O Sovereign Lord ~ Thou which hast made the changing of the seasons, will also direct and watch over mine.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. (Ecc 3:1)

The great English commentator and Presbyterian minister, Matthew Henry said, “Those things which to us seem most casual and contingent are, in the counsel and foreknowledge of God, punctually determined, and the very hour of them is fixed, and can neither be anticipated nor adjourned a moment.”

Finding myself in such a troubling and agonizing season of my life, I resigned to spend several hours seeking God’s wisdom on this Lord’s Day. His answer came in quite an unexpected way, as my attention was drawn to His creation.

Not without purpose, the season in which I find myself both physically and spiritually is Fall. This is the season that brings much change and an outward appearance of death. For the leaves that drop, death is certain, yet the tree remains. Eventually, it is stripped of its beauty, left barren and dry.

Fall is short and death is quick but, Winter then blazes it’s fury upon the barren earth and Oh! how long this season lasts. Yet, see the patience of the earth – it does not groan, but waits for it’s Creator who has ordered Spring to come – and it shall come. Life shall rise out of death. Beauty shall spring forth from deep darkness.

As I pondered these things, my heart then shouted, “Oh! If there is mercy from God towards the earth, how much more to His elect ones?” How then can my soul be cast down considering such thoughts?

Therefore, in my season of death, while everything that was once beautiful, is stripped away from me, leaving me barren of all comforts and supports, I will endeavor to be like the tree and wait with patience because God has ordered my seasons and life will come again.

“And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us…” (Ps 90:17)

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By Holly D. Dye
© Refocusing Our Eyes.
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Who am I, O Lord that I should presume to direct Thy Hand?

Who am I to think I know what’s best for my life and at what point did it become my life?

It is Thine and Thine alone.

For Thou hast purchased me. Thou hast paid such a heavy price for me. I am Thy possession.

I have no rights except to obey Thy holy commands.

Who am I, O Lord to think my suffering is unbearable?

Have I resisted sin to the point of blood?

Have I borne such reproach for Thy Name that I have become physically marred by persecution?

Have I had to watch loved ones massacred before my eyes because I would not recant my faith?

Although my sighing is not hidden from Thee, help me to remember that my affliction is light and Thy grace restrains that which rages against me.

Who am I, O Lord to weep over my loneliness?

Have I been exiled and kept in the darkest of dungeons? Have I been kept from all living souls?

O, let me ever be mindful of those Thou hast given and though they be not near in vicinity, Thou hast made them near in spirit.

O God, my God, let thankfulness be my garment! Let me see beauty and grace in every trial. May the tears I shed strengthen my character and work holiness in my life. May Thy joy abound in every affliction! And may Thy glory be my heart’s desire.

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By Holly D. Dye
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What is this call that sounds my name? What is this affliction that awaits my soul? Ay, it is the cross of my Lord. It is the cross that He has chosen for me.

Shall I run? Shall I hide from its hideousness? Shall I beg of Him another way?

Terror grips my soul! The sight of it repulses me. My flesh recoils at the suffering I know I am to endure. I cry to Him, “Have mercy, Lord! Deliver me!”…But the cross remains. He insists that I bear it.

My cheeks are stained with tears; my heart, in deep agony; my flesh trembles at the beam that awaits my back.

Mocking and insults are thrown upon me as I consider the cost. Doubt ravages my soul. Insanity threatens and whispers comforting sounds in my ear. Images of compromise pressure me to turn back. The noise rises to a deafening pitch! I cry out to God, “Deliver me!”…. But the cross remains. He insists that I bear it.

In my distress, I fall to the ground. I wait for my Lord to speak; yet He is silent. He has already given the command. He will say nothing more.

I feel as though my life has been emptied. I know what I must do. It is the only way. I silently cry, “Lord give me courage to embrace Thy cross.”

Suddenly, strength comes into my being. Joy floods my heart. The cross that once was repulsive now becomes a thing of beauty. I cannot resist its call. I run to it eagerly and with delight, I embrace its beams.

O blessed cross! How I welcome thy weight upon my back! Thy splinters bear hard into my skin. Thy bruises are multiplied upon me. O how sweet the burden! O how I welcome the pain!

O blessed cross! I rejoice to bear thy shame! May the burden that thou hast blessed me with destroy all pride and self-righteousness!

O blessed cross, I welcome thee! Take these hands that have been so idle. Drive the nails and do not let me escape! Take these feet that have been so swift to run to the comforts of the world. Drive the nails and fasten me to thy devotion.

O blessed cross! Raise me upon thy hill and destroy any name that I have made for myself! May the bones of sin be broken and never repaired. Let thy graces abound as my rebellion draws its last breath.

My death is Thy glory!

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By Holly D. Dye
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One day, outside of a store I frequent, stood two boy scouts – one at the entrance and one at the exit.

The boy at the entrance was speaking toward people, however, because he was rather sheepish and his voice so low; no one paid attention to him. They walked right past him into the store.

In contrast, the boy at the exit, being very bold, was not afraid to confront people. Making sure he had their attention, he then began to plead his cause.

The situation struck me immediately that what I was witnessing was a profound analogy of the preachers in this land.

The god that has been preached in our pulpits – this god who is effeminate and repressively tolerant, is not the true God. This god who is a wish granter and life coach is not the God of the Bible. This god who coercers you into sowing your seed into the most successful ground for the sole purpose of you having all your wealthy dreams come true, is not the same God who told us to store up our treasures in heaven!

Oh how these false ministers have fleeced God’s flock!

The gods that have been erected in the minds of men are putrid representations of the true God. Holy and righteous, He has been reduced to some cupie doll that grants all our wishes.

The merchandizing of all that is holy shall be destroyed by great judgment. Do not be deceived into thinking that in this great Christian land, God will prevent His holy wrath from destroying those who have thought to mock Him.

Who has mocked Him more, but hirelings who have disguised themselves as shepherds?  These have led the sheep astray, teaching as truth utter heresy!

“My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains. From mountain to hill they have gone. They have forgotten their fold. All who found them have devoured them…” (Jer 50:6-7 )

“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; they wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. My sheep were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them. “Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: As I live, declares the Lord GOD, surely because my sheep have become a prey, and my sheep have become food for all the wild beasts, since there was no shepherd, and because my shepherds have not searched for my sheep, but the shepherds have fed themselves, and have not fed my sheep, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: Thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my sheep at their hand and put a stop to their feeding the sheep. No longer shall the shepherds feed themselves. I will rescue my sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.” (Ezek 34:2-10)

The true gospel message is rarely preached in our churches. We are given a soft message to digest. Nothing that offends or prods or rebukes – and we are told this is love! 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is used to defend everything in which they do not want to confront.

The false shepherds in this land have created effeminate sheep that cannot bear to hear rebuke. They cannot bear to hear anything that would make them uncomfortable enough to change.

As a friend of mine said, “If we just simply stood and read the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, it would empty our churches.” – for the sheep cannot bear such harsh messages.

The false shepherds will not teach against error, because they have been taught to keep their message positive and never, ever teach against anything. So, the result of this quite obviously is, false doctrine has invaded the church like never before. Deceiving and being deceived, the sheep have been lulled into a false state of comfort by the hirelings who speak peace instead of warning.

Jesus warned us about this very thing in John 10. A very interesting fact is that every Christian can quote the first part of John 10:10, which says,

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…

“Oh yes, that’s talking about the devil! The devil is the thief! The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy!”

This seems to be the most quoted verse and yet the most terribly misinterpreted. Let’s look at this verse in context.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”  This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.  So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.   All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.  The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.  He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. (John 10:1-13)

Verse 10 is not talking about the devil; it is talking about false teachers! Lest it be said that I’m going out on a limb, let’s look at what just a few commentators had to say on John 10:10.

John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible:

The thief cometh not but for to steal: That is his first and principal view; to steal, is to invade, seize, and carry away another’s property. Such teachers that come not in by the right door, or with a divine commission, seek to deceive, and carry away the sheep of Christ from him, though they are not able to do it; and to steal away their hearts from him, as Absalom stole the hearts of the people from their rightful lord and sovereign, David his father; and to subject them to themselves, that they might lord it over them, and make a property of them, as the Pharisees did, who, under a pretence of long prayers, devoured widows’ houses.

 

And to kill and to destroy:  either the souls of men by their false doctrines, which eat as doth a cancer, and poison the minds of men, and slay the souls that should not die, subverting the faith of nominal professors, though they cannot destroy any of the true sheep of Christ; or the bodies of the saints, by their oppression, tyranny, and persecution, who are killed all the day long for the sake of Christ, and are accounted as sheep for the slaughter, by these men, they thinking that by so doing they do God good service.

 

Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible:

But for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy – Those who enter into the priesthood that they may enjoy the revenues of the Church, are the basest and vilest of thieves and murderers. Their ungodly conduct is a snare to the simple, and the occasion of much scandal to the cause of Christ. Their doctrine is deadly; they are not commissioned by Christ, and therefore they cannot profit the people. Their character is well pointed out by the Prophet Ezekiel (34:2). How can worldly-minded, hireling, fox-hunting, and card-playing priests read these words of the Lord, without trembling to the center of their souls!

 

Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible:

The thief cometh not … – The thief has no other design in coming but to plunder. So false teachers have no other end in view but to enrich or aggrandize themselves.

 

Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible:

The mischievous design of the thief: The thief cometh not with any good intent, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. First, Those whom they steal, whose hearts and affections they steal from Christ and his pastures, they kill and destroy spiritually; for the heresies they privily bring in are damnable. Deceivers of souls are murderers of souls. Those that steal away the scripture by keeping it in an unknown tongue, that steal away the sacraments by maiming them and altering the property of them, that steal away Christ’s ordinances to put their own inventions in the room of them, they kill and destroy; ignorance and idolatry are destructive things. Secondly, Those whom they cannot steal, whom they can neither lead, drive, nor carry away, from the flock of Christ, they aim by persecutions and massacres to kill and destroy corporally. He that will not suffer himself to be robbed is in danger of being slain.

 

False teachers.

That’s what John 10:10 is talking about. And because we have so many hirelings in our pulpits today, the Word has not been rightly divided. This is serious, folks. This is not a small issue. We have not been taught about the dangers of false teachers therefore they are glorified in American Christianity!

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. (2 Pet 2:1-3)

These false shepherds have left the foundational doctrines of Christ and have sought after spiritual experiences to qualify their belief system. Scripture is then used in a very twisted way to endorse every goose bump and spectacular display.

Altar calls are non-confrontational, with no calls for repentance. “Just slip up your hand to acknowledge that you need Jesus. We’re not going to embarrass you or ask you to come down front. Just simply acknowledge that you need Him.” Some churches don’t even go that far and just ask you to fill out a card as you leave.

Who is responsible for this reprehensible call to come to Christ?  Since when are men not expected to make a public declaration of their faith – if truly such a work has been wrought in their heart?

Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Mat 10:32-33)

False shepherds working false conversions! Allowing men to think they are okay with God, without meeting any requirements of scripture!

The Lord God, is against these shepherds, and will require His sheep at their hand and put a stop to them feeding the sheep such vile doctines!

For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Heb 10:30-31)

O you hirelings, repent before your soul and the blood of others is required of you!

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By Holly D. Dye
© Refocusing Our Eyes.
http://refocusingoureyes.com/

I will be the first one to challenge what our modern churches have defined as the “love walk”. It seems to be nothing more than simple tolerance, weak and unbalanced, at best. However, we can never by any means cast off love or ignore its command to believers.

I have been deeply burdened, as of late, at the constant bickering and viciousness of fellow believers. Never before have I witnessed such a willingness to tear people apart if one does not believe exactly like the other.

My friends, these things ought not be.

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. (Gal 5:14-15)

Albert Barnes explained it in this manner:

*But if ye bite – The word used here (δάκνω daknō), means, properly, to bite, to sting; and here seems to be used in the sense of contending and striving – a metaphor not improbably taken from dogs and wild beasts.

*And devour one another – As wild beasts do. The sense is, “if you contend with each other;” and the reference is, probably, to the strife, which would arise between the two parties in the churches – the Jewish and the Gentile converts.

*Take heed that ye be not consumed … – As wild beasts contend sometimes until both are slain. Thus, the idea is, in their contentions they would destroy the spirituality and happiness of each other; their characters would be ruined; and the church be overthrown. The readiest way to destroy the spirituality of a church, and to annihilate the influence of religion, is to excite a spirit of contention. (Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible)

Apparently, the Jewish believers were taking issue with the Gentile believers because they did not adhere to the customs they thought were important, mainly the Law. However, Paul is teaching them here that the most important part of the law they have put off is love.

He goes on to say that if they would walk in the Spirit, the following things would not be manifesting in their lives:

Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal 5:19-21)

Hatred. Hatred of any man, even our enemies, is forbidden.

Variance. This means contentions, fighting or quarrelling.

Emulations. This word speaks of having zeal, but not for good. It means a boiling or rising up of the spirits and passions at the honor of another.

Wrath. Wrath is a violent emotion. It moves you to seek revenge and seeks to hurt others.

Strife. When Paul speaks of strife, in this verse, he is talking about arguing about petty flaws in others or finding unnecessary fault.

Seditions. Public disorder. Division.

Did you happen to notice that these words are lumped into the same category with adultery, idolatry and witchcraft?

Did you also notice that Paul said they, which do such things, SHALL NOT inherit the kingdom of God?

This is a sober warning, my friends, which I think we would do well to heed.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (Jn 13:35)

Somewhere between the years of 160-220 A.D., the Christian author, Tertullian, observed that even the heathen took notice of Christians passing one another along the street, for they would meet and express their affection to each other. It was said the heathen remarked, “see how they love one another”.

Can this be said of us today? No, I do not think it can.

Well, you may say, “I’m fighting for TRUTH! Lies must be exposed!” I agree, to an extent. False doctrine must be exposed, but not at the risk of devouring one another.

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2Tim 2:24-26)

You must check your motives. What is their desired end? Is it truly to help your brother who has fallen into a lie? Or is it to crush him and get him out of your way? Can you not see the latter is evil?

He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. (1Jn 2:9-11)

Now, John specifically uses the word brother here. He is not talking about the ungodly. He is talking about fellow believers.

Yet, what I have been observing is believers mocking one another because they don’t agree over a certain doctrine. Let me make this as clear as I possibly can.

Dear friend, that brother…that sister…that you have so freely pursued to destroy, is someone whom Christ died for. When you so mock your brother, you so mock Christ. For when you have done it to the least of these, you have done it unto Him. You are yet in darkness.

It is pride that sets itself in a position over others to deem that person unworthy of respect. Who made you lord over your brother?

Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (Rom 14:4)

Beware, lest you find yourself opposed to God. For how do you know the inner workings of the Spirit of God upon a man’s heart? How do you know the brother or sister whom you are despising, God is not in the process of holding him up?

Friends! This is such dangerous ground to tread upon! In tears, I plead with you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ – abstain from strife!

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. (Jas 1:19-20)

You cannot justify your wrath. I don’t care what your crusade is. I don’t care what your passion is. You simply cannot justify it with the Word of God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1Jn 4:8)

John makes this statement clear. If you do not love – You do not know God. Period.

What should our attitude be toward one another, even when we may disagree?

Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. (Rom 14:19)

If we love our brothers, we will do everything possible to edify them. Love must be our highest aim. But if we seek to promote our own agenda, passions and prejudices, will it not only gender strife and contention? There are things that are common among us all that we can agree on and will unite us. Let us strive to cultivate a spirit of peace among our ranks.

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By Holly D. Dye
© Refocusing Our Eyes.
http://refocusingoureyes.com/

Kay Arthur was quoted as saying, “If you don’t plan to live the Christian life totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then don’t begin; for this is what Christianity is all about. It is a change of citizenship, a change of governments, a change of allegiance. If you have no intention of letting Christ rule your life, then forget Christianity; It’s not for you.”

Is reformation needed again?

Oh, that we would seek the Lord’s counsel and search out His thoughts. To fall upon our faces and humble our barren souls before the One who holds our very lives.

Well-said when someone spoke of the church as being “the sleeping giant”. Must she be constantly awakened out of her morbid slumber? Must she be “detoxed” from her heavily medicated state? Oh, that she would arise and clothe herself with beautiful garments and adorn herself with the image of Christ! Oh, that she would shut out the cries of the world and withdraw herself to that secret place!

Man-made agendas– full of vile emptiness! Sugar-coated gospels, brightly lit and soothing to the flesh! Christians wanting nothing more than to be stroked and scratched behind the ears -  rejecting the truth of the Gospel to obtain the “feeling of fullness”, but no vital nourishment.  Junk food gospel is what it is called! Oh, that we would cry out for the truth. That we would search the scriptures and reject all falsehood!

You are permitted to reproduce and distribute this material in any format provided that you do not alter the wording in any way and that you do not charge any fee beyond the cost of reproduction. For web posting, a link to this document on our website is preferred. Any exceptions to the above must be done on prior approval.

Please include the following statement on any distributed copy:
By Holly D. Dye
© Refocusing Our Eyes.
http://refocusingoureyes.com/