Posted in Everyday News, Living in Today's World, Standing Firmly for Truth

Prayer NOT Politics

Recently I have spent a considerable amount of time reading, researching and studying the Word about this subject; in earnest prayer.  I am more than aware that I’m wading into deep water and some readers may be offended while others may even ridicule me, but oh well…  When my Lord Jesus and Heavenly Father urge me to write… I do so!   It matters not what any one person thinks of me.
With His grace, this is intended not to offend, but to promote a positive relationship with other members of the Body of Christ.  

I’m seeing a very startling trend across our country.  Many people believe that if we change from a liberal, Democratic president to a supposed conservative, Republican leader, our country is going to be fixed or is on the mend.  Nothing could be further from the actual truth.  I see some prominent Christian leaders  actively involved in political organizations that they believe will change this country.  I believe that is the WRONG path!   Here is why…

1 Thessalonians 5 gives us warnings, admonitions and commandments, which we need to read and heed: I pray as you read this chapter, that you do so asking the Holy Spirit’s discernment and for our Father’s leading through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.  For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.  For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.  So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.  But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.  For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.  And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.  See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.  Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not despise prophecies,  but test everything; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil.  Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.  Brothers, pray for us.  Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.  I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

 

Many conservative, Republican Christians daily are slamming our president, our new candidates for office and our Supreme Court.  To me it is a disgrace to the name of Jesus Christ.  They like to  use 2 Chronicles 7: 14 “ if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  The land the LORD spoke of here was the promised land and the people His chosen people, the Jews.  I know this entire passage in 2 Chronicles and the entire Old Testament was written (as breathed out by God) for learning, correcting, instructing in right living and for doctrine.  I know that God never made a covenant with America!  Praying for the government is godly wisdom, but we have a much greater task— being obedient to our Lord Jesus commands and His example.

I  urge every one who reads this entire post to stop and asks the Lord…   “Is America going to be changed by politics or by the power of the Sovereign Creator and our Lord Jesus Christ?”  Yes I believe we are to represent out Savior and God above all else. Yes I believe in being involved in our communities. But I also believe God is the one who allows things that are for His eternal plan for mankind.  Blessings to all  ♥ Streim  (This was originally posted on August 12, 2012.  I have made some edits for several reasons.)

 
Posted in Knowing the Character of God, Lessons from the Holy Bible, Living in Today's World, Standing Firmly for Truth, Time for Sharing

Contending for the Faith

 For several years now I have watched and heard some of the most demonic, sensual and earthly thinking ( James 3:15) and philosophies seep gradually into many  christian(?) churches in the so-called civilized countries of the world.  Large parts of Europe, Australia, New Zealand– but mainly here in the USA.  I could write for weeks/months about the many different worldly ‘pinches of leaven’ mixed with the True Gospel.  Why would anyone add hypocrisy  to the truth?   Because it’s more pleasing to the flesh that way , politically correct and touches the feelings of the heart.   Not a good thing for the desperately wicked heart of the natural man.   I’ve written about this topic in different ways since I started blogging.  I devour the Word.  It is so amazing that God Almighty, Creator of ALL things,  gave us desperately sinful mankind; redemption through the shed blood of His only Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  And He’s shared His character to us through His breathed out 100% Holy Word.  And given us the Holy Spirit to discern the Word, if we truly desire His wisdom and ask  faith. (James 3:17).  I just finished a month-long personal study of James.  WOW!!  Our glorious Father reproved, corrected and instructed me everyday.

As I prayed last night,  just before settling in to rest my body, I asked our Father in the name of Jesus to please  help me/ show me ; how/ where to share His amazing Glory that is found in His Word.  In the middle of the night, I woke up completely and recited a verse of Scripture, then went back to sleep.  Yes I was fully awake as I spoke “now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling and to present to faultless before the Throne of Glory, to our Only Wise God and Savior be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and  forever and ever.  Amen.” 

Immediately when I woke up this morning, I definitely remembered it.  I know it’s not verbatim for any translation I use so some of you may pooh-pooh this; but, it was not extra biblical revelation stuff or a profound prophetic event, it was simply the answer to my prayer.  As I write this I’m smiling because the heretics, apostates, evil, sneaky, slimy, glittery, pleasant-sounding words that are “lies from the Deceiver himself”  can not— I repeat CAN NOT   draw us away from our Father and Lord Jesus, because we are promised:

Jude 24-25  Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

So, it’s on you.  What do you prefer? 

The Living Water or sparkling waste-treated bottled water?  The Bread of Life or ‘corn beef on rye’?

Blessings to my family in Christ Jesus our Lord.  ♥Streim