Helpless

Not a word we want to hear. A word that may evoke a knee-jerk response from us; offensive. Why? Bcos we like to think WE are in control of OUR world, when nothing could be further from the truth.

You can’t control the weather, the rain, the next beat of your heart, your next breath. Nor the economy, nor the rise and fall of empires, wars, peace, boom, bust…. Neither the wind, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, famines, epidemics……………..

For the child of the Father; the brothers and sisters of Christ Jesus, the fact that they are helpless doesn’t bother them at all. The fact that they have little or no control over their world, is actually a cause of joy, not fear. For in the knowledge that we are helpless, we can commit ourselves unto Him who is the dreadful Sovereign Ruler over ALL : the LORD of Glory, Jesus Christ, and believe Him.

The person who doesn’t acknowledge their complete helplessness cannot receive God’s help/grace.

Myths of the Middle East – Joseph Farah

Barack Obama says he’s got a new plan for peace in the Middle East.

All we have to do, he says, is give the “Palestinians” their own state – with contiguous borders, carved out of the territory Israel captured in the 1967 Six Day War.

In fact, there’s nothing “new” about this plan at all. The plan actually dates back to 1948 when Israel was re-created. At that time, so-called “Palestinian” Arabs got their own state – but they rejected it along with the rest of the Arab world.

But still the myth persists that the key to a Middle East peace is granting “Palestinians” a homeland and Muslims control over sites they consider holy.

Well, as an Arab-American journalist who has spent some time in the Middle East dodging more than my share of rocks and mortar shells, I’ve got to tell you that these are just phony claims for an asymmetrical, genocidal campaign against the Jews of Israel.

Isn’t it interesting that prior to the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, there was no serious movement for a “Palestinian” homeland?

“Well, Farah,” you might say, “that was before the Israelis seized the West Bank and Old Jerusalem.”

That’s true. In the Six-Day War, Israel captured Judea, Samaria and East Jerusalem. But they didn’t capture these territories from the “Palestinian Authority” or Hamas. They captured them from Jordan’s King Hussein. I can’t help but wonder why all these Palestinians suddenly discovered their national identity after Israel won the war.

The truth is that “Palestine” is no more real than Never-Never Land.

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The Ruler of Israel is from Everlasting

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.Micah 5:2

Ruler of my heart. Ruler of my life. Ruler of all. All conquering Eternal King. May He have the preeminence in all things. May He be preeminent in our lives:

And He is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18

This is the test of whether something is the ministry of the Holy Spirit: whether Jesus has the preeminence or not. Where He does have the preeminence, we can safely say that is the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

But there is Diotrephes today; alive and well in christendom:

I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, receives us not. 3 John 1:9

Fine-tuning

For by one Spirit were we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased him. And if they were all one member, where would be the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of you: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 1 Corinthians 12:13-22

These words still hold true today. They were not just for the 1st century.

Right till the end of the age, no matter how bad things get, we will still need each other.

The word came to me yesterday about “fine-tuning”. Our bodies are finely tuned, meaning: they are not simple systems; the body is a very complex system. Therefore there are MANY factors which contribute to the overall well-being of our bodies.

The same goes for our “spiritual life”. There are many factors and variables which affect us : affect how we believe, and think, and respond etc..

Healthy fellowship, which is a fellowship ACROSS THE SPECTRUM of the one body of Christ, results in a fine-tuning of our spirit man, our inner man, and our minds. For, wherever there is an imbalance, or even error, the LORD brings someone into our life to rectify it, or to affirm what is right, etc…

For the LORD’S portion is His people

Jacob is the lot of His inheritance. He found him in a desert land, and in the wasteland of the howling wilderness; He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirs up its nest, flutters over its young, spreads abroad its wings, takes them, bears them on its wings: So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. Deuteronomy 32:9-12

For the LORD’S portion is His people… This should melt our hearts.

Everyone talks about their portion. It seems hardly anyone considers what is the LORD’s portion.

The LORD’s portion….

Reasons WHY the Spirit of the LORD is in us

The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because He has anointed me TO

* preach the gospel to the poor;

* He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,

* to preach deliverance to the captives,

* and recovering of sight to the blind,

* to set at liberty them that are bruised,

* To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah 61:1-2

It is so easy to forget WHY the Spirit of the LORD is upon and in us.

Hold them accountable

In this video, the lady reporter who tries to interview Copeland, is doing what the Church should be doing, and that is to lovingly confront such “leaders” and hold them to account for their sins.

If enough Christians really cared, there would be a grass-roots movement which holds these people accountable, and in the process, helps to set free many who have been deceived by them. I don’t mean hiding behind a computer screen. I mean face to face.

If you really CARE, go to Copeland’s meeting and stand up at the front and declare the sin, boldly.

I remember one time such a group confronted Rick Joyner, publicly.

(This was my comment from here.)

A little geography lesson

for those who say that the Land of Israel and Jerusalem is unimportant, now that everything is ‘spiritual’ : Jesus is returning to Jerusalem, not New Jersey. The geography IS important. But more important to believe what God has said. THAT is the real issue.

Jesus’ faithful disciples given power over nations

But that which you have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to pieces: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star. He that has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches. Revelation 2:25-29

I find this astounding. Staggering.

Isn’t it true that those who seek to have power over people, now, will have NOTHING, then? (Mark 10:42-45) The ‘wannabees’ get nothing.

But he that keeps Jesus works faithfully till the end: obeying Him, laying down their lives for the brethren : what a glorious future for them. More than they could ever have dreamed. Who would have seriously thought that they would one day be ruling over nations?

Simply do what He says

But what if I read the NT and I come to the conclusion that it’s too hard to do exactly what Jesus says, BUT, I still want to feel good; I still want peace of mind; I still want happiness… ?

Then I will gravitate toward people of the same mind. I will find a teacher or a church that validates me in my self-deluded state. I will find comfort in finding fellowship with others who also don’t want to do what Jesus said, and we can encourage one another that everything’s OK.

How to avoid doing what Jesus said and still feel good about yourself – If the religious system were honest, this would be their foundational theological creed.

Is Jesus YOUR vision?

(Irish hymn from the 8th Century)

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Two Revelations: God’s Wrath and God’s Righteousness

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For in it is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it unto them. Romans 1:16-19

First God reveals His wrath, and then He reveals His righteousness in the gospel, by faith. The revelation of His righteousness only has meaning when the revelation of His wrath has first been received and understood.

Therefore, it is impossible for the person who rejects the revelation, from heaven, of God’s wrath, to receive the revelation of His righteousness in the gospel.

And when these things begin to come to pass

then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near. Luke 21:28

The following video is just a brief reality-check of the lateness of the hour. (The last part is nuts, though) And this is just the beginning of sorrows.

And the LORD direct your hearts into the love of God

and into the patient waiting for Christ. 2 Thessalonians 3:5

Direction for our hearts : directed into the love of God. God directing our hearts more and more into His love.

Good to pray this for one another.

The Shining Path

…The path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day. Proverbs 4:18

Father, shine our way before us. May your words be a Light unto our path, lighting the way. LORD Jesus you are the Light of the world. The entrance of your words brings Light.

Keep your heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Proverbs 4:23

Be always sensitive to the condition of your own heart. There is a thorough diligence required to keep your heart exclusively for God.

As the heart is the heart-spring of God’s Life in us, or the seat of His Life in us, we can be aware of the condition of our heart by observing that which springs forth from our heart. If we don’t like that which issues forth from our hearts, then we haven’t kept our heart with all diligence.

That which we have seen and heard

we declare unto you… 1 John 1:3a

This is a basic principle of the Gospel and the Kingdom. If you have seen and heard Jesus, then TELL THE WORLD what you’ve seen and heard. Don’t hold back.

Then we are His witnesses. We BEAR witness of Him.

And tell the brothers and sisters what you’ve seen and heard today.

Paul Washer gives some background

Men of God : Speak with Authority

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise you. Titus 2:15

In all things showing yourself as a model [example] of good works: in teaching showing incorruptness, gravity, sincerity, Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is an opponent may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Vs 7-8

In the gentleness of Christ, may His Truth come forth from us, by THE POWER of His Spirit.

It is so easy to lose your “edge” : to be influenced by the foul spirits that inhabit religious babylon, which water-down the authority of the Word of the LORD, and His commands for His Church.

These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise you.

Spiritual or Carnal

1 Corinthians 3:1-4

For you are yet carnal: for while there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal, and walk as men? Vs 3

To be carnal is to walk as men : To be just like any normal man or woman: fleshly. The normal course is always carnal – true to fallen human nature : The normal and natural traits of fallen men : envy, strife, divisions, pride, self-interest, self-glorification etc..

What are we, spiritual or carnal? What would the Apostle’s judgment of us be today?

What or who has changed us from carnal to spiritual?

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart

and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:30-31

The greatest command deserves our greatest attention and diligence. Should be the greatest thing in our lives, and more: Love for God and man should define our life.

If we ask ourselves, What is my life? It should be, Love for God is my life, and love for all people.