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"And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues*, yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk. Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts." Revelation 9:20-21

*Plagues – Greek 4127; a stroke; by implication a wound; figuratively a calamity: - plague, stripe, wound(ed).

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things." Romans 1:22-23

"Who can ascend to the hill of the Lord? Or who can stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands, and a pure heart; who has not lifted up their soul unto vanity." Those who walk with Christ, who reverence being found in Christ, they are those who have gained entrance into the throneroom of the King. They are those who have gained entrance to His eternal throne of grace. Faith is their strength to stand boldly before the Lord and plead their cause. They know in Him they will find truth, mercy and grace in time of need.

Children of the Kingdom, those who stand boldly before God’s throne of grace, have come from all walks of life. Old, young, rich, poor, some of good report, some of evil, but their reward for turning to the Lord of Lord’s is the same. The reward for turning to Jesus is the infilling of the Holy Spirit. God’s Holy Spirit is the presence that seals and proclaims to the world that they belong to the Lord of Lord’s, the King of Kings.

"As thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given Him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John 17:2-3

Jesus alone is able to offer mankind redemption from the corruption of the flesh. He takes the filthy garments of flesh and washes them clean in the living waters. Liberty and freedom from death, is obtained when washed clean by the Word of God. Eternal, abundant, Kingdom life is experienced as they turn and trust in Jesus with their lives. Though once of reprobate minds, influenced greatly by the lusts of the flesh, Jesus redeems and sets them free from death. God has sent Jesus as the deliver to set the captives free from the grave of unbelief. Through faith in Jesus the Holy Spirit sets up residence within their lives. The eternal God now flows through their lives, drawing them, teaching them, and encouraging them to the greater truths of who they are in Christ.

Those of God’s Kingdom have passed from the death of unbelief into eternal life. God’s Spirit now flows through them transforming, changing the way they think and act. God’s love now flows through them, and directs their footsteps. God’s Spirit, the omni, eternal God, is like a river that flows through their minds renewing them to the goodness of God. Those who walk denying that Jesus is the Son of God walk according the kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan. The Word of God is foreign and not understandable to their way of thinking. They walk influenced by false images that Satan tries to establish as truth.

Children of God are no longer foreigners to His Kingdom of mercy, hope and grace. Through faith in Jesus Christ, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, God leads them out of worldly thinking. The darkness is exposed and begins losing influence over their lives. God moves within their lives and turns them from trusting in a reality where Satan has falsely established truth. God turns them from worldly thinking where Satan encourages them to place self on the throne. To walk in a kingdom, a mental reality, where Satan is king is to walk in gross darkness. But through faith in Jesus the darkness will be lifted and the light of truth will move in power within their minds affecting the way they think and respond to life.

God’s Kingdom relationship will open eyes of understanding to who they were created to be in Christ. God begins to move into the inner chambers of their mind leading them to understand that all praise is to be given to God and not to man. God’s presence, His Spirit circumcises their heart equipping them to withstand evil days. God’s spirit will teach them the importance of trusting Him in all situations. They will look to the Father for guidance, trusting that He is able to comfort, lead, and help them. The Spirit comes from the Father, and upon physical death returns to the Father. Life eternal is a relationship that begins the day they first believe with all their heart and soul that Jesus is the Son of God.

"And that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar of, and to them that were nigh." Ephesians 2:16-17

Those who have heard the voice calling out of the wilderness and have turned from the world to follow Jesus have been reconciled unto God. They are now one with God through the infilling of His Holy Spirit. God’s precious gift of eternal life flows through their lives. Though they were once far off, separated from the love of God because of the sinful nature, through faith in Jesus they are drawn close to the heart of the Father. Though once enemies of the cross, through the Spirit, they are reconciled back to the Father. His Word is now written and bound upon their heart.

In the garden God proclaimed that He would put enmity, hatred between the serpent and the woman. God proclaimed that enmity would exist between those of the seed of the serpent and those of the seed of promise. Only through faith in Jesus will enmity against the voice of the serpent be experienced. All have been born in bondage to the world, enticed by the voice of the serpent. But when they hear God’s voice, repent of their sinful nature, they are welcomed into God’s Kingdom of grace. Those who continue to listen and follow after the voice of the serpent do not walk in the Kingdom of God. They stand in the darkness and cannot comprehend a Kingdom where God rules and reigns over hearts and minds. The Kingdom of mercy is reserved for those who love God, who have been sealed with His eternal gift of life, the Holy Spirit.

Because Jesus is the light, those of faith walk in the light. They walk in God’s light of truth, acknowledging that His presence is within them and without. So as God’s children stand in the light, who is Jesus, they are able to crush under their heels the lies that Satan continues to spew forth. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit greatly influences the lives of the children of glory. Because they walk in the light, the lies of the serpent are exposed for the darkness that they are. The lies of the serpent begin to be heard and seen clearly for what they are, attacks and accusations against the goodness of God.

To be at enmity to the voice of the serpent is to mature in the wisdom of the Lord. To grow in wisdom is to understand that the lusts of the flesh must be put to death, must be slain as the Word of truth circumcises their hearts. The lusts of the flesh that the serpent uses to hold them captive to the darkness will be crucified as the light of truth moves within their lives. Their flesh is now subject to the voice of God and will find harmony as it moves in agreement to the Spirit of truth.

"Yet the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk." Revelation 9:20

"Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed." 1 Peter 2:24

To be at enmity to the Word of God is to turn from the salvation so generously offered by the Lord. To be at enmity to the Word of God is to say, the love of self is of greater importance than the love of God. A person at enmity to the Word of God easily mocks the thought of having to die to self. To those at enmity to God’s voice love of self is the beginning and ending of all that brings purpose to their lives. It doesn’t matter how destructive their actions have become, the thought of turning from trusting in self, to God, can bring confusion and resentment.

To be carnally minded is to be at enmity to the Word of God. A person who lives to satisfy the flesh and its desires will fight the battle of their soul through fleshly means. They will wield carnal weapons of anger, resentment, fear, pride, and self-exaltation. Many who are at enmity to the Word of God, mock the thought of going to battle wielding weapons of love, mercy, holiness, kindness and gentleness. To them these are weapons that depict weakness. To a carnal minded person, righteousness takes on the message of wearing pride as the armor of might and power.

To those of the Spirit they understand the importance of the words, by His stripes you are healed. The path Jesus took does not repulse them. They understand that the way of the cross is the way of abundant life. The path that leads to the cross is a path of strength, of endurance, where faith in God is engrained upon their hearts and minds. The path that leads to the cross is used to crucify their depending on the flesh to overcome problems in their lives. As they learn to walk the path of life carrying the cross God has chosen for them, their flesh will be crucified, slain, and strength of endurance will be gained. When God has done His perfect work in their lives they can rest assured that they will rise up and walk trusting that He is in control.

As death to self is wrought within their souls, they will be better equipped to trust that God truly is in control. All things are working together for His good purpose, whether they understand with their physical eyes or not. Through death of the self they are able to release their lives into the loving hands of Jesus. They will learn to trust that to Him they can give their fears, frustrations, and disappointments. Those of faith know to place their fears and insecurities at the feet of Jesus. They trust God will be faithful to lift them up and above whatever restrains them from walking in the fullness of the Son. Jesus came to give them abundant life. The flesh must die for this to be accomplished in fullness and power.

As children of light turn to God they know He will be faithful to replace feelings of despair, inadequacy, loss of direction, with hope and peace. God will be faithful to lift their thoughts into heavenly places. Their hearts and minds will walk in the heavenlies with God. Through faith their minds will ascend to the greatest heights, where they will see through eyes anointed by God’s grace. They will see and understand that the Lord is in control. God will replace despair with peace. God will place within them a peace that the world, those who are carnally minded, cannot understand.

To those who are carnally minded, who are at enmity to the Word of God, purpose is found in people, places, things, and activities outside of God’s Kingdom of grace and mercy. They deny that God has placed the desire for all men to fellowship and find purpose in Him. But if they refuse the hand of the Savior then they continue to shake hands with the world that walks in darkness. They will continue to seek things and activities that reflect the darkness. Anything that is found outside the realm of God’s truth is a lie and belongs under the covering of darkness. Without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit people will seek to fulfill their need for purpose, for fellowship, in idols that reflect the darkness. Though the darkness promises to bring purpose the one who partakes will find they are more lost and confused than when they first began.

Pride is a deadly image to partake of. Satan places pride high up on the list of idols to worship. But God has taught us that pride goeth before a fall. And the fall brought about by pride can be great. A person filled with pride can fall mentally and not even understand why feelings of depression, disappointment and frustration haunt them. Pride will establish itself as god, but this god is a god of death and destruction. Pride is in total opposition to the Word of God and stands in darkness. Pride thinks to ascend to the highest heights with no need to submit to a God who offers eternal salvation through faith in Jesus.

Mankind who denies the need to repent, to deny self and follow Jesus will continue to look to images of the earth for purpose. All mankind desires to be loved. If they refuse the love that God offers then it is natural they will turn to idols, graven images that pamper mankind’s vanity. Idols of vain imagination created by the darkness to fulfill the love they seek. But this love is futile; it is empty, devoid of meaning and purpose. Idols cannot speak comfort into their hearts when those they love turn away from them. Idols cannot hold them close to their heart and tell them they are loved and of great worth if money and possessions that they trusted in should be taken from them. Idols cannot say to them, there is a place beyond your imagination prepared for you upon your physical death, so be at peace.

Those who walk in darkness place faith in idols to fulfill the need for love and relationship that God has created them to desire. They hunger for love and purpose but deny the sovereign hand of God. They look for love and then deny the one who created the message and truth of love. Instead of looking to God for purpose, they look to cheap, valueless, imitations of love. They turn from God to false images and idols that will not hold them accountable. Idols will not speak to their soul accountability. Instead of being held accountable to holiness, truth and righteousness, idols instead fuel the flames of disbelief and self-desire.

God says, love is of great value; it cost His Son His life. God’s love says the cross Jesus partook of is a message of great importance. To place faith in idols is to deny the message of the cross. Those who refuse to repent from seeking after idols, and follow after Jesus, will continue to find that the fulfillment for purpose they seek after becomes more and more difficult to obtain. Jesus is the only path that will lead to the Kingdom of grace, mercy, purpose and hope. Jesus is the only way to the Father. There is no other way to obtain eternal salvation and purpose in life but through faith in Jesus.

"Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of the fornication, nor of their thefts." Revelation 9:21

"The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Matthew 4:16-17

Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The kingdom where God’s love will move in power and purpose within your life is at hand. The only requirement is that you repent from trusting in the darkness and turn to the light. Repent from not believing that Jesus is the Son of God. Repent in trying to find love outside of God’s kingdom of righteousness, holiness, truth and grace. Fight the good fight of faith and repent of denying that God is more than able to transform you from a child of darkness into a child of light.

Do not sit any longer in the region and shadow of death when the light of God’s revelation is yours to partake of. Move toward the light and God will be faithful to meet you. He waits and watches for you to move toward Him. He faithfully stands ready to meet you wherever you are. Whether confused, lonely, rejected, hated, rich or poor, young or old, God stands ready to place upon you garments worthy of the King’s child. His garment of holiness, His Holy Spirit is yours as you turn to Him with all your heart and soul. Repent and move from out of the darkness into the light of His glory and freedom.

"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." 1 Peter 2:21-25