Growing our FAITH… it happens ONLY through trials and tribulations!!!

Faith is hanging on to God and His Word when ALL else fails…

and staying there in spite of all contradictory sight and sense evidence!

Hebrews 11:1-2

By Faith

1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. ²This is what the ancients were commended for.

Examples of faith given us in the Bible:

Matthew 8:5-12

The Faith of the Centurion

⁵When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ⁶“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.”

⁷Jesus said to him, “I will go and heal him.”

⁸The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

¹⁰When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. ¹¹I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. ¹²But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matthew 9:2

²Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.”

Matthew 14:31

³¹Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?“

Matthew 15:28

²⁸Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Matthew 21:21

²¹Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.”

Mark 2:5

⁵When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Mark 7:24-30

The Faith of a Syrophoenician Woman

²⁴Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.^[a] He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. ²⁵In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil^[b] spirit came and fell at his feet. ²⁶The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.

²⁷“First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.”

²⁸“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

²⁹Then he told her, “For such a reply (such faith), you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”

³⁰She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone

Mark 10:52

⁵²“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Mark 11:12-14; 21-23

Jesus Clears the Temple

¹²The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. ¹³Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

²¹Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”

²²“Have^[a] faith in God,” Jesus answered. ²³“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him.”

Luke 5:17-26

Jesus Heals a Paralytic

¹⁷One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. ¹⁸Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. ¹⁹When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

²⁰When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

²¹The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

²²Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? ²³Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ²⁴But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins….” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” ²⁵Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. ²⁶Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Below there is an excellent devotional message from Worthy Ministries, on the subject of FAITH.

Personally, I have come to see faith as like a muscle, and as with any muscle if you exercise it, it grows; and if you don’t, it atrophies.

From God’s point of view, I do not believe it is ever a matter of how much faith we have, as a determining factor for why we receive answers to our prayers; for the Bible says that God has given to everyone (believers and nonbelievers alike) a measure of faith, or else (I believe anyway) we wouldn’t be able to discern the truth and be saved.

So we can know from this that every individual has a measure of faith; and then Jesus even goes on to say: “That if our faith were even as small as a mustard seed (which is about the smallest seed there is) that we can cast mountains into the sea.” So as I understand what the Scriptures are saying, it is never a matter about how much faith we have. So what is the determining factor?

Now this is my point. I believe all of us have had unanswered prayers; or we have had loved ones and friends who have died early, leaving behind families, who were even Christians, who were praying, and we were praying with them, for their healing… and nevertheless they died. Why is that?

The answer is, I don’t know; and neither does anyone else know for sure, this side of heaven anyway.

These things happen to all of us; but when they do happen, these should be times for us to dig in deeper, into the Word, and find out where we possibly may have missed it… and for that to happen, we have to set our pride aside and remain teachable. The point is… faith NEVER gives up, or loses hope!

Also I have found that on this subject of faith, it can often be a stumbling block and a subject of controversy for some; and for someone to even suggest that one’s faith is less than what it should be, and that possibly is the reason for delay or for unanswered prayer, is for some people, perceived as an insult.

Again it should not be perceived that way; and that attitude alone (which I believe is nothing but dumb pride) shows a hardened and unteachable spirit.

That is the reason why I listed all of these Scriptures above, where the Master (Jesus Himself) often attributed the miracles and answers to prays, according to the individual’s faith, in how their faith was the determining factor for them receiving their miracle!

For example, take the man who was a paralytic, whose friends seeing the pressing crowd, climbed up on the roof and disassembled it in order to lower their friend down in Jesus presence; and when Jesus referred to their faith that was what He was talking about.

Faith often is expressed, not just through our words, but also our actions; and often, as in this example, we are talking about extraordinary actions and measures that are taken, in the face of much resistance, and at great inconvenience.

Another example would be the woman with the issue of blood, who was out in a public place, against the Levitical Law (I might add), and in the presence of a temple official, no less; and yet in spite of all that she first said “If I can but touch the hem of His garment, I shall be healed;” and then she put action to her words, at great inconvenience and risk to herself, and she did an extraordinary thing… but in the end she was healed!

Now most of these people, that we read about in the Bible, who received their miracle, if we read the account and the circumstances that were surrounding them, we often find that they were not at all passive, and they were not saying “Well, if God wants to heal me He can.”

In fact I am sure there were many who had just such an attitude, as we can see all around us even in this day; but it was ONLY those who were proactive, and in spite of great opposition and resistance, they refused to let go, or give up hope (as the woman in the above picture)… and in the end, they received their miracle.

Also, consider the story of Daniel the Prophet for a moment; where we learn in the account given us in the Bible, that he had prayed and fasted for 21 days, before his answer came.

However, when the answer came, the angel told him that the answer was given on the first day he prayed, but that there was resistance in the heavens to his receiving his answer, due to the Prince of Darkness (the Devil); and that Michael the Archangel was dispatched to open the way… and it took 21 days for Daniel to receive an answer to his prayer.

QUESTION: Could that also be what is holding our answered prayers up; and if Daniel had stopped praying and fasting, and had given up after only a couple of days or week, would the answer still have come? I think not.

As I understand our Bible, in what it says on this subject of faith; it is that faith has to be exercised in order to grow, and the way it is exercised is through the obstacle course of our present trials and tribulations, that we are facing today, and always throughout the course of our life… all of which I believe has been choreographed and allowed by God, before we were born.

Again, as we learn from the Book of Job (the oldest book in the Bible) that Satan is as a dog on a leash, and he does not have cart blanch to do to us as he pleases… he has to first get God’s permission.

Or he has to have our permission, one or the other, which can happened if we are harboring strongholds of fear, or doubt, or unforgiveness.

Strongholds are incorrect beliefs that we allow, that are not true and are not Scriptural; and often they are rooted in fear, or in our harboring unforgiveness, or any number of things, that put us at odds with God.

Even as Job said, “What I feared most has happened to me.” All of these kinds of things, these strongholds, can give the enemy a foothold and access into our life… so beware!

Again from God’s perspective, as we learn from Scripture, each obstacle I believe is as a mountain placed in our path, that we have to learn how to overcome by faith; and though these obstacles have been placed there by the Devil (again, as we learn happened in the account given us in the Book of Job), nevertheless it was God who allowed it; so that Job’s faith may grow… and that’s my point!

So regardless of how we feel on this subject of FAITH, the Bible makes it very clear that “Without faith it is impossible for us to please God,” and so regardless of how we may feel, it is of utmost importance to God, and also for us, that we not be displeasing to our Lord. Selah

Shalom,

Skip Barland

From: Worthy Ministries
Sent: Wednesday, July 07, 2010 2:15 AM
To: skip810usa@yahoo.com
Subject: Worthy Brief – 7/7/2010

Does it seem that the tests are getting harder?

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

I don’t know about you, but it seems that the tests we’re going through are getting harder and harder. Do you remember when you took tests in high school? At the time they may have seemed hard. But imagine if you had to take an elementary school test when you were in high school. You’d probably think – oh this is so simple.

So if it seems that the testing of your faith is more intense – it simply means that you’re graduating to new levels of faith! Our faith is being tested, and as we pass each “faith” test, we’re finding different means of being tested. I suppose in a few years, we’ll look back and think to ourselves – wow that was a hard test, but now it doesn’t look so difficult!

If you’re going through a tough time right now, be encouraged because it simply means that God is graduating you to new levels of faith!

The harder the tests, the greater difficulty – the greater the reward, an increased blessing awaits you!

Stay focused, stay alert and remember that God is trying to stretch your faith so that you can accomplish even more for His Kingdom!

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah
Negev Desert, Israel

The United States is at a crossroads of decision… and we need to repent, lest this happens to us!

God’s message to the King of Babylon was:

“MENE, MENE, TEKEL, PHARSIN“…

And this is the interpretation of each word. MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; TEKEK: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”Who was King Nebuchadnezzar and what was his kingdom like?

Note this is a completely secularized view of history, but interesting all the same:

WARNING… will this also be America’s future? I believe it will be if Christians aren’t praying.
Despite the warnings in his prophecies, Jeremiah had to witness the fall of his beloved Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar’s troops set the city on fire. Zedekiah was left blinded and his sons dead. Zedekiah was also the last king of Judah; and Israel on that day ceased to be a sovereign power, and it remained that way until April 14^th, 1948.
Here’s their History:
In Jeremiah 51, the prophet received a revelation from the LORD that ancient Babylon was going to fall. Look at what he said. “And Babylon? …I will make them drunken, that they may rejoice, and sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the LORD,” (verses 37,39).

“And I will make drunk her princes, and her wise men, her captains, and her rulers, and her mighty men: and they shall sleep a perpetual sleep, and not wake, saith the King, whose name is the LORD of hosts,” (verse 57).

God promised that in the fall of ancient Babylon, He would actually “MAKE THEM DRUNKEN, that they may rejoice and sleep a perpetual sleep.” In their stupor, God sent in enemies who destroyed them.

The same vow will determine the destiny of modern Babylon – the world-wide kingdom of man.

When Ancient Babylon fell, they were drunk!

Do you remember the downfall of ancient Babylon? It happened during the reign of Nebuchadnezzar’s descendant, Belshazzar, in Daniel 5:27.

“Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.

Belshazzar, whiles he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, might drink therein.

Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king, and his princes, his wives, and his concubines, drank in them.

They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote,” (Daniel 5:1-5).

The story is infamous.

Daniel interpreted the mysterious handwriting on the wall.

“You have been weighed in the balance and found wanting. Tonight your kingdom will be divided and taken from you.”

It was a message of doom from God to Belshazzar.

BELSHAZZAR and all the Babylonian dignitaries WERE DRUNK WHEN GOD’S JUDGMENT FELL ON BABYLON.

That night, the Medo-Persians conquered them. King Belshazzar was killed. The ancient Babylonian empire fell into the hands of its enemies while it was drunk.

When judgment comes to modern Babylon, it will also be drunk!

The 18th Chapter of Revelation describes the fall of modern Babylon.

Let me interrupt this thought to explain to you the correlation between ancient Babylon and modern Babylon.

There are actually FOUR Biblical definitions of Babylon.

Four Definitions of Babylon

1. The ancient CITY of Babylon. It is the ancient site of Nebuchadnezzar’s “Hanging Gardens,” the Gate of Ishtar, and was once known as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is also the site of the ancient Tower of Babel.

2. The ancient EMPIRE of Babylon (made famous in Nebuchadnezzar’s day). That empire stretched across the Middle East, north, south, east and west. It was the largest empire in the world in its time.

3. Modern Political Babylon – the descendant of ancient Babylon – generally speaking, this refers to the kingdom of man (as opposed to the Kingdom of God by Jesus Christ). The Babylonian system is obsessed with global domination, both physically, financially and SPIRITUALLY!

People think of the United Nations as Babylon, or the New World Order as Babylon, or some refer to New York or America as Babylon, but that is really inaccurate.

4. Mystery Babylon – the spiritual roots of Babylon, from the days of the Tower of Babel, includes an encyclopedia of pagan religious beliefs and practices that were handed down through the centuries. They were all born in hell, springing originally from Lucifer himself. They are evil and abominable in the eyes of God.

[I would add that I think the end of days destruction of Babylon will be the literal nation, which is now Iraq; but also the symbolic counterpart which are all those nations who have forsaken the God of the Bible, and have made themselves drunk with deceitful riches]

God judged the builders of the ancient Tower of Babel

He came down and confused their tongues, so that they “left off” finishing the tower. But the evil intentions that were present at ancient Babel have never died.

Babylon rebounded and became a virtual global empire in the days of King Solomon of Israel.

In sad fact, Solomon corrupted Jewish religion in the days of his backsliding by introducing the Babylonian mysteries into his religious beliefs and practices. Collaborating with Hiram, King of Lebanon, Solomon began to concoct a mystical, esoteric religion that eventually corrupted the priests and subsequent kings of Israel.

In Solomon’s day, God’s anger began to boil against Babylon, and that is very likely a primary reason why God finally turned over the backsliding nation of Israel TO Babylon when He did!

Because they demonstrated their desire to know the Babylonian mysteries instead of the truth of God’s Word, God gave them over to Babylonian masters.

Over a period of more than 2,500 years, Jewish rabbis and scholars have shown their preference to the Babylon-inspired Cabbalistic mysteries over the PURE unadulterated word of God.

Caballism (Mysticism) made its way not only into the Jewish religious hierarchy, but eventually into a wide array of secret societies, and eventually taken up by kings and princes and power brokers throughout world history.

The Middle Ages were rife with Luciferic secret societies, and the history of Europe is filled with the shenanigans of Popes and Kings and their dealings with these secret societies.

Ultimately, the Catholic church was infiltrated and controlled by that lot who now engage in global political and financial intrigue through the auspices of this so-called, albeit false “church.”

The modern international banking system was created by Caballists such as Lord Rothschild, and powerful global secret orders were created by Caballists like Albert Pike, Madam Blavansky and others, and to this day, the New World Order is run in large part by Caballists.

The Jewish Talmud (oral traditions) and the Caballah each tragically contain pernicious Babylonian corruptions.

The spiritual abominations of ancient Babylon continue to thrive in the esoteric (secret) mysteries of the Roman Catholic Church, Freemasonry, and the Caballah. Believe it or not, they are all intricately and heavily intertwined.

One of the principal reasons God says He will JUDGE Mystery Babylon is because, throughout history, it made the KINGS AND NATIONS of the earth DRUNKEN! God hates these diabolical mystical, power-mongering schemes.

“For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies,” (Revelation 18:3).

In order to understand why God hates Mystery Babylon, you have to contrast it with His divine plan for the ages.

God will have an eternal kingdom, ruled by Him.

Mystery Babylon would have a kingdom ruled by Lucifer.

Believe it or not, the mystery religions I am refering to very explicitly declare that Lucifer should rule the world.

This includes the behind-the- scenes powers-that-be in the RCC, the Jesuits, the Knights Templar, Freemasons, the Illuminati and so many other of its sister mystical societies. History is jam-packed with stories of the collaberations between most of the Babylonian mystical societies and the Roman Catholic Church.

This diabolical, Luciferic, esoteric, mystical religion, allied with the Roman Catholic Church, has been fornicating with the secular governments of the world for almost 1700 years.

Today Europe is controlled by a powerful cabal of men who are deeply rooted in the Luciferic mysteries.

Many of them are power brokers in the Roman Catholic Church. If you take the time to study all the powerful men in global politics today, you will be shocked out of your mind at how many of them have Roman Catholic connections.

The Coming Modern Fall of Babylon

Ironically, while the Roman Catholic Church has always contained a strong element of Babylonian mysteries at its core, it has distanced itself from geographical Babylon.

Islam, on the other hand, has struggled to control geographical Babylon while preaching a murderously anti-Catholic rhetoric.

Now, in the end of the age, Mystery Babylon, Political Babylon, and Geographical Babylon are set to collide in a major, major volcanic eruption. Nothing less than a total melt-down is going to occur.

Mystery Babylon, as defined above (RCC, Freemasonry, Caballah) is now pervading the globe in various other forms: the New Age movement, the Green Movement, but especially global ecumenical religious initiatives such as the World Council of Churches, the United Religions Organization, even the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

Why Babylon is such a major topic in the Bible

Israel’s trouble with Babylon began in the days of King Hezekiah of Judah. The Babylonian King in those days was named Berodachbaladan. During a time of Hezekiah’s sickness, King Berodachbaladan sent letters and gifts to him, so Hezekiah invited a Babylonian entourage to tour the Jewish Palace and Temple, showing them all of Israel’s precious treasures.

Isaiah prophesied to Hezekiah that Babylonians would soon carry away everything of value to Babylon, and would take Hezekiah’s descendants as servants to their king. That happened soon thereafter.

Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, laid siege against Jerusalem, and took the Jews captive back to Babylon. Eventually, all the precious furnishings of the Temple were stolen and taken to Babylon.

God brought Babylon into His grand scheme to judge the Nation of Israel for their sins and backslidings.

God used the Kings of Babylon to execute His punishments upon Israel for their idolatries and abomination they had committed against God.

God sentenced the Israelites to become captives in Babylon for seventy years. Afterward, He promised to deliver them, and punish Babylon with “perpetual desolations.”

“And it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations,”
(Jeremiah 25:12).

~by Ken Raggio

What God said to His covenant children Israel, I believe also applies to His Covenant children here in America, for our forefather’s also formed a covenant with God; and so let us pay heed to God’s warning to Israel: “Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. As the nations which the LORD destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 8:19-20)

As I’ve said before, truly I believe our only hope for America is Jesus Christ; and David Wilkerson has an important message on the importance of our praying and interceding in his devotional message (below), that I think you will want to read.

It is all apparent from history and the Bible that Satan is very religious, and in the same way he corrupted ancient man’s view of God, and then infiltrated sectors of the Jewish faith, he has also sought to corrupt the Christian faith as well.

Whereas the scenarios that are being described above are a fact of history; this author takes the interpretation that supports the European Union as the source of the Antichrist Kingdom.

I would beg to differ with that interpretation, as I believe it will be an Islamic kingdom, and I believe also that the seat of its power, which will ultimately reside in the Antichrist, will be the literal nation of Iraq, which I believe will soon be a resurrected Babylon; and the seat of all world commerce.

All the occult ties however, that the author mentions that exists between the Globalist Rothschild’s International Banking Oligarchy and the Luciferian Antichrist Kingdom are very real; and it is this force that has so corrupted our politics and our culture here in the United States, and also the entire Western world.

It is also these same “Secret Societies,” which the author makes reference to, who are so pronounced today and in the past, who are the seed bed of Satan’s power to undermine and corrupt both our government and our culture.

And I’m talking about such organizations, which we all have heard of, some of whom have in fact been elevated to positions of prominence and power today, and all of which are dedicated to the establishment of a “New World Order.”

These secret societies are all front organizations for this evil cabal, who seek world domination, and they include organizations such as: the Freemasons, the Bilderberg Group, the Bohemian Club, The Counsel on Foreign Relations (CFR), the Trilateral Commission, and the Skull and Bones fraternity, at Yale University, which by the way three generations of the Bush family hale from.

Where the United States falls in all of this, as I’ve said before, I don’t think is set in stone. The Bible tells us that there will be both “Sheep Nations,” and “Goat Nations” when Christ returns… and it is my prayer that the United States will survive as a “Sheep Nation,” that is loyal to God, and not on the side of this diabolical and evil Antichrist spirit; as our current government is today trying so hard to push us towards.

That is why we have to pray for our country, because the outcome of where we will be, I believe will depend on the prayers of the saints!

Shalom,

Skip Barland

—–Original Message—–
From: DAVID WILKERSON TODAY
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 1:35 PM
To: devotions-en@lists.worldchallenge.org
Subject: BECOMING PEOPLE OF PRAYER

BECOMING PEOPLE OF PRAYER
by David Wilkerson | July 6, 2010

In Jeremiah 5, God pleaded, “Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem…seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it” (Jeremiah 5:1). The Lord was saying, in essence, “I’ll be merciful, if I can find just one person who’ll seek me.”

During the Babylonian captivity, God found such a man in Daniel. And today, more than ever in history, the Lord is searching for the same kind of godly men and women. He seeks faithful servants who are willing to “make up the hedge” and “stand in the gap,” works that can only be accomplished through prayer.

Like Daniel, such a person will be found with God’s Word in his hand. When the Holy Ghost came to Daniel, the prophet was reading the book of Jeremiah. It was then that the Spirit revealed that God’s time of deliverance had come for Israel. As the revelation came, Daniel was provoked to pray: “I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: and I prayed unto the Lord my God” (Daniel 9:3–4).

Daniel knew God’s people weren’t ready to receive his restoration. Yet, did the prophet lambaste his peers for their sins? No—Daniel identified himself with the moral decay all around him. He declared, “We have sinned…to us belongeth confusion of face…because we have sinned against thee” (Daniel 9:5, 8).

God strongly desires to bless his people today—but if our minds are polluted with the spirit of this world, we are in no position to receive his blessings. Daniel made this powerful statement: “All this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand the truth. Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us” (Daniel 9:13–14).

Would to God we would examine our own walk with the Lord and let the Holy Spirit show us areas of compromise.

We would do more than pray for a backsliding nation. We would be crying out, “Oh, Lord, search my heart. Expose in me all of the spirit of the world that has crept into my soul.” Like Daniel, we could then set our faces to pray for the deliverance of our families—our nation.

http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/devotions/2010/becoming-people-of-prayer

The Destruction of Pompeii… a lesson in History!

On August 23, 79 AD, Pompeii looked like any other busy, prosperous city…

People were moving about, trading goods, news, and friendly talk. Three days later, on August 26, all of these sounds had fallen silent, and the place itself had vanished. Almost nothing was seen of Pompeii for more than 1500 years. Now, more than 1900 years later, we are learning more and more about the last days of Pompeii. What happened to Pompeii preserved a treasury of information about life in the ancient Roman Empire.

The Destruction of Pompeii (1 of 6)

(click here to watch pt 2 , pt 3, pt 4, pt 5, pt 6)

POMPEII
A Christian Perspective

It is my opinion that Pompeii is the most important archeological site anywhere. Almost every other ancient urban site is simply the remains of a ghost town, long ago deserted by its citizens who carried away with them everything of value. Prior to the eruption of Vesuvius, Pompeii was a thriving city. Then it was buried with so little warning in 79 A.D. that Pompeii was literally frozen in time.

If we want to know details about what life was like in a Roman city during the first century, I think by studying Pompeii we can get the very best perspective with the least speculation. We can understand how the privileged rich man and the ordinary slave lived from day to day in the Roman Empire during the time when

Christianity was beginning to spread throughout the Mediterranean. A better understanding of life in Pompeii, a city with both Roman and Greek influence, can help us to better understand many of the writings of the New Testament.

Thanks to the United States Navy, I was stationed near Pompeii in the mid-1980’s. My wife Jeannie and I visited the ruins of that ancient city many times. Our first tour was conducted by Tony d’Ambrosio, then a professor of archeology at the University of Naples, now the director of excavation at Pompei. After studying everything I could find about Pompeii, I served as an amateur guide for many friends and relatives.

The slide show and commentary provided here will give you a glimpse of what you would see and learn if I could personally escort you around the streets, villas, temples, theaters, baths, shops, and forum of Pompeii. As a bonus, I’ve also included photos of many items from the National Archeological Museum of Naples where most of the treasures of Pompeii are housed. If you’re interested, you should check out some of the many books and Web sites from which you can learn lots more than I’ll be sharing with you here.

If you’re planning to visit Pompeii, perhaps this virtual tour will help prepare you for what you will experience there. If you’ve already been to Pompeii, maybe you’ll learn something new from my perspectives. If you’re likely to never make it to see Pompeii for yourself, I truly hope your time spent at this Web site will educate, enlighten, and inspire you.

Click here to take a virtual tour of the city

There is also an interesting devotional message from Worthy Ministries below on the subject of Pompeii, that I think you will enjoy reading.

There is a lot, I believe, for us to learn about this ancient city of Pompeii and its people. Even as the devotional message (below) points out, in how there was a woman, who along with everyone else was frozen in time by the burning magma flood that consumed their lives; in how this one woman was found clutching her jewels and was trying to take them with her.

You know there is much talk today about how the United States, having so far failed to learned from history, is on the verge of repeating it; and along with this analogy the comparison is often made comparing us with the ancient Roman Empire; which as we understand from history did not topple due to any opposing armies from without; but it toppled from within, due the internal greed and corruption of its leadership, and the overall lasciviousness, debauchery, and sin of its people… in a nation who had forsaken the Lord God of Creation.

What history doesn’t record is the longsuffering of a loving God, whom I am sure made every effort to sway the citizens of this ancient Roman city from their ways, and all apparently to no avail.

Listen to what God says in the Book of Romans about such a people:

Romans 1:8-32

⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹ because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, ²¹ because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Professing to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

²⁴ Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, ²⁵ who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen

²⁶ For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. ²⁷ Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; ²⁹ being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,^[c] wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, ³⁰ backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, ³¹ undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,^[d] unmerciful; ³² who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

What I do know, however, is all that the Lord is doing here in the United States today, in order to try and get our attention; but I wager you that much the same attitude that was seen in the days of Noah, and also I believe this was true of Ancient Rome as well, where the Bible records that in spite of Noah’s warnings (as the Bible says he preached for 100 years) of a coming and impending disaster, that in spite of these warnings the people carried on business as usual, and were much too busy buying and selling and giving in marriage, and all the normal every day affairs of their lives, to give God any consideration. And that was a BIG mistake, as it is also for us today!!!

And by the way, Jesus warns us that as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be when He returns.

I can only hope and pray that same history is not repeated here in America; but I can also see that our time is running short; and such as it is, there are signs a plenty all around us, in both nature and in the sad state of our economy; not to mention the state of our crumbling, corrupt, and ill managed government, which we have today, which I am sure is not that different from the Roman government of ancient history.

God’s instructions for a people who are faced with God’s judgment, as we are today in America, is very clear. In that the responsibility for our government, and God’s impending judgment upon it, does not fall to the unbelievers, the atheists, and agnostics, who are in virtual control today of every level of our society, our media, our government and our culture; but the Bible makes it very clear that the responsibility of whether our nation is turned back to God, or whether we are judged, falls to the believers, the Christians… of those who are called by God’s name!

Read it for yourself in 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Let us here in America follow the instructions given us in our Operations Manual (the Bible), and let us continue to watch and pray, and let us also be about our Father’s business too, which is to be a witness to this lost world, in all those souls who are all around us, who don’t yet have a clue what future awaits them if they turn away from and forsake the Lord their God, and turn away from the Saviour of the World, Jesus Christ! Selah

Shalom,

Skip Barland

From: Worthy Ministries
Sent: Tuesday, July 06, 2010 2:30 AM
To: skip810usa@yahoo.com
Subject: Worthy Brief – 7/6/2010

The volcano waiting to erupt!

1 Timothy 6:6-10 But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 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. 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.

As I write, it seems the prevailing concern among people everywhere is — what’s going on with the economy?
People are watching their wealth dissipating and dwindling away.
Reflecting on these material losses reminds me of a story about a lady who perished in Pompeii in the first century.

Pompeii was a flourishing city in Southern Italy until 79 AD.

Suddenly, for two days Mt. Vesuvius erupted and completely destroyed Pompeii in all its pomp.

The city was covered in meters of ash and pumice for 1700 years until it was accidentally discovered in 1748.

When archaeologists began excavations in 1910 they uncovered a petrified woman clutching some of the finest jewelry ever recovered from the ancient world.

She was apparently attempting to flee the doomed city, and in her haste, holding desperately onto her valuable possessions — she lost her life.

During its time Pompeii was a magnificent city, yet it’s destiny was destruction by a nearby volcano –- and so it is with our world today.

There’s so much beauty on our planet earth –- yet its destiny is certain!

The day is soon coming when it’s elements will be destroyed with fire, the earth and everything in it, laid bare, [2 Peter 3:10] –- and our earthly possessions will not come with us into glory, (only what we have done with them).

As the Apostle Paul said, we came into this world with nothing — and when we leave this world, we take nothing with us.

We can make the mistake of holding too dearly onto our earthly possessions, making them our “treasure”, (rather than storing treasure where moth and rust do not corrode etc.) — but this is a costly error, as illustrated by our “petrified lady.”

Instead, let’s remind ourselves that we are stewards of God’s possessions, responsible to use them with His interests in mind, to further His Kingdom with the things He has entrusted to us.

With so much work to be done, let’s never allow our earthly possessions to petrify us with greed or fear thus preventing the eternal work we were preordained for, and stealing our eternal rewards.

Your family in the Lord with much agape love,

George, Rivka, Elianna & Obadiah

Negev Desert, Israel
http://www.worthynetwork.com/

Please consider supporting Worthy Network with a gift! You can give online. Or you can send your gifts to: Worthy Network, P.O. Box 43, Telford, PA 18969-2184

GOD WILL MAKE A WAY… See the Lord raise a baby girl out of a coma on live camera!!!

“All things are possible, if you can believe!!!”

How can you not love a God like this?

Rest assured that God will also make a way for you too…

The Miracle Baby at River Church in Durham, NC
by Jonathan Daoana (videos) – 9:57

This is the story of an 8-month old baby who has been in COMA since she was 2 months. It was caused by a violent shaking of the baby by her babysitter.

Against doctors’ orders her mom took her out of the hospital just to bring her to church on a December day even only for a few hours.

All that her mom had was faith. All the people had to do was believe. All that the baby had to do was be healed.

Watch it and see what God can do even FOR YOU.

~ Jonathan Jay Daoana (Masters Commission GCF Dagupan)

Our God is a God of miracles, and yet how many of His children doubt and are in unbelief.

One of the major signs that the Apostle Paul said would be common in the Last Days, before Jesus returns to earth, he said that “Many would have a form of religion and would acknowledge a belief in God, but would nevertheless deny the power!“
(see 2 Timothy 3:5)

Times have not changed very much from the days of Christ, where it says that Jesus went unto His own hometown and there He couldn’t do very much in the way of miracles, except that he healed a few sick folks… and why? The Bible says it was because of their unbelief!

Now if the Living Son of God, who is Himself God incarnate (in the flesh) cannot overcome unbelief in His people, I’m sure also that we can’t either.

Folks, it is never a matter that God doesn’t want to perform miracles in our life, for truly what we call the “Supernatural” is very natural and ordinary for God; and it should also be for us.

What we need to do is start acting like we believe the Promises of God’s Word, and start confessing them with our mouth, and finally begin to thank God for answered prayer before there is any tangible evidence of it… all of this is what the Bible instructs us to do, by the way.

It isn’t necessary that we believe in our mind, or our intellect… only in our heart (our spirit man)… as the Bible says: “Believe with your heart and confess with your mouth, and you shall be saved!“ Selah

So whatever needs you are facing today, and I don’t care what it is, if you can find a promise in God’s Word addressing your need, then you can know it’s God’s will for you to have your miracle… and in Jesus Name, believe for your miracle! Selah and Amen

Shalom,

Skip Barland

HOW TO RECEIVE YOUR MIRACLE…

(Please click here to view program)

This Week’s Guest
Billy Burke
July 5-11, 2010

At the age of 9, Billy Burke had terminal brain cancer and was given only 3 days to live.

Convinced that if she could get her grandson to a Kathryn Kuhlman healing meeting he would be healed, Billy’s grandmother had him released from the hospital against doctors’ recommendations.

Billy went to the meeting and was miraculously healed, with medical verification.

Now Billy ministers in the same miracle anointing that healed him.

This week Billy shares the keys to healing and manifesting your miracle

As a young Christian, newly saved myself, in the 70’s, I can remember attending Kathryn Kuhlman meetings every month at the Shrine Auditorium, in Los Angeles.

It was not only my first experience to witness first hand a miracle, when I saw this man’s leg grow out before my eyes; it was also my first experience at being truly and deeply touched by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Her services were phenomenal, and just the awesome presence of the Holy Spirit that could be felt there, could literally change your life, and it most certainly did mine, I can tell you.

I hope this testimony will give hope and encouragement to those who truly are believing God for their miracle, whether it be for healing, provision, or whatever.

And to that end I bid you all…

Shalom (which by the ways means God’s PEACE, HEALTH, and PROVISION, with nothing lacking or missing)

Skip Barland

The Heart of the Father…

The Heart of the Father

“For this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life.
He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.”
(Luke 15:24)

Could it be that the delay in answered prayer, the longsuffering in broken relationships, the suffering we experience often in the face of affliction or adversity, could all of these things be God’s way of emptying us or our self, our flesh, that we may be filled with Him?

Could it be that it is necessary for us to suffer these things, even as the Bible says that Jesus suffered, that He might learn obedience (Heb 5:8); even as the Bible illustrates that He was tempted in every area just like you and I; so that means He also suffered times of doubt, of lack, and weakness in His humanity, in His flesh while on the earth, just as we do… as the Bible says that He was tempted in every area just as we are… and then finally came the cross?

What is Jesus saying to us today in all these things?

Luke 9:23-26

Take Up the Cross and Follow Him
²³ Then He (Jesus) said to them all,
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,^[a] and follow Me. ²⁴ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. ²⁵ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? ²⁶ For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.”

Do you remember the account that is given in the Bible where over 70 of the disciples who were following Jesus were offended, and walked away?

Do you remember how He then turned to the twelve and asked… “Are you going to leave too?”

To which Peter answered:
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life!”

Could it be that in the course of our preparation and training for God’s service, that our resolve must also be tested, as was the disciples, as to whether we will persevere in the face of adversity, affliction, and whether we will also get offended and walk away?

This experience, which is common to all of God’s children (sooner or later) is called by some the “Dark night of the Soul.” It is here that we each get to test the mettle of our own faith, and see whether Jesus is truly Lord of our lives?

What do we do when the pressure is on, and we are suffering? Do we obey Jesus, and follow what He says in His Word; or do we follow the dictates of our own heart, and are we doing what seems right in our own eyes? That is the real test… isn’t it? Selah

Does not the Bible also say that Jesus is the exact reflection of the Father?

When I first read this devotion by Henri Nouwen, I couldn’t relate to what he was saying at first, and I wasn’t getting the point, that is until I read the last line where it says that: “We are all called to become like that father!”

For truly if we want to know the heart of the Father, we have but to look to the heart of His Son Jesus! Selah

Shalom,

Skip Barland

From: Henri Nouwen Society

Sent: Sunday, July 04, 2010 2:45 AM
To: theskipper@cox.net
Subject: July 4, 2010 – The Tears of the Father

The Tears of the Father

The father in the story of the prodigal son suffered much. He saw his younger son leave, knowing the disappointments, rejections and abuses facing him. He saw his older son become angry and bitter, and was unable to offer him affection and support. A large part of the father’s life has been waiting. He could not force his younger son to come home or his older son to let go of his resentments. Only they themselves could take the initiative to return.

During these long years of waiting the father cried many tears and died many deaths. He was emptied out by suffering. But that emptiness had created a place of welcome for his sons when the time of their return came. We are called to become like that father.

This email was sent to theskipper@cox.net, by email_lists@henrinouwen.org

Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven… and ALL these things will be added to you!

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness!

Matthew 6:25-34 (New Living Translation)

²⁵ “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? ²⁷ Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?

²⁸ “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, ²⁹ yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. ³⁰ And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

³¹ “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. ³³ Seek the Kingdom of God^[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

³⁴ “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

Jesus also instructs us in John 14 to NOT allow our hearts to be troubled, “Let Not,” as the KJV says; all of which implies it is our decision whether to trust in faith, or not; and these are instructions given to us by our Lord, and it is not a suggestion.

He goes on to tell us that He is going before us in order to prepare an abode for us, specific with each one of us in mind; and along with that He gave us the promise of coming back to receive us unto Himself, and there to live with Him forever.

Now the Bible is very interesting because whereas Jesus put the above text in the future tense, as something that is yet to happen in the future; the Bible also says that we NOW are in heavenly places with Jesus too… so how is that possible?

How can we be here on earth, and at the same time, simultaneously be with Jesus in eternity?

What I believe this verse is teaching us is that our spirit man, being of the same substance and nature of God, who is Himself a Spirit; and with that part of us having been given to us by God, and is that which is created in His image and after His likeness; I believe it is our spirit man, that is existent outside of our time and space continuum; and is therefore also eternal. We know after all there is no distance in the spirit.

It is also our spirit man that only comes alive, at our re-birth, at which time I believe we then have the potential for unending communion with God; and our being with Him ALL the time, regardless of where we are, or what we are doing in the natural.

But the question still arises, back here on earth, because all of that is very well and fine; but how does any of this information help me where I am today?

How am I able to tap into this supernatural dimension; and how can I receive God’s help and guidance, which I do desperately need today?

Also, how do we get to the place where my life is being government not by what I see or feel; but by faith, in what is not yet visible to the natural eye, nor felt in the natural?

Also the question arises as to how do we deal with our current earthly challenges in the mean time, that are most definitely real and in the natural?

For the answer to all of these questions we need to consult the Operation’s Manual (the Holy Bible); and there are any number of instructions that we will find there.

But all of them have to do with our appropriating what we need here in this life, in our time, by faith! Selah

Shalom,

Skip Barland

THE ART OF WAR… as fought GOD’s WAY!

THE ART OF WARFARE GOD’s WAY…

Act I: Scene1 — GOD’S BATTLE PLAN FOR WARFARE

Joshua 1:1-9

The Lord’s Charge to Joshua

¹ After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant. He said, ² “Moses my servant is dead.

Therefore, the time has come for you to lead these people, the Israelites, across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them.

³ I promise you what I promised Moses: ‘Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you—⁴ from the Negev wilderness in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea^[^a] in the west, including all the land of the Hittites.’

⁵ No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

⁶ “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.

⁷ Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left.

Then you will be successful in everything you do. ⁸ Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.

Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. ⁹ This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Christianity is all about learning to face your GIANTS, in other words your FEARS!

In the Bible where we read about the Children of Israel’s challenges and travels on their way to the Promised Land, we often will misinterpret the “Promise Land” as a type of Heaven, and it most certainly is NOT!

The Promise Land is where all your fears are tested and challenged; it’s where you are forced to put it ALL on the line, and test the mettle of our faith, and then know what exactly it is that you are relying on… whether on God, or on other things, or people?

The Children of Israel blew it the first time around, because after the spies had came back with their report, only two of them, Joshua and Caleb said “We can do it;” the rest of them quaked in their boots and said it was impossible.

But before we get on our high horses and criticize, let’s consider what it was that they were being asked to do; and then let’s ask ourselves how excited we would have been to go in and do battle under those very same circumstances?

To start with these people where not trained soldiers; after all, they had spent years in bondage, as slaves in Egypt; and they where most certainly not a trained army!

No these were families, including men, women and children, including people of all ages; and believe me, the moment they went in and declared war on Jericho, which was a fortified city, and I mean a literal fortress that was surrounded and protected by huge walls, and was populated with real GIANTS; so the moment they began this endeavor, there would be no turning back nor retreat, for either they win, or it was curtains for all of Israel… meaning all their families, women and children included, would have been killed, or worse. So there wouldn’t have been any time outs, where they could have just said, “Hold on folks, we changed our mind!”

Now after putting flesh and blood on this story, and seeing it for what it was; let us ask ourselves the question, how would we have done, considering it were our life, and the lives of our families that were at stake?

And before you answer that question, first ask yourself how are you doing in the challenges you are facing today, where your fears are being confronted, where you possibly are anticipating things in your future that are making you fearful?

You know, even with our worst problems that we face here in the West, we typically have it so much easier than most of the rest of the world.

Hardly ever are we facing life and death situations, as Israel did in the above story; and nor are we facing starvation and death and sicknesses at epidemic proportions, as is the case in other parts of the world.

In some of these places, you take your life in your hand just to call yourself a Christian, and there is a huge and constant threat, not only on you, but also on your wife and your children too.

This is the real world, in most other places of the world today; and yet we here, in America and also in most of your western European countries today, through we may think we represent the majority and the standard norm for what it means to be a Christian, we do not… in fact we are very much in the minority, when it comes to numbers.

We have been spoiled here in American and also in Western Europe, and therefore we are totally unprepared for what is about to happen; and this is owed to the fact that we haven’t had any REAL problems, certainly not on this order of what we are reading about that happened to Israel; or that we see happening in other places today, in Islamic countries, and in places like in Africa.

For our part, having been blessed and protected by God for going on generations now, we haven’t a clue what it means to have to face real danger, or having to forfeit everything, including maybe our lives and those of our families; and yet this is the reality most of our brothers and sisters, who in fact make up the majority of God’s church today in the world, as we in the West are very much in the minority, they have to face this sort of thing every single day… and even to just call themselves “Christian,” they are putting their lives at risk!

So before we are so quick to throw stones at others, and judge the Children of Israel, whose stores we have studied so many years and are so familiar with; before we judge them so harshly, we need to seriously evaluate our faith, and where we are today; as I believe that our day of testing is near at hand… as I believe that God is about to separate the “wheat” from the “chaff,” and the “sheep” from the “goats” right here at home!

The truth is, you don’t learn to fight in a war by reading it in a book. The way you learn is by going through training; and sometimes however, that training happens on the job, as you find yourself fighting for your lives in the middle of a war; and that very well may be the case here in America, for a lot of people, because we are for the most part so unprepared.

The Scriptures are very clear on this point, and Jesus made it very clear, that rough days are ahead for the world, and for the Church, among those who would be alive at the time of His return to earth.

Jesus called these times, “The beginning of Sorrows;” and He said that these times that we are on the verge of experiencing would be the worst ever, in the history of the world!

God’s plan for these times, again it is NOT for the destruction of the church; rather His purpose is to build us up, and make us stronger; that we in the church would begin to seize these times, and dig in, and become stronger; and that we would REPENT (change the way we think); that we would once again begin to plug into God’s Word, and the POWER of the Holy Spirit; and that we learn the Art of Warfare, God’s way!!!

For more information on this, on God’s tactics and how He expects us to behave… look to your Operations Manual (The Bible).

Shalom,

Skip Barland

From: Express Email Marketing On Behalf Of Two Listeners
Sent: Thursday, July 01, 2010 2:03 AM
To: theskipper@cox.net
Subject: GC – July 1 – Attack Fear | GE – Out Of The Unseen

God Calling

Attack Fear

I learn daily the sublime lesson of trust and calm in the midst of storm. Whatever of sorrow or difficulty the day may bring My tender command to you is still the same — Love and laugh.

Love and Laughter, not a sorrowful resignation, mark real acceptances of My Will. Leave every soul the braver and happier for having met you. For children or youth, middle or old age, for sorrow, for sin, for all you may encounter in others, this should be your attitude. Love and Laugh.

Do not fear. Remember how I faced the devil in the wilderness, and how I conquered with “the sword of the spirit which is the word of God.” You too have your quick answer to every fear that evil may present — an answer of faith and confidence in me. Where possible say it aloud.

The spoken word has power. Look on every fear, not as a weakness on your part due to illness or worry, but as a very real temptation to be attacked and overthrown.

And Moses said … Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you today. Exodus 14:13

God At Eventide

Out of the Unseen

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

You do not yet see, nor will you see fully while you are on this earth, but faith, cooperating with Spiritual Power, actually calls into being that for which you hope.

Men speak of dreams come true. But you know them as answered prayers; manifestations of Spirit Force in the Unseen. So trust boundlessly.

blessings to you and yours this day and always …

www.twolisteners.org

Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

Jude 1:24-25

This email was sent by Two Listeners, 4140 Oceanside Blvd, Suite 159 – PMB 112, Oceanside, CA 92056, using Express Email Marketing. You subscribed to this permission-based list on 1/5/2009

HOW DO YOU NOT LOVE A GOD LIKE THAT?

“O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will! ”

What Jesus purchased for us at Calvary’s cross though it comes to us free of charge, it did not come without a cost; it’s just that we could never pay the price!

It cost the life of God’s only begotten Son; and it cost Jesus His All!

How do you not love a God like that?

Micah 7:18 (The Message)

^18-20Where is the god who can compare with you—
wiping the slate clean of guilt,
Turning a blind eye, a deaf ear,
to the past sins of your purged and precious people?
You don’t nurse your anger and don’t stay angry long,
for mercy is your specialty. That’s what you love most.
And compassion is on its way to us.
You’ll stamp out our wrongdoing.
You’ll sink our sins
to the bottom of the ocean.
You’ll stay true to your word to Father Jacob
and continue the compassion you showed Grandfather Abraham—
Everything you promised our ancestors
from a long time ago.

So how do you not love a God like this?

The Bible gives us the record, in the Gospel of John – Chapter one (in the Skip paraphrase version) that: “In the beginning, before time and space began (was created and set in forth in motion by God), that there was the Logos (the Living Word), and the Word was God.

It goes on to say that, “He was in the beginning with God. That all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

In Him (Jesus) was life, and the life was the light of men; and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not comprehend it.

He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and yet the world did not know Him, nor did it recognize Him.

And though He came unto His own people (the Jews), even His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to as many as believed on His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

So then the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth!”

This is the way I understand the way the Trinity works: It is God the Father who originates ALL the thoughts, purposes, and plans of the God Head, He’s the BOSS; then God the Father speaks those thoughts plans and purposes with the Word of His mouth; and God the Son (Jesus) is that Word (the Living Word), who then goes out to implement the thoughts, plans and purposes of the Father; and then it is God the Holy Spirit, who is the POWER source, who brings it all together, and makes it happen!

Such as it is, this is the account given in Scripture for where we ALL came from; and as we read further the story even gets more interesting; for the Bible says that even the angels of heaven bend over in amazement and wonderment at what God is doing with the Sons and Daughters of Adam, which to them is a great mystery?

Not only that, but the Bible also tells us (in Romans 8:19): “That the whole of creation awaits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed!“

When we stop to consider all the trouble and bother that God has had to go through; and the enormous cost of our salvation to the God Head; and all the pain and suffering that Christ had to go through, the question naturally arises… why would God go through all of that?

Well the answer is because God loves you; for even as it says in John – Chapter 3, verse 16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life!”

Truly, when you understand it, the Bible is actually God’s love letter to us, where we are told all that He has had to do in order to have his lost children reconciled back unto His eternal family; not only that, but the Bible is also God’s road map, left behind for us, in order to show us the way home.

So then I ask the question again: How do we not love a God like this?

And what should be our response to such love?

Well the Bible says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Messiah Jesus, who being in the form of God, and being God incarnate Himself, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God; but He made Himself of no reputation, taking on the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of man.

And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him (Jesus) and has given Him the name which is above EVERY name, that at the name of JESUS every knee must bow, of those in heaven, and of those in the earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that JESUS CHRIST is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!” (Phil 2:5-11) Amen

I believe it was St. Augustine who said it the best, when he said for us: “To love God with all your heart, all your mind, and all your strength, and do as you please!“

Christianity is not a religion, as many would call it, and many practice it!

To say that and to leave it there is a cop out, because Christianity is so much more.

Jesus did not come to this earth and suffer all that He suffered just so we could practice religion!

Religion attempts to earn God’s acceptance and approval through human effort and by our works; but the Bible says that Salvation only comes by Grace, as a free gift!

No, religion most often tends to cheapen all that God has done, by making some believe they can earn it; but the truth is nothing we can do will ever add to, or take away from what Christ has already done for us on the Cross!

So as you are collating all of this, and possibly asking yourself what side do I fall on, when it comes to this Man, Christ Jesus… please consider this last point that I will leave you with… and that is, though this gift of salvation comes to us free of charge, by GRACE, meaning we don’t deserve it; and even thought it comes totally by way of unmerited favor; nevertheless, there is however a cost involved for us; and therein lies a paradox, because we can only lay hold of this New Life, by dying to self, and our living for God!

Going to church and having a label doesn’t get anyone into heaven! Selah

For more information about how all of this works, and how to appropriate this awesome gift of salvation, and this New Life for yourself, here is a website that might be helpful, and will answer some of you questions: http://needhim.org/… beyond that, consult the Operations Manual (Book of Information Before Leaving Earth—the BIBLE).

Shalom,

Skip Barland

What to do when you hurt… and how to deal with the problems of life!

Listen up folks; this is the way you deal with life, and life’s problems!

Listen to what Jesus said on the Sermon on the Mound…

(Scriptures are from the Message Bible):

³ “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

⁴ You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

⁵ You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

⁶You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

⁷ You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

⁸You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

⁹ You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

¹⁰ You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

^11-12 Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.” (Matthew 5:3-11)

Jesus also said:

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:24)

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Below there is another very good devotional message by David Wilkerson; this one is on the subject of what to do when you hurt.

Before I begin with my message, let me say just one thing right off the top; and that is if life and also the Bible teaches anything, it is that most of the people are wrong most of the time!

What does that mean?

It means that our being successful at life, and being on God’s team has nothing at all to do with being friends with the world, and going with the flow of the world, or doing what most of your friends, or peer group are doing… and yet that is what most do!

The Bible is VERY clear on this point, in fact it is crystal clear on this subject, and it says unequivocally that we are to enter through the “Narrow Gate,” and it is narrow because few there are who will take it; for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to death and destruction, meaning eternal separation from God (Matthew 7:13).

This is very important because much of the world, meaning most of your friends and most of the people you encounter everyday, if we understand what this verse of Scripture is saying correctly, it is saying that most of them are on their way to hell… and believe me you do not want to be in that group!

Not only that, but the way you will end up in that group is by going with the flow, and being average and ordinary… being ‘Politically Correct!’

Being a Christian on the other hands means you are going against the flow of what the world calls average and normal, and by their standards you are abnormal and weird if you are a follower of Christ; and James 4:4 will tell you that by your being friends with the world, that makes you an enemy of God! So are you understanding the words that I am speaking to you… you most certainly DO NOT want to go with the crowd!

Now with that said, let me move on to my next point, on how the Bible presents us with many many paradoxes, and I believe the reason for that is because God is wanting to point out the fact that truly OUR ways are not His; for God says:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and does not return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isa 55:8-11)

Our mission in life as the Bible sets forth, is first to be Born-again, meaning that we receive by faith the forgiveness of our sins; and are reconciled back into God’s family through the Gospel message of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Kingdom of Heaven!

That will first necessitate our repenting, which means to literally change the way we think.

In other words God is wanting to completely rewrite our core programming that has been corrupted by the world; and He will rewrite that programming with His own… by the Holy Spirit.

However, for that to happen we have to first be willing to humble ourselves and be teachable; and that humility will first be experienced from your friends, who will not at all accept or understand what you are doing!

In fact, on that point… have you ever noticed how much people are like a bucket of crabs?

By that I mean, if you have ever seen a bucket of crabs, what you will find is that every time one tries to crawl out, the others will immediately hook them back in.

Well your friends will be exactly like that. They will also try and hook you back in!

So to start with, to be a follower of Christ means doing something quite different from what you have been doing, and what most of your friends are doing; it means being different… and it will humble you to be different, and to take the ridicule from your friends and the teasing for being different.

Being a Christian first means that we have to be willing to deny our self; meaning we let go of this idea of living our life as we see fit; and we begin to pursue an entirely new life in Christ; where no longer are we the masters of our destiny, and are seeking after our way, our ambitions, and wants and desires; but we instead are now bond servants of the Most High God… and a bond servant is someone who willingly relinquishes his or her freedom and will in order to follow and serve another.

Now in case there is still any doubt about what is being said here, let me make it a little clearer by quoting it directly from the Master:

Matthew 16:24-27

Take Up the Cross and Follow Him
²⁴ Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”

In other words, and this is another one of those paradoxes… you can only live by dying!

Not only that but the very things you have been conditioned to rely upon, in the world, since your birth, such as your feelings and your understanding and reasoning, ALL of these things you are now being asked to deny, and to now order your life after God’s Word, and faith in God’s Word; which means you are now to guide everything you do, and hang your entire life and all of your circumstances, trials, and problems on the promises of God’s Word!

It means that you must learn to put on the mind of Christ and pursue His ways and His means of doing things… and now are forsaking your ways and that of the world!

Well some of you, and I used to be in this group myself, are saying I’m a member of such and such a church and I have been baptized; I’ve already had my First Communion, or whatever liturgical requirements are put forth in your denomination, in order to be a member; but yet according to what Jesus just said, ALL of that won’t even get you past the front door of heaven, if you haven’t first completely died to yourself, and made Jesus Christ Lord and Master of your life!

Folks this paradox is absolutely crucial that we ALL understand!

After all Christ did not come to earth, suffer all that He suffered, die a cruel death on the cross, all so we and I can attend church on Sunday and on holidays, or whatever; just so we could live our lives, and pursue our interests, and live as we please… that was NOT what Calvary was all about!!!

Does that not make sense to you? I mean are you getting my drift here, or not?

I ask this because I know sure as shooting that there are many people out there, and I know because I talk to them, and some of you right now, who are reading this message, are actually thinking that way; and are living your life hoping that just because of whatever label you have over your church, and the fact you are/or once were a member of that church, or denomination, you are right with God; and are of the mistaken opinion that having that label will get you in to heaven! Well, I’m here to tell you now that it will not!!! And mind you, that’s not according to my word, or my opinion; but that’s according to what Jesus has said, as you have just read.

For those of you who are currently on that broad road, trying to enter through that Wide Gate; if you would like to make your reservations for eternity, and accept Jesus as your personal Saviour and Lord, here is a website that will give you a road map: http://needhim.org/.

The next thing is, having been born-again, we now enter into the “Boot-camp” of the Holy Spirit; and we begin our training for eternity!

By that I mean God will use our circumstances, our trials and tribulations, and our challenges in life to teach us how to live by faith, and how to circumnavigate our problems, and cast mountains (spiritual obstacles) that Satan has placed in our path into the sea.

Now it doesn’t at all matter what those mountains are, whether we are talking about physical mountains, financial, emotional, or whatever… every problem, every demon, and ever situation must bow at the name of Jesus Christ!

Before that happens however, and this is MOST important, we have to be filled with the Person and also the power of the Holy Spirit, which is God’s POWER, which He provides that allows us to tap into His supernatural powers, and to see and experience signs, wonders and miracles in our life, and more importantly in our ministry to reach this lost world for Christ!

Without that power we are virtually helpless to have any kind of effectiveness at any level, not only in our personal life; but also in any kind of ministry we may be involved with.

That failure alone, to be filled with God’s power and guided and directed 24/7 through the ministry of the Holy Spirit will be a major handicapped in our trying to reach this world for Christ!

Even as Jesus has said… “Without me you can do NOTHING!”

And that is exactly why Jesus instructed ALL of His disciples to not do anything in the way of ministry, before they had been endued with POWER from on high, which power came on the Day of Pentecost!

Now the last Paradox that I’d to point out in this message is how Jesus said that by our having problems, and that by our learning to manage our way through our problems; and our gaining victory through faith in what Christ has already done, when we pray in His Name; Jesus said that by our having this experience, that our JOY would be complete!

In other words our Joy, which as the Bible says is the source of our strength, can only happen through our gaining victory over our situations and challenges; and by faith having successfully defeated the strategies of the enemy in our life!

That’s what Jesus meant when He said:
“In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world!” Selah

So your mission and mine today is to not be on the defensive, cowering in fear at what we think may happen; but rather God has given us an “E” ticket ride to have the thrill of a lifetime, which will be the most exhilarating experience anyone can ever have, in our riding the wave and flow of the Holy Spirit in our situations.

So instead of our shrinking back and hiding in the face of adversity, we are now aggressively charging the gates of hell, and those mountains in our path… because now through our own experience of having seen the Word in action and the power of God, we know beyond any doubt that GREATER is He that is in us, than he that is in the word… that truly now our JOY can be complete! Selah

Now go out today and kick Satan’s butt, in Jesus name! 🙂

Shalom,

Skip Barland

—–Original Message—–
From: DAVID WILKERSON TODAY [mailto:no-reply@lists.worldchallenge.org]
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2010 12:02 AM
To: devotions-en@lists.worldchallenge.org
Subject: WHEN YOU HURT

WHEN YOU HURT

by David Wilkerson | June 28, 2010

In one way or another, we are all hurting. Every person on earth carries his own burden of pain.

When you are deeply hurt, no person on earth can shut down the inner fears and deepest agonies. Not the best of friends can understand the battle you are going through or the wounds inflicted on you.

Is there a balm for a broken heart? Is there healing for those deep, inner hurts? Can the pieces be put back together and the heart be made even stronger?

Yes! Absolutely yes! And if not, then God’s Word would be a hoax and God himself would be a liar. That cannot be!

God didn’t promise you a painless way of life. He promised you “a way of escape.” He promised to help you bear your pain. Strength to put you back on your feet when weakness makes you stagger.

Our loving Father said, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Your heavenly Father watches over you with an unwavering eye. Every move is monitored. Every tear is bottled. He identifies with your every pain. He feels every hurt. He will never allow you to drown in your tears. He will not permit your hurt to deteriorate your mind. He promises to come, right on time, to wipe away your tears and give you joy for mourning.

You have the ability to make your heart rejoice and be glad in the Lord. God’s eye is on you—and he commands us to rise up and shake off all those fears causing doubt.

http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/devotions/2010/when-you-hurt