Category Archives: Eschatology

Why God Cares About Your Weight Problem & The Great Poseidon Adventure

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The Eschatological Poseidon Adventure

I was watching The Great Poseidon adventure this last weekend.  In this story, a rogue wave capsizes a large cruise liner turning it upside down.  Then a group from the surviving crew begin to make the journey to the “bottom of the boat” (as this is now the top) before the ship’s air compartments are flooded sending it sinking to the floor of the ocean.  What does this have to do with God’s concern over our weight problems?

Well…Only a select group of the boat’s members are wise enough to make the decision to begin the trek.  Among the prudent, there is a character by the name of Carol Lynley.  But in one scene, she says she cannot go because she is “old and fat”.  Now, her husband is the one she is bidding an emotional farewell as he is another one of the group.  It is obvious that he is just as “old” as she is.  So, really her only hindrance is her weight.

Here is where I’m going with this.  There is coming a Great Poseidon-like adventure like we cannot even begin to imagine.  And we need to be fit in order to survive the shaking that is coming in these end times.  It is a very sad thing that our weight could hold us back from surviving. Seem a little radical?

Our Daily Adventure with God

Okay let’s be more pragmatic. In Hebrews it says…

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

When I was pregnant, part of the misery was the weight. Lugging around an extra 25-35 lbs. was taxing. I felt like my limbs were being pulled toward the ground as I moved throughout my day.  Small errands seemed painfully tedious. And I found myself much less motivated to do anything extra.  In this Christian life, we are not just detached spirit-souls walking around.  We do the works of Christ in a body.  How then can we serve God with weight hindering us, or how would removing this extra weight allow us to serve Him better?

You might say that it doesn’t really make a difference.  “I’m doing just fine with these extra 20 lbs.”  I used a similar argument with my dad when I was a runner and also smoked cigarettes.  I was running 4 miles a day at an 8 minute per mile pace.  Why quit? But my dad cut through my logic by asking, “How much better would you run & feel while running if you didn’t smoke?”  He was right.  And this is my point. How much better would you serve God & feel while serving God if you were at your most healthy weight?

Got Fruits?

And it’s not just our body.  Our body is the house for our spirit.  God knows that it is when we live victoriously that we are most satisfied in this life.  We live victoriously by walking  by the Spirit…being controlled by the Spirit.   And this is when we bear fruit.   When we lose our battle with over-eating or when we don’t exercise discipline in working out and staying fit, we feel defeated.  This is because the fruit of self-control is not evident in our life.  The body is controlling the spirit.  This is backwards from how God designed it.  When our spirit has control over our body, we are operating the way God designed.  And we are bringing glory to God and Christ by His spirit.

We are more able to walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and goodness when we operate this order: Spirit controlling–> mind controlling –>body.  When we are a prisoner to the desires of our body (body–>mind–>spirit)to be lazy, over-indulge/eat the wrong things, etc, we are not as free to operate in these fruits.

God cares about us having joy overflowing in this life.  He cares about us living in fullness and with a vibrant spirit.  The wrong foods not only weighs down your body, it dulls your mind, and subdues your spirit.  Just as a starving african child is robbed of joy & peace, an obese american adult is also.  God cares equally for both.

“An over-filled stomach quite possibly indicates an under-filled soul.” -anonymous

ADD and the End of the Age

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As a kid, I was diagnosed with ADHD because of my high energy and lack of interest/focus. I don’t deny this diagnosis, but I’ve begun to wonder as I meet so many that share this “disorder” if this isn’t actually a strength that God is unleashing as this age comes to a close. You see, with ADD comes a insatiable desire for stimulation. It is actually a lack of stimulation that is the main cause for lack of interest and focus. Many individuals will self-medicate with alcohol, cigarettes, caffeine, and stronger drugs in order to meet the stimulation requirements. In fact, the medication for this “disorder” is called a stimulant. I believe that this is a God-purposed releasing of people needing the stimulation of the knowledge, pleasure, and power of God. Scientist and doctors label it a disorder, but I believe it is a God-purposed move of God to increase hunger and desire on the earth.

Here’s another strength of these “disordered” people: hyper-focus. When those afflicted with ADD find something that stimulates thereby interest them, they take all of their energy and focus it on that one thing to the point of obsession. It’s almost as if you lose sight and knowledge of the world about you, all you see and can think of is that ONE THING. God desires a “one thing” kind of people. He said it in Deuteronomy; Jesus said it, so did Paul. And many of us have brains that operate at such high speeds that our drive for knowledge in this interest will have us reading book after book (sometimes 6 or 7 books at a time).

I think we must come to a point of understanding that though science may label this condition: disorder, it is a tool of God, and it is a strength. It is a God-given weakness so that His power is made perfect in it. So it is a strength. Anything that drives me to God and increases my need for him I consider not only a gift but a strength.

ADD and ADHD are rampant in our generation. Just ask around. At this point, most people don’t even have any issues with self-diagnosing and announcing that the have this disorder. (Probably because it’s SO rampant that it’s almost the norm). But I tell you, I think this “disorder” is ordered by God. First comes hunger, then comes the release of God’s knowledge, pleasure, and power. Those that hunger for righteousness will be satisfied. It is the knowledge of God that stimulates an ADD mind, holds its focus, and targets its energy.

Touching a Generation with Dissatisfaction

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Last week, on the treadmill, I had a vision. In the vision, it was a dark nightclub or rave. All of these men and women were dressed in black. The girls were were wearing very short black dresses. And there was a feel of darkness in the club and a look of vacancy on the faces of the dancers.

Then I saw a hand of light come and touch them on their chest. When it did this, their whole chest cavity was filled with light. (The individuals eyes became wide & mouths fell open in amazement). One by one, this continued until about 10-20% of the group had light pouring out of them upward towards the huge hand. Then one by one, they turned. They turned slowly and dramatically 180% toward a great light.

This is what I got from God about the vision:

God is now touching a generation with dissatisfaction. Satan will use this to entice to worldly lusts & pleasures. Problem is most of us have already tasted these other waters & will quickly turn away time & time again until we are only left with Living Water, everlasting God. This has already begun & it’s big.

Now that generation will look like it is escalating in compromise & weakness. But His strength is made perfect in weakness. He will heal our unfaithfulness. He breaks so that he can bind.

The enemy is going to play into his hand by causing this people to very quickly turn not only in solidified repentance but with voracious awakened hunger. God’s response to unified, intense hunger?

Outpouring.

Even now, individuals across the globe are feeling the beginnings of this move of God. A pain deep within. Discontentment. Longing. It grips our heart. And the reason/source can’t be identified. Each day it grows stronger and feels like a silent scream that can’t be muzzled. Nothing we do touches the pain. It’s like a craving that u can’t identify.

It’s begun. His return is on the horizon. And like a master chess player, he’s making the moves that will guarantee the board.

Verses that I got with this vision:

…for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Eph 5:14

Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep.  Zech 4:1

Mountains Melt Like Wax

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Mountains Melt Like Wax

mountains melt like waxAllegory? Or will we literally see the mountains melt like wax?

Reading the Bible, I would always pass over phrases like “mountains melt like wax”, passing  them off as simply allegorical. The enemy has done a subtle, crafty thing. He has caused us to believe that the pages of the Bible are filled with figurative language as if prophets were actually poets instead. Writing poems filled with purely symbolic language. It’s time for us to read with new eyes the predictions and visions of the prophets. These men were just that-real men-seeing real visions of a soon approaching day.

In this day, God of Creation will stand up. Imagine that! Right now: imagine God standing. This is the God that walked past Moses. He is seated right now on a throne in a real throneroom above us in heaven. It’s not ethereal. It’s real. One day the sky above us, will divide, each side will roll back like a scroll or a curtain and we will peer into His dwelling place. We will see God our Creator looking down. We will see Him standing. Then God Himself will come down.  And the mountains will melt like wax and tremble before Him.  I thought it was interesting to read the reaction of the mountains to God’s appearing:

The Lord is coming from his holy place; he will come down and walk on the tops of the mountains. Then the mountains will melt under him like wax in a fire; they will pour down into the valleys like water pouring down a hill.

(another version, same verse) And the mountains will melt under him, and the valleys will split open, like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place. Micah 1:3-4

The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. Ps 97:5

The Lord God of hosts, he who touches the earth and it melts, Amos 9:5

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. Ps 46:6 (Btw, psalm 46: End times vision of David and speaks of God protecting us during tribulation/ judment on the earth)

The mountains quake before him; the hills melt; Nahum 1:5

Mountains saw what was coming. They twisted in pain. Hab 3:9

“and wherever he turned his face to look, everything under his gaze trembled, 4 and whenever his voice issued from his mouth, all who heard his voice melted as wax melts when it feels the fire. ” 2 Esdras 13:2

And their slain shall be cast out, and their stink shall come up from their carcases, and the mountains shall be melted with their blood. Is 34:3

Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence, Is 64:1

There is coming a real day when we will watch as the mountains MELT. Imagine when the mountains melt like wax what that will look like!

Guys, we are fast approaching a day… to which no blockbuster, special effects, IMAX movie can ever hold a candle.  We must read the prophetic books with this revelation that they outline literal details that will be fulfilled in our future.  These prophetic books gave details about Jesus first coming that were so accurate and complete that their fulfillment defied probability.   These same books contain prophecies about His second coming and day of judgment.  These will be just as accurate and will be fulfilled in their entirety.   I believe we will see literally the mountains melt like wax!

Search the book of the LORD, and see what he will do… for the LORD has promised this. His Spirit will make it all come true.  Is 34:16 (NLT)

Rooted in Eternity. Satisfied on Earth.

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I’ve been watching an amazing teaching series by Mike Bickle on the Millennial Kingdom. This series has really enlightened my eyes to just how little I thought about anything beyond this side of eternity. I had no idea how little thought I had given to this.

While I was studying Hebrews 11 the other day, I noticed how much our faith relies on focusing on the hope of our calling in eternity. The fathers of our faith, the greatest men in Christianity, lived for eternity. Listen to this verse that speaks of these men, these pillars of faith:

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. – Heb 11:13

David says several times in the psalms that he is a stranger, a pilgrim on this earth. The apostles constantly mention that they are living for this heavenly hope and eternal rewards. But were these men so heavenly-minded that they were miserable and detached from this reality?

I don’t think so. Though Paul was tortured and imprisoned, he speaks constantly of joy and satisfaction. Though John lived a deprived life, he also speaks of fulness of joy. These men were not even married, and yet they were completely satisfied. Then we can read a very different view in Ecclesiastes 1 & 2 of Solomon who had everything and accomplished so much in this life and yet he was miserable and unsatisfied.

Living with eternity in mind gives significance to even the mundane. When I say no to temptation, I am earning a reward in heaven says James. We are reward-driven people. We were created this way. Each moment, each decision has relevance when I live for eternity. It also makes these troubles in our lives seem so small. Look at what Paul said:

For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! -2 Cor 4:17

When we are living for the purpose and reality of eternity, we are constantly aware of our connection to an epic adventure, a great saga that began before time.  We are connected each moment to our purpose.  Our lives have value that will go on forever. In 100 years, it is likely that no one will remember your name and definitely not what job position you held.  But in a million years, what you did for the purposes and calling of God will be remembered and celebrated.

Live for eternity.  Not only will you live a life of joy and satisfaction, but your life will really matter…forever.

Mystery of Iniquity

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In the millennium (Christ’s 1000-yr reign on earth), a person dying at 100 will still be thought as a child, Isaiah 65:20. God is not only going to bind Satan and his influence, but he will give ample time for humans to repent. Still… many will choose to not confess Jesus as Lord. What a mystery this is to me!

Accountable to Holiness

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“What you got away with before, you will NOT get away with ANYMORE.”

On the way to church, I told my friend that in the United States you would be hard-pressed to find a truly devout ‘anything’, anything being Muslim, Christian, whatever.  I told her, “It seems it almost takes living in a 3rd world country to live your faith/religion in a radical way.” This was followed by a couple of lol’s.  But later I would realize that this is no longer a laughing matter.  God is chastening those He loves.  He is chastening and making ready His bride.

14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing befall thee. (John 5)

As Christians, we have been made whole.  God is calling the Church to live wholly – holy.  We are ‘slaves to Christ’ as Paul says.  Everything that we are and everything that we do should be submitted to His authority.  We have heard this time and time again, and yet we compromise.  The Church in America is sick, lame, and paralyzed just as the group of people surrounding the pool at Bethezda in John 5.  It’s time for healing and wholeness.  It’s time for holy, radical, devout living.

It is time to get into Christ and be made whole.  We must encounter Him.  Spend time in His presence and in prayer.   Your prayer life should be the number one priority.  Prayer is a time of reading God’s word and acknowledging and declaring it back to Him.  It is a time of encounter and romance.  The power of God is not to be discovered only in worship.  Sure. Enjoy worshiping Him.  But the true enjoyment, encounter, and transforming power is in those times of prayer to Him.  Try spending a full hour praying to our Heavenly Father.  Stop waiting for Heaven and experience Heaven on Earth!  The time is NOW.  Be zealous.   God will not allow His church, His bride to get away with complacency and compromise.  That time has gone.  He WILL allow you to feel the consequences though He has protected you before.  EVERY area, not wholly submitted to God, will feel the impact of His chastening.

The season has already begun to change escalating at a frenzied pace toward the escatological events that will seal our eternal destiny.  A time is quickly approaching when Christians not only in 3rd world countries but in America will have to be martyrs.  They will have to give up everything to stand up for Christ.  God is calling us to perfection now.  He is calling us to live a life with NO compromise.  This call is a call of mercy.  A time is coming when compromise may cause us to fall away from our pursuit of God.  He is making us ready now.  Take heed to this word.  Do not let it ignite inside you only to dim as it has before.   Discipline yourself to seek God in a radical way EVERY single day for the rest of your life.  I pray that He gives you and I grace abounding to do what He is asking us to do.   He is a good Father, and every request is accompanied by the promise of grace to fulfill His requests.

Abide in Him.

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