Bible Ballistics: BBs #305 Is There Any GOOD News???

 

In a Word yes!!! In fact, The Word is the Good News—Jesus Christ!

 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not……..14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Portions of John 1:1-14

Jesus, The Son of God came in the flesh to redeem (purchase back from sin) mankind—all who will believe in Him. And it is Jesus come in the flesh that reveals to us the glory of God. The God Almighty of all creation—Father, Son and Holy Spirit. And the Son took on flesh and blood to pay for our sin at Calvary, after all God couldn’t die, so He took on flesh that He could have a body of flesh in which HE would pay for our sin.

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood,

he also himself likewise

took part of the same;

that through death

he might destroy him

that had the power of death,

that is, the devil;

15 And deliver them

who through fear of death

were all their lifetime

subject to bondage.

16 For verily he took not on him

the nature of angels;

but he took on him the seed

of Abraham.

17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him

to be made like unto his brethren,

that he might be a merciful

and faithful high priest

in things pertaining to God,

to make reconciliation

for the sins of the people.

18 For in that he himself

hath suffered being tempted,

he is able to succour

them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:14-18

Jesus took on a body of flesh for you and me, that we might have life—eternal life with HIM. He came to restore that which we (all mankind) lost in Eden, and to do that HE had to come in flesh and blood, walk among men, experience temptation and OVERCOME temptation, sin, death and hell!!! And HE DID! And that is what we must believe and trust in—there is no other way, and that IS the Good News!   But at the same time it is sad news for those who reject Him.

“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” 1 John 4:2-3

Jesus IS God, the same Lord God who revealed Himself to Adam and Eve, Enoch, Abraham and Moses– One God in three unique and distinct personalities.

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord:

5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:” Deuteronomy 6:4-6

And just as Moses declared truth here, it’s not having it in your head—it must be “be in thine heart”! And when we receive the forgiveness of sin that Jesus offers, in giving ourselves to Him we receive life, hope, truth and glory. And while many call the “model” prayer the “Lord’s Prayer”, in truth the “Lord’s Prayer” which He prayed for us is recorded in John 17. And I’d like to share portions of that prayer with you today. My challenge to you is to read it (In fact get out your Bible and read the entire prayer.), think on it and read it some more. Let the very word of the Savior of mankind—of your soul if you know HIM—sweep over you and receive the Good News of who HE is, and what HE has done and is doing for you even now—right this very minute! That my friend, is the Best News.

“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said,

Father, the hour is come;

glorify thy Son,

that thy Son also may glorify thee:

2 As thou hast given him power

over all flesh,

that he should give eternal life

to as many as thou hast given him.

3 And this is life eternal,

that they might know thee

the only true God,

and Jesus Christ,

whom thou hast sent……

7 Now they have known that all things

whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee.

8 For I have given unto them the words

which thou gavest me;

and they have received them,

and have known surely that I came

out from thee,

and they have believed

that thou didst send me.

9 I pray for them:

I pray not for the world,

but for them

which thou hast given me;

for they are thine.

10 And all mine are thine,

and thine are mine;

and I am glorified in them.

11 And now I am no more in the world,

but these are in the world,

and I come to thee.

Holy Father,

keep through thine own name

those whom thou hast given me,

that they may be one,

as we are……..

20 Neither pray I for these alone,

but for them also

which shall believe on me

through their word;

21 That they all may be one;

as thou, Father,

art in me,

and I in thee,

that they also may be one in us:

that the world may believe

that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me

I have given them;

that they may be one,

even as we are one:

23 I in them,

and thou in me,

that they may be made perfect

in one;

and that the world may know

that thou hast sent me,

and hast loved them,

as thou hast loved me.”    Portions of John 17:1-23

Jesus IS the Good News, and you and I are made ministers, ambassadors for Jesus Christ. And an ambassador doesn’t speak for himself, he speaks for the One he represents—we are to be ambassadors of the Good News of the King of Glory! And we can be His ambassadors and do His work only and always because He is within us—in Him, through Him and with Him we can do all things that He asks of us!

“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; 26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”  Colossians 1:25-27

There is GOOD NEWS??? It’s your choice! All or nothing?

“…..for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:13

Bible Ballistics: BBs #304 Feelings or Certainty???

 

As we face this middle of the week today, I’d like to share a brief word of encouragement with you. Regardless of what each of us is facing, or the emotions and fears that come in times of stress, our God is still faithful and your situation today didn’t catch God off guard! And that my friend you can take to the bank—so to speak!!! We don’t have to allow circumstances to toss us to and fro with our own emotions, but rather we can stand fast in the truths of The Word of God, for our God is able and willing to see us through the difficult days as well as the pleasant ones.

“For the which cause I also suffer these things:

nevertheless I am not ashamed:

for I know whom I have believed,

and am persuaded

that he is able

to keep that

which I have committed

unto him

against that day.

13 Hold fast the form of sound words,

which thou hast heard of me,

in faith

and love

which is in Christ Jesus.”     2 Timothy 1:12-13

When we belong to Jesus Christ, we can “know” that we “know” what we “know”, and that is that “he is able” in every situation or circumstance that may confront us. Our God is totally in control—ALL the time. As Evangelist David Ring often says, “God never says ‘OOPS’!“ And I, for one, am grateful and certain of that truth! Isaiah heard it directly from God, and it’s still true today.

“When thou passest through the waters,

I will be with thee;

and through the rivers,

they shall not overflow thee:

when thou walkest through the fire,

thou shalt not be burned;

neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

3 For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour:” Isaiah 43:1-2a

So my dear friends, whatever your situation today, whatever may be confronting you, wherever you may be walking today, remember, God has YOU as well as the situation. He is working on behalf of His own, and we don’t have to run on “feelings”. Instead we can stand in the certainty that our God never fails! He is worthy of our praise, our worship, and most assuredly our confidence and trust. Don’t let emotions keep you on that rollercoaster of “feelings”—instead camp out on the God who never fails! Speak His Word: “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him”! Give it to HIM, leave it there, then remember and stand fast—even if you have to keep on telling yourself to look up to the One who has it all in His hand. As you take heart in the truth and rest in Him, here are a few thoughts from The Word to take with you today. Hide His Word in your heart!!!

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. 4 In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.”     Psalm 56:3-4

“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.”     Daniel 3:17

“Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:” Job 13:15a

Bible Ballistics: Vol. 8 No.17 A Message From Hell???

 

I know some of you are wondering what in the world is this about! Well my friends, it is an issue that has been on my heart and mind all week. We are facing uncertain times, and there is one issue of which we must be sure, and that is our true relationship with GOD!!!

We can live before the world a life of success, prosperity, popularity and even fame but have no relationship with God because we failed to “believe” God, His Word and His only Son, the Savior, Jesus Christ The Lord! And when we come to know the Lord Jesus Christ through the new birth of salvation, we are transformed by the power of His precious blood, which He shed for our sin. It IS why He came!

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Jesus came to save us from sin, and all who will believe in Him can have eternal life in and with God The Father, God The Son and God The Holy Spirit! But there is only one way – Jesus; believing that HE IS God; that He is the Son of God who came to die for our sin; not because He had to, but because He loves us that much.

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent

in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man

be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten

Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.”   John 3:14-19

Jesus came because He loves us, but He gives the privilege of choice to you and me. We will choose whether we believe God or not, and refusing to choose is a choice! If we trust and believe in Jesus, there is life, but if we refuse Him and what He has done for us we stand (Both now and in the end, if we continue in unbelief.) condemned before God. And there is a day coming when every knee will bow before God—those who received Jesus as Lord and Savior bowing in love, gratitude and devotion; but those who refused Him will bow before their judge to receive the just rewards of their choices.

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15

Just as the old adage talks about “nothing is certain but death and taxes”, we can be assured that death and judgment before God is certain (Whether you paid your taxes or not!). Without going into a lot of detail here, there are only two options for every person; either trust Jesus and stand before Him at the “Judgment Seat of Christ”, or reject Him and stand before the “Great White Throne”! You will bow before Him at one or the other. You can choose to bow before Him now, as your Lord and Savior, or you can stiffen your neck and go your own way in this world, and bow before Him ‘then’ with no recourse or salvation offered—you will bow before the One that you rejected and receive His true judgment.

“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” Matthew 25:41

For those of us who belong to Jesus, our hearts desire should be that others would come to know Him. We are to share the truth of the Gospel as we have opportunity (The very least that we should be doing!), yet often our message of Jesus is not received any differently than He was. But that is nothing new—the truth has been rejected since the beginning! But often today people compromise the message to get others to “choose” Jesus, but friends, we must understand and clearly embrace the fact that the truth never has changed and still hasn’t today. Just as “Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him” because Abel was righteous before God by faith, and Cain came to God his own way, rather than in the manner which God had prescribed, and through faith in that “way”! And that way was looking forward to Jesus in faith and obedience! And only by faith in Jesus can we receive true “righteousness”.

“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts….” Hebrews 11:4a

Just like us, Abel wasn’t righteous in his own merit, but by faith in the promised “One” who would come, the same “One” that saves and changes lives today!!!

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ,

as though God did beseech you

by us:

we pray you in Christ’s stead,

be ye reconciled to God.

21 For he hath made him to be sin

for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness

of God

in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

Paul also told the Romans that there is not one person that is righteous in and of himself, except Jesus Christ, the God-Man. In Jesus Christ we can receive God’s “righteousness”!

“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” Romans 3:10

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified

freely

by his grace

through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth

to be a propitiation

through faith in his blood,

to declare his righteousness

for the remission of sins

that are past,

through the

forbearance

of God;

26 To declare, I say,

at this time

his righteousness:

that he might be just,

and the justifier

of him

which believeth

in Jesus.” Romans 3:23-26

It isn’t our own goodness, kindness, generosity, open-mindedness, justice, love or charity, success or popularity that makes us right with God; but the righteousness of Jesus, which He died to impart to those who will believe. No compromise on our part will make the truth palatable to all. We can share the truth but we can’t make people believe, and Jesus Himself made this clear. If people won’t accept the truth, compromise, spectacular miracles or entertainment can’t change hearts and lives! Let’s look at a familiar account and see what we Jesus had to say.

“There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22 And it came to pass,

that the beggar died,

and was carried by the angels

into Abraham’s bosom:

the rich man also died,

and was buried;

23 And in hell

he lift up his eyes,

being in torments,

and seeth Abraham afar off,

and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 And he cried and said,

Father Abraham,

have mercy on me,

and send Lazarus,

that he may dip the tip of his finger in water,

and cool my tongue;

for I am tormented

in this flame.

25 But Abraham said,

Son, remember

that thou in thy lifetime

receivedst thy good things,

and likewise Lazarus evil things:

but now he is comforted,

and thou art tormented.

26 And beside all this,

between us and you

there is a great gulf fixed:

so that they which would pass

from hence to you cannot;

neither can they pass to us,

that would come from thence.

27 Then he said,

I pray thee therefore, father,

that thou wouldest send him

to my father’s house:

28 For I have five brethren;

that he may testify unto them,

lest they also come into this place of torment.

29 Abraham saith unto him,

They have Moses and the prophets;

let them hear them.

30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham:

but if one went unto them

from the dead,

they will repent.

31 And he said unto him,

If they hear not Moses

and the prophets,

neither will they be persuaded,

though one rose

from the dead.”    Luke 16:19-31

I don’t believe that this is a parable as such, but a true story that Jesus shared (He never used ‘names’ in His parables). I think he named the beggar because no one would have remembered him anyway, yet he did not name the rich man, because some people may have remembered and known who he was. And while this account isn’t teaching us that the rich go to hell, and the poor go to heaven—it is teaching us that faith isn’t discriminating toward riches, but eternal destiny is the result faith in Jesus! And death is the end of any opportunity for salvation, and that is in God’s hands.

This account also teaches us that the greatest hearts for the lost are in Hell!!! Those who find themselves in hell, are concerned about those that they left behind, and they aren’t looking to have them join them in a “party” but they are begging that their loved ones be reached with the Gospel, just as this man did. Yet as this rich man asked that Lazarus return from the dead to reach his family, Jesus tells us that even someone “rising from the dead” won’t convince those who willfully reject the truth of the Gospel. I find it interesting that Jesus shares this truth knowing that He Himself would arise from the grave and people would choose unbelief, even in the light of HIS miraculous resurrection from the dead!!! It was true then and it’s true now. It is God’s grace that saves by faith—not fame, wealth or power! This man had it all in life, and lost it all in death. What about you? Are you counting on something other than the cross to save you? Only Jesus can save, and only by faith!

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk

in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10

While we aren’t saved “by” our works, we are saved “to do” good “works”!!! We are to “work out” what God has worked in through Jesus, and by the power of His Holy Spirit. We are to be His salt and light before the world. James says that we are not saved by works, but that when we are saved, our works are the evidence to the world that we belong to Jesus.  What we do not just what we say!

“Yea, a man may say,

Thou hast faith,

and I have works:

shew me thy faith

without thy works,

and I will shew thee my faith

by my works.” James 2:18

And one of our greatest works is the display of a changed life by the power of the blood of Jesus, before a lost and dying world. People can’t argue with a genuinely changed life!

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

A new life in Christ Jesus is the evidence of that “transformation”– from the Greek word “metamorphoo”– yes the same word that we get our English word “metamorphosis” from. The change from “such a worm as I” to be evidence to the world of “that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God”. Do you want to be proof of the power of the cross, or a shame, or are you living a sham? The choice is yours, and the message from “Hell” is clear—choose Jesus and avoid being “tormented in this flame”; for just as certain as the reality of heaven, the judgment of Hell is just as certain for all who refuse to come to God through Jesus Christ. There is no second chance—the choices that you make today will have eternal consequences. You can choose life or death—but you will choose! Will you receive the “Message From Hell”? I pray that you will receive the truth while there is still time. For there won’t be a reunion party in “Hell”, but a grief for opportunities past for all of eternity!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

I pray to live like a new creature in Christ, proclaiming the truth of the Gospel, with NO regrets. Or you can spend eternity with futile desires that have no fulfillment? The choice is yours (And mine.), but remember that to every choice there is a consequence; and while you are free to make your own choice, you are not free to set the consequences for that choice. And those consequences are engraved in the hands of Jesus either as Savior or Judge—it’s your choice. My hearts desire and plea is that if you don’t know Jesus you will come to Him in repentance and faith—He wants to save you today. Or if you belong to Him that you will hold fast to the truth and share it today—in His power and not compromise (And you must get into the Word to know what it says! See 2 Timothy 2:15 & 3:16-17)

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)”    2 Corinthians 6:2

 

Bible Ballistics: BBs #303 The Blessed Need Not Fear!!!

 

“Blessed is the man

that walketh not in the counsel

of the ungodly,

nor standeth in the way of sinners,

nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight

is in the law of the Lord; and

in his law doth he meditate

day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree

planted by the rivers of water,

that bringeth forth his fruit

in his season;

his leaf also shall not wither;

and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

4 The ungodly are not so:

but are like the chaff

which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the ungodly

shall not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation

of the righteous.

6 For the Lord knoweth

the way of the righteous:

but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”    Psalm 1:1-6

Or as the Amplified Bible puts it:

       “6 For the Lord knows

and fully approves

the way of the righteous,

   But the way of the wicked shall perish.”

Just a brief word this morning—Our God Reigns. Regardless of what is going on around us, the blessed of the Lord are still “Blessed” because we know HIM, and we know the Lord Jesus Christ and are trusting in Him. The blessed of the Lord walk right before Him and we can know the way He wants us to go, and we should confidently walk there—wherever that may be!!! Whether it be the fire or the flood—God walks with His own, His Spirit dwelling within those who are His own. Examine yourself to see if you are His. He will reveal truth to those who seek Him.

“But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.” Romans 8:9

And when we belong to God, born again of His Spirit, redeemed and forgiven of our sin, we can walk boldly forward despite the challenges or adversities before us.

“But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for

I have redeemed thee,

I have called thee by thy name;

thou art mine.

2 When thou passest through the waters,

I will be with thee;

and through the rivers,

they shall not overflow thee:

when thou walkest through the fire,

thou shalt not be burned;

neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

3 For I am the Lord thy God,

the Holy One of Israel,

thy Saviour:” Isaiah 43:1-3

So take heart friends—we win, because Our God Reigns, we can also be confident because:

“….He hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.”    Hebrews 13:5b-6

Remember you don’t need to fear when you belong to Jesus, YOU are blessed! Walk like the blessed! Act like the blessed! Trust like the blessed! Let the world see the love of Jesus in your humble attitude of gratitude and confidence in HIM!!! Now “Have a blessed day”!!!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #302 Days Of Decision & Difficulty???

 

“This know also,

that in the last days

perilous times shall come.

2 For men shall be

lovers of their own selves,

covetous,

boasters,

proud,

blasphemers,

disobedient to parents,

unthankful,

unholy,

3 Without natural affection,

trucebreakers,

false accusers,

incontinent,

fierce,

despisers of those that are good,

4 Traitors,

heady,

highminded,

lovers of pleasures

more than lovers of God;

5 Having a form of godliness,

but denying the power thereof:

from such turn away.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5

If I wrote nothing else, the picture is clear—the message is unmistakable—the truth is plain and unwavering, but will we receive it and take it to heart? That is a question that only you can answer! It is a question that I must answer! Will we awake from our slumbering stupor and “withstand in the evil day”? Go over that list and match it to our culture, to the daily news, to the political hoopla, to any field or arena of life that you choose—the likeness is unmistakable!!! And just as importantly, we need to examine our lives and make sure that we are not consumed with these traits of behavior. Remember, Jesus told us that behavior comes from the heart—what’s in our heart will come out!

My friends, we must awake from our drowsy state and fall on our faces and ask God to help us to reflect “HIS” light and glory rather than our own or the world’s idea of “glory”. We must stop ‘playing’ church and decide if we really belong to the Lord Jesus Christ or not. And if we do, we must dig into HIS Word and equip our hearts and minds with HIS truth, put on our Armor of God, and “stand”! We must get off of our “Blessed Assurance” and start marching “Onward Christian Soldiers”! We are called to be salt and light—that is light in the darkness around us as well as seasoning and a preservative to our world and culture. We can make a difference. We aren’t The Light of the world, but our Savior Jesus Christ IS, and we are to reflect HIS light, which is within us, in the darkness, and that does make a difference. Our job is to shine HIS light, and to be a seasoning and a preservative agent, and because we believers are failing to BE that preservative in our culture, the corruption has flourished. We have failed to proclaim “truth” as “truth” and we will give an account, but just as significant right now, is that we may be about to reap the consequences of our choices and our compromising ways!

“Ye are the salt of the earth:

but if the salt have lost his savour,

wherewith shall it be salted?

it is thenceforth good for nothing,

but to be cast out,

and to be trodden

under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world.

A city that is set on an hill

cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle,

and put it under a bushel,

but on a candlestick;

and it giveth light

unto all

that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine

before men,

that they may see your good works,

and glorify your Father

which is in heaven.”    Matthew 5:13-16

We can choose to reflect the Savior to the world, or we can choose to live like the world and shame our Lord. How are you living? What are your choices accomplishing in the Kingdom of God? Are you ready for the persecution that may lie ahead? And I can hear some of you saying, “What persecution?” The persecution that is already at work, the persecution of bakers and photographers who won’t cave to the politically correct thought police. The persecution that is even now coming against those who stand for biblical morality—the laws that say it’s “OK” for men to go into women’s bathrooms. The persecution that sends employees to “sensitivity training” because they won’t call wrong ‘right’ and right ‘wrong’! The persecution toward those who dare to stand for life and morality! Wake up my friends, we must wake up!

“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” Matthew 24:9-10

Then seems to be here!

“Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Mark 13:12-13

And while these references are to the very last days, the persecution has been around since the beginning. Many who serve Almighty God and His Son Jesus Christ, have been put to death ever since sin entered into the world, we can expect no less. Why did Cain kill his brother? Cain killed his brother because Abel obeyed God and was accepted, while Cain came to God his own way and was not accepted, therefore he rose up and took Abel’s life. Jesus even spoke of the innocent, righteous blood that had been shed from Abel’s time on.

“That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.” Matthew 23:35

And persecution is going on today, from minor inconveniences to those who stand for truth, to the murder of those refuse to deny Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and understand this, it is coming to a home near you. Are you ready? Paul told Timothy this very thing!

“Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12

Friends, we are there. And regardless of what happens in November in America, the world is becoming more and more hostile toward biblical Christianity and Israel. We are both hated because we hold to the truths of God’s Word, because we won’t call wrong ‘right’, or right ‘wrong’! The question we must answer today is “Am I living ‘godly in Christ Jesus’ before a world of darkness and corruption, or have I lost my ‘saltiness’?” We must each answer that question in our own hearts and before God!!! And while God knows the answer already, do you? We must redeem the time that we have!

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17

Many are familiar with Chief Justice Roy Moore of Alabama, who has been embroiled with the government hierarchy for quite some time over his pursuit of real justice, truth and righteousness. After a recent ruling against his stand for “truth” and “right”, he made some statements that I would like to leave you with. My friends this truly is a day of decision!

“Welcome to the new world. It’s just changed for you Christians. You are going to be persecuted, according to the U.S Supreme Court dissents.”  

“Have we elevated immorality to morality? Do we call good, bad? What are we Christians to do? Are we exiles in our own country…?”

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20

What’s your difficulty? What’s your decision?