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The goal of Bible Study is not just learning, but living

If you are saved, you will have a desire to be holy, a hunger for the Word, the inner witness of the Spirit, and a desire to share Jesus.

These are the birthmarks of the believer.



#559 31 Jan 12



. . . And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and

anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,

as God in Christ forgave you . . .



Ephesians 4:30-32



Grateful for . . . .



THE WORD OF GOD !



(\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/)




Greetings! To grieve the Holy Spirit is to go counter to the will of the Third Person of the Trinity who dwells within us. Since He is holy, loving, true, and

peaceable, sins of unholiness, lack of love, untruthfulness, and harshness grieve Him and interrupt fellowship with God. To grieve the Holy Spirit disturbs

communion with Christ and results in the loss of the Spirit's fulness and power .

Elsewhere we are commanded: Do not quench the Spirit .. 1 Thess 5:19 ..

Hebrews 10:29 tells us that some have outraged the Spirit of grace.


Be a blessing this week!



* * * * * * * * *



This week's Trivia's: [answer's below . . ]

1. Who said the following: "Am I my brothers keeper"?

2. Who said the following: "The poor you always have with you; but you do not always have me"?





* * * * * * * * *

Grace is the desire and ability to do the will of God

* * * * * * * * *

BIBLE MEDITATION: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8

DEVOTIONAL: How can you tell whether or not you have the true gospel? Paul gives you three tests.
First, the source of the gospel. Where did it come from? God gave it. It is direct and divine revelation. The gospel is authenticated by its source.
Secondly, by its salvation. Any gospel that is not the gospel of grace is not the true gospel. You can’t beg it. You can’t buy it. You can’t borrow it. You can’t steal it.
You can’t earn it. It was bought by Christ on the cross. It is the supernatural work of God.

The third test is its subject. It is the grace of Christ. Jesus is the subject. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible is all about Jesus.

ACTION POINT: Take an hour or two this week and find the prophecies about Jesus in the book of Isaiah. Take comfort in knowing that Jesus is the One Who was, Who is, and Who is to come!

from the Ministries of Love Worth Finding . . . by Adrian Rogers



* * * * * * * * *

The Bible does not say, "Don't walk in the flesh and you will fulfill the desires of the Spirit."

Rather, it says, "Walk in the Spirit and you won't fulfill the desires of the flesh."

* * * * * * * * *



"What In The World Is Going On?" by Dr David Jeremiah

As I share this book with you I hope together we can learn to read the signs and understand coming events. There may be times that I will need to omit

parts of the usual layout to bring to you the important teaching from this book. [printed in 2008]

Lets begin to put together pieces of the puzzle, and try to recognize the clues that God has given us to find peace in "our terrifying age," and come

to an understanding of what in the world is going on. John 14:27.. "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid"


WHEN ONE MAN RULES THE WORLD



THE PERSONALITY OF THE COMING WORLD RULER He Will Be a Charismatic Leader


The prophet Daniel described the Antichrist in these graphic terms: "After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast . . . And there . . . were eyes

of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words . . . He shall speak pompous words against the Most High" .. Dan 7:7-8, 25 ..

In these passages Daniel gives us one of the characteristics of the coming world ruler - his charismatic personality enhanced by his speaking ability, which he will

use to sway the masses with spellbinding words of power and promise. We little realize the power of good speaking ability. An actor who is not classically handsome,

such as James Earl Jones, can land great parts and charm audiences simply by the power of his resonant and articulate voice. Often Americans are swayed by

political candidates who have little to offer, but they offer it in the beautiful package of their smooth intonation and syntax. As Daniel says, the coming world leader

will be renowned for this kind of eloquence, which will capture the attention and admiration of the world.

Daniel goes on to tell us that this golden-tongued orator not only will speak in high-blown terms but also will utter pompous words against God. The apostle John

described him in a similar fashion in the book of Revelation: "And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies" .. Rev 13:5 ..


Considering these and other prophecies, it's not hard to understand why Hitler has often been pegged as the prototype of the Antichrist. Hitler was a man of charisma,

great oratory, and pomp. In his now classic book, Kingdoms in Conflict, Charles Colson described the well-orchestrated events that were played out in countless

crowded halls as Hitler manipulated the German people:


Solemn symphonic music began the set-up. The music then stopped, a hush prevailed, and a patriotic anthem began and "from the back, walking slowly

down the wide central aisle," strutted Hitler. Finally, the Fuhrer himself rises to speak. Beginning in a low, velvet voice, which makes the audience

unconsciously lean forward to hear, he speaks his love for Germany . . . and gradually his pitch increases until he reaches a screaming crescendo. But his

audience does not think his rasping shouts excessive. They are screaming with him.


Hitler's pomp and charisma were not the only parallels between him and biblical prophecy.

The Bible predicts that a world ruler will arise in Europe who will promise peace while preparing for war. He will mesmerize the world, demanding the worship of the

masses in exchange for the right to buy bread. He, like Hitler, will be indwelt by demonic forces, most likely by Satan himself. The parallels are so striking that Robert

Van Kampen in his book The Sign says that he believes the Antichrist will actually be Hitler raised from the dead. Though this supposition is unlikely, Hitler does provide

us a sneak preview showing in minuscule format the kind of man the Antichrist is likely to be.


Daniel continued his description of the Antichrist by telling us he is a man "whose appearance was greater than his fellows" .. Dan 7:20 .. In terms of his outward

appearance, this man will be a strikingly attractive person. The combination of magnetic personality, speaking ability, and extreme good looks will make him virtually

irresistible to the masses. When he comes on the scene, people will flock to him like flies to honey, and they will fall over themselves to do anything he asks.


next week: THE PERSONALITY OF THE COMING WORLD RULER He Will Be a Cunning Leader [and] He Will Be a Cruel Leader


* * * * * * * * *

When you take a stand for truth, your going to have a head-on collision with error

* * * * * * * * *



DISCERNING FALSE PROPHETS: THE TEST OF CREED

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

. . . A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit . . . Matt 7:18



CAREFUL EXAMINATION OF A FALSE prophet's teachings will always reveal unscriptural ideas and an absence of a solid, coherent theology. Often he will teach

a combination of truth and error. But sooner rather than later his teachings will prove the sort of teacher he really is. As Jesus said to the Pharisees, "You brood of vipers, how

can you being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man

brings out of his evil treasure what is evil" .. Matt 12:34-35 ..

The creed of the false prophet cannot withstand any careful scrutiny by the pure light of the Word. The prophet Isaiah confirms this: "To the law and to the testimony! If they

do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn" .. Isa 8:20 ..

False shepherds talk much about God's love, but not His wrath and holiness; much about how deprived of good things people are, but not about their depravity; much about

God's universal fatherhood toward everyone, but not much about his unique fatherhood toward all who believe in His Son; much about what God wants to give us, but nothing

about the necessity of obedience to Him; much about health and happiness, but nothing about holiness and sacrifice. Their message is full of gaps, the greatest of which leaves

out a biblical view of the saving gospel.



Ask YOURSELF


What makes us susceptible to the appealing messages of the false teachers? What are people looking for when they begin embracing error? How can we guard against this

ourselves?




* * * * * * * * *

We ought to be living as if Jesus died yesterday, rose this morning, and is coming back this afternoon

* * * * * * * * *


Answers to this week's Trivia's:

1. Who said the following: "Am I my brothers keeper"?

A. Cain Gen 4:9

2. Who said the following: "The poor you always have with you; but you do not always have me"?

A. Jesus Jn 12:8



* * * * * * * * *

With grace, there is nothing to earn, but much to learn

* * * * * * * * *



favorite BIBLE VERSE: Free at last ...

Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the Truth, and the Truth

shall make you free." John 8:31-32 NKJV


In today's post-modern society, talking about truth can be tricky. If you want to discuss a truth, feel free. However, talking about the truth is a whole other matter.

Talking about the truth would imply that what you're sharing is an absolute truth, something that is true for everyone - whether everyone personally believes it to be

true or not.

That's the kind of truth Jesus was talking about to his Jewish audience in the temple treasury as recorded in the Gospel of John. The term Jesus used for truth was

the same one used to describe a legal standard, a fact that would stand up in court. This fact was broader than just the truth about who Jesus was. The Jews who

were listening already believed. The truth Jesus spoke of is the kind revealed over the course of a lifetime, as those who believe in Him choose to obey His words.

In ancient Greek, know means more than "to take a mental note of." It means that you have tested your belief experientially. By putting Jesus' teaching into practice,

you can come to know the truth about God, life, and yourself. This knowledge frees you from chains you may you may not even be aware are holding you back,

such chains as pride, selfishness, and the temptation to do what is contrary to Jesus' words. Let God's truth lead you to true freedom today.


God's promise of freedom is linked to putting His words to the test. Get to know His words better by reading, meditating on, and praying about at

least one verse of Scripture each day.





* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Blessing: The Lord is just in all His ways, and kind in all His doings Psalm 145:16

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *



This week's Praise Song:

SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD

Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me. Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me. Spirit of the living God fall afresh on me.



Until next time remember, "Keep looking up!"

God loves you and yours, He really does!



Nancy <\\\><


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Remember:

A man may go to heaven…..

Without health, without wealth;

Without fame, without a great name;

Without learning, without earnings;

Without culture, without beauty;

Without friends and without ten thousand other things----

But he can NEVER go to Heaven without Christ.



This week's Quiz: Consequences

1. Saul got angry at David because of his popularity among the people. As a result, God 1 Sam 18:10

made him become ill
sent him a distressing spirit to torment him
took his wife from him
none of the above


2. Samson revealed the secret of his strength to Delilah, and when the Lord departed from him the Philistines Judges 16:21

put out his eyes
bound him with bronze fetters
made him labor in prison
all the above


3. David had an affair and had the woman's husband killed, so God 2 Sam 12:14-18

struck the child with illness
made David fall ill
struck Bathsheba dead
destroyed all of David's children


4. Jacob cheated Esau out of his father's blessing, so he Gen 27:41-43

had him killed
tried to bribe him
fled for his life
immediately asked for forgiveness


5. Jonah refused to heed God's call to go to Nineveh, and was Jonah 1:15-17

swallowed by a fish
cast into the sea during a storm
laughed at by the Ninevites
only the first two answers are correct


6. Daniel prayed to God even when it was against the law, and Dan 6:16-17

was burned at the stake
was thrown into a fiery furnace
was thrown into a den of lions
was sold into slavery


7. Joseph refused to sleep with his master's wife, and was Gen 39:20

sold to Midianite traders
beaten with a whip 39 times
thrown into the lions den
thrown in prison


8. Jezebel provoked Ahab to sin, and in the end 2 Kings 9:33

she was thrown from a window
she was burned at the stake
she was attacked by wild dogs
she was mauled by a lion


9. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar, so they were Dan 3:21

thrown in prison
thrown into a furnace
put in stocks and publicly flogged
hanged


10. 42 youths made fun of Elisha's baldness and 2 Kings 2:23-24

were struck dead
were mauled by bears
all their hair fell out
they became leprous

Max,

I cleaned things up, let me know if more appears.


God Bless,

Antonio

This week's Quiz: Chronology of Events

1. Which of these five things did God create first? Gen 1:11

fish
birds
grass
man
woman


2. In the book of Revelation, which judgments come first? Rev 6:1

trumpets
bowls
seals
judgment of Babylon

Great White Throne judgment


3. Which of these people lived before Noah? Gen 5:29

Moses
Abraham
Isaac
Jacob
none of the above


4. Which member of this family was the first to die? Gen 23:2

Sarah
Abraham
Esau
Isaac
none of them died


5. Which of these events happened to Noah first? Gen 8:4

Noah saw a rainbow
Noah sent a dove out of the ark
Noah's ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat
Noah sent a raven out of the ark
None of these things happened to him


6. Which of these events occurred first in the book of Esther? Est 1:12

Esther becomes Queen
Haman is hung on the gallows
Mordecai receives the King's signet ring
Queen Vashti refuses a command from King Ahasuerus
There is no book of Esther


7. Which of these Kings ruled Israel before the others? 1 Sam 10:1

Saul
David
Solomon
Zechariah
Hezekiah


8. Which of these miracles did Jesus perform first? Lk 5:12-13

cleansing a leper
healing a blind man near Jericho
healing a servant's severed ear
calming the storm
walking on the water


9. Which of these events occurred to Joseph (from the Old Testament) last? Gen 42:17

sold into slavery
thrown into prison
throws his brothers into prison
marries a Priest's daughter
brothers rip his coat


10. Which of these places did Paul visit first after his conversion? Acts 9:30

Antioch
Tarsus
Cyprus
Macedonia
the burial tomb of Christ

The goal of Bible Study is not just learning, but living

If you are saved, you will have a desire to be holy, a hunger for the Word, the inner witness of the Spirit, and a desire to share Jesus.

These are the birthmarks of the believer.



#558 24 Jan 12



. . . And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights . . .



Jonah 1:17



Grateful for . . . .



THE WORD OF GOD !



(\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/)



Greetings! Jonah and Christ are compared with each other. Christ Himself points out in a simile in Matt 12:39-40 that as Jonah was in the belly of

the fish (the Greek term is Ketos, or sea monster) for three days and nights, so would Christ be in the tomb for the same length of time. As Jonah was

delivered from from his living tomb, so would Christ be raised from the dead on the third day. Some have theorized that Jonah actually died and was

resuscitated upon his ejection from the fish's stomach. But since he was as good as dead while in the creature's digestive tract, the typical meaning

is in no sense violated by his having been entombed alive in the fish.

Many have been distracted by supposed scientific difficulties in the account of Jonah's preservation in the belly of the fish and have thus lost sight

of the true lesson to be learned from Jonah's life and experience. Whether God created a special whale or other huge fish unlike those known to

zoology is of no consequence. The God who created all things must retain the power to create a unique specimen for a special purpose if it suits His

purpose. Tradition has interpreted Christ's reference to Jonah as implying the historicity of the event.


Be a blessing this week!



* * * * * * * * *



This week's Trivia's: [answer's below . . ]

1. Who in the O.T. asks the question, "If a man shall die, shall he live again?"?

2. Who at first refused to let Jesus wash his feet?





* * * * * * * * *

Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible

* * * * * * * * *

BIBLE MEDITATION: “I rejoice at Thy Word.” Psalm 119:162

DEVOTIONAL: Job said, “I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:12). When God’s Word is as important to you as your physical food,

then you’re going to start to grow in your Christian life.
I wonder if one day the dust on our Bibles is not going to testify against us. The following verse sobers my heart, “These hath God married and no man shall part,

dust on the Bible and drought on the heart.” Oh, that we would hunger for the Word of God!

ACTION POINT: Fast one meal today. Sense just a touch of the hunger our hearts are to have for the Word of God. And remember to pray for those who need the pure milk of His Word!

from the Ministries of Love Worth Finding . . . by Adrian Rogers



* * * * * * * * *

He who kneels before God can stand before anyone

* * * * * * * * *



"What In The World Is Going On?" by Dr David Jeremiah

As I share this book with you I hope together we can learn to read the signs and understand coming events. There may be times that I will need to omit

parts of the usual layout to bring to you the important teaching from this book. [printed in 2008]

Lets begin to put together pieces of the puzzle, and try to recognize the clues that God has given us to find peace in "our terrifying age," and come

to an understanding of what in the world is going on. John 14:27.. "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid"


WHEN ONE MAN RULES THE WORLD


When I first began studying prophecy nearly forty years ago, I encountered the Bible's prediction that one man would eventually take control of the entire world. Frankly, I

could not imagine how such a thing would ever happen. But since the Bible presented this as a major part of the end-time landscape, I believed it, and I preached it even though

I could not comprehend it.

Today it is much easier to envision the possibility of such a world ruler. Technology has given us instant global communication. CNN is seen everywhere in the world. The

Internet and satellite cell phones reach every country on the face of the earth. Air transportation has shrunk the planet to the point where we can set foot on the soil of any

nation in a matter of hours. I am told that there are now missiles that can reach any part of the world in fewer than thirty minutes. Men and nations no longer live in isolation.

There are also other factors that make the ascendance of a global leader more plausible than ever before. The Bible predicts that worldwide chaos, instability, and disorder

will increase as we approach the end of this age. Jesus Himself said that thee would be wars, rumors of wars, famines, and earthquakes in various places (Matt 24:6-7). Just

before these tensions explode into world chaos, the Rapture of the church will depopulate much of the planet. As many as seventy million people could suddenly disappear

from our nation alone.

The devastation wrought by these disasters will spur a worldwide outcry for relief and order at almost any cost. That will set the stage for the emergence of a new world

leader who will, like a pied piper, promise a solution to all problems. He will negotiate world peace and promise order and security. This leader, who will emerge out of the

newly formed European Union, is commonly referred to in the Bible as the Antichrist.

The very word antichrist sends a shudder through the hearts of Christians. All have heard or read of him, and the fear that some feel at the mention of his name comes

largely from misunderstandings and confusion about who he is, when he will appear, and what powers he can exercise over God's people. In this chapter I want to dispel

those fears and clear up the confusion. I want to show you what is going on in the world as it relates to the biblical predictions and descriptions of the Antichrist and his work.

The word antichrist is used four times in the New Testament, each time by the apostle John, and it is found only in his epistles .. 1 Jn 2:18, 22; 4:3; and 2 Jn 7 .. As the

word suggests, the Antichrist is a person who is against Christ. The prefix anti can also mean "instead of," and both meanings will apply to this coming world leader. He will

overtly oppose Christ and at the same time pass himself off as Christ.

The Antichrist will aggressively live up to his terrible name. He will be Satan's superman, who persecutes, tortures, and kills the people of God and leads the armies of the

world into the climactic Battle of Armageddon. He will be the most powerful dictator the world has ever seen, making Caesar, Hitler, Mao, and Saddam seem weak and

tame by comparison.

Even though the Antichrist is identified by that name only four times in the Bible, he appears many more times under various aliases. He is also called:


"the prince who is to come" Daniel 9:26 NKJV

a "fierce" king Daniel 8:23 NKJV

"a master of intrigue" Daniel 8:23 NKJV

"a despicable man" Daniel 11:21 NLT

a "worthless shepherd" Zechariah 11:16-17 NLT

"the one who brings destruction" 2 Thessalonians 2:3 NLT

"the lawless one" 2 Thessalonians 2:9 NLT

"the evil man" 2 Thessalonians 2:9 NLT

the "beast" Revelation 13:1 NKJV


As a study of these references shows, the Antichrist is introduced and described in great detail in the Bible, yet his identity is not revealed. The lack of specific identification,

however, has not stopped speculation on who he might be and even the outright naming of certain individuals. Many names have been suggested. When you google "Who is

Antichrist?" you get about 1.5 million hits. Some of the Web sites post incredibly long and detailed articles - a sign of the extreme fascination generated by this sensational subject.

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, when Hitler was moving through Europe and swallowing up whole nations, many believed that he was the coming Antichrist.


Hitler offered himself as a messiah with a divine mission to save Germany. On one occasion he displayed the whip he often carried to demonstrate that "in driving

out the Jews I remind myself of Jesus in the temple." He declared, "Just like Christ, I have a duty to my own people." He even boasted that just as Christ's birth

had changed the calendar, so his victory over the Jews would be the beginning of a new age. "What Christ began," he said, "I will complete." . . . At one of the

Nuremberg rallies, a giant photo of Hitler carried the caption, "In the beginning was the Word."


I have a pamphlet in my file called The Beast: The False Prophet and Hitler. It was published in 1941, the year I was born. This pamphlet presented the formula for

identifying Hitler as the Antichrist by showing how the letters in the in the word Hitler link him numerologically with the "number of the beast" given in Revelation 1316-18:


He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell

except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the

beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.


The pamphlet bases its conclusion on a numerologic formula. Numerologists believe that meaning can be assigned to numbers. Some biblical numerologists tell us that the

number 666, when worked out through a transposition of number assignments to alphabetical letters, will identify the name of a certain man. In the Revelation passage we

have only three numerals -666- but according to numerology, through these numbers we can find the name's name. The first step is to numeralize the alphabet: you let 100

stand for A, 101 for B, 102 or C, and so on through the rest of the letters. Then you take Hitler's name and give each letter its numerical value: H=107, I=108, T= 119, L=111,

E=104, R=117. Now, add up these six numbers, and voila! The total is 666! So obviously Hitler must be the Antichrist.

Now, to get the most fun out of the game of "Who is the Antichrist?" you must play by these three rules: If the proper name does not reach the necessary total, add a

title. If the sum cannot be found in English, try Hebrew, Greek, or Latin. Don't be too particular about the spelling.

And above all, be persistent. If yo keep working at it, you can make anybody the Antichrist!

If numerology doesn't work for you, don't despair. There are other ways to identify the Antichrist, as we see by looking at another favorite candidate for the role: President

John F. Kennedy. What signs pointed to him? He went through "death" and "resurrection" as a PT boat commander in the South Pacific during World War II. At the Democratic

convention in 1956, he received 666 votes. He was also elected president and shot through the head, which is what the Bible says will happen to this future dictator. There were

some who expected that as President Kennedy lay in state in the rotunda of the Capitol, he would come out of his casket and assert himself as the ruler of the world . . . which,

of course, he failed to do. So, in spite of the elaborate and contrived reasons for believing that these two men and several others in history were to have been the Antichrist, all

efforts to identify him have failed.

And they will continue to fail. As I noted above, the Bible does not tell us who the Antichrist will be. In fact, Paul tells us int he second chapter of Thessalonians that this coming

world ruler will not be revealed until after the Rapture of the church. "So if you ever reach the point where you think you know who he is, that must mean you have been left behind."

Yet while it is not possible to know the identity of the future world ruler, it is possible to know what kind of a man he will be, for the Bible gives us a wealth of information about

him. Let's explore some of that information and learn a little more about the Antichrist.


next week: THE PERSONALITY OF THE COMING WORLD RULER He Will Be a Charismatic Leader


* * * * * * * * *

Praise is the language of sinners set free (!!!)

* * * * * * * * *



DISCERNING FALSE PROPHETS: THE CHARACTER TEST

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

. . . You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit,

but the bad tree bears bad fruit . . . Matt 7:16-17



ONE'S BASIC CHARACTER -- attitudes, inner motives, loyalties, standards -- eventually manifests itself in his or her life. Christians produce fruit in their

attitudes and actions. But unbelievers, especially false prophets, will eventually will eventually manifest bad fruit.

False teachers can hide their true fruit for a time behind ecclesiastical trappings, evangelical vocabulary, and false fellowship. But how they behave when not around

Christians will soon enough reveal their true loyalties and convictions. Unless they exhibit "moral excellence . . . knowledge . . . self-control . . . perseverance . . .

godliness" and so forth (2 Peter 1:5-8), we can be sure God has not sent them and they do not belong to Jesus Christ. Another crucial indicator of character that we

can look for, as summarized by Christ Himself, is this: "He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but he who is seeking the glory of the One who sent Him,

He is true, and there is no unrighteousness in Him" (Jn 7:18).

The teacher who emulates Christ and wants to glorify Him is a genuine servant of the Lord. But the false one, no matte how clever, can't hide for long his corrupt

character - and the discerning believer will recognize this. As John Calvin wrote, "Nothing is more difficult to counterfeit than virtue."



Ask YOURSELF


How does this teaching coexist with the "nudge not" command from earlier in Jesus' sermon? What happens when character judgments are treated as taboo by the

people of God? How have you witnessed this occurring?




* * * * * * * * *

When we get tangled up in our problems, be still.

God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knot.

* * * * * * * * *


Answers to this week's Trivia's:

1. Who in the O.T. asks the question, "If a man shall die, shall he live again?"?

A. Job Job 14:14

2. Who at first refused to let Jesus wash his feet?

A. Peter John 13:8



* * * * * * * * *

If you worry, you didn't pray. If you pray, don't worry

* * * * * * * * *



favorite BIBLE VERSE: Finding your heart's desire ...

Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart Psalm 37:4 NKJV


At first glance, the words from Psalm 37 feel a bit like a blank check. They seem to say, "Enjoy God and get everything you want." But instead of a promise

of prosperity, the words are a proclamation of a profound truth: The closer you draw to God, the more your desires will reflect his own.

This oft-repeated verse is part of an acrostic psalm, where every other line begins with a successive letter of the alphabet. Although each verse in Psalm 37

contains its own unique insight, all the verses work together to convey one important message. Those people who are wise have no need to worry during times

of trouble. This psalm gives you four practical ways to defeat worry when evil people seem to be getting ahead:

1. trust in the Lord

2. commit your way to the Lord

3. wait on the Lord

4. delight in the Lord

The focus of the psalmist's words is delighting in the Lord. The Hebrew word for delight is much more powerful than its English counterpart. Here it means "to find

exquisite joy." To delight in God is to find your deepest pleasure, your highest ecstasy, and your richest fulfillment in life through your relationship with Him. This is an

ongoing process as you delight in Him afresh each day. As your relationship deepens, what is dear to God's heart becomes dear to your heart. This aligns your prayers

with God's will. As your prayers are answered, you discover that your deepest desires are fulfilled.



Any time you desire something that you know would also delight God, spend a moment thanking God for how He's helping you grow to be more like Him.





* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Blessing: This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it Psalm 118:24

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *




Until next time remember, "Keep looking up!"

God loves you and yours, He really does!



Nancy <\\\><


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Remember:

A man may go to heaven…..

Without health, without wealth;

Without fame, without a great name;

Without learning, without earnings;

Without culture, without beauty;

Without friends and without ten thousand other things----

But he can NEVER go to Heaven without Christ.
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The goal of Bible Study is not just learning, but living

If you are saved, you will have a desire to be holy, a hunger for the Word, the inner witness of the Spirit, and a desire to share Jesus.

These are the birthmarks of the believer.



#557 17 Jan 12



. . . He [Jesus] went out to the mountain to pray; and all night He continued in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples,

and chose from them twelve, whom He named apostles . . .



Luke 6:12-13



Grateful for . . . .



THE WORD OF GOD !



(\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/)



Greetings! The above verse is at the time where Jesus names the 12 apostles. An apostle (from the Greek apostolos) is "one sent forth." He is

an ambassador who not only bears a message but also represents the one who sends him. The New Testament office of apostle does not continue

today because one of its indispensable qualifications was that an apostle must have actually seen the Lord and thus have become an eye witness to

His resurrection .. Lk24:48; Acts 1:8, 22; 1 Cor 9:1 ..

A second qualification was the special call of the Holy Spirit, for no human authority could invest a man with this office .. 1 Cor 12:28; Eph 4:11 ..

The apostles often enjoyed the ability to perform signs of an apostolic character, that is wonders and "powers" (or miracles of healing).

Incidentally, the number of the apostles was not limited to the twelve disciples. Scripture speaks of Paul, Barnabas, James, and perhaps Andronicus

and Junius as apostles .. Acts14:14; Gal 1:19; 1 Cor 15:7; Rom 16:7 ..


Be a blessing this week!



* * * * * * * * *



This week's Trivia's: [answer's below . . ]

1. Three times in the Bible, God is described as physically writing something. Upon what did He write the second time?

2. In how many stories of the Bible was Jesus ever said to have written something?





* * * * * * * * *

God did not spare His own Son from the cross.

What makes you think He will spare yo from rejecting the cross?

* * * * * * * * *

BIBLE MEDITATION: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26

DEVOTIONAL: When you ask God for something, do you just sit back and do nothing and say, “Well, I’m going to show my faith by doing nothing.” To the contrary, you will show your faith by doing something.
For faith without works is what? Dead! (Jas 2:20) Do you want a house? Pray for it. Then say “Amen” with a hammer and saw. Do you want a wife? Pray for one. Then go shave, put on some cologne, learn some manners, and learn how to be thoughtful and loving.

ACTION POINT: What have you been praying earnestly about the last week? What is your heart’s desire? Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how you can put feet to that prayer. Then, walk the talk!

from the Ministries of Love Worth Finding . . . by Adrian Rogers



* * * * * * * * *

God will meet our need, not our greed

* * * * * * * * *



"What In The World Is Going On?" by Dr David Jeremiah

As I share this book with you I hope together we can learn to read the signs and understand coming events. There may be times that I will need to omit

parts of the usual layout to bring to you the important teaching from this book. [printed in 2008]

Lets begin to put together pieces of the puzzle, and try to recognize the clues that God has given us to find peace in "our terrifying age," and come

to an understanding of what in the world is going on. John 14:27.. "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid"


DOES AMERICA HAVE A ROLE IN PROPHECY ?


America Will be Invaded by Outside Forces ..


Perhaps the silence of Scripture on the future of America indicates that by the time the Tribulation period arrives, America will have lost her influence in the world and will no

longer be a major player. As we have noted, America's thirst for oil and our inability to close the gap between supply and demand could cripple our ability to defend our borders

and protect our nation. Once again John Walvoored addresses the issue:


Some maintain that the total absence of any scriptural reference to America in the end time is evidence that the United States will have been crippled by a nuclear attack,

weapons of mass destruction, or some other major catastrophe . . . In the post 9/11 world the detonation of a dirty bomb, nuclear device, or biological weapon on U.S.

soil is a dreaded yet distinct possibility. Such an attack could kill millions of people and reduce the United States to a second rate power overnight.


Since the deployment of the first atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima in August 1945, America has enjoyed a certain fear-based aura of invincibility. We now had the big stick,

and we were the king of the hill. Both friends and enemies knew that we would use any and all weapons in our formidable arsenal to protect our nation. Even today, according to

Ed Timperlake, who served in the Office of the Defense Secretary under Ronald Reagan, "Air Force and Navy personnel continue to stand vigilant 24 hours a day, seven days a

week inside the strategic triad of bombers, land-based ICBMs and submarine 'boomers.'"

In today's world, however, such power and vigilance may no longer deter enemies determined to attack the United States. In a truly frightening column in The Washington Times,

Timperlake went on to observe: "a totally new dimension has emerged regarding a nuclear attack on America. The great tragedy of the murder of Benazir Bhutto brought the world's

attention to the possibility of loose nukes falling into the hands of fanatics who would use them." In other words, the political instability in Pakistan could lead to nuclear warheads

falling the hands of radical Islamic jihadists. "It is certain," continued Timperlake, "that a nuclear weapon in the hands of fanatical jihadists will be used. The only current deterrence

against its use is a worldwide hunt for the device before Israel, London, New York, or D.C. disappears in a flash."

Timperlake went on to say that jihadists are not our only threat from a rogue nation armed with nuclear weapons. "What about the criminal state of North Korea or the vitriolic

anti-Semitic nation of Iran?" he asked. "Either country for many perverse reasons can slip a device to a terrorist group." As if to underscore his point, in late March of 2008,

North Korea "test-fired a battery of short-range missiles" only one day after they "expelled South Korean officials from a joint industrial complex north of the border." The three

"ship-to-ship missiles [were] launched into the sea."

These enemies have different agendas, but they share a common disregard for human life and a burning hatred for the United States. While we would like to close our ears to

predictions of impending disaster, experts such as Timperlake and others see a major attack on our country in the near future as virtually inevitable.


America Will Be Infected with Moral Decay


The average lifespan of all the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about two hundred years. During that two-century span, each of these

nations progressed through the following sequence: from bondage to spiritual faith; from spiritual faith to great courage; from courage to liberty; from liberty to abundance;

from abundance to complacency; from complacency to apathy; from apathy to dependence; and from dependence back to bondage.

At what point is America in this cycle? Popular blogger La Shawn Barber answered this question in an article titled, "America on the Decline." She wrote:


In The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, author Edward Gibbon discusses several reasons for the great civilization's demise, including the undermining of the

dignity and sanctity of the home and the decay of religion. America has been compared to the Roman Empire in secular and religious ways. Regardless of its ultimate

legacy, America is a civilization on the decline. A couple of centuries from now (or sooner), someone will lament the loss of a once-great civilization that brought

prosperity to the world and tried to make it safe for democracy. The glory that was the United States will lay in ruins, brought down not by terrorists but its own

debauchery and complacency.


Barber's analysis is right on the money with one exception: given the present situation in our world, another "couple of centuries" for America is not in the equation. Nevertheless,

her analysis is perceptive, and she continues it by referencing an expert from decades past. In 1947, forward-looking sociologist Dr. Carle Zimmerman wrote a text called

Family and Civilization. He identified eleven "symptoms of final decay" observable in the fall of both the Greek and Roman civilizations. See how many characterize our

society:


1. No-fault divorce

2. "Birth Dearth"; increased disrespect for parenthood and parents

3. Meaningless marriage rites/ceremonies

4. Defamation of past national heroes

5. Acceptance of alternative marriage forms

6. Widespread attitudes of feminism, narcissism, hedonism

7. Propagation of antifamily sentiment

8. Acceptance of most forms of adultery

9. Rebellious children

10. Increased juvenile delinquency

11. common acceptance of all forms of sexual perversion


One cannot read lists such as these and doubt that America is throwing away its treasured position as the most blessed nation ever on the face of the earth. Remember, as

we noted earlier, God blessed this country for a reason: our nation was founded on submission to Him. But now as the reasons for His blessings upon America are eroding, we

can expect the blessings themselves to fade as well. It's a simple matter of cause and effect: remove the cause, and the effect ceases. Once, we invited God into our nation.

From the first moments of our existence, we opened our national doors to Him and made Him welcome as our most honored guest. But now our culture seems bent on

shutting Him out, as author Mike Evans laments:


Most can remember the classic painting of Jesus standing outside a door waiting to be allowed entry. That poignant portrayal of Christ on the outside, wanting to

fellowship with His creation, has never been more powerful than it is today. Prayer has been excised from schools, suits have been filed to force Congress to remove

"under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance, displays of the Ten Commandments have been removed from public buildings, and the motto, "In God We Trust," is in

danger of extinction. Teachers have been forbidden even to carry a personal Bible in view of students, Christian literature has been removed from library shelves,

religious Christmas carols have been banned from school programs, and "spring break" has replaced Easter vacation.


Almost six decades ago, former president Herbert Hoover wrote a warning that I fear America has not heeded. After calling attention to several new programs and concepts,

including "New Freedom" and "New Religion," Hoover stated, "We have overworked the word 'new' . . . The practical thing we can do, if we want to make the world over, is to

try out the word 'Old' for awhile. There are some 'old' things that made this country . . . Some old things are slipping badly in American life and if they slip too far, the lights will go

out of America!" Among the old things he listed: "Old Virtues of religious faith, integrity and whole truth . . . honor in public office, economy in government, individual liberty . . .

willingness to sacrifice . . . Our greatest danger is not from invasion by foreign armies. Our dangers are that we may commit suicide from within by complaisance with evil."

It saddens me to say it, but I believe the signs make it certain that America is now infected with the deadly disease of moral decay. And as that infection eats away at our

foundations, we can expect the law of cause and effect to come into play. Scripture often warns us that even a long-suffering God will not forever strive with men. If we ignore

divine directives, we cannot expect God's blessing. A limb that cuts itself off from the trunk will not continue to live.


America Will be Impotent Because of the Rapture .. [I am adding this portion as it is the end of this chapter]



If the Rapture were to happen today and all the true believers in Jesus Christ disappeared into heaven in a single moment, America as we know it could be obliterated. It is

estimated that at the Rapture, America will lose millions of citizens -- all its Christians and their small children. This means that not only would the country lose a minimum of

25% of her population, but she would also lose the very best, the "salt" and "light" of the nation. Who can imagine the chaos in our country when all the godly people disappear -

enough to populate many vast cities - leaving only those who have rejected God? It is not a pretty picture. We who love Christ will be blessed by the Rapture in more ways

than one. We not only will know the joy of being with our beloved Lord but also will be spared the horrors that the world will suffer through the evil of people left in the wake

of the Rapture. It's like a reverse surgical operation - one in which all the healthy cells are removed and only the cancerous ones are left to consume one another.

Yet as we look back at all we have been learning, we who will be rescued cannot help but feel a sense of tension in our hearts. Yes, God will save us, but things we've never

imagined loom on the horizon. It is important to realize that God understands this internal tension. We do not sin by feeling uneasy. Perhaps it's a little like getting married. We

anticipate the event with joy but also with butterflies in the stomach. It's not a matter of dread or wanting to draw back; it's merely a matter of our natural discomfort when

facing new experiences. But in spite of the uneasiness, we approach with confidence the events we are anticipating because we know they were put into play by the Creator of the

universe. He knows the end from the beginning, and because we are His friends, He is letting us in on the eternal secrets of His determined will.

In an article about the United States in prophecy, Herman A. Hoyt made a fine statement that makes a fitting conclusion to this chapter. He wrote:


Since the promise of Christ's coming for the Church has always been held out to His people as an event that could take place at any moment, surely the events of

the present hour in relation to the United States ought to give new stimulus to watch momentarily for His coming. In these days of crisis, our trust should not rest in

a nation that may shortly disappear, but in Him who works all things after the counsel of His own will.


Dr. Hoyt is right; what do we have to worry about? Our trust has never been in governments, civilizations, or cultures. By the standards of eternity, these institutions last but a moment,

crumbling into dust to be swept away by the winds of history. They are helpful while they are here, but they have never been worthy of our trust. We have always put our trust in the

One who stands above institutions, above history, and even above time itself -- the One by whose power and permission these things exist, and who knows their times and the ends

of their days. Only He is worthy of our ultimate allegiance.


next week: WHEN ONE MAN RULES THE WORLD





FALSE PROPHETS ARE DECEPTIVE

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

. . . Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves . . . Matt 7:15



FALSE PROPHETS ARE MOST dangerous because of their deceptive nature. We can easily recognize and defend against an enemy that poses for what it is. But when that enemy

appears as a friend, it is much harder to defend against.

Heretics and apostates make no claim to biblical truth and are recognizable. But deceivers disguise themselves as true shepherds. They give the appearance of orthodoxy and claim

to teach the truth, but their intent is to deceive and destroy God's people.

Paul explains this phenomenon: "Such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel

of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds" (2 Cor 11:13-15; 2 Tim 3:13).

Such false prophets are demonically deceived, convinced that their perverted, distorted views are correct. They are so steeped in falsehood that darkness seems to be light, blackness

white, and error truth.

This calls for genuine discernment. But now is this best done? It's by realizing that such men show themselves by what they do not say - they seldom affirm the great doctrines of the

faith, but rather ignore them. In our day of confusion and indifference, we need to pray and vigilantly "test the spirits to see whether they are from God . . . Every spirit that confesses

that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God" (1 John 4:1, 2).



Ask YOURSELF


What constitutes false teaching today? Why do such philosophies continue to find room to work in hearts and minds, even of believers? What can we do to keep them away from our churches?




* * * * * * * * *

Why should God give you more strength to serve the devil?

* * * * * * * * *


Answers to this week's Trivia's:

1. Three times in the Bible, God is described as physically writing something. Upon what did He write the second time?

A. Stone (tablets) Ex 31:18

2. In how many stories of the Bible was Jesus ever said to have written something?

A. 1 John 8:1-11



* * * * * * * * *

You say, "I'm not afraid of the devil." That's not enough, he ought to be afraid of you.

* * * * * * * * *



favorite BIBLE VERSE: The Circle of Joy ...

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you 1 Thess 5:16-18 NKJV


Anytime the Bible talks about God's will, what God wants for your life, it is time to pay close attention. There are three things God wants you to do all the time,

in all circumstances - rejoice, pray, and say thank you. While each of these actions is important on its own, together they provide the secret to a joy-filled life.

In the original language, 1 Thessalonians 5:16 is the shortest verse in all Scripture. The charge to "rejoice always" seems to need no explanation, except that

many life situations don't seem to be cause for rejoicing. However, while happiness ebbs and flows in relation to your situation, genuine joy remains constant

regardless of what's going on around you. Your feelings of joy may rise and fall, but your reasons for joy remain steady and strong. That's because the joy the

Bible speaks about is rooted in your relationship with God, not in your circumstance.

Rejoicing is putting that joy into action. You can express it through your attitude, actions, and communication with God and others. As you choose to rejoice,

prayer and gratitude naturally follow. This cycle enables you to be thankful in every situation. That doesn't mean you're thankful for every situation. God doesn't

ask you to thank Him if you lose your job - or your child. Yet He provides reasons to be thankful even in the midst of tough times. Responding to those reasons

deepens your joy, leading back to the never-ending circle of rejoicing, prayer, and thanks.



In Greek, "pray without ceasing" literally means "pray without intermission." That means there's never a major break in your in your communication

with God. Expressing your joy in prayer helps keep your communication with God consistent.



* * * * * * * * *


Until next time remember, "Keep looking up!"

God loves you and yours, He really does!



Nancy <\\\><


~ This is a FREE e-mailing ~

This Bible Study is sent to subscribers only according to our strict NO SP*M policy. If you appreciate the information contained in this letter,
please forward it to your friends. If you have acquired this letter from a friend and want to subscribe:

Send an e-mail with Subscribe on the subject line to: hisfootprints4us@comcast.net
If you do not want to receive these Bible Studies, please send an email with 'unsubscribe'on the subject line to hisfootprints4us@comcast.net No hard feelings



Remember:

A man may go to heaven…..

Without health, without wealth;

Without fame, without a great name;

Without learning, without earnings;

Without culture, without beauty;

Without friends and without ten thousand other things----

But he can NEVER go to Heaven without Christ.

The goal of Bible Study is not just learning, but living

If you are saved, you will have a desire to be holy, a hunger for the Word, the inner witness of the Spirit, and a desire to share Jesus.

These are the birthmarks of the believer.



#556 10 Jan 12



. . . "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of Mine that bears no fruit, He takes away, and every branch that

does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already made clean by the Word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me,

and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. . . .



John 15:1-4



Grateful for . . . .



THE WORD OF GOD !



(\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/)



Greetings! The above verses are a wonderful teaching for us in that through this extended metaphor of the vine and branches, Jesus set forth the

basis of Christian living. Jesus used the imagery of agricultural life at the time. [For further study, in the Old Testament, the vine is used commonly

as a symbol for Israel: Ps 80:9-16; Isa 5:1-7; 27:2-6; Jer 2:21; 12:10; Eze 15:1-8; 17:1-21; 19:10-14; Hos 10:1-2]

In these verses [and following if you take the time to read through to vs 17] Jesus specifically identified Himself as the "true vine" and the Father as the

"vinedresser" or caretaker of the vine. The vine has two types of branches: branches that bear fruit and branches that do not. The branches that

bear fruit are genuine believers. Fruit-bearing is the normal product of regeneration. To be fruitless is abnormal and suggests the possibility of a

spurious conversion experience. Christ's statement that fruitless branches shall be removed is in line with James' statement that faith without works

is a dead faith [Jas 2:26]. At the same time Christ also makes it clear that fruit is not the final purpose of the believer's life, but rather a joyous and

loving fellowship with God Himself.

The branches that do not bear fruit are those who profess to believe, but their lack of fruit indicates genuine salvation has never taken place and they

have no life from the vine. The image of non-fruit bearing branches being burned pictures eschatological judgment and eternal rejection.


Be a blessing this week!



* * * * * * * * *


Something to think about:

What is it that is standing between you and the Lord Jesus Christ that you won't give up?



This week's Trivia's: [answer's below . . ]

1. To whom was God speaking when He first said: "All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you"?

2. For how many hours did the sky darken even though it was daytime when Jesus was crucified - - 1, 3, 7. 8. or 24?





* * * * * * * * *

Tis one life; will soon be past. Only whats done for Christ will last

* * * * * * * * *

BIBLE MEDITATION: “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush.” Exo 3:2

DEVOTIONAL: Major Ian Thomas has imagined Moses saying something like this when he encountered God in the burning bush, “Would you look at that bush? It just keeps on burning for God.
I wish my life could burn for God like that and keep on burning.”
Then Major Thomas imagined God replying, “Moses, you think this bush is so wonderful? Do you see that bush over there? I could do the same thing with it. Moses, it’s not
the bush—it’s God in the bush. Any old bush will do.”
It’s not you! It’s not me! We are only the vessels of God’s anointing. As you surrender yourself to God today, He will fill you and use you for His glory.

ACTION POINT: Surrender yourself to God today. And as you do, He will use you. Allow His flame to burn brightly for all to see.

from the Ministries of Love Worth Finding . . . by Adrian Rogers



* * * * * * * * *

If there were ever a time you loved Jesus more than you do at this moment, your backslidden

* * * * * * * * *



"What In The World Is Going On?" by Dr David Jeremiah

As I share this book with you I hope together we can learn to read the signs and understand coming events. There may be times that I will need to omit

parts of the usual layout to bring to you the important teaching from this book. [printed in 2008]

Lets begin to put together pieces of the puzzle, and try to recognize the clues that God has given us to find peace in "our terrifying age," and come

to an understanding of what in the world is going on. John 14:27.. "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid"


DOES AMERICA HAVE A ROLE IN PROPHECY ?


THE SILENCE OF THE BIBLE ON THE FUTURE OF AMERICA


Dr. Tim LaHaye wrote, "One of the hardest things for American prophecy students to accept is that the United States is not clearly mentioned in Bible prophecy,

yet our nation is the only superpower in the world today." Indeed, no specific mention of the United States or any other country in North or South America can be

found in the Bible. One reason may be that in the grand scheme of history, the United States is a new kid on the block. As a nation, it is less than 250 years old --

much younger than the nations of Bible times that are featured in biblical prophecy. In fact, the Bible makes no mention of most nations in the modern world. The

ancient prophets were primarily concerned with the Holy Land and its immediate neighbors. Areas remote from Israel do not figure in prophecy and are not mentioned

in the Bible.

Dr. LaHaye went on to raise this question:


"Does the United States have a place in end time prophecy?" My first response is no, there is nothing about the U.S. in prophecy. At least nothing that is specific. There

is an allusion to a group of nations in Ezekiel 38:13 that could apply, but even that is not specific. The question is why? Why would the God of prophecy not refer to the

supreme superpower nation in the end times in preparation for the one-world government of the Antichrist?


The question has no one, simple answer, but it will help us understand what is going on in the world today if we look at some of the best thinking that students of prophecy

have given us on why America is absent from end-time prophecies.


America Will be Incorporated into the European Coalition


Our first answer comes from noted prophecy expert John Walvoord, who wrote:


Although the Scriptures do not give any clear word concerning the role of the United States in relation to the revived Roman Empire, it is clear this will be a consolidation of the

power of the West. Unlike the coalitions led by the United States, this coalition will be led by others - the Group of Ten . . . Most citizens of the United States of America have

come from Europe, and their sympathies would more naturally be with a European alliance than with Russia, Asia, and Africa . . . Europe and America may be in formal alliance

with Israel in opposition to the radical Islamic countries of the Middle East.


According to this theory, though America is not mentioned by name in prophecy, it will be in the mix of the political realignments that foreshadow the end of time. And we can

see signs of such realignments taking place today.

With the usual presidential fanfare, President Bush welcomed EU Commission president Jos Barroso and the serving President of the European Council, German chancellor

Angela Merkel, in the Rose Garden of the White House in April 2007. The president thanked the two for their part in "the trans-Atlantic economic integration plan that the three

of us signed today. It is a statement of the importance of trade. It is a commitment to eliminating barriers to trade. It is a recognition that the closer that the United States and EU

become, the better off our people become. So this is a substantial agreement and I appreciate it." The president went on to say, "I believe it's in this country's interests that we

reject isolationism and protectionism and encourage free trade."

The agreement these three leaders signed is called "Framework for Advancing Transatlantic Economic Integration between the United States of America and the European

Union" - - - an appropriately long title for what one would expect to be a long process. But things moved swiftly. In less than seven months the Transatlantic Economic

Council held its first official meeting in Washington DC. In a joint statement it was announced, "Since April, the United States and the European Union have made substantial

progress in removing barriers to trade and investment and in easing regulatory burdens."

On the surface there seems to be nothing ominous about such an agreement; it appears to be simply about freeing up economic trade between nations. But a similar, less

publicized meeting was held in March 2008 at the State Department, which focused on linking the United States, Mexico, and Canada in a "North America community with

the European Union" in anticipation of the "creation of a 'Transatlantic Economic Union' between the European Union and North America." One participant -- whose identity

is protected by the Chatham House Rule, which permits information to be disseminated without attribution to guarantee confidentiality -- made this revealing statement:


North America should be a premiere platform to establish continental institutions. That's why we need to move the security perimeters to include the whole continent, especially

as we open the borders between North American countries for expanding free trade.


Statement such as this reveal an intention toward union that has implications far beyond mere economic trade. And considering the speed at which leaders are pushing

union between nations, it appears that it will not be long before we see such a union instituted. What does this mean for America?


next week: America Will be Invaded by Outside Forces .. America Will Be Infected with Moral Decay


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Blessing: Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also Matt 6:21

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *



JESUS WARNS OF FALSE PROPHETS

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

. . . Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves . . . Matt 7:15



FALSE PROPHETS ARE NOT SIMPLY wrong teachers, propagating a different philosophy or alternative theology. They are spiritually dangerous and we should not

expose our souls and minds to their perverse, poisonous influence. These purveyors of error and heresy are spiritual beasts and far more deadly than any physical ones.

Peter warns that they are "like unreasoning animals . . . reveling in their deceptions . . . enticing unstable souls" (2 Pet 2:12, 13, 14; Jude 10). Therefore, perfectly

understanding all this, Jesus' admonition to "beware of the false prophets" is not merely a mention of something but a warning to be on guard against and keep our

minds away from what is spiritually harmful.

For the benefit of His listeners, it was natural for Jesus to compare false prophets with wolves. In Palestine, wolves roamed the landscape seeking to prey upon stray

or lagging sheep. When a wolf found a defenseless sheep, it attacked quickly and tore the sheep to pieces. Just like those merciless and ferocious animals, false teachers

are always seeking new victims.

Jude's letter warns against false prophets and tells how we can safeguard ourselves against them: "Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy

of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal Life" (vs 21). Our first priority is to be right with the Lord, living in a place of divine fellowship and sound teaching. Then we can warn

others of false prophets and carefully rescue them from the damning influences (Jude 22-23).



Ask YOURSELF


Are there any spiritual half-truths that have worked on you in the past? How did they prove to be wolf-like after tricking their way into your thinking?



* * * * * * * * *

There is no cheap, easy, or lazy way to serve God

* * * * * * * * *


Advancing the Gospel . . . Joni Eareckson Tada


Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. --Phil 1:12-14





My wheelchair is the cause of many crazy circumstances, as well as conversations. Especially in elevators. The other week a man standing next to me remarked, "Now what's a nice looking girl like you doing in that thing?" I looked up in surprise and replied, "Well, sir, I'm serving the Lord in this thing." I went on to describe how we were giving wheelchairs and Bibles to disabled people around the world.



After we parted company, I thought of today's verse. What has happened to me really hasserved to advance the Good News. I may not be "in chains for Christ" like Paul, but I am in this wheelchair for Christ. My quadriplegia isn't a hindrance or a barrier; rather, like Paul's prison, my circumstances have created new and unusual opportunities for the Gospel. The jailer might never have heard about Jesus had it not been for Paul's imprisonment; that man in the elevator might never have heard about him either, had it not been for this wheelchair kickstarting an unusual conversation.



Your problems and difficult life circumstances, your health challenges, struggling marriage, or financial problems - your prison, your suffering - is not a hindrance to the Gospel. God has allowed these hardships in order to create exceptional occasions to talk about the power and the reality of the Lord in your life. How have your hardships given you an unusual platform from which to share the Gospel?



Lord God, I give you the "chains" in my life which seem so limiting. Help me to understand that my circumstances do not limit the power of your Gospel in my life.




* * * * * * * * *

It is more important to influence people than to impress them

* * * * * * * * *



Here is a word of God's promise for WIVES . . .

"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband" Prov 12:4

" Houses and riches are the inheritance of fathers, and a prudent wife is from the Lord" Prov 19:14

"Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies" Prov 31:10




* * * * * * * * *

Jesus Chris is the Light.

There is no reason for you to stumble in darkness when you can walk in the the Light

* * * * * * * * *


Answers to this week's Trivia's:

1. To whom was God speaking when He first said: "All the peoples on earth will be blessed through you"?

A. Abraham Gen 12:3

2. For how many hours did the sky darken even though it was daytime when Jesus was crucified - - 1, 3, 7, 8 or 24?

A. 3 hours Matt 27:45



* * * * * * * * *

The Christian life is like riding a bicycle, you are either moving ahead or falling off

* * * * * * * * *



favorite BIBLE VERSE: Telltale Tears ...

Jesus Wept Jn 1:35 NKJV


Out of all the creatures in God's creation, only people cry. Tears often say what words cannot. When Jesus cried outside the tomb of his friend Lazarus, Jesus' humanity

cried out as loudly as his divinity would moments later when Jesus raised his friend from the dead.

Jesus' tears were different from those of many of the mourners surrounding him. Those people were wailing in accordance with Jewish custom. This tradition allowed the

community to fulfill a duty to publicly and loudly lament personal tragedy more so than it allowed those who were grieving a personal release of emotion. The Greek word used here

for wept is found nowhere else in Scripture. It means "to cry silently." Jesus didn't cry for the benefit of others. He didn't cry to make a point or to teach a lesson. He cried because

His heart was broken.

God's heart breaks because He has compassion for those He has created. That means He doesn't not take your pain, sorrow, grief, disappointment, or even physical death

lightly. God knows he can bring good out of tragedy and enjoy eternal life with you after your days on earth are through, just as Jesus knew He could raise Lazarus from the dead.

That doesn't stop God from entering into your present sorrow with you, from reaching out in com,passion to bring comfort when you need it most. When you cry, cry out to Him.





Jesus was not ashamed to express His emotions and let others see Him cry. Follow His example of honest emotional vulnerability, while inviting Him to help

dry your tears from the inside out.



* * * * * * * * *



Words to a Praise Song sung in church:


God of grace and glory, In these days increase our faith;

We would come and enter boldly, Living only by Your grace.

Christ our Shepherd lead us and in love our hearts renew.

Bread of Life, now come and feed us, make us more like You.

Make us more and more like You.





* * * * * * * * *


Until next time remember, "Keep looking up!"

God loves you and yours, He really does!



Nancy <\\\><


~ This is a FREE e-mailing ~

This Bible Study is sent to subscribers only according to our strict NO SP*M policy. If you appreciate the information contained in this letter,
please forward it to your friends. If you have acquired this letter from a friend and want to subscribe:

Send an e-mail with Subscribe on the subject line to: hisfootprints4us@comcast.net
If you do not want to receive these Bible Studies, please send an email with 'unsubscribe'on the subject line to hisfootprints4us@comcast.net No hard feelings



Remember:

A man may go to heaven…..

Without health, without wealth;

Without fame, without a great name;

Without learning, without earnings;

Without culture, without beauty;

Without friends and without ten thousand other things----

But he can NEVER go to Heaven without Christ.
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The goal of Bible Study is not just learning, but living


If you are saved, you will have a desire to be holy, a hunger for the Word, the inner witness of the Spirit, and a desire to share Jesus.

These are the birthmarks of the believer.












#555 3 Jan 12




















. . . Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him . . .






Hebrews 9:28






















Grateful for . . . .















THE WORD OF GOD !















(\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/)
























Greetings! The Second Advent of Chris is inextricably lined to the eternal purposes of God. His coming foreshadows:

1. the completion of the salvation of believers Heb 9:28

2. His reign as absolute sovereign in heaven and earth Rev 11:15

3. the destruction of the power and reign of death 1 Cor 15:25, 26

4. His being glorified in His saints and marveled at by all who have believed 2 Thess 1:10

5. His bringing to light those things which are hidden indarkneww 1 Cor 4:5

6. His final judgment of the living and the dead Jn 5:22 .. 2 Tim 4:1 .. Jude 15 .. Rev 20:11-13




The dead saints will rise first .. 1 Thess 4:16 .. and the living saints will be caught up together with them in the clouds .. 1 Thess 4:17 ..

The man of sin will be destroyed at Christ's coming .. 2 Thess 2:8 ..
















Be a blessing this week!















* * * * * * * * *





Something to think about:

We live in a day where a hero is a sandwich, Life is a magazine, Power is a candy bar, Joy is a detergent, Sin is a perfume, a Star is an actress who's been married three times,

and the "Real Thing" is a soft drink.



This week's Trivia's: [answer's below . . ]


1. The Bible says that instead of being drunk with wine, a Christian should be filled with what?


2. Which king of Judah had his eyes burned out?


















* * * * * * * * *


When I cease to be better, I cease to be good

* * * * * * * * *


BIBLE MEDITATION: “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” John 15:11

DEVOTIONAL: Do you depend upon Jesus Christ? I mean totally depend upon Him? Here’s the way you can tell—are you resting in Him today?

You see, when you are totally committed to Jesus Christ, you rest in Him. You realize that your every need is necessary for Him to supply.
Have you ever looked at a branch? It has no other source of life than the vine. If you asked that branch, “What’s your secret for your healthy leaves and fruit?” the branch would answer, “My secret is that I’m resting in the vine.”
“But what about your needs?” you ask.
“I know I have needs, but that’s not my responsibility. My response is to rest in the vine’s ability to provide. I don’t produce the fruit. I just bear it.”


ACTION POINT: Are you resting in the Lord today? Will you choose to “rest” in Him for the next 365?

from the Ministries of Love Worth Finding . . . by Adrian Rogers






* * * * * * * * *

Man's way leads to a hopeless end - God's way leads to an endless hope

* * * * * * * * *







"What In The World Is Going On?" by Dr David Jeremiah


As I share this book with you I hope together we can learn to read the signs and understand coming events. There may be times that I will need to omit

parts of the usual layout to bring to you the important teaching from this book. [printed in 2008]

Lets begin to put together pieces of the puzzle, and try to recognize the clues that God has given us to find peace in "our terrifying age," and come

to an understanding of what in the world is going on. John 14:27.. "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid"














DOES AMERICA HAVE A ROLE IN PROPHECY ?





















AMERICA HAS BEEN FOUNDED ON GOD AND HIS WORD




It is no mystery why America's founders insisted on the principle of freedom. Their dependence on the God of the bible led them to subject themselves to Him as the ultimate authority for law rather than set themselves up as autocrats with the audacity to control the lives of their subjects. And because they submitted to God's authority, He has blessed this nation as none has ever been blessed. The Psalmist wrote, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His own inheritance" .. Psalm 33:12 .. The book of Proverbs adds, "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people" .. 14:34 ..

I opened this chapter with a brief look at how America's founders and early leaders exhibited humble reliance on Almighty God. Now I want to show how that godly dependence characterized our governmental philosophy through several generations and resulted in God's blessings on our nation. Our leaders stabilized government with a lifeline between their country and their God, with authority and blessing flowing downward as dependence and thanksgiving flowed upward.

George Washington set the tone for the nation's governmental authority when he said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible." That philosophy remained intact through the time of Abraham Lincoln, who is quoted as saying, "God is my witness that it is my constant anxiety and prayer that both myself and this nation should be on the Lord's side."

Benjamin Franklin explained why he requested that each day of the Constitutional Convention be opened in prayer, saying: "The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of the truth - ghat God governs in the affairs of Men. And without His aid, we shall succeed in this political building no better than the builders of Babel."

Henry Wilson (1812-1875) was a senator and vice president under Ulysses S. Grant from 1873, to 1875. On December 23, 1866, he spoke to a YMCA gathering in Natick, Massachusetts, where he said:




Remember ever, and always, that your country was founded, not by the "most superficial, the lightest, the most irreflective of all European races," but by the stern old Puritans who made the deck of theMayflower an altar of the living God, and whose first act on touching the soil of the new world was to offer on bended knees thanksgiving to Almighty God.




In 1911, President Woodrow Wilson said:




The Bible ... is the one supreme source of revelation of the meaning of life, the nature of God and spiritual nature and needs of men.It is the only guide of life which really leads the spirit in the way of peace of salvation. America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture.




Today as I write these words, our heritage of national dependence on God is under fire. Forces within our nation threaten its divine lifeline. The attitude of many in our culture today seems symbolized by the powerful legal tides now trying to remove the words under God from the Pledge of Allegiance. Those two words were inserted into the pledge in 1954, partly to distinguish our nation from the atheistic communism of the Soviet Union. But while these words came late to the pledge, they certainly reflected what had been a part of America's heritage from the beginning.

For example, on July 2, 1776, General George Washington wrote in the general orders to his men that day, "The fate of unborn millions will now depend, under God, on the courage and conduct of this army." Almost a hundred years later, Abraham Lincoln consecrated the military cemetery on the battlefield of Gettysburg, saying: "We here highly resolved that these dead shall not have died in vain; that the is nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth".

This recognition that our nation was founded on godly principles of freedom and divine authority continued to be the basic assumption of government through the middle of the twentieth century. Our leaders realized that once America failed to acknowledge that we were under God, our basis for freedom and equitable government would come crashing down. President Calvin Coolidge said it well: "The foundation of our society and our government rests so much on the teaching of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country." In other words, when America turns from its position of being under God, we can no longer expect His blessing on this nation to continue. We will have broken our lifeline.

AS I've been writing this book, two attempts to hack through that lifeline were exposed. At a Dallas-area elementary school, one parent complained that the national motto, "In God We Trust," was painted on ta wall int he gym. The school board promptly had the offending words painted over. When several parents complained about its abrupt removal, Texas law and Texas Education Code prevailed, causing a school district representative to admit the district had "made a mistake" and announced, "'In God We Trust' will be repainted on the wall."

Do you remember the capstone of the Washington Monument I wrote about at the beginning of this chapter? Since the actual inscription is not visible at its stately height, the National Park Service has maintained a replica capstone in an exhibit at the 490-foot level. Located near a wall detailing the construction of the monument, the capstone case was positioned such that the public could see the inscription. However, late 2007, the display was changed. The case was re positioned against the wall and turned so the east side inscription Laus Deo was no longer viewable. A previous reference to that inscription was also omitted from the new description tag on the exhibit. When some citizens complained of the unacceptable modifications, an NPS official responded by saying, "We made a mistake and we are fixing it."

More than a mistake, these removals are an assault. Almost routinely these days, attacks are made on any public reminder of our dependence on God's grace for out national existence. I fear our lifeline is fraying.




next week: THE SILENCE OF THE BIBLE ON THE FUTURE OF AMERICA [America Will be Incorporated into the European Coalition]

















* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Blessing: Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift ll Cor 9:15
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *















TWO GROUPS

* * * * * * * * *

. . . Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few . . . Matt 7:13-14















"MANY" AND "FEW" DESCRIBE TWO groups of people. Those who enter through the wide gate and travel the broad way, toward the destination of destruction, are many. They include pagans and nominal Christians, atheists and religionists, theists and humanists, Jews and Gentiles - every person from every age, background, persuasion, and circumstance who has not come to saving obedience in Jesus Christ.

In the day of judgment many will claim to be followers of Chris: "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness'" .. Matt 7:22-23 .. Those who are excluded will not be just atheists or rank pagans, but nominal Christians who professed to know and trust Christ but who refused to come to Him on His terms.

The group that goes through the narrow gate and travels the narrow way and is destined for life are few in number. Jesus said, "Many are called, but few are chosen" .. Matt 22:14 ..

Make sure you are numbered with the few and not with those who will receive Jesus' shocking declaration at the day of judgment.












Ask YOURSELF














What are some of the greatest lies that lead the mildly religious into believing they have accepted Christ into their hearts? In what ways do our churches today accommodate these? How can we work against this devious scheme of the enemy?















* * * * * * * * *

We don't change God's message - His message changes us

* * * * * * * * *









SHOULD CHRISTIANS ISOLATE THEMSELVES FROM THE WORLD?



When I was in elementary school, we had a little game that we would play in which we would touch someone and say, “You have cooties.” Of course, we had to have a way to defend ourselves, so when someone would touch us and claim they just gave us cooties, we would say, “Not me, I don’t have cooties.” Then we would hold out our hands, revealing the handwritten initials, C.P., which stood for “cootie protection.”

I think Christians are sometimes that way around unbelievers. They appear as though they are avoiding all contact with them. I can understand not wanting to be influenced in a bad way. But how about influencing others in a good way?

Jesus said that as Christians, we are to be salt and light. In Jesus’ day, salt was used as a preservative. It was rubbed into meat to stop the rotting process. So, as salt in a culture, Christians are to stop the spread of corruption. But another thing salt does is stimulate thirst. So we are to stop the spread of corruption and stimulate a thirst for God in others.

In addition to being salt, Christians are to be light, which means that we are to proclaim the gospel and do good works. Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16).

We are called to be salt and light—to live a godly life. It is God’s job to identify the fake Christians, to determine the true from the false.

God has planted us as believers in this world. He has put His people in the culture to influence it, to make a difference. God is not calling us as believers to isolate, but to infiltrate.




Taken from "A Positive Influence" by Harvest Ministries














* * * * * * * * *


Exercise daily - walk with the Lord

* * * * * * * * *












Here is a word of God's promise for HUSBANDS . . .


" Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them " Col 3:19

" But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God " 1 Cor 11:3

" Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord " Prov 18:22















* * * * * * * * *

Be ye fishers of men - you catch them and He'll clean them

* * * * * * * * *









Answers to this week's Trivia's:




















1. The Bible says that instead of being drunk with wine, a Christian should be filled with what?

A. The Holy Spirit Eph 5:18


2. Which king of Judah had his eyes burned out?

A. Zedekiah Jer 39:7



* * * * * * * * *







I've stopped looking for the signs and started listening for the shout!

* * * * * * * * *










favorite BIBLE VERSE: A Love that never fails ...

God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him 1 Jn 4:16 NKJV



When it comes to love, the Greek language is incredibly descriptive. It has four different words to distinguish between four kinds of love: the love of friends, familial love, sexual love,

and unconditional love. The last kind of love, agape, is the one mentioned more frequently in the New Testament. It describes a love bestowed on those who are undeserving, in spite

of the possibility of rejection or heartbreak. Agape is so unique that, outside of the Scriptures, it is found in only one ancient Greek text, where it describes parents' unshakeable love

for their only child.

God loves you like an only child. His love can't be earned or lost. He loves you simply because you are His. God is more than the source of agape. His very essence, His nature,

is love, given without obligation or expectation. He loves unconditionally because that is who He is.

Abide means "to dwell." When you invite God's Spirit to dwell in you, agape takes up residence. This gives yo the ability to love others the same way God does, without condition.

Unconditional love can lead to disappointment and sorrow. It led Jesus to the cross, but that choice ultimately led to a victory that could not be gained in any other way. Allow Agape

to help you love unconditionally. Others will catch a glimpse of God through you.












To share agape, you have to dwell in God and He in you. That kind of intimate relationship grows through spending time together in prayer and studying Scriptures.



















* * * * * * * * *




















This week's chuckle:

A four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Oh .. nothing, I just helped him cry"




* * * * * * * * *




Until next time remember, "Keep looking up!"

God loves you and yours, He really does!
















Nancy <\\\><




~ This is a FREE e-mailing ~

This Bible Study is sent to subscribers only according to our strict NO SP*M policy. If you appreciate the information contained in this letter,
please forward it to your friends. If you have acquired this letter from a friend and want to subscribe:

Send an e-mail with Subscribe on the subject line to: hisfootprints4us@comcast.netIf you do not want to receive these Bible Studies, please send an email with 'unsubscribe'on the subject line to hisfootprints4us@comcast.net No hard feelings
















Remember:

A man may go to heaven…..

Without health, without wealth;

Without fame, without a great name;

Without learning, without earnings;

Without culture, without beauty;

Without friends and without ten thousand other things----

But he can NEVER go to Heaven without Christ.

People, I made a 'boo-boo'... the initial 'verse' is not found in Matthew, as you know yourself.. it is John 1:1


The goal of Bible Study is not just learning, but living

If you are saved, you will have a desire to be holy, a hunger for the Word, the inner witness of the Spirit, and a desire to share Jesus.

These are the birthmarks of the believer.












#554 27 Dec 11




















. . . In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God . . .






Matt 2:1-2






















Grateful for . . . .















THE WORD OF GOD !















(\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/) (\0/)
























Greetings! Here we are about to end another year. Have you thought about your 'new year resolutions'? Is it to lose weight? To exercise more?

Those are the most common ones. I've used them myself. And like the rest of you, didn't stick with it. So, I'm offering a challenge. No, not to see

who can lose the most weight. But to start the new year off with the Word. In a sort-a-kinda-different-way. Instead of waiting for New Years Day,

lets begin THIS WEEK with it. Pray first, believe and trust that the Lord will help [us] with this challenge. Is there someone you know that is

struggling in their life, who does not know Christ like you do and you would like that person to trust Jesus and have that 'joy' you have just by

knowing Christ as their own Lord and Savior? It may be a spouse, a child, a friend, a neighbor. Who knows, it could be someone you met on Face

Book that you are getting acquainted with. Pray with me that the Lord will guide us with this person. To be a witness, in a subtle way. Not to to 'push'

Christ on that person .. for He did not push Himself on anyone .. but to bring the Word in a conversation. By asking a simple question. Or to invite

this person to church. Or share an experience. Are you with me? Will you accept the challenge? Please say yes, and we can share how the Lord is

using us. It will bring glory to God. Who knows, you may already be thinking of someone . . . . I know I am.

The Word is a designation for Christ Himself. Scripture makes a distinction between the Word of God written, the Scriptures, and the Word of God

incarnate, or Jesus Christ in the flesh. John speaks of Christ as the eternal, pre-existent One who became flesh. We may say:

1. the Word existed before the world began

2. the Word was with God, or distinct from and yet in communion with, God the Father

3. the Word was God, or identical in essence with God the Father

4. through the Word, God brought into being the entire created universe, both the visible and invisible .. Col 1:16; Heb 1:2; 11:3 ..

5. the Word is the source of the physical, intellectual, moral, and spiritual life of man .. Jn 1:4 ..

6. God the Word became flesh, or incarnate as a true human being .. Jn 1:14 ..

In essence this is the same teaching as that of Paul, who said that in Christ the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily .. Col 2:9 ..
















Be a blessing this week! Happy New Year. May the love of our Savior indwell you richly. Let the Word of God be your 'new beginning'..















* * * * * * * * *





Something to think about:

The Bible addresses one problem - sin . . . The Bible has one villain - Satan . . . The Bible has one hero - Jesus . . . the Bible has one purpose - to glorify God



This week's Trivia's: [answer's below . . ]


1. Which Emperor of Rome commissioned the introduction of the Roman calendar?

2. Which disciple was the faster runner, Peter or John?
















* * * * * * * * *


God will never do for us what we could and SHOULD do for ourselves

* * * * * * * * *


BIBLE MEDITATION: “Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” Matt 5:24

DEVOTIONAL: Jesus tells us to leave our offering and make things right with a brother before we can worship. No one can be right with God and consciously wrong with his brother.

Now, notice that Jesus doesn’t say that you need to leave your tithe and go reconcile with a brother if you have something against him (Matt 18:15-20). Here, Jesus is saying that you need to get things right with a brother who has something against you.


ACTION POINT: Before you sing, before you pray, before you teach, before you give, before you worship, the Bible says you are first to be reconciled to your brother. There is no offering on earth that can substitute for getting right with your brother. As far as you know, is there someone who is harboring ill feelings toward you? Then the Lord says, “Leave it there and go get it right.”

from the Ministries of Love Worth Finding . . . by Adrian Rogers






* * * * * * * * *

Men throw things away .. God never uses anything until He first breaks it

* * * * * * * * *







"What In The World Is Going On?" by Dr David Jeremiah


As I share this book with you I hope together we can learn to read the signs and understand coming events. There may be times that I will need to omit

parts of the usual layout to bring to you the important teaching from this book. [printed in 2008]

Lets begin to put together pieces of the puzzle, and try to recognize the clues that God has given us to find peace in "our terrifying age," and come

to an understanding of what in the world is going on. John 14:27.. "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid"














DOES AMERICA HAVE A ROLE IN PROPHECY ?





















AMERICA HAS BEEN A FREE NATION




In my studies of both the Old and New Testaments, I have observed that the principles of freedom are united with the tenets of Christianity. America today is the laboratory where those blended principles can grow and develop and become an example to all the world. The Bible says, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" .. John 8:32 ..

Freedom can never be taken for granted in our world. In early 2007, Freedom House released its annual survey, Freedom in the World, which stated that 3 billion people - 46 % of the world's population - live in a free to partly free country. Conversely, 54 % - or more than half the population of the world - do not live in freedom. In fact, the tendency in a fallen world is always away from freedom and toward despotism and tyranny.

In his 1981 inaugural address, President Ronald Reagan spoke of our freedom in these stirring words: "Above all, we must realize that no arsenal or no weapon in the arsenals of the world is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today's world do not have. It is a weapon that we as Americans do have. Let that be understood by those who practice terrorism and prey upon their neighbors."

America has learned what our repressive and terrorist adversaries do not understand: that liberty without law is anarchy, liberty to defy law is rebellion, but liberty limited by law is the cornerstone of civilization. We Americans have tried to share what we have learned by exporting freedom wherever we have gone in the world. We have tried to help people understand that freedom is what creates the life God intended us to have from the beginning.

America has become the paradise of human liberty - a great oasis in a global desert of trouble, suffering, repression, and tyranny. Our nation is a dramatic exclamation point to the assertion that freedom works!

Today our precious heritage of freedom is being challenged internally by the erosion of our culture. As long-held freedoms come under fire, some Americans, especially those with wealth, are deciding that the United States is no longer the best place to live. According to the book Getting Out: Your Guide to Leaving America, some three hundred thousand Americans a year are choosing to leave the country. This is the first time in history the number of people exiting this nation has become large enough to be significant, and the emergence of such a trend calls our attention to the degenerating character of America. If our culture continues to jettison the principles that made our nation great, we can hardly expect the blessing of Almighty God to continue.




next week: AMERICA HAS BEEN FOUNDED ON GOD AND HIS WORD

















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Blessing: Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me Malachi 3:1
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TWO DESTINATIONS

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. . . Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few . . . Matt 7:13-14















BOTH THE BROAD AND NARROW ways point to the good life, to salvation, heaven, God, the kingdom, and blessing - but only the narrow way actually leads there.

The broad way doesn't have a road sign on it with hell as the destination. Jesus' point is that this way is marked "heaven" but it doesn't lead there.

That is the great lie of all false religions. The Lord makes clear the ultimate destinations of these two ways: the broad way leads to destruction; the narrow way leads to

life. Every religion except Christianity follows the same spiritual way and leads to the same spiritual end, to hell.

There are many of those roads, and most of them are attractive, appealing, and crowded with travelers. But not a single one leads where it promises, and not a single one

fails to lead where Jesus says it leads - to destruction, to total ruin and loss. It is a complete loss of well-being and the destination of all religions except the way of Jesus Christ.

But God's way - the way that is narrow - leads to eternal life, to everlasting heavenly fellowship with God, His angels, and His people. Everlasting life is a quality of life,

which is the life of God in the soul of man .. Ps 17:15 ..












Ask YOURSELF














Celebrate today the eternal life promised to those who embrace the call of the narrow gate and the narrow way. Be grateful that none of the carry-ons and extras will ever

give us the satisfaction we hope to find in theme, but that in the wake of their emptiness we will be drawn ever deeper into the One whose way is both single and secure.















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There are two messages in the Bible: Come and Go

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WHY DID JESUS BECOME A HUMAN?



Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (NKJV). Talk about having friends in high places. The Bible is saying that you are not serving a God who is disinterested in you. You are not serving a God who doesn't know what it is like to literally walk in your shoes. So you can go boldly to the throne of grace and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus Christ, who was God in human form, never lived for a moment outside of the perfect will of God. He never gave in to a temptation. He never had an impure thought. He never did one wrong thing. He never displeased His Father in the smallest matter. He was flawless. He was sinless. He was perfect.

So why did Jesus come to earth as God in human form? Was it to give us the ultimate teachings ever? No. Though they were the greatest teachings ever given, He came here for more than that. Did Jesus come to set the perfect example of how a man or woman should live? He came to do that and much more. Did Jesus walk this earth merely to do miracles and heal people? While He always reached out to people in need, that was not His primary purpose.

C. S. Lewis said it well: "The Son of God became a man that men might become sons of God." God became a man so that you might become God's child. Now that is something worth celebrating.




Taken from "When God Became a Man" by Harvest Ministries














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As Christians we are to be NEWSBOYS and not editors of the Bible

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Here is a word of God's promise for GUILT . . .


" For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things " 1 Jn 3:20

" I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, they transgressions, and as a cloud, thy sins. Return unto Me, for I have redeemed thee " Isa 44:22

" There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit " Rom 8:1















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This Word is the passion of God for the world, not tit-for-tat theology

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Answers to this week's Trivia's:




















1. Which Emperor of Rome commissioned the introduction of the Roman calendar?

A. Justinian

2. Which disciple was the faster runner, Peter or John?

A. John Jn 20:1-4; 21:20-24






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The more of the Word of God you give away, the more of it will stick to you

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favorite BIBLE VERSE: Moving On ...

The LORD says, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now shall it spring forth; shall you not know it? Isa 43:18-19 NKJV



The people of Israel made plenty of mistakes and suffered generations of consequences. They'd been slaves in Egypt, wandered the desert for forty years, and were presently at war with Assyria. Because of repeatedly disobeying and distancing themselves from God, they'd lived with crippling fear, enemy invasions, and back-breaking bondage off and on for centuries. Along with words of rebuke and warning, the prophet Isaiah offered those desperate people words of hope, which summed up the heart of his message.

Through Isaiah, God promised his people he was doing something fresh and innovative. The Hebrew word for new conveys both expectancy and optimism. It describes something "unprecedented in its wonderful character." The promise that this new thing would "spring up" meant it would happen gradually, like the germination and growth of a beautiful wildflower. Its total fulfillment would require patience, but its eventuality was sure. As the rest of the book of Isaiah would foretell, that fulfillment would be finally realized int he victory of Jesus.

To be able to look forward with joy, the Israelites needed to let go of the past. The same is true for people today. Learning from the past is useful. Dwelling on the past is destructive. It keeps your focus on things you can no longer change and off what God is doing right before your eyes. Follow Isaiah's advice to the Israelites. Forget what's behind you. Move freely forward toward the good that is sprouting right beneath your feet.












Letting go of past mistakes - yours and those of others - may involve forgiveness, repentance, and reconciliation. Let Isaiah's words encourage you as you work through emotional or relational roadblocks.



















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This week's chuckle:

One father to another: "Things sure were a lot different when we were boys. My son has a color TV, a computer, a VCR, a stereo, a radio, and telephone in his room.

When I want to punish him, I have to send him to MY room!"




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Until next time remember, "Keep looking up!"

God loves you and yours, He really does!
















Nancy <\\\><




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Remember:

A man may go to heaven…..

Without health, without wealth;

Without fame, without a great name;

Without learning, without earnings;

Without culture, without beauty;

Without friends and without ten thousand other things----

But he can NEVER go to Heaven without Christ.

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Want To Have Christmas All Year Long?

Important Gifts That You Can’t Wrap

There are many people in the world, especially the younger children, that write a yearly Christmas Wish List. Some adults do it, too. And: Why not? It never hurts or costs us much to dream. And sure, it’s nice to get a gift or two from your special wish list. It really is. Yet, as the Bible says, and it’s true, “It is more blessed to give than to receive,” Acts 20:35. The true Christian heart is known for its great ability to give, asking for nothing in return. Constantly giving from the heart to those in need, is so like Jesus. We should all make each day of our every day lives, a tiny Christmas celebration, 24-7. To give you some ideas on how to do that, I made up a list of things that you can give, all year long, ones that don’t even need to be wrapped.

1. Writing letters or sending cards to long-lost friends. And, not only at Christmas time. Ask about their lives, in detail, before you ever mention yourself and what you’ve been up to.
2. Give someone a real bear-hug and tell them that you love them, care about them or are just happy to see them again.
3. Sit down with a child or some children and just play a game with them for an hour or so.
4. Take a long, leisurely stroll with a friend or two.
5. Turn off the boob-tube and talk with family members for an evening.
6. Take someone out for dinner and have an ice cream treat.
7. Volunteer to clean up the house without being asked to do so.
8. Go visit some older relatives or sing to or play cards with some seniors in a rest home.
9. Offer to baby sit for tired parents, so that they can have the night off.
10. Give compliments out at work, even to the competition.
11. Send a donation to a Christian Charity.
12. Cook dinner and desert for a shut-in family member, friends or a neighbor.
13. Send a thank you note to your children’s teachers.
14. Call a family member that doesn’t live near you, listen to all that they have to say before you ever start taking about yourself.
15. Pray for your pastor and missionaries: Write them a thank you note.
16. Make a special family meal, just because it’s Tuesday, or Friday or any day.

These types of gifts never get old and are always welcomed. It’s never too early to share the Christmas spirit, because you never know when it might be too late to do so. Hebrews 3:13
While today is with us, we must encourage one another to do good works.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16 and Hebrews 10:24&25, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.”