Daily Devotional

Son, I AM your LORD and GOD, and there is no other Savior. Therefore, if you believe what I tell you and do not doubt it, then you can pray for anything and you will receive it. I will heal you and you will understand that My love for you knows no bounds.

 

I gave the world My Word so that people might now the right way to live. Since they have refused it, they will not know My Salvation, and will never know My power. Those who are wise will understand these things because they listen carefully to Me. My path is true and right, and when My children walk on My path I will tell them in advance what I am about to do.

 

My children need to find intelligent and wise men and put them in charge. These wise men will help them be prepared for the coming days, if they will listen to them. These men will help them store up what will be needed, and show them how to guard it so that their needs will be met. The question is, can you find many men like this today who are obviously filled with My Spirit?

 

When these hard times come those who have refused to listen to My voice will be surprised when everything is going against them. But My children have not listened to My wise men as they should’ve. They will quickly understand that they must bear the consequences of their foolish choices. Their sin of unbelief will bring them down.

 

O LORD, You endure forever! Your fame is known to every generation! Thank You for Your faithful love to me!

Daily Devotional

Son, everything is ready, and I am coming with the clouds. I have been given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world. People of every race, nation and language will obey Me. My rule is eternal. My kingdom will never be destroyed. My children will be given the kingdom, and we will rule forever and ever. I AM THE LORD Most High! I am the great King of all the earth. I am God forever and ever. I have been the One who has guided My children from the beginning. They do everything I command of them.

 

Soon My home will be among My children! I will live with them, for they are Mine; nothing can separate Me from My children; those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  I will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, sorrow, crying or pain. All these things will be gone forever. Nothing evil will remain. No longer will there be a curse upon anything of life.

 

Because I am coming soon, you will be blessed when you obey the words written in My book. I bring My reward with Me to repay all people according to their deeds. So let anyone who hears, let anyone who is thirsty, come and drink freely from the water of life while there is still time.

 

Son, you must understand the events at the end of time that will lead up to My return. Sin will be at its height; everything that man can think or imagine will be bent towards evil, even from childhood. This will usher in a fierce king, a master of intrigue who will rise to power.  He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause a shocking amount of destruction and succeed in everything he does. He will destroy powerful leaders and devastate My children. He will be a master of deception filled with greatest arrogance, and he will destroy many without warning.

 

He will wage war against My holy people and will defeat them, UNTIL I, the Ancient One, the Most High, come and judge in favor of My children. This will be the time for My children to take over the Kingdom.

 

Lord, soon I will see what I have heard about and OH how I long to see it! I have hear about this City and Your glory in it, but soon I will see the City of the LORD myself! It is the city where You will make Your children safe and joyful forever.

Just some thoughts

The Lord’s Prayer in the garden was that His children would be united. Except for the few, most believers in America are not united in the way the Lord talked about. In Christ, with His Word and Spirit we have overcoming life-changing power, and Satan and his evil cohorts know this. They know that as long as the church in America can not agree they will not use their power.

 

 

I read an article last week that explains this. It is written by a secular writer, and he said, “Most Christians in America say they believe the Bible and yet they do not read it on their own each day. What they know of the Bible is taught to them.” Could this be the reason why we are not united the way we should be? To have knowledge of the Word but not the wisdom of the Holy Spirit is like having all you need to do something great but not understanding what to do and when to do it. Wisdom is knowing what to do with knowledge and all that God has given us. Matthew 13:18-23

 

Matthew 13:13 “For they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.”

 

Jesus’s prayer will be answered! The question is, will we unite on our own, or will we be united because of persecution? I believe it will be the later, with our God-given rights being removed slowly by progressive thinkers of today. As long as these progressive thinkers are in leadership, they will continue to replace the Word with “political correctness,” and persecute anyone who opposes them.

 

A united church of truth and Spirit is very powerful, they will know when someone is leading the people wrong, and will not be afraid to confront them and unite in prayer for them; that the disobedient would turn to the wisdom of the righteous.

 

We need to not be the silent majority, but the united majority!

28 Principles That Helped Build America – Chapter 5

Principle #5All Things Were Created by God, Therefore Upon Him All Mankind are Equally Dependent, and to Him They are Equally Responsible.

 

Through the writings of the Founding Fathers it is evident that they believed in the existence of a Creator, who has designed and brought forth the universe that we live in and set in motion the laws that govern His creation.

 

Wallbuilders.com comments: “It is not an exaggeration to say that without John Locke’s substantial influence on American thinking there might well be no United States of America.”

 

The Founding Fathers followed John Locke’s teaching. John Locke was raised as a Puritan Protestant and like Thomas Aquinas and many others that followed all gave great ideas on many subjects such as politics and education, but began to move away from some of the things that he formerly believed. Seeds that were planted in our main universities that were started to train pastors at that time began to germinate but now we see these great universities moving in a complete secular and human reasoning direction.

 

Historians Charles Taylor and Jerrold Seigal claim that Locke’s “essay concerning human understanding” marked the beginning of the modern Western conception of ‘self.’ John Locke started out well, but his human reasoning led him to doubt the doctrines of the Trinity, the sovereignty of God, the atonement of Christ, and the resurrection of Christ; which are essential to the Christian faith. This “human reasoning” progressively moved him into the camp of what was known as the Latitudinarians, who were a group of Anglican Christians active from the 17th through the 19th centuries and who were opposed to the dogmatic positions of the Church of England. They allowed ‘reason’ to inform theological interpretation and judgment.

 

A.W.Tozer said that “truth and error travel the same highway” and it is essential for us to distinguish between the two. Locke brought out that an atheist is one who is confessing that he has never dealt with the issue of the Creator’s existence. He went on to say that it is ridiculous to think that everything in existence “developed as a result of fortuitous circumstance.” He went on to say that just as watch complexities bring out the fact of a watch-designer so it is with the universe itself.

 

Locke brought out that man is capable of many good things because he is able to think and reason, and has a sense of love and compassion. Therefore we can know that the Creator also has these same qualities, since we are made in His image.

 

We see through many of the writings of the American Founding Fathers that they agreed with Locke. “They considered the existence of the Creator as the most fundamental premise underlying ALL self-evident truth.” The Founders believed that to have a ‘just’ society the foundation had to be based on God’s revealed laws, because these laws clearly define what is right and wrong.

 

Since Americans have begun to move away from God’s laws we are losing the ability to discern right from wrong, and are moving into what Isaiah described: “So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.” Isaiah 59:14-15

 

“William Blackstone (1723-1780) established the classes for the first Law School at Oxford in 1752. His lectures on the English Law were published in 1765 and were as widely read in America as they were in England.”

 

Blackstone operated on the premise that when the Creator formed the universe it was done with ‘order’ and certain principles, or laws that would govern henceforth. He called this orderly arrangement of the universe the ‘law of nature’ and he reasoned that there are laws for human nature just as ‘they exist for the rest of the universe.’ I saw one of Blackstone’s Law books and for every law there was a Scripture verse, but today he has been discounted because human reasoning has taken over God’s revelation.

 

We are told in Proverbs that the “fear of God is the beginning of wisdom,” and reading the writings of these men who laid the foundation for this country we know that they were men who feared God; men who believed that God exists and rewards those who earnestly seek Him. We know that the meaning of “ to fear God” is a reverential ‘trust in God,’ but also for me the ‘fear of God’ means that there is a Creator and one day I will stand before that Creator and give an account. This is a missing ingredient in many of our politicians today.

 

Perhaps this is why God said through Moses: “But select capable men from all the people — men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain — and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.” Exodus 18:21

 

Our politicians today would do well to heed the words of Benjamin Franklin who was perhaps one of the least religious of our Founding Fathers. In calling the Constitutional Convention to prayer he said: “God governs in the affairs of men. Except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it, and I firmly believe… that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel.”

Daily Devotional

Anyone who does what pleases Me will have a grand entrance into My kingdom!

 

Son, I want to give all My children a grand entrance into My eternal Kingdom. Just like David when he came back from battle, celebration songs were sung and there was joyful dancing in the streets. Why? Because of the mighty battles he had won. These children of Mine when they walk through the gates will enter My celebration over life’s battles they have won by remaining faithful to Me.

 

Lord, I am tormented by the wickedness that is thrown in my face day after day. Every place I look – it is there with greater and greater pressure. If I say anything I am called hateful and intolerant. These people are proud and arrogant of their lifestyles, mocking the truth and following their own evil desires.

 

Son, remember what I told you that in the last days people will mock anyone who stands up for the truth. When you stand up for truth it will remind them of the terrible day ahead they face; the day of the LORD! It is a day of gloom and utter despair for these people. I will especially be hard on those who follow their own twisted sexual desires – forcing it upon others; those that so arrogantly despised My authority and messengers. This day of judgment is coming; so do not give up, or give in.

 

My children must keep looking forward to the new heavens and new earth that I promised; a new world filled with My righteousness and peace Therefore, do not love this world or the things it offers you; for when you love the world, you will have no room for My love. The only thing this world offers is for physical pleasures, a lusting after what you see in this temporal physical life. These are not from Me! Remember, anyone who does what pleases Me will have a grand entrance into My kingdom!

 

Lord, how frail humanity is! How short our life is, and so full of trouble! Every day I call to You, every night I lift my voice to You. I was placed into Your arms at birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born. Help me to experience that grand entrance into Your kingdom!

Daily Devotional

Son, do you trust me that I have a plan for your life, a good one with a great hope and future? Then allow My Holy Spirit to guide you, and it will be full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Everything I promised you will happen. You must really believe that what I told you will happen and have no doubt in your heart; believe that you already received it, and it will be yours. Then you will not fear bad news because you confidently trust Me to care for you.

 

Do all that I ask of you, and don’t be afraid. Prepare your mind for action, exercise self-control, and commit everything to Me, then wait patiently for Me to act. I will direct your steps, and, you will not fall, for I have hold of you.

 

Don’t give in to worry, instead, pray about everything. Tell Me what you need, and be thankful. Then you will experience My peace, which exceeds anything you can understand. My peace will guard your heart and mind as you live for Me, and I will give you eternal blessings and the joy of My presence. So stay focused on this: forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead. Remember, with Me you can do anything – because I will supply everything you will ever need.

 

Your present troubles are small and won’t last very long. So don’t become discouraged but understand that in the days ahead I am the God who will provide for you. Yahweh-Yireh: “THE LORD WILL PROVIDE!” I am with you, watching your every step, and you will lack nothing.

 

Son, the key to overcoming fear and worry is to know Me personally and then trust what I have said in My word. Understand that you are valuable to Me. Don’t worry about everyday life issues, where you will live, a job, or your health. If I care so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, won’t I care for you? These worries and fears dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but I already know your needs. So, seek Me above everything else, and I will give you everything you need. Believe and act upon what I have said, and watch what happens!

 

Being thankful is a sacrifice that truly honors Me; for it shows that you know Me and trust Me. Keep to My path that I have laid out for you. I am with you, so what is there to be afraid of or worried about? I am giving you this promise; that if you do not have a job, have no place to call your home, and have just been told that you have an incurable sickness; no matter what happens – from this day onward I will bless you. Now, get dressed ready service and prepared for what I have promised. Be ready for every opportunity, seek a relationship with Me and I will give you everything you need. I will bless you with the key to true knowledge found in My word.
 

Daily Devotional

The Bible says that a wise person will see the danger that is coming and be prepared. But the fool goes blindly on and will suffer the consequences of not being ready.

 

Son, very soon there will be war against My children like never before, and some will be conquered. Some of My children who are destined for prison will be taken to prison. Some who are destined to die by the sword will die by the sword. So My children, endure this persecution patiently and remain faithful. Remember that fearing people is a trap you don’t want to fall in to, but by trusting Me you will be secured in My purpose.

 

When the wicked are in authority, sin flourishes, and people will not accept My guidance. People will run wild and despise any word or form of godliness. These wicked world leaders will usher in the deceiver who will begin his short term rule. He will deceive all the people who belong to this world. He will require everyone, no matter who they are or what they have, to have a mark on the right hand or forehead, so that no one can buy or sell without this mark.

 

So My children, how shall you prepare for this day that is already upon you? Some of you are under the impression that you will be gone, therefore it has no meaning to you. Will My children not be on the earth during this time? If so, why aren’t you preparing now to help them? I hear pastors, teachers, and prophets talk. I’m listening to what is being said, and no one is talking about how to prepare for these children of Mine during this time. Why? Could it be that the pastors, teachers and prophets have their eyes on the wrong finishing line?

 

For the time is almost here when I will judge those people that tortured My children, and they will drink the wine of My anger. They will be forever tormented with fire and burning sulfur. The smoke of their torment will rise forever and they will have no relief day or night; for they worshiped the great deceiver and have accepted his mark in them.

 

My children you must endure persecution patiently, obeying My commands and maintaining your faith in Me. For, I am coming very soon!

28 Principles That Helped Build America – Chapter 4

Principle #4 – Without Religion the Government of a Free People Cannot be Maintained.

 

We, especially those of us in America, have failed to understand the importance of religion in our country and the tremendous emphasis that our Founding Fathers put on it. They realized the importance of religion to help build the nation that they envisioned.

 

The congress that approved and passed the Constitution in 1787 also passed what is known as the Northwest Ordinance that emphasized the necessity of teaching religion and morality in the schools. The three most important subjects to be covered were first: religion that emphasized man’s relationship to God and his fellowman, secondly: morality as a standard of behavior and discerning between what is right and wrong, and thirdly: knowledge relating to any field of human experience such as history, geography, science, etc.

 

When I see what is happening in our schools today I see how far we have been moving from this 4th principle. Our Founding Fathers, like George Washington, recognized that without religion morality cannot be maintained.

 

A problem that the Founding Fathers had was to make sure that no one denomination with their religious tenets and creeds be emphasized above others. It was Benjamin Franklin who came up with the five fundamentals of ‘all sound religion’ that could be taught in public schools.

 

“The ‘Fundamental Points’ to Be Taught in the Schools:

 

  1. There exists a Creator Who made all things, and mankind should recognize and worship Him.
  2. The Creator has revealed a moral code of behavior for happy living which distinguishes right from wrong.
  3. The Creator holds mankind responsible for the way they treat each other.
  4. All mankind live beyond this life.
  5. In the next life mankind are judged for their conduct in this one.”

 

Reading through some of the writings of the Founding Fathers one can see that these five things are often mentioned.  One paramount issue in these five things is the basis for teaching what I call the “Biblical Worldview.” A worldview is very important because it is through a worldview that one screens everything that comes his or her way. It is through this worldview that decisions of life are made. If the worldview is wrong or off base so will be the decisions that one makes. Here in the West, especially in America, we used to have a Biblical Worldview but now it is more secular and we see the result of this today in our abortions, divorces, broken homes, fatherless kids, etc.

 

Reading through some of the writings of the Founding Fathers one sees the importance that they laid on religion in the life of the Republic.

 

Samuel Adams said: “The religion of America is the religion of all mankind.”

 

John Adams called these tenets the “general principles” on which the American civilization had been founded.”

 

Thomas Jefferson called these basic beliefs the principles “in which God has united us all.”

 

It was during this period of time that those promoting atheism and amorality gained control in France and turned the French Revolution into a blood bath and this was something that our Founding Fathers did not want and they saw religion as the way to avoid this.

 

Alexis de Tocqueville discovered the importance of religion in America when he visited in 1831 and was very impressed with what he saw, and he recognized that what made America great was her religion that taught right and wrong. At the time it was popular in Europe to teach that religion and liberty were enemies of one another. Like de Tocqueville pointed out: “In France I had almost always seen the spirit of religion and the spirit of freedom marching in opposite directions. But in America I found they were intimately united.”

 

Another aspect that de Tocqueville saw was “the flaming pulpits” of the churches preaching righteousness as well as the clergy to maintain the “separation of church and state” keeping the state out of religion, but not religion out of the state. He also saw how the clergy had influence on the morals and customs of public life that helped develop the laws and the moral climate of the country.

 

It was different in Europe where the clergy had political power. To me it brings out the difference between power and influence. The clergy in Europe had power but no influence, yet in the early days of the formation of the American Republic the clergy had influence. What de Tocqueville recognized was that religion in America was what kept families together, and above all it kept individualism under control where instead of just caring for oneself people cared for one another. De Tocqueville recognized that without caring for one another it is easy to rely upon government (welfare) and in the process lose our liberty.

 

Right now in America we are faced with the danger of losing our religious freedom.

28 Principles That Helped Build America – Chapter 3

Principle #3 – The Most Promising Method of Securing a Virtuous and Morally Stable People is to Elect Virtuous Leaders.

 

Proverbs 29:2 “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.”

 

Exodus 18:21 “But select capable men from all the people — men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain — and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.”

 

It was Samuel Adams who said: “But neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt. He therefore is the truest friend to the liberty of his country who tries most to promote its virtue, and who, so far as his power and influence extend, will not suffer a man to be chosen into any office of power and trust who is not a wise and virtuous man.”

 

We need to elect men and women who have proven experience, knowledge, training and mostly – character. In one of our presidential elections it was actually asked if character really matters. The thought was that if the person was able to manipulate, had a charismatic personality and was able to have a dominating presence that would be the man or woman for office. How wrong that thinking is!

 

The Founding Fathers recognized this fallacy because they recognized human nature and the bent towards evil. They wanted to develop a system that would bring to the forefront the wisest, most experienced men/women; ‘men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain.’

 

Madison went on to say: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary.”

 

The Founding Fathers recognized that at that time in Europe the ruling class had an artificial aristocracy consisting of the elite because of their birth or wealth that had neither virtue nor experience. What Jefferson and the Founding Fathers wanted was what they called a “Natural Aristocracy” consisting of men/women of noble character: freemen and women of virtue, experience and patriotism; men/women who rise to public office on their own merit, experience, wisdom and not on birth or wealth. This type of Natural Aristocracy would be open to all, but “inheritable by none.”

 

The Founding Fathers recognized that the Creator who formed man for the ‘social state’ would also give man what is needed in wisdom and virtue in order to manage well. In the Old Testament when the Children of Israel came out of Egypt and formed a country what did they look for? “Capable men from all the people — men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain.” Exodus 18:21

 

A question in my mind is: In the 21st century today are we any different? In the Old Testament we have God’s people – Israel – looking for men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain, but Peter tells us in 1 Peter that we the church, are the people of God. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10

 

Are we unable to find men/women who, like God told Moses when a new nation was being born, find men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain?

 

I am not talking about a theocracy, but about finding capable men/women to fill our public offices who are men/women of godly character. Is that impossible; not just here in the United States, but also in other countries?

 

At this writing I just received a letter from a brother in West Africa who was asking for help in building the church and the nation. I think the two go together – church and nation.

 

One of the greatest threats that our Founding Fathers saw was that the most reliable, best qualified people would refuse to run for public office thinking that others should but not themselves. Men like Samuel Adams and his cousin John Adams sacrificed their fortunes to serve in politics. George Washington’s salary was $25,000 per year, but he refused it, because he saw that the two dangers facing public office were avarice (greed and materialism) and (self) ambition.

 

Much more could be said as our Founding Fathers wrote quite extensively on this subject, but what comes to mind is what Jesus said in Matthew 9:37-38. “Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’”

 

Should we not be asking God to raise up capable men from all the people — men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain? We have not, because we ask not.

 

28 Principles That Helped Build America – Chapter 2

Principle #2 – A Free People Cannot Survive Under a Republican Constitution Unless They Remain Virtuous and Morally Strong.

 

Isaiah 59:14-15 “So justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in the streets, honesty cannot enter. Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.”

 

Here in the West we are now living in a society where we are calling good evil and evil good and so “whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.” If we speak against gay marriage or homosexuality we are called bigots, homophobes, etc. If we stand up for what is right and stand for the truth according to God’s Word we are intolerant. In other words, we are moving into a place in our society where if we are not politically correct (according to ‘the opinion makers’ in our society) then we are silenced by bullying tactics similar to what often happens with the school yard bully.

 

In the early days of America’s founding there were heated debates on whether the early Americans were ‘virtuous and moral’ enough to govern themselves. Benjamin Franklin wrote: “Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.” George Washington pointed out that a nation can survive “only so long as there shall remain any virtue in the body of the people.”

 

Isn’t it interesting to see how over the years the government has become more dictatorial? We are now being told more and more what we can and cannot do. Why is this? Franklin said it well: “As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.”

 

When we think of public virtue what did the founding Fathers have in mind? We associate morality with the Ten Commandments, but public virtue for the Founding Fathers was more like the Golden Rule, a public maturity that would put the good of the community first; a patriotism, or love of country.

 

During the forming of our country there were some great men-like John Jay, Robert Morris, Robert Livingston, and even John Dickinson – who doubted if ‘public virtue’ was prevalent enough in the populace for a republic form of government.

 

Thomas Paine pointed out that most of the people were honest, frugal and not influenced by what was happening in Europe – of luxury, indolence, amusement and pleasure. Also during that time many of the main news-papers wrote, or had letters, describing some of the deficiencies in the society. Through this, people became non-involved in public affairs and self-interests were becoming a driving force in their lives.

 

The Founding Father knew two things about virtue. First, it must be learned and earned. Secondly, virtue is not a permanent quality in human nature. It is something that has to be cultivated and exercised; virtue starts in the home and overflows into the churches and yes, into the schools. What the Founding Fathers called ‘public virtue’ is what I would call ‘character.’ We are born with a personality, but not with character. This is something that we develop as we respond to things that come upon us and at us daily. This is why the family, schools and churches are so important in helping to develop right character or public virtue.

 

We will not change the world by going to church, but change the world by being the church.

 

In his farewell address, George Washington declared: “Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education… reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principles.”

 

Today we see the homes deteriorating and marriage being redefined, babies being born out of wed-lock, babies not allowed to be born, children growing up in all kinds of environments, without fathers, without mothers at home, and we can see how “public virtue” is fast disappearing. When we go to our public schools and see political correctness being taught (among other evils) and how prayer and the Word of God have been removed and heavily frowned upon, and how the American flag is publicly trampled on with disrespect – we realize that ‘public virtue’ is not being taught at home or in schools.

 

We would do well to heed the warning of our Founding Fathers. Samuel Adams, who is sometimes called the “father of the revolution,” wrote to Richard Henry Lee: “I thank God that I have lived to see my country independent and free. She may long enjoy her independence and freedom if she will. It depends on her virtue.” John Adams pointed out: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

 

The question that we need to ask ourselves is: What is the Key to reserving a virtuous Nation?

 

We will look more at this in principle #3.