Jesus Saves

I see all these people promoting their books and Bible studies and preaching series and this and that and all the other marketing-of-Christ. And sometimes I just want to shout: I don’t want to buy your book. I don’t want your Bible study and I don’t want to hear your preaching series on power or happiness or any other thing Christianity can sell me. I want to stop sinning. I want to have peace in my soul because I know that I’m right with God. I want to know how I can be holy like Him and I want to know how I can be in a real, authentic relationship with Him because my soul is hungry and my heart is thirsty and all the books and Bible studies and preaching series in the world won’t fill my soul like the authentic presence of God.

God wants to be in relationship with human beings, but he can’t do that until we are ready to turn away from our sin. It’s either sin or Him, but we can’t give ourselves over to both. No doubt, even after turning to Christ we will make mistakes and we will commit sin in weak moments, but after truly putting your trust in Christ as your Savior and Lord, there should be a perpetual desire in us to run from sin. Human beings were created to know God. We were created to be sated and satisfied by Him alone. You were created to be holy because you were created to be an image bearer of God. And if you don’t want to stop sinning, then you’ve never truly put your trust in Jesus Christ. Not the real Him, anyway. Maybe some counterfeit version of Him that is cool with your sin and your brokenness, and as long as you are happy, he is happy. But that ain’t the Creator-of-the-universe-Jesus. Or maybe you believe in Jesus, maybe thoughts about Him make you happy, but deep down inside there is something missing. The devil believes in Jesus, but he is a devil still. There is a difference between believing in Jesus and trusting in Jesus. Trust requires faith. Belief is acknowledgement of a set of facts, it’s knowledge without understanding.
Christianity is hard and Jesus is real. That’s what you need to know. Jesus was crucified to pay for our sins and deliver us from them, saying “Your sins are forgiven you, go and sin no more.” Faith in Christ means that you accept His sacrifice that paid for your sins, you trust Him enough to follow Him in obedience, and you desire to turn away from sinful behavior. That’s what you need to understand.

One day, Jesus is going to show up and it’s going to ruin a whole ‘lotta people’s day. Even those who thought they were ready, won’t be ready. Minds utterly blown all across the globe. Every single living human mind will say in unison, “My God, it’s really Him.” People who thought they were ready, realizing they weren’t. Shock. Awe. Terror. Joy. Mourning. Rejoicing. All happening at the same time. And the one thing you need to understand is the reason for Jesus’ words at Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father Who is in heaven.” Jesus says that they will ask Him, “Lord, didn’t we serve you and help others in your name, for your sake?” And Jesus says, “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!’” Jesus calls them evildoers because they did good deeds and they believed in Him, but they never put their trust in Him because of a desire to turn away from sin.

Sin matters because sin separates us from God, but God has offered us reconciliation and forgiveness through Jesus Christ when we desire to turn away from sin and back to God and put our trust in Jesus as Savior and Lord, Who alone quenches the thirst of our heart and sates the hunger of our soul. All you really need to know is that Jesus saves. Call out to Him. Go to Him. Be honest, cry that ugly-face cry, tell Him how you feel, that you're confused, scared, doubtful, addicted to porn, bitter against your spouse, mad at the church, tired of your kids, can't stop cussin', can't stop eating all the things, don't want to stop drinking or smoking dope, feel dead in your soul, don't wanna be nice to nobody, don't want to forgive, whatever it is, He already sees it and knows it. Jesus saves. Trust Him. Jesus saves. Cry out to Him. Jesus saves, because that's who He is. Jesus saves, because that is what you need.

It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified but Whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed...Salvation exists in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. (Acts 4:11,12)

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

After several days, Felix returned with his wife Drusilla, who was a Jewess. He sent for Paul and listened to him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. As Paul was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you." (Acts 24:24,25)

Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear. (Isaiah 59:2)

Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matt 11:28,29)

The House That Stands

The other night while I was falling asleep, the Holy Spirit put in my mind:  "The overcoming of a castle or fortress happens in waves." 

It's difficult to explain how God communicates to our spirit.  Sometimes whole sentences are just plopped into my mind.  Other times, there is a nagging concept that keeps coming up, pictures in my mind of a concept, a scene being played out over and over--I can see a thought or emotion visually.  The other night, when I was in that limbo state of not quite asleep and not fully awake, I was watching a siege take place and saw the back and forth of a battering ram.  I couldn't see what it was hitting, I just saw the battering ram as it pulled backward and sailed forward, landing at a hard stop as it hit whatever it was battering.  Over and over I saw the ramrod draw backward, then silently drive forward and its sudden, hard stop when it hit its mark, over and over.  My understanding was that this is what is happening right now in individual lives, the church, and the world systems.

That night, I saw the relentlessness of the enemy, like a battering ram making a siege against a fortress.  He makes an encampment against the object of his wrath and carries out his relentless siege against it.  He never tires, he never sleeps, he never runs out of munitions or soldiers.  His archers send fiery arrows over the fortress wall as his battering ram pounds the wall over and over, crushing blow after crushing blow.  I could feel the reverberating thunder of its strike, and I could feel the distress of many, many people in my soul.  I sensed despair, frustration, fear, angst, and thoughts of impending hopelessness.  I felt the thought that provoked and tempted many minds, "Maybe I should just give up, give in, stop fighting so hard."  The Holy Spirit communicated:  "Those inside eventually run out of food, water, and provisions and are overcome.  Only a small breach in the wall is needed to flood the fortress with enemies."  Once the breach is made, it's only a matter of time before it is overcome by the enemy, and can even be turned into a stronghold for himself.

Here is what God wants you to understand:  if your food is not the bread of heaven and if your water is not the living water of Jesus Christ, if you are not actively seeking spiritual provisions from the throne room of God, then whatever has been sustaining you emotionally, mentally, and spiritually--whatever you have been "living" off of-- is going to run out.  I'm talking about families, I'm talking about ministries, I'm talking about careers, I'm talking about whatever you have been using as a source of comfort, joy, and security other than your relationship with Jesus Christ.  I cannot stress this enough, this whole house of cards is about to topple.  I don't mean tomorrow or next month, I mean, it is happening as we speak.  It may continue to fold at a pace that is imperceptible to most, but it will fold.  If your faith has been in anything other than the cross of Christ, and if your sustenance has been from anything other than His abiding presence in your life, you will find yourself empty handed and hungry at the end of your path.  

The cross of Christ is irrespective of denomination, church structure, gender, cultural ideal, social status, nationality, political affiliation or any other thing that we tend to claim as our identity.  Our identity is found in Jesus Christ alone, and Scripture teaches that at the time of the end, God will shake everything we attempt to hold onto and identify with other than Himself.  Every human institution is under attack right now because Satan is simply taking advantage of the shaking.  God is allowing Satan to act as winnowing fork among humanity.  Which means, if you are under siege, then you need to tighten your grip on your faith and make sure you have the right provisions to hold out.  If Christ is your food and water, you will never run out.  If God is your fortress, the wall will never be breached.  Know this:  the waves of assault will continue, but a fortress founded upon the rock of Jesus Christ will never be overcome.  Know this:  your faith and trust in God are like precious silver and gold that He uses to build His glorious temple.  As a believer in Christ, you are a citizen of Zion, an impenetrable fortress of Almighty God.  Zion-- the house that stands.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy dwelling places of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms of heaven tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. The Lord of heaven's armies is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold."(Ps 46:1-7)

"But now take courage, Zerubbabel," declares the Lord, "take courage also, Joshua...and all you people of the land take courage," declares the Lord, "and work; for I am with you," declares the Lord of heaven's armies. "As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!" For thus says the Lord of heaven's armies, "Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land. I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations and I will fill this house with glory," says the Lord of heaven's armies. "The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine," declares the Lord of heaven's armies. "The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former, " says the Lord of heaven's armies, "and in this place I will give peace," declares the Lord of heaven's armies. (Haggai 2:4-9)

See to it that you do not refuse Him Who is speaking.  If they did not escape when they refused Him Who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from Him Who warns us from heaven? And His voice shook they earth then, but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heavens." This expression, "Yet once more," indicates the removing of those things which can be shaken--that is, created things--so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude and worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. (Heb 12:25-29)

I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in Whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies. (Ps 18:1-3)

I Need

I need you this morning

As I sit here

Confronted by my ugliness

My broken nature staring back at me, saying:

"You'll never escape from me,

You will always be in my grip

No matter where you run

I will be there waiting for you."

I need you this morning

As I sit here

Contemplating Your promises

Your holy nature says to me:

"You are safe in Me,

Nothing can snatch you out of my hand

There is no need to run

You have not received a spirit of fear."

I need You this morning

As my heart aches for healing and my soul thirsts for truth

And yet

My heart is satisfied with wholeness and my soul is sated with Your presence

I need you this morning

As my flesh demands its own way and my will struggles against Yours

And yet

My flesh humbles itself and my will surrenders to Yours

Back and forth I amble

Swayed one way and then the next

As my hope rises and falls like the tide

As my faith stands and buckles like the rising and setting sun

As my trust blooms and wilts like the spring and fall flowers

I wonder this morning

Do you see me being torn apart?

Do you see this collision of natures within me?

Do you see these laws at war in my innermost being?

Do you see me in torment?

Do you see?

Yes child, I see.

I see My provision of grace:  forgiveness replacing condemnation

I see you justified by faith:  righteousness replacing sin

I see My Son being formed in you

I see you filled by My Spirit and shaped by My hand

I see.

Yes, You see

And yet, I wonder this morning

How do we walk in a faith that brings both death and life?

How do we both die and live?

How do we trust in a hope of both slavery and freedom?

How are we both submitted and set free?

Child, listen to Me this morning

Your faith makes you dead to sin but alive in Christ

That is how you die and yet live

By My Spirit you are a slave to all that is right and good, set free to bear My image

That is how you are both submitted and set free

Submitted to my Spirit and set free from the letter

Crucified to your flesh and raised to life in the Spirit

I am here this morning

As you sit here

Bending your knee to grace, and bowing your head to blood

As your heart both aches and is healed

As your soul both thirsts and is filled

You will always be in My grip

No matter where you run

I will be there waiting for you

There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit Who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Sn in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Rom 8:1-4)

...count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus...offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to Him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace...you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness...But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom 6:11-23)

The Soul That Wants To Be Whole

Travail of soul

Is what I feel

My heart in knots

When I kneel

I come before You

Seeking grace

As dark surrounds

I seek Your face

Instead of joy

I feel angst and sorrow

Today I weep

And again tomorrow

In need of balm

My wounds and hurts

My mourning soul

Feels only thirst

The world is broken

And so am I

My hope draws near

Look to the sky

The dawn is coming

He rides the clouds

He brings His justice

To shame the proud

We wait, we pray

The time seems vast

T'il the day we shout

"We're whole at last"

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. (Matt 5:4)

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. (Ps 51:16,17)

For thus says the One Who is high and lifted up, Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy:  "I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble of spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite." (Is 57:15)

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all. (Ps 34:17-19)

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit. The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. (Ps 147:3-6)

You Deserve

You deserve things I do not have to give

You deserve a trustworthiness, obedience, 

faith, and dependability that I do not possess.

And so I weep.

I weep because I want to give You things

that I cannot attain in my own power.

Because I lack.

I lack because You are the source of all that is good,

all that is right, all that is of true value and worth.

And so I long.

I long to be filled with those things that I may share them with You, 

that I may reflect back unto You the things You deserve to have.

Therefore I wait.

I wait as You shape trustworthiness, obedience, 

faith and dependability in me.

So I can be whole.

So can be whole and give You the things You deserve.


What a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, Who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Rom 7:24)

Remain in Me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; for apart from Me, you can do nothing. (John 15:4,5)

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him Who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Peter 1:3,4)

The Majick Word

There is an aberrant teaching that is especially popular in Charismatic circles today based on the notion of power in our words, or speaking things into existence using Scripture.  What many believers in this teaching do not realize, is that it is founded on the occult concept of "majick" which is considered by occultists and New Age followers as the "science and art of causing change to occur in conformity of will."  Occult practitioners teach that we can utilize natural forces around us to bring about change.  The Christianized version of this occult teaching merely substitutes God's word (Scripture) to bring about the desired change.  Most teachers of this erroneous theological doctrine are peddlers of God's word, seeking sheep to fleece for profit or seeking to appeal to larger groups of sheep.  Those who are not peddlers are simply ignorant of traditional apostolic teaching about the word of God, which is not founded upon the principle of using it to change our circumstances, but founded upon the principle of consuming it in such a way that it transforms us.   

These teachers prey on the natural human desire to have power over our circumstances, the desire to express our own will.  It is the very foundation of sin itself, the thing that infected humanity the moment we fell in the Garden of Eden.  It is the stump from which rebellion, selfishness, and pride sprout.  Teachers who encourage sheep to take control of their situation through "the power of God's word," rather than teaching them to submit to God's word, are perpetuating the lie of Satan.  Satan appeals to our desire for victory over our circumstances.  Jesus instructed us to carry our cross-- the life of selflessness and faithful endurance, the life of obedience and humility (Matt 10:38; Matt 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; Luke 14:27).  Satan and His snake oil salesmen come along and hiss, "You don't have to live that way!  Rise up and take charge of your life, just speak God's word so your life can be shaped the way you want it to be!"  This teaching would not have been popular in first century Christianity when believers were at the mercy of their circumstances, even those leading to martyrdom.  This teaching is only popular in such cultures as ours who idolize the notion of being the commanders of our own destiny.

Satan weaponizes our ignorance and weaknesses against us, which is why it is critical to have teachers of God's word in the church who are legitimately educated to teach it.  There are many wolves in sheep's clothing who love to pomp their titles or honorary doctorates or unaccredited degrees.  They are those whom St. Jude refers to as "hidden reefs" (Jude 1:12), because the sheep do not see them for what they are, and like a hidden reef in the ocean causes a ship to wreck, so do these teachers cause shipwrecks of believers' faith.  St. Jude goes on to describe them as shamelessly walking among us, feeding only themselves, "clouds without water, blown along by the wind...wild waves of the sea, foaming up their own shame; wandering stars for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever." (1:12,13).  

Why does Jude speak of these teachers so harshly?  Because God is a jealous God and anyone who harms His precious sheep by leading them astray will suffer His wrath.  These teachers lead the sheep astray by teaching Scripture out of context, piece-mealing texts together to promote their own selfish, self-centered, human-centric ideologies. Eisegesis trumps exegesis and the sheep are none the wiser because it sounds good and feels good.  Besides, who doesn't want to defeat Satan?  Who doesn't want to walk in power?  False teachers will always work the same way Satan works:  appealing to base human desires such as greed, control, power, pride etc.  They appeal to our flesh rather than our spirit. Jude says that these sort of teachers reject God's authority over their life and circumstances, establishing their own authority in God's name, teaching others to manipulate His word and do the same; giving authority to their own visions and dreams, polluting their own faith and lives with an erroneous understanding of God's word and leading others down the same path (Jude 1:8).

Jesus didn't defeat Satan by speaking God's word, Jesus corrected Satan's lies by speaking God's truth.  Jesus defeated Satan by surrendering His own will to the Father's.  Satan was defeated by Christ's victory over the very thing he caused in humanity:  the desire to express our own will over God's.  You see, when human beings decided to follow their own will instead of God's, they no longer bore the image of God, and in our rebellion we essentially became image bearers of Satan's rebellion instead.  Human beings were created to be image bearers, that is the fabric of our ontology-- the very nature of our being.  Genesis 1:26 says that God created humanity "in His image and likeness," which means our fundamental purpose is to look and act like God.  Satan took the truth of our purpose and twisted it into a subtle lie.  Satan perverted our purpose which is to reflect what God is like, into a desire to be God, encouraging us to use our will for our own purposes and desires, making us traitors against the One Who made us--just like Satan.  Because Christ died both to His own will and physically--atoning for sin with His own physical death-- humanity was set free from both the bondage to sin and the shackles of death.  Jesus died to His own right to Himself, handing over a human life to God in utter and total surrender (Jesus is fully human and fully divine), and thus shattering human bondage to Satan's lie. 

The power in God's word is the power of the Holy Spirit to transform a sinner into a saint.  Jesus said, "The Spirit gives life...the words I have spoken to you are spirit and life" which means that the power in God's word is His Spirit, and therefore any effect of His word in a person's life can only and ever be when it is used according to His will, not ours.  So what is God's will?  His will is for us to be sanctified and holy and live a holy life (1 Thess 4:3,7,8); for us to not be conformed to the pattern of this world and to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God's will rather than our own will, allowing Him to transform us by renewing the way we think (Rom 12:1,2); to be filled with His Spirit, giving thanks to Him and living as children of the light in goodness, righteousness and truth, seeking what is pleasing to the Lord (Eph 5:8-20); to live according to the will of God and to do right even through suffering, trusting Christ in the midst of our circumstances (1 Pet 4:1,2,19); and last but not least, God's will is for us to "rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thess 5:16,17).  God's word says that we are to give thanks in all circumstances, even the ones we may want to change.  God's word is like a hammer that smashes strongholds around our hearts and like a fire that burns away error and lies, purifying our understanding (Jer 23:29). God's word is like a sword that penetrates into our soul, cutting away all that is dead and sinful and selfish, exposing the true motives of our heart (Heb 4:12).  God's word is to be revered and submitted to, not manipulated for our personal desire.  God is sovereign over our lives and circumstances and instead of desiring to use His word in some vain attempt to transform our situation, we should first seek Him in humility as Lord, asking what He may be trying to teach us through it.

Beloved, know who you are following.  Do your due diligence, be Berean and find out where your teachers were educated or who they trained under.  Not all trustworthy teachers necessarily need to be college-educated, but all trustworthy teachers necessarily need to be vetted as having been trained by someone above reproach, and should reflect the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22,23) and the character of Christ (Matt 1:3-11), and above all, be well-equipped in God's word and able to rightly divide it (2 Tim 2:15 & 3:16,17).  Jesus said we will know who are truly His faithful disciples because they will exhibit His love as described at 1 Cor 13:  patient, kind, does not envy, is not boastful or proud, does not dishonor others, not self-seeking, not easily angered, keeps no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  Someone who truly loves Jesus is someone who seeks the truth no matter what the cost and rejoices when it is shared with them.  Someone truly devoted to Christ does not delight in evil and defend questionable teachers.  Someone truly surrendered to Christ allows His truth to take them wherever it leads, rather than kicking against it because it doesn't feel good or sound good.  Beloved, there are many looking for God in teachers and books, but there is only one Teacher and one Book you truly need. 

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, which are based on human tradition and the spiritual forces of the world rather than on Christ. (Col 2:8)

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. (Heb 13:8,9)

...until we all reach the unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming. (Eph 4:12-14)

Now there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies that even deny the Master Who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow in their depravity, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. (2 Pet 2:1-3)

"Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully...Is not My word like fire," declares the Lord, "and like a hammer that smashes rock? Therefore behold," declares the Lord, "I am against the prophets who steal from each other words they attribute to Me. Yes," declares the Lord, "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and proclaim, 'The Lord declares it', indeed," declares the Lord, "I am against those who prophesy false dreams and retell them to lead My people astray with their reckless lies. It was not I who sent them or commanded them, and they are of no benefit at all to these people," declares the Lord. (Jer 23:28-32)

The Worthless Garden

My shepherds have become farmers, instead of gardeners.

They have become drivers of cattle, rather than those who tend and guard sheep.

Does not My word say that I am a gardener, not a farmer? (John 15:1,2)

A tender of sheep, not a driver of cattle? (Is 40:11; John 10:11)

You produce much fruit

You farm much soil

But the fruit is rotten

And the ground you work

Produces thistles and thorns

You produce much produce

But your high yield is worthless

Countless casings with no beans in them

Many blooms that wither and rot

Many beautiful trees cover the land

But they have no root

They have no water

All your striving to make the surface of the land seem bountiful

But their source of life is from man himself

So in time, the beautiful landscape of man's own doing

Will wither into kindle and be scorched

By the fiery trial ahead

The fire of my anger burns against those

Who preach from their own heart

My wrath is kindled against vanity and selfish ambition

Which has taken its seat in the hearts of those

Who preach My word for their own gain

I am not a commodity to be marketed

My word is not a source of income, but a source of life

You merchandise the Tree of Life

All your peddling aligns you with the peddler

Who by the abundance of his trade was cast out (Ezekiel 28:16-18)

To those who follow the peddlers:

You search for Me among books and teachers

When there is only one Book

And one Teacher you need

My word is sufficient

My Spirit is sufficient

But you forsake them both

Because the desires of your own heart lead you astray

Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is tended receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless, and its curse is imminent. In the end it will be burned. (Heb 6:7,8)

Zion will be redeemed with justice, her repentant ones with righteousness. But rebels and sinners will together be shattered, and those who forsake the Lord will perish. Surely you will be ashamed of the sacred oaks in which you have delighted; you will be embarrassed by the gardens that you have chosen. For you will become like an oak whose leaves are withered, like a garden without water. The strong man will become tinder and his work will be a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the flames. (Is 1:28-31)

Be sure to know the state of your flocks, and pay close attention to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to every generation. (Prov 27:23,24)

Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain, they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah's rebellion. These men are the hidden reefs in your love feasts, shamelessly feasting with you but shepherding only themselves. They are clouds without water, carried along by the wind; fruitless trees in autumn, twice dead after being uprooted...these are discontented grumblers, following after their own lusts; their mouths spew arrogance; they flatter others for their own advantage. (Jude 1:11,12,15)