TO THE ONE WHO CONQUERS

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“For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.” Hebrews 6:4-6

The last seven years prior to Jesus second coming

From the prophecies of Daniel, Daniel’s 70 Weeks, Olivet Discourse, and Revelation we are given a lot of detail about the last seven years before Jesus returns. first to take the saints to heaven (dead raised first and then those alive) and second when he comes to earth with the glorified saints to liberate Israel at the battle of Armageddon.

I believe as does Nelson Walters (thegospelintheendtimes.com) that the seven seals and the letters to the seven churches each give us a picture of the last seven years. For example, the sixth seal and Philadelphia, the sixth church, and the sixth year give us a picture of the final year the saints are on this earth just prior to the wrath of God being poured out onto an unbelieving world.

“When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood… Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” Revelation 6:12,17

To the church at Philadelphia: “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.” Revelation 3:10-11

At the trumpet blast of the seventh seal, the saints are raptured and at the same time the scroll is opened and the wrath of God is poured out on the earth with the Trumpet and Bowl Judgements. For the saints, the last year is a sabbath year. At the time of Noah’s Flood, Noah was on the Ark for one year and 10 days. Perhaps, this is one reason why Jesus said that at His return it will be as it was in the days of Noah, God’s wrath will be poured out once again for the same time it was poured out when He first judged mankind.

The Last Days Church is entreated to conquer, to overcome, to be faithful unto death.

EPHESUS – “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’” Revelation 2:7

SMYRNA – “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’ Revelation 2:10

PERGAMON – “To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’” Revelation 2:17

THYATIRA – “The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron” Revelation 2:26-27

SARDIS – “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.” Revelation 3:5. Note also “But the LORD said to Moses, Whoever has sinned against me, I will blot out of my book.” Exodus 32:33

PHILADELPHIA – “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Revelation 3:11

LAODICEA – “I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

The final church of Laodicea is “left behind” but they still have an opportunity to be saved. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” Revelation 3:20-21

The last days’ church will go through the prophesied time of tribulation and will see the Antichrist declare himself to be God. This will be a time when the tribulation for believers and Jews escalates. The pressure to take the mark of the Antichrist will be intense but Jesus told us to stand firm be overcomers as our deliverance is at hand.

DECEPTION IN THE LAST DAYS

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Darkness will cover the earth. We now live in a world that largely denies God’s existence and His ability to judge us. A world that is under the control of Satan. Jesus acknowledged His current sovereignty over this word. Just as the first man, Adam, rebelled against God, the Bible reveals that Satan an angelic being (created by God to serve Him in the heavenly dimension but able to impact and even manifest in our earthly dimension) rebelled against God wanting to be God. We are told that one-third of the angels followed Satan in his rebellion and are now demons taking part in Satan’s demonic plan to subvert God’s redemptive plan.

“We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

A world that denies the true history of this world including the worldwide flood of Noah’s day when God judged and destroyed mankind and the animals except those on Noah’s Ark just 4000 years ago. Probably, the greatest lie that Satan has got the world to believe is the evolutionary origins of this universe.

The world also largely denies God ever established a nation to represent Him on this earth and from whom would come the redeemer, the one who can save mankind from sin, man’s rebellion against their Creator. The true history of this world from its beginning to its prophesied end has been given to us by God Himself through the prophets. Fulfilled prophecies already prove the Bible is God’s Word. Jesus came into His world and changed history forever. It is 2020 because God ensured this event could not be denied. When the resurrected Jesus departed this world He said He would return to the same place where He left it, Jerusalem. Extensive details of His second coming were revealed to the O.T. prophets and to the N.T. apostles particularly John in the book of Revelation. There are more prophecies about Jesus’ second coming to earth than there were about His first coming and there were plenty of those.

Christians we need to start living eternally now, ready for Jesus’ return. We can use the coming prophesied events to prepare the church for the coming tribulation and also for what I call apocalyptic evangelism.

available as an eBook on Amazon and from me ron@bakb.com.au in trade paperback format. Anyone who makes a donation of $20.00 will receive a book delivered anywhere in the world. You will need to email me your address.

KENYA HOUSE CHURCH MOVEMENT

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END OF 2020 KENYA HOUSE CHURCH FELLOWSHIP REGION: MIGORI.
VENUE: MUBACHI MIXED SECONDARY SCHOOL.
DATE: DECEMBER 22nd-25th.
THEME: PRAYERS & THANKSGIVING TO GOD.

The following email was received from Pastor Charles Owino,

To all the followers, and the community of believers of Living Eternal Now (LEN).

I pastor Charles Otieno Owino, the founder of the Kenya House Church Movement (KHC), write on behalf of the KHC leadership team.

I take this great opportunity to greet you all in Jesus name!

As mentioned in an earlier post on the KHC movement, we are holding our end of 2020 annual fellowship in the Migori region, December, 22nd-25th.

The KHC movement has 8 house church groups, located in four different parts of Kenya, we expect a large number from all of our 8 house church groups to attend.

Previous ministry trip led by Pastor Charles to border area of Kenya and Uganda.

Due to the covid19 protocols, we need to have a spacious facility. We have asked the administration in charge of Mubachi Mixed Secondary School if they would be prepared to accomodate us and we have reached an amicable agreement on the cost.

REQUEST:      
We are in need of Kshs 51,500/, which is equivalent to Au$ 660.00 for the meeting to run and be successful. The KHC leadership with the help of church house group pastors, have managed to raise a total of Kshs 22,000/.from their own pockets, and from 8 house church groups donations. This means will still need to raise kshs 29500 which is equivalent to Au $378 to make our budget complete.

Brother Ron Edwards, has been an active supporter, standing on the frontline funding all our activities here despite his age and being a pensioner.

We must also come up, and help donate money, in helping him support the KHC movement to run its activities.

I do kindly make a request to anybody, NOT only brother Ron alone but to anybody from the house of faith, whose heart is touched, led, and is willing to help support the KHC movement with the remaining balance of  Au$378.00

If you are willing to help support us, give your donation to brother Ronald Edwards and he will make sure the money gets to us.

May you all prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.

Pastor Charles Owino

SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES PATTERNED BY DANIEL

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There are spiritual principles and a pattern in Daniel’s life experience that we should consider and apply in our own lives: current world events now line up with many of the Biblical end-times prophecies.

Daniel’s study of God’s Word led him to understand that the return of his people to Jerusalem was at hand.

“Daniel, perceived in the books (Prophets) the number of years that, according to the word of the Lord to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.” Daniel 9:2

Daniel also understood the severity of the sin that had caused God to punish his nation. Therefore, Daniel, in humility and fasting, came before the Lord on behalf of his people.

These events should drive us to the Word of God, just as it did Daniel.

The study of God’s Word may reveal the next event that God has ordained for us. This study of God’s Word should cause us to fall on our knees in prayer. In Daniel’s life, the cause was Jeremiah’s prophecy. Jesus told us that at the end of the age, before His second coming to earth, the world would be like the days of Noah, “lawlessness, would be increased and the love of many (Christians) will grow cold” Matthew 24:12. This is already occurring in our day. Eventually “they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake.” Matthew 24:9.

Let each of us get about our Heavenly Father’s business to tell as many as possible the good news of the Gospel of Christ.

DEALING WITH SIN

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How can we keep our hearts from lusting after the images we see in the world?

Some helpful Scriptures:

“I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin” ? (Job 31:1)

Job made a formal, solemn, binding agreement with his eyes not to entertain lustful behaviour or thoughts.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1-2),

“This is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you knows how to control his own body in holiness and honor” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4).

Sometimes that abstaining comes in the form of leaving the place or situation where you’re tempted. Obey the still small voice. The indwelling Holy Spirit will convict you but you need to say “not my will be done but yours be done”. Long standing addictions are hard to break but as your relationship with God develops with you experiencing His goodness and his revelation of new truth from His word you will not want to grieve the Holy Spirit or quench His work in your life.

“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”(2 Timothy 2:22)

Even after conversion, we all still sin (1 John 1:8, 10), so what must we do?

“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5)

What can help us do that, besides run from temptation and turn our eyes away?

How can you turn away from or run from your imagination? The psalmist gives us sage advice by writing, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11). In effect, the psalmist is saying he memorized Scripture so that he might not sin against God.

“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

Hiding God’s Word in our hearts gives us ammunition for times when we need to resist temptation. For Job, it was turning his eyes away when he looked at a woman. For others, it was running as fast as they can, but the Word of God has power (Isaiah 55:11; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18)

We need God’s power, which is found in His Spirit and in His Word. That’s because, “all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world” (1 John 2:16).

Conclusion

The best way to avoid lusting and temptation, which can carry us away into sin, is to immediately look away from anything that tempts you; remove yourself from a tempting situation; and hide God’s Word in your heart, because God’s Word has power where we do not. And above all we need to acknowledge the Holy Spirit and His role to make us like Jesus, He is our counselor, teacher and comforter. He is God within us. Ask Him to provide the power in order to fight the temptation, particularly to lust, which could lead to a sin of sexual immorality.

This article was inspired by an article by Pastor Jack Wellman 3 Biblical Strategies to Resist Sin (patheos.com)

POSITION OF CMI ON VACCINATION

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Since Creation Ministries International (CMI) is a pro-life organization, vaccination is one of the tangential issues we deal with. For a long time, we had no official position on our website, but in recent years we have found ourselves answering more and more questions about them. This has forced us to search for answers to those questions, which then precipitated the publication of a position statement on vaccination on the CMI website. Please understand that this only came after much deliberation. It took a lot of time and energy for Dr Jonathan Sarfati to write and multiple CMI scientists were involved in the editing process. In the end, however, the fact that vaccines demonstrably save lives was the deciding factor that made us go public with the information.

Measles
Historic measles cases in the US before and after the introduction of various measles vaccines. Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States (2003), No. HS-18. Specified Reportable Diseases—Cases per 100,000 Population: 1912 to 2001. The Polio vaccine produced similar results.

There is no question that vaccines have eradicated debilitating and deadly diseases such as smallpox and polio. Improvements and advancements in medical science are a good thing, as they help reverse the effects of the Curse, following Jesus’ example of healing the sick. At the most basic level, it is important to understand that vaccines seek to piggyback on our wonderfully designed immune system by simply introducing something foreign to it. The immune system then reacts by building up antibodies to counteract the foreign substance. The production of antibodies is part of the system, designed by God, that helps our bodies to remember how to fight off infections. Vaccines attempt to train our immune system by giving it ‘target practice’. In the event a person gets exposed to the infectious agent later in life, the immune system will ‘remember’ it and deal with it quickly. From birth, our bodies get exposed to literally thousands of antigens (molecules that can elicit an immune response) daily. Immunizations take up but a small percentage of the total capacity of the immune system.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS -THINGS COULD GET WORSE

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Martin Isles of the Australian Christian Lobby (ACL) is worth following if you want to keep up to date with what the Australian Governments (State and Federal) are doing to restrict religious freedoms.

Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition Bill 2020

You will be very concerned as Martin is that the bill before the Victorian parliament will see Christians in gaol, e,g. if pastors read sections of the Bible on LGBT issues such as marriage and homosexuality and counsel people according to God’s values expressed in His Word.

COMPLETING THE GREAT COMMISSION

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What are we doing to witness to the goodness of God in a world that has ceased to acknowledge His existence, let alone His sovereignty over the Cosmos. Jesus gave us an assignment to tell those around us about the good news of the Gospel.

Bible prophecies forecasting the events prior to Jesus second coming to earth are being fulfilled at an ever increasing rate much like “birth pangs”. This should prompt spirit filled believers to get about our master’s business. We will need to give Him an account of our actions or inaction.

Let us not be like Jonah. When God sent him to Nineveh he rebelled and took a boat to Tarshish, far from Nineveh. God used the situation to have Jonah witness to the sailors on the boat. Jonah told them he was the cause for the terrible storm and that if the sailors threw him into the water the storm would cease. They eventually did and the storm ceased. “So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.” Jonah 1:15

Next God orchestrated for a fish to swallow Jonah, he repented after God called him a second time, and Noah eventually fulfilled his mission. The response to Jonah’s message was astounding . This notoriously immoral city and an enemy of Israel repented with fasting, sackcloth and ashes. When Nineveh repented, the reason for Jonah’s rebellion became clear: he had feared that God would forgive the Ninevites; and when God did forgive them, Jonah resented it (Jonah 4:1-3).

And finally, God’s question to Jonah “And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left… ?” is unanswered and should confront each of us. There are many people who have not heard the gospel and just as Jonah was commanded to go we also are commanded to go and share the gospel with all God brings across our path or leads us to. Are we being obedient to His call?

DEBATING INTELLIGENT DESIGN

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There’s no better tribute to the power of ideas than a changed mind. Erik Strandness is a physician in Spokane, WA, practicing neonatal medicine. He watched a new exchange between biochemist Michael Behe and computational biologist Joshua Swamidass on the excellent and always thoughtful series Unbelievable? with Justin Brierley. He writes to differ with Swamidass and to describe his own change of ideas, from theistic evolution to intelligent design.

Joshua Swamidass is a biologist and Christian who is strongly critical of ID. He engages with Behe on the Kitzmiller-Dover case and the ID proponent’s most recent book ‘Darwin Devolves’ which critiques evolutionary theory.

The timing and circumstances of Erik Strandness intellectual evolution aren’t totally clear from the article. It preceded the Behe/Swamidass discussion. But his account is a valuable read nevertheless. As Dr. Strandness points out, Professor Swamidass doesn’t call himself a theistic evolutionist, but “he seems to share its favorable stance towards evolution and its opposition to intelligent design.”

God in a Box

Strandness reflects on his Lutheran upbringing. He “always had a place for God in my life, but that was exactly my problem: I had a place for God in my life….Part of the reason I compartmentalized my faith was because I was a science guy and science told me I was just an evolved chemical.” The compartmentalization, characteristic of theistic evolution, was unsatisfying to him. “While Swamidass’ goal is admirably to harmonize Christianity and science, I feel like all he has really done is say it’s OK to live with the tension.”

The theme of disappointment with a theistic evolutionary approach runs throughout his essay:

Interestingly, many theistic evolutionists don’t find God under the microscope but do in the courtroom. It appears they are more convinced of God’s existence by the moral argument than the scientific argument. 

I’m glad that they find assurance for their faith in this minimalist approach, but it leaves a huge chasm between an awe-inspiring Big Bang and the appearance of morality and consciousness in human beings. A gap which they fill with a rather bland series of naturally selected mutations. 

They give God credit for the big-ticket items, but don’t want to bother Him with the mundane task of speciation. Sadly, they reduce the book of nature to a Rorschach ink blot that offers us a vague psychological rendering of God’s subconscious rather than fine biological literature that reveals the sharpness of His mind. 

Common Ground with Intelligent Design

On the other hand, Strandness, as a physician, finds common ground with Professor Behe and his arguments for the irreducible complexity of certain biological structures. Swamidass in the discussion on Brierley’s show says he believes “God was involved in the rise of humans but I don’t actually see any biochemical evidence of God’s design there.” Dr. Strandness does see that evidence, however.

I have to respectfully disagree with him because I treat my patients based on an irreducibly complex physiological template that I didn’t create, but which I dismiss at my own peril. I’m able to successfully practice medicine because my patients are fearfully and wonderfully made, not because they were naturally selected to survive.

Interestingly, a whole field of science called biomimetics has emerged that takes the superior design of irreducibly complex biological machines and tries to replicate them at the macro level. It appears that rather than dismissing design, science is beginning to imitate it as the sincerest form of divine flattery. 

Swamidass made the case that biological machines are not machines in the traditional sense. However, I think he would get some push back from the biomimeticists who know that nature has given them a template for a better mousetrap, which, if successfully replicated, will inspire the world to beat a path to their door. 

Strandness concludes:

Richard Dawkins famously said that Charles Darwin made it possible for him to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist, but I found that [intelligent design] made it possible for me to be an intellectually fulfilled Christian.

For me, it was sad to observe that both Behe and Swamidass were comfortable with man evolving from some apelike creature, and yet both claim to be Christians. It is obvious from this belief that both do not believe in the inerrancy of God’s Word nor do they spend much time reading God’s Word. It is difficult to comprehend how Swamidass believes that man is made in God’s image and at the same time could have evolved from an ape.

KENYA HOUSE CHURCH NEEDS HELP

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I recently received the following report from Pastor Charles Otieno. I consider him to be the leader of the Kenya House Church Movement that is growing rapidly. The group has come under intense spiritual warfare and I believe I am called by God to help them and I hope God inspires some of my LEN supporters to help as well. Over the last two years, three of the leaders have experienced family tragedy. Charles had his teenage daughter abducted from school, fortunately to be found weeks later in neighbouring Tanzania just before she was sold off and taken to who knows where. She was months in recovery. Ps. Alfred lost his daughter to Covid and now Ps. Maurice has lost his home.

“The Kenya house church movement is comprised of 8 house church groups. We are committed to carrying out the great commission, with no church buildings, and no paid pastors.

We believe that the last day’s church will be like the first church as described in the Book of Acts and we believe in the end-time prophetic signs of Jesus second coming to reign and rule here on earth for 1000 years.

Each of the 8 house church groups is headed by a pastor and an elder and the Kenya house church leadership is much involved in the day to day spiritual and physical challenges our believers are undergoing.

Recently, we witnessed the burnt premises of one of our fellow brothers. Pastor Maurice has been a strong pillar, and of a great help to me (Charles) and to the entire Kenya house church movement (KHC).

He called me over the phone on 2nd December 2020. The gas cylinder his daughter was using in cooking had exploded and the whole premises caught on fire. It was by God’s providence, that none were killed or injured, particularly his daughter. But everything in the premises was burnt to ashes.

The local administration took the family to a nearby school, where they continue to spend their days in a hall, but had no clothes, food, furniture cooking utensils, and other basic necessities. I bought them some foodstuffs, and a few clothes to help support the family. Good Samaritans also helped support the family with a few items.

On behalf of the family of pastor Maurice and the Kenya house church movement, I do kindly request the community of believers and the followers of Living Eternal Now, to join with us to provide a helping hand in giving support to the family of pastor Maurice so that our brother and his family, may be able to get a house and other basic needs in life and get a fresh start.

I have attached for you a PDF of the old burnt premises of pastor Maurice. Before and after the fire destroyed the place.
Your help and support will be highly appreciated. May God continue to fulfill his awesome plan and purpose in you and through you.”

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Fortunately, since the fire Charles and friends of Maurice have been able to put up a tin shed as temporary shelter but it is primitive as you can see.

Please go to my Home Page and the icon Donations to help Ps. Maurice and his family. A small amount of money goes along way in Kenya so please help with whatever amount you can spare. Blessings, Ron