He's Different Alright

This newsletter was interesting....

.j.

The Gloves Are Coming Off

It's coming down to this as the ACLU and other such like minded groups continue to try to stifle, and basically shut up "people of faith" - most notably, Christians. As the various groups out there that hate God, and anything that even hints at Him or His word, continue to try to push their agenda of trying to silence people from speaking openly about Yeshua (Jesus), there will be backlash, and they will simply help spread further the gospel. Historically, when Christians have been persecuted, the gospel has spread and grown. It is happening in China, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, Africa, Cuba, and so forth and so on.

The ACLU and other such like minded individuals have pushed and pushed, and have even made some headway. The day is coming when they push so hard that, rather than break the believers, they will simply spring forth into previously unreached areas, even coming full circle to see those that once persecuted join the ranks of the redeemed.

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable [are] his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

.j.

"Lover or Prostitute?"

A friend sent the following article to me in an email. I don't know where she got it, but it is very powerful. It is definitely worth the read, and worth our consideration.

“Lover or Prostitute?”

The Question that Changed My Life

By David Ryser

A number of years ago, I had the privilege of teaching at a school of ministry. My students were hungry for God, and I was constantly searching for ways to challenge them to fall more in love with Jesus and to become voices for revival in the Church.
I came across a quote attributed most often to Rev. Sam Pascoe.
It is a short version of the history of Christianity, and it goes like this:

Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise.

Some of the students were only 18 or 19 years old --and I wanted them to understand and appreciate the import of the last line, so I clarified it by adding, “An enterprise. That’s a business.”
After a few moments Martha, the youngest student in the class, raised her hand. I could not imagine what her question might be. I thought the little vignette was self-explanatory, and that I had performed it brilliantly. Nevertheless, I acknowledged Martha’s raised hand, “Yes, Martha.”

She asked such a simple question, “A business? But isn’t it supposed to be a body?” I could not envision where this line of questioning was going, and the only response I could think of was, “Yes.”
She continued, “But when a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?”

The room went dead silent. For several seconds no one moved or spoke. We were stunned, afraid to make a sound because the presence of God had flooded into the room, and we knew we were on holy ground. All I could think in those sacred moments was, “Wow, I wish I’d thought of that.” I didn’t dare express that thought aloud. God had taken over the class. Martha’s question changed my life.

For six months, I thought about her question at least once every day. “When a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?” There is only one answer to her question. The answer is “Yes.”

The North American Church, tragically, is heavily populated by people who do not love God. How can we love Him? We don’t even know Him;and I mean really know Him. What do I mean when I say “really know Him?”
Our understanding of knowing and knowledge stems from our western culture (which is based in ancient Greek philosophical thought). We believe we have knowledge (and, by extension, wisdom) when we have collected information. A collection of information is not the same thing as knowledge, especially in the culture of the Bible (which is an eastern culture).

In the eastern culture, all knowledge is experiential. In western/Greek culture, we argue from premise to conclusion without regard for experience--or so we think. An example might be helpful here.

We say we believe something (or someone) apart from personal experience. This definition of belief is not extended to our stockbroker, however. Allow me to explain.
Suppose my stockbroker phones me and says, “I have a hot tip on a stock that is going to triple in price within the next week. I want your permission to transfer $10,000 from your cash account and buy this stock.”
That’s a lot of money for me, so I ask, “Do you really believe this stock will triple in price, and so quickly?” He answers, I sure do.” I say, “That sounds great! How exciting! So how much of your own money have you invested in this stock?” He answers, “None.” Does my stockbroker believe? Truly believe? I don’t think so, and suddenly I don’t believe, either.
How can we be so discerning in the things of this world, especially when they involve money, and so indiscriminate when it comes to spiritual things? The fact is, we do not know or believe apart from experience.

The Bible was written to people who would not understand the concepts of knowledge, belief, and faith apart from experience. I suspect God thinks this way also. So I stand by my statement that most American Christians do not know God-- much less love Him.

The root of this condition originates in how we came to God.
Most of us came to Him because of what we were told He would do for us. We were promised that He would bless us in life and take us to heaven after death. We married Him for His money, and we don’t care if He lives or dies as long as we can get His stuff. We have made the Kingdom of God into a business, merchandising His anointing. This should not be. We are commanded to love God, and are called to be the Bride of Christ-- that’s pretty intimate stuff. We are supposed to be His lovers. How can we love someone we don’t even know? And even if we do know someone, is that a guarantee that we truly love them? Are we lovers or prostitutes?

I was pondering Martha’s question again one day, and considered the question, “What’s the difference between a lover and a prostitute?” Irealized that both do many of the same things, but a lover does what she does because she loves. A prostitute pretends to love, but only as long as you pay.

Then I asked the question, “What would happen if God stopped paying me?”
For the next several months, I allowed God to search me to uncover my motives for loving and serving Him. Was I really a true lover of God? What would happen if He stopped blessing me? What if He never did another thing for me? Would I still love Him?

Please understand, I believe in the promises and blessings of God. The issue here is not whether God blesses His children; the issue is the condition of my heart. Why do I serve Him? Are His blessings in my life the gifts of a loving Father, or are they a wage that I have earned or a bribe/payment to love Him? Do I love God without any conditions?

It took several months to work through these questions. Even now I wonder if my desire to love God is always matched by my attitude and behavior. I still catch myself being disappointed with God and angry that He has not met some perceived need in my life.
I suspect this is something which is never fully resolved, but I want more than anything else to be a true lover of God. So what is it going to be? Which are we, lover or prostitute?

There are no prostitutes in heaven, or in the Kingdom of God for that matter, but there are plenty of former prostitutes in both places. Take it from a recovering prostitute when I say there is no substitute for unconditional, intimate relationship with God. And I mean there is no palatable substitute available to us (take another look at Matthew 7:21-23 sometime). We must choose.

Dr. David Ryser Responses to this article are welcomed.

You may contact the author at drdave1545@yahoo.com

Edited by Ron McGatlin on 08/25/2008

Where We Are Heading...And Fast

A great article at Moriel Ministries (click on the picture above to go to the article), briefly illustrating the kind of future that we must prepare for. Therefore, as I have stated time and again, draw near to the LORD. Prepare yourself. This means (I.M.H.O.) to repent of all sins, both outward and inward (ie. sins of action as well as attitude), and READ YOUR BIBLE DAILY. Meditate on it. Memorize it. Prepare your heart. And preach the gospel. This is not a time of retreat, but we must take on Paul's wartime strategy: Ephesians 6:10-18 and 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

Maranatha - even so Adonai Yeshua, come quickly!

.j.

Right On Ingrid!

I have to agree wholeheartedly with this post from Ingrid Schlueter of Slice of Laodicea (as well a this one). There is something terribly wrong in what has become the public representation of Christianity in this Country! Amen Ingrid. Amen, and amen!

.j.

Swine Flu?

I believe I have said it before in the past, at around inauguration time, and I'll say it again (though I didn't come up with it - I have heard many Messianic teachers say this), that we need to be in the weekly Torah portions (consisting of a specific portion read each week from the first five books of Moses - the Torah portion - along with a portion from the Prophets - called the Haftarah - and for Messianic believers, a portion from the NT) because it is usually pertinent for the week/times. Remember, God's word is "...quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." - Heb. 4:12. In other words, it is always relevant.

Last weeks Torah portion was actually a double portion (two portions put together due to the way the yearly calender falls) - "Tazria", and "Metzora" which consisted of Lev. 12:1 - 15:33. Within the portion were the laws pertaining to infectious disease, leprosy, etc.

Last night we turned on the news only to see that there is an "epidemic" of "swine flu" in Mexico (to read about it, click on the picture above), and believed to have migrated to America, Canada, and possibly New Zealand and Europe, soon to possibly be labeled a "pandemic!" This news coming out on the same day that "Metzora" (meaning "leper" or "diseased") was being read all around the world.

It reminds me of Yeshua's words in Matt. 24:7 - "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places." I believe we are truly seeing these things as He spoke two-thousand years ago. I also believe that God's word is going to be the only navigation that will direct our steps (as Yeshua said in vs. 25 - "Behold, I have told you before"). I cannot stress enough how important it is to be reading the Bible daily (and I mean daily!), memorizing it, praying, and seeking direction from the LORD. With so many voices speaking today, how are we to know which is His voice, and the voices of all of the imposter's (cf. Matthew 24:5,11,23,24), and those that speak from their own heart and thoughts (cf. Proverbs 28:26; Jeremiah 9:13,14; Jer. 18:12; Jer. 23:16, et al)? We need to be in His word so that we learn truth from error. And Listening to teachers on the radio does not count (not that it is bad, but rather, we need to read the bible ourselves as well as listen to bible teaching!).

Please take seriously the times that we are in. If you are not already, get into the word DAILY.

If you would like a to get a Torah portion reading schedule ( that includes NT readings) you can go here and print one off.

May you be directed by YHVH, in the faith of Yeshua, and "may you go out with joy and be led forth with peace." - Is. 55:12

.j.

Don't Be Silent

This Last Tuesday was Holocaust Remembrance (Memorial) Day. It was (and is) a time to reflect on what happened during WWII and, for me at least, to think about how the Christian Church (for the most part, with a few exceptions) were implicit in much of what happened simply by their silence. How could a whole Nation, which was considered, for the most part, to be a Christian Nation at the time, allow such barbarity to occur?

There is an ancient fortress in Israel. According to the Masada National Park, Masada was fortified approx. 2,200 years ago, later being enlarged and reinforced by Herod the Great (to learn more, you can read about it at the Jewish Virtual Library, and this article at the National Guard website, among others). In the years between 66 A.D. and 73 A.D., about a thousand Jews took refuge there from the Roman army. As the Romans besieged the city, the Jews defended themselves there, until finally they all committed mass suicide, rather than be taken alive by the Roman army. A common practice with IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) soldiers today is to go up to Masada and take an oath: "Masada shall not fall again."

I share the above to say that I believe that we (meaning everyone of course, but specifically Christians) need to take a similar stance: We will stand with Israel; we will not remain silent and allow what happened during WWII to happen again.

I'm sure many of the "good Christian folk" of that time thought that were were innocent because they didn't personally take physical action against their *Jewish neighbors (though any DID!). But their silence, and turning a blind eye made them just as culpable. If one witnesses a crime in the United States and keeps silent, he or she is counted as complicit in the crime as well.

Now is the time, while we still have some semblance of freedom, to speak up, and stand for truth. We must determine in our hearts now, how we might act and speak if we are put into a situation where we are confronted with a situation similar to WWII.

We must not remain silent.

To see and hear a great (and sobering) video by Messianic Praise and Worship artist Ted Pearce about the Holocaust, go here.

.j.

*It must be noted that Jewish people were not the only people that suffered under the Nazi regime - Political dissidents, Christians who spoke out, Captured Russian soldiers, Homosexuals, Gypsies, and others were also exterminated in Hitlers death camps. NO one deserves to be treated this way, and so ALL should be remembered during Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day).