Month: June 2010

Steering huge ships requires power to turn the rudder…

Inertia will work against it, but with enough power it can be done!

The same applies with the power to turn our nation!!!

Below is a devotional message from Our Daily Bread, on the subject of ingratitude, which unfortunately tends to be a common trait among people. Notwithstanding this also applies to We the People of these here fair United States of America!

Surely many today are ungrateful for our many blessings, and for a good many of our population today, having had no Bible training, and never having experienced an encounter with Jesus Christ, they are totally ignorant of the things of God, and they don’t know what they don’t know!

But we in the church, who have been schooled in the Bible; and some even from their childhood, and have been raised in the church, who have had an encounter with Jesus Christ, and are born-again… what’s our excuse?

How is the party of the first part to know about Jesus if the party of the second part is not talking to them, nor praying for them; and are content to keep their treasure to themselves, behind the four walls of their various churches?

Of course they will readily tell you anyone is welcome to come into anyone of these fine churches, and get saved, anytime they choose to; but the point is most will not do that; and so that’s why Jesus set the pattern in scripture that the Gospel message is to be taken to them… where they are, in the market place, and out on the highways and byways of the world.

Also there is another change today, that is not good; and that is whereas the gatekeepers of right and wrong, and the overseers of public good, at least in colonial days, was found in the church; and the preaching that was heard every Sunday served as the beacon to show the people the Way, and to keep them accountable and on track… all that has changed.

Today what was once the purview of the church as society’s gatekeepers is today managed by the talking heads you see on TV, among the secular, anti-God, atheist and agnostic crowd, among the very people the church was sent to minster to.

Now if that isn’t a case of the tail wagging the dog, then I don’t what else is!

Our society is backwards folks, from where we began!

Our country was founding by Christian men and women, who risked their ALL to come here through violent storms and roaring seas; and many died in the effort.

They then dug in at Plymouth Rock, and proceeded to mold and shape a nation and carved out of this new land a home and a government that was founded upon Godly principals, which they learned and gleaned from the Bible.

And just as happened with the Galatians church, we read about in the New Testament, and also as we learn happened with the Children of Israel, in the Old Testament… they started in the Spirit, only to end up in the flesh!

This pattern is common, apparently, to all of mankind, because this pattern is seen all throughout the Bible!

Maybe that’s why our Lord refers to us as His sheep… because sheep are some pretty dumb critters; and sheep need a shepherd or they are liable to follow each other right off a cliff… and folks is that not what’s happening in our country today?

Do we not have a case where the spiritually blind and unregenerate are at the helm of our nation, making the laws and directing the course for our nation’s future, that the rest of us are to follow; while the church for the most part is content to playing church and having little bless me parties on Sundays?

How is that going to change anything, if what is kept in the church doesn’t make it to the streets?

But such as it is, that is exactly the state of our society today… where in the absence of the church’s presence and God’s people in the market place, with us being about our Father’s business, and as a result of the paradigm shift that has occurred here, in these here United States… that job has today been taken over by the Oprah Winfrey style talk shows, and media celebrities, and by Hollywood actors and such… and so is it any wonder our nation is in the mess it is in?

Our nation is as this huge ship, this ocean going tanker that is weighted down, with its cargo holes full to the brim. We have been traveling in this same direction for a very long time, and all the inertia and prevailing currents have long since been established in the present direction… away from God!

With the rudder being so small, and with all the inertia and current flow already pushing us in the wrong direction, we aren’t going to be able to turn this ship around on a dime; and certainly it is going to take the spiritual equivalent of some major hydraulic POWER, from an outside source… a heavenly source, if you are following my analogy, to turn us around!

That’s our cue folks, and those are our battle instructions for today… for us to fall down on our knees, and repent; and ask for God’s mercy and forgiveness on our country!

Now we need to understand this also, that with God’s “Hydraulic Power” being what it is, in the Holy Spirit, it doesn’t take much prayer to move mountains, and this is even true of large tanker ships as well!

For in God’s economy, when we are fighting our battles His way, and are being obedient and are submitted to the leading of the Holy Spirit this is what we can expect (http://www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=5510)

1 believer chases a 1000
2 believers chase 10,000
3 believers chase 100,000
4 believers chase 1000,000
5 believers chase 10,000,000
6 believers chase 100,000,000
7 believers chase 1 billion

Man that is some kind of power we have behind us, and certainly the odds are stacked way in our favor; but only as we are moving under the direction and power of the Holy Spirit… and that is my point!

It does not take a lot of people praying to move this big tanker around, and cause it to turn; but it does take some people praying; and that is our confidence and our hope, as a nation, that as we who are called by His name, will humble ourselves and pray, and as we repent and seek after God’s face; then God’s promise is to hear from heaven, and to heal our land. Selah and Amen

Shalom,

Skip Barland

From: RBC Ministries [mailto:donotreply@rbc.org]
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2010 9:14 PM
To: theskipper@cox.net
Subject: Our Daily Bread — June 22, 2010

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace…

but who is that other figure?

“They disobeyed the king’s command and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.”

(Daniel 3.28b)

Below I’ve included an excellent devotional message from Worthy Ministries, in Israel, on how God prepares His people and trains them for His serivice.

As I read the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and their ordeal in the fiery furnace, what comes to mind is another scripture: “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him…” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

How often in the course of our lives do we question God, as to why our struggles seem so hard; and sometimes even we may wonder if God is still with us, or whether He still listens to our prayers?

This experience has been termed by some “The dark night of the soul,” and it is a common occurrence to anyone who has enlisted in God’s service.

It even happen to our Master, the Lord Jesus, in His wilderness experience; and the Bible says even of Jesus that “He learned obedience through the things He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8).

As I read and understand my Bible, it is not God’s intention to make us comfortable in this life, as much as it is to train us for His service, and to build us up and strengthen us for the battles we are going to have to fight.

God is more about teaching us how to have SHALOM (peace) in the midst of our battles; and that sort of peace doesn’t happen without having had the experience of walking through the fiery furnace of our life, just as our three Hebrew brethren had to do.

You will note that God didn’t keep them from the fire; but He did walk with them through it; and so is He will be with you and I today, in our trails.

After all, His promise to us is as follows: “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?'” (Heb 13:5-6)

We must understand that we are in a war, and all wars are serious business, and all wars inevitably will have casualties.

Do you remember the story about Gideon, and how God told him to weed out those who didn’t have the inclination or heart for battle?

Judges 7:2-6

² And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’

³ Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.'” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.

⁴ But the LORD said to Gideon, “The people are still too many; bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. Then it will be, that of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and of whomever I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.”

⁵ So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps from the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set apart by himself; likewise everyone who gets down on his knees to drink.” ⁶ And the number of those who lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, was three hundred men; but all the rest of the people got down on their knees to drink water.

One of the things I learn from this and also other examples that are given in the Bible, is that often God is testing us by our circumstances; and most times when God is testing us we won’t even have a clue that is what is happening.

In the above example, let us note how God separated the 300 from the others. It was those who had their minds on the battle, who were chosen; and the ones who were all about themselves and their own lives were eliminated.

That one fact brings me to the admonishment which Jesus gave to His disciples, that also applies to us, when He told them to… “Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves;” and also as the Apostle Paul warned us not to be ignorant of the enemy’s devices, his strategy and his battle plans, his mode of operation, as all these things can clearly be learned if we would but study the scriptures.

And finally we are also admonished in scripture to “Let this mind be in us, that was also in Christ Jesus our Lord!“ (Phil 2:5) Selah

Shalom,

Skip Barland

From: Worthy Ministries [mailto:worthynewsbrief@worthymailing.com]
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2010 4:30 AM
To: theskipper@cox.net
Subject: Worthy Brief – 6/21/2010

Did you know that China is now the world’s #1 publisher of Bibles, even though private printing and distribution of bibles and underground house churches remain illegal, and many Chinese Christians and pastors remain jailed for their faith?

Below is an invitation given by a friend and sister in the lord, who heads a Messianic group of believers who meet in Laguna Woods, here in Southern California.

What God is doing in the House Church Movement/Revival on Mainland China is nothing short of amazing!

I once heard a man from missionary organization that there were more Christians meeting in the underground House Church Movement in China, than in all the churches in Western Europe and the United States combined… Wow, how awesome is that!!!

Then I heard of this movement where Chinese Christian are planning to take the Gospel to Jerusalem, preaching the Gospel to all they pass along the way, using the same ancient road that was once used by silk traders; and this means they will also be evangelizing in all the Islamic nations they pass along the way as well.

Below is an invite to all of you in Southern California to attend a Messianic Meeting, where some Chinese brothers and sisters from a group called “Melody of My Heart” will be worshiping the Lord singing and praising the God of Israel through Hebrew songs, and Davidic dance.

If you’d like to attend make a copy of the flyer (above) to get in, past the guard gate.

Shalom,

Skip Barland

From: wendy cohen [mailto:shabbatscripturestudy@gmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2010 3:07 PM
To: Wendy
Subject: Silk Road to Jerusalem: Messianic Club July Meeting

Dear Friends,

A few months ago, I was invited to a unique weekly gathering.  Dozens of Chinese people, mostly speaking Mandarin, were singing and praising the God of Israel through Hebrew songs, with Davidic dance.  They were praising the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and praying for the safety of Israel.  Strange and wonderful, I found out they support the building of bomb shelters in the north of Israel, they are closely aligned with a Messianic Congregation in Haifa, and they participate in an international prayer ministry for Israel.  They are on-fire for Adonai.  And they honor the One who gave them breath by honoring His first born children, the Israelites.

They are a part of a large ground swell of Chinese Christians who support Israel.  Their ministry is called “Melody of My Heart.”  Started twelve years ago by Pastors Francy and Paul Yeh as a Chinese music ministry, it changed radically six years ago, when God grabbed them, took them to Israel and opened their hearts to Messianic worship.  Now, they create music that combines Messianic melodies and harmonies with some Chinese influences.  They blow shofars, teach each other about Jewish customs, discuss the feasts, celebrate Shabbat, pray about current events that affect Israel, and financially support Messianic Israeli ministries.  Now, Melody of My Heart has exploded into an international ministry, with prayer/worship centers in China, US and Israel, incorporating people around the world into their prayers for Israel.

We are honored that some of their representatives will speak at our Messianic Club Meeting on July 6^th.  (Flyer attached.  Remember to bring it with you as your Gate Entrance Ticket if you don’t live in Laguna Woods.)

ALSO, NEW BEGINNINGS!

A number of people have been requesting that I send out the notes each week from our weekly Torah study.  As the notes are very extensive, I have decided, instead, to send out the highlights as often as I can.  Called “Golden Nuggets,” they will be easy to identify.  But if you do not want to receive them, please let me know.  They will be posted as well at www.messianicclub.com.

God bless you all always … forever and ever … amen and amen … and especially THIS DAY!  Hope to see you on July 6^th at 2:00.

Shalom!  Shalom!

Wendy

Let us each remember on this Father’s Day, that we each have a Heavenly Father who loves us…

And He longs to be in unending communion with us; for as the Bible tells us, that is why we were created, for His pleasure; and so regardless of what we are going through, let us not lose hope for as we are told in scripture: “He (God) gives His angels charge over you, to guard you in ALL your ways; and on their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:11-12

Below is prophetic word of something which I believe God is saying to us ALL on this Father’s day.

Let us remember that we each are on assignment, and that there is a specific plan and destiny that God has purposed for each of our lives; but one thing we ALL have in common is that God intends for us to be His Ambassadors in the earth, His representatives to the lost world that is all around us!

So next time we are tempted to lose our temper and get upset and angry at the person cutting us off on the freeway, or are having to wait in a long line, remember this, that nothing, no happenstance of our life is by accident.

God has choreographed it all, right down to the last detail, in that He either has allowed our present set of circumstance to happen, as we learn from the Book of Job, or possibly we have allowed it, as we also learn from Job; and that we can know from Job’s own admission, when he said, “What I have always feared has come upon me.”

So we can learn from that admission from Job that sometimes our circumstance are allowed by us, in our not standing in faith on the promises of God’s Word, and the enemy uses that weak link in our armor as a point of entry to come into our lives and wreak havoc in our life, and to get us off of God’s path.

The Bible also says that God chastens those whom He loves, who are of His offspring, in those who are His covenant children, among those who are His sons and daughters.

So whatever the reason we may think, our problems are not to destroy us; but they are to teach us and to make us strong; so that we can know how to live a life of faith and reliance that is founded upon God…. without which we are told (in Heb 11:6) that we cannot even please God.

Just know this, God has NOT forgotten you; or as some would think, neither is He this mean ogre in heaven, who is just waiting to pounce on us when we make a mistake!

Satan would love for us all to have this misconception about our Heavenly Father, but this idea couldn’t be further from the truth.

So on this Father’s day, let us all remember to honor our Heavenly Father, and give thanks to Him for all His faithfulness in being our provider, our healer, and the Lover of our soul.

Let us also learn that we must die to ourselves, in whatever circumstances we face right now, and just be a conduit to those around us; for in that none of us are ever excused from being off the clock, so to speak; for God expects us to be ready in season and out, 24/7, 365 days a year, to encourage, and love, and be God’s hand extended to ALL those He has allowed across our path.

For our life is no longer our own, because we all have been purchased with a price; and have been set aside for God’s service, by the Blood of Jesus Christ; and God expect us to likewise follow Jesus’ example and to lay our lives down each and every day. Selah

So let us all understand these things today, and whether we are a father ourselves, we ALL have a Heavenly Father to give thanks to, and show our appreciation for all of his manifold blessings in our life.

Shalom,

Skip Barland

From: FullnessOnLine
Sent: Sunday, June 20, 2010 4:12 AM
To: theskipper@cox.net
Subject: What The Lord Is Saying Today

Prayer is having communion with God; and it is an investment of our time that pays major dividends…

“The fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom;

and knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.” (Proverbs 9:10)

Below is an inspiring message that contains some wise advice, for anyone who wants to succeed in life, and do better than they have in the past.

It is on the subject of prayer.

What most don’t understand is that prayer is an investment of our time that returns major dividends in many different forms.

George Mueller once said of his prayer life that he got more accomplished in four hours of work that was preceded with one hour of prayer then he ever could have accomplished in the five hours of work, without the prayer.

In other words, he found that just that one hour spent with God, preceding his work, that it paid back major dividends in bringing more wisdom, direction, and decrement to Mueller’s efforts.

I suppose it would be like having your favorite iconic hero, say some successful businessman that you really respected, that was of world renown and reputation, what if he were to call you on the phone and tell you that he had taken an interest in your life and your career, and was sending his personal jet to pick you up, and was erasing his entire calendar just to spend time with you, to help you and mentor you that you could have good success in everything you do in your life and in your business? How valuable would that be to you?

Now what do you suppose your response would be?

Truly if this is someone you knew could be of immense help to you, and save you untold time, work, and money just by showing you the ropes and sharing his wisdom and experience with you; and if you knew that any time at all spent with him, having him mentor you like this would just change your life totally for the better, would you even give it a second thought? I think not.

And yet that is exactly the offer God has given to each of us; and yet how many give Him the response they are too busy, or have too many other important things and obligations?

How dumb is that?!!

So before you elect to turn this offer down, just think for a moment about your past, in how much wasted time and efforts you have made; and had poor discernment on people and business deals you have gotten involved with; or had to go back and redo some job or project again, because it was done incorrectly?

How much money do you suppose all that wasted time and effort, and materials cost you?

Do you think that if you had the advice of someone who is all-knowing, and all-powerful, who sees the future and can give you His wisdom, input and discernment, do you think that would be valuable?

Of course it would be; and all of this comes as a part of the deal, and is a part of our inheritance and reward for being in relationship with our Creator, our Heavenly Father, who is also our God… and for being a part of His heavenly family!

His name is Jesus Christ… Don’t leave home without Him!!!

Shalom,

Skip Barland

Let us pray often in the Holy Spirit…

1 Corinthians 14:4 says,

“He that speaks [or prays] in an unknown tongue edifies himself…”

Please note that our praying in the spirit (in tongues) edifies us, even though we are not conscious of the prayer’s content.

From: Two Listeners
Sent: Friday, June 18, 2010 2:06 AM
To: theskipper@cox.net
Subject: GC – June 18 – Wait

God Calling Wait The world has always seen service for Me to be activity. Only those near to Me have seen that a life apart, of prayer, may, and does so often, accomplish more than all the service man can offer Me. If man lived apart with Me and only went out to serve at My direct command, My spirit could operate more and accomplish truly mighty things. And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place … his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray. Luke 11:1 www.twolisteners.org

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved!

(John 3:16)

Why me Lord?

Because God loves you…

Listen to this testimony of someone I think you will recognize. If you have yet to commit your life to Christ, it’s my prayer that this would be your experience as well:

Do you all remember the movie The Matrix (click link to hear); and how the world that they lived in was not at all what it appeared to be?

Well there is more truth than fiction to that supposition than most realize; and that is true in both the natural realm and also the spiritual.

Even science today will tell you that what you think is solid and physical matter, in reality there is more air and space than there is mass; and that is true in everything you see all around you.

Not only that, but as you go to the most powerful telescopes that we have, and you look out into space; you seen nothing but order and beauty that is just beyond description; and if you go to the most powerful microscope and look inward at the world of molecules and atoms you will find more of the same, only more so, and in spades!

Now the Bible has something to say along these lines as well, and basically it says the same thing, in that it is the unseen world of the Spiritual that is more real than the physical one that we live in, and can see, feel and touch.

In fact the Spiritual world is where the physical world came from… in that all of those little molecules and atoms, electons, neutrons, and protons, and even smaller particles that all are the building blocks of our physical world, they ALL came into existence at the sound of God’s spoken voice!

In fact God is Himself a Spirit, and as Jesus said if you want to commune with Him, you can ONLY do so in Spirit and in Truth!

Understand this, that it is the spiritual world that gave existence to the physical one, and not the other way around; and so if you want to be REAL, then you have to first look to the spirit world, from whence we ALL have come from… and one day we ALL will return!

There are many Christians, who have a form of belief in these things, in a religious sense; but who nevertheless don’t truly grasp the spiritual reality that exists, and only live in the natural and physical dimension.

Sure they have a belief in God, but as the Bible said would be the case in the Last Days, they deny the POWER, and that speaks of the Spiritual… and more specifically they deny the gifts and power of the Holy Spirit; and believe that such things are not for today.

Not only that, but they don’t believe in the Devil either, even though the Bible teaches about him.

These Christians should know better because not only did our Lord teach and speak about Him, there are many other places in the Bible where numerous references are made to his existence; but for whatever reason many Christians do not take any of that seriously.

Such as it is, that is just exactly as the enemy, who is Satan, wants it to be; because those who are of that mindset and opinion are but putty in his hands, and are ripe for deception.

But that being what it is, typically he won’t bother with you as long as you are not a threat to his agenda, and are minding your own business.

In fact if you are proactive in supporting his causes and his agendas, he may even elevate you and prosper you, for a time that is; but that won’t last.

He’ll play along with you just as long as you are being useful to his cause; but make no mistake he is not called the “Father of liars” for nothing… and unless you wake up to that reality before your days on earth are over, you will be in for a very rude surprise!

There are still others, and many Christians also who fall into this camp as well, who although they believe in Satan’s existence; they have nevertheless minimize his influence and have relegated him to some little imp that runs around in a long cape and tights.

Someone once said that life is not a bowl of cherries, and boy is that an understatement!

Certainly life is not a game, and I believe that most people will testify to that fact, owed to all the hassles they are having to contend with, especially in these days and times. And just so you don’t miss my point and think I’m offering you a way out to an easy life, well I’m not!

In fact, let’s get that straight right now, because if you thought your life was hard before you committed your life to Christ, was born-again, and joined God’s team, and God’s family, then let me tell you right now… that you haven’t seen nor experienced anything yet!

Once you become a part of God’s Team, believe me, all hell will be unleashed on you to try and discourage you, and get you to quit; but God will use these hassles, these trials and tribulations to strengthen you and make you strong; to train you and make you fit for His service.

Christianity is not for weaklings, and certainly it is not of the variety you will find practiced in most churches today, with all the religious stuff you will find there.

If you want to know what it truly means to be a follower of Christ, and join the Greatest Adventure of a life time, then you have to turn to your Bible to find out… not to man, nor to man’s denominations, or religion!

Christianity is about denying yourself, meaning your will, your wants, and your ambitious desires, however good and noble you may think they are; and it means laying down your life completely, in order that you may follow Christ!

How do you do that? Again you have to go to the Operations Manual (the Bible) and find out.

I can tell you this, it is much too important a matter to leave to happenstance, and trust what some church denomination or others have told you. God has left us a road map and instructions on how to find our way; but if you don’t read the Manual, how will you know?

After all, this is your life, and you and no one else is responsible for it… and God will hold each of us accountable for how we lived our life, while in this world, and what we did with this matter regarding His Son!

This is not a game folks, and it won’t be easy; but I’m talking to people who want to have their lives challenged to the max; and be tested in every way imaginable; who are willing to cast the total of their life and all their circumstances on the promises of God’s word, and stand there in faith!

This is a life where you are always being tested, trained and condition, for the work God has predestined for your life; it’s a life that is all about endless study and mediation in the Manual (the Bible); and our learning how to listen to, and obey the Holy Spirit.

This is NOT a religion either… as religion is for weaklings… but rather this is about life, as it was meant to be lived!

Are you interested, do you want more information, then check it out for yourself, and come on board.

As an introduction, here is a website that may be helpful (http://needhim.org/); beyond that you are going to have to start reading your Bible every day; and find yourself a Bible believing church that’s filled with crazy people like me, who love the Lord and are all about doing His business in this earth, which is about winning souls for Christ; and also you need to find a place who believes totally in the operation and manifestations of the Spirit, in all signs, wonders, and miracles, just as you read happened in the Bible.

God has NOT changed, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever!!!

So come along and join the adventure… won’t you?

Shalom,

Skip Barland