Out of the Heart and Mouths Babes

Those Who Followed God’s Prophetic Roadmap

During the 400 years between Malachi and the first Gospel, Matthew, Antiochus IV from Syria, who was a committed Hellenist,¹ enters the land to find division over the priesthood among the Jews. He commits the ultimate sacrilege when he came back to Jerusalem, after failed war efforts in Egypt, in a rage to stomp out the temple worship and the Jewish religion. He made it unlawful to practice Jewish temple customs and place a statue of Zeus in the Jewish temple and offered a pig on the sacred alter.² Mattathias, refusing to compromise when offered money to lead the people into pagan sacrifices by the officer, killed him and ignited a revolt. He gave a charge to those who were “zealous for the law and support the covenant” to come out and join him in this fight against paganism.³ He shortly died thereafter, but through his son Judas’ military efforts, known as the Maccabean Revolt, paganism was defeated and the true temple worship was restored in 164 B.C. The flames of this revolt burned brightly for awhile and then fizzled. It would appear that the fire had all but gone out, but there were those who still received divine guidance in a period of so called “prophetic silence.” Let’s examine a few very special people, at the time of Christ’s birth, which clung to the written word, followed God’s prophetic roadmap, and stayed on course. Read more

Escaping Sin’s Grip

For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 2 Peter 1:4 NASB 

In reading 2 Peter chapter one this morning, I was reminded in a fresh new way of the lift principles that we have been speaking on for a while now in Bible study. For those of you have no idea what I am talking about, we have used the analogy of an airplane in flight to better understand escaping the law of sin and death and walking in resurrection life!  

Although that big tin can 30,000 feet above the earth’s surface would be the least likely place that you would want to be in at that altitude without the engines, an amazing principle goes into effect while the jet engines provide thrust in the forward direction! The blunt front edge of the wings causes a slower air flow over the top of the wing than the air flow under the wing which results in an upward force called lift! While all these factor are in play (and only then), the plane is able to supersede a most prominent natural force in the downward direction called gravity.

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Prayerlessness

Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good! God looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one! Will those who do evil never learn? They eat up my people like bread and wouldn’t think of praying to God. Psalms 53:1-4 NLT

I heard Joyce Meyers say, If there is strength in unity, then it stands to reason that we are powerless when we don't have it. She also said that she believes that demons are assigned to bring strife and disunity in families, organizations, churches, etc. Well, the devil is not stupid. It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that that is where you get the most bang-for-the-buck, in causing disunity. The devil would rather chance having 1000 of his demons put to flight than 10,000, for that is what happens every time we come together – we are 10 times stronger!! In case you missed that, when 2 come together we can put 10,000, 3 can put 100,000, 4 can put 1,000,000 demons to flight! We could keep going, but you get the point!

There is a stronger man than division in the enemy’s pecking order! I always thought that if a house divided could not stand, then division was the top of the pecking order in Satan's kingdom. Proverbs 16:28 says, A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. Well, if GOSSIP can SEPARATE, then PRAYER can re-unite or restore relationships! From this verse we could also say that a family that prays together – stays together. We know that gossip is the opposite of prayer. Actually, gossip is intercession for the devil! Did you know that when you are gossiping about one of your church members that you are being used by the devil to carry out his will in the earth? If God was looking for an intercessor throughout the Bible (see Ez. 22:30), then don't you think the devil is looking for one too? So PRAYERLESSNESS is a stronger man than DIVISION.

We have to come against the strongman of prayerlessness on this fast, and we have to KEEP HIM OUT by praying together and lifting one another up in our individual prayer times as well. Let’s join together and put that strongman to flight today in the mighty Name of Jesus!

Assembly Required!

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Heb. 10:25 

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. 1 Cor. 1:10

Remember getting that special something under the tree on Christmas Day only to read these words on the box, some assembly required? Although you were now the proud owner of this wonderful gift, it wasn’t even useful until you cornered dear ole dad long enough to get out the trusty tool kit and assemble it for you. Even though you could hardly wait for your gift to be assembled, often times your order may have gotten lost among the list of other urgent request orders of the day, or maybe it got the ole put off because, if the truth be known, it was to difficult, or maybe after a diligent attempt it was found that crucial part #227 was among the missing. Upon thinking on the familiar phrase in Heb. 10:25, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, it occurred to me, concerning the Body of Christ, that assembly is REQUIRED!  

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Seeing Jesus clearly

And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Acts 9:3 – 6

Recently in Sunday School, the question was asked, How could Saul know so assuredly that this was Jesus? None of us in the class really knew the answer. Then it occurred to me that Paul by the Spirit wrote possibly the most enlightening scripture into how to get people to see Jesus for who He really is:

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Prophetic Accountability

You may say to yourselves, "How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the LORD ?" If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the LORD does not take place or come true, that is a message the LORD has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him. Deut. 18:21, 22

Speaking on the subject of whether or not a prophet is true, we often refer to the Old Testament litmus test above, did what the prophet say come to pass? We know further from the New Testament that every word out of the prophet's mouth should be judged (1 Cor. 14:29). What do we judge the prophecy by? Every thing should always be judged by the Word of God. Notice the agreement with the Spirit and the Word in these verses:

For there are three that bear record in Heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and these three agree in one. 1 John 5:7, 8

There is another part of the Old Testament prophet validity test that we often overlook, and one that we must implement today if we are to stay on track. Read more

Five Chaplains Lose Jobs for Praying ‘In Jesus’ Name’

Have you ever read alarming an email and thought "Oh, that's probably in CA somewhere?" We'll I had to double-check this one to make sure that it really said our Gov. Tim Kaine  of our state, VA, really fired 5 chaplains! Yes, and the crime was praying in Jesus' Name! Saints, we must really be prayerful, and most of all, I pray for the boldness to be like the chaplains!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090132/posts

Also one that is equally threatening to our freedom to preach the Word, is a hate crime legislation that died because of the threat of a Bush veto back in 2007, but now it is resurging as an amendment the to Defense Authorization Act. It has now passed congress, 60-39, according to this article. Read more

Future Babylon

And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, "Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication; and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have waxed rich through the abundance of her indulgences pleasures." ……… How much she hath glorified herself and lived voluptuously! That much torment and sorrow give back to her; for she saith in her heart, ‘I sit a queen and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.' Therefore shall her plagues come in one day" death and mourning and famine, and she shall be utterly burned with fire; for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. ………. The merchants of these things, who were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing and saying, `Alas! Alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen and purple and scarlet, and bedecked with gold and precious stones and pearls! For in one hour such great riches have come to nought!' …. weeping and wailing, saying, `Alas! Alas, that great city, wherein all that had ships in the sea were made rich by reason of her extravagances! For in one hour is she made desolate!' Revelation 18

In Revelation chapter 18 we read of the destruction of political Babylon, whereas, in chapter 17 we read of the destruction of spiritual Babylon. I like to think of it as the economic portion of Babylon’s judgment, for in one hour the economic mega center of the world will be made desolate! To me, it is hard to imagine an economy that impacted the whole world was gone in an hour, but we know that in the future this will happen just as the Bible predicts. Verse 17 tells us, “For in one hour such riches have come to nought.” Also, in verse 18 it put it this way, “For in one hour is she made desolate.” Read more

Releasing the power of heaven!

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no more sea. 2And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a great voice out of Heaven, saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them; and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them and be their God. 4And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away." 5And He that sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said unto me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." Rev. 21:1-5

Recently, I taught a lesson on heaven from Revelation chapter 21. While studying the teacher's book in preparation for the class, I noticed the focus of the lesson was on the beautiful city and the long awaited relief from the pains and sufferings of this life. Also, in many cases, the songs and hymns about heaven focus on either the reunion with loved ones or on the victory we are going to have. As, I read the whole 21st chapter, I began to have a much different focus. Look with me at some familiar song lines to give you an example of what I am talking about. A hereafter focus would be, "When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be!" A focus that helps us to overcome while we wait on our departure would be, "Heaven came down and glory filled my soul!"

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