King of the World?

Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.        Daniel 2:20-21  NKJV

A thought occurred to me this past week as I was watching and reading all the news concerning the upcoming debates, caucuses, etc. which concern themselves with the race for the presidency of the United States.  That thought was this; why do you never see a race for the vice-presidency?  Do you suppose it is because no one really wants to be number two?  After all, who wants to run for second place, play the super bowl to be the loser, or compete in anything just for the glory of being the runner up?  So what really made me smile this week was the realization that this is, in reality, exactly what we are seeing in the upcoming elections, and truthfully what we see around the world as leaders of other nations attempt to gain power. 

A perfect example of this can be found in the book of Daniel, one of my favorite books of the Bible, and one that I encourage you to become familiar with if you have not already done so.  In this book we find Daniel, a young boy, taken into captivity along with the nation of Israel by the Babylonian Empire, and transported to what would now be modern day Iraq to serve as slaves.  This captivity would last for seventy years as a punishment to the nation of Israel by God for their disobedience to Him.  The King at that time was named Nebuchadnezzar, and for all intents and purposes, he considered himself to be, and more than likely could be described as, the King of the World.

Yet while he might have thought of himself that way, and the rest of the world as well, Daniel tells us that there was a harsh reality waiting for Nebuchadnezzar which would literally cut him down to size.  You see, while man might believe that they can rule the world, the reality is that no matter how big they get or how much of the world they manage to control, they are still number two.

“But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. “Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.      Daniel 5:20-21  NKJV

There have been reports lately concerning the plans of the president after he leaves office next year, and the speculation that his desire is to serve as the leader of the United Nations.  Many of the articles that discuss this possibility contain the phrase “King of the World”.  As I read this I could not help but laugh at the idea that someone could consider the possibility of actually being able to rule a world with so many diverse cultures, religions, and political ambitions.  Not to mention the fact that the Bible seems to make it perfectly clear that there is only one true King.  Yet to be completely honest, the Bible also tells us that there will come one individual who will not only make the attempt, but will truly believe he can pull it off.

I find it ironic that it is again, Daniel, who tells us in the context of Nebuchadnezzar’s humbling, that another will come and attempt the very thing God showed could not be done.

“Then the king shall do according to his own will: he shall exalt and magnify himself above every god, shall speak blasphemies against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the wrath has been accomplished; for what has been determined shall be done. “He shall regard neither the God of his fathers nor the desire of women, nor regard any god; for he shall exalt himself above them all. “But in their place he shall honor a god of fortresses; and a god which his fathers did not know he shall honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and pleasant things. “Thus he shall act against the strongest fortresses with a foreign god, which he shall acknowledge, and advance its glory; and he shall cause them to rule over many, and divide the land for gain.   Daniel 11:36-39  NKJV

This is, of course, a description of the coming world leader most commonly called the antichrist.  This name is appropriate when you read in this passage that he blasphemes the name of God, and exalts himself instead, considering himself to be a god.  So once again, just as in Daniel’s time, God acts to show who the King who rules truly is, and the power that only He can control.  Is it any wonder that this period of time is called the “wrath of God”, the “time of trouble”, the “Great Tribulation”, etc? 

“At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through. “He shall also enter the Glorious Land, and many countries shall be overthrown; but these shall escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the prominent people of Ammon. “He shall stretch out his hand against the countries, and the land of Egypt shall not escape. “He shall have power over the treasures of gold and silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; also the Libyans and Ethiopians shall follow at his heels. “But news from the east and the north shall trouble him; therefore he shall go out with great fury to destroy and annihilate many. “And he shall plant the tents of his palace between the seas and the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and no one will help him.                           Daniel 11:40-45  NKJV

While God appoints leaders to rule on earth, none should ever forget who the King of the world really is.  No matter the position or title, “the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.” Fortunately for the Church, and all who believe in the saving blood of Jesus Christ, thanks to an event called the rapture, we will be taken home to be with the Father before He pours out His wrath on the earth, and those who would believe they could be"King of the World".  If you have yet to make the choice to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, I urge you to do it today.  Simply ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and tell Him you believe He has the power to save you by virtue of the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.       

          

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations.   Psalms 33:10-11  NKJV

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Need a Hug?

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.   1Thessalonians 5:9-11  NKJV

Have you ever needed a good hug?  Although not a hugger by nature, as a result of having a wife and three daughters I can assure you I have been converted.  The comfort and reassurance we feel as a result of knowing someone cares about whatever we might be experiencing is something we not only want, but often search for in our time of need.  Although in this life there are many reasons we might need comfort, I think it is becoming more and more obvious as we see what direction this world is heading that many of us need the reassurance that we will be spared the judgment we know is coming.

It would seem from reading Paul’s letter to the church at Thessalonica that the believers there were in need of comfort and reassurance just as many of us might be today.  This church was young, having been founded by Paul after his release from prison in Philippi, and like many churches, was beginning to suffer persecution by unbelievers.  Along with that came pressure to conform to the pagan sexual beliefs that were prevalent in the city. The new believers in Thessalonica stood out from the majority because of their decision to life a life of purity according to God’s Word.  Yet from the tone of the letter, it would appear that Paul was concerned that they needed some comfort and reassurance to remain faithful to what they had been taught.

For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.       1Thessalonians 2:9-12  NKJV

The first thing Paul does is remind the believers at Thessalonica of how he comforted them while he was there much like a father comforting his own children.  Just as a child naturally runs to his parents for comfort, we too as believers will find our comfort from our heavenly Father.  Yet what is important about what Paul is trying to say can be found in verse eleven where he tells us that it is our responsibility to comfort others just as we are comforted by our Father.  So often we are only concerned with our own comfort while not realizing that many believers around us are suffering from the same anxiety as a result of the times we are living in and are in need of comfort as well.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.   2Corinthians 1:3-4 NKJV

Obviously what Paul makes clear is that the source of our comfort comes from God the Father, and we are responsible to pass that comfort along to others around us who are also in need.  Yet now that we know the source of our comfort, and the responsibility which comes with it, what do we know about the nature of that comfort?  As believers, is there a certain type of reassurance which we can use which we find is more effective than the sort of comfort the world might have to offer?  Again Paul comes to our rescue by telling the Thessalonians, and us as well, exactly what we need to hear to find comfort in the difficult times we find ourselves living in today.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.    1Thessalonians 4:16-18 NKJV

Does the knowledge that you will spend eternity with God the Father in Heaven give you comfort?  Have you ever considered that the key to finding comfort in this world is to focus on the destination rather than the journey? I recall taking a trip with my daughters one time where we flew to Southern California to visit my family, along with plans to take in all of the attractions we could in one week’s time.  Unfortunately the flight itself was an adventure by virtue of turbulence which none of them found exciting to say the least.  As they looked to me for comfort, I tried my best to deal with their anxiety by focusing on what we were going to do when we got there, and the fun we were going to have spending all of Dad’s money.  Guess what?  It worked!

Are you looking forward to the rapture of the Church?  Have you given thought to what life with Jesus will be like?  Do you see the signs all around us and believe it is near?  Are you watching for His return and giving comfort to others by sharing the news of His coming for us?  God understands our need for comfort, so He has given us signs to watch for so we will know the time is near.  He has given us His Word, with the promise of our deliverance from our present troubles as well as a description of what we can look forward to when we get to our final destination. To me, this is the comforting hug I so often need from my Heavenly Father.

This is where I find my comfort in these distressing times, and I hope by sharing these words with you that you will also find comfort.  If you have never made the decision to accept the salvation offered by the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I suggest you do that today so you too can experience the comfort that comes from knowing you will spend eternity with our Father in Heaven.  Then pass along to others the comfort which comes from knowing He is coming soon to take us home.

This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.            Psalms 119:50 NKJV

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Times of Ignorance or Arrogance?

“Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, “because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”   Acts 17:30-31  NKJV

What exactly does the word “ignorant” mean to you?  I confess there are times when I am surprised by some of the words I read in the scriptures simply because it is obvious to me that God is more than willing to “call it like He sees it”.  I am sure most of us would agree that the word ignorant is not to be considered a compliment, so when I first read this passage I was more than a little curious to see exactly why it was being used, and the context in which it occurred.  I would also have to confess my curiosity was more than likely aroused because of the fact that many would look around and feel these words were written about the world we live in today.

This passage describes the apostle Paul speaking in the city of Athens to the philosophers of the day at the Areopagus on Mars Hill.  He is commenting on the inscription on one of their altars dedicated to “the unknown God”.  The Greek word used here for ignorance is agnoia which means a lack of knowledge, or a moral blindness, especially as it relates to the divine.  Paul takes this opportunity to explain to them that the times of ignorance are now over because God has revealed Himself to man in the person of Jesus Christ.  Because of this, mankind is now placed in the position of either choosing to repent of their sin and accept the salvation offered by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, or rejecting the gift of eternal life in heaven with the Father.

Paul goes on to say that although the choice is ours to make, He has already fixed a day in which He will judge the world according to its choice, and we can be sure of that because God showed us His power by raising Jesus from the dead.  Because of this revelation through the person of God’s Son, the times of ignorance are over and should the world choose to reject what God has revealed it could accurately be said that it is not from ignorance, but from arrogance.  Why arrogance?  If you take the time to think about those you might have considered to be arrogant in the past, what would be the one trait you would think they all have in common?

And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, “We will hear you again on this matter.”   Acts 17:32  NKJV

Did you notice that the reaction of those who chose not to believe was not simply a rejection but an attitude of mocking?  Arrogant people are people who choose not only to reject what you have to say, but mock your choice as if you are a fool for believing.  Yet God has made it clear who the fools really are, and He has also made it clear what their destiny is, and what the future holds for them.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools,            Romans 1:18-22  NKJV

Throughout the Bible, there are many words used to describe those who refuse to accept the wisdom of the revealed Word of God.  Just to name a few, badness, stupidity, emptiness, thick headedness, insipid, senselessness, and heedlessness.  Just as these words used define a common rejection of God’s wisdom, they also are used to describe a common rejection or disregard for spiritual and moral values.  Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians that this is what we see in those who choose to reject God’s revelation, and it is these behaviors we must seek to avoid if we have truly “learned Christ”.

This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:            Ephesians 4:17-21  NKJV

For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men—as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.    1Peter 2:15-16  NKJV

Paul makes it clear what the destiny of those who choose the arrogance of rejection of God’s revelation perfectly clear.  Yet he also makes it clear what the reward for our acceptance of His sacrifice on our behalf is as well.  While the world will be judged for their rejection, we will be elsewhere rejoicing in our salvation.

“Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”   Phil 3:19-20

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.               Romans 5:8-9  NKJV

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.                  1 Thessalonians 5:9-11  NKJV

Every day we can look at the world in which we now live and see the arrogance of those who have chosen to reject God's message to mankind. If you have chosen to believe that you are a sinner, and have accepted the gift of salvation offered by God through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ, you can rest easy with the knowledge that you will not face the judgment which is to come for those who have chosen to reject God’s revelation.  If you haven’t yet made that choice, I encourage you to do it today.  You can do that by simply praying this prayer and accepting the gift of eternal life God has offered all of us by the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. Amen.

Keep watching.

Why We Groan

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.   Romans 8:22-25  NKJV

I hate to be the bearer of bad news to those of you who might be younger than I, but age comes to all of us whether we like it or not, and it is usually accompanied by signs intended to remind us of our mortality.  Lately I have become aware of the fact that personally, one of these signs seems to be the involuntary noises I make when I try to do some of the things that I used to do without even thinking twice about it.  As much as we might like to deny it, the fact remains that our bodies seem to be programmed to tell us that the years are passing quickly and our mortality is undeniable.

In this passage from the book of Romans, the apostle Paul explains that all of creation, the physical world around us as well as mankind, groans for the same reason.  It is the desire for redemption from our mortality, which was and is a result of sin entering into God’s creation.  In my present situation, it seems difficult to accept the fact that this body was originally designed to live forever, especially as I feel the effects of time, and the inevitable groaning that accompanies it.  I can’t help but wonder exactly what Paul himself might have been feeling or experiencing when he wrote these words, and if he found himself in the same position many of us are in today?

His advice to us is simply to remind us of the promise we have that we have been adopted into the family of God, and the redemption of our mortal bodies is in our future. I would have to admit, unfortunately, that when I was young the things of this world certainly diminished the eagerly waiting of the hope of redemption Paul speaks of here.  All too often we become distracted by life and the things it has to offer, and our focus becomes the here and now without regard to our future with Christ.  Fortunately we have an advocate in the Holy Spirit who understands our weakness and propensity to ask for the wrong things.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.   Romans 8:26-27  NKJV 

Because of our sin nature, our minds can easily become fixed on this life, and the things we believe we need to have in order to obtain what the world would consider a successful or fulfilling life.  We go to God with a list of wants and needs based on self-interest rather than on His interest.  This is where the Holy Spirit steps in to make what Paul calls “intercession” on our behalf.  This is most likely the greatest service we could ever receive in that the Spirit goes to God with prayers for what we truly need according to the will of God, rather than the things we might simply want.

Of course, a natural result of becoming aware of our weaknesses and shortcomings is the inevitable regret we feel for what we might consider the mistakes of our past.  When we arrive at that point in our lives where we reflect on the past and our actions which were based on a worldlier point of view rather than a heavenly one, the natural tendency is to wonder what the effects of our poor decision making might have been.  Yet Paul goes on to explain that because the Spirit knows how to pray for our true needs, the things that happen to us are in fact an answer from God to the prayers of the Holy Spirit, and the things which happen to us which we may not understand are all part of a plan known by God long in advance.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.  What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?    Romans 8:28-31  NKJV 

Consider this commentary from Ray Stedman on these words from Paul;

Never separate this verse from the previous two verses. The apostle is saying that what the Spirit prays for is what happens. The Spirit prays according to the mind of God, and the Father answers by bringing into our lives the experiences that we need. He sends into the life of those for whom we are concerned the experiences that they need, no matter what they may be.

Now, that means that even the trials and tragedies that happen to us are an answer from the Father to the praying of the Spirit, doesn't it? You may leave this service this morning and become involved in an automobile accident on the way home. Someone may steal your purse. You may get home to find your house is on fire. There are a thousand and one possibilities. What we need to understand is that these things do not happen by accident. They happen because the Spirit which is in you prayed and asked that the Father allow them to happen -- because you or someone close to you needs it. These are the results of the praying of the Spirit.

The joys, the unexpected blessings, and the unusual things that happen to you are also the result of the Spirit's praying. The Spirit is praying that these things will happen, he is voicing the deep concern of God himself for your needs and mine. Out of this grows the assurance that no matter what happens, it will work together for good. This verse does not tell us that everything that happens to us is good. It does say that whether the situation is bad or good, it will work together for good for you if you are one who is loved and called by God. What a difference that makes as we wait for the coming of the glory! God is working out his purposes within us.

While the human tendency is to look back on our lives and focus on what we believe were the mistakes we made, Paul tells us here that everything that happened did so for a reason. Personally I find this passage a source of great encouragement knowing that in spite of myself, God can and will use me to work out His will.  So I choose to focus on the promise I have that my future includes a new body and a life with the Father which will last for all eternity.

As mortal beings, we will all eventually reflect the mileage on our personal odometers. Yet while we groan and suffer the effects of the life we have lived, how encouraging it is to know that not only will we eventually be transformed, but by waiting with “perseverance” God also promises to use us for His glory as long as we are here.  My prayer for all of us today is that as we see the day approaching, we be encouraged not only by the promise of our deliverance but by the knowledge that no matter what we may be going through we are still useful for God’s eternal purposes.

Keep watching.

Global Warming, or Global Warning?

God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend. For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength. The beasts go into dens, And remain in their lairs. From the chamber of the south comes the whirlwind, And cold from the scattering winds of the north. By the breath of God ice is given, And the broad waters are frozen. Also with moisture He saturates the thick clouds; He scatters His bright clouds. And they swirl about, being turned by His guidance, That they may do whatever He commands them On the face of the whole earth.                                     Job 37:5-12  NKJV

As we begin another New Year, I thought I would revisit a subject I have discussed in the past, but believe might be even more relevant in the coming year than it has ever been before.  Something I am sure we can all agree on is the fact that Jesus made it perfectly clear that there would be observable signs for us to see as the world approaches the end of the age and the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  While diverse, I also believe the majority of signs appear to be physical in nature, relating to geophysical occurrences that the earth itself manifests for our observation.  Yet a question I have always enjoyed discussing is this; are these physical events a “cause or effect” phenomenon? 

The waters saw You, O God; The waters saw You, they were afraid; The depths also trembled. The clouds poured out water; The skies sent out a sound; Your arrows also flashed about. The voice of Your thunder was in the whirlwind; The lightnings lit up the world; The earth trembled and shook.                                                 Psalms 77:16-18  NKJV

Look closely at the passage from Psalms and notice what the author says the reaction of the earth was to the presence of God. We are told the waters were afraid, the depths trembled, there was a downpour of rain, thunder along with lightning that lit up the entire world, not to mention earthquakes that also shook the earth. Yet to me, the most important part of this passage is the fact that it does not say God “caused” these things to happen, rather it was an “effect” of the earth to actually “seeing” the presence of God.  In other words, the earth, as a creation of God, somehow knows when God is near, and reacts to that proximity by exhibiting observable physical events.

"Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of heaven quaked and were shaken, Because he was angry.   2 Samuel 22:8 NKJV

The earth shook; The heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.      Psalms 68:8  NKJV

While I have no desire to enter a discussion on the merits of “global warming”, I believe that the debate itself is proof that the world knows something is happening, and is struggling to provide an explanation based on anything other than what the Bible has already told us.  As I thought about that, it seemed to make perfect sense considering that there are other things the world is going to struggle to explain as well, such as the rapture of the Church and the disappearance of so many at one time.  I have heard speculation that alien abduction would provide a good explanation for the rapture, so does it not make a kind of sense that global warming could provide an explanation for the changes we are seeing, and the physical events which are to come?

“For thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; ‘and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts.                          Haggai 2:7  NKJV

“And I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed; I will rain down on him, on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him, flooding rain, great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.                                   Ezekiel 38:22   NKJV

I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.       Acts 2:20  NKJV

Make no mistake, God Himself will cause much of what is to come to occur, yet we also are told that as He draws near, the earth itself will acknowledge that proximity with physical reactions which can be seen and felt.  While the world in general, and the antichrist in particular, will formulate some sort of believable explanation for all that will happen, as believers we can rest in the knowledge that not only is God in charge, He also is coming soon.  My question for you today though, is this; do you believe we are seeing a global warming, or rather a global warning?  I would suggest the world is going to see a rapid, steady increase of events this coming year which I believe will be a reaction of this earth to the approach our Lord and Savior.

"So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near--at the doors!    Mark 13:29 NKJV

Keep watching.

I have included some links today from a website I frequent which keeps track of much of what we see occurring in the physical world around us.  Take a good look at what has happened in just the last week of 2015, and consider what we might see in 2016.

Winter hits Chihuahua with 25cm of snow – climate change blamed for series of winter storms

https://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/winter-hits-chihuahua-with-25cm-of-snow-climate-change-blamed-for-series-of-winter-storms/

Freak storm pushes North Pole 50 degrees above normal to melting point

https://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2015/12/31/freak-storm-pushes-north-pole-50-degrees-above-normal-to-melting-point/

Missouri governor warns of ‘historic and dangerous’ floods

https://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2015/12/30/missouri-governor-warns-of-historic-and-dangerous-floods/

The weather outside is ‘frightful’ and promises to become even more extreme

https://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2015/12/27/the-weather-outside-is-frightful-and-promises-to-become-even-more-extreme/

Tornadoes leave at least 11 dead around Dallas area

https://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2015/12/27/tornadoes-leave-at-least-11-dead-around-dallas-area/

Floods of biblical proportions leave UK cities, towns and villages under water

https://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2015/12/26/floods-of-biblical-proportions-leave-uk-cities-towns-and-villages-under-water/

Earthquake swarm of 30 tremors rattles Reno, Nevada

https://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2015/12/25/earthquake-swarm-of-30-tremors-rattles-reno-nevada/

Suit Up!

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;    Ephesians 6:13-17  NKJV

I'm sure most of us are familiar with the picture of a coach giving his players a pep talk before the big game. I know I've seen many examples on the television, as well as experiencing some back in the days when I was active in sports. Everyone is suited up, ready to go out and do battle, and the coach calls everyone together for a last minute talk before they enter the playing field. How many of us though, have ever really given that picture a lot of thought? I mean, just why does the coach do that? Haven't they done all the preparation in the preceding week? Obviously, if so many coaches do it there must be a good reason and purpose behind it.

In this passage from Ephesians we see that Paul essentially does the exact same thing. In reality, he gives us a little pep talk before we go out to do battle and reminds us of the reasons we need not fear. In these verses Paul makes the point that there are four things God has already done for us that have prepared us for what we will face. At first we are told to put on the whole armor of God, which, if you think about it, obviously is very important or Paul would not have repeated himself so quickly. But there may be another reason as well, and that is that we are being reminded because it is something that may be easily forgotten! I guess sometimes the simple things are the first to be forgotten, so Paul here is simply reminding us not to forget.

From here Paul goes on to describe the pieces of our armor. I think it is important to note that when Paul reveals these first pieces, he introduces each with the past tense verb "having". In other words, we have already been issued our armor and he is simply reminding us that we should already be wearing them. When was that you ask? Well, I believe what Paul is telling us is that we received these when we made our decision to allow Christ to come into our lives and asked forgiveness of our sins. In other words, when we became Christians, we were issued these pieces to wear once and for all, and Paul is simply reminding us that we should be wearing them.

The first is the "girdle" of truth. Now some of you might be surprised to find you are wearing a girdle, but let's see if I can explain this in a way you can understand. In the Roman Army, soldiers wore short skirts not unlike a Scottish kilt. Over this, they wore a longer cloak which was cinched at the waist by a girdle, not unlike a wide belt. When they prepared to go into battle they would tuck their cloak up under the girdle to free up their legs for quick movements. It was the first thing they did before battle, so what Paul is saying here is the first thing we need to do before battle is be reminded that we are fighting for the truth! When we made our decision to follow Christ, we decided Jesus was truth embodied, and we believe in His promises. We are not fighting for something that is false, but we fight for the truth of God, and His message to us. This is usually where Satan attacks us first, trying to get us to doubt the truth in which we have chosen to believe.

The second thing Paul tells us is that when we first believed, we put on the "breastplate of righteousness". Now it's easy to see that the breastplate protects our "vital" organs. These are the parts of our bodies that ensure our very lives. But what is righteousness to the believer? It is our standing before God, and the assurance that we are an acceptable sacrifice to Him. How often does Satan attack us with doubts about our worthiness to approach God? He points out our weaknesses, our shortcomings and failures, hoping to cause us to doubt. What Paul is reminding us here is that when we believed, Christ became our "righteousness"; in other words although we can never do anything on our own to approach God, Jesus did it all by sacrificing Himself for us. It is His sacrifice and His righteousness that allows us into the presence of God.

The third piece of armor Paul tells us about is the shoes we wear called the preparation of the Gospel of Peace. Now as someone who spent many years running, I can tell you that good shoes are one of the most important pieces of equipment you need to run a race. How often does Paul describe our Christian lives as a race? And we are talking about a long one, not a quick sprint, so the shoes we wear need to go the distance. But the word translated "equipment" or "preparation" depending on your translation, actually means "readiness" in the Greek. So what Paul is telling us here is that the third piece of our armor is actually a mental one. It is the knowledge and confidence in the Gospel that gives us a "peace" or calmness and courage. In other words, there is no need to be afraid of anything Satan can throw at us because we are at peace with the knowledge of the Gospel we believe in.

Fourthly, Paul reminds us of the necessity of taking up the shield of faith.  This to me, personally, seems to be the most important one.  Why?  Simply because our adversary is not going to allow us to go through this life without a fight.  We are told often enough in scripture that we will be persecuted as believers, and I am sure all of us have stories to tell of different ways Satan has made our lives miserable with personal attacks which were intended to cripple our witness.  Most of us have had the opportunity to be burned in some way by fire.  I’m sure we can all agree on how much it hurt, how painful the recovery, and even the scars that were left behind.  The darts from the evil one are described as “fiery”, so there is no question they are intended for harm.  Yet the promise from God is that His shield can quench them all.  Not just some, but all.

Finally we are told to take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit with us as we go into battle. Now I don't know about you, but when I read this, the first thing I thought of is the use of the phrase "And take". It's almost as if it's a reminder because it's something you often forget. Do you remember your mother telling you as you went out the door in a hurry not to "forget" something? I almost get that feeling here. It seems like Paul is telling us not to forget our helmet and sword on our way out. Why would we do that? Well, most often by being in a hurry. It may well be that Paul is trying to tell us that when we know we are going into battle, or we feel we are coming under attack, don't be in such a hurry to fight that we forget two very important pieces of our armor.

Why so important? I think we may be able to answer that if we remember how Satan chooses to attack. Remember we found that he always attacks what we have chosen to believe. He tries to create doubts, so what we need most is protection of our thoughts. Paul tells us that the "helmet of salvation" protects our head, or mind, by helping us remember that we are saved. No matter what, once we have made the decision to accept Jesus into our hearts we are saved. No one can take that away, so our minds can be protected by the knowledge of our salvation.

We are also instructed to take up "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God". Now most people would say this is an offensive weapon, and in fact, many commentaries do say this. Though I wouldn't necessarily disagree, within the context of this passage where we are being told that we are to be "defensive", I wonder if we need to look at it in a different light. Notice first of all that Paul mentions the sword along with the helmet in the same sentence. He also goes further by using the word "and" to tie them both together. That tells me they must work together, or sort of "hand in hand". How so? Well if we are to use the helmet to guard or protect our minds, the sword, which Paul describes as the word of God, must also protect our mind in some way.

A verse that comes to my mind when I think of this is Psalms 119:11 where it says that "Thy word have I kept in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." You see, although the word of God is most certainly an "offensive" weapon, it is also used defensively to keep us as believers living godly lives which then are a visible witness to an unbelieving world. Look at Hebrews 4:12 where Paul again tells us that the word is "sharper than any two-edged sword", but then goes on to say that it is "able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart". So in fact, we as believers are being told we need to use the word defensively by using it to control our thoughts and actions.

How like a good coach Paul is being here. We are getting ready to go into battle for our Lord, and Paul takes the time to remind us that we are already prepared to do battle because we are wearing the pieces of armor that were gifts from God when we first made the decision to believe. All of these are designed to give us confidence and peace going into battle. Are you ready for the coming year and the battles we will engage in?  The closer the Church gets to our deliverance, the more we will need to be wearing our armor.  As my coach used to say; “suit up”.

Keep watching.

The Gift of Life

As Christmas arrives this coming week, our thoughts are, and should be focused on the greatest gift of all which is the birth of a Savior for a sinful world in the person of Jesus Christ.  His death and resurrection for our sins could not have been possible if not for His miraculous birth to a virgin named Mary, chosen by God to carry and give birth to the Savior of the world.  His birth was made even more special to me this week as I was able to hold two new lives in my arms yesterday as my oldest daughter gave birth to twin girls on Thursday afternoon.  Yet I am sure the feelings I had as I held them did not compare to what Mary felt as she held Jesus in her arms knowing it was a miracle from God.

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. "For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger.          Luke 2:1-16 NKJV

As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, I hope we remember that He was born to die, so that we can live. While we celebrate His birth by giving gifts to one another, may we never forget that it was His gift to us, the ultimate sacrifice, which allows us to make the choice to accept Him as our Savior and become one of His own.

If you are reading this today and have never made the decision to allow Jesus Christ to come into your heart, and accept the free gift of eternal life He has offered you, I urge you to do so right now. You can do that by simply praying this prayer and accepting the gift of eternal life God has offered all of us by the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner and I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life to you. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for saving me. Amen.

Keep watching.