Evil on the Rise

You can feel it. You can see it with your own two eyes.

Evil is on the rise.

Even in the highest offices in the land, has there ever been a time with such lawlessness ~ blatant, unchecked and with no one willing to stand against it?

Evil is on the rise for two reasons.

First, Satan is preparing his final assault. (Psalm 2:2) You see, he knows the Scripture. He knows that there is a day coming where Jesus Christ Himself will step into history once again ~ and this time the devil will be ready for Him. This time he will be the victor. This time Satan will be the last one standing(?).

The second reason why evil is on the rise is really a part of the first. You see, "Heaven" indeed is approaching earth. The analogy of the Christian life is a help to explain it.

When a person is "born again," when a person receives Jesus Christ into his (or her) heart, he (she) becomes a new creation. (2 Corinthians 5:17) At that point where "Heaven" takes up residence inside the soul, sin (that way of living that is contrary and diametrically opposed to God's standard) ~ it begins to be squeezed / flushed out. It's like there's no more room for evil / wickedness in a person's life (Jeremiah 17:9) since holiness and righteousness and goodness has come to replace it. (Romans 6:12) The tell tale sign that you're drawing close to Jesus and He's drawing close to you is you're seeing sins come to the surface ~ to be disposed of. (Romans 6:13)

And so this is the second reason why evil is on the rise. Jesus Christ is about to reign on our planet. (Psalm 2:6) And as "Heaven" is approaching earth, evil is being exposed (and coming to the forefront in governing structures, also) to ultimately be done away with by God forever. (Revelation 19:11)

The whole of creation is in expectation of our Lord's return. (Romans 8:19) The devil is, too, even though he thinks like somehow he can stand against it. He's in for a rude awakening. (Revelation 20:2)

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• On the Devil, Photoshopping, False Prophets, Teachers and Shepherds
• Signs of the Evil Times

God knows just the right time to... (tweet)

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"Like apples of gold in settings of silver Is a word spoken in right circumstances." (Proverbs 25:11)

10 Lies of the Devil (redux) plus podcast

(To listen to the podcast of this post, click here for Part 1, click here for Part 2 and click here for Part 3.)

I have written on this topic before. (To read 10 Lies of the Devil, click here. To read 10 More Lies of the Devil, click here.) I feel strangely moved to write on it again. (A "redux" is a revisiting of something from the past.)

The world is ending. (Selah~pause to reflect) More and more people are having a problem with the teaching of the Bible. The way my Pastor likes to put it is they are rejecting (will reject) a "Biblical worldview."

A "Biblical worldview" is one that looks to the Word of God, the Scriptures as its lens to live life, respond to life and evaluate life. The Bible is to be the final rule of faith and conduct. After all, it was for Jesus. (Wasn't it?)

This rejection of a "Biblical worldview" has given rise to a false gospel. (2 Timothy 2:3-4) There are preachers who have turned away from the truth themselves. And it only makes sense (to them)? Their services are full. (Sometimes the size of stadiums.) So is their bank account. They are even being accepting by major media and popular politicians.

And yet they are "anathema" to God. (Dictionary.com defines anathema as "a formal ecclesiastical curse involving excommunication.")

Ezekiel was given a vision of the elders of Israel. (Ezekiel 8:7-8) Behind the scenes where no one could see (but God could see) they were worshiping idols / burning incense to false images. (Ezekiel 8:9-12)

I suggest that preachers who are preaching a false gospel have some hidden sin in their lives, too, that no one knows about (but God knows).

Which brings me finally to...

10 Lies of the Devil (redux):
(What might you add?)

• You can be a Christian and support same sex marriage
• It is never right to judge another person's life (1 Corinthians 5:1-5)
• Man evolved from apes
• "Social justice" (/socialism) is based in Christianity
• The problem is global warming, not sin
• You can be a Christian and support abortion rights
• Man can rule himself (and therefore others) apart from God
• You don't have to work to eat
• There is such a thing as morality without God
• The world will finally be at peace when we all can come together as one

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Men Jesus Called (video teaching series)

(For the entire Men Jesus Called teaching series by Richard @mcProdigal and Mike @aheartforgod, click here.)

Why Not Sex Outside of Marriage?

"Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body." (1 Corinthians 6:18; NIV)

I've always been fascinated by the tigers at the zoo. I can remember one zoo in particular (Como Park, Saint Paul, Minnesota) where you could look down upon the tigers through an upper glass area.

(And they're just big kitty cats after all? They couldn't hurt a fly?)

Sometimes the tigers would sleep up high right against the glass. You could literally reach out and touch them (without the protection).

Listen: Having sex outside of marriage is like getting down with the tigers in their cage. (Who is this for?) You get ripped apart (shredded) in your soul when you "sleep around."

Oh, you may "feel good" for a tiny bit all the while pieces of yourself are literally left here and there and there and here with this person and that ~ all strewn about.

And you become a shadow.

And your ability to trust is lost.

And your potential for true (godly) intimacy with a husband or wife in a marriage later is forever frayed.

But God can redeem...

Step 1: Completely give yourself to Jesus Christ (see "How to Be Born Again" below).

Step 2: Stop sinning. (Btw, Jesus helps you to stop.)

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• How to Be Born Again (in 30 seconds)
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The Story of How I Got My Gibson Explorer (guitar)

I had the following conversation on Twitter recently with Big Shane Slade (@shaneawesome). It's just such a great story about how I got my Gibson Explorer (pictured).

And yet it's about so much more than that...

The Story of How I Got My Gibson Explorer (guitar):

(Each of these are the original tweets. I just randomly posted the first one and the conversation began)
 
Some days u just feel like pulling out the electric guitar. Did u know I have a purple Gibson Explorer? Might Instagram it this afternoon :)

@shaneawesome: @aheartforgod seriously? That's awesome! < There's a whole spiritual story behind it, too (only with me) :)

@shaneawesome: [Can you share?]

@shaneawesome Well...I was in a Christian band in the late 80s. I felt like God asked me 2 lay it down. So I left the band... #testimonytime

@shaneawesome My fellow band members were brokenhearted. I hated that. They agreed I had 2 do what God wanted me 2 do...

@shaneawesome We had a great ministry going, but God wanted 2 have all of me. Music could not be an idol... #testimonytime

@shaneawesome Anyway, I was gone for a while. That's when something interesting happened. (I so miss those guys)...

@shaneawesome God spoke to me. He said, Mike, you're going back to the band :) #testimonytime

@shaneawesome I thought, Naaaw. But I called up the bass player (&leader)&he confirmed it. He told me God spoke to him, 2

@shaneawesome Furthermore, he (the bass player) told me God had told him he was to give me his Les Paul #testimonytime

@shaneawesome We scheduled a meeting at a restaurant in San Jose 2
surprise the rest of the band (4 other guys&a gal singer) #testimonytime

@shaneawesome I hope I'm not boring you :) #testimonytime

@shaneawesome: [No, please go on]

@shaneawesome They were so surprised (&jazzed) when I said, God wants me to come back to the band (as u might imagine) #testimonytime

@shaneawesome Anyway, that's how I got my purple Gibson Explorer (&still have it 20 yrs later).I traded the Les Paul 4 it :) #testimonytime

@shaneawesome I miss that band so much. God used us in incredible ways to preach the Gospel #Jesus #testimonytime #tears

RT @shaneawesome: @aheartforgod why not start another? < It's past my time (though God might speak to me again?) :)

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Don't worry about what others think... (tweet)

(click picture to enlarge)

"'I have loved you with an everlasting love.'" (Jeremiah 31:3b)

A "Dynamic" Rant

(I haven't written a rant in a while. Here goes...)

It is a dynamic of faith that is ours. What I mean by that is ~ it's the opposite of ritual, it's the opposite of "dead religion." There's a change. There's a power. It's real. It's substantial. (Selah ~ pause to reflect)

I shake my head sometimes (smh) when I think about a few Christian leaders / teachers (even well known ones who I enjoy) that say the miracles, etc., were only meant for the early Church and Apostles in the First Century.

Huh? That makes no sense. Why would God hamstring us (His people)?

I know, I know. The Word of God is dynamic all by itself. (Hebrews 4:12) I'm not intending to minimize that. (Please, hear me.) But since the canon of Scripture is complete / closed and the "perfect has come" (1 Corinthians 13:10) we have no need of what the early believers needed?

Jesus talked about the dynamic of faith. It starts when we confess our sins to Him and repent. He said it Himself, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" (John 7:37-38) That's "dynamic."

Christ goes on, "Truly I say to you, whoever ("whoever" means anybody, not just the Apostles) says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him." (Mark 11:23) That's "dynamic."

And furthermore, our Lord is very clear, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father." (John 14:12)  That's "dynamic."

And just one more. The Son of God speaks through Paul, "In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." (Romans 8:26) That's "dynamic."

I want it. I long for that "dynamic."

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If My People (chorus)

7 Reasons Why God Allows Wicked People to Rule

"Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord more than all who were before him. It came about, as though it had been a trivial thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he married Jezebel." (1 Kings 16:30-31a)

Why does God allow wicked people to rule? It's a question many people ask. (Have you ever asked it?)

We ask it especially when we find ourselves oppressed, our lives made miserable, our security shaken ~ and it's due to other people's rulership over us ~ whether it's a boss, parent, politician, etc. ~ or it could even be a church leader for that matter. Why does God allow such (quote) "evil men and women" (see verses above) to assume positions of power / exercise, take control?

Well, part of it includes that these have free will just like everyone else. It's a sad fact that there are people (in a fallen world) who choose to beat down (via laws, a heavy hand, ungodly passions and thinking, wickedness) their constituents, employees, sons, daughters, wives, congregation ~ and it's their own choice to do so.

And it's one thing to say you're a Christian while all the while you do unChristian things and promote an ungodly lifestyle. (All "kings" who have an ear, let them hear.)

And there's more to it...

7 Reasons Why God Allows Wicked People to Rule:

Reason #1: So that we might distinguish between unrighteousness and righteousness. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-12)

Reason #2: So that we might choose between unrighteousness and righteousness in our own lives. (Revelation 13:1-4)

Reason #3: So that a righteous leader might arise to stand against the unrighteous him or her. (Exodus 3:10)

Reason #4: Because we ourselves have sinned and turned from God and He needs to get our attention and draw us back. (Judges 3:7-11)

Reason #5: So that we will set our hearts upon our eternal home and not get so comfortable in this one. (Matthew 6:21)

Reason #6: So as to allow for the person in charge an opportunity for repentance. (Jonah 3:6-10; Romans 2:4b)

Reason #7: So that we might turn our gaze upon (especially if we've been distracted from) the only Person worthy of ruling over people's lives. (Isaiah 9:6)

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The 11th Hour

"'And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, "Why have you been standing here idle all day long?"'" (Matthew 20:6)

You've heard the phrase "the eleventh hour" before? Sure you have. What you might not have known is its biblical roots. In His parable of the workers in the vineyard, Jesus uses the "eleventh hour" to refer to that time late in the day where something takes place.

And God has a way of coming through in our lives at the last second (in the "eleventh hour"). Have you discovered that? (You may be waiting on Him right now and it's getting late and you're wondering if He'll show up?)

It was the eleventh hour. I was a new (baby) Christian. My roommate was moving out so I needed a new one as I didn't have enough by myself to pay for rent and food, too (for my 2 cats and myself).

It had been a few weeks and still no new roommate. I didn't know what I was going to do. So I went out to my usual Friday night ministry. We were passing out tracts and sharing our faith at different locations in town each week (street witnessing).

It was around 11:45 p.m. (the "eleventh hour") when I was in a truck getting a ride home with a couple of guys. I mentioned again my concern for needing a roommate and not having one yet and how the very next day (Saturday) was the day I needed one and I didn't know what I was going to do. That's when the guy sitting in the middle of the seat (between the driver and I) who I'd never met before that night said, "I need a place to stay."

I said, "You're kidding me?" :)

(The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard picture above of in the public domain: click here.)

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Spring Blossoms

(click pictures to enlarge)

I Was the Lion...

"I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you." (The Horse and His Boy)

God is so good to make His presence known just when we need it. His timing is perfect. Just yesterday the C. S. Lewis quote above was on an app on my iPod touch that I try to read daily (and tweet, too). The significance of the quote (to me especially) can not be understated. As it has to do with the entire Narnia book series, it is, above all, the most special to me. Of course, the book "The Horse and His Boy" is my favorite to begin with. Its overarching theme is the sovereignty of God in a person's life.

And so God reminded me of that yesterday morning (my favorite quote from C. S. Lewis). Only He could know (and ahead of time) I would need it later that day when something I had applied for, and had my heart set on, did not come to pass. In short, I wasn't picked.

I could easily be down. (I was a bit. Well, maybe more than a bit.) I could easily be thinking my time had passed. (I had those feelings, too.) And yet God (in His sovereignty!) gave me the very quote that only He knew, once my emotions settled, He could remind me of (Holy Spirit: "Hey Mike, remember that quote from this morning?") and I would know it was Him.

And I would know He knew what had happened to me. (Selah~pause to reflect)

And that He alone had planned it for me not to be picked. (Selah~pause to reflect again)

And that it was the best thing even though it hurt. (Selah~pause to reflect one last time)

I am tearing up again (as I tend to do). :)

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God Was Looking / Satan is Also Looking - Part 2

(To read Part 1, click here.)

Just like God was looking, Satan is also looking. Satan is also looking for a man. He is looking for a man through whom (and by whom) he can dominate the world and destroy people's lives. (John 10:10a) He is looking man to man to man at the greatest men who ever lived. He looked at Pharoah. He looked at Judas. He looked at Stalin. He looked at Hitler. He looked at Ahmadinejad. He can't do it until the men appear. (Satan is not like God who can look across all of history past, present and future. Satan must wait until men are born and demonstrate a complete disregard for Jesus Christ.)

The fact is Satan is looking for the most wicked man of all. This man will portray himself has someone he is not. He will be a liar and deceiver. (2 Thessalonians 2:10-11) He will be a sociopath who disobeys the law (2 Thessalonians 2:3c) while enforcing it upon others. (Revelation 13:16-17) The masses of people will go after this man. (Revelation 13:3-4)

Could it be Satan has finally found him?

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• Pre-Tribulation or Pre-Wrath Rapture?

God Was Looking / Satan is Also Looking - Part 1

God was looking. He was looking for a man. He was looking for a man through whom (and by whom) He would save the world (people). (John 3:16) He looked man to man to man at the greatest men who ever lived. He looked at Pharoah. He looked at Julius Caesar. He looked at Mohammed. He looked at Gandhi. He looked at Ronald Reagan. He looked across all of history past, present and future. (God can do that. He's God.)

The fact is God couldn't find a man. He couldn't find anyone. (Romans 3:10-12) So He accomplished salvation Himself. (Isaiah 59:16) He became the Man He was looking for. (Matthew 1:23) He died on the cross and rose again on the third day. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) We have been freed from our sins (who believe) because of it. (Romans 10:9-10, 13)

Satan is also looking ~ for a man...

(To read Part 2, click here.)

• One Man
• Signs of the Evil Times

Engraving on My iPad (picture)

(click picture to enlarge)

Dads and Spiritual Leadings

Our Pastor and his wife are going on a trip to Russia. They will be encouraging and teaching Pastors and their wives in local churches there.

I felt prompted of the Lord to give financially, but He added a twist to it. He wanted me to involve my kids, but a little bit differently than might be typical.

I invited my son and my youngest daughter into my room, closed the door and then led them through writing the check. I told them we were giving because we wanted to support the Russia trip. I told them we wanted to support the Pastor and his wife. I had each of them write a portion of the check.

Now you might think this weird. And you might also think that I could have done something else (like have them fund raise on their own). Of course, I could have. But I was responding to the Lord and His prompting. It's important to do things God's way. (Who needed to hear that?)

And let me just say: Do you think my kids will remember this moment with their dad? (You bet they will.)

It's important for dads to share a part of the leading in spiritual things in the home and not just leave the total weight on their wives.

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Even If My Heart is Breaking to Let Her Go...

It is amazing to see the Lord moving upon your adult children the same way He moved upon you when you first got saved (speaking to, guiding, upholding, calling out of the boat to walk on water, etc).

We are transitioning as a family. My oldest daughter (21) will be transferring in the Fall (by faith) to a University Campus in the Bay Area where I grew up.

I was talking with another friend (mother) whose 18-year old daughter will be moving away to go to school herself. I could see the same concern in her eyes (the mother's) and in her heart that I have for my daughter. (How will they make it? Where will they live? Will they be safe? Will they be able to carry the load of classes?)

The thought came to mind (I believe it was the Lord) and that thought was this: I don't want to be the one to stand in the way of God's plan for my daughter. (Selah~pause to reflect)

I don't want to be the one who, out of fear, wasn't so encouraging (as I could be), wasn't so giving of my full support and effort to help my daughter to reach for her dreams and to take hold of God's hand to experience His faithfulness in her life and discover His plan. (Selah~pause to reflect again)

And I won't be the one to stand in the way (even if my heart is breaking to let her go).

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Get Back Up

"For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again." (Proverbs 24:16a)

My son, Michael, was 4 years old when he received his first bike. (That was a long time ago.) He did very well riding it (surprisingly). The training wheels were a big, big help (of course).

And there was something else Michael was learning at that time along with how to ride his bike. While he would be excitedly pedaling around, Michael was also discovering he could (and would) fall. It was an important lesson for a young boy to learn.

And riding a bike is much like living your life. (Isn't it?) I mean, one minute you're on top of the world confidently moving along checking out the scenery and the next thing you know ~ poof ~ you're lying flat on your back or side (or sometimes it's your face) on the ground.

The truth is there are a lot of people (including Christians) that have been lying in these positions (in their hearts) due to past failure ~ and some of them have been like this for years and years and years and years.

It's because when these people fell down ~ when they failed at something ~ rather than brushing themselves off and getting back up to ride again (like Michael long ago), these men and women have remained on the ground ~ they've remained wallowing in guilt and shame and self-pity over their past failures.

Dear friend, if this is you I need to remind you of something. That something is this. Every one of us fails. From the least to the greatest. There's not a single person in all the world who's immune to failure. We'll either sin or we'll do something less than that because failing is just a part of life. Much like falling down is a part of riding a bike. The difference between those people that go on after they fail and those that don't is those that go on get back up after they fall. They get back up! They don't just stay on the ground continually beating themselves over the head with what they've done wrong.

If you find yourself prone to having this happen, there are a couple of things you must do to be free. First, you need to ask God to forgive you. (If it's not a sin that's put you on the ground, then you need to simply admit and accept the fact that you're human.) Secondly, you need to forgive yourself. This is really the only way you can ever go on if you've failed.

The Lord doesn't want you to remain on the ground after you've fallen down. Get back up in Jesus' name and be free.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

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A Boy Feeling Sorry for Himself and a Great Lion

"'I do think,' said Shasta, 'that I must be the most unfortunate boy that ever lived in the whole world. Everything goes right for everyone except me.'"

In the Narnia series book, The Horse and His Boy by C. S. Lewis, a boy named Shasta finds himself having a pity party. And why shouldn't Shasta pity himself? After all, his whole life has been a series of unfortunate and depressing circumstances. He's been left behind, left alone, forgotten. (Ever have that happen?)

It is in the midst of Shasta's wallowing that he discovers somebody walking beside him. It seems that this "Thing" (or Person) has been with him for a lot longer than Shasta realized.

If you've read the book you know it's the great lion, Aslan Himself, who's near Shasta (even though he didn't know it). It's a quite wonderful part (and I'm convinced the high point) of The Horse and His Boy where Shasta learns about how, during his whole life, Aslan has been with him ~ through the ups and downs ~ and, in reality, he's been orchestrating (the great Lion has) every last single one of them.

It's here in the story that Aslan speaks to Shasta...

"I was the lion...who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you."

And Jesus has been with us similarly. (Selah~pause to reflect) And I just feel very impressed to say it: Jesus has been with you every last step of the way. (Somebody just burst into tears after reading that.) Did you need to hear it? Let it sink in, dear one, loved by the Lord.

I challenge you to look back over your life and go to each point and see them through the eyes of the Spirit and recognize and view God there with you in that moment, in that time, orchestrating, helping, guiding, stirring, moving, drawing, loving, holding, undergirding, strengthening, leading ~ YOU!

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you." (Isaiah 43:2a)

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