I wrote this song seven months ago, in the very depths of my cancer and chemo. The presence of the Lord and His grace and mercy had settled on me for that whole time and I sensed a very strong anointing from Jesus. Its at this time I wrote this song to love to my Jesus and called it “The song of love.” I pray that it will bless you mightily and take you deeper into His heart………bro Frank
Archive for the ‘Devotions’ Category
The Song of Love
Posted by appolus on December 5, 2024
Posted in bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, Jesus, revival, spiritual gifts, Spiritual warfare, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, The Psalms, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, worship, worship music | 2 Comments »
The unseen beauty that is our God
Posted by appolus on November 14, 2024
A conversation between Kalli Womack Cook and Frank McEleny, brother and sister in the Lord.
Kalli………….
The Father said, βThere is beauty in the earth.β The child asked, βWhere?β The Father said, βA flower blooms in the desert.β And the child responded, βBut no one sees it.β And the Father said, βYet, because it blooms it makes it true: There is beauty in the earth, And truth is beautiful.β
This morning, the whispered prayer of my heart was, βLord, help me to be like You, in a world that is not.β The whispered prayers of our heart are like flowers blooming in the desert. Beauty unseen. But the beauty of a flower isnβt measured by how many people observe and appreciate its beauty. A flowerβs beauty is the same, whether it blooms unseen in the desert or near a well-traveled sidewalk.
Mankind does not set the standard for beauty. Nor does mankindβs measurable observations of beauty determine its existence or value. Beauty unseen by men, is seen by God. And in a world wholly unlike Christ, it makes this statement true: βThere is still beauty to be found in this world.β Maybe not for long, but for now.
Frank……………
And to finish the thought from Corinthians, when we gaze upon that which is unseen, the eternal weight of His glory falls upon us. We cannot see this “weight,” yet it presses down upon our hearts and oil pours forth. This eternal weight of glory changes the very atmosphere, unseen, but rarified air breathed and glory exhaled.
When Angie and I hike, I search out the hidden flowers, often having her pull back leaves so that I can take the shot and show the world what beforehand, only God could see, and He does. Isn’t it just the same with us? He sees what the world cannot and it brings Him great pleasure.
Kalli………………
I remember a while ago, I watched a nature documentary about sea creatures that lived fathoms below the surface. They were mesmerizingly beautiful and my initial reaction was sadness that such beauty should go to waste, unseen and unappreciated by man. And then the Spirit used that moment to teach me a greater truth about beauty.
Until that moment, I had never realized how much I assumed that beauty existed for mankind. That if man doesnβt observe it to appreciate it, then it is somehow wasted. I learned that beauty doesnβt exist for us. It exists because God is beautiful and He is the One who created all things. Beauty exists because God exists.
Frank………………
Amen Kalli! It’s a magnificent truth that the God of all glory, the creator, takes delight in His creation. Imagine a world where no two flowers are alike, every one, like the snowflakes, different and every one a masterful piece of artistry. That world is the Kingdom of God, that flower, is you. And His delight is to see it blossom.
Posted in bible, Christian, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, God's love, Jesus, praise, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, Uncategorized | Tagged: bible, faith, flowers, God, Jesus | 4 Comments »
In these last days of ours.
Posted by appolus on October 12, 2024
In the solemn days of our times who will search His word, who will search their hearts? Shall we ignore God? Shall we desperately try to keep going and keep doing what we were doing before? If the locusts descended upon you and the whole earth shook should you not look to the heavens and cry out to God to know the error of your ways? The Lord tells us in His word that we should let our tears run down like a river day and night, that we should give ourselves no relief and no rest. We should rise up from our slumbers and cry out in the night. Do we observe any of this brothers and sisters? The Lord also told us in His word that the He has caused the appointed feasts and the Sabbaths to be forgotten, In His burning indignation He has spurned the king and the priest.The Lord has spurned His alter and abandoned His sanctuary.
Lam 2:7 The Lord hath cast off his altar, he hath abhorred his sanctuary, he hath given up into the hand of the enemy the walls of her palaces; they have made a noise in the house of the LORD, as in the day of a solemn feast.
One of our favorite portions of Scripture says βThrough the Lordβs mercies we are not consumed because His compassion fails not. They are new every morning, great is His faithfulness. The Lord is my portion says my soul therefore I hope in Himβ These words were penned in the midst of great affliction. They were the hearts cry of a man drowning in darkness, crying out to the living God. In the midst of those cries he discovers mercy and faithfulness and hope. Another favorite portion of Scripture is βIf my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land (2Ch 7:14) Do you ever wonder why we never quote verse 13, the verse that comes before β if I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people.”
You see, we don’t like that part. We like all the benefits of Calvary but we do not like the cost. What cost you say, Jesus did it all. Yes He did but He directly commands us to take up our own crosses, every day. We are told that we must lift up the Lord Jesus Christ and He alone must be preeminent in the midst of our lives and in the midst of our gathering. We are the Ekklesia, we are the called out ones. And in the midst of those called out ones who gather together, Jesus and He alone is to be lifted up. He directs His people and He does it through the power of the Holy Spirit. And when we do indeed lift up Jesus and magnify Him, then the power of God comes down and rests upon us.
What is the Lord saying in the midst of a world consumed by darkness ? Is He saying βhold on, eventually you can go back to business as usual?β Really? You really think He is saying that? If He is not saying that then what is He saying to us in the days that we find ourselves in? Literally, everything in the world that can be shaken is being shaken.Β If we will not ask ourselves hard questions and search our hearts then the darkness of our hearts prevail and the storms shall continue to come and batter us only with every year the intensity increases, and I am talking about the spiritual state of our world, not the climate, although the judgment that rains down upon us is total. Like a building storm in a vast ocean the waves get higher and higher.
There is mercy to be found for the broken and the contrite. We have trampled His name in the street. Shall He cut of the rain, shall He send the locust? Or shall we return to our roots, our Biblical roots, all the way back to the beginning, the old paths? We have gotten terribly off track. We have so many centuries of tradition and error upon error that we bear little or no resemblance to what we read in 1 Cor 14. The simple organic worship of the called out ones. Ones who desire to be led, wholly led, not by men, not by traditions not by liturgy or by program and deadly routine. God is speaking to us loudly and clearly. The question is, are we listening? If we would indeed humble ourselves and turn from what? Our wicked ways! Who is He talking about here? The people who call themselves by His name. You, and me. Our wicked ways brothers and sisters. We have denied and defied the Word of God in favor of our wicked ways. You cry out βhow are we wicked?β Then I will tell you We hold the covenants of God in our mouths and we declare His statutes. Yes indeed, it is part of our indictment.
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver you, and you shalt glorify me. But to the wicked God says, What business do you have declaring my statutes, or speaking my covenants ? Seeing that you hate instructions and put my words behind you (Psa 50:15-17) You see brothers and sisters He is not speaking to an unbelieving wicked world, He is speaking to those who call themselves by His name (If my people who are called by my name) It is theirs/our wicked ways He is speaking to.
The Lord tells us to call upon Him in the day of trouble. Call upon Him in repentance and contriteness and brokenness. If we do this and pray and seek His face, then He will hear from heaven and forgive our sin. What sin? All of our sin but especially the sin of having demoted Jesus to some kind of mascot or figurehead and raising up the idol of the pulpit in favor of actually hearing from God. We have a million little Moses who willingly ascend that pulpit every Sunday, elevating themselves and taking the place and the role and the authority of Jesus. These men should tremble and repent and we should too for allowing such a travesty to unfold. And in that trembling and in that repentance we shall find a merciful God whose mercies are new every morning.
Posted in Babylon, bible, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Devotions, Jesus, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the persectuted church, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, Uncategorized | Tagged: bible, Christendom, Christianity, end times, faith, God, Jesus, last days, repentance, The remnant | 4 Comments »
Who are the chosen?
Posted by appolus on October 3, 2024
2Pe 1:11Β For so an entrance shall be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Many are called, few are chosen! How mysterious is the words of the Lord? Who are the called? Who are the chosen? Why are the many not ultimately part of the few? What determines who belongs to the few?
In 2 Pet chapter 1 we see that we are called to add to our faith, with all diligence, virtue and knowledge and self control and perseverance and Godliness and brotherly kindness and love. If these things are ours and we abound in such things then we shall, according to the Word, never be barren nor unfruitful in our intimate relationship with Jesus. Each of these aspects of our salvation is our responsibility to nurture. A fire has been kindled in us, the fire of God in our hearts, and that fire must be kept burning. The fuel is obedience, love and grace and mercy and forgiveness. Doing good to those who hate us. Rejoicing in our circumstances. Allowing light to shine forth from darkness. Letting this mind be in us. It is we who determine our mindset.
The fruits of these works in us must be clearly visible to all. “You shall know them by their fruit.” “You shall know them by their love for one another.” Might I add that we shall be known by the Blood of the Lamb in our lives and the testimony of His works in us, clearly seen. This is the light that shines forth from us. This is the flavor of the salt. And also this “they loved not their lives unto death.” In all of these things we overcome. We overcome in Him. We must not be moved by circumstances, in fact circumstances, be they persecution or afflictions or infirmities, must be borne with the dignity of God that dwells within us. We are Royal priests in aΒ royal priesthood a “chosen race,” a holy nation and we must display that royalty for all the world to see for we have been called out of darkness into His marvelous light! We must not suffer as the world suffers. The world understands suffering all too well, what they do not understand is joy in the midst of it all.
They cannot understand why saints would have peace when there should be no peace. And when we walk in this abundance, with all diligence, then there is an entrance that is supplied to us. This not only refers to when we die and go to heaven. There is a heavenly entrance available to Gods saints in the here and the now for the Kingdom already is and it dwells within us. We must testify of this Kingdom, we have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to be a witness to just this, the Kingdom of God, not just spoken of, but demonstrated to a lost and dying world. And for those who follow this path, the path of the cross and the joy that is set before it, belongs the Kingdom. Yes, many are called, but sadly few take the narrow road that leads to Calvary and resurrection life.
Posted in Babylon, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Devotions, Jesus, revival, Spiritual warfare, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, Uncategorized | Tagged: bible, faith, God, Jesus, Kingdom of God | 1 Comment »
Can dry bones speak?
Posted by appolus on September 24, 2024
Can these bones live? A question asked of God to Ezekiel in a great valley which represented all of Israel (Ezek 37) What great valley stretches our before us in our day? Christendom lies motionless in the valley of death, mere bones glistening in the sun. Yet in Ezekiel, these bones speak. There is enough life in them to cry out to God, according to God. “Behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.” Oh to God that Christendom would have enough life left in them to cry out the very same thing.
H.Bonar, in the 19th century made four basic observations as it applied in his day from Ezekiel 37. 1. Our creed may be sound and yet we may not be Christians. 2. Our religion may be externally complete and yet we may not be Christians. 3. Our good works may be numerous and praiseworthy, yet we may not be Christians. 4. Our lives may be exemplary but we may not be Christians. ” By religion I mean everything that pertains to the private or public worship and service of God;our praises, our prayers, our sanctuary services, our family worship. What are all these without the inward breath? What is routine without life? Mechanical religion may be all right for the gods of Greece and Rome, but not for the living and true God…..Your sanctuary attendance may be regular and reverent, but what if there is no breath in it? Will God accept that?”
Men have built up great armies in our day. Vast denominations and smaller little kingdoms. They all shelter under the banner of God. Yet, without the breath of life from God these armies are but dry bones. Some may be better put together than others. Bone may have come to bone. Some may have flesh and sinews, some may even be covered in skin and have taken on the appearance of having life, but without the breath of God they are all equally dead. Men boast about how well put together their “followers,” are yet it is God alone who breathes life. And without this life we are dead and buried in the valley just as sure as the dead are buried in the cemetery.
So, can these dry bones speak? According to God they can. They can cry out. And if they cry out then God has some promises for them. He says that He will bring them out of their graves. He will do that by breathing life into them. He will cause them to rise up, just as surely as Lazarus rose up from his own grave. He will put His Spirit in them and they shall live. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is life itself and without this life, without this breath, we can do nothing. We can surely go about our routines and our dry works and be no different than the dry bones in Ezekiel’s valley. Yet, if we want to rise up in the power of God, a radiant army who marches upon its knees, we must have the breath of God in us. The valley of dry bones that is today’s Christendom desperately needs the breath of life.
Posted in Babylon, Christian, christian blog, Devotions, end times, End Times Eschatology, God's voice, Jesus, religion, religious, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, Uncategorized | Tagged: bible, ezekiel, faith, God, Jesus | 4 Comments »
I have come to send fire on the earth!
Posted by appolus on September 14, 2024
It is true that we have seen man’s best endeavor in the field of evangelism leaving communities untouched. We have seen crowded churches. We have seen many professions. We have seen hundreds, yes and thousands responding to what you speak of here as the altar call. But I want to say this dear people, and I say it without fear of contradiction, that you can have all that without God! Now that may startle you, but I say again, you can have all that on mere human levels. Howard Spring was right when he wrote ” The Kingdom of God is not going to advance by our churches becoming filled by men, but by men in churches becoming filled by God.” And there’s a difference! Crowded churches, deep interest in church activity is possible on mere human levels, leaving the community untouched. (Duncan Campbell)
If your salvation was a “get out of hell,” transaction then it’s highly likely you are not saved. It’s when the wretchedness of our condition, as exposed by the Holy Spirit of conviction, collides with the love and the mercy and the grace as revealed by Calvary, that a man or a woman repents and turns 180 degrees from the sinful lives they led and are saved. Much of the religious industrial complex, having avoided this themselves, cause others to be lost in their ignorance. They are fooled into believing that a “sinners prayer,” has saved their souls from eternal death and that church attendance and sacraments will see them “home,” safe.
Deep conviction of sin was the mark of the great awakenings and revivals of note. It did not come by persuasive words or the clever skills and oratory gifts of men. It advances when the Holy Spirit comes down and lights up the darkness that lies within men. And in the realization of that darkness and the utter wretchedness of our sinful ways, we come face to face with the mercy of God. The wonder of it all will overwhelm a mans wicked heart. He will tear his shirt and fall on his face and cry out to the living God. And in that moment, as opposed to “hands up who does not want to go to hell,” (an altar call that I have actually heard) the eternal consequences of his ways will tear through a mans soul. In his surrender and in his repentance, his very soul will be flooded by grace and the transformation will be astounding.
In most of our churches, the Holy Spirit of conviction, having been driven out a long time ago, has been replaced with persuasive words, emotionalism and manipulation, typically through music. The music team will be told to come up. The people will be told to put their hands up, to stand up, to cry out, to come forward. The support team will be told to come forward, the prayer team will be told to come forward. The truth is brothers and sisters, when the Holy Spirit of conviction comes down, He alone is affecting the hearts and spirits of men. In the soulish realm, men need instructions. When the might and power of men have failed, then its the Spirit that causes men to “rent their shirts,” and cry out “what must we do to be saved.” Echoing through the people will be cries of “is their mercy for me.”
I believe the Holy Spirit of conviction is not done with us. Yet we must travail in prayer. We must be diligent and cry out to the Lord. And we must keep on doing that until we see the breakthrough. Most of all, we must believe that He is, and that that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, for without this kind of faith it is impossible to please Him (Heb 3:6) The keys to this kind of encounter comes through earnest and steadfast prayer. Where is the prayer meeting? Where are the faithful people of God who know that in order to see Him move, He alone must come down. An old poet wrote ” The promise can’t save though the promise is sure. It is the Blood we get under that cleanses us through. It cleanses me now, hallelujah to God! I rest on the promise but I’m under the Blood.”
Can you see what is being said? Men have abandoned the Holy Spirit and now rest upon a text of Scripture as opposed to the one who is the Scripture. Words cannot save us, only Jesus can. He is the Word made flesh. It rests upon Him alone and the power of the Holy Spirit to convict men and to open up their hearts and to rent asunder the veil that clouds their minds from their true state. Mercy and truth must collide. The truth of our state and the mercy that shall cleanse it. And only then shall righteousness and peace kiss. Jesus says in Luke 12 “I have come to send fire on the earth!.” Jesus came to bring fire, a burning all consuming fire that will burn up the wretchedness of men. When the monstrous iniquity of men’s state, collides with the fire of God that rains down upon their hearts through the Holy Spirit, we shall have our revival. Lord send down your fire and burn the hearts of men once again.
Posted in Babylon, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, controlling churches, Counterfeit Jesus, deception, Devotions, faith, False Prophets and Teachers, Jesus, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
You are my resting place.
Posted by appolus on September 4, 2024
I wrote this today from my meditations on the Lord and my great desire to stay in that quiet place with Him. This is where eternal life is, no matter what storms we find ourselves in.
You are my resting place
And deep within these realms of grace
You are so very near
You perfect love casts out all fear
And deep within this very veil
Where there's no fear and no travail
I'll throw the lines and I'll set sail
Into the depths of your heart
You are my resting place
I find in you a warm embrace
Your peace alone is my one desire
That stands with me in the midst of the fire
So when thunder crashes in angry skies
I'll pay no heed nor lift my eyes
To you alone I'll cast my gaze
Beyond the storm and above the waves
You are my resting place
It's there I look upon your face
You're my anchor Lord, within the veil
Your perfect love it never fails
So when lightening fractures the skies above
The heavens shall open and rain down with love
And I'll be soaked in your heavenly dew
As your hand takes hold and carries me through
So Lord you are my resting place
And I'm awash in a sea of grace
And when the storm is gone and there is no trace
I'll sail on, into the depths of your heart.
Posted in Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christian poetry, Devotions, poetry, revival, spiritual poetry, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
When the weakness of man collides with the power of God-Increasing our capacity.
Posted by appolus on August 29, 2024
It is not that men are inherently weak, itβs thatβs God is inherently all powerful. The strongest man that ever lived, whether in body or mind or spirit, finds his proper state before and all powerful God. He falls on his face as one who is dead. He would cry out with the prophet βI am undone. He would not have the capacity to stand in His presence. He would only see his unworthy state. It takes fire from the altar, to alter his state, to enable him to stand, to have the audacity to say βhere I am, send me.β
In Isa 40:28-31 God speaks. He announces Himself as . The everlasting God. 2. Lord. 3. Creator of the ends of the earth. He never faints. He is never weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He is not powerful, He is power itself and the very source of it.It is His to give and He gives it to the weak. He is not mighty, He is might itself and from the abundance of His eternal strength, He gives to those who have no strength. Who are these recipients? Who are these weak people? They are the ones who have come to understand that apart from the Spirit of God, they can do nothing, therefore they wait.
Our understanding of our own weakness kicks down the door of our egoβs and allows the light of God to penetrate the very depths of our beings. Death to βself,β is an emptying process. We must decrease so that there can be an increase. An increase of what? The Lord Himself, in us. By dying to ourselves and emptying our βself,β we are creating capacity. And into that capacity flows the fullness of God. β¦.That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with the saints, what is the width and the length and the depth and height -to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that you may be filled with the fullness of God (Eph 3:14-21)
For those who are filled with the fullness of God, having waited upon Him in our weakness and low opinion of our βself,β shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint. And so the βweak,β and those who have no βmight,β shall fly, shall run and shall walk. In the dying to their βself,β they have increased their capacity and are therefore filled from inexhaustible fountains.
This is the making of the mighty men and women of valor. Warriors for Christ in the battle of the ages. Those who have humbled themselves. The broken and the contrite. The weak and the meek. They all fellowship with God in high and lofty places. To get there they need the wings of eagles. To run the race we need the strength of God. And to walk this narrow walk of faith we must have the power of God
Posted in bible, churches, Devotions, Fresh Fire, inspirational, Jesus, praise, revival, spiritual growth, Spiritual warfare, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, Uncategorized | Tagged: Christendom, Christianity, holy spirit, Jesus, presence of god, spirituality, The remnant, theology | 1 Comment »
The activity of Christendom-and the remnant.
Posted by appolus on August 24, 2024
Isa 5:12Β And the harp, and the strings, the tambourine, and flute, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.Β
The lord expects good fruit from what He has planted “so He expected it to bring forth good grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes.” (Isa 5:2) Wild grapes are sour and bitter while initially looking like good grapes. Wheat and tares also look very similar, but the tares are only good for burning.Β The harp and the strings and the instruments and the wine and the feasts are all the activities of those who call themself by the name of Christ. Christendom can busy itself with many things, with much activity, yet if Christ is not at the beating heart of it, its all just motions.
“Unless the Lord of hosts had left us a very small remnant, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah,” “hear the Word of the Lord you rulers of Sodom, give ear to the Lord to the law of our God, to what is the purpose of your multitude of sacrifices to me? I have had enough burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of the fed cattle……….bring no more futile sacrifices…….when you spread out your hands I will hide my eyes from you, even though you make many prayers, I will not hear you.” (Isa 1:9-15)
There is a tower in the midst of the vineyard and atop that tower the Lord surveys what He has laid down. There must be Jesus at the beating heart of all that we do. He has called us, not to works, but rather to produce much fruit, these are our works. For it is He who broke up the fallow ground. It is He who removed the stones from our heart, it is He who created the wine-press after planting the best vines. “I am the true vine and my Father is the vine-dresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away……………..if anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered and they gather them and throw them into the fire.” (John 15:1-6)
The work of the Lord is to do His will, to bear much fruit, to become like His son Jesus. Unless we abide in Him and He in us, then all of our activities are abominable in His sight. It is hard for our religious minds to get a hold of that, but there it is, lest any man should boast. All of the glory belongs to the Lord, it His majesty and His holiness that we are called to lift up. What are the fruits that delight the Lord? Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, gentleness, self-control. These are produced in the wine-press, in the crucifying of the flesh. He dwells with the broken and contrite. He loves those who endure, those who overcome, those who are willing to suffer for His name sake. All other measurements are by faulty scales.
Posted in bible, christian blog, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, Church history, Daily devotional, Devotions, Jesus, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Discipleship-a call to higher ground.
Posted by appolus on August 21, 2024
True Discipleship all comes down to obedience to the will of the Father,the Word of the Lord,Β and obedience to that still small voice of the Holy Spirit. All three are one and the same.So, as a practical example, if I love my wife more than I love Jesus, I cannot be His disciple. If I refuse to take up my cross daily, I cannot be His disciple. If I do not forsake all, I cannot be His disciple. ( Luke 14:25-33)
Β
No amount of works can change this truth. For these are the infallible words of Jesus. Much of the busyness of Christendom ( and very few of any of the things they busy themselves with are in and of themselves bad, in fact most of them are commendable) are in no way a substitute for true Discipleship.
A few examples of commendable works would be, casting out demons in the name of Jesus. Prophesying in the name of Jesus.Doing many wonders in the name of Jesus. Again, none of these things mean anything outside of true Discipleship.
Β
My list of works come from Matthew 7:21-23. Yet Jesus describes these works by these people as practicing lawlessness. Now why would that be? For while these acts are being carried out, in the name of Jesus, they are being carried out by those who are a law unto themselves, not disciples.
Immediately after, in verse 24 Jesus says “therefore, whoever hears theses sayings of mine ( the instructions on what it means to be a disciple) and does them (obedience and sacrifice) is a wise man who has built his house on the Rock.
Β
Those who do not, will inevitably fall as the storms of life present themselves, for in their lawlessness, they have built their house on sand. In the end, our goal is to hear “well done good and faithful servant,” as opposed to “I never knew you, depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.”
Posted in bible, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, Jesus, revival, spiritual growth, Spiritual warfare, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church, theology | 9 Comments »
What is the glory of God?
Posted by appolus on August 13, 2024
The glory of God!! The light that reflects from God Himself is seen in Christ and magnified in our hearts. It has substance, there is an eternal “weight,” that is quite apart from gravity. This weight is the “train of His robe.” It fills the temple and it fills us to overflowing. It fills our deepest longings, It touches the very depths of our souls. It renders us changed forever. Who can stand in His glory? Who could even begin to fathom/know the depths of His love? Isaiah falls down as dead and his heart is rent. The old saints used to talk about the weight of His glory where their heads naturally bowed low and trembling hands are barely raised in the “atmosphere,” of heaven come down.”Time ceases to exist and for a moment or moments we are entirely “taken up,” to higher ground. And all of this ceases to be even the first sentence to describe Him because they are but human words. He is “sensed,” in our very DNA and whoever encounters this “manifest,” presence is changed forever.
God is high and lifted up. He is glorious in His majesty. In the presence of God there is fulness of joy. In this place there is nothing impossible. Our minds are lit up by His mere presence, the manifest presence of God. To come up and into this place is to dwell with Him. This is where we are changed. This is where the attractions of this world and everything it has to offer loses all of its meaning. One moment in the manifest presence of God does more good than a lifetime of struggling against sin. For in this light we see the true darkness of our souls and we long to never again walk among the shadows. This life is but a shadow and this flesh is the vehicle that must be inhabited until that happy day when the mere moments in His presence is transformed into eternity. If we desire God, if we truly desire to come into His presence, then we shall be as the deer that panteth for the waterbrooks.
Humility and brokenness is the door and the lintel that ushers us into this Holy place. Everything about our walk with the Lord is a contradiction to the world. In order to live we must die. In order to be truly rich, we must become poor to the things of this world. In order to lead we must serve. In order to ascend unto that holy place of His presence we must bow low. It is in the deepest valleys that the saint will discover the greatest mountaintops.We must stoop down low on bended knee in order to ascend that hill and truly see. The greatest danger of the one who brings trials and tribulations and persecutions upon the saints is that they create the perfect environment for the most radical encounters with the Living God that they will ever have had. This is why the saint who genuinely desires a radical encounter with the living God is such a danger to the enemy of our souls. If he pushes too hard against the saint, he pushes Him deeper into the heart of God and that becomes a witness that has a life all of itself. The Spirit of Glory that stands for all time.
Posted in bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, God's love, Jesus, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence | 4 Comments »
The opiate of modern worship.
Posted by appolus on August 8, 2024
1Sa 16:14Β But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him.Β
There are two broad categories of people within Christendom. They are not equally proportioned. One represents the vast majority and the other a remnant, a portion, “the few, as opposed to “the many.” This distressing spirit, spoken of in relation to Saul, is alive and well among the merely religious but who, nonetheless, call themselves after the name of Jesus. They seek the same comfort that Saul sought. And we see unfolding with David and Saul, an ancient battle that has always existed right from the times of Cain and Abel. In the end, one hates the other and determines to destroy the other. For the last 2000 years, the religious have mercilessly hunted down the genuine saint just as Saul hunted down David. David had what Saul did not. It really came down to jealousy.
In the beginning, Saul would get momentary relief when David played upon his harp. Modern day worship gives momentary relief to the merely religious. Its an opiate to them. Remember, the distressing spirit would leave Saul, but his relationship with God still ceased to exist. And then, of course, the distressing spirit would return. Like drunkenness, it lasts for but a short while and when one sobers up, they are distressed once again. The real malady is the malady of the soul. The only true solution is to come to Jesus on His terms. And His terms? Very simple, He requires your whole life. Those who try to save their own lives shall lose them, but those who lose their lives for His sake gain eternal life.
Therefore, feeling good when worshiping is simply temporary if you are not rightly related to Jesus. A pain killer alleviates the pain for a while but the source of the pain remains. It is only when the spirit is truly touched and changed forever that we are relieved of this deep malady of the soul, distress. God has a controversy with those who have not bowed the knee to Jesus and that controversy causes us all kinds of problems. Note that in this Scripture it is God Himself who sends this spirit and it is God alone, through His Son Jesus that can alleviate us from it. Men will try multiple religious acts to circumvent the need to be obedient to God and lay down their lives. Bonar writes……………..
“Men try rites, sacraments, pictures, music, apparel and the varied attractions of ecclesiastical ornament, but these leave the spirit unfilled, and its wounds unhealed. They cannot regenerate, enliven, heal or fill with the Holy Spirit. They may keep up the self satisfaction and delusion of the soul, but that is all. They bring no true peace, nor give rest to the weary, they do not fill they merely hide our emptiness.” Every Sunday in churches throughout the land and across the world there are a myriad of programs and liturgies and music that merely hide the emptiness of those who sit in pews, unchanged week after week.
What would have saved Saul? Obedience to the Word of God. We are called to obey the Lord our God with our whole hearts, holding nothing back. And the evidence of the reality of our genuine obedient relationship with Jesus is a changed life. You can raise your hands in worship every Sunday but without this changed life it is a futile as the worship of Saul. Saul was not worshiping God, for true worshipers obey God and are changed, no Saul was seeking momentary relief from his inner anguish. He just wanted to feel better. We may look upon the raised hands of a crowd and imagine that it denotes something, but the “Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Sam 16:7)
Β
Β
Posted in Babylon, bible, Charismatic, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Church history, churches, Counterfeit Jesus, deception, Devotions, Jesus, praise, praise and worship, religion, religious, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, the state of the church | 6 Comments »
All is well!
Posted by appolus on July 21, 2024
Nothing more is needed
Nothing less will do
The love of God it frees the soul
He died for me and you
The sun, it is no good to me
If I cannot see it's light
So without the knowledge of His love
Then my day is simply night
It's when I'm drawn unto the light
That darkness flees away
Then my hungry soul can now proclaim
My night has turned to day
I know thy name, I've seen thy light
It raised my soul from hell
And now I say with all my might
Of my soul, that all is well!
Posted in Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, Devotions, healing ministry, Jesus, poetry, revival, spiritual poetry, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence | 1 Comment »
Counting the cost
Posted by appolus on July 15, 2024
He who casts his lot in with the people of God must prepare for loss as well as gain. He must count the cost beforehand and be ready to pay it when the day comes for payment. There is the taking up of our cross, the denying of self and forsaking all. He loses……… 1. This world. Whatever may be in it of pleasure, satisfaction, pomp or merrymaking, he loses for he cannot have both worlds. 2. His name. Perhaps he stood high in reputation with the men of this world and had a name for many things, but then loses this, for his name is cast out as evil. 3. His religion. For the likelihood is that he had a sort of religion or religiousness like Saul of Tarsus. All this past religion must be left behind. It will serve him no more. 4. His goods. This may not always be demanded to the full extent, as in days of persecution, but still he must be prepared to part with everything, counting it no more as his own. (Horatius Bonar)
There are few people in this world who count the cost and are ready for such loss as Bonar was talking about. Paul famously says “for whom I have suffered the loss of all things.” (Ph 3:8) He said he counted the loss of all things for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ my Lord. His greatest desire was to be found in Him. Moses famously chose to suffer affliction with the people of God, rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin, the pleasure of all the riches of Egypt, for a season. Esteeming the reproach of Christ, greater riches than all the treasures of the world (Egypt) It was faith that caused him to turn his back on the world (Heb 11-24-28)
How this flies in the face of what passes for much of modern Christianity. Their “faith,” causes them not to turn their backs on the world, but rather to pursue the pleasure of all the riches of this world. You can do that or be found in Christ but you cannot have both. One must chose between this world and the Kingdom of God. Broad is the path that most choose (speaking of Christendom here) and narrow is the path of the few. God has and always has had His remnant. You will know them by the cross on their back. You will know them by their joy in the depths of affliction. They will be known by their love for one another. There passion will be the one in whom they are found. Out of the abundance of their hearts their mouths will speak, and it wont be about the things of this world it will be about Jesus.
If your faith causes you to pursue the things of this world rather than the things of God, you are probably in some version of the word of faith movement. If you find yourself in such a place, now is the time to flee from its false premise of “faith,’ and run to the true faith in Christ alone and in His word. True faith (trust) counts the cost. True faith causes one to pick up his cross. True faith counts all loss as fleeting and but forΒ moment in the light of eternity. Counterfeit faith will never teach you to take up your cross. It will always point you in the direction of the treasures of this world. It will commend you to live your best life now. And if this is your path, then you should indeed eat and drink and be merry, for tomorrow you die, and not just the death of this world but rather an eternal death. Choose this day whom you will serve.
Posted in bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, Jesus, revival, Spiritual warfare, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, the remnant, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
To crucify rather than to elevate.
Posted by appolus on July 2, 2024
We are warned in the Scriptures that the times would come when men and women will not put up with sound doctrine, instead, in order to suit their own desires, they will gather around themselves a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears desire to hear. They will turn away from the truth. (2 Tim 4:2-5) We are warned that there are whole groups of “teachers,” ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach, and that for the sake of dishonest gain ( Titus 1:11)
Β
We are instructed by Paul, therefore by God, to watch and remember. Remember what? Watch for what? Remember that for three years he did not cease to warn us, night and day….with tears. Warn of us what? What would disturb the Apostle so greatly that it was his daily warning for years? Savage wolves that will (not might) come in among you and scatter the flock. Also, from among our own ranks, men would rise up and draw away disciples for themselves. False representatives of Jesus, stealing His preeminence and all for the sake of “dishonest gain.” Their gods would be money and reputations, power and prestige (Acts 20:28-31)
Β
Part of the problem is that these hirelings, these wolves in sheep clothing, preach to willing dupes. The people, for their part, have embraced a system not found in the Scriptures. They wanted a king and they got a king.This is not the first time God has been rejected in favor of a king. Think about King Saul or even Moses, where the people would rather have Moses talk to God then to them, as opposed to them talking to God themselves. Jesus was rejected for a man of the people, Barabbas then the crowd cried out that they have to king but Caesar.
Β
The very heart of man always wants an intermediary rather than deal directly with God through Jesus. A priest, a prophet, a minister, a senior pastor. Each of those positions not only come with finances but come with power and authority and position. They love to pray publicly to be seen, they love the best seat at the table , they want men to call them teachers, or worse, fathers.All of this appeals to the Lucifer in them, to the Diotrophes in them, to that part of the soul that wants, desires, craves for, the preeminence. It’s truly the original sin, the sin that caused Lucifer to fall, and it beats at the heart of every human in their flesh. It should never be elevated, it should be crucified.
Posted in bible, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, consequences of sin, Daily devotional, deception, Devotions, end times, false teachers, Jesus, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, the remnant, the state of the church, Uncategorized | 3 Comments »
Cancer update-Complete remission-The Lord has delivered me!
Posted by appolus on June 25, 2024
Posted in cancer, Christian, christian blog, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, God's love, Jesus, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, the remnant | 13 Comments »
Jesus
Posted by appolus on June 21, 2024
His name is like honey on my lips, His presence , the source of my life and my joy and my peace. Where could I go but to the Lord? He is the light of my life, the breath in my lungs, the very reason that I exist. His majesty and His glory tower over me.His love, as vast as the endless sea. His faithfulness as endless as eternity. In Him I have been gloriously set free. Oh for a thousand years to sing of the reason for my joy. It is complete in Jesus. Teach me Father how to glorify that name which is above all names. The name given, that name honored, that name high and lifted up, that name which fills the temple, which fills all of heavens chambers. It fills the nigh skies and the vast seas, it fills my endless soul and brings me to my knees. Jesus, Jesus, walk with me and by the power of your Holy Spirit let all the world see that when they see you, they have seen the Father and the glory and the majesty.
Posted in bible, Christian, christian blog, Daily devotional, Devotions, God's love, Jesus, poetry, revival, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the remnant | 2 Comments »
The strength that takes me through.
Posted by appolus on June 19, 2024
In every storm, the saint has an anchor and His name is Jesus. We are out there in the roiling seas and He is the forerunner. He goes before us into the harbor and draws us in. In ancient times when the sea was too stormy to enter the harbor and giant waves would crash against the harbor walls and the ships would drag their anchors and be in danger of overturning and being swamped, they would lower a skiff, a forerunner. The anchor would be placed on the small boat and the boat would make its way into the harbor and the anchor would be dropped in calmer waters ,then the boat would be pulled into the harbor.
Jesus is our forerunner, Jesus is our anchor and He has went before us and prepared a place for us. A place of peace and stillness, His very presence speaks to the storms, be still! When you flee to Jesus He shall be our Rock, our strong high tower. Come to Me, He says, and I will give your weary souls rest. God and His Word are immutable, that is to say unchanging over time, any time, eternity even. God is unchanging and the Words that He speaks are unchanging. He never lies and this immutability, the Word says, is so that we “might have strong consolation who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” There it is, its right there, take a hold of it, grab onto to it, never let it go, let it take you into the still calm harbor of His presence so that you might survive the storm. Take hold of this brothers and sisters, and you shall not drown.
I wrote this poem yesterday after the report that the cancer in my colon was gone. It reflects upon the storm my family and I have navigated in the last several months with a diagnosis of stage 4 cancer. It was not my first storm and I am sure it will not be my last but the one ever present help has been Jesus. I have lived as a Christian long enough to know that Jesus is the anchor of my soul. I still have a pet scan next week to determine if the cancer is still in the rest of my body, but the same God who rules and reigns this week, shall be ruling and reigning next week and I will be careful to give Him all the honor and all the praise. Peace, in the midst of the storm, is among the most valuable treasures from the vaults of heaven. If you are in the midst of a storm today, come to Jesus and He will give you peace and rest for your weary soul.
The strength that takes me through.
The anchor of my soul
When I was on my knees
Is the harbor of my life
Amidst the stormy seas
You are my strong high-tower
You're the one I run into
When I'm weak you are the power
The strength that takes me through
The waters shall not overwhelm
The fires shall not consume
When Christ my Lord is at the helm
When His presence fills the room
You were there from the very start
You are there when I'm all alone
You dwell in the very depths of my heart
You are there upon your throne
So I'll praise you lord forevermore
You're my life, my breath, my all
When you knock I'll open up the door
I will answer when I hear you call.
Posted in battle against cancer, bible, cancer, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, healing, Jesus, poetry, praise, revival, spiritual growth, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
A cancer update-the peace of God.
Posted by appolus on June 17, 2024
Posted in bible, cancer, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, Daily devotional, Devotions, faith, God's love, healing, healing ministry, hope, Jesus, revival, spiritual gifts, spiritual growth, Spiritual warfare, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, The presence of God, The Psalms, the remnant | 7 Comments »
The inevitable fall of every movement- the curse of the second generation.
Posted by appolus on June 10, 2024
The more I study church history the more I see aΒ recurring problem in every age. There is a cycle of revolution that returns us to the old paths and then within a generation or less, that which revolted against the traditions of men return to what they had left behind. The second generation worships the works of their fathers and fall into traditionalism. Even as early as 85ad we had Diotrephes, arguably the first senior pastor, building his own kingdom and rejecting the preeminence of Jesus. Now, there is no doubt that he would never have said that out loud or ever actually acknowledged that to himself, but John calls him on it.
Β And less than 10 years later comes the book of Revelation with its dire warning to the “churches.” So, this usurping of the preeminence of Jesus in our services or order of service or liturgy or call it what you like lies at the heart of the downfall of Christendom ( not the Church, rather the system of the churches) in the west and beyond. Add the clergy/laity system and the downfall was always inevitable even if not overt.
The solution is the same as it has always been over the last 2000 years, getting back to the Word and rejecting everything that is not found within the Word. For me, it starts with 1 Cor 12 and 14. If we strove for anything that looks like that, we would be on our way to recovery/revival/reformation/revolution, call it what you may, but in it’s essence it would simply be a return to our roots and our foundation, the Lord Jesus Himself and Him high and lifted up.
And unless we stay there, within the confines of the Word of God, the coming movement would barely last a generation. Where are the men and woman who will stand and challenge those within the church systems? In the Hebridean revival the leaders asked of themselves “are my hands clean, is my heart pure?”Β They looked first to themselves. What does it even mean now to your average church to desire to not lift up their souls unto vanity? Rather, to desire to ascend that hill of the Lord and stand in His holy place?
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:(Isa 44:3) What if we are so blind to our state that we cannot see the dry ground nor sense our state? Ask the average non denomination senior pastor how “his church,” is doing and almost to a man he will say “we are doing great.” Can the man who refuses to acknowledge his sickness be made whole? How can the Holy Spirit be poured out upon his seed and his offspring be blessed?
And since the gifts of the Holy Spirit have been almost entirely done away with in every church service, how will they be called back from their sin? Even although the prophets have been banished and usurped by “senior pastors,” who perhaps follow in the traditions of Diotrephes, they still have the Word of God. The first few chapters of Revelation still cry out to the churches. The warnings are still the same. And so in the end they shall be without excuse, for the Word never changes. So, if the Lord tarries, God bless the next generation of those who rebel against the traditions of their fathers which nullify the word of God, but beware when you stand, stay tightly within the confines of the Word or you shall fall in your second generation.Β
Β
Β
Posted in Babylon, bible, Christian, christian blog, christian living, Christianity, churches, consequences of sin, controlling churches, Counterfeit Jesus, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, religion, revival, Spiritual warfare, testimony, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the persectuted church, the remnant, The State of the Chuch and Manifest presence | 2 Comments »
A Call To The Remnant 