Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
The Loneliness of the Christian in These Last Days - By Geri Ungurean - https://www.raptureready.com/2019/06/16/loneliness-christian-last-days-geri-ungurean/
I said recently that my writing might be coming to an end. My husband and I prayed about this, and we believe that we heard from the Lord that I have been called to write in these last days - but that I must listen carefully for His voice when I need to rest. A reader of my articles wrote to me today and ended her email with something so precious and true - I knew that the Lord had moved on her heart to send it to me. Here it is: The Loneliness of the Christian by A. W. Tozer "The Loneliness of the Christian results from his walk with God in an ungodly world, a walk that must often take him away from the fellowship of good Christians as well as from that of the unregenerate world. His God-given instincts cry out for companionship with others of his kind, others who can understand his longings, his aspirations, his absorption in the love of Christ; and because, within his circle of friends, there are so few who share his inner experiences, he is forced to walk alone. The unsatisfied longings of the prophets for human understanding cause them to cry out in their complaint, and even our Lord Himself suffered in the same way. The man [or woman] who has passed on into the divine Presence in actual inner experience will not find many who understand him. He finds few who care to talk about that which is the supreme object of his interest, so he is often silent and preoccupied in the midst of noisy religious shoptalk. For this he earns the reputation of being dull and over-serious, so he is avoided and the gulf between him and society widens. He searches for friends upon whose garments he can detect the smell of myrrh and aloes and cassia out of the ivory palaces, and finding few or none, he, like Mary of old, keeps these things in his heart. It is this very loneliness that throws him back upon God. His inability to find human companionship drives him to seek in God what he can find nowhere else." When I finished reading this heartfelt teaching from Tozer, I broke down in tears. Not from sadness but from joy that God had seen my state of extreme loneliness; and because He loves me as He does, He directed this sister in Christ to send me such truth and comfort. It felt like a hug from God. But then I noticed something even more precious. A. W. Tozer had bolded this sentence: "It is this very loneliness that throws him back upon God." And he ends with this: "His inability to find human companionship drives him to seek in God what he can find nowhere else." Brethren, I truly cannot express what these words from A.W. Tozer meant to me. My husband and I have not had a church home in quite a while. I have talked about the things which happened in various churches, so I do not need to write them again. But this I will say: In most churches of which we became a part - even when the preaching was sound and thorough, I did feel so alone in the midst of most in the congregation. I knew that most found me hard to be around, and I knew that I was ostracized by many for being too zealous - too serious for the things of God. I wanted to tell others what Jesus had been doing in my life. Of course, there were a few who shared my zeal for our Savior, but that was the exception and not the rule. I knew that I was considered by many to be a "Jesus freak,' and that is so very sad to even think about. We were there to worship our Redeemer, our Savior, our Jesus! So yes, I experienced the words of Tozer in the midst of the congregation. But recently I have pondered this loneliness and have spoken to God in prayer about it. I have come to Him and just sat quietly in my sadness. Those are the sweetest times, not just for me, but for our Lord as well. I find in His presence the peace that does pass all understanding. "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7, KJV). I realize that NOTHING can replace my time with Him. Not even the most godly saint - although it is so glorious to share my heart with such people, it cannot come close to talking with my Lord and Savior who ever waits for me to finally turn to Him in my anguish. As we walk this earth as children of God, it is inevitable that we are at times "wounded," and the most stinging of these wounds seems to come from the brethren. We are still battling our flesh. We all make mistakes. It will not be until we receive our Glorified bodies that we will finally be free from sin and hurt and pain. I have always loved this song by Twila Paris: The Warrior is a Child <Click to listen I pray for the reader that this has somehow helped you in your struggles. It won't be long now, and know that He NEVER takes His eyes off of you. Shalom b'Yeshua MARANATHA! [email protected] Articles at grandmageri422.me The Epistle To The Hebrews, Part 1 - A Bible Study by Jack Kelley - https://gracethrufaith.com/topical-studies/spiritual-life/the-epistle-to-the-hebrews-part-1/ A fair number of the questions posed to me have to do with whether our salvation is conditional or not, and what part our behavior plays in obtaining and maintaining it, or causing the loss of it. Answers to these and other questions about our relationship with the Lord are found in the Letter to the Hebrews and so I've quoted from there on a regular basis. But although I've taught Hebrews a number of times from both pulpit and platform, I've never before published a comprehensive study of the letter. The Letter to the Hebrews was written anonymously but there's been speculation as to its authorship for most of the Church's history. The earliest recorded suggestion, in 200 AD, was that Barnabas, a learned Jew from the tribe of Levi and one of Paul's associates, wrote it. From 400 to 1600, it was universally assumed that Paul was the letter's author. After the reformation Apollos became the leading candidate, probably because Martin Luther had proposed him as being the letter's most likely author. Each of these three had the Jewish background and intellectual horsepower to write the letter, but I continue to favor Paul. He had both the strong motivation to write it, having a passionate desire to see his brothers accept their Messiah, and to remain anonymous since he was considered a turncoat by the Jewish leadership. But while even the mention of his name would incite them to anger, Paul said that he would agree to be cursed and cut off from Christ himself it meant that salvation would come to those of his own race. (Romans 9:3) And while some have challenged Paul's authorship, claiming that the letter was not written in his typical style, it's closer to his style than to either Apollos or Barnabas. But the simple fact is that the Letter to the Hebrews was written anonymously at the direction of the Lord who had His own reasons for wanting it that way. And that should be good enough for us. While no date is given, whoever wrote the letter did so between 35 and 70 AD since there's no mention of the Temple's destruction. In fact, the Temple is referred to in the present tense several times. The letter's purpose was to document the absolute sufficiency of the Lord's death as payment in full for man's sins to the large community of Jewish believers in Israel, many of whom had been priests in the Temple when it happened. Considerable pressure was being exerted upon them to revert to Judaism or at least maintain some sort of hybrid status, blending adherence to the Levitical system with the belief in Jesus as Israel's Messiah. This attempt to "Judaize" the Gospel was by no means confined to either Jerusalem or the first century. From the time Jesus went to the cross to this very day, man has tried to add his own effort to the salvation equation in a misguided attempt to either complete or maintain what he thinks the Lord only partially accomplished. In doing so He has relegated the Lord's death to the same status as that of a bull or a goat, insufficient to the task. But from the beginning the letter offers persuasive evidence of the Lord's deity, another issue that's still unresolved in the minds of some, making any thoughts of insufficiency even more ridiculous. So the message of Hebrews is that God became human to accomplish for us what we could never accomplish for ourselves. All that's left for us to do, indeed all we can do, is to accept this by faith and enter into a lifelong rest from the work of our salvation. Everything in the letter has to be considered from this perspective. The conflict between Law and Grace will make itself evident in nearly every chapter, as will the necessity of choosing grace. Clearly, this letter has as much to say to us now as it did to them then. Let's begin. Hebrews Chapter 1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. (Hebr. 1:1-2) Immediately the Lord is revealed as the Son of God, His Prophet for the last days, and the one through whom the universe was created. His arrival changed the manner in which God communicated with His people. From now on everything had to conform with the words of the Son. Without any preamble, the Lord is portrayed not as a mere man who had lived among them for about 33 years, but as one who, in the words of the Prophet Micah, is from eternity past (Micah 5:2) John would later make the same claim in his Gospel. (John 1:1-3) The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebr. 1:3) God is a Spirit, invisible to us. In His Son, He became the visible image of Himself, recognizable to us. "When you've seen Me you've seen the Father," Jesus said. (John 14:9) And after He died for our sins, He rose again, and ascended into Heaven and sat down at the right hand of Majesty, the work of saving us completed. There were no chairs in the Temple because the purifying work of the priests was never done. After Jesus had (literally by Himself) provided purification for sins, He sat down. The work was finally finished. There was nothing more to do. Sometime in the past, it had been decided that the Son would become a physical being and when He did it would be forever. So there's a human sitting on the Throne of God today, an exalted one to be sure, but a human just the same. And when God steps out of time He sees you there too, seated with Him, the example for all eternity of the incomparable riches of His grace. (Ephes. 2:6-7) So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs. (Hebr. 1:4) In Hebrew, the angels are called b'nai haElohim, which is translated sons of God. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father." [Psalm 2:7] Or again, "I will be his Father, and he will be my Son" [2 Samuel 7:14] (Hebr. 1:5) In this second reference, God was speaking to David about Solomon, but the writer shows that the Messianic Son of David is in view, not just his biological son. And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him." (You have to read Deut. 32:43 in the Septuagint to get this one.) In speaking of the angels he says, "He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire." [Psalm 104:4] But about the Son, he says, "Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy." [Psalm 45:6-7] (Hebr. 1:6-9) This is an astonishing quote, missed by many. It shows the Father calling the Son "God." Jesus had said that He is God. John (John 1:1) and Paul (Colossians 1:15) agreed. But here is God Himself confirming it. He also says, "In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end." [Psalm 102:25-27] (Hebr. 1:10-12) The Psalmist ascribed this to the Father but the writer of Hebrews is applying it to the Son. Not only did He inhabit eternity past but will inhabit eternity future as well. To which of the angels did God ever say, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet"? [Psalm 110:1] Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation? (Hebrews 1:13-14) The notion that Jesus was an angel, as early Gnosticism held and as the Jehovah's Witnesses still teach, is clearly refuted. While angels exist to minister to God's people, Jesus is the visible image of God. He was with God in the beginning and He is God. He became flesh and dwelt among us. God in human form. Hebrews Chapter 2:1-4 We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebr. 2:1-4) Here is the writer's first warning against drifting back into Judaism. The Law was given at Mt. Sinai with the help of angels. (Deut. 33:2, Acts 7:38, Gal 3:19) If it was binding, refusing to forgive even a single violation, how much more so the remedy, the free gift of Grace given by the Lord Himself and confirmed with witnesses, miracles, and gifts? The two cannot co-exist because there's no middle ground. In spite of all of its other freedoms, grace does not grant us the freedom to participate in our own salvation by keeping the Law. This is the no-nonsense beginning to a complex letter written to people who obviously had more than a passing understanding of their scriptures. For them, it was the bridge from the Torah to the Gospel. For us, it's a challenging look into the Church's theological foundations as we discover that the bridge goes both ways. More next time. Nearing Midnight: Abortion Has Become a Religion of Depravity - Todd Strandberg - https://www.raptureready.com/category/nearing-midnight/ The passage of Laws in Georgia, Alabama, Missouri and Ohio that place restriction on abortion has triggered a massive reaction from people on the left. They have gone into a mode that can only be described as fanatical. Not since ancient times, when people sacrificed children to their pagan gods, has there been a greater bloodlust for infanticide. The reaction of some people is so over the top, you would wonder if comedy was their intention. Since no joke goes on this long, we can be sure that they represent a growing wave of insanity: A hotel manager in a conservative Michigan town has publicly announced that she will provide free rooms and transportation to and from clinics for women seeking abortions from states that have placed restrictions on the procedure. Shelley O'Brien runs the Yale Hotel in Yale, Michigan, a city that, according to the Detroit Free Press, voted for President Donald Trump in 2016. He received 65% of the vote in the city. The magazine Teen Vogue is now advising minors on ways they can violate their parents' wishes and obtain an abortion without their permission. According to LifeSiteNews, the magazine that once advised teens on the virtues of anal sex has now published an article in which columnist Nona Willis Aronowitz instructs a pregnant 16-year-old girl how to get her desired abortion without setting off her Christian conservative parents' pro-life radar. Miley Cyrus can thank her famous dad for her teenage Disney Channel days as Hanna Montana. She has maintained her spot in the limelight by whoring herself out to various Hollywood vices. Cyrus was recently pictured licking a large white cake with the sides covered with rainbow sprinkles that read "ABORTION IS HEALTH CARE." There were some terrific tweets about this picture. LifeNews.com was amazed, saying, "The irony of @Miley Cyrus using a birthday cake to promote abortions when abortions deny babies a birthday." Kylie Jenner is the youngest member of the Kardashian/Jenner clan. She faced backlash for a "Handmaid's Tale"- themed party for her best friend, Anastasia Karanikolaou - complete with the story's notorious red robes and white bonnets and themed cocktails with names like "praise be vodka." Jenner was called "tone deaf" for adding sex and booze to a fictional tale where women are denied their basic human rights and forced into reproductive slavery. The Handmaid's Tale outfit was already at a clownish level when Jenner joined in. Her involvement just shows the silliness of the connection to abortion. The United Nations spends much of its time defending third-world dictators. Kate Gilmore, the UN's deputy high commissioner for human rights, found torment taking place here in America. She said the abortion restrictions that were recently passed in several states in the U.S. are a "crisis" akin to "torture." "It's clear it's torture? It's a deprivation of a right to health," Gilmore told The Guardian. "We have not called it out in the same way we have other forms of extremist hate, but this is gender-based violence against women, no question." Despite all the cries from the left, abortion is getting worse in America. While a few red states are placing restrictions on the killing of the unborn, blue states are giving abortion clinics free rein. Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker just signed a bill into law establishing a woman's "fundamental right" to abortion. "Today we proudly proclaim that in this state, we trust women," Pritzker said at the Reproductive Health Act signing event at the Chicago Cultural Center. "And in Illinois, we guarantee as a fundamental right a woman's right to choose." This bill puts women at risk in three ways: (a) it removes regulations for abortion clinics, allowing them to be self-policing; (b) it allows people not trained as doctors to perform abortions, thus jeopardizing the life of a woman who suffers from complications; and (c) it eliminates all reporting requirements and regulations governing an investigation of maternal deaths due to abortion. Earlier this year, New York state and Virginia passed a law that reduced the restrictions on late-term abortion. Up until now, such procedures are almost always performed because the life of the mother is in danger, or the baby is unviable. These new laws allow a pregnant woman to suddenly change her mind at the last minute and end the life of a child that could survive an early birth. On the Democratic campaign trail, there is a bidding war over who will have the most pro-abortion platform. To keep up with the new reality, Joe Biden flip-flopped on his support for the Hyde Amendment; the 1976 measure prohibiting federal funding for abortion except in the case of rape, incest, and endangering the life of the mother. By this fall, we may have candidates sacrificing children to the Canaanite god Moloch. I'm being sarcastic with my Moloch remark, but this level of depravity is not that far off. Radical feminist, Sophie Anne Lewis, wishes to take the abortion debate to an unthinkably evil place. In the promotional video for her new book, she freely admits that "abortion is a form of killing" and states that she is "not interested in where a human life starts to exist." "We have very little to lose at the moment when it comes to abortion, and I'm interested in winning radically," Lewis argued. "I wonder if we could think about defending abortion as a right to stop doing gestational work. Abortion is, in my opinion, and I recognize how controversial this is, a form of killing. It is a form of killing that we need to be able to defend," said Lewis. I once found a video on YouTube that showed anchor chains breaking free from various ships. Most of them were incredibly violent because of all the massive forces at play. Humanity's departure from God's will has been equally cataclysmic. We now have people with the same moral values of Genghis Khan. Because we are so close to total corruption, the end must be very near. "And because they did not think it worthwhile to acknowledge God, God delivered them over to a corrupt mind so that they do what is not right" (Romans 1:28 CSB). The Unhindered March Toward Globalism - By Britt Gillette - http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=3283 Over the past few years, voters all over the world rejected globalism in favor of nationalism. In the United States, Donald Trump ran on an "America First" agenda and became president. He promised to stop illegal immigration, pull America out of bad international agreements, and change "free trade" deals to "fair trade" deals. Months earlier, voters in the United Kingdom opted to leave the European Union. Known as "Brexit," to this day their decision remains a thorn in the side of the global elite. In 2019, not much has changed. Recent elections indicate nationalism remains popular. In India, Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi won another term. Running on a pro-Hindu, nationalist platform, India re-elected him in a landslide. In Britain, the Brexit Party (formed just months ago), finished first with 30% of the vote. With 29 seats, it's now the single biggest party in the European Parliament. In France, President Emmanuel Macron saw his party lose ground in the European elections to Marine Le Pen's National Rally. Just two years ago, Macron handily defeated Le Pen in the presidential election. This time, her party won 23% of the vote versus 22% for Macron's party. In Italy, Matteo Salvini's nationalist party, known as the League, finished first with 34% of the vote. Throughout the EU, the same story played out over and over. Nationalist politicians scored stunning victories. Does all this mean the world is reversing its trend toward globalism? Will traditional nationalist policies become the norm? Probably not. Recent events significantly slowed the transformation, but the world is still trending toward globalism. Despite recent setbacks, the globalist agenda is in a better position than it's ever been. Why? Because young people embrace it, and young people are the future. The Global Citizen Movement Current voters may reject the globalist agenda, but according to several surveys, future voters don't. Globally, the Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996) outnumber both the Baby Boomers and Generation X, and they believe the concept of being a citizen of a single country is outdated. To them, global citizenship is the way of the future. In 2017, Western Union surveyed more than 10,000 millennials from 15 countries, including the United States, India, and Russia. What they found provides a glimpse of where we're heading in the years to come. Here are just a few of the results: - 79% believe limitless movement around the world will empower them. - 29% believe a single global currency will "foster great global unity." - 61% believe global institutions like the United Nations are more representative of them versus national (48%) or local governments (44%). In the 2016 Global Shapers Annual Survey, more than 26,000 millennials from 181 countries gave their opinions on world issues. Results included: - 48% of millennials see climate change as the most serious issue the world faces. - When it comes to solving global problems, respondents say they trust international organizations (26%) more than they trust themselves (20%). - 36% of respondents view themselves as global citizens. This is a higher number than those who view themselves as national citizens (22%) or members of a religion (9%). Many young people see themselves as global citizens first. They think borders should be open. They believe climate change is the world's top problem, and they look to global political institutions for answers. This gives us a glimpse of what the world will look like in the future. Why? Because millennial opinions will shape the world in the coming decades. Adolph Hitler once said, "When an opponent declares, 'I will not come over to your side,' I calmly say, 'Your child belongs to us already. You will pass on. Your descendants, however, now stand in the new camp. In a short time they will know nothing else but this new community." The globalists don't need to win today's elections because they've already won a generation of children. The Trend Toward Globalism Because of their attitudes, millennials will ensure three issues stay at the forefront of the political agenda. These include: 1) Freedom of Movement - Freedom of movement is another way of saying "open borders." Most people reject open borders because they understand a nation with open borders is no longer a nation. So advocates of global government use the phrase "freedom of movement." After all, who could be against freedom? But we can see firsthand how "freedom of movement" destroyed national sovereignty in the EU. The Schengen agreement allows anyone to freely travel between EU member states without a passport or the need to stop at a border checkpoint. In 2015, images of Syrian refugees overwhelming the borders of Greece and other EU countries dominated the news. Once these refugees illegally crossed the border into an EU country, they were free to go wherever they wanted - London, Paris, Berlin, or any other city or town in Western Europe. No border checkpoint could stop them, and the EU had no way to track them. 2) Climate Change - As previously stated, 48% of millennials view climate change as the top threat to humanity. Despite the lack of evidence to show mankind has anything to do with climate change, people still clamor for global solutions to the "climate change crisis." These solutions typically involve massive tax hikes, loss of national sovereignty, and a massive transfer of wealth and power to new global institutions. This "crisis" is how the globalists hope to get nations (and the United States in particular) to cede power to them. As former U.N. Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon said, "Climate change does not respect borders. It does not respect who you are - rich and poor, small and big. Therefore, this is what we call 'global challenges,' which require global solidarity." Panic over manmade global warming and climate change is the perfect crisis for those calling for global government. Since it impacts the entire planet, no nation can solve it alone. Therefore, it requires "global solidarity." What does "global solidarity" mean? It means going along with whatever it is the globalists want. And what do they want? Power. Give power to an almighty global government, and the globalists believe they can solve all the world's problems. This is a long held dream of kings and despots, but it's also the dream of the millennial generation. 3) Global Government - Remember, when it comes to solving problems, millennials trust international organizations more than they trust themselves. So it makes sense the next generation will embrace global government. Not only is it seen as a solution for climate change, but for decades, it's been seen as the only way to promote peace and end war. Albert Einstein said, "Humankind's desire for peace can be realized only by the creation of a world government." Winston Churchill said, "Unless we establish some form of world government, it will not be possible for us to avert a World War III in the future." Many people believe this, and today, they're actively working to form a single global government. The greatest challenge they face is convincing nations to give up their own power to a new global community. Each year, they come closer to realizing their dream, and advanced technology only accelerates the process. Advanced Technology The exponential advance of technology has advanced the globalist agenda in almost every area of life. In finance, electronic banking has replaced currency in almost every business transaction. In North America, only 30% of consumer purchases are made with cash. It's only a matter of time before paper currency disappears. When it does, global transactions will become even more efficient. In business, free trade has led to global corporations and multinational conglomerates that span the globe. Their products and employees can be found in some of the most remote corners of the planet. With tools like Skype and Facetime, workers can engage in real-time video conferencing from anywhere in the world. Face to face meetings are no longer necessary. Also in the future, language will no longer divide us. The barriers are already eroding. Programs such as Google Translate allow people who speak different languages to exchange emails and research papers, and it's only a matter of time before wearable devices offer instant translation of the spoken word. You'll talk to someone in English, and they'll hear you in Japanese. They'll respond in Japanese, and you'll hear them in English. When this happens, national and cultural barriers will erode even further. When it comes to policing, governments can now compile large databases and easily share information with other nations. Tracking of terrorists and other international criminals has never been easier. Spying on citizens has also never been easier. The spread of cameras and listening devices, such as Amazon Echo and Google Home (many of them willingly placed throughout people's homes), mean governments can easily spy on almost anyone they want. With the aid of artificial intelligence, cameras, and microphones, a global government could monitor and track every person on earth. All these advancements make global government viable for the first time in history. While recent political developments show a backlash against globalism, all they've done is slow the inevitable march toward global government. Why All This Matters So why should you care? You should care because we're on the cusp of a new era. Ever since the Tower of Babel, tribes and nation states have governed the world. Nations meant well defined borders, language, and culture. Many people dreamed of global government, but that's all it was - a dream. Such a government would never work in reality. Local interests and values would triumph, and administering a global government would be an expensive, bureaucratic nightmare. But this generation is tearing down all the obstacles to global government. To the next generation, devotion to "the global community" is preferred over allegiance to one's home country. Concern over climate change trumps concern over the local interest. They want national borders to be open or erased all together. Advanced technology is making all this happens. It's creating a global marketplace, eroding language barriers, and eliminating the need for geographical proximity. The globalist vision is becoming reality. None of this should surprise us. This is exactly what the Bible said will happen in the end times. A powerful global government will dominate the world (Daniel 7:23). It will rule over every people, nation, tribe, and language (Revelation 13:7). Its power will be so immense, it will control every economic transaction on earth. No one will be able to buy or sell without its permission (Revelation 13:17). In the almost two thousand years since John wrote the Book of Revelation, such a government was impossible. In fact, in John's time, people had no concept of the world outside of the Roman Empire. But today? Today, not only is such a government possible, it may prove inevitable. No other generation of Christians could say this. Ours is the first to live in a world where global government is possible. It's just one more sign Jesus is about to return. Daily Jot: The reelection announcement deception - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com Did you know that President Donald Trump announced his bid for reelection last night before a jam-packed audience in Orlando, Florida? Unless you are "plugged in" to the political scene, you may have missed it. While the news media has been covering almost every minute detail of hateful, falsified, hypocritical and stupid comments and policies of the some 20 candidates for the Democratic Party presidential nomination, there is not much coverage of Trump's announcement. It was difficult to even find the text of his speech. What coverage there was used excerpts of his speech to characterize what he said in a negative light. For example, the Washington Post said his speech was a list of grievances. Salvador Rizzo of the Washington Post said Trump's speech was "littered with the same false or misleading claims he has so often repeated as president. Phony numbers on trade. Unfounded claims about immigrants. False statements about special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's investigation. Fishy economic statistics and wild exaggerations about his presidential accomplishments." Of course, Rizzo listed some of the 10,000 "false or misleading claims" that the Post has assembled and he says that the President repeated in his reelection speech. Things like calling the Russia investigation a "witch hunt" and that the Democrats colluded by paying for a false dossier, which they used as the basis to spy on him. Then Rizzo defended the Democrats use of the dossier, the intelligence community and the Mueller Special Counsel investigation to try to nail Trump, saying that "he has little evidence to make his case." The Washington Post, Bloomberg, CNN, etc., seemed determined to use the speech as an opportunity to characterize Trump negatively. It was so obvious that The Hill reported: "One major departure from the 2016 campaign launch: Cable news networks did not air much of the president's Tuesday night speech. Although Fox News carried the entire event live, CNN only aired six minutes of his remarks and MSNBC did not carry any of it." Despite the media wanting to brand Trump a liar, there were some very poignant truths in Trump's words. Trump said, for example, "We went through the greatest witch hunt in political history...It was all an illegal attempt to overturn the election, spy on our campaign which is what they did to subvert our democracy." He also said, "This election is a verdict on whether we want to live in a country where the people who lose an election, refuse to concede and spend the next two years trying to shred our Constitution and rip your country apart." He rightly said that his opponents are a radical, unholy alliance. But the news media doesn't want to address that charge because they are part of it, and they agree with the radicalism. Thus, they twist every word of Trump's speech. As 2 Timothy 3:13 says, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived." This entire election season will be one of deception. Seek the truth. Daily Devotion: The Junk Food of Life - by Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. - 1 Corinthians 10:23 Have you ever filled up on appetizers? Maybe you've had a meal waiting for you, but then you started snacking. Suddenly you realize you've lost your appetite. I do this all the time. My wife will be cooking, and I'll start swiping a few bites of food. Before I know it, I'm eating my way around the kitchen. When she finally serves her wonderful, home-cooked meal, I'm not hungry anymore because I've filled up on other things while I was snacking. We can snack on the junk food of life, as it were, and dull our spiritual appetites. They may not be bad things necessarily, but they can diminish our hunger for the Word of God. It is not a sin to watch television, but it is a sin to watch some things on television. I will admit to you that after I have watched television for a while, I feel sort of brain-dead. Do I then have a desire to go read the Bible? No. I have diminished my spiritual appetite. There are things we can do that keep the edge off our hunger for the things of God. For example, when I listen to praise music, it builds me up spiritually. It encourages me and even stimulates my appetite for spiritual things. The Bible says, "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify" (1 Corinthians 10:23). Or, as the J. B. Phillips New Testament says, "As I have said before, the Christian position is this: I may do anything, but everything is not useful. Yes, I may do anything but everything is not constructive." We want to look for the things that will increase our spiritual appetites, not for the things that will diminish them. 
FROM THE HEART
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