He Left Judaea MT. 4:12; MK. 1:14; JN. 4:1-3

‘When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized disciples more than John…He left Judaea.’ John 4:1,3

This is an interesting passage of scripture. On the surface, it might look like Jesus was running from a fight. Now that John the Baptist was out of the way (he had been imprisoned), it was inevitable that the Pharisees would attack Jesus. One thing we can be sure of is that there was no fear on our Lord’s part.On other occasions He demonstrated that no one could do anything to Him if He didn’t allow it (Lk. 4:29-30; Jn. 7:30, 44-46; 8:20, 59; 10:39). Therefore we can assume that Jesus left because He knew it was God’s will. On another occasion when His half brothers dared Him to go to Jerusalem and confront the Pharisees, He told them that it wasn’t time for Him to go yet (Jn. 7:1-6). A lesser man would have been intimidated into showing His superiority. Jesus was the most selfless person who ever walked the earth. He did not come to earth for Himself, but for us. If He would have defended Himself, we would have never been saved. The humility of Jesus was surely interpreted by some to be weakness, but in truth it was love. Not love for Himself, but love for a dying world of which He was the only hope.

#spiritualwarfare

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Fleecing

A Charge to Shepherds

If you are going to lead the sheep, feed the sheep, and care for them, then you must take the responsibility seriously. Shepherding is not casual work. It requires diligence, discernment, and a commitment to teach well—because what the sheep are taught will determine whether they stand firm or are easily taken advantage of.

There are those who will seek to fleece the flock. If the sheep are not protected, and if they are not taught to recognize danger, accountability does not fall on the sheep alone. It falls on the shepherd. Scripture is clear that leaders are entrusted with care, not only for nurture, but for protection.

At the same time, wisdom requires balance. Just as there are those who exploit congregations, there are also those who, knowingly or unknowingly, are used by the enemy to wound, undermine, or destroy leadership. This too must be taught plainly. The flock must learn not only how to guard themselves, but how to walk in honor and discernment toward those called to lead them.

A healthy body requires mutual understanding. Shepherds guard the sheep. Sheep honor and do not exploit the shepherd. Where either side is left untaught, the door is left open for harm.

Be wise. Be discerning. Be cautious. These are not abstractions—they are people, precious to God, the very apple of His eye.

🦋Sj

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“We Need Angels” — Rick Joyner

“We must keep in mind that, regardless of how much understanding we are given on anything, ‘we know in part, and we prophesy in part’ (1 Corinthians 13:9). Knowing that the most we are ever given is only ‘part’ should compel us to remain humble and teachable, recognizing that we need others in order to gain fuller understanding.”

“There have been cults and sects that began with a revelation from an angel that went beyond Scripture. So, is it dangerous to seek revelation from angels? Certainly—but it is probably no more dangerous than receiving revelation from another person.”

“If Daniel and John required angelic instruction, who are we to assume that we do not? We are instructed to ‘test the spirits’ (1 John 4:1–3), and we must do so. However, we must not reject angels whose assignment is to minister to the heirs of salvation.”

“As we approach the end of the age, we will experience increased interaction with angels because it will be necessary. Therefore, we must grow accustomed to this reality.”

(MorningStar — Word of the Week, Revelation Part One)

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🔹 There Is a Cost to Carrying Influence 🔹

There is a cost to being entrusted with influence in the Kingdom of God. The Lord does not desire a Holy Spirit–empowered believer—especially one whose words carry weight—to live carelessly, speak flippantly, or dull their discernment. Words matter. Judgment matters. And there are consequences attached to both.

Scripture reminds us that clarity of mind and restraint of spirit are not optional for those entrusted with authority.

Proverbs 31:4–5

It is not for kings, O Lemuel,

it is not for kings to drink wine,

nor for princes strong drink;

lest they drink, and forget the law,

and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted.

Matthew Henry notes that while indulgence may be excused or even celebrated in culture, it is unbecoming for those who govern, judge, or lead. To lose clarity—even temporarily—is to risk forgetting the law they are meant to uphold and misjudging those they are meant to protect. What confuses the head ultimately weakens discernment and corrupts judgment.

The issue is not merely excess, but diminished awareness. Anything that dulls perception can cause one to stumble in judgment—especially when others are affected by the outcome.

The New Covenant widens this application. Scripture declares that believers are made kings and priests to our God. With that calling comes responsibility. What may seem harmless in private can become harmful when one’s words or decisions carry influence.

James reminds us:

“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” (James 3:1)

This does not create fear—it establishes sobriety. Those who speak into the lives of others must guard their clarity, their tone, and their restraint. Influence demands vigilance. Authority requires self-discipline.

The lesson of Proverbs is not about beverages alone—it is about sobriety of spirit. Believers are called to keep their minds clear, their judgments sound, and their words aligned with truth, especially when the vulnerable may be affected.

Clarity protects the afflicted.

Restraint preserves authority.

And discernment honors the calling.

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The Other Side of the Story

Hebrews 5:9 (AMPC)

“And, [His completed experience] making Him perfectly [equipped], He became the Author and Source of eternal salvation to all those who give heed and obey Him.”

There is a side of salvation that is often left unspoken.

Scripture is clear: Jesus is the Author and Source of eternal salvation to those who give heed and obey Him. This does not mean that salvation is fragile or easily lost. If you are truly saved, you are not “losing” your salvation. But you can forfeit the benefits of salvation in daily life.

Salvation is more than a destination—it includes provision, safety, protection, guidance, and peace. These flow from relationship and obedience. When heed and obedience are absent, access is restricted—not because Christ withholds, but because we step outside what He supplies. Grace is not a smear campaign.

It is not peanut butter spread thinly over everything regardless of response. Grace covers those who receive it—and Scripture defines receiving as giving heed and obeying. Grace is powerful, but it is not careless.

Now—this must be said with tenderness.

There are praying mothers. There are praying fathers. Families praying for families. Friends praying for friends. And if someone is being prayed for, the mercy of God does reach further than we can see. But mercy should never be taken for granted.

We are commanded to hear and obey. Responsibility still rests with the individual. Salvation is offered freely, but it must be received rightly.

And to those who are hurting—those watching loved ones wander, delay, or resist—keep praying. Keep hoping. Your labor is not in vain. But remember this truth for your own soul: You were never called to save the world. Jesus already did that. You are called to call people out of the world and into His salvation—and then to obey God yourself. After that, you must roll the burden back onto Him.

We cannot carry the weight of the world. Not when a thousand fall at one side, and ten thousand at the other. That weight belongs to Him alone.

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God Performs His Word Through People

By Dutch Sheets (Polished Adaptation)

After Jeremiah receives his prophetic commission, he records:

“Then the Lord said to me, ‘You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it’” (Jeremiah 1:12).

Please don’t miss this vital truth:

God’s Word—what He watches over to perform—was going to be spoken through a human being. As verses 16–17 confirm:

“I will pronounce My judgments on them… Arise and speak to them all which I command you.”

The pattern is unmistakable: God’s Word, declared through human vessels. This has always been His way.

Consider Hosea 6:5:

“Therefore I have hewn them [My people] in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; and the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth.”

Here again, we see that God’s decrees and judgments are released through the mouths of people—those entrusted with His Word.

Now, some might say, “But that was the Old Testament.”

Yet God’s methods have not changed. The New Testament affirms the same principle: He still works through His people to release His purposes on the earth.

Look at Matthew 16:19 in the Amplified Bible, where Jesus speaks of His ekklesia—His Church, His governing body on earth:

“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind—that is, declare to be improper and unlawful—on earth must be already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose—declare lawful—on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.” (emphasis added)

(Incidentally, the Amplified footnotes this passage with Isaiah 22:22—the same verse I once referenced at the White House concerning governmental authority to open and shut doors.)

In this declaration, Jesus commissions His Church to speak with authority—declaring, based on His will and Word, what is lawful and unlawful, permitted and forbidden.

It’s a remarkable concept—yet perfectly reasonable. How could we possibly govern on God’s behalf without such authority?

God has always used the voices of His people to bring forth His plans and purposes—just as He did through Jeremiah. And let me be clear: the “enemies” God confronts through these declarations are not people—they are spiritual forces of darkness.

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Ordination: A Calling Valid, Though Unconventional

Ordained by God—Set Apart by Grace

I’ve always wished that life, especially life in the Kingdom, came with clear instructions. But more often than not, the ways of God are beautifully unconventional, and His instructions are written deep within the heart, not printed on the surface.

My journey into ministry didn’t follow traditional lines. I knew as a child that I was called to serve God. With the eyes of a child, I envisioned myself doing what I saw my beloved pastor do—wearing the long robe, leading the congregation, and quietly saying, “Bow your heads and let us pray.” I loved the peace that would settle over the church.

As I grew, the robe and the imagery faded, but the desire for the Word of God only deepened. I longed for the day I could spend hours studying Scripture. After graduating high school, I led my first church service at just 18 years old. Shortly afterward, I was brought before the elders of the United Presbyterian Church and commissioned for the pastorate. They even arranged for me to attend a Spirit-filled college to prepare for ministry.

But I failed them.

Within a year, I had enlisted in the U.S. Army and was quickly swept into a life of distractions. Though I never forgot my call, I assumed I had missed my chance. No one had ever told me that the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Even when I read that verse, I couldn’t receive it for myself.

Years passed.

Then one day, God spoke again. He called me—as a watchman to the body of Christ. By this time, I had left the Presbyterian church and settled into a Baptist congregation, intentionally distancing myself from anything “charismatic” or supernatural. I was hiding—from my past, my failures, and from the kind of spiritual encounters that might reveal what I didn’t want anyone to see.

Still, I spent nights studying the Word. Though I didn’t fully understand what being a watchman meant, I embraced the call. I thought it meant defending the faith through apologetics. I imagined myself on the walls of the city, warning of danger and false teaching. I even introduced myself in church that way, though privately I mourned the pastorate I believed I’d forfeited.

I can now say: I was wrong—not about being a watchman, but about thinking the pastoral call was gone.

That call never left.

The Supernatural Turn

In 1991, the ache of living outside my call became unbearable. I was willing to do anything to get back to God’s will. I returned to college after sixteen years and poured myself into learning. I excelled—graduating summa cum laude, earning a master’s degree, and nearly entering law school. But just before enrolling, I decided to attend seminary instead. If I couldn’t be a preacher, at least I could study God’s Word more deeply.

That’s when it happened.

The Lord began to open my eyes to the supernatural—to visions, dreams, and the voice of His Spirit. My world turned upside down. The more I sought Him, the more He responded. Then, one day, He did something unforgettable: He ordained me.

The Ordination

I was sitting at my desk, studying, when the atmosphere of the room shifted. The presence of God filled the space with such weight and formality that I immediately knew something sacred was happening. Another person was in the room with me, and when I asked if she sensed it too, she said, “Yes—it feels very formal.”

In that moment, I bowed my head in reverence. Instantly, I entered a vision.

I was aware of my body at the desk, but I was also present in another room—on carpeted steps before a platform. I saw Jesus approach from my right and stand behind me. He spoke to the Father, who was seated above on the platform. Though Jesus never said, “I’m ordaining you,” I knew exactly what was happening.

This was my ordination.

There was a stillness within me—no racing thoughts, just reverence. I did glance up in the vision for a moment, but quickly looked down again in awe. Jesus laid His hands on me and spoke words I will never forget. He gave me scriptures that have since anchored my calling. And then the vision ended. The presence lifted. I was left stunned and in awe.

What That Moment Means Now

For years, I carried that moment close to my heart. When I doubted my calling, I would return to that vision and find strength. But over time—and through many battles—I began to forget. Doubt crept in, and I focused more on my present struggles than on the day I had been commissioned by the Lord Himself.

Recently, the Lord gently reminded me of that day. He reminded me that He alone ordained me, and that He will provide for every need as I follow His plan for my life.

That reminder brought a deep, refreshing confidence. Not in myself—but in Him. I may still have unanswered questions, but I now walk with a deeper certainty of His call than ever before.

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Facing Rejection with Courage

In his book The Prophet in the Wilderness, Ken Cox writes:

“Some prophets say, ‘Lord, You know how I hate rejection—how I go out of my way to avoid being or feeling rejected. Help me to grow out of it.’ As prophets, we need to pray for God to give us courage to face those who distrust, dislike, or resent us for whatever reason. There are those who look down on you, who think they have you figured out. Ask God to help you love them while refusing to compromise your integrity. Ask God to forgive you where you’ve been afraid.”

I was reading this book this morning, and when I came across this paragraph, it jumped off the page. While the book is specifically written for prophets, the truth of this message stretches beyond the prophetic call—it’s a word for all believers.

In today’s world, simply being a Christian can invite rejection and even persecution. The moment you choose to stand for truth or walk in obedience, you may find yourself facing misunderstanding, resistance, or outright hostility.

It reminded me of when the Apostle Paul shared about his suffering. He wasn’t boasting or complaining—he was encouraging. He wanted believers to know that they weren’t alone in their trials. There’s something strangely strengthening about that. When we know others are also enduring hardship, it gives us renewed resolve. We realize that we’re part of something much larger, and we gain the courage to keep pressing on.

Rejection hurts, but we don’t face it alone. We can ask God to strengthen us, to help us love those who oppose us, and to never shrink back in fear. Integrity matters. And so does compassion.

May we be people who walk boldly, love deeply, and never forget that we are not alone in this walk of faith.

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