The Devil Wears Prada

Jun09
by Michael King on June 9, 2018 at 1:11 pm
Posted In: contemporary christian issues
perfect in beauty

Actually, The Devil Does Wear Prada

Satan is very evident in many areas of our world if we know what to look for and how to interpret the signs. Take for example the fashion industry.  Outward appearance is front and center in this multi-billion dollar business.  Everything is sacrificed by models to be perfect in beauty…even their very souls.

God says,

“Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.”

Ezekiel 28:12

The fashion industry is not godly

Often times, the desire to be perfect in beauty is a manifestation of Lucifer and who she was in the kingdom of heaven before she fell.  God goes on to say in verse 17,

“Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.”

It was beauty leading to pride that ultimately caused Lucifer to corrupt herself and the fashion industry reflects this. The recent movie, “The Devil Wears Prada” is a morality tale that demonstrates Satan’s hold in this area.  In this realm, models are worshipped for their looks regardless of their character.  It does not matter what a supermodel does so long as she is pretty. Sadly, the most beautiful women in the world forsake their natural calling to be mothers. In exchange for fame, they become sexual objects of countless men who neither care for them nor want anything more than sexual gratification from them.

Misplaced worship

Beautiful women act out in these ways, not just for financial reward but also because they love to be worshipped. They are addicted to the power their beauty gives them. It is their vanity that drives them to forsake their natural use and become lesbians so that they can remain beautiful and not suffer the effects of child-birth.  The desire to be an object of worship, at any cost, is the dynamic present in all “sex for sale” venues.  Worship of beauty, lust, and love of money drive the fashion industry and are found in the heart Lucifer herself.

Women have a particularly difficult time in our western society as they grow older.  Models who have tasted of the worship of men have their self-esteem and identity wrapped up in being desirable.  When being perfect in beauty naturally begins to fade they feel worthless and try to hold on to their youth as long as possible. They begin to become overtly sexual in order to receive the kind of attention that they grew accustomed to when younger.

Perfect in beauty isn’t all it’s cracked up to be

Weaponized sexuality is not limited to unsaved people.  We live in a culture permeated with such influences and Christian women are not immune.  Just as much as the unsaved, some Christian women have learned that beauty is power in the church.  Instead of developing the inner beauty of proverbs chapter 31, some continue to focus on outward appearance.

The spirit of the Harlot church has infiltrated our sanctuaries to a much greater degree than we imagine, seeking to dominate the men of our generation. Our dress often reflects what is in our hearts.  The trend towards increasingly provocative attire demonstrates worldly seduction is gaining a foothold in our churches.

God made us sensual, Satan made it dirty

Spirit led, sexual attraction is a natural and beautiful thing.  However, flaunting a woman’s sexuality indiscriminately has no place in Spirit led believers.  Some dress provocatively as a power play and some dress in such ways simply to follow the crowd.  However, the path that both walk leads away from God.

Please understand that I am not saying that lack of clothes and showing too much skin makes a person unholy.  After all, Adam and Eve were naked before God and were not ashamed.  I am talking specifically about attire that is meant to display an inappropriate sexuality for the purpose of enticement. The singer Madonna and her heir apparent “Lady” Gaga are examples of this weaponized sexuality. These types of trendsetters are leading a generation of young women down a path of seduction and promiscuity that will, for many, result in heartache and personal loss.

The beauty of a godly woman

There is a godly and simple beauty that our Lord adorns every woman with.  Purity of heart, loyalty, faithfulness, and wisdom are the ornaments that adore a Christ centered woman. A lady who seeks to maximize her femininity, becoming a faithful helpmate to a God-given husband, manifests true beauty from within and without. It is these inner attributes that commend her both to God, her husband, and society regardless of her outward appearance. Men often pass over women who do not fit the world’s idea of beauty.  However, young men need to focus on what makes a good wife rather than just a good date.

To be attractive is not sin

A Christian woman who makes herself look beautiful, if she is able to keep her appearance in the right perspective, doesn’t sin. An attractive woman is a blessing if she focuses on her God-given role as a helpmate and a mother.

Here is a truth:

“The ability to rejoice in beauty while  young, then release it gracefully as she ages, is the sign of a godly woman.”

In conclusion, let us become aware of how the Chief Musician is seeking to reveal herself in our realm.  Let us not become ensnared and driven by her designs and lusts. Let us manifest the Holy Spirit to those in need through loving them as Christ loves us.  In this way, we will become the sons of the living God and prosper in all our ways.

Do You Live For The Applause?

Applause by Lady Gaga

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The House Of Solomon

Jun07
by Michael King on June 7, 2018 at 7:25 am
Posted In: god's wife
house of Solomon

The Half Has Not Been Told

In many ways, I believe the picture above is inspired.  So many times when we read the Word we sometimes forget that vast amounts of time and events are condensed into a few short verses.  In reality, even this very detailed picture above does not do justice to the court of King Solomon.

The Queen of Sheba says,

“And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.  Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the half was not told me: thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard.  Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and that hear thy wisdom.”

1 Kings 10:6-8

The house of Solomon

Today, I want to delve into the picture that God paints with the house of Solomon.  Sometimes, eternal truths are hiding in plain sight until someone points them out to you.

When an old style typewriter struck a piece of paper, it left an imprint we call type. Depending on the key pressed, it makes an impression of a letter, a number or an apostrophe etc.  The image left by the actual key is what we see, but is not the key itself.  Many times persons or events are a “type” or”impression” ot the actual eternal truths in heaven.

Solomon, a type of the our Great King

Solomon’s kingdom is a picture (or type) of God in His eternal kingdom.  The house of Solomon depicts the heavenly courts where Seraphim, Cherubim, and Angels dwell with our Lord.  The keystones of heaven, result in real events here on earth.  Christ death, burial, and resurrection results in Jonah spending three days and three night in the belly of a whale.  Abraham willingness to sacrifice his only begotten son foreshadows God asking His son to die for our sins.  Solomon’s house is a shadow created by the greater reality of the household of God in heaven.

When you look at the painting above, there are some things that many miss at first glance.  If you notice, many of Solomons wives are seated behind his throne.  Also, the Queen of Sheba, in revealing attire, approaches the great king with respect and deference. Order, light, and grandeur define the house of Solomon because they define God’s heavenly court.

A thousand wives

God says,

“And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.”

1 Kings 11;3

First of all, let’s dispel the common misconception that the number of wives Solomon had turned his heart from God.  The number of wives had nothing to do with the son of David’s downfall.  What did lead Solomon’s heart astray was marrying women who were not of the covenant of Israel or did not convert to Judaism.  Solomon loved many strange (foreign) women who served many strange gods (idols).  It was their idolatry coupled with Solomon’s love for them, which caused him to acquiesce to their idolatry.  So, with that out-of-the-way, let us continue.

We will remember thy love more than wine

There were public and private areas in Solomon’s house.  Many areas in the palace were public or semi public, but not all.  Depending on your status and function, different portions of Solomon’s home were open to you.  However, the inner house, where Solomon lived with His wives and children, was forbidden to all but the most elect.

God says,

“And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 22:11-13

Within this inner sanctum, Solomon and his wives lived, raised their children, and loved.  God doesn’t write much of what Solomon’s personal life was like, because it was private. However, we do have a glimpse into the intimate nature of the king in the Song of Solomon.

Thou art fair

Solomon writes,
“How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!   This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts to clusters of grapes.  I said, I will go up to the palm tree, I will take hold of the boughs thereof: now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose like apples;”

Song of Solomon 7:6-8

Though epic in scope, the Song of Songs is but a small portion of what went on behind closed doors.  In the inner chambers of the house of Solomon, he pursued the exploration of love just as much as he pursued any other area of interest.

Furthermore,

“How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!”

Solomon 5:6

and,

“…Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”

1 Corinthians 2:9

I said all that to say this,

“YHWH has much more in store for us, both here on earth and in the world to come than we ever imagined.”

However, the way this all comes to pass is through obeying God’s voice.  It is a fact of Spirit lead intimacy that you cannot know God without knowing the Body of Christ.  This is so because God dwells in the members of His body.  Therefore, in order for God to manifest to us, He does so through the saints.  Everything from John to the beloved laying his on Jesus’s lap, to Mary Magdalene washing Christ’s feet with her hair, involves intimacy.  Frankly, love God through other believers involves more than the standard handshake or sideways hug.

The greater house of Solomon

We, the called out ones, are the greater house of Solomon.  We are a building built without hands, literally created by the word of the Most High to be His home.  The point of having a home to house a family.  The genesis of God’s family is the love relationship between spiritually joined mates.

Likewise, in the house of God there are public places and private places.  There are areas for daily living and there are areas for intimate relationships.  Each has their proper place and function.  To have a proper home you must have both.  Right now, the church has living rooms, kitchens, and garages, but very few bedrooms.  There seems to be little space in modern Christianity for intimacy, but this is exactly what God desires from us and between us.

The Song of Solomon is intimate for a reason

God anointed Solomon to pen his song of love in order to demonstrate to us YHWH’s desire for romance and intimacy with His people.  Ours is an epic love story, written across the ages, and consummated on earth as it is in heaven.  Loving God should be second nature to us, but we will never come into the revelation of the house of Solomon if we shun its secret places.

Lovers are awkward with their first few kisses, but soon become comfortable with each other.  We, as the chosen of God, may be unsure and timid at first, but our lover is true and our Lord is patient.  Allow God to love you through His body to the extent that His Spirit leads.  You can trust God in yourself and in others and you love the Most High.  Amen.
 

Ode To The Bride by John Michael Talbot

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