Thursday, November 27, 2014

PLUMBLINE THE TV SHOW, TRUTH FOR TODAY - SOON ON ROKU TV CHANNEL

The PLUMBLINE bible teaching TV show has switched from the over the air
broadcast TV platform to an expanding by leaps and bounds Internet TV platform, which is available on ROKU and the worldwide web.  Plumbline was over the air (and streaming) on the Decatur, Illinois affiliate of theChristian Television Network- WLCF Channel 45 – for two years before switching to SOON Inspirations (now called barak.TV)


The word “barak” is not about the current American President’s first name, but is Old Testament Hebrew for “praise”.  The “praise” network is now within the reach of over 19 countries including Israel, a certain other Middle Eastern country, Brazil and elsewhere! This is the barak.TV website, which is still building up. 

The reach of the former SOON Inspirations network, (now barak) is incredible and only a testimony to the Power and the Presence of the LORD in all of this. SOON was only fully launched three months ago, this September as the Bible Teaching side of the SOON Entertainment Network. Soon still exists as the wholesome subscription family entertainment internet TV network it set out to be. PLUMBLINE with Bernie Lutchman is one of the top three programs on the new barak.TV network along with network leader “CONTEMPORARY LIVING with Dr. Tim Henderson” and….. God Culture with John Naphor.

So what does PLUMBLINE really mean?  The word comes from another Hebrew word which means “plumb line”. The foundational Scripture which spoke this name to me was from  Amos 7:7-8 “Thus He showed me: Behold, the LORD stood on a wall made with a  plumb line, with a plumb line in His Hand. And the LORD said to me “Amos, what do you see?” And I said “A plumb line” Then the LORD said: “Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will not pass by them anymore”. The PLUMBLINE video program below goes into more details about this.  The Plumb Line of which the LORD Jesus spoke, was used as an illustration of how he was going to hold the people of that time accountable…i.e. to see how they measured up against the Law of Moses and Prophets.


Today, we have the Word of God as dispensed from Heaven, via the Holy Spirit speaking through over 40 authors through 1500 years, and THAT is the plumbline for the Church Age of the last 2000 years. Every Christian, from the Roman Centurion at the Foot of Cross of Christ to Stephen to Polycarp and Clement; from the Disciples to Athanasius and Boniface; from John Hus and Luther to Wesley and Whitfield; from Peter Muehlenburg and Jonathan Edwards to Peter Cartwright,  Sheffey, DL Moody and Spurgeon; from Billy Sunday to Billy Graham and Franklin,  from  Ray Comfort and Ronnie Floyd and Byron Paulus to the smallest bible teacher in the underground church in the persecuted middle east and Asia …as well as us who put teaching on video across the world on the web – we will ALL be held up and measured just like the wall by Jesus and His Word – the Plumbline of Truth. 

The Word of God is going to convict the World on Judgment Day and the same plumbline of Truth, the Logos – the Bible – will be the measuring line of Divine Justice. While this perishing world does not believe in the God of the Bible and while their minds cannot wrap itself around it, their pretending it does not matter or exist does not change the reality of that Coming Day. Our part, as followers of the Word and the Word Who became flesh (the Lord Jesus) is to learn what it says, so we can do what it says, so when we hear what He says as we stand before Him, at the Bema Seat for Rewards, we will not be ashamed,  but glory in the fact that our works passed the refining fiery test of Christ.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

JOY, JOY, JOY - DOWN IN YOUR HEART! (Psalm 20:4-5)

4 He grant you according to your heart’s desire,
And fulfill all your purpose.
5 We will rejoice in your salvation,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners!
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.  (Psalm 20:4-5)

This is a really tricky thing. We know, both from Scripture and personal experience that the heart is a deceitful, deceptive and even evil thing, "who can know it"? We hear people telling us all the time to "follow our hearts". This is a usually recipe ingredient for disaster because if we follow our hearts, into some gray areas, WITHOUT following what you and I know is right, according to the Will, Word and Wishes of God - we will end up in a very bad place. How many more times do we have to learn the lessons of history.

We live in a culture, society and system which is led by emotions over rational reasoning and while some of this is good, if based on Timeless Truths, most of it can lead to some horrible stuff. How many apparently solid marriages are broken up because a husband or wife "fall out of love" and it is usually when one person falls for somebody more tempting and alluring. Then, this person proceeds to justify it as "God wants me to be happy" - all emotion-based, all led by the heart. Recently a number of well-known 'christian' singers-songwriters have declared their same-sex status and are living in sin with their partners, but have become belligerent (without anyone asking) in their justification of their human desires, vis-à-vis the Lord and His Word. Both are wrong, and both types of conduct are outside the Will and Purposes of God.

Verse 4 above exhorts us to line up our hearts AND our minds with the Will, Plan and Purposes of God. There is a reason Jesus said the greatest commandment is to Love the Lord you God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. When you truly love somebody, you commit all to them and even more so when this somebody is the One Who holds your life in His Hands, Who created you and Who sustains you ONLY by His Good graces. There is nothing good to endear us to Him except our obedience.  But the Good News if we pick up our Cross daily, die to our fleshly and sinful lusts and desires and if we seek Him daily and His righteousness, our spirit and soul will line up SO perfectly with His Will, Word, Plan and Purposes for our lives, that we can never stop our cup from overflowing with blessings from above.

When this happens, we can not stop rejoicing! We then develop a joy, joy, joy, joy down in our real hearts, which are in sync with God's, that is there to stay! This is confirmed in Verse 5 as we rejoice in not just the fact of our salvation and future eternal home with the Lord, but we have a magnetic pull whose powerful attraction to the LIGHT Of CHRIST so permeates every fiber of our being, that we cannot wait a moment to be near it! This is the TRUE JOY of being a Biblical Christian.  The difference between rejoicing and happiness is similar to the chasm between God and those who have rejected Him. This perishing world seeks after lust, power, fake peace treaties, pomp circumstance and phony show (to fulfill their human happiness) but those whose full gaze are fixed on JEHOVAH NISSI - The God Who is our Standard, will rise on that Day, and will have both the Joy and Peace that passes ALL understanding, even in today's evil, dark and perilous times.

Father God, we love You, and praise You for Your Mercy, Love, Grace and Long- suffering. We don't deserve a thing You give us, in fact we deserve hell and all the punishment set up for those who reject You. But by Your Mercy and Compassion, You saw our sad estate and sent Your Son the Savior - Jesus - to empty Himself and die for us on the Cross, paying the price for the evil desires of our heart, that we may be reconciled unto Thee. Father today, we commit our heart's desires to You and pray for the wisdom, the obedience, the perseverance and the commitment to be solidified in us that what we want in every aspect and facet of our lives will line up with the Plans and Purposes You have had for us since the foundations of the World.  As You told Jeremiah, You knew Him before You formed him in the womb and You know us well too, Father. You know our failures, lusts, weaknesses and even strengths.  Do away with the first two, turn our weaknesses into strengths and our strengths into eyes FIXED on Jerusalem that we may see the spiritual Holy City and the Kingdom Work You have called us to and thus, answer all the prayers and petitions we make, as we are no aligned more perfectly with what You, in Your perfect wisdom, have in store for us. We love, adore, praise and magnify Your Holy Name, through Christ the King, amen.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

BLESSED ASSURANCE (Psalm 20:1-3)

May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble;
May the name of the God of Jacob defend you;
2 May He send you help from the sanctuary,
And strengthen you out of Zion;
3 May He remember all your offerings,
And accept your burnt sacrifice. Selah (Psalm 20:1-3)


There are so many people looking for hope, a way out, an answer or a straw to grab on, in these last days. In fact, most people do not even know we are living in the last days (but that for another day). The hopelessness, aimlessness and general frustration with the fast-moving uncertainty of modern life rise above the peace, joy and understanding of what it really takes to cope with daily living.

Whether most, who live, breath and immerse themselves fully into the systems of man recognize it or not, there is a way to begin seeing daylight at the end of the proverbial tunnel - which is NOT the headlights of the freight train of despair driving desperately towards you. We, who are called by the Name of the Lord of Heaven's Armies (or the LORD OF HOSTS) know this way. While we may be called childish, simpletons and worse for believing it, the Spirit of God Who lives in all true believers testifies more than once per day to the validity, authenticity and accuracy of the Sufficiency of Scripture to address EVERYTHING THAT AILS MAN!

The Book of Psalms is the acknowledged Prayer Book of the Bible, to those who know how to find comfort, hope, wisdom and healing there. Psalm 20 is one of those which just stands out like a lighthouse calling and warning and signalling the fact of our blessed hope and assurance in the Lord! So today, is the first of a multi-part look at this wonderful divinely-inspired Scripture!

The first three verses of Psalm 20 (seen above) is a blessing for the one who doubts, is in pain and needs the Hand of the Lord. God is eternal and so is His Word. What He spake not so long ago (in the last 4000 years) to the human authors of Scripture stands to this day. So knowing the firm foundation of His Word, we stand on these words of every page of every section of every Bible ever produced.
 

Pray each of these verses for the following:
Verse 1: That the Lord will hear your prayer, cries and petitions in that He will turn His Ears to thee. The Lord does not hear the prayer of an unrighteous or unsaved person, unless that person is crying out to Him for salvation and forgiveness. So examine yourself first, to see if ye be in the Faith, then repent of all thy sins, that He may listen, hear from Heaven and heal thy land and thine true estate (state of being). After He hears you, pray that He defends you by sending His Holy Angels to watch over you and protect you from the evil one and those on this earth sent to cause you harm trouble and long-suffering.
Verse 2: Pray that all kinds of help will be sent from Heaven in whichever form God deems fit. He knows your situation and what you need to be defended from. He knows if you need relief from debt, financial ruin, physical or emotional harm or other dangers. Trust in the Lord your God and lean not on your own understanding and He, HE will defend your path and life,
Verse 3: While we don't do sacrifices like those in the old testament and while God does not need our puny money or things, He does need our obedience. King David writes for the Lord in Psalm 51 that the LORD "does not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart" (Psalm 51:16-17). So first remember that you and I do nothing which the Lord wants. What He desires is our brokenness before Him. He acknowledges our obedience, our submission and our surrender to His will. This implies us sacrificing our own fleshly and sinful desires and breaking away from it, so we can be acceptable unto God, through Jesus Christ, amen.

Monday, November 17, 2014

STRESS-FREE LIVING? - GIVE ANXIETY THE BOOT!



 A LOOK AT THE MOST POPULAR VERSE ON AMAZON.COM
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).

Rightly dividing the Word of Truth, we have seen that there can be no justice no peace except THROUGH Christ Jesus (Phil 4:7). Once this fact has been established in your life through repentance and Faith in the Savior, as Lord, the next step to defeating fear, panic and worse is - hold on - THANKSGIVING!

All of this goes contrary to the teachings of this World, the reasoning of mere mortals and even the psycho-babble of modern 'churchianity". The good news is we have arrived at the moment where the prepared soul, properly focused with a heart and attitude of gratitude, can now approach the Lord as only an adopted son or daughter can.

Scripture promises, under the unction of the Holy Spirit that "
But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12). We have the right, duty and obligation to go boldly to the Throne of Grace at all time, in all things.  So many people will go on social media - Facebook, Twitter etc and post, repost or "retweet" inspirational verses, quotes, photos with beautiful scenery  and more, yet would not do what those things instruct.

Reading or getting a temporary "fix" from someone else's inspiration or even

their walk with the Lord does not fix the situation you or I find ourselves in, as regards the issues of daily life. It is only through a firmly resolved intentional trusting and walking in the Light of Christ that we can really get what He says in Matthew 6:25-24"That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing?
Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren't you far more valuable to him than they are?"

Those are great exhortations and SHOULD and OUGHT to be believed...but unless you click "save" and "apply" this means absolutely nothing to the person who is out of fellowship with the Savior. So, now, the most popular verse on the most popular retail website in the world - Amazon.com - says "Be Anxious For Nothing"...HOW?
PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION:
By Prayer - whether you pray in the morning before leaving home (if you work outside the home) or in class before a High School Algebra test, or before going up on the roof with a bundle of shingles, how you pray or speak to the Lord your Creator, matters not as much as what you pray and the condition of your heart. 

There is nothing wrong with approaching the King with a troubled spirit, in silence and just weeping. 
There is nothing wrong with just saying "Father, I have absolutely NO IDEA how to do this, please help me". 
There is nothing wrong with going to one of our local Christian bookstores (or looking up prayer books on amazon.com and learning from the masters, how they did it.) 

One resources that is timeless and speaks volumes to the Power and Majesty of Prayer is The Valley of Vision. Sure, most of us cannot pray like these men and women from 300 years ago, but the more you read these prayers, even daily, you will sense their hearts for Christ and slowly, you will find your own spirit, moving in this anointed direction and pathway of purposeful Puritan like prayer, where the Holy Spirit (as promised in Scripture) will take the longings and desires of your heart and move it into a fragrant offering of prayer to the Lord, acceptable before the Throne. Please do yourself a favor and click on the following link, to see what I mean. Try it at least for one week, and watch your entire prayer life change, and less anxiety will be present in your environment!
By Supplication - Supplication is the act of asking for the Lord to respond to a personal request, on your own behalf (such as Jesus taught as in "Give us this day, our Daily Bread"). It is different from a petition, which is intercession on behalf of another. If you have a friend or family member in need of urgent and critical prayer and you go into a time travailing prayer, and carry that other person's burden (from the Greek word "bastazo"), you are basically standing in the gap and petitioning the Lord for that person.  Supplication is for you and I directly, (paga- entreat and beg the Lord), even if you and I are parents and entreating the Lord to intervene on behalf of our child or our parent (petition). However when we need help and guidance as regards our health, our home, our finances, a broken furnace or water pipe....anything....ask the Lord! 

Really, there is nothing wrong with asking Him for help for your car to last until pay day when you can afford new brake pads etc....There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking. We have not because we ask not. It is great to ask others to pray for us...but unless we pray for ourselves, we are sitting on a two legged stool (Jesus and the person praying). The only way it because a three  legged stool worth sitting on is if Jesus, our prayer warrior friend and you are in sync, in one accord, praying the same thing. We know from the Bible that Jesus LIVES to make intercession before the Father for us (Hebrews 7:25). So think about this for a second - we have the High Priest of ALL Heaven - Jesus, the Commander in Chief of both this world and the entire universe - waiting for our prayers, petitions and requests - and we don't approach Him!...er...WOW!!! 
By Bringing Your Requests to God - The great Prayer Book of the Bible - The Psalms has everything we need to pray away anxiety and make our requests known to God.
The Holy Spirit, through the author of most of the Psalms (King David, wrote these down as an example for us. Here is how we pray away and therefore, give ANXIETY the boot it deserves:

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer. (Psalm 4:1)
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. (Psalm 17:6)
In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.(Psalm 18:6)
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.(Psalm 25:16)
Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me; LORD, be my help."(Psalm 30:10)
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I call to you all day long.(Psalm 86:3)

There is so much more...and they can all be found in the Mighty Word of God. Scripture is sufficient for every need of man. It contains the keys to a life full of power, joy, and gracious Godly living. I will be posting a 12 part series on 1st and 2nd Peter on this same blog, next, under the PLUMBLINE TV show Tab, which will go through most of these same principles for the woman or man of God, to not just "be anxious" for nothing, but be all we can be, according to our calling. We can live so much more victorious as Christians, even in a filthy corrupt, lying and perverted world. All we need do, is believe God, believe His Word and keep His Commands...and we too, shall have the peace which passes...AND SURPASSES...all human understanding!

Sunday, November 16, 2014

STRESS-FREE LIVING? - GIVE THANKS....REALLY!!!

     A LOOK AT THE MOST POPULAR VERSE ON AMAZON.COM
Image Source: Bing.com/images
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7).

So the Bible says "Be anxious for nothing".....is this really possible? I mean, we have mounting medical bills; kids under peer pressure in high school and college; the mortgage is due; grandma's blood work did not look so good this time and Medicare does not want to pay for granddad's surgery; the car has an oil leak and the washer/dryer is acting funny....and "you're telling me be anxious for nothing?? NOTHING??!!"



Er....yes!! Yes, indeed and I quote Jesus here from Luke 12:25 "And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" The natural reaction is to accuse me of quoting the Bible again and that would be correct. But if one rethinks that position, it would be blatantly obvious that individually and collectively, we are basically not in control of any of those life situations I just described, in the natural.  We sure can worry, fret, fuss, get anxiety attacks and post endless tweets about our problems but in the end, what we are really demonstrating for the world, our friends and family - a complete lack of Faith!

People like me have preached for years that the best way to turn things around, when under heavy personal attack and such, is to do something for someone else...to look outside yourself. This is contrary to the corruption of some people in the west, who "get their 'zen' on" and mix eastern mysticism with their "Christianity" by turning inward for answers to their problems, when nothing good can come from what God calls "the deceitful heart" (Jeremiah 17:9). Therefore, what can we do? The answer is so simple, that most ignore it and/or run right past it. The answer is given to us by the Word of God right here in this most popular verse of Amazon. This is the formula:
THE PREMISE: "CUT IT OUT AND ENOUGH WITH THE ANXIETY/WORRY/PANIC ALREADY"

THE PROPOSAL: "GIVE THANKS (to God)!! What?! Are you nuts, Bernie? Why should I thank God for all these problems that are causing me to panic?  That is correct- this is not human thinking. We are in search of the divine solutions because we have no good answer within us. So we MUST give thanks!
We give thanks because we are alive and are standing downright upright.
We give thanks because we can identify each problem and we can acknowledge the one who allowed these things to happen.
We give thanks because He has given us the Spirit of Truth at the moment of regeneration, when we were born again.  This is the biggest trump card we have over the rest of mankind, who has rejected Christ. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God Who lives NOW in every believer, is our direct connection to the One Who can solve all our problems by directing us to the natural solutions. The Supernatural Power of God to remove all our anxiety and give us answers, direction and send provision and people into our lives to keep deal with anything the evil world throws at us.

Just like our first examination on this verse, where we discovered we have to go through Jesus Christ, we now have to do something even MORE radical - give thanks for our trials. But this thanksgiving is one of recognition! It is a recognition, in total gratitude, that we have Kingdom Authority in us (in the form of the Holy Spirit of God), Who now enables us to take the next step away from being "anxious for thing".

This next step is PRAYER, SUPPLICATION AND MAKING REQUESTS KNOWN TO GOD. These three will be examined in the third and final part of this short series.  So think on these things, as we press on - giving thanks to Almighty God is better than fake religion. Giving thanks - is the key to unlock the mystery to supernatural intervention in whatever ails us.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

STRESS-FREE LIVING? - WHERE DO I BEGIN.....read on...

A LOOK AT THE MOST POPULAR VERSE ON AMAZON.COM
The greatest online retailer in the world is Amazon.com. They just reported that the most popular bible verse in the 20 year history of what began as a used book clearing house, by former school teacher Jeff Bezos is from Philippians 4:6-7! This is highly unusual when you look at the millions and millions of books and other items which have crossed this amazing company over two decades. The highly advanced Amazon search engine selected this verse as the most popular of every book that has ever crossed its path. These books range from mega-million bestsellers from the Bible all the way over to the Harry Potter series and everything in between. 

The fact that Philippians 4:6-7 beat out such culturally popular verses like Jeremiah 29:11 or John 3:16 or Proverbs 3:5-6 or the favorite of all secular humanists: “judge not less ye be judged”, speaks very loudly. This passage starts of like this: “Be anxious for nothing….

But do the folks who write these in their books, ebooks, audio-books and such, do they really live by these words? They sure do quote the passage a lot. When some of the top selling medication for decades are anti-depressants, tranquilizers and sleeping pills, you know these words are just, well….words to most people! If folks have to drink wine, beer and assorted cocktails to “wind down” or “relax” etc…..then the hidden cultural enigma is even more critical than first thought.

Lest anyone think, that we think that the rest of us got it all together, nothing could be further from the truth. The matter of, and concerning Faith, involves work. We are not just given the gift of Faith, through the Grace and Goodness of God, to sit on our salvation, searching the Eastern Sky for the Return of the King.  As for the unsaved, who just loves the sound of this quote from Philippians 4:6-7 and use Scripture in their own books to make a point – good for you. Now they need to go the extra mile and believe what the Word says.

So what does this Word actually say? It reads: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7 NKJV).

There are literally over 15 full length sermons in this one sentence, which occupies two verses of Scripture. We obviously cannot do 15 Sundays of messages here in one posting, but for us to grasp any of it, it is necessary to begin at the end of the passage – “THROUGH CHRIST JESUS”! NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING is possible, probably or ANYTHING WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST. He is the end of the Story, He is the beginning of the Story and He IS the story. Once we know this, through every fiber of our being and once we recognize, repent and receive Him as Lord and Savior, then and ONLY THEN, we can go back to the beginning of this passage. Having arrived at the point of "being anxious for nothing", we can proceed FROM there, with the blessed assurance of the true believer.

NEXT: WE START BREAKING DOWN THIS PASSAGE TO SEE WHERE THE LORD LEADS US. THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE HEIGHTS AND THE DEPTHS AND WIDTH OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY, ONCE WE SET OUR MINDS TO CAMPING ON THIS WORD, HIS WORD AND THE WONDER OF HIS TRUTHS. THE PLANS AND PURPOSES OF EVERY WORD OF EVERY PHRASE WILL BECOME CLEAR, ONCE WE EXAMINE PHRASE BY PHRASE.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

HAS THE SIFTING OF TRUE BELIEVERS FROM THE FALSE ALREADY BEGUN? (BOOKREVIEW)

Read on to find out more:
The urgency of the concern which most of us ministry leaders view the rise of the “Nones” (the new generation of millennials and other young folks, who believe in nothing) is addressed with flowing depth in “THE SIFTED GENERATION…Tested, Tried and Found True”  - the new offering by Pastor/Author Michael Henderson.

Apart from denominational leaders in the Southern Baptist Convention and other serious Bible-preaching churches, the George Barna Research group and some major non-profits, the lack of concern for the lost nature of most of the last two generations by the so-called Body of Christ in America and the West, is both stunning and predictable.  What Mr. Henderson does, with foundational backing from Scripture, is to present a completed and in-focus picture of the state of this Body (the church); the status of the Body and the very scary sifting which is to come.

This sifting, or separating, represents the stark and unbreachable gap between the true followers of Christ (orthodox Christians) and the goats (cultural professing Christians).  As I have described many times in this blog - (re: The Ostrich Syndrome and other things), the majority of so-called Christians have aligned themselves with secular humanist thinking that everything will “just work out in the end”. This man-made philosophy is found nowhere in the Word of God. What scripture is clear about and the author of SIFTED GENERATION expounds on is the devastating end of those who ignore the warnings of the Lord Himself, in person when He walked the earth 2000 years ago, and the New Testament He gave to all generations.  Author Mike Henderson methodically goes through the shifting and sifting loyalties and allegiances of those who call themselves Christians as well as those who are the true remnant (or sheep of the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ).  Drawing from personal experiences with a hostile adult neighbor who insulted his little daughter’s “resurrection eggs” as she played with this neighbor’s kid during an Easter season to a long sample listing of the virulent anti-God, anti-Christian events of just the last two or three years, he weaves the narrative which is more than a wake-up call for the lazy and distracted.

A brief history of the great martyrs of the post-apostolic age, where the author talks about Polycarp (the pastor who was briefly the Apostle John’s pastor before the latter died of natural causes),  and shows that persecution and tribulation has and will always be with the true people of God, until He calls us home. Jesus Himself warned of these trials and tribulations, saying that they (the world) persecuted Him, so what makes us think they love us more than Him!  This book has twelve chapters, and each chapter contains not just the facts of the current estate which the church finds itself in, but systematic and accurate analysis of an accomplished author and bible teacher, who reads both the stitches on the signs of the times.  There is nothing extra biblical in eschatology (study of the end times) or soteriology.  One chapter, with its biblical underpinnings and some with prophetic references, flow into the next.  It is evident the author wishes to use historical context to inspire many who are searching for true meaning today, to a more complete understanding of the meaning of “suffering”.  

Nowhere in Scripture are we called to the modern American heresy of the “Best Life Now” and its prosperity gospel. But time after time, we are told about being called to suffer as Christ did. The evil of this modern age, liberal “Christianity” and false religion is making sure that true believers are made to suffer. The author calls this “hatred and its daughter, persecution” in ascension. We don’t have to search for it in some Google search. We see it  24 hours per day on the news and on the web. This is something American Christians do not wish to hear about, as the days are drawing closer when persecution will soon be outside our own church doors. However, it is absolutely real…and predicted in the Scriptures. I am also doubtful most unbelievers and fake Christians (the majority) will read this excellent book. However, should a few of them attempt, I recommend they go straight to the back of the book, in Appendix B, to fully and thoroughly examine not just the condition of their souls, but their entire lives. This is more than necessary – it is absolutely critical.  (Appendix A contain the book’s footnotes and I recommend Appendix C, which is a bonus definition section for the reader on the “Uses of Hatred and Enmity in the New Testament”.

Author Henderson does not leave the reader hanging, so to speak.  After exhorting the reader to execute this heart check to see if he/she is walking with Christ, he provides an intensive yet simple and easy to follow test at the back of the book, wherein the reader can ascertain if he/she is born again (thus saved) or needs to take the first step after false conversion and deception, which defines modern evangelism. All through the book, he expounds on the dire need to persevere, but a professing Christian can do no such thing without being born again. So this final part of SIFTED GENERATION, at the end of the thirteen chapters, could be the most important for the reader of it, for the casual reader. Eternity hangs in the balance for those who are lost and/or not assured of that positional salvation, wherein we spend Eternity in the Fellowship of His Presence. 
(Bernie Lutchman)
Please click here for more on this new book and its upcoming release.
RECOMMENDED: TWO THUMBS UP! 

Monday, November 10, 2014

FORTIFIED!

The strong of this world have always over-powered the weak. This is a world, from the fall of mankind into sin, which defines its parameters on Strength, Power and sometimes brute force. This has been so since the dawn of time (as we know it) and the first act of hatred when Cain destroyed his brother Abel. However, for the people of God, it has not always been thus.  The Word of the Lord is full of examples of the people of God, being puny and put upon, yet prevailing under the Power and Provision of victory of God, because they adhered (at the time) to the very Principles of God. There are so many instances, but a main one can be found in Exodus 17 where the Israelites beat the fearsome Amalekites backbecause Aaron and Hur held up Moses’ arms all day long (Verses 8-16).  Who ever heard of such a thing that a man’s arm being held up guaranteed military victory over a superior fighting force? No one has because it is only because of the intervention and the Strength of the Lord.

That same strength is available today for us, the people of God, if we just let Him have Kingdom Authority over our lives…if we just allow Him to be Who He is – Lord and Savior. We cannot “make” Jesus the Lord of our lives, but we can surrender and submit to His Lordship and live our daily lives, even minute by minute, through and in Christ. This is the difference between being “IN” Christ and “OF Christ”. The majority of western Christianity, including Christians we all know and love, are functioning as a body of people “of Christ”, but are not walking in the full and complete calling and election as a child of the Living God. Read what Ephesians 1:11 says: “In Him, we also have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things  according to the counsel of His will.”

There it is right there – God has given us an inheritance so that “IN HIM” we have all that we need – and that includes His Strength. The question is how, when and/or IF we ever access this Strength. Christians everywhere, including professing cultural Christians who are as deep as a thimble, all love to quote Philippians 4:13. I wear  bracelet myself that verse which says that “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me” (or gives me strength, depending on your translation). But how many of us ever go to Him, surrender our own will, and then say to the Father “Lord, Abba Father, I cannot do this in my own weakness, I need YOU!” It all goes back to the fundamental underlying premise of if we are “IN HIM” or “OF HIM”.

This is NOT a philosophical argument. This is practical Christianity 101 – either you trust Christ, the Creator of the world which is “OF” Him or we, who are called by His Name (Christians) are “IN HIM”. Read therest of Ephesians 1 (click here) if there is any doubt.  
The Lord is our strength when we wake up. 
The Lord is our strength when we lie down. 
The Lord is our strength when we go to the kitchen for breakfast. 
The Lord is our strength when we kiss our spouses and head off to work. The Lord is our strength when we travel on the busy roads and arrive to our destination alive. 
The Lord is our strength to go to the job that HE GOT US. 
The Lord is our strength to help us cope with the tasks involved in that job so we can have the paycheck that is the provision for our very physical existence. The Lord is our strength when you arrive at the lunch hour and even have something to eat. 
The Lord is our strength when we stick out like a sore thumb as the elect in a perishing world of lost co-workers who need HIS strength through us, in those special divine appointments.  
The Lord is our strength when we make it home alive at the end of the day and have a place to rest and refresh. 
The Lord is our strength for all the activities during the rest of that day until our collective heads hits the pillow at night.  
It is the Lord, Who is your strength and mine Who refreshes and renews us every night during those resting hours that we may be able to awake anew every morning. 
It is the Lord, Who is our strength Whose mercies are therefore new every morning, so great is His Faithfulness to us.

Therefore, we have a song.  We must have a song, We should have a song in our heart of praise to Our God. If  we don’t have this song of praise even after all of these truths about the very Strength of the Lord to those who are IN HIM, then we should.  The Joy of the Lord IS our strength. Combine that with HIS Strength, new every morning, and there is no way that the true 100% all-in sold-out, committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, believer should not live, eat, sleep Psalm 40:1 -3 “I waited patiently for the Lord and He inclined to me, and heard my cry . He also brought me out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth – a praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD!”


There it is! Our prayer is we all rise up, day after day, secure in the knowledge of the Holy One, wherein our daily estate enables us to promptly proclaim “the Lord is my Strength and my Song”! He is worthy to be praised! Amen.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

EVER TELL GOD NO?

Christians are sometimes the most disobedient people around and even some of the Old Testament Bible heroes demonstrated it vividly for us. Who can forget the "Big Fish" story of Jonah, the Wayward Prophet who said "NO" when God said "GO"?  Another Bible hero - Peter - had the same kind of mind of his own, forgetting for Whom he worked. 

The story picks up in Acts 10, from verse 9:The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. 10 Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance 11 and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 13 And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
14 But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” 15 And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “What God has cleansed you must not call common.” 16 This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

Here is the man whom Christ told He was going to build the church open. Here was the man who said "YES" when Christ asked if he (Peter) loved Him. Here was the man told to go feed "the sheep"...thereby fulfilling the Great Commission and more...here was this man, and he flat out told the Lord Jesus, Adonai - NO!

Then note what verse 16 says "This was done three times", before the Lord took the sheet back up into heaven. Sometimes God has to hit us upside the head in order that we pay attention to His directives and commands! Sometimes we say YES when it is the most convenient and inside our own box, but when if we are asked to do something outside our comfort zone...well, if it is not an outright NO, it is hemming and hawing. I know first hand what saying NO does. Almost two decades ago, just a few years into ministry, my heart was not set on something I thought was too elementary for me to do. It was soon made clear to me, during a severe rainstorm, when my wipers suddenly went out and my first taste of Godly discipline pulled me back into alignment with the Will of Abba Father. We know the rest of this story with Peter from Acts 10- he obeyed, went to a Gentile's home (something forbidden by Jewish law); preached the Gospel to the Roman Centurion, his entire family and friend group - and they were all saved.

Jonah not only went to Nineveh and preached repentance so that over 100,000 (including the King) were saved after repentance, but he stayed and lived in that area, teaching and mentoring them in the Ways of Yahweh - the Great God of Heaven! When Jonah's grave was desecrated this past summer by islamic hordes in Mosul (Iraq), it proved yet another 3000 year old plus portion of the Bible.  Jonah even made it into a sermon by the Lord Jesus Himself

These two examples serves as perfect illustrations for the woman or man of God who is sometimes scared or unsure of their calling. It serves as examples of how initial knee-jerk reaction leading to outright disobedience can lead first to discipline, and even worse, before things eventually work out. In Jonah's case, he actually died because he said in Jonah 2 that the bars of death had closed around him. Fortunately God had other plans for Jonah and after gentle rebuke, Peter came around.  After my initial disobedience, I never looked back and now serve with gladness and gratitude at the Grace and Goodness of God. When we do this, much fruit and many will be brought into the Kingdom. All we need to do is to trust Him, even when He says something we absolutely do not wish to hear! The results will be out of this world and truly divine!

Monday, November 3, 2014

TEN DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH: OCTOBER 24-NOVEMBER 2, 2014, Day 10

My friend, Pastor Mike Henderson said in his upcoming new book "SIFTED
GENERATION" that Hatred is the daughter of Persecution. If you look at the sheer evil and brutality of the forces of darkness - from Pakistan to the Iraqi deserts to Nigeria's Boko Harum - it is just pure out and out hatred for God. We also do have persecution and harassment of Christians in places like North Korea and
Reverend Lleonart Barrosa &
wife, Yoaxis Marcheco Suarez
the latest from Cuba is the wife of a pastor - Yoaxis Suarez - who is under heavy harassment by the communist government of the Castro brothers. These are the same Castro's whom American leftists and atheists deify as their role models for governing.

Several years ago, when Pope John Paul II visited Havana, Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, who owns 32 houses while most of his people starve, promised to reopen a Catholic church in Cuba. However the same compassion does not extend to evangelical Christianity and bible-preaching protestants who see the hopelessness and spiritual vacuum in Cuba. As a result of speaking out, several Cuban pastors are now under the gun and facing worse, on that island.


The following is from iCommitToPray as we lift up the latest incident from this Caribbean island, which is of prime importance to the United States, due to its proximity:
Authorities arrested the wife of a Cuban pastor and religious freedom activist on Oct. 16 and tried to force her to sign a document that could be used as justification for future arrests and criminal charges. Yoaxis Marcheco Suarez, the wife of Reverend Mario Felix Lleonart Barroso, refused to sign the document but was warned that she will face imprisonment if she continues to have contact with "counter-revolutionary" elements. Reverend Lleonart Barroso and his wife have had numerous run-ins with the police because of his activism and interaction with other pastors who have faced persecution from Cuban authorities.

YOU MAY ALSO POST A PRAYER HERE FOR HER AND ALL CHRISTIAN LEADERS IN CUBA (AND WORLDWIDE) WHO STAND NOT JUST FOR THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, BUT FOR THE RIGHT TO LOVE AND MINISTER TO HIS PEOPLE.
WE MUST ALSO PRAY FOR AMERICAN PREACHERS, WHO ARE THEMSELVES BEING SIFTED, TO STAND APART FROM THE PROSPERITY, WORD FAITH AND THE LIBERAL APOSTATES OF THE MAINLINE PROTESTANT CHURCHES.

LET US PRAY:
FATHER GOD, WE REMEMBER WHEN THE LORD JESUS SAID IN HIS WORD, TO "BE ON THE ALERT" AND STAND AND WATCH BECAUSE OUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH. LORD, WE KNOWETH NOT THE DAY OR THE HOUR WHEN WE SHALL BE IN THY PRESENCE AND MEET THEE FACE TO FACE, BUT FATHER WE KNOW WE ARE TO USE OUR TIME WISELY TO MINISTER TO THE LOST AND THE HURTING AND THE ABANDONED AS WELL AS THE PERSECUTED WORLDWIDE. HELP US TO STAND IN THAT TRUTH AND CALLING AND EVEN ANOINTING TO BE ALIGNED WITH THE MASTER AND HIS WILL, AS DEMONSTRATED AT THE CROSS AND ALL HIS TEACHINGS.

LORD, WE PRAY FOR NEW VIGOR, NEW VISION, NEW VICTORIES FOR THE KINGDOM DAILY....NOT THE KIND OF VICTORIES WHICH THE PERISHING WORLD COVETS BUT THOSE WHICH WILL SHINE THROUGH THE REFINING FIRE OF THE JUDGMENT WHEN WE, THE ELECT, STAND BEFORE THEE TO GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF OUR STEWARDSHIP. THE CORRUPT AND EVIL WHO RULE THIS CURRENT WORLD DECEIVE THEMSELVES AND THEIR FOLLOWERS THAT THERE IS NO JUDGMENT, THERE IS NO SIN AND THERE IS NO WRATH WHICH IS TO COME. THEY BLASPHEME YOUR WORD, YOUR DEEDS THROUGHOUT 6000 YEARS OF RECORDED HISTORY AND YOUR POWER, BECAUSE THEIR JUNK SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS DO NOT KNOW YOU.

BUT WE KNOW YOU FATHER, THE MASTER PRAYED FOR US IN THE GARDEN IN JOHN 17 THAT WE MAY BE ONE AS YOU AND HIM, ADONAI, ARE ONE. THROUGH YOUR SPIRIT, OH ELOHIM, MASTER OF ALL THINGS, WE ARE NOW ONE WITH THEE AND THY PRECEPTS. WE ALSO ARE ONE WITH EACH OTHER AND THAT INCLUDES OUR BROTHERS WHO ARE PERSECUTED -WHETHER IT IS PASTORS AND THEIR WIVES RIGHT NEXT DOOR IN CUBA...OR ANYONE UNDER THE PERSECUTION OF ISLAM OR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS HERE IN OREGON, COLORADO, NEW MEXICO OR THE SCHOOL CHILD WHO IS TOLD HE CAN'T READ HIS OWN BIBLE IN HIS OWN FREE TIME AT SCHOOL. LORD WE PUT THE ENEMIES OF CHRIST INTO THY HANDS AND PRAY THEM THERE FOR YOU ATTENTION, WHILE WE PRAY FOR THEIR SALVATION AND THE SOULS THEY ARE AFFECTING. BY DOING THAT, WE FULFILL THE SCRIPTURES TO PRAY FOR THE ENEMIES OF THE BRETHREN WILL LOVING ON OUR OWN PEOPLE - YOUR ELECT. FATHER GOD, YOU ARE OUR DEFENSE AND WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED. WE LOVE YOU, WE PRAISE YOU, WE MAGNIFY AND GLORIFY YOUR NAME, THROUGH CHRIST OUR KING AND COMMANDER, AMEN AND AMEN.

Sunday, November 2, 2014

TEN DAYS OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH: OCTOBER 24-NOVEMBER 2, 2014, Day 9


Today is the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (Sunday November 2, 2014) and more intentional prayer meetings - in church buildings as well as online (and telephone conference calls) are going on all day, worldwide on behalf of our brethren ALL over the world. This is a grassroots and para-church led movement which is given short (or no) mention in most wealthy western churches, where the level of persecution we see in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, is not reached as of now (in the western hemisphere).


CLICK FOR LINK TO FREE SIMULCAST ANYWHERE
However, while the entire Body of Christ is being decimated worldwide, for standing for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the small remnant of western and American Christianity is just being felt on this continent. We see bakers and photographers' religious freedoms (guaranteed by the First Amendment) being violated while the official church stays silent. This changed in Houston, in the past few weeks, when the Houston Mayor subpoenaed the sermons, texts and emails of five Houston bible-preaching pastors. This is unheard of in the west and the rising up of the true church has led to an event called 'I STAND SUNDAY" at 7 pm (Eastern) 6 pm (Central) and 4pm (Pacific).

I STAND SUNDAY is a live FREE simulcast available for all churches and home and can be accessed by clicking here, where more information is available. Speakers include President Ronnie Floyd, of the largest Protestant denomination in the world - Southern Baptist Convention; Pastor Mike Huckabee; Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson and his pastor son Alan; Religion writer Todd Starnes and more. The five Houston Pastors whose free available online sermons were still subpoenaed will be featured speakers.


In addition, Open Doors is having another powerful and spirit-filled free LIVE Webcast tonight led by David Platt, well-known author (RADICAL) and leader of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board (IMB); Nik Ripken and musical guest SELAH. Click on the webcast link provided in the photo below to sign up for FREE/

Jesus told His disciples in John 15:19-20a "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you."

There are religions and even Christian churches and certain well-known leaders which the world loves. They are loved by this corrupt world system because of compromise, complacency and even colluding with the culture. But the Lord Jesus said that you and I are not to be like them - because He has called His true church out of that system. These are the ones which the world hates. These are the ones who stand, like Martin Luther did - on the Book of Romans. These are the ones who are "Not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the Power of God under salvation" (Romans 1:16).


So Father, in the Name of Jesus, the Strong and Mighty Name - the Name above EVERY NAME, the Name Which is forbidden to speak of and mention as God in most countries, including this one, Father God we pray for Your saints, those whom You have called and elected worldwide, those who stand firm on the Truth of Christ, not just on Sunday but 24/7/365. 

We pray on this, the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church that You cause Your Face to shine its  Beauty, Glory, Power, Majesty and its Compassion to those who are in chains, those who are under the gun, those who are on the run, those who hunger and thirst in the natural, those who teach with limited or no resources except Your Spirit Who abideth in them. Lord we lift them up to Thee. 

We particularly remember in prayer and intercession before the Throne, those who are among the KURDS in Northern Iraq, and are being decimated just like our brethren in the first 200 of Christianity. Lord these saints in Northern Iraq are left out to dry in no-man's land by the enemies of Christ, who are on all sides against Your people.

Father we also pray for our pastors in Houston and the remnant in the west who will stand, as the Scriptures says - for the Gospel, on Christ the Solid Rock. We pray for the men and women of God who shall not be moved by the culture, the world, sin, sex and satan, even when it is easy and convenient to so do. Father I also pray for the I STAND SUNDAY event in Houston where the top Christian leaders of America will stand for religious freedom, under the Authority of the Master, Creator and Commander in Chief of the whole universe - Jesus Christ and proclaim from the "mountain top" - the Truth, the Whole Truth and nothing but the Way the Truth and the Life, Whose righteousness we all seek for follow and live daily.

Father God, we love you and praise, adore, magnify, glorify and lift up Your Name to be praised because You alone are worthy, through the Name of Jesus Christ, the Ancient of Days, the Amen and the Alpha and Omega, amen and amen.