“TRUTH vs propaganda!”

 prop·a·gan·da

/ˌpräpəˈɡandə/

noun

1. 1. 
   information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.

The word(s) above is/are taken from the dictionary.  No additional information has been added to them.  My reason for stating them in this manner is to make a point, and that point is TRUTH is the enemy of propaganda.  The words “especially of a biased or misleading nature” let’s us KNOW that propaganda is a tool of the devil to sway people who haven’t grounded themselves in THE TRUTH.  My mind immediately goes to Exodus 20:3, the first of the Ten Commandments.  The English Standard Version of Exodus 20:3 states “"You shall have NO OTHER gods before ME.”  “This world” as a whole has devolved into a society that has drifted so far from what Scripture instructs mankind to be that there is very little structure for society any longer.  Doing things with ORDER and RESPECT for the rule of law is what our nation was founded on.  

Imagine going to the capital building and walking in during a session of congress to explain to the “servants” chosen to “represent” WE THE PEOPLE that your life isn’t fair and they were fired, to clean out their things and go home!  Most of them deserve the aforementioned fate, but we have RULES that prevent that from happening.  But we also have RULES that state ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE!  According to a Cornell Law School article, “The One-Person One-Vote Rule refers to the rule that one person’s voting power ought to be roughly equivalent to another person’s within the same state.”  When that right is abused, it in essence deprives another’s right to be counted equally!  This is referred to as the “equal protection clause” in Amendment XIV of the United States Constitution, which in parts states “No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States;”.  

The elected leaders have no more GOD given rights than the invalid on life support in the local hospital.  We do GIVE THEM a certain amount of respect, but they have to earn keeping that privileged position.  When that respect is gone, faith in their leadership abilities is gone as well.   The previously mentioned ORDER and RESPECT has been violated leading to a chaotic environment.   

When we get the ORDER and RESPECT out of STRUCTURE OF GOD by placing other gods before YAHWEH, we have jeopardized the FREEDOM that GOD grants us.  The tyranny of sin is something that is an anchor that most souls are unable to overcome.  JESUS says in John 14:27 “PEACE I leave with you; MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”  Abandoning HIS PEACE, HIS ORDER and HIS RESPECT leaves chaos.......which is exactly what we are experiencing now!  Only we who have HIS PEACE can survive this chaos! JESUS says in John 6:44 “No one can come to ME unless the FATHER WHO sent ME draws him.”  

John Adams is quoted as saying “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people.  It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”  Our founders KNEW that the ORDER and RESPECT must be at the forefront of our republic.  Just as the first commandment shows “You shall have NO OTHER gods before ME”, to have PEACE we must keep JESUS preeminent in our lives.  I understand that some people might say that we have to separate the church from the business of the state, but John Adams thought differently!  Unless we get back to the ORDER of the late 1700’s, we WILL NOT have PEACE!  

“LEAVING THE CROWD!”

 Mark 4:35-41                        (ESV)

“35 On that day, when evening had come, HE said to them, "LET US GO ACROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE."

36 And “LEAVING THE CROWD”, they took HIM with them in the boat, just as HE was. And other boats were with HIM.

37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling.

38 But HE was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke HIM and said to HIM, "TEACHER, do YOU not care that we are perishing?"

39 And HE awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 HE said to them, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"

41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "WHO then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey HIM?" 

This report of happenings of JESUS and HIS disciples can be read so quickly that we miss a very important nugget.  Usually when reading this it is about JESUS calming the storm.  However, GOD has a way of OPENING my EYES at the most awkward moments!  When I read this passage recently I was amazed that I saw the words “LEAVING THE CROWD”, like they had just been written?  

“LET US GO ACROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE” is the message that I have focused on before.  JESUS had told HIS followers that they were going to arrive on the other side of (most probably) the Sea of Galilee.  But before they got into the boat they had to “LEAVE THE CROWD”!  They had to get away with JESUS, all by themselves!  

The storm didn’t just come up on the boat JESUS was in.  Verse 36 says “And other boats were with HIM”, so apparently they ALL had tumultuous weather.  JESUS calmed the sea, but then asked “Why are you so afraid?” It was as if JESUS was asking didn’t you hear ME tell you “LET US GO ACROSS TO THE OTHER SIDE”?  “I wasn’t just small talking to fill the time”!  “I told you and you didn’t believe ME”?!?

When GOD tells us through HIS WORD that something is going to happen, you can write it down because......IT WILL HAPPEN!  JESUS promised us that HE would NEVER LEAVE US (Matthew 28:20), so why do we fret when “things don’t go our way”?  Maybe we need to begin with “LEAVING THE CROWD” and getting ALONE WITH JESUS???  

“THE WILL OF THE PILOT!”

 James 3:1-4 

“1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body.

3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well.

4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever “THE WILL OF THE PILOT” directs.”

From time to time a passage of Scripture is in my mind and I research and study for a period of time to SEE what I am needing to HEAR.  Similarly, I recently I had the words “rudderless ship” that kept reverberating in my mind, so I decided to discover what was in the BIBLE about them.  The verses above were given to me and I have been mulling over them for a few days.  

I am uniquely Created by GOD, and most are thankful that they are not exactly like me!  But some characteristics that I have are just because I am human. Desiring to know what I am going to be doing and how I will be accomplishing it is one of the things that I try to do, at least some of the time.  You might think that is prudent, and Scripture does say to  sit down and count the costs (Luke 14:28), but Hebrews 11:6 says “...WITHOUT FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please HIM, for whoever would draw near to GOD must believe that HE exists and that HE REWARDS THOSE WHO SEEK HIM.” 

Holding on to the rudder too tightly is something that I have been known to do in my life.  Sure, I have done a lot of things “on the spur of the moment”, but usually it was things that I wanted to do.  One of the biggest BLESSINGS that I have had the privilege of experiencing was the Brain Hemorrhage in 2007.  The entire ordeal has taught me that I AM NOT IN CONTROL!  For the almost three weeks I was sedated, I was totally dependent on machines and medical staffing to keep me alive.  The lessons learned from that experience are invaluable to me.  GOD didn’t require my assistance TO EVEN BREATHE, and the HEALING was “a miracle from GOD” according to one doctor.  

As I reminisce about the past 13+ years, my eyes begin leaking from humility as I observe that HIS PLAN is FAR better than anything I can imagine (1 Corinthians 2:9)!  My EYES were OPENED during a book study (JESUS Continued) at church a few years ago.  Page 171 of the book says “GOD, however, never invited me to be a co-GOD with HIM.  This means the some reasons for what HE does in my life may well remain a mystery to me for all of my days!”  The most troubling storms in my life have been when I was trying to DIRECT MY PATH, or guide my ship!  Trusting ALMIGHTY GOD to pilot my ship is far better than my choices.  PEACE comes when “THE WILL OF THE PILOT” directs your life!!!

“A RIOT WAS BEGINNING!”

 Matthew 27:24-26                         (ESV)

“24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that “A RIOT WAS BEGINNING”, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves."

25 And all the people answered, "HIS blood be on us and on our children!"

26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged JESUS, delivered HIM to be crucified.”

Ignoring FACTS when an idea agrees with the point of view that one desires to make doesn’t prove the idea being considered true, it does however validate that ignored FACTS were rejected for a LIE!  JESUS CREATED all of Creation (Colossians 1:16), yet came to earth explicitly to be a sacrifice for the sins of man.  The FACTS were on HIS SIDE.  Pilate, in charge of the trial of JESUS declared “I find NO FAULT in HIM”, yet he allowed the crowd to dictate their wishes simply because “A RIOT WAS BEGINNING”!!!

Although the sacrifice of JESUS was the PLAN of GOD (Ephesians 3:9-11) all along, “JESUS came to HIS own, and HIS own people did not receive HIM.” (John 1:11).  They even lied, conspired, and even bribed (Judas) a disciple to betray JESUS.  HIS OWN people rejected the SON OF GOD in exchange for a criminal.  Bogus charges, BLATANT LIES, were used by the corrupt ruling class to gain a death sentence from Pilate, even though he said that he found NO FAULT in JESUS!  

But although it appears that the hierarchy of the Jews had won in their battle to destroy the SON OF GOD, they ultimately were used to fulfill the PLAN OF THE FATHER, paying the redemption for my sins!  They believed that JESUS has been eliminated from being a problem for them, but HIS RESURRECTION displayed that ALMIGHTY GOD can use what seems like the nefarious actions of “this world” for HIS GLORY!

Although “A RIOT WAS BEGINNING” and Pilate desperately wanted to avoid that, he couldn’t interrupt the PLAN OF GOD from being fulfilled.  Our salvation was completed by JESUS, and GOD was pleased (Matthew 3:17; Matthew 17:5)!  It is incumbent upon us to realize that GOD works ALL THINGS together for HIS GLORY (Romans 8:28), and HE isn’t getting too old or weak to handle when “A RIOT WAS BEGINNING”!  We MUST have FAITH that HE IS GOD and HIS PLAN WILL BE FULFILLED!!!

“GOD SHALL ARISE!”

 Psalms 68:1-3                                (ESV)

“1 “GOD SHALL ARISE”, HIS ENEMIES SHALL BE SCATTERED; and THOSE WHO HATE HIM SHALL FLEE before HIM! 

2 As smoke is driven away, so you SHALL drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so THE WICKED SHALL PERISH before GOD! 

3 But THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL BE GLAD; THEY SHALL exult before GOD; THEY SHALL be jubilant with joy!”  

For those who read the BIBLE like a novel, it might not be as convicting, nor as uplifting as it is to me.  When you SEE the BIBLE as GOD speaking to you, it changes your entire life and lifestyle.  To understand that the CREATOR of everything (including the air we breathe!) DESIRES to have an open line of communication with us is more amazing than life itself!  Why would a thrice HOLY GOD want to fellowship with someone as wicked as me??? 

For me at least, allowing the “cares of this world” tends to dominate my thinking.   How do I help a client?  How do I pay my bills?  How do I lose weight???  How does one live a HOLY life?  It seems that my focus is always on how I need to improve rather than just communing with THE ONE WHO desires to be with me!  When we get to the place where we acknowledge that GOD is SUPREME over everything, we are just beginning to understand that HE IS GOD, and we ARE NOT!

The word SHALL is written in the Scripture shared above seven times. To me it says that GOD HAS A PLAN and it isn’t up for debate.  Whether we approve of HIS PLAN or not doesn’t change the outcome.  I’m almost certain that Peter and the disciples would have preferred NOT to have allowed JESUS to have been captured, tortured and crucified on Calvary.  But GOD’S PLAN was going to be fulfilled!! 

THOSE WHO HATE HIM SHALL FLEE may not be speaking of people who are angry with GOD, or those who didn’t get their way in life.  It seems to me that when things appear bleak and hopeless, THAT IS WHEN GOD shows out!  In Exodus 14:10 the Israelites saw Pharaoh and the Egyptians approaching.  They FEARED GREATLY!!!  But GOD was preparing to gain GLORY over Pharaoh and all his hosts!  GOD had to set them up though.....FOR HIS GLORY!  The Egyptians tried to FLEE, but the Red Sea consumed them.  

“GOD SHALL ARISE”, whether we can SEE how HE is going to accomplish HIS PURPOSE or not!  We don’t have to understand how HE is going to work HIS PLAN, we just have to understand that HE is the OMNIPOTENT GOD and we are here to GLORIFY HIS NAME!  When trying times arise in life, we must remember that “GOD SHALL ARISE” is more than words written in the Psalms, it is a PROMISE from GOD that HE SHALL BE GLORIFIED!  “GOD SHALL ARISE” happened after Calvary, and it SHALL happen again!!!

“ISRAEL WALKED ON DRY GROUND!”

 Exodus 14:26-29                         (ESV)

“26 THEN THE LORD SAID to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen."

27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. And as the Egyptians fled into it, THE LORD THREW BACK THE EGYPTIANS INTO THE MIDST OF THE SEA.

28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained.

29 But THE PEOPLE OF “ISRAEL WALKED ON DRY GROUND” through the sea, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left!”  

GOD’S TIMING, it can be frustrating waiting on HIM in our humanity as we see as humans see, “this world” seemingly being victorious in their lies and deception.  But when we are guided HIS SPIRIT, we are able to SEE that not everything is at it appears to be. THE PEOPLE OF “ISRAEL WALKED ON DRY GROUND” across the Red Sea, but THE LORD THREW BACK THE EGYPTIANS INTO THE MIDST OF THE SEA.  The EGYPTIANS thought that they could take advantage of the DRY GROUND like the Israelites, BUT GOD!!!

THE LORD threw the Egyptians into the midst of the sea and HE GOT GLORY over them.  Pharaoh and the Egyptians were thinking they were taking the Israelites back into captivity to serve them, BUT GOD had another Plan?!?  HE directed Moses to stretch his hand over the Red Sea, thereby burying the Egyptians while they were trying to overtake the Israelites.  The Egyptians were so intent on their evil objective that they couldn’t SEE their demise coming and “not one of them remained”!!

Hebrews 10:31 states rather boldly “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of THE LIVING GOD”!  IF your EYES have been OPENED and you can SEE Spiritual matters, the depths of the Red Sea is not concerning to you.  But you can SEE that the SPIRIT OF GOD will NOT always strive with man (Genesis 6:3) and HE will JUDGE SIN!  The judgement of HIS CHOSEN was on Calvary.  The Egyptians were drowned in the Red Sea!  But “ISRAEL WALKED ON DRY GROUND”!  Only GOD can CHOOSE you!  Are you being CHOSEN????

“HE PREDESTINED US!”

 Ephesians 1:3-6                           (ESV)

“3 Blessed be the GOD and FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO has blessed us in CHRIST with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

4 even as HE CHOSE US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should be HOLY AND BLAMELESS before HIM. In love

5 “HE PREDESTINED US” for adoption to HIMSELF as sons through JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIS WILL,

6 to the praise of HIS GLORIOUS GRACE, with which HE has blessed us in the Beloved.”

It can be very easy to allow our minds to be swayed into believing that “we are doomed”, that we are in a catastrophic situation with certain peril just around the corner!  John 10:10 reminds us that “the enemy” ONLY comes to STEAL and KILL and DESTROY!  It is imperative that we REMEMBER who GOD says we are, and not what we are told by those who are being controlled by satan, like Peter was in Matthew 16:23.  

“HE CHOSE US” IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, that we should be HOLY AND BLAMELESS before HIM. In love HE PREDESTINED US for adoption to HIMSELF as sons through JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE PURPOSE OF HIS WILL, to the praise of HIS GLORIOUS GRACE, with which HE has blessed us in the Beloved.”  HE PREDESTINED us means HE has a Plan, and even though we might experience some “perilous” times, HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US!  

Remembering this PROMISE OF GOD isn’t easy.  Satan wants us to believe that since he is the god of this world that everything is under his authority.  But Colossians 1:16-17 says “For by HIM (JESUS) ALL THINGS all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-ALL THINGS were created through HIM AND FOR HIM.  And HE is before ALL THINGS, and in HIM ALL THINGS hold together”!!!  

It needs to be plastered on my heart and mind that JESUS holds ALL THINGS together, even when the enemy is rattling his weapons!  Not only has JESUS paid our sin debt, HE HAS A PLAN to Glorify HIS NAME!  “HE PREDESTINED US” to be a part of that Plan, and we must remember that HE IS IN CONTROL, NOT US!!!