Must see video on abortion rights vs. life rights

This important new video, offered for free, is a must see. Street preacher/ evangelist Ray Comfort produced this powerful 33 minute video with real life reactions to real life questions. One of the nicest things about this work is the not just the underlying message, but the fact that all participants are random people- not actors. This is real life at its most crucial.

CLICK HERE and watch for FREE: http://180movie.com/

Consider this article from WND.com:

The new movie “180,” with its “power of truth” is turning out to be an abortionist’s worst nightmare.

The intensely stunning new production from author, evangelist and street preacher Ray Comfort has drawn more than 600,000 views in just a few days, and hundreds more are purchasing a copy for their home.

And the reactions have been flooding in.

“I watched this today – three times,” wrote Sonya Shirk. “Each time I was overwhelmed with the power of truth. I have shared this everywhere I can think of. I can’t begin to tell you how this video has changed my perspective.”

Added another poignantly, and to the point: “Your film just led a 17-year-old girl away from abortion.”

“I am very thankful for the Internet,” Comfort told WND. “It is so often used for evil, but in this case it is being used for good. In just 10 days 180Movie.com has had over 600,000 views.

“Keep in mind that this isn’t a one-minute humorous clip that doesn’t bite into your day. This is a commitment of 33 minutes of intense film, giving the viewer a rollercoaster ride of emotions,” he said.

For those quick with math, that’s more than 12,500 days that have been dedicated to watching “180.” Or more than 34 years.

“In an age where there’s more chance of flossing the back teeth of hungry lions at the LA Zoo at feeding time than getting ‘180’ on secular television, millions are going to see it uncensored via the Internet … and many will change their minds about abortion,” he said.

Wrote one viewer, “It’s so powerful. And although I have thought about abortion and Hitler on a passing note, this really made me think and did change my mind about abortion. I am not Christian or even know if God exists but this really does make you think. Thank you, it could be life-changing.”

Another: “The day after wearing a 180movie T-shirt to school, my daughter found out fellow classmates had seen the shirt and went to the site. Several commented they had never really thought about the issue of abortion but now know it’s wrong.”

Of course, Comfort noted, there’s another perspective. He cited this comment, “You rude anti-choice pig! Pro-choice doesn’t mean pro-death; Pro-choice just means freedom for women to choose! If you don’t want abortion, don’t get one! Oh, and no one cares about that stupid 180 *$@!*! Grow up, you zombified, conservatarded hypocrite!”

“These emails make me smile, because when a person has no justification for the killing of a child in the womb, they will resort to personal abuse, something called ‘ad hominem,'” Comfort said.

Comfort initially thought he would produce a video to go with an upcoming book called “Hitler, God, and the Bible” to be published by WND Books and soon to be available at the WND Superstore.

Join the discussion about “180,” at WND’s Forums.

That book is soaring on Amazon even though it’s not scheduled to come out until February.

It exposes Hitler’s theology and abuse of religion as a means to seize political power and ultimately instigate World War II and genocide. It mines the depths of Hitler’s beliefs and convincingly argues that without Hitler’s misuse of Christianity, the Third Reich would not have had its terrible rise, resulting in the deaths of millions.

“‘180’ wasn’t the video I meant to produce,” Comfort told WND.

Comfort explained his idea: “I decided to go out to the streets with a camera and find out what people believed about Hitler.

“I ended up with 14 people – mainly university students – who had no idea who Adolf Hitler was. This really bothered me, because I believe that when we forget our history we are more apt to repeat it,” he said.

In fact, recent media reports highlighted a sports day at a school in Thailand where students proudly paraded in Nazi costumes, including one student dressed as Hitler, to celebrate.

According to the London Daily Mail, the students and teachers were oblivious to “what all the fuss was about.”

It’s about life and death, Comfort explained, and not just during World War II

Comfort said his research for the book turned up a recurring theme regarding the Holocaust and the deaths of an estimated 11 million people, including some 6 million Jews: Moral apathy.

“I realized that the same kind of moral apathy that permitted such an incident to take place is still present today when it comes to the matter of abortion,” he said.

“While making the video I was amazed at how quickly people did a complete 180 after this connection was pointed out to them in a particularly effective way. They changed from being adamantly pro-abortion to being pro-life in a matter of seconds.”

The name “180” came from just that observation.

“As we watched ‘Steve’ – a proud, Jew-hating, foul-mouthed, anti-black, ‘I hate America’ neo-Nazi atheist with a 14-inch blue Mohawk – do a complete 180 and almost become likeable, it suddenly dawned on us that the same thing happened to most of the people on the video. They were all doing a 180 … their worldviews radically changed,” Comfort said.

The video follows Comfort’s winning formula of colorful, fast paced street interviews popular in the award-winning “Way of the Master” television series.

The series, in its fifth season, is co-hosted by Kirk Cameron and is viewed in 70 countries on 42 networks.

Comfort told WND that “180” is already considered “transforming.”

Message after message that reach his desk say things such as:

“I confess, I have committed 7 murders! GOD forgive me, I will never NEVER AGAIN trivialize abortion. NEVER again will I agree with the lie.”

And:

“This video has been popping up all over Facebook. I finally clicked on the link. I am a history buff with a passion for WW2. My attention was immediately grabbed. As soon as the switch to abortion began I wanted to stop watching, but I couldn’t. Part of me needed to keep watching. I don’t know what to do with this information, but I think it is changing the way I view these things. I might need to watch it again. That’s something I never thought I’d say.”

And

“I had always thought I was an ‘open-minded person’ when it came to abortion. But after viewing this movie, my stance has changed.”

Not everyone is thrilled with the powerful message of “180,” though. One Internet forum for atheists featured a number of bloggers scheming on how to ruin the video release or even hack into the video for an “atheist version.”

One post said this:

“There are many ways to spoil his release …

“For one, link up to every group of interest and offer a download. This will really hurt the b——. A lot of money went into this video production and an atheist-controlled version which he cannot profit from would hurt his finances.”

But it’s only $5 for a DVD.

Comfort said the project has nothing to do with profit and everything to do with transforming lives.

“We will also distribute 200,000 free copies of the ‘180’ DVD in 100 of the top U.S. universities (in one day) sometime in 2011, and we will invite pro-life organizations, churches, and individuals to join us by having additional giveaways in their own area,” the movie website says.

In a WND interview, Comfort said about the atheists that attack him: “We have a love/hate relationship. They hate me. I love them.”

He said the issue today is that there is a generation “that has been hardened.”

“I was horrified that youth I spoke to lacked compassion for other human beings.”

“180” tells how many of the people of Germany also lacked compassion while Hitler murdered 11 million people, 6 million of them Jews.

By comparison, “This country [the USA] has killed over 50 million babies,” Comfort said.

Comfort believes that “180” has the ability to change peoples view on abortion and maybe the way they vote for candidates who favor abortion.

“In ‘180’ we have a nation changer,” says Comfort.

Viewers of the movie have been deeply moved. Living Waters recently checked into the possibility of billboard advertising for “180” in California.

“When we looked into billboard advertising, a woman representative asked us what ‘180’ was about, so we invited her to come to the ministry for a special screening,” Comfort said. “She did, and afterwards she sat there biting her pencil. She said that it made her rethink her stance on abortion, and she wanted her teenage daughter to see it.

“We ended up praying with the woman for salvation.”

Read more: Video facts and logic becoming abortionists’ nightmare http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=352741#ixzz1abM0synF

Read more: Video facts and logic becoming abortionists’ nightmare http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=352741#ixzz1abLu7Zbn

Read more: Video facts and logic becoming abortionists’ nightmare http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=352741#ixzz1abLpYSjY

Read more: Video facts and logic becoming abortionists’ nightmare http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=352741#ixzz1abLdSBUy

Read more: Video facts and logic becoming abortionists’ nightmare http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=352741#ixzz1abLJxAqQThe new movie “180,” with its “power of truth” is turning out to be an abortionist’s worst nightmare.

The intensely stunning new production from author, evangelist and street preacher Ray Comfort has drawn more than 600,000 views in just a few days, and hundreds more are purchasing a copy for their home.

And the reactions have been flooding in.

“I watched this today – three times,” wrote Sonya Shirk. “Each time I was overwhelmed with the power of truth. I have shared this everywhere I can think of. I can’t begin to tell you how this video has changed my perspective.”

Added another poignantly, and to the point: “Your film just led a 17-year-old girl away from abortion.”

“I am very thankful for the Internet,” Comfort told WND. “It is so often used for evil, but in this case it is being used for good. In just 10 days 180Movie.com has had over 600,000 views.

“Keep in mind that this isn’t a one-minute humorous clip that doesn’t bite into your day. This is a commitment of 33 minutes of intense film, giving the viewer a rollercoaster ride of emotions,” he said.

For those quick with math, that’s more than 12,500 days that have been dedicated to watching “180.” Or more than 34 years.

“In an age where there’s more chance of flossing the back teeth of hungry lions at the LA Zoo at feeding time than getting ‘180’ on secular television, millions are going to see it uncensored via the Internet … and many will change their minds about abortion,” he said.

Wrote one viewer, “It’s so powerful. And although I have thought about abortion and Hitler on a passing note, this really made me think and did change my mind about abortion. I am not Christian or even know if God exists but this really does make you think. Thank you, it could be life-changing.”

Another: “The day after wearing a 180movie T-shirt to school, my daughter found out fellow classmates had seen the shirt and went to the site. Several commented they had never really thought about the issue of abortion but now know it’s wrong.”

Of course, Comfort noted, there’s another perspective. He cited this comment, “You rude anti-choice pig! Pro-choice doesn’t mean pro-death; Pro-choice just means freedom for women to choose! If you don’t want abortion, don’t get one! Oh, and no one cares about that stupid 180 *$@!*! Grow up, you zombified, conservatarded hypocrite!”

“These emails make me smile, because when a person has no justification for the killing of a child in the womb, they will resort to personal abuse, something called ‘ad hominem,'” Comfort said

Skeptics may say that no one could possibly change their mind so quickly. Comfort would have shared that thought had he not seen the extraordinary changes before his own eyes.

A viewer had this to say on the “180” Facebook page: “When I first saw the link [to the video], I knew it wasn’t the best time for me to view it, so I clicked on it to watch the first five minutes. Needless to say, I did not stop viewing it to the very end.”

Many big names in Christian circles have wholeheartedly endorsed “180.”

• “Brilliant and powerful,” says Joseph Farah, CEO of WND.com
• “Riveting,” says Joni Eareckson Tada of Joni & Friends
• “You don’t view this video. You experience it!” declares Gary T Ansdell, pastor of Hosanna Christian Fellowship

Mark Hall, the lead singer for Casting Crowns, said the video rocked his world: “I dare you to watch ‘180.’”

There even have been endorsements from the unexpected.

“I’m not a fan of Ray Comfort, but I have to hand it to him, he did a great job putting this video together. As a prolife atheist, I was afraid this video was going to be arguing against abortion using Christian rhetoric once again … good job Ray, and as a pro-life atheist – I support this video!” wrote one person.

“I am a witch but am prolife and have always been. I have no desire to share the Gospel part of this but some of it seemed pretty interesting,” added another.

Evident throughout the “180” video is Comfort’s passion for exposing the abortion lie. He told WND why he has such passion for the issue.

“The taking of the life of an unborn child is murder, and for that we should all be more than concerned. We should be horrified,” he says.

He tells of a time in the 1980s when he learned about a new Christian named “Fran” who was scheduled for an abortion.

“When I found that she had already checked into a hospital, I jumped into my car, sped into the city and ran to the second floor and into her room. She was sitting on a bed and had already been given the pre-operation medication. I pleaded, ‘Please don’t do this!’

“She smiled and said, ‘It’s okay. I’m not going to have an abortion. I just prayed, God, if you don’t want me to have an abortion, make Ray Comfort come and see me.’ I didn’t have to say a thing.”

Two years later, Comfort had the privilege of seeing Fran’s child at a picnic.

“Then it dawned on me that I had been used in a small way to help save a human life,” he said.

On abortion, Comfort said, “We should all be horrified. I think that there are many people out there that want to do something to stop this horror, but they don’t know what to do.

“If they stand outside an abortion clinic and protest, the media paints them as doctor-killing, narrow-minded, hate-mongering religious bigots,” he said.

But he believes “180” has the potential to change many lives.

“It already has,” he said.
Read more: Video facts and logic becoming abortionists’ nightmare http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=352741#ixzz1abMPAwse

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=352741

Read more: Video facts and logic becoming abortionists’ nightmare http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=352741#ixzz1abLJxAqQ

Mission- Kenya, August ’09. (Read this letter.)

Note: For a background on this and the previous mission, visit Kenya Calling.

Dear friends:                                                    

           In 2006 I traveled to Kenya, in eastern Africa. While there, the Lord prompted me to return. I am now planning on leading a return trip to Kenya August 9-26, 2009 as the Lord directs. There is much need in Kenya right now! We will be working mainly in the Maasai village, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

At that time of my previous visit, Kenya was the most peaceful and safe country in eastern Africa. After their presidential elections in Dec. 2007, was sparked tribal and religious genocide throughout the country. Over 1,500 were killed, over 600,000 were displaced, and in some instances, churches were burned to the ground while those seeking refuge hid inside. This lasted close to five months. Yet we know, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

 As I return this summer, the mission will consist of:

• Preaching in the Maasai villages. We have a translator who will interpret the words into the Maasai language. Many of these people will be hearing the gospel for the first time ever!
• Showing the Jesus film. We will show the film, dubbed in Maa, the language of the Maasai. This film will be instrumental in showing the ministry of Christ, and in leading to the salvation of the lost.
• Clothing outreach. We have a lot of clothes in all sizes, but mostly kids. As children grow, both in the bush and in the slums, they do not have access or income for new clothing. Most children wear very old and tattered clothes. We would like to bless them with new items. We only have to get the clothes to them.
• Construction. The main village in which we will be staying has outgrown the building used for the church. (Praise God!) They would like to build a bigger sanctuary out of stone brick (as opposed to corrugated metal). If enough funds are secured, we will purchase the materials to lay the foundation for this new sanctuary and begin its construction!
• Vacation Bible School (VBS). While the children will be on a break from school, we will conduct a VBS series to teach them about Jesus, the Bible, and Godly characteristics.
• Much more. We will have more opportunities that we don’t even know about yet, but one thing is for sure: We will follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and do the will of the Lord as He instructs.

 I am writing to you to ask for your help. We cannot do this alone. Between flights, lodging, food, materials for work and donation and immunizations, I am looking at a cost of no less than $6,500. If you can assist us, a tax-exempt donation can be made out to:

South Side Christian Church

c/o Kenya Missions

P.O. Box 20800 

Milwaukee, WI 53220 

 Please write “Kenya Missions” or my name, Justin Lessard, on the memo line. Thank you for any consideration.

‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me… Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ –Matthew 25: 35, 36, 40  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” –Matthew 28:19

            God bless you and those who serve alongside you.

 

Your brother in Christ Jesus our Lord,

Justin Lessard

Servant of Christ

ferventservant1@hotmail.com

Below is a donations form, and below that are a number of facts and other info on Kenya. Please take the time to read it, and prayerfully consider sending a gift.

 

 

 

 

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

 

Please print, cut out & send this along with your contribution. Thank you! (Ok to copy/paste this.)

 

 Thank you for supporting the 2009 Mission trip to KENYA 

 

 

 

I pledge to support _______Justin Lessard_______

 

Supporter name(s) __________________________________________________________

 

_________ with my/our prayers

________ with my/our financial gift of (check one) $50_____ $100_____ $150_____ $300_____ $500_____ $1,000_____ Other_____

       (Checks must be received by: March 31, 2009)

 

Send to:       South Side Christian Church

                     P.O.Box 20800

                        Milwaukee, WI 53220                

Attn.: Justin Lessard/ Kenya Mission

 

 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –  I wanted to post the most critical info on Kenya. You may notice that a few of the numbers don’t match (ie. population) I don’t know when each piece gathered the info posted (unless noted), but it varies depending on who’s doing the survey. I also imagine that its hard to get precise numbers because of all the Maasai and all the unaccounted for people in the slums. Either way, you get the main idea.

 

 

 The country 

Full name: The Republic of Kenya

Population: 32.8 million (UN, 2005)

Capital: Nairobi

Area: 582,646 sq km (224,961 sq miles)

Major languages: Swahili, English

Major religion: Christianity

Monetary unit: 1 Kenya shilling = 100 cents

Main exports: Tea, coffee, horticultural products, petroleum products

Gross National Income per capita: US $530 (World Bank, 2006)

Situated on the equator on Africa’s east coast, Kenya has been described as ‘the cradle of humanity’. In the Great Rift Valley paleontologists have discovered some of the earliest evidence of man’s ancestors.

Nationality: noun: Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan

Ethnic groups: Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%

Religions: Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, Muslim 10%, indigenous beliefs 10%, other 2%
note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely

Languages: English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages

Literacy: Definition: age 15 and over can read and write Total population: 85.1% Male: 90.6%
Female: 79.7% (2003 est.)

Independence: 12 December 1963 (from UK)

Unemployment rate: 40%

Source: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/print/ke.html

 

• 52% of Kenya’s 32 million people live below the poverty line of $1 per day.

• A long-running regional drought has affected the food security of three and half million Kenyans .

• Life expectancy is 45 years.1

• More than one in 10 children die before their fifth birthday.1

• More than 400 in every 100,000 women die in childbirth.1

• Access to better water and sanitation is improving; six in 10 Kenyans have access to water from an improved  source.2

• Following the introduction of free primary education, 86%2 of children are enrolled in primary schools (compared to 62% in 1992). Gender equality in primary schools is now at 98%.

• Transition to secondary education has risen from 27% in 1999 to 30% in 2004, with a 2008 target of 70%.

1 2003 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey.

2 2004 Kenya Bureau of Statistics.

  

The people

Population:	37,953,840 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality, higher death rates, lower population growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2008 est.)
Age structure:	0-14 years: 42.2% (male 8,065,789/female 7,953,077) 15-64 years: 55.2% (male 10,498,468/female 10,434,764) 65 years and over: 2.6% (male 457,886/female 543,854) (2008 est.)
Median age:	total: 18.6 years male: 18.5 years female: 18.8 years (2008 est.)
Population growth rate:	2.758% (2008 est.)
Birth rate:	37.89 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate:	10.3 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:	0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Sex ratio:	at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 0.965 male(s)/female (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate:	total: 56.01 deaths/1,000 live births male: 58.95 deaths/1,000 live births female: 53.02 deaths/1,000 live births (2008 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:	total population: 56.64 years male: 56.42 years female: 56.87 years (2008 est.)
Total fertility rate:	4.7 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate:	6.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS:	1.2 million (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS – deaths:	150,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:	degree of risk: high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2008 )

Sheep & Goats

Sheep & Goats

By: Justin Lessard

 28 May 2009

  ²¹“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.

 ²²“Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’

 ²³“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

 

 ³²“All the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;

 ³³and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.

 ³⁴“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

 ³⁵‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;

 ³⁶naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’

 ³⁷“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?

 ³⁸‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?

 ³⁹‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’

 ⁴⁰“The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

 ⁴¹“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;

 ⁴²for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;

 ⁴³I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’

 ⁴⁴“Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’

 ⁴⁵“Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

 ⁴⁶“These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

(Matthew 25:32-46)

 

Jesus speaks of separating the sheep from the goats. This is a generally well recognized passage, however I believe it to be often misunderstood. I have yet to encounter anyone to come across this passage and say, “Uh-oh. I’m a goat!”

I believe the “goats” to be false converts, believers of improper doctrine, followers of false prophets, the backslidden and lukewarm believers, and the phonies who go to church every week and say the right words before the congregation, yet do not practice their lives accordingly. Let me show you something you may not have seen.

            The goats believe in Jesus. The goats cast out demons. The goats prophecy in Jesus’ Name, and perform miracles. They are like believers, maybe even thinking that their belief is enough, yet is misplaced or weak. The goats have neglected the hungry, the homeless, the naked, sick and imprisoned. They have forgotten the functions of ministry; of the Great Commission. They believe that Jesus is real, but served only on their own terms. Be sure that you understand.

            Notice carefully the two animals compared. Sheep represent the church, congregants, and true followers of Jesus. The comparison to sheep is goats. Not lions, wolves, echidna or chameleon. What is the point of using goats as the illustration comparative? I believe the answer will surprise most. I believe the answer will also provoke into actions that enhance and enforce your faith.

            Goats and sheep are similar, yet each is distinct in many ways.

            Goats look like sheep from a distant perspective. Both have white hair. Imagine shepherding a flock of 500 sheep. In them are 200 goats. They blend together, just as a phony Christian blends in at church. From the point of perspective, it is very difficult to tell them apart, yet when the shepherd positions himself in the field and separates the two animal types, he can easily tell the difference. And when he corrals his flock, he will put aside those which don’t belong.

            Goats sound like sheep. The baas and bleats are very similar. Again, only the true shepherd will know the distinct sound of his flock.

            Goats eat like sheep. Both graze the fields for food.

            People who are religious, people that are cultic, followers of false doctrine, the lukewarm and semi-Christians- All of these eat the same way. They look the same. They even sound the same; that is until you listen distinctly to their words.

            The questions every believer must ask are: Am I a goat? Have I neglected the full ministry of Jesus Christ? Am I going through the motions or am I a truly, full-hearted believer actively living out my faith? Have I believed whatever I was told, or have I sought for myself sound doctrine?

            To answer these questions and act upon the response is to ensure the inheritance set aside for us in the kingdom of heaven.

To ignore these things is maintain a place in the cursed eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

Jesus- Not the Peacemaker You Thought

So many people, including Christians, have a false idea, a wrong image of who Jesus is. So many picture the gently wounded, pitiful Man on the cross with His head tilted slightly, a cloth draped over Him, a few drops of blood flowing from His brow, and His heart glowing in some mysterious way.

Others see the wise teacher who had no worries or fears or troubles ever encounter Him. They see no conflict, no drama. It is as if, in their minds, He just calmly stated the perfect line in response to every inquiry or challenge, oh-so gracefully.

Most see Jesus as a Man that walked in the room and everyone just shut their mouths and listened intently to whatever this divinely inspired Prophet taught, and that all of a sudden all wrongs were forgiven, all fences mended.

While this may have been the effect to some people Jesus encountered, it is most certainly not the Jesus of the Bible in His entirety. Jesus isn’t some inexplicable peace bringer to everyone who acknowledges His existence. In fact, Jesus states quite the opposite:

 

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.”-  Matthew 10:34

 

Jesus’ intentions are not to bring harm and death, as some would mislead here. Instead, Jesus was simply recognizing the reality of the human reaction to His Truth. Because of Jesus, there have been countless martyrs, immeasurable acts of hatred, and incalculable divisions between families, friends, communities, and entire cultures.

Yes, friends, Jesus is the way to peace, and those who accept Him find a certain peace, despite their afflictions. After all, the Bible also says,

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” –Romans 5:1

 

In Christ, we have the peace that surpasses all understanding. Yet the world around us will either accept Christ, receiving peace, or they will fight against Him, His teaching, and all that He and we, as Christians, stand for, and in doing so they will continue to fulfill the very passage about which Jesus spoke in Matthew 10:34.

Love Vs. Sex- A brief story of encouragement

A teenage girl about 17 had gone to visit some friends one evening and time passed quickly as each share theirvarious experiences of the past year.

She ended up staying longer than planned, and had to walk home alone. She wasn’t afraid because it was a small town and she lived only a few blocks away.

As she walked along under the tall elm trees, Diane asked God to keep her safe from harm and danger.

When she reached the alley, which was a short cut to her house, she decided to take it.

However, halfway down the alley she noticed a man standing at the end as though he were waiting for her.

She became uneasy and began to pray, asking for God’s protection.

Instantly a comforting feeling of quietness and security wrapped round her, she felt as though someone was walking with her.

When she reached the end of the alley, she walked right past the man and arrived home safely.

The following day, she read in the newspaper that a young girl had been raped in the same alley just twenty minutes after she had been there.

Feeling overwhelmed by this tragedy and the fact that it could have been her, she began to weep.

Thanking the Lord for her safety and to help this young woman, she decided to go to the police station.

She felt she could recognize the man, so she told them her story.

The police asked her if she would be willing to look at a lineup to see if she could identify him.

She agreed and immediately pointed out the man she had seen in the alley the night before.

When the man was told he had been identified, he immediately broke down and confessed.

The officer thanked Diane for her bravery and asked if there was anything they could do for her.

She asked if they would ask the man one question.

Diane was curious as to why he had not attacked her.

When the policeman asked him, he answered, “Because she wasn’t alone. She had two tall men walking on either side of her.”

Amazingly, whether you believe or not, you’re never alone. Did you know that 98% of teenagers will not stand up for God?

PS: God is always there in your heart and loves you no matter what…..and if you stand up for Jesus, He will stand for you.

“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. “ –Matthew 10:32-33

“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” -1 Timothy 1:5

Growth- A Spiritual Look at Our Standing (or Running)

GROWTH

One of the biggest, if not the biggest problem that Christians face is a lack of growth. So many just, kind of stop. Wherever they happen to be in life, they cease going to Bible studies, and prayer meetings, and the worship thing that all your friends were going to at that other church, and… You get the idea.

I’m not saying its your fault or their fault, I’m just pointing it out. Maybe the church put the men’s group on hold for the holidays and just never picked it up again. Maybe the prayer meetings were canceled for the summer when the leader was out of town and they haven’t restarted. Maybe the worship thing is too far away, or maybe, whatever it is, just fell off your radar. That happens. Unfortunately, though, life goes on. The world continues.

The thing we need to do, is find another place to plug into. What group, activity, fellowship, etc. could-

a.) benefit from your presence;

b.) be a blessing to you;

c.) act as a continuance of your worship and/or exaltation of the Lord

The first thing to do in order to find the right fit is to find what’s missing. While you’ve been “doing your thing”, the planet has been spinning. That means that there have been multitudes of people answering God’s call without you. Thousands around the world, even millions, have been praying, fasting, worshiping, studying; all to keep up the work of the Lord. For you to plug back into that, think back. Think of the time when you feel that you were doing the most for God. Meditate on that time and remember what it was that you were active in. Was it High School? College? When you joined a new congregation? When was growth at its peak; when did you shine the brightest?

Take that time and hold it in your mind. Now, from then to today, divide that in half. For example, if my high point was 3 years ago, then my half way point is 1 ½ years ago. Measure your growth as a Christian from beginning to halfway, and from halfway to now. Which has the bigger growth? If you said the first half, then you are behind schedule. What stopped? What took place to move you from that place of substantial Spiritual growth to a stunted growth? That is what you must rectify. If you cannot return to the same group, for whatever reason, find another one that is both available and Biblical.

In some cases, it isn’t the group that had problems; it might’ve been you. Perhaps you weren’t ready to go to the next level at the time when everything else seemed to be doing just that. Perhaps the growth is in an area that you are now able to achieve. Here is a list of things that every believer should strive for. Not only to do, but to do better.

1.      Forgive others freely

2.      Worship God wholeheartedly

3.      Be readily available and willing to witness your faith to others

4.      Serve God unselfishly in any capacity

5.      Give cheerfully, not just monetarily, not just materialistically, not just emotionally, but entirely

6.      Generously offer encouragement

7.      Be a Scriptural leader (maybe that means you lead the new Bible study)

8.      Receive correction humbly

9.      Accept thanks respectfully

10.  Pray over others in any circumstance (even if you have to find one to pray about)

11.  Discern spiritual traps, don’t give the devil an inch

12.  Overcome addictions and pleasures of the world

13.  Control the tongue

If you constantly work at these, you will become increasingly better equipped to serve God, your church, and others. You will notice a distinct difference in your life and the lives of people you encounter. You will be able to look back and see that the last half has had an increasingly improved Spiritual growth, and that it will continue to grow even more. The beauty of growing with God is that we never quite arrive; we just keep improving in ways that we may never have thought possible for us. Remember what Jesus said, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

Don’t hesitate. Now that you know what you need, and where you need it, go to God with it. Whether you are at home or sitting in a coffee shop or online with your phone, humble yourself before God in prayer right now (or as soon as possible). Shut the door and turn your phone off for a few minutes and just talk to God. He will always welcome you back and He always has more for you.  In closing, carefully read this selection of Scripture and meditate on it as you consider God’s faithfulness to His prodigal, even when that prodigal is you.

 From Luke 15:

 11And He said, “A man had two sons.

 12“The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me ‘ So he divided his wealth between them.

 13“And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living.

 14“Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished.

 15“So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

 16“And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him.

 17“But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger!

 18‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight;

 19I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.”‘

 20“So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

 21“And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

 22“But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet;

 23and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;

 24for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate.

25“Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing.

 26“And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be.

 27“And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’

 28“But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him.

 29“But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;

 30but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’

 31“And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.

 32‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’

(Luke 15:11-32)

 

 

Javier Solana – Candidate for Antichrist

Are you American or Canadian? Ever here of Javier Solana? If not, its not surprising, there seems almost a coordinated effort to not mention him on this side of the Atlantic.

There was so much good info floating around on this man, but what seems to be almost a news blackout of his coming and goings, I thought it deserved its own topic.

And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate (Daniel 9:27 New America Standard Bible).

It is commonly believed the passage above foretells the rise of a strong leader from out of a revived Roman Empire who will make, or confirm, a covenant with the many for seven years. Israel will be included in this covenant. As far as Israel is concerned, he will violate his covenant 3 1/2 years later. In other passages from Daniel, we learn this leader will rise from among a 10-nation alliance (Daniel 7:7-8 ) and subdue three of the 10 kings (Daniel 7:24). In the New Testament book of Revelation, we learn that this leader will somehow be identified with the number 666 (Revelation 13: 18 ).

In December of 1998, at their Vienna summit, the EU’s heads created the new Office of High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy for the European Union. The holder of this Office would direct their common foreign policy toward Russia, Ukraine and the Mediterranean. Out of over 1150 documents they generated at the summit, the document that created this Office happened to be numbered 666.

On June 5, 2000, the WEU adopted its Assembly Recommendation 666. This document recommended keeping the 10 Brussels Treaty Powers together as the EU’s new military wing and giving the EU’s High Representative emergency powers over the whole EU, putting the office holder over the EU presidency.

In March of 2005, one year after the Madrid train bombings, world leaders met in Madrid to discuss the EU’s and the international community’s war against terror. The EU decided the U.S. war was going nowhere, nothing much had been accomplished over that last year. It was noted that the EU member states were reluctant to give Solana what he needed to get the job done. What this really meant was, the EU “big three” — France, Germany and the UK — were still standing in Solana’s way. In other words, in order for Solana to do his job leading the EU’s foreign and security policy, the EU “big three” must somehow be subdued. (See Bible quote above) Interestingly, the EU “big three” leaders were all on the scene in 1999 when the Office of High Representative was first occupied by Solana. And, they were all members of the 10-nation alliance. Could these three super countries be the three kings who are destined to be subdued according to Daniel 7:24?

Since the start of his 7 year period peace and safety initiative, we should see him make some big strides in bringing peace to the middle east very soon. The 3 1/2 year, or halfway point, checkup is scheduled in 2010. I also wonder about some of the other things that seem to be sparked by this same belief of middle-east peace and prophetic fulfillment. The Catholic church for one seems to have come to the conclusion that the start of the Tribulations are just ahead and that the church must now work out its battle plan. You see it in how this latest global war seems to methodically be ramping up with no real way to end it. You see this in how fundamental freedoms we all grew up with, are being locked away for our “safety”.

Please see my previous articles, ‘The Job Title for the Antichrist”  https://justinlessard.wordpress.com/2008/12/02/the-job-title-for-the-antichrist/

and “Who Is the Antichrist? How Will We Know Him?” https://justinlessard.wordpress.com/2008/11/28/who-is-the-antichrist/

For more on possible ‘Marks of the Beast’, see “Mark of the Beast Part 1- Barcode 666”  https://justinlessard.wordpress.com/2008/10/03/mark-of-the-beast-part-1-barcode-666/ and “Mark of the Beast- Part 2- RFID Chip” https://justinlessard.wordpress.com/2008/10/05/mark-of-the-beast-part-2-rfid-chip/ 

For info on signs of the end, to know how things will be and when to expect them, see “The End? Let’s Review” https://justinlessard.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/the-end-lets-review/

Original Source for bulk of article: “Wassabi; a member of AboveTopSecret.com” in form of message thread called: Javier Solana – candidate for Antichrist or setting the stage for the Beast; http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread183503/pg1#pid1836234.

Links from articles on https://justinlessard.wordpress.com

Kenya Calling

A LOT of people wonder why I’m so spirited about being a missionary in Kenya. I want to tell the story of how this all began, because I honestly didn’t want to go to Africa in the first place. That often surprises people who’ve seen and heard me as I prepare to return.

 It all started in 2005. I was having a crummy year, to put it politely. I had moved out of a neighborhood where I managed an apartment building that I lived in. In that building not only did I have to deal with the constant sounds of abusive boyfriends, the pains of evictions, drug dealings, prostitutes, etc., but my own vehicle was shot. To top it off, I was shot at, and my head missed by mere inches, after I angered a guy for calling the cops while he beat his live-in girlfriend senseless in the presence of her children. So you can see while I moved out.

 

The place I moved to was much better, or so I thought. Don’t get me wrong, the apartment was great; the landlords very kind and responsible. The problem was that I had moved to a fancier bad neighborhood. I transferred my job to the store that was only two blocks away. I went from a store whose main consumer flow was at-home moms and the elderly with a dab of middle-upper class families to a store that was considered by American city standards as “ghetto”. There were homeless sleeping in the bathroom, widespread vandalism, people stealing daily, and they never gave up without a fight. One time, a rent-a-guard, who was hired as “unarmed”, shot and killed a guy stealing sunglasses.

The work thing I could deal with, but one day things took a dramatic turn for the worse. It was the night of July 2^nd. I heard fireworks and went to the window to see if I could spot them. I didn’t see anything up, but there was movement in the street. Then there were a few more bangs. Those weren’t fireworks, they were gunshots. Suddenly, one more shot rang out and one of the guys went down hard. I called 911, and then rushed outside to see if there was anything I could do. (Not the brightest idea in hindsight.) The one guy was down and breathing, but there was a dark pool of blood growing by the moment. There was something else in the blood, which I would later realize was brain matter. He was shot completely through his head (I couldn’t tell because he had a hoody over his face) and his body was basically shutting down. I could hear the gurgle of blood in his throat. He didn’t make it.

His buddy, who had been on hands and knees the whole time, was groaning. I gave words of comfort, assuring him that help would arrive soon. He just grunted. He, too, was wearing a hoody over his head, so when he spit blood, I was quite surprised. I asked myself where it came from (it was already a very confusing situation). I bent down to see a bloody hole in the side of his face; he’d been shot through the cheek. All the while, I assumed that these guys were the victims. As it would turn out, they were attempting to rob another guy, who fought back. He had also been shot; grazed in the head, but not too badly. He had gone home to his wife, then came out when the police arrived to tell them what had happened.

A few weeks later, I took my sister shopping downtown. As we walked back to the car, my sister said, “What’s that guy doing by your van?” I said, “Probably nothing.” I was wrong. I watched as he punched out my window, opened my van and stole my bicycle, camera, and a CD case with about 70 Christian CDs in it.

About two months after the shooting, I was walking to my van at night. Some kid came up and stuck a gun in my back and demanded my wallet. As God had planned, I lost my wallet the day before. It was recovered four months later, at a Christian store, with everything in it. That day, however, I thought I was dead. Not only did I have nothing for the thief, I was standing about five feet from where I watched the guy die two months prior.

You might be asking, “Gee, that sucks, but what has that got to do with Kenya?” I’m getting there. This is all connected. You see, in every instance I’ve given you, the people were black. The wife-beaters, the van shooter, drug dealers, prostitutes, the thieves and the fights at the store, the guard who killed a guy over sunglasses, the guy taking the sunglasses, the vandals, the robbers, shooters, van burglar, and not to mention the kids at the detention center I volunteered at. All of them were black. In my mind, I was beginning to stereotype, and my faith was being tested.

One night, as I drove home from the coffee shop, I sensed the Lord tugging at me to go to the church building and pray. (I have a set of keys.) I was tired and it was late. I really didn’t feel like doing it, but the urge was so strongly felt, I knew I had better be obedient. I went in and turned on a few low lights, set some quiet music on the speakers and said to myself, “I’ll give it about ten minutes, then home to bed.” Nope. I got down on my knees and I felt the Lord so strongly that I dropped to my face. I began to call out to the Lord. “What do you want me to do?” I asked. In my mind, I was asking about that night. Did He want me to go evangelize downtown? Did He want me to pay a visit to the homeless? Was there something or someone I should specifically intercede for? What did He call me there for?

Suddenly, as clear as day, I heard His voice. “I want you to go to Africa,” He said. Africa. Yeah, right. God wouldn’t tell me that. I took Japanese. I thought if anything, He’d call me to Asia, or maybe South America, but never in a million years did I think I’d be going to Africa. I began to rationalize immediately, telling myself that I was imagining it. God’s voice continued and I dared not raise my eyes. It was a sort of humbling respect, as if His direct and personal presence there kept me in check, prompting me to remain bowed at all times. There came a list of instructions and conditions, and in my mind I saw the eastern region of Africa, just under the Horn of Africa.

I don’t usually tell people the list of things God gave me, but I will say this: Among the directives, I was told not to seek out a group or church going to Africa. The trip would be presented to me, and I would have to respond at once. I wouldn’t be able to consider it for a day; I had to be faithful or I would miss the chance, and thereby miss out on my blessing. There were a few other qualifiers, but since I was supposed to just wait for it to happen, I began to put it in the back of my mind.

Fast forward to 2006. I had begun dating the woman who would become my wife. I just didn’t know it at the time. I was excited about our relationship and I wanted to introduce her to some friends who attended a certain college ministry, including the pastor of that ministry. We couldn’t be there for the whole thing, but we made it for the worship at the end. My girlfriend walked in as the music faded and the announcements began. I lingered to greet a few more people I hadn’t seen in a while. When I finally went in to join my girlfriend, I was stopped dead in my tracks. There, on the huge overhead projection screen, was a picture of Kenya. The announcement followed with the warning that it was the final night to sign up. As the collegiate intern spoke that they said it deep and directly into the microphone for dramatic effect. And there I was, standing alone dead center and mid-aisle at the back of the room. It was almost scripted (or maybe it was).

All of a sudden, every memory of the night God spoke to me came into my mind, as clear and fresh as though it had just happened. I knew with certainty that this was the trip, this was the presentation, and this was the sense of now-or-never urgency of which God had told me. I grabbed a pen and began to sign up as soon as the table was attended. My girlfriend looked at me in disbelief, understandably. Here I was, without so much as a word to her, signing up to fly to an African nation. She was slightly displeased, but I knew what God had said. Later on I was able to explain it to her in greater detail and I’m happy to say that she was much more understanding.

Once I had signed up, the waiting began. I had to wait for funds to come in, and I had to wait about four months till take-off. I began to wonder if I was cut out for the job. I mean, after all I had been through, did I really have what it takes to be compassionate enough to Africans without a hint of prejudice or racism to get in the way? Could I really love blacks as much as Jesus wanted me to? I mean, look what they had done to me here! I prayed about this over and over. Each time, I got the sensation that God just wanted me to be obedient. It was as though He was sharing His heart, just a little bit. He didn’t speak audibly again, but gave me more of an affecting response. But still, the thought bothered me; the fear that I might fail in the compassion department because of the experiences I’d had with blacks in the recent months.

Eventually, the trip came. I was quite excited and really looking forward to going to Kenya. I was about to embark on a journey that I had never dreamed of. I was going to go to Africa! It seemed surreal. As the flight left, I hid my fears and hesitations in a variety of ways. I read my Bible, and other books, listened to music, and talked to my teammates. I spoke about all the things I was doing well at; all the areas where I felt I could be proud of my spiritual growth. I suppose I was just trying to justify myself as a qualified member of the team. We flew from Milwaukee to Chicago; Chicago to London; and London to Nairobi, Kenya. As we arrived in Kenya, I couldn’t believe how long the travel was- about 30 hours. Yet, I wished I had a little more time to “prepare”.

We first met up with one of the members, Mark, of the local church, Nairobi Chapel. He was very nice and got us through as quickly as possible. It was quite different than any other airport I’d been to. The airport security guards wore camouflage and carried AK-47s and M-16s. We were also told to speak plainly and professionally; no sarcasm, as it would offend them if taken seriously. I thought that would be hard, because I tend to joke with sarcasm often. Mark brought us to a matatu, a type of van that works as a taxi.

Our first stop: dinner. I dreaded it already. Was I going to have to eat fried bugs? Raw meat from some weird animal or lizard? A freaky plant? Was there even a safety protocol for restaurants? I was freaking out- until we came to the place. Kenya, Africa; and what was I going to eat? Pizza. Maybe this won’t be so bad. One of my teammates and I decided to offer to buy a meal for Mark. When asked if he would like something, he replied, “I don’t eat. For three weeks.” The others and I looked at one another quizzically. He continued, “No more life.” I remembered that they aren’t sarcastic, and then he started laughing. I guess they can be sarcastic. He certainly had us for a minute!

We spent the night at a guest house in Nairobi, before heading out for the Maasai village. At the guest house, we were treated like royalty. Here we were, a bunch of white foreigners, and they kept an armed guard outside our building, took time to prepare a meal especially for us, and gave us the most respectful treatment I could ever ask for. I was definitely wrong about the people. My mistakenness was proved even greater as we arrived in the Maasai village.

It was beautiful to me. I’m sure they don’t think so; they see the same scenery every day. We were welcomed to one of the most stunning and exotic places on the earth by some of the kindest hearts I have ever encountered. The Maasai were astonishing. Not only in their hearts, but in their ways. There is no way to better describe the welcoming. They had a way of making a visitor feel like they were being received back home after a long time away. I truly felt as though I was supposed to be there.

Josiah is the man who allowed us to stay at his home. I suppose he could be considered the leader of the village. This group wasn’t quite as traditional as some. They had clothes like you’d find in America, and Josiah had a car. The first night, John, the only other guy on the team, and I slept inside Josiah’s home. It’s considered big for a Maasai house. The walls were made of corrugated sheet metal and there were two bedrooms. There was a large room with an area about five feet by three for a kitchen. The entire thing was probably the size of my typical American living room and bedroom. There was no bathroom, but a toilet in a roofless metal shack about 40 feet from his house.

There was another house next to Josiah’s, more typical of the traditional Maasai. It was made of sticks and held together with mud and manure. It isn’t as gross as it sounds. It actually makes sense. It doesn’t rain there much, so if there is no mud to build with they use manure. I was blown away at the simplicity with which they lived. There was everything they needed, and little else. A couple sets of clothes, a few dishes, basic tools like shovels and hammers, and other necessities were the only things they owned. The village had a herd of cows and a herd of sheep. They don’t have a currency between tribes, so cattle and children are the only ways of measuring wealth. It is such a beautiful way of living; so care free, that it made me wonder if I could do it, and what I would miss if I did.

The second night, and all the other nights we were in the village, we slept in tents. One for John and I, and one for the girls. The tent I was in had a mesh netted top. This was especially neat because we could see the stars as we lay in our sleeping bags. The stars looked like I was lying under a glass table on which someone had spilled a bottle of silver glitter. There was absolutely no light pollution from nearby cities- because there weren’t any. It was so dark that only the moon and stars bore any light. A truck driving down the mountain was clearly visible.

One morning I woke up especially early. I had always thought it would be astonishing to witness an African sunrise, like in the movie “The Lion King”. Well, I didn’t get my sunrise, but it was still so beautiful. I walked out past the houses, toward the church, which about a ten minute walk. It was cloudy from the cool night air, and just a bit misty. The sun would dissipate the clouds as it rose in the sky. I walked out to an acacia tree near the entrance to the sheet metal building that was used as the local church and the school. This tree stood alone amid sheets of short golden grass. Just beyond the tree was a descending hill and a deep and long valley. Below I could small herds of what I assume were impala, dotting the landscape. No finer image have I ever seen painted. I believe God showed me that as a witness to His majesty.

Immediately, I began to praise the Lord. I complimented His work, thanking and exalting Him for His mighty wonders. I began this sentence: “Thank You, Lord, for this once in a lifetime…” Suddenly, He cut me off. I felt Him say, “This isn’t once in a lifetime. You will return.” You would think that by now, I knew better than to question God. Still, I wondered how it would ever come to be, but I supposed that if I made it there once, I can do it again by God’s grace and design. He continued, “You will return with your wife.”

Now I thought that I was imagining things. I wasn’t married. I had a girlfriend, but God knew what He had planned. God had also given Kim, my then-girlfriend, a prophetic vision. She foresaw things to do with my trip to Kenya, our relationship, finances, and even our eventual marriage. But before we had discussed a marriage, even before we were engaged, God told me on the gorgeous golden hills of Kenya that I would not only have a wife, but that she would at some point go to Kenya with me.

There was little else to what God spoke that day to me. I sat in complete awe, admiring God even more for all of His creation, wondering how mighty He must be to orchestrate every creature, every galaxy, and at the same time to know each of us intimately. I praised Him and thanked Him as I wept on that hill. I walked away, wondering how this could be, when one of the Maasai men, also showing up to the church building, approached me. The words that came out of his mouth were all the confirmation I needed. He asked, in English, “You will return with your wife?”

On a very hot July afternoon, on the seventh day of the seventh month of the year 2007, I became the husband to Kimberly, a more faithful, loving and compassionate wife than I had ever dared ask for. God truly has been there to deliver me out of every dark and seemingly hopeless situation in my life and bless me thoroughly. He has been my help in trouble, my companion, and the One who provokes me on to overcome every obstacle in my walk of faith. Kimberly is one of those blessings, one of which I know I have never been deserving.

December 27^th, 2007, Kenya held a presidential election. The rival to the existing president lost the election. He called “election fraud” and there was an immediate reaction from his supporters. Rioting and violence ensued. Over 1500 were killed, 600,000 were displaced from their homes and hundreds of churches, homes and shops were burned to the ground. The violence was tribal, with a religious undertone. The losing candidate is Muslim, and the existing president is Christian, both from different tribes.

During this aggressive streak of brutality and bloodshed, I asked the Lord if He would still have me to plan a return to Kenya, or if this was not the time. He spoke to me once again, saying, “I Am giving you an Ananias calling. As Ananias went before Saul, so you are to go to Kenya without fear.” I’ll admit, I had never read much into Ananias. He was always the arbitrary character in Saul’s story. I had to re-read the verses about him over and over again. I quickly understood what the Lord meant.

Ananias was a prayerful man, faithful to God. Because of this, God told him to go to a certain house and pray for Saul (who would later be called Paul), who had been struck with blindness. Ananias was quite hesitant, because Saul was a powerful man who had gained a reputation for putting believers in Jesus into prison, or to death. I can imagine that any believer would be timid in approaching such a man, but to go to him and pray? To speak healing in the Name of Jesus? What would this man be likely to do as soon as he could see? No, most Christians would run the other way! But the Lord reassured Ananias, telling him that Saul would be used of God and would suffer for the gospel of Christ. Ananias went, letting no fear or potential for persecution hinder him. When he arrived, he found that Saul was expecting him, as God had told him to anticipate Ananias’ coming. So, with my reassurance from the Lord, I shall go to Kenya undaunted.

As I write this, we are expecting our first child together. I am planning on a short return trip to Kenya in August of 2009. Kim won’t be able to go this time, but will be returning with me at some time in the future.  I know the Lord has a great many things planned. I have no idea why He has chosen me to fulfill this mission, but I will gladly accept His desire as my grounding.

 

 

 

To be continued…

 

 

 

God’s Will Be Done?

God’s Will Be Done?

“Oh, well. I guess it wasn’t God’s will.”

“Well it’ll happen if God wants it to.”

These are sayings I’ve heard countless times. They are modern clichés in our churches and even in our secular society. Although, sometimes the thought is misdirected as karma or luck or fortune. Whatever you call it, the principal of it is wrong. Dead wrong.

            It would certainly be nice to take solace in the fact that no matter how bad a situation gets, that if it happened, God wanted it to. The fact that it would be God’s plan and not our folly makes it all the more easily acceptable. The blame is off of us and we feel as though God is still in control. It would give us hope that all will turn out okay. It makes us believe that we deserved what we got, and that has to be somehow sanctioned.

            The truth of the matter is simply this: God’s will is not always done. God doesn’t always get His way. To many, this comes as a complete shock.

“What about God’s plan? What about His control?”

Allow me to be clear on this: God is always in control, even when His will is not done. God is so multi-dimensional, that He can maintain absolute control over the entire cosmos and still be disappointed. God’s plan is so diverse that every possible mistake that every person could ever make, and the consequences thereof, has been accounted for. At the same time, God has allowed us the ability of free will and the exercise of that will.

Many times, a preacher will make reference to the fact that God is a God of second chances. Does that mean He wanted us to sin? Would God ever sanction something He told us not to do? Of course not. That’s why He’s all about another chance. Each time you go against His will, He is agreeable to forgive you and let you carry on with a clean slate.

Consider the Fall of mankind. Did God want Adam and Eve to sin? Of course not. If that were the case, He could’ve made it a lot easier for them to do so. He wouldn’t have offered Paradise as a reward for their remaining in perfection.

Then there’s the Flood. Do you suppose that God took joy and pride in having to destroy all of mankind, save eight? Do you really believe that He wanted the earth to be so corrupt that all the people of His planet, all His would-be followers, would instead choose to be evil? I don’t believe that for a minute. I believe that it was, and still is, God’s will that all of mankind follow Him; that we would all choose life eternal in His Kingdom.

Lest we not forget the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah; two cities destroyed because of their wickedness, not because God wanted to be mean and destructive. To say that God’s will is always done would make Him nothing but a bully. That would mean that God took pride in every robbery, burglary, rape, scandal, slander, act of adultery, lust, pornography, every death, disaster and form of destruction, every lie and act of hate. This isn’t my God. Yes, He occasionally allows things to happen, as in the case of Job, but that does not mean it is His divine will. God is simply being truthful. He promises to punish the wicked, and both the wickedness and the punishment come in many forms. Friends, sin doesn’t please God, it angers Him.

Ø          “But God was angry…” –Numbers 22:22

Ø          “Now the LORD was angry with me…” –Deuteronomy 4:22

Ø          “Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became very angry.” -1 Samuel 11:6

Ø          “Now the LORD was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned away from the LORD…” -1 Kings 11:9

Ø          “Behold, because the LORD, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah…” -2 Chronicles 28:9

Ø          “O God, You have rejected us You have broken us; You have been angry…” –Psalm 60:1

Ø          “Why should God be angry on account of your voice and destroy the work of your hands?” –Ecclesiastes 5:6

 

So now you have read many times over that God is indeed angered by sinfulness and disobedience. But God is also love, so He does not strike just because He’s angry; God only strikes when and where it is somehow earned.

 

Let me back this up. As we consider eternity, let’s examine a few points of Scripture.

“This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” -1 Timothy 2:3-4

This verse is very clear, and hard to take out of context. It is obvious that the Scriptures here refer to God our Savior. The fact about Him is that He desires all men to be saved. Let me ask you, is that what is happening? Are all men being saved? Will there be no one in hell, then, because God wills that all be saved? Sadly, that isn’t true. I would hope that somehow it could be factual, but I cannot ignore this:

 

“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” –Revelation 21:8

 

By that verse alone, we know that hell will not be empty. Not to mention anyone whose name isn’t written in the Book of Life and all the fallen angels. If God’s will is always done, we’d be able to strike out that verse (and the ones like it) entirely.

God doesn’t like to make that choice. What father would? But God did promise His Kingdom for His faithful. By act of disobedience, those destined for hell have in a sense chosen it over God. They begin “paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1) rather than choosing to follow God. That does not mean that God is pleased.

If God’s will is always done, then hell will be empty and all men will be saved. That would mean that there would have to be no consequence for any wrongdoing. Anyone could rape, kill, steal, blaspheme, etc. and be completely pardoned without ever admitting any faith or Lordship in Jesus Christ. So I ask again, is God’s will always done? No. It cannot be. God wills that all men be saved, and sadly, they won’t all be.

What does this reality mean? We must consider that we may not be doing God’s will. There can be, and have been, churches that perform a variety of ministry that is not what God wants them to do. In the same way, many have utterly ignored God’s divine will.

Say, for the sake of argument, a member of the church is very faithful in prayer- a real intercessor. One night while on their knees, asking for the Lord’s direction, the Lord speaks to this person. The Lord says, “I want you to start a homeless outreach.” The intercessor takes this to the Pastor, who brings the suggestion before the elders of the congregation. The elders bat the idea back and forth, concluding that they don’t have the capacity of staff or the finances set aside to start a new form of outreach. They justify it with all the other things they do, saying, “We have a food pantry, Sunday school, youth group, Bible studies, and we sponsor a child in India. We don’t need to do everything, so we’ll pass on this.”

Now imagine how this intercessor must feel. None of the elders or the Pastor was there when God spoke this command, but they chose not to do it. The intercessor knows that it is what God willed, but he cannot complete the mission alone. What is he to do? Without other faithful believers, the will goes undone.

 

How can we apply this to our own lives? We must take with all seriousness any person who claims to have heard from the Lord. If God has truly asked that something be done, we cannot justify its ignorance. It is our duty as proclaiming Christians to follow the will and direction of God.

“Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;” -1 Thessalonians 5:20

“Please receive instruction from His mouth; And establish His words in your heart.” –Job 22:22

“For this is a rebellious people, false sons, Sons who refuse to listen to the instruction of the LORD;” –Isaiah 30:9

“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” –Ephesians 6:4

When the Lord speaks, be faithful in carrying out His will.

 

“So Jesus answered them and said, ‘My teaching is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone is willing to do His will, he will know of the teaching, whether it is of God or whether I speak from Myself. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him, He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.’” –John 7:16-18

May God “equip you in every good thing to do His will,” –Hebrews 13:21

 

 

Preparing the End-Time Church as a Bride

Preparing the End-Time Church as a Bride

I. God’s Mission statement: to provide an eternal companion for Jesus

 

⁶ I heard…the voice of a great multitude…saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! ⁷ Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” ⁸ To her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. ⁹ He said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!'” (Rev. 19:6-9)

A. Marriage of the Lamb – God’s eternal purpose for His creation is to provide a family for Himself and an equally yoked bride for His Son as His eternal companion (Jesus’ inheritance).

⁹ The LORD’s portion (reward) is His people; Jacob is the place of His inheritance. (Deut. 32:9)

 

¹⁷ That the…Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of…revelation…18 that you may know (experience)…what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints… (Eph. 1:17-18 )

B.  His wife has made herself ready (prepared) – to walk in mature voluntary love and holiness. God has zeal in this hour to train and purify the Church on the earth as a Bride that is fully ready. This is glorious and terrifying that God would be zealous in His commitment to see that we are ready.

C.He granted her to be arrayed in fine linen – these are distinctive wedding garments that are given individually to each believer according to their behavior (acts of obedience). All saints receive the robe of righteousness because of Jesus’ death on the cross (2 Cor. 5:21; Isa. 61:10).

¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. (2 Cor. 5:10)

 

⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun…another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. ⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. (1 Cor. 15:41-42)

D. The Bride’s garments will be comprised of different elements: glory, fabric, color, fragrance, etc. 

E. A Bride chooses her wedding garments with great care and love. This is different than the way that she chooses her other clothing. We will resist the temptation to sin (compromise), to quit (lose heart), to neglect diligence (laziness) because of love for Jesus as our Bridegroom God.  

F. The wedding garments that we will possess forever are being formed now by our obedience that is done in the spirit of love. We are making choices now that we will literally wear forever. What we do now has impact far beyond our natural lives. Our choices before the wedding are preparation for the life of the redeemed after the wedding.

G. Lord God Omnipotent – God is praised for releasing His power to prepare the Church (v. 6).

II.  The church will be filled with glory at the Second Coming (Eph. 5:26-29)

 

²⁶ That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, ²⁷ that He might present her to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle…but that she should be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ Husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies…²⁹ No one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church… (Eph. 5:26-29)

A. In this passage, Paul gives us key details and defines what it means for the Church to be made ready at the time of the Second Coming. The Church will be so filled with glory, sanctified and cleansed that she will not have spots or wrinkles (her garments reflecting her actions) or blemishes (her skin reflecting her inner life). The Church’s mind, emotions and actions will be radically cleansed while on earth before Jesus’ Coming. This is glorious and terrifying because the Church worldwide is far from walking in purity in this hour. What will make the difference?

B.  How will this glory be released in the Church? The causes of pressure on a compromising believer are 3-fold. They include Satan’s rage, man’s sin and God’s zeal to discipline us for our good (Heb. 12:5-11). However, the means of grace that God prefers to use to cleanse the Church is His Word (v. 26) and prayer (Rev. 22:17) in context to understanding that we are cherished by Jesus i.e., the Church must feed on portions of the Word that reveal His tender emotions for Her.

C.  God will release great grace on our private times in the Word as well as raising up vessels that will sing and proclaim His Word in great power so as to help transform the Church.

D.  Prayer, fasting, meditation on the Word, and obedience positions our heart before God to freely receive. These activities do not earn us God’s favor. Analogy: we put our cold heart before the bonfire of God’s presence by seeking Him in the Word in spirit and truth.

E.  We give our heart to God and receive from Him as we read Scripture in a way that creates an active dialogue in our heart with God. Scripture gives us the “conversational material” in our prayer life. We pray truths back to Him that exhort us “to believe” His Word by thanking God for such truths and by asking God to reveal them to us. We dialogue with God by praying truths back to Him that exhort us “to obey” His Word and by committing ourselves to obey God in the specific way set forth in a passage. Make simple declarations of your resolve to obey the Word and ask God to empower you to obey a particular truth.

III. The necessary 3-fold cry of the Bride’s intercession 

 

¹⁷ The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!”…20 He…says, “Surely I am coming…”(Rev. 22:17, 20)

A. This age will end with a worshipping and praying Church in a bridal identity. This passage is the most significant, comprehensive and clearest End-Time prophecy. It reveals to us what the Spirit is saying and doing. The Church will be in unity with the Spirit as she will be anointed with power, engaged in intercession, established in her bridal identity and effective in the harvest.

B.  The 3-fold cry for God to come in power (Holy Spirit breakthrough)

1.    Come NEAR US in intimacy (renewal or personal encounter): touch my heart 

2. Come TO US in revival (historic visitation of the Holy Spirit): touch our city with signs, wonders and apostolic authority until we see the Habitation of the Lord established

3.  Come FOR US in the sky (Second Coming of Jesus): touch the earth

C. God has delegated the earth to authority or domain of the human race (Gen. 1:26-28; Ps. 116:15).

¹⁶ The heavens, are the LORD’s…the earth He has given to the children of men. (Ps. 115:16)

 

²⁶ Let Us make man in Our image…let them have dominion over…all the earth… (Gen. 1:26)

 

⁷ You have crowned him (man) with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands. ⁸You have put all things in subjection under his feet…He (God) left nothing that is not put under him. (Heb. 2:7-8 )

D. Each person has a specific sphere of authority or domain entrusted to them by God that includes their inner man, ministry, finances, family relationships and the geographic area they live in, etc.

³² He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. (Prov. 16:32)

 

¹³ We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us–a sphere which includes you. ¹⁴ For we are not overextending ourselves…as though our authority did not extend to you… (2 Cor. 10:13-14)

 

The Kingdom…is like a man (Jesus) traveling to a far country (heaven), who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. ¹⁵ To one he gave five talents… (Mt. 25:14-15)

 

¹² A certain nobleman (Jesus) went into a far country… ¹³ So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’ (Lk. 19:12-13)

E. Prayer is a covenantal way in which we open the windows to that which is under our domain (heart, circumstances, geographic area, etc.). Our prayers invite the Holy Spirit on a covenantal basis to come into the areas that are under our domain (inwardly and outwardly). Prayer provides the covenantal tracks on which the Spirit works. He comes to the measure that He is invited. The key of David and the keys of the Kingdom operate by covenant with justice before God’s court.

F.   The Bride will prepare a place for the coming of the Lord to dwell individually, corporately, and geographically, as she invites Jesus to come near us, to us and for us (Ps. 132:1-5).

² How he (David) swore to the LORD…, ⁴ “I will not give sleep to my eyes…⁵ until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” (Ps. 132:1-5)

IV.  The exhortation to acquire wedding garments

A. We can buy white garments or acquire them in the ways that the grace of God teaches. They declare the measure of our love for Jesus in this life. Jesus wants to give us more white garments.

¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire…and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness (lack of garments) may not be revealed… (Rev. 3:18 )

B.  Some will suffer the loss of their rewards while keeping their salvation.

¹⁴ If anyone’s work…endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Cor. 3:14-15)

 

⁸ Look to yourselves, that we (you; NAS, NIV, RSV) do not lose those things we (you; NIV, RSV) worked for, but that we (you; NAS, NIV, RSV) may receive a full reward. (2 Jn. 8 ) 

C. God will wipe away all tears and sorrow after the Millennial Kingdom is completed.

¹ I saw a new heaven and a new earth…there was no sea. ³ I heard a loud voice …saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men…⁴ God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying…no more pain… (Rev. 21:1-4)

D.  Jesus exhorted us to watch (pray) as the way to keep our garments in the End-Time pressures. We can keep our garments; however, some will lose the garments that they could have had.

¹⁵ Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame. (Rev. 16:15)

E. Believers can defile their testimony and lose some of their wedding garments by compromise.

⁴ You have a few…in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments. (Rev. 3:4-5)

F.  John exhorts us to “now” abide in Jesus so we do not draw back in the shame of denying our faith at the Second Coming of Jesus.

²⁸ Now…abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed (not shrink away from Him in shame; NAS, RSV) before Him at His coming. (1 Jn. 2:28 )

G.  There will be people on earth at the Second Coming who will seek to celebrate the wedding banquet. “Friend” is the same term that Jesus used with Judas (Mt. 26:50). To bind him is to take him prisoner and cast him into darkness (Lake of Fire).

² The kingdom of heaven is like a certain King who arranged a marriage for His Son 3 He sent out His servants to call those who were invited to the wedding…⁴ saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “I have prepared my dinner…all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”… ¹¹ When the King came in…He saw a man who did not have on a wedding garment. ¹² He said to him, “Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” He was speechless. ¹³ The King said, “Bind him…and cast him into outer darkness…” (Mt. 22:2-4, 11-14)

New Testament Intercessory Prayer List

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER – WWW.IHOPKC.COM

New Testament Intercessory Prayer List

(Not a comprehensive list – compiled by Mike Bickle – July 99)

APOSTOLIC PRAYERS OF PAUL

1. Prayer for revelation of Jesus’ beauty and the Bride’s destiny unto transforming our heart

…the Father of glory, may give to you the SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the HOPE OF HIS CALLING, what are the riches of the GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS, and what is the exceeding GREATNESS OF HIS POWER TOWARD US… (Eph. 1:17-19).

2. Prayer for the release of supernatural strength in the heart unto experiencing God’s emotions.

…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, TO BE STRENGTHENED WITH MIGHT THROUGH HIS SPIRIT IN THE INNER MAN, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, MAY BE ABLE TO COMPREHEND with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height– to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:16-19)

3. Prayer for God’s love to abound in our heart resulting in discernment and righteousness.

And this I pray, that YOUR LOVE MAY ABOUND still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may APPROVE THE THINGS THAT ARE EXCELLENT, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being FILLED WITH THE FRUITS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God (Phil. 1:9-11).

4. Prayer to know God’s will, to be fruitful in ministry and strengthened by intimacy with God.

We…do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may have a WALK WORTHY OF THE LORD, fully pleasing Him, BEING FRUITFUL in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; STRENGTHENED WITH ALL MIGHT, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. (Col. 1:9-12)

5. Prayer for unity in the church across a city or region.

Now may the God of patience and comfort GRANT YOU TO BE LIKE-MINDED toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, THAT YOU MAY WITH ONE MIND AND ONE MOUTH glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus. (Romans 15:5-7)

6. Prayer to be filled with supernatural joy, peace and hope.

Now may the God of hope FILL YOU WITH ALL JOY AND PEACE IN BELIEVING, THAT YOU MAY ABOUND IN HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

7. Prayer for Israel to be saved through Jesus.

Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for ISRAEL is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1).

8. Prayer for the release of apostolic ministry and to abound in love and holiness

…we rejoice for your sake before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and ABOUND IN LOVE to one another and to all…so that He may ESTABLISH YOUR HEARTS BLAMELESS IN HOLINESS before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:9-13)

9. Prayer for the release of the Holy Spirit’s power unto mature holiness

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

10. Prayer to be equipped and prepared to receive the fullness of God’s destiny for the church.

Therefore we also pray always for you THAT OUR GOD WOULD COUNT YOU WORTHY OF THIS CALLING, AND FULFILL ALL THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS GOODNESS AND THE WORK OF FAITH WITH POWER, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

11. Prayer for the Word to increase by the release of God’s power to win unbelievers to Jesus.

Finally, brethren, pray for us, THAT THE WORD OF THE LORD MAY RUN SWIFTLY AND BE GLORIFIED, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. NOW MAY THE LORD DIRECT YOUR HEARTS INTO THE LOVE OF GOD AND INTO THE PATIENCE OF CHRIST. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-5)

Note Scriptures describing God causing His Word to increase resulting in many being born again.

God glorifies His Word by manifesting His power to confirm it with signs and wonders.

Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. (Acts 13:48 )

So the Word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed. (Acts 19:20)

The Word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly… (Acts 6:7)

But the Word of God grew and multiplied. (Acts 12:24)

Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the Teaching of the Lord. (Acts 13:12)

12. Prayer that God would open a door of evangelism through releasing His power on the Word.

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, THAT GOD WOULD OPEN TO US A DOOR FOR THE WORD, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. (Col. 4:2-4)

Note Scriptures describing God causing a door to open for His Word by manifesting His power to confirm it with signs and wonders. In other words, that a door of power and opportunity would increase, resulting in people being born again.

…that God…had OPENED THE DOOR OF FAITH to the Gentiles. (Acts 14:27)

For a GREAT AND EFFECTIVE DOOR HAS OPENED TO ME… (1 Corinthians 16:9)

when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a DOOR WAS OPENED TO ME BY THE LORD…(2 Corinthians 2:12)

…I have set before you AN OPEN DOOR, and no one can shut it… (Rev 3:8 )

Note Scriptures declaring how God opens hearts (by revelation) in order to grant  repentance to the spiritually deceived. We pray for revival, that God supernaturally opens many hearts.

…IF GOD PERHAPS WILL GRANT THEM REPENTANCE, so that they may know the truth, and…come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil…(2Tim 2:24-26).

Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us…THE LORD OPENED HER HEART TO HEED the things spoken by Paul. (Acts 16:14)

He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. (Luke 24:45)

13. Prayer to be enriched with the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit leading unto righteousness.

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, THAT YOU WERE ENRICHED IN EVERYTHING by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so THAT YOU COME SHORT IN NO GIFT, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, THAT YOU MAY BE BLAMELESS in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 1:4-8).

Note Scriptures that exhort us to earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. One primary way to earnestly seek the gifts of the Spirit is to earnestly pray for their release. This is a pray for revival.

But EARNESTLY DESIRE the best gifts… (1 Cor. 12:31)

…DESIRE SPIRITUAL GIFTS, but especially that you may prophesy. (1 Cor. 14:1)

DESIRE EARNESTLY to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. (1 Cor. 14:39)

 

THE APOSTOLIC PRAYER OF PETER AND JOHN

1. Prayer for the impartation of Holy Spirit boldness through the release of signs and wonders.

…they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, “who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: `Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.’ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together “to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

“Now, Lord, look on their threats, and GRANT TO YOUR SERVANTS THAT WITH ALL BOLDNESS THEY MAY SPEAK YOUR WORD, “BY STRETCHING OUT YOUR HAND TO HEAL, AND THAT SIGNS AND WONDERS MAY BE DONE through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. (Acts 4:24-31) also, see Eph. 6:19.

THE APOSTOLIC PRAYERS OF JESUS

Consider the Apostle…of our confession, Christ Jesus… (Heb. 3:1)

1. The Lord’s Prayer

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. YOUR KINGDOM COME. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. GIVE US this day our daily bread. And FORGIVE US our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And DO NOT LEAD US into temptation, but DELIVER US from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (Matt 6:9-13)

2. Prayer for anointed laborers in the Harvest

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  “Therefore PRAY THE LORD OF THE HARVEST TO SEND OUT LABORERS into His harvest.” (Matt 9:37-38; Luke 10:2)

3. Prayer for the release of the Holy Spirit’s ministry.

“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, HOW MUCH MORE WILL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THOSE WHO ASK HIM!” (Luke 11:13)

4. Prayer of strength in temptation.

Then He came to the disciples…, “What? Could you not watch with Me one hour? “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation…” (Matt. 26:40-41)

 

JESUS’ HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER – JOHN 17

1. Jesus prays to keep the saints in the Father’s name

“…I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. (John 17:11)

2. Jesus prays to keep the saints from the evil one

“I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. (John 17:15)

3. Jesus prays that the saints might be sanctified by truth

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. (John 17:17)

4. Jesus prays that the saints would experience the fullness of God’s glory

“that they ALL MAY BE ONE, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also MAY BE ONE IN US, that the world may believe that You sent Me. “the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they MAY BE ONE JUST AS WE ARE ONE: “I in them, and You in Me; that they MAY BE MADE PERFECT IN ONE, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them AS You have loved Me.

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, THAT THEY MAY BEHOLD MY GLORY which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

“O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me.

“And I have declared to them Your name, and WILL DECLARE IT, THAT THE LOVE WITH WHICH YOU LOVED ME MAY BE IN THEM, and I in them.” (John 17:21-26)

 

WORSHIP HYMNS IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION

1. John’s thanksgiving to Jesus for such great love that makes us kings and priests unto God.

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Rev. 1:5, 6)

2. The seraphim’s song magnifying the Father’s transcendent beauty.

The four living creatures… do not rest day or night, saying: “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, who was and is and is to come!” (Rev. 4:8 )

3. The 24 elders sing to the Father – this is the 1st “worthy song”. (Note 3 themes in their praise.)

The 24 elders fall down…saying: “YOU ARE WORTHY, O LORD, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things and by Your will they exist and were created.” (Rev. 4:10-11)

4. The seraphim and the 24 elders before the Throne sing to Jesus – this is the 2nd “worthy song”. (Note the 5 verbs that describe Jesus’ activity in redemption.)

…the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders…sang a new song, saying: “YOU ARE WORTHY to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us KINGS AND PRIESTS TO OUR GOD; And we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5:8-10)

5. The angelic host, the seraphim and the 24 elders sing to Jesus as the scroll is about to be opened – This is the 3rd and final “worthy song” in the New Testament. (Note 7 themes in their praise.)

…many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand…saying with a loud voice: “WORTHY IS THE LAMB who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Rev. 5:11-12)

6. The Song of all creation before the Throne as the scroll is opened. Note the only 3 times that ALL the saints worship together before the Throne. (Rev. 5:11-14; 7:9-12; 19:1-7)

And EVERY CREATURE which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” (Rev. 5:13)

7. Worship from all nations as result of the Great Harvest at the end of the age.

…a great multitude…of all nations…standing before the throne…saying, “SALVATION BELONGS TO OUR GOD WHO SITS ON THE THRONE, AND TO THE LAMB!” (Rev. 7:9-10)

8. The angelic host responds seeing people from all nations worship God. (Note 7 themes in their praise.)

All the angels…and the elders and the four living creatures…worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen.” (Rev. 7:11-12)

9. The tribulation saints worship in context to the end time judgments.

I saw…a sea of glass mingled with fire…standing…having harps of God they sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and marvelous are Your works, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! Just and true are Your ways, O KING OF SAINTS! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? FOR YOU ALONE ARE HOLY. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.” (Rev. 15:2-4).

10. God’s righteousness is declared in light of His end time judgments.

…the angel of the waters saying: “YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS, O LORD, the One who is and who was and who is to be, BECAUSE YOU HAVE JUDGED THESE THINGS. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and You have given them blood to drink. For it is their just due.” (Rev. 16:4-5)

11. A voice from God’s altar of incense before the Throne.

I heard another from the altar saying, “Even SO, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS ARE YOUR JUDGMENTS.” (Rev. 16:7)

12. The Bride worships God in light of the end time judgments. Note 4 themes in their praise.

…a loud voice of a great multitude…saying, “Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord our God! FOR TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS ARE HIS JUDGMENTS, BECAUSE HE HAS JUDGED THE GREAT HARLOT who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.” (Rev. 19:1-2)

13. The Bride worships God at the wedding supper of the Lamb.

…the voice of a great multitude…saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” (Rev. 19:5-6)

 

NEW TESTAMENT DOXOLOGIES

1. Worship prayers to God by Paul in 1 Timothy.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1Tim. 1:17)

He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen. (1Tim. 6:15-16)

2. A worship prayer esteeming God’s power in creation.

And: “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; and they will all grow old like a garment; Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail.” (Heb. 1:10-12)

3. Worshipping God for the joy of salvation

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, (Jude 24)

4. Proclamation of our blessing in the heavenly realm.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, (Eph. 1:3).

PRAYERS FOR MORE PERSONAL REVELATION OF GOD

1. An apostolic intercessory benediction to be established with insight into the mystery.

Now to Him who is able TO ESTABLISH YOU according to my gospel…according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith– to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. (Rom. 16:25-27)

2. Prayers to grow in grace and knowledge of God

GRACE AND PEACE BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, (2 Peter 1:2,3)

…grow in the grace and KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:18 )

3. The Bride’s prayer for Jesus’ Coming.

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”…He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly. Amen. EVEN SO, COME, LORD JESUS! (Rev. 22:17, 20)

 

THE CENTRAL ROLE OF SINGING PRAYERS IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

1. The vital place of making melody and singing from the heart in Spirit filled living

…be filled with the Spirit, (by) speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING AND MAKING MELODY IN YOUR HEART to the Lord… (Eph. 5:18-19)

2. The necessity of singing the Word in our spiritual songs.

Let the WORD OF CHRIST dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING WITH GRACE IN YOUR HEARTS to the Lord. (Col. 3:16)

3. The central role of singing with our spirit (singing in the Spirit) – note its value and importance in the apostle Paul’s life.

For if I pray in a tongue, MY SPIRIT PRAYS, but my understanding is unfruitful. I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I WILL SING WITH THE SPIRIT, and I will also sing with the understanding. (1 Cor. 14:14-16).

I thank my God I speak with tongues MORE THAN YOU ALL; (1 Cor. 14:18 )

4. The necessity of praying in the Spirit with all perseverance

…praying ALWAYS with ALL PRAYER and supplication IN THE SPIRIT, being watchful to this end with ALL PERSEVERANCE and supplication FOR ALL the saints– (Eph 6:18 )

5. The central role of singing the Word in the spiritual songs in the Tabernacle of David in the Old Testament.

King Hezekiah and the leaders commanded the Levites to sing praise to the lord WITH THE WORDS OF DAVID AND OF ASAPH the seer. So they sang praises with gladness… (2 Chr. 29:30)

 

FIVE BENEFITS OF SINGING OR PRAYING WITH OUR SPIRIT

1. We speak mysteries – in other words, speaking inspired ideas to God and receiving inspired ideas from God in our prayers.

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; HOWEVER, IN THE SPIRIT HE SPEAKS MYSTERIES. (1 Cor. 14:2)

2. We bless (worship) God through singing in the spirit

I WILL SING WITH THE SPIRIT…you BLESS WITH THE SPIRIT… (1 Cor. 14:15-16).

3. We give thanks (worship) toward God through singing in the spirit

What is the conclusion then?…I WILL SING WITH THE SPIRIT, and I will also sing with the understanding…you BLESS WITH THE SPIRIT…FOR YOU INDEED GIVE THANKS WELL…(1 Cor. 14:15-17).

For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered… (Acts 10:46)

4. We build up our faith by praying in the Spirit (this includes praying with our spirit or in tongues)

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, (by) praying in the Holy Spirit… (Jude1:20)

5 To edify our human spirit by praying with our spirit or in tongues)

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself… (1 Cor. 14:4)

Inheritance of Jesus: Bride Crowned with Glory

FORERUNNER SCHOOL OF MINISTRY

INTRODUCTION TO THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

Inheritance of Jesus: Bride Crowned with Glory

I. GOD’S PROMISE TO HIS SON – REVIEW

A. The inheritance God promised His Son: a people He fully possesses.

Ask of Me, and I will give You, the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. (Psalm 2:8 )

B. Jesus prays for His inheritance to be released.

And the glory which You gave Me I have given them…, 23 …that the world may know that You…have loved them as You have loved Me. 24 Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold (experience) My glory which You have given Me…(John 17:22-24)

C. The apostle Paul prayed for the release of the Ps. 2:8 reality just as Jesus did.

“that God…may give to…revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that YOU MAY KNOW…what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints…(Ephesians 1:17-18 )

1. “God…may give…revelation in the knowledge (experience) of Him…”

2. “…that you may know (experience) …” – the result is to possess a profound sense of success in being His inheritance.

 

II. A BRIDE IN HIS IMAGE: OUR ULTIMATE DESTINY IN GOD’S GLORY

A. We are destined (Divine determination) to be like Jesus in several ways.

“…predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…” (Romans 8:29)

“…when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him.” (1 John 3:2)

B. The Father planned great things for Jesus’ inheritance (His Bride).

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ORDAINED BEFORE THE AGES FOR OUR GLORY…But as it is written:

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:7, 9)

1. Ordained before the ages – Divine determination cannot be stopped.

2. For our glory – our inheritance and destiny.

 

III. BRIDE’S INHERITANCE: POSSESSING NEW CAPACITIES IN GOD’S GLORY

A. Becoming partakers of God’s glory.

“…the glory which You gave Me I have given them…” (John 17:22 )

“…You have crowned him (the redeemed) with glory and honor… (Hebrews 2:7, 10)

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory…” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed IN US.” (Romans 8:18 )

B. A Bride possessing the indwelling spirit.

“…God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians l:27)

“…you are…built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22)

“…to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)

“…till we all come to…the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13)

C. The human spirit is God’s eternal dwelling place or the place of His highest communion and expression. It is the place God, the Consuming Fire chose to express His glory – His grandeur, love, beauty, authority, pleasure, etc.

D. We receive the Divine nature or God’s seed.

“…given to us exceedingly great …promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature…” (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Whoever has been born of God…His seed (life) remains in him…(1 John 3:9)

1. The life of God is eternally deposited in the human spirit at the new birth. Therefore, we will have all the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit forever.

2. We alone address the Most High God as, “our Father.”

 

IV. THE GLORY OF GOD ON OUR MINDS AND HEARTS

“This is the covenant that I will make with them…I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them…” (Hebrews 10:16)

A. We will think and feel like God does forever. When God writes on our mind and heart it speaks of our capacity being supernaturally enlarged.

 

B. A mind with supernatural capacities for revelation (understanding), communication (perception), skillful tasks (competency).

“…I will put My law in their minds…34 No more shall every man teach his neighbor…saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD.” (Jeremiah 31:33-34)

1. New mental capacities for understanding face-to-face revelation of His heart (the revealing of His name).

They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads…for the Lord God gives them light…(Revelation 22:4-5)

“…I will write on him the name of My God and the name of …the New Jerusalem…And I will write on him My new name. (Revelation 3:12)

2. New mental capacities for understanding of life.

“…we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)

a. New mental capacities for communication – clear thinking, perfect ability in to express thoughts and heart feelings with great understanding of others. Skillful communication in languages, music, poetic expression, etc

b. New mental abilities with competency in many areas (math, science, technology, food, art, music, etc.). In other words, we will possess many skills , great intelligence in many areas like Adam in the garden of Eden.

 

C. A new heart with supernatural capacities for holiness and satisfaction.

“…I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts…(Jeremiah 31:33)

“…I will give you a new heart…” (Ezekiel 36:26)

“…the riches of the glory…which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27)

1. New emotional capacities for love – empowered affections for God/others.

“…the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

I (Jesus) have declared to them Your (Father) name…that the love with which You (Father) loved Me may be in them…” (John 17:26)

2. New emotional capacities for confidence – no accusation, condemnation, fear of failure, comparison, competition, etc.

3. New emotional capacities for happiness and contentment.

“…you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory…” (1 Peter 1:8 )

 

V. A NEW BODY WITH CAPACITIES FOR GOD’S GLORY

“…when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him.” (1 John 3:2)

A. Jesus became human forever. God designed the greatest physical body for His beloved Son. It is the best body that God can create, it is far superior to the angels.

B. It is a body with all the capacities necessary to express the glory of God to the fullest measure.

C. The body that God custom designed for Jesus is the same type of body the Bride will have forever. Our eternal body will have the same supernatural properties and abilities that Jesus’ body has.

“…who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body…” (Philippians 3:21)

D. A body filled with light (glory, color etc).

“…Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment…” (Psalm 104:2)

“…having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal…” (Revelation 21:11)

“…You are the light of the world…” (Matthew 5:14)

E. A body filled with power and glory.

There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. (1 Corinthians 15:41-44)

1. Supernatural abilities – 5 senses without corruption or weakness.

a. Sight – seeing at a distant, at close range, through walls (x-ray vision).

b. Hearing – at distances, with great perception, perfect balance, etc.

c. Taste – enjoyment of food to the full degree (1 Cor. 10:31).

d. Touch – to discern and feel perfectly.

e. Smell – to enjoy and discern.

2. Supernatural abilities related to communication – speech, musical, singing

3. Supernatural abilities in strength – speed, endurance, lifting objects

4. Supernatural abilities in health – no fatigue (energy), sickness or death

5. Supernatural abilities in travel – flight and speed.

6. Supernatural abilities related to the material realm – pass through walls

7. Supernatural beauty – physical countenance, fragrance, light, color, etc.

 

F. A supernatural unity (relationship) with one another like unto the Father and Son.

that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us… (John 17:21)

I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one… (John 17:23)

G. Jesus shares His heart and affections with His eternal companion.

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. (John 15:9)

1. Four dimensions of God’s love.

that He would grant you…to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17…that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the

WIDTH AND LENGTH AND DEPTH AND HEIGHT — 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16-19)

2. Receiving the embrace of the Father in the same way Jesus does.

“…that the world may know that You …have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:23)

3. Jesus’ desire to be with His bride and to share His glory.

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory.” (John 17:24)

4. The affections of Jesus are imparted to His people.

For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. (Phil. 1:8 )

5. The Bride being cherished and nourished by Jesus.

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. (Ephesians 5:29)

H. Jesus shares His home – the Eternal City (Rev. 21-22).

 

VI. JESUS SHARES HIS POWER AND AUTHORITY WITH HIS CO-HEIRS.

The Bride inherits a new position in the heavenly authority structure. The Church has authority in eternity to judge the world and the angels. She possesses a unique rank in all of creation as a co-heir with Jesus. To rule by words that have God’s authority released in them. Adam in the garden of Eden ruled by words not strife, etc. Adam ruled by naming of animals and plants.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)

“To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” (Revelation 3:21)

“…to him I will give power over the nations. He shall rule them…” (Revelation 2:26)

“…made us kings…to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:10)

“I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. I saw the souls…they lived and reigned with Christ for a 1000 years.” (Revelation 20:4)

Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection…they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a 1000 years. (Revelation 20:6)

They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:5)

Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?…3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels?….(1 Corinthians 6:2-3)

“…heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Romans 8:17)

If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. (2 Timothy 2:12)

So Jesus said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Matthew 19:28 )

And he said to him, ‘Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.’ 18 And the second came, saying, ‘Master, your mina has earned five minas.’ 19 Likewise he said to him, ‘You also be over five cities.’ (Luke 19:17-19)

 

Scripture in all caps added for emphasis. Source is International House of Prayer, K.C., MO; www.ihop.org and Friends of the Bridegroom www.fotb.com.  Orignal notes by Mike Bickle.

7 Deep Things of God

7 Deep things of God – 1 Cor. 2: 7-12

But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory…But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:7-10)

Part I. 7 DEEP THINGS THAT GOD WILL REVEAL TO THE CHURCH

1. Deep love and affection –

That you may be able to comprehend….what is the width and length and depth and height– to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge… (Ephesians 3:18-19)

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4)

2. Deep displeasure – because of His deep love unto deep judgment

Then He shall…distress them in His deep displeasure (Psalm 2:5)

My own fury, it sustained Me. I have trodden down the peoples in My anger, made them drunk in My fury… (Isaiah 63:5-6)

3. Deep judgments – complex in purpose and nature

Your judgments are a great deep; O LORD (Psalm 36:6)

How unsearchable are His judgments…(Romans 11:33)

4. Deep thoughts – hidden plans of the mystery of God

How great are Your works! Your thoughts are very deep. (Ps 92:5)

His ways are past finding out! (Romans 11:33)

We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory… (1 Corinthians 2:7-8 )

Also see Eph 3:9; Col 1:26; Luke 19:42

5. Deep wisdom – administration of His plans

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! (Romans 11:33)

…in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:3)

6. Deep knowledge – possesses vast info

Oh, the depth of the riches of …the knowledge of God… (Romans 11:33)

7. Deep secrets – hidden manna

He reveals deep and secret things; he knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. (Daniel 2:22)

“The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29)

The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him… (Psalm 25:14)

His secret counsel is with the upright. (Proverbs 3:32)

Part II. ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK

Called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” of whom we have much to say and hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. (Hebrews 5:10-11)

Order of Melchizedek – Holy Spirit merger with perfect harmony of kingly and priestly dimension of kingdom.

1. Warring with worship .2. Outreach with gazing 3. Working with loving 4. Ruling with adoring – NOTE: ruling that is in the flesh is “me” focused however, adoring is “God” focused.

Dull of hearing makes a false distinction between the kingly and priestly heart and function. This false distinction exists within the heart of the dull.

 

Source: Friends of the Bridegroom www.FOTB.com

 

The Judgment Seat of Christ

The Judgment Seat of Christ

A.                What matters most about our life is what Jesus thinks when our eyes meet. I fear “regret” more than anything else in my life. I pray, “Lord, shock me now, do not wait until then”.

B.                 The Judgment Seat of Christ is a place to receive rewards not penalties. The “judgment seat” in the Greek is the “bema seat”. The bema seat was a familiar term that described the raised platform where a judge rewarded the victors in an athletic contest (Olympic games). We will give an account for what we did with all that God gave us which includes time, money and energy along with a mind to think and emotions to feel and our talents and opportunities.  

 We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body… (2 Cor. 5:10)

C.                 This life is the only time in our eternal existence with such a high “exchange rate”. We offer our weak devotion and obedience to God and receive eternal rewards. God pays us so well for all that we do. He remembers the movements of our heart toward Him along with every small act of love such as giving a simple cup of water to someone (Mt. 10:42)

D.                Our God is a consuming fire of desire. Jesus’ eyes of fire will test our works (Deut. 4:24).

 For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. (Deut. 4:24)

 

 The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire… (Rev. 2:18 )

II.                Gaining insight into the value of time: money is power but time is life

 

 So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Ps. 90:12)

 

⁴Lord, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. 5 Indeed, You have made my days as (short as) handbreadths, and my age (lifetime, NAS; the span of my years, NIV) is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. 6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain… (Ps. 39:4-6 emphasis added)

 

 For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time then vanishes away. (Jas 4:14)

 

¹⁴Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light. 15 See that you walk circumspectly (vigilant, guarded or cautious), not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (Eph. 5:14-16 emphasis added)

III.             we will all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ

 

¹¹ No other foundation can anyone lay than…Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1 Cor. 3:11-15)

A.                The foundation of our life in God is our relationship with Jesus as born again believers who possess the free gift of righteousness (2 Cor. 5:17-21). Some believers are saved, yet as through fire. This speaks of being like one who is “pulled out” of the fire just in the nick of time.

B.                 We can suffer the loss of some of our potential glory and position in the Millennium.

Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, that you may be rewarded fully.

(2 Jn. 8; NIV)

IV.             eternal rewards: different expressions in different degrees

A.                There will be a vast range of degrees of glory and greatness among the redeemed. These rewards include gold, silver and precious stones and a varying measure of God’s glory in our resurrected bodies, clothing, dwellings, position of responsibility and relationship with God.

⁴¹There is one glory of the sun…and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. ⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. (1 Cor. 15:41-42)

B.                 God’s glory will be manifest in our resurrected body in varying measures (Dan. 12:2-3).

Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. (Mt. 13:43)

C.                 Our work assignment and authority over cities will bring us in close proximity to Jesus.

Because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities. (Lk. 19:17)

D.                We will receive varying praise from God (Jn. 12:26; 1 Pet. 1:7; Mt. 25:21, 1 Cor. 4:5).

…My Father will honor the one who serves me. (John 12:26)

Will bring to light the hidden things…then each one’s praise will come from God. (1 Cor. 4:5)

E.                 Those who endure temptation are given crowns (Jas 1:12).

Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12)

F.                  Our communion with Jesus will vary according to the degree that we have the spiritual capacity to receive from Him as the Morningstar (Rev. 2:28; 22:16; Gen. 15:1).

I will also give him the morning star. (Rev. 2:28 )

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” (Rev. 22:16)

G.                Our garments have varying dimensions of God’s glory (Rev. 3:4-5, 18; 16:15; 19:7-8 ).

⁵He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. (Rev. 3:4-5)

⁸Arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts…(Rev. 19:7-8 )

H.                Treasures and rewards in heaven will include many things (Mt. 5:12; 6:4, 6, 18, 20; 10:41-42; 16:27; 19:21; Mk. 9:41; 10:21; Lk. 6:23, 35; 12:21, 33; 16:11; 18:22; Rev. 2:9; 3:18; 22:12).

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven… (Matthew 5:12)

…Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matt. 6:4 [verses 6 & 18 similar])

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. (Matt. 6:20)

⁴¹Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. ⁴²And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” (Matt 10:41-42)

…and then he will reward each person according to what he has done. (Matt 16:27)

[Jesus] said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”(Mark 10:21)

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. (Luke 6:23)

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great… (Luke 6:35)

Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted… (Luke 12:33)

I know your afflictions and your poverty—yet you are rich! (Rev. 2:9)

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich… (Rev. 3:18 )

Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. (Rev. 22:12)

 

The Book of Revelation: Jesus’ End-Time Battle Plan for the Church

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE OF PRAYER KC – MIKE BICKLE

FORERUNNER CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

The Book of Revelation: Jesus’ End-Time Battle Plan for the Church

 
I.    THE BOOK OF REVELATION: JESUS’ END-TIME BATTLE PLAN FOR THE CHURCH
 

A.    The Book of Revelation reveals the glory of Jesus (Rev. 1:1) and His dramatic plan to transition the earth to the age-to-come. There will be unique dynamics in the generation Jesus returns that are absolutely necessary in preparing the nations for His return. These events require our deep involvement. Thus, Jesus gives us the details which are essential to equip us to fully participate.
 
B.    There are 4 parts in the structure of Revelation. The 4th part has 5 chronological sections in which the events occur in sequential order. There are 7 main symbols in the Book.
 
C.    The main theme of Revelation is Jesus’ return to earth to rule all the nations. His End-Time battle plan is to physically destroy all the evil governments on earth by releasing His judgments on them during the Great Tribulation as described in Rev. 6-19.
 
D.    As the Book of Acts describes the power of the Holy Spirit that was released through the early Church so the Book of Revelation describes the power of the Holy Spirit that will be released through the End-Time Church. I refer to Revelation as the “End-Time Book of Acts”. It is a “canonized prayer manual” that informs us of the ways in which Jesus will manifest His power.
 
E.    As Moses released God’s judgments on Pharaoh by prayer (Exodus 7-12), so the Church will release the Great Tribulation judgments on the Antichrist by prayer. The miracles and judgments in Exodus and Acts will be multiplied and released worldwide through prayer. The greatest demonstrations of power in history will be openly manifest by Jesus and Satan (Rev. 12:9; 13:2).
 
18 I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades (authority of hell) shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Mt. 16:18-19)
 
F.    Revelation is Jesus’ battle plan to allow the sin in man’s heart to fully come to the surface and then to drive evil off the planet through the praying Church. These judgment events do not happen to us as helpless victims of Satan but are released through us as participants with Jesus. Jesus’ judgments are released to remove all that hinders love. He is at war to have His wedding.
 
G.    The 7 main symbols: all events and numbers in Revelation are to be taken in their plain meaning (literal) unless specifically indicated not to (Rev. 1:20; 5:6; 11:8; 12:1, 3, 9; 17:7, 9, 15-18, etc.)
 
1) Dragon: is symbolic of Satan (Rev. 12:3, 4, 7, 9, 13, 16, 17; 13:2, 4; 16:13; 20:2)
 
2) First Beast: is symbolic of the Antichrist (Rev. 13; 14:9-11; 17:3-17; 19:19-21; 20:4, 10)
 
3) Another Beast: is symbolic of the False Prophet called “another Beast” just once (Rev. 13:11)
 
4) Seven Heads: are 7 empires from history that persecuted Israel (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon,
     Persia, Greece, Rome, revived Roman Empire of Dan. 2:41-42; 7:7; Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 17:3-16)
 
5) Ten Horns: represents a 10-nation confederation that serves the Antichrist (Rev. 17:12-13)
 
6) Harlot Babylon: will be a worldwide demonically inspired religious and economic system
     based in the re-built city of Babylon, near Baghdad in Iraq (Rev. 17-18; Jer. 50-51)
 
7) Woman and Male-child (Jesus): is the faithful remnant of Israel throughout history (Rev. 12)
 

II.    STRUCTURE OF REVELATION: 4 PARTS AND 5 SECTIONS (IN THE 4TH PART)
 

Rev. 1      Pt. 1 John’s CALLING to prophesy about the End-Times: John gave 18 truths about Jesus’ majesty that formed the way he prophesied about the End-Times, which are meant to equip us.
 
Rev. 2-3    Pt. 2 Jesus gave 7 LETTERS to 7 churches: the instructions Jesus gave to these 7 churches about overcoming sin give us practical insight into what we must also overcome today.
 
Rev. 4-5   Pt. 3 Jesus takes the SCROLL: contains the earth’s title deed and His battle plan to cleanse it.
 
Rev. 6-22   Pt. 4 Jesus’ BATTLE PLAN: includes Great Tribulation judgments against the Antichrist. Jesus reveals His main storyline of love to cleanse the earth of evil. His battle plan here is seen in 5 Chronological sections that describe events that unfold in sequential order.
                          Each section is followed by an Angelic explanation to help us understand that section.

 
The 5 Chronological Sections: tell us what happens to the Antichrist’s followers in 21 judgment events (7 seals, 7 trumpets, 7 bowls). These intensify in severity as they unfold.
 
The 5 Angelic Explanations: function as a parenthesis, putting the storyline on “pause”. They answer questions arising from the chronological sections: Why is God’s wrath so severe? What will happen to us? Angels explain to John what happens to God’s people including what Jesus will do to help us and what the Antichrist will do to persecute us.
 

Rev. 6            Chronological section #1: the SEAL JUDGMENTS against the kingdom of darkness.
Rev. 7           Angelic Explanation #1: we receive PROTECTION from judgments and falling away.
 
Rev. 8-9       Chronological section #2: the TRUMPET JUDGMENTS against the Antichrist’s empire.
Rev. 10-11   Angelic Explanation #2: we receive DIRECTION by great increase of prophetic ministry.
 
Rev. 11:15-19 Chronological section #3: the SECOND COMING PROCESSION and the Rapture.
                         The 7th and Last Trumpet (1 Cor. 15:52; Rev. 10:7; 1 Thessalonians 4:16): Jesus replaces all governmental leaders on earth in a hostile takeover. In His Procession, Jesus first travels across the sky to rapture the saints (every eye sees Him; Rev. 1:7), then through the land of Edom (modern day Jordan; Isa. 63:1-6) then into Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives. 

Rev. 12-14    Angelic Explanation #3: the CONFRONTATION against the saints by the Antichrist’s system and persecutions requires that all his governments be taken over. Satan is on earth.
 
Rev. 15-16   Chronological section #4: the BOWL JUDGMENTS destroy evil infrastructures in society
Rev. 17-18   Angelic Explanation #4: the SEDUCTION of Babylon’s evil religion will permeate and infiltrate all the structures of society, requiring that Babylon be totally destroyed. 
 
Rev. 19-20   Chronological section #5: Jesus’ TRIUMPHAL ENTRY to Jerusalem (Rev. 19:11-21:8 )
Rev. 21-22   Angelic Explanation #5: the RESTORATION of all things Acts 3:21 (Rev. 21:9-22:5)

 

 

Learn more at: http://www.ihop.org

Who is the antichrist? How will we know him?

Facts about the Antichrist:	Verse(s) [italicized are quoted in ‘Key Phrases’ column]	Key Phrase(s)   [NIV unless otherwise noted.]
1. He will rule all nations for a short time.	Psalm 2; Daniel 11:36; Revelation 13:16	“He will be successful until the time of wrath is completed…” “He also forced everyone…to receive a mark…”
2. He will be called “little horn”.	Daniel 7:8	“…there before me was another horn, a little one, which came up among them…”
3. He will be an intellectual genius.	Daniel 8:23	“…a master of intrigue…”
4. He will make a seven-year covenant with Israel, but will break it after just 3 ½ years.	Daniel 9:27	“He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering.”
5. He will be an oratorical genius.	Daniel 11:36	“…and will say unheard-of things…”
6. He will set himself up as God.	Daniel 11:36-37; 2 Thessalonians 2:4, 11; Revelation 13:5	“He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.”
7. He will do everything according to his own selfishness.	Daniel 11:36	“The king will do as he pleases. He will exalt and magnify himself above every god…”
8. He may be called the “willful king”	Daniel 11:36	“The king will do as he pleases.”
9. He will disregard the god of his fathers.	Daniel 11:37	“He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers…, nor will he regard any god, but will exalt himself above them all.”
10. He may not have the desire for women.	Daniel 11:37	“He will show no regard for… the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all.” (NASB)
11. He will honor a false god of power.	Daniel 11:38	“…he will honor a god of fortresses; a god unknown to his fathers he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.”
12. He will be a commercial and financial genius.	Daniel 11:43; Revelation 13:16-17	“But he will gain control over the hidden treasures of gold and silver and over all the precious things of Egypt; and Libyans and Ethiopians will follow at his heels.” (NASB) “He also forced everyone…to receive a mark… so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark…”
13. He will claim to be a type of Christ of Savior.	Matthew 24:5, 23-24	“For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many… At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible.”
14. He will profane the temple.	Matthew 24:15; Revelation 13:6	“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel…” “He opened his mouth to blaspheme God, and to slander his name and his dwelling place …”
15. He will be called “man of sin”	2 Thessalonians 2:3	“…and the man of sin is revealed…” (NKJV) [some manuscripts “man of lawlessness”]
16. He will be called “son of perdition”	2 Thessalonians 2:3	“…the son of perdition…” (NKJV) [some manuscripts “son of destruction” or “doomed to destruction”]
17. He will be a religious genius.	2 Thessalonians 2:4; Revelation 13:8	“All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb…”
18. He will be called Wicked one.	2 Thessalonians 2:8	“And then shall that Wicked be revealed…” (KJV) [some manuscripts “lawless one”]
19. He will be a master of deceit.	2 Thessalonians 2:9-10	“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing.”
20. He will be empowered directly by Satan himself.	2 Thessalonians 2:9; Revelation 13:2;	“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan…” “The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.”
21. He will be a military genius.	Revelation 6:2; 13:2, 4	“…and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.” “The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority….and they… asked, ‘… Who can make war against him?’”
22. He will be called “the beast”.	Revelation 11:7; 13:1-8, 17; 19:19-20	“Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.”  “The dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.”(13:2)
23. He will attempt to destroy all of Israel.	Revelation 12	“And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon The dragon and his angels waged war…” [entire chapter explains battles in metaphor]
24. He will be a political genius.	Revelation 17:11-12	“The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.”
25. He will control the Western power block.	Revelation 17:2	“The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.”
26. He may destroy false religious systems, enabling him to rule unhindered.	Revelation 17:16-17	“For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule”
27. He will be destroyed by Jesus Christ at the Battle of Armageddon.	Revelation 19	“Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.”
28. He will be the first creature thrown into the lake of fire.	Revelation 19:20	“The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.”
Verse list: Psalm 2; Daniel 7:8; 8:23; 9:27; 11:30-43; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-11; Matthew 24:15; Revelation 6:2; 12; 11:7; 13:2-8, 16-17; 17:11-12, 16-17; 19;

 

The Origin of The BIBLE

ORIGINS of the BIBLE

 

All right, I know! Someone is going to say that I haven’t recorded everything about every book. Then I’ll hear that there are all these secret societies that chose these writings and altered them for just their own causes. Phooey! There are too many people watching these hell-ywood movies like DaVinci Code and, although it was a great adventure story, National Treasure. Sorry, but as cool as it would be that there are hidden secrets and the one guy who no one would suspect as a hero is about to discover them all as he brazenly escapes certain doom!- That’s all for the movies. In the Bible, many did not escape their doom. Disciples were killed for what they preached. If they were going to take out the things that made the church look bad, they missed a few things. The truth is, the Bible is a history book, and its events actually happened.

 

Moses is believed to have written Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy (although there is some question to his authorship of Deuteronomy). These were written approx. 1500 years before Jesus.

David wrote 500 years later, or 1000 years before Jesus (approx).

The written Hebrew alphabet is proven to be at the very least 3000 years old.

(More on Biblical authors below.)

 

One of the greatest confusions stems from the fast that, in the days of the Old Testament, authors didn’t write chronologically. They would instead tell story by story, not in a “day by day” arrangement. That’s why it seems to be out of order sometimes. Let me give an example. I’m Justin, my dad is Tom and my grandpa is Dave. Back then, they would tell Dave’s entire story, from beginning to end, possibly including the birth of Tom. Then they would tell Tom’s story. After writing about Tom from birth to death (or current), they would go back and write about Justin’s birth and life. Since I’m still alive, the story would bring us up to the end of the point the author wants to make. So if you just read along line by line, you’d think quite often that you missed something, like the fact that Adam and Eve had other kids than Cain and Abel. Genesis 3 is about Adam and Eve’s life. Genesis 4 is about Cain and Abel. Then in chapter 5, we learn (verse 4) that they had “other sons and daughters”. Later in the Old Testament, it gets even more confusing if you don’t know how to look at it.

 

 

 By Jesus’ day, the Old Testament was translated into Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic. In the Hebrew, there were no vowels. You would have had to know what to put where. For example, “Shlm” would be the way to write “Shalom”. The writings were copied carefully, and were put into the area’s common language. As a result, the one copying would often take notes. Quite often these notes or commentaries would accompany the actual letter or scroll. These commentaries are believed to be responsible for the few typographical errors or slights when someone from the New Testament quoted the Old Testament. The New Testament writers and speakers often had to go by the four different common languages/ dialects in which the scrolls were written. In each respective language, they were VERY careful to write l-e-t-t-e-r by l-e-t-t-e-r.

 

In 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. One of them was the entire book of Isaiah. This was an opportune time to test what so many critics had claimed. Was the Bible changed over the years? Had we bent the stories to suit the church’s desire? Was there a massive conspiracy to cover up a secret religion? When comparing the newly discovered treasure to the Holy Bible in every church pew, there were only 11 differences. Seven of them were a different way to spell a word. The other four were minor typographical errors that didn’t change the meaning of a single thing. All the years of accusation would be put to rest. (At least until the next generation of blind-hearted deceived unbelievers.)

 

Joshua is traditionally, thought by many scholors, believed to have authored his own book. There are, however, other possibilities. Considering that the book describes Joshua’s death at the end, and includes in the middle (specifically Joshua 15:13-19; cf. Judges 1:1, 9-15) an incident the occurred after Joshua’s death, we need to explore other options. There are references to “we” and “us” in Joshua 5:1 and 5:6 perhaps suggests an eyewitness to the events was the author of the book, such as a close companion or scribe- something to that effect. The book would thus date to either the 15th or 13th century BC, depending, again, upon exactly when the Exodus from Egypt occurred. Either someone close to Joshua wrote for him, thereby they would know the events of his death, or Joshua was co-authored, and someone else filled in the pieces after Joshua’s death. The only other possibility is that Joshua prophecied, or was shown, the events of his demise prior to their occurrence.

The following are widely debated or simply unknown:

Judges (c. 10th century BC)

Ruth (c. 10th century BC)

1-2 Samuel (8th-6th century BC)

1-2 Kings (6th-5th century BC)

1-2 Chronicles (400 BC would be the earliest possible date for composition)

Esther (5th century BC)

Job (c. 10th century BC at the earliest)

Lamentations traditionally ascribed to Jeremiah the prophet. There is, however, little in the book itself suggesting who the author might be, other than that he is obviously an eyewitness to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians (c. 586 BC).

Psalms, the longest “book” of the Bible, is actually a compilation of many authors’ work. A conglomerate written by numerous people, the authorship of individual psalms, as attributed by their titles, breaks down as follows (of the 150 psalms, 116 are provided with a title):

Moses – Psalm 90

Heman the Ezrahite – Psalm 88

Ethan the Ezrahite – Psalm 89

Solomon – Psalm 72, 127

David (73 times) – Psalms 3-9, 11-32, 34-41, 51-65, 68-70, 86, 103, 108-110, 122, 124, 131, 133, 138-145

Asaph (12 times) – Psalms 50, 73-83

Sons of Korah (9 times) Psalm 42, 44-45, 47-49, 84-85, 87

Author unknown – (49 times) the remainder

The Septuagint (an early Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible from around 200 BC) gives some additional authorship identification, as follows:

Jeremiah – Psalm 137

Haggai and Zechariah – Psalms 146-147

Ezra – Psalm 119

Hezekiah (15 times) Psalms 120-134

Though the titles prefaced to the Psalms clearly date back before 200 BC (since they appear in the Septuagint, along with the extras that translation gives), how authoritative they are is subject to much debate.

The psalms, based on the authorship attributions, would then date between the 15th century (or 13th, depending on the time of the Exodus) and the 5th century, by which time the book probably took the form it currently has.

Proverbs- Again, the book is a composite, so far as authorship is concerned.

1:1-24:22 is attributed to Solomon (thus dating to the 900’s BC)

24:23-34 are attributed to “the wise”

25:1-29:27 are attributed to Solomon, but were collected and recorded by “Hezekiah’s men”.

30:1-33 is attributed to Agur

31:1-31 is attributed to Lemuel

Ecclesiastes is attributed to Solomon by some. If that is the case, the book dates to the 900’s BC. Others would argue for an unknown author, and put the date of composition around 390 BC.

Ezra-Nehemiah. They are treated as a single book in the Talmud, Josephus, and the Canon of Melito (AD 171). They are also treated as a single book in the Masoretic Text (traditional Hebrew Bible).

The author of the book of Ezra-Nehemiah is unknown, though Ezra’s chapters 7-9 apparently were written by Ezra, since they are in the first person. The account in chapters 1-6 is compiled from records, including decrees (1:2-4; 6:3-12), genealogies and name lists (2), and letters (4:7-22; 5:6-17). There are two sections that have been preserved in Aramaic (4:8-6:18 and 7:12-26). Aramaic was the diplomatic language during this period. Sources for the section labeled “Nehemiah” in our text include what appear to be memoirs of Nehemiah, written in the first person: Nehemiah 1:1-7:73a; 11:1-2; 12:31-43: 13:4-31. The date of the final composition of the book is generally accepted as being sometime during the 4th century BC.

Song of Songs is attributed to Solomon, which would place its date of composition in the 900’s BC.

 

The following are attributed to the person from whom they are named:

Isaiah; it consists several oracles given by him over several years (740-690 BC). Its final form as we have it (assuming a single, unitary authorship to the book) would thus be sometime during the 7th century BC.

Jeremiah, who lived from about 627 to 580 BC.

Ezekiel, who was born around 622 BC. Based on internal dating, the book covers the time from about 593 through about 570 BC.

Daniel, and thus would have been written sometime between 605 BC and about 530 BC.

Hosea. His prophesies cover the period from 753-715 BC.

Joel. The date of the book is uncertain, with dates ranging from the early pre-exilic (800’s BC) to late post-exilic period (500-400 BC).

Amos. Dates between 767 and 753 BC.

Obadiah. Dates between 847 and 841 BC.

Jonah. Dates to the 700’s BC.

Micah. Dates between 740 and 695 BC.

Nahum. Two different dates are generally accepted as possibilities for Nahum’s ministry: 661-612 BC or 722-701 BC.

Habakkuk. Dates to sometime between 612 and 587 BC.

Zephaniah. Dates sometime during the reign of Josiah (640-609 BC)

Haggai. It is possible to date his prophesies very exactly (since he gave us the precise day he uttered his prophesies):

1:1 August 29, 520 BC

1:15 September 21, 520 BC

2:19-20 December 18, 520 BC

Zechariah. Chapters 1-8 are attributed to Zechariah and can be dated precisely.

1:1 October, 520 BC

1:7 February 15, 519 BC

7:1 December 7, 518 BC

Chapters 9-14 were not written by Zechariah and cannot be easily dated. That they were not written by Zechariah is clear from both internal and external evidence. 9-11 were written by Jeremiah, according to Matthew 27:9-10, which quotes Zechariah 11:12-13 and attributes it to Jeremiah. The date would then be sometime between 627 and 580 BC. Chapters 12-14 are titled “an oracle” and are attributed to no one.

Malachi. Based on Mark 1:2-3, the book called “Malachi” was apparently actually written by Isaiah, since there the author of Mark quotes from “Malachi” but attributes it to Isaiah. The title “Malachi”, taken from 1:1 is simply the Hebrew phrase “my messenger”, and the word is so translated in 3:1. The date of the book would then be sometime between 740 and 690 BC.

 

 

The New Testament:

All four gospels were written by the person whose name they bear.

Matthew was originally written in Hebrew, not Greek as much of the rest of the New Testament. Also by Jewish tradition, the vowels were still excluded from Lord or God, and still today many orthodox Jews write those words as “L-rd” and “G-d”. This practiced was continued so as not to desecrate His name. Jesus died by 32 (possibly 33) A.D. By 50 A.D., Matthew had been translated at least three times, into three different languages.

Mark’s gospel was written and copied so much that it was often included in non-Christian collections, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. This all happened within 18 years.

Luke was the author of his gospel and the book of Acts. Since the book of Acts was written afterward, and since Acts was apparently written before Paul’s execution during the reign of Nero, the book of Luke is apparently relatively early, perhaps before AD 60. Luke does refer to his gospel account in the book of Acts.

John- Attributed to John, the apostle of Jesus. Probably composed between AD 85 and 90, though some scholars have suggested dates as early as AD 66 and as late as AD 110. John’s gospel, along with his 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd letters, as well as the book of Revelation (all attributed to him), are probably the only books of the Bible not written by 66 A.D.

Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy. Titus, Philemon all written by Paul between 50 and 67 A.D.

Hebrews – Traditionally Paul has been given credit for the book, though there is little in the book to suggest that he is the author, since it was written anonymously. Written as early as AD 60, but certainly written before the destruction of Jerusalem AD 70.

James, Peter and Jude all wrote the books that contain their names.

 

Notice how many of these writing recount first-hand knowledge. These aren’t campfire legends that someone’s great-great-grandkids decided would be “neat” to have in writing. These were testimonies from the hands of the people who experienced it. So many overlooked facts could only have been recounted by those who were present. For example, in John 12:3 “Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” John was obviously present when this occurred, or how would he know the strength of the perfume’s fragrance?

 

Many historians hold to the belief that it was the Christians who first used books. They had many writings from different sources. Some, like the letters o John and Jude, are very short and would only contain a small page, not enough for an entire scroll. Christians bound the paper together on one side, using yarn or string or some kind of lacing. Thus was born the book.

 

Before 100 A.D., all churches shared the attitude to what was considered Scripture. There were four gospels. This is the earth number (see my post, Numbers in the Bible- What do they mean? ) There are four “corners” of the earth, four seasons, four winds (north, south, east, west), four faces on the creature in Ezekiel. It made sense that there should be four gospels.

 

In the terror of a book-made-movie, The DaVinci Code, the characters mention a meeting between church officials, who decided what the Bible would or wouldn’t say. That’s half true. The meetings that took place, there were actually several, were usually to discuss doctrinal interpretations. How do we define the gift of tongues? Baptism of water, or of Spirit, or both? Can we eat pork or has that law been eradicated? True, the discussion of books to be included was at first an important part of the dialogue. When it did come up, there were rules in place to determine that no false information was entered into Holy writings.

To be considered a part of the Bible, the writing had to be from either 1.) A direct disciple of Jesus, or 2.) A direct disciple of a direct disciple of Jesus. This way, the author would always be able to honestly say, “I saw it,” or “My teacher saw it.” No one would be able to say, “My neighbor’s cousin heard from a friend that Jesus could fly.” That wouldn’t be good enough. It HAD to be a 1^st hand experience, or learned from the one who had the 1^st hand experience. That is why so many other books were not included in the Bible. No conspiracy, just an issue of credibility.

 

The only books not accepted into the collection by 100 A.D. were Hebrew, 2^nd Peter, 2^nd & 3^rd John, and Jude. All but Hebrews because they were so little. The church leaders wondered, “Why would God say so little at once?” They were all ultimately accepted, despite their sizes, because God can deliver a message of any size He wants. Hebrews was accepted because they believed it to be from Paul.

 

There are 14 books called Apocrypha. These are books accepted by the Roman Catholic Church. These are not in the Christian Bible, only in Catholic editions. None of these books were referenced or quoted by Jews, apostles, or any other early church leaders before their induction. They are considered by most to be extra-Biblical, and therefore not considered as Holy Scripture.

 

Jude and James are the only exceptions to the “1^st hand apostle” rule. James was a leader of the Jerusalem church. He is actually mentioned earlier, in Acts 15:13, which says, “After they had stopped speaking, James answered, saying, ‘Brethren, listen to me.’” And in verse 20, James even suggests to his fellow council that, instead of troubling Gentiles who turn Christian, they write to the Gentiles about the things of God to encourage them. Thus, he was familiar to both Paul and Barnabas, and had already been mentioned in other Scripture.

Jude, a form of the Hebrew name for Judah or Judas, was quite a common Jewish name. There are generally two possibilities considered as author of the short letter. They are 1.) Judas the apostle (not Judas Iscariot; See Luke 6:16). 2.) Judas, the brother of the Lord. (See Matthew 13:55; Mark 6:3) The latter is more likely. So, while Jude was not a disciple of Jesus Christ, he was probably his brother, born of Mary and Joseph.

 

By AD 500, the Bible was translated into over 500 languages. By 600, only 1 was allowed by the “official” Catholic church, and that was the Latin Bible. Anyone caught using any other translation, not ordained by the Roman Catholic church, was subject to death.

 

Needless to say, but there were many who did not follow the Catholic Church’s teaching, and so went their own ways. They continued to use other Bibles, but it remained that the Latin was by far the most common. It wasn’t until the 1500’s that the first official English Bible was translated. Whatever translation, whatever language, the Bible had remained in tact for centuries. Its text endured for at least 2,500 years. Sadly, there are many “newer religions” that have translated the Bible for their own purposes, agendas and doctrines. This is one thing I beg you to beware of. Do not take the words of Holy Scripture lightly, but instead meditate on their meaning and prayerfully endeavor to understand what the Lord is speaking to you.

Happy reading. Be blessed.

 

The Evolutionary Lie: Biblical Reality Proved

From many different sources, I’ve pieced just some of the evidence against the evolutionary process. Bottom line: the earth is created, there is a Creator, and the Bible is true. I won’t add a lot of bantering commentary, but let you jump right into the hard facts. Enjoy. 

 

–Formation of life

        Dead chemicals cannot become alive on their own. The cell is a miniature factory with many active processes, not a simple blob of “protoplasm” as believed in Darwin’s day. Lightening striking a mud puddle or some “warm little pond” will never produce life. This is another view of the core issue of information as the simplest living cell requires a vast amount of information to be present. The “Law of Biogenesis” states that life comes only from prior life. Spontaneous generation has long been shown to be impossible (by Louis Pasteur in 1859). Numerous efforts to bring life from non-life (including the famous Miller-Urey experiment) have not succeeded. The probability of life forming from non-life has been likened to the probability of a tornado going through a junkyard and picking up all the parts of a house, only the parts of a house, and assembling all the pieces to make a complete home with electricity and plumbing, cupboards and shelving, and everything in working order. Reference: Why Abiogenesis is Impossible, Jerry Bergman, CRS Quarterly, Volume 36, March 2000

 

–Design of living things

Design is apparent in the living world. Even Richard Dawkins in his anti-creation book The Blind Watchmaker admits “Biology is the study of complicated things that give the appearance of having been designed for a purpose.” The amazing defense mechanism of the Bombardier Beetle is a classic example of design in nature, seemingly impossible to explain as the result of accumulating small beneficial changes over time, because if the mechanism doesn’t work perfectly, “boom” – no more beetle! This is also another view of the core issue of information, as the design of living things is the result of processing the information in the DNA (following the blueprint) to produce a working organism.

 

–Irreducible Complexity

        The idea that “nothing works until everything works.” The classic example is a mousetrap, which is irreducibly complex in that if one of its several pieces is missing or not in the right place, it will not function as a mousetrap and no mice will be caught. The systems, features, and processes of life are irreducibly complex. What good is a circulatory system without a heart? An eye without a brain to interpret the signals? What good is a half-formed wing? Doesn’t matching male and female reproductive machinery need to exist at the same time, fully-functioning if any reproduction is to take place? Remember, natural selection has no foresight, and works to eliminate anything not providing an immediate benefit. Reference: Darwin’s Black Box

–2^nd Law of Thermodynamics

        The Second Law of Thermodynamics refers to the universal tendency for things, on their own, to “mix” with their surrounding environment over time, becoming less ordered and eventually reaching a steady-state. A glass of hot water becomes room temperature, buildings decay into rubble, and the stars will eventually burn out leading to the “heat death” of the universe. However, the evolutionary scenario proposes that over time, things singlehandedly became more ordered and structured. Somehow the energy of a “Big Bang” structured itself into stars, galaxies, planets, and living things, contrary to the Second Law. It is sometimes said that the energy of the Sun was enough to overcome this tendency and allow for the formation of life on earth. However, application of energy alone is not enough to overcome this tendency; the energy must be channeled by a machine. A human must repair a building to keep it from decaying. Likewise, it is the machinery of photosynthesis which harnesses the energy of the Sun, allowing life to exist, and photosynthesis is itself a complex chemical process. The maturing of an acorn into a tree, or a zygote (the first cell resulting from fertilization) into a mature human being does not violate the Second Law as these processes are guided by the information already present in the acorn or zygote.

 

–Existence of the Universe

        By definition, something must be eternal (as we have “something” today and something cannot come from “nothing”, so there was never a time when there was “nothing”). Either the universe itself is eternal, or something/someone outside of and greater than the universe is eternal. We know that the universe is not eternal, it had a beginning (as evidenced by its expansion, see ‘Expansion of Space Fabric’, below). Therefore, God (the something/someone outside of the universe) must exist and must have created the universe. Einstein showed that space and time are related. If there is no space there is no time. Before the universe was created there was no space and therefore no concept of time. This is hard for us to understand as we are space-time creatures, but it allows for God to be an eternal being, completely consistent with scientific laws. The question “who created God” is therefore an improper/invalid question, as it is a time-based question (concerning the point in time at which God “came into existence”) but God exists outside of time as the un-caused first cause. Reference: The Second Law of Thermodynamics (www.answersingenesis.org)

 

–Fine-Tuning of Earth for Life

        Countless parameters are “just right” for life to exist on this planet. For example, if the Earth were just a little closer to the Sun it would be too hot and the ocean’s water would boil away, much further and it would be covered continually in ice, and we’d freeze. Earth’s circular orbit (to maintain a roughly constant temperature year-round), its rotation speed (to provide days and nights not too long or short), its tilt (to provide seasons), and the presence of the moon (to provide tides to cleanse the oceans) are just some of many other examples.
The presence of large amounts of water, with its amazing special properties, is also required. Water is a rare compound in that it is lighter in a solid state than in a liquid state. This allows ponds to freeze with the ice on the surface allowing the life beneath to survive. Otherwise bodies of water would freeze from the bottom up and become solid ice. Water is also the most universal “solvent” known, allowing for dissolving/mixing with the many different chemicals of life. In fact, our bodies are 75-85% comprised of water.

 

–Fine-Tuning of our Physics

        The fine-tuning of the physical constants that control the physics of the universe – the settings of the basic forces (strong nuclear force constant, weak nuclear force constant, gravitational force constant, and electromagnetic force constant) are on a knife’s edge. A minor change in these or any of dozens of other universal parameters would make life impossible.

The “multiverse” idea that there may be many universes and ours “just happened” to have these proper values is outside of science and could never be proven. Even then we would have to ask “what was the cause of all these universes?”

 

–Abrupt Appearance in the Fossil Record

        The oldest fossils for any creature are already fully-formed and don’t change much over time (“stasis”). The “Cambrian Explosion” in the “primordial strata” documents the geologically rapid appearance of most major groups of complex animals. There is no evidence of evolution from simpler forms. Birds are said to have evolved from reptiles but no fossil has ever been found having a “half-scale/half-wing”. A reptile breathes using an “in and out” lung (like humans have), but a bird has a “flow-through” lung suitable for moving through the air. Can you even imagine how such a transition of the lung could have taken place? Abrupt appearance and stasis are consistent with the biblical concept of creation “according to its kind”, and a world-wide flood that scoured the earth down to its basement rocks, depositing the “geologic column” and giving the appearance of a “Cambrian Explosion”. Smarter, more mobile creatures would escape the flood waters longer, becoming buried in higher-level strata, leading to a burial order progressing from “simpler” forms to more complex/higher-level forms, which people now wrongly interpret as an evolutionary progression. Reference: Fossils Q&A (www.answersingenesis.org)

 

–Human Consciousness

        A person is a unity of body + mind/soul, the mind/soul being the immaterial part of you that is the real inner you. Chemicals alone cannot explain self-awareness, creativity, reasoning, emotions of love and hate, sensations of pleasure and pain, possessing and remembering experiences, and free will. Reason itself cannot be relied upon if it is based only on blind neurological events.

 

–Human Language

        Language is one of the main things that separates mankind from animals. No animal is capable of achieving anything like human speech, and all attempts to teach chimpanzees to talk have failed. Evolutionists have no explanation for the origin of human language. However, the Bible does. It says that the first man, Adam, was created able to speak. The Bible also explains why we have different human languages, as God had to “confuse” the common language being used in Babel after the flood, in order to force people to spread out around the world as He wanted. This was only a “surface” confusion though, as all languages express the same underlying basic ideas and concepts, enabling other languages to be learned and understood.

 

–Sexual Reproduction

        Many creatures reproduce asexually. Why would animals abandon simpler asexual reproduction in favor of more costly and inefficient sexual reproduction? Sexual reproduction is a very complex process that is only useful if fully in place. For sexual reproduction to have evolved complimentary male and female sex organs, sperm and eggs, and all the associated machinery in tandem defies the imagination.

 

–The Biblical Witness

        The Bible is true. The history of the Bible is true. The words of the Bible concerning our origins were given to men to write down, by God, who was the only living being present. We were not there! God said He created the universe. God said He created all living things. We know that life is much more than chemicals. God put His life into Adam and that life has been transferred from generation to generation all the way down to us! Reference: The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict(McDowell, and a book I highly recommend)

 

–Decay of Magnetic Field times in sync with Biblical Creation

        Dr. Thomas Barnes, Emeritus Professor of Physics at the University of Texas at El Paso, has published the definitive work in this field.⁴ Scientific observations since 1829 have shown that the earth’s magnetic field has been measurably decaying at an exponential rate, demonstrating its half-life to be approximately 1,400 years. In practical application its strength 20,000 years ago would approximate that of a magnetic star. Under those conditions many of the atoms necessary for life processes could not form. These data demonstrate that earth’s entire history is young, within a few thousand of years

 

–Global Flood

        The Biblical record clearly describes a global Flood during Noah’s day. Additionally, there are hundreds of Flood traditions handed down through cultures all over the world. ⁵ M.E. Clark and Henry Voss have demonstrated the scientific validity of such a Flood providing the sedimentary layering we see on every continent. ⁶ Secular scholars report very rapid sedimentation and periods of great carbonate deposition in earth’s sedimentary layers.⁷ It is now possible to prove the historical reality of the Biblical Flood.⁸

–Population Stats

        World population growth rate in recent times is about 2% per year. Practicable application of growth rate throughout human history would be about half that number. Wars, disease, famine, etc. have wiped out approximately one third of the population on average every 82 years. Starting with eight people, and applying these growth rates since the Flood of Noah’s day (about 4500 years ago) would give a total human population at just under six billion people. However, application on an evolutionary time scale runs into major difficulties. Starting with one “couple” just 41,000 years ago would give us a total population of 2 x 10⁸⁹. ⁹The universe does not have space to hold so many bodies.

 

–Radio Halos

            Physicist Robert Gentry has reported isolated radio halos of polonuim-214 in crystalline granite. The half-life of this element is 0.000164 seconds! To record the existence of this element in such short time span, the granite must be in crystalline state instantaneously.¹⁰ This runs counter to evolutionary estimates of 300 million years for granite to form.

Recently there have been evolutionists online in newsgroups and on blogs that have claimed Polonium 214 doesn’t exist. Main reason being is because they declare the Granite in the earth’s crust took many millions of years to form and finally cool and Polonium 214 takes less then a second to expend all its half-lives. In order to save face, some evolutionists have decided to lie and say Polonium 214 simply doesn’t exist. HOWEVER, if you go to http://www.scorecard.org/chemical-profiles/summary.tcl?edf_substance_id=15735%2d67%2d8,you will see one of many online scientific websites that list the element Pulonium 214 to be found on Planet earth. On that page they share evidence that Polonium 214 is in fact a chemical profile that can and has been recorded by many scientists. Praise the Lord we have yet another factoid to prove evolution is a lie of Satan. For a look at how radio halos work, visit http://www.ichthus.info/Creation-Evidence/Polonium-Halos/intro.html

 

–Atmospheric Helium Content

        Physicist Melvin Cook, Nobel Prize medalist found that helium-4 enters our atmosphere from solar wind and radioactive decay of uranium. At present rates our atmosphere would accumulate current helium-4 amounts in less than 10,000 years.¹²

–Expansion of Space Fabric

            Astronomical estimates of the distance to various galaxies give conflicting data. ¹³The Biblical Record refers to the expansion of space by the Creator¹⁴. Astrophysicist Russell Humphries demonstrates that such space expansion would dilate time in distant space.¹⁵ This could explain a recent creation with great distances to the stars.

 

–Design of Living Systems

            A living cell is so awesomely complex that its interdependent components stagger the imagination and defy evolutionary explanations. A minimal cell contains over 60,000 proteins of 100 different configurations.¹⁶ The chance of this assemblage occurring by chance is 1 in 10 ^4,478,296 .¹⁷

–Design of Human Brain & Body 

           The human brain is the most complicated structure in the known universe.¹⁸ It contains over 100 billion cells, each with over 50,000 neuron connections to other brain cells.¹⁹ This structure receives over 100 million separate signals from the total human body every second. If we learned something new every second of our lives, it would take three million years to exhaust the capacity of the human brain. ²⁰ In addition to conscious thought, people can actually reason, anticipate consequences, and devise plans – all without knowing they are doing so.²¹ Without giving a single thought to it, we breathe, digest, blink, and our heart beats. We’re made to have and be a completely functional operating system without reflection.

 

–Biblical Archeology

Here are just a few examples of how archeological discoveries have verified the authenticity of Biblical accuracy:

Ø        Egyptian armor, chariots and human and horse bones found at the bottom of the Red Sea, proving Moses’ exodus from Egypt to Israel. In the image, you see a gold chariot wheel. Since coral doen’t grow on gold, that part remains clear to see. Unfortunately, the wood beneath the gold has deteriorated to the point that the wheel cannot be moved. Visit the web site below for more photos and info.

o       Source: http://users.netconnect.com.au/~leedas/redsea.html

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ø        The discovery of the Ebla archive in northern Syria in the 1970s has shown the Biblical writings concerningthe Patriarchs to be viable. Documents written on clay tablets from around 2300 B.C. demonstrate that personal and place names in the Patriarchal accounts are genuine. The name “Canaan” was in use in Ebla, a name critics once said was not used at that time and was used incorrectly in the early chapters of the Bible. The word tehom (“the deep”) in Genesis 1:2 was said to be a late word demonstrating the late writing of the creation story. “Tehom” was part of the vocabulary at Ebla, in use some 800 years before Moses. Ancient customs reflected in the stories of the Patriarchs have also been found in clay tablets from Nuzi and Mari.

Ø        The Hittites were once thought to be a Biblical legend, until their capital and records were discovered at Bogazkoy, Turkey.

Ø        Many thought the Biblical references to Solomon’s wealth were greatly exaggerated. Recovered records from the past show that wealth in antiquity was concentrated with the king and Solomon’s prosperity was entirely feasible.

Ø        It was once claimed there was no Assyrian king named Sargon as recorded in Isaiah 20:1, because this name was not known in any other record. Then, Sargon’s palace was discovered in Khorsabad, Iraq. The very event mentioned in Isaiah 20, his capture of Ashdod, was recorded on the palace walls. What is more, fragments of a stela memorializing the victory were found at Ashdod itself.

Ø        Another king who was in doubt was Belshazzar, king of Babylon, named in Daniel 5. The last king of Babylon was Nabonidus according to recorded history. Tablets were found showing that Belshazzar was Nabonidus’ son who served as coregent in Babylon. Thus, Belshazzar could offer to make Daniel “third highest ruler in the kingdom” (Dan. 5:16) for reading the handwriting on the wall, the highest available position. Here we see the “eye-witness” nature of the Biblical record, as is so often brought out by the discoveries of archaeology.

o       Source: http://www.christiananswers.net/q-abr/abr-a008.html

 

–T-Rex: A Vegetarian?

1. The roots of T-Rex teeth were only 2 inches deep. Had he bit into the hide of another dinosaur he would have lost teeth. Hides were thick and animals would struggle for their lives. A two inch root would pull out with little force.
2. They cut a tooth in half of an unearthed T-Rex and found it deeply impureated with CHLOROPHYLL! That’s right, Chlorophyll is the main substance found in PLANTS not meat!

By the way, this discovery validates the Bible once again! How so? See this passage…

Genesis 1:29-30, “Then God said, ‘I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.’ And it was so.”

Now before proclaiming you MUST eat meat because the proteins in meat will help you to gain weight, look around on planet earth for a moment. Look at all the HUGE animals like cows… horses… Hippos… Elephants… Rhinos… etc. What do THEY eat? That’s right. PLANTS!

 

–Giants of Biblical Proportion

            According to the Bible, there were once giants on the earth. Goliath, the most famous of the giants, was said to be over nine feet tall (1 Samuel 17:4).  Bones and skeletons have been found of these colossal humans. Some were called the Nephilim, Anakites, Emites, and Amorites. Goliath was a Philistine. (Numbers 13:28-33; Deuteronomy 1:28; 2:10; 9:2) Below is a photo of a man next to a 47 inch human femur. Similar finds have included entire skeletons, most too far decomposed to move. There are a number of skeletons, skulls, and footprints of giants as tall as 30 feet. They appear in almost every culture’s folklore and legend, most of them the “big bully” variety, and a hero dispatches almost all. Theories about the builders of pyramids, stone circles, and other monolithic examples of ancient construction find giants as a possible answer. Big blocks mean big builders.

 A few other minor points to ponder: If we evolved,…

• Why do still get so easily sunburned?
• Why can’t I go outside without a coat on in the middle of winter?
• Were did the gills go? I really could’ve used them when I almost drowned!
• Why lose the tail? I could really use it right now.
• Why can’t we stand being in extreme heat, extreme cold or underwater? If we evolved into a better life-form, we should’ve overcome these huge inconveniences to our everyday existence. To be truly above everything else and focussed on the survival of our species, we’d become a flying, asexual rock.

 ¹Woodmorappe, John, “The Essential Non-Existence of the Evolutionary Uniformitarian Geologic Column: A Quantitative Assessment,” Creation Research Society Quarterly, vol. 18, no.1 (Terre Haute, Indiana, June 1981),pp. 46-71
²Nilsson, N. Heribert, as quoted in Arthur C. Custance, The Earth Before Man, Part II, Doorway Papers, no. 20 (Ontario, Canada: Doorway Publications), p. 51
³Corner, E.J.H., Contemporary Botanical Thought, ed. A.M. MacLeod and L.S. Cobley (Chicago: Quadrangle Books, 1961), p. 97
⁴Barnes, Thomas, ICR Technical Monograph #4, Origin and Destiny of the Earth’s Magnetic Field (2^nd edition, 1983)
⁵Blick, Edward, A Scientific Analysis of Genesis (Oklahoma City: Hearthstone, 1991) p. 103
⁶Clark, M.E. and Voss, H.D., “Fluid Mechanic Examination of the Tial Mechanism for Producing Mega-Sedimantary Layering” (Third International Conference on Creation, Pittsburg, July 1994)
⁷Ager, Derek, The Nature of the Stratigraphical Record (New York: John Wiley and Sons) p. 43 and p. 86
⁸West, John Anthony, Serpent in the Sky: The High Wisdom of Ancient Egypt (New York: Julian Press, 1987) pp. 13-14
⁹ See Morris, Henry, Scientific Creationism(El Cajon, CA: Master Books)
¹⁰Gentry, Robert, Creation’s Tiny Mystery (Knoxville, Tenn.: Earth Science Assoc.,1988 )
¹¹Baugh, Carl, Why Do Men Believe Evolution AGAINST ALL ODDS? (Oklahoma City: Hearthstone, 1999)
¹²Cook, Melvin, “Where is The Earth’s Radiogenic Helium?” Nature, Vol. 179, p. 213
¹³Cowan, R., “Further Evidence of a Youthful Universe,” Science News, Vol. 148, p. 166
¹⁴Psalm 104:2; Isaiah 40:22
¹⁵Humphries, Russell, Starlight and Time (Green Forest, AR: Master Books, 1994)
¹⁶Denton, Michael, Evolution: A Theory in Crisis (Bethesda, Maryland: Adler & Adler, 1986) p. 263
¹⁷Mastropaolo, Joseph, “Evolution Is Biologically Impossible,” Impact # 317(El Cajon, CA: Institute For Creation Research,1999) p. 4
¹⁸Restak, Richard, The Brain: The Last Frontier, 1979, p. 390
¹⁹The Brain, Our Universe Within, PBS Video
²⁰Wonders of God’s Creation, Moody Video Series
²¹Weiss, Joseph, “Unconscious Mental Functioning,” Scientific American, March 1990, p. 103

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Numbers in the Bible- What do they mean?

With all the buzz about the “Mark of the Beast”, and his number, 666, many have been getting curious about numerology. Make no mistake, though. The Antichrist will not be so easy to find that we just count the letters in his name. We won’t go, “Oh, three names, six letters each. Must be the Antichrist!” Not so. The number 666 will most likely be the numerical value of the total of the Hebrew letters to his name, or his names’ meanings.

I’d like to take this opportunity to explain briefly the meaning and significance of certain numbers in Scripture. This isn’t the popular number crunching nonsense that says you can add up numbers and find your true love or your winning lottery ticket combo or your fortune. That type of belief is actually sin. But God has given a specific meaning to certain numbers, and used those numbers at precise times. God created the earth in six days and rested on the seventh. Many believe He was foreshadowing the world’s time-line. The Bible tells us that one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years as one day to the Lord. So the model of Creation is a prophecy toward the 6000 years, or 6 “days”, earth has, with the 7th “day”, or last 1000 years being the reign of Christ on earth. This is just a detail of one example of the use God has for numbers. Here, now, is a list of numbers, their significance, a few examples and other verses where they are used. There are MANY more than I have listed, but this is a good sample to give you the idea.

1= Primary number, signifying, absolute singleness.

    One God, One Creator, One Way (Jesus), “there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” (1 Corinthians 8:5-7) “There is only One who is good.”(Matthew 19:17) “since there is only one God, who will justify…”(Romans 3:30) “There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy…”(James 4:12)

The word “ONE” shows up 2207 times in the NIV Bible, 2369 in NASB, and 2304 in the NKJV Bible.

 

2= The number of witnesses and support. 

    Two angels at Sodom, 2 cherubim on the Ark of Covenant, 2 tablets for 10 commandments, 2 witnesses during tribulation, see Gen 1:16; 19:1; Exod 25:22; 31:18; Deut 17:6; Matt 26:60; Num 14:6; Josh 2:1; Eccl 4:9; Luke 10:1; 24:4; Acts 1:10; Heb 6:18; Rev 11:3

 

3= The number of unity, accomplishment and the universe.

     Noah’s 3 sons, Israel’s 3 yearly feasts, Jonah in the fish for 3 days, Christ dead for 3 days, 3 areas to the tabernacle (inner and outer court, Holy of Holies),

Gen 6:10; Josh 1:11; Exod 23:14, 17; Judges 7:22; Ezra 10:9; Neh 2:11; Esther 4:16; Jonah 1:17; Luke 13:7; 22:61; John 2:19; Acts 9:9; 10:13; 1 Cor 13:13; 1 John 5:7-8; Rev. 21:13;

 

4= An earth-related number.

     4 directions- north, south, east, west; 4 seasons- summer, winter, fall, spring; 4 gospels- Matthew, Mark, Luke, John; 4 earthly kingdoms (Dan7:3), 4 kinds of spiritual soil (Matt 13), 4 horsemen of the Tribulation (Rev 6)

 

5= The number of grace.

     Benjamin’s portion 5 times larger (Gen 43:34), 5 Levitical offerings (Lev 1-5), 5 Israelites to chase 100 enemies (Lev 26:8), David took 5 stones to slay Goliath (1 Samuel 17:40), 5 wise and 5 unwise virgins (Matt 25:2), 1 Kings 7:39, 49; 2 Kings 25:19; 1 Chron 2:4,6; Isaiah 19:18; Matt 14:13, 17, 19, 21; Matt 25:20; John 4:18;

 

6= The number of man.

     Six days of creation (Gen 1:31), Six cities of refuge (Numbers 35:6), Israel marched around Jericho 6 times (Josh6:3), Goliath 6 cubits tall (1 Sam 17:4), Nebuchadnezzar’s statue was 60 cubits by 6 cubits (Dan 3:1), The number of the Antichrist is 666 (Rev 13:18), Jeremiah 34:14; Ezekiel 4:11; 9:2; Matthew 17:1; 27:45; Luke 11:37-52; John 2:6; Acts 11:12; Rev 4:8

 

7= The number of God, of divine perfection.

      God rested on the 7^th day (Gen 2:2), God’s Word is as silver purified 7 times (Psalm 12:6), Jesus taught to forgive 70 times 7 (Matt 18:22),  Seven miracles in the Gospel of John, Seven branches on the candlesticks, John wrote to seven churches (Rev1:4), Dan 9:24;  Rev 1:12,16; 5:1; 8:2

 

8= The new beginning number.

      8 saved from the flood (Gen 7:13, 23), Circumcision on the 8^th day (Gen 17:12), Thomas saw Jesus 8 days after the resurrection (John 20:26), Judges 12:14; 1 Samuel 17:12; 2 Kings 22:1; 1 Chronicles 27:11; 2 Chronicles 21:5; Ezekiel 40:8-9, 31, 34, 37, 41; Luke 9:28;

 

9= means the fullness of blessing.

     The fruit of the Spirit is ninefold (Gal 5:22-23), Sarah was 90 at the birth of Isaac (Gen 17:17), and there are 18 [9×2]gifts of the Spirit (Rom 12:1; 1 Cor 12; Eph 4)

 

10= Human government number.

      10 commands given to men at Mt. Sinai (Exod 20), The revived Roman empire will have 10 nations (Dan 7:24; Rev 17:12), The northern kingdom had 10 tribes (1 Kings 11:31-35), the local government of 10 men decided Ruth’s fate (Ruth 4:2), Josh 15:57; 21:26; Judges 12:11; 17:10; Ruth 4:2; 1 Kings 6:23-26; 11:35; Job 19:3; Jeremiah 42:7; Daniel 1:12-15; Matthew 25:1; Luke 17:11-12; Rev 17:12

 

12= The divine government number.

      There were 12 tribes of Israel (Revelation 7), There were 12 apostles (Matthew 10), There will be 12 gates at New Jerusalem (Rev 21), Gen 25:16; 35:22; 49:28; Numbers 1:44; 7:84, 87; 2 Kings 21:1; Ezekiel 43:16; Luke 2:42;

 

30= Associated with sorrow and mourning.

       Israel mourned 30 days after Aaron’s death (Numbers 20:29), Israel mourned Moses 30 days (Deut 34:8), Prayer prohibited for 30 days (Daniel 6:7, 12), Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26:15; 27:3), Gen 41:46; Numbers 4; Judges 10:4; 12:9; 14:19; 1 Samuel 13:1; 2 Kings 18:14; Esther 4:11; Proverbs 22:20; Jeremiah 38:10; Zechariah 5:2; Luke 3:23; John 2:6

 

40= The number for testing and trial.

      It rained for 40 days and 40 nights during the Flood (Gen 7:4), Moses spent 40 years in the desert (Exodus 3), Israel spied out the land for 40 days (Numbers 13:25), Moses spent 40 days on Mt. Sinai (Exodus 24:18), Israel wandered the desert for 40 years (Numbers 14:33), Goliath taunted Israel for 40 days (1 Samuel 17:16), Jonah preached to Nineveh for 40 days (Jonah 3:4), Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert (Matthew 4:2), There were 40 days between the resurrection and the ascension of Christ (Acts 1:3), Genesis 25:20; 26:24; Exodus 16:25; Joshua 4:13; Judges 8:28; 1 Samuel 4:18; 1 Kings 11:42; 19:18; 2 Kings 8:9; 2 Chronicles 24:1; Psalm 95:10; Ezekiel 29:11-13; Acts 23:12-13, 21

 

50= Associated with celebration and ceremony.

      The Feast of Weeks was 50 days after Passover (Lev 23:15-16), The 50^th year was to be a jubilee for Israel (Lev 25:10), Absalom appointed 50 men to run before him(2 Sam 15:1), Pentecost occurred 50 days after Christ’s resurrection (Acts 2), Gen 7:24; Numbers 4; 8:25; 1 Kings 1:5; 18:4; 2 Kings 1:9-13; 2 Chron 3:9; Nehemiah 5:17; Luke 9:14-15; Acts 19:19

 

70= Associated with human committees and judgment.

      The Sanhedrin was made up of 70 men. Moses appointed 70 elders (Numbers 11:16), Tyre judged for 70 years (Isaiah 23:15), Israel spent 70 years in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:20), the desolation of Jerusalem would last 70 years (Daniel 9:2), Jesus appointed 70 disciples (Luke 10:1, 17), Numbers 11:16, 24-25; Deut 10:22; Judges 8:30; 9:5; 2 Kings 10:1; Ezekiel 8:11; Daniel 9:20, 24; Zechariah 1:2; 7:5; Matthew 18:22; Acts 23:23

The Bible and Racism: A few points on race and origin

The church, the Bible, and racism.

 

Is the church a help or hindrance when it comes to fighting racism?

The “church” can be defined as:

1.      one particular congregation

2.      one particular or a group of denomination(s)

3.      the body of Christ as a collective fellowship of believers

That makes a HUGE difference in answering our question. Every believer and non-believer alike can and will form their own opinions when it comes to race, color, creed, ethnicity, etc. Similarly, so will each congregation, each denomination, and each region.

 

The question, when it comes to Christianity, is always, “What does the Bible say?” Since we believe that the Bible is God’s Word, this is how we know what God feels on the issue. The first item to understand in this discussion is that there is only one race – the human race. Caucasians, Africans, Asians, Indians, Arabs, Jews, etc., are not different races. Rather, they are different ethnicities of the human race. All human beings have the same physical characteristics (with minor variations, of course). More importantly, all human beings are created in the image and likeness of God.

           

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”  So God created man in his own image,

in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. –Genesis 1:26-27

 

We must also realize that God loves everyone. (John 3:16) and laid down His life for all (1 John 2:2).

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. –John 3:16

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. -1 John 2:2

 

God is impartial to all (Deuteronomy 10:17), and shows absolutely no favoritism (Acts 10:34) (Romans 2:11).

 

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. –Deut. 10:17

Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism. –Acts 10:34

For God does not show favoritism. –Romans 2:11

 

James 2:4 describes those who show discrimination as “judges with evil thoughts”.

 

have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? –James 2:4

 

Instead, James reminds us again of Jesus’ teaching; that we must “love one another”.

 

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. –James 2:8 (See John 13:34)

 

In the Old Testament, God divided humanity into two “racial” groups: Jew and Gentile. God’s intent was for the Jews to be a kingdom of priests, ministering to the Gentile nations. Instead, for the most part, the Jews became proud of their status and despised the Gentiles. Jesus Christ put an end to this, destroying the dividing wall of hostility.

 

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, -Ephesians 2:14

 

Therefore, any form of racism, prejudice, or discrimination is an affront to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. Since God loves us impartially, we should love one another in a similar fashion. If we, as sinners, can be loved so by a prefect God, it shouldn’t be too much for Him to expect that we keep the same high standard and love others. Jesus teaches at the end of Matthew 25 that whatever we do to the least of His brothers, we do to Him. If we treat a person with contempt, we are mistreating a person created in God’s image; we are hurting somebody that God loves and Jesus died for.

 

Racism, in varying forms and to various degrees, has been a plague on humanity for thousands of years. Brothers and sisters of all ethnicities, this should not be! To victims of racism, prejudice, and discrimination – you need to forgive. Ephesians 4:32 declares, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” No, racists do not deserve your forgiveness, but we deserved God’s forgiveness far less! To perpetrators of racism, prejudice, and discrimination – you need to repent and “present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God” (Romans 6:13).

 

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. –Galatians 3:28

 

God created this universe, this world and everyone in it. People exist in their variety because God designed it that way. Put simply, racism is a criticism of His handiwork.

 

 

Where did race originate? Generally, from camps, though eventually through the families of Noah’s sons spreading out over the earth. Noah’s sons were Shem, Ham and Japheth.

Of Ham:

The youngest son of Noah, from whom sprang the western and southwestern nations known to the Hebrews. His name first occurs in Genesis 5:32, where, as in 6:10 and elsewhere, it occupies the second place. In Genesis 9:18 Ham is described as “the father of Canaan”.

The name given, in Psalms 105:23,17; 106:22 (compare 78:51), to Egypt as a descendant of Ham, son of Noah. As Shem means “dusky,” or the like, and Japheth “fair,” it has been supposed that Ham meant, as is not improbable, “black.” This is supported by the evidence of Hebrew and Arabic, in which the word chamam means “to be hot” and “to be black,” the latter signification being derived from the former. 

Four Sons of Ham (see map below):
    1. Mizraim (Egypt)
   2. Cush (Sudan, Ethiopia)
   3. Put (Lybia)
   4. Canaan (Hivites, Jebusites, Arvadites, Girgashites, Amorites, Arkites, Sinites, Hittites, 
                  Sidonians, Perizzites, Zemarites)

CURSE OF CANAAN
   1. Canaan was cursed, not Ham. (Gen. 9:25, “…cursed be Canaan…”
   2. Genesis 9:25-27 “…servitude to his brothers…”
   3. Exodus 20:5 –” A curse lasts three to four generations…”
   4. Canaan does not exist as a nation today. Other three nations exist — Egypt, Ethiopia 
       and Lybia.

 Of Shem:

The eldest son of Noah, from whom the Jews, as well as the Semitic (“Shemitic”) nations in general have descended. When giving the names of Noah’s three sons, Shem is always mentioned first (Genesis 9:18; 10:1, etc.); and though “the elder” in “Shem the brother of Japheth the elder” (Genesis 10:21 margin) is explained as referring to Shem, this is not the rendering of Onkelos. 

His five sons peopled the greater part of West Asia’s finest tracts, from Elam on the East to the Mediterranean on the West. Though generally regarded as meaning “dusky” (compare the Assyr-Babylonian samu–also Ham–possibly = “black,” Japheth, “fair”), it is considered possible that Shem may be the usual Hebrew word for “name” (shem), given him because he was the firstborn–a parallel to the Assyr-Babylonian usage, in which “son,” “name” (sumu) are synonyms (W. A. Inscriptions, V, plural 23, 11,29-32abc).

Five Sons of Shem (see map below):
    1. Elam (Arabia)
   2. Asshur (Assyria)
   3. Lud (Lydians)
   4. Aram (Aramaic, Armenia, Mesopotamia, Syria)
   5. Arphaxad (From which Abraham descended)

 

Of Japheth:

This name, in Genesis 9:27, seems to be explained by the phrase “may God make wide (yapht, the American Standard Revised Version “enlarge”) for Japheth,” where yapht and Japheth are represented by the same consonants, but with different vowel-points. The root of yapht is pathach, “to make wide.” 

This etymology, however, is not universally accepted, as the word-play is so obvious, and the association of Japheth with Shem (“dark”) and Ham (“black”) suggests a name on similar lines–either gentilic, or descriptive of race. Japheth has therefore been explained as meaning “fair,” from yaphah, the non-Sem and non-Hamitic races known to the Jews being all more or less white-skinned. The Targum of Onkelos agrees with the English Versions of the Bible, but that of Jonathan has “God shall beautify Japheth,” as though from yaphah.

Seven Sons of Japheth (see map below):
    1. Javan (Greece, Romans, Romance — French, Italians, Spanish, Portuguese)
   2. Magog (Scythians, Slavs, Russians, Bulgarians, Bohemians, Poles, Slovaks, Croatians)
   3. Madai (Indians & Iranic: Medes, Persians, Afghans, Kurds)
   4. Tubal (South of Black Sea)
   5. Tiras (Thracians, Teutons, Germans, Scandinavian, Anglo-Saxon, Jutes)
   6. Meshech (Russia)
   7. Gomer (Celtic)

 

 

Sources: http://www.freemaninstitute.com/RTGham.htm

http://www.gotquestions.org/racism-Bible.html

http://www.biblestudy.org/question/racism.html

This is a GREAT video on YouTube. Its 28 min long, but well worth the time. The guy in the video is Ken Ham. He’s a very well studied creation-based scientist, and pretty well knows what he’s talking about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez_eRihgmJ8 He points out the connection between the induction of Darwinism and acceptance of racist-based theology.