HOW WE SHOULD REACT TO THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES

By Dr. David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org

The signs of the end times are everywhere. The strange thing is that believers often react to the signs the very opposite of how God intends for us to react. As we witness such things as the spread of globalism, the building of a one-world church, the increase of wickedness, the breakdown of the traditional family, the destruction of that priceless bastion of liberty called America, the normalization of homosexuality, the callous murder of babies, the filthy pop culture, the breathtaking increase in governmental surveillance, we become fearful, uncertain, frustrated, angry, and discouraged, but this is because our minds and hearts are too focused on things of this world rather than things above. Too often we have the same short view that “conservative” unbelievers have rather than the long view that comes from the light of Bible prophecy.

Doubtless there will be frustration and discouragement, because we aren’t spiritual robots who are unaffected by our environment, but our response should be tempered by the truths of God’s Word. We should respond to the times in a dramatically different way than our unsaved friends and neighbors.
When we consider what is happening in the world, we should respond in at least the following ways:
First, we should rejoice greatly in our salvation.

“But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy” (1 Pet. 4:13).

“For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:17-18).

No matter what we suffer in this present world, it is but for a moment in light of eternity with Christ. Every day we should walk in the joy of the gift of blinded eyes opened and salvation bestowed through Christ’s great Sacrifice.

Second, we should be comforted that Christ’s return is drawing near.

“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Lk. 21:28).

“For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words:” (1 Th. 4:15-18).

Each day brings us closer to the Rapture of the New Testament saints, and in this light, the signs of the times, though they are grievous for this present life, should be a cause of rejoicing for the believer.

Third, we should be encouraged that God is in control.

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way” (2 Th. 2:7).

I love this verse at many levels. It explains why we cannot know the time of the Rapture, no matter how dark the situation gets and no matter how many “signs” are evident. I have often heard people say, “The Lord MUST come soon. It just CAN’T be much longer.” The fact is that we cannot know. We can’t know the hour, the day, or even the year or the decade. This is because the Spirit of God WILL let or restrain until He is taken out of the way. He came into the world in a special sense at Pentecost to empower the churches for world evangelism to call out a people for Christ’s name from among all nations, and He will continue to restrain the devil’s program until He is finished and not a moment before.

The devil is the god of this world, and his handiwork is everywhere evident, but he is not God and he is not in control of the times and the seasons.

“Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding” (Dan. 2:20-21).

At one level, it is frustrating to see the mystery of iniquity on a fast track in these days, but at the same time we must not despair in any sense. To despair is the position of unbelief.

Fourth, we should stand in the confidence that the present evil is exceedingly temporary and will soon be cut down.

“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace” (Psa. 37:7-11).

Instead of fretting, God wants us to rest in Him and in His promises. When we do this we can be a powerful witness to the unbeliever who has no such source of comfort.

Fifth, we must do more praying.

“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time” (1 Tim. 2:1-6).

Desperate times call for more praying, but we are witnessing a dearth of prayer in the typical Bible-believing church. There is lots of partying and lots of activities and fun but not a lot of praying.

No wonder there is no spiritual power to change things. No wonder we have to adopt carnal methods and pursue pragmatism and mess around with “church growth” techniques.

1 Timothy 2 ties prayer together with living a quiet and peaceable life and the liberty to preach the gospel, the very things that we want.

We need to get back to having a real “gather in little groups, get down on your knees” mid-week prayer meeting that consists of a serious time of earnest and effectual prayer rather than merely adding a five minute prayer to a regular service.
We need to get back to having prayer meetings before Sunday services.
We need to get back to having all-night prayer meetings.
We need to get back to having a series of “cottage prayer meetings” before special meetings and conferences.
We need to get back to having a private prayer closet for daily intercessory prayer.
We need to get back to having a family altar time of prayer.
We need to get back to having prayer partners with whom we regularly meet for prayer. It is a powerful and effectual thing to agree together in prayer before the Lord for particular requests.

I am convinced that the reason why it is so difficult to get the Lord’s people to attend real prayer meetings is that so few of them have an effectual intercessory prayer life.

Sixth, we must understand the times.

“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Rom. 13:11).

We need to know the time, and we can only do that by a literal interpretation of Bible prophecy.

A literal interpretation teaches us that we cannot return to the 18th century when America was created or even the 19th or the 20th. That was a different time. The 21st century America cannot be re-created as something that existed in the past. It is obvious that the prophetic hour is very late and the Rapture is near. Israel is back in the land. The spirit of ancient Sodom is spreading across the face of the earth. Globalism rules in commerce and culture and politics in preparation for the rise of the man of sin. The nations are aligned against God and His anointed in fulfillment of Psalm 2. The apostasy of 2 Timothy 3-4 has spread with breathtaking speed. Even a large percentage of “evangelicals” today worship a false christ (as we have documented in The Collapse of Separatism, which is available in print and as a free eBook from Way of Life Literature).

What every IFB church needs to do is stop listening to unscriptural voices and pursuing pipe dreams, and focus rather on doing exactly what God has told us to do. Our job is not to build Christian nations; our job is to build godly, Bible-believing churches. We need to occupy ourselves with building a strong foundation in the knowledge of God’s Word, building godly, separated individuals and families, marking and avoiding the budding apostasy even in our own “circles,” and fulfilling the Lord’s Great Commission, and that commission is not about saving America or transforming the culture.

This will do far more to help America or Canada or wherever than pursuing the misguided and heretical “cultural activism.”

The root problem with America’s moral and social ills is the apostasy and compromise in the churches. This is the teaching of 2 Chronicles 7:14, which also states that the moral and social problems can be healed only by the repentance of God’s people.

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

We have witnessed 40 years of intense cultural and political activism on the part of sincere but misguided people led by the likes of Jerry Falwell and D. James Kennedy. The result has been the exact opposite of the goal. The goal was to bring America back to God, but the result has been a precipitous deterioration of the nation’s moral condition. This is for the simple reason that this activism does not address the root problem and, in fact, it is part of the problem by producing further spiritual compromise in the churches through the heresy of ecumenism and illicit associations.

It has been said that a definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Finally, we should be busy in the harvest fields.

“But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:8-9).

The Bible plainly says that Christ is waiting because He wants to save souls.

He isn’t in a hurry. He isn’t shortsighted like we are, because He dwells in eternity. If a thousand years is as a day, then 41 years would be a mere hour. Actually, I am praying that God would give our mission field of South Asia another 41 years at least to hear the gospel, to have an opportunity to be saved (but at the same time there are so few doctrinally sound workers that it seems almost in vain).

  Instead of fretting at the signs of the times, we need to rededicate ourselves to proclaiming the gospel to every person in every nation and building sound Bible-believing churches where God’s people can be protected, edified, trained, discipled, and where godly Christian homes can be built and children can be prepared as arrows in the hand of the Lord to go out and do battle against the forces of evil.

It is my personal dedication to this task that keeps me from despairing and being angry and frustrated and discouraged at the signs of the times, such as the destruction of America, though I know as much about these things as most people and though I study them in order to publish O Timothy magazine and Friday Church News Notes.

At age 52 we returned to the “mission field” in one of the darkest parts of the world, where we had already spent more than 10 years preaching the gospel and planting churches, and at 63 we are more committed to and excited about missionary work than ever.

It is strange that at the very time when God’s people should be doubling down to fulfill the Great Commission, in a time when even in the midst of great turmoil we still have great freedom and many resources, the number of missionaries is decreasing, and the few who do go to the most spiritually needy parts of the world don’t have the commitment to stay by the stuff anymore, but instead seem to find any excuse to rush back to the land of comfort and plenty, the land where spiritual light is still shining brighter than any other part of the world, the land where full-time Christian workers abound, while so much of the rest of the world sits in unremitting darkness.

At the very time when we should be living like the pilgrims God’s Word says we are and focusing on God’s business rather than our own, so many are putting down the same roots as their unbelieving neighbors, trying to lay up a large nest egg, fretting about the stock market, wanting to build a bigger home or buy a fancier car, not being generous in missions giving, not spending even an hour a week in gospel work, not maintaining a daily intercessory prayer closet, not being faithful and fruitful members of Bible-believing churches, not encouraging their children to surrender to Christ’s Great Commission.

You say, “Our foolish leaders are bankrupting our nation and what will we do?”

The best thing to do is to believe the Psalmist when he says,

“I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Psa. 37:25).

Friends, let’s wake up while we still have the opportunity! It is a joy to sell out to the Lord, and we should never be afraid of His perfect will, but there is going to be a lot of regret one of these days when we look back on hours, days, weeks, months, and years wasted on vanity while God’s work was left undone.

“Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest” (Lk. 10:2).

This week on ‘The Hal Lindsey Report’ November 16th, 2012

 

 

As early as the mid-19th century, French philosopher and historian Alexis de Tocqueville warned that democracies will collapse once the majority realizes it can elect leaders who will give them free things. He said that all democracies die on the rocks of loose fiscal policies.

He also warned that the world’s great civilizations only last about two centuries.

Well, we’re working on our third century and the American electorate just got its first taste of the free goodies.

Some will argue that America has crossed the Rubicon; that the “gimme” generation has reached critical mass; that from this point on a majority of Americans will vote for a President based on what he will give them, not on how wisely he will lead the nation.

And the majority will vote this way because they are ensnared in the “entitlement trap.” And not by accident, unfortunately.

What else could explain the re-election of a leader who failed miserably to accomplish anything he promised in his first campaign? Yet repeatedly and clearly guaranteed that, if re-elected, he would double-down on his failures.

Wait a minute. I stand corrected. He did come through on one promise: ObamaCare. And it may help bankrupt America — which is not what he promised, but almost surely intended. (See the Cloward-Piven plan I described on “The Hal Lindsey Report” of July 9, 2010.)

Atlas Shrugged is a monumental novel written in the 1950′s by Ayn Rand, an atheist and philosopher-type. Ms. Rand believed that Reason is god and that man is his own greatest achievement. She was also an unabashed capitalist.

Atlas Shrugged imagines a dark, depressing American future where government intervention into the economy causes further economic downturn that extends and deepens the existing depression. In looking for someone to blame for the nation’s ills, the American leaders begin to blame the rich. They harass them for their ideas, initiative, profits, and wealth. Not to spoil the ending (although this is one of America’s most famous novels so you probably already know the ending), but the “men of the mind” go on a silent strike by shutting down the “motor of the world”, that is, their own inventiveness and industry.

In her epic work, Ms. Rand frames the confrontation as the “moochers and looters” versus the “inventors, workers, and the rich.” When the creators of work and wealth finally get fed up with having their efforts burdened with regulation and their rewards confiscated and redistributed, they check out. Eventually their loss starves the government of its financial ‘resources’ and, literally, Manhattan goes dark.

Sound familiar?

Interestingly, Ms. Rand wrote the book in the ’50′s and one of the pivotal years in her futuristic scenario is 2016.

As we used to say, that kind of gives cause for pause. But I’m not sure we’re going to make it to 2016. At least not on the path we’re following now. One thing I can guarantee, though, is that the America of 2016 will be a far cry from the America of 2012. And not for the better, I fear.

What we’ve recently witnessed in our nation calls to mind two poignant scriptures. One from the Apostle Paul and the other from God Himself delivered through the Apostle John.

Paul famously described these days in his second letter to Timothy. He says in part, “There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive… ungrateful, unholy… without self-control… treacherous… conceited… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God….” I won’t go on, but, believe me, it’s a letter-perfect description of present day America. You can read it for yourself at 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (NIV).

The second passage is found in the Apostle John’s Book of the Revelation. In it, God says to the church at Laodicea (which depicts the dominant characteristics of the Church just before the Rapture), “I know your deeds, that you’re neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm — neither hot nor cold — I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” I won’t finish the passage, but you can find it at Revelation 3:15-18 (NIV).

I think God’s condemnation of Laodicea aptly fits many in today’s Church. How else can we explain how 21% of American evangelical Christians justified voting to re-elect President Obama, the first American president to openly support abortion, same-sex marriage, the forcing of religious institutions to violate their moral and spiritual codes, and who displays open hostility toward Israel.

I can understand a Christian voting for Mister Obama the first time. After all, he cleverly disguised his true beliefs on these issues. But I think the fact that 6.5 million born-again Christians voted for those values — after the President revealed his true convictions during his first term — tells us we are nearing the end of the prophetic timeline. Just as Paul and John described.

I truly believe Americans are in for some rough days ahead. But all is not dark. As I said last week, God is still in control and everything is unfolding just as the Bible prophets predicted. Rough times are coming, but they’re bringing with them unprecedented opportunities. Opportunities to see, up close, the hand of God at work. Opportunities to let Christ shine through your life and testimony. Opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those who are discouraged, dismayed, and disappointed with how things are turning out.

Should Jesus delay His coming, the next few months and years will be the true Church’s greatest opportunity to reap a bountiful harvest of souls for God’s Kingdom. Let’s be ready for the moment and share the truth about Jesus Christ in boldness and joy. Take the scripture at face value. Speak the name of Jesus and speak the Word of God to others. It is “living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword….” It unleashes the power of the Holy Spirit to work in any situation, no matter how big or small.

By boldly sharing the claims of Christ and speaking the Word of God into someone’s life, you’re putting the ball in the Holy Spirit’s hands — and the Bible promises that He’s quite capable of taking it from there.

If we “crack the faith barrier” and trust God’s Word, I think the dark days ahead may well be the brightest yet.

Please have a wonderful Thanksgiving. In spite of all that is happening in America, it is still the most blessed nation on earth. God bestowed upon all of us who are fortunate enough to live here a truly magnificent favor. Thank you, Heavenly Father, for this wonderful land and all of Your blessings. May gratitude reign in our hearts.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: “The Hal Lindsey Report” will not be seen on Trinity Broadcasting Network this week. It’s Fall Praise-A-Thon on TBN.

A WEBSITE PROGRAMMING ALERT: Because of the production and delivery schedules required for our weekly broadcast, I was not able to address the unfolding crisis in Israel on this week’s program. Nor will I be able to cover it on next week’s show because of the Thanksgiving holiday schedule. However, please check my website, www.hallindsey.com , from time to time. I will post “Watchman Warning” video updates as the situation warrants. And please pray fervently for God’s protection and blessing on Israel.

Don’t miss this week’s Report on Daystar, Inspiration, CPM Network, the stations of the CET network, various local stations, www.hallindsey.com or www.hischannel.com. Please check your local listings.

God Bless,
Hal Lindsey

 

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email: comments@hallindsey.com

web: http://www.hallindsey.com

Long Island still a disaster two weeks after Sandy — RT

Long Island still a disaster two weeks after Sandy — RT.

America Has Shifted To The Left And The Culture War Is Over

America Has Shifted To The Left And The Culture War Is Over.

Will Frustrated Homeowners And Armed Posses Take Matters Into Their Own Hands As Home Invasions Rise?

Will Frustrated Homeowners And Armed Posses Take Matters Into Their Own Hands As Home Invasions Rise?.

The Last Days Of America? 25 Signs Of Extreme Social Decay

The Last Days Of America? 25 Signs Of Extreme Social Decay.

Evil Cloaked

By Ron Graham

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“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3. God told Adam when He placed him in the Garden of Eden that he was not to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. If we look at Genesis chapter 3, which is what Paul refers to above, we find that Satan blatantly lied to Eve. “You will not surely die…” Genesis 3:4. So lies are now Satan’s forte. And after 6,000 years he’s become quite adept at disseminating his cloaked evil among the Christian Ekklesia.

 

That lie was the cause of an immeasurable rift between God and man. Jesus, of course, bridged that rift at the cross, but Satan would like nothing more than to undo what Jesus did 2,000 years ago. We know that Jesus’ sacrifice will never be voided, but that won’t stop His nemesis from creating as much havoc in this world while he still can.

 

Paul was fearful that the serpent’s beguiling of Eve would have the same detrimental effect on the Ekklesia of Christ and rightfully so. But unlike when he deceived Eve, today Satan’s evil lies are not so transparent – especially for those who are biblically illiterate. When Satan, through his lies, can instill an “I don’t care” attitude in the mind of a professing Christian he has just moved to first base. However, when the serpent can create doubt in the mind of a follower of Jesus Christ as to the accuracy of God’s word, then he has hit a homerun. Ultimately, as doubt manifests and festers, Satan moves in for the kill with “another gospel”, and with the acceptance of that false gospel he’s hit the grand slam of deceptions.

 

Let’s first understand who it is we are dealing with. The enemy of God has a name. In the Hebrew his name is “heylel”. In English his name means “light bearer”, or in the Latin “Lucifer”. The term “light bearer” can be very misleading, especially when we consider that he is the epitome of evil. Jesus Christ, the Creator of the world and the Creator of the “light bearer-Lucifer”, is the true Light of the world and of men. “In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:4. Darkness, when spoken of in our Bibles, is usually demonic “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” John 1:5 Most people today, including many Christians, deny the demonic realm exists. Others seem to have a bit of understanding when it comes to the demonic, but ignore it as though it was insignificant. Most people, even though they believe in the supernatural, misunderstand thus significantly underestimate the leader of that realm – and his power. What they don’t seem to grasp is that even though Lucifer/Satan is pure evil he avoids all appearance of evil like the plague.

 

To unmask his evil plans and parade them about in public would be detrimental to Satan’s agenda. What we must understand about this very powerful being is that he is able to pull off a huge deception concerning his malevolence. Satan and his followers make themselves appear as benevolent while disseminating their deceptions. Satan’s agenda is to steal, kill, and destroy humans; understandably, the transparency of his agenda wouldn’t go over well with his human prey. Therefore he must cloak his evil plans.

 

“…for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14. As he is able to transform himself into an “angel of light” he can put forth a demeanor of purity which cloaks his true intentions. This is why God tells us again and again to be ever diligent especially when it comes to God’s Word. There are many false teachers these days taking Satan’s lies to new levels.

 

Satan is evil, period. Yet his lies are always peppered with some truth. He is beguiling, crafty and extremely intelligent, far more so than any human being presently on earth. Therefore we must not only believe but we must also rely on God’s word for guidance. We rely on God Himself for our protection against this extremely evil foe, but believing God is paramount when it comes to understanding the enemy’s agenda. Remember, Satan knows the word of God also and he will use it as it suits his plan. Notwithstanding, his lies will always be hidden betwixt the truth – just enough to beguile. Satan once tried to beguile Jesus in the wilderness. How did Jesus answer him each time Satan confronted Him? By quoting Scripture. We must be just as biblically literate and diligent.

 

“Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness…” 2 Corinthians 11:15. The ministers Paul speaks of above are those who follow their father the devil by doing his bidding. Some are very public figures; some are Bible teachers, some lead Christian congregations, and some lead cults. If you think Satan’s ministers are only fallen angels and demons, then you too have been deceived. Satan has an army of ministers who are human and who are fully entrenched in his camp. They are those who stand in the shadow of the “light bearer” as they do their best to cloak Satan’s personification of evil.

 

Lies are meant to deceive, pure and simple; deception is always the path of the enemy. Satan continually uses his deceptive techniques to attract the unsuspecting (biblically illiterate) and lull them into a false sense of well being. To the biblically illiterate his evil is always cloaked, which makes these folks ripe candidates to follow anything that sounds true, good, or that makes life more comfortable. Remember, cloaked evil never resembles evil, but always takes on a pleasing, and fulfilling charismatic characteristic.

 

Throughout the past few thousand years Satan has had a tremendous and highly successful run at presenting evil as good. Many souls have been deceived right into Hell. God didn’t just dump us on this planet and leave us alone; He gave us warning after warning in His word so that we could avoid being led astray by the evil one. Increasingly in these last days it seems that even many of God’s own children are now more spiritually in tune with the evil one, than with God. As humankind moves ever closer to Christ’s return, it becomes more and more apparent that many professing Christians are nothing more than secular humanists in sheep’s clothing. Many of these folks have not only divided their loyalties, but have fully defected.

 

To be a true Christian means we stand with Jesus Christ, and not just during worship time or prayer time but in all times. We are never to stand opposed to our God, and as God’s children we are never to take on a secular worldview mindset. God never tells His children to wallow in the muck and mire of the secular world. We must sojourn in this world, but the world should never view us (or love us) as one of their own.

 

Clearly Jesus expects us to be the light of the world. “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16. Jesus is adamant about the fact that we are never to hide our light but to always let it shine. When we choose to stand against God, because in our minds we’ve decided in the end our choices will justify the means, God sees this as unfaithfulness, and unfaithfulness is the same as slapping Him in the face.

 

Satan, once again, has raised his ugly head as the angel of light and convinced many Christians that we are to keep our faith completely separated from our own personal secular worldview. Here’s an example, abortion is so completely acceptable by mankind these days that we now murder the innocent, while still in the womb, and by the millions every year. Yet abortion is an abomination to God. Where are God’s children? Our silence in this regard speaks volumes.

 

I’ve heard it from many professing Christians that they have no problem with homosexuality, live and let live they say, thus through our own apathy homosexuality has been allowed to become so commonplace that the majority of humankind now not only condone this satanic evil but many desire to join in with these deceived individuals and play along.

 

The world is upside down and many professing Christians are siding with Satan in this regard as well as in other decisions that are purely secular and opposed to God. What do we, who revere the Bible as God’s truth, see occurring? The ever progressiveness of cloaked evil.

 

Those who stand with God, even under the most fierce condemnation that comes from the lost of this world, not to mention from many of our own brethren, are the true family of God . “But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 4:3-4. Let mankind judge us. For their judgment is of no significance. God is our judge, and He judges righteously.

 

Instead of being a light on a hill, many Christians are actually as dark as the night. When we as the followers of Jesus Christ lose our saltiness we are good for nothing except to Satan. No salt? Satan has a job for you. He will conscript you into his service, and as you become his accomplice helping him in presenting his evil agenda, can you guess what your key responsibility will be? The cloaking and disseminating of his evil plans.

 

Only by believing God and what He has given us as His inerrant word can cloaked evil be unveiled. Studying God’s word for ourselves is vital. Here’s another example of a satanic lie cloaked. The phrase “judge not” is used, in many cases, by those who are into full on rebellion against God. People will use that phrase incessantly as they attempt to deflect any complaints of immorality from landing on their doorstep. The verse in question doesn’t mean we aren’t to use righteous judgment when confronted with deceptions and immorality, it simply means we are never to condemn others (that’s God’s domain). We are certainly never to accept Satan’s deceptions, the immoral actions of others, their lifestyles, or false religions and cults by siding with them, especially merely for convenience sake.

 

A major deception which Satan has performed in these last days is to convince the world that evil is good and pleasing, and good is now nothing more than an irritant which should be shunned. Many professing Christians seem to look at evil as something that is optional instead of obligatory to avoid. When “judge not” is implemented by Christians attempting to cover their sinfulness they become fully secular without any concern for their relationship with God. When we as Christians step away from our God for any reason we instantaneously enter the camp of Satan. When we step away from our faith and allow Satan to have his way in our lives, it means that we’ve just been deceived – Satan was successful at cloaking his evil again. Awareness of the cloaking and spiritual discernment is the key – evil cloaked is at the door, so is Jesus. Which will you let in?

 

God bless you all,

 

Ron Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

 

All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed

 

I’m greatly encouraged by all the response to my prayer request. Please continue your prayers for my health. The MG continues to destroy the skeletal muscles in my body, thus the fatigue and eye problems are becoming more of a daily hindrance.

 

I’m very grateful to those of you who have been led by God to send gifts of support. God, the giver of all good gifts; He is great and greatly to be praised. If God is leading you to send a gift, please send it to Ron Graham – 96 County Road 5480, Salem, MO, 65560. Thank you my dear brethren, God bless you all.

 

I believe in privacy, therefore I will not add anyone to my email list without their permission, nor will I share your email address with anyone else. If you would like to make a comment or ask me a question, feel free. There may be times that my commentaries are withheld from posting on various websites due to differing biblical views, but you can always join the growing number of those who have chosen to receive my commentary in their email inbox. If you would like to be on my email list to receive the commentaries just drop me a line and let me know.

FRIDAY CHURCH NEWS NOTES By Dr. David Cloud SEPTEMBER 28, 2012

www.wayoflife.org/pdf/20120928.pdf.

10,000-Strong Syrian Refugee Backlog at Turkish Border

More than 200,000 Syrians have fled the savage civil war ripping apart their homeland this year. Now 10,000 are waiting to enter Turkey.

By ChanaYa’ar

First Publish: 9/6/2012, 12:45 PM

Young Syrian refugee on his way to Turkey

Reuters

 

More than 200,000 Syrians have fledthe savage civil war ripping apart their homeland over the past year, with 10,000 waiting to enter Turkey.

Over the past month alone, at least 100,000 fled the country, according to the United Nations – comprising 40 percent of the total number of refugees since the conflict began.

Up to now, more than 80,000 Syrians have been absorbed in Turkey’s southeastern region, where tensions have simmered for decades with its minority Kurdish population.

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu announced last month a decision by Ankara that the country would cap its hospitality to Syrian refugees at 100,000.

All nine Turkish refugee camps along the border at this point are full, and authorities have been scrambling to build four more in order to hold the remaining 20,000 refugees the country is willing to accept.

Meanwhile, at least 10,000 of those are still stuck on the Syrian side of the border, with Turkey’s Red Crescent organization providing services while they wait to cross over.

One official added that Turkey has tightened its criteria for acceptance as well, and is carrying out more stringent security checks on those entering the country, in order toscreen out potential Kurdish rebels who might add to Ankara’s headaches with Kurdish separatists.

In addition, there are concerns that foreign radical Islamist jihadists may be using the porous Turkish border to move in and out of Syria as well.

SOURCE

Tags: Syrian civil war ,Turkey ,Kurdish ,Ankara

Syria refugee toll skyrockets: 8,000-strong backlog at Turkish border

Civilians wait to receive food rations in the Bab Al-Salam refugee camp in Azaz (Reuters / Youssef Boudlal)

TRENDS:Syria unrest

TAGS: Conflict, UN, Middle East, Politics,Human rights, Syria, Turkey

 

Some 100,000 Syrians fled their home country in August, says the UN, making-up 40 per cent of the total number of refugees since the conflict began. Thousands of Syrians have been waiting for days to enter Turkey, whose camps are already overcrowded.

The one hundred thousand Syrian refugees, who fled the violence in the Arab country in August, include those who have already been granted refugee status by the UN refugee commission (UNHCR) and those still awaiting the decision.

“If you do the math, it’s quite an astonishing number and it points to a significant escalation in refugee movement and people seeking asylum, and probably points to a very precarious and violent situation inside the country,” UNHCR spokesman Melissa Fleming said.

Since fighting engulfed Syria in March 2011, some 235,000 people were forced to seek shelter in other countries. The number reported by the UNHCR for August makes over 40 per cent of this total.

Civilians queue to receive food rations in the Bab Al-Salam refugee camp in Azaz (Reuters / Youssef Boudlal)

Thousands of Syrians on Turkish border

More than 80,000 of those fleeing Syria have found asylum in Turkish camps. Last week it was reported that the influx of displaced Syrians prompted Turkey to close its borders to those without passports. However, Monday Turkey assured the UNHCR that the borders remain open.

Nevertheless, Syrian refugee camps in Turkey are simply overloaded. Ankara has announced plans to erect four new camps to house 40,000 more refugees, but fears are that over 400,000 spaces may be needed. The border posts already face a backlog of some 8,000 Syrian refugees.

“All the children have diarrhoea and there is very little medicine. Only one doctor for over 5,000 people,” Syrian refugee Hassan Leali told Reuters Thursday. Leali and his 13-member family fled violence in Aleppo to get stuck at the border. But there is no thought of going back.

Last week, Turkey put forward a suggestion to create a 20km wide buffer zone in Syria for humanitarian reasons.  The offer received sharp criticism internationally and from Syrian authorities.

“A buffer zone is definitely something Turkey needs to establish to avoid major problems at its border,” political analyst Paolo Raffone explained to RT. “This will be a way to establish a limited no-fly zone on the area necessary to protect refugees. At the same time we will be at the beginning of an intervention which would be masked under this humanitarian emergency.”

Despite the negative international reaction, Ankara is still expected to raise the plan at the UN Security Council.

Women prepare lunch for Syrian refugees at the Bab Al-Salam border crossing in Azaz (Reuters / Youssef Boudlal)

‘Slow death in refugee camp’

Jordan has given shelter to over 183,000 Syrians. With refugees arriving at the rate of 1,000 per day, the situation on the ground is nearing a humanitarian catastrophe, reports Paula Slier, RT’s correspondent in the Middle East.

“What the refugees told me is that the sanitation is far from satisfactory. They often stand in queues for hours for food and water, there are not enough tents, people are sleeping in the streets. I talked to a number of women who were complaining of sexual harassment. One person told me that he and his family has fled here to escape death, but here, in a refugee camp, they will be dying a slow death,” says Slier after visiting one of the camps in Jordan.

Jordanian authorities are concerned about after refugees seeking to vent their anger have clashed with police.
Meanwhile, in Syria itself some 1.5 million Syrians can be regarded “internally displaced”; that is according to the Syrian Arab Red Crescent. This brings the total requiring some form of relief to 2.5 million, or 12 per cent of the total population.  UN officials expect this number to increase to 4 million.

On Tuesday, Syria’s President Assad met the new head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), veteran Swiss diplomat Peter Maurer. State television said Assad told Maurer that he supports the work of the ICRC in Syria so long as it remains “impartial and independent”.

A fifth meeting of the Syrian Humanitarian Forum, sponsored by the UN and including hundreds of nations, regional groups, UN agencies and non-governmental organizations, is planned for Friday in Geneva.

Civilians rest in the Bab Al-Salam refugee camp in Azaz (Reuters / Youssef Boudlal)

SOURCE