THE BALM OF GILEAD

 

JEREMIAH 8:22

Gilead was a city east of Jordan. The meaning of the name is “strong, rocky”.

Israel captured it from the king of Sihon, and Og the king of Bashan, and it was occupied by the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh. It is situated in the modern day Jordan.

It had been a city of great iniquity, stained with blood [Hosea 6:8].

David fled there from Absalom and it was the home of Elijah.

Chapter 8 deals with backsliding Israel and their ignoring of God’s warnings to repent. They followed graven images and strange vanities.

Jeremiah was sent as a prophet to the surviving tribes of Israel and Judah, in a time of political and spiritual decay. They ignore his warnings and are carried away to Babylon. He predicted that the captives would return after 70 years to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple.

In chapter 8 he laments Judah’s breakdown, and asks the pain filled question,

“IS THERE NO BALM IN GILEAD”

In v 21 he says because his people are hurt, he is hurt. He is mourning and astonished. In 9:1, Jeremiah says “Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people”.

Is There No Balm IN GILEAD?

Is There No Physician There?

Is there No Recovery For The Health Of The Daughter Of My People?

Jeremiah is suffering for the state of his people because he loves them. He could see that they were about to go into captivity and could not stop it, and he spoke these words in absolute grief and pain.

The Balm Of Gilead

There was an actual plant in Gilead which was an Arabian balsam tree known as the Terebinth tree, which produced a rare fragrant balm that was used medicinally.

Jeremiah is using this as a metaphor to apply to their spiritual condition. His cry was for a Balm which would heal them.

God’s people were Spiritually sick. They were morally diseased. They provoked God Almighty.

Jeremiah was really saying that there was a Balm, yet the people were not healed. This Balm was THE MERCY OF GOD.

God the Great Physician was always there to apply that Mercy to all who cried out to Him. For us, it is finished work of Jesus on The Cross. Jesus is the BALM OF GILEAD sent by God, and we have Salvation through the beautiful sweet fragrance of His Redeeming Healing Blood.

On The Cross He was the sacrifice for our sin, peace for the troubled mind, and healing for our sickness. But we have to take the Balm of Jesus and apply Him to our circumstances.

Like Jeremiah, we grieve over those who refuse Him and choose rather eternity in hell. There is no escape for all who refuse His Salvation from sin.

Sin has prevailed since Adam sinned against God, and the wages of that sin is separation from God and eternal punishment. Sin affects the soul in the same way that sickness affects the body. It is invasive, deceitful, controlling, and it consigns all who are unsaved to the terror of the “second death”.

But friends, There is a BALM IN GILEAD, and it is the person of Jesus. He is the sweet fragrant balm whose Blood will save the sin sick soul. He knows every person. He knows every need. He knows the horror of hell and wishes that no man would go there, but we all have freedom of choice. If you’re reading this and have never given your life to Jesus, then friend you are lost for eternity. You can accept Him as your Saviour right now and have your sins forgiven by the Grace of God.

The voice of Jeremiah would cry out today, There is a BALM IN GILEAD. There is Forgiveness. There is Mercy. There is Salvation. There is the Cross where Jesus died for the sin of the world. My sin. Your sin.

A person is lost because they simply have not had their spiritual sickness dealt with because they will not take the remedy offered freely by God. The Blood of Jesus cleanses white as snow. If you continually reject Salvation you are already condemned.

Proverbs 29:1 – “The person who continually rejects reproof, hardens the heart, and will suddenly be destroyed without remedy “. A “remedy” is something that removes or corrects an evil of any kind. The remedy for sin is the Blood of Jesus.

A “Remedy” Restores something to its proper condition. It is something that removes or corrects an evil of any kind.

In 2 Kings 8:1 Elisha Restored the dead son to life.

In Psalm 23, David said that The Lord Restores his soul. David experienced the Power of God in his life to turn his circumstances around. God does this today, and it is now through the Power of Jesus and His death on the Cross. He will turn our circumstances around if we believe.

In Jeremiah 30:17,18 God speaks of the Jews deliverance and their privileges Restored. He says “I will Restore health to you and heal your wounds because they had been seen as outcasts. “This is Zion, who no man seeks after”. God will Restore for His Name’s sake. Here, He would not have His Glorious Zion mocked. Zion is now the “Secret Place” of Jesus. God Restored what satan had robbed, and it is now the dwelling place of Jesus.

In Isaiah 58:8-12, it talks of Restoration. So great was this that V12, says that they would be called “The repairer of the breach”, and “The Restorer of paths to dwell in. How great was their calling after God had Restored them. Same for us today friend. When Jesus Saves us we become vessels to bring others to Him.

Jesus is The Healer and The Restorer.

THE BALM OF GILEAD, is a Healing, Restoring balm. JESUS is that BALM.

 

He will bring you to your Rightful existence as a Child of God

He will Re-establish you

He will bring back your Health

He will bring you back to a former place before you strayed

He will give you back all that was taken from you

He will Save you from sin and death

He will Restore the joy of your salvation

He will Restore your paths to dwell in

He will Restore what satan has robbed from you

 

These are just some of the things which are ours through the Cross of Jesus.

In Acts 3:21, we are told that Heaven received Jesus “until the times of Restitution of all things which God spoke by the mouth of His Holy prophets since the world began”. Jesus will rule in the millennium when all things since Adams fall will be restored. There will be peace, harmony, prosperity and perfect governmental control.

 

JESUS is the Balm of Gilead. He is the sweet fragrance of Restoration and Healing.

When Jeremiah posed the question, there was great need. Our world is in chaos, and the same question could be asked today. But we have the answer, and His Name is Jesus. But the world rejects Him, and that’s the main reason for the state of the world today. There is a balm but mankind rejects Jesus and in doing they choose satan.

What about you friend? Do you reject Him? If you die without Jesus as your Saviour, you are headed for eternity in hell.

You can accept Him now. Believe that He is the Son of God, that He died on the Cross for your sin, and that He arose from the dead three days later.

Confess that you are a sinner, repent of your sin, and ask Jesus to come into your heart in Faith. If you do that you will be born again.

 

 

 

 

Jesus Bless you,

Larry Wilson

September 2020

THE WORD TREMBLERS

THE FIFTY PERCENT

THE FIFTY PERCENT

Jesus told many parables about The Kingdom of Heaven, in order to reveal more about it but in hidden meanings. He did this that those having a Kingdom heart might gain insight into the Kingdom. These were prophetic in nature, and give us insight into the purposes of God. 

In Matthew 25:1 He talked of Ten Virgin Women. A virgin refers to a “person set aside for a future purpose”. Mary the mother of Jesus was a virgin in a sexual sense, in order that Jesus would be conceived of the Holy Spirit. In Rev 14:4, the “Firstfruit Company” is called virgins because they are guileless and faultless and undefiled in a natural sense.

In the Matthew parable, Jesus talks of a company of people who were keeping themselves for a marriage feast. They were to await the bridegroom’s arrival and not knowing his arrival time, they took lamps in case darkness fell. Five also took spare oil for the lamps, but five didn’t.

As it became late, they all went to sleep, and at midnight an announcement was made that the bridegroom was coming. So they took their lamps to light the path. But the lamps of five of them went out, and these were they who brought no oil reserve. So they asked the others for some of their oil but they refused them on the grounds that they may only have enough for themselves. They told them to go and buy some oil.

Whilst they were away, the bridegroom arrived and the guests were ushered into the marriage. 

The other five arrived late only to be refused entry by the bridegroom with the explanation that he did not know them. Surely if they were fit for the feast, they would have been prepared. This is so like so called Christians today, friends. They want heaven but are not prepared for it. 

Jesus explained that the meaning of the parable is that “we should watch, as we neither know the day or the hour wherein He will come”.

So it’s not so much an oil issue, but rather a time issue and therefore the need to be Watching!

We could delve deeply into the meanings and symbols in the story, but to me an alarming revelation is that there are Fifty Percent who think that they will make it into the Kingdom, but they will be refused entry. To bring it to the now, who are these ones? They could be half of a family of professing Christians, half of a professing church congregation, and half of the professing Christians in a city, a nation and the world. 

This parable is intriguing and challenging. My purpose is to cause us to think, and to determine our personal position based on the Word of God.

As you think on this, the challenge is to which Fifty Percent we each belong. Jesus couldn’t make it any clearer, that there are Fifty Percent of professing Christians who will not make it into the Kingdom. 

If Jesus were to tell this parable now, how would He describe these two groups today?

I think it fair to say that up until the midnight hour, they all looked identical, but when the call came, half of them were found wanting. You could look at a church congregation and they may all appear similar, but at the crucial hour of death or the trumpet call, the truth will be known, for many are going to hear “I know you not”. There will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

The Gracious and Merciful truth is though, that Jesus has alerted us, and any who hear His voice can ensure their entry into the “Bridegroom Company”. He has alerted us to WATCH!

This means to “be awake” or “vigilant”.

Five people in Jesus’ parable were “wise”. They were mindful, prudent, careful, and understanding of their situation.

The other Five were “foolish”. They were “dull”, “slow”. It describes one who is dull, sluggish of mind, and in fact the Greek is the root of the English word “moron”. A moron is a foolish or stupid person. Are we bold enough to say that Jesus called these five foolish ones “fools”, “morons” “dull” and “slow of thinking”? Well that’s what He said.

I think that when our eternal future is challenged, only a moron would ignore it.

What is the word of Jesus to us here? As I said earlier, He advises us to Watch. This parable often causes discussion about whether these foolish ones were saved and ran out of salvation, or whether they were ever saved. Ultimately, God is the one who determines a person’s salvation, based solely on accepting Jesus our Savior, and believing in His resurrection. It involves the Grace of God, belief, faith, acceptance, repentance, obedience and being known by our fruit.

I think that the foolish perhaps didn’t live a life any different to the world. Unless we repent of the works of lawlessness, we will not enter His Kingdom.

Who are the ones who enter the kingdom?  :

Matthew 7:21-23: “Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that does the will of My Father which is in Heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord have we not prophesied in Thy Name? And in Thy Name cast out devils? And in Thy Name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them “I never knew you”. Depart from me you that work iniquity”. Sad to hear that for sure!

Clearly, God looks for a people that do His will!

This implies that it is possible to appear to be a follower, but in fact not be. How tragic to hear these words.

The point of difference in the parable was the extra supply of oil by the two groups. In scripture, oil speaks of the Holy Spirit. This may well describe a people with head knowledge but without the Holy Spirit. The early disciples had to wait to be endued with the power of the Holy Spirit. They could have ignored that, gone out and evangelized, but without the supply of oil. In that case God would not have been in what they did.

My challenge to us all is, “Which Fifty Percent are we in?” 

Jesus said to Watch. Be Vigilant. Be Awake. The Bridegroom may come and you may not have the oil to light your lamp. 

I think that Philippians 2:12-15 is significant: “……work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings and disputings. That you may be Blameless and Harmless the Sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation AMONG WHOM YOU SHINE AS LIGHTS IN THE WORLD”. 

You see, the Holy Spirit in us makes us different to the world. That Light in us is the supply of His oil. I am convinced that we cannot claim to be Christian and be no different to the world. 

Friend, if your name is not written in Jesus’ Book of Life, you are not saved. And when you die, you will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Peter talks of this also in 2 Peter 1:10: “…give diligence to make your calling and election sure…….for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the Everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ”. What an awesome truth – our entrance in will be abundantly supplied! Think of it! This abundance is “richness”. 

How do you make sure that your election is sure?

Can you say that you have that assurance? On what do you base it? The only criteria which will be used is “whether you did the will of Father God!”

Jesus said that His sheep hear His Voice. This is because they know His Voice. There are many voices in this world, but His sheep hear His voice stand out from all others. Do you know His Voice? Do you hear Him? Do you listen?

Friend, whatever you make your god, then you will serve that god. You cannot serve Jesus with other gods in your life. He will not share the throne in your life with any other god. You cannot say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. Can you truly say that Jesus is Lord of your life?

I want you to imagine a throne deep within your soul. This throne is for Jesus to sit on if you’re a Christian. The Lord showed me recently that we can allow other gods on to this throne. In this case Jesus removes Himself from it as He will not share it with any other god. This means that His blessings in many forms are also removed. What are these other gods? They don’t have to be just false religious gods, but can be the very things of life. They can be loved ones, friends, possessions, activities, money, or anything which exalts itself above the knowledge of God. 

We are beginning to see why Jesus said that “there will be few that find it through the gate”.

Satan is out to deceive the Christian church in whatever ways he can.  A major area of concern which is becoming more aware to the discerning is the number of false shepherds which are deceiving many under the disguise of Christian preachers and teachers, but they preach “another gospel”. Many people I believe are being led astray, but again Jesus warned of this in the latter days. These deceivers provide entertainment and words which tickle the ears of the hearers. 

Friends, beware of the wolves that come cloaked under the following disguised cults:

 ~ The NAR This “New Apostolic Reformation” seeks to establish the prophets and apostles under a new banner. It particularly preys on pastors of independent congregations, who proclaim that all can be prophets, and apostles will arise to basically control the people. They ditch the KJV Bible for versions which leave out certain scriptures, and tend to promote the “Passion version”. Peter Wagner was the godfather of this movement, which others are building on. He claims that God acted through him to end the “mad cow” disease. He claims that a “second apostolic age” began in 2001.

It seeks to establish:

Apostolic control, Prophets, Dominionism, the “Seven Mountain” theory, the ability to receive “new revelation”, and other new age principles.

Other names in this movement are Bill Johnson of Bethel church, Rick Joyner, and the Hillsong organization. There are others but these are the main names to be beware of. 

This is an end-time move of deception. Paul says in 1Tim 4:3, that their followers are “chasing after myths”.

~ The “Christian Mystics”. This is another new age move which has infiltrated Christian circles with preachers who are presenting principles practiced in the new age cult, and in eastern religions.

Their teaching is based on new age “shamanic“ practices. They purport the opening of the third eye to enter in to imaginations and ultimately entrance through portals. They boast literal entering in to heaven, time travel and other imaginings.

Their teaching is so heretic and leading many astray. They mainly base their beliefs on the “desert fathers”, who were a group of catholic monks centuries ago who went to Africa seeking the answer of how to find God. They came across some Hindu monks who taught them that there are many paths to God, and in their sessions, these deceivers speak often of these hindu desert fathers.

Names to watch out for are:

Justin Abraham, Ian Johnson, and Ian Clayton to name a few. I have heard Clayton claim that God took him out to one of the planets. He claims to sit in God’s judgment chamber. Utter heresy, yet many follow these deceivers.

I have named these two major deceptions as a warning. If you are involved in these areas, I suggest that you flee them and seek cleansing of your mind and spirit.

The works of darkness defile and those that practice them cannot enter the Kingdom of God.

~ Unity With the Vatican Harlot. Another area of major concern is the building of the one world church which is being spearheaded by the deceiver in Rome, the pope. He has already drawn together the false religions, and the one area that he had to accomplish was re-uniting the protestant church with the Vatican. He is doing this by deception, having stated that Luther’s protest is no longer valid because the Catholic Church agrees with salvation by Grace. 

He intentionally sought out big names in the Christian church, and has had many meetings with these leaders spearheaded by Kenneth Copeland. You can see Copeland’s meetings on YouTube wherein he is calling for unity with the harlot church of Rome. Again this is heresy and deception, and I suggest that you have no part of this darkness.

I speak of the three areas of deception, because they show us clearly that we are in the end of days and the imminent return of Jesus. We have to be Watchful friends. Jesus challenged us to. 

So let me close by asking again, WHICH FIFTY PERCENT ARE YOU IN? 

We don’t have time to play around in the world or in deceiving cults. Use your oil wisely friend, for if Jesus returns and you have not been watching, then you will be refused admission to The Kingdom. I plead with you to make your election sure. 

Right now you can deal with this personally with Jesus. Break off the world and the darkness of the enemy, and ask Father God to forgive you and cleanse you from all that has separated you from Him. 

You have no assurance of the comfort of time to defer this until some future time. You may die or be caught with no oil.

Always For Jesus, 

Larry Wilson

THE WATERS OF AFFLICTION

In recent days, from talking with people and observing on social media, I have become much more aware that there are many Christians who are facing tragedy, challenges and difficult circumstances in their lives, leaving many with questions, confusion and even questioning where God is in all this. 

We are in a society today which is pressured by government instability, financial circumstances and family instability. Sound Kingdom teaching has given way generally to a social gospel designed to give false hopes of financial abundance, happiness and earthly security with little compassion and love ministered by the emerging false shepherds.

Anxiety and depression has become a major medical issue as people try to cope with the insecurities of life.

This is not a new phenomenon on the earth and indeed the scripture talks to us about this.

So I write this message asking God to reveal His Word and to bring answers and peace to the seeking hearts.

I want to look at the experience of David, found in the Psalms which come straight from his heart in the Tabernacle.

Psalm 42

This appears to record a cry to The Lord from David in a time of trouble. Bear in mind that David had troubles politically, in relationships with companions, friends and family, and from Kingdom issues.  Some resulted from his own choices and some resulted from the behavior of others. I’m not being critical of David, but merely looking at his example to learn from.

It’s clear here that his soul is overwhelmed.

In V7, he says that “the rolling waves of God have gone over him”.

In V5, he says that “his soul is bowed down and roaring within his inner man”.

He describes his affliction as “The Waters of God”. In today’s medical scene, he is probably describing a state of depression. What else does he say?

V3  he is crying tears

V6  he is bowed down in his inner man

V9  he is feeling oppressed

V9  he is mourning (lit blackness)

Now – spiritually, V9, he feels forsaken by God. We remember that Jesus too felt like this on the cross. He was expressing the same state as David had.

So friends, it’s not a bad thing to feel like this, in fact it’s an honest heart that confesses this to God.

What we see here is what many today would say of their lives. I have certainly experienced similar in my life.

David doesn’t leave it in a state of despair, but challenges himself to partake of the help of God, and to Praise Him.

In V11, he declares that God is his healer and that this will reflect in his face. The word “health” here is the same Hebrew root as the name of Jesus.

In similar circumstances friends, our help is in Jesus. I see a pattern here for our healing.

Be honest and express our feelings

Cry out to Jesus for His Healing power

Praise Him

We see another example in David’s life in

Psalm 69

The Waters of Affliction have come to his soul. He now describes like sinking into deep mire where he cannot stand. He is weary from crying, his throat is dry, and his eyes fail. So again he expresses both soulish and physical symptoms.

He talks here of oppression from people and his own foolishness. He feels like an alien to his friends and family. He was mocked in the city gates, and became the song of the drunkards. His heart was broken, and he found no comforter.

I would say that at this stage of his life, David was experiencing what we name today as depression. He is in a bad way, perhaps compounded by the feeling of isolation and being lost.

Does this describe your life friend?

Well let’s see what David did.

V14 onward, he cries out to God for Deliverance, and that the Waters of Affliction not swallow him up or the depression pit bury him. He cries out for the Salvation of God.

This of course leads David to Praise, thanksgiving and sacrifice of himself to God.

V32  The heart that Seeks After God WILL LIVE!

Can I encourage us all into what David has taught us here? Cry out to Jesus friend, He will hear your cry, deliver you, set your feet back on solid ground and your face will shine with His Glory.

This is our answer in the Kingdom friends. It’s not some theory but the heart of Father God shown to us in David’s testimony and later in Jesus own life.

I find another experience in

Psalm 88

Where a man, Heman the Ezrahite testifies in David’s Tabernacle.

His soul is full of trouble and he feels like he is going to die.

Have you ever felt like this friend? 

He has no strength and feels like he is in a pit of darkness in his soul. He has felt in this state from his youth.

He sees that the wrath of God is upon him, and describes it as Waters of Affliction.

This has brought him to feeling abandonment, crying, and agoraphobia (fear of going outside). He said that in this state he can’t testify of God.  

In V17, he says that God’s terrors are like the Waters. His friends and acquaintances have also deserted him.

This sounds like another depressed man to me. 

V13, he testifies that he cries to The Lord from the morning.

We are seeing that these feelings which we can suffer have been common to others in God’s Kingdom.

I want to go to David’s testimony in Psalm 124. He says that if it hadn’t been for The Lord’s deliverance, these Waters would have swallowed him up.

From these testimonies in Zion, it is clear that the Waters of Affliction are very real, and that God can use them for us to learn of His Delivering Power. These afflictions affect the mind, the body and health generally. They can affect relationships and bring derision. 

God may leave us in these Waters until we hear what He may want us to hear from Him. He may want to hear our humble cry to Him as well as our Praise and Thanksgiving.

He can separate us to a pit of circumstances in order to reveal the state of the heart and cause the revelation of His Delivering Power.

I do not want to make a doctrine out of this friends. I simply share it that it may bring clarity and open a door in hearts where the Holy Spirit may speak. If you can acquaint with David and Heman, then you can share in the revelation of God’s Mercy to them.

_________________________________________________________

There is a deeper realm in this subject where I believe that the Waters of Affliction are being used specifically by Father God in the forming of His Sonship Company.

I call this the “One Hundredfold Realm” where a people will come forth in the image of Jesus. This is a deeper working of The Spirit of God in transforming this Company into the Divine image of Jesus. 

In this regard, we are totally in His Hand as in a cocoon. Experientially we will feel the Waters of Affliction, but God is using these for His specific purpose of bringing forth His Sons.

I believe that The Lord has this Word for His Sons:

“The Lord is creating His Temple and chooses to reveal it in the hearts of those who seek His Face, for such hearts shall live by the Glory of God their creator and Saviour. This Temple of the Company of His Sons will be cleansed from the inside outward and The Lord will accomplish this by His overwhelming Waters of Affliction. Be not dismayed and troubled says The Lord, for the affliction is only for a short time. During this time your hearts will be exposed and you will come and cry to me in your depression knowing that nothing can deliver you from the waters and the pit. These things will not kill you although you feel like they could. I send the Waters to deliver you as a perfect people, not to destroy you. Know indeed that I am the Jesus of your countenance, as I was to the inhabitants of David’s Zion. But you have come to Spiritual Zion where I dwell and you are hidden in My Secret Place. So let not your hearts be troubled, but see in My servant David that I am the Deliverer and the One who will lift you up on high in due time. So My Sons sit quietly in your affliction and seek My Face with all your heart and it shall live for I have decreed from the beginning that there would arise a people in your generation who will wear My Name and come forth in great victory. But you ask when? for the Waters seem to deepen. Not one of My Sons shall come forth ahead of another for you are One Temple, and I will reveal you as One. Let My Word encourage and strengthen you for a little time”.

Always for Jesus,  Larry Wilson

THE SANBALLAT SPIRIT

THE SANBALLAT SPIRIT

We read about this obscure person in Nehemiah, at the time when Nehemiah and others had returned to Jerusalem from captivity in Babylon to rebuild the temple.

Sanballat’s name in Hebrew was Sinuballat which had the root “Sin”, the name of the Sumerian moon god “Sin”, worshipped 3000 years ago in Mesopotamia, the modern day Iran. His name literally means “enemy in secret”.

So we see the darkness in this man. He was an enemy of the Jews and opposed the rebuilding work of Nehemiah who was establishing God’s reform.

The history here is a shadow of what is happening today under the same spirit that operated in Sanballat, and this is what I ask Holy Spirit to reveal to us and make us wise.

A short summary:

Nehemiah’s return to Jerusalem aroused the enmity of Sanballat and his allies

He scoffed at Nehemiah when he announced that he was going to rebuild the temple walls

Nehemiah told him that he had no right in Jerusalem or in their affairs

Sanballat was angry and addressed his army calling the Jews “these feeble Jews”

Tobiah appeased Sanballat by saying that “a fox climbing on the  wall would break it down”
  

Sanballat organized his forces to fight

He challenges Nehemiah 5 times to meet him for battle. Nehemiah ignored him
  

Nehemiah just kept at his work
  

Sanballat and his confederates tried to entrap Nehemiah in the  temple but the scheme failed
   

Nehemiah found out that Eliashib the high priest had married a daughter of Sanballat and that he leased the temple store rooms to Tobiah, thus depriving the Levites of their share of the offerings
   

Sanballat constructed a temple copy of the Jewish temple which of course was false

So we can see here the work of satan against the work of God, and there are similarities to this today.

Sanballat used the following 7 evil devices to trap Nehemiah:

      

Neh 2:10      Derision

Neh 4:1-8     Defiance
Neh 6:1-4     Distraction Neh 6:5-9     Defamation
Neh 6:16-19 Dissension
Neh 13:4-8   Debasement

Sanballat and Tobiah used a false prophet to try to put fear and compromise on Nehemiah, but he said “why should a man such as me flee and be afraid”

He knew that the prophet was false because it went against God’s Word!

This is what is needed of God’s people today beloved. To test things against His Word. There is so much deception around today, and sadly people just fall for it. I love the heart of Nehemiah who knew the Word and that was his test.

Deception is one of satan’s greatest tools, and discernment is needed to see it. Having seen it, the Nehemiah’s of today will name it and reject it.

We are in a great Kingdom move of God on the earth today, and satan is using deception to try and stop the Sons of God appearing. In Nehemiah 6:14, he turned the bunch of them over to The Lord.

I see the following marks of the Sanballat spirit:

It is a wicked spirit sent to distract and deceive the “builders of the walls”.

It tries to make you quit what God has called you to do.

It will involve many techniques but will major on deception usually through false prophecy.

The deceivers at first will appear that they want to help, but behind this deception is a spirit trying to stop what God has called you to.

It is a subtle, treacherous spirit.

It judges and accuses.

Nehemiah’s response in Neh 6:3 was “I am obeying God, why should I be distracted by your foolishness”.

The Sons of God in The Kingdom today, are called to “build the Kingdom walls and gates” (see message “The Tower of Meah”). The Sanballat spirit will try to distract and stop the Sonship Company from being born, through deception. It will even create “false temples” to attract into false moves of God.

We need to be aware of this. If you are called into Kingdom purposes, then seek for discernment about teachers and so called prophets.

This spirit attacks the mind through deception and uses false prophets. It will use mockery, insult and discouragement.

It will use accomplices (like Tobiah and Geshem) to make you think that there is strength in numbers, so they must be right.

It will intimidate, make false accusations and be covered in pride.

It is cunning. It will rub shoulders with you, break bread with you, and appear to support you.

Behind it all is the one who deceived Eve in the garden into thinking in her mind that the apple was good to eat.

We are warned about deception by Jesus and also apostle Paul.

Eph 5:6  “let no man deceive you with empty words”

2 Thess 2:3  “let no man deceive you by any means. There will be a falling away…..”

Matt 24:4  “take heed that no man deceive you. Many will come in   My name saying “I am Christ” and will deceive many”

Matt 2 24  “there shall arise false prophets ………if it were               possible to deceive the very elect

 2 Tim 3:13  “evil men and seducers will become worse and worse deceiving and being deceived”

 Rev 12:9  “….satan, which deceives the whole world”

These are enough scriptures to warn us that deception will abound on the earth. They are not just mere words, it is God almighty warning us that there will be preachers and prophets with the seducing spirit of Sanballat.

If Nehemiah were sitting in today’s churches he would be testing the preachers against the Word of God. This is what “wall builders” do. But a lot today are deceived into thinking that they cannot question these self-proclaiming preachers. You have every biblical right to!

Have a good look into your church structure. Is it based on a commercial pattern or based on the New Covenant body of believers? You may be surprised. But that’s for another message.

Satan is a master deceiver and it is his main artillery against God’s plans since Eden.

I believe that we are in God’s timeline of preparing His Sonship Company of Melchizedek Priests. So satan’s strategy will be to try to deceive those in this calling and to lead them astray. He cannot use any form of truth to do this for there is no truth in him. He can only present counterfeit to attract, and it works on the mind and flesh.

I am very alert to “taking heed” and letting “no man deceive me”. 

Over the last couple of years I have observed a movement which I believe is worldwide, and I must warn against it. In so doing, I honour Jesus as Saviour and Lord and I acknowledge Him as all Truth and Life.

This movement goes under various identities, but generally promote themselves as “Christian Mystics”.

My observation is that they use “new age brainwashing”. They have tried to Christianize these practices, but I don’t find them in the Bible. Their purpose is to open ancient doors into the mystical realm. To quote one Ian Johnson – “Jesus is the mystical door”. Since when did Jesus become “mystical” in the sense that they promote.

I believe that the Sanballat spirit is active in these preachers and sadly I have seen many deceived. I have tried to warn some personally, but have received bitter rebuke.

These are some of my observances:

The saving Gospel of Jesus was never spoken. In fact one preacher made a statement that it’s not in his ministry.

The Name of Jesus is rarely mentioned if ever

They claim that they are NOT aligned with the New Age Movement. Why would they state that claim? The answer is simple – because they try to divert the criticism. As a preacher, I have never stated that I’m not aligned with it – because I’m not!

They speak continually of seeking personal “experiences” and “encounters”. I never heard about seeking the Face of Jesus and coming into His full image.

The Bible is rarely used if ever.

They continually talk of the “Desert Fathers” and it seemed to me that they build their movement on them. Well, who are these Desert Fathers? You can Google them, but basically they were 3 catholic monks in the Middle Ages who went into the African desert to “find the path to God”. They came across some eastern Hindu heretic mystics who apparently showed them there are many paths to God. Why would these Christian Mystics preach about this?

These Eastern Mystics used Buddhism/Hinduism practices and claim that these lead you to God. Utter deception.

They promote the mantra as a tool. They promote that as long as your desire is sincere, it can be a path to God. Utter deception.

They are soothsayers.

The following are New Age principles present in their meetings:

             Contemplative Spirituality.

“A belief system that uses mystical practices to induce altered states of consciousness. This is rooted in mysticism and the occult, but wrapped in Christian terminology. It uses mystical experiences. They promote that God can be reached through subjective experience. It erodes the authority of scripture.

I was in one of their meetings where we were told to pick up 2 sheets of paper under our seats. We were then to hold them in front of our face and begin to imagine the Holy of Holies. With eyes closed and in this state of imagery, we were to push our faces through the sheets and that we would enter the Holy of Holies. People were calling out that they were seeing Jesus through the paper.

This is imagery seeking experience.

This is a quote from a web site: “we come from a variety of secular and religious backgrounds and seek to enrich our journey through spiritual practice and ancient traditions. We desire to draw close to the “loving spirit” that pervades all creation”. This is Pantheism (God is in all).

            Taize Worship. 
    These are short chants repeated again and again, accompanied by heavy beat rhythm music. This is Contemplative Worship, and is a mark of their meetings. They attempt to connect with God through this chanting and mystical experience.

        Contemplative Prayer. 
   Focuses on having a mystical experience with God. Mysticism is purely subjective, and doesn’t rely on truth. They seek experience not the Word. It copies eastern religious practices and new age cults.

         Sozo. 
   This is another current mystical practice around today which I believe has its origin from the Bethel church in USA. It uses “image room” mysticism through a mild trance state.

      Soaking Prayer. 
    This is a sitting or lying down state with music playing, waiting for God’s presence with some manifestation. You then soak in that presence. Again this copies eastern mysticism and has no Biblical support.

              Divination. 
     Contacting God or gaining spiritual experience through
     departed ones. You may have seen pictures of people lying on graves to  receive an  anointing from the dead person.

     Shamanic Visualization. 
    This is an eastern practice which bridges the gap between the real and the imagery. It uses imagination and visualization. I have seen this continually in these meetings. It is a link to the spirit world. It activates the 6^th sense through the pineal gland or 3^rd eye. It is used in occult travel, trances and hypnosis. Shamans use spirit journeys to other realms of imagination. I have listened to these “Christian Mystics” testify to being in Heaven’s Court rooms….of talking with God face to face. One even said that God took him to another planet to have a look.

Friends, I am purposely exposing what I believe to be a great deception today, and it has taken many good Christian people captive. I really believe that we are in the days of building the Kingdom walls, and satan the father of deception is using deception and counterfeit to distract from the truth and to lead people astray.

If you have been innocently involved in any of these practices, I urge you to repent and remove yourself. Father God will deliver you through the Blood of Jesus.

If you are involved as a preacher in “Christian Mysticism”, you are deceived and deceiving. I urge you to repent and seek deliverance by the Spirit of God.

We are in a vital day of God’s purposes friends, and my care is that all falsehood be exposed along with the deceiving Sanballat spirit.

How to stop the Sanballat spirit:

§  Don’t come down from the wall

§  Speak the Word

§  Ignore the insults

§  Remain steadfast

§  Encourage each other

§  Continue to build

§  Pray

§  Follow Jesus Word

It is Father’s desire that we come into the full image of Jesus and this is achieved through seeking His Face and hearing the Spirit of God. The only Worship is that which is in Spirit and Truth and the pattern of that is in David’s Tabernacle.

I call the Name of Jesus over His Sons for Divine Wisdom and protection.

Always for Jesus,  Larry