|City on a Hill - Writings for Refuge

If Jesus isn't leading you, He isn't saving you... John 3:14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The word translated "believe" in this passage is the Greek word "pisteuo" (G4100). Pisteuo means more than believing something is true or exists. It means to "entrust something (in this case Salvation) to someone." In this context, 'Believe' means Believe Jesus can save you by His leadership.  Salvation, in the context of the Bible, is about leadership. Leadership, or looking to someone...studying their values and instructions ..to be saved... Is the point of the analogy of Moses raising up the serpent as a type of salvation in the Old Testament: Numbers 21:7 Therefore the p

The answer to the trouble in our day isn't getting God back into schools, govt., Media, etc. BEFORE we get Him back into the Church...fully in control, by the Spirit, of our own righteousness. Our own individual righteousness. Every promise of safety from judgment in the Bible begins with personal repentance that leads to a corporate righteousness. If you go after corporate righteousness and think you can skip over personal repentance, then you misunderstand the only way the kingdom of Jesus comes, from the inside out. You can easily test this truth against any scripture concerning judgment: -Abraham and God discussion the fate of Sodom...even 10 personal 'repenters' would have saved the entire city -Joel 2 -Acts 2 -Jeremiahs ministry -Isaiahs preaching -John the Baptist's preaching -Daniel 9 ...Among MANY others... Rarely in the Bible will you find a command from God to get unbelievers to repent in order to stave off destruction (although that works, too, such as in Ni

The Gospel never asks you to lie to yourself in order to believe Jesus. You aren't supposed to pretend any part of it is true. You are actually supposed to repent, in hope, of where it doesn't seem to be true for you. When I got ahold of this, it freed me from so much misunderstanding. God isn't calling me to demonstrate my great faith, He is actually inviting me to admit my lack, and open my heart, so He can give me what I need!! Shepherds who don't understand the Gospel preach its truths as if they are already yours, regardless of whether or not you have learned to appropriate them. It is important to understand how to appropriate the POWER of the Gospel. 1 Thessalonians 1:5-7 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. (6) And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Sp

The point of Hebrews 10 is the new way of extending sanctification...a new and living way. The process is to 'enter in to the Holy Place' with others. Vs. 8 - 14 tells us why this new way is so effective: Because to follow Jesus into perfection means to wait where He waits. But, it takes humility to wait for God in the face of so much need... Babies dying Poor in need Hunger Murder Theft lawlessness Injustice ... The list goes on. There is overwhelming need in the last generation...our generation. The answer to that need will be contrary to the flesh, to impatience, to logic, and to arrogantly thinking we can do anything without the Spirit of Jesus directing us in real time. Jesus has ALL authority, ALL knowledge, ALL power ... He could literally fix everything with a wave of his hand right now, but He waits. Why? Because He only does what the Spirit says. He only does what He sees in the heart of God. He is literally sitting at the right hand of His father waiting!! Everyone w

Just as in the first coming of Jesus, those who study the scripture have prophetic opinions. These opinions often cloud what is happening. Speculative interpretation will always fail the Interpreter. You can't study the scripture alone and expect to find life: John 5:38 “But you do not have His word abiding in you, because whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. 40 “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life. In the story of Jesus' first coming, everyone who recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah did so by divine revelation. Anna and Simeon heard promises from God. The wise men followed the star, the shepherds believed the angels. The same will be true of the second coming. Don't think that you can puzzle out the end time scenarios and actually get the right answer. The point is to let the confusion, the seeming contradictions...the puzz

If my theology leads me to a critical spirit where I am not growing in love for all people, then it is not Biblically following Jesus. Right now, there is a massive divide in the Church and the world regarding right and wrong, good and evil, righteous and unrighteous. Both sides of every divide are fully convinced they are good and the other side is evil... Both sides dehumanize the other side...pointing out how evil the other side's position is. The pro-lifer is learning to hate, ridicule, and dehumanize the right-to- lifer. The liberal dehumanizes the conservative, and vice versa... All lives ,black lives, homosexual, Christians, Muslims, globalists, isolationists... This dehumanization is a ruse... A trick from Satan who hates humans. Someone else's perceived "evil agenda" doesn't give followers of Jesus license to stop following Jesus. Jesus loves all people. He says forgive enemies, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you! Many ar

What are you pursuing in this hour? If you think it's possible that Jesus is returning, there is only one acceptable...biblical... response to that reality: Matthew 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came to the Judean wilderness and began preaching. His message was, 2“Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” When the kingdom is near, repentance is the right response. God calls His own to repent, not the world. He didn't send John the Baptist to Rome, Babylon, or Egypt to preach repentance, but rather to Israel. Jesus is coming to the Church, that means the Church desperately needs to repent. She claims to want Him and to be ready for Him...but claiming it is different than actually being ready. Humble is ready. We are far from humble. We are far from ready. James 4:8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for

Sometimes I like to try to imagine what people in Israel imagined about the Messiah coming before Jesus was born. He was so different than anyone thought He would be. He came differently, from a different place, with a different message, and different set of actions than anyone was expecting. Only a few recognized Him though an entire nation waited for Him and studied the prophetic passages concerning Him. The same will be true in our day...even more so. Not only is His return plain and obvious for the humble, He comes like a thief to those unwilling to see. A couple of days ago, I heard the Lord say "take stock of what helps you grow in Holiness and a humble response to Me. Ask me to help you grow in these things...the simple routines in your life that keep you watching and steady to wait for me." Then the Lord showed me to take stock of the attitudes and activities that keep me distracted and to begin to pray that He would get them out of my life. The fourth seal of revelat