One recent evening I was weary and tired. I had been working late for several days in a row, making preparations to participate in commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Bataan Death March of World War II. I reclined to rest for a moment so I could wake up and continue in a refreshed state of mind and body.

Instead, I fell into a deep sleep for several hours and received a revelation from God.

In this allegorical dream, I was on a United States Army base and witnessed a ballistic missile launch from that base. It was an attempted, but failed, preemptive strike. I did not know what nation was the target. The missile went off course, turned around and came right back, striking this base that I was on.

The missile did not immediately detonate, but it was presumed that there would be a delayed, imminent detonation. The soldier nearest the missile did not even try to run. He presumed that he had no hope of survival. Meanwhile, a soldier further away, who also presumed that he, likewise, had no hope for survival, at least ran as fast as he could away from the missile.

While running, the soldier came to a steep slope in the terrain where a trail led downward. As he ran, the trail became green and lush, symbolizing hope. He ran down as quickly as he could, expecting the detonation at any second and hoping the blast would roll overhead, more than likely acting like a vacuum and sweeping him off into the canyon below. Then I abruptly woke up.

Not being a missile expert, what little I know suggests that ballistic missiles do not turn around. They detonate either prior to or upon impact. So, I gather that this scenario from which I abruptly awakened was allegorical. The meaning of what I saw is as follows.

America’s military industrial complex is trailing other nations in state-of-the-art technological advances in missile weapons systems. The U.S. recently successfully tested a hypersonic ballistic missile after Russia had already employed theirs. Russia has perfected that technology and is using theirs in Ukraine. By not remaining the first to successfully develop cutting-edge technology, we are our own worst enemy and will destroy ourselves by giving technology away to China, who passes it on to others.

On the other hand, we might not need to keep developing new weapons systems if the sinners we elect to office would stop being treasonous and leaking technology to China.

Treason results in our military bases being attacked by missiles from other nations, ultimately built with American technology, as seen as recently as last month when many ballistic missiles launched from Iran struck our Army base at Erbil, Iraq. This was reported on March 12. (You can find a news report of that incident here.)

King Solomon said, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Prov. 14:34, MEV). When sinners such as Communists and Marxists fill leadership positions at all levels of U.S. government, they subvert the Constitution and all biblical laws and deliberately destroy the U.S. military so that their comrades in arms in other nations can invade our borders and take over America.

I leave these sinners with this promise: “Be not deceived. God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows, that will he also reap” (Gal. 6:7, MEV). {eoa}

Chaplain Jim Linzey retired with the rank of major from the United States Army. Assignments included serving as the Command Chaplain for Cluster III of Operation Noble Eagle II under Homeland Security, headquartered at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. His podcast series on the baptism with the Holy Spirit will soon air on the Charisma Podcast Network, sharing how an Air Force missileer received the baptism when Chaplain Linzey laid hands on him in Washington, D.C.

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In my teenage and early college years, I was offered many well-meaning tactics to overcome my problem with lust. I bounced my eyes, which meant as soon as I saw a scantily clad woman I would bounce my eyes to something else.

I walked out of movies with sexual scenes. And I even stopped hugging any younger women around my age for a while.

And guess what … they worked. Well, to be honest, they worked for a while.

My actions definitely changed. For example, I threw my secret stash of Sports Illustrated swimsuit issues into the swamp in the back of my parents’ property. I stopped sitting at my computer alone. I unplugged the television whenever I was in a house alone and even when I was alone in a hotel room.

Even though my actions were changing, I looked at myself as David conquering this huge Goliath of lust. I lost a lot of battles to images of Britney Spears and lingerie models, but I felt proud that I was taking down this monster bit by bit. And that was the problem.

When I was defeating lust, I felt a huge ego boost. I thought, “Look how much progress I’ve made.” But when I messed up, I would slump into a huge depression and sometimes repeat the sin over and over because I figured, “Well, I can’t get any lower than this. I might as well enjoy it.”

In other words, my identity wasn’t in Christ and His work on the cross. Instead, I placed my sense of identity in how good I was doing, in my own works. Because of my misplaced identity, when I was killing it for months at a time, I’d look down on friends who were struggling. When I would fall, I’d wonder how God would pay me back with punishment. Would I lose a girlfriend? Would I never find a wife? Would He cause me not to have favor with others?

As I reflect on it now, I can see my problem. It was all about me. I knew God had forgiven me, but I didn’t understand that while I was a sinner, Christ had given His life for me. I was His enemy, and He reached out to choose me. I hated God, and He adopted me.

It’s easy to give you 3 Divinely Inspired Revelations to Deal a Death Blow to Lust, but if you don’t understand the depth of God’s love for you, it won’t matter. So, first, before you read these practical tips from Lion of Judah, meditate on Romans 3:23-26 (NKJV):

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

In other words, you are full of sin. God justified you freely by His grace. God passes over your sin because of Jesus’ righteousness to demonstrate His righteousness. He doesn’t do it so you can demonstrate your righteousness or your effort. He justifies you freely to demonstrate His righteousness. If you can rest in that, here are three divinely inspired revelations to build on that foundation.

1. “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil” (Prov. 3:7, NKJV). Don’t try to stay around temptation to prove to yourself how wise you are. Fear the Lord and get away from it. Don’t think you have it all under control. You don’t. In Scripture, God tells us over and over that we don’t have it all together. If we feel tempted in any situation, God promises He’ll provide us a way of escape.

Whether I take the way He has provided doesn’t change His love for me, but it could break trust with my wife, my kids and my friends. In other words, God doesn’t tell me this to say, “If you don’t depart from evil, I won’t love you.” Instead He’s saying, “If you don’t depart from evil, it’ll hurt you. Evil hurts everyone who’s touched by it.”

2. “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Gal. 5:16, NKJV). Filling yourself with things that glorify the lusts of the flesh will lead you to fulfill those lusts. The movies you watch, the music you listen to, and the magazines you read take up your time, and time is a very real part of your life. Nothing is neutral.

Walking in the Spirit may require you to listen to songs filled with truth, watch movies that make you want God more, and read books that encourage you. If you don’t feel like doing any of that, don’t beat yourself up. Bring your true feelings to God and say, “I don’t want to walk in the Spirit right now. I really want to listen to songs about sex. I really want to watch this movie or video with sex scenes. I really want to read this trashy novel or look at this magazine. Please help me to want what You want.”

3. “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God” (Ps. 20:7, NKJV). Don’t trust yourself to get out of a tempting situation. Don’t trust yourself to depart from evil. Trust God. As soon as you trust in yourself for anything, you’ve misplaced your trust. Only God can help you.

So throw your magazines in a swamp. Stay away from movies with sexual scenes. Bounce your eyes. But don’t do any of those things because of a tip you hear from me or anyone else. You won’t be able to maintain any of those practical actions on your own. Put your trust in God, because when you ask Him to provide a way of escape, you’ll recognize that walking in the Spirit is not about demonstrating your righteousness. It’s about you resting in God to let Him demonstrate His. {eoa}

Rob Vischer is a freelance writer for Charisma Media.

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For more than five years, administrators and participants in the 24/7 National Strategic Prayer Call have diligently acted as intercessors for the United States of America. It’s a calling from the Lord they don’t—and haven’t—taken lightly.

During that time, people involved in the movement have been engaged in a spiritual battle, what they like to call a “warfare of love.” While Americans have become distracted over issues that are intended to undermine and destroy the American way of life, these intercessors have been fighting on their knees to battle these demonic forces with the most effective weapon at their disposal: prayer.

And this Sunday—Resurrection Sunday—these prayer warriors will once again be engaged with the enemy in what they say is one of the most crucial moments in U.S. history. Pastors and intercessors from throughout the country will gather in Barrow, Alaska—at the northernmost tip of the United States—to welcome the King of glory to spark what they hope will soon be the next Great Awakening for America.

The “Welcome the King of Glory Alaska” event begins Thursday and will end Sunday. On Sunday morning at 2 a.m., under the lights of aurora borealis, the group will “proclaim the marriage covenant with our Lord Jesus Christ” on behalf of Alaska. With others joining in throughout America, the 24/7 National Strategic Prayer call will canvas the entire country, bathing it in prayer to turn the hearts of those who are opposed to freedom and the sovereignty of God.

It is the latest of dozens of “Welcome the King of Glory” events hosted by the 24/7 National Strategic Prayer Call since 2017. The events have encompassed all four corners of the United States and many locations in between.

Pastor Ioan Peia, a co-administrator of the 24/7 National Strategic Prayer Call, says the Holy Spirit prompted the group to come to Alaska for “a time such as this.”

“We have been summoned here by the Holy Spirit to welcome the King of glory,” Peia says. “We believe this Resurrection Sunday is very significant for the U.S. This is a trigger in the spirit realm for the entire nation. There will be a connection from Barrow to thousands of intercessors who will join us in prayer to form a canopy over the country to welcome the King of glory into the United States early that morning.

“This is in alignment with a prophetic word I received in Aurora, Colorado, in 2011 that spoke to me about the end times destiny of the United States,” he adds. “It was about restoring the Christian foundation of this nation. We are a covenant nation for God. This nation will once become as it has been destined to for world evangelism.

“The love of God for the United States has never ceased,” Peia says. “This nation was created by God, and the vision for it is beautiful. A Great Awakening is just around the corner. It will be coming like a tsunami. The Lord is taking over his right of inheritance, and we are there to be his witnesses. He’s exposing everything—the darkness and the evil. It must be corrected and the nation must be restored. This is a time of manifestation of the grace of God.”

Alaskan team coordinator Richard Stoffel, one of the facilitators of the event, says his life has changed since getting involved with the 24/7 National Strategic Prayer Call. He has become on fire for the Lord to intercede for this country to overcome the darkness that has enveloped it in recent years.

“You want to know why there is so much anger and hatred in this country?” he asks. “The root of that, I personally believe, is unforgiveness. It’s one of the best weaknesses individuals have in this country. It is a lack of forgiveness. The country was built on a foundation of love and forgiveness. We are lukewarm as a whole. We’re all the church, and we need to help one another to overcome the religious spirits and the spirits of darkness.”

Maureen Bravo, one of the co-administrators of the 24/7 National Strategic Prayer Call, agrees and says the vision for this Alaskan event is to end the divisiveness the enemy has perpetrated on the United States.

“Scripture says ‘perfect love casts out fear’ (1 John 4:18),” Bravo says. “Fear is the root of the hatred and anger we are experiencing. We receive God’s love for the people who are ruled by this. We hope to open their hearts and let them know that Christ is in them and that He is the hope of glory.

“What we are focused on is unifying the country,” she adds. “Alaska is the northernmost state in the U.S. We’re on the top of the world looking down on creation, as the old song says. We are asking God to move in an unusual way, and we know that he can do the work that is needed.”

The 24/7 National Strategic Prayer Call has chapters in 40 of the 50 states in the U.S., but the hope is to soon encompass all 50 states.

To participate in the “Welcome the King of Glory Alaska” event, call 1-712-770-4340 (code 543555#) at 2 a.m. Alaska time (6 a.m. ET, 5 CT, 4 MT, 3 PT). {eoa}

Shawn A. Akers is the online editor for Charisma News.

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Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote The Communist Manifesto in 1848, relating it to what they called “scientific socialism.” The 20th century and beyond are fraught with examples of the embarrassing failures of both communism and socialism (i.e., The Former Soviet Union, Venezuela, North Korea, Cuba and Soviet-era Eastern Germany, to name a few).

Despite this dubious history, we currently have high-profile political leaders, like congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, promoting a form of Marxism called “democratic socialism.”

The following are 10 reasons why socialism is antithetical to the tenets of biblical Christianity.

1. Socialism is against the biblical view of the nuclear family. Marxists argue that “the nuclear family performs ideological functions for Capitalism — the family acts as a unit of consumption and teaches passive acceptance of hierarchy. It is also the institution through which the wealthy pass down their private property to their children, thus reproducing class inequality.”

Hence, socialism is against the biblical principle of parental rights related to their children and the prominence of the nuclear family. (See Genesis 1:28-29; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 5:22-6:4.)

2. Socialists claim education belongs solely to the state. Marxist education aims at producing faithful citizens. Therefore, it is primarily an ideological tool to program children to be loyal to the state. In communist and socialist nations, education and the curriculum are controlled by the state and are not considered the responsibility of the parents. Models like homeschooling children would be illegal. This contradicts the biblical framework regarding parents being responsible for educating their children the way they choose. (See Proverbs 22:6; Deuteronomy 6:6-9.)

3. Socialists claim the state deserves the highest allegiance. In many communist nations like the former Soviet Union and contemporary countries like North Korea and China, Bibles are confiscated, church buildings are burned and evangelism is illegal. This is because they see Christianity as a rival religion to the authority of the humanistic secular state. This goes against the biblical command to put first God’s kingdom and to worship and serve Jesus as the only true Lord. (See Matthew 6:33; 1 Timothy 6:15.)

4. Socialists believe in the abolition of private “property in land and application of all rents of land to public purposes.” This is antithetical to the biblical premise of the individual right to own private property and the command for believers to create wealth to promote God’s covenant. (See Exodus 20:15; Deuteronomy 8:18; 1 Kings 20:6; Isaiah 65:21-22; Mark 10:29-31.)

5. Socialism advocates a progressive income tax. In a socialist system, people are taxed based on their income. This is called a progressive tax structure. As an example of the influence of socialism in the United States, “The top 1 percent (taxpayers with AGI of $546,434 and above) earned 20.1 percent of total AGI in 2019 and paid 38.8 percent of all federal income taxes. In 2019, the top 1 percent of taxpayers accounted for more income taxes paid than the bottom 90 percent combined.” This goes against the biblical principle that all people, irrespective of their income, should pay the same percentage, which we call a flat tax. (This is similar to the biblical principle of the tithe, which is 10% of a person’s income.) (See Leviticus 27:30; Proverbs 3:8-10; Matthew 23:23.)

6. Socialism opposes the rights of a family inheritance. In a contemporary Marxist and socialist framework, either leaving an inheritance to children is not allowed or the state confiscates much of the family inheritance through double taxation. This goes against the biblical principle of leaving an inheritance to children. (See Proverbs 13:22.)

7. In socialism, the state attempts to control all communication. In socialist countries, “centralization of the means of communication and transport (is) in the hands of the State.” In communist nations, people are not allowed to have freedom of speech. Violations can be severely punished (i.e., “Meta-owned Facebook and Twitter have been blocked in China since 2009“). Since God owns the world, nobody has the right to restrict free speech, especially the proclamation of the gospel. (See Psalm 24; Acts 1:8-9.)

8. In socialism, a utopia comes from a revolutionary change from the outside in. “Marx’s utopianism lay in the aim of abolishing the distinction between state and civil society, and in the harmony he assumed would emerge.” This goes against the biblical principle that systemic change doesn’t start from the outside; instead, it starts from the inside when people are born again in their hearts from above. (See John 3:3-8.)

9. Socialism categorizes people as either the oppressed or the oppressors. The Marxist revolutions were started by inciting the so-called proletariat to overthrow the social systems of the so-called bourgeoisie, thus pitting poor and rich citizens against each other. This violates the biblical principles of justice and impartiality in which God commands us not to show favoritism to either the rich or the poor. (See Leviticus 19:15.)

Also, a popular form of contemporary socialism called “critical theory” violates biblical principles by categorizing people based upon their sexual identity, economic status, skin color, ethnicity or gender. Biblically, there is only one human race made in the image of God. In Christ, all the walls that divide humanity have been broken down. (See Genesis 1:27; Galatians 3:28; Ephesians 2:14-22.)

10. Socialists believe the government is responsible for all social care. In socialist and communist countries, the state is responsible for caring for the poor and providing all goods and services necessary for citizens. They would conceptually view families, churches and nonprofits as competition to the state if they attempted to do the same. Contrariwise, Scripture admonishes Christians, churches and ministries to serve as benefactors to their larger secular community as witnesses to the gospel. (See Luke 10:25-37; Galatians 6:10; Titus 2:14; Titus 3:8).

Dr. Joseph Mattera is an internationally known author, consultant and theologian whose mission is to influence leaders who influence culture. He is the founding pastor of Resurrection Church and leads several organizations, including The U.S. Coalition of Apostolic Leaders and Christ Covenant Coalition. Dr. Mattera is the author of 13 bestselling books, including his latest, The Purpose, Power, and Process of Prophetic Ministry, and is renowned for applying Scripture to contemporary culture. To order his books or to join the many thousands who subscribe to his newsletter, go to josephmattera.org. {eoa}

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Life’s challenges can get you down, especially when you feel as if you’ve been on the battlefield, praying and praying without seeing an answer to your prayers.

Robert Henderson, author of 365 Prayers and Activations for Entering the Courts of Heaven, says when it feels like your prayers haven’t been answered, you need a new plan of attack. Instead of going straight to the battlefield in prayer, you should first enter the courtroom of heaven to petition for your rights.

As a child of God saved by the blood of Jesus, you can approach the courtroom of heaven on any basis. Isaiah 43:26 (NLT) says, “Let us review the situation together, and you can present your case to prove your innocence.” To do that, you petition the court by speaking the Word of God and bringing the Lord’s promises to His remembrance. That is your spiritual right. Then you ask to see the reality of your request become evident in your life.

Although it sounds bold, declarations are a part of the court of heaven. God is gracious and just, and He lets us participate in heaven’s courtroom.

According to Hebrews 12:24, the blood of Jesus speaks legally for us. It cries out for redemption, forgiveness, healing and any need we have. Learn to stand on your rights before the throne.

Understanding the court of heaven and how to function within it can be a spiritual game changer. By determining to engage with God on a daily basis, you can renew your mind and gain great power, strength and confidence in your prayer life. The key is knowing that you must first go into the courtroom and present your case before you go to the battlefield in prayer. Jesus is our example; in Revelation 19:11 we see that He first judges and then makes war.

As you learn to function within the courts of heaven, you will see more victory and more answered prayer! {eoa}

Marilyn Hickey founded Marilyn Hickey Ministries more than 45 years ago with God’s vision to cover the earth with the Word. Marilyn co-hosts a daily television program, Today with Marilyn & Sarah, reaching a potential viewing audience of over 2 billion households worldwide. Marilyn communicates deep biblical truths in a way that is understandable and practical for everyday life.

Sarah Bowling is on a mission to connect everyone with the heart of God while loving those who are overlooked, excluded and ignored. Led by Holy Spirit and anchored in the Word, Sarah seeks to inspire all to know the unconditional and transformational love of God in our daily lives. A Bible teacher, author, international speaker and global humanitarian, Sarah also co-hosts a daily television program, Today with Marilyn & Sarah. Please visit marilynandsarah.org/.

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As children, if we think we don’t matter to the people who matter the most to us, it can set up a stronghold in us that says, “I don’t matter to God.” In turn, that can make us not trust the Holy Spirit who lives inside us.

I felt that way about my mother. She had an emotional illness, and I never really knew where I stood with her.

Because Mom didn’t feel well, as the oldest I had a lot of responsibilities. I was needed and felt it. Dad regularly told me I was needed, as did my grandparents. I heard it from everywhere except the one place that really mattered; I didn’t hear it from my mother.

Mom’s fear of crowds made her steer clear of my school events. She didn’t go to my mother-daughter Brownie tea, which was a very big deal to me and really made me feel I didn’t matter to her.

Dismantling the Lie

This became a stronghold in my life. I didn’t know how to deal with the feeling that I was an orphan even though I had a mother.

Retreating to my grandma’s house on the weekends helped. At Grandma’s, all my cares, worries and concerns faded away with the delicious foods she fed me. She also regularly gave me hugs and told me she loved me. The stronghold was still there, but it was drowned out by a growing dependence on comfort foods.

Even after I was married and had children, I had not dealt with the lie, which had now become a firm stronghold. I had simply shelved it, thinking, “That happened when I was a kid. Mom was sick, so I can’t blame her for what she did. I’m an adult now. She’s changed. We’ll let bygones be bygones.”

Getting Help

All this time I was gaining weight, so I decided to go to a counselor to get some help. On my first visit I talked about weight gain. The first thing the counselor asked me was, “Tell me about your mother.” I thought, “What does my mother have to do with my weight gain?”

When I finished talking, the counselor asked, “How do you feel about how your mother treated you?”

I said, “She couldn’t help it. She was sick. She didn’t know what she was doing.”

The counselor gave me the assignment to fill in the blank: I’m angry at my mother because _____. I didn’t think I was angry at Mom, but the exercise helped me see how wrong I was about that. I was very angry at her; I had just never admitted it.

Breaking the Stronghold

The first step toward forgiving anyone is to recognize they have done something that has made us angry. If we pretend we aren’t angry about what happened, it only allows the stronghold to become more embedded so the truth will not permeate it.

For me the stronghold had become, “I don’t matter to Mom, but I’m not angry about it because she was sick. I’m doing just fine eating everything I want to make the pain go away.”

I hadn’t dealt with the real issue, which was that I was angry and needed to forgive Mom. By this time, she had already moved to heaven, but I used the list I had made to forgive her.

I Did Matter to Mom

When my family and I were going through Mom’s things, tucked away in a location in her buffet we found every article I had ever written for organizations, magazines and newspapers.

I didn’t even realize she’d known about many of those articles. I asked Dad how she got them because I knew I hadn’t sent them to her. He said he didn’t know.

Then the truth hit me like a lightning bolt. I did matter to Mom. She was proud of me. She did love me. She had been collecting articles from the time I started my career. She was just silently supporting me.

Holy Spirit Comfort

When I realized this, it broke something else loose inside me. A mother’s role involves comforting, guiding and encouraging her children. If our mothers have filled those roles well, we can better accept the role of the Holy Spirit as One who comforts, encourages and guides us.

Mom hadn’t filled those roles well for me. Even though others filled in for her, I still keenly felt the absence of my mother. Knowing I mattered to her helped me understand that I matter to the Holy Spirit as well, which helped me accept the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

When I thought of comfort, I thought of food because that was one of Grandma’s ways of comforting me. Now I had a different way to look at comfort: it is the abiding presence of the love, peace and power of the Holy Spirit leading me forward. {eoa}

Teresa Shields Parker is the author of six books and two study guides, including her number-one bestseller, Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds and Stopped Trying to Earn God’s Favor. Her sixth book, Sweet Surrender: Breaking Strongholds, is live on Amazon. She is a Christian weight loss coach (check out her coaching group at Overcomers Academy) and speaker. Don’t miss her podcast, Sweet Grace for Your Journey, available on the Charisma Podcast Network. This article first appeared on teresashieldsparker.com. For more on this topic, go to episode 127 of Sweet Grace for Your Journey podcast, “I Matter to God,” https://teresashieldsparker.com/.

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There are two questions I will ask after I get to heaven (but not in this order): first, why was I a New York Yankees fan? In Ashland, Kentucky, all the people I knew were for the Cincinnati Reds. Second, why did John 5:44 — “How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?” (KJV) — grip me in the embryonic phase of my ministry?

It became the key verse by which I sought to be governed for over 65 years. All I know is that I was given a desire early on to please God and not man. I learned later that the fear of man is dangerous. The Bible says it is a snare.

What Is a Snare?

A snare is a trap. It catches you off guard. When you are looking the other way. When you didn’t think it could happen to you. It deceives. You are not likely to see it coming, or you would avoid it. It catches you unaware. You had no idea you were suddenly caught in a mess. Or that you were set up. A snare is what entangles. It is what stops you from moving on. It impedes success. It stops you from reaching your goal.

A snare is a trap used to catch birds or animals. The birds and animals you see in a zoo were caught this way. This is the way we catch fish. I am able to catch a fish because the fish does not know there is a hook in the worm when I am fishing in fresh water or in a shrimp when I am fishing in salt water. Artificial bait looks like the real thing to a fish, but it is a snare — a trap.

Because we are fallen creatures, we are vulnerable to a snare. A snare may catch you in different ways. For example, flattery. Criticism, which may demoralize. Money, which seems so right and good because you are in financial difficulty. Discouragement. Tiredness. Taking the easy way out. The shortest route. The road most traveled. The wide gate.

We can fall into a trap of our own making. It may be called “natural judgment” — you reap what you sow. Yes, it can be the devil (which we will examine below). For example, the failure to pray. The godly Joshua fell into the horrible trap set by the Gibeonites all because he did not take their proposition to God in prayer but negotiated with them on their terms right on the spot (Josh. 9:14-15). Israel paid dearly for it for generations.

We are vulnerable to a trap because we don’t know God’s Word. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:6, ESV). We are commanded to “be ready to give an answer” for what we believe (1 Pet. 3:15, MEV). We are told to be able to handle the truth rightly (2 Tim. 2:15). One of my greatest concerns for the church at the present time is that people do not know their Bibles. When I started preaching in 1954 many laypeople knew their Bibles — backwards and forwards. Today, however, even many preachers don’t know their Bibles.

I myself would never avoid tithing. It is not the guarantee to prosperity, but I have learned a lesson both from Scripture and experience: you cannot outgive the Lord. When I preached on tithing as a pastor there were those who understandably questioned my motives! But I am now retired and preach the importance of tithing all over the world. The only blessing I get from preaching on tithing is that I am consciously honoring God’s Word.

Applying biblical truth with common sense will enable us to avoid a snare — or see it coming and avoid it. The best way to deal with a crisis is to see it coming and avoid it. The best way to keep from falling into sin is to avoid the temptation you know you are vulnerable to.

It is my opinion that most preachers, theological teachers, professors, churches, seminaries, Christian colleges and Bible colleges go liberal for one reason: they want to appear “intellectual.” On the cutting edge. Not behind the times. To get respect from the world. It is sheer pride and the desire for the approval of man that lies behind this.

Paul said, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10, ESV). And yet when we speak of “pleasing man” it is a phrase that often means being motivated by the fear of man, that is, their disapproval. Their approval is worthless but so many of us foolishly let it motivate us.

Temptation to Protect Your Reputation

Whereas a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches (Prov. 22:1), and no sane human being will go out looking for a bad reputation, we can turn our reputation into an idol. The last words of 1 John are, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21, ESV). An idol is not necessarily a wooden image or stone god that people can see. It is anything that might lure you away from desiring the honor and praise that comes from the only God. Jesus did not think of His reputation when it came to those He chose, spent time with or affirmed. Call it fearlessness or courage, you and I should be like this.

Sexual Temptation

The devil often tempts by having someone flatter you. Generally speaking, women are tempted by flattery and touch; men by sight. But men are often easily tempted by flattery too. Satan knows exactly what will tempt you and the type of person that will appeal to you. Billy Graham said that the devil seems to get 75% of God’s best people by sexual temptation.

Joseph, the favorite son of Jacob, forced to live in Egypt, could not have known that Potiphar’s wife would be a trap. Neither did he know that God had earmarked him to be a future governor of Egypt. Joseph avoided falling into her snare — and became a hero of the centuries. What makes me admire Joseph the most is that he resisted sexual temptation when no one would likely find out about it if he slept with Mrs. Potiphar. She would not tell her husband. No one in Egypt would find out unless she told it. None of his family back in Canaan would ever find out. He may have thought to himself, “I don’t deserve to be here. I’ve done nothing wrong. God allowed this situation to happen. He would understand it if I committed adultery in this case.” None of these excuses would he come up with. His reason for refusing to sleep with her were (1) your husband trusts me and (2) God knows; how can I do this thing and sin against God (Gen. 39:8-9). He had integrity and a desire to please God. And that was prior to the giving of the Ten Commandments!

God honored Joseph for his integrity and fear of God. He will do this for you too.

Financial Temptation

“The love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Tim. 6:10, ESV).

John described worldliness as “the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life” (1 John 2:16, ESV). The pride of life is focusing on the here and now rather than eternity. It connects sooner or later to money. And yet it is not money that is the root of all evil; it is the love of money. We all need money. There is a sense in which “money is the answer to everything” (Eccles. 10:19, NASB). And yet one of the most alarming trends in our generation has been the emergence of the “health and wealth,” “name it and claim it,” “believe it and receive it” emphasis, especially on religious TV. It plays directly into people’s love of money and greed. I would not want to be in the shoes of these people who have built their ministry on this sort of emphasis.

Learn Not to Trust Yourself

We should perhaps fear these two things: (1) fear our fear of man because of what it will lead to, and (2) fear the vast potential in your heart to displease God. Here are three scriptures you should get to know intimately:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jer. 17:9, ESV).

“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh” (Rom. 7:18, ESV).

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8, ESV). {eoa}

The preceding is an excerpt from R.T. Kendall’s book, Fear (Charisma House 2022). For more information, or to order the book, please visit mycharismashop.com.

R.T. Kendall was the pastor of Westminster Chapel in London for 25 years. Born in Ashland, Kentucky, he was educated at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv) and Oxford University (DPhil). Kendall is the author of numerous books, including Total Forgiveness, More of God, Word and Spirit, and We’ve Never Been This Way Before.

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Charlie Kirk, host of The Charlie Kirk Show, believes world leaders and business titans are conspiring to destroy Western values and the U.S.’ economic dominance. He met with Pastor Jack Hibbs at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills to talk about The Great Reset, a globalist plan he believes will alter the economy and society as a whole.

Pastor Hibbs prays, then asks Kirk to begin. “This is an intimidating topic for a lot of people,” Kirk says. “And it’s intimidating because when you just read the website of the people that are trying to execute The Great Reset, you feel like you’re reading a conspiracy theory.” Kirk continues, “I think that’s actually part of the strategy.”

Kirk acknowledges the potential complexity of approaching the subject, but reassures the audience that it doesn’t have to be complicated. “So we’ve all heard the term ‘globalists,'” Kirk says. “[Globalists] are people that do not believe in the sovereignty of nations. These are people who don’t believe in borders.” He explains, “They don’t believe there should be any difference between between America or Brazil or Sierra Leone.”

“Globalists [are] trying to microengineer your behavior, the world [and] your decisions. … Let’s just be blunt,” he continues. “They want to play God because they don’t believe in God.”

Addressing the audience, Kirk says, “Everyone here tonight believes in two things. … We believe there is a God, and you are not [He].” After some applause, he continues, “At the World Economic Forum … they believe neither of those things.”

Kirk and Hibbs team up to explain that the leaders of the World Economic Forum have a specific agenda to achieve by 2030. Then Kirk highlights three of the eight specific World Economic Forum goals and why they are not biblical:

1. You’ll own nothing, and you’ll be happy. “You cannot be free without private property,” Kirk says. “Private property is a stop sign and a ‘do not enter’ sign for a tyrant. Every totalitarian dictatorship first gets rid of some form of private property.”

He goes on to show how the first real estate deal that we know of is when Abraham went to Hebron and bought a plot of land for his own burial and the burial of future generations.

“God never condemns owning property,” says Kirk. “In fact, He encourages being able to own property and to be able to trade.”

“Why is private property so important to freedom?” he asks. “It’s very simple. Look at Canada. If you do not have the ability to protect your own stuff, then it’s not yours.”

Kirk explains what would have happened if you were a Canadian trucker who protested. “Your bank account is gone. That means your investments are gone. That means all of your hours you worked are gone instantaneously.”

2. You’ll eat less meat. 1 Timothy 4:1-3 (NKJV) says, “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.”

Kirk briefly references 1 Timothy 4, saying, “This is how you know the Bible is true. One of the last things that Paul writes to young Timothy about the end times [is] about people not eating the things of the earth.” He continues, “That’s awful specific. That’s a big gamble, right? And it’s like, boom, right there! They’re predicting it. The brilliance of the Bible is just so unbelievably beautiful.”

Kirk also addresses why the World Economic Forum wants us to eat less meat. “The gas that cows let off is methane.” Kirk continues, “They are not totally wrong. Honestly, cows do let off a lot of methane. Do I think that is contributing to the downfall of environmental stasis? Absolutely not. I think it’s insane.”

The difference between biblical and secular environmentalism is clear to Kirk. “We must take dominion of the earth,” Kirk says. “It’s there for us. We should give thanks for it, but it’s there so that humans can flourish. They believe that nature and humans are equals, and, at times, they believe nature is supreme and superior.”

3. Western values will be tested to their breaking point. “Western values are an extension of the Judeo-Christian construct, specifically of Christian New Testament teaching,” Kirk explains. “Western values [are] a belief in God, natural rights, separation of powers and consent of the governed. Western values [are] why we are able to have the technological advancements, the medical advancements and the communication advancements that we enjoy.”

Then he lets us in on their secret. “This is code. ‘Western values’? No, no, no. They’re really saying, ‘biblical values.'”

Kirk explains more specifically what he means. “They want to break every single one of the Ten Commandments. Let’s play this out—the smash and grab? ‘Thou shalt not steal.’ ‘Thou shalt not covet’? Oh, that’s pretty easy. How about this? Is there not a concerted effort to try to break the bond between parents and children right now? Of course. You cannot have a Great Reset if parents have strong bonds with their children. That is the only commandment that comes with a promise and that involves your nation.”

“It says in Exodus 12:20, ‘Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you,'” Kirk adds.

Kirk ends with the commandment “You shall not commit adultery,” explaining how this one is being openly broken. “It is now mainstream to try to glorify what I call sexual anarchy in today’s time, right? You can do whatever you want to do whenever you want to do it, however you want to do it.”

In the midst of world leaders and business titans trying to destroy our economy and break Western values, Kirk has some good news for us.

“They thought in January of last year, if they called you insurrectionists, if they sent the Department of Justice after moms and dads, if they wrote memos from the attorney general that they could metaphorically break your will by blitzkrieging you into surrender,” Kirk says.” They thought that after COVID, the deterioration of the currency and the mask mandates that you would [settle] for peace. That was their plan, and that was a really dumb plan.

“And so many of you were like, ‘You know what? I’ve had it,” Kirk adds emphatically. “I want to do more than just watch Tucker Carlson.'”

Kirk talks about the exciting momentum that’s building. “You guys started showing up at school board meetings. You guys started to ask questions. You guys started to run for school board. The American homeschooling population quadrupled in the last year. That’s a threat to The Great Reset.”

“All of a sudden we started to see the rise of the citizen, where all of a sudden, the plumbers, the electricians, the police officers, the teachers, the people that otherwise were on the sidelines, they’re getting into the game,” he continues. “This is no longer where I’m telling you, ‘You guys got to do it.’ You are doing it.”

Watch the entire exchange between Charlie Kirk and Pastor Jack Hibbs above or at this link. {eoa}

Rob Vischer is a freelance writer for Charisma Media.

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Where is the American church? American institutions continue to fall like dominoes to the woke, ungodly culture, with Disney being the latest to succumb.

Disney executives announced they will no longer use gender distinctive language such as “ladies and gentlemen” or “boys and girls” and that they will target children with new transgender-affirming programming.

This should cause every Christian to ask if we are not missing something. As the church of Jesus Christ, should we not have more influence on our culture than LGBT activists? Did Jesus not call His followers the salt of the earth and the light of the world? (See Matt. 5:13-16.) Why is our influence so small? The surprising answer came to me during a recent time of prayer.

As I sat in my chair late one night communing with the Lord, my heart began to grieve because of America’s cultural descent into godlessness and moral confusion. I also grieved over the feckless state of the American church and its inability to stop or even slow the enemy’s onslaught. I then heard the Lord speak to my heart, saying, “There is a lesson for the church today from the life of Samson.”

As I then read and reread the story of Samson in Judges 13-16, it was clear that the word God wants to speak to the church today is consecration. You see, Samson was consecrated as a Nazirite while in his mother’s womb. “Nazirite” comes from the Hebrew word Nazir, which means consecrated or separated. That which is consecrated to God is completely given over to Him.

We Cannot Divorce Power From Purity

The Nazirite vow was a solemn commitment that Samson would live a separated life unto God, wholly dedicated to His purpose. The outward sign of this consecration was that he would never cut his hair. His consecration was the key to his power.

So long as Samson lived in this consecration, he was invincible. He was able to face and overcome everything the enemies of God threw at him. On one occasion, he alone killed a thousand Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey.

There is no reason to believe that Samson was bulging with muscles as portrayed in modern movies and art. It wasn’t the size of his biceps that gave him power; it was the depth of his consecration.

Samson lost his power when he compromised his consecration. He compromised his consecration by consorting with a Philistine woman named Delilah and revealing to her the secret of his power. Then, having lulled Samson to sleep on her lap, she called in the Philistines, who cut off his hair while he slept.

Shorn of his locks and his power, Samson could no longer stand against his enemies. He was taken captive by the Philistines, who gouged out his eyes, bound him with bronze fetters and put him to work pushing a turnstile in a circle all day grinding grain. How the mighty had fallen!

Is it possible that today’s church lacks the power to face down the rampant godlessness and immorality engulfing our culture because, like Samson, we have consorted with the world and compromised our consecration to God?

There Is Still Hope

Even in his weakened and broken state there was hope for Samson. Judges 16:22 tells how Samson’s hair began to grow as he toiled day after day in the prison. This was an outward sign of the renewal of his Nazirite consecration to God.

Then one day during a great celebration in a massive theater, the Philistines brought Samson out to entertain the gathered throng as an object of mirth and ridicule. He was forced to perform for the crowd so they could revel in the humiliation and devastation of the one who had caused them so much pain in the past.

What the Philistines did not realize was that Samson’s hair had grown back—at least to a degree. His consecration had been renewed, and God would display His power through Samson one final time.

After being taunted, mocked and ridiculed, the blind and broken Samson was led by a young man to a place between the two giant pillars that supported the stadium. Samson placed a hand on each pillar and prayed, “Strengthen me, I pray, just this once, O God!” (Judg.16:28, NKJV).

Samson no longer feared death. He wanted victory again more than life itself. As he pushed against the two pillars with all his might, he cried out to God, “Let me die with the Philistines!” (Judg. 16:30). The two pillars gave way, and the stadium came crashing down, killing thousands of Philistines—and Samson with them.

I am here reminded of what Jonathan Edwards prayed just before the Great Awakening transformed New England. Having consecrated himself to God, he desired an awakening more than life itself. With great passion he prayed to God, “Give me New England or let me die.”

We Must Rebuild the Altar of Consecration

When Elijah confronted the 400 false prophets on Mount Carmel, his first act was an act of consecration. At a time when Israel had compromised their faith in Yahweh and were consorting with Baal, Elijah called the nation to renew their consecration to God. Scripture says in 1 Kings 18:30b, “And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.”

The altar was a place of sacrifice—a place of consecration. After repairing the altar of the Lord and placing the sacrifice upon it, Elijah prayed a 20-second prayer, and the fire of God fell from heaven. The mass of people gathered there fell on their faces, crying out, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!” (1 Kings 18:39).

In Roman 12:1-2 (NIV), Paul called on the Roman believers to consecrate themselves to God by making their bodies living sacrifices. He wrote, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God … Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

My Father Builds an Altar and Sees a Display of Power

When my older brother, Pete, was 7 years old, he was run over by a farm tractor and critically injured. He had blood bubbling from his eyes, mouth, nose and ears. My dad rushed him to the nearest hospital, where three doctors examined him and agreed he wouldn’t live more than 10 minutes.

They went on to explain that, even before they took X-rays, they knew from the bleeding that a broken rib had punctured a lung. They then wheeled Pete away for X-rays, and my dad was left alone with his thoughts and questions.

As he stood alone in silence, the thing foremost on my dad’s mind was that for five years he had ignored the call of God to full-time ministry. With only a fourth-grade education as well as a family to care for, it seemed an absolute impossibility that he could become a pastor or minister.

But facing the death of his son, Dad knew he had to respond by building an altar of consecration. Therefore, he stepped into a nearby restroom, raised his right hand and said, “Lord, I’m ready!” It was only three words, but those words came from the depth of his being. It was an act of total surrender. It was a consecration!

Immediately the power of God fell and the gift of faith dropped into my dad’s heart. I heard him tell this numerous times growing up, and in his words, “I suddenly knew that Pete was going to be OK. I didn’t know how I knew, but I knew.”

He came out of the restroom and had to wait to hear from the doctors, but his heart was at peace and full of faith. After about one hour, one of the doctors emerged and said, “Mr. Hyatt, there has been a higher power here tonight.” He then said, “We know your son had a broken rib that had punctured his lung. But we have finished the X-rays, the bleeding has stopped, and there is not a broken bone in his body.”

A nurse who attended the same church as my parents testified that she had never felt the presence and power of God as she did in Pete’s room. My dad’s act of consecration and the ensuing miracle launched him into the ministry. Despite his lack of education and training, he went on to be a successful pastor for many years before his death in 1994.

This Is the Time

It is time for pastors, leaders and churches all across America to rebuild the altars of consecration that are broken down. We must repent for being more concerned with what modern culture thinks of us than what God thinks of us. As we rebuild the altars of consecration, the fire of God will fall, His power will flow and we will see this nation turn back to God. {eoa}

Dr. Eddie Hyatt is an author, Bible teacher, revivalist and church historian. His books documenting America’s birth out of the first Great Awakening are available from Amazon and his website at eddiehyatt.com.

For the original article, visit biblicalawakeningblogspot.com.

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After much prayer, study and consideration, as a Rabbi who is responsible for what the souls in my synagogue are influenced by, I recently decided that we must ban the reading or reciting of the Psalms in our Messianic synagogue as a part of our service. The reason for this decision is that the Psalms, while beautiful and inspirational, were written largely by a sex trafficking rapist and murderer and the sons of a rebellion’s fallen religious leader.

That’s right — the majority of the Psalms were written by King David, while others were written by the Sons of Korach.

Just so you know, we will not be banning the books from the Bible that share the stories of David’s life or the chapters that tell us about Korach and his rebellion because those are history books. But we have made the choice to stop reading and reciting the Psalms publicly. After all, we do not want our congregation to believe we support the actions of those who wrote the Psalms.

I know that some of you who are reading this are questioning the sanity of my position, while others have already reached the conclusion that the truth is that I didn’t really make the decision to ban the Psalms from our synagogue services. Some of you may jump to the conclusion that I am writing this today in response to the news that leaders of several large churches with well-known singing ministries have fallen into sin.

The truth is that I have almost no knowledge of any of the pastors or leaders of these megachurches because I rarely watch Christian television or follow Christian ministries. It was only after I was asked by another Messianic rabbi about whether our synagogue should use music written by a Jewish cantor about whom it was revealed to have lived an unbiblical lifestyle that I began to pray about this topic.

After prayer, here is a list of my considerations in choosing songs that we will use in our synagogue worship services. Of course, you are totally welcome to disagree if you choose.

1. Does the song lead us to worship the Creator or the creation?
2. Is the song consistent with what the Bible teaches?

You will notice that I didn’t list who wrote the song or what ministry they are associated with; that is because, in general, neither the songwriter nor the ministry they belong to will be singing at my synagogue. It is also because I know that G-D can take something written by a broken and sinful person and anoint it to be sung to touch the hearts of other broken and sinful people.

When I was a brand-new believer in Yeshua as my Messiah, I was given a record album (yes, it was that long ago) by a well-known Christian singer. I played that album so many times that I wore it out. I learned every word, and as I would sing each song with joy in my heart, I felt the power and love of G-D surrounding me.

Just a few months afterwards, the news broke that this singer had been busted for cocaine and had been fighting addiction for many years. It turns out that those songs that blessed me so much were written by a singer-songwriter that was addicted to cocaine when he wrote and recorded those songs. I was brokenhearted and hurt until I realized that G-D’s Spirit isn’t limited to anointing the writer or singer of a song. G-D’s Spirit can and does anoint and fill the hearts of the hearers.

Just think about it this way. What if your congregation’s worship team was singing a song that was written by a righteous person that glorified G-D and was consistent with the teachings of the Bible, but a member, or your whole worship team for that matter, had sinned that morning? Would G-D still be able to bless your congregation during that worship service?

Please don’t read this as if I am excusing or making light of anybody’s sins. I am not; it is my prayer that every sinner comes to immediate and complete repentance before G-D.

However, I also know that the Bible is filled with fallen people that G-D used to bless other people. I also know that if you and I are honest with ourselves, and if G-D could only use the parts of our lives where we walked perfectly righteous before Him to bless others … well, I don’t think I need to finish that sentence. {eoa}

Eric Tokajer is the author of Overcoming Fearlessness, What If Everything You Were Taught About the Ten Commandments Was Wrong?, With Me in Paradise, Transient Singularity, OY! How Did I Get Here?: Thirty-One Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before Entering Ministry, #ManWisdom: With Eric Tokajer, Jesus Is to Christianity as Pasta Is to Italians and Galatians in Context.

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