Villain or Victim

Hamas and others claim that Israel is the villain in this war in the Middle East.  But visual and verbal proof from Hamas own troops’ body cameras tell a very different and horrific story. 

Every story has a villain, yours and mine do too. You and I were born into a world at war.

Today the devil goes back and forth throughout the earth seeking those he can devour but he still has access to the heavenlies and accuses us to our great GOD (see Job 1 and 2).  We are told that one day Satan will lose the battle against Michael and his angels, “he will be hurled to the earth, and his angels with him” (Revelation 12:9), barred from free access to the heavens wherein now he moves.

Amir Tsarfati likes to call it ‘the great exchange’.  Christians go up in the Rapture to meet JESUS in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Revelation 4:1) and Satan is thrown down (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7) and not long after the 7-year Tribulation/ Jacob’s Trouble begins when JESUS begins opening the 7 seals of the scroll (Revelation 6).

But meanwhile, right now, on this earth there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of fallen angels -foul spirits, bent on our destruction. And Satan’s mood? He is filled with fury, seeking those he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Yes, he roves back and forth across the earth (Job 1:7), and comes not but to kill, steal and destroy (John 10:10) and deceiving many with his lies.

Although we have an enemy and are at war, there is a Savior. JESUS CHRIST our LORD and Savior is Greater.  HE has given everyone who believes (trusts) in HIM the HOLY SPIRIT and GREATER is HE (the HOLY SPIRIT) within us than he (the devil) who is in the world (I John 4:4).

In YOU O LORD, I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in YOUR righteousness. Deliver me speedily; be my rock of refuge, a fortress of defense to save me (Psalm 31:1-2).

Looking unto JESUS and for, the Author and Perfecter of my faith.

hugs

Sharon

GOD is fair

GOD is just. HE does what is right.

The war in Israel is being talked about everywhere along with videos the horror of it’s beginning, plus Israel’s retaliatory actions necessary in order to stop further attacks of like nature not only from the south but also from the north.

Israel WARNED Gaza’s residents to leave before they bombed.  That was Mercy to the unmerciful. Just as our great GOD and Savior the LORD JESUS taught us (Micah 6:8, Matthew 5:7).

I pondered on that WARNING given to Gaza before Israeli active retaliation against the terrorists. It gave the citizens time to leave, which is something Israel is known to do before civilians are affected.  That WARNING makes me think about how Israel’s need to strongly retaliate in order to stop further such attacks is like GOD’s need to stop sin but cause it only increases.

GOD’s WARNING is what we believers are to give out to the unbelievers.  It says “GOD so loved the world that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that whosoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “He who believes on the SON has everlasting life, and he that believes not on the SON shall not see life, but the wrath of GOD abides on him still” (John 3:36.

Just as the Jews must stop these attacks for they will only get worse, so GOD must stop sin. HE must utterly wipe it out. Yet GOD does not delight in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn and live (Ezekiel 18:23, 32). 

In the ALMIGHTY’s longsuffering HE sends out the WARNING both through HIS word and HIS believers longing for people to reach out to HIM and be saved (Acts 17:27).  But the day of reckoning, that day of the attack has been set (2 Peter 3:7) we call it the 7-year Tribulation or Jacob’s Trouble.  No one knows when it will happen, but when it comes it will come suddenly unsuspecting.

Have you fled to safety by believing in the LORD JESUS CHRIST’s blood that saves from the coming wrath of GOD?

As I thought of these things I recognized that this is a picture of what is coming. Israel is giving us a view of GOD’s wrath.  

We have a hard time watching, but seeing the escalation of sin we know it is necessary.

Surprisingly, many nations who usually condemn Israel’s defense of themselves are now in support of Israel.  By that very action we know this isn’t yet the time of the  Ezekiel 38 and 39 war. For the Bible is clear that at that time, though many nations will say to the aggressors why are you attacking Israel, no nation will help Israel.

Be ready for we know not the day.

Hugs

Sharon

The war

Just days from now will mark a year from the beginning of the war in Ukraine and although many of us have prayed, most of us have never endured the horrors of a physical war like they have and are experiencing.  But each of us have had arguments and fights.  Our arguments are generally with people, although the Bible tells us that they are not our enemy.  We need to know who our enemy really is.

We see government and global leaders and activists doing stuff we just plain don’t like, but GOD says they are not the enemy.  They may be being used by our enemy, but most likely they are just people, people who need JESUS.

For we do not wrestle with flesh and blood, but against (evil) principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts (armies) of wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

We are human but we don’t wage war with human plans and methods. We use GOD’s mighty weapons not mere worldly weapons to knock down the devil’s strongholds of lies and take captive those tempting thoughts by talking them over with CHRIST JESUS (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).

What are those weapons?

In the beginning, the Bible tells us in Genesis 1, GOD spoke and everything was created. HIS word created. At the end of the Bible, in Revelation 19:15, we see JESUS riding a white horse, followed by all the armies of heaven all riding white horses. But it is JESUS alone who slays all the enemy armies single handed with the double-edged sword coming out of his mouth.

Hebrews 4:12 “The word of GOD is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword…”

Ephesians 6:17 “The sword of the SPIRIT is the word of GOD…”

In Matthew 17:20-21 tells us of another of GOD’s weapons. It says anything is possible if we have faith. “Faith comes from hearing and hearing from a word from GOD” (Romans 10:17). Again, we have GOD speaking and showing us what to pray or speak aloud.

In order to get what we need, we are told to run to the throne of GOD to obtain HELP in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). We call that prayer. In prayer GOD the HOLY SPIRIT directs our minds to what we should do.

Three mighty weapons: GOD’s word, faith in GOD’s word and prayer according to GOD’s word. GOD offers these to each of HIS children. Yes, they are available to each of us. And just like physical weapons, we need to use them for them to do us any good. The weapons are GOD’s Word, faith in GOD found by grabbing a hold of HIS promises (HIS word) (2 Peter 1: 1-4), then praying and being directed according to HIS word.

Are you, am I in HIS word daily giving GOD an opportunity to prepare us for what we will face each day?  Do we allow the Word of GOD to speak to us and direct us so that armed with GOD’s weapons we are ready to use them when the enemy attacks?

Looking unto JESUS, the Author and Perfecter of my faith.

Hugs

Sharon L Manning

Did GOD do it?

Did GOD cause this war?

GOD’s ways and thoughts are as far above ours as the furthest star is from the earth (Isaiah 55:8-9).  Consequently, we can only know things about HIM that HE chooses to reveal to us through HIS HOLY SPIRIT.  These truths are often impressed on us as we read or hear HIS written word or see HIM at work in the lives of people or are amazed by HIS creation (1 Corinthians 2:10). 

I have found a key to being sensitive to hearing GOD’s voice and being open to be taught by HIM as I study HIS word is to take note of the details that GOD reveals about HIMSELF and ponder them.  The more you know things true concerning GOD, the more you will be able to trust and obey HIM. As one put it, the most important thing about you is what you think about when you think of GOD.

Today in Bible study, one of the gals said she believed that GOD had moved men to do something that would be harming innocent people.  She went on the basis that GOD is in control.  In believing that GOD is Sovereignly in control, she was right.  She felt that since GOD could have stopped the fighting, that the fighting was HIS fault. 

Let’s look at one thing true about GOD.  “Let no man say when he is tempted (to do wrong), I am tempted of (by) GOD: for GOD cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts HE any man. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:13-4).

In other words, GOD cannot be enticed (lured or encouraged) to do anything wrong, nor will HE ever entice (lure or encourage) anyone to do wrong.

But since GOD gave mankind the ability to choose, men often choose to do wrong.  Now GOD knew us so completely before we were even born that HE saw how we would react in every situation we would encounter.  And yet HE still gave us the ability to choose for it was through our choices that we would see our own sins and either choose them or choose the LORD by going to HIM for help.

In Ephesians 3:10 and 1 Peter 1:2 we are given hints concerning the why GOD allows evil for a time and season. And our struggles show that GOD is just and the justifier of all who believe on the name (character and sacrificial work of JESUS on the cross) of JESUS.

Wars, like we are seeing between Russia and the Ukraine, and in Syria are caused by the lusts of men (James 4:1-2) not GOD moving us as chess pieces. Yet, what man means for evil, GOD uses for good to fulfill HIS purposes (Genesis 50:20). That is an amazing, mind-boggling concept.  HIS power, as well as HIS knowing all things beforehand, explains in part the wisdom of GOD’s eternal plans.

We are encouraged if we hold onto two truths when wrong seems to flourish,

1) every single trouble that comes upon a believer GOD is actively using to achieve eternal good for us that far surpasses the pain of today (2 Corinthians 4:15-18).

2)“Vengeance is MINE says the LORD, I will repay” (Romans 12:19).  Every wrong will be made right and that truth is why there must be a 7-year Tribulation for the unbelieving Jews and the Gentiles who have rejected JESUS as their LORD. It also explains the everlasting lake of fire.

But we who are in CHRIST JESUS by believing in HIM (John 3:16, 36, 1 Corinthians 12:13, 27) are also in the love of GOD which is found in CHRIST JESUS our LORD (Romans 8:39). Through faith we have become the children of GOD (John 1:12) and are guaranteed an inheritance and are protected by GOD HIMSELF.  Praise the LORD!

Remember that old saying, “The devil made me do it?”  Well, that old devil may persuade and deceive us, but he doesn’t have the power to make us do anything. Although GOD does have the power to do anything, HE does not use it as a puppeteer.  For HE has freely given man choice.  They (the devil and GOD) both make their suggestions clear but, in every case, we choose what we do.

The choice is yours.

Hugs

Sharon

Look up!

Wow! If you are following the world news like I am, you saw today the reaction of the world’s leaders to the Russian President Putin actions and the Supreme Ruler of Iran’s statement which indicate something big has changed.  It’s not just about the Ukraine and may lead to World War 3 or for a lift off of believers in JESUS (called the Rapture see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 as pictured in Revelation 4:1) just prior to the beginning of the 7-year Tribulation. 

I say may because we just don’t know the timing of all of this.  These things must happen because GOD said they would, but we don’t know when it will all take place.  What we do know without a doubt is we are in GOD’s hands. Our LORD JESUS has instructed, encouraged, and promised us awesome things.

And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet (Matthew 24:6).

Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in GOD, believe also in ME (JESUS).  In my FATHER’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto MYSELF; that where I am (in heaven), there you may be also John 14:1-3.

So, fear not but look up for your redemption draws near (Luke 21:28), and tell someone about JESUS today!

Hugs

Sharon