Shalom,


Proverbs 11:1:


1 A FALSE balance and unrighteous dealings are extremely offensive and shamefully sinful to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight.


"Abomination" is the Hebrew word "tow`ebah", which means: something disgusting, an abhorrence. These unjust dealings are an abomination to the LORD because they are contrary to His nature! We are supposed to be His hands, and feet, and mouth on the earth! We should be representing Who He is in every area of our lives because WE are the only Jesus some people will ever see! Verse 11:


11 By the blessing of the influence of the upright and God's favor [because of them] the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.


When our nation was on the path of righteousness that the founding fathers set us on, we were SO blessed! We WERE the most powerful nation on earth at one time! We were blessed and prospering in every area! Slowly the nation began to move away from Word of God and the influence of godly men and women. With the move ahead from radio to television, to cell phones, to the internet, people thinking and speaking contrary to the Word of God AND of History has grown to the point where we no longer even resemble a Christian nation! NOT the Christianity of the Bible! With that "mouth of the wicked" having such a bold place in our society, you can see the very real danger of our nation being "overthrown", the Hebrew word "harac", which means: to pull down or in pieces, break, destroy, beat down, pull down, ruin. The ONE thing that this nation has going for it is the number "His people" that there are here! Remember THIS promise in 2 Chronicles 7:14:


14 If My people, who are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, pray, seek, crave, and require of necessity My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.


The promise isn't that if ALL the people of the nation would do this, just HIS people! I still firmly believe that if WE do what WE know to do, God will again bless this land, for OUR sakes, right up until the Rapture! Let's look away from all that the world is doing and saying and look back again to God and His Word! Be doers of the Word of God and ALLOW Him to bless us again! AMEN!


Revelation 17 speaks of the great harlot. This "woman" is responsible for many of the false religions that exist in the earth today! During the Tribulation the beast will use the false religion to influence people to do his will. I found this in the Bible Exposition Commentary:

Throughout history, political systems have "used" religious bodies to further their political causes. At the same time, church history reveals that religious groups have used politics to achieve their purposes. The marriage of church and state is not a happy one, and has often spawned children that have created serious problems. When dictators are friendly with religion, it is usually a sign that they want to make use of religion's influence and then destroy it. The church of Jesus Christ has been most influential in the world when it has maintained a separated position.

We KNOW that separation of church and state, as it is written in the U.S. Constitution, is there for the protection of the Church FROM the State and NOT to keep believers and ministers from taking part in the political process. But there IS something to be said for separating ourselves from the world system and its way of thinking! The more we focus on God's Word, by the Holy Spirit within us, the more influence we will have ON the world! 


We begin in Zechariah today. Zechariah was young man when God called him to minister to the Jewish people who had returned from exile in Babylon and were to be rebuilding the Temple. Haggai had already delivered two messages to the people and it is at this time that Zechariah joins him. God spoke to Zechariah in a series of 8 night visions. We read of the first of these in these 3 chapters and the rest later on. We will just look at a few highlights of these. Zechariah 1:14:


14 So the angel who talked with me said to me, Cry out, Thus says the LORD of hosts: I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy.


Jerusalem belongs to GOD! HE made His earthly home there when the Temple was first built and He has NEVER relinquished His ownership! he allowed the city to be overrun for His purposes and intents, but NOW, in our time, He has called His people back and the nations who resist and come against the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem are putting themselves in a very dangerous position! No nation that has ever come against Israel has ever done well afterwards! Here are two different portions of Scripture that give instruction in how to pray for and treat the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem. Isaiah 62:6-7:


6 I have set watchmen upon your walls, O Jerusalem, who will never hold their peace day or night; you who [are his servants and by your prayers] put the LORD in remembrance [of His promises], keep not silence, 7 And give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes her a praise in the earth.


And Psalm 122:6:


6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they prosper who love you [the Holy city]!


As you continue to read in Zechariah, allow the Holy Spirit to show you what YOUR attitude and actions should be toward this nation and city. We DO have a part to play, that's why we're here! AMEN!


Shalom in Him!