I apologize that I haven't posted anything lately. However, I have been busy keeping up with what is happening in the Middle East, especially Egypt.
Now, there may be some of you who are wondering why I'm so concerned about Egypt. Egypt is clear across the world. I ask you to please take a look at a map. See that little piece of water called the Suez Canal? Do you know what is shipped by way of that canal? Many things but I will tell you two that might interest you: oil and computer/cell hone parts. If that canal gets blocked, you can start planning on paying close to $5 to $10 for one gallon of gas. And forget about being able to afford a new smart phone or lap top. Yeah, the stuff will still get here, but they will have to take the long way and, you know what? That will double or triple the price of whatever you're buying now.
People, please pay attention to what is going on. This will affect you more than you know. And I haven't even talked about what this will do to the stock market, our economy, and jobs. Then there's the fuel needed to ship the food to your local grocery store or to cook that meal at your favorite dining spot as they have to pay for fuel also. Can you say food shortage?
If all of this collapses, it will have a snowball effect. Please get your heads out of the sand. Quit thinking that this can't happen here in the United States. Please don't think that this won't happen to you - that life will get better and all will be fine - that life will go on as usual. I have just scratched the surface on this. And I haven't even touched on the prophetic value and accuracy of all what is going on.
I'm not trying to scare anyone - I just want you to know what is going on and to be prepared. If you know Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, He will take care of you even when things get tough. We are not guaranteed a bed of roses here. Our promise of heaven isn't in this world. Just keep looking up because our redemption is coming.
For those of you who do not know Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, I will pray once again that you reconsider. If you chose not to, and it is your choice, then I urge you to prepare for the Worst Case Scenario - the TEOTWAWKI (The End of the World As We Know It). Just think, if it doesn't happen, you can have a good laugh at my expense. If it does happen, you will have a "chance" to survive. But I don't believe I'm wrong. It might not be right now, but it is coming and coming soon. I cannot urge you strongly enough to get ready. What happens across the world does and will affect you.
I also urge you to take a look at some of the prophetic verses in the Bible, especially Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 & 39. I am going to put together sort of a guide to help you understand who all the players are in the prophecies. The nations that are mentioned are still in existence in one form or another today, just under different names. This might help you understand why, what is happening in the Middle East, is so important.
Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book. Revelation 22:7 (KJV)
God willing, until next time
Maranatha
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Come Out From Among Them
Here is another wonderful article I got by Grant Phillips from the site http://www.raptureready.com/. This is a warning for the Church and for those who say they are part of the Church. We are in the end times I feel and we are witnessing the Church of Laodecia, the apostate church. Our Lord and Saviour will soon be calling us home. Are you ready? The article is a bit long but it is well worth the read.
COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM
By Grant Phillips
“Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, who is on the LORD’S side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.” (Exodus 32:26)
Monday, January 24, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Will You Stand?
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20 (KJV)
While other people are busy following the football playoff games or breathlessly waiting to see who the contestants will be on American Idol, I watch the news and follow the events that are going on around the world. Sometimes I see so much going on that I have to walk away from the computer and turn the TV off. I take that time then to pray for wisdom and strength. Sin is running rampant in this world. Today is the anniversary where the Surpreme Court said it is okay to murder an unborn baby. A popular TV network is advertising a new show that is nothing but child porn. Homosexuality is not only accepted and sanctioned by the U. S. Government, but is also protected from being called a lifestyle choice or a sin. The economy is crumbling all over the world with reports of soon-to-be food shortages and hyper-inflated prices for whatever food is available. We have birds dropping out of the sky, dead fish covering our shores, and cows dying for no apparent reason. We have had major floods devastate many areas of the world. Now we have a well know physicist warning us of a potential Mega Earthquake.
Michio Kaku Warns the World Citizens of Potential Mega Earthquake
10,000 Cattle Dead In Vietnam: Cows, Buffalo Part Of Mass Die-Off
Australian flood crisis could continue for 10 days
And as I watch and read all of this, I know that our time here is short. For those of you who think times are bad now, you haven't seen anything yet.
As the Age of Grace that we are currently living in draws nearer and nearer to a close and the lateness of the hour becomes more relevant to those of us who have our eyes on heaven and the coming of the Lord, we can’t help but be concerned about those that do not know their Savior and are living for the world and for themselves. Almost every saved Christian has some unsaved friends and family that do not accept the truth of the gospel and whom they know will be left here on earth to have to endure the soon to come Tribulation period that Jesus has clearly warned us is sure to come before He physically returns to Earth to set up His Kingdom. (see Matthew 24:3-31, Mark 13:3-27 & Luke 21:7-28).**
While other people are busy following the football playoff games or breathlessly waiting to see who the contestants will be on American Idol, I watch the news and follow the events that are going on around the world. Sometimes I see so much going on that I have to walk away from the computer and turn the TV off. I take that time then to pray for wisdom and strength. Sin is running rampant in this world. Today is the anniversary where the Surpreme Court said it is okay to murder an unborn baby. A popular TV network is advertising a new show that is nothing but child porn. Homosexuality is not only accepted and sanctioned by the U. S. Government, but is also protected from being called a lifestyle choice or a sin. The economy is crumbling all over the world with reports of soon-to-be food shortages and hyper-inflated prices for whatever food is available. We have birds dropping out of the sky, dead fish covering our shores, and cows dying for no apparent reason. We have had major floods devastate many areas of the world. Now we have a well know physicist warning us of a potential Mega Earthquake.
Michio Kaku Warns the World Citizens of Potential Mega Earthquake
10,000 Cattle Dead In Vietnam: Cows, Buffalo Part Of Mass Die-Off
Australian flood crisis could continue for 10 days
And as I watch and read all of this, I know that our time here is short. For those of you who think times are bad now, you haven't seen anything yet.
As the Age of Grace that we are currently living in draws nearer and nearer to a close and the lateness of the hour becomes more relevant to those of us who have our eyes on heaven and the coming of the Lord, we can’t help but be concerned about those that do not know their Savior and are living for the world and for themselves. Almost every saved Christian has some unsaved friends and family that do not accept the truth of the gospel and whom they know will be left here on earth to have to endure the soon to come Tribulation period that Jesus has clearly warned us is sure to come before He physically returns to Earth to set up His Kingdom. (see Matthew 24:3-31, Mark 13:3-27 & Luke 21:7-28).**
The Book of Revelation lays out much of the horrific details of this forthcoming history-ending period. The actual beginning of the Tribulation itself begins in chapter 6 with Jesus (referred to as the Lamb), opening the seals of the scroll and beginning the seven seal judgments. Since Jesus is Lord, (But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Hebrews 1:8 KJV), this is therefore the beginning of the wrath of God upon a Christ rejecting world. The first four seals are the four horsemen of the Apocalypse. The fifth seal is the cry of the martyrs and the sixth seal is of cosmic disturbances upon the earth. All of these seal judgments seem to happen very rapidly in succession because at the end of the description of the sixth seal it says:**
And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17)
We see from the last verse that it isn’t until the sixth seal that the folks hiding themselves in caves have realized that the wrath of God has begun! We know that the Church is gone at this point because “God has not appointed us to wrath”, (1 Thessalonians 5:9), and it clearly states that “the day of His wrath has come”, but it is the very last phrase of that verse that also reveals the absence of the Church where it asks the sobering question – “who is able to stand”?**
So what does it mean to not be able to stand at His coming? Most all of the verses where this is used it is referring as to being able to stand before Him in judgment. God is so holy and righteous that no sinful man can stand in His presence. Ezra 9:15 exemplifies this:**
O LORD God of Israel, You are righteous, for we are left as a remnant, as it is this day. Here we are before You, in our guilt, though no one can stand before You because of this!”
Since all people are sinful it would seem that we are all hopelessly lost in the presence of the Lord but the good news is that we are not! Because of the loving sacrifice of Jesus Christ those who believe in Him can stand in the presence of the Lord and He doesn’t see your sins, He sees you through the lens of Jesus Christ standing before you! God the Father directed His wrath against sin upon His Son Jesus Christ while He was on the cross. Christ endured what we deserve. All we have to do is simply accept it. It is God’s free gift. It is not dependent upon anything that you can do but only upon all that Christ did for you. It is so simple yet so many people refuse it. They would rather believe that they can earn their own way to heaven through their own good works but the sad reality is that when you stand before a perfect and holy God without Christ, even if you sinned only once in your lifetime, you are guilty on judgment day. **
But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; Isaiah 64:6a
So now that we’ve established what it takes to be able to stand before the Lord the question remains in Revelation 6:17 – who will be able to stand? In context this is after the Rapture and in the early part of the Tribulation. Immediately following this verse in chapter 7 we see the 144,000 Jewish witnesses being appointed and also a great multitude of martyred saints standing before the Throne of the Lamb arrayed in white robes which were washed clean with the blood of the Lamb. These are Tribulation saints! Those that came to Christ after the Rapture but undoubtedly had to suffer severe persecution. Nevertheless they are able to stand! Even while God is pouring out His wrath upon the Earth He is still merciful and all knowing to those that come to Him. **
The will of the Lord is that we should come to Him today while His grace is still abounding. Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near, (Isaiah 55:6). Accepting Christ as your Savior is much more than just fire insurance from the coming Tribulation. When you become a born again Christian all things become new and He wipes away any guilt of sin that you may have been lugging around with you. Your life takes on new purpose as you joyfully serve Him. You will still have to endure the hardships of this world while we are sojourning here but we walk in His promises knowing that as we abound in the work of the Lord, our labor is not in vain in the Lord, (1 Corinthians 15:58). This current existence that we dwell in is only preparation for the real life that is to come!**
So the question of who is able to stand can be answered individually amongst ourselves. God has granted us free will to choose our own eternal destiny. Are you choosing life or death? Will you be able to stand at His coming?**
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe in the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” (John 3:36)
This may sound rather threatening but Jesus said, “he that is not with Me is against Me,” (Matthew 12:30). The message of the gospel is pretty straightforward. There are no ifs, ands, or buts about it. God does not strong-arm us to obey and follow Him. He allows us to make our own choices but there are consequences for our choices and He lovingly warns us of those consequences just like an earthly father or mother warns their child of the consequences of their choices.**
As we currently observe the conditions of the world in relation to Bible prophecy there are several signs that are signifying that the Age of Grace is soon about to come to an end. I cannot express the importance of knowing and accepting Christ as your Savior this very day. There is soon coming a day when God’s grace will end and He is going to draw the line and receive unto Him what He bought and paid for, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:14), and judge the remaining world with fiery wrath. In Luke 21:36 Jesus encourages us to be watching and to be ready for this day: **
“Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Notice that Jesus doesn’t just warn us to be able to be counted worthy to escape the things that will come, (The Great Tribulation), but also to be able to stand before the Son of Man. This is a clear indication that those that take part in the Rapture are also worthy of standing before Him. This will be when the saints are given their crowns and rewards. The winner’s circle if you will. The apostle Paul expounds on this in his valedictory at the end of his life recorded in 2 Timothy 4:6-8:**
For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
In the above passage we see a reward for those that love His appearing but in 1 Corinthians 16:22 we are giving another warning regarding those that do not love the Lord Jesus Christ at His coming:**
If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. (KJV)**
The word “anathema” is Greek for “accursed” and according to the American Heritage Dictionary means to be banned or excommunicated. The word “Maranatha” was a popular Aramaic first century greeting among Christians that translates, “Our Lord Cometh”. So if we wanted to paraphrase that verse it could very well read like this:**
If any man does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be left behind at the Lord’s coming!**
My dear reader, don’t let this be you! Even if the Lord were to tarry for several more years or even decades you still do not know if you’ll be here tomorrow. Your dying day is your personal judgment day and you will want to be able to stand on that day! The Bible mentions nothing about any second chances after death.**
My personal prayer is that everyone takes this seriously. You may not have tomorrow.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23 (KJV)
God willing, until next time
Maranatha
**Matt Leasher http://www.raptureready.com/
Thursday, January 20, 2011
We Are Family
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)
This morning I first heard about then read about newly elected Alabama Governor Robert Bentley's speech.
Ala. governor apologizes - but not for his faith
Now, not being from Alabama, I really didn't know much about him. I learned that he was sworn in on Monday then gave a speech at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church which is Martin Luther King Jr's first church. In the context of his speech he said: “Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I’m telling you, you’re not my brother and you’re not my sister, and I want to be your brother.”
He apologized on Wednesday, not so much for what he said, but for offending anyone. “If anyone from other religions felt disenfranchised by the language, I want to say I am sorry. I am sorry if I offended anyone in any way,”
He apologized for his remarks, but not for being a Christian. He later said: “I will never deny being a born-again Christian. I do have core beliefs and I will die with those core beliefs,” Bentley said. “But I do not want to be harmful to others. And I will die if I have to to defend someone else’s right to worship as they choose.”
Needless to say, Robert Bentley has been attacked for his statement. He did apologize for offending anyone. Now I'm not going to go into the matter of whether he should have apologized or not. Let’s just say that those of us who claim Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour are all human. Most of us, in our human nature, try to get along with one another and we really don’t like offending anyone. There is a part of us who really wants to get along. On the other hand, we are also called to speak the truth and not compromise our beliefs.
Remember, Jesus did not call everyone His brother or His sister.
For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother. Matthew 12:50 (NKJV)
So then, who are the brothers and sisters? Those who believe in Jesus Christ as Saviour.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12 (NKJV)
On that note, if you speak God's truth, people will be offended; you will be attacked; you will lose friends because the world doesn't understand the truth. They do not have the ability to discern the truth.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV)
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)
The days are coming my brothers and sisters in Christ when it will be more and more difficult to speak the truth. The false prophets and teachers can speak, people of other religions can speak, agnostics and atheists can speak. They are in the dark and darkness doesn't like the light.
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19 (NKJV)
So if you speak the truth, just be prepared.
"And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)
9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another." Matthew 24:9-10 (NKJV)
Are you my brother or my sister? If you're not, I pray that you will consider Jesus to be your Saviour and be freed from the darkness and come into the light. Believe me, you will see the world in a whole different way. But please decide soon, because I feel that time is short and you might not have tomorrow.
Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14 (NKJV)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)
I will close as ask that you please pray for Governor Robert Bentley. He will be attacked viciously and politically he will suffer. We need to pray that God gives him strength and wisdom to endure and that he remembers that his blessed hope and final glory is not of this world but is coming soon.
God willing, until next time
Maranatha
This morning I first heard about then read about newly elected Alabama Governor Robert Bentley's speech.
Ala. governor apologizes - but not for his faith
Now, not being from Alabama, I really didn't know much about him. I learned that he was sworn in on Monday then gave a speech at the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church which is Martin Luther King Jr's first church. In the context of his speech he said: “Anybody here today who has not accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, I’m telling you, you’re not my brother and you’re not my sister, and I want to be your brother.”
He apologized on Wednesday, not so much for what he said, but for offending anyone. “If anyone from other religions felt disenfranchised by the language, I want to say I am sorry. I am sorry if I offended anyone in any way,”
He apologized for his remarks, but not for being a Christian. He later said: “I will never deny being a born-again Christian. I do have core beliefs and I will die with those core beliefs,” Bentley said. “But I do not want to be harmful to others. And I will die if I have to to defend someone else’s right to worship as they choose.”
Needless to say, Robert Bentley has been attacked for his statement. He did apologize for offending anyone. Now I'm not going to go into the matter of whether he should have apologized or not. Let’s just say that those of us who claim Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour are all human. Most of us, in our human nature, try to get along with one another and we really don’t like offending anyone. There is a part of us who really wants to get along. On the other hand, we are also called to speak the truth and not compromise our beliefs.
Remember, Jesus did not call everyone His brother or His sister.
For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother. Matthew 12:50 (NKJV)
So then, who are the brothers and sisters? Those who believe in Jesus Christ as Saviour.
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: John 1:12 (NKJV)
On that note, if you speak God's truth, people will be offended; you will be attacked; you will lose friends because the world doesn't understand the truth. They do not have the ability to discern the truth.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 (NKJV)
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)
The days are coming my brothers and sisters in Christ when it will be more and more difficult to speak the truth. The false prophets and teachers can speak, people of other religions can speak, agnostics and atheists can speak. They are in the dark and darkness doesn't like the light.
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19 (NKJV)
So if you speak the truth, just be prepared.
"And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." Matthew 5:6 (NKJV)
9 "Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another." Matthew 24:9-10 (NKJV)
Are you my brother or my sister? If you're not, I pray that you will consider Jesus to be your Saviour and be freed from the darkness and come into the light. Believe me, you will see the world in a whole different way. But please decide soon, because I feel that time is short and you might not have tomorrow.
Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14 (NKJV)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 (NKJV)
I will close as ask that you please pray for Governor Robert Bentley. He will be attacked viciously and politically he will suffer. We need to pray that God gives him strength and wisdom to endure and that he remembers that his blessed hope and final glory is not of this world but is coming soon.
God willing, until next time
Maranatha
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
What Is Faith?
Every once in awhile I will be posting something that someone else wrote, because it's important and because they said it much better than I can. We are living in perilous times. People are scared and/or worried. Those of us who know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour have a blessed hope, but sometimes the human nature takes over and we worry about our future and our families. I pray that this article will bring you comfort. For those of you who do not know Jesus, now is the time you need to make a decision. With as rapidly as things are happening in this world, you might not get another chance.
This article is a bit longer than most of my posts, but it is worth reading.
Who is in control of this warfare? Our mighty God and Savior, Jesus Christ is. The Father hath put everything under His feet to His glory.
This article is a bit longer than most of my posts, but it is worth reading.
WHAT IS FAITH?
By Mike Taylor
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrew 11:1
We are fast approaching a time of great trials on the earth. We keep hearing about how the government is ever more becoming more and more intrusive into our lives. We see messages, even on this site of how the New World Order is being shaped to monitor every action that a citizen, even of this great nation we live in, will be monitored by an all seeing eye of “Big Brother”. The system is being set up right now, even as you read this. The infrastructure that will make it impossible to live and work without becoming subservient to a national identification system is being laid. Is it the start of the beast power system? Many think so.
Prophetically speaking, Jesus saw our generation when He said the words “When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith upon the earth?” Luke 18:8b. People are worried and fear is starting to grip the hearts and minds of the people who are living today. They send me messages to pray for them. They exclaim, “I don’t know if I have faith to endure”, “ I worry about keeping the faith”. “My faith is not very strong.” Maybe people don’t know what faith is, or how to possess it, because without faith, people can’t even come to know the Lord as their Savior. So what is faith? That’s what we’re going to look at by searching God’s Word and seeing if, per chance, we can develop a lasting faith to “endure to the end”.
If you wish to find what faith is, we need to go to the words of Jesus to find the answer of what faith is. Turn to the gospel of Matthew chapter 6:
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
So if God can take care of the needs such as these, can He not take care of your needs? Of course, He can. Are we only looking at how strong we are, and not considering the mighty power of an infinite, Almighty God? God has made many promises to His children dwelling upon this earth, especially in these last days we see approaching. Jesus said:
Matthew 17:20, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
We as mortal beings see what is happening all around us, and to an unsaved person, it is indeed fearful. But with the eye of faith, we know that there is a spiritual warfare going on all around us, so that if we saw it, we would be standing with our mouth open in awe.
There is a story of this warfare that is told in II Kings chapter 6. It illustrates what is going on all around us and the spiritual warfare that is being waged. It the story of Elisha and a Syrian army surrounding Israel
And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master! What shall we do?" So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, and said, "Strike this people, I pray, with blindness." And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.
This story illustrates what was possible, even with the Holy Spirit not given in its fullness, as Jesus had not died yet to send the “Comforter” to us. Now that the Holy Spirit is among us and in us, we have the power to remove mountains if we have faith.
Even now we have a warfare going on all around us, as it was in the time of the prophets, it is going on right now and more so, as we come closer and closer to the end of this age.
Who is in control of this warfare? Our mighty God and Savior, Jesus Christ is. The Father hath put everything under His feet to His glory.
Hebrews chapter 2:
8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. 9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
And again in Psalm chapter 110:
The affirmation of Jehovah to my Lord: `Sit at My right hand, Till I make thine enemies thy footstool.' 2 The rod of thy strength doth Jehovah send from Zion
If you want to get a good handle on “what is faith?” then you can go to the faith chapter of the Bible found in Hebrews the 11th chapter. It’s called the faith chapter, as it identifies men of God who put their faith in the One who never fails, who has the power to meet their every need. Stop for a moment, and read this lovely chapter.
And how does this inspiring, strong faith message end?
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Their faith was looking forward to one event that they had not seen except by FAITH. What was that event? What was that Promise?
It was the coming of the Messiah, Jesus the Christ. When Jesus came as a man, just like you and me, He was fulfilling His promise to come into the world to save a lost creation. He promised it in the Garden of Eden, and He promised to all the Old Testament saints who saw it in the future.
Abraham was faithful in that He believed God that He would make Abraham a father of many nations, and through him, the Savior would come.
Romans chapter 4:
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
So what is Faith? Faith is believing and asking Jesus Christ into your life and making Him Lord over it. If you have done that powerful act of faith and acceptance, what have you to fear?
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrew 11:1. We don’t yet see it, but it’s just over the horizon just out of sight, and we embrace it with the faith and trust in Him who has power over death, hell, and the grave. Him, who will grant us eternal life and to spend eternity in His glorious presence. I Corinthians 2:9,
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Nothing in this world can rob you of your eternal home, if you be found in Jesus Christ as personal Savior. He made those promises and He will complete their fulfillment when He speaks to you upon entering your heavenly reward, “Well, done thou good and faithful servant.”
That is our destination, that is His promise, but what about the present hour, you may ask? Are you prepared what is coming on the face of the earth? Jesus has made precise promises to us, in this hour.
I Corinthians chapter 15:
50 And this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood the reign of God is not able to inherit, nor doth the corruption inherit the incorruption; 51 lo, I tell you a secret; we indeed shall not all sleep, and we all shall be changed; 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, in the last trumpet, for it shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we -- we shall be changed: 53 for it behoveth this corruptible to put on incorruption, and this mortal to put on immortality; 54 and when this corruptible may have put on incorruption, and this mortal may have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that hath been written, `The Death was swallowed up -- to victory; 55 where, O Death, thy sting? where, O Hades, thy victory?'
Jesus made another promise when giving the parable of the sheep and goat judgment in Matthew chapter 25:
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world,
Why? Because we kept faith in Him and did unto our brothers on earth, as we had done it to Him. We have given of ourselves to others in need and proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who will believe. We have visited the homeless, the poor, and fed the hungry, in His name. He will reward us for our faith, our belief, and our resolve to trust in His Holy Name.
I turn now to a message, a promise in your bible for that will be applied to this day and age, and has always been with us even into the New Testament age, the Age of Grace.
Psalm 91:
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. ( enduring faith) 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Do you not see, that we have nothing to fear from man in this hour? God is in control, and I firmly believe He will not allow anything to come against His elect in this time before the Tribulation breaks out on a unrepentant mankind that is not for our growth spiritually and forming us into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. And what of the coming fear of God’s retribution, His judgment on this earth?
I Thessalonians 5:9-10:
9 For God has not destined us for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us in order that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
So have you now understood what “Faith” is? Faith is uncompromising belief and unwavering resolve to put your trust and confidence in the One who can deliver you from the evil that is coming upon the earth, to meet your every need in this hour, and bring you to sit at His right hand in Glory. As Jesus said, “When the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith upon the earth?” Do you have faith? Do you trust Him?
You who are reading this, and you wonder. You do not know that Jesus Christ is in your life and heart, so what about you? These promises are not for you. If you have not accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, then you cannot claim these promises of faith. Only those washed in the blood of the Lamb,
Hebrews chapter 9:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.
I am reminded of an old hymn that many sing without understanding its deep meaning of faith:
There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins; and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. The dying thief rejoiced to see that fountain in his day; and there may I, though vile as he, wash all my sins away.Dear dying Lamb, thy precious blood shall never lose its power till all the ransomed church of God be saved, to sin no more. Only those washed in this fount of blood shed by our Savior and Lord, can claim, in faith, the promise of eternal life and belief in God meeting your needs in this hour and throughout eternity. All others have a foreboding fear of what is coming upon the earth. We, who have faith, a belief in Jesus Christ as our Savior in this life and the life to come, should not fear. As a saved Christian we should be looking with anxious expectation of His soon return, as the signs are all around us. Is it too late? It’s never too late, this side of His coming, but time is growing ever shorter and the opportunity could abruptly be cut off in life, or in death.
Revelation chapter 3:
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Revelation chapter 22:
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
Have you put your trust and faith in the only One who can deliver you without spot or blemish before a Holy God, our Father in heaven? If you can’t say a wholehearted “yes, I can” then reader, do it now…do it today for we are not promised tomorrow, only the present.
Hebrews chapter 9:
27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
If there is anything I can pray with you about, counsel you on with biblical direction, or just listen to your concerns, drop me a line to realteam1999@sbcglobal.net, or visit me online at www.churchofgod-usa.org. This is Mike Taylor, wishing you well, till we meet at Jesus feet.
I would recommend that you write some of these verses down and keep them nearby to remind yourselves of Christ's promises.
God willing, until next time
Maranatha
Monday, January 17, 2011
Free At Last
Today we honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I was a young child during the time of Dr. King and didn't quite understand the struggle that my African American brothers and sisters were going through. I couldn't understand how a group of people could be ostracized and persecuted just by the color of their skin. In my innocent mind, it didn't make sense.
I remember listening to Dr. King's speeches and feeling the passion. To this day, I am stirred whenever I listen to his "I Have a Dream" speech or when he said "Free at Last".
But today I want to talk about another battle for freedom, a slavery we are still under bondage to.
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. John 8:31-34 (NKJV)
Yes folks, we are all in bondage, slaves to sin. The beginning of sin looks so enticing, so much fun. It wouldn't hurt to do it just this one time. Then there's the next time and the next. Soon you're mired so deep in sin that you don't think you will ever find a way out. Sin is your master and you have to obey it.
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Romans 6:16 (NKJV)
So what is the answer? How can we be free from this bondage.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1 (NKJV)
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 (NKJV)
Being freed from the bondage of sin is a choice only you can make.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
Accept the free gift God has offered and enjoy what true freedom feels like.
God willing, until next time
Mananatha
I remember listening to Dr. King's speeches and feeling the passion. To this day, I am stirred whenever I listen to his "I Have a Dream" speech or when he said "Free at Last".
But today I want to talk about another battle for freedom, a slavery we are still under bondage to.
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” 34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. John 8:31-34 (NKJV)
Yes folks, we are all in bondage, slaves to sin. The beginning of sin looks so enticing, so much fun. It wouldn't hurt to do it just this one time. Then there's the next time and the next. Soon you're mired so deep in sin that you don't think you will ever find a way out. Sin is your master and you have to obey it.
Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness? Romans 6:16 (NKJV)
So what is the answer? How can we be free from this bondage.
Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1 (NKJV)
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2 (NKJV)
Being freed from the bondage of sin is a choice only you can make.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NKJV)
Accept the free gift God has offered and enjoy what true freedom feels like.
God willing, until next time
Mananatha
Saturday, January 15, 2011
But It Itches!
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NKJV)
He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. John 12:48 (NKJV)
People as a whole, are rejecting God’s Word today, just as Paul warned. However, the same Word that they reject will judge them on judgment day. The sad and frightening thing is that many of those who claim to be Christians are among those who these verses are referring.
And Jesus knew this would happen.
18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Mark 4:18-19 (NKJV)
Now I hear and read of people who say that the Bible isn't relevant today. That's it's just an outdated book of myths and good stories. But does saying this make it true? The Word of God is just as relevant, just as true as it has always been. You can deny it. You can criticize it. But one day you will be judged by it.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)
So what happened? What has caused this apostasy, this turning away from the Word of God? One word - laziness. Laziness from the pulpit for not digging deeper into the word of God and following God's plans and laziness from the people for not opening their Bibles except on Sundays, if they even open it then.
Could this be why many have itching ears, drawing to themselves teachers who will tickle them under the chin, pat them on the back and kiss their little pink cheeks on the way out the door? I think so. Following Christ and doing what He wants of us takes work. Studying the Bible takes work. God does not look fondly upon laziness. Do a concordance search in your Bible and check it out. **
Sermons have become sugar-coated, filled with feel-good messages so that everyone leaves happy and content. But where's the fire? Where's the conviction? People are being fed a lie that is coming straight from the pits of Hell and are just as quickly leading people into that Hell. Preachers don't want to offend, don't want to lose their comfortable jobs. Where are the sermons of Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 3:16. Where is the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man, Luke 16:19-31? Where are all the warnings concerning the judgements of Israel when they strayed from God? Where is the teaching from the book of Revelation of all the horrors of things to come?
So what happened to our churches. They have become places of entertainment. Great music to get your toes tapping and give you a good feeling. Great food with plenty of friendly fellowship. I even know of churches who hold Super Bowl parties since it falls on a Sunday night. Sure, I love good music, I love food, and I surely love the Super Bowl. I understand the church can get people in there for these events, but, where is the message? Where is sin and redemption and Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross and resurrection? Where is the warning that Christ is coming back soon for His Church and woe to those who are left behind?
There is a book by M.R. DeHaan, M.D., called “The Tabernacle”. In it he wrote:
“Instead of believers coming together to fellowship around the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, without all the extraneous paraphernalia, and just to feed on His Word, we have too often turned our services into a carnival. The Word has been pushed aside into a secondary place. Instead, we have an hour and a half of preliminaries, with singing of silly choruses and empty spirituals, and joking and laughing and horseplay. Entertainment has taken the place of worship; singing and music instead of preaching; and then a fifteen-minute sermonette, highly spiced and sensational, in order to keep people awake after all of the wearying entertainment. And then we wonder at the worldliness and the shallowness of Christians today. We have substituted or added pickles, olives, radishes, and highly seasoned extras, and have relegated the Word of Life to a side dish, which few will touch.
The assembly of the saints should be first of all a time of worship and devotion and feeding and feasting upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and not a matter of shallow entertainment. It is a sad thing indeed when a Bible-teaching service or prayer meeting is attended by only a handful of worshipers, while a high-powered entertainer, a musical night, or moving pictures will draw packed houses. Instead of gathering around the person of Christ and feeding upon His Word, we are today regaled by cowboy stunts, ventriloquism, magic tricks, and western movies. Oh, for a return to the good old days when folks went to church not to be entertained and amused and tickled, but to worship the Lord, and to feed upon His Word, and prepare for service through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.”
Sound familiar? This was written 56 years ago. How much worse is it now?
I've been in church, Bible open and ready, notebook and pen in hand, waiting for what God has to say to me through the preacher. I sang the hymns, listened to the choir, took note of the announcements, stood and shook hands with the people around me, introduced myself to visitors; all which are good things. Then comes the sermon, the message I have been waiting for. I'm listening, looking verses up, writing down notes to study, then suddenly, the sermon is over. Why? Because people are getting hungry, people are tired of sitting, football game comes on in an hour? And I feel like I've been left hanging. I still have questions. I still want to learn. I still want to hear the Word of God.
So what is the result of all of this? Apostasy and sin. Yes, we have let sin come into our churches.
14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’” Revelation 3:14-22 (NKJV)
The itching ears of the apostate church have brought us deeply into the Laodicean age. This church condones and even ordains homosexual leadership. It has made a farce out of real worship, thinking it is rich and holy, when it is actually poor and wretched. Every sin imaginable is winked at by this so-called church. God judged the people of Noah’s day, Sodom and Gomorrah, and other civilizations that went after other gods, which were no gods at all. You can bet that this country and this Laodicean church will be judged too, and probably sooner than we think.**
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
We are in a spiritual battle, a battle for men's souls.
Now to those who speak from the pulpits. You need to burn your feel-good-prosperity gospel books along with your notes taken from the liberal professors in college and seminary, and ask the Lord’s forgiveness for the poison you have been handing out. Souls are going to Hell because of it, thinking all the time that they were “okay” with God. Christians have become fat and lazy because you have no spiritual backbone.**
Time is short. Sound out the warning even if it is to your own pastor. And, if your ear itches, turn to the Word of God. That is where you will find real relief.
God willing, until next time.
Maranatha
**From ITCHNG EARS By Grant Phillips
grantphillips@windstream.net
www.raptureready.com
He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. John 12:48 (NKJV)
People as a whole, are rejecting God’s Word today, just as Paul warned. However, the same Word that they reject will judge them on judgment day. The sad and frightening thing is that many of those who claim to be Christians are among those who these verses are referring.
And Jesus knew this would happen.
18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, 19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Mark 4:18-19 (NKJV)
Now I hear and read of people who say that the Bible isn't relevant today. That's it's just an outdated book of myths and good stories. But does saying this make it true? The Word of God is just as relevant, just as true as it has always been. You can deny it. You can criticize it. But one day you will be judged by it.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)
So what happened? What has caused this apostasy, this turning away from the Word of God? One word - laziness. Laziness from the pulpit for not digging deeper into the word of God and following God's plans and laziness from the people for not opening their Bibles except on Sundays, if they even open it then.
Could this be why many have itching ears, drawing to themselves teachers who will tickle them under the chin, pat them on the back and kiss their little pink cheeks on the way out the door? I think so. Following Christ and doing what He wants of us takes work. Studying the Bible takes work. God does not look fondly upon laziness. Do a concordance search in your Bible and check it out. **
Sermons have become sugar-coated, filled with feel-good messages so that everyone leaves happy and content. But where's the fire? Where's the conviction? People are being fed a lie that is coming straight from the pits of Hell and are just as quickly leading people into that Hell. Preachers don't want to offend, don't want to lose their comfortable jobs. Where are the sermons of Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, John 3:16. Where is the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man, Luke 16:19-31? Where are all the warnings concerning the judgements of Israel when they strayed from God? Where is the teaching from the book of Revelation of all the horrors of things to come?
So what happened to our churches. They have become places of entertainment. Great music to get your toes tapping and give you a good feeling. Great food with plenty of friendly fellowship. I even know of churches who hold Super Bowl parties since it falls on a Sunday night. Sure, I love good music, I love food, and I surely love the Super Bowl. I understand the church can get people in there for these events, but, where is the message? Where is sin and redemption and Jesus' sacrifice on the Cross and resurrection? Where is the warning that Christ is coming back soon for His Church and woe to those who are left behind?
There is a book by M.R. DeHaan, M.D., called “The Tabernacle”. In it he wrote:
“Instead of believers coming together to fellowship around the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life, without all the extraneous paraphernalia, and just to feed on His Word, we have too often turned our services into a carnival. The Word has been pushed aside into a secondary place. Instead, we have an hour and a half of preliminaries, with singing of silly choruses and empty spirituals, and joking and laughing and horseplay. Entertainment has taken the place of worship; singing and music instead of preaching; and then a fifteen-minute sermonette, highly spiced and sensational, in order to keep people awake after all of the wearying entertainment. And then we wonder at the worldliness and the shallowness of Christians today. We have substituted or added pickles, olives, radishes, and highly seasoned extras, and have relegated the Word of Life to a side dish, which few will touch.
The assembly of the saints should be first of all a time of worship and devotion and feeding and feasting upon the Lord Jesus Christ, and not a matter of shallow entertainment. It is a sad thing indeed when a Bible-teaching service or prayer meeting is attended by only a handful of worshipers, while a high-powered entertainer, a musical night, or moving pictures will draw packed houses. Instead of gathering around the person of Christ and feeding upon His Word, we are today regaled by cowboy stunts, ventriloquism, magic tricks, and western movies. Oh, for a return to the good old days when folks went to church not to be entertained and amused and tickled, but to worship the Lord, and to feed upon His Word, and prepare for service through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.”
Sound familiar? This was written 56 years ago. How much worse is it now?
I've been in church, Bible open and ready, notebook and pen in hand, waiting for what God has to say to me through the preacher. I sang the hymns, listened to the choir, took note of the announcements, stood and shook hands with the people around me, introduced myself to visitors; all which are good things. Then comes the sermon, the message I have been waiting for. I'm listening, looking verses up, writing down notes to study, then suddenly, the sermon is over. Why? Because people are getting hungry, people are tired of sitting, football game comes on in an hour? And I feel like I've been left hanging. I still have questions. I still want to learn. I still want to hear the Word of God.
So what is the result of all of this? Apostasy and sin. Yes, we have let sin come into our churches.
14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’” Revelation 3:14-22 (NKJV)
The itching ears of the apostate church have brought us deeply into the Laodicean age. This church condones and even ordains homosexual leadership. It has made a farce out of real worship, thinking it is rich and holy, when it is actually poor and wretched. Every sin imaginable is winked at by this so-called church. God judged the people of Noah’s day, Sodom and Gomorrah, and other civilizations that went after other gods, which were no gods at all. You can bet that this country and this Laodicean church will be judged too, and probably sooner than we think.**
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
We are in a spiritual battle, a battle for men's souls.
Now to those who speak from the pulpits. You need to burn your feel-good-prosperity gospel books along with your notes taken from the liberal professors in college and seminary, and ask the Lord’s forgiveness for the poison you have been handing out. Souls are going to Hell because of it, thinking all the time that they were “okay” with God. Christians have become fat and lazy because you have no spiritual backbone.**
Time is short. Sound out the warning even if it is to your own pastor. And, if your ear itches, turn to the Word of God. That is where you will find real relief.
God willing, until next time.
Maranatha
**From ITCHNG EARS By Grant Phillips
grantphillips@windstream.net
www.raptureready.com
Friday, January 14, 2011
There's a Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On
I was watching a show on the History Channel the other night called Megaquake 10.0. On this program, scientists were discussing all the earthquake prone areas from California's San Andreas fault, the Northwest's Cascadia subduction zone, the Midwest's New Madrid fault, the tectonic plate and subduction zone called the Peru-Chili trench, Japan, and the Himalayan fold-thrust belt which involves India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and China. And I haven't even talked about the Mediterranean. Now I'm no geologist. As a matter of fact, I barely passed geology when I was in college. But I do understand subduction zones and how we're floating on tectonic plates.
Looking at the news yesterday, here's what I read:
Sicily’s Mt. Etna erupts overnight
Fascinating article that even has a video taken by someone in a hotel room, watching the eruption.
Swarm of quakes rattle San Benito County
Indonesia volcano prompts evacuation plan
Magnitude 7.3 quake strikes off New Caledonia: USGS
Then I went to a website I like to visit that will show the latest earthquakes in the world for the past 7 days.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/
Okay, now people who know me know that I seem to have fascination with natural disaster. In a way I do. But don't get me wrong. I dislike suffering and distruction. So where am I going with this?
This website has listed 5 significant earthquakes for 2011.
Magnitude 7.0 LOYALTY ISLANDS January 13, 2011
Magnitude 6.6 VANUATU January 09, 2011
Magnitude 4.1 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA January 08, 2011
Magnitude 7.1 ARAUCANIA, CHILE January 02, 2011
Magnitude 7.0 SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, ARGENTINA January 01, 2011
Now remember this, today is only the 14th of January. This doesn't count all the earthquakes that aren't considered significant.
I decided to check and see how many times the word earthquake(s) appeared in the Bible. Looking in the NKJV, I found 17 verses that mentioned earthquake or earthquakes. So the Earth has been shaking for a long time. But I want to look at a couple of those verses.
I believe the one that most people are familiar with is:
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. Matthew 24:6-7 (NKJV)
But it is the earthquakes mentioned in the Book of Revelation that really caught my eye.
12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. Revelation 6:12-14 (NKJV)
In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. Revelation 11:13 (NKJV)
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. Revelation:16:17-20 (NKJV)
Now what does all of this mean? Are these the beginning of birth pains? I believe so, but don't take my word on it. Please look it up and study it for yourselves. The general consensus, which I agree with, is that we will be seeing more and more earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters. I also believe that God is sending us a warning. Time is short.
2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. Matthew 16:2-3 (NKJV)
Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. Luke 21:27 (NKJV)
God willing, until next time
Maranatha
Looking at the news yesterday, here's what I read:
Sicily’s Mt. Etna erupts overnight
Fascinating article that even has a video taken by someone in a hotel room, watching the eruption.
Swarm of quakes rattle San Benito County
Indonesia volcano prompts evacuation plan
Magnitude 7.3 quake strikes off New Caledonia: USGS
Then I went to a website I like to visit that will show the latest earthquakes in the world for the past 7 days.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/
Okay, now people who know me know that I seem to have fascination with natural disaster. In a way I do. But don't get me wrong. I dislike suffering and distruction. So where am I going with this?
This website has listed 5 significant earthquakes for 2011.
Magnitude 7.0 LOYALTY ISLANDS January 13, 2011
Magnitude 6.6 VANUATU January 09, 2011
Magnitude 4.1 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA January 08, 2011
Magnitude 7.1 ARAUCANIA, CHILE January 02, 2011
Magnitude 7.0 SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, ARGENTINA January 01, 2011
Now remember this, today is only the 14th of January. This doesn't count all the earthquakes that aren't considered significant.
I decided to check and see how many times the word earthquake(s) appeared in the Bible. Looking in the NKJV, I found 17 verses that mentioned earthquake or earthquakes. So the Earth has been shaking for a long time. But I want to look at a couple of those verses.
I believe the one that most people are familiar with is:
6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. Matthew 24:6-7 (NKJV)
But it is the earthquakes mentioned in the Book of Revelation that really caught my eye.
12 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. Revelation 6:12-14 (NKJV)
In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. Revelation 11:13 (NKJV)
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” 18 And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. 19 Now the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell. And great Babylon was remembered before God, to give her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of His wrath. 20 Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found. Revelation:16:17-20 (NKJV)
Now what does all of this mean? Are these the beginning of birth pains? I believe so, but don't take my word on it. Please look it up and study it for yourselves. The general consensus, which I agree with, is that we will be seeing more and more earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and other natural disasters. I also believe that God is sending us a warning. Time is short.
2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. Matthew 16:2-3 (NKJV)
Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. Luke 21:27 (NKJV)
God willing, until next time
Maranatha
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Where Are You?
This is for all of my brothers and sisters in Christ. Where are you? I see you in church. I read about your prayers. I listen to the beautiful music you post. But I don't see you standing on the wall.
Folks, we are in a battle. It may not be a physical battle like our brave soldiers are fighting, but it is a major battle all the same. It is a battle for the souls of our friends and family.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
This battle is just as dangerous, if not more so, than what our soldiers are fighting. Our adversary is cunning and will do anything he can to win.
And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 (NKJV)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)
Satan knows his time is getting short and he has kicked it into high gear. One of his goals is to take as many people with him.
So what should we be doing? We need to be on the wall shouting out the warning.
1 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3 when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’ Ezekiel 33:1-6 (NKJV)
People are lost. People are searching desperately for answers during these perilous times. We have the answer - faith and belief in Jesus Christ.
If you saw that your neighbor's house was on fire, wouldn't you do whatever you could to save them? How much more important then is saving them from the fires of Hell.
What's that you say? You're so busy with family and with work? You have that one special project to finish? After things slow down a little you'll start talking to people. There are people dying and going to hell needlessly every day because people are more concerned with things of this world than saving the souls of lost men and women. How many will be gone by the time you have the time?
You don't want to appear strange to people? You don't want to lose your friends? How many friends will you lose when you're in Heaven and they're eternally in Hell? What if you could have saved them?
Don't know enough of the Bible to talk about it? You're not comfortable discussing Jesus? Well I say - GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE!!
Time is short. The church is asleep. Many people are in local churches where they are never confronted with messages on sin, or dealing with the issues we all face in life from a Biblical worldview. They are being brought up in this era of purpose driven/seeker/emerging church marketing strategies designed to fill the pews with warm bodies, not converts. They feel that talking about sin and hell is hateful, judgmental, and that we shouldn't tell people that without faith in Jesus, they will die and go to hell. The worst part is, people are starting to believe that all good people go to Heaven.
Jesus said to him (Thomas), “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 (NKJV)
We've all heard and probably sang the song "Onward Christian Soldiers". Well, this is a call to battle. Either you're with Jesus or against Jesus. There is no middle ground.
He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. Matthew 12:30 (NKJV)
I don't know about you, but I think those are pretty strong words.
If you have trusted Jesus with your salvation, don't you think it's time to trust him with your life? Or do you just "take Him out of the box" when you need Him. Let me tell you, there is no middle ground. It's time to make a decision.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24 (NKJV)
Time is short, the mission is urgent. Your warning might fall on deaf ears, but we need to keep warning. Remember the verses I mentioned earlier.
then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. Ezekiel 33:4
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand. Ezekiel 22:6
In other words, if you shout out the warning and they don't listen it's on them. Like trying to get someone out of the burning house and they don't want to leave. But if you know the danger is there and you don't warn them, then it's on your head. Like watching the fire burn your neighbor's house and you sit there thinking "someone else will save them."
Folks, we are in a battle. It may not be a physical battle like our brave soldiers are fighting, but it is a major battle all the same. It is a battle for the souls of our friends and family.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV)
This battle is just as dangerous, if not more so, than what our soldiers are fighting. Our adversary is cunning and will do anything he can to win.
And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. 2 Corinthians 11:14 (NKJV)
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)
Satan knows his time is getting short and he has kicked it into high gear. One of his goals is to take as many people with him.
So what should we be doing? We need to be on the wall shouting out the warning.
1 Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 2 “Son of man, speak to the children of your people, and say to them: ‘When I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from their territory and make him their watchman, 3 when he sees the sword coming upon the land, if he blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet, but did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But he who takes warning will save his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’ Ezekiel 33:1-6 (NKJV)
People are lost. People are searching desperately for answers during these perilous times. We have the answer - faith and belief in Jesus Christ.
If you saw that your neighbor's house was on fire, wouldn't you do whatever you could to save them? How much more important then is saving them from the fires of Hell.
What's that you say? You're so busy with family and with work? You have that one special project to finish? After things slow down a little you'll start talking to people. There are people dying and going to hell needlessly every day because people are more concerned with things of this world than saving the souls of lost men and women. How many will be gone by the time you have the time?
You don't want to appear strange to people? You don't want to lose your friends? How many friends will you lose when you're in Heaven and they're eternally in Hell? What if you could have saved them?
Don't know enough of the Bible to talk about it? You're not comfortable discussing Jesus? Well I say - GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE!!
Time is short. The church is asleep. Many people are in local churches where they are never confronted with messages on sin, or dealing with the issues we all face in life from a Biblical worldview. They are being brought up in this era of purpose driven/seeker/emerging church marketing strategies designed to fill the pews with warm bodies, not converts. They feel that talking about sin and hell is hateful, judgmental, and that we shouldn't tell people that without faith in Jesus, they will die and go to hell. The worst part is, people are starting to believe that all good people go to Heaven.
Jesus said to him (Thomas), “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 (NKJV)
We've all heard and probably sang the song "Onward Christian Soldiers". Well, this is a call to battle. Either you're with Jesus or against Jesus. There is no middle ground.
He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. Matthew 12:30 (NKJV)
I don't know about you, but I think those are pretty strong words.
If you have trusted Jesus with your salvation, don't you think it's time to trust him with your life? Or do you just "take Him out of the box" when you need Him. Let me tell you, there is no middle ground. It's time to make a decision.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 16:24 (NKJV)
Time is short, the mission is urgent. Your warning might fall on deaf ears, but we need to keep warning. Remember the verses I mentioned earlier.
then whoever hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, if the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be on his own head. Ezekiel 33:4
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, and the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any person from among them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand. Ezekiel 22:6
In other words, if you shout out the warning and they don't listen it's on them. Like trying to get someone out of the burning house and they don't want to leave. But if you know the danger is there and you don't warn them, then it's on your head. Like watching the fire burn your neighbor's house and you sit there thinking "someone else will save them."
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, Ephesians 6: 13-19 (NKJV)
When God says my work is finished and I take my last breath, I will stand before Him like we all will. That is why I refuse to compromise His Truth, or sell out the Gospel for whatever earthly rewards that may provide.
To all my brothers and sisters who are on the Wall, my prayers go out to you. For those who haven't joined us yet, what are you waiting for? Even if it is only a small corner like mine. You will be amazed at the blessings.
God willing, until next time
Maranatha
When God says my work is finished and I take my last breath, I will stand before Him like we all will. That is why I refuse to compromise His Truth, or sell out the Gospel for whatever earthly rewards that may provide.
To all my brothers and sisters who are on the Wall, my prayers go out to you. For those who haven't joined us yet, what are you waiting for? Even if it is only a small corner like mine. You will be amazed at the blessings.
God willing, until next time
Maranatha
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Ring of Fire
Remember Johnny Cash's song Ring of Fire. That's been going through my head all day today. Which got me to thinking about fire which, in turn, got me to thinking about Hell.
I have heard people say that we shouldn't talk about Hell. It's scary. Just like preachers don't like talking about the End Times because it's too derisive. But you know what? Both are real. Jesus talked about both.
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’” Luke 16:19-31 (NKJV)
We know that this isn't a parable, because Jesus was using an actual name. Hell is a very real place. It is worse that just unpleasant. It is eternal torment and you will know who you are, where you're at, and why you're there. You will also know that you will never leave.
I see so many cartoons that make a joke about Hell, but I'm telling you, it won't be one big party with all of your friends. It will be dark and you will be all alone, with no more chance of redemption.
Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matthew 22:13 (NKJV)
Now, I don't know how many people will read this and I don't know how many of those reading will just dismiss this. But I pray you will at least consider what I am saying, because you might not have another chance tomorrow.
Two things could happen tomorrow: 1) you could die, with in an accident or maybe a heart attack. I have read too many obituaries and been to too many funerals from people who were gone too soon.
whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14 (NKJV)
Or 2), the rapture of the Church will happen. The Church Age, the Age of Grace will be over.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (NKJV)
Will you have another chance then? When millions of people suddenly disappear, will you be able to change your mind? Imagine - there will be mass chaos. Then there is the deception that you could fall prey to.
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
2 Thessalonians 2:11 (NKJV)
People are being deceived every day now. What makes you think you won't be deceived then? Everything will be in mass confusion and life will not be pleasant. And why would you want to take that chance?
How can you avoid all of this? How can you be assured of where you will be when the time comes?
I know that many people think that they will go to Heaven because they have lived a good life, treated their neighbors kindly, volunteered for charity work, or maybe they have never broken the law. Or, maybe you go to church and you might have even been baptised. But the one thing you have to remember is: NO ONE can live up to God's idea of righteousness.
There is none righteous, no, not one; Romans 3:10 (NKJV)
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (NKJV)
That means that all of us deserve Hell. Even me. Salvation cannot be earned by good works. We will never be good enough in God's eyes.
So what's the answer?
I have heard people say that we shouldn't talk about Hell. It's scary. Just like preachers don't like talking about the End Times because it's too derisive. But you know what? Both are real. Jesus talked about both.
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’ 27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’” Luke 16:19-31 (NKJV)
We know that this isn't a parable, because Jesus was using an actual name. Hell is a very real place. It is worse that just unpleasant. It is eternal torment and you will know who you are, where you're at, and why you're there. You will also know that you will never leave.
I see so many cartoons that make a joke about Hell, but I'm telling you, it won't be one big party with all of your friends. It will be dark and you will be all alone, with no more chance of redemption.
Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matthew 22:13 (NKJV)
Now, I don't know how many people will read this and I don't know how many of those reading will just dismiss this. But I pray you will at least consider what I am saying, because you might not have another chance tomorrow.
Two things could happen tomorrow: 1) you could die, with in an accident or maybe a heart attack. I have read too many obituaries and been to too many funerals from people who were gone too soon.
whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. James 4:14 (NKJV)
Or 2), the rapture of the Church will happen. The Church Age, the Age of Grace will be over.
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (NKJV)
Will you have another chance then? When millions of people suddenly disappear, will you be able to change your mind? Imagine - there will be mass chaos. Then there is the deception that you could fall prey to.
And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,
2 Thessalonians 2:11 (NKJV)
People are being deceived every day now. What makes you think you won't be deceived then? Everything will be in mass confusion and life will not be pleasant. And why would you want to take that chance?
How can you avoid all of this? How can you be assured of where you will be when the time comes?
I know that many people think that they will go to Heaven because they have lived a good life, treated their neighbors kindly, volunteered for charity work, or maybe they have never broken the law. Or, maybe you go to church and you might have even been baptised. But the one thing you have to remember is: NO ONE can live up to God's idea of righteousness.
There is none righteous, no, not one; Romans 3:10 (NKJV)
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23 (NKJV)
That means that all of us deserve Hell. Even me. Salvation cannot be earned by good works. We will never be good enough in God's eyes.
So what's the answer?
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Romans 5:8-9 (NKJV)
We can be saved from the wrath of God, because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. He paid the price for all of us so we can be justified in God's eyes through our faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
We can be saved from the wrath of God, because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead. He paid the price for all of us so we can be justified in God's eyes through our faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)
Once we believe, I mean really believe, deep down inside, we repent of our sins, and we ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins, we are sealed with God's Holy Spirit, which is God's deposit, that guarantees he will redeem us.
21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 1 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NKJV)
Now, I'll go back to the question I asked earlier. Do you really want to wait? Do you really want to gamble with your eternal life?
My prayer for all of you is that you don't wait. Time is too short and none of us have the promise of tomorrow.
God willing, until next time
Maranatha
Once we believe, I mean really believe, deep down inside, we repent of our sins, and we ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins, we are sealed with God's Holy Spirit, which is God's deposit, that guarantees he will redeem us.
21 Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, 22 who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 1 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NKJV)
Now, I'll go back to the question I asked earlier. Do you really want to wait? Do you really want to gamble with your eternal life?
My prayer for all of you is that you don't wait. Time is too short and none of us have the promise of tomorrow.
God willing, until next time
Maranatha
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