We All Will

When Roby Duke sang this touching version of his song “I Shall See God,” who knew that he would actually be leaving us to stand before God in such a short period of time? Here is the master of the the blues guitar in live performance... and perhaps you might want to stop and consider if you are ready to see Him yourself?

The Coming of the Lord

Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Luke 17:20-21 [NASU]

The question asked by the Pharisees was, when is the kingdom of God coming? The answer to them was... the kingdom is in your mist. Christ is the cornerstone of the kingdom of God and those who stood in their mist and heard and believed are the foundation stones that were laid in the kingdom God; thus is the presence of the kingdom of God.

And He said to the disciples, “The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it.”

Luke 17:22 [NASU]

Christ addresses those who heard and believed; “the days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the son of Man.” While walking the earth in the flesh our Lord performed many signs, and in the beginning of His Church there were many of the same signs performed by His apostles. But there came a time when these miracles became rare because of unbelief. Today His children long to see the days of the Son of Man restored, the days of Christ like miracles, such as the healing of the sick, the blind made to see and the lame walking; but He says, “you will not see it.”

They will say to you, “Look there! Look here!” Do not go away, and do not run after them.

Luke 17:23 [NASU]

“They” are the religious who do not have an ear to hear. They are looking at things that are of the flesh, saying, there are big crowds gathering here and much is happening in the name of Jesus, surly He must be here. Or let us go over there for it seems there are being many miracles performed in His name; Christ warns, “do not run after them.”

For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day.

Luke 17:24 [NASU]

Judgment of the wicked will come suddenly, just as the eagle swoops down on his prey and devours it, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.

But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

Luke 17:25 [NASU]

But first Christ is persecuted, rejected and crucified by His generation. But also afterwards, His body, the Church must suffer many things; persecution, rejection and martyrdom. Many of the true Church are persecuted and slain for His name’s sake.

And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.

Luke 17:26-27 [NASU]

In the “days of Noah,” Noah preached the coming judgment but the people ignored Him and continued to fulfill the lust of their sinful flesh. When judgment of the world came in the form of a flood only Noah and His family was spared.

“It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.

Luke 17:28-30 [NASU]

And so shall it be in the days of the “body of Christ,” the true Church will preach the coming of judgment of the world but they will not listen and on the “the day of the Lord” He will come swiftly as “lightning comes from the east to west” and as “a thief in the night” to execute righteous judgment.

“On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife.

Luke 17:31-32 [NASU]

Here our Lord issues a stern warning for those who believe; “Remember Lot’s wife” who looked back with lust in her heart and a longing for the cities, she brought upon herself the judgment spoken to them by the Lord and she turned to a pillow of salt.

Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.

Luke 17:33 [NASU]

Whoever seeks to save his temporal life in the flesh (refuses martyrdom for Christ name sake) will lose his eternal life in the spirit.

I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. [Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left].

Luke 17:34-36 [NASU]

Those who are taken, who are they and where will they go? God’s children are not “destined for wrath.” Noah and his family crossed over from the world of judgment into the new world safely in the ark prepared according to the word of God. Lot and his family were spared as they left the cities of judgment in obedience to the word of God. The children of Israel, God’s chosen people, were spared the judgment of Egypt because they obeyed the word of God. The Hebrew children were spared the king’s wrath of the furnace because they were obedient to the word of God. Daniel was spared from the lions because he was obedient to the word of God. When judgment of Jerusalem came in 70 A.D., those chosen of God were spared because they were obedient to the word of God.

Who are the ones taken? They are the ones who obey the word of God. Where will they go? Christ Jesus is the ark of safety for all who believe; we will be in Christ and wherever He is there we will be also.

And answering they said to Him, “Where, Lord?” And He said to them, “Where the body is, there also the vultures (eagles) will be gathered.”

Luke 17:37 [NASU]

In answering His disciples He speaks a mystery that only those who believe may understand. An eagle is a bird that kills and devours its prey. When the Spirit of the Lord is removed from a nation or from an individual, that nation or individual is spiritually dead. At that time God had removed His Spirit from the Nation Israel because of their sins. The Roman army, as an instrument of God, came down on that nation as an eagle and executed God’s judgment upon them. Thus, we have the type of “where the body is, there also the vultures (eagles) will be gathered.” When this world has had its fill of sin, God will remove His Spirit and judgment will come as an eagle killing and devouring its prey.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.

Revelation 2:29 [NASU]

Pastor Jake

Be Ready...

Something to think about...

Another Gem from Judypie

“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.”

Matthew 24:21

General Omar Bradley said this about our generation:

“We know more about war than about peace. We know more about killing than about living. This is our 20^th Century’s claim to progress — knowledge of science outstrips capacity for control. We have too many men of science, too few men of God. The world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience. We are a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.”

I think he said a mouthful. Jesus said there’s coming a time like never before seen in history — the Great Tribulation — when all our progresses and advances will come down to one thing — Jesus Christ.

Where will you be on the day of Tribulation?

Where do you want to be?

Guide me in Your truth and faithfulness and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You do I wait all the day long. Laus Deo!

Thanks for Judypie for keeping us inspired every single day!

Seven Minutes of Wisdom: Don’t Lose Your Lamp Stand

Our latest podcast presents seven minutes of wisdom entitled “Don’t Lose Your Lamp Stand.”

Brotha DC admonishes us to become aware of the times we are living in. We have reached new heights of a progressive political campaign in the United States, yet we have Christian pastors invited to events on condition that they do not mention the name of Jesus. Of course, if you get mad and want to cuss someone out, you can use that Name... just don’t use it to represent the power to set someone free from their life of bondage to satan’s world of misery.

Let us be aware of the times we are living in and the call we have on our lives as Christians. We want to be faithful to our Lord who called us, lest we find our lamp stand removed (see Revelation 2:5).This seven minute podcast is available by clicking the icon below (or, right-click to download the MP3).

You can also download this message (and other resources) from our download site, http://www.link2power.org.

The main scripture for this message is:

But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]. Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent.

Revelation 2:4-5 [AMP]

Seven Minutes of Wisdom: Eying Eternity

I have been contemplating many prophetic voices proclaiming that we are near the end of this world age and that Jesus is soon to return. I am of the school of thought to be ready for His return, but to also prepare in case the time for His return will be extended.

That preparation is two-fold:

1. To prepare ourselves to be ready to stand before the Living God
2. To share the good news with others so that they too may be ready.

Does that mean we just live any way we please -- mistreating others and breaking the law as if there were no repercussions? As Pastor Mickey Stonier said today at Horizon Christian Fellowship (in San Diego), man may not be watching when you break the law, but God is always watching.

Our latest seven minutes of wisdom gives you something to think about in that regard. We hope that this is a blessing to you, and to those whom you deal with every day...

Click Here to Listen, or, Right-click to download

Along the lines of what we have been hearing and receiving and cogitating on today, we received the following via e-mail from Wayne Freeman (thanks to Pastor Jake). We will share it with you as additional food for thought:

Open Doors & Divine Appointments

I want you to begin to pray with me & for me for open doors & divine appointments in all of our lives; opportunities to do something to advance the plans of God for His kingdom in the last days. Time is winding down really fast; & if we ever plan to do something to advance the work of the kingdom, now is the time to do it. I’m amazed by people who say they believe Jesus will return within the next 10 or 15 years, & yet they are hoarding money & things & making plans for 30 or 40 years down the road. Either we believe Jesus is coming back soon, or we don’t. If you knew this was going to be your last day on Earth how would your priorities change. I was trained by an old minister years ago to live my life like every day might be my last day on Earth; & trust me it makes a big difference in your priorities to do so. Things that once seemed so important no longer hold the same significance in that light. We are on the verge of the revelation of the army of the beast & Satan’s kingdom ruling the Earth; & this year could mark the beginning of the end folks.

The Coming of the Lord

“Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, ‘The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, “Look, here it is!” or, “There it is!” For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst’ (Luke 17:20-21 NASU).”

The question asked by the Pharisees is, when is the kingdom of God coming? The answer to them was, the kingdom is in your midst. Christ is the corner stone of the kingdom of God and those who stood in their mist and heard and believed are the foundation stones that were laid in the kingdom God; thus is the presence of the kingdom of God.

“And He said to the disciples, ‘The days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, and you will not see it’.” (Luke 17:22 NASU)

Christ addresses those who heard and believed; “the days will come when you will long to see one of the days of the son of Man.”While walking the earth in the flesh our Lord performed many signs, and in the beginning of His Church there were many of the same signs performed by His apostles. But there came a time when these miracles became rare because of unbelief. Today His children long to see the days of the Son of Man restored, the days of Christ like miracles, such as the healing of the sick, the blind made to see and the lame walking; but He says, “you will not see it.”

“They will say to you, “Look there! Look here!” Do not go away, and do not run after them.” (Luke 17:23 NASU)

“They” are the religious who do not have an ear to hear. They are looking at things that are of the flesh, saying, there are big crowds gathering here and much is happening in the name of Jesus, surly He must be here. Or let us go over there for it seems there are being many miracles performed in His name; Christ warns, “do not run after them.”

“For just like the lightning, when it flashes out of one part of the sky, shines to the other part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in His day.” (Luke 17:24 NASU)

Judgment of the wicked will come suddenly, just as the eagle swoops down on his prey and devours it, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.

“But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.” (Luke 17:25 NASU)

But first Christ is persecuted, rejected and crucified by His generation. But also afterwards, His body, the Church must suffer many things; persecution, rejection and martyrdom. Many of the true Church are persecuted and slain for His names sake.

“And just as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they were eating, they were drinking, they were marrying, they were being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.” (Luke 17:26-27 NASU)

In the “days of Noah,” Noah preached the coming judgment but the people ignored Him and continued to fulfill the lust of their sinful flesh. When judgment of the world came in the form of a flood only Noah and His family was spared.

“It was the same as happened in the days of Lot: they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building; but on the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.It will be just the same on the day that the Son of Man is revealed.” (Luke 17:28-30 NASU)

And so shall it be in the days of the “body of Christ,” the true Church will preach the coming of judgment of the world but they will not listen and on the “the day of the Lord” He will come swiftly as “lightning comes from the east to west” and as “a thief in the night” to execute righteous judgment.

“On that day, the one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house must not go down to take them out; and likewise the one who is in the field must not turn back. Remember Lot’s wife.” (Luke 17:31-32 NASU)

Here our Lord issues a stern warning for those who believe; “Remember Lot’s wife” who looked back with lust in her heart and a longing for the cities, she brought upon herself the judgment spoken to them by the Lord and she turned to a pillar of salt.

“Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” (Luke 17:33 NASU)

Whoever seeks to save his temporal life in the flesh (refuses martyrdom for Christ name sake) will lose his eternal life in the spirit.

“I tell you, on that night there will be two in one bed; one will be taken and the other will be left. There will be two women grinding at the same place; one will be taken and the other will be left. [Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other will be left].” (Luke 17:34-36 NASU)

Those who are taken, who are they and where will they go? God’s children are not “destined for wrath.” Noah and his family crossed over from the world of judgment into the new world safely in the ark prepared according to the word of God. Lot and his family were spared as they left the cities of judgment in obedience to the word of God. The children of Israel, God’s chosen people, were spared the judgment of Egypt because they obeyed the word of God. The Hebrew children were spared the kings wrath of the furnace because they were obedient to the word of God. Daniel was spare from the lions because he was obedient to the word of God. When judgment of Jerusalem came in 70AD those chosen of God were spared because they were obedient to the word of God.

Who are the ones taken? They are the ones who obey the word of God. Where will they go? Christ Jesus is the ark of safety for all who believe; we will be in Christ and wherever He is there we will be also.

“And answering they said to Him, ‘Where, Lord?’ And He said to them, ‘Where the body is, there also the vultures (eagles) will be gathered’.” (Luke 17:37 NASU)

In answering His disciples He speaks a mystery that only those who believe may understand. An eagle is a bird that kills and devours its prey. When the Spirit of the Lord is removed from a nation or an individual that nation or individual is spiritually dead. At that time God had removed His Spirit from the Nation Israel because of their sins and the Roman army, as an instrument of God, would come down on the nation as an eagle and execute God’s judgment up them. Thus we have the type of “where the body is, there also the vultures (eagles) will be gathered.” When this world has had its fill of sin God will remove His Spirit and judgment will come as an eagle killing and devouring its prey.

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches.” (Rev. 2:29 NASU)

James C. Sanford

More Signs of the Times

I was contemplating the news about Israel considering giving half of Jerusalem to the Palestinians may have slipped under the radar. Israel is considering this as a means for bringing peace. But, according to the Bible, this move signals the soon return of our Lord.

¹BEHOLD, A day of the Lord is coming when the spoil [taken from you] shall be divided [among the victors] in the midst of you.
²For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses rifled and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.
Zechariah 14:1-2

This news is exciting (for some), for it lets us know that the things that are happening in the world are signs of the return of Jesus Christ. It is not time for the church to be sleeping. Rather, the church needs to get busy doing the work of the kingdom.

I hope you have made and secured your travel arrangements!

Get right... or get left!