THE POWER OF HUMILITY

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The ultimate act of humility was seen when Jesus trusted the Father so completely that he became a vulnerable human baby and later submitted to death on a Cross. His willingness to humble himself had a paradoxical outcome: he refused to elevate himself and, as a result of his refusal, he was raised to the right hand of God. God the Father exalted Jesus because he refused to exalt himself and the same dynamic works in our lives as well.

“And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:8-10

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,” 1 Peter 5:6

Humility is the opposite of pride and it is the quality we most need in order to walk with God but we can only do it in the power of the Holy Spirit.

“But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord,” Micah 3:8

Humility cultivates God’s presence, whereas pride alienates him since God is opposed to the proud. Pride is founded on self-deception, the grandiose delusion that we are special and gifted, perhaps even exceptional. God allowed the Apostle Paul to be severely afflicted to prevent pride from creeping in (2 Corinthians 12:7). Particularly pernicious is so-called spiritual pride, a tendency which was continually countered by Jesus in his interaction with the Pharisees.

The main ‘skill’ which is required for leadership is discerning when we are moving with God’s presence and in God’s Spirit – and not just simply moving. It is not simply a case of being good at planning, skilled in organizational development, or having the personal charisma which others naturally follow. This perspective is in keeping with the New Testament where leadership is regarded primarily as a gift from God (Romans 12:8). Also, spiritual leadership is not to be confused with being a religious entrepreneur.

Originally God made man from the dust of the ground and but for the grace of God, we end up as dust. Humility is the acceptance that we have these lowly origins and we are, therefore, limited beings. This has a very positive effect on our inner world, as it enables us to make peace with our limitations, as well as allowing us to celebrate our strengths. Humility frees us from having overly high expectations of ourselves and of others in a world that often demands impossible standards. We can escape this toxic situation, which always leaves us feeling that we are failures (not just that we have failed but that we, in ourselves, are failures). Humility is being comfortable in our own skin, so comfortable that we don’t feel the need to justify ourselves to others or to bolster our reputation.

Humility is relying on God, rather than on ourselves, in the sure knowledge that He gives the grace (the ability to succeed) to the humble (James 4:6). When we see God act, it increases our sense of security and makes us aware of His presence with us. We become aware that the One acting on our behalf is giving us the very thing which we have been unable to grasp for ourselves. It is the meek (humble) who will inherit the land, rather than those whose hope is based on power, rights, skills, or privilege.

“But the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace.” Psalms 37:11

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

To act meekly, trusting God alone, is profoundly counter-cultural and very different from seeking to reach our ‘full potential’ as independent autonomous entities. Pride engenders self-reliance; humility frees us from total dependence on our insights and abilities.

Humility is sometimes portrayed as involving the adoption of a negative view of ourselves, but in fact, humility releases us to be who we really are, without the need for pretence. It engenders self-acceptance and saves us from having to construct a false self to convince ourselves and others that we are worthy of acceptance, love, and admiration. Our true self is potentially less impressive than we would like to be but is more peaceful, less self-absorbed, and easier to be with. Thomas Merton puts the heart of the matter quite succinctly: ‘In order to become myself I must cease to be what I always thought I wanted to be’. We do not need to aspire to be more gifted, good-looking, athletic, or intelligent than we already are. Humility is a great blessing, as it frees us from the need to be defensive about our shortcomings. It releases us from our desire to dominate others so that we feel superior; we don’t have to impress friends and colleagues to get the recognition we crave.

Humility, accepting our limitations, enables God to work through us more effectively and it puts us in good company. The Gospels, Mark’s in particular, intentionally highlight the way the disciples always seemed to get hold of the wrong end of the stick, often compounding their incompetence by suggesting a foolish course of action. When Jesus speaks metaphorically they take it literally and vice versa. The good news is that if God could use them so powerfully, despite their obvious limitations, then he can use us as well. His power really is made perfect in our weakness.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Walking humbly with your God now will prepare you for reigning with Jesus in His soon-coming Millennial Kingdom. It no doubt will determine the role that Jesus assigns to you.

All glorified believers mediate Jesus’ rule throughout the earth acting as civil and criminal magistrates and judges and spiritual guides and leaders in all aspects of the Kingdom: worship, politics, health, education, business, art, sport etc.

This post is adapted from information in Richard Roberts book Cultivating God’s Presence.

TRANSGENDER SURGERY FOR CHILDREN

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Is the following good news an indicator that the world is turning back to God’s values? Sadly, God’s Word, the Bible tells us that godlessness and lawlessness will increase as we approach the time of Jesus’ Second Coming. God has given us at least 1800 prophecies of His return to earth, first to raise the dead in Christ and then to rapture believers to heaven before God pours out His wrath upon an unrepentant world.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced on Monday that he has implemented an emergency regulation imposing what his office calls “guardrails” on gender transition interventions for minors as the push to ban the controversial practices continues on a state-by-state basis. “Even Europe recognizes that mutilating children for the sake of a woke, leftist agenda has irreversible consequences, and countries like Sweden, Norway, and the United Kingdom have all sharply curtailed these procedures,”

The new regulation “clarifies that state law already prohibits performing experimental procedures in the absence of specific guardrails” and requires medical professionals to inform patients that the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones “is experimental and is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)” and that “the FDA has issued a warning that puberty blockers can lead to brain swelling and blindness.” Bailey’s office says the move was necessary “due to the skyrocketing number of gender transition interventions despite rising concerns in the medical community that these procedures are experimental and lack clinical evidence of safety or success.”

Despite this information, the LGBTQ agenda is being promoted and adopted widely

Dylan Mulvaney appeared on the Drew Barrymore Show Monday imparting wisdom to fellow transgender people just starting their “gender journey,” and encouraging parents of so-called “trans kids” to support their confused children in their belief that they are members of the opposite sex.

At one point, Barrymore, one of the most famous women in the world, kneeled before Mulvaney in a gushing display of deference to the male who shot to fame performing an over-the-top ditsy-woman persona in the TikTok series 100 Days of Girlhood.

Trans activists like Dylan Mulvaney, whose painfully offensive internet content shows each day of his life of “girlhood” using outdated female stereotypes, may merit our compassion and an invitation to redemption — but Barrymore’s behavior was more akin to worship. She appeared to wholeheartedly celebrate everything that Dylan falsely proclaims himself to be, perpetuating the same façade that both she and everyone watching knew to be a lie.

Contrary to Barrymore’s example, in a culture where the existence and privacy of women are increasingly thrust into question by transgender ideology, it is more important than ever that women stick together in defending the dignity of our sex against those who parody it in the public square.

In a similar act of kneeling to transgender ideology, Wellesley College made headlines this week due to a student referendum that supported welcoming all transgender and so-called nonbinary-identifying students to the traditionally all-female institution. If adopted, this change would mark a significant departure from the original intention of the school, which was founded in 1875 with the goal of expanding higher education opportunities to women; notably, Ivy League universities didn’t accept female students until they began in the late 1960s. In more recent years, women’s colleges have offered young women an oasis of privacy, particularly for students with a prior history of sexual trauma and a desire to minimize the risk of suffering the all-too-common experience of campus sexual assault.

This is clear evidence we are living in the last days before Jesus returns to set up His millennial reign on this earth. As I mentioned before, there are more than 1800 Bible references to Jesus’ second coming so know it is next on God’s agenda for this earth. If you want to know more about what is coming next for this planet go to http://www.millennialkingdom.net.

“They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.” Revelation 20:4-6

EASTER CELEBRATION ON MEMORY MOUNTAIN IN OUTBACK AUSTRALIA

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Vision Christian Media will be Broadcasting Live from Memory Mountain (230 km west of Alice Springs) on Easter Sunday

You have the blessed opportunity to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime experience – the launch of the Cross on Memory Mountain.  During Easter 2023, from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, many Indigenous tribes will gather at the foot of the Cross to celebrate their faith and culture, and to thank God for the fulfillment of their long-held vision to erect this Cross. 

This Easter the lights on the Forgiveness Cross will be turned on for the first time! Remarkably, this will be the 100th Anniversary of the first time the gospel came to the area! Four Aboriginal Lutheran evangelists brought hundreds of people to Christ and baptised them here in 1923! Memory Mountain was named in memory of this. This is a ‘thin place’ – a ‘Jacob’s ladder place where earth meets heaven and heaven meets earth. The Ikuntji Community expects miracles, signs & wonders, spontaneous salvations, etc.

The Cross on Memory Mountain will eventually draw visitors from across Australia and around the world who wish to have an authentic encounter with local Indigenous people. This iconic symbol of the faith, culture, and traditions of the Indigenous people of central Australia will become a major new outback tourism icon.  

The plan for an iconic tourism precinct at Memory Mountain is part of a long-term, life-changing strategy to give Indigenous Australians a hand up – not a handout.  Tourism and ancillary businesses will bring employment opportunities, sustainable enterprises, and financial independence to the local communities. The Cross will bring connection, understanding, and true reconciliation.
In case you can’t make it to the launch celebrations in person over the Easter weekend, Vision Christian Media will be broadcasting live from Memory Mountain on Easter Sunday at 8am AEST on their Sunday Morning Together program.
You can enjoy the live broadcast on your computer or mobile device by going to www.vision.org.au and clicking on Live Stream.

UNMASKING GENDER IDEOLOGY

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CONFRONTING TRANSGENDERISM AND PROTECTING CHILDREN

The Christian Post is honored to present “Unmasking Gender Ideology: Protecting Children, Confronting Transgenderism” at First Baptist Church of Dallas on March 23, 2023. A panel of experienced professionals who have been fighting gender ideology in their respective fields will present at the event. All of the panelists contributed to the documentary-style podcast series “Generation Indoctrination: Inside the Transgender Battle” produced by CP. Amie Ichikawa, Woman II Woman; Mary Hasson, Ethics & Public Policy Center; Dr. Andre Van Mol, ACPeds & CMDA; and Jennifer Lahl, Center for Bioethics & Culture, are among the panelists.

Topics discussed will include the perils of gender ideology, the worldwide (including in Texas) indoctrination and medical abuse of children, and the plight of other vulnerable groups like detransitioners and incarcerated women who are increasingly required to share prison cells with men due to gender self-ID laws. The event will be hosted by CP journalist Brandon Showalter. Other featured contributors include Julia Jeffress Sadler, who will speak about her ministry to young people dealing with these difficulties, and Jeff Myers, the president of Summit Ministries and co-author of a recent e-book with CP.

EXPOSING THE GENDER LIE: A new book made available free by Christian Post.

INTRODUCTION …………………………………………… 4
CHAPTER 1
WHY TRANSGENDERISM IS A MEDICAL
(AND SOCIAL) SCANDAL …………………………….. 9
CHAPTER 2
THE HISTORY AND TRAJECTORY OF GENDER IDEOLOGY …………………………………….21
CHAPTER 3
HOW TRANS IDEOLOGY TWISTS LANGUAGE TO DISTORT REALITY …………………. 29
CHAPTER 4
HOW TRANS IDEOLOGY CAPTURED OUR INSTITUTIONS ………………………………………. 36
CHAPTER 5
TRANSGENDER IDEOLOGY AND THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL …………………………..46

What we face is an unprecedented coupling of postmodernist academic theory with an internet-fueled social contagion targeting vulnerable boys and girls who are struggling with their God-given sex. This has given birth to what we call transgender ideology, or gender ideology, which in turn is fueling a medical and social scandal that ambushes our very understanding of reality itself.

Critics of transgender ideology are, predictably, met with withering rebuke. They’re labeled as “transphobic,” hateful, and even criminal. The vitriol seems especially intense when the criticism arises from within the LGBTQ community. One activist called LeVay’s remarks quoted above as “beyond irresponsible,” implying that such comments foster bullying and aggression. Ten Tweets from singer Bette Midler and author JK Rowling expressing concern about the diminishment of womanhood were roundly condemned in forceful and often vulgar ways, even though both women have been longtime supporters of the LGBTQ movement.

If ever there was an end times sign this is it. Jesus said lawlessness would abound in the last days as people jettison God and His values. It will be like the days of Noah when God poured out His wrath on an unrepentant world. We are fast approaching that time when God will pour out His wrath again on a world that rejects Him.

“Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?“… “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains... Then 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. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24: 3, 7-8, 9-13

GOD PRESERVES HIS SERVANTS

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After 52 years of ministry, skydiving 98-year-old preacher, Roy Jernigan wants people to see Jesus in his life. I can relate to Roy’s testimony. I am 86 and I know God still has more for me to do specifically to alert the church to God’s soon-coming Millennial Kingdom on this earth. Checkout http://www.millennialkingdom.net

Asked to comment on the state of the American Church today:

Jernigan quickly explained that the main driver of his faith is the Bible without the trappings of denominational restrictions.

Jernigan has certainly got this right. The denominational church is not the church Jesus established as outlined in the Book of Acts. Jesus calls us all to be disciples who make more disciples. We all like the denominational church model as it removes this essential facet of the church. It is the pastor’s responsibility to grow the church so we can get on with our lives doing what we want to do.

“I’m not a denominational man. I don’t criticize the denominations but think about this: we have all kinds of denominations — Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, you name it, and every one of them has a different doctrine,” he explained. “They can’t all be right. And so, consequently, I don’t claim a denomination. I claim to be a Christian. And as a Christian, I follow the New Testament teachings on the Apostle Paul.”

And Jernigan’s nondenominational approach to ministry aligns with the direction of the American Church today. Data from the 2020 U.S. Religion Census show that in the last 10 years, the number of American Christian adherents in nondenominational churches nearly doubled in number and surpassed America’s largest Protestant denomination, Southern Baptist, by several million adherents.

Other recent studies also show that while America remains a highly religious nation, with seven in 10 claiming affiliation with some kind of organized religion, for the first time in nearly 80 years, fewer than half now say they have formal membership in a specific house of worship. Church attendance has also continued to decline in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.

While he admits that being a Christian today is much harder than it was 50 years ago when fewer distractions were competing for people’s attention, Jernigan believes that the model of many church ministries today is partly to blame for people deserting the pews.

“I’ll be honest with you, one of the biggest problems that pastors have today is trying to build a church on their own,” Jernigan told CP.

“Today, preachers have gotten themselves into such a rut by building big buildings with stained glass windows and everything. And the people have deserted them because they get tired of being bled to death [financially]. And hear the preacher say, ‘you got to give, you got to give, you got to give.’ My conviction is you don’t have to hound Christians to give. If they are saved, they love the Lord, they will give,” he said.

Jernigan also criticized preachers who treat their ministry as a business. “I think it’s the wrong approach. Commercial? You don’t commercialize God. I believe this is a gross mistake, that people, you see so much of this today, trying to commercialize and put things into a peaceful (more like bless me) type of thing rather than teaching the Bible,” he said. “I do believe if preachers would come down off the high horse, and quit preaching, what I call cotton candy messages, that’s all fluff and no substance, I believe there’d be a great difference in the world today.”

And as the church continues to compete for the attention of society today, Jernigan is worried that current social trends might lead to a point in society where Jesus is “completely rejected.”

“Today, there is much more to pull a person away than there was in my day,” he said. “It is much more difficult. And it does appear to me that as the time approaches (Jesus return to put things right), that things are going full circle to the extent that Christ … is going to be completely rejected.”

He urged Christians who left institutional churches but still want to maintain their Christian faith to keep reading the Bible and praying to God for direction.

“My heart goes out to so many people, it really does,” he said. “There are a lot of people out there that are hungry, and they’re thirsting for the Word of God, but they don’t have anyone to give it to them.” You be one of those Christians that does do what Jesus called us to do i.e. bring the good news of Jesus Christ to the lost.

FREEDOM POST

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In partnership with Alliance Defending Freedom, The Christian Post has launched Freedom Post, a free, twice-weekly newsletter highlighting breaking news and headlines on today’s most pressing issues. Sign-up today to stay in-the-know with the latest in religious liberty news from the U.S. and around the world. This twice-weekly newsletter features a roundup of the biggest headlines at home and abroad, as well as key faith and society insights.

The latest edition includes information on the following. If you live in the USA and have not signed up for Freedom Post can I suggest you do? Support this valuable new initiative.

Parental rights in education.
Trans-identified sports participation.
State abortion laws in a post-Roe world.
Border security and immigration law.
Freedom and religious liberty.

Pro-life doctors say they were banned from a medical conference due to abortion stance

The American Association of Pro-Life OB/GYNs say they were banned from running an exhibit booth at the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Council on Resident Education in Gynecology and the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics’ annual meeting because their beliefs on abortion differ from those of the organizers. In a tweet, AAPLOG suggested it was banned from the conference because the ACOG is “upset that we’re telling our patients how harmful abortion is.” AAPLOG noted that they have “presented at the CREOG conference for the last 15 years.” In a video accompanying the tweet, Incoming AAPLOG CEO Dr. Christina Francis said the conference was “for physicians who are educating the next generation of OB/GYNs.” However, just days ahead of the conference—after having already traveled to the area—they were informed that their exhibit booth had been canceled by ACOG. “Despite multiple requests for an explanation as to why, the only explanation we’ve received is a vague explanation that we disagree with ACOG, presumably on the issue of abortion,” she added. Francis characterized the actions as inconsistent with the theme of “Building Bridges,” contending that ACOG has “no desire to build bridges with those of us who disagree even a little bit with them on their position on abortion.” Francis added that such a move is “dangerous for medical students and residents as it normalizes intentional feticide as part of women’s healthcare.” She also expressed concerns about ACOG suppressing scholarly debate, which is a hallmark of scientific advancement.

We cannot say that God has not warned us that in the last days before He returns persecution of Christians will escalate.

“Then 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. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:9-13

“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.” Matthew 24:21-22

LIVING ETERNAL NOW – READY FOR JESUS RETURN PREFACE:

The Bible is full of fulfilled prophesy which is testimony of its divine inspiration and inerrancy. It is estimated that as much as 75% of the 2,500 prophesies in the Bible have already been fulfilled, and most of those yet to happen are “last days/end time” events.

How many churches today are preparing their congregations for Jesus’ second coming? Do you realize that there are more prophecies about Jesus’ second coming than His first? The Pharisees and Sadducees did not get it with His first coming, and the church is not getting it, with His second coming, maybe in your lifetime.

“For this reason, you also must be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.” Matt. 24:44

Equipped with the knowledge of the Bible’s “last days” prophecies, we will see many of these events unfold in our time. We will look at these unfolding “end times” events in the last chapter, Discerning the Times. It is an exciting time for a Christian who is prepared to live eternal now. For both, the unbeliever and believer alike “great tribulation” is ahead, but the discerning believer understands the times and is prepared.

I would like this book to help equip Christians to fulfill God’s assignment for them in these last days. You will only be able to do that, if you are aware of the times we are in, submit to the indwelling Holy Spirit, have total confidence in God’s Word, and are able to defend it to an unbelieving church, atheists, and agnostics.

The book is available as an ebook and paperback on Amazon.

TRUE TRUTH AND WHAT IS TRUTH

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Truth exists whether or not anyone believes it.

“If there is no absolute beyond man’s ideas, then there is no final appeal to judge between individuals and groups whose moral judgments conflict. We are merely left with conflicting opinions.” —Francis Schaeffer

As one of the foremost evangelical thinkers of the twentieth century, Francis A. Schaeffer long pondered the fate of declining Western culture. Profoundly aware of the similarities modern culture shares with societies that came before, Schaeffer embarked on a journey to uncover the movements that gave rise to modern culture and resulted in the decline of the Christian worldview. 

Forty years later, his classic book How Should We Then Live? is as relevant today as it was when it was first published. Schaeffer argues that the erosion of society begins with a shift away from biblical truth.

Belief in evolution and its billions of years is the biggest stumbling block to believing in the Bible’s history and therefore its inerrancy. Fortunately, the discovery of DNA and more recently the fact there is no junk DNA makes it impossible to believe that life began without an intelligent designer. DNA contains all of the instructions needed for an organism to develop, survive and reproduce. DNA is complex coded information that requires a designer with intelligence beyond that known by man.

Nevertheless, of all truths in the universe, the most important is the truth of who Jesus is. After all, Truth is not merely an impersonal moral standard. It is a living Person who loved us so much He bears on His hands eternal scars because He rescued us.

“Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life” (John 6:47). The phrase “truly I tell you” appears 79 times in Scripture, 78 times spoken by Jesus. He is the Truth, and He tells the truth. We can fully trust everything He says. His promises are written in blood.

Truth exists whether or not anyone believes it.

‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth?’ retorted Pilate” (John 18:37-38a).

What is truth? It is reality. When Pilate said of Jesus, “I find no basis for a charge against him” (John 18:38b), he affirmed what he believed and what was indeed true: Jesus was innocent.

Truth claims are exclusive. Jesus didn’t say He was a truth, but “the truth” (John 14:6). If someone says Jesus isn’t the primary truth, then either he’s wrong or Jesus is.

If we grasp this truth, we’ll undergo the ultimate paradigm shift: without Christ, any sacrifice we make is worthless. We are miserable without Jesus. Nothing we have can satisfy us. And even if it did, we couldn’t hold on to it.

When we hear Jesus tell us to take up our crosses and follow Him and say we should lose our lives for His sake, we’re tempted to think, “Then I will never be happy.” But in fact, Jesus is saying our short-term sacrifices for Him are a means to an end, and that end is true and abundant life: “Whoever loses their life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 10:39).

Important but hard truths

Scripture is full of disheartening diagnoses, including that “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure” (Jeremiah 17:9). But the Great Physician must tell us this hard truth so we can say, “Create in me a clean heart, O God” (Psalm 51:10).

The Physician also promises, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees” (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

When we commit our lives to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ then God the Father sends the third person of the Trinity to indwell our Spirit and enable us to live the Christian life. He produces the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience faithfulness, goodness, gentleness, kindness, and self-control. The Holy Spirit also provides the gifts of the Spirit: 1. Word of wisdom, 2. Word of knowledge, 3. Gift of faith, 4. Gift of healing, 5. Working of miracles, 6. Prophecy, 7. Distinguishing between spirits, 8. Speaking in tongues, 9. Interpreting tongues.

We need to learn from what Jesus said in the garden of Gethsemane when He was faced with His greatest trial.

“My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39

Every day we need to pray likewise to our Heavenly Father “not as I will but as you will” so that we do not grieve the Holy Spirit and quench His work in our lives.

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30

“Do not quench the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:19

Adapted from an article The Truth About Truth  MARCH 2, 2023 by BY RANDY ALCORN

JESUS REIGNS ON EARTH FOR 1000 YEARS

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After reading the Scriptures below, can anyone who claims to trust in Scripture honestly doubt that the Jewish people have a divine right to the Promised Land?

“He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. He remembers his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you, I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.” Psalms 105:7-11

“He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac, which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, “To you, I will give the land of Canaan, as your portion for an inheritance.” 1 Chronicles 16:14-18

Could Scripture somehow be any clearer in conveying this truth? We can be assured that our God is a God that keeps his promises and is faithful to his word. Even at this point, the nation of Israel has only been partially restored.

The descendants of Abraham, through Isaac and then Jacob, now both dwell in and control some of the Promised Land. The majority of the land is yet to fall under Jewish control. Furthermore, the Jews are experiencing occupation by those worshipping a false god on the Temple Mount. The land promise in the Abrahamic Covenant has not been completed. If those things that are either directly promised by God or originate from those promises have not yet occurred, then we must conclude that they will in the future.

Isaiah prophesied God’s desire for His chosen city.

“For Zion’s sake, I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake, I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her” Isaiah 62:1-4

“The city will be surrounded by open country and for the housing of all the tribes of Israel… and the name of the city from that day shall be: THE LORD IS THERE.” Ezekiel 48:15–19,35

She is to have twelve gates, three on each side, each named after a tribe of Israel (Ezekiel 48:30–34). “Your gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day or night, that men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles, and their kings in procession.” Isaiah 60:11

The temple is located outside the city, in the northern section of the sacred land given to the priests and it alone is bigger than the current city of Jerusalem. The millennial Jerusalem sits on the highest plateau and has two rivers flowing out of its east and west sides.

We find incredible detail (8 chapters) of the new temple in Ezekiel 40-48. The numerous details provided on Ezekiel’s temple require that they be taken seriously. The exact measurements and detail-by-detail instruction are nothing like portions of Scripture that are to be understood symbolically. The narrative is reminiscent of that provided for the Tabernacle (Exodus 25–30), and Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 6–8), actual physical structures. No respecter of Scripture would deny that the Shekinah departed an actual temple (Ezekiel 10:18–19; 11:22–23). We should pay the same amount of respect and believe that its return is also to a physical temple (Ezekiel.43:1–5). Ezekiel was told by the angel: “look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that I shall show you, for you were brought here in order that I might show it to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel.” Ezekiel 40:4

The whole area around Zion will reflect the glory of the LORD, and nations will stream to Jerusalem to worship Jesus in this magnificent temple.

Jesus maintains a memorial to the Battle of Armageddon which was the climax at the end of the previous age and His return to earth with the glorified Saints.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when the city shall be rebuilt for the Lord from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. And the measuring line shall go out farther, straight to the hill Gareb, and shall then turn to Goah. The whole valley of the dead bodies and the ashes, and all the fields as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be sacred to the Lord. It shall not be plucked up or overthrown anymore forever.” Jeremiah 31:38-40

WHO’S BEHIND THE WEATHER? OUR CREATOR GOD

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If you ask most people what controls the wind, most people would probably answer it has to do with the relationship between the earth and the sun, temperature, and pressure imbalances. Few people think of God having control over the wind’s cause or its lack thereof.

Yet Revelation 7:1-3 says: “Then I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds so they did not blow on the earth or the sea, or even on any tree. And I saw another angel coming up from the east, carrying the seal of the living God. And he shouted to those four angels, who had been given the power to harm land and sea, ‘Wait! Don’t harm the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants.’”

In this text, the Bible says God employs his angels to restrain the winds to accomplish a specific purpose. The wind belongs to God. The winds are under his control and subordinate to his will. It’s not so much what’s behind the winds and storms; it’s who.

In his commentary on Revelation, William Barclay, the renowned Scottish Bible scholar, says that the Old Testament often pictures the winds as God’s agents employed in his acts of judgment. Here are a few of Barclay’s examples:

“Zechariah has the picture of the chariots of the winds, which go forth from standing before the Lord of all the earth (Zechariah 6:1-5). Nahum speaks of the Lord who has his way in the whirlwind and the storm (Nahum 1:3) … The winds are God’s chariots (Jeremiah 4:13). God comes with his chariots like a whirlwind (Isaiah 66:15). [Chariots were utilized for warfare and judgment on one’s enemies.] The wind is the breath of God (Job 37:9, 10). The wind rends the mountains (I Kings 19:11) and withers the grass (Isaiah 40:7, 24) and dries up the stream, the river, and the sea (Nahum 1:4; Psalm 18:15). God’s day [Judgment Day] would be the day of the whirlwind (Amos 1:14). The whirlwind of the Lord goes forth in its fury and falls on the head of the wicked (Jeremiah 23:19; 30:23). The wind of the Lord…will come from the wilderness and destroy the fertility of the land (Hosea 13:15). God will send his four winds upon Elam and scatter the people (Jeremiah 49:36).”

Other passages of Scripture provide a window for looking inside God’s pilothouse, not only for the winds but the weather in general. God can use the weather to either bless or punish. Job 37:11-13 reads: “He loads the clouds with moisture, and they flash with his lightning. The clouds churn about at his direction. They do whatever he commands throughout the earth. He makes these things happen either to punish people or to show his unfailing love.”

Perhaps one of the strongest passages which present the way God uses climate conditions to display his sovereignty is in Haggai.

“You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, while all of you are busy building your own fine houses. It’s because of you that the heavens withhold the dew and the earth produces no crops. I have called for a drought on your fields and hills — a drought to wither the grain and grapes and olive trees and all your other crops, a drought to starve you and your livestock and to ruin everything you have worked so hard to get.” Haggai 1:9-11

In God’s economy, angels are also associated with affecting weather patterns. Angels have a ministry concerning the earth. They are linked to winds, fires, storms, and pestilence (Psalm 103:20; 104:4; I Chronicles 21:15, 16, 27). Throughout the book of Revelation, they are connected with fire, hail, blood, a plague of locusts, and the poison of scorpions. At certain times in history, God authorizes and directs them to use their tremendous powers to affect meteorological conditions.

The Bible knows nothing of secondary causes. Barclay concludes: Since Adam and Eve, who were initially placed in a perfect environment, rebelled against God and fell into sin, this universe, this planet, has been negatively impacted.

We live in a fallen world. Nature itself is broken like humanity and doesn’t work correctly, and it can’t until the redemption of humankind is complete (Romans 8:19). Therefore, natural disasters are often simply the result of an ailing earth in convulsion.

Nevertheless, when a nation or nations operate grievously in sin, ignore God, reject his ways, and despise Christ and His people with increasing intensity, it shouldn’t surprise us if he intervenes and sends catastrophic natural calamities to get people’s attention. These extraordinary misfortunes mercifully remind us of who is in control. They are warnings with redemptive messages to be reconciled with our Maker.

In their book, God’s Answer for America, Darrel and Cindy Deville rightly state these environmental conditions are referenced as “global warming” or “climate change.” But the Deville’s point to a more likely cause, arguing: “No matter what they call it, these things are all part of the birthing pains and natural disasters that will increase as Jesus prophesied (Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8; Luke 21:11, 25-26).

These are not ‘global warming’ (or ‘climate change’), but they are part of God’s ‘global warnings’ as signs for these last days. These will continue to increase and shift as the return of Christ gets closer to birth a new age, his millennial reign. We also believe things will be happening and shifting in the days ahead that will cause scientists to be baffled.

Politicians claim we all need to work together to ‘battle climate change,’ but there is nothing they can do to stop it. Like a woman in labor, the contractions will become more frequent and more intense the closer the new birth gets. So, this is not about ‘climate change.’ But the earth is instead preparing for a ‘kingdom change’ – the coming glorious kingdom and reign of Christ on earth (Revelation 11:15)