The Third Jihad – The FREE 30-Minute Version

Jeremiah 50:25 “The Lord has opened his armory and brought out weapons to vent his fury against his enemies. The terror that falls upon the Babylonians will be the work of the Sovereign Lord Almighty. Jer 50:26 Yes, come against her from distant lands. Break open her granaries. Crush her walls and houses into heaps of rubble. Destroy her completely, and leave nothing! Jer 50:27 Even destroy her cattle-it will be terrible for them, too! Slaughter them all! For the time has come for Babylon to be devastated. Jer 50:28 Listen to the people who have escaped from Babylon, as they declare in Jerusalem how the Lord our God has taken vengeance against those who destroyed his Temple.

more about “The Third Jihad – The FREE 30-Minute …“, posted with vodpod

Petrodollars

As one who spent many years bowing at the altar of human ingenuity I think I’m fairly well qualified to speak on the following subject.

As a young bloke I was infatuated by motor racing, motor cars and motor bikes, pretty much anything that ran on petrol. I’ll fess up right now and say that I still admire a well engineered motor vehicle, and have a great deal of admiration for the God given skills that are required to drive a high performance vehicle at competition level.  However that’s about it.

When I first came to the Lord I rode a real nice, 750 Kawasaki sports bike, but then He began to deal with me over those things I loved and invested substantial time and effort into. These days I drive a 15 year old Volvo, nice car, goes well, didn’t cost me too much at all, and I didn’t have to enslave myself to a Babylonian bankers 4 year labor camp to pay for it.

In my short life one of the things that has changed substantially is that the family car has gone from being just that, a car, to something which takes pride of place in the life of many Australians. Some of the cars that cost four thousand dollars thirty years ago, are today fetching in excess of half a million dollars. Aussie muscle cars, they call them.

Many young men and women today will spend significant dollars on their first vehicle. I know we want something safe and yes, something reliable, but today for these ones, that car is often more like a fashion accessory, it makes a statement about who we are. And many of  the cars we are producing today are engineering marvels, beautifully designed and constructed, capable of reaching high speeds in a record time and specifically produced to appeal to our humanness, the “you know you want one” factor.

I saw an article in the local newspaper recently reporting that in the state of New South Wales, there are now more vehicles on the road than drivers. I’m sure it’s probably a trend that is much the same in the U.S. the U.K, and most Western nations. It seems to be an increasing trend for more that pervades our culture at this time.

Most people probably wouldn’t associate idolatry in terms of the motor vehicle, but I’m pretty sure that the Lord sees that which we invest our labour, our finance and our lives into, and He would beg to differ. There can be no doubting that the west has had a long drawn out love affair with the motor vehicle.

In that vein it’s not an insignificant point that much of Islams worldwide revival and advance at this time is being funded by Western Petrodollars. I don’t think most westerners think about that point, but there you go. Most likely when you fill your car up you are helping sponsor the growth of Islam and terrorism which is coming to you in the years ahead.

How typically biblical, that the Lord God has allowed the very things we worship to undermine our very existence. How much better it would have been to serve the Lord with all of our heart, all of our soul and all of our strength. But no, we preferred to worship the works of our own hands, above the creator and sustainer of life.

Funny how God always has a way of showing us the futility in idolatry.

“I will pronounce My judgments on them concerning all their wickedness, whereby they have forsaken Me and have offered sacrifices to other gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands” Jeremiah 1:16.

If you’d like to read some more on this topic you need only “google” Petrodollar Islam. Here is one such site : LINK

iDolatry in Babylon

One of the search engine terms most used by people who find this blog is the term “come out of her my people”

In only a couple years there has been a noticeable increase in the use of this term and an increasing awareness pertaining to the question, what it means to come out of Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots.  Clearly the Lord is at work, calling His people, seeking to lead them at this time.

There are numerous sources of information on this subject, especially on the web. We can discuss where this city/kingdom is, when she exists, who is in her, how and when will her end come. There are books, articles, prophecies and blogs like this one. And all of this information is great, provided we actually do something with it.

As one who lives in her, who is surrounded by her, who has spent many hours of study and prayer in seeking to iDentify her and recognize her ways, I can summarize in one word the most important issue concerning the Christian, relating to this kingdom.

iDolatry !

Why the lower case i ?  I’m simply iDentifying the spirit of this generation which is manifesting in our day.

Why will the Lord destroy Babylon ?

Jeremiah 51:38 Because the whole land is filled with iDols, and the people are madly in love with them. NLT.

But this is only the beginning of the story. For here in lieth the dilemma for most western Christians. We know what iDolatry is, we have read about it and seen it, but as for me and my house……NOPE, no iDolatry here.

We seem to for some apparent reason dismiss it as a non issue, supposing  that we have somehow escaped this snare. Yet I can tell you with a certain assurance, and a sense of sorrow in my heart, that most of us who reside in Western Christendom are bowing before her idols, enamored with her offer of lifestyle and in love with the things of the world. And though we so often confess our love for God I have a sneaking suspicion that the truth is not evident by what so many of us say, but what we do. And the evidence that I see amongst mainstream Christianity is an unwillingness to forsake, to deny iSelf, to pick up the cross and follow Him. The evidence contradicts the confession.

What advice can I offer the one who has this question in their heart, how do I come out of her, how do I escape this Mystery kingdom of Babylon.?

Ask God to show you who and where these iDols are in your life. Ask Him to make straight the way, to shine His light upon this area of your life, that you might recognise the truth concerning your faith. Then expect Him to begin to show you those things which you serve and bow to, which in this generation is so often about “i” about me and about what I want from life. Then having been granted eyesalve to see, flee from iDolatrous ways, run, run and do not look back.

Listen My people, flee from Babylon. Save yourselves! Run from the Lord’s fierce anger. But do not panic when you hear the first rumour of approaching forces. For rumors will keep coming year by year. Then there will be a time of violence as the leaders fight against each other. For the time is surely coming when I will punish this great city and all of her iDols. Jeremiah 51:45-47

The “i” Generation

It’s 4 a.m, I should be sleeping but it’s just not happening. It’s been one of those nights in which my mind keeps going over and over the same thoughts, troubling thoughts.

Maybe God is trying to tell me something, maybe not, I don’t know. But I do know that writing things down seems to help bring some peace and order to these thought’s.

In my house we have 4 children, 3 are mine and 1 belongs to my older brother. The lives of these kids revolve to a large extent around the personal computer, facebook, online networking, gaming, music, Youtube etc. If you’re a parent you know the deal, you’ll understand.

This is the “i” generation. The generation of I.T. “information technology”, it is the generation of the iPod, the generation of iTunes, the iMac computer, of me and my facebook, of me and my videos on Youtube, probably should have been called iTube. This is the generation where “i” sells. Heck they even tried to rename a revamped variety of the much loved Aussie icon “vegemite” with the name “iSnack 2.0″

And what is the symbol of the iMac, iPod and iTunes generation, yep, an apple with a bite out of it. Eve would be impressed that her legacy continues to this day. LOL as my kids would say.

But as a parent whose desire is to see his children live godly lives I get a little anxious about the depth of selfishness that this new iTechnology generation offers. The focus is so “i”, so me, so you, so inward looking, and so consuming to the degree that within this realm my kids find a sense of purpose,  completeness and who they are.

Yet if we were to look at their lives from the perspective of Christlikeness I have an awful sense that this “i” generation is so unlike, so opposed, and so contrary to Christlikeness. I have to admit to having increasing feelings of repugnance toward it all.

The thought that prevails is this. How can I, as a dad in this generation instill the Christlike values of servanthood and self-denial amidst this culture. How can my words, my teaching, my life instill into their lives these diametrically opposed, counter-culture values when their lives are so consumed by “i” ?  That’s the question and I need to find the answer.

Now I know prayer is a good place to start, and so this is where I will begin this journey.

Lord, help me to instill into the lives of my children, those values which you would be pleased with. Help me to help them see, that to live in You is to serve, that to love as You have loved is to forsake selfishness and self-centeredness. Father I pray to you for I know that apart from the light of your word and Spirit we are in darkness, we grope blindly, we have need of eye-salve, that we might see. Father help me to live this life, to forsake the hypocrisy which so easily ensnares, and to be that example to my children which speaks louder than words. Lord I confess my own selfishness and self- centeredness, guide me, light the path before me, that I may walk according to your word and be found pleasing in your sight. Thank you for the grace which you have freely granted us in Christ, that we may escape the snare of this world, and that our children also….in Your name Lord, with heartfelt thanks-Amen.

If anyone has any thoughts and suggestions they are all gratefully received, feel free to contribute.

It’s now 5.15 a.m. Still dark outside but the Kookaburras have begun their morning laugh session. How rude and selfish that they should make such noise at this early hour. If your not an Aussie and wonder what I’m talking about you can see a short video here. LINK

The two horned false prophet of Revelation

In light of the events that are taking place in our day, and the obvious wealth of confusion surrounding the false prophet of Revelation 13, I thought I’d  share my take (and some others) on this scripture.

According to my reckoning, we are in the day of the false prophet, but I guess time will tell.  Considering the amount of interest in the upcoming Copenhagen conference, and the concern about a New World Order agenda, these words of the apostle John, as given him in a vision from Jesus Christ seem to fit our day in so many ways

Revelation 13 :11And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had (1) two horns like a lamb, and he (2) spake as a dragon. ¹²And he (3) exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and (4)causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. ¹³And he (5) doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, ¹⁴And 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, (6) that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. ¹⁵(7) 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(8) 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: ¹⁷And 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. ¹⁸Here 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.

If we single out the significant attributes of the false prophet of Revelation 13 we can see how this might fit our current situation. I submit to you that we have never had a day in which all of these things seemed to fit together so well with scripture.

1. Two horns like a lamb  (two horns – two seats of power, two leaders, 2 nations )  (lamb -looks like Christian nations)
2. Speaks like a dragon (The words of these 2 nations and leaders mouths are those of carnal man under the influence of a demonic agenda)
3. Exercises all the power of the first beast (they exert tremendous world power and influence)
4. Causes the earth and them that dwell within to follow the first beast – worship (these two leaders direct the nations of the world to follow after another world  system (the 1st beast – a group of the world nations))
5. Does great wonders in the sight of men, even calling down fire from heaven. (These lamb like nations are able to rain down weapons of war, missiles, rockets etc as a manner of exerting influence and impressing the world of their great strength)
6. That they should make an image to the beast (These 2 leaders and nations give a face to the beast world system – Like the UN and it’s associated entities)
7. Has the power to give life to the 1st beast world system (They hold sufficient influence and political world power to bring life to the 1st beast group of world nations)
8. Causeth all to take a mark on their right hand or forehead (they have the technological know how, the resources and influence to implement a system whereby one shall take a mark in order to be approved of the beast world system)

Given the present state of this world and it’s leaders it seems to me beyond doubt that the 2 horns of the false prophet represent the 2 nations of the UK and the USA. They are the lamb like nations who now act under a demonic agenda, speaking like a dragon, in order to bring to life this new World Order Beast. And I submit to you that it’s leaders Gordon Brown and Barack O’bama are false prophets now leading this world to follow after the beast. Life is now being granted to the beast that it might live.

And why wouldn’t many follow after this beast, after all who will save the world from Global warming and the associated devastation of food famines and sinking nations. Who will save the world from an economic catastrophe and from the greed of manipulative men and who will save the world from religious intolerance, and the threat of nuclear warfare. You guessed it, the Beast.

The Beast will be the hope of this world, given the tremendous peril at hand. The Beast will offer peace and security, the Beast will seek to usher in it’s heaven on earth agenda through the influence of Political power, which is well underway. Then through economic power, and finally religious power.

I imagine that most have seen the clip below by Lord Monckton. He is not really saying anything new, simply confirming those things which we know to be true.

I never knew you

Mat 7:22 “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ Mat 7:23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you evildoers!’

 

I recently prepared and delivered a sermon based on the above scripture and in doing so found it to be one of the most difficult messages that I”ve had to both prepare and then preach. To stand before a congregation and tell them that according to Christ’s reckoning, many who are in the church, many so-called believers, many who work miracles and signs and wonders in the name of Jesus will one day stand before Him and hear those words “I never knew you”.

 

Not a few, but many!

 

How one could hope that this verse were a mistake, a misquote or a verse out of context. Perhaps Jesus was talking about the world and not the visible church? Yet we know that Christ also tells a parable about 10 Christians, 5 were wise and 5 foolish,  and the 5 foolish are met with the very same response ” I never knew you” Matthew 25:12

 

These words of the Saviour rail against the prevailing tone of our cultural gospel, which so often points to an easy salvation. It rails against a cultural gospel which declares that we presume upon our salvation with a certain assurance of His divine mercy and love for humanity.

Here the picture which Christ paints is a sad and profoundly dark scene, in which those who presumed that their salvation was assured, those who presumed that the blood of the lamb was the all sufficient provider of their justification, find themselves at a place where they have not obtained the salvation which they had presumed upon.

 

Lord. Lord, did we not do those things which you yourself did, prophesying, casting out devils, and all manner of wonders, in your name…..surely Lord this is the evidence of our faith in your gospel, they cry. And cry they will, with great sorrow, with weeping and gnashing of teeth, for I imagine that many have devoted their lives to this work, and now, in this moment, they stand before a Holy God, undone.

Perhaps the most troubling aspect in this scene is the reality that these ones were unaware of their plight until that moment. The faith which they had presumed upon, had turned out to be another faith. How one could in a sense hope that they had known, one could hope that they knew full well that they were in rebellion to the truth of the faith, one could hope that they knew full well they were “evildoers”, false teachers, false prophets and wolves dressed in sheeps clothing, and here lies the most horrible reality, that they did not know until that moment.

And so in preparing this message, the thought of my mind aligns with the thoughts of a great man like Wesley, “Lord, is it my case?”

Selah!

One of the difficulties we face in the visible church these days is the pressure that is put upon us to refrain from putting fear into the hearts of men. To refrain from preaching messages that could be perceived as “negative” or “heavy”. We are encouraged to preach messages that are encouraging, uplifting and positive, and in this way, many will want to sit in the pews, bring friends and so we increase.

I am earnestly troubled about all of this, for it seems to me that we have gone astray. We have gone the way of covetousness and made merchandise of mens souls. We are foolishly departing from the fear of the Lord, from declaring to believers their obligation to the faith, lest they also perish. I wonder if the Joel Osteens of this world have told their congregations that many of them could end up in hell. Perhaps they have, perhaps I just haven’t heard that sermon. I wonder if these well known teachers have themselves considered earnestly the prospect that they may end up in hell.

Perhaps the lesson that sticks with me concerning the plight of those who will stand before Christ and hear those most fearful words “I never knew you”, is this. The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked, who can know it? Jeremiah 17:9

This doesn’t seem to be the place to end this post, and yet I trust that it is. For their is nothing much else I can think to add except to say that God knows the condition of our heart. You and I may not know that we are blind, poor and naked and in desperate need of His grace, but He most certainly does know, and it is to Him that we should look now.

Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
20 The Lord preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

Woe is me

Where to begin ? It was over 11 years ago that I found the Lord, but to be honest I’m still not sure if I found Him, or He found me. I think He had been wrestling with me for many years, or I with Him. Either way for all the things that one experiences in life, this one event has become my defining moment. It has indelibly changed all that I am, all that I think, all that I do and all that I believe.

The journey that’s followed, down the narrow path which leads to life has certainly been interesting.  Many times I’ve cried like a baby, even weeping bitterly for the rottenness that at times seems to rule over me.  Many times I have mourned with those who suffer loss and also mourn, groaned inwardly as I pray for His children that suffer persecutions, become infuriated with the blindness of this world, am angry and frustrated by the reluctance of Gods people to stand up, to serve, to love and be faithful. Then angry with myself for being so judgmental, so able to see the splinter in others eyes, whilst remaining blind to the log in my own.

I recall one evening being so angry with myself, so desperate to hear a word from God that I drove to the top of a near mountain and there poured out my anger, my frustration at my lack of what seemed to be any personal righteousness, and in the most wonderful of ways an answer that I believe came from the Lord. In a distant tone, as if to say you are distant from Me, I’m sure I heard the following words “you have no righteousness apart from Me”

At that time I took that word as both a rebuke and a comfort. A rebuke for having mistakenly supposed that I could offer God a self righteousness and expect Him to be pleased. To mistakenly believe that He would draw close to me as I went about my life being self righteous. Yet at the same time a comfort for knowing that I may have been distant at that time, but not separated, and I was by no means abandoned.

From that time on I am more aware that it’s the Lords desire to work righteousness in my inner man, to speak to me of those things which are a little less pleasant to hear, and in this, in bringing these things to the light they can be dealt with.

The rottenness that pervades this soul of mine does at times seem to have no end. Of late I realize that I am guilty of measuring out to others in a measure that I do not always apply to myself.  In this world at this time, like Lot in Sodom, we can find our salvation in the condemnation of the sin that abounds in this world. One can in a sense be self justified, convinced of self righteousness for not having partaken these same things which the world does, and yet even this is foolishness.

I believe that the mistake we can make is this Christian, when we find our justification in separating from the world, in living a good life, of doing the Christian thing, it is entirely possible that we are doing nothing other than  holding to a form of Godliness, as the scriptures speak in 2 Timothy 3.   I’ve learned this much, God is not looking for a form of Godliness, a man who outwardly looks like a righteous man, who speaks of holiness yet inwardly is an unclean cup. And the reality is that each one of us  come to Him in just this way.

We are incredibly complicated creatures and so very blind to truth of who we are. If we will not abide in the light of the faith, if we will not draw near to Him, if we will not be led down paths of righteousness by Him then quite simply, we do not have the ability to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart in our own strength nor deal with the darkness that dwells within. Our righteousness, our salvation and justification does not come except from Christ, only from the righteousness that is granted to us as we abide in the faith.

I take great comfort from the words of the apostle Paul, who spoke of how he too was seemingly frustrated with his own humanity ;

Rom 7:18       For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
Rom 7:19     For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.

and then

Rom 7:24   O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Rom 7:25   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.

Finally I would ask you to consider the words of our Lord, who in Matthew 7:2 said that in the day of judgement that many would come to Him saying Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy, did we not cast out devils in your name, and I will say to them DEPART FROM ME YOU WHO WORK INIQUITY. You who are EVILDOERS. You who work LAWLESSNESS. These ones clearly held to a form of Godliness, of religiosity that was completely devoid of the faith of Christ.

The day of the judgement will be like a great unmasking, things in that day will be seen clearly and understood for what they are. I pray that  we would recognize that at this time, the age of Gods grace, that we have been granted the opportunity to put off the old man, the man of death, in which no good thing dwells, and put on Christ, that we may be found as the children of God.

The Hypocrisy of Babylon

From the land of the great and the free comes the following article. Yes, in keeping with the spirit of Babylon, you can legally kill unborn children, make and export pornography, rip off fellow countrymen or other peoples to the tune of billions and license them with weapons that can kill. But try to get a number plate with the words “I Believe” printed on it, and you will invoke the wrath of authorities.

U.S. JUDGE BANS CHRISTIAN CAR PLATE

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GOD-IN-A-BOX

Haven’t had a lot of free time lately to post, but I found this site recently which I thought was very good. Didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

I especially loved the buyers testimonies of how their lives were changed after receiving their very own GOD-IN-A-BOX.

“You won’t believe how much my life has changed after I got my own GOD-IN-A-BOX©.
Now, since my god has attributes that fit my lifestyle, I don’t have to worry about going
to hell anymore.” – Ed Jr.

my own GOD-IN-A-BOX©.

Link to site  :  GOD-IN-A-BOX

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The illusion of debt

For quite a few years I worked as an administration manager for a large manufacturing plant in Canberra. During that time we produced building materials for new homes, roof tiles, clay bricks and pavers.

Part of my responsibility entailed keeping an eye on our debtors, those who owed us money, to ensure that if there were a hint of insolvency we’d be in a position to act quickly and seek to recover any outstanding monies.

Sounds like a good theory but we were rarely if ever successful in achieving an advanced warning. The problem is that the banks are often the first ones to recognize there is a problem and by then it’s too late. You just have to join the queue with all the other debtors and cross your fingers that you’ll get paid.

I can recall on several occasions, some large and successful, well seemingly successful businesses, would be hard at work, building, buying, driving around in their company vehicles, doing business as normal and then bang. Overnight their creditors, the banks, would foreclose or freeze their accounts and we would be left standing with hands in pockets, somewhat surprised at the rapid transition from success to foreclosure.

I’m told that it was a little like this in the Days of the Weimar Republic when it came to hyperinflation. One day the supermarket shelves were full of food and the next they were empty.

I guess the thought that comes back to me is this. Debt allows a business or individual to present an outward appearance of affluence and prosperity, even success, yet behind the closed doors, where the truth lays, the reality is often quite different. You see, you could look at any one of those building companies and have no idea of the reality of their situation. It is part of the game that must be played, for as soon as the hand is shown, the game is up. A soon as people catch wind of reality, that all is not well with that particular builder, they will lose much needed sales and the game will be over anyway.

I’m not sure about Australia, it’s a little harder to get the facts, but as for the US, in my humble summation, she is trading whilst insolvent. Someone, somewhere in the not too distant future will make a decision, perhaps some of her creditor nations, the banks,  realizing that the game is up. Then their hand will be laid on on the table for all to see, it will be game over.

All of this when from the outside she looked successful, prosperous and a good investment. But that’s all part of the illusion which debt provides.

For now, let’s keep talking and hoping this thing up, let’s allow the illusion to continue lest anyone catch wind of the reality. It seems to me that we are going to wind this thing up so far,  that at the time that that bluff hand is shown, it will be like deflating of an overinflated balloon.

Bang !

John 6:27″Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”