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1st Quarter Blogs

Week of 1/4-8  (B1;16)

A Word About Our 2016 Blogs

We praise God for His leading in our ministry since 2000.

Because He has called us to be "cutting edge" in nature, please
accept the following "scope-of-blog-ministry" explanation:

We are "pioneering" in one sense of our ministry efforts.  The "new"
end-time ministry ideas we are bringing the first two decades of our
service are so new to most that it took a while for our messages
to be received.  Now that many of our messages (though not all)
have been (received by those who want to hear what the Bible 
actually teaches and who wish to discern present culture thereby),
we need to bring the following qualifiers as we begin our 2016
blog ministry ...

1.  We affirm ALL of our prior chronological  (Click Here)  and
     thematic  (Click Here  for present end-time realities ; Click Here
     for future projections)  appeals.  As end-time Ambassadors of
     Jesus Christ, we are committed to  HIS  Truths  not  our own.
     As a result of our heralding His Truths, our messages are most
     truthful - that is, they are, by His grace, faithful to His Word.

 2.  In seeking to be lights to churches and pastors, we need to stay
      on the "cutting-edge" fronts.  This means we will minimize the
      parroting of, what now has become, the obvious (e.g., we live
      in the very end of days just prior to our Lord's initial appearing, 
      days where the THEMES of  deception, rebellious apostasy,
      personal idolatry and persecution of the faithful in Jesus
      Christ  are unfolding globally).  Review other examples predicted
      almost 2000 years ago in II Tim. 3:1-5. 

3.  In light of our very different platform - different than many of the
     popular end-time positions yet most Bible-affirming in chronological
     position - we will be addressing CRUCIAL topics which will be
     emerging soon - during the years of 2016 - 2020.  We make these
     "pioneering" appeals due to the NEED to be better prepared for
     what's ahead.  We proclaim these "calls to the Church" in light of
     our Lord's mandate that His Church be prepared/sober as we
     further prepare to enter into the eschatological period the Bible
     calls, "The Day of the Lord." 

We make these prophetic appeals  1) because God has commissioned
us to do so  and,  2) in response to the LOVE He has graciously given
us for His Church.  May He be glorified in our labors of tough love.

Dear God Who Provides.  Thank You for Your generous provisions to
Your Bride, the Church.  Thank You for your protective Counsel.  Help
us, Lord, to listen to You as we should.  Open our eyes as we ponder
Your Word.  Embolden us to be all that You've called us to be during
this time of awesome Kingdom opportunity!  And help us to praise You
during the difficult moments (as opposed to cursing You like so many
will be doing as Your righteous judgments are lovingly extended)!

____________________

Week of 1/11-15  (B2;16)

Dangerous End-Time Teachings Within Some Churches - Part 1

My wife continues to be edified by true women of faith.

In Nancy Leigh DeMoss Wolgemuth's (Mary Kassian co-authors) True 
Woman 201; Interior Design  (2015; Moody Publishers), Nancy writes:

   I (Nancy) recently came across a survey of sixteen- to twenty-nine-
   year-old  church outsiders  who make no profession of faith.  Eighty-
   four percent of them said, "I'm not a Christian, but I know somebody
   who is."  However, of those 84% who knew a Christian, only 15%
   said they could see any lifestyle difference between themselves
   and those Christian."   (pg. 233)

We sincerely do live in a day where expressions of  the cult of
unbiblical grace - see blog B21;15 - flourish.  In a recent devotional
time with Nancy (my wife), we read Philippians together.  WOW! 
This book affirms a living, saving faith by grace alone - one which
calls for the living out of God's ONGOING grace in our lives as we
abide in His Son and walk in His precious Holy Spirit.  In this, God
is praised ... and others  SEE  our faith as God intends!

In the context of calling the Church to REPENT of its failures - in
this concern of living out the life He began in us (Phil. 1:6)  AND
in the context of "end-time" address - I close this blog with another
short devotion from another  woman of faith  which Nancy (again,
my wife) is also currently reading:   (And I quote ...)

He Finished--Have You?            December 11

Every Bible student who believes the prophecies knows that Jesus'
coming is very near.  The important, urgent thing is that every child
of God must be  prepared  for that day.  That is possible for every-
body.  Jesus finished all that had to be done for us on the cross.  He
died for us and rose again and is with the Father, where he prays for
us.  By his Holy Spirit he is even in us.  If you know you are  not
ready, confess your sins and claim God's forgiveness for Jesus'
sake.  Forgive others by the power of the Holy Spirit in you.

     Because ... you have a hope like this before you, I urge you to
     make certain that such a Day would find you at peace with God
     and man, clean and blameless in His sight."   2 Peter 3:14; Phillips

Thank you, Lord Jesus, that you are willing to prepare me to meet
you, whenever that will be.

(pg. 226 of  Each New Day  by Corrie ten Boom; emphases ours)

Yes, thank You Christ Jesus!  May You continue to do that good work
in us as we abide in You and walk in Your Spirit.  Help us, we pray, to
humble ourselves and confess when we need to do so, for we do not
want to emulate pride like that of the devil.  Instead, may we walk as
humble Children in You, dear Lord Jesus.  May we follow in the footsteps
of the sinner of Luke 18:9-14 (in blatant contrast to the self-righteous
one who left his prayer time unjustified before Your Father, Almighty
God).  In this, God Most High, be honored, glorified and praised.  In
Jesus Christ's sweet name.  Amen

____________________

Week of 1/18-22  (B3;16)

On  John 3:16 & Saving Faith

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal
life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the
world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  He who
believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of
the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the condemnation, that
light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than
light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil
hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should
be exposed.  But he who does the truth comes to the light, that
his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.  
John 3:16-21 ; emphases ours)

In this, the greatest of all sacrifices through mankind's existence -
Jesus Christ's atoning work through His shed blood on the cross -
God's love is shown:  "But God demonstrates His own love toward
us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  (Rom. 5:8)

We need to remind folks that while EVERYONE has "everlasting life,"
most will go to the Lake of Fire and spend their eternal existence 
there - in separation from God and all the glorious beauties which
are found only in Him.  Satan, on the other hand, is everything the 
world disdains ... at least is discerned as the dark one by those who
measure all things by God's light.  But, dear friends, the Lake of Fire
IS, by those who are in the (Truthful) know, a place of everlasting pain
and sorrow.  NO ONE will want to be there, especially after they arrive
and know, first hand, exactly what the  second death  is like.  But recall:
It will be too late to change following one's physical death.  One's eternal
existence is determined during the days prior to one's first death.

God's love for humanity allows  all  to escape the consequence of
rebellious sin - eternal death - through His Son's provision.  You see,
it's only through the blood of the Lamb that sin before God is forgiven.
Good works have nothing to do with forgiveness before Holy God.
That's what makes the heresy of a works' salvation so hideous ... so
deceptive.  Human works, of any kind, never deal with (absolve - that
is, free us from) sin!  As a result, we cry out:  Please, "be reconciled
to God" through Jesus Christ!  Do so today.  CLICK HERE  for Truthful
expressions of His plan of salvation.

(All of the above Bible passages are taken from the NKJV.)

Dear Father God.  THANK YOU for Your dear Son and the eternal 
provision He lovingly made on our behalf.  We PRAISE You, oh God
Most High.  Thank You for saving us for Your glory and praise, through
eternity, yes, but also for saving us to be instruments of Your glory and
praise while we live out our new life in Christ following our new birth.
YES, thank You for Galatians 2:20!  Thank You that You graciously
accomplish deeds in our lives (as we walk in Your Spirit; as we abide
in Your Vine) that others SEE.*  May the Spirit of Your dear Son use
even these things to bring others to Yourself.  Dear from-everlasting-
to-everlasting YHVH God, THANK YOU for John 3:16!  In Jesus 
Christ's name we pray and give You praise.  Amen

* On other’s “seeing,” please revisit Mt. 5:16; John 3:21; 
   Romans 12:17; James 2:18.                                                              

____________________

Week of 1/25-29  (B4;16)

Sufficient Grounds  And  Discerning The Times

Did you catch  Star Wars: The Force Awakens ?  And did you get
to the theater in time to view the new movie trailers highlighting
scenes of films coming out later this year?

It's AMAZING!  Just think about it, please.  The strong majority
of films coming out soon* - ones that were advertised when we
visited the theater anyway - are emphasizing END TIME themes!  
It's no wonder, for the world (which is deceived and bound by 
darkness) is actually increasing its bold promoting of the dragon's 
(satan's) bidding.

I'll use but one of the movie trailers as an example to warrant 
the above:

Independence Day: Resurgence  is scheduled to be released in 
theaters this summer.  This film is yet another HUGE deceptive 
conditioning trap.  This example itself evidences continued large-
screen indoctrination.  It's worthy to note that (unlike some of the
other movies which are also shouting end-time messages - e.g.,
The 5th Wave)  Independence Day: Resurgence  has an older
brother, one birthed in 1996 and initially called  ID4 Independence
Day.  Even this older epic adventure is clear in its agenda.  "How 
so?"  one might ask.

Are you sitting down?

Here's a  crescendo moment  in the 1996 film:

The President of the United States of America brings a motivational
speech to the army which had gathered to destroy the more power-
ful, the more technologically advanced ET invaders.  Listen  to what
he says ...

"Good morning ... In less than an hour ... you will once again be 
fighting for our freedom - not from tyranny, oppression or persecu-
tion, but from annihilation.  We're fighting for our right to live ... to
exist ... and should we win the day, the 4th of July will no longer
be known as an American holiday but as the day when the world
declared in one voice:  'We will NOT go quietly into the night!  We
will NOT vanish without a fight!!'  We're going to live on; we're
going to survive.  Today we celebrate our Independence Day."

WOW!  This spiritual conditioning - for an end-time event coming
soon - is clear.  Darkness (in both spiritual and physical planes) is
teaching the viewers of the film to  fight  when the Divine Invader
(Jesus Christ) appears in order to battle the satanically driven
army of the earth.  (Read about this battle in Revelation 19.)

And what will the earth dwellers do when "the sign of the Son of
Man" (see Mt. 24:30; Rev. 6:14-17) takes place?

They will do just what they've been brainwashed to do:  FIGHT ...
FIGHT the heavenly threat!  Yes (although their initial response is 
that of  fear - Rev. 6:16, 17), the prior big-screen education - like 
the spirit-of-antichrist conditioning in  Stigmata  (1999) - will kick in.
They will continue in bound deception and eventually act out the 
lie which teaches  independents [n; pl.] from Jesus Christ will 
"live on ... they will survive"  independent of Almighty God.  
The sincere Truth:  This lie won't take place.

It's amazing how deceptive eternity's archenemy is!  At this
juncture, the dragon (the devil) is in full-scale warfare against
God and His Saints in Jesus Christ.  Satan's deceit is now even
more openly blatant.  The deception cannot be missed ... at 
least by those who still listen to YHVH God by reading His
script of prophetic events.

But that's only part of the deception.  The earth dwellers are so
deceived by the chains of darkness that they even think they are
doing God's service by killing God's very own.  (John 16)

They are so blinded by the dark one  and  by willful rebellion
against Creator God (having rejected the love of the truth - yes,
the love of God in Jesus Christ - that they might be saved) that
they impulsively do the evil of their master - again, the dark
dragon himself.

To those who have an ear to hear:  PLEASE listen to God, for
our eternal state (of existence) is hanging in the balance.  Read 
His Word!

Fairest Lord Jesus, help us discern Truths forever settled in
heaven.  Help us understand You are coming back soon to
rescue the world - if members thereof would receive it! - from 
the dark captivity in which it has been deceived into accepting
and  to which is runs (John 3:16-21; esp. verses 19, 20).  In 
Your mercy and grace, may Your Divine light so illumine our
paths that darkness has no significant, lasting effect - even
through fiery furnaces.  Lord, though many of us will be killed,
may we accept Your abundance knowing You will take us
immediately Home.  Help us to  sincerely  (actively) believe
You - that not a hair on our heads will be lost (Luke 21:7-19).

THANK YOU, Lord Jesus, for the honor of participating in 
Your sufferings, for You have told us that we must, through
many tribulations, enter the Kingdom of God.  May Your
Father - our Father - be glorified in these upcoming true
statements of active faith ... through our lives as living
sacrifices for Your good pleasure.  Lord God:  May we
(those of us who are highlighted in Rev. 6:11 - the  rest
of their fellow servants) be faithful to the end (Mark 13:13).
You are so very good to Your own!  We bless and praise
Your holy name dear Father God.  In the name of Your
Son in Whom You are well pleased ... in Jesus Christ's
name we pray.  Amen

*  Some of the films promoting crucial end-time themes include:

   The Care Bears Movie  of 1985 (yes, synergistic conditioning 
                                         also takes place at very early ages too!)
   The 5th Wave
   X-Men: Apocalypse
   Captain America:  Civil War
   Gods of Egypt
   et al. 

   We shouldn't neglect examples of the shaping of worldview 
   perspective which take place via TV series - e.g.,  Colony.

____________________

 Week of 2/1-5  (B5;16)   [ FB ]

God-Honoring  End Time  Faith-Based Life Action

Power outages happen!

When they occur, here are two (of multiple) options as to attitudes
which spring forth in response to the outages:  [Note: The two
attitudes we're highlighting below differ RADICALLY!]

1.  "Grrrrrrrr" (and possibly then some), accompanied by 
      complaint of inconvenience initially  BUT  then it turns
      into grumbling - possibly even extending to this degree:
      "Lord, WHY have you done this to us!?" - when the power
      outage is  longer  in duration.

VS.

2.  "Thank You, Lord!  Thank You in that You graciously allow
      us a dose of what it will be like in the days ahead"  -  days
      which bring on more frequent and extended-in-length 
      power outages.

Question:  Which of the two attitudes is much better to embrace?

Be forewarned:  An increase in power outages is indeed just 
around the corner.

Adequate  PREPARATION  is this context is wise.  Wisdom would
also lead us to be  prepared  in ALL categories of life - including the
physical, mental and spiritual domains.

It's time for a helpful illustration:

Inadequate FAITH says:    "I believe one day the increase in power
                                               outages will be most impactful on our
                                               lives"  BUT  does not  ACT  upon the
                                               belief.  So:

                   Action:  NONE (no deeds in response), leading to a 
                                  state of ill-preparedness (when outages occur)!

VS.

Saving  FAITH says:           "I believe one day the increase in power
                                               outages will be most impactful on our
                                               lives."  But this one does  ACT  upon 
                                               the belief.  So:  

                   Action:  Deeds communicating sincere belief, acts which
                                  bring about the gathering of provisions so when
                                  these times unfold, these days do not come upon
                                  them unexpectedly.  These will be "ready" (in the
                                  context of provisional readiness) as our Lord Jesus
                                  has so Counseled.  This kind of FAITH sounds like
                                  the faith expressed in Heb. 11 & James 2 - faith
                                  which acts out.

And what are the  CONSEQUENCES  of each perspective and life-
action (or lack thereof) to the beliefs held (when, for example, the
power goes out)?

Unprepared:   In the dark (due to lack of an active faith)
Prepared:        In the light (due to adequate belief which led
                            to actions - e.g., prayer, further seeking (and
                            heeding!) His Counsel, acquiring batteries,
                            candles and a generator perhaps)

And there are  SPIRITUAL  Truths also tied to this light/dark
experience!  So  think  (biblically)  on these things,  for your
best interest (at the very least), please.  But we'd suggest going
the  second mile:  Let's act upon this Bible theme of  preparedness
for other's sake (not just for our own - Phil. 2) ... unto God's glory
and praise!

Some CRUCIAL questions emerge:

So which view above really does  believe  in the stated conviction
that power outages will one day unfold?

Which view is hypocritical and which view acts out belief?

And what about for  YOU, personally?

In which camp would you like to be found by the One to Whom
we will all one day give account?

Dear Father Who Provides.  Thank You for providing Your
generous Counsel as to how You want us to live in these days
prior to Your holy Son's initial appearing.  We know You will
provide for us - those of us who revere/fear You and who take
You and Your Counsel seriously.  Please help us, in YOUR
strength, to PREPARE as You want us to.  Help us to live out
our beliefs whereby they are not idle thoughts but are tied to
evidences of a living faith, similar to the awesome evidence
of saving faith by those who are mentioned in Hebrews 11.
And, dear Savior Who has provided our salvation in and
through Your Son alone, help us to look to Him for day-by-
day Counsel from above.  Yes, help us to look to Your
Author and Finisher of our faith.  In Jesus Christ's name,
unto Your glory and praise we pray.  Amen

P.S.   Dear reader:  In honor of the FULL Counsel of God's 
          precious Word, please take "balance steps" by reading
          (and heeding) the books of Romans and Galatians.   One
          MUST first be  born again  in Jesus Christ before moving
          into the next life chapter where one further conforms to the
          image of Christ ... where one is  justified by  God-produced
          fruits within ... yes, by  works, and not by (action-less)
          faith alone.  See James 2:14-26.                                              

____________________

Week of 2/8-12  (B6;16)

Honoring God's FULL Message In Christ

WHY do we, on occasion, find "problem passages " in the Word 
of God?  In part, because we do not always walk in the Proverbs
3:5,6 perspective when it comes to rightly dividing the Word of
Truth.  We use reason and the theological systems of man as our
foundation of truth - even to the extent of denying clear biblical
Truths due to our incorrect commitments to unbiblical Christian
traditions.  But our Lord Jesus hated this - see Mt. 15:1-20.  So,
too, should we.

My wife and I recently watched The Hiding Place  together.  Before 
her Home-going, Corrie ten Boom produced some helpful resources 
for God's people living in the days when persecution and deception 
are on the increase.  Corrie, in one of her books, addresses one of 
the commonly accepted traditions in the devotional read below.  
We'll leave it in your capable hands to discern just what concern 
it is that we are highlighting in this blog.

"Born and Filled Again"                                         December 20

Many Christians think that when they are born again that is the end.
I once spoke about the strong challenge of the Beatitudes and how
we can live a victorious life if we hunger and thirst after righteousness.
Victory means a surrender of self from head to foot, again and again.
I asked a dear Christian woman what her answer was [to this issue of
ongoing life in Christ].  She said, "I surrendered twelve years ago when
I accepted Jesus as my Savior."  But the Bible says, "Be filled with the
Holy Spirit."  A newborn baby has to grow.

I have known the Lord Jesus for eighty years.  As I studied the Bible in
writing these messages, I had to surrender and be cleansed and filled
again and again.

     I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.
                                                             John 10:10  RSV

We praise you, Lord Jesus, that you not only gave us life when we
were born again but your Word and your Holy Spirit also make us 
grow into the life abundant.

(Taken from  Each New Day  by Corrie ten Boom ; 2013 ed.)

In conclusion ...

Thank You, heavenly Father, for the FULL Counsel of Your Word.
We praise You that you continue to graciously do Your good work
in us unto Your good pleasure.  And THANK YOU, Father, that YOU
are exalted as You, in Your abundant mercy and grace, receive glory
and praise - credit - as YOU move in our lives.  Thank You for the 
insight in Ephesians 2:8,9 & 10.  In Jesus Christ's holy name we
pray.  Amen

P.S.   How does this relate to "end time" things?  Read the second
          and third chapters of The Revelation of Jesus Christ and 
          Matthew 24 & 25 in the New Testament for starters.   The
          basis of our acceptance before GOD in these passages
          may surprise you!  And please be faithful to the context:  
          JESUS CHRIST  is the One stating the standard of measure-
          ment/judgment in these chapters - Mt. 25, Rev. 2 & 3.

____________________

Week of 2/15-19  (B7;16)

Calling A Spade A Spade:  Getting Around The  church
To Communicate The Most Clear Biblical Evidence

There is no doubt, in light of  biblical  data, the deceived, compromised 
church will play a role in further promoting end-time deception.

Our  present  warning:  This dark  church  is already doing so!

"How can this be?" one might ask.  An even more pressing question
would be this:  "How can we better discern the deceptive appeals of
apostate churches?"  This inquiry requires clarification ...

The faithful Church in Jesus Christ remains on the earth today.  This 
means not all of the "church" is apostate.  Are each and every one of
us a part of His  faithful  Church?  We sure hope so, for eternity is a
LONG time.

So how can we - His Church ; His Bride - more thoroughly discern the
many wolves wreaking havoc among us?  It's really quite simple.

Let's  DISCERN  present  Christian  culture in light of explicit BIBLE
Truths, ones which are forever settled in heaven.  Many cases in point
could (and eventually will) be given.  Here's one present-day concern
which is most pressing:

IF the "church" holds to views which are NOT taught in the Word of
God, mark it as such.  Allow us to get even more specific ...

Examples of false but very popular  end-time  positions within churches
today include:

1.  Preterit Theology - the dangerous teaching which shackles many
          into the bondage of ill-preparedness due to the position's out-
          right rejection of clear biblical Counsel.  Reading pertinent Bible
          passages helps.  Click Here

2.  Pre-Tribulation Rapture Dogma - the false-hope teaching which,
          through deceit, entraps millions into believing (and acting!) as
          if the Church will NOT go through the tribulation and things
          thereafter, events which our Lord predicted would indeed take 
          place prior to our gathering - things forewarned in Mt. 24:9-31. 
          (also see Rev. 6 - 11)  Reading the Bible passages helps.

3.  Pan-Trib / Pan-Mil Optimism - the eternally consequential half-truth
          lie which accepts one biblical principle (namely, God wins in the
          end)  but which denies other principles taught by our Lord Jesus
          (e.g., separation from the world ; ready watchfulness ; provision-
          al preparedness [e.g., food - Mt. 24:45-47] & faithful endurance,
          to name but a few).  Reading the many Bible passages on these 
          topics helps.  Click Here

And  Click Here  where these three misleading positions are
further addressed.

The teachings above may easily contribute to apostasy due to some of
the ramifications of their position.  For example - and this is motivated
by a genuine LOVE for God's Truths and His People in Jesus Christ: 
How do the above 3 positions fare RE: "preparedness" in light of 
BIBLICAL Truth?  This is a fair and crucial question given our Lord
has Counseled us to be ready (for His last-trumpet coming for His
Church). 

Dear Family in our Lord Jesus Christ:  Let's be willing to call a spade
a spade.  Let's discern by/through regular intake of God's holy, most
precious Word, the Bible.

Dearest Lord Jesus.  Thank You for Your written Word.  Help us both
to will  and  to do  Your good pleasure by, in part, committing to time
with You in Your Word.  As we do so, may Your Spirit illumine us.  
Unto Your glory and praise we pray.  Amen

____________________

Week of 2/22-26  (B8;16)

Contending For The Faith - Further Exhorting Nominal & 
Active (i.e., lifestyle) Members Of The Cult Of Unbiblical Grace

A.W. Tozer  speaks  (through the new publication of his work on the
attributes of God)  ...

"I'm going to give you a report on the character of God, to tell you
what God is like.  And if you're listening with a worthy mind, you'll 
find faith will spring up.  Ignorance and belief drag faith down, but
a restored knowledge of God will bring faith up.  I don't suppose 
there is ever a time in the history of the world when we needed a
restored knowledge of God more than we need it now.  (pg. 5)  ...
We've suffered the loss of the high concept of God, and the con-
cept of God handled by the average gospel church now is so low
as to be unworthy of God and a disgrace to the Church.  It is by
neglect, degenerate error and spiritual blindness that some are
saying God is their 'pardner' or 'the man upstairs.'  (pg. 6)  ... I
sometimes feel like walking out on a lot that passes for Christ-
ianity.  ...  Christianity has lost its dignity.  And we'll never get it
back unless we know the dignified Holy God, who rides on the 
wings of the wind and makes the clouds His chariots.  We have
lost the concept of majesty and the art of worship.  I got a letter 
from my good friend Stacy Woods, who was until recently head
of InterVarsity.  And he said this in the closing lines of his letter:
'The church is getting away from worship.  I wonder if it is because
we are getting away from God.'  I think he's right and I believe that
is the answer.  (pg. 7)  ...  the losses we've suffered have all been
internal:  the loss of dignity and worship and majesty, of inwardness,
of God's presence, of fear and spiritual delight.  If we have lost only
that which is inward and gained only that which is outward, I wonder
if we've gained anything at all.  I wonder if we are not now in a bad 
state.  I believe we are.  I believe our gospel churches, our Christianity,
is thin and anemic, without thoughtful content, frivolous in tone and
worldly in spirit.  (pg. 8)  ...  We have lost the vision of the Majesty on
high."  (pg. 11)   Taken from The Attributes of God - Vol. 2 ; 2003

In the  beginning measures of this crescendo  (concerning his valid
rebuke of false Christianity), Tozer wrote this:  "That's our trouble.  
We know that God is so vast that in comparison everything is just
the size of a hazelnut.  And yet we're not a happy people because
we've got our minds set on things.  We multiply things, and we 
increase things and put our confidence in things  and  God.  We
have our job and God; we have our husband and God; we have 
our good job and God; we have our home and God.  We have our
ambition for the future and God, and so we put God as a plus sign
after something else.  ...  Our problem is that we are putting our
confidence in things and not in God."  (pp. 28, 29 of  The Attributes
of God - Vol. 1 ; 1997)  Suggestion:  Tozer offers many helpful,
Christ-honoring corrections to today's church goers in each of 
his chapters of this two volume set.  Read it, devotionally, if
you're childlike unto humble teachability.

Dear precious Family in Jesus Christ:  Let's discern AND flee from
the shackling deceptions of the cult of unbiblical grace!  (see blog
B2;16 above)

Lord, in Your mercy and grace, drive us back to humble inquiry 
whereby we go to Your Word for a rebuke-of-Christian-culture  
reality check  as to what it really means to be Your children in
Christ Jesus, Your beloved Son.  Help us understand we are 
dealing with the eternal (vs. the temporal - II Cor. 4:16-18).  
Help us live the full Counsel of Your Word by heeding princi-
ples which call us to take our salvation seriously, for You are
not mocked.  What we sow we will reap.  Oh Holy Father, You 
have clearly stated those who sow to the flesh will of the flesh
reap corruption but those who sow to the Spirit will reap ever-
lasting life  IF,  in Your kind, generous and grace-based strength,
we do not lose heart but endure to the end.  Help us, oh Lord!
In Christ Jesus' holy and precious name we pray.  Amen 

____________________

 Week of 2/29 - 3/4  (B9;16)

Honoring His FULL Counsel; Exposing Hell-Inducing Half Truths

A student we're working with adds to her Catholic mysticism, voodoo.
In this she is simply creating her own spirituality.  This is a very frequent
deception  many  are bound by today.  They think they can define their
own spirituality and be fine ... as long as it's spiritual.  But lest we point 
the finger, let's apply this to ourselves:  We think we can define our own
spirituality and be fine ... as long as it's spiritual.  But the Word of God
paints the opposite picture.  We are called by God to put down our  
idols - all of them - and follow Him as outlined in His Word ... the FULL
Counsel thereof!

This does not only apply to SPIRITUAL perspective.  It also applies to the
practical  aspects of worldview.  So, for example, many churches have
at the beginning of their doctrinal statement a written commitment to the
Bible being their final authority for faith and practice.  YET  some go on -
in some cases even in the same doctrinal statement - to DENY the full
Counsel of the Word which they say is their authority.  WHOA!  But 
there is clear evidence of the real faith they hold - facts which speak
to the contrary of their declaration.  While we can make observations
along these lines (of people living contrary to the faith they verbally
profess), it is GOD Who will judge (each and every one of us) on 
these matters.  We're not judging here.  We're simply joining others
who also call for the application of I John 1:8-10 and other passages
which encourage His people in Christ to live humbly before Holy God.
This includes being willing to continue being teachable through the
washing of the Word.  Let's endure in this worthy endeavor.

So let's do it!  Let's get back to fruit-bearing time in His sweet and most
generous revelation to us.

Lord Jesus, with You, all things are possible.  You have blessed us with
all the heavenly blessings, blessings which include Your Word.  Help us
to better discern our deceptive day by going to the light You have so
kindly provided in your written Word, the Bible.  THANK YOU that we 
are better able to see the deceit of half-truths which darkness is using
in these days prior to Your glorious initial appearing.  Thank You dear
God Most High.  In the precious name above all names - in the name
of Christ Jesus we pray.  Amen

____________________

Week of 3/7-11  (B10;16)   [ FB ]

Expressing PRAISE To God From Whom ALL Blessings Flow ...

We thank and praise our Father of Lights for recent Luke 18:13 
expressions of repentance by some who had been wrongly in-
fluenced by the Cult of Unbiblical Grace!  We take joy in their
God-prompted, humble, teachable spirit in light of Rev. 2 & 3 
(including 3:20).

We exalt our LORD Who has called His own to be holy as He is
holy - this in the setting of New Covenant faith actions tied to
Isaiah 55:6-13, Heb. 11 and James 2:14-26.

Join us in seeking to be - under His leading and empowering - His
holy Saints in Jesus Christ, Saints who are sweet, God-honoring
living sacrifices who, having been born anew and having been graced
with the imputation of Christ's righteousness, also  WALK  in that
state so we are not hypocrites in the eyes of the secular world nor
are we displeasing to our Holy God - Romans 8 & 12.

God is generous to His sheep.  As such, may we be humble enough
to say "YES" to our Divine Shepherd's desire that we be conformed to
the image of His dear Son - in Whom Father God was well pleased -
even  this side of eternity.

Lord God Most High:  Thank You for the awesome, transcendent-to-us
fruits and gifts of Your precious Spirit (Who dwells within Your children
in Christ). 

Lord, thank You for Your gracious warnings to us - those clearly
expressed in II Chron. 24 - yes, even in  1) King Asa's example in
II Chron. 14 - 16   and,  2) King Jehoshaphat's example in I Kings
22:41-43 (noting the "nevertheless" in vs. 43).

Thank You, Lord, in the setting of the New Covenant in Jesus Christ,
for  Ezekiel 2, 3, 18 & 33  ...  for  I John 1:8-10  ...  and for  Phil. 2:
12b, 13.  Thank You for Your full Counsel as to just what it means to
enjoy the abundant, spirit-filled life in Christ Jesus.  And thank You
for the means You graciously grant in order to live victoriously in Your
beloved Son as we take up our crosses daily and follow Him.  Thank
You for sweet transcendence as a result of [ just ] a closer walk with 
Thee.

We bless and praise Your holy name.  In the name of Your dear
Son, Christ Jesus I pray.  Amen.

P.S.   Some have questioned our quoting of James 2:24.  Please do a
          prayerful Berean-like study of the handouts below, ones which
          call for balance and correction as to heeding the full Counsel of 
          God's Word in thought, word and deed.

Our  "Faith & Works"  Handouts:

A Lesson From Our Catholic Friends

Concise Statement

Justification Ticket

The Life of Abraham

Important Quotes

Faith And Works

P.P.S.   Please read Brother Yun's appeal titled "Repentance" included
              in the closing pages of his book, The Heavenly Man  (2002,
               blue-covered reprinted edition).                                               

____________________

Week of 3/14-18  (B11;16)

"WAVES" Of End-Time Bible Prophecy

In an earlier blog (B1;16), we mentioned we would be moving forward in
cutting-edge end-time ministry by addressing  "What's next?" questions.
We'd like to do so in a  new  way - one which continues to honor the
explicit revelation concerning the biblical doctrine (and HUGE insights!)
regarding the  days of the end.  As many are discerning, the end times
are here ... TODAY, and we're simply helping God's people in Jesus
Christ ponder practical things as to how we should be living in these
different but awesome days.

We'd like to sketch Bible prophecy by using the concept of "Waves."

We'll begin to  paint this picture  in outline form in this introductory blog:

Wave 1       Birth Pains                                             Matthew 24:4-8
                   Early Signs                                             II Timothy 3:1-5

Wave 2      Adverse Global Conditions                  Revelation 6
                     (e.g., Seal #2's "taking peace
                      from the earth")
                   Famine (Seal #3) - more intense        Revelation 6
                      than the birth-pain famines
                   Tribulation                                             Matthew 24:9-14
                   Great Tribulation                                  Matthew 24:15-22

Following Wave 2 (and just prior to "Wave 3") we will experience 
heavenly signs:

                  A.  Astronomical (moon, sun & star) signs as outlined
                          in Joel 2, Matthew 24:29  and  Revelation 6:12, 13;
                  B.  Sign of the Son of Man as described in Matthew
                         24:30  and  Revelation 6:14-17.  This event of the
                         sky "scrolling apart" actually begins a precious time:
                         "The Eschatological Day of the Lord."  See the chart
                         linked in #3 of [blog] B1:16 above.

These two heavenly-sign events pave the way for what we are 
calling "Wave 3"  ...

Wave 3     The Trumpets of Revelation 8 - 11

The concluding event of the 3rd Wave will be the "Final Trumpet
Rapture Gathering" of the Church - I Cor. 15:51, 52.

Note:  God's redeemed in Jesus Christ (who do not receive the mark
of the beast) will not incur the "wrath of God."  Because His Bride - the
Church - will not experience the Bowls of God's Wrath (as we are kept
from the hour of trial upon the earth as described in Rev. 3:10), we miss
this gathering of the vine of the earth - as defined in Rev. 14:17ff - and 
that which is delivered during this time:  the Bowls of God's just wrath.

Note 2:  The transition between Wave 3 & Wave 4 could be considered
in the events of Rev. 14:  the first gathering (vv. 14-16) representing
the taking of the Church ; the second gathering (vv. 17-20) leaving the 
unredeemed on the earth to incur the 4th Wave ... 

Wave 4       The Bowls of God's Wrath               Rev. 15 & 16

Wave 5       The Second Coming (Advent)          Rev. 19
                    of Jesus Christ to the Earth

Wave 6        God's millennial reign through       Rev. 20
                     His Son, Jesus Christ

The 6th Wave is the time He rules with righteous judgment.  This
will be a blessed time.  At the end of His 1,000-year rule, the dragon
will be let out of the pit for one final round of rebellion against the
One True God.  Scripture teaches satan's efforts of warfare will 
once again include great deception whereby he is able to gather 
one last army to battle God.  The Word assures us the army will be
met with consuming fire.  This fire will come down from God out of
heaven and will devour the army of the dark one.  The devil will 
then be forever cast into the Lake of Fire where the beast and the
false prophet have dwelt since the end of the Rev. 19 battle.

There is one other thing which will take place between the 6th 
and 7th Waves:

The Great White Throne Judgment includes the judgment of every
human being.  The righteous in Christ - His sheep - will be issued 
into eternal life with God in the new heaven, the new earth and the
new Jerusalem.  Those who have rejected the salvation of God
through Jesus Christ His Son will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
Yes, friends, those who say "NO" to God's gift of forgiveness of
sin, new spiritual birth and life in the Savior - the goats - will go
to the eternal home they preferred.  Because they freely rejected
eternal life, they will suffer God's righteous condemnation through
eternity.  Click Here  to view comments on the timing of judgment.

Wave 7       The title, "7th Wave" is appropriate in that it employs a
                    number symbolic of perfection.  The 7th Wave is eternal ...
                    where the everlasting state of each member of humanity
                    unfolds.

God desires ALL to be saved but also, in His expression of perfect
love, allows free will.  Will you consider His glorious salvation?   
Click here  for details.

Lord, thank You for extending insight to those who are willing to listen
to You.  Thank You that You've accurately outlined details of the end 
of days whereby those who are heeding Your Counsel are able to pro-
perly prepare for Your Son's return - "sober" as described in I Thes. 5!

Thank You for HOPE, for when these things begin to happen, we are
to look up knowing our salvation draws near.  Help us to be end-time
Saints who graciously point the unsaved to You.  May the Spirit of 
Your dear Son shine.  YES, shine Jesus shine!  ...  Blaze Spirit blaze!
...  Set our hearts on fire as we're expressing (living out) our first-love
sacrifices for Your glory and praise.  Even so, please come quickly
Lord Jesus!  Amen 

____________________

Week of 3/21-25 (B12;16)

Our 2016 End-Time Bible Reading Schedule (April - June)

The "washing of water by the Word" is sweet and powerful.  As
we read, may His gracious illumination by His Spirit bring many
fruitful effects, including our further conforming into the image
of His dear Son! 

April 1    Mark 1
April 2    Mark 2
...  etc.  ...
April 15    Mark 15
April 16    Mark 16
April 17   I Tim. 4
April 18   II Tim. 3
April 19   II Tim. 4
April 20  I Thes. 5
April 21   I Thes. 4
April 22  I Cor. 15
April 23  II Thes. 2
April 24  I John 1
April 25  I John 2
April 26  I John 3
April 27  I John 4
April 28  I John 5
April 29  II John
April 30  III John

May 1     Psalm 31
May 2    Psalm 32
May 3    Psalm 33
May 4    Psalm 34
May 5    Psalm 35
May 6    Psalm 36
May 7    Psalm 37
May 8    Psalm 38
May 9    Psalm 39
May 10  Psalm 40
May 11   Psalm 41
May 12  Psalm 42
May 13  Psalm 43
May 14  Psalm 44
May 15  Psalm 45
May 16  Psalm 46
May 17  Psalm 47
May 18  Psalm 48
May 19  Psalm 49
May 20  Psalm 50
May 21   Psalm 51
May 22  Psalm 52
May 23  Psalm 53
May 24  Psalm 54
May 25  Psalm 55
May 26  Psalm 56
May 27  Psalm 57
May 28  Psalm 58
May 29  Psalm 59
May 30  Psalm 60
May 31   Psalm 61

June 1    Daniel 1
June 2    Daniel 2
...  etc.  ...
June 11  Daniel 11
June 12  Daniel 12
June 13  Revelation 1
June 14  Revelation 2
June 15  Revelation 3
June 16  Revelation 4
June 17  Revelation 5
June 18  John 14
June 19  John 15
June 20  John 16
June 21  James 1
June 22  James 2
June 23  James 3
June 24  James 4
June 25  James 5
June 26  Titus 3
June 27  Matthew 24
June 28  Matthew 25
June 29  Luke 17
June 30  Luke 21

Lord, please make good Your promise to us as to the sweet
nurturing quality of Your Word as we take the time to sit at
Your Son's feet.  And Lord, please help us never forget that
It is better to trust in You than to put confidence in man;
It is better to trust in You than to put confidence in princes.
Unto Your - and His - glory and praise, in Jesus Christ's
holy name.  Amen

____________________

Week of 3/28 - 4/1  (B13;16)   [ FB ]

Affirming BOTH "Either/Or" AND "Both/And"

In the context of acknowledging the reality of the "neither" option (that 
is, what could be interpreted as also including the excluded middle  or,
simply put, additional options other than the options currently being
considered),  AND  as we wrap up this focus on dangerous half-truths
which have a significant bearing on end-time living, we need to
reiterate our  Truth Foundation:  God's precious, explicit Word.

To illustrate one aspect of epistemological (the study of knowledge)
pursuit ...

It's  NOT

EITHER

Credo ut intelligam/intellegam  ("I believe so that I may understand"
                                             as expressed, in different forms, by 
                                             Augustine and Anselm)
OR

Intellego ut credam  ("I think so that I may believe").

It's  BOTH/AND - both options are viable depending on the need of
the hour.  And both approaches (faith and reason) have strengths and 
weaknesses depending upon the context in which they are employed.  
From God's worldview perspective, both human and divine sources of 
truth are usable (but again, note the strengths and weaknesses inherent 
in the methods and the strengths and weaknesses when they are put
to use when engaging others!).  And, obviously, there are other 
matters that play into this picture, matters like keeping an open
mind so as to avoid the  excluded middle  fallacy.

Let's move further into another illustration, one most practical in daily
living but a matter which highlights the limits of rational thought in that
it includes - dare I say it - the   s u p e r n a t u r a l  ...

Theological constructs are usable  BUT  they include hidden traps.

For example,  it's not  either  Calvinism or Arminianism ...

                         it's not  either  faith or works ...

                         it's not  either  Dispensationalism or Reformed Theology ...

                         it's not  either  Free Grace or Lordship Salvation ...

These are codes/belief systems of men  and each present  imbalance
IF  seen/believed upon in an "either/or" manner.  Instead of devoting
our lives to  traditions of men,  let's simply affirm the WHOLE Counsel
of God's Word.

Our Lord Jesus actually addressed this concern almost 2,000 years 
ago as recorded in Mark 7:1-16 (especially noting His words to the
religious leaders:  "This people honors Me with their  lips, but their
heart is far from Me.  And in vain they worship Me, teaching as
doctrines the commandments of men."  (Jesus Christ quoting
Isaiah 29:13 as recorded in Mark 7:6b,7)

Application observation:

These contemporary belief systems of man, in whatever ways they
are cast (e.g., in systematic theological expressions; in denominational
dogmas, etc.), are often systems which emphasize only one side of a
coin  or  only one facet of a multi-faceted diamond.

So where do we find  balance  - balance which gets us past our
puny selves?

     "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your
     own understanding;  In all your ways acknowledge Him,
     and He shall direct your paths."   Proverbs 3:5,6 (NKJV)

As there are appropriate times to use either  inductive  or  deductive
reasoning, so too are there times to use the  either/or  approach as
there are indeed fallacious contradictions (e.g., "God exists and at 
the same time and in the same way, God does not exist.").

As there are appropriate times to emphasize  ALL  of God's attributes
(and avoid, in this case, what could be a fallacy of emphasizing 
imbalance  [e.g., "God is love but is not holy or just."]), so too are
there times to apply the  both/and  approach (again, noting the
possibility there's a third, or fourth, or  ? ? option to consider in the
full equation - and I'm not talking about math equations here!).

Here's what we're trying to say in all this:

Man's perspective is  INcomplete!  God's full revelation, on the other 
hand, is complete toward accomplishing His purposes - offering 
sufficient wisdom to navigate the eternal, spiritual waters of life.  This
is one reason  WHY  we post Bible reading blogs (e.g., B12:16).

Once again, back to a pressing example ...

Regarding  "Justification before God"  ...

Is it  "Either/Or"    -     by faith alone - that is, either by faith or by
                                        works that one is accepted by God?
OR

Is it  "Both/And"    -      by faith and works - that is, by a working,
                                         active faith once we are born again and walk
                                         in that light that we are accepted by God?

On the grounds of explicit Bible data - which we've highlighted in 
prior blogs above - in this case, it's  clearly  "Both/And."  This also
affirms John 14:6, Ephesians 2:8,9, the justification truths expressed
in the book of Romans, Philippians 3:8-11. Titus 3:5  et al.

As we conclude this longer blog - thanks for hanging in there!   :-)   -
I need to emphasize one of our points and I'll do so through the
asking of some questions:

How is it we know  WHEN  to employ these different actions?
"When should I use the  'both/and'  or the  'either/or'  approach?"
is a great question one could (and should) rightly ask.

Please hear our appeal ...

God's Word (the FULL Counsel thereof - as opposed to picking 
some verses and rejecting and/or reinterpreting others) offers 
humble subjects (who genuinely seek Truth)  His  transcendent
insight.  His illuminating Holy Spirit also leads in all truth.

So when we address the Cult of Unbiblical Grace, for example, we
are simply pleading with folks to accept God's full revelation of grace,
for God's grace - I'll say it again - is NOT exhausted at the cross!  
Our grounds for heralding the need for an active, working faith (as
God works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure) is explicitly
biblical, one which affirms  both  justification by faith  and  works
wrought by/done by God.  (John 3:21 - KJV/NJKV ; also see
Ephesians 2:10 ; Titus 2 & 3, and many other passages which
teach this:  God calls and equips His own in Christ to be about
good works ... even to the extent of James 2:24.)

This position is in direct  CONFLICT  with the traditions of the
Cult of Unbiblical Grace.  The  easy-believism,  the  get-your-fire-
insurance-and-you're-good-to-go  attitude, the  "NO works" heresy
of churches which deny the robust biblical data which affirms good
works in/done by  God  is a teaching which contributes to attitudes
OPPOSITE  the call of our Lord Jesus Christ!  And do you know
what He'll tell some of them on the day of accounting?

(I'm not giving my opinion here.  It's fact ...)

"I never knew you;  depart from Me, you who practice
lawlessness!"   Mt. 7:23 (NKJV)

(Also read Revelation 2 & 3)

So you see, dear  followers  of the Lord of lords and King of 
kings - Jesus Christ - it's  NOT  a matter of  "either/or" ...
either by faith or by works!

While God rejects works of the law and works of the flesh, He calls
His people who are justified by Christ to be  doers  of the Word and
not idle hearers only.  The biblical doctrine of justification before God 
is both positional in Christ Jesus  AND  progressive as we walk,
abide and live out our faith in Christ.

Sincerely:  To HELL with satan's cheap, deceptive lies in relationship
to this crucial topic!

Let's affirm the whole Counsel of God on this matter of what it really
means to be sincere practitioners - REAL new-born followers of
Jesus Christ.

Oh Lord God, maker of heaven and earth, holy Savior:
We once again confess our  perspectival sins  which so easily
beset us.  Help us discern half-truth ideologies which deny Your
Full-Truth Counsel.  Help us to live the end-time theme of
righteousness in this godless day.  Help us truly live the sweet,
abundant, God-pleasing life - the Romans 12:1,2, Galatians 2:20
existence as we abide in Your Son, as we walk in Your Spirit.

All glory, laud and honor:  To THEE, Redeemer, King!

In Christ Jesus' holy name we pray.  Amen 

2nd Quarter Blogs

Week of 4/4-8  (B14;16)

The Call For Purim

Do you recall the historical account of what is now celebrated as 
"Purim" ?

The book of Esther in the Old Testament describes a time
when God's people were going to be attacked, robbed and
killed.  Just before that period of pillage and murder began, 
the word went out that God's people could defend themselves
against those who brought threat.

We take this story and make appeal for contemporary application ...

Under the New Covenant in Jesus Christ, we recommend a similar
response in the setting of a coming period when hatred will drive
some people to plunder and kill.

Here's our simple, legal, balanced suggestion:

Abiding under the laws of the land, defend yourself and your
family  as you deem best.  It's okay to do so!  Take measures in
accord with your personal convictions before Almighty God.  Let's
seek to walk in biblical balance as we live in light of the full
Counsel of the Word of God.

Oh Lord Who provides, please give us Your wisdom as to how 
You would have us protect ourselves (or not) during the tumultuous
times ahead.  Allow us mercy and grace to accept various responses
of Family members on this matter whereby we don't inappropriately
judge them outside of our rightful place, for You allow Your people
in Christ Jesus  multiple options*  on this concern of just how we 
respond during this great storm.

Thank You for Your Son's soon coming!  Even so, please come
quickly Lord Jesus.  It's in His name we pray dear Father.  Amen

*  multiple options  within the confines of Scripture:  "Both/And" !

____________________

Week of 4/11-15  (B15;16)

A Sweet Opportunity For God's Glory And Praise
(Food Storage For The Upcoming Famine)

"When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say,
'Come and see.'  So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who
sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.  And I heard a voice in the
midst of the four living creatures saying, 'A quart of wheat for a
denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm
the oil and the wine.'"  (Revelation 6:5,6)

"When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth
living creature saying, 'Come and see.'  So I looked, and behold,
a pale horse.  And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and
Hades followed with him.  And power was given to them over a
fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and
by the beasts of the earth."  (Revelation 6:7,8 ; emphasis ours)

"Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made 
ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?  Blessed
is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.
Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods."
(Jesus Christ speaking in Matthew 24:45-47)

Quotes above are taken from the New King James Bible.

(Also see our Lord's instruction to us in Mt. 25:1-13 where He clearly
asks His people to be ready.  This includes readiness for the days just
prior to His initial appearing.  CLICK  HERE

So what's the "opportunity" ?

In light of upcoming famines, we can prepare for these trials, in part,
through food storage.  IF we do (prepare), we have provisions avail-
able to share once food shortages increase.

As Joseph (of Genesis 39 - 50) stored food for the years of famine
which took place in his day, we, too, can be instruments of blessing
to others ...  IF  we've prepared!

And please consider this simple observation:

More cities have "community gardens."  But think about this simple
reality:  How many people can be fed by the limited resources in
these community efforts - especially in the cities which host larger
numbers of people?

RE: Strength in numbers ...

The more people are prepared for this season of calamity, the less
likely we'll witness the chaos that typically comes when disasters 
of this nature strike.  Why?  Because people have prepared.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your caring Counsel.  Forgive us when we 
fail to heed Your loving instructions to us.  Help us  to be ready  as
You have so outlined in Your Word - ready in material, mental,
emotional and spiritual ways whereby we are not caught off guard
by the end-time storms soon to hit us.

Help us - Your people in Christ Jesus - to live out our faith through
action.  Give us Your wisdom in this matter of food storage.  And in
the upcoming setting of famine, help us to be like Joseph in light of 
the New Covenant principle in Philippians 2:3,4.  In this setting, Lord,
also help us to share with the needy, the Bread of Life:  Christ Jesus
the LORD.  For our benefit, for the benefit of others AND ultimately
unto Your glory and praise.  Amen

____________________

Week of 4/18-22  (B16;16)

A Contemporary End-Time Bible Prayer

Abba Father, we so look forward to Your Son's glorious appearing!
THANK YOU for providing Counsel as to end-time dangers which
seek to foster apostasy.  As Your Spirit indwells those in Christ
Jesus Your Son, may He grant needed discernment whereby we
are better able to see through the many deceptions of our day.

Thank You  for warning us about:

~  expressions promoting the spirit of antichrist, ones
     especially offered through  false-christ  claims;
~  the increase of  false prophets  who aggressively herald
     the evil themes You so clearly caution against in Your
     written Word;
~  the many  false teachers  who are proclaiming false end-time
     teachings as the day of Your Son's initial appearing draws near.
Thank You for your  repetitions for the sake of emphasis (RE:
destructive deceits).

Thank You  for Counseling us about:

~  things to avoid and things to be about doing during this
     unique time in human history;
~  the importance of being in Your precious Word, both in Your
     incarnate Word (Jesus Christ)  and  Your written Word (the
     Bible);
~  keeping our eyes on Your beloved Son, our dear Savior
     and Lord. 
Thank You for Your caring shepherding of Your vulnerable 
sheep who so need  Your wisdom.

THANK YOU  for Your faithfulness to Your own:

~  through the giving of historical examples which offer
     great encouragement in these dark days;
~  through Your sweet Holy Spirit whereby we are graced
     with Your direction, even on very specific challenges we
     frequently encounter;
~  through the ministry of  song  as we press on in adoring
     and praising You as modeled in Revelation 4 & 5.
Thank You for gifting us with all the precious heavenly blessings
in Christ Jesus Your Son!

Abba Father, we so look forward to Your Son's glorious appearing!
We THANK YOU for helping us endure in essential first-love commit-
ment to You whereby we have the love, boldness and resolve to say
"NO, I'll NOT cross!" the lines darkness demands we cross (as so
helpfully modeled by way of examples in Daniel 1, 3 & 6).  Lord Jesus,
we praise Your name for Your supreme Counsel to us.  THANK YOU,
oh God Most High.  We worship and magnify Your holy name.  Even
so, please come quickly Lord Jesus.  Amen

____________________

Week of 4/25-29  (B17;16)   [ FB ]

Has The "2nd Wave" Of Bible Prophecy Begun?

In light of the full Counsel of God's Word, we believe the 
Second Wave of Bible prophecy signs - see blog B11:16
above - has already (but only just) begun.

Adverse global conditions - including the "taking of peace
from the earth" (see Seal 2 of Revelation 6), in part, by Koranic 
militants who believe in Muslim eschatology, of which jihad is 
included as they move forward in their efforts at global 
domination - have begun.

Other events of  Wave #2  are still pending. 

Some yet-future aspects of the Second-Wave signs include:

1.  The  famine  of Rev. 6:5,6 (a famine more intense than the
        famines of the "Birth Pains" of Mt. 24:4-9);
2.  The tribulation (as defined by Jesus Christ) of Mt. 24:9-22 - also
        addressed in Rev. 6:7-11.

In this context, a  crucial  question emerges:  "How shall we now
live?"

Do the negative aspects of end-time events leave us in fear?  They
shouldn't, for perfect love casts out fear.  Knowing we are in the
hands of Creator  יהוה  God, we have peace, not fear.  In fact, as the 
end-time signs further present themselves, those of us who are
Bible believing followers of Jesus Christ enthusiastically look up 
and take  JOY  knowing our salvation draws near.  But YES, 
before our  Final Trumpet Rapture Gathering,  the tribulation
and great tribulation must take place as outlined in Mt. 24 and
in the book of Revelation.

So, in answer to the question, "Has the '2nd Wave' of Bible
prophecy begun?" ... Yes, in part. 

Are we rightly discerning the signs of the times whereby we
are not surprised by tribulation and the early parts of  The Day
of the Lord ?  (see I Thes. 5)  We sure hope so, for God has
called us to be sober so that the beginning of this  Day  will
not come upon us suddenly/unexpectedly.

In seeking to help encourage  readiness,  here are a few Bible-
honoring, Christ-exalting suggestions:

1.  Be about  material  preparedness.  This includes food storage.

     Recommended action:  The act of storing material goods is wise.
     Takes steps in this direction through both individual and communal 
     (e.g., church) efforts.

2.  Be about  mental  preparedness.  This includes numerous
     things.  We'll touch upon three at this time:

     A.  Know  hostility toward God's faithful people in Christ Jesus
           will escalate;
     B.  Remember we are called to endure (not  fall away) during
           this time  AND  we are to do so with a JOYFUL perspective
           ("... count it all joy ..." ; "...pray for your enemies ..." ; Rom.
           8:18 ; etc.);
     C.  Resolve to  hold fast  and  overcome  as our Lord instructs
           us in Rev. 2 & 3.

     Recommended action:  The act of regular evaluation as to the
     strength of our commitment to Jesus Christ  AND,  in this mind-
     set, be willing to be faithful to the end.

3.  Be about  spiritual  preparedness.  Mental preparedness is
     crucial but there's another dimension we need to consider in
     order to be MOST prepared, mentally speaking.  Our all-
     knowing God, Who knows the future, has some additional 
     insights for us.  For those who are willing to listen, He has
     graced us with His divine Counsel ... BUT we must seek it
     out!

     Recommended action:  The act of being in His Word for
     supernatural nurturing second to none.  Our "Quarterly
     Reading Schedules" list pertinent-to-our-day passages.

Dear soon-coming Lord, help us to be ready for Your Son's
glorious return by heeding Your clear instruction to us.  Help 
us with child-like faith.  Help us to obey Your Counsel whereby
we are living soberly as our redemption draws near.  Help us
be Your loving Ambassadors of Christ Jesus Your Son - those 
Gospel lights You so clearly desire us to be.  Unto the losts'
eternal benefit, unto our benefit, and ultimately unto Your
glory and praise.  In Christ Jesus' name we pray.  Amen

____________________

Week of 5/2-6  (B18;16)

Can We Agree ?

Can we agree upon something - something quite important?

____________________

Week of 5/9-13  (B19;16)

____________________

Week of 5/16-20  (B20;16)   [ FB ]

A Different "Revisit"

In blogs  B27-29;15  we addressed a very dangerous false teaching:
One can take the mark of the beast, repent of doing so  and  still live
forever with God. 

This is untrue, biblically speaking.  The false-hope offer as outlined
in the blogs above is  not  the only deception darkness is using to 
persuade followers of Jesus Christ to be open to the taking of the 
mark as described in Revelation 13.  Here's another half-truth  lie  
which will be further told to those seeking to  save their lives* :

Another similar, eternal, consequential deception will take a form
similar to this:

P1   Because those who place their faith in Christ Jesus are
        eternally secure;  [ VS the Truth:  Those who truly place 
        their faith in Christ Jesus are eternally secure. ] 

P2   Because one cannot lose one's salvation;  [ VS the Truth: 
        Those who are genuinely saved cannot lose their salvation. ]

Therefore,         Taking the mark of the beast will not result in the 
(Conclusion)      Lake of Fire for Christians who take the mark.

It's this mentality - P1 & P2 & the conclusion - that represents the 
half-truth deception.

We ask some simple but crucial questions at this juncture.  ...

How do we  know  true followers of Jesus Christ are eternally secure?
What is the  basis  of this belief?  On what grounds  is this true?

Answer:  The Word of God teaches this Truth, therefore, genuine 
believers in Jesus Christ are indeed eternally secure.  God's Word is 
our final authority for faith and practice and because it (the Bible) states 
this truth (that  no one can/will pluck born-again believers out of the 
Father's hand ), it's True - namely, that sincere, enduring-to-the-end
Christians have eternal life.  God said it; that settles it.

B U T   here's the problem for those who  pick and choose  some
Scriptures and yet who incorrectly go on to deny other Scriptures - 
those who in practice do NOT affirm the whole Counsel of the Word 
of God.

God's Word  ALSO  states

Mt. 24:9,10
II Thes. 2:1-4
I Tim. 4:1

Our point:  We need to accept  ALL  of God's Counsel, not simply the
                   aspects of His revelation we like.

If that's not warning enough, the Word also says  this  concerning
those who take the mark of the beast:

"... If ANYONE worships the beast and his image, and receives his
mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of
the wine of the wrath of God ..."  (Rev. 14:9,10 - actually, please
see Rev. 14:6-13 which also speaks to those yet to be taken up in 
the final trumpet [7th Trumpet] Rapture gathering!    (NKJV ; emphasis 
ours)

(And there are other passages addressing this concern which we've
not included here - ones that also need to be humbly and prayerfully
considered.)

In short, in light of the full Counsel of God's Word on this matter,
true born-again, heaven-bound followers of Jesus Christ will  NOT
take the mark.

Another way to faithfully summarize these biblical Truths is in this way:

There will not be one person in glory (who has eternal life through the
Lord Jesus Christ - who lives forever with God) who takes the mark of
the beast ... not one!

By the authority of God we implore those who call themselves believers:
NEVER, EVER  take the mark, for to do so, in light of God's very kind
revelation to us - and He always keeps His Word - to receive the mark
demonstrates you are  NOT  a true believer and will indeed guarantee
you a place in the Lake of Fire.

This era of the mark of the beast is coming soon.

May our Lord grant us endurance through this most difficult time in all
of human history.  We encourage you to read the book of Hebrews
where the end-time theme of  endurance in Christ  is so wonderfully
highlighted.  Our Lord in Rev. 2 & 3 also mandates this very quality
of His people in Jesus Christ as He calls us to be overcomers.

Help us precious Father God.  THANK YOU for the crucial insights
communicated in the full Counsel of Your Word.  In Christ Jesus' holy 
name we pray.  Amen