Whose Report Will You Believe? The REAL Christmas Story

 

There are many images connected to the Christmas season - so many, in fact, that we are easily drawn away from the truly miraculous event that changed the world. The only reason that we can celebrate the birth of Christ at all is because God sovereignly orchestrated events that no man could have planned, and carried out. All of the events surrounding the birth of Christ, His life, death, and resurrection were fulfilments of prophetic word given beforehand by God.

Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah was given a Word from the LORD of a Servant sent from God to suffer and die, not from any sin of His own, but on our behalf:

"But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."   Isa. 53:5-6

So astounding and important was this prophetic word to man regarding this Servant who would receive upon Himself the punishment of us all, that Isaiah opens his prophetic word by asking, "Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?"

It is still an important question today: Who will believe the prophet's report? The LORD has revealed His arm, His sovereign power: Will those to whom it has been revealed recognize it, and respond appropriately to it?

Witnessing the events surrounding the birth of Christ, were many who received the reports, and to whom the arm of the LORD was revealed:

The prophetic report brought by the angel Gabriel to Zachariah the priest who would become the father of John the Baptist, was met with disbelief by that man (Lk. 1:11-18). Because of this unbelief, Zachariah was struck dumb until after the birth of his son (v. 19-20). The child in his wife Elizabeth's womb, however, would recognize the Arm of the LORD in the womb of Mary, and would leap with joy while still in his mother's womb, causing Elizabeth to be filled with the Holy Spirit. She prophesied regarding Mary and her Child:

"And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."  Lk. 1:45

The same angel Gabriel had appeared months before to the unmarried woman, Mary, and informed her that she would have a son by the power of the Holy Spirit:

"...The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God...For with God nothing shall be impossible.."   Lk. 1:35 37

Mary, believing and accepting this report answered, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."  v. 38

Months later, shepherds watching their sheep in the countryside outside of Bethlehem were in great fear as an angel appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord lit up the night around them. The angel reported to them the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord. Then a multitude of angels appeared and began to praise God saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men."   Lk. 1:8-14

Not only did the shepherds believe and hurry to go see this child, but after seeing Him, "...they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds." 

                                                                                                              v. 17-18

When Jesus was brought to the temple eight days after His birth, two people there believed what was being revealed to them in the person of this child. One was Simeon, an old man to whom the Holy Ghost had revealed that the One for whom he had been waiting, the Savior of Israel, would come before Simeon's death. The Holy Spirit led Simeon to the temple on the day when the baby was brought, and Simeon recognized Him instantly: "For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel."    Lk. 2:25-32

Simeon prophesied to Mary that the child would cause the fall and rising of many in Israel, and would be a sign that many would speak against. Simeon had believed the report that the Holy Spirit had brought, and he recognized the Arm of the Lord that had been revealed to him that day. Simeon also understood that many would not believe the report, and would reject what the Lord was sovereignly revealing.

Another devout old woman, Anna, a prophetess, was in the temple that same moment, and also instantly recognized and gave thanks for what the Lord had done in the birth of this child. She also told all that had looked for the Lord's redemption (Lk. 2:36-38).

Even kings and sages from a great distance would hear of the birth of Christ, and react to the report in different ways. The birth of the savior was not an obscure event, although it took place in a humble stable. Isaiah again proclaimed:

"The LORD hath made bear his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD."   Isa. 52:10-11

From the beginning, the LORD has announced His promise of a Savior: "In the beginning God (Baresheit, The Son of God crushed, His hand upon a cross, Elohim aleph tav, or alpha omega in the Greek) created the heaven and the earth." (Gen. 1:1), confirmed in Jn. 1:1-5:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not  any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

The whole world has heard the report of the birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord. The LORD has revealed His arm to each of us. There is a response required.

"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?"

 

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

 



Restoring the Wall

 

There Is great debate in this country right now about building a wall in order to secure our border. As important an issue as many think that is, the building and repairing of spiritual walls has great importance also. When God created man, He placed him in an enclosed, or walled garden to provide the man a protected place. Within that enclosed garden, the LORD had daily fellowship with the man He created. Scripture teaches about the importance, and the challenges, of the building of these walls.

Nehemiah ("Jehovah comforts, consoles, pities, pants, groans, repents, laments")  served Artaxerxes,  the king of Persia, as a cupbearer. The job of a cupbearer to the king is to stand between the king and danger. In that sense, Nehemiah served as a living wall around the king. A cupbearer oversees the preparation of the king's food and drink to prevent tampering, as well as tasting it for possible poison before it is served to the king.

Nehemiah was greatly saddened and troubled by the news he had received of the conditions back in Jerusalem. He heard a report that the remnant remaining there were in great affliction. The wall around Jerusalem was broken down, and the gates in the wall had been burned. When Nehemiah heard this disturbing news, he mourned and fasted for days. He prayed to the LORD, and began to repent for the sins of himself, and his people, for their failure to keep the commands of the LORD (Neh. 1:1-7). He remembered the prophetic warning of Moses: that if the people transgressed the commandments of God, they would be scattered (Neh. 1:8, Lev. 26:31-33), but if they faithfully kept the LORD's commandments, they would be gathered back together to the place of the LORD's name, and restored (Neh. 1:9, Deut. 30:1-3). The breaking of the commandments of God cause a nation to become desolate, and overrun by its enemies. Repentance and the keeping of God's commandments bring miraculous restoration to a people, and a nation (2 Chron. 7:14).

Nehemiah was so troubled by the report he had heard, that he could not hide his sorrow from the king, as he would normally do, and was expected to do. The king questioned him about his sadness (Neh. 2:1-2). As Nehemiah told the king about the desolation of Jerusalem and its wall, the king asked him what request Nehemiah would make regarding it. Nehemiah prayed before answering, and then requested to be sent to Judah to restore it. The king granted his request and sent a letter with him decreeing that Nehemiah should be given all materials necessary for the rebuilding. Back in Jerusalem, the enemies of that city and people were not happy to hear that restoration would begin, and would continually plague Nehemiah and the work. We shouldn't be surprised if wickedness does all it can to oppose us as we answer the Lord's call to restore the spiritual walls and gates. After Nehemiah secretly inspected the ruins of the wall and the city, he revealed his mission to the remnant of the desolate Jerusalem:
"...Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire: come and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach."  Neh. 2:17
Nehemiah went on to report, "Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work."  Neh. 2:18
The prophet Isaiah tells us that restoration and rebuilding is not accomplished as the result of empty, religious works that do not have the power to bring spiritual change. We cannot fast, and pray, and seek God, and at the same time, continue to live and speak in a manner that opposes the commands of God: being full of strife and debate, smiting in wickedness, oppressing and exploiting the poor and weak, pointing the finger of accusation at others, dishonoring His holy Sabbath by seeking our own pleasure and speaking our own words (Isa. 58).
On the contrary, as we saw above, Nehemiah was greatly afflicted in his soul by what he heard, and sought the LORD in heartfelt fasting, prayer and repentance, and God heard him and answered him with favor. Isaiah says the same:
"Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye brake every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh...and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as noonday... And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." 
                                                                                                          Isa. 58:6-7, 10, 12
Because we have disregarded the commands of the LORD, our nation's spiritual walls have been broken down, and our gates have been burned. The LORD is seeking those living walls, like Nehemiah, who see the spiritual desolation around them, and are grieved in their hearts: those who draw out their souls to others and to Him in repentance, seeking the consolation and restoration only God can deliver. 

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

Hear and Obey!

 

 

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD God, that I will send a famine in the land not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD: And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it."       Amos 8:11-12

 

The Hebrew word used above as "hearing" is the word shamah. It means not only to hear, or listen, but also to obey. The meaning also includes to understand, to discern. The Hebrew for "word(s)" above is dabar, which also includes "command, decree, counsel".

Today, the world neither seeks the commands and counsel of the LORD, nor do they hear it with understanding and obedience. Even the Church fails to teach the understanding of the word, nor does it encourage obedience to it. The prophet warned that there will come a time when, though we desperately seek the word of the LORD, we will no longer be able to find it.

Not only does the LORD counsel us to both hear and obey His word, but He encourages us to find the understanding:

"Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting, get understanding...How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!"    Prov. 4:5-7, Prov. 16:16

Seeking this wisdom and understanding that is more precious than gold and silver leads us right back to His word:

"Through thy precepts (commandments, statutes) I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."  

                                                                                                Ps. 119:104-105

The purpose of hearing and obeying God's word does not involve religion nor legalism. It is for the purpose of obtaining the wisdom and understanding that leads to having a clear and secure path through life. We look everywhere in the world to try to achieve the knowledge of this security, but we should seek the word of the LORD and His counsel first, because this is where it is to be found without fail.

This type of wisdom and understanding cannot be found in man. Men's hearts do not create it. Scripture tells us that men's hearts are deceitful above all things, and desperately (incurably, woefully) wicked (Rom. 1, Jer. 17:9-10). It is so deceitful, that we can't even know the true nature of our hearts. Only God can see it. On its own, the heart cannot come to life saving, and life prospering wisdom and understanding.

As David desperately sought the LORD's deliverance from his blood guilt (Ps. 51), he threw himself upon the promises of God's word, the promise of new mercy. He asked God to create in him a new heart, because he had seen for himself the results of the incurable wickedness of his own heart. He knew that his only hope was to come to God with a broken and contrite heart, because God desires truth in the most inward parts of us. David, king of Israel, whose line would bring forth the Messiah, a man after God's own heart, and the apple of God's eye, knew that wisdom, understanding, deliverance and renewal of life, could not be found in his own deceitful heart.

Psalm 119 is the declaration of one who understood the importance of hearing and obeying the word of the LORD:

"I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach my thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word."  Ps. 119:8-16

We have been called to take the gospel to a lost and dying world. It is a saving gospel that preserves life. It is the Living Word of God, Jesus, who is the promised mercy of God, and who cleanses us and creates a new heart in us by His word, His blood, and the Spirit of God. Though the gospel seems foolishness to man, it is the very wisdom, and understanding of God, whose thoughts are not our thoughts, and whose ways are not our ways. However, He calls us to understanding through the hearing and obeying of His words.

 

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.



A Qualitatively New Ekklesia

 

Our 41st president, George H.W. Bush, whose passing this week is being closely followed by the beginning of Hanukkah, referred to "a thousand points of light" in his inaugural address. He used this expression to refer to American's good works and volunteerism.

This famous quote of President Bush comes to mind as we enter the season of Hanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights, and the Feast of Dedication. The source of this feast is a historical event recorded in Maccabees 4 of the extra-Biblical books known as the Apocrypha. This book records the Maccabean rebellion against the Syrians who had taken control of Jerusalem, including the Temple of God.

 Under the rulership of Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the Jewish religion was forbidden, and the Temple was defiled with the sacrifices of pigs. After the Maccabean revolt and victory, the Temple was once again in Jewish hands, but had to be cleansed of the pagan defilement. During this eight day cleansing, or rededication, God miraculously kept the Menorah in the Temple burning, when only a single day's supply of oil was available. "Hanukkah" is the Hebrew word meaning "dedication", and even "inaugural". In the New Testament, the Greek word which is the equivalent means renewal, or to make new. The number "8" in Hebrew, which is the length of days that the menorah remained lighted, also signifies new beginnings.

This dedication and renewal of the natural Temple in Jerusalem also has a corresponding spiritual importance to us. We are the living temple of God. It is time for our temples to be rededicated, cleansed, and renewed in Christ. It is time for the Ekklesia (Church) to be qualitatively renewed, meaning to replace everything that needs replacing until it is in "like new" condition. Let's see how we can begin.

Jesus observed the winter Feast of Dedication (Jn. 10:22-25), where He was asked by the religious leaders to identify Himself outright as the Christ. He said that He had already told them, but they refused to believe, and that His miraculous works identified Him clearly with His heavenly Father, which works they also did not believe. It is time for the Church to decide if it believes.

Like the miraculous Menorah of the Dedication, Jesus clearly identified Himself with light:

"...I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darknss, but shall have the light of life."  Jn. 8:12

Not only was Jesus light, but He expected His followers to stop walking in darkness, and share be that same light:

"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  Mt. 5:14-16

The nature of light is to be openly displayed in order to repel darkness. Is the Church shining the light of Christ, or hiding it? Have we conformed to the darkness of this world rather than the light of the unchanging way, truth and life of Jesus?

As Jesus said above, His light is also the life of men. It is written regarding Him:

"In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not."   Jn. 1:4-5

The darkness cannot receive the light. Do we have any part of us that embraces darkness, that refuses to receive light? Jesus said, "If ... the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness?" (Mt. 6:22-23). And, "...less darkness come upon you (seizes you)...While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light." (Jn. 12:34-36). Afterwards, Jesus purposefully hid Himself from them. Those who sought His truth had to search Him out. Are we continuing to search out Jesus, and the light and renewal that He offers? Or have we stopped seeking Him?
This special feast of Hanukkah, or dedication, tells us that it is time for rededication, and qualitative renewal for the Church as a whole, and each one individually, the living temples of God, who are His chosen, royal, holy, peculiar people who should show forth the praises of Him who has called us out of the darkness of sin and the world, and into His marvelous light: who did not have mercy, but now have obtained mercy (1 Pet. 2:9-10). We are not to be partakers of the darkness with the children of disobedience as we used to, but reproving those works of darkness, because now we are light in the Lord, walking as children of light (Eph. 5:6-11). It is that very darkness that will cause people to be overtaken on the soon coming day of the Lord. However, we are not of that darkness and night, but children of light and day (1 Thess. 5:4-5). On the contrary, in these last days, we are to shine in wisdom and light like the stars in the firmament, because we are ones whose names have been written in the book (of life) by the blood of Christ (Dan. 12:1-3, Rev. 13:8).

How can we seek this qualitative renewal, this rededication, Hanukkah, and purifying needed in our lives? Like the light of life, it is also found in Christ for those who will seek it, and He has promised that if we will seek Him, we will find Him:

"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are past away; behold all things are become new."  2 Cor. 5:17

Hanukkah, with its miraculous light and new beginning, is the perfect time of year to remind us of this glorious and eternal promise in Jesus. As we see the lights of the menorah, we can take the opportunity to dedicate ourselves anew in Him.

To Contact/Submit Prayer Request/Support the Ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH":
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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

 

 

 



The Resurrection IS the Gospel!

The Shroud of Turin-Frontal View

 

"...I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you...wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved...unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures...how say some among you that there is no resurrection from the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are all men most miserable."  1 Cor. 15:1-4, 12-19

The gospel is identified here by Paul as the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. This is what he received from the Lord, and this is what he preached to all others. The resurrection is an essential truth of the gospel of Christ. By His resurrection, Christ accomplished great things for all men. Without the resurrection, Christ would not have accomplished the very thing that His Father sent Him to do. There would be no point in the Christian faith, as Paul wrote. Even our sins would still remain, though He died on the cross, without the overcoming power of the resurrection. Paul goes on to say:

"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."  v. 20-22

Because of Christ's resurrection first, all who are in Him, also share in resurrection, escaping the hold of death that came through Adam.

The resurrection of Christ also became the necessary foundational event to His rule and reign in heaven and on earth:

"...Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."  v. 23-26

While we view the resurrection as a New Testament event, included in what Paul wrote regarding the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, is the fact that all of these things happened "according to the scriptures". By that Paul is referring to what we call the Old Testament. Jesus also taught that the promise of that resurrection event and its deliverance from death, can be found in "Moses and the prophets" (Lk. 16:19-31).

Christ came in the flesh so He could die, and be raised again. Not only did his death, burial and resurrection destroy death, but also the fear of death, which enslaves men. His resurrection also accomplished the destruction of Satan:

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them that through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."   Heb. 2:14-15

Jesus identifies Himself as One who was dead, and then alive, with the authority over death:

"...Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for  ever-more, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."   Rev. 1:17-18

We have had many first-hand reports from those who experienced death, and miraculously returned from it. The Apostle Paul also related his own return from death. Yet there are may who still do not listen to the message. On the other hand, there are many who, as with the treasure hidden in a field, as with the pearl of great price, have given all that they have to posses this gospel (Mt. 13:44-46), and others who have given all to preach this gospel, and bring it to us. We are also called to be witnesses to the gospel: the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. If men are quiet, even inanimate objects are ordained to spread the gospel. The stones cry out, the mountains and hills sing. All of the trees of the field clap their hands. Though man clings to unbelief, and his own understanding, God warns that His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. He sends those witnesses to bring us the glorious gospel, to tell us to forsake wickedness and unrighteousness. Regardless of man's thoughts, God has assured that His Word and His Truth shall not return to Him empty, but will accomplish and prosper in all that He pleases (Isa. 55:4-12).

In the same vein, Paul wrote to the Galatians of the evidence of the crucifixion that they have seen with their own eyes (Gal. 3:1). Since the Galatian church was founded in another country years after the crucifixion, to what visible evidence could Paul be referring? In another place, Paul describes a dim, mirror image, as written in the Greek, that we presently see (1 Cor. 13:12). The visible evidence of the resurrection that fits these descriptions from Paul, and found in other scriptures as well, is the Shroud of Turin. Not only has it been given to us to see with our own eyes, but it accurately recorded in its fibers all that the scriptures relate pertaining to the suffering, crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ.

Dr. Kenneth Stevenson, a witness to this evidence, has given all that he has, and devoted decades of his life to personally handle, research, and study the Shroud, and record the findings in several books, as a testimony to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

We can receive his witness and the witness of many others, and become witnesses ourselves to the gospel of Christ. If we are silent, the stones will cry out in our place.

 

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and

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior: Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

 

 

 



Be Thankful in the Midst of the Storm

 

 



Prayer in the Middle of Fire

 

I the link above, we witness a family escaping in their vehicle through the fire in California, where many have lost their lives, and many are still missing. In the video, while the husband drives, the wife is praying to God for safety through the midst of the fire that surrounds their car. Prayer and thanks to God can deliver us out of every calamity.

Scripture tells us to be thankful to God in and through every circumstance. We are in the Thanksgiving season, and it is a time of year that reminds us of this spiritual truth that we often neglect as we are caught up in the day to day problems of life:

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."  1 Thess. 5:16-18

The apostle Paul identifies rejoicing, prayer, and thanks in every circumstance as the specific will of God for each of us. Thanksgiving is an essential element in our relationship with our Father, Creator, and Savior.

 

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Know ye that the LORD he is God:

It is he that hath made us and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name.

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100, a psalm of praise

 

Embedded into our praise and thanksgiving is an acknowledgment of the LORD God as our Creator, our Shepherd through all, and His enduring, eternal mercy towards us. It is by thanksgiving that we enter through the gates of His courts, and into His presence, and leave behind all things that would attempt to overcome us. He promises to be there for us in our praise and thanks. He is enthroned upon the praises of His people. Psalm 106 begins: Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. We rely upon His promise of unending mercy that flows to us through our praise and thanksgiving to Him.

Thanks and praise to our God have become rare in the times in which we live. In fact, it is discouraged by secular society. However, as man turns away from acknowledging God, and giving Him the thanks that He has instructed us to give, the thanks that should be in our hearts towards Him, the very heart of man becomes darkened:

"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 become wise, they became fools."   Rom. 1:21-22

We are clearly seeing this effect of thanklessness all around us. Those who belong to Christ, however, are to be changed inwardly, not conforming to the attitudes of the world around us, but putting on "as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering...And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do...do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and Father by him."  Col. 3:12-17 (pt.)

Since the body of Christ is called to be "one body", as scripture tells us above, why aren't we praying and praising, and thanking God until that peace of God rules in our hearts and overflows to fill the whole earth? If you want to be filled with that promised peace, begin to praise Him, begin to thank Him, especially in the midst of the fire, in the midst of the storms of life.

In heaven, praises, glory, blessing, honor and thanksgiving are given to the Lamb Who sits on the throne. The praise is so powerful in the Spirit, that all creation hears it, and joins in (Rev. 5). This is the worship to which we are called and to which we are to be conformed. This is the new song that we are to hear in our spirits, and sing ourselves. Let us join the holy praise (click the link below):

 

"TO HIM WHO SITS ON THE THRONE"

 

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

 

The Kingdom Purpose of Unity

 

Our nation is deeply divided, and we see destructive effect of that disunity daily. We formed a union of diverse states in our beginning, because we knew that a union was the only hope for our strength, prosperity, and our future. Our nation's motto reflects this determination to be unified: EPLURIBUS UNUM, "Out of many, one".
We can easily see that the Church is divided also. We are divided over social issues, politics, doctrines, denominations. However, Christ taught this truth: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand." (Mt. 12:25). The Lord called the Church to unity, not just for unity's sake, but for a specific purpose, which we shall see.
The apostle Paul taught the role that unity plays in our maturing in Christ:
"And he (Christ) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (completeness, maturity) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ."   Eph. 4:11-13
Our knowledge of God, our perfecting, and our growth into the fullness of Christ must come out of a unity of faith. Each individual member of the Body of Christ supplies something that is needed for completion, and unity brings all of the individual members together (v. 16). The Body achieves this by speaking the truth in love. Jesus spoke of this truth also, and defined the truth this way: "Thy word is truth." (Jn 17:17). Speaking, teaching and preaching the truth, which is the Word of God, unifies us in that truth.
Too often, the Church unites itself with the world, instead of with the Word. In Genesis, the world unified itself in wickedness and rebellion against God. In seeing this unity in purpose, God said, "Behold, the people is one...and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do." (Gen. 11:6). God had to confuse their language, and physically scatter them in order to break apart their destructive unity in rebellion. The unity of the world created a powerful rebellion against God, but the unity of the Church in Christ accomplishes the exact opposite even more powerfully. Jesus brought this revelation in His final prayer to His Father for His disciples before His crucifixion:
"They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me."   Jn. 17:16-23 (excerpt)
In Jesus' prayer above, we see again, the perfecting that results from the Church's unity in Him and the Father. This unity is so important that Christ gave us the glory that He had received from His Father in order to achieve it. Christ in us is the hope of glory (Col. 1:27)- not only our own hope, but the world's hope in glory also. The importance of our unity, besides our own perfecting in him, is that the result of that unity or oneness in Christ, attests to the world the truth of God, and the purpose of His kingdom. Jesus knew that the unity of the Father, Son, and the believers impacts the world, and its salvation.
The purpose of the kingdom of God is not for us to be united with the world, but for the world to receive the saving knowledge of Christ though our unity with each other in Him. For this reason, Jesus has called the Church to be "one".

To Contact/Submit a Prayer Request/Support the Ministry/To Order the Book, "NAZAH":
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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.


Esse Non Videri

The meaning of the Latin words used in the title of this entry is, "To be, not to seem". It was the motto of a US Air Force Academy class. The cadets of that class felt that it was not enough just to have the outward appearance of an officer, but to also exercise the honorable behavior expected in an officer of the US Air Force. The Air force academy embraced this "whole man" concept of an officer, and enforced an honor system of behavior, after noting the behavior of Nazi officers in WWII, who thought their duty began and ended in obeying all orders, even those orders that were evil and immoral.
In the same manner, the LORD, and His living Word, expect us not to have an outward appearance of Christianity only, but the inward reality as well. We read in scripture that in these last days,there will be those who will not be genuine in their faith, those who will teach false doctrine, and those who will be eager to accept that false doctrine. We see this increasingly in the Church now as the return of Christ draws near. More and more, those who call themselves Christians are rejecting the truth of God's word, and embracing those things that God has called unacceptable. Paul warned that the day of Christ's return "shall not come, except there be a falling away (apostasy, defection from truth, repudiation, divorcement, cause to withdraw, incite to revolt) first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition..." (2 Thess. 2:3). Those who had once seemingly embraced the gospel, will abandon it, and incite others to do so also. Paul explained why this would happen:
"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion (wandering, straying, error, leading into error, wrong opinion), that they should believe a (the) lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."   v. 10-12
These who had seemed to be in the faith will fall away because they do not value the truth, and the lie is more appealing to them. This lie challenges the truth of God's Word, as Satan did originally in Gen. 2. Choosing to believe the lie leads them into continuing in the pleasure they find in unrighteousness. Because of that choice to believe the lie, God will send strong delusion upon them. Isaiah also prophesies of a delusion sent by God:
"I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not."  Isa. 66:4
Our choices determine our destiny in God. Even now, there are those in the Body of Christ who encourage, teach, and celebrate unrighteousness as being acceptable to God. However, we are not called to just seem to be followers of Christ, but to BE followers of Christ and His Word.
Paul exhorts us to be genuine in faith and in righteousness, to stand fast by the Word: "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."   2 Thess. 2:13-15
Our sanctification is a transforming work, a renewing of the mind, by the Holy Spirit through the Word of Truth, as we offer ourselves sacrificially to the proving of the will of God in our spiritual service and worship (Rom. 12:1-2). It is a continuing process of sanctification resulting in a perfect man, a unity of faith, and the growing into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4:11-13,15). Not only is the individual believer perfected in this spiritual transformation, but the whole Body of Christ is also perfected by its members. Those who refuse this transforming and renewing process by the Holy Spirit and the Word of Truth "walk in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: ...have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ...put off (cast off, lay aside)...the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on (sink into like a garment) the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."  v. 17-24
This process of "being, rather than just seeming" requires us to put away lying and lies, receive truth for ourselves, and speak the truth to others (v. 25). Put on the whole armor of God, which defends every part of our body, soul, and spirit in the truth of God's Word and His salvation, righteousness, and peace, against the spiritual wickedness that would try to cause men to fall away from truth and life to their destruction and damnation (Eph. 6:10-17).
Pray always and diligently, for yourself, and for all the saints of God, especially in these days of lies and strong delusions. It is time to be, and not to seem.

To Contact/Submit Prayer Request/Support the Ministry/To Order the book, "NAZAH":
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Exciting to be sharing my recently launched book, NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling Thursday Nov 8th at 2 PM CST with @Morgan JamesPub ! Register to join us here : http://www.MorganJamesBookLaunch.com .

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

The Midnight Cry

!967: Israeli Army Enters Jerusalem

 

Recently, there has been an increase in both anti-Israel and anti-Semitic rhetoric and violence throughout the nations. We have just witnessed the worst act of violence against Jews in this nation's history with the mass murder of 11 Sabbath worshippers at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. These evil events should immediately bring to mind the prophetic words of scripture, especially pertaining to these last days.

There was an unshakeable, unbreakable covenant promise given to Israel by the LORD which we have seen fulfilled in our generation. God repeatedly promised through His prophets that Israel, despite seemingly impossible circumstances, would one day be restored as a nation, and the people would live in the land once again. Not only would the LORD physically restore the land of Israel and its people, but He would also spiritually restore the people of Israel, and their relationship with Him. The Church has often embraced the false teaching that it has replaced Israel, and has become this spiritual Israel, but the scriptures are very clear that God has never abandoned His promises for the nation and people of Israel:

"Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. For lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captives of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it....Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger...and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. And they shall be my people, and I shall be their God...And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them...Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul."   Jer. 30:2-3, 32:37-38, 40-41

The LORD swore this promise even though the nations and heathen people had taken Israel as a prey, and had made it desolate (Ez. 36:1-5). Not only did God promise to restore the nation of Israel, but to make it multiply and prosper like never before:

"And I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bring fruit: and I will settle you after your old estates, and will do better unto you than at your beginnings: and ye shall know that I am the LORD."   Ez. 36:11

This has been an ongoing, eternal, living promise to Israel, which the LORD has kept repeatedly despite numerous historical destructions of Israel and the Jewish people by enemy nations and heathens. Men and nations would be wise to keep this promise in mind, because God also promised to pour His wrath upon all who would come against His land and people. Those who think that they do God a favor by persecuting His land, or the Jewish people, are deceived and in danger of judgment. Though God has carried out this judgment wrath against these persecutors throughout history, He specifically promises this for the latter days:

"Behold, the whirlwind (hurricane, storm, rage, to be violently shaken) of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing (to catch, chew, and chew again) whirlwind : it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it."   Jer. 30:23-24

Along with the physical restoration of Israel, comes the prophetic promise of a spiritual restoration and revival:

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah...I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people...I will forgive their iniquity and I will remember their sin no more."   Jer. 31:31-34 (excerpt)

The above is a promise that can never end. It is assured for as long as the sun, moon, stars, seas and waves exist (v. 35). This promise is directly connected to the promise regarding the land:

"For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean...A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh...And I will put my spirit within you...And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I shall be your God."

                                                                                                Ez. 36:24-28 (excerpt)

God has indeed brought Jews out of all the nations of the earth, and returned them to a miraculously restored nation of Israel in our time. He will also initiate a new covenant with its spiritual revival in them. He promises the kingship of the Messiah, like the kingship of David, upon His restored nation (Jer. 30:9, Ez. 37:24-25), and His tabernacle in their midst forever (Ez. 37:26). The Messianic kingship promise is joined with the restoration of the land. As we have seen Israel restored as a nation, this is a sign that we will see the return of our Messiah, Jesus, soon.
The LORD also promises Israel the resurrection from the dead in connection with His promise concerning the restoration of the land (Ez. 37:12-14), and the miraculous joining of two separate sticks, or branches of faith, together into a single stick (stalk, tree, branch, carpenter, root meaning: to shut, firm) in the hand of the prophet. One stick represents the Gentiles of faith, and the other represents the Jewish branch of faith (v. 15-20). Those days are indeed ahead in the near future.

The LORD has also prophesied the terrible persecution that His people and nation will see in the future. He calls it "the time of Jacob's trouble". After the restoration of the land, it will be a time so terrible, that nothing like it has ever existed before - a time of terror and fear. However, God promises that they shall be saved out of it (Jer. 30:3-8):

"...again there shall be heard in this place....The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good, and his mercy endureth for ever...Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah...In those days...will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land. In those days, shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness."  

                                                                                          Jer. 33:10-11, 14-16 (excerpt)

As we see the prophesied restoration of the nation of Israel and the city of Jerusalem being fulfilled, the midnight hour has come when the friend of the bridegroom must be crying out, "Behold, the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him."

To Contact/Submit Prayer Request/Support the Ministry/Order the book, "NAZAH":
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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.

 

 



The Voice of God

 

There are those today who mock faith in God. Those who believe are openly ridiculed for their belief. Many also scoff at the idea that the LORD speaks. He spoke in the past, and He still speaks today. To His prophet, Jeremiah, He said:

"Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the LORD...I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them...but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me."    Jer. 35:12-15 (excerpt)

Perhaps man mocks the concept that God has a voice, and speaks, in order to relieve ourselves of the responsibility of hearing and obeying:

"Neither have we obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in his laws, which he set before us by his servants the prophets. Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us...because we have sinned against him."   Dan. 9:10-11

Because of their unbelief, man has looked upon prophets with great skepticism. However, the Word of God says, "Surely the LORD God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the LORD God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?"   Amos 3:7-8

We are often stunned at the enormous calamities that have come upon the earth in recent times, but as Amos told us above, all of these things have been spoken by the LORD beforehand to His prophets. We have just refused to heed it. Many also choose to believe that the voice of God as spoken to His prophets remains in, and applies only to the past. However, the prophetic word is applicable especially to our current time:

"And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and swear by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time (delay) no longer: But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets."   Rev. 10:5-6

The words spoken to the prophets, recorded long ago, are appointed for even this present time. As the Word says, God does nothing without having declared it to His prophets. It has been further prophesied:

"And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last."   Rev. 22:10-13

The above words of prophecy written around 70 A.D., are not sealed, or hidden, any longer, but revealed for all men to know and understand now, for this time.
The apostle Peter also identified the connection of the written words of the prophets to our present time:
"...I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."   2 Pet. 3:1-4
Peter reminds the Church that it was said by the prophets that scoffers would mock the promise of the return of Christ, just as we see today. Peter taught that these scoffers would be ignorant by choice of the knowledge of the previous judgment by flood that destroyed the earth after the creation, and its continuing prophetic significance for the future. By the same word that brought that judgment by flood of water, the heavens and earth are now storing up fire for judgment. In choosing to ignore the truth regarding the past world-wide judgment by flood, the scoffers do not have to face the prospect of the prophesied world-wide judgment by fire. According to Peter, they also choose to believe that because God has waited this long to carry out that prophesied judgment, despite the prevalence of wickedness, that it will not come. Peter, however, warns against this kind of unbelief of the scoffers referring to both the heart of God, and His timing (v. 8). He warns us not to mistake the kindness and patience of God for weakness, or a failing to keep His word:
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night...and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burnt up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness...?"   2 Pet. 3:9-11
Peter said that this prophetic word has been given to us so that we may be prepared for the coming events. The prophetic word, the voice of God, requires us to stir up our pure minds, not being conformed to the world's scoffing and unbelief, but transformed by that word, the voice of God, that we would walk in holy and Godly character. God, in His mercy, has provided more time also for those who have not yet been transformed by repentance in the face of His warning word given to the prophets.

There are prophets still prophesying the voice of the Lord today. They are not often accepted even by the Church, yet they, along with apostles and other ministers to the Church, have been provided by Christ, who is the Spirit of prophecy, to equip the Church, and to perfect the saints into the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:11-13). They are especially crucial to us in these last days. Will we hearken to the voice of God?

To Contact/Submit Prayer Requests/Support the Ministry/Order the Book, "NAZAH":
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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Lord Jesus, I desire to know You, and to know Your salvation. I believe that You died for me, and that You were resurrected for me. Forgive me of my sins. Come into my heart, change me, fill me with Your righteousness. Inscribe my name in the Lamb's book of life. Baptize me in Your Holy Spirit, so that I can learn the truth of Your Word and ways, and be strengthened in my walk all the days of my life. You are the hope of my life, and You are my eternal life. I place my trust in You, Lord, for myself, and my whole household. Use me to do the will of the heavenly Father, Who sent You, in Whose name You came. In Your name, and in thanks and praise I pray, Amen.