find ourselves trying to jump on every train that comes by us, we might end up going somewhere we don’t need to be. We need to spend as much time as possible in study and prayer. And loving and encouraging each other while ignoring the whims of the world. Jesus stands ready to help us at every juncture, but we have to be willing to listen to Him. Sometimes that requires swallowing a lot of pride, which probably shouldn’t be there in the first place, and if it is, he’ll (often quite painfully) show us that too. Not because God enjoys putting us through painful experiences, but because we have probably spent too much of our lives pretending we are someone or something different than what we actually are. So, we have to get beyond the pride part to go the right way.

As far as pride goes, you can take this bit of advice from someone who has tasted enough crow to be quite familiar with it’s flavor. I’ve only experienced the downside of allowing pride to blind me to reality because God decided to show me things that I had long ignored, and yes, it was a difficult part of my journey, and things happened that caused me to even question my faith, but all in all it wasn’t a bad thing. Jesus said, [Revelation 3:19]: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.” and what it says in Proverbs 3:12, “For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in whom he delights.” When we come out from under the cloud of chastisement, we are able to realize there was a reason for God allowing us to go through times of testing. And what an honor and a privilege to know He is taking the time to train us!

We are educated in the ways of the Spirit precisely to prepare us for things like these confusing days we are enduring. Jesus gave us our Spiritual education to be able to discern which of the many interpretations of prophecy are worth listening to. For instance, if whatever narrative you encounter does not give glory to Jesus Christ and honor Him, at best it is only superficial, but more often than not, it’s just plain false teaching. Satan has a lot of that out there nowadays. The dragon is at war with a greater ferocity than ever to destroy the woman. Of course, the woman is Jesus’ Church.

The first thing I look for is whether or not the narrator even mentions the name of Jesus. If not, it’s automatically false. Jesus said, [John 14:6]: “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” So how could any message that excludes mention of Jesus be valid? If Jesus is mentioned, does the narrative mention Him in a positive and authoritative light? If not, it is highly suspect. There are many more devices to watch out for, and the Spirit will reveal them to you if you listen to Him. Jesus will not allow you to follow false teachings if your heart is right with Him. [Matthew 5:8]: “Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” But again, being pure at heart might necessitate engaging in that ego-threatening battle with pride.

Another thing I’m noticing – it’s about the commercials out there nowadays. Have you noticed how they portray the purveyors of their products as being so very decadent, living so seemingly luxurious lifestyles that only the wealthy could entertain any semblance to them? Advertising vacations in luxury ski resorts, or tropical islands; advertising automobiles that only the wealthy could ever afford. People dressed in expensive clothes and sporting accoutrements such as expensive jewelry, and these ads are being watched for the most part by folks who are having a hard time paying their bills. What’s up with these commercials? Are we proles supposed to be eating our hearts out or mortgaging our homes to purchase whatever luxurious products or experiences they are hawking?

The Bible warns us in several places about the threat to our souls from being (or wanting to be) rich and the media world today seems to be telling everyone to desire earthly treasure and luxury. Do not fall into that trap! [James 5:5]; “You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.” [Luke 6:24]: “But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation.” Wealthy people are on a temporary visa – their ownership of wealth disappears when their hearts stop. Their fealty to Satan will no longer avail them once they leave this world. But they rarely stop to consider that. Most of them leastways. The part about the danger of being (or wishing to be) wealthy is just a time-proven tactic of Satan, but it’s being pressed in these end days, so when you hear those false preachers trying to conflate end time prophecy with “prosperity gospel”, just know they are simply and blindly trying to gain more wealth, oblivious to the ever increasing darkness around them.

Brothers and sisters who read these posts, please understand that this writer is dealing with the same problems you are going through, but trusting Jesus Christ as never before, and He’s showing us His faithfulness as never before. We are making our way through a very narrow gate – narrower than any of us realize, but if we stay faithful to Him, He will show us the way home. He wants us to make it, He’s willing to do anything it takes to help us. He’s even died for us, so never allow the enemy to make you feel like you’re alone, Jesus is always there, and He will be there to the end: [Matthew 28:20]: “…lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

The best place to find and study prophecy is in your Bible. The Spirit will interpret what of it you need to understand. There may be a lot more there than what you can digest, but the Lord knows what you need.

And watch out for those AI generated narratives with their fancy proper British-sounding inflections, accents and CGI video backgrounds – if you pay attention, you can even pick up on its limited vocabulary and redundant phraseology. I really don’t think computers have the capability to understand nor disseminate God’s Word, nor especially Bible prophecy. At the very least, only pay attention to known God-fearing people and preachers you trust.

Don’t be dismayed or afraid as we approach the end of this age. there are still yet some difficult times ahead. As you’ve seen before on these posts, if Satan ain’t giving you problems, you’re doing something wrong. Stay strong. Stay faithful. Do not fear the servants of Satan – refusing to fear them is key to defeating them, for they live off fear and trepidation. Be particularly careful of whom you listen to as concerns prophecy and God’s will for you. Trust Jesus Christ and Him only.

May the blessings of the Almighty Father find and keep us.

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MK

How Freedom and Understanding are Conferred to the Believer

Previously, Folkpotpourri has provided important information to hopefully attract new believers and keep current believers on track without getting too far into the woods behind false teachers. Lately, Christians’ obligation to refute the Gaza genocide has been extensively discussed. Sometimes these posts venture onto the passionate side, but even though we have to be careful to keep it tamped down, righteous anger is different from vitriol and hatred. Containing this gets a lot easier as we get closer to Jesus, and this writer does everything in his power to love every human being. It’s important for us to keep our eye on the ball, especially during the troubles we have before us.

Today there will hopefully be some meaningful information about understanding His Word as we look forward and as the Kingdom approaches and is revealed. Though you won’t always see locations of verses and passages, what these Spiritual posts say comes from the Word of God and those who are familiar with the Bible will recognize where some of the notions come from – certain aspects are informative tidbits from the Spirit which interprets the Bible, and while studying it’s very important to pay attention to things we might likely ignore, such as fleeting thoughts and glimpses that God gives us, especially when we study His Word – these nudges are the Spirit of God trying to get our attention. It is also important that we understand that Jesus only had a short time with men on this earth, so every word He uttered is of immense value and every believer is obliged to study them and pray for understanding!

If you’re like me, you sometimes go past things you read in the Bible that don’t register or make sense and only record in your mind those things you readily understand, and I think that’s a mistake – at least it is for me – that can cause us to miss out on some really wonderful and important information. When we come across things in scripture which don’t seem mean anything, we should stop and meditate on them and pray that understanding will come to us. Many who read this will realize I’m stumbling around trying to communicate a thought which God communicates to us through thoughts and not words, so to put these into words is only possible as the Spirit gives leave, but with His guidance, I shall try.

On Freedom:

[John 8:36] “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” This, to me, means among other types of freedom that He bestows upon us, free to understand. As an example, when we see the phrase “water of Life”, what is He describing? To those who are free indeed, the unspoken meaning of this may be understood, though to what degree is governed by what degree of freedom one has claimed. So how do we claim that level of freedom? Jesus said [John 8:31,32]: “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” So what level of understanding do you seek? The level that comes from abiding in His word would seem to be the answer. Jesus reinforces this notion in other places when He tells them more about this freedom. Not free in the imaginary sense of unchained worldly existence, but free to explore profound Spiritual reality – only possible if one believes the Son and of course, abides in His Word.

Many souls of this earth believe they are “free”, and when they only consider freedom as a notion that they are not another man’s servant or property, that might be correct. The freedom Jesus speaks of is another, entirely different and ethereal freedom, a concept that cannot be understood nor appreciated by anyone without the Spirit, which teaches profound knowledge without words of man, even to us who are simple.

Understanding of the truth that resides in any word or phrase that is found in God’s Word can be gained at more than one level; indeed everyone doesn’t see things mentioned at the same depth, but we all see them and if you’re like me you sort of envy (not in a bad way) people who “get it” more than I do (seek these people out and listen to what they say – they have a great gift). So, we can and do understand the Word at more than one level. That’s why novice believers need milk and seasoned believers are capable of meat (deeper understanding). It is important to keep in mind however, that there is only one Truth, but the meanings in scripture are understood by different believers at different depths, and this depth is determined by how profoundly one chooses to study, and how diligently we “abide in His Word”.

For one example, there are undoubtedly Bible scholars who read this post who will get a better understanding of “water of life”, than I, but at my level of understanding and way over simply-put, the water of life is that which nurtures those who have chosen Life. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well [John 4:14] “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” Understanding the meaning of the life of which He speaks is another matter, and I do not have the literary skill to even begin to put it into words, but the idea of Life as the Word speaks of it is an existence, not the ephemeral heartbeat, breathe in, breathe out, eat, sleep routine we normally associate with life as we know it, but a continuum, a spiritual habitation of infinity with the blessed accoutrements of love, peace, joy in the presence of Holiness – the presence of the Spirit, the Father, and the Lamb. This life is another concept, or aspect of knowledge that cannot be described with words, and that is intentional, for to have an understanding of it is a gift for the believer. The Spirit knows, God knows, angels know, and our Lord Jesus certainly knows what it is and what it encompasses, but only believers who “abide in His word”, are allowed, as with some other concepts and “gifts” of understanding, some level of knowledge of what this life means to mankind – a whole other dimension of life we have opportunity to partially experience (as in a looking glass dimly) today but to fully live on the other side tomorrow.

Another good example of how the Lord extends our understanding (and limits it for the unbeliever) is the parables through which Jesus taught. When Jesus reveals to His disciples the reason He speaks in parables, He allows us another insight to how He imparts understanding, and this passage gives another revelation of how we can become able to understand Him. [Matthew 13:13]: Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. This passage is a warning to those who allow themselves to believe in lies, and yes, the world is full of such people, but it is also an instruction to believe what the Spirit tries to tell your heart. A good example of this is a person who has his fortune invested in weapons manufacturing (“defense” contractors). This person knows full well that his stock profits come from wars; from human blood, so to assuage his conscience he is inclined to buy into lies like the civilian women and children in Gaza are some kind of ominous threat to the occupation, and the occupation is defending itself, so of course, uses lots of bombs. He buys into them simply because of the money he makes; he doesn’t believe them; he knows better. What his heart is trying to tell him is that he is on the wrong side of morality, but he isn’t interested in listening, so God gives him over to the lie, and he remains void of understanding. Seeing (the destruction in Gaza) he does not see; hearing (the bombs exploding, the children screaming) he does not hear; therefore, by his own volition he does not understand, among other things, his culpability in the death, and destruction – this is but one (an extremely important one today) example, and I use it in this missive because of it’s current relevance.

If we are believers, it is important to understand God’s Word at the most profound level we can achieve – the Spirit is there to help us, but the big requirement is that we abide in His Word – that’s where it starts. His word is indescribably critical and is growing more so as we approach the end. It is to our detriment to ignore or disobey any part of it. Jesus is real – get to know Him as well as you can, we don’t have much longer.

May the blessings of the Almighty God find and keep us all.

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MK