Hurricane Sandy left death and devastation in its wake. As post-storm reports flow in, there are incredible pictures of the damage this storm did a week before the US elections. Many people just want to count it as an act of nature. Some want to say it is the result of man-made global warming. Others understand the great power of these storms and believe their source is the highest power. Whatever to which people want to credit the source of such devastation, these disasters bring out the best and the worst in people. There are many acts of selflessness and heroism. There are many acts of self centeredness and violence. It is true that we cannot know the heart, only YHVH knows.

A storm the size of Sandy should call us all to self examination, introspect, even repentance. It used to be that in insurance documents such storms were considered an "Act of God." Nowadays, people like to explain these things away. My personal opinion is that YHVH uses these types of phenomena to get our attention. This hit a week before the election. It is considered one of the largest storms in the history of our nation. Is there anything symbolic that we can take away from this? To me, the answer is quite simple. Sandy is no where near as devastating as what we as a nation face in the future if we continue our ways of turning our backs on the one true God, YHVH.

Homosexual marriage, alliances with Islam, fiscal irresponsibility, a lack of accountability, acceptance of lies, changing the nature of the Messiah in the way He is worshipped and the meaning of his example and teachings, being readily deceived by leaders and preachers--this is just a small list of the ingredients of the spiritual storm we shall face as a nation unless we repent from our wicked ways.

 

1 Peter 4:17-18 says, "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of YHVH: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of YHVH? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"

Additionally, Yeshua says in Matthew 5:45 the Father "makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." We have seen the physical storm come upon both the just and the unjust. We need to pray for those whose lives were devastated by this storm, that they might know YHVH and see his righteousness and blessings. As in Matthew 8 when Yeshua was asleep during the great storm and waves were coming over the ship. "He arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm." Last night, the winds were roaring and the rain blasting, but we were comforted. It is always good to be in the same boat with Yeshua when the storm comes.

 

Bill Wilson, The Daily Jot

Untested faith may be true faith, but it is sure to be small faith, and it is likely to remain little as long as it is without trials. Faith never prospers so well as when all things are against her: Tempests are her trainers, and bolts of lightning are her illuminators.

You could not have believed your own weakness if you had not been compelled to pass through the rivers; and you would never have known God’s strength if you had not been supported in the flood. Faith increases in quality, assurance, and intensity the more it is exercised with tribulation. Faith is precious, and its trial is precious too.  Pastor Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892)

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ." 1 Peter1:6-7

 

Like our secular guides, today’s postmodern, purpose-driven church guides keep sounding the call for continual change. And their restless audience — dulled by decades of ‘progressive education’ and corrupt entertainment — are fast falling in line behind the most popular pied pipers. There’s little to hold them back from the tempting snares that tug at their hearts.

The greatest obstacle to deception has always been God’s unchanging Word.  But that wall of resistance is crumbling fast.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." John 1:1-5

"...the light has come into the world, and [but] men [continue to love] loved [love] darkness rather than light..." John 3:19

 

Christmas trees, secret Santa's, Easter Egg hunts, sunrise services, Halloween uh, excuse me fall festivals - all with pagan origins yet observed, condoned, overlooked or allowed in the church -

when is enough enough.?.

Have we become so desensetized that we sprinkle a little holy water around the holiday, perhaps give it a new name or a Christian spin, wash things up a bit and continue to practice the things that are detestable to God?

"The Christianization of Pagan holidays began about the fourth century A.D. when the Roman Emperor Constantine, became (or feigned becoming) a Christian. In order to consolidate his rule, he incorporated the Pagan holidays and festivals into the church ritual - attracting the Pagans, but he gave the holidays and festivals new "Christian" names and identities - thus appeasing the Christians. Over the centuries, this practice has continued until the present time where we find the two systems, Paganism and Christianity, almost indistinguishable.

This is the Adversary's clever deception - paganism dressed in Christian clothes - nothing more - nothing less, yet Christian churches have wholeheartedly embraced the deception."

[Credit to Lorraine Day, MD for these invaluable comments]

"And you shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be Mine." Leviticus 20:26

“Take heed to yourself, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, lest it be a snare in your midst. But you shall destroy their altars, break their sacred pillars, and cut down their wooden images (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God)." Exodus 34:12-13

"What fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ...come out from among them and be separate." 2 Cor. 6:12-18

"Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God." Revelation 3:2

As October 31, American's [both children and adult] celebration of occultism - a symptom of the spiritual battle that rages throughout the year, approaches remember:

" …although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools… and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator…. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness… to vile passions…. [and finally] to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit...."  Romans 1:21-32

Most people follow the masses, and the masses follow the media -- especially when it promotes thrills and adventures that feed the lust for forbidden thrills. The occult has always focused on gory images of violence, death and destruction. We see it in today's media, music, and movies. As people become desensitized to occult violence and horror, the images in popular entertainment grow increasingly and indescribably more evil.

And Santa is waiting - just around the corner.!!.

"... have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret." Ephesians 5:9-14

As I walked up Broadway during rush hour and looked into the faces of the passing crowds, a thought struck my soul like a thunderclap: “Almost every person passing by is going to hell.”

I realize this may come across as harsh or presumptuous. You might think, “Surely some of those passersby know the Lord. Certainly many in that massive crowd had seen or experienced religion of some kind.”

With every block I walked, I was hit again and again with the thought “They’re lost. They’re going to spend eternity without Jesus!” Finally, I tried comforting myself with the thought, “But our church has seen thousands of people converted. Times Square Church is one of the largest congregations in New York City.”

Still, something nagged at my soul. I had to acknowledge before the Lord, “Oh, Father, I don’t have the burden I once had. I don’t weep the way I did when I first came to New York City!”

In 1958, Gwen and I were living in Philipsburg, Pennsylvania, a town of around 1,500. In those days, I would walk into the woods near our home and weep for hours over the souls in New York. I owned a little green Chevrolet, and each week as I drove to the city to minister, I wept during the entire three-hour drive.

Today I preach in one of the most beautiful theaters in the world, the historic Mark Hellinger Theatre. Yet, I wonder how many in our congregation and how many reading this feel the way I felt walking up Broadway. I had to stop and ask myself: “How long has it been since you wept for the lost? Do you still have the Lord’s burden to reach them with the gospel?”

Are you able to work alongside your colleagues, greet your neighbors, talk to your unsaved family members and never once be concerned for their souls? Is your mind occupied with simply surviving — providing for your family? Are you no longer burdened, witnessing, reaching out to the lost and dying world?

David Wilkerson
former pastor of
Time Square Church, NYC

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing His sheaves with him” (Psalms 126:5-6).

As the pope kisses the Qu'ran we must ask ourselves ~ WHY.??.

Either the Qu'ran is truth or the Bible is truth -  but both cannot be The Truth.

Millions are being deceived by false teachings and doctrines of devils, giving heed to seducing spirits... but

"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! Matthew 18:7

America is in decline - some are unaware or unaffected, others are burdened, still others admit they are discouraged.

But God' Word is clear, speaking Truth to all who will take the time to read and study - this world is NOT our home - we are strangers in this strange and foreign land, exiles awaiting our home going to our Promise Land.

As we see all that is going on around us we should not be discouraged, burdened or unaffected, but rejoice that first, our names are written in His Book of Life and second, we were told that these things must come to pass before the great and terrible day of the LORD. We have been chosen for such a time as this. Just as Hadassah [Queen Esther] we too have a mission, not to save America, nor to become involved in the political system, but to save lost souls, rescue the perishing, family, friends, neighbors, bound in sin, wrapped in grave clothes of this world' glitz and glamor, chained by the lies of the enemy.

E.M. Bounds spent hours daily on his knees in prayer - praying for the lost, praying for the church, praying for his own walk with the LORD. How much of our day is given to prayer.?.

We must seek the LORD for the lost among us. We must pray, we must read and study His word, we must be ready to give an account of the hope that is within each of us.

Time is short for all of us. We have already spent years doing our own thing; building a career, raising children, saving for retirement, traveling..... NOW it is time to be about our Father' business.

"Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
1 Corinthians 15:56

The church, His church, bound in chains of darkness,  imprisoned by tolerance, foolish desires, false teachings, lies, deception and hidden sins. 

Called to be salt and light yet so much like the world.

Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.

....you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Revelation 3

The three most common words heard among Christians in times of crisis are: "LORD, do something!"

It is against our nature to stand still and do nothing when we face perplexing trials. In fact, waiting patiently for God to act is probably the most difficult thing about the Christian walk. Even devoted believers panic when the LORD does not move according to their timetable.

We constantly give God deadlines and time limits. We cry, "LORD, when are You going to do something about this? If You don't act now, it will be too late!" But God is never too late. He always acts according to His schedule, not ours.

Our God is always searching the earth for those who will trust Him in every crisis, trial and hopeless situation. Indeed, He often leads us into situations that are critical and difficult in order to test us.He wants to see if we are willing to stand still and wait for Him to bring supernatural deliverance.

The Bible states very clearly: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way" (Psalm 37:23). The Hebrew word for ordered here means "prearranged, step by step, fixed, ordained by God."
This means it is God, not the devil, who leads us into difficult places. We may cry, "LORD, why are You allowing my crisis to continue?" But the truth is, not only does He allow our trial, but He does so deliberately - for a purpose. And that is hard for us to accept.

God allows these hard things in our lives in order to produce faith in us. He is shaping us into godly examples of faith, to be His testimony to a faithless, ungodly age. I firmly believe every step I take is ordained by our heavenly Father and He would never lead me to the brink of a difficult situation only to abandon me. He would not say, "Okay, I've directed you up to this point. Now you're on your own."

No! God is absolutely faithful to His children, in every crisis. He is always asking us, "Will you be one I've been searching for, one who will not panic, who will not charge Me with forsaking, abandoning and hurting My children?
 
Will you stand still in your crisis and trust Me to see you through?"

David Wilkerson

"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." Philippians 1:9-11

 

We must be as the Bereans, checking to see if those things we hear and see are TRUTH.!!.

Counterfeit Christianity

... offers you God along with glitz and glamour, easy belief-ism but not eternal salvation, prosperity and pleasure without prayer and petition. One can have fellowship without obligation and salvation without devotion or surrender to the One True and Living Creator God.

Robert Burnell insists that there are two revivals now in progress.

'One is the revival of the Spirit of God by which dead men and women are freed from their sins by the Blood of the Lamb, raised to a life which bears God's Nature and manifests His Mercy. The other is a revival of religious flesh, a revival so appealing its gathering multitudes, wielding its power in the world as it offers all the comfort of religion while allowing the 'believer' to keep one's own set of principles, remain tolerant and accepting of all religions as brothers and retain all rights to one's self.

To be involved in the second,  you flee from the first.

You must escape from Christendom.'