A leadership strategy from Washington to Beijing, is to keep the masses entertained - fill their lives with frivolities, whether amusement parks and recreation or movies and TV shows or music, anything at all, sports for example,  to keep them happy and distracted from the truth. People won't mind as much losing their freedoms, one by one, as long as they're comfortable,  well-fed and have plenty of pleasures "IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME FOR MEN SHALL BE 

1) LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES- everything else that follows on this list is a result of this: keeping self on the throne of their hearts instead of Jesus.

2) COVETOUS - "greedy, desirous of wealth or possessions". After all, what is the "American Dream"? Isn't it to have a nice home and a nice car? Filled with nice things? When self is who we're serving, we want to be pampered, spoiled.  We pay lots of time and attention to ourselves. Not only must "self" vacate the throne of our hearts but we must crucify Christ daily. 

3) BOASTERS - When we're full of ourselves,  when we love self above all,  we become prideful or "full of pride", in it's number 4 on the list -

4) PROUD -  We end up thinking more highly of ourselves and less highly of others. "Be not highminded but fear". We end up boasting of ourselves and our accomplishments rather than boasting in the Lord. We seek and accept the praise of men.  We seek ourvown wealth instead of the wealth of another 1 Cor:10:24. A deadly result of pride is that it leads us to become

5) BLASPHEMERS- "To speak irreverently of God or sacred things" Of course the worst form of blasphemy is to speak irreverently or impiously of the Holy Spirit.  This will be a common denominator among those pronounced unworthy at the Judgment throne of Christ,  for if we reject or mock or deny the Holy Spirit we cannot come to know Christ intimately as a bride should. The Holy Spirit truly is our "Bridal Attendant" preparing us to be with our God-groom forever. When we do not reverence God but choose to reverence ourselves or our pastors our religion ends up replacing our relationship with God through Hus wonderful Spirit. 

     All that follows - "DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNTHANKFUL, UNHOLY, WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION,  TRUCE BREAKERS, FALSE ACCUSERS (boy have i encountered this in my time), INCONTINENT (lacking in moderation or self-control, especially in sexual desires), FIERCE (as opposed to gentle and meek), DESPISERS OFVTHOSE THAT ARE GOOD (think Trump - a good man, widely despised), TRAITORS,  HEADY (rashly impetuous), HIGHMINDED, and, back to the beginning of this lesson - LOVERS OF PLEASURES MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD.    

     The leadership knows the people love pleasures above all else because they themselves are that way, in fact, the reason they become leaders is often so they can pursue pleasures. They exalt themselves so they can become rich in this world's pleasures and that includes goods and things. They want to ensure they have all that their hearts desire, so they convince people the people that they (the leaders) are their (the people) servants when indeed the people are serving them . "Public Servant" has become an oxymoron. This practice of convincing people to give them their money and attention is just as prevalent in churches as it is in the halls of Congress. 

     Today's typical church leadership use the same tactics as worldly leadership does - a combine of fear and fun; threats and rewards to maintain their iron gripbon leadership "I'm essential to your spiritual health," they lead us to believe. They threaten us with eternal damnation if we do not submit to them, while placating us with entertaining music and sermons, and plush carpeting and air conditioned seating, making surevour flesh is comfortable. The people feel like they're at a concert or Broadway show, the set up is the same, why not pay for it! For the people (in the flesh, not the Spirit) love to sit and watch, just like they do at a concert or a movie, or in frontbof their televisions for that matter. Watching others do (sports for example) is the model forblife the world embraces. The churches too, ever watchingvthe pastor deliver his sermons, never giving one themselves. The people are happy to honor and exalt men who will gladly do "THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY" for them, so they can be considered special, set apart from the rest, chosen by God, though most often chosen by man, not God. The ones God choises are told to sit and be quiet, or, if faithful enough TO THE CHURCH, LOYAL ENOUGH TO THE PASTOR, they might get to usher. Everyone has a call from God but few are chosen by the pastor to pursue it. In the religious churches they end up diluting the call, compromising it, or abandoning it altogether. The people ever hear but never do, endlessly watching a select few do all the work. All of this is carnal, of the flesh, from "you only matter in the context of this church - on your own, apart from us, ypu are nothing. Only by following our pastor can you be safe and perhaps become someone of importance someday.  You are a true worshipper and saint because you come here every Sunday. True worship is not done to be seen of men. True worship is done heart to heart, from our heart to God's. 

     Leadership from Washington to the local pulpit doesn't care what you do with your life as long as you keep them in power, with your approval based on the money you give. Never challenge or question them, just blindly follow (Mt:15:14), Never become displeased with them fir anything,  this is rebellion. Leadership in your average church is a good gigvif you can get it. Just jump through all the hoops,  go to Bible college,  etc. Thank God Jesus didn't call his disciples by saying "come and folloq me, but first go to Rabbinical school for six years, then getvthe approval of a rabbi, then intern at a synagogue for four more years,  then you'll be ready to follow me". Good gig? NOT!

The preceding was written in December of 2018. It is published here for the first time.

- Christopher Michael Tripp 

 How can you set the captives free that don't want to be free?

 How can you open the eyes of the blind that don't want to see?

 

The sad truth is

too many don't care

to breathe the sweet air

of their   promised land.

They'd rather serve and follow and obey man

then honor God and His ways.

In prison they'd rather stay.

They'd rather not be free.

They'd prefer it if i throw away the key.

They'd rather not hear truth and gain the victory. 

They say "Don't speak, for we have no ears to hear.

We like our prison just fine,

you're wasting all those tears

and you're wasting our time.

Why our prison's the finest in this town!

And our jailor's the best that can be found!

We're quite comfortable here

and we're really well fed!"

And not one of them realizes they're dead.

They say to me, quite clearly,   "Be gone!"

"With your talk of the spirit of religion and Babylon "

"We'll continue to look at the scriptures,  not live them.

 Apostles and Prophets are never for now, only then."

And those that do choose to hear prophetic voices,

often prefer false prophets full of empty noises,

saying "Peace! Peace!  when there is no peace.

Only tickle my ears,

and tell me how much God loves me."

The last thing they want is maturity, 

so they forever remain like babies in a nursery,

sucking on the pastor's tit,

never growing  out of it.

Never gathering manna themseves,

they actually think all is well.

Ever learning yet never arriving at The Truth,

they honor God with their lips but their hearts remain aloof.

Laying down their lives,

in living sacrifice 

is too heavy a price.

Go back to sleep little ones,

close your ears and your eyes,

lest you awaken, and you come to realize-

You are Satan's most treasured prize,

for he knows the greatest pain and wound he can inflict on God

is to populate hell with the souls he's robbed.

Babylon's greatest commodity after all is the souls of men,

denying God forever the pleasure of them.

The lake of fire

is God's desire 

to cleanse all creation 

ftom the stain and the stench

of man's sins and abominations.

Though i have the keys to death, hell and the grave,

the churches are so full of people who do not wish to be saved.

I am a lonely voice

crying in the wilderness. 

So few care to listen to 

what i have to profess.

Though i lie here naked

and shed many tears,

Still - they do not want to hear.

They stone the Prophets today

just as surely as they've done throughout history.

They crucify Apostles too,

because their hearts are immunized to the Truth.

I wish i could say otherwise 

but the path to destruction indeed is wide

and narrow indeed is the path to life,

very few go on to become the Bride....

                                                                     .....of Christ. 

Very few will enter the Holy of Holies.

Very few go on to intimately know Me.

Though I've flung the Door wide open,

most choose to put their hope in

the religions men have devised,

that exalt the flesh and abase the wise.

They are those who are wise in their own eyes, 

yet I hear the remnant's cries!

I am theirs and they are Mine,

and I will deliver them from every lie.

They have not bowed the knee of their hearts to Baal.

They've refused to remain in religion's jail.

They pursue Me at any cost,

they'll pay any price,

including laying down their lives.

In service to My will, their will is sacrificed. 

Their reward is greater than they know -

It is the redemption and salvation of their souls -

So....

           listen to My voice and My voice alone.

My Spirit will keep you blameless and lead you home,

where I will wipe every tear from your eyes

and deliver you from this world you despise.

Stay in the Ark, in the cleft of the Rock,

while outside the wicked curse you and mock.

Keep your hearts open and turned towards Me

and together we will fully achieve

all that I won for you at Calvary.

Though you've heard it said many times in many ways -

                                           I LOVE YOU

You - I will never leave or forsake,

you who refuse to partake

of the ways that desecrate 

the Temple that I make.

I hold in My hand each one of your days.

So take that next step.

And that next one too.

And do not forget

to forgive all who hate you

and I'll forgive all the sins that you do.

And you will find,

at the end of time,

every word I've ever spoken to you

is eternally faithful, just and true. 

Still The Dawn

 

Dear Soul,

                     ......who has known grief

                            and sorrow and unbelief...

                You've seen times where

                             there seemed to be no relief.

Yet still the dawn

eventually appeared,

and you saw the light

of His countenance draw near

and then it was

that all things

                              became clear

So don't give up

don't quit the faith,

walk the walk, run the race,

Choose to be still

and patiently wait...

He's promised He will

renew your strength. 

Dear Soul

                    So stressed, unrest within,

                    You are treasured, so precious to Him.

                    He has, without measure, forgiven your sins -

He has joyfully given you

his kingdom of love

where love reigns supreme.

So do not give up,

Do not cease to dream

of a promised land

free of pride, hate and fear,

where love rules inside  each man.

and all hearts are clear,

And sorrows have no place there

for every dear soul

               knows how tenderly He cares...

So wait

                                                                                   patiently

The dawn will arrive

He'll see you through 

He'll help you survive 

The long dark night...

The victory He won

through Calvary's crimson tide

Will bring you, dear one,

To forever dwell

far from Hell,

at His side.........

 Quit trying to sanitize people- that's My job.

 I accept them, warts and, and so should you.

 Let them know they're loved and accepted 

 before they're clean and pure.

 Let them know of My gentleness,

 as gentle as a mother is with her new-born baby.

 I will sanctify whom I have justified - saith The Lord.

 Religion can never cleanse a single soul -

 only give the appearance of cleanliness,

 from man's point of view.

 I, and I alone, change the heart.

 Let Me do My job and I'll let you do yours.

 Delight in change.

    "And the Spirit and the bride say COME.

    And let him that heareth say COME.

    And let him that is athirst come.

    And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely."

His bride is made up of all who hear Him - but not only hear HIM but respond to Him by saying to Him "Come".

His bride is made up of all who thirst for Eternal life, not this life that is quickly passing.

His bride is made up of "whosoever will" -

whosoever will seek Him, desire Him, know Him, but above all,

His bride is comprised of all who are in perfect harmony with His Spirit-

Who say whatever He is saying, as He is saying it - "THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY"

The bride is filled with, in deep relationship with, The Spirit. 

She is anointed of him.

She is abiding in him and he in her.

She loves him.

She respects him.

She submits to him -

Those without him, are not His Bride.

The Spirit and the Bride are united in their love for Jesus. And when He hears them speaking together, as one, He will reply "Surely, I come quickly".

Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

I believe the moment will come when all who are His will simultaneously say - "Come",

All who are His, all over the world, at the bidding of His Spirit, will pray as One - "COME"

and He will......