Here comes another "test". This will be a testing for both sides......the spirit of this world system.......and the Spirit of God. All down through history this "test" has been going on. Job was "tested" by God to see what he was truly made of.....just as these brothers and sisters in NY are being "tested". But, on the other side, there is another "testing" going on........a test to see just how far the spirit of this world system can push. This "pushing" will always have advancements. It may not look that way with past cases like this being thrown out of court, but they are advancing just the same. With every case that comes to trial we move a little closer to the "Police State" that the anti-christ will control. If you would like to see how far this has advanced already you can click here to get a book that documents much of it.
Pay very close attention to this and prepare accordingly.
Prayer warriors at 'gay' fest on trial
Luk 21:12-15 "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name's sake. "It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. "So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Subtle Dependence
In looking at the word “subtle” in the dictionary you immediately see words describing it like; clever, devious, elusive, etc. Whenever I see these words they conjure up thoughts of our enemy’s tactics as described by Moses in his description of the snake in the Garden of Eden. We all know about the word “dependence” and how it can be really good for us as in “dependence on God”, or really bad for us as in “dependence on alcohol or drugs”. But what about those “subtle dependencies”, the ones that aren’t obvious for anyone to see, how do they come into play in the serious times we are facing. We perhaps all know the admonition of the Lord in Proverbs;
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight (emphasis added)
but how does this apply in the subtleties of life, and how can the enemy get an advantage over us in regard to “standing firm”? Since I am convinced that there are very few “mysteries” within scripture, I figured that the understanding that I needed had to be there somewhere. In my searching I truly believe the answer is in the word “acknowledge” in the verse above. It is the Hebrew word (yâda‛ yaw-dah' ) and is defined as “to know”. This immediately brought me to the many times in the NT that “knowing” Jesus (ginōskō) is way different than “knowing about” (epistamai) Him. One refers to being genuinely born again….the other just means you know about being born again…. but you ain’t…..excuse my bad English. Both of these words are used in the following verse:
Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" (emphasis added)
Take special note here as to who “knows” Jesus and who simply “knows about” Him. Evil spirits know Jesus intimately enough to understand their fate……they're toast…..and they know it. They also knew who Paul was because of the “Jesus” who was in him in the form of the indwelling Holy Spirit. But, they had no respect for those Jews who were trying to cast them out but had no authority to do so. No Jesus, No Holy Spirit indwelling, No authority……..Get it?
To conclude, if we want to have victory over the “subtle dependencies” that the enemy so craftily weaves into our lives, we must “know” this Jesus so intimately that we allow Him to make all of our paths straight through His indwelling Holy Spirit. We must start to ask Him to reveal where we have fallen for these “subtle dependencies” and then accept whatever we have to do to allow Him to make those “paths straight”…….or to “stand firm”. As a practical application of this you could begin to make a list of those subtle dependencies as He reveals them to you and put it somewhere you will see it every day. This may sound a bit foolish but our enemy doesn’t care, he will use whatever means necessary to bring about his will in our lives…..even “the pride of life”. Don’t be too proud to think that you don’t need help in this area. If you do, you have already given in to one of those “subtle dependencies”………I CAN DO IT MYSELF, I DON’T NEED ANY HELP!
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight (emphasis added)
but how does this apply in the subtleties of life, and how can the enemy get an advantage over us in regard to “standing firm”? Since I am convinced that there are very few “mysteries” within scripture, I figured that the understanding that I needed had to be there somewhere. In my searching I truly believe the answer is in the word “acknowledge” in the verse above. It is the Hebrew word (yâda‛ yaw-dah' ) and is defined as “to know”. This immediately brought me to the many times in the NT that “knowing” Jesus (ginōskō) is way different than “knowing about” (epistamai) Him. One refers to being genuinely born again….the other just means you know about being born again…. but you ain’t…..excuse my bad English. Both of these words are used in the following verse:
Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" (emphasis added)
Take special note here as to who “knows” Jesus and who simply “knows about” Him. Evil spirits know Jesus intimately enough to understand their fate……they're toast…..and they know it. They also knew who Paul was because of the “Jesus” who was in him in the form of the indwelling Holy Spirit. But, they had no respect for those Jews who were trying to cast them out but had no authority to do so. No Jesus, No Holy Spirit indwelling, No authority……..Get it?
To conclude, if we want to have victory over the “subtle dependencies” that the enemy so craftily weaves into our lives, we must “know” this Jesus so intimately that we allow Him to make all of our paths straight through His indwelling Holy Spirit. We must start to ask Him to reveal where we have fallen for these “subtle dependencies” and then accept whatever we have to do to allow Him to make those “paths straight”…….or to “stand firm”. As a practical application of this you could begin to make a list of those subtle dependencies as He reveals them to you and put it somewhere you will see it every day. This may sound a bit foolish but our enemy doesn’t care, he will use whatever means necessary to bring about his will in our lives…..even “the pride of life”. Don’t be too proud to think that you don’t need help in this area. If you do, you have already given in to one of those “subtle dependencies”………I CAN DO IT MYSELF, I DON’T NEED ANY HELP!
Monday, February 4, 2008
Denying Self...an exercise in preparation
This past weekend my wife spoke on the persecuted church at a church in Miami, FL. This church was doing something very unique in an exercise of "Denying Self". They had made the decision to not serve donuts with the coffee for 7 weeks, saving the church approximately $500.00. They are going to take this money and give it to the persecuted church. We commend this church for having the courage to carry out this exercise within a culture that pretty much denies itself nothing. Richard Wurmbrand, in his periodical "Preparing for the Underground Church - Now", states the following;
"I personally use an exercise. I live in the United States of America. Can you imagine what an American supermarket looks like? You find there many delicious things. I look at everything and say to myself, "I can go without this thing and that thing; this thing is very nice, but I can go without; this third thing I can go without, too." I visited the whole supermarket and did not spend one dollar. I had the joy of seeing many beautiful things and the second joy of knowing that I can go without.
I wonder how many of us who also live in this United States and have the same access to "supermarkets" have ever given this a thought. Could we even fathom the thought of "the second joy of knowing that I can go without?" Perhaps this should be one of the challenges we take on in preparing to stand in the difficult days that lie ahead. Jesus says it best:
Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
"I personally use an exercise. I live in the United States of America. Can you imagine what an American supermarket looks like? You find there many delicious things. I look at everything and say to myself, "I can go without this thing and that thing; this thing is very nice, but I can go without; this third thing I can go without, too." I visited the whole supermarket and did not spend one dollar. I had the joy of seeing many beautiful things and the second joy of knowing that I can go without.
I wonder how many of us who also live in this United States and have the same access to "supermarkets" have ever given this a thought. Could we even fathom the thought of "the second joy of knowing that I can go without?" Perhaps this should be one of the challenges we take on in preparing to stand in the difficult days that lie ahead. Jesus says it best:
Matthew 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. "For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
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