This Present Darkness…

Has been with us for such a long time already. Today’s message comes to us from Psalms 12. Psalm 12 gives us a picture of what happens when, as is told us in verse 8, what is vile is honored among the children of man. When I read about the lies and flattering lips, I think about some of the ways we’re lured into sin. In terms of generational curses, and dysfunction, I think about having learned all the wrong ways. I think about denial, living behind facades, etc. We live this way when we fear, doubt, or feel dejected. Those things are meant to put us beneath the devil’s feet. He is to be beneath our feet. I spoke about poverty of spirit in a previous message. Generational curses and dysfunction and denial plunder our spirit. We are robbed of dignity, sense of worth, or value, our confidence, self-respect, the power to choose, and power to BE ourselves. The word power here, denotes strength and capability. Pure words are true, they show the way, and they infuse us and empower us with life.

The powers, principalities, and hosts of spiritual wickedness , if you can picture it, kind of circle humankind, like a shark circles its prey. They’re always ready to snatch their next victim. When what is vile is exalted among the children of man, we open doors to bondage and destruction of life/lives. Some of these things are demon worship, witchcraft, adultery, illicit sex, hedonism, pornography, hatred and violence, racism, sexism, etc. These things make everyone involved vulnerable to the bondage and destruction, or the fallout from them.

Check back tomorrow for the second part of the message on this Psalm. I found an interesting connection between verse 6 and proverbs 6, that brings an awesome revelation and lesson.

In this present darkness, and in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. who fought to bring light into it, I offer this song. Thank you, Jason Upton. This is so beautiful; and remember, we’re not alone either.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

You Are Hotly Pursued

Today’s message comes to us from Psalms and Proverbs 7. The first part of Psalm 7, 7:1-9 is a prayerful song sung by King David regarding his enemies. Verses 1&2 give a very clear picture of how hotly you are pursued by the hosts of spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places. “Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, or they will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.” (1Peter 5:8) tells us: “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” When you watch lions hunting, you’ll see they go into hot pursuit of their prey; they don’t stroll after it. Never take your souls safety for granted. Satan wants to destroy it.

What’s really awesome in this psalm is verse 8: “The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity.” You know that saying, “and idle mind is the devil’s playground?” Yeah, ever find yourself battling with the same thoughts over and over? My battle with that when I quit smoking comes to mind. Even long after I’d given cigarettes up, Satan was lurking and waiting to lure me back there. I had an argument with my husband one day, and the first thing that came to my mind was: “I should just start smoking again; that will show them!” The next thing that came to mind was, “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard!” I knew that my smoking would hurt me; not anyone else. (See how the Truth rushed in there?) The Holy Spirit nipped that one in the bud! When I think of this vindication, I think about catching my children doing right. Praise is doubly as important as reproof. Here’s why: Verse 9-“Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and mind.” The more we celebrate our doing right, the stronger the desire to do right becomes, and the less power the lure of evil, the wicked, and sin has over us. *This works on adults who are being renewed in the knowledge of God, as well.

Proverbs 7 Speaks of the adulteress, but when in spiritual context, it is the lure of sin and sinners. This includes false religion, idolatry, peer pressure, etc.) When we make our children strong against these in the LORD/Lord and His Word, they’re better able to resist and walk away. (2Cor. 10:5) tells us: “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” The more truth you have within you, the stronger you are to stand against the wiles of the devil; and against deception.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu

If He Doesn’t, We Don’t Either

Today’s message comes from Psalm 5, and from Proverbs 5. Psalm 5 begins with a prayer, actually. “In the morning, you hear my voice; I prepare a sacrifice for you, and watch,” the psalmist says. Beginning your day with God is absolutely revolutionizing to your life! I can tell you that from personal experience. Try it for one month, and make sure you note the changes you begin to experience, in your attitudes, your strength, patience, etc.

Psalm 5:4 -6 tells us: “For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.” If God doesn’t delight in it, we shouldn’t either. And, if you think about it, and are honest with yourself, none of us does delight in wickedness when we’re on the receiving end; do we? Sin, as I’ve said before, comes in three ways: 1. Sin others commit against us. 2. Sin we commit. 3. Sin fallout-which is the way the sin in the world affects us and our lives. But, we have a hope in Christ Jesus. Psalm 5:7-8 say to us, “I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, will enter your house…” This is a powerful revelation about the power of love and faithfulness. When we exercise love faithfully in our dealings, and are faithful to the Word of God; to His ways, we surround ourselves, and those we deal with, with protection against the sin and wickedness. The last two verses of the psalm are awesome! “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield.” There is jubilation and rejoicing over being loved. When we walk out our new life with the LORD/Lord, as we walk it out, there is, truly, less and less struggle, and more and more joy and peace.

Proverbs 5 is, again, a father’s admonition to his sons. This warns about “the forbidden woman.” if you think in terms of standards and boundaries, this woman represents false teaching, cults, and ways and practices that are contrary to God’s Word and His Ways. This includes some of those peers who consider themselves “cool,” and those friends who really aren’t your friends in the end. Proverbs 5:5-6 tell us what’s actually going on with them: “Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know it.” The rest of the proverb tells us there are consequences to sin and iniquity. Iniquity is your attitude toward sin-be it your own, or someone else’s. Verse 22 tells us: “The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin.” Lack of discipline is actually a destroyer. It causes us to struggle needlessly, and sometimes even destroys dreams and goals. That’s a powerful revelation to parents about letting our children just run amok. Lack of discipline makes your child ignorant, foolish, powerless, and easy prey for evil. It makes us easy prey for the devil.

Love you from Cafe du Mondieu