Uzi Arad is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s top national security expert. Holding a doctorate from Princeton, the former Mossad agent is, not surprisingly, of like-mind with his hawkish boss.
A profile on Arad in a recent issue of the Jerusalem Report was quite revealing, given the international curiosity with Israel’s nuclear capabilities.
Israel has long been coy about its nuclear capability. No one knows how many nukes Israel has, but the nation’s leaders have always insisted that they “wouldn’t be the first to use nuclear weapons in the Middle East.” This is a way of letting hostile neighbors know that the dog has some seriously sharp teeth.
In fact, Israel’s capabilities in this all-important area are sometimes referred to as the “Samson Option,” that is, the Jewish state, if faced with annihilation, would use every weapon at its disposal.
I have long advocated that Israel itself is not in ultimate danger, or existential danger, as the folks like to say. It is true that Iran has threatened to wipe Israel off the map, and others have done the same: Egypt comes to mind in the Six Day War.
All have failed.
And this is where, again, the Bible comes into play. Whether it’s Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz, American preachers, or Washington policy wonks, it seems everyone is worried that Israel might…end. I am constantly amazed by this.
I’m so afraid for Israel.
The Iranians have threatened to destroy Israel.
Do you worry for Israel’s safety?
No, I don’t.
An interesting point about Uzi Arad’s appointment by Netanyahu is that he has already constructed models of how “limited” nuclear warfare might work in the Middle East. That is, at what point would Israel use its nukes?
This is interesting because it is a very important topic for our present world, and because it shows us once again that the Bible is rooted in reality. Zechariah and Ezekiel both, in particular, describe what must be nuclear warfare involving Israel.
Almost amusingly, Iran this week issued another (veiled) threat. When U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton raised the possibility of the Americans “upgrading” the defensive capabilities of the countries in the region, thus in theory blunting the effectiveness of a bellicose Iran, possessed (pun intended) of a nuclear weapon, and threatening Israel.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hasan Qashqavi said there’s no need for such protection of the Saudis, etc., it is just important for Israel to dismantle “its own 200 nuclear warheads.”
Israeli Intelligence Agencies Minister Dan Meridor actually criticized Clinton’s statement, pointing out that it sounds as if Washington has resigned itself to the Iranians having the bomb. He is correct.
No American arming of Iran’s neighbors will prevent the mullah psychos from using the bomb against Israel.
And here is where the Bible is very practical, and not the irrelevant fairy tale its critics claim. Zechariah revealed quite a bit of detail toward the end of his prophecy. In it, he recorded that one day, in a battle for Israel, a weapon will be used that will melt people while they stand on their feet.
Ezekiel, of course, tells us that after an attack against the end-times Jewish state, the Jews will bury what we must assume are radioactive bones.
Israel’s nuclear facility, at a small city called Dimona (southwest of the Dead Sea), was developed in the 1950s. Various American presidents, most especially John Kennedy, leaned on the Israelis not to “escalate” a Middle East nuclear arms race. Thank God they have taken the steps to protect themselves.
Through Isaiah, God declared that “no weapon formed against” Israel would prosper, would work. Iran might nor might not get nukes. It doesn’t really matter.
I believe these things written in the Bible. And it’s no accident that men like Uzi Arad are in positions of influence in these last days
Friday, August 7, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Why Study Prophecy?
I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. (Isaiah 46:10)
Here's a question I'm often asked and it's a good one. If we believe the Rapture will take us away before all the End Times events occur, then why do we need to study prophecy?
There are several good answers to this question. One of the clearest comes from the Olivet Discourse, specifically Matthew 24:15-16. "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand-- then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." Even though the Lord was speaking primarily to Israel here, He directed everyone who reads Matthew's gospel to understand Daniel 9:24-27, a prophecy given to Israel, and the key to understanding End Times prophecy.
Another good reason is that Paul's letters to the Thessalonians are chock full of End Times prophecy. Every chapter of both letters contains a reference to the 2nd Coming for an average of one every 13 verses. Paul went to such lengths even though it's pretty clear he had taught them that the rapture would take place before the anti-Christ is revealed. If the Bible really is the inspired Word of God, why did He have Paul describe events on Earth after the rapture if He didn't think we needed to know them?
And then there's the Book of Revelation. John shows the Rapture occurring in chapter 4 but then goes on for another 15 chapters, mostly describing conditions on Earth, before re-introducing the Church in Rev. 19. Same question. Why describe events on Earth after the rapture if He didn't think we needed to know them?
Some say it's so those left behind at the Rapture can read Revelation and the Thessalonian letters and find out what's going on to help them endure the End Times. That may be OK for the middle of Revelation, but John's book begins and ends with the Church in view, and the Thessalonian letters were written specifically to the Church. For some reason, we're supposed to know how End Times events unfold.
And Here's The Best One
And that leads me to what I think is the biggest reason. For that we'll go first to Isaiah 44:6-8.
This is what the LORD says- Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: "I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come- yes, let him foretell what will come. Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one."
Here is the two-part test for anyone who would be God. Part one: Accurately recall every event of the past. Part two: Accurately predict every event of the future. Of all the so-called holy writings, only the Bible answers this challenge. Other "gods" require that you take them at face value, offering neither evidence of their existence, nor proof of their trustworthiness. But ours says, "I'll prove that I'm real and that you should trust me." He tells us our past (sometimes as personally as Jesus did with the woman at the well in John 4:17-18) and gives us detail about the future that only someone who has already seen it can know. "I make known the end from the beginning," He proclaims, "From ancient times, what is still to come." (Isaiah 46:10) He's chosen this way to authenticate Himself to us because He's the only One who can do it and be right every time.
This is so we need never be in the position of having zeal without knowledge, (Prov. 19:2) believing passionately but unable to defend our position. When we share the Gospel with someone, and they respond with, "That's just something you believe," it's good to be able to justify our beliefs with a summary of God's 4000-year track record for truth-telling (the Old Testament) and to explain that someone who's been that truthful about the past is likely to also be truthful about the future (the New Testament).
Some Personal Experience
When I was a kid in upstate New York, nearly every family went to church on Sunday and ours was no different. We belonged to one of the main line denominational congregations in town. With a few lapses here and there, this habit carried me into adulthood and though I lived in several different places, on most Sunday mornings you could find me in the local version of that same denominational church. But then, two important but unrelated pieces of information came to my attention at about the same time.
The first was from a man who was one of the most influential public speakers of his time and a life long student of human behavior. We happened to share one evening together and over dinner he asked, "Did you know that if you were to devote just one hour each day to the study of any subject that interests you, within 5 years you could be one of the world's leading experts on that subject."
The other piece of information came in the form of 3 cassette tapes that were given to me by a friend. It was a series on Bible Prophecy, a compilation of research done over the years by various scholars. Its purpose was to demonstrate that through out the 4,000 years of the Old Testament God had maintained a perfect record of predicting the future to Israel. No matter what set of standards you apply, statistical analysis, rules of evidence, forensic science or whatever, you'll find that this could not have happened by chance. It could only have been done by someone who can see the end from the beginning, an ability unique to God.
I decided to apply the action step from the first piece of information to the subject matter of the second. Over the next several years I spent hours every day learning all I could about Bible Prophecy. In addition to studying the Bible, I read every view by nearly every respected scholar before forming my own opinion that the pre-trib, pre-millennial view is the one most consistent with a strict literal, historical, grammatical interpretation of Scripture.
If What You Believe Doesn't Result In Action ...
Even though I've spent a lot more than one hour a day for a lot longer than 5 years, I don't claim to be a leading expert on prophecy. But as I studied, the logic of God's claim from Isaiah 44:6-8 became indisputable. The history of Israel is replete with events first predicted and then performed with faultless accuracy. And when it came to the Messiah, over 300 specific prophecies, given over a span of several thousand years, were fulfilled in detail within one generation, the one in which He lived. And so after nearly 40 years of sitting in church every Sunday, I finally opened my Bible and became born again. I also became convinced that through the study of prophecy He can prove Himself to any reasonable person beyond a shadow of doubt. That's when I began teaching what I was learning.
No rush of emotion for me, no gushing of tears while I stumbled blindly down the sawdust trail as a choir sang "Just as I am," but a dead certainty that God has to be Who He says He is, He has to have done what He said He did, and the Bible has to be His inerrant Word. I called it a rush of logic, but the certainty I felt drove me every bit as humbly to the foot of the cross as a teary eyed confession would have, and yet it gave me a staying power that's often missing in more emotional conversions. I knew what I believed and why I believed it and could explain it clearly to anyone who cared to listen.
As often happens to people who undertake a serious study of prophecy, I concluded that if the 40% of the Bible that's prophecy can be trusted then the rest of it can be trusted as well, so I began studying it too. I discovered that God made a whole bunch of promises to us, such as His promises to see us through the tough times we can now see coming, and to take us to be with Him before He judges the world. These promises have more meaning because they're backed up by His proven track record in prophecy.
If you're not every bit as certain as I am about God, then try a study in prophecy. I bet it'll galvanize you into action just as it did me, especially as you begin to understand how little time is left. And even if you're already sure you know who God is, you still have a great reason to study prophecy. But it's not just so you'll be better informed about what's coming. It's so you'll feel the urgency to tell your friends about it while there's still time. Because if you listen carefully, you can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah.
Here's a question I'm often asked and it's a good one. If we believe the Rapture will take us away before all the End Times events occur, then why do we need to study prophecy?
There are several good answers to this question. One of the clearest comes from the Olivet Discourse, specifically Matthew 24:15-16. "So when you see standing in the holy place 'the abomination that causes desolation,' spoken of through the prophet Daniel--let the reader understand-- then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains." Even though the Lord was speaking primarily to Israel here, He directed everyone who reads Matthew's gospel to understand Daniel 9:24-27, a prophecy given to Israel, and the key to understanding End Times prophecy.
Another good reason is that Paul's letters to the Thessalonians are chock full of End Times prophecy. Every chapter of both letters contains a reference to the 2nd Coming for an average of one every 13 verses. Paul went to such lengths even though it's pretty clear he had taught them that the rapture would take place before the anti-Christ is revealed. If the Bible really is the inspired Word of God, why did He have Paul describe events on Earth after the rapture if He didn't think we needed to know them?
And then there's the Book of Revelation. John shows the Rapture occurring in chapter 4 but then goes on for another 15 chapters, mostly describing conditions on Earth, before re-introducing the Church in Rev. 19. Same question. Why describe events on Earth after the rapture if He didn't think we needed to know them?
Some say it's so those left behind at the Rapture can read Revelation and the Thessalonian letters and find out what's going on to help them endure the End Times. That may be OK for the middle of Revelation, but John's book begins and ends with the Church in view, and the Thessalonian letters were written specifically to the Church. For some reason, we're supposed to know how End Times events unfold.
And Here's The Best One
And that leads me to what I think is the biggest reason. For that we'll go first to Isaiah 44:6-8.
This is what the LORD says- Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD Almighty: "I am the first and I am the last; apart from me there is no God. Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come- yes, let him foretell what will come. Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one."
Here is the two-part test for anyone who would be God. Part one: Accurately recall every event of the past. Part two: Accurately predict every event of the future. Of all the so-called holy writings, only the Bible answers this challenge. Other "gods" require that you take them at face value, offering neither evidence of their existence, nor proof of their trustworthiness. But ours says, "I'll prove that I'm real and that you should trust me." He tells us our past (sometimes as personally as Jesus did with the woman at the well in John 4:17-18) and gives us detail about the future that only someone who has already seen it can know. "I make known the end from the beginning," He proclaims, "From ancient times, what is still to come." (Isaiah 46:10) He's chosen this way to authenticate Himself to us because He's the only One who can do it and be right every time.
This is so we need never be in the position of having zeal without knowledge, (Prov. 19:2) believing passionately but unable to defend our position. When we share the Gospel with someone, and they respond with, "That's just something you believe," it's good to be able to justify our beliefs with a summary of God's 4000-year track record for truth-telling (the Old Testament) and to explain that someone who's been that truthful about the past is likely to also be truthful about the future (the New Testament).
Some Personal Experience
When I was a kid in upstate New York, nearly every family went to church on Sunday and ours was no different. We belonged to one of the main line denominational congregations in town. With a few lapses here and there, this habit carried me into adulthood and though I lived in several different places, on most Sunday mornings you could find me in the local version of that same denominational church. But then, two important but unrelated pieces of information came to my attention at about the same time.
The first was from a man who was one of the most influential public speakers of his time and a life long student of human behavior. We happened to share one evening together and over dinner he asked, "Did you know that if you were to devote just one hour each day to the study of any subject that interests you, within 5 years you could be one of the world's leading experts on that subject."
The other piece of information came in the form of 3 cassette tapes that were given to me by a friend. It was a series on Bible Prophecy, a compilation of research done over the years by various scholars. Its purpose was to demonstrate that through out the 4,000 years of the Old Testament God had maintained a perfect record of predicting the future to Israel. No matter what set of standards you apply, statistical analysis, rules of evidence, forensic science or whatever, you'll find that this could not have happened by chance. It could only have been done by someone who can see the end from the beginning, an ability unique to God.
I decided to apply the action step from the first piece of information to the subject matter of the second. Over the next several years I spent hours every day learning all I could about Bible Prophecy. In addition to studying the Bible, I read every view by nearly every respected scholar before forming my own opinion that the pre-trib, pre-millennial view is the one most consistent with a strict literal, historical, grammatical interpretation of Scripture.
If What You Believe Doesn't Result In Action ...
Even though I've spent a lot more than one hour a day for a lot longer than 5 years, I don't claim to be a leading expert on prophecy. But as I studied, the logic of God's claim from Isaiah 44:6-8 became indisputable. The history of Israel is replete with events first predicted and then performed with faultless accuracy. And when it came to the Messiah, over 300 specific prophecies, given over a span of several thousand years, were fulfilled in detail within one generation, the one in which He lived. And so after nearly 40 years of sitting in church every Sunday, I finally opened my Bible and became born again. I also became convinced that through the study of prophecy He can prove Himself to any reasonable person beyond a shadow of doubt. That's when I began teaching what I was learning.
No rush of emotion for me, no gushing of tears while I stumbled blindly down the sawdust trail as a choir sang "Just as I am," but a dead certainty that God has to be Who He says He is, He has to have done what He said He did, and the Bible has to be His inerrant Word. I called it a rush of logic, but the certainty I felt drove me every bit as humbly to the foot of the cross as a teary eyed confession would have, and yet it gave me a staying power that's often missing in more emotional conversions. I knew what I believed and why I believed it and could explain it clearly to anyone who cared to listen.
As often happens to people who undertake a serious study of prophecy, I concluded that if the 40% of the Bible that's prophecy can be trusted then the rest of it can be trusted as well, so I began studying it too. I discovered that God made a whole bunch of promises to us, such as His promises to see us through the tough times we can now see coming, and to take us to be with Him before He judges the world. These promises have more meaning because they're backed up by His proven track record in prophecy.
If you're not every bit as certain as I am about God, then try a study in prophecy. I bet it'll galvanize you into action just as it did me, especially as you begin to understand how little time is left. And even if you're already sure you know who God is, you still have a great reason to study prophecy. But it's not just so you'll be better informed about what's coming. It's so you'll feel the urgency to tell your friends about it while there's still time. Because if you listen carefully, you can almost hear the footsteps of the Messiah.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Blessed are the Persecuted
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10. Can we, as believers, actually look at persecution as a blessing? There probably isn’t a Christian alive today who is looking forward to a future filled with persecution with much excitement. Ours is the kingdom of Heaven and we will be persecuted before we leave this earth. Jesus’ Church has been persecuted from the outset. If we are truly His followers then we had better get use to the idea of persecution, and soon. Yes, even in America.
Have you noticed that the news media will put the name “Christian” on anything they perceive to be something they can use to condemn the Church? A Christian Evangelist who took young girls across state lines to engage in sex has, in the media’s view, been news worthy for weeks now. A Christian drifter on the beach in California was recently linked to killing two couples. The actual headlines themselves are quite telling they show just how much distain the secular news media has for all Christians. We’re hated and persecuted as the followers of Jesus Christ and condemned right along with the sex perverts, and murderers.
American media, being mostly secular, hasn’t a clue as to what it means to be a Christian. Through their ignorance of the truth, they seem to lump all professing Christians together in the same bad light. That’s like saying all Americans agree and follow Obama because he’s been elected president of the United States, which, as most of you well know, would be a huge error.
If believers are guilty by association then, yes, I’m guilty. But my guilt lies in being a devout follower of my Lord Jesus Christ, not with deviants who erroneously claim a kinship in His name. For example, I and many of my brethren claim no association with the man occupying the Oval Office. Although he claims to be a Christian, the lack of fruit in his life would move him closer to claiming a kinship with the aforementioned miscreants than with Christians. There’s no one who can legitimately claim a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and yet wholeheartedly stands against Him. That’s a notion wrought with failure. Christians don’t persecute Christians.
If there is any way to persecute the Church or to put an unfavorable look on us, the secular media will find it, even if they have to print half truths and misleading facts. Hollywood is behind much of the persecution of the Church. They assign top paid actors and directors to produce films that denigrate Christianity. They’re like wild dogs searching out a blood scent from ten miles away. They are relentless in their pursuit to bring down the Christian Church, and that means each individual Christian is in the line of fire. If there is any doubt in your mind as to the accusation I just made, step back and take a good look at Sarah Palin’s life over the past year or so. Whether or not you agree with her politics you must admit she’s endured far above her share of persecution. And it’s her biblical stance on the issues that the media can’t tolerate.
The news media and their satanic efforts of digging out corruption in the Christian community will never succeed at bringing down the Church. These folks will stop at nothing in their attempts to smash the Church and destroy it for good. And they laugh at Jesus’ followers as they proceed with their persecution of His Church. But Christians can take heart in Jesus words, “...and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” Matthew 16:18b.
Although many believers here in the states live fairly comfortable lives, many of our brethren in foreign countries are suffering tremendous persecution including, at times, martyrdom all because they are known to follow Jesus Christ, period. “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:12. Sounds like dome and gloom, Ron. Mark my words, people; what we once took for granted is disappearing. There’s a new dog in town.
It’s not that difficult to see the persecution coming our way. Many of my brethren have blinders on when it comes to viewing the US and the rest of the world falling into perfect step with one another. Much of the rest of the world has been building up to a confrontation with Christians for years as nations execute our brethren, destroy our places of worship, and eliminate any and all references to the Bible. Christians understand fully who it is these people really hate. Just His name seems to invoke hatred.
As we get farther and farther into the current administration’s four year stint, we’re beginning to see many signs that point to more and more animosity towards Christians, and as I stated before, this coming from a president claiming to be Christian. I suppose if the news media can believe a man who takes young girls across state lines for the sole purpose of having sex with them is a Christian, they can believe our president is one, too. Looking at all the gross, blatant, evil denigration made against Biblical truths these days we become more suspicious of our government and their agenda with each passing day.
The American culture is changing exactly as promised by you know who, just like the majority of voters wanted to see happen. Along with those changes came new restrictions aimed at the followers of Jesus Christ. Those of us who take the word of God literally will soon find new un-Constitutional restrictions imposed upon us which are designed to stop us from speaking Biblical truth. If we choose to stand on God’s infallible word we will find Christian persecution at every turn. Then again, many will just bury their heads in the sand and pretend it doesn’t exist. That won’t do them any good, though, unless they are prepared to renounce Christ. If not, they, along with the rest of the Church, will soon come to understand that persecution is most certainly upon us.
“Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;” 2 Corinthians 4:9. Paul lived a life of almost continual trials after his conversion. He endured horrible persecution, probably much more than you or I will ever have occasion to experience in our lifetime, but then again who knows? The way in which the persecution can come upon the Church can be almost stealth-like at first. For example, the pulpits of our churches are to be silent when it comes to endorsing or speaking out against those running for political office; any Church found not following these guidelines can and will lose their tax exempt status. How would the IRS find out about this dastardly deed? Someone in the congregation would most certainly need to be a snitch. So, for the most part, the Church has caved in on that front. After awhile, though, that persecution won’t be enough. Soon orders will emerge from a hostile government telling us to stop using that hate-filled book, the Holy Bible, when we assemble or, again, we’ll lose that most revered and favored tax exempt status and much more. In a socialist society there’s no room for “people of the Book”. Paul knew that only his faith in Jesus’ power and victory could see him through his trials. The mind set demonstrated by Paul is necessary in every believer’s life today.
Believers must keep this very important fact in mind we aren’t suffering because of some evil deed we performed. We followers of Jesus Christ we’ll be judged for taking His name and rightly so. We should never feel ashamed if we suffer for Christ’s sake and in His name. “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:16, 17.
The world sees Jesus not as their savior, but as an antiquated intolerant, religious carpenter, or a myth. They see His precepts as being way too exclusive. They blaspheme Him daily in their ignorance and their pride. They use His name as profanity. They see His followers as foolish, non-participants of their ideal normal society. When the world recognizes us as Jesus’ followers, rejoice for that’s exactly how we should want to be known.
Depressing as this world may seem at times, we must remember that God triumphs in the end, which means we also win. As believers, our lives are in God’s hands and there is nothing to fear from this old sinful world, even though so many shun the truth and live the lie that currently permeates the world. I’m sure there are horror stories out there of all forms of Christian persecution of which I’ve not even scratched the surface in this commentary. But through our sufferings and persecutions we will see God accomplish great things. “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” Matthew 5:11. The more we are persecuted the more we can revel in our afflictions and bask in God’s glorious love.
Honestly, after living 58 years in the U.S. of A, and for many of those years living as a worldly, ignorant, self-seeking, follower of Satan, it’s extremely refreshing now that Jesus rules and reigns in my life, to know I’m now on the winning team. During my early years as a believer I hadn’t really noticed the Church being persecuted. That’s because I was ignorant of the scriptures and didn’t recognize it. Persecution has always been around knocking at the door of the Church. Anytime we believers are forced to comply with laws or regulations which are contrary to the word of God, whether in America or any other nation it’s called Christian persecution.
For example, as American citizens we live in a country that murders millions of unborn babies and has done so for years. As believers we know this evil is contrary to the word of God, and yet, the Church has been unsuccessful at eliminating this scourge on society. As a matter of fact, with this current administration in place, abortion has now exploded with a new vigor. This current usurper of the Oval Office has made it his goal to eliminate all unwanted babies. Even those who escape the abortionist and live, he demands they be left to die on the garbage heaps. Your president, America, using your tax dollars to abort those innocent little ones God loves so dearly.
All laws which Congress passed or intends to pass in the future and which run contrary to the Bible, of which Christian are forced to adhere to or suffer dire consequeses, are Christian persecutions. Whether forced on us singularly, or collectively as Christ’s Church, it’s still persecution. What’s more, Jesus told us persecution and hatred, were coming. It would be extremely arrogant of believers to think He excluded those of us living in America from this persecution. No, my brethren, persecution of Christ’s Church is here and it’s only going to get worse.
You may ask, “What must we do to head off this persecution?” First of all, when Jesus says something is going to occur we would do well to heed what He says. As His followers we will be forced to endure persecution, He says so. I don’t know how much persecution or how severe it will be, and as far as heading it off, there will be a future event that will cause all Christian persecution to cease, at least temporarily. That event will be the Rapture of the Church. Those who are left behind and come to a believing faith during the tribulation will endure much worse persecution.
As I’ve mentioned before, the Church in American, as well as worldwide, has already been hit with tons of persecution. Still, in many countries the Church flourishes. Why is that? Because God says His word shall not return void. Christian evangelism is still prominent in many third world countries. In America though, many evangelist have turned emergent and no longer preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. If it’s not God’s word, then it’s not God’s will. Anything else is void.
What believers need is to get back into a routine of wearing out our knees. Humble ourselves before God in fervent prayer. Take it to Him every day. The hour is late and God waits to hear from His children. Sometimes I wonder how the world would react if believers just started humbling themselves out in the open. Not just mouthing silent prayers but verbally spoken prayers before God and all of His creation. I mean bowing our heads in prayer at a moment’s notice, in the middle of a shopping mall, in an airport, or in a crowed elevator. Some might poke fun, we might even be ridiculed (persecuted), but all would see God’s power revealed.
We see many individuals in public with purple hair and other characteristics that we find weird. We see men holding hands with men, and they all defy people to mock them. Why are Christians the ones who seem to be ashamed of our beliefs? Why can’t we be as blatant and obvious about our love for Jesus Christ?
Standing up for Jesus in all situations will bring persecution, that’s just the facts of life. But it doesn’t need to be a frightening experience. Actually it should bring an abundance of joy to our hearts. Our Christian brethren would be comforted and emboldened by witnessing other believer’s steadfastness. The Holy Spirit is sealed within every believer “...in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” Ephesians 1:13, and He is thoroughly capable of handling any and all situations.
If we trust God to supply us with compassion and love as we witness to our neighbors shouldn’t we also trust Him to embolden us in the hour when it becomes necessary to address our persecutors? “...that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” Jude 1:3b.
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” Philippians 3:8.
Have you noticed that the news media will put the name “Christian” on anything they perceive to be something they can use to condemn the Church? A Christian Evangelist who took young girls across state lines to engage in sex has, in the media’s view, been news worthy for weeks now. A Christian drifter on the beach in California was recently linked to killing two couples. The actual headlines themselves are quite telling they show just how much distain the secular news media has for all Christians. We’re hated and persecuted as the followers of Jesus Christ and condemned right along with the sex perverts, and murderers.
American media, being mostly secular, hasn’t a clue as to what it means to be a Christian. Through their ignorance of the truth, they seem to lump all professing Christians together in the same bad light. That’s like saying all Americans agree and follow Obama because he’s been elected president of the United States, which, as most of you well know, would be a huge error.
If believers are guilty by association then, yes, I’m guilty. But my guilt lies in being a devout follower of my Lord Jesus Christ, not with deviants who erroneously claim a kinship in His name. For example, I and many of my brethren claim no association with the man occupying the Oval Office. Although he claims to be a Christian, the lack of fruit in his life would move him closer to claiming a kinship with the aforementioned miscreants than with Christians. There’s no one who can legitimately claim a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and yet wholeheartedly stands against Him. That’s a notion wrought with failure. Christians don’t persecute Christians.
If there is any way to persecute the Church or to put an unfavorable look on us, the secular media will find it, even if they have to print half truths and misleading facts. Hollywood is behind much of the persecution of the Church. They assign top paid actors and directors to produce films that denigrate Christianity. They’re like wild dogs searching out a blood scent from ten miles away. They are relentless in their pursuit to bring down the Christian Church, and that means each individual Christian is in the line of fire. If there is any doubt in your mind as to the accusation I just made, step back and take a good look at Sarah Palin’s life over the past year or so. Whether or not you agree with her politics you must admit she’s endured far above her share of persecution. And it’s her biblical stance on the issues that the media can’t tolerate.
The news media and their satanic efforts of digging out corruption in the Christian community will never succeed at bringing down the Church. These folks will stop at nothing in their attempts to smash the Church and destroy it for good. And they laugh at Jesus’ followers as they proceed with their persecution of His Church. But Christians can take heart in Jesus words, “...and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” Matthew 16:18b.
Although many believers here in the states live fairly comfortable lives, many of our brethren in foreign countries are suffering tremendous persecution including, at times, martyrdom all because they are known to follow Jesus Christ, period. “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:12. Sounds like dome and gloom, Ron. Mark my words, people; what we once took for granted is disappearing. There’s a new dog in town.
It’s not that difficult to see the persecution coming our way. Many of my brethren have blinders on when it comes to viewing the US and the rest of the world falling into perfect step with one another. Much of the rest of the world has been building up to a confrontation with Christians for years as nations execute our brethren, destroy our places of worship, and eliminate any and all references to the Bible. Christians understand fully who it is these people really hate. Just His name seems to invoke hatred.
As we get farther and farther into the current administration’s four year stint, we’re beginning to see many signs that point to more and more animosity towards Christians, and as I stated before, this coming from a president claiming to be Christian. I suppose if the news media can believe a man who takes young girls across state lines for the sole purpose of having sex with them is a Christian, they can believe our president is one, too. Looking at all the gross, blatant, evil denigration made against Biblical truths these days we become more suspicious of our government and their agenda with each passing day.
The American culture is changing exactly as promised by you know who, just like the majority of voters wanted to see happen. Along with those changes came new restrictions aimed at the followers of Jesus Christ. Those of us who take the word of God literally will soon find new un-Constitutional restrictions imposed upon us which are designed to stop us from speaking Biblical truth. If we choose to stand on God’s infallible word we will find Christian persecution at every turn. Then again, many will just bury their heads in the sand and pretend it doesn’t exist. That won’t do them any good, though, unless they are prepared to renounce Christ. If not, they, along with the rest of the Church, will soon come to understand that persecution is most certainly upon us.
“Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;” 2 Corinthians 4:9. Paul lived a life of almost continual trials after his conversion. He endured horrible persecution, probably much more than you or I will ever have occasion to experience in our lifetime, but then again who knows? The way in which the persecution can come upon the Church can be almost stealth-like at first. For example, the pulpits of our churches are to be silent when it comes to endorsing or speaking out against those running for political office; any Church found not following these guidelines can and will lose their tax exempt status. How would the IRS find out about this dastardly deed? Someone in the congregation would most certainly need to be a snitch. So, for the most part, the Church has caved in on that front. After awhile, though, that persecution won’t be enough. Soon orders will emerge from a hostile government telling us to stop using that hate-filled book, the Holy Bible, when we assemble or, again, we’ll lose that most revered and favored tax exempt status and much more. In a socialist society there’s no room for “people of the Book”. Paul knew that only his faith in Jesus’ power and victory could see him through his trials. The mind set demonstrated by Paul is necessary in every believer’s life today.
Believers must keep this very important fact in mind we aren’t suffering because of some evil deed we performed. We followers of Jesus Christ we’ll be judged for taking His name and rightly so. We should never feel ashamed if we suffer for Christ’s sake and in His name. “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Peter 4:16, 17.
The world sees Jesus not as their savior, but as an antiquated intolerant, religious carpenter, or a myth. They see His precepts as being way too exclusive. They blaspheme Him daily in their ignorance and their pride. They use His name as profanity. They see His followers as foolish, non-participants of their ideal normal society. When the world recognizes us as Jesus’ followers, rejoice for that’s exactly how we should want to be known.
Depressing as this world may seem at times, we must remember that God triumphs in the end, which means we also win. As believers, our lives are in God’s hands and there is nothing to fear from this old sinful world, even though so many shun the truth and live the lie that currently permeates the world. I’m sure there are horror stories out there of all forms of Christian persecution of which I’ve not even scratched the surface in this commentary. But through our sufferings and persecutions we will see God accomplish great things. “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” Matthew 5:11. The more we are persecuted the more we can revel in our afflictions and bask in God’s glorious love.
Honestly, after living 58 years in the U.S. of A, and for many of those years living as a worldly, ignorant, self-seeking, follower of Satan, it’s extremely refreshing now that Jesus rules and reigns in my life, to know I’m now on the winning team. During my early years as a believer I hadn’t really noticed the Church being persecuted. That’s because I was ignorant of the scriptures and didn’t recognize it. Persecution has always been around knocking at the door of the Church. Anytime we believers are forced to comply with laws or regulations which are contrary to the word of God, whether in America or any other nation it’s called Christian persecution.
For example, as American citizens we live in a country that murders millions of unborn babies and has done so for years. As believers we know this evil is contrary to the word of God, and yet, the Church has been unsuccessful at eliminating this scourge on society. As a matter of fact, with this current administration in place, abortion has now exploded with a new vigor. This current usurper of the Oval Office has made it his goal to eliminate all unwanted babies. Even those who escape the abortionist and live, he demands they be left to die on the garbage heaps. Your president, America, using your tax dollars to abort those innocent little ones God loves so dearly.
All laws which Congress passed or intends to pass in the future and which run contrary to the Bible, of which Christian are forced to adhere to or suffer dire consequeses, are Christian persecutions. Whether forced on us singularly, or collectively as Christ’s Church, it’s still persecution. What’s more, Jesus told us persecution and hatred, were coming. It would be extremely arrogant of believers to think He excluded those of us living in America from this persecution. No, my brethren, persecution of Christ’s Church is here and it’s only going to get worse.
You may ask, “What must we do to head off this persecution?” First of all, when Jesus says something is going to occur we would do well to heed what He says. As His followers we will be forced to endure persecution, He says so. I don’t know how much persecution or how severe it will be, and as far as heading it off, there will be a future event that will cause all Christian persecution to cease, at least temporarily. That event will be the Rapture of the Church. Those who are left behind and come to a believing faith during the tribulation will endure much worse persecution.
As I’ve mentioned before, the Church in American, as well as worldwide, has already been hit with tons of persecution. Still, in many countries the Church flourishes. Why is that? Because God says His word shall not return void. Christian evangelism is still prominent in many third world countries. In America though, many evangelist have turned emergent and no longer preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. If it’s not God’s word, then it’s not God’s will. Anything else is void.
What believers need is to get back into a routine of wearing out our knees. Humble ourselves before God in fervent prayer. Take it to Him every day. The hour is late and God waits to hear from His children. Sometimes I wonder how the world would react if believers just started humbling themselves out in the open. Not just mouthing silent prayers but verbally spoken prayers before God and all of His creation. I mean bowing our heads in prayer at a moment’s notice, in the middle of a shopping mall, in an airport, or in a crowed elevator. Some might poke fun, we might even be ridiculed (persecuted), but all would see God’s power revealed.
We see many individuals in public with purple hair and other characteristics that we find weird. We see men holding hands with men, and they all defy people to mock them. Why are Christians the ones who seem to be ashamed of our beliefs? Why can’t we be as blatant and obvious about our love for Jesus Christ?
Standing up for Jesus in all situations will bring persecution, that’s just the facts of life. But it doesn’t need to be a frightening experience. Actually it should bring an abundance of joy to our hearts. Our Christian brethren would be comforted and emboldened by witnessing other believer’s steadfastness. The Holy Spirit is sealed within every believer “...in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” Ephesians 1:13, and He is thoroughly capable of handling any and all situations.
If we trust God to supply us with compassion and love as we witness to our neighbors shouldn’t we also trust Him to embolden us in the hour when it becomes necessary to address our persecutors? “...that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” Jude 1:3b.
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” Philippians 3:8.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
A Wakeup Call for Christians
I recently talked to a few churches and youth groups about signs of the times and how close we are to the return of Jesus Christ for his church. As the day draws closer for His return, I am more and more compelled to get work done for the Kingdom of our Lord and Savior as we all should be. But in speaking to fellow Christians and churches, my heart is increasingly burdened that many don’t realize one particular sign that none of us should miss: the nation of Israel. And all we have to do is know a little bit of history and watch the nightly news.
As I saw the reaction of people when I talked about Israel’s role in the latter days, prophecy and the last seven years of history in the Great Tribulation, I became more aware that there are so many who don’t understand the collision course we are on in the battle of good and evil. They know the Bible says God will win, but little else. But Jesus is not just “at the door’ as he stated, but actually opening and getting ready to pass through it and too many Christians are sleeping at the switch with the Tribulation in our headlights. To be specific, too many don’t understand what role God has picked for Israel to play. In the midst of God’s fore-ordained events, His people, the Israelites are once again about to endure a time of persecution; one that makes Hitler’s extermination of over 6 million Jews in Europe look like nothing more than a kitty playing with a ball of yarn. And God’s wrath will come upon the whole world like never before.
As Terry mentioned in his weekly update, our president has cast an urgent shadow on everything he has done in seven months of leading our nation. With a spiritually blind and crooked lot of politicians in the Congress and Senate, bills are passed almost daily to take away our freedoms, make us a socialist country and prepare our once great nation to become one of the largest third-world nations with an economy going straight down the tubes. But there is also never-before applied extreme pressure on Israel to even give up her portion of Jerusalem, stop making settlements in her own land and even give the whole of the city over to international leadership. God’s Word says Jerusalem belongs to the Jewish people forever. It’s not enough that opposing evil forces and anti-Israelite murderers have attacked the nation and killed countless innocent citizens continually since May 1948. It is not enough that enemies like Syria, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority want Israel to move back to the pre-1967 war days when the Golan Heights belonged to enemies attacking them, when Israeli settlements were bombed from the north, south and east by enemies who wanted to push every single Israeli into the sea. John Hagee said in his book “In Defense of Israel” that the enemies of God wanted to see every Jew dead and floating face down in the Dead Sea. I couldn’t say it better. As Christians, we sit back, relax and for the most part doing nothing about it. We don’t even pray or feel compassion to the people to whom we owe the foundation of Christianity. There would not be a Christian in this world without a Jew named Jesus.
Why do Christians not do anything? Maybe we do nothing because we are too caught up in the false doctrines of health, wealth, healing, or getting our ears tickled by pastors to pay attention to the world around us. Many of us are taught a false “replacement theology” by preachers in the pulpit; a watered down version of cult-like Christianity that “the church is the new Israel”, that the trinity or virgin birth is not really true, Jesus isn’t really the Son of God etc. The list goes on. Our weak faith is making us a dead church, destroying our witness and pushing our faith back to the Dark Ages when Christianity was almost snuffed out. Ill-trained and misinformed pastors spew forth hatred for the Jewish people and say they are the cause of the world’s problems…and congregations believe it! Additionally, books written by alleged church “leaders” trained in liberal seminaries fill the shelves of Christian bookstores, but a large percentage of them also say the same things and errantly use scripture to prove their point. Books say Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, he was a homosexual, or some other absurd accusation. Authors write that the book Revelation is not literal, but just a nice story, which is absolutely untrue. Jesus said in Matthew 24:24 that false Christs and prophets would appear. They would perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect-if that were possible. This very thing is happening today and too many of us are becoming like the church of Laodicea: though seeing, we are blind. We are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold and being deceived!
Israel was promised salvation and protection through an eternal covenant that God promised through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And as scripture says, God cannot lie. Yes, a holy God promised through prophets like Ezekiel, Isaiah and Jeremiah that Israel would be punished for following foreign Gods, but Christians need to check those scriptures out again, because I don’t know of one single prophet that, along with a statement of punishment, didn’t follow it up with God’s promise to reconcile with His people and draw them back to their homeland and Himself in the end. He promised to take away their pain and sorrows, and even defeat those who carried out God’s will in carrying the Israelites into captivity or scattering them to the four winds. Check it out for yourselves. And it came true…does anyone walk around saying, “Hi, I am a Babylonian” or “Where are you from? I’m an Amalekite”. But Israel has become a nation for three times now and ONLY God could make that happen. Some scriptures to check out are: Isaiah 43:5-6, 35:10, 61:4, 42:24, 26; Ezekiel 28:25-26, 34:28-30, 11:17-19, 37:21-28; Jeremiah31:10-12, 30:3,10; 31:7-8; Zechariah 1:15-17 (NIV). Why do we not believe the Word of God when He plainly shows his love time after time and continues to make promises of their salvation and return to the land?
To all who say they are Christians: Jesus said in Revelation 1-2, “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent.” Does this apply to you?
We need to fall on knees of repentance and ask the God of Israel to search our hearts, change our wicked ways and forgive us for nearly two thousand years of Christian persecution of the Jewish people. We need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, their salvation and divine protection, that all enemies would be overthrown and finally, that the Lord would once again place righteous people in control of our nations. Then as citizens the United States, we need to contact our respective congressmen and senators, demanding that our leaders STOP pressuring God’s nation Israel. Then we need to pray more, asking the Lord to give us strength to stand up for what is right according to scripture.
Finally, all of us need to get busy telling others that Jesus is coming soon and that God loves them right where they are. Allow God to use you, so be prepared to share the good news of Jesus, to share the reason for the hope within you…it only takes a minute. It doesn’t matter if people laugh or persecute us for our faith. What did the One they killed on the cross at Calvary say? “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt 5:11-12) He also gave us the great commission to go unto all nations telling others about Jesus and made a promise to be with us always. The Holy Spirit will give you the right words when challenged, so just do it.
Jesus is seated at the right hand of God the Father, interceding constantly for us…and He looks forward to one day soon coming back to get his bride, the church. Don’t be caught without oil in your lamp, but stand watch and be ready. The Word of God says that while we don’t know the day or the hour, we WILL know when the season is upon us. And that season is NOW.
As I saw the reaction of people when I talked about Israel’s role in the latter days, prophecy and the last seven years of history in the Great Tribulation, I became more aware that there are so many who don’t understand the collision course we are on in the battle of good and evil. They know the Bible says God will win, but little else. But Jesus is not just “at the door’ as he stated, but actually opening and getting ready to pass through it and too many Christians are sleeping at the switch with the Tribulation in our headlights. To be specific, too many don’t understand what role God has picked for Israel to play. In the midst of God’s fore-ordained events, His people, the Israelites are once again about to endure a time of persecution; one that makes Hitler’s extermination of over 6 million Jews in Europe look like nothing more than a kitty playing with a ball of yarn. And God’s wrath will come upon the whole world like never before.
As Terry mentioned in his weekly update, our president has cast an urgent shadow on everything he has done in seven months of leading our nation. With a spiritually blind and crooked lot of politicians in the Congress and Senate, bills are passed almost daily to take away our freedoms, make us a socialist country and prepare our once great nation to become one of the largest third-world nations with an economy going straight down the tubes. But there is also never-before applied extreme pressure on Israel to even give up her portion of Jerusalem, stop making settlements in her own land and even give the whole of the city over to international leadership. God’s Word says Jerusalem belongs to the Jewish people forever. It’s not enough that opposing evil forces and anti-Israelite murderers have attacked the nation and killed countless innocent citizens continually since May 1948. It is not enough that enemies like Syria, Hamas and the Palestinian Authority want Israel to move back to the pre-1967 war days when the Golan Heights belonged to enemies attacking them, when Israeli settlements were bombed from the north, south and east by enemies who wanted to push every single Israeli into the sea. John Hagee said in his book “In Defense of Israel” that the enemies of God wanted to see every Jew dead and floating face down in the Dead Sea. I couldn’t say it better. As Christians, we sit back, relax and for the most part doing nothing about it. We don’t even pray or feel compassion to the people to whom we owe the foundation of Christianity. There would not be a Christian in this world without a Jew named Jesus.
Why do Christians not do anything? Maybe we do nothing because we are too caught up in the false doctrines of health, wealth, healing, or getting our ears tickled by pastors to pay attention to the world around us. Many of us are taught a false “replacement theology” by preachers in the pulpit; a watered down version of cult-like Christianity that “the church is the new Israel”, that the trinity or virgin birth is not really true, Jesus isn’t really the Son of God etc. The list goes on. Our weak faith is making us a dead church, destroying our witness and pushing our faith back to the Dark Ages when Christianity was almost snuffed out. Ill-trained and misinformed pastors spew forth hatred for the Jewish people and say they are the cause of the world’s problems…and congregations believe it! Additionally, books written by alleged church “leaders” trained in liberal seminaries fill the shelves of Christian bookstores, but a large percentage of them also say the same things and errantly use scripture to prove their point. Books say Jesus was married to Mary Magdalene, he was a homosexual, or some other absurd accusation. Authors write that the book Revelation is not literal, but just a nice story, which is absolutely untrue. Jesus said in Matthew 24:24 that false Christs and prophets would appear. They would perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect-if that were possible. This very thing is happening today and too many of us are becoming like the church of Laodicea: though seeing, we are blind. We are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold and being deceived!
Israel was promised salvation and protection through an eternal covenant that God promised through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And as scripture says, God cannot lie. Yes, a holy God promised through prophets like Ezekiel, Isaiah and Jeremiah that Israel would be punished for following foreign Gods, but Christians need to check those scriptures out again, because I don’t know of one single prophet that, along with a statement of punishment, didn’t follow it up with God’s promise to reconcile with His people and draw them back to their homeland and Himself in the end. He promised to take away their pain and sorrows, and even defeat those who carried out God’s will in carrying the Israelites into captivity or scattering them to the four winds. Check it out for yourselves. And it came true…does anyone walk around saying, “Hi, I am a Babylonian” or “Where are you from? I’m an Amalekite”. But Israel has become a nation for three times now and ONLY God could make that happen. Some scriptures to check out are: Isaiah 43:5-6, 35:10, 61:4, 42:24, 26; Ezekiel 28:25-26, 34:28-30, 11:17-19, 37:21-28; Jeremiah31:10-12, 30:3,10; 31:7-8; Zechariah 1:15-17 (NIV). Why do we not believe the Word of God when He plainly shows his love time after time and continues to make promises of their salvation and return to the land?
To all who say they are Christians: Jesus said in Revelation 1-2, “I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it and repent.” Does this apply to you?
We need to fall on knees of repentance and ask the God of Israel to search our hearts, change our wicked ways and forgive us for nearly two thousand years of Christian persecution of the Jewish people. We need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, their salvation and divine protection, that all enemies would be overthrown and finally, that the Lord would once again place righteous people in control of our nations. Then as citizens the United States, we need to contact our respective congressmen and senators, demanding that our leaders STOP pressuring God’s nation Israel. Then we need to pray more, asking the Lord to give us strength to stand up for what is right according to scripture.
Finally, all of us need to get busy telling others that Jesus is coming soon and that God loves them right where they are. Allow God to use you, so be prepared to share the good news of Jesus, to share the reason for the hope within you…it only takes a minute. It doesn’t matter if people laugh or persecute us for our faith. What did the One they killed on the cross at Calvary say? “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt 5:11-12) He also gave us the great commission to go unto all nations telling others about Jesus and made a promise to be with us always. The Holy Spirit will give you the right words when challenged, so just do it.
Jesus is seated at the right hand of God the Father, interceding constantly for us…and He looks forward to one day soon coming back to get his bride, the church. Don’t be caught without oil in your lamp, but stand watch and be ready. The Word of God says that while we don’t know the day or the hour, we WILL know when the season is upon us. And that season is NOW.
Monday, August 3, 2009
JOY UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY
Do you have joy in your life? Do you have a joy unspeakable and full of glory? I look around me and see church members who are depressed about the situation in our world, here at home and abroad. We in the church are concerned about our country and the path that our leaders have taken us and know judgment could be just over the horizon. But I’m reminded of the good boy scout and their motto, "be prepared". Natural disaster can result in the near future, either natural or man-made. A good boy scout or more importantly, an awake Christian prepares for the unexpected, the natural disaster, or yes, a terrorist attack. But should we be anxious, looking over our shoulders for the notion of impending disaster, wringing our hands in worrisome fretting over the end of all things? Should we be obsessed with the “end of the world”? I think not.
I have held onto the promises of Psalm 91 since I was a boy. Whenever danger was about, I read and claimed the promises in this inspiring passage that King David wrote so long ago. In this passage of Psalms for the protection of Almighty God, there’s a catch per se. You have to stay right up close to be assured of protection in the everyday living obstacles that come our way as Christians. We can’t be haphazardly trying to serve our Lord. If we are diligently serving Him and being ever watchful, then with these kind of promises what have we to fear? Nothing, because our God is in charge and He is watching over each one of us that are diligently trying to serve Him in faith and are watchful of that Blessed Hope of the soon return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Folks, I get excited about the signs of the times that are all around us as I know being children of the day and not being blinded by being in darkness, that the Rapture could be close, right at the door. So I fear not, and neither should you. We should be longing for the blessed promises that God made for His children. God has made more promises that should make a person shout!
I turn to the writings of Paul in Romans. I just love Paul’s words in this passage given by the Holy Spirit. Starting in the 8th chapter, Paul writes:
“v16- the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God
v17- And if children, then heirs; and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together
v:18- For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Yes, we have aches, pains, financial problems, loved ones that die earlier than we expected, and sometimes the cares of this life weigh us down. But we are given a glorious promise as we read on in this passage:
v:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.v:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,v:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.v:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.v:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.v:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?v:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Notice how he lays the foundation by turning our attention to our hope. He reminds us that God purposefully made life subject to futility. Futility is a frustrating quality that wears away at one’s confidence. It can produce a sense of hopelessness that leads to us to think that nothing will work out. Sometimes our pilgrimage seems so long and arduous that we take our eyes from our Savior and hopelessness builds. However, Paul reminds us that God does everything in love and wisdom and for our good. He uses this futility we perceive and allows it to point us to him as the source of our strength and build our faith, in spite of the circumstances we face. Reading on:
v26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.v27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.v28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.v29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Folks, we have been called, we have been chosen to be conformed to the image of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord, through the will of the Father. Again, All things work together for good to them who love God and are called according His purpose…Repeat that when troubles come your way and it will increase your faith.
Now let’s contemplate just for a moment the implication of a verse we quoted. “We are heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ” in verse 17. WHAT A GLORIOUS PROMISE!! What He is and what is His, will be ours as well. We will be like Him, in Spirit, in relationships to family fortunes, to whatever belongs to the Son, we will be given a portion of that inheritance. That is MIND BOGGLING. To be Kings and priest, to rule portions of this universe or whatever pleases the Father and will have unlimited access to His throne room and audience with our HIM and our Savior Jesus Christ. To be in the same family, adopted sons and daughters of the ruler of the entire universe, To live forever, even as They live. Now that should get anyone excited.
To end this chapter, He gives us another promise that cannot be broken:
v30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.v:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?v32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?v33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.v34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.v35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?v36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.v37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.v38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,v39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing can come between us and our eternal home. Nothing in this life. Nothing in this mixed up world that we see self destructing can take away that promise. All He ask for is your love and unwavering faith in Him. Being obedient, diligent to put Him first, ahead of everything else. He gave us a way….the only way.
Now let us turn to John the 14th chapter, starting in verse one.
v1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.v2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.v3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.v4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.v5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?v6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Even as we speak, Jesus, our savior and soon coming King, is preparing a place for us…where? In His Father’s house. Right now. His Father’s house is somewhere out there. Some call it heaven, but it’s where the Father and Son are right now. What will that mean and how will it be accomplished? I have believed in the Rapture all my life and still do. The timing is what gets people all in an uproar. But from scripture we know that He is close, very close, right at the door. When it comes right down to it, Brethren, it doesn’t matter the timing, even though I believe in a pretrib Rapture, just that we got there. And how did we get there? Jesus gave us the answer in John 6th chapter 28-29: “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
We get there by believing in faith and following the commands of the One God sent to die for our sins.
1st Peter chapter 1:
v3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, v4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,v:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.v6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:v7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. v8. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: v9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
That is our destiny, that is our goal. That is why we were born. That is why we struggle with daily living and that is why, as Christians, we will win, to the glory of the Father.
In these times of uncertainty, we should be in glorious expectation, waiting for the blessed hope, that hope that is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Being prepared, good stewards of the talents He has given us, using His Word to reach others, and doing the will of the Father through striving to become the image of His Son. Putting on the whole armor of God as Ephesians 6:13-17 admonishes us to do “6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
v14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
v:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
v:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
v:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Question is. Do you know this Jesus? Are you expecting His soon return? Have you made that the most important part of your life? Have you asked Him to come into your heart and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. He said “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6)..” Do you believe Him? Is the Holy Spirit calling you right now? Pray these simple words with heart felt conviction. “Lord, I ask you to come into my heart. Cleanse me from my sins. I believe that you lived and died on a cruel cross for my sins. I believe you rose from the dead on the third day after your were buried and live and sit now at the right hand of God the Father . Soon you will come back and I want to go with you onto glory. In Jesus name, I confess my wish to be saved. Amen.
Bless you and God keep you. Remember Paul said in Phillipians 4:13 “ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. “ Let us go on with Joy unspeakable and full of glory.
I have held onto the promises of Psalm 91 since I was a boy. Whenever danger was about, I read and claimed the promises in this inspiring passage that King David wrote so long ago. In this passage of Psalms for the protection of Almighty God, there’s a catch per se. You have to stay right up close to be assured of protection in the everyday living obstacles that come our way as Christians. We can’t be haphazardly trying to serve our Lord. If we are diligently serving Him and being ever watchful, then with these kind of promises what have we to fear? Nothing, because our God is in charge and He is watching over each one of us that are diligently trying to serve Him in faith and are watchful of that Blessed Hope of the soon return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Folks, I get excited about the signs of the times that are all around us as I know being children of the day and not being blinded by being in darkness, that the Rapture could be close, right at the door. So I fear not, and neither should you. We should be longing for the blessed promises that God made for His children. God has made more promises that should make a person shout!
I turn to the writings of Paul in Romans. I just love Paul’s words in this passage given by the Holy Spirit. Starting in the 8th chapter, Paul writes:
“v16- the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God
v17- And if children, then heirs; and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together
v:18- For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”
Yes, we have aches, pains, financial problems, loved ones that die earlier than we expected, and sometimes the cares of this life weigh us down. But we are given a glorious promise as we read on in this passage:
v:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.v:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,v:21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.v:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.v:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.v:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?v:25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Notice how he lays the foundation by turning our attention to our hope. He reminds us that God purposefully made life subject to futility. Futility is a frustrating quality that wears away at one’s confidence. It can produce a sense of hopelessness that leads to us to think that nothing will work out. Sometimes our pilgrimage seems so long and arduous that we take our eyes from our Savior and hopelessness builds. However, Paul reminds us that God does everything in love and wisdom and for our good. He uses this futility we perceive and allows it to point us to him as the source of our strength and build our faith, in spite of the circumstances we face. Reading on:
v26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.v27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.v28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.v29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Folks, we have been called, we have been chosen to be conformed to the image of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord, through the will of the Father. Again, All things work together for good to them who love God and are called according His purpose…Repeat that when troubles come your way and it will increase your faith.
Now let’s contemplate just for a moment the implication of a verse we quoted. “We are heirs and joint heirs with Jesus Christ” in verse 17. WHAT A GLORIOUS PROMISE!! What He is and what is His, will be ours as well. We will be like Him, in Spirit, in relationships to family fortunes, to whatever belongs to the Son, we will be given a portion of that inheritance. That is MIND BOGGLING. To be Kings and priest, to rule portions of this universe or whatever pleases the Father and will have unlimited access to His throne room and audience with our HIM and our Savior Jesus Christ. To be in the same family, adopted sons and daughters of the ruler of the entire universe, To live forever, even as They live. Now that should get anyone excited.
To end this chapter, He gives us another promise that cannot be broken:
v30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.v:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?v32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?v33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.v34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.v35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?v36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.v37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.v38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,v39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing can come between us and our eternal home. Nothing in this life. Nothing in this mixed up world that we see self destructing can take away that promise. All He ask for is your love and unwavering faith in Him. Being obedient, diligent to put Him first, ahead of everything else. He gave us a way….the only way.
Now let us turn to John the 14th chapter, starting in verse one.
v1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.v2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.v3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.v4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.v5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?v6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Even as we speak, Jesus, our savior and soon coming King, is preparing a place for us…where? In His Father’s house. Right now. His Father’s house is somewhere out there. Some call it heaven, but it’s where the Father and Son are right now. What will that mean and how will it be accomplished? I have believed in the Rapture all my life and still do. The timing is what gets people all in an uproar. But from scripture we know that He is close, very close, right at the door. When it comes right down to it, Brethren, it doesn’t matter the timing, even though I believe in a pretrib Rapture, just that we got there. And how did we get there? Jesus gave us the answer in John 6th chapter 28-29: “Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
We get there by believing in faith and following the commands of the One God sent to die for our sins.
1st Peter chapter 1:
v3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, v4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,v:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.v6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:v7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. v8. Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: v9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
That is our destiny, that is our goal. That is why we were born. That is why we struggle with daily living and that is why, as Christians, we will win, to the glory of the Father.
In these times of uncertainty, we should be in glorious expectation, waiting for the blessed hope, that hope that is in Jesus Christ our Lord. Being prepared, good stewards of the talents He has given us, using His Word to reach others, and doing the will of the Father through striving to become the image of His Son. Putting on the whole armor of God as Ephesians 6:13-17 admonishes us to do “6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
v14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
v:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
v:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
v:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
Question is. Do you know this Jesus? Are you expecting His soon return? Have you made that the most important part of your life? Have you asked Him to come into your heart and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. He said “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father, but by Me” (John 14:6)..” Do you believe Him? Is the Holy Spirit calling you right now? Pray these simple words with heart felt conviction. “Lord, I ask you to come into my heart. Cleanse me from my sins. I believe that you lived and died on a cruel cross for my sins. I believe you rose from the dead on the third day after your were buried and live and sit now at the right hand of God the Father . Soon you will come back and I want to go with you onto glory. In Jesus name, I confess my wish to be saved. Amen.
Bless you and God keep you. Remember Paul said in Phillipians 4:13 “ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. “ Let us go on with Joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
