Which will we choose?
SOFT RAIMENT or ROUGH GARMENT,
WILDERNESS or PALACE?
Luke 7:24-26
What did you come out to see?
When Jesus posed this question, He also gave a glimpse into the behavior of the palace.
In the original language the word soft means effiminate clothing!
It means CATAMITE.
A boy kept for homosexual practices!
It paints a picture of
1. a boy kept for homosexual relations with a man
2. a male who submits his body to unnatural lewdness
3. a male prostitute
The Word says satan transforms himself into an angel of light.
We cannot be surprised at any level of depravity that will reveal itself in the unsaved and or those who profess the truth yet are unregenerate.
There are many who possess the truth in unrighteousness. Romans 1:18
John was a prophets prophet. Next to Christ, he portrayed the example of being an incredible example of obedience.
Matthew 11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
This is the same John that had rebuked Herod for sleeping with his brothers wife.
Matthew 14: 3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.
4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
When John was imprisoned we catch a glimpse into the level of perversion in the palace.
Matthew 14: 5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
We see Herod was afraid to kill John.
The daughter of Herodias would have been Herods niece.
He allowed his brothers daughter to dance for them.
He was already sleeping with his brothers wife.
Lust knows no boundaries!
According to history books Herodias daughters name was Salome.
She danced and pleased Herod.
This was not normal joy of seeing a relative perform in the arts.
This was high level seduction and it GRATIFIED him.
Literally he was aroused!
Most translations say PLEASED.
A few say, made him happy.
According to Josephus, Salome was first married to her uncle, Philip the Tetrarch, who reigned over Ituraea, Trachonitis, and Batanaea. After Philip's death in 34 AD, she married her cousin Aristobulus of Chalcis and became queen of Chalcis and Armenia Minor. As Salome is not named in the New Testament, she is sometimes referred to as "the daughter of Herodias"
So we see incest also ran in this bloodline.
After this seductive dance the head of John was given to Herodias through her daughters request.
We need to find men and women who will allow God to transform them so that they do not try and dress themselves.
Adam and Eve made fig leaves to cover themselves.
Humanity is so very confused.
People will try to cover themselves and change its gender for identification, position and gratification.
We need leaders with grit like John both men and women.
Luke 7:24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.
26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
We need leaders willing to wear rough garments not soft raiment.
Matthew 3: 4 And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.
PREPARE THE WAY!
He was calling out sin and the actions of Israel.
Matthew 3: 5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,
6. And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.
7. But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8. Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance
NO ROOM FOR PERVERSION ANYMORE!
In His Service,
Jesse Griffin
