Joshua Warrior Institute

EZEKIEL ADDRESSES THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Ezekiel 34: 1-6
Another JWI #323 rough draft
30 October, 2024

DISCOURSE:
This post is an obvious read it for yourself and make the comparison between Israel at the time of the Prophet Ezekiel [circa 590-570 B.C.] and our current political landscape. In his writing, Ezekiel use the metaphor of shepherd and sheep for the political leaders and the people of Israel in that time period. Throughout the first 16 verses of Ezekiel 34 we see the contrast between evil shepherds and God [the Good Shepherd] who wants to restore what the evil shepherds [evil leaders] have destroyed. As you read these first 6 verses, I will substitute the word leaders for shepherds, and the word people for sheep, and I think you will see that Ezekiel [God's Prophet] very well might have been talking about today's 2024 political leadership!!!!!!!

SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 34: 1-6
(1) The word of the LORD came to me, (2) "Son of man, prophesy agains the shepherds [leaders] of Israel, prophesy and say to them, even to the shepherds [leaders]; Thus says the LORD GOD: Ah shepherds [leaders] of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds [leaders] feed the sheep [people]? (3) You eat the fat, you cloth yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep [people]. {4) 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. (5) So they were scattered because there was no shepherd [leader] and they became food for all the wild beasts. (6) My sheep [people] were scattered ; they wandered over all the mountains and on every hill. My sheep [people] were scattered over all the face of the earth, with none to search or seek for them.

THE DREADED THEREFORE:
The next few verses, starting with verse 7 will layout what happens when God brings recompense to evil leadership. I am not sure in 2024, that God's judgment is final on the USA, but if we don't get shepherds [leaders] in place to restore us to a God-fearing nation, we will eventually suffer the exile of our nation to the scrap heap of history!

"WRITTEN ON OUR HEARTS"
Psalm 40:8 and Ezekial 36:26 / Proverbs 7: 12b +3 / Jeremiah 29:12 +13 / Romans 5:5
Another JWI #321 rough draft
27 October, 2024

DISCOURSE:
At a key moment in our lives, when we come to Christ, God has made our hearts new and has poured his grace through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us for an eternity. At the moment God renews our hearts, our sinful lives become obvious to us and we are anxious to repent and live these new lives in obedience to God. I want to connect to a sample of verses from the Bible that deals with how God's word is written on the hearts of the redeemed!

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 40:8
(8) I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.
SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 7:2 +3
(2) Keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; (3) bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.
SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 29: 11 - 13
(11) For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare an not for evil to give you a future and a hope. (12) Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. (13) You will keep me and find me, when you seek me and find me with all your heart.
SCRIPTURE: Ezekiel 36: 26
(26) And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh....

AND WITH THAT NEW HEART:
I will have an eternal guarantee that my hope is will never fade and put me to shame because I will have the Holy Spirit permanently living in me.
SCRIPTURE: Romans 5:5
(5) and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

"THIS MEANS WAR!!!!!!"
2 Corinthians 10:3-5a
Another JWI #320 rough draft
26 October, 2024

DISCOURSE:
Most Christians are familiar with Ephesians 6: 12-18 regarding the defensive equipment [shield, helmet, breastplate, belt, and shoes] needed for Spiritual Warfare. Verses 17b and 18 add to the list and tell us that our offensive weapons are knowing and wielding the sword of the Spirit - the Word of God, and praying without ceasing.
IN PAUL'S SECOND LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS:
In Paul's 2nd Letter To The Corinthians, Chapter 10, Paul does not specifically name these spiritual weapons, but he re-iterates that Spiritual Warfare is not waged according to our flesh. We are opposing demonic spiritual beings, authorities, cosmic powers over this present darkness, and only spiritual weapons will suffice.

SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5a
(3) For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. (4) For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. (5a) We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,

WE CAN'T WAGE WAR WITH INFERIOR WEAPONS:
One of the strident themes of the 320 essays I have written for my Facebook friend in the past 3 years is the necessity of reading and absorbing the Word of God, and being in constant volitional prayer - we have to be willing to break-away from the mundane in our lives and fight on our knees against this present darkness!

" A TEST THAT ONLY THE REDEEMED CAN PASS"
1 John 4: 1
Another JWI #319 rough draft
23 October, 2024

SISCOURSE:
Fearfully, I am afraid that not everyone who claims to be a Christian really is. Jesus in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24 and 25) relates that there will be people who profess and claim to be Christians, whom Jesus will deny entrance into his Eternal Kingdom, because they had faint or false hearts for Christ. Knowledge of who Jesus is and what he taught us about salvation is not enough. Knowing something in your mind is not the same as having it in your heart. If one does not have the Holy Spirit living inside of them (see Romans 5:5) they really have the spirit of the world and not the Holy Spirit.
TEST THE SPIRITS:
For those of us who are redeemed by Jesus, the Apostle John, in his first letter, tells us to test the spirits, because Satan (2 Corinthians 11:14) disguises himself as an angel of light. Not able to sn**ch believers away from Christ, Satan is satisfied to trick us into sin and spiritual neutrality.
SCRIPTURE: 1 John 4:1
(1) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone into the world.
HOW DO WE TEST THE SPIRITS:
Truly, false prophets will not confess Jesus as Lord, with a sincere heart. The best way to determine if they are false is to know the Word of God. Anything they say that does not match the Word and its meaning is a lie directed to their hearts by Satan.

"RESTORE US O GOD"
Psalm 80: 3,7, and 19 (repeated 3 times)
Another JWI #318 rough draft
21 October, 2024

DISCOURSE:
Over and over, I see Facebook contributors quoting 2nd Chronicles 7:14 that begin with the words, "If my people...."
Asaph, who either wrote a great deal of the Psalms, or was quoting King David delivers a salvific quest for restoration of the Kingdom of Israel in Psalm 80. It is here that a verse requesting restoration is repeated 3 times over 19 verses [verses 3-7-19]. The hope of that generation and our generation in the year 2024, can only come from God. It is only God, who can take the great sins of this once God-fearing nation and provide healing and restoration. We are suffering from a lack of the vision that is fueled by failing to be anchored to God's Holy Word. We are rudderless in a sea of malevolent and diabolic false righteousness. Holy right has been replace by unholy evil!
A PRAYER FOR RESTORATION:
This short prayer found in three locations within Psalm 80, should be coming off of our lips incessantly. We must never rest in our request for restoration, if we want God to save this nation.

SCRIPTURE: Psalm 80: 3, 7, and 19
(3) Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!

"SERVING ME SERVING GOD"
Romans 5:5
Another JWI #317 rough draft
19 October 2024

DISCOURSE:
The point made by the title of this essay, "SERVING ME SERVING GOD" is a reference to the usually half-hearted way we go about honoring the God of ALL creation. I know we are human beings and we will falter in our faith until the Road of Sanctification ends and we are finally glorified, BUT, in this essay, I am writing about how we prioritize our effort to serve our God as "Born Again" missionaries in this very dark world.
WE HAVE BEEN EQUIPPED TO DO MORE:
Romans 5:5 written by the Apostle Paul tells us that we have the gift of the Holy Spirit to keep us from failing.

SCRIPTURE: Romans 5:5
(5) and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE:
What a gift we have been given! Jesus Christ took ALL of our sins to the Cross to provide us with eternal life. Maybe we don't have a vision for that right now as we muddle through the puddle of our lives, but when we reach the end of this Road of Sanctification and step into Glory, the embrace of Jesus love for us will be overwhelming. THEREFORE, for this tremendous gift of Salvation, God is calling on us to share the Gospel with unbelievers everywhere, and every time we have a chance. When we serve God, and not the "me" version of what we think it means to serve God, we become "fools" for Christ, as we rely less and less on our natural instincts. We lean into God's Word to us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
THE PICTURE ATTACHED TO THE ESSAY:
Paul and Silas in a Philippian prison singing songs of gratitude. When you love the Lord and are sold-out to be his servant, nothing will keep you from paying any price to stop serving [me] and to serve God with your whole heart!!!

"GRATITUDE VS. INGRATITUDE - THE WAR WITHIN"
Colossians 1: 13, 14 + 21, 22 / 1:15-20
Another JWI #315 rough draft
12 October, 2024

DISCOURSE:
A CONFESSION:
While saying grace before I ate my breakfast this A.M. it suddenly dawned on me, when I prayed the words "May the Lord make us truly grateful," that I was just mouthing those words with 0 sentiment behind them. It hit me like a bolt of lightening that far too often, when I even stop to pray before a meal that I am taking the Lord's provision for me for granted. My words weren't even grateful for God's grace in my life - I was just repeating a long recognized prayer before eating one more meal that the Lord had provided.
WHAT SHOULD THE ATTITUDE OF CHRISTIANS REALLY LOOK LIKE?
When you look at one of seminal passages of the Apostle Paul's letters (Colossians 1:15-20), we get a glimpse of who our Lord really is and what a marvelous rescue we have received. Lets take a look at that passage of Scripture:

SCRIPTURE: Colossians 1: 15-20
(15) He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation, (16) For by him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him. (17) And he is before all things , and in him all things hold together. (18) And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the first born form the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. (19) For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, (20) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earthier in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

JESUS WORTHY OF OUR GRATITUDE AND OUR WORSHIP:
Paul leaves no doubt in these 6 verses, who Jesus is. Why then should our worship and our gratitude be directed at him with cognizant gratitude? Well lets look at three verses that sandwich this passage (Colossians 1: 15-20) that address who we were and what Jesus has done for us:

SCRIPTURE: Colossians 1:13-14
(13) He [God] has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, (14) in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sin.

WHY DID HE HAVE TO DO THIS?

SCRIPTURE: Colossians 1: 21-22
(211) And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, (22) has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.

OUR GRATITUDE SHOULD SPAN EVERY MOMENT OF OUR LIVES:
It seems to me, being brought up short this morning for a fake prayer, a prayer of ingratitude, a prayer based on the sense of entitlement, a prayer of numbing mindlessness, and self-satisfaction, that I need to read again who Jesus is and what a marvelous rescue of a real sinner he has done for me, then get on my knees and acknowledge how very blessed that I am.

"AN INCOMPATIBLE WORLD IS REPELLED BY AN INCOMPATIBLE FAITH"
Gospel of John 15:18-19
Another JWI #314 first draft
7 October, 2024

DISCOURSE:
Many, many people who consider themselves to be Christian are being fooled into thinking they are saved. Cultural Christianity [raised in a Christian family] and a one time emotional declaration at a rally, camping experience, or youth group will not save you, unless you have truly given your heart to Christ and your entire life reflects that transformation.
THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS:
In Matthew 25, Jesus discusses how the world will be separated into two categories at the end times. The goats will be going to Hell, and the sheep will spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus.
JESUS WARNS US ABOUT WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO SERVE HIM:
From John 15: 18-19 we learn that the world hates Christians.

SCRIPTURE: John 15: 18-19
(18) If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. (19) If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own,; but because you are not of the world, I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

WE SHOULD NOT BE COMPATIBLE WITH THE WORLD:
Clearly men and women of faith are different than the world. There should be a sharp contrast between Christians and the unredeemed. From 1 Corinthians 2:12-14 we see that contrast.

SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 2: 12-14
(12) Now the have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. (13) And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. (14) The natural person [the unredeemed] does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

IF YOU ARE RECEIVING NO BLOWBACK FROM THE WORLD:
If you are a Christian, and your life resembles the world, and your activities, speech and behavior do not contrast dramatically with the world, here is some great advice for you from Romans 12: 1-2

SCRIPTURE: Romans 12: 1-2
(1) I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (2) Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

SOME OTHER GREAT VERSES THAT UNDERSCORE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS:
Ephesians 2:1-2 / Colossians 2:8 / Romans 1: 20-25 / 1 John 4:1 / 1 John 2:15-17 / 1 Peter 1:14 / 2 Timothy 4:2-4 / 2 Corinthians 4:4 / Colossians 3:2 / Matthew 5: 1-7

"THE WIND OF THE WILLFUL"
2 Timothy 3: 1-5 / 7 / 12-13
Another JWI #313 first draft
4 October, 2024

DISCOURSE:
We need a couple of definitions and synonyms before we look at the meat of this post:
WILLFUL: an immoral or illegal act or omission - intentional - deliberate - having or showing a stubborn and determined intention to do as one wants, regardless of the consequences or effects: SYNONYMS: pettish, rapacious, salacious
EXPEDIENT: taking advantage of situations that arise / disloyal to what should command one fidelity or allegiance: SYNONYMS: perfidious, insidious, amoral, designing, unprincipled, venomous, egregious.

LEVELS OF EVIL:
If we look closely at the two definitions above we think willful means determined to do evil and expedient means having no compunction to do wrong, but being motivated by opportunity.
AS WE MOVE CLOSER TO THE END TIMES:
Paul reminds Timothy (2 Timothy 3: 1-5) what people with natural tendencies will be like near the end of time.

SCRIPTURE: 2 Timothy 3: 1-5
(1) But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. (2) For people will be lvers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, (3) heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, (4) treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, (5) having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. AVOID SUCH PEOPLE.

ALWAYS LEARNING BUT:
The adjectives above do not address the issue of levels of education. Paul is not saying that everyone in the end times will be uneducated barbarians. In fact verse 7 addresses the idea of learning but never arriving at the truth. We know lots of intelligent people who are self-deceived and are relying on their intellect to negotiate their way long in life. Verses 12-13 of this same passage of Scripture (2 Timothy 3: 12-13) tell us what all of us should be willing to expect in the end times.

SCRIPTURE: 2 Timothy 3: 12-13
(12) Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (13) while evil people and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

WE CAN NOT COMPROMISE WITH THE WORLD:
Like a crew sailing a craft out on the water, when the main sail tears, we can not expect to sew it [compromise] and sail on like nothing has happened. Sails that tear have been worn by the wind, salt air, and wind. That sail must be replaced. It will not hold. When we compromise with the natural world, we are attempting to sow a bad sail back together. We know in our hearts that the sail must be brought down and be replaced. From these verses in 2 Timothy 3, we can not deny that things in this world are deteriorating and must be replaced with God-based truths, we must hold our ground and demand that the sail be replaced, regardless of price we have to pay in a deteriorating culture. Carry an extra sail with you when you sail in the natural world! And like a bad sail, a church that is not preaching the truth of the gospel, must be replaced, or we must sail on to a church that is not compromised.

"WE CAN NOT LINGER ON THE MOUNTAIN WHEN THE VALLEY IS WHERE THE WORK IS!"
Joel 3:3:12-14
another JWI #312 first draft
1 October, 2024

DISCOURSE:
When we love God and can feel him spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally, we want to stay in that mountain top experience. It is so very much like having a great dream that we don't want to wake from. It is an moment that we want in which we want to hold fast, and never have to it let go.
WHEN DOES THAT HAPPEN?
There are times when we are in prayer and the Holy Spirit is allowing us to worship our Lord and Savior, and hearts are so full of God's love that we want to burst. There are times when we are reading our Bibles, and we want to cry aloud because the Joy of knowing God is so vivid that it places us in complete praise mode. There are times when we hear music or preaching that facilitates our faith in such a powerful way, that we know we will never leave this mountain top experience again. And, lastly there are times when we see a lost sinner come to Christ and our praise echoes off the mountaintop and resounds to the valley below!
BUT WE MUST RETURN TO THE VALLEY:
All of us who are truly saved love these moments of shear excitement and connection with our Holy God. Unfortunately, like a soldier on leave, we must descend the mountain and go back to the battle, where there is serious work to do.
GOD HAS SAVED US FOR:
God has saved us, and yes we are to enjoy him, and live to glorify him, but there is God-ordained work for us to do in the valley, where the war must be engaged. . There are lost souls who do not know God or the consequences of remaining unsaved. There is pain and suffering that needs abated. There is evil that must be confronted.
JUDGMENT WILL OCCUR IN THE VALLEY:
From Joel 3: 12-14 we know that God's final judgment will occur in the valley, where sin abides. We can not linger on the mountaintop, when the valley is so ripe for the harvest. We must be ready at harvest time to help prepare the separation of the wheat from the tares. We must descend the mountaintop - God's work call us to the battle in the valley:

SCRIPTURE: Joel 3: 12-14
(12) Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat: for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. (13) Put in the sickle for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great.
(14) Multitudes, multittudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

"IN WHOSE NOSTRILS IS BREATH"
Isaiah 2: 22 + Isaiah 2:12 / Isaiah 2:17
Another JWI # 311 rough draft
29 September, 2024

DISCOURSE:
This is the 3rd post in a series where the message is, once again, how foolish it is to put all our trust in men over God.
Isaiah, in all 66 Chapters warns us to put our trust in God exclusively. The warning of Isaiah and all of God's prophets can not be missed. Over and over "woe" will embrace the haughty men who lead us, and those of us who are foolish enough to trust them. 3 verses that emphasize that point:

SCIPTURE: Isaiah 2: 22, 12, and 17
(22) Stop regarding man in whose nostrils is breath, for of what account is he?
(12) For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up - and it shall be brought low;
(17) And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.

WOE TO THOSE WHO TRUST IN CHARIOTS:
In sum, regardless of all the dynamic changes in culture, we find our LORD to be unchangeable. Men will tell us that sin and the haughty pride that revels in that sin are acceptable in contemporary culture. The LORD will not spare the fools and their followers, who trust in folly! The LORD does not call back his words!

"WOE TO THOSE WHO RELY ON HORSES AND TRUST IN CHARIOTS"
Isaiah 31: 1-3
another JWI #310 rough draft
27 September, 2024

DISCOURSE:

Closely on the heels of my post from 2 days ago, "Speak to Us Smooth things," I want to do a followup essay on the utter foolishness of relying on the philosophies and plans proclaimed by the leadership of the natural world. In Chapter 31 of Isaiah, God has spoken to the people of Judah through his legitimate and valued prophet, Isaiah. Here he relates that the Judean people have once again taken it on their own to defy the living God, and seek comfort and protection from men, instead of God. Failing to heed the warning, Isaiah writes down God's Words:

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 31: 1
(1)Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they [the Egyptian horses and Chariots] are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!

UNLIKE HUMAN LEADERS, GOD DOES NOT CALL BACK HIS WORDS:
When we rely on the philosophies, and plans of men, and count on them for our protection, we have erred mightily. From verse 2 of Chapter 31 of Isaiah we learn that God is not indecisive in his decision making.

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 31: 2
(2) And yet he is wise and brings disaster; he does not call back his words, but will arise against the house of evildoers and against the helpers of those who work iniquity.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN WE CHOSE MAN OVER GOD:
The Bible is replete with Scripture that relates the fallacies of following the voice of men. Some additional verses to read: Jeremiah: 6: 13-14 / 8:11 /14:13-14 / 23:17 / Ezekiel: 13: 10-16 / Micah 2:6-11 / 3: 5,11
Only the Word of God is trustworthy. All other advise or [in this case] prophecy can not be relied upon for sanctuary. Isaiah 31:3 point out what happens when we defy the Living God and choose the counsel of men over God:

SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 31:3
(3) The Egyptians are man, and not God, their horses are flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord stretches out his hand, they will stumble, and he who is helped [Judeans] will fall, and they will all perish together.

BECAUSE GOD DOES NOT CALL BACK HIS WORDS:
A lesson for us in these recent days of great uncertainty is that only steadfast prayer and knowing the Word of God, will allow us to discern the truth and how we should proceed with our lives. Putting our trust in false prophets and failed leadership will not keep us safe, and God does not call back his words. When we choose to defy him, disaster awaits our faulty choices.