PRODIGAL SUN

                                                     November 2022

 

Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

 

The opportunities for us to live out the above scripture are increasing daily, and will continue to  do so as our American Empire continues to crumble into third world status. Only the true followers of Jesus Christ walking in His ways will have the light that shines in the increasing darkness. Without Him, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you will only add to the  spirit of hopelessness and chaos that is inundating the world.

 

Listening to a pastor recently I learned there are still thirty-seven states that permit abortion, roughly three quarters of our nation embracing a spirit of murder. You can dress it up with any garment you so choose but the body it camouflages is murder.

 

There is, in Jesus, forgiveness for all sin. We have been fed such an incomplete gospel that our expected response to Him, that of repentance, is often not mentioned. If there is not a lifestyle change in your conversion to Christ, nor a desire for such, it may well have been an emotional response to a message but without a spiritual transformation. When our spirit comes into union with the Holy Spirit a true new birth occurs. It is a spiritual impartation that can not be bought or otherwise bargained for. There are many today who think they can purchase this as did Simon in Acts 8. He was previously a sorcerer, who according to scripture (verse 13), believed the preaching of Philip about the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus. He was then baptized and continued on with Philip. He then sought to buy the power of the Holy Spirit with money and was confronted by Peter. Starting in verse 20 we read, “But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part or portion in this matter for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

 

It is worth noting here Simon’s response in verse 24. “Then Simon answered and said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me.” Simon, as many of us, was so blinded as to his own spiritual state that he couldn’t see those things already had him captive.

 

We are so blessed to have the Bible in it’s entirety. Consider these scriptures from Psalm 119:130-133 “Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth and panted, For I longed for Your commandments. Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name. Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me.” I encourage all of you to read Psalm 119. What a wealth of wisdom it embodies for daily living.

We are living in a world where the majority of people are as Simon. They don’t realize what has them bound up in grave clothes, the true walking dead. (Even the mention of the same name as that perverted demonic movie nauseates me!) Just think of the multitudes of people that love that sort of ‘entertainment.’

 

Paul, writing to the Ephesian church in Chapter 2 of Ephesians says, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath just as the others.”

 

The more we are disobedient to God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit’s drawing of us toward Jesus the tighter our grave clothes become until finally all true life is squeezed out, and we become just another mindless participant in the meaningless methods of the world, much like a  hamster on its treadmill. Paul makes the distinction between the only two types of people in the world; those in Christ and those outside. There is no other classification. You either belong to Christ or  the devil. Being led by our own carnal mind (desires) invariably leads us down the wrong path.

 

America, as a whole, is ill equipped to face the time of trial that has come upon us. In a natural sense the greater percentage of the world is better equipped to face the economic hardships and lack of what we deem as essentials. On the spiritual side America is no longer a Christian nation, but has become paganized with even many of the once faithful churches given over to the enemies camp. Note that I said ‘given.’ We have willingly given the territory to the enemy. He cannot take anything without human complicity. That principle dates back to the Garden where mere humans gave up what God intended for them just to gratify their own carnal desires. Every evil found in the world today grew out of that one willful act of disobedience toward God.

 

Now for a reminder of the Good News. God has promised as Paul wrote to make us alive by sending Jesus to die and take away our sin seating us spiritually in heavenly places. (Eph 2:6) Jesus did His part and that qualifies His followers to be seated now with heavenly authority in resisting and overthrowing the enemies devices.

 

Many, Christians included, are hoping that the elections will turn things around and once again we will be a land of apple pie, white picket fences, and baseball. Wrong! We need to vote for those who stand for Godly values but recognize the season we are in. The anti-Christ system is set up and being implemented. That will not be stopped for it is a fulfillment of scripture. The chastening of America is actually a good thing as we see the idols we have prized for so long slipping away and crashing to the ground. Yes, this chastening will be terrible but it is better to lose what we cannot take with us if it means an opportunity to take those with us that other ways may not have gone.  Lets witness, not whine!

 

kenhayesfleming@gmail.com                                                             Kenneth H. Fleming

www.wbcis.com                                                                                   502 Market Street

(814)687-3707                                                                                      Fallentimber, Pa. 16639