EXPECTING THE LORDS RETURN

Greg Laurie - Tuesday, July 31, 2018 Watching and Waiting The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. —2 Peter 3:9 I’ve been a pastor for more than forty years now. When I first started out, I preached on the soon return of Jesus. I even designed a bumper sticker with my cartoon character Ben Born Again, with a caption that read, “Jesus is coming!” We printed it. And then we reprinted it. I don’t regret doing any of that. Just because it was forty years ago doesn’t mean that I was wrong.  We’re now forty years closer to the return of Christ than we were back then. And I’m still excited about it.  I think we should live every day as though it were the day that Jesus Christ is coming back because one day it will be the day. In fact, a lot of people ought to be glad that God didn’t answer our prayers in 1970, because they weren’t Christians back then. The Bible tells us,  “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9 NLT). When you believe that Jesus could come back at any moment, it has a spiritually purifying effect on you. We are told in 1 John,  “And all who have this eager expectation [the expectation of the Lord’s soon return] will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure” (3:3 NLT). So how are we to live as we await His return? We are to live godly, uncompromising lives for His glory.  We should live every day as though it were our last day because it could be.  What is your attitude toward the Lord’s return? The person who is right with God will say, as the apostle John did, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Share this today: Why thinking about Christ's return should be part of our daily lives.

SOMETHING IS DREADFULLY WRONG

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JUL 31, 2018 Something is dreadfully wrong Dear Friend,  As Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh continues to meet with senators in advance of the confirmation hearings, he’s already been written off by most liberals.  Tellingly, Senator Charles Schumer said, “This is one of the most important positions in the world.” If it is such an important position, shouldn’t they at least meet with Justice Kavanaugh? But the fact is, our founders never intended for a justice of the Supreme Court to have “one of the most important positions in the world.” Yet in recent decades, the Left has been using the power of the judiciary to circumvent the democratic process.  In that sense, the Left has made nine justices of the Supreme Court some of the most powerful people in the world.  Judges who issue edicts that tell us whether or not the natural rights guaranteed to us in the Constitution are still intact—even finding new “rights” that no one else saw for 200 years. Judges do not have the authority to make the Constitution mean whatever they want it to mean.  Unfortunately, too many Americans believe that the government will do what it will do and there’s nothing that “we the people” can do about it.  But that’s simply not true.  That is why we have developed another in our Truth in Action Q&A booklets.  What Is Judicial Tyranny? focuses on what happens when judges rewrite the Constitution and what we can do to bring change.  We will send you a three-pack of this timely booklet as our thank you for your generous donation to help us continue the work of this ministry.  I hope you’ll read it, and share the extra copies with those in your sphere of influence. People need to know about the danger of an activist Supreme Court. If you are able to give a gift of $40 or more, we will include the outstanding book, The Founders Key: The Divine and Natural Connection Between the Declaration and the Constitution, and What We Risk by Losing It.  Dr. Larry Arnn, president of Hillsdale College, presents a timely and well-documented look at the two pillars upon which our liberties and rights stand as Americans—why they are under attack and how we can restore our political faith and revive our free institutions.  This is a tremendous read leading up to Judge Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings. Please know that as you give to this ministry, you help us proclaim the truths of God’s Word and present the Biblical worldview that can truly transform our nation and our world. Thank you! Sincerely, Frank Wright, Ph.D. President and CEO D. James Kennedy Ministries

HELP US FIGHT BACK AGAINST GOOGLE-FACEBOOK MACHINE

Help us fight back against Google-Facebook machine

WND is ‘canary in coalmine’ as pioneer of independent U.S. online media

By Joseph Farah You’ve been reading the headlines about the war Google, Facebook and the rest of the Internet Cartel have been waging against conservatives, Christians and independent media like WND. Of course, I have been telling you about this since January of this year – candidly, openly, no holds barred, no sugar-coating. We’ve seen our revenues plunge from $10 million in 2016, to $6 million in 2017 to what is expected to be about $4 million in 2018, if we’re lucky.  This is a direct result of years of discrimination, bias, hatred, mischaracterizations, skewed algorithms designed to favor leftist, anti-God media and worldviews, which all of these corporations share.  (If you doubt what I’m saying, consider that Google, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Amazon all share a common denominator – they all proudly proclaim their formal association with the radical, extremist, left-wing smear merchants at the Southern Poverty Law Center to help them determine what represents bona fide hate-speech content.) The war on independent media was only whispered about until the election of Donald Trump in 2016. Since then, unable to take down the president, these insidious and powerful communications gatekeepers have gone after those they at least partially blame for his victory. WND has been smack-dab in the crosshairs and the pain we have been experiencing cannot be overstated. The good news is that we have an exciting and promising plan to take the fight directly to these monopolistic corporate titans. We have a good strategy not only for recovery from two years of misery and suffering, but for a rebirth, a resurrection, a future bigger, stronger and more effective than ever. But we desperately need your financial support and your prayers right now. WND is the canary in the coalmine – the first independent online news organization.  They are out to kill us, then the rest of our colleagues. It’s just that simple. Think about the stakes: If independent media are gone in another year or two, there will be no one left to expose the horrors and injustices that everyone – every individual American citizen – will face under their new speech rules.  There may never be another free and fair election in which the American people will hear another point of view. WND has been forced to make radical expense cuts just to survive over the last year.  Yet we continue to be mercilessly squeezed financially by the Internet Cartel, which controls 75 percent of the digital advertising market, the dominant search engine in the world (Google), the largest TV network (YouTube), a growing monopoly in online retail (Amazon) and which together comprises a totalitarian-like censorship machine unprecedented in world history.  Without exaggeration or hyperbole, what they are building is a global Big Brother-like environment in which freedom of speech, the free press and freedom of religion will be only a quaint memory. And don’t think the voices of dissent and liberty at Fox News are safe. Last week, Facebook execs in Beverly Hills were faced with catcalls from so-called journalists urging them to censor the largest cable TV new network in the country, too. Fox News may not face an imminent threat to be muzzled by the Internet Cartel, but if WND and other independent media voices are extinguished, the day of reckoning will come even for the highly profitable No. 1 cable network. Why?  What do the Internet Cartel and the radical left “progressives” have to gain?  What are their motivations?  What is the endgame? You’ve heard about speech codes on major American university campuses where students are protected from “offensive” ideas that might challenge them.  Those who stand up for God, righteousness, basic morality, liberty, family, free enterprise, smaller government, borders, national sovereignty, the Constitution and the will of the people are called “haters,” “Nazis,” “fascists,” “racists” and worse.  It’s scary enough to think about the next generation of Americans being indoctrinated like that.  But those are the very same “values,” the very same mindset, the very same worldview at work in the boardrooms of the most powerful corporations controlling communications in America today.  They talk about “tolerance,” but they have no tolerance for those with whom they disagree.  They talk about “diversity,” but not when it comes to diversity of thought.  They denounce “hate,” while actually embracing it against all opposition and political dissent. Make no mistake about it: The Internet Cartel represents one of the most powerful and influential communications forces ever devised in the history of the world.  It’s like the recreation of the Tower of Babel, only more pervasive, more organized and more evil in its intentions. It needs to be knocked off its privileged pedestal from which it sets its warped rules for debate, dialogue and news dissemination. How? The highest priority is triage. WND desperately needs your help in the form of fervent prayer and urgent financial contributions to stabilize its position as the pioneer in independent news gathering. We’re in the midst of an existential battle for survival right now – just as other independent media are, with all of us facing seemingly insurmountable odds on the rigged playing field the Internet Cartel has created. Good people, dedicated media professionals, are suffering with pay cuts and late salary payments. Help us survive to keep up the fight! We need to raise a minimum of $100,000 in August to make ends meet. You can also support WND’s groundbreaking new book, “The Gospel in Every Book of the Old Testament,” with your tax-deductible contributions in any amount to the fabulous missions organization, Gospel for All Nations, which has adopted the project to help spread the truth of the Good News around the world.  This book, coming out in hardcover in September, is an important part of WND’s recovery, rebirth and revitalization plan for later this year. Your help with book-printing and marketing expenses will help get us through the trials of 2018. Please help us TODAY! Pray for WND! Join us as partners. Support us with your contributions that help offset the war on our revenue streams. Your help is urgently needed.

Call Toll-Free to Order: If you prefer to order by phone, you can call our friendly, Midwestern customer service reps toll-free at 1-800-4WND-COM (1-800-496-3266), Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm Central.

CARHART HIRES THIRD COMPANY TO DISPOSE OF ABORTED BABIES AFTER TWO OTHERS QUIT

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Building an Abortion-Free America

Carhart Hires Third Company to Dispose of Aborted Babies After Two Others Quit

Bethesda, MD – A new medical waste company has been hired by AbortionClinics.org (ACO), a late-term abortion facility located in Bethesda, Maryland, after two other companies cancelled contracts to pick up aborted baby remains there last month. The new company, Bio-Haz Solutions, Inc., based in Nesquehoning, Pennsylvania, was first seen at ACO in early July making a pick-up of four large and apparently very heavy boxes. ACO, which is owned and operated by the notorious late-term abortionist LeRoy Carhart of Nebraska, is one of a handful of abortion facilities in the U.S. that openly abort babies through all nine months of pregnancy. Continue reading for information and links you can use to make your voice heard!

________________________________ ORDER SULLENGER'S BOOK, THE TRIAL OF KERMIT GOSNELL  This new book by Cheryl Sullenger reveals the truth about the Gosnell trial and the frightening fact that Gosnell is not alone! Contains information you'll find no where else. Order now at Amazon.com. ______________________________ ORDER NEWMAN & SULLENGER'S BOOK, ABORTION FREE Abortion Free by Troy Newman and Cheryl Sullenger, explains step by step how to make your community abortion free! It is available for order at Amazon.com.  ________________________________ About Operation Rescue® Operation Rescue is one of the leading pro-life Christian activist organizations in the nation and has become a strong voice for the pro-life movement in America. Operation Rescue is now headquartered in a former abortion clinic that it bought and closed in 2006. From there, Operation Rescue launches its innovative new strategies across the nation, exposing and closing abortion clinics through peaceful, legal means. Its activities are on the cutting edge of the abortion issue, taking direct action to stop abortion and ultimately restore legal personhood to the pre-born in obedience to biblical mandates. Click here to support Operation Rescue.   Click here to make a secure donation online. ________________________________ DONATE!

OPERATION RESCUE P.O. BOX 782888, WICHITA, KS 67278 www.OperationRescue.org

MISUNDERSTANDING AS PERSECUTION

Misunderstanding as Persecution 

Susan Barnes

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for their is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:10

Generally, we think of persecution as being physical abuse or torture, yet persecution comes in other ways. Mary, Jesus' mother, endured a lot of persecution that has gone unnoticed. Mary was found to be pregnant before she was married. 

The penalty for this behaviour under Jewish law was stoning (Deuteronomy 22:23-24). How could Mary explain that she was a virgin, yet pregnant? While the possibility of being stoned was unlikely because of the Roman occupation, it wasn’t entirely out of the question (see John 8:3-5). 

More pressing though, was that Mary was in danger of being publicly disgraced. God saved her from this when he sent Joseph an angel to tell him to marry her. Nevertheless, it’s likely that Mary had to endure snide remarks, being avoided by friends, and overlooked for social invitations.

Years later when she and Joseph returned to Nazareth, people had not forgotten. Many knew of Mary’s marriage and Jesus’ birth, less than nine months later. The taunts of the crowd in calling Jesus, "Mary's son," also suggests that the people there had not forgotten (Mark 6:3).

Yet, Mary had committed herself to God. Her words to the angel had been, "I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as you have said"(Luke 1:38). She endured much misunderstanding because she chose to be obedient.

If we want God's blessing in our lives, we need to press on in times of persecution, even when it comes to us in terms of misunderstanding.

Susan, an Australian pastor's wife, regularly writes devotional thoughts on Bible passages, book reviews and inspirational articles. Contact

REIGNING WITH CHRIST

Reigning with Him

The Book of Revelation

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Week 31, 2018

Rick Joyner

        This week we continue with Revelation 20:4:

       Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

         Those who are faithful to serve the Lord in this life, and those who paid the price of martyrdom, will rule with Him over the earth in the millennium. This is a great honor, but it is also a duty. Our reigning with Him is not just so that we are honored, but it is for the restoration of the earth to the paradise that it was originally created to be, as we see in Isaiah 11 and other places. So how do we reign?

         The teaching of the Lord on this is clear in some areas. He said that His twelve apostles would reign over the twelve tribes of Israel. He taught in His parables about how those faithful with what He entrusted to them would be given a number of cities to reign over in His kingdom that correspond to their ability. 

This points to this life being “training for reigning” in the age to come.

         When I first considered that our reward for obedience in this life would be ruling over cities in the next, I confess to not being very happy about it. Having sat through city and county council meetings, I could not think of a more boring job. However, the way we see cities and the way God sees them can be very different. We tend to see the buildings, roads, and subways, but God sees the people. City planning of such things as buildings and roads are necessary to serve the people, but the building of cities in the millennium will be more about building people than things.

The fellowship that God created people to have with Him, and then with one another, is the most satisfying, fulfilling experience we can have. 

The Greek word for this fellowship is koinonia. This is a bonding so strong that it is like the bonding of the members of our body to the rest of the body. It is because of this bonding that the blood, which is the life, can flow to all parts. This is why we are told in I John 1:7,  

  

If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship(koinonia) with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

         The blood does cleanse the body by carrying any impurities or toxins from its parts. It also brings the food and nutrients to every part of the body. Similarly, it is our connections with other members of His body through which His blood flows through to do the same for us. 

This kind of deep connection with members of His body is one of the fulfilling and satisfying experiences we can have on this earth, second only to our fellowship with the Lord Himself. Having this is one way that we are bringing the kingdom to this earth and preparing the earth for the kingdom.

         The first prophecies I received as a new believer were a marvel beyond anything I had ever experienced. I knew that the people giving them could not have known the things about me that they were addressing—I was hearing straight from God through them. 

I soared on that experience for days, and considered it the greatest experience I had ever had until I was used to speak to others in the same way. That was even better, so wonderful that my main ambition became to be used by God to speak to His people.

Why was this so wonderful? 

I saw people changed. I saw their lives impacted for good. I’m sure that it would be a very satisfying thing to design a great building and then to see it built, but I don’t think it can compare to building people, to see people change and become what they were designed by God to be. One person is worth more than many buildings. People may dwell in buildings, but God dwells in people. 

When we help to build people, we are building God’s dwelling place.

This is a main reason for the church—it is the place where we learn to edify, meaning “to build,” one another.

So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another (Romans 14:19).

          For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

       According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it (I Corinthians 3:9-10).

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household,

having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,

in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,

in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit (Ephesians 2:19-22).

A Personal Note from Rick

Finding and fulfilling your purpose in Christ is the greatest adventure you can have in this life. MorningStar University exists for the purpose of helping His disciples find and prepare for that purpose. Having been called a movement of "thinking prophets," MSU is designed to equip high-impact Christians in every major sphere of influence.  

MorningStar University is accredited through AICCS and offers a Certificate, Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, and a Master’s Degree in Leadership. MSU is based at our headquarters near Charlotte, North Carolina. Tuition is affordable and housing is available. Click Here for more information about MSU or call 803-547-8494.