AN URGENT WARNING FOR RIGHT NOW!

This is an urgent message to all believers everywhere.  We are living in tense, unpleasant times.  We are living in the days that actually count down to the return of Jesus, in other words, the last days.  And so much is happening.  Yes, people are coming to Christ, especially in areas of the world that have not known the Lord.  But great numbers are falling away as well.  The Western world is sliding away.

You do not even have to be a believer to know things are woefully wrong today.  A huge percentage of people in the US, the leading nation and most sophisticated nation of the world for decades, believe the country is on the wrong track, that their children’s lives will be worse than theirs, and so forth.

For those who are true believers in Jesus Christ, you know there is much more to the story.  We are near his return.  As we near that date, many things happen, and I’ve written about so much of this.  You can find past writings on our web site or my blog, or listen to our CDs or watch our television programs on the subject.

I am writing this now, today, because the pressure is up.  We have seen in our lives and in the ministry ever growing pressure.  I’ve said before anyone stepping out for God is sure to be attacked by the evil side.  Certainly that is true.  Serious ministers of God know that is true.  We’ve had all sorts of attacks over the years – financial, physical, and otherwise.  And constantly there are the temptations the devil brings – “you can’t really do that, you don’t have the funds, nobody is listening, on and on.”  Sometimes the temptations and the words are much worse than that of course.  And the attacks are very real.

Well, now, I want to warn you to the best of my abilities to warn.  The devil and his forces are pouring out their efforts in these last days.  And one area they are really active in is the one Jesus first warned his disciples of in Mark 13, Matthew 24, and Luke 21 when they asked about signs of his return.  What is it?  DECEPTION!!!!

Watch that you are not deceived!!!!!!  That was the Lord’s first reply when the disciples asked him about his return.

While we have been attacked in so many ways and have been victorious in Christ in so many ways over the years, we have now recognized clearly an enormous increase in deception attacks.  This past year and a half there have been four major incidents of this, two involving deceptive “ministers” of all things to flat out deception on the part of a larger organization with which we were dealing and to another concerning an amazing offer to fund our ministry to a high level (This does not count lesser such deceptive activities, hopefully all of which we have recognized.).   In the course of this we have endeavored to be wiser and wiser, to ask for words of wisdom and knowledge and greater discernment every time we have had to make decisions.  But it is difficult. When we began to realize all that was happening in these deceptive attacks, I spoke with an executive of a friendly giant ministry that you all are probably familiar with.  I asked him about another opportunity – not one of the four deceptions mentioned.  A major Christian television network had offered us a prime morning broadcast time, and he warned me about that network, citing their withdrawal from it.  An agent we have worked with for some time also gave a warning.

I’m not speaking of every little falsehood.  I’m speaking of serious deception that can wreck what you are doing, or misdirect your life.  And I warn you now to be alert, to be awake. 

The gift of discernment is a great help here, and all the other gifts of the Holy Spirit.  So too seeking wise counsel – the Bible even advises of this.

This deception is being poured out so fast that we consider every one that suddenly appears in our path with an attractive offer, or seeking involvement that appears something we should do.  Because we have experienced and know to consider – is this real?

Some time back we recorded the CD Fighting Evil to guide you in how to protect yourself every day.  It goes over the tools we have in doing so, the Biblical tools, and advises on how to live and prepare every day.  You should get and listen to that if you have not.  Just request it from us.  And watch our television programs on this subject.

Related to this, you do indeed in Jesus’ name have the power to cast out evil spirits, demons.  Jesus said his believers would do that.  If you realize you are being attacked or tempted by such, take a stand in Jesus’ name.  The devil and his staff cannot win against such.  If you are a true believer.

But I say now, you must know who you are in Christ and what the Lord has enabled you to do.  Taking on the devil or his evil spirits with no knowledge or inappropriate knowledge is a prescription for disaster.  No one can survive against the devil without the Lord and what he has enabled us to do.

These deceptions come by people who look like angels of light.  They talk like angels of light. They come with glowing opportunity, with scripture and warmth.  And smiles.  And they will destroy you.

And these deceptions are not just on a grand national level but on a personal one- on-one level in your daily life.  I don’t want you to think this just happens to others, or to larger groups.

And that is the world in which we live today.  I have spent years of my life trying to warn people of all that is happening and is coming.  I didn’t choose this role.  The Lord chose me, as he likes to remind me from time to time.  Thank God he does so.  And so I do this. 

Consider yourselves warned.  Pray about new contacts, pray about persons you might work with or invite over, pray about any new opportunities or endeavors you are considering.  Get the Lord’s advice.  Listen to the Holy Spirit.  Listen!  Any doubt?  Don’t act. 

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                                    (January 2013)

                                                                                                              Copyright © 2013 by John Newlin.

Some thoughts about activities to pursue now - January 4, 2013

Clearly we are living in the last days before the return of the Lord, and that has led me to muse about many things (aside from the formal newsletters and other documents I send out from time to time or post on the ministry web site.)  Lately, I've been thinking about just what the activities of a believer in Jesus should be as he/she prepares to meet the Lord.  Here are a few for you to consider.  No doubt there are many more.  And of course for each of us he has his specific priority order we should seek out.

·         Studying his Word

·         Prayer

·         Spending time with those close to us

·         Sharing the gospel message with those who don’t know (and asking God to arrange the best occasions to do so)

·         Making sure we are in a righteous relationship with God.  Jesus took our unrighteousness so we might be the righteousness of God in him.  We should deal with any unrighteousness in our lives right now.  Ask forgiveness for any area you need to pray that for, and forgive anyone you need to.  And obey the Lord's commands.

·         Any amends to make?  Well, get busy.

·         Walk on the beach.  Take a mountain trip.  Look at God’s creation.

·       Yes, you have to continue with the daily activities of life.  They don’t just go away.  Cleaning the house.  Cooking and eating.  Continuing to work in your jobs.  Just don’t make these your top priorities in life, unless God has so assigned that.

·         Perhaps seek out those you have not seen in a long while.

·         Go to a fiftieth reunion, or a twenty-fifth or tenth.

·         Take that trip you have long wanted to take, if possible and will not put you in dire financial straits.

·         Any particular ministries or programs you would like to attend?  Well, why not do so?

·         Any books you really wanted to read, any movies you really wanted to see?  Well?

·       Time – spend time just breathing and sitting, walking, looking about, living, not really doing anything by world standards but just living, keeping your eyes on all about.  See what is around you with all your senses.  See with spiritual eyes as well as physical eyes.

·       Prepare for those left behind.  There will be some.  Who will come to your home, handle your affairs, distribute your stuff?  You might want to write a will, leave some type of document directing what you hope will happen.  Maybe also leave some really good teaching CDs or DVDs that those left behind might find and listen to or watch (regarding the Lord, his return, the seven years coming up).  We actually produced one in the ministry that you might leave behind.

 

WAKING UP TO THE REALITY OF EVIL

[Early last week this Sign of the Times came to me just as many of the past Signs of the Times and Watchman Warnings have come.  After I had written it down and considering the subject matter, I thought to hold it for distribution until after the joyous Christmas season had passed.  But now, after the events in Connecticut on last Friday, I see I should have sent it out immediately.  So I do now, with just a couple modifications.]
 

There is a great depression in the country right now.  I would suggest it is a gradual waking up to the realities of the times we are living in. 

 

For some time now I have sensed this great darkness all around.  All of this year, and especially in the late summer and early fall.  And it continues in an even darker mode.  This depression or darkness is actually settling over the land, and now those serious Christians who had not realized its presence so greatly in the past are having to come to grips with its reality. 

 

Yes, there really is evil on earth.  Yes, there really are evil people – lots of evil people.  Now as Paul wrote, our battle is not with flesh and blood but with all the forces of evil which he identifies as the rulers, the authorities, and the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  But of course in this physical environment in which we live, those evil forces usually play out through people who are led by and even dominated by such evil forces.  These are lost people who have not known God or the Bible or how to fight evil and protect themselves, and they are easy prey for satan and his forces.

Americans have for the most part lived their lives in a most extraordinary country, one that is modern and urbane and sophisticated and free and offers all sorts of opportunities.  So many have had very comfortable lives even though they have had to work hard in their jobs.  And they just haven’t often had to face obvious evil, except for those who have encountered criminals and terrorists or been sent off to war in a foreign land.

 

So most are just not so aware of evil.   A poll a couple years ago by George Barna even had the amazing finding that half of those saying they are Christians do not believe the devil is real.  Well, of course, that to me means they aren’t Christians, for Jesus talked about the devil at some length and warned about him and described him.  Not believing he is real is not believing. Jesus tells the truth.  And how then can Jesus be your Lord if you so believe?  He can’t.

 

But now those Americans are finding out evil is real.  They are going to discover the devil is real.

Residents of many countries have known evil is real for a long time.  Ask the residents of Romania about evil, or North Korea, or Afghanistan or Iraq, or Nigeria, or Rwanda, or Liberia, or those whose family members perished in the concentration camps of Nazi Germany, or later those killed in the killing fields of Cambodia, or those currently in Mexico encountering the drug horror, or those dealing with Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups, or …well, you get the point.  All those places suffered under darkness, great darkness.

The USA has been protected I would suggest because of the core of Christian believers and God’s respecting and providing for them.  But the US has slid mightily.  There has been a great fall in morality, in civility, in decency, in integrity, and in faith in God.  There has been a falling away, an apostasy. 

Much of the world is way ahead in this falling away.  Europe for years has existed in a post Christian age.  Many countries in the world have lived under false gods and thus demonic influences for decades and hundreds of years.  Actually in some of these places today God is making breakthroughs.

But back to the USA – and recognizing evil.  We now have a highly non-godly intelligentsia, ruling government, entertainment community, news media, and more.  While there are still many who fear God and believe in him and the Bible, there at the high and visible levels of society are a group of lost people setting the agenda and culture and government policies and such. 

So there is a reason to be down, to feel depressed.  If you are you are probably sensing the spiritual darkness that has been growing here for some time.  You are just joining others in that realization.  We are on the steady path to the return of the Lord, and his timing will not be deterred.  It is an appointed time. 

Those who are pushing ever more to the gradual move to a one-world government and a universal religion are the ones to fear and stay away from.  Those doing the pushing really don’t know what they are doing, but they are pushing in the direction of the prophesied events of the end of the age. 

Yes, there really is evil on earth.  And not just obvious evil.  It also takes the forms of many leaders and media reporters and entertainers in our own country that in their way are just as dangerous to what once was an amazing place.

We can recognize and be saddened by evil in what we are seeing in our country and the world.  But still, we believers know that even though the presence of evil is increasing, it is all defeated by Jesus at Armageddon and thereafter as described in Revelation 19 and 20 and Zechariah 14. 

And we still know that the joy of the Lord is our strength.  So always, alwaysKeep Your Eyes on Jesus!

 

THE AMAZING PEOPLE OF OUR DAY

This may be difficult to read, but it also may help in your understanding the times in which we live.

Sometime in the last month or so I was reading the writings of Smith Wigglesworth, the great preacher and healer of the early 1900’s. He was recounting how for years he and his wife had had a church mission in England. One day while away from there he had attended a service and had been baptized in the Holy Spirit. He had in other words received the anointing of the Spirit. And when he returned to the church mission, that night he stood in front to preach and his wife sat in the back. As he preached, a man stood up and shouted, “I want what he has.” Then the man tried to sit down but couldn’t, and he fell down. Soon fourteen people were lying about the room, overcome by the power of the Holy Spirit, or as some say, by the anointing.

What really got my attention were these words Wigglesworth said about the experience: “So a revival broke out and the crowds came.” Think about that a moment. He said a revival broke out and the crowds came. And I assume that was the dramatic real beginning of his world-wide healing ministry.

A few days after I read that I was meeting with a minister friend, and I told him the Wigglesworth story. I repeated what Wigglesworth had said. And then I said that we had done that, that we had had several meetings like that. There was a night in particular when the Holy Spirit came and soon only Cathy and I and the musician were standing up; everyone else in the audience was stretched out on the floor! There was a time we were holding a healing service at a church not too far away, and the Holy Spirit touched perhaps everyone in the congregation. There have been many occasions when the Holy Spirit touched those in our meetings.

But never has revival broken out and the crowds come, to use Wigglesworth’s words. Rather, the service eventually ends and the people go home. And we go on to the next meeting/service, whether at the same place or elsewhere.

So I said to my minister friend, “Why? Why did a revival break out and the crowds come in Wigglesworth’s day?”

He gave his wise answer. He explained that the times are different now. In Wigglesworth’s day there wasn’t that much going on in the way of entertainment or other activities. When the people left his meeting where the Holy Spirit had so touched everyone, they no doubt told others. And they brought others to the next meetings. And others wanted to come. But in our day? Even though people were dramatically touched in our meetings, and have been, they at the end of the service go home and that is that. Not much telling to others. For most no real compulsion to bring anyone else to our next program wherever that is. They just go home.

I’ve always been amazed that when people are dramatically healed by God of a dramatic illness, perhaps one thought to be terminal, we usually don’t see them and their families and friends at the meetings in the future. Where are they? Why don’t we hear from them?

It’s not like that kind of thing is happening everywhere. Unfortunately it is not.

And of course the answer is just what my minister friend indicates. There is just too much going on. Too much outside the home. And people, once home, stay there. They don’t tell others. They don’t bring others.

Only once did we ever have anything similar to others suddenly coming – at an inner city healing service in a store front church. As we prayed for people to receive their healing, suddenly we noticed people were coming up to us who had not been in the church when we started. And we later learned a woman in the back pew was telephoning people and telling them to get down there to be prayed for, to receive their healing. She had seen the power of God and wanted others to see and experience it.

But that is the only time.

Our world is just too busy and too private. Maybe too busy for God. Too private to tell neighbors and friends and family who are lost or in desperate need of help that that help is being given out at a nearby meeting or service if they only knew, if they only could be open to God to receive.

Ponder all that as you can. And pray for the people of our world, most so lost and yet so busy they don’t have time to tell others of miracles or what they just saw, so busy they can’t be bothered. Even though they see God dramatically move in front of their eyes, that doesn’t change their walk or cause them to tell others.

Amazing.

Jesus can’t be far off, can he.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

MOVING ON

There is a lot being written by a lot of people about the United States presidential election of 2012.  All sorts of insights are being drawn.   And the implication of the strange storm Sandy just before the election and how this may have influenced results is being discussed.

But in the end there is only one conclusion – the government in power before the election will continue in power.

And there is one other observation – the country and the world continues to move steadily down the road to the imminent return of Jesus Christ. 

The past four years have seen a great fall in influence and in economic power of the one world super power, the United States.  That trend clearly will continue, as internal reshuffling of income distribution and government priorities renders the country ever less influential.  It has gotten caught up in minor priorities and interests of various specific groups that seek to better themselves, and the net result is that this selfish approach has crushed and will continue to crush this once powerful nation.

The return of Jesus is imminent.  The situation in the Middle East has not changed.  Israel now is more alone than ever, in terms of support of other nations.  The coming wars discussed not long ago in one of our Watchman Warnings are still to come.  I don’t think it will be long before we see some action in that area.

The real question for all people is do they know Jesus Christ truly?  Have they been born of water and the Spirit?  Are they in the Lamb’s book of life?  Are they going with him when he comes or are they staying behind to endure the tribulation period and either hopefully accepting the Lord then or sadly ending up in the Lake of Fire.

The trend is here, the direction set, and the progress continues.  The various countries are at different points.  In some places there are even encouraging breakthroughs for believers.  But inevitably the Lord will come at the appointed time.  He must come soon, whether that is in a day, a month, a year, or a few years, because prophesied things have now happened that must happen within the generation of his return.  A generation is by definition only so long.  And the counting of that generation began at least as far back as 1948, maybe even further.

So you see there is not much time.

We will issue more comments on the election and the implications in a coming newsletter sent to all next week, but I do want you to know I have not overlooked it.  I also want you to know I don’t intend to make rash observations or judgments.  God has this plan, you see, and he is sticking to it.  I’ve written about it so much now.  Hopefully you have read some of that.

The thing for you to do is to keep your eyes on Jesus and to rejoice in your knowledge of him.  To the extent you can, help others in their journey to him.

 

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SANDY MUSINGS - AMERICA AND GOD

After the landfall of the storm Sandy and after getting up so early in a dark morning , I am led to several musings.  I think these are worthwhile to pass on, and I do so for your prayerful consideration.

·        One of the early comments I heard made the point that again in this disaster we see the firefighters, the police, the nurses, the emergency medical workers  and others of that ilk who never shrink from their duties, who do think of others first, who put their lives on the line immediately in disasters and emergencies.  Others who fit in that group are most of our military, especially those young soldiers who go to Afghanistan and Iraq and such places over and over.  I just add that those people and their actions and devotion remind us of what was and in part still is America and what we need to be in whole, in entirety.  If you ever have the opportunity to sit with and look in the eyes of most of the young servicemen and women before or after they travel to the Middle East and you are not moved, you need to reassess who you are and your priorities in life.

 

·        Some are writing about Sandy as being a form of God’s judgment in these last days and also as being a warning to the United States for its behavior in recent years that is so much in opposition to God’s word and plans.  I do not know this absolutely, but one thing I do know:   the Lord did say that as we approach his return there would be fearful events and nations would be frightened by the roaring and tossing of the sea.  Certainly Sandy qualifies on both those points.  One thing I have observed – in all the news reporting on the storm and all the interviews, I’ve not yet heard anyone mention even remotely this was a warning from God.  So if it is, most people other than those who already are serious believers in Jesus evidently didn’t get the message. 

 

·        It still remains true that something is holding back so many Americans who attend the churches but don’t really know God and the full gospel as well as those who just are outside the churches and have no knowledge of God.  Some veil, some confused false doctrine, something is keeping them back from a true saving and empowering knowledge of the Lord and the gospel.  All the evangelism efforts and ministry programs and television programs of all those well-meaning people who believe themselves called by God for such purposes still have not broken through to this large body of people.  Some individuals of course come to know God and accept the Lord.  Some individuals do receive miraculous divine healings and other miracles.  But the bulk is still in the dark, and it is becoming ever clearer that it is going to take a move of God, some divine action, to remove those veils and wake up the bulk of this large and spiritually sleeping body of people.  Well, Jesus himself did say that no one can come to him unless his father draws that person to Jesus.  Now will that indeed happen?  I for one am not sure, for the Lord spoke very clearly that few are they who find the way to life.  Using other words in one of his parables he said many are called but few are chosen.  Now few of course can still be millions upon millions, so I still look for that move.  But when I see the Holy Spirit minister in power in one of our services, with many dramatically touched likely for the first time by God, and so many actually seeing God in action, and then I see no later reaction to that in the community or church (as far as I can tell), I do wonder.  There is clearly some veil, some blockage interfering with a larger receiving.  Despite all that we keep trying, don’t we.  We persist because that is what Jesus called us to do, and we don’t stop.  And we leave the results all up to him and his father and the overall guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

 

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THE END OF IGNORANCE FOR A FEW?

The End of Innocence is a famous title.  I thought to use that, but then it is not accurate.  Innocence.  Americans have no right to be innocent.  Ignorance is a much more accurate word.

Throughout most of the country’s existence the truth has been more available to Americans than to any other group of people on the face of the earth.  Books by the tens of thousands, articles, magazines, television program upon television program, libraries, universities, personal computers, churches everywhere.  And total freedom to explore all that and more.

But everywhere many still sit in naïve ignorance in giant brick buildings on Sunday mornings, believing they have heard the truth and are hearing it over and over, when for the majority what they are hearing is a greatly limited and watered down gospel.

People attend churches because their parents went there, or they went to the same denomination, or because their friends go there and they are comfortable, or because it is a social occasion.  And of course there are a few who really are serious about God and truth.  They have to seek and study on their own, which by the way is what has to happen.

Such a limited gospel.  So few Americans know that God is real, Jesus is real, the Holy Spirit is real, the Bible is true, the devil is real, angels are real, demons are real…and so on.  A poll not long ago showed that half of those who consider themselves Christians don’t believe the devil is real.  Note I said those who consider themselves Christians.  I didn’t say God considered them Christians.  Of course the devil is real.  The Lord himself warned us of the devil, talked about him, described him, was challenged unsuccessfully by him.

Jesus’ gospel is a power gospel.  Jesus Christ came to reconcile people to God.  He did all that was necessary to accomplish that.  He overcame the world, and in him true believers in the Lord do also.  He said his believers would do the same things he did, even greater.  

He became a curse on the cross so we would be free from the curses of the law, which basically are just about any horror you can think of. 

We believers are more than conquerors in him. 

Jesus said his believers would heal the sick, cast out demons, so much more.

We’ve done those things in this ministry.  People have been healed in person and even far away over the telephone.  Healed of what the world calls terminal diseases, horrible problems.  And we’ve cast out demons.  You see, demons are really real.

The end of ignorance.  So many of the traditional denominations and others bought into a lie from the early centuries after Jesus that the days of miracles and healings were over.  What a complete fabrication, another accomplishment of the devil (the father of lies, remember).  Look at all the people healed and freed through our ministry and others, some well known, some not well known.  Any truly believing Christian can go forward and act on all that the Lord gave them to do.

The Lord is to return very soon.  The first thing he warned his disciples about regarding this is to watch they not be deceived.

Ignorance.  After the last few years, it seems at least a few have waked up a bit.  The massive deception in the levels of government and the media and the entertainment world has at last gotten their attention, or their ire.  But have they truly realized what is going on?  The emergence of the events leading up to Jesus’ return?  The gradual move of government to a big brother type, one world government.  And the soon to come emergence of the antichrist and his partner, the false prophet?  All that is well underway now.

Americans, who for the most part want to be left alone to pursue their own personal goals and lives, are finding they can’t do that.  That freedom is going away.  They are going to have to pay attention.

Wonder how long it will be before most realize that only God has the answers for them as to what is happening now and what they should do?

Wonder how long it will be before all those churches on the corners and the pastors who for the most part have been held in check so long by denomination boards and church elders and such realize the full truth of who Jesus is and who they are supposed to be and begin preaching the full power gospel.

How long do they have anyway?  How long do any of us have?

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!