Stand Firm In Times Of Trouble

In the days of violence and persecution, it is difficult to find peace and joy.  It is because of this, that I have chosen to write on this topic today. There are a few scriptures that came to mind, which deal directly with this topic. The life of a Christian believer is not one of ease and comfort, though many would like you to believe that it is. Once you become a believer in Christ Jesus, you become a target. We are meek in the fact that we put our trust in our Lord and Savior Jesus and not on our own abilities and influences. We are strong in the fact that our faith is an example, which cannot be disputed during the judgment of the unbelievers. That is right, we are an example.

 

Hebrews 12:1-4 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

 

2 Corinthians 4:8-10 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

 

2 Corinthians 4:13-15 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

 

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

Philippians 4:8-9 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. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

 

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

 

So, what are we to think on??? We are to think on the things which are eternal, the things which we are taught by the Word of God, the things which we hope and long for by the redemption of our bodies at the rapture/resurrection of the Church, for this is our blessed hope – to be with the Lord God forever. When all around you seems to fail, when all around you seems hopeless, just remember, you have a hope… you have a Savior.

 

Psalm 34:17,19 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles…Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

 

Psalm 97:10 Ye that love the Lord, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

 

The time to press on, is coming to an end, the work is almost done… 

 

Matthew 9:37 Then saith He unto His disciples, the harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few…

 

Will you work while you can? Will you store up treasures, where moth, rust and thieves cannot corrupt? Will you be counted worthy to escape the things, which are about to come?

 

Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

 

Now is not the time to loose heart. Be encouraged, the day is almost done and your rewards await you in Christ Jesus.

 

 

Mark Biltz Responds To Criticism

With all of the controversy from the video I have posted, I would like to share an excerpt from Mark Biltz website:

For my previous posts please visit: Jewish Feasts of the Lord also Feasts of the Lord Part II and for the combined version… Jewish Feasts and Holy Days

Stipulating Eclipse Comments
By Pastor Mark Biltz

“[…] Remember when Messiah said the gates of hell will not prevail against the church! Gates
are a defensive piece of armory, not offensive! The church has been terrified of being
attacked by gates?! The truth here is that the gates are trying to keep people in captivity
and the church is supposed to storm the gates of hell and rescue the people held cap-
tive! The truth is that Satan and his minions are terrified of us! It’s time to storm them
and that’s my heart. Be Blessed!

I hope you enjoyed listening to the song above and now watch the video. May you
be inspired to join me as we Wake, Watch and go to Work! Pass this on to other
Warriors! We need to quit squabbling over the dating of the rapture and unite to the
Work! Keep this going, time is short, and the battle is near!”

There is a lot more that he said, but I would like for you to visit his site to see for yourself. The excerpt that I am sharing here is one that we should all be able to relate to in the Church. There should be no controversy with this. I found his words very insightful and inspiring and I hope that you will as well. Please do give it a read and if you have any questions about what he teaches, please ask him. Pastor Mark Biltz is the perfect source to find out what he, himself, means with what he states.

In this content that he has written, it also states his clarifications of what others may be misunderstanding about the controversial video interview he had with Prophecy In The News. For your researching desires, this is a great place to start.

This video has caused quite a stir amongst those in the church and those leering in for multiple reasons. For some, it has been an encouraging wake up call, for others, it has been an alarming siren that they just want to silence. It reminds me of the comparison of Jesus being the corner stone and a stumbling block.

If you have not seen the video, please check it out:

Part I      Part II    

Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Religion… Yeah Right!

There is a lot of controversy over these topics lately and through the years. It seems to be growing at more of a rapid pace through and to the Church lately. It seems that you are fine as long as you do not promote, discuss or even alert others that you are a Christian. If you do, then you are asked to stay quiet for the greater good or to leave in silence. We are being groomed to accept the rules of the supposed majority and to resign ourselves to not questioning those with a loud voice.

[Lets define what a Christian is because it seems that many people are a little confused as to what it means. First of all, you MUST believe that the Bible is the INERRANT Word of God, without this, you cannot base a security of salvation on what the Bible says if you do not believe it is without error. Secondly, you have to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, Savior, the Son of God (Creator of heaven and earth) and that He came here to earth, lived a sinless life to die on a cross in place of you. This created a way to be able to come before God, clean from sin, because your price has been paid and you have been cleansed. You must also believe that Jesus rose from the dead 3 days later and is now in heaven sitting at the right hand of God on His throne making intercession for you… Mary cannot do this, for there is NO other way to God but through Jesus His Son. Also, you must realize that you have sinned, done things wrong and be repentful of this (desiring with your entire being to be forgiven and are sorry for all you have done wrong). You must desire to turn from sin and earnestly – diligently – wholeheartedly walk toward Jesus in the truth of His Word.]

I am noticing recently, more than ever, that there is truly a double standard in every area. This is happening at our schools, our jobs, our online communities and even our churches. It is a sad day, when we hide our light under a bushel for the sake of peace. The world systems, especially the US government, say that you should respect those who tell you what to do, even if it goes beyond your beliefs and convictions, because people have died for your ‘freedom’ and if you don’t like it then you should move away.

Well, why can’t we look at Christianity the same way then… Others have died, suffered, gave of themselves completely, so that you could be a Christian – saved by grace and sealed for the day of redemption… so why hide yourself in quiet while others stand yelling to take away your voice and the opportunity for others to share in that ‘true freedom’ of the salvation from eternal death. Where is that respect?

This of course, will not be resolved until the Day of the Lord comes. The world must first come together under one umbrella: one religion, one government, one submission in order to accomplish what the ‘greater good’ sees as their utopian dream of glass houses and brainwave visualization. The world is becoming a cesspool of muddy water, yet they are too blind to see that it is filthy… all they see is that it is all one color and to them, that means unity. To us, Christians on the other hand, it means soon redemption… so look up, for your redemption draweth nigh.

Breaking The Myanmar Blockades

The Junta government ties the hands of those who wish to help, but we have a way to get the victims in Myanmar what they need…

According to this article, (Yahoo article may change/update) the ruling military Junta, has allowed the US only one shipment of supplies/aid to the people devastated by Cyclone Nagris in Myanmar.

Article Excerpt: Earlier Friday, Ky Luu, director of the U.S. office of foreign disaster assistance, had said that skilled aid workers were being forced to sit on the sidelines as victims of last week’s cyclone die…

However, we have contact with a ministry who already has people inside Myanmar, just north of Yangon. They may have a better ability to get shipments of supplies and aid to them because they already have insiders working at the Lodges.

The following is an email, which was sent out by Roger Oakland of Understand The Times International Ministries, that he received from his people running the Bryce Lodges (orphanages) in Myanmar (which were previously established before the Cyclone)…

Early this morning I received two more letters from our Understand The Times representatives in Yangon. All our immediate family have been preserved from the storm.
We are presently in the process of sending someone over to Yangon to provide assistance and to help organize the dispersal of assistance through Understand The Times in the surrounding area.
Please pray for favor that we may receive the necessary visas and be able to go.
A fund for supporting the victims of the Myanmar disaster has been established at www.understandthetimes.org
Checks can be sent to our two offices in Canada and USA.
Following are the two letters that were received today:

Dear Roger,

Internet access was down, now only I can email you again. Hope that you are getting better in these days. With our children we are always praying for your health.

At the time thousands of people lose their lives, by His protection, we are survived but our programs and plan of wedding was failed on Saturday and changed on Sunday. It turned to helping others in needs especially for our members. Since every one was busy with his own work, phone line and transportation problems caused by the storm and
flood, so we just called a church pastor, Philip and Dante and only some of our neighbor and made wedding at home.

We learned so many lessons from those things happened. we felt that God has taught us not to love the world neither the things that are in
the world. It made clear that our earthly life is just really temporary and unreliable. Now, the city of Yangon and it’s surrounding areas lose it’s beautifulness. It has a lot of changes and different from the time you came to Myanmar. The Prize of things are getting higher day by day.

And unlimited numbers of outskirt people are in trouble because they are homeless and without food. By His grace in this time we have privileges to show our love, care and concern to our church members at Shwelinpan who are in trouble by giving rice and the funds they are really in need.

Among our members at Shwelinpan, two of the tents (houses) were fallen down and faded away. another one of the roof was destroyed. One was
survived. If we can not continue to supply their need, they will be without food and house. So, I let you know the condition of our church members at Shwelinpan. Beside, thousands of outskirt people are in great trouble. they can not solve the problems they have by their own.

Please pray that these things lead them to know and trust the Saviour alone.

Your brother in Christ
Elisha

Dear Brother Roger:

I am so sorry that I could not give you information about us earlier.

I know that many people concern about our situation. We are saved.

Bryce Lodges One, Two and my family are saved. We do not suffer any serious damages. But the prices are sky rocketed.

Thank you so much for your concern.

Prayer Requests:

1. Give thanks to God for He has saved us from this storm.
2. Pray for all the Bryce children for the coming admissions to the school. Usually, admissions start about May 20.

Sincerely yours,
Mang

Sincerely In Christ,
Roger Oakland

If you would like to help, please contact the ministry of Understand The Times International… it will be greatly appreicated. (There is a link on their front page to make a donation) We will keep you informed as we receive information.

 

Jonah and Job - The Trials Of Life

Jonah and Job

Have you ever felt like giving up? Have you ever felt like God just wasn’t listening to you or feeling your pain?

I know someone who just went through a Jonah experience. He was on the wrong path, not doing what he was suppose to do… so God put him in the belly of a whale, figuratively speaking. During the first 3 days he was still closed off to what God was showing him… but after that, things opened up. It seems that sometimes, God has to back us into forced solitude to get our attention and sometimes he has to take everything away from us like he did with Job to get our attention (though Job didn’t do anything wrong to cause his situation).

I know someone else who is going through a Job experience and it seems to have no end. The friend who has gone through the Jonah experience is well and good now; he came through the pit hole all in one piece. On the other hand, the Job friend is not currently doing so great. Of course, when someone goes through the fire, a natural question to ask is ‘Why’ and ‘When will it be over’… Naturally, we do not always receive the answers until it is done, and sometimes, not even then.

Someone I once knew said that they believed that God allowed trials of our faith to always go beyond what the last trial pushed us to so that we would continually be strengthened in our faith and patience. I have also heard many times that God will not allow more than we can bare, however, I have never found scripture to back this statement up. I have seen it say that He will allow a way out of temptation, but not a trial. They are two separate things. It is assumed the He would not allow us to go through more than we could bare, or rather, He would give us what we need to get through those things – always learning to rely solely on Him and not ourselves. We of course were never promised a life of happiness and harmony, not in this life anyway…

A Life of Trials and Persecution

The choice to become a Christian should not be made based on comforts and promises of prosperity. Nowhere in the Word of God does it promise these things for those who choose to follow the Lord Jesus. Rather, it promises trials and persecution John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. John 17:14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. The word of God requires a sacrifice of self in the sense that we are not to take part in the sins of the flesh but rather Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Just as it says 1 Peter 1:6-11 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.

God has chosen the foolishness of the world to confound the wise and He sent His Son, Jesus who stated Matthew 9:13 …for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

We rest in the assurance that 1 Corinthians 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1 Corinthians 1:22 For the Jews seek after a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 1 Corinthians 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness;.

So, where do we go from here? We could pray, this is always a good idea. Comforting words are great, but once you have said whatever you can think of to say… then what? 1 Corinthians 15:30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?. The Bible says that Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Also, 1 Thessalonians 3:8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

I always told my friends when they were going through rough trials, that they should stand firm in their trust in the Lord Jesus… He will come through for His name’s sake. Even when Israel was rebellious toward God, He kept His promises to them ‘for His name’s sake’. How much more for us who put our trust, hope and faith in the name, which is above all names, Jesus? His glory depends upon His faithfulness. Satan waits at the door to find any fault with God’s dominion reign so that he can try to say he is better than Him. We know that this will never be allowed to happen. So, stand firm I say in the truth you know in Christ and He is obligated by His own Words Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles and Psalm 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

A Comforting Conclusion

Our comfort rests not in the things of this world or those who seem to control it, our hope lies solely in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. Jeremiah 17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; 1 Peter 1:25 But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word, which by the gospel is preached unto you.

So, I will end on this note (as previously stated): Ephesians 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

 

Signs In The Sun and In The Moon

Here is a site video that won’t be able to be uploaded for long, that talks about the future eclipses coming up over the next 7 years. You can double check with NASA to back the data. The intriguing thing though, is that there are 4 (solar and lunar) back to back on Jewish Feasts in 2014-2015. A Jewish year begins in Sept/Oct on the Festival of Rosh Hashannah. You should really watch this video to get a better idea of what I am saying. This video is a Part I and when they post Part II, I will link it. They are only up on the site for about a month before they are archived and then you have to purchase them.

If this is accurate, and I believe that it is… then the 7 year tribulation should begin this year. I believe in a Pre-Trib Rapture, so that would mean that the Rapture is just around the corner. Regarding the Rapture, I believe that it will be on a Jewish Feast day. One very good possibility is the feast of First Fruits which begins tomorrow (Saturday, April 26th) at sundown (Jerusalem time). I will go more into all of that later though. I just wanted to make sure that I got this video posted asap. If you have any trouble opening the link, you can go to Prophecy In The News and click on the link for The Jewish Feasts of the Lord. The original link I provided is to view the video on DSL, but if you go to the website, you can choose which form you can view it in.