Not to Be Ignored

Signs not to be Ignored

The Word of God tells us that several things will be happening to signify and warn us of the approaching end time. It also warns us to watch out for them and to warn our brothers and sisters. This is why I spend as much time on this topic as anything else – so that no-one need be unaware of the times we live in. However, this last week has seen a decline in our affairs that I cannot ignore. My spirit grieves for our present woeful condition and lack of preparedness.

Let me tell you why – this is all highlighted – or perhaps that should be low-lighted - from the last month’s news.

Crazy weather

These last few days we have seen crazy weather for this time of year. Snow up to 24 inches of it, is reported over half the MidWest – Montana, Minnesota, Wyoming, and Wisconsin. Against this most unusual cold snap, temperatures in Texas, usually in the 90+F in May, was just 54F. So much for global warming. Abnormal weather all around has been recorded in USA. In Europe, where the Gulf Stream usually gives us warm weather, it has remained quite cold too – averaging high-40’s to low-50’s as the Gulf Stream shifted South several hundred miles. It has only just moved back to its normal Summer position.

Professing evil as good and good as evil

A very well-known Christian footballer, Tim Tebow, has been reviled for professing Christ as his personal saviour while a not particularly famous basketball player was lauded for announcing he is gay. The new US Head of Military Religious Freedom Foundation - Mikey Weinstein – has announced that anyone in the US Forces caught sharing their faith in Jesus could be court-marshalled while those who share any other faith are praised. Also, admittedly a wee while back, US forces were ‘encouraged’ in bestial practices. The US government has further announced that all Christians are to be regarded as worse than terrorists while the President ‘blesses’ abortionists. This brings to mind the scripture "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil....." Isaiah 5:20

In the wider world, Nigerian Christians were burnt alive by Islamic fundamentalist militants – men, women, and children alike. Stories have emerged from other places indicating that Christians are being tortured and persecuted in many countries.

In the UK, the head of a major bank announced that China’s emerging currency is fast becoming the safest of the worlds currencies, giving rise to rumours of one world bank and currency.

In the church, there are signs of departures from sound doctrine and the truth – the great “falling away” prophesied in 1 Timothy 4:1 “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” Examples of this might include Chrislam, hyper grace, the prosperity Gospel and so on.

Were it not for the great Hope I have in Christ Jesus, I could get quite despondent about all of this. However, it is precisely because of that hope that I am very excited about the possible return of Christ and the rapture being imminent.

My job is to warn. I have warned and will continue to warn until Holy Spirit tells me to stop. What you make of this does not concern me – neither does your opinion. God asks me to say things and I say them.

Job Done J

Spring Cleaning 2

Spring Cleaning 2

Aah Spring. Spring flowers, rain showers, lambs, new life in old hedgerows, time to clear out the old and bring in the new. I heard an old saying the other day. Look at the clothes in your wardrobe. If you haven’t used something in a year, then throw it out. You won’t even notice it’s gone – it’s yesterdays clutter.

We all carry some baggage through our lives, but as Christians we ought to be able to leave any we pick up on the way by leaving it at the cross daily. We can’t take yesterdays baggage with us as we move forward today. I heard it put this way recently, “I’d rather have Jesus and be in a storm, than live without Him at any time.”

But God says this to us several times throughout His Word - Exodus 14:13-14 “And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.  The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Do not be afraid is a recurring theme. So is Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God.”

The promise of 1 Peter 5:7 “Casting all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.” Rings out through the ages. God cares for and loves each and every one of us – unconditionally – no matter what we may have done or not done. There is the lovely picture in the Footprints poem where we realise that we are never alone. When we see only 1 set of footprints, that’s when He is carrying us.

I don’t understand why some people struggle so much with this. Leave your theology and your reasoning for one moment and just come as a child before the throne of God. That is when it all makes perfect sense.

Hallelujah \o/

Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace

Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace

“The death of a dream is often a subtle form of idolatry. We lose faith in the God who gave us the big dream and settle for a small dream that we can accomplish without His help. We go after dreams that don't require divine intervention. We go after dreams that don't require prayer.” Mark Batterson, Circle Maker

Two quotes for you today. One is taken from the Anglican marriage service. The other is a somewhat piercing truth observed for us all to note, ponder,  and take on board.

I often hear that God has given someone a vision for something, but all too often, what we see as the outworking of that vision falls some way short of the original. This causes me to question if the original vision was from God or was it from the vision-holder’s imagination? Did God really say that or did He give us something less and did we then set our imagination to work on His plans?

When we have a dream or a vision and we believe that it is from God, we also have to believe that God will help us achieve all that He has placed in our hearts. However, it is also incumbent upon us to seek His help in order to do so. Without that help we will surely fail and reduce God’s envisioning of us to the limitations of our own abilities to succeed rather than bringing Him the Glory by allowing Him to work through us in order to bring that vision to full fruition.

The vision becomes our idol and we sacrifice it to our own limitations of finance, capability, and willingness to persevere. Truly, when God gives us a vision,  we need to wrestle with Him until He releases that vision through us. We need to claim it and intercede for it. We need to pray it into existence – the way God wants it rather than the way our limited capabilities will settle for.

That is what fulfilling visions is all about. So if you are worried about your ability to achieve that which God has placed before you, then please, forever hold your peace. However, if you are prepared to battle through the opposition and apparent “forest of weeds” that are determined to stop you succeeding, then now is the time to speak – speak to God and speak to the mountains. Speak to the problems and tell them how big your God is rather than telling God how big the problems are.

“The fruitfulness that God looks for in us does not come from any natural ability that we might have in ourselves, but from loving and intimate communion with Christ Himself. The message is clear: Stop striving: get intimate with him and start feeding from his word. The fruit will emerge…” Alan Hoare

Got a vision from God? Then speak now or forever hold your peace!

Get Ready

Get Ready

From Geoff Taylor, Sydney, Australia

http://www.soulsupply.com/second-coming-soul-snack-prepare-81-13

Within innumerable households each morning, all round the world, alarm clocks herald the start of another day. Sleepy folk stir themselves to wakefulness in time for the coming day. Everyone prepares for their daily tasks. Some of them even pray and spend a few minutes in their Bibles before setting off on the daily round trip to wherever work may be.

I hear the Lord reminding:

“If only they would prepare for My Spirit with the same sense of urgency. If only they would prepare for My Son with the same sense of imminence. Do they not yet realise how short their time may be?"

It is time to hasten the preparations. Already it may be too late for some. Their hard hearts, their disobedient and rebellious ways are close to sending them to that place they really do not want to go.

Do they think My Word jokes about these things?

Do they think My Word was only for 2000 years ago and not for now?

Do they not remember that to Me, a thousand years is a day and a day is but a thousand years? Do they not remember that Jesus rose from the grave on the third day? In My terms, today is the third day, yet they do not believe what I have told them. They do not believe as I asked them. They are rebellious beyond measure. 

I would not lose a single one yet I know that thousands, millions will be lost forever because of their rebellion and unbelief.

CHURCH – the kings and princes of this world will not come to the wedding feast. I have shed nearly all my tears for those who will be lost. The time is coming for Me to announce the banquet. Send the messengers out. Send them quickly.

NOW is the time to WAKE UP and prepare for My coming.”

However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth? (Lk 18:8b)

Preaching Jesus

Preaching Jesus

This Sunday we had a wonderful example of how the Name of Jesus changes lives. We heard Jesus preached – not particularly the Gospel, but the person and His intense desire to have a relationship with each and every one of us. We heard about how He slept through the storm with no fear whatsoever. Why no fear? Because He created the wind, the rain, the sea, the storm so He had no fear of His own creation. The disciples, on the other hand, new no such power. All they could see was a watery grave looming up ahead of them.

That was when they cried out to Jesus, “Don’t you care that we perish? Save us.” This, immediately  after Peter had the revelation of the Messiah-ship and Son-ship of Christ. The story continues that when Jesus addressed His creation, it simply had to obey Him and be still. The preacher remarked that he would rather have Jesus even in a storm than to try to live life without Him at all.

We sang “My Jesus I love thee, I know thou art mine”.  When the call was given , a number of people invited this same Jesus into their own lives. They didn’t respond to a call to Christianity, nor to any particular church, nor even to the church in general. They responded to an invitation to meet this same Jesus and to make Him a part of their lives too.

My whole point here is to emphasise that yes, we are to preach the Gospel but just occasionally, we need to focus on the person of Jesus, and to respond to who He is. Their further response to what He has done and why He did it may just be for another day.

Just occasionally – that’s all.