I watched him for a while from the back of the room. His head tilted sideways in slumber. I wasn't sure if I was seeing in the spirit or if he was actually sleeping. I had trouble believing he was sleeping. It was a rather tense meeting of church members and leaders. The discourse bordered on unpleasant at times and since he was a leader that had a vested interest in the proceedings, I assumed that I was actually seeing in the spirit. God allowed me to see what really was going on.
There was a group in that meeting that had already chosen to disconnect from God. They heard the call of the woman and chose to heed her, turning aside from God in order to fulfill their own soulish desires. This leader was part of the group. Instead of embracing the radical call of discipleship that leads through the cross, the women offered an easier way. She seductively spoke of worth and value in a way that resonated with the innate desire for significance. The desires of the heart were available without the great cost demanded by God.
Now...there was a slight cost in heeding the woman as well. In order to obtain what the woman offered, there was a slight caveat. One must disconnect from God in order to receive her benefits. On the other hand, she does offer an appearance of godliness, a godliness so fashioned after the real thing that most people will never notice the differance. Scripture refers to those who slumber in relation to their connection with God. They may possess the appearance of godliness but their spiritual sensitivities have been completely dulled by their love affair with a prostitute - they sleep, completely unaware of God and His ways.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
love...and the woman
When God created Adam and Eve, scripture tells us that they were "naked and not ashamed". This speaks of total intimacy - transparency of heart, soul, and body. Perhaps another word to describe this intimacy would be love. From this basis of love, healthy sexuality results. It was the way God intended it to be - intimacy - spiritual, emotional, and physical love that led to life and fruitfulness.
The prostitute offers sexuality, a quick gratification of immediate desires. However, emotional and spiritual intimacy are missing from the equation. It is not love, rather it is a cheap substitute of God's plan. In my interaction with men who have ceased battling sexual temptations and given themselves over to the sin, I have noticed a common theme. To a man, they have become foolish, unable to discern wisely about the issues of life. They become consumed by the woman and what she can do for them.
And so it is with those who choose the bed of the woman spoken of in the book of Revelation. While there may be activities that would seem to indicate that love exists, the reality of the situation is that the genuine love for people is non-existant. Jesus said that because of lawlessness, the love of many would grow could. Lawlessness is simply anything that is done outside of God's parameters.
When we heed the subtle whispers of woman and choose her bed, we depart from the ways of God - lawlessness. As such, we become loveless. We adopt the characteristics of the woman instead of having the mind of Christ. Our "love" becomes cold toward those whom Christ loves; our focus becomes the woman and the gratification she offers.
The prostitute offers sexuality, a quick gratification of immediate desires. However, emotional and spiritual intimacy are missing from the equation. It is not love, rather it is a cheap substitute of God's plan. In my interaction with men who have ceased battling sexual temptations and given themselves over to the sin, I have noticed a common theme. To a man, they have become foolish, unable to discern wisely about the issues of life. They become consumed by the woman and what she can do for them.
And so it is with those who choose the bed of the woman spoken of in the book of Revelation. While there may be activities that would seem to indicate that love exists, the reality of the situation is that the genuine love for people is non-existant. Jesus said that because of lawlessness, the love of many would grow could. Lawlessness is simply anything that is done outside of God's parameters.
When we heed the subtle whispers of woman and choose her bed, we depart from the ways of God - lawlessness. As such, we become loveless. We adopt the characteristics of the woman instead of having the mind of Christ. Our "love" becomes cold toward those whom Christ loves; our focus becomes the woman and the gratification she offers.
Monday, July 11, 2011
the woman
I’ve been thinking a lot about the woman lately. She is no ordinary hooker with cheap perfume and skimpy clothes standing on a street corner peddling her assets. No – she is different, more respectable, with more class. Her clientele tend to be more upscale – politicians, businessmen, and church leaders. For many of her clients, being in bed with her elicits no shame; rather, they view their relationship with her as an honor.
The book of Revelation, speaks of the woman; her wealth, her extravagant lifestyle as well as of her arrogance and her anger toward those who refuse to be seduced by her charms. She especially despises the saints; those who follow Jesus. In fact through the years she has been responsible for the death of the martyrs of Jesus. On the other hand, to those who yield to her enchantment, she rewards with the desires of their soul. She bestows wealth, honor, and power upon those who will become one with her.
There is a slight caveat to her “blessings”. Just like any prostitute she expects something in return for her services. While she promises to and is willing to satisfy any desire one may have, she does not perform her services because she loves her clientele. No – her driving motivation is more sinister – the control of those whom she seduces. While they may receive the immediate benefit they desire, the long-term result is one of bondage. And like any other prostitute, she can offer no more than a cheap substitute of the real thing. Her “intimacy” never results in the giving of life.
I have seen people recognize the seductiveness of her charms and choose to distance themselves from her. She doesn’t become immediately angry; she simply waits. She knows that for those who have tasted of her offerings and have chosen to walk away, the time comes when they won’t know how to act without her. At that moment she begins to seductively whisper to their soul. She dresses a bit differently, wears a new fragrance designed to speak to the specific desires of the human soul. And so they return to her bed. As they once again give themselves to her seductions, she whispers welcoming words that assuage the longing of their soul.
Those who recognize that she is nothing more than a cheap disease-laden whore, promising what only God can truly give, become the target of her wrath. She quickly enlists her clientele to do her dirty work, using them to destroy the ones who refuse to succumb to her. She will utilize whatever means needed to wreak havoc in the lives of those who resist her. Her clientele that do her bidding in the attempt to destroy the followers of Jesus will be especially rewarded by her.
However, if we read Revelation, we discover that her destruction will happen. It will be rapid and severe. Her clientele will be left with nothing; only a deep sense of mourning and loss. On that day, their allegiance to someone other than the Creator will be evident for all to see.
The book of Revelation, speaks of the woman; her wealth, her extravagant lifestyle as well as of her arrogance and her anger toward those who refuse to be seduced by her charms. She especially despises the saints; those who follow Jesus. In fact through the years she has been responsible for the death of the martyrs of Jesus. On the other hand, to those who yield to her enchantment, she rewards with the desires of their soul. She bestows wealth, honor, and power upon those who will become one with her.
There is a slight caveat to her “blessings”. Just like any prostitute she expects something in return for her services. While she promises to and is willing to satisfy any desire one may have, she does not perform her services because she loves her clientele. No – her driving motivation is more sinister – the control of those whom she seduces. While they may receive the immediate benefit they desire, the long-term result is one of bondage. And like any other prostitute, she can offer no more than a cheap substitute of the real thing. Her “intimacy” never results in the giving of life.
I have seen people recognize the seductiveness of her charms and choose to distance themselves from her. She doesn’t become immediately angry; she simply waits. She knows that for those who have tasted of her offerings and have chosen to walk away, the time comes when they won’t know how to act without her. At that moment she begins to seductively whisper to their soul. She dresses a bit differently, wears a new fragrance designed to speak to the specific desires of the human soul. And so they return to her bed. As they once again give themselves to her seductions, she whispers welcoming words that assuage the longing of their soul.
Those who recognize that she is nothing more than a cheap disease-laden whore, promising what only God can truly give, become the target of her wrath. She quickly enlists her clientele to do her dirty work, using them to destroy the ones who refuse to succumb to her. She will utilize whatever means needed to wreak havoc in the lives of those who resist her. Her clientele that do her bidding in the attempt to destroy the followers of Jesus will be especially rewarded by her.
However, if we read Revelation, we discover that her destruction will happen. It will be rapid and severe. Her clientele will be left with nothing; only a deep sense of mourning and loss. On that day, their allegiance to someone other than the Creator will be evident for all to see.
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