First, I need to thank Salom Ben Yah. Due to his inquiry, I realized, I do not read Isaiah chapter 45 enough. It is jammed packed with the beauty, the power, and the intelligence of our Creator. Salom sent me a very informative and well-written perspective of his view of Isaiah 45, focusing on verse 7 primarily. He asked that I respond to his inquiry, which I have done so below. Salom, feel free to comment below after reading this blog post response. Or, you may reply to our initial feed on Facebook. 

Wow! Isaiah 45 is a very powerful chapter. A chapter that I do not read enough of during my private reading. As I said before, this chapter is loaded with elements of God as what creation and the Holy Bible declares Him to be. That is, He is omnipresence (everywhere and anywhere in the past, present, and future); omniscience (knows anything and everything that can be known in past, present, and future); and omnipotence (the be-all and end-all to anything and everything past, present, and future).

To appropriately respond to the perspective Salom provided, I started my reading from verse 1 of Isaiah chapter 45. As I read verses 1 through 6, everything is setting up for the climate that is stated at verse 7. 

​These few verses, verses 1 through 6, especially verse 7, is establishing God's authority as the One True Living God. Hence, why God says about Himself in verse 6,

And that is the point of Isaiah 45. That God is KING, LORD, and there is no other god that can match Him.  
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So, as we read through verses 1 through 7 of Isaiah chapter 45, we see why God has earned the title as the #1 God and the Only True God in all the universe. But to make sure we do not miss the point, we need to look at this more closely by isolating the points stated that leads to verse 7 by looking at chapter 45 verse by verse.

​V1 - In verse one, we see that God has the power and ability to choose any man who He wants and guide that man throughout his childhood into manhood, to serve God's purpose at an appointed time in history. Take, for example, Jesus’ life. Before Jesus’ birth on the earth, God had decided a pinpointed time when Jesus would save mankind from themselves. Jesus, as a man stated his divine purpose at Luke 19:10.

​Most of us, who have followed the life of Jesus from infancy until about 30 years old, know that God guided the parents of Jesus to ensure that Jesus was properly prepare for his life in ministry. And when he became a young man, God continued to groom Jesus for the purpose in which God had called Jesus to fulfill. (Compare to Jeremiah 1:5, Luke 2:23).
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So, Jesus finished the first half of his calling when he died, was resurrected 3 days later, and then ascended to his Father. The life of Jesus is an extraordinary example of God knowing any and everything that would occur in Jesus’ life (past, present, and future) that would try to prevent God’s purpose from occurring in Jesus' life. And because God is omnipresent (anywhere and everything at once), omniscient (all-knowing), and omnipotent (the be-all and end-all to any and everything). God was able to counter any and everything that tried to impede His plan and His will for Jesus. This is why God is the irrefutable and undefeated champion – the GOD of all gods and the LORD of all lords.

So, reflecting back to verse 1 of Isaiah chapter 45. As we mentioned before, God has the power and ability to choose any man who He wants throughout mankind’s history. And guide that man throughout his childhood into manhood to serve God's purpose at an appointed time in history. At Isaiah chapter 45 verse 1, that man was Cyrus. God selected Cyrus to be the king over the Persian nation prior to Cyrus’ birth. Just as God had done with Jesus or any other man or woman throughout mankind’s history.

God appointed Cyrus to fulfill a specific purpose, at a specific time in the future, to save His chosen people who needed rescuing from the clutch of the Babylonian empire. And as the Bible and the historical accounts and books support, Cyrus, became the king of Medo-Persia and defeated and conquered the Babylonian empire which set God’s people free from their 70 years of enslavement under the regime of this pagan nation. (You can read about these events not only in the Bible but in secondary historical records).

Vv2-3 - In verses 2 through 3, it tells you how God had planned to pull it all off. An intense study and research of the archaeology history of the nation of Babylon, the nation of Medo-Persia, and King Cyrus will easily validate everything that is written in God’s Word concerning the rise and fall of these nations and King Cyrus’ kingship and his military campaigns and conquests.
The point we need to walk away from these verses are these:

​1. In history, our glorious encyclopedias, history books, etc., credits Cyrus for all his successful military campaigns. But here, in the book of Isaiah, as we can see, all credit rightfully belongs to God. 

​God certainly made King Cyrus' path straight – in the way, he should go in order to guarantee King Cyrus’ military success. Resulting in God’s plan, purpose, and will to be fulfilled (Proverbs 3:5-6).

​2. What was the sole purpose behind all of this? To establish God as omnipotent – the be-all and the end-all to all of mankind’s woes as well as successes. To firmly establish that nothing is impossible with God because He is the Almighty, all-powerful, and monotheistic God. And as it is clearly stated here

​​It is God who calls forth a man, any man, at any given time in human history for His glory, His plan, His purpose, and His will.

V4 – God is the promise or covenant keeper. When He says or declares a thing, it has already happened. Even when that promise will not literally take place until 500 years have passed from when He initially spoke it. As we can see in verse 4 of Isaiah chapter 45, God made a covenant or promise with Jacob, who God had chosen to lead His people – the nation of Israel. (See Genesis 28:13-15). And in keeping that promise to Jacob, they were many things that occurred throughout mankind’s history that tempted to impede that promise. But to ensure that God is always true to His word – the be-all and end-all to any and everything, that is omnipotent. God appointed Cyrus, a pagan king, who did not know God at all, as His anointed vessel to serve God’s purpose for His people. Isaiah 45:4 says,

​Vv5-6 – In verses 5 and 6, God establishes His authority as the Supreme Ruler, the Alpha and Omega, the all-knowing (omniscient), all-present (omnipresent), and all-powerful (omnipotent) God. He said,

And that is the point. There is no other god in our universe that is like the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.

V7 – And now our final verse, verse 7. In this verse, God is simply establishing His ability as the monotheistic King in the universe. A God-King who can and has established

1. light – owr (daylight)
2. darkness – choshek (that is to create something out of nothing or to create something out of chaotic dark material)
3. well-being – shalowm (peace)
4. calamity – ra (this is not the same as moral evil as mentioned at James 1:13 or moral failures that are stated at Galatians 5:17-21. But calamity here is speaking the opposite of peace, such as, war, disasters, etc. Similar to what is mentioned at Hosea 4:1-3.)

The point being. When it serves God’s purpose, His will, or His plan, there is nothing God cannot do, cannot create, cannot destroy, cannot build up or cannot tired down. There is nothing that can thwart the plans of God. There is nothing that can prevent God’s plan from occurring. Nothing. ​

Certainly, God can make it illegal for anyone to bring up your past sins. (See 2 Corinthians 5:17; Isaiah 43:18, 25). Sins that you have been delivered and set free from (1 Corinthians 6:9-11). He can make it a crime in the Courts of Heaven to speak of and to bring up a person's past - a past that God has erased, forgotten, and have expunged from your records - from your life history. 

Can you imagine? Being forever set free from all your past wrongdoings as if they never happened? They never took place? You never lived or acted out that stupid decision? To never have to worry about anyone reminding you of your past because God has made it unlawful - a crime, a serious offense to do so? No, really - can you imagine? MY GOD! WHAT FREEDOM IN THAT! TO BE FREE! TO BE SET FREE!

I have been delivered and set free from my destructive past many years ago. But I had to live out far too many battles against self-righteous and petty people who only want to constantly remind you of who you were. It has become some people's goal to keep in the minds of the masses of your past and to keep you in shackles. 

BUT GOD! But when God sends forth, one of His military angels, to retrieve you and serves you a summon to His Highest Court in the Heaven to expunge your records for once and for all time sake. So that He can personally, for once and for all time sake, clear your name. To wipe your record clean. My God! What a God we serve! What a wonderful God I serve!

​Now, I can walk in peace. Knowing I have overcome and won every battle that I needed to confront and fight head on to gain my permanent and rightful seat in Heaven. That moving forward, my past is the battle of the LORD (Exodus 14:14; Deuteronomy 1:30; 2 Thessalonians 3:3). He will personally hold everyone, every soul, every creature IN CONTEMPT OF THE SUPREME COURT IN HEAVEN if anyone tries to bring up and attempts to hold my past against me. That God will respond with a contempt of Court mandate. Charging that person or group with gross disrespect and deliberate disobedience of His Court Order. Because that person or group's actions defy His authority, justice, and the dignity of His Court Room. That individual or group willfully disobeyed God's righteous Court Order and therefore, God will see to it that justice will be executed on my behalf that will enforce equitable remedies.

The loving thing about God's enactment of such an order is that there is no need for a subpoena, more testimonies, another juror or hearing, or evidence needed to prove whether the contempt of the court order is constitutional. Why? Because my records have already been expunged - PAST TENSE! Therefore, making it unlawful for any man, or woman, any member of the Body of Christ, and even Satan to bring up MY PAST ever again. Therefore, when such a violation has been done, God will immediately dispatch His angel to impose sanctions to render justice on my behalf.

Man! What a God we serve! For "if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed!" (John 8:36).

I am hearing the LORD say this morning. 

"I AM dealing with the heart of every one of My leaders. I am exposing their hearts and watching how they respond - especially how they are tending for and taking care of My sheep. Will they go after the one that they are responsible for sending away (running off) in the first place? Will they care of My sheep? I AM watching the heart of men. Will they reprieve?"

One thing I can appreciate about the Apostle Paul is that he was a man that never caused confusion when he spoke as a leader. He spoke clear, direct, and with much authority. He never hid behind pretense, obscurity, or austerity (as in avoidance). Instead, when Paul spoke, he did not hide behind words, his title, or privileged status. He spoke directly to his audience with clarity and assurance. Something that many leaders lack today. Let me be clear about how God is speaking to me on this matter at 4:07 a.m. this morning. 

After having a beautiful dream about me worshipping before the LORD and singing a beautiful melody to the LORD called Kingdom Power. I was suddenly and abruptly woken from my dream. When I woke up, I was wide awake and two thoughts immediately came to my mind. 
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1. The first thought that enter my mind was The Beat vlog by Allen Parr about Paula White's recent controversial prayer service. Click here to view Parr's video. 
2. The second thought I heard in my spirit was the Apostle Paul's statement at 2 Timothy 2:17. "Their teaching will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeusu and Philetus." 

​Now my initial thought was, "LORD, why did these thoughts enter in my spirit after I had such a beautiful dream about me worshipping you?" And that's when this long speech pour out of My LORD when He confided in me concerning His disappointment in His sons, His appointed leaders in the Body of Christ. Below is what the LORD shared with me.

He first took me to 2 Peter 2:1-3. So, I read it. It reads, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping."

After I read it, the LORD spoke and shared with me 3 clear points that Paul as the apostle clearly pointed out. 
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1. In verse 1, there were false teachers in Israel who were using clever teachings to spread heresies and to deny Jesus. Paul clearly identified the group he was addressing, stated where this group was located and explained exactly what this group was doing. He did not leave anything up to chase or misinterpretation. 
2. In verse 2, Paul described the effects these false teachers would have on the Body of Christ if they were allowed to continue their path. Paul stated that people will follow them and will slander the way of the truth. 
3. In verse 3, Paul stated the reason these false teachers were doing what they were doing, which was to extort money from the people through lies. 

In these verses, Paul does not clearly say by name, who exactly these false teachers were. But he provided enough descriptive information that members in the Body of Christ could easily identify who he was talking about, where these false teachers were located, what type of activities they were involved in, and why these false teachers were doing what they were doing? 

But here is the problem this scenario can create. For some seasoned and mature saints, it may be easy to clearly identify clever false teachers who take doctrine truth and sprinkle it with lies and false teachings. But this discerning ability may not be easy to most churchgoers or even members within the Body of Christ. Whenever a false teacher wants to mislead an individual or body of people, they are crafty at using emotionalism to catch people off guard. Often time, once we allow our feelings to become involved in any situation, we become acceptable and vulnerable to any and everything and that is including lies, false teachings, false teachers, and false prophets. We, the Body of Christ, have to be mindful that the goal of false teachers and false prophets is to indoctrinate false teachings and erroneous belief systems within you. For if you believe their lies, then you are more prone to spread their lies about Christ, about God, about Bible doctrine, about ministry, about a business, or about a person to another individual. Allowing the lie to spread like gangrene. (Compare to 2 Timothy 2:17). 

False teachers are so cunning at this art that most of us will miss it when it is happening right before us. This is why the writer of Matthew states at chapter 24, verse 24, that "... false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." These false teachers are so awesome and motivational at what they do that they will come like wolves in sheep clothing. They will look like angels. Act like angels. Move in what appears to be God's power and glory, but it is only witchcraft, in order to deceive even the leaders that are leading the Body of Christ. Yes, some leaders in the Body of Christ will be fooled by these false teachers' cunning.

This is why instruction with clarity must be shared and passed onto and through the Body of Christ more than ever before by the leadership in the Body of Christ. I'm not talking about the Church. Because there is a distinct difference between the Church and the Body of Christ. I'm talking about leaders, that is God's shepherds providing members of the Body of Christ clear direction and evidence of those who are hiding in the camps of God's churches as sheep in wolves clothing. 

Then God took me to Romans 16:17. It says, "I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them." Clearly, Paul is urging the Body of Christ to AVOID a specific group of people. But how can the Body of Christ clearly identify who are these individuals or groups they should avoid, if Paul, as a leader, does not state clearly who these ones are?

Then God asked me this question. "Is it not the responsibility of the shepherds (My leaders) to clearly identify these individuals or groups by exposing who these false teachers are in order to 
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• prevent the spread of gangrene in the Body of Christ
• as well as protect the flock of Christ"

Then He took me to Acts 20:27-29 and I read it. Clearly, God is emphasizing that it is the job of His leaders to watch over God's flock - every one of them, to oversee that no wolves are allowed to enter into God's camp. Then God shows me 1 Corinthians 5:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 2 Timothy 3:5, and then 2 John 10.

But then God switches His position and says, "but do not be foolish and totally oblivious of the folly of man." Whenever a leader exposes someone, all members of the Body of Christ should always use divine discernment. For prophets, apostles, and pastors are human. God continues, "for their are some who will not align themselves to those I have obviously called because of the fear of men. There are even some who will malign the character of their brother or sister simply because a leader spoke some obscene statement about that person. And yet, some leader's accusation is far too often full of deceit, lies, misleading facts, and even blatant jealousy." 

Therefore, any time a spiritual leader or adviser points out or recommends that members of the Body of Christ should avoid a specific group or individual, we need not only to wait on God through prayer and for clarity. We need to adhere to the principle stated in God's word at 1 Timothy 5:19. It states, "do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses." So, if Prophet So & So with a reputable reputation says that Mary or Jon So & So is a false teacher, a false prophet, or a false apostle and no other honorable ministry leader has confirmed, back, support, or made similar claims about Mary or Jon So and So, it is best we continue to support and love on Mary or Jon So and So until enough honorable leaders have stepped up making the same claims. But the leaders in the Body of Christ need to be mindful of the Pharisees and the Sadducees who also took their stance together as a united front to make false claims that the powerful miracles Jesus Christ performed were from Satan (Matthew 12:24).

The point we need to get is this. Whenever a leader in the Body of Christ speaks with much obscurity and are not clear about the accusations he or she is making about another brother, or sister, or a ministry, or a business, or whoever, then they are causing the following to occur within the Body of Christ:

1. confusion 
2. he or she is creating division, which is a sin that is clearly stated in God's word. 

​Let's make sure we state this sin plain and clear. At Galatians chapter 5, at verse 19, says "the acts of the flesh are obvious...." For the purpose of this blog, we only want to focus on a few points mentioned in verses 20-21, which are discord, jealousy, dissensions, factions, and envy. Then God's word clearly states in verse 21 about people who act out these characteristics. "... Those who LIVE LIKE THIS will not inherit the kingdom of God." Simply put. Do not think you are going to get up into heaven if any of these qualities are a part of your characteristic make up. Now we are not talking about people who slip up every now and then, in one or more of these areas, and they proactively work toward making their wrong right. We are talking about those who practice these behaviors. It is a part of their DNA.

That is a very critical question to answer and one that needs to come straight from leadership in the Body of Christ. Leaders within the Body of Christ must provide members in the Body of Christ clear direction and instruction concerning those who are operating as false teachers within the Body of Christ. This is not an option as a leader but a requirement from the King of kings and the Lord of lords.

​We all have seen a job description at one time or another. And on that job description, there are skills a potential candidate must possess to be considered for employment. Usually, the job description list this section as "Required Experience." For shepherds or leaders in the Body of Christ, it is a requirement on your part to keep the flock of God safe from all intruders who tries  to corrupt the Body of Christ with false doctrines or even attempts to physically, emotionally, financially, or spiritually harm members of the Body of Christ. 

To successfully do this, shepherds or leaders are required, at times, to take an extra step as Paul did when exposing false teachers. So, God took me to these final verses: 2 Timothy 4:10, 2 Timothy 1:15, and 2 Timothy 2:17. In these verses, the Apostle Paul called out these brothers by their name. Making it very clear who exactly was doing evil within God's house. 

It is important to provide the Body of Christ with clarity when there is reasonable evidence that a person, a group, a business, a ministry, a leader, or a member in the Body of Christ needs to be flagged because of inappropriate behavior and or doctrine they are teaching that does not align with Bible principles. Especially, when these ones refuse to accept proper correction from brothers in the Body of Christ who have properly applied Matthew 18:15-17. Correction should always be done in order to win our brother over. But when a brother or sister refuses good and sound scriptural correction and counsel, then exposure becomes necessary. But it should never be done in haste, in blind deceit, based on heresy, in anger, or based on suspicion, and with malice. Exposure should be done with the goal to protect the Body of Christ against something or someone that is harmful to the Body. Not because you do not agree with what they are doing and how they are doing it. Clearly, exposure protects the Body of Christ from darkness, from false prophets, from false apostles, and from false teachers.