"What About Israel?

What about Israel?

“For he who touches you (Israel) touches the apple of His eye.”  Zechariah 2:8

Today as I write this Blog, it is September 27, 2015, the night we will experience the amazing sight of what is called, “the Blood Moon”.  This is also the day of Sukkot, the major Jewish festival held in the autumn to commemorate the sheltering of the Israelites in the wilderness and is also called Feast of Tabernacles.  This event tonight may be a sign of something that is about to happen in this old world.  The times we live in are so exciting and I look forward to every day to see more of Bible prophecy unfold before our very eyes. I believe without a doubt that we are living in the ‘End Times’.

I have a piece of carved wood hanging where I can see it from my bed at night and in the morning.  It spells out “Come Lord Jesus”.  This thought is my constant hope and assurance that he’s coming again.  Who knows if this is the day or not, but I know He will come at the right time. 

I have studied the ‘last days’ for over 30 years and have written many teachings and articles about it.  I have preached on it and have held conferences about it.  Does that make me an expert in prophecy and Bible study?  No – actually I have come to the point the more I know, the less I know!  That may not make sense to you, but to me it makes me long to understand more of God.  We shall never have all of God we want until we go to be with Him in eternity.

I have come to the conclusion that regarding ‘End Times’, we are concentrating on what is happening with America while our focus should be on that little country of Israel.  What happens in Israel will affect the entire world, including our country. 

From the beginning of time God has focused on what he calls, “The Apple of His Eye.”  The Biblical history of the story’s in the Bible led up to the Birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  It continues on through man’s salvation by the birth and death of Jesus who sacrificed himself for the redemption of all mankind’s sins, if they accept it.  Although salvation has spread beyond Israel’s borders does not mean the history of Israel is not still being written.

Here is some information we need to keep in mind.

• God led Abraham to this land and said the generations coming from him would be as numerous as the sands of the sea.
• Abraham’s grandson, Jacob whose name was changed to Israel and thus began to be the land of Israel.
• Years of wars followed and in Daniel we read how Nebuchadnezzar made all of the Jews slaves.
• Then many years later the Romans captured Jerusalem and took over the land. 
• The Prophet, Isaiah 11:11 shows that God would begin to recover the remnant his people from other lands.
• In the book of Ezekiel 37:21-22, God said he would take the children of Israel from every nation and bring them back to their own land.
• God also said Israel would never be divided into two kingdoms.
• 1948 Israel became a country again and since then He has been bringing the Jews from all the nations of the world back to Israel.

Our president Obama has been doing everything he can to make Israel divide its land and give a portion to the Palestinians.  He is going against God’s Word that Israel will never be divided again.  Obama is also lifting our protection of Israel by standing with Iran with this Iranian deal about to take place.  God’s Word has terrifying results for those nations who turn their back on Israel. 

We, in the US, have always been allies with Israel until this man became president.  Obama is a type of antichrist - “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.”  1 John 2:18 (NKJV)

When the real antichrist appears it will be in Israel and there will be a 7 year peace treaty signed.  Then begins the 7 year tribulation period.  Many things will take place during that 7 year period and at the end will come the gathering of nations to destroy Israel and that is called ‘Armageddon’. 

Yes, it is all about what happens in Israel.  What about America?  More on that next week.  In the meanwhile, keep the faith and keep praying for Israel because it will affect us. 

PS:  Watched the Blood moon last night and it was an amazing thing to see. Now let’s see what happens.

"In The World - Not of it"

In the World – Not of It

“I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one.
They do not belong to this world any more than I do.”  [John 17:15-16 (NLT)]

Did you ever feel like all the evil of the world that surrounds you is just waiting to suck you in; to swallow you up?  Actually that is a reality.  2 Corinthians 4:4 (NLT) tells us that “Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe.” He has a great influence on the majority of people.  He controls the false religions of this world which were formed under his lies and deceptions. 

John 12:31 tells that he is the ‘ruler’ of this world and in Ephesians2:2, he is noted as the prince of the power of the air.  You can see from these verse that Satan is doing all he can to make believers become a part of this world.  He temps us with all things that hold us back from ‘walking in the Spirit of God’. 

Sadly, we live in this evil world and daily have to battle the deceitfulness of the enemy.  We may live in this world, but Jesus himself has overcome the devil and says in John 17:15-16 that if you are a believer that “They (the believers) are not of this world just as I am not of the world.” Again in John 15:19, Jesus assures us “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”

God has given us the tools to combat the enemy and his demon hordes and it is this, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”     [1 John 4:4] Satan may be god of this earth, but God’s power is greater than Satan’s.

There are several warnings in the Bible about not loving the world and the things in it. This does not mean that we should not enjoy the beauty of the earth and the wonderful pleasures God has given us. In I John 2:15-16, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”  Then God tells us distinctly what ‘loving the things of the world’ are.  “For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.”

Friends, we are living in perilous times and the battle for your soul is fierce.  If you are wasting your time on things that are not of God (and you know what they are), you may be in for the surprise of your life.  This doesn’t mean for you to sit in a corner and do nothing, but it does mean there is a lot of work to be done in preparation for coming events.

For myself, I want to be ready to meet Jesus at any time.  I long to see his face and experience the joy of His presence.  There is a song that touches my heart so much.  I can write down the words, but don’t know how to add the music.  It is called, “Give Me Jesus”.

In the morning when I rise, in the morning when I rise,
 In the morning when I rise, Give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus, give me Jesus,
You can have all the world, but give me Jesus.

And when I am alone, and when I am alone,
 And when I am alone, give me Jesus.
Give me Jesus, give me Jesus,
You can have all the world, but give me Jesus.

And when I come to die, and when I come to die,
 And when I come to die, Give me Jesus.
  Give me Jesus, give me Jesus,
You can have all the world, but give me Jesus.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

"The Blessing of Working"

The Blessing of Working

“Wise words bring many benefits, and hard work brings rewards.”

Proverbs 12:14 (NLT)

This is a little late for Labor Day, but it holds true year around.  There is a time to work and a time to rest and many do not care to work; they only want to rest.  Those who continue working reap their rewards and benefits like the above scripture.

Growing up I was taught good work ethics; ‘Give your all to the task at hand’, ‘If you work for someone else, work as though you owned the business’, and ‘Be consistent in doing your very best’.  There is a verse in Proverbs 13:4 that describes a truth that can’t be disputed, “Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.” [NLT] 

Of course there are people who for various reasons are unable to work and need help to just get along.  But there are those who draw money from the government because they say they can’t work, yet they do everything else they want to do.  I’m sure we all know people like this.  The consequences of these people are that they will always live below the average living standard.  More than likely they will never own a decent home, drive a reliable vehicle, or have enough money to last from month to month.

Bible times held the same concerns as today.  2 Thessalonians 3:10-13 [NLT] explains what Jesus would want you to do.  “Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business. We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.”  God wants to bless you and that’s why his Word tells you how to receive those blessings.  The same is true with tithing; if you tithe, God will bless you.  As it says in the book of Malachi 3:10, that God will pour out such a blessing on you that you can’t even contain it.

Here is what God the Father desires for each of us, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.”  [3 John 1:2 (NKJV)] We just need to be obedient to God and it all happens just like his Word says.

Our spiritual life also includes working for the Lord and we will be rewarded.  As a youth one of my favorite hymns was “Give of Your Best to the Master”.  The second verse says it so well.  “Give of the best to the Master, Give Him first place in your heart; Give Him first place in your service, Consecrate every part.  Give and to you shall be given; God His beloved Son gave; Gratefully seeking to serve Him, Give Him the best that you have.”  This is what God wants from us – His best.

Let me give you a good example of working for the Lord.  My pastor works above and beyond what he is called to do.  Of course a pastor’s calling is to share the Gospel; to study the Word and to pray.  However, my pastor goes beyond that.  Not only does he visit the sick, but he prays for everyone around them.  He will go anywhere for those of the congregation that need him.  He has compassion on the downtrodden and the lost.

Not only does he spiritually care for his sheep, but physically stretches himself for the church.  How many pastors do you know who snowplows the church parking lot in the winter, or goes out and cuts wood for our wood burning furnace, gets up on the roof to help fix a leak?  I have known him to make a trip to another state to be with a person from the church who had a family member pass away.  How about driving a round trip 300 miles for someone who needed prayer?  He is not perfect, but he loves his people and they know it. 

Our pastor “Gives of His Best to the Master” and that’s what each of should be doing.  God wants ‘first place’ in our lives; not what’s left over after the day is done. It’s not just your money he wants; he wants your time; your worship and for you to care for others. We need to be spreading the Word and drawing others to Jesus.  This is our spiritual ‘work’ and there are rewards for that as well as there is for physical work.

There comes to each of us a time to physically retire and reap the benefits we have earned, but spiritually, there is no retirement.  No matter how old we are we can keep sharing the message of Salvation as long as we have breath.  There is a promise given to those who do that.  “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Revelation 22:12 (NKJV)  Salvation is a free gift of God, but the blessings come when we are obedient to him.

May God bless you greatly as you go about your daily work, making God first place in your heart and life.  Working together doubles the rewards!

"Do Pets Go to Heaven"

Do Pets Go to Heaven

“Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal,              which goes down to the earth?”       Ecclesiastes 3:21

 This is an age old question that some have asked me to answer.  However, there is not a simple answer, but with a search of scriptures and a few questions you may get some understanding.

In the beginning God created all life; man and woman, birds, fish and all animals and saw they were good.  After the fall of mankind, sin and evil dwelt on the earth.  That covered not only people, but animals as well.  Animals, fish and birds became a food source and men became hunters.  There was no thought or guilt for killing animals because they were part of man’s survival.

In very early times the Egyptians began to worship certain animals such as cats.  Even statues of them were worshipped.  Animals were the only way of transportation for many centuries, many of which are still used today in third world countries. 

As the world became more civilized, people wanted something live for companionship, so dogs and cats gradually became family pets.  Pets have become very helpful in healing of bodies, social anxieties and depression.  They also fill in the place of loneliness and grief.  They may take the place of children for those who never had any, or for those whose children have left the nest.  Most who have pets feel they are part of their family.

Sadly, pets don’t live to be very old and therefore pass on before their owners.  Then comes the grief and the difference between people and animals.  Now the big question: “Do pets go to heaven?”  The Bible tells us that those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior will go to heaven when they die, (John 3:15).  1) Can your dog or cat accept Jesus as their Savior?  2) Can pets have a relationship with Jesus?

There is a need here on earth for pets, but is there a need in heaven?  When we reach heaven we’ll find we don’t need anything.  Our God has provided it all.  Our body is not even going to be the same; we will have a spiritual body that needs nothing.  We will be able to go from place to place in an instant.  We will recognize on another, but will not live as husband and wife or owner and pet. Our body will be so different that we won’t have to eat or digest food. In 1 Corinthians 6:13, the Bible says, “Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them.” 

Some argue that there are other animals in heaven – and it’s true.  We know there are horses and creatures we have never seen, but are they solid bodies as they are on earth - I don’t think so.  God has given us so much to enjoy here on earth.  Think of how enjoyable it is to hear the birds sing, or to watch them fly here and there.  The variety of color in different birds is amazing.  Here in Michigan we have so many all summer, but in the fall they fly away.  That is how God designed them.  I believed God made cats and dogs and horses and other things to give us pleasure while we are on earth.

I have had several pets in my life that have passed on and I remember how dear they were to me.  I have always assumed they went back into the dust from which they were made.  I also know there is a difference in losing some person who is very dear to you and losing a pet.  The grief is not the same and the healing from loss is much shorter.

There is no absolute in the answer of the question, ‘do pets go to heaven?’  I suggest you pray and ask God to give you peace about the matter.  I know He will.