The News Says It All!

I have been consistently amazed at the headlines these last few months. Countries going bankrupt, others attaining nuclear status, unabashed talk of global law and government. Bizarre behavior of the Hollywood and Washington elite, children murdering parents, unbridled disrespect of one human for one another. Scandalous behavior of priests and pastors, complete lack of self-control and moral direction of political leaders, and the dubious triumph of money over morals on Wall Street and Main Street.

Is this the world in which I grew up? What will it take for good to once again conquer evil? When will this slide toward destruction of humanity end? Or will it?

At the breakfast table this morning, my family discussed the following Scripture:
But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. (2 Timothy 3:1-5 NIV)

The answer to my questions above is most likely this: we are witnessing the beginning of the terrible times that Apostle Paul wrote of in his letter to Timothy. Indeed, there have been times in history when society was this out-of-control. At the very least we are in for a very rude awakening. But I believe there is more to it this time. The earth has never seen a time when one-world government was so close to reality. Prophecies in Daniel, Matthew, and Revelation all confirm the words of Paul as he warned of the end of time.

The symptom of human sickness that concerns me most is the last: having a form of godliness but denying its power (verse 5). We are indeed in a time when the gospel has gone to every corner of the earth, and yet it seems that the Church has less influence and power than ever before. How could this be? For one, we have turned away from our first love, Jesus Christ. We have allowed tradition and programs to become our God, while forsaking the power and leading of the Spirit of Christ.

The earth groans inwardly as it waits eagerly for the sons of God to be revealed (Romans 8:18-25). Who will be the first to say, "I desire to walk in the fullness of Christ, and I choose the Kingdom of God over the things of this world." Who will stand and say, "The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man can do unto me!"(Hebrews 13:6). Who will agree with Jesus in His prayer to the Father, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven"?(Matthew 6:10).

Yes, the news says it all! We are on the verge of a new kingdom . . . not that of a one-world government run by selfish tyrants, but that of the coming King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Look up, friends, for our redemption is drawing nigh!!!

What's in a Name? (2) from Beyond the Veil

Let us remember here our understanding of salvation. Salvation is found in Jesus alone for that is His name. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Jesus has made available to all who will come to Him every blessing listed in the Scriptures. If we have even half the determination of the woman who fought herself through the crowd to touch the hem of His garment, then we will find Him, and He will bless us as well! As joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, we have also been given authority to speak His name in any and every situation; we must do the work that He did for us—taking salvation to every soul who needs it in the name of Jesus (John 14:11-14).

Let us also remember that Jesus, as the High Priest, has gone into the Holy of Holies before us, sprinkling His own blood on the Mercy Seat. Jesus has made open every door for us so that we may access the Father by His own blood. Jesus has gone before us behind the veil; He calls to us and desires for us to come there as well. For there His glory dwells in the Holy of Holies. No, we do not deserve such standing, but only the arrogant will turn down such an offer: “Come boldly unto the throne of grace that you may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). Yes, the world will say that we are boastful and proud to be counted as people of God who come boldly to Him, expecting Him to meet our needs. No, a world of people who would rather meet their own needs and ignore their Creator is indeed most arrogant and proud. Many believe that God would not grant their greatest desires for this or for that, and they proceed to fill their own desires, by hook or by crook. May we determine that only those things that God is willing to provide for us are worth having—all else is vanity, or worse, destructive.
(from Beyond the Veil, to be released soon)

What's in a Name?

Contrary to the Shakespearian context in which this question was born, when it comes to the name of Jesus everything is in a name. On the surface, and as we as 21st century "superficialists" tend to think, a name is only a label, a trinket to be worn, testifying to the faddish era into which we were born. However, to God a name is everything. It actually tells the story of a person's life yet to be lived. The name describes generally the characteristics of the person and in many ways the vocation of the same person.

When it comes to the name of Jesus, there is even much more to a name. In the Hebrew language, "yeshua" means salvation. According to Strong's Lexicon, the facets of the word salvation include the following: freedom, wholeness(forgiveness, righteousness), rescue, deliverance, victory, healing, health, prosperity, provision, protection, aid, and eternal life. The people of Biblical times heard in the name of Yeshua, or Jesus, the answer to every need that they could possibly have. It is no wonder that people with needs for healing, deliverance, provision, and forgiveness would swarm to the walking and talking Provider of salvation. That was His name: Jesus, Yeshua, Salvation.

Two millenia later, the needs of mankind have not changed. We still are in need of healing, of daily needs for food and shelter, of deliverance from the demons that haunt the worldly marketplaces of cable television and the Internet. The good news is that the One who provides salvation from all of these areas of lack has not changed either. He calls to each of us, "Come unto me, all who are weary and weighed-down, I will give you rest!" (Matthew 11:28). To obtain whatever facet of salvation that you need today, whether it is forgiveness, healing, aid, guidance, protection, or eternal life, simply call on the name that is above every name--Jesus! What's in a name? Everything a human being could possibly need--past, present and future. Acts 4:12 says, "There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved."

Is Anything Too Hard for the LORD?

The LORD had just caught Sarah laughing. She denied it, but the LORD said, "No, but you did laugh!" We all know what she was laughing about, don't we? The LORD had promised that she would birth a son . . . a son who would be born to a woman almost 90 years old! We would laugh as well if we did not know the ending to this story.

As we go back to our earthly duties after a most amazing Holy Week, we need to take the power of the Resurrection with us. I am not speaking figuratively here; I am speaking in very literal terms. Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father and the power of the Holy Spirit, has promised us that we may ask anything in His name and He would do it (John 14:13-14). If we would but believe, we will be given what we ask in the name of Jesus (Matthew 21:22). John put it this way in 1 John 5:14-15 NKJV: "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."

We who believe that God could and would raise Jesus from the dead must remember that if He could do that, then He can certainly answer our prayers that we ask according to His will and in Jesus' name. If He can raise the dead, He can certainly find you and me a job if we need it. He can certainly heal our sicknesses and protect us from evil. He can certainly guide us through dangerous times.

The LORD heard Sarah laugh. His simple yet thunderous response was this: "Is anything to hard for the LORD?"(Genesis 18:14a NKJV). We who believe in the resurrection of Christ must remember each time we ask anything of the LORD that nothing is too hard for Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. Nothing!!!

God Bless You as you seek His will this week!