|City on a Hill - Writings for Refuge

ac·tiv·ism, ˈaktəˌvizəm noun "the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change." Activism will be the most common expression of lawlessness in the end time church. The great falling away of the church from loyalty to Jesus will be done under a banner of activism. The youth of our country are incredibly vulnerable to this deceit. They are tired of waiting for change. Waiting on invisible Jesus just doesn't seem worth it in an impatient world. This impatience leads people to sign up for causes, rather than draw near to the only One who will fix every cause. God could do all the justice without us...He has invited us to partner with Him in the release of justice through intercession. True activism...the kind that agrees with Jesus... petitions only God...it agrees with God's government. The activism of the earth rebels against the "foolishness" of God's government, which operates in night and day intercession...as...

The fear of going backwards is a sign of your commitment to go forward. The fear of falling out of lovesickness is a sign of lovesickness itself. The fear of love growing cold is evidence of burning love. The devil is a liar and one of his main lies is that God will not supply. This lie is designed to get you to quit asking, so you will quit receiving. God is a good father. If you want to go forward and express that desire to God, you WILL go forward. If you want to burn hot, and simply express that desire to God, you will burn hot for Him. If you want to grow in lovesickness for Jesus, it only happens one way: asking and receiving. God isn't looking for ways to disqualify you from all the promises, He is drawing all the qualifications out of you...he is in the process of increasing your capacity to receive as much as possible. To receive more, you have to want more. This is simply the way love works: voluntary desire on the part of two parties. You have to partner with Him in it. ...

Excited to talk this morning about learning to love the judgments of God...specifically the seals, trumpets, and bowls of Revelation 6 to 16... At New City Church in Kalamazoo. Many will be offended by Jesus because they didn't learn to understand, and learn to love, the very intense things Jesus is going to do to prepare the earth to receive Him: Luke 7:23“And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” 24When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25“But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26“But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. 27“This is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ John the Baptist stood with Jesus in the inten...

This is what faith sounds like: John 5:25“And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. 26The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. 27And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. 28Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, 29and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. The fullness of this statement would happen more than 2,000 years after Jesus made it. But, it was true from the moment the Father whispered it to Jesus and Jesus spoke it on earth. No one knew these words to be true at the time but Jesus and the Father. This is the relationship we are invited into. Jesus is the firstborn of many. As He was i...

The efficiency of communication is increasing at unprecedented levels. This is actually what drives the end time fulfillment of prophecy. Daniel was told the connection of people and information would unseal the end time events: Daniel 12:4“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” The reason the world works this way is because God gave the earth to mankind. We get whatever we want on this rock. The more people want something in unity, the more they will get it. The reason the earth is getting so dark is because the people of the earth are uniting in their desire to get free from the leadership of God...who is the light: John 1:2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. This happened in ...

The Lord is not neutral...His eyes search to and fro looking for hearts loyal to Himself so he might show himself strong in their behalf. It is easy to think that God is neutral about all who simply name His name. He is not. Often, there is a delay between injustice and vindication. It is in this time period that God's mercy is really on display. God is merciful, not neutral, towards those who perpetrate injustice, even in His name... he gives them time to repent: Revelation 2:20“Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. 21“And I gave her time to repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. 22“Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. Unfortunately, many see the patience of the Lord as His tacit approval of th...

Bizarrely, the Bible prophesies that as the world descends into unprecedented confusion, betrayal, violence, greed, and murder many would declare that the opposite was happening!! This will happen first in the Church as false prophecy always has: Jeremiah 23:16Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you. They make you worthless; They speak a vision of their own heart, Not from the mouth of the LORD. 17They continually say to those who despise Me, ‘The LORD has said, “You shall have peace” ’; And to everyone who walks according to the dictates of his own heart, they say, ‘No evil shall come upon you.’ ” 18For who has stood in the counsel of the LORD, And has perceived and heard His word? Who has marked His word and heard it? 19Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD has gone forth in fury— A violent whirlwind! It will fall violently on the head of the wicked. 20The anger of the LORD will not turn back Until He has executed and performed the thoug...

To be mature in love for God is really to be dead to all other loves. Letting God set himself as a seal on my arm and heart means I want Him to be both my source, and reward. He defines love, and He is the only lasting reward for making decisions that agree with love. He is the "gate" all love must pass through. Song of Songs 8:6Set me as a seal upon your heart, As a seal upon your arm; For love is as strong as death, Jealousy as cruel as the grave; Its flames are flames of fire, A most vehement flame. 7Many waters cannot quench love, Nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love All the wealth of his house, It would be utterly despised. Everything in fallen creation must die to be resurrected in life. God doesn't want me to wait for my physical death to experience the glory of resurrected life. I can die right now...today...where it really matters: in my definition of life. I can change my mind today about what it really means to be alive. John 1:1In the begi...

Satan will always attack the exact area where God is establishing. God allows the attack in controlled and limited ways to strengthen you for the weight of what He is establishing!! Getting insight into the way the enemy is used of God helps us flow in confidence...not to accept the attacks from our enemy but to resist them in confidence that we will prevail! Everything God makes gets stronger with use, including your faith. Satan is not a force equal and opposite to God. Satan is created, limited...finite. Anything less than infinite is infinitely less. Satan is no match for God. Because Satan is so outgunned, he is very careful in the use of his resources...he can't afford not to be. If Satan is resisting a certain area of your heart, your body, your family, your church, or your city, it is because he sees God establishing something there and satan is fighting with all he can to resist Jesus' kingdom coming. Jesus, in brilliant superiority, allows Satan limited access in orde...

Maybe you didn't know this, but the Book of Colossians was written to the Church in Laodicea: Colossians 2:1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, Laodicea thought they were wise and wealthy, but Jesus was clear that what the world thinks is good common sense, is literally stealing the future of God's people right from underneath them. Colossians 2:8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. Right now, the Church in Laodicea is bantering back and forth about things that seem right, according to the basic principles of the world...which is faithless, unbelieving, values "wisdom" and humanistic love over the prophetic, intense, and true love promised in the Bible. Laodicea is having silly distracted conversations that have no real impact ...

God made you to be kind to you. God made you to be a target of His kindness...the breath in your lungs, and the light in your eyes...the happiness you feel, and the sorrow you overcome...these are all evidences of His continual desire to love you. He won't force His way into your life, and He will not occupy any role but that as un-created leader, but every moment in your life He is inviting you to open your heart to His leadership so He can increase your capacity to receive His kindness. Truth requires He forever stay in the role as Father, and you forever stay in the role as child...for He certainly IS a Father before all was made, and I certainly was not. But, even as we rebel against His role as leader, He is patient and kind to correct us. His desire is for you, otherwise, He wouldn't have made you. The devil is a liar. He accuses God of being hard and unkind in an attempt to get us to quit drawing near... Satan attempts to get us to give in to arrogance...the same arrogan...

"Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you." -Jesus If, when you hear about end time events, you comfort yourself to disengage by saying "no one knows the day or hour," you are actually speaking a curse over yourself. You will suffer loss. Revelation 3:1“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write, ‘These things says He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3“Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4“You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for th...

Mark 6:38 But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. 41And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. 42 So they all ate and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. 44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men. Later that evening: 49 And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 51 Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in ...

People that believe Jesus is returning soon tend to want to build Him a throne in their lives. People that aren't so sure tend to want someone else to build them a throne. One of the most helpful things the Lord has ever done for me is show me how it is possible He is returning very soon, and then have me publicly commit to that idea by stating it in no uncertain terms. It awakened my heart in a way that really only happens one way...it put "my skin in His game" of returning. I might be wrong... It wouldnt be the first or last time, im sure. I have been wrong many times in my life... But I will never regret living like Jesus is returning in 5 years. I have been living this way for two years now...my family is tighter than ever, my heart is burning, my vision is vibrant...my marriage is good...my soul is alive, by God's mercy and grace. Believing the light of mankind is coming has given me huge incentive to get near Him. When you get near the author of life, you live b...

Studying sheep and goats this am. Did you know sheep will follow the oldest sheep in the flock? Goats will follow the strongest and most dominant goat in the flock. This is one of the main differences between shepherds and goatherds...they have to lead their flocks differently. We are supposed to be like sheep, not goats... Matthew 25:32“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33“And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see Y...

David said that this was his main plan for safety in a time of trouble: Psalm 27:3Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. 5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. This is why David started night and day prayer and worship, called "David's Tabernacle" in Israel. It worked. Revelation begins with Chapter 1, which is the most expansive declaration of the beauty, majesty, strength, and anointing of Jesus Christ. R...

The Bible is describing the FAILURE of satan's plan to resist the coming of Jesus. That means it is describing the failure of the antichrist's plan to replace Jesus with his own humanistic redemption plans... Antichrist will promise things he cannot deliver. He cannot renew the earth like Jesus will, so his climate change agenda will fail and result in great damage to the environment and the environment actually attacking people. Antichrist cannot give you a glorified body, so his promise of healthcare will fail and what will result is rampant pestilence. Antichrist doesn't have any money...so his promises to make you richer than you are now will fail and what will result is famine. Antichrist isn't the prince of peace, so all of his peace plans will fail and result in war. It is important to understand that as his plans fail, antichrist will steadily fall back to the only strength he has...his military. Antichrist will have the biggest human military earth has ever see...