II Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: The old has gone, the new is here!"

This verse can be applied at any time that a lost sinner is born again into the family of GOD by having his sins washed away in the precious Font of CALVARY.

It is especially appropriate at the beginning of a New Year.  The old is behind, the new is ahead.  May this day of new beginnings be the day you give your heart to JESUS and allow HIM to make you a new, godly creation that is now fit for eternity in Heaven.

Prayer Initiative

Thanksgiving for a New Year

Suggested Scriptural references ... Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving.  Psalm 95:2 You are Holy, O Thou that inhabit the praises of Your people. Psalm 22:3 Let all that I am praise the Lord;  may I never forget the good things He does for me...  Psalm 103:2 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ.  1 Corinthians 15:57

Suggested prayers ... With profound gratitude we thank You, Sovereign Father, for the bounty of blessings You have poured out on America.  We acknowledge as a nation that all good things come from Your hand.     Thank You for revealing Yourself to us through Your creation, Your Word, Your Son, Your Spirit, Your truth, and through the wisdom and devotion of Your people. Thank You that You make Your true character known to those who truly seek You. Thank You for Your love, dear Father, and for all the ways You provide for us.  May we never forget to thank You. Thank You for entering time and space on earth, Lord Jesus, and for letting us know that You want a relationship with us - each and every one of us. Thank You for providing the way for forgiveness and healing in our lives and in our nation. Thank You for Your patience, Your mercy, Your pardon, Your provision and for Your sacred sacrifice on our behalf.  We love you, Lord. Thank You for the faith of our founders, and for giving them Your wisdom.  Thank You for their prayerfulness, and for guiding them to establish this country on the fact that You created all of us equal, and that our rights do not come from other men, they come from You. Thank You for those who have gone before us who pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor to establish this country on principles borne out of Your word. Thank You for their understanding and respect for Your gift of free will. Thank You for all those who have put their lives on the line for the freedom and welfare of others. Thank You for the religious freedoms we enjoy - to gather, to worship and to pray. Thank You that as we pray, we can trust You for answers in Your time, Your will and Your ways. ~~~ "No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than the people of the United States."  George Washington                                                                                                                         “I have just repeated word for word the oath taken by George Washington 200 years ago, and the Bible on which I place my hand is the Bible on which he placed his. My first act as President is a prayer. Heavenly Father, we bow our heads and thank You for Your love.  Accept our thanks for the peace that yields this day and the shared faith that makes its continuance likely. Make us strong to do Your work, willing to heed and hear Your will, and write on our hearts these words: 'Use power to help people.' For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people. Help us to remember it, Lord.  Amen.” President George H. W. Bush – January 20, 1989

Today in History

Today in History                                                                                          1863                                                                                                    Lincoln Issues Emancipation Proclamation                                                         

Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, calling on the Union army to liberate all slaves in states still in rebellion as “an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity.” These three million slaves were declared to be “then, thenceforward, and forever free.” The proclamation exempted the border slave states that remained in the Union at the start of the Civil War and all or parts of three Confederate states controlled by the Union army.

As a Republican politician, Lincoln had fought to isolate slavery from the new territories, not outlaw it outright, and this policy carried over into his presidency. Even after the Civil War began, Lincoln, though he privately detested slavery, moved cautiously on the emancipation issue. However, in 1862, the federal government began to realize the strategic advantages of emancipation: The liberation of slaves would weaken the Confederacy by depriving it of a major portion of its labor force, which would in turn strengthen the Union by producing an influx of manpower.

That year, Congress annulled the fugitive slave laws, prohibited slavery in the U.S. territories, and authorized Lincoln to employ freed slaves in the army. Following the major Union victory at the Battle of Antietam in September, Lincoln issued a warning of his intent to issue an Emancipation Proclamation for all states still in rebellion on New Year’s Day.

The Emancipation Proclamation transformed the Civil War from a war against secession into a war for “a new birth of freedom,” as Lincoln stated in his Gettysburg Address in 1863. This ideological change discouraged the intervention of France or England on the Confederacy’s behalf and enabled the Union to enlist the 200,000 African-American soldiers and sailors who volunteered to fight between January 1, 1863, and the conclusion of the war. In 1865, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution formally abolished slavery.

The Impact of Your Life Choices

The Impact of Your Life Choices

"To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven:  A time to be born, and a time to die."   Ecclesiastes 3:1

Many of you stayed awake until midnight last night to watch the old year of 2017 fade into history and to see the birthing of the NEW YEAR OF 2018.

Whether you watched the ball drop in New York City, or toasted the infant year at a private party, or slept through the event, the fact remains that you have a new year before you and you will do something with it.

What is your plan?

What are your hopes for the year ahead?

Where will you go, what will you do in 2018?

How will your choices in 2018 impact your life?

How will your choices in 2018 impact your eternity?

How will your life choices impact the lives and eternal destinies of those whose lives touch yours?

Will your life make a difference for the eternal good of the people you love?  Will your influence draw others into the Arc of Safety?

In the final analysis of what you do in 2018, it will be only what you have done to further the Kingdom of JESUS in the hearts of men that will have eternal significance.

Allow HIS HOLY SPIRIT to guide your steps and to orchestrate your actions so HIS purposes for time and eternity may be accomplished in and through you.

Lord of the Breakthrough

Lord of the Breakthrough by Rod Parsley

So they came up to Baal-perazim; and David smote them there. Then David said, God hath broken in upon mine enemies by mine hand like the breaking forth of waters: therefore they called the name of that place Baal-perazim. —1 Chronicles 14:11

Baal-perazim literally means, "Lord of the breakthrough." Because David sought God's direction first (v. 10), he knew it was God's victory. David acknowledged God as the One who brought about his victory. He said, "I couldn't have done it if God had not gone before me."

There will be many battles to fight this year, but realize that you are not standing alone. The God you serve is the Master of the breach, and the battle is not yours, but His. When you seek God first in the matter, you can be assured of the victory.

The battle belongs to the Lord (1 Samuel 17:47). So, never defend yourself. Let Him be your strong tower, your defense, and your refuge. Why are you trying to fight battles He has already won? Put on His armor and go forth in His Spirit, not your own might and power (Zechariah 4:6).

End Times Observations

I was recently scanning the spines of some of the books on my shelves dealing with eschatology, the study of the end times or the last days. I happened on a 1997 book titled The End by Ed Dobson.

I didn't remember I had this book about predictive prophecy and pulled it out to scan and review for a few minutes. I discovered the front cover had a subtitle which "said it all":

"Why Jesus Could Return by A.D. 2000."

Now, two decades after the original publication date and nearly the same number of years past the turn-of-century target date, this projected timing of Christ's coming and the end of the world can be mocked (along with the other Y2K prognostications). However, these future realities cannot be ignored.

With the current bellicose threats from the demented dictator of North Korea and his provocative testing of long-range missiles, which could potentially be fixed with nuclear warheads and reach most countries of the Pacific Rim—including highly populated parts of the United States, the world may be closer to "the end" than ever before.

The predictions of the book's author may have been misdated ("by A.D. 2000") but his major propositions still attract our attention. Here they are:

1. The Bible predicts that Jesus Christ will come back to the earth and judge the lives of the living and the dead.
2. The Bible predicts the specific events and trends that will precede and accompany that coming of Christ.
3. The current situation in the world has remarkable parallels to the events and trends predicted in the Bible.

We humans seem to have an insatiable curiosity for knowing or sharing future and unusual events. Consequently, many are the gullible guests of charlatans preying on unsuspecting souls by dishing out the supposed truth or outright error in palatable portions. Additionally, we must recognize that some sincere but confused people are deliberately or demonically deceived.

Biblical prophecy is not like that. It is distinguished from the grocery store's tabloid-type predictions of the weird, bizarre and ridiculous. Instead, its predictions are not only reliable but claim to be divinely inspired (2 Pet. 1:20-21; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). And "natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Cor. 2:14-16). Only the spiritually alive can discern spiritual wisdom, for "we have the mind of Christ" (v. 16).

It is man's efforts to interpret or explain divine revelation in modern contexts or projected time periods which can lead us astray. Some well-intentioned interpreters get sidetracked with mystical, allegorical methods which take us away from the plain and simple teachings of Scripture. Also, some teachers have constructed analytical structures of "dispensations" and try to force prophetic Scriptures into these boxes of their own making.

As we approach the end times and fulfillment of last days prophecies, we should look past the scoffers (2 Pet. 3:1-9) and see similarities, symmetry and sequence. Looking through the eyes of biblical prophets, we can see history in advance.

If one studies biblical prophecy and the specific teachings of Christ, Paul, Peter and John with reputable teachers of the Holy Scriptures (2 Tim. 3:14-17), we can learn of world empires rising and falling and of God's coming kingdom. We will glimpse world politics and church-state intrigue. While we will, at times, wonder at the efforts of evil at work in the world, we can also rejoice as we see God's spiritual forces overruling world affairs with His righteousness.

Much of the time, when people think of biblical prophecy, they are most concerned with the personal and practical implications of the "mystery" (a previously undisclosed truth or reality) of the "snatching away" or "gathering together" of the saints of God (living and dead) in what is popularly called the "rapture." Rather than worrying more about being left behind, committed disciples can rest in this future hope and holy assurance.

This intriguing "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13) involves biblical insights on a great end-times apostacy among merely professing believers and the persecution of true believers by the Antichrist, during the predicted Great Tribulation (2 Thess. 2: 1-4). This predicted time of intense struggle and martyrdom (Rev. 20:4) will be the wrath of Satan (Rev. 12:9-12) and not the wrath of God.

This terrible season of persecution against the elect of God will be shortened and terminated (Matt. 24:21-22) when Jesus comes in the clouds to rescue the true believers (1 Thess. 4:13-18). This instantaneous transformation and gathering away of believers from all the ages will occur after the great tribulation of those days and as part of the triumphant coming of the "Son of Man."

At that point, the wrath of God begins for the unbelievers who remain alive on the earth (Matt. 24: 29-31) and culminates with our Lord's second coming to earth, with His saints. As the Lord of lords and King of kings, He will righteously judge the nations (Matt. 25:31-46).

In his Olivet Discourse, Jesus continued to warn the disciples that they could not know the day or the hour of His coming (see Matt. 24:42, 44). In the very next chapter, Jesus wrapped up his parable about the wise and the foolish virgins with this command: "Watch, therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming" (Matt. 25:13).

In view of the uncertain delay in Christ's coming, for His own, we might even say that we cannot be sure that it will even be in our lifetime. But the challenge given us is to be constantly and eagerly watching and waiting for His return.

The Bible says we need to be preparing ourselves to be pleasing to our heavenly bridegroom, as a bride without "spot or wrinkle" (Eph. 5:27). We should focus on holy living (1 Thess. 4:1-8) and "hastening the coming of the day of God" (2 Pet. 3:8-12), for we know that "our salvation is nearer than when we first believed" (Rom. 13:11-14).

In these "last days," let us be about the Father's business (Luke 19:11-27) and not given to idle speculation or superstitious date-setting for our Lord's glorious return.

Instead, may we live out our destinies (1 Pet. 2:9-10) and faithfully discharge our spiritual duties (1 Pet. 4:7-11), so our Lord may say to us, as He did to the faithful servant in the parable of the talents, "Well done, you good and faithful servant ... enter the joy of your Lord" (Matt. 25:21).

Fruit That Remains

Fruit That Remains by Joy Strang   

We rang in the year 2018 at midnight.  I can remember when we were anticipating the year 2000—which was to be a big year—more significant than others perhaps because it was the beginning of a new age.

The year 1990 was a big year too—the beginning of the last decade of that millennium—and I was determined to be ready for it. I worked diligently to complete a list of goals and objectives for every major area of my life: spirit, marriage, family, finances, business, ministry. It was quite a task.

On New Year's Day I sat down to pray over my well-ordered goals, expecting God to give me His seal of approval. Of course, He would be pleased—I was doing His work!

But instead of congratulating me, He surprised me by saying, "Evaluate your list in the light of eternity."

That was it! No "Well done, good and faithful servant," or, "Great job, Joy," or "You are such a valuable worker in My kingdom."

With God's directive in mind, I began to look over the list. Did any of my goals have eternal significance? No, reading three spiritual books wouldn't really count for eternity. Having a weekly family night didn't really fit the bill either. Handling that software conversion at work had no eternal value. Even organizing the ministry department where I worked in at the church probably wouldn't matter in the light of eternity.

The conclusion I came to was that only two things on my list would have a lasting impact: building my relationship with God and pouring eternal things into people—whether my family or others.

My discovery, of course, was in line with what Christ told us in the two greatest commandments—to love God fully and to love our neighbor as ourselves (see Matthew   22:37-39). This is what I call "putting first things first."

Does that mean the other goals I wrote down are not important? No. On a list of 100 items, the top 10 are still consequential.

The point is, we cannot have divided hearts. Obedience begins in the affections, and when our affections are set on God, we won't be pulled in different directions. God will instruct and empower us to do all the other things He requires if we put Him first. He will see to it that we fulfill every command or responsibility He gives us in His Word.

I like formulas, but formulas give us the ability to stand alone. God wants us to lean on Him for everything. He wants us to remain in continual fellowship with Him and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit so that we are fruitful bearers of His life.

As you begin another significant year, I encourage you to resolve only one thing—to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and to love your neighbor as yourself.

As you are faithful to put first things first, God will set your priorities, and the fruit of the year will last forever.