The following is the sermon p0ints from the sermon I preached Sunday November 18, 2012.
Blessed is the People…
Psalm 89:15-18
1. The people who know the joyful sound;
2. The people who are in fellowship with the LORD;
3. The people who are in the light of His countenance;
4. The people rejoice all day;
5. The people are exalted in His Righteousness;
6. The people have the LORD as the glory of our strength and power;
7. The people have the LORD as King and Defender.
-tim
Add your thoughts here… (optional)
Friday was a potentially game-changing day for Israel. For the first time since 1970, Iranian-made missiles were fired at Jerusalem from terrorists in Gaza. Missiles were also fired from Gaza at Tel Aviv. Air raid sirens were blaring in both cities this evening, rattling residents because of their exceedingly rare nature. As I write this late Friday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and his Security Cabinet have been meeting for several hours behind closed doors. One decision has been made for certain: Israel is now calling up 75,000 reserve soldiers, not the 30,000 that were just approved on Thursday.
The big question now: Will the Palestinian terrorists’ attacks on Jerusalem, Israel’s political and religious capital — and Tel Aviv, its largest population center and its commercial capital — trigger an IDF ground invasion of Gaza?
Israel is certainly moving rapidly to prepare for such a possibility. Tanks and armored vehicles are being moved into position surrounding…
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Lord, Give peace to Jerusalem through your Son Jesus.
(Netanya, Israel) — Night is falling here in the Holy Land. I was just emailing with a former U.S. presidential candidate about the latest developments here in Israel, and I thought I’d share the same information with you.
Short version: it’s been a challenging week.
Here are 8 developments you need to know about.
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Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, ‘Thus saith the Lord GOD; ‘Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: and I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: and I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it,’ saith the Lord GOD. ‘And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the LORD. So will I make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let them pollute My holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.'” Ezekiel 39:1-7 (KJV)
God honors His Word. It will come to pass just as He says.
-T.A.
The word of the LORD came again unto me, saying, ‘Moreover, thou son of man, take thee one stick, and write upon it, ‘For Judah, and for the children of Israel his companions:’ then take another stick, and write upon it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel his companions:’ and join them one to another into one stick; and they shall become one in thine hand. And when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee, saying, ‘Wilt thou not shew us what thou meanest by these?’ Say unto them, ‘Thus saith the Lord GOD; ‘Behold, I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel his fellows, and will put them with him, even with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they shall be one in Mine hand. And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them, ‘Thus saith the Lord GOD; ‘Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: and I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be My people, and I will be their God. And David My servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in My judgments, and observe My statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and My servant David shall be their prince for ever. Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set My sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore. My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be My people. And the heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore.'” Ezekiel 37:15-28 (KJV)
The LORD of hosts will accomplish His purposes for His people. No matter how difficult it may seem; or how far out the way His people may get; He will bring them to Himself again.
-T.A.
I posted this four years ago as President Obama was elected President of the United States of America. I repost it today, because it still holds true. It is time for God to work; and for Christians to pray and be vibrant witnesses for Christ; no matter what may come our way.
God’s Appointed King or President???
Recently I have read emails, comments on blogs, and heard some asking the question or making comment as to whether God’s will was done in the past election of President Elect Barrack Obama. In my mind and thinking I have seen how the election turned out, but was not surprised.
No! The candidate I voted for was not elected. I was disappointed and could have been, and still could be quite fearful of what lays ahead for the United States of America; the home of the free, and land of the brave. I have known and believed for years in the sovereignty of God, and have seen God at work in the hearts and lives of others and in myself. I have learned that no matter what man does the will of God is not thwarted; His will is done whether we go our own way, or choose His way.
Others who are concerned with our “free will” can believe that we overthrow God’s will. That is frivolous thought. How can a created being, such as we are, overthrow the will of the All-Knowing, All-Powerful, All-Present, and Immutable God? The “free will” of humanity does in fact work with the sovereignty of God, God is glorified, and His will is done. I cannot explain that any clearer, but that is what I learn through the reading of Scripture.
If we are fearful that God’s will was not done in the election of Barrack Obama as our President, then, we are in fact not trusting the sovereign hand of our God. I do not know what lays ahead for our country, but I do know that whatever it is is in the hands or our Almighty God.
God has been merciful to us for the past eight years and longer. We may now be in for a period of judgment, but let us not lose heart, and fear that “God’s will was not done”. As Christians we must believe God’s Word when He tells us;
“And He changeth the times and the seasons: He removeth kings, and setteth up kings: He giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding…” Daniel 2:21 (KJV)
Since Barrack Obama is set to be our President, then we need to pray for him, his family, his decisions concerning cabinet members, and his time as President of our nation. Christian we are obligated by God to respect the man as our leader, to pray for him, and obey him.
Paul the apostle has written;
“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.” Romans 13:1-6 (KJV)
The “higher powers” of which Paul mentions are rulers of nations, and governments of States, cities, etc.. It seems to me that our God has placed every ruler who has ever lived, and who is living today in their place. Was the will of God done with Hitler in power in his day? Whether we like it or not; or whether we understand it or not we must say YES! The rise and fall of kings and nations is in the hand of God, and as Paul writes, “For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God”.
You may disagee with this assessment, but it seems to me that the argument is not with me, but God. Talk to Him about it.
When we reach the place where we trust these matters to His hands, then, we as Christians can have peace, stop complaining, belittling the man who will be our next national leader, and then effectively pray for him.
I am actually excited about what lays ahead. It is after all in the hands of our Lord.
-Tim A. Blankenship
Please note: I did remove one paragraph that was in the original post that did not relate to this years election; they were concerning Prop 8 in California, and an issue in Arkansas as well where the people still decided for moral issues on Marriage and adoption.
This from a brother in Christ who is much more knowledgeable of world and USA events than yours truly. May we all go out and vote with a Christian/Biblical mindset.
In less than 24 hours, Americans will go to the polls to decide the most important and decisive presidential and Congressional election since 1860. The stakes are high and the country is deeply divided. Many evangelical Christians are fired up and heavily engaged in this election, feeling strongly for one candidate or the other. Other Christians are disappointed by the choices and feeling unmotivated to turn out at the polls at all on Tuesday. They’re wondering, “Does my vote matter? What’s the point? Should Christians be involved in the political process at all, or should we just say to both political parties, ‘A pox on both your houses?'”
Having lived and worked in Washington, D.C., for more than two decades and having had the opportunity to work inside the world of policy and politics as a follower of Jesus Christ, I have come to several conclusions about what role all Americans—and particularly…
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This Christian sister has something worth hearing. -t.a.
In the last four years, human life has been placed more at risk. The “right to life” that America promises to guard and protect has diminished. The life of the unborn – and, therefore, also the born – has been declared of value only if that life is convenient and wanted.
In the last four years and under a government that seems to have another allegiance, a cruel blow has been dealt to the sanctity of human life, the institution of marriage and the guardianship of children. Generations will pay dearly.
Here’s what I see. The king sets himself and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us” (Psalm 2:2-3).
In the past four years, this government has passed over the Creator of life in the scramble to feed the ravenous coffers…
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And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, ‘Son of man, say unto her, ‘Thou art the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation. There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. Her priests have violated My law, and have profaned Mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, ‘Thus saith the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD hath not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery, and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none. Therefore have I poured out Mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads,’ saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 22:23-31 (KJV)
There is One who stands as our hedge of protection and is the one Man who stands in the gap between God and men; the Man Christ Jesus (1 Timothy2:5).
-T.A.
For the past six years when our church conducts its monthly Business Meeting I read a portion of Scripture to open our sessions. This past month I read Psalm 12; and verse 8 really “Jumped off the page” and into my heart. It was as though I had never read it before. I post today Psalm 12:6-8, and pray you will see why.
The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, Thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever. The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.” Psalm 12:6-8 (KJV)
The following are the notes from The MacArthur Study Bible:
“12:7,8 The hostile realities of v. 8 call for the heavenly resources of v.7.”
-T.A.
Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” Ezekiel 18:23
‘Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways,’ saith the Lord GOD. ‘Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth,’ saith the Lord GOD: ‘wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.'” Ezekiel 18:30-32 (KJV)
-T.A.
The Fire and Hammer 