There are many people concerned about world peace right now. It falls right in line with what Luke wrote about the status quo in the last days:
Luk 21:25-26 LITV
(25) And there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars. And on the earth will be anxiety of nations with bewilderment, roaring of sea and of surf,
(26) men fainting from fear, and expectation of the things coming on the earth. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
This is the beginning of a great 'shaking'. Truly, it does feel as though things have been shaken up greatly since the 90's. The 90's seem like 50 years ago, don't they?
The world is worried - for good reason. Those who aren't tend to be those in denial or the totally naive. Or there is the group that knows what the Bible says about it all.
One of the focal points of all this unrest is the tiny nation of Israel. Several times this week I have seen news or opinion writers portray Israel in a precarious position. I would like to address this briefly. Israel, the land, the people, the temple, the mosque, the mountain, the goats, the oranges... everything... belongs to the God of Israel (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). He made certain promises regarding His land, about His plans for it, about who would live in it temporarily and permanently, and about when all this would happen.
Something should be understood amongst Christians and Jews alike. Israel's existence is in no danger. She will never again be a non-entity. Israel, as a nation, is as sure as God Himself. She is infinitely more sure than the United States, Russia, and Iran. Is there danger to the Jewish people? Sadly, yes. These are an oppressed people, but that is what it is - oppression. Will they survive? Yes. Will there be sad times? Absolutely.
One of the mightiest angels in God's heaven stands as protector of the nation of Israel - Michael.
Dan 12:1 LITV
(1) And at that time, Michael shall stand up, the great ruler who stands for the sons of your people. And there shall be a time of distress, such as has not been from the being of a nation until that time. And at that time, your people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the Book.
Satan has warred with Michael over the body of Moses. Michael prevailed. If Satan himself cannot prevail over the protector of Israel, we should all realize that Israel is not going anywhere. That is not to say that God's word alone isn't protection enough.
We can muse and distress over the events of the Middle East, but it is in vain. Those who threaten God's chosen people are cursed from the beginning, according to Gen 27:29. Have you ever observed the actions of the cursed? Nothing goes their way. Even small victories are hollow and temporary. They are never fulfilled, and their rage drives them to their next defeat. This is the path of the enemies of God and His people.
Psa 2:1-12 ASV
(1) Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing?
(2) The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, saying,
(3) Let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us.
(4) He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh: The Lord will have them in derision.
(5) Then will he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure:
(6) Yet I have set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion.
(7) I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.
(8) Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
(9) Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
(10) Now therefore be wise, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
(11) Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
(12) Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, For his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all they that take refuge in him.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
It's Here, Sooner Than You Think
For the few Christians who have not been stirred from their slumber of late, there are a few warning signs happening now that should bring sobriety. One world government is on our doorstep. How and why? The excuses are being made up and ratified for us. We are giving our sovereignty away each day. The Constitution is no longer of any effect. If those in power don't care for the wording, they change it. As a nation, we've already given in.
But really... how could they pull off a one-world government?
This is how they are currently planning to pull it off:
Copenhagen negotiating text: 200 pages to save the world?
Lord Christopher Monckton, former science advisor to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher spoke to an audience of over 700 at Bethel University in St. Paul recently and had this to say:
"At [the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in] Copenhagen this December, weeks away, a treaty will be signed," Monckton told a Minnesota Free Market Institute audience on Thursday at Bethel University in St. Paul.
"Your president will sign it. Most of the Third World countries will sign it, because they think they're going to get money out of it. Most of the left-wing regimes from the European Union will rubber stamp it. Virtually nobody won't sign it," he told the audience of some 700 attendees.
"I read that treaty and what it says is this: that a world government is going to be created. The word 'government' actually appears as the first of three purposes of the new entity.
"The second purpose is the transfer of wealth from the countries of the West to Third World countries, in satisfaction of what is called, coyly, 'climate debt' – because we've been burning CO2 and they haven't. We've been screwing up the climate and they haven't. And the third purpose of this new entity, this government is enforcement."
This is all okay. At some point, our nation has to give up its status as 'the' superpower. Jesus is not going to walk into Washington DC and set up shop. There comes a time when "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Messiah. He will reign forever and ever!" Rev 11:15
But really... how could they pull off a one-world government?
This is how they are currently planning to pull it off:
Copenhagen negotiating text: 200 pages to save the world?
Lord Christopher Monckton, former science advisor to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher spoke to an audience of over 700 at Bethel University in St. Paul recently and had this to say:
"At [the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in] Copenhagen this December, weeks away, a treaty will be signed," Monckton told a Minnesota Free Market Institute audience on Thursday at Bethel University in St. Paul.
"Your president will sign it. Most of the Third World countries will sign it, because they think they're going to get money out of it. Most of the left-wing regimes from the European Union will rubber stamp it. Virtually nobody won't sign it," he told the audience of some 700 attendees.
"I read that treaty and what it says is this: that a world government is going to be created. The word 'government' actually appears as the first of three purposes of the new entity.
"The second purpose is the transfer of wealth from the countries of the West to Third World countries, in satisfaction of what is called, coyly, 'climate debt' – because we've been burning CO2 and they haven't. We've been screwing up the climate and they haven't. And the third purpose of this new entity, this government is enforcement."
This is all okay. At some point, our nation has to give up its status as 'the' superpower. Jesus is not going to walk into Washington DC and set up shop. There comes a time when "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Messiah. He will reign forever and ever!" Rev 11:15
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Maintaining Ownership
Have you ever bought a new car? Fresh off the lot... new car smell... gleaming paint job you could swim laps in... Maybe you haven't but imagine you have. What was it like to park that car in the driveway for the first time? When little Joey came out of the house with the ball bat and started swinging at rocks in the driveway, did you encourage him to GO SOMEWHERE ELSE?
What about after that new car has been sitting in the driveway for 7 years. It has been hailed on, dented, scratched... are you as protective?
It is a little bit hard to draw the line, but bear with me. Spiritually speaking, we can easily become like the man with the 7-year old Oldsmobile in the driveway. When the Spirit of the Lord is heavy upon us, we claim and we declare the blood of Jesus over our families, homes, or churches. We war continually against spirits, powers, and principalities. But as life goes by and we get beaten up a little, we might relax our guard.
The enemy does respect the authority of the child of God. However we must maintain the watch. We must be continually vigilant.
(1Pe 5:8 KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
If we concede our duty as God-ordained protector of our homes - even for a season - we open the door to the enemy that once was shut. Re-claim. Re-assert. Recover.
What about after that new car has been sitting in the driveway for 7 years. It has been hailed on, dented, scratched... are you as protective?
It is a little bit hard to draw the line, but bear with me. Spiritually speaking, we can easily become like the man with the 7-year old Oldsmobile in the driveway. When the Spirit of the Lord is heavy upon us, we claim and we declare the blood of Jesus over our families, homes, or churches. We war continually against spirits, powers, and principalities. But as life goes by and we get beaten up a little, we might relax our guard.
The enemy does respect the authority of the child of God. However we must maintain the watch. We must be continually vigilant.
(1Pe 5:8 KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
If we concede our duty as God-ordained protector of our homes - even for a season - we open the door to the enemy that once was shut. Re-claim. Re-assert. Recover.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Head Knowledge vs Heart Knowledge
Imagine that you were in big car wreck and due to head trauma, you lost your memory for a while. Perhaps you couldn't remember your spouse, if your relationship was good or bad, or even how you met. In the process of relearning about your life, you memorized certain dates - like your anniversary. Until your memory was restored, all you had was a head knowledge of a pivotal day in your life. It was a factual day, a big day, but with no recollection... just a day.
Stare down at your wedding ring. What would it mean to you in that situation?
When the prodigal son came back home, the Father immediately put a robe around his shoulders and placed his ring on his finger. He restored his authority immediately. Wow! What do you think that might have meant to the wayward son?
As Christians, we walk around with that ring on, but we really do not understand the implications. It's as though we have amnesia, unable to associate what we have with how we got it. The ring is an object with no real significance in our lives and it effects how we live.
The devil knows what that ring means. All of his host know what that ring means. But until you step into the realm of authority that the ring signifies, nobody has to respect the fact that it's on your finger and that you are a child of the King.
What is the result of living with title only? Powerlessness. Just ask Nebuchadnezzar. He was given a form of amnesia of his own because of pride:
Daniel 4:33-36 LITV
(33) The same hour the thing was fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar. And he was driven from men, and he ate the grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the heavens, until his hair had grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
(34) And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to the heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High. And I praised and honored Him who lives forever, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His rule from generation to generation.
(35) And all those living in the earth are counted as nothing. And He does according to His will among the army of Heaven, and among those living in the earth. And no one is able to strike His hand or say to Him, What are You doing?
(36) At that time my reason returned to me, and the glory of my kingdom, my majesty, and my brightness returned to me. And my advisers and my nobles sought to me. And I was reestablished in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me.
Stare down at your wedding ring. What would it mean to you in that situation?
When the prodigal son came back home, the Father immediately put a robe around his shoulders and placed his ring on his finger. He restored his authority immediately. Wow! What do you think that might have meant to the wayward son?
As Christians, we walk around with that ring on, but we really do not understand the implications. It's as though we have amnesia, unable to associate what we have with how we got it. The ring is an object with no real significance in our lives and it effects how we live.
The devil knows what that ring means. All of his host know what that ring means. But until you step into the realm of authority that the ring signifies, nobody has to respect the fact that it's on your finger and that you are a child of the King.
What is the result of living with title only? Powerlessness. Just ask Nebuchadnezzar. He was given a form of amnesia of his own because of pride:
Daniel 4:33-36 LITV
(33) The same hour the thing was fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar. And he was driven from men, and he ate the grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the heavens, until his hair had grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.
(34) And at the end of the days, I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to the heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High. And I praised and honored Him who lives forever, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His rule from generation to generation.
(35) And all those living in the earth are counted as nothing. And He does according to His will among the army of Heaven, and among those living in the earth. And no one is able to strike His hand or say to Him, What are You doing?
(36) At that time my reason returned to me, and the glory of my kingdom, my majesty, and my brightness returned to me. And my advisers and my nobles sought to me. And I was reestablished in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me.
Monday, October 12, 2009
The Laborers Are Few
Luk 10:1-2 GNB
(1) After this the Lord chose another seventy-two men and sent them out two by two, to go ahead of him to every town and place where he himself was about to go.
(2) He said to them, "There is a large harvest, but few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest.
Have you noticed this passage before? Notice it says... pray for workers to be sent out. Why? Because it's the workers that determine the harvest. Jesus never says here - pray for the harvest. He says to pray that workers will be sent out. If we lack harvest, it will be because the work was not done - not that it couldn't be done.
Luk 10:8-9 GNB
(8) Whenever you go into a town and are made welcome, eat what is set before you,
(9) heal the sick in that town, and say to the people there, 'The Kingdom of God has come near you.'
I've heard it also said by people whom I respect that it's not God's will to heal everyone. I contend that the moment God tells His people - who are called by His name and are indwelt by His Spirit - to go out and heal anyone who is sick, that it became a matter of OUR will, not His. His will was made known - "heal the sick". If the sick aren't healed, why not? Because it wasn't His will? If it wasn't His will, why did He give that choice to someone else? It's a thinker. These weren't 'just his disciples' either. These were 72 followers, many of which still carried around some really screwed-up theology. Having it all together was never a requirement. Being obedient is.
The Harvest IS great and the laborers are few. We must teach that the Kingdom of God is at hand.
(1) After this the Lord chose another seventy-two men and sent them out two by two, to go ahead of him to every town and place where he himself was about to go.
(2) He said to them, "There is a large harvest, but few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest.
Have you noticed this passage before? Notice it says... pray for workers to be sent out. Why? Because it's the workers that determine the harvest. Jesus never says here - pray for the harvest. He says to pray that workers will be sent out. If we lack harvest, it will be because the work was not done - not that it couldn't be done.
Luk 10:8-9 GNB
(8) Whenever you go into a town and are made welcome, eat what is set before you,
(9) heal the sick in that town, and say to the people there, 'The Kingdom of God has come near you.'
I've heard it also said by people whom I respect that it's not God's will to heal everyone. I contend that the moment God tells His people - who are called by His name and are indwelt by His Spirit - to go out and heal anyone who is sick, that it became a matter of OUR will, not His. His will was made known - "heal the sick". If the sick aren't healed, why not? Because it wasn't His will? If it wasn't His will, why did He give that choice to someone else? It's a thinker. These weren't 'just his disciples' either. These were 72 followers, many of which still carried around some really screwed-up theology. Having it all together was never a requirement. Being obedient is.
The Harvest IS great and the laborers are few. We must teach that the Kingdom of God is at hand.
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Got Passion?
2Ki 13:18-19 LITV
(18) And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them up. And he said to the king
of Israel, Strike the earth. And he struck three times, and stopped.
(19) And the man of God was angry with him, and said, By striking five or six
times, then you would have stricken Syria until it was finished; but now, you
shall strike Syria three times.
Elisha was the prophet who administered this test to Joash, King of Israel.
Don't you think this was confusing to the king? After all, there weren't very
good instructions to the test. As a great teacher said, the greatest tests
aren't the ones we know we are going through. The greatest tests are the ones
where we live seemingly insignificant moments out of our heart and we discover
what we're composed of in the process. Joash's problem was that he was a leader
without passion. Everything he did showed it, and everyone who followed him was
affected by it.
Could it have been that even if Joash had taken a mighty swing and had broken
all the arrows on the ground with one strike, the prophet might have said, "Just
as you broke the arrows you shall break all those who stand in your path." It
was a matter of passion. There was none.
We long for significance in the Kingdom of Heaven, but we are afraid to get
passionate for fear of public opinion. We value our reputations more than we
value the work of God (this is a form of idolatry). Is it any wonder we live
lives of meaningless influence, or none at all? If you were the Lord of the
Universe, how much would you entrust to 'you'?
(18) And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them up. And he said to the king
of Israel, Strike the earth. And he struck three times, and stopped.
(19) And the man of God was angry with him, and said, By striking five or six
times, then you would have stricken Syria until it was finished; but now, you
shall strike Syria three times.
Elisha was the prophet who administered this test to Joash, King of Israel.
Don't you think this was confusing to the king? After all, there weren't very
good instructions to the test. As a great teacher said, the greatest tests
aren't the ones we know we are going through. The greatest tests are the ones
where we live seemingly insignificant moments out of our heart and we discover
what we're composed of in the process. Joash's problem was that he was a leader
without passion. Everything he did showed it, and everyone who followed him was
affected by it.
Could it have been that even if Joash had taken a mighty swing and had broken
all the arrows on the ground with one strike, the prophet might have said, "Just
as you broke the arrows you shall break all those who stand in your path." It
was a matter of passion. There was none.
We long for significance in the Kingdom of Heaven, but we are afraid to get
passionate for fear of public opinion. We value our reputations more than we
value the work of God (this is a form of idolatry). Is it any wonder we live
lives of meaningless influence, or none at all? If you were the Lord of the
Universe, how much would you entrust to 'you'?
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