It's the Legend of Legends that Give Hope!
Saturday, September 30, 2023
Friday, September 29, 2023
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Exposing the Government's Secret Plan to Grab 30% of America's Land
Dennis Edwards: The New World Order keeps marching forward to bring a hell on earth. The imagination of evil men is evil continually. The rulers of the darkness of this world want to put mankind into slavery. We are worthless cattle that are using up too much of the world's resources. The ultimate goal will be to bring in the New World Order where government has total control. Prepare yourself spiritually by having a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. Join together with like minded people and see what you can to do to warn others, but especially help others find God through the love of Jesus. With God's love in our hearts and His word in our minds we will be able to withstand in the evil days ahead. God's word predicts the evil men shall not succeed, but will meet a horrendous end. The meek shall inherit the earth and delight themselves in the abundance of peace, but first all hell will break out and the world will experience the Great Tribulation. If Jesus Himself did not shorten the days of tribulation mankind would destroy itself. But Jesus will intervene, stop nuclear doomsday, and destroy those who have bound themselves to spiritual darkness for power, wealth, sex, and fame. Hold on to your hats, brothers and sisters. Prepare for the evil days ahead by receiving Jesus today and let Him help you find your way to a brighter future here and now and forever.
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Monday, September 25, 2023
Sunday, September 24, 2023
Peace Pact with Saudi Arabia Prepares Way for Invasion from the North!
Last Friday, the 22nd of September 2023, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, announced that a possible peace treaty between Israel and Saudi Arabia was not far from completion. We will look at the prophecies of Ezekiel which mention Saudi Arabia as part of a coalition with Israel in the Endtime battles in the Middle East. The present political alignments between USA, Israel, with Saudi Arabia, against the alignment of the nations of Russia, Turkey, and Iran, seem to be found in scripture. We could soon be on the way to the signing of the Holy Covenant and the beginning of the last seven year period that ultimately leads to the second coming of Jesus Christ.
Ezekiel’s invasion of Israel from the north.
In Ezekiel we find a very interesting prophecy about the invasion of Israel from the north in the last days. Let us read from Ezekiel 38.
“And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him, And say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal:”[Ezekiel 38:1-3]
Some Bible scholars believe this prophecy is talking about the invasion of Israel by the “king of the north” in the last days. Some designate Russia as the possible home of Gog, Magog, Messhech and Tubal. Others suggest Turkey , Iraq, or Iran.
“And I will turn thee back, and put hooks into thy jaws, and I will bring thee forth, and all thine army, horses and horsemen, all of them clothed with all sorts of armour, even a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords: Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya with them; all of them with shield and helmet: Gomer, and all his bands; the house of Togarmah of the north quarters, and all his bands: and many people with thee. Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.”[Ezekiel 38:4-7]
“After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.”[Ezekiel 38:8]
It is only since 1948 that Israel has been a country once again after nearly 1,878 years since the time of Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 A.D. Today’s Israel has been gathered out of many nations as the Jewish people have returned from the countries where they had been dispersed for nearly 2,000 years. The country laid waste in the hands of the Bedouin Arabs, but since the Jews have returned the desert has blossomed like the rose [Isaiah 35:1] and Israel exports fruit all over world,[Isaiah 27:6] just like the prophecies of Isaiah predicted. Some believe it’s all a fulfilment of those prophecies.
In Ezekiel we see the northern confederacy of nations are coming against a restored Israel, dwelling safely. Is Israel safe today? Not absolutely safe, but safer than she has been in many years, especially if the peace agreement with the Saudis is finalized. Israel has dominated the Palestinians and their friends. Defeated Lebanon and Egypt and Syria in war. America defeated Iraq and Libya, some believe, at the behest of their Israeli friend. Israel has a peace treaty with Egypt and Jordan. Both Israel and Saudi Arabia see Iran as a threat to Middle East stability, and therefore have a good working relationship and soon a peace agreement. Syria’s recent war has left it devastated and no threat to Israel. So I would be so bold to say that Israel is dwelling safer today than she has been in the last 70 years.
The Antichrist, the King of the North, will come against Israel, the King of the South.
“Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee. Thus saith the Lord God ; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: And thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates, To take a spoil, and to take a prey; to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.”[Ezekiel 38:9-12]
“Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil? hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey? to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?”[Ezekiel 38:13]
Who are Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish?
Sheba and Dedan are considered by Bible scholars to be the country of Saudi Arabia, which just happens to be a strong ally of America and Israel at this moment in time and will soon finalize a peace agreement with Israel. The Saudis and some of their neighbouring kingdoms are Sunni Muslims, while Iran, which is not an Arab country, is a Shi’ite Muslim nation. Iran is allied with Russia and Turkey, while Saudi Arabia is allied with America and Israel. Egypt, also, has a peace agreement with Israel and receives massive financial aid from the USA. There is a division among the Sunni and the Shi’ite Muslims and especially between Iran and Saudi Arabia for the title of the most dominant Muslim nation. Russia has been backing the Syrian Shi’ite nation in the recent conflict in the Middle East. In the prophecy we see Saudi Arabia and its allies questioning "Gog's" or Russia’s intentions in the Middle East. Russia also has built a naval base in Syria just north of Israel.
Concerning the “merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof,” there has been much debate about exactly who they represent. Some say Tarshish was Spain and therefore since the Spanish Empire reached to the Americas, the USA could be included in her “young lions.” Others push Tarshish up to England as tin was known to come from Tarshish and England was rich in tin. The British Empire reached even further than the Spanish Empire including North America, and Australia which would be considered England’s “young lions.” In either case, we can include America as part of the “young lions” which ally with Israel. Since England and America are greater friends of present day Israel than Spain, I am inclined to give the “merchants of Tarshish” to the British rather than the Spanish. The British proved far greater merchants than the Spanish and extended their empire around the world. Back to the prophecy of Ezekiel.
Why will God let the invasion of Israel take place?
“Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when my people of Israel dwells safely, shalt thou not know it? And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: And thou shalt come up against my people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against my land, that the heathen may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes. Thus saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by my servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?”[Ezekiel 38:14-17]
It is at this point in time that Israel will be judged for her sins in sight of all the nations of the world. The Antichrist, who is the beast, is also the king of the north, and shall come against Israel to judge her and her allies for their sins against God and man. All the world will know that Israel deserves it for the way they have treated the Palestinian people in captivity and for many other crimes perpetrated through their intelligence organization the Mossad which is the Israeli CIA.
Are there any other prophecies that confirm the conclusions we are making?
The prophet Jeremiah also spoke concerning the days of Israel’s judgment.
“For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. And these are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.”[Jeremiah 30:3-7 KJV]
Jeremiah is predicting the return of the Jews to Jerusalem and Israel after its destruction. Often Scripture has intermediate fulfilment and then final fulfilment of prophecy. We have seen this with Antiochus Epiphanes and Titus in their placing the abomination of desolation in the Temple. Here we see it again. As Jeremiah’s prophecy could be considered fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem by both Nebuchadnezzar and Titus. However, many Bible scholar’s predict a third destruction and consider that final destruction: “Jacob’s trouble.” At the end of the chapter we read,
“Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goes forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked. The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.”[Jeremiah 30:23-24 KJV]
Here we see God is going to judge the wicked in the latter days. He is going to judge Israel and ultimately judge the world, and judge the Antichrist who Apostle Paul called "the wicked one." In Zechariah we also have seen the same scenario. God judging both Israel and the world. Let’s get back to Ezekiel 38 where we see the same picture.
Ezekiel’s Prophecy Continues
“And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord God, that my fury shall come up in my face. For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground. And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, saith the Lord God: every man's sword shall be against his brother. And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone. Thus will I magnify myself, and sanctify myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”[Ezekiel 38:18-23 KJV]
Where else do we see hailstones, fire, and brimstone in the Bible?
Let us note here the term “great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.” Do we see these terms used elsewhere in the Scriptures? In the book of Revelation we do. The first angel of sounded the first trumpet of tribulation and we see hail and fire mixed together.
“The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up.”[Revelation 8:7 KJV ]
The next place in the book of Revelation where we see “fire and brimstone” is close to the end of the tribulation trumpets. There are seven tribulation trumpets. The seventh is the “last trump” which Apostle Paul said would be when Jesus returns and the rapture takes place. Let’s read from Paul’s writings.
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” [1 Corinthians 15:51-52 KJV]
Obviously, Apostle Paul is talking about the rapture or resurrection of the saints at the last day when Christ returns for His church. We see Paul designates it as the “last trump.” Apostle John reveals in Revelation that there are seven trumpets of tribulation.
Of course, I have called them the trumpets of tribulation because each trumpet pronounces a terrible plague upon the earth, although not as terrible as the “vials of wrath” which will be poured out later. The trumpets bring usually a one-third destruction: a one-third destruction of the trees, one-third destruction of the creatures that live in the sea, one-third destruction of the ships that sail the seas, a one-third destruction of nature’s light source, and a one-third destruction of mankind.
Let’s look at the sixth trump, the one before the “last trump,” and see what kind of destruction it foretells.
“One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.”[Revelation 9:12-18 KJV]
So here we see once again the “fire and brimstone” helping to bring about the death of a third of mankind with some two hundred million men going to war.
At this point in Revelation the seventh angel begins to sound and John is not permitted to share with us what the seven thunders uttered. But he does say the following: “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.”[Revelation 10:7 KJV ]
What is the Mystery of God that Apostle John was not allowed to share?
Is Apostle John talking about the same mystery Apostle Paul noted in his letter to the Corinthians, the mystery of the rapture at the “last trump”? In Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians we read:
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”[1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 KJV ]
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”[Matthew 24:29-31 KJV]
Sounds like a lot of noise with all those trumpets blaring.
If God is righteous, He has to judge the wicked.
God is going to judge Israel and her allies for their sins and he will use Antichrist to do it. Just as he used Nebuchadnezzar to judge Israel in 538 B.C. and just as he used Antiochus Epiphanes in 175–164 B.C. and the Roman leader Titus in 70 A.D., so will he use Antichrist to judge the nation of Israel, the Christian Church, the western nations in the not too distant future. But it doesn’t stop there. God only let’s one evil destroy and punish another evil for a time, then in His righteousness, He must intervene and stop the evil Antichrist, and save those who call upon Him and who believe His name. That’s where the rapture takes place at the end of the tribulation trumpets which were being poured on the wicked during the 3 and 1/2 year Great Tribulation period. After the rapture of the saints comes the 75 days of the vials of wrath of God which are poured out upon the unbelieving world and the followers of the Antichrist. Then Jesus returns at the Battle of Armageddon to defeat the devil possessed Antichrist and bring in the 1,000 year Millennium period. Satan is throne into the lake of fire for that period [Revelation 20:1-3] and those who lived through that terrible period will get another chance to come to faith and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.[Daniel 12:12]
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Are We on the Brink of the Prophesized Holy Covenant?
22 September 2023UN Affairs
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Friday that Israel is at the cusp of a “dramatic breakthrough”: a historic peace deal between his country and Saudi Arabia.
“Such a peace will go a long way in ending Arab-Israeli conflict and will encourage other Arab States to normalize their relations with Israel,” he said, adding that it will also enhance prospects of peace with the Palestinians.
The agreement, he emphasized will “encourage a broader reconciliation between Judaism and Islam, between Jerusalem and Mecca, between the descendants of Isaac and the descendants of Ishmael.”
‘Genuine peace’ with Palestinians
Peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia will truly create a new Middle East, the Prime Minster continued, noting that as the circle of peace expands, a real path towards “genuine peace” with Palestinians can finally be achieved.
However, there is a caveat: Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas “must stop spreading the horrible anti-Semitic conspiracies” against the Jewish people, and that the Palestinian Authority must stop supporting and glorifying terrorists.
A ‘visionary corridor’
In his address, Prime Minister Netanyahu also said that a corridor stretching across the Arabian Peninsula and Israel, connecting India with Europe was announced by US President Biden, Indian Prime Minister Modi and European and Arab leaders at the recently held G20 Summit.
The “visionary corridor” would facilitate trade, communication and energy connectivity for the benefit of over two billion people, he said.
For centuries, Israel was invaded by empires passing through it in their campaigns of plunder and conquest elsewhere, “but today, as we tear down the walls of enmity, Israel can become a bridge of peace and prosperity between these continents,” Mr. Netanyahu added.
Fly in the ointment
The Israeli Prime Minister went on to note that there is a “fly in the ointment … the fanatics ruling Iran will do everything they can to thwart this historic peace.”
He denounced Iran for its terrorist acts, including through proxies, threatening international shipping, holding foreign nationals as hostages, killing and arresting many of its own citizens, and supplying drones and missiles that “bring death and destruction to innocent people in the Ukraine.”
“Yet the regime’s aggression is largely met by indifference in the international community,” he said, stressing: “To stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions. This policy must change. Sanctions must be snapped back.”
The AI revolution
In his address, Prime Minister Netanyahu also highlighted the development of artificial intelligence (AI), noting that while it offered immense benefits for humanity, it also posed grave dangers.
The world’s leading nations, however competitive, must address these dangers collectively and quickly, he urged, emphasizing that “we must ensure that the promise of an AI utopia does not turn into an AI dystopia.”
He also noted his country’s role, “just as Israel’s technological revolution provided the world with breathtaking innovations, I’m confident that AI developed by Israel will once again help all humanity.”
Blessings of a new Middle East
Prime Minister Netanyahu concluded his remarks, stating “bring forth the blessings of a new Middle East that will transform lands once written with conflict and chaos, into fields of prosperity and peace.”
https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/09/1141302
Friday, September 22, 2023
Thursday, September 21, 2023
History and Future of the Palestinian/Israeli Conflict
Dennis Edwards: A prophecy by the Old Testament prophet Daniel suggests that at the end of the present dispensation a world agreement will be made by the Antichrist. The agreement may involve allowing the Jewish people to have religious worship and sacrifice on the Temple Mount. Daniel 9:27 says, talking about the Antichrist, that "he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week." In the Hebrew it actually says, "for one seven." The word for seven is the same as the word for week. Hebrew Bible scholars have therefore concluded that the covenant will be confirmed for a seven year period.
The prophecy continues, "and in the midst of the week, (or at the 3 and 1/2 year mark), he (the Antichrist) shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation (prayer) to cease." If the Antichrist stops the Jewish sacrifice and prayer, then it could be that the holy covenant was an agreement to allow the Jewish people to begin sacrificial worship there on the Temple Mount.
The prophecy continues, "and for the overspreading of abominations, he (the Antichrist) shall make it desolate." If the Antichrist is going to make it, the sacrifice and oblation, desolate, that seems to indicate military action against the Jewish people in Jerusalem. The military action will stop the religious sacrifice and worshipping of the Jewish people at the 3 and 1/2 year mark.
Another prophecy in Daniel 11 seems to confirm what we have said so far. In verse 31 we see the Antichrist invading Israel, polluting the sanctuary, taking away the daily sacrifice, and placing the abomination that makes desolate, or causes ruin.
In Jesus' famous prophecy in Matthew 24 he said, referring to the prophecy in Daniel, "When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand), ... For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be."
A prophecy by Apostle Paul was understood by the early Church Fathers to be talking about the same event. In 2 Thessalonians 2 Apostle Paul, while explaining about the second coming of Jesus and our gathering unto Him, said that before Jesus comes, the Antichrist shall sit in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. The sitting in the temple could be referring to the Antichrist's military campaign against Israel which ends with him and his forces taking control of the Temple Mount, stopping the sacrificial worship and placing the abomination that makes desolate, whatever that may be.
Therefore, the above YouTube produced by the Jacobine group could have the goal of gaining support for the Palestinian movement. The Jewish people desperately want to rebuild their Temple and start sacrificial worship once again. Maybe some sort of compromise between the Palestinians, the Jewish people, and the other Arab nations will be worked out in the holy covenant or agreement.
I mentioned that the YouTube was produced by the Jacobine group, because the Jacobins were the violent revolutionary force in the French Revolution which overthrew the King of France and the Cathokic Church. If the producer's of the video chose that name, it may be because their goal is to violently overthrow the present American/Israeli coalition and bring in a new world order with seemingly more justice for the oppressed.
We may see Bible Prophecy fulfilled before our eyes.
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Monday, September 18, 2023
Four Steps to Strengthen Your Christian Armour
What should we to do when we enter moments where we notice our heart is hardening, or we are weak against the temptations of sin and the flesh, or there’s a dryness in our spirit? Gurnall gives a four-point plan to recuperate the fire of the Lord and the Holy Spirit in our bosom. He says, “If you find that your armour has decayed through lack of cleaning, as lack of cleaning is more commonly the cause of decay -- as rust will soon spoil the best of armour, so negligence will give your spiritual life its death. Apply then yourself to the use of those means which God has given for the strengthening of His grace within you. If the fire goes out by taking off the wood, or through neglect, what way is there to preserve it, other than by laying more wood on the fire once again.”
Gurnall then gives four ways to get the fire of the Holy Spirit roaring in your heart once more.
1. ‘I shall send you to the Word of God; be more frequently conversant, or familiar with, or knowledgeable of God’s Word.’ David tells us where he renewed his spiritual life, and got his soul into a heavenly heat, when grace in him began to chill. The Word, he tells us, quickened him. ‘My soul cleaves unto the dust: quicken me according to your word.’ Ps. 119:25. ‘I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto your word.’ Ps. 119:107. ‘Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness.’ Psalm 119 is full of passages of the importance and of the transforming power of God’s word. The Word was the sunny bank that David sat on to commune with his Maker. The Word draws forth the Christian grace, by presenting to everyone something they may act upon. The Word has great power to rouse us up; just as the coming in of an old friend makes us, though sleepy beforehand, shake off all drowsiness to enjoy his company. The Word strengthens our Christian graces as we read of the life of Christ, who laid down His life for us. The Word doesn’t flatter us, but rather exposes our sin, brings us to godly sorrow, renews a hatred of sin within us, and raises in us a commitment to fight the good fight of faith with a renewed fortitude. ‘Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.’ Ps. 119:9. ‘Thy word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against thee.’ Ps. 119:11. Shall we not come forth better men and women from reading what Jesus has done for us?
There is a great treasure of mercy always in the Christian’s hands. Conscience is often calling the Christian to take account, and remember what God has done for him; but seldom do we find time to acknowledge His mercies towards us. And is it any wonder that our spiritual state grows cold, when we take no notice of what gracious dealings God has given us? How can he be thankful who seldom thinks about what he has received? ‘What has thou that thou did not receive?’ asks Apostle Paul. 1 Corinthians 4:7b. Remember God’s people who came out of Egypt. Though they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were they thankful, therefore, God let their imagination become vain and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21. Beware less it happen to any of us. How can we be patient when God afflicts us, and it is one of the most powerful arguments to pacify a mutinous spirit in trouble, when we remember the abundant good we have received at the hands of the Lord, as well as a little evil? How can our soul’s love flame to God, if it is kept at such a distance from remembering the mercies of God, be fuel to the soul’s love of God? It won’t. David sang in prayer, ‘Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.’ David was remembering all of God’s mercies and benefits towards him. He continues, ‘Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases; who redeems your soul from destruction; who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.’ Ps. 103:1-5. Many of the Psalms are songs remembering God’s mercies to the children of Israel: Psalms 105, 106, 107, 135, 136, 145, 147.
Reflect upon yourself, and bestow serious thought upon your own behaviour—how has it been towards God and fellow man throughout the day. Ask yourself, as Elisha asked his servant, “Where have you been? What have you done for God this day and how?” 2 Kings 5:25. Make a thorough search of your heart, and correct your wayward behaviour, less God Himself need correct you. ‘Cause me to hear your lovingkindness in the morning; for in You do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto You. … Teach me to do your will; for You are my God.’ Ps. 143:8 & 10a. ‘Keep your servant also from wilful sins, may they not rule over me.’ Ps. 19:13a NIV.
Just as the moon has the greatest influence on the tides when it is in conjunction with the sun, so, God’s influence to strengthen our Christian graces comes most powerfully through prayer; for it is through prayer that the Christian is in nearest conjunction and communion with God. Prayer has great power with God, but also has a mighty influence on our own lives. Prayer will not let God rest, but raises Him up to His people’s succour, to their assistance and support in times of hardship and distress. Is it any wonder that prayer also is the means to rouse and excite the Christian’s own spiritual graces? How often do we see in the Psalms a dark cloud upon David’s spirit at the beginning of his prayer, which by the time he is a little warm, begins to clear up, and before the psalm ends, he breaks forth into words of faith and acclamations of praise? Only, Christian, take heed of formal praying which is as much as death to grace as not praying at all. ‘But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.’ Matthew 6:7. Pray with all your heart, from your heart, and God will hear and answer and transform your heart and mind and behaviour in the process. 'Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.' Jeremiah 29:13. 'Call upon Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things that you know not of.' Jeremiah 33:3. 'He shall call upon Me and I will answer, I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation.' Psalm 91:15-16.
4. To all the former, add fellowship and communion with the saints who live among you. It is no wonder to hear of a house that is robbed when it stands far from its neighbours. He that walks in communion with the saints, travels in company. He dwells in a city where one house keeps up another, to which Jerusalem is compared to in the Scriptures. It is observable concerning the house in whose ruins Job’s children were entombed, that a wind came from the wilderness and smote the four corners of it. It seems it was a house that stood alone. The devil knows what he is doing in hindering this great ordinance of the communion of the saints in fellowship and service—for in doing this he hinders the progress of grace, and brings the Christian’s spiritual life into a declining, wasting state. The apostle couples those two duties close together, ‘Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised); and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and 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.’ Hebrews 10:23-25.
Indeed, it is a dangerous step to apostasy to forsake the communion of the saints; hence it is said of Demas, he ‘has forsaken us, and loved this present world.’ 2 Timothy 4:10. O what mischief has Satan done to us in these last few years, in this one particular thing! What has become of the communion of the saints? Where can there be found two or three that can agree to walk together? ‘Can two walk together, except they be agreed.’ Amos 3:3. Those that could formerly suffer together, cannot sit together at their Father’s table. They can hardly pray one with or for another. The breath of one Christian is strange to another that once lay in his bosom, ‘This is a lamentation, and shall be for lamentation.’ Ezekiel 19:14 In Psalm 133:1 & 3b we read, ‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for the brethren to dwell together in unity!...for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.’ Fellowship is blessing from the Lord. Jesus Himself said, ‘Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.’ Matthew 18:20.
[i]
Gurnall, William; The Christian in Complete Armour: public
domain; reprinted by Kairos Press; from pages 306-310.
