The Uncircumcised Ear (3rd in End-times Series)

Jer: 6:8-14: Be thou instructed, O Jerusalem, lest my soul depart from thee; lest I make thee desolate, a land not inhabited. 9: Thus saith the LORD of hosts, They shall throughly glean the remnant of Israel as a vine: turn back thine hand as a grapegatherer into the baskets. 10: To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it. 11: Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days. 12: And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD. 13: For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. 14: They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.Why couldn’t the people hear Jeremiah’s warning? Because their ears were uncircumcised. This means that in their heart they had not determined to obey God. As Col. 2:11 Amp. V. says, stripping off the body of the flesh [the whole corrupt carnal nature with its passions and lust.] 

 In order to hear what God is saying, a person must humble themselves and repent of their ways and turn to God’s ways. They must receive God as their Father and Jesus as their Lord. They must reckon themselves crucified with Christ and resurrected Christ living within.15-18: Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. 16: Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. 17: Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.18-23: Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. 19: Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it. 20: To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. 21: Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will lay stumblingblocks before this people, and the fathers and the sons together shall fall upon them; the neighbour and his friend shall perish. 22: Thus saith the LORD, Behold, a people cometh from the North Country, and a great nation shall be raised from the sides of the earth. 23: They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.

 I believe this warning applies to the church at this time as it did to Israel at that time. God says that if you are thinking as the world thinks and therefore behaving for the most part as the world behaves, God will not hear your prayers. He also says that behavior is a stumbling block and you will not know the truth when you hear it. 

 You will believe the lie as in 2Thess: 2:3-15.The people from the north, in this case is the present day theology – the secular theology and the fruit of their own thoughts Christian theology. I’m talking about all the modern Christian understanding that didn’t used to be. [Notice Vs: 16] Beware of all theology that goes against the written word of God.24-26: We have heard the fame thereof: our hands wax feeble: anguish hath taken hold of us, and pain, as of a woman in travail. 25: Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side. 26: O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.

 What needs to be done here is for the church to call the solemn assembly spoken of in Joel: 2:Joel: 2:1-17: Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 2: A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. 3: A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 4: The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. 5: Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 6: Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. 7: They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: 8: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. 9: They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. 10: The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: 11: And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? 12: Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. 14: Who knoweth if he will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the LORD your God? 15: Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: 16: Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. 17: Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?18-27: Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19: Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: 20: But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. 21: Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. 22: Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. 23: Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24: And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25: And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26: And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 27: And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.The northern army is, in this spiritual warning for the church, Babylonian talk or the same worldly thoughts spoken of in the above verses from Jeremiah. The theology that will bring in the New World Order is that theology that carries the strong delusion spoken of in 2Thess: 2.28-32: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: 29: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 30: And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32: And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.

 This is the finish of the promises spoken of in Acts: 2:17-21.27-30: I have set thee for a tower and a fortress among my people, that thou mayest know and try their way. 28: They are all grievous revolters, walking with slanders: they are brass and iron; they are all corrupters. 29: The bellows are burned, the lead is consumed of the fire; the founder melteth in vain: for the wicked are not plucked away. 30: Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them.

 This is how God sees those who say they are His but are uncircumcised in heart.

 © Sylvia Huffnagle

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Warning! Worship God, the Creator (2nd in End-times Series)

Rev: 13:1-6: And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2: And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3: And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4: And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5: And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6: And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.[Excerpt from AFA Journal-Nov/Dec 2007: CNSNews.com defines the Out Campaign as “a movement started by Dawkins to encourage Americans to proudly display their atheism.” ABC News describes the Blasphemy Challenge as a way “to challenge people to make videos of themselves denying, denouncing or blaspheming the Holy Spirit, and then post them on YouTube.” ABC News also calls it “the cutting edge of a new and emboldened wave of atheism.” The Blasphemy Challenge targets teens while an upcoming movie that may have a similar agenda is likely to appeal to families, especially children.]What is this beast? It is the nations united – such as in the United Nations or the Common Market. What is the deadly wound? Jesus put Satan under Christians’ feet. In this day, the will of the people resurrected his lie – Satan used it on Jesus, but Jesus resisted him and put him under His feet. Now most have bought the lie that surely a loving God wouldn’t ask difficult or painful things of mankind. The lie is revived and the truth is slain.How does the beast get to have so much power? The bringing about of this event is in the process right now. Both of the above organizations are working ardently to bring people into agreement with what they believe will bring world peace and prosperity. They are accomplishing their goal of teaching the lawless lies through the schools, through the work-place, and also through legislation and interpretation of legislation. At the right time, the above beast will force his way into office – the majority of nations will be in favor of him. The remaining nations will come into the New World Order reluctantly.They couldn’t have done it without TV and computers. They are very close to achieving their goal of convincing the world population:•

 That homosexuality is just a different life-style. [God says in Rom: 1:25-27: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26: For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.]•

 That abortion is a woman’s right, and that aborted babies should be used for experimentation for the common good. [God says: Thou shall not kill. And choose righteousness.]•

That the youth cannot be expected to abstain from sex so teach them to have sex safely. [God says: Thou shall not commit fornication.]•

 That mercy is more important than prudence and justice. [God says they are all very important.]•

 That unity is more important than truth. [God says they are both very important.]•

 That peace and safety are more important than freedom. [Read the Old Testament; freedom will always be enjoyed or longed after. Peace and safety must be identified within the guidelines of freedom.]•

 That all roads lead to God, not just Jesus. [God says in Acts 4:10-12: Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11: This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12: Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.1Jn: 5:11-12: And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12: He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.])Rev: 13:7-10: And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. 8: And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 9: If any man have an ear, let him hear. 10: He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.Dan: 7:21-27: I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 22: Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. 23: Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces. 24: And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings. 25: And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time. 26: But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. 27: And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.It’s talking there about removing God’s laws to make room for the above precepts and to usher in the most demonic human being ever – the anti-Christ.2Thess: 2:7-12: For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 8: And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10: And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11: And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.Rev: 13:11-12: And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. 12: And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.This beast is the one world religion – Babylon revived – and the lawless one or anti-Christ – that will be a conglomeration of all religions. 

 First they must do away with the laws of God and the truth of His Word.Rev: 13:13-18: And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, 14: And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. 15: And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16: And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18: Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.The man’s number is 666. This is the king of the Babylon mentioned above and this number also means man united or joined together. This is anti-Christ and this is the lawless one. This is where people will have to join the New World Order and receive the mark in order to buy and sell. All people will be required to comply with their rules and will therefore have to reject God’s teachings. Refer to 2Thess: 2:9-15Rev: 14:1-7: And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. 2: And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. 4: These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 5: And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God. 6: And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7: Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.8:12: And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 9: And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 10: The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 11: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. 12: Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.13-16: And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them. 14: And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15: And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16: And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.This is talking about those who die because they will not receive the mark of the beast. This is where God harvests His crop. So where the hundred and forty four thousand are mentioned above – the rapture must take place then too as in Rev: 7:2-10 it talks about the hundred and forty four thousand and then depicts the rapture.(These were the heavenly-minded.) 1 Corinth: 15:45-58: And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46: Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47: The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48: As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49: And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50: Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 51: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52: 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. 53: For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54: So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55: O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56: The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57: But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.(These are the earthly minded.) Rev: 14:17-20: And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18: And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. 19: And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20: And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.

 © Sylvia Huffnagle

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The Flying Scroll (1st in End-times Series)

It is time for the watch dogs of the church to warn the people when the enemy approaches or is already in the camp. One such enemy is the worldly and evil influences all around us. The way to combat this enemy is by feeding on spiritual food and not feeding on carnal stuff.This very important issue needs to be addressed in the body of Christ. It may well be the reason the church does not look like our mirror--the Word of God. This issue plus the proper presentation of the Gospel could make a world of difference.We’ll start with the flying scroll in Zech: 5:1-4: Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. And he said unto me, What seest thou?

 And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof. I believe the flying scroll is referring to pictures and sound flying through the air waves. That would have started with radio and then the cinema and now TV and computers. The scroll comes into people’s houses and for those who do not truly worship God it will become a curse. It becomes a curse because it starts out not too bad, but gradually the content has become more and more ungodly. Those who are not doers of the Word will not listen to God’s admonitions and will therefore feed on this folly and be destroyed. The purpose of this warning is to make all those who confess to be worshippers of God more aware of their daily choices in this evil world.

 5-11: Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. And I said, What is it?

 And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth.

 He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth.

 And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. And he said, This is wickedness.

 And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.

 Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? And he said unto me, to build it an house in the land of Shinar: and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base.So according to this dialogue, the flying scroll will be the devil’s means of corrupting the whole world and soon or eventually wickedness will come to its fullness and the end will be the wedding feast for those who are ready and the wrath of God for those who participate in wickedness.The true Gospel is about Jesus fixing everything that Adam and Eve messed up. They made a wrong choice that opened the door to a ton of negative influences and experiences. Jesus always made right choices and He has opened the door to a positive future and has shut the door to the negative forces for those who make the right choice—to believe in and follow Him. Adam and Eve gave power to the devil and their carnal nature by listening or hearkening to them.

 Jesus put the flesh and the devil in their place by listening only to God.

 God told Adam and Eve to choose righteousness, but they chose their own selfish desires instead, thus bringing selfishness into the world.

 Selfishness is behind all the suffering and bloodshed that goes on here. Jesus denied self and chose to commit the supreme act of agape love in that He shed his own innocent blood for the world--thus making atonement. Salvation works for those who repent of their ways and receive God as their Father--caregiver and authority figure--and Jesus as their Lord and Savior--providing them with wisdom, power, and grace.God’s ultimate purpose in saving man was to restore him to spiritual life. Love is eternal.

 Selfishness is deadly. To be spiritually alive is to have God (love) in your spirit. To have eternal life is to receive Jesus (love) and walk by His Spirit and not by the spirit that Adam and Eve chose. Rom: 8:19: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.The truly saved have covenanted with God to trust and obey Him. God’s purpose was to reconcile mankind back to Him. Adam and Eve died spiritually when they listened to Satan instead of Him.

 Satan became their father. The proper presentation of the gospel will make these things clear because modern understanding had evolved into the idea that God was basically trying to make a way for sinners to go to heaven. Because of that erroneous idea, grace has been exalted above righteousness and truth.

 To get back to basics we must understand that God wants to be our Father--the one we listen to—the one we heed.Prov: 4:23-27: Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Gal: 6:7-8: Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.Eph: 2:2-6:

 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 times 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 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: 4:17-24: 

 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.Jas: 1:21-24: Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 

 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 1Pet: 1:13-16: Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be 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.1Jn: 2:15-17: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.1Jn: 5:18-21: We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. 

 This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. 

 Amen.© Sylvia Huffnagle

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The perfect Rehab For your Executive Retreat

When most of the people consider an executive retreat they think of a getaway, or time absent from an incredibly annoying career or strong place in modern society spent comforting and undertaking nothing. The truth is that a lot of influential and effective folks are afflicted by substance abuse problems, no matter whether the compound of selection is booze or an illegal drug. An executive retreat should help you turn into a stronger individual, one a lot more in a position to cope with the pressures and stresses of the higher intensity profession without resorting to alcohol or medicines. Most rehab centers do not supply the luxury or even the private interest to detail along with the client that executives expect, or that make them perfect for an executive retreat, but at Valiant Recovery we supply treatment for material abuse inside the environment which you are accustomed to, and using a significant caring workers able to fulfill any require you have although helping you recover.

 Upscale options, opulent furnishings and decorations, great dining experiences, along with a material abuse plan that really works are merely a number of the reasons why Valiant Recovery will be the very best choice of services for an executive retreat to deal with material abuse problems. Alcohol and drug abuse can interfere together with your thought processes and occupation capabilities, and an executive retreat will give you some time you should get your existence back with each other. Most rehabs are crowded, with much less than ideal conditions along with a very modest team for a lot of customers. No executive would choose these centers for an executive retreat because of the low budget, bad circumstances, and lack of facilities and providers that executives are utilized to.Valiant Recovery gives an executive retreat exactly where you are able to get away from the stress and problems of daily lifestyle, and simply function on recovering from months or a long time of drug or booze abuse. Being an executive a permanent recovery is crucial throughout your executive retreat, simply because your work and company popularity will depend on your capacity to remain thoroughly clean right after remedy. 

 This means a tailored treatment strategy, person counseling, tools for controlling anxiety and anger, and also other remedies and tactics that may uncover the contributing variables of your compound abuse in the course of your executive retreat. Powerful compound abuse programs which remove your troubles might be costly, but should you can manage an executive retreat at Valiant Recovery we are able to enable you to get your lifestyle back on the proper track, and avoid any derailments and relapses within the future. We realize that executives have special demands and large standards, and we know the way to end material abuse permanently.

 Valiant Recovery Vancouver
 
 610 Granville Street #903, 
 Vancouver, 
 BC 
 V6C 3T3

  (604) 998-4688

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Distractions: Don’t let distractions cause you to miss your blessings

People often wonder “why didn’t God help me?” “why didn’t God answer me?” ”Where was God when I needed him?”

 Often the answer to these questions is that we allowed ourselves to become distracted.

Some may say, No not me…”I prayed”, “I sought after God”, “I did what I was suppose to do” and nothing changed. Well then I would like to ask the questions what made you stop praying? What made you stop seeking God? What made you stop doing what you were supposed to do? 

 Could it be it was because you saw no results taking place, in other words you were distracted by what was not happening. Blessings, faith, and answers are often missed because of distractions.

You start out strong and mighty.

Your mind is made up that you’re going to wait on God until your change come.
But then you realize time is moving on and it seems like nothing still is happening.

In fact, it seems like things are getting worse and the small thought “maybe this is not God’s will for me” or “maybe God is not with me” creeps in. Once the first distraction takes root, it causes you to take your eyes off of the Lord God Almighty that you are waiting on and instead place your eyes on the situation which seems all so wrong.

The more you look at it the more it grows until it now seems bigger than God. Don’t be fooled, a distraction does not always have to be a problem or a situation that seems to be getting worse.

 Sometimes it can be a situation that seems all so right.

 “I know he’s not saved but I believe he really loves me”, “I know this job is going to keep me from church but I’ll now be able to pay all of my bills” or maybe it’s “I know I shouldn’t be hanging around those old friends but I’m tired of being by myself”. 

These distractions are going to cause you to miss out on the things God has for you and leave you asking yourself why didn’t God help me? God was helping you, but you became distracted before it became manifested. Let’s look at the book of Matthew the fourteenth chapter.

We find the disciples in a ship that was caught in a storm.

They see Jesus walking on water towards them.
Peter yells out Lord if this is you let me walk on the water and come to you. 
He receives the answer “come”.
Now let’s focus on the 30th verse.  But when he (Peter) SAW the wind boisterous, he was afraid: and beginning to sink, he cried, saying Lord save me. The 29th verse tells us that Peter actually walked on the water until he began to look at the boisterous winds and waves. His eyes were taken off of Jesus, he became afraid and then started to sink.

Peter became distracted with what was going on around him instead of continuously focusing on Jesus. It’s only when you truly come to trust God that you will be able to overcome distractions.

However many of us never take the time to learn how to trust God.

We see him as a genie in the bottle that’s supposed to grant us our every desire.
We must learn how to develop faith in the bible and come to know him as the God who is there.
The question should not be how can I trust God but rather a strong acclamation-it’s God I Trust!

No matter what I see, hear or feel I will trust God.

What blessings are in stored for the person that comes to the place of fully trusting God. The storms of life will surely come but let me ask another question-Who is God to you?

Is he a god who runs from problems or does he hide himself because he doubts himself? 
Is he a god that does not know how to help you or maybe your situation took him by surprise and he must now figure out what to do.

Of course not, remind yourself that there is nothing impossible with God and no good thing will he withhold from you. We can’t afford to get distracted, but if we do remember this-God’s mercy endureth forever. God gladly waits to put you back on the right path.

God wants to bless you, he wants to help you, he wants to heal you and he longs to answer you.

God has so much in stored for you.
 
So don’t let distractions cause you to miss out on the things God has just for you.

Denise Davis 
Copyright © 2012 by The Potter’s House Christian Gifts and Bookstore 

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Photographs in Articles

It is possible to link to external and internal photographs within your Christian Article. If anyone wishes to use this facility please let me know.

Steve  

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Christian World View Vs Humanism

Those who embrace humanism either don’t believe in a supreme being who created all things good or they believe that if there is a supreme being, he, she, or it is not involved in our dailylives. They believe that evolution is merely a process of the earth. If these things are true then the only thing we can do is eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die. This way of thinking is non-productive. It is as destructive as evolution without a loving God.

 Observe any building, machine, living thing, etc.—left to itself it deteriorates till it falls apart.Whereas if there is a loving God watching over all—evolution is meant to help the living things adapt to their surroundings for the purpose of survival. The nature of our loving God is to work with the challenged party until the outcome is victory.

 It is the humanistic viewpoint that has caused life on planet earth to get more and more difficult to cope with. It is this viewpoint that is causing the increase in pain and heartache.

 If there is no loving God in charge of things, then inevitably selfishness is god. The Christian viewpoint is that a loving God created the earth and everything in it. And it was good. Man’s wrong choice—their choice to do what they wanted to do rather than what God (God is love—love always does the right thing because the right thing produces good.) told them to do, brought about all that is bad. But a loving God is still offering love. He sent his Son who made all the right choices and then offered Himself in the stead of all those who made wrong choices so that they can make the right choice which is to receive Him and the new life He offers. This ultimate act of love reveals God’s nature as nothing else could do.This loving God is behind true evolution—evolution is only true in the sense of adaptation—the same God who created everything good is the same God who causes things to adapt to their surroundings and be able to survive until the time when God’s Son comes back to oversee the choices made throughout the earth and make all things right. God ordained that everything produces after its own kind, so apes do not turn into people, etc.
 
 The humanistic world view encourages selfishness—the loving God worldview encourages people to follow love, and to heed God’s guidance, and it also provides for all of mankind’s needs to be met.

 © Sylvia Huffnagle

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Romans 6-8 - The New Man

THE CONCEPT: Rom: 6:1-10:

  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2: God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3: Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4: Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5: For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7: For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8: Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10: For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

 (This is God’s plan of salvation. If the gospel that is going around does not include this concept it is not “The gospel”.THE REALITY: God planned for mankind to be RECONCILED back to Him as His children through the sacrifice of His Son. Jesus’ innocent blood cleanses the receiver from sin and guilt.THE DELIVERANCE from sin comes through entering into Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection as described above.)

 11-14: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12: Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13: Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14: For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.(HOW TO RESIST TEMPTATION: Knowing – reckon – let not – neither yield. To be under the law was to be under pressure – one strike and you were out. But under grace, the pressure is release – you fight until you win.)15-16: What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16: Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

 (ADDED STRENGH in the battle beside, knowing, reckoning, letting not, and not yielding is knowing that if you yield to sin, you are a servant of sin. You have given it your power. That’s what Adam and Eve did. They yielded their power of choice to Satan and their carnal nature. Jesus, on the other hand, did not yield. He maintained His power over sin, flesh, and the devil. He did it the way that is describe here. So if you reckon yourself to be His servant instead of sin’s servant, He will be your way, your truth, and your life and you will end up triumphant.)

 THE GAME PLAN: 17-20: But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18: Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 19: I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. 20: For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.21-23: What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. 22: But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 (REMEMBER: The WAGES paid for sin is eternal death. The FRUIT of becoming servants of God is holiness, the end being eternal life.)Romans 7 talks about the law of sin and death – it lays out the “born again” person’s dilemma. They want to and plan to do what is right, but often find themselves doing the opposite. 

 The chapter ends with the question: 24: O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25: I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

 (Remember that the original text was not separated into chapters. We are about to discover the deliverance for the chapter 7 dilemma.)

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

 (How does the believer overcome the weakness described in chapter 7? By walking after his born again spirit and not after his fallen carnal nature. There is a choice to be made each time a challenge comes. Will you follow your regenerated heart or will you follow your lower nature?REMEMBER THIS: Life is about choices. And God is about goodness.)

 2-7: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5: For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6: For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

 (Did you get that? THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE has set you free from the law of sin and death. Notice Vs 5 – are you following the flesh? If you are “born again” stop! God has enabled you to be spiritually-minded – you do not have to please your lower nature, you can please God now. The repentance and turning experience was to make the way smooth and straight for the King. It gives God the opportunity to give the receiver a new heart – a heart to please Him.)

 8-14: So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9: But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10: And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11: But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12: Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13: For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

 (This is part of the gospel. This is the part where God saves you from sin and death. This is as true as any of the rest of it. Born again people are not to be in the flesh, but in the Spirit. What does Vs 13 say? It also is part of the gospel. If you live after the flesh, you shall die. MORTIFY the deeds of the body. Who are the sons of God that all creation is waiting, with groanings, to have manifest? Those that are led by the Spirit of God.)

 15-17: 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. 16: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17: 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 also glorified together.

 (This is one place many people get tripped up. They feel a relationship and affection for God and think, therefore, that this scripture confirms their salvation. They think they have a spirit that cries, Abba Father! But if they are not being led by the Spirit, they do not have this relationship with God for the sprit that cries, Abba Father is a spirit of reverence and submission as well as a spirit of relationship and affection.Somehow the whole chapter does not convince them of their error because the church has belabored the love and grace side and neglected the necessity of living a life of obedience to the Father. Yet it is that life of obedience that God wanted to give to us for our sake that we may live and not die.)

 18: 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.(This is the suffering of the Saints: to resist the devil, draw nigh unto God. It is to walk by the Spirit and deny our carnal nature. It calls for long-suffering, patience, and endurance.)19-22: For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20: For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21: Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22: For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

 (This talks about God putting spiritual man in an earthen body. His intent was not so much humbling man, but His intent was for spiritual man to bring the carnal nature into submission to the spirit. These are the sons who will rule with Jesus – those who have subdued their carnal nature. God wanted His sons who rule the earth to be part of it – hence the earthen body. He also wanted His sons who rule to be one spirit with Him – hence the putting the flesh under.When this happens and Jesus comes to rule – nature will be restored, including the extinct animals. Jesus’ resurrection guarantees this. All of God’s creation – every species – will be resurrected and the sons of God – those who suffer with Him – will rule with Him.)

 © Sylvia Huffnagle

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Will God Still Use Me?

The weapon of choice for the Devil is to show us our mistakes and failures over and over. How many times have you been told to let go of the past but yet you find yourself thinking about those things that still causes you to feel hurt, shame, and pain. It seems like it's a recording in your mind that can't be turned off, even though you try very hard to forget about it.

 Because of the way you feel you don't seek God the way you should, because deep inside you believe God is looking down on you. Yes you might still go to church. You may even sing in the choir, and because you smile and embrace the other members at the end of the service no one even detects that you are going through a battle inside. Some days you may even feel like it would be easier to quit than to keep trying to be a christian with so much shame inside. This is exactly how the Devil wants you to feel.

 He wants you to think God would never use a person like yourself. He whispers into your ears "Who are you to try to tell someone else about the Lord when you have messed up so badly." But in the Bible we find several people that God hand picked who messed up while living for the Lord. Look at the life of David. A man after Gods own heart (Acts 13:22), yet David messed up. Solomen, Moses, Saul they all messed up. But did God Give up on them, Did he choose not to use them any more? The church would be empty if God chose only to use people that never messed up.

 Let's look at David for a minute. When David repented he took full responsibility. He said "I have sinned against God." He made no excuses. He did not try to put the blame on anyone else. He didn't try to justify his actions. He was simply saying from the Heart "God I did wrong" That's what God is looking for-A heart that is right before him. Regardless of what you may have done in the past if you have repented from the heart, God forgave you immediately. The bible says God: Wipes off our sins (Isaiah 43:25a) Forgets our sins (Isaiah 43:25b); Removes our sins. He takes them as far away from us as the east is from the west. (Read Psalm 103:12); Throws our sins behind his back (Isaiah 38:17); Buries our sins at the bottom of the sea (Micah 7:19). The power of repentance is often overlooked. If you are not going to believe what God's word says about repentance than it's no need to repent. You must believe what God says he will do with your situation when you truly repent from the heart-it's wiped away. Remind yourself what God word says and when the devil tries to bring your past to remembrance tell him " you're talking about the old me, I'm now walking in the new me." John 6:37 . . . whoever comes to me I will never drive away. God is saying He would never look down on you, never turn his back on you, never turn you away, never feel shame of you, and will never stop loving you. God will use your situation to help others in his kingdom. This is another reason why Satan wants you to feel guilty. He knows if you ever lay that guilt down and reach out to others that have experienced a similar situation more people are going to get delivered from his lies.

 So if the question "Will God Still Use Me" rings in your soul, the answer is Yes! Yes! Yes!-God will use you again!

 God Bless,

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Saga of Christian Art Paintings - Every painting has a story to tell

 The human mind remembers primarily through impressions because images leave impressions on an individual’s memory. Beginning from Megiddo, dated to around the year 70 to primitive paintings that were found in the Catacombs around Rome to icons seen at St.Catherine's monastery on Mount Sinai, early Christianity saw the emergence of pictorial representations as human beings experimented primarily with religious symbolism as a means of expression in their artistic works. In the 3rd century A.D. an emergence of Christian Art and culture evolved and from that point on, various art forms began to surface. These art forms grew in their religious symbolism and were undertaken as a means of propagating religious teachings enabling the parables of Jesus Christ to gain significance in cultural traditions and giving way to personification. Symbols such as the fish denoted Christianity and the lamb denoted the innocent Jesus Christ. Graffiti paintings were the basic art forms that were used during this time period.

  The central theme of these early paintings were images that were focused on the life of Jesus Christ, images depicting His birth, crucifixion, and resurrection from the dead. Stations of the Cross and the Virgin Mary became more common. It is through these paintings that the stories related to Jesus Christ were beautifully presented to the culture at large. Scenes from the Old Testament were also painted by many artists during the early period of Christianity and were a major part of these paintings straight through to the beginning stages of the Renaissance period and into the protestestant movement which gave way to secular artistic works.

  In mid stages of the Renaissance period the emergence of secular artistry as compared to the prominent religious themes were dominant factors. Artist’s switched to secular genres such as portraits, landscapes paintings etc., and strange subjects from classical mythology gained more importance than religious subject matters. The modern era saw diverse experimentation in the form of realism, impressionism, and cubism in paintings, sending the iconic religious symbols to the background. Although art forms may come and go, the end of the 20th century experienced somewhat of a revival of these themes. 

 A revival of the early religious symbolism can be seen in modern paintings. A trend to re-establish art with themes that revolve around faith, Christ, God, the Church and the Bible has been rekindled in the 21st century. Artists such as Gary P.Bergel, Carlos Cazares, Makoto Fujimura, Bruce Herman, Deborah Sokolove, and John August Swanson are working towards the revival of this art form. 

 With such a saga and legacy behind Christian Art Paintings, every lover of art and Christ will feel innately inclined towards these paintings.

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