(Tim Taylor - October 19, 2020) Do you strain at a gnat and swallow a camel?  Then you might be a modern-day Pharisee!  

You see, we’ve entered into a period of time where the Church, nations and the world have been brought into a valley of decision.  A valley is a low point, and the analogy in Joel 3 speaks of a moral low point where PEOPLE’s decisions reveal the true condition of their heart. 

Hebrews 5:12-14 2 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Can you discern?  Can you decide?  Can you recognize good and evil? 

Or will you find yourself in Isaiah 5:20 where you become one of the ones who call evil good and good evil?  Or will you find yourself in the camp of the Pharisees, you know, the ones who Jesus accused in Matthew 23:24 of straining at a gnat while swallowing a camel because their attention to personal details in people’s lives blinded them to the weightier matters of justice, mercy and truth. 

True mercy can never exist without justice and justice can never really exist without truth.
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In my last video I inserted a Pharisee detector.  I used a phrase to check to see if you were one who strained at a gnat while swallowing a camel.  I wanted to see if you were more offended by my phrase, “what the hell,”, or, if you were more offended because of laws which originated in hell were passed that encouraged the people to commit and abominations, which are acts which trigger a spiritual law that causes the very land to vomit the inhabitants out. 

In my lifetime I have never seen lying, hypocrisy and the incredible lack of judgment revealed in the pulpit as I have today.

Matthew 23:23-24 says:

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.  Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

Today, many are hyper focused on President Trump’s personal behavior while they are blind to the “weightier matters” like Justice.  Justice cannot exist without truth.  True mercy cannot exist without true justice.  So, if you find yourself hyper focused on President Trumps personal behavior or focused on his behavior from 20 years before he received Christ, and you neglect facts like:

by Tim Taylor, February 7, 2020.  The prophet Joel warns that the "day of the Lord" is coming.  He says it is a day of darkness and gloominess.  He says it is a terrible day.  Yet in the midst of this dark time there is a people who come forth like of whom the world has never seen.  It is the army of the Lord.  These are the ones who heed the voice of the Lord.  In Joel 3:12 and 14 the prophet says that God is bringing  everyone to a valley.  It's a valley of judgment and it is also called the valley of decision. 

Situations are occuring every day which brings each one of us to a place where we have to decide what to do. A decision is a judgment.  The question is, whose judgment does this scripture refer to; God's judgment or mans?  I submit to you, the answer is both.  Bear with me and hear me out.  

The Culture War Occurs in the Valley of Decision
A valley is a low point between the mountains.  Today, we've had issue after issue arise.  One one side is the counter culture to God's word and on the other side are those who contend for the truth.  They meet together in the valley of decision.  Some might even call it the valley of contention where opposing thoughts collide. 

The size of the mountain is based upon the number of people as well as their thoughts about an issue.  The more elaborate the deception, the more people who buy into a decieved way of thinking the bigger the mountain.  On the other hand, the more people that understand and practice the truth the bigger the mountain of truth. 

Paul the apostle reveals that a stronghold refers to our way of thinking often revealed through our arguments. He says in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,..."  

There are situations today for which each of us must decide where we stand.  It's common for most of us to respond as Joshua did in Joshua 5:13 where he says, "Are you for us, or are you for our adversaries?"  Are you on my side or their side?  The response of the one Joshua asked reveals an essential truth.  In verse 14, "So he said, "No, but as the Commander of the army of the Lord I have come."  This is revealing. 

The issue is not, is God on your side? But rather, no matter what the issue, the real question is, are we on His side.  Does our opinion align with His?  

The valley is the low point between two conflicting mountains of opinon. It's where the culture war occurs. The question the wise person asks is, "where does the Lord stand on this issue?  What does He think? "
 
Valleys Exist Where Two Conflicting Opinions Meet

The Times of Israel reported in US funds aided 2015 campaign to oust Netanyahu, Senate probe finds "the US government supported a group that tried to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last year to the tune of nearly $350,000.."   This act triggered a oft ignored spiritual law found in Genesis 12:1-3 that invited God Himself to interfere with the United States 2016 presidential election. 

My friends, spiritual laws work like the natural law of gravity.  They are always there.  They always work.  If you are wise you work with them.  If you are foolish or ignorant then you will suffer the consequences. If you are smart, you work with them.

President Obama authorized the use of tax payer dollars to interfere is Israel's election.  Yes, interference in another nation's election.  But in this case, not just any nation.  It was the nation and land which God promised to Abram.  Israel! 

In spite of all the issues, accusations, hoaxes, lies, mis-information and or truths surrounding the 2016 election one thing is certain.  The spiritual laws found in Genesis 12:3 as well as in Galatians 6:7 went into effect the moment President Obama interfered with Israel's election and that act invited God to interfere with ours.  

Spiritual Laws

1 Corinthians 15:44-46 introduce a spiritual truth.  First the natural and then the spiritual.  Daniel 6:27, Acts 2:19, and Hebrews 2:4 are just a few of the scriptures that teach us another important spiritual truth and that is that God uses signs and wonders to communicate.  

The signs consists of events that point to God's word and His will.  Here is a current example. 

On January 7, 2019 I shared the word of the Lord regarding God's desire for His people to recalibrate their moral compass.  Three days later God marked that message with a powerful sign that should make everyone wonder.  Fox News reported how that scientists were baffled by the geomagnetic northpole's movement which causes them to recalibrate all their instruments years earlier than expected.  To see the whole story click the Sign Scientists Just Discovered at the Northpole that points to our Moral Compass! 

God Just Gave Another Sign through His Prophet
What's the sign?  It's two things. 

It's a current event combined with consistent prophetic words that points to an element of God's word that reveals His will. In this case, a prophet had a dream on the 18th which is what prompted the bold title in this article.   

Consider These Words

The Lord has been speaking to me for a while about starting January 2019 with a Daniel Fast.  This morning I saw a prophetic message from Rick Joiner which resonated so much with what I've been hearing.  Click for The Coming Year - Unity & Shaking.  In it he speaks of all God is doing to bring unity in His Church which will lead to an explosion of God's purpose in 2020.  That's linked to end-time harvest that Bob Jones and others have prophesied beginning in 2020. 

I pray you see with 2020 vision!  

Then as I was contemplating the fast I realized the context.  It was in the 3rd year of King Cyrus that Daniel began his fast (Daniel 10:1-3).  Then I remembered how President Trump has been likened unto King Cyrus not only prophetically but also by Israel.  In fact, they commemorated that in a coin when he announced the decision to move the US embassy to Jerusalem.  Click here for Jerusalem, Israel & the 70 Year Prophetic Sign.  

This new year marks the beginning of the 3rd year for President Trump.  Trump is a type of Cyrus.  What did Cyrus do?  He commissioned the rebuilding of the temple (house of God) and the restoration of Jerusalem.  We find in this very non-religious man one of the most pro-Christian, pro-Israel presidents of our lifetime.  

If you will recall Daniel 10 is preceded by Daniel's description of the 70 Week Prophecy in Daniel 9.  Trump just played a huge role in a 70 year prophetic sign described in the article above. 

You are Invited
Bottom line, I am convinced more than ever it is time to fast and pray and I want to invite you to join us.

As I was waiting on the Lord the other morning the Lord spoke so clearly.  They "strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." 

Immediately I understood the context. ​Jesus says in Matthew 23:23-26;

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. 

I was shocked for immediately I knew what the Lord was showing me.  God has used President Trump to reveal the immaturity as well as our ignorance of God's word and God's ways.  Many are straining at a gnat while swallowing a camel.  They are so focused on his personal issues that they are blind to God's agenda as it pertains to laws, life and greater (greater in that it impacts many more people)  Biblical truths.  They focus on surface issues while ignoring the deeper more important issues.  In this case: 

• Straining at a gnat = focusing on horrible sins from Trump's past or focusing on his rough language. 

Notice in Matthew 23:23-26 that Jesus says, they've neglected the weightier matters of the law; justice and mercy and faith.  Justice precedes mercy and in fact, true mercy cannot ever be demonstrated with out justice.  Right now so many are so focused on minor moral issues and neglect the fact that God is using this morally imperfect man to reveal the immaturity and ignorance of God's ways and His word.  How?
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• Swallowing a camel = ignoring the laws and justice just like Jesus revealed in Matthew 23.

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What laws and what justice?  

CNSNews reported how witches are gathering together to corporately put a hex on Justice Kavanaugh on October 20th. I'd like to submit to you two observations along with a Biblical way to address this threat.

First, could the battle lines be any clearer?  It began with the BBC News reporting in 2017 in "Witches cast mass spell on Trump." Now, they are turning their attention to Justice Kavanaugh.  The Democratic Left sought to use lies, false witnesses, deceit and slander to stop this justice from being confirmed.  If we consult Matthew 7:15-20, John 8:31-45 and John 10:10 it's easy to recognize these are characteristic of Satan's handiwork. 

Second, who are the witches siding with?  Clearly they stand with the Democratic socialist loving left.  I'm highlighting this in memory of a pastor friend of mine from Florida who recently went home to be with the Lord.  He described to me his conversation with a relative of his who insisted he could be a Christian and be a Democrat.  My friend highlighted how that the Democrat Party platform implemented and defended policies and laws on some moral positions that were in direct conflict with God's word (ie. abortion, marriage and sex verses gender identity).  

At the core Christian means Christlike.  Christ cannot go against the Word of God!  PERIOD!  Candidly, I was born into a family who were Democrats.  As I reached voting age I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior. Little by little I began to learn about the ugly history of the Democrat Party (ie. slavery, Jim Crow, opposed women voting, proponents of abortion, & opposed traditional marriage) as well as the history of the Republican Party (ie. it was formed to free the slaves, gave blacks the right to vote, gave women the right to vote, opposed abortion, stood for traditional family...) I switched parties during the Reagan presidency primarily because the platform aligned with God's word on major moral issues which the Democrat Platform opposed.  Why?  

It was because of 2 Corinthians 5:9-11 which says, "Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences."

In the last decade I feel like the Republican Party leadership left me.  The platform on major moral issues reflects by values but the leadership in general had begun to say one thing but do another.  For example, many Republicans were voted in based upon their promise to overturn Obamacare and defund Planned Parenthood.  They had another chance in August of 2018 but, The Hill Reports, "GOP too busy to be bothered with defunding Planned Parenthood."  That is an example of what I mean. Therefore, I've become an independent.

Why?  Because the question is not is God standing with the Democrats or with the Republicans.  The question should be, who is standing with God regarding each issue;  you, the Democrats or the Republicans?  Personally I want to stand with our Lord no matter what. 

Jesus said in Mark 3:23

I heard in the spirit "check your fire, check your fire."  "Check your fire" is a command typically used by artillerymen which means "STOP SHOOTING IMMEDIATELY."  The term "fire" immediately reminded me James 3:6 which says, "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.​"

Translation, God is saying "watch your mouth" because many Christian's are actually becoming accessories to murder; spiritual murder. 

How?  By participating in a "fire mission" launched by the Devil! Devil comes from the Greek word diablos and means false accuser or slanderer.  Today, many Christians are slipping up and becoming part of the character assassination fire missions initiated by our adversary.  In doing so you become an accessory to a spiritual crime. 

What Does Accessory Mean?
Wikipedia says accessory is a legal term for "a person who assists in the commission of a crime, but who does not actually participate in the commission of the crime as a joint principal. The principal is the one whose acts or omissions, accompanied by the relevant mens rea (Latin for "guilty mind"), are the most immediate cause of the actus reus (Latin for "guilty act")."....  The test to distinguish a joint principal from an accessory is whether the defendant independently contributed to causing the actus reus rather than merely giving generalized and/or limited help and encouragement."

So an accessory is someone who gives generalized or limited help and encouragement.

​You may not be the originator, the instigator, nor the deceiver who developed the lie but when we join in by repeating that lie, we become an accessory to murder.  We either kill the truth or we participate in the fire mission intent on the character assassination of another.  

​The Trump Presidency Provides a Modern Example

A valley is a low point created by and in between hills and mountains. In Christendom today the concept of the 7 mountains of society has been presented for the last 30+ years.

When issues arise in society we often find these issues in the valleys.  They are low points in our society. 

The low points provide an opportunity for people to make decisions.  Judgments if you will. 

These decisions reveal how they view God's word and truth.  Jesus teaches us  that we will give an account for every "idle word" (Matthew 12:36) we speak.  Each of us will stand before our Lord to give an account of how we stewarded our life on this earth at the judgment seat of Christ.

Today there are a lot of low points.  One occurred yesterday. The Republican's during the last election had run on a promise to defund Planned Parenthood (Murderhood).  Yet, when Senator Rand Paul presented his bill to do that, they voted "no," again.  They missed another opportunity to keep their campaign promise. This decision reveals the priorities of their heart as there are some things more important to them than the "shedding of innocent blood" and keeping their word.  That just created a valley of decision between the government, family and religious mountains.  Click for The Hill's report on the  Senate rejects Paul's effort to strip Planned Parenthood of federal funding. 

Truly, it is a low point, A VERY LOW POINT! It is a "valley of decision" that reveals what's really in their heart and what they think about God and truth. 

This situation was created in large part because God choose to play His "Trump" card in this last election. The life of the unborn was one of the major issues brought to the forefront during the election. God chose a vessel who would create many opportunities to reveal the hearts of men.  

This is not the first time God has done this in history.  In fact, it's a theme that's been played over and over.  For example Jesus describes in Luke 7 how the Pharisees and the lawyers (religious & political spheres) failed to recognize the people God sent to represent His heavenly agenda. 

The pattern is being repeated today and how we respond to each situation reveals the judgments we've made in our hearts towards God and His Truth.  Jesus said in Luke 7:33...