Prophecy - Second Heaven Authority 4

This is the fourth article in this series on The Second Heaven. Here I want to tell you about the power of intercession. To intercede in prayer and in the authority of Jesus is one of the greatest power filled Keys that Christians have. The spiritual leaders of wickedness that reside in the Second Heaven realize this and consequently pit so much confusion, strife, false accusation and other tactics against it. If we are not interceding, we will find ourselves criticizing, gossipping, growing bitter, spiteful and full of worry. The inevitable end of such is trauma, tragedy and destruction. God is recalling many of His people into this strategic position to break the oppression coming out of the Second Heaven. The Holy Spirit and the Warrior Angels in God's Throne room are deploying now to stand with those Believers on earth who will take up this Key and release the Kingdom of Heaven into the earth. There is a rising roar of intercession rising from the earth from God's people. You need to close the ranks with others and take your place. This article will empower you to do that.

I interviewed a Pastor F. Shongwe who lives in South Africa. He was beaten and stabbed to death one night. He received a fatal stab wound in the heart and was declared dead on arrival at the local hospital. The police arrested one man and were in the process of opening a murder investigation. His body was placed in the morgue at the hospital overnight. Meanwhile, He went to Heaven and experienced many awesome things there. He spoke at length with Abraham about the end times. He saw different categories of Angels there. Some where very small, others were human size and many Angels were giants that held great authority and power. These giant Angels were assigned to nations and regions. While in Heaven, Pastor Shongwe, heard a roar similar to ocean waves ascending from the earth that went by him and up higher into the regions of God's Throne. He didn't understand what this noise was so he asked and was told "This roaring sound is the prayers and praises of God's people on earth ascending to the Father in the Throne Room." On the earth the people of his church prayed all through the night for him, knowing that he was dead. They also prayed for the drunken young men who had killed him. When the police arrived for a second time in the morning, the church leaders told the police "we as Believers have decided to forgive these young men." This upset the police but they said because of the crime, criminal charges would proceed. However, at the approximate time the church announced that they chose to forgive the offenders; Pastor Shongwe was resurrected and was discovered alive by a nurse at the hospital. Within a short time of his coming back to life the swelling, bruising and three stab wounds had completely disappeared and he walked out of the hospital with another Pastor who had come to visit him. The two pastors then went to the jail and lead the man who had used the knife, to personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is an awesome testimony that demonstrates the power of intercession when God's people pray. It also demonstrates the importance of forgiveness even in the face of obvious wrong.

When adversity, sin, illness, satanic activity or whatever trouble arises in the earth, God's word to His people is to intercede. Isaiah 59:16 says of God: "He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no one to intercede; then his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him." Every Believer has a mandate from God to pray and intercede for God's will to be released. This includes personal needs as well as needs in the nations. Intercession is more about partnering with God and making spiritual declarations over the circumstances so that God can confirm those declarations. For years, many have thought of intercession as "begging God to do something" because He didn't seem to care, so we had to awaken His compassion. However, intercession is more about partnering with God so that our prayers and the words of our mouth can be used by God to confirm what has been prayed.

I would be remiss if I didn't include scriptures to verify this article. Let me share just a few as follows.

We read in:

Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning s too deep for words."

Romans 8:27 "And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God."

Romans 8:28 "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:34 "Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us."

1Timothy 2:1 "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,

1Timothy 2:2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

1Timothy 2:3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,"

Hebrews 7:25 "Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

Isaiah 58:6 "Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?

Isaiah 58:7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

Isaiah 58:8 Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Isaiah 58:9 Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.' If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,"

Here are two important applications of intercession:

• To intercede with (with = partner with God to do the work of His Kingdom and release Heaven into the earth) God and

Note: Many of God's kids still have an orphan spirit/mentality where to them intercession means begging God to do something because He is otherwise withholding something from them. Their feeling is that God and they are at odds and not really reconciled. This is wrong.

• To stand against Satan, demons, sickness, non-Godly circumstances on behalf of others and yourself.

When you take up this Important Key you will have great authority over Second Heaven spirits of wickedness. Intercession overlaps with prophecy. Prophecy better equips you to release God's power into earth's circumstances through intercession and that stops the work of evil operating from the Second Heaven.

Remember:

Maintain a clean heart before the Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal sin. (Psalm 24: 3, 4, 5)

Rely on the Holy Spirit to pray through you. (Romans 8:26)

Don't rely on your own thoughts for how you should pray. Acknowledge His direction and wisdom. (Proverbs 3 : 5 and 6)

Praise God for His awesome faithfulness and ability to change every situation. (Ephesians 6:18 and Philippians 4:6) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Be assertive against the devil and his kingdom. Come against him with all the power of the Lord Jesus Christ and the sword of the Spirit. (Luke 10:19, Mt 10:1, James 4:7)

Be responsive to the Holy Spirit for He often will speak, direct or prompt us through the Word. He will confirm His Word as well as you wait in His Presence.

Praise God for what He is doing and will continue to do. The glory belongs to Him.

Romans 11:36 "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen."

Keith A. Paul has many years of Ministry experience and is an Author. He is used in the gift of prophecy, dream interpretation and words of knowledge which are gifts of the Holy Spirit. He currently lives in Abbotsford B.C. Canada. He travels internationally speaking and imparting the supernatural works of the Holy Spirit. To receive Keith's free Prophetic Words, free Dream Interpretation or purchase His E Books please visit http://www.restorationplaceministries.com

Is There A Rapture? Oh Yes!

However,

• It was not meant to be an escape from the cross of Christ to which all are called; it is rather the blessed hope of those who carry that cross to the very end.
• It was not intended to create a division of the saints whereby some are feasting in Heaven while others suffer on earth. There is one church. The members of Christ will receive their bodies in one final resurrection of life.
• It is not a secret appearing; rather, the most public act of all human history.
• It does not herald the evacuation of the Spirit of God; it precedes the entrance of the Son of God and His Kingdom to Planet earth.
• Saying the rapture comes after the Tribulation is in line with the historic as well as the Scriptural accounting.
• The pre-tribulation rapture theory is a modern invention with but scanty evidence before the 18th century and no clear Biblical evidence at all.
• Proof that the rapture is "post" is from Biblical statements. Proof that it is "Pre" is from logic.
• There are absolutely no clear and provable distinctions between the rapture of the saints and the revelation of Christ: these are two aspects of the same event!

Therefore:

• We should be looking for His coming and praying for it according to the will of God,even though we understand that other things must come first.
• We should be prepared to meet Him at a moment's notice, as He can come to us by our death today.
• We should live in hope, not in fear, for we know His wrath is not intended for us.
• We should have the mind of Christ in us to suffer as He did, without complaining, and in fact with rejoicing as the apostles showed us.
• We should begin to buffet our bodies, and tighten our belts now, so that we will be ready to endure what must come.
• We must share the truth of this matter with other brothers in the Lord , who truly believe they will be exempted from the suffering of that day. What a huge disappointment will be theirs as they see the Temple being built, and antichrist rising to world power.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Separation of Church and State? Says Who?

Excerpts from fellowship about the real Jesus and the role of Christians in society today:

If you understood that Yeshua is the I AM - He not only had the Canaanites destroyed for their pagan religious practices, He sent Israel and Judah into captivity for refusing to follow His biblical religion and as Yeshua drove out of "My Father's House" the moneychangers with a whip in His hand! Certainly that was met with raised eyebrows and shaking of heads, not to mention FEAR! Yes, fear religion!

And anybody who is a Christian who dares to deny that Christ will rule, as necessary with a ROD OF IRON, enforcing PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, simply is either in denial or woefully ignorant of the biblical King of Kings and Lord of Lords who will soon reign on Earth from Jerusalem with TOUGH LOVE!

You're talking Old Testament.

I'm talking the Law and the Prophets that Yeshua upheld and will enforce when He reigns perfectly from Jerusalem with TOUGH LOVE, giving different strokes for different folks.

Notice that God hasn't ordered the execution of anyone since Jesus walked the earth.

Yes, He has, time and again through the Law and the Prophets that haven't been made null and void by the tender mercies of our God, the Sermon on the Mount, except for those who are truly repentant as we can best determine with the help of God. Why do you think it is written about the ministers of State: "He bears not the SWORD in vain?" And that such ministers of state are to enforce the Law of God, serving as the vengeance of God? Romans 13 shows God has ordered the execution and other forms of punishment upon lawbreakers since Christ, since His Word remains true and hasn't changed or been altered to accommodate fickle men and fleeting societies.

Jesus never told us to establish any form of government on earth. He clearly taught that His kingdom was not of this earth. If He wanted a government here now, He would have made one here, now. We, as disciples, are not called to rule here or even govern here.

Now you sound like the traditional Worldwide Church of God and those groups who have forsaken it in droves since the Great Apostasy after the death of Herbert W. Armstrong, concerning avoiding politics, shirking your responsibilities, your civic DUTIES, failing to render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's, and by such woeful neglect and sinful negligence, have forfeited the reigns of government to the wicked and then cry about how awful things are! "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." I submit they're not such good men or they would do something!

Yeshua revealed HIS Kingdom of God-Beings, the ruling Kingdom-Family of God administering the Law of God, is yet future, that's true, of which He will be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. However, as the I AM, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, He has established an earthly kingdom called Israel and Judah today, our family of nations - the Anglo-Saxon and white peoples of Northwestern Europe with our Jewish brethren. And to us, which includes those called to be Christians now: "REMEMBER THE LAW OF MOSES MY SERVANT WITH THE STATUTES AND JUDGMENTS" (Malachi 4:4).

God calls upon our Israelite family of nations to RESTORE HIS LAW AND ORDER, and we'll receive blessing to the degree we love and obey and He will bless our NATIONAL EFFORTS that reflect national repentance, learning to go by God's Word as LAW, trusting in His wisdom, rather than leaning to our own understanding with all our different political parties of men. We must recognize we are suffering national curses for national disobedience and repent and avert further national disasters (Daniel 9:11). God will draw near to us as we draw near to Him. God's Kingdom on Earth has always been through the physical descendants of Jacob-Israel, and we're to be a TYPE of the future Kingdom of God-Beings that will reign over us as we reign over other nations.

We are called to be Christ on earth. To show others by our example, who He is. Would Jesus have advocated war? How about slaughter?

Yes, we are called to reflect Christ on Earth, and our NATION is called to reflect GOD on Earth, as a "Light to all nations," a MODEL NATION for others to follow, seeing our sound mindedness and wisdom, peace and prosperity from following God's heavenly law here on Earth.

Christ would certainly advocate war, if and whenever necessary, without hesitation, as revealed in the Law and the Prophets, the Law of Moses that our peoples and professing Christians have forgotten to our confusion and shame! Onward Christian Soldiers!

This is where groups like the KKK confuse the heck out of me. They obviously don't know Christ. If they did, they'd know that He'd never treat another human the way they do.

I don't know a single member of the KKK and from personal experience know how a group's beliefs can be misrepresented by hysterical mobs. If the KKK is biblical on this or that, I support them on this or that. Where they're not biblical, I would say so and not offer support but call upon them to change.

The racist NAACP obviously doesn't know Christ or they wouldn't judge everything falsely by the color of someone's skin rather than the content of character (while ignoring national issues that are biblically based on ethnicity), and they wouldn't hold people down and under and back so they can keep their self-important positions they've prostituted themselves for at the expense of their own people whom they've sold down the river, listening to the siren calls of the race hucksters like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson, both of whom should move to Africa and lead the way and create opportunities for others to follow. I would support them expressing such creativity in action instead of always cursing the real or imagined darkness rather than lighting a candle.

So many people claim to be followers of Jesus, then turn right around and go against His teachings. Jesus taught us to turn the cheek, love our enemy, bring peace and love to the sick and hurting. Deliver others of demons and heal the sick. I see none of this in our government body and I see very, very little of this in the corporate church body.

God's one government has two branches. Jesus was talking to individuals (Sermon the Mount) and He was talking to the NATION (10 Commandments/Law of Moses) when He revealed how we are to live. So many people claim to be followers of Jesus, then turn right around and go against His teachings. He said to expel sworn enemies from our Land; to execute various criminals and cleanse the Land, to wage war, if and whenever necessary, and not to show the mercy of fools to nations or individuals who hate our guts and would slit our throats their first opportunity. We're to love our neighbor as ourselves, not more than ourselves.

Yeshua said to be "wise as serpents and innocent as doves." He was referring to an ATTITUDE, a willingness to go the extra mile, out of our way, but not indefinitely! If we take all of Yeshua's teaching on any given subject, rather than twist His teachings into some hippy pacifism, you'll see there's a time and a place, which is why He could act so violent and knock over tables and chairs and drive both men and animals from the Temple with a WHIP IN HIS HAND!

Certainly doesn't fit the traditional false image, does it? His harsh words against the religious leaders of His day certainly weren't smooth and pleasant to listen to, especially if you were on the receiving end of His verbal attacks! And when He reigns, He will rule with a ROD OF IRON and rebuke some nations, punish others and even destroy some.

Folks would do well to not try to tell the REAL JESUS about His teachings or to remember His Sermon on the Mount! Jesus will perfectly exercise the Law of Moses tempered by the Sermon on the Mount, as divine wisdom calls for, and we're called to whatever extent we're offered in this life to do the same, whether it's in the home, office, pulpit or political position. That's why our kings, our rulers, are commanded by God to read and study His Word daily that it may be the LAW OF THE LAND, and they can be humbled by realizing they're merely human instruments of God's grace, God's rod and staff.

David Ben-Ariel, a Christian-Zionist writer and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe's Rise and Fall, shares a special focus on the Middle East, reflected in hard-hitting articles that help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out the Beyond Babylon blog.

Was Jesus Real and Did He Live - Video

How Much Do You Trust Your Husband?

Imagine being married to Abraham, ladies. Or any man who listens to God. What would it be like to be told one morning, "God spoke to me last night. We're to leave town immediately. Trouble is, I don't know where. We'll just start walking, and God will guide us."

That's exactly how it was for Sarah of the Old Testament. Peter holds her up as an example for modern wives in I Peter 3:1-6. (Please read.)

1. He tells today's Christian women to live Christ before their unsaved husbands. Preaching is not necessary. Men do not like to listen to sermons at all, especially from their wives. But be God's gentlewoman around the house and he'll get it.

2. Especially if it's coupled with chastity. Dress for your husbands, ladies. Not to impress other men. Cut the "flirty" ways, the overtures to men that make them wonder why... Build up your own man. And respect him with every bit of reverence that God can create in you. Remember your man needs to be revered and you need to be romanced, loved. He's very different.

3. By using Sarah as your example God has let you know that ugliness is not a virtue. But if all your efforts to look pretty don't include a look in God's mirror to see what needs to be done with your spirit-person, you won't look too nice to him or anyone.

4. You might be amazed at how your man, and your God, value gentleness. I know it's not in, I know you live in a Western culture that values the aggressive woman who will not only go into business and the boxing ring, but even to war. But that doesn't have to be you. God still thinks your meek spirit is precious!

5-6. We all like to look back to the good old days. Peter, too. He wistfully remembers men like Sarah, and brings them before his present hearers as a model. You will be listed as kin to Sarah if you'll continue being a good wife, and if you will not be afraid. Yes, most wives don't follow their husbands because of fear. What if he's wrong? What if he fails? What if we lose our security? What if we lose our place in the community? Peter says, you need to put that fear away and submit to that special guy as though he were the Lord Himself. Try it. It's good for ya.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Note to Pastor - About That Music

I'm getting old. That's the only explanation/apology I give for the following comments. It does not set aside the truths which I am trying to communicate. But it is a fact. And in many churches, the desires of the young have been placed over the wisdom of the elderly. Music is one of the victims of this decision. For centuries the Church has passed on a legacy of rich doctrine-laden verse, majestic-sounding melodies, true "psalms, hymns, songs of the Spirit." As with Scripture, these have been recorded (no one is claiming inspiration here) and passed on. The bad ones were weeded out, the classics remained, the collection of songs went forward.

But as I have said in another place: " ...now, the collections are set aside en masse. Entirely new collections are in place, and weekly there are new songs added to the list. A man who has been a Christian for 50 years can sit through a meeting totally a stranger to the music portion of the fellowship. And he can think he is a stranger to the church, being left behind. This has not been true in every generation. It is sadly true in this one."

English-speaking believers have exported this treasure of music all over the world. To this day many nations sing translations of the old hymns of the faith, while those who passed it to them, the Western Church, have gone on, may I say it, to lesser things. Oh, there is energy, zeal, and for the most part, truth, in the new songs. But there is little depth, character, and beauty. Little being written today can compare to the grand songs. The beat is consistently rock-folk. Guitars replace organs. No room in some churches for multi styles, multi instruments. We must get those kids in. Get rid of the old, bring in the new.

Sounds like the rantings of an old man, don't you think? But if there is any truth in what I speak, take note, and in your church, perhaps you can still "save the music." Someone, I believe, must pass on the good parts of our past to the next generation. Someone must do the weeding out of the questionable lyrics and tempos today. Someone needs to exercise discernment in this area.

If the present crop of songs is allowed to be the entire musical inheritance we leave the next church, I fear that that church will be a much weaker one, one that is much more susceptible to what is coming to the planet. We need to revive the old songs, and add to them cautiously some of the new, as we have done for so long.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com - There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Daniel's 70 Weeks and the Antichrist

In a detailed study of the "70 weeks" of Daniel (chapter 9),one thing emerges right away. The seventieth "seven" (week) does not immediately follow the sixty-ninth. Verse 27 speaks of an end to sacrifice and offering. We know for certain that when Daniel speaks of this happening, he is speaking of the end time, not of Antiochus of old. We have Gabriel's word on that in chapter 8. But now we have Daniel himself admitting that this does not occur until Jesus is killed, some 200 years after Antiochus!

We have a problem of a different sort if we try to attach this verse to the Romans of A.D. 70. The Spirit says there are 490 years, and that after 490 years, the Millennium begins, sin is gone, etc. Those who try to stop the "clock" at Jesus (as they should) but start it up again with Titus (A.D.70), will find that the clock runs out in A.D. 77, with no return of Christ. That was the dilemma of thinking back in those days, when Jesus did not come, though the "abomination" had surely occurred. They thought.

In fact, the only place to put a final "week" or seven years, is in the end of history. But that is done easily enough, because that is where Jesus places the event of the end of sacrifices, and the following abomination and desolations that verse 27 mentions.

Ultimately, this series of events we are studying does not end with the abomination, the desolations, the end of sacrifices, the surrounding of the city, the army. All of this is present, but my question has to do with the man. In verse 26 there is one called "the prince who is to come." This same one seems to be referred to in 27, as "he" and "one who makes desolate."

I cannot prove here that all three of these persons are one. But I think they are. The coming "prince" seems to be the dictator over a revived Roman Empire, the final form of the beast seen by Daniel and John. He makes a treaty with the Jewish people that lasts for one week (27a), or seven years. This same person who made the treaty will break it (27b) half-way through. That's about three and one half years later, leaving another three and one half years for judgment and chaos, the Great Tribulation. It is this three and one half year period that is mentioned in Daniel and Revelation as Earth's final time.

The prince thus starts the "clock" of Judaism ticking again. No matter that Jewish sacrifices cannot take away sin. They never could. They pointed to Christ. They will still point to Him. No matter that God is not commanding a Temple be built. The Jewish people will be like Israel of old, seeking to go to the Promised Land after God has already pronounced judgment. They will be given seven years to play all of this out, a new Temple, revived worship in the Jewish way, world-wide prominence, even peace for a time. But only a short time. Then the reversal, followed by what Daniel seems to be calling an outpouring of judgment . He uses the word consummation, and "poured out", reminding us of the bowl judgments of the book of Revelation, chapter 16. And he pinpoints the "one who makes desolate." Notice here it is not referred to in the neuter sense. Not a "thing" placed in the Temple, but a man.

It is said this man will be on the "wing" of abominations (9:27). The old King James used the word "overspreading," but that word would be a very uncommon usage of the Hebrew "kawnawf". "Wing", as in a bird, is a common usage of that word in Scripture. It can even refer to angels' wings. I was a bit taken aback as I searched further and found that it is the wings of cherubim (man-made) that sit above the Ark of the Covenant, and are a part of the "mercy seat" Moses was commanded to make. According to Exodus 25:22, God ordained that this would be the special place where he would speak with his man, between the two overspreading wings of the cherubim. Here God would actually appear "in the cloud above the mercy seat" (Exodus 16:2). Is it possible that when the Jews put together this magnificent structure again that they will create once more the "mercy seat" in all its detail? And will the one who is so jealous of our God decide to sit there and mock His Holy Name before the world? Could this be the "wings" of abomination?

Be that as it may, the clock of old Jewishness ends when the final earthly-satanic messiah is cast into the Lake of Fire and Christ's true Judaism is set up in the Holy City. Soon perhaps will come one who will announce to the world that the clock of Israel is about to begin its last workings.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Men of God, Arise!

Okay men, where are you?

Over the years I've had some pretty direct words to address to women who usurp men's leadership roles in the church. So did the apostle Paul. I still am grieved when I must sit in a meeting and listen to the Word of God preached by the opposite gender.

This is a man who otherwise lives in a woman's world, as an educator. I have known nothing but women supervisors since I began work for a major school system in a major city. So when I come to church I expect things to be a little more in line with God's patterns.

It's especially difficult to see this disorder in a "Bible believing" church. One expects liberal groups to play fast and easy with the Scriptures. Justifying. Cutting. Adding. Subtracting. Re-organizing. But in a group pledged to honor the utterances of the Spirit of God... Some time ago I heard a woman who eloquently defended our need to be strong in the Word, never twisting it, and so on. I thought, how ironic.

Well, I've fussed with women enough, I guess. What more can be said? Paul summarized his own feelings, and I'll let him summarize mine: "If someone wants to be ignorant, just let him - or her - be ignorant."

But! Where are the men? I should have fussed more with them! At my school I was intrigued at the 8th grade election procedures. Not one candidate vying for office in that class of 100 or so was a male. Yes, somewhat typical of that time of life, but never have I seen such total male abandonment of leadership as this, even for 8th graders.

These scared 8th grade boys are not alone. It's not easy to lead. Leadership demands rejection and the possibility of exposure. It means extra work and sometimes no extra glory for it all. I speak of course as a man, not as a man of God should speak. Nevertheless the parallels are obvious.

Where are the men nationally? Why did we almost have a woman elected President and Vice President? They could have done the job, sure, but where are the men? Not an important question but a symbolic one, for the church always seems to be dragged in to what the world is doing. And let no one say that female leadership was originally ordained by God in His written Word. Just isn't there, folks. The church is following the trends of the times!

But where are you, men? What's cowering you? We understand why women dominate in China, and we can't criticize a man who does not want to die an early death by being one of the visible leaders of the church. We cannot agree, but we can certainly not criticize until we have had our chance to be brave.

So, China we understand. America, no. There's simply no reason for men to be hiding on or under the pews while women slowly take their jobs. Don't men know the Scriptures and defend them? Don't men protect their women/wives/daughters and keep them from being exposed to the workings of the enemy that sooner or later go after the one in the pulpit? Do men want others gazing at their wives in this public way?

Have I totally mis-understood the Spirit-inspired teachings of the apostle? If so, it's been an expensive mistake, and I'm open to the church's Spirit-guided correction... as long as it is from the same Spirit that spoke to Paul

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs , ovber 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos3@gmail.com.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

The Deity of Jesus Christ - The Gospels

Though Jesus did not spend inordinate amounts of time stressing His Divinity, He surely did mention it. Here are some key passages in the Gospels:

Matthew 12:8, Lord of the Sabbath. In Genesis 2:1-3, the God of creation ends His initial work, "and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it..." 4,000 years later, a Man stood upon the earth and proclaimed to the Pharisees and anyone else who wanted to hear, "The Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day."(Matthew 12:8) The Man is either very presumptuous, or He is God.

Matthew 24:35. Speaker of imperishable words. In the midst of speaking to His disciples one day, Jesus makes this strong statement: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away." Mere mortals don't talk this way. He must be the same God referred to by David in Psalm 119:89, "For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven."

Matthew 28:18, omnipotent one. Omnipotent means, "having all power." We think of God Almighty in Heaven as this One. Well we should. But see His Son make this statement, and you will enter once more into the mystery of God-liness: (28:18) "All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth." Truly He emptied Himself when He became a man. Here we see Him re-filled with the glory He had with the Father from all eternity.

Mark 11:3, The Lord. Jesus needs a colt. He is about to ride into Jerusalem, fulfilling prophecy. His instruction to His disciples: "...ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat: loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him..." As the Yahweh of old, Jesus was known as "the Lord" to His followers.

Luke 8:39, God. Here Jesus has cast out devils from one possessed. He is being asked to leave by the residents of the area. But a lone figure positions himself next to Jesus, wanting to go with Him. It is the one formerly possessed. Jesus tells him to "Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee."Jesus equates Himself with God.

John 1:18, formerly unseen God. "No man hath seen GOD at any time." A simple enough statement. But can God ever be seen? Oh yes, the verse continues: "the only begotten SON, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." Here the Father and the Son are seen as one entity, partially seen, partially unseen, all Mystery! But the meaning is clear: we can see God by seeing Jesus!

John 5:17-18, equal to God. Here the Jews get a piece of the puzzle. Jesus had been working on the sabbath. When challenged by the Jews, Jesus simply answered " My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." That did it. "Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill Him, because He not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God." They began to see a glimmer of truth. When they realized just how equal He believed Himself to be, they would put Him on a cross!

John 8:19, Knowable as the Father. The Pharisees want to know where Jesus' Father is. His reply, "Ye neither know Me, nor My Father: if ye had known Me, ye should have known My Father also." Stirrings. Search for stones. But they can't kill Him now, "for His hour was not yet come." And why so angry? Once more He had just called Himself God the Father! He had just declared that to know One is to know the Other! He repeats this declaration to His disciples (14:7)

John 13:31 , Glorified One. "Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him." Whenever Jesus is glorified, God is glorified. Can this be said of any other human? Is it not blasphemous to suggest God shares His glorious splendor with a mere son of Adam?

John 14:28, Greater but equal. Here the plot thickens. John 14:28 is quoted by those who wish to challenge the mountain of evidence of the Deity of Christ... "...My Father is greater than I." When the overwhelming sense of Scripture points one way, and a lone passage points another, it is probably best to explain the one passage than explain away the many others. Paul will do the explaining of John 14:28 in his letter to the Philippians, 2:5-7: " Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, Who, being in the form of GOD [ a pretty straightforward way to put it! ] thought it not robbery [" a thing to be grasped," in Greek ] to be equal with God. [He was God, but was not living in the privilege of One Who is God] but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men [hence God with us, one of us, but actually God! Oh , glory to Him!]"

So for those 30 plus years we know of as the Incarnation, the en-fleshing of God Almighty, Jesus saw the Father as greater, since He had deliberately stooped down to our lowly status, so that He could walk with us. His Father was greater than Him because He had chosen to be less than His Father for that short period.John 17:5 should be the last nail in the coffin of those who wish to take God-ness from Christ. Jesus prays to His Father, "Glorify Thou Me[ more presumption unless He is God and deserves glory!] with Thine own Self with the glory which I had with Thee before the world was." !What a prayer! Jesus says, I was sharing glory with you before, I will again. But now, I deliberately tear away from that glory to save these poor earthlings. What a Mighty God we serve! And His Name is Jesus!

John 16:15, owner of all things. "All things that the Father hath are Mine..." 17:9-10 "I pray for them [disciples]: I pray not for the world, but for them which Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine. And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are mine; and I am glorified in them." What can we say? God owns it all, including all believers. Jesus lays claim not only to the same possessions, but the glory that goes with it! John is truly filled with the wonder of Jesus' Godness.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

For North Korea - A Jug of Water

I first saw Richard Wurmbrand at a men's meeting when I was 14 years of age. Don't remember a word he said, but do remember how he stripped himself to the waist to show his audience holes bored into his body during confinement in Communist prisons. This was my first step toward the persecuted church. I went to his (Romanian) homeland twice in the 80's and twice more after Communism was gone, when guns on every corner had been replaced by cell phones. Worked for the organization he founded as a representative for a year. I shall always honor this man who lived a life of incredible suffering coupled with incredible joy and victory, a living proof to all who cared to look of the reality of the Christian message, and the Christ Himself.

Brother Wurmbrand started a mission to the Communist world that later evolved into a worldwide effort to be a "Voice of the Martyrs." One of his target lands was, of course, North Korea. He told the story of North Korean children whose ears were punctured by cruel men so that they could no longer hear the Gospel message. What a parable these children became of a nation. Chosun's collective ear has been punctured by the cruel government that leads it to destruction at this very hour. A nation that cannot hear the Gospel is condemned to suffer the worst Satan has to offer.

What can we do? Christ suffers in North Korea. He calls His people to pray, to give, to go, to weep. He literally aches for our attention. Again, Wurmbrand, and a story he loved:

He said that there are many "tales" told of the Christ that do not claim to be "inspired" yet they paint a reality about Him. One is about how Jesus asks one of His disciples to fetch Him a jug of water, as He is thirsty. The man immediately leaves on his errand. He sees a woman carrying such a vessel. She is a beautiful woman. He is so struck with her beauty that he follows her home . He falls madly in love with the woman. Marries her. Three children are born. He literally lives in a paradise for 20 years. Then disaster strikes. Wife and children are all killed, and the man is desperate.

Soon he hears a voice from Heaven. It is the voice of the Lord, asking, "Where is that jug of water?" For though 20 years had passed on earth, only a few minutes had passed in Heaven. The Lord still was thirsty.

Is it too far-fetched to imagine a thirsty Christ in North Korea asking His disciples for some refreshment? How long must He wait and how many distractions will keep us from obedience? And how many North Koreans must keep suffering while we are occupied in making ourselves happy?

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Ever Met a Man of God?

Ever met a man of God? Are you sure? What do you think a man of God might look like?

I think He would be simple, unassuming. He'd be holy, separated, but not weird. He would love the Word of God, every page, every line. Very quiet. Very powerful. A lion in the pulpit, a lamb one-on-one. Unafraid to preach the wrath of God so hot you could smell the fire and brimstone your nasty soul deserves. Able to lift a broken reed from the river bed, gently put it back together, replant it, and watch it flourish with joy. Full of mercy.

The man of God by which we measure all men of God is Jesus. Full of the Spirit, nailed to a cross. Buried in a rock-sealed tomb. Resurrected in power. Constant contradiction. Escapes near-death often but also escapes near-triumph. Judges sin. Forgives sin.

[Voice of the Martyrs founder] Richard Wurmbrand's faith always challenged me. Many have talked of the cross, his life demonstrated it. Many preach the prosperity that ends with a new car or house. Wurmbrand showed the true prosperity that comes from finding the gold refined in the fire. His life too was an enigma to most of us. He founded an organization, at the prompting of the Lord in his heart, that ministers to the needs of the suffering church. It is a relief organization. But in some of his writings he seems to indicate that he wished to be in the pit of suffering again, for there was the riches of Jesus Himself. No relief necessary, he might say. We who have not been educated in the school of suffering, but continue to go after men's degrees, cannot comprehend a man like this. A man of God.

Paul echoed this sentiment, wanting to know the "fellowship of His suffering." There must be something wonderful about dying to self. Laying one's own flesh and blood on the line. Fully surrendering. God's top men and women have experienced this triumph.

Ever felt God tugging at you, saying, "There's more, there's more?" Did you respond by getting out a catalog so you could put in your order? Or did you think that perhaps He was speaking of the "more" that starts with less? That's how men and women of God think. That's how Jesus thought. For the joy that was set before Him He endured the cross.

First the cross. Then the joy. If we can just get that in order, we're on our way to the fellowship He desires.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://www.sermonaudio.com - There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos3@gmail.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

This Too Shall Pass

In about 1400 B.C. one of the Pharaohs of Egypt got it into his head that the Israelites living in his land were becoming a threat and needed to be destroyed. He knew or cared not that these were a uniquely privileged people called by the very God of Heaven to be a treasure to Himself. He threw their babies into the river and became guilty of mass murder.

A few hundred years later another servant of Satan determined that all who did not worship his statue would likewise be slaughtered, this time by fire. He had already seen Jerusalem fall and could not comprehend that the people he held captive meant anything to anyone. But they did. Nebuchadnezzar too threatened and attempted to kill the worship of the one true God.

Then came Darius with his promise to throw into a den of lions anyone who would worship Jehovah. And the Persian king who teamed with Haman to destroy the Jews altogether.

There's a family resemblance here. And it doesn't end in the Old Testament. Herod likewise was slaughter-happy as the unfortunate babies of Roman Jerusalem discovered too late.

The Caesars, the Popes, the Nazis, the Communists. Hitler, Stalin, Mao. All have set their sites on the People of the living God. But the "People" remains while all these tyrants are in their graves, and worse.

Tyrants remain in our day. The Tyranny family has been permitted a place on earth for the purpose of purifying the people of God in every generation. Whence comes the martyr? From the tyrant. Whence come the robes of white? From the slaughterer of God's people.

Even the final horrendous torture of the faithful will be permitted . Antichrist will rule and reign, wearing out the saints. (And these are not a special class of "tribulation-only" saints. These too are the very people of God, your brothers and sisters) But only for awhile. They will get their new address and he will be consigned to the flames.

One name I have omitted from my narrating. I have mentioned him often enough. But his fate is as sealed as all the rest. Unless he repents of his treatment of the people of God, and receives God's gracious forgiveness, he shall be tormented with all of the lost forever and ever.

What horrors we speak of today. Yet realities. The fires of hell are licking up all around, yet how often do we see them? So many that we converse with so casually every day have missed Christ and will miss the joys of eternity. Not only the Pharaohs, Hitlers, and Stalins , but all who have turned Christ away.

A solemn reminder to pray. The God who rejoiced at a Cana wedding calls His people to more serious moods too.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

Who Succeeded the Apostles?

Apostolic succession. The question for many centuries. Who has authority in the Church? Who's in charge? Jesus warned us about dealing with this question, reminding us that it is the "Gentiles", the nations of the world, that are especially worried over it. In the world, everyone wants to be the top man. Top woman, today.But we are to seek the bottom. Servanthood. Bondslaves of Christ, we are called. Nevertheless, Jesus did not shy away from the topic, and He let us know that there are indeed leaders among us. First and foremost, not just "in Heaven", but right here with us, is the Chief Shepherd of the sheep, Lord of the Church, Who said, "All authority has been given to Me..."

That settles that! All authority given to Jesus. He rules. Period. Then He went on to say, "Therefore, you go, you preach, you baptize, you teach." Since Jesus is in charge, we go, in His authority.

Now, right before that final word, the apostle John lets us in on a private conversation between Peter and Jesus. It was this little glimpse that gave the Medieval Church the idea that not only Peter, but some imagined "line" following Peter, would be the true rulers of the church. You remember the incident?

Peter, do you love Me? Sure I love You. Then feed My lambs. Do you love Me? Of course I love You! Feed my sheep. Do you really love Me? Master, You know everything. Surely You must know I love You. Three denials at the arrest. Now three affirmations, as Jesus arrests Peter.

We don't have to say the opposite of Rome in every word they speak. Remember that a goodly portion of Roman teaching is straight out of your Bible. It's the other part we must oppose. There can be no explanation of this passage that denies Peter the leading role in that Jerusalem church. Yes, James was the "administrator", yes Paul was free to oppose him. It was not military autocratic rule. But it was true leadership. Peter's always in a leading position when you see him in the Book of Acts. Eventually his leading position led him to go to the cross as his Master had done. True servanthood.

Of course it must be noted, that without consulting the church of Jerusalem, "Peter's flock," Jesus called another apostle, Paul, who established a whole new order of congregations among the Gentiles, independent of Jerusalem, governed by well-chosen elders full of the Holy Spirit.

That the other apostles shared in Peter's leadership is witnessed throughout Acts, and the histories that trace each of them to a violent death. Jesus had so indicated by filling them with the Spirit even before Pentecost and giving them a charge.

So they led, they fed, they died. Their witness of the resurrection was sealed. They laid the foundation , their words were recorded and passed on. Done. Course finished.

Where we differ with Rome and all latter-day "apostles" is in the need for such apostolic work to continue. Who succeeded Peter? No one. Where was the "headquarters" for many years? That question has been contested in every age, and never settled. Most historians tell us there were at least five "centers" of the church until the growing political structure of the Roman Church forced others into submission as their predecessors in Imperial Rome had subjugated the old Empire. The church had fallen into the trap Jesus warned about. The professing visible church was no better than "the nations." The salt had lost its savour. The world was plunged into darkness.

In every generation of that Darkened church, bloody struggles decided who was the "successor" of Peter. Today, in a world decidedly democratic in its ways, Rome "votes" for the leadership of God. But whether by sword or by ballot box, it is a fleshly line of succession that has fooled the world and good portions of the church for centuries.

Nevertheless God's true church prospers. For He has a people and He provides them with leaders whenever they call upon His Name. Elders are moved into place, and the true ones give their lives to protect and feed their flocks. And upon what do true ministers feed them? Why the words of the apostles, what else? For you see, the answer to my original question is, "No one succeeded the apostles." They do not need succeeding. Their words have remained, by God's miracle, for these 1,900 years, and added to the words of the prophets, they constitute everything we could possibly need.

Who are the leaders of my church? To whom do I submit? Jesus, Peter, Paul, Matthew, John, and the rest. And every minister of God who speaks their words. The apostles still lead God's church. Let all would-be "apostles" in our day be sure to speak exactly what they spoke. Those who do not need to be challenged and stopped.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com - There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs, over 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosen together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

It's Not Cool to Worry

In our world today their is allot to be concerned about. Things like terrorism, crime, racism; or how about taxes, inflation and job loss. Truly we have allot we could be worried about. But I've found out that in order to function in life and overcome the obstacles we face, we need to give our cares,worries and frustrations to someone else. Someone stronger than us. We tend to lean and depend on our spouses or family and friends and that's awesome, but this support system can only take us so far and that's it. I've found on my journey that I really need a relationship with someone who's able to handle my worries and concerns that I face in my daily life. And that person is Jesus Christ.

I've found that through my relationship with Jesus I've been able to overcome some problems that would have taken me out of here if I had not have known Him. The bible says in 1st Peter 5:7 that we should cast all of our cares upon God because He cares for us and that includes worrying. When you worry you sin, and when you sin you miss the mark of God. Worrying about things can have a adverse affect on our body and it's ability to function properly. When improper stress enters the body it breaks down the body's immune system and causes us to become sick. Free radical cells come in when the body's immune system is weak, and worrying and stress help weaken your body's defense system.

To combat this we need to change a few things in our lives. First, we need to change our outlook on life. Start seeing the glass as half full instead of half empty. You can always find something positive in a negative situation. Second, fill your mind with good positive and wholesome materials such as: the bible, positive inspirational music, uplifting reading materials like books and magazines and most importantly prayer. Tell God your problems. He will listen and no one else will know about it, and because you pray you will find yourself at ease with what you thought was a problem.

So don't allow life to get you so uptight. Just do the best you can with what you have and give the rest to God through Jesus Christ. And you will find that life isn't that bad when the right person has your back. You think about that, God bless.

How to Handle Your Boss

II Peter 2:18-25. It's all about how servants should treat their masters. Tough stuff for Westerners to grasp until they realize that anyone who works for someone else is his servant . A few of us are even masters.

As for me, I'm a paid servant of a major American school system. That means I have a lot of masters, from my principal, to the people at the district level, the people downtown, even the mayor! And let's not forget the state, where federal dollars are flowing in and expected to be spent well.

Some of my masters are cool people who treat me just fine. Others are not. Peter says to respect and honor and obey all of them equally well. That's a tough pill to swallow. But with God's help, we are called to swallow it anyway.

The only exception would be those times when the boss says to in some way deny Christ. Peter would be first to amen this statement, because he was indeed a conscientious objector in his day. He kept on preaching in the face of the State's command to stop. And went to jail for it. More than once.

I've not faced anything quite that severe. But, back when I was beginning my march out to the world to conquer it for my denomination, I found myself in the Albany, New York, area. The church back home in Ohio was helping me but I needed to support myself too.

I found a job in the public schools up there. Knowing I had some influence in children's lives, I used it to invite them to after-school Bible studies. They showed up. It was a Catholic neighborhood. You can imagine the rest! I was fired. Chalk it up to no wisdom, or was I really being persecuted?

I broke the law in another public school system. We were told to teach the wildly unbelievable theory known as the survival of the fittest, pinning the origin of all things to a primordial soupy mush. Evolution. I shut my door and told the students about the creation and the Creator. About how life has been devolving from the beginning. About the second law of thermodynamics. And a whole lot more.

There were several bits of history in social studies classes that got messed with by this teacher, too. So far I have not been accused of anything. And before they come after me, one would hope they'll go after the gays, lesbians, adulterers, and abortionists, who live their life and spread their propaganda before these precious young minds.

There will be a reward for those who served their employers well in spite of obvious persecution for Christ's sake. The stories abound in the Communist and Islamic world of harrassed believers just being believers at work and paying for it.

But Peter is just as adamant in declaring that those who suffer for their own shenanigans receive no praise from God. How I wish I did not have further self-anecdotals on this subject. How I wish I had never been angered enough to slap that child, and to shake another, and to yell at still others. Losing control gained me only a deserved reprimand from the boss, and a weakening of my chances to be the light that Christ had so wanted in the darkness of that system.

Everyone needs someone to submit to, I think. In submission we learn Christ. Peter spends the rest of this passage convicting us, shaming our poor behavior, as He compares it to that of the Son of God, Who was treated despicably, but did not answer in kind. He ends by telling us where all that led: our salvation.

What will our perfect submission lead to? The same thing. Many will come to Christ when they see Who He really is... in us.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. I have created over 200 blogs and the site features a live news feed, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. I love to write Scriptural works. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

The Day Jesus Looked Up to a Man

Being tall is a limited option for the North Korean. Due to ongoing malnutrition caused by flood , famine, in many cases inhumane treatment, and of course Communism itself, there is a significant height difference between North Korean citizens and their South Korean counterparts.
For example, take the adult population in the South between 20 and 40 years of age. The average male is about 5′8″, and the average female, approaching 5′3″. But in the North that same-aged man would be a little over 5′5″ and his wife just over 5′.

Will the shortness continue, maybe even worsen? Without God's intervention, alas, North Korea, they say, could become a separate race of humans altogether. Although near miraculous growth can take place when one escapes to the South, in the North the situation is so bad as to have forced the government into changing the military's height requirement.

Does God care about short people? Yes, especially when they are not stopped by their predicament as they seek for Him. I was reading just this morning the story of a short man who knew Jesus was in town. It's found in Luke 19. The man is Zacchaeus, and what he lacked in physical stature he more than compensated for in cleverness. By his own admission, his cleverness had led him into great sin, cheating the people of his day out of their hard-earned wages.

But then Jesus came along. Zacchaeus had heard of the wonder-worker and the sin-forgiver and the One claiming to be Messiah, even God. Using one last burst of clever thinking, as the old Sunday School song relates,

"He climbed up in a sycamore tree for the Lord He wanted to see,

And as the Savior passed that way,

He looked up in the tree, and He said,

'Zacchaeus, you come down, for I'm going to your house for tea.' "

Well, the British had not taken over that part of the world by then, so we can debate the "tea" part of the song. But suffice it to say that before that day had passed, short Zacchaeus was a new man. Jesus had looked up to Him, and he had looked up to Jesus, and found eternal life.

I could not help putting this story into the context of our short friends in the top half of the Korean peninsula. Through no fault of their own, they have become the spectacle of the world. Small in stature. Small in diet. Small in privilege. Small in standing. Small in opportunity.

But no matter. Jesus is passing this way. When Jesus comes into view, the small can become great and those who think they are great can become small. In an instant. I'd like to see that, wouldn't you? Pray with me about it! Jesus, pass through North Korea, today and every day.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website made to ask believers to pray for North Korea. Recently I have added Bible teachings to the menu. There are nearly 300 blogs , a live news feed , lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com. Audio teachings at sermonaudio.com under my name.

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond .

Saint Jude Patron Saint of Desperate Cases and Lost Cases

St Jude is considered the Patron Saint of Lost Cases and Desperate Causes Situation in the Catholic religion. St Jude is depicted wearing a green robe which symbolizes life and Hope, as well as a flame above his head were he received the Holy Spirit after Pentecost.

Often time he is depicted with a club, axe or carpenters rulers, the axe or a similar item because this is the weapon that was used to kill him.

The Calendar of Saints is way that the Catholic Church associates one or several Saints with the days of year. These day associated with the saints are called Feast Day, the Feast Day for St Jude is October 28th. Often times local churches will festival and special masses around these date to pay tribute to the Saint on that day.

Legend tells us that he spread the words of the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Lybia. Later in life he returned to Jerusalem around the year 62, and aided the election of his brother, St. Simeon, as Bishop of Jerusalem. We know that St Jude was born Jewish in Paneas, and that his mother and father opted into Christianity. His father Clopas is said to have been murder for his devotion and outspoken ways towards Christianity.

St Jude at the Last Supper with Jesus and is said to have asked Jesus why he did not reveal himself to the world after his resurrection. A devoted Apostle that is said to have traveled to Iran, Beirut and Edessa carry the word and message of Jesus. St. Jude Thaddaues is some time confused for Jude Iscariot who betrayed Jesus to Roman.

Iscariot contacts the Chief Priest and ask what will you give me if I deliver him to you? And so legend tells is that he sold Jesus to the Romans and assist them in the crucifixion.

It is important to understand and know the distinction between the two Judes because St Jude Thaddaeus played a very important and positive part as an Apostle. St Jude Thaddaeus mother was the Virgin Marys cousin and therefore there is a direct connection with Jesus.

In you most desperate situation, when you find yourself completely lost St. Jude is the saint you direct yourself to. He is the Patron Saint of Desperate Cases and lost Causes therefore you evoke prayers and offering to him to assist you in moment of need.

One way to initiate prayers to St Jude is to begin a Novena. A Novena is a prayer that you repeat for nine continuous days and ask for assistance or relief with your suffering. You can also use a prayer book, a Rosary or a 3 day candle.

For More Detailed Information please visit www.novenastjude.com.

Lue Amil

Some Questions About Religion

It's all the rage, you know. Down with "religion", up with Jesus. I understand the concept, but I'm beginning to question the premise. In fact, I have a lot of questions for religion-bashers.
You who despise "religion", could you tell me which Biblical apostle you are quoting in your anger? Which Bible writer actually condemned religion? If the Bible does not condemn it, what is your basis? Do you know where the word religion is found in your Bible, and do you know what it means?

May I answer? The Greek threskeia means "a ceremonial observance." A form of worship. The King James translates the word into "religion" a few times, and into "worshipping" once. In none of the "religion" passages is anything negative connotated. In Colossians 2:18, however, where the word is "worshipping", the apostle rebukes angel religion.

He warns believers that there are false teachers out there who are puffed up with pride because of their supposed relationship with angels, and who are therefore pushing their angelic religion on to the Body. That sort of "religion" is condemned. Strange that the strongest false teachers of our day have a similar emphasis. As is my custom, I will not name names. But the state of Kansas that I mentioned in a previous blog, is the source of much of this angelic religion.

Religion is a positive word in the Scriptures. It is our brother James who points out that there is pure, undefiled religion and then there is vain religion. In both cases, these religious practices have nothing to do with the Sunday meeting. A man whose religion is pure is one who cares for such as the orphans and widows, and one who keeps away from the defilements of this world. A man whose religion is useless is one who cannot control his tongue but still keeps on telling himself he is a true believer. Notice, he has a religion. He does "worship", and maybe with great enthusiasm. But his religion is vain.

Let me be charitable then to the attackers of religion and suggest to them other questions. Did you really mean "down with bad religion" ? Are you talking about the quiet forms of worship versus the louder more "free" expressions? Truly dead formality deserves a shake-up. But are you sure your target is even then a valid one? When you divide churches between the quiet and the loud, are you sure that the loud ones are the ones following Jesus? Could some of them have a vain religion? And could you have missed some pure ones on the other side?

Is a quieter method of getting God's work done to be despised? Is it possible that some who are quiet in church actually are very vocal in their own prayer times? Is it possible that the quiet ones love the Lord with their gifts as much as the loud vociferous types?

Are some good things being thrown out in the name of this revolution? Like song books? Like use of Bibles? Like rich doctrinal teachings replaced by scanty messages so that there is more time for shouting? Is it not true that there will come a time when people can no longer endure sound teaching? Is it not true that they will heap to themselves teachers because they have itching ears?

Is it possible, forgive me for suggesting it, that there are men among us trying to upset the old order so that they can come to power in a new one? Will their new hyped-up style that is meant to replace "religion", itself deserve the title "religion" in just a matter of weeks? Can people be at this fever pitch for long periods of time? How many new "signs and wonders", real or imagined, can be introduced to the people of God before they see it as just ho-hum and a new form of ceremonial observance?

Bottom line, for those who seek the presence of God, is the sign of that presence some miraculous show, or is it in fact a changed life? Though most of the "healings" in your non-religious meetings cannot be substantiated, even if they were real, do they compare to the standard God has set for His people in terms of holiness, and transformation, and repentance from dead works?

Only questions. But it seems to me, important ones.

Look for Bob Faulkner's home page on http://sermonaudio.com There you will find a combination of love for the Scriptures and a desire for North Korean believers to have their needs met. There are nearly 300 blogs , ovber 200 Bible teaching MP3's, lists of resources, NK picture albums, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together! Contact me any time at diakonos5@yahoo.com

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Would love to fellowship with believers who respond.

Cherubic Hymn Movie Video

I love the chants from the Byzantine Chant and other Religions

Peaceful Warrior God

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a christian Ideas library filled with great movies on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world.

The Sabbath Or the Lord's Day - Which Do We Follow?

The Old Testament clearly states that the Sabbath is a day of rest and should be taken very seriously. Some Jewish followers believe that no work should be done at all on this day. I was listening to a program the other day, when they mentioned something that I found hard to believe or even imagine. Some of the followers of the Torah wouldn't even go to the bathroom on the Sabbath, I don't even know if I could do that. I would have to find another religion obviously to be a part of.

I worked on a Seventh-day Adventist church for about nine months one time and they worshiped on the Sabbath but rented the church on Sundays to a Pentecostal organization. (Pentecostals are also Christians) I found this hard to imagine, that a church so adamant about the Sabbath would let another church worship on Sunday.

Let me explain my thinking, if the Pentecostal church was worshiping on Sunday, that meant they were allowed to prepare for worship on Saturday and even work if necessary. If I strongly believed in my religion, it wouldn't make much sense for me to support another group who ignored the Sabbath. I ask the pastor of both churches, who I talked to on a regular basis, what their opinion's were on this topic.

The bottom line, was of course money. Hard to imagine that someone's religious beliefs can be altered or even changed completely if their monetary needs aren't met.

My grandmother and grandfather were very involved in their Christian Church and explained to me that Sunday was the Lord's Day but chose to ignore the Sabbath. My grandfather often worked six days a week and would take Sunday off, Sunday of course was an important day in his life, this was a holy day and he rarely missed worship.

For those of you who worship on Sunday, a.k.a. the Lord's Day, I would like to make a suggestion, try to do some research and find out why the Sabbath was switched to the Lord's Day. Here's something to start with.

Exodus 20:8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

Exodus 20:10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.

For those of you interested in studying the Bible online, I would suggest that you type in," the Lord's Day" or "Sabbath" into one of my favorite Bible websites, Biblegateway and that's dot com. Remember not to do any web searches on the Sabbath. Hello I'm joking!

Spiritual Change Education

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a self help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

The One Who Was, Is Not, But Is Coming

Ten nations, somehow bonded together, part strong like iron, says Daniel, part not so strong, like clay. Many have been the speculations: Democracies and Muslim-style "kingdoms" merging to form a super-power? An awesome nightmare, don't you think, combining the wealth of Europe and the passion of Mohammed's men? Is not Europe being overrun by Islam this very moment? But I merely speculate. We need to get back to the main discussion...

Notice that it is the heads and not the nations (horns) that have a blasphemous name. The world powers, and one man in particular in each of these powers has risen to fame on the basis of his hatred for and emulation of the Deity we serve. An antichrist, so to speak, in every Empire, every generation. We have them in our day. They will continue to rise and be obviously the enemy until the final manifestation comes, and by the elect will be easily identified.

But wait. The Daniel picture before us is very similar to the one John painted in chapter 12 of his revelation, verse 3. And this chapter 12 beast is called by the author, the Devil. So is this beast from the sea in chapter 13 also the Devil? No. The clue is in 13:2. The Devil gives the beast before us his authority. This person rising in the Mediterranean region of our planet is Satan, but Satan incarnated in human flesh. This is Satan's "masterpiece". Often he has been behind these God- and Christ-haters. But to my knowledge never before has he been inside such a man, directing every step. This he will do, I believe, to replicate as exactly as possible what the Father did in our Lord Jesus. Lived in Him, directed and empowered Him. Satan's object is to be so like Christ as to deceive the very elect, if that were possible. (But God will find a way to alert the elect!)

The beast. He is described in verse 2 as having characteristics of leopard, bear, and lion, the very same as the first three animals seen by Daniel. So this beast is a combination of every power that has ever reigned. Daniel sees the only world power that has ever ruled from the end of Greece's time until the end of history as a separate animal. John sees that same animal as having combined all former rule in itself. But the images are essentially the same.

In Revelation 13:3, 12, and 14 we are introduced to the idea of a resurrected ruler (some say kingdom, but a king and a kingdom are inseparable). Thankfully this concept is not new to us, as we have been studying Daniel's history-gap-history pattern. Simply put, but how simply believed I am not sure: Someone who reigned before will reign again. Let's look closer at what happens.

In verse 3, one of the heads of the beast receives a (potentially) fatal wound. We have identified the heads above in terms of nations of the world. But in chapter 17 they are also considered to be individual men. Which way shall we go when thinking about interpretation? I believe we need to see the context of the chapter. The world sees this resurrected entity and concludes that it will be impossible to make war with such a one (13:4)! That sounds more like a man than a nation does it not? Let's see how it fits as we move on.

Again in verses 3, 12, and 14, there is indication that a deadly wound is healed, one who should have died does not, or seemingly dies but "comes back" from the dead. I am not totally certain that this person experiences an actual death, due to the phrase "as if it had been" mortally wounded. Is this sleight of hand? Or is this referring to the fact that antichrist has already been raised from the dead by re-appearing after hundreds of years?

Whatever, the wound is made by a sword, yet Antichrist lives. The world is in awe. Now, some have speculated that what we are seeing here is Sennacherib, the great Assyrian "antichrist" figure, who decimated Israel and incurred God's wrath. The story of his demise and slaying by sword is actually told in your Bible (II Kings 19:35-37)!

I cannot ignore what I have seen of antichrist in the book of Daniel, especially since the Lord Himself has told us to go to that book for answers to the mystery. Though I do not want to write off every other idea, I prefer to stay with Antiochus, as opposed to Sennacherib, about whom little else is said in Scripture. Now, Antiochus died a horrid death. The disease which took him was similar to that suffered by Herod in the book of Acts (12:20-24). He was eaten of worms. But as with all lost and saved persons a new body is reserved so that persons can be blessed or judged eternally. When Antiochus returns from the dead it will be with a new imperishable body, one that can indeed endure any sort of "fatal" wound.

As to the idea of the use of the sword in the last generation, it is not so difficult to imagine any longer, is it? With the Muslim ascent to power, we can readily envision not only the sword but beheadings, prophesied for believers of the last days.

Daniel readers recall the details John now points out in verse 5, the blasphemous words, the three and one half years. No question who this is. Six hundred years earlier, an angel had pointed the finger to a historical figure described in great detail in Daniel 11 and 12, mentioned his blasphemy, mentioned his time limit. It all comes together. Even if only his name "Epiphanes" was on his head, it would be blasphemy enough. He claims to be the "manifested son of the living God." "Great is the mystery of godliness," says Paul (I Timothy 3:16) "God was manifest in the flesh!" But the mystery of iniquity is that there will be one claiming this "manifested" title for himself and demanding that all give him the honor deserved only by Jesus.

One is coming who has been here before. Let us be holy before our God and ready to endure.

http://chosunhouse.com is a website I put together a few months back to get the word out to believers that they need to pray for North Korea. Just about every day I'm writing a blog featuring some news, a book, or a story of North Korea. There's a live news feed on the site, lists of resources, picture essays, and ways to respond to the overwhelming need in North Korea. Let's love Chosun together!

And who am I? A man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving the Lord as needed in my world. Married, member of a local church in the Chicago area, with full time work in public education. Who are you? Would love to fellowship with believers who respond on my site.

God's Peace Available in Daily Life

Living in a world full of trouble, cares, and plenty of anxiety, worry and stress, we can forget as Christians that God's peace is available to us any time of the day and no matter what we are facing. God's peace comes not from the outside of us but rather it comes from the inside of us, out of our born again spirit.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace,...

God's peace is available to us as a result of God, the Holy Spirit, living inside of our recreated spirit. God cared enough for you in this troubled, mixed up world; that He placed Himself inside your spirit so you could have continual contact with Him and He could release His peace to you. God's peace, the Bible says, passes all understanding; in other words, you shouldn't in the natural have such peace in such difficult times.

Jesus told His disciples, God, the Holy Spirit, would come for our benefit.

John 16:7 However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].

God, the Holy Spirit came and lives in your spirit for your profit, your advantage in this world, to have close fellowship with you and to act as your Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, and Standby in this earth. In other words He is here when you need help, need someone to talk to you and give you excellent advice and direction for your life.

When we received Jesus as our Savior our spirit was born again, become brand new and was filled with the Holy Spirit and peace coming from His presence. As a result of this, we are as peaceful as God is right now in our spirit concerning everything we are challenged with in this world; we just have to notify our soul, which is our mind will, emotions and intellect. The Holy Spirit is as close to you as your inner man, your spirit.

We have to remember we have God's peace available to us at all times and then yield to this powerful, supernatural force of the fruit of the Spirit so it can work things out. That means we must not allow our soul and circumstances control our thinking. That's why I am writing this article to let you know of His presence in your life and the peace that comes from Him.

Isaiah 1:19 If you will only obey me and let me help you, then you will have plenty to eat. NLT

Daily the Holy Spirit of peace is calling out to us to let Him help us. When we allow His help and allow His peace take control of our mind, then He will be our supply Source.

I am reminded when God supplied the children of Israel with all they needed in the wilderness for 40 years. He will do the same for us as we allow the Holy Spirit to help us.

God, the Holy Spirit wants us to ask for His help and not take the care of this world on our own shoulders.

Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. KJV

The peace of the Holy Spirit is that peace available to us in the most difficult of situations and is the same peace Jesus told His disciples He was leaving with them.

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]

Yielding to this peace on the inside of us will keep us from being troubled, afraid, agitated, fearful, intimidated, cowering down to difficulties on the outside and becoming unsettled in our minds. This is reality in the life of the spirit. Learning to live out of our spirit will allow the Holy Spirit to be in control of our life's situations. With the Holy Spirit of peace comforting us, counseling us, helping us, strengthening us and interceding through us; then we will make the right decisions for our lives every time.

If we are not living in this peace at the present, we either do not know about the peace that comes with His presence or we are ignoring Him. Maybe you weren't even aware of the ministry of the Holy Spirit to comfort you, counsel you and be your Helper. Now you do and that should be comforting and peaceful. There is no problem you have His peace cannot get you through.

In the Old Testament, there is testimony after testimony of people who experienced extraordinary deliverance from God in the most difficult and impossible times. You can read of testimonies of supernatural debt cancellation, supernatural favor, supernatural wealth, and supernatural deliverance from enemies and on and on.

Maybe you have some impossibility you are facing today. Now is the time for you to have an extraordinary testimony of deliverance yourself. He is the same God and He has the same abilities available to use on your behalf. So just allow God's peace to overtake your soul today.

God doesn't want us to be full of care about nothing. Ask for the Lord's help, give Him thanks and then fully expect the peace of the fruit of the Spirit to show up and keep or guard your mind so that you have peace beyond human comprehension working on your behalf until the end. It's this peace filled mind, the mind that is stayed on Him that releases God's supernatural help.

That's what happened to Jesus in the garden before His crucifixion. In His anguish of facing the cross, the peace and joy of God helped Jesus make the right choice to do Father's will and go to the cross.

The anguish over things you face in your life may not have caused you to sweat drops of blood like Jesus, but still maybe you have sweat under the pressure of it all. Jesus our High Priest knows what it's like to face pressures in the mind, will and emotions. That's what makes Him a compassionate High Priest who is touched with the feelings of our infirmities.

He is also called the Prince of Peace. Jesus our Prince of Peace is available to us every day. He lives inside of us and we can be as peaceful as He is about our situation. God's peace is what the enemy of our souls comes to steal from us day after day. God's peace is God's guarantee of one victory after another for us. So make a decision to yield to God's peace right now and continue to yield no matter what is going on.

People who do not know the peace of God is available to them will be destroyed for lack of knowledge. Even Christians will experience hardship and one heartache after another, as they seek for some peace on the outside of them through people and things instead of looking to God and His peace on the inside of them.

Our brand new, born again spirit contains supernatural forces called the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, meekness and temperance) that work in the most difficult situations to turn things around. God doesn't want us to depend on natural people or natural things to deliver us since He has placed these supernatural forces on the inside of us to do the job and then it's supernatural on our natural.

God wants us to be supernatural in these days. That's why He came to live inside of us. Expect the supernatural ability of God inside of you to move to the outside of you today and every day.

Facing so much today we can forget God's peace is available to us just like the disciples did when they faced a terrible storm on the lake with hurricane winds and their boat was taking on water. Jesus, so peaceful, was sound asleep. Can you imagine that? So they awakened the Prince of Peace and asked Him, "Do you not care if we perish?"

Have you asked Him that question or something similar? He understands and is touched with the feeling of your infirmities. Remember He walked the earth as a man too.

Your Prince of Peace is here today and every day to help you in every difficult situation, as He did with the disciples. Realize He gives you peace and the other fruit of the Spirit to aid you, help you. He will never take control of your life since the fruit of His presence gives you control of your life.

Colossians 3:15 is a wonderful scripture to use as a confession, enforcing the truth of the peace of God giving you right answers just at the right time so that it always turns out for a win, win situation in every decision you make.

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ's] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

"And let the peace". We must "allow" the fruit of peace on the inside of us help us make correct decisions, guaranteeing we won't end up with shipwrecked lives. God's peace causes us to know in our spirit whether things look right or look wrong for us. God's peace acts continually as an Umpire in our spirit; helping us decide and settle once and for all the questions that arise in our lives in a peaceful state. As members of the Body of Christ we are to live in this peaceful state.

Peaceful is what we are in this world through Jesus Christ no matter how chaotic it is in this world right now or will be! We need to remind ourselves every single day God's peace is in us and available to us; for it will only get worse in the world that we are living in but not living out of. In Christ, Kingdom of God living, spirit living is our way of living now and through which we experience God's peace that passes all natural understanding in this chaotic world.

Whatever is going on around you that may be stressful and may bring concern to your mind, just stop whatever you are doing and wherever you are and just look to the God of peace Who is on the inside of you and listen and yield to what the Holy Spirit says to do or not to do. His direction will always be right, even though His direction at times can seem like the craziest thing you could do. Remember He is God of the universe so He knows just how to handle your situation. As His child, through learning process, His mercy will cover your mistakes if you just ask.

Colossians 3:15 tells us we are to live in the state of peacefulness. It is a fruit of our spirit. Apples are the fruit of an apple tree and peace is the fruit of our spirit now that God the Holy Spirit lives there. Peace is always there in our spirit and that's where we can go when all is chaotic around us. It's like going into another world, a peaceful world. That's how precious God, the Holy Spirit, living inside of us can be to our life.

I think sometimes with all that is going on around us we wonder if He really cares if we perish just like the disciples did. Jesus was right there. The Prince of peace was right there and the Prince of peace is right here with us to calm the storm of fear in our soul so that things on the outside turn out right. In that peace we can allow God to speak through us to those storms of life and command, "Peace, be still!" This supernatural force of peace calms us, calms situations and calms people around us.

Peace comes as well as we get to know our heavenly Father for He is loving, joyful, peaceful, good, faithful, kind, patient, self-controlled and gentle. He is always looking out for you and will take care of any bad situations if we yield to His peace and do not worry and try to work them out on our own.

Take some alone time with the Lord and allow His presence, His peace, His hope and His power fill your soul and start affecting what is on the outside that brought you fear, worry, anxiety and stress. In His presence is fullness of joy. Joy is another fruit of the Spirit that is available to you as you enter into His presence and His peace. You can then be peaceful, joyful, and hopeful. That's when it becomes beyond human understanding. There is still the problem you are facing but you are peaceful, joyful and have all the hope and expectation to see the problems solved and see the changes you so desire.

You will remain constantly in a peaceful state of mind when your mind is constantly stayed on Father God and His Word, you lean on Him and hope confidently in Him, the Rock of Ages.

Isaiah 26:3-4 You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. 4 So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].

The fruit of the Spirit, the work which His presence accomplishes, listed in Galatians 5:22 are unbeatable forces. Think about it, love, God's unconditional love never fails and causes you to never fail as it is allowed to flow out of you. The fruit of the Spirit joy, fortifies you with supernatural power when you feel weak in your mind. (Nehemiah 8:10) Then the peace of God under girds you and helps you make correct decisions that lead you to a successful, healthy, vibrant life.

The peace of God brings with it hope, the God kind of hope. The peace of God will produce all the hope we will ever need in this world.

This hope is a supernatural force on the inside of you that is more than just wishful thinking. This God hope actually will make you come to the place where you earnestly, intensely expect something to happen. And then before long you will actually experience it. Remaining peaceful, just like staying in faith, is trusting God is with us and is working out all our situations.

I believe there is not much peace and hope in Christians' lives today because they fail to look to God inside of them and fail to yield to the fruit of the Spirit on the inside of them that will change their lives.

Let's make a quality decision, one from which we will not retreat, that we will live from the inside out and allow God to work in our lives. This may not be easy for us at first. We like handling things and we have been trained well by our parents and others to handle things on our own and be worried, stressful and anxious. This can be changed as we get to know Him more in an intimate way.

I suggest you spend some alone time with the Lord so that His presence, His love, His peace, His hope and His power that floods your spirit; can flow out like a river, affecting your soul (mind, will, emotions and intellect) and start affecting what is on the outside that brings all the care and anxiety to you. In His presence is fullness of joy. There may still be the problem staring you in the face, but you are peaceful, joyful and have all the hope and expectation He is working things out.

Spending time meditating scripture promises to you, especially in the New Testament, will also allow the peace of God fill your mind instead of the problems. So get started filling your mind with the Word of peace so you remain peaceful in all circumstances and make right decisions guaranteeing your success.

If you want to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior and experience His peace, just pray this simple prayer, "Father God, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus came to this earth, died on the Cross for all of my sins, past, present and future and He rose again from the dead so that I could be justified in Your sight. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus Christ. I receive you now as my Savior and Lord. Holy Spirit of peace come and live in my spirit now."

Welcome to the family of God! Please let me know you received Christ. Here are scriptures I want to share with you speaking of God's peace coming to you:

Job 22:21 Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. KJV

When we become intimate with the Lord then we remain peaceful and good things will result in our lives.

Psalms 34:14 ....seek, inquire for, and crave peace and pursue (go after) it!

We must seek, crave the peace of God and even pursue or go after the peace of God every day since we live in a chaotic world. God's peace does not come automatic. We have to seek spiritual things and seek our spiritual life in Christ in order not to live a carnal life where the flesh controls us and determines our outcome.

Psalms 37:37 Mark the blameless man and behold the upright, for there is a happy end for the man of peace.

Peace always is the state of mind for the man who knows he is right with God. So it is of utmost importance we know our righteousness comes only through Jesus' finished work at Calvary. Christ's righteousness always brings peace since it eliminates striving on our part to be righteous. Christ's righteousness brings peace that produces a life of true happiness. Christ's righteousness is what sets Christianity apart from all other religions striving to obtain their own righteousness. (The Bible says our own self-righteousness in the sight of God is like filthy rags.)

Psalms 85:8 I will listen [with expectancy] to what God the Lord will say, for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints (those who are in right standing with Him)....

God speaks peace daily to His children when they will listen expectantly for Him to speak. His words of peace bring an end to all conflict and confusion in our minds and our affairs, and so that's why it is so urgent we listen with expectancy for Him to speak. Be assured and expectant to hear Him speak to you every day. This scripture is a wonderful daily confession.

Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they who love Your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble.

Great peace, think about that! Not a little peace but "GREAT PEACE" comes to those who love God's Word! God's Word brings peace and keeps us out of offense and from stumbling through life.

Isaiah 48:18 Oh, that you had hearkened to My commandments! Then your peace and prosperity would have been like a flowing river, and your righteousness [the holiness and purity of the nation] like the [abundant] waves of the sea.

Did you notice the punctuation at the end of the first sentence of that scripture? The exclamation point emphasizes we must listen to God and do what He tells us to do! For its then our peace and prosperity will flow like a river. What a confession this would be for our daily lives! Wow!

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. KJV

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

So you have been worrying about your future. Take comfort and remain in His peace for God has it all planned out! Stop worrying and trying to plan it out for yourself! His plan is for your welfare, instead of you seeking welfare from the government, a peaceful state instead of evil and hope and expectancy for your God planned final outcome! Here again is a wonderful scripture to use as a daily confession instead of speaking the problems.

John 16:33 I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]

Jesus did not tell us life would be all rosy and great. Jesus forewarned us of facing tribulation, trials, distress and frustration while living in this world. But yet in the midst of all of it, Jesus said we can have peace. Then He told us to be of good cheer, have courage, be confident, certain and undaunted by it all, because He Who lives inside of us has overcome the world, deprived it of it's power to harm us and has conquered it for us.

Remain at peace, resting in the truth of Jesus' Words and the fact that He has overcome everything the world has to throw at us. He has deprived it of the power to harm us and has conquered it for us. Here's another daily confession to allow God to be in control in our outcome.

It's not just you against the world, but you and Your God living inside of you, Who has already conquered its power to do you harm. So remain mindful of the One Who lives in you and the fruit of peace along with the other fruit that will supernaturally put you over every time. So yield to God's peace and not the pressures of life and spend more time with Him in the difficult times.

Intimacy with the Lord and meditating His Word will cause Him and His ability to rise up bigger on the inside of you, just like what happened to David facing Goliath; to bring your giant down! This is living in the spirit. Romans 8:5,6 shows us the results of living out of the flesh and out of the spirit.

Romans 8:5-6 For those who are according to the flesh and are controlled by its unholy desires set their minds on and pursue those things which gratify the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit and are controlled by the desires of the Spirit set their minds on and seek those things which gratify the [Holy] Spirit. 6 Now the mind of the flesh [which is sense and reason without the Holy Spirit] is death [death that comprises all the miseries arising from sin, both here and hereafter]. But the mind of the [Holy] Spirit is life and [soul] peace [both now and forever].

Living out of the senses and reason you will be living without the aid of the Holy Spirit and this leads you only to death and misery. But living according to the Spirit we are controlled by the desires of the Spirit and we will be setting our minds on Him and seeking those things that gratify the Holy Spirit, which only leads to life and peace for us in this world.

Romans 14:17 [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Kingdom living is what we are suppose to be experiencing in this earth at this time and not just when we get to Heaven. Kingdom living provides the food and drink and all else we need and produces the righteousness of God, peace that all is well and joy that brings mental, emotional strength and all this by the Holy Spirit living inside our spirit. This is true Kingdom living.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell (rejoice)! Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be); be encouraged and consoled and comforted; be of the same [agreeable] mind one with another; live in peace, and [then] the God of love [Who is the Source of affection, goodwill, love, and benevolence toward men] and the Author and Promoter of peace will be with you.

We can remain joyful, encouraged, consoled, and comforted because the Author and Promoter of peace is with us all the way through the difficult and challenging days of our lives. Hallelujah! Let's rejoice about that!

Philippians 4:6,7 has been a real blessing to my soul and I pray yours.

Philippians 4:6-7 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God's peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

God's peace, we can experience at any time goes beyond human reasoning. God's peace garrisons and guards our minds so that no matter what comes against us we remain secure in what Christ has made us to be in Him and has provided for us in Him. We will remain calm and confident that greater is He Who is in us than he that is in this world.

Every day of your life you will have to make the choice to yield to the peace of God that is already on the inside of you. Just yield to Him, the Author and Promoter of Peace. You can even make that choice before you begin each day, before you get out of bed. Make the choice you will not allow anyone or anything steal your peace.

Pray a simple pray, something like this:

"Father, I know you live inside of me. You are my peace. I make the decision right now I am going to allow the fruit of the Holy Spirit flow through me today. I will walk in the peace this entire day. I will not allow anyone or any thing steal from me the peace of God. God's grace and peace are multiplied to me today. I call on your help, Holy Spirit, my Helper, Comforter, and Strengthener. Amen."

My earnest pray is you will be strengthened with all might by the Spirit and the peace of the Spirit that is on the inside of you. I pray you live your life from out of your spirit where God resides. Be at peace in Jesus' name. Amen and Amen.

Janie Baer has produced a CD called God's Spoken Word and her website http://www.godswordalive.com offers products to help Christians use Bible scriptures in every day living finding the secret power of god's word and to help find the unconditional love of Father God. Janie also has a blog, http://www.godswordalive.com/blog Also on her site is Kingdom of God Prosperity Bookstore which offers bibles, audio bibles, music cds, music dvds, Children books & dvds, Christian books, Christian games and other products to help incorporate the Word into your life. She has also recently added Bible scriptures and confessions for healing and health, prosperity, Father God's Unconditional love and continues to add more all the time. She has applied these healing scriptures with her family for over 30 years and as a result they have not had a doctor, hospital or medical bill in all those years. They have just taken the healing Bible scriptures as their medicine as was written in Proverbs 4:22.