It Pleases God

Galatians 1:15-16 - But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood...

Someone posted the underlined parts on Facebook. The revelation of who Jesus is in our lives is truly amazing...and a miracle. Everyone born of the Spirit is a miracle. This happened for me April 18, 1999. I've gone into detail previously. 

Just imagine, God being pleased to reveal Jesus to us. He knew us before we were ever born. He has known us since the beginning of time. These are difficult concepts for finite-minded people to understand. But God....

His love for us is never-ending. He is eternal and His love is eternal. He's the same today as He was yesterday and He will be the same tomorrow. What's also difficult is this: But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)  When someone rejects or betrays us how do we react? You have to be honest and say it bothers you to some degree, at least for a time. Imagine the vast number of people who have rejected God. Yet this verse still stands true. An all-loving, yet judgmental, God ...so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) 

It pleased God to reveal Himself to me. I am grateful for this. His revealing is amazing. It's exciting and encouraging. It's hopeful, peace-giving. Nothing else can be quite like it. And it's available to everyone. No matter who one is, what someone has done, how long they've fought against God. His love never fails and He is patient. He will take those people in, no matter what. 

Proverbs 8:17 - I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me.

Until All I See

2Corinthians 4:6 - For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

I was overcome I prayer. I was calling out to the Lord. I was praying for His Spirit to open the blind eyes, soften hard hearts and loosen stiff necks toward Him, that His light would shine. 

We are living in trying times. They might be as close as in your own life or as great as what is happening in the world. No matter what it is, the only way we will get through them is by God's strong arm. His hand is outstretched for anyone to walk with Him. He tells us His yoke is easy and His burden light. 

I know God can work in any person. He can reveal Himself in a way only that person would get it. He did that with me...in the midst of difficulty. He used the simple words of a pastor I had first heard that morning in 1999. He spoke to me, it seemed. He can do this. Were my ears open, my heart softened? Maybe not when I walked into that sanctuary, but I encountered the living God. And looking back I know He had been working on me. Most people who truly are Christians can pretty much know when they had encountered Him. 

I watched a short testimony of an Israeli woman who had a similar experience. So much was going on in her life and she needed to know if God was real. She asked Him from the depths of her soul, and she said, "Then I simply knew." And others saw the dramatic change in her. 

I know this is difficult to comprehend unless it's happened to someone but our God is huge. He can do this with anyone. Sometimes our hearts have grown so cold and hard, our necks so stiff, our eyes so blind and our ears so deaf we just will not allow His wonderful words to penetrate. We think we are so good, so secure, so not in need of a Father who loves us, even when we show no desire for Him. But He can break through just the same. I thank Him for this.

This world is growing cold. It is growing dark and we either will accept that as the norm, fret about it or learn to look to God and get to knowing better things are in store for those who love Him. 

There is a song, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. The refrain goes like this: 

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, 

Look full in His wonderful face, 

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, 

In the light of His glory and grace. 

I prayed that I would see more and more of Jesus and less and less of the world. Until the things of the world would become dim. There is also a scripture that says He must increase and I must decrease (John 3:30). Self and the world are hard things to remove because of our fleshly bodies. We are, however, to be of one spirit, to be one with the Lord. That spirit is not of this world. The world is generally in darkness. 

Lord, work in me until all I see is You. We are to think on the lovely, pure, admirable, trustworthy and right things. That is my desire but I also need Your help. I thank You for the work You are doing in those who look to You. For the hope that lies in knowing You. For strength in the days to come.

Pride, boastfulness, lying and cheating, violence, hatred and abominations are seen all around us. How long can this go on? How much worse can it get? According to God's Word these are just the beginning (Matthew 24:8). It will get worse. How much more will a person be able to stand without the knowledge of God, and the hope of His promises? Man can make a lot of promises, like hope and change and making things great again or equality for all persons. None of these can hold a candle to what God promises: freedom from sin and eternal life, through Christ Jesus.

God says His salvation is about to come. He sent His Son and we need to receive Him for that salvation. There is no other way. He is the only Way. He has so much more to offer. 

Romans 13:11-14 - And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Revelation 1:1,3 - The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. ... Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

There is a song. Contemporary worship. It's called the Revelation Song. We sang it Sunday. I know worship is not just about the music. I love music; from 4th grade on when I was introduced to flute lessons and band, I grew in my appreciation of music from John Philip Sousa to classical and later country, hillbilly (yes), down home gospel and hymns. I have grown to enjoy the older, more sedate and sometimes rip-snortin', hand-clapping gospel songs.

Anyway. We sang the Revelation Song. The lyrics are below. To get a flavor of the music, click on THIS LINK! As we sang this Sunday I was overwhelmed again at the words. It's the words that are important, the meaning and worshipfulness of them. A way of sharing with God what we know in our hearts. And the truth.

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

Holy, holy is He

Sing a new song to Him who sits on

Heaven's mercy seat

Refrain:

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty

Who was and is and is to come

With all creation I sing praise to the King of kings

You are my everything and I will adore You

Clothed in rainbows of living color

Flashes of lighting rolls of thunder

Blessing and honor strength and glory and power be

To You the only wise King

Refrain

Filled with wonder awestruck wonder

At the mention of Your name

Jesus Your name is power, breath and living water

Such a marvelous mystery

Refrain

Bear with me as I share as this song comes right from the Bible. I share the very scriptures. The Book of Revelation is not only about the events that are to come. It is a revelation of Jesus Christ, who is to come. It describes His awesomeness. Some of these verses are from other parts of Old and New Testaments, including the Psalms. 

Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. ...

The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” ...

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”

(Revelation 4:2-3,5,8-9,11) 

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain...

And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation..."

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

(Revelation 5:1,6,9,11-13)

People, this was not just some active imagination proclaiming these things. The Bible is God-breathed. It is truth. You will find no false words in this book. The song is worshiping the God of all creation. We must keep our eyes focused on the King of kings, Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Blessed are those who read and hear the prophetic words written...and believe.

But know this, He tells us that one day every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of the Father. All of creation will worship Him. I will proclaim His name today.

All the earth shall worship You and sing praises to You; they shall sing praises to Your name. Selah. Psalm 66:4 

But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these [disciples] should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Luke 19:40 

Someday everyone who has not bowed before the Lord will know without a doubt what they missed, struggled over or outright rejected. But all will still bow...they will worship Him. If I don't proclaim the name of the Lord, perhaps the rocks would cry out. Stranger things have been known to happen. 

John 17:17 - Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

Preach the Gospel

Mark 16:15-16 - And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned." 

I'm finishing a study in the Book of Revelation and this is what we have been urged to do as the weeks progressed...preach the Gospel! Why? Because as scripture teaches, Jesus is returning quickly.

Revelation may seem daunting, frightening and filled with imagery we can't always understand but all throughout the lessons we were told the most important thing to do was keep our eyes on Jesus, our salvation, rest, comfort and so much more.

We see a world growing confused and dark with many questioning why it is. The short answer is sin. Society and culture (in other words man) have decided what is right and wrong. The things of God have been replaced with the things of man. Evil is now good and good evil in all areas of life.

It's why I keep my eyes focused on Him. If we profess to be believers we put our trust in Him. We believe what His Word says. We take interest in it and learn from it.

Revelation is the last book of the Bible. Just as Genesis explains God's perfect creation, the last book of Revelation shows, amid the unsettling visions of disaster, His victorious return to judge evil and those who follow it. And He IS going to return. Maybe sooner than we know.

If we know Him, these events that must take place are not so scary. What we go through and may have to go through is far less than what Jesus went through for each of us. We go through our own trials; He endured all sins for all people who have lived, are living and will live. Who can imagine the agony?

To endure to the end we need to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We need to know His character and attributes so that we can believe and grow in faith. We need to know His promises to those who truly believe. Those promises build our faith. Our faith should only be in Him. Faith in self or another will not survive. Jesus' promises are yes and amen.

Messages like these are not always well received. But it's as Jesus told His disciples: Go into all the world and preach the Gospel... Those who hear, listen and respond will be blessed. There is only one hope...in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the Man, Jesus.

Romans 10:14-15,17 - How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!" So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

It Is Done!

Just as Jesus came into this world to live and minister to many people to bring them into relationship with Him through repentance of their sin, so Jesus will return to bring eternal life to those who have repented...and judgment upon those who have not, who have rejected Him and hardened their hearts to Him. (The Book of Revelation)

Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last. (Luke‬ ‭23:44-46‬)

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (Matthew‬ ‭27:50-53‬)

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!”... (‭‭John‬ ‭19:30‬)

Similar words used upon His death will be used upon His return. Similar experiences will occur. In both instances, of death and His return, the glory of the Lord is seen. 

Darkness, an earthquake and supernatural events occurred at Jesus' death. When He returns there will be more darkness and an even greater earthquake along with thundering and lightning. How awesome His return will be. I think about the awesomeness of the veil of the temple being rent in two by the power of God to show and bring about the availability of the access between people and He, through His Son, through His death, through His Resurrection...and our decision to receive Him. Hallelujah!

When He returns another voice will proclaim encouraging words to all believers. It is done! Vengeance which is God's alone to administer will be brought about upon those who have rejected Him, who have persecuted God's children through all the ages, those who have waited a long time for this vengeance. 

When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” (Revelation‬ ‭6:9-10‬)

Jesus came to redeem mankind. He will return to exact judgment one final time. Those who received Christ for the redemption of their sins will watch as God brings vengeance upon those who did not. 

Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. ‭‭(Romans‬ ‭12:19‬)

Revelation of Jesus Christ

Revelation‬ ‭1:1-3‬ - The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

‭

I am beginning a formal, 32-week study on the Book of Revelation. I'm sure I will share bits and pieces as we move along. You can bet 32 weeks will be detailed and in-depth...and fully Bible oriented; no extra-curricular books necessary! 

What was pointed out in this week's lecture and the lesson from last week, and I promise not to go through all our lessons, was how Bible prophecy has set the stage for this book. If you notice the scripture above, you'll see what the book shows itself to be. 

I have always said it's all about God. No church, no religion, no works can get us eternal life. Only God can do this. It was done 2,000 years ago through His Son Jesus Christ. No other man can do this for us. It is our decision to choose Christ. It is about our seeking God...directly. 1Timothy‬ ‭2:5 tells it like it is: For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus...  No one else. The entire Bible points us to Him. The prophecies point to His first...and second...coming. 

During the lecture portion of last week's and today's study we were told that the Book of Revelation has yet to happened. Through prophecies there is eventual evidence of what has happened. Those fulfilled prophecies give us assurance that what God has revealed to us through God-appointed prophets, have and will happen. So, we can trust that what Revelation says will also occur. We can be certain of it. Certain. It's all about the truth of God's Word from Genesis to Revelation. Amen! 

The word revelation means: something to be revealed, something coming or appearing; a disclosure of truth, concerning things before unknown, manifestation. The revelation of Jesus Christ mentioned above means it is His prophetic word given to the Apostle John about the things to come. It might also mean, based on the definitions, the revealing, the manifestation of Himself when He returns again...the truth that has been doubted by some. 

So, as we see an unsettled world, if we believe, know and trust Jesus and all He has told us, we need not fear the future. There will be some difficult times. But, again, if we know Jesus as Lord and Savior, we have the assurance He has our backs. He will provide the strength and all other things we need to get through. We do not need to have a timeline, we just need to have faith...and go forth and preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It's all about that bottom line...Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came to be the light in a very dark world, to seek and save the lost through His very own Gospel of repentance for sin, to show us what truth is, give us eternal life, and in the end to judge all people in total righteousness. He became that Mediator on that cross and opened the way to the only Father in heaven when the veil was torn in the temple at the time of His death. 

Revelation points to Christ too. He was in the beginning, is now and will be in the future. He has never changed and never lied while the world seems to be. If we can grasp the importance of knowing Him, we will be in very good hands.

Not to spoil the end of the book, but to be an encouragement:

Revelation‬ ‭22:20-21 - He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Revelation

Revelation 1:1 - The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants--things which must shortly take place.

Want to be clued in to things which must shortly take place before Jesus Himself returns? 

The truth of God's Word is revealed to those who seek it. 

For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ. (‭Galatians‬ ‭1‬:‭12‬)

In order to fully understand we must come into relationship with Christ, as His Book reveals throughout its pages. 

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬)
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (‭I Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭9)

God gave His Son the revelation of the last days. He shares this information with those who seek it. 

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭5‬)

This relationship comes from a new spiritual birth, being born again. 

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭3,5‬)

From there the Spirit of the living God draws us into knowing Him more. 

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. (‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭44-45‬)

When we turn to Him He makes it possible, through His Spirit, to know the things of God.

These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (‭1Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭13)

...do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (‭Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬)

When we know the Lord, are born again, in relationship with Him, begin to know the things of God, i.e., understand His Word, we are given the mind of Christ.

But God has revealed them [hidden wisdom] to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1Corinthians 2:10,16)

Praise God for His love for all people. He never stops seeking those who seek for Him. He never turns away someone ready to repent and know His truth. He desires that none should perish. Without Him we are nothing...nothing...nothing.

Without His knowledge a lot of confusion and fear will arise. We will see things we've never seen before. We already see some things that we can relate to that are beyond our belief would happen in our lifetime. And it will escalate. Who is ready? 

The revelation of Jesus Christ, Who He is, what He has done, what He still does and what He will do when He returns, is ours just in believing in Him, knowing Him in your heart, not your mind, trusting Him and giving your life to and for Him.

For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus... Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. (2Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬, Acts 4:12)

Beginning of Sorrows

Matthew 24:6-8 - And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.

Hah! A friend of mine was talking about a study on the Book of Revelation she will be taking. When she emailed me she said her iPad changed Revelation to rebellion. Makes sense to me! I have decided to join her in this study.

I'm certain while little is said just yet, there have got to be a lot of people noticing a shift in this world. Revelation will show what will occur. We have been warned. Are we prepared? We can be if we believe what the Bible says about all things. We can be if we trust in the Lord for our lives, which I mentioned yesterday.

What will it take before everyone takes a long, hard look at their own lives and realize how we need a Savior for remission of sins, everlasting life and strength for the days we will all face in one way or another? He came to save us! I was just as stubborn once in thinking I didn't need anyone to help me with my life. I was doing fine, got through the glitches on my own or with the help of friends. I was achieving my goals, whether in the right way or wrong. Living the way I wanted, whether right or wrong. What was wrong, I thought, anyway? Wasn't it the way we perceived it...or didn't? But one day that all changed and I "saw the light."

So, some don't believe we are nearing the end of all things. Some believe life will just go on. Some think the Church, or at least certain ones, are just trying to instill fear to fill the pews for profit. What will it take for them to even consider the times we live in?

We must be able to face bad things we will go through, or have gone through. We cannot push them in a corner or sweep them under a rug and pretend they don't, or haven't existed. Bad things happen and will continue to. Since that bite out of the fruit in the Garden of Eden we have had our share of trouble. It happens. It won't go away till Jesus returns. 

But God...brought a solution. We are all born into sin but we can all be reborn into that "arrogant" righteousness if we submit our lives to Jesus Christ. The Word of God has explained it all. He laid the foundation in the first five books of the Old Testament. He continued in the Old Testament to show the ongoing sin, the rebellion of Israel to God's commands and their ability to "forget" all He had done for them. He has shown what He does when His people returned to Him, then turned away, then returned and turned away again. The ongoing struggle of rebellion and disobedience and righteousness and obedience. And we still struggle with it today.

But then the solution became reality in the New Testament in the form of His Son, Jesus. Redemption was a possibility for any and all who would recognize and receive it. We can still turn to or back to God, as a people or a nation. Jesus may not be physically walking the earth today but spiritually He is still available to receive anyone who struggles with the things of this world brought on by sinful natures.

The other night I had dinner with a friend and this subject came up. We see the beginning of sorrows referred to in the Bible. The only thing I can do is take the subject of the changes in this world all the way back to that garden! That's where it all began. How they have escalated. Oh, some say, that was so long ago. Does it really matter anymore? Yes! Your life today, 6,000 years later, still depends on Him. 

How I love the Bible and the accounts of people long gone. How they knew God, listened to Him speak, watched Him do miracles; how He supplied their needs, loved them even in their sinfulness, but disciplined for their rebellion. Nothing has changed. God never changes. When they returned to Him, like the prodigal son's father, God received them back with open arms and joy. He wants the same today. 

He will return someday for all those who have called on Him. For those who have stopped being rebellious and now wait for His return. Revelation outlines things we need to know, even if it's to teach the youth. It talks about the churches in these last days and the rebelliousness of many of them. It gives them warnings and how to turn back. It brings up satan and his last days, the dreaded mark of the beast. It speaks of false prophets present even now and describes the last days war, the revealing of the anti-Christ. God's wrath is explained. From Revelation we can better understand the rebellion that is taking place in our lifetime and what it will turn in to. And best of all it reveals Jesus and all that believers have to look forward to...the Lamb's book of life.

Yes, it's about our rebellion. Our rebellion against God. This is individually and corporately as churches, governments and societies. We walk away from God, He's not happy. He will judge. And He will return to do one final judgment of all. Will we be ready?

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds
of heaven with power and great glory. Behold, He is coming with clouds, and
every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the 
earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen. “I am the Alpha and the
Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and
who is to come, the Almighty.” (Matthew 24:30, Revelation‬ ‭1‬:‭7-8)

The Rise of Lawlessness

I had a blog ready to post. It sort of touched on this and I have decided to post this instead. My sentiments exactly. And said so pointedly. So, yes, I'm not the only one who believes the days of Revelation are nearing. Let Your Spirit open eyes to Your truth, O God.

The Rise of Lawlessness 

By Jill Martin Rische 
www.olivetreeministries.org

June 3, 2014

The top headline on a number one news site is a quote from a Democrat:We've Proved Communism Works. Combined with a picture of the infamous Red Communist fist, it conveys a chilling message. Revelation has become part of our every day lives. 

The only comfort there is to be had is from the words of Jesus: And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(Matthew 5)

How bittersweet to remember a time of innocence, a time when America cherished freedom and privacy. No internet, no cell phones, no iPads to lure and bind us to a lawless government. We could travel places and know for a fact that not a single soul watched us. We never had to worry that our cars might betray us -- that someone might actually be able to turn them off. We could laugh at the very idea of someone listening to every phone call we made. 

But today it is only reruns of Andy Taylor's Mayberry or Richie Cunningham's Happy Days that draw us back to a place where privacy mattered and family began with a mom and a dad -- and they were proud of America. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Presidents once believed in the rule of law, and took for granted the fact that it would be followed. Even the days of Watergate reflect a different America--one that actually cared if you were law-abiding -- and called you a crook if you were not.

The rise of lawlessness crept up on us in the 20th Century. It hit God first with Nietzsche's infamous God is Dead as a frontline assault, followed by the attacks on biblical inerrancy, in our own seminaries, because God has to fall before man can take His place. 

America became drunk on power and wealth; it wandered down the very dark road of drugs and sexual immorality, and experimented with all kinds of evil. The church offered soft lights, soft music, and even softer sermons. Much like today with Putin's advance into Crimea, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)

Today, we are living in Walt Disney'sTomorrowland, and it's nothing like he ever imagined it. Being human has always been painful but now more than ever before, it is complicated by technological slavery and corruption on steroids. 

We live in a world that believes its own press -- thinking itself kind, compassionate and civilized, when in reality it is intolerant and cruel, deceived by the lie that there is no absolute truth; consumed by everything self-centered, despising self-control. 

Selfies -- quick pictures snapped on smartphones and posted to the internet -- are the banner of the "think not" generation. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Even our children are not safe from the long arm of a lawless government. Hospitals, endowed with taxpayer money, steal children from their parents in the name of "protection" and even have a name for it: Parent-ectomy. 

Harvard's Boston Children's Hospital is a terrifying example of tyranny in motion, deciding in less than three days to toss a respected doctor's diagnosis and experiment on a 14 year old girl. Armed guards escorted Justina Pelletier's parents from the hospital, and a corrupt judge awarded custody of her to the State of Massachusetts. According to Judge Johnston, disliking her parents -- who fought against them -- was an excellent reason to take away their child.

Across the oceans, more and more Christians suffer and die for their faith: 200 young girls kidnapped by the Islamist terrorist group Boko Haram -- a group well within our power to decimate for their brutal terrorist acts -- but Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton protected them.   

A young doctor named Meriam Ibrahim sits in a filthy jail in Sudan, condemned to 100 lashes and hanging by the Muslim government for refusing to renounce her Christian faith in favor of Islam. She spends every day in chains caring for her toddler son and newborn baby daughter -- both American citizens. History tells us the long story of Islam, and it has never loved its enemies. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

Revelation is upon us, and it is not a pretty sight. Christians are no longer the good guys, and those that are have compromised for a bit of popularity, embracing gay marriage or the gutting of Scriptural truth. "For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way." (2 Thess 2:7)  

We are at the beginning of the end, and without the power of God we could not endure it. But we wait for the blessed hope -- the return of Jesus Christ; the moment we will be caught up in the air and taken to be with Him. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The rise of lawlessness is a birth pang, a warning, and to those who know the outcome, an instrument of reward:Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
  
We are called to walk in the shoes of Jesus -- to feel His rejection and to suffer as He suffered. The servant is not greater than the Master. But we are not alone and we are not powerless. We must fight the good fight of faith and remember He is our hiding place. (Ps 32:6-8)

In a time of trouble, in a time forlorn 

There is a hiding place where hope is born

There is a hiding place, a strong protective space

Where God provides the grace to persevere;

For nothing can remove us from the Father's love 

Though all may change, yet nothing changes here.

In a time of weakness, in a time of fear 

There is a hiding place where God is near.

--Bryan Jeffery Leech

The Very Same Gospel Message

Romans 16:25-27 - Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

Soooo, in Sunday school we finished up the Book of Romans. I've written lately about how it's our obligation, our privilege even, to share the truth of God's Word.

What makes me think I'm qualified, you might ask. Is that a bit arrogant? If we are believers in Christ, we ARE qualified.  We are, in fact, told to do so. If I have received something so great and it's not just for me, I need to share so others may receive it.

Before I received Christ, became born again in the Spirit, and was determined to be a follower of Christ, I did not have the revelation spoken of in Romans 16. It was a mystery and a secret to me. In fact, so much so, I had no clue there was such a thing as a gospel! Oh, I knew there were people who tried to lead others to Christ. I rejected. It was not for me. But as I have testified previously, all it took was one day!

Now I can join the ranks of those whose claim is I have been established according to someone's gospel and heard the words of Jesus Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit the mystery that had been kept secret has been revealed and has been made manifest. The same message that has been preached for thousands of years to thousands-plus people all across the world was preached to and received by me.

And all the glory goes not to anyone who might have prayed for me without my knowing or the person who urged me to go to church or the pastor who spoke just the right words, but God alone because all the others planted seeds of wisdom (that I rejected) and watered, but only God accomplishes the final act. His Spirit spoke to mine and caused a positive response.

I was right up there with the others who, as our guest preacher this Sunday, Nathan Middleton, said wouldn't go to church because I would see my sinful nature...and I sure didn't want to confront it. We don't recognize our sinfulness but the very fact that we reject the gospel message hints that we are.

We noticed in Sunday school how the Apostle Paul called the gospel message his. We discussed how it was not that he made up what he preached. But when we are in Christ that same gospel message that Jesus preached becomes ours. We share the very same gospel message. We share Christ. I in Him, He in me. I share His message, the same message He allowed to be revealed to me nearly 15 years ago. The same message He will reveal to anyone who will listen.

Imagine...the very message of Jesus Christ, that He preached 2,000 years ago, the secret from the beginning of time, is still available to our ears, hearts and minds today. He calls daily. He reveals daily who He is. He wishes none to perish. The same message of 2,000 years ago: Come to Me. Seek Me. Believe and trust only in Me. I am the only Way, Truth and Life. No one comes to the Father but by Me. I will wash away your sins if you turn from your evil ways and repent. Come into relationship with Me. When you do the kingdom of heaven is yours, you are joint heirs to the throne, part of the royal priesthood. You will be washed by the blood and made clean as snow or wool. But you must come humbly, letting go of your idea of how to be good...which is unattainable. His words...as timely today as when He first spoke them. His disciples and more shared His words. These same words are shared today by many who have "been there, done that" and now see those revelations. I can't imagine someone not wanting those revelations.

As Nathan Middleton also said: man can't save himself from sin; we need Jesus. He shared the message of the woman who had been bent over for 18 years. She met Jesus in this very position. It's really how we should all come to Him. Bent over, in an attitude of humility, knowing our need of a Savior. And look what He did for her: ...He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. (Luke 13:13) Anyone who has come to Christ can truly glorify Him. Only then can we stand straight, after we have been made whole through Him. Some may cower in their knowledge of their sin. But when that sin is removed, heads can be held high.

We who are in Christ are free today to share the message (at least for now) in all the world. The message will be preached throughout the world and then the end shall come...Jesus will return. (Matthew 24:14)  He will take those who took hold of the Word and they will be made imperishable. Life in Christ.

2Corinthians 4:3-5 - But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.