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Kathy Richardson | PentecostalTheology.com
Remember Lot’s Wife.
(Luke 17:32)“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of Yahveh has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will (and does) cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples.” (Isaiah 60:1-2)
“The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray.” (1Peter 4:7)
We are the generation witnessing the unfolding of prophesied end time events. Our Messiah says, “To look up for our redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28) As we look to Him who is the “glory and lifter of our heads” and focus on the love and faithfulness of Yahveh our provider, He will grant us every provision we need to endure victoriously to the end. If we look to the world and rely on our own strength and understanding we will not be equipped to overcome the pandemic feelings of terror, depression and despair. Remember, “Yahveh is our ever present help in time of trouble,” and His “love never fails”!
Beloved, very little time is left to redeem for Yahveh’s glory. Satan knows that his time is short and he has unleashed demonic battalions to accomplish his evil purposes. In these last days, the redeemed remnant, much like Lot, are grieving and “vexed in their righteous souls”. We are living in a day like Sodom and Gomorrah; perversion and every form of evil has taken over much of humanity. “And if Yahveh condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly thereafter; and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then Yahveh knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise (Yahveh’s) authority.” (2Peter 2:6-10)
Yahveh’s sovereign commandments and statues have been negated, mocked and obliterated by the deceived rebellious multitudes. We grievously find that many of Yahveh’s commandments and biblical truths have been nullified for the sake of man-made doctrines and traditions even in Judeo-Christianity. Truly the hearts of many have grown stony and cold.
Yahveh’s infinite mercy prior to judgment and destruction was shown to Lot and his household. “Then the two men (angels) said to Lot, “…whomever you have in the city, bring them out… for we are about to destroy this place, because their outcry has become so great before Yahveh that Yahveh has sent us to destroy it.” Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who were to marry his daughters, and said, “Up, get out of this place, for Yahveh will destroy the city.” But he appeared to his sons-in-law to be jesting. We read about a similar scoffing spirit that would come upon the end time population not believing that judgment was at the door. We read in 2 Peter 3 :3-5, 7, “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget … the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” “When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up, take your wife and your two daughters, who are here, or you will be swept away in the punishment of the city.” But he hesitated. (Lot wavered between Yahveh’s will and his own understanding) So the men (angels) seized his hand and the hand of his wife and the hands of his two daughters, for the compassion of Yahveh was upon him; and they brought them out,and put him outside the city. (Yahveh’s compassion is seizing our hands to lead us out of harms way.) When they had brought them outside, one said, “ESCAPE FOR YOUR LIFE! DO NOT LOOK BEHIND YOU, and do not stay anywhere in the valley; escape to the mountains, or you will be swept away… Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:12-17, 26)
She had a love and longing for the comforts and familiarity of a life that she had to leave behind. Yahveh’s cup of righteous indignation was to sovereignly overflow its brim. She disobeyed His merciful instructions, which would have saved her from destruction. “When you know what to do and don’t do it, it is sin, and the wages of sin is death.” (James 4:17 and Romans 6:23) Regardless of the confession of our lips, “ where our treasure is, there our heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
Those who have an ear let them hear and learn from these key words: “LOT’S WIFE LOOKED BACK” (Genesis19:26) and “REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE.” (Luke 17:32) Don’t look back, flee from the coming judgments and move forward and upward by the power of the spirit of Yahshua. We should all listen and heed the words of Apostle Shaul (Paul), “Let us all forget what is behind (not looking back) and press toward the goal of the upward prize for that which we have been called heavenward in Yahshua the Messiah.” (see Philippians 3:13-14)
In addition, let’s look at Israel’s deliverance as an example of those who looked back and craved what they had left in Egypt. Many in the chosen nation lost Yahveh’s promised blessings and fell under His curses and judgment. Yahveh’s first-born children of Israel longingly looked back because of fleshy cravings. Most were not content and thankful for all the miracles Yahveh had done, including His merciful provision of heavenly manna (symbolic of Yahshua our manna from heaven). “Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of Yahveh; and when Yahveh heard it, His anger was kindled, and the fire of Yahveh burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp…The rabble (apt term for the half-hearted) with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said… “If only we had meat to eat!… Why did we ever leave Egypt? (They looked back and turned up their nose at Yahveh’s heavenly provision) … But while the meat was still between their teeth…the anger of Yahveh burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, (meaning grave of cravings) because there they buried the people who had craved other food.” (Refer to Numbers 11:1,4,5,18-20,33-34)
“Now these things happened as examples… to us upon whom the end of the age has come. So if you think you are standing firm, take heed lest you fall.” (see 1 Corinthians 10:11-12)
Don’t look back to that which once satisfied your carnal nature. Look to Yahshua your Good Shepherd who is leading you out of this doomed world to escape to His righteous refuge and eternal kingdom. Don’t be like the craving rebels in Israel’s day. Be blessed because you “hunger and thirst after righteousness” and you “shall be filled.” (see Matthew 5:6)
Brethren, I along with many of you, am experiencing diverse trials and testings. Many feel you are in a wilderness, lonely and isolated, some of you are having extremely stressful circumstances accompanied with much fear, hopelessness, and anxiety. Yet, let us take to heart the words of the great Apostle Peter, “in this [we] greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, we have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of our faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Yahshua Messiah.” (1 Peter 1: 6-7) “He knows the way I take; and when He has tested me I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10) “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing” (1Peter 4:12) Yahveh is “the author and finisher of our faith” and it is “through many hardships (and trials) that one enters the kingdom of heaven.” (Hebrews 12:2 and Acts 14:22). These trials are tools, in Yahveh’s loving hands, for the perfecting of our faith. He says, “that without faith it is impossible to please Him” and “if we don’t stand firm in our faith we will not stand at all.” (Hebrews 11:6 and Isaiah 7:9)
Yahshua asks, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)
The Almighty’s judgments are coming upon this perverse and rebellious nation as they did on Sodom and Gomorrah. The glory cloud, as in Israel’s deliverance, is moving and leading “the called out and chosen ones” to pull up their earthly tent pegs and move away from this dark condemned world upward to higher places in His spirit and glorious light filled presence. He told John the Revelator with a loud shofar like voice, “Come up higher so I can show you what will take place.” (Revelations 4:1)
As the Spirit of truth continues to bring forth the revelation of Yahveh, John was shown Yahveh’s judgments on the unrighteous and the promised eternal blessings for the redeemed. As we read in Revelation 18, let us take to heart the utterly grievous reality that just as America has become like Sodom and Gomorrah it also has the undeniable likeness of “Babylon the Great”. Open up your ears to hear what the angel of great glory cried out in a loud voice saying, “Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great! She has become a home for demons and a haunt for every evil spirit … For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.” Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plaques; for her sins are piled up to heaven, and Yahveh has remembered her crimes… Give her as much torture and grief as the glory and luxury she gave herself…Therefore in one day her plagues will overtake her; death, mourning and famine. She will be consumed by fire, for mighty is Yahveh Elohim who judges her.” (Revelations 18:2-5,7-8)
Therefore Beloved, in concluding this message with Yahshua’s very words, “Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36)
Dear Yahveh, my heavenly Father,
Thank you for sending your son Yahshua, your sacrificial Lamb, to die in my place, to give me eternal life. I repent and ask you to cleanse me of my sinful thoughts, attitudes, and deeds and all my ways that fall so short of your holiness and glory. I ask you to help me to “cast aside every besetting sin” that would hinder me from “running the race” and “escaping the judgments that are coming”. I acknowledge that my flesh still has cravings for the things of this world, please forgive me and stir up within me a great “hunger and thirst for righteousness” that I will be blessed and filled by you. I thank you again, for bearing my sins on the tree of Calvary and giving me your righteousness. Empower me by your Spirit, to uphold your precious atoning blood that I might “walk in a manner worthy of your calling”. Thank you for the trials and the testings that come to perfect my faith. I acknowledge that you are “the Author and finisher of my faith” and that “you work all things together for good” because I love you and I am called according to your purpose. May my life reflect and glorify you in word and deed.
Please help me to come out of this world and not share in its sins and coming judgments. Thank you for taking me by the hand, please help me to not look back to the enticements of a lifestyle I must leave behind to follow you. May I remember Lot’s wife and the example of Israel’s carnal cravings in the wilderness so that I will not fall prey to the same sins.
Please help me to “endure victoriously to the end,” as I “forget what is behind and press on toward the goal to win the prize for which you have called me heavenward.” Please increase my longing to see you face to face.
By the power of the (Ruach HaKodesh) Holy Spirit, help me to “rejoice always, pray unceasingly, and give you thanks in everything for this is your perfect will.” I humble myself in your sight, I exalt your holy name and precious atoning blood, FOR YOU ALONE ARE WORTHY OF ALL PRAISE, HONOR AND GLORY, NOW AND FOREVERMORE! Amen
History’s Mysteries – Sodom and Gomorrah
https://youtu.be/LvDCS045xdIRuins of Sodom and Gomorrah Found !
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