The truth about the Rapture.

There is much controversy as to the timing of the rapture, but God’s Word is very clear on this subject and we will explore what it really teaches. This is not a subject that should divide us, but it is critical that we be informed of the truth. The pre-tribulation rapture viewpoint is very dangerous because it teaches people that there is no need to prepare for the tribulation, or hard times ahead, because God is going to rapture you up to Heaven for seven years, then return again to establish his kingdom. This man made doctrine is contrary to God’s Word, and was created by taking scripture out of context, as well as making scriptures jump through many hoops in order to bring about a man pleasing belief.

The Lord Jesus Christ himself told us exactly when he will return, as well as when he will send forth his angels to gather the elect. Christ said that immediately after the tribulation of those days he would return and gather his elect unto himself. NKJV Matt 24:29  “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. ³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. ³¹ And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.  Christ said what he meant and was not speaking metaphorically. The pre-trib doctrine teaches that this passage is in reference to the second coming of Christ, seven years after the ingathering of the saints, but Christ said that at this time, he would send out his angels to harvest the elect. This passage alone is enough to establish that the rapture and the second coming of Christ are the same event and that this will occur immediately after the tribulation.

 The Apostle Paul taught that we will not be caught up to meet the Lord in the air until the the dead are raised first, then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them. Paul did not say that we will be caught up to Heaven, but that we will meet the Lord in the air as he returns, this is our transformation into immortality. 1 Thess 4:13  But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. ¹⁴ For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.¹⁵ For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. ¹⁶ For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Cor 15:51  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. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.   If we establish when the dead are raised, then we will know when the remnant who are alive, will be caught up and transformed. Christ said that he will raise the dead on the last day. John 6:39  This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. ⁴⁰ And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”  Paul said that the dead are raised, and that we are caught up with them at the last trump. The last trump is a reference to the sounding of the seventh angel in the book of Revelation.  Rev 10:7  but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. Rev 11:15  Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!” When the trump is sounded then it is said, “ The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ”. As you can see, God’s Word clearly teaches that the dead are raised on the last day, at the last trump.

Another interesting fact is that all those martyred within the Great Tribulation will have part in the first resurrection (resurrection of the righteous). If the rapture/resurrection occurred before the tribulation then they would have no resurrection. Rev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. ⁵ But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.

God’s Word teaches us that he will protect many of his children in the wilderness during this time of tribulation, these will be the remnant that overcome and that will never see death.  Rev 12:13  Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. ¹⁴ But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. ¹⁵ So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. ¹⁶ But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. ¹⁷ And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

  God did not rapture Noah out of the earth, nor did he build the ark for him, rather he instructed him how to build the ark.  Noah was obedient to God and although it took him 120 years to build the ark, he did not give up. Because of Noah’s obedience to the Lord, we are here today. Like Noah, we need to be making preparations for the soon coming tribulation. I believe that the Lord is instructing people to prepare communities in remote wilderness areas for the time of trouble ahead. We all need to be seeking the Lord with much fasting and prayer concerning where to relocate. The cities, as well as populated areas are destined for judgment. This is not a time for fear but action. If we trust God as Noah did, then we will be obedient to him and follow his voice. God Bless!

Trusting God

 

 

Trusting God!

In our modern world we face many trials and tribulations that can produce anxiety and often it is hard to trust God. But the Lord has promised to never leave us or forsake us, he is faithful even when we are unfaithful. He ha...s not left us alone in life but has given us a comforter, his Holy Spirit. If we put our faith in him he will deliver us from the attacks of the enemy, as well as the problems that we face in life. We have the choice to trust the Lord and walk in faith, or to live in fear which is the opposite of faith. Fear empowers the enemy in our life, but faith moves the hand of the Lord for us. Let us take a look at God's Word for understanding.

2 Cor 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

2 Cor 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

It is hard to understand the trials and sufferings that we face in life, but we must understand that God has a purpose in everything and that purpose is to refine us like pure gold. 2 Cor 4 states that we are hard pressed on every side yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. The Lord will not put more on us than we can bear, but he will always make a way out. The Bible states that God's ways are as high above our ways as the heavens are above the earth. For truly, our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. This life is as a vapor which appears for a little while then vanishes away and gives way to eternal life.

(NKJV) Psalms 91:
1 He who dwells 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 I will trust.”
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has 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 honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

Psalms 91 is worded so perfectly and describes the Lord's protection of those who put their trust in him. It states that he who dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” The secret place of the most high, is a place of God's protection, comparable to a chick being hidden under it's mother's wing. The Lord is truly our refuge and fortress. In Biblical times many cities were surrounded by high walls to keep the enemy out, this was referred to as a fortified city. The Lord has his walls of protection around those who fear him. The fear of the Lord is a term that means, "awe or respect" for the Lord. Psalms 91 also states that no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone. This is an amazing promise that God will protect his trusting children from evil, plagues, as well as give his angels charge over us.

I would also like to say that through disobedience and backsliding, we can remove ourselves from God's protection. We must abide in the vine (Jesus Christ) to be sheltered under God's wing. To do this, we must make Jesus Christ Lord over every area of our lives, and this means to be born again. To be born again is to put off the old sinful nature and to become a new creation in Christ. God's Holy Spirit gives us the power to live a sanctified (set apart) life. We are not perfect and sanctification is a life long process, but we are called to bear good fruit and press forward in him as his Spirit teaches us of the ways of the Lord. God desires obedience rather than sacrifice.


Luke 12:22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. 23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? 25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. 31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

In Luke 12, Christ teaches us not to worry about life's problems but to put our faith in God to supply our needs. The Lord knows that we have need of food, water, clothing, as well as a roof over our heads and as long as we seek the kingdom of God first he will supply those needs. Many of us worry about paying bills or employment issues, but does that anxiety help the problem? I have seen the Lord provide for me in situations that looked hopeless, because God was bigger than all of my problems. After all, did he not create the universe?

Philipp 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

In Phillipians 4, Paul teaches us the secret to having peace of mind, and that is to meditate upon all that is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, things of good report, virtue, and praiseworthy. It is a medical fact that if you dwell upon depressing thoughts for a long period of time that it will cause a chemical reaction in your body that may result in long term depression. Trusting in the Lord of hope and dwelling upon positive things will produce peace. Believing God's Word and quoting scriptures with faith will produce favorable results.

1 John 4:17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.

20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

God's Word teaches us that perfect love casts out all fear. It is sometimes hard to love our enemies as ourself, but with the help of God's Holy Spirit this is possible. When we learn how to forgive one another their trespasses and walk in love rather than bitterness, we will see fear go. According to God's Word it is impossible to love God and hate your brother. Finally, 2 Tim 1:7 states that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Fear, as well as mental illness are of Satan and it is God's will to set the captives free.

Psalms 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

Psalms 23 says it all, the Lord is our shepherd and it is his desire to give us rest. He desires to lead us to green pastures, as well as to the calm waters of life. He wants to restore our soul and lead us to the path of righteousness. The Lord is our comforter, our shield, our provider and our ever present help in the time of trouble, we need to trust in him. God Bless!

Old Testament Scriptures about the Messiah

 

 

Evidence which demands a verdict.

From our vantage point today, we can see how the Old Testament corresponds to the New Testament through miraculous Messianic prophecy fulfillment. Distinct aspects of the ancestry, birth, life, ministry, death and resurrection of the Messiah were all prophesied in the Old Testament and their historical fulfillment was recorded in the New Testament, primarily the four Gospels. The Old Testament points toward “the anointed one,” which was translated Christos in Greek, the language of the inspired New Testament Scripture and much of the Roman world. Therefore, Christ was the term used by Christians to refer to the Messiah.

Prophecy fulfillment is powerful evidence that validates the credibility and supernatural inspiration of the Old Testament, where human beings are told specific predictions by God to be fulfilled many hundreds of years in the future. While Christian apologists do not arrive at the same number of messianic prophecies, most agree they are numerous. Jewish biblical scholar Alfred Edersheim (1825-1889), a convert to Christianity, wrote a classic work affirming there are 456 passages in the Old Testament that refer to the Messiah. His work is entitled, " The Life and Times of Jesus The Messiah" . Edersheim also stated that there are 558 Messianic references in Jewish rabbinic writings.

(NKJV) Luke 24:44 Then He said to them, “These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.” 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

In Luke 24:44-45, Christ appears to some of his disciples after his resurrection and explains to them the many old testament prophecies that were fulfilled through him. Moses, many of the Prophets, as well as David wrote of him centuries before his birth. The evidence found in Scripture clearly suggests that Jesus Christ is indeed who he claimed to be.

Flavius Josephus was a first century Jewish historian to three Roman Emperors. In his book, Antiquities of the Jews, written around 93–94 AD, he includes two references to Jesus, as well as a reference to John the Baptist and the origins of Christianity. Here is an excerpt from his book about James the brother of Christ.

And now Caesar, upon hearing the death of Festus, sent Albinus into Judea, as procurator. But the king deprived Joseph of the high priesthood, and bestowed the succession to that dignity on the son of Ananus, who was also himself called Ananus... Festus was now dead, and Albinus was but upon the road; so he assembled the sanhedrin of judges, and brought before them the brother of Jesus, who was called Christ, whose name was James, and some others; and when he had formed an accusation against them as breakers of the law, he delivered them to be stoned.

(NKJV) Deuteronomy 18:15 “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, 16 according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’
17 “And the Lord said to me: ‘What they have spoken is good. 18 I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 19 And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him.

Deu 18:15-19, was written by Moses in reference to Christ. Moses said that God would raise up a Prophet like himself from among the Hebrew people that would speak to them ALL that he commanded him. God gave the first covenant through Moses to the Israelites. Christ brought us the new covenant through his death and resurrection, as well as taught us the ways of God. Like Moses, Christ was a Prophet and teacher, but unlike Moses he was God in the flesh.

Although there are hundreds of Scriptures about Christ within the old testament, I have listed only the prominent ones below. These Scriptures foretell of his virgin birth, place of birth, ministry, betrayal, crucifixion, as well as resurrection. Isaiah 53, as well as the Psalms, goes into detail about his crucifixion. Isaiah wrote this over 600 years before the birth of Christ and David wrote of him approx. 1000 years before his birth. If anyone doubts who Christ is, I encourage you to review the evidence cited and make your verdict! God Bless! Pastor Mel

(NKJV) Micah 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”

(NKJV) Isaiah 7:4 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

(NKJV) Psalms 110:1 The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

(NKJV) Psalms 110:4 The Lord has sworn
And will not relent,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”

(NKJV) Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

(NKJV) Isaiah 53:
1 Who has believed our report?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,
And as a root out of dry ground.
He has no form or comeliness;
And when we see Him,
There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
3 He is despised and rejected by men,
A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;
He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
4 Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,
Yet He opened not His mouth;
He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,
And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
So He opened not His mouth.
8 He was taken from prison and from judgment,
And who will declare His generation?
For He was cut off from the land of the living;
For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.
9 And they made His grave with the wicked—
But with the rich at His death,
Because He had done no violence,
Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;
He has put Him to grief.
When You make His soul an offering for sin,
He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,
And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.
11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
For He shall bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,
And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,
Because He poured out His soul unto death,
And He was numbered with the transgressors,
And He bore the sin of many,
And made intercession for the transgressors.

(NKJV) Psalms 22:14 I am poured out like water,
And all My bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It has melted within Me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And My tongue clings to My jaws;
You have brought Me to the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded Me;
The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.
They pierced My hands and My feet;
17 I can count all My bones.
They look and stare at Me.
18 They divide My garments among them,
And for My clothing they cast lots.

(NKJV) Psalms 16:10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol,
Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

(NKJV) Psalms 68:18 You have ascended on high,
You have led captivity captive;
You have received gifts among men,
Even from the rebellious,
That the Lord God might dwell there.

(NKJV) Psalms 2:6 “Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion.”
7 “I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.’ ”
10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Godly Relationships

 

 

Godly Relationships.

There are many types of relationships,( work, family, friends, marital, etc.). And we are influenced, as well as shaped by those people in our lives. As Christians, it is very important to choose our friends carefully ...so that the enemy of our souls doesn't have an opportunity to snare us. I have seen family members, as well as friends corrupted by bad company. As Christians, we should be a light to those people in our lives, but instead of pulling people up toward God, many compromise and are pulled down into sin in order to be accepted. Our acceptance should be with God and not men. We are called to be God pleasers and not man pleasers. God's Word tells us to not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.

(NKJV) 2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.

When oxen are yoked together to plow a field, they turn and walk together in unison as the plowman directs them, they do nothing apart. It is the same with us with our friendships, friends have the same interests and spend time together. What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? Drinking, drugging and partying is lawlessness and should have no place in the life of the believer. We should establish Godly friendships with like minded believers.

(NKJV) 1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."

God's Word teaches us that we are not to love the world or the things of the world, if anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in them. The world is a term that refers to the carnal nature of sin (lust of the flesh and eyes, pride of life). The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus. This fallen world of sin is temporal and is passing away like a worn out garment, but he who does the will of God abides forever. By studying God's Word and getting to know our Father in Heaven we bear good fruit and develop good habits, but evil company corrupts good habits. Not only is a sinful lifestyle detrimental to us, but wasting time on vanity leads to spiritual stagnation, as well as backsliding. We need to spend time with God to get to know him and his Word so that we may live a victorious life in this dark world.

(NKJV) Proverbs 12:26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, For the way of the wicked leads them astray.

(NKJV) 1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

I have witnessed the way of the wicked leading many astray that is why we need to be the salt of the earth, as well as examples of the new birth. We may be the only lifeline that someone may have. We need to be like Christ to a dying world. Satan is very aggressive in his work to snare our souls, we need to be equally aggressive in sharing our faith with others.

God's Word also teaches us to be loving, tenderhearted, as well as courteous with those in our lives. We are not to return evil for evil or reviling for reviling but instead we are to bless those who curse us because we are to be an example of righteousness to the lost. We need to bear the good fruit of God's Spirit because he dwells within us. If he dwells within us then his attributes should be present in our lives.

(NKJV) Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

(NKJV) Matthew 5:23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

(NKJV) Matthew 6:14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

(NKJV) Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Finally we need to put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking and learn to love one another and forgive one another even as Christ loved and forgave us. God's Word teaches that if we do not forgive our brothers their trespasses then our heavenly Father will not forgive us our trespasses. Peter asked the Master how often we should forgive our brothers who sin against us, he asked seven times? Christ replied, seventy times seven. In other words, Christ was saying that our forgiveness towards our brothers should be limitless. We need to choose our relationships very carefully and treat others as we would have them treat us. God Bless!!

The Testing of our Faith

 

 

The Testing Of Our Faith.

(NKJV) Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope... of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

As Christians, we face many trials and temptations in life that we don't always understand. The Christian life is not an easy one for a person who truly is walking the walk. Many people ask, "why do good people suffer"? Romans 5 states that the tribulations that we face in life produces perseverance and perseverance produces character, as well as hope. In many ways this life is like a military boot camp, our character is developed through the hard knocks of life. We can allow hardships to create bitterness or we can learn patience and learn to trust in the Lord.

(NKJV) 1 Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

1 Peter 1:6,7 says that the various trials that we face is for the testing and refining of our faith. Our faith is more precious than gold and it will be tested with fire. What fires in life tests your faith? The death of a loved one or loosing a job or dealing with an illness are among the many trials that we face. I have known people that became very hard and bitter because of their hard knocks in life. They allowed bitterness to become hatred and were filled with jealousy and every other form of bad fruit. But I have also known people with terminal illnesses that turned to Christ and were overflowing with love, compassion, kindness and good works. The choice is ours how we deal with hardships. As Christians, we are called to bear good fruit and to let our light shine before men so that they will glorify our Father in Heaven.

(NKJV) 2 Peter 1:5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-11 Says that we are to add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, self control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. These fruits of the Spirit should be evident within the life of the believers. If God's Spirit truly dwells within us then his attributes should be present within our lives. Christ said that any tree that does not bring forth good fruit will be hewn down and cast in the fire. The testing of our faith should lead to a lifestyle that brings honor to God.

(NKJV) James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

It can be very hard to count all of our trials as joy, but when we have an eternal perspective in regard to this temprol life it all comes into focus. God is a loving Father who wants what is best for his children. He doesn't want to spoil us with materialism, position or power which corrupts, but he wants to produce righteousness which leads to eternal life.

(NKJV) James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

We truly are blessed when we endure temptation and we overcome it by the power of God's Spirit living within. God's Word is clear that no one is tempted by God, each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and is enticed and gives birth to sin. The wages of sin is death but by the power of the Holy Spirit we can crucify our flesh (sinful nature) and live lives pleasing to God bringing him honor. But we must stand strong against the schemes of the devil.

(NKJV) Ephesians 6:14 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—

Finally, in order to stand strong for our Lord in this fallen world we must be fully clothed with the armor of the Lord. Having our waist girded with truth and wearing the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the gospel of peace and above all having the shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. Wearing the helmet of salvation and using the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, when the enemy comes against me I fight him by quoting scriptures with faith. God's Word is alive and it is powerful. It truly is sharper than any two edged sword. I encourage all of you to lift that shield of faith against all of the trials in your life. Replace your anxiety and fears with faith, because we serve a big God who is happy to take our cares from us. Let your faith overcome illness, hardship, despair and all of the attacks from the evil one. God Bless!!　

Hebrews 11, Faith

 

 

Faith.

(NKJV) Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a [good] testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so... that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [Him,] for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and [that] He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith. 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as [in] a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.

Faith is defined as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. So many people in our so called modern progressive society claim that they will not believe in something that they cannot see, they are blinded by their own arrogance and justification of sin. Verse six states that without faith it is impossible to please God for we must believe that he is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. The key to getting to know God is to diligently seek after him. If a person will truly seek after God with their whole heart then God will reveal himself to them. The Lord speaks to many through dreams, visions, words, signs and even circumstances. The Lord looks upon the heart and knows those whose hearts are seeking the truth. God is not silent to those whom are his for his sheep know his voice. (NKJV) John 10:1 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 "But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 "To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 "And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 "Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers."

Also, God reveals himself through his creation, so man is without excuse. (NKJV) Romans 1: 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible [attributes] are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify [Him] as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. The evidence of intelligent design is everywhere. The idea for the camera came from the design of the human eye. Our bodies are designed to function in harmony so that we can exist in this world. Our planet Earth is positioned perfectly within our solar system to sustain life. If the Earth was closer to the sun in orbit we would be fried, or farther away and we would be an ice cube. Both land and sea and all of the life within them give glory to their creator. Sea shells, as well as other sea life fossils have been found at high elevations on mount Everest, as well as many other mountain ranges throughout the world, this gives testimony to the truth of Noah's flood. Throughout Iraq, sea shells are found in the desert sand and the locals claim that this is due to Noah's flood as well. Many cultures from China, to the aborigines of Australia, tell of a world wide flood that occurred. In fact, fragments from Noah's ark have been filmed on mount Ararat. The evidence for the truth found within the Holy Bible is everywhere. So our faith is not blind faith but is established by fact.

　
So often people live their lives in fear of what could happen, or they worry about finances or health problems, but fear is the opposite of faith. The Lord knows that we are human and he gives grace to us but he desires that we trust him with every aspect of our lives. (NKJV) Matthew 6:25 " Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 "and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 "Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, [will He] not much more [clothe] you, O you of little faith? 31 "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day [is] its own trouble. By believing God's Word and trusting in him to care for us we will eliminate a lot of unnecessary stress in our lives.

　
(NKJV) Mark 11:23 "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive [them,] and you will have [them.]

  Faith is also believing that God will answer those prayers that are prayed within his will. If we truly believe that God hears us, and will respond to us, then we will see results. If we do not doubt then we will see mountains in our own lives removed and cast into the sea. God Bless!

Evangelism and Discipleship

 

 

Evangelism and Discipleship.

(NKJV) Matthew 7:13 " Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because narrow [is] the gate and difficult [is]... the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

We live and work in a lost and dying world that has lost it's direction.

I have heard many people say that life seems hopeless and meaningless to them. This is because they are spiritually dead inside. God created each of us with a spiritual void that needs to be filled. Only God's Spirit can bring true peace and meaning to our lives. Matt 7:13,14 states that wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction. Do we really believe this? If so, we should be aggressive about sharing our faith with those who are lost. If we saw a child about to walk out in front of a semi truck would we not try to save them? Or if we noticed a burning car with people inside on the side of the road, would we not also try to save them? Every day we are among those in danger of Hell fire, do we share our faith with them? Or do we try to fit in with the crowd and be men pleasers rather than God pleasers?

The entire world is a mission field and the Lord does not require us to be eloquent speakers to share our faith. But we can plant seeds of faith with those around us. It's not up to us for them to believe, that is the job of the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin and lead them to the truth, but we should utilize every opportunity to plant seeds of truth. One person may plant a seed, then another will come and water that new tender shoot, then another will harvest the crop and bring it into the storehouse. Let us look at Luke 8:5-18.

(NKJV) Luke 8:5 "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 "Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 "And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 "But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold." When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!" 9 Then His disciples asked Him, saying, "What does this parable mean?" 10 And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest [it is given] in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.' 11 " Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 "Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 "But the ones on the rock [are those] who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. 14 "Now the ones [that] fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 "But the ones [that] fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep [it] and bear fruit with patience. 16 " No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts [it] under a bed, but sets [it] on a lamp stand, that those who enter may see the light. 17 "For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor [anything] hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 "Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him [more] will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him."

We need to be lights set on a lamp stand, not hidden, that the world may see our good fruit and desire to have the faith that is able to save their souls. Many people will fall away do to the cares or riches of this world, that is why it is so important to teach new believers of the importance of studying God's Word and attending a well balanced Bible believing church. In these last days, it is hard to find a well balanced church because most will not endure sound doctrine and they prefer to tell people what they want to hear rather than the truth. So we must be very careful in the church that we recommend to the new believer. 1 Thess 2:1-12 gives us good instruction on being a good role model to those we disciple in the faith.

(NKJV) 1 Thessalonians 2:1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation [did] not [come] from error or uncleanness, nor [was it] in deceit. 4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness -- God [is] witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing [mother] cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You [are] witnesses, and God [also,] how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father [does] his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

The Apostle Paul was a great role model to the churches that he established both in conduct, as well as, deed. His conduct did not come from error, uncleanness or deceit. In order to be a good example to the churches, he worked with his own hands so as not to be a burden to those whom he preached to. His example of true Christianity is polar opposite to that of the modern day television evangelists and mega church Pastors. Most of them live in multi million dollar palaces built from the money of the poor, including widows, as well as the disabled.

Christ said that you cannot serve God and mammon (money), for only one will be your master. As Paul pointed out, our moral conduct should be blameless as well. We should live a life worthy of an ambassador for Christ, because the world is watching. We need to be the salt of the earth, letting our light shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify our Father in Heaven. In Luke 16:19- 31, Christ gives us an example of what Hell is like.

(NKJV) Luke 16:19 " 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.' "

The parable states that there was a rich man who only cared about himself and not his fellow man. There was also a beggar named Lazarus who begged crumbs from the selfish rich man and later died, and the dogs licked his sores.
The rich man died also and his soul was tormented in a flame in Hell. This sobering parable should give us all a wake up call to the reality of Hell. This should be reason enough to want to share our faith with a lost world all around us. Luke 10:1-3, states that the harvest of souls is great and the laborers are few and we are to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out laborers into his harvest. God Bless All!

(NKJV) Luke 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. 2 Then He said to them, "The harvest truly [is] great, but the laborers [are] few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. 3 "Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.

Noah's Flood, Fact or Fiction?

I have heard a lot of skepticism lately in regard to Noah’s flood. Is there any evidence that a worldwide flood actually occurred? The answer is yes, the evidence is everywhere. Many ancient cultures worldwide tell of a flood that once covered the earth. The aborigines of Australia, the Incas of Peru, the ancient Chinese, Tibetans, as well as the Egyptians all tell of this flood. The so called evidence of ice ages is actually the evidence of this flood.

Near the top of Mount Everest they have found sea shells. Sea shells have also been found at high elevations in mountains worldwide. Sea shells cover the desert of Iraq. The people of Iraq will tell you that these come from Noah’s flood.

The skeptics always bring up that the flood may have been a local event and not worldwide. But according to the Bible there was only one continent until the time of Peleg when God divided the land masses. This occurred after the flood. In addition to the forty days of rain, the fountains of the deep were opened to flood the earth. Science agrees that there was originally one continent, in fact they have named it Pangaea. Anyone who is familiar with a globe knows that the continents fit together like a puzzle. This explains how the flood covered all the land.

I have heard people say that they only believe in the new testament and that the old testament is fictional stories created to teach morals. One man told me that he only accepted the words of Christ and did not believe in Noah’s flood. I pointed out to him that Christ spoke of Noah’s flood as fact, as well as Jonah’s time in the belly of the fish, and Daniel in the lion’s den etc. This caused him to rethink his position. The truth of the biblical account of Noah’s flood is established by physical evidence as well as cultural accounts from antiquity.

John Bunyan and George Fox, True Generals of the Faith

The Revivalists John Bunyan and George Fox have greatly inspired me. Their boldness for the truth of God’s Word, courage even while in prison, as well as zeal and love for the Lord, is comparable to that of the Lord’s Apostles. We need firebrands for the Lord like these men today.

John Bunyan (1628-1688), was an English Christian writer and preacher. He is the author of the Pilgrim’s Progress, probably the most famous published Christian allegory. In addition to The Pilgrim’s Progress,  Bunyan wrote nearly sixty titles, many of them expanded sermons. Bunyan was labeled as both a Puritan, as well as a Baptist, but he preferred to be described simply as a Christian.

 Bunyan’s persecution began following the restoration of the monarchy when Charles II of England was crowned King. Meeting-houses were quickly closed and all citizens were required to attend their Anglican parish church. It became punishable by law to “conduct divine service except in accordance with the ritual of the church, or for one not in Episcopal orders to address a congregation.” Thus, John Bunyan no longer had the freedom to preach in whatever way he felt led, something he had enjoyed under the Puritan Commonwealth. Only clergy within the Church of England were allowed to be ordained. Bunyan was given the choice to obey the King’s edict and never preach again or remain in prison, he chose twelve years in prison. Bunyan feared God more than men because the love of the world was not in him. Bunyan is a shining example of true selflessness and is an inspiration to me.

The Puritans were both nonconformists, as well as separatists, they desired to please God rather than the King. They should serve as an example to us today. The modern church has lost it’s way because they will not endure sound doctrine, they want to be men pleasers in order to bring in the tithes. There is truly a famine for the truth of God’s Word today. God had been turned into a commodity in order to make money. 2 Timothy 4:3 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.

 The Puritans, as well as the Quakers correctly taught their people in regard to the need to pursue sanctification (being set apart from the world or purified). They understood that without holiness no man will see the Father. 2 Cor 6:17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 1 Peter 1:14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ¹⁵ but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” They proclaimed these scriptures without fear of the established religious order. Christians today should also proclaim the truth of God’s Word without fear of the lukewarm churches of today (Rev 3). We will now discuss George Fox and the Quakers.

George Fox (1624-1691) was the founder of the Society of Friends also known as the Quakers. Like Bunyan, Fox was repeatedly imprisoned for speaking out against the corrupt government and religious establishment. Fox contended that ministers did not need theological schools to learn God’s Word but should rely on the Holy Spirit within to teach them. Fox believed that God speaks to his children who are willing to listen. Fox experienced visions, as well as words from the Lord. Fox correctly spoke out against the tithes that the established church demanded from it’s victims. Churches today are still incorrectly teaching Christians that the old testament tithe applies to them. The old testament tithe was sometimes given to the poor but the churches today fail to mention this.

 Fox challenged the clergy of his day on many issues by the unction of the Holy Spirit. Like the Puritans, the Quakers were separatists who followed after God rather than man’s religion. Although I disagree with Quaker theology on a few issues, I find that I agree with them on most issues. I also admire the holiness preaching that the Quakers of old preached. However, the modern day Quakers do not resemble the founders of their faith, for their theology is quite liberal compared to them. In conclusion, we need Christians today who are not afraid to speak out against the corruption within the church system like Bunyan and Fox did in their day.   

Pornography is not a Victimless Sin

Written by Mel and Julie
This article is about the dangers of adult pornography and does not necessarily go into depths of the dangers of child pornography; that is an issue all onto itself!

First, we want to make several things clear:  we do not believe men are the only offenders.  That brings us to the other thing we want to make clear: we do not see pornography as just naked pictures, but sex scenes in movies and books can be pornographic as well.  People, particularly women, can be just as addicted to smutty novels as men can be to naked pictures of women.
Society will tell you it is the spouse’s fault if his/her mate looks at pornography.  Julie just read a statement yesterday that said something like, “your husband looks at pornography because you are not properly arousing him and you must work harder to do so.”  We wish we had copied the statement, but it was on MSN under an article about sex myths in marriage.  Well, the writer of the article just wrote a BIG LIE!  Just like it is not your fault if your spouse cheats, it is not your fault of he/she looks at porn! It is the offender who needs deliverance from sin.
Matthew 5:28 “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Pornography is not a victimless sin.  Your family will always suffer if you allow viewing such filth to corrupt you. If you make it clear that you do not see anything wrong with looking at naked women to whom you are not married, you are teaching your children it is okay to demean women and that their mother is not enough for you.  You are raising them to be disrespectful of women and see women as only sexual objects.  If you have/had a daughter, how would you feel if men were ogling her the way you lust over someone else’s child?
Jeremiah 23:24 Can anyone hide himself in secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.

Yes, we are very well aware that most of the people in the magazines and web sites are there by their own choice.  Yet, the viewer does not know this as absolute fact.  That young-faced adult could very easily be a child forced into the sex trade very much against his/her will.  Now, you are not only supporting smut, you are supporting robbing children of their innocence.  Do you think those viewers ever think of that?  They would if suddenly their missing child showed up on a pornography site.  This does not just happen in foreign countries; sex trade for under age children is a very real problem in this country too.   
Mark 4:22 “For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.

It is a proven fact that pornography creates serial killers and rapists.  Ted Bundy is probably one of the most notorious serial murder/rapist that admitted his addiction to porn is what peak his interest in killing.  We are not saying all who are addicted to porn become killers and/or rapists, but it is a very, very real trend.  Just as an alcoholic starts to need more and more booze to get him drunk, so the smut addict needs more and more provocative images to turn him on.  He searches out other types of porn, often leading to live performances, and when he cannot get satisfaction, it is a very real possibility he will take it by force.

Pornography is so easily acceptable that men/woman of all ages are walking around continually seeking visual stimulation.  The way women dress becomes more and more obscene every year. Women and even children dress in shorts so short their butt cheeks hang out, their tops are see-through, and they have no problem bending over in a skirt so short you know what color underwear they have on.  There is very little modesty left in our society.  It makes it very difficult for those who choose to dress modestly because men have been trained to believe that all women want is to be drooled over and gawked at.  We hate this because we are married and extremely loyal to one another.  Also, because it makes Julie’s skin crawl as she does not know what these strange men are thinking as they very openly lean their heads out of car windows to stare, or very obviously look her up and down.  It has gotten to where she hates going out in public at all and very rarely goes alone.  It is because men are so full of lust they see every woman as a sexual object and have no problem making her feel uncomfortable.  And it doesn’t matter if he has a wife with them or if we are together as a very obvious couple!

Pornography is also a huge problem with Christians because the church has the culture well ingrained within it. Mel was shocked by a comment made by a leader of a home Bible study group.  He asked the people, “Do you know why over 50% of Pastors view some form of pornography?”  Then he remarked, “Because they are human that’s why.”  This man is the product of the modern day lukewarm church that tolerates everything. God’s Word teaches us that we must repent of our sins and be born again in order to be saved. To be born again means to put off our old sinful nature and to become a new creation in Christ.  God’s Word is clear that we must not touch what is unclean!
II Corinthians 6:17 Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.”
 
 Here are some startling statistics:  The photograph was invented in 1839, and in just 11 quick years the word “pornographer” was seeded into our dictionary. Pictures of prostitutes were sold at an alarming rate. When surveyed, 53% of men who attended Promise Keepers said they viewed pornography that week. More than 45% of Christians admit that pornography is a major problem in their home. An anonymous survey conducted recently by Pastors.com reported that 54% of pastors admitted viewing porn within the last year. In an online newsletter, 34% of female readers of Today’s Christian Woman admitted to intentionally accessing Internet porn. One out of every six women who read Today’s Christian Woman say they struggle with addiction to pornography (Today’s Christian Woman, Fall 2003). The problem is that the churches are failing to preach on repentance, as well as holiness and have replaced the truth with their form of perverted grace doctrine. There is not grace for un-repented sins. Christ’s atonement on the cross is only for sins that we repent of, as well as sins committed in ignorance.

This is not an easy subject to end, so we will end with this:
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”

Fasting and Prayer

 

Written by Mel and Julie

Introduction: Basically, fasting is not a command, but a very strong suggestion when you need a breakthrough in your life and just to show love and reverence to Your God on a regular basis.

Mel's parents used to fast three days in a row every single month and they experienced real breakthroughs and miracles on a regular basis.  Paul & Marie were true warriors of their faith and they had a marriage that was rock solid. 

Do not announce you are fasting as this is between you and God.  The only person that needs to know is your spouse.  We would highly recommend fasting as a couple as this will strengthen your marriage.  You can ask friends and family for basic prayer with or without being specific on why you need prayer and not mentioning that you are fasting.

We all face situations in life that may seem hopeless or unavoidable and God may seem very far away.  But the truth is, that God is our ever present help in the times of trouble and He desires to intervene if we will just ask, as well as learn to trust him. God desires for us to have faith in him, as well as his ability to deliver his children out of the midst of the storm.  It is not always God’s desire to answer our prayers or even heal our bodies, but we need to learn to trust that he knows what is best for us.

 

We have been in many crises situations, including now, and the Lord has always made a way out or brought peace through the storm.  When we really need a breakthrough or guidance from the Lord, we go on a fast.  Fasting is a time honored Biblical principle that many holy men underwent to see the birth of ministries, as well as miracles. The Prophet Daniel fasted 21 days and the result was that God sent the Angel Gabriel to him to give him visions of the last days.  After Christ was baptized, he fasted forty days and was tempted by the Devil in the wilderness, after this, his ministry was birthed.  Fasting shows sincerity to God, it shows God that you are willing to give up something  you love, or need for him. Fasting is making a sacrifice for the Lord. It brings results and is never done in vain because it is also an act of faith.

Fasting is normally the act of giving up food for a period, while praying and seeking the Lord for a need.  However, many people cannot fast off food for medical reasons.  Yet, there are many ways a person can fast.  You may fast, by giving up an activity that you enjoy, such as a sport, television, or music.  The Lord will honor anything you give up for him. When fasting, wisdom should be used.  A person should never give up water while fasting because this can cause serious medical issues.  A person can only go four days without water, the result of dehydration may cause mental breakdowns, kidney failure, as well as death.  If a person goes more than a week without food, it may cause seizures, strokes, heart attacks, allergic reactions etc. in some people, others may be able to go much longer.  The more you give up for God, the more he will bless your fast.

Tips for fasting:  If you have decided to fast, no matter what the length, you already have a reason for this.  Do you need a breakthrough in your life, or do you desire to hear God’s Voice better?  First, pray about it several days before you decide to dive in.  If you get a real check in your spirit that seems as if this is a bad idea, then maybe you should postpone it.  It could be that your motives for fasting are not pure, or that you have an underline health issue that would make skipping food a bad idea.  Also, ask God for direction on how long you should fast and ask Him to use this time before, during, and after to really speak to your heart.

I am not going to say how often we fast or even mention the lengths of our fasting as this is between us and God, but I will say that neither of us has ever sought medical advice beforehand.  That is entirely up to you, as you know your health issues better than anyone does.  No matter the length, it is never a good idea to deprive your body of water.  Even if only a 24 hour fast, staying hydrated is essential.  Some people may say it is not a “true” fast if you include liquid, so I will leave that up to your conscience.  Please consider the fact that people have been known to have seizures and other serious medical issues when going without water for longer than a day or two.  If you choose to extend your fast beyond one day, we really recommend still ensuring you get protein.  “Slim Fast” shakes and “Carnation” breakfast drinks are a great way to get protein without eating.  Drinking good quality juices such as “V-8 Fusion” throughout the day is another way to ward off headaches, dizziness, and shakiness.  Avoid juices high in acid, such as tomato and orange juices, as this will aggravate your empty stomach.  Avoid sugary drinks as the last thing you need is a sugar crash.  Some people advise drinking broth, which we have not tried, but if you do, make sure it is low sodium.  Some also recommend avoiding caffeine, but we still have coffee once a day.

What to expect while fasting (if you are fasting longer than a day): the second day you will feel worse.  Your body is detoxing and you will most likely experience headaches, shakiness, fatigue, dizziness, and moodiness.  This is perfectly normal.  Again, we highly recommend staying hydrated and drinking protein shakes once or twice a day and juice in between.  Get as much sleep as your body needs.  It is not a good idea to do a longer fast if working, and it is not really a good idea to drive if going longer than a day.  If you feel super terrible, do not feel guilty if you need a few tablespoons of peanut butter or something else high in protein.  However, try to avoid all solid food if you can as this shows true dedication to the reason(s) behind your fast.  If you go into more than 2 days, you may feel better as your body begins to adjust and it is purging itself from sugar and sodium, but some people feel worse than day 2.  Follow the same tips as mentioned.  Pray to God to help you endure, but be cautious as well and seek medical attention if you cannot stand or experience other extreme conditions.  You very well may experience liquid diarrhea.  This is normal as your body is purging itself of toxins and this is another excellent reason to stay hydrated.    

Your emotions will not be on an even keel.  You are not only experiencing uncomfortable physical conditions as your body is deprived of food, but if your heart is truly open, God  will want to communicate with you.  Your emotions will go from high to low.  You will feel joy and peace, and maybe some humility and contrition, but also frustration and anger, especially if you feel like you are not getting the breakthrough you were expecting.  God understands, so just be honest with Him during your prayer time.

If your motives for fasting are pure, God will be pleased with you.  He may or may not choose to let you know in dreams and/or visions, but be open to His Holy Spirit before, during, and after you fast.  If you do not feel as if your prayers are answered, do not be discouraged, for God’s timing is usually not as our own.  There is nothing wrong with fasting for 1-3 days then taking a few hours or even days to eat, then returning to fasting again.  Fast as often as you feel God is calling you to do. 

Most people will tell you to go into a fast slowly, but we have always just gone “cold turkey” and started the fast.  However, it is a good idea to work up to an extended fast.  We will not discourage you from fasting longer than a day, but do not recommend it the first time.  Your body will be confused and you will feel sick, but doing 1 day the first time is pretty easy; beyond that may be too difficult and may be too discouraging if you have to break your fast early.  Therefore, work up to it, one day the first 1-2 times, then 2 days, then  when you really feel you can handle 2 days, then advance to 3.  We do not recommend going longer than three days as this often leads to medical issues, but as I just wrote, if you feel the need to go longer than 3 days, take a break in between to eat, then start again.

Conclusion: All in all, the advice here is to pray before, during, and after your fast.  Use this time to seek God and not just to sleep all day because you feel weak.  Spend extra time in worship and getting into God’s Word as well.  Be ready, willing, and able to hear what God may want to communicate to you during this time.  If you watch television, this may be an excellent time to turn off or seriously limit the TV as well as the Internet.  Do not use this as a time to feel sorry for yourself because your body feels uncomfortable, but each time you feel hungry or weak, meditate on God’s words.  Look up in advance scriptures on God’s strength and guidance.  Stay focused on why you are fasting and let that issue, as well as God, carry you through.  No matter what results you achieve, fasting is never a waste of time and God will be pleased with your decision. 

Scriptures on Fasting

Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. - Matt 6:16-18

And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” ^- Matt 17:18-21

 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity;  and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. - Luke 2:36-37

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. - Acts 13:2-3