A NEW YEAR MESSAGE
(PSALM 5)
1Give ear to my words, O LORD, Consider my groaning. 2Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, For to You I pray. 3In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.
4For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with You. 5The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do iniquity. 6You destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit. 7But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house, At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.
8O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; Make Your way straight before me. 9There is nothing reliable in what they say; Their inward part is destruction itself Their throat is an open grave; They flatter with their tongue. 10Hold them guilty, O God; By their own devices let them fall! In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out, For they are rebellious against You.
11But let all who take refuge in You be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And may You shelter them, That those who love Your name may exult in You. 12For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with a shield.
I use to pray through the Psalms because of three basic reasons. First, they helped me focus or at times refocus my priorities and thoughts. Second, they often brought me to a place of repentance in my life allowing me to see the wickedness which can prevail so strongly in me. And third they bring reality back home as to what I am facing and what others faced in the past and how they viewed their moment of plight or praise. There are several dangers to doing this. It will bring conviction, change your mind about the way you should pray, and above everything give new attention to the way you approach the throne of God. The greatest danger, though, exists with the fact that some of the Psalms are meant for Messiah and we in no way can claim those as our prayers or thoughts. They are meant for Jesus Christ alone.
Recently over the Christmas break I took some time off. Many of you have noted that after several months of being very active I suddenly become very quiet. There are three reasons for this: 1) I was working on finals and papers for my classes. So always mark the end of a semester as a time of me getting very quiet and a time when you won’t be harassed by my constant yakking about something going on in the culture. 2) I have been spending time with family which so desperately needed my attention, especially Mary’s family down in Houston. The last time they were up to visit I basically ignored them because I had exams and papers due. 3) Mary and I are feverishly transforming the study into the baby’s room. It’s been a wild time. In fact we had worked so hard yesterday (New Years Eve) that we didn’t even make it to the New Years Celebration at Ferguson Road Baptist Church.
During this time I have re-immersed myself in praying through the Psalms. That’s when I prayed through Psalm 5. There is one thing in particular which caught my eye, the end of verse 3, “…I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.” I understand the background to the Psalm. This is during a time when David is running from his son Absalom who wants to takeover the kingdom. It is an interesting Psalm because it goes with Psalms 3 and 4. However in Psalm 5 David considers God his King (verse 2) and does not pray for vengeance on the wicked who are following his son because of his throne. Rather he seeks God’s face for God’s righteousness to over take them for His kingdom’s sake, not David’s (verses 8, 10-12). Yet in amidst of all the horror which is going on David still writes, “…I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.”
The words “prayer” and “eagerly” are not actually in the Hebrew but are implied, therefore the translators have placed them there. Some say that the language is that of setting things up for a sacrifice. Whatever the case, what interests me the most is that David would pray and then with eagerness or with great zeal or with anticipation wait to see God work in the situation and glorify Himself through what is going on. The Jerusalem Bible says, “I hold myself in readiness for you.” Wow! What a thought, to hold oneself in such sacrificial anticipation, not just believing, but knowing that God is about to answer their prayer.
As we have exited 2009 and it’s challenges as well as it’s blessings we now face 2010. Like 2009, 2010 will hold challenges and blessings as well. For me personally it will include the arrival of James Ryan my first born son who is due to be born sometime in April. The challenge here is to make sure both mommy and baby are taken care of properly before and after birth. Also, if everything works correctly I should have graduated with the BA/BS degree in Christian Ministry from Dallas Baptist University by December of this year. The challenge will be money, time, and pressure in terms of what needs to be done to get there. For Ferguson Road Baptist, the blessing will be the fact that we ended the year in an upswing in every area: Sunday School attendance, ministry, personal service, worship service, evangelism, and financially. The challenge will be to keep the upswing going, which can only happen with prayer and involvement. Ministry wise Be Devoted Ministries will look at several ways of expanding its efforts with Ferguson Road Baptist and use this learning curb to help other churches which may ask for that help. It will also be a year in which I hope to preach and minister in different places while expanding Be Devoted Ministries place as a Para church organization. For families we all will continue to deal with the turmoil of the economic situation and for many it will be the constant struggle of finding work. As a nation we face some steep challenges in regards to our freedoms and way of life. I think the first and strongest challenge in the health care bill which at this time the Senate and House is attempting to negotiate. With clearly eighty-two percent (82%) of the population against what has been proposed, the Congress has abandoned its Constitutional responsibilities by not listening to the majority of the populace. The abortion issue will continue to be the front and center of this nation’s pain as it has been over the last 39 years. (See my previous blog for more information). Socialism beckons at our door and only prayer and persistence will keep it out! We will also continue to be haunted by the wars in the Middle East in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are other challenges internationally which we as a nation face: continued terrorism, other nations attempting to force us into treaties and alliances which will not profit us as a nation, rogue nations developing nuclear weapons, the continued threat of a new Russia rising on the landscape, nations around us moving toward socialism and the financial burden to pay Communist China off for all of the stimulus money they loaned us.
Because of the challenges which lay ahead I am sure that many of us prayed in the New Year. More than likely we prayed that God will continue to help us with our health, that we would either be able to keep our jobs or find one. We prayed for our children's safety, for the safety and soon return of our troops from the war. More than likely we prayed for our churches, some missionaries, and for revival. As an after thought we almost certainly prayed for our nation and courts, with some reference for the President of the United States. All of this is pretty common in terms of prayers, but how many of us prayed about specifics? Did we pray naming names and really call out to the God of Heaven to reveal Himself through His people so that the world might come to know Jesus Christ as Savior? After all isn’t that the real issue which faces each and every individual on Earth no matter who they are? Were those moments of group prayers on this most sacred moment just one person who prayed then dismissed the crowd? Or did it last about thirty minutes in which generalized prayers where lifted up, then everyone went back to playing games or dismissed to go home? Did it include messages prepared from the word of God or did it include quiet moments of reading, refection, and a song with dismissal?
I propose that if any of the last three scenarios were true then the situation was neither Biblical nor spiritual. You would have been better off drinking at a bar and singing “Auld Lang Syne” with the drunks around you. We need to meet and agonize before God for His guidance and deliverance in our lives. We need to pray fervently confessing sin and seek God’s face for the salvation of lost souls. We need to pray from the bottom of our hearts for the missionaries by name and for the people they are attempting to reach. We need search out God’s heart for our communities and the people who live around us. We need to ask for God’s favor in terms of our government and pray whole heartedly for our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world who face trials and persecutions. We need to passionately call on God’s mercy for our families and people we work with or go to school with. This needs to be done every day not just at the beginning of the year. When we pray with this kind of agony, then we are ordering our prayers to God and eagerly watching what God is about to do in the situation. We will be holding ourselves in readiness for His use.
Feel free to share this with whoever you wish or contact me with any questions or thoughts.
God Bless and Happy New Year,
Steven Swaim
All Bible verses quoted are from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise noted.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Saturday, December 5, 2009
WHERE IS SAMUEL ADAMS WHEN YOU NEED HIM
For many the name Samuel Adams incurs one of three thoughts: a demagogue; an idiot; or a patriot. If you are thinking about someone who knew how to manipulate public opinion to move it in a desired direction, then Samuel Adams was a demagogue. In fact those who opposed him called him a demagogue. (A Leap In The Dark, John Ferling, Page 63) If you are thinking of someone who is a trouble maker and insolent, who didn’t know what they were doing, then if you opposed him you might call him an idiot. (Ferling, 63) If you think of someone who did what they did because it was right and they succeeded in using public opinion as a tool to do the right thing for the sake of individual, religious and national freedom then you might be in agreement with Thomas Jefferson who called Samuel Adams “truly the Man of the Revolution”. (Ibid) The thing is that Samuel Adams might be considered by many as the original patriot, the Revolutionary himself, the man who sparked the fire that moved the United States from thirteen separate colonies under Great Britain’s control to one nation which believed, at least until now, in the individuals freedom to do and live as they chose as long as it was in the best interest of the community itself; who believed in religious freedom where we are not held to the Puritan or Anglican way of worshipping; and who believed in a nation of freemen who acted upon conscience rather than the tyrannical hand of a centralized political machine that had no interests in what the people needed or wanted. Sound familiar? Well, anyone who has read about Samuel Adams knows that he was a man who was the thorn in the flesh for the British regarding their failed policies with the colonies from 1767 until 1776.
This brings us to our point of discussion. As many know the House of Representatives pushed through their massive one thousand page, 1 trillion dollar, “Health Care” package two weeks ago on November 7, 2009 (http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/07/health.care/). In fact it was so widely accepted in passed by a whopping 220 for, 215 against. While the passing of the measure itself may seem like a victory, the fact that it only passed by 5 votes (one of which was a republican who was the very last vote counted) should cause the Democrats and their Socialist friends to think twice. During the August recess the nation went on alert with millions showing up at “Tea Parties” and to Town Hall Meetings infuriated with the fact that the stimulus wasted trillions of dollars, Congress spent billions on the “Car Stimulus” and now wanted to take over one sixth of the economy through health care (http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/07/health.care.scuffles/index.html ). This is nothing short of socialism which many of my friends who I go to church with fought against in World War II. The whole health care debate is an attempt to reach into the lives of Americans and strip them of their freedom of choice. These are fascist dictators who care less about your health and more about their power. The less money you make, the less you are allowed to speak freely, the fewer options you are given, the less freedom you have. Anyone who reads any of the writings of Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche the German philosopher who along with Karl Marx inspired Adolph Hitler, or even read some of what Vladimir Ilyich Lenin who was at the head of the bloody “Red Revolution” in Russian and you will understand what is going on. I have read some of what these men wrote and their beliefs were that people could not think for themselves and government needed to do all of the thinking for them. In each situation war broke out and lives were taken as a result. Socialism leads to blood shed and this situation will be no different.
Look at how Hitler alone took power. First, he went to the churches who were in agreement with him, encouraged them to stop preaching the entire Bible because it was outdated and started having them preach his thoughts and ideas. I encourage everyone to research and study the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer who stood and sacrificed his life preaching against Nazism. By doing away with religion he could do away with the conscience of the community. After all according to Darwinism this would be necessary for the natural order of things to progress. (I encourage folks to see the movie “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” for further background). It must be understood that Nazism is the marriage of the belief in evolution and hierarchy dictatorship. Socialism/Marxism is in fact the belief in social evolution, where the state is the final product of that evolutionary process. Afterwards he seized control of the health care facilities so that he could cover up the next line of evolutionary and Hinduistic thinking…doing away with the inferior. First it was the mentally ill, then those who were dying, and then the elderly. This is called Euthanasia for those of you who have stopped thinking. The third step in the process which still fell under the guise of the taking over the health care system in Germany was to begin to massively abort children who belonged to those of the inferior races. The final step was to begin eradicating those inferior races (in this case the Jews) and all of those who stood in his way (like Dietrich Bonhoeffer). For those who are still not thinking this is called Genocide, the killing of one or more races simply because this is who they are.
We have long since been traveling down this road. Our ministers in the pulpits have stopped preaching the truth. Over the years I have had the opportunities to preach in pulpits in view of a call to pastor. Ultimately when they chose someone else over me it’s because I am, “Too bold and willing to speak to a situation from the Bible.” And to think these were Bible believing churches. But the problem does not just exist in our pulpits but in our hearts as well. Christians in America have been playing way too long with Jesus rather than praying to Jesus. We are more interested in feeling good rather than fighting for good. We allow our marriages to rot, live in adulterous situations (passing it off as personal fulfillment), allow the left leaning media (movies, music, and news) to tell us what to believe, and we are unfaithful regarding prayer, reading/understanding the Bible, and attending church. Why we can attend church online rather than commit to a local body of baptized believers who stand on the everlasting truths of Scripture while being empowered by Jesus Christ our bodily resurrected Lord. We are more concerned with not being offensive than to speak the truth in love regarding abortion, homosexuality, present divorce laws and so forth. To some degree it is our fault and we need to do what was told to the Ephesus Church in Revelation 2:5, “…remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place---unless you repent.” (NASB)
Second, there is the taking over of the health care system. As I have already noted this is one sixth (1/6) of the economy. To some degree this has already been occurred in the 1960’s with Medicare and Medicaid. We start out surrendering something in the name of taking care of something else. However, it opens us up to rationed care, which is the only way that the Socialist Democrats can pay for this overhaul which is being debated right now. It will also be a way of covering up nationalized euthanasia and eventually genocide, which is already happening on a limited basis. Allow me to explain. Planned Parenthood which was started in the 1950’s receiving federal funding from the government. In fact in some instances they receive state funding as well. (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/legislature/stories/032009dntexparenthood.3aaaae7.html ) They are also the number one provider of abortion in the world. (http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=115000 ) The creators of Planned Parenthood stated that blacks and other minorities needed to be focused on regarding abortion. (http://www.blackgenocide.org/planned.html ) So unwittingly or not our government is already involved in the genocide factor. The Senate version of the health care bill has a one dollar ($1.00) tax on it where each individual would pay out of their health tax (public option) for abortion. (http://gopleader.gov/Blog/ ) Now my taxes will be going directly to funding abortion. To quote Martin Luther in front of the Worms courts, “It is neither good nor safe to deny conscience.” Our federal government which should be upholding the Constitutional mandate of good conscience is now shredding it and throwing their responsibilities to the wind. Also in both the House and Senate versions there are panels which will determine the kind of health care that should and should not be allowed. (http://www.lifenews.com/nat5346.html ) There are luxury taxes involved in certain forms of elective surgeries’, which sounds good, until you realize that sometimes those are used for people who have been disfigured in accidents or from birth. (http://www.stopbotax.org/ )There are end of life panels involved in both bills. Can anyone spell euthanasia? Along the way there are cuts in Medicare and Medicaid which means that if you are over 65, your health coverage is now going out the window. (http://www.lifenews.com/nat5303.html ) Remember that Medicare is not optional; it is mandated by federal law that if you are 65 you MUST participate!!! Already Hitler is rising from the grave.
Third, freedom of speech is being brought into question. Already the Senate allowed the hates crime bill to be attached to the defense funding bill in order to pass hate crimes laws. This bill could not stand on its own so the Socialists attached it to something which needed to be passed. The hate crimes bill makes it against the law to speak out against homosexuality. While there are claims that religious institutions and groups are exempt, I hold out with no hope that will be true. In the Netherlands such laws, even with exemptions, have proven to be devastating when ministers stand against this flawed thinking from the pulpits. In San Francisco alone, ministers and churches that stand up against this community have been harassed and threatened, but the hates crime legislation never covered them. You erode democracy and a republic one small step at a time. Back in the 1980s I warned that this was coming and churches and ministers alike pooh-poohed me then. Do you now?
What will happen if we don’t do anything? Simple, we will loose our freedoms. Our rights will go out the door. Let’s use a scenario: Let’s say that you have a particularly difficult job with a particularly difficult boss. The turnover rate for bosses in your area is every two years but on an occasion you have someone come through that thinks they know everything. Let’s also bring into our scenario the fact that you have been struggling financially and your marriage is going through some difficult times. You begin to feel some physical anxiety and there are some ailments which begin to occur. You like your job because you enjoy the challenge. The economy is bad so you will just have to cut back to take care of the financial situation for the moment. You love your spouse and so you endure the marital issues. After all every three years you go through this no big deal, no morals or ethics are being violated so no need to end the marriage (which I would oppose doing under most any situations). You decide to go to the doctor. The doctor does an examination and concludes your biggest problem is stress from your job. Under the present system the doctor may advise that you look for another line of work, try and get some rest, exercise and eat right. They may even give you something for the immediate problem and tell you to come back if you have any other questions or concerns. If the government gets a hold of this thing it will be a different story. It could very easily be that you may be told what you can and cannot do regarding work. The doctor may become a doorway into your life. In our scenario there are all kinds of circumstances involved, but the government doesn’t care about that, they only care about their money and power. And this is only one of thousands of scenarios which could occur.
I hear many of you now doing to me what you did to me back in the 1980s, “That won’t happen. We live in America.” Well, the hates crime laws happened and you told me twenty years ago that it wouldn’t happen and it did! Believe me when I say that it will come to this. It may take twenty years but it will happen. Also, don’t discount the fact that 2.2 million people right now work in the health insurance business, meaning that 2.2 million people will be added to the unemployment line if this happens (http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20090210/NEWS/200015356). Are you still laughing? I didn’t think so.
What might be the best way to handle this and what are some of the things which would help health reform? First, this needs to be handled one step at a time, one amendment at a time. There needs to be no pork in it, no additions. Debate a part of the bill and if the filibuster can be broke vote on that part of the bill not the whole bill all at once. Second, the numbers of who are and are not insured are scaling back because 15 million of the original 45 million were illegal. It is important to deal with the immigration issue which is going on. I’m not talking about being hard hearted regarding the issue but being honest and work at getting illegal’s out, but try and weed out those who need help verses those who are here causing trouble. If they need help provide a way for those who want to become citizens, but don’t give them amnesty. Third, allow individuals and businesses to go across state lines to purchase insurance. Some regulation still needs to be enforced to make sure laws are not being broken and that regulation probably should still belong to the states. Fourth, allow small businesses that do similar kinds of business within a regional co-opt and get health insurance at the same rate larger businesses do. This is a concept that farmers use in buying insurance. As a result insurance will be more affordable for the individuals. Fifth, give doctors bigger tax cuts for helping those who are poor and unable to financially afford health care. Sixth, provide tax cuts and incentives to those getting yearly physicals and show signs from the physical that they are not living a destructive lifestyles such as smoking, heavy drinking, not eating right, not exercising, and living sexually promiscuous lifestyles which cause AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases. Seventh, do something that the Democrats want, do away with pre-existing conditions. If a person’s condition is the results of an accident or genetics then they should not be kept from being able to get affordable health insurance. There may even be some type of co-opt programs set up for these groups, but not regionally, but nationally. Eighth, give businesses tax breaks when they do provide health insurance. Remember, the more money in the pockets of the people the more money in the economy. The stronger the economy the stronger the nation. Last, give unlimited tax benefits to those who give to charities who provide medical help to the poor and needy. If the tax benefits are unlimited then those who give may give more. The more given the more people there is who get help. This can come through a church, denomination, religious organization, or a secular atheistic organization. It doesn’t matter what it is, it must prove that it is helping those in need with medical attention.
So what should be done? It all boils down to this one question. Well, first we need to stand and pray. This is the first place we need to start. It was the place where the Socialists started their attack some 46 years ago when they saw to it that prayer should be kicked out of public school. Well they can’t do it in our private lives so this is where it starts. On our knees before the God of heaven, making interception for our law makers and asking God where He wants us in regards to the front line. Second, spread the word. Talk to those you know and informing them of what is going on. Third, be active by making phone calls, writing letters, and e-mailing Senators and Congressman. Even though the present bill is in the Senate, Congress as a whole should hear of our outrage. Don’t stop at the Senator of your state and Representative in you district. Make your voice known to as many of them as possible. The opposition will be doing it and at times there may be someone who is riding the fence that needs to hear from you. You may say or write something which makes a difference. Make sure above all things that you are polite and speak in a civil tone with these folks. There are times when they are really feeling the pressure and a kind tone and pleasant voice may win them over to your opinion. Fourth, make it clear to the White House that you oppose this bill and be clear why you oppose it. Don’t call names, don’t be ugly, just state the reasons like you would do with the Congressmen and make you point known. Fifth, Pastors, you need to preach the word of God. Stop dillydallying with the style of your suite, arguing over contemporary verses southern gospel music, trying to impress others or even attempting to “communicate” with the post moderns. Truth needs to be proclaimed from the pulpit and Scripture needs to be exegeted. Stop playing best friend in the community, get real! Talk about how bad we are and how that Jesus came to save retched, ugly, defiled sinners with no hope. Last, pray, we have to keep praying that as God moves we will be obedient to His truth no matter what.
This brings us to our point of discussion. As many know the House of Representatives pushed through their massive one thousand page, 1 trillion dollar, “Health Care” package two weeks ago on November 7, 2009 (http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/11/07/health.care/). In fact it was so widely accepted in passed by a whopping 220 for, 215 against. While the passing of the measure itself may seem like a victory, the fact that it only passed by 5 votes (one of which was a republican who was the very last vote counted) should cause the Democrats and their Socialist friends to think twice. During the August recess the nation went on alert with millions showing up at “Tea Parties” and to Town Hall Meetings infuriated with the fact that the stimulus wasted trillions of dollars, Congress spent billions on the “Car Stimulus” and now wanted to take over one sixth of the economy through health care (http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/07/health.care.scuffles/index.html ). This is nothing short of socialism which many of my friends who I go to church with fought against in World War II. The whole health care debate is an attempt to reach into the lives of Americans and strip them of their freedom of choice. These are fascist dictators who care less about your health and more about their power. The less money you make, the less you are allowed to speak freely, the fewer options you are given, the less freedom you have. Anyone who reads any of the writings of Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche the German philosopher who along with Karl Marx inspired Adolph Hitler, or even read some of what Vladimir Ilyich Lenin who was at the head of the bloody “Red Revolution” in Russian and you will understand what is going on. I have read some of what these men wrote and their beliefs were that people could not think for themselves and government needed to do all of the thinking for them. In each situation war broke out and lives were taken as a result. Socialism leads to blood shed and this situation will be no different.
Look at how Hitler alone took power. First, he went to the churches who were in agreement with him, encouraged them to stop preaching the entire Bible because it was outdated and started having them preach his thoughts and ideas. I encourage everyone to research and study the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer who stood and sacrificed his life preaching against Nazism. By doing away with religion he could do away with the conscience of the community. After all according to Darwinism this would be necessary for the natural order of things to progress. (I encourage folks to see the movie “Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed” for further background). It must be understood that Nazism is the marriage of the belief in evolution and hierarchy dictatorship. Socialism/Marxism is in fact the belief in social evolution, where the state is the final product of that evolutionary process. Afterwards he seized control of the health care facilities so that he could cover up the next line of evolutionary and Hinduistic thinking…doing away with the inferior. First it was the mentally ill, then those who were dying, and then the elderly. This is called Euthanasia for those of you who have stopped thinking. The third step in the process which still fell under the guise of the taking over the health care system in Germany was to begin to massively abort children who belonged to those of the inferior races. The final step was to begin eradicating those inferior races (in this case the Jews) and all of those who stood in his way (like Dietrich Bonhoeffer). For those who are still not thinking this is called Genocide, the killing of one or more races simply because this is who they are.
We have long since been traveling down this road. Our ministers in the pulpits have stopped preaching the truth. Over the years I have had the opportunities to preach in pulpits in view of a call to pastor. Ultimately when they chose someone else over me it’s because I am, “Too bold and willing to speak to a situation from the Bible.” And to think these were Bible believing churches. But the problem does not just exist in our pulpits but in our hearts as well. Christians in America have been playing way too long with Jesus rather than praying to Jesus. We are more interested in feeling good rather than fighting for good. We allow our marriages to rot, live in adulterous situations (passing it off as personal fulfillment), allow the left leaning media (movies, music, and news) to tell us what to believe, and we are unfaithful regarding prayer, reading/understanding the Bible, and attending church. Why we can attend church online rather than commit to a local body of baptized believers who stand on the everlasting truths of Scripture while being empowered by Jesus Christ our bodily resurrected Lord. We are more concerned with not being offensive than to speak the truth in love regarding abortion, homosexuality, present divorce laws and so forth. To some degree it is our fault and we need to do what was told to the Ephesus Church in Revelation 2:5, “…remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place---unless you repent.” (NASB)
Second, there is the taking over of the health care system. As I have already noted this is one sixth (1/6) of the economy. To some degree this has already been occurred in the 1960’s with Medicare and Medicaid. We start out surrendering something in the name of taking care of something else. However, it opens us up to rationed care, which is the only way that the Socialist Democrats can pay for this overhaul which is being debated right now. It will also be a way of covering up nationalized euthanasia and eventually genocide, which is already happening on a limited basis. Allow me to explain. Planned Parenthood which was started in the 1950’s receiving federal funding from the government. In fact in some instances they receive state funding as well. (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/legislature/stories/032009dntexparenthood.3aaaae7.html ) They are also the number one provider of abortion in the world. (http://www.wnd.com/index.php?pageId=115000 ) The creators of Planned Parenthood stated that blacks and other minorities needed to be focused on regarding abortion. (http://www.blackgenocide.org/planned.html ) So unwittingly or not our government is already involved in the genocide factor. The Senate version of the health care bill has a one dollar ($1.00) tax on it where each individual would pay out of their health tax (public option) for abortion. (http://gopleader.gov/Blog/ ) Now my taxes will be going directly to funding abortion. To quote Martin Luther in front of the Worms courts, “It is neither good nor safe to deny conscience.” Our federal government which should be upholding the Constitutional mandate of good conscience is now shredding it and throwing their responsibilities to the wind. Also in both the House and Senate versions there are panels which will determine the kind of health care that should and should not be allowed. (http://www.lifenews.com/nat5346.html ) There are luxury taxes involved in certain forms of elective surgeries’, which sounds good, until you realize that sometimes those are used for people who have been disfigured in accidents or from birth. (http://www.stopbotax.org/ )There are end of life panels involved in both bills. Can anyone spell euthanasia? Along the way there are cuts in Medicare and Medicaid which means that if you are over 65, your health coverage is now going out the window. (http://www.lifenews.com/nat5303.html ) Remember that Medicare is not optional; it is mandated by federal law that if you are 65 you MUST participate!!! Already Hitler is rising from the grave.
Third, freedom of speech is being brought into question. Already the Senate allowed the hates crime bill to be attached to the defense funding bill in order to pass hate crimes laws. This bill could not stand on its own so the Socialists attached it to something which needed to be passed. The hate crimes bill makes it against the law to speak out against homosexuality. While there are claims that religious institutions and groups are exempt, I hold out with no hope that will be true. In the Netherlands such laws, even with exemptions, have proven to be devastating when ministers stand against this flawed thinking from the pulpits. In San Francisco alone, ministers and churches that stand up against this community have been harassed and threatened, but the hates crime legislation never covered them. You erode democracy and a republic one small step at a time. Back in the 1980s I warned that this was coming and churches and ministers alike pooh-poohed me then. Do you now?
What will happen if we don’t do anything? Simple, we will loose our freedoms. Our rights will go out the door. Let’s use a scenario: Let’s say that you have a particularly difficult job with a particularly difficult boss. The turnover rate for bosses in your area is every two years but on an occasion you have someone come through that thinks they know everything. Let’s also bring into our scenario the fact that you have been struggling financially and your marriage is going through some difficult times. You begin to feel some physical anxiety and there are some ailments which begin to occur. You like your job because you enjoy the challenge. The economy is bad so you will just have to cut back to take care of the financial situation for the moment. You love your spouse and so you endure the marital issues. After all every three years you go through this no big deal, no morals or ethics are being violated so no need to end the marriage (which I would oppose doing under most any situations). You decide to go to the doctor. The doctor does an examination and concludes your biggest problem is stress from your job. Under the present system the doctor may advise that you look for another line of work, try and get some rest, exercise and eat right. They may even give you something for the immediate problem and tell you to come back if you have any other questions or concerns. If the government gets a hold of this thing it will be a different story. It could very easily be that you may be told what you can and cannot do regarding work. The doctor may become a doorway into your life. In our scenario there are all kinds of circumstances involved, but the government doesn’t care about that, they only care about their money and power. And this is only one of thousands of scenarios which could occur.
I hear many of you now doing to me what you did to me back in the 1980s, “That won’t happen. We live in America.” Well, the hates crime laws happened and you told me twenty years ago that it wouldn’t happen and it did! Believe me when I say that it will come to this. It may take twenty years but it will happen. Also, don’t discount the fact that 2.2 million people right now work in the health insurance business, meaning that 2.2 million people will be added to the unemployment line if this happens (http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20090210/NEWS/200015356). Are you still laughing? I didn’t think so.
What might be the best way to handle this and what are some of the things which would help health reform? First, this needs to be handled one step at a time, one amendment at a time. There needs to be no pork in it, no additions. Debate a part of the bill and if the filibuster can be broke vote on that part of the bill not the whole bill all at once. Second, the numbers of who are and are not insured are scaling back because 15 million of the original 45 million were illegal. It is important to deal with the immigration issue which is going on. I’m not talking about being hard hearted regarding the issue but being honest and work at getting illegal’s out, but try and weed out those who need help verses those who are here causing trouble. If they need help provide a way for those who want to become citizens, but don’t give them amnesty. Third, allow individuals and businesses to go across state lines to purchase insurance. Some regulation still needs to be enforced to make sure laws are not being broken and that regulation probably should still belong to the states. Fourth, allow small businesses that do similar kinds of business within a regional co-opt and get health insurance at the same rate larger businesses do. This is a concept that farmers use in buying insurance. As a result insurance will be more affordable for the individuals. Fifth, give doctors bigger tax cuts for helping those who are poor and unable to financially afford health care. Sixth, provide tax cuts and incentives to those getting yearly physicals and show signs from the physical that they are not living a destructive lifestyles such as smoking, heavy drinking, not eating right, not exercising, and living sexually promiscuous lifestyles which cause AIDS, and other sexually transmitted diseases. Seventh, do something that the Democrats want, do away with pre-existing conditions. If a person’s condition is the results of an accident or genetics then they should not be kept from being able to get affordable health insurance. There may even be some type of co-opt programs set up for these groups, but not regionally, but nationally. Eighth, give businesses tax breaks when they do provide health insurance. Remember, the more money in the pockets of the people the more money in the economy. The stronger the economy the stronger the nation. Last, give unlimited tax benefits to those who give to charities who provide medical help to the poor and needy. If the tax benefits are unlimited then those who give may give more. The more given the more people there is who get help. This can come through a church, denomination, religious organization, or a secular atheistic organization. It doesn’t matter what it is, it must prove that it is helping those in need with medical attention.
So what should be done? It all boils down to this one question. Well, first we need to stand and pray. This is the first place we need to start. It was the place where the Socialists started their attack some 46 years ago when they saw to it that prayer should be kicked out of public school. Well they can’t do it in our private lives so this is where it starts. On our knees before the God of heaven, making interception for our law makers and asking God where He wants us in regards to the front line. Second, spread the word. Talk to those you know and informing them of what is going on. Third, be active by making phone calls, writing letters, and e-mailing Senators and Congressman. Even though the present bill is in the Senate, Congress as a whole should hear of our outrage. Don’t stop at the Senator of your state and Representative in you district. Make your voice known to as many of them as possible. The opposition will be doing it and at times there may be someone who is riding the fence that needs to hear from you. You may say or write something which makes a difference. Make sure above all things that you are polite and speak in a civil tone with these folks. There are times when they are really feeling the pressure and a kind tone and pleasant voice may win them over to your opinion. Fourth, make it clear to the White House that you oppose this bill and be clear why you oppose it. Don’t call names, don’t be ugly, just state the reasons like you would do with the Congressmen and make you point known. Fifth, Pastors, you need to preach the word of God. Stop dillydallying with the style of your suite, arguing over contemporary verses southern gospel music, trying to impress others or even attempting to “communicate” with the post moderns. Truth needs to be proclaimed from the pulpit and Scripture needs to be exegeted. Stop playing best friend in the community, get real! Talk about how bad we are and how that Jesus came to save retched, ugly, defiled sinners with no hope. Last, pray, we have to keep praying that as God moves we will be obedient to His truth no matter what.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
THE GOOD HAND OF GOD IN OVERSEEING HIS WORK DEALING WITH THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE WORK OF GOD-Part 3
The Enemies Out Lash-Part C
Hired Counselors
(EZRA 4:1-6)
1Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel, 2they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' households, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here." 3But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers' households of Israel said to them, " You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us." 4Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building, 5and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 6Now in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Over the past 46 years Christianity has been under legal assault from various groups for differing reasons here in the United States. In 1963 the Supreme Court of the United States handed down a negative ruling regarding prayer in the public schools. Since then Christianity and the symbols of Christianity have been under constant legal contests. The enemies have hired counselors and attorneys who help advice them of what they need to do.
This maybe pretty much the case with the enemies of Judah in the days of Zerubbabel. Ezra notes in verse 5, “and hired counselors against them…” These counselors possibly played two different roles. First, they were unprofessionals who lived in the city of Jerusalem and basically acted as spies, counseling the enemy of every move being made. Second, these were professional counselors who had two basic jobs: a) give the enemies leadership advice as to what they could do legally; b) take their complaints to the government officials for redress. Based on verse 6 which discusses letters being sent to the kings the second scenario would fit.
What does all of this mean for us? Our enemy will do what he can in order to discourage and frighten us. Satan is not the only enemy we face. According the Ephesians 2:1-3 the world itself blindly follows Satan and as a result bringing themselves into opposition with God and His plan. Our Lord Jesus notes that if the world hated him it will hate us (John 15:18). Therefore it should be of no surprise that if we, as part of the world before we came to Christ, crucified Him, then in turn the world will do what it can to crucify us for knowing Him as Savior.
So we should not be surprised when the world hires it’s counselors to lie about us. When the light shines on roaches they scatter. When we shine for Jesus the world will hate us.
My question to all of us is do we allow this world to discourage and frighten us? Recently I found myself asking some legal questions regarding ministry. My ultimate response was if God is in it, the world will oppose it. Those of us who know Jesus Christ as our Savior are swimming up stream against the current. Tough times will come and the world will oppose us legally when we start to live for Jesus. Paul wrote in 2nd Timothy 3:12, “And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Don’t let this world intimidate you, stand strong for the Lord, in the end he will make it right!
Let me know what you think.
God Bless,
Steven Swaim
(All passages are quoted from the New American Standard Version-THE LOCKMAN FOUNDATION)
Sunday, November 22, 2009
THE GOOD HAND OF GOD IN OVERSEEING HIS WORK DEALING WITH THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE WORK OF GOD-Part 3
The Enemies Out Lash-Part B
Frightening Them
(EZRA 4:1-6)
1Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel, 2they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' households, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here." 3But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers' households of Israel said to them, " You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us." 4Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building, 5and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 6Now in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
In Hollywood there is an old effect which directors still use called the jump effect. It doesn’t take a lot of special effects to do it, even though it can be done with them. No! It is a simple technique where the director just simply wants to get a jump out of you. There maybe a hand which suddenly comes through a window or the main character may turn around with a light in their hand in a dark room and suddenly someone is there. But whatever it is it startles you making you jump.
Today we want to look at how the enemy attempts to frighten us. In this passage we see the returning exiles doing as they have been instructed too…rebuild the temple. But the enemies of Judah rises up and want to help. After their masquerade is foiled they become angry. In the first part we saw how the enemy attempts to discourage, but now we see their attempts to frighten.
Do not dismiss this word being used here. It brings about more than just an illusion of a jump scene or a sarcastic jest. It could include those things, but it is more. It is the idea of life threatening accusations being made. When it says, “…the people of the land…frightened them from building…” (v.4) it is not just an , “Oh! He scared me!” moment. No! The enemy is hard at work, threatening their very lives.
At times it is the same for us. If Jesus tares long enough then eventually even here in America we as Christians will face persecution. The enemy of our souls wishes to destroy us.
Peter writes in 1st Peter 4:8-9, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” As Peter penned this passage I often wonder if he thought about 30 years before when he stood in front of the Lord Jesus Christ claiming he would never deny Him. At that point our Lord turned to Peter and said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen you brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)
Satan was roaring, but our Lord was praying. They tell me that in Africa the older Lion, who cannot run as fast, will be the one who roars the loudest. He does this in order to scare the prey into the claws of the younger faster lions. When the younger lions kill the prey the older lion eats first.
What is Satan roaring to you? Is he telling you that if you give you life to Christ that you will suffer? That God takes all the fun out of everything? That you might have to become a missionary to some dark foreign land? My question is, “What if he’s right?”
God’s answer is this, “The cross!” Jesus suffered and died for our sins. Any suffering we do is nothing compared to what happened at the cross. Jesus took all our sins on Him and did it with joy (Hebrews 12:2). Then three days later he physically rose from the dead. That is God’s answer! The old hymn says it best, “Jesus gave it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain; He washed it white as snow.” (“Jesus Paid It All”-Elvina M. Hall)
Don’t listen to the frightening threats of Satan or this world or even yourself. Listen to Jesus who will never lead you wrong. Even if you do suffer, it will always have a reason. God is not purposeless, what He allows is for the sake of His glory and the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let me know what you think.
God Bless
Steven Swaim
(All passages are quoted from the New American Standard Version-THE LOCKMAN FOUNDATION)
Frightening Them
(EZRA 4:1-6)
1Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel, 2they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' households, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here." 3But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers' households of Israel said to them, " You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us." 4Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building, 5and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 6Now in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
In Hollywood there is an old effect which directors still use called the jump effect. It doesn’t take a lot of special effects to do it, even though it can be done with them. No! It is a simple technique where the director just simply wants to get a jump out of you. There maybe a hand which suddenly comes through a window or the main character may turn around with a light in their hand in a dark room and suddenly someone is there. But whatever it is it startles you making you jump.
Today we want to look at how the enemy attempts to frighten us. In this passage we see the returning exiles doing as they have been instructed too…rebuild the temple. But the enemies of Judah rises up and want to help. After their masquerade is foiled they become angry. In the first part we saw how the enemy attempts to discourage, but now we see their attempts to frighten.
Do not dismiss this word being used here. It brings about more than just an illusion of a jump scene or a sarcastic jest. It could include those things, but it is more. It is the idea of life threatening accusations being made. When it says, “…the people of the land…frightened them from building…” (v.4) it is not just an , “Oh! He scared me!” moment. No! The enemy is hard at work, threatening their very lives.
At times it is the same for us. If Jesus tares long enough then eventually even here in America we as Christians will face persecution. The enemy of our souls wishes to destroy us.
Peter writes in 1st Peter 4:8-9, “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.” As Peter penned this passage I often wonder if he thought about 30 years before when he stood in front of the Lord Jesus Christ claiming he would never deny Him. At that point our Lord turned to Peter and said, “Simon, Simon, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen you brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)
Satan was roaring, but our Lord was praying. They tell me that in Africa the older Lion, who cannot run as fast, will be the one who roars the loudest. He does this in order to scare the prey into the claws of the younger faster lions. When the younger lions kill the prey the older lion eats first.
What is Satan roaring to you? Is he telling you that if you give you life to Christ that you will suffer? That God takes all the fun out of everything? That you might have to become a missionary to some dark foreign land? My question is, “What if he’s right?”
God’s answer is this, “The cross!” Jesus suffered and died for our sins. Any suffering we do is nothing compared to what happened at the cross. Jesus took all our sins on Him and did it with joy (Hebrews 12:2). Then three days later he physically rose from the dead. That is God’s answer! The old hymn says it best, “Jesus gave it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain; He washed it white as snow.” (“Jesus Paid It All”-Elvina M. Hall)
Don’t listen to the frightening threats of Satan or this world or even yourself. Listen to Jesus who will never lead you wrong. Even if you do suffer, it will always have a reason. God is not purposeless, what He allows is for the sake of His glory and the sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Let me know what you think.
God Bless
Steven Swaim
(All passages are quoted from the New American Standard Version-THE LOCKMAN FOUNDATION)
Saturday, November 14, 2009
THE GOOD HAND OF GOD IN OVERSEEING HIS WORK DEALING WITH THOSE WHO OPPOSE THE WORK OF GOD-Part 3
The Enemy's Out Lash-Part A
(EZRA 4:1-6)
1Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel, 2they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' households, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here." 3But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers' households of Israel said to them, " You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us." 4Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building, 5and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 6Now in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Have you ever ticked someone off by opposing them? In the past I have always prided myself on being able to argue a Jehovah Witness down when they approach my door. In fact I have always enjoyed the fact that I could do it using their own Bible. However, as the scriptures say, pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). God will in time bring someone your way that will knock you on your hills. Such was the case one Saturday morning when a knock came to my door. There stood a well dressed black woman with the New World Translation in her hand. I proceeded down my normal path of logic to dispel Jehovah Witness doctrine when she angrily stopped me saying, “How dare you insult me like this when all I was showing favor to you by bringing the word of God to you!” Naturally I was taken back and that morning the score stood: Me: Unnumbered, the JW: 1.
Whenever we oppose those in the wrong, no matter how often we have done it, eventually there will be a backlash. The same is true here in Ezra 4. The people have returned from 75 years of captivity and now have the opportunity to rebuild and start over when the enemy arrives. After using discernment and noting their help was unneeded, the enemy turns to deploy his weapons on the people.
The first thing which should be noted is that they used discouragement. It says in verse 4, “Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah…” Discouragement is simply taking courage away from somebody. Here they are taking courage away from the people to rebuild the temple and later the wall and the city (v. 21). More than likely they would do this by laughing at them, making fun of what is going on, dispelling the importance of what was happening, and ridiculing the work.
Throughout my life discouragement was often used, not to do evil things, but keep me from succeeding. I have had family members who did not want me to succeed in areas as a child and then as a young adult. My greatest discouragement came in 2000 with my divorce. To this day I still struggle to open the Bible I used to cherish in order to find God’s daily will for my life. While that is fading everyday, it still slaps me in the face. And then there are those who have been discouraging to me regarding the ministry.
The enemy of our souls wants us discouraged so that we cannot connect with the will of God. The Bible says regarding Satan the thief of our lives that he, “…comes to steal, and to kill, and destroy…” However Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, “…came that…” we “…might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10). The forces of evil will discourage us from knowing God through Jesus Christ as Savior. In the end it will lead to eternal damnation. For those who know Christ as Savior, the enemy will use evil desires to sift from us the grand opportunity to live and do what God wants. As a result not only will we not receive eternal rewards, but because others will come to Christ, which is the eternal reward. The result of us falling for temptation in regards to the lost is their eternal damnation.
Question: Which are you? Do you know Jesus as Savior? Have you come to the point where you understand that you are a sinner lost in need of a Savior, on your way to Hell? Do you understand that Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary, suffered, bleed and died for your sins, taking your place in judgment before God? Do you understand that He physically rose from the dead three days later to give you eternal life? If not then today you need to repent (turn from yourself and sin) and believe (totally trust) that Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal salvation? If you haven’t done this let’s start a dialogue and talk about what it means to become a Christian. Just e-mail me at bedevotedministry@att.net and we will start to talk.
For those who are saved what about you? Are you allowing Satan to discourage you? Is your life filled with those you will ridicule what you stand for and what you believe? Does it seem as if when you try and do well nothing really matters? Then allow me to encourage you from the words of Paul the apostle in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” To use the words from Bill and Ted’s Great Adventure, “Party on Dude!” Don’t let Satan or this world get the best of you!
God Bless,
Steven Swaim
(All Bible verses quoted come from the New American Standard Version)
(EZRA 4:1-6)
1Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the LORD God of Israel, 2they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' households, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God; and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here." 3But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers' households of Israel said to them, " You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God; but we ourselves will together build to the LORD God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us." 4Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah, and frightened them from building, 5and hired counselors against them to frustrate their counsel all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia. 6Now in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.
Have you ever ticked someone off by opposing them? In the past I have always prided myself on being able to argue a Jehovah Witness down when they approach my door. In fact I have always enjoyed the fact that I could do it using their own Bible. However, as the scriptures say, pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18). God will in time bring someone your way that will knock you on your hills. Such was the case one Saturday morning when a knock came to my door. There stood a well dressed black woman with the New World Translation in her hand. I proceeded down my normal path of logic to dispel Jehovah Witness doctrine when she angrily stopped me saying, “How dare you insult me like this when all I was showing favor to you by bringing the word of God to you!” Naturally I was taken back and that morning the score stood: Me: Unnumbered, the JW: 1.
Whenever we oppose those in the wrong, no matter how often we have done it, eventually there will be a backlash. The same is true here in Ezra 4. The people have returned from 75 years of captivity and now have the opportunity to rebuild and start over when the enemy arrives. After using discernment and noting their help was unneeded, the enemy turns to deploy his weapons on the people.
The first thing which should be noted is that they used discouragement. It says in verse 4, “Then the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah…” Discouragement is simply taking courage away from somebody. Here they are taking courage away from the people to rebuild the temple and later the wall and the city (v. 21). More than likely they would do this by laughing at them, making fun of what is going on, dispelling the importance of what was happening, and ridiculing the work.
Throughout my life discouragement was often used, not to do evil things, but keep me from succeeding. I have had family members who did not want me to succeed in areas as a child and then as a young adult. My greatest discouragement came in 2000 with my divorce. To this day I still struggle to open the Bible I used to cherish in order to find God’s daily will for my life. While that is fading everyday, it still slaps me in the face. And then there are those who have been discouraging to me regarding the ministry.
The enemy of our souls wants us discouraged so that we cannot connect with the will of God. The Bible says regarding Satan the thief of our lives that he, “…comes to steal, and to kill, and destroy…” However Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, “…came that…” we “…might have life and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10). The forces of evil will discourage us from knowing God through Jesus Christ as Savior. In the end it will lead to eternal damnation. For those who know Christ as Savior, the enemy will use evil desires to sift from us the grand opportunity to live and do what God wants. As a result not only will we not receive eternal rewards, but because others will come to Christ, which is the eternal reward. The result of us falling for temptation in regards to the lost is their eternal damnation.
Question: Which are you? Do you know Jesus as Savior? Have you come to the point where you understand that you are a sinner lost in need of a Savior, on your way to Hell? Do you understand that Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary, suffered, bleed and died for your sins, taking your place in judgment before God? Do you understand that He physically rose from the dead three days later to give you eternal life? If not then today you need to repent (turn from yourself and sin) and believe (totally trust) that Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal salvation? If you haven’t done this let’s start a dialogue and talk about what it means to become a Christian. Just e-mail me at bedevotedministry@att.net and we will start to talk.
For those who are saved what about you? Are you allowing Satan to discourage you? Is your life filled with those you will ridicule what you stand for and what you believe? Does it seem as if when you try and do well nothing really matters? Then allow me to encourage you from the words of Paul the apostle in Romans 8:38-39, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” To use the words from Bill and Ted’s Great Adventure, “Party on Dude!” Don’t let Satan or this world get the best of you!
God Bless,
Steven Swaim
(All Bible verses quoted come from the New American Standard Version)
Saturday, November 7, 2009
The Dems Are Wanting You To Demo On
Okay folks the Dems in the House are getting ready to move our nation to the brink of Socialism through health care legislation. It's here like it or not. The Senate is still tussling over this which is good. Through the defense bill the Dems rammed a freedom of speech law through dealing with hate crimes. Supposedly religious institutions are exempt but if the Netherlands are any indication that won't mean much. Now they want to tell you how to eat, exercise, which doctor you can go to, ect. Eventually it will even break down to if you are having health questions because of your job; they will tell you what kind of work you can do. Believe me when I say 10 years down this road we are going to see it happen. It happened in Russia (and starting to happen again), it happened in Germany. Now it is here! The same government that cannot get the h1n1 shot to us wants to take care of us. What a joke! Contact Congress and let them know what you think. It's your government, they are your employees! I want to remind several of you who knew me in the 1980's that I warned you of the freedom of speech issue and some of you pooh, poohed me at that time. I was right then, I'm right now. I'm telling you this is going to affect your freedom on every level, plus if it passes in both houses then close to 5 million people in the nation will be out of work, almost instantly. Unemployment is at 10.4 percent right now. Pray and write and call.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Terrorist Groups Operating in Churches
Latest news reports are that five terrorist cell groups have been operating in many of our churches. They have been identified as: Bin Sleepin, Bin Arguin, Bin Fightin, Bin Complainin, and Bin Missin. Their leader, Osama Bin Lucifer, trained these groups to destroy the Body of Christ. The plan is to come into the church disguised as Christians and to work within the church to discourage, disrupt, and destroy..
However, there have been reports of a sixth group. A tiny cell known by the name Bin Prayin is actually the only effective counter terrorism force in the church. Unlike other terrorist cells, the Bin Prayin team does not blend in with whoever and whatever comes along.
Bin Prayin does whatever is needed to uplift and encourage the Body of Christ. We have noticed that the Bin Prayin cell group has different characteristics than the others. They have Bin Watchin, Bin Waitin, Bin Fastin, and Bin Longin for their Master Jesus Christ to return.
Which cell group do you belong to?
And guess what, no church is exempt. However, you can spot them if you "bin lookin".
Bin Prayin??? No, then you better get busy, cuz our country needs all the prayers you can pack in a day, not just when you are in church.
I "Bin lookin" YOU "Bin Prayin" ???
However, there have been reports of a sixth group. A tiny cell known by the name Bin Prayin is actually the only effective counter terrorism force in the church. Unlike other terrorist cells, the Bin Prayin team does not blend in with whoever and whatever comes along.
Bin Prayin does whatever is needed to uplift and encourage the Body of Christ. We have noticed that the Bin Prayin cell group has different characteristics than the others. They have Bin Watchin, Bin Waitin, Bin Fastin, and Bin Longin for their Master Jesus Christ to return.
Which cell group do you belong to?
And guess what, no church is exempt. However, you can spot them if you "bin lookin".
Bin Prayin??? No, then you better get busy, cuz our country needs all the prayers you can pack in a day, not just when you are in church.
I "Bin lookin" YOU "Bin Prayin" ???
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