LIVING IN THE MIDST OF MADNESS - Experiencing 2 Corinthians 4:4 in Action

Our newsletters and our Sign of the Times and A Watchman Warning publications for the last several years have focused on Biblical prophecies of things to happen before the Lord returns and on how they have been fulfilled.  As we have moved past the period the Lord referred to as birth pains, we have focused on what I consider the very current and deeper prophecies – the warning about deception and the warning about the falling away from God, the apostasy.  I don’t see how any of us could deny we are right in the midst of those. 

                                                                                                                                                

Recently, as I have written more about specific occurrences and behaviors in this world and how they relate to the prophecies, I have moved into at times pointing out drastically incorrect and evil and wrong behavior on the parts of people and countries.  Massive groups, governments, and individuals seem to have fallen victim to the Bible’s statement in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that the god of this world (the devil) has blinded the minds of nonbelievers.  How else could you explain their behavior that so clearly leads to increasing dangers for the people, often being almost suicidal?  Yet they apparently cannot see the danger or just cannot believe it.

 

Below I give several concrete examples of this behavior that is truly insane to most of you, to anyone who can discern the truth and think rationally.  Thank God for those of us who are born of water and the Spirit, who have the Holy Spirit and have been baptized with the Spirit.  Such a person has the gifts, and one includes discernment, the ability to discern truth from falsehood.  It is these people – us – who see the horrible errors being made by leaders and countries and people, who realize the folly of so many actions today, and of course who are so distressed over these bad actions and over the blindness of so many around us. 

Just consider a few examples:

EUROPEAN FEAR

Recently the NY Times had a headline:  Europe Far Right Fueled by Fear.  There is only one thing wrong with that. It should have read:  Europe Far Right Justifiably Fueled by Fear.

If all Europeans are not fearful today, they are not alive.  Serious changes to their culture and peace are underway.  The threat to Europe of the huge muslim immigration of recent years and continuing today cannot be overstated.  The threat of the murderous jihadists who hide in this immigration pool is obvious. 

Europe is in for dark days. Look already at Paris and Brussels.  Europe seems incapable of dealing with this.  Allowing more people of a truly alien culture which harbors violent terrorists to enter every day is a policy of death.  The leaders seem incapable of recognizing what is happening.  I think this parable captures the views of the European leaders and media and many lost people:

Someone says there are a hundred people outside your home who think almost entirely differently than you and want to come in and live.  They want to maintain their beliefs and culture at the expense of whatever happens in your home.  And one or two of these are horrible terrorists who intend to kill you and your family while they are here.  You (representing the leaders of Europe) then say “Come on in!”

If ever there was a time when the leaders of the people were blind to what is happening and truly lost, today in Europe is that time.  Taking this on to America, those who cannot see the danger here from such blind immigration policies fall into the same camp.

TEMPLE OF BAAL

Hard to believe I am writing about this, isn’t it?  Many of us probably think of Baal as a word used in the Old Testament, not in our day.  But no.

Not long ago in Palmyra in Syria ISIS destroyed the temple of Baal that was there.  In their fundamentalist approach, they are opposed to any idols and structures like this.

Now, in some convoluted effort to remember this archaeological item (best word I could use for such a wretched thing), there are plans to build that temple in Times Square in New York City.  Or at least part of that temple.  And evidently plans to do so elsewhere in the world as well.

Can you think of anything more evil and more wrong to do ever, and especially as we approach the Lord’s return?  Baal?  The devil himself?  A temple?

What are the people opening up when they build such a temple?  What does this portend for New York City and the USA?  I think you can imagine.  God will not be pleased. 

Remember, the god of this world has blinded the minds of nonbelievers.  And those are obviously the people doing this.

BLASTED FOR PROTECTING THE CHILDREN

Recently the North Carolina legislature and governor took action to stop the application of a Charlotte ordinance giving a person the right to use whatever public restroom with which he/she most identified. 
The objective of the Charlotte ordinance evidently was to help that tiny percentage of the public who are transgender (figures I have seen are about 0.3% of the public).  But under this ordinance a ten year old girl could go into the ladies’ room followed legally by a strapping male with all the normal equipment.  This ordinance put all children and women at risk.

I have to think that any rational clear-minded person agrees with the state’s action to stop this ordinance.

But amazingly major corporations such as APPLE, American Airlines, Facebook, even Bank of America have come out against this action of the state.  There have been threats to move the NBA all-star game from Charlotte to another state.

I can remember and probably you can too when major corporations were focused on never offending the values of the majority of society.  Now they are backing extreme minority positions that do not make sense to us – except for 2 Corinthians 4:4.  Their positions don’t even make sense from a business standpoint as they are surely offending a large portion of the population with this backing.

REFUSAL OF US GOVERNMENT TO FORMALLY RECOGNIZE WHO THE TERRORISTS ARE

The extraordinary rise of radical muslim terrorists through major groups like ISIS and BOKO HARAN and the TALIBAN and AL QUEDA and more is well known by all of us.  I would suggest even the word terrorist is inapplicable.  This is a major movement, conducting a real war against western faith and values.

Yet the official government of the United States still refuses to use the word muslim in describing these groups.  And there seems to be a constant effort to downplay the seriousness of all this.  If the leaders of the government truly do not see the seriousness of this and cannot recognize this for what it is, they truly are living in 2 Corinthians 4:4.  And they are imperiling all the citizens of the country.

For those of you who do not keep up with this, let me say that these groups are active all the time, in the ongoing wars in the Middle East but also in terrible attacks on innocent men, women, and children in countries throughout the world.  In just the past few days we have seen the horrible Brussels attacks at the airport and the subway station and the terrible slaughter of Christians at a park on Easter Sunday in Pakistan (mainly women and children).

AMAZING SILENCE OF WOMEN’S GROUPS AND HOMOSEXUAL GROUPS AS REGARDS THE ADVANCE OF THE MUSLIM TERRORISTS

The American people for the most part still are largely ignorant of the culture and policies of fundamental islam.  Women are greatly mistreated and subjugated, for example.  When I was in Saudi, women walked behind their husbands, did not really talk to me on the street, were almost totally covered in clothing, did not get nearly the education of men, could not drive, were limited in jobs they could hold, and on and on.  I understand there have been some improvements in this recently, but the gap is still enormous between men and women.  And the Taliban, wow…they make the Saudis look like flaming liberals.  So why haven’t we heard more from the women’s rights groups in working for the rights of muslim women?  Can’t they see?  Can’t they read?  Don’t any of them know the truth?  Ah, it’s 2 Corinthians 4:4 in action again.

On a related front, fundamentalist muslims do not tolerate those who take illegal drugs.  Truly.  And they do not tolerate homosexuals.  So why in the world haven’t we heard an outcry from the LGBT groups and those who support open drugs here in protest against this treatment?  Why are members of these groups not in real fear of an increasing presence of muslims, especially fundamentalist muslims?  They should be terrified.  Why aren’t they pressing the government to take whatever action it can to defeat the jihadist groups?  Well, you know the answer.

WHY ARE MAINSTREAM CHURCHES SO SILENT IN AMERICA?

Why aren’t mainstream churches in America speaking out and mounting demonstrations against horrible government actions and demonstrations in support of positive steps such as the step the NC government took as described above?  Why don’t we see a million person march to Raleigh to support the governor and the legislature against the attack of those lost pagan leaders of the corporate world who are speaking out against their action? 

You can answer this, I think.  Fear?  Partly.  Lack of knowledge?  Partly.  We know that the fullness of the gospel is just not taught in most churches – the Holy Spirit, the filling and baptism of the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, healings and miracles, and now the imminent return of the Lord.  Amazing, is it not?  The Holy Spirit is God, you know.  A member of the Trinity.

When I early went into this ministry, one pastor friend came to warn me.  He said that some of the pastors of the churches I was encountering were not born again.  That is mind-blowing!  If they are not born again, they most assuredly don’t know the Holy Spirit and all that follows.  So what can they be teaching their congregations? 

The scripture 2 Corinthians 4:4 applies in individual churches too, you know.  If you don’t hear any of the issues I mention above being discussed in your church, why don’t you ask the pastor why not?  When the Lord returns, don’t you think he would want to find us out there doing all we can to advance his message and truth rather than being silent and withdrawn from society?

FOR MORE ON THE RETURN OF THE LORD: 

Many of our CDs, our television programs, and past newsletters – all of which are on our web site (television programs also on YOUTUBE) - focus on the crucial subject of this newsletter.  Go to them for much more teaching and revelation.  Request the CDs.

 

The August 2013 newsletter contains a trove of information on basic prophecies fulfilled.  Most newsletters in recent months deal directly with aspects of our time and the return.

 

And our blog contains dozens of writings on aspects of the return.  The home page of the web site connects you to each of the three latest articles and the blog itself, which contains all the articles.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                               (APRIL, 2016)

                                                                                                Copyright © 2016 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 the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

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JESUS

                          

This Sunday all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ celebrate again the great accomplishment of Jesus Christ, the fulfillment of his purpose for coming to earth in human form. 

It is beyond description in importance to us all.

That God would so care for and love the human race that he would come to earth in human form and then endure such atrocious treatment at the hands of beings he himself created……it is all astounding. 

In the extraordinary act of going to the cross and then overcoming it, the Lord overcame death, evil, sin, sickness, pain, curses of the law, in effect everything that separated people from God.  His actions brought absolute forgiveness from God for each one of us, those who would receive that.  In a phrase, Jesus reconciled humanity to God. 

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.  Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.  Jesus overcame the world and in him we overcome the world.

As he said, he is the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the father except through him.

There is no one else – nothing else – that we should focus our time and attention on.  He is Jesus.  He is our Lord.  He is life.  And he is coming very soon.  He should and must be your top priority in life.  Yes, he will come again to impact overwhelmingly this confused, lost society in which we all live.  Come to collect his believers and then shortly come to win a complete battle over those opposing him and to set up his rule from Jerusalem.  In essence and truth, come to fulfill the prayer he taught us – Our father, who art in heaven, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

In all things at all times wherever you are,

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                   

                                                                                                 (March 2016)

                                                                                         Copyright © 2016 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 the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

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

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

HEROES

Who are your heroes?

This is such a distressing time.  Let’s take a break for a minute.  Let’s think about something really good right here on earth, people who are good and meaningful in our lives.

So again, who are your heroes?  Can you even answer that question?

I remember reading a book about transitions in life many years ago.  The author made the point that most people know themselves so little they can’t even identify their favorite food.

Well, who are your heroes?

When I was a young teenager Mickey Mantle was my hero.  I loved baseball then and the Yankees even though I did not live in New York City.  And he was just a spectacular player.  Years later I actually met him for a moment.  Even though I was much older then and hopefully more mature, and even though I had long realized there was more to being a hero than just playing a sport well, he still was an overwhelming presence to me.  I managed to get out the sentence – “I saw you play a lot of games.”  And he replied a wonderful reply: “It was a lot of fun.”  I can’t imagine a better reply.  My hero Mickey Mantle thought playing baseball for the Yankees all those years was a lot of fun.  That was what I always thought it would be.

But back to the subject.  Who are your heroes?

Let’s right away rule out Jesus here.  He is obviously a hero, but he is also obviously far more than just a hero.  So let’s talk about other people than Jesus.

Do you have one?  A hero?  Perhaps your father, or your mother.

My dad is a hero to me now.  He and Mom had just been married a few years when WWII began.  He was a partner with two cousins in a new hardware/building supply company.  They were older.  My Dad made the decision to enlist in the Navy, and he did so at age 26 or so.  My mom followed him around as possible – in Newport Rhode Island and then in Washington when he worked in the Pentagon.  But eventually Dad was off in the Pacific.  About a month or two before he left, his younger brother died from a brain injury and my mother’s sister died in childbirth.  But my dad had to go, so he did.  By the way, my mom was pregnant with me then.

I was born while Dad was in the Pacific theater.  He didn’t see me until I was a year and a half old.  I have letters from him to Mom while he was in Guam.  Even after the war ended he was stationed there for a while.  And then he came home.

  

He always wanted to be an architect, but seemed to think that going to college then would just take too much time.  It was as if they had lost years of their lives due to the war.  So he went back to that hardware/building supply company where he still was a partner, and worked there his entire life, steady, hard-working, devoted.  My mother did have several serious medical problems over the years, and Dad was just there, steady, strong.  He is long gone now.  I found a thick book he put together while in high school.  It was all about his becoming an architect.  Never happened.

So Dad is a hero.  He was steady and steadfast.  He loved me and was the strong silent type of that generation.  When he did say something I listened and learned.

Of course, if you read this, you will think why  wasn’t  my mom a hero too.  She was left alone with a new baby coming, just after her sister and her brother in law had died. And she did persevere despite her medical issues, persevere for another thirty years after caring for my dad as he suffered from emphysema.

They are real heroes to me.

Also my Uncle June, who enlisted in WWII when he was 17 and then fought in the Korean War.  My mother tried to write about his exploits, and so I heard him describe things most veterans of those wars never spoke of.  One time all the tires of his jeep were shot out but he made it.  One time he was up a telephone pole when the enemy came over the hill.  He became a machinist expert and worked on all sorts of engines.  He loved fishing and always was warm and kind.  I still have a knife he brought me from the Korean war.

Well, another hero in my life.

More?

From the spiritual side, how about Oral Roberts.  Healed by God miraculously when he was 17.  Taking the truths of the power of the Lord into all sorts of places in a country where the people just did not (and today mostly do not) know what Jesus made available for them.  The Holy Spirit operated mightily through him.  And in the late years of his life, God brought me into his contact.  I ministered to a man whose father had worked with Oral in building the university.  The man wanted me to send Oral a note.  When I did, Oral immediately wrote back.  The man’s father had in fact put the university together, including the academic side.  But Oral took the time to tell me what he thought God was doing in my life.  And he wrote how he thought divine healing works.  Later on, after I had written him again, he sent his thoughts on another subject and then noted he would see me in heaven.  Lots of people in the world thought he was nuts, or strange, or a kook.  But he kept his eyes on the Lord. 

Others out there like that?  Oh sure, locally and nationally.  People who change the entire world and those who change lives for a few.  Most don’t ever make the headlines or news stories.

Here are a couple you’d never think of.  I recently saw the accounts of some terrible crime/terror attacks in the US before this age of modern terrorism.  One had to do with the Unabomber, who lived in a cabin somewhere in the west and mailed letter bombs to what seemed to be random victims.  Three were killed and many, many horribly injured.  One victim recounted how his life was changed forever, how there is no such thing as closure for such an attack.  Eventually the bomber was caught, I think by help from his brother who evidently realized this was the bomber.  The brother was given the million dollar reward that had been offered.  The brother proceeded to pay off the legal bills associated with his brother’s trial, and then he gave the entire rest to the victims of the bomber.  How could such a person have been reared in the same family with the bomber?

Another similar account.  I saw the story of the shooters who randomly shot people in the Washington DC area at service stations and schools and elsewhere about 2002.  You may remember.  The area was in turmoil.  One woman recounted standing at a station filling her car with gas.  She looked at a taxi driver who was doing the same.  The next moment, there was a sound, and she saw him moving toward her.  He had been shot.  The emergency people recounted when they arrived at the station, they found her giving mouth to mouth resuscitation to a dead man.  She just wouldn’t stop trying.

And then there was that airplane flight Cathy and I were on several years ago.  We sat in the midst of several of our young soldiers.  They were beside us and in front of us, all around.  They were young, so young, so bright and pleasant, full of energy.  They talked about various things.  One I remember.  They were so focused on their boots and on finding and buying better boots.  It seems the US issued boots just were not good, not nearly good enough.  The soldiers all knew that.  And so they were looking for and  hoping for better boots that they had to buy.  They were on their way to Iraq, or maybe it was Afghanistan.  They were so young.  My God, how is it possible to thank people like that enough, how is it?  The answer – it isn’t possible.  You can’t.  They were willingly on their way to a place of horror, where some of them might stay and never return, where some of them might end their lives or be horribly injured.  Just so people like us can stay here and live our lives.  So we can go on.  Heroes?  That is not a good enough word for them.  I’ll never forget looking at them, just looking.  Looking at their faces.  It is almost too much to think about even today.

Maybe a last one.  About a Frenchman who worked for me back in my business days, who was head of our subsidiary in Ethiopia.  That is and was a world almost no one in the West knows about.  I was there several times.  One time I remember getting out of a car in downtown Addis Ababa, and in the words of a lawyer with me, all the wretches of the world descended on us.  He wasn’t being unkind.  That was how so many of the hundreds looked, with their arms bent at ninety degree angles or nubs where their legs or arms ended, hobbling on poor crutches, all eager for something, for help.  That Frenchman lived there, and he enjoyed life there.  He always had that ability to enjoy life anywhere.  Out near his house we rode through a soccer field, all set up with posts and goals and such.  He had built that for the kids that had nothing.  And in his house I met all sorts of interesting people.  He had an African son he had adopted when he was in another African country. But the most important thing was how he sheltered and hid people from the communists that ran the country at the time.  The Soviets were advisers to the communist government, the Cubans were the military, and the East Germans provided the security.  All communists.  But of course not everyone wanted that.  And this Frenchman hid people in his basement and moved them on, obviously at risk to himself.  And he just enjoyed life, he and his wife.  And it was my joy to know them.

Thank you for allowing me to reflect on some of the wonderful people God has brought around me.  There are great people out there in this terrible world.  Wonderful people.  I could keep writing and giving examples.  Keep your eyes on Jesus and always be alert to see the treasures he puts in your path.  And while always being alert and discerning, don’t be so quick to judge everyone you meet.  We just don’t know most of what other people are really doing or what is going on in anyone else’s life. 

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                        (March 2016)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2016 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 the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

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

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

* WHAT IS HAPPENING? - YOU SHOULD KNOW

Our society is in a type of free fall as far as relationship to God is concerned.  Morality and civility and even basic decency are falling like a stone.  And if you are alert, you can see a great decline even in wisdom among many people.   Many seem to be operating with blinders on.  Decisions and concepts such as these inane political correctness issues that threaten to destroy freedom of speech and the ability of people to use their minds are now rampant.  Minority groups, some even very small groups, are ever more seeking not only freedom and more rights for themselves but also to impose their beliefs on the society as a whole.  Selfishness and narcissism is at an all-time high.

And then we have the presidential election campaign this year, which is so very deflating to anyone who knows the Lord and who knows the history and basis of the United States.  I have spoken so often about the deception Jesus warned us of – “Watch that you are not deceived.”  It was his first warning of events of the end times.  He later warned of false prophets as well.  The political world and the media world, along with all other elements of society seem full of this deception today.  Many Americans throughout the country are highly upset and angry.  Most likely do not know what we write on in these recent publications, but they know something is horribly wrong in our society.  They are right.  Much of America has forgotten God. 

I along with you have seen some of the candidates for office debate.  Such atrocious behavior.  Maybe some are just panicked by the apparent failure of their message to get through.  But consider what is going on.  Initially many were seeking to run, and there was a general feeling that not in recent memory had so many qualified candidates run for office.  But their message just did not resonate as in recent years, and they have fallen away.  Now we have candidates that are bizarre to say the least in both major political parties.  And behavior we have not seen in candidates for the highest position in the secular world.

I looked back recently at past debates among the candidates for president.  I saw some remarkable political lines that won debates uttered by Ronald Reagan in his debate with Jimmy Carter, by Jimmy Carter in his debate with Gerald Ford, by George W Bush in his debate with Al Gore, and so on.  I even looked at a picture of Jack Kennedy with Richard Nixon together, and they were really smiling together.  None of these exhibited the gutter level behavior and mouths we have seen this year, although surely there were real differences and some sharp criticism.

Are any of these candidates for president today really believers in the Lord?  Any?  For that matter, will the country even get to an election?  Time will tell, and if it does, you have to decide for yourself who to vote for.  I suggest you ask God for guidance, ask the Holy Spirit to show you.  Try to apply all you have learned from the Lord to the election and to the present time.

Jesus spoke so many words that apply now.  “When the son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?”  Well, will he?  In you and your family?  In the leaders of the country?  “Whoever disowns me before others I will disown before my father in heaven.”  How do you act around others when they are disparaging Jesus or demonstrating outrageous ungodly behavior? 

Once again, we are living in the last of the last days, the time of the Lord’s return.  Remember, two will be together.  One will be taken and the other not.  He said that.  I didn’t make it up.  Many like to ignore all this or pretend it doesn’t happen.  Some like to say there is no rapture in the Bible.  They just ignore the scriptures.  The word rapture may not be there, but the events certainly are.  Soon the Lord will gather his believers.  Soon the horrible seven year tribulation will unfold.  Soon he and his holy ones will be back to win Armageddon and establish his kingdom rule from Jerusalem.  Soon.  Soon.  Soon.  Like everything else in the Bible, it is all real.  And it is happening now.  You are among the most blessed people of all time to be living to see this play out.  A great deal around you is highly unpleasant to be sure, but if you know the Lord and his word you know what is happening, you can protect yourself and your family, you know what to expect. 

Seek the Lord and his guidance at all times.  Don’t get out of bed or go out the door without putting on the Lord’s armor and thanking him for his angels’ protection (God sends his angels to serve all those who will inherit salvation.  That serving surely includes protection.). And use the mind and intelligence God has given you together with the guidance of the Holy Spirit to make the best decisions.  You need to be open eyed as you look forward.  And you need to prepare as you should, physically and spiritually.

Remember, no matter what happens on the secular front, in God’s overall plan what has been determined must take place and the time of the end will still come at the appointed time.  You cannot change that and neither can I.  Neither can any of the candidates for president or any of the news media or any of the political parties.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                        (February 2016)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2016 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 the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

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

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

* NO OTHER GODS

THOU SHALT HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME

Americans have not done a good job of following this first of the Ten Commandments, have they?  Not just unbelievers, of course, but not even many believers, I would suggest.

No gods before God.  Our focus must be on him first and always.  Family, jobs, friends, hobbies, sports, whatever, even worthwhile causes, cannot come before God.

Jesus again made the same point when asked what was the greatest commandment.  He said to love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.  Again, God is first.  Jesus in his statement went on to make loving our neighbor – i.e., all other people – in second place.  A close second he pointed out, but still second.  Notice again no job mentioned anywhere.  No work assignment.  Don’t think anyone will ever get any praise in heaven regarding how hard they worked at the office or store or plant or factory.

So no gods before God.

Look at America today.  How many gods can you name that Americans worship more than God?  Or put before God in their actions.  Remember, you can judge what a person believes or thinks by looking at his actions.  What he says means little, but what he does tells all.

How about money.  Income.

 

How about work.  Jobs.  Easy to see in some people’s lives that their jobs are the god of their life.  They sacrifice everything to getting ahead in that job (There really is a difference between having income as a god and having work as a god.  Some people just want money, they want more income, they focus on income in life.  And some others really do just focus on a particular type of work – their job really is them—they revel and live in that job.).

How about sports.  Watching sports, especially pro football.  Or playing golf.

How about good times – vacations, etc.

How about a spouse or love.  Putting a person higher than God.  Suppose you are having great difficulty in your marriage.   Suppose you go to all sorts of experts for help – spiritual experts as well as secular counselors, and nothing seems to work.  And you just keep at it and keep trying to adjust your own life, yet nothing you seem to do ever pleases this spouse.  You have made that spouse and your relationship with the spouse your top priority.  You have put that spouse above God.  You need to stop, repent, and put God back at the top of the list.

How about children?  Strange sounding, isn’t it.  We are all supposed to love our children, and I expect overwhelmingly most do.  But I suggest a strange thing has happened in recent decades.  For some reason young parents have become more devoted than ever to being sure their children have everything possible, experience everything possible.  And to being sure they are safe, protected.  Not only do they work tirelessly to do that, but they adjust their entire life schedules and activities to do that.  The children are the center of their lives…and I would suggest their god.  Not the way it was supposed to be.  Children are wonderful, but they are just part of the family.  Life most assuredly is not just about the children, although I expect if you are alert you know some young parents who live that way.

Still having trouble seeing this?  Just look at time – how much time you or others spend on various subjects.  Write it down.  Look at the time spent in work, in watching television for relaxation or vegging out, in driving about and going shopping or out to restaurants, in working on the yard or house, in going to school events, in going to social occasions.  You can do this for yourself and those you know closely.  You likely will be shocked.  Looking at where you spend your time is another indication of your priorities in life.

What if people put God first?  What would happen?  They would realize all the other blessings and promises of God, that’s what. Putting God first surely means you believe him and his words.  It means that you live and act according to his words.  If you don’t you are surely not putting him first.  That’s just like Paul’s famous words about confessing that Jesus is Lord of your life.  If he is your Lord, then you by definition obey and do whatever he says.

Never too late to start.  At least while you are still living and still on planet earth.  But it will be too late soon.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                        (February 2016)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2016 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 the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

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

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

* NEW WINESKINS NEEDED!

Several weeks ago early in the morning my wife Cathy came into the room.  What about wineskins, she said.  She had been getting ready for the day when God led her to think about the passage about wineskins. It was a message for both of us.

One of the more difficult to understand of Jesus’ parables is his warning about not putting new wine into old wineskins (Luke 5:36-39; Matthew 9:17).  Simply stated, old wineskins have already been used, already been stretched to their maximum extent possible.  If newly made wine is poured into an old wineskin, the ensuing fermentation process will burst the old wineskin.  The old wineskin cannot contain the new wine.

Jesus brought truth and grace into the world.  He brought the gospel message.  He brought forgiveness, the new life in Christ, and all the many blessings attendant to that.

His wonderful new message could not be contained in the religious organization at that time, the organization run by the Pharisees, dominated by thousands of rules and regulations, by form and procedure over substance.

The message for us today?  The same as Jesus’ day.  His message, his gospel is one of new life, of hope and a future, of manifold blessings in him, of the imminent coming of the Kingdom of God to earth, of miracles and healings.  That message cannot be contained in many of the established churches of today with all their rules and regulations, their carefully scripted services which allow little or no time for God, some of them with a contemporary approach focusing on entertainment and current events.  As some of you well know, a large number of our churches today do not even believe healings and miracles are for today, thinking erroneously that all that ended in the first century with the death of the disciples.  Similarly, many do not truly teach and preach the Holy Spirit and the gifts of the Spirit.  There is no time or openness for the Spirit to minister there.  Even further, today many do not teach the imminent return of the Lord.  And far too many falsely believe that the modern church organization replaced the nation of Israel in importance to God! 

Today?  Pour new wine into these old wineskins?  Hardly!  The old wineskins can’t handle it.

But how are we going to wake up all the sleeping people of our age, those so oblivious to the truths of Jesus and his imminent return.  Or more accurately, how is God going to do it, using us as he needs us?

It seems apparent that any significant spiritual revival, or awakening, will likely not happen in the “religious” church structure of today laden down with man’s rules and regulations.  Any large scale awakening will have to happen by using new wineskins.  But what are those new wineskins?  Where are they?  How do we find them?

                         

Consider this:  The only thing that is important now in our time is Jesus Christ and each person’s relationship with him, and the fact that he is coming soon.  It is all about Jesus.  The Father’s design was to send his son that the world might be saved through him.  That is still the design.  Jesus is the King of the Kingdom.  He is coming soon.  When he comes he will not come as the teacher and preacher and healer he came as initially.  He will come as the King of everything.  The ruler.  The commander in chief.  The government will be on his shoulders.   

In the past several years we have seen serious believers leave traditional churches and form small groups, usually meeting in the homes of members.  Well, that is a form of a new wineskin, but it’s not reaching nearly enough lost people.   Basically it is just providing a safe place for people already serious about God to meet with some freedom and peace.

We need a new wineskin that will reach the world!  One that people will pay attention to in this difficult time.  I send this message now so you can be praying about that.  I do have some thoughts on how we might proceed, but right now I ask you to join me in praying for exactly what is the new wineskin God would have us use for him to awaken the sleeping population of our day to the fact that the Lord of all creation is coming and that unless they wake up they will miss him. 

One thought for sure: we need people who truly know the Lord to be in leadership in all areas of life – in the government, in the media, in the entertainment arena, in the business world, in the education world.  We have turned so many key positions over to lost individuals who are leading society over the cliff.  Maybe you are one of those persons who should be out there in a leadership role.  Certainly, in this election year in America do your best to support and vote for those who you believe truly know the Lord, who will stand up for Jesus and the gospel.  And do not stay home from voting because you can find no candidate who perfectly expresses what you are looking for.  There has only been one perfect human to ever walk the earth.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                        (February 2016)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2016 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 the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

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

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

* JESUS' RETURN: WHAT WE CAN DO - COMING TO GRIPS WITH THE REALITY OF OUR TIME

All the excitement and hope of the upcoming elections in America notwithstanding, the Lord is coming at the appointed time.  That is just the truth.  Period.

The inescapable facts

For years I have written, spoken, appeared on television and in person to deal with all the aspects of the imminent return of Jesus.  You can follow much of what I’ve said on our CDs or television programs, all of which you can get to through our web site.   After almost nineteen hundred years of nothing of note happening, suddenly early in the last century and continuing up to today the many prophecies of things to happen before the Lord’s return began happening.  Some obviously, some not so obviously.  If you want to read a list of these go to our newsletter of August 2013.

 

Jesus referred to many of these prophesied happenings as birth pains.  We have moved past the birth pains now into the deeper of the prophecies and warnings.  Jesus’ primary warning to the disciples and all of us regarding these times was to watch that we are not deceived.  I know of no time in American history when there has been such deception among the leaders and key players in government, media, entertainment, business, and more.  And Paul gave the great statement that the Day of the Lord would not happen until the apostasy, the falling away from God took place.  Well?  What kind of a country and world do you live in?  The American population and culture is falling away from God faster than an Olympic downhill skier moves.  Europe is way ahead of us in this.  Some other nations that really haven’t been strong Christian nations are seeing breakthroughs and revivals, fulfillment of the wheat and tares comment by Jesus.

And then there is the troubling warning of Jesus that his coming will be like a thief in the night.  It will just happen.  Boom.  Two people will be together – one will be taken and the other not.  I’m speaking of his gathering his true church here, of course.  Those who are alert, as he has also warned us to be, will not be so surprised.

When is this going to happen?  While he was on earth he noted he did not know the specific day.  I expect now that he is with his father and is no doubt preparing to come, he surely knows.  My warning to all of you is that it is soon, real soon.  When I say that some people think I mean in the next day or two.   That could be, but remember we are talking about God’s timing.  Everything will be just right for the return.  I just mean in the next few months up to a very few years.

The world we live in 

None of us have lived in a world so confused and violent and full of evil as the current one.  The level of the evil coming out of the violent groups like ISIS, AL QUEDA, BOKO HARAN, and others is beyond the comprehension ability of most Americans.  I saw an interview of someone recently in which the interviewer asked what should be done about ISIS.  The person replied we should go talk to them.  No concept at all of the evil we are dealing with.  Talking is not what ISIS does.

Americans are so secularized that many in this once strong Christian nation cannot even conceive of absolute evil.  That is what we believers are up against.  It is the devil and his assistants operating through these horrible groups.  The American churches have become so watered down and so removed from the full gospel and the entire Bible.  Many of the traditional churches just like to focus on God’s love and forgiveness.  Yes, those are wonderful.  But God is also truth and justice.  He cannot stand evil.  At times in the early days of Israel God ordered the Israelites to kill everyone in an enemy group of people, including the children and the animals.  Hard to understand for Americans who are not spiritual, who do not understand the Bible and the spiritual side of life.  Why kill the animals?  Because God knew the evil demonic spirits guiding those evil people could inhabit animals too.  Remember when Jesus cast demons from a man to a herd of pigs?  God did not want any evil spirits coming to his people.

Americans have not realized just how bad all this evil is.  Most truly do not have a clue.  They will find out, unless Jesus comes first.

We have an election going on in the US, and people are getting all excited about the candidates.  Some declare they are going to deal with the areas in which the country has fallen so in recent years – with building up the military, with protecting the homeland, with rebuilding the economy, and more – and people seem to be really excited about some of the candidates.  But I ask you this:  Will any of their behavior affect the date of Jesus’ return?  Quick answer – no.

Have you heard any of the candidates saying or doing anything that will turn around the spiritual fall of America, the rebellion against God?  Quick answer – no.

Recently I listed just three enormous areas of behavior of the nation that are totally opposed to God.  We know his views on these because the Bible is clear about them.  Here they are again:

-          A country that endorses a homosexual lifestyle is far outside the plan of God.  The Bible is clear: that behavior is abominable.

-          Abortion – in America over fifty million babies have been aborted.  Murdered.  Yes, I know that some individuals who have had abortions have repented, and yes surely the Lord has forgiven them if their repentance was serious.  But the USA has a legal national policy of abortion on demand.  That is a policy of murder, and murder is not acceptable to God.  See the Ten Commandments.

-          And then there is Israel and the relationship and support and protection of this country by America.  Historically, the USA has been a great protector of Israel.  In fact, the very recognition of the nation of Israel in 1948 as a legitimate member of the community of nations was accomplished by a bold personal step by President Harry Truman even when advisers were pressing him not to act.  But in recent presidential administrations the support has waned.  The US has pressed Israel to give back land.  The US has pressed Israel in so many ways and has even not put the American embassy in Jerusalem.  Remember, God will bless those who bless Israel.  And curse those who curse Israel.

Do you see any of the candidates correcting any of this?  Only in the relationship to Israel do I see any hope for change.  Nothing these candidates from either party do will affect the appointed time of the return of the Lord.

And there are many more issues of course, specifically in the individual lives and behavior of Americans.  The increasing lack of interest in God.  The wide open sexual life style.  The profligate drug culture.  The wide open availability on television and in movies and elsewhere of occult images, music, behavior.  The complete lack of understanding that it is God first and everyone and everything else second.  The widespread pervasive use of deception in society.  I dare say that most Americans, even many who think they are Christians, cannot recognize occult behavior or actions.  Many so-called Christians do not even think the devil is real (50% according to one survey not long ago). 

So…

The Bible talks about a remnant.  That is what we have today, a remnant.  When Jesus comes to collect his true CHURCH, how many will he be taking?  Percentage wise, not a large number unless there is some awakening before his coming.

How many people do you know who even in your own knowledge meet the criteria Jesus or Paul set down for being in the Kingdom of God?

It is time to get in a right relationship with the Lord.  Time to be ready. 

As for the coming election, to the extent possible vote for those who you believe truly know the Lord, who will stand up for Jesus and the gospel.  Shouldn’t we all be doing as much as possible for the Lord even right up to his coming?  And certainly do not stay home from voting because no candidate perfectly expresses what you are looking for.  There never has been a perfect person on earth….other than the Lord.  Throughout the Bible we see examples of God’s using unbelievers to further his plans.

Lastly, keep your eyes on Jesus, stay focused, don’t lose your joy despite all the attacks of the evil one and all you see in the world.  Jesus overcame the world, and in him you do too.

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus!

                                                                                                                        (February, 2016)

                                                                                                                      Copyright © 2016 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 the appropriate attributions included.  We in fact encourage you to do so and especially to give printed copies to those who you know would benefit and do not have access to computers.]

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

          

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