America vs. Globalism – Chapter 5 – What Values Do We Have?

Luke 16:15 “He said to them, ‘You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.’”

 

When we buy something that needs to be put together it comes with instructions on how to do it. This is what we have from our Heavenly Father with His Word of instructions (God’s laws, statues, decrees, etc.) on how to live to get the most good out of life. It is not to curtail our fun, enjoyment, but to show us what is best and how to get the most good out of life.

 

However, because of the natural bent of man which is downward instead of going God’s way, we see the consequences. God has given us the chance to choose rightly. We can go God’s way to deny self, pick up our cross and follow in the way of Jesus, or we can choose to go the way of self-pity. It’s a choice!

 

The natural bent of man is to go with the current instead of against it because that is the path of least resistance. We read in Hebrews 2:1 “We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away.” When it comes to the things of God (His values) or the things of man we discover that when we choose the latter we find ourselves adrift from godly values and wisdom. Consequently, we find that the final result is our faith in God being ship wrecked.

 

What are the values in our society today that we highly esteem? We find that they often are in direct opposition to God’s values that give fulfillment, contentment and joy to life. What is it that we highly value today?

 

The Pursuit of Pleasure. We, especially those of us in the West, value personal pleasure in all of its physical forms available today. However, in reality what is happening is that we are actually drifting and eventually our faith in God ends up ship wrecked.

 

What are the Biblical values that give everlasting pleasure?

 

  1. Pursuit of Christ. Hebrews 12:2; Philippians 3:10
  2. Pursuit of peace. Psalm 34:14; 1 Peter 3:11
  3. Pursuit of righteousness. Proverbs 15:9; 1 Timothy 6:11; 2 Timothy2:22

 

Personal Autonomy. Responsible to no absolute – except one’s own self.

 

Consequently, we have the ‘clamor for rights.’ Aleksander Solzhenitsyn said: “We hear a constant clamor for rights, rights, always rights, but so very little about responsibility. And we have forgotten God. The need now is for selflessness, for a spirit of sacrifice, for a willingness to put aside personal gains for the salvation of the whole Western world.”

 

Biblical values:

 

  1. Submission to the rule of God. Romans 14:9; 2 Corinthians 5:15
  2. Interdependence. We need one another. Romans 12:5; 1 Corinthians 12:12

 

We see that our security lies with our relationship with:

 

  1. God. Matthew 6:25-34
  2. Family. We see how families are being torn apart today resulting in insecurity. Families need to be protected at all cost.
  3. Brothers and sisters in Christ. Acts 2:44-47; 4:34-35

 

When Henley wrote the prophetic lines, “I am the Master of my Fate, I am the Captain of my Soul,” he should have informed us that we too are the Masters of our Fate, the Captains of our Souls, because we have the power to control our thoughts.Personal security.

 

Where does our security lie? In our jobs? Money? We often find that these things can change in an instant. Elizabeth Elliot said: “Where does your security lie? Is God your refuge, your hiding place, your stronghold, your shepherd, your counselor, your friend, your redeemer, your savior, your guide? If He is, you don’t need to search any further for security.”

 

There are other values that could be mentioned, but I find these three to be the most prominent ones, especially here in the West, but at the same time this is true of any society or culture in the world. We have the same needs, wants, desires, but because of the culture these might take different forms.

 

 

 

 

America vs. Globalism – Chapter 4 – Who is Christ?

Matthew 16:13 “When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’” Peter responded to this by saying: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

 

Jesus replied, “I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (vs. 18)

 

What rock is Jesus talking about here that the church will be built on? On the ‘man’ Peter, or on the ‘statement of faith’ Peter made about Jesus? I believe that it is the latter. We know from Scripture that the 12 apostles are the foundation, but Jesus Christ is the chief cornerstone that everything hinges on.

 

Jesus shared with His disciples about what was going to happen to Him in Jerusalem: persecution, beatings, mockings and eventually death on the cross. What to me is interesting, is Peter’s rebuke to Jesus: “Never, Lord! This shall never happen to you!” (vs.23) And Jesus’ response: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

 

We are at a cross-roads here with what Jesus said: “You do not have in mind the things of God.” I think that this is interesting, because Peter seemed to be running on his emotions and not with the goal or purpose of God. How many times do we do the same by mistaking emotion for the reality of what God’s will and purpose is? Yes Peter had a concern for Jesus and did not want Him to suffer, but that was Peter’s emotion and not the Father’s will. How many times do we see things taking place in the world (suffering, wars, etc.) and do not fully understand all that God is doing. We are moved by emotions to act and find that we are moving in the flesh instead of in the Spirit. It is not that emotion is bad, but it cannot lead or direct us. It is the will of God that should motivate and lead us.

 

Paul said: “Christ’s love compels us.”(2 Corinthians 5:14) What does this mean in the context of being compelled by emotion? Love here is more than an emotion, it is an act of my will. Jesus said: “If you love me you will obey and carry out my plans and purpose.” There are many bad things happening in the world where our emotions can begin to compel us, but we need to make sure that we are moving and acting within God’s plan and purpose.

 

This emotion that Peter was exhibiting here, could be put in another way when he said to Jesus, “Jesus, pity yourself!” Peter meant, “Why should you have to suffer, be persecuted and be hung on the cross like a criminal?” Jesus responded to Peter, and to us who have bought into the self-pity thinking and activity, by showing us the true way to think and to go, as He did. “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)

 

This is the cross-road that we are faced with: pity ourselves or deny ourselves. Which do we choose? We are told that one of the main reasons for depression is an attitude of self-pity: “poor me, pity me,” etc. Test this to see if it’s true or not; start feeling sorry for yourself and see what happens.

 

Do not choose the road of emotions, to pity yourself, rather choose the better road that I believe is God’s road – His purpose and will to deny yourself. This is where we learn to die to ourselves – our will and purpose – and learn to follow Him who laid aside His own glory, riches, etc. to die in our place so that we might live with Him forever. Yes, it might sound hard when we speak about dying to our own desires and ambitions, which is what it means to take up our cross to follow Christ, but we will find that this is the only way of great satisfaction and enjoyment.

 

In verse 25 Jesus said: “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.” One thing that Jesus promised us is true abundant life. This abundant life is found in denying ourselves and following Christ. We will find that Christ will lead us to do the work that He has ordained for us, and in doing brings joy and a sense of completeness in our lives.

 

Jesus also brought out something that I think is very important, that we have only so much time here on earth before we enter eternity. In verse 26 He says, “What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” How are we going to use our time that we have here on earth? Following our own emotional path or following the path of Jesus Christ? How true is the saying: “Only what is done for Christ will last.”

 

Jesus said I go and prepare a place for you and I WILL RETURN. In verse 27 Jesus said, “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.” When He appears, there is only one place that I want to be, in His Kingdom because I obeyed and followed Him. Amen?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Devotional

This last year I have had many discussions with millennials about our country and the direction it is to take. Many of these young people have read all, or parts of the Bible, and they are extremely sympathetic for people in need. They say the Bible is too old fashion, has too many rules, and is not applicable for them today. This is why I disagree with them.

 

The Bible says in the last days people will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. People who follow these teachings will become hypocrites and liars. Their consciences no longer sensitive to God, but dead. They agree with the teaching that living together without being married is wise, and that homosexual marriage is right. Their arrogance sets out to control what people have, say or do.

 

When this happens you can expect trouble from them if you stand up against them, or speak out against their ideology. The Bible warns us that this is bound to come. People will love only themselves and not understand the truth. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander anyone who opposes them. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray anyone, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. They work their teachings into people’s homes (by forms of media) and shame the people who disagree with them. They follow this false-teaching and never come to understand the truth; they have lost all good sense from God. Their thoughts and ways are depraved. What fools they are! One day they will see what fools they have been.

 

What should we do; those of us who hold to the truth in God’s Word? HOW SHOULD WE PREPARE for what the Lord said is certainly coming into this world?

 

Just Some Thoughts

 

 

 

America vs. Globalism – Chapter 3 – Laws of the Kingdom

The Kingdom of God dwells in the believer and wherever we go we too can say, as Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is near.”

 

So we are told in Matthew 6:33 “to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” What does this mean? Ralph Shallis, a missionary and Bible teacher greatly used by God in Algeria and later in France, wrote about the laws of the Kingdom found in Matthew 18. “The Kingdom of God has laws just like any political governing party. When we begin to put these laws into practice they will have a dramatic impact in the sphere that God has called us to.”

 

What are these Laws of the Kingdom?

 

Law of humility: Matthew 18:4 “Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” What speaks to me here is that little children have a simple faith. They believe what is said and will act upon it. We, especially in the West hear what the Lord is saying, but will ponder, study, research, go on line about what is being said and then perhaps we might act upon it.

 

There was a simple Indian brother who sensed that the Lord wanted him to go to America and preach the gospel. So, he went to the American embassy to get a visa and was turned down. Undaunted by this refusal he went home got out his little typewriter and wrote a letter to the President of the United States. That letter landed on the desk of First Lady Pat Nixon. She read it and wrote back to this young Indian brother and told him to take the letter to the Embassy and show it to them. He did and got his visa. He has been instrumental in planting hundreds of churches in India.

 

Law of Reception: Matthew 18:5 “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me.” We do not reject people because of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or anything else. Christ accepted us as we are, and we found within that acceptance the power to change our thinking and behavior so that we please our heavenly Father. Ephesians 1:6 “To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. KJV

 

Law of Stumbling: Matthew 18:6 “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” Like Paul said, we have freedom, but we do not use that freedom to sin or cause our weaker brother to stumble.

 

Law of Mutual Respect: Matthew 18:10 “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.” Do we show respect to those who don’t have as much as those who do? Or do we treat the drunkard on the street differently than the man in the big house? We are all made in the image and likeness of God, but our sin-nature has marred how we look at people and regard them.

 

Law of Soul Winning: Matthew 18:14 “In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” We are told to go. Most will not go to a foreign field, but all will go to the sphere (job) God has called us to. It doesn’t mean that we force the Gospel down someone’s throat, but it does mean that we have an answer to those who request to know the hope that is in us.

 

Law of reconciliation: Matthew 18:15-17 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.” If we would put this into action what a difference it would make in relationships!

 

Law of Perpetual Forgiveness: Matthew 18:21-22 “Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.’”

 

What is interesting is that between the Law of Reconciliation and the Law of Perpetual Forgiveness there are three promises given to us. The reason the Holy Spirit stuck these three promises between these two laws is to show us that these promises are conditional and when the condition is met – these two laws become active in our lives. What are they?

 

  1. The authority to bind and loose. What a promise! The authority to bind the enemy and loose souls from his grip; to also bind the enemy and loose finance to further Christ’s kingdom.
  2. Collective prayer being answered. When a group of God’s people come together for prayer and these laws are being carried out in their lives – power is in collective prayer being answered.
  3. Promise of God’s presence. In the presence of God there is joy and we know that the joy of the Lord is our strength.

 

Yes, the Kingdom of God resides within the people of God, and when these laws of His kingdom are operating in our lives an impact will be made wherever we go.

 

 

 

 

In Such a Time as This!

God had made it known to Moses that He was ready to kill the people Moses was to lead and start a new nation with Moses because of how the people were so quick to turn back and forget the Lord after all they saw the Lord do for them. (Exodus 33)

 

When Moses was on top the mountain receiving God’s law for God’s people to live by; the people incited Aaron (Moses’ assistant and brother) to take all their gold, melt it down, and form a gold image (calf) out of it for them to worship and prosper by. The people wanted their ‘man-made’ god to replace the God of all Creation. What blindness! But this is how the devil works to deceive people throughout time, with lies and deception.

 

You and I can think, how ridiculous for them to believe that something we make with our hands and that has no life in it – can do us any good. And it can’t. Yet, we have done the same thing when we look at our wealth and abilities as our strength and confidence: a false expectation. We do the same, when we look to a man with false expectations, like the Israelites looked to Moses. God chose a committed man to lead them, and not a man for them to worship.

 

We see where that got them. They ran wild with their own thoughts and fleshly desires. They indulged themselves – giving themselves over to every lust of the flesh. They defiled the land where they did all this, and GOD WAS VERY ANGRY! If Moses had not reminded God of His covenant with faithful Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – God would have done exactly what He threatened to do. God honored His servant Moses by continuing to show grace and mercy to His people. Moses did not start out a holy man, as he walked in the will of God, he grew in faith, hope and love. Moses started out with very little understanding of how great God is. As he followed the will of the Lord for God’s people – Moses learned, as the people also learned, how great the love and power of God is for His people. We can expect (a true expectation) the same now with the man God chose for the nation of America. What God starts, God finishes.

 

Moses was afraid to go any further with a people that God called “stiff-necked.” Moses feared God, and unless the Lord went with him – Moses wasn’t going. Moses understood that God’s presence = God’s goodness.

 

It was the Lord who called him to this assignment in the first place; against Moses’ own will – God chose him. When God chooses someone for His good purpose it doesn’t matter what the man has done or said. It doesn’t matter what the man thinks of himself either. God will have mercy on whom He will have mercy and God will have compassion on whom He will have compassion. God can easily change the course of the heart/will or the course of a nation, one way or another. It doesn’t matter what ‘we’ see or know; it’s all about what God sees and knows. Jonah (in the Bible) was a very good example of this. Living in the dark stinking belly of a great whale isn’t very comfortable or promising, but it happened to Jonah to change his heart/will so that Jonah would do what God called him to do.

 

God put the fears of Moses to rest: “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” “I will cause all My goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim My Name, the LORD, in your presence.” (Exodus 33)

 

What actually did Moses see? I believe it was the back of Jesus Christ that Moses saw from the cleft of the rock; for God tells us in the book of Hebrews that His Son is the true radiance and exact representation of God. In sending us Jesus, it was our Father showing us His goodness: His mercy and grace, His compassion for us in doing for us what we can NOT do for ourselves; specifically: save ourselves and bless ourselves.

 

“Therefore, fix your thoughts on Jesus. He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just a Moses was faithful in all God’s house. But Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house.”

 

God is giving America a time to repent, turn from our wicked ways, and to prosper so we can prepare for what is inevitably coming against His people with more and more intensity. Like the Israelites who didn’t grasp what God was doing for them and for their future descendants, we also can miss God’s purpose, getting caught up in the flesh (feelings and emotions), having our eyes on the world.

 

We can look at our new president, God’s choice, and not see what God sees in why He chose the man. That’s fine, but it’s rebellious for us to ‘judge’ God by standing against the man He chose. The Israelites did this with Moses and God was ready to kill them all. We can criticize, protest, cry, lash out and keep living in foolish rebellion, or we can go to the Lord for His wisdom and instructions and get walking with the Lord in such a time as this. For the last 8 years God’s people were under God’s judgment; for God put Obama in office for this. God’s painful discipline in the lives of His people is to work to produce a harvest of righteousness with us – so that He can use us for His goodwill.

 

We better wise up and see this time of God’s goodness to His people, and listen to HIS VOICE only. What our new president said in his inaugural speech gave us a reason to be hopeful about our nation. But we better be in the Bible every day to hear ‘God’s truth’ about the days ahead and how to prepare in the way He shows us. The power of God’s holy people is in God answering the faithful prayers inspired by God’s Spirit.

 

There’s lots of talk about people being afraid. Be afraid, but NOT afraid of God’s choice of Donald Trump; rather, be afraid of missing God’s grace and goodness that could’ve been yours in such a time as this.

 

Daily Devotional

As I listen to the comments on President Trump’s inaugural speech, I was glad to hear someone tell the progressives and career politicians that change was coming to politics. I see the change as I consider Trump’s picks for his cabinet, and how his picks have incited these progressive politicians to attack them instead of approving them. They are trying to find evil in these qualified people to disqualify them, but I have found that when evil people accuse me of something it is what they are guilty of themselves.

 

So the question I have for the people of America is this: Why do we settle for less and less? Why do we settle for more and more incompetence and why do we settle for less and less while the government takes more and more from what we work for? Why wouldn’t we want the very best for the lawful citizens of America? Why don’t we approve and vote in the best we have to govern and represent our great country?

 

These people of Trump’s cabinet have proven they are the best and brightest; just look at the results of their lives. Most of these people will be giving up salaries to become our representatives around the world. They are willing to do this job and it is not for more money, but a strong desire to use their tremendous knowledge and skill to help restore what has been progressively lost in America.

 

We have had people in leadership positions who cannot make it in the real world and we see what this deficiency of common sense and courage has resulted in as we watch masses of people without any common sense running wild in the streets destroying cities and killing those who would try to stop them. They are led in their thinking by the media that twists and perverts truth, and by politicians that have no common sense or back bone to do what is right and just.

 

The progressives are very upset over the threat of LAW and ORDER being restored, our boarders strong and protected, and common sense and courage back in the White House.

Daily Devotional

I thought back over the election time and how discouraged I was thinking like the media wanted me to think; that Hillary was going to be president and her evil agenda would quickly prevail. Then to my excitement, the opposite took place. What happened put Hillary supporters into shock? I believe this last minute turn around was because God’s humbled people humbled repented and prayed to Him.

 

We, as well as the whole world, saw what our repentance and unity as the body of Christ can do. The affect it had on those who are under the control of evil deception and lies – we watched on media with all the uncontrollably crying and mourning circles continued day and night to the point of them needing mental help. They did not get what they wanted, so they threw tantrums. They still haven’t accepted reality, as they continue to complain, cry, protest and riot – which obviously seems to make them ‘feel’ better and hopeful that their tantrums, protests and destructive ways will get them what they want.

 

What we, God’s humbled people, need to do now is NOT to stop praying because we have Trump and Pence elected, but to keep praying – even harder – staying at our prayer posts because we know the battle is not over. The progressives are not giving in – they will keep pushing and shoving and inciting people to protest and riot. This is their way. The only way we can frustrate their plans is to continue praying and standing united for America’s salvation both physically and spiritually.

 

As God’s people, we must pray for President-elect Donald Trump and his vice Michael Pence and their families, for their protection and that they would not compromise, but continue on with their commitments and plans to restore what has been lost and stolen from the American people, and what has been done to the hardworking legal citizens that goes against America’s Constitution. Pray that they be confident strong leaders eager to do what God’s Word says to do that is right and good for all law-abiding people, and to not be distracted by the lies of the media, nor shrink back by the constant onslaught of warnings and continued threats by the progressives; that Trump and Pence and the team they’ve chosen to stand strong with godly conviction and know that God will help them do what is true, right and just.

 

The church is still not ready for what is inevitably coming that Jesus warned us about. We might have more time to prepare for great persecution (the inevitable) but we need to understand that just because Trump won – we still need to get prepared (mentally, physically and especially spiritually) for what is coming that the Lord calls “great tribulation” all over the world before He returns to end all evil in the world.  Let us not stop sharing the Gospel of our Lord and making ready a people prepared for the Lord.

 

 

Feelings and Emotions

Feelings and emotions are a bottomless pit. Truth is a rock-solid foundation.

 

What we have been seeing in America is the moving away from truth by the lifting up of “feelings and emotions” over the truth. Truth comes from God and leads the way to the life that is truly LIFE.

 

Feelings and emotions have been working HARD to dictate the way of life for Americans in a ‘new’ America. Old America was founded on the solid foundation of God’s truth, way and life.

 

What we see happening in America over these last 8 years is truth being overtaken by the “feelings and emotions” of the loud and proud who have NO solid foundation for their “feelings and emotions” to REST ON, and is why we see man on his own creating more and more laws to deal with all the undisciplined “feelings and emotions” running fast and furious into destruction.

 

America was founded on “the truth” in faithful men, not on the “feelings and emotions” of unfaithful men. Truth in all areas of our lives will give our feelings and emotions the right way to think and behave; without it all you have is disorder, turmoil and destruction.

 

All man-made religions spur on man’s “feelings and emotions.” Religion feeds man’s feelings and emotions, and not his spirit. The spirit feeds on the truth of God. Truth works to control our feelings and emotions. Feelings and emotions become right when rooted in the truth and love of God. When rooted in the lies of Satan, our feelings and emotions work against our personal good and the common good.

 

People do good deeds because of how it makes ‘them’ feel about themselves. People do good deeds for other people because of where it will get them or what it will give them. People do good deeds afraid that if they don’t – then they will be put out of something: their family, their circles of friends, their careers, their churches, etc.

 

Good deeds is the fruit of religion; but godliness is the fruit of the Kingdom of God. There is a difference between “good works” which are seen by men, and “godliness” which is known by God.

 

Religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Catholicism, Mormonism, Humanism, even modern-day Christianity are all peaceful religions; meaning that if you leave them alone and don’t try to change their ways (of thinking about God) or their life (style of worship) – they will leave you alone. If you come into their home or country to change their way and life – you will be treated as their enemy. If you come into their home or country to simply enjoy their “good” way of life – you will be treated as friend.

 

Communism, Islamism, and other ‘hostile’ armies rooted in a false-belief of God have only purpose, and that to ‘force’ the whole world to surrender by controlling people’s “feelings and emotions” with physical threat and fear. By controlling “feelings” (thoughts/attitudes/desires/lusts/appetites/cravings) and “emotions” (reactions)” Satan gets his anti-Christ system throughout the world. If you’re keeping up with world events – you’ll see how the devil has accomplished this with all the nations, and although God has given America a president who will hold to our Constitution and Judeo beliefs, America will fall under the god of this world like all the nations of the world.

 

The more you see “feelings and emotions” running wild in all directions, is when Satan has accomplished to rule the world through his chosen vessels, and ultimately the one human vessel God Himself has prepared for the devil to embody and have his day in the sun as the one the world worships and obeys, but for a very short term of office. God cuts it short for the sake of His elect.

 

This is why the devil left his first estate as God’s number one angel in command, and took 1/3 of the angels with him; he wasn’t ‘satisfied’ with God’s will for him. Lucifer envied the favor and position of God’s Son, and feverishly went after it. The Bible gives a little clue that in the beginning (Genesis 1) there was war in the heavenlies because of Lucifer’s “feelings and emotions” taking over the rock solid unchanging truth of God. (The clue is not obvious, it takes the revelation of the Holy Spirit to show us what the Word of God does not specifically say.)

 

And so we see how he goes about tempting and intimidating people to control their feelings and emotions against the truth as well; the truth about God and His will for mankind, and His supreme sacrificial love for people that we can learn in the Word of God.

 

“Therefore, make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth. Avoid mocking and worldly chatter, which will only lead to more ungodliness. Such talk by people who have moved away from the truth will spread fast like gangrene.

“Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are His,’ and, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord must turn away from evil.’

“If anyone cleanses himself of what is unfit in God’s kingdom, he will be a vessel for honor: sanctified, useful to the Master, and prepared for every good work of His.

“Flee from youthful passions (led by your feelings and emotions) and pursue the truth which produces righteousness, faith, love, and peace, and unite with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

“Reject foolish and ignorant speculation, for it only breeds quarreling, and a servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome, but instead be kind and forbearing, and teach the truth of God and His kingdom. Gently admonish, even scold at times, those who oppose the truth of the Lord, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of His truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the lies of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.”   2 Timothy 16:15-26

America versus Globalism – Chapter 2

Jesus Sending Forth the 12 Disciples

 

Matthew 10:1 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.”

 

What can we learn from Jesus sending forth the 12 disciples?

 

We see that the instructions that Jesus is giving to the 12 is to go to Israel only. “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.” (Matthew 10:5-6)  At first reading it seems rather strange that they were told to go to the lost sheep of Israel only. Why not to the Samaritans and the Gentiles? Didn’t they need the good news preached to them as well? Yes, they needed the Gospel, but one thing that I see coming out here is focus instead of fragmentation.

 

It doesn’t mean that Christ is unconcerned about the Gentiles, because He is and we see this coming out later on in Matthew 10:18 where Jesus tells His disciples that they will be witnesses to the Gentiles. Matthew 12:17-21 tells us how He will eventually proclaim His gospel to all people. Matthew 24:14 states to “all the nations.”

 

Matthew 28:18-20 gives us the Great Commission: the mandate to go into every part of the world.

 

Revelation 7:9 gives us a view of the future, and so what do we find? From every tribe, family, peoples, nations and language in the world we find people worshipping the Lord.

 

Read more about focus vs. fragmentation in my book “Ministry of the 21st Century” chapter 2 by going to the teaching page of this website.

 

This is the goal that Jesus has in mind, but He had to focus on His purpose while here on the earth and not allow Satan to get Him off on tangents. I believe the temptations from the devil against Christ in the wilderness were to lure Him away from His purpose.

 

I believe that ultimately every temptation that comes our way is meant to side-track us from our focus, or to prevent God’s people from even seeing their purpose and setting their focus. I cannot think of a greater tragedy in the life of a child of God than to not have a focus, and go through life fragmented.

 

Mark 1:35-39: In this passage of Scripture we see Christ getting up early in the morning to meet with His Heavenly Father. His disciples were looking for Him and when they found Him in the solitary place they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you.” The answer that Christ gave, which I think is very significant is: “Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so that I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” (vs.38) Here we see Christ keeping a clear focus of His path. Christ knew what He was here for and he was not going to get off track.

 

Jesus told His disciples “to go” and to preach: “The kingdom of heaven is near.”  I think the instructions that Jesus gave His disciples should be applied to us today. We are told ‘to go’ to where ‘they’ are and share His message; to go where the Lord sends us whether next door or across the sea. The Lord’s command to the church is to be centrifugal: to go out, but for Israel it was centripetal: to bring them in. Because of the place where Israel was located – at the Western end of the Mediterranean – any army that moved, or any movement of people, or any trading – they had to go ‘through’ Israel because of its connection to Africa, Europe and Asia without any body of water. When they came through Israel they could see what a nation under the ruler-ship of the God of Heaven was like. When the Queen of Sheba visited Solomon she was overwhelmed with what she saw.

 

They were to preach: “The Kingdom of Heaven is near.” What does this mean? We read in Luke 21:17 that the “Kingdom of God is within you.” Because the Kingdom of God is within me then no matter where I go I too can say: “The kingdom of heaven is near.”

 

This became a reality to me on my first mission trip to India. After being in India for about nine months the Lord was leading me to go home to get more prayer support in back of me. To do this I caught an American merchant ship in Calcutta that gave me a job to work my way back to the West Coast of America. God had placed me in a small area (the ship was a 10,000 ton 1949 Liberty ship) with about 40 of the most ungodly men on it that I had ever met.

 

After being on the ship for a period of time I began to notice a change in the attitude of some of the sailors towards me. They began to search me out, talk with me and wanted to know more about who I was and what I had been doing, which opened a door for me to present the Gospel. There was opposition as well, as several seamen would make rude remarks. What I came to realize was that the kingdom of God within me was invading the kingdom of darkness on that ship. Light always exposes what was hidden in the dark.

 

This is why those of us who have the Kingdom of God within us are ‘TO GO’ into the sphere that God has called us, and when we do we will find the spiritual battle taking place between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness.

 

What are we to do? Jesus told us in Matthew 6:33 “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Let the King: Lord Jesus Christ – rule in your life, instead of prime minister ‘self.’

 

 

 

 

Brilliant Minds

We went to see the movie Hidden Figures and what an excellent movie it was.

 

In the movie we saw how ‘prejudice’ stands in the way of people with brilliant minds doing great things for the common good. Clearly God has given each baby in the womb the potential of genius and excellence.

 

One thing that stood out to me in the movie was what they used to call people with ‘brilliant minds’ who could mentally calculate numbers and formulas; they called them “computers.” These were the brilliant minds that could figure out how to put a man up in space ‘safely’ so that he returned the way he left. These brilliant minds figured out how to build machines that do what our minds can do, but faster. Today’s brilliant minds are taking “technology” further and further.

 

Note: In the movie we get to see when the first computer was built and used in the space program. They called this new computer system “the beast.” The Bible talks about “the beast that is given words to say and power over people.” Ask yourself if your internet phone/pad tells you anything you want to know; shows you anything you want to see; puts you in contact with anyone you want to talk to. Ask yourself if you could live without it now after depending on it so much.

 

I believe that prejudice comes out of under-developed minds. When the mind isn’t allowed to mature the way God designed it to mature, it becomes resentful towards those they believe have held them down, and eventually they will lash out in one way or another. Suicide is one way. Killing and physical abuse is another. Drug and alcohol addiction are ways of showing what a person truly thinks of himself. When government tries to control what people think, say and do – what is the result? The “result” is what we have been increasingly seeing in America, especially over these last 8 years. Government is designed by God to hold people down from their good purpose in life. Government is supposed to protect us from those who want to overtake us and make us their servants. Government is to protect us from those who want to take from us what we have earned to have for our families to enjoy life with. Government is supposed to protect our God-given rights. Do you know what your God-given rights are? Most people don’t because God’s Word has been outlawed in schools and public places, or our Bibles set on a shelf at home to collect dust.

 

Prejudice of all forms works to block human development for God’s goodwill on earth. Prejudice, a.k.a. deep resentment and hatred towards others different from yourself, has destructive power: shortens and prevents life, stunts growth for mental brilliance and excellence in life, causes shame and fear, and ultimately causes “the abomination that brings desolation on the earth.” Satan resents God’s chosen people. He fuels prejudice and hatred in people. He is fully entertained by all our acts of violence.

 

There are many forms of prejudice: hatred of those God favors and blesses, hatred of hardworking rich successful people, hatred for those in authority upholding law and order, resenting someone for what they have that you don’t, detesting anyone that stands in the way of you taking what you want from someone else, resenting your brother or sister because of the favor they get that you don’t get, despising those who try to warn you about the path you are blindly going that will destroy you.

 

You can be sure that those who scream and cry the loudest about the prejudice of ‘other’ people or people’s groups – are IN FACT the very ones themselves who are prejudice. They never accomplish anything good for themselves or for the society they live in because their minds think this way – all the time. Their prejudice hinders their mental brilliance, and eagerness to do hard work that would prosper them and help others.

 

“God is MIGHTY, but despises no one; God is FIRM in His purpose….but if people are bound in chains and cords of affliction He tells them what they have done…He makes them listen to correction and commands them to repent of their evil. If they obey and serve His good will, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment. God is not partial or prejudice. BUT if they do not listen, they will suffer the consequence and die without the knowledge they refused.”

 

“The godless in heart harbor resentment (prejudice).” Even when God handcuffs the godless, they do not repent and cry out to God for His help. Therefore God denies them His light; His Brilliant and Excellent Kingdom of the Son He loves. They will stand before God their Maker one day, and give their puny excuses in thinking they can defend themselves. But there is only ONE TRUE DEFENDER we want on that Day: The Son of God.

 

Prejudice warps and handicaps the mind; which in turn works only evil on the earth. Prejudice is one of the devil’s most successful schemes of the devil. Jesus came down to earth not only to forgive us but to show us the right way to think about ourselves and each other, and how to live with each other and work together with all our ‘good’ differences. But it will take the second coming of Jesus Christ to earth for all nations to surrender and live for the good of all mankind; which they will or else eternally suffer God’s verdict.

 

The potential for brilliance and excellence is within ALL of us because God originally made mankind in His own image. We simply need to acknowledge God in all our thoughts and ways. Because of the briliiant mind God gave man – man got arrogant and rebellious towards God, so God had to scatter and separate them by language, skin and boundaries. (Tower of Babel in King Nimrod’s day.) Each developed their own culture of law and lifestyle.

 

If everyone were to look the same, think the same, act the same and have the same things – where could prejudice thrive? But that’s not how it’s supposed to be with all the ‘good’ differences in God’s created things. It’s only as we humble ourselves before God our Creator, and commit ourselves to His Son’s love and unity that we understand how all people with all their ‘good’ differences – can work so well together for the common good; which brings our Father God the honor and glory He deserves to receive from mankind.

 

Prejudice: that which prevents you from reaching your good purpose in life, both for the one who is trying to hold someone down or others down for whatever prejudice they have, and for the one being held down by someone’s prejudice towards them.

 

In the movie Hidden Figures this comes out so clearly – as the brilliant minds of the black women were held back by the prejudice of the white people in the space program, and the space program was held down from its goal because the brilliant minds of these black women, one in particular, was not allowed to work her brilliance where most needed. But at the end of the movie it all changed.

 

Go see it!