|
RECAP NEWSLETTER - 12/7/4 Issue 26 As God's children, occasionally we are asked for assistance by people who know us, but who are not living a godly life. Sometimes we may be asked to help a backslidden Christian who has no desire to return to God. Sometimes we are asked to associate with a religious organization, for the purpose of 'reaching people.' Should God-fearing Christians associate and lend support to them? In the passage we just read, Jehoshaphat (king of Judah) was strongly rebuked by a prophet because of the support (militarily and politically) that he gave to Ahab, the wicked king of Israel. It was with a voice of incredulity that he succinctly stated that Jehoshaphat was helping the ungodly, and was showing loving favor to those that hated the Lord! The prophet did have some words of commendation for actions Jehoshaphat did in Judah, but the most important thing that is remembered about Jehoshaphat is that he helped one who hated God! Even for all the good that he did (took the idol groves out of the land), he had incurred "wrath upon thee from before the LORD" because of this brief association. Today we have so-called 'pastors' and 'leaders' holding hands and services with leaders from religions that are anathema to our own. What Jehosaphat did in associating with Ahab was the equivalent of a Christian pastor associating with a Muslim cleric and saying that they worship the same god! What Jehosaphat should have done was rebuke Ahab for his wicked lifestyle instead of helping him and pretending that nothing was amiss. I think Jehoshaphat might have finally gotten the message from the prophet, because in verse ten, he implores the people that if something does come up between them and their brethren, whether it be in "law and commandment, statues and judgments, ye shall even warn them that they tresspass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren: this do, and ye shall not trespass." He had to learn the hard way! If there are instances where you know things need to be straightened out, if you do not address it, the Bible says that God's wrath is kindled against you! It will take careful vigilance to make sure that we do not lend help to the ungodly and those that hate the Lord. Part of that vigilance is to know what laws, commandments, statues, and judgments we as Christians are to follow. If we do not know where the lines are drawn, we will be crossing them without hesitation or observation. Alas, Jehoshaphat fell into this sin again. In II Chron. 20:35, he joins himself with another wicked king of Israel, Ahaziah. This time was not a military campaign but a simple business venture. They joined together to make ships that could go to Tarshish (increase trade, imports, exports, etc.). God then told him that because he joined himself with this wicked king, even in such a 'small' matter, God "hath broken thy works. And the ships were broken, that they were not able to go to Tarshish." Ecumenicalism, Catholics, Promise Keepers, compromise, Muslims, inter-denominationalism, etc. etc. are all individuals who do not follow the law, commandments, statues, and judgments as they aught. They are not our 'brother in Christ.' We are to reach them with the purpose to "warn them that they trespass not against the LORD," - not for the purpose of furthering their ungodly ministries. Is God angry with you because you fellowship with those who are not following Him? Stand apart, warn, and walk in His law, commandments, statues, and judgments. Fear God.
ADDED RESOURCES
MISC THOUGHTS
CURRENT EVENT RECAP With that forethought, let's start with money. Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Back a few verses in Matthew 6:19, Christ reminds us, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal." If we get so consumed with building a legacy here on earth, we won't have much in our heart for Christ, or in Heaven. The American dollar is quickly loosing value and respect in the global market. Several weeks ago we discussed how our declining dollar could be used as leverage against us. Just today Japan is basically threatening how they may sell off large holdings of US Treasuries is we do not rein in our deficit real fast. While it is more political than military, other nations such as China might try to use the situation to their advantage with Taiwan. Several articles this week focused on our deficit disaster, especially since Bush is still in a spending mood. There was more talk of the Russian Central Bank reviewing plans to move away from the US currency, Malaysia is boasting how they have not been affected too much because of its large holdings in the euro and other currencies, lamenting that why should they hang onto the dollar when they will keep loosing money? Another parallel development is that Asia is starting to look at the potential of a common currency for their region. Because of the hurdles, though, right now is is progressing speculation - but they keep referencing the EU model. Bush has gotten as close as he can get without actually saying we need a New World Order. In comments this week he called for global cooperation. The scary part was was he said concealed in a wordy speech, "my country is determined to work as far as possible within the framework of international organizations, and we're hoping that other nations will work with us to make those institutions more relevant and more effective in meeting the unique threats of our time." 'Those institutions' that he is referring to is the framework of the United Nations. In that one statement he reveals (subtly) that it is his full intention to advance the ideals of the United Nations and a global, international community. One of the primary ways that he is doing this is through the Iraq war fiasco. The world leaders and community are in much better communication and accord through the UN because of this situation. Unfortunately, America is the willing phoenix giving rise to the UN. We are crucifying ourselves to make the UN look good. Even in an article this week, it was commented that if the UN had gotten involved in the Iraq war from the start, it's credibility, authority, and respectability would have been shattered - except, in this case, that happened to the US. As our military forces are being increased in Iraq to higher than invasion levels, now that we have nearly all ten divisions of our Army serving in Iraq, we are being left with scant few to handle emergencies. You may remember that last year during wildfires and floods, governors were complaining about the lack of National Guard available to help. Now we have even less. What will happen if there is a major natural disaster or military emergency? Draft or assistance from foreign troops. Pick your poison. Chances are it may be the latter, because that will also help further the UN image and power. Don't count too heavily on armed US citizens helping if such help were necessary. With the fear mongering of guns and self defense, gun control, and dependence on the state, occupiers would have pockets of resistance, but not too many frontlines. Just this week, an official in Massachusetts was gloating over how a recent law "enables us to make sure that the only people bearing arms in the commonwealth have the right to bear arms." Russia made the headlines several times this week (internationally, not necessarily in the controlled US media), in which Putin attacks what he plainly sees as a dictatorship. He put it rather succinctly when he stated, "Even when dictatorship is beautifully gift-wrapped in pseudo-democratic phraseology it has never been capable of resolving such systemic problems. On the contrary, it can only make them worse." He is also laying blame at America's feet for worsening humanity's problems in global affairs. I would almost agree with him. Other articles talked at-length about the new cruise missiles that Russia is already putting on their long-range strategic bombers, enabling them to deliver a massive precision strike. Besides that, they are already mostly done constructing a multi-stage ICBM that can defeat any interceptors that we are still developing and hardly worth calling deployed. And to make it even more interesting, they claimed that they are working toward having their "most feared and powerful trans-Atlantic missile mobile within the next two years." Gog and Magog are getting ready for their role in prophecy. It concerns me that America is the only potential threat to such a future move against Israel. Remember, the Bible states that the world powers at the time of the Antichrist will hand over their kingdoms to him. Preparations are already underway, and most world leaders are influenced in the occult enough to work toward secretive goals. Today was the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. There is plenty of evidence that our government knew and allowed it to happen in order to bring us into war - despite the people's wishes. Such an expanded war (and previous) gave justification and groundwork toward an international framework called the United Nations. Fortunately for them, they do not have much to worry about from the American Christian. Like most Americans, we have have "about 33,000 more leisure hours than a person in the middle 1800's." America is inundated with its 'bread and circuses', and unlike the ancient government-distractions of Rome, Americans are content to pay for it themselves. Fixations with trivial sports, eating, leisure, etc. has filled our priority lists. One author this week referred to such entertainment as "voluntary quadriplegia." While America burns morally and spiritually, it is the Christian now who plays the lyre while the pagans are blamed. Just a few newsletters ago, we warned about a Canadian school that was being forced to undergo 'tolerance training.' I warned that we would quickly see it appearing in our country, and this week it did. More support is growing for debauchery, killing, and sinful lifestyles. We are seeing the rapid acceptance of embryonic stem cell research, which kills human embryos (and is different from adult stem cell research). Along with it, we are seeing "conservative Christians" blamed for 'holding back science.' "No one will get out alive" is a phrase I heard recently referring to how everyone dies. We hope for the Rapture, but must face the reality that we may die before that time. As a result, we need to keep our eyes on His Kingdom, work for eternity, and not fill our fancies and time with preoccupation with the meager scrapes and opiates that this world lives for. As the days grow increasingly darker, we must henceforth shine even brighter! May the Lord Jesus Christ give you the grace, power, discernment, and courage to serve Him in your daily walk and testimony!
REMINDERS & PRAYER REQUESTS
Pray for our President that if he is not saved, he will come to the true
knowledge of Jesus Christ. Pray that he will work to the protection
of the American people, and the punishment of the wicked.
Pray for the requests in PrayerList, and also in iChurches.
May God richly bless,
|
