n0klu's Rants

  July 30, 2021 at 1:16 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     Righteousness Evident to Unbelievers "Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:12     Scripture Focus: 1 Peter 2 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had a nightmare, and his wise men couldn't explain it to him. But Daniel had interpreted a dream for him earlier, when no one else was able. Daniel insisted that he did not possess special powers to do this. Rather, it was the Lord who showed him the dream and its meaning (Daniel 2:27-28). From then on, Nebuchadnezzar recognized that "the spirit of the holy gods" was in Daniel.   Daniel was among a group of young Israelite men (some of the finest in intellect, physical ability, and appearance) whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem in battle. Though a captive and an exile, Daniel became more than a trophy for the king. In time, he was a value...

  July 29, 2021 at 12:05 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     He Guides Us in Worship He Guides Us in Worship "True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."       John 4:23-24 Scripture Focus: John 4 Ezekiel saw fantastic visions during his time as a prophet. We're not likely to ever see what he saw. But we can experience what he experienced-the Spirit of God leading him into worship. The Spirit leads us in two ways. He inspires us to worship in the first place. We may be consumed with our daily lives, thinking about anything but God and His grace, when suddenly something moves us to worship. It may be the sight of a stunning, huge moon; the arrival of a newborn baby; the gratitude you feel to an employer; a line of a hymn sung out heartily at church.   Something stirs in you to worship the God who's given all these things and...

  July 28, 2021 at 12:51 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     Spiritual Conversion Spiritual Conversion "Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved."       Ephesians 2:4-5 Scripture Focus: Ephesians 2 From the beginning of my studies of the Spirit of the Lord in prophecy, Is aw how we live in opposition to God's Spirit. With our sinful, rebellious nature, our hearts are hard. In fact, the "heart of stone" that Ezekiel speaks about in chapter 36 is not merely stubborn; it is dead, lifeless. But the Lord does what is necessary to save His beloved children. So He gives us new hearts.   A pacemaker, a new valve, or a stent won't do the trick. Our old hearts are too far gone. Even better than a heart transplant, the Lord puts His Spirit in us. Then we find we have new desires. We want to do God's will, obey His rules, abide in Him. Logical arguments or...

  July 26, 2021 at 12:55 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     The Persecuted Church The Persecuted Church "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven."       Matthew 5:11-12 Scripture Focus: Matthew 5 The Spirit brought Ezekiel to the exiles in Chaldea and gave him a mission. He was to share with them the word that God had given for His people, the children of Israel. This was the church of Ezekiel's day. The Spirit had Ezekiel bring a message because God never forgets the church, especially when it is enduring persecution. Christ Himself was persecuted during His earthly ministry.   The apostles suffered at the hands of both Jews and Gentiles. In the West where we are usually comfortable and secure, it can be hard to imagine real persecution. But throughout history and around the world the church has experienced persecution more often...

  July 23, 2021 at 12:01 AM CST Topic: +DEV+     The Spirit Knows Our Thoughts The Spirit Knows Our Thoughts "Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?"     Matthew 9:4   Scripture Focus: Matthew 9 What could be more private than our own thoughts? As soon as we put a pen to paper or type words on a screen, we know that what we've written can be discovered. A secret, once confessed even to our closest friend, can be betrayed. But if we keep to ourselves, never divulging our deepest confidences and thoughts to anyone, all will be safe, right?   God knows all. Nothing can be hidden from Him. He knew exactly what Adam and Eve had done in the garden. The Spirit told Ezekiel what was on the mind of the princes of Israel. Jesus knew the thoughts of the Pharisees. The Lord knows our thoughts, too. What makes all the difference is the fact that He loves us.   We fear those who would expose us, who would use our ...

  LORD OF ALL By Jonathan Cahn Isaiah 46:9-13 & John 16:33 (Message - Him) This letter is framed by the fact that I’m needing to write it beforehand in midsummer.     So I’m writing it before the autumn.     I believe this September and autumn will be a most critical time.     I believe America is in great trouble and now standing at a precipice - which can lead to repentance, departure, the sealing of judgment, and calamity.     And it can include both shakings and calamities that lead many to return to God.     But no matter what happens or not in the spiritual realm or the physical realm - some things will be true and most importantly in the autumn.     The world changes - but God remains the same.     Everything in this world is temporary.     Everything changes.     People come and go, live and die.     Parties come to power and are driven from power.     Kingdoms ...