Saturday, June 30, 2012

WILL HE FIND FAITH?


Faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1 as being sure of things hoped for and certain of things not seen.  As is recorded in 2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”  Hebrews 11:6 warns that without faith it is impossible to please God.  Salvation is offered to us by God’s grace through faith alone, not a result of any works as explained in Ephesians 2:8.

If Jesus should return today, would He find a strong and steadfast faith within you?  Are you prepared to meet Him face to face?  Are you longing for that day with the confidence and assurance that can only come through faith in Him? 

If you’re not sure, then perhaps you haven’t truly met Him at the cross.  If that describes you, I would urge you to invite Him into your life as your Savior and Lord now before it’s too late.  He is patiently waiting at the door of your heart for you to let Him in.

You must reach out to Him by faith to receive the gift of salvation He freely offers to us.  After you realize that you are eternally lost in sin and need the Savior in your life, then humbly bow down and submit yourself before God in prayer to confess your sins and ask Him to forgive them.  Invite Jesus into your heart as the Savior and the Lord of your life.  If you are sincere in your desire to live your life for Him, then God will hear your prayer as He has promised.

Romans 10:9,10 NASB
That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Romans 10:13 NKJV
For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Before we can claim God’s promise of salvation, it must be believed and accepted by faith alone.  When Jesus returns soon, will He find true faith in your heart and life?  You must be very sure.  Your eternal destiny depends on how you can answer that question. 

As Jesus said to Thomas many years ago, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29b NKJV) 


Don 

Monday, June 18, 2012

Isaiah 17 and 19...Current Events

Are you paying attention to the headlines about the latest developments in the Middle East? You don't need a newspaper, or the internet, you can read about them in the Bible!

Isaiah 17 begins: "The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap." Isaiah 19 begins: "The burden against Egypt. Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; the idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, and the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst.“I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; everyone will fight against his brother,and everyone against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.

The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst; I will destroy their counsel, and they will consult the idols and the charmers, the mediums and the sorcerers. And the Egyptians I will giveinto the hand of a cruel master, and a fierce king will rule over them,” Says the Lord, the LORD of hosts.""

These things are happening before our very eyes! They were the headlines in the news this weekend, June 17th, 2012! BUT... "We can't be living in the last days." "We don't need to worry about such things, we need to make the world a better place." "Every generation thought they were the one in which the Lord would come back." I hear this, even from my own family. And yet, nothing like what has happened in my generation has ever happened before. Israel has become a nation once again. Jews have had their ancient language, Hebrew, restored. Eretz Isra'el, (the land of Israel) left to dry up like a desert for thousands of years, is now blooming and prosperous. Prophecy, after prophecy is being fulfilled. That which the Lord spoke thousands of years ago, even before Yeshua/Jesus was born, is now being fulfilled. These are prophecies of the last days-the days in which we live.

You can scoff. You can ridicule. You can brush it off. You can ignore. But you can't argue with God and what He has spoken in His Word! He has proven Himself faithful in every aspect of fulfilling His promises, both positive and judgmental.

"No man knows the day or the hour." So some argue. But Yeshua/Jesus said in Luke 21:28: "And when these things BEGIN to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near." He went on to say in verse 36: "Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that SHALL come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."

To get the whole picture, read between verses 28 and 36, then read the whole chapter. Part of it is for the remnant Jews living during the first three years of tribulation. Part of it is for us, living in the days prior, when He said He would come as a thief in the night to those who are not looking for Him to come back. We are children of the Light...and He admonishes us to not be as those who walk in darkness, but to be aware of what's happening and to be watching and ready for His return!

Are you?

READ... RESEARCH... REPEAT Share this with everyone while we yet have time.
Baruch atem b'Shem, Yeshua

Friday, June 15, 2012

Isaiah 19-Egypt...Last Days

If you've never read or understood Isaiah 19, Isaiah's prophecy concerning Egypt in the last days, read it now...it's happening! And the second half of that prophecy will come to pass when Yeshua returns to His people and sets up His Kingdom in Israel/Jerusalem! Mid

Egyptian Court Invalidates Parliamentary Election; Allows ex-Mubarak Official to Run


An Egyptian court has invalidated the recent parliamentary election calling it “unconstitutional” and necessitating a return to the ballot boxes. A second election-related issue was settled when the court ruled that a former prime minister under ousted President Hosni Mubarak will be allowed to run for the presidency despite a law banning Mubarak-era officials from seeking public office. The rulings were handed down only two days before the presidential run-off election is scheduled to be held. It pits Mohamed Morsi, the candidate of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Faith and Freedom Party against Ahmed Shafiq, a longtime confidant of Mubarak. Shafiq’s candidacy has been controversial because of the desire by many to move past the Mubarak years. When the Islamist-controlled parliament was set up in April, it immediately passed the law now struck down by the court that banned officials who served in Mubarak’s government during the last ten year of his reign from running for election. But many also fear that electing the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate to head a government dominated by Islamist parties will inevitably lead to rule by religious law. From the MidEast Daily News

Baruch atem b'Shem, Yeshua

Saturday, June 2, 2012

I'LL BE PRAYING FOR YOU

As believers, we are commanded to pray for one another. It's also important for us to share our own burdens with other praying people, perhaps dozens of them, who with fervent prayer and obedience will lift us up in prayer to the throne of God during our times of need.

Ephesians 6:18 (NASB)
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Out of the love of Christ that is within us, most of us have promised to keep someone or a situation in our prayers in response to a prayer need they have shared with us. Also, we have probably all heard others promise to remember our own prayer concerns when they have said, “I’ll keep you in my prayers,” or, “I’ll be praying for you.”

Galatians 6:2 (NKJV)
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

There are dedicated prayer warriors among us who are not only faithful, but who are eager to pray day after day, week after week and if necessary, year after year - for as long as needed because they believe God's promises and the power of prayer. They know that God will answer fervent, heartfelt prayers according to His Will. In short, true prayer warriors never give up.

Luke 18:1 (NASB)
Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, 

James 5:16 (NASB)
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

However, many times people will say they'll keep us in their prayers, but do they really do that? Are we ever guilty of not praying as we have promised? Sadly, I believe those promises are sometimes made in a casual manner, and lacking any sincerity. Oh, the need might get a brief mention in a prayer or two, but if the answers don't come quickly, or if they don’t arrive in the manner expected, then, the promise to pray is often soon abandoned and forgotten. I certainly plead guilty to not always praying as promised.

1 Samuel 12:23a (KJV)
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you:

I don't believe that God is as impressed with many prayers from large numbers of people as He is with the sincerity of a few dedicated prayer warriors praying in Jesus' name, humbly seeking His face for His intervention. God is not going to say, "It's great that you got ‘X’ number of people to pray for you, but if you only had a few more, then, the answer would have come more quickly." Scripture says that where two or three are gathered in His name, then, He is there among them, and whatsoever you ask in His Name, He will do it according to His Will.

Matthew 18:20 (NKJV)
For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”

We must also understand that the power of our prayers won't be fully realized until we, ourselves, with a humble heart, bow down before Almighty God with our praise, thanksgiving, and petitions - asking forgiveness and totally surrendering to His Will for our lives.

When we're on our knees in humble submission to Him, seeking His face in prayer, and looking to Him for peace, comfort, strength, and guidance, He always tells us to wait on Him for He will never leave us. He promises that we are safe in the palm of His hand, He cares for us, He provides for our every need, and we must only trust Him - for He is in control and His Will must be done.

Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

Believers who have the honor and privilege of being asked to pray for the needs of others must do so as they have promised. It must be done with faithful diligence and regularity, and for as long as the prayer need exists. Falling short of that commitment is not only a disservice to the one asking for prayer, but more importantly, it’s dishonoring to God by failing to trust Him and follow His commands.

We must realize that not every prayer will be answered in the way we might expect, nor will they always be answered within our desired timing. God’s plan for our lives is always perfect, and we are told in Scripture that we must run the race that is set before us. We also know our journey will not always be smooth. The road we must travel will often have bumps, twists and turns along the way. However, when we keep the faith and seek the Lord in prayer and His Word for our leading, we will cross over the finish line - with victory in Jesus!

Praise God! Thank You for Your promises, Lord Jesus. Thank You, Lord, for answered prayers. Hallelujah! I give You all the honor and glory in Jesus’ precious Name. Amen!


Don

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