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

(click picture to enlarge)

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

Men Jesus Called (video teaching series)

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

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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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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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.)

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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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What About Those Who've Never Heard the Gospel? Will God Condemn Them to Hell, Too?

What about those who've never heard the gospel? Will God condemn them to hell, too?

Now usually the man or woman who asks these questions attaches a mental picture to them.

And that mental picture is oftentimes one of an unknown people group living on an uncharted island somewhere who are afforded no opportunity to hear about Christ due to their isolation.

And the conclusion often drawn by a person presenting this picture is that it would be unfair of God to damn these people since they were never given the chance to be saved in the first place.

Now I guess I could accept this conclusion except for the fact that it portrays the Lord as Someone who is unfair. And that's a false portrayal.

The truth is God is not unfair, but fair. According to the Scriptures the Lord makes perfect judgments. (Psalm 19:9) Therefore, if God were presented with an isolated people group (like the mental picture at hand suggests), I think it's more right to assume that He would treat them in a fair way. Because God can't possibly be unfair. It's not in His nature.

So what you're saying then, Pastor, is that God will send people to hell who haven't heard the gospel? No, I'm not saying that. What I am saying, rather, is that in such a situation God has the ability to make the right determination. And whatever His decision is mankind can trust Him to always be fair. Once again, God can't possibly be unfair. It's not in His nature.

Which brings me to this idea that some people won't be given a chance to hear the gospel. I believe that the Bible tends towards saying just the opposite...

...[T]hat which is known about God is evident [among man]; for God made it evident to [him]. For since the creation of the world [the Lord's] invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made (the creation), so that [all men (and women)] are without excuse. (Romans 1:19-20)

Now according to these verses everybody has been given evidence of God through the things He has made. And this evidence of God in His creation ~ the beauty, wonder and intricacy of it ~ renders all people without excuse before Him. Therefore, there's no person alive that can stand before God and say, "You didn't make Your existence apparent to me," because He has to all people. The Scriptures confirm it. (Answer continues -> HERE)

(To read the conclusion of this post, click here.)

What About Those Who've Never Heard the Gospel? Will God Condemn Them to Hell, Too? (conclusion)

It's the Lord's purpose that this evidence of His existence (Romans 1:19-20) be a means of drawing men and women to search after Him. (Acts 17:26-27)

On this path of searching for God (Jeremiah 29:13), the Lord has it set up that His redemption plan in Jesus Christ be discovered. (John 3:16)

And I believe that anyone, no matter who they are and where they live ~ even if it's an unknown people group on an uncharted island somewhere ~ I believe that anyone who truly has a heart searching after God will do just that. He or she will discover the Lord's redemption plan...

The missionary story's told of God moving on a man in an unknown tribe to venture four days to a tavern to get a pencil and tablet. The man kept saying to the Lord, "But I can't write." God said, "That doesn't matter. Do it anyway."

The man finally returned home and the Lord told him to draw. Not being able to draw either, the man did what God said. Eventually his picture was of the Savior on the cross. And the Lord had extraordinarily gotten His redemption plan to a man that was open to Him.

Later, someone came along and led the man to Christ.

If you really want to know who the Lord is and you demonstrate it by searching for Him, He'll make sure you get a chance to. (James 4:8a) I really believe that.

And the story of Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10:1-48 goes further to confirm it.

Cornelius was a man who was very religious. He feared God, prayed to Him continually and often helped others in need. (Acts 10:2)

But that's as far as Cornelius' religion went. For you see, he had yet to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. And he couldn't believe in Him because he hadn't even heard of Him at that point.

But God saw Cornelius' heart. The Lord saw that it was one truly searching after Him. (Acts 10:4b) So He commanded an angel to visit Cornelius in a vision. (Acts 10:3) And this angel told Cornelius to send for one named Peter (Acts 10:5) because Peter had a message for him to hear.

And Peter's message, in essence, was that God was drawing near to Cornelius because Cornelius was drawing near to God. When Peter finally showed up at Cornelius' house, he shared his message with him. (Acts 10:36-48) Peter told Cornelius about Christ and Cornelius got saved.

So what about those who have never heard the gospel? Will God condemn them to hell, too? Well, the answer is that it's likely that there won't be anyone that hasn't been given a chance to hear. And even if there is, the Lord is fair. People can surely trust Him to make a perfect judgment on whatever case He considers.

(To read the beginning of this post, click here.)

10 Facts About the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Messiah was dead. Messiah was buried. Messiah was gone.

And let me just stop right there. Could it be there's something dead, buried and gone in your life? (One or two of you are tearing up right now?)

Listen. Nothing is ever dead, nothing is ever buried, nothing is ever gone with Christ still on the throne of the universe. And He is! (Revelation 1:18)

It all comes down to the resurrection. It's what separates Christianity from all other religions ~ the empty tomb. It's what separates Jesus from all other religious leaders ~ the empty tomb.

You have hope today. (Yes, I'm talking to you.) And the disciples would have had it, too, that day long ago after Crucifixion Friday and before Easter Sunday if they'd listened to the words of Jesus and believed in who He was. (Luke 24:25-26)

Listen again. God has a habit of bringing life out of death. (It's a great habit.) He raised Jesus from the dead. (He is risen indeed!) God can (and will!) bring life out of death whatever it might happen to be that concerns you. (Who needed to hear it?)

May your faith be encouraged by the following list and may it help you to trust the Lord and wait for His timing...

10 Facts About the Resurrection of Jesus Christ:

1. It happened! (Matthew 28:5-6)
2. It was unexpected. (John 20:1-18)
3. Many appearances proof of it. (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)
4. Our Lord predicted it. (John 2:19; Mark 8:31)
5. It was foretold in the Psalms. (Psalm 16:10-11; Acts 13:34-35)
6. The Trinity was involved. (Acts 2:24; John 10:17-18; Romans 8:11)
7. It was proclaimed by the apostles. (Acts 2:32; 3:15)
8. It transforms the worst of sinners. (Acts 25:19; 1 Timothy 1:15)
9. Belief in it is the starting point of faith. (Romans 10:9b)
10. Christianity is worthless without it. (1 Cor 15:17)

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