Shia Muslims wait for their Immam Madhi who is to unite all muslims, destroy the Jews & proclaim himself King of the world. Could this be the Antichrist who is to come?

Former Iranian Revolutionary Guard: Iran Will Bomb Israel To Bring About The Islamic Mahdi   http://www.israelnationalnews.com/

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Speaking from an undisclosed location, with his voice digitally altered to protect his true identity, former Iranian Revolutionary Guard Reza Kahlili told Israel National Radio's Yishai Fleisher that Iran would not hesitate to use nuclear bombs against Israel.

"[Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's government] will use the nuclear bomb against Israel, they will use it against Persian Gulf countries, and they will use it against Europe to bring about that last hadith (Islamic commentaries on sayings and activities of Mohammed and his companions) that calls for total chaos, lawlessness, and havoc in the world, which creates the circumstance for Imam Mahdi (the Islamic messianic figure) to appear."

Kahlili bemoaned the oppression of the Iranian people by their government, and told Fleisher about the circumstances which made him leave the Revolutionary Guards and become a spy against them for the American CIA. His new book, "A Time to Betray: The Astonishing Double Life of a CIA Agent inside the Revolutionary Guards of Iran", details his experiences fighting against a regime he says is tyrannizing his people.

Kahlili (whose real name is hidden from the public for fear of reprisals against him and his family) grew up in Tehran in an upper-middle class family. Educated in the United States in the early 1970's, Kahlili – like many Iranians during that dramatic time –Islamic revolution of 1979 to help build his country. returned to Iran after the

"During the Shah era (prior to the Revolution)… it was a very open society. Muslims, Christians, and Jews. They enjoyed each other, the community was a happy community, and everybody was free to pursue their goals and take advantage of opportunities provided. Iranians were wealthy…there was laughter and joy, and I've reminisced about those times many times," said Kahlili.

But discontent brewed in the society. "The only thing lacking at that time was political freedom, freedom of speech... Sometimes people were taken to prison and tortured – but nothing like what goes on today in Iran," said Kahlili. "But that was the weakness of the Shah. Perhaps we didn't understand the limitations of the era we were living in, but people wanted more."

 

 

When the revolution took place with overwhelming public support, Kahlili believed it would increase freedom and democracy amongst the people. He decided to return to Iran. At the recommendation of a childhood friend, he joined the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, an ideological militia with a generalized power in the army and amongst the populace.

Despite its reputation for extremism and cruelty, Kahlili says the average Guard member was an ordinary worker who showed up on time, chatted with co-workers, did his work, and went home at the end of the day.

"However," he said, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's regime veered sharply away from the westernized country the Shah had fashioned, becoming a stern Islamic republic with a theocratic constitution. The brutality with which the Supreme Leader's dictates were carried out soon began to disillusion Kahlili.

"The Ayatollah was imposing his will on the people and had lied to them," said Kahlili. He described one scene at Evin Prison in northwest Tehran which so disgusted him that he decided he must do anything he could to bring down the regime upholding these practices.

"Once they gathered young kids – 15, 16, 17 years old – in the courtyard, and they picked one of them, hanged him from a tree, and mutilated him in front of the others, just to bring pain and horror into the hearts of these young people," said Kahlili.

It was too much to bear for Kahlili. "I was shocked, I was horrified, and totally heartbroken and wanted to do everything I could possibly do to bring down this vicious regime, and that's when I decided to travel to the United States."

 

Kahlili ultimately made contact with the CIA, which utilized him to provide information on schemes of the Revolutionary Guard and associated terror organizations. Over the years, he provided information about Iranian payments to Palestinian suicide groups.

Today's Iran is essentially the same as that of the Ayatollah, according to Kahlili. President Ahmadinejad portrays himself as a folk leader in the country to garner support, an Islamic leader who will bring freedom to the oppressed.

"The fact of the matter is that they have oppressed and suffocated, raped, tortured and killed thousands of Iranians just to stay in power," said Kahlili.

"They are the most brutal dictators that the world has ever seen, and they are vicious, and they care less about the well-being of the Palestinian people or others…They are not the defender of the oppressed, they are not concerned with the well-being of the Middle East, they are post-modernist killers." 

"[At the prison] they would rape teenage girls before they would execute them just to deny them Heaven, because, based on their ideology, a virgin who was executed would go to Heaven." "there were radicals – the minority in the Guards - who would do anything, including torture, rape and kill anybody who opposed the regime, including members of the Revolutionary Guard themselves. If anyone was found to be in any way active… against the regime, they would be taken to prison and horrible things would be done to them." 

Kahlili also noted that despite Ahmadinejad's fierce anti-Semitism and personal desire to eradicate Israel, the average Iranian does not hate Jews.

"Before the Revolution, we had many Iranians who were Jews, and there were many marriages between Muslims and Jews. The Iranians do not look at Jews, the Iranians do not look at Israelis the same way as the Iranian government." Kahlili said.

 

 

"[The Iranian people] would welcome anybody – they would welcome Israel – to help them get rid of this regime." 

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A Lost Eternity & A Devil's Hell: HowTragic!

The Dogs Bark But
The Caravan Moves On!
By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

Years ago I saw an interesting cartoon with the caption, ‘The Dogs Bark but the Caravan Moves ON.’ The cartoon featured a large elaborate caravan drawn by a number of powerful horses, with a few mangy little dogs biting at its wheels as it passed by them!


Immediately, I thought about the Gospel Message of the Jesus Christ, that has been lied about, vilified, discounted, ignored and rejected by ‘Enemies of the Cross’ for nearly 2000 years and yet continues to be heralded across the world in great power!


The Gospel marches on regardless of low-life, fame-seeking authors, penning distortions, lies and historical revisions in their hatred of Jesus Christ and their ‘love of Money’! Their lust-filled, play-acting cohorts together with money-grubbing perverts in Hollywood’s Movie conglomerates have been unable to stop the everlasting truth of Jesus of Nazareth and His sacrificial, vicarious death on the cross and glorious resurrection from the dead!


God is in charge of everything! When the ocean tides come in and rush back out to sea, they carry with them refuse from the shore. The love of God is an ‘Ocean Divine’. It cleans up human lives, sweeping away the filth and garbage, leaving a clean slate! St. John stated: “If we walk in the light as He is in the Light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1: 7)


WHO CAN STOP A RIVER?


Damn it up and it will detour or go underground! A river is awesome and at high tide unstoppable, as it sweeps inland and often leaving fertile soil in its wake. The Bible is a river of life, cleansing minds and spirits of those who receive its life-giving nourishment and depositing fertile ground for the gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit to grow and operate.
For nearly two millennia Gospel preachers have walked for miles, ridden horseback and travelled by land, sea and air to share the GOOD NEWS with people of all races, religions and cultures, dispensing hope, peace and joy through our Lord Jesus Christ!


Many have been brutally beaten, imprisoned, tortured and martyred. Their only crime was sharing God’s divine (gr. Agape) love with the people and wanting to help them. Christian martyrs have died trying to save souls, while Islamic suicide martyrs die trying to kill as many people as possible!


It has been said: “God’s Mills grind slowly.” His payday is not always on Friday or at month’s end! The Bible says: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” (Heb. 9: 27); “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God?” (Heb.10: 31); “Do not be deceived. God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows that he will also reap.” (Gal.6: 7); “How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation...” (Heb.2: 3)


St. Paul stated: “For we must all (believers) appear before the judgment (heb. bema) seat of Christ to receive those things done in the body, according what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing therefore, the wrath of the Lord, we persuade men…” (2 Cor.5: 10-11)


The Bible describes the ‘Great White Throne Judgment’ where unbelievers will stand trial: “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by things that were written in the books…And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the Lake of Fire.” (Rev. 20: 11-15)


CHANGE AFTER REALITY CHECK!


After more than forty years in the Ministry I have documented many great conversions among those who had previously been vile sinners, atheists, free thinkers and others. Here are only a few great testimonies of God Divine power liberating sinners – all slaves of satanic intrigue and unbelief!
AUGUST STRINDBERG - celebrated Swedish author – made this powerful statement shortly, before his death: “Clearly said: I ascribe all my misfortune to this one fact, that I have been godless! An individual that has broken contact with God cannot receive any blessings. All this talk about ‘being your own man and making your own happiness’ is chaff. If the Lord does not build the house, they labour in vain who build it. This is the whole truth! That misfortune can also strike a person of faith, we know. But the outcome is not the same. These accidents seem only like trials that pass over and leave peace in their wake! A curse rests upon all that an ungodly person puts his hand to. If money comes his way it will disappear like it came. Nothing remains – nothing prospers in the life of the ungodly!”


Last year Norway’s Lutheran Newspaper, ‘Dagen’ carried this report: “THE CROSS ON AUGUST STRINDBERG’S GRAVE - On the Swedish Author August Strindberg’s grave, there has been raised a simple wooden cross. It carries quite a short inscription: ‘Hail to you cross, my Only hope!’


“Mikkel Vigilius made that statement in his May 1st. speech. He pointed out that August Strindberg had been a blasphemer most of his life. He had given himself over to a life of drinking and adultery, immersed himself in occultism and destroyed one marriage after another. He had given himself more violently to sinful practices then most men had.


“Near the end of his life, however, he became totally convinced that the Bible was God’s Word, and that shortly he would meet God. In that situation he saw only one hope for salvation” Christ’s cross! Christ’s work of salvation him”, said Vigilius. And he stated further: “But the truth is that if Strindberg died in that faith, he is SAVED! And in reality, no one can be saved in any other way. By Christ’s cross and His saving work alone!”


GEORGE W. SHAW (1856-1950) winner of 1925 Nobel Prize in Literature said: “I am ready to admit after contemplating the world and human nature for 60 years that I see no way out of the world’s miseries but by the way that would be found by Christ’s will.”
ABRAHAM LINCOLN stated: “I now see as never before the preciousness of God’s love in Jesus Christ, and how we are brought near to God as our Father by Him.”


BLAISE PASCAL, French mathematician, scientist and philosopher (1623-1662) declared: “Man is an incomprehensible monster, at once sovereign greatness and sovereign misery… If they turn their back on God, one of two things will happen. They will think they are gods and become insane or turn to carnality and become animals.”


DAG HAMMERSJØLD, United Nations General Secretary, made this statement in 1956: “Unless the world experiences a thoroughly life - gripping spiritual awakening in the very near future, it will be irredeemably lost!”


MALCOLM MUGGERIDGE, Former Marxist, celebrated writer, broadcaster and actor poured his time and talents into writing Christian apologetics, which portray a living Saviour, after his much – publicized conversion to our Lord Jesus Christ! In his book The Man Who Lives, Muggeridge writes:


“That the resurrection happened, and that in consequence of it Jesus’ followers who had scattered drew together again, and resolved to go about their Master’s business, seems to me to be indubitably true. Likewise Jesus’ claim to be the light of the world, and His related promise that through Him we may be reborn into new men, liberated from servitude to the ego and our appetites into the glorious liberty of the children of God …


“If the story of Jesus’ ended on Golgatha, it would indeed be of a Man Who Died, but as two thousand years later the Man’s promise that ‘where two or three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them’ manifestly still holds, it is actually the story of a Man Who lives!”


Muggeridge’s counsel to a troubled world is worth listening to: “Christ is the only answer to an insane world… They will not understand that the trouble with the Western Civilization is not economics, but more – good and evil! They are thinking they can make things work by policies, inventions, but man will never live on this planet without God.”
WILLIAM GLADSTONE, statesman, Prime Minister and unquestionably one of Great Britain’s most able and greatest legal minds of the 1800s stated: “Talk about the questions of the day! There is but one question and that is the Gospel. That can and will correct everything. I am glad to say that about all the men at the top in Great Britain are Christians. I have been in public office fifty-eight years, all but eleven of them in the cabinet of the British Government, and during these forty-seven years have been associated with sixty of the master-minds of the century, and all but five of the sixty were Christians.”


WINSTON CHRUCHILL, famous British Prime Minister during World War 11 stated: “The return of Christ is man’s only hope.” This quotation is taken from the writings of Great Britain’s brilliant writer, Kenneth DeCoursey, revealing his private conversations with Sir Winston Churchill!


GOD’S GREAT ANVIL!


Jesus Christ stated: “I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matt.16: 18); “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Matt.21: 22, 24)


C.S. LEWIS, brilliant British Oxford professor and Christian author (1898-1963) stated: “I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing about Him: “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say.


“A man who was merely a man and said things that Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg – or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse… But let us not come up with any patronizing nonsense about Him being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”


Many skeptics, agnostics, atheists, communists and modernist theologians have worn out their hammers on God’s great anvil. They have gone to their reward: A lost eternity and a devil’s hell. The cartoonist was right: ‘The dogs keep barking but the Caravan continues moving on.’ Praise the Lord!

Jesus said: Take My Gospel into all the world. I give you My Power and Authority. Use My Name. Don't Stop. Be Faithful until Death & I will Give you the Crown of Life

O' CHURCH, WHEREIN

LIES YOUR GREAT STRENGTH?

By Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

"And it came to pass afterward, that Samson loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. And the lords of the Philistines came up unto her, and said unto her, Entice him, and see wherein his great strength lieth, and by what means we may prevail against him: and we will give thee every one of us eleven hundred pieces of silver." (Judges 16: 4, 5)

O' Church of the living God, wherein lies your great success? What is the secret of your supernatural power and authority? From whence do you derive such boldness, integrity, humility, and strength? From whom did you receive the permission, authority and mandate to defy Satan's kingdom of darkness and despoil his assets? Who gave you the power to save hell-bound souls, heal sick bodies and minds and cast out unclean spirits, from sinful, sick, tormented and bound humanity?

O' Church, Who is your Great King?  What is the name of your Kingdom?  Wherein lieth your great strength? What is your Secret? Why do Demons tremble at your Command?

The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord; She is His new creation by water and the Word: From Heav'n He came and sought her to be His holy bride; With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died!

MARTIN LUTHER, the leader of the Protestant Reformation, was asked: "Where will you be, when the whole world is against you - the Cardinals, the Archbishops, the Pope, the Nobles and the Emperor? Where will you be then, Martin Luther?" The great reformer answered: "Then, as now, I will be in the hands of God!"  What a secure place to be - in the hands of God!

GIRALOMO SAVONAROLA, Bishop of Florence Italy (1452-1498), called 'The Herald of the Reformation', was a mighty man of God and a martyr! Martin Luther often spoke of him and John Hus - the Bohemian monk - who was burned at the stake by the apostate church even earlier!

Savonarola lived at the time of the Borgias – a wicked coterie of Cardinals and Popes - who committed evil, criminal acts, and plunged the Church into the most degraded condition of its existence!  He spent much time in fasting and prayer and seeking God, while denouncing the corruption of the Church!

His righteous sermons of repentance shook Florence and therural areas of Italy, before his martyrdom! 

In 1497 he declared: "Come here, wretched Church…In your lechery you are a shameless whore. Once you blushed for your sins, but not now. The priests used to call their sons nephews. Now they are not nephews, but sons plain and simple.” Taken from ‘The Man of the Renaissance’ (page 81) by Historian Ralph Raedor.

SAVONAROLA correctly prophesied that the Pope, the King of Naples, and Lorenzo de Medici of Florence, would all die within one year. Another prophecy, that judgment would befall Italy because of their sins, was also fulfilled when France invaded Italy and sacked Naples in 1494.

God revealed to him that he had only eight years to preach before his death. That was fulfilled when he was eventually ex-communicated by the Pope, and burned at the stake!

JOHN KNOX, another great reformer – cried out to God: “Give me Scotland or I die!” God heard his prayers and Scotland remained free from Rome’s tyranny! Bloody Queen Mary of Scots stated: “I fear the prayers of John Knox more than the armies of England!”

ALEXUS de TOCQUILLE, member of the French Academy, wrote in 1931: "I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbours and her ample rivers, and it was not there: in her rich mines and her vast world commerce and it was not there. Not until I went into the Churches of America, and heard her pulpits aflame with righteousness, did I understand the secret of her genius and power!"

DISCOVER SAMSON'S POWER!

The elders of the Philistines approached Delilah, Samson's lover, with an offer of eleven hundred pieces of silver from each of them, if she could uncover the secret of his great power, so that they might "prevail against him".

SAMSON is a type of the Church; bold, daring and powerful, defeating the enemies of God! Samson was a gift from God to his parents and to the nation of Israel, which he served as a judge for 40 years.

He was consecrated to the Lord, a Nazerite from birth and dedicated to his mission. He was not allowed to drink wine or strong drink, and his lips were sealed regarding his vows. As a sign of his consecration, Samson could not cut his hair. To break that vow would break his consecration to God! It would result in his demise!

Similarly, as the lords of the Philistines didn't understand Samson or know the source of his power, the devil and the world do not understand the Church or the source of our supernatural power!

And as the lords of the Philistines offered huge sums of money to Delilah to discover the source of his immense power, Satan is bidding high to discover our weaknesses in his quest to wrestle from us our great power!

The Bible says: "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the foundation of the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Cor.7, 8, 14).  Here are some vital truths regarding this very important matter:

1. OUR UNIQUENESS AS THE BODY OF CHRIST

 We Are The Church:

We have special status because we are a part of the Church - (Gr - Ekklesia - called out ones). The  Church is the Body of Christ! We are disciples, followers and imitators of Jesus Christ! The early Christians were called, among other things - The Family of Jesus!

We Are Born Again:

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." (John 3:3,7). We are born of the Word of God and the Spirit of God. (I Peter 1: 18, 19)

We Are Changed By God's Power:

"And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in time past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

"But God, Who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us; Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened (made alive) us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved). And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2: 1 - 6).

We Are Spirit-Filled:

Jesus promised: "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me..." (Acts 1: 8); "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost and spake with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2: 4);

"And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; Whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." (John 14; 16 -17)

We Are Chosen of God:

"Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you." (John 15: 16);

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. 

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (purchased people); that ye should show forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light."  (1 Peter 2: 5, 9);

 

"According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love." (Eph. 1: 4)   

    

We Are Children of God:

"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit Himself beareth witness that we are the children of God." (Romans 8: 14, 16); 

"Beloved, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him like He is." (1 John 3: 1, 2)

We Are Heirs of God & Joint Heirs with Christ:

      

"And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with Him, that we may be glorified together. For I reckon, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8: 17, 18).

We Are Temples of the Holy Spirit:

"What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Cor.6: 19, 20).  

"For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones!" (Eph. 5: 30);

 

"At that day, ye shall know that I am in the Father, and ye in Me, and I in you. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love Him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." (John 14: 20, 23);

"I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing. If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." (John 15: 5, 7)

2. OUR CONSECRATION TO GOD

     

 We Are A Separate People:

"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and I walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be  a Father unto you, and ye shall My sons and daughters, saith the Lord  Almighty." (2 Cor. 6: 16 -18).

We Are A Holy People Unto God:

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ: As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:

“But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, BE YE HOLY; FOR I AM HOLY. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness." (I Pet. 1:13 - 16; 2 Pet. 3: 11)

3. OUR DEDICATION TO GOD

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, perfect, will of God." (Rom. 12: 1, 2)

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher (perfector) of our faith; Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb. 12: 1, 2)

 “And when He had called the people unto Him with His disciples also, he said unto them. Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosever shall lose his life for My sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” (Mark 8: 34, 35)

“Jesus said unto him. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matt. 22: 37)

Our sole responsibility is to love the Lord and serve Him to fullest of our ability and serve our fellowman with God's love in our hearts! If we become complacent, Satan will get the advantage over us. We cannot, must not and will not, let that happen!

 4. OUR LOVE & REVERANCE FOR GOD!

      

The Bible says: "And unto the man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." (Job 28: 28);

 

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding." (Prov. 9: 10); "We love Him because He first loved us." (1 John 4: 19)

Dr. James Dobson, a Christian psychologist, interviewed the notorious rapist and killer, Ted Bundy on International TV.  Knowing that Bundy had been adopted by loving parents who raised him in a godly home, Dr. Dobson asked him: "When did you stop loving Jesus?" Bundy answered: "I never stopped loving Jesus." Startled by that answer, the psychologist asked him how that could possibly be! Ted Bundy replied: "I lost the fear of God."

THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED TO SAMSON!

 

He broke his vow, because he had lost the fear and reverence for God in his heart. It happened gradually. He visited a prostitute in Gaza and God was still with him!

With his enemies camped outside, saying, "In the morning, we will kill Samson", the Holy Ghost awakened him at midnight. Samson ripped loose the pillars of the city gate and carried them to the top of Hebron.  Then he picked up a jawbone of an ass and slew 1000 Philistines, because God was still with him! His vows, consecration, covenant and God’s grace still covered him!

Samson disregarded the warnings! As he continued down the path of backsliding, he played a dangerous game with a woman from the enemy camp. Repeatedly there were red flags, but he disregarded them all until he crossed the dead-line, and God's ‘hammer of judgment’ fell!

He had given away God’s secret. No longer was his vow holy! It didn’t matter anymore, what anyone said or did. He was hooked and refused to see the disaster looming before him. His sacred consecration meant nothing anymore! He gave it all away! What did he get in return? Humiliation, shame, derision and death!

God's champion, who had been chosen before his birth, consecrated to Almighty God and had vowed to live a separated and sanctified life, was chained by the Philistines and led away in shame! His strength was gone and the enemy gouged out his eyes with hot pokers, and he was forced to grind at the mill like a brute beast!

SATAN CAME TO STEAL, KILL

AND DESTROY!

Jesus called the Evil One, by three names: Satan (heb - adversary, enemy), devil (gr. - liar, false accuser, traducer) and Be’el’ze-bub (god of flies, filth).

The Bible says: "And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through Thy name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10: 17 - 19)

Jesus stated: "No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house." (Mark 3: 27).

The religious Pharisees accused our Lord Jesus Christ of casting out devils by the prince of devils. That of course is impossible! If Satan rose up against himself, he would have an end. Jesus corrected them by declaring that He cast out evil spirits by the Spirit of God, and that was a sign that the Kingdom of God had come unto them!

Satan is a strong man who chains and enslaves his victims, but Jesus is the ‘Stronger Man’ who binds the devil and liberates them from bondage! Our Lord said: "The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly." (John 10: 10);

We must also be on guard, so that cares and pleasures do not take the upper place in lives! Jesus warned: "And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the Word, and it becometh unfruitful." (Mark 4: 19)

Remember, our Saviour will soon return and His reward is with Him. (Rev. 20: 7, 12, 20). He is returning for a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle. (Eph.5: 27).  I want to be a part of that Church, don't you? Let's make sure that when He comes, we'll be ready and waiting to meet Him!

HOW DO WE RECEIVE GOD’S POWER?

 Through God’s Word: 

"For the Word of God is quick (alive) and powerful, and is sharper than any two-edged 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)

The Word of God ministers to our entire being: spirit, soul (mind) and body! It brings divine healing to our spirits through the new birth and when we are filled with the Holy Spirit. It brings divine healing to our minds as we read and meditate upon its life giving truths. And it gives divine healing to our bodies as we appropriate His Word to ourselves!

You may say: “I do not see divine healing in that Scripture?” Let me ask you: “What is the Word of God doing in the joints and marrow of our bones?” There is NO SIN there, but there may be cancer, arthritis, multiple sclerosis or some other disease in the joint, marrow or bones of our body!

The Word of God also straightens out our thinking in every area of our lives because it is “the discerner of the thoughts and intents of our heart.”

“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual song, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Col.3:16);

 

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Rom. 10:17)

 By His Holy Spirit:

Jesus said: “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1: 8)

St. Paul stated: “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit." (Eph.5: 18); “For the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

“To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of Spirits; to another diverse kinds of tongues’ to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.” (1 Cor. 12: 7 -11)

Through Jesus’ Blood:

“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His OWN BLOOD He entered in once into the holy place (Holy of Holies) having obtained eternal redemption for us.

 

"How much more shall the BLOOD OF CHRIST, who through the Eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the Living God?” (Heb.9:12, 14)

“For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures oif the true, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us…but now at the end of the world (age) hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of HIMSELF.

 

"So Christ was once offered to BEAR THE SINS OF MANY; and unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Heb.9: 24, 26, 28)

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus. By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the VEIL, that is to say, HIS FLESH." (Heb. 10: 19);

 

 “And they overcame the devil by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev. 12: 11) 

Through the shed BLOOD of Jesus Christ we have total freedom and assurance. By the blood of His cross, Jesus has purchased our freedom from fear, guilt, condemnation, torment, demonic oppression, pride, lust, hatred, jealousy, sickness, disease and evil habits!

Through Jesus’ precious BLOOD, we are cleansed, washed, forgiven, redeemed, justified and sanctified! We receive His forgiveness, assurance, joy, divine healing and eventually eternal glory in Heaven.

 

His blood guarantees access to the Father through the blessed Holy Spirit, a total purging of our conscience and His perfect peace!(Heb.9: 11-14; 10: 19; Col.1: 20)

In Jesus’ Holy Name:

Our Lord Jesus commanded His followers to take His Word, His Power and His Name into all the world, and preach the message of hope, peace, joy and divine healing.

 

He made it clear that He would “never leave us or forsake us” and that He would send the Blessed Holy Spirit to work with us and confirm His Word with signs following! (Mark 16: 15-20)

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, am with you always, even unto the end of the (age) world.” (Matt.28: 18-20)

"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents (like Paul on Malta); and if they drink any deadly thing (Some Pentecostal preachers forced to do so in Soviet Prisons), it shall not hurt them; they shall lay their hands upon the sick and they shall recover." (Mark 16: 15 - 18).

“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.” (Col. 3: 17).

May we all learn a lesson from Samson, so that we always stay clear of the pitfalls that Satan sets for us, knowing that when we walk with God - with a clear conscience – nothing is impossible to us! In fact, “All things are possible to Him that believeth!” (Mark 9: 23)

PUTTING EVERYTHING IN PERSPECTIVE!

The Bible says: “And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence toward God.

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 2: 19 -22)

"If our heart condemns us, it is because of sin or fear in our lives, but God has a remedy for sin: “The Blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1: 7). When the sin is gone through the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus, we have confidence (faith) to ask for the impossible in His name!

There is another important  thing we must do: “…because we keep His commandments.” (v.22). You may ask:  "What is that commandment?" The Bible says: “And this is His commandment, That we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as He gave us commandment."

The Scripture  says: “And this is the confidence (faith) that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” (1 John: 14, 15).

We must remain vigilant, keep His commandments and study God’s Word to comprehend His will. Then, as we appropriate His promises to us, we will see His mighty hand outstretched in forgiveness, healing, deliverance and revival! Praise the Lord!Amen