11/10/23 THE RIGHTFUL OWNER

11/10/23 THE RIGHTFUL OWNER

The problem with a claim to being the rightful owner of the land of Israel (whether through force, deception, squatting, majority rule, fancy legal maneuvering, political intrigue), is that God (the creator, owner and ruler of the universe), gave it to the line of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (aka as ISRAEL), with a promise of final title deed, regardless of the attempts by its enemies throughout millennium, to bully, steal, or defraud by human argumentation, military occupation, legal documentation or political declaration.

When a robbery takes place, it does not change the facts, regardless of the thief's identity or supposed authority. Divine rule is the final word. Corrupted councils, legislatures, courts, governments, politicians or popular opinion does not override God's rule.

God deliberately designated Isaac (whom God called the child of the promise), the son of Sarah (Abraham's first wife), rather than the sons of Hagar (Abraham's Egyptian concubine, whose son was called the child of the flesh), and Keturah (Abraham's second wife), as the rightful heir to the promised land. God also designated the younger twin of Isaac and Rebecca (Jacob, aka Israel), rather than the firstborn twin, Esau (aka Edom) as the heir of the promise. God made other promises to the sons of Hagar and Keturah. There are distinct differences in promises God made to Israel and Abraham's other descendants.

The Bible points out the enmity and hostility that the descendants of these other tribes (nations) held against Israel, which was not only evident in Biblical history, but is seen in Biblical prophecy (past, present and future).

We are seeing some of these prophecies being fulfilled today, in spite of the fact that tribes, nations and empires have risen and fallen during the thousands of years since those prophecies were made. There have been times in history that these prophecies could not have taken place, but we have been watching impossible fulfillment take place over the past seventy-five years.

The rightful heir, Israel, has been opposed and oppressed by the descendants of Hagar and Keturah (the progenitors of the Arab people) for thousands of years and the religion of modern Arab people (Islam) has opposed the ancient faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Judaism) for the last fourteen hundred years.

Not only did God state His plan for Israel's future clearly, He foretold the attempts to dispossess the rightful owners and He named the kingdoms and empires that would try to dispossess Israel including Russia, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq., Iran, the Arabian Peninsula, Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Greece, Rome and even China. God is very clear in the ultimate deliverance of Israel and He is very clear on the defeat of those pagan nations of the world.

Israel does not have spiritual salvation because of its bloodline. Salvation comes only to those who trust in Christ as the Savior of the world. There is no difference in salvation for Jew or Gentile, civilized or barbarian, male or female. The promises made to Israel must not be confused with the promises God made to the world concerning salvation. However, in both cases, the promises are secure because they are the promises of God.

God's promises and His prophecies are given to us, to turn us from sin to salvation through Christ. It has taken thousands of years, but the end is on schedule.

Consider the words of Peter concerning this truth.
2 Peter 3:1-18
1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

11/09/23 ESSENTIALS YOU SHOULD NOT MISS

11/09/23 ESSENTIALS YOU SHOULD NOT MISS

Turning to God through faith in Christ.
Turning from sin by the power of the Blood of Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
Walking in God's light and love and life.
Finding and aligning with a strong Bible teaching/preaching local body of believers, who follow Christ, walk in the Spirit, and love one another.
There are lots of good reasons you should have started "yesterday." But if you didn't start "yesterday," there is no reason you should not start today.

The longer you resist and reject God's call, the greater will be your losses.
Everyone loses some treasures in life.
Some treasures do not have to be lost.
The sooner we turn to Christ, the fewer losses we will have.

Some losses will never be recovered.
Some losses will be recovered.
Some losses never need to happen.

Remember, It was not because of anger that God gave His Son (which satisfied Divine justice), but because of His love for sinners,.
Since God spared not His Own Son for our salvation, and since He is the Giver of every good and perfect gift, will He not freely give us every thing that pertains to life and godliness?

God reaches out to lost people through His goodness and kindness and mercy.

When people resist and reject God's loving offer, God then reaches out through judgment in order to bring the unsaved to repentance.

11/09/23 SEEK BIBLICAL TRUTH

11/09/23 SEEK BIBLICAL TRUTH

The erroneous belief that the death and resurrection of Christ saves us from the penalty of sin, but does not also save us from the power and pollution of sin, presents a heady and fleshly religion, which exalts man's evil condition above Christ's atonement, God's anger above God's love and sin's bondage over God's deliverance.

Biblical teaching and preaching exalts God's nature and God's transforming work and God's redemptive purpose.
Biblical teaching and preaching produces overcoming faith and dispels overpowering failure.
Biblical teaching and preaching leads to a life of victory over sin, perfect love, joy unspeakable, peace that passes understanding, conformity to the image of Christ, spiritual power and praise, holiness of heart and life, eager submission to the will of God, salvation from darkness and defeat and depression, confidence on God's power and empowerment.

Salvation not only changes the believer's destiny, it changes the believer's nature, intentions and behavior.
Salvation is not simply Divine pencil pushing, salvation is the Divine work of transformation.
Salvation gives us the "want to do," what we ought to do.

11/07/23 COULDN'T KEEP IT TO MYSELF

11/07/23 COULDN'T KEEP IT TO MYSELF

Have you ever been somewhere, met someone, experienced something that was so spectacular, so life changing that you wanted to tell others and lead them into the wonders you had found?

I have.
I have been blessed to see the unspeakable beauty of holiness; to sit in the presence of God's glory; to know His leading through deep darkness; to know His victory over fear, temptation, intimidation.

I have sat in heavenly places; I have soared with angels, I have been welcomed into the throne room of the King of kings; I have been renewed by the Great Physician; I have fed on Divine fare and slaked my thirst with Living Waters.

I have been washed and clothed and accepted into my Father's home after abandoning and defaming Him; I have proclaimed His glory and shared His light to those in darkness; I have participated in setting the prisoner free; I have sought the lost and rescued the perishing and offered life to the dead and healing to broken relationships and hope to the hopeless.

The journey and adventure has been beyond imagining.

I have wanted to share these things with so many people, but especially with my grand children. My heart aches beyond words that I have not been able to share all of the splendors of God's saving grace and His provision of victory over all sin with them. I wanted to introduce them to the secrets of the Kingdom, and train them in spiritual warfare, and I wanted to worship with them in the splendor of holiness.

I hope they will all know how much I loved them and wanted to help them prepare for their own journey.
I say all these things because we all know that very few are preaching and teaching full deliverance form sin in this present evil world, perfect love, heart purity, singleness of mind with Christ and His people, the whole counsel of God.

Hearing the truth of God's great salvation does not guarantee faithful and victorious living, but being deprived of the message that saves to the uttermost is a formula for spiritual failure.

11/07/23 A TIME FOR CRYING

11/07/23 A TIME FOR CRYING

There is coming a time when every tear will be dried. In the mean time...
The tears run for loved ones who died without Christ.
The tears run for loved ones racked with pain.
The tears run for loved ones crippled in body.
The tears run for loved ones enslaved by selfishness.
The tears run for loved whose families are shattered and scattered
The tears run for loved ones blinded by deception.
The tears run for loved ones bound by fear, lust, anger.
The tears run for loved ones separated from family, light, pure love, holiness, spiritual worship.

We will finally be healed from the losses of loved ones who moved away from God, but until then, the tears run and run and run.

It is a terrible thing to lose a precious treasure; it is an intensified pain to be robbed of loved ones, whether through death, deception or devilish division.

Don't allow precious ties to be torn apart by selfishness.

11/07/23 VIDEO

11/07/23 VIDEO

We are God's vessels of compassion, showing the beauty of Jesus

11/05/23 DECEPTION IS DESTRUCTIVE

11/05/23 DECEPTION IS DESTRUCTIVE

God hates lying, false witnessing, gossip, slander, libel, false accusations, blasphemy (speaking against people). God requires accusations against a person to be based on two witnesses, and those accusations must be verifiable. DO NOT ALLOW A DISGRUNTLED PERSON TO PREJUDICE YOU AGAINST ANOTHER PERSON. Make your judgments based on facts, personal knowledge and get both sides of a story before you judge someone. Do not become a participant in another person's personal attacks or vendettas. 

The accuser may be deceived, or he may be angry, or he may be jealous, or he may be hiding something in his own life. Injurious accusations (defamation) can be written or spoken. (One of the names of the devil is, "the accuser.") The devil is not only the accuser, he is "a liar and is the father of lies."

Keep in mind, it is easier to believe a lie than to believe the truth. It is easier to propagate a lie than to correct a lie. Even when a lie has been unmasked, the damage is done and cannot be undone. Don't be part of Satan's work, plan, corruption, destruction.

Sometimes telling the truth about someone is intended to unjustly defame them. Though something is true or has been true about a person, it is not always justifiable to repeat that truth. Some people tell the "truth" about another person as a weapon to harm or destroy the other person.

Don't be caught-up in someone's drama, anger, plotting, meanness, sin. Usually the, "truth" that is told is actually a partial truth, designed to harm or destroy another person.
Life is fragile and transient. Sadly there are beautiful relationships that suffer shipwreck because of someone else's false accusations, misrepresentations, personal attacks.

False accusations and gossip are such old and prevalent sins that God addressed it many times in the Bible, including one of the Ten Commandments is, "Do not bear false witness." Defaming and false accusing others can be an act of deliberate evil or an act of gullibility and ignorance. In either case, lives are ruined and God is disobeyed and dishonored.

False accusations have saddled Christian people with bad reputations for a life-time, and have caused family break-ups, and have undermined and ruined wonderful ministries and have also resulted in legal attacks and imprisonment, as well as eternal suffering for many innocent people.
Don't be part of the gossip crowd. Don't destroy decent people. Don't aid blasphemers. Defaming someone can result in eternal damage for a number of innocent people.

The "innocent people" I refer to are the unsaved people who might have been reached by a believer, but Satan used the false accusations against that believer to harden the heart, blind the eyes and deafen the ears of the unsaved to the witness of the believer who was blasphemed. Satan uses one person's blasphemy to harm as many people as he can.

11/05/23 TRIALS FROM LOVED ONES

11/05/23 TRIALS FROM LOVED ONES

Though it is tragic, it is not a strange thing that a believer's enemy comes from the ranks of his own family.
Matthew 10:34-39
34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.
39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Make no mistake, God wants families to be in unity, to be of one mind, to be loving. But since some people will not believe Christ, will not believe in the salvific work of Christ, will not surrender to and obey Christ, then those people will be enemies to their family members who trust and follow Christ.

As always, it is a "love" issue. Those who love the world and the things of the world, and those who love pleasure, more than God, and those who love money and power and self, do not love God. Those who do not love God with their whole heart and love their neighbor as they love themselves will not be in agreement with those who love Christ; they will be opposed to their own family members who follow Christ.
As God tells us, we must examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith.

Consider these passages which address our relationship with, "the faith." The phrase, "the faith," refers to the truths of salvation and the body of beliefs which God has revealed in His word.

Whatever, "the faith," is, we are to embrace it and continue in it.
Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

God's plan is for churches to be established in, "the faith."
Acts 16:5
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

Christian must receive those who are weak in, "the faith."
Romans 14:1
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.

We must stand and be strong in, "the faith."
1 Corinthians 16:13
Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

We must make certain that we are in, "the faith."
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Continuing in, "the faith" is a deliberate choice for stability.
Colossians 1:23
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Walking (continuing) in, "the faith" results in victorious living.
Colossians 2:6-7
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

God requires His servants to be, sound in, "the faith."
Titus 1:13
This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

Total trust and consistent obedience are essential to living constantly in, "the faith," which results in heart purity, righteous living, loyalty to, "the faith."
1 Peter 5:7-11
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

11/04/23 BE THANKFUL FOR EVERY BLESSING

11/04/23 BE THANKFUL FOR EVERY BLESSING

Though my parents were not saved (unless or until it was late in their lives) I always loved them with all my heart. Though they did not raise me in a Biblical environment they allowed and encouraged me (even from the time I was toddler) to love God, believe in God, seek God and follow God. They never stood between me and God. They never knowingly robbed me of being influenced by Christian teaching or church experiences. Though they were not part of, and did not attend, a church, daddy would take me (when I was very, very young) to a church, leave me and then pick me up after Sunday School, worship services, choir practices and children's programs. My parents even allowed me to have a Christian lady come into our home to lead a Vacation Bible School for my friends and kids from nearby neighborhood. Not only was our house filled with kids, mama provided refreshments.

Yes, it would have been better if they had led me in Christ and we had worshiped and served God together as a family, BUT they never knowingly came between me and my spiritual journey. 

Through the years in my ministry I have encountered many parents who deliberately robbed their children of basic and advanced Christian truths and experiences. Usually the parents robbed their children because they selfishly wanted to please themselves or they were not willing to surrender their own lives to the Lordship of Christ.

It is terrible enough for parents to apparently choose sin and darkness for themselves but it is more detestable for them to rob their children of light, life and love, which is provided in faithful preaching and teaching. 

There is nothing a parent can give their child that is as essential or as loving as a solid Biblical upbringing. Give them the best of truth. Other stuff is just STUFF.

11/04/23 A TREASURED RELATIONSHIP

11/04/23 A TREASURED RELATIONSHIP

Behind every grandchild is a grandparent who is (or should be, or could be, or would be) a loving, nurturing part of their lives.

11/04/23 MEME

11/04/23 MEME

Arrogance absorbs LIFE EXPERIENCES like a BRICK.

Humility absorbs LIFE EXPERIENCES like a SPONGE.

11/03/23 BEWARE COUNTERFEIT FAITH

11/03/23 BEWARE COUNTERFEIT FAITH

Superstition is formulaic and demonic.
Faith is relational and Biblical.

On which is your theology based?
Is it a mind thing, a superstition, a formula, which openly contradicts Divine revelation?
Or is it a spiritual reality, Divinely revealed truths, a relationship, which accepts and submits to God because of love?

"Disobedient Faith" is a contradiction in terms; it is an oxymoron, it is a demonic religion.
Biblical faith is obedient to God.
Disobedience is the absence of faith.
Faith honors God's holiness, truthfulness, grace, love, mercy, justice.
Disobedience demeans God's nature, God's word, God's work of salvation.

11/02/23 NO IF ABOUT HIS OFFER

11/02/23 NO IF ABOUT HIS OFFER

If you stop your ears, it does not mean the birds are not singing.
If you close your eyes, it does not mean the sun isn't shining.
If you callous your hands, it does not mean there is no softness.
If you close your mind, it does not mean there is no other reality.
If you are dead, it does not mean there is no life.
If you are spiritually deaf, blind, hard hearted, deceived, separated from, and opposed to God, it does not mean God does not love you, or God cannot communicate with you.
If you do not seek God, it does not mean God does not seek you.
If you are lost, it does not mean God cannot find you.
If you are held by sin, it does not mean God cannot or will not set you free.
If you perish eternally, it is not because God is unable and unwilling to save you.

He will save you if you come to Him in repentance.

11/01/23 GOD REQUIRES RESPONSE

11/01/23 GOD REQUIRES RESPONSE

Without free will, life does not make sense, and more importantly, without free will, the Holy Bible, the God of the Holy Bible and the salvation of God does not make any sense.

God created mankind with the ability to believe and obey God, and God's grace enables fallen men to believe God's word and obey God's will.

Rejoice in your choice,
Or deny and die.
The true God is just,
He will save those who trust.

11/01/23 PURSUE GOD'S WILL

11/01/23 PURSUE GOD'S WILL

When a person knows the truth and refuses to do that which he knows to be good, but willfully abandons truth, and aligns himself with doing evil, TO THAT PERSON IT IS SIN.

When a person deliberately misleads and exposes a child to error and false doctrine, THAT PERSON WOULD BE BETTER OFF WITH A MILLSTONE HUNG AROUND HIS NECK AND THROWN INTO THE SEA.

You better have a pastor and church that teaches God's truths, no matter how unpopular or uncomfortable it may be to you or anyone else.

11/01/23 DELIVERANCE DOESN'T APPEAL

11/01/23 DELIVERANCE DOESN'T APPEAL

If God steps in and saves the U.S. from our plethora of demonic upheaval today, the resistance to, and rejection of the salvation and Lordship of Christ and the authority of the Holy Bible will continue to mount.

People want the blessings of God BUT THEY DON'T WANT THE GOD OF THE BIBLE.

Put your big anchor out, batten down your hatches, prepare your lifeboat, put on your life jacket, send up your flare... "she's going down."