PRODIGAL SUN                                                                                 

                                                      

                                                           JUNE 2023

 

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

 

A week or so ago I sat down for my morning devotions as usual. Not having any particular leading headed for Psalms but the Bible opened up at a newsletter from World Challenge. It was a month or so old but mentioned the earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria. Some of you may remember my writing of them in March and the impact they made on me. The people who survived were the center of my prayers. Then in April the central prayer became the survivors in Rolling Forks, Mississippi after the deadly tornado struck in the middle of the night.

 

May brought a reminder through the article from World Challenge and a scripture dropped into my spirit. It was Matthew 23:23 (also found in Luke 11:42). In Jesus’ discourse He pulled no punches in His forceful chastisement of the religious and legal leaders of the day. They were all busy with their ‘stuff’; work, religious foolishness, and seeking of prestige, but neglecting the weightier matters of justice, mercy, faith, and taking away the keys of knowledge.

 

For me Jesus admonition to “not leaving the others undone” was a reminder that I had not only stopped praying for those people but had forgotten them! How many times have we neglected the weightier things for the mundane?

 

The central function of the Body of Christ must be prayer. The study of God’s Word will keep our prayers on the right track. Too much time is often spent with our want lists before consulting Him for His direction/plans. We see the effects of that in our Western churches as they have the appearance of being lost at sea in the storm that is wracking the earth.

 

It appears that we have lost the will to fight, to stand against the onslaught of the enemy as he seeks to rob, kill and destroy. When was the last time you introduced someone to Jesus, prayed for the sick/hurting, recognized and cast out a demon that was tormenting someone or an area? ALL truly born again people are grafted into a Kingdom from which we are to administrate in the authority granted us by Christ.

 

A couple of years ago I made a promise to attend a church some friends were going to. We must fulfill what we have promised or ask to be released from the promise. The time came for me to go and I was soon in conversation with a young man on fire for Jesus. He had been a drug addict that was set free by the power of God, and it was very evident. The morning I was there he brought someone I think he just picked up off the street. During the course of the worship time I read some words that I knew were meant for him. At the end of the service I saw him go to the alter accompanied by another man. God had everything orchestrated. All that was needed was for a couple of willing vessels to follow through with God’s agenda. Asking about the man who went to the altar I was told he wasn’t one of the staff. When the Holy Spirit is leading you don’t get concerned about your abilities, self-consciousness, etc. What an encouragement it was to see this rough looking, tattoo covered individual make a step into or at least toward the Kingdom of God that was prepared for him. He just needed to be told about the  power of Christ’s Blood to wash away ALL sin, and transform him into a new creation.

 

In 1 Corinthians 26-30 there is an awesome promise to those who once were party to the absolute insanity of the world. It reads, “For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are mighty, and the base things of the world, and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.” Then in verse 30 we read, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

 

What a conflict with the preceding paragraph did those mentioned in the second paragraph of the first page have. It would be well worth the time to read the whole passage in both Matthew and Luke. There truly is nothing new under the sun! What has been will be. It is most unfortunate and equally dangerous that we have not, and refuse to, learn from not just God’s Word but the very history of mankind.

 

Mankind will continue to spin more and more wildly out of control as God continues to give them over to a reprobate mind which Satan will inflame with more violence, sexual perversity, and hatred.

 

Satanic rituals and influences have permeated the highest seats in our nation and have filtered down to our educational systems, and many churches. We were warned about the final days and the apostasy (falling away) that would occur before the revealing of the man of sin, and the return of Christ. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4)

 

Now is the time to reach out to others as Christ reached out to us without respect of persons. We are all surrounded with people on their way into a Christless eternity. Jesus himself said the road to destruction was broad, the gate to life was narrow and few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14. All of us need directions whether we follow them or not.

 

Let’s stand for Jesus whether in storm, flood, famine, persecution, demonic oppression, or unhealthy soul ties.

 

kenhayesfleming9@gmail.com                                                               Kenneth H. Fleming

www.wbcis.com                                                                                       502 Market Street

(814) 687-3707                                                                                        Fallentimber, Pa. 16639