The Law of Attraction

I stated in the previous article that legalism will become more & more prevalent as we draw closer to the return of Jesus Christ.  The law holds certain attractions to the natural man, for it has all the outward appearance of being righteous.  Even those who deny Jesus Christ gather themselves under a law: "Do what thou wilt".  So when we first turn from the world to God, it can feel normal to place ourselves under the law.

However, if we do not recognize the deceptions of legalism, then we may walk blindly in religious bondage - thinking that we are serving the Lord - yet never coming into the fullness of the salvation of the Lord Jesus.

So I asked the Lord, "What is the attraction of the law, leading people to turn to it instead of to Christ?"

The Challenge of Islam

My husband is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and it has been interesting to note a trend in that city over the years: a sharp increase in the acceptance of Islam.  I have joked with him that it must be in the water, for it is apparent even to an occasional visitor such as myself that more and more men are converting.  It is not uncommon to drive down the street and see women covered from head to toe in Muslim burqas.

In large part, I believe the attraction to Islam is the same basis upon which we see a rise of legalism within the Church.  The only option left to one who rejects our sole hope of salvation in Jesus Christ is law.  If a man rejects the righteousness of God, then he must by nature resort to self-righteousness (Romans 10:2-4; Philippians 3:9).  Instead of being made righteous by the blood of Jesus, I become righteous based on what I do (or don't do); I go to temple/church on a specific day, I don't eat certain meats, I wear certain clothes, I observe particular holy days...  As long as we resist being made clean on the inside, we will always run to the actions of a whited sepulcher as justification of our own 'goodness' (Matthew 23:25-28).  This is something which every Christian should take note, for we too must be sure that we don't fall into this snare.  Unless Christ in us is our hope of glory, then our glory is our shame (Colossians 1:27; Philippians 3:19).

Yet, I also think the rise in Islam has to do with God's unfolding end time judgments.  The types of persecutions which will be coming against the church are commensurate with what is called for in Sharia Islamic law and what some refer to as "radical Islam".  One only needs to look around the world to see a foreshadowing of this.  Having an American President who is sympathetic towards Muslim interests (and who is perhaps more aligned with Islam than many think) only serves to further these gains.

There IS a Fountain

"For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light." Psalm 36:9

"The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." Proverbs 13:14

"The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." Proverbs 14:27

"For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water...As a fountain casteth out her waters, so she casteth out her wickedness: violence and spoil is heard in her; before me continually is grief and wounds." Jeremiah 2:13, 6:7

"In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." Zechariah 13:1

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim." Joel 3:18

As the Days of Noe Were

"Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are
drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober,
putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet,
the hope of salvation."  I Thessalonians 5:6-8

"But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matthew 24:37-39

The following message is from Minister B.H. Clendennen.  As with everything posted on this blog, it is shared with the hope that the reader will take the message in prayer to God, seeing what He has to say about the matter.

That said, there are a few of things I want to mention. The Scriptures speak of a time of "tribulation" and a time of "great tribulation".  I believe this is often a distinguishing between the earth having to deal with Satan's wrath vs. the wrath of God.  Clearly the church has, is, and shall experience Satan's wrath as he continually persecutes God's people...and is given permission to do so by God (Daniel 7:25).  Jesus Himself tells us to expect tribulation from Satan in the world (John 16:33; Revelation 2:10).  Yet the Bible also says we are saved from the wrath to come, which is a reference to God's wrath (I Thessalonians 1:10, 5:9).  For more on the rapture, please see:  What Can We Know About the Rapture?

One thing that struck me when I was first saved, was reading the Book of Revelation and seeing how obstinate the people were as God poured out His wrath.  This was not a people who did not know what was going on.  They knew that they were experiencing God's judgment.  They knew it was God Himself who was sending these plagues upon them.  Yet they would not repent (Revelation 9:20-21, 11:10).  Now that is a hard-hearted people.  God had extended mercy by having His own Son butchered for the sin of the world.  God had been longsuffering, giving space and time to repent.  God even sent forth judgment as a witness to His fury with sin.  However nothing turned the hearts of these people.  They did not respond to mercy.  They did not respond to longsuffering.  They did not even respond to punishment.  There is only one option left: damnation.  The Great Tribulation - God's wrath - is poured out on those who will not repent (Revelation 2:22).  This is important to consider when we examine when the rapture will occur and what the outcome will be of those who go through the great tribulation.

• There will be a parallel between the day of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the days of Noah
• The greatest alarm in the church is that there is no alarm in the church
• If you are going to be ready when Jesus comes, then you must be ready all of the time.  He will come in the "twinkling of an eye" leaving no time to make up your mind (I Corinthians 15:52).
• If you were ever really born again, then you know there is nothing like your first love.  When you were first saved, Christ was everything; there was a love for Him and nothing else mattered.  Today, much of the is gone as the church has become careless.

God's Remnant People

The following audio message is from Pastor Zac Poonen as he review the books of Zephaniah and Haggai.

Zephaniah

• The main theme in the book of Zephaniah is the severity of God (towards sin) and goodness of God (towards the remnant).
• There were recurring problems spoken of by all the prophets: pride; exploiting the poor; love of money; external manifestations of revival; God using heathen people to chasten His people; the need for God's people to wait in faith; the anger of God against sin; the certainty of judgment; and the existence of a remnant.
• God brought out a remnant of people from the northern tribes in Israel and the tribes in Judah.  He is doing the same out of Christianity today.
• The purpose of the remnant is to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord.
• Ask God for eyes to see through the falsehoods of hallow, external, "revivals" which do not call for a return to holiness and repentance from sin.
• Judgment (on the earth, its nations, people) and Salvation (for the remnant) comes in the Day of the Lord.
• We are living in the age of deception.  You must stand on the truths of the word of God to remain free from deception.
• The remnant can become like Babylon in no time.  If you are not faithful, if you don't fight against your flesh, if you don't stand against the corrupt Christianity around you, then you will become like the false; prayerless, not knowing God's word, accumulating money to live in luxury, but with no anointing.

My God Does What He Pleases

I am thankful this morning that we serve a God who does exactly what He pleases.  He is not bound by time, space, nor the systems of this world.  He cannot be hindered by any opposing force, for all power is in His hands.  If we are in Jesus Christ, then we too are not subject to such boundaries.

That is how the "sun stood still" at Joshua's command during the battle (Joshua 10:12-13).

Such is how Philip was "caught away" by the Spirit of the Lord and later found in Azotus (Acts 8:39-40).

It is how the walls of Jericho "fell down" at the shout of the people (Joshua 6:20).

This is even how Jesus was "risen from the dead" (John 20:1-9).

If we but believe and have the faith of even a mustard seed, we can say to that mountain, "Be moved" and it shall be moved (Matthew 17:20).

Caribbean Brethren

For those brothers and sisters in the Caribbean, the Omega Church & Ministries Center is beginning a weekly broadcast on WSTA radio station in the Virgin Islands:

Thursday evenings
5:30 pm - 6:00 pm EST
WSTA radio station 

You can also listen to the station live over the Internet by visiting the station's website. Tune in and be blessed & edified through study of God's word.

Judgment is Certain

Will You Redeem the Times?

"He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, it will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" Matthew 16:2-3

As I woke up this morning and saw the news that Barack Obama was re-elected President, I heard a word from the Lord, "Judgment is certain."  Yet shamefully, many professing Christians either rejoice or are distressed by the election news, having placed the hope of their future in the hands of a man.  Too many seem oblivious to what is going on in the Spirit and are out of touch with the mind & heart of God at this critical hour.

To the modern day Christian:

It makes sense to support candidates based primarily upon the color of their skin, but it is extreme to evaluate candidates based upon their alignment with God's word?

We owe a greater debt to those who fought for the rights of the disenfranchised to vote than we do to the True & Living God who sacrificed His sinless life for the sin of the world?

It is our responsibility to take part in civil processes as good citizens, but it is foolish & irresponsible to forsake such things because we esteem greater our citizenship in the kingdom of God?

Where are our affections?  Where are our priorities?

If you just listen to many people's views on this election, one thing becomes abundantly clear: they cherish the things of this world more than the things of eternity...and that goes for many Christians as well.  They have left their first love, if they ever truly loved Him.

Lead Me to Abandonment

Lead me to abandon myself to you Lord
I desire to be consumed by You
Let Your holy fire envelop and purge me
In this late day and hour, what else matters?
Why should I toil for meat that does not satisfy?
Hear the cry of Your people Jesus and call us into Your presence
Send down times of refreshing and pour out Your Spirit according to Your word
Remind us once more Lord Jesus of Your great name, for many have forgotten

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." II Timothy 4:8

Walk Holy Mount Zion

"He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." I John 2:6




Walk Holy from thelatterdays on GodTube.