Our Enemies

Eph 6:¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

The Lord impressed this servant with an important thought this morning:

Our spiritual enemies do not take breaks.  They do not take the day off.  They attack us morning, noon and night whether we pray or not.  What happens when the enemy is attacking us continually and we fail to pray for even one day?  We start losing ground to the enemy.  The longer they attack and we fail to pray the more ground they gain.

Whats the important lesson here?  We need to pray continually as the Lord instructed us to wage war on the enemy the way they wage war on us.  We need to bind and loose.  Bind the enemy, loose the angels who serve our Lord.  Pray about all things at all times.  There are no coincidences in the life of a believer.  We are at war, when you feel like you are being attacked or pressured its not your imagination.  You are being attacked and pressured by the enemy.

I thank the Lord that He has given us insight into why He told us to do what He told us to do.  In recent months it appears the attacks and pressure by the enemy has picked up.  The answer to the enemy's attacks is for us to put on the full armor of God and stand according to the Lord's instruction in Eph 6.

^{Eph 6:13} Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

What does the Lord mean "after you have done everything"?  It means do everything He told us to do which includes prayer, binding and loosing

Matt 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

If we are in a spiritual war, and belong to a spiritual kingdom serving a God who is spirit and an enemy who is spirit what do you think we should be loosing and binding?  Spirits.

If we do not fight back (spiritually), the enemy does not care, they continue to attack.  They have no mercy, no compassion just hatred toward all mankind.  This should motivate you as it has motivated me to increase our attention to regular prayer.  I don't like being attacked, neither should you.  Our God told us how to deal with that problem.  Lets deal with it.

2 Cor 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds

grace and peace

Pray for President Trump

Of one thing we can be sure, the Lord God put Trump in office.  This writer did not vote for Trump, but the Lord did cast His vote for Trump and now he is our president.

If the Spirit within you is in agreement, pray this prayer with me:

"  Father, in Jesus name we come to you to remind you or your Word which says:

19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."

"Now both I and those reading this stand in agreement concerning the man you have made president of the United States.  We pray Lord that the work you started with him, you will also finish.  Please protect and strengthen president Trump that he may do your will on this earth.  Give him the wisdom of Solomon and the strength of Samson that he may do your will on this earth.  We pray that you will confound the adversary at every turn as he works to undermine you and those who belong to you.  Fight against those who fight against us.  Make war against those who make war against us.  The enemy threatens on every side but no one is like you.  You are the great and terrible God who shows wrath and judgement to our enemies but loving kindness and mercy to those who love you.  Be with us Lord, fight for us.  We need you now more than ever.  All glory and honor and power be yours forever and ever, AMEN!"

Neh 1:5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:  

This writer has never seen a time like this.  The very foundations that this world stands on are being shaken.  Confidence in governments around the world is being shaken.  When that happens it opens the door to chaos.  We need to remember that it is our God who has a hand in all these things which is why we pray to Him.  His Word will be done, exactly as it is written.  What appears to be chaos all around us is setting the stage for the fulfillment of prophesy.

The complexity of current events and the myriad possible outcomes of such events is too much for any human to figure out.  There is trouble on every side.  It is such a time as this that we must go to our knees in fasting and prayer.  We desperately need the Lord our God to be with us and fight for us every moment of every day.  The same God who brought us through to this very day will see us through tomorrow.  We must remember, we were created for this very day and hour.  It is not a mistake that we are on the earth in this generation.  The Lord our God in His infinite wisdom placed us here and now for the work He has for us to do.

Trust the Lord.  Fast and pray.  Remember all the brothers and sisters in your prayers.  Let us pray for each other to strengthen each other that we may stand in this fight and emerge victorious with the victories only our God can provide.

grace and peace

9.21.18

Constant Alignment

This writer has been traveling a road that has more potholes in it than normal, that is to say it is a bumpy road.  Something has changed over the past few months.  As I was asking the Lord about this bumpy road, He gave me a useful metaphor that may help you as well.

Picture a car driving down a road full of potholes.  What happens to the front end of the car when the wheels are continually hitting potholes?

They tend to come out of alignment requiring you to take the car to a mechanic for realignment.

This is exactly what is happening to us as we travel this road called life, full of potholes, trials and tribulations.  We too can come out of alignment which requires us to go back to our Maker for realignment.  He will straighten was has become bent.  He will calibrate and align so we can travel with confidence that narrow path that leads to life.

The more potholes you find on the road you are traveling, the more you need to check in with your Creator for alignment.

This writer found those words very helpful, hopefully they can be of some use to you as well.

grace and peace

Remember September 9.17.18

Today, and these days in general would be a perfect time for the Lord to show up unexpected.  Now is not the time to go back to sleep.  When the Lord told us He is going to show up on an unexpected day and hour that can mean two things:

1. it can be a direct reference to the Feast of Trumpets.

or...……..…………….

2.  it can mean any of the other days of the year. (like today).

We know that the fall feasts are yet to be fulfilled prophetically so when it comes to a high watch season, we are in it.  A quick look around the world is all we should need to lean our heads back and look up to heaven where our redemption is coming from.  All hell is poised to break loose on this earth.  America is the most divided it has ever been and its getting worse by the day-a far cry from being made great again.  That's not a swipe at Trump but a statement of fact.  When America goes down from internal strife or external invasion or nuclear devastation or whatever, Israel will be left hanging in the wind with only the Lord God to save her (and He will).  That has been the plan all along.

The creation will once again look to its Creator for salvation and redemption.  The Lord God will received the glory and praise due His name.  The Lord could arrive unexpectedly at any moment, we need to be ready to meet Him.  We also need to be ready to stay here on this earth for as long as it takes to do what He wants us to do while we are still here.  We must be ready to stay, and ready to go.  These ideas are not mutually exclusive as paul made clear to us here:

Phil 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 26That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

Let us close with a watching prayer:

"Lord I and those reading this pray for all the brothers and sisters, our families and ourselves that our sins are forgiven and that we may be counted worthy to escape all that is about to happen and stand before you.  Please give us eyes, hearts and spirits that are watchful that we may do what you commanded us to do, which is to always be watching for your unexpected return.  Thank you Lord for the wisdom, strength and grace you give.  Blessed be Your Name.  Amen!"

grace and peace

Remember September 9.16.18

In the Remember September 9.15.18 we talked about the importance of "no man knows the day or hour" and why that is important.  It brings us back to simple obedience to watch for the Lord's return every day.  The fact that there are at least 3 major divisions in rapture timing among Christians is evidence enough that the Lord has placed (at least at face value) conflicting information in the Word about the possible timing of the escape/rapture of the Church.

Is there another reason why the Lord would tell us we will not know the day or hour?  Yes.  How about conflicting counts of time.  What does that mean?  It means if the calendars, the observances of the Lord's feast days are not being observed on the actual appointed days according to the Lord's count of time, we could and likely will stumble into the Divine appointed time/feast without consciously knowing it because of the corruption of calendars and or appointed time start and end dates.

In His mercy and grace, the Lord gave us the remedy for what He knew we would be facing in His simple command to be constantly watching for His return.

Matt 25:1Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 7Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

He knew there would be confusion and He knew there would be corruption.  He gave us the solution-always be watching for His unexpected return.  Our God is very great.

grace and peace

Remember September 9.15.18

The most important statement our Lord made about the rapture/escape of the Church is right here:

Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

33Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Why is the statement "we do not know the day or hour" so important?  Because of the contradictory evidence the Lord provided regarding the timing of the rapture.  Did you ever stop to think about why the Lord purposefully wrote in Words that would seem to contradict each other?  Did you ever wonder why the Lord would do that knowing full well it would lead to pre-trib/mid-trib/post-trib divisions among Christians?

Someone wise once said if you want better answers, ask better questions.  Wouldn't it be nice to get better answers on the timing of the rapture?  Guess what?  Those answers are not coming.  This brings us back to why?  And what are we to do with contradictory evidence?  Lets start with contradictory evidence.  What kind of evidence in the Bible support the mid-trib rapture?  How about this:

Luke 17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. 28Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32Remember Lot's wife. 33Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. 34I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. 35Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 36Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. 37And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

That statement up there about being on the housetop, or in the field and not returning back to his house to retrieve his stuff is a direct link to 1.  the unexpected coming of the Lord (verses27-30 and 32-37) and 2.  the swift judgement coming at the time of the abomination that causes desolation around the mid-point of the tribulation (verses 30-31).  When the Lord tells us "in that day" He is linking all of that together.

Okay, so how does this tie in to the middle of the tribulation coming of the Lord jive with the pre-tribulation coming of the Lord for His Church?  It doesn't, which is why we have divisions in the Church along these lines passages of scripture.  Okay, so where does that leave us?  It leaves us with contradictory evidence for the timing of the rapture which brings us full circle back to square 1 which is what?  We do not know the day or hour.  He told us we wont know the day or hour because He himself through multiple monkey wrenches into scripture to confuse the daylights out of us.  Confusion?  Yes, on timing.  So, the Lord has sown confusion about the timing but should that leave us in a state of confusion?  No.  We do not need a PhD, or ThD or thousands page e-book to figure this out.  What we need is to do what He told us to do.  We need to obey.

What did He tell us to do?  Be watching for His unexpected return, always.  That's it.  So the best evidence to believe the pre-tribulation rapture today is not direct evidence it is indirect evidence.  Direct evidence leads to confusion.  The Bible gives direct evidence for pre, mid and post trib as evidenced by the existing divisions in the Church along those same lines.  The indirect evidence tells us in the face of what we cannot be certain of (timing) do what you can be certain of.  What can we be rock solid certain on?  We are 100% certain that we are to be watching and praying for the unexpected return of the Lord each and every day.  Anyone who debates or dismisses that clear Biblical fact is a fool.

The Superiority of Watching Every Day

We do not know the day or hour because the Lord told us we would not know the day or hour.  Its clear cut.  We do know for certain we are to watch for His unexpected coming every day because He pounded that order into us over and over again in Matthew, Mark and Luke.  Watching for the Lord every day is superior 1.  because the Lord told us to do it, and 2. the strategy auto updates to include as necessary every one of the rapture positions.  What does that mean?  It means if the Lord does not arrive before the tribulation, we continue to watch and pray into mid trib.  If the Lord does not come back mid-trib, we continue to watch and pray into post-trib.  Its a no brainer.  Its simple, its easy, it requires no sophisticated arguments.  What it requires is a simple reading of the Word and simple obedience to do what we were told to do.

This line of thinking, ie doing what we were told to do solves the rapture debate.  Watch and pray today for the Lord's unexpected coming and do not stop until 1.  you go to heaven first or 2.  The Lord fulfills His promise to arrive unexpected.

So, we continue to watch, every day month and year.  Predictions come and go, you tubers come and go.  What does not come and go is the Word which tells us to watch and pray without ceasing.  The Lord Himself gave this writer signs in 2017 and 2018 that He is coming soon but has He arrived yet?  No.  So what?  Do we throw our hands up in the air and say "2018 is a good year to stop watching" while we watch the world descend into madness and every prophesy the Lord uttered fall into place?  We do not stop, we do not quit, we shift into low gear and grind out the time doing exactly what our God told us to do without failing.  If we do what we were told to do, there is no confusion, there is just simple obedience and love that can and will bring us across the finish lines with shouts and cheers from the audience in heaven:

2 Peter 1:3According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

grace and peace

Remember September 9.11.18

What happens if the Lord does not show up during our high watch period of 2018?
We continue to watch and wait.  Why?  Because He told us to:

Watch:

Mark 13:32 But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.

33Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. 34For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: 36Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. 37And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Wait:

Rev 3:10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

Did the Lord come back for the Feast of Trumpets 2018?
Nope.

Do we know the day or hour 

He is going to return?  Nope.

Should we continue to watch?  Yep.

grace and peace

Remember September 9.9.18

Why are we carefully watching for the return of the Lord during this season?
1.  He told us to always be watching for His return
2.  The world around us is testifying to us that He is coming back soon

Some evidence for you today that business as usual is not in the forecast for the days ahead.  Take a look at brother Armstrong's article on the weather.  He and a number of other forecasters are predicting some dire consequences for the solar minimum we are now entering.  What happens during solar minimum?  Famine, disease, pestilence and war......If I'm not mistaken that sounds terribly close to what we read in Revelation 6-the opening of the seals.

Revelation 6

The Second Seal: War

3And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 4And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

The Third Seal: Famine

5And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

The Fourth Seal: Death

7And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 8And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.

If the Church is removed before this wrath ^^ is released upon the world, that means our time here is short indeed.

grace and peace

Remember September 9.8.2018

I asked the Lord to give me something today related to His arrival that I could post for you.  Here is what was provided:

There are two groups in the world today.  Sadly, many Christians are divided among these two groups.

Group 1:  Those who love His appearing
Group 2:  Those who dread/hate His appearing

Group 1:

2 Tim 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Group 2:

Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

How many Christians today mock and ridicule the 'escapist' mentality the Lord instructed us to have?

Luke 2136Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

How many Christians are not only in this world and love this world?

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

We know those who love this world because they speak from the viewpoint of this world.

1 John 4:5 ⁵They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.

We however, are not of this world nor do we speak from the viewpoint of this world.  We love Jesus Christ our Savior, not this world.  We love heaven, which is where our kingdom is, not the kingdoms of this world.  Thus we know why, those who are in this world and of this world turn red in the face and have veins popping out of the neck in hatred of the idea that 1.  our Lord can and will come back any day now and 2. take us to heaven-away from this world-where our kingdom is.

The dividing lines are becoming more clear by the day.  That is the gift the Lord gave us with Trump.  Not that Trump will make America great again, but that Trump is being used to expose the wicked and the worldly for all of us to see with crystal clarity.

grace and peace