The Glory Has Departed, Written by Mel

The Glory Has Departed, Written by my husband, Mel

1 John 3:3-10 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.  And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.  Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.  He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.  Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. 10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.

Approximately seven years ago, the Lord spoke to me in an audible voice, he said, “Ichabod!  It bears worth repeating, Ichabod!” I asked the Lord what he meant, and he replied, “The churches are dead.” I said, “Surely you have a few that are not dead?” and he replied, “I have a few.” The word Ichabod means, the glory has departed. 1 Samuel 4:21 Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel!” because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. And she said, “The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.”  

God’s Word teaches that before the coming of the Lord there will be a great falling away (apostasy).  The modern church will not endure sound doctrine because they desire to be men pleasers, rather than God pleasers. Therefore, God has given them over to believe the lie, because they desire darkness rather than light. The apostasy is the sinful bondages within the lives of believers, as well as the lukewarm grace message that empowers their sin. I have had many dreams, visions, as well as, words concerning sin in the life of believers, and this is God’s number one concern. I understand that many people don’t like my teachings on holiness, but this issue is more important to God than end time preparation or anything else.

A number of years ago, the Lord showed me the church as an unfaithful bride, and he said, “divorce”. The Lord made it very clear that sinful bondages that are not repented of, will lead to spiritual death (divorce). Last week, the Lord spoke to me in an audible voice and said, “I am warning my children to get out!” This word was followed by a dream. I dreamed that I was in a convenience store and that nothing worked right, the gas pumps, food machines, as well as, everything else within the store was malfunctioning. I then noticed that the lid was off the drink machine, and it was almost empty, there were also three, half eaten bags of Fritos in the drink. I said, “This is nasty,” I then removed the drink machine and put it in the trash outdoors. Then an older man walked into the store, and he said that nothing worked right. The angel of the Lord then answered him and said, “The authorities are on their way.” God is warning his children to come out of the apostate churches and into a real relationship with him. The Lord refers to the harlot church system of the end times as Babylon. Babylon is a term that refers to wickedness. Rev 18:4-5 And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.   The convenience store in my dream was symbolic of the churches who are serving up spiritual junk food. The almost empty drink machine, with three half eaten, bags of Fritos in it, is the grace doctrine taught by most churches. The gas pumps that do not work, are symbolic of an unholy spirit, who has replaced God’s Holy Spirit in most churches.

There is grace for sins that have been repented of, but grace is not automatic. God’s Word states, that we must be born again, in order to be saved. It is true, that God blots out all of our sins, when we truly repent and turn from them. But, we must become a new creation in Christ, by allowing God’s Holy Spirit to do his perfect work of sanctification (set us apart from the sinful world) in us. No one is perfect by any means, but we are called to pursue righteousness, as well as to live holy lives. Without holiness, no man shall see the Father. 

The many lies of Satan being taught today are, that Christ sees us through his blood, therefore making repentance obsolete, it is his righteousness alone, and not our own, we are all filthy sinners saved by grace, even after conversion. These teachings are polar opposite to what the Bible teaches. In a recent dream, I was visiting a church, and everyone was covered in dirt, as well as wearing soiled garments. I pointed my finger at the congregation and said, “Woe to you Babylon! You shut people out of the kingdom of Heaven!” The shepherds are failing to teach their flocks to get sin out of their lives and the result is that they are shutting people out of the kingdom of Heaven.

Other false doctrines are the unconditional eternal security doctrine, prosperity gospel, Calvinism, manifest sons, etc. The Lord has also given me visions of Christians wearing tattered clothes, covered with spots and wrinkles. God’s Word is clear, that the Lord is returning for a bride, without spot, or wrinkle. I believe that the Great tribulation, will not only be a time of judgment upon the unsaved, but also a time of purification for true believers. Persecution and hardship will cause people to get off the fence, and truly surrender every area of their lives to the Lord. The tribulation will produce a church clothed in garments of holiness.

There are also many counterfeit revivals going on, where God’s Holy Spirit has been replaced by demonic manifestations. People are laughing uncontrollably, as well as making all different animal sounds. They are hissing like snakes, mooing like cows, roaring like lions, howling like wolves, as well as barking like dogs. In a congregation in Boston, the pastor crawled on his hands and knees like a dog, barking, and his wife led him around on a leash fastened to a dog collar around his neck. The wife then said, “Where he leads I will follow!” In some, so-called Christian rock concerts, many of the young people are going into trances, where they display tribal dancing. These are but a few of the demonic manifestations going on worldwide. The late pastor David Wilkerson, warned the church about this invasion of demonic activity, as well as the need to return to holiness preaching, but most will not listen.  It is time for the church to start using discernment and realize that something has gone wrong. God is withdrawing his Spirit from many churches, because they will not endure sound doctrine. If the churches will return to teaching holiness once again, then maybe God’s Spirit will return!! Here is a link to my posting on the counterfeit revivals. There are also links to videos, which show the demonic manifestations occurring within these false revivals. http://swordofthespirit77.blogspot.com/2015/10/dream-of-spirit-of-false-prophet.html

 1 Timothy 4:4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron

Matt 7: 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

The Power of Forgiveness (Written by Mel)

The Power of Forgiveness (Written by my husband, Mel)

Relationships with family, friends, co-workers, or schoolmates can quite often be difficult. Daily, we interact with many different personality types and that will sometimes lead to conflicts. In this life, you don’t have to look for trouble, for trouble to find you, but God’s Word teaches us how to respond to others.  Forgiving others their trespasses, is sometimes a very hard thing to do. The Lord is still working on me in this area, so this lesson is as much for me, as others. The golden law is, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” God’s Word teaches us, that if we forgive others their trespasses against us, the Lord will also forgive us our trespasses (Matt 6:14). Also, if we show mercy to others, then the Lord will show mercy to us. God’s Word is clear, that the Lord will judge each of us, based on how we treat our fellow man.

Matt 5:22-24, says that if we are angry with our brother without a cause we shall be in danger of the judgment, if we call him Raca (dumb head, or idiot), we shall be in danger of the council, and if we call him a fool, we shall be in danger of hell fire. God expects his children to pursue peace with all men, and name calling, which results from anger, is forbidden with God. God’s Word also says, that it is possible to be angry and not sin, but we are not to let the sun go down upon our wrath. In other words, we are to make peace, as soon as possible with the trespasser. If they refuse to make peace, we are to still forgive them in our heart before the day is ended. Bitterness dries up the bones according to God’s Word. It is also a medical fact, that people who are angry and bitter a lot, are candidates for cancer, heart attacks, strokes, as well as other diseases. The root of bitterness will lead to hate, which is the same, as the sin of murder according to Christ. In verses 23 and 24, Christ said, that when you bring your gift to the alter, and then remember that your brother has something against you, go and be reconciled with your brother then come and offer your gift. This passage shows that grudges against others, will hurt your relationship with the Lord, as well as cut you off from his blessings. Quiet often, not forgiving others will also block a person from healings, as well as, hinder their prayers from being answered.

Matt 18:21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. In this passage, Christ was telling Peter that we are to forgive our brothers sins against us, countless times. We are to have the mind of Christ, and follow in his footsteps. When Christ died upon the cross, to make atonement  for our sins, he wiped out all of our sins that we have repented of. As he was dying upon the cross, Christ said, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Christ was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, despised and rejected by men, according to scripture. Even though he was taunted, spit upon, as well as rejected by his generation, he still was willing to forgive the sins of all who would come to him, to be born again. If we belong to Christ, we should have the same compassion as he did, for our fellow mankind. Since Christ gives us grace, we should also extend grace to our fellow man, who is also created in God’s image.

Matt 18:23-35, Is the parable of the unforgiving servant. Christ said, that the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who had a servant who owed him ten thousand talents. The servant pleaded with the king to have mercy on him, and not to sell him and his family. The king chose to have mercy upon this servant, and to release him, as well as forgive his debt. This servant then went to one of his fellow servants who owed him money, and grabbed him by the throat, and demanded to be paid in full. This servant fell at his feet and begged him to have patience, but he refused to have mercy upon this servant. Instead, he had his fellow servant thrown in jail, until he could be paid in full. Then the king had this wicked servant delivered to the tortures because he refused to have compassion upon his fellow servant. Verse 35 states, “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” The greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God, as well as love our neighbor as our self. If we have this Christ like love for one another, then we fulfill the law and the prophets.

 I ask the Lord continually, to help me to look beyond the faults of others and see the need. There are many cruel and malicious people in the world, and there is a reason why they are that way. Many people are suffering in their bodies from cancer, pain, sickness, mental illness etc. Others, have experienced the deaths of loved ones, divorce, or unemployment . Quite often people take out their pain upon others. If we keep this in mind when encountering malicious people, then we can have compassion for them, instead of contempt. Christ tells us to pray for those who persecute or mistreat us. If you will pray for those who are offensive to you, then the Lord will open your eyes to their need. If a person is struggling with feelings of anger towards another, it is best to not talk about the situation. The more we talk about the person who made us angry, the more likely we are to add fuel to the flame. Silence is golden if you need to be released from anger. To sum this up, we need to to forgive others, in the same way that Christ has forgiven us.               

Matt 6:12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors.

Matt 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matt 5:22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.  23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,  24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant

Matt 18:21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.  23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.  25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’  27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt. 28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’  29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’  30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’  34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him. 35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

The Power of the Tongue (Written by Mel)

The Power of the Tongue (Written by my husband, Mel)

James 3:1-12 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?  12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

The tongue of man is capable of great evil, as well as of great kindness. Verse two, says that we all stumble in many things, and if anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. At times, I can be outspoken, and I often remind myself of this teaching of James. The control of the tongue is a very difficult thing to be mastered. James compares the small tongue who boasts of great things, with bits put into horses mouths, as well as a rudder on ships, in order to show how the tongue steers the direction of the body. It is very true, that relationships are both formed, as well as, destroyed by our words. As ambassadors for Christ in this fallen world, it is important for us to reflect his light to others. You may be the only lifeline to Heaven that someone has in their life, and your words may lead them to Christ.

James also compares the tongue to a little fire capable of starting a forest fire, as well as an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. I have met many people that consider Christians to be offensive, because of words they spoke, that reflected vanity, arrogance, or cynicism. I have also known people who claimed to know Christ, but used all forms of swearing, as well as profanity, and that will most certainly push people away from Christ. God’s Word speaks against filthy talk, course jesting, and swearing. James states that bitter water cannot come from the same spring that produces fresh water. God’s Word also states that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Even in jesting, many people reveal how they really feel about someone, and have damaged relationships.

The Lord gave me a dream recently, about those who claim to know Christ, but swear like a sailor. I dreamed that I was standing in an office building lobby, and there were around a dozen elevators that led to Heaven, but only two were in use. There was a man standing there that was using God’s name in vain, as well as, cussing like a sailor. He walked away and then was replaced by a lady, who represented the modern church. I told the lady, that if this guy does not repent of his swearing he will go to hell. She said, that this man was saved, and his salvation was secure, but his swearing would cut him off from the Holy Spirit. I told the lady that the grace message that is being taught by most churches, is way out of bounds, and does not line up with the Word of God. I also told her, that holiness preaching has been replaced, by a lukewarm message. As I walked away from her, she exclaimed in a loud voice, “ Thank you Lord for your grace!” and she repeated herself several times. I then was walking through the lobby in a large crowd of people, who were following a famous evangelist, who has been preaching the eternal security doctrine for many decades. The large crowd of people refused to take the two elevators that led to Heaven, and were content to follow this evangelist to Hell. Although there were twelve elevators, the two that were functional, were symbolic of the few churches left that preach holiness. There is grace for those who repent of their sins, as well as turn from them, but grace is not automatic. The Lord has given me many dreams, as well as visions, concerning how serious sin is in the life of the Christian. The Lord shows me people wearing clothes covered with spots and wrinkles, as well as their skin covered in layers of dirt. The Lord then tells me to instruct people to take a spiritual shower and get their lives in order. Without holiness, no man will see the Father.

The words that we speak, will also reflect the level of faith that is in our lives. The old saying that misery loves company is very true. I have known people that are continually pessimistic, and their words reflect the fear that consumes them. God’s Word says that perfect love will cast out all fear. Even when we feel faithless, we need to speak words of faith, as well as stand upon the promises that are in God’s Word. Regardless of how we feel, or what we are going through, God’s promises for us will remain true. When we are under spiritual attack, we need to quote scripture with faith, because God’s Word is the sword of the Spirit. I have entered homes after family members have quarreled, and you can feel a tense atmosphere within the home. An evil tongue that attacks others, is an open door to demonic spirits. I have also entered homes with anointed praise and worship music playing, and you can feel the presence of the Lord, for the Lord inhabits the praises of his people. If a person needs a breakthrough from the Lord, or is in need of healing, speak words of faith, combined with scripture. Don’t  claim your illness or distress, because words produced from fear are the opposite of faith. Fear will empower the enemy in your life, but faith will move the hand of God.