* WHAT DID WE JUST WITNESS?

Jesus made the point that, excluding himself, no greater person had lived than John the Baptist.  No one.

Along that same line of thinking, yesterday I asked this question on Twitter:

Did we just see the death of the greatest person to live in our lifetimes?

And the answer:

Don’t know.  Only God knows that.  But it certainly appears possible.

Makes us feel empty, doesn’t it.

Makes us feel even more alone and out there.

Makes us feel less secure.

I really hate it when persons I care so much about die.  Close family members of course.  But I am talking here about those persons who so influence our life positively but whom we may not really know personally.  Once they are gone, they are gone.  They are no longer with us here.  And we believers must soldier on.

Billy Graham would of course make the point that we are where we always were, in the hands of a loving and all powerful God.  His leaving hasn’t changed that.

Nope.  We still have God.  We still have Jesus.  We still have the Holy Spirit.

Most on the earth don’t have or know that.  So they are really out there alone.  You aren’t.

I am a bit surprised, I admit.  He had said some time ago that he was surprised to find himself alive with all his contemporaries gone.  And he had remarked that he thought, or wondered, if God were leaving him to be here when the Lord comes in the rapture.

Well, he almost made it.  I wonder why God took him home now.  Interesting.  So close to the return.  Maybe to have a big celebration for Billy alone, not mixed up with all the other saints when they come home at that time.  Maybe.

I saw yesterday Franklin quoting some of his father’s remarks: “You’re not saved by joining a church.  You’re not saved by living a good moral life.  You’re saved only because of the grace of God in Christ.” Sounds familiar, much like what I am always writing, like what any true believer knows.  It is all about a one on one relationship with God.  It is you and God, not you and anyone else and God.  You know that.  So many of those around you don’t know that.

I always liked the fact that Billy was from North Carolina, where I was born, and that he liked baseball.  I do too.

Another quote from Billy: “Someday you will read or hear that Billy Graham is dead.  Don’t believe a word of it.  I shall be more alive that I am now.  I will just have changed my address.  I will have gone into the presence of God.”  

Really, really special.

Well, enough said.  He is home now.  We aren’t.  We are still here, aliens in a difficult environment, living and working as ambassadors for God.  Still work to do.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                    (FEBRUARY 2018)

                                                                                                  Copyright © 2018 by John Newlin

                                                                                                                                        

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with appropriate attributions included (including the copyright and the ministry contact information).  It may also be quoted in part as long as appropriate attributions are given.  We in fact encourage you to do all this and to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

                                              

[All contributions to John Newlin Ministries, Inc. – whether money or material goods or stocks or bonds – are tax deductible. John Newlin Ministries, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit corporation.]

P O Box 15797, Wilmington, NC 28408       910 395 1465      www.johnnewlinministries.org

           Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org       Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin     

                                        Blog:  johnnewlinblogspot.com

* NO EXCUSES FOR TRUE BELIEVERS

Despite all the signs about, the fulfillment of biblical prophecy, the extraordinary behavior of leaders and countries and more, some people who say they are Christians just cannot come to grips with where we are in time.  In the February newsletter I sought to highlight some of the things happening right now that demonstrate how confused and lost society is in general.  Well, now in this Sign of the Times, I give four extraordinary examples.  If you cannot recognize the last days in the events below, you need to pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and for clarity of thought, especially for the gift of discernment.

• The Pope called a reporter for an Italian newspaper and said that the US has a “distorted vision of the world” and Americans must be ruled by a world government, as soon as possible, “for their own good.” The Pope also prayed toward Mecca, stated that Islam is a religion of peace, and that Europe should open borders to Muslims.

• Just a few days ago on the popular daytime television program THE VIEW, one of the hosts referred to Vice President Mike Pence’s faith as a mental illness.

• Recently three pastors and a rabbi gathered in Bethesda Maryland to bless an abortion clinic.

• Two Sundays ago a Lutheran church in New Jersey celebrated the move of a pastor from being a woman to being a “man.” A Lutheran bishop was there to join in the celebration and called Pastor Rose Beeson “Peter.”

We are way past the birth pains of the last days.  We are deep into the times of deception and delusion.  I think we are about at the time when God causes those who refuse to love and accept the truth to be greatly deceived and to accept the lies of the devil.  We are hearing from such lost people all the time these days.

Watch that you are not deceived.  And endeavor to be clear-minded and self-controlled so you can pray.

Don’t sit still like a rock on a wall; if you are a true believer in the Lord then you have assignments, even if you don’t think you do.  At the very least you should be praying for God to draw nonbelievers to Jesus and praying for the Holy Spirit to arrange whatever encounters he would have you have with those who do not believe so that he might share the gospel truth through you.

Beyond this ask God what specific role he has for you in these last days.  Remember, you can call out to him and he will answer you and show you great and hidden things you do not know.

May our God bless each and every one of you.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

(Note: Scripture references to study – Luke 21:8, 1 Peter 4:7, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, Jeremiah 33:3)
                                                                                         (FEBRUARY 2018)
                                                                                         Copyright © 2018 by John Newlin


[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with appropriate attributions included (including the copyright and the ministry contact information).  It may also be quoted in part as long as appropriate attributions are given.  We in fact encourage you to do all this and to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

[All contributions to John Newlin Ministries, Inc. – whether money or material goods or stocks or bonds – are tax deductible. John Newlin Ministries, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit corporation.]
JOHN NEWLIN MINISTRIES
P O BOX 15797
WILMINGTON, NC 28408

www.johnnewlinministries.org
email: john@johnnewlinministries.org
Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin
Blog: johnnewlin.blogspot.com
tel 910 395 1465

GOD'S GREAT FORGIVENESS OF YOU

Yesterday for a moment I thought about my mother.    I don’t know why, but I was just thinking about her and about various things over the years, especially the last several of her life which were hard for her.  And I thought about things I did, decisions I made regarding her care and her life and really all sorts of other decisions and actions over the years.  Some of them I debated at the time.  Some of them perhaps should have been handled otherwise. 

And as I was thinking about things she might not have liked, I said I hope she forgives me.

 

Almost immediately a smile broke out on my face.  Well, how ridiculous, I thought!  Of course she forgives me!  How silly!  My mother?  Of course she forgives me.  There is no question of that.  Of course she would and does.

It was not even an issue.  I know deep inside how much my mother loved me.  And I know that of course she would forgive me for anything.

Aha!  Now then the next thought.  If I can have such absolute certainly about my mother’s forgiveness that it is not even a question, what about God? What about his forgiveness?

It is the same absolute. It is there and real and absolute.  No question.  Jesus paid the price for that.  Realize it.  Take it.  Think about someone who truly loved you, like maybe your mother or father or some other family member or friend, and think about how of course they would forgive you for anything.  Then magnify that forgiveness an infinity of times to get to God’s level of forgiveness of you.

Forgiven.  That’s what you are.  You as a believer in the Lord.  Forgiven.

                                          
                                                                                                                          Copyright © 2018 by John Newlin

[NOTE:  This article may and should be copied, printed, or forwarded by email to others so long as it is copied, printed, or forwarded in its entirety with appropriate attributions included (including the copyright and the ministry contact information).  It may also be quoted in part as long as appropriate attributions are given.]   

(All contributions to John Newlin Ministries, Inc. – whether money or material goods or stocks or bonds – are tax deductible.  John Newlin Ministries, Inc. is a 501 © 3 nonprofit corporation.)

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

P. O. Box 15797, Wilmington, NC 28408       910 395 1465        www.johnnewlinministries.org

Email: info@johnnewlinministries.org       Twitter.com/johnnewlinmin       
Blog:  johnnewlin.blogspot.com