Rapture Watch

As I gaze out the window, I allow my mind to wonder upon the two fields behind our home. One side has been neatly harvested and baled in a clean row at the end. The other, a wild array of weeds sprinkled with golden specs of sunflowers throughout.

I see the wind blowing the weeds and sunflowers from side to side like a harmonic dance. In between the two fields, stands a tall and magnificent tree. It’s the kind of tree you would desperately want to climb as a kid.

This view makes me think about the field of the earth and the harvest of souls from the beginning of time to the end. On one side, you have those who are ripe and ready for the harvest of the Lord. On the other side you have the wild weeds, though beautiful and seemingly free, they are only good for the view but lack the substance for harvesting.

The tree reminds me of the tree of life and also the tree of knowledge. It stands there, separating the two fields, overseeing the land. It is strong and stable, unmoved by the wind.

One day, the harvest of souls will be separated. The wheat into the barn and the tares into the flame. Until that time, they grow together. One side, moving with every breeze. The other side stands firm and tall, gathering every bit of nutrients until that day of harvest.

I think it is interesting how despite the drought in the land, the farmers allowed the corn to stay till the time of harvest had come. The corn was wasted away, brittle, brown… Yet they left it until the appointed time. It is interesting how this seems to parallel the church in these days. I believe we are in the last days as prophesied in scripture and many have been facing trials very intensely. Those trials remind me of the drought. Yet, the harvest is for an appointed time, regardless of the apparent conditions of the world. One day though, the time will come and the crop will be harvested and though the world weeds appear green and full, enjoying every moment with the wind to and fro… The end of both is determined and where there were trials for a time, there will be rejoicing. Where there was rejoicing, there will be torment.

Jesus The Word

John 1:1-5,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.  In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

By this, we see that Jesus IS the Word and the Word IS Jesus.

Matthew 10:32-39 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.

Here we see that by denying the Word (any part of the Word), we are also denying Jesus. Many think that because they claim Jesus that they can deny any part of His Word and they are still not denying Jesus...However, scripture disagrees with that opinion and we will be held to account according to the Word, not man's opinions. Dive in and find out who this God you claim to follow truly is - not who men say He is. We will all be judged in the end by what God says, not what man's opinions are.

The Life And Commitment Of A Watcher

Psa 101:1  I will sing of mercy and judgment: unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.

Psa 101:2   I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.

Psa 101:3   I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

Psa 101:4   A froward [perverse – wayward] heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person.

Psa 101:5   Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

Psa 101:6   Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.

Psa 101:7   He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight.

Psa 101:8   I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the LORD.

Lev 20:7   Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.

1Pe 1:15   But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1Pe 1:16   Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Jhn 14:3   And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

2Cor 6:17   Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2Cor 6:18   And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Mat 26:38   Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

Mat 26:40   And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

Mat 26:41   Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Mar 13:33   Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

Mar 13:37   And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Luk 12:37   Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Luk 12:38   And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.

Luk 21:36   Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Act 20:31   Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Gal 4:16   Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

Jhn 8:47a   He that is of God heareth God's words

Mat 7:21   Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 12:50   For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Again

Mar 13:37   And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

The Defeat Of Death

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

MATTHEW 28:5-6

On the third day after His death the Bible says, “And behold, there was a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men” (Matthew 28:2-4).

Though some Bible students have tried to estimate how much this stone weighed, we need not speculate because Jesus could have come out of that tomb whether the stone was there or not. The Bible mentions it so that generations to come can know something of the tremendous miracle of resurrection that took place.

As Mary looked into the tomb she saw “two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain” (John 20:11, 12). Then one of the angels who was sitting outside the tomb proclaimed the greatest message the world has ever heard: “He is not here: for He is risen.” Those few words changed the history of the universe. Darkness and despair died; hope and anticipation were born in the hearts of men.

~

Our Father and our God, I praise Your righteous name, and I stand in awe of Your majesty. For I know it was You who rolled the stone away from the tomb of the Savior. I know it was You who presented the empty tomb to the world as proof of Your lordship. I believe in You, Lord. And I believe in Your Son. Amen.

My note:

The Ark of the Covenant and the Empty Tomb

Nicholas T. Batzig · October 29th, 2010 · 2 Responses »

One of the most amazing biblical-theological developments in Scripture has to do with the anti-typical fulfillment of the symbolism of the ark of the covenant. The ark was a box, overlaid with gold, that remained in the Most Holy place. It consisted of three levels. The lower lever was the inside of the box–in which was Aaron’s rod that blossomed, the Ten Commandments and the golden bowl full of manna. The middle level was the mercy seat itself–on which was sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice. The upper level was the place where the glory of God shone forth between the two Angels facing one another.

The ark was a type of Christ, and a symbol of the saving work of God.

Aaron’s rod that blossomed drew its significance from the historical account from which it emerged (Num. 16-17). Aaron’s priesthood was called into question by jealous men. God called the rebels, together with Aaron, to take their rods and lay them out. In order to show who the Lord had chosen to carry out the priestly functions, the rod belonging to the Lord’s anointed would blossom. This miraculous act demonstrated that the Lord appoints whom He will to be His Priest. Jesus is the great High Priest, chosen by the Father in the eternal counsels. The rod was placed in the ark to show that Christ, in and of Himself, is the chosen of the LORD (Isaiah 42:1).

The Ten Commandments were placed in the ark for safekeeping; it also represented the fact that the moral Law stood forever before the presence of Him who gave it. In redemptive history, this act also represented the keeping of the Law in Christ. He is the One who fully and finally obeyed all the commands of God and fulfilled the Covenant in which they were given.

The golden bowl full of manna represented that life-sustaining food that God gives His people in Christ. When Israel was in the wilderness,the Lord sent them the most magnificent heavenly bread. Not knowing where it came from the people called it “Manna” (lit. ‘What is it?’). When Jesus came He told Israel, “Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:32-33). Christ is the true Manna. But just as the Israelites ask about the earthly manna, saying, ‘What is it?’ so they ask about the heavenly manna, saying, ‘Who are You?’ The Lord will forever feed the true Israel with Christ.

Perhaps the most significant feature of the ark was the mercy seat. Here, the blood was sprinkled when the Priest went into the Most Holy place once a year. When the Lord saw the blood He would come to dwell over the mercy seat. The blood of sprinkling represented the blood of Jesus that atoned for sin. The transgressions of the people formed the barrier between them and the presence of God. Our violations of the moral law have separated us from our God. According to His justice, when He looks at His image bearers the Lord must do so through the lens of the law. The dilemma is removed, however, through the blood of Jesus. What stood between the Law of God and the Presence of God was the blood. When the Lord saw the blood His wrath was satisfied. Through the blood of Jesus the transgressions of God’s people have been removed. He sees believers–not through the lens of the law, but through the lens of the blood of Christ.

The climax of the ark’s symbolism was revealed in the place where the glory of the Lord dwelt. The Shekinah glory, as it is called, was manifest over the mercy seat and between the two angels. This was surely a picture of the heavenly glory of God, Angels surrounding Him and crying out “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty.” But it was also a picture of the fulfillment of the restoration of the presence of God with His people in Christ. When Mary Magdalene came to the tomb looking for the body of Jesus, she did not find Him at first; instead, she saw two angels–one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid. It was the fulfillment of that to which the ark had pointed. In the resurrection of Christ, the glory of God shines brightest. He has accomplished everything that God required for salvation. He kept the law, shed the blood, and rose in glory. The Angels in the empty tomb were the fulfillment of what the Angels over the ark symbolized. In 1 Peter 1:12 we are told that the things of Christ–foretold through the prophets in the Old Testament and accomplished in the New–are the “things which Angels desire to look into.” Richard Sibbes drew this connection when he wrote:

His first appearance of all was made to Mary, the woman out of whom He had cast seven devils, Luke 8:2. She was much beholding to Him, and therefore loved much, Luke 7:46…She expressed her love of Christ by her desire of finding Him…As she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre, and there saw two Angels in white…They were one at the head, and the other at the feet. As in the law, when the mercy seat was made, two cherubim were also framed, and placed one at the one end, and the other at the other end thereof, with their faces looking toward one another, Exodus 25:20. And, when Christ was risen, there were two angels, one at the head, another at the feet, to show that peace was to be expected in the true propitiatory, Jesus Christ…Peace was made between heaven and earth.1

1. Richard Sibbes The Complete Work of Richard Sibbes vol. 6 (Edinburgh: James Nichol, 1863) p. 419

Source: http://feedingonchrist.com/the-ark-of-the-covenant-and-the-empty-tomb/

The Fact Of The Resurrection

God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by His own power.

1 CORINTHIANS 6:14

Upon great fact of the resurrection hangs the entire plan of the redemptive program of God. Without the resurrection there could be no salvation. Christ predicted His resurrection many times. He said on one occasion, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). As He predicted, He rose!

There are certain laws of evidence, which hold in the establishment of any historic event. There must be documentation of the event in question made by reliable contemporary witnesses. There is more evidence that Jesus rose from the dead than there is that Julius Ceasar ever lived or that Alexander the Great died at the age of thirty-three. It is strange that historians will accept thousands of facts for which they can produce only shreds of evidence. But in the face of the overwhelming evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ they cast a skeptical eye and hold intellectual doubts. The trouble with these people is that they do not want to believe. Their spiritual vision is so blinded, and they are so completely prejudiced, that they cannot accept the glorious face of the resurrection of Christ on Bible testimony alone.

The resurrection meant, first, that Christ was undeniably God. He was what He claimed to be. Christ was Deity in the flesh.

Second, it meant that God had accepted His atoning work on the cross, which was necessary for our salvation. “Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25).

Third, it assures mankind of a righteous judgment. “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19).

Fourth, it guarantees that our bodies also will be raised in the end. “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). The scripture teaches that as Christians our bodies may go to the grave, but they are going to be raised on the great resurrection morning. Then will death be swallowed up in victory. As a result of the resurrection of Christ the sting of death is gone and Christ Himself holds the keys. He says, “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death” (Revelation 1:18). And Christ promises that “because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:19).

~

Our Father and our God, I believe in the bodily resurrection of Christ from death. I have no doubt that He was dead and rose again. And I believe that, like Him, I will be raised again from death to live with You forever. I have faith in Your promise, Lord. And that is my hope through Christ. Amen.

-Billy Graham

My note:

There is a verse many overlook when Jesus predicted exactly when and how He would be sacrificed.

Ye know that after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified. – Matthew 26:2

This statement is later followed by events in preparation for His burial to which the disciples try to refuse, even after the Lord already told them of what was coming. (Read Matthew 26: 7-12). What was laid out in these verses was not out of the ordinary for their burial customs, so why after the Lord spoke to them about His soon death, would they react in such a way to this preparation as though they were unaware?

This is a good example of how the Lord may put things very blatant before us, yet we are blinded by the obvious for reasons of His will being fulfilled to the “T”. We are reminded by Paul that in this life, we see through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12).

In the same way, many now are blinded by the obvious that they will in turn fulfill His will through the big picture. Even the Jews are blinded in part for the good of the Gentiles in Christ (John 12:40; Romans 11:7). For we know that it is only those whom the Lord desires to open their eyes to Him and draw them to Himself, that can come in their appointed times.

No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. – John 6:44

Our job is to lift Him up as the scriptures say:

And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me. – John 12:32

The Lord has a plan that was set forth from the foundation of the world, and it will be fulfilled to the minutest detail in Christ. When we look at His plan, as we can see it from the beginning… what an honor we have in this generation to follow Him. The Lord created us for this purpose, for this time, to be faithful witnesses of Him to the ends of the earth, both to those seen and those unseen.

That being the case, we know He has also equipped us for this high calling in Christ, in these very dark days, to be fruitful in Him. As the days grow darker, His light within us shines brighter and illuminates farther for those in the great distances to see clearly. The grey line of sin is no longer there. It is now a stark contrast between what is right and what is wrong, what is light and what is darkness. All we must do, is follow His Word, lift up His Word and He will do the rest.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:14

With this in mind, I pray the Lord will quicken you in His Word in every situation that you will be fully equipped to stand in these dark days, faithfully in Him. I pray the Lord will strengthen you in the boldness of His Spirit to witness to all those whom He brings into your sphere of influence for His glory. I pray the Lord will protect you and provide for you in all areas of your needs that you may continue to faithfully and obediently serve Him until the completion of His work in you through Christ Jesus our Lord. I pray this in the mighty and faithful name of Jesus. Amen.

The Grave In The Garden

And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher, and departed… And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

MATTHEW 27:59 – 60;28:2

The angel who came to the garden where Jesus’ body lay, rolled away the stone and permitted fresh air and morning light to fill His tomb. The sepulcher was no longer an empty vault or dreary dormitory; rather it was a life-affirming place that radiated the glory of the living God. No longer was it a dark prison but a transformed reminder of the celestial light that sweeps aside the shadows of death. Jesus’ resurrection changed it.

An unknown poet has said of the tomb, “Tis now a cell where angels used to come and go with heavenly news.” No words of men or angels can adequately descrive the height and depth, the length and breadth of the glory to which the world awakened when Jesus came forth to life from the pall of death.

Some anonymous poet has summed up the life and ministry of Christ in these words:

He who is the Bread of Life, began His ministry hungering.

He who is the Water of Life, ended His ministry thirsting.

He who was weary, is our true rest.

He who paid tribute, is the King of Kings.

He prayed, yet hears our prayers.

He wept, but dries our tears.

He was sold for thirty pieces of silver, yet redeemed us.

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, but is the Good Shepherd.

He died and gave His life, and by dying destroyed death for all who believed.

~

Our Father and our God, I can’t imagine the pain You felt when Jesus died and was put in that dismal tomb. And yet You shouted with joy when He arose again victorious over Satan and death. Help me, too, to know the grave is temporary and there is life eternal on the other side because of Jesus. Amen.

-Billy Graham

My note:

One day, as the scriptures say, Death will be swallowed up and Life will have gained the victory. That Day is fast approaching and those who follow Christ, will be the beneficiaries of that most holy and precious gift of the Blessed Hope.

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. Oh death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? – 1 Corinthians 15:50-55

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. – 2 Corinthians 4:13-14

Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. – Acts 14:22

But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.  – 2 Peter 3:7-14

No one can truly understand the life of a follower of Christ and watcher, as other followers of Christ watchers. To the world, we seem foolish, ignorant, and always looking for an escape from tribulations in this life…none of which could be farther from the Truth. In fact, we who eagerly await and watch for our Blessed Hope of the fulfilled promise of our Lord, end up facing the most persecution by those who claim to follow the same Lord. The world calls us crazy, church goers call us foolish, but the Lord calls us wise (Matthew 15). For this very reason, the Lord calls us to encourage each other evermore as we see the Day approaching.

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another]: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. – Hebrews 10:25

This is not speaking of a typical church gathering but in true fellowship, looking for and hastening the promise of our Lord to come and retrieve us that where He is, there we may be also.

With this in mind…

I pray the Lord will guard your heart and mind through the knowledge of the Lord’s faithfulness. I pray the Lord keep the helmet of salvation, deliverance upon your head to protect your thoughts with the hope promised to usward in Him. I pray the Lord will surround you with true and faithful witnesses of His whole Word and encourage and strengthen you as you follow Him until the Day of Christ when all things in you will be complete. I pray all this in the mighty and faithful name of Jesus our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Be Aware Of Angels

Then Daniel said unto the king...my God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me.

DANIEL 6:21-22

Angels minister to us personally. Many accounts in Scripture confirm that we are the subjects of their individual concern. In his book Table Talk, Martin Luther said, "An angel is a spiritual creature created by God without a body, for the service of Christendom and the church."

We may not always be aware of the presence of angels. We can't always predict how they will appear. But angels have been said to be our neighbors. Often they may be our companions without our being aware of their presence. We know little of their constant ministry. The Bible assures us, however, that one day our eyes will be unscaled to see and know the full extent of the attention angels have given us (1 Corinthians 13:11-12).

In the Old Testament, Daniel vividly describes the bitter conflict between the angelic forces of God and the opposing demons of darkness. Before the angel came to him he had spent three weeks mourning (Daniel 10:3). He had no bread, meat, or wine, nor did he anoint himself. As he stood by the Tigris River, a man appeared clothed in linen. His face looked like lightning and his eyes like flaming torches. His voice sounded like the roar of a crowd.

Daniel alone saw the vision. The men who were with him did not. Yet a great dread came upon them, and they ran away to hide. Left alone with the heavenly visitor, Daniel's strength departed from him, so great was the efect of this personage on him.

Many experiences of God's people suggest that angels have been ministering to them. Others may not have known they were being helped, yet the visitation was real. The Bible tells us that God has ordered angels to minister to His people - those who have been redeemed by the power of Christ's blood. We may often be unaware of their presence.

~

Our Father and our God, I know You command legions of angels who protect and defend us as Your children. I want to be able to see and feel their presence in my life, Lord. Give me spiritual vision and understanding of the heavenly beings and how they touch my life. Increase my faith through Christ. Amen.

-Billy Graham

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

My note:

But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation? - Hebrews 1:13-14

Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. - Hebrews 13:2

And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. - Acts 12:7

The above verses show that the Lord has set forth angels for the purpose of our good who are in Him, however, we also know that there are accounts to which some evil manifests as these helpers for our despare.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. - 2 Corinthians 11:14

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. - Galations 1:8-9

This is why we are commanded to test the spirits:

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. - 1 John 4:1

For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. - Revelation 16:14

Many people and groups have been misled to believe twisted and manipulated gospels due to "angelic visitations". They like to add writings to the true scriptures and even cause those angelic accounts to override the scriptures for one reason or another. Those do not follow the Truth but the lie. The teachings of Joseph Smith come to mind.

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. - Matthew 10:16

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. - Hosea 4:6

There are some also who end up worshiping these spirits, through apparishions, despite warnings through the scriptures. Catholicism comes to mind as well as Islam. 

I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. - Isaiah 42:8

Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the LORD your God. - Leviticus 19:31

There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee. Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God. - Deuteronomy 18:10-13

So, as you can see through these verses (and many more throughout scripture) that we need a healthy and rightful respect for the Lord's ministers but never to worship them or follow them. We test the spirits to see whether they are from the Lord or from the enemy by lining them up with His Word.

I have had many encounters with His ministers who have at times brought me a word from the Lord that the Lord later confirmed through His Word and also who have worked to protect me from danger. One day, we will fully understand them and know them as Christ does.

I pray the Lord will keep His ministering angels with you to minister to you of His Word. I pray the Lord will surround you with His angels to protect you from all harm that you may do the work of our Father on the earth fully for His glory through Christ Jesus. I pray the Lord will protect you from evil witnesses and spirits desiring to harm you and draw you from the Lord and the Truth of His Holy Word. In the mighty and faithful name of Jesus. Amen.

Here is a good resource for study on this topic: http://www.creationists.org/spirits.html

Rendering Unto God

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Romans 12:1

April 15th in the United States is a day dreaded by most Americans. It is the day when our income taxes are due to be paid to the government. Often there is a frantic rush to complete the forms that  should have been done much earlier but were put off. Post offices in big cities stay open until midnight, and thousands of procrastinators hurry down to make sure their returns are postmarked by twelve o'clock so they will not have to pay a penalty.

Jesus told His followers to "render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasar's and unto God that which is God's" (Matthew 22:21). At such time of year when we are preoccupied with what we owe the government, we would benefit by thinking about what we owe God. We owe God everything! We have been bought and paid for with a terrible price, the broken body and shed blood of God's Son.

Because we belong to God, if we have trusted in Christ to save us from our sins, God has a right to expect that we would render certain things unto Him. We have an obligation to present our bodies a "living sacrifice, made holy and acceptable to God." We are commanded to present God with our tithes and fellowship with His children, much as those of us who are parents want the same relationship with our own children.

God wants us to speak to Him through prayer and to receive His answers through the reading of His Word and the leadership of His Holy Spirit. God describes all of this as "reasonable," and so it is for One who has done so much for us.

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Our Father and our God, I love You with all my heart, and I want always to give You more than is "due". I want to do more than just tithe. I know that everything I have belongs to You anyway and that I am merely a caretaker of it here on earth. Please help me to use it wisely to glorify You and not me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

-Billy Graham

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My note:

Though there may be much debate about corporate tithing within the Body, personal sacrifice (taking up our cross daily) is a settled fact. We remember the Words of Our Lord Jesus:

Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.  - Psalm 40:6

The above verse is speaking of meat, liquid, inscense and may even include the tithing sacrifice.

It is the sacrifice of the heart, the desire to give all for Him that He desires. This is represented well in the story of the Widow's Mites...

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.  And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:  For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.  - Mark 12:41-44

It is our obedience to the Lord Jesus that He desires and that proves our election in Christ as good and bountiful fruit daily.

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. - 1 Peter 1:13-23

As we know through personal experiences in our individual relationships, true obedience comes out of true love. The desire to please the one we love the most will drive us purely and stronger than any other influence. He created us to be this way, for His pleasure. We are created to love Him and thus to please Him, not by our own power but by His.

We love him, because he first loved us. - 1 John 4:19

Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. - Zechariah 4:6b

I pray the Lord wil give you the pure desires within your heart to love Him and to be pleasing to Him through obedience through His Word, that He may give you the desire of your heart which is Him. I pray the Lord will quicken you in His Words that you may walk faithfully in them every day as His child and His beloved. I pray all things to His glory and your good in Him. In Jesus name. Amen.

The Vision In The Valley

Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live.

EZEKIEL 37:5

Nicodemus was one of the most religious men of his day, and yet Christ told him he must be born again (John 3:3).

This transformation is the theme of Ezekiel's parable of the valley of dry bones. This parable pictures Israel as dried up and nearly lost, with no evidence of life. All that remain are the bones, dry and dead. This is true of hundreds of churches today. The organization is going smoothly, statistics are pouring out, but there is little life. Other churches have either lost their first love or are neither hot nor cold and are being spewed out of the mouth of Christ (Revelation 2:4, 3:15-18 ).

The thrilling thing about Ezekiel's story, however, is that new life is possible. The miracle of regeneration can occur; the church can be revived on the inside. "Breathe upon these slain, that they may live" (Ezekiel 37:9). Though Ezekiel was talking about Israel, his parable applies equally well to the church of Christ. God's interest is not merely in reaching outsiders, important as they are; He is concerned equally with changing the insiders.

Some Christians talk of making the world godly by being like it; but on the contrary, history has consistently shown that the church ends up becoming worldly - it loses its spiritual power, its evangelizing spirit, and its purifying influence. The church has compromised with the world and come to terms with it to such a point that it has lost much of its power.

The call of Christ is for rededication to Him - a call to follow Him, to pattern our lives after His. As John Wesley so wisely wrote: "Anything that cools my love for Christ is of the world." That's the way I want to live!

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Our Father and our God, I need to be regenerated in these ways.... My family needs to be revitalized in these ways.... And my church needs to be restored to You in these ways.... Help us, Lord, to look to You to accomplish these important changes through Jesus. Amen.

- Billy Graham

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My note:

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. - Matthew 5:13

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.  - 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. - Romans 12:2

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. - James 4:4

If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. - John 15:18-21

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. - Luke 9:62

As we can see, to accept the calling of God and the choice to follow Him, is a high calling, not lightly to be taken. Many churches these days preach a quick sermon, ask who wants Jesus in their heart and POOF they are saved. Yet, the hearer never heard the weight of the call nor understood the commitment of their choice. Most pastors never follow up for their direction in true discipleship to complete their conversion. This leaves us with the Laodicean church referenced in Revelation 3:14-19. A church in name only, who is neither hot nor cold, whose end is devastating for those who do not repent and turn to Christ in Truth.

Many have created a convenient god like a one sided coin and slapped the name of Jesus on him, thinking they have salvation, yet they follow a man-made idol. It is not the Jesus of scripture they follow. Most have not read His Words to know who He truly is. Many blindly trust those who have led them, albeit astray through vain speeches and clever lies, manipulating the Truth they were intrusted with. Wolves in sheeps clothing, yet many follow.

I encourage you today, to inspect your beliefs, search the scritpures to see if they are true. If you find they are not in line with God's holy Word, be willing to let go of those strongholds and cling to Christ, as He is. You will inturn secure your eternity with Him, by following the true Christ of scripture.

I pray the Lord open your eyes to who He is through His Word. I pray His Holy Spirit guide you in understanding and deeper knowledge in Him as you seek Him with all of your heart. I pray the Lord will protect you from the enemy's attacks to draw you away from the Truth of who He is and what He wills. I pray the Lord will equip you to follow Him in Truth and boldness of His Spirit as you walk as a faithful witness of Him every day of your life till the day of Christ Jesus (rapture). I pray for you to have peace as you let go of every stronghold from traditions, misunderstandings, false teachings and the like to cling to the Lord Jesus with everything you have and all that you are. In the mighty and faithful name of Jesus. Amen.

A New Heart Needed

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 11:19-20

The actinic ray is that property of fire which works chemical change. It turns wood to ashes, tempers to steel, and changes the color and form of objects which come in contact with it.

It is this property, in the rays of the sun, which transforms seeds into plants, buds into flowers, and grass into hay. It is the miracle ray which makes useless things useful through the process of change.

Like the calorific ray, it is also a physical symbol of God's ability to do mightier things in the spiritual realm.

When a man comes in contact with God, he can never be the same again. This "fire" either draws or drives, saves or destroys, helps or hinders. Accepted and utilized, it becomes a boon and a blessing. Rejected, it becomes a bane and a curse. One dying thief was drawn to the warmth of the Savior; he responded and was saved. The other dying thief turned away and rejected God's compassion; he was lost.

God takes the weak and makes them strong. He takes the vile and makes them clean. He takes the worthless and makes them worthwhile. He takes the sinful and makes them sinless.

With this in mind, Ezekiel said, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26)

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Our Father and our God, give me a new heart and a new mind. Take away my stubbornness and make me obedient to You. Put Your Spirit in my soul, O Lord, and keep me ever close to You. I can't survive without Your and Your Son. Amen.

- Billy Graham

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My note:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

- 2 Corinthians 5:17

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

- Romans 12:2

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

- Matthew 7:21

Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.

-Leviticus 20:7

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

- 1 Peter 1:15-16

The closer we get to the Lord and the more we fall in love with Him, the more we are changed from the inside out. Our desire becomes more to please Him rather than to please ourselves. Love takes over.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

- John 15:13

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

-Matthew 16:24

As new creatures in Christ, our outward begins to reflect our inward changes, which brings about the good fruit scripture tells us about.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

- Matthew 7:20

So, how does this happen? It begins by getting in His Word.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

- John 1:14

To truly know Jesus is to know His Word, as He is the Word in flesh. Rely not on outward experiences, emotional highs or powerful speaches to know who Jesus is. He can only be found through His Word and the testimony of those who follow Him.

I encourage you to begin today, to know the Lord Jesus, by diving deep into His Word. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you through it and you will not be dissappointed.

I pray the Lord guide and protect you as you seek Him with your whole heart. I pray His Holy Spirit will open your eyes to who He truly is through His Word and quicken you in your relationship and faith in Him. I pray the Lord will bring others into your life to help direct you in His Way that you may fully know Him and walk with Him, all the days of your life. I pray this in the mighty and faithful name of Jesus. Amen.

Our God Forgets

They shall all know Me, from the least of them unto the greates of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

JEREMIAH 31:34

The omniscient God has the unique ability that we do not have: He has the ability to forget. The God of grace forgets our sins and wipes them completely from His memory forever! He places us in His sight as though we had never committed one sin.

In theological language, this is called justification. The Bible says, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1)

There is no possibility of true happiness until we have established friendship and fellowship with God. And there is no possibility of establishing this fellowship apart from the cross of His Son, Jesus Christ. God says, "I will forgive you, but I will forgive only at the foot of the cross." He says, "I will fellowship with you, but I will fellowship with you only at the cross." That is the reason it is necessary for us to come to the cross in repentance of our sin and by faith in His Son to find forgiveness and salvation.

When we come to Christ, God impoarts His righteousness to us. It is as if an accounting entry had been made in the books of heaven, declaring us righteous for Christ's sake. The Divine Bookkeeper cancels our debt!

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Our Father and our God, I bow at the foot of the cross in humble gratitude for Your incredible salvation. I celebrate my sweet fellowship with You through prayer, through the Word, and through the church. Thank You for forgetting my failures and forgiving  my sins through the blood of Jesus. Amen.

- Billy Graham

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*My note*

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. - Romans 3:23-26

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. - Hebrews 10:26-27

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. -James 2:20,26,18

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock - Matthew 7:20-24

Point being, for those who truly believe, profess and follow Christ, they will be known by their works and God promises to forgive and forget their sins. However, we must all fully examine ourselves to be sure whether we profess our faith in Christ through the truth of His Word, as He says He is, who He says He is... or merely by outward means. Many churches these days have become caught up with the outward "appearance" of Christianity but lack the Truth of Him. Their works are vain because they trust in them rather than in Christ. They follow their church rather than Christ. They get caught up in the current "christian" slang rather than the Words of Christ.

In this day, as we draw ever closer to the Lord's return... examine your heart, your motives, your focus to see whether you profess Christ in purity and truth or rather in a facade.

I pray the Lord will open your eyes to see through His eyes and His Word by His Spirit, to examine yourself in the light of His Word. I pray the Lord will humble you to see and be willing to change and conform to Him fully, without reservations...to walk in obedience to His Word which is His will by the power of His Spirit in love, to His glory and your good in Him in the mighty and faithful name of Jesus our Lord. Amen.