Friday, May 23, 2008
Preparing With the Wrong Attitude Could be Fatal
"Personally, I believe that many of those who are preparing with a wrong attitude will either have an attitude adjustment courtesy of the Lord or will find themselves one of the dying masses.
The Word says: "The wealth of the wicked is layed up for the righteous". I don't necessarily think that's monetary wealth. In a world gone mad, "wealth" is going to be food and supplies that will enable one to survive. So, without the Word of God to stand on and "overcome", survivalists, despite huge arsenals, caches and retreats, will succumb to the same judgments as the unprepared.
Without knowing and standing on Psalms 91 where it says, "no pestilence shall come near thy dwelling" even the most prepared will be destroyed by biological and chemical weapons, rampant disease and plagues.
If we as Believers are preparing for any purpose but to be used by God to minister to the lost and hurting (including Christians who did not prepare) then we could find ourselves running out of supplies very rapidly. However, if we've only got one box of food set by, a box of bandaids and a box of matches, and yet have the attitude that whoever the Lord sends will get whatever help we can give, then like the loaves and fishes, there will be enough to go around.
We had better believe in miracles because this is going to be a time of signs and wonders, and not just on the enemy's side. If we look at what God has done in the past we'll get a very good idea of what He will do in the future, because He "changes not" and "is the same yesterday, today and forever."
Therefore, if he provided water in the desert, manna from heaven, protection for the Hebrew boys in the firey furnace and closed the lions mouths, then we can expect to see those same kind of things again.
I believe that there are going to be Believers who will walk out of cities that have been nuked...without a bit of radiation (smell of smoke on their clothes) or burns. (Hebrew boys)
I believe that Believers are going to see times when they are directed by the Holy Spirit to stand still even though the enemy is coming. Even though they are in plain sight, those seeking to kill them will walk right on by, being "blinded" to their presence. (lions mouths closed)
I believe that for some Believers that are captured by the enemy, will walk right on out of their prisons as the angels of the Lord open the gates and lead them out (Paul and Silas in jail). The key here will be to be doing what Paul and Silas were doing...singing and praising the Lord!
I believe that a can of soup and a packet of crackers will serve 20 people just like a few loaves and fishes fed several thousand...with enough left over for seconds.
Finally, I believe that every miracle described in the Bible will be seen again as Believers begin to operate in the authority of the Word of God, the Name of Jesus and the Power of the Blood. "
Friday, May 16, 2008
Back to Jewish Roots a Problem?
"Please don't take this wrong, but I have some concern about this growing tendency in the Christian churches to focus on our Hebrew roots, which seems to be taking away from the focus on Jesus Christ and the Finished Work.
Here's why:
1. A Christian young man (that I know personally) began attending a Messianic synagogue. A year later he has become convinced that Jesus is NOT the Messiah! He is not Hebrew and did espouse Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Now, he has stepped back into bondage.
2. The Star of David is featured prominently in churches participating in this "back to our Jewish roots" movement and being worn by many christians instead of a cross. For more information about the roots of the star of David: http://www.seedofabraham.net/stardavd.html. What I find extremely interesting is that I went to find this teaching, I typed in star of david. Where before this teaching had appeared on the first page...now it doesn't appear at all. Every site that came up was promoting this symbol.
What prompted this post was when I was reading a response to another thread. The writer was writing in English and quoting the New Testament but several times used Hebrew names for the scriptural references that most English-speaking people, like me, wouldn't recognize. What is even more interesting, is that the New Testament was not written in Hebrew it was written in Greek! So, if the writer was wanting to go back to the original text, shouldn't they have been using the Greek name for Paul/Saul, instead of the Hebrew?
I see a separation developing where instead of "Jesus" one sees "Yeshua" all the time. Maybe that doesn't matter, but is there much difference in insisting on using "Yeshua" than what the Jehovah's Witnesses do in insisting that one cannot use the name "God"?
Don't take me wrong, I'm not saying anything against our Hebrew roots. My Lord and Savior was born Jewish, God has a special relationship with His chosen people. I am grafted in to the Vine and become an adopted daughter of Abraham...however Jesus came to set the captive free. And while a good understanding of Jewish festivals is vital to understanding prophecy, one must guard against falling back into bondage.
One must be especially diligent NOT to fall for every wind of doctrine. The Enemy will use whatever he can to lead Christians into false teaching. I'm not saying that the "back to our Hebrew roots" is a false teaching...but I do get a check in my spirit when I see a "movement" developing in the church. Unfortunately, the church just loves new movements... and doesn't always use wisdom and discernment in deciding which movement is ordained by God...after all look how entrenched into doctrine has become the pre-tribulation rapture teaching!
I would imagine that when the pre-trib rapture teaching first was introduced, there were some people that felt in their spirit that something wasn't right about that. Unfortunately, the majority decided this was a good teaching, and even had scripture to "back it up"...so that today on the eve of the Tribulation, we find the Body of christ more interested in prosperity than in preparedness."
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Brace Yourselves America!
Unfortunately America hasn't learned her lesson about getting involved in the "land for peace" plan (LFPP). For decades there has been an interesting (most would say "coincidental) connection between the LFPP and some kind of immediate disaster, either personal or natural.
Here's just a brief run down:
- 10/91 - President Bush (the elder) opens conference in Madrid for the LFPP - the Perfect Storm hits New England and 35' waves crash into Kennebunk Port (Bush's home)
- 08/92 - the LFPP talks move to Washington DC - Hurricane Andrew hits with $30 billion in damage and 180,000 left homeless
- 01/16/94 - President Clinton meets with Syrian President to discuss the LFPP - in 24 hours 6.9 earthquake in southern California
- 01/21/98 - Clinton and Albright snub Israeli PrimeMinister Benjamin Netanyahu - that same day the Monica Lewinski scandal breaks
- 09/28/98 - Clinton meets with Arafat and Netanyahu to discuss the LFPP - Hurrican George slams into the Gulf Coast resulting in $1 billion in damage...the minute Arafat departs by plane the storm begins to die down
- 10/98 - Arafat and Netanyahu meet with Clinton in Maryland to continue the LFPP talks - same week Texas is devastated by tornados and floods, $1 billion in damage and declared a major disaster by Clinton.
- 11/30/98 - Arafat again in US to raise promised funds to build Palestinian State, supported by 42 nations - same day dramatic losses in market capitalization in the billions in Europe and US
- 12/12/98 - Clinton goes to Palestinian-controlled part of Israel to discuss the LFPP - House of Representatives votes to impeach Clinton
- 5/3/99 - Arafat scheduled to declare Palestinian state with full Clinton support, although Clinton does request a postponement - Super Tornado storm with winds clocked at 316 mph rages through Oklahoma and Kansas
- 10/11/99 that week Jewish settlers forced to leave West Bank - Dow Jones suffers worst loss since 10/98, hurricane devastates North Carolina, and 7.1 earthquake hits southern California desert, felt in three states.
That's just a brief look at some of the "coincidences" surrounding the United States' involvement in the LFPP for Israel. Is it any surprise that Hurricane Katrina formed in the same week as a LFPP incident?
If you would like to read a complete analysis of the "coincidences" surrounding the entire LFPP, you might want to check out Eye to Eye - Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel by Bill Koenig.
Personally I don't much believe in coincidences when it comes to Israel. You know: "if it looks like a duck and walks like a duck..." I think that the occurrence of devastating disasters in relation to the LFPP makes it a "duck".
If this "duck" is real, then Americans had better get braced. If Bush has his way in forcing a LFPP deal in Israel, then we can expect to experience some really nasty disasters in the very near future. If you're not prepared, you had better do everything in your power to get as prepared as fast as you can...then cover your head and...duck!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Jim Bakker from Prosperity to Preparedness
Today he'll be the first to tell you that when he was in prison he really started studying the Bible (afterall, what better way of knowing where he'd gone wrong?). During this time of intense study he realized that the Bible doesn't teach a pre-tribulation rapture...instead it makes it very clear that we are going to be here.
That's a teaching that does not go along with the prosperity gospel. Why not? Prosperity and preparedness do not go hand-in-hand. Afterall, the way the prosperity teaching goes you have to "plant your seed" into the ministry (which in turns lines the ministry's pockets and empties yours) in order to trick God into blessing you financially.
Preparedness on the other hand in about planting your seed (in a garden) and getting prepared for the "saving" of your household (as Noah did) and ministering to the lost and hurting during the Tribulation. Well, you can't get prepared and plant seeds for financial prosperity at the same time.
Today thousands (maybe millions) of people are being mislead into trying to build their kingdom here on earth, having the big house, the fancy car, the best clothes...yada yada yada...all as a sign that they are favored by God. In the process they are helping many of those ministries build their own little kingdoms.
"Kingdoms" because after the "king" steps down, then the prince takes over and keeps the kingdom going. Without looking too hard you can find several examples of those ministries that have passed on to the next generation or whose progeny are being groomed to step into the pulpit/throne.
Remember: "they have their reward". The Bible is very clear about those shepherds/pastors who mislead their flock. Their blood will be required of them.
Instead of coming out of prison and taking up the prosperity mantra again, Jim Bakker came out and basically said, "wake up folks! There's no getting out of here before the Tribulation". This could explain why you don't see him much on television...afterall it takes money to buy television time. Plus the major "Christian" networks rely on the prosperity teaching to pay the bills. So I doubt that his views find much support there.
BTW: I haven't talked to Jim Bakker about any of this, so much of the above is paraphrasing based on what he's said and written in recent years.
You may visit his website to learn more: http://www.jimbakkershow.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=65
Thursday, May 8, 2008
It's Not Too Late, continued
Here's the timeline: the Bible says that it took God 6 days to create the world and on the 7th He rested. Somewhere else in the Bible it says, "a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day". If you look at it that way, and calculating that from Biblical creation to today is 6000 years.
The Bible also said that at the end of the 6000 years some things were going to take place: earthquakes, famines, pestilence, wars, signs in the heavens...lots of them with an intensity never before experienced. When Jesus, Himself, was on the earth, He spoke about the things that were going to happen.
The purpose is going to be for one last chance for people to come to Him before He forever rids the earth of the being, Satan/Devil/Lucifer, who has caused so much misery in the world. It's because of him (and his fallen angel/demon buddies) that there are things like: death, sickness, addiction, murder, hatred, anger, pedophilia and a world of unhappiness.
So God decided a long time ago that there was going to come a time when all that would end. So Satan knowing that his time is short is getting ready to go on a rampage to end all rampages. During which time everyone in the world is going to have one last chance to make a choice who they want to serve: Satan or God. Then once all votes are cast, Revelation says, that God says "It is time" and puts His hand of protection over those who've chosen Him, while He pours out His Wrath on the rest of the world.
At that point Satan and his deadly crew are locked up (at the end of the 6th day-thousand years) and then there come a day/thousand years of rest for the rest of the world. At the end of which Satan is released for a short time to try and deceive the rest of the world one more time.
Imagine if you can a 1000 year period where there is no death...anyone born lives on and on because there is no sickness, no decay, no hatred, no greed, innocence, no sin...because the one who in behind all that nastiness is locked up. Then imagine that suddenly things begin to happen in the world that people have never seen...sickness, anger, jealousy, hatred and death! They'll think the world has gone crazy.
But you see God is giving the world one last chance to choose Him or reject Him...you see He doesn't force Himself on anybody. We all have a choice.
So you've just receive a brief rundown of Biblical history, with a warning that we are now at the end of the 6th day/6000 years. In about seven years the 1000 years of peace is going to start, but between now and then Satan is going to unleash a reign of terror and death like this world has never seen...if fact it's already started (tsunami/Indonesia, cyclone/Myanmar, AIDS, wars...)
Better get ready folks 'cause we are in for a bumpy ride and before it ends everyone will have to make a choice. For those who've already made a choice, then do what you can to prepare because it's going to get much worse and many reading this now will not survive to the end.
Think about it.
Monday, May 5, 2008
It's Not Too Late
Over 2000 years ago, in the little country call Israel, the same one that is at the heart and focus of so much of the problems in the Middle East, God sent to earth His only Son. Why in the world would God do that? An ever better question might be, why in the world would the Son agree to leave heaven (the place many people believe they'll go when they die) to come down to a little backward dusty country? Love. That's it. Love.
John 3:16 says that God loved the world so much that he sent His Only Son and decreed that anyone who would believe that He was the Son of God would not die an eternal death but would live forever with Them.
Sounds easy, right? No. You see God, the creator of the universe, is also a Holy God...I mean afterall, if you make the world you get set the rules, right? So about 3000 years before sending His Son, He gave 10 little rules to live by that would ensure anyone the opportunity of eternal life.
Well, how many people do you know that abide by speed limits? Almost no one. How many people can go their entire life and never, ever, tell a little white lie? How many kids grow to adulthood without every rebelling against their parents? Zero? Right.
See that was the problem, people couldn't live by those ten simple rules for the reason that they were and are sinful (which means separated from God). However, God did set up a system that would allow those sins to be covered and forgiven, thus restoring a right relationship with Him. Unfortunately it was a pretty steep price...death. But it wasn't just death, it was that blood had to be spilled (Hebrews 9:22) to "cover" the sin.
For several thousand years, animals were sacrificed so that their blood would symbolically cover people's sins. Unfortunately that was not an ideal solution, because every year another lamb had to be killed to cover a person's sin. (Yes, a lamb per person!)
God is economical and realized that that wasn't the answer (but he knew that all along, and the lamb thing was just a hint of what His real plan was), so decided to pay the price Himself. He would send His Son to live among people and then when the time was right, the Son would shed His own blood. From that point on anyone who would believe on the Son would have forgiveness for sins and eternal life.
So that's what happened. And now, if you've read this far, you're wondering what that all has to do with what's happening today. Well, stick around. I'll tell you more tomorrow.
Just think on these things:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
There is still hope...it's not too late.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Shake 'N Bake
Past Earthquakes:
On Mt. Sinai when God gave the 10 commandments - Psalm 68:8
When Jesus died on Calvary - Mat 27:51-54
Three days later at Jesus resurrection - Mat 28:1-4
Deliverance of Paul and Silas from jail - Acts 16:26
Future Earthquakes:
As a sign of the end times, "beginnings of sorrows." Mar 13:8
At the opening of 6th seal Rev 6:12
As the trumpets begin to sound Rev 8:5-6
The 7th vial judgment (Wrath of God) Rev 16
Is it possible that the unusual earthquakes in the center of the United States in the last month or two are precursors to the judgment that is coming?
Nature does seem to be aiming at the bulls-eye of this country. Look at the devastating tornados that hit Virginia this week. Tornados and Virginia? Virginia is certainly not in the midst of tornado alley, for heaven's sake!
What about the fires in California and New Mexico? Before May and already the fire season has started?
Earthquakes (small shakers) occuring in Nevada, California, Alaska, Puerto Rico (US territory) and Illinois. Today is the 1st of May, and it's 7:30 am central time, and according to the USGS Earthquake Center there have been 11 earthquakes in parts of the US just since midnight! One in California was 4.2 (total of 2), Illinois 3.3, Nevada 2.9, Alaska 5.1 (total of 4).
This activity is NOT just today, it's ongoing. Maybe California, Alaska and even Nevada are used to getting earthquakes, but not Illinois! What's next? New York? Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago?
If this summer is indeed the summer that sees the start of the Tribulation, then we can expect to see a whole lot of shaking going on. Combine the earthquakes with the rising global temperatures, and 2008 could be a real shake 'n bake year.