Pray For Your Nation

Some American Christians have been discouraged from sharing the gospel in public places because of “separation of church and state.” Still there's no denying the fact that most of the founding fathers of the United States were Bible-believing men. It’s interesting to note that in 1812, President Madison signed a federal bill that economically aided the Bible Society of Philadelphia in its goal of the mass distribution of the Bible. If the American Civil Liberties Union had existed back then, they surely would have complained.

Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked man rules, the people groan.” What if German Christians in the 1920s and early 1930s had fasted and interceded for their country more? That might have prevented Adolf Hitler from coming into power.

Regardless of where you live, I encourage you to keep praying for your nation. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 says, “Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” The prophet Daniel brought supernatural change to Babylon through his prayers. God can do the same through you!

“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” - 2 Chronicles 7:14

The King of Pop and the King of Kings

Last night I received the news that Michael Jackson had died. The singer dubbed the “King of Pop” was only 50 years old. Michael’s career impacted many people’s lives including my own. In my late teens, I bought copies of the “Off the Wall” and “Thriller” albums. At 20 when I started pursuing a secular music career, I purchased a jacket similar to the one Michael wore in the “Thriller” video. While working as a nightclub disc jockey, I often played Michael’s music, which usually packed the dance floor.

After committing my life to Jesus in 1991, I frequently prayed for Michael Jackson’s salvation. Because he was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, I was concerned about his eternal destiny. A few years ago Michael reportedly met with preacher/motivational speaker Paula White. I had hoped Paula talked with Michael about the necessity of being born again. But then I also found out that Michael supposedly embraced Islam last November largely through the encouragement of his brother Jermaine who had became a Muslim.

So is Michael Jackson in heaven right now? Only God knows for sure. One of my Facebook friends informed me that gospel musician Andrae Crouch (who previously worked with Michael) prayed with the King of Pop three weeks before his death. Andrae later clarified that Michael didn’t specifically pray for salvation. Still I’m hoping that Michael is now moonwalking on the Streets of Gold. It would be a tragedy if the Lord told Michael at the pearly gates to "Beat It."

In the meantime, there are still people alive who aren't born again. Let's get our attention back to reaching the lost. We can also pray for laborers to reach the rest of the Jackson family so that they all come to know the King of kings.

“These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.” – Revelation 17:14

Change of Address

Someone recently emailed this to me...

I have moved out from 1 Beggars Alley, located at 2 Poverty Lane at the corner of Down and Out Circle. I have a brand new home.

My new address is Living Well on 3rd Abundance Drive , located at the corner of Blessings Street and Prosperity Peak . It's in the God Can neighborhood. No longer will I allow myself to travel to the other side of town on Begging Peter to Pay Paul Route, located at a dead end intersection called I Don't Have, which connects with Borrowers Junction.

I no longer hang out at Failure's Place, near Excuses Avenue , next to Procrastination Point. I've moved to an upscale community called Higher Heights with unlimited potential and opportunities for me to succeed. I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!

Life is good because God is good! Care to change your address? There are many vacancies!

GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS! I AM WELL BLESSED AND SO ARE YOU, in spite of temporary circumstances!

DON'T TELL GOD HOW BIG YOUR STORMS ARE...TELL YOUR STORMS HOW BIG YOUR GOD IS!

- Author unknown

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." - John 14:1-2

I Hear You Knocking

Yesterday morning I woke up at 3:00 AM hearing a "knocking" sound in my mind.  The Lord has done this many times before when He wanted me to get out of bed.  Immediately I got up and prepared to pray.  Wanting a prayer partner, I first went on Facebook and noticed one of my prayer warrior friends was online.  Eventually I called her and we spent time praying for another friend of mine who had gone through intense spiritual warfare during a missionary trip.

Many preachers often use Revelation 3:20 to bring sinners to salvation.  But if you read this Scripture in its proper context, you will see Jesus was actually talking to believers who became lukewarm towards Him.  The Lord wants to fellowship with us daily and yet many Christians busy themselves too much with the affairs of life.

So the next time the Lord "knocks" on the door of your heart, will you let Him in?

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." - Revelation 3:20

Something Fishy

The Ichthys (also known as the "Jesus fish") is a widely recognized symbol initially used by the early Christians as a secret way of expressing their faith. Nowadays this symbol is used openly not only by believers but unbelievers who have perverted it to promote their ungodly beliefs. Atheists for example have put "Darwin" fishes with legs on the back of their cars. In response, some Christians display a "Truth" fish eating the Darwin fish with the caption, “Survival of the Fittest.”

This afternoon while I was working on my laptop computer at Panera Bread, a young woman sat at the table next to me with a “rainbow fish” bumper sticker pasted on her laptop. When I asked her what that meant, she said that it endorsed a belief in both gay rights and Christianity. I asked her if she ever read the entire Bible. When she replied that she had not done so, I told her that I was a minister and pointed out that homosexuality and Christianity cannot be compatible. After making reference to Romans chapter 1, 1 Corinthians 6, Galatians 5 and Revelation 21, I closed by politely saying, “Anyone who claims to be a disciple of Jesus cannot pick and choose what they want to believe in the Bible. They must either believe the whole thing or not at all.” The young woman sat silently for a couple minutes and then walked away. I pray that this woman will take the time to read the word of God for herself.

In the meantime, I’m looking forwarding to seeing someone create a sanctified alternative of the rainbow fish as a way to minister the truth of God’s word to homosexuals.

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

God Bless the Real Miss USA

Former NFL quarterback Steve Bartkowski once said, “If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." In this day of political correctness, Christians are experiencing greater persecution when taking a stand against ungodliness.

Last Sunday during the Miss USA pageant, Miss California Carrie Prejean became one of the five finalists. During the question-and-answer session, Carrie was asked by television personality Perez Hilton (an outspoken homosexual), “Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not?”

Carrie (who is currently attending a Christian college) replied, “Well I think it’s great that Americans are able to choose one way or the other. We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. You know what, in my country, in my family, I do believe that marriage should be between a man and a woman, no offense to anybody out there. But that’s how I was raised and I believe that it should be between a man and a woman. Thank you.”

As you can imagine, her comment wasn’t well received by Hilton and other liberals in the audience. Hilton later remarked to ABC News; "She lost it [the contest] because of that question. She was definitely the front-runner before that.” Hilton also wrote in his blog, "She lost not because she doesn’t believe in gay marriage, she lost because she’s a dumb b****!” Homosexuals often accuse Christians of intolerance. Yet it’s obvious Hilton was the intolerant one just because Carrie freely expressed her beliefs.

Although some may argue that Christians shouldn’t compete in beauty pageants, I believe they can provide a platform for God’s women to express Christian ideas in an increasingly godless society.

Kudos to you, Carrie!

“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." - 2 Timothy 3:12

Making God a Liar

Earlier today I had a discussion with a young man who said he didn’t believe in God and even claimed that God is a liar. This man tried proving his point by referring to Genesis 2:17 when God told Adam, “but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” Because Adam didn’t physically die the same day he partook of the forbidden fruit, this supposedly makes God a liar.

People who don’t want to believe the bible often select isolated verses taken out of context in attempt to prove there are contradictions. But all Scripture must be compared with the bible as a whole. Jesus said in Matthew 18:17, “by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.” Before we address the accusation that God lied in Genesis 2:17, look at these other verses…

“God is not a man, that He should lie…” - Numbers 23:19

“And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent.” - 1 Samuel 15:29

“He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.” – John 3:33

“Let God be true but every man a liar” – Romans 3:4

“in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,” - Titus 1:2

“that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” - Hebrews 6:18

Men also accuse God of lying by their actions…

“If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” - 1 John 1:10

“He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.” – 1 John 5:10

So how do we respond to claims that God supposedly lied in Genesis 2:17? Dr. Terry Mortenson points out in his web site www.answersingenesis.org that the phrase “you shall surely die” can be literally translated from the Hebrew Biblical text as “dying you shall die.” Dr. Mortenson further states, “The Hebrew wording of Genesis 2:17 allows for a time lapse between the instantaneous spiritual death on that sad day of disobedience and the later physical death (which certainly did happen, just as God said, but for Adam it was 930 years later). As Scripture consistently teaches, both kinds of death (spiritual and physical) are the consequence of Adam’s rebellion.”

Verbs in the Hebrew language can be used either in a causative or permissive sense. This would explain why some scriptures make it appear that God causes men to lie such as 1 Kings 22:23, “Therefore look! The LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has declared disaster against you.”  This verse would be more accurately translated as "The LORD permitted a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours..."

The bottom line is that God is not a liar and certainly doesn’t expect His people to do so.  But no matter how hard one may try to be truthful, men in their unregenerate state are liars especially those who do not acknowledge their need of the Savior. Jesus points out that they are (by default) following the father of lies – the devil. (John 8:44)

“Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.” - 1 John 2:22