Revival Part IV – Getting past AI

Do you remember the story of AI? AI was the city the Israelites attacked after the tremendous victory at Jericho. Joshua had led them across the river Jordan and for seven days they marched around the city. On the seventh day on a signal from Joshua they shouted and the walls of Jericho fell to the ground. The Israelites attacked and destroyed the inhabitants of the city per God’s instructions.

Much like any victory in a ballgame or any sport you want to carry that momentum into the next game or contest. The Israelites immediately started looking for their next city to conquer. They had it all figured out. They had the formula for success. They had the winning combination. AI was not a large city like Jericho. It would be an easy victory. Or so they thought. 36 Israelites died that day. They got their backsides kicked really good.

That was the day the Israelites learned a lesson. There is no formula for success. The Lord leads people into every battle in a different way. Now the problem at AI was not so much the method but a problem with sin in their camp. But it still shows that each victory requires that we listen to God, hear His instructions and to follow His directions. He will tell us if there is sin in the camp that needs to be dealt with. They failed to do what He instructed them to do at Jericho and the result was failure at AI.

For us each day is a new battle. Each church service is a new encounter with God. Every day, every encounter we should be following God’s specific instruction for that particular day, event or service.

When it comes to revival so many churches try to follow a formula, a tested plan, or somebody’s book that shows you how to do it in four simple steps. There are church building seminars, church growth seminars and on and on and on. We approach revival like the Israelites approached AI. We get a plan, we initiate the plan and then we pray for God to bless what we are doing. Then we wonder why it didn’t work. To make up for our inadequacies and failure we find what little bit of light we can and brag on how good the service was. We want everyone to believe it was a success. But if we were listening to God wouldn’t it be a real success. Wouldn’t many more people get saved and filled with the spirit and enter into a deeper relationship if we were listening to God and doing things the way He wants them done TODAY. The Israelites lost 36 people. That was 36 more lives than at Jericho. How many people are we losing by not following God?

So many churches are following a formula, a tested plan or traditions on every Sunday doing the same things the same way over and over because at one time this is what happened when they had an encounter with God. If God did it this way once upon a time then he will do it again they think. They are trying to take their Jericho victory experience to Ai. Traditions are good if they come from God. If he says so then yes. But most traditions are created by men, denominations and various fellowships of believers. Traditions make things easy. Traditions can eliminate all that extra hard work like spending time in prayer, studying the Word and meditation. You don’t have to spend so much time with Jesus when you have traditions to guide you.

When the Israelites were in the desert for forty years daily life was simple, follow the cloud of God by day and the fire by night. When and wherever the cloud or fire stopped that is where they stayed. When it moved, they moved with it. It is no different today. God moves differently in every service, every meeting or gathering. Our part should be simple, follow God. There are no traditions when God is present. We can start with an idea of what we think He wants but if or when He moves in a different direction we should move with it.

After Jesus was baptized the Holy Spirit led him up out of the river into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Even Jesus had to follow the Holy Spirit leading, so shouldn’t we? For the “what would Jesus do” crowd, to do what Jesus did we need to daily follow the Holy Spirit where ever He moves, whatever direction he wants to take. He may take us in a direction we don’t want to follow but it is God’s plan for us to follow Him anywhere. If we want revival in our church, our city, state or country we need to be following the Holy Spirit every minute of every day.

God’s want us to sit at His table and partake of His fullness, power and love. If we stick with traditions and formulas we are just eating the crumbs from under God’s table, not getting the whole meal.

Nubby

A short lesson on economics

If I hold a dollar bill in my hand does the dollar bill know who is holding it? Does the dollar bill know who is spending it or where it is being spent? In a recession we need people to spend money. We need a demand for goods and services. We need for people to have money and for them to spend that money. The dollar being spent doesn’t care about whom, why or where it just needs to be spent. In this current recession we need people to spend money. It does not matter whether it is the rich, the middle class or the poor person, they all need money and to have enough confidence in the future to spend the money they have.

What happens when people spend their money? If a producer of a product or service receives a dollar and spends that dollar it has a multiplying effect on the economy. First the producer received a dollar because he provided something the people wanted or needed and he fulfilled that need. If the dollar he received is spent at the grocery store then part of the dollar goes to pay the wages of a clerk (worker A). Another part goes to replace the product sold at the store. That part pays the wages of the driver (worker B) and the wages of the packer who packaged the product (worker C) and the wages of the production worker (worker D) who either made or picked the product at its source.

Now all these workers (A, B, C, and D) receive their wages and spend them in various stores paying the wages of a multitude of others representing many A’s, B’s, C,s and D workers. Over the year that dollar, that $1.00, has multiplied to pay the wages in the amount of $3.40. The more dollars that people have to spend the more dollars are multiplied and the economy grows. The more the economy grows, the greater the demand requiring more workers to produce more products to sell and more wages are paid and the cycle goes on and on.

In addition if the government collects 10 cent of every dollar spent then for every dollar increase that workers get to spend then the government actually gets 34 cents in revenue. Seeing that not every dollar a worker gets is actually spent (some is saved, pays taxes, etc.) government revenues actually doubles for every dollar given in a tax cut. This was proven by the Coolidge, Kennedy, Reagan and Bush presidencies. The reality of economics is that a tax cut will increase government revenues and a tax increase will decrease government revenues. Again history shows that the government revenues stay at about 19% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) no matter what the tax rate is. It is the same 19% when the tax rate is 70% or at 25%. Knowing that fact common sense would tell you that it is best for the country to use the lowest tax rate possible allowing the people to pursue, life liberty and happiness because the government will get what they need anyway.

The main economic effect every time congress increases taxes on something is that people do things to avoid paying the tax. Tax boats and people will quit buying boats or buy a boat where they will pay no taxes. Increase Taxes on income and people will find ways to avoid paying taxes, all legal of course. The final result is less government revenue and the people building boats are now out of work (true story). People investing and making profits will quit investing and find other places to put their money. Then there is less money for businesses, capital and research and development. Overall more increased taxes means fewer jobs, lower wages and less for all.

Then the politicians call for more taxes on the rich. They can afford it they say. Yes maybe but it will still means he has less to spend. He has less to invest. Back to what I said at the beginning, the dollar does not care who is spending it or where it is being spent. When it is spent by anyone it creates jobs, it multiplies. History has proven over and over that lower taxes will grow the economy, create jobs, increase wages for all and increase government revenues. Everyone benefits.

This is really so simple that even a politician should be able to understand it. If politicians were really looking out for the people of the United States then they would look for the simplest, fairest way to impose taxes so the economy would grow so fast and so great that everyone who wanted to work could. The debt would be paid off quickly and America would absolutely again be the greatest country in the world. If a politician really cared about you and our country they wouldn't be talking about raising taxes and a gazillion programs to help someone. He would be lowering taxes and let everyone share in abundance we would have.

If your congressman or senator thinks he is doing you a favor by increasing taxes on anyone, if he thinks that cutting taxes is sacrificing benefits to some poor constituent then you need to think about what I said come election time. The only reason for our current tax system is to punish opponents or reward those who provide a benefit to that congressman or senator. It is to punish those who don’t agree with their ideology, or to pad their pockets and secure their future.

Americans deserve the best tax system in the world. We deserve the best job creating economy in the world. We have the means to do it. We have the ability to do it. We have the people to do it. If we just had real leaders in congress and the White House we could really do it. It is time to vote, but not just vote but know who you are voting for and why you are voting for them. Do they support a fair American tax system, American jobs or are they just looking for power? Do they represent capitalism or socialism? Do they support job growth or job control? They think you are stupid. This time prove them wrong.

Nubby

Restored Authority

Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-two (NIV)

Luke 10: 1After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

5“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ 6If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you. 7Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

8“When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. 9Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’ 10But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11‘Even the dust of your town that sticks to our feet we wipe off against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’ 12I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

13“Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.b
16“He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

17The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”

18He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

21At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

22“All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

The Great Commission

Matthew 28:16Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

I’ve been reading a book on prayer that explains the difference between power and authority. Power is ability to do or act; capability of doing or accomplishing something. For God to have all power means he has all the ability or capability to do whatever he wants. Authority is the right to use power. God has all authority but he can also delegate his authority to whomever he wants.

Here is a little illustration for you:

A man, John, owns an electrical construction company. He is the boss. He controls all the money. He therefore has all the power within the company.
He hires a young man Gary to be an electrician. He sends him out on different jobs. Every day Gary has to call in to order materials. John buys the materials and Gary comes by to pick them up.

After a period of time John decides that Gary is trustworthy and gives him a company spending card [some authority] so he can buy the materials he needs without making the extra trip to the shop to pick them up.

After another period of time John decides to make Gary a superintendent. Now he can buy materials, hire and fire and make budget decisions. His authority has increased
Next John makes Gary a project manager. Now he controls the money for several projects, decides on scheduling, and oversees a larger number of people. His authority and responsibilities have increased even more.

Finally John wants to retire so he makes Gary president of the company. Now Gary is in control of all the power that John has. John has given Gary the authority to be him. The power still belongs to John but Gary is in charge of it. When Gary goes out on a project site all the employees treat him just as if he were John.
John has the power. Gary has the authority to use that power. As far as the employees and clients are concerned when they see Gary, they are seeing John. Got that?

Back to my narrative:

God (father, Son and Holy Spirit) has all power and shares the authority to use that power as he chooses. In the beginning he gave Adam authority to rule over every living creature on the earth. Satan, who had been cast down to earth, had no power or authority. His plan was to trick Adam into submitting to him so he could take the authority God gave Adam. The plan worked. Adam followed Satan’s wishes and became a servant to Satan. Satan now had the authority and thus became the “god of this world” as Jesus described him. Jesus recognized that Satan had the authority and ruled over this world for evil. But that would soon change.

God’s plan for redemption was to buy us back [that is what redeem means, to buy back] from the power of Satan and that included getting the authority away from him and restoring it to us.

In Luke 10 above Jesus gave the seventy authority “to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy”. Notice that these men were not the twelve disciples [the Lord appointed seventy-two others]. These were mostly ordinary followers of Jesus, common men who were given the awesome responsibility of using the power of God to draw the people’s attention and then preach the message of the coming Kingdom of God. In verse 3 Jesus says “Go, I am sending you….” And a parallel command in Matthew 28:18 ““All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go…” The implication here is that the authority to use all of the power of God has been given to each of us. All Christians have the authority to represent God and in his name they are to go and change the world for Christ. Are we doing that? Are we living and functioning in the authority we were given? Are we using all the power available to us to change the world? When people see us are they seeing Jesus?

The obvious answer for most of us is no, especially in America where many Christian have been trained to be powerless, weak, materialistic Christians. How did we get that way?

The first problem is the lack of knowledge and understanding. The principles of authority are just not taught anywhere and therefore nothing is passed on to new pastors and teachers in our schools and churches.
Second: Unbelief, it is hard to believe that God has given us that much authority to use His power. It just can’t be so. That is unbelief in the Word of God, unbelief in the words of Jesus, plain and simple.

Third: there is a lack of faith. Lack of faith is different from unbelief. I can believe something but I may lack the faith to carry it out. I can believe God wants me to write this message but my lack of faith could prevent from sitting down and writing it out. I can believe God wants my healing but my lack of faith stops me from praying for it. My lack of faith often finds me begging God for something instead of declaring it in power and authority.
Fourth: there is fear. Fear of failure that what we speak won’t happen. That God won’t follow through on His word. This is an internal fear we carry around.

Then there is fear of what other people will think. What will my congregation think? What will my denomination think? If I act out of the ordinary people might reject me. My church might reject me. Fear makes frigid powerless Christians.
Did Jesus operate out of fear? No he acted out of faith that the Father would do what He said He would do.

Then there is a fear of responsibility. I taught on the Authority of the Believer years ago but I never fathomed the depth of what it really means. I just recently thought about this, to realize that every word you speak could have everlasting effect. To think that if you got angry at someone and said “damn you” you might watch them disappear into eternity right on the spot. That every curse word you spoke could actually curse someone or something forever. Your words do have power because you have authority. Scary isn't it? That is why Paul talked so much about what we were to think about and the words we spoke.

Going back to my illustration of John and Gary. When Gary was an electrician he probably joined in with the guys doing the normal horseplay along with murmuring and complaining about management.

When he became a superintendent he had to separate himself a little and act more responsible because of his duties.

When he became a manager he then understood many of the management problems and had a different perspective about work.

When he became president of the company he had to live differently. He had to have the respect of his men, his community and other businesses. The more authority he had the more responsibly he had to live before others.

To use the authority of others requires responsibility. To operate responsibly in God’s authority your life has to change. It may change in steps but if you truly understand the task that is before you, that knowledge itself will begin to change you. The burden and the joy of having the authority and power of the almighty God behind you will change who you are and how you see the world. My prayer is to fully understand it myself so I will operate in full faith and honor of what God has given me. I pray that God will open the eyes of others to see and comprehend and obey. Jesus says “GO” in all of his authority. We are to be Jesus to the world, a complete Jesus, not just part of him.

We are to use the authority God gave us to set the captives free, heal the sick, cast out demons and take authority over the prince and powers of the air that rule over cities, towns, states and countries. A Marxist controlling spirit is trying to overthrow the United States. It is not a man, a single person or group of people. It is a powerful demonic spirit, a principality and all of his demon hordes. Paul said “we wrestle not against flesh and blood”. This is a time and place for Christians to use their spiritual authority and tear down this spirit and destroy his power. We need to take down spirits that rule over families and churches. We need to be vigilant and make sure they do not return ever again. Then begin again to finish the commission Jesus gave us, “make disciples” who understand who they are in Christ and what their authority on earth is.

[End of part I]

Nubby

More Economic Understanding

If I ever need any historical justification for my economic beliefs here it is. In this Wall Street Journal article it shows the history of my common sense economics as it applied to Germany after WWII.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703369704575461873411742404.html

The article shows how that after WWII Germany became prosperous and the economy grew by removing regulations, lowering taxes and using other free market principles. Current day, when push came to shove they realized they needed to cut spending, cut taxes and start the economy growing again. Today their economy is growing at a rate of 9%. The American economy is growing at a rate of 1.6%. They are doing things the right way and we are doing the opposite and it should not be that way.

With ever increasing debt we need to be doing the same as Germany. I've shown in the past that for every dollar put into a productive persons hands and he spent that the dollar it multiplies (3.4 time's). If America will cut spending, eliminate Orwellian regulations and decrease taxes then our economy can also grow. With over 13 trillion dollars in national debt the only way to eliminate it is for the economy to grow and grow strong. A strong expanding economy will increase tax revenues to offset any cuts in taxes. More people will be working and therefore more incomes will be subject to paying taxes and more people will receive pay increases which will increase tax revenues. Fewer people will be in need because every capable working person will be needed. The economic buzzword for today should be grow, grow, grow.

The current failed philosophy being used in the administration is doing the opposite, spending and spending while increasing taxes and regulations (which cost us all money). This makes matters worst for all of us. For them what they do is shrink, shrink, shrink. The poor man does not benefit when the wealthy man has no more money.

A well know liberal said on the radio yesterday that the wealthy man can afford it. He (the liberal and a politician) said he didn't mind paying a little extra tax so no one else should either. But he is not a businessman. He doesn't had a staff. He doesn't have to meet a payroll every week. He doesn't stay up at night trying to figure out how to pay benefits in a shrinking economy. The liberals want to increase taxes on everyone who makes more than $250,000. But what if that was the money a small businessman needs to expand his business. What if he owes money because he was required to increase his inventory. What if that was the money he needs to buy a piece of equipment that is necessary just to stay in business. The government wants to take his money and then wonders why unemployment is so high.

All of this really comes back to who we were when this nation was founded, a Christian nation where individual people were aware of their responsibility to God, their nation and their fellowman. We are all responsible for ourselves, to provide for and take care of our families. A responsible people willing to share what we had with others and when we are down we we are responsible enough to get up again and do what was right. We worked because it was right. We share because it is right. We recognized our God because it is right. We wanted a small government because we wanted the freedom to do the right thing because we chose to.

We as an American people need to do the right things and do them right now. DO the responsible thing and recognize that we answer to God for all we have in this great nation and we are to be responsible to make good and right decisions to keep our nation strong, morally, economically, militarily, in every area of our lives. A commitment (especially by politicians) to do so will go a long way to restoring America to being great again but it is the individuals that hold the politicians accountable. If we don't we will have rulers instead of representatives for a government.

We will soon have to make a choice on who will represent us in government. It will do good to make the right choice. More importantly is the choice of what kind of country you want. If you want a free nation then you need to recognize God first in your personal life, then publicly in the way you live. God will restore a nation who puts Him first.

Nubby

Revival Part IV

What is it about true revival that draws men and women to a church or event? Many people will hold meetings, have great music and popular speakers and they call it revival, but is that how you have true revival? Is it the musical gifts or the great speaking that draws people to God? No, to find the answer we need to look at the first revival meeting, the Day of Pentecost.

Jesus told his disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. He also said “not many days hence you will be baptized in the Holy Ghost” and later “you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and you shall be witnesses unto me……” The very first revival was all about the Holy Spirit. These are the things we know that were going to happen: They were to receive Power and they would become Witnesses.

When the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, actually there were about 120 people in the room not just the disciples, there were visible sign in the room (tongues of fire) and outside as they stumbled into the street people heard them speaking in tongues and accused them of being drunk. A lot of attention has been paid to the speaking tongues portion of the outpouring but little notice has been given to the latter, being drunk. The disciple appeared drunk to those bystanders who had no clue as to what was happening. Why did they appear drunk and what is the meaning of it.

I have been to a number of churches where revival was taking place. There was a Pentecost type outpouring of the Holy Spirit taking place in every one of them. In each church the emphasis was not on the gifts of the Holy Spirit but the person of the Holy Spirit. People were experiencing God in the person of the Holy Spirit. This was common in the Welsh Revival (see my blogs “Revival part II &III”) and all others that I am aware of. What was also common to every meeting I have been in is seeing people appearing high or drunk on the Holy Spirit just like the outpouring in Acts chapter 2. What did the disciples experience to appear drunk? What caused people in all these other churches I’ve visited to appear drunk also? It was the overwhelming Joy of the Holy Spirit pouring in and flowing out of each person who received at these Pentecost type meetings. There is a supernatural Joy and peace that can fill each believer. A joy that is better than wine, better than any drug. A joy that will excite people to go out into the streets, the cities and the entire world to tell them about the love of God and the sacrifice of His son Jesus.

Romans 14:17, For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,

My first visit to a charismatic church was in 1976 after I had been a Christian for about six months. I was curious to see what was going on and took a friend with me. When the alter call was given to come forward to receive the Holy Spirit I stayed in my place, waiting to see what would happen. My prayer was “lord if this real I want it” but I did nothing. I took no action. I didn’t want to do anything embarrassing. My friend came back to his seat speaking in tongues. I was, well, normal I thought. We drove a short ways and stopped to grab a bite to eat. When I got out I realized I wasn’t normal. I was high. I felt energized, I had a buzz and my spirit was excited. I didn’t realize it but I did receive something that night and I was changed forever. My spiritual life had energy. It had fire. I had received an outpouring of the Holy Spirit of Joy, right where I was standing.

Does the Joy continue? About twenty years later a group of us went on a ministry trip to Toronto to help with the revival services there. About fifteen of us went to a pie and doughnut shop after one of the services. It was an exciting service where we prayed for several thousand people that night. We were filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit. On the way to the shop we were happy, laughing, excited and energized. In the pie shop we could not control ourselves. We were loud, boisterous, everything was funny, every story was exciting, and we were wired. It was hard to control ourselves. We were filled with so much Joy of the Holy Spirit that the pie shop manager asked us to leave because she thought we were all drunk or stoned. Even being asked to leave was so funny we were cracking up at the thought of it.

I have seen people who were so intoxicated on the Joy of the Holy Spirit they were unable to drive. There were even times when I was almost to dizzy to walk. The Joy of the Holy Spirit is intoxicating. It is life changing. When I think about it I do not have all the right words to describe the experience. I have heard it called being drunk in the Spirit but that is not a good description. Experiencing the Joy of the Holy Spirit is more like transcending human knowledge and elevated by the Spirit to a spiritual place that cannot normally be attained and where our bodies cannot comprehend or function in.

Joy, this is the power that brings revival, people experiencing Godly Supernatural Joy. This is the Joy that 3000 people saw on the Day of Pentecost and it converted their hearts to accept Christ. The joy power that continued and people were added to the church daily, with people having all things in common and sharing all their goods. Continuous revival is living in the Joy of the Holy Spirit. It is the power of that joy that will makes people excited to share the gospel with neighbors, friends and people on the street. It is the supernatural joy that makes people want to serve, be disciple and to disciple others. Pentecost isn’t all about getting spiritual gifts and feeling special because of it. Pentecost is all about experiencing the person of the Holy Spirit and receiving the joy that transcends the human life. A joy that is greater than you are, a joy that keeps you in touch with God.

Do you want to keep God in the little box you have built for Him? Don’t get too excited, don’t show too much energy and don’t get embarrassed by getting out and actually doing something for God. Just keep a low profile and don’t stir up the water. Remember, you’re not here to change the world, just get to heaven.

Or do you want revival? Do you want revival in you, your church, your city, state and country? Do you want all that God has and be all that you can be? Are you willing to let go and let God do whatever He wants, even if you might appear silly or drunk or whatever God put in his Spirit to do through you? Are you willing to let God out of that box and let Him take control? Are you willing to be filled with so much joy and energy that you can’t help yourself, you are compelled to go out and be a witness and tell of the glory and joy of the Lord. There is an old saying “let go and let God”. Let go of your life and let God fill you with His. Two or three people like that and there will be a revival.

Nubby

What cha gonna do when the end times comes?

2 Timothy 3:

1BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. 2For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane. 3[They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. 4[They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God. 5For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]. 6For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate silly and weak-natured and spiritually dwarfed women, loaded down with [the burden of their] sins [and easily] swayed and led away by various evil desires and seductive impulses. 7[These weak women will listen to anybody who will teach them]; they are forever inquiring and getting information, but are never able to arrive at a recognition and knowledge of the Truth. 8Now just as [a]Jannes and Jambres were hostile to and resisted Moses, so these men also are hostile to and oppose the Truth. They have depraved and distorted minds, and are reprobate and counterfeit and to be rejected as far as the faith is concerned.(A) 9But they will not get very far, for their rash folly will become obvious to everybody, as was that of those [magicians mentioned].

10Now you have closely observed and diligently followed my teaching, conduct, purpose in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, 11Persecutions, sufferings--such as occurred to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, persecutions I endured, but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12Indeed all who delight in piety and are determined to live a devoted and godly life in Christ Jesus will meet with persecution [will be made to suffer because of their religious stand]. 13But wicked men and imposters will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and leading astray others and being deceived and led astray themselves. 14But as for you, continue to hold to the things that you have learned and of which you are convinced, knowing from whom you learned [them],15And how from your childhood you have had a knowledge of and been acquainted with the sacred Writings, which are able to instruct you and give you the understanding for salvation which comes through faith in Christ Jesus [through the [b]leaning of the entire human personality on God in Christ Jesus in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. 16Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose, and action), 17So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly EQUIPPED FOR EVERY GOOD WORK (AMP).

Are we living in perilous times? The type people Paul is describing in chapter 3 of second Timothy could have existed at any period of time in world history. What makes people from other times in history so different from people who will be running things during the end times? Aren’t evil people evil in whatever time period? The difference today is the ability to communicate, influence, deceive and destroy on a scale never conceived of in all of man’s history. Today we have missiles and atomic bombs that can reach any part of the world, 24/7 cable TV and the Internet. The ability for one person to do evil is not limited to one area; he can carry it forth to the entire world in seconds. Today one man in power can affect outcomes in every corner of the globe. The internet is a great place for truth but it is also a great place for propaganda. It is through these mediums the message one day will go forth that all the world’s problems will be solved if we can just get rid of the Christians and the Jews. The world will respond and the persecution will be on.

But God knows this and that is why Paul is writing about it. God is not surprised or caught off guard. His plan began billions of years ago (billions for us, His is a timeless world) and He is fully prepared. We only need to get on board with what He is doing.

Paul ends this discourse on peoples in the end times with the declaration that the bible is the “Inspired” God breathed word of God. God through the Holy Spirit moved upon men to write down the word that was given to them in their spirits and what was written was to prepare every Christian for good works. What Paul is saying is that we need people who believe in the inspired word of God. We should be people who are inspired by the word of God and so inspired by the word that we will do good works.

What are the good works that Paul is talking about? Holy Spirit inspired works. The Holy Spirit inspired the men who wrote the Word and He is the power of the Word so it will do and accomplish the will and purposes of God. Jesus spokedmuch about how the Holy Spirit will be another comforter, another one like Jesus. Jesus instructed the disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with power (the Holy Spirit) from on high. In the end times we will need more of the Holy Spirit than any other time in history. We need to have a super supernatural relationship with the Holy Spirit.

The end time relationship with the Holy Spirit will require us to have a deep intimate, knowing experience with Him. We need to be a totally unselfish, God first people, the opposite of the type of people in the world. We need sensitivity to His (Holy Spirit’s) leading, His instructions. We need to know how to walk in His power. We need to be like Elijah and Elisha, like the 70 that Jesus sent out to heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead and preach the gospel.

Some people believe that the Holy Spirit power at Pentecost was given just to get the church started and that once the Bible was complete that the gifts and miracles were no longer needed. But the opposite is true. We need the Pentecost power of the Holy Spirit even more for the end time’s church than ever before.

When it comes to the end times we are talking about the end times REVIVAL. The last revival will be greater than the first. Peter preached on that first Pentecost and 3000 people were saved. The last revival will see so many saved that 3000 will look like a small group. How did it happen on the first Pentecost? Through the power of the Holy Spirit. The end time revival will require even more dependence on the Holy Spirit. There will be more miracles, deliverances, healings and salvations than ever before.

In Africa there are evangelists who have gatherings of a million people or more and salvations in the hundreds of thousands. Those who get in line with the plan of God and accept the power of the Holy Spirit will see that take place in every continent in the world. We will see and participate in a move of God that has never been seen before.

I will soon be putting together a study on the authority of the believer and the power of the Holy Spirit for the end times. I believe the world is about to change. God is the real hope and change and I want to be a part of it. I want us all to be prepared.

Nubby

Revival (part 3)

King Asa (2 Chronicles 15) did many good things that pleased the Lord. He cleansed the temple by tearing down altars and statues to other gods and even kicked his grandmother out of the palace (She was the Queen Mother) because she had Asherah poles that she worshiped.

When he went to war the first time he consulted with God through a prophet and God gave him a great victory. Later he decided to go to war but failed to consult with God. He asked another king to help him and proposed his own plan. God didn’t necessarily punish Asa for not consulting with Him, He just let him reap what he had sown. God said Asa would now be at war for the rest of his reign as king. Asa left God out of his plans so God decided not to be involved in helping him in any more wars and now he would have plenty of wars to think about it. Likewise if we choose to leave God out of our plans he will be quite obliging to let us continue on the path we started, without Him. That is what is much of what is happening to America today.

Why is revival so lacking amongst our great American churches? I believe because years ago God moved through America in various revivals movements and a number of the traditional dominations and churches shunned and rejected them because the movements didn’t fit their idea of how God was supposed to behave. Many churches have been taught and still firmly believe that when the bible was completed then there was no more need for apostles, miracles, healings and all the supernatural stuff. They believe that miracles, signs and wonders ended with the original apostles. The consequence of this is when the charismatic movement came in the 1970’s with signs and wonders they rejected it. When God moved through America with the worship revival in the late 1980’s they again rejected it and a number of years passed before they decided it was actually a work of God. Then when God moved in the early 1990’s in Melbourne and Pensacola, Florida, Toronto Canada and other places it was outright rejected even by some churches that had embraced earlier moves of God. These rejections of the different powerful moves of God have accumulated and the results are being reaped by America today. We are suffering the consequences of our own decisions. The many churches and denominations have chosen not to follow God when He revealed Himself to us because He didn’t follow their denominational beliefs. They chose to leave out the parts of God that didn’t suit them so He has let them go their own way.

We can sing “God bless America” all day long but look around at reality people. The churches are not growing. The percentage of Christians in America is down by 10%. Our government is run by an ungodly group of people who wish to eliminate all remembrance of Christianity. Our schools have been nearly purged of moral and spiritual teachings. Our economy is tanking, and the Gulf coast is having a disaster of epic proportions. A disaster that could destroy much of the aquatic life in the gulf and all the jobs that goes with it. And if we don’t get control and solve the debt crisis we will cease to be a nation, period. Our unfunded liabilities, social security, Medicare, etc is nearly 100 trillion dollars. That means every family in America is in debt through the government for one hundred and twenty thousand dollars each this year. That is one hundred twenty thousand dollars you and your children owe right now. Is your government adequately taking care of this problem?

Like Asa we have failed to depend on God. Like Asa we have failed to consult God and let Him fight our battles. Like Asa we have turned to men, influential preacher, politicians, etc. to solve our problems. Our Churches have failed. Our denominations have failed. Our leaders have failed. We have looked at moves of God and said that is not how we want do things. Now there is only one answer: each of our churches must humble themselves, pray and totally sell out to God. Don’t look to the past for the ways and means to do things. Don’t look to old traditions. Look to God with a new attitude and say to Him ‘whatever and however you want to do it God we will believe and follow you’. There will be a new revival soon. Will you continue to reject God and do your own plan, operate in the past and accept the status quo or will you embrace everything the new revival brings? Will I shed my old ways like sackcloth and old wineskins? Will I receive the new wind of the Holy Spirit, wear a new robe of repentance and drink from the new wine that the Holy Spirit pours out? Will I? Will you?

Nubby

A revealing of the book of Revelations (Revival Part II)

If you read the book of Revelations in the bible at one place John says "the second angel sounded and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood: and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea and had life, died." (Rev 8:8-9)

The aerial images of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill the globules of oil have the look of dried blood, a brownish red color. Could this have been the picture of what John was describing, a huge oil spill that covers a third of all the oceans of the world? As I write the Gulf oil spill is over 52 [revised from 40] days old and it is still gushing. It will be August before the relief wells are finished and a permanent fix is in place. All other methods to stop the leak have failed so far. If the leak continues for another sixty or eighty days it will affect the entire Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean. In other words the whole planet will be affected physically, economically and politically. This could be an ‘end of the world’ type catastrophic event. Was this the event John saw or one like it?

Many of the images that John described in Revelations can now be explained as descriptions of today’s modern weapons and technologies. The whole world getting to watch the death of the three prophets of God would only be realized after CNN broadcast images of the First Gulf War into every country of the world. Now it is a common thing to see world wide events develop live on our TV screens.

The stage is fully set for the beginning of the Tribulation and the return of Christ. There is nothing left to be done except have a great end time revival to win people to Christ and experience His return. Things will get much worst. The world as we once knew it may be passing away before our very eyes. The only thing we can do is to turn to God and trust in His word that we will be delivered through what ever event we will encounter.

Many churches are doing the same things they have been doing for the last one hundred years. They are still trying to live in the revivals from the 1800’s or early 1900’s. That will not cut it. The Holy Spirit is a pillar of fire. He comes and stays a while and then he moves on. Not a physical move but a spiritual one. We must go through one revival and move on to the next, not stay in the same place spiritually, not stay where we are and especially not go backwards to live in a past era of revival. Many mainline churches are still living in the past looking to their human roots. Trying to build on the foundations of men who once experienced God in a new way but then God moved on, some men followed the new move and some didn’t. The men who founded many of our churches in the 1800’s are not our foundation, Jesus is. Churches must leave the past behind them and start looking for a new beginning and when it is complete look for another one and then another one, where ever the pillar of fire goes we must follow.

Jesus said we would know when it is the end times. Whether it will be next week, next year or the next decade we are at that place where we must decide to put Jesus first in everything or suffer the consequences of clinging to a dying world that will soon be gone.

Do we cling to our old traditions? Do we cling to our old methods and habit? If our churches are not growing and experiencing the end time revival fire of the Holy Spirit we need to let go of those things and learn to listen and follow the lead of the Holy Spirit.

I was reading in the Old Testament where one of the kings who followed after the Lord went into the Temple and tore down Asherah poles, incense altars and other idols that his father had erected. I was wondering; have we not also built up idols and altars to other gods in our churches, blending the pagan world with the church? Have we not made idols of people, their teachings and methods? Have we not made idols of traditions to the point that our traditions are more important than people? Have we not seen churches rejected by their denomination because (gasp) they didn’t follow tradition. Have we not seen denomination choose to follow the publicly correct rules of men rather than follow God? Are they not desecrating the church of God just as the Temple was desecrated?

It is time to purge the Churches. If we don’t do it ourselves God will do it for us. It is time to get back to the basics of following and worshipping God and God alone. It is time for pure revival, a revival with the energy, fire and power of the Holy Spirit. The church must end in power just like it began, a supernatural one.



Nubby

America needs Revival

I was watching Glenn Beck last night (May 25^th, 2010) and he presented a number of video quotes as he calls it “in their own words”. The phrase “Global Governance” was repeated over and over by the president, many of his cohorts, union leaders and others. The understanding you get is that all these people intend on moving us towards a single world governing body whereby we will no longer chose or elect those who will rule over us and govern us.

The example we currently have is Greece. The country has gone belly up financially. It is now essentially being controlled by the IMF (International Monetary Fund). The IMF, by bailing out Greece, can now tell Greece what and how to run their country because they are now servants of the lender; who is Europe. Greece no longer controls its own destiny.

The main Marxist goal in America is to destroy capitalism and bring us into a greater global governance. The way to do that is to revise American history, destroy faith in God and eliminate the Constitution. Much of the history in our schools has been rewritten by the leftists. They are blatantly ignoring the Constitution and with the media’s help they are smearing Christianity as best they can. A number of churches are joining in with the government to further it's agenda. So what would be the coup de grâce for the Marxist? Bankrupt the country so there will be nothing left for us to recover from. America is currently 13 trillion dollars in debt and it is growing faster everyday. We will soon reach a point where our bond rating will be downgraded and the interest rate will go up. The debt will then grow ever faster. When will we reach the point of no return I don't know.

We will be in bondage to the Chinese, the IMF, whoever we owe money to. America will be done. America has fought so many battles and won but this time the battle is from within and without. There are so many fronts to this battle there is only one way to save her, we need a miracle from God.

Currently we are following many of the same trends of the great depression. On our current path we will soon be having 20-25% unemployment. People will have no homes, no food and no place to go for help. My mother told me of times as a child when she lived in a tent city during the depression and had to steal food off a vegetable train car in order to have something to eat. Can it be possible to experience that again?

[For more information on what is happening to us go to:

http://spectator.org/archives/2010/05/26/what-barack-obama-is-thinking
and http://townhall.com/columnists/MarybethHicks/2010/05/26/threat_to_parents_rights_a_bigger_issue_than_rights_of_a_child ]

If we do have another deep depression, if things do get worse before they get better, if they get better at all, then the churches will have to be ready. People will be looking for answers. People will be looking for help. People will turn to the church and we need to be ready.

The answers are not in government, nor is it in businesses, people or elected officials, although electing the right people will help. Beck correctly points out that the only real hope for America is to turn back to God. I one hundred percent agree. Turn back to God, easily said but how do we do it. How do we push back the tide of rising Marxism? Can we push back the coming Tribulation? If God is a keeper of His word and we obey His word then we can. The Tribulation comes when evil is fully manifested. If true spiritual revival comes to America and evil is pushed back then we can freeze the spiritual clock racing towards the end of time.

It was King Hezekiah (2 Kings:20) who was dying and prayed to God to let him live. God answered his prayer and gave him another 15 years. God also said “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14. If we start doing things God’s way then perhaps we can give our children a chance to experience liberty and freedom for all of their lifetime.

The question is how do we have true spiritual revival? How can America have true spiritual revival? The first step is for the churches of true believers to lay aside all differences and return to the roots of the early  church. We need an early day Pentecost, an outpouring of the Holy Spirit that physically affects believers and empowers them to bring others into the revival experience, the experience of knowing Jesus, His salvation, the Holy Spirit and the Father.

The original experiences with the Holy Spirit had physical manifestations, vocal expressions, joy and giddiness (they appeared drunk), they fell to the ground, buildings shook, people had visions and when the immediate physical experience was over they were difference inwardly. They had a power. They were bold with gospel, they had love for one another, they shared their belongings, and they took care of one another. Also shared among them were the supernatural gifts that God gave so his body on earth would be like Jesus as He was when He was upon the earth. A true Pentecost type revival will bring the supernatural God down to earth to work through the hands, mouths and feet of His believers, the Church.

The revival need not to be a one time event either. Several revivals I know of started in the early 1990’s and continue to this day. One has had revival meetings six days a week every week since their initial spiritual outpouring in 1993. A revival can be continuous.

We need a new revival; bigger in scope, wider in scale. The old line churches need to let go of their traditions and embrace a new thing, drink the new wine, become energized by a new fresh move of the Holy Spirit. This is not about saving your traditions, or our culture or our ordinary way of doing things; this is about saving our freedoms, our country and the spiritual and physical lives of our children.

How do we start a new revival? A revival that will spread across the United States, who, what, where, when, how? I don’t know but I will say Lord I’m willing send me. Will you join me?

Send an email to mynubbysplace@gmail.com and let me know what you think.

Nubby