Earnestly Contending for the Faith

I recall many years ago writing down all the many ways I wanted to better myself, and I quickly realized that all of them revolved around relationships. I wanted to be…

1. A better wife.
2. A better mom.
3. A better daughter.
4. A better friend.
5. A better sister.
6. A better servant for Christ.
7. A better person.

Basically, I wanted to be super woman, but I quickly realized that I cannot be all things to all people at all times, nor am I called to be all those things to all people at all times, but I can use what I’ve got to do what I can when I can…and to do it well for God’s glory.

USE WHAT YOU’VE GOT

I CAN do what I know the Lord has called me to do with the gifts, talents and abilities that He has given to me as He leads me and others to cross paths. I can “use what I’ve got” as the old saying goes, and you, my friend, can use “what you’ve got” to better ourselves and encourage others along the way, and if we all do our part with what God has assigned to each of us, I suspect, we can move some pretty enormous mountains and bear some wonderful fruit for His Kingdom.

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 1 Peter 4:10 (KJV)

We can continue to improve, grow and mature in those areas that are so precious to us while considering our ways and finding a balance.

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Philippians 4:5 (KJV)

That balance for me is to keep my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at the forefront of it all. It is NOT to love myself as the world spouts, coddling our self-egos which are already so destructive. The truth is NOT in that we love others because we first love ourselves. Rather, the truth is that we love the Lord (as well as others) because He first loved us. You see, it all comes back to Him.

We love Him, because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19 (KJV)

Personally, I’ve found that I am, perhaps, equally a “Mary” and a “Martha”. While I’m a constant do-er like Martha in the Bible, I also prefer most of all to sit at the feet of Jesus, read my Bible and talk to my Savior through prayer day in and day out.

This is my priority from which everything else in my life flows. I’ve learned it by trial and error and have made the DECISION to take God at His Word and put His Word into practice in my life. This has been the best decision I have ever made!

I love the Lord…I love others…I love…because my Savior first loved me, and I learned that truth in His Word and by spending time alone with Him in prayer.

So…what does this all have to do with contending earnestly for the faith as the title of this post implies? Stay with me…I’ll get there.

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. Jude 1:3 (KJV)

This is my calling…that is, to contend earnestly for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints, and I’ve found that a person’s calling from God tends to involve using those things that God has put inside of them.

How does one get their calling from God you may be wondering? I would suggest that it comes from my earlier point…spending time with the Lord. It’s not “religion.” Rather, it’s that personal relationship part of walking with the Lord Jesus Christ. I’m convinced that one’s calling comes through sitting at the feet of Jesus and prayerfully reading, studying and meditating on His Word. It is in seeking Him with our whole heart where we can literally find Him.

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV)

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Many have heard me share how I gave my life to Christ as a six-year old little girl following a Sunday school lesson at my church. I prayed alone…just me and Jesus, and I knew that He had taken away my sins on the cross and that I belonged to Him, and that I would spend eternity with Him, and, thus, began a lifelong passion of mine to walk with my Savior.

Of course, I’ve made many mistakes along the way. Who hasn’t, right?! However, God, in His magnificent mercy, was patient with me, and He refined me. He put my feet on solid ground…

…Which brings me to today, or, perhaps, to eight years ago which has led up to today.

EIGHT YEARS AGO

It was eight years ago when something extraordinary happened in my life. Well, in all honesty, I feel like extraordinary things have been happening my entire life, but something absolutely life-altering happened in my relationship with the Lord.

Prior to this time, I had read multiple Bible versions, but it wasn’t until someone on social media (Yes, social media! God can use social media!) disputed with me over Bible versions. I initially took the position that it didn’t matter which version a person used. However, the Lord immediately hit me with such a nauseating wave of conviction that I was wrong on that position that I began a vigorous search to find the one true Word of God. That Facebook post would come to change my life. Conviction is a powerful thing, I’m telling you. Don’t ignore it.

In my research, I reasoned that there could be only one perfect, infallible Bible considering the warning in Revelation 22:18-19 about removing or adding WORDS (not ideas but WORDS) from this book, and there are a whole lot of WORDS and entire passages of Scripture removed from the modern versions of the Bible. I knew there had to be one perfect, preserved version, and I was determined to find it. I had to have it.

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the wordsof the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18-19 (KJV)

This was the journey that would absolutely change my life, and it led me to the 1611 Authorized King James Bible. I won’t get into that journey here, but you can read my defense of the King James Bible {HERE}.

All that to say, when I switched to only reading the King James Bible, what happened from there, was an outpouring, or, better said, an in-pouring of understanding into God’s Word the likes of which I had never experienced before in my life. It was like the veil was being lifted from off my understanding so that I could see and understand things in the Bible that I had never comprehended before. Entire passages of Scripture were almost instantly seared into my mind and into my heart, and they would come to my mind readily at any moment. I, indeed, experienced what Ephesians 1:17 and 1 Corinthians 2:10-12 speak of…

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: Ephesians 1:17 (KJV)

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 Corinthians 2:10-12 (KJV)

I’ve found that what made this experience so powerful to me was that it wasn’t founded in my limited human understanding. It came through God, the Holy Spirit mercifully opening my eyes and allowing me to simply trust in HIS UNDERSTANDING.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 (KJV)

I recall several months where the Lord was revealing so much in His Word to me so fast that my eye began to twitch. I’ve shared this experience with only a couple of close Christian friends, but anyone who knows me, can see that something in me changed dramatically around this time, and I’ve never been the same since.

Some of the things the Lord showed me in His Word during that time frightened me, if I’m being honest, but the Lord shortly thereafter delivered me from my fears and replaced them with His incredible peace.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 (KJV)

THE CALLING

AND…during that intense time of refining and learning and studying and praying for hours…yes, HOURS a day in the early morning and late into the night, God placed a calling on my life. Late at night, I would be on my face in prayer in our living room, and I can recall several occasions where my husband would come out to the living room to tell me to just go to bed.

As if jumping off the pages of my Bible and into my heart, the Lord gave me Jude 1:3 and called me to CONTEND EARNESTLY FOR THE FAITH which was once delivered unto the saints. In essence, I became a delivery girl…bringing the good news of the gospel. It’s a calling to all of us as followers of Christ, but few take up this charge. As for me, somehow, I knew that it would need to take center stage in my life.

I was fearful at first, though, because I couldn’t contain it…I couldn’t keep quiet. It, indeed, felt as Jeremiah describes that burning of God’s Word like it was a fire shut up in my bones that I had to shout to the world. I’m telling you, it was intense. I didn’t want to offend anyone, but I also felt the burden to do what the Lord had called me to do. I literally could not shut up! However, I would later discern that there are also times to be quiet. Again, it’s a fine balance that I continue to work on.

Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. Jeremiah 20:9 (KJV)

 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 1 Thessalonians 4:11 (KJV)

I knew that to contend earnestly, no less, for the truth of God’s Word and for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints…biblical, God-fearing faith, it would cost me friends. It may even cost me family.

However, the Lord Jesus Christ also showed me the great price He paid to purchase me with His own precious blood, to wash away all my sin, to give me everlasting life and to save me from a devil’s hell.

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 1 Peter 1:18-19 (KJV)

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:20

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: Matthew 25:41 (KJV)

Even as I type this out, the Lord continues to bring to my mind all of these specific passages of Scripture. Some days, I don’t even know how it happens, but I give Christ the glory, and I praise Him for allowing me the privilege to point people to His Word as long as He sees fit. I’ve often prayed that He would call me home before I would ever disgrace His holy, worthy name.

WHERE THE CALLING MEETS THE INDIVIDUAL

You see, ever since I was in elementary school, all I ever wanted to be when I grew up was a lawyer. I went to a Christian college and got an history degree for my undergrad/pre-law degree. Being a lawyer was something I had long desired to be. I am inherently wired to study and research, to dig deep, and to WRITE. I have a very analytical, truth-seeking mind, so law school seemed a natural fit for me.

Well, I did get that history degree…and a Bible degree, but just like how Christ called a group of scraggly fishermen to become FISHERS OF MEN, likewise, the Lord has called me NOT to defend man’s laws, but, rather, to DEFEND AND CONTEND FOR THE FAITH. Earnestly. This is my calling.

Thus, each day that I strive to point people back to truth…to the true faith which was once delivered unto Christ’s saints as written in His Word, I’m doing what I can with “what I’ve got.”

What calling has the Lord placed on your life? Settle it between you and the Lord and use “what you’ve got”.

In the love of Christ,

Sodom and Gomorrah

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32 (KJV)

So, Sodom and Gomorrah have been trending quite a bit on Twitter the past couple weeks, which I find interesting. This, of course, is an event that took place in Bible times as recorded in the Scriptures.

It was interesting to read the wide range of comments on this topic. Opinions and “I think(s)” were flying back and forth at warp speed.

Many were claiming the sin of these two Cities to being anything from “not helping the poor and needy” based on Ezekiel 16:49-50, which was, indeed, part of their iniquity but that wasn’t the full reason God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. It gets much worse than that as we will discover as we go through the Scriptures. On and on, people try to explain the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah from everything in between other than what it actually was. It’s ping-pong of nonsense at its finest.

Of course, there was the cry of, “Jesus never said anything about being gay!” and on and on it went, but we’ll tackle that argument as well. Stay with me.

Do you know what abomination was committed that ultimately led to God destroying these cities? Keep reading, and you’ll find out.

⁴⁹ Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. ⁵⁰ And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good.

Ezekiel 16:49-50

Once in a rare while, someone chimed in with a Bible verse, but most just carried on with whichever lie fit what they wanted to hear. It was like the telephone game gone terrible awry.

Now, regarding the Church…well, very few want to touch this subject. It’s become needlessly controversial as the Body of Christ shrinks back beneath the pressure and disdain of our secular society with a mum’s the word attitude.

Accusations of “you’re being unloving and hateful!” fly at the Christian who would dare to speak the truth of God’s Word, so rather than being truthful and setting people free from bondage to sin, along comes the cool, slick, progressive pastor ditching the truth of God’s Word for a more palatable lie, but if the Christian were to step back and really examine the Scriptures, they would see that standing on the truth of God’s Word is the most loving path as it is able to save the lost and dying who have been lured into going along with the world’s lies.

I’ve even noticed that the story of Sodom and Gomorrah has gone by the wayside in Sunday school curriculums; which was once taught in Sunday school just as much as the stories of Noah and the ark, Moses and the Ten Commandments, Jonah, King David, etc.

Why? Why has this event which is discussed at LENGTH and in great detail in the Scriptures, been completely disregarded by Jesus’s own Body of believers in 2022? Could it be, perhaps, that we are mirroring the day and time of that which Lot lived?

History does, indeed, have a nasty habit of repeating itself. BUT this is bigger than that…prophecy is actually being fulfilled as I type.

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9 (KJV)

I have a clue as to who is behind sweeping this topic under the rug, and it begins with the father of lies – the devil, who sows confusion to no end.

Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. John 8:44 (KJV)

Whereas, God is NOT the author of confusion…

For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 1 Corinthians 14:33 (KJV)

That being said, let’s clear up all the confusion and go to Scriptures and really examine what led to the destruction of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and what we can take away from this catastrophic event.

Let’s begin with the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, since there seems to be endless claims that Jesus never said anything about this topic.

In Luke 17:32, Jesus says, “Remember Lot’s wife.”

Wait a minute, who’s Lot and who’s Lot’s wife that Jesus is specifically calling us to keep in remembrance?

A MAN NAMED LOT

Well, let’s back up a few verses in Luke and see what led up to this statement by Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ gives us a prophecy about a future time that will be just as it was in Lot’s day. JESUS SAID…

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; ²⁹ But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. ³⁰ Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. Luke 17:28-30 (KJV)

What do we know so far about this man named Lot whom Jesus is calling our attention to? Well, we know that he came out of a city named Sodom, and that same day that he came out of the city of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone down from heaven and completely annihilated the entire city and its inhabitants (as recorded in Genesis 18-19). We’ll find out more about his wife as we go on.

We can also see that the inhabitants of the city were completely caught unaware because they were eating and drinking and doing business as usual when destruction came out of nowhere.

Here we are told by the Lord that the sin in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah is so great that there has been a cry made up to heaven because of it, which causes God’s focus to zero in on these cities.

And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. Genesis 18:20-21 (KJV)

Well, wait a minute…there is a sin that has become so out of control and is so grievous that it demands God’s attention? Yes, indeed.

THE SIN OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH

What sin could this possibly be? Does the Bible actually give definition to it? Yes, yes, it does. The Bible says…

Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Jude 1:7 (KJV)

According to Webster’s Dictionary, below is the definition of fornication:

fornication

ˌfȯr-nə-ˈkā-shən

NOUN

consensual (see consensual sense 2) sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other

Here’s what we know from this passage of Scripture in Jude regarding the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah:

1. The sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was sexual intercourse outside of marriage between one man and one woman (ie. fornication).
2. The nature of the sexual sin was unnatural or “strange flesh”.
3. God gave us this event as an EXAMPLE showing us the end results of engaging in these acts IF NOT REPENTED OF (The good news is that if you are reading this, you can choose right now to put your faith in Christ and repent.)

And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 2 Peter 2:6 (KJV)

Are we paying attention to this example? Further, we can see in the passage in Isaiah 3:9 below, the sin of Sodom was boldly flaunted (sounds awfully similar to today)…

The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves. Isaiah 3:9 (KJV)

Fornication isn’t that bad, right? Why then are we told to FLEE it? While sin is sin, sexual sin does seem to have more severe consequences in many instances in the Scriptures. Why? Because you’re sinning against your own body, and for the Christian, our physical body is the temple of God, so not only is it 1.) sinning against our own body, 2.) it is sinning against the temple of the Holy Ghost which lives inside the Christian, and 3.) our bodies were bought with a price, and that price was the shed blood of Jesus Christ, so the cost to set us free from sin was the severest of the severe…

Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (KJV)

Hit the PAUSE BUTTON right here on Lot…

I have to take a bit of an aside before we return to Genesis 18 and 19 to address a couple of faulty arguments I see often: 1.) The naysayers will cry: “Who says homosexual fornication is wrong or unnatural?” 2.) “It doesn’t say that in the New Testament!” (BTW, fornication includes heterosexual sex outside of the marriage of a man and woman as well).

Of course, the naysayers are wrong on both of these claims, which we can not only see clearly in the New Testament addressed by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself as I’ve shown already. We can see it addressed in Jude as I’ve shown as well.  Also, we can see it addressed by the Apostle Paul in the Book of Romans, Corinthians and elsewhere in the New Testament.

Of course, most people know this is clearly addressed in the Old Testament:

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Leviticus 18:22 (KJV)

However, there seems to be selective blindness on the part of those who don’t want to see it when it comes to the New Testament.

In Romans 1:21-28, we see a society who has rejected the truth of God…further, they reject God Himself. These are people who are full of lusts, idolatry, vain imaginations (wicked thoughts), and foolish hearts. They think they are “wise” in their rejection of God, so the Lord let’s them have those things that they desire above Him, and the result is to their own destruction.

We see it all throughout the Bible, God pleads with His creation, and he pours out His mercy and grace and incredible longsuffering towards His Creation to the point of giving His own Son to die a gruesome death on the cross to pay the penalty for those wicked sins, and, yet, despite all of it, here we see a group of people, who have completely rejected Almighty God as if to spit in His face, so the Lord basically steps back and lets them have what they want.

They begin to dishonor their own bodies through unnatural, lustful acts.

UNNATURAL

It is clearly spelled out that women in this reprobate state of mind (Rom. 1:28 below) are engaging in unnatural sexual acts with other woman (Rom. 1:26 below), and, likewise, men are doing unnatural sexual acts with other men (Rom. 1:27 below).

It IS defined in the New Testament as you can see in particular in verses 26-28 below.

²¹ Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

²² Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

²³ And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

²⁴ Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

²⁵ Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

²⁶ For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

²⁷ And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Romans 1:21-28 (KJV)

See also the New Testament passages of Scripture below…

Here’s the BAD NEWS…

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (KJV)

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (KJV)

But here’s the GOOD NEWS…if this is your struggle, it can become a thing of the past if you choose to put it out of your life and be washed and cleansed from all unrighteousness by the blood of Jesus Christ through putting your faith in Him…

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 (KJV)

Right here and now, you can come to Christ for forgiveness and declare, “I’m not who I once was!”

For those who cry, “But, I was born this way!”

Christ leaves no room for that excuse. This isn’t the special sin that leaves you exempt from being born again. Everyone, EVERYONE, struggles with some sort of sin that they were “born with”. Whatever the sin, the solution is the same…we all MUST BE BORN AGAIN, through putting our faith in the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:7 (KJV)

Hit the UNPAUSE BUTTON, and let’s go back to Lot…

Remember when Jesus brought our attention to Lot and “Lot’s wife” back in Luke 17, well, let’s see what that situation was all about.

Back to Genesis 18 and 19 – As we continue reading the story in Genesis, we see that two angels of the Lord show up in Sodom to rescue Lot and his family out of the city before God destroys it as a result of the grievous sin as established in earlier passages shared above.

When angels show up on earth, they always appear in the form of a man (just like Christ), so here these two angels show up with the appearance as men at the gate of Sodom where Lot was sitting, and Lot bows himself to the ground. He knows they are messengers from the Lord, and he invites them to come into his home for the night because it is not safe to stay on the street.

And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

² And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

³ And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. Genesis 19:1-3 (KJV)

But then something disturbing happens…

The “men” both “young and old” of Sodom “compassed the house round,” so basically all the men of the city encircled the house of Lot on this particular night because they saw these two new men go into Lot’s house, and they wanted Lot to bring these two men outside so that they might “know them”.

Huh? What does that even mean…to know them? Well, the King James Bible has an amazing self-built-in dictionary. In other words, Scripture defines Scripture.

Thus, the Bible uses the term “to know” someone (when put in the correct context, of course) as referring to sexual intercourse. For example, in Genesis 4:1, we read that “Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived”.

It’s basically a prudent way of saying that Adam had sex with his wife, and she got pregnant. This type of wording is used over and over in the context of sexual intercourse throughout the Scriptures, and, of course, we already know from Jude 7 that the sin of Sodom was, in fact, fornication (sex outside of the marriage of a man and woman) of an unnatural sort.

And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. Genesis 4:1 (KJV)

 Now, here’s where we can really see the extent of the depravation in Sodom…

The men of Sodom have encircled Lot’s house and trapped him, demanding that he bring out these two new men who are his guests, so that they can have sex with them, but Lot begs them to not do so WICKEDLY to these men.

Lot, much to his shame, even offers his own virgin daughters to the men just to appease their sexual appetites and not go after the two angels.

⁴ But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

⁵ And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

⁶ And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,

⁷ And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

⁸ Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

⁹ And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. Genesis 19: 4-9 (KJV)

            (Bold and underlined emphasis mine.)

However, the angels intervened and pulled Lot back into the house and struck all the wicked men outside the door with blindness so that they couldn’t find the door to Lot’s house.

Then, the angels told Lot to gather his family and get them out of the city because THE LORD had sent them to destroy it, lest Lot and his family “be consumed with the iniquity of it.”

In other words, the Lord was absolutely going to destroy the city of Sodom for its sin, but in His great mercy and in response to Abraham’s (Lot’s uncle’s) interceding prayers, God was rescuing Lot before the destruction…

¹⁰ But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.

¹¹ And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

¹² And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:

¹³ For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord; and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it.

¹⁴ And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

¹⁵ And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

Genesis 19:10-15 (KJV)

Of course, Lot and his family being so ingrained in that wicked culture, had a hard time pulling themselves away from it, to their peril. His extended family mocked him and would not listen to his warnings, so Lot just lingered about.

However, the angels forced Lot to leave (due to God’s great mercy for him), so Lot, his wife and his two young daughters under his household left the city with an ominous warning to not look back.

¹⁶ And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

¹⁷ And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

¹⁸ And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:

¹⁹ Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:

²⁰ Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

²¹ And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.

²² Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do anything till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

²³ The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. Genesis 19:16-23 (KJV)

DESTRUCTION OF SODOM AND GOMORRAH

Then, the Lord destroyed both the the cities of Sodom and her sister city of Gomorrah along with all the cities of the plain for their iniquity…

²⁴ Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven;

²⁵ And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground. Genesis 19:24-25 (KJV)

REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE

Remember back in Luke 17:32 when Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife”?

Whatever happened to Lot’s wife?

²⁶ But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:26 (KJV)

Remember the angels’ warning to Lot and his family not to look back? You see, Lot’s wife didn’t want to leave that wicked place. She wanted to go back, which revealed where her heart really was. She would’ve rather wallowed in the filth of the culture of Sodom than come out from it. She made her choice, and it destroyed her.

Please don’t make that same mistake. Repent and don’t look back.

When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. John 8:10-11 (KJV)

In the love of Christ,

A Girly Picture Makeover

It’s been a while since I’ve posted any of my projects here as my focus on the blog has completely shifted.  However, at my mom’s request (I love you, Mom!), I am sharing a fun up-cycle or remake project that I recently completed for a friend.

Moved by the Holy Spirit

“Do you want to know the secret to backsliding?  Neglect your prayer life.”

-Leonard Ravenhill

For every blessing the Lord pours out on us, beloved, it would do us well to remember that the devil is hiding in the shadows just waiting to steal it from us.  He will do whatever is takes to take you and I out of the fight, but…and it’s a big BUT, Christ came that we would have VICTORY.

Christ came to destroy the works of the devil, and that’s exactly what He did at the cross when he bore all the vile and all the filth and all the sin of the world on that cross…your sin…and my sin. He took the punishment for every ounce of it, so that you and I wouldn’t have to.  Never in the history of the world has there been a sacrifice that could even touch it.

Counting the Cost

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have [sufficient] to finish [it]? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish [it], all that behold [it] begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish. Luke 14:28-30 (KJV)

I heard an old preacher say something along the lines of this…When we get to heaven, I believe, we will weep when Christ reveals to us all of the great things that could have been if only we would have claimed them.

The Ultimate Con by Donna Wasson

I snapped this photo as I was stuck at a stoplight on my way to work yesterday.  Indeed, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” Psalm 19:1 (KJV)

Editor’s Note: The following article was written by one the most fierce and godly warriors for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that I have come across.  She holds nothing back in speaking the truth in Christ, and I sincerely hope you will ask the Lord to speak to your heart as you read the following article by Donna Wasson titled “The Ultimate Con.”  This article will walk you through what the world will look like following the rapture of the church.  It’s intent is to prepare those who have been left behind for what comes next. While it was written in 2014, it is, incredibly, all the more applicable today in 2015.  This article is most certainly not for the faint of heart.

As with discerning the times in light of Bible prophecy, the very safest place for believers in Christ is to be fervent in prayer and in studying your King James Bible with all diligence. God, in His infinite grace, by the power of His Holy Spirit, will guide you. 

If you are a student of Bible prophecy, you will know that the pieces are already in place for the One World Religion and One World Government.  Just turn on the news today.  How will these pieces come together during the Tribulation, you wonder?  Well, from the time I’ve spent in studying this topic, I’ve come to the same conclusions as Donna, and I’ve found that she brilliantly and impeccably puts a bow on it.  I also highly encourage you to read Donna’s most recent 3-part article published this September 2015 titled: “Why the Mark Brings Spiritual Death – Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.”  Bible prophecy is accelerating at such a rapid pace, and, yet, many remain unaware and delusional.  Please don’t let that be you, beloved.  Believe in Jesus Christ while there’s still time.  ~Nikki

The Judgments…It’s All Good. Or Is It?

The Destination of the Wicked Dead

Imagine that the heavens and earth have been rolled up like a scroll, and they no longer exist, and there you stand on the edge of eternity hanging in the atmosphere before the throne of the Living God.  You stand there completely naked before your Creator, before billions of other souls and before the angels in heaven.

And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. Revelation 20:11 (KJV)

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Hebrews 4:13 (KJV)

The Exceedingly Powerful Weapon of Prayer

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Ephesians 1:19 (KJV)

For all the hurting and broken-hearted out there, this post is for you…

Last Thursday was a hard day, or so it seemed at the time.  A trial that has often reared it’s painful head, hit once more, and the discouragement poured over me like an unforgiving wave crashing in the ocean. In hindsight and in comparison to others trials, it seems as though it was merely a light affliction, but in those moments, fear tends to find a home in the unknown of my circumstances.  Ever been there?

The Absolute Necessity of Studying Your Bible…According to the Bible

It’s 12:57 a.m., and I should be in bed. My sweet, little girl has already had two night wakings (as per usual), so I should be extra tired, and, yet, here I am, wide awake, hitting the key strokes, stopping only to pray and to find the references to the passages of Scripture the Lord brings to mind.

Where shall we begin?

Here we go…close your eyes for a moment and imagine that you are starving and wasting away, and before you stands a cabinet behind the doors of which is the most glorious feast of food you could possibly imagine, and, yet, you just stand there staring at it as your stomach aches and rumbles and as you begin to shrivel, longing to fill your belly with the goodness of what’s inside…and still you remain in your unmovable state, all the while the key to the cabinet rests comfortably in the palm of your hand. Are you still with me?

Unlock the cabinet, beloved.  It is time.  You’ve been starving yourself for far too long now. Likewise, open your Bible and taste and see the goodness inside.  It’s good…it’s really, REALLY good.  And it will fill you up.

Gather Oil for Your Lamps & Prepare Yourselves

Editor’s Note: Dispensationally, the parable of the ten virgins is for the time of the Tribulation leading up to the second coming of Christ.  However, it stands as a powerful reminder to remain in close fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. The Church Age saints will be raptured out prior to the Tribulation. Therefore, when I refer to God’s judgement in this article, I am referring to God’s judgement on America for its embracing of the reprobate sins. I am NOT referring to the the Tribulation/time of Jacob’s trouble.

I’ve been praying over the past few weeks about what the Lord would have me to write here on this blog, and for a while, my prayers have been met with silence, so I have quietly continued to seek His Word and pray and, ultimately, just be still.  All that to say, if you don’t hear from me for a while, please know that I am striving to wait on the Lord before I proceed on this blog.

If I don’t feel as though I have the Lord’s blessing upon what I share here, then I must wait until it’s been made clear to me that I do.