TOUGH TRUTHS ABOUT SHARING THE GOSPEL

Posted on by

Simply revealing the love of God to someone is not evangelism. In fact, it can have devastating results. It takes much more than a love revelation to draw someone into a legitimate relationship with Jesus.

A revelation of our sinfulness and hopelessness is the critical starting point when sharing the gospel with someone. We cannot cover up this reality out of fear that someone will get defensive, offended or resistant to the message. Do we even understand anymore in our hyper-modern age that God is holy? If we modify the message of truth in hopes of ensuring a longer, more “successful” audience with a sinner, we are in serious violation.

As was done with the rich young ruler, you must make it hard, not easy, to follow Jesus. You aren’t a salesman, you are a representative of a holy God. Address sin, hell, the fear of the Lord, surrender, the cost of following Jesus and the personal loss that will result.

They will lose friends, leave immorality and selfishness behind, surrender all and sign up as a martyr should God call them to that.

If they eagerly repent after you share all that, you’ll know they are starting their Christian journey the right way. If you only share God’s love with them, they are at great risk of living their entire lives convinced all is well while actually following Jesus in an unsaved condition.

Stop minimizing the cost of following Jesus and hiding offensive truth in the hopes that people will get saved.

“For if we sin wilfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgement, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.” Hebrews 10:26-27

If they don’t like God as He is or if they get offended when faced with their own wickedness, let them walk. That sounds harsh, but it’s truth. God is who He is, and we can’t attempt to make him more attractive. He truly is a loving and fearful God.

Of course, their decision to walk should rip at our hearts, launching us into tears and intercession for them. True love looks just like this. Refusal to confront with truth is damaging beyond measure, and hell is growing larger because of it.

much of this article was abstracted from Charisma Magazine article by John Burton Prophetic Revivalist Responds to Bethel’s Controversial LGBT Post.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is lgbt-celebration.jpg

ARE PROPHESIED MIDDLE EAST WARS IMMINENT?

Posted on by

Iran building new precision missile facility on Syria-Iraq border

Mideast Iran War Games Missile Iran

Based on satellite photos released by ImageSat International, Fox News reported that an Iranian base is under construction on the border between Syria and Iraq, which appears capable of serving the Islamic Republic’s precision missile program.

NY Times: Israel was ‘far closer’ to attacking Iran than anyone realised

Even as Israel and Iran currently confront each other on a number of different fronts, and after the U.S. pullout from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord under President Donald Trump, the New York Times has published “The Secret History of the Push to Strike Iran.”

It details the debates within and between the U.S. and Israeli governments over whether to attack the Islamic Republic in order to thwart a potential Iranian nuclear threat, and in 2012 an Israeli attack “came far closer to happening than has previously been reported.”

“In the summer of 2012, American spy satellites detected clusters of Israeli aircraft making what seemed to be early preparations for an attack” on Iran, says The New York Times.

“One former senior Israeli security official, looking back at that time, said that it wasn’t until then that he believed the prime minister [Netanyahu] was serious about striking Iran,” says the article, written by Ronen Bergman, an Israeli security correspondent, and Mark Mazzetti, a Washington-based investigative reporter.

“Behind the scenes, Israel was indeed preparing for a strike. Its military and intelligence services had cut the time needed for the final preparations — for the attack and for the war that might ensue,” the correspondents write.

Michael Oren, the Israeli ambassador in Washington at the time, told the newspaper: “I went to bed every night, if I went to bed at all, with the phone close to my ear. I was ready to be called in by Israel and sent to the White House or the State Department to tell them we had attacked, or if they already knew from their own sources, straight to CNN.”

The Times report says that the Israeli attack “came far closer to happening than has previously been reported.”

“Netanyahu insists that the threat of an Israeli strike ‘was not a bluff — it was real. And only because it was real were the Americans truly worried about it,’” says the report. He pulled back from the brink only because he still could not get a majority of his cabinet to support him. “If I’d had a majority, I would have done it,” he says. “Unequivocally,” according to the article.

‘Israel must pay,’ vows Hezbollah terror chief in new threats

World Israel News Staff and AP – The leader of Lebanon’s Iran-backed terror army, Hezbollah, broadcast new threats on Saturday related to air strikes within Lebanese territory it believes Israel carried out.

Terror chief Hassan Nasrallah reiterated his group’s intention to retaliate against the Jewish state, saying Israel “must pay a price” for its aggression.

Following one of the drone strikes, reports indicated a key facility related to Hezbollah’s Iranian-backed precision missile program was struck, with critical infrastructure destroyed.

On Saturday, Nasrallah categorically denied Israeli claims about facilities to produce precision-guided missiles in Lebanon. According to Nasrallah, such accusations by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are “lie[s]” to justify Israeli aggression against Lebanon.

Anti-tank missiles fired at Israel from Lebanon, bomb shelters open

“A number of anti-aircraft missiles were fired from Lebanon at an IDF base and military vehicles in the area. There are a number of confirmed hits,” the army said in a statement. The missiles were fired at an Israeli base and IDF vehicles near Moshav Avivim, which is located less than one kilometre from the border with Lebanon. Hezbollah claimed it destroyed a tank. IDF confirms that at least one vehicle was hit. Israel returned fire at targets in southern Lebanon. Residents up to four kilometers from the Lebanon border were directed to open bomb shelters and to remain in their homes, Ynet reports.

Palestinians fire 5 rockets at southern Israel as border riots rage on

The rockets were launched by terrorists on Friday night, setting off red alert sirens in communities in Southern Israel.

By Reuters and Algemeiner Staff

Five rockets were launched from the Gaza Strip toward Israel late Friday night, the Israeli military confirmed after rocket warning sirens sounded in the Israeli border town of Sderot and two nearby villages shortly before midnight.

Israel responded with tank and air strikes on a number of Hamas military targets in the northern Gaza Strip, an Israeli military spokesman said. Palestinian officials said no one was injured.

At the same time, the weekly riots on the Gaza-Israel border continued, with two rioters shot by IDF forces.

An Israeli military spokesman said troops guarding the border on Friday were faced with more than 6,000 demonstrators at several points along the fence, some hurling explosive devices and firebombs. He said that some briefly managed to cross the fence before returning to Gaza, and that Israeli forces responded with riot dispersal measures. Around 210 Palestinians have been killed since the riots began in March 2018, Gaza medical officials say.

Egypt, Qatar, and United Nations officials have been working to keep the border calm in recent months.


JUSTIN BEIBER’S POWERFUL TESTIMONY

Posted on by

Pop star Justin Bieber posted an extremely honest note to his 118 million Instagram followers about his life, his struggle with drug abuse and anxiety, and his faith in Jesus Christ, which ultimately led him through it all.

Bieber opened up about how a meteoric rise to fame as a child launched him into a downward spiral of partying and drug abuse, causing him to withdraw from those who cared about him. In the end, he says, it was only Jesus who could turn it all around.

“It’s hard to get out of bed in the morning with the right attitude when you are overwhelmed with your life, your past, job, responsibilities, emotions, your family, your finances, relationships,” Bieber wrote.

“As my talent progressed and I became ultra successful, it happened within a strand of two years. My whole world flipped on its head. I went from a 13-year-old boy from a small town to being praised left and right by the world with millions saying much they loved me and how great I was.”

With staggering wealth but no real life skills, Bieber found himself lost and confused.

“Everyone did everything for me, so I never even learned the fundamentals of responsibility,” he explained. “By this point, I was 18 with no skills in the real world, with millions of dollars and access to whatever I wanted.”

“This is a very scary concept for anyone,” the popstar continued. “By 20, I made every bad decision you could have thought of and went from one of the most loved and adored people in the world to the most ridiculed, judged, and hated person in the world.”

Unable to cope with the relentless ups and downs of tour life, Bieber said he started “doing pretty heavy drugs at 19.

“I became resentful, disrespectful to women, and angry,” he said, noting that he was becoming increasingly distant from those who loved him.

Incredibly, however, Bieber found that God did not give up on him. Instead, the Lord blessed him with wonderful people, including his wife, Hailey Bieber (née Baldwin).

“Luckily, God blessed me with extraordinary people who love me for me,” he said. “Now I am navigating the best season of my life ‘MARRIAGE’ !! Which is an amazing, crazy, new responsibility,” he shared. “You learn patience, trust, commitment, kindness, humility, and all of the things it looks like to be a good man.”

“All this to say even when the odds are against you, keep fighting. Jesus loves you,” Bieber concluded. “Be kind today, be bold today and love people today, not by your standards but by God’s perfect unfailing love.”

U.S.A. DEMOCRATIC PARTY EMBRACES GODLESS VALUES

Posted on by

The Democratic Party has taken the nation to a new low. As major influencers continually advocate for a godless lifestyle, Christians are constantly put on the defensive. The latest blow comes as the Democratic Party issued a resolution in which it gladly embraces godless values.

The party wholeheartedly embraces abortion, homosexuality, same-sex marriage and a host of other practices the Bible calls sinful. Recently, Robert Jeffress was on Lou Dobbs Tonight, where he talked about the Democratic Party’s new godless resolution. In it, they said they enthusiastically supported the values of the religiously unaffiliated. “Religiously unaffiliated,” Jeffress pointed out, is just a code word for godlessness.

liberal-protest

If Christians so much as pray in Jesus’ name, liberals become hysterical and criticise the action as unconstitutional. For instance, during the 2016 presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton supporters came out with a song to demonstrate the importance of voting for her. In the song, they used extremely foul language and even used a horrible expletive in connection to Jesus Christ at the end of the song when they called people to vote. It was utterly blasphemous, but when State Rep. Stephanie Borowicz  opened the Pennsylvania House with a powerful prayer in the name of Jesus, the left attacked her as Islamophobic.

Paul’s plea that we put on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil is pertinent to our culture’s battle today, recognising that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age. against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:11-12

Abstract from Steve Strang report in Charisma Magazine September 3rd 2019

DECEPTION ON TIMING OF RAPTURE

Posted on by

What two events must take place prior to the rapture? Are there risks in blindly following the teaching of prominent Bible teachers?

What is wrong with a PreTribulation Rapture from a Scriptural standpoint? Nelson does a good job of explaining the relevant Scriptures, particularly 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

UNDERSTANDING GOD’S PROMISES TO ISRAEL

Posted on by

›Israel is God’s vehicle to bring salvation to all the world. It is central to His redemptive purposes.

›God created Israel to be His “Kingdom” on earth. Nine times, He described the Land of Israel as His “Land”—“the place He has chosen as the dwelling place for His Name.”

›Israel’s rebirth in 1948 after almost 1900 years was a miracle, a miracle which Jesus prophesied in the Olivet Discourse (parable of the fig tree) as the first major sign prior to His return.

My temple will stand in Israel for all time, and I will live among My people and be their God. Every nation on earth will know that My temple is in Israel and that I have chosen the Israelites to be My people.” Ezekiel 37:24-28

FURTHER PROOF OF BIBLICAL INERRANCY

Posted on by

Archaeologists were excited by the discovery of a seal and a small clay seal impression (bulla), with ancient Hebrew script on them on the western slope of the City of David, Jerusalem.

This wonderful find serves to connect another specifically named individual from the Bible to real physical history in the correct time period, confirming that we can be confident the Bible is reliable.

City of David,
CLAY SEAL OF KING JOSIAH’S

The 2,700-year-old seal impression translates as “[belonging] to Nathan-Melech, Servant of the King”. In 2 Kings 23:11, Nathan-Melek is named as an official of the godly King Josiah of Judah (7th century BC).

The items were found inside the remains of a large public administrative building that was likely destroyed during the Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem in 586 bc. Archaeologist Dr Yiftah Shalev of the Israel Antiquities Authority explained, “What is important is not just that they were found in Jerusalem, but [that they were found] inside their true archaeological context. It is not a coincidence that the seal and the seal impression are found here.”

Borschel-Dan, A., Tiny First Temple find could be first proof of aide to biblical King Josiah, timesofisrael.com, 31 Mar 2019.

STANDING FIRM ON THE BIBLE

Posted on by
image of map
Geologist Dr Timothy Clarey

Geologist Dr Timothy Clarey earned a B.S. in geology summa cum laude, an M.S. in geology from the University of Wyoming, and an M.S. in hydrogeology and a Ph.D. in geology (1996) from Western Michigan University. Tim spent nearly 10 years in the oil exploration industry and 17 years in academia which gives him a unique perspective for his work at the International Creation Research Institute. Tim joined ICR as a full-time geologist in 2013. His first major (and current) research project is called the Column Project. Tim explains:

It entails plotting stratigraphic columns from oil well, outcrop, and even seismic data into a database, continent by continent. Basically, I’m plotting the actual rocks that are in place all over the globe. So far, I have three continents completed and another nearly finished. All the continents show the same sedimentation patterns that reflect a single watery catastrophe. They all begin with minimal sedimentary coverage and rock volume, and reach a peak in coverage and volume on all continents at the same time. The results are showing the true global nature of the Flood.

Although Tim’s work deals with rocks and fossils, it is significant for affirming the trustworthiness of the Bible and the integrity of the Gospel. Tim explains:

The truth of God’s Word is on the line, and ultimately, salvation is on the line. The Bible makes it clear that God created everything in six literal days some 6,000 years ago. He put the genealogies in the Bible for a reason. We must believe He did what He said. Sadly, evolution and long-age thinking are turning people away from God. We need to show people that they can trust God and His written Word.

If God’s Word is shown to be untrue or even partially untrue, it would undermine Jesus’ credibility. If the parts of the Bible that says certain events happened when they really didn’t—are merely stories—then who’s to say whether other parts of the Bible, like the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, aren’t just stories, too? We have to believe all of God’s Word, from the very first word to the last. And the biggest problem most people have in doing that is with the book of Genesis and its accounts of creation and the global Flood.

I’m excited that my research is showing people the global Flood as described in the Bible really happened, and that the evidence, correctly interpreted, shows how the water rose and covered the entire planet. That’s why I am so passionate about it. God’s Word is truly true! And Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Believing and accepting the truth of Jesus’ sacrifice and His shed blood is what salvation is all about. I am just thankful that God is able to use me in this way.

Taken from article in the Creation Magazine Volume 41 Issue 4: Shaun Doyle talks to Dr Tim Clarey about his research career in Flood geology

IS CALIFORNIA SETTING ITSELF UP FOR GOD’S JUDGEMENT?

Posted on by

The California State Assembly has passed a resolution telling pastors to affirm homosexuality which, for many pastors, would be a violation of biblical beliefs.

Assemblyman Evan Low and three dozen other lawmakers pushed the resolution in the state Assembly Judiciary Committee that’s aimed at telling religious leaders in California what they should preach.

The measure passed, thanks in part to the help of Dr. Kevin Mannoia, Azusa Pacific University chaplain and the former head of the National Association of Evangelicals. 

Liberty Counsel says Mannoia “has become a prop for the LGBT agenda by directing pastors and counsellors to reject biblical views of sexuality and deny counselling for those struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion.” Mannoia recently testified before the judiciary committee in favour of ACR 99 and directed pastors and counsellors to affirm LGBT behaviours. In a letter submitted to legislators, Mannoia wrote, ‘On behalf of some Christian pastors and church leaders, I write to express various levels of support for the Resolution ACR 99 dealing with Conversion Therapy and LGBTQ persons’.”

“It’s really disappointing that he would put aside the truth of the matter just to gain some favour, perhaps a seat at the table of this discussion,” said Roger Gannam, vice president of legal affairs for Liberty Counsel.  “Everyone deserves respect in this discussion and dialogue about what kind of counselling should be allowed in California. But to join in a document as Dr. Mannoia has done, that really slanders the church and slanders good counsellors and good patients. It’s unexplainable and it’s really inexcusable.

The resolution also condemns counselling for unwanted same-sex attraction or gender confusion, known as conversion therapy. More than two dozen doctors, counsellors, former homosexuals, and other Christian leaders signed a letter condemning the resolution, which they said violates religious freedom.

“We have a track record,” said Gannam.  “We have actual patients and clients who have benefited from therapy to help them with their unwanted attractions. We’ve helped them change their lives. We’ve helped them to live heterosexual lifestyles with strong and healthy marriages and so it’s really a slander against them to say that this practice is somehow unethical and harmful.”

Gannam explained how this resolution is bad all the way around. “It blames the church and religious leaders for the high rates of suicide among those who identify as LGBT,” he said.  “That’s simply a false claim.  It cannot be backed up empirically and yet this resolution states it as if it’s a fact.”

“It’s a foreshadowing of worse things to come,” Gannam noted.

“This resolution is perhaps an incremental approach to getting to the same goal, which is to make it illegal to have a conversation in a counselling room that tells a person that if you want to change, that it’s possible,” he said.  And that’s what’s so dangerous about it. Putting aside the blatant violation of the First Amendment. It just shows the church is under attack.”

Today, California is on the cutting edge of everything that is wrong with America. The state is at the forefront of our moral, social and political decay, and the filth being produced by our entertainment industry has infected the entire globe. Surely, California is setting itself up for God’s judgement.

Unless you have an overwhelming reason to stay, I don’t know why anyone would possibly want to live on the West Coast at this point.

A day of reckoning for the state of California is approaching very rapidly, and you don’t want to be there when that day finally arrives.

Cal State Fullerton professor Matt Kirby was one of the lead researchers on the groundbreaking study that alerted all of us to this possibility, and he says that if a large enough earthquake happened today “It´s something that would happen relatively instantaneously,” Kirby said. “Probably today if it happened, you would see seawater rushing in.”

Southern California is essentially a time bomb, and it is absolutely riddled with fault lines.

HOW OLD IS THE EARTH?

Posted on by

Who cares about the age of earth? The evolutionists care about it a lot as there whole story is based on billions of years. This presentation presents considerable credible evidence for a young earth.

Whose interpretation of the facts will you believe?

Your eternal destiny depends upon knowing the truth and only God’s Word reveals the truth as given by the Creator of the Cosmos. If you have not read my recent post “What is Truth?” can I suggest you do so even before you watch this video.