![]() ![]() I started praying to God to rescue us, and the next thing I knew God immediately whisked us away from the cavern, and deposited in our separate homes. We knew Satan and his demons planned to kill us. “Please, LORD,” I prayed, “Just let me bask in Your love for a week before I have to face any challenges or problems.” That night I dreamed two friends and I were captured by Satan and imprisoned underground in a dark cavern. I was tired, mainly from the move and from the day-to-day challenges we faced. One night, I thanked God for bringing us here. They welcomed us not just into the neighborhood, but into Christ. I was still on Cloud Jesus when we moved into a neighborhood where several families from church lived. ![]() So, we did, and were baptized in a non-denominational Church of Christ. A good friend of mine suggest we get together with an evangelist who would help us understand God’s plan of salvation. In the early 1980s’ I was married and we had recently moved to Colorado. I mentioned this story in Chapter 1, but the real end of the story didn’t occur until I was nearly finished working on Chapter 13. I believed in God, so I couldn’t be wrong, right? I am grateful now that God once again rescued me. In the early 70s, the enemy came a’courtin’ with the promise of peace, love, and happiness, so I signed on, binding myself to this false teacher. Things I had forgotten about like the letters from 1973 that I wrote to convince my family that Guru Maharaji was God himself. As I sorted through some files, I found many things that might have offended or grieved the LORD. I asked God to help me let go of those things that hold me back or distract me from hearing His voice. Recently, in sticking with the “De-Clutter” theme of Chapter 4, I tossed out more physical and emotional rubbish, happy I no longer needed those old boxes. “TODAY, IF I HEAR YOUR VOICE, LET ME NOT HARDEN MY HEART as I did in the rebellion. I think I’ve always been in rebellion. Jesus told the church to “Hold fast what you have till I come. ![]() The same two things that influenced Pergamos-sexual immorality and food sacrificed to idols. In the letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira, Jesus addressed the things Jezebel was teaching the servants of the church. Those people became stumbling blocks to others in the church. The church suffered because certain people held to the teachings of the sorcerer, Balaam. Still, I was surprised to see it mentioned in the letter to the church in Pergamos. This remarkable story opens our eyes and ears to God’s intervention. Balaam, a sorcerer, was unable to curse the Israelites because God had already blessed them. Balak the son of the Moabite king wanted to hire Balaam to put a curse on Israel. Jesus added, “But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.”Īt the beginning of Nehemiah 13, the children of Israel heard the story of Balak and Balaam (Numbers 22-25) read to them. 2:14, Jesus addressed the church in Pergamos, commending the church for their faith. The letters are intended for churches past, present and future. Each time I read Chapters 2 and 3, I gain a better understanding of what Jesus was trying to tell them. I especially love reading the Letters to the Seven Churches over and over. Everything he saw in a vision relates to what is happening now. I started reading the Book of Revelation written by John the Apostle who was exiled to the island of Patmos. From Nehemiah, we learned how God rescued the Israelites from captivity and slavery, just like He rescues us when our spiritual captivity leaves us lost as well. ![]()
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