Ministers standing in the pulpit preaching nothing but making money money money are in danger of losing their soul!

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. Luke 12:15 KJV

The pursuit of wealth and riches from the pulpit is nothing new for it goes back to the days Jesus himself walked the earth.

“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves”. Matthew 21:12 KJV

What should be our position in life?  Ref :

{ 1 Timothy 6:6-12 KJV}

“Godliness with contentment is great gain, and having food and raiment let us be therewith content”.

Why does the Lord warn us regarding the pursuit of wealth and riches?

“But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”.

So again, what does the Lord say about the pursuit of money?

“But thou, O man of God, flee these things”.

If the Word of God warns us not to pursue wealth and riches, what should be our pursuit be – what should we desire and be passionate about?

“follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses”.

Does the Word say anything positive about wealth and riches?

Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks. Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shalt have plenty of silver. Job 22:24-25 KJV

Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever. Psalms 112:3 KJV

The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22 KJV

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 1:2 KJV

The word of God is not only “void of any political correctness” it is completely contrary to the thinking of man. The bible is not logical and it is not reasonable. The bible even dictates that we should not debate the truths found within scripture, but lest consider further.

It seems to the undiscerning soul that the Word of God is oblique and contradictory for how can the bible have such controversy as to indicate in part that wealth is negative and evil, and than in part, wealth is positive and good? Consider again the word EVEN in the following verse.:

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, EVEN as thy soul prospereth. 3 John 1:2 KJV

EVEN as thy soul prospers – EVEN as you are grown up in the faith – EVEN as you mature in the love of God – EVEN as you are faithful to the house of the Lord in tithes and offerings – EVEN as you are charitable willing to disperse and give to the benefit of others EVEN if you do not receive mans adulation and praise – EVEN if it mean you are willing to lose all for the sake of love and honor.

In essence, wealth and riches are not bad or evil – they do not destroy people even as guns do not kill people – guns in the hands of evil people are what cause destruction. Wealth in the hands of evil people can produce destruction but wealth in the hands of mature Christians is good and beneficial to the world. Wealth should not be the theme and focus of Christians; it should be a consequence of living for the Lord.

Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Job 22:21 KJV

Ministers standing in the pulpit preaching nothing but making money money money are in danger of losing their soul!  Prosperity should not be excluded from “the blessing package” but there are other blessings in that package such as healing the broken hearted, minister deliverance to those in bondage or tormented by demonic forces, healing sick bodies, raising the dead, and preaching that salvation is NOW.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Luke 4:18-19 KJV

 

 

 

(Eph 5:27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing;,,

(Eph 5:27)  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Do you suppose the Apostle Paul had a prophetic insight into our modern times and the miracle of “Plastic Surgery” – what else could remove all the wrinkles and blemishes/spots from our bodies? Paul was referring to the work of the Holy Spirit. “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word”. Eph 5:26. It’s is the work of God’s Spirit to wash us clean – wash all the filth of the sin nature and restore us and renew our hearts, minds and bodies, and our life styles to those befitting the Son’s and Daughter’s of the Almighty God – Our job is to LET HIM DO HIS WORK IN US AND THROUGH US. When we come to Jesus, we first must receive him as our Saviour first, and than we allow HIM to be our Lord.

The common expression used by 99.9% of ministers when giving the invitation is, “Will you invite Jesus into your heart to be your Lord and Savior”, and without splitting hairs, that is ok, but in reality, HE must first be received as your Savior and than and only than can HE Lord your life. When we allow God the be Lord of our lives, HIS Holy Spirit begins, and if we allow, finishes HIS precision surgical work called the “perfecting of the saints”, “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Eph 4:12) –  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit 3:5) .

 

The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary

The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. (Isa 50:4 KJV)

We don’t have to beg God to speak to us. We don’t have to doubt if God is listening to our prayers or if HE is interested in our lives moment by moment. The Lord is waiting on us to seek HIM. We simply need to know the Lord is a loving Father who is desirous of our attention, our love and adoration, but HE is also desirous to answer our prayers and to manifest HIMSELF to us EVERY MORNING! We should wake up every morning knowing that God is Jehovah Shammah – God is there (Ezek 48:35).

The Lord is with those that trust HIM – those that live for HIM and HE is ever present with the child of God,

“,,,,, God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”. (Psa 46:1 KJV) WE must know that God is not only with us but HE gives us the “tongue of the learned” or in other words, HE reveals HIS Word(s) of encouragement and direction for our lives, and HE gives us a word of encouragement and direction for somebody we will encounter in our daily activities.

If the devil is awaiting for your waking moments like an anticipating cat at the foot of your bed, just know that God is there also, and God is bigger than the devil, and God is there to do you only good, you simply need to listen to God and not the devil. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”. (Jas 4:7 KJV)

 

The world says the good looking people, the rich and the well educated make it in society -WHAT DOES OUR CREATOR SAY?

“Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD” – Jer 9:23 & 24

Were / are you unpopular in school, lacking in athletics failing at work, are you the middle child, are you overweight, do you feel ugly, or are you a slow learner – do you find you have to work harder – study harder than everybody else – the world may not put you on their pedestal but God does not measure us and the way the world does. Don’t ever think or believe your happiness belongs in another persons head. – I want to surprise you, I want to encourage you, and I want to bless you with what your creator says about all that! When you become a Christian, you are suddenly set apart from the world – Christians are a special people! Christians are not better than anybody else they are simply renewed in the image of God. You may think that all people are made in the image of God because of Gen 1:27, but let me inform you that man, (the human race) was created in the image of God, than came the fall when Adam and Eve sinned – that image of God was tarnished and destroyed by mans sin and rebellion. Jesus came to restore man into the image of God once again through Jesus. Now, you simply believe on Christ as your Savior and allow HIM to be your Lord and you are now expressly the image of God.

You may not be wealthy, or well built, or highly intelligent but if you are born again, God can and will transform you into HIS glorious church and that gates of hell shall not prevail against you. If you don’t belong to a church – ask and trust the Lord to lead you to a good bible believing church – the beauty of the Lord is there in HIS church and you may be apart of that beauty.

Make the Word of God your declaration of faith and your guide, read the verses following and God bless you in your whole spirit soul and body, amen.

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. (Psa 27:4)

And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. (Ecc 12:12)

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecc 12:13)

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecc 12:14)

 

Jesus told Peter (and the church), (Mat 16:19) And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven,,,, Here are three

(Rev 12:11)  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

The Word of God reveals to us – the church – <span>three keys to overcoming the Devil in our lives.

1)      THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB

• This is the work of the cross and Jesus did it all – we have no part in saving ourselves – Jesus alone had to die and shed his blood on the cross for the atoning (1) of our sin – he has paid the price in full for ALL sin. Our only part in salvation is to simply believe and receive this gift of salvation.

2)      THE WORD OF THEIR TESTIMONEY

• This is our part – our responsibility – to speak Thus saith the Lord, in other words, we are to testify (speak, boldly declare, proclaim) that we, by faith, believe God is who HE says HE is, the bible is the Word of God, and that HE lives in us through HIS Holy Spirit(2)
• We are to testify (speak, boldly declare, proclaim) to ourselves what the Word of God says, we are to testify (speak, boldly declare, proclaim) of what God has done for us, what HE is doing for us, and what HE is going to do for us.
• We are to testify (speak, boldly declare, proclaim) in public(3) all these things as a witness – that others may hear and have the opportunity to receive our savior for themselves.
• We are to testify (speak, boldly declare, proclaim) to evil spirits**** (devils) that Jesus is Lord and they must go in the name (nature – likeness) of Christ Jesus.(4).

3)      THEY LOVED NOT THEIR LIVES UNTO THE DEATH

• Most people ascribe their problems to the devil. Like the entertainer Plip Wilson use to say, “The devil made me do it”. I want to assure you the devil does not have that much power to make a child of God do anything – the only weapon satan has is a lie – if he can get us to believe his lies, the bible declares that it could destroy us(5) Our own flesh is out biggest enemy because we give place to it(6) We are to offer our bodies, our minds and our total beings to God as a living sacrifice(7) This means simply that we are to die to the lust of the flesh, desires, ambitions ect ect – simply put, we are to live totally for God and HIS will for our every waking moment. Dead people do not feel, hurt, lust, or want. This can only be done through faith and being filled with and led by the Holy Spirit.
• One of the severest weapons/lies of satan against humanity is the fear of death – that if we speak, and live for God, we will die. We must all become martyrs for Jesus – when we are no longer afraid of death, when we know that heaven is really real, satan will have no power of us and thus we have overcome him – God help us all in Jesus name, Amen.

 

1. (Rom 5:11) And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Atonement = 1.to make amends or reparation, as for an offense or a crime, or for an offender (usually followed by for ): to atone for one’s sins.

2.to make up, as for errors or deficiencies (usually followed by for ): to atone for one’s failings.

3.Obsolete . to become reconciled; agree.

2. (Act 17:28)  For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

3. (Luk 9:26)  For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels. (Rom 10:9)  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

4. (Mat 10:7)  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.(Mat 10:8)  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. (Mar 9:25)  When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. (James 4:7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (Jas 4:7)  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

5. (2Th 2:12) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

6. (Rom 13:14) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

7. (Rom 12:1) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

 

“These are the times that try men’s souls” Thomas Paine December 23, 1776

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life that both thou and thy seed may live:  Deut 30:19 KJV

Life is a give and take experience. Life is not fair and life is a voluntary function – you can live or you can die, it is up to the individual. Man and government do not bequeath this delicacy upon the human race, God does!

There are consequences for decisions made as well as for the putting off of making the right or wrong choices , there is nothing new here, no great revelation but a necessary  discourse nonetheless:

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IS IN PERIL

If the bible emphatically reveals that there are no surprises that should overtake man than why does man make “such ado about nothing” – because it is something when our country and our freedoms are being “lifted” from us like a wallet being lifted by a pickpocket – the unsuspected victim may have been approached by an unassuming gentleman, or an attractive and distracting young lady seeking to give assistance or seeking assistance themselves all the while ripping off the victim.

To barrow from Ronald Reagan, “Are we better off today than we were two years ago” – do you feel good about your country? Do you feel good about leadership in government? Our country is being hijacked from us right under our noses and our freedoms are vanishing daily in the name of tolerance, diversity, political correctness, social justice, fairness doctrines, Global Warming – Global Climate Disruption – climate change/shift WHATEEVER, and the list can be infinite I suppose but we will move on. The bible is so encouraging – even more than Fox News ha ha, really, the Word of God tells us that all these negative and destructive forces coming to overwhelm us is nothing new, –

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun”.  Ecclesiastes 1:9 KJV

We can go back to the book of I Samuel when Israel lived by the Word of the Lord as given to God’s prophets and divinely appointed “judges”. There was no earthly system of government, no republicans, demoncrats, socialist, communist ect, there was simply THUS SAITH THE LORD. – Man lived by the decree of the Lord. Man, as is typical, was not satisfied with God’s way of doing things – they desired to live and function as did other nations – they no longer wanted to be separate, different and distinct, they wanted to be like the Jones’ and the Smith’s.

And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.  1Sa 8:5 KJV

God does not make anybody serve HIM so HE gave the people what that asked for, and HE gave them warning of the consequences of their decisions:

And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them. And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will T A K E your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will T A K E your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will T A K E your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will T A K E the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will T A K E your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will T A K E the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day. Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD. And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.

1 Samuel 8:7-22 KJV

God warns Israel that this government they desire will be a burden and a curse to them, and they will come to the point of crying out to God for help and to save them from choosing (VOTING) to be ruled by man rather than obey the Word of God. It is interesting to note and profound that God uses the word “T A K E” six times in the aforementioned fifteen verses. The wisdom of God’s word reveals to us that man’s system of self governing is all about “taking” and not giving. There are political groups and ideologies that pretend to believe a socialist form of government “gives” to or T A K E care of their people – it is a lie.

We are encouraged in the New Testament to pray for the leaders of our nations, but that does not indicate we are to agree with our leaders, it does mean that we should live peaceably with and pray for our country, or leaders, and our neighbors.

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen”.  Matthew 6:9-13

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

1 Timothy 2:1-5 KJV

We should pray for God’s will to be done in earth and when God’s heart captures the heart of the world, we will realize Psalm 67 in full measure:

God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Psalms 67:1-7 KJV

Is this “Utopia” possible? Can we have “heaven on earth” as it were? I suppose God is not a liar, I suppose it is not only possible but it is coming!

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Revelation 22:20 KJV

 

 

Why would and why does the Lord “cry out” to us?

Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? (Proverbs 8:1 KJV)

Back in the day before modern technology allowed us to communicate with the click of speed dial or before cellular technology, before internet ect ect, there were the “Town Criers, “A town crier, or bellman, is an officer of the court who makes public pronouncements as required by the court”. (cf. Black’s Law Dictionary).

In Proverbs chapter 8 we see Jesus – HE is personified as wisdom, and HE is crying out, as pointed out in the context of chapter 8, to the son’s of man – that is ALL people, men, women, children all around the world to hear HIS voice to understand HIS words. First Corinthians reveals to us that it is Jesus that is this wisdom crying out in proverbs; “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” – (1 Corinthians 1:24 KJV).

Why would and why does the Lord “cry out” to us? He cries out to woo us to himself, to convince us that HE is the answer to life’s existence and all the questions that arise out of life – Jesus is the answer to every question in your hearts and minds, and only HE can satisfy all we need. Socrates, Plato – they were all searching for the answers to life – they found the well of knowledge is a bottomless pit of confusion and despair. The meaning of life is not one of endless “thinking” and contemplating and theorizing, but God wants us to graduate from thinking to knowing.

Just before becoming a Christian, I was in my mid 20″s and I began to be curious about the meaning of life, about God and the bible and if any of this God stuff could hold water, so I began my search – I read the bible. During the beginning of my study, I sensed a presence when I would read and there were times I sensed no presence at all. One afternoon while I was washing my car in the backyard, I was wiping down the upholstery when I perceived  the presence of God – it was not a nagging but rather what I call a “wooing” loving kind of presence that simply wanted nothing from me but to let me know HE was there with me. This presence of the Lord was so constant and so strong that I finally jumped out of my car and with a rather loud voice said, “What God”, what do you want, why are you here, why don’t you leave me alone”. Can you imagine that? me, being annoyed by the presence of God, yelling at HIM to leave me alone or tell me the purpose of HIS persistence? Today I now treasure that memory and I seek the time with God – Thank God HE never leaves us nor forsakes us. God will woo you

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

(Revelation 22:17 KJV).

 

I finally realized God simply wanted me to know HIM – that HE is ever present with HIS people.

Job 23:21 says, “Acquaint now thyself with HIM, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee”.

I can testify that when you become acquainted with the Lord through diligently seeking HIS presence through prayer, through reading – studying and meditating on HIS Word, through sincere praise and worship in church and in private, you will get acquainted with HIM and you will have peace for HE is Jehova Shalom = God of Peace (Judges 6:24) and you will experience the good life. Praise the Lord for HE alone is worthy of all our praise, Amen.

 

These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also Acts 17:6

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 KJV

I will be the first to admit that I am passionate about politics – so much so that years ago, my beloved pastor, the late James A. Smith of Stone Valley Church in Richmond Indiana, lovingly advised me to“watch the politics”. That is all he said but I knew exactly what he meant.  I was constantly writing articles, letters to the editor and an occasional column on my political views, but as any good Christian, I would always use a scripture to invoke the Lord and to assure folks that I was keeping it “spiritual”.

The Word of God instructs us to pray for our leaders – whether they are religious, political, and local and or family leaders – in fact the word says “all in authority”. I Timothy 2:1-2 does not tell us that we have to agree with all those in authority, but we are to pray for God’s will to be done in earth as it is in heaven. – “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven”. Matthew 6:10 KJV.

If we invoke the Lord and HIS will to be done in earth – HE declares we will “lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty”. Those who are in authority are flesh and blood just like you and I – they are not perfect, they are not all wise and probably most of them are sinners – nonbelievers, but that is why we, the Church, are to pray for the bible declares,  “,,,,,,,,,,,The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much”. James 5:16 KJV. The church holds the answer to life’s problems regardless of how little or how big those problems are – that answer is the gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land”. 2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV

The Word of God shows us the qualification and condition the praying church should be like. We should be humble, NOT ARROGANT, we should repent and live a righteous and holy life, not live wickedly like the world. The church should not mirror the world’s ways – we should be different – stand out and not blend in – we should be unblameable (Colossians 1:22) above reproach (I Timothy 3:7) and avoiding the very appearance of evil ( I Thes 5:22). You say this is too hard, not possible to live a life like this! I would recommend you read the bible unless you wish to remain living a life contrary to scripture. For those of us who want to know how to live the life described above that our prayers are not hindered, so we may intercede effectually for our country and for the world, I would refer to you this word of God, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you”. 1 Peter 5:10 KJV.  So my neighbor, let’s get cleaned up, and prayed up and turn this world upside down for Jesus, amen.

And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;  Acts 17:6 KJV