“Hell is everlasting hunger. It is an everlasting thirst. It is a forever-longing and a never-getting.”

A fear of hell was one of the primary reasons for me to become a Christian. (You can read about it here.) If you take a look at what it actually says in the Bible, (versus what is just the popular notion of hell), the afterlife can either be a very good place, or a very bad place.

Just as the burning bush that Moses came across in the desert, which burned continually but was not consumed, so too I believe that it will be similar in hell. And just as the those that are saved will come forth with a new body, eternally fit for heaven, so too I believe that those that are lost shall come forward with bodies eternally fit for hell. It’s what the Bible calls the “resurrection of damnation.” (See John 5:29). A body that can be burnt with fire, with smoke continually arising, and eaten alive of worms, and somehow, never be consumed.

“And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” -Mark:9:43-44

But remember, you don’t have to go to hell! Its not that Jesus Christ is seeking to send you to hell, but rather, He is only seeking to deliver you from hell. Just as it is written in the gospel of John:

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” -John 3:17

Your Salvation: Look Up

I thought I would include this writing for any of those visitors on my website that may be soul-searching. I hope it will help illustrate the need for salvation in someone’s heart.

And if you are searching, searching, searching for answers, they may be closer than you think, if you can bear it. It’s just that Satan, the temporary lord of this world, (and of this world only, and not the world to come, nor of heaven), would have you believe the ordinary. He would have to you believe the natural, and the sensual - only those things that you can see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. But for those of you who may be searching for something deeper underneath this seemingly primordial existence, this is for you:

Look Up 

I can feel the heartbeat of this planet, and know that it grows faint. I can see the breathing of this planet, and know that it is labored. I can see the heart of this planet, that it is lonely. I can see the hunger of this world, that it is desperate.

Oh you people of the earth! You citizens of this fleeting world! Look up! Look to heaven above! Is not the heavens higher than the earth? All of creation looks upward to the One who has made both heaven and earth. The grasses of the field do mourn and long for the Savior. The birds fly nearer, but reach still higher heaven-ward for the Messiah. The trees stretch forth their arms for the Alpha and Omega.

You who are heavy; you who are burdened; you who are weary and lonesome; you who are dumbfounded and confused: Look upward.

There is one, whose name is Jesus Christ. There is one. He alone can revive your broken heart. He alone can repair a shattered world. He alone can redeem a hopelessly lost lamb. He alone can pick up the pieces and bring light to the darkness.

Look up, turn your heart heaven-ward, and call upon this name: Jesus Christ.

For those interested in reading my own testimony, you can find it here.

“The clearest window is never seen.”

As a Christian, I believe that the central focus of this earthly life should be on Jesus Christ. And yet, in all practicality, nearly every heavenly connection is founded and centered around the Holy Ghost. So, are these two things in conflict with one another?

There is no conflict because Jesus is always the center and object of desire, and yet the Holy Spirit is the means to this communion. I think of the Holy Spirit as a window, and Jesus Christ as the object being viewed through this window.

Truly, I seek as much as I possibly can to be near this window, to keep its view unobstructed, and to always rely on this window. And yet at the same time, within this dependence, it is not really the window that I seek, but the things which the window lets me see.

I think Jesus said something akin to this in John 16:

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” -John 16:13-14

I was looking over something I had written about 3 years ago, and it reminded me of all the New Year’s resolutions we make, and how they all seem to inevitably be broken. Anyhow, perhaps this will be of some encouragement around this time of year.

Beloved, it is not unusual to do great things. It is not an out-of-the-ordinary occurrence to do the extraordinary. I am God. I AM extraordinary. I am super-natural. Beloved, it is not unusual to be very fruitful. It is not unusual to do great works in My name.

But, do you know the state of your soul? Have you truly lived and walked in the spirit? Until now, you have lived in My Spirit as virtually comatose. A slight movement here or there, but where is My promised life? Where are My words fulfilled and My love manifested in your life? Am I a liar? Were My words of no effect or power? Forbid the thought.

Live, and you shall prosper. Be awakened from your soul’s slumber. Let Me satisfy you, and you shall have abundance. Is it any wonder you have been unfruitful? Why do you fret over your work when it is your life that is troubled? Why do you fret over your calling when it is your heart that is calling.

I dwell within your heart, and my light shines, and calls out to you…

Beloved, will you feign strength? Give Me your weak heart, and I will quicken you. Will you feign wisdom and intellect? Give Me your ways and your goings, and I will change you and make you holy.

Beloved, why do you lie to both yourself, and God also? Why do you say that you are good enough? That you will just try harder? That you will do better next time? That you will just focus more keenly, or pray more fervently?

Without Me, what is in you? Without Me to uphold your hands, where is your strength? Have I not said ”the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak…” With Me, strength is not unusual. With Me, love is natural. With Me, wisdom flows as a river.

Come with a willing heart. Come honestly. Why will you fill your mouth and defile your tongue with lies? Are you strong enough? Good enough? Can you do it? Be honest, and I will help you. I will bless you. Why try to produce something that is not within yourself?

If you live life according to My word, nothing shall be impossible to you. Why do you look to your living, and not to your life itself. Why look on what you could do when you cannot be? Seek Me first. When you have My life, when you are perfectly abiding in My vine, fruit is natural.

*This was originally sent out to the mailing list on 10/15/07*

I hesitated to share this one for a bit, but decided it was too good to keep back. Obviously from the title, it has a pretty modern tone. I just kept thinking of how the Sword of the Spirit, (from biblical times), so closely resembles our more modern weapon - the gun.

So there you have it: the Gun of the Lord, which is the Word of God…

The Gun of the Lord

“Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: ” -Ephesians 6:16-17

See here, I have given you a weapon, and it is a weapon indeed. A weapon gives power. Shall an unarmed man go against a man with a gun - and succeed? If the one who is armed is at all skillful, there shall not be able to stand before him even a man of the strongest of might.

In the game Paper-Rock-Scissors, the paper beats the rock, the rock beats the scissors, and scissors beats the paper. Yet My Word always wins - I am the fourth choice. Beloved, think not that I am contained to your earthly limitations. I beat the paper, I beat the rock, and I beat the scissors. I am the trump card. No one bests Me. No one can beat Me. They are as hands before bullets.

Yet beloved, could not a weapon also be used to deter the enemy? Would not its mere presence many times be enough to stop Satan? A weapon is offensive, though it may be used defensively. It is meant to do damage.

The shield of faith is defensive, and it is used only defensively. If the enemy attacks, and is thwarted by this shield, what does it matter to him? He has invested no part of himself in the attack, except a fiery dart from afar. You were protected, but he can most easily try again.

Yet if he attacks, and you are armed with the Word of God, an offensive weapon, he will be slain if he attacks you directly. The enemy cannot stand before this power. If he tries, he will lose every time. But will a shield stop a lion? When the enemy advances with his own self, it is there that the greatest victory may be won. It is the difference between mere survival, and triumphant victory.

Where the word of a King is, there is power. Trust in My words. Take them, shallow them and eat them, and make them your own. Trust in My power. Confide in Me. Lean on me. Trust in the authority of My words; one day the world shall be overcome by them. They are heavy ballistics, and the enemy does not take them lightly.

“And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.” Revelation 19:13-15

What did the serpent do with Eve’s weapon? What immediately did he do? “[H]e said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? ” (Genesis 3:1). He said, “drop your weapon, and we can talk.” The enemy cannot operate comfortably when there is such power present. It is only once you have abandoned My provision that he begins to work. He cannot negotiate with an armed soldier. Beloved, you are not to negotiate with the enemy on any terms.

Child, you need the protection of My Word: it is your only weapon to launch an offensive, but it is also your best defensive deterrent. I can speak swords and spit bullets, why would you use your hands? The enemy can crush your hands. He is strong, but not armed.

Do not wander from My will. Where My will is, there is My grace also to sustain you. My will is where My words go, and where My Spirit leads. If you do not walk in My words, you walk unarmed; you walk without the fullness of My grace. Without the fullness of My grace is frustration, and danger; with it is peace and safety.

*This was originally sent out to the mailing list on 8/30/07*

Hey, it’s been raining a lot around here lately! Anyhow, I wrote something today, almost out of a whole bunch of seemingly random thoughts I had throughout the day. It was interesting how it all came together.

I hope that God uses this message to reach whoever it is that He is trying to reach today.

Rainy Days

Do not let the clouds of yesterday obscure the sunshine of today, nor let the sunshine of today give a false hope of tomorrow. For the rainy days of the soul are brought for nourishment, and the sunshine for health. To dwell in one or the other for all of life is to be in a false balance, and an unjust weight. I bring both.

You need not pray for rain, (and who could bear to), nor seek sunshine. They will each come as I see fit. For lo, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons… Yet, in all things, give thanks - “for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” -1 Thessalonians 5:18

Oh Beloved, you cannot see how your life will turn out from where you are now. You ought to give thanks in faith and trust Me, regardless. What is a month, a year, a decade of sorrow; or a long detour from what you believe to be My will? Child, you cannot see the forest for the trees. When you come forth from the trial - as a dark forest - you will understand.

In the meantime, do not be discouraged. Do not rebel. Give thanks to your God for His care and His activity in your life. Give thanks for His real-life training that He gives each day. Much more can be accomplished in one day from one of God’s refined instruments than could be produced in a lifetime from a stubborn instrument.

Again, beloved, I say, think not your life wasted, nor your time squandered. For I chasten those that I love. Let a man only ask this: Do I love God with my whole heart? Do I love others as myself? If a man has this love, he can have God’s grace, no matter where it takes him. He can rest in God’s will, no matter how it breaks him.