Sound The Midnight Cry

“When Nonconformist Conform”

This past week, the internet was buzzing with the proclamation coming out of Atlanta of a minister being crowned a king (yes, you read that correctly). In King James Bible terms, it created “no small stir” among the people”!

The pastor of a mega-church was coronated on the stage in front the thousands of church members and attendees. A supposedly “Jewish ceremony” (which was totally false in every way) was performed ending with the pastor being lifted up on a chair, carried around by for four men and the crowds cheering while the guest ‘rabbi’ declaring he is now a king. (video link)

The video of this whole charade was posted online and went viral overnight. If you are not familiar with the term ‘viral’ other than a disease, it simply means a video that becomes popular through the process of internet sharing.

The response from the video posting caused a huge backlash among the Jewish community for what was purported to be Jewish traditions that couldn’t have been further from the truth. Within the Messianic Christian circles, the response again was one of disdain citing the erroneous teaching being professed to be of biblical origin.

The irony has been the secular response in as much as it was shown on CNN the day after the event took place. Those that don’t pretend to be religious in any way have posted videos mocking it as another Christian “con” on the innocent people.

The amazing thing to me is that no one in that building seemed to see anything wrong with the goings on there. To date, no one that was there has written one word or spoken out against the proceedings carried out “in the name of the Lord”. The fact that no one present that day has called into question what was done and/or said should cause us to ask the question, “Why?”

As I watched the supposed spiritual conveying of kingship, I couldn’t help be reminded of 1 Samuel 8 when Israel told the prophet Samuel, “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations.”

The Church today desperately needs an infusion of spiritual vitamin D-–Discernment, especially within the realm of those that profess to be “filled with the Spirit” where there seems to be an increasing deficiency.

Christians are called to “Test all things; hold fast that which is good.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21) It seems more and more that people filling the pews of "spirit-filled" churches seem to be "ignoring all things; swallow everything that is said".  As J. Lee Grady, contributing editor for Charisma magazine so aptly put it, “With so little discernment among “Spirit-filled” believers today, it’s not hard to imagine that an anti-Christ figure could boldly march right into a church, climb in a leather chair and be anointed as a king.”

Alexander Hamilton said, “Those who stand for nothing fall for everything.” If Christians don’t ask God to remove the blinders from their spiritual eyes and start to read their bibles with an open mind and heart, this kind of stuff will continue and only get worse.

Christians are called to stand for truth; to be nonconformist to the accepted behavior of culture. When the nonconformist conforms, there is no one left to uphold the standard. And when the King of kings returns, what will they offer as their excuse?

The Apostle Paul said, “Therefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” Good words for every Christian today!

 

“Really?”

A few years ago while on a trip to Israel, our small group had an incredible tour guide. He had degrees in several areas that gave us great insight to marine and land archaeological places we visited. His past life experience also included some incredible stories that you would never hear on a large group outing. Every day he would share with us something unique to a place or event and almost without fail, someone in the group would blurt out, “Really?” It classic response every time was, “Yes, it’s real—I’m the tour guide; it’s the truth—I’m not lying to you”! By the end of the trip when someone would inevitably say, “Really?” everyone else would respond, “Yes, really!”

Since that time, there have been many opportunities that I have been able to use this same response. Usually it involves conversations about Jesus, bible prophecy, current events and what the Bible says about it that the person(s) will respond with, “Really? You really think so?” or “Really, you believe that?” Of course, my now classic response is, “Yes, really—Jesus says so and He doesn’t lie!”

We live in a day of Reality TV where at any time you can see something that you would never have dreamed you would ever witness. At every turn, there’s a new reality show being put together and gaining huge following of viewers. Some are not worth wasting your time or intellect watching, but some are very fascinating.

When I look at the news events happening around the world and then read my bible, I see historical happenings taking place foretold hundreds of years ago. As we connect the dots and realize what’s taking place, we might find ourselves saying, “Really?” If we were to listening closely, we might just hear God whisper, “Yes, really—I don’t lie!”

So when I read that the Bible tells us that in the last days there will come into existence a revived form of the political Roman Empire, I can look at the upheaval in Europe now and realize that it’s beginning to form—really!

When Bible predicts the rise of a centralized global economic authority that will become one of the antichrist's principle methods of economic control, I can look at the world financial crisis and understand it’s beginning to come together—really!

When I read that in the last days that nations will rise against nations, I can look at the Arab Spring, the Occupy movement and many others revolutions taking hold in the world and realize that we are in the ‘last days’—really!

When a person recognizes that Israel is the centerpiece of Bible prophecy and that its existence and history are proof positive of the accuracy of bible prophecy—100% of the time, they can know that the return of Jesus Christ to earth is coming soon—really!

To that end, I would simply ask you “Are you ready for His return and all that it entails—really?”

 

“Mission Impossible”

The television show “Mission Impossible” would always start with, “Your mission, Jim, should you decide to accept it, is (mission named).  As usual, should you or any member of your I.M. Force be captured or killed, the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your existence. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck, Jim.” One would then sit back for an hour of intense drama (at least, intense for those days; nothing compared to the MI movies on the big screen now).

The idea of course was that the mission faced difficult circumstances and objectives but that somehow the team would be able to overcome those impossibilities.

There have been other shows over the years based upon the same premise of doing the impossible (A-Team, MacGyver). Movies have been depicted achieving unrealistic storylines (most sci-fi and tech-action films).

I began thinking about this when a headline on WND.com reported, “IRAN PREPARING NOW FOR ARMAGEDDON”. Sources in Tehran reported Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been heard to say that the coming of the last Islamic Messiah, is near and that specific actions need to be taken to protect the Islamic regime for upcoming events. The Shiites’ believe that 12^th Imam known as the Mahdi will reappear at the time of Armageddon.

It is a well documented that Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has stated that he feels his destiny is to create the global chaos that is prophesied to force the Mahdi out of hiding. The Shiite belief is that that al-Mahdī was born in 869 and did not die but rather was hidden by God to be brought out in the last days to bring peace on the earth.

So the leadership of Iran that is working feverishly to acquire nuclear technology while threatening to cutoff the path of world oil exports is also preparing for Armageddon. If it was only the introduction to a novel or upcoming movie, I would be intrigued. However, it is more than that—and it’s a mission impossible.

The reason I say this is due to the misapplication of the word “Armageddon”. In the everyday use of the term, it means “the end of the world” based upon a worldwide conflict, usually inferring the use of nuclear weapons. The fallacy however, is that the original meaning of Armageddon is biblical and has a totally different reference.

The word Armageddon appears only once in the New Testament; Revelation 16:16. It is a place in Israel where a battle between the forces of the Anti-Christ will come that will result in a return of Jesus Christ to earth with the armies of heaven. The result will be a 1,000 year time frame of peace before the final judgment takes place.

When I read the article of the Iranian leadership preparing to take “specific actions need to be taken to protect the Islamic regime for upcoming events”, I deemed it a mission impossible.

Revelations 6 states, “Then everyone—the kings of the earth, the rulers, the generals, the wealthy, the powerful, and every slave and free person…cried to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the one who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who is able to survive?”

There is only one way to prepare for Armageddon and it isn’t with weapons; it’s surrender to the true Messiah—Jesus Christ! 

 

“No Effect”

Have you ever heard someone exclaim, “That has no effect on me?” The claim is that something or someone has no final outcome as to the behavior of the person. An example might be specific prescription used for relieving pain. The drug may work for the majority of people but have no impact on others. It doesn’t mean that the product in ineffective as a whole; it simply means that its intended result doesn’t work as it should for some people.

This week an article appeared relating to a new study that was headlined, “Nearly half of churchgoing Americans say church doesn’t have an effect on their lives.”

“Nearly half (46 percent) of churchgoing Americans report that their lives have not changed at all as a result of attending church... nearly one-third of individuals report not having ever felt God’s presence while attending church” according to the Barna Group, an evangelical company that studies faith in America.

The article did point out that there are those that can point to a point of influence or change as a result of their attending church. Yet, the article noted of those that participated in the study, “Six-in-ten church attenders, when asked to recount their last visit to a house of worship couldn’t remember any significant insight they gained related to their faith. Even more startling, among those who attended church in the past week, half said that they couldn’t recall any spiritual tidbits.”

There are so many questions that arise from this study that it’s hard to know where to focus one’s attention. Some people would simply shrug it off by saying, “It’s a sign of the times” meaning that it’s a fulfillment of scripture referring to that in the last days people’s hearts growing cold towards God. However, that wouldn’t be exactly true as the study concerned those that were attending church. I would like to think that at least some of them are there looking to find something.

If there is a place to start in trying to find out where the problem lies, I would suggest that it isn’t in the pews of the church but rather the pulpits and those filling them. I remember many years ago attending an event in Shreveport, Louisiana to hear the late David Wilkerson speak. Before he did, he invited to the podium the elderly Leonard Ravenhill (now deceased) to say a few words. I will never forget what he said that day to over 1,000 ministers gathered in that place.

“Almost 40 years ago I wrote a book titled, “Why Revival Tarries”. I’m writing a new book called, “Why Revival Still Tarries”. Do you want to know the reason why it hasn’t come yet?” (the response was a unanimous “Yes”). At that moment, Ravenhill pointed his finger at the crowd of ministers and said, “You’re the reason!” and he simply walked back to his seat.

Leonard Ravenhill’s point was clear: if there is no effect on the person in the pulpit, how can one expect there to be any effect upon the people in the pews.

Yes, there will be those that fall away in the last days for various reasons. However, the same scriptures say that there will be many who come into the knowledge of knowing Jesus Christ.

Church attendance in itself is not the answer; experiencing the power of Christ to change one’s life and the daily presence of His love is the answer.

It’s time for this cause and effect to happen from pulpit to the pew so that the Church is impacting the world instead sitting in pews waiting for something to change them.

Are you ready?

 

“The Beginning of the End?”

How many times have we used the phrase, “The beginning of the end?” It’s most common use is when we see change taking place. 2012 is beginning to do just that—changes that are aligning themselves with God’s Word. Let me give you just a few examples:

• Iran is boldly following its plan to develop nuclear technology. Two weeks ago, they boasted that they had begun processing nuclear enriched fuel rods. The EU and other western nations are debating to put an embargo against Iran for continuing down this path. Iran’s leaders simply mock the perceived weakness of the West due to their need for oil that passes through the Straight of Hormuz.
• Syrian president Assad is preparing for a civil war as he continues to try and quell the civilian uprising in that nation. Fear is that he could back a war against Israel to turn attention away from him.
• Russia has sold Iran sophisticated anti-aircraft missiles in hopes of protecting the Iranian nuclear facilities from an attack.
• The Egyptian uprising that began this time last year, it now coming full circle as the people rebel against the military powers that they once supported.
• Meanwhile, the Muslim Brotherhood that everyone said was harmless has all but taken control of the political arena in Egypt and stretching into other nations.

All the while, Israel is being surrounded by hostiles equipped, funded and trained by Iran with the aid of Russia. Israel’s leaders are preparing for what appears to be certain war instigated by Iran and its proxy states.

Ancient prophecies in the Bible point to two events that will signal the apocalyptic end times—Isaiah 17:1 says, “Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.” The other is Ezekiel 38 where it is said that Gog, Magog, Persia, Ethiopia and Libya will come against Israel and be defeated. These are widely thought to be Russia, Iran, Northern Africa and the former Persian Empire.

I believe that 2012 will see an increase in the tumultuous changes already at work across the earth. The aligning of these nations is occurring stronger each day and the end result seems to point toward war against Israel. “Will it come this year?” The experts say “yes”—only God knows for sure. However, He points out for us in His Word the signs of the times. Why? That we may know the time is near and that we might soberly be about our Father’s business. No fear—just assurance that God’s Word is true and that Jesus is coming soon.

So watch and pray and live with confidence that God is in control!

 

“Coming Home For Christmas”

In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their “flying machine” off the ground. Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: “We have actually flown 120 feet. Will be home for Christmas.”

Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message. He glanced at it and said, “How nice. The boys will be home for Christmas.” He totally missed the big news—man had flown!

 As the events of the Christmas season wind down, I can’t help but wonder how many people today once again have missed the real story. The message of Christmas is not gifts and gadgets, bows and lights or trees and tinsel. The message of Christmas is that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son—for one purpose.

“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Gospel of Luke 2:9-11

The good news is that a Savior came into the world to rescue its inhabitants from the penalty of sin. The sad news is that so many have never heard the good news, while many others simply scoff at the message. Like the editor reading the telegraph about the accomplishment of the Wright brothers and not comprehending what was being said, many people today fail to understand the greatness of that first Christmas message.

The amazing truth is that of all the prophecies foretold concerning the first coming of Jesus Christ, there are seven times more divine predictions about His second coming. And once again, millions have never heard the message or those that have, simply ridicule the whole idea.

There is no greater opportunity to focus on the real message of Christmas than now—before it gets packed away with the decorations and memories of another December 25^th. Christmas is the coming of a Savior for those needing saving (all of us) and a new home being prepared by the One that came to save us.

Don’t miss the big news of Christmas—Jesus Christ has come once and He is coming again!

“Storm Warnings 2012!”

In October 1987, British television weatherman Michael Fish told viewers he'd received a telephone call from a viewer who said she'd heard a hurricane was on the way. He told his viewers not to worry. He brushed aside amateur weather forecasts with a laugh and predicted nothing more than sea breezes. Shortly after he finished, Britain was hit by 120 mile per hour winds that blacked out half the country. It was responsible for twenty-two people dying (18 in Britain, 4 in France). The worst storm to hit England in 284 years and would later be called, “The Great Storm of 1987”.

In fairness to Mr. Fish, his remark concerning the hurricane (he later claimed) was in reference to one reported near Florida. Also, that same morning, the Surrey Record had warned of “furious gales,” so most people believed he was referring to Britain. Mr. Fish did warn of high winds for the UK, warning viewers to “batten down the hatches” but that the brunt of the storm would swing through the English Channel and miss most of England.

History however would show that instead of taking the projected course, the storm cut a path right across the southern part of the country and was far stronger than he had predicted. The paradox came with the misreporting of the weather, the misunderstanding of the official weather report by the population and the actual impact of a storm not seen in centuries.

I couldn’t help but think about this when looking at the headlines across the globe this past week: The Eurozone on the brink of financial collapse with military leaders predicting national riots. Iran threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz and with it, the world’s oil supply. Syria teetering on civil war while the rest of the Arab nations transforming from an Arab Spring to an Arab Winter. In the U.S., unemployment continues at almost record highs and the presidential campaign prepares to kick into high gear. The result of all of this is a world filled with uncertainty about the future.

There are all kinds of ‘storms’ in life and many that are moving quickly upon the financial, social and moral landscape of our nation. Our nation as a whole is not unlike the people in England that went to bed on October 15, 1987 thinking that it would only be a windy night. The fury of what was coming was totally unseen and the people unprepared.

There is a storm racing across the nations today and there are far too few sounding a warning cry. The voices being heard today have the similar sound of the one given that fateful night declaring, “…don’t worry, there isn’t a storm coming.” Too many people never give it thought and simply believed it.

The greatest vacuum for a voice of warning is from the pulpits of America today. Instead of declaring with a resounding call to prepare for the coming storm (that’s what Noah declared), we hear little devotionals to make one feel good about themselves. Without a heaven-shaking word from our pulpits to awaken us from our moral slumber, there will instead be a heaven-shaking touch in our land.

The writer of the Book of Hebrews foretold that “everything that can be shaken, will be.” As we enter 2012, it is time to ask God to shake us that we might wake from our slumber and begin telling others to prepare for what’s coming.

Romans 13:11 says, “We live in an important time. It is now time for you to wake up from your sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.” I guess the question for each of us to ask is, “Do we believe it?”

 

“Romper, Bomper, Stomper, Boo II”

Millions of people from the 1950’s through the 1990’s though will understand that it refers to the chant from the popular syndicated children’s program “Romper Room”.

At the end of each TV show, the hostess gazed through a large, hoop (empty mirror frame) with a handle and would recite the show's signature chant:

"Romper, bomper, stomper, boo. Tell me, tell me, tell me do. Magic mirror, tell me today. Did all my friends have fun at play?"

With the chant spoken, the Romper Room hostess gazed through the empty mirror frame and recited the names of the lucky children whom she pretended to see watching the program (a different list of names each day). Of course, the hostess really couldn't see the children, but to the kids at home (including yours truly), listening for their name to be mentioned, they knew that they were someone special, at least in the World of Romper Room.

Well, if I pull out the “bible prophecy” mirror, I don’t have to pretend as I see Russia, Syria, the EU, Iran and Israel.

This week we see that Russia PM Putin is once again rising to the former place of power and seems bent on returning Russia back to cold-war policies. Opponents state that He is forming a platform inside the country out of loyal people for whom the West was, is, and will be an enemy. Meanwhile, the Russian block anti-Putin rallies signaling a return of former KGB days.

Syria is on the verge of civil war as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad carries out military operations and killing hundreds of Syrians dissidents. Reports state that he is transferring weapons to the terrorist group Hezbollah in Lebanon should his attempts to stay in power fail.

Iran is frantically trying to finalize the capacity to develop a nuclear weapon. Iran’s Arab neighbor nations are threatening to acquire nukes to thwart Iran destabilizing the area.

The EU meanwhile is grappling with how to save itself due to overwhelming debt of some of its members. Plans submitted by Germany would have member states surrender their fiscal sovereignty to a single monetary bank. Should this happen, it sets the stage for a single EU nation, as money would control all the members of the union.

Israel, faced with the ever increasing existential threat of Iran acquiring the ability to launch nuclear weapons, is nearing a point of no return. They faced with the need to strike Iran’s nuclear infrastructure now and face the fallout of world opinion, or deal with the fallout of nuclear missiles.

Meanwhile at home in the U.S., every eye is focused on the continuing financial crises and the upcoming presidential race. Add to that the hustle and bustle of the consumer mindset during the Christmas season and most Americans are oblivious to these incredibly important events happening in the rest of the world.

It reminds me of another busy time many years ago when the people missed another important event: “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”

That first Christmas, biblical prophecies of the Messiah’s coming were being fulfilled. Two-thousand years later, the remaining prophecies are being fulfilled to His Second Coming!

 

“The Christmas Nazi Society – Part Deux”

Well, it’s that time of year again when the “Christmas Nazi’s” come out of the closet to impose their agenda to disrupt if not depose any public display of the Christmas message. In their usual manner, these people are bent on doing everything they can to prohibit anyone from seeing or hearing a ‘religious’ Christmas.

For those people that don’t understand the “Nazi” reference, I refer you to the 116^th episode of NBC sitcom, Seinfeld. The main characters of the show (Jerry, George and Elaine) go out to a soup stand that Kramer (another character—and I mean ‘character’) has been raving about. Its owner is referred to as the “Soup Nazi” due to his temperament and insistence on a strict manner of behavior while ordering. Jerry explains the procedure for ordering which George accepts.

When they get to the soup stand, George follows the procedure but notices that he did not get bread with his soup. Jerry tells him to let it go but he asks for some, and is told he will have to pay for it. George quickly objects claiming everybody in front of him got free bread, and quickly has his money returned and his soup taken back with the catchphrase “No soup for you!” The episode has become a timeless classic from the series.

The term “Nazi” is used as an exaggeration of the excessively strict regimentation the character in the TV show constantly demanded of his patrons. There was no allowance from the demanded protocol and anyone that objected, was quickly ostracized.

For weeks leading up to December 25, scarcely a day goes by that towns, cities, schools and other organizations are presented with a lawsuit by a member of the “Christmas Nazi Society.” They want the named changed to “Happy Holidays”. In actuality, that would apply to every holiday—New Years, Valentine’s Day, and July 4^th among all the others. They want nativities removed, angels taken down, carols banned and even Christmas trees outlawed because of the association of Christmas with Christianity.

This past week in Springhill, Louisiana, plans to include a living nativity scene in the courtyard of the Springhill Branch Library were abruptly stopped. Letha Dew, who is leading the Christmas season planning for the Main Street community program, said library officials refused to permit anything with "religious tones" on the library grounds. The group was told that it applied to not just anything religious based but also “religious sponsored”.  

So the Christmas Nazi Society members are not only obsessed with making sure that everything from public offices to the stores you shop conform to their cultural beliefs, now it applies to anyone that is professes to be ‘religious’.  

King Herod tried to wipe out the “Reason for the Season” before it ever began. For 2000 years, those opposed to the blessed event have tried their best to spread their message of “No Christmas for you”! Yet the angelic words uttered that glorious night continue to transcend the time continuum, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.”

The irony is that the very thing a “Christmas Nazi” fears the most is the good news of a Savior…Jesus Christ. The message from the gift of Heaven is still there for all that will receive it! 

 

“How Can I Give Thanks With All My Problems?”

Wouldn’t it be great to know the outcome of a situation before it ever happens? Many books and movies have been put together on the premise of knowing the future before it comes to pass.

The prophet Isaiah instructs us that biblical prophecy starts at the end and works back to the beginning. Isaiah 46:10 clearly states, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.”

In 1948, for the first time since Nebuchadnezzar captured Jerusalem (and Daniel) the nation of Israel was revived and restored to the same piece of real estate from which they had been ejected by the Romans in AD 70.

For a nation of ancient times to be conquered, scattered and then restored—has no equal in annals of time.  As incredible a feat that it is, it is even more so the direct and specific fulfillment of Bible prophecy for the last days.

While at the exact same moment in the timeline of Israel, elsewhere six nations of the Benelux formed a cooperative economic union that marked the beginning of the resurgence of the former Roman Empire.  

These two events that we have witnessed are without equal in the chronicles of history. To assume both events happened at exactly the same point in history by coincidence, takes a faith greater than I can muster up.

The world is in a state of chaos and confusion unlike anything in living memory. Uncertainty and fear color every waking moment as we wonder if our world will look the same in the morning as it did when we went to bed the night before.

Our systems and infrastructure are in shambles, people are rioting in the streets, the economy is steadily eroding and everywhere one turns, they are talking about a New World Order. This is not a doom and gloom perspective; all one has to do is honestly assess what is happening to realize the truth.

As much as this is true, if you personally know Jesus Christ (and He knows you) than you have a source of strength, a resource of hope that others are desperately looking for in this day.

Jesus clearly stated for the times in which we live: "Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:1-3)

What is unfolding in our world is proof positive that the world is wrong; God is not dead; Jesus Christ remains on the throne and remains intimately involved in the affairs of men. 

The One who was before time began has everything under control—even in your life. The plan of the ages and His plan for those that follow Him will come to pass for He has decreed it and nothing can stop it.

So no matter what problems you are facing today, your future is secure in Him…so give thanks!