We Must Obey God First

IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER... 
 
 

• Featured Article: We Must Obey God First 
• “They are trying to start the War of Gog and Magog” 
• Homelessness Is Becoming A Crisis Of Epic Proportions In The United States 
• God’s Will or Satan’s Will 
• Daily Jot: IRS back at religious persecution 
• Daily Devotion: His Comforting Presence 

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We Must Obey God First - By Pastor Mike Taylor - https://pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com/2021/06/we-must-obey-god-first.html
 
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” (Roman 13:1-2)
 
In this highly charged atmosphere in this country with all the violence of racial intolerance , terrorist attacks and random police shootings, many people are concerned with the direction that this country is taking, especially in light of the present “administration”. I use that term lightly, but they were elected by deceit and a liberal leaning nation that mourns basically their decision of electing a man whose claim of “BUILD BACK BETTER” has shocked the nation of the moral collapse of this country, as unparalleled executive orders seek to destroy our economy and our way of life by inflation due to unspeakable spending of “funny” money.
 
Before I continue, I want to make one thing perfectly clear. I am a complete proponent of law and order based on our Constitution and being the parent of a son who is a sergeant in the Missouri State Highway Patrol, I am a solid supporters of our men in blue that risk their lives everyday. We as parents are concerned with the lawlessness that has enveloped every section of this country from east to west coast with the major unrest in large metropolitan cities from Antifa and Black Lives Matter..(both considered terrorist groups) With that admission solidly behind me, let me continue with what I believe Paul was driving at in this passage. Some pastors of modern churches take the opening verses of Romans 13 to say that we obey authority no matter what they say...but is that correct? My belief, “no it is not”.
 
“For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: (Romans 13:3)
 
No other country has been an advocate and an enforcer of common sense laws, based on the Ten Commandments as has the USA in times past. But alas, the ship of reason and law has become based on shakey ground and it comes from those at the Federal level that filters down to our state and local authorities by edict.
 
I have always, and I suspect most who read this message, have been law abiding citizens that respect and appreciate the job well done by your local branch of law enforcement departments. But as we get closer and closer to the end of this age, there are forces that wish to pervert the bedrock foundation that this country was built upon and demands complete submission to their decrees, no matter how onerous they may be.
 
In this passage, Paul gives us a very clear, categorical commandment at the beginning of our text. The commandment is addressed to all mankind, without exception. Every person is included in this instruction—both believers and unbelievers. Every person is required to be in subjection to the governing authorities. Subjection certainly includes obedience, but it implies even more. Subjection focuses on the spirit or attitude of the individual, which leads to obedience. It recognizes an authority over us to which we are obliged to give not only our obedience but our respect. It implies a spirit which seeks to understand the perspective and purpose of the one who is superior and to seek to enhance that one’s position and purpose. WE must obey, TO A POINT!!
 
I am reminding of several passages in the Bible where those who were subject to the powers that be, followed the law of the land that was ruled even by pagan authorities and supported those governments in their everyday lives, that is until they overstepped their bounds and opposed the laws of God.
 
Peter when the disciples were brought before the Sanhedrin and the Jewish authorities for their preaching of the death and resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, when asked why they preached in this name:
 
27 “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Act 5:27-29)
 
This they could not do, lest they disobey God. Though they could not and would not stop preaching about their resurrected Lord, they did not challenge the authority of this body. Their answer was evidence of their submissive spirit and intent:
 
“Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).
 
Submission usually is demonstrated by our obedience, but even when we must disobey, we can and should do so in a submissive spirit and manner.
 
Thus, Peter and the Apostles could not suspend preaching and teaching in the name of Jesus, because they had been commanded by our Lord to proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Even though the Jewish authorities demanded why they continued to do so, Peter was respectful and submissive to the questions, but firm in their belief that God and His commands took precedence over the commands of those in authority.
 
Another case in point, the Hebrew children in the book of Daniel of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who were commanded as all those in the Kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon to bow down to the golden image that he had set up as an idol of worship. Note that these three men were leaders and governors in the king's empire and were highly favored in his court because of their loyalty, their intellect, and their support of the government of the king and as friends and fellow countrymen of the second in command of all the kingdom, the prophet Daniel, in Daniel chapter 3. When brought before the king, who was highly displeased that they had failed to obey his command, the Hebrew children in this passage were humble and submissive to the king, but firm in their conviction of who they must worship. They made it clear that they were in submission to all his decrees, just not this one:
 
“16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” (Daniel 3:16-18)
 
Notice they were careful in their speech and showed respect and humility to their king, even a king of a pagan government, but stood firm when the command conflicted with the laws of God and who should be worshiped.:
 
3, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. “
5, Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;” (Exodus 20:3-5)
 
Jesus is our Supreme example of giving to God what belongs to God:
 
When Jesus was tempted by the Jewish authorities over taxes paid to Caesar. Jesus answered their trickery:
 
21 “And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly:
22 Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?
23 But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me?
24 Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar's.
25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar's, and unto God the things which be God's.” (Luke 20:21-25)
 
From several Scriptures one might come to the conclusion that there are exceptions to the rule or precept Paul has laid down here. There were times when men had to chose to "obey God, rather than men" . I would like to suggest to you that while the Christian may not, in good conscience before God, be able to obey the government in every instance, true submission to the government is never actually set aside. Generally, submission is exhibited by one’s obedience. But when one cannot obey, they can still demonstrate a submissive spirit. This submissive spirit should never be set aside when it comes to those in authority over us.
 
Civil Government Is Divinely Ordained
 
From Paul's argument, the civil authorities are set up by God for order and the rule of law. It is based upon a fundamental premise: God is sovereign. He possesses ultimate authority. He is the sole authority of His creation. All human authority is delegated to men by God. No one has authority independent of God. How do we know that a government is ordained by God? Because it exist and that it possesses divinely delegated authority. Paul says, “those which exist are established by God.” God is sovereign. He is in control of all things. He causes all things to “work together for good” . The Bible says:
 
“20, Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
22 He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.” (Daniel 2:20-22)
 
And for our benefit:
 
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Roman 8:28)
 
We have had good and bad presidents and administrations in the past 26 years and even before that to the beginning of the 20th century But God has raised up each according to His sovereign will for our good and to prevent lawlessness to abound, where the hearts of evil men abound if left unchecked.
 
BUT, In the previous 8 years of Obummer, the “usurper in chief”, I have never seen the rule of law perverted as I have seen it done beforehand in any other time. Our Constitution gives us the right, even the duty to remedy such abuse. We have laws that give the people an avenue to address such lawlessness and disregard of the Laws that made this country the greatest in all the earth, like no other in any other time period. In the Declaration of Independence there is a passage that addresses lawlessness in government:
 
“But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.“
 
Such was the intent of our founding fathers, who saw and attempted to prevent the rise of tyranny by a run away government who abdicates it's duty to follow the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, or the Bill of Rights.
 
Now we are subjected to what some call the administration of Obama 3.0, as Biden is led around by the hand, and obviously, he is not in charge as edicts he doesn't even know what is signing are destroying this economy and causing increased inflation, destroying our energy sector all in the name of “Climate Change”....which is a farce.
 
But there is a right way and a wrong way to address these abuses, and it's not taking to the streets in anarchy by rioting as have the Black Lives Matter and Antifa “domestic terrorists” groups that are financed by the likes of George Soros and the liberal left to damage and even to destroy the foundation basis of this Republic. Nor do we take matters into our own hands in lawlessness by shooting innocent men and women, even those who are entrusted with our safety on the streets: your local law enforcement agencies and departments. We have courts and judges to hear such cases and pronounce judgment through jury trial and grand juries that investigate abuses of law, even by governmental agencies. You may not always agree on their verdict, but they are entrusted to enforce and interpret the laws of this land.
 
To do otherwise, is to play into the desires of the global elite that only wish to destroy the last vestige of the mankind's freedom found in the USA. We, this land we call home, are THE LAST MAN standing to combat evil in this world. And what if this nation falls and there is NO one to stand in the gap, either locally, nationally, or internationally? The likes of the present administration is salivating when the idea of “martial law” and suspending our God given rights are usurped by a lawless government. Must we play into their hands? This coming election will either hasten that implosion of this country or delay it for a time as it did the last four years, but understand my brethren, the time is coming, and sooner than anyone would like to think. God uses powers of government to either reward, or to punish a nation who has neglected or even thrown the God of Heaven out of every part of our national institutions from the top down, from the POTUS, even to the local level of your city council.
 
THE RISE OF THE ONE WORLD GOVERNMENT AND THE ANTI-CHRIST
 
The powers of darkness have been working very hard for the last 100+ years to make that very idea of a “utopia” of a One World Government and it's partner in evil, the One World Religion that will demand worship of one man, as a god.
 
“And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
2, And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” (Revelation 6:1-2)
 
With the rampant evil that we see roaming our streets, or the lack of following the laws of our land by a POTUS that has gone hog wild to abuse his oath of office, the implosion of that “Last man standing” could be on the foreseeable horizon, just over the next political hill, just out of site.
 
It was stated in times past, in a quote attributed to Henry Speak the former premier of Belgium when he said:
 
“"What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the alliances of all people and to lift us out of the economic morass into which we are sinking. Send us such a man, and be he god or devil, we will receive him."
 
That has been the mind-set of politicians since this was quoted in as far back as 1957. The world is even in a bigger mess, than it was then and is growing exponentially a dangerous and unsafe place to live. The world of any sane human being longs for peace and safety, and if this is any indication of the beliefs of an unsaved generation of godless people, then our time, this generation is ripe for the coming of what the Bible calls “the Lawless One”. I believe the man of sin is alive today, noting how the rise of anarchy, murder and terrorist attacks upon innocent men and women in the Western World have increased, especially in the last 10 years...(”thank you, POTUS Joe Biden....the puppet president. He has created a climate that is ushering in what Henry Kissinger spoke of when this last democrat POTUS before Trump was elected...Kissinger said, and I quote:
 
“The president-elect is coming into office at a moment when there is upheaval in many parts of the world simultaneously,” Kissinger responded. “You have India, Pakistan; you have the jihadist movement. So he can’t really say there is one problem, that its the most important one. But he can give new impetus to American foreign policy partly because the reception of him is so extraordinary around the world. His task will be to develop an overall strategy for America in this period when, really, a new world order can be created. It’s a great opportunity, it isn’t just a crisis.”
 
That is why this present POTUS was elected to bring about his “BUILD BACK BETTER” and a false unity to the detriment of our freedom and our Constitutional Republic. And a marvelous job he has done in their evil eyes. Some will say, that Obama was the Anti-Christ, and he sure was “ANTI-” on so many of our basic beliefs that of the rule of law, the bible, marriage, homosexuality, abortion, and every Christian idea that has created this nation. And now Biden has picked up the mantle Obama left behind for Obama 3.0 who may secretly be running this country. Many believe the man is a closet Muslim educated in Indonesia in a midrash or an Islamic school. Is HE the foreseen Anti-Christ? If not, then he sure is precursor to the evil one and is making his path easy to follow.
 
THE COMING TRIBULATION IS CLOSE AT HAND
 
Jesus warned us, that the generation that shall see these changes will see the coming of the Lord:
 
“32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:
33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.
34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.
35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.” (Matthew 24:32-35)
 
We are living in that generation of the budding of the fig tree. Israel has been a nation now 71 years ending in May, 2021. Are we on the cusp of the coming of the AC? I believe we are...when? Jesus said that “no man knoweth the day or the hour, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only” (Matthew 24:36)
 
He speaks of His soon return. It will before this man is revealed. You can see that we are bumping up right upon the threshold of the coming Tribulation and soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ, but getting back to what this message was about.
 
WHAT MUST WE DO IN THE MEANTIME?
 
As we patiently wait for the coming of our Lord for His Bride, the Church, we must be about our Father's business. We are to give due respect to those who are in authority over us, and obey the laws that have been given as God has used them for our good, but when those laws become in direct conflict with the laws of God, then as Peter, the Hebrew children did and many more examples as even the Apostle Paul wrote:
 
“Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
8, Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:7-8)
 
Unfortunately for those who do not have a guarantee of their deliverance from the wrath to come, there is coming a time I've been speaking of, when it will be impossible to follow the laws that will be given to control every man and woman on this earth without going against Almighty God. When I spoke of a man on a white horse in Revelation 6, who carries a bow with no arrows and destroys be deceit, if you should see this man, then know that the Tribulation hour has come.
 
We will not see him, as the Church of the Living God is my firm belief, but we will have a good idea of who he is. Why do I say that?
 
“6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:” (2nd Thessalonians 2:7-11).
 
The Restrainer by much Bible study, can only be One Person, as the personal pronoun is of One Person, and that is the Holy Spirit. It can't be Michael the arc- angel, as he could not do it alone, as the word is singular, not plural as using other angels. Nor can it be Satan, as the devil would not work against himself. But when “He” is withdrawn, or should I say, changes His focus upon this earth to Pre-Pentecostal manifestations, then the evil man called the Anti-Christ will be revealed to do what his father, Satan bids him to do without restraint.
 
WHAT WILL YOU DO IN THIS HOUR?
 
You who see this world imploding, being an unbeliever in Christ Jesus, you know that something is terribly wrong. You can feel it. There is a deep down foreboding that is gripping your mind and your heart. Your fear level is growing. You try to ignore it and go on with your life, that is until it slaps you up side the head with disaster that strikes way too close to home. It could be your family, your friends, or your neighbors, or even yourself, but your world has just been thrown into total chaos and you're afraid and angry at such lawlessness that has invaded your private space. What can you do? Nothing, as it is prophesied that it will happen, no matter if you're ready for it or not. Prophecy is warning us to all who will listen, that the time of this world's end is upon us. Where will you appear on what side of either God or the god of this world? Will your allegiance be with God, or with the man who is coming, the man called the “lawless one” the Anti-Christ? This man will demand allegiance that he forces all to take a “mark” in their right hand, or their forehead:
 
“15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” (Revelation 13:15-18)
 
Those who dare take this mark, are doomed to “outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Where the worm dieth not, nor the fire quenched.”
 
9 “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11)
 
If you think the time we live in right now is bad, wait to see this man, the Anti-Christ when he comes upon the scene. As the old saying goes, “you ain't seen nothing yet.”
 
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be
22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:21-22)
 
As I always do , I beseech you my reader to be taken away from this hour of the coming Tribulation and submit to our only Hope in this world, Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. This time coming will be unspeakable death, lawlessness, and tyranny that if not halted by God, “no flesh would be saved, but for the elect it will be shortened”, as Jesus spoke of above.
 
How can you avoid such an unspeakable time of horror that is coming upon this world?
 
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
 
God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him, might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)
 
Jesus said “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no man cometh to the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
 
8 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Roman 10:8-13)
 
This is just a warm up of what's coming. Man in his nature is evil to the core. Unrepentant men will continue to do indescribable evil and murder upon other men. When this time gets wound up and God's wrath found beginning in Revelation chapter 6 gets firing non-stop, then all hell will break loose on this earth, from Satan, from evil mankind found in the “man of sin” the AC, and from God Himself, as He pours out His wrath upon a rebellious world in righteous indignation.
 
BUT UNTIL THEN.....
 
Until then, we submit in love, the powers that have authority over us, UNLESS it is in direct conflict with the Laws of God. Know that God uses the authority of the government for our good, or for judgment upon a idolatrous nation. That is where I believe we are. Judgment may have started and God is using the powers that be to enact coming judgment upon the whole earth. Only we here in the USA have never seen this type of lawlessness until recently. We must stand strong in the power of His might and pray God's protection upon each of us, and be submissive in love and honor to the law of the land, as long as we can do so with a clear conscience . For we must submit ourselves to obey God rather than obey man in those coming abuses leading up to a time called the Tribulation. We will know the difference, as it will go against what is taught in your Bible.
 
This is pastor Mike Taylor, praying that you stay strong and putting your faith in Jesus Christ for deliverance. If you have a question, need counseling, prayer, or just a listening ear, email me at [email protected], or visit me online for more sermons preaching the end of this age. God bless you all, TILL WE MEET AT JESUS FEET.

 


 
“They are trying to start the War of Gog and Magog” – Ryan Jones - https://www.israeltoday.co.il/read/they-are-trying-to-start-the-war-of-gog-and-magog/
 
The Bible said Jerusalem would be a burdensome stone, and Israel’s new unity government is learning that the hard way
 
Israel’s new left-center-right government faced its first test of unity on Tuesday after incoming Public Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev (Labor) approved a rescheduled “flag march” in Jerusalem.
 
The march typically takes place on Jerusalem Day to mark the anniversary of the city’s reunification in 1967. But this year it was interrupted when Hamas fired rockets at the Israeli capital, sparking the latest Gaza war.
 
Determined to still demonstrate Israeli sovereignty over the city (the march features thousands carrying Israeli flags and proceeding through the center of Jerusalem, including the Old City), right-wing factions insisted that the march be rescheduled.
 
After consulting with Police officials and determining that the march could be effectively protected and order maintained, Bar-Lev granted his approval. There is broad Israeli consensus over the status of Jerusalem as the nation’s “united and eternal capital,” so that might also have played into the new minister’s decision.
 
But amid Hamas threats to respond to the flag march with additional rocket and fire balloon attacks, elements of the new government further to the Left decried the Jerusalem procession as an act of “provocation.”
 
“This is not just a parade of flags, there will be other nationalist initiatives the purpose of which are to bring about the War of Gog and Magog,” tweeted Yair Golan of the far-left Meretz party, using the biblical language for an end-times apocalyptic battle over the Land of Israel.
 
“A handful of disturbed leaders are trying to set the region ablaze,” he continued. “Will Israel’s fate be determined by a sane majority, or by a crazy minority?”
 
Channel 12 reported that fellow Meretz lawmaker Mossi Raz also criticized Bar-Lev’s decision, insisting that while “the right to demonstrate is of utmost importance…no normal country allows every provocateur to just march wherever he pleases.”
 
Unsurprisingly, the head of the government’s Islamist faction Ra’am, Deputy Minister Mansour Abbas, was also opposed to the march, similarly describing it as a “provocation.”
 
“Everything that happens in Jerusalem reverberates throughout the region,” Abbas told Radio 103FM. “We’ve heard the threats. I hope the march doesn’t lead to an escalation.”
 
Israelis to the right of the political spectrum do not feel that the Jewish state should permit the likes of Hamas to dictate when, where and how its people can demonstrate or celebrate their sovereignty. There are also concerns that backing down in the face of Hamas threats would upset the balance of power and further deteriorate Israel’s deterrence.
 
The Jerusalem flag march is scheduled to take place this evening from 5:30-8:30 PM Israel time.

 


 
Homelessness Is Becoming A Crisis Of Epic Proportions In The United States - by Michael Snyder - http://endoftheamericandream.com/homelessness-is-becoming-a-crisis-of-epic-proportions-in-the-united-states/
 
Can you imagine what it would be like to not have a home? For many Americans, this is not something that they need to imagine because it is a daily reality. Nobody knows for sure how many homeless individuals there are in this country, but recent estimates range from “fewer than 600,000 to more than 1.5 million people”, and everyone agrees that the number has been growing. Even as the wealthy engage in wild bidding wars over the most desirable properties, more impoverished Americans are being forced into the streets with each passing day. There has always been homelessness in America, but here in 2021 it is rapidly becoming a crisis of epic proportions.
 
Ironically, the state with the worst problem is also the wealthiest state in the nation. At least 160,000 homeless people currently live in California, although many believe that official figure is way too low. The number of homeless in the state had been rising for years, and then the pandemic came along…
 
Tent-lined streets with belongings scattered everywhere. Infected wounds with bugs living inside. A man who hasn’t showered in over a decade. An 80-year-old woman who can’t feed herself. People who ride the metro rail lines because the trains are a safer place to sleep.
 
California’s homeless problem has been out of control for decades. Then came COVID-19.
 
In many California cities, tent cities have seemingly popped up everywhere these days. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the number of tent encampments in San Francisco alone has grown by 70 percent during the pandemic…
 
Tent encampments are typical sights under freeways and in areas such as skid row – a pocket of downtown Los Angeles known for its vast homeless population – but the pandemic, shutdowns and quarantines caused them to spread across the city. Encampments popped up in parking lots, neighborhood parks and outside schools, not only in Los Angeles but other parts of the state.
 
In San Francisco alone, tent encampments grew by 70% and became more visible across the city, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
 
San Francisco is one of the wealthiest cities in the entire world.
 
If this is happening now, how bad will things get when the U.S. economy really starts to fall apart?
 
The homelessness crisis continues to grow rapidly on the east coast as well. In New York City, many have become concerned about the “growing presence” of the homeless in Times Square…
 
An influx of homeless people into Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood after an emergency move by New York City to ease crowding in shelters has been a fact of pandemic life for the neighborhood since last spring.
 
Many of the newcomers, living in nearby hotel rooms contracted by the city, have been largely inconspicuous. But others with mental health and drug problems have become a growing presence in Hell’s Kitchen and adjacent Times Square.
 
Now that the pandemic is fading, many New Yorkers are quite eager to have the homeless removed from Times Square because the tourists are starting to return.
 
Needless to say, seeing hordes of homeless people laying in the streets is not good for business, and the increase in homelessness has also helped to fuel a dramatic rise in violent crime in the Times Square area…
 
The police precinct that includes Times Square and many of the hotels has seen a 183 percent spike in felony assaults and 173 percent spike in robberies so far this year compared to 2020, according to NYPD data.
 
As you can probably imagine, homelessness has been growing in the middle of the country too.
 
In Dallas, a large homeless camp was recently removed by authorities after local residents loudly complained…
 
The city of Dallas has removed a homeless camp after nearby residents complained it was putting their health and safety in jeopardy.
 
While some who called the camp home say they have no place to go, neighbors are grateful the city is finally responding. The sprawling homeless encampment was covered by a canopy of trees and located behind houses along Tres Logos Lane in northeast Dallas.
 
Nobody wants a homeless camp in their neighborhood, but where are those homeless people supposed to go?
 
They have to sleep somewhere.
 
But for now, residents of that particular neighborhood are just thrilled that those homeless people are no longer their problem. In fact, one local resident told the press that she is so happy that they are gone that she has “chills”…
 
“I am so excited, I am so happy, I have chills,” said resident Maria Sanchez. “It’s not just the homelessness that we’re talking about, its other individuals that are, you know, doing other illicit activities sketchy activities.”
 
So what happens if Maria Sanchez loses her current job and starts getting behind on her rent or mortgage payments?
 
Ultimately, the vast majority of Americans are just a few months away from being homeless themselves.
 
In fact, now that a nationwide eviction moratorium is ending, we are being told that millions more Americans could soon be forced out into the streets…
 
MILLIONS of renters face eviction as a nationwide ban is set to end in two weeks.
 
It comes as 5.7million Americans – nearly 14% of all renters nationwide – had fallen behind on their rent in April.
 
The study by the National Equity Atlas revealed that tenants owed nearly $20 billion in rent, with low-income people among those worst affected.
 
So as bad as things are now, they could soon get a whole lot worse.
 
Can you imagine what that would look like?
 
Sleeping on the streets is extremely dangerous, and vast numbers of homeless people end up dying. According to USA Today, more than 1,300 homeless people died in Los Angeles County alone in 2020…
 
The crisis in California has left a trail of death.
 
Some come from drug overdoses, violence or untreated illnesses that compound over time. Others come from suicide. These people die under freeways, along sidewalks and in alleys, hospitals and vehicles. More than 1,300 died last year in Los Angeles County alone. An additional 1,200 died the year before that.
 
During the pandemic, the federal government has borrowed and spent trillions and trillions of dollars, and the Federal Reserve has pumped trillions and trillions of dollars into the financial system, and yet the suffering of those at the bottom of the economic food chain has gotten much, much worse.
 
Something is very wrong with that picture.
 
No matter what our leaders do, the homelessness crisis in this country just seems to keep escalating. Vast numbers of our fellow citizens will be sleeping on the streets tonight, and many more will soon be joining them.

 


 
God’s Will or Satan’s Will - Nathele Graham - [email protected]
 
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18.
 
We make many choices in life. We must live with our choices, good or bad. The best choice to make is to accept Jesus Christ for salvation. Once we’ve done that, we need to choose to follow Him. How do we do that? Scripture is our guide, and the Holy Spirit is our navigator. We must choose to do God’s will instead of Satan’s will. Satan has always wanted mankind to fail. He’s the master of deception. He first deceived Eve in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve had a lovely life there. They had food, water, and the presence of God was all around them. There was no disease or death. It’s hard to imagine just how beautiful it was before Satan’s lies were harkened to and all of creation fell. Adam and Eve knew God and they only had to obey one law. “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Genesis 2:16-17. That seems simple enough. Today there’s still only one path to salvation, but Satan’s lies have corrupted that. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. There is no other way to salvation than to accept the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God spoke plainly to Adam who should have spoken plainly to Eve. Scripture speaks very plainly to us, and we need to pay attention to it. Had God’s one rule been followed, life would be very different today. But Satan entered and by deceit he talked Eve into disobeying God. He convinced Eve that God had deceived them, that God didn’t have their best interest at heart. God said they would die if they ate the fruit of the tree of knowledge, but Satan twisted God’s words. “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5. Ever since that day, death has been part of life. It’s always smart to take God at His word and obey Him. Satan’s tactics haven’t changed. He uses lies and deception and he only wants evil for humans. Pride caused his fall and pride is a sin. God loves sinners and will forgive all sin. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. We like the forgiveness part, but forget that encountering Jesus should change our attitude toward sin. When a prostitute was brought before Jesus for Him to condemn her to death, she found forgiveness in Him rather than condemnation. He asked her “Woman, where are those thine acusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said No man, Lord, And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:10b-11. All those who accused her left and Jesus forgave her, but He told her to sin no more…change her lifestyle. We need to pay attention. All who come to Jesus find forgiveness, but then we need to turn away from the sin.
 
Pride is a sin. Pride causes us to think we know more than God. Oddly enough we dedicate a whole month to the pride of sin. Satan’s pride caused his eviction from the realm of the Heavenly angels. “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the height of the clouds; I will be like the most High.” Isaiah 14:12-14. Pride will always cause destruction. Satan thought he would exalt himself above God, but pride never works out. “Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” Isaiah 14:15. Satan has led weak-minded people, who are easily deceived, in rebellion and sin ever since he deceived Eve.
 
Satan hates us, but many people today follow his will instead of following God’s will. God is love and Satan is the opposite of love. Satan’s pride tries to destroy people, and many follow his lies. We are coming to the end of days and Satan will try to thwart God by possessing a man who will deceive many people into taking his mark. It is the Holy Spirit living in Christians that restrains this man of sin from coming forward. That man of sin is a follower of Satan, and there are many candidates for the anti-Christ living today. “Even him whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-10. We can see the deceit that is permeating the world today. Not only in the secular world, but within the congregations that claim to be Christian. Brothers and sisters, don’t be deceived. God loved the world enough to offer His son for our redemption, and Jesus willingly gave His life for us. If you call yourself a Christian then believe God’s word and follow His directions in life. Don’t take pride in sin of any kind, but live life according to Scripture. Do God’s will, not Satan’s will.
 
Our first step in not following Satan’s will is to accept Christ for eternal salvation. The next step is to become a living sacrifice. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1. That is reasonable. God gave His life to purchase your salvation, so the least you can do is to live your life to honor Him. We can’t do anything to earn salvation, but we can thank God by living for Him. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12. God doesn’t set evil before you in order to tempt you. “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: but every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.” James 1:13-14. Did God set Satan in the Garden in order that Eve would yield to temptation? No. Temptation came because she allowed herself to be in a situation where Satan could tempt her. Satan will tempt you into sin if you follow his will instead of God’s will. Instead of standing upon God’s words, Eve listened to Satan’s twisted version of God’s words. His lies distorted God’s truth and she believed Satan’s lies. God only speaks truth, but even today we listen to Satan’s voice telling us that God is wrong. Instead of standing firmly on God’s truth, we listen to the lies of Satan. That’s when, like Eve, we become confused and Satan’s lies begin to sound reasonable. From that we get a perverted view of creation, marriage, and life in general.
 
The secular world cannot be expected to understand and obey God, but there’s no excuse for Christians to follow Satan’s will instead of God’s will. We have Scripture. Christians get mocked and laughed at if we don’t join in the ways of the world and yield to the temptation of sin, but we are to follow Scripture as our guide. There are no advantages to sin. When God’s ways are rejected, disease and death follow. Anger flares up and guns get blamed for the violence that surrounds us in this life. It’s not guns, but sin that causes a trigger to be pulled. Statistics say that 24% of US Women will have an abortion by age 45. That’s a sad comment on the moral state of America. There shouldn’t be any abortions. Babies are murdered and it’s called “a woman’s right to choose”. That choice comes before a baby is created.
 
Brothers and sisters, we need to be leaders in choosing God’s will over Satan’s will.  We need to require public schools to teach morals instead of promoting sin. We have the instruction book for a life that honors God. If we read it and apply it to our daily living, we will honor God Almighty. Walking in sin triggers God’s judgment and, as sin increases it becomes more acceptable. As people embrace Satan’s will instead of God’s will, we draw closer to the ultimate judgment…the Great Tribulation. The people who have accepted Christ’s shed blood for salvation will be taken directly to Heaven in the Rapture before that time of God’s wrath upon an unbelieving world that follows Satan. “Behold I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” 2 Corinthians 15:51-52. But all who reject Jesus Christ, embrace sin, and walk in the path of Satan will face horrendous judgment, but it will be by their own choice by rejecting Christ. Demons will rule and pure evil will have nothing to stop it.
 
Accept Christ’s sacrifice for your redemption today, because tomorrow may be too late. Then follow God’s will not Satan’s will.
 
God bless you all,
Nathele Graham
[email protected]
[email protected]
                        
All original scripture is “theopneustos” God breathed.
 
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Daily Jot: IRS back at religious persecution – Bill Wilson – www.dailyjot.com
 
The IRS is up to its old tricks against Christians—the same kind of persecution it was conducting during the Obama Administration is set loose once again under the Biden Administration. The IRS denied the 501(c)(3) application for the organization Christians Engaged because the IRS considers bible teachings to be affiliated with the Republican Party. I’m not making this up. The IRS actually put it in a letter denying Christians Engaged application. In May 2013 there was much written about how the IRS was singling out and harassing conservative and religious groups. After being held in check by the Trump Administration for four years, the IRS is back in the business of thumping Bible believers.
 
Remember during the Obama Administration that many groups who were critical of the occupant of the Oval Office were fingered for extra IRS harassment. Red State reported in May 2013, “Among the ministries targeted are the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Samaritan’s Purse and the Biblical Recorder–the newspaper of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention. The revelations seem to indicate the IRS was targeting more than just Tea Party groups and conservative political organizations.” This recent incident with Christians Engaged demonstrates how an unconstitutional agency like the IRS can sway back and forth on its interpretation of administrative law based on what politician holds office.
 
In denying Christians Engaged 501(c)(3) designation, the IRS wrote: “For example, you educate believers on national issues that are central to their belief in the Bible as the inerrant Word of God. Specifically, you educate Christians on what the bible says in areas where they can be instrumental including the areas of sanctity of life, the definition of marriage, biblical justice, freedom of speech, defense, and borders and immigration, US and Israel relations. The bible teachings are typically affiliated with the [sic Republican] party and candidates. This disqualifies you from exemption under IRC Section 501 (c)(3).” In one sense, this should be a message to all Democrats who would like to consider themselves Christians—the Democratic Party does not align with Biblical principles—even the IRS understands this. You should, too.
 
This also should be a message to all Christians—the IRS will take any opportunity to deny your freedom of religion. It is an indicator that the Biden government sees Christians as having no rights. But the First Amendment guarantees Christians freedom of speech and free exercise of religion. You do not have to ask the IRS permission to raise money for religious purposes. Religious groups ought to embrace their First Amendment rights that prevent government interference in their ministries–people will still give according to what the Lord lays on their hearts. Jesus said in Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and innocent as doves.” Go out and do what the Lord tells you to do, but be wise about it—don’t involve the IRS.

 


 
Daily Devotion: His Comforting Presence - by Greg Laurie – www.harvest.org
 
Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. —Mark 16:9
 
https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/his-comforting-presence/ - Listen
 
If I were Jesus rising from the dead, the first person I would have appeared to was Pontius Pilate: “Hey, Pilate, how’s it going? By the way, you can’t keep a good man down.”
 
Or, I would have appeared to Caiaphas, the high priest who played a hand in the crucifixion of our Lord.
 
But Jesus didn’t appear to any of those people. The first person to actually see Him after the Resurrection was Mary Magdalene.
 
Mary Magdalene was first at the tomb and last at the cross. When all the courageous men were hiding, she stood at the cross along with Mary, the mother of our Lord, and others. And then she was at the tomb to anoint his body.
 
So God rewarded Mary Magdalene for her faithfulness and persistence. God says in His Word, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV).
 
After Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, He then made an appearance to what seemed to be two random people on the Emmaus Road. And not only did He appear to them, but He had an extended conversation with them.
 
Mark 16:12 tells us that Jesus “appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country” (NKJV). We don’t really know what “another form” means, but we do know that Jesus was unrecognizable to them at the moment.
 
Remember, the last sight they had of Jesus was His beaten and bloodied body. He was virtually unrecognizable. The last thing they ever expected was to see Him alive again, so at that moment, it didn’t occur to them that they were walking with Jesus.
 
Jesus was walking with them, but they didn’t know it. And He’s walking with you as well.

 


 
FROM THE HEART
    
Let Us Make the Short Time We have Left,
Count for ALL of Eternity!

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