Sunday, September 12, 2010

Indicators Of A Healthy Relationship With Christ

Here is an article that I found under resources on the website http://praycog.org/ that I loved and thought I would share.  It was written by Doug Small and it is thought provoking.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
I will share more on division soon so come back.

INDICATORS OF A HEALTHY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST
Here are some indicators of a personal relationship with Christ:

  1. You talk with Him daily. You pray. You live in his presence.
  2. You are conscious of His presence and your conscious desire to please him, to do his will. (II Corinthians 5:9; John 8:29) He rarely leaves your mind. You are preoccupied with Him. You are “walking in the Spirit.”
  3. You are in love! You are not merely doing religious things, keeping traditions, living by rules, honoring religious customs. No, you are in love! You know God is real. And you would do anything for Him.
  4. You delight in the Lord, and therefore you embrace disciplines and duties that are not always delightful. You do so, out of love. “If you love me, keep my commandments!” In the Old Testament, duty demanded that one keep the law. In the New Testament, love constraints us to do right. Our motivation has changed. Holiness, the end result has not changed.
  5. You want to serve. You are ready to be a bond-slave. Prayer makes us available. Prayer is the intentional and daily check-in experience. In prayer, we punch the divine clock and notify God that we are on-duty and ready to serve.
  6. There is an overflow of your life, outward to others. The evidence of the inward love for God is read by others. They see it. You can’t hide it. Prayer explodes outwardly in some manifestation of God’s glory. His presence marks a life. This is “the glory!” How can you be silent? The love of God is shed abroad in your heart.
  7. The speech of an overflowing Christian is marked by thanksgiving and praise. The inner flood spills out onto others around you. They are the benefactors of our satisfied hearts. The inner happiness becomes a river of joy tasted by others.

Source: Prayer – the Heartbeat of the Church Resource Guide: P. Douglas Small (Pathway Press: Cleveland, TN; 2008), p. 21-22.

Israel and the Middle East

'13,000 settlement housing units ready for construction'

'Koran burning will accelerate Israel's fall, annihilation'

'West needs to mobilize into coalition to strike Iran'

Godlessness in the Last Days


Manual on How to Molest Children Is Legal, Cops Say



San Francisco jail installs condom dispensers

Christian Persecution--Please Pray!

FOXNews.com - Christians Stabbed, Beaten With Plank Near Indonesia's Capital
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Friday, September 10, 2010

The Shaking Has Begun

"For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints."  
1 Corinthians 14:33

"And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?"  
Matthew 12:26


Have you ever seen so much division in the nation?  It seems to get worse each day.  Abortion or pro-choice (a sweet sounding euphemism for murder), Democrat or Republican, homosexual--sodomite--marriage or God ordained--traditional--marriage, build a mosque at the site of Islam's murder of Americans or stop the mosque, burn the Quran or not burn it, liberal or conservative, and the list goes on and on.  This current President ran on a platform of change and change has taken place.  Topics that began to polarize the nation ten or twenty years ago are rapidly appearing to fracture the very fabric of our Judeo-Christian nation during this administration.  So things are better with the church--right?


Not exactly! Those professing themselves as believers in Christ are equally divided.  If one minister preaches against homosexuality, another stands and sanctions it.  If one shares the truth that homosexuality is sin, another says that, "God hates fags!"  (Believe me, I hated to write that exact quote so I'll include the site so you can see it for yourself.  http://www.godhatesfags.com/ ) One is preaching grab all of the world's goods because God has promised them to you while another preaches to let go of the trinkets of this world. A Bible teacher teaches that God used progressive steps to create through evolution while another teaches that creation is a literal six days, and this list goes on and on too.  Christians cannot even agree about if, or when, or how Jesus is coming back!  Things are certainly a mess!


This is exactly what the Apostles warned about when they mentioned  perilous times.  It assuredly is upon us for not drawing close to God as far as this nation is concerned.  Division is swallowing this country as well as the entire world.  If God had his hand on this nation there would be peace even when the issues that divide are discussed.  Here is proof from Proverbs 16:7, " When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." However, the anger of many is rising to a boiling point so hot that we are certainly at the brink of a social upheaval of massive proportions.  God has pulled His hand back and now the chaos of the enemy is ensuing.  If we do not have a massive spiritual awakening by the power of the cross through the power of the Holy Spirit in the church, bleaker days are ahead!


Whenever a nation or region that once served God casts His word and His values and His salvation aside then gross and terrible darkness invades.  Asia Minor was the birthplace of the gentile church in so many ways.  Many of the books in the New Testament and the letters of Jesus in Revelation were addressed to churches in this region.  Today, men and women are persecuted and hiding in order to serve Christ in this same area.  It is one of the darkest places, spiritually, in the world.  


Massachusetts was considered by the settling Pilgrims to be a place of Divine favor and direction.  They were not even trying to sail there but were driven to the region by a storm.  After prayer, they felt God had directed their journey to Plymouth.  They even found the forest cleared and the ground prepared for tilling as the entire hostile tribe that had been there had died of a strange disease four years before.  The last known member of that tribe appeared and assisted them.  The first Indians they encountered all spoke English.  They told them that the other tribes were fearful of that land due to the deaths of the hostile tribe.  Pilgrims built  the church/meeting house before they built anything else!  They instituted the concept of compulsory learning with the enacting of Ye Olde Deluder Satan Act.  They did not want people to be illiterate thereby being deceived by Satan.   What is the spiritual condition of this very region today?  What was the center for the first Great Awakening is desperately in need of another move of God.


The shaking has begun!  "Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire."  Hebrews 12:26-29  


God is shaking His church so that all that is false falls aside.  He is shaking His church as He shook the dust of Egypt from His children.  God is shaking His church just like the first few judgments on Egypt affected sinner and saint, just and unjust.  However, as God kept shaking Egypt He eventually sheltered the true believers and sanctified Himself and His children in the sight of their enemies.  Hold on!  The shaking has begun, but that means our home going must be coming soon!


Israel, the Middles East and the Coming of Yeshua


Report: French envoy to meet with Assad on renewal of Israel-Syria peace talks - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News


Nuclear experts watch for Iran’s first N-test after sanctions fail


 Obama urges Netanyahu to extend building freeze amid talks


4th Kassam rocket since Rosh Hashana began hits Israel


Ahmadinejad: Koran burning will bring about Israel's annihilation - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News  Such a poor, blind, and deluded man!  


Ayatollah Khamenei: Peace talks a cover up for Israeli 'crimes' - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News


As In The Days Of Lot and Noah


FOXNews.com - Atheist Billboard Provokes Oklahoman Christians


University of Baltimore Pop Culture Class Focuses on Zombies  Strange article!  Strange class!


California Judge Rules 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Policy Is Unconstitutional | CNSnews.com
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Thursday, September 9, 2010

What A Day!

"And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ."  Acts 5:42


The apostles had one mission and one goal--to preach salvation in the name of Jesus Christ.  It is still to be the goal of the church today.  Jesus is the only hope for America.  We have had different political parties run the country and nothing has changed.  New religions have dotted the landscape and yet things have not changed.  Science and evolution have had 150 years to make a profound difference in the quality of life of humanity.  However, it seems that they have added to the problem rather than solve it.  Changes--whether it is politics, ideologies, religious belief, or any other changes-- not found in the person of Jesus Christ are doomed to fail.  We need to take the current situations that we are in and boldly, loudly proclaim the name above all names and preach the everlasting gospel that can do what men's philosophies and wisdom cannot--change the heart!


Israel and the Middle East


Iranian FM: Israel behind US pastor's planned Koran burning


Gaza Terror Attack on Israeli Kibbutz Heralds Jewish New Year - Defense/Middle East - Israel News - Israel National News


Clinton: Obama foreign policy is working   Really?  Can't see it!


Netanyahu: Arabs Must Accept Jewish State - Jewish World - Israel News - Israel National News

Mortar shell hits near school 30 minutes before class







Globalization




End Time Tech


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Monday, September 6, 2010

The Last Trump--Part 5

"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." 
 Mathew 25:13

As you can see, God is very specific about dates and prophetic events. He seems to do things in a manner of graciousness so that all who wish to see can discern His work. (Just as another point--did you know both temples were destroyed on the same day? Both temples were destroyed on the 9th of Av by the Jewish calendar.) Yet, Jesus assured us that no man knows the day nor the hour of His return. This, by the way, is an allusion to the catching away of His church. How do we know? The last period of the tribulation is seven years long. It will start with a peace treaty with the anti-Christ and the treaty will involve peace between Israel and her enemies. It will most assuredly have something to do with Jerusalem; furthermore, it may bring a way for Israel to resume the Levitical sacrificial system. Even if a believer could not detect, at first, the signing of the treaty, the events of the tribulation are well mapped out in scripture. One could easily trace back and find the treaty and then calculate forward seven years. Jesus will be returning when Jerusalem is surrounded and the Kings of the East are advancing. It will take place seven years after that treaty. In other words, you can determine when He is returning.

His secret coming is, then, the catching away of the saints. However, His statement that no one know the day nor the hour is also an interesting hint--possibly! The Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashana began when the moon cycle was correct. No man knew the day nor the hour in which the new moon would appear. It was during a two day/night window. Two witnesses were sent out of the city and they had to concur that the moon was in the right position for the feast to commence. When they signified the beginning, the feast started. No man knew the day nor the hour when the feast began. It was the only feast that began this way. The very last trumpet blast of this feast, also known as the feast of trumpets, was called "the last trump". Is this what Jesus was alluding to? No one can know for sure, but God is very precise in His methods and manners. Whenever this event occurs we need to be always ready for in such an hour as you think not the Son of Man will come. Are you ready?

Israel, the Middle East and the Coming of Messiah







End Time Technology



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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Somethings Amiss

There is something brewing that could be deadly to the nation and it is not just Hurricane Earl! Please pray! If America bullies Israel to cede portions of Jerusalem we will fall under the curse of Zechariah 12:3, "And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it." Suddenly there is talk of splitting and internationalizing Jerusalem. Will the nation be cut in pieces? Pray!





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Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The Last Trumpet--Part 4

Before you panic, I am not going to try and convince you that I know when the rapture is. Only a foolish person would attempt such a thing. Jesus clearly warned that no man knows the day nor the hour. Several cults have their beginnings with men who seemed to portend when Jesus was returning. My point is that God does clearly follow patterns.

Even that verse, Matthew 25:13, has an interesting background to it. It is always important to remember that Jesus was a Jewish man, a descendant of King David. As such, he often employed Jewish teaching style into His ministry. It was common knowledge in His day that when a Rabbi spoke, what he did not say was just as important as what he did say. Here is a good example. Jesus is speaking to very astute men who have a great depth of understanding in scripture. They are angry with Him that His followers are shouting at Him, "Hosanna, to the Son of David". This was only to be shouted to the Messiah and the priests surely didn't want the lowly Nazarene to be the Messiah! In answer, we read this verse, "And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" Matthew 21:16. The leaders immediately would have become angry at this statement, and we do see that happen in the other gospels. Why would that offend them? They would have known that He was using Psalm 8:2 a messianic Psalm, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies,..." They would also know what the rest of the verse said! "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger." Jesus used a verse that implied they were God's enemies! Wow! Call that politically correct!

Jesus statement in Matthew 25:13 has overtones that only a Jew in that time period would have completely understand. Always remember, we must try as we can to get biblical statements in their historical context as well as their literary context. Having said that I'll finish the thought another day. Sorry! :)

Israel and the Middle East


Godlessness in the Last Days


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Monday, August 30, 2010

The Last Trump--Part 3

The last week of Jesus' first coming was intense with symbolism related to the feast season. It also followed the prophecies given clearly by Daniel in the ninth chapter. Jesus entered Jerusalem on the correct day to be considered Messiah, but it was what happened after this that still is amazing when one considers the prophecy of Daniel. Here is that text. "Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate." Daniel 9:24-27

The Last Trumpet--Part 2 dealt with the specificity involved with the first 69 weeks or 483 years. I read a Jewish Rabbi's rebuttal of the common Christian understanding of the 70 weeks being weeks of years. His interpretation was that it was 70 literal weeks. He then named some obscure fellow as appearing in Jerusalem during that time period as the fulfillment, but he must not have paid very close attention to verses 24 & 25. These things needed to happen. After the 69th week Messiah was to be "cut off". The sanctuary was to be destroyed. The end of the 70th week would have brought an end to sin and make reconciliation for iniquity, to end all last days prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy--the Messiah. Has any of that happened yet. Just the cutting off of Messiah Jesus and the destruction of the temple. Somewhere between the 69th and 70th week after the destruction of the temple there would have to be a new one so that it could be desecrated. If we follow the rabbi's interpretation where was the temple at the end of 70 real weeks? It wasn't even standing as it was in ruins from the Babylonian captivity.

No, as we saw in the first two sections, Jesus was in Jerusalem at the right time. He ate dinner (passover) with His disciples and was crucified the next morning. Jewish days run from sunset to sunset, so he was crucified on Passover. He was cut off but not for himself. Within a generation, as He prophesied, the 2nd temple was destroyed by those who crucified Him--the Romans. He was the sinless bread of life during the feast of unleavened bread and He was the first fruits of those resurrected in a glorious body. His next appearance will be in the clouds to redeem his bride living and dead at the last trump--Rosh Hashanah? Much more on this later!

Israel, the Middle East and the Coming Destruction of the Abomination on the Mount!













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