Part One of a three part series

 

 Where did the Word of God come to John the Baptist? In the wilderness.  What was the Word? Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins - in the Jordan river, flowing in the wilderness away from the thoughts and the ways of men, away from organized religion  - the people had to travel away from all of that to meet with the man God had sent. Before this amazing moment in time, they had to go to a Priest to repent - carrying a sacrifice,  typically a blood sacrifice  - which was a foreshadow of Jesus - typifying his life's calling - to be a one time, once and for all blood sacrifice for the remission of sins - but now, to usher in and prepare for his arrival,  the people went in droves to the wilderness,  away from the Temple, away from the Synagogues (churches) of their day - away from all that man had built - to that which was untouched by man, unspoiled by man.

 Pharisees (pastors) felt threatened by John and rightly so - when John saw the Pharisees and Sadducees,  the religious leadership of his day, he soundly rebuked them , saying to their face - "O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wratg to come?" He told them of the coming of Jesus and he warned them that if they did not bring forth the fruit of repentance they would burn forever as chaff with unquenchable fire. Yet they challenged and resisted him as they would later do with Jesus,  as they will do to anyone who threatens their position of power and authority unto this day. False leadership  - put in place by man - will always try to kill and destroy leadership raised up and put in place by God  - even as Herod did when he first heard of Jesus - or as Pharoah did when Moses was about to be born. Leadership after the flesh will always despise and dishonor leadership after the Spirit.  They are full of pride, selfish,  more concerned with their position then promoting and exalting the people to the positions God has birthed them to fulfill.  The people of God cried outto Him for a king - and when he told them that was not his will for them - they cried out all the more - ignoring the wisdom God offered them - and today - they are doing the same - seeking a man, a king, flesh to rule over them because they themselves are fleshly, carnal - not seeking God's wisdom or his ways - nit seeking the baptism of the Spirit John had prophecied Jesus would bring " he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire" Luke 3:5 - this verse speaks of things being made level, or equal - crooked being made straight,  rough being made smooth - all the result of transitioning from Satan's kingdom to God's  - in their pride (Satan's original sin - man's final sin) men exalt themselves over other men - those lifted up in pride shall be brought low, those abased and abused by men shall be brought high - till all are equal,  with only Christ being exalted in our midst - and too, Christ will straighten every crooked way in us - every path of perversion  - till the only path our hearts trod is the path of righteousness  - the straight and narrow way. Once all tjis happens - "all flesh shall see the salvation of God" - some to their everlasting shame, others to their everlasting joy. When only Christ is exalted in our congregations,  He will exalt the humble and humble the proud. The unity his Spirit and presence will bring will be a powerful witness of our Father's reality to this wicked generation,  maybe the world's last, or next to last.

Part two Friday - apostle Chris

 I am the world's richest man

 for I possess untold, infinite wealth

 for I've been given as my inheritance 

 not money, or material possessions 

 oh no, 

 The owner and the ruler of the entire Universe 

 has given me Himself!

 His heart, His soul,

 are mine to know -

I'm His Son

 I'm destined to inherit 

 His eternal,  wondrous, kingdom 

 and too, I'm His Bride

 His Beloved, His betrothed, 

 invited to sit with Him on His Throne -

This is true wealth 

 for He'll be mine forever

 and He will never

 be taken from me

Whereas earthly Kings and Potentates

 whether Elon Musk or Bill Gates,

The Sultan of Brunei,

 King David or King Solomon 

No matter who

 the list could go on and on 

 but not a single one

 could take a single solitary penny

 with them when they passed

 but the wealth that I possess will last

Yes, greater than any THING

 is the Presence of my King

So in a very real sense

Solomon is a prophecy, a foreshadow 

 of The Bride of Christ 

 who chose the wisdom of intimacy 

 with her King of kings

 and not set her heart

 on getting things

 or the wealth of this world

 but desired instead that most valuable of pearls -

God's presence   - His very Personage

The Father   The Son   and The Spirit 

 So she's been rewarded 

 with the very wealth 

 she did not set her heart upon -

It was her husband she chose

 to honor and serve

 now her eternal reward is assured 

For this is written upon her forehead  -

 the forehead of she whom He adores 

                "Holiness unto The Lord"

Therefore she will not be purged 

 from the New Heaven and the New Earth

 with the rest of mankind 

 who rejected and spurned 

His love so infinitely valuable and sweet

 making them worthless,  fit only to be burned 

 like trash - thrown into the lake of fire

For they chose not to desire 

 the greatest wealth they could ever possess  -

His holiness  - the very Presence 

 of the One who confessed -

        " Father forgive

           that they may live

           and not die -

           Accept my death instead,

            Hear my cry!

           Father! Father!

                       Why?!

        Why have You forsaken me!?

                                       It is Finished 

Now Father

                     into Your hands

                                            I give my spirit

Now i await

       My Bride's appearing

       for she is making herself ready

       even as I speak

       Soon i will possess her -

       The Treasure who makes my heart leap!

       She whom I seek

       Her presence is worth more

       than all other, untold, eternal riches

       I long for, Father, I ache

       for her embrace 

       for her kisses

      When will she appear?!

         OH FATHER!

          IT MUST BE SOON!

             GIVE HER TO ME!

                LEST I FAINT! 

                   LEST I SWOON!

her appearing 

     is like the Dawn to my eyes

     soon, Father,  soon I will realize 

     The Hope and desire I had

    when I saw Adam draw his first breath

    My joy will be complete 

    when she joins me

    here on My Heavenly Seat

     Where together we'll enjoy

     Eternal happiness 

                   and  bliss,

    OH FATHER!

                            Thank You for this!"

  Oh my soul's best friend!

  Lead me, oh Lord, 

                                    to a happy end!

  Thy promises 

                  are steadfast and sure

   Thy words

                   holy and pure

  My soul is healthy 

                    for Thy word is my cure!

 Oh my soul! 

   Take heed to Thy best friend  -

   Follow Him home to a joyful end.

   Seek not the pleasures of this earth below,

   choose Christ alone to follow.

My love!

My anchor to my Father's heart!

My soul's true love!

 Never leave! Never part!

Oh my soul's best friend!

 Receive these words with which I send

  my love, my joy, my gratitude 

  for all the blessings that come from You!

The Little Soldier Boy

  While searching through the rubble 

 of bottles, cans and toys

 The Finder's eye was captured 

 by a little soldier boy

 Broken,  stained and twisted 

 he seemed beyond repair 

 Just waiting to be buried 

 and no one really cared

 Lying in a bunch of trash

 his pride replaced by shame

 trying hard to save himself 

 he cried out the Finder's name

and almost as if waiting 

 for the toy to make his plea 

 he tenderly was lifted

from the rubble and debris

 With gentle,  loving hands

 the little soldier was repaired 

 and soon began to realize 

 Someone really cares

No more the dark and lonely nights

that once had filled his life

The Soldier Boy all clean and new

stands proudly in the Light

His broken heart is mended now

His self esteem restored 

With each and every passing day 

He loves the Finder more

But the story is not ending

it's just beginning don't you see -

for the Finder's name was Jesus

The little soldier boy was       me

By Chico Holiday 

  Once the Holy Spirit has revealed a truth to you - no matter how contradictory that truth is to prevailing public opinion,  even if your pastor and your church disagree with it - never waver, never doubt that truth, no matter what injustices you're subjected to by those who do not love Truth, but rather love themselves, for the worst form of bondage you can be subjected to is to be fearful of believing or doing what is right in case you upset those who are in the wrong.

 Peer pressure is a powerful weapon in the enemy's arsenal  - a means to subjugate the individual to the will of the masses - "How dare you stand up and say something we, that is the rest of us in this congregation,  believe is wrong! Obviously YOU must be wrong, for the majority are always right! You are in rebellion! You are immature! You don't know what you are talking about! Our pastor/priest/elder would never lead us astray, would never teach us anything other than truth! After all, they're the one sent by God to guide us into all truth  - if the Holy Spirit is going to reveal truth to someone  - it would be them, not you. It's best that you leave us!"

 Every church on earth will only accept teachers approved by the pastor - in other words, they heavily guard and control what is taught  - but why? Why such a heavy emphasis on "Correct Doctrine"? It is a means of reinforcing their all encompassing authority over the people and indeed it is their primary way of establishing their supremacy  - when they are not called, or should I say, anointed to lead ( many are called to positions of leadership,  but are out of alignment, i.e. not in the position they are called to, or they are called but not anointed, i.e. they lead in their own strength and wisdom,  not God's). Those who are called, appointed and anointed to lead by God to lead - are comfortable enough to allow others to minister in their own gifts and calling - and they walk in a profound humility at the graciousness of God in choosing them to be a blessing to His people.  They are "Bridal Attendants" - never to touch or handle the Bride inappropriately,  or selfishly  - for their own gain - whether it be fame or fortune. No, they are to prepare her for her calling and anointing  - which is to become mature enough to become intimate with Christ.  The anointing encompasses far more than "teaching" as churches define it - that is, a man or woman standing and talking while everyone else listens - no - this "form of service" results when people avoid the anointing  - when God's presence is not welcome in their midst. When He is present in our meetings - the focus is never on a man, or any one person,  it is on HIM, on Christ,  i.e. HIS LORDSHIP AND HIS BODY - which edifies itself in love - i.e. all the members actively,  not passively,  loving all other members present- Christ in us  - reaching out and touching another  - whom He leads us to - with a word of prophecy,  or wisdom or knowledge,  or tongues, or a healing, or an act of service,  or finances - in short, whatever their need is. All needs are to be met by all. No one is ever to leave a service still in need - they may arrive that way but love could never leave them that way. This is whole Body ministry.  This makes for a healthy Body but sadly, in "Christianity" today, the pastor typically rules, or a board of elders, not Christ.  

 Reader, it is not God's will that one man rule over the flock while everyone else listens to and follows him. This concept comes from Satan, not Jesus. Let us all humbly submit to Him when we gather together  - and He will then exalt the flesh of Christ alone and no man's  - for Christ alone has holy, pure, sanctified flesh - which is why His flesh alone is raised up to sit at The Father's right hand, forever and ever,  world without end, amen.

Selah

Apostle Chris