The Sifting Of Powers

By Gary Amirault

(Written October, 2001)

What we align ourselves to in the coming months is vital to our Spiritual health.

“Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” (Luke 21: 26, 27, NIV)

Millions, perhaps billions of hearts, have been gripped with terror as they see things come upon them that they never dreamed could happen. Millions are crying out for answers to what has come upon the earth. Who is really responsible? What powers have created these catastrophes? Some say it´s God´ s judgment upon America or the Western world, some say it´s Satan, some say it´s religion, and some are so shackled with fear that they cannot even think long enough to form an opinion.

All are seeking to know what powers started this and more importantly what powers can bring this great shaking to an end. One thing is certain, whatever you believe about this momentous event, there are voices of authority all over the planet that will line up with what you already believe. Whatever one believes, they will have no problem finding experts to support what they are already convinced of. We must get past our preconceived ideas if we are going to come to truth in these days.

There are those like Falwell, Robertson, and Wilkerson who will tell us these American airplanes crashing into America´s financial and military centers are God´s judgment upon America for its licentious and evil ways. The Bible certainly has hundreds of examples to support such a view. One need not look further than Sodom and Gomorrah or the flood to see that the God described in what is commonly called the Old Testament takes full credit for many of the catastrophes that come upon the earth, especially those that come upon His own people. A couple verses of Scripture are all that´s needed to prove the point:

“If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it?” Amos 3:6

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7, KJV)

The NIV renders the same passage:

“I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the LORD, do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7, NIV)

As we can see, it is not difficult to find Scriptures to justify a position that God is much more sovereign in world events than we might care to believe. Others say that God could never be the author of such events as occurred in New York and Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001. They would quote scriptures like:

“God is love.” (1 John 4:16)

“The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” (Psalm 145:8, 9, KJV)

I have studied the Bible for many years from many different denominational points of view and have come to the conclusion that one can find support in the Bible for whatever they want to believe. The heart of man is so corrupt that it will twist and distort the Scriptures to make them say whatever they want them to say conveniently leaving out or ignoring scriptures that express a contrary viewpoint to what we have chosen to believe. If our hearts are full of hidden idols which we are not willing to let go, then God will allow these idols to speak to us as if they were God Himself so the people can eventually see the true fruit (or lack thereof) of their choices.

The Blinding Power Of Heart Idolatry

Ezekiel the fourteenth chapter has a lot to say about idols of the heart. True idolatry really has little to do with bowing down to statues or trees. The idols God has always been after are those hidden deep in our hearts. Those are the ones He is exposing in His own people right now. Here´s a part of Ezekiel fourteen that I encourage the reader to spend some considerable time reading and praying about:

“Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me. Then the word of the LORD came to me: ‘Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all? Therefore speak to them and tell them, “This is what the Sovereign LORD says: ‘When any Israelite sets up idols in his heart and puts a wicked stumbling block before his face and then goes to a prophet, I the LORD will answer him myself in keeping with his great idolatry. I will do this to recapture the hearts of the people of Israel, who have all deserted me for their idols.´ Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices!´” (Ezekiel 14:1-6, NIV)

You see, when we have idols in our heart, that is, our own lusts, our own justifications, our own views, our own traditions, prejudices, etc., then we will hear God according to these things, not according to His true Word and Will. We deceive ourselves.

Right now, the media is filled with opinions of all kinds regarding the recent events. And if we have idols in our hearts, we will agree with that which is already in our thinking. We will NOT hear the true Word of God in this situation. We will hear what we want to hear!

The Classical Power Alliance

President Bush has managed at the time of this writing to form a coalition in the United States that has united about 80 percent of the United States behind his “war on terrorism,” and/or his “war on evil.” He seems to think that he is going to be able to establish “Infinite Justice” via the military. Apparently, this slogan didn´t go over too well so they changed it to “Enduring Freedom.” Both are vain, boastful and empty expressions. As a matter of fact, his coalition under the banner of “Enduring Freedom” presents the greatest threat to freedom America has faced in a long time. Only the Holy Spirit can bring true freedom and justice into the world by changing their hearts. No military force regardless of its size and power will ever bring lasting peace.

I believe the ending of the prayer service at the National Cathedral prophetically depicted what George Bush had actually accomplished. The departing procession after the prayer meeting was led by the color guard of the military. It was followed by the crucifix of the Episcopal Church, which has killed millions over hundreds of years using the sign of the cross. Protestant President Bush came behind the Catholic crucifix. The procession that followed the President out of this building was composed of all the powerful men and women from America´s military, political, business, and religious communities. This coalition of power armed with the American flag, the code name “Operation: Infinite Justice,” the slogan “God bless America,” and billions of dollars of the most sophisticated “weapons of mass destruction,” plans to eradicate the evil in the world. President Bush has said this is a war between good and evil. That sounds good on the surface, but I´m afraid he is sadly mistaken. If this war becomes reality, it will be a war of evil against evil. Revenge begets more revenge and the circle of death continues to the next generation.

There was another well-known man who did the same thing 1700 years ago, that is, uniting these same forces to create a great empire. His name was Constantine. He wanted to unite the Roman Empire which was split into two powers. He realized he needed to bring the religious, political, military and business powers under the same banner in order to do this. He used the sign of the Cross to bring this about. The Church became the Church Militant from that time forward. This action set the course to plunge Europe into the Dark Ages for the next thousand years. The power of the Holy Spirit was quickly crushed under the power of terror, the power of force, the power of military might. Everyone had to line up with the one standard of Rome or die. Interestingly, President Bush has recently made the threat, “You are either with us or against us.” The President speaks of “Enduring Freedom,” but in actuality he has brought us several steps closer to tyranny. To have a different opinion from the President is now no longer an expression of free speech, it has become grounds for labeling someone “treasonous.”

I have been told by some people that my writings regarding the bombings of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon have been unpatriotic. I say to them, “Is what I am writing true?” It is not patriotism that will set one free, it is the truth. If we set the truth aside because we fear harm from a patriotic spirit, then we have already lost our freedom. Patriotism that seeks to hide the truth is evil. If President Bush and his military truly seeks “enduring freedom,” then the truth contained in this article should be welcomed by them and I should be encouraged to distribute it. But I have already received some very unkind letters from patriotic Christians whose patriotism and nationalism is more important to them than the truth.

At this time of great shaking, our confidence has been greatly shattered. We are all running for shelter. We are all looking for a savior. We are looking for refuge, something in which to put our trust, our lives. And most of America has run to a Militant Church whose roots go all the way back to the time of Constantine. They are adding their life, (which is power) to a system which has been used by many other leaders of other countries and empires for thousands of years. All those who led great movements of men have had the ability to bring together the business, military, political and religious systems of their empire … all except one. His name is Jesus the Messiah.

The True Power to Come

After His resurrection, Jesus commanded His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. This power was not a political, military, economic or even a religious power. It was a power from another world. It was a Holy Power, not from man, but from the Holy One of Israel. This power was a power that could change the hearts of men! This power could bring healing to people's body, soul, and spirit. Those who possessed this power were not great military, political, or business leaders. They were fishermen, tax-collectors, and yes, some of them were even former terrorists from Rome´s point of view. (The Zealot and Scarii groups in Jesus´ day would have been considered “terrorists” by Rome. Simon, one of the apostles, was a zealot. Luke 6:15)

The National Cathedral in Washington D.C. was filled with the powers that most of America has entrusted itself to -- generals, archbishops, Senators, Congressmen, the President, and corporate heads -- the who´s who of the military, political, business and religious worlds. Was it these kinds of people that Jesus entrusted with His power?

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence.” (1 Cor. 1:26-29, KJV)

Now, if one is wise, and wants to walk in the heavenly kingdom, I believe it would behoove the reader to compare the two paragraphs above and seek God´s face about a few things.

I believe that the true power of God, is about to be poured out again upon the earth in measures that will make the glory poured out on the early Christians seem insignificant. God is presently preparing a people who will be able to carry that power without being destroyed by it. It is a power that must be handled very carefully and according to God´s methods, not man´ s.

How To Handle God´s Power

When King David recaptured the Ark of the Covenant and tried to bring it back to Mount Zion, he handled it incorrectly thereby costing one of his men his life. David put the Ark on a man-made cart pulled by an ox which was driven by Uzza and Ahio. Interestingly, Uzza means “strength” and Ahio means “brotherly love.” When they came to the threshing floor, the place where wheat is separated from the chaff (he or she who has ears, let them hear) the ox stumbled destabilizing the Ark. Uzza´s (strength) reflexes went into gear, touched the Ark to hold it in place and died because it was unlawful for him to touch the Ark. The Ark was to be placed upon the shoulders of the Priests anointed by God NOT pulled along by a made-made contraption and beasts. All of these events in the lives of the Israelites were of course to serve as spiritual examples for those of us who would become the new and true priesthood under the New Covenant. (Heb. 10:1; 1 Cor. 10:6, 11; Gal. 4:21-31)

This unusual occurrence in David´s life was to serve as a spiritual type, as an example, for those of us born into the New Covenant through the life/blood of Jesus the Messiah. Under the New Covenant, the presence of God was to be placed upon the shoulders of the New Covenant Priesthood, by being beheaded of our carnal beastly thinking by receiving the “mind of Christ.” (1 Cor. 2:16) In the book of Revelation we find a people who were beheaded for their testimony and the word of God. They received power to judge because they had not worshipped the beast nor received its mark in their heads (thinking) nor their hands (works). (Rev. 20:4) Who is this Priesthood that is to carry the presence of God upon their shoulders in reality?

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9) Dear brothers and sisters, who do you REALLY belong to? To what do you put your hand and mind to work for? This time of sifting on the threshing floor of Nacon (means “prepared” in Hebrew) will separate those who rely on beastly strength and weapons and machinery built with the hands of man and a coalition of nations under the banner of “brotherly love,” from those who are willing to be beheaded for the word of God and testimony of Jesus Who laid down His life for His enemies. (Rev. 20:4) Those who truly belong to the body of Christ know they must lose their own heads (their own way of thinking) because their true head is Jesus.

“And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything He might have the supremacy.” (Col. 1:18, NIV)

The Power of the Holy One

Space will not permit quoting all the references found in the Bible regarding the tremendous power the early disciples received after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Before His ascension, Jesus told his disciples to go to Jerusalem and wait there until they were endued with power from on high. When the power fell, it drove them out into the streets declaring the wonderful works of Yahweh. The Book of Acts is filled with examples of the tremendous power God poured into the earth through his disciples over the next few years. Many people were covetous of this power or at least wanted to be near this great anointing. Simon Magus wanted to buy this power from Peter.

How God Kept The Early Church Pure From False Motives

Very early in this great movement, many sold some of their belongings and presented them to the apostles. It appears the power of greed was broken in many of those who came close to this anointing. There was a couple named Ananias and Sapphira who also sold some of their belongings and laid the proceeds at the apostles´ feet. (Acts 5:1-11) But they lied about how much they actually received from their sale. The Holy Spirit through Peter exposed their lie and they found themselves being dragged out of the building – both dead. Let´s be honest here, if God were to again pour out His Spirit upon His people in the measure displayed in the Book of Acts or greater and wanted the moral purity that would bring death to someone if they lied a little about money, how many of us do you think would remain standing? Let´s see what happened right after this event took place.

“So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things. And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon´s Porch. Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.” (Acts 5:11-13, NKJV)

God used the deaths of Ananias and Sapphira to keep those who were not willing to come to the end of themselves away from the core of the unity of power so they would not defile it and thereby destroy it. I believe millions of Christians have a hope for a return for this kind of power in the body of Christ. But if God used the same standards He used in Acts, how many of us could truly stand without dropping dead because we harbor all sorts of idols in our hearts? All Ananias and Sapphira did was not tell the full truth about the price they got from the sale of their property and that cost them their lives and their right to participate in one of God´s greatest outpourings of His Spirit.

In contrast to the display of power that paraded forth in the National Cathedral, what does the true power of God look like? Author Richard J. Foster had this to say about the true power from on high:

“The power that creates is spiritual power, and it is in stark contrast to human power. What, then, are the marks of spiritual power?

“Love is the first mark of spiritual power. Love demands that power be used for the good of others.

“Humility is the second mark of spiritual power. Humility is power under control. Nothing is more dangerous than power in the service of arrogance. Power under the discipline of humility is teachable.

“Self-limitation is the third mark of spiritual power. The power that creates refrains from doing some things -- even good things -- out of respect for the individual. Have you ever noticed the number of times Jesus refused to use power? He refused to dazzle people by jumping off the pinnacle of the temple (Matthew 4:5). He rejected the temptation to make more "wonder bread" to validate his ministry (John 6:26). He refused to do many wonderful works in his own hometown because of the unbelief of the people (Luke 4:16-27). At his arrest, Jesus reminded Peter that he could have summoned a whole army of angels to his rescue, but he did not (Matthew 26:53).

“Joy is the fourth mark of spiritual power. This is no grim-faced, sour effort! When the lame man was healed, he went ‘walking and leaping and praising God´ (Acts 3:8). That is a good description of our spontaneous reaction to the work of God.

“Vulnerability is the fifth mark of spiritual power. The power that comes from above is not filled with bravado and bombast. It lacks the symbols of human authority; indeed its symbols are a manger and a cross. It is power that is not recognized as power. It is the power of the ‘wounded healer,´ to use the phrase of Henri Nouwen. The power from above leads from weakness. It is in contradiction to the society of the strong and the capable.

“The sixth mark of spiritual power is submission. Jesus knew what it meant to submit to the ways of God. As we learn to experience on a personal level this same kind of intimate cooperation with the Father, we will enter more deeply into the meaning of true power. Submission is power because it places us in a position in which we can receive from others. When, with humility of heart, we submit to others, we have access to their wisdom, their counsel, their rebuke, their encouragement.

“Freedom is the final mark of spiritual power. People were set free when Jesus and the apostles exercised power. The lame could walk; the blind could see; the guilty knew forgiveness . . . the powers of this dark evil age were defeated, and the captives were set free. Notice how Jesus worked with people. Jesus never ran roughshod over the weak. He never used His power to exploit or control others. It would have been easy for Him to do otherwise. The poor who heard Him so gladly would have done anything for Him because they were so grateful just to have someone pay attention to them. But Jesus refused to exploit the power He had over them. No, He freed them to be themselves, fully and uniquely.” –endquote.

To What Power Will You Give Your Life?

It appears Christians today are faced with a choice as to what powers they will entrust their lives to. The majority at this moment are running to the National Cathedral whose procession began with the military followed by the Roman Catholic crucifix, followed by men and women of renown with political, military, economic and religious power. They believe that this is the power that will solve the present world problems. Many nations have come and gone who have trusted in this kind of coalition of powers.

But there is another power – a power that only a remnant is seeking – a power that demands everything one has in exchange for it. It truly costs one their very life. “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matt. 16:25, NKJV) Where is this power? “My kingdom is not of this world” said Jesus. (John 18:36, NKJV) It is not in physical Israel nor America nor any other physical country contrary to what many American Christians and Jews think. It is not in military, political or religious systems of any kind. It is not in capitalism, socialism, communism or any other kind of economic system. It is not in Catholicism, Protestantism or any other man-made ism which divides the body of Christ through its “traditions of men” which makes the word of God of no effect. (Matt. 15:6-9)

Millions of Christians around the world, especially of the “Westernized” or “Romanized” variety will not be able to receive the words contained in this article. They will be seduced by the "-isms" in their own hearts while thinking that Islam is their enemy. They will add their “amen” to the chants of the West´s political, military and economic leaders when the Prince of the power of the air sends out his angels of death (fighter and bomber airplanes) to pour out fire upon their perceived enemies. Many innocent human beings will die along with the guilty ones. But the angel of death has learned how to speak to make the gross atrocities which will be inflicted sound almost divine. When we dropped bombs on aspirin factories killing innocent lives, our military leaders called it “surgical” bombing to give it a healing sound. When we send out our own version of terrorists, we will call them “special forces” and “covert operatives.” We do not create “battlefields and war zones,” our military today calls these places of human carnage “theatres.” The headquarters for our armies used to be called “War Department.” That sounded too offensive so now we call it the “Department of Defense.” The master of this military doublespeak during WW II was the Hitler´s propaganda chief Goebbels. It seems the American military has studied very carefully Goebbels techniques of manipulating and deceiving the people.

During the Vietnam War, our own (America´s) propagandists refined Goebbel´s double-speak techniques to a science. A mercenary became “civilian irregular defense soldier,” refugees became “ambient noncombatant personnel.” Enemy troops that survived bombing were “interdictional nonsuccumbers.” Poisoning thousands of acres of vegetation was just a “resources control program.” American airplanes conducted “limited duration protective reactive strikes” with an “effective deliverance of ordinance.” When American troops attacked, it was a “pre-emptive counterattack or an “aggressive defense.” Spraying an area with machine-gun fire was “reconnaissance by fire.”

In American military doublespeak, “friendly casualties,” are caused by “accidental deliverance of ordinance equipment.” “Friendly fire,” means American troops killed by American bombs or artillery shells. “Traumatic amputation” is what happens when arms and legs are blown off soldiers, while “aluminum transfer containers” are temporary coffins. Civilians who are killed and wounded during war are simply “collateral damage” in military doublespeak.

American troops don´t attack, they “assume an offensive posture,” which usually occurs during a “lethal intervention” or war. “Airborne vector” means germ warfare, while “employment of incapacitory agents” is using nerve gas. “Locating areas for concentration of resources” means identifying targets for bombing attacks, while “eroding the will of the population” means bombing civilians. A “special weapon” is an atomic bomb. In today´s American Army, it´s not killing the enemy, it´s “servicing the target.”

Most of the above information on the new language of the American military came from a chapter entitled “The Pentagon Word Machine Grinds On” from the book “DoubleSpeak” by William Lutz, HarperPerennial Publishers, 1990. William Lutz points out in his book that the military at that time was very interested in what it called “low-intensity conflict,” or “LIC” as those in the military liked to call it. What our military classifies as LIC´s in our own army, they call terrorists when they belong to other countries.

Dear reader, please pay close attention to the following words. Then you may know who has been creating the “terrorists” of the world, only they have been called different names by those who have created them. I quote from DoubleSpeak first published in the late 1980´s from page 177:

“Current Pentagon planning for ‘low intensity conflict´ proposes aiding ‘freedom fighters´ (today´s terrorists) throughout the world. A thousand-page, two-volume study entitled “Join Low-Intensity Conflict Project” prepared by the CIA, State Department, and the Pentagon states that ‘low-intensity conflict´ is neither war nor peace. It is an improbably compilation of dissimilar phenomena that, like a Cheshire cat which seems to fade in and out as you look at it, leaving only a mocking smile, bedevils efforts at comprehension.´ The study discusses terrorism as one type of ‘low-intensity conflict´ that will be used and states that ‘low-intensity conflict´ also includes virtually all acts of violence in the Third World, ranging from domestic turmoil, drug trafficking, and political assassinations to hostage taking, guerrilla insurgencies, revolution, and civil war.

“At a Pentagon-sponsored conference on ‘low-intensity warfare,´ retired General Paul F. Gorman said that this type of conflict ‘is inherently repugnant to Americans, a conflict which involves innocents, in which noncombatant casualties may be an explicit object.´ Writing in the March 1985 MILITARY REVIEW, a U.S. Army journal, Lt. Col. Richard Brawn stated that ‘Low-intensity conflict is a pseudonym for a war without full political support – a war without the needed political will.´ The U.S. Navy, in its own inimitable doublespeak, calls the concept of low-intensity conflict ‘violent peace.´” –endquote.

There is a lot more in that chapter on the Pentagon Word Machine that American Christians especially should be made aware of. I highly recommend reading that book. Here are a couple more examples of the kind of sick DoubleSpeak we have been fed by our military:

“In 1982 a meeting was called in the White House to find a new and appealing name for the MX missile. When someone suggested calling the missile “Peacemaker,” the name that was finally selected, Robert McFarlane, national security advisor to President Reagan, said, ‘I suppose widowmaker wouldn´t do?´”

The United States government in recent years has expressed great concern over the fact that some third world countries are developing “weapons of mass destruction.” We have dropped tons of our own “weapons of mass destruction” on their men, women and children to prevent them from possibly using theirs one day. Read the following section from Doublespeak on page 190 and see what utter hypocrisy and doublespeak comes from our own leaders. Read this and see why so much of the world despises America and does not trust it or its people.

“For fifteen years the Pentagon got funding for the neutron bomb from Congress by calling it a “radiation enhancement weapon.” In 1977 the Pentagon wanted to begin production of the bomb, so it again sought money from Congress to build its “radiation enhancement weapon.” Congress was all set to approve funding for this new weapon when Walter Pincus, a reporter for The Washington Post, revealed the reality of the weapon, and how the Pentagon planned to use it. A staff member for the Senate Appropriations Committee said that because of the “radiation enhancement” doublespeak, some legislators ‘didn´t understand the full implication of it.´ But because of the articles by Walter Pincus explaining what a ‘radiation enhancement weapon´ is, what it does, and what it was to be used for, Congress at that time changed its mind and decided not to build the neutron bomb.

“What is a ‘radiation enhancement weapon,´ and how does the Pentagon plan to use it? The Pentagon described it as ‘an efficient nuclear weapon that eliminates an enemy with a minimum damage to friendly territory´ by killing people while leaving buildings intact. Now we know what the Pentagon considers really important. ‘Save the real estate!´ might be the battle cry for the next war. The neutron bomb works by attacking the central nervous system: the body convulses, limbs shake, the nervous system fails so that all of the automatic body functions, even breathing, are affected. Death comes within forty-eight hours from respiratory failure or swelling of tissues in the brain.

“The Pentagon developed the neutron bomb for use against an enemy occupying army. A Pentagon official said that ‘We were going to use it over our own territory, if necessary´ – territory including San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Boston, Detroit, Seattle, Honolulu. The Pentagon, which also called the bomb ‘the cookie cutter,´ claimed that it would kill people inside less than a three-quarter-mile radius without harming allied soldiers and civilians nearby. The Pentagon assumed that an occupying enemy would be considerate enough to place civilians outside any such radius. In 1981, after Congress changed its mind and approved the funding to build the bomb, the Pentagon called it an ‘enhanced radiation device.´ In 1984, the Pentagon changed the name again and started calling it an “enlarged radiation” weapon.” –endquote.

So then, if one wants to learn all about terrorism and how to deploy it, one only needs to ask our own Pentagon leaders who wrote THE manual on how to use it and keep the American sheep dumb enough not to know what is really going on through deceitful, purposeful and willful manipulation of words. Millions of American Christians will side with this double speaking dragon because of the idols in their hearts or because they have been seduced by this dragon that has made itself sound like a lamb through its adept use of double talking, hypocritical propaganda. Do you really think God should honor this kind of manipulative deceitful use of words? All across this land churches, businesses and homes post signs “God bless America.” Do you really think He will bless this kind of hypocrisy and deception?

God did not need to send those airplanes into the World Trade Center to bring judgment upon this kind of deceitfulness. There is a principle found in the Bible, “As you sow, so shall you reap.” I believe any sincere Christian should be able to see that we have only been reaping in recent days that which our military, political, economic and religious leaders (with our support) have sown in past decades.

Where Can True Security Be Found?

Everywhere I go, I see the American flag often with a sign reading “God Bless America” near it. Millions of Christians and non-Christians have huddled beneath this battle-worn flag seeking refuge from this “terrorism” which they have been told will continue to come from primarily Islamic countries. Millions of Americans are willing to lose a great deal of their freedom in exchange for a “security” that is actually bringing bondage.

No, true security is not under the flag of America. True security can only be found in a city whose banner is LOVE. (Sol. 2:4) True security is found only in a city whose walls are salvation and whose gates are praise. (Isaiah 60:18) In this city, doublespeak, speaking with a forked tongue is not permitted; there is no room for the kind of blinding hypocrisy that is presently coming forth from American political, military, economic and religious leaders. In this city is a single straight wide street of pure gold, which speaks of a divine walk where one does what he says without word manipulations and outright deceit. In this city is a river of life that brings refreshment to the soul and cleansing from all uncleanness. There is no temple this city like the one many Christians are financially supporting to be built in Jerusalem, Israel. No, this city´s temple is God Himself, Who is also the light of the city. There is perfect understanding in this city because the language is plain, pure and without deceit. There is great power in this city which emanates from a slain innocent Lamb on a throne who laid down His own Life for His enemies. The Cornerstone of this city is Christ Himself. On its twelve foundations are the names of the twelve apostles. Its pillars are the apostles, prophets and other overcomers of the Lamb. In this city is the Tree of Life that bears fruit continually, the leaves of which will heal all the nations of the world.

From this city go forth “Ambassadors of Christ” “reconciling the world” to God the Father that He may be “all in all.” (2 Cor. 5:19-21; 1Cor 15:28; Rom. 11:15)

The power of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob resides in a heavenly city, whose Maker is Yahweh, not builders like those who have been manipulating the American people into becoming tyrants under the guise of “Operation: Infinite Justice.” If President Bush´s “Operation: Infinite Justice” or “Enduring Freedom” through his military apparatus ever gets off the ground, it will be one of the most outrageous mockeries of true justice and freedom this world has ever seen. We MUST stand up NOW and let our voices be heard before it´s too late.

Let us look at a different kind of power, the only power that will bring true justice and enduring freedom into this world.

New Jerusalem

 “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (that done in the body by the hands of men) -- remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.

“He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:1-22, NIV)

The Father of all Creation is drawing a people unto Himself who will truly worship Him in Spirit and in Truth who will become a city of true power. (John 4:23, 24) In this city, there is “neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Gal. 3:28, 29, NIV) There are no Americans, or Russians, or Talibans in this city. There are neither terrorists nor their counterpart “special forces.” People do not learn war in this city (Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3) for this city is the New Jerusalem, the City of Peace, the mother of us all. (Gal. 4:26, 27) This is the heavenly city that Abraham, the father of all nations, longed to see. It was NOT the Jerusalem in physical Israel that Abraham longed for which were only types and shadows of the true city and country. All those who are “born from above” (John 3:3) are citizens of the true Israel (Eph. 2:1-22), not the Israel in the Middle East. Too many Christians are settling for types and shadows of reality and not the reality itself which is much greater than the shadow.

Millions of Christians are expecting this New Jerusalem to come down upon the physical land of Israel. Friends, this will never happen. The city´s height, length and width are 1200 miles each direction. Clearly, this is a spiritual city, not an earthly one. We must “come up hither,” if we are to understand this city and draw from its power. (Rev. 4:1) This patriotic, Bible-thumping flag waving fanaticism that is sweeping America and some of the rest of the world is a distraction from what God really wants to do in His people. He wants to unite us under His banner of love, not a banner that has literally poured hundreds of billions of dollars of weapons into every nation of the world.

There is no “doublespeak” in this city for liars are not permitted entry. We play no favoritism from this city. There are no political favorites in this city and its citizens do not get caught up in national or religious prejudices. From this city we can truly love all peoples for we are not respecters of persons. We bring healing to all irrespective of their nationality, color, class, race or sect. From this city we speak peace; we teach nations how to beat their swords into plowshares. This city is filled with the wisdom, honor, power and glory of our Creator and Father. Those who come from this city “love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them” and thereby reflect the nature and character of the Ruler of that city. (Matt. 5:38-48) We bring true security because we truly know and have the nature of the Creator and Father through His Son, Jesus the Messiah and Savior of the world. Our so-called “Christian” warlike and greedy behavior is why much of the world rejects our Gospel. Our country uses over half the world´s natural resources. Of all the money nations spend on their  “defense,” the United States spends 36 percent of that. It´s time to wake, take a good look in the mirror, splash some cold water on our faces and change. The Bible word for that is “repent!”

Time To Come Up To The Mountain of Our God

“A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron's beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.” (Psalm 133:1-3, NIV)

“In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. (Micah 4:1-3, NIV)

“He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love.” (Song of Sol. 2:4)

My prayer: Father, cause your children on earth to rise up and come near to your heart, not to plan a trip into the shadows of yesterday by going over to the natural land of Israel, but to get caught up into heavenly places, to the true city of the Father of all souls, the city Whose Maker is truly You . . . the city Abraham saw from afar . . . New Jerusalem, a heavenly city, our true mother. Deliver us from mixing Law and Grace which only brings forth death. Cause us to flow in pure grace and mercy which come flowing down as a river from your Throne. Give us access to the Tree of Life that we may truly bring healing to the nations of the world and glory to Your Name. Deliver us from our blindness that we may truly recognize each other as you have made us, not how lies and deceptions have caused us to make false judgments of each other. Teach us how to overcome our enemies even as the Slain Lamb upon the Throne overcame His enemies by laying down His life for them. Father cause your people, especially in America, not to get distracted and seduced into gathering around the wrong banner, a lower and earthy banner of nationalism, even if this banner claims to be a banner of “enduring  freedom.” True freedom is found only in Christ and the True City of Peace, New Jerusalem, the city that gives true comfort and security.

Father, cause us to rise up out of the dust and ashes, out of the types and shadows and come up to the true Zion of God, the true Israel of God (those who wrestle with God and prevail) and the true Jerusalem, the New City in which we all have new names and new natures, the nature of the slain Lamb. In this place all the beastly things we have done in our old nature will fall away. Lasting peace and victory will NEVER come through military campaigns regardless of how righteous the leaders of the nations that start them think they are. Cause us, Your people, to become one with Your city of refuge, the true City of Peace, Shalom, Salem. Deliver us from our bondage to corruptible powers, all of them, but at this time especially powers like nationalism and patriotism and pride. These are NOT Godly traits. They are evil regardless of which nation uses them. Father help us overcome the temptation to be seduced by beastly powers which draw us away from the true power of the healing love of the Lamb upon your throne. Open our eyes, minds and hearts. Cause us to see the Truth so that we may truly have “enduring freedom” and true peace. Amen.

Summary: It is the strong opinion of this writer that the solution to resolving this conflict must begin with America´s honest admission of our own guilt in feeding the hatred of the third world countries. We are presently reaping what we have sown. America´s leadership, whether one believes it or not, claims to be Christian. Jesus Christ said that the way to overcome our enemies is to love them. Moses, the Father of Judaism said, “An eye for an eye and a life for a life.”

When one removes the cosmetics, the concepts of God in Islam and modern Judaism are really the same thing – revenge – “life for a life.” (Exodus 21:21-23) True and pure Christianity stands directly opposed to both of these concepts. I realize that most Christian denominations have fallen far from the pure teachings of Christ having fallen far from the power of grace and returned to a mixture of Mosaic Law and grace, which brings death and spiritually leaves us blind (Gal. 5:4). James, the apostle, tells us that anyone who wants to keep part of the law, MUST keep all of it. And to violate any part of the Mosaic law brings death. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10, KJV)

True New Testament Christianity tells us that “mercy triumphs over  judgment.” (James 2:13) In the days ahead America will tell the world whether it is truly Christian, or just a distorted sect of Judaism, a religion and a way of life which the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did away with through Jesus at the Cross of Christ. Here He nailed its statutes and ordinances, which were against us (Eph. 2:15). “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34) were the words of the Savior of the world as He hung of the Tree. This was in direct opposition to the commands of Moses. The pure teachings of Jesus the Messiah have been diluted by mixing portions of Mosaic Law with the Gospel of Grace. This abominable mixture has poisoned the entire world. It is time to rightly divide the word of truth separating the Mosaic Law from the New Covenant of Jesus Christ so that life may truly flow from the body of Christ to the nations of the world and bring true healing, not more revenge.

Will we follow the words of Christ or will we go back into the shadow and darkness of the Mosaic Law, which only brought death? America´s battle is really not terrorism; it´s about spiritual truths and principles. America is faced with a decision that is truly a matter of life and death. Moses or Jesus? Old Covenant revenge or New Covenant mercy and forgiveness? Revenge or the humility to apologize for our mistakes, learn from them, confess our sins, repent and forgive our enemies and then seek true justice without revenge. Which will it be? I pray enough Christians in the world have eyes to see the real battle. Our children will eat the fruit of our decision today.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:38-48, NIV)

“Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.

“Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,´ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.´ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with  good.” (Rom. 12:14-21, NIV)
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Other helpful articles on this subject:
http://www.tentmaker.org/articles/The-Touchstoning_of_Americas_Heart.htm

 http://www.tentmaker.org/tracts/OldVsNewCovenant.html

http://www.tentmaker.org/tracts/PurposeLaw.html

http://www.tentmaker.org/books/PillarLaws.html

http://www.tentmaker.org/Dew/Dew6/D6-NutsAndMoses.html

http://www.tentmaker.org/topics/lawversusgrace.html

http://www.tentmaker.org/books/TheBurningLoveofGodandtheRagingWrathofMan.html