Hand or Glove

I have a glove here in my hand. The glove cannot do anything by itself, but when my hand is in it, the glove can do many things. True, it is not the glove, but my hand in the glove that acts.

The Christian is a glove. It is the Holy Spirit in us, the hand, who does the work. We have to make room for the hand so that every finger in the glove is filled.

God’s Word tells us in I John that greater is He (Jesus Christ) that is in you than he (Satan) who is in the world. We can have the hand that is stronger than Satan.

=-=-=-=-=
Powered by Bilbo Blogger

=-=-=-=-=
Powered by Bilbo Blogger

Baptist Muse - GONE?

The internet is so transitory. It looks like my Baptist Muse links have turned into some ad for building blogs. In fact, judging by a google for Baptist Muse, it looks like Baptist Muse itself has dropped off the face of the earth and become a new business (same owner looks like, Nicholas). Baptist Muse used to be a forum, blogging site, and directory...but that looks gone now. If anyone knows differently, please comment.

I know it has been difficult for me to keep up my blogging with this move and all (the moving van brings my desktop this week! YES!), but I will make every attempt (and have) to keep this directory going for many years to come. I think having so many authors really makes things like this last longer. My KJV Devos site has suffered while I have been offline myself, but many thanks go to those who have been contributing authors there, too, and have kept the blog going.

If you would like to post on this IFB KJV Directory (on any topic! As long as you are IFB and KJV!), or if you even have devotions that you can post - or copy and paste from your own blog - for KJV Devos - please drop me an email. I'd love to have more authors on both blogs. Not only does it make them both more interesting reading for all, but it also stabilizes them. God bless!

Attitude Adjustment

Remember the Morton salt ad "When it rains, it pours"? Life is so often the same way. Yet we are so very blessed. Personally, sometimes it is easy for me to lose sight of the blessings under the piles of, well..."salt" that is poured my way.

That isn't a God-honoring attitude though. I have a special Scripture that is kept in my kitchen. I look at it as I prepare our meals. This beautiful word always gives me a proper attitude adjustment. One can't help but read it and be thankful! :)

Deuteronomy 12:7 And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.

It is amazing how Scripture can change our lives, brighten our day and give us hope when we hide it in our heart! I pray it be a blessing to you also. Our God is good!!!

Lesson in Love

As a group of college students toured the slums of a city, one of the girls, seeing a little girl playing in the dirt, asked a guide, “Why doesn't her mother clean her up?” “Madam,” he replied, “that girl’s mother probably loves her, but she doesn't hate dirt. You hate dirt, but you don’t love her enough to go down there and clean her up. Until hate for dirt and love for that child are in the same person, that little girl is likely to remain as she is.”

Until hate for sin and love for the sinner gets in a person, he will do little about the plight of the lost.

How much do we care for the sinner and put sin in its place?

=-=-=-=-=
Powered by Bilbo Blogger

Christians not Growing

Scripture: Hebrews 5:12-14 Romans 10:17 II Timothy 2:15 1. Lack of Spiritual knowledge 2. Lack of Spiritual exercise 3. Lack of accountability

(Timetable is Shortly after Mid-Trib.)

“11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. 13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” (Revelation 13:11-18).

The coming Antichrist will have his own PR man. The Antichrist’s agenda is defined by two simple words: deception and destruction. The central characteristic of this second “beast” is deception (Rev. 13:14). The word “beast” is from the Greek word therion (thay-ree'-on), referring to an animal that is a very dangerous, destructive threat. Revelation 19:20 calls this second “beast” the “false prophet.” He is the Evangelist of Deception and Destruction who will be the Antichrist’s Manager of the Mark.

“And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation 19:20).

“And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon {Satan, who gives power and a throne to the Antichrist; Rev. 13:2}, and out of the mouth of the beast {the Antichrist; a satanically empower human political leader}, and out of the mouth of the false prophet {the Antichrist’s Evangelist of Deception and Manager of PR}” (Revelation 16:13).

A main part of the false prophet’s program of deception will be his attempt to deceive people to follow him in worshiping the Antichrist (Rev. 13:12). The Antichrist will rise up out of the “sea” of humanity, but the “false prophet” will come “up out of the earth” (Rev. 13:11). There are a couple of possible meanings here.

1. This second “beast” could merely be a demon that possesses a man.
2. “The earth” may simply mean the land referring to the land of Palestine.

This latter explanation would fit the pattern of deception. It seems probable that the false Messiah (Antichrist) would choose a Jew (as did Christ) to direct people to him (Rev. 13:12). The false prophet will be the Antichrist’s evangelist. Even though he will come looking like a believer, his message will reveal him for what he really is. Revelation 13:11 says, “and he spake as a dragon.” He will have the meek appearance of a sheep (“two horns”), but will speak with the political power and authority of a dragon. He will speak the same blasphemous philosophies of the Antichrist (Rev. 13:6).

Revelation 13:12 says the False Prophet “exerciseth” the authority of the “first beast.” He will have the same agenda and will have authority over who lives and who dies. This is going to be another Inquisition. “Causeth” (vs. 12) can mean to force someone to do something. From the context of Revelation 13:16-17, requiring this mark appears to be exactly what will happen. If a person refuses to worship the Antichrist by refusing the “mark,” that person will be killed outright or he will be starved to death. Therefore, “causeth” means people will either take the mark or they will die without the government’s provisions (Socialists call this ministry).

No one will be excluded from the requirement of the Mark. To be allowed to be part of this new One World global society (“buy” or “sell”), a person will have to take the “mark.” Without it, he will be denied the very necessities of life such as food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention.

Our new world society is rapidly moving towards a radical new kind of socialism. It is also moving towards a cashless, computerized society. The technology already exists where a computer chip can be embedded under the skin that can contain a person’s whole history.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) chip. They are also referred to as Nano Particles. These microscopic computer chips have a 128-bit ROM for storing a unique 38-digit ID number. They are small enough to be injected through the needle of a syringe and can be used to locate the person by satellite that they are injected into.

The technology of these microchips is rapidly advancing. They can contain social security numbers, bank account balances, medical history, employment history, and even any criminal history. The chip can be updated each time it is scanned. The chip can record every transaction a person makes in moving funds from one account to another, making purchases, and all of this can be recorded in a central database. Every transaction a person makes can be recorded. Without that chip, no one could receive money (payment or wages) or make a purchase.

Revelation 13:13 tells us that a “great sign” will be his method of deception. He will direct his deception centrally at the Jews (Rev. 13:13-14). We know this because of the nature of his “wonder” (or sign). Revelation 13:13 says, “he maketh fire come down from heaven.” Perhaps this will be the Star War’s Laser Technology that the USA and others have been developing since the 1990’s. The Jews are looking for Elijah to accompany the coming of Messiah.

“5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (Malachi 4:5-6).

Even today, when Jews celebrate the Passover, they leave a vacant seat at the table for Elijah. Of course, he and Moses will have already come in the two witnesses of Revelation 11:3-12, but they will be rejected because they preached Jesus as the Messiah. On two occasions, Elijah called fire down from heaven.

1. To consume the sacrifice, the water, and the rocks to prove that God was the real God and discredit the priests of Baal and king Ahab (I Kings 18:17-41).
2. When king Ahaziah sent three sets of fifty men each to bring Elijah back (two sets of fifty were consumed by fire, the third Elijah went back with; II Kings 1:10-14).

In Revelation 13:14-15, this deceiver will create an “image” and the appearance of life will be given to the image. I believe this will be some type of three dimensional computer generated holograph that will be able to be projected into any home or work place where the Antichrist will be able to communicate directly with people. This may be something as simple as digital TV or an image through internet. The advancements in Virtual Reality technology is rapidly making this possible. This holograph will be able to communicate with voice-activated commands. It will be able to answer questions and give instructions. It will probably be the final stage of the giant inter-net computer link that will connect every home and work place to the control of the Antichrist. The “mark” will be the means of access to that network (Rev. 13:16-17).

Almost every item bought or sold today has a computer access code in an RFID chip embedded in it or in a Bar Code on it. In the shipping industry, every individual item shipped from anywhere in the world can be tracked by a RFID chip attached to the shipments. There are debit cards that will transfer funds to and from accounts directly without ever exchanging any money. Your cell phone has a GPS locating device built into it. Many of the new cars have a GPS locating device built into them. Soon, every Passport and state Driver’s License will have an RFID chip embedded in it. The RFID chip will provide the same technology to be later implanted just under your skin.

(Omni-RFID Cashless Society) There is presently available an RFID chip manufactured by Omni Industries that will enabled the whole world to go cashless and be on an international currency of which the value can be updated at any moment. This way, the item prices in the store will remain the same, but the currency’s value will be changed at will according to the fluctuations in the Global Economy. The majority of crime today is cash related. Income tax is difficult to manage because it is hard to trace income and expenditures. One day you will no longer file tax returns. Every transaction of income and expenditure will already have been recorded in your international database. Your income tax will be removed directly from that account. All that technology is already available. The majority of this whole system is already in place ready to be implemented.

This is implemented by the world cartel on the International Banking System that controls the Federal Reserve System in every country in the world. This is what drives the whole New World order. It’s a one-world economy controlled by a handful of fiscal elitists. The root of all evil is finally bearing its ultimate fruit: world dominion.

“6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow {pursue} after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (I Timothy 6:6-11).

Anonymous comments will not be allowed.

Common Courtesy --copied

Perhaps you’ve never placed the word courteous next to Christ. But you know how you never notice double-cab red trucks until your friend says he wants one—then you see a dozen of them? I had never thought much about the courtesy of Christ before, but as I began looking, I realized that Jesus makes Emily Post look like Archie Bunker. He always knocks before entering. He doesn’t have to. He owns your heart. If anyone has the right to barge in, Christ does. But he doesn’t. That gentle tap you hear? It’s Christ. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock” (Rev. 3:20). And when you answer, he awaits your invitation to cross the threshold. And when he enters, he always brings a gift. Some bring Chianti and daisies. Christ brings the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). And, as he stays, he serves. (Mark 10:45). If you’re missing your apron, you’ll find it on him. He’s serving the guests as they sit (John 13:4–5). He won’t eat until he’s offered thanks, and he won’t leave until the leftovers are put away (Matt. 14:19–20). He is courteous enough to tell you his name (Exod. 3:15) and to call you by yours (John 10:3). And when you talk, he never interrupts. He listens. He is even on time. Never late. Never early. If you’re checking your watch, it’s because you’re on a different itinerary. There is a time for everything (Eccles. 3:1). And Christ stays on schedule. He even opens doors for you. Paul could preach at Troas because the Lord had opened a door (2 Cor. 2:12).

When I asked my dad why men should open doors for women, his answer was one word: “respect.” Christ must have abundant respect for you. He knocks before he enters. He always brings a gift. Food is served. The table is cleared. Thanks are offered. He knows your name and tells you his, and here is one more. He pulls out the chair for you. He raised us up with Christ and gave us a seat with him in the heavens (Eph. 2:6). My wife has a heart for single moms. She loves to include a widow or divorcée at the table when we go to a restaurant. Through the years I’ve noticed a common appreciation from them. They love it when I pull out their chair. More than once they have specifically thanked me. One mom in particular comes to mind. “My,” she blushed, brushing the sudden moisture from her eye, “it’s been a while since anyone did that.” Has it been a while for you as well? People can be so rude. We snatch parking places. We forget names. We interrupt. We fail to show up. Could you use some courtesy? Has it been a while since someone pulled out your chair?

Then let Jesus. Don’t hurry through this thought. Receive the courtesy of Christ. He’s your groom. Does not the groom cherish the bride? Respect the bride? Honor the bride? Let Christ do what he longs to do. For as you receive his love, you’ll find it easier to give yours. As you reflect on his courtesy to you, you’ll be likely to offer the same. Copied

BaptistQuips.Blogspot

"The only place that power comes before prayer is in the dictionary." - David Gibbs Jr.

Prayer can be described as "love on its knees".

Prayer will become more effective when we stop using it as a substitute for obedience.

True faith does not contradict its words by its conduct.

"It takes twenty years to make the message because it takes twenty years to make the man." - E.M. Bounds

"All we need to do is to take the hand He stretches out." - Elisabeth Elliot

"The greater our present trials, the louder will our future songs be." - C.H. Spurgeon

http://baptistquips.blogspot.com/

Excerpts from Preaching So As To Convert Nobody

By Charles G. Finney

Let your supreme motive be to secure your own popularity; then, of course, your preaching will be adapted to that end, and not to convert souls to Christ.

Aim at pleasing, rather than at converting your hearers.

Let your style be flowery, ornate, and quite above the comprehension of the common people.

Make no distinct points, and take no disturbing issues with the consciences of your hearers, lest they remember these issues, and become alarmed about their souls.

Avoid preaching doctrines that are offensive to the carnal mind, lest they should say of you, as they did of Christ, "This is a hard saying. Who can hear it?" and that you are injuring your influence.

Denounce sin in the abstract, but make no allusion to the sins of your present audience.

Keep the spirituality of God's holy law, by which is the knowledge of sin, out of sight, lest the sinner should see his lost condition, and flee from the wrath to come.

Preach the Gospel as a remedy, but conceal, or ignore the fatal disease of the sinner.

Preach salvation by grace; but ignore the condemned' and lost condition of the sinner, lest be should understand what you mean by grace, and feel his need of it.

Preach Christ as an infinitely amiable and good-natured being; but ignore those scathing rebukes of sinners and hypocrites which so often made his hearers tremble.

Avoid especially preaching to those who are present. Preach about sinners, and not to them. Say 'they', and not 'you', lest any one should make a personal and saving application of your subject.

Aim to make your hearers pleased with themselves and pleased with you, and be careful not to wound the feelings of any one.

Preach no searching sermons, lest you convict and convert the worldly members of your church.

Do not make the impression that God commands your hearers now and here to obey the truth.

Do not make the impression that you expect your hearers to commit themselves upon the spot and give their hearts to God.

Leave the impression that they are expected to go away in their sins, and to consider the matter at their convenience.

Make no appeals to the fears of sinners; but leave the impression that they have no reason to fear.

Say so little of Hell that your people will infer that you do not believe in its existence.

Make the impression that, if God is as good as you are, He will send no one to Hell.

Often present God in His parental love and relations; but ignore His governmental and legal relations to His subjects, lest the sinner should find himself condemned already, and the wrath of God abiding on him.

Flatter the rich, so as to repel the poor, and you will convert none of either class.

Make no disagreeable allusions to the doctrines of self-denial, cross-bearing, and crucifixion to the world, lest you should convict and convert some of your church members.

Should any express anxiety about their souls, do not probe them by any uncomfortable allusion to their sin and ill-desert; but encourage them to join the church at once, and exhort them to assume their perfect safety within the fold.

Be sure not to represent religion as a state of loving self-sacrifice for God and soul; but rather as a free and easy state of self-indulgence. By thus doing, you will prevent sound conversions to Christ, and convert your hearers to yourself.

Be time-serving, or you will endanger your salary and, besides, if you speak out and are faithful, you may convert somebody.

Lest you should pray too much, engage in light reading and worldly amusements.

That your people may not think you in earnest to save their souls, and, as a consequence, heed your preaching, encourage church-fairs, lotteries and other gambling and worldly expedients to raise money for church purposes.

If you do not approve of such things, make no public mention of your disapprobation, lest your church should give them up, and turn their attention to saving souls and be saved themselves.

Do not rebuke extravagance in dress, lest you should uncomfortably impress your vain and worldly church-members.

Lest you should be troubled with revival scenes and labors, encourage parties, picnics, excursions, and worldly amusements, so as to divert attention from the serious work of saving souls.

Ridicule solemn earnestness in pulling sinners out of the fire, and recommend, by precept and example, it jovial, fun-loving religion, and sinners will have little respect for your serious preaching.

Cultivate a fastidious taste in your people, by avoiding all disagreeable allusions to the last judgment and final retribution.

Treat such uncomfortable doctrines as obsolete and out of place in these days of Christian refinement.

Make little or no impression upon your hearers, so that you can repeat your old sermons of ten without its being noticed.

If your text suggest any alarming thought, pass lightly over it, and by no means dwell upon and enforce it.

Avoid all illustrations, repetitions, and emphatic sentences, that may compel your people to remember what you say.

Avoid all heat and earnestness in your delivery, lest you make the impression that you really believe what you say.

Address the imagination, and not the conscience, of your hearers.

Be careful not to testify from your own personal experience of the power of the Gospel, lest you should produce the conviction upon your hearers that you have something which they need.

Encourage the cultivation of the social in so many ways as to divert the attention of yourself and your church-members from the infinite guilt and danger of the unconverted among you.

In those sociables talk a little about religion, but avoid any serious appeal to the heart and conscience of those who attend, lest you should discourage their attendance, always remembering that they do not go to socials to be earnestly dealt with in regard to their relations to God. In this way you will effectually so employ yourself and church-members as that your preaching will not convert anybody.

The experience of ministers who have steadily adhered to any of the above rules, will attest the soul-destroying efficacy of such a course, and churches whose ministers have steadily conformed to any of these rules can testify that such preaching does not convert souls to Christ. http://biblebaptistbennington.com/ReachtheWorld.dsp

The Other Man

Perhaps he sometimes slipped a bit—

Well, so have you. Perhaps some things he ought to quit—

Well, so should you. Perhaps he may have faltered—

Why, all men do, and so have I. You must admit, unless you lie, That so have you.

Perhaps if we would stop and think, Both I and you,

When painting someone black as ink, As some folks do;

Perhaps if we would recollect, Perfection we would not expect,

But just a man halfway correct, Like me and you.

Judging Others

A certain preacher had a method of dealing with those people who were critical of others. He kept a complaint book in his desk. When a church member would come to tell him of another’s faults he would say, “Well, here is my complaint book. I’ll write down what you say, and you can sign your name to it. Then I’ll go and take it up with our brother.” Invariably the critic would stammer, backtrack, and insist that nothing be written or signed.

In his 40-year ministry that preacher opened his complaint book hundreds of times—but never made a single entry. How about it? Are you willing to write out and sign the ugly things you have said about others? If not, perhaps it would be best to leave judgment where it belongs—with God.

Deceptive Packaging

Through its laws, our country declares it a crime to lie about the contents in a box of cereal. These laws demand that the outside of the package tell the truth about what is on the inside. Deceptive packaging is illegal. “Truth in advertising” regulations are another way to protect the public. A good example of this is the warning on a pack of cigarettes: “Smoking causes lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy.”

Unfortunately, there are no such laws about people. We require no one to tell what really lies behind the packaging—the clothes, facial expressions, mannerisms, speech patterns, or affected behavior. No one is forced to tell you what he or she is really feeling, thinking, or planning to do. Our deceptive packaging—the way we appear to others—is an accepted, even an expected part of our way of life. We have become experts in this type of trickery. Before we are going to get the help we need, we need to confess this sin of hypocrisy. Only then can we go on the path of discovering and knowing our real selves. (Matt. 6:2, 5, 16)

Bro. Harry shomaker

New Devotional

I am in the process of a move, and still trying to post from the library for a few more weeks, but wanted to announce a new devotional we are using at KJVDevos, digging into the Psalms.  Here is today's entry:

PSALM 2

AUTHOR: David

This is beautifully verified in Acts 4:25 where David is specifically mentioned as the author of the second Psalm.

The Story Behind the Psalm

David's son, Absalom, rebelled against his father. He gathered an army and a following and led in an attempt to overthrow David and to make himself the king. Notice this implication in verse 2. When the civil war began, David refused to fight against his son. He fled the city to a place called Mahanaim and there watched the dust of battle rise, realizing that his own son had marshalled an army against the king. Notice his unwillingness to retaliate. He left revenge to the Lord, and the Lord adequately took care of this duty.

Victory did come to David, but it was accompanied by tragedy, for his son was killed in the battle. You will find the victory mentioned in verses 6, 8 and 9.

The Way It Was Used by God's People

This Psalm was used by the Jewish people when seeing the wicked prosper. They turned to it when good seemed to turn out bad and bad seemed to turn out good. Every Christian has faced such times. There are occasions when it seems that no matter how sincere one is or how hard he works for God, those who live unrighteous lives seem to be on the mountaintop while we are in the valley. When such feelings arise, what a comfort it is to have the second Psalm to which to flee. When you are living righteously in poverty, want, illness, etc., and your neighbor is living a sinful life midst plenty, pleasure and fortune, take refuge in the second Psalm. Right will turn out right, and right is its own reward. Victory will come if we will wait on the Lord and not take matters into our own hands.

Once a unsaved farmer came to the preacher and said, "Reverend, this year I plowed my field on Sunday, I planted seed on Sunday, I chopped weeds on Sunday, and I harvested my crop on Sunday, and this October 1 had the best crop I have ever had. What do you say to that, Reverend?"

The preacher quietly, confidently replied, "God does not always pay off in October."

While reading this Psalm, picture David with tear-stained cheeks and a broken heart enduring a rebellion led by his own son. With that mental image, read the Psalm.

Psalm 2:1-12 http://kjvdevos.blogspot.com/

A Somebody With God

Joel C. Gregory writes: “How many times have we had to reach the end of our own resources before we remembered to trust in God, the one steadfast resource of our lives? We’re all in need of a spiritual exodus day by day. When our faith causes difficulties, our first response is to fall back on our familiar resources—people, things, self—and only when these do not help can we truly lean only upon God for our needs. “I like what Dwight l. Moody said about Moses in this connection. Moody, not a very erudite man, had an unusual insight into Scripture. He said that Moses spent forty years in the king’s palace thinking that he was somebody; then he lived forty years in the wilderness finding out that without God he was a nobody; finally he spent forty more years discovering how a nobody with God can be a somebody. “And he was right. When Moses and the people found out they were nobodies without the resource of God, that’s when the exodus began.”

Bro. Harry Shomaker

The Higher the Bamboo Grows, the Lower It Bends

A government official who came into President Lincoln’s office was startled to find the chief executive shining his shoes. “Sir,” he gasped, “surely you do not polish your own shoes!” “Of course,” replied the humble President. “Whose do you polish?” The greatness of a man is evidenced by his humility. In the words of an old Filipino saying, “The higher the bamboo grows, the lower it bends.”

All of this is illustrated in the life of Jesus. (Matt. 20:28). The highest title God ever allows in His church is “servant.” Am I willing to serve people as Jesus did? I know, I cannot die for people to save them as Jesus did, but I can “die to self” to enable me to tell people that Jesus died for their sins, and thus serve them in the greatest way possible. When I humble myself, then God will give me the grace to grow into maturity where, I like the tall bamboo, can lower myself to serve those of “low esteem.” Notice, (Rom. 12:16). How tall are you spiritually? Tall and flexible enough to serve people in all kinds of situations?

Three False Messianic Views Regarding Kingdom Theology

"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds"(II John 1:7-11).

The world population as of 2009 is about 6.8 billion people. This populace is composed of 7 main religions http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html (Chart)

1. Christianity (all branches) - 2.1 billion
2. Islam (all branches) - 1.5 billion
3. Secular/Non-religious/Agnostic/Atheist - 1.1 billion
4. Hinduism – 900 million
5. Chinese Tradition religions (mainly Confucianism & Taoism) – 394 million
6. Buddhism – 376 million’
7. Primal-indigenous (a very broad category alternatively termed “tribal religionists,” “ethnic religionists,” or “animists,” estimates range from 100 million to 457 million. (457 million is the combined total for “Ethnoreligionists,” “Animists,” and “Shamanists”)

Judaism (the 12th) is actually a very small percentage at about 14 million (although Judaism is a small percentage of the world’s population, its impact on world history and modern world politics makes it a predominant influence upon eschatology)
.
The world’s three most influential religious groups upon world politics are ALL looking for a coming political Messiah. Yet, the Word of God defines each of these three religious groups as Antichrist. All three of these apostate religious groups are Theonomic in their worldviews. Theonomy means that each group believes that their political Messiah will usher in a political Kingdom on earth where their religious views (Laws) will be those that are forced upon the governance of the world where their religious leaders, along with their political Messiah, will govern the world.

1. Roman Catholicism and her “harlot” daughters of Reformed Ecumenicism are looking for a Political Messiah and his Prophet to usher in a utopian society on earth. In their view of the end-times, this new Messiah and his Prophet will rule the world from Rome.

We have a number of historical examples of the Theonomy of Roman Catholicism and Reformed Theology (Reformed churches that came out of Romanism). We have the Inquisition of Roman Catholicism extending from 1232 A.D. to 1820 A.D. Estimates of the numbers of people murdered by Romanism are between 50 million to 150 million souls. This does not include the innumerable host that were crippled and maimed by the unspeakable horrors of the physical tortures of the Inquisition. The Inquisition is Romanism’s historical example of Theonomy. This is pure Fascism.

John Calvin also gives us a view of Reformed Theology’s utopian ideology of Theonomic governance as the epitome of Legalism in its forced Asceticism for social reform as he sought to establish the Kingdom of God on earth beginning at Geneva, Switzerland beginning in 1541 A.D. Henri Daniel-Rops , in his The Protestant Reformation, vol. II, gives us a short synopsis of Calvin’s (and Reformed/Covenant Theologies) Theonomic worldview.

“Geneva at this period experienced a moral dictatorship such as has scarcely a parallel in history. It had begun at the time of Calvin’s return in 1541, but it went on perfecting itself all the time. The police or ‘guardians’ watched everything, even the most intimate details of men’s private lives. Anyone thinking evil thoughts or doing evil things was punished with brotherly ferocity.
There was prison for those who liked dancing . . . enjoyed drinking . . . cardplayers . . . Barbers were forbidden to tonsure priests passing through the city, and jewellers prevented from fashioning chalices. Both these offences were punishable by hanging. It was regarded as a confession of blasphemy and heresy to murmur ‘rest in peace’ over the grave of a dear departed . . . Two small children were beaten with rods for having eaten two rounds of cake on leaving Church, and another young ragamuffin was nearly beheaded because he returned a box on the ears given him by his mother . . . It is common knowledge that dictatorships inevitably end by seeking to regulate every single thing.”

This was (and is) the uptopianistic ideology of the vast majority of Covenant Theology churches. It is another form of Fascism. It was exemplified in the Anglican Church of England, the Lutheran Church in Germany, and in most of the other State Churches of Europe in varying degrees. Protestantism’s and Romanism’s practical Theonomy were especially grievous towards Jews and Anabaptists (those who refuse to recognize infant baptism as legitimate baptism). Philip Hughes in his book A Popular History of the Reformation gives some details of this.

“There were, of course, the five weekly sermons which all must attend . . . The fashion of dress and of shoes . . . was regulated, and the women’s hair styles also . . . Needless to say, every least sign of the old religion was most rigorously forbidden . . . Anabaptists were banished, with death as the penalty should they return. The rare atheist . . . was put to death, tortured and beheaded. The heretic was burned . . . Few crimes were more swiftly and decisively punished than that of contradicting the master’s teaching. Intellectual give-and-take had no place in Geneva . . . Even to say that Calvin was not a good preacher could mean prison . . .Naturally there was a censorship of books - even Bullinger, Against the Anabaptists, was forbidden . . . Real sins, of course, were dealt with mercilessly . . . And the inquisition dreamed of from the beginning became a reality. Twice a year a commission of ministers and elders descended on every house in the town to see that all was well and godly . . . All this was entered in a huge register, with notes against the name, ‘pious,’ ‘lukewarm,’ ‘corrupt.’ . . . Add to this the immense body of the pious who voluntarily spied on their neighbours and even drew them on in talk until they tripped.”

Luther’s hatred for the Jewish people was recorded in his book On the Jews and Their Lies written in 1543 A.D. It was certainly the foundational theological heresy that fueled the hateful and murderous German Holocaust of Hitler’s Nazism. The following is a synopsis of that book :

“In 1543 Luther published On the Jews and Their Lies in which he says that the Jews are a ‘base, whoring people, that is, no people of God, and their boast of lineage, circumcision, and law must be accounted as filth.’ They are full of the ‘devil’s feces ... which they wallow in like swine.’ The synagogue was a ‘defiled bride, yes, an incorrigible whore and an evil slut ...’ He argues that their synagogues and schools be set on fire, their prayer books destroyed, rabbis forbidden to preach, homes razed, and property and money confiscated. They should be shown no mercy or kindness, afforded no legal protection, and these ‘poisonous envenomed worms’ should be drafted into forced labor or expelled for all time. He also seems to advocate their murder, writing ‘[w]e are at fault in not slaying them.’ ” (Granted Luther would later in his life make more loving remarks towards Jews, his book On the Jews and Their Lies reflects the general consensus of all State Churches of Medieval times.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_and_antisemitism

2. Islam is looking for their Messiah. His full name will be Al Mahdi Al-Muntadar (the awaited Savior). Muslims more commonly refer to him simply as the Mahdi. He is the universal hope of both Suni and Shite. For the Muslims, they are looking for their Mahdi who will lead the nation of Islam in the great Jihad when, upon His victory, he and the nation of Islam will rule the world from Mecca.

Mahdism is becoming a dominant influence upon world politics at this point in history predominantly through the nation of Iran and its President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Islam’s worldview sees Theonomy ushered in through the coming of the Mahdi and the implantation of Sharia Law in the governance of the whole world. Sharia Law is what we see in the vast majority of Muslim nations already. Sharia Law involves public floggings (pic). It also commands the brutalization and execution of unfaithful women by burying them alive and stoning them to death (pic), public beatings/floggings, cutting off the noses of disrespectful women (pic), sexual mutilation, and even murder if the husband believes he has been shamed.

Sharia Law also demands the slaughter or execution of infidels (non-Muslims). (pic) Those who refuse to convert to Islam are to be killed (executed) by the sword (beheading). Those who criticize Mohammad or Islam in any way are to be killed.

Shite Muslims believe there were twelve Imams who were descendants of the prophet Muhammad’s cousin (and also his son-in-law) and that those twelve Imams were endowed by Allah with divine abilities to be supernaturally enabled to lead the Shiites into world dominion. The twelfth Imam, Muhammad Al-Mahdi, mysteriously disappeared in 941 A.D. Since that time, the Shiite believers are commanded to await his eminent return. The Mahdi is often referred to as the Hidden Imam who rules in government matters through the Shiite senior clerics. The nation of Iran is predominantly Shiite and all that we see them doing now in the political arena is steeped in Mahdism.

Muslims believe in Jesus. However, they simply believe He was a created human being and is not God (Surah 3:59). They believe Jesus is just another prophet of Allah (Surah 2:136, 2:84). They believe Jesus will return with the Mahdi, but will die 40 years after his return (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 37, Number 4310). Therefore, the nation of Islam, especially the Shiites, is predeceived for the coming of the Antichrist and his false prophet.

3. Judaism is looking for their Messiah. In most cases, they are still looking for a Messiah who will restore their nation under the Mosaic Covenant, rebuild their Temple, and establish Jerusalem and Israel as the nation that will rule the world.

Israel and the Jewish people have a wide and varied view of their Moshiach (the Jewish Messiah, meaning Anointed One). Many in Israel believe in two Messiahs; one to be the king of Israel who will lead the nation of Israel into world dominion (the Kingdom on earth) and the other to be the High Priest of Israel who will lead in rebuilding the Temple of God and reinstitute the sacrifices and the Mosaic Covenant. However, the predominant view of Moshiach ben David (son of David) is that he will be merely human and not God incarnate. This view is a form of deception that will lead Israel to accept the Antichrist and his accompanying false prophet. Judaism is divided into almost as many sects as Christianity from strict literalists to complete liberalism. Many Jewish people are unbelievers connected more to the real estate of national Israel than they are to the Promises of God.

These three apostate religious groups are pre-prepared for deception by their own false beliefs. They will readily accept the Deceiver as he appeals to each of their false beliefs and hopes. The rest of the world is looking for a Redistribution Messiah. They are looking for a political leader who will make all things equal; everyone will have an equal share of everything. They want this so desperately, they will be willing to trust a politician’s promise to give it to them. Another word for a politician’s promise is the word lie. This is the main tool in the deceiver’s toolbox! The easiest person to deceive is the person that already believes what the Deceiver will say before he says it. These people are pre-deceived.

“3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (II Thessalonians 2:3-12).

(If you want the Power Point for this along with the teacher's script, send me an e-mail and I will forward the files to you free of charge)

NO ANONYMOUS COMMENTS WILL BE ALLOWED.

Hearts Can Fool

The Wild West of yesteryear was full of illusions on distant horizons. One of George Custer’s young officers was sure he saw a party of Indians a mile away. As the soldier charged, the Indians looked plainer each moment. But arriving at the point, there were no Indians at all—only some buffalo carcasses. Other travelers saw ships skimming across the desert sand in full sail, railroad tracks elevated on pilings, or water birds with brilliant plumage. All of these illusions occur when light rays pass through the atmosphere bent and distorted.

But no optical illusions in nature exceed the illusions that can be left by our own hearts. By diagnosis, the human spiritual heart is “beyond cure.” Unaided by God, the response of each of us toward knowing his or her heart must be despair: “Who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9). No one can fathom the secrets or pierce the darkness of his or her own heart. This is especially true at the point of the question about whom we trust—here again, our hearts can fool. But there is hope. It rests in this: God knows your heart (Jer. 17:10). He sifts, searches, explores, and probes the human heart. He tests and examines human emotions. This is our hope. When we get to know God, we get to know our own heart. You do not know your heart by looking into it yourself. You know your heart by getting to know God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Good Morning Up There

The late Harry Rimmer penned the following letter to Charles E. Fuller of the Old Fashioned Revival Hour, shortly before his death. “Next Sunday you are to talk about heaven. I am interested in that land because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for over 50 years. I did not buy it. It was given to me without money and without price; but the Donor purchased it for me at a tremendous sacrifice. “I am not holding it for speculation. It is not a vacant lot. For more than half a century I have been sending materials, out of which the greatest Architect of the universe has been building a home for me, which will never need remodeling or repairs because it will suit me perfectly, individually, and will never grow old. “Termites can never undermine its foundation for it rests upon the Rock of Ages. Fire cannot destroy it. Floods cannot wash it away. No lock or bolts will ever be placed upon the doors, for no vicious person can ever enter that land, where my dwelling stands, now almost completed and almost ready for me to enter in and abide in peace eternally, without fear of being rejected. “There is a valley of deep shadow between this place where I live, and that to which I shall journey in a very short time. I cannot reach my home in that city without passing through that valley. But I am not afraid because the best Friend I ever had went through the same valley long, long ago and drove away all its gloom. He stuck with me through thick and thin since we first became acquainted 55 years ago, and I hold His promise in printed form, never to forsake me or leave me alone. He will be with me as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and I shall not lose my way because He is with me. “I hope to hear your sermon on heaven next Sunday, but I have no assurance I shall be able to do so. My ticket to heaven has no date marked for the journey, no return coupon and no permit for baggage. Yes, I am ready to go, and I may not be here while you are talking next Sunday evening, but I will meet you there some day.” John 14:1-3

Lord bless you all,

Bro. Harry Shomaker

Thank you for your patience!

We are currently relocating from Vermont to Oklahoma, and have not had time to blog - in fact we don't even have a internet connection at home set up! Thanks for your prayers during this time, and if you need to contact us, email water05201@hotmail.com - Thanks!

Fred and Jessica Roberts

Sometimes we just take things for granted

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago. They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding. ALL BUT ONE !!! He paused, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.
He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.
He was glad he did.
The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.
The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket.
When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, 'Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?' She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, 'I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly.'
As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, 'Mister......' He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued, 'Are you Jesus?'
He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul: 'Are you Jesus?' Do people mistake you for Jesus?
That's our Destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace.
If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would.
Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day.
You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.
Please share this.... Sometimes we just take things for granted, when we really need to be sharing what we know...Thanks

GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
TOO MANY CHRISTIANS ARE NO LONGER FISHERS OF MEN BUT KEEPERS OF THE AQUARIUM.