Whose Disciples?

"I did not command you to go to all nations
and make disciples of Moses;
I sent you to love your neighbors
just as I loved you even
while you were still sinners.
And by this all people will know
that My Father has loved them."

*****

Art: "In His Image"

Life, Even Here

"I am the One who sees your suffering
and who shares in your distress.
I am He who was born in the place of your captivity,
and I am He who through love broke through every wall
to make a way for all people to be free.

"Even in the valley of the shadow of death,
I will hold you and comfort you,
I will be with you and give you peace.
I will wipe away your tears, and I will give you
strength and a new reason to go on.

"I am He who loves you, My children.
Come, let Me give you a new hope
and an everlasting inheritance
that no one can take away from you.
Let Me give you new life."

*****

Art: "Born in Captivity"

Leaving the Faith

"Many of My people have fallen into a drunken sleep!
Dispensationalism has mixed into the new covenant
the old wine of the old covenant and its promises,
and now many of My people are unable to believe in
My faithfulness based on the Cross alone!
Dispensationalism has replaced My foundation with 'Israel'!

"My people are taught that the truth of My word
is seen in 'Israel' more than in the Cross:
they are taught to measure the truth of My promises
by whether or not I fulfill prophecies to Israel
in the flesh and on the earth rather than
in the eternal Spirit through the Cross.

"The slow-acting poison of Dispensationalism has
taught My people to anchor their faith in the circumcision!
The ears of many have become dulled in the end times
to hearing My Spirit and attuned to 'another gospel'!
Many have set aside obeying the law of Christ in order
to obey the interpretations of prophecy made by the Antichrist.

"Return! Return, My people!
Return to the Cross alone as the only
necessary proof of My faithfulness!"

*****

Art: "The Abomination That Causes Desolation"

One Man in Lawlessness

"My commands for you in the end times are no different
than the commands I gave you in the gospel.
Just as I do not change, neither does My law:
Love one another as I have loved you
even while you were My enemies.

"But many are turning away from My law
by trying to help fulfill prophecies.
They believe My heart is to re-establish
all of the land of Israel for the Jews
rather than to reconcile the nations
to one another through the Cross.

"They are choosing to prepare for 'Armageddon'
rather than choosing to follow My commands.
They are preaching the cause of Israel
rather than preaching the Cross.
They are turning away from My law
in order to 'stand with Israel'.

"Rather than contending for the gospel,
they contend as one man for Israel.
Rather than contending for My law
to love neighbors and enemies as I loved you,
they contend for Israel's right to land.
They have become as one man in lawlessness."

*****

Art: "Follow the Lamb"

Rejected Again

"As I was crucified in Jerusalem,
so My witnesses will be most despised
by those who seem to be their own people.
My witnesses will be hated just as I was hated;
they will be called blasphemers and rebels.
In them I will be rejected by My people again."

*****

Art: "In the Same Way"

Sitting In Darkness

"Open your ears, My beloved children in America!
Many of you are stopping your ears to the warnings I am sounding!
I am exposing the idols that keep you in darkness,
but you do not want to listen to Me!

"I am calling you to return to the gospel and My commands,
but you want to continue in your pursuit of
your own righteousness, political power,
and attaining My favor through the circumcision!

"I am calling you out of darkness and into the light of the Cross,
for the Cross is missing from your pursuit!
I do not want you to remain in darkness,
but to know the freedom of resting in Me alone."

*****

Art: "Rejecting Warnings"

"But You Were Not Willing"

"As it was in Judea, so it is today:
My word of grace is rejected,
My command to love enemies is rebelled against,
and My teaching is offensive to all 'sides'.

"I am desired only if I bring about
military victory and an earthly kingdom.
If I speak of mercy and compassion,
I am called an enemy of the righteous.

"I bring peace and freedom for all,
but when I speak the way of the Cross,
those who call themselves 'God’s people'
—they prefer war instead."

*****

Art: "Standing With Longing"

Lament For Babylon

"Babylon, Babylon! Fallen, fallen forever!
I gave you My everything in My life on the Cross.
I gave you Myself to be your sure foundation.
I gave you grace and mercy.
I only asked you to abide in My love,
for I wanted you as My beloved.

"But you did not abide in My love.
You built walls magnificently high
to set yourselves apart.
You boasted of the grace you received,
but loathed being gracious to others.
You never knew Me.

"You thought you knew My 'values'
and you built your house on these
instead of on Me and My love,
the only foundation that will endure.
You thought standing on your platform
was the mark of a true believer.

"You became like brute beasts,
like unreasoning creatures of instinct.
You had your platform and your walls;
you didn't need to think or reason.
You reacted to outsiders like animals,
understanding only threat and appeasement.

"You were not content to be
marked as My disciples by My love,
so you built walls of division
and a platform of 'values' as if these
were the proof of following Me.
You made your own 'mark'.

"You marked yourselves as disciples of the beast:
as those who sought an earthly kingdom,
as those who wanted their 'right' and inheritance,
as those who took up the sword against any
who stood between you and your 'right',
and as those who did not know My heart and spirit.

"I loved you, I loved you dearly!
I called you out, but you would not leave Babylon!
I sent messengers to you, but you rebuked them!
I shook what you had built, but you kept building!
I warned you, but you would not listen!
I wanted you as My beloved, but you did not want Me."

*****

Art: "After Babylon"

"No More of This!"

"Those who take up the sword shall perish by the sword."
(Matthew 26:52)

"I have not come to destroy sinners, but to save them.
I am calling you to take up the Cross—
I command you to love your enemies,
even those who appear to be My enemies,
just as I loved you while you were My enemies.

"If you do not abide in My love,
you will not know when you hinder Me.
If you do not embrace the Cross,
you will not know when you have become
an enemy of the Cross.

"Put down the sword, My people!
I am warning you for your sake!"

*****

Art: "Enemies of the Cross"

Not Welcome

"I am not welcome in My house!
I stand at the door and knock,
but many Christians have become deaf
to My voice and My commands.
I cry out to them through My messengers,
but My voice cannot be heard.

Those who proclaim My teaching are rebuked,
while those who reverse My message are lauded.
My people are encouraged to desire prosperity and riches,
to fight for political power and earthly freedom,
to praise and give thanks to the weapons of the world,
and to seek after miraculous signs and wonders.

My people have rejected My leadership;
instead they have chosen to follow the same 'Messiah'
that the people of ancient Judea desired.
A different 'Christ' has been set up in My temple
and proclaimed itself to be 'God',
teaching My people to abandon the law of Christ.

I tell you the truth:
the antichrist has come."

*****

Art: "Greedy For Gifts"

The Teaching of Balaam

The Teaching of Balaam
by Ramone Romero
September 12, 2012

What do we do when there seem to be hostile enemies around us? If people seem violently opposed to Christians, should those people be destroyed? A long time ago Jesus sent a messenger to a church that had been suffering persecution in the ancient city of Pergamon (modern-day Aeolis in Turkey)—

"I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to My name. You did not renounce your faith in Me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives.

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth."

(Rev. 2:13-16)

THE STORY OF BALAAM

King Balak of Moab was afraid of being destroyed by his enemies, the Israelites, so he hired Balaam to put a curse on them. Balaam apparently knew the word of God and refused at first, but eventually God allowed Balaam to go. On the way, Balaam's donkey stopped and wouldn't budge because an angel stood to block Balaam, because Balaam's path was reckless in God's sight. Balaam went on and prophesied in favor of Israel instead of against Israel.

But shortly after that God judged Israel by sending a plague. It turned out that Balaam had advised King Balak to send Moabite women to seduce the Israelites, and then in turn the Israelites started worshiping Moabite gods—breaking the covenant they had made with God at Sinai, which resulted in judgment. Afterwards, God gave Israel victory over the Moabites, and Balaam was killed with them.

THE TEACHING OF BALAAM

When Jesus said that people were holding to the teaching of Balaam, it's easy for us to think that this meant being adulterous or idolatrous. But that's not the teaching of Balaam—that's the teaching of King Balak! The teaching of Balaam is what he told to Balak: "Entice the Israelites to sin so that they will be judged!"

Balaam's teaching was this: If you don't want your enemies to destroy you, but to be defeated instead, then trick or provoke them into sinning.

King Balak had been afraid of the Israelites because he saw how they destroyed the Amorites (Num.22:2-3). In fact, the original purpose of the Israelities was not to destroy the Amorites; instead they just wanted to pass through the Amorites' land. But their king refused, and with his army he marched out to fight against Israel and was defeated (Num.21:23-31). King Balak could have learned an important lesson from watching this: Talking with your enemies is better than setting out to destroy them! (Sometimes, just sometimes, maybe they actually aren't out to get you!)

Jesus was telling His people in Pergamon not to follow Balaam's advice to King Balak—not to entice their persecutors into sinning. Don't be so afraid of your enemies that you think that you have no other choice but to to destroy them. Maybe they're angry, intolerant and violent, but don't use that as an excuse to provoke them. Don't put temptation in front of them and lead them into sinning. Don't expect God to excuse you for doing that. (He didn't excuse Balaam for it!)

Maybe you know the right things and declare the right truths about God. Maybe you even prophesy. But so did Balaam. He spoke the right things about God and prophesied, but both Peter and Jude said that Balaam loved money more than he loved righteousness. Although he knew God's word and what was right, and although he could say that the Lord was his God, deeper underneath he served the idol of profit—his own interests were his true god. Both Balaam and King Balak were more concerned about their own well-being than about their neighbors and enemies.

REMEMBER THE GOSPEL!

Our enemies are not flesh and blood—not people—but spiritual principalities (Eph.6:12). Our victory is not over people but over spiritual enemies, first and foremost the enemies in our own hearts. We are not called to conquer people or cultures—that is not Christ's teaching, but the teaching of the "Nicolaitans" (the followers of "Nicolas", which means "victorious over people").



The gospel of God's grace in Jesus Christ declares that we were all God's enemies, but He loved us and sent His Son to die for our sins, so that we could be reconciled to Him. This is why Christ commanded us to love our enemies—because He loves them, too, just as much as He loves us! If we don't choose to forgive those who trespass against us, then we're not choosing His love, because He loves them, too.

Love does not keep records of wrongs or rejoice in wrongdoing. There should be no joy when an enemy sins or stumbles. "Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove" (Prov.24:17). Christ commanded us to love, forgive, bless and pray for those who persecute us. Not to provoke them or bait them into further sin.

No matter how much 'truth' we know about God or how often He uses us to prophesy His words, if we are so self-interested that we entice our enemies into sin (so they will be destroyed), then our way is reckless, contrary and perverse in God's sight (Num.22:32).

TODAY...

I am impressed to write about this today because of what has happened in Egypt. Yes, many Islamists can be easily roused to anger. Yes, it's wrong. But does provoking them to anger really help them in any way? Did the alleged "Israeli-American" producer make his film for the sake of Muslims themselves? Or for the sake of rallying support against them? Why did the Christian pastor in Florida burn the Koran? Maybe someone might justify this this kind of provocation to sin as "helping them." But that is perverse way to "help" someone; it is reckless and contrary to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the teaching of Balaam and the Nicolaitans.

I am feeling spiritual pain today... a grief I sense in the Holy Spirit:

"Many are holding to the teaching of Balaam
instead of walking in the gospel of peace
as My ministers of reconciliation!
Now wickedness has increased—
will My people stand in My agape love
or will they respond with cold love?"

*****

Art: "Father is Just!"

"Enemies"

"My beloved, I loved you while you were My enemies.
Therefore I love the ones you call 'enemies',
even those who seem to be the farthest away from Me.

"I am not calling you to defeat your 'enemies',
but to walk among them as I walked among you,
carrying burdens and giving rest to the weary.

"Look! The mark of the beast is the spirit of the beast:
its desire for its kingdom and its belief in its 'right'
to use force to attain and defend it.

"My people, what is your reaction to those you see as 'enemies'?
How will you treat those who follow after the beast?
What is the manner of your spirit towards them?

"Do you love them as I do?
Can you hear My Spirit
and My heart?"

*****

Art: "Spirit-led"

"Not Because I Was Holy"

‎"I was not crucified because of My 'moral stands' against immorality in society.
I was not crucified because My people were becoming too 'secular.'
I was not crucified because I stood for 'right' in My politics.
I was not crucified because God's name was being removed from the government.

"I was crucified because I gave love and grace to 'sinners.'
I was crucified because the religious among My people were godless.
I was crucified because I did not take sides in politics.
I was crucified in the name of God."

*****

Art: "Hearing His Heart"

Lost in 'the Charismatic'

"I am calling My children out of the Charismatic babel,
where Satan has performed many works as an angel of light,
and has led many away from simple devotion to Me!

"My children have been taught to discern My Spirit
according to mass-marketed 'anointed' teachings,
'miraculous' gold dust, worship banners and shofars!

"Come, My beloved, let Me lift you out of confusion:
I am not calling you to seek a 'move' of My hand,
but to see how My hands 'moved' for you on the Cross!

"I am not calling you to seek 'signs and wonders',
but to be captivated by the wonder of My heart,
regardless of any external manifestation you see!

"I do not desire larger and louder worship
or reward it with supernatural revelations or miracles;
all I want is just your heart instead!

"I am not prophesying through 'Israel',
but rather through My testimony—through the Cross!
I am not calling you to shadows but to substance!

"Come away with Me, My beloved!
Return with Me to the simplicity of the gospel;
return to My teachings and commands!

"Escape with Me, My beloved!
Come away from the great delusion!
Let me give you rest for your burdened soul."

*****

Art: "Spirit-led"

Not Built To Last

"Why are My people so afraid that My peace cannot quiet their fears?
Is their peace in Me, or is it in their prosperity
and in their physical freedom from 'enemies'?
Who has the power to wash away what is founded on the rock?

"My church in America has founded itself on the sands of
physical freedom, economic abundance, military solutions and political power.
When these seem to be threatened by real or imaginary waves,
they become distressed because they know their house is founded on sand.

"Come, My frightened children! Let go of your foundation!
You have been tossed to and fro by the mere idea of rising waves!
Come to My foundation instead, and you will find rest for your souls
and a peace that passes all understanding."

*****

Art: "Standing On Sand"
See also: Impending Spiritual Disaster (a dream)

"What Are You Fighting For?"

"Two-thousand years ago when I came to My people, they were very distressed.
They were being occupied by a foreign, pagan power.
They wanted their freedom.
They wanted to return to the old days when their nation was glorious.
They didn't want to be taxed unfairly anymore.
They didn't want to have to obey leaders who didn't worship the only true God.
They saw the immorality of the Roman people and their government.
My people wanted to be set apart from all of that and free from it.
They felt it was polluting them and their land.
They wanted their nation to be righteous and law-abiding.

"When I came, My people did not understand Me.
They kept waiting for Me to lead them against their enemies.
They complained that I criticized them too much
and that I spent too much time with sinners.
I didn't join in their rebellions against Rome or their hatred of being taxed.
My people couldn't understand that I didn't come to give them political freedom
or to restore their prosperity from days past.
They were so focused on these that they had no room for what I wanted to tell them. They clung to parts of Scripture to support their political fight against Rome
(and their ever-increasing armed rebellions against Rome),
but they wouldn't listen to Me when I told them what the Law was all about—
and when I told them what My Father was like.

"What could I have done that I did not do?
I saw where this would lead them—
I told them what would happen to their city and nation,
and I wept in front of them.
But they would not listen to Me.
They pursued power and control.
They fought their enemies.
They rebelled for the sake of their national and material freedom.
I offered them a peace that would pass understanding
and an inheritance that would never spoil or fade.
But their treasure was their earthly kingdom.
They didn't have room in their hearts for My kingdom.
But I loved them anyway.

"I took the place of one of their rebels.
I was crucified between the two other rebels.
What happened to the one who lived because I took his place?
Did he understand what one of his friends had understood—that he deserved this?
Did he realize that My kingdom was not what he was fighting for at all?
Or did he return to the cause of trying to 'free' the nation
and establish 'righteousness' in the land?

"Some of My people understood—
a remnant of them understood.
Most did not.
I died for all of their rebellion.
But they returned to their rebellious ways.
They prized their political power and freedom more than they prized
their eternal inheritance and the lives of their neighbors.
They loved their 'nation', their 'land', their 'freedom' and their money
more than they loved Me.

"Have My people learned from what happened back then?
Is there room for My word in their hearts?
Why am I weeping?"

*****

Art: "The Release of Barabbas"

The God Under the Foundation

"I am not your foundation, America! I am not your God!
You have served Mammon since the day you were born;
and since the day you were born you have shed the blood
of those who stood between you and your mammon!
With you My people have committed adultery—
My beloved has left Me for you, America!

"Weep for My people in America,
you prophets and priests!
Stand in My love for My people
and call My beloved back
to the gospel and to My commands!"

*****

Art: "God of Our Fathers"

Harbingers of 'Judgments'

"Many false prophets are declaring that
disasters, economic upheavals, wars and diseases
are My judgments and My warnings of coming judgments.
But I did not send them to speak!

"To the eyes of the flesh,
their words appear to explain
and reveal My mind—
but it is not the mind of Christ.

"Those who do not know the spirit of My Son
—that I have fully revealed My heart in Him—
they cannot understand the manner of the spirit
of their 'prophetic declarations.'

"They attempt to discern My heart according to the law,
and they declare judgments and condemnation in My name;
their proclamations are not Spirit and life, but death—
for the law is unable to bring righteousness.

"They prey upon fears of apocalyptic danger.
Their words appeal to the desires of the flesh
to avoid suffering, to preserve earthly prosperity
and to be harbingers of 'the only true way.'

"Do not be deceived,
and do not be afraid!
Choose to walk instead
in the peace of Christ."

*****

Art: "Deducing Judgments"