Blow The Trumpet!

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain!

Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble;

For the day of the Lord is coming, for it is at hand!”  Joel 2:1

        Joel was a prophet of God who prophesied in a time when Judah was in a great period of devastation.   Locusts had destroyed all the crops causing a horrible famine in the land.  They even stripped the bark from the fig trees.  People and animals were dying by the thousands. It was the greatest plague anyone had ever seen and Joel could only believe it was the judgement of God.

       This is backed up in Deuteronomy 28:38-46 when Moses warned Israel what would happen to the nation that was disobedient. “These are the curses that shall come on you.  Locusts will consume all your trees and produce.”  Joel said that this time had come and he began warning the people to beware.  Look at these next two verses:

1.         “Blow the trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all

             the inhabitants of the land tremble; For the day of the LORD is coming, For it is  

             at   hand”     Joel 2:1

2.            “The LORD gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?”  Joel 2:11

Joel calls for Repentance:  Verses 15 – 17 is not only a warning to the people, but to the leaders of the congregation to admonish the people who were living sinful lives.  The same thing is true today; don’t wink at sin!  What does it mean to ‘wink’?  It means to close our eyes against the sin and slaughter going on around us.  We say, “Oh, it’s so terrible to have all these abortions”.  Oh, it’s so terrible everyone thinks it okay to commit adultery, to have sex with anybody and everyone.”  “It’s so terrible that this happens and that happens and immediately after we say it, we forget it!  We close our eyes to sin.  We don’t want to speak up and tell people when they’re doing something wrong – even in our churches.  Let’s not be blind to it and believe it isn’t happening.

        Joel crosses over from his time to a time to come. [Joel 28-29]    In those days a few were given dreams and vision as a way of prophecy, but God was saying that in the days to come, His Spirit would be poured out on all flesh, young and old.  They would be given visions and dreams of prophecy.  There would be no select group, but on lowliest to the highest.
        This time has come – the captives have come and continue to return to Israel.  It began in 1948 when Israel became a nation as was told would happen.   Peter saw it coming in Acts 2:14 when he quotes Joel.  Now go to Rev. 6:12 and look what happens here.  The Moon turns to blood!  Matt. 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
         In Joel 3:13 it speaks of the harvest being ripe in the world so we know he is speaking of the last days.  How do we know what last days are?  Look at 2 Tim. 3:1-5

 “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,   traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power.

         Today, multitudes are walking on the edge.  They want both Jesus and the world.  I tell you it is impossible to live like that, but they have been deceived into believing they can.  This Valley of Decision is the place of God’s final verdict.  He is saying to the undecided, “Now is the time.  Either you are for me or against me.”  (Matt. 12:30)  

         There are 6 steps the church must take to help people make a decisions for Christ:

·       Understand the seriousness of sin.

         ·       Understand the consequences of sin

·       Teach repentance

·       Call a solemn assembly

·       A time for fasting and prayer

         ·       Teach that the blood of Jesus covers every sin when people confess and repent.

        Those who are society calls ‘worthless’, or ‘bums’.  [Menservants and maidservants], in Joel’s day, servants were considered beneath their owners.  They couldn’t be used by God.  They were the

‘low life’.  But God says in those days, he is going to make them prophets!  Their station in life is not the issue; the issue is the matter of the heart.  So be careful and don’t ‘esteem yourself above others’. (Phil. 2:3)
        “Blow the Trumpet in Zion, sound an alarm in the Holy Mountain! Let the people of the earth tremble; for the day of the Lord is coming, for it is at hand”.  It’s time to get our act together; to become a strong ‘people of God’.  It’s time to wake up and take a stand in our family, our church and our community.  Let the voice of God’s people be heard!
        How can we expect our young people to serve God, when we do deceitful things?  Quit acting in church like we are so righteous and then outside of church take on the character of the devil.  Quite being deceitful, trying to see what we can get away with.  It’s time to turn to God in repentance.  Call a solemn assembly, get on your knees, fast and pray.  It can turn a nation back to God.  Don’t worry about whom the president is or how he got there – God puts people in authority and takes them out. 

REPENT!   REPENT!  REPENT!  Turn from how you’re living – change!  You can make a difference in this world by preparing for the world to come.

The Joy of Rentance

The Joy of Repentance

Psalm 51:10-13 NLT

 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.

Do not banish me from your presence, and don't take your Holy Spirit from me.

Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.

  Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you.

     The first year I became a Christian I was so zealous to lead others to salvation that I came on so strong I really offended some family members.  My reasoning was that God had set me free from so much stuff and I felt such joy and I wanted the same for those I loved.  One of my siblings was living a very worldly life and I explained to them that if they continued to live this way, they would spend eternity in Hell.

     That didn’t turn out too well and our relationship went down hill.  I was so troubled about it and just felt miserable.  I grieved because I was sure they were on there way to Hell; I grieved because I felt I was wounded because they rejected Jesus and me as well. 
     I prayed and read the Bible almost constantly and felt I had ‘arrived’.  I was a squeaky-clean Christian; a saint who could do or say nothing wrong.  I carried an oversized Bible with me wherever I went and shared it with whoever would listen.  I lost all my friends, which was okay in my mind because I couldn’t keep company with sinners like them.  What did bother me was my family turning away because I preached so much to them. 
     Eventually I came to understand that God loves the sinner as much he loved me.  What lesson that was for me.  I learned that I needed to love them and let them see Jesus in me.  I also learned that I wasn’t this great Christian I thought I was; I needed to recognize the sin stirring around in my own heart. 
     One day while studying Psalm 51, I came on verse 17; “The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise.”  God immediately opened my understanding and I gave up another part of me when I realized, I too, was just a sinner saved by grace. 
     I had heard the saying, “You catch them and God will clean them”, referring to the fact that God will accept you just the way you are and it is He who will clean you up and make you whole.  That was me; God had me, but there were things in my character that needed cleaning up.  That was a day of tearful repentance.
     I wiped away my tears and went to my sibling’s house and asked her to forgive me for the things I said to her.  She asked why I had asked forgiveness from her because she had said some hard things to me.  We both cried and hugged each other in forgiveness.  In God’s time, she also came to know the Lord in a very real way and accept Jesus as her Savior.
     Now I was ready for verses 10-13, “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”  The Lord was doing that and still is.  Vs10, “And renew a right spirit with me”; I knew that was a flaw that only God could take care of.  Vs. 11 says, “Do not banish me from you presence and don’t take you Holy Spirit from me.” That was a thought that chilled me to the bone.  I don’t know how I lived through the past years without knowing Jesus as my Savior or having the comfort of the Holy Spirit in times of trouble.  God sent the Holy Spirit as a comforter (John 14:26) and a teacher for which I am so grateful.
     “Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you” (vs. 12) I went from Repentance to Joy.  After I repented, I experienced joy like I had never known.  When someone tells you that once you are saved, you never have to repent again, that is a lie of Satan.  Satan wants you to believe that no matter what you do you are still saved.  You can read throughout the entire Bible about those who turned away from God and were turned over to Satan.  Repentance will not only give you immediate joy, but will open your heart to be willing to do the things He asks of you.
     Verse 13 has given me such more understanding of God’s grace.  “Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you.”    I hope you got this truth, because it’s so important.  Go over these verses again and you will see the requirements for bringing sinners to Christ.

•             Ask God for a clean heart.
•             Try to be steadfast in your walk.
•             Pray to God to keep you in His grace.
•             Let the Holy Spirit be your guide.
•             Experience the Joy of the Lord.
•             Share your testimony with out condemning others.
•             People will be saved.

All About Sheep

                                                            All About Sheep

“Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we

                      ourselves. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”   Psalm 100:3

 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” John 10:11 

Did you ever wonder why Jesus calls believers his sheep?  Did you know that sheep are among the stupidest animals in the world? They don’t follow commands at all.  Did you ever see sheep in a circus or an animal trainer showing off his trained sheep?  Of course not, because they won’t do what you tell them.
            Sheep can’t protect themselves from anyone or anything so that’s why they need a shepherd to watch over them.  They can’t even run very fast.  When the enemy sneaks in to attack them, they are an easy target, unless there is a shepherd there to ward off the enemy.  Typically, predators like wolves, fox and wild dogs go after sheep. The Lord warns us of this same danger. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15
          Did you know that sheep have very poor eyesight?  They can’t even recognize the enemy right in front of them. If sheep get knocked down and fall on their back, they can’t get up by themselves.  They need help to get back up on their feet. They flail their legs in the air, bleat and cry and after a few hours on their backs, gas begins to collect in their stomachs.  The stomach then hardens and the air passage is cut off.  The sheep will eventually suffocate if there is no shepherd to help them.  This is called a “cast down” position.  It reminds me a scripture, “Why art thou cast down, O, my soul, and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.”  [Psalm 42:5]    We like sheep can get in a spiritual life threatening situation and our only help and hope is in God.  We aren’t always able to see the danger around us.
            Sheep have excellent hearing and can easily recognize the voice of their shepherd from other sounds and voices.  What was it Jesus said?  John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” If we have a close relationship with Jesus, we listen for him and want to follow after him.  If you have the opportunity, read the book, “Hinds Feet in High Places”.  It’s about listening to Jesus and following Him.
            Sheep exhibit both Flocking and Following behaviour.  As people,  we tend to have the same behavior as Hebrews 10:25 explains “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”  Those of us who love the Lord like to gather together and with prayer and praise encourage and lift each other up.
            Sheep prefer to move from a darkened area to a lighted one. Christians also prefer to be in the “Light”.  I Peter 2:9 explains why that is;  “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
            With sheep there is safety in numbers and if you notice they try to remain close to each other. It is harder for a predator to pick a sheep out of a group than to go after a few strays.  It seems to be the same with people.  When we walk out of the will of God and into the world, the enemy is waiting to devour us.  The Bible explains it this way, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8 
            From birth, lambs are taught to follow the older members of the flock.  That’s how they learn to do the things they do and to be protected from harm.  We know about bringing up children; to take care of them by teaching them how to grow up.  They don’t always listen to us, but they always watch us and learn from us.  Sadly, not all parents follow the scriptures of “…bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.” Eph. 6:4   
           Sheep have no idea how to balance the amount of food they take in.    It seems that people have the same problem and I don’t mean of ‘overeating’.  People don’t realize they are in danger of taking in too much of the world.  Many keep taking in more and more and end up in danger of falling away from God.  We also need to beware of the dangers of over indulging in worldly pleasures.  In the parable of the ‘Sower and the Seeds’, we read about the seeds that “fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”  Luke 8:14
           Can you see that it’s no wonder Jesus refers to us as sheep and himself as the Shepherd.  He knows each of us from the inside out and those who have accepted him as their shepherd know Him; really know Him. "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.  As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. John 10:14-15  

            Thank you, Jesus, for being my Shepherd!

                                                                Wanda Hammond Ritter
                                                                                                                     July 13,2012

Catch a Little Fox

Catch A Little Fox

 by

Wanda Ritter

“Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.”
 (Song of Songs 2:15 NKJV)

What do you know about the fox, a clever, cunning animal, who eats birds and small animals.  They also eat insects, fish and berries. There are several species that live North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.  We are most familiar with the red fox.  However, there are also black, or silver, as they are called, blue, artic, cross and the gray fox.  For centuries, they have been trapped for their beautiful fur. In spite of that, they have survived.  The foxes hide by day and hunt by night. 

My father was a trapper and fur dealer and I was well acquainted with wild animals like the fox.  I went with Dad one day to check his fox traps and he had caught one.  I discovered at that time, the fox is a persistent and very dangerous animal.  He is so crafty and cunning, he can sneak into a farmyard and cause destruction before the farmer even knows he’s there.

There are foxes of a different kind who sneak into churches all over the world.  They are also very crafty and cunning and most don’t recognize them for who they are, until it’s too late and the damage is done.  How do we recognize a churchfox?  It would help if they had a bushy tail and pointed ears, but that isn’t the case.  Most look exactly like your average churchgoer.   However, there are four things that stand out like antenna:

• They come from another church or denomination and share how they were treated badly and did not deserve it.
• They make themselves available to be helpful to others, especially if these other seem to have money.
• They tell anyone who will listen about all the amazing things they have done in the past and that we should follow their example.
• If they get a microphone in hand, they try to teach others about the Bible; enough so they appear legitimate and then, sneaky as a fox, they put forth their beliefs.  Very craftily they twist the Word of God into what sounds like truth.

           Generally, these little foxes have sneaked into several churches and wreaked havoc, before they were recognized. The problem being, that once they become trusted by the leadership, they cunningly began take-over tactics. 

           A church fox has the uncanny ability to plant a word here and there that brings questions to the minds of the faithful.  They might encourage the pastor of the church by bragging him up and telling him what a privilege it is to sit under the pastor’s ministry.  This is how the fox tries to appear humble.

If given the opportunity, they can undermine strong, solid programs within a church and in some cases, cause a great division in the body of Christ.  The best thing to do is what the wise Solomon said, “catch the little foxes before they spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes”. 

           These ‘tender grapes’ are those who are newly saved, or those Christians who are not strong and grounded.  The fox loves to gobble up those tender grapes and the poor little things don’t even recognize who they are dealing with.
           It reminds me of the story of “The Gingerbread Man”?  The gingerbread man was running away and no one could catch him.  Then along came the crafty, cunning fox and by appearing to help the gingerbread man, tricked him into a position where the fox gobbled him up.  That was the end of the gingerbread man.
          God has given many gifts to man and one much needed gift is the gift of discernment (I Cor. 12:10).  Not everyone has the Gift of Discernment, but it is placed within the body for our protection from the little foxes that spoil the vines.  We must not confuse this gift with criticism.  Many times, one who has the gift of discernment is told they are being critical, especially when they have discerned there is a fox in the church.
          All of this doesn’t mean that we should go on a fox hunt.  What it does mean, is we should be aware there are those who do these things.  If we recognize their tactics, we need to catch them by putting a stop to what they are doing before they cause too much damage. 

Jesus said to those he sent out, “be wise as serpents and harmless as doves”.  (Matt. 10:16)  Christians should behave in this manner when they see someone causing division in the church.  First, they should just watch and be silent until they are sure of what they believe.  They should pray much about it. Finally, if they are positive a person is causing a serious problem in the church, they need to bring it before the church board.  If that would be too uncomfortable, it is proper to write a letter addressed to the board, with their signature.

The church board, along with the pastors, is the governing body of the church.  Once the problem is brought to their attention, the situation is then in their hands and it is up to them to handle it.  You can do nothing more about it, but continue to pray.

God knows the situation and sees what is happening.  If you have the gift of discernment you also have the responsibility to act when a fox comes into the body of believers.  Whatever you do, pray - pray - pray!  God will show you what to do.