Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Why I Am Not the Least Bit Discouraged - MICHAEL BROWN

Michael Brown


Why I Am Not the Least Bit Discouraged

It is true that there is a lot of bad news in the world today, and much of it comes as a direct assault on our faith. Radical Islam is rising. Aggressive atheism is spreading. Much of the church in the West is backsliding, and our culture is rapidly deteriorating.
But from the bottom of my heart I can honestly say that I am not in the least bit discouraged. In fact, I am more encouraged and hopeful in the Lord at the age of 59 than I was when the Lord saved me in 1971 at the age of 16. The best is yet to come!
Here are 10 reasons why I am full of faith and hope:
1. God is ruling and reigning from His throne. There is no fear or anxiety in God's presence, nor is there the slightest trace of worry or concern. The purposes of God will come to pass, and He will work out His plan on the earth. Although His heart grieves because of human sin and suffering, He is the undisputed King of the universe, and in His presence there is fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11).
2. Jesus is Lord. The name of Jesus remains the highest name in all creation, and at His name, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess (Phil. 2:9-11). If this was the only thing I knew, namely, that Jesus died for my sins, rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven, I would rest secure and be full of anticipation and expectation.
3. In the end, God will vindicate His people. I honestly feel sorry for those who fight against God's purposes, knowing that in the end, they will be the losers—and the ultimate losers, at that. We who love and serve the Lord will shine like stars while they will fade away into darkness (Dan. 12:2-3). We should pity them rather than fear them.
4. Everything Satan and this world mean for evil, God can turn around for good.It's really hard to overuse Romans 8:28: "Now we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to His purpose" (TLV). Often, in the Lord, the very worst things that happen to us become the best things, and that which was intended to destroy us backfires in the enemy's face. In Jesus, stumbling blocks become stepping stones.
5. God is doing amazing things in the earth today. It is true that Islam is spreading and that false religions and cults continue to grow. But for decades now, the greatest spiritual growth taking place worldwide is in born-again, Spirit-empowered circles. The harvest continues to be reaped at an unprecedented pace, and even in countries like Iran, countless tens of thousands are being saved every year.
6. He who began the good work in us will bring it to completion. I have seen the Lord's faithfulness for more than four decades now, and my confidence in Him is greater than ever before. My trust is in His wisdom and power and goodness, not mine, and I know that I am standing strong today because He is the author and finisher of my faith (Heb. 12:2). Why shouldn't I have confidence for tomorrow?
7. Revival has turned things around in the past. Revival can turn things around today. We have had some very dark periods in our history, including the decades following the Revolutionary War, when some of our most prestigious college campuses—schools which were founded for exclusively Christian purposes—did not have a single professing believer. (This was stated in a famous lecture by the revival historian James Edwin Orr.) All this was changed dramatically when awakening came, and a greater, more radical awakening can turn things around again in our day.
8. Political pundits have been wrong before. Many are telling us that the culture wars are over and that gay "marriage" will soon be the law across America. Many Christian leaders believe this to be true as well.
But we were once told that the war against abortion was over and that American sentiment against the outlawing of abortion had turned for good. Today, it is pro-abortion advocates who are panicking as the pro-life movement continues to grow, especially among the younger generation.
9. Worldly ways are self-defeating. All of the ways of the world—sexual promiscuity, drug and alcohol abuse, abortion, no-fault divorce, homosexual practice, materialism and greed, just to name a few—bring a society down, not up. But God's ways bring life and blessing and stability. When the dust settles—and it may get very "dusty" for a while—the righteous will be standing strong.
10. I have seen God's past promises to me fulfilled gloriously, and I am confident that the rest of His promises to will come to pass as well. None of us can boast about tomorrow (Prov. 27:1), and so I mean this as a boast in the Lord, not as a statement of presumption. As David once said, "Adonai, who has delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine [meaning, Goliath]" (1 Sam. 17:37).
To share my own story, the Lord spoke to me in 1983 that I would be in the center of a revival that touched the world, and by His grace, that promise came to pass, as I had the privilege of serving as a leader in the Brownsville Revival from 1996 to 2000, where people came from more than 130 nations to be ignited by the fires of revival. And those fires continue to burn around the globe today, not the least through the grads of our ministry school who are making a great impact in many nations.
Since the late 1990s, the Lord has spoken to me about a coming revolution—a gospel-based moral and cultural revolution—and if I am faithful to Him, I believe I will be right in the thick of that revolution. I feel this so deeply I can reach out and touch it.
What promises has God made to you personally? And what has He promised to all of us in His Word?
Take hold of His promises and rejoice. Those who put their trust in Him will never be ashamed. Let the encouragement come!
Michael Brown is author of Can You Be Gay and Christian? Responding With Love and Truth to Questions About Homosexuality and host of the nationally syndicated talk radio show The Line of Fire on the Salem Radio Network. He is also president of FIRE School of Ministry and director of the Coalition of Conscience. Follow him at AskDrBrown on Facebook or at @drmichaellbrown on Twitter.

The Great Deception in the American Church - BERT M. FARIAS- CHARISMA MAGAZINE

deception

    What's at the root of the deception in the American church?

The Great Deception in the American Church


Either way, these numbers are high. Seventy-seven percent believe their chances of going to heaven are excellent. Thirty-three percent believe one day everyone will go to heaven. Yet America has the highest percentage of single-parent families in the industrialized world, the highest abortion rate, the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases, the highest rate of teenage birth by far, the highest rate of teenage drug use and the largest prison population per capita than any country in the world.
Consider also the great moral decline of the last generation (50 to 60 years) and these telling statistics in America. The divorce rate has doubled, teen suicide has tripled, reported violent crime has quadrupled, the prison population has quintupled, the percentage of babies born out of wedlock has risen sixfold, couples living together out of wedlock have increased sevenfold, and gay marriage is now a legalized reality in a number of states, with many believing the end is not in sight.
In this past generation, we have experienced an overwhelming increase in lawlessness, permissiveness and selfishness, even among Christians. Moral actions that were unthinkable a few decades ago are now commonplace—Christian leaders indulging in sexual sin and grossly immoral scandals, addicted to pornography and accompanied by an exploding divorce rate have greatly factored in the rapid decrease of morals in the American church. And as the church goes, so goes the world. In fact, the results of a survey among young American adults showed that the percentage who follow biblically based values for living has now dropped from 65 percent to a mere 4 percent since World War II.
There has never been a society in the history of mankind whose moral values have deteriorated so dramatically, in such a short period of time, as those of Americans in the last 50 years. And so far it shows no sign of stopping. These statistics are eye-opening, and they serve to warn us that something is terribly wrong with our brand of Christianity. They reveal how poorly the church has communicated the true gospel to mainstream America, and thus the reason for so much deception in our culture.
When the rich man died and went to Hades (Luke 16:19-31), he was surprised to find himself there. In the Jewish culture, they equated wealth with godliness, so this man thought God favored him. The common thought, especially among the Jews, was if you were blessed financially, then you were a good person and therefore favored by God and on your way to heaven. This also explains the disciples' astonishment when Jesus told them how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 19:23-25).
Similarly, there was a church in Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22) who, due to their wealth, thought they too had attained God's favor. Jesus expressed great disapproval over their spiritual condition as well, which they were totally unaware of. They were deceived.
Are you in touch with your true spiritual condition? Or are you allowing the pop culture around you to dictate your standards? Are you conforming to the world's standards or to the Bible? Are you deceived? How can a nation of people among whom a large percentage claims to be born-again Christians experience the kind of degradation the above statistics reveal? Such deception is the state of America today, and the above statistics reveal the fruit of it.
The problem has been that the real gospel has not been preached nor lived. Both the profession and the practice of many so-called Christians in this nation have not matched up. Our substandard message has produced substandard believers. Our departure from the preaching of the cross, repentance, holiness, and the real empowering grace of God has increased the level of deception in the church. How else can we explain the disparity of the above statistics in the church and the nation?
But what is really at the root of this deception? This is what we need to carefully discern. In one word, it is humanism—the glorification of self. Humanism has crept into much of the modern-day church and is diluting the power of the real gospel. 
Bert M. Farias, founder of Holy Fire Ministries, is the author of The Real Gospel and co-host of the New England Holy Ghost Forum. He is a missionary evangelist carrying a spirit of revival to the church and the nations. Follow him at Bert Farias on Facebook or @Bertfarias1 on Twitter.

Sharing Love From Sweden - The Greatest Is Love - Eva Haglund


THE GREATEST IS LOVE
by Eva Haglund
Sweden

In Corinthians we can read, "And now abide faith, hope, love,these three, but the greatest of these is love". Sometimes knowledge is counted above love and some boast about knowledge.

What does is matter if anyone has all knowledge in the world but not have love we can see in 1 Cor.13:2. It is not wrong with good knowledge but if we have knowledge in anything it is not to boast before others but many things we can learn we can use in helping other people. A prophetic gift is not higher than love. Love is higher than prophetic gifts. 

Prophetic gifts is not to boast about. They are given for a person to be a giver with it and it is not more than when a child pick flowers to a parent - a present in love - because love is highest. We need prophets and we need also prophecies from different persons but one thing as the Body of Christ need is love.

In James it is written "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone say he has faith but does not have works?" The faith ought to be shown in love. I am surprised not to hear many preach or talk about love because God is love. To show love is like a sermon that God is love.

What Yeshua did at the cross is love. When He suffered so much for us before the cross was love to us. When He choose to come to the earth for our sake was love. When our heavenly Daddy sent His own precious Son to die for us it was love. Yeshua is love, lived love and gave all in love. 1 John 4:8 "God is love."



It is important to learn to know God as love. He loves us much more than we understand. Yeshua did not live a life without showing love. He came as a servant in love. He was humble and was willing to suffer because of love. He told us to wash each other`s feet. He showed us about taking care of each other in friendship in the Body of Christ.

Yeshua talks about love in John. It is written "This is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you." Yeshua was willing to give His love for us. Yeshua say that "Greater love has no one than this than to lay down his life for his FRIENDS."

Yeshua talks here about friendship. We see here that it is important to take time for friendship.

The biggest Friend we need to take time with is God. Then we need friendship. I think it is a time for more friendship in the Body of Christ. God wants to restore more of this in the Body of Christ. We need each other. It is a new time and I think one of the things God wants to do is to restore this. It is too much as a club but it needs to more like a big family with more fellowship.

In Acts it is written how they had fellowship and ate together; not just in a church building as it is sometimes today.  I think it is easier to meet other Christians if we do not live so far from each other. Then it is also easier to help more practically and to do things together. You can know people who live far way too. We are also global as one big family.

When there is love in the Body of Christ - in friendship, fellowship and helping showing care - such as in washing each other`s feet - it also is a practical testimony to the world. In John 21 we see that Jesus showed a lot of care practical, even made the bread and had fellowship. He was eating breakfast with His friends. We can eat breakfast with our Friend Yeshua but also eat together with others.



We need each other in the Body of Christ  globally but you cannot know all well but show love. Bitterness towards anyone? We need to leave this behind. Yeshua said at the cross, "Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing."

In Cor.13 we can read about love. Yeshua was not selfish. He did not seek "His own". He saw people. He saw them and showed love and helped. Yeshua loves all and also died for the soldiers who hated Him. The world needs love and we need love in the Body.

Yeshua gave all in love. He gave all His Bread - His life.

As the bread was divided in pieces His heart was crushed in love and pain for us. He gave His heart.

I Cor.13 "And now abide faith,hope, love, these three, but the greatest of these is love."

Eva Haglund
Sweden



Mountain Top View - Onward & Upward - Steve Martin's latest book


Now on Amazon - Paperback & Kindle


Mountain Top View - Onward & Upward 



Paperback – May 19, 2014


Product Details

  • Paperback: 120 pages
  • Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (May 19, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1499524951
  • ISBN-13: 978-1499524956
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
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Mountain Top View [Kindle Edition]

Steve Martin 

Kindle Price:$1.99

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Bonnie Jones: Warning: Don't Miss The Boat! - The Elijah List

Bonnie Jones:
The Elijah List

Bob and Bonnie JonesIn a vision I saw a small sailboat on the glistening, moonlit water at night; it was just ready to leave shore. Just as everyone was boarding, a woman ran back to take care of her unfinished business. The people cried out to her with a warning: "The boat is leaving now!" She continued on her way while the boat drifted away from shore.

Suddenly she turned around and frantically ran toward the water, but it was too late. She missed the boat. The passengers had no oars and couldn't return to shore to get her. She watched hopelessly from the shore as they drifted away into the moonlight.

Then I heard the Lord say, "Ready or not, here I come! Those who diligently seek the Lord will board this boat guided by the wind of the Holy Spirit!"

Don't miss the boat!Faith is lifting our sails in this day as the Holy Spirit of Truth is leading us. No longer can we follow after agendas, patterns, and formulas; we must be totally reliant on the Holy Spirit to guide us. 

(Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

I believe this woman represents Christians that truly love the Lord, yet they remain carnally minded. They continue using their natural senses instead of becoming spiritually minded. Therefore they still desire to feed their flesh, and when the Lord calls, their desire will always be to take care of the natural business first instead of doing the will of the Father.

Testing Of The Heart

There's a testing of our hearts taking place right now, and the outcome will be according to our decision. God will not violate our free will and we must live with the consequence of the choice we make. Will we follow after Him or continue on our own path according to our fleshly desires?

When Elijah found Elisha and threw his mantle on him, Elisha's first response was to run back and kiss his parents goodbye, then he would follow Elijah (see 1 Kings 19:20). Elisha was functioning in the carnal realm, or natural senses. And being a good son, his first response would be to honor his parents and tell them he was departing to follow after and be trained by this powerful man of God. Elisha, like the woman that missed the boat, had a choice to make. Elijah put him to the test, just like we are being tested today. 

Will you follow after Me or follow after your own fleshly desires?

Will you follow?So Elijah left there and found Elisha son of Shaphat, whose plowing was being done with twelve yoke of oxen, and he drove the twelfth. Elijah crossed over to him and cast his mantle upon him. He left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, "Let me kiss my father and mother, and then I will follow you." 

And he [testing Elisha] said, "Go on back. What have I done to you? [Settle it for yourself.]" So Elisha went back from him. Then he took a yoke of oxen, slew them, boiled their flesh with the oxen's yoke [as fuel], and gave to the people, and they ate. Then he arose, followed Elijah, and served him. 1 Kings 19:19-21 AMP 

(Photo via Christian Image Source)

Elijah heard directly from God. But God was not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire. The Lord was in the still, small voice. Today God is stretching forth His hand the second time to deliver the keys of David into the hand of the righteous who have followed the Father in spirit and truth. They have forsaken all others for the work of the Cross of Jesus Christ.

ElijahList Prophetic Resources

The Fiery Sword

We've come to the place in history being written that God will rewrite what man has done in his own will. God is sending forth a fiery sword out of the mouth of His true prophets in this day that will cause division. It is His division that conquers the false, because truth will trump the false every time. It may not look like it at first, but watch as God begins a small work and brings increase through the nations of the world. He's coming in power in this day and we must be ready to move quickly. 

There is no obstacle in our life that God can't cover or remove.

Warrior's Heart by Jennifer PageThe Book of Jude gives a warning about the false teachers that would creep in unnoticed for the purpose of turning God's grace into lewdness and deny the Lord (see verse 4). They are dreamers that defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of whatever they do not know because they don't know the person of the Word. 

They have never established a personal relationship with the Lord, and therefore operate from the flesh. And because they lack personal relationship with God and the desire to know His will, they corrupt themselves. Therefore they fall into apostasy and cause others to stumble (see verses 8-10).

Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. Jude 11

We're given three examples in the above verse, and I believe it is a progression. Man begins with hatred in his heart that leads to greed, and in time, as they mature in the nature of the evil one, it manifests itself in rebellion. Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft (see 1 Samuel 15:23), and God rejects those who partake of it.
The Way Of Cain: Cain had enmity in his heart. It was a deep-rooted hatred toward his brother that in time caused Cain to murder Abel. Cain's hatred and jealousy toward Abel was greater than his love for God. He had a choice to make. He chose to satisfy his flesh instead of following after God's heart and ruling over his fleshly desire. Cain had never established personal relationship with the Father, where I believe Abel did. That is why God rejected his offering.
 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. Genesis 4:7

Greed leads to rebellionThe Error Of Balaam For Profit: Balaam was a soothsayer who mixed truth with false doctrine. His error was greed, or covetousness, because he was paid well to bring a curse upon the people of Israel. God's anger was kindled against him when he disobeyed Him and later withstood the Angel of the Lord three times. Balaam repented and brought the word of the Lord, refusing to curse Israel (see Numbers 22-23). 
 Photo via Pixabay)

 The Rebellion Of Korah: Korah rejected true leadership, causing many to perish. He was one of the richest leaders of the Levites and a cousin of Moses and Aaron. He was jealous and felt overlooked for leadership, and therefore gathered 250 leaders of the assembly to rebel against Moses and Aaron. This angered God and He separated the holy from the profane. God did a new thing (see Numbers 16:30-32) and the earth opened up its mouth and swallowed them and their households – and a fire consumed the rest of the 250 men (see Numbers 16).


Crossroads In Time
Crossroads in timeThe Body of Christ has come to a crossroads in time, a juncture on their heavenly journey in the Lord. Each one must decide for themselves which way to go. Some will want to turn back for fear of the unknown, yet others will proceed in faith. 

It is there that God meets them head-on, and they will move into a new dimension in Him. Those who choose to proceed in faith must be space aviators and explore the uncharted waters of the Spirit. 

(Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

The Lord is coming for His Bride without spot or wrinkle. She will be scarred from the many battle wounds she sustained, but she will be worthy as she praises Him. The world has set itself on a course of self-destruction, and day-by-day she lingers in her own filth. But His Bride will be set aside, a glory to be witnessed as she stands out among the rest.

Don't miss the boat. Step out in faith and follow God with a whole heart. Let Him be the Master that steers you through uncharted waters by the winds of His Holy Spirit of Truth and witness the new dimensions in Him. 

Just dare to believe!

Bonnie Jones
The Prophetic Ministry of Bob and Bonnie Jones

Website: bobjones.org

To contact Bonnie Jones send your inquiry to:

Bob and Bonnie Jones Ministries
White Horses Publishings
P.O. Box 838
Pineville, NC 28134-0838

Bonnie Jones has a great love for the Lord, the Word, and the Cross of Jesus. She loves children and enjoys blessing them with a gift of joy, truth, love, and encouragement. Bonnie moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2001 to attend Morning Star School of Ministry; in 2005 she met Bob Jones and they were married the following year (Bob Jones went home to be with the Lord earlier this year). Bonnie moves in a seer prophetic gifting as well as healing and miracles. Her passion is to see women set free from the fear of man and step into their gifts and calling.

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VIDEO: 100 Years of Building Up Israel

VIDEO: 100 Years of 

Building Up Israel

Tuesday, May 20, 2014 |  Israel Today Staff  
It was around 100 years ago that Jews really began returning to this land in earnest and building the base of what would soon after become the reborn State of Israel.
The following video celebrates that effort with a stunning series of photos from the past and present, reminding the viewer of the hard work and dedication that went into reviving and developing Jewish life in this region.
One thing that often strikes people who view such presentations is how very far Israel has come in such a very short period of time. A tiny nation, with a tiny population and no natural resources to speak of. And yet, Israel is today a global powerhouse militarily, economically and technologically, to say nothing of being a shining beacon of democratic freedom in a region still under the thumb of oppressive dictatorships.
Watch “Israel: 100 Years in a Flash”:
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