Deaf Ears, Blind Eyes & Closed Hearts
This blog was the fruit that came out of a long and laborious Facebook argument where I seemingly wasted all of my words on deaf ears, blind eyes and closed hearts.
It started with a post that shared the location of a "lost" dog that had been hanging around a particular area for several days, reaching out for rescue help.
Several people suggested contacting the SPCA, all of whom knew the highly likely and potentially inevitable result as a result of their involvement, which in most cases, is euthanasia.
In pointing out the issue with this "solution", mistakenly thinking that people wanted to protect this dog, I quickly discovered that safety was not the priority, only the need to feel relevant.
In a world where egos, fear and attempts to justify everything that is wrong with this world, there is no room for truth, growth, maturity, kindness or teamwork.
The Conflict Between Darkness & Light
This is a reflection of the eternal conflict between darkness and light and how they cannot fellowship together, and most importantly, why.
We are told not to be yoked together with unbelievers, for righteousness and wickedness have nothing in common, there is no harmony between Christ and Belial and no agreement between the temple of God and idols.
For the servants of God are the temple of the living God and God Himself said that He will live with us and walk among us, He will receive us and He will be a Father to us and we will be His sons and daughters. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
Light is synonymous with righteousness, truth and God, whilst darkness is the domain of sin, deception and the absence of God and there is a great conflict and divide between the two.
Light and dark, righteousness and wickedness, believers and unbelievers, God and idols, unleavened and leavened, Christ and Belial, wheat and chaff, sheep and goats, truth and deception, life and death, these are fundamentally incompatible and diametrically opposed.
The Truth Is Not Received
Despite the fact that I repeatedly pointed out that the rescue of this dog was dependent on safety and life, the enemy projected his own shortcomings, devoid of the ability to see the light.
What followed was a character assassination and a slew of slanderous accusations and I became the target of a fictitious campaign that sought to destroy, discredit and deceive others.
Being a servant of God results in the need to endure much, at the hand of great injustice and unkindness, genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown (2 Corinthians 6:8-9); yet the rewards for doing so are far-reaching.
Light (Jesus) has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. (John 3:19-20)
The Spirit of God
The kingdom of God can only be accessed by those who put God first, and the Spirit of God gives birth to spiritual things that those with a carnal nature cannot understand. (John 3:1-12)
It is impossible to explain heavenly things to those with an earthly mindset, resulting in people thinking we are mad, delusional and lacking in credibility.
Yet, my experience over the last 15 years is that the abundance, blessings and opportunities that have been poured out upon me are not by my own might or power, but by God's Spirit. (Zechariah 4:6)
Those who are called by God, who walk with Him, walk in God's Power, for God gives the Spirit without limit. (John 3:34)
This cannot be understood by those without belief, experience or evidence, because being of a spiritual nature, it is beyond the comprehension of a fear-based, logical, rational, narcissistic or deluded mind.
The Power of God
Every animal I have rescued is a powerful testimony to the power of God, without whom, I would not be able to do what I do, and I am fuelled by faith, blessings, grace, prayers and miracles.
For God knows the plans He has for us, plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
God's wisdom is a mystery that has been hidden and that He destined for our glory before time began.
What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived - the things God has prepared for those who love Him. (1 Corinthians 2:7-9)
Those who don't have God have a false representation of the truth and consequently, very few options, and their ego does not provide the necessary humility, courage and teachability that is required to walk in blessing, grace and supernatural Power.
Discernment Through The Spirit of God
I have so many testimonies of perfect outcomes, outcomes that my own intellect was incapable of conceiving, and every time, my mind is blown, it's not about us being perfect, it's about God's perfection.
The Spirit of God is an indescribable, unfathomable and impossible power that has no limitations, the miracles He performed through the various leaders in the bible were not just stories, yet people, from their limited understanding, try to limit God, and their faith is small.
Most people operate with the spirit of the world, but those who have received the Spirit who is from God, know His voice and His power is evident and ever present.
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:12-14)
The goodness of God opposes deeply-held unrighteous beliefs based on death, destruction and deception because it exposes it, yet those in darkness crucify Jesus, God in the flesh, in the name of God, it doesn't make sense and doesn't hold up when questioned.
The Full Armour of God
We are to be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power and put on the full armour of God, so that we can take our stand against the devil's schemes.
This explains the force that is in play that prevents the truth from being received and the attacks that people without God engage in to destroy everything that is good and right and true.
It stands to reason that if God's people are operating in His Spirit, then an opposing force is also present that stands against the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6) and why they are simply unable and unwilling to even contemplate another way.
We are to put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, we may be able to stand our ground, and to stand firm.
With the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the shield of faith, with which we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, and pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. (Ephesians 6:13-18)
Terrible Times
We are told that in the last days there will be terrible times, people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power, have nothing to do with such people. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)
There will be scoffers who will follow their own godly desires. These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. (Jude 1:18-19)
People who cage and euthanise animals for all sorts of ridiculous reasons, then convince themselves they are doing good by giving them a last delicious meal before they snuff them out, know that what they are doing is wrong, and even say they don't want to do it, but they convince themselves they have no choice, and with such a limited awareness, they don't, but this is not the truth.
Paul says that he does not understand what he does, for what he wants to do he does not do, but what he hates, he does, and in his inner being he delights in God's law; but sees another law at work in him, waging war against the law of his mind and making him a prisoner of the law of sin at work within him. (Romans 7:15-23)
Those who follow their own godly desires are following false gods, denoted with a lower case g to mark their lower case status, and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), which sadly falls onto the animals that are supposedly in their care, and this is why the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel. (Proverbs 12:10)
Spiritual Forces of Evil
Animal rescue has a very dark and ugly side, it attracts weak powerless bullies who take pleasure in attempting to lord it over both people and animals.
They band together like a pack of rabid dogs, and in this particular case, one of them described their group as "the bitch pack", a badge of honour she wore with pride.
Bullying, slander, defamation, harassment and abuse is rife and those who are not strong will not be able to stand against their vicious attacks.
Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)
I stood against whatever was possessing them, with respect, truth and clarity, not to change them, as only God can do that, but on behalf of everyone they attempt to destroy, with the intention of giving others the courage and strength to stand up, and to encourage others to understand the plight of the innocent and perhaps think twice next time, and maybe even help.
Testing The Spirit
We are told not to believe every spirit, but to test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
You can easily recognise the Spirit of God because every spirit that acknowledges Jesus, is from God, whilst every spirit that does not, is not from God and is the spirit of the antichrist. (1 John 4:1-3)
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; Jesus came that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10), and based on this, the truth is easy to discern.
A Living Sacrifice
We are to submit ourselves to God and to resist the devil, and he will flee from us. (James 4:7)
We are urged to offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this our true and proper worship.
We are not confirm to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind.
Then we will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1-2)
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excelled or praiseworthy - think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
Set Apart
Those who follow the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is at work in those who are disobedient, are dead in their transgressions and sins, gratifying the cravings of the flesh and following its desires and thoughts. (Ephesians 2:1-3)
Even when our heart is good, it's easy to slip into sin and there is a constant need to quickly get back on the right path.
Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for Himself; the LORD hears when we call to Him. (Psalm 4:3)
The LORD declared that no weapon forged against us will prevail, and we will refute every tongue that accuses us.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from Him. (Isaiah 54:17)
Light & Salt
The photo that I selected for this blog feels synonymous with what is often the reality for those who stand in truth and refuse to be moved.
They stand as a lone figure, in all weathers, as the storms rage all around they are hit on all fronts, and at the end of it all, they are still standing tall, still shining, their light beaming out for all to see.
We are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
We are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put in under a bowl.
Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. (Matthew 5:13-15)
Wisdom & Understanding
No mortal comprehends wisdom's worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living (Job 28:13) and is hidden from the eyes of every living thing. (Job 28:20)
God understands the way to wisdom and He alone knows where it dwells, for He views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. (Job 28:23-24)
And He said to the human race, "The fear of the Lord - that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding." (Job 28:28)
Long life is in wisdom's right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her; those who hold her fast will be blessed (Proverbs 3:16-18).
Safety & Life
As stewards of God's glorious creation, taking care of His animals is the job of all of us, not some of us, and we must find the courage to stand up to the perpetrators of neglect, abuse, cruelty, wickedness and sin, which God hates.
Let us stand together in unity for peace, fighting for those without a voice and without a choice, bearing whatever we must for this noble endeavour.
May God, out of His glorious riches, strengthen us with power through His Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith.
May we be rooted and established in love, may we have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep God's love is, that we may be filled to the measure of all His fullness. (Ephesians 3:16-19)
May God walk beside us always, may He continue to expose wickedness, ripping it out at the root, may He touch the hearts of those in slavery to sin, may He be with all of His children and the innocent, in their time of need and may He comfort them, protect them and shelter them under His wings, amen.
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