As a rule I attempt to steer away from anything political regarding this blog but something happened this week. Our Vice President Mike Pence made a statement. For those of you who did or didn't vote for him this is not about something political so calm down. Mr. Pence said he talks to God and Jesus sometimes tells him things to say. I wish all of our leaders in public office would seek after God. A few days later an incredibly ungodly host of a show called the View, Joy Behar said that hearing from God is the same as mental illness. As I said this is a spiritual issue not political. The hosts of the show went on to claim to being Christian and Catholic and that God didn't speak to them. That right there should tip you off that they do not follow the God of the Bible. If you claim to be a Christian and God does not in any form speak to you; you need to seriously seek God and stop pretending.
Jesus in John chapter 10 was very specific when referring to himself as the good shepherd and who does and does not hear him speak. In verses 25-30 it says this. "I have already told you, and you don't believe me. The proof I do is the work I do in my Father's name. But you don't believe me because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand. The Father and I are one. "
Years ago my church family and I worked through a Bible study series called Experiencing God. One of the main principles in it was as follows. "God speaks by the Holy Spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances and the church to reveal himself, his purposes and his ways." God has provided his word in the form of the Bible and he speaks through it and he continues to do so. Changed lives are a clear result. For our Vice President I would point him to Matthew 5:10-12 "God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way."
1 Corinthians 1:18-31 talks all about the wisdom of God and how it is viewed by the world. Verses 18-19 say this and it goes right along with the thinking of Ms Behar. "The message of the cross is foolish to those headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. As the scriptures say, 'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.'"
By calling our Vice President mentality ill this woman has said in her speech and heart that God can't speak and there is no God. She claims to be a Christian but there is no evidence of God at work in her life. People are going to persecute us as Christians and it will get worse before it ever gets better. If they call you or me mentally ill for talking to God and hearing from him that's okay keep pointing them to Christ. God has been speaking to people since creation.
At the age of 16 I was saved and God let my heart be broken to get my attention. He will use so many things to get our attention and we have to face him and decide if we are going to repent and follow him. God speaks through the Bible to people all the time every day. Christian singers Out of the Grey said it best "He is not silent we are not listening." See for the last five years I have posted a weekly bible study blog and I always pray asking God to show me what he wants said and he answers that prayer. I have seen God at work in my life and so many others to know better than to even think any of us who follow God are mentally ill. Ms. Behar if that's the best insult you've got then I say you're a slacker. Better men and women than you have tried. You're not even really insulting the Christian you're picking a fight with God and you won't win. I pray for you that God will break and change your heart.
Isaiah 55:6-11
"
6Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
7Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.
Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them,
and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
8“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
9“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
11so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
"Underground" by Petra
Look at the front page, turn on the tv
They fire another round at you and me
Their guns are loaded, they're taking aim
Nobody told them we're not all the same
No paranoia, nobody could
Just write it off as being Hollywood
The innuendo between the lines
Leaves no confusion 'bout what's on their minds
[1st CHORUS]
I won't go underground
I won't turn and flee
I won't bow the knee
I won't go underground
I won't run and hide from the rising tide
I won't go underground
I won't compromise what the world denies
I won't go underground
And I'm not ashamed of the cross I've claimed
They're taking notes on what we say
You know they'd like to lock us all away
Can't stop the movement, can't make it slow
Persecution always makes us grow
They got my number, it's no surprise
I'm here and wearing no disguise
Bring on the lions and heat up the fire
It's not enough to stop this man's desire
[2nd CHORUS]
I won't go underground
I won't turn and flee
I won't bow the knee
I won't go underground
I keep holding fast till the very last
I won't go underground
I will turn my cheek, I will boldly speak
I won't go underground
I am not ashamed of the cross I've claimed
I know the Spirit behind this force
It's not surprising if you know the source
I pray for freedom for helpless ones
And I keep standing till the new day dawns
[1st CHORUS]
And I won't lay low as the hatred grows
They fire another round at you and me
Their guns are loaded, they're taking aim
Nobody told them we're not all the same
No paranoia, nobody could
Just write it off as being Hollywood
The innuendo between the lines
Leaves no confusion 'bout what's on their minds
[1st CHORUS]
I won't go underground
I won't turn and flee
I won't bow the knee
I won't go underground
I won't run and hide from the rising tide
I won't go underground
I won't compromise what the world denies
I won't go underground
And I'm not ashamed of the cross I've claimed
They're taking notes on what we say
You know they'd like to lock us all away
Can't stop the movement, can't make it slow
Persecution always makes us grow
They got my number, it's no surprise
I'm here and wearing no disguise
Bring on the lions and heat up the fire
It's not enough to stop this man's desire
[2nd CHORUS]
I won't go underground
I won't turn and flee
I won't bow the knee
I won't go underground
I keep holding fast till the very last
I won't go underground
I will turn my cheek, I will boldly speak
I won't go underground
I am not ashamed of the cross I've claimed
I know the Spirit behind this force
It's not surprising if you know the source
I pray for freedom for helpless ones
And I keep standing till the new day dawns
[1st CHORUS]
And I won't lay low as the hatred grows
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