Christ – Page 2 – Resounding Shophar Ministries

Communion In A Worthy Manner

In a couple days churches around the world will be remembering Jesus’ death through communion. Frequently this is done on a monthly basis, but there are also many churches that do this on a more or less frequent basis. Because of this there are many messages preached from pulpits relating to communion on a regular basis. Like many of you, having grown up in church I have heard many messages on the subject, but I’ve always felt like there was something more to communion than a piece of bread or cracker and a small cup of juice and remembering what they represent.

In I Corinthians 11 the Apostle Paul writes about communion. In verses 23-26, the Apostle Paul related what Jesus said at the last supper He shared with His disciples. Jesus spoke of the bread symbolizing His body and the cup symbolizing His blood, and that whenever we take of them we are to remember Him. Is there more to this than just partaking of the elements and remembering Christ in the process? I think there is and I want to share that with you.

In the above passage Jesus talks of eating His body and drinking His blood, but was there another occasion other than the last supper when Jesus referred to this? In John 6 Jesus talks about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. This was a message that was too much for most of the people to understand, much less accept, but Jesus said it was imperative if one was to have eternal life. Is it possible that there is a connection between what Jesus told the people in John 6 and what He told them at the last supper? I think there is, and if we can understand that we may have a better understanding of what it means to participate in communion in a worthy manner.

Jesus said that we need to eat His flesh and drink His blood, but what does that mean? Surely He didn’t mean that we are to literally do this, especially for those of us living 2000 years after the fact, so what does He mean by it? We know that by the stripes Jesus bore for us in His body we are healed, and we know that by the shedding of His blood we are forgiven of our sins, but what does this mean to us? I believe eating His flesh and drinking His blood has more to do with our salvation than many may realize, but it conflicts with the thinking of many in this day. Many think that because of the beatings Christ endured for our benefit and the shedding of His blood for the remission of our sins, our lives should be easy and without pain and heartache. But is this correct?

In Galatians 2:20, the Apostle Paul tells us, “I have been crucified with Christ; it no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” We can’t do that unless we heed Jesus’ instructions found in Luke 9:23-26. In this passage we are told that to follow after Him we must die to ourselves and take up our cross daily. A lot can be said about this passage of scripture, and many books have been written on the subject, so I won’t take the time to write about it now, but it does reinforce what I’m about to share. I believe that for us to “eat of His flesh” alludes to us dying to ourselves and being willing and committed to endure whatever persecutions and trials we may encounter for His sake. No, we may not get beaten and scourged as He did for us, but are we willing to endure whatever comes our way for Him? When we give our lives over to Him we are making a commitment, whether or not it is acknowledged, that we will submit to Him and His will over everything and everyone else for His sake. Basically we are saying that we are both willing and committed to suffer in our body for His sake just as He did for us. That is more than some professing Christians signed up for and are willing to accept, but that is a significant part of salvation, and in doing so we are “eating His flesh”. Are you willing to suffer persecution and trials in your body for His sake, or would you prefer to opt for the easy road that goes through the “broad gate”?

So, that is what it means to “eat His body”, but what about drinking His blood? How can we do that? Well, we need to remember that through the shedding of His blood comes the forgiveness of sins, but how does that pertain to us? In Matthew 6 we are told that we are to forgive, and that He will forgive us as we forgive others. Jesus also told Peter that we need to have an attitude of forgiveness towards others without keeping score when He told him that we are to forgive not 7×7, but rather 70×7. We see Jesus’ example of this kind of forgiveness when, while he was hanging on the cross, he forgave the ones that beat, scourged and put Him on the cross. He didn’t forgive them because they asked for forgiveness, much less with sincerity, or that they even expressed some remorse for what they had done. He just simply forgave them because they didn’t know what they were doing, and even asked God on their behalf that He forgive them. Oh, how we so many times withhold forgiveness because someone didn’t ask, or because they didn’t ask with sincerity. Or, how about the times the one that offended or hurt us didn’t care or realize they had hurt us, and perhaps even felt justified in what they said or did. When Jesus took the cup and made reference to it being His blood, not only did He refer to it as a new covenant, but the passing of the cup in this manner often times represented a commitment between two individuals. So, to take the cup and drink His blood is a commitment to Him that we will forgive others with the same attitude and mindset that He had when He shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins. We are told multiple times that He will forgive us, but if we withhold forgiveness towards another after He’s already forgiven us, then He won’t forgive us. When we enter into this saving relationship with Him we are not only committing to endure whatever hardship comes our way for His sake, but we are also committing to having the same attitude and mindset of forgiveness towards others as He does.

While Paul addressed many things that disqualified many from taking communion in a worthy manner, I suggest to you that eating the bread or cracker for communion without the willingness and commitment to suffer for His sake, or the drinking of the cup while withholding forgiveness towards another, are grounds by which one could be found not taking communion in a worthy manner. The next time you participate in communion, examine yourself and see if your life and the decisions you make regarding suffering for His sake or forgiving another person line up with the commitment you made to Jesus for salvation. If your life and the decisions you make misrepresent your commitment to Him in your life, then I strongly encourage you to repent and make the necessary changes speedily. If you are unwilling to do this, then you should refrain from participating in communion until you make the necessary changes. You don’t want to cut your life short, or experience any other consequences, for not taking communion in a worthy manner. Time is short, and Jesus will be returning for a “bride” without spot or wrinkle, so it is imperative you evaluate yourself and be sure you can take communion in a worthy manner.

John Johansson

Will The Real God Stand And Be Recognized

Will the real God stand and be recognized? I can almost hear Elijah saying that to King Ahab when he told him to gather the 450 prophets of Baal and the 400 prophets of Asherah at Mount Carmel (I Kings 18). It was at Mount Carmel that the people would see who the true God is, and who was the false. It was also there that the people would have to decide who it was they were going to serve. The people had apparently been wavering between following God and following after Baal, probably trying to follow both without excluding the other, something that people tend to do even in our time in history. We like to call it being “on the fence”, but in Revelation 3:16 Jesus calls it “lukewarm” and tells us the consequences are not pleasant to think about. One problem with this idea of being “on the fence” is that God will not share us with another, another god that is, and anyone or anything that we put as a priority in our life before Him is a god in our life.

Going back to I Kings 18, specifically verses 26-29, we see the prophets of Baal, alone without the prophets of Asherah, doing their best to summon a response from their god to consume their offering with fire. We read that they spent several hours trying to illicit a response from Baal only to end later without even a hint of Baal’s presence, much less his power. Yet we find in verses 36-38, after repairing the alter and drenching it and the sacrifice in water, after one very short and simple prayer God responds by not only burning up the sacrifice, but also the alter made of stones and all the water. This was a very decisive show of who truly is God and has all power.

There is an interesting statement made in verse 28 referring to the prophets of Baal. Referring to their cutting themselves, the statement says “as was their custom”. Something comes to mind when I read that statement, as well as the whole story. Apparently they had no doubt that Baal would respond to their pleas and various actions otherwise they wouldn’t have gone to such measures. Perhaps there were times in the past that Baal would respond to their worship by consuming their sacrifices with fire, and if so they had no reason to doubt he would respond this time. Before you quickly argue that Baal, or Satan, has no power to do this, you need to remember when Moses dealt with Pharaoh regarding the release of the Israelites found in the book of Exodus. Each time the power of God was done through Moses the sorcerers and magicians of Pharaoh did likewise. This tells us that Satan does have power that he can manifest through whatever god he presents himself as, powers that are merely a counterfeit of what God can and does do. For us to stick our heads in the sand, so to speak, embracing the view that Satan is powerless, including that which is connected to in practice or symbolism to sorcery, witchcraft, the occult or cults, or anything else, is ignorance to the truth of God’s Word.

There are two things that we can gather from these stories. The first one is that Satan does have power and can counterfeit manifestations of Gods power. The second thing is that when there is a genuine “showdown” between God and the powers of darkness, not only is God able to “show up”, but He is also more than capable of completely neutralizing and rendering powerless anything or anyone who dares to challenge Him.

Many churches today are very guarded, and in some cases so much so that even God can’t manifest Himself in their presence. They are either afraid that the congregation will get too much into the “flesh”, or that they would be deceived by the counterfeit manifestations brought on by the enemy of our souls. Because of these fears they will often times regulate their services in such a way so as to minimize any chance or opportunity for such occurrences to happen, all the while they are saying that God is free to move in their midst should He choose to do so. I realize that deception will be rampant in these last days and that it is important for us to not be deceived, as Jesus mentioned in Matthew 24, but are we to combat deception by squelching or significantly limiting even the moving of God in our midst? Or should we create a list of criteria by which we can tell what is and is not of God? I’ve heard someone share many times on the radio a list of criteria he uses to determine whether or not something is of God, but the sad thing is that by that same criteria even Jesus and the Apostles would be disqualified. So, we need to make sure that the criteria we use is solid and grounded in scripture, and not something that is used to support our own opinions and personal views on the subject, even to the point of twisting scripture to do so. In I Corinthians 12:10, we are told that one of the gifts of the Spirit is the discerning of spirits, and I believe that is one very powerful weapon for combating the deception and counterfeits of the enemy in our midst. In I John 4:1-3, not only are we told to test the spirits, but we are also given the test and how to grade it. Knowing that the Devil is the father of all lies, and the best lie is 99% true, I can’t help but believe that the test mentioned in this passage is more than just mere words spoken, but whether or not the life lived and walked backs up and supports the words spoken. Anyone can say they are a Christian, but only a Christian lives it and backs it up by their priorities, their choices and decisions, the placement of their loyalties, and the way they deal with things. So, do their lives reflect a life submitted and obedient to Christ?

We also need to remember that God is more than able to silence and render powerless the enemy in our lives and situations. When Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, no matter what they had seen or experienced in the past, God was not going to allow “Baal” to be His counterfeit on that day. The people on that day were going to know that God, and God alone, was God, and any other was false and powerless compared to Him. Before the prophets of Baal started to call on their god Elijah asked the people a question followed by a statement in verse 21. He asked, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” What was the response of the people? Complete silence. Then after God consumed Elijah’s alter with fire the people fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” Sometimes it isn’t until people see the power of God manifested in their presence that they decide to give their lives over to Him, yet for one reason or another we want or try to limit God in this way to some extent. Moreover, it isn’t until they see that the power of God is greater than any other god in their life will they surrender to Him. If God is not God in your life, then what are the gods in your life? And when will you get to the point that you genuinely want to know who is true between the gods in your life and God? If you don’t care to know if God is who He says He is, the great I AM, or whether or not He’s greater than the other gods in your life, then He may just allow you to continue in your deception because that is what you want. But, if you truly want to know, then He’ll make Himself known though it may not be as you want Him to, at which time the other gods in your life will be powerless against Him.

As we patiently wait for His return, watching and praying that we are ready when He comes, may we not just in our speech but also in our lives echo the words of the Israelites in I Kings 18:39. “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” If you can’t say that in your speech and in your life, then I encourage you to seek Him out and He will be found. Your eternal destination may hinge on that. And so I conclude by asking the question, “Will the real God stand and be recognized?”

Is It Time For Some Shaking?

Can you think of a time in your life when you were flat out terrified? Perhaps it was a dream you had, or a time when you thought you were going to be attacked by someone or something terrifying. Maybe you were a witness to someone getting in a major accident, or you found yourself unexpectedly free-falling from a height unimaginable or standing in front of an audience where all eyes were on you. No matter the situation, you more than likely had a physical response to this terrifying experience that was out of the norm. In the book of James we see how demons physically respond when terrified.

In James 2:19 the writer makes the following statement. “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble!” Even demons tremble at the thought of God! Wow! If they physically tremble at the mention of God, how is it that many can be so cavalier and flippant about the presence of God? I’m not talking about those in right relationship with Christ as they find comfort in His presence yet maintain a sense of reverence and awe of Him. I’m talking about those who seem to have little regard for Him and His presence, not really taking Him serious, thinking they are okay because they said a prayer, go to church, or sing in the choir. Is it possible that these people are so self-absorbed that they give little, if any, thought about the Creator of the ends of the universe, the same one that can destroy body and soul in hell?

Okay, we just saw the physical response of demons when it comes to God, but what about humans? Do we have a similar example of a human when it comes to God? I believe we do in the person of King Belshazzar as recorded in the book of Daniel in chapter five. In this account, he has just summoned for the gold and silver vessels taken from the temple in Jerusalem to be used for a party he was having. This was an act of mockery and disregard towards the one and true living God. After having done so, a man’s hand appeared and began to write on the wall to be observed by those there, including King Belshazzar. In verse six we read what the Kings physical response was to this event. In a nutshell, much like many of us who have been faced with a terrifying experience, his body simply became like Jello with knees knocking. Nothing or no one touched him, but he was so terrified by what he saw that it shook him to the core.

As we can see from the above examples, just because someone is terrified at the mention or presence of God does not mean they will repent and get their lives right with God through Christ. This just goes to show how strong ones free will is, and how that God will not override that free will to save someone. Oh, he may override ones free will to accomplish His will or to make Himself known to someone, but He will never override their free will when it comes to salvation. We can see this in the lives of Pharaoh and Jezebel. Even after all the things God did to persuade Pharaoh to release the Jews, he still chose to buck God and do his own thing. As for Jezebel, even after Elijah’s showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel and the overwhelming and decisive way that God made Himself known to the people, she still chose to do her own thing and threaten the man of God. And we can see these same type of responses in many people in our day. It doesn’t matter what God says or does, no matter how persuasive and powerful He shows Himself to be, there are still some will choose for one reason or another to reject God and His son, Jesus.

But back to the main issue I want to address in this blog. We live in a time when God is not esteemed as He should rightfully be, taking Him and His presence so lightly. Many churches have become more of a social gathering and a place of gourmet coffees and snacks instead of the place of worship and respect for the God to whom we claim we serve. I remember a time when drinks and food were not allowed in church, that the sanctuary was not a playground, and when the disrespectful talking and conversations going on during worship or the message was not tolerated. How is it that we have become so irreverent towards the house of God, His Word, or even His presence? I’m reminded of Ananias and Sapphira and how they were smitten dead on the spot for lying to the Holy Spirit. Sometimes I wonder what God will do to restore the reverence we have so trampled on in the pursuit of making people “feel” welcomed and comfortable in church. And what about the price many choose to pay for the sake of “fellowship”. We can have fellowship in many different ways and at various other times, but do we treat it as though it is more important than our corporate time with Him, and as saints of old would do, being patient and pressing in to Him all the more? I find myself wondering if we really don’t care about Him and what pleases Him, being more concerned about our own personal agendas and what we think is more important.

How about you? Are you one that has shown little, if any, reverence and regard for Christ in your life and at church? If so, what would it take for that to change in your life? Would it require a hand appearing out of nowhere writing on a wall? Would it take the sudden and unexpected death of someone in a church service that was being so flippant about the house of God and His presence? I hope you’re not one of these people, and that you are ever in awe and reverence of Him no matter where you go or who you’re with, especially at church. If not, I strongly encourage you to take this to prayer and ask God to change your heart and attitude towards Him into that which is healthy and right in His sight.

Is God About To Answer Your Prayer

Back in the 1980’s I had the pleasure of sitting in a series of weeklong meetings where Dr. Handel Price was the speaker. For those of you who have never heard of him, he was a powerfully anointed preacher of the Gospel who had at one time sat under the ministry of Evans Roberts and ministered with Smith Wigglesworth. The experience and knowledge of the Scriptures and the moving of the Holy Spirit that he brought to those meetings was priceless.

Of the many things he shared with us that week, one of the things that has continued to impact me to this day was his response to a question that we commonly hear in church circles, a question that many had asked him over the years. When people would hear of the miraculous things taking place in other countries and not so much here in America, they would simply ask him “why?” Why is it that other countries see so much of the miraculous and yet it seems to happen so sparingly here in America? His response to these questions was very simple and yet so profound. He told us that if God asks those in other countries to jump, they simply ask “how high?” But in America, if God were to tell us to jump we would respond by asking “why?” as if God needs to get our seal of approval before we will do what He’s wanting us to do.

What he so succinctly indicated was that it’s an issue of the heart. If we have the mindset that Jesus is Lord of our lives and we are His bondservants, then it doesn’t matter whether or not it makes sense to us. This is because we know He sees the big picture and wants nothing less than the best for His children. If, however, your mindset is one where you decide what you will and will not do in following Jesus, and how much you’re willing to give or pay for that relationship with Him, then your response to Him will be very different. You will find it entirely within your rights to decide which of His commands you will or will not obey.

Having the right attitude and mindset regarding Jesus and His place in your life will see Him move all the more on your behalf. If, on the other hand, you view your relationship with Christ as more of a partnership where you have equal say in your life, and that you have veto power, then the results could be different. Jesus will not, and does not, subject Himself to our opinions and how we think things should be, and He will not share the throne of our lives with any other, including ourselves.

So, our attitude towards Christ and His role and place in our lives plays a part in why we don’t see more of the miraculous than we would like to see. But, is there maybe another reason why we don’t see more of the miraculous?

Over the years I have heard many question why we don’t see more of the miraculous in our American churches. I’ve been in churches that believe God still wants to do the miraculous and come to church looking and expecting God to do that in their midst. I’ve also been in churches that believe God can do the miraculous but are so afraid of the “flesh” or the over-sensationalizing of what God does that they literally control or limit what the Holy Spirit is allowed to do and when. In doing so, they inadvertently stifle or quench the moving of the Holy Spirit, finding arguments to justify the position they have. I’ve also been to churches that believe God no longer does the miraculous, and if there is any miraculous that takes place then it is most certainly not of God. Personally, I believe that God not only still does the miraculous, but that He desires to do so whenever we are looking and open to Him doing so. But, is there another reason why we don’t see the miraculous more frequently in our churches? I think there is.

For decades there have been very significance advancements in the medical and scientific fields. We have seen the introduction of more and more antibiotics and cures, more and more advanced medical treatments and procedures, as well as advancements in various mobility assisted devices. In the process medical professionals have become better trained and more educated in the various medical field specialties that now exist. As a result, we have become more and more dependent upon the medical profession and its medications and medical treatments. This means we have become less dependent upon God for our health and healing.

No wonder we don’t see as much of the miraculous as other countries seem to see. Between having the wrong attitudes and mindsets, not being open to God wanting to still do the miraculous in our midst or trying to limit or control Him, to being more dependent upon the medical profession than God, perhaps these are at least some of the reasons we don’t see or experience more of the miraculous.

Well, this may change. I believe our dependence on the medical profession is about to change as more and more Americans find themselves without medical insurance or can no longer afford even the more basic of health care. In this situation, those who have been more dependent on the medical profession will find that they need to shift their dependence elsewhere. Some will return their dependency on Christ while others will endeavor to find it anywhere else but with Him. As the “Affordable Health Care Act” gets implemented more and more, perhaps this is Gods answer to the question of why we don’t see more of the miraculous in our churches. While the negatives of this new law becomes more and more apparent, and very little positive coming from it, perhaps the “silver lining” in this is that as we become more dependent upon God we will see Him do more for us than we ever had in decades.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not discounting the medical profession and how it has and can be a benefit to us, but when we are more dependent upon it than we are on God then we have a problem. In a way, we have basically made the medical profession an idol in our lives as we put it ahead of God for our health and well-being.

So, I say all of that to simply say, look to God and place your trust in Him for your health and well-being. The more we will do so I believe we will see God move in the miraculous on our behalf, and the more that happens the more people will see that Jesus is alive and well, and that He desires to do great and mighty things on our behalf.

Is God about to answer your prayer request asking to see more of the miraculous in our midst and on our behalf?

Sure Foundation, Indeed

A few months ago on Facebook there started to be some talk of a reunion for a group of us known as the “Sure Foundation Youth Choir”, a group I was a part of 20 to 30 years ago. The last time we got together was about 15 years ago for a reunion of sorts to celebrate the birthday of one of our fearless leaders, Pastor Ken Severe who has since gone on to be with the Lord several years ago. As I think about “Sure Foundation” I see the rich heritage we had in being a part of it, a heritage that often times is overlooked or forgotten by some, and yet it is probably one of the richest heritages one can find anywhere for a youth choir or youth group.

The Sure Foundation Youth Choir wasn’t your typical youth choir for a number of reasons. At one time we had about 175 youth involved with it, and if that wasn’t unique enough, the guys outnumbered the girls causing our Music Director to modify the music to some extent. About half of the guys were in the bass section, of which I was one, and were known as “The Get-Down Boys”. We also had a ‘kickin’ band that often times would break into a jam session after a service only to trigger another period of time praising and worshiping God. Another attribute of the Sure Foundation Youth Choir was that it was at times hard to differentiate between it and the youth group as a whole as so much of the youth group was involved in it. Our youth group was comprised of junior high, high school, and those who were college and career age.

As I reflect on my years with Sure Foundation a lot of memories come to mind, in fact too many to share in this blog. I remember our weekly practices often times turning into a time of worship and ministry well beyond just practicing songs, usually triggered by some choice words from our Youth Pastor, Ken Severe. I remember the spaghetti dinners we would host, one of many fundraisers we would do to raise money for our different tours. In regards to the tours we would have both weekend long tours and extended tours of about two weeks in length. We wouldn’t go very far on the weekends, but on the extended tours we traveled to Texas/Oklahoma, Hawaii, and Canada during the summer breaks. With the exception of the tour to Hawaii, we would travel by way of buses the church owned and used for its bus ministry, on average using three or more buses on each tour. Riding the bus on our Texas and Oklahoma tour ended up being “interesting” as the drivers tried to shake the boredom of long hours driving through the barren hot deserts of Arizona and New Mexico. I remember taking showers in our bathing suits under a flow of cold water from a garden hose in the front of churches, as well as the snoring that could be heard from clear across the other end of the church. And I can’t forget how we were challenged to learn the Evangelism Explosion questionnaire to give us another tool to reach out to a lost and hurting people we would encounter on tour.

Despite how many tours we would go on or how long they were, it’s rather surprising there wasn’t more drama and conflict than there was. As I mentioned earlier, there was a very close connection between the youth choir and the youth group in that those in the youth choir were more than likely a part of the youth group and the various activities and ministries it was involved in. I remember the youth group being very busy. We were very involved in bus ministry on a weekly basis two or three days a week, helping with Saturday Children’s Church because our buses brought in too many to bring them all in on Sundays, and mission trips to Mexico, just to name a few.

One of the main reasons for the heart and focus of the youth group and youth choir was our Youth Pastor. He was probably the driving force God used to make us feel important and a part of the group. He wasn’t one to let us slack off or hide in a corner, and often times he would rapidly poke a finger into our chest to get our attention and challenge us to straighten up. I can remember him telling us that if he could shake us real hard to make us live right and for the Lord then he would do it, but also telling us that it was not a decision he could make for us because only we could make that for ourselves. Even though many were committed to living for the Lord back then, there were also some who either tried to ‘walk the fence’ or lived double lives, living one way when around us and living a completely different way when we weren’t around. And that brings me full circle back to when talk of a possible reunion was started a few months ago.

When talk of a reunion started a few months ago, I noticed in some of the group chats that some were talking of their past in a way that seemed like they were feeling shame and embarrassment. What was so encouraging was the response by others to encourage them and let them know they are not alone, and that God is bigger than their past. That is both a testament and a reflection of the bonds that had been created among so many of us during those early years. As I read those posts and remembered years long past, I’m reminded of the name of our youth choir, “Sure Foundation”. Sure Foundation was both a proclamation of our decision to build our lives on Christ, and a message to others that Christ is the sure foundation they can also build upon. As I alluded to earlier, many in our group were building their lives on the solid rock of Jesus, and still others were building their lives on shifting sand. In looking forward to the present we can see this still to be true. While it is true that many “appear” to have avoided the ‘curve balls’ of life and haven’t experienced the pitfalls of others, there are still many more that have been dealt a raw deal in one way or another over the years. Those who have experienced some of the pitfalls of life, of which I am one, can feel pretty discouraged and shunned by some. Sometimes the pitfalls came as a result of poor judgment or bad decisions, and sometimes they come from no fault of our own and out of our control, but none the less they came. Christians have often times been accurately accused of “shooting” our wounded and kicking those who have fallen among us, and that should not be the case. Those who are hurt and wounded among us, either self-inflicted or otherwise, need to know that the family of God is a safe family to be a part of, one that helps, encourages and supports the wounded to heal and to rise above those pitfalls.

Going back to a “sure foundation”, all have weathered the storms of life, but not everyone experiences a storm at the magnitude of a Katrina. For those who build their life on shifting sand don’t always have to experience a major storm of life to fall or sink, but those who build their lives on the solid rock of Jesus can weather any storm that comes their way no matter how strong and violent it may be. As I read the chats talking of a reunion and the comments of some regarding their past, it was exciting to me to hear that despite the storms of life they went through they had dug in and drew closer to the risen Savior. They had been building their lives on the solid rock of Jesus, or if they hadn’t been they quickly changed that, and though they’ve experienced some strong storms along the way they are still standing. Granted, weathering some of the storms they had may have been great and hard to endure, but getting past the guilt, shame and embarrassment that some storms bring may be harder to endure and overcome for some, but in Christ there is life after the storm.

Years ago we proclaimed the sure foundation founded on Christ, not really realizing what that meant, but now we’ve come to understand what it really means to build on that foundation, and it’s good. It’s been a SURE FOUNDATION, INDEED. Maybe you realize that you haven’t been building your life on the solid rock of Jesus, and if so today is a good time to start. The only way to stay standing when the storms of life come is to build our lives on Jesus, and to build it on anything or anyone else will only lead to failure and collapse.

Jesus is, again, a SURE FOUNDATION, INDEED.

John Johansson

Why The Silence

I remember, more than 25 years ago, sitting in my high school Sunday School Class when the subject of the rapture was brought up. It wasn’t the first time I had heard of it or had even talked with others about it, but this time it was different. I had already heard of the three main views of the rapture; 1) pre-tribulation, 2) mid-tribulation, and 3) post-tribulation, but what I was about to hear was something new to me. Our Sunday school teacher was asked what his personal view was in regards to the rapture, and after reminding us of the Assemblies of God’s position of a pre-tribulation rapture he then told us he was a “pan-tribulation” person. For those of you that don’t know, the “pan-tribulation” view simply states that as long as you’re ready it will all “pan” out in the end.

I realize that my Sunday school teacher probably had a good reason for saying what he did, either because he was unsure of what position he personally agreed with, or because he was trying to avoid getting into a discussion on the different viewpoints relating to the subject. It’s also possible that he held a position that differed from the denominational position of the church and didn’t want to be seen as divisive on the subject, so it’s really hard to say why it was that he decided not to share what his stand on the subject was.

Since that time I’ve talked with many that take the same approach as my Sunday school teacher, and I’ve found with many of them it was because they didn’t want to think about it. The position they were taking was that as long as they are ready when it happens then that is all that is needed, but I think they are missing an important part of what it means to be ready for the rapture, something that I will get into shortly.

Over the years I’ve also talked with some who, when the subject of the rapture comes up, become silent and at times will even attempt to change the subject as though I wouldn’t notice, which often times has perplexed me especially when they are a minister. Why the silence, especially from those who are ministers of the Gospel and should be teaching and preaching on the subject? Is it because they don’t know what they believe and therefore want to avoid any discussions on the subject? Is it because the view they have is contrary to the position their church or denomination takes? Is it because they take the same approach as my Sunday school teacher and embrace the “pan-tribulation” view? While I think it is important to ask these questions, I can’t help but wonder if the reason for the silence is far deeper and more personal than these questions touch on.

When people appear to be silent on the issue of the rapture, I can’t help but think it is for reasons beyond what view they have or because they are trying to avoid getting into a debate on the it. Several years ago I came to the conclusion that Christians in America are enjoying life too much or are too comfortable with life here in America to truly desire Jesus to come back any time soon. You’ve heard of the “bucket list”, a list of things that people want to do or experience before they die? Well, I want to coin a new term, the “bucket plus list”, a list of things that people want to do or experience before the rapture takes place.

People with a “bucket plus list” believe that Jesus is coming back, and some of them even know that it will be possibly very soon, but they are hoping deep down that He doesn’t return until they’ve completed their “bucket plus list”. There are things that they value more than the return of Christ because they desire those things more than they do His return. Jesus said that those who desire the things of this world more than Him are not worthy of Him, and the Apostle John tells us that we can’t love Him if we love the world, so what does that say of those who have a “bucket plus list”? And, if people have a “bucket plus list” would they be considered “ready” when Jesus does return for His bride?

In the ancient Jewish marriage customs, the bride didn’t know when the groom would return but it was her responsibility to be ready when he did. If the groom returned and saw she wasn’t ready, namely that she hadn’t adequately prepared herself for him or was even eagerly watching for him having her affections elsewhere, then he could turn around and leave her where she was and give her a letter of divorcement. Understanding that our relationship with Jesus and His return parallels that of the ancient Jewish marriage customs in so many different ways, we can safely assume that His return for us, His bride, would resemble the same marriage customs ancient Jews modeled. There were many times that Jesus either told us He would return as a thief in the night, or He would tell us to “watch and pray” regarding His return. Seeing that Jesus would come as a thief in the night and how much he stressed and even commanded us to watch and pray, it only stands to reason that to be watching for and eagerly anticipating His return is one of the core elements that makes one ready for Him when He returns. If we have a “bucket plus list” that keeps us from eagerly watching and looking for His return, then we risk not being considered “ready” and worthy in His sight to go with Him when He returns.

No matter what your view of when the rapture of the church will take place, the fact remains that His return is very, very near. The fulfillment of Biblical end-time prophecy before our very eyes points to the very near start of the tribulation period, which in turn tells us that the rapture could happen at any moment for those of us who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. So, this is not the time to have a “bucket plus list”, but instead it is the time to get rid of them and start watching and looking for His return with anticipation. Don’t be like the foolish virgins who were not ready and prepared for His return because of the things you want to see happen before He comes for His bride. After all, what is more important; the things you have on your “bucket plus list”, or the return of Christ for you His bride? What is most important to you reveals where your heart is, or more importantly where your heart is not. Are you ready for Him to return, even if it is this very day or night?

Watch and pray, and eagerly desire to see Him when He returns more than anything or anyone else, otherwise He may not consider you ready when He does return.

John Johansson

The Midnight Cry

There is a well-known parable found in Matthew 25. It is the parable of the ten virgins, five who were wise and five who were foolish. This parable has been one I’ve thought about frequently. Have you? As the time of our messiah’s return draws closer for that event we commonly refer to as the rapture, this is one of those parables that has captured my attention. While my understanding of it has increased significantly over the past few years, there has been one thing that I’ve wondered about in the parable. Now don’t get me wrong. I understand this is a parable, a word-picture of sorts to help us understand various truths that God wants to relate to us, but I can’t help but think that Jesus was trying to tell us something in the seemingly insignificant parts of this parable. Jesus isn’t one to say things He doesn’t mean, or to say things simply to say things, or to say things that have no purpose or significance for us.

In this parable we understand that the ten virgins represent those who have entered into a saving relationship with Christ. We also understand that their waiting for the bridegroom to return relates to Christians waiting for Christ’s return to take them back to His eternal home in Heaven. We know that five of them were wise while five of them were foolish as brides in not adequately preparing themselves for the bridegrooms return. When the cry was made all ten of the virgins woke up and began to trim their lamps, and it was at this time that the foolish ones were discovered in that they didn’t have enough oil for their lamps. Prior to this point in the parable none of them seemed to know who was foolish and who was wise, but once this became apparent the wise instructed the foolish to go to those who buy and sell. While the foolish are looking to get more oil before the bridegroom’s return, the bridegroom returns and takes with him the five wise virgins leaving the five foolish ones behind. When the five foolish ones return they find that the door is shut and they are denied entry to be with the others. I’ve touched on the above points at different times in previous blogs, but now I want to focus on one particular point in the parable.

In Matthew 25:6, Jesus starts off by saying, “And at midnight a cry was heard: …” This statement for whatever reason has stuck with me for quite some time. To begin with I noticed it does not say at the ‘midnight hour’, but instead ‘at midnight’. This might seem trivial to some but I think there is a lot of significance behind it. After all, the foolish virgins did not have enough time to go get more ‘oil’ before the bridegroom returned. This one point seems to not only expose who were foolish in their preparations for his return, but also shows the consequences of such foolishness by not giving them a lot of notice between the cry of his return and his return. It’s almost as if the bridegroom didn’t want to reward their foolishness by giving them time after the cry is made to get prepared if they were not already prepared. When I think about it, what better reward would one have for their wisdom and efforts to be prepared at any time than to be numbered among the selected few who are ‘taken’ back to the bridegrooms home? So, the nugget we could pull from this is that there is very little time between the cry at midnight and the return of the bridegroom. Are you ready and prepared? We see that all ten virgins wanted to go with the bridegroom and were looking forward to his return, so this isn’t the issue. The issue is more how wise or foolish they were in preparing for it.

Another thing about this statement of Jesus in the parable is the ‘cry’. I have to admit that for the longest time I was stuck on the fact that Jesus said ‘at midnight’ and not ‘at the midnight hour’, and because of that I didn’t give much thought to the ‘cry’ and what it is. I think for the most part I thought it would be anointed and Spirit lead teaching and preaching alerting people to Christ’s soon return, until recently that is. A few weeks ago I was talking to a friend about end time events and this very parable. In our conversation he asked if it was safe to say that the ‘cry’ mentioned in the parable was anointed teaching and preaching on the soon return of Christ. At first I said it could be but the more I thought about it I realized that could not be the case. I know that many think that there will be a great revival that comes before the rapture of the church, and I would join in the hope and excitement of such, but I find myself leaning more to a great revival happening after the rapture instead of before it. There are numerous passages that indicate not everyone that calls themselves a Christian will be chosen, especially from statements that Jesus, Himself, made. I also find myself thinking that anointed teaching and preaching could not be the ‘cry’ since we’ve been hearing that literally for decades. So, what could the ‘cry’ be that we should be ‘listening’ for? Hmmm.

Is there anything in Biblical prophecy that might indicate what that ‘cry’ might be? Can we even say that the ‘cry’ is mentioned and identified in prophecy? I believe there has to be something that we can point to as the ‘cry’ so that we know what to be listening for, or are we supposed to be in the ‘dark’ until it sounds hoping we will know what it is when we hear it? In the ancient Jewish marriage customs, the very customs that we find parallel with our relationship with Christ in so, so, so many ways, the virgins waiting for their bridegrooms return had some idea of what that ‘cry’ would sound like and what it would involve, so how is it that we could think that Jesus would not make us aware of what that ‘cry’ would sound like or what it would involve? Well, I believe He has in fact given us some clues as to what that ‘cry’ would be and what it would involve. Are you ready for it? It’s probably not what you’re thinking.

When asked by His disciples Jesus gave a list of things to look for as a way of knowing when He was going about to return. Many of these things have been around for a long time, so to look at the individual items may not be a good pointer of the ‘cry’, but we know when all the things He mentions begin to happen at the same time with increased frequency and intensity then we can know that His return is very near. Did you catch it? I know you did but let me tell you anyways. I believe the ‘cry’ mentioned in the parable of the ten virgins refers to the increasing fulfillment of Biblical end-time prophecies before our very eyes. Think about it. It isn’t something that mankind can dictate, manipulate or control, so when it happens we know it is God and not us. We cannot control, though we may try at times and in different ways, when and how Biblical end-time prophecies are fulfilled, but Jesus said that when we see these things begin to happen we know that His return is very near.

Unlike any other time in history we are literally seeing, for those who are watching, the fulfillment of end-times Bible prophecy before our very eyes at a rate of speed that could make one’s head spin. It seems that key pieces, both small and great, are coming together like never before and in ways never before imagined or believed, taking final steps in preparation of the tribulation period. And, if the rapture happens before the tribulation as I and others believe it would, then what we are seeing must be the ‘cry’ of His soon and perhaps imminent return. So, if the ‘cry’ is the fulfillment of end-time Bible prophecy as I said, then it behooves us to make sure we respond to that ‘cry’, trim our lamps, and prepare for His very soon return.

John Johansson

When What Is Evil Is Considered Good

Several years ago I was exposed to a fairly new TV show that was quickly gaining in popularity at the time. This show had an effect on me that none other has had on me before or since then. The show not only condoned sexual harassment, but it promoted and glamorized it, had no qualms about degrading and devaluing others, had little regard for the possible consequences of such behavior, and had in some way a mocking contempt for any that might try to squelch it in some way or another. It caused very significant nausea within me.

Since that time I’ve heard some Christians being open about liking the show and the laughs they got from it. After all, it’s just entertainment, right? Well, not really. I heard someone say many years ago that a leading philosopher once said, “the barometer for how civilized a people are is by what they think is funny”. Now, I don’t know who that ‘leading philosopher’ is, but when you really think about that statement how can you deny the truth in it? When I hear of civilizations past, namely the great ones, one of the things that appear to be evident in those civilizations is the extreme deterioration of morals, especially of a sexual nature where anything goes and sometimes at the expense of others. For decades here in America, morals have been spiraling down at an ever increasing rate of speed, and it seems that the populace, including in church circles, have no real concern about it and in some ways embraces it. Oh, how far we have gone down this slippery decline in such a short period of time.

Some of the expressions of this decline include not only the sexual as I stated earlier, but also in the self-centered behavior of many. It can be seen in the disregard and disrespect for and towards authority, gender, parental roles, “laws of the land” and regulations deemed “ridiculous” or “unnecessary”, to name just a few. It can be seen when things are said and done at the expense of others, like when we tease, make fun of, and mock them. I’m sure you can think of other ways this is seen.

This dramatic decay in the core values and morals that this country was built upon is evident in most every facet of life, and it’s promoted and glamorized not only on TV, but also in videos, movies, music, games, and written literature of all sorts. This can be seen almost everywhere we look, almost everywhere we listen, almost everywhere we read, and almost everywhere we go. And then we look at each other and wonder what’s wrong with America, or even the world in general. And if this isn’t bad enough, we have professing Christians thinking there isn’t anything wrong with this decline, and while they may reject some aspects of this moral decline they sometimes embrace other aspects of it as though it is okay. Is this something that should be a part of not only a Christian’s life but also of their thoughts and mindsets?

Some may ask, and others have, what could be so wrong with watching, listening to, or reading such things. Many state that it’s just “entertainment” and that they can tell the difference between it and reality, but in time their perception of reality and what is right and wrong begins to look like the very things we “entertain” ourselves with. The Bible talks of a time when what is good is deemed evil, and what is evil is deemed good. We’re living in a time when that is more true than people want or care to admit, but nonetheless it is true. In allowing ourselves to feed upon the many things society promotes, especially in “entertainment”, we have in turn lowered or dissolved, or at best blurred, our senses of what is right and wrong as well as the standards by which we live, promote, or condone as okay.

It’s important for us who call ourselves Christians to use God’s Word as a guide for what should be the focus of our thoughts and mindsets. When we look at Philippians 4:8, Galatians 5:19-26, and I Corinthians 13, we get a pretty good idea of how a Christian should think and act, and in doing so we find what is pleasing to God and what is not. When we read these passages, and so many more, it takes a great stretch of the imagination to rationalize and justify why we can allow ourselves to feed upon the garbage fed to us by society and it’s supposed “entertainment” choices.

As Christians it is our responsibility to represent Christ as His ambassadors to this world. It’s not for us to determine how we are to represent Him as He’s made that very clear in His Word. If we allow ourselves to be fed and influenced by what society says is okay, funny and good, then we are not truly representing the Christ who came to set people free from such behavior and mindsets. Many times, Christians tend to be ambassadors of the world more than ambassadors of Christ. It’s not so much an issue of being perfect ambassadors of Christ, but that our heart and mind is focused on being the best ambassadors we can be as He leads and gives us the ability to be. Acts 1:8 tells us that we would be given, by way of the Holy Spirit, power to be witnesses of Christ to those around us, so it’s not an issue of whether or not we can be, but rather whether or not we truly want to be.

We know that Jesus is coming back soon to take His bride to heaven. It’s what we refer to as the rapture. As we see that time quickly approaching it concerns me that many in the church are not ready for His return. In Ephesians 5:27, the Apostle Paul tells us that Christ will be coming back for a bride “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish”. Sadly, many pay little regard to this when it comes to the life they live and their entertainment choices, to name a few. Can we truly say that we are preparing ourselves to be presented to Him without “spot or wrinkle” when we are feeding upon and allowing what the world deems good and okay to be a part of our lives? What are we told in Romans 12:2? “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” In doing so, we begin to think, act, and behave in a manner that truly reflects what God considers good and to abhor that which God considers evil.

Are you preparing yourself to be His bride “without spot or wrinkle”? If not, there is no time like today to begin because quite simply you are not guaranteed a tomorrow. Don’t take your walk with Him lightly so as to not “rock the boat” or offend others, because in doing so you may be found unprepared for Him when He returns, and that won’t be good for you.

John Johansson

What’s Keeping You From Jesus?

For years many would argue that this isn’t the case, especially here in the USA, but each day we are seeing more and more hostility towards Jesus and the Christian faith. While there are some who would still argue the point, there is a growing number of people who are seeing this as a reality that can’t be ignored. Whether it is in the halls of government or in the school house, the neighbor down the street or one in our home, there is a growing consensus that Jesus and those who truly follow Him have no place in our lives, and that anything remotely connected to them must be passively ignored or less passively removed. The underlining idea behind much of it is that Jesus and His followers are standing in the way of global peace and unity among all mankind, and it is only when the influence of Jesus and His followers disintegrates into nothing or they have been removed that their aspirations of global peace and unity will be fulfilled.

So, why is it that people are so headstrong against Jesus and His followers? What is there about Jesus that triggers in some cases such violent behavior in its many different forms? We live in a world that tries to view things in a logical and educated way, but when it comes to Jesus and following after Him no place is given for pure logic and reason. I realize that there have been many, and I mean many, who have said and done many things in the name of Jesus for which Jesus had nothing to do with, so in looking at what keeps people from Jesus let’s look specifically at Jesus.

The way some look at Jesus and what Christianity represents, it would make one think that Jesus was a hardened criminal who held little regard for others, or even a master con-artist who was nothing like who He wanted to portray Himself to be. What was the message Jesus tried to convey to us? Was it a message of pain and hopelessness, or one that told us we were of no value and dispensable? No, not hardly. While we can say that Jesus was perfect and had no sin, which is true, there is nothing recorded to indicate He had said or done anything to warrant a capital offense or punishment in any way. What we do find is someone who cared enough about people to heal their sicknesses and disease, to raise them from the dead, to restore function of senses and bodily organs and functions. We see someone who encouraged people to love and forgive not just those who were dear to them, but also their enemies and those who despise or take advantage of them. We see someone in Jesus that wanted to even heal the emotionally broken and give them encouragement and hope, a reason to believe and to live. Everything about Jesus and what He said and did while here was out of love for each and every one of us, wanting to love, forgive, and heal us all. Jesus wanted to give us life, and not just life but life more abundantly that will last for all eternity. Yes, there were times that Jesus had to be firm and blunt with people, but it was because of His love for all of us and how He saw those people hurting and taking advantage of others that propelled Him to speak and to act as He did. When we simply look at Jesus we find love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, healing, freedom, hope and blessings eternal, so why would someone not want to embrace Him and pursue Him with all that they have? It would only seem logical and sound for someone to give their lives to Jesus, but for one reason or another people reject Him and His message for each and every one of us. That seems illogical and definitely not a smart thing to do, to reject Jesus.

There are many who cite hypocrites as their reason for not coming to Jesus. They say that if Jesus is anything like the people they see around them then they don’t want anything to do with Him, but that doesn’t make sense. I realize there are hypocrites that call themselves Christians but live different lives depending on who they are with or where they are at, but often time’s people are labeled as hypocrites simply because they aren’t perfect and living up to a standard the accuser thinks they should. The accuser somehow believes that if someone is a Christian then they will automatically live perfect and at a high standard almost right after conversion, but that line of thought is unrealistic and unreasonable. Jesus said He did not come for those who were well, referring to those spiritually healthy, but for those who were lost, dying or hurting spiritually. If that is the case then many will follow Him that are having to learn what it means to follow Him, and that can sometimes get “messy” and out of sorts. We don’t denounce the world’s top neuro-surgeon because some of those who love and embrace him continue to have problems in their life from before they had surgery, do we? Or what about the National Football League’s all-time best quarterback when those still in high school or college, those who look to him as their example and mentor, don’t live and play at the same level he does or by the standards he promotes? So, why do we do that with Jesus???

Some believe that choosing to not forgive someone that has wronged them in some way, even violently and without remorse, is more important than giving their lives to Jesus. They may argue that they can still be a Christian, but Jesus made it very clear that if we choose, and it is a choice, not to forgive someone after He’s forgiven us, then He won’t forgive us either. It doesn’t make sense for someone to forfeit a saving relationship with Jesus just because they don’t want to forgive someone else. For others, they are unwilling to change the purpose, the goals, the dreams of life and what is important to them to reflect a life centered on Jesus and all that He has for them. Some desire to live the way that they want to, no matter what the consequences are, and to embrace Jesus and what He has to offer them would interfere with their way of life and thinking, so they reject Him to pursue their own way of living. We could come up with other reasons why people won’t come to Jesus and give Him their lives, but the point is that whatever the reason one may have just doesn’t make logical sense.

In the attempt to keep Jesus at a distance in one’s life, many search for and embrace the teachings of those who work to discount Jesus and the God of the Christian and Judeo faith through “scientific” or “educated” means. Many don’t realize that that is what they are actually doing, but it is. They insist on using logic, archeology and other various scientific means to make their point, but in the process they themselves will either embrace those who share the same common ways of thinking or be quick to discount anything in the sciences that would indicate a conclusion other than what they want. What it comes down to is simply this, people will listen to whomever they choose to listen to, and they will believe whatever they choose to believe, regardless of whether or not it is true or false. Christians and Jews base their belief of what is true on the Bible, and they are finding that archeology and the sciences are validating the truth of the Bible more and more.

To sum it all up, what is keeping you from Jesus? What is keeping you from accepting Him and His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and hope of life eternal? Can you really qualify you’re reasons as logical and sound, or do you need to take another look at them? When it’s all said and done, it isn’t how others have misled you, hurt or offended you, or anything else for that matter, the determination of where you will spend eternity will hinge squarely on what you did with Jesus in your life. No matter the excuse, one thing is sure is that excuses won’t be allowed in that courtroom.

What is keeping you from Jesus?

John Johansson

The Point of No Return

The other day I was approaching a traffic light that was green. I knew it was going to turn yellow soon but didn’t know when so I approached it with caution. There came a point when approaching it that I knew even if the light turned yellow I was going to have to keep going. It was what is commonly referred to as “the point of no return”. Ever been faced with such a situation?

The other night my wife and I were with some friends and we were talking about different cultures reaching their “point of no return” regarding the direction they were going. We talked about how America is speedily reaching its point of no return as it is racing as far from God and the Judeo-Christian values it was founded and built upon. Some may argue that there is no such point for a culture, a country, a family, or even an individual. We like to hold out hope that the God of the impossible, the Judea-Christian God, can always reach and restore those who are far from Him, and He’s more than able to do so. But the problem with this line of thought is that while they believe God is sovereign and there is nothing He can’t do, they forget that He’s given humanity a free will to choose whether or not to serve Him, and with that free will He will respect each person’s decision.

While there have been some who many thought would never change or give their lives to following and serving Jesus were reached, a testament of His abilities to reach people especially when prayer is involved, there are many more that won’t be reached because they’ve passed the point of no return. At some point in their life they made a conscious decision to have nothing to do with God, or to even allow Him to be a part of their lives, and God has honored that decision. Does that mean we don’t need to pray for those who seem to be unreachable with the Gospel? Absolutely not! We need to keep praying for them because we don’t know what is ahead, and it could be Gods response to our prayers that afford them more time in this life to change their mind.

Only God, and I want to emphasize only God, knows when a person has gone past the “point of no return” and that they will not have any more opportunities to accept and follow Jesus as their Lord and Savior. With that in mind, we need to keep reaching out to and praying for people, especially loved ones that don’t truly have a saving relationship with Jesus, that God will in some way be able to capture their hearts for salvation. Time is short and eternity lies in the balance. Eternity in Hell is an eternity no one really wants, but sadly enough many won’t believe that statement until they are there and it’s too late.

There are people that are so adamant against the God of the Judeo-Christian faith that they will not hear the Gospel, and in some cases will even fervently oppose Him and anyone who represents Jesus one way or another. Some will even go so far as to keep their eyes out for any possible discrepancy in a Christian’s life, or to twist and misrepresent things spoken by them, thereby giving them more of an excuse to reject Jesus. But, when it’s all said and done, when they stand before the God of all creation, the only thing they will be judged for is what they did with Jesus, and any excuses they have to offer now will not be allowed then. God can reach these people, but we need to keep them in prayer and hope they haven’t gone past the point of no return, the point that ONLY God knows.

Let’s keep these people in prayer, asking God that they have an encounter with the risen Savior, Jesus.

John Johansson