Not only do we know the indignation (righteous anger) of the Lord is against all nations at the end. but we also know their fate – destruction.
“Come near, you nations, to hear;
And heed, you people!
Let the earth hear, and all that is in it,
The world and all things that come forth from it. For the indignation of the Lord is against all nations, And His fury against all their armies; He has utterly destroyed them,
He has given them over to the slaughter.
Also their slain shall be thrown out;
Their stench shall rise from their corpses,
And the mountains shall be melted with their blood.” ISAIAH 34:1-3
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.” PROVERBS 1:7
“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
To turn one away from the snares of death.” PROVERBS 34:27
“When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.
“Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord, They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke.” PROVERBS 1:27-30
“If you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding;
Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;” PROVERBS 2:1-6
Help us Lord, to warn the world of the coming judgement, that they might know that a good God must judge unrighteousness, otherwise He is not a good God.
“For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned his heart after other gods; and his heart was not loyal to the Lord his God, as was the heart of his father David. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the sight of the Lord, and did not fully follow the Lord, as did his father David. Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, on the hill that is east of Jerusalem, and for Molech the abomination of the people of Ammon. And he did likewise for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods.
Ashtoreth: Female goddess worship, over-exaltation of women power.
Milcom: National god. Worship of political power.
Chemosh: The god of SELF focus. False confidence, audacity, worship of the temple itself.
Molech: Required the sacrifice of your very own children.
What an abomination this must have been to God and of course we know that it was because of Solomon’s disobedience that the entire nation of Israel was rent in two after his death.
Thank goodness we have this stark example of the dangers of worldly treasures, the WISEST human in all of history turns away from God because of them. It should force us to our knees to ask God to protect us not only from the evil one but from our own selfish evil desires.
Sin is toxic. Sin is the equivalent of cancer in the Body of Christ. The same applies to our nations. Like cancer, it metastasises. As it progresses, the Body is ravaged and wasted. If we were giving a medical prognosis: We only have a certain amount of time left to live. Sin cancer will lay us flat out.
Three helpful Scriptures:
“O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:24
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”Romans 8:1-2
“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.” Ephesians 5:17-21
The Bible tells us the battle is intense in the “last days”. There will be a great falling away in the church.
The world has rejected God’s values, particularly having approved same sex marriage and transgender. Sadly, we are seeing many church denominations compromise with the world and become apostate, as prophesied. It is important to remember, Jesus said of himself that He would bring division:
Not peace but a sword (put on the full armour of the Lord, take up the sword of faith)
Son against father, daughters against mothers, in-laws against in-laws, family member against family member
Enemies will be in the same household
Division
Rejection
With me or against me
Heavenly kingdom not of this world
“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. Idid not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.” Matthew 10:34-37
“He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:38-39
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” Matthew 11:12
“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptised with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” Luke 12:49-53
“Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.” John 18:36
WHY IS THIS DISRUPTION AND FORCE NECESSARY?
“For 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 6:12
Victory in this battle is never found at a negotiation table filled with compromise and conditions.
It is past time for marketplace believers to step into our co-destiny with Jesus – to take back lost territory. The battle will be fierce, but Jesus said, “when these things begin to happen look up, lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:28 His return is not too far off.
Hence, it is time to:
Refuse to bow to ungodly secular pressures that push non-Kingdom agendas;
Resist society’s expectations within entertainment, art or education that subvert a Godly standard of living;
Come out of apostate churches and ensure we raise God fearing children.
Resist political, governmental or special interest group pressure to lower our standards or behaviour.
This 11 minute sermon is even more needed to day than when David Wilkerson produced it almost ten years ago. End Times signs are more evident today than back then.
It seems like we are in “fast forward” mode. Last days prophesied “birth pangs” do increase in intensity with time.
David Wilkerson says in the video, that the younger generation has no fear of God, and yet we know the beginning of wisdom is to fear God. No doubt this lack of fear has been brought about by one of Satan’s most effective strategies – evolution, which has destroyed belief in the Bible as God’s inerrant Word. We need to get equipped to share the Gospel effectively with the abundant resources provided by http://www.creation.com.
Christians in Western culture today have to deal with subjects that even 20 years ago would have been almost unthinkable to most. And the issues of gender and sexuality are among the toughest that confront Christians today—recently, the Nashville statement was released as one attempt to define the Christian view of sex and gender.
The important question is: how do we maintain a biblical worldview when simply believing that there are two biological sexes, readily identifiable in humans and determined by genetics, is now considered by many to be hate speech?
Andrew T. Walker’s book God and the Transgender Debate seeks to help Christians walk through some of the complicated issues surrounding the discussion of transgender individuals.
One of the most helpful aspects of Walker’s book is that before he addresses the facts, he addresses the attitude with which we as Christians should come to the debate. He points to the compassion that Jesus showed to hurting people, even when he was correcting their unbiblical practices and ideas:
Jesus loved people. That’s important for me to remember as I write a book with the word “debate” in its title. And it’s good for you to remember as you read a book with the word “transgender” in its title. Because at its heart, this debate isn’t about a debate. It’s about people: precious people made in the image of God who are hurting, who are confused, who are angry, who are scared, who may have been told by their family that they are unwelcome. It’s about some people who are delighted with how culture has shifted when it comes to gender identity, and other people who are concerned about how culture has shifted (p. 14).
However, the grace Walker calls for in responding to transgender individuals does not exclude the truth taught in Scripture regarding what it means to be a man or a woman.
How we got here
To properly respond to the transgender issue, we have to understand how culture got to the place where we can be confused about such foundational truths regarding human identity. He points to various elements including the loss of Christianity’s influence in key areas of the culture and the rise of radical individualism.
The Christian’s foundation
In a context where fundamental definitions of human identity seem up for grabs, it’s necessary to return to the foundations of where the Christian worldview comes from. Walker identifies God, the Creator, as the authority. Furthermore, the Gospel shows that God is good and wants what is best for us. “A crucified Creator is a God who has the authority to tell us what to do, who has the wisdom to know what is best for us, and who has proved that he can be trusted to tell us what is best for us” (p. 44).
Furthermore, God has designed mankind as male and female. “Maleness isn’t only anatomy, but anatomy shows that there is maleness. And femaleness isn’t only anatomy, but anatomy shows that there is femaleness. Men and women are more than just their anatomy, but they are not less” (p. 54). And because this is such a foundational designed aspect of humanity, rebelling against this part of our identity “can never result in happiness, flourishing, and joy, whatever it promises” (p. 55).
However, this does not mean that the church should fall into the trap of enforcing stereotypical expressions of maleness and femaleness. Walker cites examples such as a boy preferring to play with dolls or a girl who prefers to watch football as examples where someone may mistakenly try to enforce stereotypes of what is considered acceptable for boys or girls, even though there is nothing inherently sinful about a boy playing with a doll or a girl watching football (p. 55).
Part of the reality of living in a sinful world is that we are all marred by sin, but the Gospel offers hope for restoration, and Walker beautifully expresses this truth.
Engaging the culture like Christ did
Walker helpfully gives specific advice about how to engage the issue without neglecting either truth or love, including how the church might respond to the conversion of transgender people and advice for talking with children about transgenderism, including children who feel like they might be transgender. One chapter is devoted to answer 12 ‘tough questions’ people have about practical issues related to the transgender debate.
As Christians, we are called to be prepared to engage the culture with biblical truth and the love of Christ. If we hope to share the Gospel with people who are confused regarding gender, we need to be educated about the biblical issues involved. And Walker’s book gives a good introduction to how Christians can think about this issue and engage the culture.
To build Christians that will stand strong and stay the course, leaders will need to not only to teach sound doctrine, but even more importantly, be a godly example and live a sanctified life of fidelity to the truth, thus helping to mature the saints. Ministers and especially pastors/shepherds will, like leaders in the Book of Acts, need to share their lives with their flock, and therefore, teach more by their life example perhaps than anything else.
In Jesus’ parable (Matt. 7:24-27) He uses a storm, signifying the pressures, hardships and trials of life, as well as the persecutions we will suffer for the gospel, as a measuring gauge for how solid our foundation is. And what is our foundation based upon? Jesus taught us that it is based upon doing His sayings. Obedience is the issue. “”Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). Obedience, not lip service, is what God requires.
Have you ever thought about what gives us the strength and fuel to obey God? Why are some people obedient and some are not? Why are some doers of the Word and some are not? Why do some people stay faithful to God and remain true while others do not? Why do some start this Christian race but never finish? What is it that causes us to endure to the end (Matt. 24:13)?
I would like to suggest that it is the fear of the Lord. Obedience to the Lord is not only proof of your love for Him (John 14:21), but also of your fear of Him. There’s been an emphasis on love, although we’ve fallen short of the full counsel of God in that area, too, but there has not been nearly as much of an emphasis on the fear of the Lord. It takes both of them to produce a strong constitution in your Christian life. Notice in the following two different translations how the love of obedience in Jesus was rooted in the fear of the Lord. They are identical. Or a better way to say it would be that the manifestation of the fear of the Lord is obedience to His Word and His commandments.
“And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:3 ESV
“He will delight in obeying the Lord.” Isaiah 11:3 NLT
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; Proverbs 24:3
If we build our lives and homes on the true wisdom and knowledge of God that comes from the foundation of the fear of the Lord, we need not fear the storm, because we will stand.
Paul’s Great Desire
One of the apostle Paul’s greatest burdens was this very thing: that the people He ministered to would stand firm in their faith and remain obedient to God even in the midst of the troubles and persecutions of his day. Other New Testament writers shared the same burden.
Paul’s great desire was that the people he taught would not falter under pressure, lest his work be useless or his labour be in vain. Notice his great concern for the Thessalonian saints (1 Thess. 3:1-9). He had warned them of the troubles that would soon come. In his farewell speech to the Ephesian elders, he warned them of the same troubles (Acts 20:25-31). To the Galatians and the Hebrews he did the same, warning them not to turn back to the Law. He was preparing them for the storm and the persecution they would receive from preaching the cross and paying the price to follow Jesus. Warnings are such a large part of the Scriptural admonition that Paul and the other New Testament writers gave to the churches. Today there is a glaring absence of these warnings in our preaching.
Here are some more scripture warnings: Matthew 7:15, 10:17, 24:4-5, 24:11-13, 24:24; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 12:1, 15; Acts 20:29-31; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10:12, 11:3; Galatians 6:7; Ephesians 5:6, Philippians 3:2, 18; Colossians 1:28, 2:8; 1 Timothy 4:16; Hebrews 2:1-3, 4:1; 2 Peter 1:10, 3:17.
Fellow minister and preacher, how well are you preparing yourself and your people for the storm? Are you teaching them the whole counsel of God or catering to itching ears? Are you including the warnings in your preaching? Are you preaching on only the goodness and mercy of God, or do you also preach on His severity, wrath and judgments? Are you only preaching on the love of God, or do you place emphasis on His holiness too? Do you ever preach on sin and repentance? Are your concepts of the love of God and the grace of God accurate and in accordance with Scripture?
If not, then Paul warns, we may be guilty of the blood of men: “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men. For I did not keep from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. …. Therefore watch, remembering that for three years night and day I did not cease to warn everyone with tears” (Acts 20:26-27, 31).
Make sure you are preparing yourselves and those whom God has entrusted to you for the storm. Oh, how much stronger our churches would be if we included these things in our preaching and teaching and living them out before the people!
extracted from message by Bert M. Farias, revivalist and founder of Holy Fire Ministries,
The allegations of sexual misconduct 38 years ago by Judge Roy Moore, no doubt contributed to him loosing the Alabama Senate seat to the Democrat Doug Jones. However, what Judge Roy Moore practices and expounds now is exemplary. He believes, when we forget our relationship to God, we forget our relationship to the only source of right and wrong, and when you do that you will become an immoral society. People are not recognising this as a very important source of strength and security.”
Moore told World Net Daily the greatest threats are America’s domestic enemies: Marxists and Democratic leadership who are intent on expanding the role of the federal government and steering Americans away from belief in God.
The most important point Moore said he tries to convey to the American people, which the media misconstrues, is “the understanding of the relationship between God and our Constitution.”
“The hardest thing to relay to the media is the relevance of God to a prosperous country. If we don’t understand that, then we lose our country because we don’t understand that things like God-given rights are inalienable because they are not given by government – they are given by God. That means that government can’t take them from you. When we forget that, government will take your rights from you,” he said.
“When God gives rights, no government can take them from you. When you deny God, government certainly has an ability to take away your rights, and that’s the problem that we face today. We’ve been convinced that government give us our rights, the Constitution somehow gives it to us. The Constitution doesn’t give us our rights, it takes them from us.”
Celebration of passing the Same Sex Marriage bill in Parliament House Canberra yesterday. Labour’s Senate leader Penny Wong is the one standing in the picture on the left. She has a particular interest as she is in a lesbian relationship and she and her partner have two girls. On the right, Bill Shorten, Labour’s leader takes part in a March to support the YES VOTE.
Sadly, most of these people live their lives as if God does not exist, certainly not the God of the Bible who tells us that to fear God is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 1:7 At this time, I am also reminded of what Jesus said,
“If you abide in my WORD, you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32
God’s word also tells us, that “scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgement and destruction of the ungodly.
The world no longer believes that God judged the world just four thousand years ago. Only eight human survivors of a worldwide flood and yet the evidence of billions of things buried quickly all over the world is stark and ample evidence.
Probably the greatest proof of the authenticity of the Bible is fulfilled prophecy. Over 300 prophecies of Jesus first coming is enough, but do you know that there are many more prophecies concerning His second coming and these are beginning to unfold in our time. One of the most significant is the prophecy of Israel being reborn as a nation and that God would bring Jews back to Israel from all around the world. This is happening at an increasing rate as we approach the last seven years before Jesus return – The 70th Week of Daniel.
Many of the recent posts on this website clearly demonstrate we are in the “last days”. Another, very significant sign given by Jesus, is that in the “last days” there would be apostasy in the church. A great falling away, as the church no longer stands on God’s Word, heeding sound doctrine. Abortion, same sex marriage, gender fluidity and euthanasia are four abominations in God’s sight which will bring God’s judgement on nations that approve of these sins. Australia now joins those other nations that are going down this path of destruction. Judgement of Sodom and Gomorrah was a real historical event but the scoffers are blind.
The Bible says : “Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. “(Proverbs 14:34)
SAME SEX MARRIAGE VIOLATES GOD’S DESIGN FOR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY.
Your belief system is foundational and fundamental to Your daily living and crucial and critical to Your destiny in life.
1. – It directs what You think and feel
2. – It controls what You say and do
3. – The quality (and the quantity) of Your life rests on it.
When the belief system gets CORRUPTED, the thinking will be COMPROMISED, the feelings will be CONFUSED and Life will be COMPLICATED.
The Bible clearly teaches us that the sanctity of marriage is solid, secure and safe .
1. SOLID – because this first and oldest institution in the history of mankind is ordained by Almighty God and He Himself performed the very first marriage.
2. SECURE – because this all-important union brings together the law of our land and the love of our Lord.
3. SAFE – because this holy invention is God’s idea and thus it will stand the test of time and succeed over the trends of life.
Ambushed by minority groups, the sanctity of marriage, is currently in serious danger of becoming a thing of the past, if the proponents of same-sex lifestyle and the opponents of common-sense marriage have their way.
Their hideous agenda, especially that of their leaders goes way beyond the desire for marriage, it seeks its demise. Their intention is to redefine our God-ordained institution and replace it with a man-made invention.
The “one man one woman to the exclusion of all others” definition of marriage is at a major crossroads once again.
The burning question on the lips of concerned citizens and conservative voters everywhere is: will common sense principles protect it from evil and preserve it for good, or, will same-sex lifestyle tear it apart and throw it away for good?
The aggressive homosexual activists are no longer satisfied for their homosexual community to be left alone in peace, to practise in private, the unnatural urges they feel and the sinful lusts they desire towards the same sex.
They now want to raise argument after argument to defend the indefensible and to normalise the abnormal.
They even try to rewrite the history books and rewire the human design in order to make the unnatural normal and the unnecessary needed.
Given the relentless attack on traditional marriage we’re currently experiencing, let us hold in honour the sanctity of marriage and regard it as precious and of great value as the scriptures tells us.
I voted NO to SSM and encourage you all (in Australia) to do the same, because the simple reality is that SAME SEX MARRIAGE violates God’s design for marriage and family.
Your vote at this postal plebiscite is your voice at Parliament House. Make sure that your Vote NO to SSM is heard loud and clear in Canberra’s political corridors of power. Together we can positively impact our Australian family and permanently safeguard the values of our Christian heritage.
And if you think your ONE vote does not matter, well think again – On 18 January 1961, in Zanzibar, (now part of Tanzania) Afro-Shirazi Party won by a single seat of the seat of Chake-Chake on Pemba Island had been gained by a single vote.
Our children and grandchildren deserve the best that we can offer them, and our Christian values are the best there is on offer. You cannot improve on God’s model. One day they will appreciate your vision and values and applaud the courage of your convictions. One day they will think of your life and legacy and thank God for your labour of love.
Jesus expected the church to remain in a state of fear of the Lord:
“Do not fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt. 10:28).
But I will warn you whom you shall fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell. Yes, I say to you, fear Him” (Luke 12:5).
“Fear came to every soul. And many wonders and signs were done through the apostles” (Acts 2:43).
In the Hebrew, there are two types of fear: one is to revere, and implies a state of fear. The other indicates sudden alarm, or being afraid which is a temporary condition.
In the Greek, just one word is used—to frighten, alarm, or be in awe.
The fear of the Lord referenced in the church in Acts was indicative of a continuing “state of” fear, i.e. being in awe of the Lord, rather than a temporary condition.
A brief survey of the rest of the New Testament reflects this theme of the fear of the Lord in the early church:
“On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came on all those who heard these things. The young men rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter said to her, ‘Tell me whether you sold the land for this amount?’ She said, ‘Yes, for that much.’ Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look! The feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’ At once she fell down at his feet and died. Upon entering, the young men found her dead and carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear came on the entire church and on all those who heard these things. Many signs and wonders were performed among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon’s Porch” (Acts 5:5-12).
Also see: Acts 9:31, 13:16, 19:17-19, 2 Cor 7:1,11, Eph 5:21, Eph 6:5, Phil 2:12, 1Tim 5:20; Heb 4:1, 12:28; 1 Pet 2:17, 3:2,3:15
Most importantly, the fear of the Lord always results in one key behavior found in 1 Peter 4:1:
“Therefore, since Christ has suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin” (1 Pet. 4:1).
Living in the fear of the Lord always results in the cessation of sin. Proverbs 28:14 shows the contrast between living in fear of the Lord and otherwise: “Happy is the man who always fears, but he who hardens his heart will fall into mischief.”
The fear of the Lord is seen to come upon the church in two ways throughout the New Testament:
External Pressure: God moves supernaturally to respond to sin/evil (Acts 15 and 19) and the people understand and experience the fear of God. This is a reactive response of the church to judgement of sin.
Internal Submission: Believers cease sinning because of fear/awe toward God. This is a proactive response of the church.
Actually, it is the spirit of fear of the Lord that rises up in the heart:
“The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.He shall delight in the fear of the Lord, and he shall not judge by what his eyes see, nor reprove by what his ears hear” (Isa. 11:2-3).
The spirit of fear of the Lord is one of the seven spirits of God (Rev. 1:4).
The fear of the Lord is a spirit sent by God (Rev. 5:6), which rests upon us (Isa. 11:2).
So then, the answer to the question of how the church can rise to this level of unity is: by living in the fear of the Lord.
The fear of the Lord may come in either of two ways to the church:
It comes sovereignly as God exposes and judges sin in the church (Acts 5:5, 19:17; 2 Cor. 7:11).
It comes as believers forsake sin and submit to the Holy Spirit (to convict of sin and convince to righteousness and concerning judgment, 1 Peter 4:1).
Extract from article by Louis Posthauer is the executive director of Hunters of the Harvest Ministry.
LIVING ETERNAL NOW 