Jumping the shark is a metaphor that was originally used to denote the tipping point at which a TV series is deemed by a viewer to have passed its peak, or has introduced plot twists that are logically inconsistent in terms of everything that has preceded them. Once a show has "jumped the shark," the viewer
senses a noticeable decline in quality or feels the show has undergone too many changes to retain its original charm. The
term has also evolved to describe other areas of pop culture, including movie series, music, acting celebrities, or authors for whom a drastic change was seen as the beginning of the end. Some have broadened its use to simply describe any decline
in appeal for the subject in question, without requiring a significant "jump the shark" moment.[1] The term derives from an episode of Happy Days in which Fonzie jumped over a shark while on water skis.
For all Christian purposes, I have chosen this theme for those that are groaning and travailing in their life.
Those that are stagnant and need a jump start and a faith builder. We can apply the concept to Gospel communication
too. Many people, (and also society as a whole), can reach a tipping point in their own perception of Christianity,
through a range of factors. Hypocritical actions or statements by Christians in the public eye. Unlovely pronouncements
on public issues. Using weak arguments as if they are strong ones, to back up an apologetic position. Presenting personal
opinions as if they are unchangeable Christian principles. Failing to understand the concerns and needs of not-yet-Christians.
Appearing to exclude, rather than include. Not being spoken to when visiting a church for the first time. By anyone.
Or being deeply hurt and dwelling in the valley rather than on a mountaintop. We will reason together here.
Rom 8:20-23
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected
thesame in hope, Because the creature itself also shall
be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole
creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
You have a strong desire to help people. I have placed that servant attitude in you. But I have
this against you. You try to do it all under the guise of reflecting Me to others. They do not see Me because you are standing
before Me, not humbly behind Me.
I said, "Come, follow Me", not come, and walk before I arrive to extend personal help to those
I am trying to reach. You mean well in helping others, but you see that so little of their own personal fruit or maturity
has developed and grown because they have turned to you and not to Me. Then you are taken aback at how others so take you
for granted and appear so immature.
I have called you to preach and teach the Gospel. You have not made those gifts a priority. What
you have lavished all your time and talent on is the gift of helps. That is good, but not when it becomes more pressing than
telling others the Good News.
You will have to learn to say no to the demands of men, without letting false guilt overtake
you when you are not available to instantly gratify others needs, or when you secretly harbor a resentment for the laziness
and expectancy of someone believing you should be their personal servant. They must learn to be My servant, and how will that
ever come to be when they are so used to you giving freely, and they never learn any more but to receive? Didn't I say
it was more blessed to give than receive? Can you not yet see that no one gives in return to you and that makes something
very amiss. Where is their servant attitude?
Can you see My point? You are hindering a thought or desire I place in their heart to come
unto Me. Instead, many think immediately, I shall go to such and such and they will have the answer, or fill my need. Therefore,
I must call you an enabler in preventing one's personal relationship with Me. I must call you an enabler in allowing people
to continue to be bound in sin rather than the freedom that only I can give. Did you see that---only I can give. Your works
should not be your works. They should be purely the works I do through your yielded vessel. No other foundation can man lay.
I do the works, you merely witness them.
Start relinquishing some of your leadership roles and you will indeed see some of the sheep scatter.
Don't take that to heart. It merely proves you have enabled people to profess My name, but have hindered them from a personal
and deep relationship with Me as you had to strive to have. Quit striving for others, and let the Holy Spirit draw and equip.
I have many things I want to do through you, but I need your undivided attention rather than the others who demand it. You
already understand what I am saying. I am pleased with you, daughter.
You do not even realize fully how you have chosen to worship an idol above the Living God. You
have opened a doorway in your life for the powers of darkness to enter therein. In your quest for new meaning in your life,
you have let in the evil one to destroy the love you had once explored in Me.
You have believed a lie. You thought you were seeking a path of peace. You listened to others
tell you of a way that might tickle your fancy. Now your mind has fowls of the air lodging therein.
I am the Good Shepherd. I have sought you out. I will bring you into the fold. You have wandered
too far from safety. You are in danger of judgment that will not be reversed in eternity. You are unaware of the little foxes
that spoiled the vine. The Holy Spirit has gently placed within your conscience a warning alarm that something is not right
within, and the peace and amusement, or so you thought when you strayed, is now not what it had appeared to be. I am nudging
you to renounce this way that is not of Me.
I am sending you this strong message. It is your free will to listen or reject it, but I tell
you that you cannot serve a god that is no God, and you cannot flirt with apostasy and a reprobate mind by continuing in the
things you do. They are not harmless.
Have the courage to ask that stable, Holy Spirit filled believer from your acquaintance if what
you are doing is wrong and harmful or not. I will place My wisdom and words in them for your counsel. Heed what they say even
though your flesh desires to rebel. Humble yourself under My mighty hand and I will set you free from demonic oppression so
that you might know Me, the Savior of mankind, and not another path. Life will become brutal and eternity will be gnashing
of your teeth for this err and sin against the Way.
I will that no person perish. Do not doubt the reality of this conversation. Do not walk away
and rebuff Me. I desire to rescue you now because My love for you is genuine as no other, and My grief for the way you have
chosen must be eased. I love you. Accept My love. You will be aright and you will be a great and powerful witness for Me.
You have already pleased Me by just allowing Me to complete My words to you today. Repent and I will send the promise of the
Holy Spirit to guide you in all your ways. I gently and lovingly say I love you. Lovest thou Me?
So then I would have the men everywhere pray, lifting to God holy hands which are unstained with anger or strife; and
I would have the women dress becomingly, with modesty and self-control, not with plaited hair or gold or pearls or costly
clothes, but—as befits women making a claim to godliness—with the ornament of good works. 1 Tim 2:8-10 (WEY)
When was the last time someone said to you, "I admire your
Christian marriage."? Or can you not even recall it because it has never happened? Why is it that you bear the name
of Christ, yet you do not resemble the name of Christ as little Christ's. You are using other Scriptures
to justify your hostility toward your spouse. You use that as excuse as to the other partner failing the marital vows. I say
to you men, why do you lift your hands in prayer when they are stained with your anger and your strife in your home and elsewhere?
I say to you women, why are you not exercising the fruit of self-control and doing good works freely to your spouse? You both
have involved yourself in works, but not what I had ordained for you both the day you took your wedding vows before Me and
the assembly that were gathered there. Must I repeat your vows to you, the ceremony, the hope and joy of that day to you?
Must I urge you to open the photograph album as evidence that your joy no way resembles the radiation you reflected on that
day?You have not just lost footing in your marriage, but you have lost footing in the Kingdom of God.
And you still seek to justify your stance. How can I commend you? How can I call you my Bride and you call me your Bridegroom?
Would you treat Me as such? Your works are wood, hay, and stubble if you do not repent and make amends with your mate. Instead,
you are waiting for them to see the light. Look at Me, the Light, and begin your journey, with or without their consent to
restoration in your home. Your home is not a peaceful place for Me to abide. Begin by asking My forgiveness and ask for your
spouse's, if nothing more at this point, but the unlovely thoughts you bear toward them. If you have even been downright cruel,
you see what a long journey it will be before the past is not just forgiven, but forgotten, and a bridge of trust repaired.Think on these things until you have a genuine change of heart. It is your heart I look at and it is your genuine intent
at this very moment that we will start with. Be of good cheer for it was the wedding at Cana I performed My first miracle.
Will I not do the same for you?
You desire perfection in yourself and others. You are driven by that and you have yet to but hint that
this is the leading cause of the many frustrations, discouragements and inability to progress in the Kingdom of God.
I can not help you when you believe it is my responsibility to answer your prayers as perfectly as you
desire, rather than My will. Do you not yet know than other than Me there is no one that has walked this earth in perfection?
You can't. Others can't. Your standard is not reality, and the all or nothing mentality must cease.
When I spoke these very words, Mat 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect,
even as your Father which
is in heaven is
perfect," I was teaching you, in kindness, that you might understand that perfection in
My Kingdom is wrought by grace through Me. How can the imperfect be perfect? You were marred through
original sin and you then progressed in a choice, many choices even now. You cannot be perfect unless you are perfect for
My Father to use. I spoke of your works in My Name. I spoke on the Mount of Olives the conditions of the blessings you seek.
I did not say, "Be perfect and you will receive visions of grandeur and satisfaction in your life." I spoke of your availability
to Me which is evident right now that you are not perfect.
You do not let me use you in My Kingdom as I would. Would you
not swell with pride and be unreachable if every single thing you attempted to accomplish were perfect? How could you then
call upon Me in your weakness' so that I might strengthen you? I said not until earth passes away would my Word pass
away. Why do you choose one passage subject erroneously and base your entire life on it? You cannot be perfect unless you
surrender your life to Me and therefore be perfect to use for My glory. Re-think your life patterns and if you have elevated
yourself above Me, repent, for that is idolatry.
Study yourself to conform to My example on earth and you shall see that love, mercy and compassion, not perfection, drew
people to Me. You are driving people away with your stance and ways, and you are in danger of never achieving in Me true satisfaction
in your life. When you know I use you mightily, then you are perfected, not your works and achievement, but your availability
to Me
Listen carefully as I alone will teach you a more perfect way. Lean on your Savior and learn of Me for I am meek and gentle.
That is the perfect you I would like to see and develop. Draw close to Me and I will draw close to you and instruct in you
a better way, My child. Don't hold Me at arm's length by the standard you have created. I have no part in that. Follow Me
now.
Why are you filled with pride? Do you not know I lowered myself and submitted to a shameful death
on the cross for you? And yet you cannot humble yourself in this circumstance and submit to that one that is in authority
over you? The very one that you despise at this moment has been set above you to see if you would comply to My will.
Do you not yet know that all things work together for good for those that love Me and are called according to My purposes?
Do you not yet love Me, My child?
Your struggles are My struggles. Your cares and burdens are Mine also. You will see the justice
come into being in the area you seek, if you will just say, "I submit in the Name of Jesus", and allow the long range effects
to be My will evident.
I do not force My will, but I know from beginning to end. I know what is best, and I see that
you are not looking behind the veil of eternity as I can. Please Me, in this: Remove the hesitancy and the bitterness and
bow to My will. "Thy will be done." Say that often enough until you realize I am in control, and I see the best for your life,
even when you cannot see or realize it. When you stay in tune with Me, these resentment issues will resolve.
My love for you is unmovable. My desire for you is to recognize My sovereignty and place your
trust in Me. Yes, through man comes this answer. Yes, perhaps not what you desire, but exactly what is best for you,
and you will see eventually what was best for others also. Let me have My way, and please Me by attempting to understand.
Remove resentment far from you. It has no place in My Kingdom and cannot enter therein on the day of your homecoming. Be content
to let Me be Master and Shepherd. I do no harm. Trust Me, child, for I trust you to arrive at this place of submission. Do
not hinder your own progress. I love you far too much to let this situation continue. Surrender, is what I speak to you today.
You have lapsed into unbelief and sin after knowing Me. Your affection for Me was waned and your search
for the Truth that will set you free has led you onto a dangerous path of unorthodox deception.
You are backslidden, child, but yet not apostate. You must return to your first Love, or the consequences
will be too much to bear. The Holy Spirit is drawing you back. Do not grieve or quench Him, and do not stop your ears or stiffen
your heart.
I have not forsaken you and I have paid the penalty of your rebellious sin as well. I forgive you and
you must exercise faith to receive My full absolution of your waywardness.
I am urging you for recovery sake to seek out those that are mature and gentle that can help in the process
of your restoration in the Kingdom of God. You must humble yourself to accept this help, and by your conversation with them
and the disclosure of your past whereabouts, I will know if you are genuinely seeking Me once more, or if this is not just
a diversion to temporally give you relief from your overburdened spirit.
I cannot help but to speak to You of My fervor for your well-being. I can never cease to speak of My
love and mercy toward you. Return to Me and I shall once more be your Chief Shepherd. As I tell you of my joy in you, can
you not now tell Me of your joy in Me? I accept you as you are. Come to Me, no bars hold, and I shall comfort you and
show you green and verdant paths ahead. Receive My blessing upon you now. Go in peace and think on Me.
You restrict My love, little one, to only the world
in general, and not to you individually. You are My child and My love for you sent Me to the cross. Yes, for the world indeed,
but for you, my beloved, I would have gone for that alone. You restrict Me when You spread Me thin and do not cover your individuality
with My love.
I know many harsh and intolerable things have caused
you to think this way. I know of your hurts from childhood onward. But these were not meant to give you excuse to not understand
and grasp the passion I have for just you. I want you to be willing to draw near to Me that I might display My love freely
to you, without restriction. That I might flood you with agape love which you have not really experienced personally. Yes,
you know of the value of that word agape that only refers to Me, your Lord, but I desire to have your innermost being
receive it, not from the head upward, but fixed within the center of your being.
Let me recreate
in you what has been lost early in your life--awareness of My great love and application of it upon you. Trust Me fully as
I make you willing to accept My love for you. That will bring you the joy unspeakable that you crave, and that will remove
the undesired state you now dwell in. As always, I plead, come unto Me. This is My will for you and it is necessary You must
receive this love before this flows on to the others you desire to reach for Me. Be My vessel, but be filled first, for I
love you like no other. (c) 2007 SharkJumping.Org.
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Isa 1:17-18
"Learn to do well; seek judgment,
relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though
your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
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Coming Out Of The Fish's Belly: Jon 2:1-2
"Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly, And said, I cried by reason of
mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice."
