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