Salt & Light Blog

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Christians

2/8/2017

By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35

What does it mean to be an effective Christian? What is it God wants us to be doing? He wants us to do His will, which is that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9). His will is given to us in what we call the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We don’t have to go door to door asking people if they died today where they would go. Honestly, that approach to evangelism is not very effective. We’re looking for a way to truly impact the kingdom of God. So how do we do that?
I’m not a fan of slogans or clichés. I stay away from most things that are too popular. But this common question does make a good point. “If you were on trial for being Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Really consider that. Although your words do count, if they are not backed up by faith, and a life which puts your words into action, then your words are nothing. Going to church regularly counts, but again if the only times you look or act Christian is when you’re with other Christians then what validity are you having for the kingdom?
Highly effective Christians are filled with the Holy Spirit and actively producing fruit of the Spirit. That means that love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control can be seen in them regardless of what they are doing, what their circumstances are and who they are with (Galatians 5:22-23).
Let’s look at some habits or disciplines of highly effective Christians:

They love.

John 13:31-35 reads,
When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. 33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

It doesn’t read, they will know you are my disciples if you have T-shirt, bumper sticker, or necklace. Jesus didn’t say, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you use Christianese phrases like, ‘If God brings you to it, He’ll bring you through it’ or ‘Bless your heart’ and say, ‘by Jesus’ blood’ at least every 90 words.” No, He said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Love is more than a gushy feeling. Love does not exist if action and attitude do not prove it.
God is expressed through love, He is love! (1 John 4:8) Love is expressed through the fruit of the Spirit, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a also describes love and it is similar.

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends.
Loving people this way, the way Jesus loved us is tangible not just hearts and rainbows. It is real. Jesus said that love is laying down your life for your friend (John 15:13) and that love is keeping His commandments (John 14:15). That’s right, keeping God’s commandments is the natural expression of our love for God and people. What good is it for someone to say “I love this child” but then choose not to feed him or care for him? What good is it for a man to say, “I love you” but not be willing to share himself with you, spend time with you, or move to meet your needs.

They demonstrate love in serving and generosity.

James 2:14-17 says it like this,
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Galatians 5:6 and 13-15 read,
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.
13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.

They resist the devil and overcome the world.

1 John 5:1-5 reads,

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Jesus lived perfectly, gave up His life, resurrected, and ascended all because of His deep and perfect love for us which compelled Him to do the Father’s will. It was not our sin which kept Jesus made Jesus die on the cross, it was His profound love which kept Him there until Satan, death, and sin were conquered once and for all.
1 John 5:18-21 reads,

We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. 21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

Almighty God is protecting you from the enemy! Don’t shrug the LORD off to fight the devil when you are from God and He’s got your back! He sealed you! He is in you and that is power! That’s the power that raised Jesus from the dead and that power overcomes the devil, not your arguments or your struggling with him (Romans 8:11, 1 John 5:4). It is God, the Father, Son, and Spirit not you.
We are not told to fight the devil. We are told not to sin and so make ourselves vulnerable to his attacks. We are told to stand. We are told to resist. James 5:4-10 says it like this,
Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Resisting is not fighting or engaging. It is standing firm, refusing to be moved, and withstanding the effect of something. A water-resistant watch doesn’t fight water, it doesn’t allow water to ruin it. So how do we stand firm against the devil? How do we resist? Ephesians 6:10-20 teaches us,
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

They worship and pray with intercession, praise, and thanksgiving.

Psalm 107:25-32 says,

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
    and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
    and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
    and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

That messianic passage is beautiful to me. We can pray for help through difficult circumstances, we can pray in awe and thanksgiving at God’s deliverance, redemption, and steadfast love. WE can praise Him for the miracles, big and small He does every day. And we can praise Him privately, in church, and in public.

Jesus encouraged us to pray in Matthew 7:7-8,

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

They meet together often.

Hebrews 10:24-25 says,

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Acts 2:42-47 describes the early church and how very effective they were for the Kingdom of God.

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

They are transparent with needs including sin and sickness.

James 5:14-16 reads,

Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

They live a lifestyle of worship, pursuing God, His kingdom and His righteousness first.

1 Peter 3:13-17 says,
Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

The manner we live our lives means something. We must not treat grace as a license to stay the way we were when we were saved but as the power to live righteous lives as a testimony to Jesus Christ so the blind will see, the hopeless will find hope, and the hard hearted will be broken and saved. Revelation 12:10-11 describes how very effective our lived-out testimony is.

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

It is through love and standing firm that our lives are a testimony to Jesus Christ and we become effective Christians not just affected Christians. Your Christian life should not be merely words but lived out in every aspect, every corner, and every space. There are people looking for meaning, people seeking hope, and people searching for wholeness. You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth who can show them who Jesus is, how deeply He loves them, and how perfectly He will complete them (Matthew 5:13-14).

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What Do Oil and Lamps Have to do With Jesus Second Coming?

2/7/2017

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In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

After Jesus told the disciples about the signs of the End Times and the sign that would herald the Great Tribulation, He told this parable in Matthew 25:1-12.
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. 6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 11 Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Once again, Jesus advises us to be wise, to be prepared for the Bridegroom, who is Jesus Himself, when He comes. In the prophecy we read about the abomination of desolation, it is the ones who know God, the wise who will stand firm, understand, help others to understand and endure (Daniel 11:32-35).
All ten virgins fell asleep, but the wise virgins could because they were prepared. They had oil for their lamps. They knew to listen for the sound of the shofar which announced the bridegroom’s arrival and when they heard that trumpet sound, they would be awake, with lamps lit, waiting for Him to take them into the wedding feast.
The foolish virgins were not ready with oil for their lamps. They assumed that they had time to get the oil. Perhaps they didn’t look to see that their lamps needed oil. But when it came down to it and the shofar announced the bridegroom was coming, they assumed the wise virgins would give them the oil, they should have gotten for themselves. But the wise virgins couldn’t provide oil for the foolish, it was something the virgins had to purchase for themselves.
Because they waited until after the Bridegroom had announced His coming to go get their oil, they missed the wedding feast, were not allowed to enter, and were informed that He didn’t know them. Jesus ended the parable with the commendation to “watch.”
What does it mean to have oil for our lamps? First we will look at what the lamps represent. In Revelation Jesus addressed seven actual churches which represented the world-wide church with all our attributes and our deficits. The seven lampstands representing the seven churches surrounded Jesus in John’s Heavenly vision. Revelation 1:12-20 read,
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,13 and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. 19 Write therefore the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this. 20 As for the mystery of the seven stars that you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands, the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.
Lamps and lampstands are the visible church. The light of the lamps (we the church) points to Jesus. The oil represents anointing, the magistracy and ministry, the power and the administration of the power of Jesus. So the oil must be present to shine and let the world see Jesus through His people. In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus said,
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
We must shine before men and to shine we need oil, the anointing to glorify God by works, actions, and demonstrations of God’s love, power, and mercy. We often use the word anointed as a description of being set aside or consecrated, but in truth anointing is oil being poured over someone or something to dedicate it doe a specific job. Isaiah 61:1-3 reads,
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion--
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

The Lord compares His Holy Spirit to oil. Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit on Him to for the magistracy and ministry described in these verses. In Acts chapter 10 Peter preached the Gospel and in verse 38 he spoke about Jesus being anointed with the Holy Spirit, once again comparing Him to oil. Acts 10:37-38 says,
you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

Having oil in our lamps, being “saved” and “having” the Holy Spirit is not enough, the wise virgins trimmed their wicks, they lit their lamps so that the oil burned and the lamps shone. We have to be anointed with the Holy Spirit, (meaning baptized in Him) and manifesting His fruit and His gifts. He gave us gifts to be used in magistracy (that is power) and ministry (that is administering and using that power to glorify God). We are magistrates, administrators of power and ministers, agents of power. This idea is reflected in Peter’s encouragement to the church in 1 Peter 4:7-11
The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Joel 2 talks about how the Holy Spirit will be poured out in those days. His activity, His works will be increasingly seen as we, the church light our filled lamps and use His gifts to glorify God. Joel 2:27-32 reads,
You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
    and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else.
And my people shall never again be put to shame.
28 “And it shall come to pass afterward,
    that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    your old men shall dream dreams,
    and your young men shall see visions.
29 Even on the male and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
30 “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.
We can see this beginning to happen now and His activity through His sons and daughters, old, young, male, female, poor, and rich. We are the light of the world and we are meant to shine. Shining requires the oil of the Holy Spirit.
We will study more about the increase of the Holy Spirit as He pours Himself out over this generation. Today, examine your life. Is the Holy Spirit plainly evident in your life? What is your gift and are you using it for God’s glory? If not, don’t be surprised that you don’t know God the way others do, after all if your lamp isn’t filled with oil and shining, Jesus doesn’t know you.

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How will we endure the Great Tribulation?

2/6/2017

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By your endurance you will gain your lives.” Luke 21:19

Yesterday, we read Daniel 11:31-45 regarding the prophecy Jesus entrusted us to read in order to understand when the Great Tribulation would begin. Today, we’ll continue with Daniel 12 so that we may more clearly understand the time of the tribulation. Let’s remove the fear that ignorance has given us, let’s move against the deception that the end time prophecies are too difficult to understand, and let’s do what God has assigned us to do and read, learn, beware, and watch. Mark 13:28-33 reads,
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

So many Christians have a lackadaisical view of the End Times. They say, “I know how it turns out, that’s all that matters. I can’t understand what Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Revelation and the rest say, so I’ll just hang out until the rapture.” But that is not what Jesus has told us to do. In the passage above Jesus said, “learn its lesson…know…be on guard…stay awake….” In fact He says “stay awake four times in just four verses. There are numerous commandments throughout scripture to understand, watch, be aware, and know the signs and prophecies of the End Times, the nearness of Jesus’ Second Coming and the arrival of The Day of the LORD.
Consider this, Brothers and Sisters, how can we open blind eyes with knowledge to this vital truth and Gospel if we are ignorant and blind ourselves? How can we choose to remain deaf to the warnings and promises of scripture and preach the Gospel, baptize, teach and make disciples? Jesus’ Second Coming on the Day of the Lord is just as significant to the Gospel as Jesus first coming, life, Crucifixion, Resurrection, and Ascension is.
Yesterday’s devotional ended with what Revelation refers to as The Harvest described in Daniel 12:1-3. Let’s read those verses again.
At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
Michael is the princely archangel who has been with Jesus battling Satan throughout the ages until the end (Daniel 10:10-21, Jude 1:9, Revelation 12:7). The vision Daniel had been given was intense and filled with information for us. His record of it began in Chapter 10 and continued through Chapter 12, that is 80 verses. Daniel 12:4 reads,
But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.
The people alive during the time that the prophecy comes true are commanded to stand firm, help others understand and be refined through the fire of tribulation and turn many to righteousness, then they will receive the great reward awaiting them, they will shine like the stars forever and ever. But Daniel was commanded to shut up the words and seal the book until the end of time. The visions he recorded will and are helping those alive now as we seek to increase our understanding and knowledge of the end, and God has promised that it will. Don’t miss this, it is in our increasing knowledge and using that wisdom, understanding, and knowledge to bring many to righteousness that we will shine. It is through standing firm through the hardship and suffering of the tribulation that we will be made pure (Daniel 11:35). In Luke 21:17-19 when explaining the signs of the end times, Jesus said, “You will be hated by all for my name's sake. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your lives.”
Please, do not choose to remain laissez-faire, halfhearted, and even apathetic about what Scripture is saying, your eternity and the eternity of millions, perhaps billions depend on it. We are children of our Father in Heaven, saved by Jesus Christ, and sealed with the Holy Sprit, are we really afraid of suffering? Do we have anything to fear in trials and tribulations? James said to count it all joy! James 1:2-5 reads,
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Daniel wanted to know, how long from the time of the start of these tribulations until the end. And Jesus answered him. And When Daniel didn’t understand he asked for clarification and Jesus gladly explained it. Daniel 12:5-12 reads,
Then I, Daniel, looked, and behold, two others stood, one on this bank of the stream and one on that bank of the stream. 6 And someone said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?” 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished. 8 I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand. 11 And from the time that the regular burnt offering is taken away and the abomination that makes desolate is set up, there shall be 1,290 days. 12 Blessed is he who waits and arrives at the 1,335 days. 13 But go your way till the end. And you shall rest and shall stand in your allotted place at the end of the days.”
When Daniel questioned the answer he received and when he wondered what the outcome would be, he was told not to worry, to go about his business and the answer would be revealed at the right time. But still he was given elucidation. Verse 11 explains that from the time that the abomination of desolation set up in the Temple there will be 1,290 days. That is just over 3 and half years. Then he is told that whoever makes it through the 1,335 days will be blessed. There are forty-five days difference from the end and what believers will be expected to persevere.
These three and half plus years will be difficult but endurable with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. We will not have to go through it blindly. We will go through it with knowing about the hope we have and becoming more and more like Christ. We are being prepared as the Bride of Christ, ready for His arrival. On an upcoming day, we will study more about being ready for our Husband and Maker to come for us. Today, remember that through the tribulation that awaits will be considerable and very difficult, we have the ability to persevere with joy and hope.

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What is the Abomination of Desolation?

2/5/2017

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Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time. Daniel 11:31-35

So far in this study of the End Times, we’ve looked at some of the signs that will signal we are in the season and the End Times are near. We read Matthew 24, where Jesus spoke about some of those signs. He said there will be many led astray, there would be many false Christs, wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes and famines. Jesus said that we would be hated for His sake, many would fall away, there would be false prophets, increased lawlessness which would cause the love of many to grow cold (Matthew 24:1-14).
Then Jesus referred the disciples to read and understand the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel. He said when that prophecy comes to pass it would be the warning sign of the Great Tribulation and that people would need to take action. Matthew 24:15-21 reads,
“So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath.21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be.”
Since Jesus pointed to this prophecy specifically, it seems important to study it and understand it in order to recognize it when it happens. Daniel 11:29-35 describes the actions of the king of the north who will ignore the false treaty he made with the king of the south, despise the holy covenant and invade the kingdom of the south.
At the time appointed he shall return and come into the south, but it shall not be this time as it was before. 30 For ships of Kittim shall come against him, and he shall be afraid and withdraw, and shall turn back and be enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant. 31 Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. 32 He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. 33 And the wise among the people shall make many understand, though for some days they shall stumble by sword and flame, by captivity and plunder. 34 When they stumble, they shall receive a little help. And many shall join themselves to them with flattery, 35 and some of the wise shall stumble, so that they may be refined, purified, and made white, until the time of the end, for it still awaits the appointed time.

Verse 31 mentions the abomination that makes desolate. This is a picture of two warring kings, one who desecrates the Temple in some horrific manner. It is that specific act that we need to keep alert for so that when it happens, we will know. In Matthew 24 Jesus said when it happened we were not even to go home and get a jacket, but just get out of Dodge!
Get this! The prophecy has come to pass already! But it was somewhere about 165-168 B.C. that Antiochus Epiphanes interrupted the temple sacrifices and placed a pig on the altar. Since Jesus had not yet been born it is obvious he was not referring to that event, though it did foreshadow the prophecy he was talking about. This is much more than worshipping Roman standards over the One True God; it will be something meant to truly offend those who love God, something done with rage against the LORD and His people.
This means Daniel’s prophecy also refers to the future when an atheistic charismatic ruler will do some blasphemous thing to the Temple in Jerusalem and reveal himself as the anti-christ, the beast described in Revelation (at least to those of us who understand as Jesus commended us to do). Because we will recognize his profanity, we will be able to stand firm. Verse 33 says we will be able to teach and help people understand. As we recognize the signs and see prophecies fulfilled we can and should be teaching others to see them.
But how can we recognize a fulfilled prophecy if we refuse to read them because they are “scary” or “too hard” or whatever. Believer, we have nothing to fear in these words, Jesus conquered sin and death already, Satan just hasn’t figured it out yet. God wins and if we are in Him, we win with Him. These scriptures are not as hard to understand as so many have been deceived into believing. The Holy Spirit reveals the truth to us as we read and today, we have the benefit of history, science, and all kinds of knowledge recorded and available to us and at our fingertips. We have scripture, and technology makes it easy to search the Word, compare passages, and even read what Bible scholars from the ages have gleaned from their studies.
The very next verse warns us that people will align themselves with believers and be half-hearted followers who use flattery and cause some to stumble. But the severe testing of the Tribulation will refine believers, show the true from the false, and prepare us for the Wedding Feast, pure and white until the time of the end. Revelation 3:3-5 talks reads,
Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 4 Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

Daniel 11:36-39 further describe this arrogant charming and magnetic leader and what he will do and further define what the abomination of desolation will be.
And the king shall do as he wills. He shall exalt himself and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak astonishing things against the God of gods. He shall prosper till the indignation is accomplished; for what is decreed shall be done. 37 He shall pay no attention to the gods of his fathers, or to the one beloved by women. He shall not pay attention to any other god, for he shall magnify himself above all. 38 He shall honor the god of fortresses instead of these. A god whom his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and costly gifts.39 He shall deal with the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. Those who acknowledge him he shall load with honor. He shall make them rulers over many and shall divide the land for a price.

He’s going to be successful for a while, until The Day of the LORD when he’s defeated. He’s going to make a whole new religion and in the name of that religion he’ll conquer nations and give imaginary power, honor, and wealth to those who stand by him. We know from John’s Revelation that the god he sets up is himself. His religion will require people to worship him and receive a mark sealing themselves to him (Revelation 13:4, Revelation 14:9-11).
The last verses of Daniel 11 say describe how successful the king will be as he fights those who try to stand against him, but in the end when he thinks he is about to win it all, he, his army and all who are with him will be destroyed. Verses 40-45 reads,
At the time of the end, the king of the south shall attack him, but the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen, and with many ships. And he shall come into countries and shall overflow and pass through. 41 He shall come into the glorious land. And tens of thousands shall fall, but these shall be delivered out of his hand: Edom and Moab and the main part of the Ammonites. 42 He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. 43 He shall become ruler of the treasures of gold and of silver, and all the precious things of Egypt, and the Libyans and the Cushites shall follow in his train. 44 But news from the east and the north shall alarm him, and he shall go out with great fury to destroy and devote many to destruction. 45 And he shall pitch his palatial tents between the sea and the glorious holy mountain. Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him.
Daniel chapter 12 continues by describing what will happen next. Verses 1-3 read,
At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.

The Day of the LORD will be more terrible than anyone has ever seen and more wonderful than anyone has ever seen. For the unbelievers, both dead and alive, those whose names are not written in the book, they will experience the wrath of God, His Justice, the deserved price for their sin. But for believers, we whose names are written in the book, both dead and alive will be taken up to our reward. Revelation 14:14-20 describes it like this,
Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand. 15 And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat on the cloud, “Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.”16 So he who sat on the cloud swung his sickle across the earth, and the earth was reaped.
17 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, “Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe.” 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.

That much blood will have to be from every lost person who ever lived from Cain to the end. What a terrible day for them. Yet, for us what a marvelous day! But remember, God loves the lost just as deeply as He loves you and He doesn’t want them to die that day (2 Peter 3:9). You and I have the great privilege to love people enough to give them a chance to believe Jesus is the Savior and the King of kings so they won’t follow the king of Satan, the prince of this world.
There is more to read and learn from Daniel’s prophecy and we will continue tomorrow. For now, I want you to remember what Daniel says about the abomination of the desolation so that when it happens, you will recognize it. Remember there are other signs that will come first. As we see these signs, and we see prophecies coming to pass or see them about to be birthed, we who understand should be helping others to understand.

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God so Loved Judas that He Gave His Only Begotten Son

2/4/2017

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But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Psalm 86:15

Have you read recently the story of Jesus washing the feet of His twelve chosen disciples? It is recorded in John 13:1-20
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him, 3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, 4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”
12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. 14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. 16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19 I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am he.20 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”

Washing the feet of the twelve was a demonstration of love, humility, and service for us. An example that we should be willing to do what Jesus did. Here was God Almighty and He removed His garments and bent down and one by one washed the feet of the disciples. Those feet were caked with mud made up of dirt, dust, and excrement of various animals and people. The Son of God removed His garments and did the job saved for the lowest of house slaves. His heart must have swelled with love for each one as He carefully cleaned the filth from each one of His beloved friends’ feet. He knew that this was His last night of freedom and then He was going to be arrested and killed. His heart must have been broken with the sorrow of leaving these men who had been His close friends for three and half years.
The part that gets me is that Jesus washed Judas’ feet with just as much love and care as He did for other friends. Jesus’ deep love is so evident in this passage. He knew that Judas was going to betray Him. Yet, He washed his dirty dung covered feet. He loved Judas very much. He loved all the disciples. He washed all their feet knowing that each one of them was going to deny Him, betray Him, or abandon Him that night. He still loved them. If Judas had done what the other disciples did and come to God for forgiveness with repentance, he would have been forgiven just like the rest of the twelve. God did not reject Judas; Judas rejected God.
There is a myth based on Dante Alighieri’s Inferno that Judas resides in the deepest circle of Hell, a place reserved for the most evil sinners. According to the story, Judas is considered to be the vilest, most malevolent of any human. But Jesus loved Him dearly. Jesus loved him enough to die the most agonizing death known to mankind for him.
Think of the most evil person you can imagine. Is it a pedophile, a mass murderer, the corrupt dictator of some country, is it someone who hurt you in some horrific way? Now, realize this; God loves them profoundly. He loves them so much that He took off His Divine Robe and stepped into humanity and lived, died, and resurrected for that person to cleanse them of the filth of sin.
God is merciful, compassionate, and loving. One day His love will culminate in Justice as He avenges those of us who became His Bride. But He is mercifully and patiently waiting, giving them the chance to repent because of His deep love. If Holy Awesome God loves the wicked, what right do you and I have not to love them? Romans 5:5-8 reads,
and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Imagine if you could go through life and see people the way God sees them. Maybe you would see the man who is rude to you as a beloved masterpiece of the Creator who has no idea that Jesus is real and has never been shown mercy. You might see the self-righteous woman who spits hateful words at you as the broken and lost child who doesn’t know that the Father longs to be her All in All. Perhaps you would see that controlling and cruel boss as the man who was never disciplined with love and doesn’t know that Jesus loves Him and lived and died and lives again for Him. God loves them just as much as He loves you. He has given you the authority and power to love them as He loves them, to reveal Jesus Christ to them, and to give them the opportunity to accept Salvation. In Matthew 5:38-48 Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
It’s not easy to love people who hate you. When an enemy makes you scrub the toilet, it is not easy nor pleasant to scrub the whole bathroom. When a person hurts you, it’s hard to hold back retaliation to the point that you even leave yourself open to him. Yet all these things are what Jesus wants from us, because He did it and does it. Jesus stood before Herod and Pilate and didn’t answer back or call the angel armies down on them; He let them call Him names, accuse Him of blasphemy, rip out His beard, and beat Him. Jesus loved Pilate and Herod just as much as He loves you, Billy Graham, or Mother Teresa. Who are we to think we are better than the LORD and hate someone He created? 1 John 4:7-12 says it like this,
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
God loves you. He adores you. He cherishes you. Nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:37-39). Once you were lost. Once you didn’t know Jesus wanted to be your Savior. He loved you then and He loves you now. Ephesians 2:1-10 reads,
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

If Jesus could love Judas so much, can’t you and I love the person who just wished a curse on us with vile language? If Jesus loves us, even though our sin required a death sentence, what right to we have not to love others?

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A Life Worthy of the Cost

2/3/2017

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Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me. Isaiah 49:16

I do plan to continue teaching eschatology but today I’m going to talk about the way we live our lives. I believe wholeheartedly in grace. I believe that Jesus died once for all sin (Romans 6:10) and no one and nothing can snatch us from His hand (John 10:28). But I also believe that real salvation reveals itself in real change, the fruit of repentance, the fruit of the Spirit, and faith that compels us to demonstrating God’s love and power in a life that lives the Gospel in a visible and tangible manner
Believer, let me ask you; are you living a life worthy of the high price Jesus paid for it? Is a life where you continue to willfully do wrong, continue habitual sins, and hold onto secret immorality and indulgences commendable? Jesus lived, suffered, died, and rose again to give you eternal life. Does the life you live merit that price?
In his letter to the Romans Paul addressed the problem, he was seeing in the church. People were claiming grace and living just as they had before they knew Jesus. They kept on sinning and when a brother or sister tried to exhort them, they shouted, “grace.” Does that sound familiar? Are you getting drunk watching porn, or otherwise willfully ignoring God’s will and proclaiming grace to excuse living in your carnal desires instead of in walking in the Spirit? Romans 6:1-14 reads,
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Sure, you may want to give in to your carnality, sensuality, and fleshly appetites but in awe and gratitude to the LORD for His salvation, you can quench the flesh instead of quenching the Spirit. You are able to choose righteousness over iniquity. If you can choose an apple over potato chips, why do you think you can’t choose truth over deception? Each time you choose not to sin, you proclaim Christ. Lovely Family, you are free! You are free from sin and bondage to sin. You are free to live righteous holy lives as a new creation with a new heart and a new mind, sealed with the Holy Spirit who imbues you with the power to be transformed to the image of Christ.
You belong to Christ. He bought you and He paid a hefty price. You are valuable, worth the cost of the worst kind of death. 1 Corinthians 6:17-20 reads,
But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
You belong to God, He has proof of ownership in that He put His Spirit in you as a guarantee of your inheritance, that your life exhibits, exalts and extols Him. Treasured Possession, God is with you and He has not and will not forget you. In Isaiah 49:15-16 the LORD says,
“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
    that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
    yet I will not forget you.
16 Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls are continually before me.”
You are engraved on the palms of God’s hands. This is much deeper than you might imagine. The proof of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the cost of your sin and His redemption of you, is in the wounds on His hands (John 20:24-27). Recently, I was presented with another picture of being engraved on His hands. Imagine grasping something tightly in your fist. When you open your hand, you can see the imprint of the object in your hand. Even an idea held tightly will leave the imprint of your fingernails on your palms. Jesus holds you so tightly in His hands that nothing can take you out of them and you are not only imprinted but permanently carved into His hands.
Whether you are owned by the world or by God, it is evident on and in you by the testimony of your life. I don’t mean the words of your story of redemption. I mean the proof of your redemption in actions and works. Who is being glorified in your life? Is it you, Jose Cuervo, Harry Potter, or Jesus Christ?
In Mark 12:13-17 the Pharisees were trying to come up with charges against Jesus to have him put to death and asked him a question which they assumed he would have to speak against Caesar or God.
And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.”
The coin was engraved with Caesar’s image, it belonged to him and so taxes were due to him. You, believer are engraved with Christ’s image and so your life belongs to Him. Are you rendering your life to Him? We, Brothers and Sisters are the glory of God, meaning that when people look at us, they should see Him. 2 Corinthians 17-18 says it like this,
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Cherished Sons and Daughters of God Most High, we praise God for the grace which gives us freedom. It is not permission to sin, it is liberty to live holy lives. Why don’t we claim righteousness instead of “grace” as the reason to live our lives in emancipation from sin? There is no sin in Christ (1 John 3:5) but rather than a permit to continue sinning, it is a call to be holy.
We are commanded many times in Scripture to be holy as God is Holy.
Leviticus 11:44-45
For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. 45 For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

Leviticus 19:2, Leviticus 20:7, Leviticus 20:26, Leviticus 21:8, and Deuteronomy 23:14 are a few of the places where God commends and commands us to be holy as He is Holy. Are you saying then that it is the Old Covenant to live holy? Guess what. It’s also in the New Testament to be holy. 1 Peter 1:13-16 reads,
Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
Let’s continue reading from Peter’s letter in The Message. Verses 17-25 read,
Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ’s sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.
22-25 Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself! That’s why the prophet said,
The old life is a grass life,
    its beauty as short-lived as wildflowers;
Grass dries up, flowers droop,
    God’s Word goes on and on forever.
This is the Word that conceived the new life in you.

1 John 3:4-11 says it this way,
Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

So, let’s examine our motivation and the evidence of our lives. Are we living testimonies to Christ? Are we living lives worthy of the price Jesus paid for us? If not, remember, “See, you are well! Sin no more.” (John 5:18).

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Do not Fear the End Times, Recognize the Signs

2/1/2017

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You shall not fear them, for it is the Lord your God who fights for you. Deuteronomy 3:22

Today is part two of our intro to the End Times study. We will continue to look at signs of the times. We began yesterday reading Matthew 24; we’ll continue there today as well as look at other chapters which tell us more signs of the season. Yesterday, the signs we read about were: People claiming to be Christ, wars and rumors of wars, many false prophets, increased crime and sin, many of the faithful falling away, and many of the faithful losing their passion as their love grows cold. But Jesus gave us encouragement. He said that those who endure to the end will be saved and that the gospel would be preached throughout the whole world to the all the nations (Matthew 24:4-14). Let’s continue with verses 7-8.
For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

This not only refers to wars, but political upheaval, realigning of governments, treaties, and allies. Contributing to the problem will be an increase in natural disasters such as earthquakes. Luke 21 records the same teaching and verses 10-11 say it this way,
Then He {Jesus] said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.”
There will be a great increase in famine and disease. We are seeing the beginnings of that now, just as we are seeing an escalation in earthquakes and unusual weather patterns. Becky Oskin with Live Science wrote that “there were more than twice as many big earthquakes in the first quarter of 2014 as compared with the average since 1979.” (Emphasis added, 2014). Scientists have not been able to find a reason for the increase in seismic activity (Oskin, 2014). Another scientific research article wrote that the changing climate has contributed to an unprecedented escalation of famines and disease which are expected to affect 18% of the global population (Ahmed, 2013). That is nearly 1 out of five people on the face of the planet! While we are seeing an increase in natural disasters, especially earthquakes and an increase in famine and pestilence it is not yet to the point it will be. Before that happens will come severe Christian persecution. Verses 12-19 say it like this.
But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name's sake.13 This will be your opportunity to bear witness. 14 Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, 15 for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. 16 You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. 17 You will be hated by all for my name's sake. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.

We read about this yesterday. Luke’s account gives a little more detail about the persecution than does Matthew’s. Lovely Family, we do not have to be afraid of the harassment, oppression, and suffering of the enemy through his lost and blind followers. God is with us! We have nothing to fear. We won’t have to come up with a defense. We won’t have to think of a way out of it. Read verse 15 again. for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. Remember that God is our Ever-Present Almighty God With Us. Isaiah 54:17 encourages us this way,
no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,
and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord
and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.”
How many times throughout scripture does He say, “Do not fear, I am with you” or “Be courageous, I am with you.” A quick search found more than 100 times that God reminds His children He is with us. The first mention in Genesis 26:24 to Jesus’ last words to His followers before His ascension in Matthew 18:20. “…And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Believer, we do not have to fear. We have God on our side, our Warrior King. He is Justice and Vengeance is His! (Deuteronomy 3:22, Deuteronomy 32:4, Deuteronomy 32:35). The troubles ahead will be terrible for many, but we have the LORD. Our Father will not let us be defeated. Jesus is the Perfect Lamb who died to give us life and our Bridegroom. We will be united with Him at the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. The Holy Spirit is our Shield. He covers us, indwells us, teaches us and empowers us to persevere any trial or tribulation.
I had planned on going over more than these two signs today, but we can take it slow in small bites. Beloved Brothers and Sisters, Beloved seekers of truth, take courage; it is already written Jesus conquers Satan, Death, and Sin. It is as good as done. Let us take advantage of the times, be aware and watchful, let us be the light for the lost and teachers of the uninformed united in God’s will that none would perish (2 Peter 3:9).

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Donna Campbell

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