DIVINE ELECTION - GOD'S SELECTION

ACTS 9 - 15 - 16

But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine

to bear My name before Gentiles, kings and the children of Israel.

For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake.

Elections are the buzz word in many countries, but are they really accurate or manipulated.  Is it just another oligarchy.   I was promptly reminded by a zealot "we are supposed to pray for our leaders".   "Yes I do" I replied "I pray that God will remove them and raise up men of integrity and wisdom, I pray divine election not the people's selection.   A cheeky grin and a cheery wave and most voters don't even take the time to research the individual who is supposed to serve them and eventually realise they  serve their own agenda and hang on to power with all the tenacity of an octopus.    

Over the next few months the mud slinging will begin.   Dig and dig deep for anything you can find that will discredit any potential adversary.   Somewhere in his/her past there will be something.  Everyone has a skeleton or two in their closet.   The thirst for power is ruthless.     

Hadn't Saul of Tarsus done it all.  A pharisee and a zealot every action justified with his religious mindset.    He had watched as Stephen was stoned to death.   His mission to wipe out, eliminate this Christian cult that followed their rebellious Jewish rabbi.  Of course he didn't actually do the killing, like most leaders that falls somewhere down the chain of command.  Guilt by proxy.   They had crucified the leader now Saul's mandate was to eradicate His followers.

The Lord dealt with Saul in what can only be described as a 'bolt from the blue' and when he heard the voice of Yeshua that was it.   That is enough to correct any mortal,  the Lord brought him to his knees face down in the dirt - cleaned him up and sent him out.   But having now changed sides he was listening to a different authority very aware he was unworthy of such forgiveness, compassion and love.  But his zeal and single minded focus was about to be used mightily by His saviour.

Religious extremists of any shade are dangerous people, the violence in the scriptures is playing out again in the Middle East, they rise from the pit of hell to radicalize, inflicting misery and death on their opposition and any innocents who get in their way.

In today world there would be enough evidence to convict Paul.   Now a follower of Christ he was a target for the Jews but the Christians didn't want to associate with him either - just look what he did to their people. 

People will have their scapegoat.   We are all guilty when we look the other way.   We are all weak and we all fail.  Ghandi said "if it's an eye for an eye the whole world will be blind"   Thank heaven for a merciful and forgiving God.   He loves us all but requires we pick up the cross of obedience.   

And yes, God chooses who he uses and if you put your head above the parapet expect to be shot at.    

Yeshua warned his followers: 

  

Matthew 10 - 16

Behold I sent you out as sheep in the midst of wolves

To be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Speaking His Word you might just stir the 'hornets nest'.   Many will rise against you, isolation and persecution will follow.   Rejoice.   Peter and Paul were in and out of the slammer.   You are in good company.   In China the underground church pastors are tortured and imprisoned.  Read  "The Heavenly Man"   The state church isn't a problem and it won't be here -  its the children who truly follow their Lord.   The world will find any excuse to highlight past weaknesses, spotlight your fall from grace, and gladly slam the prison door shut.

The sad case of the young christian woman doctor in Sudan continues.   Re-arrested with her two children they have cleverly found another charge against her.   She faces seven years in jail if she is found guilty and they will be doing their utmost to ensure the case goes against her.    PLEASE PRAY for Mariam Yehya Ibrahim a sudanese doctor and christian.   May the Lord deal with these people and bring her and her children to a safe harbor.

Psalm 119 - 105

Your word is a lamp to my feet

And a light to my path.

SHALOM

   

HENCHMEN OF THE DARK LORD

Psalm 5 - 4

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness

neither shall evil dwell with thee.

They are everywhere henchmen of the dark lord.   Government, judicial system, police, workplace,

neighbourhood and they are sniffing out the saints.   Now more than ever the children of a Holy God need the precious gift of discernment.

Counterfeit christians are a deadly foe and among their ranks.   They twist the Word of God and their followers are Nicolaitians.   How Yeshua HATES  'a strong warning' (Revelation 2 - 14 - 15) to those who carry His name but chose to live in the world.

A.W. Tozer in his brilliant book - I talk back to the devil! explains the toxicity of their deadly doctrine,

"once saved - that's it" heavily used by this fraternity.

Non believers are not considered a threat to this great man of God.   He believes in PREVENIENT GRACE his simply understood explanation - it is the work of the Holy Spirit.  Otherwise they will be unable to see the TRUTH and hear the TRUTH.   In one section of the book he explains how as a young man he stood alone in his faith where his family were concerned.  But he stood.   There is no mention of his being an island, considering himself superior or preferred.   He just stood and by his conviction and continuing witness was able to thank God for His saving grace where the members of his family were concerned.

We all have a tendency to look back at what God graciously saved us from, but now more than ever we need to keep our eyes focused on Yeshua and towards the heavens and despite the flack, rejection and humiliation we are sure to receive know that we carry our cross.   That we are on the right path and we are heading home.

We know what the future holds for this world and because we do we are not prone to depression or despair.   Everything is in His hands.  The days will get darker and unimaginable horrors already suffered by many will eventually reach our shores.   Then many will fall to their knees.  

The Lord has a way of dealing with a disobedient people.   Some will "see the light" - a Damascus Road, others he will bring down with the loss of everything they covert until they stand naked before Him.   Many already can't take the pressure, suicides are on the increase.      

Those with strong roots will weather any approaching storm, but don't expect a free ride - a whisk away from it all.  That is not biblical or in accordance with Yeshua's words.

Matthew 24 - 22

and unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved;

but for the ELECT'S SAKE those days will be shortened.

Matthew 24 - 31

And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet,

and they will gather His elect from the four winds,

from one end of Heaven to the other.

Some pilgrims may be in the advance party.   (Pilgrims Progress)  Faithful was literally beaten to death then swiftly removed and spared the rest of the Journey.   But for those of us left behind it will surely get much worse.   WE NEED TO ENSURE OUR ROOTS are deep in the earth of His promise.    Knowing that the end game is won.   All evil will be destroyed in the incineration process.   There will be a new heaven and a new earth - our planet restored and Yeshua's team will rule.    We surely wait and TRUST ADONAI.

Psalm 5 - 12

For you, O Lord, will bless the righteous;

With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

SHALOM.

    

RALLYING CRY

PSALM 93

12 - 13

Blessed is the man whom you instruct, O Lord,

And teach out of Your law,

That You may give him rest from the days of adversity,

Until the pit is dug for the wicked.

There is a man whose home is like an Aladdin's cave, full of supplies.  Rolls and rolls of tin foil, dried and tinned food stocks, water and medical supplies, everything neatly stacked in his underground habitation, and he sits anxiously watching and waiting for "the end of life as we know it Jim"   He doesn't believe in the God of the bible, retribution or impending wrath.   He just knows sooner or later someone is going to press the button and he wants to survive.  Perhaps he considers he would be one of the few left to start again on a dead grey ball of ash.

There are men who collude to bring about his worst nightmare but they consider they will be safe under ground determined to blow everyone else off the planet but save their own miserable skins.

GETTING READY FOR THE END OF ALL THINGS - YOU TUBE VIDEO - teaching by that great man of God, David Wilkerson.   He stands frail and trembling and at times close to tears before the huge assembly gathered at the church in Times Square, New York.

No showmanship or razzmatazz just a gentle husky voice at times breaking with emotion perhaps realising time was running out for his witness, this had to be said and how true and applicable to us all.

He spoke about the Latter rain and that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit is blocked by those in the body of Christ who hold grudges.   That our place as christians is in the closet praying.   The root of bitterness has to come out.  Nothing must hinder the work of the Holy Spirit in our families and neighbourhoods.   

It is often difficult to discern those who are genuine christians and the counterfeits.  Their lives reflect little of the love and compassion Yeshua had for the blind and deaf (atheists and non believers) the sick, elderly and the captives.  

We all lose our spiritual balance, fall off the narrow path, but by the grace of God we will be convicted of our weaknesses and there is still time to turn our lives around.    We pray for the captives, thanks to the internet there are many who have lost their sense of direction and need healing and our prayers not our condemnation.

David refers his congregation to Haggai whose ministry was just four short months but gained him his place in scripture until the end of time.

Haggai 2 - 9

The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts.

And in this place I will give peace, says the Lord of Hosts.

Haggai 2 - 4

Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel, says the Lord; and be strong Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong all you people of the land, says the Lord 'and work, for I am with you,' says the Lord, and work ; for I am with you says the Lord of hosts.

The people were struggling with the three D's and it is just as true today.  They were putting their own agenda first.   So the Lord struck them with blight, mildew and hail.   Well I can't speak for anyone else but I have had hail, mildew and the blight (fungus) in my humble abode - yeap - its very prevalent today.  

DISINTEREST

More concerned with acquisition and building beautiful homes for themselves.

DISCOURAGEMENT

We must stay strong and focus - work while we can - time is short -  this temple will be glorious.

DISSATISFACTION

Okay Lord we've done what you asked of us now where are the blessings.  We tend to expect instant gratification and restoration of the years the locusts have taken.    

Perhaps we all need to go into our closets (that includes the writer) and pray.

Lord, what is the last assignment for me.

How do I use these last days to glorify You in every area of my life.

What is your commission.

We thank you Father for Your servant David Wilkerson.   He touched millions with his teaching and now he surely walks in Your courts in the company of all the saints.

Perhaps we all need the teaching of 1 Peter 8-9

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins.

Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

We are all equal in the sight of God.   We might not be able to jet off to Africa to deal with the appalling plight of starving children as young as three years old (R.T. documentary) sniffing glue and sleeping with the pigs.   One young christian woman has dedicated her life to these little ones.  She truly obeys her Master's voice.

We all love that beautiful baby, how positively delicious the smell of the new born, but many find it difficult to take the wrinkled hand of a lonely old person with a leaky tank and a vacant stare.  We just don't want to go there, its reminds us of the fate that awaits us if we ever reach that place.

We need to take seriously the message in Luke 11 - 24 - 26 - many are suffering internet addiction without even realising they have a problem.   That is just as much an idol as the golden calf and at times   glorification of self.   The house that was once swept clean is now occupied and in need of restoration.  

Or Luke 16 - 19 - 22

The palaces and the principalities will crumble and fall.   If you've passed the sick and needy holding tight to your purse I'm afraid you are bound for the other side of the chasm.

The Lord will deal with those who kill and murder the innocent.   Leaders, who kill by proxy, your hands may not hold the weapons, but you will be held accountable.

Psalm 93

5 - 7

They break in pieces your people, O Lord

and afflict Your heritage.

They slay the widow and the stranger,

And murder the fatherless.

Yet they say the Lord does not see,

Nor does the God of Jacob understand.

9-10-11

He who planted the ear, shall He not hear? 

He who formed the eye, shall He not see?

He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct.

The Lord knows the thoughts of man,

That they are futile.

He is coming after global upheaval.    Stand and work while it is still light.  Really good advice.

He will melt hardened hearts, others he will bring by calamity.

Nations will be drawn to the temple to discover what they had been searching for, the One whom all Nations have desired will be displayed in splendor and there will be PEACE ON EARTH. 

ALWAYS AND EVER FOR YOUR GLORY ADONAI

SHALOM