 What did you get last year?… Every gift?... You don’t know or you don’t remember because those gifts didn’t change your life...
Who was at last year’s dinner and Christmas parties?… You don’t know or you don’t remember because those people didn’t change your life... What’s the true story behind St. Nicholas our the one we know as Santa Claus?… You don’t know or you don’t remember because it didn’t change your life when you heard or read that story... What’s the true story behind the origin of Christmas trees and decorations?… You don’t know or you don’t remember because it didn’t change your life when you heard or read that story... Maybe you saw the light in the sky Friday night and thought for at least a minute that the Lord might be returning?… Once I realized that it wasn’t the Lord’s return to gather me and the rest of His church I thanked Him for confirming to me that our series is on track… We finished last week by looking at the wise men who followed a star that was probably more hidden than the rocket we supposedly saw Friday but also unique and out of place in the heavens… Matthew 2:1-2 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” Like wise men many have travelled a great distance to many different Christmas services looking for something… I pray that you are looking for the right thing… Are you looking for a Children’s Church program?… Are you looking for a loving community of people?… Are you looking for a pass for the rest of the year where you have not thought much about God?… Or like many on Christmas Sunday services are you looking to be entertained by a message with a “new twist” on the Christmas story?… Today in Week #4 of our series the “Sign of the Times” is “CHOICE”… Today and always you can choose from the list I just shared or any other “gift” you want and chances are you can have what you came looking for… Isn’t it true that Christmas is no longer about the giver and them choosing a gift they want to give you?… Its now about the receiver choosing the gifts they want… This was always true of children but I think it’s true of all of us now and isn’t that a “Sign of the Times” we are living in?… God has gifts He has chosen for us but we have to “CHOOSE” whether we want what He has for us or something else that we have chosen for ourselves… Lets look at the “Pacifier” for what it really is… A child is hungry or wet or tired or angry or sad and as parents we use the “pacifier” to distract the child from the real need so that we as parents can have what we think is peace… To be “DISTRACTED” is to remove the focus from where it should be... Even at Christmas for Christians the focus is everywhere but where it should be… A saw a post from a church inviting people to today’s Christmas service that said… “ Carols with a twist, Kids Singing, a short Christmas message, and candle lighting”… They know that people aren’t really in it for the message so they attempt to “pacify” them with other things they are more likely to “CHOOSE”… This doesn’t make them a bad church and actually I know that they are a good church but I choose just to put the pacifier in your hands and ask you to choose your gift… Pacifiers are why year after year just like the gifts and the family functions and the short messages on the history of Christmas are gone and forgotten... Today I refuse to pacify and entertain you while drawing your focus away from where it should be... This Christmas and all others are about one thing and it’s something you won’t forget about 12 months from now... Christmas is about Emmanuel... God with us... Christmas is the true story about God coming into the world He created as a human being… Christmas is all about Him!… Romans 11:33-36 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 "For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?" 35 "Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?" 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. While trying not to major in the minors this I want share on the “Why”… the “How”... and the “Wow” of Christmas… Nobody in all of history ever expected God to come into the world as a person let alone a child birthed into the world... and that of a virgin... This is the foundation and key to our faith that everything else depends on... God on the cross has no power if it is not God in the crib... We saw how the wise men were reading the “Signs of the Times” in the heavens and there is something joyous there but what about the “Signs of the Times” that weren’t joyous?… Matthew 2:16-18 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: 18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more." God knew this was going to happen but He didn’t stop it... Why?… Because all the signs confirmed the times… Jeremiah 31:15-17 15 Thus says the Lord: "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more." 16 Thus says the Lord: "Refrain your voice from weeping, And your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, And they shall come back from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope in your future, says the Lord Christianity is about connecting the dots and opening all the gifts of the Lord whether we want them or not… Isaiah 46:9-10 I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done God is the only one who knows the end from the beginning and if He gives you a life raft for Christmas don’t say “I didn’t want that”… You would be wise to get yourself ready for a flood!… At Christmas we aren’t looking at the End or the Beginning we are looking at the “middle” and the center and the core and the point at which everything in the past is concluded and everything in the future begins... 1. So the “Why” of Christmas… We love shows like “Undercover Boss”... and stories of generals dying in battle.. and coaches getting ejected... and even spiritually Pastors who work regular jobs... but WHY?… It’s because we love when the line between the top and the bottom is blurred and the two become one... The Bible and the redemption of man and ultimately Christmas is about this very blurring of the line between the top and the bottom on a scale that really can’t be compared to anything else the world has ever seen... Under cover boss is about the conditions that workers suffer while making the boss a fortune… Generals dying in battle is about showing everyone that the top of the food chain has the highest level of commitment to the cause and aren’t just sending lower ranking soldiers off to their death… Coaches getting ejected is about defending your players who can’t defend themselves because of the rules of the leagues… and Pastors working a regular job is about showing the congregation that Godliness isn’t a job set aside for the Holy and that righteousness isn’t the byproduct of having a lot of time to pursue it… Whether we recognize it or not we love when these types of extremes in our world come together… The separation that is brought together at Christmas is so much greater than any of these types of things though... There is no greater separation than that of the all mighty and all powerful and truly HOLY God being separated from the created and fragile and truly sinful men and women He has created... How many of you believe there is true evil in this world???… If you take evil and the worst of all men and women who abuse and molest children and sedate and drug and poison them in order to sell them into sex trafficking and slavery and compare them to the greatest of men and women we’ve seen who have committed their entire lives to helping the sick and needy and poor... Get this… The greatest of us would be closer to the worst of us then they could ever imagine being to God... Romans 3:22-23 For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Isaiah 64:5-6 You are indeed angry, for we have sinned-- In these ways we continue; And we need to be saved. 6 But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; See when we blur the lines between the top and bottom we do it partly in pride and for show and at the end of the day the line and divide wasn’t nearly as wide as we’d like to make each other believe… A boss is not a better person and a generals life is not worth more than any other soldier and a coach is not really the brains of the operation and a working Pastor is no greater example than a stay at home mom… We enjoy blurring a “make-believe” line but when God came into the world as a man He completely erased the real line of separation and that line and separation was so far apart that we don’t have a unit of measure that can help us make sense of it... It was so far that only God Himself could bring us together and it took the unimaginable to do it... God would have to come into the world to close the divide… AND… He would have to die in order for people to cross over was He brought us back together… This is the “Why” of Christmas… Because there was no other way… Don’t allow yourself to be “Pacified” with some other story or some other false reality… God Himself did the unimaginable so that you and I could experience the impossible… 2. So what about the How: God is infinitely wise and He knew how unfathomable this would be for us... Because first we have to acknowledge that we are sinners and spiritually dead and then we have to commit our lives to a man that claims to be God and the only way to bring us back to a place where we can cross over from death into life… Even though it’s true that’s a lot to swallow… John 14:6 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. It doesn’t matter when this would happen in history it would feel as if it were “too late” for those who passed away before it happened... and it would be “too much” for those who lived in that day and time handle... and it would be “too far fetched” for those who would live afterwards to grasps... UNLESS... Unless God used Prophets to tell people who would pass away before... Hebrews 11:1-13 1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 7 By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. 12Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude--innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them These all died in faith, not having received the promises… They heard from the prophets and angels of God and they believed… And there were countless others all over the planet who did the same before Jesus came into the world… Isaiah 7:14 (700 years before the birth of Christ…) 14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 9:6-7 (700 years before the birth of Christ…) 6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. How about 9 months before the birth of Christ?… Luke 1:26-35 26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." 34 Then Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I do not know a man?" 35 And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. See God sent an angel to confirm for Mary that what she was experiencing at that time was the fulfillment of prophecies and promises that God had made 700 years prior through Isaiah and even before that… So you have the past and the present but what about us “post” birth, death and resurrection of Christ would be believers… It would be so hard for us UNLESS... Unless God sent His Spirit to confirm this truth to those who would live afterwards... John 16:13-14 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. John 6:44-45 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall all be taught by God.' Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. Before the Christ and after His ascension God made provisions for faith but I think the day of Christmas is the most powerful of all confirmations… Christmas is the fulfillment of mathematically impossible prophecies… They say if you looked at just 8 of the hundreds of prophecies about Jesus the chances of it all actually happening would be something like 1 in 10 to the 21st power… That's 1 with 21 zeroes behind it which means there haven’t been enough people alive yet for that 1 to have actually happened… If you look at the Genealogy of the Birth of Jesus you find that He is the Son of David & the Son of God… Jeremiah 22:24-30 24 "As I live," says the Lord, "though Coniah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet on My right hand, yet I would pluck you off; 25 and I will give you into the hand of those who seek your life, and into the hand of those whose face you fear--the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the hand of the Chaldeans. 26 So I will cast you out, and your mother who bore you, into another country where you were not born; and there you shall die. 27 But to the land to which they desire to return, there they shall not return. 28 "Is this man Coniah a despised, broken idol-- A vessel in which is no pleasure? Why are they cast out, he and his descendants, And cast into a land which they do not know? 29 O earth, earth, earth, Hear the word of the Lord! 30 Thus says the Lord: 'Write this man down as childless, A man who shall not prosper in his days; For none of his descendants shall prosper, Sitting on the throne of David, And ruling anymore in Judah.” Jeconiah ends the “blood line” of king David when it comes to the “Kingly” line of Solomon… The “Kingly” line still goes on but it is a “legal” right to the throne from Jeconiah on not a “blood line” and we find Joseph the stepfather of Jesus in that line… If you look at Mary’s line and at the top you see David’s other son Nathan… So watch this… Jesus had the legal right to the throne through His step Father Joseph… and Jesus had the blood right to the throne through His mother Mary… And Jesus had the heavenly right to the throne from His Father God… This is the only time in history past that it happened and in the only time in history forward that it happened and could be proven because all the records of lineage were destroyed 40 years after the death of Jesus when Israel was taken into captivity in 70 A.D… The “How” of Christmas is so amazing that I wish I had more time to talk about it and it truly could’ve been the “Wow” but theres another “Wow” of Christmas that’s even more amazing… 3. So the Wow of Christmas… The “Wow” of Christmas is that you are a major part of the story… It’s about you... The Bible is written according to John 20:30-31 so that you would believe... 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. We’ve been told just enough to tell the story and that you would be able to believe but there is another book and your story is in it… Revelation 20:11-15 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. 12And 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. Your story is every bit as valuable as the stories of David and Esther and Noah and Mary and it is written in a book... The question is whether or not your story is written in the book of judgement or in the Lamb's book of life?… In order to be in the Lambs book of life you have to have a personal “Christmas” story about how Jesus was birthed into your individual life… You can’t tell Mary’s story and you can’t tell Josephs story... It has to be your own!!!… What is your Christmas story?… The birth of Christ in the lives of Mary and Joseph was met with accusation and shame and isolation and uncertainty and it often produces the same initially for those who put their faith in Jesus... This world shamed us but it shouldn’t compare to the shame of the sin in us we’ve acknowledged and what we now know God was willing to do in order to forgive us... We feel isolated when we leave or old lives behind and when people withdraw from us but when we consider that Jesus left heaven behind to come for us we realize that His isolation and ours will be replaced by a loving community like we’ve never known before… It’s called the church… The uncertainty we feel initially is replaced day after day by faith as we experience growth and maturity and confirmation and clarity and confidence... When we realize how confident God was in us when He sent His son it often brings us to tears… God believed in Mary and Joseph so much that He knew they would overcome their fears and doubts AND God trusted them to care for Jesus when He couldn’t care for Himself… God has the same faith in you that He had in Mary and Joseph… You can overcome all your fears and doubts AND you too can be a carrier of the life of Christ within you… See… There’s no point in all of this if God didn’t believe you would come to Him of your own free will once you saw and heard what He has done... Are you one who knows that no pacifier will ever do for you again???... There are a lot of stories this world will offer you but only one can do more than “Pacify” you… It's only the story of the God who created you and loves you so much that He brought heaven down to earth to save you… Luke 2:7 she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Is there room in the “inn” of your heart this morning for Jesus Christ the Savior of the world???…
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 Daniel 1:1-21 (~600 BC)
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god. 3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king's descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king's delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. 6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego. 8But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself. 9 Now God had brought Daniel into the favor and goodwill of the chief of the eunuchs. 10 And the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, "I fear my lord the king, who has appointed your food and drink. For why should he see your faces looking worse than the young men who are your age? Then you would endanger my head before the king." 11 So Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days, and let them give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then let our appearance be examined before you, and the appearance of the young men who eat the portion of the king's delicacies; and as you see fit, so deal with your servants." 14 So he consented with them in this matter, and tested them ten days. 15 And at the end of ten days their features appeared better and fatter in flesh than all the young men who ate the portion of the king's delicacies. 16 Thus the steward took away their portion of delicacies and the wine that they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. 17 As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. 18 Now at the end of the days, when the king had said that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. 19 Then the king interviewedthem, and among them all none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah; therefore they served before the king. 20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm. 21 Thus Daniel continued until the first year of King Cyrus. The kings collected “wise men” from all different nations and backgrounds and beliefs… There is a specific reference in Verse 20 to magicians and astrologers and the scripture says that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego were 10 times better than them in the areas of wisdom and understanding… These magicians and astrologers that spoke into the lives of the kings and interpreted dreams were called “Magi”… This is where the term “magician” comes from… We are talking about magic, sorcery, & astrology which is the study of the stars and signs in the heavens… The “Sign of the Times” for week #3 is the “Zodiac Signs”… This is nothing new but it is definitely a sign of the times that we live in where people are looking for answers in the stars instead of in the One who created them… Exodus 7:8-12 8 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 9 "When Pharaoh speaks to you, saying, 'Show a miracle for yourselves,' then you shall say to Aaron, 'Take your rod and cast it before Pharaoh, and let it become a serpent.' " 10 So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh, and they did so, just as the Lord commanded. And Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 But Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers; so the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12 For every man threw down his rod, and they became serpents. But Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. The enemy can counterfeit many things but once they run their course only God is God and only the word of God stands when all the rest are swallowed up… Deuteronomy 18:9-15 9 "When you come into the land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, 11 or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. 12 For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because of these abominations the Lord your God drives them out from before you. 13 You shall be blameless before the Lord your God. 14 For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the Lord your God has not appointed such for you. 15 "The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, So with this as a background where is it that this zodiac “Sign of the Times” is pointing us… Definition of “Occult”: supernatural, mystical, or magical beliefs, practices, or phenomena. We know that these occult practices are still in effect today and we see the palm reading businesses and we even get horoscopes via email now without any understanding of what we are involved in… Esther 1:1-22 (500-450 BC) 1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this was the Ahasuerus who reigned over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, from India to Ethiopia), 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which was in Shushan the citadel, 3 that in the third year of his reign he made a feast for all his officials and servants--the powers of Persia and Media, the nobles, and the princes of the provinces being before him-- 4 when he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the splendor of his excellent majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days in all. 5And when these days were completed, the king made a feast lasting seven days for all the people who were present in Shushan the citadel, from great to small, in the court of the garden of the king's palace. 6 There were white and blue linen curtains fastened with cords of fine linen and purple on silver rods and marble pillars; and the couches were of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of alabaster, turquoise, and white and black marble. 7 And they served drinks in golden vessels, each vessel being different from the other, with royal wine in abundance, according to the generosity of the king. 8 In accordance with the law, the drinking was not compulsory; for so the king had ordered all the officers of his household, that they should do according to each man's pleasure. 9 Queen Vashti also made a feast for the women in the royal palace which belonged to King Ahasuerus. 10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king, wearing her royal crown, in order to show her beauty to the people and the officials, for she was beautiful to behold. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command brought by his eunuchs; therefore the king was furious, and his anger burned within him. 13 Then the king said to the wise men who understood the times (for this was the king's manner toward all who knew law and justice, 14 those closest to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, the seven princes of Persia and Media, who had access to the king's presence, and who ranked highest in the kingdom): 15 "What shall we do to Queen Vashti, according to law, because she did not obey the command of King Ahasuerus brought to her by the eunuchs?" 16 And Memucan answered before the king and the princes: "Queen Vashti has not only wronged the king, but also all the princes, and all the people who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus. 17 For the queen's behavior will become known to all women, so that they will despise their husbands in their eyes, when they report, 'King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought in before him, but she did not come.' 18 This very day the noble ladies of Persia and Media will say to all the king's officials that they have heard of the behavior of the queen. Thus there will be excessive contempt and wrath. 19 If it pleases the king, let a royal decree go out from him, and let it be recorded in the laws of the Persians and the Medes, so that it will not be altered, that Vashti shall come no more before King Ahasuerus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20 When the king's decree which he will make is proclaimed throughout all his empire (for it is great), all wives will honor their husbands, both great and small." 21 And the reply pleased the king and the princes, and the king did according to the word of Memucan. 22 Then he sent letters to all the king's provinces, to each province in its own script, and to every people in their own language, that each man should be master in his own house, and speak in the language of his own people. These were powerful men in the world right… Let’s follow these “Wise Men” or “Magi” through the bible a little further… Daniel 2:1-36 1 Now in the second year of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams; and his spirit was so troubled that his sleep left him. 2 Then the king gave the command to call the magicians, the astrologers, the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. 3 And the king said to them, "I have had a dream, and my spirit is anxious to know the dream."4 Then the Chaldeans spoke to the king in Aramaic, "O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will give the interpretation." 5 The king answered and said to the Chaldeans, "My decision is firm: if you do not make known the dream to me, and its interpretation, you shall be cut in pieces, and your houses shall be made an ash heap.6 However, if you tell the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts, rewards, and great honor. Therefore tell me the dream and its interpretation." 7 They answered again and said, "Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will give its interpretation." 8 The king answered and said, "I know for certain that you would gain time, because you see that my decision is firm: 9 if you do not make known the dream to me, there is only one decree for you! For you have agreed to speak lying and corrupt words before me till the time has changed. Therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that you can give me its interpretation." 10 The Chaldeans answered the king, and said, "There is not a man on earth who can tell the king's matter; therefore no king, lord, or ruler has ever asked such things of any magician, astrologer, or Chaldean. 11 It is a difficult thing that the king requests, and there is no other who can tell it to the king except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh." 12 For this reason the king was angry and very furious, and gave a command to destroy all the wise men of Babylon. 13 So the decree went out, and they began killing the wise men; and they sought Daniel and his companions, to kill them. 14Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon; 15 he answered and said to Arioch the king's captain, "Why is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch made the decision known to Daniel. 16 So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation. 17 Then Daniel went to his house, and made the decision known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions, 18 that they might seek mercies from the God of heaven concerning this secret, so that Daniel and his companions might not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. 19 Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. 20 Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His.21 And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding. 22 He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, And light dwells with Him. 23 "I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king's demand." 24 Therefore Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon. He went and said thus to him: "Do not destroy the wise men of Babylon; take me before the king, and I will tell the king the interpretation." 25 Then Arioch quickly brought Daniel before the king, and said thus to him, "I have found a man of the captives of Judah, who will make known to the king the interpretation." 26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, "Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen, and its interpretation?"27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, "The secret which the king has demanded, the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, and the soothsayers cannot declare to the king. 28 But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed, were these: 29 As for you, O king, thoughts came to your mind while on your bed, about what would come to pass after this; and He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will be. 30 But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may know the thoughts of your heart. 31 "You, O king, were watching; and behold, a great image! This great image, whose splendor was excellent, stood before you; and its form was awesome. 32 This image's head was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, 33 its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. 34 You watched while a stone was cut out without hands, which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. 35 Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. 36 "This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. 1. The writing in the mind Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and only God could tell him what had been “written on his mind” in his dream because what had been “written on his mind” in his dream had come from God… If it is from God only God or the Godly can declare it and give clarity… If you get a truth from anyone or anywhere else it is not the truth of God or the will of God for your life… The wise men of the world have wisdom that is limited but not God… He swallows them up just like Aaron’s rod that turned into a serpent swallowed up the serpents of Pharaoh’s wise men… Have you looked at the sign for hospitals and medical treatment around the world?… It's a picture of a snake and a rod… To the world and many doctors it is the sign for man’s wisdom and knowledge of the body and individual achievement like Pharaoh's "magi" but to the Christian it is a reminder that God is the all powerful and great physician… After Daniel interprets king Nebuchadnezzar’s dream listen to this… Daniel 2:45-48 The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure." 46 Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. 47 The king answered Daniel, and said, "Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret." 48Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. This is going to be important as we go on… Daniel 5:1-31 1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. 2 While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.3 Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. 4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone. 5In the same hour the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. 6 Then the king's countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.7 The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke, saying to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing, and tells me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around his neck; and he shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." 8 Now all the king's wise men came, but they could not read the writing, or make known to the king its interpretation. 9 Then King Belshazzar was greatly troubled, his countenance was changed, and his lords were astonished. 10 The queen, because of the words of the king and his lords, came to the banquet hall. The queen spoke, saying, "O king, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your countenance change. 11 There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father--your father the king--made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. 12 Inasmuch as an excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting dreams, solving riddles, and explaining enigmas were found in this Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar, now let Daniel be called, and he will give the interpretation." 13 Then Daniel was brought in before the king. The king spoke, and said to Daniel, "Are you that Daniel who is one of the captives from Judah, whom my father the king brought from Judah? 14 I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you. 15 Now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not give the interpretation of the thing. 16 And I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations and explain enigmas. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom." 17 Then Daniel answered, and said before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another; yet I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation. 18 O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. 19 And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. 20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. 21 Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.22 But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. 23 And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.24 Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written. 25 "And this is the inscription that was written: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN. 26 This is the interpretation of each word. Mene: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; 27 Tekel: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting; 28 Peres: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians." 29 Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom. 30 That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. 31And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old. 2. The writing on the wall Belshazzar was the son of King Nebuchadnezzar yet he didn’t learn from his father and it cost him his life… The “writing was on the wall” but he wasn’t willing to see it until the end… It’s interesting that again the “wise men” in his kingdom could not read the writing but Daniel the man of God could… When it comes to the written word from God it is interpreted by the Spirit of God and none other… 1 Corinthians 1:18-20 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." 20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? Daniel 6:1-28 1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; 2 and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. 3 Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. 4 So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him.5 Then these men said, "We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God." 6 So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: "King Darius, live forever! 7 All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." 9 Therefore King Darius signed the written decree. 10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. 11Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king's decree: "Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?" The king answered and said, "The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter." 13 So they answered and said before the king, "That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day." 14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him.15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, "Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed." 16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you." 17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed. 18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?" 21 Then Daniel said to the king, "O king, live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions' mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you." 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God. 24 And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions--them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den. 25 Then King Darius wrote: To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. 26 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, And steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, And His dominion shall endure to the end. 27 He delivers and rescues, And He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. 28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. 3. Writing on the heart King Darius in his heart loved Daniel and declared Daniels God to be the only true God but his actions declared that his faith was in the law of the “wise men” and “magi”… The law of God supersedes the laws of man and they supersede the laws of nature so much so that lions will not touch Daniel if God says so… Do the laws of man rule in your heart or does the law of God reign supreme?… Jeremiah 31:33 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. We’ve looked at 3 Kings… Writing on the mind… Writing on the wall… and Writing on the heart… Have you heard the statement “Wise Men Still Seek Him”?… The “Wise Men” that statement refers to are the “Magi”… Matthew 2:1-12 1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: 6 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.' " 7 Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." 9 When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. 4. The writing in the sky These wise men are those “Magi” who had put their faith in the God of Daniel… Daniel had come into captivity in Babylon and because of his wisdom from God was put first over all the Magi... Daniel 2:48 48 Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts; and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief administrator over all the wise men of Babylon. These wise men or "magi" had passed down the truth they received from Daniel for over 500 years and their true “wisdom” and “knowledge” had them waiting for a star that would appear like no other that has ever existed… They followed the star from the east and found the hope of the world and they worshipped Him… While I'm sure it was not all of the "magi" some of them who proved to truly be among the wisest men on the earth at the time could be found worshiping a baby… The wisdom of God is foolishness to men & women who are perishing... Are you ready for Christmas?…  1st off this is lengthy and I suggest you click the link above to "listen" to this one but for those of you who love to read here we go...
Where do these "Signs of the Times" want to lead people?… The question of whether or not we as Christians are able to see the signs is very important but it is directly connected to our ability to read the trajectory of the sign and figure out where it is trying to take people and why… Matthew 16:2-3 2 He (Jesus) answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; 3 and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. So discerning the “Signs of the Times” is critical… Last week as we looked at the “Coexist” movement we saw that it pointed us to a pseudo peace a pseudo love and a pseudo religious experience… So what is the “Sign of the Times” for week #2 and where will it point us?… The “Human Rights Campaign” logo is our “Sign of the Times” for this week… (Yellow = sign with a blue background) How many of you have seen this sticker?… The HRC is headquartered in Washington D.C. where the laws are being decided and they have the support of the famous, the wealthy, certain Presidents, and according to their website over 1.5 American members… This message is not an attempt to to discredit or drag the HRC through the mud or really even to focus on the organization… This message is about understanding that this symbol is a “Sign of the Times” that we live in and to help us discern where it is attempting to lead and take people… This is directly from the HRC website: The “Human Rights Campaign” logo is one of the most recognizable symbols of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community. It has become synonymous with the fight for equal rights for LGBTQ Americans. We build support for LGBTQ people among families and friends, co-workers and employers, pastors and parishioners, doctors and teachers, neighbors, and the general public. Through the following programs and projects, we are enhancing the lived experiences of LGBTQ people and their families, as we change hearts and minds across America and around the globe. Isn’t it striking that the goal is to change the hearts and minds of people… Confusion and Inclusion are what I feel I must focus on for this “Sign of the Times”… I think many of us are “Confused” as to what this movement is really focused on and that’s because while it’s primary focus as they say is on the LGBTQ community by name Human Rights “Includes” so many other issues of justice and equality… Racial equality, equality of the sexes, children’s rights, the rights of the elderly and any other justice or equality issues you can think of… This is a tactic the enemy uses often… Even last week with “Coexist” the enemy said “who are you to think there is no higher power”… which is true… but then he added “and who are you to say that one higher power is better or more real than another”… And instead of saying I am a child of God created in His image and filled with His Spirit we often fall victim to this “Confusion and Inclusion” or what the bible often refers to as leaven… Galatians 5:7-9 7 You ran well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion does not come from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. The real issue this sticker represents is the attack on the Christian understandings of Manhood, Womanhood, and Marriage… The leaven in their views on these issues leaven the whole lump of all the other issues with which we may agree upon… Similarly to last week its not an issue of disagreeing with respect for multiple points of view it is a demand to embrace the values and interpretations of freedom, justice, and liberty this group has developed for the LGBTQ community… Let’s define what these letters represent: Lesbian: A woman who is attracted to other women. Gay: A man who is attracted to other men. Bisexual: An individual who is attracted to both genders. Transgender: An umbrella term that seeks to incorporate individuals whose gender identities do not match their biological sex, for example, somebody who is born male-bodied and identifies as a woman. The term ‘Trans’ includes those who are pre or post surgery and those who do not wish to undertake surgery to alter their sex. A distinction is posed between sex (male/female) which is a biological given at birth, and gender (man/woman) which is a sociological and psychological construction concerned with characteristics that are not biological. Queer: Individuals who experience fluidity in their experience of sexuality or gender and therefore do not identify strictly as LGB or T. The term ‘Queer’ can also include those who do not identify as either gender. As I said I am going to focus on the main issue this sticker represents which is a viewpoint on the LGBTQ community as it relates to Manhood, Womanhood, and Marriage… I read a book on this issue this week which was very helpful to me and I believe that standing on the word of God and educating ourselves is so important… This may not be the most popular message for those in the world but I think many of us in the church will be challenged with this message as well… Before I go further into this very controversial area I’d like to say that God gave my peace with one simple statement when I started to see momentum of this movement and the ground they have already taken… He said to me… “Do not be afraid for I am God”… Isaiah 41:10-12 10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' 11 "Behold, all those who were incensed against you Shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish. 12 You shall seek them and not find them-- Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing. And I’ll give one of many controversial statements right here… I am all for the the rights of the LGBTQ community… When I look at all the “Signs of the Times” that we live in I do not believe that we live in a world or nation that will put God and His word first and govern that way which would be my first wish… Since that is not a reality and because I know that even when Jesus comes back to rule and reign from Jerusalem for 1,000 years sin will still rule over many men and women I am forced to ask then what?… I think “then what” is a society where Christians take the responsibility to protect and teach our families and prepare them for the reality of the times that we live in… I think that if we have a society that values the safety and fair treatment of all its citizens then we as Christians have the best opportunity to evangelize and share the truth about the hope that can only be found in Christ… I am aware that the freedoms lobbied for by some of these groups actually suppress the freedoms of Christians in the same way these groups claim they are being discriminated against but we have Christ and He told us to expect to live in these conditions… America as a nation doesn’t stand for God and on His word when it comes to how we govern and how we treat all of our citizens… I’m not saying we don’t have national pride or an amazing military and unparalleled safety and security and infrastructure but you will not here our leaders say that we are a Christian nation… Israel is unashamed to say “We are the people of God and it is God who protects us and it is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that we serve”… Muslim nations are not ashamed to say that they are muslim nations who serve allah and muhammad his prophet… So I choose not to be disillusioned and pretend to believe that we are fighting for marriage and Godliness on a national level as we seek to honor and serve Jesus… This is a fight for Christians who’s citizenship is in heaven to fight as pilgrims and sojourners who live in and fight for the lost who we live with in America… Heres the good news though… It doesn’t matter what anyone or any government or even what any church says... what God says is and always will be all that matters!!! I don’t want to see LGBTQ people beaten or spit on or imprisoned or discriminated against in our country or in the world… I do not agree with their movement and I believe it to be sin but I was also once dead in my sins and I know many other non-LGBTQ people who are dead in their sins… Ephesians 2:1-5 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) 1. Human Rights, Manhood, Womanhood, and Marriage are established by God Genesis 2:7-25 7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. 8 The Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put the man whom He had formed. 9 And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 10 Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it parted and became four riverheads. 11 The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. 12 And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are there. 13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes around the whole land of Cush. 14 The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates. 15 Then the Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." 18And the Lord God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him." 19 Out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name. 20 So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. 23 And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man." 24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. This is the story of manhood and womanhood and marriage and it is the end of the story… This story is affirmed throughout scripture as is the reality of how men and women have fallen so far short of this in so many different ways both heterosexually and homosexually and through infidelity and without infidelity and in marriage and in singlehood… Some say that this is an old testament understanding and law and that Jesus did away with such laws and boundaries… In the new testament in Matthew 19:4-12 Jesus says… 4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' 5 and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? 6So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate." 7 They said to Him, "Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?" 8 He said to them, "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery." 10 His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry." 11 But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.” Jesus reaffirms God’s design and determination on Manhood, Womanhood, and marriage… He also declares something about celibacy that will be important later but first I feel compelled to talk at least briefly on the next thing Jesus says after this… Matthew 19:13-15 13 Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." 15And He laid His hands on them and departed from there. In May when my family went up to Aiyana’s college graduation I went in to a small restaurant to grab some food for us and there was a boy who couldn’t have been more than 3 years old and his parents had dressed him like a little girl… On the youtube page for the Human Rights Campaign there is a video about a mother who let her little boy change is gender to become a girl in 1st grade and how even though a planned reading of a book to his class on how to make the change was shut down 600 people showed up at the local library to participate in the reading of the book… Interestingly enough the name of the town they are from is Mount Horeb in Wisconsin and the name of the Mountain where Moses received the 10 commandments is Mount Horeb… I think what is happening to the kids is an important “Sign of the Times” because Jesus says "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”… This is about the kids innocence and fragility and trust and reckless love and purity and trust and hope and joy… The kids and their innocence is under attack and the very people who are supposed to be helping to reaffirm and strengthen their identity are doing the opposite and through confusion and inclusion trying to convince us that something is wrong with us who refuse to accept it… Don’t you think kids should be protected and have rights?… oh yeah and those rights should include choosing to be a boy or girl right… A little leaven leavens the whole lump… Isaiah 5:20 20 Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! So this so called movement for equality and unity is actually pointing us in the direction separation and division from Christ… It is a movement again that appears to be rooted in love and justice but if Jesus is love and Jesus is justice how can a movement that is contrary and in direct opposition to His word also be rooted in love and justice… It can’t be!… 2. Failure and Fatality The failings of heterosexual marriages is often used as a justification for the possibility of a successful homosexual relationship or marriage… To fail within the will of God will still result in eternal life but to succeed outside the will of God will result fatally in eternal death… On Wednesday night at bible study we talked about the power of fear and condemnation as we looked at the Romans at the foot of the Lord’s cross when the earth shook violently as Jesus yielded up His Spirit… We talked about how we must tell people the truth about their condition apart from Christ and not waiver because of our personal struggles or insufficiency because it is our status “IN” Christ that justifies us not our perfect living… We can fail as we attempt to walk and live within the will of God and enter into eternal life but we cannot openly rebel against the will and word of God in any area of our lives and expect anything other than fatality… 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. We must cast down anything in us that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and we must bring our thoughts and actions into captivity and obedience to Christ… Genesis 19:1-38 1 Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. 2And he said, "Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your way." And they said, "No, but we will spend the night in the open square." 3 But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate. 4 Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house. 5 And they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally." 6So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind him, 7 and said, "Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! 8 See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please, let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof." 9 And they said, "Stand back!" Then they said, "This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them." So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door. 10 But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. 11 And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door. 12 Then the men said to Lot, "Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city--take them out of this place! 13 For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the Lord, and the Lord has sent us to destroy it." 14 So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, "Get up, get out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city!" But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking. 15 When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, "Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city." 16 And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife's hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city. 17 So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."18 Then Lot said to them, "Please, no, my lords!19 Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. 20 See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live."21 And he said to him, "See, I have favored you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. 22 Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. 27 And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. 28 Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the smoke of a furnace. 29 And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt. 30 Then Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, and his two daughters were with him; for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two daughters dwelt in a cave. 31 Now the firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth. 32Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father." 33 So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 34 It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger, "Indeed I lay with my father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go in and lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father." 35 Then they made their father drink wine that night also. And the younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose. 36Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father. 37 The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father of the Moabites to this day. 38 And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day. Lot was a failure but the people of Sodom & Gomorrah’s rebellion against the will and word of God was fatal… Lot failed when he went to live in Sodom… Lot failed when he offered his daughters to the men of the city… Lot failed when he let his wife be destroyed… Lot failed when he allowed his daughters to sleep with him which may have been connected with his failure to value them in the city and show them their worth… Lot failed in so many ways and when you compare his life to Abraham’s who also failed in some ways it still is the tale of two drastically different lives… Both of them were “saved” as they came out of their country together but only one “surrendered” and lived for God… Neither of their failures were ultimately eternally fatal for them but it appears that many of the people they cared about were lost… Abraham’s first born Ishmael became the father of the Muslims and Lot’s incestuous children became the father’s of two of Israel’s other greatest enemies the Moabites and the Ammorites… Failure is not damning but rebellion is eternally fatal… and we see it confirmed in 2 Peter… 2 Peter 2:1-10 1 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber. 4 For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; 5 and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;7 and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked 8 (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)-- 9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment,10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. Wow… righteous Lot?… Remember it is about our status “IN” Christ that justifies us not our perfect living… I want to close with what I think the answer is… 3. Denial and Deliverance Earlier I said that Jesus said something about celibacy that was very important… Matthew 19:10-12 10 His disciples said to Him, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry." 11 But He said to them, "All cannot accept this saying, but only those to whom it has been given: 12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.” Eunuchs are men who have been castrated… Jesus says there are some who are born this way and others are made this way by men and others who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake… This is about a spiritual celibacy more than it is about the fact of being physically castrated… Choosing not to do what we want to do or act upon how we feel by the power of the Holy Spirit in order to honor our Lord and Savior is the answer… This is true for all of us in some area of our walk with God… To deny the reality of same sex attraction or homosexuality or the fact that there is a real desire to change gender in some people would be unwise… We can discuss why we think these things do exist and how we think we’ve gotten so far from the will of God as people but to deny this as a reality and “Sign of the Times” we live in again is foolish… It’s amazing that such a deep and complicated issue truly comes down to such a simple response… Everything must come under the rule and reign of Christ including our sexuality… It doesn’t matter who we are or what our preference is… if it doesn’t come into agreement with what God says about Manhood, Womanhood, and Marriage it must be denied and we must bear and carry that burden as Jesus bore our sins and carried the cross… Matthew 16:23-26 23But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? In addition to “Denial” I will always believe in “Deliverance”… We must be sensitive the fact that many people who struggle with LGBTQ identity do not see it as a sin to be delivered from or a sin to have victory over but as a Christian I do so I will always have hope for deliverance and victory over sin… Philippians 1:6 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Just like it is true for many of us that there are sins we are delivered from and others we continue to fight for victory over the same is true for those who come to God from the LGBTQ community… This is just one of a long list of sins that separate us from God and we are called to tell people about Jesus and how He saves us from all sin and the consequences of sin… 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. In closing I encourage you to watch a video of Sam Allberry who is a Christian man with same sex attraction. Link: youtu.be/mCLms7J84JY  Matthew 16:1-3
1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, "When it is evening you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red'; 3 and in the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. Jesus was telling the “church” that they were able to discern very many things in the natural realm including the weather but when it came to the things of the Spirit and heavenly realm they were a mystery to them… Meteorologists look at historical data to tell us where we are today compared to where we’ve been in the past… For example on Thanksgiving it was 90 degrees here in Southern California and the meteorologists told us it was the hottest thanksgiving we’ve ever had… “Signs of the Times” is about taking the historical data that tells you where you are today and then really looking at what where we are today means for where we’ll be tomorrow… In Matthew 16:3 when Jesus says… You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times He is saying what good is it to know rain is coming tonight for the first time in history on this day of the year if you don’t realize that next week the levies are going to break and many will die as the city floods… God calls the church and every believer to evaluate the historical data and be sensitive to the Spirit that will filter the current affairs in a way that prepares us for the future… We have to be able to read the “Signs of the Times” if we are going to be ready for what’s ahead… This applies to what’s ahead for your marriages & relationships and what’s ahead for your children and what’s ahead of you in your walk with God and ultimately what’s ahead in God’s plan for the world… Hebrews 9:28 Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time Romans 8:22-25 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Can we “Coexist”?… First we need to be able to read the sign and know what it means… Initially it seems so simple and non offensive as a call for all religions and ways of life to live together in harmony… C = Islam O = Peace E = Equality of Men & Women X = Judaism I = Paganism (multiple god’s) S = Taoism T = Christianity As you really look at this though what the world or those who have this philosophy are really saying is that if you refuse to accept this philosophy and embrace “coexistence” you lack love and you are actually living in hate… We know this is not true but the majority of people outside of the church and sadly even many in the church have embraced this… Let’s look at it again… C = Islam… 1 God and Mohamed is his prophet… etc… O = Peace… No war and to each his own… E = Equality of Men & Women… Beyond value and into the removal of gender identity… X = Judaism… God without Christ… I = Paganism… Includes witchcraft & sorcery & satanism & mysticism… S = Taoism… equal & opposite, good & evil, scales & weights… T = Christianity… One way to be saved from eternal damnation for all people There is one very simple truth here… The only way for these to “Coexist” is if none of them is true… Another truth is that they cannot all be true… I believe that the real “Sign of the Time” is that satan has sold people a pseudo religious existence… In this pseudo religious existence the focus is not on meeting our maker who is God but on experiencing something or anything beyond ourselves and in this religious existence truth is not required… This system begins to crumble when Christians bring truth into the equation… John 8:32 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 1 Corinthians 13:6 says love… 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; Ephesians 4:14-15 we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ The call of God is not to Coexist but to be separated and we must see the “Sign of the Time” that is calling us to deny the word and will of God in the name of pseudo peace and pseudo love… A friend told me once I couldn’t be a Christian because he doesn’t hate gay people and he doesn’t see anything wrong with having a drink… I couldn’t even get any words out because I couldn’t believe that that was what he thought it meant to be a Christian… People are judging our faith in ignorance and then taking their ignorance to a conclusion where they must teach us about love and peace and because of our own ignorance we often let them… Hosea 4:6 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. In our ignorance we waver in what we believe or turn a blind eye to what we should see as a strategy of the enemy and a clear “Sign of the Times” we live in… Coexistence is pseudo peace and pseudo love and pseudo spirituality and God is calling us Christians to recognize that this is more than a bumper sticker… It’s a “Sign of the Times” we are living in and it is taking the people we love and care about to hell… This “Coexistence” movement is truly about Uncertainty vs. Surety… I know that there is “One Way” as we often sing and that Way is a narrow road… Matthew 7:13-14 13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Romans 4:20-21 20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. I am living the rest of my life trying to help others see and receive the truth with as much wisdom as possible but don’t ever mistake that for confusion or wavering… I am fully convinced… We are countercultural and called to fight against the current and the momentum of the world in the direction its going… We cannot coexist when it comes to anything spiritual... And the longer I serve the Lord the more things I see as “spiritual”… We must refuse to “Coexist” in the way the world means it when they say it… Psalm 95:6 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. The world says let’s all agree to let each other bow down and worship whoever we want without getting worked up about who’s bowing down to what… Just “Coexist”… Deuteronomy 8:19 19 If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Joshua says in Joshua 24:15 choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Matthew 4:8-9 the devil took Him (Jesus) up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” Daniel 3:1-25 1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was sixty cubits and its width six cubits. He set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 And King Nebuchadnezzar sent word to gather together the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 3 So the satraps, the administrators, the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the judges, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered together for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 4 Then a herald cried aloud: "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, 5 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; 6 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." 7 So at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the horn, flute, harp, and lyre, in symphony with all kinds of music, all the people, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the gold image which King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. 8 Therefore at that time certain Chaldeans came forward and accused the Jews. 9 They spoke and said to King Nebuchadnezzar, "O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the gold image; 11and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego; these men, O king, have not paid due regard to you. They do not serve your gods or worship the gold image which you have set up." 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar, in rage and fury, gave the command to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. So they brought these men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying to them, "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the gold image which I have set up?15 Now if you are ready at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, and you fall down and worship the image which I have made, good! But if you do not worship, you shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you from my hands?" 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." 19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace. 21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22 Therefore, because the king's command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. 23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, "Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?" They answered and said to the king, "True, O king." 25 "Look!" he answered, "I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” These men “Coexisted” in the biblical sense of the word which means to be in the world but not of it… Yes we live here and we work here and we play here but whenever there is any conflict or confusion between who we are in Christ and who we may appear to be in this world we will make it clear at any costs… Let's look at the 3 time periods required to see the "Signs of the Times" and to make the most of what the Lord is showing us...
2 Corinthians 6:1-17 1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 17Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” 1. The Past… Salvation 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 1 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you. Everything we are talking about is contingent upon salvation… Without salvation this doesn’t make sense but with salvation nothing else makes sense… We can’t receive the grace of God in vain which is to live in the world and to be of the world… Jesus says in the past I heard you and I gave you salvation… 2. The Present… Truth In Love 2 Corinthians 6:2 Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation Salvation is a constant state of being… We were saved at a date in the past but our present condition is that of being saved because of the ongoing work and power of Jesus… God said “let there be light” one day long ago and there is light today because He is upholding His word with His power… So when Jesus says “now is the day of salvation” He is saying that how you live today and and every new day is “in light” of the ongoing work of the Lord that saves and sanctifies you… and then Paul tells us and the Corinthians what that looks like… Listen to this and compare it to what the world says about “Coexistence”… 2 Corinthians 6:3-10 3 We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, 7 by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. This is how we as Christians are called to “Coexist”!… In the Present… 3. Future… Continued Separation 2 Corinthians 6:11-17 11 O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. We tell the world that they are not restricted from “Coexisting” because of us and in actuality we have done more for “Coexistence” even as they define it than any other group on the planet… If they will be honest about what they see in us we hope it leads to them being open to what we will have to say to them “In the FUTURE”… and here is what we have to say and continue to say in the future… 14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people." 17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. We say… "Come out from among them And be separate”… We have to say it from a PAST of our own salvation… and we have to say it from a PRESENT of our own sanctification through suffering… and we have to continue to say it in the FUTURE until Jesus returns… Hebrews 9:28 To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time I pray this helps you to “Coexist” according to the word of God not according to the enemies world movement of pseudo love and pseudo peace and pseudo spirituality… |
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