PRODIGAL SUN

 

January 2024

 

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

 

Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong (1 Corinthians 16:13) is a most appropriate admonition for the start of a new year. One that we can only fulfill by walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit. 1 Peter 5:8-9 Adds to this with, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

 

We are seeing the success the devil is having in infiltrating all of the world’s systems with his highest achievement that of being welcomed into the church. Man’s programs, music, and doctrines have paved the way for the enemy’s grand entrance. The authority of God’s Word being ignored or redefined has cemented the enemy’s position within the home, government, and finally the church.

 

Part of Isaiah 59:19 reads,”When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will raise up a standard against him.”In the following verse is a prophetic promise of the Redeemer (Jesus) coming to those who turn from their transgression and the covenant He makes with them. It reads, “As for Me,” says the Lord, “this is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is on you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants from this time and forevermore.” Those of us who turn to Jesus for forgiveness of our sin and away from our former lifestyles (ways of the world) will receive the Holy Spirit, ability to understand God’s Word, and will become part of the standard being raised up against the enemies onslaught.

 

 If you, if I, do not do our part in God’s Plan we may be found on Judgment Day with blood on our hands. Paul declares in Acts 20:26-27 “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” To be silent when the Holy Spirit is stirring us to address something or someone may well have eternal consequences. What we are involved in is not a game, not a soap opera, or movie but real life and death issues that will extend throughout all of eternity.

 

The price we will have to pay to walk with Jesus will be higher with each passing season. I speak of western nations and America in particular. Many people in numerous nations already experience this yet stand fast in the faith enduring whatever is necessary rather than denying their faith in Jesus. I heard a saying a long time ago (Origin Unknown) It was, “If you won’t stand for Jesus, you’ll fall for anything.” Since Jesus is the Incarnate Word we can conclude that if you don’t believe what is written in God’s Word you are opening yourself up to all of the devil’s devices, and you will soon be one of his servants.

 

A couple of weeks ago I was listening to a Catholic theologian talking about the Last Days and their belief that the anti-Christ would be their last pope. That was quite a shocker. Why would you support an organization whose final leader was believed to be the anti-Christ? The current one is definitely in the devil’s camp, and not there to set the captives free! If the leaders are not held accountable according to God’s Word whatever comes from that organization will eventually be totally evil. Rome was believed by the early church to be the seat of Satan and nothing up to this date has proven otherwise. Today there are many other ‘seats of Satan’ as his poison has been spread to all nations. The only antidote to his poison is the Gospel and the power of the Blood of Jesus declared by His followers. John 6:66 speaks of those disciples of Jesus who went back and walked with Him no more.  Sadly, we see the same scene being repeated time and again within all or nearly all denominations. Some would say they had never truly ‘walked’ with Him but the end result is the same. We are either going to confess or deny Him before mankind and the spiritual adversaries we face.

 

Matthew 10:32 “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 33 But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.”

 

Jesus, Who cannot lie, spoke those Words to His disciples. Then He continues with, 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; 36 and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”

 

At the start of another year we are being showered with God’s grace (supernatural power) to see and comprehend His love for all of mankind, including those we find most offensive. That same power can enable us to choose the path to eternal life and the ability to help others chart out the same route. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6  This is the Gospel in its most simplistic form.

 

The Holy Spirit impressed me with these two sentences; “A fake life is very expensive” and “Keep your child within your budget.”

 

Elizabeth Elliott wrote, “Suffering is having what you don’t want, or not having what you do want. Love and suffering are intricately interwoven. Pursue peace, not intellectual satisfaction.”

 

kenhayesfleming9@gmail.com                                         Kenneth H. Fleming

www.wbcis.com                                                                 502 Market Street

(814) 687-3707                                                                  Fallentimber, Pa. 16639