REARRANGING THE DECK CHAIRS - THE WORLD TODAY

REARRANGING THE DECK CHAIRS – THE WORLD TODAY

You may have always wondered why and how the orchestra on the Titanic could have continued to play as the ship sank into the frigid waters and they too were engulfed.

An amazing act of courage and consideration for the passengers?  Certainly.

Personal sacrifice for others?  A contribution to peace in a time of horror?  Probably.

Another possibility exists:  They didn’t know what else to do.  Men were not being allowed in the lifeboats anyway.  So they played while the ship sank.  Certainly with higher motives they played, but this is a bit like the old saying of Nero fiddling while Rome burned.

And in this they are not unlike many Americans.  What do I mean?  Well, many Americans at least somewhat have recognized things are not going well in the country.  Something is wrong.  Even the political polls have uncovered this view among the majority.  But, and here’s the tragic part, most Americans don’t know what else to do about it all.  They are like the Titanic musicians.  So they go to work and care for the kids and struggle to make the monthly debt payments on the mortgage and the credit cards and the car loan.  And all the while the nation sinks away from its former greatness and its original objectives.

Why are they so lost?  Most Americans today sadly do not know the heritage of the country, the amazing struggles of the founding generations, the struggle of the spiritual fathers like the pilgrims, the dreams that were held.  This could all be taught in history classes and also in churches, but evidently it is not because most don’t seem to know much about it all.  Witness the totally ignorant answers of people on the street when entertainers or reporters take a microphone into a crowd and ask such questions as “What did George Washington do?” or “Who is the Vice President?”

We have let the evil one have his way, and he has corrupted the educational system, the court system, taken away our basic freedoms, corrupted the entertainment and news media…well, he has because Americans have let this happen.  If Americans had known the Bible, had known Jesus Christ, had known who a true believer is in Jesus, had known their history, had known how to fight attacks from the evil side, they could have stopped this.  But they allowed the evil one to march on in so many ways, such as the court decisions that took God out of schools and away from the public places despite the fact that the overwhelming majority disagreed with all this.  The people forgot that this was a government by and for the people.  They preferred to remain mute and invisible as they were robbed of all things of real value.  For some reason, they were meek and did not respond as the generation in WWII or those who fought with Washington and froze in Valley Forge or so many more.

Well, those past heroic generations did have bold leaders, which the country certainly has not had.  Are there none out there in the land today?  Don’t know.  Maybe not.  Maybe it at last clearly is all beyond the abilities of man.  Maybe at last people will realize what has been true all along – only God has the answers.  They have to depend on God.  Without him, they are lost.

 

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

 

                                                                                                                                              September 6, 2012

A WATCHMAN WARNING: Isaac, Katrina, and the US

So here we are again with a hurricane heading directly towards New Orleans.

The projected landfall of Isaac on Wednesday August 29th is seven years to the day after Katrina.  The timing is astonishing to some, even amazing.  It is highly meaningful to others.

Seven years.  That is a special number to God.  Seven represents completeness.  Fulfillment.  In Genesis God rests on the seventh day after six days of creation.

New Orleans was horribly damaged by Katrina.  It has never recovered, and is a much smaller city today than it was then.  But it continues to be New Orleans.  And this very anniversary of Katrina is also another anniversary.  As seven years ago, the annual homosexual celebration known as “southern decadence” begins in New Orleans August 29^th.  One projection expects 125,000 to 150,000 attendees.  New Orleans’s own events web site describes this as one of New Orleans’s premier yearly events.

All of you who know the Bible know that God in no uncertain terms condemns the homosexual life style.  Detestable is one word used there to describe it (see Leviticus 18:22 and Romans 1:27).  In the years since Katrina some states have now legalized homosexual marriage.  And the US has brought homosexuality into the open in the military.  And this storm is back, heading straight for New Orleans and the southern decadence meeting. 

Coincidence?  Make up your own mind.

One other point of note.  When Katrina hit New Orleans, it was immediately after the US had been pressuring Israel to give up some of its land.  Today the US continues to pressure Israel in a variety of ways, and there are indications that in the current presidential campaign the Republican platform may recognize two states in the area, one being Israel and another being for the Palestinians.  The leader of the Democratic ticket has already said Israel should withdraw to its pre-1967 borders. 

Remember God’s promise to Abraham that he would bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him, with Abraham here representing the Jews and thus Israel?  Remember that Isaac, the name of this hurricane, is the name of Abraham’s son of God’s promise through whom the Jews are descended?

We could talk more about how all this ties into the events leading up to the Lord’s imminent return.  It does.  But I think this is enough to cause believers and those who might be believers to sit up and take notice, and hopefully to consider seriously their relationship with Jesus Christ.  Aside from everything else, Isaac is another wake-up call, another warning.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

 

                                                                                                                                       August 28, 2012

A WATCHMAN WARNING: THE COMING WARS

We are in the midst of the events leading up to several prophesied wars described specifically in the Bible.  While I have talked individually about each of these in the past when focusing on the return of Jesus, events of the current day made it prudent to list them specifically and give a brief description.  At the end of this list I will endeavor to put it all together

DESTRUCTION OF DAMASCUS

Isaiah 17:1 plus other scriptures (Amos 1:3-5, Jeremiah 49:23-27) make it very clear that at some point Damascus is destroyed.  It ceases to be a city.  Damascus, Syria, is considered to be the world’s oldest city continuously inhabited, but it is coming to an end.  If we look at all the internal anarchy and outrageous acts within Syria today, it is not hard to imagine something happening very soon to bring this about.

PSALM 83

This psalm describes a war that has not yet happened.  Numerous nations that today are Muslim nations are identified.  Translating from the Biblical names to modern nation names – often a difficult task - leads to these nations/groups as those likely involved in attacking Israel: the Palestinians, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and possibly Iraq.  Note that these are nations that currently surround Israel.

EZEKIEL 38-39

These chapters describe a dramatic attack by a coalition of powerful nations against Israel.  Again translating the Biblical nation titles to modern words gives the attackers:  possibly Russia as leader, Turkey, Iran, Libya, and the Sudan.  This is the attack as you may remember that God very obviously stops, destroying the invaders.  It takes 7 months for the Israelites to bury the dead attackers.  Interestingly, Syria is not mentioned.  Evidently Syria has been somehow removed from the picture before this war happens.  That would mean the destruction of Damascus noted earlier has occurred.  Also note that none of the nations identified in Psalm 83 are listed as attackers (i.e., none of the nations currently right around Israel).  This indicates that they too have been taken out or greatly reduced in power in a previous war, likely the Psalm 83 war.

ARMEGGEDON – Revelation 19 and Zechariah 14

This is the war that immediately precedes Jesus setting up his rule from Jerusalem.  It occurs at the end of the seven year tribulation period.  The nations of the world in opposition to God go to the valley of Jehosophat to fight against Israel and against God.  There they are destroyed by Jesus as he leads an army consisting of his called, chosen, and faithful followers.  Revelation notes that everyone in the army opposing Jesus is killed.

HOW DOES ALL THIS COME ABOUT?

Clearly Armageddon is the last of these wars.  But how does all this start?  Consider where we are today.  The great concerns for Israel are the development of nuclear weapons by Iran and the takeover by more conservative elements of Islam in countries like Egypt where the Muslim brotherhood just won the presidency.  There appears to be a move to unify Muslim nations under an overall Muslim, not secular, government.  The man just elected leader of Egypt has stated publically he wants Jerusalem as the capital of the Muslim world. (By the way, Jerusalem is mentioned many times in the Old and New Testaments of the Bible but not once in Muslim’s Koran.).

It is always possible that the nations in Psalm 83 just act on their vocal attacks on Israel and that begins all this.  But there is a second possibility as well.  We all know how concerned Israel and the United States are with the actions in Iran.  The leader of Iran has made it clear that he wants to see Israel totally destroyed.  As Iran nears the development of nuclear bombs, Israel is concerned it is approaching a point of no return – which may be really soon, perhaps even before the coming US presidential election.  It is conceivable that Israel, perhaps with the help of the US, may soon attack the nuclear facilities in Iran.  Such an attack would result in Iran responding and likely in military attacks by such as Syria, who has been supplied by Iran.  In the ensuing battle is it not possible that Damascus gets destroyed?  That city and the country of Syria are thought to have more biological and chemical weapons than any other in the Middle East.  Whether intentionally or not, it would be a good time for Israel to eliminate that threat.  It also is possible Damascus will just be destroyed by its own current internal strife.

If this all happens, I expect other Muslim nations in the Middle East to attack Israel, thus bringing about the Psalm 83 war.  Assuming Israel with God’s help would win, perhaps seizing more territory and getting closer to the full size God intended back in Genesis when he guided Abraham, there would be continued animosity toward Israel by some.  This leads to the Ezekiel 38-39 war possibly led by Russia and involving Iran, Turkey, Libya, and the Sudan in attacking Israel; their attack leads to the destruction of these forces.

WHERE ARE WE NOW?

It appears we are very near the beginning of all this.  It is prudent for all believers to keep alert as Jesus has warned (Luke 21:36 and elsewhere).  In several places the Bible notes that believers are spared from the wrath that is to come, so I expect Jesus’ collecting his believers as described in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 will happen before the tribulation period and Armageddon, and possibly before the Ezekiel war.

CONCLUDING COMMENTS – AND WHAT SHOULD WE ALL DO?

Remember – We are living in the last of the last days.  We don’t know a specific hour and time each of these events and Jesus’ coming in the clouds occur, but we know it has to be soon.  Why?  Because he has told us much of events to happen before his return and he has said they will all happen in one generation.  Many have happened.  We are living in that generation.  Many on earth now will see all this and be here when he comes. 

So what should you do?  Above all, do not fear.  As the Bible says in so many places, be not afraid.  Fear is of the devil.  Jesus has overcome the world, and in him we do the same.  Keep your eyes on him and rest in his perfect peace, no matter what happens on this earth.

Here are some good points to follow and pass on:

      ·       You must have belief in Jesus Christ, not in some creed written by men.

·       Your work in any cause, no matter how good, must not take precedence over your devotion to Jesus.

·       Life is not about us.  It is about Jesus Christ and your relationship to him.

·       We were not created so God could make us happy.  His every moment is not spent on thinking how to make us happy.  He is God and we are not.  There is much more to God than we have realized or even than we can comprehend.  But he surely does work for good in all things for those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  (Romans 8:28).

·       The Bible is true, and that includes all those commands and teachings about all aspects of life, not just the ones about love.

As always,

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                          (July 2012)

                                                                                                     Copyright © 2012 by John Newlin Ministries, Inc

SIGN OF THE TIMES - AN ABUNDANCE OF OFFENSE

Way back in the 1800’s and early part of the 1900’s, as I understand, at least in some places pastors in churches preached the word boldly.  And then some of them applied the truths of God they had preached to the specific congregation itself as appropriate.  And they applied it to local and national happenings and issues in the times they were living.  That was the right thing to do.   I think most people expected that.  After all, those who were in the churches were hoping to learn and to live by God’s law, by his commands.

Today, so many of our individual churches do not delve deeply into God’s word, preferring to stay on the surface, or to focus on the tried and true few verses that most people know, or to talk about cultural or motivational issues.  Those that go beyond, especially those who apply God’s word to situations of the day, risk a pretty violent reaction.  Reporters may show up.   People who are “tolerant” of just about everything in our modern society are most assuredly to be offended.  So too all those who believe there is no absolute truth, only relative truths. 

As we edge ever closer to that wonderful return of the Lord and his collecting his believers, and as we see the prophecies being fulfilled and heed the warnings of the Lord to stay alert, to watch we are not deceived, and so on, we set ourselves up to offend others.

In this ministry as long as I preach and write on divine healing, there are those who want to hear and to come (and also those of course who can’t conceive of such a thing, believing incorrectly all the miracles and the gifts of the spirit and such disappeared after the first century).

When I preach and teach more about the fullness of Jesus and all he did, who he is and such, well, it seems it is more difficult to gather a crowd.  So many think they know it all when they say he took care of our sin and brings us forgiveness and eternal life.  And they miss so much.

When I speak of his imminent return, well, there are those who reply people have always said that.  There are those who can’t conceive that the Bible really is absolutely true and that things are indeed happening and about to happen.  So many don’t come because they either are not interested or are frightened by it all.

And then when I apply all the prophecies of the Bible to be fulfilled before the Lord’s return and note what is happening in society, it seems even more are offended.  They ask to be removed from the newsletter list.  They prefer to be comfortable in their views than uncomfortable in God’s truths. 

It is true.  I see it with the newsletters I write.  I see it in the donations and how they dwindle when a subject causes people to be uncomfortable.

But we press on, not doing all we would like because we don’t have the funds, but doing all we can with what we have.  I think many God expects to contribute just do not do so, being interrupted by events of the day and the cares of this world.

The facts are simple:

·        We really are at the end of the church age.

·        Jesus really is about to return.

·        A lot of unpleasant things are happening and about to happen.

·        From his warnings and advice, it is apparent that true believers in Jesus – members of His CHURCH (the only one that counts) will be taken out of harm’s way sometime before the terrible wrath of God explodes in the Tribulation period.

·        Things may likely get much worse here for believers before the Lord collects us and takes us out of here.

·        Many people – certainly by far the majority of society – prefer the approval of secular society, of the mass news media, of the ever growing national government, of their neighbors and friends – to following the truths of God.  Even so, the Bible warns us to let God be true and every man a liar.  His word trumps all.

·        The Lord himself warns more than once that the number finding the way to life (with him, with his father) is few indeed.

Some time ago the Lord made it really clear to me that I should preach and teach about him and about his return.  Even healing services in his priority system take a second place to that.  Of course divine healing is part of who he is and thus appropriately part of any program focusing on the Lord.  But at this point in history what does it matter if people are healed but do not know Jesus?  So they can be physically and emotionally whole as they enter hell?

I still enjoy healing.  But in the last two years as we have planned activities and discussed events, Jesus has clearly guided me more to the focus on himself and his return.  About two years ago I actually felt a need to say to him in prayer – “We’re holding a Day of Healing on such and such a date…Is that all right?” and I received the shocking reply – “If you want to.”  No longer his top priority.  Getting as many of those who are supposed to be his and go with him when he comes – that is his top priority.  Unfortunately this all has not dawned on most people.

My advice to you in the midst of the confusion that is modern life on earth today is to stay alert and focused on Jesus and all he is and all he has done for you and all believers.  That way you should be able to avoid all that is coming on the earth as well as participate in God’s leading others to Jesus.  As our banner says:

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

A WATCHMAN WARNING! THE DAY...YOUR ROLE

                    

Surely we are at the end of this age, the church age, the time between Jesus’ first time on earth and his return.  The signs are all here.  The prophecies are fulfilled.  Surely he is coming soon. 

Yet consider these scriptures:

…No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it.  (Ecclesiastes 8:17, NIV)

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  (Isaiah 55:8-9, NIV)

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?  Tell me, if you understand.”  (Job 38:4, NIV)

“Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place,…”  (Job 38: 12, NIV)

“Who has a claim against me that I must pay?  Everything under heaven belongs to me.”  (Job 41:11, NIV)

-        [Also see all of Job: 38-41]

The truth is obvious – we are not God.  But God through his infinite grace has chosen to reveal more and more of himself through the scriptures, through his son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Spirit.  And through his directly speaking to his servants.  All the above scriptures come from the Old Testament, the period before Jesus came to earth.  But Jesus did come, and during his time teaching, preaching, and healing here he revealed to us so very much of God, of God’s plan, of the Kingdom.

Believers are not in darkness now.  We do understand much of God’s plans – if we know the Lord, if we have been born again and baptized with the Holy Spirit, if we allow ourselves to be guided by the Spirit, if we obey.  If Jesus Christ is our Lord and we live that way, we have no excuse for not knowing much of what is to happen.

Surely we will never know all.  But we do know a great deal.  It has been revealed.  God never does anything without revealing it beforehand to his prophets (Amos 3:7).  And he has, and he does.

Jesus is coming soon.  I know no one to whom he has revealed the specific hour and day, although it is not inconceivable that he might do that.  But he has clearly revealed his return is imminent, so imminent that he wants his people warned.  “It will be swift,” he has told me, a seldom used word I thought at the time – swift.  “When I come things will change,” he has said.  One time he even added, “This is no joke.”  Interestingly, I recently looked at the very end of the Bible.  There Jesus says in his last words in the Bible, “Surely I come swiftly.”  There’s that word again.  Swiftly is the translation of the original Greek of the New Testament.  It also means quickly.

The time is now.  Any moment. This world system is just playing out its final hand.  All that matters is that as many as possible of those God would have with him in the Kingdom indeed know him.  However God has called you to help in that, you should be pursuing that call with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Now.  There will be no other “last days.”  And, to the extent you can, please help ministries like ours to get the truth about
Jesus and his return out to more and more.

A WATCHMAN WARNING! TIME FOR JUDGMENT

We are at a point now where events are getting too obvious, and where the plowing ahead gets really tiresome.

There is nothing so wonderful as having new people suddenly realize who Christ is, be saved, be healed, be delivered, be set free and move into the Kingdom of God.

But there is such heavy lifting required these days, such breaking up of barricades, such challenging of blind eyes and deaf ears, of spiritually numb people that populate this world.

It doesn’t take a spiritual giant to see the birth pains have increased and become very pointed.  It doesn’t take a Luther or Oral Roberts to discern that judgment is being laid out in specific cases that are symbolic of larger judgment and impending disaster. 

A people cannot thumb their noses at God over and over again for year after year, taking the name of God, of Jesus, out of public documents and discourse and schools and prayer and so on, with no repercussion.  A people cannot decide to formally accept life styles that are absolutely condemned as abominable by God and expect no reaction.

Oh, but you say, those are those other people in Hollywood and NY and government and politics and such.  Not me, you say.  I go to church.  I don’t agree with all that. 

But you do live here, you live here.  You are part of this country and society.  What have you done to work to change that society?  Have you just been tolerant by your silence? 

Many major church denominations have decided to be tolerant.  And accepting.  Oh, their memberships are crashing, to be sure.  Those who are sincere leave those denominations and search tirelessly for more serious churches which they often never find, ending up at home or in small groups.

Many of those same denominations have decided Israel is not the apple of God’s eye.  No, they think, it is their churches, this man-made organization of religious rules and humanist objectives, that is now the modern Israel.  And they seek to disengage from Israel.  No investments there.   

The majority of American churchgoers attend those denominations.  And are they even aware of the heresy of the opinions of the church organization to which they belong?  Not unless someone points it out to them.  Even then, they say, well my specific church is not like that.  Ah, but you are a member of the denomination.  And by your silence and actions you are accepting the position and behavior and actions of the denomination.  Not to mention that part of your financial support most likely goes to the national church organization.

Where is the full gospel being preached?  Where is the power gospel being displayed?  Blind eyes opened? Deaf ears healed?  Tumors vanished?  Pains expelled.  Curses broken?  Jesus praised and lifted high?  Prayers lifted for the peace of Jerusalem? 

Time for judgment.  It’s that time. 

For a few minutes once each week throughout the country many churchgoers sit and hear in essence a report, a little music, and shake hands and smile.  As one associate said, it’s a social occasion.  Sometimes it’s not even that.  And they miss the great truths – that God is real, that Jesus is alive today as he was 2000 years ago, that the Holy Spirit is real and here now, that demons and the devil are real too, that angels are real, that healings and miracles are real now too, and that Jesus is coming very soon to complete this age and move on.

Time.  It’s time.  This age is over.  There were some interesting movements and countries and events.  But now it’s all about floundering around.  Mass corruption and perverse behavior.  Those are primary characteristics of our culture and society.  Those who haven’t noticed have become too cold and jaded by the tolerance of all around, by the tolerance of their church.

Tough words, aren’t they.  But they are true.  These are tough times we are living in.  And they will be tougher. 

STANDING IN FOR JESUS

We are living in the midst of an increasingly troubled world while we anticipate the Lord’s imminent return to collect his Church. Organizations and institutions that people have depended on are not working, and public leaders clearly do not know what to do. Fear is setting in as an ever present partner of many on earth who do not know the Lord.

Often I write about all this when considering aspects of that coming return. But even if the world is a mess all around us, all who know the Lord should be focused on him! It is God’s great love for his creation that has given us the opportunity to look forward to eternal life with Jesus and the Father and to wonder just what is about to unfold. So, focusing on Jesus and not on the events in this world, I offer this vignette from a couple weeks ago for your meditation.

Recently I sat in a quiet private session with just a few others and a precious little girl who was fighting a dreadful disease. For a few minutes I talked about divine healing, about God’s great gift. And then I prayed for healing. As God’s truths came out, as we moved forward to the key point, I suddenly began to say: "Standing in for Jesus here, I say …”

Now I have said that before. This time as I looked into her wonderful little face, at those precious innocent eyes, and as I said, “Standing in for Jesus, I…” there was a sudden rush of the Holy Spirit all over me. I could scarcely speak. I had to take a moment to be able to form words. His amazing presence just took over.

Standing in for Jesus…Representing Jesus…Speaking for Jesus… Several times I have sought to explain that in meetings. Sometimes I have said simply, do you realize that when I stand here speaking what I am led to say, I am in reality standing in for Jesus. This is the Lord through me speaking, healing, doing what he wishes. The Holy Spirit takes over. Always my silent prayer: Take over Holy Spirit. Lord, your will here tonight. Your words.

Years ago once when praying the Holy Spirit told me, “John, if you don’t have time to prepare, I’ll speak for you.” I have always counted on that. I always spend time seeking and searching and praying before meetings and services. And I always count on the Holy Spirit.

It is really true. Whenever I am preaching before a group the anointing comes. There is a strong anointing on me whether people in the audience experience that or not. It took me a while to realize that sometimes those listening experience the presence and sometimes not.

But that is what it is – standing in for Jesus. The Lord through me. The Holy Spirit handling things. That’s the way it works.

That’s the way it can work for you too when you step out and stand in for Jesus.