Page 3 of 278

THE BLIND ELECTORATE

Allen Frederick Leave a comment
A Prophetic Teaching on Spiritual Drift, Seduction, and National Vulnerability

Introduction: When a Nation Forgets Who Leads It

Jesus declared, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.” (Matthew 12:25). His words are not merely a warning; they are a spiritual law. Division is not just a political condition — it is a symptom of deeper spiritual sickness.

Every election season reveals more than political tension. It exposes the spiritual condition of the electorate. A nation is never simply choosing leaders; it is revealing what it trusts, what it fears, what it values, and what it believes will save it. When people place ultimate trust in secular leadership instead of God’s leadership, they lose discernment. They become vulnerable to manipulation, seduction, and emotional persuasion. They become, in Elijah’s language, a people “limping between two opinions” (1 Kings 18:21) — unable to see clearly, unable to choose wisely, and unable to discern truth from deception.

But to understand the prophetic parallels, we must revisit the biblical story itself — the divided kingdom, the rise of Ahab and Jezebel, the infection of Judah, and the remnant God preserved.

THE BIBLICAL BACKDROP: THE DIVIDED KINGDOM AND THE HOUSE OF AHAB

After Solomon’s death, the kingdom of Israel fractured. Ten tribes formed the Northern Kingdom, called Israel, ruled from Samaria. Two tribes formed the Southern Kingdom, called Judah, ruled from Jerusalem. What God intended to be one nation under His covenant became two nations divided by politics, idolatry, and spiritual compromise.

In the North, Ahab rose to power. Scripture says, “Ahab… did evil in the sight of the LORD above all that were before him.” (1 Kings 16:30). He married Jezebel, daughter of the king of Sidon, a woman devoted to Baal worship. Under her influence, Ahab built altars to Baal, erected Asherah poles, and filled the land with false prophets. Jezebel slaughtered the prophets of the LORD and replaced them with her own spiritual machinery.

This was not merely political corruption.
It was spiritual seduction.

Meanwhile in Judah, King Jehoshaphat walked in the ways of the Lord. But he made one fatal mistake: he formed an alliance with Ahab. His son Jehoram married Ahab’s daughter Athaliah, bringing Jezebel’s influence directly into the Davidic line. Scripture says, “He walked in the way of the kings of Israel… for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife.” (2 Chronicles 21:6).

The infection spread.

Jehoram’s son Ahaziah became king, and the Bible says, “His mother was his counselor to do wickedly.” (2 Chronicles 22:3). That mother was Athaliah — Jezebel’s daughter. Ahaziah followed the counsel of Ahab’s house, not the counsel of God. He aligned himself with the Northern Kingdom’s corruption and died in judgment.

Athaliah then seized the throne of Judah and attempted to wipe out the entire royal line of David. But God preserved a remnant. The priest Jehoiada hid the infant Joash in the temple for six years until the time was right to restore the rightful king. Through Jehoiada’s leadership, Judah returned to the covenant — but only for a season. After Jehoiada died, Joash drifted, listened to corrupt counselors, and fell back into idolatry.

The pattern repeated:
When leaders drift, the people drift.
When leaders are seduced, the nation is seduced.
When leaders abandon God, the electorate becomes blind.

The Electorate Has Lost Its Spiritual Center

Scripture teaches, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5). But when people begin trusting charisma over character, emotion over truth, personality over principle, promises over repentance, and institutions over Scripture, they become spiritually conditioned to follow the loudest voice instead of the truest voice.

Israel drifted when it trusted Ahab’s charisma instead of God’s covenant. America drifts when it trusts secular leadership as savior instead of God as Lord. Isaiah warned, “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help… but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 31:1). The electorate becomes blind when it seeks salvation from human systems rather than divine truth.

Undisciplined Leaders Produce Undisciplined Followers

Elijah confronted leaders who knew about God but did not see God clearly. They practiced rituals, maintained traditions, and invoked religious language, but their hearts were undisciplined and their vision dim. Scripture says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18).

Ahab knew the rituals. Ahaziah knew the traditions. Jehoram knew the temple. Joash knew the priesthood. But none of them walked in obedience or clarity. Their leadership produced confusion, compromise, and corruption. Hosea declared, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6). When leaders drift, the people drift. When leaders lose discipline, the people lose discernment.

Reform Without Repentance Creates National Instability

Israel attempted reform without repentance. They built new alliances, adopted new policies, embraced new religious expressions, and followed new cultural movements, but they never returned to God. God spoke through Isaiah, “This people draw near me with their mouth… but have removed their heart far from me.” (Isaiah 29:13).

America mirrors this pattern. We create new programs, adopt new slogans, form new coalitions, and pursue new reforms, but without repentance, reform becomes cosmetic — a fresh coat of paint on a rotting foundation. The Lord warned, “Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it.” (Psalm 127:1). Reform without repentance is labor in vain.

Faulty Foundations Make the Electorate Easy to Mislead

Jesus taught the parable of the two builders: “The rain descended, and the floods came… and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:27). A house built on sand cannot withstand pressure. A nation built on faulty foundations cannot withstand deception.

Israel built on Baal worship, political marriages, cultural assimilation, and emotional religion. America builds on secular moral relativism, therapeutic spirituality, political tribalism, and cultural seduction. Paul warned, “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2). Faulty foundations produce emotional voting, ideological seduction, personality worship, fear‑based decision‑making, and propaganda vulnerability.

The Jezebel Spirit Seduces the Electorate

The Jezebel spirit is not gender; it is seduction, manipulation, idolatry, and false teaching. Revelation warns, “Thou sufferest that woman Jezebel… to seduce my servants.” (Revelation 2:20). Seduction is the weapon of spiritual blindness.

In Elijah’s day, Jezebel seduced a nation through false prophets, emotional religion, political influence, and cultural pressure. In America, the same pattern appears in seductive ideologies, high‑sounding philosophies, emotionally charged narratives, and spiritually empty traditions. Paul warned, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine… and shall turn away their ears from the truth.” (2 Timothy 4:3–4).

When People Stop Listening to God, They Become Blind Voters

This is the heart of the teaching. When men and women stop guarding their homes, stop teaching their children, stop listening to God, stop walking in obedience, and stop practicing discernment, they become persuadable, misled, emotionally reactive, spiritually blind, and geopolitically unstable.

Jesus said, “If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” (Matthew 15:14). The electorate becomes blind not because leaders are powerful, but because the people are spiritually undisciplined. Paul warned, “Be not deceived.” (Galatians 6:7). Deception enters through drift.

The Electorate’s Blindness Is a Theological Crisis, Not a Political One

America’s vulnerability is not a party issue, a candidate issue, or a policy issue. It is a theological issue. When a nation loses its spiritual center, it loses its geopolitical stability. God warned Israel, “Ye have forsaken the LORD, and he hath forsaken you.” (2 Chronicles 24:20).

Israel drifted theologically and fractured politically. Judah drifted spiritually and weakened militarily. Ahab drifted morally and alliances corrupted the nation. Joash drifted internally and institutions collapsed. America’s instability mirrors this pattern. Jesus said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” (Mark 3:25).

The Remnant Principle: God Preserves Clarity in a Blind Nation

Even in Elijah’s day, God preserved clarity. Seven thousand remained faithful (1 Kings 19:18). Obadiah hid prophets (1 Kings 18:4). Jehoiada preserved Joash (2 Kings 11). God preserved the Davidic line. In America, the remnant is the believers who see clearly, the churches that remain faithful, the leaders who refuse seduction, the communities grounded in Scripture, and the individuals who walk in obedience.

Paul wrote, “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” (Romans 11:5). God always preserves a remnant.

The Call: Return to God With Whole‑Hearted Obedience

The only cure for electorate blindness is repentance, not reform. A nation cannot be saved by politics, ideology, institutions, traditions, emotionalism, or cultural narratives. Only by returning to God with whole hearts can a nation regain discernment and stability.

God declared, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven.” (2 Chronicles 7:14). Repentance restores clarity. Obedience restores vision. Truth restores stability.

Conclusion: The Elijah Warning for America

America is not blind because its leaders are corrupt. America is blind because its people have drifted. The electorate is not misled because voices are loud. The electorate is misled because discernment is lost. The nation is not unstable because politics are chaotic. The nation is unstable because theology is compromised.

Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation.” (Matthew 12:25).
Elijah said, “How long halt ye between two opinions?” (1 Kings 18:21).
Isaiah said, “Return unto Him from whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted.” (Isaiah 31:6).

Every Plant My Father Did Not Plant

Allen Frederick Leave a comment
Expository Study of Matthew 15: Tradition, Doctrine, and the Uprooting of False Teaching
MATTHEW 15:13 EVERY PLANT MY FATHER DID NOT PLANT

Introduction: When Jesus Confronts Tradition

There are moments in the ministry of Jesus when His words cut through centuries of religious tradition and expose the difference between what God establishes and what men construct. One of those moments appears in Matthew’s Gospel, when the Pharisees confront Jesus about ritual handwashing. They were not defending Scripture. They were defending tradition. They were protecting a system that had been built over generations, a system that looked authoritative but had no life in it.

Jesus responded with a statement that still echoes through the church today. He said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up.” [Matthew 15:13] It is a warning, not to sinners or outsiders, but to religious teachers who build doctrines God never authored. It is a reminder that the Father is not obligated to preserve anything He did not initiate. If He did not plant it, He will uproot it.

The Context: Tradition That Overrides Truth

To fully understand Jesus’ warning in Matthew 15:13, it is essential to consider the entire narrative leading up to this verse. The encounter begins when the Pharisees and scribes confront Jesus, questioning why His disciples do not follow the tradition of ceremonial handwashing before eating. This tradition was deeply ingrained in Jewish religious practice, though it was not a commandment from God but a human tradition meant to maintain ritual purity.

Jesus responds by challenging their focus on external rituals while neglecting the heart of God’s commandments. He quotes Isaiah, saying, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” (Matthew 15:8-9, KJV)

The dialogue continues as Jesus points out how their traditions nullify the Word of God. He gives the example of the practice called “Corban,” where people dedicate their possessions to God, thereby avoiding using them to support their parents, which breaks the commandment to honor one’s father and mother. Jesus condemns this as hypocrisy, saying, “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition.” (Matthew 15:6, KJV)

The Pharisees and scribes are offended, but Jesus uses this moment to teach a deeper truth. He says, “Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.” (Matthew 15:13, KJV) This statement is a divine warning that any teaching or tradition not planted by God Himself will ultimately be uprooted.

Here is the full exchange from the King James Version (KJV) that sets the stage for verse 13:

15 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

This entire exchange reveals the heart of Jesus’ teaching and the seriousness of relying on human traditions over God’s Word. It sets the table for understanding the uprooting Jesus warns about in verse 13, showing that it is not a casual statement but a profound judgment against religious hypocrisy and false doctrine.**

Context matters. The Pharisees were offended because Jesus and His disciples did not follow the ritual handwashing traditions of the elders. Jesus made it clear that their traditions had begun to override the very Word of God. He said, “You have made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.” [Matthew 15:6] In other words, they had built a structure that looked religious but was not rooted in the Father’s planting. It was a house built on sand, and Jesus warned that such houses cannot stand.

When Jesus speaks of plants, He is speaking of teachings. The seed is the Word. The plant is the doctrine. The fruit is the outcome. A plant the Father has planted is a teaching that originates from His Spirit, His voice, and His truth. A plant He did not plant is a doctrine that originates from human tradition, denominational inheritance, ritual practice, or theological systems built on sand. Jesus does not say these plants will be corrected or adjusted. He says they will be uprooted.

The Uprooting: Judgment and Mercy

This uprooting is an act of judgment, but it is also an act of mercy. False teachings misrepresent God and mislead His people. They create confusion, bondage, and spiritual instability. When the Father uproots what He did not plant, He is removing what harms His flock. He is clearing away what obscures Christ. He is dismantling what stands between His people and His truth.

Jesus’ use of imagery connects directly to His teaching about the wise and foolish builders. One man built his house on the rock, and the other built his house on sand. When the storm came, only one house remained. The house on sand collapsed because it was never anchored in the truth. In the same way, doctrines built on tradition, ritual, and human invention cannot withstand the storm of divine truth. They may look sturdy, but they are straw and sticks in the mouth of the wolf. Only what is built on Christ Himself can endure.

Building on Solid Ground and the Wheat and Tares

To deepen our understanding of Jesus’ warning about every plant not planted by the Father, it is helpful to consider other key Scriptures that illustrate the nature of truth, falsehood, and judgment in the kingdom of God.

Jesus taught about the wise and foolish builders in Matthew 7:24-27 (KJV):

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.”

This parable clearly shows that the foundation of our faith and doctrine must be solid and divinely planted, or it will not withstand the storms of life and spiritual testing.

Another powerful teaching comes from Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the tares in Matthew 13:24-30 (KJV):

“Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.”

In this parable, the wheat represents the true children of the kingdom—the teachings and believers planted by God. The tares represent false teachings and those who appear similar but are ultimately of the enemy. They grow together for a time, but at the harvest, the difference becomes clear, and the tares are removed and destroyed.

This imagery complements Jesus’ warning in Matthew 15:13 about every plant not planted by the Father being uprooted. The enemy’s tares are designed to look like wheat, but their true nature is revealed in due time. The Father’s judgment will separate truth from falsehood, preserving only what He has planted.

Together, these Scriptures emphasize the importance of discerning the origin and foundation of our beliefs and teachings. Building on Christ, the solid Rock, and recognizing the wheat from the tares, we are called to remain rooted in the truth that the Father has planted and to be wary of doctrines and traditions that only appear to be genuine but are destined for removal.

The Modern Moment: When Encounter Exposes Tradition

We are living in a time when many long‑standing doctrines are being exposed as plants the Father never planted. Some were built on mistranslations. Some were built on transliterations that preserved ritual instead of meaning. Some were built on denominational politics. Some were built on inherited traditions that were never examined in the light of Scripture. As believers encounter Christ Himself, these structures begin to crumble. The encounter reveals what the Father planted and what He did not.

The people who met Jesus in Scripture were never confused. They did not need theological charts or ritual vocabulary to understand Him. They recognized His voice. They responded to His presence. They followed His leading. Their faith was built on the Rock, not on the sand of tradition. When Christ reveals Himself, the difference between truth and tradition becomes unmistakable.

The Only Safe Place: Christ Himself

The only safe place for the believer is Christ Himself. Not ritual. Not denominational identity. Not inherited doctrine. Not theological systems. Not the structures men have built over centuries. The safe place is the Rock, the Cornerstone, the Shepherd, the Word made flesh. Everything else is sand.

Jesus’ warning remains as clear today as it was when He first spoke it. “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted shall be rooted up.” [Matthew 15:13] The question every believer must ask is simple: Who planted what I believe? If the answer is Christ, it will stand. If the answer is tradition, it will fall. The storm will reveal the truth, and the Father Himself will uproot what He never planted.

Closing Reflection

The uprooting Jesus describes is not meant to frighten the believer but to free them. It is an invitation to examine what we believe, why we believe it, and whether it was planted by the Father or inherited from tradition. Only what He plants will endure, and only what He establishes will stand when the winds of truth blow across the landscape of our faith. This calls for the saints of God to use discernment and to really tune into the voice of the Good Shepherd since this is not want of voices in the world each crying louder than the next to be heard, and the still small voice of the Lord often goes unheeded. Search yourselves saints and see if there be any wicked way in you or if you have taken the commandments of men as more binding then the living Word of God Himself. I pray you are among the gathered wheat and not among the tares. Blessings to you all.

This has been “A View From the Nest” and that is the way I see it. What say you?

BE SURE TO LIKE< SHARE< AND FOLLOW<

Do Not Trust in Man: A Modern Parable of Discernment

Allen Frederick 1 Comment

Introduction

There are seasons when the world feels like it is shouting at us from every direction. The COVID years were one of those seasons. Experts contradicted each other. Agencies shifted their guidance. Politicians changed their positions. News outlets amplified fear and confusion. Ordinary people were left standing in the middle of the storm, trying to decide who to believe and what to do.

That period is not the focus of this article, but it serves as a vivid modern parable. It exposed something deeper than public health policy or political maneuvering. It revealed how fragile our trust becomes when it is placed in human beings instead of in God. Scripture has warned us about this all along, but many believers only discovered the weight of those warnings when the world went into crisis.

The Biblical Warning About Trusting Man

The Bible does not whisper about the danger of trusting in human strength. It speaks plainly and directly. In **Psalm 146:3 we read, “Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.”Jeremiah 17:5 adds, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the LORD.” Isaiah 2:22 says, “Stop regarding man, whose breath is in his nostrils, for of what account is he?”

These verses are not angry lectures. They are protective warnings. God is not trying to shame His people; He is trying to shield them from disappointment and deception. Human beings, even the most educated and well‑intentioned, are limited. They do not see everything. They do not know everything. They are influenced by pressure, fear, politics, money, and reputation. Even good men make serious mistakes. Even sincere leaders can be wrong.

God is not like that. He is not limited. He is not pressured. He is not biased. He is not confused. He is not swayed by public opinion or personal gain. When He speaks, He speaks truth. When He leads, He leads rightly. When He warns, His warnings are accurate. When He comforts, His comfort is reliable.

A Modern Parable: Confusion in the COVID Era

During the pandemic, people were desperate for clarity. They wanted someone to stand up and say, “This is the truth. This is what you must do. This is what is safe. This is what is dangerous.” Many turned to experts and agencies and assumed that whatever came from those platforms must be correct. Over time, however, it became obvious that not everything being said was consistent, honest, or even logical. Guidance changed. Narratives shifted. Motives were questioned. Trust began to erode.

That erosion of trust is not just a political or social issue. It is a spiritual lesson. When we lean on human voices as if they were infallible, we set ourselves up for confusion. Confusion is the natural fruit of trusting man. It does not mean every person involved was evil or malicious. It simply means that human beings cannot carry the weight of divine trust.

In the middle of that noise, you chose a different path. You prayed. You asked the Lord directly what you should do. You did not have all the data. You did not have access to every study. You did not sit in the rooms where decisions were being made. But you had something better. You had access to the One who sees everything. You sought Him, and He answered you. He gave you peace instead of panic. He gave you assurance instead of confusion. He gave you a specific Scripture—the account of Paul being bitten by a poisonous snake and suffering no harm—as a personal anchor. That was not hype. That was not spin. That was not a narrative. That was a clear, factual, truthful word from God to your heart.

That is the parable. That is the contrast. Human voices produced confusion. God’s voice produced clarity.

The Difference Between Letter and Spirit

Many believers today are taught to live on “Scripture alone” in a way that unintentionally shuts out the living voice of the Holy Spirit. They are told that the Bible is sufficient, and it is, but they are also told—directly or indirectly—that God no longer speaks, no longer guides, no longer reveals, and no longer moves in the gifts of the Spirit. The result is a kind of spiritual dryness. People read the text, but they do not receive fresh manna. They know the letter, but they do not experience the Spirit.

Jesus did not say, “My sheep read My book.” He said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” Hearing implies that He is still speaking. Following implies that He is still leading. Comfort implies that He is still near. Guidance implies that He is still active.

When believers are taught that God no longer speaks, they are left with only human voices and printed words. The printed Word of God is holy, true, and essential. But without the Spirit breathing on that Word, without the living voice of God applying it to specific situations, people can end up with stale bread instead of fresh manna. They can quote verses and still miss the heart of God. They can know doctrine and still lack discernment.

Wholehearted Trust and Total Surrender

Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” That verse is often quoted, but rarely lived. Trusting God with all your heart means more than saying a quick prayer in the morning or reading a devotional before bed. It means that your confidence, your decisions, your reactions, and your interpretations are anchored in Him, not in the shifting opinions of men.

Following the Lord is not a part‑time activity. It is not an hour on Sunday. It is not a religious habit tucked into the margins of life. It is a total surrender. It involves your mind, your emotions, your body, your strength, your spirit, and your will. It means that when the world shouts one thing and God whispers another, you choose the whisper. It means that when experts insist on a path that does not sit right in your spirit, you pause and seek the Lord instead of blindly complying. It means that you refuse to make fear‑based decisions and instead wait for the peace of God to rule in your heart.

Total surrender does not mean recklessness. It does not mean ignoring wisdom or rejecting all human counsel. It means that human counsel is weighed, tested, and filtered through the presence and voice of God. It means that you never give to man the trust that belongs only to God.

A Call to Discernment in a Noisy World

We live in an age of constant information. News feeds, social media, podcasts, and commentary are always available. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone has a platform. Everyone has something to say. In that environment, discernment is not optional; it is survival.

Discernment is not suspicion. It is not paranoia. It is not cynicism. Discernment is the ability to recognize the difference between human noise and divine truth. It is the ability to sense when something is off, even if the words sound polished and convincing. It is the ability to wait on God instead of rushing with the crowd. It is the ability to say, “I hear what they are saying, but I need to hear what God is saying.”

The COVID era exposed how easily people can be swayed by fear, pressure, and authority. It also revealed how safe it is to be anchored in God. Those who trusted in man were tossed back and forth. Those who trusted in God had a place to stand.

Conclusion

The lesson of this modern parable is simple and sobering. Human beings, even the best of them, can be wrong. They can be misinformed. They can be pressured. They can be deceived. They can deceive. They can change their minds. They can change their stories. They can fail.

God does not.

He does not lie. He does not change. He does not mislead. He does not manipulate. He does not speak out of fear or self‑interest. His Word is truth. His Spirit is faithful. His guidance is sure.

In a world that will always have loud voices, confident experts, and persuasive narratives, the believer must decide where ultimate trust will rest. If it rests on man, confusion will follow. If it rests on God, clarity will come.

Do not put your trust in man. Do not lean on human understanding. Seek the Lord with your whole heart. Listen for His voice. Surrender fully to His leading. When you do, you will find that even in the loudest seasons, His guidance is steady, His peace is real, and His truth is dependable.

Parchment reading “He who has an ear, let him hear. Revelation 2:7.”

HE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR

Allen Frederick Leave a comment
Parchment reading “He who has an ear, let him hear. Revelation 2:7.”

Opening Meditation

There has never been a shortage of voices in the world. From the prophets of Baal to the pundits of YouTube, the air has always been thick with people saying, “This is the way, walk in it.” Yet Scripture does not commend the crowd, the trend, or the loudest voice. It does not say, “Blessed are the churches that have ears.” It says, very pointedly and very personally:

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 2:7)

This is not corporate language; it is individual. Singular. Aimed at the one person in the middle of the noise whose heart is still tender enough to hear. Jesus does not assign discernment to the crowd, the denomination, the institution, or the majority. He places it squarely on the individual who is willing to listen.

The Spirit speaks to the churches.
But only the one who has an ear will hear.

The Age of Many Voices

We live in a time when multitudes are not lacking for voices. There are false shepherds, false apostles, false prophets, false experts, and false influencers on every corner, each one claiming some version of “Thus says the Lord,” or “Trust the science,” or “Follow the data,” or “Listen to me.”

Jesus warned that “many false prophets will arise and deceive many.” (Matthew 24:11)
Paul warned that “false apostles, deceitful workers, transform themselves into apostles of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:13)
Jeremiah and Ezekiel warned about prophets who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing.

The common thread is not the absence of voices — it is the absence of discernment.

The danger is not that no one is speaking.
The danger is that almost everyone is speaking, and very few are listening to the right voice.

The Broad Way of the Multitudes

The multitudes have always been drawn to the wrong voices, a reality Jesus highlighted when He said, “Broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many go in that way… but narrow is the way that leads to life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13–14)

The broad way is not simply about obvious sin; rather, it represents the path of least resistance, where people follow unexamined assumptions and conform to the majority without question. It is a path marked by trusting the loudest voices instead of the gentle guidance of the Shepherd. In contrast, the narrow way is seldom crowded or popular, and it certainly does not cater to the trends of social algorithms. This way calls for a deliberate pause—a time to stop, pray, listen intently, and wait patiently until the Spirit grants peace and direction.

A Modern Illustration of the Narrow Way

During the COVID era, without pretending to be physicians or making medical claims, we can still acknowledge the spiritual reality that unfolded.

Multitudes were swept into fear, confusion, and division.
Multitudes obeyed whatever voice was loudest — political, scientific, or religious.
Multitudes trusted human authority without pausing to seek the Lord.

Meanwhile, a much smaller number quietly went to prayer, did not deny sickness or the need for wisdom, but they refused to let fear shepherd their decisions, instead they listened for the whisper instead of the shout.
They sought the Lord for personal guidance and walked according to conscience rather than panic.

That is what it looks like when “few there be that find it” plays out in real time.

The Remnant Has Always Been Small

Throughout the pages of Scripture, we see a consistent pattern: the faithful remnant has always been a small, steadfast group standing firm against the tide of the majority. Noah, for example, was a lone beacon of righteousness in a world overwhelmed by corruption and violence. While the masses ignored God’s warnings, Noah listened and obeyed, building the ark that would preserve life.

Abraham, too, was called to step away from the familiar and trust God’s promise, standing apart from a culture steeped in idolatry. His faith was a quiet but powerful testimony amid prevailing unbelief.

Moses led a relatively small group of Israelites out of Egypt, confronting the might of a great empire while the majority remained in bondage. Similarly, Gideon’s army was reduced to just 300 men, demonstrating that victory comes not from numbers but from God’s power.

The prophet Elijah stood alone against 450 prophets of Baal, boldly calling Israel back to the true God. Daniel and his friends refused to bow to foreign idols, maintaining their faith in a hostile land despite the threat of death.

After Christ’s resurrection, the apostles faced opposition from religious authorities and a skeptical majority, yet they remained unwavering in their mission to proclaim the gospel.

These examples remind us that the remnant is not defined by size but by faithfulness. They listen for the gentle whisper of the Spirit, stand firm in obedience, and remain committed to the truth even when it means standing alone. Their small number only highlights the preciousness of those who truly hear and respond to the Shepherd’s voice.

The Sleepiness of the Modern Church

In many places today, the modern church no longer reflects the intimate and fervent spirit that marked the original one hundred twenty disciples. Instead, it often resembles the crowd that gathered merely for the loaves and fishes—drawn more by spectacle than by a genuine hunger for God. Despite the abundance of noise, activity, programming, music, and content, and the countless sermons, conferences, podcasts, and worship sets, something vital is missing. In too many gatherings, the deep, heartfelt response to God’s presence is rare. There is little weeping between the porch and the altar, little trembling at the power of the Word, and a noticeable absence of holy fear, brokenness, and true repentance. Though the services may be lively and the meetings well-attended, many hearts remain asleep, and the altars stand empty, longing for genuine encounter and transformation.

The Lost Art of Recognizing the Shepherd’s Voice

Many believers do not know the voice of the Good Shepherd.

They know the voice of their denomination, their favorite preacher, their catechism, their social feed, their political tribe, and their preferred influencer.
They can quote their favorite teacher more easily than they can quote Jesus.
They can recognize the tone of their favorite podcast more quickly than the nudge of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said:

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27)
“A stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him.” (John 10:5)

Yet today, many flee from the Shepherd and follow the stranger simply because they have never learned to distinguish His voice from all the others.

The Dividing Line of Revelation

This is why the phrase “He who has an ear, let him hear” is so critical.

It is not poetic nor decorative it is a dividing line.

The Spirit is speaking to the churches.
He is not silent, He has not retired, and He has not ceased leading and guiding His sheep, and the Holy Spirit has not stopped teaching all that Jesus taught.

But He is not shouting over the noise of the multitudes.
He is speaking to those who have ears — the remnant — the ones willing to stop, listen, test the spirits, weigh the voices, and refuse to follow any voice that does not sound like the Shepherd.

The Closing Door and the Call to Listen

The door of the ark remains open, but it will not stay open indefinitely. The valley of decision is filled with countless souls, and ultimately, the Lord alone will determine their fate. Until that time comes, the call continues to echo through the ages:

He who has an ear, let him hear.

This call is not directed to those who possess a platform, a large following, or a microphone. Rather, it is for the one who truly has an ear—the person willing to listen deeply, to accept correction, to be led by the Spirit, and to stand apart from the crowd. It is an invitation to embrace a path that may be different and challenging, but one that leads to life and truth.

A Final Word to the Reader

If you find yourself restless in the noise, uneasy with the multitudes, and drawn to the quiet place where the Shepherd speaks, take that seriously.

That restlessness may be the Spirit tugging at your ear.
That unease may be the warning that the broad way is not for you.
That pull toward the secret place may be the invitation to join the remnant who still hear.

In a world overflowing with voices, the greatest gift you can ask for is not a louder microphone — but a sharper ear.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

AI: Artificial Ingredients — A Prophetic Teaching

Allen Frederick Leave a comment

The Pure Honey and the Processed Gospel

There is a sweetness that flows only from God — a purity untouched by human hands, unmixed, unaltered, unedited. Scripture calls it “honey from the rock”, a supernatural nourishment drawn from Christ Himself. It is the sweetness of truth, the clarity of revelation, the purity of God’s voice.

Yet the world offers another sweetness — synthetic, manufactured, and deceptively palatable. It is the serpent’s recipe, packaged by culture and consumed by a generation that no longer knows the difference between the pure and the processed. In this prophetic hour, AI no longer stands for artificial intelligence; it stands for Artificial Ingredients — the additives of human wisdom mixed into divine truth.

Honey From the Rock: The Purity of Christ

The psalmist declared, “He would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.” (Psalm 81:16, ESV). And Moses sang, “He made him ride on the high places of the land… he suckled him with honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock.” (Deuteronomy 32:13, ESV).

Honey does not come from stone; sweetness does not drip from hardness. Yet God draws nourishment from the impossible. Jesus is the Rock, and from Him flows the pure honey of revelation — truth unprocessed, unpolluted, and unadulterated.

“How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (Psalm 119:103, ESV).

The sweetness of Christ is not manufactured; it is revealed. His Word is the honey that satisfies the soul without additives or preservatives.

The Serpent: The First Manufacturer of Artificial Ingredients

In Eden, the serpent did not invent a new doctrine; he simply added to God’s Word. He introduced the first artificial ingredient into human theology. God said one thing, and the serpent added a little “Did God really say…?” — a little “You will not surely die…” — a little “You will be like God.”

He didn’t replace truth; he enhanced it. He flavored it. He sweetened it. He processed it.

The serpent was the first AI generator — not artificial intelligence, but artificial ingredients. And humanity has been consuming processed doctrine ever since.

John the Revelator: The Warning Against Additives

At the close of Scripture, John echoes Eden’s warning: “If anyone adds to them… if anyone takes away…” (Revelation 22:18–19, ESV).

The danger is not only subtraction but addition. Additives corrupt purity; they distort clarity and dilute revelation. John warns against processed truth — truth mixed with human flavoring, cultural seasoning, emotional coloring, and theological preservatives.

The serpent’s tactic in Genesis becomes the world’s tactic in Revelation. The additives have changed names, but the contamination remains the same.

From Eden to Geneva

The Serpent’s Subtle Contamination

The serpent introduced the first artificial ingredient in Eden, not by replacing God’s Word but by enhancing it. His deception was not a contradiction but a contamination — a subtle additive meant to improve the flavor of truth while altering its nature. That same pattern reappeared centuries later in Geneva, where the Reformers sought to purify the gospel from the excesses of Rome but unintentionally introduced their own theological preservatives. Their intent was noble, their courage undeniable, yet their formulations often carried the fingerprints of human reasoning more than the breath of the Spirit.

The Nature of Modern Manufacturing

Modern manufacturing never sets out to create a monster. It begins with the desire to improve what is natural — to make it more flavorful, more shelf-stable, more predictable, more controllable. The chemist does not intend to produce something grotesque; he intends to refine, enhance, and preserve. Yet the result is often a product so altered that it barely resembles the original. What began as milk, cream, and sugar becomes a laboratory creation with stabilizers, emulsifiers, synthetic sweeteners, and preservatives that extend its life while diminishing its purity. The ingredient list grows longer, and the natural essence grows weaker.

Doctrinal Developments and Theological Preservatives

So it was with certain doctrinal developments. Calvin did not intend to silence the voice of God; he intended to protect the church from abuses and excesses. Yet in the process, doctrines like cessation became theological preservatives — additives meant to stabilize the faith but which ultimately replaced the living voice of God with the printed voice of man. The Spirit’s honey was sealed in jars labeled “closed canon,” and the freshness of revelation was replaced with the refrigeration of systematized theology. What began as reform became rebranding, and the church learned to taste doctrine instead of revelation, creed instead of communion, commentary instead of encounter.

The Unintended Consequences

The tragedy is not in the intent but in the outcome. Just as the chemist never meant to create Frankenstein’s monster, the Reformers never meant to produce a faith that was intellectually robust yet spiritually dehydrated. But additives, once introduced, do not remain benign. They alter the texture, the flavor, the shelf life, and the very nature of what they touch. The serpent’s whisper in Eden became the theologian’s pen in Geneva, and both carried the same danger: the temptation to improve what God had already perfected.

The Purity of Honey from the Rock

Honey from the rock needs no enhancement. It flows pure, untouched, and unaltered. It is revelation without additives, truth without preservatives, sweetness without synthetic coloring. It is Christ Himself — the Rock who satisfies without mixture. Every age that tries to improve Him ends up diluting Him. Every attempt to stabilize His Word ends up sterilizing His voice. Every additive, no matter how noble its origin, becomes a distortion when mixed with divine purity.

The Unchanging Pattern

From Eden to Geneva, the pattern remains unchanged: humanity tries to improve God, and in doing so, manufactures something He never intended. The serpent added a question. The Reformers added a system. Modern pulpits add branding, psychology, and cultural flavoring. But Christ still offers honey from the rock — unmixed, unprocessed, and untouched by the hands of those who believe they can improve perfection.

A Closing Summation: Listen to Him

In the end, every age must decide whose voice it will trust. The serpent whispers with additives, theologians refine with preservatives, culture sweetens with synthetic flavors, and modern pulpits often stabilize their message with the emulsifiers of psychology and branding. But the Father speaks with a simplicity that cuts through every mixture, every distortion, every artificial ingredient ever introduced into the human story.

On the Mount of Transfiguration, when Moses and Elijah stood beside Jesus — the Law and the Prophets, the two great pillars of revelation — the Father did not point to either of them. He did not commend their legacy, their authority, or their contribution. Instead, He drew all attention to the One whose voice carries no additives at all.

“This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.”

That is the antidote to every artificial ingredient. That is the cure for every processed doctrine. That is the filter for every cultural distortion. That is the safeguard against every theological preservative.

Listen to Him.

Not the additives of Eden. Not the systems of Geneva. Not the flavorings of modern religion. Not the sweeteners of culture.

Listen to Him — the Rock who gives honey, the Word who speaks truth, the Shepherd whose voice is pure, the Savior whose revelation is unmixed, unaltered, and unprocessed.

Honey from the rock needs no improvement. Christ needs no enhancement. His Word needs no additives. His voice needs no preservatives.

The Father has already spoken the final instruction for every generation that longs for purity in an age of contamination:

“This is my beloved Son… listen to Him.”

And that is where the teaching rests — not on the additives of man, but on the purity of Christ.