|City on a Hill - Writings for Refuge

God isn't asking us to pick the "good guys" from the bad guys and pray strategies that protect the "good guys". John the Baptist didn't preach this Peter didn't preach this Jesus didn't preach this Paul didn't preach this James didn't preach this John didn't preach this They all preached the SAME thing: repent, the kingdom is at hand. The religious leaders of our day keep calling the church to pray into their imagination of what God's strategy is. This is a big error. Repent. If you repent you will see clearly what Jesus is interceding for, and why. There is so much confusion. So much arrogance. So much thinking God is protecting the good guys and trying to resist the bad guys. This is wrong to the core. Joshua 5:13-15 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, a Man stood opposite him with His sword drawn in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, "Are You for us or

Got some great questions after last nights Millennial Reign Bible study: Question 1. Where are dead in Christ now. Answer: The dead in Christ are with the Lord in spiritual bodies. They are conscious, and communicating with each other and Jesus. They are knowledgeable about events on the earth. They are awaiting what is called in Hebrews 11 “perfection” or the resurrection of their bodies. Question 2. If Christ came today would we be translated and who would be raised from the dead to be with Him 1000 years. We know the Martyred during the Tribulation will come with Him. Answer: If Christ came today (and He wouldn’t because there are a few things that have to happen, primary of which is Israel needs to invite Him back as Messiah), whether or not you were translated (raptured) would depend on whether or not you qualified for the first resurrection. Many believers...most...will not (Matthew 7): Matthew 7:21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but

RN, it is extremely important to distinguish between what the Bible describes as the "cross" of a believer, or the trouble that comes from loyalty to Jesus, and the general trials of life, called the "cares of this life." The cares of this life come from our own misunderstandings about relationships, provision, and satisfaction. The cares of this life are a direct result of our logic rising up over truth. We all feel this. It is contrary to faith. BUT, this isn't the trouble Jesus refers to when promising tribulation. The trouble he is describing is the cross...it is rejection and hatred that comes from doing and saying the RIGHT things: John 16:1-3 "These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. (2) They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. (3) And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. ...this is the pro

Kingdom-centered transformation isn't a good fruit...it's a work. Deliverance, feeding the poor, leading worship, leading prayer, teaching job skills, housing people, teaching the Bible, prophecy, healing, evangelism.... It's good work, but it isn't a fruit. Matthew 7:14“Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16“You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Jesus said you will know good trees by good fruit. The fruit of being led by the Holy Spirit is clear in the Bible: Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, self control, and gentleness. These fruits will always produce the work of the kingdom...but works can be done apart from the fruit. Look at Ephesus: Revelation 2:2“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you c

1 Corinthians 14:5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification. More than ever, the church needs to be edified. Edified = 'Oikodome' (G3619) Outline of Biblical Usage: (the act of) building, building up metaph. edifying, edification the act of one who promotes another's growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness a building (i.e. the thing built, edifice) The church is crumbling. Look at the SBC, mega church leaders falling, denominations slipping in secular humanism....etc. The answer is to hear God more, and then say what He says. We need authority. Authority is produced by revelation of absolute truth. Relativism and corruption...which results in relational authority (picture a pyramid as opposed to a tree)...are literally destroying the church from within. The answer is learning to hear God....then say

Luke 22:45When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” 47And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. The sleep that keeps people from responding to Jesus is not only born from the cares of this life and stupor...it is often from heaviness or Godly sorrow. At the last supper Jesus told His disciples what to expect. Luke records that they understood enough to be heavy in heart. This sorrow caused them to sleep and not watch and pray: Luke 22:45When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46Then He said to them, “Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation.” 47And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twe

Jesus isn't desperately seeking converts to His kingdom. He is leading, as a Shepherd, anyone who wants rebirth to be reborn. Jesus insists on total heart transformation. Saved isn't taking on a new name, going to church, saying a prayer...saved is submitting to a new leader. Contrary to overwhelming opinion, Jesus isn't trying to save your life, or make it better. He is willing to lead you into life for the first time from this present slow death. This plan to redeem...reconcile...rebirth...do you see these are all "re" words... requires an entire reset of leadership. This reset begins in the heart and works it's way out, not the other way around. It's not like I can practice some good works...work on my righteousness a little as I get time...and see my heart change. No. I work on my heart changing and the righteousness follows. Righteousness is simply the fruit of being connected to the righteous one. The more I let Him lead me...intentionally...with pra

Isaiah 8:10Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; Speak the word, but it will not stand, For God is with us.” 11For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying: 12“Do not say, ‘A conspiracy,’ Concerning all that this people call a conspiracy, Nor be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. 13The LORD of hosts, Him you shall hallow; Let Him be your fear, And let Him be your dread. 14He will be as a sanctuary, But a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense To both the houses of Israel, As a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 15And many among them shall stumble; They shall fall and be broken, Be snared and taken.” There is no conspiracy theory worth the time of a believer. There is no deep state of any real unity or value. There isn't an MSM agenda worth worrying about. The Russians are no threat, nor the nephillim, nor cern. The food supply is of no concern... All these, if even

Tons of people in the church will, and are, quitting the big "c" Church as they find out what it really requires. It is human nature to want to love "Jesus." Which means to be saved. There are many personal ideas of who Jesus is and what He is about. These are being sifted right now. Loving your version of Jesus isn't the point...and isn't that costly. It is loving what the Jesus in the Bible loves that is offensive. You have to count the cost. That's the point. Luke 14:25 Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, 26“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. 27“And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it— 29“lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is no