Saturday, April 24, 2010

DESOLATE

DESOLATE
One day, near the end of His earthly Ministry, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. In doing so, He fulfilled a prophecy given by Daniel several hundred years prior to the time. He said: Matthew 23:37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, [thou] that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under [her] wings, and ye would not! _Behold, your house is left unto you desolate The prophecy of Daniel reads: Daniel 9:26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof [shall be] with a flood, and unto the end of the war _desolations are determined."_
It was more than a coincident that Jesus proclaimed desolation on Jerusalem just prior to his "cutting off" on the Cross, which "caused the sacrifice and oblation to cease." Sixty nine and a half of the seventy weeks which were "determined" upon Jerusalem and Judah were history when Jesus was crucified.
The term "unto the end of the war" means literallyuntil the end of the "Controversy", and not a war where two armies are engaged in battle. God has a score to settle with a people who rejected His rulership.
I am a little more than worried when I listen to the "standard teaching" about what is supposed to take place in the days that are ahead of us. All of the "Experts" seem to be saying mostly the same thing. It is the usual, "Antichrist! Beginning of the week, End of the week, Middle of the week, Daniel----Revelation."
I am afraid our modern "Experts" will miss it as far as the "Experts" in the days when Jesus was among us. Seems they are mostly "parroting" each other, and not getting anything from God for themselves.
It is easier to teach the standard curriculum than it is to ferret out what God is actually saying to us. The "seven year covenant" theory simply won't wash in the light of other scriptures which bear on the subject.
"If the trumpet give an uncertain sound."
There is no security in numbers, and the multitudes declaring it won't produce what the Word doesn't say. Jesus, being GOD IN FLESH, knew that in just a few days He would be standing in the hall of Pilate, and He would hear the Spiritual leaders crying:
Mark 15:13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
Mark 15:14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him. Luke 23:21 But they cried, saying, Crucify [him], crucify him. John 19:6 When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify [him], crucify [him]. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify [him]: for I find no fault in him..
Jesus also knew that at the same time, the Jewish leaders would sound the death knell of their nation bythe choice they made that day: Matthew 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, "His blood [be] on us, and on our children."
There are many Scriptures which refer to Jerusalem which DO NOT MEAN the natural city of Jerusalem. One such is Psalms 122:6 "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee." It is a song about the Heavenly Jerusalem.
Also, consider Hebrews 12:18 "For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, And the sound of trumpet, and the voice of words; which [voice] they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: Hebrews 12:22 But YE ARE COME UNTO MOUNT SION, and unto the city of the living God, the HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and CHURCH OF THE FIRSTBORN, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to THE SPIRITS OF JUST MEN MADE PERFECT, And to Jesus the mediator of the new Covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel."
We, then, as citizens of the New Jerusalem, should not be overly concerned with a city that is desolate of favor with God. Treat it like you would a last year's bird nest. It has served its purpose in the economy of God, just as the Levitical ceremonies have served their purpose. Jerusalem of old was a picture, in type, of the contrast, or difference between that which God produces, in comparison to Babylon of old, the best works of mankind. Modern "Babylon" is our present-day world economic, political and religious system. Jerusalem is the Church of the Living God. Mount Zion is a special segment of that Church.
Believers will never be grafted into the desolate city. They will become citizens of the Heavenly City.
"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem."

THENEW ADMINISTRATION

THE NEW ADMINISTRATION
Many of God's people are wondering what the future holds regarding the morals of the nation under the new administration.
We have often made the remark that it is not possible to legislate righteousness. It has never been possible, and is not possible now. People are going to do what is in their hearts to do, in spite of any laws to the contrary.
We were not in error to vote for those people who "said" they would push for a higher standard of conduct if they were elected, but we MUST be aware of the fact that the promises might not be kept.
Many godly people have repeatedly told us that our nation is on a collision course with punishment from the Almighty. We heartily concur.
ARE we approaching the beginning of the "time of correction" now? No one knows for sure.
One thing we "can be sure of" is that we as Christians will be a "DECIDING FACTOR" in it all.
Scripture gives several instances where a very small nucleus of people turned the hand of God and obtained mercy and deliverance for the nation.
As Esther of old, our response in time of this crisis will help to determine the outcome of it.
We "MUST" obey the admonition of Paul to the young man, Timothy, 1Ti 2:1 2 I exhort therefore, that, FIRST OF ALL, "supplications, prayers, inter-cessions, [and] giving of thanks, be made for all" "men; For kings, and[for] all that are in author-ity; that we may lead a
quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
We certainly cannot expect much intercession from the non-christian community.
We cannot look to the educators for help, for they are more of the problem, and not part of the solution.
Government is not part of the solution either, for those who constitute authority are powerless to stem the tide of wickedness in men's hearts.
The Christian community holds the key in their hands. We will have to shoulder the load on our knees, crying to God for mercy on our land.
Zec 4:6 gives us picture of what to expect, and from what quarter to expect it. "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."
It was pointed out to us lately that even the "mercy" of God had cost several thousand innocent people their lives when David numbered the people who could go to war.
The prophet Isaiah wrote of a time when the churches (women) would rise up and lament over the desolations, (barren conditions) of the people of the Lord. It reads: Isaiah 32:15 "Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high," and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest. 16 Then judgment shall dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness remain in the fruitful field.
Listen to the admonition of the prophet Hosea 10:12 "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; "break up your fallow ground: for [it is] time to seek "the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
A sovereign move of the Spirit of God is the "ONLY "WAY" the tide will be turned, and a terrible time of correction be averted.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

SETASASEAL

SET ME AS A SEAL (reprint)

Song of Solomon 8:6 "SET ME AS A SEAL UPON
THINE HEART, AS A SEAL UPON THINE ARM: FOR LOVE
[IS] STRONG AS DEATH--" ; jealousy [is] cruel as the grave:
the coals thereof [are] coals of fire, [which hath a] most vehement
flame.

Song of Solomon 8:7 Many waters cannot quench love,
neither can the floods drown it: if [a] man would give all the
substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.

This is a story of a peasant girl who had been taken from
her home and family for a very strange purpose. The record does
not tell us if she suffered from homesickness. Neither does it
tellus if she found her task repugnant.

Little did she know that she would become the theme of a
most beautiful and inspiring Song-- the Song of Solomon.

Her strange task? It was before our modern ways of caring
for the aged. I believe it was a bungled solution to the problem,
but it seemed to be in the Mind of God, non-the-less. He OFTEN
USES OUR BUNGLING ATTEMPTS for His purposes.

I Kings 1:1-4 Now king David was old [and] stricken in
years; and they covered him with clothes, but he gat no heat.
Wherefore his servants said unto him, Let there be sought for my
lord the king a young virgin: and let her stand before the king,
and let her cherish him, and let her lie in thy bosom, that my lord
the king may get heat. So they sought for a fair damsel through-
out all the coasts of Israel, and found Abishag a Shunammite, and
brought her to the king. And the damsel [was] very fair, and
cherished the king, and ministered to him: but the king knew her
not.

After King David had died, one of his sons was desirous of
her attentions, and asked King Solomon for her hand. It dis-
pleased Solomon very much, and he had the man killed.

I Kings 2:22,23 And king Solomon answered and said unto
his mother, And why dost thou ask Abishag the Shunammite for
Adonijah? ask for him the kingdom also; for he [is] mine elder
brother; even for him, and for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab
the son of Zeruiah. Then king Solomon sware by the LORD,
saying, God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah have not
spoken this word against his own life.

Legend has it that this fair damsel had been in love with a
young man of Shunem before she was chosen for this strange
mission to King David, and would have desired to return to her
young lover there.

But, it was not to be, for God had other plans for her life,
much like He does for each one of us, if we will be submissive to
His Will for our lives.

To make a long story shorter, after much wooing on
Solomon's part, her heart is finally won over to him. She
FALLS DEEPLY IN LOVE with her Lover, who has tenderly
and faithfully done what He could to win her affection.

The Shulamite serves very well as a type of those who
whole-heartedly respond to the wooings of the Spirit of God. The
King patiently waits for her to lose her desire for her former love,
and to be drawn to Him. She would not have voluntarily been
drawn to the King, but His attentions were overwhelming.

Neither would we have followed the Heavenly King volun-
tarily. But the "drawing" of the Lord was overwhelming.

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will
draw all [men] unto me.

Many of us have fallen in love with Jesus. BUT SOME HAVE
FALLEN SO DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH HIM THAT THEY
ARE CONSUMED WITH A DESIRE TO BE A PART OF
HIM. But they have been hindered by their inability to complete-
ly sever themselves from their former love. (their life before they
knew Jesus)

But they, like the Shulamite, are calling out to their Lover,
and asking of Him that He-- "SET ME AS A SEAL UPON
THINE HEART, AS A SEAL UPON THINE ARM: FOR LOVE
[IS] STRONG AS DEATH--"

THAT IS THE HEART CRY OF EVERY POTENTIAL
OVERCOMER.

ONEOFACITY

ONE OF A CITY

After the ten-tribed Israel had been taken into Assyrian
captivity, the Southern kingdom of Judah fell into the same terri-
bly sinful condition which had caused the captivity of the North-
ern kingdom.

In chiding with Judah, the Lord wrote to the Northern
kingdom some statements which were prophetic-- spoken concern-
ing the people who live today, and are followers of the Lord.

It was a clarion call at that time-- for Israel to repent of her
sins and return to the ways of the Lord. It was also a clarion call
to the Christians of today who have backslidden into the denomi-
national system (with the resultant captivity) which we have today.

Malachi bemoaned the fact that integrity and morals had
deteriorated to the place that evil was called good, and good was
called evil. We find ourselves in the same condition today.
Business men say they can not be honest and prosper. Church and
denominational leaders today say they can not embrace the true
principals of Christianity. To do so would wreck their system.
The "system" has become a form of business-- and a cut-throat
business at that. Little wonder the wrath of the Lord is building to
explosive proportions.

When the "system" is crushed-- many of its leaders will
also be crushed. God is not, however, primarily displeased with
MEN who believe on Him. He is displeased with how men have
become CAPTIVE to that which they have invented-- "to further
the Gospel". It (the system) has become a "Frankenstein" of
sorts, and is a very cruel taskmaster.

Yet, ironically, out of, and in spite of, the mess which the
Christian community finds itself in today, God will perform His
Will and Plan for his Blood-bought people world-wide.

You don't believe He can do it? Think again, friend.
Look at the mess which the Hebrew people were in at the time of
the birth, life, and crucifixion of Jesus. Did that deter the Lord
from the timing and performance of His Plan? NO!!!

The message to ten-tribed Israel was: Jeremiah 3:12-14
Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return,
thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; [and] I will not cause
mine anger to fall upon you: for I [am] merciful, saith the LORD,
[and] I will not keep [anger] for ever. Only acknowledge thine
iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God,
and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green
tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. Turn,
O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto
you: and I WILL TAKE YOU ONE OF A CITY, AND TWO
OF A FAMILY, AND I WILL BRING YOU TO ZION:

The prophet Ezekiel was given a vision which troubled him
very much. He saw a terrible thing taking place among the lead-
ers of Israel, and it was causing the people to commit a very great
sin. The Lord sent a man with an ink horn among the people-- to
put a mark upon those who "sighed and cried" over the abomina-
tions which were committed. Then, another was commissioned to
go through the nation and slay everyone who did not have the
mark on them. When so many were slain, and Ezekiel was
spared, he cried out to the Lord, "Lord, will you kill EVERY-
ONE?" See Ezek chs. 8 & 9

These two portions of scripture are prophetic, in that they
give us an idea of what and how God is working within the Chris-
tian Community today-- selecting and marking a group of people
who are meeting the demands of a Holy God for THEIR lives in
this day. You and I have no way of knowing who they are, for
we can judge by appearances only. GOD KNOWS THE HEART.

They are NOT PERFECT. No one is. But, their manner
of life-- dictated by their heart condition, is such that God consid-
ers them to be CANDIDATES for the special ANOINTING AND
IMPARTATION OF HIS SPIRIT which will empower them to do
what He has DETERMINED shall be done in the TIME OF THE
HARVEST.

MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.

II Peter 1:10,11 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give dili-
gence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these
things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered
unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ.

YOU AND I CAN BECOME CANDIDATES!

Sunday, April 11, 2010

ACOLT

A COLT, THE FOAL OF AN ASS
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem a few days before His crucifixion, He borrowed a couple of animals, in order to enact a prophesy about the future of the Church. Consider these facts.
The ass is a beast of burden, a work animal. That is why Jesus didn't borrow a horse. Horses are beasts of war. He _IS_ pictured as riding a HORSE when He comes to shake terribly the earth, however. But for the present, He has chosen an ass to be typical of His Church, because it is not yet time to fight and conquer, and destroy completely ALL THE WORKINGS OF SATAN.
The mother ass was disqualified, however, to be ridden by Jesus, for she had been ridden (ruled over) by man before. Our Churches have been ruled over by men for so long that it seems more natural to be subject to man-rule than to be obedient to Jesus alone.
ALL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS are ruled and governed by man. Each one has their own set of rules by which they are governed. Each has their own doctrines which they propagate.
ALL CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS are licensed by the State, and are, therefore, subject to further rules and regulations. This is NOT to say that ALL of this is bad, necessarily, but it probably DOES DISQUALIFY those people from being eligible to participate in what is yet to be seen.
Consider, however, that the mother ass had a SON (see Smiths Bible Dictionary)( Also Young's Analytical Concordance) upon whom never man had sat. The term used in the Hebrew is "Ben", denoting a MALE colt. In the Greek of the New Testament, the word "Huios" is used, which is used primarily to denote a SON OF FULL MATURITY.
We do not wish to leave the impression that we believe males to be superior to females. We only make the distinction because it makes the incident ring true to Bible Principle. The full-grown Sons of God company will be made up of BOTH MALE AND FEMALE.
This group, the MANCHILD COMPANY of REV. 12, will be cohesive WITHOUT THE NEED OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS. THE SPIRIT OF GOD, ALONE, will be their governing force. They are the great army of the Lord as seen in Joel 2, and nothing shall escape them. Jesus, riding into Jerusalem on the colt, typified His visitation of the Church by means of the Manchild Company, which, in turn, ministers to the "mother" Church in sustaining and nourishing her, as Joseph sustained his brethren in Egypt. See Rev. 12
PLEASE DO NOT GET THE IDEA THAT ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS CHOOSING IS TO REMAIN FREE FROM MAN'S ORGANIZATION, for that is NOT THE CASE. You must ALSO BE VERY SUBMISSIVE TO GOD. He cannot use "LONGHORNED CRITTERS". "They shall not break their ranks." "They shall not thrust one another". "A bruised reed shall He not break, and a smoking flax shall He not quench". "The servant of the Lord must not strive."
"Not a striker." "Not a brawler".
A CHANCE OF BEING ELIGIBLE FOR THIS CHOOSING OF GOD IS WORTH ALL IT WOULD COST an individual to attain to it. SALVATION, ALONE, IS NOT ENOUGH. It calls for a HIGH DEGREE OF CHARACTER REFINEMENT, and not very many of us human beings are aware of the need, nor do we possess the desire for it. There will, probably, be plenty of room at the top. Comparatively few will attain to it.
The masses like to be ruled by force. They are also attracted by large numbers. Numbers, in themselves, are not bad. "Running with the herd", however, is not conducive to getting alone with God with a view to personal refinement of Spiritual Character.
We MUST make Jesus our SOLE GOVERNOR if we are to be an overcomer. He will_ NEVER FORCE HIMSELF UPON US.
It is by_ INVITATION ONLY_ that He will do His refining work in our lives.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

CANCELLED

_CANCELLED!_
Cancelled! Paid in full! What wonderful words to hear or see! They make us feel good all over when we have finally struggled to the top of a debt we owed.
_ But if our struggling was to no avail; if we were like the frog in the well, which jumped up two feet and fell back three feet, we realized we were hopelessly trapped. We are all trapped in a body of iniquity. _
_ Paul, in Rom 7, describes our condition, and cries out, "O wretched man that I am, Who shall deliver me from this body of death?"
_ He was referring to a practice in those days of fastening the dead body of a person onto the person who had killed him. He was required to carry that putrefy_ ing "body of death" until he himself died, which would be a comparatively short time.
_ His illustration, which was dictated by the Holy Ghost, was intended to tell us that each one of us is carrying a putrid "body of sin" with us wherever we go.
_ But, thank God, Deliverance _WILL_ come to us, if we hold fast our confidence until the end.
_ _We can have a measure of victory,_ if we have received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost (firstfruits of the Spirit), but full deliverance is withheld until a future time, known only to God Himself.
_ It is all spelled out for us in the Feasts of Israel, especially the Day of Atonement.
_ The Day of Atonement will "happen" shortly before the closing of this particular dispensation in the economy of God.
_ On the Day of Atonement, every seven years, all who had become servants for any reason were allowed to go home, free of their obligations. This is _FORGIVENESS,_ in miniature object lesson.
_ On the Day of Atonement, every fifty years, all debt, both public and private, was cancelled, _AND EVERY MAN'S POSSESSION WAS RETURNED TO HIM, NO MATTER WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO IT IN THE LAST FIFTY YEARS_. _THIS IS RESTORATION_, in miniature object lesson.
_ JESUS _ became our Passover at Passover time_, He became our Pentecost, on the Day of Pentecost,_ He will _BECOME TO US WHAT THE DAY OF ATONEMENT TYPIFIED._ We have very reason to believe that it will happen just as the precedents have happened: _ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT!_
_ Man, (Adam) "sold" us all into slavery to a fallen nature when he disobeyed God in the garden. We were all born into slavery. We have never known complete liberty, or freedom from the sinful nature.
_ To be sure, we do have a measure of victory over the WORKS of the flesh by the Spirit of God, but the NATURE OF SIN is still present in every one of us.
_ _LET ME EMPHASIZE THAT WE CAN ONLY HAVE FREEDOM
FROM SINFUL ACTS AS WE OBEY THE WORD AND SPIRIT OF GOD. _ _
There is no other way but this way.
_ FORGIVENESS makes this possible, but _EACH OF US DETERMINES THE DEGREE OF LIBERTY WE ATTAIN TO._ IT IS IN _DIRECT PROPORTION TO OUR OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD AND THE SPIRIT. Reading the Bible and prayer in the Spirit are of utmost importance to our obedience to God.
Aside from these, we will get no where in God. The closer we walk to Him, the sweeter He becomes to us.
_ RESTORATION, OR JUBILEE, however, is a different dimension altogether. IT WILL ONLY HAPPEN to those who _"with patience wait for [it]."_ Rom. 8:25 "_To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality--."_ Rom. 2:7
_ RESTORATION means being brought back to the original condition before deterioration took place.
There will be a company of people who experience this transformation. It will be worth all it has cost to attain to it. God will do the choosing. He, alone, knows all hearts.
_ Almost every Christian is anxiously waiting for the "Rapture" to take them out of this world. This "escape" teaching has robbed us of a far more glorious aspect of the Gospel. Every one, almost, wants to "escape" the "Great Tibulation" that is "coming". The "Rapture" teaching ensures this, so we latch on to it like a drowning man grabs for a straw on the water.
_ No one, not even the bravest of us, wants to encounter "boogy man" Antichrist. Again, "Rapture" is the perfect answer.
_ But such is NOT the teachings of the Spirit and the Word. _They BOTH AGREE THAT THE TRUE BELIEVERS WILL OVERTHROW THE FORCES OF HELL BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD! They will STAND ON THE FIELD, VICTORS AFTER ALL FOES
HAVE BEEN VANQUISHED!_
_ _THE CHANGE WHICH TAKES PLACE IN THE TRUE BELIEVER
ON THE DAY OF ATONEMENT WILL MAKE THIS POSSIBLE. THE
MORTGAGE OF THE NATURE OF SIN WILL BE ---
_ PAID IN FULL---------CANCELLED!_
_ _THE NATURE OF SIN WILL BE GONE, COMPLETELY_
_ Let the earth beware of this liberated people. They are the Army of the Lord (Joel 2), and the Sanctified ones, the Mighty Ones (Isa 13). They are the Stone cut out of the Mountain (Dan 2:34, 45)

Friday, April 09, 2010

EASTERTIME

EASTER TIME 2010
We celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus, our Lord in this month.
The Resurrection is, perhaps, the most outstanding difference between Christianity and any other religion on earth today. We have an empty tomb--they do not.
All other forms of worship have to depend upon the theory of re-incarnation for their hope of future life.
It is not very good, at best, for they are never sure of what they were in former lives, nor what they will be next time. We know, for we shall be like Him.
Psalms 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. David spoke by inspiration of God.
Our Jesus did return from the grave, and from whatever He did, and wherever he went while the body was in the tomb. He was more than conqueror, and has made a way whereby we can share in His Victory over both physical and Spiritual death.
Matthew 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection....., and appeared unto many.
Jewish people, of course, do not help us celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. They still observe Passover at this time of year. It is a dead, empty ceremony for them as they observe it. By their calendar, it has been 3320 years since the first Passover in Egypt. No wonder it is reduced to mere symbols by now.
If the Jewish calendar is correct, this is year number 5770 since the banishment from Eden. There is room for doubting the validity of their calendar. It does correspond to Biblical history up to the time of Jacob and his family going into Egypt. From there, we lose the ability to trace people by their ages. We do know, however, Israel spent four generations in Egypt.
Whether it was 430 years, or 210 years, as JCAL says, I am personally satisfied with "four generations". I can prove that by the Bible.