October 2017 – Voice of the dying Church

Reformation Day

I personally abhor the paganism that now defines some “Christian Holidays” such as Easter instead of Passover and Christmas on the pagan day of Sol Invictus! But today we celebrate 500 Years since the Church was brought back to Scripture from the Dark Ages of the Papacy!

Protestant Reformation (which gave birth to Evangelicals, Conservatives, Fundamentals, Pentecostals, Charismatics and also Liberals) exposed the heresies of Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodox (both believe in the Apocrypha) by declaring:

We uphold

(i) Scripture Alone therefore are saved by (ii) Grace Alone through (iii) Faith Alone in (iv) Christ Alone for the (v) Glory of God Alone

Semper Ecclessia Reformanda!!!

[08:46, 31/10/2017] Ngao: “No doctrine is more despised by the natural mind than the truth that God is absolutely sovereign. Human pride loathes the suggestion that God orders everything, controls everything, rules over everything. The carnal mind, burning with enmity against God, abhors the biblical teaching that nothing comes to pass except according to His eternal decrees. Most of all, the flesh hates the notion that salvation is entirely God’s work. If God chose who would be saved, and if His choice was settled before the foundation of the world, then believers deserve no credit for their salvation.”

~ John MacArthur

Streams in the Desert – October 312017Oct 31

Streams in the Desert – October 31
2017Oct 31

Likewise also the Spirit helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what to pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:26-27).
This is the deep mystery of prayer. This is the delicate divine mechanism which words cannot interpret, and which theology cannot explain, but which the humblest believer knows even when he does not understand.
Oh, the burdens that we love to bear and cannot understand! Oh, the inarticulate out-reachings of our hearts for things we cannot comprehend! And yet we know they are an echo from the throne and a whisper from the heart of God. It is often a groan rather than a song, a burden rather than a buoyant wing. But it is a blessed burden, and it is a groan whose undertone is praise and unutterable joy. It is “a groaning which cannot be uttered.” We could not ourselves express it always, and sometimes we do not understand any more than that God is praying in us, for something that needs His touch and that He understands.
And so we can just pour out the fullness of our heart, the burden of our spirit, the sorrow that crushes us, and know that He hears, He loves, He understands, He receives; and He separates from our prayer all that is imperfect, ignorant and wrong, and presents the rest, with the incense of the great High Priest, before the throne on high; and our prayer is heard, accepted and answered in His name.

–A. B. Simpson
It is not necessary to be always speaking to God or always hearing from God, to have communion with Him; there is an inarticulate fellowship more sweet than words. The little child can sit all day long beside its busy mother and, although few words are spoken on either side, and both are busy, the one at his absorbing play, the other at her engrossing work, yet both are in perfect fellowship. He knows that she is there, and she knows that he is all right.
So the saint and the Saviour can go on for hours in the silent fellowship of love, and he be busy about the most common things, and yet conscious that every little thing he does is touched with the complexion of His presence, and the sense of His approval and blessing.
And then, when pressed with burdens and troubles too complicated to put into words and too mysterious to tell or understand, how sweet it is to fall back into His blessed arms, and just sob out the sorrow that we cannot speak!

–Selected

Oswald Chambers

The Trial of FaithBy Oswald Chambers
If you have faith as a mustard seed…nothing will be impossible for you. —Matthew 17:20
We have the idea that God rewards us for our faith, and it may be so in the initial stages. But we do not earn anything through faith— faith brings us into the right relationship with God and gives Him His opportunity to work. Yet God frequently has to knock the bottom out of your experience as His saint to get you in direct contact with Himself. God wants you to understand that it is a life of faith, not a life of emotional enjoyment of His blessings. The beginning of your life of faith was very narrow and intense, centered around a small amount of experience that had as much emotion as faith in it, and it was full of light and sweetness. Then God withdrew His conscious blessings to teach you to “walk by faith” (2 Corinthians 5:7). And you are worth much more to Him now than you were in your days of conscious delight with your thrilling testimony.
Faith by its very nature must be tested and tried. And the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God’s character must be proven as trustworthy in our own minds. Faith being worked out into reality must experience times of unbroken isolation. Never confuse the trial of faith with the ordinary discipline of life, because a great deal of what we call the trial of faith is the inevitable result of being alive. Faith, as the Bible teaches it, is faith in God coming against everything that contradicts Him— a faith that says, “I will remain true to God’s character whatever He may do.” The highest and the greatest expression of faith in the whole Bible is— “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him” (Job 13:15).

share this devotional with a friend
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
We must keep ourselves in touch, not with theories, but with people, and never get out of touch with human beings, if we are going to use the word of God skilfully amongst them. Workmen of God, 1341 L

Justin Peters Ministries

As we progress deeper into these end times we see that false doctrine is more widely accepted and proliferated with less and less fear of the Lord. It is brazen how careless people are regarding the obvious nature of their false teaching. Rolling around on the ground and barking like a dog? Sure! Kicking people in the face to “impart healing?” Absolutely! Literally telling Christians to not have the Ten Commandments in their homes or lives? Hey — don’t you be a legalist now! There is also a new breed of false teachers beloved. In the past a false teacher was known by the specific heresy they espoused. Kenneth Copeland and Mike Murdock were prosperity preachers. Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyer were word faith preachers. Sure they had slivers of other heresies creeping in but they stuck with their bread and butter. These days however we are seeing hybrid false teachers who embrace nearly everything that is false and roll it into one big cesspool. One such place that comes to mind is Bethel Church. For a long time now people like Bill Johnson from Bethel were like heretical jello. You just couldn’t pin them down. He wasn’t quite prosperity but he had teachings that were. He wasn’t quite word faith but again certain teachings certainly seemed to lean that way. He was clearly NAR but denies it to this day despite going to Lakeland Florida to anoint Todd Bentley a “prophet” with the NAR by his side. Bethel was clearly a false signs and lying wonders church but also selling experiential Christianity. Now part of this is there is always some cross over between heresies. Once you compromise the Gospel, it becomes easier to accept other compromises. But the veil of vagueness is being lifted as time goes on and newer teachers arise with such staggering arrogance before God and man that they do not even hide anymore their falseness. They revel in it. They boast in it. Kris Vallotton is one such teacher.

Steve Hammer

It is a saving faith that can say in the darkest

night;

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him,”

Job 13:15

When friends are gone, when the body is sick,

when depression darkens our door! When

businesses are failing, when children rebel

and marriages falter! These are the ‘fields of

faith’ where ‘tribulation worketh patience; and

patience-experience; and experience-hope’!

Rom. 5:3,4

Yes, it is the growing pain of such virtues

that most often elevate us to the peaks of

true prosperity! Is sleep not more restful after

a day of grueling labor?!

Yet, there is no place so low, that we can be

separated from the Love of God! Many times

those who are ‘cast down’ are not the

farthest ‘from’ God; but the closest TO God!

“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the

Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by

the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” Rom.

5:5

Stephen Trussell

Stephen ThomasWords to Ponder

Stephen Thomas

Words to Ponder

Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Holy Spirit, for such things as God has promised, or according to His Word, for the good of the church, with submission in faith to the will of God. – John Bunyan (1628-88)

David C. Cooke

ERROR DOES NOT BECOME TRUTH BECAUSE IT IS POPULAR AND ACCEPTED!! AND TRUTH DOES NOT BECOME ERROR ,EVEN WHEN IT STANDS ALONE AND IS NOT POPULAR !! Do you walk according to the Truth?

2nd Peter 2:1″But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring damnable heresies ,even denying the Lord that brought them ,and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

False teachers take their place within the Church and pose as true men of God.They are full of selfish ambition and self-promotion and are masters of deception.They on purpose mix error with elements of truth like putting a drop of deadly poison in a glass of milk.They add to the scriptures their special new revelation which denies the inspiration of holy scriptures.Their message is dangerous and they have impure motives and deny the Lord Jesus.

TRUTH VS ERROR !! Jesus said in John 8:31-32’If you continue in My Word, then are ye my disciples indeed.And you shall know the Truth ,and the Truth shall make you free.’

TRUE DISCIPLES: WHO ARE THEY ? JESUS SAID THOSE WHO CONTINUE IN HIS WORD.

A disciple of Jesus has committed his whole life to Jesus.One of the main characteristics of a true follower of the Lamb is abiding and living in the Word which is His absolute Truth. Those who know the Truth are set free from sin and walk in the light. A disciple is a learner who loves the Truth.

Eph.4:21’If so be that ye have heard Him ,and have been taught by Him, as the Truth is in Jesus.’ Jesus was very, very clear in John 17:17’Sanctify them through Thy Truth:Thy Word is Truth.’If what you hear at your Church is an extra-biblical revelation that goes beyond the holy scriptures it is not Truth but error.

It is very alarming just how undiscerning people are as they accept the poison of error because of who is saying it.

1st John 4:1:6’Beloved, believe not every spirit ,but try the spirits whether they are of God:because many false prophets are gone out into the world.We are of God:he that knoweth God heareth us, he that is not of God heareth us not.Hereby know we the spirit of Truth, and the spirit of error.’

The spirit of error is at work and it draws people away from the Truth of the Word.

1st Tim.4:1 makes it very clear that in the last days some shall ‘depart the faith’. Why ? ‘Giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.’ Satan uses people in leadership in the Church to deceive and draw people away from the Lord Jesus.The main goal is to seduce them and to cause apostasy which means ‘a willful turning away from the truth of Biblical Christianity and to follow a counterfeit brand of Christianity.

Ephesians 4:14’That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro ,and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness,whereby they lie in wait to deceive.’Many today are being seduced and influenced by every wind of teaching.There are those in ministry who will try to trick you with lies and error. The are clever and it sounds good but it is the spirit of error. These are false ministers not called by God. Even Paul who was a true man of God wanted people to study the scriptures !

Acts 17:11’In that with all readiness of mind ,and searched the scriptures daily ,whether those things were so.’ IF YOU LOVE THE TRUTH YOU WILL DO THE SAME! TESTS THE SPIRITS ! SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES ! AND REMEMBER ISAIAH 8:20’To the law and to the testimony:if they speak not according to this Word,it is because there is no light in them’.

Brother David Cooke (Share post as the Lord leads) — — with Ann Marie Brady , Warren Land , Robin Land ,

Michael H Yeager , Will Coolon , Amparo Orantes , Ryan Gibbons , Michael Christopher Brady , Sheila Harrison Floyd, Lana Haight and Elijah Lion Johnson

David C. Cooke

ERROR DOES NOT BECOME TRUTH BECAUSE IT IS POPULAR AND ACCEPTED!! AND TRUTH DOES NOT BECOME ERROR ,EVEN WHEN IT STANDS ALONE AND IS NOT POPULAR !! Do you walk according to the Truth?

TRUTH VS ERROR !! Jesus said in John 8:31-32’If you continue in My Word, then are ye my disciples indeed.And you shall know the Truth ,and the Truth shall make you free.’

TRUE DISCIPLES: WHO ARE THEY ? JESUS SAID THOSE WHO CONTINUE IN HIS WORD.

It is very alarming just how undiscerning people are as they accept the poison of error because of who is saying it.

The spirit of error is at work and it draws people away from the Truth of the Word.

Brother David Cooke (Share post as the Lord leads) — — with Ann Marie Brady , Warren Land , Robin Land ,

Michael H Yeager , Will Coolon , Amparo Orantes , Ryan Gibbons , Michael Christopher Brady , Sheila Harrison Floyd, Lana Haight and Elijah Lion Johnson

Stephen ThomasWords to Ponder

Stephen Thomas

Words to Ponder

We need, men so possessed by the Spirit of God that God can think His thoughts through our minds, that He can plan His will through our actions, that He can direct His strategy of world evangelization through His Church. – Alan Redpath

Streams in the Desert – October 302017Oct 30

Streams in the Desert – October 30
2017Oct 30
Let us run with patience (Hebrews 12:1).
To run with patience is a very difficult thing. Running is apt to suggest the absence of patience, the eagerness to reach the goal. We commonly associate patience with lying down. We think of it as the angel that guards the couch of the invalid. Yet, I do not think the invalid’s patience the hardest to achieve.
There is a patience which I believe to be harder–the patience that can run. To lie down in the time of grief, to be quiet under the stroke of adverse fortune, implies a great strength; but I know of something that implies a strength greater still: It is the power to work under a stroke; to have a great weight at your heart and still to run; to have a deep anguish in your spirit and still perform the daily task. It is a Christlike thing!
Many of us would nurse our grief without crying if we were allowed to nurse it. The hard thing is that most of us are called to exercise our patience, not in bed, but in the street. We are called to bury our sorrows, not in lethargic quiescence, but in active service–in the exchange, in the workshop, in the hour of social intercourse, in the contribution to another’s joy. There is no burial of sorrow so difficult as that; it is the “running with patience.”
This was Thy patience, O Son of man! It was at once a waiting and a running–a waiting for the goal, and a doing of the lesser work meantime. I see Thee at Cana turning thewater into wine lest the marriage feast should be clouded. I see Thee in the desert feeding a multitude with bread just to relieve a temporary want. All, all the time, Thou wert bearing a mighty grief, unshared, unspoken. Men ask for a rainbow in the cloud; but I would ask more from Thee. I would be, in my cloud, myself a rainbow — a minister to others’ joy. My patience will be perfect when it can work in the vineyard.

–George Matheson
When all our hopes are gone,

‘Tis well our hands must keep toiling on

For others’ sake:

For strength to bear is found in duty done;

And he is best indeed who learns to make

The joy of others cure his own heartache.

Rhonda Ballance

Why are trials and tribulations part of the Christian life?

One of the most difficult parts of the Christian faith is the testing we face as believers. Why does God allow us to face trials, tribulations, and temptations? James 1:2-4 offers an insightful look: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” We are to consider trials with joy because they ultimately lead to our spiritual maturity.

Jesus mentioned this concept in John 15:2: “Every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” Those who follow God often face various forms of “pruning” or struggles in order to bear more fruit. In other words, the difficulties God allows in our lives allow us to grow in maturity (fruitfulness) and better serve the Lord.

Paul wrote about the impact of suffering and its usefulness in comforting and helping others when he shared, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Paul’s afflictions gave him experiences through which he could better comfort others who also faced afflictions.

God often uses our most difficult struggles for us to help others with similar struggles. A person who has struggled with an eating disorder is often the best person to help someone else with this struggle. A former alcoholic is often the best counselor to others seeking to break from the control of alcohol. While these trials are not enjoyable, God can and does use our weaknesses to bring hope to others.

Trials also remind us that something better lies ahead for those who believe. In Romans 8:18 Paul wrote, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” Though he faced many difficulties, they could be endured because he knew something far greater awaited him after this life.

A final encouragement regarding trials is that those who endure faithfully can anticipate eternal rewards. James 1:12 promises, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” Our tribulations in this life are difficult, yet only temporary. Even now, God is at work to use our pain to help those in need and will reward those who faithfully endure.

Compelling Truth. com

Oswald Chambers

FaithBy Oswald Chambers
Without faith it is impossible to please Him… —Hebrews 11:6
Faith in active opposition to common sense is mistaken enthusiasm and narrow-mindedness, and common sense in opposition to faith demonstrates a mistaken reliance on reason as the basis for truth. The life of faith brings the two of these into the proper relationship. Common sense and faith are as different from each other as the natural life is from the spiritual, and as impulsiveness is from inspiration. Nothing that Jesus Christ ever said is common sense, but is revelation sense, and is complete, whereas common sense falls short. Yet faith must be tested and tried before it becomes real in your life. “We know that all things work together for good…” (Romans 8:28) so that no matter what happens, the transforming power of God’s providence transforms perfect faith into reality. Faith always works in a personal way, because the purpose of God is to see that perfect faith is made real in His children.
For every detail of common sense in life, there is a truth God has revealed by which we can prove in our practical experience what we believe God to be. Faith is a tremendously active principle that always puts Jesus Christ first. The life of faith says, “Lord, You have said it, it appears to be irrational, but I’m going to step out boldly, trusting in Your Word” (for example, see Matthew 6:33). Turning intellectual faith into our personal possession is always a fight, not just sometimes. God brings us into particular circumstances to educate our faith, because the nature of faith is to make the object of our faith very real to us. Until we know Jesus, God is merely a concept, and we can’t have faith in Him. But once we hear Jesus say, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9) we immediately have something that is real, and our faith is limitless. Faith is the entire person in the right relationship with God through the power of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

share this devotional with a friend
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The Bible is a relation of facts, the truth of which must be tested. Life may go on all right for a while, when suddenly a bereavement comes, or some crisis; unrequited love or a new love, a disaster, a business collapse, or a shocking sin, and we turn up our Bibles again and God’s word comes straight home, and we say, “Why, I never saw that there before.” Shade of His Hand, 1223 L

Marc Roy((( HALLOWEEN )))

Marc Roy

((( HALLOWEEN )))

WICKED AND UNSAVED PEOPLE, AS WELL

AS TRULY DECEIVED CHRISTIANS THINK ITS

SO CUTE TO TEACH FEAR TO THEIR

CHILDREN DURING THIS CELEBRATION OF

DEATH AND HELL. THEY ALLOW THEIR

INNOCENT CHILDREN TO DRESS IN ALL

KINDS OF WICKED COSTUMES OF

VAMPIRES, WITCHES, GHOSTS, AND DEVILS.

THEY WATCH SCARY MOVIES, AND TRY TO

MAKE THE WHOLE DAY SCARY AND “FUN”.

SADLY, I ONCE THOUGH IT WAS QUITE CUTE

MYSELF TO SEE CHILDREN DRESSED UP

FOR HALLOWEEN, AND TO MY SHAME, I

EVEN ALLOWED MY OWN CHILDREN TO

DRESS UP FOR HALLOWEEN WHILE THEY

WERE YOUNGER. HOWEVER, THAT WAS

BEFORE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST SAVED

ME FROM THE WICKED ROMAN CATHOLIC

RELIGION FROM HELL. I’M A BORN AGAIN,

SPIRIT FILLED CHILD OF THE ONLY TRUE

GOD. PRAISE HIS MIGHTY NAME FOREVER.

IT WAS THEN THAT I BEGAN STUDYING

AND LEARNING GOD’S HOLY WORD FOR

MYSELF, AS COMMANDED TO IN (2 TIM

2:15). THE TRUTH IS PLAINLY WRITTEN

FOR ALL WHO HAVE EARS TO EAR. THANK

YOU, LORD JESUS.

——————————

———————-

YOU SIMPLY CANNOT BE DRINKING FROM

THE CUP OF GOD, AND THE CUP OF

DEMONS AT THE SAME TIME. CHOOSE YE

THIS DAY WHOM YOU WILL SERVE MY

FRIENDS.

1 COR 10:21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the

Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be

partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table

of devils.

——————————

————————-

1 THESSALONIANS 5:22.

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

——————————

————————-

PSALMS 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.

——————————

————————-

LOVE NOT THE WORLD, OR THE THINGS OF

THE WORLD.

1 JOHN 2:15 to 17.

15) LOVE NOT THE WORLD, OR THE THINGS

THAT ARE IN THE WORLD, IF ANY MAN

LOVES THE WORLD, THE LOVE OF THE

FATHER IS NOT IN HIM.

16) FOR ALL THAT IS IN THE WORLD, THE

LUST OF THE FLESH, AND THE LUST OF THE

EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE, IS NOT OF

THE FATHER, BUT IS OF THE WORLD.

17) AND THE WORLD PASSES AWAY, AND

THE LUST THEREOF, BUT HE THAT DOES

THE WILL OF GOD ABIDES FOREVER.

——————————————-

JAMES 4:4.

YOU ADULTERERS AND ADULTERESSES,

KNOW YOU NOT THAT THE FRIENDSHIP

WITH THE WORLD IS ENMITY WITH GOD.

THEREFORE, WHOSOEVER SHALL BE A

FRIEND OF THE WORLD, IS THE ENEMY OF

GOD.

——————————————–

ROM 12:2.

BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD, BUT

BE YE TRANSFORMED BY THE RENEWING

OF YOUR MIND, THAT YOU MAY PROVE

WHAT IS THAT GOOD, AND ACCEPTABLE,

AND PERFECT, WILL OF GOD.

——————————

—————

((( THINK ON THESE THINGS )))

((( PHILIPPIANS 4:8 )))

FINALLY, BRETHREN,

WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE TRUE,

WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE HONEST,

WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE JUST,

WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE PURE,

WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE LOVELY,

WHATSOEVER THINGS ARE OF GOOD

REPORT,

IF THERE BE ANY VIRTUE, AND IF THERE BE

ANY PRAISE,

THINK ON THESE THINGS.

IF CHRISTIANS WOULD OBEY THIS

COMMAND, AND THINK ON THOSE THINGS

ABOVE, THEY WOULD STOP PARTICIPATING

IN THIS WICKED CELEBRATION OF DEATH

AND EVIL.

PLEASE DON’T FORGET THAT FOR

CHRISTIANS, EACH DAY IS THE DAY THAT

THE LORD HAS MADE, AND WE WILL

REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT. PSALMS

118:24.

IF YOU’RE USING HALLOWEEN AS AN

OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT TO THE

LOST, YET WITHOUT PARTICIPATING IN ITS

WICKED FESTIVITIES, THAT’S WONDERFUL.

EVEN ON HALLOWEEN, WE SHOULD SAY

“THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS

MADE, AND I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN

IT”.

WE’RE COMMANDED TO REMAIN UN-

SPOTTED BY THE WORLD. HALLOWEEN IS

EVIL AND WORLDLY, AND BRINGS

REPROACH TO JESUS AND HIS HOLY

KINGDOM.

Voice of the dying Church

HATING ANYONE FOR

ANY REASON MAKES

YOU A MURDERER IN

GOD’S SIGHT, & NO

MURDERER HAS

ETERNAL LIFE ABIDING

IN THEM.

1 JOHN 3:15.

Montana Carrington

Some people in our lives don’t care who’s

feelings get hurt when they criticize, gossip,

or just talk about others. That tongue of

theirs is a lethal weapon that they have no

control over. Whatever spirit that’s inside of

them, is definitely not the holy spirit.

Remember, Jesus said that you can tell the

tree by the fruit that it produces!!

Answers From the Book

QUESTION: There is a teaching that says Jesus lived on earth as half human and half God. Is that true? ANSWER: Let me say emphatically and dogmatically; Jesus was FULLY MAN and FULLY GOD! In other words, Jesus was a true Man (i.e. Human) in every sense of the word, and He never ceased being God. Some have spoken of Jesus as the “God-Man,” for He was indeed God and Man in one Person. So, it isn’t correct to think of Him as half man and half God; He was one Person with a Divine AND Human nature.

In the First Century there were false teachings concerning the Person of Christ and to protect the truth that Jesus was fully Man and fully God the Holy Spirit inspired men to preserve this truth in the Holy Scriptures. The apostle John wrote these words in the gospel bearing his name, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS GOD…and the Word BECAME 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 1:1, 14 NKJV). These verses clearly teach that Jesus was GOD and that He “became flesh”; that is, He “became a Man.” The apostles, by faith, “beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father.” Most people only saw a man, but their faith could see beyond His humanity and recognized that He was the Son of God. Later, the apostle Paul was inspired to write, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: GOD WAS MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH” (1st Timothy 3:16).

Space forbids us from giving a detailed account of Jesus’ full humanity, so we will limit ourselves to a few scriptures. Before we do, let’s ask a basic question: “What is a human?” When God created the first man (Adam) He gave him a body, soul and spirit. Genesis 2:7 declares, “And Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul” (ASV). Man has a physical body, but he also has a soul and a spirit, which are not physical. The apostle Paul refers to man being a “tri-part being” in 1st Thessalonians 5:23, “And the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole SPIRIT, SOUL, and BODY be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The BODY connects us to the world around us with its five senses; the SOUL is the “emotional” part of man; and the SPIRIT is the “intelligent” part of man which gives us the ability to know God, for “God is Spirit” (John 4:24). It is the SPIRIT that sets us apart from the animal kingdom, for animals have a body and soul, but they were not created with a spirit. We have already seen that Jesus “became flesh,” so we know He had a true, human BODY. But did He have a SOUL and a SPIRIT? In Matthew 26:38 Jesus said, “My SOUL is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death.” We had said that the soul is the “emotional part of man” and here we see that Jesus’ SOUL was “exceedingly SORROWFUL” as He contemplated the Cross on which He would die for lost sinners. After He had endured God’s judgment for sin on the cross He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My SPIRIT.’” Thus we see that Jesus was a true Man (i.e. fully Human), with a body, soul and spirit.

Some will admit that He was a true Man, but that He was not God. They either teach that He was never God, or that when He became a Man He “emptied Himself of His Deity.” They base this on a false interpretation of Philippians 2:7 which reads, “But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.” The words “made Himself of no reputation” are literally “He emptied Himself” and thus some believe He emptied Himself of all His attributes of Deity. We believe, and Scripture confirms this, that He emptied Himself of “His rights to act as God.” He humbled Himself by become a Servant and everything He did was as a dependent Man. Again, He never ceased being God, but instead of coming to earth in blazing glory as the all-powerful God, He became a humble Servant and a true Man, in subjection to God His Father and in order to take Man’s place on the cross and to die for their sins.

Yet there were times when His Deity did shine forth, as on the Mount of Transfiguration (see Matthew 17:1-5). But on most occasions He acted, as a dependent Man, in the power of the Holy Spirit who came upon Him at His baptism (see Matthew 3:16). Yet even then the heavens were opened and the Father declared, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” When people did, by faith, recognize that He was indeed God (and not just a Man), He accepted their testimony. When He asked His apostles who they thought He was, Peter boldly declared, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). After His resurrection, He appeared to His disciples one day and we read these wonderful words, “And Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)

We could add many more scriptures that teach the same thing; Jesus was FULLY HUMAN and FULLY GOD. And the marvel is that He will continue, throughout all eternity, to be a true Man and the true God. Hebrews 13:8 confirms this, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

God’s Full ArmourGLOBAL GRACE – October 2017

God’s Full Armour

GLOBAL GRACE – October 2017

Gems Found in Romans 30. Abraham’s Redemption Through Faith Alone

Romans 4:23 -24, “The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.”

Romans 4 is set out in a logic way. Paul proves that Abraham was justified by faith alone. It could not have been the law, for Abraham lived long before the law. This could not have been circumcision because Abraham was already justified by God before the covenant of circumcision was instituted. What was it then? Please read the history of Abraham and also read Hebrews 11. God came to Abraham, told Abraham certain things, and Abraham believed and acted accordingly.

Thus, Abraham became the father of all who believe – Jew and non-Jew. For Abraham was not a Jew, neither an Israelite. Israel was the sons of Jacob. But Abraham is the father of justification by faith ONLY. Also, note that this truth has not only to do with Abraham. The Word that we too are justified by faith in this dispensation today. The law and circumcision came after Abraham and then it also came to an end. It was temporary to demonstrate the inability and weakness of the law and its rituals.

The truth that lasts forever is that we are justified by faith alone. We have no hope other than faith. Please accept Jesus as your Lord with your heart, and soul and being, and be one with Him, and praise and worship Him forever and ever.

Steve Hammer

HOLINESS IS GODWARD LOVE AND

GRATITUDE WORKING OUT INTO THE

EVERYDAY EVENTS OF YOUR LIFE.

Because you love your new Lord,you are to

cling to Him.Holiness is a person oriented

life,not a rule oriented life.We need to ask

another question here:”Do we throw out the

rules and live on sentimentalism?” Certainly

not! The law of God is now a friend who

helps us know which paths Jesus delights to

walk on.If we want to live near Him,we will

have to walk those same paths.

Holiness means devoting to God even the

mundane and common activities of life.We do

many of the same tasks,but now we do them

with a Godward heart.Holiness need not

always involve a religious event.Every area of

life can be holy because every hour of the

day can be lived focused on the Divine

King.My kitchen becomes holy when I clean

the dishes for love of Jesus.My car becomes

holy when i am able to talk with Jesus while

commute to work.Every common thing in the

Christian’s life can be transformed into a holy

thing.It shouldn’t surprise us.This is what

Zechariah said would happen when Jesus

came into the world…..

“In that day there will be inscribed on the

bells of the horses, “HOLY TO THE LORD.”

And the cooking pots in the Lord’s house will

be like the bowls before the altar. Every

cooking pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will

be holy to the Lord of hosts; and all who

sacrifice will come and take of them and boil

in them. And there will no longer be a

Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts

in that day.” -Zechariah 14:20-21

BEHOLD YOUR GOD

Tammy Noel Thomas Smith

Michael HuntIts Sunday Night

Michael Hunt

Its Sunday Night

And I was thinking “What Did You go out to See?”

Mankind wants to be entertained, it wants to be assured all is well, and that is okay; everybody want to be assured, everything is well. That is normal human desire, hope, yet that assurance does Not come from the world.

The movie industry was started for the sake of entertaining the mass of the people; and look at what has happened to it. Time and again, when we look at the world, we see All is Not well; but chaos and suffering, pain and loss of hope.

After John the Baptist was martyred by Herod, Jesus asked the crowd who gathered around Him, “What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You. (Matthew 11: 9-11)

The point I want to make clear is our peace, our assurance, our rest, is not in the world or the things we have around us, but in Jesus Christ. He is the Only true source.

That was part of the message of John the Baptist when he said, “The kingdom of God is at hand – and it is found in Jesus of Nazareth.

Numerous people accepted his message of receiving Jesus and numerous people rejected his message; Yet part of what John was saying was, in Jesus Christ, we find that peace we are looking for, true peace of heart, and mind and soul. It is found nowhere else.

Yet man, still searches in all directions and in all things and eventually realizes it does nothing; that – that search, is All in vain.

Solomon, the Great, wise king of Israel, said in his search, after his fall from the grace of God, late in his life, “Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”

As wise and great as Solomon was, he could not find that completeness, that contentment in life, in all of his searching; and neither can we.

It is not found in things, no matter how much or variety; it is all vain.

As I said, mankind wants to be entertained, it wants to be assured all is well, it wants peace and assurance, and that is okay; everybody want to be assured, everything is well. That is normal human desire, yet that assurance does Not come from the world; Solomon found that out.

It only comes through Jesus Christ as we receive Him into our life as LORD and Savior and receive the peace He has to offer; that is the way it always has always been, and the way it will always be.

Steve Hammer

Livin’ on the straightway

Prayin’ God will show

Searching all the by-ways

Fishin’ for a soul

Gettin’ whipped

Gettin’ stoned

Gettin’ locked up

Broken boned

Gettin’ robbed

Gettin’ sliced

I’ll say it nice

It takes the mind of Christ

It’s a low way to the top

If you wanna serve The Lord

It’s a low way to the top

If you wanna serve The Lord

If you think it’s easy bein’ born again

Try laborin’ in a dark and dreary land

It’s a low way to the top

If you wanna serve The Lord

Weariness

Painfulness

Make you wanna die

Hunger and thirst

Worth the reason why

Gettin’ weak

Goin’ strong

Givin’ all

Taking none

Lookin’ on

That promised land

That’s how it goes

Livin’ for The Lamb

It’s a low way to the top

If you wanna serve The Lord

It’s a low way to the top

If you wanna serve The Lord

If you wanna be great among your peers

Gird yourself up and serve in tears

It’s a low way to the top

If you wanna serve The Lord

Jason Rosselli

Malcolm Andrews

The world’s reality is a net that will surly intrap you if you don’t see it for what it truly is, nothing more than a perishing illusion, and if you put sight on this illusion you shall perish with it. Isn’t it better to put sight on what is imperishable the Almighty GOD’S Truth that comes through His Son Jesus Christ, so that you may have Eternal Life in GOD’S Heavenly Kingdom. Malcolm Andrews

Steve Hammer

J.C Ryle calls Christians to pursue holiness

by pursuing Christ:

A holy man will strive to be like our Lord

Jesus Christ. He will not only live the life of

faith in Him, and draw from Him all his daily

peace and strength–but he will also labor to

be conformed to His image (Romans 8:29).

It will be his aim . . .

to bear with and forgive others–even as

Christ forgave us;

to be unselfish–even as Christ pleased not

Himself;

to walk in love–even as Christ loved us;

to be lowly-minded and humble–even as

Christ humbled Himself.

A holy man will remember . . .

that Christ would continually deny Himself in

order to minister to others;

that He was meek and patient under

undeserved insults;

that He thought more of godly poor men,

than of kings;

that He was full of love and compassion to

sinners;

that He was bold and uncompromising in

denouncing sin;

that He sought not the praise of men, when

He might have had it;

that He went about doing good;

that He was separate from worldly people;

that He continued instant in prayer;

that He would not let even His nearest

relations stand in His way, when God’s work

was to be done.

All these things, a holy man will try to

remember. By them, he will endeavor to

shape his course in life.

He will lay to heart the saying of John: “He

who says he abides in Christ, ought himself

also so to walk, even as He walked” (1 John

2:6); and the saying of Peter, that “Christ

suffered for us, leaving us an example that

you should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

Happy is he who has learned to make Christ

his “all,” both for salvation and example!

Much time would be saved, and much sin

prevented–if men would oftener ask

themselves the question: “What would Jesus

have said and done–if He were in my

place?”

J.C. Ryle

Jo Ann

Voice of the dying Church

Cutting edge

A book about ww3 from cutting edge:

The “nuclear confrontation in Korea” will

first break out, followed by the Israeli attack

against the Palestinians, which fulfills

Obadiah and Isaiah 34 . Other wars will soon

break out, thus giving the Global Elite their

World War III !

Then, once Israel is triumphant over her

Arab foes once again, the Arabs will turn to

Russia, asking for President Putin to invade

Israel with his more powerful Russian

military, since the Arabs can simply not

defeat the Jewish State by themselves. Even

though Putin was planning to use the

Russian military in a different manner, the

Holy Spirit forces the Russian overlord “Gog”

to “put a hook in his jaws” to turn him

around to lead an attack against Israel in

fulfillment of Ezekiel 38-39.

Iran (Ancient Persia) will be destroyed by

God as her forces assemble with Russian

forces on the border of Israel, just as this

Ezekiel prophecy foretold 2,600 years ago!

(Amazing detail given in “Russian Bear

Poised To Attack Israel” )

The Rapture of the Church will occur

somewhere along this time frame!

Oswald Chambers

SubstitutionBy Oswald Chambers
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. —2 Corinthians 5:21
The modern view of the death of Jesus is that He died for our sins out of sympathy for us. Yet the New Testament view is that He took our sin on Himself not because of sympathy, but because of His identification with us. He was “made…to be sin….” Our sins are removed because of the death of Jesus, and the only explanation for His death is His obedience to His Father, not His sympathy for us. We are acceptable to God not because we have obeyed, nor because we have promised to give up things, but because of the death of Christ, and for no other reason. We say that Jesus Christ came to reveal the fatherhood and the lovingkindness of God, but the New Testament says that He came to take “away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). And the revealing of the fatherhood of God is only to those to whom Jesus has been introduced as Savior. In speaking to the world, Jesus Christ never referred to Himself as One who revealed the Father, but He spoke instead of being a stumbling block (see John 15:22-24). John 14:9, where Jesus said, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father,” was spoken to His disciples.
That Christ died for me, and therefore I am completely free from penalty, is never taught in the New Testament. What is taught in the New Testament is that “He died for all” (2 Corinthians 5:15)— not, “He died my death”— and that through identification with His death I can be freed from sin, and have His very righteousness imparted as a gift to me. The substitution which is taught in the New Testament is twofold— “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” The teaching is not Christ for me unless I am determined to have Christ formed in me (see Galatians 4:19).

share this devotional with a friend
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
Jesus Christ can afford to be misunderstood; we cannot. Our weakness lies in always wanting to vindicate ourselves. The Place of Help, 1051 L

Answers From the Book

QUESTION: Can you speak on what particular dreams signify? ANSWER: In the scriptures, the Lord sometime spoke to people in their dreams. One good example is Joseph, son of Jacob. We read in Genesis 37:5-8, “And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.” Joseph dreamed that he would one day rule over his brothers, and this caused their hate of him to grow deeper. We then read in verse 20, “Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams.” They thought that by killing Joseph, they could kill his dreams. Later, as a prisoner in an Egyptian prison, Pharaoh’s butler and baker were in prison with Joseph. They had dreams, but did not know what they meant. Joseph was able to interpret their dreams. You can read about this in Genesis, chapter 40.

* SOME DREAMS WERE DECEPTIVE as we read in Jeremiah 23:25-26, “I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart.”

* SOME DREAMS WERE BORN OUT OF LONGING as in Isaiah 29:8, “It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.” * SOME DREAMS CAME NATURALLY because of the activities of the day as we read in Ecclesiastes 5:3, “For a dream cometh through the multitude of business.”

So while the Lord did communicate at times through dreams, not all dreams were from the Lord.

Do dreams carry any significance today? I certainly cannot rule out the Lord using a dream to guide or warn us, but the principal way in which God communicates with people today is through Christ in His Word. Hebrews 1:1-2 tells us, “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” (NASB)

It is clear from the New Testament example that Christians today are to seek God’s complete Word for knowledge and direction, and not through private dreams that are so open to private interpretations. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is PROFITABLE for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” It is the Word of God that is inspired, infallible, and inerrant. Our dreams are not dependable in leading us. The activities we participate in, the foods that we eat, the things we occupy our minds with can all influence the contents of our dreams. If you need guidance, if you are concerned about the plans the Lord has for you, if you are perplexed about the activity of the world around you…look to the Word of God. That is where the Lord will speak to us. That is where we can be sure to find the Lord’s mind about our situations. That is where we find absolute authority concerning truth and following God’s truth as found in His Word.

God’s Full ArmourGLOBAL GRACE – October 2017

God’s Full Armour

GLOBAL GRACE – October 2017

Gems Found in Romans 29. The Cross and the Resurrection – The Foundation of Our Blessings

Romans 4:25- 5:5, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” What do you get from the crucifixion and resurrection?

1. Peace with God

2. Access to God

3. Boasting in the hope of the glory of God

4. Joy in our tribulations 5. The love of God poured into our hearts

All this come through Jesus’ cross and His resurrection. We should not go looking for joy and peace and love elsewhere. Only Jesus in our lives can provide this. With Him we have everything and without Him NOTHING. This is also the message in John 3:35-36, “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in His hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” We should be clear about this: there is no such thing anymore as law and religion. There is only one thing: our attitude towards the Lord Jesus Christ. What do people do in churches? They want to hear a nice message or have some or other “experience”, they seek proof, they want to be blessed, etc. But God has only one purpose: His Son must be glorified in us!

God’s Full ArmourPROPHETIC UPDATE

God’s Full Armour

PROPHETIC UPDATE

28 October 2017 Where is your heart?

2 Tim. 4:8: “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” Titus 2:13: “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Please don’t allow any church of pastor to make you feel guilty because you want to know when the Rapture will take place. The two verses above are true, without a doubt. There will be a prize for those who are looking forward to our Lord’s glorious appearance. The verse from Titus also states that the first and normal reaction in a person’s heart, after being saved and after Jesus is living in him or her, is the fact that they are looking forward to our Lord’s coming for his children, the Rapture.

How can anyone look forward to such an event without being interested in when it will take place? Is it possible to look forward to something without wanting to know WHEN and HOW LONG? No, it’s not. But now, most big churches have been trying for years to convince thier members that it is a sin to want to know WHEN. They say you’re allowed to look forward to it, but you’re not allowed to want to know when. This is absurd. Have you ever heard of anyone who is looking forward to a coming holiday and not counting the days?

This is why our Lord, who knows our hearts, in his great love gave us the signs of the times, as well as the greatest sign: Israel’s return to their land. Threre is nothing wrong with searching the scriptures to find out more about the times and circumstances of our Lord’s return. Indeed, if we don’t do this there is something wrong with our hearts. Then it means we don’t yet have that eager longing and expectation our verses talk about. It is true that some people will take advantage of our expectation for their own profit, and they say things about the Rapture which are not justified in the Bible. But that is why we have a Bible. Hear what they say, and then read the Bible to see if it is the truth.

It is true that we could make a mistake in our expectation that it will be NOW, and then it doesn’t happen straight away. Will we have sinned then? No! We cannot believe it for a second! Rather, we think we have gained by learning more about the Bible, and that is what our Lord wants us to do. Please don’t allow churches or the LAW of others with no vision to forbid you to even ask or wonder when it will be. Our Lord wants our hearts to be in the Rapture. The two verses above are very clear about this. And if our hearts are truly in it, we will continue studying and searching the Word about how and when it will happen.

Glad Tidings TabernacleReady to Forgive by David Wilkerson

Glad Tidings Tabernacle

Ready to Forgive by David Wilkerson

It is well known that King David fell into horrible sin, committing adultery and covering it up with murder. Moreover, we know David was full of the Holy Spirit, so he must have been miserable. The prophet Nathan confronted him, saying, “You have brought reproach on God’s name.” David could only go for so long carrying the weight of the horrible acts he had perpetrated and he immediately confessed and repented. Even as he was still weeping Nathan assured him, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die” (2 Samuel 12:13).

Yet, hearing that assurance wasn’t enough for David. You see, it is one thing to be forgiven and quite another to be free and clear with the Lord. David knew that forgiveness was the easy part. Now he wanted to get things right with God, to be able to get his joy back. So he cried, “Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11). Psalm 51 was written as David remembered the merciful, longsuffering nature of the Lord. In the opening verse he appeals to God’s tender forgiveness: “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.”

David knew just what to do. He cried out! “This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles” (34:6).

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. . . The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles” (Psalm 34:15 and 17).

Dear saint, your victory over every battle is learning to possess this confidence: No matter how grievously you have fallen, you serve a Lord who is ready to forgive. Indeed, he is anxious to heal you. He possesses more lovingkindness toward you than you could ever need.

Paula MailletOctober 28His Rebukes Are From A Heart Of Love

Paula Maillet

October 28

His Rebukes Are From A Heart Of Love

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,

my soul shall be joyful in my God;

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

Isaiah 61:10

Sometimes life just gets you down. Yesterday the Lord showed me something unpleasant within myself and it put a huge damper on my day. Even though I worked through it before him successfully, I was kicking myself for thinking I was right when in fact I had an entirely wrong attitude. It got me down. Yes truly, in spite of my struggles, I HAVE been clothed with the garments of salvation and I HAVE been given a robe of HIS righteousness, and he IS in the process of adorning me with the jewels befitting a bride.

When I finished my daily reading in the Old Testament, I went to the New Testament only to find that today’s passage is this:

“…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us,

and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith,

who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…”

Hebrews 12:1-2 Yes, Father, for the joy set before me I WILL endure the cross, and I WILL set aside the sin which so easily ensnares me, and I WILL run this race with endurance. And how can I thank you enough for shining your light on the imperfections within me – NOT for the purpose of making me feel bad, but to bring me through to repentance which will add another jewel for this bride.

Faithful are your rebukes, oh Lord, for they lead me to higher and greater maturity which is done for my growth and happiness in you.

Streams in the Desert – October 292017Oct 29

Streams in the Desert – October 29
2017Oct 29

He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver (Malachi 3:3).
Our Father, who seeks to perfect His saints in holiness, knows the value of the refiner’s fire. It is with the most precious metals that the assayer takes the most pains, and subjects them to the hot fire, because such fires melt the metal, and only the molten mass releases its alloy or takes perfectly its new form in the mould.
The old refiner never leaves his crucible, but sits down by it, lest there should be one excessive degree of heat to mar the metal. But as soon as he skims from the surface the last of the dross, and sees his own face reflected, he puts out the fire.

–Arthur T. Pierson
He sat by a fire of seven-fold heat,

As He watched by the precious ore,

And closer He bent with a searching gaze

As He heated it more and more.

He knew He had ore that could stand the test,

And He wanted the finest gold

To mould as a crown for the King to wear,

Set with gems with a price untold.

So He laid our gold in the burning fire,

Tho’ we fain would have said Him ‘Nay,’

And He watched the dross that we had not seen,

And it melted and passed away.

And the gold grew brighter and yet more bright,

But our eyes were so dim with tears,

We saw but the fire–not the Master’s hand,

And questioned with anxious fears.

Yet our gold shone out with a richer glow,

As it mirrored a Form above,

That bent o’er the fire, tho’ unseen by us,

With a look of ineffable love.

Can we think that it pleases His loving heart

To cause us a moment’s pain?

Ah, no! but He saw through the present cross

The bliss of eternal gain.

So He waited there with a watchful eye,

With a love that is strong and sure,

And His gold did not suffer a bit more heat,

Than was needed to make it pure.

Rhonda Ballance

Father God, Please teach me how to choose

Your joy instead of trying to create it on

my own. I want to know You more and

experience the joy that only You can give.

Today, please teach me how to be a joy-

giver. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Rosalie Robbins

Steve Hammer

A WORD MANY DO NOT WANT TO HEAR!

What if the trial you are going through does

not come with:

—“Favor!”

—“Earthly blessing!”

—“Financial prosperity!”

—“A new season!”

—“A shifting in the atmosphere!”

—“A breakthrough!”

What if YOUR trial is THIS trial:

—Peter: Crucified upside down

—Andrew: Scourged then Crucified

—James: Beheaded (He led his executioner

to Christ…and the 2 men were executed

together.)

—Philip: Scourged and Crucified

—Bartholomew: Flayed alive by the Whip

—Thomas: Run through with a Spear

—Matthew: Slain by the Sword

—James (the Less): Beaten, Stoned, Thrown

from the Temple, then Clubbed to death

—Thaddeus: Crucified

—Simon the Zealot: Crucified

—Paul: Beaten and Crucified

Jesus did NOT say take up your “Seed

Faith”… take up your “Favor”… take up your

“Destiny”… take up your “Shifting in the

Atmosphere”… take up your “Breakthrough”…

take up your “Positive Declarations and

Decrees”…

…NOR did Jesus say take up your JOEL

OSTEEN declarations… take up your KIM

POTHIER declarations… take up your

JOSEPH PRINCE declarations… take up your

JOYCE MEYER declarations… take up your

JESSE DUPLANTIS declarations… take up

your BETH MOORE declarations… take up

your STEVEN FURTICK declarations… take up

your CHRISTINE CAINE declarations… take

up your PERRY STONE declarations… take up

your PAULA WHITE-CAIN declarations… take

up your BILL JOHNSON declarations… take

up your BETHEL declarations… take up your

JESUS CULTURE declarations… take up your

HILLSONG declarations:

Jesus said take up your CROSS…and that

ONE WORD left an INDELIBLE mark on the

lives of those who followed Him!

The Church today does little more than offer

PLATITUDES…with the call to “Take up your

PACIFIERS…”

…”and follow your favorite Biblically illiterate

FALSE TEACHER!”

How… can… ANYONE… not… see…

through… the… MARKETING… of… a…

“ministry”… to… see… the… MOTIVE…of…a

…ministry!

Most “ministries” BANK on the DESIRES of

SELF-FOCUSED sheep to be PACIFIED…

MAGNIFIED… DEIFIED… MESMERIZED…

“PROPHESIED”… OCCUPIED… and WEALTH-

A-FIED…

…which causes MOST sheep to become

MUMMIFIED!

You would think that the “kiddos” would

wake up and cry:

“Pastor…what big EARS you have!

Pastor…what big TEETH you have!

Pastor…what big LIES you spread!”

Few…even VERY few of my FRIENDS (here

on FB and in my personal life)…have enough

DISCERNMENT to recognize the

DIFFERENCES between SHEPHERDS and

WOLVES…

…and…

…even FEWER have enough TRUTH hidden in

their hearts that would enable them to

STAND when PERSECUTION comes!

Most “Christians” will RENOUNCE Christ

when the proverbial “chips are down.”

Why?

Matthew 7:14 Because narrow is the gate

and difficult is the way which leads to life,

and there are few who find it.

Most “Christians” will be chasing “favor and

blessings” down the WIDE ROAD when the

CLIFF arrives without WARNING.

Matthew 7:26-27 “But everyone who hears

these sayings of Mine, and does not do them,

will be like a foolish man who built his house

on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the

floods came, and the winds blew and beat on

that house; and it fell. And great was its

fall.”

Be sure…if “God” is speaking through the

“Prophet/Prophetess” to “Take up your

checkbook and follow me!”…then your

FAVORITE “minister” is a WOLF.

And…if “God” is speaking through the

“Prophet/Prophetess” saying “Your

breakthrough is coming!”….”I feel a SHIFTING

in the ATMOSPHERE!”…”I feel it! Your FAVOR

is COMING! Share this and see your

FINANCES turn around!”…then your

FAVORITE “minister” is a WOLF.

God is STILL preaching REPENTANCE.

Written by our good friend Ron Smith.

Don’t just pray… REPENT AND OBEY!

# GOSPELTELL

Ron Smith

Steve Hammer

It would be far easier to write a book about

apostates in this age, than a book of

martyrs! Thomas Watson [HOW TRUE

TODAY!] # apuritansmind

C Matthew McMahon

_Hos 4:6

With millions claiming

to know Jesus, why

only a few will enter

heaven? Because to

them the Bible is

subjective

Steve Hammer

Lord anything in my life that would separate

me from you remove it!! Remember me Lord

Jesus when you come for your Bride!! No way

do I want to be left on this earth when the

chaos really starts!! I love you, I believe in

you and I want to spend eternity in Heaven

with you and not Hell! Forgive and wash me

clean of sins known and unknown. Holy Spirit

keep my life under conviction so that I will

walk holy and acceptable unto the Lord.

Teach me, guide me into ALL truth! Give me

the strength that I need to endure until the

end. Keep a repentive and humble heart

within me. I pray all this in Jesus mighty

name Amen!!

Rose Ervin

Steve Hammer

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful,

and sharper than any two-edged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul

and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and

is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of

the heart” Heb. 4:12

When God opens our eyes that we may know

the ‘intents of our heart’ and the deepest

thoughts within us, even as He, Himself

knows us! This, my dear friends of God, is

revelation in a most profound, powerful way.

Not necessarily, to ‘see God’; but, to SEE

WHAT GOD SEES!!!

Here, we are ‘divided asunder’ by His Word!

Here, we become ‘enlightened’ by His

‘piercing’ Light!

Here, we receive ‘revelation’ of who we really

are in Christ!

Here, the Holy Spirit ‘reveals’ us, as HE SEES

US!

And, such ‘revelation’ bestows upon us a

supernatural KNOWING of not just who we

‘want to be’, not just of who we ‘desire to be’,

but, of who He made us to be!

Stephen Trussell

Malcolm Andrews

The Most High GOD hates lies, He hates half truths, bent Truth, manipulated Truth He hates mans truth, for man does not know how to speak truth. Truth is a foreign language to man, and deception is his native tongue. Malcolm Andrews

Oswald Chambers

Justification by FaithBy Oswald Chambers
If when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. —Romans 5:10
I am not saved by believing— I simply realize I am saved by believing. And it is not repentance that saves me— repentance is only the sign that I realize what God has done through Christ Jesus. The danger here is putting the emphasis on the effect, instead of on the cause. Is it my obedience, consecration, and dedication that make me right with God? It is never that! I am made right with God because, prior to all of that, Christ died. When I turn to God and by belief accept what God reveals, the miraculous atonement by the Cross of Christ instantly places me into a right relationship with God. And as a result of the supernatural miracle of God’s grace I stand justified, not because I am sorry for my sin, or because I have repented, but because of what Jesus has done. The Spirit of God brings justification with a shattering, radiant light, and I know that I am saved, even though I don’t know how it was accomplished.
The salvation that comes from God is not based on human logic, but on the sacrificial death of Jesus. We can be born again solely because of the atonement of our Lord. Sinful men and women can be changed into new creations, not through their repentance or their belief, but through the wonderful work of God in Christ Jesus which preceded all of our experience (see 2 Corinthians 5:17-19). The unconquerable safety of justification and sanctification is God Himself. We do not have to accomplish these things ourselves— they have been accomplished through the atonement of the Cross of Christ. The supernatural becomes natural to us through the miracle of God, and there is the realization of what Jesus Christ has already done— “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

share this devotional with a friend
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
No one could have had a more sensitive love in human relationship than Jesus; and yet He says there are times when love to father and mother must be hatred in comparison to our love for Him. So Send I You, 1301 L

Streams in the Desert – October 282017Oct 28

Streams in the Desert – October 28
2017Oct 28

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ . . . and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus(Ephesians 2:4-6).
This is our rightful place, to be “seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,” and to “sit still” there. But how few there are who make it their actual experience! How few, indeed think even that it is possible for them to “sit still” in these “heavenly places” in the everyday life of a world so full of turmoil as this.
We may believe perhaps that to pay a little visit to these heavenly places on Sundays, or now and then in times of spiritual exaltation, may be within the range of possibility; but to be actually “seated” there every day and all day long is altogether another matter; and yet it is very plain that it is for Sundays and week-days as well.
A quiet spirit is of inestimable value in carrying on outward activities; and nothing so hinders the working of the hidden spiritual forces, upon which, after all, our success in everything really depends, as a spirit of unrest and anxiety.
There is immense power in stillness. A great saint once said, “All things come to him who knows how to trust and be silent.” The words are pregnant with meaning. A knowledge of this fact would immensely change our ways of working. Instead of restless struggles, we would “sit down” inwardly before the Lord, and would let the Divine forces of His Spirit work out in silence the ends to which we aspire.
You may not see or feel the operations of this silent force, but be assured it is always working mightily, and will work for you, if you only get your spirit still enough to be carried along by the currents of its power.

–Hannah Whitall Smith
There is a point of rest

At the great center of the cyclone’s force,

A silence at its secret source;

A little child might slumber undisturbed,

Without the ruffle of one fair curl,

In that strange, central calm, amid the mighty whirl.
It is your business to learn to be peaceful and safe in God in every situation.

Marc Roy

MANY PROFESSING

CHRISTIANS THINK

THAT BEING FREE IN

CHRIST MEANS TO

FREELY LIVE IN SIN.

HOW TWISTED!

Gina Lollar McCray

To Christians who have NOT BEEN obeying the Savior’s COMMAND to WATCH:

It is high time that you heed the warnings of those who HAVE BEEN obediently WATCHING.

God foreknew that most Believers would NOT BE WATCHING in the Last Days. Thus, He lovingly appointed WATCHMEN for your benefit, so ALL would be alerted to prepare.

Please listen to to the alarm we are sounding!

Luke 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.

Luke 12:37-40 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he comes shall find WATCHING when He comes.

Matthew 24:42 WATCH therefore: for you know not what hour your Lord does come.

Matthew 25:13 WATCH “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return. Mark 13: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep WATCH.

Mark 13:35-37 Therefore KEEP WATCH because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back… If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you, I SAY TO EVERYONE: ‘WATCH!’”

Stephen ThomasWords to Ponder

Stephen Thomas

Words to Ponder

We go from Malachi to Matthew in one page of our scriptures, but that one piece of paper that separates the Old Testament from the New Testament represents 400 years of history – 400 years where there wasn’t a prophet, 400 years where God’s voice wasn’t heard. And that silence was broken with the cry of a baby on Christmas night. – Louie Giglio

Malcolm Andrews

When a man is in Spiritual hunger he goes to a Church and there he receives a piece of cardboard with a little jam on it, and this nullifies the hunger pains, but does not give him the Spiritual nourishment to live a Holy and Godly life.

Steve Hammer

You say, “well i love secular music.” Let me

just share something with you: I don’t care.

I’m not going to go there ; this is what am

going to tell you: it doesn’t matter to me

whether it’s SECULAR or CHRISTIAN. My

question is, what’s being said in those

words? Because if what’s being said in

those words contradicts the will of God,

you’re violating his will and you’re loving it.

~Paul Washer.

Steve Hammer

He who professes to be in Christ says, that

he acts upon higher principles, and is

impelled by nobler motives, and sustained

by higher strength, and cheered by sweeter

joy, and animated by brighter prospects,

than persons in general. Then, surely, it is

to be expected that his conduct should be

more blameless, upright, and exemplary

than those who make no such claim.

Audra Baerga

JoAnn N Alan

Romanism is a gigantic system of Church-

worship, sacrament-worship, Mary-

worship, saint-worship, image-worship,

relic-worship, and priest-worship! In one

word, Romanism is a huge organized

idolatry!

J.C. Ryle

Rhonda BallanceWhere Am I Looking?

Rhonda Ballance

Where Am I Looking?

One of the reasons believers struggle with assurance of salvation is that they are looking in the wrong place. A common error is that we take our eyes off our Saviour and we begin looking at our own faith or we look at our own life. As we gaze upon SELF we get discouraged very quickly.

The believer looking within:

As I look at my own faith, I get discouraged. My faith seems to be shaky. The more I look at my faith the more I begin to wonder and question: “Do I really believe as I should? Is my faith really good enough? Am I really a true believer? This is what usually happens as we get our eyes off the Lord and onto our own weak and frail faith. Another similar problem is when I look upon my own Christian life. I contemplate the way I have been living–my failures and faults and failings. I begin thinking, “How can I be saved if I live this way? I fall so far short of what I know God wants me to be. Am I really His child?”

But God never told us to look at our faith for assurance of salvation. He never told us to look at our own life and our own good works or lack of good works. No, God tells us to be “looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

The believer looking without:

What a difference it makes when I fix my eyes on the Saviour. The more I look, the more I discover how wonderful my Saviour is and what a perfect salvation He has obtained for me. “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17) because it is in the Word that I see my Saviour and learn of His sufficiency! My faith is not wonderful, but my Saviour is wonderful and He is the One that I am trusting. I am not trusting my faith, I am not trusting my good works, but I am trusting my Christ. I’m not a person with great faith; I’m a person with little faith in a great God! The more we get our eyes on the Lord–who He is, what He has done, what He has said–the more we will have that blessed assurance.

Faith is not some complicated thing. Faith is simply looking to Christ (Isaiah 45:22; John 3:14-16). Faith is seeing Christ as God pictures Him in the Word. The question is not, “How good is my faith?” The question is not, “How good is my walk?” But rather the questions is, “How good is my Saviour?” The question is not, “Am I believing?” but rather it is, “IN WHOM am I believing and in what direction am I looking?” Instead of desperately searching our deceitful hearts trying to find faith, we need to joyfully search God’s Word looking to find Christ.

Spurgeon once said, “I looked at Christ. The dove of peace flew in my heart. I looked at the dove of peace. It flew away.” The same thing could be said about faith. Faith is fixing my eyes upon the wonderful Saviour of sinners! When I turn my eyes away from Jesus and start gazing at my own faith or at my own quality of living, this is when I have problems. I need to look away from SELF and see the Lord. The Christian life is to continue in the same way that it commenced: “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord (by looking unto Him in simple childlike trust), so WALK YE IN HIM” (Col. 2:6). Let’s get our eyes on the lovely Saviour and move forward with our full confidence in Him!

Stephen ThomasEphesians 5:15-16

Stephen Thomas

Ephesians 5:15-16

Be very careful, then, how you live — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Stephen Thomas

Like this road .. life does not continue forever … however our eternity will. So it’s about time we invest into our eternity … today and every day.

Blessings saints.

Rhonda Ballance

“She gleaned in the field after the reapers:

and her hap was to light on a part of the

field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the

kindred of Elimelech.”

Ruth 2:3

Her hap was. Yes, it seemed nothing but an

accident, but how divinely was it overruled!

Ruth had gone forth with her mother’s

blessing, under the care of her mother’s God,

to humble but honourable toil, and the

providence of God was guiding her every

step. Little did she know that amid the

sheaves she would find a husband, that he

should make her the joint owner of all those

broad acres, and that she a poor foreigner

should become one of the progenitors of the

great Messiah. God is very good to those

who trust in him, and often surprises them

with unlooked for blessings. Little do we

know what may happen to us to-morrow, but

this sweet fact may cheer us, that no good

thing shall be withheld. Chance is banished

from the faith of Christians, for they see the

hand of God in everything. The trivial events

of today or to-morrow may involve

consequences of the highest importance. O

Lord, deal as graciously with thy servants as

thou didst with Ruth.

How blessed would it be, if, in wandering in

the field of meditation tonight, our hap should

be to light upon the place where our next

Kinsman will reveal himself to us! O Spirit of

God, guide us to him. We would sooner glean

in his field than bear away the whole harvest

from any other. O for the footsteps of his

flock, which may conduct us to the green

pastures where he dwells! This is a weary

world when Jesus is away–we could better

do without sun and moon than without him–

but how divinely fair all things become in the

glory of his presence! Our souls know the

virtue which dwells in Jesus, and can never

be content without him. We will wait in

prayer this night until our hap shall be to

light on a part of the field belonging to Jesus

wherein he will manifest himself to us.

Charles Spurgeon

Rhonda Ballance

1 Peter 5:6-7 (KJV) Humble yourselves

therefore under the mighty hand of God, that

he may exalt you in due time: Casting all

your care upon him; for he careth for you.

“Just Be Held”

Hold it all together

Everybody needs you strong

But life hits you out of nowhere

And barely leaves you holding on

And when you’re tired of fighting

Chained by your control

There’s freedom in surrender

Lay it down and let it go

So when you’re on your knees and answers

seem so far away

You’re not alone, stop holding on and just be

held

Your worlds not falling apart, its falling into

place

I’m on the throne, stop holding on and just

be held

Just be held, just be held

If your eyes are on the storm

You’ll wonder if I love you still

But if your eyes are on the cross

You’ll know I always have and I always will

And not a tear is wasted

In time, you’ll understand

I’m painting beauty with the ashes

Your life is in My hands

Lift your hands, lift your eyes

In the storm is where you’ll find Me

And where you are, I’ll hold your heart

I’ll hold your heart

Come to Me, find your rest

In the arms of the God who wont let go

Casting Crowns – Just Be Held

=RD2Lf7bu5ZYx0

Jeremiah 29:11 (KJV) For I know the

thoughts that I think toward you, saith the

LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to

give you an expected end.

Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a stronghold

in the day of trouble; he knows those who

take refuge in him.

God’s Full ArmourGLOBAL GRACE – October 2017

God’s Full Armour

GLOBAL GRACE – October 2017

Gems Found in Romans 23. Righteous and Justifying

Romans 3:25-26, “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished — He did it to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”

If our Lord was just righteous and did not make us righteous, then we would all be heading for hell. The righteousness of God requires sin to be punished. And if He only justifies and is not righteous Himself, then He could not be God anymore and could not judge on the last day. But praise God, now, on the basis of what He did in Jesus Christ on the cross, He can be both righteous and also be a justifier at the same time. For Jesus fulfilled the righteousness of God and carried our punishment on the cross. Jesus gives God the way to justify and for us to stay justified. Many churches do not read this verse properly. God’s righteousness AND His justification of sinners come through Jesus’ blood and through the faith of those who accept God’s offer. It does NOT come by sending people to hell before their birth and some to heaven (election). If the idea of election was true, God certainly would be no more than a merciless tyrant.

Yes, our Lord is powerful and almighty and worthy of honour. There is no one like Him. No idol on earth can say that He is both righteous and also justifies whoever sees Him in faith.

Rhonda BallanceSELF-INFLICTED ADVERSITYPsalm 119:65-72 (KJV)

Rhonda Ballance

SELF-INFLICTED ADVERSITY

Psalm 119:65-72 (KJV)

65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O

Lord, according unto thy word.

66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge:

for I have believed thy commandments.

67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but

now have I kept thy word.

68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me

thy statutes.

69 The proud have forged a lie against me:

but I will keep thy precepts with my whole

heart.

70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I

delight in thy law.

71 It is good for me that I have been

afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me

than thousands of gold and silver.

The difficulties we face originate from one of

three sources. Some are sent to us by the

Lord to test our faith, others are the result of

Satan’s attacks, and still others are due to

our own sinful choices.

As you consider these three causes, which

type is the hardest for you to bear? I think

most of us would say the last one, because

we have nobody to blame but ourselves and

it seems as if no good can possibly come

from it. After all, the Word of God says we

will reap what we have sown (Galatians 6:7),

so we see nothing ahead except a painful

harvest.

What this kind of thinking fails to take into

account is the Lord’s redemptive abilities.

Although He never promises to remove all

the consequences of sin, He can use our

failures to teach us to fear Him, hate evil,

and walk in obedience. The difficult lessons

we learn can also become our protection

from sin in the future. Having suffered the

pain of going our own way, we’re more likely

not to take that path again.

God often uses our own mistakes as tools to

get our attention. He won’t let His beloved

children get away with sin, because He

knows it robs us of blessings, opportunities,

and even character refinement.

As painful as your situation may be, thank

your heavenly Father for caring enough to

send out His loving discipline. Now it’s up to

you. How will you respond to His correction?

When we learn from experience, the scars of

sin can lead us to restoration and a renewed

intimacy with God.

In Touch Ministries

Oswald Chambers

What is a Missionary?By Oswald Chambers
Jesus said to them again, “…As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” —John 20:21
A missionary is someone sent by Jesus Christ just as He was sent by God. The great controlling factor is not the needs of people, but the command of Jesus. The source of our inspiration in our service for God is behind us, not ahead of us. The tendency today is to put the inspiration out in front— to sweep everything together in front of us and make it conform to our definition of success. But in the New Testament the inspiration is put behind us, and is the Lord Jesus Himself. The goal is to be true to Him— to carry out Hisplans.
Personal attachment to the Lord Jesus and to His perspective is the one thing that must not be overlooked. In missionary work the great danger is that God’s call will be replaced by the needs of the people, to the point that human sympathy for those needs will absolutely overwhelm the meaning of being sent by Jesus. The needs are so enormous, and the conditions so difficult, that every power of the mind falters and fails. We tend to forget that the one great reason underneath all missionary work is not primarily the elevation of the people, their education, nor their needs, but is first and foremost the command of Jesus Christ— “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:19).
When looking back on the lives of men and women of God, the tendency is to say, “What wonderfully keen and intelligent wisdom they had, and how perfectly they understood all that God wanted!” But the keen and intelligent mind behind them was the mind of God, not human wisdom at all. We give credit to human wisdom when we should give credit to the divine guidance of God being exhibited through childlike people who were “foolish” enough to trust God’s wisdom and His supernatural equipment.

share this devotional with a friend
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
Jesus Christ is always unyielding to my claim to my right to myself. The one essential element in all our Lord’s teaching about discipleship is abandon, no calculation, no trace of self-interest.

Disciples Indeed

Steve Hammer

Sin alienates God’s mind from the sinner,

and justly, for it is the alienation of the

sinner’s mind from God; but woe, and a

thousand woes, to those from whom God’s

mind is alienated; for whom he turns from

he will turn against.

Matthew Henry

Steve Hammer

A person once called me to ask this question:

“Mr. Tozer, do you think a person who is

really a Christian can hurt another Christian?”

There is no easy answer-but I had to reply:

“Yes, I think so.” Why is it that a man can be

on his knees one day, praying earnestly, and

the next day be guilty of offending or injuring

another Christian? I think it is because we are

halfway between heaven and hell. It is

because the light-and the shadow-fall upon

us. The best answer is that we are being

saved out of all these contradictions we find

in our lifetime. Perhaps on this earth we will

never be able to comprehend fully the awful,

terrible price the Lord of all beauty paid to

gain our redemption; to save His people from

the ugliness of sin. If you do not know Him

and worship Him, if you do not long to reside

where He is, if you have never known wonder

and ecstasy in your soul because of His

crucifixion and resurrection, your claim of

Christianity has little foundation!

A. W. Tozer Sermon:Light And Shadows

Steve Hammer

Note, Those reap no benefit by their religion

that are not entire and sincere in it; nor can

we have any comfortable communion with

God in ordinances of worship unless we be

inward and upright with him therein. We

make nothing of our profession if it be but

a profession.

Note, Those who think to serve themselves

by sin will find in the end that they have

but enslaved themselves to sin.

Matthew Henry

The Need of Perfect Solitude – Streams in the Desert – October 262017Oct 26

The Need of Perfect Solitude – Streams in the Desert – October 26
2017Oct 26

He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when evening was come, he was there alone(Matthew 14:23).
The man Christ Jesus felt the need of perfect solitude–Himself alone, entirely by Himself, alone with Himself. We know how much intercourse with men draws us away from ourselves and exhausts our powers. The man Christ Jesus knew this, too, and felt the need of being by Himself again, of gathering all His powers, of realizing fully His high destiny, His human weakness, His entire dependence on the Father.
How much more does the child of God need this–himself alone with spiritual realities, himself alone with God the Father. If ever there were one who could dispense with special seasons for solitude and fellowship, it was our Lord. But He could not do His work or maintain His fellowship in full power, without His quiet time. Would God that every servant of His understood and practiced this blessed art, and that the Church knew how to train its children into some sense of this high and holy privilege, that every believer may and must have his time when he is indeed himself alone with God.
Oh, the thought to have God all alone to myself, and to know that God has me all alone to Himself!

–Andrew Murray
Lamertine speaks in one of his books of a secluded walk in his garden where his mother always spent a certain hour of the day, upon which nobody ever dreamed for a moment of intruding. It was the holy garden of the Lord to her.
Poor souls that have no such Beulah land! Seek thy private chamber, Jesus says. It is in the solitude that we catch the mystic notes that issue from the soul of things.
A MEDITATION
My soul, practice being alone with Christ! It is written that when they were alone He expounded all things to His disciples. Do not wonder at the saying; it is true to thine experience. If thou wouldst understand thyself send the multitude away. Let them go out one by one till thou art left alone with Jesus… Has thou ever pictured thyself the one remaining creature in the earth, the one remaining creature in all the starry worlds?
In such a universe thine every thought would be “God and I! God and I!” And yet He is as near to thee as that – as near as if in the boundless spaces there throbbed no heart but His and thine.
Practice that solitude, O my soul! Practice the expulsion of the crowd! Practice the stillness of thine own heart! Practice the solemn refrain “God and I! God and I!” Let none interpose between thee and thy wrestling angel! Thou shalt be both condemned and pardoned when thou shalt meet Jesus alone!

–George Matheson

Steve Hammer

Note, Sinners do that which provokes God

because they forget him; they forget their

descent from him, dependence on him, and

obligations to him; they forget how valuable

his favour is, which they make themselves

unfit for, and how formidable his wrath,

which they make themselves obnoxious to.

Those that pervert their ways forget the Lord

their God,

Matthew Henry

Jer 3:Jer. 3:21 KJV – 21 A voice was heard

upon the high places, weeping

andsupplications of the children of Israel: for

they have perverted their way, and they have

forgotten the LORD their God.

Deuteronomy 8:19-20

“It shall come about if you ever forget the

LORD your God and go after other gods and

serve them and worship them, I testify

against you today that you will surely perish.

“Like the nations that the LORD makes to

perish before you, so you shall perish;

because you would not listen to the voice of

the LORD your God.

Psalm 10:4 (KJV) The wicked, through the

pride of his countenance, will not seek after

God: God is not in all his thoughts.

Over 50 times in scripture, God in His mercy

talks about the plight of those who forget

Him.

Oh please Lord, in thy mercy, be in all my

thoughts, direct all my steps, let me abide on

your Holy Hill, for your glory.

Steve Hammer

I remember a time…

A time when I was young…

A time when the Church was TRULY

successful…

A time when UNITY in DOCTRINE was the

very FOUNDATIONAL PURPOSE of gathering

together to WORSHIP…this time of

CORPORATE study of God’s Word that helped

SOLIDIFY not only WHAT we BELIEVED…but

WHY we BELIEVED it…finding the TRUTH in

the CONTEXT of the Word of God…

A time when Ephesians 4:11-16 helped us

understand that being “tossed to and fro and

carried about with every wind of doctrine”

was a CLEAR warning that we should

EXAMINE what was being taught from a

PULPIT…and that it would be “by the trickery

of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful

plotting” that DECEPTION would one day

enter into the Church…

A time when it did not hurt our feelings to

hear a SHEPHERD cry “Grow up! Stop the

nonsense! Get right with God!”…

A time when we realized that TRUE “Church

Growth” occurs NOT when ATTENDANCE

increases…but when KNOWLEDGE and

WISDOM and DISCERNMENT increases…

A time when we realized that the TRUE

Church did not bask in a “grace” that

ALLOWS it to sin…but it WEPT in

REPENTANCE because of the GRACE that

bids us NOT to sin…

A time when THIS was REAL and TRUE and

POWERFUL and SOUGHT AFTER…

Ephesians 4:11-16 And He Himself gave

some to be apostles, some prophets, some

evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,

12 for the equipping of the saints for the work

of ministry, for the edifying of the body of

Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the

faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

to a perfect man, to the measure of the

stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we

should no longer be children, tossed to and

fro and carried about with every wind of

doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the

cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15

but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up

in all things into Him who is the head—Christ

— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and

knit together by what every joint supplies,

according to the effective working by which

every part does its share, causes growth of

the body for the edifying of itself in love.

It was a time when the Church was MARKED

by the DIFFERENCES between ITSELF and the

WORLD…a time of some of the Church’s

greatest successes.

—We had no gym.

—We had no softball and soccer fields.

—We had NO CONCEPT that the CHURCH

was supposed to provide for us our

ENTERTAINMENT in ANY area.

Church was where we came to hear what God

had to say to the people of God…and…even

as a teen…with the same fluctuations that

every teen seems to possess spiritually…I

recognized the importance of distinguishing

between ENTERTAINMENT and HEARING

FROM GOD and WORSHIPING GOD.

The Church…and every service…was a VERY

SERIOUS matter.

It did not matter WHAT was going on with the

youth…whether we were listening to the

sermon or not…

…and to DENY that FACT would be to

LIE…which I will not do…

…but…when we KNEW God was

speaking…we SHUT UP….and…we felt the

HOLY PRESENCE of God…and a HOLY HUSH

filled the room.

You could feel the presence of the Holy

Spirit…and the CONVICTION that was taking

place.

—How small I felt in the Presence of God!

—How SINFUL I felt in His Presence!

—How UNWORTHY I felt before such a

MIGHTY, HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, JUST, and ALL

POWERFUL GOD!

Yet…I weep…as I SELDOM…if EVER…see that

occurring in MOST churches today.

Instead…I see a Church that wants to be

MOTIVATED instead of MADE NEW…

…a Church that wants to be CHARMED

instead of CHANGED…

…a Church that wants to be

PAMPERED…while ABSENT of God’s

PRESENCE.

You see…the TRUE Presence of God is AWE

INSPIRING and THE MOST

HUMBLING…POWER…ON…EARTH!

In Scripture…every person who even drew

NEAR to God was brought down…with His

Presence being SO OVERWHELMING…and SO

HOLY…that those who experienced it fell

before Him!

When God’s glory filled the Temple…look

what happened:

1 Kings 8:4-6, 10-11 Then they brought up

the ark of the Lord, the tabernacle of meeting,

and all the holy furnishings that were in the

tabernacle. The priests and the Levites

brought them up. 5 Also King Solomon, and

all the congregation of Israel who were

assembled with him, were with him before

the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen that could

not be counted or numbered for multitude. 6

Then the priests brought in the ark of the

covenant of the Lord to its place, into the

inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most

Holy Place, under the wings of the

cherubim…..10 And it came to pass, when

the priests came out of the holy place, that

the cloud filled the house of the Lord, 11 so

that the priests could not continue

ministering because of the cloud; for the

glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

The GLORY of the Lord was so

OVERWHELMING that the priests could not

even stand to minister.

When the GLORY of the Lord came…when the

PRESENCE of God was PROPERLY positioned

in the Temple…when EVERYTHING had been

done EXACTLY as God had INSTRUCTED it to

be DONE…

…men had to GET OUT OF THE WAY…and

there was NO chance…NO opportunity…for

ANYONE to MANIPULATE the “anointing”…N

O opportunity for ANYONE to MERCHANDISE

the MOMENT…NO opportunity for ANYONE to

promote SELF over the HOLY SPIRIT of God!

The Presence of God had ENTERED His

TEMPLE…and NOTHING could SUPERCEDE

His almighty POWER and PRESENCE!

Today…we have REVERSED the POSITION

between God and man…and MAN has now

become the CENTRAL FIGURE…the MAIN

FOCUS…of the Church:

The Church has been told for so long that it

is “the head and not the tail”…that God wants

us “victorious”…that God wants us

“financially wealthy”…that God’s focus is on

our “blessing”…

…AND…in our state of DELUSION…

…we have forgotten to EXAMINE

OURSELVES…and we fail to realize just how

GREAT God is and just how LITTLE and

SINFUL and UNWORTHY and DEPENDENT we

are on Him!

We have become SELF-EXALTED by the

MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING of ministers who

seek to “make us feel good about

ourselves”…as we have become so FOND of

OURSELVES that we have exalted

US…relegating God to our ALMIGHTY

“helper” and “supplier.”

Today…most in the Church serve God for

what they can GET from Him…NOT for Who

God IS.

To most…God has become the TICKET to

wealth and health and happiness…

….and…He has ceased to be the Lion of the

Tribe of Judah…the Lamb of God…the

Righteous Judge who will one day judge all

that has been said and done here on earth.

We want God as the God of LOVE…but we

reject Him as the God that we must OBEY

and SERVE…

…and…we reject Him as the God we must

BOW BEFORE.

We do NOT want to HUMBLE ourselves in

any form or fashion…as we seek to be

EXALTED and LIFTED UP and PRAISED…and

even DEIFIED in many cases…as we “declare

and decree FAVOR and BLESSINGS” over our

lives!

We make GODS out of ministers who “build”

a large church…falsely assuming that they

did so by FOLLOWING GOD.

We ignore the truth of God’s Word…as the

Bible tells us that the CROWDS will follow

those who say what they want to hear…a

sign of the last days.

Few PULPITS…if ANY…seem willing to

EXAMINE themselves…being willing to see

WHICH spirit it was that TRULY helped them

grow.

Many ASSUME it was God…believing that

ATTENDANCE and CHURCH SIZE are the

“signs of God’s anointing” on their ministry.

PULPITS and PEWS are content with what

THEY have built…never realizing that God

was NEVER the ARCHITECT they CLAIMED

He was during the PROCESS.

God’s Word shows TWO HOUSES being

built…IDENTICAL in outward appearance, I

always picture…yet ONE house was built on

the ROCK…and the other was built on the

SAND.

When the storms came…the foundation of

each house was REVEALED…and those who

built their HOUSE on the false beliefs and

false teachings and false gospels found that

they did not have the FOUNDATION to endure

the storm…and GREAT was the FALL of those

houses built on the SAND.

Matthew 7:22-27 “Many will say to Me in

that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied

in Your name, cast out demons in Your

name, and done many wonders in Your

name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I

never knew you; depart from Me, you who

practice lawlessness!’ “Therefore whoever

hears these sayings of Mine, and does them,

I will liken him to a wise man who built his

house on the rock: and the rain descended,

the floods came, and the winds blew and

beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it

was founded on the rock. But everyone who

hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do

them, will be like a foolish man who built his

house on the sand: and the rain descended,

the floods came, and the winds blew and

beat on that house; and it fell. And great was

its fall.”

What will it take to wake us up…to REVIVE

the Church?

I believe God is saying we NEED a HOLY

DISCONTENT with our present status…and

we will NOT see the Lord’s hand MOVE again

UNTIL we become DISSATISFIED with the

STATUS QUO.

“Modern Church” is an ILLUSION…and ONLY

when we RETURN to the WORD will we once

again be ESTABLISHED in TRUTH.

It is THEN…and ONLY then…that we will see

the POWER of God breaking chains of

DECEPTION within the Church…and FALSE

TEACHERS will be EXPOSED as the WOLVES

they are.

Sometimes…we find our way along OLD

paths.

Ron Smith

Voice of the dying Church

Surrounded by your glory

What will my heart feel?

Will I dance for you, Jesus, Or in awe of you be still?

Will I stand in your presence

Or to my knees will I fall?

Will I sing hallelujah?

Will I be able to speak at all? I can only imagine

Paula MailletDAILY DEVOTIONAL – October 25

Paula Maillet

DAILY DEVOTIONAL – October 25

Don’t Put It Off -Choose Now While The Door Is Still Open

“For the grace of God that brings salvation

has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts,

we should live soberly, righteously,

and Godly in the present age,

looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing

of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…” Titus 2:11-13

For some, the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ is a greatly anticipated event. For others, it is the most dreaded event in all of history. It motivates the former to live Godly lives and reach as many souls as possible before that door closes. But for the latter, the motto is “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”

It comes down to choices. Now, before this event takes place, make your choice. When the door closes, choice will be no more. VIEW PIC:

Stephen Thomas

The Rapture – By Dr. David R. Reagan

The Rapture is a glorious event which God has promised to the Church.

The promise is that someday very soon, at the blowing of a trumpet and the shout of an archangel, Jesus will appear in the sky and take up His Church, living and dead, to Heaven.

Stephen ThomasWords to Ponder

Stephen Thomas

Words to Ponder

In every way it has now come to this, that what one now calls Christianity is precisely what Christ came to abolish. – Soren Kierkegaard (1813-55)

History God’s Full ArmourGLOBAL GRACE – October 2017Gems Found in Romans

History God’s Full Armour

GLOBAL GRACE – October 2017

Gems Found in Romans

22. Grace Without Merit

Romans 3:24, “and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus…” Here the Holy Spirit wants to make sure we understand what is grace by adding the words “without merit” or “freely” to it. In Greek, the word is “doorean” – also found in John 15:25. They hated Jesus “for no reason”. Look at the incredible contrast between the two occurrences. Jesus was hated without reason and we were loved and saved without reason. Jesus was found guilty and condemned for no reason. We are totally found guilty according to Romans 1-3 and without reason, we have been redeemed. That is what the word “without merit” actually means: “without reason”.

Dear friends, please understand that grace is a new dispensation. Jesus never said these things during His ministry on earth. Where did Jesus ever say, “leave the law behind; you are now free and free of the judgement of the law”? The reason? Because Jesus’ ministry on earth was to the Jews (Romans 15:8). And who are the Jews? They were Jews because they were under the law. Take away the law and there would be no Jews. That’s what we looked at yesterday. Being a Jew and the law have now been dispensed of. “There is now no distinction.” Jews or Gentiles are now saved “by grace alone” and “without a reason”.

And do we understand what grace means? Yes, it is “undeserved favour.” But there is more. This “favour” is a positive love approach with great affection from the person with grace in his heart. Grace is “charis” in Greek: Charis has various meanings, (a) objective, that which bestows or occasions pleasure, delight, or causes favourable respect …. (b) subjective (1) on the part of the bestower, the friendly disposition from which the kind act proceeds … (2) on the part of the receiver, a sense of the favour bestowed, a feeling of gratitude. Grace is three things. For the one giving, pleasure in the heart that the gift creates and the joy and gratitude of the one who receives. Thirdly, it is the selfless interest that in both cases is concentrated on the other person. The law did not do this well! Praise God for the gift of His grace! Lord, teach us to live in Your grace and to bestow mercy ourselves.

Paula MailletOctober 24

Paula Maillet

October 24

Win Them With Gentleness

“But AVOID foolish and ignorant disputes,

knowing that they generate strife,

and a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,

IN HUMILITY correcting those who are in opposition,

if God perhaps will grant them repentance

so that they may know the truth,

and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil,

having been taken captive by him to do his will.”

2 Timothy 2:23-26

Arguing and quarreling produce only hard feelings.

If you find yourself opposed by someone who is worked up in anger and wanting to argue with you, you do NOT have to join it. Blessed is the one who is able to control his own spirit in such a circumstance because it’s only human to shout back – but that will NOT solve anything. Prepare your heart beforehand that you will not be prodded into such a fruitless circumstance.

As a believer, always remember who you represent. Who knows but that your opponent may even be won to Christ if you are in control of your response. “A soft answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,

but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.”

Proverbs 15:1-2

Streams in the Desert – October 242017Oct 24

Streams in the Desert – October 24
2017Oct 24

I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument (Isa. 41:15).
A bar of steel worth five dollars, when wrought into horseshoes, is worth ten dollars. If made into needles, it is worth three hundred and fifty dollars; if into penknife blades, it is worth thirty-two thousand dollars; if into springs for watches it is worth two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. What a drilling the poor bar must undergo to be worth this! But the more it is manipulated, the more it is hammered, and passed through the fire, and beaten and pounded and polished, the greater the value.
May this parable help us to be silent, still, and longsuffering. Those who suffer most are capable of yielding most; and it is through pain that God is getting the most out of us, for His glory and the blessing of others.

–Selected
Oh, give Thy servant patience to be still,

And bear Thy will;

Courage to venture wholly on the arm

That will not harm;

The wisdom that will never let me stray

Out of my way;

The love that, now afflicting, knoweth best

When I should rest.
Life is very mysterious. Indeed it would be inexplicable unless we believed that God was preparing us for scenes and ministries that lie beyond the veil of sense in the eternal world, where highly-tempered spirits will be required for special service.
“The turning-lathe that has the sharpest knives produces the finest work.”

Malcolm Andrews

To find The True Path To The ALMIGHTY GOD through His Son JESUS CHRIST, you must have a repented mind, a rent heart and anguish to your soul, so that you may walk humbly on the Ancient Path of Righteousness to you True Home your Heavenly Home.

Malcolm Andrews

Oswald Chambers

The Proper PerspectiveBy Oswald Chambers
Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ… —2 Corinthians 2:14
The proper perspective of a servant of God must not simply be as near to the highest as he can get, but it must be the highest. Be careful that you vigorously maintain God’s perspective, and remember that it must be done every day, little by little. Don’t think on a finite level. No outside power can touch the proper perspective.
The proper perspective to maintain is that we are here for only one purpose— to be captives marching in the procession of Christ’s triumphs. We are not on display in God’s showcase— we are here to exhibit only one thing— the “captivity [of our lives] to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). How small all the other perspectives are! For example, the ones that say, “I am standing all alone, battling for Jesus,” or, “I have to maintain the cause of Christ and hold down this fort for Him.” But Paul said, in essence, “I am in the procession of a conqueror, and it doesn’t matter what the difficulties are, for I am always led in triumph.” Is this idea being worked out practically in us? Paul’s secret joy was that God took him as a blatant rebel against Jesus Christ, and made him a captive— and that became his purpose. It was Paul’s joy to be a captive of the Lord, and he had no other interest in heaven or on earth. It is a shameful thing for a Christian to talk about getting the victory. We should belong so completely to the Victor that it is always His victory, and “we are more than conquerors through Him…” (Romans 8:37).
“We are to God the fragrance of Christ…” (2 Corinthians 2:15). We are encompassed with the sweet aroma of Jesus, and wherever we go we are a wonderful refreshment to God.

share this devotional with a friend
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
An intellectual conception of God may be found in a bad vicious character. The knowledge and vision of God is dependent entirely on a pure heart. Character determines the revelation of God to the individual. The pure in heart see God.Biblical Ethics, 125 R

Malcolm Andrews

The Most High GOD’S Holy Truth has existed from the beginning and can be seen in everything He has created, many have the ability to see this Truth, but few have the ability to understand it. Malcolm Andrews

Oswald Chambers

Steve Hammer

Ez 16:1 Again the word of the LORD came

unto me, saying,

2 Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her

abominations,

I. This is his commission (v. 2): “Cause

Jerusalem to know her abominations (that is,

her sins); set them in order before her.’

Note,1. Sins are not only provocations which

God is angry at, but abominations which he

hates, as contrary to his nature, and which

we ought to hate, Jer. 44:4.2. The sins of

Jerusalem are in a special manner so. The

practice of profaneness appears most odious

in those that make a profession of religion.3.

Though Jerusalem is a place of great

knowledge, yet she is loth to know her

abominations; so partial are men in their own

favour that they are hardly made to see and

own their own badness, but deny it, palliate

or extenuate it.4. It is requisite that we

should know our sins, that we may confess

them, and may justify God in what he brings

upon us for them.5. It is the work of

ministers to cause sinners, sinners in

Jerusalem, to know their abominations, to set

before them the glass of the law, that in it

they may see their own deformities and

defilements, to tell them plainly of their

faults. Thou art the man.

Matthew Henry

We are a people that need to be told or

shown our sin, yet so often we run from the

very people that see enough and love enough

to speak to us,

Please God grant me great humility, to

recieve correction without which I will be

stopped in my growth. Send people that see

in the Spirit to be my constant companions.

Amen

Voice of the dying Church

IN THE STORY OF THE

GOOD SAMARITAN, WE

LEARNED THAT WE

(MUST) HELP OUR

NEIGHBOR IN NEED.

WHO DID WE LEARN

WAS OUR TRUE

NEIGHBOR?

Voice of the dying Church

YOU DON’T PREACH

THE GOSPEL TO GET

KNOWN BUT PREACH

THE GOSPEL SO

PEOPLE WILL KNOW

JESUS

Steve Hammer

If you are not a Christian in your

shop, you’re not a Christian in your closet.

William Gurnall

Ryan Gibbons

If you are not freely a Christian everywhere,

your christianity is partial, lukewarm,

sporadic at best. If there is no passionate

excitement, a true love and hunger for the

things of eternity in Christ, than please spend

more time on your knees, in the Word and

prayer that God in His mercy would reveal

Himself to you.

Those who He has revealed Himself to are

eternally changed because of the new heart

He gives.

Ez 36:26 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.

27 And I will put my spirit within you, and

cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye

shall keep my judgments, and do them.

A new heart full of the heartbeat of God,

could He have given more?

Steve Hammer

If you are not a Christian in your

shop, you’re not a Christian in your closet.

If you are not freely a Christian everywhere,

your christianity is partial, lukewarm,

sporadic at best. If there is no passionate

excitement, a true love and hunger for the

things of eternity in Christ, then please spend

more time on your knees, in the Word and

prayer that God in His mercy would reveal

Himself to you.

Those who He has revealed Himself to are

eternally changed because of the new heart

He gives.

Ez 36:26 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.

27 And I will put my spirit within you, and

cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye

shall keep my judgments, and do them.

A new heart full of the heartbeat of God,

could He have given more?

Marc Roy

I LOVE THAT OLD

SAYING “IF YOU DON’T

HAVE ANYTHING GOOD

TO SAY ABOUT

SOMEONE, DON’T SAY

ANYTHING AT ALL”

GUARD YOUR WORDS.

Martin Luther

Linda MacDonald > Gleaning from the

Puritans

“No one can believe how powerful prayer is

and what it can effect, except those who

have learned it by experience. Whenever I

have prayed earnestly, I have been heard

and have obtained more than I prayed for.

God sometimes delays, but He always

comes.”

~Martin Luther

A little humor:

A Rabbi was meditating on Psalm 90:4 and

said to the LORD; ‘LORD, can I ask you a

question?’ and the LORD said ‘Sure’.

The Rabbi asked ‘LORD what is your concept

of time?’ and the LORD replied ‘One second

is as a million years, and a million years as

one second’.

The Rabbi thought “Hmm that’s interesting”

and said ‘LORD, can I ask you another

question’ and the LORD replied ‘Sure’.

The Rabbi asked ‘LORD what is your concept

of money?’ and the LORD replied ‘One cent is

as a million dollars, and a million dollars as

one cent’.

The Rabbi thought “Hmm that’s interesting”

and said ‘LORD, can I ask you one more

question’ and the LORD replied ‘Sure’.

The Rabbi asked ‘Lord, can I have one cent?’

and the LORD replied ‘Sure, just give me one

second’.

Oswald Chambers

Nothing of the Old Life!By Oswald Chambers
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. —2 Corinthians 5:17
Our Lord never tolerates our prejudices— He is directly opposed to them and puts them to death. We tend to think that God has some special interest in our particular prejudices, and are very sure that He will never deal with us as He has to deal with others. We even say to ourselves, “God has to deal with other people in a very strict way, but of course He knows that my prejudices are all right.” But we must learn that God accepts nothing of the old life! Instead of being on the side of our prejudices, He is deliberately removing them from us. It is part of our moral education to see our prejudices put to death by His providence, and to watch how He does it. God pays no respect to anything we bring to Him. There is only one thing God wants of us, and that is our unconditional surrender.
When we are born again, the Holy Spirit begins to work His new creation in us, and there will come a time when there is nothing remaining of the old life. Our old gloomy outlook disappears, as does our old attitude toward things, and “all things are of God” (2 Corinthians 5:18). How are we going to get a life that has no lust, no self-interest, and is not sensitive to the ridicule of others? How will we have the type of love that “is kind…is not provoked, [and] thinks no evil”? (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). The only way is by allowing nothing of the old life to remain, and by having only simple, perfect trust in God— such a trust that we no longer want God’s blessings, but only want God Himself. Have we come to the point where God can withdraw His blessings from us without our trust in Him being affected? Once we truly see God at work, we will never be concerned again about the things that happen, because we are actually trusting in our Father in heaven, whom the world cannot see.

share this devotional with a friend
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The measure of the worth of our public activity for God is the private profound communion we have with Him.… We have to pitch our tents where we shall always have quiet times with God, however noisy our times with the world may be. My Utmost for His Highest, January 6, 736 R

Michael HuntIts Sunday night

Michael Hunt

Its Sunday night

And I was thinking about “Judah’s Rebellion”

‘Where will you be stricken again, As you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick And the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head There is nothing sound in it, Only bruises, welts and raw wounds, Not pressed out or bandaged, Nor softened with oil.

Your land is desolate, Your cities are burned with fire, Your fields– strangers are devouring them in your presence; It is desolation, as overthrown by strangers.” Isaiah 1: 6

The following is an interpretation and application of the verses

“From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it…Every member of the body politic was afflicted in one way or another, sadly infected with the disease of sin;

wounds and bruises, and putrefying sores; to which either public calamities on a city or nation may be compared. They are all stubborn and rebellious, they are defiled with sins as an ulcerous plaster.”

What a sad decree upon a nation; upon a people, a Holy God declared they became totally corrupt and spiritually rotten from their foot, to the head; which means from the general population, to the ruling government. There were no good in it.

That was speaking concerning the nation of Judah when it left off the laws and precepts of a Holy and Righteous God, in their life and way of government; and over a period of time, the nation of Judah became rotten, “from the sole of the foot even unto the head, there is no soundness in it.”

God was comparing the result of spiritual depravity of an individual or nation, to a diseased and sick body, there was no health in it, there was no soundness in it, there was no wholeness in it, only sickness and disease.

The LORD was speaking of morality, social inter-action, the mind and heart and the spiritual condition; nothing but guilt and corruption.

I put forth the supposition that verse of Scripture, also speaks to what we are seeing in our nation, today.

“From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it…Every member of the body politic was afflicted in one way or another, sadly infected with the disease of sin.”

A member of a news discussion group said just the other day, and I paraphrase, “It is a shame we are seeing the media sink to a new level of lowness. There is no shame.”

Not only has the news media sank to a new low, but also the elements of our society, morality, social inter-action, the mind and heart and the spiritual condition; nothing but guilt and corruption. We read the decree of God upon Judah, and rest assured, any nation or group of people who reject the law and precept of God and “go their own way” over a period of time and fall into corruption and wickedness which is prevalent from the foot, to the head, will fall under the same decree and judgment.

God is no respecter of persons, what applied during the Old Testament, applies today.

Our nation, as a result of spiritual depravity, is a diseased and sick body, to the point of no health in it, to the point of no soundness in it, only sickness and disease.

There is only one way to heal our nation, our society, our people, and that is pouring the ointment of the Holy Spirit out upon it, seeking forgiveness and God’s mercy and grace.

Judah did not and it went to ruins.

There is still time for America, however time is running out. It is either return to the LORD or stand under the hand of the LORD which we will bring upon ourselves. There is no other choice; Judah found that out. And there is no other choice, now.

Streams in the Desert – October 232017Oct 23

Streams in the Desert – October 23
2017Oct 23

There hath not failed one word of all his good promise (1 Kings 8:56).
Some day we shall understand that God has a reason in every NO which He speaks through the slow movement of life. “Somehow God makes up to us.” How often, when His people are worrying and perplexing themselves about their, prayers not being answered, is God answering them in a far richer way! Glimpses of this we see occasionally, but the full revelation of it remains for the future.

If God says ‘Yes’ to our prayer, dear heart,
And the sunlight is golden, the sky is blue,
While the smooth road beckons to me and you,
And the song-birds warble as on we go,
Pausing to gather the buds at our feet,
Stopping to drink of the streamlets we meet,
Happy, more happy, our journey will grow,
If God says ‘Yes’ to our prayer, dear heart.

If God says ‘No’ to our prayer, dear heart,
And the clouds hang heavy and dull and gray;
If the rough rocks hinder and block the way,
While the sharp winds pierce us and sting with cold;
Ah, dear, there is home at the journey’s end,
And these are the trials the Father doth send
To draw us as sheep to His Heavenly fold,
If God says ‘No’ to our prayer, dear heart.

Oh for the faith that does not make haste, but waits patiently for the Lord, waits for the explanation that shall come in the end, at the revelation of Jesus Christ! When did God take anything from a man, without giving him manifold more in return? Suppose that the return had not been made immediately manifest, what then? Is today the limit of God’s working time? Has He no provinces beyond this little world? Does the door of the grave open upon nothing but infinite darkness and eternal silence?

Yet, even confining the judgment within the hour of this life, it is true that God never touches the heart with a trial without intending to bring upon it some grander gift, some tenderer benediction. He has attained to an eminent degree of Christian grace who knows how to wait.

–Selected

When the frosts are in the valley,
And the mountain tops are grey,
And the choicest buds are blighted,
And the blossoms die away,
A loving Father whispers,
“This cometh from my hand”;
Blessed are ye if ye trust
Where ye cannot understand.

If, after years of toiling,
Your wealth should fly away
And leave your hands all empty,
And your locks are turning grey,
Remember then your Father
Owns all the sea and land;
Blessed are ye if ye trust
Where ye cannot understand.
–Selected

Stephen ThomasA few Bible Facts

Stephen Thomas

A few Bible Facts

While it took over 1,000 years to write the Old Testament, the New Testament was written within a period of 50-75 years.

Adam’s name is from the Hebrew word a da ma, which means “the ground.”

The Bible is the best-selling book in history, with total sales exceeding 5 billion copies.

There are 93 women who speak in the Bible, 49 of whom are named. They speak a total of 14,056 words, or about 1.1% of the Bible. There are a total of 188 named women in the Bible.[

The world’s smallest bible can fit on the tip of a pen. Scientists etched the 1.2 million letters of the Old Testament on a tiny silicone disk, which they call the Nano Bible.

The Bible doesn’t mention how many wise men visited Christ, only that they brought three types of gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Muslims believe that the Bible is revelation from God that has been corrupted by men. They believe that the Qu’ran is its correction.

The Bible is the most commonly stolen book in the world, most likely because it is so available in hotel rooms and places of worship. The longest word in the Bible is “Mahershalalhashbaz (Isaiah 8:3)

The King James Bible contains 788,258 words, 31,102 verses, 1,189 chapters, and 66 books

In 1631, a publishing company published a Bible with the typo “Thou Shalt Commit Adultery.” Only 9 of these Bibles, known as the “Sinners’ Bible” exist today.

Stephen ThomasWords to Ponder

Stephen Thomas

Words to Ponder

Prayer is essentially a partnership of the redeemed child of God working hand in hand with God toward the realization of His redemptive purposes on earth. – Jack W. Hayford

Oswald Chambers

October 20
Is God’s Will My Will?By Oswald Chambers
This is the will of God, your sanctification… —1 Thessalonians 4:3
Sanctification is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me— is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ? Am I willing to let Jesus become sanctification to me, and to let His life be exhibited in my human flesh? (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). Beware of saying, “Oh, I am longing to be sanctified.” No, you are not. Recognize your need, but stop longing and make it a matter of action. Receive Jesus Christ to become sanctification for you by absolute, unquestioning faith, and the great miracle of the atonement of Jesus will become real in you.
All that Jesus made possible becomes mine through the free and loving gift of God on the basis of what Christ accomplished on the cross. And my attitude as a saved and sanctified soul is that of profound, humble holiness (there is no such thing as proud holiness). It is a holiness based on agonizing repentance, a sense of inexpressible shame and degradation, and also on the amazing realization that the love of God demonstrated itself to me while I cared nothing about Him (see Romans 5:8). He completed everything for my salvation and sanctification. No wonder Paul said that nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:39).
Sanctification makes me one with Jesus Christ, and in Him one with God, and it is accomplished only through the magnificent atonement of Christ. Never confuse the effect with the cause. The effect in me is obedience, service, and prayer, and is the outcome of inexpressible thanks and adoration for the miraculous sanctification that has been brought about in me because of the atonement through the Cross of Christ.

share this devotional with a friend
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The life of Abraham is an illustration of two things: of unreserved surrender to God, and of God’s complete possession of a child of His for His own highest end.Not Knowing Whither, 901 R

Lone Ranger

Bible Prophecy WatcherProclaiming Bible Prophecy, Biblical Truth, and the Second Coming of Yeshua HaMashiach
Christians Have Become Blind, Deceived, Distracted and Weak
Posted by Lone Ranger
If You Don’t Know God and His Word, You Will Be Deceived and You Will be Lost!
“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 … And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” -Matt 7:21, 23 (KJV)
We in America live in a culture rich with technology and material wealth. We have many freedoms although some are being stripped away even as I write this. Christians are being targeted from a broad range of sources but who is aware and even more startling who cares? It’s the political ‘left’ against the conservative ‘right’ and it’s getting uglier by the week. But why is this happening here in the land of the free where at one time men feared and respected Almighty God? The answer is simple for those that are in touch with their Bibles and the answer can be found in covert deceit and deception on an ever-widening and increasing scale. We can see the results of this in most cases but what is occurring behind the scenes … in the spiritual realm?
There is a clandestine spiritual dumbing down of Christians here in America and for that matter in many nations of the world! Why? Because Christians fail to regularly read their Bibles and pray, because they do not know the God of the Bible, because they are not taught or aware of the schemes of the Devil. And as a result they are being covertly caught in the web of his cunning and wicked snares.
This is no joke!!
I see it everywhere – in and out of church. Oh yes, many go to church, sing a few songs and hear a soft, mushy, watered-down, non-engaging Gospel but rarely get any spiritual meat! They never hear about their sin and how you must repent in order to enter the Kingdom of God – Matt 3:2; Mark 1:15; Luke 13:1-5. In fact, many Christians or those who call themselves the same, don’t want to discuss or even talk about the Lord. Are they ashamed or embarrassed of Him … look out –Luke 9:26. Many care more of what people say of them than what the Lord thinks of them and how they live. Why? They have little knowledge of who God is, they display little faith, respect and fear of the Lord. This produces weak and ineffective Christians with no knowledge of the spiritual armor and spiritual weapons at their disposal. They are prime wide-open targets for the Enemy of their Soul – Satan! And mark these words he is after you like a roaring lion seeking to devour your soul – 1 Pet 5:8
“Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices (schemes).” -2 Cor 2:11 (KJV, emphasis added)
As this spiritual warfare continues, Christians are being blinded and distracted [by the things of this world] from the truths found in the word of God and many don’t even realize it. With current events fulfilling Bible Prophecy in ever increasing detail, people, it seems, could care less. They have been trapped and snared into lethargy and apathy, mocking and scoffing at those that proclaim He is soon to return. Many only care about their possessions, wealth or positions of importance. The Devil has deceived many into believing these are not the last days, the Lord will not return, Israel is not important any more and we are safe and secure in our land. HA! Many have and are falling for these lies. For example, as reported on mainstream news now several times, crazed, insane Islamic terrorists are on America soil, our geopolitical enemies (Russia, Iran, China, N Korea) have threatened us, buzzed our coasts and could attack without warning. We live in a volatile and dangerous world with nations now wanting our demise.
But who in America – who in Christendom knows of these things and who cares? Are these things ever mentioned from our church pulpits? I dare say NO they are not! Why? Cowardly pastors fear offending the people.How many of these lily-livered pastors care enough about their flock to tell them the [yes, offensive] truths of our Lord?
So, you see, Satan’s warfare against Christians continues almost unabated and with his cunning and ruthless tactics he advances against us with fear, distractions and deceptions of all kinds. He pursues us with the weight and cares of our lives deepening and as a result we become numb and blind to the truth right in front of us – 2 Cor 4:4. Christians have become weak, sickly and deceived more so than at any time in the past, hugely apathetic and as such they are ripe for the fiery darts from principalities in high places (Eph 6:12). We need to wake up and don our spiritual armor and take a stand for Christ. Know Him, know His will, read His word daily without fail.
It’s also time we stood on His word for His promises are clear and in faith we must stand strong. We are not to cower to the Devil’s ploys against us – sicknesses, worry, doubt, despair, guilt, fear, etc – these things make us weak and timid and shows the faith of God does not rule in our hearts and minds and this is not pleasing to Him – Heb 11:6. Stand up Christian – pray in faith, take the authority and power the Lord has given you and use it! (Luke 10:19). Pray for family and friends in faith, in belief – do it daily, never give up and never be discouraged. Do not be distracted, pray without ceasing, peel back weakness and walk by faith and not by sight – 2 Cor 5:7.
And then …? Know your enemy! If you don’t know his tactics and schemes you will be destroyed – he will take you down! I’m not talking just physically, I am also speaking eternally. For if you do not trust in the Lord and have faith in Him, you may fall away to the world and as a result you may not see the Kingdom of God – Prov 2:13; Eze 18:24; 2 Pet 2:20-21; 1 Tim 4:1; Rev 2:4-5. This prospect should shake your soul to its core! (I do not believe in nor support the “once saved, always saved” doctrine as I find no evidence for it in the Word of God.)
“If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles… if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle.” – Sun Tzu (“The Art of War” – 6th century BC)
Friends, it’s time for a sense of URGENCY! Throw off your garment of apathy concerning Christ and His soon return. Pastor’s start warning your people as to the signs flashing like red lights at a railroad crossing. The hour is late and for those that aren’t paying attention He will come as a thief in the night – 1 Th 5:1-4. It’s time we got into our Bible and read it! Study it daily and immerse ourselves in the Lord. Pray, fast, seek His face and learn from His Holy Spirit. Now is the time, for the world will not get better, it will only get worse as prophesied in the Book of Revelation (and others). It’s time for Christians to heed the call to watch and witness of His soon return; the signs are here and others coming fast, we must be awake prepared with our lamps full of oil ready for the return of the Bridegroom – Jesus Christ . We must be like the five wise virgins and not the five foolish ones (read the parable in Matt 25:1-13). We must be alert and warn others; we must know our Bibles; we must know who the enemy of our soul is so we can turn him back with our spiritual weapons. Do not be weak, do not be lethargic in your faith. Be strong in the power of the Lord – Eph 6:10. Are you saved? If not, why not?
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” -Eph 6:10-12

-BPWatcher, Internet Preacher and Bible Prophecy Watchman
THE KING IS COMING! Are You Ready?

God’s Full ArmourPROPHETIC UPDATE21 October 2017 Deception on a grand scale

God’s Full Armour

PROPHETIC UPDATE

21 October 2017 Deception on a grand scale

What is the greatest sign of the last days? Of course, we know that Israel is the greatest sign, but when we think about Israel it is more in terms of the greatest prophecy which will be fulfilled in the last days. When we talk about signs, however, the most important one is DECEPTION.

When the disciples ask in Matt. 24:3 when these things will happen, and what the signs of the end of the age will be, the first thing Jesus mentions is, “Take heed that no one deceives you.” When Paul talks about the coming of the Antichrist in 2 Thess. 2, he says that he will come with “lying wonders and unrighteous deception” (2 Thess. 2:9,10). When Paul talks about the reason why Timothy must preach the sound doctrine of the word, he says that a time will come when people will preach strange myths (2 Tim. 4:4).

Has this time come? Are we in the time of great deception now? Name any big and famous universities in the western world, in any European country, or in any country which has developed out of western civilization, and we can name a university which has developed from Christian values as a beacon of the truth, the Bible and the gospel. Oxford’s emblem and motto is still, today, “The Lord is my light,” with the words written on a Bible. But this week “The Times of London” reported with glee that a Christian group was banned from continuing with their normal activities on the campus. Why? Because they are alienating most people with their “narrow-minded” ideas.

A few years ago Dan Brown wrote “The Da Vinci Code” in which he questions the historical facts about Christ, and undermines the gospel. Many Christians defended him by saying it is just fiction which encourages independent thought. The same Dan Brown has continued to publish another four books which have sold 200 million copies altogether. His latest book was recently published: “Origin”, and here are a few quotes: “Humanity no longer needs God and may develop with artificial intelligence a new form of collective consciousness that fulfills the role of religion.” And what do you think is this “collective consciousness” which is to be the world’s new God? Of course! There is only one: It is the New World Order, liberalism, and one-world thinking, which will worship satan himself as God (Rev. 13).

He also says: “Our need for an exterior God that sits up there and judges us will diminish and eventually disappear.” And this rubbish is sold everywhere, even in Christian bookshops, where “The Shack” also had a large following, and it also proclaimed the same collective consciousness. Wake up. This is where our family’s and our children’s faith is ending up. This is what the Bible is warning us against – the very greatest sign of the last days.

The speed with which this alternative “religion” is appearing out of “artificial intelligence” is astounding. If we read the advertisements announcing conferences in any Western country’s newspaper month after month, we can see where our world’s new religion is worked out and offered to the people.

Listen to the sermons of the big name preachers in the USA. One was asked why he is making so little use of his Bible in his messages. His reply: We are preparing the youth for a world where the Bible will no longer have the place it used to, and then they must still be able to get their messages elsewhere.

This “theology” of modern times can be found everywhere. Parker, a “Christian” doctor, explained how he justifies performing abortions: “Alleviating needless suffering is a Christian’s sacred responsibility. If God is in everything and everyone, then God is as much in a woman making a decision to terminate her pregnancy as in her Bible.” This is the exact same theology of “The Shack”, Dan Brown, Oxford, Joel Osteen and Oprah Winfrey.

How do bank tellers recognize a fake bank note so quickly? They know the true one off-by-heart. We have written about that which is false today, but that will not really help us to unmask the false, satanic gospel of the last days. We must learn and learn and learn the right one and live out of it daily. There is only one gospel for our redemption, the power of God that Jesus revealed on the cross. In big parts of the western world, the rapture will not make much difference because there will be so few people who will meet their Lord in the air. Fight against satan by standing by the one gospel.

Oswald Chambers

The Witness of the SpiritBy Oswald Chambers
The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit… —Romans 8:16
We are in danger of getting into a bargaining spirit with God when we come to Him— we want the witness of the Spirit before we have done what God tells us to do.
Why doesn’t God reveal Himself to you? He cannot. It is not that He will not, but He cannot, because you are in the way as long as you won’t abandon yourself to Him in total surrender. Yet once you do, immediately God witnesses to Himself— He cannot witness to you, but He instantly witnesses to His own nature in you. If you received the witness of the Spirit before the reality and truth that comes from obedience, it would simply result in sentimental emotion. But when you act on the basis of redemption, and stop the disrespectfulness of debating with God, He immediately gives His witness. As soon as you abandon your own reasoning and arguing, God witnesses to what He has done, and you are amazed at your total disrespect in having kept Him waiting. If you are debating as to whether or not God can deliver from sin, then either let Him do it or tell Him that He cannot. Do not quote this or that person to Him. Simply obey Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden….” Come, if you are weary, and ask, if you know you are evil (see Luke 11:9-13).
The Spirit of God witnesses to the redemption of our Lord, and to nothing else. He cannot witness to our reason. We are inclined to mistake the simplicity that comes from our natural commonsense decisions for the witness of the Spirit, but the Spirit witnesses only to His own nature, and to the work of redemption, never to our reason. If we are trying to make Him witness to our reason, it is no wonder that we are in darkness and uncertainty. Throw it all overboard, trust in Him, and He will give you the witness of the Spirit.

share this devotional with a friend
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
There is no condition of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus. We have to learn to abide in Him wherever we are placed. Our Brilliant Heritage, 946 R

Expect Him on the Ordinary Road – Streams in the Desert – October 222017Oct 22

Expect Him on the Ordinary Road – Streams in the Desert – October 22
2017Oct 22
Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside, of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush” (Exod. 3:1,2).
The vision came in the midst of common toil, and that is where the Lord delights to give His revelations. He seeks a man who is on the ordinary road, and the Divine fire leaps out at his feet. The mystic ladder can rise from the market place to Heaven. It can connect the realm of drudgery with the realms of grace.
My Father God, help me to expect Thee on the ordinary road. I do not ask for sensational happenings. Commune with me through ordinary work and duty. Be my Companion when I take the common journey. Let the humble life be transfigured by Thy presence.
Some Christians think they must be always up to mounts of extraordinary joy and revelation; this is not after God’s method. Those spiritual visits to high places, and that wonderful intercourse with the unseen world, are not in the promises; the daily life of communion is. And it is enough. We shall have the exceptional revelation if it be right for us.
There were but three disciples allowed to see the transfiguration, and those three entered the gloom of Gethsemane. No one can stay on the mount of privilege. There are duties in the valley. Christ found His life-work, not in the glory, but in the valley and was there truly and fully the Messiah.
The value of the vision and glory is but their gift of fitness for work and endurance.

–Selected

Streams in the Desert – October 202017Oct 20

Streams in the Desert – October 20
2017Oct 20

“And the peace of God, which transcends all our powers of thought, will be a garrison to guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7)
There is what is called the “cushion of the sea.” Down beneath the surface that is agitated by storms, and driven about with winds, there is a part of the sea that is never stirred. When we dredge the bottom and bring up the remains of animal and vegetable life we find that they give evidence of not having been disturbed in the least, for hundreds and thousands of years. The peace of God is that eternal calm which, like the cushion of the sea, lies far too deep down to be reached by any external trouble and disturbance; and he who enters into the presence of God, becomes partaker of that undisturbed and undisturbable calm.

–Dr. A. T. Pierson
When winds are raging o’er the upper ocean,

And billows wild contend with angry roar,

‘Tis said, far down beneath the wild commotion,

That peaceful stillness reigneth evermore.
Far, far beneath, the noise of tempest dieth,

And silver waves chime ever peacefully,

And no rude storm, how fierce soe’er it flieth,

Disturbs the Sabbath of that deeper sea.
So to the heart that knows Thy love, O Purest,

There is a temple sacred evermore,

And all the babble of life’s angry voices

Dies in hushed silence at its peaceful door.
Far, far away, the roar of passion dieth,

And loving thoughts rise calm and peacefully,

And no rude storm, how fierce soe’er it flieth,

Disturbs the soul that dwells, O Lord, in Thee.

–Harriet Beecher Stowe
“The Pilgrim they laid in a large upper chamber, facing the sun-rising. The name of the chamber was Peace.”

–Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress

Rhonda BallanceHis PurposeJob 23

Rhonda Ballance

His Purpose

Job 23

23 Then Job answered and said,

2 Even to day is my complaint bitter: my stroke is heavier than my groaning. 3 Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!

4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.

5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.

6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.

7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. 8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him:

9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: 10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

11 My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

13 But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.

14 For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him.

15 Therefore am I troubled at his presence: when I consider, I am afraid of him.

16 For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me: 17 Because I was not cut off before the darkness, neither hath he covered the darkness from my face.

Job struggles, finally admitting his frustration: he cannot find God. Ever been there? Of course. All of us have! There are days we search in vain for some visible evidence of the living God. I’m thinking, Wouldn’t it be great to wake up in the middle of a full-moon sky tonight, peek out my bedroom window, and see some skywriting, “Dear Chuck, I hear you. I’m right here. I’m in charge. Love, God.” I would love for that to happen! I’d love to get into my pickup after a tough day at the church, turn the radio on, and have God interrupt, saying, “Before you listen to this station, Chuck, I want to talk to you for a few minutes.” Let face it, all of us would love to hear an audible voice or read a visible message from God. But that’s not the way it works. Our walk with Him is a walk of faith, not sight.

Job is a great and godly man. He is a mature saint, no doubt about it. Nevertheless, he longs to witness God’s presence. “Oh, that I could know where He is. But I cannot see Him, behold Him, or perceive Him.”

Though unable to locate the presence of God, Job states his trust in Him: “Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, you can say whatever you wish against me. God knows which way I go. He knows the truth. He is my Justifier. He and I are on speaking terms. I trust Him. I believe in Him. Furthermore, after the trial is over, and He has accomplished His purpose within me, ‘I shall come forth as gold.’ ” You can count on that, my friend. When the trial has passed, you will be deeper and richer for it. Gold will replace alloy. I want you to allow those words to burn their way into your brain so deeply that they become like a divine filter for everything that happens in your life from this day forward. God knows which way you’re going. And His Word will be a lamp for your path (Psalm 119:105).

Going through a trial? When it has passed, you will be deeper and richer for it. — Charles R. Swindoll

Malcolm Andrews

Eternal Joy abounds in The Almighty GODS Heavenly Kingdom, but sorrow and darkness abide in satans kingdom of despair (the world).

Steve Hammer

Some want to live within the sound

Of church or chapel bell;

I want to run a rescue shop,

Within a yard of hell.

― C.T. Studd

Dave Hunt

Question: In your September newsletter you

stated, “Before man was created, Satan had

already rebelled and taken countless angels

with him.” In October you state, “A rebellion

led by Lucifer eons ago had taken place….” It

almost sounds like you hold to some form of

the “gap theory.” The Bible tells us that

“from the beginning of the creation God made

them male and female” (Mk 10:6). Creation

had a beginning, and “in six days the Lord

made heaven and earth…” (Ex 20:11). I

believe it is quite clear that the angels were

created as well in those six days. God

summed it up saying, “Thus the heavens and

the earth were finished, and all the host of

them” (Gn 2:1). This “host” certainly could

include the angels (Neh 9:6, Ps

103:20-21[20], 1 Kgs 22:19, 2 Chr 18:18, Lk

2:13). God said the serpent was “made” just

as the beast of the field (Gn 3:1) and was

“perfect in thy ways from the day thou wast

created” (Ezk 28:15). Where is the scriptural

evidence that Satan rebelled “before man was

created …eons ago” as you have stated? In

the beginning of the creation, after the sixth

day God said “everything” that He had made

was “very good” (Gn 1:31). Or are you

implying a special creation of the angels at a

different time and place before “the beginning

of the creation”?

Response: Thank you for your question. You

have clearly put much thought and study into

it in the spirit of a Berean. However, I think

you make some incorrect assumptions.

First of all, the statement, “the serpent was

more subtil than any beast of the field which

the Lord God had made” (Gn 3:1), does not

include Satan as a “beast of the field.” It

includes the physical serpent in the garden

through which Satan spoke. While he is

called “that old serpent,” he is not a literal,

physical snake that was created with the

other creatures. When Satan came into

existence cannot be derived from this

passage.

Secondly, you seem to assume that the

creation of “the heaven and the earth” (Gn

1:1) includes what Stephen described as “I

see the heavens opened, and the Son of man

standing on the right hand of

God” (Acts:7:56) and what Paul called “the

third heaven” (2 Cor:12:2) where God dwells.

The words “heaven” and “heavens” are used

both for the physical heavens related to earth

and which are part of the physical universe

(the atmosphere surrounding earth, and the

space containing stars) as well as for heaven,

the “Father’s house,” which has neither

physical nor spatial relationship to earth.

Surely the “place” where God dwells, which is

neither physical nor part of the physical

universe, must have always existed and was

never created, certainly not at the time of

Genesis:1:1. This is also where angels dwell.

I think it is clear that the creation described

in Genesis refers only to the physical

universe. The heaven or heavens described

there are part of the universe. Thus “host” of

heaven in Genesis:2:1 refers to the stars, not

to angels. In the many other places in

Scripture it is also clear from the context

when “heaven/heavens” refers to the physical

realm and when it refers to God’s presence;

and when “host” refers to stars and when it

refers to angels. You seem to assume,

however, that “host of heaven” always means

angels, which is clearly not the case; for

example: “as the host of heaven cannot be

numbered” (Jer:33:22).

Therefore, the statements, “And God saw

every thing that he had made, and behold, it

was very good” (Gn 1:31), and “Thus the

heavens and the earth were finished, and all

the host of them” (2:1), as well as “from the

beginning of the creation God made them

male and female” (Mk 10:6), refer to the

physical universe which had a beginning, not

to the dwelling of God and angels nor to

angels themselves.

We have no biblical reason to believe that

angels were created simultaneously with the

physical universe and man. When were they

created? We are not told. I can’t take the

space to cite the many scriptures in both Old

and New Testaments which show such a

close association of angels with God that it

would seem odd indeed if they did not exist

until the physical universe was created. You

can look up these scriptures, as I know you

will. Surely the positions of power which

angels manifest in the book of Revelation

seem to be of a more permanent nature than

to have originated with the creation of the

universe and man. One function of angels is

to praise God and to surround His throne. It

hardly seems reasonable that there would

have been no angels to worship and serve

God before the physical universe (of which

they are not a part) was made.

There even seems to be a hint that man’s

creation came about as a result of Satan’s

rebellion. Surely man plays the key role in the

final defeat of Satan. We see this in the part

played by Job in the controversy between

God and Satan. Paul tells us that we “wrestle

…against spiritual wickedness in high places

[i.e. heaven?]” (Eph:6:12). Man, who

overcomes Satan “by the blood of the Lamb,

and by the word of their testimony” (Rv

12:11) even seems to be involved in the final

ouster of Satan: “there was war in heaven:

Michael and his angels fought against the

dragon…. And the great dragon was cast out,

that old serpent, called the Devil, and

Satan…” (12:7-9).

If angels were created before the physical

universe, how long before would it have

been? God has existed forever. Therefore, I

think it reasonable that angels have been in

His presence for “eons” of time by earth’s

reckoning, and also that Satan probably

rebelled long before man was created. At

least such a statement is neither unbiblical

nor unreasonable.

God’s Full ArmourGLOBAL GRACE – October 2017

God’s Full Armour

GLOBAL GRACE – October 2017

Gems Found in Romans 17. Not Even One!

Romans 3:10-12, “The Holy Writings say, “There is not one person who is right with God. No, not even one! There is not one who understands. There is not one who tries to find God.” Everyone has turned away from God. They have all done wrong. Not one of them does what is good. No, not even one!”

Here Psalm 14 and other Old Testament verses are cited to show that humans are totally immoral. Please do not apply these verses to atheists alone. This is the general condition of all human beings. There is not even one that is good. All the religion with which the Jews were blanketed, did not benefit them at all. Here we read that Jews and Gentiles are equally depraved.

But in many churches, a tradition of “religion” is built and the members are told that they are part of the “covenant nation”. It is hard to understand that people can read these verses and still cherish such ideas. It is clear that the “covenant nation” with all their benefits are still lost today. The whole old dispensation came to a complete halt! Everyone is included in sin! Do away with any laws and religious rites! A Jew and a “religious person” are equal to any lost gentile today.

We have to understand that there was a radical break with history and tradition. All attempts to try and make people decent and religious failed. There is only one way today. We have to bury the old man and be clothed with the life of Jesus Christ! How many “Christians” have done this? Many so-called Christians do not even mention the name of Jesus Christ. They still live as their old condemned selves!

If we want to gain any advantage from the powerful, heavenly testimonies found in the book of Romans, it is time to throw out religion, self, “good deeds” and personal goals and live life through Jesus Christ.

Dave Hunt

Question: In your September newsletter you

stated, “Before man was created, Satan had

already rebelled and taken countless angels

with him.” In October you state, “A rebellion

led by Lucifer eons ago had taken place….” It

almost sounds like you hold to some form of

the “gap theory.” The Bible tells us that

“from the beginning of the creation God made

them male and female” (Mk 10:6). Creation

had a beginning, and “in six days the Lord

made heaven and earth…” (Ex 20:11). I

believe it is quite clear that the angels were

created as well in those six days. God

summed it up saying, “Thus the heavens and

the earth were finished, and all the host of

them” (Gn 2:1). This “host” certainly could

include the angels (Neh 9:6, Ps

103:20-21[20], 1 Kgs 22:19, 2 Chr 18:18, Lk

2:13). God said the serpent was “made” just

as the beast of the field (Gn 3:1) and was

“perfect in thy ways from the day thou wast

created” (Ezk 28:15). Where is the scriptural

evidence that Satan rebelled “before man was

created …eons ago” as you have stated? In

the beginning of the creation, after the sixth

day God said “everything” that He had made

was “very good” (Gn 1:31). Or are you

implying a special creation of the angels at a

different time and place before “the beginning

of the creation”?

Response: Thank you for your question. You

have clearly put much thought and study into

it in the spirit of a Berean. However, I think

you make some incorrect assumptions.

First of all, the statement, “the serpent was

more subtil than any beast of the field which

the Lord God had made” (Gn 3:1), does not

include Satan as a “beast of the field.” It

includes the physical serpent in the garden

through which Satan spoke. While he is

called “that old serpent,” he is not a literal,

physical snake that was created with the

other creatures. When Satan came into

existence cannot be derived from this

passage.

Secondly, you seem to assume that the

creation of “the heaven and the earth” (Gn

1:1) includes what Stephen described as “I

see the heavens opened, and the Son of man

standing on the right hand of

God” (Acts:7:56) and what Paul called “the

third heaven” (2 Cor:12:2) where God dwells.

The words “heaven” and “heavens” are used

both for the physical heavens related to earth

and which are part of the physical universe

(the atmosphere surrounding earth, and the

space containing stars) as well as for heaven,

the “Father’s house,” which has neither

physical nor spatial relationship to earth.

Surely the “place” where God dwells, which is

neither physical nor part of the physical

universe, must have always existed and was

never created, certainly not at the time of

Genesis:1:1. This is also where angels dwell.

I think it is clear that the creation described

in Genesis refers only to the physical

universe. The heaven or heavens described

there are part of the universe. Thus “host” of

heaven in Genesis:2:1 refers to the stars, not

to angels. In the many other places in

Scripture it is also clear from the context

when “heaven/heavens” refers to the physical

realm and when it refers to God’s presence;

and when “host” refers to stars and when it

refers to angels. You seem to assume,

however, that “host of heaven” always means

angels, which is clearly not the case; for

example: “as the host of heaven cannot be

numbered” (Jer:33:22).

Therefore, the statements, “And God saw

every thing that he had made, and behold, it

was very good” (Gn 1:31), and “Thus the

heavens and the earth were finished, and all

the host of them” (2:1), as well as “from the

beginning of the creation God made them

male and female” (Mk 10:6), refer to the

physical universe which had a beginning, not

to the dwelling of God and angels nor to

angels themselves.

We have no biblical reason to believe that

angels were created simultaneously with the

physical universe and man. When were they

created? We are not told. I can’t take the

space to cite the many scriptures in both Old

and New Testaments which show such a

close association of angels with God that it

would seem odd indeed if they did not exist

until the physical universe was created. You

can look up these scriptures, as I know you

will. Surely the positions of power which

angels manifest in the book of Revelation

seem to be of a more permanent nature than

to have originated with the creation of the

universe and man. One function of angels is

to praise God and to surround His throne. It

hardly seems reasonable that there would

have been no angels to worship and serve

God before the physical universe (of which

they are not a part) was made.

There even seems to be a hint that man’s

creation came about as a result of Satan’s

rebellion. Surely man plays the key role in the

final defeat of Satan. We see this in the part

played by Job in the controversy between

God and Satan. Paul tells us that we “wrestle

…against spiritual wickedness in high places

[i.e. heaven?]” (Eph:6:12). Man, who

overcomes Satan “by the blood of the Lamb,

and by the word of their testimony” (Rv

12:11) even seems to be involved in the final

ouster of Satan: “there was war in heaven:

Michael and his angels fought against the

dragon…. And the great dragon was cast out,

that old serpent, called the Devil, and

Satan…” (12:7-9).

If angels were created before the physical

universe, how long before would it have

been? God has existed forever. Therefore, I

think it reasonable that angels have been in

His presence for “eons” of time by earth’s

reckoning, and also that Satan probably

rebelled long before man was created. At

least such a statement is neither unbiblical

nor unreasonable.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: