Welcome to this Resounding Shophar livestream message titled “How Great Is Your God?”—a powerful and timely word rooted in Jeremiah 32:17, reminding believers that the God who created the heavens and the earth by His mighty power is the same God who still moves, protects, provides, and sustains today.
In a world facing uncertainty, global turmoil, and spiritual shaking, it is vital for followers of Jesus to know—deep in their hearts and not just in their minds—how great and trustworthy God truly is. This message explores biblical examples, real-life testimonies, and practical steps to strengthen your faith so you can stand firm in perilous times.
Whether you are facing fear, discouragement, spiritual battles, or major life decisions, this teaching will help you:
• Recognize God’s greatness in Scripture and in your own life
• Trust Him when circumstances seem overwhelming
• Walk in peace, faith, and confidence as the world grows darker
• Become a faithful, Christ-like witness to those around you
• Cultivate a lifestyle that honors God and reflects His greatness
Let this message encourage and challenge you to answer this life-changing question:
How great is YOUR God?
In this challenging and timely Resounding Shophar message, “Heart Check 101,” we examine what it truly means to follow Jesus in the “perilous times” described in 2 Timothy 3:1–5. Scripture reveals that the last days will be marked by self-centeredness, deception, pride, and a form of godliness that denies the power of God. These warnings aren’t meant to frighten believers—but to urge us to examine the condition of our hearts before God.
This message walks through a biblical heart examination, using both Old and New Testament passages to show: • The evidence that we are living in the last days • How our words, reactions, and behaviors reveal the true condition of the heart • Why storing up heavenly treasures changes how we respond to trials • How to develop a Christ-centered response to suffering, persecution, and uncertainty • The importance of knowing the Lord Himself—not just knowing about Him • What Scripture says about trusting God in difficult seasons • The difference between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5) • How false teachings, cultural Christianity, and unbiblical versions of the gospel lead people astray • How to guard your heart with peace, purity, discernment, and biblical truth (Philippians 4:4–8) • Why regular spiritual self-examination is commanded for every believer (2 Corinthians 13:5) • How to be spiritually prepared for Christ’s soon return
The message emphasizes that what surfaces from our lives—our words, actions, attitudes, priorities, and responses to trials—reveals what’s really happening inside our hearts. If the past few years have exposed fear, anger, compromise, or division, God invites us to return to Him with sincerity and repentance.
“Heart Check 101” is a call for believers to: ✔ Ask God to search their hearts and expose what is not pleasing to Him ✔ Turn away from sin and worldly influences ✔ Reject false teachings and return to pure biblical truth ✔ Cultivate the fruit of the Spirit through daily obedience ✔ Live with expectation, holiness, and readiness for Jesus’ return
Now is the time to prepare our hearts, strengthen our faith, and align our lives fully with the Jesus of the Bible—not the cultural or comfortable versions of Him. The darker the world becomes, the more essential it is to walk closely with Christ.
In this powerful and eye-opening Resounding Shophar message, “When Sin Intimidates,” we explore the reality that sin is not only tempting and pleasurable—but also enslaving, controlling, and ultimately intimidating. Using Hebrews 11:24–25, we look at the example of Moses, who refused the passing pleasures of sin and chose instead to follow God, even when it meant suffering.
Most Christians understand sin’s temptation. Many understand sin’s consequences. But few recognize the moment when sin becomes an intimidating “Goliath”—a giant that rises up, takes control, and threatens to destroy everything in its path.
Drawing from both Scripture and the account of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, this message reveals: • Why sin seduces first—but intimidates later • How hidden or “pet sins” can gain a foothold and eventually dominate your life • The connection between temptation, desire, and spiritual death (James 1:14–15) • How sin enslaves those who obey it (Romans 6:15–16) • Why many believers mistake control over sin when, in truth, sin controls them • How Goliath represents the moment your sin goes public, destructive, or overwhelming • The danger of ignoring God’s private warnings until He exposes sin publicly • How Jesus, our greater “David,” delivers us from the giants of sin and fear • How to respond biblically when sin’s Goliath rises in your life • The importance of repentance, submission, accountability, and spiritual surrender
This message is a call to stop treating sin lightly and to confront the “Goliaths” that rise out of unrepented compromise. Whether your struggle is addiction, immorality, dishonesty, rebellion, secrecy, or something hidden and silent, God offers victory, freedom, and deliverance through Jesus Christ.
As this message concludes, you are invited to examine your heart: Has sin been seducing you? Enslaving you? Intimidating you? Has God sent a “David” into your life to call you back—and will you receive them?
Today is the day to submit to God, resist the enemy, repent fully, walk in victory, and allow Jesus to reign on the throne of your heart.
In this urgent and timely Resounding Shophar message, “Jesus Issues A Warning,” we examine Jesus’ first words in Matthew 24:4:
“Take heed that no one deceives you.”
Before Jesus speaks of wars, famines, earthquakes, or end-time signs, He first warns His disciples about deception. This warning wasn’t just for them—it is for us today, especially as spiritual deception grows stronger, louder, and more subtle in the last days.
This message explores why Jesus commanded us to stay alert, watchful, and spiritually grounded so we will not be led astray. Using multiple passages from the New Testament, we examine:
• What Jesus meant by “take heed”—and why it is our responsibility to stay alert
• How deception is designed to pull believers away from Christ, not just confuse them
• How the early Church dealt with false teachings and wandering from the truth
• Why even strong Christians can drift if they are not vigilant
• The biblical reality of believers being “led astray,” “falling from grace,” or having their “crown taken”
• How deception works through compromise, neglect, and false doctrines
• Real-life examples of modern deception:
– Immorality and sexual compromise
– Entertainment that shapes the flesh instead of the Spirit
– The normalization of lying and “white lies”
– Misunderstood “rights” and rebellion against authority
– Dishonest business practices
– Financial dishonesty and tax evasion
• Why holiness, obedience, repentance, and discernment are essential in the last days
• How to stay grounded in Scripture, alert in spirit, and faithful to Christ
As global events intensify—especially in Israel and the Middle East—Jesus’ warning becomes more relevant than ever. This is not the time to drift, compromise, or assume we are immune to deception. It is the time to examine our hearts, return to the altar, and remain steadfast in the truth of the Gospel.
May the Holy Spirit reveal any area where deception has taken root and lead us back to wholehearted devotion to Jesus.
Join us for this important and heartfelt Resounding Shophar message titled “Living Clean Before A Holy God”, rooted in Psalm 97:10, which declares: “You who love the LORD, hate evil!”
This message was delivered at the conclusion of a churchwide fast asking God to break our hearts for the things that break His. It challenges believers to examine not only the evil seen in society, but—more importantly—the hidden attitudes, habits, compromises, and desires within our own hearts that grieve the Lord.
In a culture overflowing with compromise, distraction, and spiritual numbness, God is calling His people back to holiness, purity, and integrity. This teaching explores:
• What it truly means to hate evil as Scripture commands
• How followers of Jesus should abstain from not only evil, but even the appearance of evil
• Why God hates the seven sins listed in Proverbs 6:16–19
• How pride, lying, hatred, lust, discord, and compromise break the heart of God
• The danger of justifying “pet sins” and ignoring conviction
• How believers can live clean, honest, and set-apart lives in a darkening world
• Why holiness is inseparable from loving Jesus
• The call to return to the altar for repentance, surrender, and heart transformation
This message is a sobering reminder that God is holy—and He desires a holy people. As disciples of Jesus, we are called not to blend into the world but to reflect His purity, love, humility, and righteousness in everything we do.
If you’re longing for a deeper walk with God, freedom from sin, renewed conviction, or a clean heart before Him, this message will encourage you to respond to His call and pursue holiness with passion and sincerity.
In a world where the word Christian is used casually, politically, culturally, and sometimes even deceptively, what does it truly mean to be identified as a Christian—in the biblical sense? In this Resounding Shophar message, “Identifying As A Christian”, we return to the foundation laid in Acts 11:26, where the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch—not as a compliment, but as a label marking them as unmistakable followers of Jesus Christ.
Today, the meaning of the word Christian has been diluted, redefined, and in many ways stripped of its original significance. Many claim the name while living according to their own identity rather than the identity found in Christ. But Scripture is clear:
To be a Christian is to be “of Christ,” to belong to Him, to follow Him, and to become like Him.
In this message, we discuss:
• How the early disciples gained the title “Christian”
• Why the cross—not politics, culture, or preference—is the true symbol of Christian identity
• The difference between claiming Christ and actually resembling Him
• What Scripture teaches about discipleship, surrender, and taking up your cross daily
• How love, forgiveness, humility, obedience, and Christ-likeness mark genuine believers
• The growing contrast between true Christians and the world as spiritual darkness increases
This is a timely and challenging message for every believer in Jesus. Are we known for looking like Christ—or for something else entirely? When people identify us, do they see our Savior… or simply our opinions, affiliations, or personal agendas?
Allow the Holy Spirit to examine your heart and help you rediscover what it means to bear the name Christian with authenticity, humility, and faithfulness.
38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.”
NKJV
There are two stones mentioned in the Bible, besides the five that David picked up going after Goliath, two stones that sit in the way of victory and blessing for every one of us. To receive all that God has for us, these stones need to first be rolled away.
The first stone is mentioned in the text we just looked at. This passage, along with several verses before and after it, tell the story of Lazarus and his resurrection.
John 11:1-37
11 Now a certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. 3 Therefore the sisters sent to Him, saying, “Lord, behold, he whom You love is sick.” 4 When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. 7 Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8 The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. 10 But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” 11 These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.” 12 Then His disciples said, “Lord, if he sleeps he will get well.” 13 However, Jesus spoke of his death, but they thought that He was speaking about taking rest in sleep. 14 Then Jesus said to them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15 And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, that you may believe. Nevertheless let us go to him.” 16 Then Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with Him.”
17 So when Jesus came, He found that he had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 And many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother. 20 Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” 28 And when she had said these things, she went her way and secretly called Mary her sister, saying, “The Teacher has come and is calling for you.” 29 As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly and came to Him. 30 Now Jesus had not yet come into the town, but was in the place where Martha met Him. 31 Then the Jews who were with her in the house, and comforting her, when they saw that Mary rose up quickly and went out, followed her, saying, “She is going to the tomb to weep there.” 32 Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. 34 And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” 37 And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” 38 Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”
NKJV
In this story, Jesus arrives on the scene to find those whom He was close to grieving over the loss of their brother, Lazarus. They were convinced that if Jesus had come sooner, then their brother would not have died, but now they were offended at Jesus who could have easily healed their brother if He had come as soon as He heard of Lazarus’ sickness. They were offended.
You need to remember something. Lazarus and his sisters, Mary and Martha, were very good friends of Jesus. They may or may not have been physically following Jesus from town to town, but they were followers of Jesus. And, Scripture makes it very clear that Jesus loved them. He loved, and still loves, everyone, but His love for them was special, otherwise Scripture would not have made a point in mentioning that. How hurt and offended would you be if someone you loved dearly, someone you thought loved you the same way, did not come running to help you as quickly as possible or in the way you thought they should have if they truly loved you so much?
How many times have you been offended because Jesus didn’t respond to your prayers as soon as you thought He could and should have? After all, we faithfully attend church, we’re faithful with our tithes and offerings, and we help at the church as much as we can. Is it too much to ask after all we do? Shouldn’t those things we’ve done make our requests a priority with God? And now you’re offended.
Yes, Jesus could have gone sooner and healed Lazarus, but the Father had bigger and better plans for this situation. When Jesus finally arrived on the scene, everyone thought that Jesus had come too late to help in any way. How many times do we think the same way when Jesus hasn’t responded to our requests for help in our circumstances, and now it seems like it’s too late for Him to do anything on our part? Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt that a situation got to the point that it was too late for Jesus to help or do anything? (scene in Facing the Giants; another team cheated)
When Jesus finally arrived, Lazarus had been dead for four days, and the stone was in front of his tomb. Jesus knew that Lazarus would be raised from the dead, but He also knew there was a stone that would prevent Lazarus from appearing to everyone else. The stone had to be moved. But Jesus, the Son of God, God, the creator of the ends of the universe, wasn’t about to move it, or even help move it. The stone can represent things in our lives that block and prevent the manifestation of victories and blessings God has available for us. If the stone wasn’t moved, Lazarus would not have come out of the tomb though he may have been resurrected from the dead. How many times has God resurrected things in our lives only for them to never be seen or experienced because we hadn’t first removed the stone in our lives?
**** Things that can represent a stone in our lives ****
Doubt and unbelief
Israelites not allowed to enter the promised land due to doubt and unbelief
Jesus was unable to do much of anything in His hometown due to their unbelief
Fear
What will others think
What if God doesn’t come through
Will I look like a fool?
Unforgiveness
Forgiveness that needs to be sought
Forgiveness that needs to be given
Disobedience and rebellion (towards God and those in authority over us)
Sexual immorality in all its many forms
Gossip, backbiting, slander and profanity
Pride
Attitudes and mindsets, “stinkin thinkin”
As Christians, our hope of seeing God’s hand move on our behalf when we need Him to is realized and manifested after we roll away the stone, or stones, that are keeping them from being seen. When God shows us something in our life that needs to change or be removed, are we just as determined to obey Him in that area as we are in other areas where we exercise great determination and energy to accomplish? Or are we apathetic about it hoping God will move it for us, or that He will still move on our behalf with minimal or no effort on our part? The very fact that Jesus shows us what to change in our lives as we grieve over a need we may have, that should energize hope within us that God is going to move on our behalf, but we still need to first roll the stone away.
To move the stone, as big and heavy as they were, would require strength and determination, or in other words, it would require work. In the same way, the stone or stones God wants us to remove in our lives may take both work and determination on our part to complete the task at hand. And like we read about Lazarus, where the results were more than worth the effort it took to remove it, even so the work it may take to remove the stone or stones in our lives will be nothing in comparison to what God will do afterwards. Do we really want the victory and blessings we are seeking God for?
The second stone is mentioned in all four of the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The story as recorded in each of the Gospels centers around the stone that was placed in front of Jesus’ grave, and that the stone had been rolled away.
Matthew 28:1-7; Mark 16:1-7; Luke 24:1-8; John 20:1
Matt 28:1-7
1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
NKJV
In this historical account of the greatest event in human history, recorded or otherwise, God by way of an angel He sent out, is the one that rolls the stone away. We often mention this from the idea that the stone had to be removed to prove Jesus wasn’t there, but perhaps there is another reason for this? Like the account of Lazarus being raised from the dead, the stone had to be removed for all to see, but how the stone was moved in both situations is important to know and understand. When we read of Lazarus being raised from the dead, even though Jesus was there on the scene, it was by His command that others had to move the stone.
In the case of the resurrection of Jesus, God was the one that moved the stone, and that is a very important point to understand. The resurrection of Jesus is one of the essential elements of the salvation process, for without His resurrection there would not be any hope of eternal life in heaven. When we understand that, it is then that we can understand why it was so important that God moved the stone, as that further represents that fact that salvation was not dependent upon humanity in any way. It was through God and the death and resurrection of Jesus on our behalf, that salvation is made possible for us. There was nothing on our part that we could say or do to make that happen, which further reinforces the passage that lets us know that we in no way can earn or be worthy of salvation.
The Apostle Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:8-9 that salvation is not offered to us because we deserve it or because of any works we have done of ourselves. It is a gift of God, and God makes it clear in that He’s the one that moved the stone. He is the one that makes it available to all.
Eph 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
NKJV
No matter what is in your past, or where you are at in the present, the fact that God, Himself, rolled away the stone from in front of Jesus’ tomb should cause hope to rise within you of better days and years ahead if you will accept what Jesus did on your behalf, and embrace everything about Him with passion and determination.
God isn’t asking or requiring you or anyone else to roll away the stone from in front of Christ’ tomb. There is nothing needed on your part to make that happen. You don’t have to, as some would say, “get your act together first before coming to Jesus”. As others would say, “you don’t have to take a shower before getting cleaned up by Jesus”. The tomb is wide open for all to see. People go there by the tens of thousands to see for themselves.
Your past doesn’t determine whether the stone is blocking you from seeing the risen Jesus. The stone is gone making the path to Jesus easy, but you must walk that path to Him.
What is in your past?
Murder?
Sexual immorality?
An abuser of others (mental, emotional, physical, sexual)?
A thief?
A liar (dishonesty and deception)?
A victim of abuse (sexual, mental, emotional, physical)?
Rejection
In His death by crucifixion on a cross, Jesus paid a price enough to cancel out our debt of sin against God, a debt that we could never in ourselves pay. In His resurrection from the dead, Jesus made the hope of eternal life in heaven a reality for all who accept what He did on their behalf and surrender their lives to Him and for His purposes.
Are you in need of hope in your life? Are you in need of God to move supernaturally on your behalf in some way? Are you needing to be set free of something, including sin and the penalty of sin? If you haven’t accepted Jesus as savior and Lord of your life, God has a hope for you to embrace that is found in Jesus’ death and resurrection, evidenced in His moving the stone away for you.
Several weeks ago I walked into the local Wal-Mart and was immediately reminded about the time of year we were entering into. You know that time of year, when fear, hate, terror, and the occult are glamorized and embraced with passion and excitement, reaching its peak on a day we call Halloween. I’ve written since 2011 what my position is regarding this day that comes every year, and that hasn’t changed, but I want to take a different approach to the subject this year.
Each year the question is asked as to whether Christians should have anything to do with Halloween, or not. And each year it only divides those who are opposed to it and those who think it’s okay for one reason or another. You would think that the answer to the question is a simple one, and it really is, but when we determine our answer according to our personal opinions and feelings, instead of what Scripture has to say about it, then the answer becomes nothing less than complicated and divisive within church circles.
When we see that day approaching, it’s not uncommon to see and hear of churches gearing up and planning what they will do on Halloween. Usually, the rationale they will embrace will go along one of two lines of thought; 1) they want to offer a Halloween alternative, or 2) they want to provide a safe place for children and adults. But is Halloween something that Christians and churches should be involved with? Unlike Christmas and Easter, holidays that some argue have both Christian and pagan roots, there is absolutely nothing Christian or God honoring when it comes to Halloween. In fact, everything Halloween represents is anti-God and contrary to the mind and character of Jesus. So, why is it that churches seem to believe that it’s okay to participate in one way or another on this holiday?
I’ve heard it argued by one pastor that even though their church has a community event on Halloween, an event where those who are organizing and putting it on incorporate costumes, various Halloween decorations, as well as activities that are clearly Halloween in nature, not to mention a name which is clearly a Halloween like name, that they are not participating in the Halloween festivities. Well, I don’t know what his definition of participation is, but common sense for most people know that they are in fact participating in and celebrating Halloween.
There was a time several years ago that the United States was trying to befriend the nation of Iran, a country that is bent on nothing less than the total destruction of America and Israel. It seemed like we were rolling out the red carpet of friendship with them, ignoring the fact that they did not share in that same endeavor. As I observed what was happening, I couldn’t help but think of Halloween and how some churches and Christians seem to be okay with it. Everything about Halloween and what it represents is anti-God, anti-Christ, anti-Bible, and anti-life, just to name a few. There is absolutely nothing redeeming about it, yet we have churches and Christians trying to find creative ways to “Christianize” the celebration to justify their involvement with it. Contrary to how many seem to view Halloween, we are told in Ephesians 5:11 not to have any part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather to expose them. We are also told in 1 Thessalonians 5:22 to abstain from every form of evil, and in Deuteronomy 18:9-14 and Leviticus 19:30-31 we are told of some of those things God says are evil.
Some will argue that it’s okay to do so because Jesus was a friend of sinners, a term that was given more as an insult to Him than a compliment. Just because He associated with those considered to be sinners does not mean that He was a participant in sin, in that which was opposed to God in any way, or that He encouraged or condoned such activity. To have done so, Jesus would have certainly lost His credibility as one sent of God to them, perfect and without sin, as such activity was explicitly prohibited by God, Himself, and if He had done so that surely would have been mentioned in Scripture and at His trial before going to the cross. Instead, Jesus strongly promoted purity of heart and an undivided and total devotion to the Father and Himself. Nowhere in Scripture will you find that Jesus was okay with or was involved in any way with that which was opposed to God, yet for some reason we have Christians and churches thinking differently about this subject.
What about the Apostle Paul? After all, he was sent to preach Jesus to the gentiles, people who were actively involved in various forms of pagan holidays, worship and activities. The same Apostle Paul, the one who taught us of the grace of God, who showed us that our relationship with Jesus is a marriage relationship, who revealed to us the return of Jesus for us in an event known as the Rapture. Does he tell us anything that would relate to the subject at hand? In Philippians 4:8-11, he speaks against observing days, months and years, but this was in relation to the pagan practices these converts to Christ once participated in before they received salvation. However, in Colossians 2:16-17, when he addresses festivals and a new moon, he is referring to the seven feasts God instituted back in Leviticus 23, all of which point to Jesus. It’s important to make that distinction as some will assume both passages are referring to the same things, but that is not the case. In 1 Thessalonians 5:22, the Apostle Paul instructs us to avoid or flee from the appearance of evil, and in Ephesians 5:11 he also tells us to take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness but to instead expose them. So, Paul, identified by some as the Apostle of Grace, left no room or argument condoning a Christian’s involvement with things like Halloween.
At this point I feel the need to clarify something. When I mention the participation of Christians and churches in the Halloween festivities, I am not referring to those who are opposed to Halloween but do what they can to reach the lost with the full and unadulterated gospel of Jesus. There are churches that reject the idea of Christians participating in that day, but they will do something purely as a ministry outreach of some sort that does not resemble Halloween in any way. I applaud these churches, and Christians, as they take a stand against the growing trend within church circles, but at the same time doing all they can to reach those who are lost and spiritually dead in sin.
While I have no objections to having an alternative to offer people, and certainly no objections to having a safe place for children and adults alike, I do find myself questioning the reasons and the motivations one has in doing so, and how they are going about it. For many churches, they are quick to say they are reaching out to the lost in doing so, wanting to use these activities as a means of doing so, but is that true or just words to ease their conscience or silence those who object? When a church does this, incorporating an appearance or activity that resembles Halloween in some way, they give the unsaved, those who are not followers of Christ, mixed messages as to what it means to be a Christian, a disciple and follower of Christ. Also, if the focal point is only to provide an alternative or a safe place, and very little to nothing is said or done to present the full gospel and each persons need of a savior, then all they are doing is building a reputation within the community and growing a religious social club.
I’ve heard it said that it’s okay for a church to have Halloween like events for the community because someone got saved or started attending their church as a result of these. There’s a problem with this logic, however. I’ve heard testimonies of some who were high on drugs or in a drunken state, how that in that condition they had an encounter with Jesus and got saved, and as a result they were radically transformed and set free from their addiction to drugs or alcohol. Since people have been reached for salvation while in these intoxicated states, does it mean, based on the above logic, that churches and Christians should encourage or embrace the use of drugs and alcohol as a way to reach the lost with the message of salvation through Christ? I think not! God is sovereign, and as such He can reach people in whatever condition they may be in, but that does not mean that we can discount what Scripture otherwise commands us just so we can “reach” someone. To ignore or discount the commands and instructions of God for the purpose of community acceptance and gaining followers, that is nothing less than rebellion towards God fueled by pride that puts our opinion on an equal or higher level than God and His Word. This must not be the case in the life of a Christian.
Halloween. A controversial subject for Christians as some are okay with it while others are not. The question is whether God is okay with it, and the answer is found within Scripture. Are we taking a stand for Christ, or are we more concerned about getting people to join our religious social club? If we are to do something on Halloween, let’s make sure it doesn’t resemble in appearance or activity to Halloween in any way, and that the gospel is clearly presented as the focus and theme of the event. Time is short, and we need to focus more on the salvation of the lost than building our social clubs and community reputations.
Are you a Christian that has participated in Halloween one way or another over the years, or even in those things that God identifies as detestable? If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to repent of your involvement in these, and to turn from them having any part in your life from here on out. We hear of animal shelters taking these things very seriously, law enforcement taking them very seriously, especially on October 31st of each year, and how much more should we as Christians who have been given very clear and specific instructions from God Himself regarding this? What’s been said and done in the past can be forgiven, but you need to repent and turn from them today.
Maybe you have never given your life over to Jesus. Maybe you have been living life as you wanted, and on your terms, but in listening to me today you realize there needs to be a change in your life. You are seeing the influence and impact of evil upon society is only increasing, and you can tell things are not going to get any better but instead much worse. There is victory through Jesus, and there is a hope beyond anything this world can even imagine giving you through Jesus only, and you would like to receive Jesus as savior and Lord of your life. Well, you can make that change right now wherever you are. It’s simple, as simple as “A, B, C”. Let me tell you how.
For you to be considering making such a change in your life, this only shows that God is speaking to you. He wants to have that saving relationship with you far more than you could ever want it yourself. To enter that relationship with Him, the first thing you need to do is acknowledge that you are a sinner. To acknowledge, or to admit, that you are a sinner is the “A” in the “A, B, C’s”. This may be difficult for some to do, but it’s vitally important. We are told in Romans 3:10 that no one is righteous or good, no, not one. The reason for that is found in Romans 3:23 where we’re told that all, everyone, has sinned and fall short of the glory of God. This means that nobody is good enough, no matter how good we may be, because we all have sin in our lives. Continuing in Romans, we are told in Romans 6:23 that the wages of our sin is death, or in other words the penalty of the sin in our life is eternal death. So, where does that leave us? We are told in Ephesians 2:8-9 that the salvation God offers us is a gift of God, something we receive by grace and through faith. No one deserves salvation, and no one certainly can earn it through works of any kind, but rather it is a gift from God. To receive this gift from God, the first thing a person must do is “A”, acknowledge or admit that they are a sinner.
The second thing a person must do, and this is “B” in the “ABC’s”, is to “BELIEVE” in their heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Him from the dead. Romans 10:9-10 tells us that if we confess with our mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. It’s not just a mental believing as some would like it to be, but rather a believing that dictates the way one lives their life. It’s a way of life that reflects and supports what they say they believe. In James 2:19 were told that even the demons believe, and they tremble, but salvation is not available to them. Just having a head knowledge is not enough.
The third thing a person must do, and this is “C” in the “ABC’s”, is to “CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD.” You need to call Jesus Lord, and to do so means one must surrender their life to Him. There is coming a time when every knee will bow before Him, and every tongue will confess to God that He is Lord. Now is the time for salvation, and now is the time to voluntarily surrender your life to Him. The eternal rewards for surrendering your life to Jesus is far greater than anything this world could ever hope to give you.
Is a relationship with Jesus like I’ve described important and worth it? It is most definitely worth it, and then some. I won’t say that life will be easier or with less problems, but it will be more fulfilling, and with that there is a Blessed Hope for all Christians to embrace and pursue. More and more people are beginning to feel hopeless with life, especially when they see everything that is happening around them and around the world, but as Christians we have a hope that is solid and independent of anything this world could ever hope to offer us. The signs we are seeing across the news headlines now days only energizes the hope we have of Jesus’ ever imminent return for us. It is that same hope, that Blessed Hope, that encourages Christians to keep the faith and to continue living for Him and Him alone. Are you one of those who place their trust and hope in Jesus?
If you do not have a saving relationship with Jesus, and you would like to, I encourage you to talk to God right now. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or eloquent, just a sharing of your heart to Him. If that is you, and you’re ready to give your life to Jesus, then say this prayer from your heart and to Him. Again, it’s not a formula, just a sharing of your heart to Him.
“O God, I am a sinner. I’m sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin, that He was buried, that You raised Him to life, and that He’s coming to take me back to His house in heaven very soon. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, trusting only in His shed blood as more than sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen.”
Now that you have entered into this relationship with Jesus, I strongly encourage you to find a Bible and start reading it, and to find and get plugged into a solid Bible-believing church that teaches and preaches the full Gospel of Jesus, which includes Bible prophecy and the need to be living righteously and holy before the Lord in all your ways.
In closing, know that Jesus is coming soon, very soon, for His followers, and it is vitally important for each of us to be found both watching and ready for Him when He does. Don’t get lulled into the deceptive thinking that His return is not near for one reason or another, especially when the fulfillment of the signs given in the Bible tell us that it’s at the door. It’s our responsibility to be watching the signs for Him, and to be ready, free of any spots, blemishes, or wrinkles brought on through sin in our lives.
Hello, Everyone! My name is John Johansson, and welcome again to another broadcast of the Resounding Shophar Blast! It’s been a while since our last broadcast due to some pretty significant things taking place on the Johansson front, and in time we may share some of those with you in future broadcasts. In the meantime, we are back and looking forward to sharing more Resounding Shophar Blasts with you as we see the day of our Lord’s return speedily approaching as never before.
To begin with, the Apostle Paul asks a rhetorical question that is the theme for today’s broadcast, and that question is found in Romans 10:14 which says;
14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
As Christians, believers and followers of Christ, we know and have a message that the world is looking for, and it is our responsibility to share that with others. What is our message? It’s the message of salvation through Jesus, and Him alone. It’s a message that through Jesus one can be set free of the bondage and penalties of sin. It’s a message that gives hope to the hopeless of a glorious, pain, sickness and death free eternity in heaven. It’s a message of the Blessed Hope found in Jesus alone where He returns to receive His people to Himself, an event that takes place before God’s judgement is released upon the whole world in a seven-year period identified in Scripture as the Tribulation Period. The problem is that it seems most churches in America are not sharing this message with others.
A lot of churches are embracing various false and deceptive teachings, and in the process, they are not presenting the message of salvation accurately or completely to those that are within their sphere of influence. Some churches are not embracing false and deceptive teachings, but still they are not presenting the message of salvation and what it is, what it means, and why it’s so important for each of us to embrace. We recently left a church we had been members of for nearly five years, and at that time someone made the comment to me that as long as it wasn’t over a salvation issue then that was okay, but something inside me rose up and I had to tell them it was over a salvation issue. There were different reasons for our departure, but the main one was that in the nearly five years we were attending it was extremely rare, if at all, that the message of salvation was actually preached or taught from the pulpit or at any “outreach” events, and that is a salvation issue. Let me explain.
If I know someone is very sick, perhaps with something like cancer, and I know what the cause of it is and have the cure for it, what could be a great life-giving event turns into a life and death situation if I withhold that from them. In like manner, if I know the spiritual condition of a person, the root cause and that salvation is the cure, if I don’t let them know and give them the cure which is Jesus, then that is a salvation issue. It doesn’t matter how knowledgeable I am of the situation, it doesn’t matter if I learned from honest and accurate teachers about it, if I don’t share the cause and the cure with them then that is a salvation issue. In other words, even if a church is doctrinally sound, if they do not preach and teach on the subject of salvation, then that is a salvation issue as those under their influence have no idea what it is and why they need it, and as a subsequent result could still be eternally lost in hell unless they are told the truth about salvation. How can people know about the salvation made available to them through Jesus if no one tells them about it?
On the same note, a lot of churches lead people to Jesus, but it stops there. I liken it to me taking someone I know to be sick to the doctor. If I take them to be introduced to the doctor, but I never tell them why they need to see the doctor or how the doctor can help them, after the introduction we can turn around and leave and all the person knows is that they just met a nice doctor. We can take people to Jesus, figuratively speaking, but if we never tell them why they need to meet Jesus and what He can do for them, then all they’ve done is met an important person in world history. Again, how can people know about the salvation made available to them through Jesus if no one tells them about it?
Something else we need to be sharing with others is about Jesus’ soon return for His bride. This is another message that seems to be overlooked or ignored in many churches here in America. There are many reasons for this; pastors and other Christians don’t know much about it, some are intimidated by the subject, some are afraid that others will respond with fear or contempt, possibly taking their money with them, and others just don’t believe in it. In either case, it isn’t getting preached or taught in most churches. I remember a time when I was a kid in which this subject seemed to be talked about nearly all the time, both behind the pulpits and outside the four walls of a church, but now it seems like it’s almost taboo to even discuss it. People that once strongly believed in the pre-tribulation rapture, now it seems many of them no longer believe even in the rapture itself. Sadly, this is another fulfillment of Bible end-time prophecy pointing to the ever-imminent return of Jesus for His followers. Getting back to the issue, it’s scary to me that more and more churches are not preaching or teaching on Biblical end-time prophesies and the return of Jesus for His followers in the event we know as the Rapture. When I think about this, I can’t help but remember some of the things Jesus said on the subject, things that should be a red flag for us to pay attention to.
When it comes to His return for us, on multiple occasions Jesus tells us to watch and pray, and He said it with emphasis. Each time He said it, it was not a suggestion or a recommendation, but it was a strongly stressed command. What does it mean to watch and pray? To watch for His return, it means that we need to expect Him to return at any moment, and with that to be watching the signs of His coming. Granted, there are no specific signs pointing to His return at the Rapture, but there are many signs pointing to the Tribulation Period, and when we begin to see those signs being fulfilled pointing to the Tribulation Period, that should tell us that the Rapture is that much sooner. There are some who say we don’t need to be watching for Jesus to return at any moment, or even to be watching the signs of His return, but that is simply in contradiction to what Jesus tells us to do. I don’t know about you, but I believe Jesus means what He says, He says what He means, and since He knows more than we do I think it best to take Him at His words and be obedient to them. To not be watching as He has commanded us is disobedience wrapped up in pride that says we know better than Jesus what we need or don’t need to do. In Luke 21:34-36, Jesus tells us not only to watch, but He also tells us to pray that we are counted worthy to escape that which is coming on the earth. Counted worthy? Yes, that is what Jesus said. Some will argue that we are already worthy at the point of salvation, and that we will remain worthy from that time forward no matter what, but there are many passages in Scripture that would seem to contradict that way of thinking.
In Titus 2:11-13 and 1 John 3:2-3, we are told that as we look forward to Jesus’ return for us in the Rapture, the Blessed Hope, we are to purify ourselves from sin and all ungodliness. For those who believe their admittance into Heaven was sealed at the point of salvation, and that there is nothing more they need to do until then, it is a dangerous place to be in because it becomes very easy to not take the presence of sin in their lives seriously. According to the Apostle Paul and the Apostle John, the more we look forward to Jesus’ return for us, the more we should be motivated even more to repent of sin in our lives and turn from it.
So, how serious is it that we be watching for Jesus’ return for us? Well, apparently Jesus takes it pretty seriously. In Revelation 3:1-6, speaking to the church in Sardis, He pretty much tells them to repent and start watching for Him, and that if they don’t watch for Him to return, they will miss it when He does. I don’t think you can get much clearer than that. If we don’t watch for Him to return, then we will be caught off guard and miss it when it does happen. Is there another passage that lends some weight to this? Yes, there is. In Revelation 16:15, Jesus makes it clear that those who are watching for His return, and who keep their garments clean of sin, they are blessed. But He goes on to say that those who did not watch and keep their garments, people will see them naked (without their robes of righteousness) and see their shame as ones who knew the truth but didn’t take it seriously enough to apply it to their lives. Wow! I guess that means we should be watching for Jesus’ return for us, and to make sure we’re ready when He does. Going back to the main theme for today, how will people know about Jesus’ soon return, the need to be watching for Him, and the need to keep our garments clean of sin, if no one is preaching and teaching them about it?
How shall they know ….
In Ezekiel 33:1-11, God makes it very clear that if we don’t warn others of what is coming, then their blood will be upon us. However, if we do warn people of what is coming, and how to prepare and avoid it, then if they choose to disregard the warning then their blood will be upon themselves. This should be a stark warning for all followers of Christ given that we have been given a message we are commanded to share with the lost, and if we neglect to do so their blood will be upon us.
Do you realize that Jesus’ return for His followers is very close and could happen at any moment? Do you even care? Jesus isn’t going to rescue you from the judgment that is coming to the world if you really aren’t concerned about it. He’s looking for people who are eagerly waiting for Him to return for them, the Blessed Hope we read about in Titus 2:13.
Perhaps you are a Christian, but you haven’t been living as you know you ought to, allowing sin and idolatry to reign in your life. If that is you, then I strongly encourage you to repent of such, to make things right with Jesus, asking Him for forgiveness and turning away from the sin. Don’t play what I call Russian Roulette with your eternity because you want to hang onto that which is sin and dishonoring to God. Do it today! Don’t delay!
Maybe you have never given your life over to Jesus. Maybe you have been living life as you wanted, and on your terms, but in listening to me today you realize there needs to be a change in your life. You are seeing the signs I mentioned earlier only increasing, and you can tell things are not going to get any better but instead much worse, and you want to avoid as much of it as possible and realize the only real way of doing so is by surrendering your life to Jesus. Well, you can make that change right now wherever you are. It’s simple, as simple as “A, B, C”. Let me tell you how.
For you to be considering making such a change in your life, this only shows that God is speaking to you. He wants to have that saving relationship with you far more than you could ever want it yourself. To enter that relationship with Him, the first thing you need to do is acknowledge that you are a sinner. To acknowledge, or to admit, that you are a sinner is the “A” in the “A, B, C’s”. This may be difficult for some to do, but it’s vitally important. We are told in Romans 3:10 that no one is righteous or good, no, not one. The reason for that is found in Romans 3:23 where we’re told that all, everyone, has sinned and fall short of the glory of God. This means that nobody is good enough, no matter how good we may be, because we all have sin in our lives. Continuing in Romans, we are told in Romans 6:23 that the wages of our sin is death, or in other words the penalty of the sin in our life is eternal death. So, where does that leave us? We are told in Ephesians 2:8-9 that the salvation God offers us is a gift of God, something we receive by grace and through faith. No one deserves salvation, and no one certainly can earn it through works of any kind, but rather it is a gift from God. To receive this gift from God, the first thing a person must do is “A”, acknowledge or admit that they are a sinner.
The second thing a person must do, and this is “B” in the “ABC’s”, is to “BELIEVE” in their heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Him from the dead. Romans 10:9-10 tells us that if we confess with our mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. It’s not just a mental believing as some would like it to be, but rather a believing that dictates the way one lives their life. It’s a way of life that reflects and supports what they say they believe. In James 2:19 were told that even the demons believe, and they tremble, but salvation is not available to them. Just having a head knowledge is not enough.
The third thing a person must do, and this is “C” in the “ABC’s”, is to “CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD.” You need to call Jesus Lord, and to do so means one must surrender their life to Him. There is coming a time when every knee will bow before Him, and every tongue will confess to God that He is Lord. Now is the time for salvation, and now is the time to voluntarily surrender your life to Him. The eternal rewards for surrendering your life to Jesus is far greater than anything this world could ever hope to give you.
Is a relationship with Jesus like I’ve described important and worth it? It is most definitely worth it, and then some. I won’t say that life will be easier or with less problems, but it will be more fulfilling, and with that there is a Blessed Hope for all Christians to embrace and pursue. More and more people are beginning to feel hopeless with life, especially when they see everything that is happening around them and around the world, but as Christians we have a hope that is solid and independent of anything this world could ever hope to offer us. The signs we are seeing across the news headlines now days only energizes the hope we have of Jesus’ ever imminent return for us. It is that same hope, that Blessed Hope, that encourages Christians to keep the faith and to continue living for Him and Him alone. Are you one of those who place their trust and hope in Jesus?
If you do not have a saving relationship with Jesus, and you would like to, I encourage you to talk to God right now. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy or eloquent, just a sharing of your heart to Him. If that is you, and you’re ready to give your life to Jesus, then say this prayer from your heart and to Him. Again, it’s not a formula, just a sharing of your heart to Him.
“O God, I am a sinner. I’m sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin, that He was buried, that You raised Him to life, and that He’s coming to take me back to His house in heaven very soon. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, trusting only in His shed blood as more than sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen.”
Now that you have entered into this relationship with Jesus, I strongly encourage you to find a Bible and start reading it, and to find and get plugged into a solid Bible-believing church that teaches and preaches the full Gospel of Jesus, which includes Bible prophecy and the need to be living righteously and holy before the Lord in all your ways.
In closing, know that Jesus is coming soon, very soon, for His followers, and it is vitally important for each of us to be found both watching and ready for Him when He does. Don’t get lulled into the deceptive thinking that His return is not near for one reason or another, especially when the fulfillment of the signs given in the Bible tell us that it’s at the door. It’s our responsibility to be watching the signs for Him, and to be ready, free of any spots, blemishes, or wrinkles brought on through sin in our lives.
Hello, Everyone! Welcome to
another broadcast of the Resounding Shophar Blast! In case you haven’t been watching, there is a
lot going on right now regarding the fulfillment of Biblical end-time events,
so much so that some people are scrambling just to keep up with everything that
is going on.
As I observe all that is going on right now, I am reminded of something
that took place back in December of 1989.
The event was a meeting between then President George W. Bush, Sr. and
the Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev on the island of Malta. I don’t remember much about that event, but
what I do remember was something said by a well-known news anchor who was on a
boat in the middle of the Mediterranean, and during a storm. This news anchor, and I don’t remember which
one it was, while he’s on the deck of the boat braving the storm, told the
audience that things were happening so fast that they were having trouble
keeping up and reporting all the news taking place. When I heard him say that, immediately God
quickened to me that when the time comes for Jesus to return for His Bride and
for the start of the Tribulation period, things will be happening so fast that
people’s heads will be spinning, and what the world was experiencing at the
time this reporter made these statements was only a glimpse, a taste, of what
will happen when God says it’s time.
People are now actually beginning to comment about how so much is
happening right now in the area of Biblical end-time prophecy fulfillment, they
are having trouble keeping up with it all.
In Matthew 24:32-35, as well as in Mark 13:28-31, Jesus gives us the
parable of the fig tree. In the Bible,
the fig tree is symbolic of the Nation of Israel. When Jesus gave this parable, Israel was not
a nation, but He was looking at a future time when Israel would become
one. In this parable, Jesus makes it
known that the generation that sees Israel become a nation will not pass away
until all the things He previously mentioned takes place. Well, Israel became a nation May 14, 1948, and
ever since then the fulfillment of Biblical end-time prophecies has kicked into
high gear along with the highly anticipated return of Jesus for His
Church. Some people want to say that it
will be several years yet before Jesus returns, and some say even at least 100
or more years yet, but there is one very big problem with this rationale. The generation that saw Israel become a nation
is about to pass away, which means that there isn’t the 10’s or 100’s of years
some would like to believe there is before Christ returns. There has been much debate over the years as
to how long a generation is Biblically speaking, ranging anywhere between 40 to
120 years, but the consensus seems to point to 70-80 years as mentioned in Psalms
90:10. The current life expectancy
statistics show just under 80 years, which seems to correlate very well with
what we are currently seeing in the fulfillment of Biblical end-time
prophecies.
In the parable of the fig tree, Jesus tells us that when we see all the
signs He had mentioned taking place that we are to know that the end is near, at the doors! Talking about end-time events and when Jesus
will return for the Church, many people will comment about how the signs Jesus
mentioned, as well as what has been mentioned in other passages, have been seen
for years. This only feeds into the
fulfillment of one of the prophecies we’ve been given regarding the end-times,
and that is found in 2 Peter 3:1-7 when the Apostle Peter tells us in the last
days many will mock and question the promise of Christ’s return. While it is true that many of the signs Jesus
mentioned have been seen for years, the difference to the times we are now
living in is that all the signs seem to be converging together at the same time. This is different from the past in that not all
the signs were present at the same time, but at different times and in
different places. As we watch the
fulfillment of Biblical end-time prophecies all around us, as well as all the
signs prophesied converging together at the same time, it is evident that the
final fulfillment of the signs Jesus gave is near, even at the doors!
When we talk about the final fulfillment of the signs Jesus gave us
being near, it is important for us to remember a couple things. To begin with, some of the signs Jesus gave are
directly connected to the Tribulation period we know will be coming, but we
also know that if what He gave us relates to the Tribulation period, then that means
the Rapture is that much closer. Therefore,
Christians who are watching for the return of Jesus for His followers in the
Rapture are excited about what they are seeing, knowing that this only means
that the Blessed Hope mentioned in Titus 2:13 is about to happen. I’ve heard it said in the past, and I’ve
since mentioned it myself at times, that when you begin to see the signs
pointing to the fact that Christmas is near, that only means Thanksgiving is
that much closer. What we are seeing
take place right now point to the reality that the Tribulation period is about
to start very, very soon, and that only means that the pre-Tribulation Rapture
is that much closer.
Notice that in Matthew 24:32-35, Jesus is talking about Israel. He’s not talking about America, which didn’t
come into existence until over 1700 years later, or any other country or people
group. He’s talking about Israel and the
Jewish people. What should that tell
us? That should tell us that Israel is
God’s prophetic timepiece, not America, or any other country or people
group. In fact, when we look at Bible
end-time prophecies, both in the Old and New Testaments, it’s all pretty much
centered around Israel and the Jewish people.
Those who want to say that God is done with Israel, and that He replaced
them with the Church, a teaching that is spreading more and more within Church
circles, they haven’t really read their Bible as that is most definitely not
the truth. In fact, the Tribulation
period the Bible talks about was prophesied for the Jewish people way back in
Daniel 9, the purpose of which is to judge and discipline Israel and bring them
to a place where they will acknowledge Jesus as the messiah they have been
promised from the beginning, the same Jesus they rejected almost 2000 years
ago. So, not only does this mean that
God is not done with the Nation of Israel and the Jewish people, but it also
means that Israel is the prophetic timepiece God is using.
In Matthew 24:3-4, Jesus is asked by the disciples as to when He would
be coming and when would the end of the age be, and Jesus’ initial response to
them was to not be deceived. As we see
more and more of the signs of the end-times being fulfilled, it becomes even
more necessary for us to be guarded against being deceived. In 1 Timothy 4:1-3 and 2 Timothy 4:1-5, we
are told by the Apostle Paul that deception will be strong in the last days as
Christians will fall away from the faith to embrace false doctrines inspired
and promoted by demons, false doctrines that tickle peoples ears who reject the
truth to embrace that which feels and sounds good.
Deception is not limited to just false doctrines and teachings, but
also to that which distracts us away from the truth and what we are called to
be as ambassadors of Christ. One form of
deception that is often overlooked is that of misdirection, the practice of
getting peoples attention away from where it needs to be and onto something
else. This is something that is often
seen in the area of magic tricks and those who practice the art of illusions,
making something appear to be something other than what it really is, but it is
employed in a variety of ways that include directing the focus of Christians
away from Biblical truth and onto something else that feels and sounds good. We see this happening in various forms within
the Church.
Jesus mentioned that when we see all the signs He told us about being
fulfilled, then we are to know that they are indicating to us that the
Tribulation period and His subsequent return to establish His kingdom here on
earth is very near, even at the door. So,
what are those signs that Jesus mentioned?
One of the signs He gave us, going along with that of deception, was of
false prophets in verses 4-5. While we
are seeing some who claim to be Jesus, this will only increase especially
leading up to the Tribulation period.
These will join the crowd of false teachers who teach and promote false
doctrine that does not line up with Scripture, something that is becoming more
and more prevalent in the days we are currently living in.
Another of the signs He mentioned is found in verses 6-7, and that is
of wars and rumors of wars. There is currently
no shortage of wars going on, and rumors of wars about to break out around the
world is great, and it seems to only be increasing. These include the Biblically prophesied wars found
in Psalms 83, Isaiah 17, and Ezekiel 38-39, wars that appear to be right around
the corner, some of which could happen any day now.
Another sign that Jesus gave in verse 7 was that of famines,
pestilence, and earthquakes. Famines are
only increasing as regions are either experiencing severe drought, severe
flooding or other natural catastrophes that devastate crop productions and
other food sources, and which greatly impact availability and access to food
and pure water. Pestilence is also
increasing around the world with disease epidemics growing and expanding all
over the place, as well as the re-emergence of some diseases long thought to be
no longer in existence. As for
earthquakes, they are increasing both in number and intensity as never before,
and even in places once thought to be free of earthquakes. Might I also add the increase in volcanic
activity all around the world, activity that can in themselves sometimes create
earthquakes?
In verse 9 we see that the Jewish people will be hated by all nations,
also known as anti-Semitism, something that is present even now and speedily growing
all over the world. Even in America this
is becoming more of a reality as never before in this country. And in verse 12 we read that lawlessness will
abound, and that the love of many will grow cold. We are seeing both as never before, and as
fast and powerfully that it’s growing there are no signs of it diminishing one
bit anytime in the foreseeable future.
Lawlessness is becoming a global problem infecting all walks of life and
positions of leadership.
Again, while each of these signs have been present at different times
and in different places in world history, the main difference from the past and
the present is that they are all happening simultaneously as if they are all
converging to a point of time in the near future. In other words, the end of life as we know it
is at the doors. Are you ready for it?
When Noah built the ark, he had 120 years to preach about the judgment
coming to all the world, but only eight entered the ark. The people mocked him until the judgment
came, and by then it was too late for them.
When Lot was saved, he was warned by angels that God was going to pour
out judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah, but only he and his wife with two of
their daughters left. Sadly, however,
Lot’s wife didn’t get very far before she looked back at Sodom and was turned
into a pillar of salt instead of getting to safety.
In like manner, God has warned us for thousands of years of the
judgment coming to the world both in the Bible and in the fulfillment of Bible
end-time prophesies. Yet, people are not
believing it even though the signs are screaming the truth and reality of this. People are caught up with life in general,
enjoying all that they can oblivious to what is going on in the world, and for
some of them believing that we still have time because of one thing or
another. Some are even embracing
prophesies of good things from people who believe false doctrine, discounting
the fulfillment of the signs all around them which validate what God tells us
in the Bible. We can even see this as a
fulfillment of the prophecy mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, where it talks of
those who will not endure sound doctrine and truth but will instead embrace
those who tickle their itchy ears with good fables.
Again, the Tribulation period and the subsequent return of Christ back
to earth to establish His kingdom here is at the doors, and you don’t have to
be here for that. You can miss all of
that, but it’s entirely up to you. Those
who have surrendered their lives to Jesus, those who have shown themselves
faithful in living for Him in every area of their life, they will escape all
that is coming in what I call the great evacuation, the Rapture. This is one appointment you don’t want to
miss!
Do you realize that Jesus’ return for His followers is very close and
could happen at any moment? Do you even
care? Jesus isn’t going to rescue you
from the judgment that is coming to the world if you really aren’t concerned
about it. He’s looking for people who
are eagerly waiting for Him to return for them, the Blessed Hope we read about
in Titus 2:13.
Perhaps you are a Christian, but you haven’t been living as you know
you ought to, allowing sin and idolatry to reign in your life. If that is you, then I strongly encourage you
to repent of such, to make things right with Jesus, asking Him for forgiveness
and turning away from the sin. Don’t
play what I call Russian Roulette with your eternity because you want to hang
onto that which is sin and dishonoring to God.
Do it today! Don’t delay!
Maybe you have never given your life over to Jesus. Maybe you have been living life as you wanted,
and on your terms, but in listening to me today you realize there needs to be a
change in your life. You are seeing the
signs I mentioned earlier only increasing, and you can tell things are not
going to get any better but instead much worse, and you want to avoid as much
of it as possible and realize the only real way of doing so is by surrendering
your life to Jesus. Well, you can make
that change right now wherever you are.
It’s simple, as simple as “A, B, C”.
Let me tell you how.
For you to be considering making such a change in your life, this only
shows that God is speaking to you. He
wants to have that saving relationship with you far more than you could ever
want it yourself. To enter that
relationship with Him, the first thing you need to do is acknowledge that you
are a sinner. To acknowledge, or to admit,
that you are a sinner is the “A” in the “A, B, C’s”. This may be difficult for some to do, but
it’s vitally important. We are told in
Romans 3:10 that no one is righteous or good, no, not one. The reason for that is found in Romans 3:23
where we’re told that all, everyone, has sinned and fall short of the glory of
God. This means that nobody is good
enough, no matter how good we may be, because we all have sin in our lives. Continuing in Romans, we are told in Romans
6:23 that the wages of our sin is death, or in other words the penalty of the
sin in our life is eternal death. So,
where does that leave us? We are told in
Ephesians 2:8-9 that the salvation God offers us is a gift of God, something we
receive by grace and through faith. No
one deserves salvation, and no one certainly can earn it through works of any
kind, but rather it is a gift from God. To
receive this gift from God, the first thing a person must do is “A”, acknowledge or admit that they are a sinner.
The second thing a person must do, and
this is “B” in the “ABC’s”, is to “BELIEVE”
in their heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God
raised Him from the dead. Romans 10:9-10
tells us that if we confess with our mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in our
heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved. It’s not just a mental believing as some
would like it to be, but rather a believing that dictates the way one lives
their life. It’s a way of life that
reflects and supports what they say they believe. In James 2:19 were told that even the demons
believe, and they tremble, but salvation is not available to them. Just having a head knowledge is not enough.
The third thing a person must do, and
this is “C” in the “ABC’s”, is to “CALL
UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD.” You need
to call Jesus Lord, and to do so means one must surrender their life to
Him. There is coming a time when every
knee will bow before Him, and every tongue will confess to God that He is
Lord. Now is the time for salvation, and
now is the time to voluntarily surrender your life to Him. The eternal rewards for surrendering your
life to Jesus is far greater than anything this world could ever hope to give
you.
Is a relationship with Jesus like I’ve
described important and worth it? It is
most definitely worth it, and then some.
I won’t say that life will be easier or with less problems, but it will
be more fulfilling, and with that there is a Blessed Hope for all Christians to
embrace and pursue. More and more people
are beginning to feel hopeless with life, especially when they see everything
that is happening around them and around the world, but as Christians we have a
hope that is solid and independent of anything this world could ever hope to
offer us. The signs we are seeing across
the news headlines now days only energizes the hope we have of Jesus’ ever
imminent return for us. It is that same
hope, that Blessed Hope, that encourages Christians to keep the faith and to
continue living for Him and Him alone.
Are you one of those who place their trust and hope in Jesus?
If you do not have a saving relationship
with Jesus, and you would like to, I encourage you to talk to God right
now. It doesn’t have to be anything
fancy or eloquent, just a sharing of your heart to Him. If that is you, and you’re ready to give your
life to Jesus, then say this prayer from your heart and to Him. Again, it’s not a formula, just a sharing of
your heart to Him.
“O God, I am a sinner. I’m sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe
that He died on the cross for my sin, that He was buried, that You raised Him
to life, and that He’s coming to take me back to His house in heaven very
soon. I have decided to place my faith
in Jesus Christ as my Savior and Lord, trusting only in His shed blood as more
than sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen.”
Now that you have entered into this
relationship with Jesus, I strongly encourage you to find a Bible and start
reading it, and to find and get plugged into a solid Bible-believing church
that teaches and preaches the full Gospel of Jesus, which includes Bible
prophecy and the need to be living righteously and holy before the Lord in all
your ways.
In closing, know that Jesus is coming
soon, very soon, for His followers, and it is vitally important for each of us
to be found both watching and ready for Him when He does. Don’t get lulled into the deceptive thinking
that His return is not near for one reason or another, especially when the fulfillment
of the signs given in the Bible tell us that it’s at the door. It’s our responsibility to be watching the
signs for Him, and to be ready, free of any spots, blemishes, or wrinkles
brought on through sin in our lives.
