Archive | October 2020

There is One we can trust

Oct23

One of the most wonderful things we have, as followers of Christ, is the knowledge that the Lord will never leave us or forsake us. No matter our circumstances, He is faithful to His flock. This is one thing we can stand on in a world where so much is being shaken. Friends may disappoint us, politicians may deceive us, family may abandon us but Jesus Christ will never leave us or forsake us! Never.

Because of this fact, we need not fear the future. As God is shaking things up preparing for Christ’s return, we are going to see many of the comforts in life we have always taken for granted removed. The plan for a one world government is already underway. With that plan will come changes to our freedoms and liberties. We have already seen our ability to attend churches diminish in many cases due to the so called pandemic. This is just the beginning of the changes that are planned for this world. That being said, do we need to run in fear? NO.

In a free society we should be able to call out and challenge our government for diminishing our freedoms and I think it is important to do so by our votes and with our voices. However, ultimately this old world as we know it is eventually going to get darker. God’s Word says so.

2 Timothy 3:1-9 You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times.  For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred.  They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.  They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God.  They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

 They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires.  (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.)  These teachers oppose the truth just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses. They have depraved minds and a counterfeit faith.  But they won’t get away with this for long. Someday everyone will recognize what fools they are, just as with Jannes and Jambres.

It is not a surprise to God, nor to those who study their Bibles. God knew and continues to know exactly what will take place and He also planned for us to be born in such a time as this!

So though the future looks grim in some ways, it is also exciting to be alive knowing at any time the trumpet could sound and Jesus Christ could take us up to be with Him!

While we wait there is still work to be done. We must spend time studying God’s Word for direction. We must pray for the unsaved. We must pray for our government officials. We must be the hands and feet of Christ in whatever way He leads us to help and serve others. We must encourage one another with our blessed hope! We must trust that God will continue to guide us through whatever the future holds! Let’s listen to the rest of Paul’s words to Timothy.

2 Timothy 3:10-17 But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.  You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it.  Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  But evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived.

 But you must remain faithful to the things you have been taught. You know they are true, for you know you can trust those who taught you.  You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

So as we learn to navigate through the coming days, rest assured Christ will be with us every step of the way. He will not leave us as orphans. Our good Shepherd loves His sheep!

Romans 8:35-39 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?  (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”)  No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.  No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Blessings!

Don’t Begrudge the Apple of His eye

Oct22

One thing all true followers of Christ must check is their opinion and attitude towards Israel. Too many have come to the conclusion that Israel and the Jewish people no longer have any importance to God. They have sadly accepted replacement theology and feel the Church alone is the apple of God’s eye.

We know the Church is the bride of Christ! Praise God for this fact. We are loved by Him and we anxiously await His appearance to take us home! We must not forget however, that God is NOT done with Israel. In fact, the end of this world as we know it will revolve around the restoration of Israel! God has not deserted his people. He has grafted us gentiles into the family through the precious blood of Christ but we must never forget He has not forgotten the apple of His eye! The fact that Israel once again became a nation in 1948 showed the mighty hand of God working behind the scenes to draw His people back to their homeland. He drew and is continuing to draw them back so that He can fulfill the promises of Zechariah 2.

When I looked again, I saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.  “Where are you going?” I asked.

He replied, “I am going to measure Jerusalem, to see how wide and how long it is.”

 Then the angel who was with me went to meet a second angel who was coming toward him.  The other angel said, “Hurry, and say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem will someday be so full of people and livestock that there won’t be room enough for everyone! Many will live outside the city walls.  Then I, myself, will be a protective wall of fire around Jerusalem, says the Lord. And I will be the glory inside the city!’”

The Lord says, “Come away! Flee from Babylon in the land of the north, for I have scattered you to the four winds.  Come away, people of Zion, you who are exiled in Babylon!”

 After a period of glory, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me against the nations who plundered you. For he said, “Anyone who harms you harms my most precious possession. I will raise my fist to crush them, and their own slaves will plunder them.” Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me.

 The Lord says, “Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you.  Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me to you.  The land of Judah will be the Lord’s special possession in the holy land, and he will once again choose Jerusalem to be his own city. 13 Be silent before the Lord, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.”

Sadly, due to many influences in our culture this bitterness towards both the Jews and Israel has even seeped into the Church. If you have hardened your heart towards the Jewish people or the land of Israel, it’s time to repent and ask God to forgive you. He has a stern warning for anyone that hates His people or plans harm against them.

Genesis 12:1-3 The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you.  I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others.  I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

God doesn’t want us to idolize Israel or her people but he does want us to love and respect them as those He has chosen for His own purposes. So please check your heart for any resentment or bitterness you may have towards them. If you do find yourself harboring anger or jealousy or even hatred than ask God to forgive you through the blood of Christ. Begin to study the scriptures that show God’s love for the Jewish people. Read the book of Revelation and see how God will pour out His Spirit on Israel and His people after the church has been caught up in the clouds. He is not done with Israel and it’s important to keep our hearts tender to that fact.

Blessings!

Take Time to Say Thanks

Oct21
Romans 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

We, followers of Christ, are so incredibly blessed to have a Savior that willingly laid down His life for us while we were saturated in sin. When I read through the books of the Old Testament and realize some of the judgements God’s people received due to their stubborness and rebellion I marvel at the fact that through the blood of Christ, we are made clean! We can never make ourselves clean. We, just as the people of Israel, in the Old Testament, could never be clean enough. Sin is part of our DNA.

Though we didn’t and don’t deserve it, Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price with His shed blood for you and I to be able to become children of the Most High God! Let that sink in today. Let that fact wash over you today. That is how very much our God loves us. Enough to allow His Son to be tortured, abused and killed so that we can have fellowship with Him!

If I live to be 100 plus years, I don’t think I will ever get over the fact that God loves me (and you) that much! Why not spend some time today thanking Him for that lavish love He has poured out on us?

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
     Worship the Lord with gladness.
    Come before him, singing with joy.
 Acknowledge that the Lord is God!
    He made us, and we are his.
    We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
 Enter his gates with thanksgiving;
    go into his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him and praise his name.
 For the Lord is good.
    His unfailing love continues forever,
    and his faithfulness continues to each generation. (Psalm 100)

Now’s the Time!

Oct20

If there was ever a time this world of ours needed intercession it is now. We are living in the wild west right now. Governments are slowly eroding our rights and civil liberties. Corruption is present in so many governments and among so many leaders. Society and it’s global puppet masters are drawing us into a new age of cyber control and this will all lead us closer to the one world government and mark of the beast and the Great Tribulation.

Thankfully, the true church will be caught up to be with Jesus before the Great Tribulation begins! This is our blessed hope! We can and must encourage each other with the knowledge of this fact! That being said, there is lots of work yet to be done. We must spend our time, waiting on the appearance of Christ, praying and interceding for our unsaved loved ones, friends, neighbours and the lost in general. There are multiple millions that are living their lives caught up in fear of a virus, struggling with loss of work, financial strain and overall hopelessness.

As a follower of Christ, will you commit to spending some time each day praying for the lost? The need is so great. We all know people that seem oblivious to the fact our beautiful King will soon be appearing to gather those that have died in Christ and those living for His appearance.

Time is short. There is still lots to be done. With many churches, bible studies and meetings no longer being offered, the lost need prayer. They need those that will stand in the gap for them and plead on their behalf that Jesus Christ will become real to them. They need those that will share the gospel unashamedly. They need those that will disciple them over coffee, a home visit or a conversation in the grocery store.

Let’s all use our time wisely as we wait on our soon coming King. Please set aside a few minutes each day to pray for the salvation of those that need Jesus! Start with those in your own families and than move out to people in your neighbourhood, building, place of work or those that God puts on your mind as you go about your day. Also gather with other like minded believers. Pray as a group online when it’s impossible to gather in person. When possible, gather with others to take communion and pray, pray, pray! There are millions that still need Jesus!

 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. (1 Timothy 2:1)

“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. (Matthew 18:19,20)

Blessings!