a message by the late david wilkerson

October 9, 2012 at 7:51 am (David Wilkerson)

Rev. David Wilkerson

DON’T WASTE YOUR AFFLICTIONS

The book of Numbers contains a sad example of wasted afflictions. The five daughters of a man called Zelophehad came to Moses asking for a share in the possession of the Promised Land. They told Moses, “Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the Lord in the company of Korah; but he died in his own sin, and had no sons” (Numbers 27:3). These women were saying, “When all the others rose up against you with Korah, our father wasn’t one of them. He wasn’t in rebellion. He died in his own sin.”

This last phrase struck me as I read it: “He died in his own sin.” This meant that although their father had seen incredible miracles—deliverance out of Egypt, water flowing from a rock, manna coming from heaven—he died in unbelief with the rest of his generation. Of that generation, only faithful Joshua and Caleb survived the wilderness.

Obviously, these five daughters were born in the wilderness and they grew up in a family full of anger toward God. All of Israel’s testings and trials produced only hardened unbelief in their father and these young women grew up hearing murmuring, complaining and bitterness. At breakfast, lunch and supper, there was constant bellyaching, with never a word of faith or trust in God. Now these women had to tell Moses, “Our father left us with nothing—no hope, no possessions, no testimony. He spent those forty years whining and in bitterness, because life was hard. He died in sin, his life a total waste.”

What a horrible thing to have to say of one’s parents. Yet I must warn all parents reading this: Your children are watching you as you’re under affliction and your reactions and behavior will influence them for life. So, how are you behaving? Are you wasting your affliction, not only for yourself but for the generations that follow? I hope your heirs are being established in Christ as they hear you say, “I don’t like this affliction but blessed be the name of the Lord.”

 I know many Christians who become more bitter and grumpy with every new affliction. The very afflictions meant to train and sweeten them, trials designed by God to reveal His faithfulness, instead turn them into habitual complainers, sourpusses, and meanies. I wonder, “Where is their faith, their trust in the Lord? What must their children think?”

Beloved, don’t waste your afflictions. Let them produce in you the sweet aroma of trust and faith in your Lord.

 

 

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christian testimony

October 9, 2012 at 7:47 am (Christian Testimony)

Smokey Robinson

MUSIC LEGEND FINDS JOY IN FAITH

IT’S THE TRACKS OF MY CHEERS!

He’s probably had more songs than any other any singer from the last 50 years.

Classics such as Tears Of A Clown The Tracks Of My Tears two of Smokey Robinson’s chart toppers still played on radio stations all over the world.

But when he was asked to choose for the famous Motown Comes Home album alongside Stevie Wonder and The Temptations, Smokey opted for a favourite rack – I’ll Keep My Light In My Window.

!In case someone doesn’t get the title, let me spell it out for them,” he said. “The light is Jesus. I want Jesus’ light to always shine on me, to illuminate everything that I do.”

Only ardent quiz fans will know William Robinson is one of the music world’s giants. The rest of us know him better as Smokey. So how come to get that name?

“I loved cowboys. My Uncle used to take me to see movies. He had a cowboy name for me, which was ‘Smokey Joe’. So whenever anybody asked my name was, I told ’em Smey Joe.”

There doesn’t seem to be a time Smokey was not singing or composing songs. Growing up in music was everywhere. Little wonder that his first million-Shop Around, came shortly after leaving high school.

If the world was watching this new young  singer, he felt someone else also looking after him.

“Since I was a little bitty boy, I’ve always felt like God was watching me, and I don’t know why. I guess because he was,” explained Smokey.

“I hadn’t done any drugs or anything like that. I’m watching TV, and I hear a voice say to me. I want you to know more about me. I want you to know my Son, and I want you to tell your friends’.

“Now I know that one of my friends is in the room and playing a joke on me. So I get up and look all around the room. I look up under the bed, in the closet, everywhere and nobody’s there. I’m astounded by what has just happened to me, and I never tell a soul.”

Smokey started attending a Bible group and then gave his life to Jesus. “The one thing about God that’s so beautiful is he is omnipotent and he is the Almighty. But he’s not a dictator. So I figured I knew what I was doing, so he let me figure that.”

As the hits followed, so did Smokey’s plunge into a drug-fuelled lifestyle. He regularly smoked weed, and cocaine became a favourite.

When asked how he got himself out of that downward spiral, he insisted: “I didn’t – God did. I had gone down to my last legs. I was stepping off a cliff. I let myself deteriorate, so a friend of mine took me to a service where I was prayed for.

“I went in an addict, and when I came out, I was free. That was in May of 1986, and the only time when I even associate myself with drugs now is when I speak against them.”

Today, after decades at the top, Smokey, 72, has combined his love for Jesus with his musical talent to produce his first ever gospel album, Food For The Spirit.

“I don’t really call it gospel, more inspirational,” he said. “I really haven’t strayed too far, musically, from my roots.

“What you’ll find on the album isn’t too different from what I’ve done over the years on other projects.

“I’ve always written gospel songs. I had been stockpiling them for other artists, but the Lord impressed on me that these were songs that I needed to sing myself. I needed to let it really be known where I stand”.

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christ’s return

October 9, 2012 at 7:44 am (Christ's Return)

 

Rev. John Willoughby

PROPHETIC UNDERSTANDING OF LAST DAYS.

part 5

(All scriptures in New King James Version, unless otherwise stated.)

V. TRIBULATION AHEAD – JUDGMENT AND REVIVAL 

Is 24:5-6. At the end of the age God’s wrath will be poured out on the world, because of great sin and rebellion. During this time He will deal with His covenant people (the Jews) and through them to the Gentile Nations. It will be a time of devastating world wars, famines and plagues with great spiritual deceptions, revivals and martyrdom for those who believe the Gospel. At the end Jesus will return in great glory to destroy all His enemies and to rule the world from Jerusalem. Let us study some important Scriptures relating to this:-

1. THE TIMING OF “THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS”, “TRIBULATION AND “GREAT TRIBULATION”

We see in Mt Ch 24 that Jesus made a distinction between:-

a) The “beginning of sorrows”. v4-8. This time period includes the present day and has lasted for nearly 2,000 years. It has been full of spiritual deception, wars, “famines, pestilence and earthquakes”. These “sorrows” (v8) will increase greatly in number and intensity as we near the end.

b) The “Tribulation”. v9-14. Jesus said, “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation” (v9). This will be a time of intense persecution of believers, false prophets, lawlessness and backsliding, but also when the gospel will be preached to all nations. It will start:-

* After the Jews have been regathered from the nations and once more occupy the land of Israel (Ez Chs 36 & 37).

* After a Confederacy of nations has been established, within the land area once occupied by the Roman Empire (Dan Ch 7).

* With the revealing of the Antichrist, when he signs a very important 7 year peace treaty between Israel, her neighbours and other nations (Dan 9:27).

c) The “Great Tribulation”. v15-28. Jesus said, “after you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet standing in the holy place …. then there will be great tribulation” (v15, 21). In Dan 9:27 we read, “in the middle of the week (7 years) he shall bring an end to sacrifice and offerings. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who make desolate.” Jesus referred to this image of the Antichrist, which he will set up in the rebuilt Temple in Jerusalem as, “the abomination of desolation”. We see from v15 that this action will herald the start of the Great Tribulation (v21), which will last for the remaining 3.5 years. It will be so terrible that, “unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved” (v22).

2. TRIBULATION AND GREAT TRIBULATION – JUDGMENTS OF GOD UPON ALL THE WORLD

Isa 24:1-3. The apostle John was given many visions of a time of God’s wrath and judgment in the last of the last days, when all the earth will be effected. Everything will, however, be in the control of Jesus – for it is He who “has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals” (Rev 5:5). These judgments will become progressively worse. A brief summary:-

a) The Seal Judgments. (Rev 6:1-17. 8:1-6.) We read in Rev 6:1-8 that judgement will start with the release of the Antichrist (v2), resulting in war, famine and death (v4-8). After this there will be a great worldwide persecution of Christians, followed by an extremely violent earthquake and disturbances in the sky, which will effect much of the world (v9-14). As a result of these terrible judgments men will try to hide themselves and will cry out, “the great day of His wrath has come and who is able to stand” (v17). The Seventh Seal heralds great earthquakes and storms. During this time the prayers of believers will rise to heaven like incense (8:1-6).

b) The Trumpet Judgments. (Rev 8:7-9:6, 13-21.11:15-19.) We read of an increase in severity, compared to the ‘seal judgments’ and again we see an order of events. A third of the world’s vegetation will be burned, a third of the sea will become like blood, a third in it will be destroyed, a third of the water will be made undrinkable and light on the earth will be reduced by a third (8:7-12). An angel will then proclaim a warning from heaven, “Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpets” (8:13). After this the “bottomless pit” (abode of demons) will be opened and millions of evil spirits will be released to torment unbelievers (9:1-6). A great army of 200 million soldiers will then be released from Asia to kill a third of those who remain (9:13-18). Even after all this many will still refuse to repent (9:20-21).

c) The Bowl Judgments. (Rev 15:5-16:21.) It may well be that from this time nobody will be able to receive salvation for, “no one was able to enter the temple” (in heaven) “till the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed” (15:8). We now read of an even greater increase in severity to all being judged. All those with the mark of the beast will be struck with terrible sickness and all the sea and fresh waters will become like blood and all life in them will die (16:2-4). The heat from the sun will increase greatly and scorch men, the area where Antichrist rules will be struck with plagues and darkness, but they will continue to blaspheme God and will not repent (16:8-11). Finally all rebellious nations will be called to the battle of Armageddon. At this time there will be a huge devastating worldwide earthquake, with even mountains and islands being moved. Huge hailstones will destroy what is left (16:12-21).

We read in Isa 24:19-20 that at the end of this time, the world will be completely devastated and will be unrecognisable as we know it today. Taking into account the seal, trumpet and bowl judgements, under 25% of the world’s population will still be alive (Isa 13:11-13).

3. In Tribulation – There will be revival

Mt 24:14. Jms 5:7-8. The prophet Joel wrote of a great worldwide move of God’s Spirit at the end of the age, “He will cause the rain to come down for you – the former rain and the latter rain in the first month” (2:23). Multitudes will be shaken and convicted at the time of the rapture, when many friends and loved ones will suddenly disappear. The terrible judgments of God will have a great effect on those remaining.

a) Jewish witnesses. Rev 7:9-14. God will speak to the nations during these last years by the many saved Gentiles and also by two groups of anointed Jews:-

* The 144,000 Jewish Evangelists. (Rev 7:2-4. 14:1-5.) They will be given a special seal of protection and anointing to minister for a specific period of time throughout all the world.

* The Two Jewish Witnesses. (Rev 11:3-12.) These may well be two resurrected prophets (possibly Elijah and Enoch), who will be given power by God to prophecy and do great miracles mainly in Jerusalem. They will be protected by God for the 3.5 years of their ministry, after which He will permit them to be killed by the Antichrist and for their bodies to be displayed publicly for three and a half days. Everybody will rejoice, until God gives His prophets life and raises them up to heaven publicly for all to see.

b) Death and martyrdom. Rev 20:4. Most of those converted will die during this time. These will fall into two groups:-

* Those who will die naturally or will be killed by wars, plagues and earthquakes (Rev 7:9-10, 13-15).

* Those who will be martyred for their faith (Rev 6:9-11. 15:2. 20:4).

4. TRIBULATION AHEAD – OUR RESPONSE

We are possiblythe last generation, before this event commences. Let us:-

a) Strengthen ourselves spiritually to be over comers. Rev 12:11. Many Christians may be tempted to give in to fear of what lies ahead. Jesus said, “do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Mt 10:28).

b) Continue to be witnesses. Dan 12:1-3.Paul wrote, “How then can they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”

c) Receive His grace in times of hardship and persecution. Mt 5:10-12. Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Mt 2820).

“Let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober …. for God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ (I Thess 5:6, 9).

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