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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1998 Vol. 2, No. 5
IN THIS ISSUE:
How To Be Free from Fear in Troubled Times -- Betty
Miller
The Test That Finalized the Covenant -- R.S. "Bud"
Miller
Purpose and Vision -- Ministry Information
Share and Tell -- Testimony of a Former Prostitute & Drug
Addict
Spiritual Warfare -- The Armour of God
Exposing Satan's Devices -- Don't Ignore the Devil
End Times -- The Wine of Babylon
Prophetic Voice To The Church -- The Only Hope in The
Coming Storm
Book Review -- America's Last Call
Little Foxes (Little Compromises) -- Seeds of Unclean Thoughts
Prayer Focus Spotlight -- Calling All Intercessors
Warnings! -- Special Guest, Donald McAlvaney
Book Review -- The Fear of the Lord
A Spiritual Dream -- What's Written in Your "Book of
Life?"
Personal Word From the Millers -- Ministry News
Past Issues of the Digest -- Archives
Return to Main Menu
HOW TO BE FREE FROM FEAR IN TROUBLED
TIMES
By Betty Miller
2 Timothy 1:7: "For God hath not given us the
spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."
CONQUERING FEAR
We live in an hour in the earth that the Bible speaks of as the "last
days." Because we are in the end times we know that according to prophecy it will be
a time of great tribulation and trouble. 2 Timothy 3:1 says,
"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." More
scripture describing the end times is spoken of by Jesus himself in these verses:
Matthew 24: 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the
disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what
shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all
these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.
7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be
famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.
8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be
hated of all nations for my name's sake.
10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one
another.
11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto
all nations; and then shall the end come.
This is certainly a description of our present world. However, notice in verse
6 the Lord told us this "...see that you are not troubled." There
is only one way we can be without fear in a world of turmoil, hatred, war, and
uncertainty. The way to do this is to trust the One who told us not to be troubled or
fearful. Only through Christ's power can we walk in peace and safety. We must give our
lives completely to the Lord and yield to His will as to what He wants us to do, where He
wants us to live, what He wants us to sell or give away and what we are to do with our
time. This is a total commitment to give God first place of our time, money, careers,
family and future.
The Word of God tells us, "He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his
heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord'' (Psalm 112:7). Fear is the opposite of
trust. The devil continually tries to get us to be fearful. The Bible says in Luke
21:26, "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which
are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.'' Many people
shall not overcome fear, but be overcome by it. As Christians, we are not to be fearful
but are to trust in the Lord. Should Satan come against us with his lies and fear, we are
to turn to God and ask that the fear be removed. People's fears are many. Some fear death,
others are afraid of getting cancer, afraid of losing their loved ones, afraid of the
house burning down, afraid of having car wrecks or afraid of flying in airplanes, afraid
of the future. Others are tormented with the fear of the dark, fear of being molested or
fear of staying alone. Fear is a horrible monster no matter what form it takes. After we
seek God for the removal of our fear, we then should quote the Word of God concerning that
subject to the devil. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of
power, and of love, and of a sound mind'' (2Timothy 1:7).
As we listen to the Holy Spirit, He usually speaks something positive for us to do. It
could be we are to sing to the Lord, pray in the spirit or read the Bible. If we obey, the
Holy Spirit will then drive the "spirit of fear'' from us. If we cannot get free and
find we are in bondage to an evil spirit of fear, we may need to have this evil spirit
"cast out.'' If we are simply overcoming a weakness of fear in our flesh, submitting
to God and resisting the devil will accomplish the victory. We should not be discouraged
if we do not get the victory the first time. It sometimes takes several bouts with the
devil to win the round. If we lose one battle, it does not mean we are losing the war. The
Lord will bring the victory if we are determined and have chosen to trust God and not to
fear.
This same approach applied to any weakness will bring us success. The place to begin is
with a decision of the will. A decision allowed us to come into the
kingdom of God. We decided to accept the Lord's forgiveness and reconciliation.
At the time of this decision we were "born anew'' and received the gift of life in
Christ. This was all accomplished by faith in God's Word. The same method will work in
overcoming any weakness in our lives. We must first decide we want to be an overcomer.
Then the power of God will perform this in us as we trust Him by faith to do so. We must
not be double-minded once we set our course, since a double- minded man receives nothing. "But
let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea
driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any
thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.'' (James 1:6-8). True
faith rests in the victory of Jesus.
When we come to the Lord, we are "re-born'' and our life with God begins with a
clean slate. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old
things are passed away; behold, all things are become new'' (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Sometimes past sins and mistakes cause us to fear the future or fear exposure of our
former deeds. The Lord wants the pain of our past erased so we can function without the
hurt of those wounds. We should not dig up the past unless the Holy Spirit specifically
sees the need to touch an area with His healing, and only then if that healing requires
facing the past. With His love He will remove the hurt and fear of those days.
However, if we have hurt people it would be in order to ask their forgiveness. We
should also try to right the wrong if by doing so it would not bring the involved party
more hurt. As Christians we should restore to those we have defrauded and publicly
apologize if we have failed a group or brought reproach upon them. We should confess the
truth in we have lied or gossiped. When the Lord shows us how we have hurt others we
should always seek to make amends. If we have stolen something, we should restore it.
Sweeping things under the rug will never bring recovery and restoration. It will only lead
to more fear and deception. The only way we can walk in truth is to replace the lie with
the truth of God's Word.
Emotional stress and fear can also cause physical sickness. Inner emotional healing is
sometimes the key to receiving a physical healing. We can be suffering with ulcers because
we have not forgiven someone, or arthritis can possibly be the result of a bitter and
prideful spirit. Heart problems can occur because of fear and stress. The Lord begins our
healing from the inside out. Once we have been cleansed in our hearts and souls, then the
body will also respond and experience healing. When we prosper in our souls, then we will
also prosper in our bodies. The Bible says, "Beloved, I wish above all things
that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth'' (3 John 2).
If we are overwhelmed by depression or hopelessness or fear and we are unable to pray
or read God's Word, we can ask the Holy Spirit to speak to someone to pray for us. The
Lord knows that many times we are too weak to pray and that we need the body of Christ,
the church. They can stand and pray with us until we get the victory. We need not feel
embarrassed to ask others to pray. We need each other. It is also helpful to have someone
pray the prayer of agreement with you when trying to overcome a weakness or fear. This
will bring strength to your decision to overcome in the areas needed. "Again
I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they
shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven'' (Matthew 18:19). This
is a wonderful agreement that should be utilized by husbands and wives. The wife can agree
that her husband's weakness will be overcome in Christ, while the husband can make the
same agreement for his wife. Satan tries to divide all relationships with critical
thoughts and words about each other's weaknesses.
One of the greatest fears people are fighting at this time is fear of financial loss
and fear of the future since many of the prophets of God are declaring times of trouble
and tribulation in the U.S.A. and the world. The Lord knew the hour we would be living in
and we can rest assured He has a plan of protection and provision for all of His committed
people. What we must all do is to seek the Lord with our whole heart and get His plan for
our individual lives since these are perilous times. The only safe place for any of us is
in the will of God! If we are in His will we will find His provision and direction. He
wants to speak to us. However, we must be close to Him to hear. In the physical world the
farther away you are in distance from someone the harder time you have in being able to
hear them. The same principle applies to the spirit world. Hearing God is a matter of
proximity.
Psalm 91:15-16: "He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be
with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy
him, and show him my salvation."
Reviewing how to overcome fear or any negative emotion, we must:
(1) Ask the Lord to remove it
(2) Quote the Word of God.
(3) Listen to the Holy Spirit.
(4) Obey His guidance.
(5) Praise Him for the answer.
This is only a simple outline but many find it helpful when needing a guideline to
overcome faults and failures and fears. We also have additional material on this subject
in our BIBLE ANSWERS
link. Look under the subjects of "Pressure" and "Stress."
Return to Table of Contents for this Issue
COVENANT: GOD'S GUARANTEE FOR
VICTORIOUS LIVING
By R.S. "Bud" Miller
Note: This teaching is continued from last month's Overcoming
Life Digest. See Table of Contents for Archives.
_________________________
The Test That Finalized the Covenant
When Abraham's only son, Isaac, was a youth, God put Abraham to
the final big test—the hardest test of obedience he had ever experienced. Before God
gave His oath to the covenant, He tested Abraham to see if he would be willing to keep
covenant with Him by giving Him the most prized possession he had: his son (Genesis
22:1,2).
If God gives us ministry or blessings, He wants us to be willing
to lay them on the altar, to give them back to Him. He wants to be more important in our
lives than anything else.
God knew if Abraham was willing to give his only son as an act
of obedience in total surrender, there would be no question of his keeping the covenant
from then on. Abraham's descendants would have this example of total covenant obedience
forever.
God gave Abraham no reason for asking that Isaac be sacrificed.
However, nowhere in the Bible does it record that Abraham said anything but "Yes,
Sir." He got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, took two men with wood
for a burnt offering, and set off with Isaac on a three-day journey.
He did exactly as he was instructed to do, and he did not ask
for a "sign." Through faith, because he had a loyalty to God, he had an
assurance that God was going to do what He had promised, no matter how it looked. He had
made a blood covenant with God, which he would not break. His son also was God's son
according to the covenant, so if God wanted Isaac, He had a right to ask for him.
The far-reaching event tied to this is that Abraham, a covenant
partner, did not withhold the thing dearest to him— his son. So God, as covenant
partner, also would do His covenant part by offering His only begotten Son as a sacrifice.
Abraham had no idea of the importance to the whole human race of
what he was doing. He simply did what he did best: He obeyed God implicitly, without
question, and willingly.
When they reached Mount Moriah, Abraham left his servants with
the donkey. He and Isaac climbed the mountain, with Isaac carrying wood for the burnt
offering, and his father carrying a knife and fire (Genesis 22:5,6). In those days,
there were no matches, so you carefully kept your fire from going out. If you had to move,
you placed coals of fire in a clay pot and carried fire with you.
Isaac, of course, was curious about the sacrifice, because the
one thing they had not brought was a lamb to put on the altar. When he asked about this,
Abraham said, "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb" (Genesis 22:7,8).
Again, this was literal but also prophetic. God did provide Himself a "lamb,"
the Lord Jesus Christ.
Abraham trusted God to raise Isaac from the dead if He had to,
but even if God did not, Abraham would keep covenant no matter what it cost him. Hebrews
11:17-19 says,
"By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had
received the promises offered up his only begotten son. Of whom it was said, That in Isaac
shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the
dead; from whence also he received him in a figure."
Even in Paul's day, no one would dare break a blood
covenant. Galatians 3:16 says, ". . .Though it be but a man's covenant, yet
if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth or addeth thereto." In "cutting
covenant," two men became "friends that stuck to one another closer than a
brother" (Proverbs 17:24). Being a covenant partner with God is why Abraham is
called "friend of God" (2 Chronicles 20:7; James 2:23).
The Lord allowed Abraham to continue in his obedience right
until the very last moment. He bound Isaac on the altar they had built and raised a knife
to slay him before God stopped him (Genesis 22:9,10). At that point, the Angel of
the Lord called to him out of Heaven:
"And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither
do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not
withheld thy son, thine only son from me." Genesis 22:12
Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in a thicket, and
the ram was offered in place of Isaac. The Bible does not tell us what Isaac thought or
said; however, apparently he went to the altar patiently and unprotestingly "like a
lamb to the slaughter," a prophetic picture of the way Jesus went to the cross (Isaiah
53:7; Acts 8:32).
The Bible says God spoke to Moses "face to face, as a man
does a friend" (Exodus 33:11). God called Moses a "faithful servant"
to whom He spoke directly (Numbers 12:7). Abraham is the only man in the Bible whom
God called, "My friend" (Isaiah 41:8). This is because God and Abraham
were partners in an everlasting blood covenant. They had a special relationship.
The blood covenant on which rested the coming sacrifice of Jesus
for man's redemption and reconciliation was finalized by God's oath and sealed by
Abraham's obedience at Mount Moriah:
"And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of
heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou
hast done this thing (the ultimate obedience), and hast not withheld thy son, thine
only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed
as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed
shall possess the gate of his enemies. And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth
be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." Genesis 22:15-18
God did all of this in order to have a Covenant People, a people
related to Him by blood to carry out His plans for the earth.
It is wonderful to be "blood-related" to God and
Abraham through Jesus, and it is wonderful to read all of the blessings that come with
this covenant. However, Christians need to understand that the blessings do not come to us
automatically. There is a prerequisite, and it is the same one required of Abraham: obedience.
(To be continued next month)
(Excerpt from the book entitled: COVENANT God's Guarantee for Victorious Living by
R.S. "Bud" Miller)
Return to Table of Contents for this Issue
PURPOSE & VISION
THE OVERCOMING LIFE DIGEST is published for the purpose of strengthening the Body of
Christ by furnishing teaching literature and a prophetic voice to the church in these last
days. CHRIST UNLIMITED is helping and working with all Bible-believing Christians
regardless of their church or denominational affiliations in promoting the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. CHRIST UNLIMITED believes the hour is late and we must fulfill the great
commission. We, as Christians, desire to cooperate with the Lord in breaking down
denominational walls, for a united front line against the kingdom of darkness and setting
up the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
CHRIST UNLIMITED MINISTRIES, INC. and CHRIST UNLIMITED PUBLISHING provide such tools
through literature as to enable the saints of God to take the Kingdom and walk in the
overcoming life as promised us in John 10:10 & Revelation 21:7.
PUBLISHER
CHRIST UNLIMITED PUBLISHING
President: R.S. "Bud" Miller
Editor: Betty Miller
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Return to Table of Contents for this Issue
SHARE AND TELL
"O Give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name:
make known his deeds among the people."
Psalm 105:1
Testimony of a Former Prostitute and Drug Addict
By Socorro Meza
(This testimony was written by Socorro Meza, former prostitute and drug
addict who now ministers full-time in Phoenix, Arizona.)
Dear Brother and Sister,
I would like to assure you that Jesus wants to give you peace. Jesus Christ wants to
take away your fear and your pain. He did it for me. He healed me and also took away the
shame that tormented my life. Jesus Christ gave me a new life through his love. And
brother, sister, Jesus loves you...
You see at one time, I was hurting for a hit. I was "malias" (sick)
for a fix. I hustled to "use" and "used" in order to hustle. I was in
and out of jail and in and out of drug rehabs. But there was not enough drugs and not
enough rehabs to change what was in my heart and in my mind. I had suffered so much
rejection and abandonment that I began to build walls to keep people out and protect
myself. Yet, behind those walls, I began to self-destruct.
I had been sexually molested a lot as a child; raped and physically abused as a
teenager. I became so promiscuous as a young adult that I actually believed I was a
lesbian. I hated men. I made sure that I used them before they abused me. My involvement
with women deteriorated me emotionally and mentally. Confusion and paranoia infiltrated my
soul.
I betrayed my family. I burned my friends. I rebelled against society. I denied God and
hated myself. The despair in my life was so immense that I completely lost touch with
reality. I was a failure. I didn't know how to love anyone and certainly didn't believe
anyone loved me—especially not God. What God? Where was He anyhow?
Then one day I decided to try Jesus. I needed help. I just needed help. I was at the
bottom but there was no "rock bottom" for me. Rock bottom would have been the
grave. I tried to stop using drugs so many times—when I lost 30 pounds, when my
family found out, when I lost my house, when I lost my mate, when I no longer had a car,
when I found myself working the streets, when I saw people overdosing, when I
"O.D.'d", when I was placed on probation. Finally, I had to admit that I was not
hitting the "rock bottom" that would make me stop. I was hitting and smoking the
"rock of damnation" and it was destroying me. That is when I cried out to
Jesus— the "Rock of Salvation". He has changed my heart and renewed my
mind. He is the lifter of my head.
Darling, if you have had these same problems, reach out to Him. Jesus died so that you
may have life. He loves you and accepts you as you are. He will make you clean inside.
Jesus has a purpose for you, otherwise you would have died by now—right??
My dear brother and sister, we want to help you. If you need help please write and
include your name, address, and phone. We do want to help you.
Sincerely,
Socorro V. Meza
AZUSA World Ministries
5109 W. Thomas Road
Phoenix, AZ 85031
(602) 269-6959
_________________________
For those that would like to also read some of the letters we receive at BibleResources.org
we have a Testimony Page comprised from e-mail from many people around the world. They
have really blessed us and we pray they will bless you too. Go here: TESTIMONIES
Return to Table of Contents for this Issue
SPIRITUAL WARFARE
By Betty Miller
The Armor of God
Preparing For Battle
Ephesians 6 is a well-known chapter in the Bible on the topic of
spiritual warfare. Most of us have heard warfare teachings based on this chapter, but
another look is in order. The Word will always refresh and encourage us. As we read and
study, it will grow stronger in us, and we may discover truths we've never seen before. A
minister once likened revelation to a tree. When the Lord first gave him revelation on a
topic, it was comparable to the trunk of a tree coming forth. Then as God added to the
original revelation, it was like more and more branches being added to a growing tree. So
it is with the Word of God. We receive revelation; then as we study His Word more, further
revelation is added unto us. The Word of God has much depth; it contains layers of truth.
As we grow spiritually, we discover truths in the Word that we never saw before.
For many, spiritual warfare is a topic to avoid. Apathetic or fearful Christians don't
want to even think about having to battle. But when we consider spiritual warfare we must
realize that it calls for entering into a fight. That calls for applying pressure back to
the enemy of our souls; Satan, who is constantly applying pressure against us. We have an
assurance in this war, an assurance unknown to any other war. We're assured of victory.
God's Word promises that. "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in
the world" (I John 4:4).
All we have to do to win is apply His principles and walk in obedience as we keep our
eyes on Him, our commander-in-chief. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 says,
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh." Ours
is a spiritual battle, not one of flesh and blood. No human being is our enemy. The enemy
is Satan with his evil principalities and powers of darkness that work through human
beings who are vessels who are weak or deceived. We have been given authority over these
powers of darkness. As we speak to them, they must obey. Our victory is dependent upon our
total commitment. If we're not sold out unto the death we may as well forget about
entering into spiritual warfare as we are defeated before we begin, however, if we are
totally committed to God we are assured of the victory!
(To be continued)
Excerpt from the book Personal Spiritual Warfare; Click here to order from the CHAPEL BOOKSTORE
Return to Table of Contents for this Issue
EXPOSING SATAN'S DEVICES
Betty Miller
DON'T IGNORE THE DEVIL
We are not to ignore the devil, but rather to look out for him. As we have mentioned in
other teachings, some people get very upset when the subjects of Satan, evil and hell are
discussed. They declare that they do not want to talk about the devil. However, the Word
of God has much to say on these subjects. In fact, the words Satan, devil, Lucifer, and
hell are mentioned over 980 times. The Lord was not silent on these subjects, but rather
gave us warnings so we would be prepared for Satan's attacks, as well as to know the ways
in which we are to overcome him and thereby escape hell. The devil is seeking those whom
he may devour, and he finds many easy victims because they do not even believe in the
reality of his activity nor in the prospect of hell. Satan has darkened the minds of those
in the world so that they cannot see the true picture of him and the horrible fate that
awaits all who follow him.
Satan appears as an "angel of light" in order to seduce people into following
him. He also has disciples even as Jesus had his disciples.
2 Corinthians 11:13-15, "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers,
transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is
transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also
be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their
works."
We must look at the works of men to discern which god they are serving, the god of this
world, Satan, or the true and living God. We are not to look to gifts of preaching,
prophecy, material possessions, nor the number of their followers. What kind of works are
they producing? Works of the flesh or works of the Spirit? What fruit is evident in their
lives? We must be able to recognize our enemy to be able to overcome him. We are in a
spiritual war and we cannot fight an enemy we do not know.
In military strategy, one of the enemy's devices is to camouflage its troops so that
they cannot be recognized. Satan uses this device also and comes to deceive us, trying to
get us to believe that his plan is the best for our lives, rather than the Lord's. We must
be sure that any message we receive agrees with the Word of God. If it does not, we should
throw it out. We must be sure our own hearts are right with the Lord, for a clean and pure
heart will keep us in the right path. (Psalm 119:1, "Blessed are the
undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.") God's will for us
will bring peace and rest to our spirit, not anxiety and restlessness. Satan's way is a
way of unrest and worry. (Isaiah 57:20-21, "But the wicked are like the
troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace,
saith my God, to the wicked.")
The Holy Spirit is gentle and patient, not pushy or rude. We should be wary of any
message that would prompt us to react hastily or rashly. After we check each of these
things and still have a deep peace in our spirits regarding a needed action on our part,
then we can move ahead in faith and trust the Father to keep us in whatever decision we
make. He will protect us and not allow us to be overcome by the devil. (I John
4:4, "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he
that is in you, than he (Satan) that is in the world.")
Excerpt from the book Exposing Satan's Devices; Click here to order from the CHAPEL BOOKSTORE
Return to Table of Contents for this Issue
END TIMES
MARK OF GOD OR MARK OF THE BEAST
Betty Miller
INTRODUCTION
Much has been said on this subject of the mark of the beast, but little said about the
mark of God. Will there be a literal mark tattooed on people's foreheads and/or their
hands in these end times to make it possible to buy and sell in a one-world monetary
system that is being set up by an antichrist?
We can certainly see the possibilities of this becoming a literal reality in our day
with the technology of laser beam tattoos and our president speaking of a "new world
order." Even now, pets can be tracked by tiny computer chips about the size of a
grain of rice which have an identification number programmed into it that can be injected
under the skin with a hypodermic needle. A special scanner generates a radio signal that
reads the number through the skin of the animal when it is found.
This book is not disputing the possibilities of a literal tattoo, but rather exposing
the spiritual implications behind that plan of Satan. How will this come about? Will it be
one of the above new technologies or something yet to come? We don't believe men are going
to be tattooed or branded with a literal set of three sixes on their foreheads or hands,
any more than we believe the letters J-E-S-U-S will be on the foreheads of God's servants
as spoken of in Revelation 22: 3-4: "And there shall be no more curse: but the
throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they
shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads."
How will the beast mark those who follow him, and what is the mark of God set upon
those who follow Christ? Let us begin with the mark of the beast, then look at how we are
to receive God's mark which protects us from destruction in these end times.
Throughout the Scriptures, the word beast refers to a system, and not to a
man. The beast is a system that rules the world; it's an antichrist system. Daniel
7 speaks of beasts and identifies them as earthly kingdoms. So the beast in
Revelation is a beastly system that's ruling the world (it's a dictator beast). This beast
is not just one human being, rather it is a system that has infiltrated every area whether
it be politics, medicine, art or science; the beastly system is everywhere. This system is
typically overseen by a powerful government with those in power making decisions that
perpetrate the worldly system throughout mankind. When Revelation 13:1
speaks of the beast rising up out of the sea, what is meant by the sea? The Scriptures
speak of the sea as "masses of humanity." This beastly system is rising up out
of humanity, out of all the people on the earth. When John, the author of Revelation,
stood upon the sand of the sea, he was standing upon that which could not be numbered,
among all the people of the earth.
_______________
The Wine of Babylon
By Betty Miller
"The inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the
wine of her fornication" (Revelation 17:2b). This wine represents false
teaching. The apostate church (as well as the world) has been given false teaching and has
become drunk with it. She doesn't even know the truth because she's drunk. When people are
drunk they lack perception; they're deceived and they cannot see clearly. Those of the
false church have been made drunk on false teachings and are deceived into thinking
they're going to heaven. This world's religions and cults are claiming that it matters not
what route we take to God, that all routes lead to Him as long as we're seeking Him. They
say it doesn't matter whether it's through Mohammed, or Bhudda; new age, or humanism. But
it does matter! The Bible says there's only one way to God, through Jesus Christ. He is "the
way, the truth, and the life" and no man comes to the Father except by Him (John
14:6). There's only one man, only one door (John 10: 7-9).
There's no other door that we can get in by. We're going to come God's way, or we'll not
come at all.
When we are encouraged to seek God in our own way, whatever that way may be, we are
hearing false beastly advice. Proverbs 14:12 says, "There is
a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Deception
leads many into bondage and death. Today men are trying to make all religions palatable
and agreeable. We're told to seek God in our own way, praying in our respective mosques,
temples or churches.
The true God doesn't dwell in buildings, especially buildings representing false
religions. He dwells within the hearts of men. Unless men have been born again, they do
not know the true and living God and their buildings become the habitat of demons.
Buildings are simply meeting places; they are neither good nor evil in themselves. The
people who gather there make them good or evil. The true church is a living organism, not
a building. When true saints meet in any building, home or church, it becomes the
tabernacle or house of God because the Holy Spirit dwells in that place in His people. God
is in our midst whenever we gather together. "For where two or three are
gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt. 18:20).
We've seen that there's the wine of false teaching, but there's another wine, too. It's
the wine of God which is His Word and His Spirit. God's wine is the truth. When one speaks
of getting drunk on the new wine he is speaking of being filled to overflowing with the
Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth. We drink of the Spirit of God and the Word of God. Isaiah
40:8 says, "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of
our God shall stand forever." If we put the Word into our lives, if we
become saturated with it, we'll not pass away. "Heaven and earth shall pass
away, but my words shall not pass away" (Matt. 24:35). We'll not be shaken;
we'll not fall because we'll be standing on the imperishable Word. We'll have the Word in
our minds and be doing the Word with our hands.
We're not to deceive ourselves by hearing the Word only, but we're to be doing that
Word. "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own
selves" (James 1:22). We're to be obedient to that Word. When we hear the
Word, we're to put it into practice so we don't come under the wrath of God. The Word of
God will do one of two things for us. It will either purify us or pulverize us, for the
Word of God becomes the wrath of God upon the disobedient. "For which things'
sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience" (Colossians 3:6).
The whore, the false church, has people drunk on false teaching. In the apostate church
there are even those who were once in Christ but who have since fallen away. The beast
system has ensnared them. These people still think they're going to heaven. They think
they can attend church on Sunday, give their offering, raise their hands in praise, yet
live like the devil during the week. They think they can get away with this and still go
to heaven, but they can't. Unless they have a commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, unless
they're in fellowship with Him and have laid down their lives, unless they're trusting in
His blood to cleanse them, they're not going to make it. We can only make it one way, and
that's through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus.
(To be continued )
(Excerpt taken from the book The Mark of God or The Mark of the Beast)
CHAPEL BOOKSTORE (Click here to order)
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PROPHETIC VOICE TO THE CHURCH
As some may not be familiar with prophecy in the church, we want to share this short
explanation of Biblical prophecy before we share an actual prophecy from God.
First, what is godly prophecy? It can be summed up as words that are spoken on behalf
of God. A prophet or prophetess is one who is a spokesman for God. It is a divine
utterance that comes from the Holy Spirit. (Note: Just as there are prophetic words from
God, there are also false prophecies that the Lord warned us about in the Bible. In Matthew
7:15-16 Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their
fruits...." We must prove the source of prophecy before accepting it as coming
from the Lord).
God is raising up many prophetic voices in the earth today. His gifts of prophecy are
basically of two types. One is the "simple gift of prophecy" which every
believer can express under the unction or direction of the Holy Spirit after they have
been filled with the Holy Ghost.
The other is the "office gift" of the spirit which is given to a prophet or
prophetess who is called to the "five-fold" ministry office as outlined in 1
Corinthians 12:28 which says "And God hath set some in the church, first
apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of
healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues."
Ephesians 4:11-12: "And he gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers. For the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."
The basic difference between these two types is, the simple gift of prophecy is given
to all spirit filled believers as spoken of in 1 Corinthians 14:31, "For ye may
all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted."
It is for the purpose of edification, exhortation and comfort as spoken of in 1
Corinthians 14:3, "But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and
exhortation, and comfort."
The "office gift" of a prophet or prophetess is given to speak to the body of
Christ at large. The ministers who are called to the office of a prophet or
prophetess will deliver messages which include edification, exhortation and comfort, but
their messages can also be directive in nature and futuristic in content as well (Ephesians.
4:11-15).
Presently God is leading His people with prophetic preaching and teaching. A prophetic
movement is taking place in the world.
------------------------------------------------
PROPHECY
THE ONLY HOPE IN THE COMING STORM
By Reverend David Wilkerson
March 30, 1998
We Are Experiencing the Calm Prior to The
Greatest Storm
America Has Ever Suffered!
I first delivered this message as a sermon to Times Square Church on April
4, 1997. Just two days before that, on Friday, April 2, the stock market reached an
all-time high of over 7,000. Newscasters and magazines boasted: "America is enjoying
its greatest prosperity ever. Unemployment has fallen below 5 percent, and there is very
little labor strife. Profits are at an all-time high, and people's purchasing power is up.
At the same time, interest rates are low, and home sales are increasing. America is riding
the crest of a booming wave of good news, prosperity and peace."
It all sounds like good news, doesn't it? Yet the Bible says whenever
people are crying, "Peace and prosperity!", sudden destruction is about to fall.
Over the years, I have received letters from people saying, "You've been prophesying
for years about 'gathering storm clouds' and a 'coming crash.' Yet all you've done is
scare a lot of Christians who trust your word. The truth is, the opposite has happened.
Instead of experiencing a storm, we've seen a boom, with record-breaking prosperity. There
isn't one sign on the horizon to suggest a coming crisis."
The fact is, the apostle Peter warned that many believers would react this way: "...there
shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is
the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they
were from the beginning of creation" (2 Peter 3:3). In other words:
"People will say, 'Where's the so-called storm? Everything is continuing today as it
always has!"
Beloved, God has judged every past society for lesser sins than America's. Consider: No
other nation has killed more babies than the United States has through abortion. Our soil
cries out with the blood of these children! We'd rather save the life of a whale than one
of our own babies. America has the world's highest rate of illegitimate pregnancies.
Teenage crime in this country is the highest in the free world. Americans now spend more
money on dog food than on foreign missions.
We have begun to glorify homosexuality and lesbianism. Our media applauds the
"bravery" of gays who declare their sexual orientation - but we ought to weep
over it! TV's "Ellen" was hailed as a heroine when she came out of the closet on
national television. Yet at one time, Christians across the country would have been on
their faces crying out to God for mercy over such immorality. Network newscasts showed
images of half-naked gay women in Florida celebrating "Lesbian Pride Week." An
estimated 30,000 women gathered to indulge in drunken orgies all night long for a whole
week. And local officials applauded it, saying, "It's wonderful that they're all
together here." But it must have been breaking God's heart! Radical homosexuals cry
out to society, "In your face!" Yet what they're really saying is, "In your
face, God!"
America has brazenly kicked God out of its schools and courts. Now there's even a movement
to remove his name from the Pledge of Allegiance and from all U.S. coins. People no longer
want to hear even the mention of his name! Fifty million Americans now smoke pot, and
millions more are hooked on heroin, crack and other hard drugs. Our schools have become
bastions of blasphemy and agnosticism. Our children have been robbed of all moral
standards, denied all access to God - and they're reacting by becoming more violent and
rebellious.Beloved, God destroyed Noah's generation, as well as Sodom, all for lesser sins
than ours. What arrogance to think that while these societies were judged severely, we
might be spared!
Very Soon, America Is Going To Wake Up to a
Sudden News Report of Calamity - and the Storm Will Be Upon Us Suddenly!
The psalmist describes how God's rod of judgment will fall overnight: "In
the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he
poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring
them out, and drink them...all the horns of the wicked also will I cut off..." (Psalm
75:8, 10).
In Revelation, this cup is called "...the cup of his
indignation..." (Revelation 14:10). In other words, it's full of God's
wrath. Simply put, America's cup of iniquity is overflowing - and all of our sins are
going to turn into his holy wrath! You may be saying, "Why do you have to put such a
scare into people? Why shouldn't we just enjoy this prosperity while it's here? You should
be glad about all the goods things that are happening, especially in New York City. Walt
Disney has moved in and taken over the once-seedy 42nd Street. Now all the smut and porn
shops are gone, and everything in Times Square is family-oriented. There won't be any
riots here, as you predict, with over a thousand fires burning. Relax, pastor, and enjoy
it!"
No - Mickey Mouse can't stop the coming storm! The fact is, Disney has become one of the
world's most corrupt media systems. Its movies are rife with homosexuality, violence and
the occult. Indeed, such businesses are the very reason God will send the storm - and it
will come quickly!
I remember as a young boy hearing a sudden news report that instantly
changed America's peaceful slumber. Our family was riding along on a beautiful, peaceful
Sunday afternoon to a country church where my father was going to preach. We had just
stopped for ice cream when a sudden news flash came over the car radio: "We interrupt
this program to bring you this news report: Japan has bombed Pearl Harbor!" I still
remember the look on Dad's face; he was in utter disbelief.
That night at church, everyone was baffled. "What's happening?" they wondered
aloud. "How could we suddenly be bombed? In the days that followed, we had
"blackouts" in which we all had to cover the windows in our homes and schools.
Everyone feared a sudden bomber attack! And, beloved, so it will be suddenly when the
storm hits. It will come like a thief in the night, bringing sudden panic and disbelief.
Right now you may be thinking, "Let it come! If calamity strikes, I'll deal with it
then. After all, I'm in God's hands. I'll be ready - so I'm not going to worry about it.
Jesus will see me through."
Yet, let me ask you: Why does God tell his prophets to shout their warnings from the
housetops? He wants to warn his people - to stir us up to seek him! He wants to convict us
of all our attempts to cast off Christ's yoke and cozy up to the world. He wants us to
keep our eyes on Jesus - to seek heavenly things - because those are the only things that
will stand in the coming storm!
The Only Hope in the Coming Storm!
Just before his death and resurrection, Jesus stared into the face of a
horrible coming storm. He saw what was just ahead: Jerusalem would be surrounded by
powerful armies, the temple would be destroyed, the city would be burned to the ground,
and thousands of people would die on crosses erected by the invading enemy. Their entire
society was about to collapse!
Now, Jesus was the very embodiment of God's love. And yet he warned, prophesied and wept
over his society, because he saw what was coming:
Matthew 24:2 "And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these
things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that
shall not be thrown down."
Matthew 24:19-20 "And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck
in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath
day."
If you think about it, Jesus' day was very similar to ours: Peace, calm and prosperity
ruled. Children played in the streets. There were no signs of judgment anywhere. Yet Jesus
described his society as a generation of vipers: priests who robbed widows, scoffers
blasphemers, adulterers, child offenders, a corrupt church full of moneychangers, a
ministry filled with wolves in sheep's clothing, false accusers, liars, cheats,
hypocrites, lovers of pleasure, fornicators, corrupt children. He warned, "You're
about to be surrounded by enemy armies. Now, prepare your hearts - because there's a storm
coming!"
When I first prepared this message, I was overwhelmed by a spirit of foreboding. All I
could think of was the church's terrible condition and how the devil was using subtle
evils to deceive God's elect. Christians seemed focused mostly on their own needs -
"my needs, my problems, my past, my future - how my parents hurt me, how the church
has wounded me, how my friends have failed me..." God's people were no longer weeping
over a dying world! For a while, this truly overwhelmed me. Then the Holy Spirit showed me
how our Lord reacted in the face of the coming storm.
The apostle John writes, "...as he is, so are we in this
world (1 John 4:17). The simple fact is, we have to have Jesus' mindset in all
things - or our hearts will fail us! The Bible gives no evidence of Christ being downcast,
fearful or hopeless. He didn't panic or despair. In spite of all he saw coming, Jesus knew
the final outcome. He knew the gates of hell wouldn't prevail against God's people!
David gives us a clear picture of Jesus' attitude in the face of the coming storm. He
speaks prophetically of Christ, saying, "...I foresaw the Lord always before
my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved" (Acts 2:25).
The literal meaning here is, "I was always in his presence, beholding his face."
David quoted Jesus as saying, "Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue
was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope" (verse 26).
Here is the secret: Jesus kept the father always before his face! Jesus
continually sought out secret places to be shut in with his father. And it was only after
being in God's presence that Christ came forth to minister, fully persuaded that his
father was always with him: "He's at my right hand - and nothing on this earth can
move me!" The Greek word for "moved" here means "agitated or shaken,
disturbed." Jesus was saying, "None of these problems, evils or coming events
can cast me down or shake my confidence. My father is in complete control!"
Beloved, if we're going to face the coming storm, then we need to be prepared so nothing
disturbs our spirit. And the only way to do that is to spend time in the father's
presence, beholding his face. We have to be shut in with him - on our knees - until we're
thoroughly persuaded he's at our right hand! God is clearly telling us, "Don't be
moved or agitated by anything you see. Keep your eyes focused on me - and you'll retain
your joy!" And according to David, Jesus testified, "...thou shalt make
me full of joy with thy countenance" (Acts 2:28).
It's as if Christ is telling us, "I faced everything you're going to face in the
closing days of time. I had the same foreboding feelings, because I saw the coming storm.
But I ran into the presence of my father, and he lifted all my concerns! He showed me the
outcome to it all. And in his presence I found all the joy, hope and rest I would ever
need, to the very end. I have peace and joy because I've been with him!" "...my
flesh shall rest in hope" (Acts 2:26b).
______
Editor's Note: The first half of the above prophetic
word was printed in last month's Overcoming
Life Digest (Click here to view). We also have Bro. Wilkerson's latest prophetic
book called America's Last Call available in our CHAPEL
BOOKSTORE (Click here to order).
________________
This word was taken from The David Wilkerson Times Square Church Pulpit
Series which is sent out every three weeks free-of-charge by regular mail and by e-mail
subscription. E-mail subscription instructions are available on the Subscription
Instructions Page through the internet ministry of Times Square Church
Pulpit Series. David Wilkerson's ministry does NOT have an e-mail address
for correspondence.
Send your request for the paper copy to:
World Challenge
P.O. Box 260
Lindale, Texas 75771
903-963-8626
903-963-5601 (Fax)
Copyright (C)1998 by World Challenge, Lindale Texas. The above data file
may not be used without the permission of World Challenge for resale or the enhancement of
any other product sold. This includes all of its content with the exception of a few brief
quotations.
Return to Table of Contents for this Issue
BOOK REVIEW
America' Last Call
"On the Brink of A Financial Holocaust"
By David Wilkerson
Note: We are keeping this book review in this Digest again this
month due to the importance of its message.
-------------------------------------------
David Wilkerson's latest book is a warning to America that this nation
rests on the brink of a financial holocaust. Brother David, as a "watchman on the
wall," gives a prophetic warning to our country. His cry is based, not on any
personal prophetic revelation, but rather on a sound scriptural basis as to how God has
dealt with sinful and wicked nations in the past. This book states that although America
is facing judgement for her many sins and abominations; as Christians, we can rejoice in
God's promises of faithfulness to His people in trying times. There is still time to
prepare for the days ahead and this book will help all that are willing to seek God's will
in the hour of national judgement.
A cartoon appeared in a New York City newspaper picturing the Titanic leaving
port. The ship was renamed The U.S. Economy. The caption above it read: "not
even God can sink this ship!" Since we all live in this nation we are all on this
"ship." However, if you are a Christian there is a place of safety that is made
available to all who will seek God for it. The Bible says in John 6:33,
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye
shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
A quote from this book says, "America is receiving her last call to
repent! The American dream is going to turn into the American nightmare. It will occur
suddenly -- without warning -- and no one will be able to explain how or why it happened.
There will be sellers only -- no buyers. A majority of Americans have concluded, 'Morals
do not count. Let our leaders do as they please; just give us a booming economy. Let the
good times roll. All that matters is prosperity!' God is about to crush this abominable
American mindset."
This book will leave you with a burden for our nation and a desire to pray
for repentance as the author discusses why these things are going to happen. Many people
who have already read about his warnings are worried about their financial future. They
are asking questions such as:
* Where can I put my money?
* What investments will be safe during the dark times ahead?
* Will there be any protective havens for my savings?
* And what about my Social Security and my retirement funds?
* What's God saying about debt and mortgages?
* Will I lose my house in the coming holocaust?
* What will I do if I lose my job and can't find employment?
* How will I be able to support my family?
* Should I store up food?
* How can I prepare for this awful event?
* If this warning is true, where can I turn for some answers?
The last chapter gives the answer and the secret to surviving the coming
crash. I highly recommend all Christians to read this book so they will not be caught
unaware. We have also printed a portion of one of Bro.Wilkerson's prophecies in this
same Digest as we feel the urgency of getting this warning out to God's people.---
Betty Miller
------------------------------------------------------------
David Wilkerson is founder of Teen Challenge, Inc., the
worldwide Christian drug and alcohol rehabilitation ministry. He is the author of The
Cross and the Switchblade, The Vision, Have You Felt Like Giving Up Lately?,
Hungry for More of Jesus, Revival on Broadway and many other books. David
and his wife, Gwen, live in New York City, where he serves as senior pastor of Times
Square Church.
The book, America's Last Call, is available in paperback
priced at $8.00 in our Chapel Bookstore catalog.
CHAPEL BOOKSTORE (Click here to
order)
Return to Table of Contents for this Issue
LITTLE FOXES
(Little Compromises That Cause Big Problems)
By Betty Miller
Song of Solomon 2:15 says, "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that
spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." Foxes sometime in search of
food would enter into the grape orchards and devour the grapes and spoil the crop.
However, the little foxes were too small to reach the grape bunches so they would chew on
the vines and it would kill the whole vine. Instead of the farmer just losing his crop, he
would lose his vine which was more disastrous. Spiritually some things we do or allow that
we might think are little or insignificant can also be disastrous for us.
Seeds of Unclean Thoughts
By Betty Miller
Most people do not realize how the devil uses our little unclean thoughts
to begin his work of evil in our lives. Just as it is the little foxes that spoil the
vines referred to in scripture, so it is the little thoughts of folly and wickedness that
destroy men's lives. A thought is only an idea but if it is dwelt upon long enough it
becomes an action. On the positive side this can produce much good. It is not sinful to
have an evil thought as this is the way that we are all tempted by the devil. However, the
sin comes into play when we dwell on the evil thought (or any thought that is against the
Word of God). As that thought takes root in our heart (our spirit) it will eventually bear
its deadly fruit.
Galatians 5:19-25: "Now the
works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,
seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the
which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such
things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such
there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections
and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."
In these verses in the Bible we find a list of sins that are called the
"works of the flesh" followed by a list of virtues called the fruit of the
Spirit. All of these sins and virtues begin as seeds in the
thought life. God has given every man a choice as to the things that he will think about.
Every evil deed that is done by mankind first began as a thought. In the world our
thoughts are influenced by many different sources. That is why it is important not to
expose ourselves to the evil in books, magazines, movies, T.V., radio, friends, etc. The
Bible admonishes us not to associate with wicked companions and to stay away from liars in
Psalm 101:2-7:
"I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt
thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked
thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to
me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Whoso privily
slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart
will not I suffer. Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell
with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall
not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight."
The reason our nation and the world is filled with so much violence and
uncleanness is that men and women have chosen to indulge in a wicked thought life fed by
evil input from Satan's emissaries. These actions were once tiny seeds of temptation that
now have blossomed into the fruit of evil. People that "toy" or "play"
with sin sooner or later will be trapped by it. The Bible says in Galatians 6:7-8,
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also
reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that
soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."
The unclean (dirty) thoughts that have been implanted in the minds of
millions through pornography alone, are now bearing the fruit of evil deeds such as rape,
divorce, murder, homosexuality, adultery, fornication, oral sex, pedophilia and other
sexual sins. No one can compartmentalize their private lives and thoughts that are evil
without it eventually affecting the rest of their lives. The thoughts and
deeds of those in authority are now being exposed as the Bible declares
in 1 Corinthians 4:5, "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the
Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make
manifest the counsels of the hearts..." We are in the time of judgement
before the Lord returns so those things that have been done in darkness are now coming to
light whether it be priest, preacher, politician, business men, or just ordinary men or
women.
We all experience these "little foxes" of evil seed thoughts but
we must not allow them to take root. As Christians, we have the power of the Holy Spirit
to give us the victory over these temptations and through the Lord we can replace them
with virtuous seeds from the Word of God. We can do as Jesus did when he was tempted by
the devil; He quoted the Word of God to the devil and he left Him. Luke 4:4,
"And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word of God."
We can plant good seeds in our hearts and minds by reading the Word of God
and listening to the Holy Spirit. Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good
report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
If we think on the good things of God and keep an honest heart before the
Lord, it will cause out hearts to be soft before Him. Then, when we read the Bible and
pray we will be able to plant the seed of His Word in our hearts. This, watered with faith
will then produce a bountiful harvest of good things in our lives and the lives of those
around us.
Luke 8:15, "But that on the good ground are they, which in an
honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with
patience."
What kind of "little seeds" are you planting? Those little
things are capable of bringing forth big harvests.
Return to Table of Contents for this Issue
PRAYER FOCUS SPOTLIGHT
Calling All Intercessors
We now have an Intercessory Prayer Page. If you would like
to be an intercessor and prayer for the needs of the church around the world as well as
this ministry, go to this link: INTERNET
INTERCESSORS updated September 1, 1998.
Return to Table of Contents for this Issue
SPECIAL GUEST
"Warnings"
By Donald McAlvany
(This article was reprinted with permission from
the August, 1998 issue of the McAlvany Intelligence Advisor.)
Throughout the history of the world, God has
always made known to his people impending times of trouble, and given them time to prepare
(or escape):
He warned Noah and his family of
the coming flood and directed them how to prepare to survive it.
He warned Lot and his family of the
coming destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and told them to flee.
He warned Pharaoh, through Joseph,
of the coming famine and used Joseph to prepare stores of food during the seven years of
plenty, which saved Egypt and Joseph's family (Jacob, his eleven sons, and their families)
when the famine came.
He warned the Israelites living
under Egyptian slavery that the "angel of death" would kill all the first-born
of every family and that they must protect themselves and their families by placing the
blood of a lamb over the doorposts, so the angel would "passover" them.
He warned the people of Israel
through his prophet Isaiah of the coming conquest of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria; it
happened in 712 BC.
He warned the people of Judah (the
Southern Kingdom) through his prophet Jeremiah, of their coming conquest by Babylon; it
happened in 586 BC.
Jonah was sent to Ninevah, the capital city of
Assyria to warn the people of God's coming destruction, and when they
repented, he postponed the judgment for a number of years.
Jesus warned the people of
Jerusalem of their coming destruction by Rome. Luke 19:41-44 says: "As he
(Jesus) approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said 'If you, even you,
had only known on this day what would bring you peace, but now it is hidden from your
eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you
and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and
the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did
not recognize the time of God's coming to you'."
When Jerusalem fell to the Romans, almost 40
years later in 70 AD, most of Jesus' followers had already fled the city and scattered.
Over one million Jews were killed in Jerusalem at that time by the Romans under Titus.
In Europe, during the 1930s, many Christians and
Jews were given discernment by the Lord. They recognized the dark clouds of death and
destruction that were rolling across Europe, and got out before the Nazi boot slammed down
on the continent. There were warnings which many of God's people acted upon,
thereby getting them and their family out of harm's way.
Throughout the history of the Christian church, a
period of almost 2000 years, that has been checkered with numerous persecutions, the Lord
has given advanced warnings of the coming persecutions to His followers, so
that they might flee, prepare for the trials spiritually or physically, or go underground.
In almost every one of those situations, it was primarily the God-fearing remnant who had
the discernment to understand the times, to see the destruction or suffering that was
coming, and to prepare (physically and spiritually).
In China, when persecution of the Christian
church was coming several decades ago, believers were warned by the Lord to
move from the their open churches to underground, home churches. They did so and the
underground church was born in China. Today, over 83 million Christians meet in
underground churches, while their Communist government continues to persecute them. Does
the Lord warn and prepare His people for coming catastrophes, danger, upheaval,
persecution or suffering? I believe that the Bible and the history of the church
demonstrate that He does!
One common denominator is, that in almost all of
those times of trouble down through the ages, the great majority of people could not
see the upheaval coming. They refused to believe it. They were in denial. They were
enjoying the good life (eating, drinking and partying) right up until the disaster
overtook them. And, nothing was going to make them believe otherwise.
As Jesus said regarding the people of Noah's day
in Matthew 24:38, 39: "For as in the days before the flood, people were
eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage up to the day Noah entered the Ark;
and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away." [ED. NOTE: Noah warned them. They laughed at,
and ridiculed him. They all died!]
The people of Pompeii, the party city of the
ancient Roman Empire, had 16 years of warnings that Mt. Vesuvius was going
to blow. They ignored all the warning eruptions, until one day in 79 AD, it
exploded (like Mt. St. Helens) and everyone in Pompeii was killed. Undoubtedly, a few
heeded the warnings and fled the destruction, but most did not.
Our present situation in America is somewhat
comparable to some of these past upheavals or crises with respect to the coming Y2K
crisis. There are now ample warnings from knowledgeable people of the coming
computer meltdown and its implications for most Americans.
As with the peoples of Noah's, Lot's, and
Joseph's day; as with the peoples of Israel, Judah, and Jerusalem; as with the people in
Pompeii, in Europe in the 1930s, and in Communist China in the '70s, '80s, and '90s; there
were always warnings of the coming destruction, persecution, or upheaval.
The Lord lets his people know of the coming
crisis; often months or years before the time of trouble. This writer personally knows
Christian families who saw the Bolshevik Revolution coming in Russia in 1917, and fled to
safety one, two or three years before the death and destruction of the Communist
Revolution began. I, likewise, know of Christian and Jewish families who saw the carnage
of the Third Reich coming in the 1930s and fled Europe to safety in advance of the
upheaval.
The same is happening in America today. A growing
number of people in the remnant see the political and financial upheaval which Y2K is
likely to bring to America in less than 500 days or so, and are taking steps to get out of
harm's way, to protect their families, and to prepare for the time of trouble. But, the
great majority of Americans, like the people in Noah's day, the people in Pompeii, the
people in Jerusalem, and the people in pre-War Europe will not listen to the warnings.
They are enjoying the good times the stock market
is going up, good times will roll forever - their philosophy (mirroring their young
hedonist president) is eat, drink and be merry; let the good times roll; our prosperity
will last forever.
Like the people in America in the late 1920s,
like the partying peoples in Babylon the night that the handwriting of God was written on
the wall, warning of their immediate destruction (and Babylon fell to Persia
under Cyrus the Great that very night); the great majority of Americans will not
listen to the warnings until it is too late. They are in denial. They
are in a party mood. Their affluence will never end. They know that the good times
will roll forever. But they are wrong!
At this time, a growing number of Christians, of
members of the remnant (still a small minority—probably under 1% of the population) are
waking up and are heeding the warnings. They are beginning to
make adjustments or preparations in their lives—physically, mentally, emotionally,
socially, economically, and most important of all—spiritually. Pat Robertson (on the
700 Club), Jack Van Impe, Chuck Missler, Warren Duffy, and other Christian leaders, as
well as a growing minority of pastors, are beginning to warn Christians of
the coming time of trouble and to urge them to make preparations: individually, as
families, and as churches.
The majority (even of Christians and Christian
pastors) will not heed the warnings; but some will. I recently spoke to 1200 people at a
Southern California Y2K Conference and was greatly encouraged that people (especially
Christians and conservatives) are beginning to wake up, to prepare, to get out of harm's
way, to form groups of like-minded people to cooperate with, and to seek the Lord's wisdom
and guidance as to how to live and function in the times which lie ahead.
It can be expected that as more Americans begin
to wake up and make preparations for Y2K, that Bill Clinton, the liberal media, most of
Wall Street, and many Americans, who are and will remain in denial, will become angry and
begin to attack those who believe there is a problem; labeling them as fearmongers,
doomsayers, gloom and doomers,
Y2K fanaticss, right-wing or
Christian fanatics, hoarders (food hoarders, currency hoarders, etc.).
Those who are issuing the warnings
will also be attacked, and in the midst of the crisis, the Clinton-types will probably
even blame the "Y2K fanatics" for triggering the crisis, the financial panic, etc. That
is when the anti-hoarding laws will probably be instituted. Remember, when Nero needed a
scapegoat after he burned Rome, he blamed the Christians, and the masses turned on them
with an angry vengeance.
The times which lie ahead over the next 12-24
months will (in the opinion of this writer) try the souls of men. They will be
challenging, exciting and will offer great opportunities for those who have heeded the warnings to minister to those who have
not-to those who have lost that which they thought was most important. Those who are
prepared will be in a position to help those who have not prepared physically, and perhaps
in the greatest way of all, by sharing the ultimate security in an insecure world-the
saving truth about Jesus Christ.
MIA encourages its readers to seek the
Lord for wisdom, guidance, and direction on how they should live, prepare and serve the
Lord in the next few years. Philippines 4:19 says: "And my God will meet all your needs according to his
glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Isaiah 58:11, 12
says: "The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a
sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will
raise up the age-old foundations."
The God of the Bible will warn and
will take care of His people! And that is the bottom
line!
_________________
Donald McAlvany publishes The McAlvany Intelligence Advisor which is
an analysis of global, monetary and geo-political trends which impact our nation and is
explicitly Christian, conservative, and free market in its perspective. Don is pro-U.S.
Constitution, pro-Biblical, traditional, and pro-family values oriented. Should you desire
to subscribe to his newsletter you may contact his office at this toll free phone (800)
528-0559 or you can visit his website at:
http://www.mcalvany.com/index.htm
(Documentation of the Y2K problem and solutions from The McAlvany Intelligence Advisor)
Other links about the Y2K Problems:
Larry Burkett's Money Matters NewsletterWeb Site (Business
and Money Matters)
(Practical and Emergency Preparation)
http://www.CBN.org/ (The
Church's Response to Y2K - Faith, Not Fear)
(How to test your personal computer hardware &
software for Y2K compliance)
Return to Table of Contents for this Issue
BOOK REVIEW
The Fear of the Lord
By John Bevere
"Do you think the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is going to come into a place
where He is not given due honor and reverence?"
This is the piercing question posed by John Bevere at the beginning of his new book, The
Fear of the Lord. Never one to mince words, Bevere immediately launches into
another powerfully written oracle that challenges its readers to shed every affection that
would take God's place in their lives and to seek intimacy with Him with all of their
hearts. The fear of God has been an underlying theme for many years in Bevere's writing.
No matter what subject he may be addressing, the threads of loving and fearing God above
all others are continually woven throughout all of his messages. In this book, he artfully
works all the strands together to create a message that packs a mighty spiritual punch to
complacency, pride, and irreverence. Personally, that is what I love about Bevere. He has
an anointing that pierces through our own deception, so we can love God better.
God is doing a holy work of restoration in His people across the globe in this hour. As
glorious as it is, there is another wave of His spirit coming and it will be marked by
holy reverence, and experienced only by those who yearn for God's face more than the
blessings of His hands. If you are longing for a missing ingredient in your day-to-day
relationship with the Lord, open this book and let Him minister a strong and healing word
to your spirit. It is a book you will not be able to put down very easily, or read very
fast! I found myself continually pausing to meditate, repent, and worship the Lord as I
read it.
In our book reviews we have tried to offer you some of what we consider to be the
"cream of the crop" in Christian literature. Bevere is a modern-day prophet with
a timeless message for today's church. His word is not only for this hour—although
this is God's message to the Church right now. The profound and simple message of
this book transcends the 1990's and will continue to gain the acceptance and application
of the Church as we enter into the next millennium. But don't wait until then to satisfy
your soul with this message. We encourage you to read not only The Fear of the Lord but
all the rest of John Bevere's books as well.
Book review
John Bevere is recognized worldwide as a best-selling author and
anointed minister. His books and tapes which have sold more than half a million copies,
include The Bait of Satan, Breaking Intimidation, and Victory In The
Wilderness. His mandate is to proclaim the truth that turns hearts to God. John and
his wife, Lisa, reside in Orlando, Florida, with their four sons.
The book, The Fear of the Lord, is available in paperback
priced at $11.99 in our CHAPEL BOOKSTORE (Click here to
order)
A SPIRITUAL DREAM
What's Written in Your "Book of Life?"
Author Unknown (This came through an e-mail that was being passed
around on the Internet)
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in a room.
There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index card
files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in
alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly
endlessly in either direction, had very different headings.
As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was
one that read "Girls I Have Liked" I opened it and began
flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the
names written on each one. And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This
lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were
written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn't
match.
A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me
as I began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and sweet
memories; others a sense of content, others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I
would look over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.
A file named "Friends" was next to one marked
"Friends I Have Betrayed." The titles ranged from the mundane to the
outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies I Have Told,"
"Comfort I Have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed At." Some were
almost hilarious in their exactness "Things I've Yelled at My Brothers."
Others, I couldn't laugh at such as "Things I Have Done in My Anger," and
"Things I Have Muttered Under My Breath at My Parents." I never
ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards than I expected.
Sometimes fewer than I hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer volume of the life I had
lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my 20 years to write each of these
thousands or even millions of cards? But each card confirmed this truth. Each was written
in my own handwriting. Each signed with my signature.
When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I Have Listened
To," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were
packed tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I
shut it, shamed, not so much by the content, but by the sheer amount of time I knew that
file represented.
When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts,"
I felt a chill run through my body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to
test its size, and drew out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to
think that such a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke in me. One thought
dominated my mind "No one must ever see these cards! No one must ever see this room!
I have to destroy them!" In an insane frenzy I yanked the file out. Its size didn't
matter now. I had to empty it and burn the cards. But as I took it at one end and began
pounding it on the floor, I could not dislodge a single card. I became desperate and
pulled out a card, only to find it as strong as steel when I tried to tear it. Defeated
and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my forehead against the
wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh.
And then I saw it. The title bore "People I Have Shared the
Gospel With." The handle was brighter than those around it, newer, almost
unused. I pulled on its handle and a small box not more than three inches long fell into
my hands. I could count the cards it contained on one hand. And then the tears came. I
began to weep. Sobs so deep that the hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I
fell on my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all.
The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever, ever know of
this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.
But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not
here. Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as He began to open the files and read
the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I could bring myself
to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He seemed to intuitively go to the
worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one? Finally He turned and looked at me from
across the room. He looked at me with pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't
anger me. I dropped my head, covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He
walked over and put His arm around me. He could have said so many things. But He didn't
say a word. He just cried with me.
Then He got up and walked back to the wall of files. Starting at one end
of the room, He took out a file and, one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each
card. "No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was "No,
no," as I pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there
it was, written in red, so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine. It was
written with His blood. He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to
sign the cards. I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next
instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He placed His
hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished." I stood up, and He led me out of
the room. There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.
Editor's Note: One way that we can resist giving in to
evil temptations is by quoting the Word of God over the weak areas of our lives. I find it
helpful to type or print verses from the Bible on index cards and post them various places
in my house. Here are some suggestions that might be helpful to you:
By the T.V. controls:
Psalm 101:3, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:
I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me."
On the refrigerator door:
Philippians 4:5, "Let your moderation be known unto all
men. The Lord is at hand."
1 Corinthians 9:24-27, "Know ye not that they which run in
a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man
that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a
corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so
fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway."
On the office desk:
Malachi 3:10, "Bring ye all the tithes into the
storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the
LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing,
that there shall not be room enough to receive it."
Luke 6:38, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good
measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your
bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you
again."
By the medicine cabinet:
1 Peter 2:24, "Who his own self bare our
sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto
righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."
_______
I find this helps to memorize scripture too. If you do not know the Lord
but would like to receive Him in your heart click here to find out What the Bible Says About How to be
Born Again.
Return to Table of Contents for this Issue
September/October 1998
Dear Internet Friends:
We want you to know how much we love to receive your e-mail, and value your comments
about our site. We praise God for the tremendous response we have had to the web site over
the last year. Since August of 1997, we now have had over 5 million hits! The Lord truly
gets the glory for this! We are just grateful to have the opportunity to serve Him through
this means. This is a full-time ministry for us.
We wish we were able to answer every letter with a personal reply. However, that has
become an impossibility, since we receive such a huge amount of mail. In lieu of answering
each letter personally, we have set aside this space in the Digest to thank those of you
who write to us and who pray for us. We truly appreciate you. Many times your words of
encouragement have come at just the right time when we would feel frustrated or
overwhelmed in our work. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. We especially appreciate the
several hundred who have signed up to become a partner with us; it means a lot to us. May
the Lord bless you each and know we remember you in our prayers. If you are new to our
site we invite you to read about how the Lord led us into this ministry. We invite you to
become a partner too. You can go to our
BibleResources.org PARTNER LINK for this information.
Even if you don't choose to be a partner with us, we would like to enlist your prayers
for this ministry. The most popular link on the whole site is our BIBLE ANSWERS.
There are so many subjects we still need to address but we have not had the manpower and
the resources to get it all done. We have been seeking the Lord as to how we can improve
this section, and the website as a whole. Recently, the Lord opened the door for an
exciting opportunity to equip our website with a unique Bible search engine. This
"intelligent" search tool will bring Bible answers to the questions that are
posed to it. For instance, a seeker could type in "What must I do to be saved?"
and the search engine would bring up every scripture that conceptually relates to that
topic. There will be no overload of non-revelant material that is so common with search
engines. This search engine is a major computer technology break-through! We are excited
to be working with the developers of this new software. We will soon be sharing more
details but we really need your prayers and support to make this a reality so it can be
used by people all over the world from this site.
We stand ready to pray for your needs too. Just send your requests to the PRAYER ROOM. We have daily prayer for
all who write. These are not easy days for people but as we all stand together in faith,
we shall see mighty miracles take place in the world. Since this is our full-time ministry
we do appreciate all who are supporting us with their prayers and monetary love gifts. We
have no outside source of income. If the Lord speaks to you to help us you can go the DONATION page to read about
the ministry financing.
His grateful servants,
Bud & Betty Miller
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COPYRIGHT/REPRODUCTION LIMITATIONS:
The data in this file is the sole property of Christ Unlimited
Publishing. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may be reproduced only
in its entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions
of this data file must contain the copyright notice [i.e., "Copyright (C)1997 by Christ
Unlimited Publishing"]. This data file may not be used without the
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brief quotations. Please give the following source credit:
Copyright (C)1997 by Christ Unlimited Publishing,
Dewey, Arizona
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