God – Page 4 – Resounding Shophar Ministries

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 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?

The House of God

A few weeks ago on a Wednesday, while helping to take up the offering, I saw almost a dozen of our youth with their cell phones out texting, surfing on the internet, or playing games. This was very disconcerting to me as it became even more apparent how far we’ve come from honoring God and the house of God. Churches have in many ways, and for a number of different reasons, evolved more into a social club than a place of worship to the Creator of the ends of the universe. Churches, in the eyes of many, have become a place of optional attendance where many can go to get the latest updates on what’s happening with others instead of meeting with the one true God. Don’t get me wrong, we do need to interact and fellowship with other believers, and we don’t have to attend church to meet with God, but we’re talking about a place set aside for the purpose of gathering together to meet and worship Him in a corporate setting. Yet, we often time treat it no differently or no better than the local grocery store, a school or place of employment, just to name a few places. In many ways we treat church more as a social club than as a place of worship.

How is that an overwhelming number of churches, places set aside as a place of worship, have become more of a social club of sorts? Is it because we have as some call it, lost the ‘fear’ of the Lord? Do we not value or revere God for who He is anymore? Have we become so caught up with our own life, and our pursuit of it and the happiness we hope to attain by it, that we are no longer concerned about the God who created us? The same God who is more than able to, as Jesus put it, to destroy both body and soul in hell?

You say that I’m wrong, and that churches are still revered as a place of meeting and worship of the one true God? Think about it. If students had their cell phones out to text, surf the internet or play games while in class and their teacher is talking, would that be considered acceptable and overlooked by the teacher or school administration? Or, what about the employee who is having to receive some training but keeps talking to others, either intermittently or continuously, especially about things that don’t pertain to what the training involves or could wait until afterwards? Would your employer be okay with that? I venture to say that neither of these situations would be allowed nor tolerated, and that there would probably be some negative consequences to such behavior either immediately or shortly thereafter.

I’ve heard some argue that there is nothing wrong with this behavior in church, citing various different reasons to justify it. Recently, however, I thought of another situation that discounts many of the reasons I’ve heard and at the same time shows the lack of regard or value some have for the house of God. Or should I say how much they value other places and events above that of our churches which are to be a place of worship? Cell phones have become for many a necessity in life, something that provides a ‘life-line’ of communication and entertainment for many. It’s as if some can’t bear the thought of just turning it off or ignoring it when it beckons for their attention. I’ve known many, both past and present, that can’t seem to leave their phones alone, so much so that some felt just checking their phone was more important than keeping their job, and it cost them.

I told you I thought of a situation that demonstrates how much we’ve lost respect and reverence for the house of God, so I’ll tell you what that is. Now, I must start by saying that it’s been years since I’ve visited a movie theater, but I venture to say that things haven’t changed much since then. When a person goes to a theater to watch a movie they are expecting to see the movie without any interruptions or distractions of any kind. If there is anyone that seems to have a problem staying quiet by continually having to say something or make a lot of noise, that wouldn’t be tolerated and the person would be asked to leave. If someone kept using their cell phone, people wouldn’t appreciate the repeated distraction of the display lighting up or the various audio sounds it would broadcast. I know that there are some who will go so far as to either turn their phones off or put them on silent, and if someone needs to get a hold of them they will have to wait until after the movie ends, unless they will step outside into the lobby area. The idea is that many will keep their phones off or ignore them until after the movie is over, not wanting to be distracted from the movie or to be a distraction to others, not really worried about checking it or making people wait, but will they do the same thing during church? Do they approach their time at church the same way? For myself, my phone goes on silent before church starts and remains silent and unchecked until after Sunday school, the only exception possibly being between the service and Sunday school if not preoccupied.

Like the movie theater, there are other places that we frequent where we have reasonable expectations of what to expect when we get there. When we go to the grocery store we expect to get groceries, not an update on the current events in the Middle East. When we go to our place of employment we expect to do the work our employer assigns us to do, not to take out some golf clubs and practice our golf swings. When we go to school or some other form of training we expect to learn from those giving the instruction, not to sit back in our seats with an espresso coffee in one hand and in our other hand texting others with our cell phones. Yet, when it comes to church, a place set aside for the corporate worship and learning of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Creator of the ends of the universe, we find it hard to avoid the various behaviors associated with a very casual social club and to focus on the purpose the church is set apart for. We can gather with fellow believers at other various locations and times where a more casual time of fellowship is expected and enjoyed, but the House of God should be recognized as such and given the respect and reverence it deserves and requires.

So, I conclude by asking you a few simple questions I hope you will honestly ask yourself over the next few days. Are there one or more places that you frequent where you have no problem leaving your cell phone alone for the duration of time you are there no matter what, whether that means it is turned off or on silent? Are there one or more places that you frequent where you have no problem focusing on both the purpose the place is set aside for and the leaders giving instruction instead of trying to catch up or talk with others in attendance? Did you include the House of God in your answers to the last two questions? If you did, is at the top of your list? If the House of God was not included in either of your answers, or if it wasn’t at the top of the list, then it could be surmised that you do not value the House of God as much as other places, or as much as we ought as both children of God and Ambassadors of Christ. Take the time these next few days and honestly ask yourself each of these questions, then ask yourself if your actions and behaviors support what you say is important and valuable to you.

John Johansson

www.resoundingshophar.com

Decision at the Polls

As people prepare from coast to coast to vote tomorrow for who will be the President of the United States of America for the next four years, it is evident that a lot is at stake. In fact, I’m not sure if the presidential vote has ever held so much at stake as it does now. Don’t get me wrong, we have had some where a tremendous amount has been at stake but I don’t know of one that was as far reaching as this one.

When we go to the voting booths tomorrow, we will be deciding the future of our country not only for the next four years, but quite possibly for decades to come. We will be deciding between two significantly different economic philosophies, one of which would follow a more socialistic point of view and one that will embrace many of the economic values this country has been founded and built upon. We will be voting between the differences of philosophy regarding healthcare, one which again favors a more socialistic approach and one where states and individuals have the freedom to choose for themselves. We will be voting between differing views of foreign policy and Israel, one that endeavors to befriend those set on the destruction of Israel AND the United States of America while having low regard for Israel who is one of our closest allies, and the other view that America is a great country and has no need to apologize to its enemies and needs to portray itself strong through its military might. We will also be voting between differences in moral values, one that embraces a more humanistic viewpoint and one that embraces many of the Judeo-Christian values this country was founded and built upon.

So, you can see that there is a lot at stake with this presidential election. Someone said this is an election of values, and that is true, but the question is which values we as a nation choose to embrace tomorrow. I think we have more at stake than what I mentioned earlier for one important and sobering reason.

I heard it once said that if God doesn’t judge America then He would have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah. It is true that America has in many ways forsaken the God of the Judeo-Christian faith of our Founding Fathers, and in doing so has embraced values and morality views that are in contradiction with Him. So, where does that leave us? There are many who believe that God is getting ready, if He hasn’t already begun, to judge America. There are even many who view some of the natural disasters we have had like Katrina, and recently Sandy, as part of Gods judgment on America. Rabbi Jonathon Cahn believes scripture points with incredible precision to a judgment coming to America that was set in motion with the events surrounding the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on 9-11-2011. Can we discount the possibility of God bringing judgment upon this grand country for its push to keep Him out of the affairs and values of this country? I believe we would be amiss if we believe that God could, or would, never bring judgment to this country. I believe He can, and I believe it could be argued that He has already begun to judge us, and I especially believe that the way this country votes tomorrow, November 6, 2012, can have some bearing on how God deals with this country. That is why we need to really make sure of how we as individuals vote, and whether it is in favor of the Judeo-Christian God this country was founded and built upon, or based on personal agendas and personal likes and dislikes.

How are you going to vote tomorrow? Your vote does count, and if you don’t then you will have no real right to complain or take credit for it results. Voting is a privilege, so take advantage of the freedom so many have fought and given their lives for you to enjoy and cast your vote tomorrow!

A Christians Take on Halloween – A Re-post from 2011

As we enter this day known as halloween, the question often asked over the years by Christians during this time is, “should Christians participate in holloween?” I’ve heard many an argument over the years, some arguing that there is nothing wrong with Christians participating in it, and yet others who argue that a Christian should not be a part of it. In the midst of these arguments for or against we have some who have found a place of compromise that allows them in some way to be a part of the festivities. So, what should be our stand on the issue of halloween, or is it something that shouldn’t be an issue one way or another? The choice is up to you on what stand, if any, you will make regarding halloween, but for me not to share my thoughts on the subject would be wrong.

One of the arguments I hear tries to throw into the mix of this argument past pagan traditions and activities, making the accepting or unaccepting of Santa Clause, christmas trees, Easter bunnies, and other things, equal to that of participating in halloween. They mention things about being extreme and legalistic, and if that is their take then that is up to them. I have no objections about Santa Clause, the use of a christmas tree as a holiday decoration, or even Easter bunnies, but I do have an issue of halloween. Let me explain.

I was talking with someone yesterday about this subject and a word-picture came to my mind that many of us can identify with. We in America have had the privilage of enjoying a freedom and peace that most countries in the world do not have, and we have been willing to sacrifice the lives of our soldiers to protect and defend those privilages we do not take for granted. Being a country that enjoy these privilages, there are countries and groups out there that are bent on destroying our nation and any trace of the freedom and peace we enjoy. They want nothing less than to wipe us off the face of the earth. One of these groups, among many out there, are Islamic extremists and terrorists. If you knew someone, or some group, was bent on your destruction and annialation, what would you do? Most Americans would keep them at an arms distance away, being both wary and protective in their dealings with them. However, and I’m not being political but instead showing a parallel, our current administration has in their decisions, choices and behavior, have pushed the envelope with us in some of their dealings with these groups. They have in some ways embraced and flirted with these groups trying to be their friend, all the while ignoring the fact that our demise is their only objective. This is how we treat halloween. Everything about halloween is diametrically opposed to everything God is and stands for. Unlike other holidays and special festivities, there is absolutely no redeeming attribute in halloween, and it flies in the face of our Christian faith, opposing anything that is good, right, true and loving. Yet, we find a way, like our current administration, to push the envelope and flirt with something that is ‘hell-bent’ on the demise of the Christian faith and those who follow it.

So, what should our stand as Christians be toward this day that the enemy of our souls has used to magnify himself and bring death and darkness to our world? Are we not told to have nothing to do with ‘darkness’? Yes, Jesus interacted with all people everywhere in His day here on earth, but would he give place to idolatry and participate in that which promoted or represented the different forms of idolatry and worship of other gods? I think not.

The decision is up to you, what you will do with this day known as halloween. Regardless, this is the day that the Lord has made, and we need to honor Him in it first and foremost, not the one who is completely at war with Him.

The Death in Halloween – A Re-post from 2011

Sitting here and watching some television a thought crossed my mind, the death in Halloween. Have you ever really taken a look at Halloween and what it involves, and what it promotes? Everything about it embraces death and darkness, both physically and spiritually. Physically, we see little skeletons running around, we see images of death and dying in various displays and costumes, and we get an adrenaline rush from the fear associated with being pursued by one like “Freddie”. Spiritually, we see witches, goblins and different forms of paraphernalia associated with satanic worship of all kinds. Everything it embraces and promotes is diametrically opposed to the only God of life, and the Creator of all, Jesus. I wonder how many people that participate in Halloween really want to be associated with death and darkness? How many would prefer life and light? As true followers of Christ, as ones who have been called as Christ’s ambassadors to a lost and dying world, we need to embrace the life and light found only in Christ, and to point as many as we can to that same life and light. This isn’t a time for us to take a vacation and get excited about that which opposes our God, but rather to be diligent about the Masters business and point people to Him. If they truly want death and darkness, then hell is for them, but if what they want is life and light, then they need to run to Jesus. How are you going to point people to the life and light of Jesus this Halloween. This may be the day that Satan uses for his purposes, but it is still the day that the Lord has made, and we need to honor Him despite the honoring practices of some for Gods enemy, Satan. Think about it.