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Unfortunately, we are living in a time of deep deception. There are scammers, fraudsters and corrupt people in every area of life these days, and if you’re not awake and if you don’t pay close attention to what’s going on, you can find yourself in deep trouble. One of the most emphatic warnings that Jesus gave us was to beware of deception in the last days.
But I have found that most people are totally uninterested in getting to the truth of any matter…they just accept whatever is told to them, and they find it easier to just “go with the flow”. But the old saying, “don’t rock the boat” is the surest way to find yourself in the midst of deep trouble, and this is why many people end up being heavily deceived in many areas of their lives.
There is a YouTube Channel that I have watched occasionally called Social Catfish, and it basically deals with people who are involved in romance scams online. I will leave the link to that channel in the description below. The perpetrators of these scams mainly target older, vulnerable or lonely people who go online to find friendship or companionship, and many of these victims end up losing thousands…some even hundreds of thousands of dollars simply because they believed what was told to them without checking the truthfulness of the person they were dealing with until they had lost everything. They become romantically involved with someone they have never met, never seen and have no idea if they are real or not…and many of these people lose their homes, their families and friends and their whole life savings…simply because they acted without looking for truth.
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The closer I grow to the Lord, and the more time I spend in His presence, the more homesick I become for that city, for even though my body is here for a season, I know that my soul and my spirit belong there. One day, I will walk on streets of gold, I will see all those precious loved ones who have gone on before me. And most importantly, I will see Jesus. Oh, how I long to see Jesus! But for now, I am a traveler and a foreigner in this world.
When I became a citizen of Heaven, God made me His Ambassador…His Representative, to the citizens of this world. And so I must constantly strive to make sure that I am representing my King and His Kingdom well. I must not allow myself to get too engaged with the things that belong to this world, because they are temporary, and soon they will be gone. And the thing that I need to consider the most, is that the citizens of this world are watching me…and they want to know about that Kingdom to which I belong, and they want to know about my King. If I don’t represent Him well, they will think it’s an evil kingdom and that He’s a bad king. God forbid I should allow the citizens of this world to see evil or sin in my life, because then they will think the same of that place where I belong, and they will think that just anybody can go there.
But that is definitely not true…for those who belong to my Kingdom are those who have been convicted and sentenced for their sin and found guilty…the penalty handed down was death. But then, God sent a sacrifice to pay our penalty…an innocent Lamb in Whom there was no guilt…and He sacrificed this precious Lamb as payment for our sins. That Lamb was His own dear Son, whom I love and honor and praise, and my whole desire is to bring glory to Him. For this Son, the One Who was my sacrifice…He is also my King. How could I bring shame to His Name when He paid such a dear price for me?
So I need to pray every day and ask my King to strengthen me for the tasks He has set before me. I must stay close to Him so that I will know the things that are in His heart. And I must be careful of the things I say…the things I do…even the motives of my heart…because my King knows, and it is Him that my heart longs to please. He is my life, my love…my everything!
And what about
you? Have you met my King? Have you received the payment for your sin that He
offers so freely? And if you are a citizen of His Kingdom, how are you
representing Him? Are you striving every day to walk blameless with Him, worthy
to be His Ambassador on this earth? The things of this world are fading away
and we need not set our affections on them, for only the things of the Kingdom
of God will last. Let’s keep our eyes on our Heavenly home, while at the same
time being faithful Representatives of the Kingdom of God while we are in this
world. It won’t be long before it will all be gone, and we will see Jesus, our
King, face to face…forever! Amen.
We’re going to look at some insights from the story of Job, and I believe this will give you practical ways to stand strong when life seems to fall apart. So stay with me till the end of this video, because by the time we’re finished, you’ll see ways to apply Job’s wisdom in your own life.
Friends, as we know from Peter’s story, Satan did tempt him to deny Christ. It was a chaotic, confusing, and terrifying time. And just like Peter, we must understand this truth: Satan, the enemy of our souls, wants to destroy our faith, our testimony, and our lives.
As I was reflecting on this scripture, I was reminded of an Old Testament story that many of us know well—the story of Job. So let’s take a look at what happened to Job. You can read the full story later, but for now, I just want to highlight a few key points.
As many of you know, America is going through a very tragic time in our history right now. We are experiencing a time of deception, corruption and division like nothing I have ever seen before. I have seen many things in my life and many battles and hardships, but never anything as vile and as wicked as what I am seeing taking place right now. There is an evil that has permeated our nation…it has slipped in while we weren’t paying attention, while we were looking the other way…and it has pretty much overtaken our land. Many of our nation’s young people have been brainwashed into becoming rebellious young men and women…full of hatred and violence. There is an attitude of entitlement that we are seeing…that if you have something and they want it…it is completely within their rights to take it from you simply because they want to. And then there is the “cancel culture” that basically says “if your opinions don’t agree with my opinions, then you have no right to speak”. In recent months, there have been riots, looting, arson, destruction, assaults and yes even murder…while political leaders are nodding their heads in approval and giving full assurance that there will be no penalty for their actions. In some cities, the mayors and governors have even called to eliminate law and order, and their streets have turned into a cesspool of despair.
To be honest friends…I never imagined I would ever see such tragedy in my lifetime. And I am going to say something right now that I am sure many of you will disagree with, but I am going to say it anyway. We want to blame the politicians, we want to blame the media, we want to blame anybody and everybody…but Friends, I believe the bulk of the blame lies right within the Body of Christ in America! What do I mean you might ask? Church…It’s OUR job…it’s OUR responsibility to be salt and light in this world. It’s not the job of the government…it’s not the job of the media…it’s not the job of the corporate world…that responsibility belongs to us…The Church!
And as Believers, we can’t help but wonder: “Is this what the Bible warned us about? Could this be the beast system beginning to rise?” Let’s take a look at what God’s Word says.
In Revelation 13:1, John wrote, “Then I stood on the
sand of the sea. And I saw a beast rising up out of the sea, having seven heads
and ten horns, and on his horns ten crowns, and on his heads a blasphemous
name.”
"And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." (Philippians 1:9-11)
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You’ve probably heard that many times from pastors, teachers, or friends. But maybe you’ve wondered, “If that’s true, why do I have such a hard time discovering it — and living in it?”
Today, we’re going to look at what God’s Word says about His plan for your life, how you can walk in it, and how it will bring you peace, fulfillment, and joy. So let’s dive into His Word together.
In Jeremiah 29:11, we find one of the most beloved verses in Scripture that gives us such comfort and confidence. It says: “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Friends, do you know that before you were even conceived, God already had your life mapped out. He knew exactly what His design for your life would be and how your life would best bring glory and honor to Him. You, my Friend, were created for a specific purpose, and for this specific time in history.
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Luke 21:20 describes it this way, “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near." And Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:3, "For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape." Friends, according to scripture, the battle that is going to be brought against Israel will be horrendous!
Jesus described this time in Matthew 24:21-22 when He said, "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened."
Friends, whatever you think about the conflict going on in the Middle East, and the "peace agreement" that's being brokered right now, you should understand that scripture tells us over and over that lasting peace in Israel is NOT going to happen until "The Prince of Peace" returns and sets up His reign over His Millennial Kingdom from Jerusalem. But between now and then, things will get very difficult, and much deception will take place...not just in Israel, but over most of the world.
Therefore, we need to be paying close attention, because the "peace agreement" that Trump and Netanyahu are brokering right now, could well be the "covenant" that Daniel saw over 2500 years ago. And if that is true, it definitely will NOT bring lasting peace.
The truth is, we are living in some very exciting times Friends. Right now there is a revival going on in many places, and it seems to be touching multitudes of young people. We are seeing them all over the world turning to Christ and placing their trust in Him. But at the same time, we are also seeing a time of great distress in the world. This is NOT a time to slumber...it is a time when we need to draw near to God with our whole hearts and keep our eyes and ears open, and stay alert.
Also, there's much talk going on right now about "digital ID", and in fact Great Britain is in the process of making it mandatory there within the next couple of couple years. And we are seeing AI created videos all over the Internet of people we all know and recognize, but it's very hard to distinguish if they are real or if they are deep fakes.
Friends, the bottom line is...don't put your confidence in
leaders who say things that soothe your mind and just accept whatever they say.
Know the Word of God, listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit, test the
spirits, and very importantly, watch the fruit of their lives. Friends...the
fruit of a person's life DOES NOT LIE! If they are untruthful, if they don't
carry through with what they say, if their lives are motivated by money and
power...that should be your queue not to trust them! ONLY put your trust in
God's Word!
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Tonight, I want to share a message that has been burning in my heart for quite some time. The Lord has been impressing upon me to speak this out loud and put it into words, because it’s a message that the world—especially the Church in America—needs to hear.
Now, I have to be honest with you. Some of what I share tonight may be hard to hear. It may challenge you. But this is a message that cannot be ignored. I truly believe that the freedoms we have in America, our way of life, are in grave danger, and that we are standing at a crossroads—both as Christians and as a nation.
And while I’m speaking mostly to American Christians tonight, I believe there are believers around the world who are facing similar crossroads in their nations or even in their own personal walk with God. We all must face truth—no matter how uncomfortable it may be.
The first such time I can remember, took place on November 22, 1963, though I was only 10 years old at the time, I have always thought of that day as a turning point in American history. I was in the 6th grade, and I was working in the library at my elementary school when an announcement came over the intercom system that President John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. It was a horrendous time. Though at that young age, I didn’t understand a lot of what was going on, I do remember that they closed school early that day, and as I walked home, everyone was crying and weeping because of the tragic news we had just received. It was a time of great sorrow for our country, and the first time I realized that there was evil in the world.
In the Early Church, the Kingdom of God was exploding while many people were being persecuted and martyred. The same is true today in countries like Iran, Pakistan, North Korea and China. So for people to say that we can't have revival because the Bible says there will be an apostacy simply is not true. The Bible also tells us that there will be a last days harvest of souls, and many will turn to Christ. I believe that is exactly what is happening today, and it seems at this time to be mostly aimed at young people.
While at the same time, there are people who have been "Christians" for many years, but they don't even read their Bibles and prayer is something they only do on Sunday...those people will be deceived and end up denying Christ.
I believe that things are wrapping up quickly, and I don't
believe it will be many more years before Jesus Christ will split the eastern
sky, and the Son of Man will appear on a cloud to receive His own. But until
that time, things are going to get REALLY bumpy, so the best thing for all of
us to do, is to stay alert, pay attention to the signs that Jesus told us, READ
and STUDY our Bibles and stay close to God in prayer. AND we need to listen to
the Holy Spirit intently so that we can immediately obey when He gives us
instructions. Have a blessed day!
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)
1. Deep Prayer Life (relation-ship with God)
A relevant church prioritizes its relationship with God above all else. Prayer is not just a routine or a program—it is the heartbeat of the church. When a congregation prays together, seeks God’s guidance, and intercedes for one another and the world, the church remains spiritually vibrant.
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
2. Strong Biblical Teaching (fresh Word from God)
A relevant church feeds its members with fresh, uncompromised truth from God’s Word. Sound Biblical teaching equips believers to understand God’s will, stand firm in faith, and apply Scripture to daily life. Leaders who handle the Word accurately inspire spiritual growth and maturity.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)
Today, a great tragedy took place…a young man who was a strong advocate for Christian and Conservative values in America was shot down in cold blood while trying to debate with a large group of college students about why God’s ways are the right ways, instead of the values they learn in society. And out of nowhere, a bullet shot into the crowd, striking Charlie Kirk, the Founder of Turning Point USA, in the neck, and within a short time, he was dead. Such a huge loss to the Christian Community and the Conservative Movement in America, and many are mourning his death today. He was the husband of a beautiful Christian woman and the father of two beautiful young babies. It’s a sad occurrence, and I’m sure that many people are questioning in their own hearts about how unfair and heartless this act was. And yes…it was heartless and unfair. I too am grieved in my heart about this senseless death. And so, for that reason, I want to take us to God’s Word to see what scripture has to say about this issue so that we can grieve the loss of a great man of God without anger and bitterness in our hearts.