“They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, “See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.”Hebrews 8:5
“Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.” Hebrews 9:23-24
Christ did not entera man made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one, He entered heaven itself. The earthly sanctuary was a copy of the true one in heaven. The new Jerusalem that John sees descending from heaven to the new earth after the White Throne judgement is in the intermediate or present heaven.
“After this I looked, and the sanctuary of the tabernacle of witness in heaven was opened, and out of the sanctuary came the seven angels with the seven plagues, clothed in pure, bright linen, with golden sashes around their chests.”Revelation 15:5-6
“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant ” Hebrews 12:22-24
There is a city of the living God: the heavenly Jerusalem which John saw prophetically coming down to the new earth.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” Revelation 21:1-2
‘Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christand through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.For to Godwe are the fragrance (the sweet smell) of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life – and who is sufficient for these things?’ 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
As we go about our daily business, walking in the works God has prepared for us, The Holy Spirit is with us and, if we seek and ask, He will be answering our prayers. Read the scripture again He is alwaysleading us in triumph. This should be our experience and if we allow the Holy Spirit to lead us the aroma of Christ is being diffused, released around us. We may not be aware, but others pick up the scent for life or for death.
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesian 5:2 or Philip 4:18
As we approach the time spoken of by Jesus in answer to the the disciples question: “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” Matthew 24:3, we know from His response that in the “last days” the world by and large has turned away from God and therefore we are the aroma of death leading to death to them.
Is it any wonder then that Jesus tells us that Christians living at that time will experience intense persecution.
“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.” Matthew 24:9-12
Make sure you are one of the faithful: “But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:13
Book Review by Perter Barnes : Cause, Free to Change: Survey of 78 Ex-LGBT People, available through cause.victoria@gmail.com
Before the Victorian government (Australia) passed its oppressive laws banning ‘conversion therapy’ in February 2021, it drew on a predictable report from La Trobe University entitled Preventing Harm, Promoting Justice. This was based on the testimony of just fifteen individuals who claimed that ‘conversion therapy’ had been harmful and damaging to them. As a result, praying for and counselling a homosexual – even one who asks to be prayed for and counselled – has become a criminal offense carrying huge fines and long gaol terms. Against this, Cause (Coalition Against Unsafe Sexual Education) has found 78 people who have experienced lasting change through counselling. Indeed, the number is growing.
SURVEY OF 78 EX-LGBT PEOPLE
The 107 page work is thorough and trustworthy. The dangers in promoting the homosexual and lesbian lifestyle, and entrenching gender confusion, are well exhibited. The testimonies from former homosexuals, lesbians and transgenderites, in chapter 7 of the book, are powerful indeed, and deeply moving. Not all give a Christian story; some come from Muslims and some do not indicate any religious convictions. But transformation through Christ is a thread running through much of this book. La Trobe’s study was supposedly aimed at preventing harm, but achieved the opposite. Sin is a form of bondage and there is only one solution.
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free… So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:32,36
The Victorian legislation was a cruel form of keeping people in bondage, even if they expressed a wish to change. We can be grateful that this clear and brave study was put together by Con Kafataris, John Whitehall, John Steenhof and others. May God greatly use it!
Please circulate this information as widely as possible.
‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:23
Your faithfulness does not depend upon how much or how little you have, talents and resources, but what you do with them. Ninety percent of serving is just showing up. Are you faithful in showing up and using what God has given you.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10
In fact, God has preordained good works for us to do, the question is will we do them.
Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me… Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me’ Matthew25:35-40
We are all called to share and serve Jesus by serving others and note Jesus takes this personally.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.James 1:27
These two scriptures make it crystal clear what types of good works we are called to do. I would suggest not too many in our institutional churches today are doing them. Moreover, these same people are probably not giving the following Scripture the consideration it deserves.
“For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.” Romans 14:10-12
Tough message, but we all need a wakeup call from time to time, I certainly do, even Paul wrote: “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.” Romans 7:18-20
“Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.” Revelation 20:11-12
How and why the following statement has come to be regarded as coherent and meaningful is beyond comprehension to most males over the age of 60:
“I am a woman trapped in a man’s body.”
Carl Trueman in his latest book The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self states that “those who think of it as meaningful today are not restricted to the veterans of college seminars on queer theory. They are ordinary people with little or no direct knowledge of the critical postmodern philosophies whose advocates swagger along the corridors of our most hallowed centres of learning.”
The statement carries with it a world of metaphysical assumptions. It touches on the connection between the mind and the body, given the priority it grants to inner conviction over biological reality. It separates gender from sex, given that it drives a wedge between chromosomes (your biological identity) and how society defines being a man or a woman. And in its political connection to homosexuality and lesbianism via the LGBTQ+ movement, it rests on notions of civil rights and of individual liberty.
The so-called sexual revolution of the last sixty years, culminating in its latest triumph—the normalization of transgenderism—cannot be properly understood until it is set within the context of a much broader transformation in how society understands the nature of human selfhood.
The sexual revolution is as much a symptom as it is a cause of the culture that now surrounds us everywhere we look, from sitcoms to Congress. In short, the sexual revolution is simply one manifestation of the larger revolution of the self that has taken place in the West. And it is only as we come to understand that wider context that we can truly understand the dynamics of the sexual politics that now dominate our culture.
What marks the modern sexual revolution out as distinctive is the way it has normalized these and other sexual phenomena.The sexual revolution does not simply represent a growth in the routine transgression of traditional sexual codes rather, it involves the abolition of such codes in their entirety.
In fact, it has come to in certain areas, such as that of homosexuality, to require the positive repudiation of traditional sexual mores which are of cause based on God’s/Biblical values to the point where belief in, or maintenance of, such traditional views has come to be seen as ridiculous and even a sign of serious mental or moral deficiency.
Criticism of homosexuality is now homophobia; that of transgenderism is transphobia. The use of the term phobia is deliberate and effectively places such criticism of the new sexual culture into the realm of the irrational and points toward an underlying bigotry on the part of those who hold such views. This kind of thinking underlies even decisions in the Supreme Court of the USA.
The old sexual codes of celibacy outside marriage and chastity within it are considered ridiculous and oppressive, and their advocates wicked or stupid or both. The sexual revolution is truly a revolution in that it has turned the moral world upside down.
Canadian philosopher Charles Taylor, in his book Sources of the Self: The Making of the Modern Identity gives us important clues to the nature of the modern self. In that work, Taylor highlights three points of significance in the modern development of what it means to be a self: a focus on inwardness, or the inner psychological life, as decisive for who we think we are; the affirmation of ordinary life that develops in the modern era; and the notion that nature provides us with an inner moral source. They lead to a prioritization of the individual’s inner psychology—we might even say “feelings” or “intuitions”—for our sense of who we are and what the purpose of our lives is. Transgenderism provides an excellent example: people who think they are a woman trapped in a man’s body are really making their inner psychological convictions absolutely decisive for who they are; and to the extent that, prior to “coming out,” they have publicly denied this inner reality, to that extent they have had an inauthentic existence. This is why the language of “living a lie” often appears in the testimonies of transgender people.
The changes we have witnessed in the content and significance of sexual codes since the 1960s are symptomatic of deeper changes in how we think of the purpose of life, the meaning of happiness, and what actually constitutes people’s sense of who they are and what they are for.
Nietzsche, Marx, Freud and particularly Darwin were all used by Satan to remove God from society. Nietzsche and Marx, argued, certainly in different ways, but that ultimately the history of society is a history of power and oppression and that even notions such as human nature are constructs designed to reinforce and perpetuate this subjugation. Freud taught sexuality lies at the very heart of what it means to be an authentic person. Indeed, along with Darwin, they all dealt lethal blows, philosophically and scientifically, to the ideas that nature has an intrinsic meaning and that human beings have special significance or an essence that determines how they should behave.
Teaching our children that they evolved from apes and this world started with a big bang rang the death knell for God and the Bible and that the chaos we are seeing play out in our world today was inevitable. The God of the Bible from whom the basis of our morality in the West was derived is no longer considered real. The Bible is considered a collection of myths and fables and Jesus, if he ever lived at all, but a good man. For most people moral truths are now an expression of moral preferences.
It is not as if this has taken God by surprise the state of moral decay that existed prior to Noah’s Flood which caused God’s judgement and destroyed all mankind is escalating in our world today exactly as Jesus said it would prior to His return to restore righteousness.
“Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.” Luke 17:26-27
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In not publicised Egyptian history the Benben (sacred stone) placed on the top of the pyramids represents the primeval mound, the first land that appeared from the primeval ocean, called the Nun. It was upon this land that the eight ‘gods’ (OGDOAD) sprang into being; four males and their wives, headed by the chief god ‘Nu’ which is phonetically similar to Noah. The pyramids were themselves extensions of the Benben. We know this to be a fact linguistically, because the Egyptian word for pyramid is bnbn.t which is the female version of the bnbn sacred stone. This explains the size and shape of the pyramids. They were a constant reminder to the Egyptians of the worldwide flood and the rebirth of the world from the deified eight occupants of Noah’s Ark.
1. Scene from the west wall (north side) of the Pronaos of the Temple of Hathor and Maat, West ‘Uaset’-Thebes: 2. Nun and Naunet, Deities of Chaos and Water
Over 7 million people across six East African countries are at the cusp of starvation as communities have faced existential threats from violence, flooding, the pandemic and locust infestation, the evangelical humanitarian organization World Vision has warned.
According to the charity, which operates in nearly 100 countries, thousands of children could face death or long-term health consequences if the international community does not respond quickly to East Africa’s worsening crisis.
“The situation is very severe in East Africa, and particularly Ethiopia. Over 2 million people are in need of food assistance,” Debebe Dawit of World Vision told The Christian Post in a Thursday interview. “Among conflict, COVID-19, flooding, locust infestation, all these are adding [an] additional burden to the community.”
Before the pandemic began, several countries in East Africa faced a widespread desert locust infestation that impacted hundreds of thousands of hectares and damaged croplands and pastures. Later in 2020, large-scale floods destroyed crops that were ready to harvest, which impacted the food supply for 4 million people in the region.
Matters have also been complicated by military conflicts — most recently the Tigray conflict — and the rise of Islamic extremism. Witnesses who spoke with The Associated Press have detailed killings, looting and other abuses committed by Eritrean soldiers in Tigray, a predominantly-Christian northernmost region of the East African country.
To address the starvation and poverty crisis in East Africa, World Vision launched a multi-country emergency response for Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. The goal is to reach 2.4 million people, which includes 490,000 children.
“One of the critical elements in this one is when famine or drought is happening, we always act after the fact. … Usually, we respond after people have died,” Dawit shared. “We need to be proactive in responding and providing funding to avoid the [deterioration] of the situation. The key thing here is people are dying before the famine of the drought is declared. So that needs to be looked at, and we need to act immediately and prevent further suffering.”
As many of you would be aware the Kenya House Church Movement which LEN supports has requested aid for the House Church Group in Tanzania. They encountered widespread famine in Nyamuzi on their recent visit. Check out my recent post KHC Missions Trip. If you would like to help click on the Donations icon on my LEN Home Page.
Iran’s hard-line judiciary chief won a landslide victory Saturday in the country’s presidential election, a vote that both propelled the supreme leader’s protégé into Tehran’s highest civilian position. However, the voter turnout was the lowest turnout in the Islamic Republic’s history.
Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi, whom Amnesty Int’l accuses of war crimes. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
The election of Ebrahim Raisi, already sanctioned by the U.S. in part over his involvement in the mass execution of thousands of political prisoners in 1988, became more of a coronation after his strongest competition found themselves disqualified from running.
That sparked calls for a boycott and many apparently did stay home — out of over 59 million eligible voters, only 28.9 million voted. Of those voting, some 3.7 million people either accidentally or intentionally voided their ballots, far beyond the amount seen in previous elections and suggesting some wanted none of the four candidates.
“That Ebrahim Raisi has risen to the presidency instead of being investigated for the crimes against humanity of murder, enforced disappearance and torture is a grim reminder that impunity reigns supreme in Iran,” Amnesty International’s Secretary-General Agnes Callamard said.
Previous President Hassan Rouhani, who in 2017 dismissed Raisi as an opponent in his re-election as someone only knowing about “executions and imprisoning” people, met the cleric Saturday and congratulated him.
Raisi’s election puts hard-liners firmly in control across the government as negotiations in Vienna continue to try to save a tattered deal meant to limit Iran’s nuclear program, at a time when Tehran is enriching uranium at its highest levels ever, though still short of weapons-grade levels. Tensions remain high with both the U.S. and Israel, which is believed to have carried out a series of attacks targeting Iranian nuclear sites as well as assassinating the scientist who created its military atomic program decades earlier.
I would suggest the election of Raisi moves the world one step closer to the prophesied “end times” war with Israel, the appearance of the Antichrist on the world scene, and the escalating persecution of both Jews and Christians. The good news is:
“Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28
We have just returned from the mission trip to Nyamuzi, Tanzania which we consider successful thanks to our Lord. Thanks also to Ron Edwards and LEN followers for your prayers and financial support. You are wonderful friends and the backbone of Kenya House Church movement (KHC), Yes! the Lord is the Lord and the life and strength of KHC, but without you, your prayers, support and partnership we would not be able to conduct mission trips such as this one. We appreciate you ALL!
God was present with us throughout the whole trip. He manifested in our midst with signs and wonders. We saw the saving and healing power of the Holy spirit at work in every home and market centre we visited. Great miracles of healing were manifested to those for whom we prayed and many people confessed and repented of the sins that ensnared them.
OUTREACH MEETINGS: We held several outreach evangelism tent meetings. As well, we went from house to house and out into the market place. Preaching, teaching and praying for those who were unable to come to the tent of meetings.
Healings and Miracles
In the home of Mr Opiyo, we met his wife, Mrs Brigitta Anyango Opiyo, she had been sick with profuse bleeding, she had visited various hospitals but her problem continued to grow worse. We taught her the word of God, and she believed our message. We then prayed for her and she immediately started feeling well. Two days later, she came to our tent meeting and testified that she is healed. She, her husband and close friends all praised and gave glory to God.
In the home of Mr Tobias Ojiwa, we ministered to his young son, Mr Bernad Ochieng Ojiwa, He had served 10 yrs in prison for killing his brother and for taking his wife. He was released from prison just two weeks before our visit to this region. Elder Samson Glack taught him the word of God and led him to repentance and saving faith in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
In the home of Mrs Pricila Achieng Obondo we ministered to her son, He was often seen walking naked, talking to himself, He was no longer attending school and was in and out of institutions. It was fortunate he was home the day, we visited their home. Charles prayed for him and he was delivered. Two days later, we revisited the family and found him and her mother doing well and we again had the opportunity to share with them the word of God.
A young man by the name Gidion Ouma Osala, came forward and took a microphone from Pastor Alfred, and started to testify of his former evil practices. He said he had been involved in taking drugs, opium, cocaine and smoking of cigarettes. Through the ministry of KHC he had repented and gave up his life to the Lord. He has also joined the Nyamuzi house church group.
During market place evangelism, we ministered to many people, including men, women and children. Many people listened and accepted our message and many spoke good of us. Many more healings and miracles, God performed through our hands, and many souls were touched, surrendered and came to the saving power, knowledge and understanding of God’s word.
CHALLANGES AFFECTING NYAMUZI HOUSE CHURCH,IN TANZANIA: 1. There is a major famine in Northern Tanzania resulting in food scarcity in Nyamuzi. The members of the house church are suffering. Nearly every home we visited lacked sufficient food, some families had not eaten for two days,. We kindly request for your prayers and support for these our brothers and sisters at Nyamuzi house church group. 2. Members of Nyamuzi house church group do not have Bibles, In a church of ten believers, we found only one person had a Bible, and it had pages/scriptures missing. We kindly request our LEN team and followers to help Nyamuzi house church get 10 copies of Holy Bibles.
If you would like to be a regular supporter of the KHC movement or make a one off donation then please click on the Donations icon on the Home Page. It would be much appreciated. KHC is doing an amazing job.
REPORT FROM CHARLES ON THE DEATH OF GADDAFI, SON OF THE LEADER OF THE NYAROMBO HOUSE CHURCH: The sad news of the death of Gaddafi, the son of the former Roman Catholic priest now leading the newly formed Nyarombo house church group, was received by us from Pastor Jacob, on the morning of Monday before making our way back home from our mission trip to Nyamuzi in Tanzania. Gaddafi was aged 16 yrs old and was a believer. He was suffering from Tuberculosis. His father said, he had been suffering from the disease for a long time. Sadly if they had had the money it could have been treated successfully. You will remember that Nyarombo house church was recently founded by the grace of God. The power of the Holy spirit made it possible to open the understanding of our brother (the father to the deceased) and his family to hear the gospel message. The Nyarombo church group was birthed as a result of his conversion. Kenya house Church movement (KHC) with the help of brother Ron Edwards, was able to help with all the preparations for the funeral and on Friday, June 11th/2021, we conducted the burial, and it was very successful. Despite a few challenges, because it followed so closely to our mission trip to Tanzania. KHC movement, and the Nyarombo house church, is very much thankful and do appreciate brother Ron Edwards for his financial support he helped give to the grieving family to help pay a hospital medical bill for the late Gaddafi. Personally, I give my gratitude to all our KHC movement team for their support and commitment to ensure the burial outcome was positive.. Below is the attached pictures for the burial of the late GADDAFI. Thank you ALL for your prayers, commitment and support.
American higher education institutions are stripping student’s ability to think critically.
Yeonmi Park experienced enormous struggles and hardship to get to America, but she does not call herself a victim.
One of several hundred North Korean defectors settled in the United States, Park, 27, transferred to Columbia University from a South Korean university in 2016 and was deeply disturbed by what she found.
“I expected that I was paying this fortune, all this time and energy, to learn how to think. But they are forcing you to think the way they want you to think,” Park said in an interview with Fox News. “I realized, wow, this is insane. I thought America was different but I saw so many similarities to what I saw in North Korea that I started worrying.“
Those similarities include anti-Western sentiment, collective guilt and suffocating political correctness.
Yeonmi accuses American higher education institutions of stripping people’s ability to think critically.
Yeonmi saw red flags immediately upon arriving at the school.
During orientation, she was scolded by a university staff member for admitting she enjoyed classic literature such as Jane Austen. “I said ‘I love those books.’ I thought it was a good thing,” recalled Park. “Then she said, ‘Did you know those writers had a colonial mindset? They were racists and bigots and are subconsciously brainwashing you.’”
It only got worse from there as Yeonmi realized that every one of her classes at the Ivy League school was infected with what she saw as anti-American propaganda, reminiscent to the sort she had grown up with.
She was also shocked and confused by issues surrounding gender and language, with every class asking students to announce their preferred pronouns.
“English is my third language. I learned it as an adult. I sometimes still say ‘he’ or ‘she’ by mistake and now they are going to ask me to call them ‘they’? How the heck do I incorporate that into my sentences?” “It was chaos,” said Yeonmi. “It felt like the regression in civilization.” “Even North Korea is not this nuts,” she admitted. “North Korea was pretty crazy, but not this crazy.”
After getting into a number of arguments with professors and students, eventually Yeonmi “learned how to just shut up” in order to maintain a good GPA and graduate.
She accuses American higher education institutions of stripping people’s ability to think critically.
“In North Korea I literally believed that my Dear Leader [Kim Jong-un] was starving,” she recalled. “He’s the fattest guy – how can anyone believe that? And then somebody showed me a photo and said ‘Look at him, he’s the fattest guy. Other people are all thin.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my God, why did I not notice that he was fat?’ Because I never learned how to think critically.”
“That is what is happening in America,” she continued. “People see things but they’ve just completely lost the ability to think critically.”
Moreover, to say you believe in the God of the Bible and His history of the Cosmos would have you expelled from these mainstream universities. Why? Because you believe God has and still is in control of what takes place in His Cosmos including the following miraculous events:
1. God’s created the Cosmos just six thousand years ago in six days purely as a pattern for man’s working life. Evolution does not provide a credible mechanism for creating our complex world.
2. God judged mankind with a worldwide flood that destroyed all human life on this planet except the eight people on Noah’s Ark. It caused the billions of dead things we find all over the world including fossil fuels.
3. God’s judgement occurred less than two thousand years after creation.
4. The nations were established by God creating new languages at the Tower of Babel. This caused people to disperse across the planet beginning just a few hundred years after the worldwide flood.
5. God created a nation – Israel from whom the Redeemer/Jesus would come and we know from God’s Word that Jesus will eventually rule the nations from a reconstructed Israel.
