Posted on in End-Times & Eternity

War in the Womb (Part 1)

Exposing Satan’s End-Time Plot

The bloodiest battle in all of human history did not take place on a field, but it has and still is being fought inside wombs all around the world. Since Roe V. Wade in 1973 (Supreme Court case that legalized abortion), there have been over fifty-six million abortions in the U.S. alone (over one billion worldwide since 1980). This decree of death that has been over our land has not only claimed the lives of innocent children, but it has also left countless women emotionally wounded, empty and scarred. While many have wasted their energy wrongfully approaching the horror of abortion as a political issue, Satan has been smirking beneath the small and shallow graves of an entire generation. In our fight against this injustice, we (the Church) must recognize the deeper reality at hand and why it is that the womb has become such a war zone in our day.

At the time of greatest threat, the enemy doesn’t focus his attack on those who are already matured, but he has a track record of targeting infants because he understands the potential of any given life. From the very beginning of time, God clearly prophesied that the Seed (Christ) of the woman (Israel) would one day crush the head of the serpent (Satan; Gen. 3:15), which was accomplished through the cross, but now He is waiting for us to “cash the check” He wrote in the garden and signed on the cross as we work with Him to crush Satan under our feet (The Church).

And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. (Rom. 16:20)

There are three clear “transitional generations” spoken of in the Bible that we should pay firm attention to:

  1. The Generation of Moses
  2. The Generation of Jesus’ First Coming
  3. The Generation of Jesus’ Second Coming

Each of these generations mark a transition between how God relates to man, and they have all been prophesied about in Scripture. Now if we simply look at history, we can see that every time the people of God were about to transition into a new phase of His redemptive plan, Satan has been known to assault the womb (Ex. 1:16, 22; Matt. 2:16; Roe V Wade). This is because he knows prophecy better than we do.

Generation of Moses Foretold:

Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. Then He [God] said to Abram, “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. And also the nation whom they serve I will judge, afterward they shall come out with great possessions.” (Gen. 15:13)

Satan’s Assault:

Look the children of Israel are more mightier than we…Every son who is born you shall cast into the river. (Ex. 1:9,22)

Generation of Jesus’ First Coming Foretold:

Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us.” (Isa. 7:14; Matt. 1:23)

I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. (Gen. 3:15)

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled…and when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. (Matt. 2:3-4)

But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel. (Micah 5:2; Matt. 2:6)

Satan’s Assault:

Then Herod…put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. (Matt. 2:16)

Generation of Jesus’ Second Coming Foretold:

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of birth pains. (Matt. 24:7-8)

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. (Matt. 24:14)

And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams…(Joel. 2:28-32; Acts 2:17)

…the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that then may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. (Isa. 61:2-3)

The LORD goes out like a mighty man, like a man of war he stirs up his zeal; he cries out, he shouts aloud, he shows himself mighty against his foes. For a long time I have held my peace; I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor; I will gasp and pant….And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know…(Isa. 42:13-16)

But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above…(Dan. 12:1-3)

Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives to the death. (Rev. 12:10-11)

Satan’s Assault:

Although the murder of infants has tainted human history for ages, it is now being boldly decreed by governments and tolerated by society more (especially in our nation) than ever before.

It is now the year 2013, forty years since the legalization of abortion in the United States. If you are reading this article, you should know that you have been given a precious gift called life, and as we approach the end of the age, you must ask the question, “Why me?” I believe we are stepping into the final and most crucial phase of God’s redemptive plan, in which God is looking to bring forth deliverers out of the womb of the Church who will lead His people through the wilderness of these final days, and partner with Him in the restoration of all things (Acts 4:21; Eph. 1:10; Mal. 4:5-6). Unfortunately, the enemy recognizes this more than we do; therefore, he is the only one taking appropriate action.

God Has A Plan

And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ – everything in heaven and on earth. (Eph. 1:10, NLT)

In Exodus chapter one, we see that despite heavy bondage and persecution, “the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them” (Ex. 1:7). Because they were a threat to the kingdom of this new king, he set “taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens…But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel” (Ex. 1:8-12). Similarly, as the Holy Spirit was being poured out and moving through the early church with the “Lord [adding] to the church daily those who were being saved,” the enemy sought to destroy them with relentless persecution only to watch them multiply and grow stronger than ever. As the days get darker, Scripture tells us clearly that God’s people will still shine brighter through the blackest hours of human history (Isa. 60:1-3). It is absolutely vital that we recognize and expose the why behind Satan’s end-time plot, so that we can march forward with confidence into our God ordained destiny. Hear me weary one; do you realize your potential? Do you understand that before you were formed in the womb of your mother, God knew you and set you apart for a reason that will resound throughout eternity? This thing is so much bigger than you, yet the Lord is inviting you to bring real impact to your generation. In Christ, YOU are part of God’s plan to crush the enemy. You are truly alive for such a time as this.

“Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord. (Jer. 1:7-8)

And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:33)

Why did the nations rage, and the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the LORD and against His Christ. (Ps. 2:1-2; Acts 4:25-26)

 

 

Posted on in Kingdom Life

Come Inside

When reading Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15, I don’t know who to feel worse for: the younger son who wasted his inheritance or the older son who never even recognized his inheritance.

It pains me to see so many believers who have grown up in the faith live as spiritual orphans and beggars because they never step into the fullness of their relationship with God. They relate to Him (if they even relate to Him at all) as a casual outsider rather than a royal son or daughter, and most of the time they are bored, bitter and frustrated with where they are in life. It’s like being given a billion dollar check that we never cash because we don’t know that we actually have it. Tragic, I know.

Although this story has been called the “The Parable of the Prodigal Son,” I believe it is really about a father who had lost his “two” sons. Jesus painted a picture of a coldhearted sinner who comes to repentance when he realizes what he forfeited when he left his father’s house (Lk. 15:17), and a lukewarm believer who is so wrapped up in dead religion that he doesn’t even see what has already been given to him. Many of us miss the fact that the father not only responded to son who ran away and returned, but also the son who was always there but never came inside.

Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. (Lk. 15:28)

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Rev. 3:20)

The older son would say, “Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat that I might make merry with my friends” (Lk. 15:29).

In essence he was saying to his father, “I’ve been a good church kid all my life, but still you never gave me what I wanted!” His service to his father was motivated only by obligation and outward recognition. Oh how wretched we are to ignore so great a gift like God’s grace, being blinded by our pride and selfishness! Like much of the religious crowd in that day, this older son was so concerned with the wrong things that he lost sight of right things.

Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. (Lk. 15:31)

Our Father has made these things freely available to all who will come to Him:

The Best Robe (v. 22):

He has provided us with a righteousness that can never be improved upon. He offers the best robe to all who are willing to take off (repent) their own righteousness which is as filthy rags and put on His. We now stand before Him justified (“just-as-if-we’ve-never-sinned”).

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new (2 Cor. 5:17).

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2. Cor. 5:21).

The Ring (v. 22):

He gives us His own signet ring which represents our authority and adoption as royal heirs of His kingdom. As ambassadors, we have authority to use His name, to heal the sick, cast out demons, and walk in victory over sin. We now have legal access to step behind the veil and into His presence.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children then heirs (Rom. 8:14-17)

The Sandals (v. 22):

He gives us new destiny and purpose in Him. While we used to be His enemies rightfully on our way to hell, we are now given hope for an eternal future with Him. He wants to wash our feet (which can also represent our past) and invite us to partner with Him to bring this good news to all who will hear it!

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation…(Isa. 52:7; Rom 10:15)

Having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace…(Eph. 6:15)

The Fatted Calf (v. 23):

He invites all who are willing to the great wedding supper of the Lamb to celebrate His victory on the cross and our new life with Him, providing us with lasting satisfaction and joy that doesn’t fade away.

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready….Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb! (Rev. 19:7,9)

In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Ps. 16:11)

They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. (Ps. 36:8)

We were once dead, and now alive again. We were once lost, but now we are found (Lk. 15:32).

Christ’s incarnation into humanity, life on the earth, death on the cross, resurrection from the grave and ascension up to heaven provided us so much more than just a way OUT of hell, but a way INTO an eternally rich and satisfying relationship with God (Jn. 17:3; Heb. 10:19-23).

Hear Him pleading with you today, “Come Inside!”

 

Posted on in Forerunners, Kingdom Ministry

The Midnight Cry

And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ (Matt. 25:6)

As we approach the darkest hour of human history, God is preparing a people whose light will shine brighter than the world around them (Isa. 60:1-2). Remember the plague of darkness released in Egypt that was so dark it could be felt (Ex. 10:21), yet still “all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings” (Ex. 10:23). In the same way, I believe the Lord will have a remnant of wise virgins who have paid the price of preparation to keep that light burning in their dwelling. But how will He ready a people for that hour to avoid burn out, resist complacency, endure persecution, and remain un-offended despite our flesh being weak? He will surely do this by placing a powerful message in the hearts of His loyal friends young and old, who will faithfully trumpet it with their mouths and lives, inspiring His bride to make herself ready. These ones, bought by grace, who have obtained a deep reality with God through a costly lifestyle of devotion will be the ones He uses to cry out in the midnight hour, “Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!”

At midnight a cry was heard: Jesus uses the word “midnight” in this parable to emphasize two things about the end-time hour: 1) It will be spiritually dark and 2) many will be spiritually asleep (Matt. 25:5). Still, there will be a cry (or message) that He puts in the mouths of the watchful and the wise that will be heralded throughout the land. It will come from the voice of a prepared people crying in the wilderness (Isa. 40:3). Isaiah 40 is the great forerunner chapter out of which John the Baptist discovered his own identity (Isa. 40:3; Jn. 1:23). It is a message of comfort (v. 1) for a time of great trouble when “even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall” (v. 30). Jesus also said in that context, “men’s hearts failing them from fear and expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken” (Lk. 21:26). So what will that midnight cry be? What is the message that the shepherds and watchmen must proclaim in this hour?

The voice said, “Cry out!” And he said, “What shall I cry?” (Isa. 40:6)

You who bring good tidings (messengers of the gospel), get up to a high mountain (place of influence or authority)…lift up your voice with strength (do not quit or grow weary), lift it up, be not afraid (be bold; do not yield to persecution); say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!’ (Isa. 40:9)

Behold: This is the cry of a forerunner, to turn the attention of humanity to God in the hour of shaking. Our cry must always begin with, “Look at Him!” It’s a call for people to slow down, drop what they are doing and consider who He is, what He’s like, what He did, and what He is going to do. King David kept his heart alive despite his political responsibilities and difficult circumstances by making it his preoccupation to behold the beauty of the Lord (Ps. 27:4). The fuel for serving God is revelation of God, and the Church in this hour NEEDS revelation of God. Our hands are busy, but our hearts are empty. Jesus prayed that we would be with Him where He is, so that we could behold Him in His glory (Jn. 17:24). John was able to recognize Jesus saying, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” because he had been living a lifestyle of beholding Him (John 1:29).

The bridegroom is coming: The cry must emphasize Jesus as the Bridegroom God. The problem is, we must first know Him as the Bridegroom for ourselves before we can proclaim Him as one. John the Baptist also had this revelation, which is why he would say, “He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice” (Jn. 3:29). The Apostle Paul deeply understood this as well (2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:25-27). Understanding God as a Bridegroom causes us to see and relate to people differently (specifically people we might influence in ministry). They are no longer mere potential followers or members of our ministry who could help shine our lamp (make our ministry look good), but they are the very Bride of Christ whom He has entrusted into our care. How dare the friends of the bridegroom sleep with His bride to be while He is “delayed” (Matt. 25:5)!

The Parable of the Virgins was given in context to the end times (Matt. 24). In this midnight hour, God is revealing Himself more and more as a Bridegroom who is jealous for His bride. It critical that we grow in this revelation because we will need this paradigm to make sense of God’s coming judgments. When know Him as a Bridegroom, His judgments actually become righteous acts of love and mercy as He seeks to remove everything that stands between Him and His beloved bride. It is our privilege and responsibility as trumpeters of the gospel to proclaim more than the first coming of Jesus (He died for our sins) but also the second coming (He will return for His bride).

Go out to meet Him: We must prepare people to be ready in that hour to actively respond to God’s coming. Many mistake the sovereignty of God as a license to do nothing. This is un-biblical, irresponsible, presumptuous, and we will be held accountable for our indifference and silence. Proclaiming a gospel that gives people confidence to fold their arms in apathy as they wait for the rapture, being completely disengaged from God’s end-time plan, is just as bad as proclaiming a gospel that gives people confidence to live in sin. It is dangerous (especially as a preacher) to ignore the Bible’s clear emphasis of the end-times (150 chapters) in fear of causing division or having lack of clarity. Now is the time to gain intimate understanding of Christ’s leadership and purposes for the days ahead. We must truly know the end of the story better than ever. Now is the time to buy oil (deepen our relationship with God by His Spirit) though the price is on the rise (time is ticking), for only those with fresh oil in their trimmed lamps will be useful to God in that day. Notice in the parable that “ALL those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps” (Matt. 25:7). Everyone knows they have to trim their lamp (cut off the bad, repent, receive forgiveness, leave behind possessions, etc.) when He comes, but few want pay the price for fuel beforehand. Like any relationship, our relationship with God requires a sacrifice of time, money and energy, but in light of the outcome, it could hardly be called sacrifice (i.e. what father regrets spending time, money and energy with his kids?). Knowing this, we must prepare others, while we prepare ourselves, to “Go out to meet Him.”

In context to this midnight hour, Jesus repeatedly exhorted His disciples to “Watch” (Matt. 24:42; 25:13). Paul said, “Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober” (1 Thess. 5:6). Isaiah said it another way, “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isa. 40:31). A cry from God’s faithful witnesses is already arising today as the clock ticks toward midnight, bringing light and removing confusion. They will help make sense of God’s judgment. They will bring supernatural conviction. I urge you proclaimers, as a mouthpiece of God, do not hold your peace, and do not rest “until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns” (Isa. 61:1). In the thickest night, when everyone else is asleep and silent, cry out.