Living in the Kingdom (Part 2):

The Nature of Heaven

by: Alan Smith

2 Peter 1:10-11: Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

What will heaven be like?  Will it be like Disney World—or even better?  What really makes heaven, heaven?  Will it be like earth, but not in a fallen state?  Will nature in heaven worship the Lord?  Could it be that nature itself is giving us a reflection of heaven?  It makes us feel so wonderful to see nature, in all its beauty, worship it’s Creator.  It is amazing to me how we seem to want to get back to things that are natural.  We want to “get back to nature”.  We think if we could only be more natural and closer to nature that everything would be all right.  What is this compelling of mankind to get back to nature?  We want to feel the warm earth in our hands.  We want to watch the flowers bloom in spring.  Does God have another language in which to speak to us?  Let us take a look at what the Bible has to say about this “key” that opens our understanding of the entrance into the heavens.

Rom 1:20: For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities — his eternal power and divine nature — have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Did you get it?  God’s qualities are in His nature.  And we can see and understand what they are by the things He has made.  God’s heavenly nature created the very nature in which we are living in this natural world.  Could it be this is why we want to “get back to nature”?  You know, be more organic.  Does it give us the feeling we are getting closer to the Creator?  Could it be we are just trying to trade our old nature for a new one by trying to be more organic like God?  An organic nature of heaven: I bet this would make me very healthy.  The trend today is that everyone wants to be more organic in the things we put into our bodies.  I think this is great; but could it be that we need to feed our spiritual bodies an organic food as well?  Manna from heaven: an organic spiritual food?  Psalm 78:24: “And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven.”  This fresh manna that we can receive by feeding daily on the living food from our Creator would begin to bring life to our fruit.  Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”  This daily feeding in the Word of God would help our anger, which is an indicator of our spiritual blood pressure.  Could this organic food from heaven even change how we think?  We know from Isaiah that our natural thoughts are not like His thoughts.  Isaiah 55:8-9: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  Boy would this be incredible: that we can begin to think more like Him—the very nature of God!  I bet the sign over the spiritual buffet bar in heaven would say “COME AND DINE: ALL YOU CAN EAT”.

Blessings,

Alan

Living in the Kingdom

By: Alan Smith

2 Peter 1:10-11: Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

Have you ever wondered how you will feel when you enter heaven?  You know, will you feel happy, overjoyed, and peaceful; but yet overwhelmed?  What will it really be like?  I have wondered this many times, as years ago, I was told to prepare myself for this journey.  Twenty two years have passed since I had a tumor in my lung and was told that I had only six months to live.  This is not what I expected to hear, nor what I wanted to hear.  Suddenly, my world stopped.  I found myself in a place that I had never been before.  It was amazing what started happening to me and in me.  The first thought I had was, “How am I going to work this into my busy schedule?”  Is this dumb or what?  I discovered I did not have time for this illness today because I was too busy preparing for tomorrow.  It appeared that I was too short sighted.

Let me share with you two truths that the Holy Spirit revealed to me during this time.  The first one is “short term future” and the second one is “long term future”.  “Short term future” does not include “long term future”; but “long term” does include “short term”.  Through this ordeal, I realized that I needed to expand my futuristic thinking.  All of the vision of my “tomorrows” was too short.  I was guilty of “preparing” to stay here on earth, instead of “living” unto where I was going.  I learned that living in “today’s moments” prophetically spoke into my long range experiencing of my future.  The life of the spirit can only be experienced in the “now” moment.  I learned that ninety eight percent of my “today” was preparing for my short term future.  Therefore, I only lived two percent of my “today” in the “now” moment which actually was preparing me for my “long term future”.  The things that we do in our "today’s" prophetically set the coarse for our “tomorrows”.  Just as taking care of your health prophetically speaks to the future of your body, so do your actions, in any given day, prophetically speak to what you will be doing in your future.  Each day is prophetic unto the next.

Now back to my illness. Slowly, my body was yielding to the “short term future” spoken to me by my doctors.  However, my spirit man was yielding more to the “long term future”.  Things in my life were beginning to shift.  I knew leaving planet earth was upon me.  The “short term future” I had been living for was about to expire.  How could I have been so short sighted?  Was I looking for life in all the wrong places?  As I pondered this question, I was convinced that my “short term future” was very necessary and was not to be ignored.  I will explain what I am trying to say further if you will allow me to give value to my two terms of “future”.

Let’s give a value of 1 to “short term future” and a value of 2 to “long term future”.  Now, 1 can not and does not include 2, for 2 is larger than 1.  But 2 can and does include 1.  The truth is that a 2 is just a 1 supersized.  Some believe that we must leave our “short term futures” and that we must totally kill them before we can walk into our “long term futures”.  This is not so.  #2 must have #1 to even exist.  It is the #1 that needs to lose its identity into the #2, so that #2 can be created and come forth.  Would you like to live a supersized life?  Would you like your “short term future” to be guided and molded by your “long term future”?  Perhaps we are being too short sighted about our futures, and we need to expand our borders of life: our futures, our destinies.  Perhaps the Lord has been writing our “long term futures” all the time.  Today, let’s receive God’s #2, which will include our #1.  We will then be in Him, and He will be in us for eternity.

Well, that’s enough for today.  Blessings to you this wonderful day, for it can be just part of a script written for you in your “long term scroll” of life.  It’s your choice.

Blessings,

Alan

“Open Arms and the Anointing”

By: Alan Smith

• Luke 8:40: On the other side of the lake the crowds received him with open arms, for they had been waiting for him.

Have you ever had someone extend unto you their “open arms”?  I am sure this is a rare occasion for most.  With an invitation of “open arms”, life is given forth.  When we experience “open arms”, we feel very safe and welcomed with love.  We see in this verse that when Jesus got to the other side of the lake, He was greeted by the crowds with “open arms”.  I believe that the crowds were just imitating the Lord.  What does this mean?  This means that their hearts were open to receiving the Lord.  It is one thing to greet the Lord with “open arms”, but it is another to greet someone we think less of with “open arms”: but isn’t this what Jesus would do?  Wouldn’t it be great to have an “open arms” policy in our homes and churches today?  More importantly, though, do we give the Lord “open arms” into our lives?

Let’s stop for a moment.  Just picture yourself with “open arms”.  Close your eyes and imagine with me for a moment.  Come on; it won’t hurt.  Can you see yourself?  Isn’t this an incredible language of love?  It is amazing how this small act of kindness will cut through the hurting hearts of many.  Sometimes we think if we could just be a great speaker or preacher we could really help people from all of the pain that comes through life’s circumstances.  Let me suggest to you that “open arms” are one of the greatest weapons in fighting spiritual warfare.  It is this incredible act of love and kindness that can set the captive free and mend broken hearts.  Do you really want to be the arms of Christ?  Do you really want to feel the anointing that flowed from the arms of our Savior?  Just be His arms and open them to the broken hearted and feel heaven flow through you to someone.  Let His healing touch flow through you unto a hurting world.  We do not need more religion; we just need more “open arms” to be extended to those that need His touch.

Also consider that “open arms” are a type of worship.  When we worship with “open arms” we release unto the Lord our friendship and love toward Him.

• Ps 63:4: I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

As we lift up our hands in worship to our Lord, we see that we are in the”open arms” position.  We see that we are not only worshiping our Lord, but we are also inviting Him into our hearts and lives even more.  This is a two way spiritual transaction.  We worship Him and He in turn comes to us.  He is in heaven with “open arms” to us and we are on earth with “open arms” to Him.  Then we will run to Him and He will run to us.  Is it possible for us to be an army going into the field of battle and our only weapons are our “open arms”?  Do you really think the enemy would be expecting these types of weapons?  I think not.  He is not prepared nor equipped with any such weapons of retaliation.  Perhaps the church could be a people that would leave the walls of our buildings, and with open arms, pick up those that have fallen into despair and hopelessness.  Can we be like the song below that Michael W. Smith wrote entitled “Open Arms”?  Can we be a people where our love knows no boundaries?  Can we be a people that are never judging, but always loving?  Can we really show the lost the cross?  The answer is yes we can.  Let’s just do it. 

Blessings,

Alan

 Open Arms youtube

“Open Arms”

Many people in the steeple
But no one leaves the walls
Quick to stand and speak
All of their beliefs
Quick to leave you if you fall

Tell me where's the love
It knows no boundaries
Tell me where's the love
Yeah, Yeah
Open arms
We need to be
Open arms

Never judging
Always loving
Needs to be what we become
Lifting up the lost
Showing them the cross
Shining brightly like the sun

May 2, 2014 Watch Free LIVE Webstream Starting Today - Steve Shultz, Robin McMillan, Don & Christine Potter, and Nancy Taylor Warner   http://www.images.elijahlist.com/paid_ad_bio_pics/Steve_Shultz_2014_125px.jpg" alt="" width="125" hspace="3" vspace="3" align="right" />Watch LIVE and FREE a Special "Spiritual Life Conference" starting tonight - with Steve Shultz, founder of the Elijah List, Robin McMillan, Don & Christine Potter, and Nancy Taylor Warner ministering. The live Webstream will begin at the conference times below Eastern Time, just go to: http://new.livestream.com/WholeWord/2014HolyGhost to watch live and free. http://www.images.elijahlist.com/paid_ad_bio_pics/Robin_McMillan_2014_125px.jpg" alt="" width="125" hspace="3" vspace="3" align="right" />Conference at Whole Word Fellowship: May 2-4, 2014 Friday May 2, 7:30PM  Saturday May 3, 10:30AM, 2:00PM and 7:30PM Sunday May 4, 10:30AM Conference Location: Whole Word Fellowship: 10922 Vale Road, Oakton, VA 22124-9030 Website: http://wholeword.net http://www.images.elijahlist.com/paid_ad_bio_pics/Don&Christine_Potter_2014_125px.jpg" alt="" width="125" height="125" hspace="3" vspace="3" align="right" />Contact info Phone: 717-315-5015 Email: nancy@wadetaylor.org Website: www.wadetaylor.org Again just go to: http://new.livestream.com/WholeWord/2014HolyGhost to watch live and free webstream starting tonight Eastern Time. ************************************* To receive daily, encouraging prophetic emails from The Elijah List to your in box CLICK HERE or go to: http://elijahlist.com/subscribe Visit our webstore and check out our latest conference set What Is God Saying for 2014?:  http://www.elijahshopper.com/category_s/274.htm And check out Steve Shultz's book Can't You Talk Louder, God? http://www.elijahshopper.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=BK-SSh001  Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep Elijah List website, email contact info, and author contact information intact. Elijah List Publications  528 Ellsworth St. SW  Albany, OR 97321 www.elijahlist.com  email: info@elijahlist.net Phone 1-541-926-3250

How To Become Available For The Manifestation Of His Glory Through Us

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20

The Lord's part is to reveal His presence as being available to us. Our part is to be sensitive and responsive to His seeking presence in order to become available to Him as "a vessel" through whom His glory might be revealed.

He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him. John 14:21

When we rightly respond to His knocking on the door of our spirit, Jesus will lift us into the higher realms of divine activity. This revelation of His manifested presence will gradually increase and we will be brought into a deeper understanding of His end-time purposes. As we "keep His commandments" (respond to His presence), we become an overcomer and will experience the coming greater-visitation of His glory (the time of His parousia, that is, His coming presence (Strong's Greek #3952).

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh... Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-20, 22

It is very important for each of us to recognize that our relationship to the Lord is based on His righteousness, and not our own. Once we understand this, we can draw near to the Lord and commune with Him no matter how we may feel. As a result of this on-going, daily fellowship with Jesus, we become available for the manifestation of His glory through us.

About The Last Days Glory

We are living in the last days, during which there is to be a physical manifestation of the glory of God (shekinah). This experience in His manifested glory is becoming available to all those who presently are being prepared, because they have been experiencing the presence of the Lord (parousia).

When He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 2 Thessalonians 1:10

This manifestation of glory is a part of the "parousia" – the appearing of the Lord to prepare those who are overcomers for their part in the closing out of this Age, and the ushering in of the Millennial Kingdom Age. Jesus will begin to personally appear to those who are called to become the expression of His life and ministry in the end-time and, by the placing of His hands on them, He will impart to them apostolic anointing and enabling.

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord (parousia) is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Isaiah 60:1-3

Moses prefigures the manifestation and outworking of this end-time glory. He spent so much time in the presence of the Lord that his countenance literally glowed with the glory of the presence of the Lord.

But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 2 Corinthians 3:7-9 NKJV

The glory that was seen on the face of Moses so convicted Israel that when he spoke to them they asked for a veil to be placed over his face. They could abide his words, but not the visible glory which they saw resting upon him, as they saw themselves in the reflection of this revealed glory. Had Israel rightly responded, this manifested glory would have taken them into a deeper experience of their redemption from Egyptian bondage, and prepared them for a yet greater manifestation of His glory. 

The Manifested Glory Of The Lord Will Be A Powerful Witness In That Day

First Peter 1:5 tells us that there is a "salvation" that is reserved or "ready to be revealed in the last time." This salvation is the coming forth of the glory of God in a physical, comprehensive way – a visible manifestation of the glory of the Lord upon our being (parousia).

The word "manifest" means "to make visible" to one or more of our five natural senses, which are: hearing, smell, taste, sight, and touch. Paul said:

Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men... 2 Corinthians 3:2

It is what we have become, rather than what we say, that is the most effective witness. Thus, the manifested glory of the Lord resting upon us will be a powerful witness in that day.

Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. 2 Corinthians 3:6

This is far more than our having the ability to preach an intellectually perceptive message. There have been orators who are successful through what they are able to say. Also, there are those who lack this ability, but are successful due to the anointing and manifestation of the Lord's presence that rests upon them. If they had some great natural ability, it would be evident that their success was due to this ability, rather than the imparted presence and glory of the Lord.

In this day, the Lord is taking behind the veil those who may be lacking in ability but who abide in His presence. These are seeking to better know Jesus and have made themselves available to Him for whatever purpose He may have. From these, the imparted "glory" will shine forth in manifest witness.

Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord (parousia) is risen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1

The Scripture tells us that this glory, which we have received through the New Covenant, is greater than the glory which Moses had. Yet no one is being told to put a veil over their face when they minister. Thus, there is something available that we have not yet appropriated.

The enemy would tell us that we are not worthy to come behind the veil to behold His glory. We must reject and push past this deception and come boldly into His presence to "abide" in His glory.

Only then will the world see that which they are searching for, but have not yet found.

Wade Taylor
Wade Taylor Ministries / Parousia Ministries
Email: nancy@wadetaylor.org
Website: wadetaylor.org

Wade Taylor graduated to Heaven on February 29, 2012. He served others as a teacher and spiritual father for over 50 years. He was respected and loved by many for his quality of spirit and walk with his Lord. He was an anointed author, bringing forth deep truths of the Spirit with a clarity and simplicity that drew the reader up into a closer walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jonathan Cahn: The Harbinger

By The 700 Club

LIGHT TO THE NATIONS
The massive scale of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center made for startling images and a new frightening, sober reality for America.  But through this devastation Rabbi Cahn was given an understanding of what this meant to America through Isaiah 9:10, and the uncanny parallel this attack has to events in 8th century Israel. 

Jonathan says before God judges a nation, He sends warning.  He sent warning to ancient Israel.  The attacks of 9/11 were a warning, and like ancient Israel, if the nation ignores God’s warning there will be dire consequences, Jonathan says.  Harbinger means “warning.”  In his book, The Harbinger, a prophetic mystery and message conveyed in the form of a novel, Jonathan tells of the supernatural connection between ancient Israel and America.  An unnamed Prophet speaks. However, the events are real, filled with insights the Lord revealed to Jonathan in the years after 9/11. 

There are nine harbingers of what happens after the first attack if the nation refuses to return to God.  The judgments are progressive, with periods of normalcy in-between, but continue if there is no national repentance.  The economic implosion and other national ills spring from this event.  Israel and America are the only two nations that God sovereignly planted as a light to the nations.  “Those who laid America’s foundations saw it as a new Israel, an Israel of the New World.  And as with ancient Israel, they saw it as a covenant with God,” the Prophet says.  To whom much is given, much is required. 

THE HARBINGERS
Based on Isaiah 9:10, - “The bricks have fallen, but we will build with hewn stones: the sycamores are cut down, but we will plant cedars in their place,” the northern 10 Tribes of Israel refused to repent after they were struck by the Assyrians - which was a warning from the Lord.   Instead of listening to the alarm, of turning back, and humbling themselves in repentance, they boasted of their resolve, that they would rebuild stronger and better than before.  They ignored the warning and rejected the call to return.  They defied it.  Sadly, their defiance led to the nation’s total destruction years later.  The ancient prophecy forms the key to the nine harbingers of judgment, which are given to a nation in danger of judgment – each of which have reappeared on American soil – marking America as the nation in danger of judgment. 

The First Harbinger: The Breach.  In 732 B.C., the hedge of protection was removed and Israel’s enemies invade the land and wreak havoc.  The calamity traumatizes the nation but it takes place on a limited scale, as with 9/11.  The warning is the removal of the hedge.  On September 11, 2001, America’s hedge of protection was removed – the breach of America’s security, and was a sign that God has lifted His protective hand. 

The Second Harbinger: The Terrorist.  It was the dark shadow of Assyrian terror that loomed over the kingdom of Israel.  The danger against which the prophets had warned.  And when, years later, Israel’s final judgment came, the Assyrians would again be the means through which it would happen.  So, too, the attack
on America is carried out by terrorists.  The Assyrians were a Semitic people, children of the Middle East.  So too were the terrorists of 9/11.  
                                                                                                                                    
The Third Harbinger: The Fallen Bricks.  The most visible signs of the attack on ancient Israel were that of the fallen buildings and the ruin heaps of fallen bricks.  The third harbinger is the sign of the fallen bricks of the fallen buildings.  On Sept 11, 2001, Americans were confronted with the same sign, fallen bricks of the fallen buildings of the wreckage of Ground Zero.  America was not turning back to God.  It was a short-lived spiritual revival that never came. 

The Fourth Harbinger: The Tower.  Israel defiantly began rebuilding on the devastated ground, vowing to rebuild higher and stronger.  So, too, in the wake of 9/11, American leaders vowed to rebuild at Ground Zero higher and stronger – the Tower begins to rise at Ground Zero.  Those involved act unwittingly. 

The Fifth Harbinger:  The Gazit Stone.  We will rebuild with quarried stone - The Israelites carve out quarried stone from mountain rock and bring it back to the ground of destruction where clay bricks once stood.  Three years after 9/11, a stone is quarried out of the mountain rock of New York.  This massive stone was brought back to Ground Zero. In ancient Israel this stone became a misplaced embodiment of the nation’s confidence in its own power.  So too the massive stone at Ground Zero became the symbolic cornerstone of the rebuilding.  Public ceremonies accompanied the stone placement.  Plans to rebuild Ground Zero would be frustrated for years.  Eventually they would remove the stone from GZ altogether. 

The Sixth Harbinger:  The Sycamore.  The Sycamores have been cut down - The attack on ancient Israel resulted in the striking down of the sycamore tree, a biblical sign of national judgment.  The fallen sycamore is a sign of uprooting, a warning and, in ignoring the warning, it becomes a prophecy of judgment.  On 9/11, as the North Tower fell it sent debris and wreckage which struck and uprooted an object – a sycamore tree growing at Ground Zero.  The tree was made into a symbol and named The Sycamore of Ground Zero.  When it fell in ancient Israel it prophesied the nation’s downfall and the end of its kingdom.  What happens to America depends on if the warning is heeded.

The Seventh Harbinger:  The Erez Tree.  But we will plant cedars in their place-  In their defiance of God, the Israelites replace the fallen sycamore with a Cedar tree.  The cedar, being stronger than the sycamore becomes a symbol of the nation’s arrogant hope that it will emerge from the crisis stronger than before. The English name for this tree is “Cedar,” but the Hebrew word is “Erez.”  Erezstands not only for cedar but for a conifer tree of the panacea family.  In November of 2003, a tree was lowered at the corner of Ground Zero into the soil where the fallen sycamore once stood.  The tree was a conifer, a panacea tree, the biblical Erez.  A ceremony was held around the tree and it, too, became a symbol – entitled The Tree of Hope.  There is always hope.  A nation’s true hope is found only in returning to God. 

The Eight Harbinger:  The Utterance.  The Eighth Harbinger was the public speaking of the ancient vow of defiance.  For this harbinger to manifest, the vow would have to be spoken in the nation’s capital by a national leader, as it had been in ancient Israel.  On Sept 11, 2004, every object mentioned in the prophecy of Isa 9:10 had manifested.  The public utterance of the prophecy had to take place publicly, which happened on Sept 11, 2004 when VP candidate John Edwards, giving a speech in the capital city, quoted this exact scripture word for word in Wash., DC.  Without realizing it, he was joining the two nations together and, without realizing it, pronouncing judgment on America.  The ancient and the modern were bound together. 

The Ninth Harbinger:  The Prophecy.   The Ninth Harbinger is the proclaiming of the ancient vow as prophecy, as a matter of public record, and spoken before the words come true.  On Sept 12, 2001, the day after 
9/11,  America issues its official response to the attack.   The one in charge of issuing the response was Tom Daschle, Senate Majority Leader.  As he closes his speech he makes a declaration – he proclaims the ancient vow of defiance, word for word, to the world.  By doing so he prophesies the nation’s future course, all of which comes to pass. 

The Second Shaking – The mystery of the Harbinger continues – and lies behind everything from the Global War on Terror, the Collapse of the American economy, the crash of Wall Street, the Great Recession, and more.

Amazingly, events happened with an unseen hand, and people acted unwittingly in the unfolding of this prophecy.  The Prophet character says that “The Almighty has His own purposes.”  God, in His mercy, always reaches out in mercy.  At Ground Zero, the ground of devastation becomes the ground of restoration.  Incredibly it was at the site of Ground Zero in the miracle church, St Paul’s Chapel, that this nation was dedicated to God by first president George Washington & other leaders at his inauguration in 1789.  The nation’s first government was formed in New York City before DC was formed.  God is calling the nation back to Himself.  “The heart of God wills for salvation,” the Prophet says.  “Greater than his judgments are His compassions.” 

THE STORY BEHIND THE MESSAGE
Not long after 9/11 Jonathan sensed that somehow these events were linked to what happened to ancient Israel per Isa 9, the first massive divine warning given to that nation.  A number of years later, he was standing at the corner of Ground Zero and his attention was drawn to an object that was the first puzzle piece of an ancient mystery and a prophetic warning for America.  He first shared the word at his congregation Beth Israel in 2005.  A few years later he was led to begin committing the message to book form.  When the Lord started revealing these things Jonathan had an urgent sense that this word needed to get out.   

COMING TO MESSIAH
Jonathan was raised in the synagogue but at age 8 questioned what he was taught.  Didn’t believe, and at age 11 he decided not to pursue a bar mitzvah.  By age 13 he questioned his atheism.  In 7th grade he became friends with a boy who spoke to him of Jesus – began searching for answers. Reading The Late Great Planet Earth by Hal Lindsey led him to open the Bible and begin reading about end-time prophecies.   There he discovered the prophecies of the Jewish Messiah in the Hebrew Scriptures.  It all pointed to Jesus, but Jonathan continued living as before, leading a rock band.  He began telling everyone about the prophecies and ended up winning others to the Lord, though he himself wasn’t saved.  He eventually realized that it wasn’t enough to just agree with it in his mind.  If Messiah came back, he would not be ready to meet Him.  He knew there was only one way to God but he didn’t want to give his life to God.  But feeling the continual call of God, he made a deal with Him.  If God would grant him long life, then he would accept the Lord... at the end – when he was about to die.  

Soon after that he was almost killed.  Twice.  He was driving about 45 miles per hour in two lanes of traffic when the car went out of control, swerving into two oncoming lanes, spinning in and out of cars.  By a miracle he wasn’t killed.  A few months later, at night, he was driving across a train track and got stuck on it, even though he was trying to be careful.  He saw a big light – and it was the train which plowed into his little Ford Pinto.  As the car crumbled before him, he could only call out to God.  The car was demolished and the crash made headlines, but Jonathan escaped without a scratch.  Strike two.  Jonathan quickly changed his deal with God and accepted the Lord when he turned 20.  Not knowing much about salvation or how to come to God, he drove up to the top of a mountain, kneeled down to pray and dedicate his life to God.  Not long after he was asked to lead a Bible study.  After college the Lord interrupted his plans and called him into full-time ministry.  He wanted to do what Messiah would do, working with the needy, homeless and disabled.  He and others helped found a Messianic outreach.  A few years later in 1988, he was asked to lead Beth Israel, the largest Messianic congregation in America made up of Jew and Gentile alike. 

UKRAINE CREATES BUZZ FOR END-TIMES WATCHERS

Prophecy suggests when Russians capture Crimea, 'times of Messiah have started'

Read more at http://www.wnd.com/2014/04/ukraine-creates-buzz-for-end-times-watchers/#sJU3Al6cxqqv1KDJ.99

Be Prepared for Your Storms in 2014

Written by Steve Hill on 09 January 2014.

My wife, Jeri, and I are certified scuba divers. It is one of our favorite activities to do together. We thrive on the excitement of exploring the underwater world teeming with the life of colorful reefs and exotic fish.

A few years back, while on vacation, we decided to take a day and charter a boat to take us out to a local reef we were told was a top dive site. That morning the sun came up without a cloud in sight. We expected it to be another day in paradise.

We left the boat dock excited to be on our way, looking forward to the adventure that lay ahead. However, as we approached the dive site, the weather started to take a turn.

The sunny sky quickly disappeared as dark storm clouds began to roll in. The wind and the waves started to pick up, and the rain started to fall.  

I assumed the dive would be canceled and we would all have to head back to port. To my surprise, the dive instructor dropped the anchor and told the handful of us on the boat to strap into our tanks and prepare to dive.

Puzzled, I looked at the instructor and said, “It looks like it’s about to storm.” 

He fired right back, “The fish don’t know that.”

My friend, he was right. As soon as we dove beneath the waves, we found the peace that awaited just a few feet below. For the next 45 minutes, Jeri and I swam with the fish, completely oblivious to the storm that was overhead. 

We found the security of being in a deep place. 

As you and I embark on a brand new year, we must do so knowing there are trials and tests of various types awaiting us. Regardless of how well your year begins, trust me, there is a storm on its way.

Whether you find yourself tossed about by the waves or settled in the calm of the peaceful depths depends on where you’ve positioned yourself within the Lord.

Though waves may be crashing on the surface of your life, you can have the inward peace of perfect faith in God. Amid the dreary noises of this world, amid its cares and tears, its hot contentions, ambitions and disappointments, you can have an inner calm like the serene ocean depths against which the influence of the wild winds and waves can never prevail!

This is a peace that passes all understanding, a peace that only a true child of God can understand.

This year, put your full trust in the Lord and do not return to the trappings of the world in search of peace. The world can at best offer only a temporary substitute. 

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27, KJV).

Amongst all your resolutions, may this be the first: Resolve yourself to find the deep place in God’s presence. Daily surrender your fears, doubts and self-sufficiency—anything that troubles your hearts—and daily rely on Him. 

Everything does not have to mean something but there is something in everything.

Alan

Poison Gourds!

By Bob Jones

November 2013

In a vision I saw a group of dedicated people, like the sons of the prophets, but one of them had put green gourds in the cooking pot. Immediately I knew this was a parable from 2 Kings 4 with Elisha and the sons of the prophets.

Elisha came back to Gilgal during a famine in the land. The sons of the prophets were sitting before him, and he said to his servant, Set on the big pot and cook pottage for the sons of the prophets. Then one went into the field to gather herbs and gathered from a wild vine his lap full of wild gourds, and returned and cut them up into the pot of pottage, for they were unknown to them. So they poured it out for the men to eat. But as they ate of the pottage, they cried out, O man of God, there is death in the pot! And they could not eat it. But he said, Bring meal [as a symbol of God’s healing power]. And he cast it into the pot and said, Pour it out for the people that they may eat. Then there was no harm in the pot. (2Kings 4:38-41 Amplified)

The young prophets made this pot of stew and partook of it and then cried out to Elisha “death is in the pot!” These were the next line of prophets that would carry forth the word to the people but the enemy used this opportunity to try and kill all the young prophets at once.

A lot of people have been gathering that which they think is fruit but in fact it’s a gourd that represents a religious spirit. It looks just like a vegetable but it has death in it. Instead of gathering the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) many of the vegetables with the wrong spirit has got thrown into the cooking pot. These have brought forth mixed messages and confusion that leads to death. Therefore the body has received stew that contained bitterness, strife and jealousy instead of faith, hope and love.

Just as the young prophets cried out to Elisha (verse 40) I feel the body is crying out to the prophets of today for the truth. The true prophets have been going through a time of cleansing and purifying to rid themselves of any poison that might be left in them. One cannot bring a pure word while they are struggling with infectious spiritual disease that will contaminate the whole body when they release it. We need to have a more sure word of prophecy being poured out from purified vessels.

Healing Power

Elisha got meal, which is a symbol of healing power, (verse 41) threw it in the pot and stirred it and said, “Now eat!”  The meal neutralized the poison. The religious spirit has been operating in the church for a very long time. But I feel the real prophets are going to come against it in such a powerful way that it will neutralize this poison and bring healing of all kinds to the body. Our job is to take the death out of the pot. There’s a lot of false doctrines and heresy being taught right now and once the prophets start dealing with it, it’s not going to be pretty. In fact it will be rather messy. But it’s going to take a remnant that’s dedicated to the Lord to address these false doctrines and heresies. This is not for the faint of heart but for those who have a heart after God’s. These untruths are poisoning the body of Christ and killing it. 

Elisha who was chosen by God and mantled by Elijah with a double portion of his spirit (2 Kings 2:9-13) returned to Gilgal during a famine in the land. (Verse 38) Gilgal means a place of faith and I believe that is where this generation of prophets must dwell. There has been a famine of hearing the inspired word of God because many of the prophetic voices have been eating from the wrong cooking pot.

Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but [a famine] for hearing the words of the Lord. (Amos8:11 Amplified)

Now is the time for the tried and true prophetic voices to deliver the “real meal” that will bring healing power and deliverance to the body and salvation to the unsaved.

Mature Remnant

The Lord is calling forth a mature remnant to promote them with new authority. They will have the ability to come together in unity because they have settled their affections on Him (Col. 3:2). Therefore, they can agree with one another in unity. And when they do, they will have koinonia together for the common purpose of the church. When they meet together in unity, a higher wisdom will be imparted. This remnant can be found in 1 Corinthians 2:6-10.

However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, ⁸ which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written:“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

The church has gone through a rather severe testing for the last six or seven years but that time has come to an end. Now is a time of closing out the old books and opening new ones.  It’s an end of one time and the beginning of a new one.  Those who’ve been promoted will become the leaders of the church and they will minister by what they hear from the Holy Spirit. In this promotion there will be an understanding of what God wants done and how to do it.

Get ready to bury the good and bad past and come into maturity where everyone hears from God in corporate meetings. Then His plans and purpose can be set in motion because the body has come into agreement with Him. Then at the end of this time the greater works will begin. And one of the things we will do first is glorify the father in great signs and wonders.

I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father. And I will do [I Myself will grant] whatever you ask in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], so that the Father may be glorified and extolled in (through) the Son.) (John 14:12-13 Amplified)

Father Loves Mashed Potatoes

We’re coming to a forty-year timing in the spirit. In 1974 the Father told me that He loves mashed potatoes and that is what He wants out of all of us. He wanted all of us to come together in unity as one body. Then when the greater works come forth, no one person will get the credit. It will be corporate because His body of believers will function as one under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and in demonstration of His power. The Father wants mashed potatoes to where love is revealed in a remnant group and the love would be revealed for Him, His Son and the Holy Spirit.

Tomato vs. Potato

The tomato and potato are of the same family. The tomato grows above ground on a vine and represents revealed love that everyone can see. Whereas the potato represents concealed love because it grows underground and remains hidden so only the Father can see it. Now get ready for this hidden love to be revealed. There’s a revealing of the Father’s love in His body and the mashed potatoes are the koinonia. When the body comes together in love there’s no distinction between the believers. Like mashed potatoes, they all look the same and are mixed together for His purpose. And this love we will have for Him is greater understanding. For all things are in the hands of the Father and He does with them as He chooses.  And He chose to give His sons and daughter’s special understanding that must come concerning the future.

Through corporate love understanding will be given. There were two hundred sons of Issachar and that was corporate understanding. When those who are of mature wisdom come together a higher wisdom is imparted. I would say that higher wisdom is understanding. The Holy Spirit has been moving for the last forty-five to fifty years in equipping and preparing for what is about to come forth in the body of Christ.

Once meal is thrown into the cooking pot and the religious spirit dealt with, the body will heal and come together in corporate love; koinonia. New leaders will arise and take their place and walk in demonstration power. Then we’ll begin to see new things coming to the body of Christ. Church services like we’ve known in the past and present are coming to an end because there’s going to be a significant change. We can’t continue on the same road we’ve been on and expect the Holy Spirit to anoint it. The old system of doing things is coming to an end and we are in for a new beginning.

It’s only a remnant that will enter into it. There’s a hunger and thirst for the next step and those who have remained steadfast through these years of testing shall advance to the next level of authority. And many shall be those who follow them because the religious spirit will be put to death. When it tries to raise its’ head, the body will quickly discern it and not allow it to take root in the body again because holy fire will devour it.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

While in a trance on the afternoon of July 26, 2008, Bob heard the audible voice of God say “America has forgotten Kate Smith’s song........God Bless America! They are cursing America more than blessing her with their words. Their words have power. I have not forgotten her; I love her. If they don’t begin to bless America, she will go down!”

Now again this year on November 18th the Lord rebuked Bob by saying “you pray for everything else but you’ve forgotten to pray for America. It’s time to decree the blessings of God over this nation. People are issuing false decrees against her and this is not My desire. Now begin to bless America and I will heal her land.”

God Has A Plan For America

We must pray to cancel the power and authority of the spoken word that would not be in alignment with God’s divine will and destiny for this nation. We have a great heritage in this nation. Our forefathers dedicated their lives and died in bravery to ensure our freedom. Our Constitution was framed by the words of Christian men dedicated to guarantee all Americans freedom. Let us not forget their words and deeds, indeed let us remember the fortitude of these brave fathers who worked together to form our Constitution allowing us to be free. We are “yet” one nation under God dedicated by our fathers for His service. Let us pray and release the blessings of our heritage that our forefathers died for.

God loves America; she supports Israel and that is His wife. We must be diligent to pray for Israel as well. I believe that God blesses America because she blesses Israel and Israel is the apple of His eye. We need to cancel the power and authority of the spoken word against her. It’s always been a matter of birthright. The devil wants Israel but she belongs to God. 

The Lord showed me political leaders of foreign nations that desire to see America fail. There are nations that look upon America as the great Satan and their words are destructive against her. We must stand on the promises of God for this nation and proclaim victory.

Kate Smith’s Song

I believe we have, like so many other things, just taken our liberties for granted. We are facing perilous times and unless we turn our face back to God and seek His wisdom and guidance we will be a nation apart from God; a nation without hope.

In the lyrics “God Bless America” composer Irving Berlin takes the form of a prayer asking God to bless America by standing with her and guiding her in the darkest of times by the beacon of His everlasting light. Although composed during WWI it has remained synonymous with our freedom.

God Bless America

God, bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her,
And guide her
Through the night with a light from above.
From the mountains
To the prairies
To the oceans white with foam,
God, bless America,
My home, sweet home.

Pray That God Blesses America

We need to continually pray for our nation; God bless America! We desperately need His blessings. There are many nations who don’t bless America instead they curse it. The United States is comprised of many nations (ethnic groups) that dwell within her, but there are some of those nations that refuse to bless America. They actually curse her as it is their plan to see her destroyed but we can bless America. We need to love those people groups and pray for their salvation. Pray they will begin to see that God loves them and this nation.

America Bless God

We always ask God to bless America and I believe we should; America needs all the blessings she can get. However I feel that we as a nation should not forget to first bless God. Why?

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance. (Psalm 33:12) 

There should to be a humbling of our heart and crying out to God in repentance for the wickedness of our transgressions as a nation then 2 Chron. 7:14 will be profoundly effective. 

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)  

Are we a nation that has lost the fear of the Lord? Have we put our trust in man and money and other gods of this world?   Are we an island unto ourselves? We need a far greater wisdom than man can produce and we cannot make it without God. If there’s anything we need now its godly wisdom. 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10a)

We need to bless God daily for His faithfulness, His love, grace and mercy. Bless Him for our salvation and daily deliverance from the evil one. He is the breath we breathe and the song we sing. He is the fiber of our being. He is our all in all! 

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.(Psalm 34:1) 

Even in the very worst situation God will never leave us or forsake us. We must never dwell on the negativity of the circumstance surrounding us but focus on the victorious outcome that lies ahead. When we trust God to deliver us from the evil one we become God centered instead of self-centered.   We must praise Him in all things big and small. He is always well prepared to handle any situation. Too often we feel we can do it apart from God and try in our own strength and fail.

Then after we’re totally frustrated we call upon the Lord. We need to get this scenario right! 

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. (Psalm 18:3) 

There is nothing that ever takes God by surprise. And I believe the stronger the battle the greater the purpose. That’s why Isaiah 59:19b says “when the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.” God does the work if we trust Him and lay our burdens upon Him.   We just need to commit ourselves to bless the Lord with all of our being as He alone is worthy to be praised.

Five Years of Grace

There has been a five-year grace period since the first warning and God ‘s desire is to bless this nation but His people won’t pray. Bob felt it necessary to issue this warning once again! Bless America, don’t curse her. God has not given up on her and neither can we. Our words have the power to bless or curse so we need to begin to bless America with our conversation. (Duet 30:14-20) We don’t want God to lift His hand of mercy from upon us. 

¹⁴But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. ¹⁵“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, ¹⁶in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. ¹⁷But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, ¹⁸I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. ¹⁹I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; ²⁰that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” (Duet 30:14-20) 

Let us be a people who cry out to God for His mercy and grace and that we, as a nation, return to our first love in the same way as our forefathers did in the formation of this nation. Let us enter into the blessings of God and let His light shine upon us to prosper this nation with His peace, love and truth. 

Man With a Mission

This article is written by Jenna Laird. She is 23 years old and has been fighting and recovering from anorexia for 12 years. Her writings have brought faith and hope to many. I will be posting her writings from time to time. She is also a member of the Society.  You may follow her journey by following her on Facebook or her blog spot @ thestained-glasswindow.blogspot.com

Jenna Laird, pen name Le Papillon

Le Papillon means the butterfly in French. I see my life's journey as resembling that of a butterfly. One of my favortie quotes states that "just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly." To me, a butterfly symbolizes change which is what my life has been all about. All I want in life is what a butterfly represents; freedom, love, a pure beauty, happiness, and a new beginning. Through these posts my transformation will continue and lead me to the life I wish to wrap my wings around.

Jenna

Shine Your Light

Have you ever stopped to consider how easy it would be to drive through a city with all the lights and streetlamps and other car headlights and not even notice that your own headlights weren’t on? Your surroundings provided such a well-lit setting that it didn’t even faze you that you had them off. Perhaps you have even done this but unaware of it. You let the other sources of light be your guide and protection. You let them lead you. You let them keep you safe. You gave them the job to cancel out the darkness so that you could see. You didn’t realize until you were out of the city that you had your headlights off. Returning to the darkness on your own made you see that. Perhaps it wasn’t even until you were put in a dangerous situation that you noticed. Or maybe, you did realize while still in the city but thought it would be pointless to turn them on. Nobody would notice yours off with all the other lights around. Yours would not make a difference. Yours would serve no purpose amongst the other many sources of light. It was easier to keep relying on the other lights. It felt safer to put the responsibility on the lamps and headlights and lights to cast out the darkness than have to take it on yourself. There is a comfort in letting others be the guide and you following.

I bring this up because this concept is applicable to us as humans. It is common to find yourself in a situation where you became aware that your “lights” were not on. We surround ourselves with people and places that shine brightly. We stick to the well-lit streets because that is where we are comfortable and where it is safe. We can see what is coming and what surrounds us. Danger stays away from the dark where it can be spotted. Like the moth to a lamp, we find ourselves flying straight to the light of others, letting their brightness guide us. No one even notices that you don’t have your own light switched on because there are so many others shining. And we may like it that way, going unnoticed and letting others be the center of attention. We are afraid to stand out. We are afraid to be responsible for bringing the light and helping others. We are fearful of being leaders, being the one others look to for guidance and hope.  We keep our light off surrounded by people who shine so bright because what difference would ours even make? How could we compare to their powerful glow? Ours may look so meek, so dim amongst everyone else. The lights cannot be compared if one isn’t even on and can go unseen.

What’s scary about this kind of living is that eventually there will be situations, events, decisions that we face alone. You may face the greatest darkness you could not have even imagined existing. I did with the depression, anorexia, OCD, and anxiety. I turned down the wrong street and found myself in a dark alley, absent of light, clueless as to how to get out, blind to what danger may be lurking around me, unprepared  to handle  what might show up unexpectedly. I was overcome with fear, anxiety, paranoia, hopelessness, and confusion. Going through this made me realize the importance of my personal light. I had to go through my own darkness to recognize my need to turn on the light within me. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power and important of our light.

I used to be very shy. I felt the need to hold myself back because of self-limiting beliefs, caring what people thought of me, thinking I needed to do more or be more or have more to get anywhere or be someone, feeling like I did not deserve success, feeling unworthy to be seen or like I have done enough to be looked to for guidance, and worrying about all the many things that could go wrong by putting myself out there. As a result, I kept my light off. I wanted to hide, never be seen. I was content living off of the light of others. But then something came into my life that gave me a reason to be a light; the anorexia and my recovery from it. It gave me a purpose to shine. I felt like it was now my duty to turn my light on or my struggle would be in vain and many others would have to endure the pain I had to. This was my way of helping others, of eliminating the darkness, of bringing hope in a situation of intense turmoil and struggle. It would be a harm to the world to keep my light off any longer.

Being the light is simply going for exactly what you want, and not letting anything hold you back. If you want to do something, do it. If you want to be something be it. If you want to conquer something, fight it. If you have a dream, go after it. I'm sure Helen Keller, Rosa Parks, Gandhi, Marie Curie, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and other world changers had people telling them they can't do things and even had their own limiting beliefs at times. Did they let that stop them? No, they became the light that lets people like you and me see what is possible. They instilled belief in others to do the same and go out and make a difference, stand up for their beliefs, turn their dreams into a reality, make the seemingly impossible possible. On a similar note, do you know how many people told me I could never recovery? How many people tried to instill doubt in me over my ability to be free of the anorexia? By me refusing to let those words resonate in me and committing to recovery, I am being a light. I am a light through my writing and documenting my journey, the trials and the triumphs, through my actions, through my words. I am a light by what I overcome. I am a light by refusing to give up and letting others witness my determination and perseverance.  I am a light by casting out fears and anxiety and negativity so the faith and peace and positivity can exist. Others can see that it is possible and hopefully, make the decision to pursue health and freedom as well.

The beauty of it all is that as we work to create a light for others, we naturally light our own way. Simply being the light in your own life will give people permission to see they can do that in theirs. Think about it. All those other lights turned on in the city were creating a light for your car but at the same time, lighting up the city for them too. There is no way another car could have their headlights on and not have that be their own guide. They were not only helping you with your lights off but serving themselves as well. It is like this with people. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

Each one of us was gifted with our own light.  Your light is not meant to be shut off at any point or hidden. It has been designed to shine.  We were given the light for the dark places. Our light can save lives, if only our very own. Along those dark streets, your lights makes all the difference. Your light is a lifeline. It shows that there is a route to escape from a life of confusion, panic, darkness, danger, and to cast out all fears. Our light is showing others and ourselves a different way, reminding them and us that we are not lost. There is always a way out. There is always hope. It may not feel like it at times for the dark is inevitable in life. We cannot fight it, but we can choose to shine to cast it out. When darkness comes, we have the choice to curl up in fear or turn on the light. You are blessed to have a light within you to turn on every single time the darkness comes.

And I tell you, do not worry if you are currently enduring the darkest moment of your life because just like any light, the darker it gets, the brighter you will shine. So, you radiant light, are you ready to shine now?

Graham: 'Greed, Lust' at Heart of Political Chaos

 

Just Do It

By: Alan Smith

Nike thought they originated the phrase “Do It”; but the Bible beat them to it.

1 Chron. 28:20: "And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD."

King David knew what it meant to “do it” when he was “strong” and had “good courage” that came from heaven.  David was advising his son on how to accomplish this God-given task.  The task was overwhelming, but it was deep within Solomon’s heart.  Evidently, Solomon was a little discouraged, as well as under a little fear.  He had to be reminded, through an encouraging word from his father, that the Lord God would be with him, and that the Lord God would not fail or forsake him.  This is incredible!  What good news to hear how our heavenly Father treats those that are called “His people”!

I have heard it said over and over, ”We just need to wait on God”.  Don’t leave me here—let me explain further.  I know there are times when we need to wait on God.  But come on, there is so much that He has already told us to do, and did we “do it”?  No, we didn’t always do it; but it is to these types of promptings that we need to respond and “just do it”.  What keeps us from “just doing it”?  Could it be mere procrastination?  Or, could it be a fear of rejection?  It could be either one of these.  But, it could also be that God is speaking to us and we just need a little more “courage” to follow Him.  I want to “encourage” each one of you to step out there and “just do it”!  And, speaking of courage, did you know that encouragement and discouragement usually come from another person?  Discouragement is not a spirit, but a lack of courage.  Discouragement is the act of stealing courage from someone else.  We get a false courage for ourselves when we steal it from someone else by discouraging them.  God forgive us when we have stolen courage from each other, and help us to encourage one another more.

Now, let’s look at the Bible for some “just do it” times.

• Moses wanted someone else to "do it".

Ex 4:13: But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."

• The Levites "shall do it".

Num 1:51: Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it.

• Caleb said "certainly do it".

Num 13:30: Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."

• Joseph said, "I cannot do it" but "God will do it".

Gen 41:32: The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon.

• The Lord will “do it”.

Ezek 17:24: “I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.'"

• Jesus says believe in me because I “do it”.

John 10:38-39: But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles: that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."

• Jesus said, He will “do it”.

John 14:14: You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

• Paul tells us what happens when we “do it”.

1 Cor. 9:25-26: But we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

• Paul tells us why we should “do it”.

1 Cor. 10:31-32: Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

• Paul exhorts us to finish “doing it”.

2 Cor. 8:11: Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it.

• Paul tells us in whose name to “do it”.

Col 3:17: And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord.

Well, what do you think?  I told you that the Bible came up with it first.  My prayer for us today is that we will join this group of “just do it people”.  Let’s “do it” until we have “finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD."

May God bless the “just do it’s”!

Alan

Hundred of Thousands Plan to Watch Graham's 'My Hope'

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Evangelist Franklin Graham says hundreds of thousands of Christians plan to invite their friends to watch the upcoming telecast of My Hope America website

"My Hope America" is a series of creative videos designed to clearly present the Gospel. It will be shown on the Billy Graham's 95th birthday on Nov. 7.

Rev. Graham spent months recording the video. Franklin said his father was unscripted and comes across "like a grandfather" sharing the Gospel and inviting viewers to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.