Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | August 2, 2024

What’s Our Excuse?

What is the Source of the Massive Deception Being Demonstrated on College Campuses?

I received the following article from Hal Lindsey and thought it was helpful in understanding the challenges democratic societies are facing today. While Palestinians are being subjected to “ruthless brain washing and mental conditioning,” how is it so many of our college students in elite universities are buying into the same lies and showing such a willingness to serve as “Useful Idiots” for Iran? A thought occurs to me, Satanic deception.

NEW YORK (AP) — What began last week when Columbia University students refused to end their protest against Israel’s war with Hamas had turned into a much larger movement by Tuesday as students across the nation set up encampments, occupied buildings and ignored demands to leave. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File) BY  KAREN MATTHEWS AND NICK PERRY Updated 12:12 PM CDT, April 24, 2024

What’s Our Excuse?

By Hal Lindsey

The Palestinian people really are victims. Primarily, they are the victims of ruthless brain washing and mental conditioning. Part of their extreme ignorance is self-imposed, but much of it is forced on them by the regime they live under. A speaker at a Palestinian funeral in 2023 said, “A people in which a mother accompanies her martyr son with sounds of joy will never be defeated…. We love death like our enemies love life.” That’s not an isolated quote. Palestinian leaders provide an endless stream of such statements. The children of Palestine are born into an environment that glorifies death.

A few years ago, a children’s television program on a Hamas-affiliated station in Gaza featured a character called “Farfour.” On the outside, he looked like Mickey Mouse. On the inside, he was all Hamas. He taught children to hate the United States and Israel. He radicalized the youngest of the young, always preaching the virtues of martyrdom. On his Sesame Street-like educational program, Farfour taught young Gazans to hate Jews, hate Americans, and even to hate all but the most fervent Muslims.

To the Palestinian children’s horror, the great and kind mouse, Farfour, died — murdered, of course, by Jews. Fictional Israeli investigators beat the fictional mouse to death during a fictional interrogation. But it was presented as good news in one way because Farfour achieved the high calling of martyrdom in the Hamas death cult.

To say that Jews cold-bloodedly murdered this beloved television mouse had one intent — to saturate the children in hate and rage against Jews. If Jews are that evil, it seems to justify the worst of all human impulses. It allows bloodlust, rape, and other kinds of extreme violence to break free of normal moral restraints.

Palestinians have been deluded by an evil, unrelenting process of mind manipulation. But what’s our excuse? Why do millions of Americans side with Hamas?

Speaking before the US Congress, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “Clarity begins by knowing the difference between good and evil. Yet incredibly many anti-Israel protesters, many choose to stand with evil. They stand with Hamas. They stand with rapists and murderers.”

This is not a political question, but a moral one. Some of our nation’s key leaders joined the protesters by boycotting the Prime Minister’s speech. This encourages Hamas to keep the hostages captive and to reject all overtures of peace. It gives them the illusion that they are winning, and that encourages them to keep on fighting. I understand that American leaders don’t want Palestinians to suffer, but Hamas sees their boycott of Netanyahu as a boycott of Israel and the Jewish people. This encourages all terrorists to do more evil and cause more suffering.

By seeming to stand with Hamas, American leaders condemn the hostages to an ever longer stay in Gazan torture chambers where many have already died. When American leaders give the impression of solidarity with Hamas, they also give the impression that they condone the murder of Americans guilty of nothing more than visiting Israel. Their Netanyahu boycott looks like a justification of all Hamas brutality.

We live in a dangerous world. We must face it with strength and resolve. Those who try to appease all sides end up prolonging the suffering for everyone.

Stay Informed: I know it’s difficult to find up to date and accurate information about the war in Israel. HalLindsey.com is being updated throughout the day and into the night linking to various trusted sources, many of them Israeli. Hal always says, if you want to know what’s going on with Bible prophecy, just look at what’s going on with Israel – Click Here –

Programing Note: Part 28 of Hal Lindsey Presents: John airs, tonight, Sunday, July 28th at 11pm EST. This week, Hal continues his lesson on John chapter 5. You can catch up on any parts you may have missed for free in Hal’s video archive: https://www.hallindsey.com/videos/

Tests of faith are a daily part of life for many Christians. If you or someone close to you is feeling overwhelmed by daily attacks, check out Hal’s book Why Do We Have Trials? In it Hal teaches readers how to recognize why this happens and how to use it to grow in your walk with Jesus. Available now in Hal’s store!

mail: HLMM, P.O. Box 470470, Tulsa, OK 74147

email: questions@hallindsey.com

web: http://www.hallindsey.com

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | July 26, 2024

A Biblical View of the Next Election

Our Christian Responsibility and God’s Sovereignty!

In the history of nations, the United States is a remarkable exception to the rule. Founded on Christian principles, the United States has served as a beacon for the manifestation of these principles to the world.

The founding fathers were all flawed individuals who struggled with the challenges life can bring; but despite these flaws, they were able to draft a constitution which has withstood the test of time.

In a letter, dated June 28, 1813, John Adams wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson which contained the follow paragraph:

“The general Principles, on which the Fathers Atchieved Independence, were the only Principles in which, that beautiful Assembly of young Gentlemen could Unite, and these Principles only could be intended by them in their Address, or by me in my Answer. And what were these general Principles? I answer, the general Principles of Christianity, in which all those Sects were United: And the general Principles of English and American Liberty, in which all those young Men United, and which had United all Parties in America, in Majorities Sufficient to assert and maintain her Independence.”

I have found it of great interest to note that the conviction of God’s influence in directing the course of development of the United States is found in our national anthem in verse 4:

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation,

Blest with victory and peace, may the Heaven – rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, for our cause is just,

And this be our motto –“In God is our trust.”

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

God’s providential hand was felt by our founding fathers as they crafted the documents that would provide the guidance and protection which have served this nation so well!

As Christians, I am convinced we have an obligation to vote for the candidate that will most faithfully follow, and implement, those Christian principles established by the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights!

Over the last four years, there has been a dangerous failure to observe and implement these principles; this must stop! As citizens of a constitutional republic, we can have an impact on the direction our nation is taking by the power of the voting box. It is vital we vote in a manner that will protect and preserve the amazing heritage we have been given by the generations that have preceeded us!

Divine Intervention

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that God is working all things after the counsel of his own will. All we can see or experience is part of God’s creation and exists at his good pleasure. God allowed the creation of the United States as part of his overall plan for the world and by God’s continued grace, has served as an instrument of God’s will!

There is, however, only one nation that God has claimed as his very own and that nation is Israel. While it is true Israel has suffered God’s judgment, it is still God’s nation and God’s people. Israel will, in accordance with God’s plan, be fully restored and blessed as the preiminent capital of God’s reign on earth.

A Divine Warning

The nations of the earth have been warned! In Genesis 12:2-3 it is written:

2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

While the United States has historically been supportive of Israel; recent anti-Israel demonstrations and protests have raised a serious question as to the national overall attitude toward Israel. Has the national position of the United States moved more toward contempt or blessing?

Nations which have treated Israel with contempt have inevitably suffered serious reversals; the United States would be well advised to avoid a national attitude of contempt toward the nation God has sworn to protect.

Governments and God

The Bible makes something else equally clear; governments are put in place by God and are an indication of God’s blessings or God’s cursing. This is confirmed by several verses in the Bible:

Daniel 4:17 tells us:

“17 For this has been decreed by the messengers;
    it is commanded by the holy ones,
so that everyone may know
    that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of the world.
He gives them to anyone he chooses—
    even to the lowliest of people.”

Romans 13:1 it is written:

13 Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.”

Governments become instruments of God’s blessings, or God’s judgments; historically, governments have led nations to both prosperity and blessings or poverty, war and devastation.

The question facing the United States is, are we still under God’s hand of blessing or are we moving toward God’s hand of cursing.

The United States is conspicuously absent from end-times prophecy; I’m convinced the Rapture of the Church will be instrumental in creating chaos in this country. The Rapture may well trigger the battle of Psalm 83 which could result in an EMP explosion over this country. Such an explosion could shut down all electronics and thrust the USA, technologically, back into the 18th century.

I rejoice in God’s sovereignty and delight that God is working all things after the counsel of his own will. I pray that God’s hand of grace and blessing still hovers over the United States. I know the outcome of the November election is in God’s hands and fervently pray it may reflect God’s continued blessings on this country by placing a government in power that will be faithful to the Constitution and faithful to God as

“the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.”

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | July 22, 2024

A Historic Moment for the United States will Soon be Upon Us!

Extrodinary Events Have Become Commonplace in this Day and Age!

By God’s grace, future generations will look back on this generation as the generation which saved the Unted States from annihilation!

The times in which we live seem to be filled with extremes; hardly a day goes by that something somewhere, of an exceptional nature, is taking place like Biden’s decision Sunday to not seek a second term and endorsing Kamala Harris as the next President of the United States.

I have heard it recently observed, by commentators, that we are living in historic times. A casual glance at the news seems to reinforce that sentiment.

The recent attempted assassination of former President Donald J. Trump is a case in point. Many serious questions about that incident remain to be answered satisfactorily! By God’s grace, President Trump survived that attempt.

This is only the most recent in a series of attacks on President Trump which extend back over eight years; unprecedented hostility by the Democrat Party against him as a political opponent have created a time of persecution and conflict which few of us will ever have to endure.

Former President Trump pointed out the attacks are on this nation and it’s people, he just happens to be standing in the way!

The stated objective of the Democrat Party is to fundamentally change the United States; a work which has been in progress now for 12 years with one 4 year interruption.

Barack Obama gave us a hint of what was coming in a campaign speech in October of 2008 when he said:

“After decades of broken politics in Washington, and eight years of failed policies from George W. Bush, and 21 months of a campaign that’s taken us from the rocky coast of Maine to the sunshine of California, we are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America.”

Today we are seeing the results of this effort by the Democrat Party and the results are far from satisfactory! Virtually every aspect of American life is worse off now as a result of these efforts to fundamentally transform the United States of America.

For a period of four years, one man, President Donald J. Trump, worked hard to reverse the efforts of the Democrat Party and had dramatic success in restoring the principles that had made this nation great.

Over the last four years, President Joseph Biden has caused great harm to this country by his policy decisions and failure to protect and defend the United States.

Many have come to recognize the United States is at a critical crossroads; two widely divergent paths await the decision of the electorate at the upcoming national elections. One path leads to a socialist, globalist destination and the ultimate destruction of the United States as a soverign, constitutional republic.

The other path leads to a strong, prosperous, nation based on a constitutional republic. This is the time when those who love the United States must stand up and make sure their votes are counted! The fate of this nation is in your hands; it’s time to join with all who seek to protect the precious heritage we have received from those who have gone before us.

Be a Patriot, Vote for a Strong United States, Vote for Donald J. Trump to be the Next President of the United States!

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | July 14, 2024

Portrait of a Warrior Hero

Bloodied But Unbowed! Fox News Photo

Saturday afternoon in Butler, Pennsylvania an attempt was made on the life of the Republican candidate for President of the United States, Donald J. Trump.

As shocking as this event was to behold, it is even more shocking to consider the decline of politics in the United States to the level of third world countries where assassination of political rivals is the established norm.

This man has endured endless political attacks since he first entered the national political scene. The Democrat Party has been relentless in their vitriolic attacks on all aspects of his life and have done their best to destroy him as a political rival.

Despite these attacks, Trumps popularity with the American people has continued to grow. While most career politicians seem to dramatically increase their financial wealth during their extended times in office, Mr. Trumps efforts to make America great again have cost him dearly.

Every God-fearing man and woman all over the world should be praying for Donald J. Trump to be protected from the vicious evil assaulting him, and enabled to serve as the next President of the United States!

It is only by the grace of God that Donald Trump survived that assassination attempt and only by God’s continued hand of protection will he survive to serve the American people as their elected president! This man has repeatedly shown a remarkable determination to not let the forces of evil dissuade him from his efforts to

“MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | July 3, 2024

Independence Day!

July 4, 2024

For 248 years, the United States of America has generally served as a platform for God’s grace to this fallen world. It was founded on Biblical principles and was a beacon of Godly life and liberty. Although led by flawed individuals, those principles had a profound influence on the actions taken by them on behalf of this nation.

Thousands upon thousands have paid with their lives that we might preserve those principles and arrive at this point in our history!

A Clear and Present Danger

Over the years, an organized effort has sought to remove the influence of those principles and establish ungodly standards as the benchmark for our behavior at both the individual and national levels. In verse 4 of our national anthem, we find:

“Oh, thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n-rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust”:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”

This clearly expresses the truth of our existence, as a nation, we were made, and have been preserved as a nation by the power of God, almighty! While we placed our trust in God, we have been preserved as a nation; now that we are nationally turning our backs on God, our existence is open to serious question!

A Time of Crisis!

The national elections in 2024 may well represent a significant turning point in the history of our country; we have two diametrically opposed candidates representing two polar opposites in party and governmental philosophy.

The choices made in this national election will either move us closer to our founding principles or move our nation down a path to its destruction!

I have previously published an essay on a scenario where the United States was no longer a world power! The Bible has no reference to the United States in prophetic verses describing the last days.

It may well be the United States does not have too many more birthdays left; only God knows the answer to that question and the answer will be devastating to those left behind!

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | June 21, 2024

An Image Bearer’s Prayer of Praise, Worship, and Commitment to his Creator!

Holy Father, I come to your throne of grace filled with gratitude and thanksgiving for the many blessings you pour out on all who love you as their heavenly Father.

I joyfully acknowledge that I am your creation, created by you and for you and rejoice in your gift of salvation and new birth by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.

I am delighted by your grace and mercy which has allowed me to live for you and serve you over 91 years; I thank you and praise you for the great love wherewith you have loved and cared for me. I can look back and clearly see your loving intervention at critical points in my life!

I further rejoice in the sure knowledge my times are in your hands, I acknowledge that the time you have appointed for me was established by you before I was even born, and only you know how many hours I have left in this mortal body; there is great depth of peace and contentment knowing my times are in your hands!

I acknowledge, with joy and thanksgiving, the indwelling presence of God, the Holy Spirit, who has been joined with my resurrected spirit in an eternal union. I thank and praise you that the Holy Spirit is my partner in prayer so my life might be a sweet-smelling savor to you now and forever.

By your grace, I pray that all my perceptions of life and living may be from your divine perspective; that I may always see all things as you see them. I am thankful to you for establishing me as your ambassador to this fallen earth, a royal priest to minister to those who suffer under the Adamic curse.

By your continued grace, may I faithfully serve and honor you with my life as long as I shall live! I ask this in the name of my beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, amen!

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | June 17, 2024

Congratulations, you are Now Fully Cognizant of the Basic Facts of Life that Drastically Impact All of Us!

Knowing the “Who, When, What, Where, Why, And How” of All Human Life Enables you to Make the Wise Life Decisions Required for Complete Success!

Ultimate knowledge can only be found in the Holy Bible; it alone, was written by inspiration from God, the only true reality.

In my last four essays, using the Bible as my source, specifically Romans Chapters 5,6,7,and 8, I have provided you with the information needed to fully understand the five “W’s” and one “H” of life.

Your happiness and success in life are guaranteed by God if you faithfully follow and apply the information provided in those chapters.

As one created in the image of God, one who will live forever, you fully understand this mortal life is only the beginning of an adventure which will last for all eternity, do you not? You know that mortal death is not the beginning of oblivion for you but the transition to a new reality wherein you will reap the benefits or the judgments you have created for yourself by the decisions you have made during your brief time of mortality.

During your mortal life, you have only one totally critical decision to make and that is to either receive Jesus Christ as your very own personal Savior or to reject God’s offer of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. The ramifications of your decision have an eternal impact on what happens to you after the brief period of your mortality is over.

The First New Reality

For all those who wisely choose salvation by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, the new reality is glorious indeed. At the time of transition, the saved Christian goes into the presence of their Creator, the Lord Jesus Christ. In 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 it is written:

5 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

Historically this has been an individual process as each person who has been born again by faith in Jesus Christ is transitioned home to be with the Lord. God has appointed a time when the entire body of believers who remain will be called home, both physically and spiritually, at the end of the Church Age along with all who have died as born again Christians and be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven and eternally enjoy the New Heaven and the New Earth as a member of God’s family!

The Second New Reality

For all those who foolishly rejected Jesus Christ as Savior, things are grim indeed! At the point of transition, the rejector goes to a place of torments where they will await the “Great White Throne” judgment. The Bible tells us this judgment will take place at the end of the Millennial Reign of the Lord Jesus Christ which lasts for 1,000 years.

This judgment is described in Revelation 20:11-15 where it is written:

“11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”

Like Adam before you, everyone today is faced with one decision; whereas Adam’s decision was based on a negative do not, yours is based on a positive believe; believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as your very own personal Savior and avoid the judgment that is surely coming for all who don’t!

If you receive Jesus Christ as Savior, your life is a resounding success regardless of anything else!

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | June 10, 2024

Victory in Jesus!

Death Defeated

The Empty Tomb

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead paid the penalty for the sins of the entire world! Yes, that includes all of those horrible sins you have read or heard about; they were paid for too and yes, that includes all of your sins and all of my sins!

It is written in 1 John 2:1-2,

2 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

The death, burial, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ once and for all put an end to both Adam’s sin and personal sin as a barrier between God and man!

It is on this foundation the Apostle Paul can write in Romans 8:1-3,

“8 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins.”

This is why Jesus could tell his disciples in John 16:9 where it is written:

“9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.” 

Both the Adamic curse and all personal sins have ceased being the barrier between God and man since the resurrection of Jesus Christ; the only remaining sin that serves as a barrier between God and man is rejection of Jesus Christ as Savior! The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior!

You share in Jesus Christ’s victory when you receive him as Savior and are born-again by the power of God, the Holy Spirit!

God’s New Plan for Christians

God had a new plan for Christians; he would send the Holy Spirit to baptize the new believer into a new spiritual entity called the body of Christ; this would be an eternal, unbreakable union that was sustained by the power of God! In 1 Corinthians 12:13 it is written:

“13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.”

In addition, the Holy Spirit would be joined with the new believer’s spirit as a guarantee of the promises that await the new believer. This new relationship is described in Romans 8:9-17 where it is written:

“9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”

Combat Reinforcements

Although victory is assured, the spiritual war is still in progress and Christians are God’s soldiers in this war. Positionally we are seated, in Christ, at the right hand of the Father; experientially we are still fighting as soldiers on the spiritual battlefield called Earth.

As God’s soldiers, we have tactical support in our struggle against the forces of evil as described in Ephesians 6:12-17 where it is written:

“12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

We must never overlook the presence of the Holy Spirit with our spirit; the Holy Spirit effectively stands by our side as we struggle with sin and death. In Romans 8:18-30 it is written:

“18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. 29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.”

We share in the suffering that we might share in the glory God has promised to all of us who are born-again by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior.

The Results, as God has Promised, are Absolutely Certain!

In Romans 8:31-39 it is written:

“31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Rejoice, Christ is Risen and Victory is Certain!

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | June 3, 2024

Life on the Battlefield

A Daily Struggle Against Sin, Internal and External!

For reasons known only to God, it pleased God to leave his adopted children in fallen bodies of clay, our temporary tents, fighting a spiritual war on a spiritual battlefield; on a sin-cursed world heading for judgment! I have written more on this in the series that starts with; “To The Soldiers in the Spiritual War.”

Having served as a soldier in the Lord’s army for over 80 years, I can testify to the results it has accomplished in my life; I have come to detest sin, death, and disobedience. My ultimate desire before the Lord is to be found an obedient, faithful servant to my creator!

By God’s grace, I was saved very early in my life; it saddens me greatly to recall the times I decided to dabble with sin and disobedience. Despite my straying, God has always been faithful to me and has faithfully guided me through some very difficult times during my life’s journey.

In retrospect, I can look back and see his hand of love and mercy faithfully guiding me back to him and helping me establish a pattern of life that shows my love and respect for him and the wisdom of obedience to his commands!

The Battle Rages On

We fight against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

The spiritual battle, which has been waged for thousands of years, is still in progress and I can feel the presence of my old sin nature always trying to undermine my efforts as a soldier of the Lord.

Fortunately, the Lord has given me an early warning system that alerts me to the efforts of my sin nature and allows me to utilize the shield of faith by confession of sin to God.

I am eternally thankful for the grace of God which recognizes my struggle with sin and permits me to seek refuge in confession of sin to him. In 1 John 1:8-10 it is written:

“8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.”

I am particularly thankful that my confession results in the cleansing of both my known and unknown sins; I am truly grateful to God for his thoroughness!

A Shared Experience

I find the 7th chapter of Romans to be filled with reassurance and comfort; I, as a Christian soldier, do not stand alone, but know I am joined by legions of other Christian men and women all over the world. We are not alone in our struggles with sin, but share that historic struggle with none other than the Apostle Paul.

Romans chapter 7 begins with an explanation of the purpose of the Mosaic Law, it helps us understand the extent of the problem we all have with sin. The chapter ends with a statement of the fact of sin in our lives as Christians. In Romans 7:14-25 it is written:

14 So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

21 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. 22 I love God’s law with all my heart. 23 But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. 24 Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? 25 Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin.”

Happily, Paul does not stop there but provides God’s answer to the sin problem in Romans 8 which we will cover next in “Victory in Jesus!”

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | May 27, 2024

The Enemy in the Camp

Within Each of You Dwells a Crucified but Still Living Emissary of Satan!

At the point of salvation, many wonderful things change in the life of the new Christian man or woman. Although these changes are not visible to the world, they are eternal and of vital importance!

An extremely significant change is the resurrection of our dead spirits along with the Holy Spirit taking up residence with our born-again spirits. Christians become a temple of God, the Holy Spirit, who comes into us in an eternal union!

At the point of salvation, we are baptized by the Holy Spirit into one body, the body of Christ; in 1 Corinthians 12:13 it is written:

“13 Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.”

(With today’s volatile racial climate, we would need to add; “some are black, some are brown, and some are white. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.”)

Whereas we had been under the control of a fallen, sin nature, that sin nature was effectively crucified with Christ on the cross at Calvary. By the baptism of the Holy Spirit we are all joined to one body “and we all share the same spirit.”

From God’s perspective, at the point of salvation a number of very significant things happened; in Romans 6:3-4 it is written:

“3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”

Water baptism, by immersion, is our visible witness to what has already happened to us, spiritually, by the power of God, the Holy Spirit! In Romans 6:5-11 it is written:

“5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.”

The Struggle Within

Your Mortal Body – An Earthly Tent

The Christian life is a life of faith, “we live by faith, not by sight!” Although our spirits have been resurrected, they still occupy a fallen, sin-cursed body of this earth. Our experience is just the opposite of Adam’s experience. Whereas Adam died spiritually in the Garden of Eden, he lived for hundreds of years in his mortal body; at the point of salvation, we are given a resurrected spirit but remain in our fallen, un-resurrected mortal bodies until our spirits are called home.

We are promised a heavenly body at a time of God’s choosing; in 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 it is written:

5 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit.

That is truly something to which we can look forward with eager anticipation! At 91 years of age, my body is showing signs of wear which are non-reversable and, by God’s grace, I am at peace with that!

God has chosen that our lives will be lived out on a spiritual battlefield; we live in a world where Satan is the prince of the power of the air and a large percentage of those in this world are the walking dead, they have dead spirits and active sin natures in living mortal bodies.

To further complicate the situation, we must also do battle with the crucified, but still active, sin nature within us. In 1 John 1: 8-10 it is pointed out:

“8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.”

Confession of sin to God is the way we suppress the sin nature and let the Holy Spirit control in our lives; when we confess our sins, “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” Although the sin nature is still present, it is suppressed as the Holy Spirit takes control of our lives.

Next time, “Life on the Battlefield”

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