tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7935736956030565252024-02-07T12:35:55.038-05:00The Latter DaysThe Latter Days is a Christian ministry dedicated to edifying and encouraging the remnant of God during these end times. It is our hope that we be forged into a vessel fit for the Master to use as He allows His people to have eyes to see and ears to hear what saith the Lord in these latter days.Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.comBlogger703125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-34640487476229755632019-08-12T11:41:00.001-04:002019-08-12T11:48:54.725-04:00From Seed to Tree<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />As many of you may know Pastor Price and Latter Days came together to write a book called the Organic Gospel. The Organic Gospel is a power tool that will help you and others realize what salvation is all about. It is not merely just words but a lifestyle. I am excited to tell you there is now a Study Guide that goes chapter by chapter through the book! Use this tool to help yourself, friends and family!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When you come to know the Lord it is the beginning of a transformation, you won't be the same! Take your Bible, your book, paper and a pen to get ready to grow higher!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #484848;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #484848;">To order a copy of The Organic Gospel, go to: </span><a href="http://www.theorganicgospel.net/" style="background-color: white; color: #68921c; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">http://www.theorganicgospel.net/</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To get access to the Study Guide: <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wsW9V48JGXLiKDUvlO3yXYc8eeCl5338">https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wsW9V48JGXLiKDUvlO3yXYc8eeCl5338</a></span><br />
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LavenderLenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14268356450050035100noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-82097687630805343242018-07-08T19:28:00.007-04:002022-07-28T08:48:41.945-04:00Rejoice, The Big C is Christ!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> The 'Big C' is definitely not cancer but Christ! Because anything under Gods control is never out of control.</span></div>
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The author of this blog was diagnosed with cancer and the doctors told her she wasn't going to live long if she did not follow what they said. Little did they know she has a God who is over all situations. The Lord was able to use her trial and testimony for those 9 years to reach other people. She passed away from cancer in 2017.<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"> <b>Her passing was not God failing.</b> She completed the work God had for her life.<br /> You see when God tells you something, people of the world will think you are crazy, but your faith needs to hold strong in the Lord.<br /> "And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:27</span></span></div>
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So REJOICE because the Lord is good and He still has a work for you! Continue to share posts that have changed you so that others may become part of the family of God. We are called to not only hear the Word of God but to DO it! Take action today, don't wait!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"> Below you will find a excerpt of one of Latter Days blog called </span><a href="https://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2013/12/deathnosis.html#more">Deathnosis</a>, if you have time please take a read. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="color: #484848;">"The value of our lives is not based on what others have meant </span><i style="color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">to us</i><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="color: #484848;"> or what we have meant </span><i style="color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">to them</i><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="color: #484848;">. That is self-centeredness. The hardest thing for people to accept is that this life is not all about what we want...and neither is our death. Our eternal destiny is not some happy-go-lucky fairytale independent of the life we have lived on this earth. For all eternity, we will reap either the </span><i style="color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">consequences</i><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="color: #484848;"> or </span><i style="color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">rewards</i><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="color: #484848;"> of the choices we have made </span><b style="color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">here</b><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="color: #484848;"> and </span><b style="color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">now</b><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="color: #484848;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="color: #484848;">There is a </span><i style="color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">hope</i><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="color: #484848;"> and a </span><i style="color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">comfort</i><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="color: #484848;"> we can find in our existence after death, but </span><b style="color: #484848; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;">only</b><span face=""arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif" style="color: #484848;"> for those who are found in Christ. That hope and comfort is that we will be forever with Him; sharing in the riches of His love, power, and glory."</span></span></div>
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LavenderLenshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14268356450050035100noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-59826870167265092152017-01-30T12:06:00.001-05:002017-01-31T07:50:57.919-05:00You Are Never Alone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000;">"And he</span><span style="color: #990000;"> [Elijah]</span><span style="color: #990000;"> said, <b>I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away</b>. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">And the LORD said unto him, </span><span style="color: #990000;">Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria: And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay. </span><b style="color: #990000;">Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him</b><span style="color: #990000;">." I Kings 19:14-18</span><br />
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Elijah had a complaint towards God. He had stood for God in the face of great opposition. Now he was the only one left and the people desired to take his life as well. His unsaid accusation against God was, "<span style="color: #7f6000;">Where are you God? Don't you see what is happening? Why are you letting this happen to me, especially when I have stood for you? Don't you care? Why have you forsaken me?</span>"<br />
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Sometimes you go through situations in life when you feel as if you are all alone. It seems there is no one there to help and no one who sees or cares about your distress. But God sees. Not only does He see, but He cares and has already provided the answer. The key is to not lose faith in Him during these times.<br />
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Elijah was mistaken. Although he could not see them, God had 7,000 people who had not turned from Him in serving Baal. Now here is the thing. It is not like there was Elijah on one hand and then 7,000 on the other. For all we know, those 7,000 could also have <i>individually</i> felt like they were alone. Scripture does not say that there was fellowship amongst them or that they even knew of each other.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>What Elijah also didn't realize is that, although he couldn't see the 7,000, they were probably praying for him. People he did not know and had no idea existed were likely petitioning the Lord for his strength simply because the Holy Spirit led them to. Even today, the Lord will put it upon your heart to pray for others whom you may never know or meet, but your intercession is enough to corral spiritual forces to come to their aid (<span style="color: #990000;">I Samuel 12:23; James 5:16; I Timothy 2:1; Ephesians 6:18</span>). Sometimes we think our own strength has gotten us this far, forgetting that the prayers of the saints of God also undergird us.<br />
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God will let us go through times of solitude in a trial where we feel like there is no help. He may use it to grow us up. He may use it to increase our faith as we watch Him work on our behalf. It might be an opportunity for Him to teach us to keep our eyes focused on Him and not get distracted by - or put faith in - what we see. It teaches us not to depend on the arm of flesh. How are we to know that He is a mighty Deliverer if we never personally experience His deliverance in our lives?<br />
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Don't let a root of bitterness spring up in your heart during such times. You are only delaying, or God forbid negating, your deliverance. Don't get bitter about others who you think should be <b><i>doing</i> <i>something</i></b> to help you. Don't get bitter against God Himself and feel that He has turned His back on you. Turn your face to God, get in your quiet/secret place, and seek Him in the matter. It is now more than ever that you need to hear His still, small voice.<br />
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While Satan tries to get you to believe that God has left and forsaken you, we know that such is a lie. In the midst of Job's sorrow, Satan spoke through his wife and told him to curse God and die (<span style="color: #990000;">Job 2:9-10</span>). Yet, Job recognized his wife's advise as foolishness. Such are not times to pull away from God, but to press in all the more to the One who is able to uphold you and see you through. Satan uses such times to discourage you, but God allows such times to purge you, to strengthen you, and to draw you closer to Himself.<br />
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I also love how God responds to Elijah. Yes, we all may have times where we are frustrated with things in our lives, but God doesn't get caught up in our tantrums. In spite of all Elijah said, God's first word in response is, "<span style="color: #990000;">Go.</span>" He doesn't immediately address Elijah's complaint, but reminds him of what He has called Elijah to do. These are light and momentary afflications (<span style="color: #990000;">II Corinthians 4:17</span>). I am not being flippant about your own personal trial, I have them too. I am saying that it is temporal; it will end some day, one way or another, because your life down here will likewise end. Our deliverance is found as we keep our eyes on God's mission and continue His work. <br />
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While not side-tracked by Elijah's comments, God does not ignore them. He not only tells Elijah about the 7,000, but allows Elijah to join with Elisha for companionship. He also let's Elijah know that Elisha will be his replacement, calling Elisha to be a prophet in Elijah's place (room). Had this always been God's plan or was this action also a result of Elijah's complaining? Scripture doesn't say. What we do know is that God's objective for Israel, even in His judgment of them, was providing for their ultimate redemption. Yet in his frustration, all Elijah could see was vengeance. We cannot fulfill God's commands by pursuing our own agenda or trying to get a payback from those who we believe have hurt us. Focusing on ourselves and our situations will defile us and makes us unfit for God's purposes. He will pass our mantel on to another in such cases.<br />
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Here is the big mystery: even in our trials, it is not about us. God is working all things out for our good, but <i>also</i> according to His plans and purposes. Don't let the trial derail you, but let God bring you through it changed and stronger than ever before. Trust in God no matter what as His grace is sufficient for us. It is by God's grace that we are not consummed. God always has a remnant and our hearts desire should be to be a part of that.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? How he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace." Romans 11:1-5</span>Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-79053759701612451102017-01-19T08:09:00.001-05:002017-01-19T08:09:43.854-05:00Mad Cause God Won't Change<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A lot of professing Christians are actually mad at God because He won't change (<span style="color: #990000;">Malachi 3:6</span>). I know it sounds silly, but they actually want God to be like a no good man who lies to you; and they get angry when confronted with the fact that He is not.<br />
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The Lord lays out for us clearly in His word who He is, what He will accept and what He will not. Yet, people keep on their <i>own</i> way, doing what they want to do, expecting that somehow in the end it is going to be different than what God says. They don't want to be told what to do by God and <a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2011/02/take-that-god.html" target="_blank">falsely believe that He will accept their strange offerings in place of their obedience</a>. For some reason - their life experiences, feelings of self-entitlement, head knowledge, hardships, religious works, etc. - they believe that He will make an exception for them. He won't.<br />
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God will honor <u>all</u> of His promises, whether seemingly good or bad. We cannot malign His righteousness because of His faithfulness in keeping His word. Yet that is exactly what people are doing when they look upon Him to change His word. He is not some joker who is stringing you along, but His word is true. Otherwise, we would not be able to trust in Him in any matter. <br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="color: #990000;">"Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the LORD of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims. And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart. And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark. And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. <b>And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.</b> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;"><b>And David was displeased, because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah</b>: and he called the name of the place Perezuzzah to this day. And David was afraid of the LORD that day, and said, How shall the ark of the LORD come to me? So David would not remove the ark of the LORD unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.
</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">And the ark of the LORD continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the LORD blessed Obededom, and all his household. And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. <b>So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.</b> And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings. And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet." II Samuel 6:1-15</span><br />
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When seeking to bring the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem, David and his men placed the ark upon a cart and began to bring it forth. There came a time when Uzzah reached out to steady the ark as it was shaken. God in his anger then killed Uzzah on the spot, for it was forbidden that he should touch it. However, look at David's response: he was displeased with what God had done. As such, David backed away from God's presence, choosing to leave the ark in the house of Obededom instead.<br />
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Up until that point, there was plenty that David and his men had done wrong in transporting the ark (<span style="color: #990000;">Exodus 25:12-15; Numbers 3:30-31, 4:4-14, 7:9</span>). The Lord did not respond right away because He is longsuffering, however when we start to desecrate the holiness of God, He must respond. Yet even if God had not waited to address their wrongdoing, His judgment would have still been righteous. God's commandments were known by the people, including the consequences of touching the ark. <br />
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How many times have we blamed God and judged Him <i>unrighteous</i> because of circumstances or because of His word? How many times have we felt that He should make an exception for our mother, our brother, our friend, or even ourselves? Maybe such perspectives have even caused you to back away from the Lord, as David did. <br />
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The fear came in for David because he was confronted with the reality that God says what He means and means what He says. God is not going to adjust His commands to accomodate our feelings or even our good intentions. Yet, in focusing on that one situation, David forgot all the ways in which God's hand had rested upon him. He became blind to the fact that God had protected them all along that journey, even while they pursued the wrong path. David didn't remember that God is always working around us to keep us from evil, many times in ways of which we are never aware.<br />
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God is serious about what He says and He expects our obedience. If this causes us to back away from Him, then it is we who will lose out in the end. David remembered this when he heard how the household of Obededom was being blessed. Therefore, he returned to retrieve the ark and bring it back to the city with great rejoicing. <br />
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Our God is never unjust and even what may seem as His harshest judgments are righteous. He loves us and is longsuffering, working all things our for our good...but He expects our obedience. We must remember that there is both goodness and severity in God (<span style="color: #990000;">Romans 11:2</span>). He is faithful in all things and we can take Him at His word. If we are at odds with God in any area, it is we who must change.Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-83763617101200378302016-09-13T19:35:00.002-04:002017-01-16T07:22:37.945-05:00The AWESOME Love of Our God<b>Additional Resource</b><br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2009/12/only-reason-salvation-can-be-lost.html" target="_blank">The ONLY Reason Salvation Can Be Lost</a><br />
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EBAhqUFPUSw?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-66847871987019758152016-09-06T08:05:00.001-04:002016-09-06T08:05:33.270-04:00Even If<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyekqg18MN_CJl8ITdRuKk8NN0BRlshoe-aVqiPb40TLa4kKAjEwIoNleP8Hdl645xuDQfaFSYbsp7fxcsUmZxZbjbRAo1KgQ13t0EmzooFCacXsWR1J7RHjsoBfCZxkFDQL2NjXzFip8/s1600/FaithUnseen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyekqg18MN_CJl8ITdRuKk8NN0BRlshoe-aVqiPb40TLa4kKAjEwIoNleP8Hdl645xuDQfaFSYbsp7fxcsUmZxZbjbRAo1KgQ13t0EmzooFCacXsWR1J7RHjsoBfCZxkFDQL2NjXzFip8/s320/FaithUnseen.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #990000;">"Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king. Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, <b>O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. <i>But if not</i>, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.</b>" Daniel 3:10-18</span><br />
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On Saturday, the Lord had me reflecting on this Scripture and told me the following:<br />
<blockquote>
The three Hebrew boys here were not showing some sort of bravado when they responded to Nebuchadnezzar. Neither were they daring the Devil to throw all he had at them as if they could take it. Their statement came simply from a place of faith in God. They knew that their lives were in the Lord's hands and that - even if a fiery trial was to be a part of their future - He would be right there with them...and He was (<span style="color: #990000;">Daniel 3:23-26</span>).</blockquote>
<a name='more'></a>Remember that there are no surprises to God. He is not in Heaven trying to figure out how you got in your current situation or how to get you out of it. He has a plan for each and every life and all He asks is that we follow Him. <br />
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Never forget, it is not in our own strength that we stand. We have been redeemed from the hand of the Devil so that he has no authority over us. However, even if God chooses to use him as part of our being forged into vessels of honor, the Devil never has full access to do with us as he pleases.<br />
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Thy will be done.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PAmh3yvmzXs?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-5443306434804935972016-08-29T10:56:00.001-04:002016-08-29T18:03:20.953-04:00The Blood of Sprinkling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000;">"But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and <b>to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.</b>" Hebrews 12:22-24</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>sprinkling</b>:</span> Greek word <i>rhantismos</i> meaning a cleansing or purification; the blood of sprinkling, i.e. appointed for sprinkling (serving to purify).<br />
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With the exception of I Peter 1:2, this word is used exclusively in the book of Hebrews. This is fitting since Hebrews speaks primarily of our redemption in Christ as compared to the Old Testament offerings. We know that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin (<span style="color: #990000;">Hebrews 9:22</span>).<br />
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Why does the sprinkling of Jesus' blood speak of more excellent things than Abel's? Because Abel's blood was spilled by his muderous brother Cain and "<span style="color: #990000;">cried out</span>" from the ground to the Father for retribution (<span style="color: #990000;">Genesis 4:10</span>). Yet Jesus' blood spilled as a willful offering cries out from the altar in Heaven for mercy. While the cry of Abel's blood brings about curses, the cry of Jesus' blood pours out redemption.<br />
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When are we sprinkled (cleansed/purified) by the blood of Jesus? When we turn in faith to Him and as we walk continually with Him.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"But <i>if</i> <i>we walk in the light</i>, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and <b>the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us</b> from all sin." I John 1:7</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a>In attempting to demonstrate how religious some people could be, a Christian woman spoke to me of people pleading the blood of Jesus. She claimed how such was unscriptural and that the only direction we are given about the use of Jesus' blood is for the purposes of communion in the Lord's supper as a remembrance.<br />
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It occurred to me that many Chrstians sing about how the blood of Jesus will never suffer loss and how there is power in that blood, but how many really know what the blood of Jesus accomplishes and how to apply it to our lives? When we appeal to the blood of Jesus, we are affirming what the word of God says about the redemption and victory in Jesus' blood. We are recognizing and appealing to that power which is available to us.<br />
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The blood of Jesus is not being <i>continually offered</i> as Catholics insist (<span style="color: #990000;">Hebrews 10:10</span>). Neither is it <i>applied</i> <i>only once</i> when we are saved as many Protestants attest. The blood of Jesus was offered once, but is continually accessible to those who believe (<span style="color: #990000;">Hebrews 10:19</span>). When the Accuser of the brethren is stands before us to condemn, we should not plead the fifth and remain silent; we need to plead the blood. We have no defense in and of ourselves, it is all due to the blood of Jesus. It is by testifying to what the blood accomplishes for, in, and through us that we overcome.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." Revelation 12:11</span><br />
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The following prayer is an excerpt from the book <a href="http://www.derekprince.org/Store/Products/1000034237/DPM_Store/Spiritual_Warfare/Satan/Lucifer_Exposed.aspx" target="_blank">"Lucifer Exposed" by Derek Prince</a>, which I highly recommend for your edification.<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #7f6000;">Through the blood of Jesus, I am redeemed out of the hand of the devil. While I'm walking in the light, the blood of Jesus is cleansing me - now and continually - from all sin. Through the blood of Jesus, I am justified, acquitted, not guilty, made righteous, just-as-if-I'd never sinned. Through the blood of Jesus, I am sanctified, set apart from sin and Satan's kingdom, and made a partaker of God's holiness.</span></blockquote>
<b>Additional Resources</b><br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2014/02/becoming-what-we-know.html" target="_blank">Becoming What We Know</a><br />
<a href="http://omegaministries.org/audio/message/?id=696" target="_blank">The Blood of Jesus Christ</a><br />
<a href="http://omegaministries.org/audio/message?id=719" target="_blank">Dirty Blood</a><br />
<a href="http://omegaministries.org/audio/message?id=442" target="_blank">The Blood of the Lamb</a><br />
<a href="http://www.derekprince.org/Publisher/File.aspx?ID=1000021923" target="_blank">How to Apply the Blood (PDF)</a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RtT6gz3DHTk?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="355" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PXRuK_SJmv0?rel=0" width="530"></iframe>Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-30381435624633447312016-08-26T09:53:00.000-04:002016-08-27T07:00:14.247-04:00Stranger StillTwo strangers are at a hospital. The man sits at a piano and begins to play. The woman sits next to him and joins him in song. This spontaneous, unrehearsed duet - caught on video by the man's wife - has since gone viral and been picked by national news as they share clips of this "inspiring" moment.<br />
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The thing about the news clips is that what they all seem to universally omit are the references to Jesus Christ. By looking at the news, you would think these two are just singing about love. The videos are abruptly cut short or muted after that. Yet listen to the whole video, and you will see that these two are singing about the life changing, redeeming, supernatural, agape love of Jesus Christ which brings deliverance and healing. <br />
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The irony is that as two strangers come together to sing about the love of Jesus Christ - which each and every person needs - the world continues to try and ensure He remains a stranger.<br />
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The world loves to lavish praise on acts of "love" devoid from the One who is love, Jesus Christ. Don't become one of those people who espouse the goodness of others based upon the supposed merits of their own humanity. What the world needs now is Jesus, and we must never forget it.<br />
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I know nothing of these 2 individuals personally, but I post this so that we remain ever mindful of the spiritual war we face. It is real.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye <b>ignorantly worship</b>, <b><u>him</u></b> declare I unto you. </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; <i>That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us</i>: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring." Acts 17:22-28</span><br />
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May by our lives and our testimony, Jesus be no more a stranger to those who are lost and ensnared by the god of this world.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/824_veL__S4?rel=0" width="480"></iframe>Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-65566827725914308182016-08-11T14:28:00.003-04:002016-08-13T09:23:01.902-04:00The Sins of Manasseh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000;">"Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, <b>as Esau</b>, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, <i>he was rejected</i>: <b>for <u>he found no place of repentance</u>, though he sought it carefully with tears</b>." Hebrews 12:16-17</span><br />
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There are many Contemporary Christian songs which make claims such as, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gesWJKqxjnM" target="_blank">You can never fall too far, so fast, so far that you can't get back when you're lost</a>." They insist that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG6s8DxQJ5w" target="_blank">it doesn't matter what you've done because you are never too far gone</a>. <br />
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While these songs might be catchy and the words might be comforting to a heart darkened by sin, we must ask ourselves, "<span style="color: #38761d;">Is this true?</span>" Is it biblical to say that God will always be there to vacate judgment when we finally make up our minds to repent?<br />
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Yes, Jesus in fact died for <b>all</b> of the sin of the world. However, if we do not avail ourselves of that sacrifice, if we continue loving darkness and rejecting light, we can do despite to the Spirit of grace. There is such a thing as becoming reprobate, where you are beyond salvation (<span style="color: #990000;">Jeremiah 6:30; Romans 1:28; I Corinthians 9:27; II Corinthians 13:5-6; II Timothy 3:8; Titus 1:16; Hebrews 6:8</span>).<br />
<blockquote>
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">reprobate:</span></b> Hebrew word <i>ma'ac</i> meaning to reject, despise, or refuse.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #38761d;">reprobate:</span></b> Greek word <i>adokimos</i> meaning not standing the test, not approved; that which does not prove itself such as it ought </blockquote>
We are to seek the Lord while He may be found, lest we be turned over to a strong delusion to be damned.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"And for this cause <b>God</b> shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: <i>that they all might be damned who believed not the truth</i>, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." II Thessalonians 2:11-12</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a>In the following video, Jacob Prasch discusses what we learn about pending judgment when we go too far against God as we examine King Manasseh.<br />
<ul>
<li>Can we reach a point of no return with God because of sin? If so, then how do we correlate that with the fact that God's mercies are everlasting and new each morning?</li>
<li>King Josiah inherited a horrible mess when he became King of Judah. Irsael had already been sent into captivity to Assyria for their sins. Judah had now sinned worse than Israel, and even worse than the pagan nations (<span style="color: #990000;">II Kings 21:2, 9</span>). </li>
<li>Under King Josiah, the Passover was reinstituted and the people turned back to the Torah. Further, pagan idolatry, homosexuality, and the human sacrifice of children were stopped (<span style="color: #990000;">II Kings Chapter 23</span>). Although King Josiah did bring revival to Judah, it would be the last revival before the Babylonian captivity. </li>
<li>In spite of the authentic repentance under King Josiah, it was not enough to turn away the wrath of the Lord because of the sins perpetrated by King Manasseh beforehand (<span style="color: #990000;">II Kings 23:26</span>). </li>
<li>The sins of Manasseh which made Judah a nation that had gone too far included (<span style="color: #990000;">II Kings Chapter 23</span>): </li>
<li>Endemic homosexuality </li>
<li>Children sacrificed as burnt offerings, which is the equivalent of abortion today </li>
<li>The perpetuation of the occult by condoning the practice of witchcraft and divinations </li>
<li>The practice of idolatry </li>
<li>Once we do these things, we have gone too far and we can know that judgment is pending.</li>
<li>If God can forgive King Manasseh, he can forgive you; but you must repent. You must admit that you were wrong. </li>
</ul>
Now is the day of salvation. Seek Him now.<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #990000;">Additional Resources</span></u></b><br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2015/07/its-same-son.html" target="_blank">It's the Same Son</a><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BB19RzC1oAI" width="640"></iframe>Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-20675255418950767902016-08-02T15:19:00.000-04:002016-08-11T15:37:44.412-04:00The Three Give Ups of God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The following is a 2004 message from <a href="http://omegaministries.org/" target="_blank">Pastor Gary C. Price at Omega Ministries</a>.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Wherefore <b>God also gave them up</b> <b>to uncleanness</b> through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause <b>God gave them up unto vile affections</b>: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, <b>God gave them over to a reprobate mind</b>, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."
Romans 1:16-32
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This month we are discussing the three give ups of God as detailed in Romans Chapter 1. These Scriptures give insight into the cause of the decay of civilization and what is happening in this country and around the world.
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<a name='more'></a>Basically, what we are seeing is the slow and steady continuation of the corruption of mankind that began in the Garden of Eden eons ago. Since that time mankind has been slowly mutating into a creature that is totally corrupt and the opposite of what was created in the beginning by God. The very nature of man is becoming perverse, cruel, selfish, hateful and abusive.
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Years ago, well-known teacher and speaker Derek Prince said that man’s nature can be compared with that of a fresh, ripe peach that is flawless and beautiful to look at. Brother Prince said that if that peach is left out in the air for a number of days you will see it begin to slowly decay, and within a week or two that beautiful fruit will rot and stink up the whole room. The nature of man is exactly the same and the life of God is the only thing that preserves man. When man became detached from God, his nature began to decay and his identity was lost. Detached from the Creator, man began to stumble through this world as a lifeless, limited creature bound to his own senses -- sight, sound, taste, smell and touch.<br />
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<b>Decay</b>: 1) The process of gradually becoming inferior; 2) To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous, or perfect state, to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; 3) To waste away; to decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt, or disintegrated.</blockquote>
Trapped in soulish life, he wandered through this world looking for acceptance and identity, but without God his nature began to slowly mutate and corrupt until his mind was affected by the corruption and his nature became that of a beast. This is what we see discussed in Romans, Chapter 1, vs. 16-32.<br />
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Verse 21 states that mankind becomes decadent because God is not glorified in the lives of human beings and as a result vain, empty imaginations begin to fill the void created when God’s presence is gone. Because mankind refuses to submit to God he will try and create other gods to worship just as the Israelites did when they came out of Egypt. They constructed a golden calf to worship because they did not want to submit to the true and living God.<br />
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Since we now live in the Age of the Holy Spirit, idolatry is no longer primarily external, but now it has become internalized and processed through the chambers of the fallen, decadent Adamic mind. This is why the scripture speaks of vain imaginations and the vanity of the mind. Verses 22 and 23 in Romans, chapter 1 reveals the results of this vain attempt to disallow God into our lives, idolatry. Since mankind has refused to allow God to be his only source for life and the only being that we worship, he has sought to displace God with false gods like the horoscope, new age gods, false religions, false Christianity, sports, drugs, drinking, pornography and every other imaginable act of rebellion. The final result is the first give up of God, uncleanness and the dishonoring of our bodies with one another, i.e. oral sex, anal sex, fornication, masochism, sadism, pedophilia, etc...
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As the corruption continues in the soul of man truth becomes harder to bear. He begins to seek out lies to comfort his fallen state and the truth is hated above anything else on earth. Man will then begin to deify himself and worship himself instead of God in order to justify his rebellion and escape the fact that there is a God in heaven who holds the power of life and death in His hands!
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When man is bathed in self-love he slowly begins to love that which is like himself resulting in the second give up of God, the vile affections leading to homosexual desires. Romans 1:26-27 reveals the catastrophic results that happen when we become detached from God and absorbed in ourselves. Men begin to burn in their lusts one for another and they leave the natural use of the woman to engage in perverse, filthy behavior with each other.
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Right now we are seeing the homosexual and lesbian culture rising to the forefront. They believe that they have enough power to take over the world and make everyone else accept their perverse lifestyle as normal. Now we hear the unceasing demand for equal rights for homosexuals, diversity, tolerance, outlawing hate speech, accepting gay marriage. They even want to clone children because sodomites cannot reproduce them. Now the second give up is past and the third give up is occurring even as I write this newsletter.
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As Paul taught in Romans 1:28-32, the final give up is the reprobate mind. You should also notice that the last give up of God is not so much a giving up at all but a “<span style="color: #990000;">giving over</span>” to a reprobate mind. This is the mind of the castaway that cannot be saved or brought back to a normal state of sanity. The reprobate mind is the mind of Satan taking over the human mind and making the human completely subservient to the universal Satanic will. This is the mind that influenced Nazi Germany in the 1930’s and 1940’s through Adolf Hitler. It is inhuman, brutal, murderous, treacherous, unfeeling, insensitive, hateful, and perverse. It despises God and those that choose to serve Him. This is the mind that is being revealed throughout the world as these three give ups of God take hold on the human race.
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The very essence of what we are is rooted and grounded in relationship with God through our Lord, Jesus Christ. Without that relationship mankind slowly mutates into a worthless, filthy animal as corruption and reprobation sets in. We should be beautiful peaches, but instead the stench of decay is filling the earth and destroying human life everywhere. Satan’s answer is religion and servitude to man-made institutions. Religion can be compared to a refrigerator in that you can place the decaying peach within it, but it will never stop the process of decay, only slow it down. Friends, when decay begins, it is an irreversible process.
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We are entering the final stages of mankind’s existence on this planet and to that I say, “<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>Amen!!</b></span>” If allowed to continue, life on earth would become increasingly more unbearable until we would be driven insane by the corrupting influences around us. We only need to look around us to see that this is already happening.
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Many of you are beginning to feel that the time is drawing very near and it’s time to make some tough decisions about your lives; to change your focus as far as what is really important to you. Yet whatever you do, let that focus be on what is really important to God. I don’t preach a message of hopelessness and desperation, but in these troubling times I do believe in being realistic.
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We are preparing for the end of the age and the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is important for us to focus on saving souls and warning those that are lost before they are swept away into eternal damnation. I believe that the Lord uses these monthly newsletter messages to get you to think more soberly about what is occurring here in the United States and around the world; to prepare you for the many challenges that lie ahead.
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We cannot afford to be ignorant of Satan’s tactics and strategies because he has identified us as his enemies and he wants to see us destroyed. Mankind is being slowly corrupted because of the Satanic nature which has been introduced into the soul of man. It has been allowed to grow and fester like a cancer until all of humanity is rotten and the stench becomes unbearable to God.
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Jesus said that “<span style="color: #990000;">we are the salt of the earth.</span>” (<span style="color: #990000;">Matthew 5:13</span>) We are the preservative for all of mankind and the only hope that they have. We must be sanctified and available to the Lord for His purpose.
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The final give up is here, the reprobate mind. God’s response to the reprobate mind can be found in Romans 12:1-2:
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<span style="color: #990000;">“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
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We must not be conformed to this world, but transformed in our minds to be witnesses in these last days. It’s the only hope the world has.
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Until next time, Maranatha and be encouraged.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"And be not ye like your fathers, and like your brethren, which trespassed against the LORD God of their fathers, who therefore gave them up to desolation, as ye see." II Chronicles 30:7</span>Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-92165783201867786152016-07-28T10:52:00.002-04:002016-07-28T10:52:43.125-04:00Will You Now Stop At Only Words?I happened to see yesterday a portion of the movie, "The Patriot" for the first time. One scene in particular really struck me.<br />
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A young man enters a church, issuing a call for men to join the Militia...and he is greeted with silence. The men were hesitatnt to join the movement because outside of the church were the bodies of men whom British soldiers had hung from a tree for their treason in fighting against Britain. Such is a clear sign to all of the fate which might befall those who decided to enlist in this fight. Therefore, the men were immobilized.<br />
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In the midst of this, a young woman stands and reminds the men how they have all spent hours talking about their desire for freedom. She asks them, "<span style="color: #38761d;">Will you now stop at only words?</span>"<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Such is a great question for the men in the Body of Christ at this hour. Satan has run roughshod over billions. He has perverted many with his educational, entertainment, government, financial, and religious systems. He has killed indiscriminately and without mercy. He has stolen and destroyed the futures of innocents. So I ask, "<span style="color: #38761d;">Will you now stop at only words?</span>"<br />
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Just think of how he has sought to destroy you, your family, and your friends. How he has attempted to limit and oppress you, using spiritual strongmen to try and thwart your advances in the Lord. How he has tried to bind you and keep you enslaved to his evil kingdom. "<span style="color: #38761d;">Will you now stop at only words?</span>"<br />
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I am not speaking to those who are religious. There are many hirelings who falsely proclaim to belong to the Lord, yet their real objective is to make their lives more comfortable <i>in this world</i>. How do you know? That is all they talk about; their mind stays on "<span style="color: #990000;">earthly things</span>" (<span style="color: #990000;">James 3:15; Jude 1:18-19</span>). They couldn't care less about Jesus Christ, the word of God, or the spiritual war He is fighting. <br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensemble. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who <b>mind earthly things</b>.) For <b>our conversation is in heaven</b>; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to <i>subdue all things unto himself</i>." Philippians 3:18-21</span><br />
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The difference between those who truly represent the Lord and these <b>enemies of the cross</b> is the focus of their lives. Is it centered in Christ in the Heavenlies or are they focused on things of this world? Why are they enemies of the cross? Because they have not crucified the old man. They have not taken up their cross and therefore - as Jesus says Himself - they are <u>not</u> His disciples (<span style="color: #990000;">Luke 14:27</span>).<br />
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Don't be fooled by the frivolous titles they append to their names or the empty words of faith they proclaim. Don't be drawn into pseudo-wars by <b>cowards</b> trying to get you to focus on the here and now instead of the things of God (<span style="color: #990000;">Colossians 3:2</span>).<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"<b>No man</b> that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." II Timothy 2:4</span><br />
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For those who truly are the Lord's, now is a time for action. Do not stop seeking Christ and preaching Christ until the Lord endues you with power from on high. <br />
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As the young woman states, "<span style="color: #38761d;">Will you now, when you are needed most, stop at only words? Is that the kind of men you are?</span>" God forbid.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P9ZV09NsI1g?rel=0" width="480"></iframe>Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-44828867264467188882016-07-13T07:16:00.000-04:002016-07-28T07:06:15.868-04:00Why Didn't Jesus Take Up Roman Oppression of the Jews?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000;">"Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass's colt." John 12:15</span><br />
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Jesus was born into a world where His people were dominated and treated unjustly by the ruling authority of Rome. As such, the Jews held to the prophecies that God would send them a Deliverer. Such is why King Herod ordered the murder of all male children born around that time, causing Joseph and Mary to hide in Egypt with Jesus when He was a babe (<span style="color: #990000;">Matthew Chapter 2</span>).<br />
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To get a better understanding of this time period and the lives of Jewish people, look at the following excerpts from <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/religion/portrait/jews.html" target="_blank">Jews and the Roman Empire</a> and <a href="https://clas-pages.uncc.edu/james-tabor/the-jewish-world-of-jesus-an-overview/" target="_blank">The Jewish World of Jesus</a>:<br />
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<b>Jews and the Roman Empire</b><br />
The way the Roman Empire developed, was gradually to take over more and more territories in the eastern Mediterranean. Some of these were governed as provinces. You can imagine the Roman Empire gradually taking over more and more areas as they conquered and progressively moved to the east. North Africa, Egypt, Asia Minor, modern day Turkey, Syria. And gradually, they also conquered Judea. In the process, they set up some as provinces, and some as client kingdoms. Judea happened to be one of these client kingdoms run by its own independent, or semi-independent, King. This is the person we know as Herod the Great.<br />
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For the ordinary people of the Jewish homeland, Rome was a kind of dominant political factor. Although they might not have seen Romans on a day-to-day basis, the imposition of Roman power was certainly there. In the case of the client kingdom, Judea, Herod's rule and Herod's forces would have been the political entity. But everyone knew that Rome was the power behind the throne. Everyone knew that Rome was the source of both the wealth and also the source of some of the problems that occurred in the Jewish state. So the political reality of the day was of a dominant power overseeing the life on a day-to-day basis.<br />
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<b>The Jewish World of Jesus</b><br />
Life for the Jews under the procurators was exceedingly difficult. For example, Pontius Pilate was described by Agrippa I as unbending and severe with the stubborn, and was accused of bribery, cruelty, and countless murders. This protrait is confirmed by the Jewish historian Josephus who chronicled a number of events that provoked the Jews under Pilate and other procurators, leading to riots, beatings, and executions. The Legate of Syria eventually removed Pilate on the complaints of the Samaritans, whom he had mistreated. After the interim reign of Herod Agrippa I ended in 44 C.E., the situation under the procurators deteriorated even further. In one case, Josephus (who likes to inflate figures) says 20,000 Jews were killed in a riot prompted when a Roman soldier ridiculed some Passover pilgrims with an indecent gesture. There thus emerged within Judaism groups of revolutionaries who looked back to the militaristic Maccabees and their zeal for the Law as great heroes. These “Zealots” were already active in spirit, if not in name, in the period prior to the birth of Jesus. In 6 or 7 C.E., Judas the Galilean and a Pharisee named Zaddok attempted to arouse the people to revolt against the first Roman census. Self-styled prophets and messiahs appeared from time to time and eventually an even more radical group, the Sicarii (Latin sicarius, “dagger”), emerged to foment revolution by assassination. Clearly, the policy of the tyrannical and brutal procurators, like that of the Seleucid Hellenizer Antiochus IV over 150 years earlier, met with increasing opposition led by more revolutionary Jews; ultimately, the forces of moderation could not contain them.</blockquote>
<a name='more'></a><span style="color: #990000;">"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." Zechariah 9:9</span><br />
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In the midst of persecution, the Jews longed for their Messiah. They looked for someone who would avenge their injustices, deliver them from their oppressors, and return to them the autonomy of self-rule by reinstating the throne of David. They yearned for someone who would right the wrongs being done to them in this present evil world...and that is a major reason why they would not receive Jesus.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">The Jews wanted someone who would <b>save them from their <i>position</i> in this world</b>, but Jesus came to <b>save them from their <i>condition</i> in sin</b>. </span><br />
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Think of one time when Jesus even spoke of Rome, besides Him telling them to <a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2009/08/made-in-gods-image.html" target="_blank">render to Caesar what was Caesar's and render to God what was God's</a>. In other words, the things which pertained to Caesar had nothing to do with the things which pertained to God.<br />
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In spite of the fact that the Jews were under persecution by the Romans, this was never Jesus' focus. Let's put it another way. Jesus was fully aware that the Jews were being robbed, abused, and killed at the hands of the Romans (the devil only comes to steal, kill, and destroy). So the question is, why didn't Jesus fight for the plight of the Jewish people against Rome? Why didn't He make it a priority in His life and ministry to redress Roman oppression? Why didn't He instruct His disciples to set right these wrongs?<br />
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<li><b>God's Kingdom is not of this World</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;">"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." John 18:36</span><br /><br />Jesus' eye was singly focused on preaching and bringing to pass the Kingdom of God, which is not of this world (<span style="color: #990000;">Matthew 12:28; Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:43; Luke 9:2</span>). The Kingdom of God does not come from this world, is not influenced by this world, and is not based upon the things of this world.<br /></li>
<li><b>Such was not the Father's Business</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;">"And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" Luke 2:49</span><br /><br />Jesus only did and said what the Father commanded, as He was always about the Father's business (<span style="color: #990000;">John 4:34; John 5:17; John 8:29; John 9:4; John 12:49-50; John 14:10</span>), Therefore, the Father never directed Jesus to focus on Roman oppression.<br /></li>
<li><b>This world is temporal and passing away</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;">"And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:" Mark 9:47</span><br /><br />Jesus knew that everything in the world - the good and the bad - would all pass away and was not everlasting (<span style="color: #990000;">Matthew 34:25; II Peter 3:10</span>). He always attempted to get man to understand that their lives in this world were not the most important thing, but that we should value most that which is eternal (<span style="color: #990000;">Matthew 16:23-25; Luke12:15; Luke 21:34; Johm 12:25; Colossians 3:2; II Timothy 2:4; I John 2:15-16</span>). Even the troubles we face here are only light and momentary afflictions when compared to the eternal glory which awaits us (<span style="color: #990000;">II Corinthians 4:16-17</span>).<br /></li>
<li><b>Satan is the god of this world</b><br /><br /><span style="color: #990000;">"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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." I John 2:15-16</span><br /><br />Jesus knows that the systems of this world are under the jurisdiction of Satan and that the world has been <a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2008/10/turning-world-upside-down-part-4.html" target="_blank">betrayed into Satan's hands</a>. He acknowledges that Satan is the god of this world (<span style="color: #990000;">II Corinthians 4:3-4</span>). The world's ways are not the Lord's ways and He does not expect the world to do what is right (<span style="color: #990000;">Isaiah 55:9; John 15:19</span>). Apart from God, any "right" man does is only as filthy rags (<span style="color: #990000;">Isaiah 64:6</span>).<br /></li>
<li><b>Both the Jews and Romans were <u>all</u> sinners.</b><br /><span style="color: #990000;"><br />"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23</span><br /><br />The Romans were doing evil, but so were the Jews. The Jews wanted the Romans judged for <i>their</i> sins, but were blinded to their own affronts to God (<span style="color: #990000;">Matthew 7:1; Matthew 8:23-35; Luke 6:37; Luke 13:34; John 7:24</span>). They didn't cry out to God to be partakers of His righteousness; rather, they wanted vindication against their enemies. Yet, there was none righteous, not even one (<span style="color: #990000;">Romans 3:10</span>). Would a just God judge one man's sins and not another's (<span style="color: #990000;">Proverbs 20:10, 23</span>)? He is not a respecter of persons (<span style="color: #990000;">Acts 10:34</span>).</li>
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Does this mean that Jesus didn't care? Of course not. Jesus Himself suffered under Roman oppression and was killed by them as He laid down His life for us (<span style="color: #990000;">Matthew 27:2; John 10:15-17; John 15:13; I John 3:16</span>). <br />
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The fact that Jesus (and His disciples) <b>refused</b> to get caught up in a pursuit for worldly justice against the Romans does not mean He didn't care for His people. It is an illustration of the fact that He cared <b>too much</b> to be sidetracked into participating in skirmishes that would not dismantle Satan's diabolical kingdom. Because Satan's kingdom is built upon sin, Jesus had to lay the axe to the root of the matter. Jesus came to destroy the all of the works of the Devil so that all men mught be set free (<span style="color: #990000;">I John 3:8</span>). <br />
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Because the True Messiah did not focus on their lives <i>in this world</i> - the Jewish people created "<span style="color: #990000;">another Jesus</span>" who would...and they await him still today (<span style="color: #990000;">II Corinthans 11:4</span>). When called to choose between God and the world, they willingly aligned themselves with the world.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, <b>We have no king but Caesar.</b>" John 19:15</span><br />
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In spite of verbal professions that they belonged to the Father, the truth was that they really <i>loved</i> the world and were <i>of</i> the world. So when you hear people talking about a "Jesus" who is all wrapped up in the affairs of this life and whose primary concern is your life in this world - whether it is your <i>prosperity</i> or <i>tribulation</i> in it - you can know that they too are seeking "<span style="color: #990000;">another Jesus</span>". Jesus, and those who belong to Him, <a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2013/01/true-vs-false-church.html" target="_blank">will never focus on the aspects of your life in this world</a>, but on things above.<br />
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The Jews were looking for a Savior who was going to give them justice over their wordly oppressors, while ignoring their own sinful condition. Since they did not see this in Jesus, they rejected Him. They passed over the only hope for all mankind because they were focused on an earthly Deliverer bringing them earthly rewards. This is a lesson all should heed.Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-83851231297541510452016-07-09T08:50:00.001-04:002016-07-23T08:53:06.872-04:00Sympathy From the Devil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000;">"And we know that we are of God, and <b>the whole world</b> lieth in wickedness." I John 5:19</span><br />
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These are days that will test what we <i>think</i> we know and believe. The "<span style="color: #990000;">whole world</span>" lies in wickedness.<br />
<blockquote>
<b><span style="color: #38761d;">wickedness</span></b>: Greek word <i>ponēros</i> meaning full of labours, annoyances, hardships; of an evil nature or condition; bringing toils, annoyances, perils; of a time full of peril to Christian faith and steadfastness; causing pain and trouble.</blockquote>
Do we believe that? Do we believe that <i>everything</i> of the world is grounded in <b>evil</b>?<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the <b>god of this world</b> hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." II Corinthians 4:3-4</span><br />
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Do we truly believe that Satan is the god of this world? That every single world system is under <i>his</i> jurisdiction and infuence? <br />
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If we believe the word of God, then isn't it illogical to seek sympathy from the devil? Why seek retibution, understanding, compassion, equality, and justice <i>from the devil</i>? Why appeal for mercy to the one who is determined to steal from, kill. and destroy you? Why expect <i>Satan</i> to do what is right? What sense does that make? Absolutely none.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I expect those who are <i>of</i> the world to turn <i>to</i> the world for answers. They will march, protest, petition legislators, host sit-ins & boycotts, and even seek their own brand of justice by their own hand. Yet, what about those who claim to belong to Christ? <br />
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We all have our own individual trials. However, as the world transitions into these last of the last days, it is also in tribulation. The world is in birth pains. The Scriptures say there are two natures being brought to full manifestation during this time: the nature of Jesus Christ in His sons (<span style="color: #990000;">Galatians 4:19; Romans 8:19</span>) and the nature of Satan in his (<span style="color: #990000;">Revelation 13:4-18, 17:8-14</span>). Which one are you? One indication is certainly the one to whom you turn in times of distress. Don't fool yourself. If you are seeking justice <i>from</i> this world, it is because you are <i>still</i> to some degree <i>of</i> the world.<br />
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Let me tell you something. There is <b>nothing</b> this world can give me to make up for the injustices, murders, breeches, sicknesses, deformities, perversions, lies, heartache, abuses, thefts, rejections, and turmoil Satan has brought into my life. <b>Not one thing.</b> Neither will I seek Satan - or his systems - to right any of these wrongs.<br />
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So some may ask. "<span style="color: #38761d;">Then what are we supposed to do?</span>" That is the million dollar question.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"Wherefore he saith, <b>Awake thou that sleepest</b>, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." Ephesians 5:14-17</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21:28</span><br />
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God expects that His children will discern the times in which we live and look up for direction from our Commander and Chief, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is forging His people for battle and equipping us with spiritual weapons which are <b>not carnal</b>, but mighty to the pulling down of strongholds as He prepares to wage the war of the ages against His enemies (<span style="color: #990000;">Joel 2; </span><span style="color: #990000;">Jeremiah 51:20; Ephesians 6:17 ;II Corinthians 10:3-6</span>). <br />
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Will you be ready? Are you being forged into such a vessel or are you allowing your flesh to get distracted by the cares of this life? The flesh wants its own way...and it wants it NOW. To whom will you yield?<br />
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Unfortunately, multitudes of Christians are unprepared for these times because they have been sitting in pews of death in Babylon, being puffed up with inspirational fairytales and false promises of worldly prosperity. Their faith was just an accessory to help them get through the trials of life in this world. Jesus Christ was just someone to give them what they wanted <i>in</i> this world versus someone who would deliver them from it. They have not been made ready for war and are easily sidetracked by Satan into his psuedo-wars in the world which are of no threat him. If you are in this type of snare, then wake up and ask the Lord to give you light as to what is really going on these days!<br />
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Yes, evil is increasing at alarming speeds, but the Lord has warned us that it would be so (<span style="color: #990000;">II Timothy 3:1-5</span>). Satan knows that his time is short. The question again is do you believe God's word and have you been prepared to stay grounded on the Rock in the midst of it all? Will you be able to endure, even until the end (<span style="color: #990000;">Matthew 24</span>)?<br />
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God is shaking everything until the only thing which remains is that which cannot be shaken (<span style="color: #990000;">Hebrews 12:27</span>). Is your <b>faith</b> one of those things? Don't wait for the devil to further show his hand before you decide to stand for God. Get ready now!<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." II Timothy 2:3-4</span><br />
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<b><u>Additional Resources</u></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://theorganicgospel.net/" target="_blank">The Organic Gospel</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://omegaministries.org/audio/message?id=593" target="_blank">Satan's Ultimate Goal</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2011/01/ethnos-shall-rise-against-ethnos.html" target="_blank">Ethnos Shall Rise Against Ethnos</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2014/10/fear-not.html" target="_blank">Fear Not</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2013/06/surely-your-salavation-is-coming.html" target="_blank">SURELY Your Salvation is Coming!</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2015/07/god-wants-to-save-you.html" target="_blank">God Wants to Save You</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2012/01/civil-rights-does-not-impart.html" target="_blank">Civil Rights Does Not Impart Righteousness</a><br />
<br />Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-11457394018452726692016-06-20T09:08:00.000-04:002016-07-05T10:35:38.418-04:00When I Was A Child...<span style="color: #990000;">"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." I Corinthians 13:11</span><br />
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Recently, my husband was speaking with my father and said to him, "<span style="color: #38761d;">I want to apologize for not originally asking for your daughter's hand in marriage.</span>" My father was surprised, and this began a deeper conversation between the two.<br />
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As my father relayed the conversation to me, I recalled that period in my life. I even remember my grandmother meeting my then fiance and saying, "<span style="color: #38761d;">I approve. I give my blessing for this marriage.</span>" I looked at her strangely and said, "<span style="color: #38761d;">Ok.</span>" because we were <i>already</i> engaged. I wondered to myself, "<span style="color: #7f6000;">Why did she think I needed her approval or blessing?</span>" I think upon this perspective now in shame.<br />
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This is the sort of ignorant blindness many young adults walk in. Having perhaps been under the tutelage of a parent for most of your life, you begin to equate <b>maturity</b> (being fully developed) with <b>self-reliance </b>(depending on yourself alone for everything). To such persons, doing things <i>your way</i> becomes your proof that you are are grown...and nothing could be further from the truth. <br />
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Such is the attitude of a child - no matter the age of the person - and it is rampant in the church. People are running around as renegades trying to "prove" that they know the Lord by going rogue. "<span style="color: #38761d;">They don't need anyone but Jesus.</span>" they claim, except it is clear by that attitude that they do not yet have Him. While they wear their independence as a badge of honor, all it does is make obvious that they have yet to know the ways of the Lord. <br />
<span style="color: #990000;"></span><br />
<a name='more'></a>There is nothing worse then watching someone with the mind of a child running around digging a bigger ditch for themselves just because they refuse to be told anything. It reminds me of my own children. Growing up, they would want their <i>own</i> determinations to be considered as valid and sound as ours, but they often lacked the experience & knowledge (maturity) to make the right decisions. I would often respond, "<span style="color: #38761d;">This is why God gave you <b>parents</b>.</span>" <br />
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God is not stupid. He knows that children need the wisdom and guidance which can only come by experience. Therefore, He places children in a family unit as a protection for them and He does the same with the Church. <br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land." Psalm 68:6</span><br />
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God is a family, and He desires for us to become a part of His family. As a reflection of that, He sets up His people <i>in families</i>. The Body of Christ - to which all believers belong - is <i>singular</i>; there is <b>one</b> Body. Yet notice that there are <i>multiple</i> families. The idea of these spiritual families is the same as a physical family: patriarchal leadership, complimentary nurturing to support life, and children in obedience <span style="color: #990000;">(Genesis 18:19; I Timothy 3:4, 12; Titus 1:6)</span>. <br />
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Those who remain removed from these families are called "<span style="color: #990000;">rebellious</span>". All of the voices you hear in the landscape boldly claiming that it is not important to God that you belong to a church family are merely the rantings of this bound, rebellious seed. <br />
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Can God save and raise you apart from such a family unit? Of course. God even saved the man on the cross apart from being baptized. Yet you need to know that such is <b>not</b> His will. He desires for you to be connected to, and have consistent fellowship with, believers of a like precious faith in a family unit. This is how He grows us up to maturity and even a way for Him to continue edifying us once we have matured (<span style="color: #990000;">Ephesians 4:11-12</span>). God is not a solitary individual and neither are those who belong to Him.<br />
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The truth is that those who resist God's ways in this area are simply too proud and immature to be held accuntable for anything. They want to receive the accolades and worship of the people, which means they need to cull you off from Christ to themselves so that you will see them as some "<span style="color: #990000;">great one</span>" (<span style="color: #990000;">Acts 8:9</span>). This is why God indicates that we should beware of novices, "<span style="color: #990000;">lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.</span>" (<span style="color: #990000;">I Timothy 3:6</span>). <br />
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One of the best revelations I ever received from the Lord is the knowledge that being a part of a spiritual family, with appropriate Godly leadership, is in no way a threat to whom He has uniquely created me to be. In fact, it is the way for me to <i>become</i> what He has created me to be as He completes the work He has begun. The true sign of maturity is not trying to do everything by yourself, but being able to diescern and submit to Godly wisdom. <br />
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If you are still trying to prove that you are something, then you can rest assured that you are not yet what you claim. Only when you get to the place of actually becoming what you seek, will you just be able to "be". Not only will you have no impetus to prove it to anyone, it will be obvious to all because of your fruit.<br />
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<b><u>Other Resources</u></b><br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2014/07/put-me-in-my-place.html" target="_blank">Put Me In My Place</a><br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2012/01/caretaker.html" target="_blank">The Caretaker</a><br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2012/02/perfect-in-one.html" target="_blank">Perfect in One</a><br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2012/01/three-rs-of-rebellion.html" target="_blank">The Three R's or Rebellion</a><br />
<br />Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-36614322338745013392016-06-01T14:02:00.000-04:002016-07-02T14:19:40.717-04:00The Salvation Kit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The following is a collection of <a href="http://omegaministries.org/" target="_blank">Omega Ministies</a> teachings which are great ministry resources for those needing the truth. Whether someone is lost, a new convert to the faith, or an existing believer who wants to "stir up" the gifts God has placed within them, these sermons will strengthen the walk of every one seeking after righteousness.<br />
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The set provides <i>over 20 hours</i> of bible messages dealing with such subjects as: What does it mean to be saved? What is the difference between salvation and religion? What are some of the main deceptions which you will likely never hear of in so-called churches? What does it mean to have received the Holy Spirit? Why have you been saved by God and what do you do now?<br />
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<b><a href="http://omegaministries.org/order/index?order=audios" target="_blank">The Salvation Kit</a></b><br />
<br />
The Power Of A Selfless Life<br />
The Religious Matrix<br />
The Titanic<br />
The Beast Is In The Beats<br />
Have You Received The Holy Ghost<br />
Getting Out Of The Matrix<br />
Sexmania<br />
Judgment Day<br />
Saved By A Drunk Man<br />
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Please visit the following site to get your copies of this kit, which should be heard by one and all: <a href="http://omegaministries.org/order/index?order=audios" target="_blank">http://omegaministries.org/order/index?order=audios</a><br />
<br />Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-52476774793714555152016-05-31T09:31:00.002-04:002022-01-02T12:06:42.367-05:00Doors in Life<div style="text-align: right;">
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The following is taken from the <a href="https://ewe-4christ.blogspot.com/2016/05/doors-in-life.html" target="_blank">Ewe-4Chist blog</a>.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">Doors in Life</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"I know thy works: behold, I have set before you an open door, and no man can shut it:for thou has little strength, and had kept my word and hast not denied my name." -Revelation 3:8</span></div>
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We serve a God that opens doors that no one can shut, and shuts doors no one can open.<br />
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So if we have an open door we are to stay there till the Lord moves us. Honestly, it can be hard sometimes to tell if the "door" to something is opend or closed, whether we are suppose to go right or left. But even when it seems like we are all alone and don't know where to go, we must remember the Lord will guide our steps (Prov. 16:9). As long as we follow the Lord and seek Him he will be our guide.
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<a name='more'></a>There will be plenty of times where doors will open and close in our life, starting new journeys. So we must stay faithful to the Lord, and get to know Him for ourself. If we want to hear from the Lord and know His will for our life we must seek Him (1Chronicles 16:11). He wants us to draw closer to Him each day, if we invite Him in He will enter (Revelations 3:20).<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="Unchecked Copy Box" class="copyBox" id="bVcopy_496002" src="https://www.blueletterbible.org/assets/images/copyChkboxOff.gif" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;" /> <a href="https://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/psa/18/2/s_496002" id="bV_496002" rel="tools" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; color: #39547f; cursor: pointer; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: top;">Psa 18:2</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">The LORD <em id="yui-gen52" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">is</em> my <span class="criteria" id="yui-gen51" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #9e0b0f; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">rock</span>, and my <span class="criteria" id="yui-gen48" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(158, 11, 15); border-style: solid solid dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #9e0b0f; font-weight: bold; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">fortress</span>, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, <em style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: top;">and</em> my high tower.</span></div>
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Lord, thank-you for everything you do in my life. I know there are times I take you for granted so please forgive me. You can have my hopes and dreams , I want to follow your will for my life. Guide me Lord Jesus and help me to put all my trust in you 100% not 80, not 99 but my all in all into your hands. Help me to grow closer to you each day. I can never thank-you enough for all that is given me. Thank -you Lord!<br />
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In Jesus Name,<br />
AmenLatter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-44351698800808251942016-04-11T11:10:00.001-04:002016-04-11T11:17:44.750-04:00In Need of Grace?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a name='more'></a>Excerpt below from <a href="https://www.reviveourhearts.com/radio/revive-our-hearts/tis-so-sweet-trust-jesus/" target="_blank">Revive Our Hearts</a>:<br />
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Now, today I want us to look at another lesser known poet and hymn writer who provided us a gospel song that’s been a great blessing to many.</div>
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Her name was <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Louisa Stead</strong>. She was born in 1850 in Dover, England. She trusted Christ at the age of nine. As a teen she felt this sense of calling to become a foreign missionary. When she was twenty-one, she immigrated to the United States. During her years of living here, she attended a revival meeting where once again <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">she felt this strong pull and call of God on her life to be a missionary, so she offered herself up for mission service.</strong></div>
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Her desire was to go to China, but she had no-so-good health, and she wasn’t accepted to go.</div>
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She married a man whose last name was Stead. I’ve not been able to find his first name. I’m sure it’s somewhere in there, buried in the archives. One sunny, summer day, Louisa and her husband and their four-year-old daughter named Lily packed a picnic lunch and went down to the beach on Long Island, NY, near where they lived, to enjoy a few hours of playing in the sand and the water.</div>
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Now, I’ve read varying accounts of exactly what happened next, but the best I can piece it together, while they were enjoying their little picnic, the Stead family heard a scream. It was from a young boy who out in the water who was struggling against the wind and the undertow to get back to shore.</div>
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Well, Mr. Stead plunged into the water immediately and swam out to help the boy. He put his arm around the boy and tried to swim back to shore with him, but Louisa and her little girl watched helplessly from the shore as the boy kept struggling and flailing, and eventually both <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">the boy and Mr. Stead were pulled down into the waves and drowned there in the ocean.</strong></div>
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Well, heartbroken and now as a widow with a little girl, without her husband, Louisa struggled to provide for herself and her daughter. She told a friend:</div>
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<span style="color: #783f04;">I need faith and trust to believe that His Providence is still at work, and that His hand can still guide me through the bleak, unknown future.</span></div>
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Of course, in those life circumstances, and some of you have been there—some of you are there perhaps . . . It makes me think of my mother who was widowed at the age of forty with seven children, ages eight to twenty-one. At that moment the future can seem bleak and unknown. Right? But <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">keep in mind that it’s only unknown to you. It’s not unknown to Him who orchestrates the moments and the circumstances of our lives for His glory and our good.</strong></div>
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Well, she said: “I need faith and trust to believe that His Providence is still at work and that His hand can still guide me through this bleak, unknown future.”</div>
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One day the pantry was empty, there was nothing to eat, so Louisa led her little girl as they prayed and cried out to the Lord. They told God that He knew their need and that they were trusting in Him, asking Him to provide out of His abundance.</div>
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Well, the next morning they got up, and they found a large basket of provisions at the front door, and an envelope that had enough money in it to buy shoes for Lily. Louisa told her little girl: “We trusted God, and He has not failed us.” What a powerful lesson for a little girl to learn early in life: <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">“We trusted God, and He has not failed us.”</strong></div>
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Some of you have experienced those amazing moments where you have nowhere else to turn, no other hope, no other help but to turn to the Lord and say, “Lord, I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You. I’m trusting You. Give me grace to trust You more.” And then you’ve seen God provide, and then that becomes a message to your children and to your grandchildren and your friends around you: “We trusted God, and He has not failed us.”</div>
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Well, out of the experience of her tragic loss and seeing God’s hand meet her needs, Louisa was inspired to write this simple bit of poetry:</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,</em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Just to take Him at His Word;</em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Just to rest upon His promise; </em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Just to know, ‘Thus saith the Lord!’”</em></div>
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“’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.” Now, as you reflect on the words of this gospel song, keep in mind that our trust, our faith, is not in a vacuum. It’s not just fantasy faith: “Oh, I’ll just dream it to be so, and it will be so; or I’ll just speak it to be so, and it will be so.” This is not name it and claim it theology.</div>
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Our trust has an Object. It’s not in ourselves; it’s not in our dreams; it’s not in our hopes. Our trust is in a Person. “’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.” <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Our trust is based on the solid foundation of His Word.</strong></div>
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“It’s sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His Word, just to rest upon His promise.” That’s what makes faith valuable and strong. Not that our faith is strong but that the Object of our faith is strong. We’re trusting in Christ; we’re trusting in His Word; we’re trusting in His unfailing promises.</div>
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And so she says in the chorus:</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er!<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />O, for grace to trust Him more!</em></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">The more you’ve seen Him work and provide, the more you want to trust Him, and the more you want to pray for grace to trust Him even more.</strong></div>
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So out of these early experiences as a widow with a little girl, Louisa trusted Jesus for practical, material provision, and He came through. He met her in her financial need in this point where she, in the loss of a mate had no means to provide for herself, she saw Him come through and provide.</div>
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But she knew that she could trust Jesus for more than just material provision. She knew that, even more importantly, He could be trusted for her eternal salvation. Because what if you have all of the riches of the world but you die lost and without Jesus? You’re not rich. That’s ultimate poverty. Right? So she knew that she could trust Jesus for her salvation, and so she says in the second stanza:</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">O how sweet to trust in Jesus,</em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Just to trust His cleansing blood,</em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Just in simple faith to plunge me</em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">‘Neath the healing, cleansing flood!</em></div>
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What are you trusting for your salvation? What are you trusting for forgiveness of your sin against a holy God?</div>
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.42857; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 1em;">Are you trusting religion? </li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.42857; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 1em;">Your church experience? </li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.42857; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 1em;">Yourself? </li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.42857; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 1em;">Your good works? </li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.42857; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 1em;">Your family background? </li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.42857; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 1em;">Some religious experience you had somewhere along the way? </li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 1.42857; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 1em;">Some decision you made in some emotional meeting somewhere?</li>
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Listen, none of these can save you. None of those can forgive one single sin much less a lifetime of sin against a holy God. <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">Nothing and no one other than Jesus and His shed blood is sufficient for your salvation.</strong></div>
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And then, having experienced His saving grace, Louisa also found in Jesus sanctifying grace, deliverance from sin and self, and she refers to this in the third stanza:</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,</em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Just from sin and self to cease;</em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Just from Jesus simply taking </em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Life and rest and joy and peace.</em></div>
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“’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.” It’s a life of faith. It’s a life of leaning on our Beloved, as the Song of Solomon says. A life not of striving, not of performance, not of human effort.</div>
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Some of us just live our lives back at Mt. Sinai where the law was given, and you’ve got to strive and struggle and try to perform to please a God that we can’t please. Or we struggle, and we wrestle, and we grasp, and we try to get life and joy and peace and the fruit of Spirit. “I’m going to have it if it kills me.” (It may!)</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">But she recognized that this is a life of faith, a life of believing that all I need, all I want, all I long for, all I have to have for this life and the next, ultimately is found in Jesus. </strong>He has finished the work. Ours is to look to Him and believe. “’Tis sweet to trust in Jesus. Just from Jesus, simply taking life and rest and joy and peace."</div>
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And then we see in the final stanza that Jesus can be trusted, not only in this life, but through all of life and all the way to the finish line into the next life. She says:</div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">“</span><span style="color: #783f04;">I’m so glad I learned to trust Him.</span><span style="color: #333333;">”</span></div>
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By the way, you don’t learn to trust Him unless you have difficult circumstances that put you in a difficult place. Right? <strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">If you always had everything you need and you never had any challenges, never had any problems, never had any difficulties, would we learn to trust Jesus? Who would we trust? Ourselves. Right? We’d be self-reliant. We’d be stubborn and proud.</strong></div>
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And so she said:</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">I’m so glad I learned to trust Him.</em></div>
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What she’s really saying is: “Anything that makes me need God is a blessing.” It makes us trust Him.</div>
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<em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;</em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">And I know that He is with me,</em><em style="box-sizing: border-box;">Will be with me to the end.</em></div>
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What she’d experienced in the past she knew would also be true in the future—whatever that might bring that she couldn’t see at this point.</div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;">You see, our need, our distress, our challenges, our problems, our pressures, all of those are opportunities to trust Jesus, to look to the Lord, to discover His promises, to prove His promises, to try Him to see that He really is faithful.</strong></div>
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As I said, if we never had to face those extremities, if we never had to trust Him in difficult places where we can’t see the outcome, where would we be? That’s why God loves us enough to create circumstances that bring us to the end of ourselves and make us realize how desperately we need Him.</div>
Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-4064602074315501932016-01-11T11:19:00.003-05:002016-01-12T08:51:57.359-05:00Grin and Bear it<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This past summer, I was visiting family and walking up the main street in town. The sidewalk was just big enough for two people to walk side by side. Typically, people walking down the sidewalk made room for each other. If they were walking with someone and saw another coming in the opposite direction, one would move over so that there was room for all to pass.<br />
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However, I noticed that not everyone did. Some would walk with others down the street and continued to do so, even as they saw people coming towards them. When I encountered such persons, I would automaticaly step on to the grass or street so that they could pass. In response, they did not say thank you nor even give a smile of acknowledgement or apology; they just kept walking as if I was not even there.<br />
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After this happened for the third time, I realized in shock that these people <b>expected</b> me to move out of their way. They felt entitled and had no consideration for others. They would just bogart their way and expected everyone else to just get out of their way. Even worse was the realization that I instinctively deferred to these persons <b>every time</b>, without hesitation. Why was I so diffident?<br />
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The next time I saw such persons, I did not move. I did not sidestep into the street. I stood my ground right where I was. Some eventually moved over so that we all could pass each other. Some never did, even bumping into me and looking at me as if I had lost my mind for not moving out of their way. I began to wonder why some - by their behavior - seemed to believe that they were worth more than others, while such as myself - by our behavior - seemed to believe that we were worth nothing. <br />
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<a name='more'></a>Have you ever seen movies depicting life in America prior to civil rights being in place? Historically, African-Americans were raised to be self-effacing and live in deference to Caucasians. They were to move out of the way, give up their seats, not be heard and be barely seen., etc. Somehow others had the right to live and prosper, while you did not. I am not talking about Black vs. White here. I am speaking of mindsets; in particular the mindset of a slave. <br />
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The Devil is a bully. In his eyes, the world revolves around him and you are nothing but his slave. He expects you to scamper out of his way and roll over while he bowls you over. He expects you to grin and bear it when he spits in your face...and many times people do; even Christians, erroneously perceiving that as part of their Christian duty. Why are many Christians walking around as if they are still slaves to the Devil? This is because the false church has put forth the image of an effeminate, weak Jesus and have corrupted the meanings of meekness and humility into being passivity. This false Jesus is the world's depiction of a "<span style="color: #783f04;">nice guy</span>" who is never assertive. As a result, the false church has molded Christians into being a reflection of this false idol, creating many "<span style="color: #783f04;">nice men</span>" and "<span style="color: #783f04;">nice women</span>" who by default are no threat to Satan whatsoever.<br />
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Yet, Jesus did not come to be a nice guy. He came to destroy the works of the devil. Do we realize that Jesus was victorious over the Devil as a Lord of hosts (which means armies)? Do we understand that the Lord never gave deference to the Devil, but submitted to the will of His Father? Do we realize that Jesus has overcome the world and that we share in those victories as His people? Do we really understand who we are in Christ? <br />
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How and when are we to use the authority <b>God has given us</b> to trample on snakes and scorpions (<span style="color: #990000;">Psalm 91:13; Luke 10:19</span>)? When are we to be God's battle axe (<span style="color: #990000;">Jeremiah 51:20; Micah 4:13</span>)? Why has He equipped us with armor (<span style="color: #990000;">Romans 13:12; Ephesians 6:11-13; II Corinthians 6:11, 10:4-6; I Thessalonians 5:8</span>)? Why does God call us to be soldiers and tell us to fight the good fight (<span style="color: #990000;">II Timothy 2:3-4; I Corinthians 9:26; I Timothy 6:12</span>)?<br />
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I had a dream a few years ago where the devil was just throwing me around a room. He would slam me into one wall and I would fall in a crumpled, hurting ball unto the floor. Then he would pick me up again and slam me into another wall, where I would fall again to the floor. This continued for some time until I finally got fed up and yelled at the Devil, "<span style="color: #38761d;">Get your hands off of me in the name of Jesus!</span>" At that moment, the Devil backed up off of me and literally fled from the room. At the time, I thought God was impressing upon me the power available in the name of Jesus, as I was contending with several folks about the name "Jesus". I woke up chuckling and said, "<span style="color: #38761d;">Well, so much for there being no power in the name of Jesus.</span>" Yet, maybe there was more to that dream than I realized? Maybe God was trying to teach me the need to fight.<br />
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As I pondered on this recently, I looked up the word <i>authority</i> and was surprised to find that the first occurrence of the word in the KJV is in the book of Esther. If you have read this blog for any length of time, then you know that this particular book is the basis for this blog and has always held a special place in my heart. I knew that the Lord was trying to tell me something.<br />
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The context of <i>authority</i> in Esther 9:29 is when Queen Esther and Mordecai wrote to the Jews to commemorate their victory over Haman. Haman had been promoted by the King and became incensed about the Jewish people because Mordecai refused to defer to him when he walked by.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"And when Haman saw that <b>Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence</b>, then was Haman full of wrath. And he thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for they had shewed him the people of Mordecai: wherefore Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that were throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, even the people of Mordecai." Esther 3:5-6</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"Then went Haman forth that day joyful and with a glad heart: <b>but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate, <i>that he stood not up, nor moved for him</i>, he was full of indignation</b> against Mordecai." Esther 5:9</span><br />
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What we see in Haman is a depiction of Satan. Satan seeks the world to worship him, defer to him, to move out of his way when they see him coming. Yet, in Christ, we have overcome the Devil and are empowered to confront him. Even though the Persian King Ahasuerus had passed dictates requiring people to bow to Haman, Mordecai did not because he honored a higher law than the law of man. He primarily honored the laws of God and he did not fear what man might seek to do about it. Therefore, Haman sought to destroy him.<br />
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When we too begin to see who are are in Christ and use the resources God has given us to stand against the devil, He will get indignant against us, but he will be powerless to harm us.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"And Haman told Zeresh his wife and all his friends every thing that had befallen him. Then said his wise men and Zeresh his wife unto him, <b>If Mordecai be of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.</b>" Esther 6:13</span><br />
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We are <b>assured</b> the victory against our enemies if we would just stand on God's word, but standing doesn't mean inactivity.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"Submit yourselves therefore to God. <b>Resist the devil</b>, and he will flee from you." James 4:7</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><b>resist:</b></span> Greek word <i>anthistemi</i> meaning to set one's self against, to withstand, to resist, to oppose.</blockquote>
Resisting the devil doesn't mean just hoping or praying that he he will go away, or pretending that he is not there. Neither does resisting the devil mean submitting to God. We must do <b>both</b>: submit in obedience to the things of God <b>and</b> oppose the devil. The devil is not going to flee from you until you do both of those things.<br />
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Haman wrote a decree to "<span style="color: #990000;"><i>destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews</i></span>" (<span style="color: #990000;">Esther 3:13</span>). When the King saw that the people of his bride had been targeted for destruction, he did not undo this previous decree from Haman. Rather, the King gave the Jews the authority to FIGHT!<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"Then the king Ahasuerus said unto Esther the queen and to Mordecai the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and him they have hanged upon the gallows, because he laid his hand upon the Jews. <b>Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, <u>may no man reverse.</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that is, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth day thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which are from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">And he wrote in the king Ahasuerus' name, and sealed it with the king's ring, and sent letters by posts on horseback, and riders on mules, camels, and young dromedaries: <b>Wherein the king granted the Jews which were in every city to gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them, both little ones and women, and to take the spoil of them for a prey</b>, Upon one day in all the provinces of king Ahasuerus, namely, upon the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar." Esther 8:7-12</span><br />
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Satan has a legal right to oppress those who are in sin, because that is Satan's domain. He is the god of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the Father of all lies, etc. However, those who have been redeemed by God and made His own have authority over the Devil. Jesus has already paid the price and given us this authority. How sad it is then for those who have been redeemed to still cower under Satan and do nothing while he tries to subvert the things of God. We can either operate in the authority Christ has given us to thwart the ways of the devil or we can stand by and let Satan run roughshod over us and those whom we love.<br />
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If the Jews had not used the authority given them by the King to "<span style="color: #990000;"><i>gather themselves together, and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish, all the power of the people and province that would assault them</i></span>", then many Jews would have been annihilated. <br />
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We do not have to die at the decree of the devil. We do not have to take his abuses, his lack, his infirmities, his anxiety, his chaos, his perversion, or his second-hand offerings. It is not Godly or humble to sit by and just take what the Devil is dishing out as if we have no alternative. In fact, such is nothing but cowardice. Stop trying to be a "nice guy" and become instead the warrior God has redeemed you to be so that captives may be set free.<br />
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Many are crying out to God for deliverance from this evil serpent, but God is telling you to pick up the tools He has already given you. Fight, knowing that He is with you in the battle to provide the victory. As God told Israel, He has given us the Promised Land, but we must go in and possess it. We must act upon the faith we say we have in His word and put it into practice in our lives, <b>believing </b>that He is with us to grant us the victory.<br />
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I recently shared that I was <a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2015/08/boldness.html" target="_blank">praying to God for more boldness</a>. But what is the point of being bold if you back away from the fight? The day is soon coming where the Antichrist will step up to power and will seek to kill all who serve the Lord. Don't sit passively by and let him destroy your life and the lives of those you love. While it will be given to him to overcome the saints for a time, there is still much damage we can do to his kingdom, saving many as we bring in the end time harvest. Put on the whole armor of God and get into battle array. Take the time now to let the Lord teach your hands to war so that you may stand against the Wicked one in the evil day. When you do finally leave this world, die with your boots on, but above all, don't just grin and bear it.<br />
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<b>Additional Resources</b><br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2012/02/taking-heaven-by-violence.html" target="_blank">Taking Heaven by Violence</a> - <span style="color: red;">Please read this</span><br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2013/12/gentleness.html" target="_blank">Gentleness</a><br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2014/08/you-say-you-have-received-lamb.html" target="_blank">You Say You Have Received the Lamb</a><br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-pleading-of-lord.html" target="_blank">The Pleading of the Lord</a><br />
<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2010/12/is-jesus-your-idol.html" target="_blank">Is Jesus Your Idol?</a><br />
<br />Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-17904112662787441362015-12-11T15:57:00.001-05:002015-12-11T15:57:31.698-05:00AnthemPraise be to you alone Jesus, forever and ever!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0k6HfFcRJB8" width="520"></iframe>Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-34873391381708152812015-11-20T09:03:00.004-05:002015-11-22T09:53:53.768-05:00The Equivalent of a Demon?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000;">"You believe that God is one; you do well </span>[to believe that]<span style="color: #990000;">. The demons also believe [that], and shudder and bristle</span> [in awe-filled terror—they have seen His wrath]<span style="color: #990000;">!"</span> <span style="color: #990000;">James 2:19 </span><br />
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The demons know who God is. They cried out in terror when Jesus Christ walked the earth.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"And they screamed out, “What business do we have</span> [in common] <span style="color: #990000;">with each other, Son of God? Have You come to torment us before the appointed time</span> [of judgment]<span style="color: #990000;">?”" Matthew 8:29 </span><br />
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Demons even have some insight into Gods ways, understanding that Jesus' 1st coming was not His time to bring judgment against sin.<br />
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Most importantly, demons tremble in fear at the presence of Jesus Christ because they know that - <i><b>in spite of their belief</b></i> - they are still damned to Hell. <span style="color: #38761d;"><b>They understand that the <i>mere knowledge of who Jesus is will not save them</i> from eternal damnation. </b></span>Can we let that sink in for a minute?<br />
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The majority of Christians think they are "saved" because they acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who died for their sins. With this contemporary Christian faith, what people believe (in their heads) has no affect on who they are (in their hearts). I "believe", yet fornicate. I "believe", yet lie. I "believe", yet steal. I "believe", but I am filled with profanity... If this is the totality of their faith, then it makes them the equivalent of demons...and they will face the same destiny.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="color: #990000;">"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but <b>he that doeth the will of my Father</b> which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied <b><i>in thy name</i></b>? And <b><i>in thy name</i></b> have cast out devils? and <b><i>in thy name</i></b> done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, <u>I never knew you</u>: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. <br />
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Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.<br />
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And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." Matthew 7:21-29</span><br />
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In the text above we see a prime example of such persons. They call Jesus "Lord" and have performed many works for him <i><u>in His name</u></i>. Yet they are rejected by Jesus and He calls their works iniquity. What was the problem with these people? Jesus never "<i>knew</i>" them. <br />
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In this text, the word "knew" does not speak to mental awareness or academic knowledge. It means to know Jesus as His Bride, the way a man would intimately know his wife where the two become one. This in a nutshell is the difference between those who <b>truly serve</b> the Lord and folks in rebellion who only <b>act like they serve</b> the Lord: One has been born again to have the nature of Christ imparted to them and one has not.<br />
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People all across the world perform wonderful deeds every day. They give to the poor, take care of widows, feed the hungry... Some even do these things in the name of Jesus Christ, yet that still does not mean that the deeds come from God. I tell you that there is none good except for God (<span style="color: #990000;">Mark 10:18</span>), and any seemingly good deed not inspired by Him is from selfish motivation. <br />
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Consider the text again. These people are prophesying, casting out devils, and doing many things in Jesus' name. The world would look at such persons and say they are mighty men and women of God; but God calls them evil doers. How much of the activity you see proclaimed in Jesus' name each day fall into this category? How many people whom you follow and receive counsel from in Jesus' name are in actuality evil doers in Jesus' eyes? I tell you that we had better start seeing as Jesus sees - and if we cannot, we had better pray for discerment to be able to.<br />
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How do we tell the difference between <i>good</i> works vs. <i>God</i> works? Works by God ALWAYS bring our focus to Christ. Not sometimes, not often, but always. If a work brings your attention to the messanger or to anything else in the world, it is from Satan.<br />
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Jesus tells us the only way we can perform God's will is to first be known by Him; <span style="color: #783f04;">we must receive His inspiration (His seed, His word) so that we can become one with Him, and only <i>then</i> are we equipped to do His work</span>. When a wife receives and conceives from the seed of her husband, the resulting baby is his. It is the same with God.<br />
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How would it be for a woman to run around trying to have a baby apart from conceiving of her husband? Such would be an adulteress. Yet every day people do works "<i>in Jesus' name</i>" that are not birthed by Him. Instead, they determine what they will do for God and then they expect God to claim Fatherhood of their bastards. <a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2013/07/god-will-not-recognize-bastard.html" target="_blank">Let me tell you that God will never do so</a> (<span style="color: #990000;">Hebrews 12:5-10</span>). God only recognizes that which is His. Further, those who are birthed by God speak with authority because they belong to Him and have His words in their mouths.<br />
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Most of what is done in the churchworld today is really being orchestrated by demons. Demons are leading churches, starting ministries, singing in the choir, preaching God's word, and doing many wonderful works in Jesus' name. They have no ability to impart life to you because they do not possess the life of God within. Jesus has never "<i>known</i>" them.<br />
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Don't be so quick to jump on the latest religious bandwagon. Ensure you are settled at the feet of Jesus to learn of Him so that you may be birthed by Him to do His work.<br />
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<b>Additional Resources</b><br />
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<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2010/07/i-never-knew-you.html" target="_blank">I Never Knew You</a><br />
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<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2015/10/who-is-god-of-your-ministry.html" target="_blank">Who is the God of Your Ministry?</a><br />
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<a href="http://theorganicgospel.net/" target="_blank">The Organic Gospel</a><br />
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<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2012/01/three-rs-of-rebellion.html" target="_blank">The Three R's of Rebellion</a><br />
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<a href="http://livestream.com/accounts/2720052/events/4503443" target="_blank">Power Faith</a><br />
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<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2013/01/true-vs-false-church.html" target="_blank">True vs. False Church</a>Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-6694427726942142302015-11-13T10:59:00.002-05:002015-11-13T10:59:34.362-05:00What is the Chaff to the Wheat?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000;">"The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. <b>What is the chaff to the wheat?</b> saith the LORD." Jeremiah 23:28 </span><br />
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Be emboldened brothers and sisters! Stand unwavering on the truths of God as outlined in His word, for He is with you. His word will not return void, but it will accomplish what He has sent it forth to do.<br />
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There will be mockers who try to entice you into worldly and ungodly discourses. Ignore them. Your words are not for them, but for those who have ears to hear. The Lord knows those who are His.
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While you sow seeds of life to draw others to Christ, keep your eye single and remember this, "<i><span style="color: #990000;">What is the chaff to the wheat?</span></i>"Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-24279028518953178432015-11-11T09:05:00.002-05:002015-11-11T09:05:44.041-05:00The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yUckX0uASrE?rel=0" width="520"></iframe>Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-80021401975831502212015-10-31T06:44:00.001-04:002015-11-03T07:27:41.481-05:00Confessions of a Busybody<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had always thought being a busybody meant that you were a gossiper, talking about other people. That understanding is also consistent with Scripture.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies." II Thessalonians 3:11
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<span style="color: #990000;">"And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not." I Timothy 5:13</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;">busybodies:</span> Greek word <i>periergazomai</i> meaning to bustle about uselessly, to busy one's self about trifling, needless, useless matters; used apparently of a person officiously inquisitive about other's affairs<br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;">busybodies:</span> Greek word <i>periergos</i> meaning busy about trifles and neglectful of important matters; esp. busy about other folks' affairs</blockquote>
Gossiping about others was not my problem; in fact, I make it a point to stay out of such conversations. However, that is not the only meaning of the word. I recently came across a slightly different understanding where I have to admit I was a <b>real offender</b>.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>I had a habit of always trying to figure things out. If someone came to me with a problem or if I just noticed an issue, I would automatically start thinking about how it could be fixed. I honestly just thought it was being helpful, but in reality such is not normal. The world might call it being analytical, a good thinker/contributor, or an effective manager, but your mind should not be constantly running. My husband has told me for years that I didn't know how to relax, and this was true. A big part of that was trying to solve concerns which had <b>nothing</b> to do with me.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters." I Peter 4:15</span><br />
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<span style="color: #274e13;">busybody:</span> Greek word <span style="color: #274e13;"><i>allotriepiskopos</i> </span>meaning one who takes the supervision of affairs pertaining to others and in no wise to himself, a meddler in other men's affairs</blockquote>
Consider the above text. Being a "<span style="color: #990000;">busybody</span>" is put right up their with being a <i>murderer</i>, a <i>thief</i>, and an <i>evildoer</i>! Isn't that a bit drastic Lord? Not at all. When we start trying to manage areas which are not our responsibility, we disrupt the flow of God's Spirit in the Body of Christ...not to mention borrow a lot of trouble for ourselves.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, <b>as it hath pleased him</b>." I Corinthians 12:14-18</span><br />
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This past summer, we experienced an issue with one of the ministry websites and I started talking to my husband about what should be done to address it. My husband looked at me and said, "<span style="color: #38761d;">Why are you worrying about this when it has nothing to do with you? It is none of your business.</span>"<br />
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Okay, so for about 5 seconds I was offended. After all, I was just trying to "help", right? Yet as I thought about it, I realized that he was right. The issue was truly none of my business. There are resources devoted to managing the websites, so why was I even taking up brain space trying to figure this out?<br />
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To further confirm my husband's words to me in this area, at work that next week, I asked a colleague for needed info. Although my colleague reached out to the person responsible, that individual didn't want to provide it. Emails went back and forth as he avoided answering the question. I started drafting an email to both of them outlining what was needed when the Lord stopped me. He reminded me of the conversation with my husband and said I was again being a busybody. While I did need the info, He reminded me that it was not my responsibility to <i>get</i> the info. I just needed to let my colleague do her job; and guess what? She did. Maybe not how I would have done it or even in the timeframe in which I would have liked, but she did it.<br />
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That gets to the crux of this issue. At its foundation, this issue is about control. Get in a car with someone to see a great example of this. Do you find yourself asking the driver, "<span style="color: #38761d;">Why are you going this way? Why didn't you turn here? Why are you in this lane? Why are you going so slowly?</span>" Or maybe you are too spiritually mature to say these things out loud, but you still think them in your heart. :-) Either way, why are you worried about it? You are not driving, so why can't you just ride and relax? Why are you trying to control everything and everyone around you?<br />
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Just think about how many times a day you are wondering about or trying to figure out things which do not pertain to you at all? How much confusion are you inviting into your life spending brain cycles on things which are not your responsibility? While I am not picking on women, I think this is a particular challenge <i>for</i> women.<br />
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You see this in particular as it relates to a married woman's attitude towards her husband. Do you see your husband as someone you have to monitor, almost like one of your children? Do you seek to supervise his actions and decisions? Do you feel that he should run all decisions by you first to make sure they are the right ones? I am not talking about what you verbalize; I am speaking of the hidden intents of your heart.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping." Proverbs 19:13</span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike." Proverbs 27:15</span><br />
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I know that I personally am so used to multi-tasking and trying to keep all of the balls in the air (household, job, ministry, family, children, etc.), that I would almost see everything as one more ball to balance. My mind would look at everything as being something I had to solve or fix and would be in constant overdrive about these things instead of first asking the Lord, "<span style="color: #7f6000;">Is this something you want even want me to think about or do?</span>" This is a dangerous position to be in because it means you can be pulled out by the devil and ensnared. We must never seek to be led by our own understanding, but by the Spirit of the Lord in all things...even in the every day areas we encounter in life which might seem small.<br />
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I used to cry out to the Lord, often feeling overwhelmed, asking Him, "<span style="color: #7f6000;">How am I supposed to do all that you have given me to do? How am I supposed to manage all of this? It is too much.</span>" You know what God showed me? He has not given me too much. Rather, I have been stressing my own self out worrying about things which are none of my business.<br />
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Learning this was a newsflash and wake up call for me, so I share it with you in case it helps.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>You don't have all the answers.</b> I never <i>consciously</i> thought I had all of the answers, but the mere fact that I was constantly approaching things as problems for me to solve reflect that mindset.</li>
<li><b>You are not <i>expected</i> to have all of the answers.</b> No one expects you to have all the answers, not even God.</li>
<li><b>Don't deceive yourself thinking you are being "helpful" in this way.</b> You are not being helpful by trying to micro-manage things around you. It is really just a mask for trying to control things, making you get in the way of the work of others and out of your place. Women will often do this with their husbands, pretending that they are being a good "help meet" for the husband, when in actuality they are just trying to control him and get him to do their bidding.</li>
</ul>
These were not lessons that I learned overnight, but these were things God has been revealing to me over years...and I thank Him for it.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, <b>as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement</b>. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered." I Peter 3:5-7</span><br />
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I used to wonder why God in parrticular was cautioning women about not being fearful or anxious. I think it is because we are called to trust in and follow the leadership of our husbands. The natural inclination of (fallen) man is to be the purveyor of his own destiny. Yet, in Christ, this is not so. We are to be in obedience to Him in all things, and for a wife this is also reflected as her obeying her husband husband in all things.<br />
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It is like God is saying, "<span style="color: #38761d;">Stop trying to figure it out. Stop trying to make sure things go your way. Stop trying to work the outcome according to your understanding. Stop trying to move people & things into the places <i>you</i> think they ought to be. Stop trying to control what happens around you. <a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-head-of-every-man.html" target="_blank">Stop trying to be the "neck" infuencing the head</a>. Trust in the leadership and love of your husband.</span>"<br />
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Why is this important? Because the marriage relationship is a reflection of our relationship with Jesus Christ as His Bride. Every individual Christian must learn the lesson of trusting in the love and leadership of our Bridegroom, Jesus. The wife is to obey her husband so that God's people can see a living pattern and real example of how we all are to obey Christ. <br />
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I encourage you to take a real look at where you spend your time and effort each day. Ask the Lord to open your eyes to areas where you may carrying burdens which are not yours to carry. Seek for Him to give you guidance in any area where you may be a "busybody" and ask for the wisdom not to fall in this trap. You know what you find when you do? Peace for your souls.Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-72373498643073941802015-10-30T19:01:00.002-04:002015-11-02T16:09:26.563-05:00Who is the God of Your Ministry?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>The Relationship Idol </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, <b>for the work of the ministry</b>, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Ephesians 4:11-12</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">ministry</span>: Greek word <i>diakonia</i> meaning service, ministering, esp. of those who execute the commands of others; of those who <b>by the command of God</b> <i>proclaim and promote</i> <b>the Gospel</b> among men.</blockquote>
Every single believer in Christ Jesus is to do the work of the ministry. However, notice that the word "<i><span style="color: #990000;">ministry</span></i>" in the text above is singular. In God's eyes, there are different callings and distinctive works supporting each calling, but there is still only <b>one</b> ministry. The only valid ministry is that which has been birthed by command of God, coming from His calling and being empowered by His Spirit to do one thing: <i>proclaim and promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ</i>.<br />
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I don't care if there is a "ministry" on how to clean your house, how to make money in your business, how to manage finances, taking care of the homeless, how to raise children, how to be a strong woman, how to find a spouse...if it is not <b>primarily</b> focused on the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it is not a ministry inspired or recognized by God. The Body of Christ has many needs which God equips the Church to meet, but the focus is always Christ.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and <b><u>the</u> ministry</b>, <i>which I have received of the Lord Jesus</i>, <b>to testify the gospel of the grace of God</b>." Acts 20:24</span><br />
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Please hear me. Ministry is not a word you can just slap on to something for which you think you have a gift. It is not a platform for making money or developing a following; neither does calling something a "ministry" automatically make it a work of God. <span style="color: #7f6000;">The essence of ministry is <b>NOT</b> that you are doing something for Christ, but that Christ is at the center of what you do.</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a>There is a <a href="http://www.chipbrogden.com/the-perfecting-of-the-saints/" target="_blank">great article by the School of Christ </a>which states:<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">When we are introduced to a new ministry and we wish to test its authenticity and spiritual value, we need only ask ourselves two questions: is this ministry centered upon Jesus Christ, and does it bring people into a deeper, more experiential knowing of Him?...If the minister or the ministry does not preach Christ, and does not bring people into spiritual maturity, then they fulfill the opposite of God’s intention – <i><b>they make themselves the center and make the people dependent upon them</b></i>, guaranteeing the spiritual immaturity of those affiliated with them.</span></blockquote>
This is predominately what we see these days. People use the label of "ministry" to showcase themselves. The ministry then is really nothing more than a cloak for them to talk about themselves all day and have people idolize them. How do you know? Look at the focus of their ministering; examine their words. They don't preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, rather they use God as an accessory to talk about what <i><b>they</b></i> are going through, how <i><b>they</b></i> have been blessed, how others are treating <i><b>them</b></i>, or what God is doing for <i><b>them</b></i>, etc. Their lives in this world are the focus of every word, meaning the real god they are promoting is themselves.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"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." I John 2:16</span><br />
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One area where this is really prevalent is in what has been called relationship ministries. About a month ago, a sister in the Lord mentioned to me that there is a current trend where people are erecting "ministries" which focus on relationships: how to find a spouse, how singles can be prepared for a spouse, how to make your marriage work, etc.<br />
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Typically this is being led by a married couple whom people put on a pedastal as the epitome of married life. The basis of the ministry then is talking about what they do as a family, how they live as a family, struggles they have as a family... This sister shared with me that young people are literally fawning over such persons, wanting to eat like them, dress like them, and even be them.<br />
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Why are such ministries so popular? Because people are into themselves, love to talk about themseves, and draw people who are like themselves. Such persons are not attracted by the light of Christ, but by their lust to have what they think these people have (<span style="color: #990000;">II Timothy 4:3; I Peter 4:1-2; II Peter 2:18; II Peter 3:3; Jude 1:16-18</span>). It is the equivalent of Mary Mary <a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2009/09/its-all-good.html" target="_blank">singing about the "God in Me"</a>, and it is all flesh. Such persons need to <a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-normal-christian-birth.html" target="_blank">be born again</a>.<br />
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Can I say that most of this is just junk? What is the answer for those experiencing marital troubles? Seek Christ. What is the answer for those singles desiring to be married? Don't idolize marriage, but seek Christ. What is the answer for how to be a better wife or husband? Get on the cross, crucify the old man, and seek Christ. It doesn't take a lot of discussion or evaluation to arrive at the right conclusion. The answer is still and will always be Christ. <br />
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If you as an individual seek the Lord with your whole heart, then everything you should have <i>will be given</i> to you. More importantly, as you focus on the Lord, He will change your heart so that you only desire that which He has for you (<span style="color: #990000;">Pslam 37:4</span>).<br />
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In Christ we live, move, and have our being (<span style="color: #990000;">Acts 17:27</span>). Everything that God has ordained for you to have is found <b>in Christ</b>. When we start seeking a gift (i.e. marriage) in place of the Giver (Christ), we become idolators. Every ministry which leads you to focus on such is leading you into idolatry becuse they are focusing your affections on earthly things (<span style="color: #990000;">Philippians 3:19</span>).<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"Set your affection on things above, <b>not</b> on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2</span><br />
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I hate to tell you this, but marriage is of the earth. Why would God erect entire ministries to focus on areas that have no eternal value? He wouldn't.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"And Jesus answering said unto them, <b>Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God</b>? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: <b>ye therefore do greatly err</b>." Mark 12:24-27</span><br />
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I struggle to find biblical basis for a "marriage" ministry, a "singles" ministry, an "entreprenuers" ministry, etc. There is one ministry, the preaching of Christ, and different callings in that one ministry to address the varying needs of the people.<br />
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For example, there is no "youth" ministry, but the ministry of God will address the youth in helping them to receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is not a ministry <i>for</i> youth, but a ministry <i>of Christ</i> <i><b>to</b></i> the youth. This is not just semantics, but it deals with the <i>focus</i> of our work and what God we are serving. When the focus of ministry is on preaching Christ, then the quest is bringing youth into the understanding of the Gospel. When the focus of ministry is on the youth, then the quest is finding what appeases and appeals to the youth. This is how worldliness and false doctrine comes into the Church; the focus of ministry is not on Christ.<br />
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Although I had already started drafting this article based upon that earlier conversation a month ago, I received something this week which confirmed it. Another sister sent me the following video, asking my thoughts. She had been trying to explain to others that you can make marriage an idol, but fellow Christians disagreed. In her message to me about this, she writes:<br />
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<span style="color: #7f6000;">"Another thing that was interesting in the discussion was the glitz and glamour of social media evangelist. I'm seeing a huge trend with this, especially with young adults. They are now creating ministries platforming themselves either being young, saved and single or young, saved and married. I'm not condemning them but some seem like it's all for show, like some popularity contest."</span><br />
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This is exactly the issue the previous sister mentioned to me. The cause is that people have made <i>themselves</i> the focus of ministry instead of Christ.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C4dn6opIbeQ?feature=player_embedded" width="540"></iframe><br />
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Let me state that I do not agree with much in this video. By that, I don't mean that it requires my validation; I mean that a good portion of it is just not Scriptural, even if they have the best of intentions. <br />
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The hostess of this video asks the panel repeatedly what they think of all of these ministries being established to focus on marriage, and they never really answer her. While offering advice about not putting marriage on a pedastal and understanding that marriage takes work, they never acknowledge that the focus of such ministries are off track to begin with. Why? Because they don't know. That is not a slight against them, it is just the truth. This is what happens when we make an idol of being in ministry; our thoughts and our expeiences in life become the focus of the ministry instead of Christ. Don't be so anxious to have a "ministry" that you become an ineffective minister for Christ.<br />
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People these days are quick to jump into "ministry", but how many are willing to let God work on and forge them so that He can reveal <i>in them</i> the ministry He desires them to have? Too often, people are racing to establish a "ministry" as if such is their calling card in Christ. However, everyone being perfected to do the work of the ministry does not mean that each person must establish an individual ministry. It could mean you are supposed to plug in to an existing ministry right where you are. Remember, there is only one ministry: the preaching of Christ.<br />
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Listen to the one woman talk about how she was going to have a ministry, how she had a plan and just needed her husband to come on board with it, how she had a calling, she was going to do things, and she was going places...who was the focus of her ministry efforts? Herself. It is all about her and what she can become and achieve through "ministry". Yes, she may have believed that she was doing this "for God", but this is the misperception which perverts true ministry.<br />
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If your ministry centers around you (your marriage, your family, your perspective, or your <i>anything</i>), it is <b>not</b> of Christ. The result is that you get individuals in "ministry" who are not inspired by God to do what they are trying to do, leading people into error.<br />
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I'll point out something else which was shared with me about many of these marriage ministries: they often elevate the woman above all. It is the woman who is positioned as the mouthpiece for the ministry. She is the wise one who basically runs things with the husband being more or less a prop to support her. She is in the focal point, she holds the ministry together, and she is the draw. The male followers lust to <i>have</i> her and the female followers lust to <i>be</i> her.<br />
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You can often pick up the condescending tone used to reference the man. He is depicted as a nincompoop who should be worshipping her (doing what <i>she</i> thinks he should do) and groveling at her feet. The attitude is that the man doesn't know anything and the woman has to carry the brunt of the weight in the marriage. Such women do not reverence their husbands, they resent them. They instictively believe that marriage is harder or requires more from women than from men, requiring them to carry the heavier load. This is a lie from Satan used in the Garden of Eden to tempt Eve, and women are still falling for this today. It promotes an <a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/p/turning-world-upside-down.html" target="_blank">upside down order in the family</a> and is a Satanic perversion.<br />
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Marriage is not about you dying to self so as to learn how to deal with your spouse. Marriage is about dying to self so that the glory and mystery of Christ is revealed in the world.<br />
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<span style="color: #990000;">"For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. </span><b style="color: #990000;">This is a great mystery</b><span style="color: #990000;">: but I speak concerning Christ and the church." Ephesians 5:31-32</span><br />
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Everything is about Christ, even marriage. When you don't know the purpose of marriage, you will not know how it is a reflection of our relationship with Christ. The call for a woman to submit to her husband was not the product of the fall. It was God's design from the very beginning because the family is a reflection of the image of God.<br />
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Neither is submission the means to get the man to do what you want or for him to become "<span style="color: #7f6000;">butter in your hands</span>". That is witchcraft. If a woman feels impetus to try and get her husband to do as she says, then she is <a href="http://www.derekprince.org/Publisher/File.aspx?ID=1000035030" target="_blank">operating in the spirit of witchcraft</a> (<span style="background-color: white; color: #484848; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20.2222px;">this guide will download to your computer if you click it</span>). A true man of God is going to follow the leading of the Lord <b>alone</b> (even as he considers the words of his wife), because Christ alone is his head. You cannot bring a worldly concept of marriage and think that is going to minister to someone. Such a perspective might speak to others, but it will not be words from the Lord. It only speaks to them because they are lusting after what they think you have, the idol you represent.<br />
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God's focus in ministry is not your marriage, your business, your family, or <i>any aspect</i> of your life in this world. No ministry God ordains is going to focus your affections on your life in this world. He is not trying to give you your best life now. God's desire is for you to divest yourself of <b>you</b> so that Christ may live.<br />
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Flee from ministries whose focus is earthly so that you are not caught in a snare.<br />
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<b><u>Additional Resources</u></b><br />
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<a href="http://latikat.blogspot.com/2015/08/ministry-for-sake-of-whom.html" target="_blank">Ministry for the Sake of Whom?</a><br />
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<a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2010/07/because-time-is-short.html" target="_blank">Put Your Family on the Altar</a><br />
<br />Latter Days Ministryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15405696673350225699noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-793573695603056525.post-16381387024728191152015-10-27T20:57:00.001-04:002015-10-28T18:16:59.139-04:00Women's Empowerment<span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Being Teachers of "Good Things"</b></span><br />
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I have been seeing a lot of "Christian" meetings focusing on the "Women of God", "Women's Destiny" or the more common phrase, "Women's Empowerment".<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #38761d;">empowerment:</span> the giving or delegation of power or authority; authorize, especially by legal or official means; to enable or permit; warrant, commission, license, qualify. the giving of an ability.</blockquote>
My initial thoughts were, "<span style="color: #783f04;">Where are the <b><i>men's</i></b> empowerment sessions? Where are the <b><i>children's</i></b> empowerment sessions? Why are women being <i>singled out</i> so often for <b>empowerment</b>? <i>Who</i> is empowering them and <i>what</i> are they being empowered to do?</span>"<br />
<br />
The closest word to empowerment in Scripture that I could find is the following:<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #38761d;">power</span>: Greek word <i>exousia</i> meaning power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases; physical and mental power; the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege); the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)</blockquote>
<a name='more'></a>As believers in Christ Jesus, we are empowered by God's Spirit to:<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #7f6000;">Teach others the word of God</span> (Matthew 7:29; Matthew 21:23-27; Matthew 28:18; Mark 1:22; Mark 3:14-15; Mark 11:28-33; Luke 4:32; Luke 9:1; Luke 20:2-8)</li>
<li><span style="color: #7f6000;">Command unclean spirits</span> (Matthew 8:9; Matthew 10:1; Mark 1:27; Mark 3:14-15; Luke 4:36; Luke 9:1; Luke 10:19)</li>
<li><span style="color: #7f6000;">Heal the sick</span> (Matthew 9:6; Matthew 10:1; Mark 2:10; Mark 3:14-15; Mark 6:7; Luke 5:24; Luke 7:8; Luke 9:1)</li>
<li><span style="color: #7f6000;">Do the work that God has given each of us to do</span> (Mark 13:34)</li>
<li><span style="color: #7f6000;">Overcome <b>all</b> of the power of the enemy</span> (Luke 10:19)</li>
<li><span style="color: #7f6000;">Be good stewards over what God gives us</span> (Luke 19:17)</li>
<li><span style="color: #7f6000;">Become sons of God</span> (John 1:12)</li>
<li><span style="color: #7f6000;">Execute Godly judgment</span> (John 5:27)</li>
<li><span style="color: #7f6000;">Lay down our lives as a sacrifice to God</span> (John 10:18)</li>
<li><span style="color: #7f6000;">Live as long as God has declared for us to live</span> (John 19:10-11)</li>
<li><span style="color: #7f6000;">Rule over nations</span> (Revelation 2:26)</li>
<li><span style="color: #7f6000;">Partake of the tree of life and enter the holy city</span> (Revelation 22:14)</li>
</ul>
Church elders are also empowered by God's Spirit to:<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="color: #7f6000;">Lead members of the body of Christ</span> (I Corinthians 9:5) </li>
<li><span style="color: #7f6000;">Forgo work outside of the ministry</span> (I Corinthians 9:6-18; II Thessalonians 3:8-9)</li>
<li><span style="color: #7f6000;">Edify the body</span> (II Corinthians 13:10)</li>
</ul>
Want to know how many Scriptures reference <i>exousia</i> in relation to a special calling for women? One, and it is listed below.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">"For this cause ought the woman to have <b>power</b> on her head because of the angels." I Corinthians 11:10</span><br />
<br />
The one Scripture which references the empowerment of women is in relation to the need for her to be in submission to proper authority (I Corinthians 11:3). <br />
<br />
<span style="color: #990000;">"Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, <b>let them ask their husbands at home</b>: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church." I Corinthians 14:34-35</span> <a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/2009/04/dont-forget-deborah-part-i.html" target="_blank">More about this text <b>here</b>.</a><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000;">"The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, <i>teachers of good things</i>; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to <b>love their husbands</b>, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, <b>obedient to their own husbands</b>, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Titus 2:3-5</span><br />
<br />
According to Scripture, the focus for <i>any</i> women's ministry is tied to teaching women "<span style="color: #990000;">good things</span>"; in particular, how to love and respect patriarchal authority. Such is the foundational perspective from which all Godly teaching for women should stem. Yet, what do we see throughout the religious landscape? Hordes of ministries seeking to "empower" women apart from, and with complete disregard for, men.<br />
<br />
Of course, when this topic is discussed, many are quick to ask, "<span style="color: #38761d;">Well, what about single women? I don't have a husband, so how am I supposed to submit to this authority?</span>" The answer is by first submitting to Jesus Christ and then submitting to the patriarchal leadership He appoints to guide His church.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;">"Have we</span> [Apostles] <span style="color: #660000;">not <b>power</b> to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?" I Corinthians 9:5</span><br />
<br />
The word "<span style="color: #990000;">sister</span>" is not a reference to sisters born in the natural; it refers to women in the faith (I Timothy 5:2). The apostles had been given by God the power [<i>exousia</i>] to lead not only their wives, but to provide guidance as well for the female believers in the Lord who were unmarried. The only empowerment we see in God's word for women <i>specifically</i> is as it relates to honoring patriarchal authority.<br />
<br />
So what is this ferver in the churchworld about women's empowerment? Why are women running around from one meeting, conference, seminar, etc. to another trying to be "empowered"? What are such persons trying to achieve? There is no power or authority anyone can be given outside of what God declares, and the attempt to obtain such apart from God's decrees is nothing but rebellion. This is why we see an increase of women operating in false authority as pastors, apostles, bishops, and elders in the churchworld, directly contrary to God's word.<br />
<br />
The phrase "women's empowerment" is thrown around so much lately that it might be taken lightly. Yet, behind the phrase is a <i>subtle</i> implication that women are currently <i>dis</i>empowered or somehow being victimized. I can tell you that there is no inequality in God, but men and women are given specific functions in which to serve for the health of the Body (Galatians 3:28; I Corinthians 11:3; I Corinthians Chapter 12). Such subtle twisting of the truths and purposes of God has been a weakness for woman which Satan has used from the beginning (Genesis 3:6).<br />
<br />
This is the same spirit undergirding the world's feminist movement. It is women trying to prove that they have no need for a man: they can replace men and are capable of doing anything a man does. In order to prove this, they must reject the role God has given to women as a life-giver in the home and in the church. Such empowerment in the churchworld is nothing more than the spirit of lesbianism trying to hide itself under a veneer of righteousness.<br />
<br />
I recenty posted about a <a href="http://thelatterdays.blogspot.com/p/turning-world-upside-down.html">book I've written regarding homosexuality and the last days</a> which addresses this further. An excerpt from the book is below. We must each search our own souls to make our calling and election sure. Are we truly operating in the spirit of holiness wherewith we have been called as women or is there still the striving and envying in our souls to contend with men. Women can preach, teach, prophecy, evangelize, cast out devils, heal the sick, edify the saints...but only when in line with proper authority. As you seek the Lord to reveal His purposes for you in His Body in reaching the lost and edifying the church, make sure that you remain a teacher of "<i><span style="color: #990000;">good things</span></i>". <br />
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #990000;">"For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, the mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, The captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator. And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.</span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #990000;">And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: the child shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable. When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand: In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #990000;">For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the LORD, to provoke the eyes of his glory. The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! For they have rewarded evil unto themselves. Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings. <b>Woe unto the wicked</b>! It shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him. <b>As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths</b>." Isaiah 3:1-12 </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
In Isaiah Chapter 3, God punishes Israel for her idolatry by removing the patriarchs from the land. He takes away the mighty man, the man of war, the judge, the prophet, the honorable man, etc. In the absence of proper authority, Israel is left in confusion and what God calls oppression. There is no order. There is no respect for elders. There is no standard against base and immoral behavior, so people sin boldly. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Please note first and foremost that this is described by God as a curse. This is not because women are inferior to men, but because the roles of mankind have been inverted. Again, perverting the gender roles/order leaves man with a twisted image of God. As a result, instead of proper authority and children in obedience you have unlawful authority and children out of control. This is the essence of the upside kingdom. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
Take a closer look at verse 12. In the absence of Godly patriarchs, women take the leadership role, causing the people to go into error and destroying their <b>way</b>; the way back to God. Notice that it is not one particular woman which is the issue, but the oppression comes from women rulership in general. The problem is matriarchal authority. Instead of seeking a return of God’s favor by appealing to Him for a resurrection of Godly authority, the women are of the mind that they can do it themselves without the men. The word “<i><span style="color: #c00000;">children</span></i>” here is not a reference to youth, but refers to the mindset of the women. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<b>children:</b> Hebrew word <i>`alal</i> meaning to make a fool of someone, to act or play the child, to deal ruthlessly with or abuse. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
We see a similar reference to this mindset in the New Testament. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #990000;">"For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive <b>silly women</b> laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." II Timothy 3:6-7 </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #990000;">" For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate <b>morally weak and spiritually-dwarfed women</b> weighed down by [the burden of their] sins, easily swayed by various impulses, always learning and listening to anybody who will teach them, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." II Timothy 3:6-7</span> [Amplified Bible] </blockquote>
<blockquote>
I posted the Amplified version of the Bible for this text because it really does amplify the meaning of what is being said. All women are not silly, but those who attempt to usurp the authority God has only given to patriarchs <b>are</b>. They are “<i><span style="color: #c00000;">spiritually-dwarfed</span></i>”, containing a wisdom which is worldly (appeals to the carnal senses) and demonic (inspired by Satan).</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #990000;">“But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” I Timothy 2:12-14 </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
God is not anti-woman in establishing these truths; He is protecting the “<i><span style="color: #c00000;">way</span></i>” to Him, which is exactly what Adam was to have done in the Garden of Eden. God’s plan was for Adam and Eve to exercise dominion together. Eve also had authority in the earth, but it only came from her being submitted to proper headship. Women today are <i>still</i> equipped by God to lead when submitted to proper authority (Judges 4:4-9; Book of Esther, Acts 18:2-26; Romans 16:1-2). Apart from this, the woman is in rebellion and out of order. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #990000;">“<b>But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God</b>. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. <b>But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head</b>: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: <b>but the woman is the glory of the man</b>. For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. </span></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #990000;"><b>For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.</b> Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; <b>but all things of God</b>. Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? <b>But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering</b>.” I Corinthians 11:3-15 </span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
This text is not about a requirement for women to wear a physical head covering, but of the necessity for women to be under Godly authority at all times. Consider this. The text states that a woman who prays or prophecies with her head uncovered dishonors her head. Yet, we know that God admonishes us to pray always and without ceasing (Luke 18:1; Luke 21:36; I Thessalonians 5:7). Does this mean that a woman has to continually wear a head covering? Of course not. This is why the text goes on to say that the woman’s hair is given to her as a covering. The woman reflects the authority of Christ given to her husband as she <i>submits</i> to him, and this she is to do always. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
This is also important because of the angels; not just the fallen angels who tried to usurp patriarchal authority and like to inspire women to do the same, but for the angels of God who are sent forth to execute commands on our behalf. They will only honor the authority and order given by God. </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #990000;">"Are they not all ministering spirits, <b>sent forth to minister</b> for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Hebrews 1:14</span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<b><span style="color: #0070c0;">minister:</span></b> Greek word <i>diakonia</i> meaning service, ministering, esp. of those who execute the commands of others</blockquote>
<blockquote>
A woman walks in the power and authority of God when she honors patriarchy, because in doing so, she is honoring the Father (a Patriarch). </blockquote>
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