Let Go And Let God & I Surrender All

Let Go And Let God

God has been reminding me again about surrendering all to Him.  Not just spiritually, but also emotionally as well.  Before I reshare my writing, "I Surrender All" I want to also share this info I found online when I performed a search on "Who coined the phrase 'Let God and Let God'?" These were their sources: https://divinenarratives.org/ & https://biblehub.com/ and here is the search result:

The phrase “Let go and let God” is often attributed to early 20th-century Christian missionary and author John A. MacMillan, though its exact origin is somewhat unclear.

Historical Background

“Let go and let God” emerged in the early 1900s within evangelical circles, particularly among Holiness and Pentecostal movements. These groups emphasized a personal, experiential relationship with God, often highlighting moments of spiritual surrender. John A. MacMillan, a Christian missionary and author, is one of the earliest documented figures to use the phrase in his writings on spiritual warfare and the believer’s authority in Christ. The phrase succinctly expressed the act of yielding one’s will to divine providence.

Adoption and Popularization

The phrase gained wider recognition through its adoption by the Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) movement, where it became a spiritual reminder to relinquish control over addiction and trust in a higher power for recovery. 

Biblical Context

Although “Let go and let God” is not a direct Bible quote, it reflects biblical principles of trust and surrender. Key scriptures that align with its message include: Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God”, 1 Peter 5:7: “Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you” & Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart… in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight”

These passages emphasize reliance on God’s sovereignty while still engaging in responsible action, highlighting that surrender is active faith rather than passive inaction.

Practical Meaning

In practice, the phrase encourages believers to release personal struggles, anxieties, and burdens into God’s hands while continuing to act responsibly and faithfully. It is a call to trust God’s guidance and outcomes, rather than attempting to control every circumstance personally.

Overall, “Let go and let God” serves as a spiritual phrase for surrender, trust, and reliance on divine power, rooted in early 20th-century Christian thought and supported by biblical principles.

Here is the blog I wrote in November 2025.

I Surrender All

Whether in dreams or audibly, usually when God speaks to me it is early in the morning just before or after I wake up. I think it is because my mind runs 100 miles per hour and this is about the only time my brain is still enough to really listen to God. I like to think I have a "convention song brain" where there are several melodies and lyrics happening at once but somehow still all makes sense! Several mornings ago, shortly after waking, I clearly heard the Lord ask, "What are the three most important words?" Before I could even contemplate an answer, I then heard, "I surrender all."

As it is in my nature to do so, God knew I would over analyze this, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized these three words are the foundation for two other very important three-word phrases we need to say to God: "I love You" and "Please forgive me."

First, I will explore the phrase given: "I surrender all."

After I told my husband about my experience, we had a discussion about what it means to surrender your all to Jesus and how this is even possible. It may seem like an obvious point, but it is very true that to surrender all is to say to Jesus, "Take my life and do with as you will. I give you full control." This is a very important first step. The best way to do this is by praying that God will shut all doors in your life He wants shut and open all the door He wants opened. And then to not fight His decisions but trust His sovereign will.

I am guilty of praying that the Lord's will be done and when He has shut the door, I stubbornly have forced it back open and suffered the consequences. For example, in 2017, before a scheduled job interview I prayed that if the job was not within His will that He would somehow find a way to cancel the interview. The morning of the interview the boss called and cancelled because his wife was sick. I praised God for answering my prayer, but a year later, still unemployed and desperate, I reapplied and was hired on the spot. Going after a job God had initially shut down had its consequences. I became very sick due to the chemicals used at the facility. God knew there were dangerous chemicals there that would affect me, and I should have surrendered my will and not pursued that job a second time.

(Isaiah 55:8) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

So many people try to open God's closed doors to relationships that are just as harmful as toxic chemicals. These people may physically, emotionally, or spiritually harm you and God is gracious enough to send you warning signs (and even dreams) that tell you to walk away. Out of loyalty to the person, instead of loyalty to God, you stay and get hurt deeper and even risk your walk with God. Listen to God when He tells you someone is harmful. Being lonely is better than risking your life or soul. Besides, we are never alone as God will always bring us comfort even in the hard times (see also 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1).

(1 Corinthians 14:33-34) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not.

Another area I have had to learn to surrender has been allowing God to heal me from past pains.  Once, when I was listening to the song, "I Surrender All," and really praising God, not just mindlessly singing, I heard the Lord ask me, "Have you surrendered ALL?"  At first, I thought I had, but I knew God was asking me because He wanted me to really examine my heart.  I realized that there were past griefs in my life of which I had not let go.  I wept and prayed and asked God to help me heal the wounds I knew I could never heal on my own.      

Another way to surrender all to God is by following what the Bible says we need to do. In my opinion, this is even more important because when we choose to do the moral thing, God is more likely to protect us, and we also become more sensitive to the voice of His Holy Spirit. When we know what the Bible says about sin and chase after it anyway, like I chased after a toxic job, we suffer the consequences. The rules of Jesus are not put in place to harm us, but to protect us (see also Matthew 19:16-19 & Revelation 21:8).

(Galatians 5:19-21) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

This brings me to the next phrase, "I love You." I am not referring to a generic human "you," but God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. When we truly love the Holy Trinity, it makes it so much easier to surrender.

When I was single, I used to believe I could never fully love someone because it is impossible for me to trust people. You cannot love someone you do not trust. Because God sent me the perfect man, I fall was able love and trust the man I married. He is the only person I can trust.

My trust issues applied to God as well. Yet, the more I learned about the character of Jesus (by reading my Bible and praying), the more I love Him and can trust He wants only the best for His children. If we cannot trust Him enough to lead our lives, we cannot ever fully love Him.

(1 John 2:3-5) And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.

And the more we love God and see how kind and gracious He truly is, the more we want to do the right things.

(Romans 2:4) The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.

If you are interested, you can read more about trust in my blog here: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2025/07/trust.html

Maybe love comes first and then surrender, but they definitely go together. As does this last phrase: "Please forgive me."

When we make mistakes, which we will all do, and usually daily, don't give up and say being a Christian is hopeless because you will never be perfect. You don't have to be, but you do need to strive to do your best!

(Luke 13:23-24) Then said one unto him, "Lord, are there few that be saved?" And He said unto them, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."

Jesus shed His blood and gave us the free gift of salvation we do not have to earn. It would truly be impossible for us to earn such an amazing gift as our righteousness is as filthy rags (see Isaiah 64:6). This absolutely does not mean we use God's precious grace as an excuse to shrug it off when we sin. We confess our sins to Him and ask for His forgiveness, and He will always forgive.

(Romans 6:1) What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

(1 John 1:5-10) This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light... and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Admitting we have done wrong is surrendering our ego by asking for forgiveness and then doing our very best not to repeat the same mistakes. Just as we cannot save ourselves, we also cannot conquer sin on our own. We must surrender our sinful desires to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to give us the strength to walk away from what we know He hates.

(John 15:4-5)[Jesus said,] "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing."

(1 Corinthians 10:13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

As I mentioned above, part of this blog is based on a conversation I had with my husband as we discussed how to surrender. One of the things we talked about, and I have done in the past, is to write a list of things you are having difficulty surrendering to God. This can be a situation such as future plans or a past hurt as well as sins you are having difficulty conquering. For me this was private and I didn't even share it with Mel, but it is up to you if you want to share it with a loved one or not. After you very honestly search your heart and write this list, pray over it and surrender it to God and then let these issues go by either ripping up the list or safely burning it. Trust me, this symbolic act will make your heart feel freer.

Claim the victory in Jesus' powerful name that He has and will help you make the right decisions, help you heal from past wounds, and help you conquer your sins.

Here are The Lyrics to that Beautiful Song by Judson W. Van DeVenter.  Really read over the words and make them your prayer as well.

I Surrender All

All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all,
I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation! 
Glory, glory to His name!

The last time I posted this writing (https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2026/05/genesis-221-18-i-surrender-all-two.html ) I included I Surrender all sung by Marshall Hall that you can watch at that link, but today I want to post one of my favorite songs by one of my favorite groups.  This song, written by Rodney Griffin, really gets to me as I let their words sink in.  "May I surrender whatever is holding me back" so that I do not repeat the same mistakes from my past.

Keeping the Commandments of Jesus, Written by my Husband

Keeping the Commandments of Jesus

Written by my Husband (Mel)

Today, I had a vision from Christ. I saw a speed limit 55 sign standing in muddy flood water with trash floating in the water. Jesus spoke, "Keep My Commandments". The flood waters of judgment will consume those who are not truly born again, as well as new creations in Christ.

(1 John 1:5-10) This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

God's grace is sufficient for those who are truly saved and walking in the light. Salvation begins with true repentance. Repentance means that you hunger and thirst after righteousness and desire to grow in Christ. It also means you are sorry for the old sinful ways of your past and now are putting your faith in Christ. It is God's desire for you to grow in him and allow his Holy Spirit to transform you into a new creation.

When a person is truly saved by Grace alone, they are washed clean by the blood of Christ's atonement upon the cross. We are justified by faith in Christ's finished work upon the cross. Our sins are removed as far as the east is from the west. Your sins are 100% forgiven and your slate is wiped clean. You walk perfectly before him because of the blood of Christ, as long as you walk in the light, and not darkness.

In regard to salvation, the righteousness of Christ is imparted to you. However, God's Word teaches us that we must keep our garments clean, and they can become defiled through unfaithfulness to Christ. God's Word also states that our names can be blotted out of the Book of Life. A lukewarm church will be vomited out of God's mouth (Revelation 3). Without holiness no man shall see the Father according to Hebrews.

After we are washed clean by the blood of the Lamb, we don't want to be like the sow who returned to the mud of sin, or the dog who returns to his own vomit. You can backslide unto perdition (Hell) if you return to a life of darkness and sin. Consider 2 Peter 2:20-22.

(2 Peter 2:2-22) For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Christ told the woman caught in adultery that her sins were forgiven her, then he told her to go and sin no more. We are living in the last days and the great falling away from the truth is here. Most Christians will not endure sound doctrine but prefer to have their ears tickled with man pleasing doctrines. The biggest deception is the greasy grace doctrine. Churches are serving up spiritual junk food to their congregations and people demand it. I have met many people who claim to be saved; however, they told me they were living with their partner unmarried. They would also use the worst profanity, and some would even use God's name in vain and tell dirty jokes while claiming to know the Lord. Sadly, this is not a few, but many.

The churches have replaced the teaching of true grace with greasy grace. Preaching against sin, and teaching holiness, has been replaced with the grace for everything without repentance doctrine. We are not to be joined to the harlot (Mystery Babylon), but to be faithful to Christ.

If you love and know Christ, you will keep his commandments and no longer walk in darkness.

(1 John 2: 3-6) And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

John 8:11-12 KJV - She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Luke 13:27 KJV - But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

John 8:34-35 KJV - Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.

Romans 6:16 NKJV - Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

2 Timothy 2:19 NKJV - Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

1 John 3:6 NKJV - Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

1 John 3:9 NKJV - 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.

Many within 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 compromising 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.

In Romans chapter six, Paul taught that once we come to Christ, we are not to continue in sin. Paul was speaking of habitual sins, which lead to bondage. We either are slaves to sin, or free in Christ, if we pursue righteousness. Christ said that any tree, which does not bear good fruit, will be cut down, and thrown into the fire. Paul also said, to come out from among them and to be separate saith God, touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you (2 Corinthians 6:17,18) and Peter said to be holy, as He (God), is holy (1Peter 1:15,16). Most Christians are products of our culture and are indistinguishable from the world. Pastors are more concerned with not offending their flock for the sake of tithes, than preaching the truth of God’s Word.

Many churches are failing to teach people the need to be filled up with his Holy Spirit in order to live in holiness. The Holy Spirit will sanctify you, (set you apart from the world). However, you must make the conscience effort to yield your will to God's Spirit through obedience to scripture. Unless you are born again you will Not inherit the kingdom of God. The Spirit will give you the power to walk in the Spirit and not after the old flesh nature. He will bear good fruit in your life as well. You cannot do this by your own merit. It is only through the Spirit that you can master the flesh.

The Lord gave me a dream concerning the spirit that is now at work in many churches, that is leading his flock astray. I dreamed that I was visiting a mega-church and I understood that the Pastor was a Christian celebrity, as well as on television. He had many soothing words that people found most appealing. Then his wife ran to the front of the church screaming, “My husband doesn’t love me! My husband doesn’t love me!” The Pastor’s wife was very dark in appearance due to being covered in sin. She fell to the floor and began to go into convulsions. I then ran forward to try to save her since I am trained in first aid, as well as CPR. However, she let out another scream of anguish, and then died. Then I turned to her husband and I noticed that he was smiling. Her husband then said, “I’m glad that she is dead!” I felt the Spirit of the Lord come over me and I commanded the Spirit of the False Prophet to come out of him! The Pastor then fell to the floor growling, and said, “No!” Then the Pastor began to say repeatedly, “I hate her! I hate her!” I continued to command the spirit of the False Prophet to come out of him and he took on the appearance of a human- beast hybrid. I then called for the entire church to witness the spirit of the False Prophet that had been deceiving them through unsound doctrine.

The apostate Pastor’s wife was the church that her husband was leading astray. The false prophets and pastors are leading God’s flock astray, because they refuse to address the sinful bondages that are leading many religious people to hell. Most people trust their church leadership to instruct them with sound doctrine, but this trust is misplaced. It is very important to study God’s Word for yourself, as well as to pray that God will grant you understanding. The time has come for believers to separate themselves from the dead churches and to seek God for a personal relationship. God is not into religion, but desires holiness from his children. The wages of sin is death, but Christ offers grace for sins that are truly repented of. If you know Christ, you will be set apart (saint or purified one) from the world.

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). 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.”

As I stated previously, the Lord refers to the harlot churches of the end times as Mystery Babylon. Babylon is a term synonymous with wickedness (Revelation 18:4-5). 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 greasy grace doctrine taught by most churches. The gas pumps that do not work are symbolic of an unholy spirit, which has replaced God’s Holy Spirit. It is time to come out of Babylon!

In another dream, I was standing next to an angel outside of a church building. I noticed the stone church building looked Gothic in appearance and we proceeded to walk inside. The angel showed me various different rooms or sanctuaries within this building. Each room was a different Christian denomination or fellowship. I understood that the church building that we were in was a Roman Catholic Church, and the Protestant denominations and fellowships were her offspring. The RCC is the mother of all harlots and the other churches (her offspring) are harlots, as well. In other words, the sinful bondages within the lives of those who profess to know Christ is spiritual adultery (Revelation 17:1-15).

Next, the Angel led me into one of the rooms, and he pointed to a glass display case that had wax figures in them that represented the persecution of true Christians by the church throughout the ages. It displayed true Christians being burned at the stake, as well as killed in other ways, by the Protestant reformers. It also displayed the drowning of the Ana-Baptists in barrels. The angel said, “This is the history of the apostate church.”

I was then standing within an Assembly of God church, very similar to ones that I have attended in the past. The angel walked me down the aisles and pointed to the people sitting in the pews. I noticed that everyone was dressed in wedding garments, the men in tuxedos, and the women in white wedding dresses with veils. However, many were dead rotting corpses still wearing wedding garments, seated next to living people throughout the congregation. I noticed that around sixty percent of the congregation were dead corpses, and around forty percent were alive. Since the dead corpses were still wearing wedding garments, this is an indication that they were once born again, but now they were dead in their sins. Christ said that those who endure unto the end, shall be saved.

In another dream, I was looking into a prison and I witnessed Christians all dressed in orange prison jumpsuits. I knew many of these people from Bible study groups that I formerly attended, but they were all prisoners of sin. One man that I recognized was a leader in a very large mega- church. The Lord told me to reach into the prison and pull them out. I understood that the only way to free them was by teaching them the truth about repentance and sanctification through the Holy Spirit.

No one is perfect, but we must press forward and pursue righteousness without shrinking back. There is grace for sins that have been repented of. 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. However, we must become a new creation in Christ, by allowing God’s Holy Spirit to do his perfect work of sanctification in us. Without holiness, no man shall see the Father.

Religion Versus Relationship

Religion Versus Relationship

As my husband and I have been speaking with others about the Lord, a common thread keeps reappearing as we realize that most seekers have the same types of doubts. The below discussion is based on a conglomeration of several real encounters blended into one.

“I know all about God,” he insists, “I know all about religion. In fact, I was married in an Assembly of God Church, and I’ve been a Lutheran, a Mormon, and even a Catholic, but I don’t go to church anymore. I’ve read the Book of Mormon, The Koran, and The Talmud, so I know what you’re talking about. Jesus was just a good man, and there are many different gods, but none of them are for me. Oh, I’m not an atheist; I just don’t think any god cares about me, so I don’t care about any one god.”

We are not into religion, but into a relationship with Jesus Christ, the only way to salvation. Jesus loves you and wants you to accept Him as your Savior. It is okay to ask the tough questions because God wants us to seek His face and make an intelligent decision when we choose Him for our Lord.

“But how do you know your way is the right way?” he taunts, “Jesus was just one of many good men. There are many other good men too. Why should I choose your way?”

Because Jesus died on the cross for your sins. No one else has done that for you. He chose to leave Heaven and suffer a horrible death to pay the price for your sins. He rose again from the grave so that you may also have eternal life. Did Joseph Smith, Buddha, or Mohammed do that for you?

Unmoved by the love of Christ, the next question is, “If Jesus is all-powerful, then why did He need to go to the cross? Couldn’t He simply choose to forgive my sins and just, well, do it from Heaven?”

There are things we cannot understand. The Bible says Jesus had to repurchase us back from Satan. On this side of life, we can never fully grasp why, but the Bible tells us that when we get to Heaven all will be made known, and we will understand it all clearly. The Bible says there are spiritual wars going on that we cannot see nor comprehend. What we do know is that Jesus is our protector from a life spent in Hell and He is willing to send His angels to do battle for us when we live holy lives.

“Humph! If God is so wonderful, then why is there so much suffering?”

We live in a fallen world because God chose to give us free will, and man rebelled. Adam and Eve chose their own selfish wants over fellowship with their Creator. Adam and Eve betrayed this gift and chose to listen to the serpent’s lies rather than God’s warnings simply because the serpent’s lies were more appealing than God’s Truth. This is why we live in a world full of death and tragedy, not because God is cruel, but because man chose to alienate us from God by using his free will out of the desire of wanting to be like God. Humans do not want fellowship with God, nor do they want His advice, protection, or correction, they want to be gods! They want to be independent. They want to use their free will to do whatever they so please, then cry out, “God save me,” when it’s convenient. Or curse at God even though they have made no effort to live a holy life and only pray when they want something. Therefore, suffering exists not because God is cruel, but because man chose to defy God. Man caused this fallen world and the good suffer because of it.

A few moments of silence from the antagonist, before asking, “Well, how do you even know this Jesus is real? There are many myths and legends of virgin births and men who rose from the dead. Why should I believe your Jesus is the only true story?”

Because of a historian named Flavius Josephus. He was alive during the time of Christ and testified to all he saw. His writings, as well as several others, prove the Bible is real.

“I’m sure this Flavius guy was just some believer that wrote those things to make Jesus look good,” the scoffer insists.

No, Josephus was not a believer. He was a famous historian that worked for several Caesars. In fact, he was an orthodox Jew who opposed Christianity, also called The Way back then. If he could have disproved all the disciples had reported, he absolutely would have.

“Hmmm.”

You can look it up for yourself. Do your own research; see what Josephus wrote.

A flicker of light shows in the person’s eyes, but soon is clouded over again as he says, “Well, I still say churches are all a bunch of nonsense. They just want your money. And most churches wouldn’t accept someone like me.”

The Lord spoke to us and told us to step away from churches a while ago. Jesus in not about religion or the prosperity preachers, He is all about relationship. Living a life set apart from sin and choosing to daily walk down paths of righteousness, having compassion for others, and serving those less fortunate, that’s what being a Christian is all about.

There is silence again. The person on the other side of the fence is seriously contemplating all we have said, and we are fervently praying a seed has been planted.

Eventually we part ways on friendly terms, the other person refusing to admit we are right, but promising to think about all we have said. Fair enough, that is all we ask, but please pick up a Bible and discover Jesus on your own, apart from what the false churches are teaching.

We continue to pray for the people of our encounters, as we pray for you, our readers. We pray for others to enter your life that will water the seeds we have planted. Perhaps we are an answer to someone else’s prayer. We pray God’s Truths will seep into the fibers of your soul so deep that you cannot let them go. We pray God will grab a hold of your heart until you give in and grab ahold of His garment. We pray for salvation and an eternal walk with the Lord.

Salt or Sugar?

Salt or Sugar?

If you have been through the Bible multiple times, you may think it is not necessary to still read it on a regular basis. I have either read the Bible or had it read to me for almost to 54 years, and when my heart is open, I still see verses from a new light The other day, my husband and I were listening to the gospel of Luke, when chapter 14, verses 34-35, spoken by Jesus, stood out to me as never before.

(Luke 14:34-35) "Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear."

I said to my husband something like, "For some reason, I never really stopped to consider those verses before, but that is really standing out to me. I see it as a warning not to lose our fire for God or our fire for sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ."

My husband and I began talking about this and agreed it would make a good blog topic, so here I sit today to share my thoughts for whoever " hath ears to hear, let him hear."

Often when I am writing on a topic I know has been written about by many others, I intentionally do not go back and read anyone else's writings. I pray to only be influenced by the Holy Spirit. I know there are several different angles from which I could write this blog, but I am choosing to focus on the issues most infusing my heart today.

I am a person who loves words and their meanings, so I looked up the definition of the word "savor." I will use the definition in another version of Luke also mentioned in Matthew.

(Matthew 5:13) "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt has lost his savour [a characteristic taste, flavor, or smell, especially a pleasant one]... it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

First, I want to touch on not losing our fire for the Lord. Revelation 3:16 says, "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue [spit] thee out of my mouth." If you feel you are growing cold toward the Lord, spend more time in praise, prayer, and Bible study. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you anything that may be hindering a closer walk with Him and be obedient to let go of the things He brings to your heart (see Psalm 139:23-24).

Next, lets' talk about not losing our salty fire for sharing the message of salvation. In a world where people plug their ears to holiness messages, and make fun of/reject the True believers, it can be very discouraging to want to give up and quit speaking out for righteousness. Let me encourage you that even if it seems no one is paying attention, God is, and His opinions matter more than anyone else's. Stay faithful to the call, fellow Christian. You are not alone; you have the Holy Trinity in your corner, and my husband and I as well!

(Galatians 6:9) And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Now I want to explain what I mean when I say there is a difference between a salty message and a sugary one. To most people, a pleasant gospel would be one that tells them it is perfectly fine to sin as much as they like because God gives us grace for everything. We just have to say a prayer one time to ask Jesus into our hearts and then never again worry about right or wrong because we are now eternally secure. That, my friends, is a sugar-coated gospel!

We are not being called to politely lead people to hell, we are called to escort them boldly to heaven's throne!

Salt was considered very valuable in the days when Jesus walked, but if something valuable gets broken, tarnished, or damaged in any way, the value dramatically declines. And as Jesus puts it, if that something valuable loses its potency, you could even say, if it gets watered down, it deserves to be thrown out and even trampled under people's feet.

The same is absolutely true with the most valuable asset on the planet, the message of salvation that can show one the way to eternity in Heaven. If it is damaged, it is useless to your soul.

(Jude 1:4) For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness [turns it into something inaccurate and unholy], and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now I finally get to it, here is my salty message speaking out against a sugar-coated gospel:

To be clear, I believe Jesus' death on the cross, our salvation, and grace are free gifts we do not have to earn. We cannot save ourselves by our own works (Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.) Yet, we still have a responsibility to maintain and retain these gifts. Just as when you are hired on at a job, it is because you have found favor from the person who hired you, but you still have to work to earn your paycheck. When a man asked Jesus in Luke 13:23, "Are there few that be saved?" Jesus responded in Luke 13:24 with, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." This does not mean vain strivings of the flesh, we still need to let the Holy Spirit take control but striving through obedient actions. Hebrews 12:4 says we are to strive against sin. The word strive simply means to make an effort to maintain something. It does not take the glory away from God that only through His blood can we be saved. Please read all of 1 John 1 as it gives a very clear picture of all I am trying to convey - I have posted it in a separate post right before this one: scroll down or use this link: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2026/07/1-john-11-10.html

Furthermore, a salty message will encourage you to treat these precious gifts of salvation with the utmost care and not neglect them, because they and your soul can be lost.

(Ezekiel 18:24 & 26) But when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth, shall he live? All his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned: in his trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his sin that he hath sinned, in them shall he die. When a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, and dieth in them; for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die.

Pretty clear cut, don't you think? Ezekiel was a mighty profit who heard directly from God. He tells us when the righteous, or the Christian, turns his back on God and intentionally chooses to sin, he will lose his salvation - die in his sins! This is not speaking of minor offenses, of course, but as Ezekiel says, "abominations," or rebelliously refusing to do what you know is right in the eyes of God. Just as when we sincerely repent from our sins, they are blotted out by the blood of Jesus (Ezekiel 18:27-28 - Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.), the exact opposite is true. Righteousness is canceled out by sin until we sincerely repent again. (These same words are repeated in Ezekiel 33 as well.)

Now let's look at the words of Jesus:

(John 15:1-6) I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

The definition of the word abide is "to remain; continue; stay." Therefore, Jesus is telling us that if we leave our fellowship with Him (cease abiding with Him) we will be "cast forth... into the fire and burned." Obviously, He is speaking of the fire in Hell. In other words, if you give your life to Christ and become a Christian, but then refuse to follow the ways of Jesus by leaving your morals behind, you are no longer bearing good fruit, and you will be cast away. Jesus does not say that you can stay grafted into the vine no matter what, and that you will be eternally secure. No, if you make the choice to leave, you will be cast off!

The more you abide in Jesus: read the Bible, pray more than just when you are asking for a favor, and worship Him with a contrite heart, the more it will be clear what He expects of you. The more you will understand His character and His will and you will want to do what is right (Romans 2:4 ...the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.). The Holy Spirit will convict you of your sins and testify to your spirit what must be done to see the face of God for all eternity (Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.).

Let's go again to the words spoken by Jesus:

(Matthew 7:21-23) "Not every one that saith unto me, 'Lord, Lord', shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?' And then will I profess unto them, 'I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.'"

This is obviously about someone who is calling himself a Christian, otherwise why would he be calling out to the Lord and prophesying, casting out demons, etc. But Jesus says that even if you call on Him and work for Him, you can still be in danger of losing your salvation if you are doing all these things while living in sin. No, eternal life with Christ is not automatic just because you use the name of Jesus or work for Him; you must keep the sin out of your life or He will tell you to "depart from" Him. In other words, He will send you to hell.

(2 Timothy 4:4; 7-8) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

There are many more verses I can list where it says in the Bible that all people will be judged according to their works. That Truth alone shows we are not automatically eternally secure. If so, there would be no reason for God to judge our works. Finishing the course and keeping the faith means the same as abiding in the vine. In order to obtain the crown from Jesus, you must not let go of your righteous ways or give in to sin.

Here are a few more verses on obtaining crowns from God, our judge. No where does it say the crown of righteousness will be given to every single person that says some version of the sinner's prayer. There are conditions that must be met! In the below verse, Paul makes it very clear that even he, an extremely faithful servant of Christ, could be cast away from heaven if he falls into sin.

(1 Corinthians 9:24-27) Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

(Philippians 4:1) Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

(2 Timothy 2:5) And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

(James 1:12) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him.

The messages of these verses are: stand fast in the Lord, strive lawfully, endure temptation, and you will receive a crown of righteousness. Stray away from the Lord and holiness, and you will be cast away.

The last verses below are the easiest way to point you away from sugar and to the salt of the gospel: Note the list of sinful actions does NOT say, "If you call yourself a Christian you can do all these things and still go to heaven," No! It says, if you commit the sins listed, you will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God. There are no exceptions to that rule. You must daily repent of your sins, and strive to be holy as the Lord is holy, or you will not have eternity with the Father - not my words, this is scriptural as you will see below.

(1 Peter 1:14-17) As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:

(Hebrews 12:14) Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

(Galatians 5:19-21) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

(Revelation 21:7-8) He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

1 John 1:1-10

 

In the post directly above this one (scroll up or use this link: https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2026/07/salt-or-sugar.html), I suggest reading all of 1 John chapter 1.  Here it is:

(1 John 1:5-10) That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Are you properly balanced?

 

Are you properly balanced?

(Written in 2023) You may wonder why I chose a picture of a parking lot for a blog with a title on being properly balanced. A few nights ago, I had a dream that my husband and I had arrived in a new location and were attempting to park our vehicle at a grocery store.  The parking spaces were as you see in the photo, slanted at an angle and a little longer than the ones you may use at Wal-Mart.  My husband was driving, and we pulled into a space with no car on our right, but a large truck to our left, and no vehicles behind us.  

Mel turned off the engine, but before we could exit the vehicle, a woman leaving the grocery store (heading toward us) looked at us with a disapproving expression. Her face did not show cruelty, but more like disappointment.  The best way I can think of to describe this woman is that she had an old-fashioned hairdo similar to what some legalistic religions still wear, pulled up in a high twisted bun-thing sort of style (sorry, I don't know what it's called).  However, she was not dressed as the women in their churches do - only wearing dresses. Instead, she was wearing a feminine and modest top and pants.  

We were not sure why she was giving us a disapproving look, but we looked in the direction of where her gaze had fallen, to the back of the vehicle.  We realized we were parked too far backwards, and it would be difficult for another vehicle pulling in to park without hitting us.  We then re-parked.

This time, we had yet to turn off the engine when a man dressed like a cowboy walked toward us as the woman had, only this time on our left.  It was his turn to give us the same expression as the woman had, not in disgust or anger, but rather disappointed that we had now parked too far forward. 

We immediately realized that the front end of our vehicle was over the line and if anyone drove the stretch of parking lot in front of us, they would risk striking us. Mel immediately reversed the vehicle, this time centering it perfectly in the middle.

At first, I just thought this was a normal dream that was not worth mentioning, but one of the first things Mel asked me that morning was if I had had any dreams from the Lord.  Initially, I said I had not, but this dream was in the back of my mind, so I asked him why he had asked me this.  Mel said he had had a vision that I was going to be given a dream by the Holy Spirit. After I shared this dream with my husband, I then told him the same thing I always say, that I am not completely sure this dream was from the Lord, but that I can easily see a spiritual message in it.

Before I get into the interpretation of this dream that Mel and I both agreed upon, I want to explain why I used the title I did, rather than using a parking term in the title.  That same evening, I was playing a word game on my Kindle, and the first round of the night was titled, "Properly Balanced."  Coincidence? Maybe, but it still fits the theme of the dream.

Here is how my husband and I interpreted the dream.

The grocery store: In spiritual dreams, stores, restaurants, or any time you are eating with someone, symbolizes spiritual food for us to learn from and/or to share with others. 

New location: This has dual meanings. We were in a new town in this dream because we believe God will be moving us to a new location in his perfect timing. Because we believe this place will be where we launch the next phase of our ministry, a new location also means getting settled spiritually where God wants us to be. 

Being in a vehicle: In spiritual dreams, vehicles represent spiritual beliefs. The person driving is the one who is the leader. In this case, my husband is the spiritual head of our home. If it is another person and the vehicle is driving recklessly, this means that person is leading you down dangerous theological paths. 

The woman / parking too far backward: She was disappointed in us because she did not want us going backwards into legalism. Let me clarify, I am not trying to insult anyone's religion, but I am merely sharing what the Lord shared with me. She represented being too legalistic and rigid in holiness beliefs, to the point it goes beyond what the Bible teaches.  While I completely agree with modesty in women, I have also attended churches similar to the ones she symbolized, and they make a woman feel unwelcome if they do not have hair to her waist, her dress does not reach her ankles, or she wears pants. This and other types of religions and others trapped in Old Testament laws have so many unbiblical rules one must follow, that they make people not want God at all.  I will not go into why they have legalistic and not Biblical beliefs, because the point of the woman in this dream was that God does not want us to be so over-the-top seeped in holiness alone, that we turn people away from Him. Whether you believe it or not, holiness does not equal legalism!  There needs to be a proper balance of grace and love added to our message. This is why she had the hairdo of the religion, but the clothes were less rigid.  In other words, TRUE HOLINESS BELIEFS ARE VERY PLEASING TO THE LORD! 

(Titus 2:11-14) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 

(Galatians 5:4-5, AMP) You have been severed from Christ, if you seek to be ]justified [that is, declared free of the guilt of sin and its penalty, and placed in right standing with God] through the Law; you have fallen from grace [for you have lost your grasp on God’s unmerited favor and blessing]. For we [not relying on the Law but] through the [strength and power of the Holy] Spirit, by faith, are waiting [confidently] for the hope of righteousness [the completion of our salvation]. 

The cowboy / parking too far forward: Just as the woman represented the proper balance of holiness beliefs, the man symbolized not being unequally yoked with worldly beliefs. I'm not saying dressing like a cowboy is worldly, of course, but he represented the every-day man, sort of like a universal religion without any real convictions of the Holy Spirt. One who drinks, curses, goes to bars, is okay with violence, etc.  He was disappointed in us because he did not want us to be too involved with the world. By parking too far forward, we would have gotten too close to the world. This not only meant getting too intertwined with the unsaved or backslidden people in our lives, but also not getting involved in the liberal grace message of eternal security. Quickly PULLING AWAY FROM the line where OTHER VEHICLES (people, WORLDY BELIEFS/ACTIONS, or false religions) could have caused us harm, WAS ALSO PLEASING TO THE LORD! 

 (2 Corinthians 6:14) Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?  

(Romans 12:2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The parking lot: Where we had settled in our belief systems. This is why the dream ended with us parked properly balanced where God has been training us to be. This dream was encouraging us to stay properly balanced and not park either too far forward or backward.  It can be very tricky to find the right balance of holiness and grace and not lean too far either way. Reading the Bible, prayer, and asking the Holy Spirit to correct you are the best ways to learn to be properly balanced. 

(Isaiah 30:21) This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. 

Still Journeying Through the Bible

 Still Journeying Through the Bible

Now that I have finished posting most of my artwork from my entire Bible journal along with either the commentary written in the journal or additional writings (I had started with Matthew-Revelation before adding Genesis-Malachi), I will now simply post whatever God lays on my heart, and not specifically in the order of the books of the Bible.  I am also praying about where to branch out from here and I am considering possibly starting a new blog or two and I will include links to those pages if I do so.  I am pretty sure I know what project I want to start next, but still praying for a little more confirmation. I may also be working more on my books, so I may or may not be posting less on this site.

However, you can simply scroll through these pages or use the search bar at the top of this blog if you want to see a read all that has been written about a certain book of the Bible - if you are not sure how to find it, this link shows where the search bar is on this blog https://thankful-julie.blogspot.com/2026/06/how-to-search-this-blog-site.html .  It is also a good tool if you are looking for a specific topic.   I'm sure you know how a search bar works, but just in case, the link shows where to locate it and how it works on this blog site: You could type in the word, "Matthew" and hit search to see all articles mentioning the book of Matthew.  Or you could type in a word or phrase such as "Good Shepherd" to read all articles with that phrase. 

Also, as far as the Facebook page goes, I will still be posting more than just writings by my me and/or my husband, but continue share memes, sermons from others, and songs as they inspire me. (Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/juliesbiblejourney

Thank you for journeying through the Bible with me!  May we continue to grow through God's Word together!

Zechariah 4:1-14: Dream of the Golden Bowl filled with Anointing Oil, Written by my Husband

 

Zechariah 4:1-14: Dream of the Golden Bowl filled with Anointing Oil, Written by my Husband (Mel)

I once dreamed that an angel of the Lord asked me, “Do you believe in the eternal security doctrine?” I replied, “No, Christ said that those who endure unto the end shall be saved.” I continued, “If you fall away from Christ even five minutes before your death you will be lost.” The angel said, “That is correct.”

(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. 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.

 

The angel was standing next to a golden bowl filled with anointing oil. Two pipes led from the bowl. One pipe was the Word of God (scripture), the other pipe, had the word holiness written in large letters on it. The two pipes dripped oil into the hands of those who were filled with God’s Holy Spirit. I was told that God would anoint those who walked in holiness. I also understood that a lukewarm church would be vomited out (see Revelation 3:14-18).  

This dream was in reference to Zechariah chapter 4. Zechariah was shown a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Zechariah was told that this is the Word of the Lord to Zerubbabel (Zechariah chapter 4).  He was shown God’s temple and anointing oil, which is symbolic of God’s Spirit and righteousness. Zechariah was also shown a plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel, he was told in 4:10, “They are the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth”.  A plumb line is a measuring tape. Nothing escapes the eyes of the Lord, for we are all measured or weighed by the Lord.

You may think God doesn’t see you, or care, if you tell a dirty joke at work (Colossians 3:8), but the Lord knows all things. The Lord knows every thought that goes through your mind. If you look upon a woman to lust after her, you have committed adultery in your heart (Matthew 5:27-28), or if you hate your brother, you have committed murder in your heart (1 John 3:15). We are under God’s microscope at all times, and we should remember that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10).

 

Without holiness, no man shall see the Father (Hebews 12:14). If you are living in sin, you are not saved by grace. Grace follows repentance. If you repent, and turn away from your sins, God will wash you clean and transform you into a new creation. This is the meaning of being born again. The atonement that Christ provided upon the cross supplies our lack. Our righteousness alone is not enough to provide for salvation. The shed blood of Christ brings redemption only if we make Christ our Lord through obedience. We must allow the love of Christ into our hearts and learn to love our neighbor, as well as live a sanctified (purified and set apart) life. Regardless of your level of faith, if you continue to live in sin as the world does, you are not born again but lost.

 

Many churches teach that we are all filthy sinners, living in a fallen world, with a fallen nature, and we cannot live right. Consider this, Satan and one third of the angels were living in the perfect environment of Heaven, yet they chose to sin against God.  Adam and Eve were living in a perfect world without sin, but they also chose to sin against God. My point is, whether we live in a perfect world, or a fallen world, we have the ability to choose good or evil. By the indwelling presence of God’s Holy Spirit, we have the power to live a sanctified, disciplined life. We must unlearn the junk that the Laodicean churches teach. 

(Zechariah 1:1-14) And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep. And said unto me, "What seest thou?"

 

And I said, "I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: And two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof." So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, "What are these, my lord?"

...Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, "This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, 'Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit,' saith the Lord of hosts. 'Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. ...thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice... they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.'"

Then answered I, and said unto him, "What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? ...What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?"

And he answered me and said... "These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth. "