In the Old Concealed, In the New Revealed

"ECCE HOMO", Behold the Man, by Antonio Ciseri

 

One of the many awesome characteristics about scripture, is that it does not need man to prove it, because it proves itself. It proves itself historically, and it proves itself prophetically. The Old Testament is full of many prophetic shadows and promises in which the Messiah, and other truths, are concealed for man to search out. The New Testament reveals the fulfilment of those prophecies. Even from the very start of scripture, a Messianic prophetic promise is concealed and later revealed in the New Testament:

"In the beginning Elohim created the heaven and the earth...." from Genesis 1:1, begins the description of God's creative work. Both the Hebrew word used here, and the letters of the word, give a picture of "The Son of God, crushed, His hand on the cross". **

The prophetic mystery of Christ that was concealed in the very beginning of scripture, is revealed in Jn. 1:1-3:

"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..."

We also find out in John that this Word who was in the beginning, and was God, became flesh in the firstborn, begotten of the Father, that firstborn being Jesus (Jn. 1:14).

We have more powerful examples of the concealed prophetic promise from the Old Testament, being revealed in the New Testament, as Paul explained Gospel truths in the Book of Romans. He presented the fulfilling truths, and continually referred back to the Prophet Isaiah and others to show us the source of those hidden promises.

Paul taught from Old Testament prophecy, the covenant of salvation that God had made with Israel, and the New Testament fulfillment in Christ:

"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in. And so Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins."   Rom. 11:25-27

The prophetic covenant promise of salvation was made to Israel. Paul reveals the original Old Testament covenant promise from Isaiah:

And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. And as for Me, this is My covenant with them...Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, and that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins." 
                                                                                   Isa. 59:20-21, Isa. 40:2

Paul points out again that, according to Isaiah, there is a remnant of Israel that shall be saved (Rom. 9:27, Isa. 10:21-22).

Paul describes the fulfillment of the prophetic promise from Isaiah regarding the spread of the Gospel:

"And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Rom. 10:15 (Isa. 52:7). But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esias (Isaiah) saith, LORD, who hath believed our report?" Rom. 10:16, (Isa. 53:1).

In the midst of all of the prophecies of Isaiah that Paul cited here in Romans, the prophet also talked about a salvation that would be seen, and a Savior that we would look upon and consider:

"The LORD hath laid bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God...So shall He sprinkle (nazah-sprinkle with blood/water, startle) many nations; the kings shall shut their mouths at Him: for that which had not been told them shall they see; and that which they had not heard shall they consider...and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him." 
                                                                                             Isa. 52:10, 15, 53:2

This Salvation is not just reported, but seen. Even those who do not have the opportunity to hear the report, will still have a visible means with which to consider it. The effect of this visual evidence startles nations, according to Isaiah. This visual experience will be startling to nations and kings because of its very nature. Isaiah describes the visceral reaction to what will be seen:

"He is despised and rejected; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, and He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes, we are healed."  Isa. 53:3-5

Isaiah gives a complete description of this Person, whom we will be able to see with our eyes, throughout the whole of Chapter 53. In every way, it is a prophetic account of the crucified Savior, Christ, the Messiah.

Again, we are told to see: "I am sought of them that asked not for Me: I am found of them that sought Me not: I said, Behold Me, behold Me, unto a nation that was not called by My name."  Isa. 65:1

As Isaiah prophesied, we do have a visual account of this Savior, and His suffering. It is on the Shroud of Turin. As Isaiah prophesied, nations and kings have seen, and been startled and sprinkled as they witness this image, which can only be Christ. On the Shroud, we can see an image that cannot be reproduced by man, though many attempts have been unsuccessfully made. The image of a crucified man is a negative image, and it is also three dimensional. The image itself is superficial, appearing on only the very upper curve of each fiber, and does not seep deeper into the linen fabric. The image is not made from a powder, pigment, or dye, according to all testing results. Radiant energy, released at a single time, uniformly from the whole body, created the image. The verified blood on the Shroud is of a chemical nature that results from torture. Every swelling from bruising, and the many scourge marks, not only covering the whole back, but wrapping around the sides to the front of the body, are clearly visible, and identifiable as coming from a specific Roman scrourger in use at the time of Christ. All of the wounds depicted on the Shroud agree with the scriptural description of Jesus beaten and crucified. The image is powerful, and indeed startles those who see it and "consider" it.
We don't need to see Jesus to believe Him (Jn. 20:29), but the precious visual confirmation touches our hearts, and causes our souls to soar.

The mysteries concealed in the prophecies of the Old Testament, are indeed revealed in the New Testament, and are still being revealed to us today. As we come into the Resurrection and Passover seasons, the LORD has given us, both Israel and the nations, something to see and consider.

**Excerpt from "Nazah: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling" (p.29), by Dr. Kenneth Stevenson
 

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To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, including Dr. Stevenson's book, "Nazah: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling", please see the above links.

Also available: March, 2018 issue of Charisma Magazine-article written by Dr. Stevenson  on the Shroud

 

To see Dr. Stevenson's complete message:

 https://twitter.com/everlastingcov8

 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.
God bless you.

 



Truth-The Elephant in the Room

 

This past week has been very eventful. A talk show panel member referred to the Vice President, who happens to be a man of faith, as mentally ill because he made a comment in which he said that he talks to, and hears from God.

At a high school in Parkland, Florida, a former student entered the building and committed a mass shooting. People all over the country are calling out in sadness and anger for the government to do something to stop this kind of tragedy from happening again.

What do these events from this week have in common? They ignore the elephant in the room, the root cause, the truth. As a nation, we have gone so far from God, and from His truth, that we cannot conceive of a man talking to and hearing from Him. We have left truth so far behind, that we think legislation can solve the depth and darkness of our spiritual bankruptcy, which is now even destroying our children. Even in the face of these devastating problems, we choose political correctness over truth, and man's ineffectual efforts over God's power to hear repentance, forgive and heal. Relying on the ability of the government to do something about these profound spiritual problems that we are facing today, is like trying to apply a band-aid over a gushing, mortal wound.
Why do so many mockingly refuse to consider the spiritual truth, making it the ignored elephant in the room, and insist instead on their own deficient remedies, even at the cost of the lives of our children?

Jesus, who identified Himself and His Word as Truth (Jn. 14:6 , Jn. 8:31-32 ), was never afraid to expose the spiritual root of a problem or condition. He was never reluctant to speak the truth out of fear of offending someone, because He knew that the truth that He spoke brought life from the dead. He never yielded the truth to political correctness. He never backed away from the truth, even when confronting a man who had the authority to crucify Him:
"Pilate therefore said unto Him, Art Thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice. Pilate saith unto Him, What is truth?"  Jn. 18:37-38
As Pilate went out before the crowd and declared that he found no fault in Jesus, and offered to release a man at the Passover, the crowd demanded that Pilate not release Jesus, but the thieving and violent Barabbas (v. 40). They would rather have a murderer, than THE Witness of the Truth.
Jesus said, not only did He come to bear witness to the truth, but only those who were of the truth would hear Him. This is another powerful statement that He would not compromise for political correctness. The Jews who believed on Him were deeply offended, even to the point of desiring Jesus' death, when Jesus told them that the truth that they know, His word, would make them free (Jn. 8:31-32). They insisted that the fact that they were descendants of Abraham already made them free. However, Jesus told them that because they were rejecting His words of truth to them, they were not of Abraham, but of their father the devil, who was a murderer, a liar, and the father of lies, from the beginning (v. 44). Talk about politically incorrect! Jesus told them that such was their condition that they couldn't even hear His word of truth. He exposed the root of the problem:
"Why do ye not understand My speech? even because ye can not hear My word...And because I tell you the truth, ye believe Me not...And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe Me? He that is of God, heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not because ye are not of God."   Jn. 14:43-47 (excerpt)
Jesus described the Holy Spirit, Whom He was sending as the Comforter to us, as the Spirit of truth. He made clear that the world, like those who refused His word of truth above, cannot receive, see, or know the Spirit of truth. We can know Him, because He dwells in us (Jn. 14:17). So why aren't the people of God speaking that delivering, healing truth in the dangerous situations facing our nation?
There are consequences for refusing to hear or know the truth of God.
As Paul talked about the fact that the day of Christ is at hand, he spoke of specific conditions existing as that day draws near. One of those conditions is found in those who are perishing:
"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, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."  2 Thess. 2:10-12
One of the consequences of not loving the truth, is that these people will believe a (the) delusional lie. It is the same lie of Satan that was in the beginning, "Hath God said...?" Because they believe the lie, it will not be possible for them to find salvation.
In Romans 1, Paul gives us a list of the consequences of preferring the lie to the truth of God, and it is a sad indictment of the spiritual condition that surrounds us today:
"And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient...Who changed the truth of God into a lie..." Rom 1:28, 25
The consequences of this conscious choice to reject the knowledge of God's truth are severe and numerous: vile sexual affections, unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, envy, murder, deceit, haters of God, spiteful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful, and these make up only a partial list (Rom. 1:26-31). Even knowing that these behaviors are subject to the judgment of God, and worthy of death, not only do the haters of truth continue in these activities for their own pleasure, but enjoy encouraging others to do so also (v. 32). This is exactly where we are today, and this is our condition.
The Word of truth has exposed the root cause, and it also provides the remedy:
O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity. Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: Say unto Him, Take way all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves (sacrifice) of our lips."   Hosea 14:1-2
Upon hearing us turn back to Him, the LORD promises, "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for Mine anger is turned away from him...Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein."  v. 4, 9
It's time to get back to the righteous foundation, the Godly fundamentals. We need to stop trying to ignore the elephant in the room, and for our own sakes, for the sake of our children, and for the sake of our country, we need to turn back to God, and to His truth. It is freedom, and it is life.

To Contact/Request Prayer/Give to the Ministry:
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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.
God bless you.


 



Will You Seek His Face, or Hide From His Face?

 

There is great debate and confusion, even within the church, regarding current events and issues, and how they relate to these latter days before the return of Christ. One thing is clear, however, more than ever before, we must seek God's face, and His direction for us.

From the beginning, man has tried to hide himself from God, when he has sinned, even though his healing and remedy could be found in God. After choosing to believe the lie of the serpent, and refusing to follow God's instruction, Adam and his wife tried to hide from Him:

"And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden."   Gen. 3:8

The word "presence" in the above verse is the Hebrew word paniym, which means "face". In their guilt, Adam and Eve hid themselves from the face of their Creator.

From this beginning of scripture, we can go to the end of scripture, and find that man will still choose to remain in sin, and hide from the face of God, even in the midst of great wrath and destruction. Death and Hell will be loosed over the fourth part of the earth. Great natural calamities will be occurring in heaven, and on earth. Yet men will still be determined to hide from God's face:

"And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of His wrath has come; and who shall be able to stand?"   Rev. 3:15-17

No one will be exempt from His wrath. Even the most powerful and wealthy will choose to hide with the lowliest among man. Zephaniah the prophet similarly said:

"Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of His jealousy..."   Zeph. 1:18

Prophet Hosea revealed that the LORD was waiting for men to acknowledge their sin and seek His face as He says:

"I will go and return to My place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek My face: in their affliction, they will seek Me early."  Hos. 5:15

The people who decide to seek Him declare:

"Come and let us return unto the LORD...after two days, He will revive us: in the third day, He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight."   Hos. 6:1-2

While the phrase "in the third day" prophesies the resurrection of Christ that will occur centuries later, it also refers to the latter days, the time in which we live.

Zephaniah wrote that mighty men shall cry bitterly in that great day of the LORD, even at the voice of the day of the LORD. He describes the day of the LORD as a day of wrath, trouble and distress, desolation and darkness (Zeph. 1:14-15). He, like Hosea, counsels men to seek the face of the LORD:

"Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought His judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger."

                                                                                                             Zeph. 2:3

Zephaniah spoke above that in seeking the LORD, one may be hidden from the danger to come.

Prophet Isaiah also wrote that we should seek the LORD, rather than hide from Him:

"Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near."  Isa. 55:6

Isaiah's words also imply a warning, that there may come a time when it will be too late to seek the LORD, so men must seek Him now, rather than later.

David, even before Zephaniah, wrote in the Psalms about seeking the LORD, and as a result, being hidden by Him in the time of trouble:

"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: in the secret of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me up upon a rock....When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek..."   Ps. 27:4, 5, 8

The LORD, Himself, instructed His people in the day of calamity:

"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."   2 Chron. 7:14

The remedy, as we see calamity come upon our land, and upon the whole earth, is not to hide from God's face but to seek it. He is our remedy for sin, not only for us as individuals, but for the whole land. He is waiting for us to turn away from ourselves, and toward His face.

The LORD has even made provision for us to seek His face in these end times, by revealing His precious face upon the Shroud of Turin. It is the face of the One who died to provide our mercy, and rescue ( Seek His Face ).

Will you seek His face, or hide from it?

 

"But Who May Abide the Day of His Coming?" Handel

 

To Contact/To submit prayer request/To give to this ministry:

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See above links to order Dr. Stevenson's newest book, "NAZAH"

 

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.

 

Medals, Trophies, and Eternity

 

Super Bowl Sunday has just passed, and soon the Olympics will take place. The victors will be rewarded with medals, rings, and a trophy, and billions of dollars will be spent on commercials, entertainment, and even illegal gambling. All of our attention will be focused on these events, and athletes will become heroes. Even these greatest sporting events though will fade from memory, and pass away into history, as is the manner of all natural things in the world. The trophies will rust, and the medals will be lost to time. We, however, are called, not to works that will pass away and be forgotten, but to works that last throughout eternity.

In a poem written by C.T. Studd, there is a line that reads:

"Only one life, twill soon be past.

 Only what's done for Christ will last."

The thought that the author conveyed is scriptural, and is especially important for us to know in these end times.
Apostle Peter makes a point about the fate of the natural world, and asks an important question:
"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, 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, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God..."  2 Pet. 3:10-12
Our lives, our actions and words, should be shaped by the knowledge that natural, or temporal, things that occupy so much of the world's focus, ought not to be our focus, as these very things are destined to be destroyed. Not only that, but the eternally minded believer, actually hastens the return of Christ.
Jesus told a parable of a very wealthy man, who had been blessed with land that had brought forth plenty. He thought about the problem of how to store all of this increased abundance, so he spent his time pulling down his old barns, and building greater barns to store all his bounty (Lk. 12:16-18). The man counted on satisfying his soul with the fact that, by storing all his goods, he would be set for years, and could  then relax and enjoy life. "But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?"  Lk. 12:20
After spending so much time and effort on his goods, the wealthy man wasn't going to live to enjoy them after all. Jesus warned about the idea of laying up treasure for ourselves, instead of for God (v. 21). We spend a great deal of our time every day concerned with the things that will only pass away.
Jesus cautioned that our attitudes and conduct should be like that of a watching servant waiting for the return of his master. Our loins are to be girded, and the lights in our lamps burning. He concluded by saying, "Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." (Lk. 12:35-40). The world may scoff (2 Pet. 3:3) at the idea of the imminent return of Christ, caring only about life's current pleasures, but we, who know better, are to be awake, dressed, with our light shining. Those wise servants who are doing the work will be blessed by their returning master:
"Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath".  Lk. 12:43-44
What is the work that should have us awake, dressed in truth, and holding lighted lamps? The prophets spoke of building the LORD's house. While God's people had the desire to build and re-build their own houses, the LORD's house laid in ruins. The prophet warned them to "consider their ways" (Hag. 1:3-5). Even as the people spent time, money and effort upon their own houses, they were not prospering in any way. As long as the LORD's house remained unbuilt, all the land would suffer lack of every kind (v. 9-11). However, the establishing of the LORD's house, would not only powerfully impact Israel in every way, but all the nations of the world (Isa. 2:1-3).
In the same manner, the building of the LORD's spiritual house is to be our purpose and priority. We build His house out of living stones, like ourselves. Though the world may find this of no value, we are the chosen and precious in God's sight as we bring to others what we have received(1 Pet. 2:3-5). This is the acceptable spiritual sacrifice which we offer as the holy priesthood of His House. We build the spiritual house by teaching and living the Word and character of the Lord before others, showing them by word and deed the way to salvation, making disciples, whom He teaches from His House. We bring them into the House, and the House is enlarged and completed with these souls, these living stones.
C.T. Studd, the writer mentioned above, also gave us this quote:
"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him."
Let us be about doing the works that are eternal.

To Contact/Submit Prayer Request/To Support the Ministry:
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Complete poem by C.T. Studd:
Only One Life Twill Soon Be Past

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:
Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.






 



Our Role in the Days of Sodom

 

Jesus spoke of a spiritual unawareness and indifference to the judgment of God, especially as His coming draws near:

"Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus it shall be in the day when the Son of man is revealed."   Lk. 17:28-30

Life went on as normal in Sodom, not acknowledging that utter destruction was about to fall.

The days we live in are very similar to the time of the destruction of Sodom-not only because we have followed after their sexual sins, but because our spiritual condition now is very much like theirs then:

"Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom (meaning "burning, conflagration"), pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good."   Ezek. 16:49-50

Since we can see how our current condition mirrors Sodom's, what is the role of the Church in these days?

First of all, not everyone is unaware of the real and present danger of impending judgment. The people of God are being warned by the prophetic voices and messengers that the LORD has placed in our midst, according to His specific promise and His foundational precepts:

"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 see this exact principle in the example of Sodom. As the time grew near for Sodom's destruction, the LORD made it a point to appear to Abraham in the form of three men, as Abraham sat in the door of his tent in Mamre (meaning "strength, vigor, the effort needed to hasten one's self or lift one's self up) at the hottest time of the day. As was the custom of that time, Abraham offered these strangers his complete hospitality, and bowed himself to the ground as a servant before them. Abraham then hastened and ran to provide the men with every comfort (Gen. 18:1-8).
At the close of this prophetic visit, the strangers began their journey to Sodom, as Abraham led them on the way. The LORD then asks this question, "Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?" (v. 17). The LORD told Abraham that He had heard the cry from Sodom and Gomorrah, and the grievous sin, and He had come to see for Himself the truth of their sinful condition. Abraham delayed the LORD, and began to intercede with Him, asking Him if He would destroy the righteous with the wicked. As Abraham continued to intercede, he obtained the LORD's agreement down to the presence of just ten righteous in the city. The whole wicked city would be spared if there were ten righteous within it (Gen. 18:23-32).
On the other end of the story, Abraham's nephew Lot ("covering, veil"), living in importance in Sodom, also received the visit of the strangers with the same hospitality that Abraham had shown them. When the strangers had told Lot that he and his whole household must leave Sodom immediately, Lot went to tell his sons-in-law. They treated the urgent news as a joke, and refused to leave with Lot (Gen. 19:14). Even Lot sought to delay leaving the city. When morning came, the angels tried to hasten Lot, lest he be consumed in the iniquity of the city. Lot and his immediate family lingered still, and had to be dragged out by the angels of the LORD (Gen. 19:15-16). He then argued with the angels about how far he should retreat from the doomed city!
Our prophetic voices, and our warning messengers are telling us in the Church, that the day is drawing near when we will see calamity come upon another, modern-day Sodom that is present around us. Our role, like Abraham, is the role of intercessor. The LORD stops at our tent doors to give us just this same opportunity to delay Him, and entreat Him. Others may mock, and continue going about their daily lives as usual, but we should heed the warning, and hasten to enter into intercession with the LORD. Some, like Lot, sit in comfort in the midst of Sodom, not stirring themselves to intercede. They also receive the warnings, and the benefits of the intercession of others, but they do not act upon them with the necessary urgency and obedience.
The LORD knew He could depend upon Abraham, and the promised descendants that Abraham would teach in the ways of the LORD (Gen. 18:19). Is the LORD, with this same confidence, also able to depend upon us with His urgent business? This is our role in these days of Sodom.

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Prayer of Intercession:
Heavenly Father, we reach out to touch Your arm, in order to intercede with You to cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Wash us in Your Word, and in Your Spirit. Purify and sanctify us by the blood of the Lamb. You have called us to be the righteous whose presence preserves the city. You have promised us that if we, Your people, who are called by Your name, humble ourselves, pray, seek Your face, and turn from our wicked ways, You will hear from heaven, forgive us, and heal our land.
As the day draws near for the revealing of the Son of man, we, Your people, desire to stir ourselves up, and fulfill the role that You have for us in this generation. In Jesus' name, we bring this intercession to You. Amen.

Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:
Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.



Understanding Our Warfare, And Our Weapons

 

In these End Times, it becomes especially important that we understand our spiritual warfare and its weapons. It is deception to believe that the enormous problems facing the world today, or in our individual lives, can have political, economic, or social solutions. While the world relies upon these remedies, the church should understand differently. Scripture tells us:

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?..."  2 Cor. 10:3-7

First of all, the battle begins in our own minds and understanding. Our minds have to be conformed not to what we see, but to God's word, the knowledge of God. Warfare begins in our own thoughts. Do they line up with the word? Scripture tells us to renew our minds with the washing of His Word (Rom. 12:2, Eph. 5:26). The Word of God that we know changes how we think. Our own obedience to spiritual truths in the Word makes the difference between victory and defeat. This is the warfare, but what are the weapons appointed by God for us to use in the battle?
Psalm 20, written by David, begins in this manner:
"The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee....in the name of our God, we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfill all thy petitions....Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are brought down and fallen: but we are risen and stand upright."  (excerpt)
The phrase "day of trouble" used in the above Psalm, not only refers to any day in which we are desperately struggling, but t is also an expression used to mean the end times (Zeph. 1:14-18). In any case, one of our greatest spiritual weapons is the power of the name of the LORD in the mouth of the faithful. One of the greatest confrontations in scripture illustrated this power.
The Philistine army drew near to fight the army of Israel under King Saul. David, a young man, went to visit his older brothers, who were in the army of Israel. While there, he witnessed the challenge from Goliath (meaning splendor, an exile, a denuded captive), the champion of the Philistines, as he demanded a showdown with a warrior from Israel. All the army of Israel were fearful and ran from this giant's challenge. According to his name, outwardly, Goliath looked to have impressive splendor, but in truth, he was already a defeated foe, humiliated, shamefully revealed and cast out.
When David heard about the rewards the king was offering for anyone who would go against Goliath, he stirred himself up against this enemy and said, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?"
His older brothers mocked David, and Saul feared for David and tried to outfit David in his own armor, including his own sword. However, David found the armor awkward, refused it, and said he would rely instead on his own proven weapons. Goliath mocked the seemingly humble weapons of staff and sling that David carried, but David declared what he was about to do to Goliath, and said to him, "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied." (1 Sam. 17:21-45). We all know how that encounter ended. Even the giants are subject to the name of the LORD!
Our battles, large and small, individual or worldwide, belong to the LORD  On the occasion of a great battle between Judah and an overwhelming enemy army, the LORD prophesied:
"...Be not afraid, nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours but God's....Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah, and Jerusalem: fear not...for the LORD will be with you."   2 Chron. 20:15-17
The king of Judah sent the choir out before the army, and instructed them to sing and praise the beauty of holiness. With this spiritual weapon of praise, the LORD defeated the armies of three enemy nations that had come against His people (v. 21-23).
Moses and the Israelites, who found themselves in a seemingly hopeless position, were also able to witness the destruction of the Egyptian army in this same manner. Moses declared to the people:
"Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will shew you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more for ever. The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace."  Ex. 14:13-14
In both of these cases, the LORD saved His people by His salvation, "yeshua", who was the person of Jesus, the greatest of spiritual weapons in warfare.
Finally, the prophet Joel, describing a coming day of terrible destruction, accompanied by fearsome signs and wonders in the earth and the heavens, urged the people of that time to gather together, to fast, to repent, to weep in intercession, to call upon the LORD.
The LORD will hear their prayers, and receive their repentance, Joel prophesied. He will turn mourning and destruction into rejoicing and restoration. He will pour out His Spirit upon all of His people in a miraculous way. He also promises:
"And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in Mt. Zion, and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call."  Joel 2:32
This is the warfare, and these are the spiritual weapons that the LORD has placed into the hands of His people.

To Contact/Submit Prayer Requests/To Give To The Ministry:
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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:
Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.







 

 



Ready or Not: Wise or Foolish

 

Many in the world are not ready for the soon return of Jesus Christ. Before we look at that issue, we have to ask, "Is the church even ready for His return?"

Paul described a ready and perfect church as one which, under the guidance of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, comes into the unity of faith, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, speaking truth in love, having grown up into Christ's headship, with all parts joined together and supplying to the increase and edifying of the whole church (Eph. 4:11-16). We are also to be mature enough to discern and reject the lies and tricks of false doctrines that come against the truth. It doesn't sound like we have yet achieved any part of this readiness.

Jesus told the parable of the ready and watching servant, who was waiting for his master's return:

"Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately..."  Lk. 12:35-36

Our condition is to be one of expectantly waiting, ready to immediately open the door to Him. There is to be no delay in our response. We are not to be sleeping in bed, but up and dressed, our loins girded. Paul said in Eph. 6:14, that as part of our ever present spiritual armor, our loins are girded with truth. As we will see, the End Times in which we live are full of deceptions, but we, as the followers of Christ, are to stand and surround ourselves in the eternal truth of God. The truth of God does not waver with the times, but remains the same throughout eternity.

The faithful, waiting servants carry lighted lamps in the above parable. We are not children of darkness, but children of light, and we are to be leading others out of darkness, into that same light-the light of salvation.

Jesus continues, "Blessed are those servants whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching (vigilant, awake, watching, giving strict attention to, active, to rise up from sleep, or from a position of resting)..." v. 37

How many of us act as though Jesus is returning at any moment? How many of us have completed our spiritual works, should we not be here tomorrow? Yet, Jesus makes the point that it could be at any time, and most likely, when He is least expected:

"Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not." v. 40

The fact that we are not alert, watchful, and ready, not only makes us unprepared for Christ, but also unprepared for the thief that is waiting to break in (v. 39).

That thief is the deception that has entered into the world, working its lies to keep people from their salvation, from the truth of their God, especially as the return of Christ draws near:

"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you..." 2 Pet. 2:1-3

These false teachers speak evil of the way of truth. We are seeing an increasingly intolerant and accusatory attitude towards all those who believe and stand uncompromisingly in the truth of God. Some are even brought into courts for their belief in the truth.

Peter says, above, that many shall follow these thieves of the truth. Jesus said also, "...broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat..."
                                                                                                                    Mt. 7:13

There are many walking straight to destruction. Is the church busy about the precious work of rescuing these many from the way that leads to death? (Prov. 14:12 ,Prov. 16:25). Jesus said in the first parable, above, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing."  (Lk. 12:42-43).

This "doing" servant is described as wise. We found out last week that a wise man shines, and is one who wins souls (Prov. 11:30, Dan. 12:3 ). Jesus also describes these watchful servants with their "lights burning" as wise. This servant is watching, he is waiting, but the wise servant is also doing. He is doing the work of winning souls, pulling them from that way that leads to destruction.

In another part of scripture, Jesus, seeing His future disciples fishing, promised that He would make them, that they would become, fishers of men (Mt. 4:18-19, Mk. 1:16-17 ). Not only were these His first words to the disciples, but also His last, as He said, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mk. 16:15). This is the work that the faithful servant is found doing when his master returns.
Will we be ready and wise? Or unprepared and foolish? We must choose quickly, because the time grows short.

 

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Prayer of Salvation for all who desire to receive Jesus as their Savior:
Jesus, I want to know You as my Lord, and as my Savior, who covers my sins, and cleanses my heart. Come into my heart, and also fill me with the Holy Spirit, who will lead me into all truth, and will teach me how to follow You. I believe that You are the Son of God, the Messiah, that You were crucified for me, and rose from the dead to give me everlasting life. I believe that You are coming again. Lord Jesus, in Your name I believe, pray, and receive all of these things. Amen.
(Rom. 10:9-11)