I received an e-mail from a loyal radio listener today that troubles me.She spoke to me in kind words and in good faith.She backed up her point with Scripture.Maybe I am way off track in this ministry.I report on the news. I talk about things that go wrong in the culture and the church.But I always point to our "blessed hope" and our glorious future so that no one need despair.
The listener stated, "As Christians, we belong to a different kingdom. We are in the world, not of the world. The things that you are discussing are inevitable and must come to pass before Christ comes, which means this is the will of God. Our job as Christians is to spread the news that Jesus Christ shed his blood and died on the cross for our sins, and anyone who receives him will be saved from God's judgment that is coming to the earth."
My concern is that there might be legions of people who think this way and that is why so much truth is not being spread.That may be why there are so few "watchmen on the wall." Our first assignment is to spread the gospel, but there is just a small minority of us reporting on issues and events to wake up and shake up an apathetic world and church.
Someone once said that there are those who focus only on current events and downplay the Bible, and there are those who read the Bible but haven't a clue what is happening in our world.I think there should be a balance.
This ministry is committed to helping people understand the times, contend for the faith, and become watchmen on the wall.The Bible says, "But if the watchman sees the sword coming, and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood" (Ezekiel 33:6).Thank you, but I don't want blood on my hands!And I long for every reader and radio listener to become watchmen as well!
She is right that it is the prayers of God's people that change this world! But how do we know how to pray if the various scenarios playing out today aren't explained? Will you hear about them in your pulpit? Will you hear about them from the CBS Evening News? The mainstream media and even some conservative media may report the facts, but they will either be twisted or insufficient.And they will not be from a biblical perspective!
So in this day of apostasy, false teachers, Mid-East madness, and much more, please shout the truth from the rooftops. People are being hurt - and destroyed - for a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). Few will tell the inconvenient truth.What is happening today may be the "will of God" as the woman who e-mailed me said, but I would find it terribly troubling if all of us sat back with that approach and let destruction run amok with few understanding the circumstances involved and no one doing anything to alter those circumstances.
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On another note, a sister ministry to Olive Tree Ministries is Roger Oakland's "Understand the Times." He has done missions work in Myanmar for some years and is attempting to help the tens of thousands whose very own government is blocking aid.If you would like to be a part of that financial effort to raise relief, visit Roger's Web site for instructions on how to donate.
LIVE RADIO THIS WEEKEND:We will have an up-to-date review of the economy with Christian financial analysts John Terry and Jerry Robinson, as well as border-watchman Jim Gilchrist and the author of One Nation Above God, Shane Idleman.We are live Saturday, 9 to 11 AM CDT, on AM980 KKMS, Minneapolis/St. Paul, simulcast with AM820 KGNW, Seattle/Tacoma, 7 to 9 AM PDT. Our other affiliates are tape-delayed. For podcasting, check this link. All programming is posted to our "Radio Archives" by late Monday.You can always "listen live" at www.kkms.com or www.kgnw.com.
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Satan has deceived many by putting a twist to Scripture because he doesn't want us to watch, so he tells us we are not to predict the time of the coming of the Lord or talk about such things. But Jesus said, "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." - Matthew 25:13. Since no one knows the exact day or hour is WHY we are told "to watch," and we are even given signs to watch for. But many accept Satan's twist of "don't watch." That is contrary to Jesus' command, "Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto ALL. Watch." Mark 14:36,37. Keep up the good work. You're on the side of TRUTH. Click here to reply to this post
IT IS NOT GOD'S WILL THAT MEN BE TEMPTED TO SIN
Posted On: 05/21/08 09:29:37 AM
Age 64, OH
It is NOT GOD'S WILL THAT MEN SIN. It is NOT GOD'S WILL THAT MEN ARE EVEN TEMPTED TO SIN. James 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, NOR DOES HE TEMPT ANYONE; 14but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.--Jesus told Adam NOT to eat of the tree and it was not God who tempted Eve but it was Satan. Jesus preached against sin while He was here on this earth as a Man and He was so zealous about this preaching that the leaders of the church of that day hung Jesus on the Cross. But THIS WAS THE WILL OF GOD, that Jesus die on the cross and shed His blood for us. Eph 1:4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will. REV 13:8All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN FORM THE CREATION OF THE WORLD- It was not God's will that any should sin but it was God's will that He become a Man born of a woman and die for us on that tree for God knew that we would sin and He wanted us to know that He loved us.- We have to pick up our cross and follow Jesus daily. If we follow Jesus they will crucify us and we will die for Him. Then we will be like Him. What better thing could happen to anyone. Lou Click here to reply to this post
So where have the watchmen been hiding? Huh?
Posted On: 05/20/08 11:16:03 PM
Age 48, IL
I've seen on U-Tube that B. Obama has mistaken our 48 contiguous states for the 57 territories that are of Islam--a Freudian slip? He's complained during taped debate that lobbists are not allowed to feed him a sit-down dinner (he originally complained they were not allowed to feed him at all but got caught in that little lie)and his own autobiography (that means he wrote it) says "if the political climate turned ugly, I would back the Muslims" Where are your wall watchmen, people? Bill Federer's books, which are comprised of historical entries from the Library of Congress, concludes the Muslims were the original historical slavers, and they weren't picky about whom they enslaved. Color didn't matter--they were equal opportunity enslavers. They have the religious ok-dokey to lie about anything to anyone but their own males, but cannot salute our flag, indicating their allegiance to anyone but Allah! Oregon, get your act together! There is no middle ground--one cannot be both Muslim and Christian because of incompatible doctrines. If it walks and quacks like a duck--then it is one no matter if it clucks like a harmless hen when someone's looking. Yes, I'm from Illinois--something's fishy here, and I didn't get this info until recently and now it is too late for our state! Click here to reply to this post
Stand at watch...and stand again...
Posted On: 05/20/08 09:51:05 AM
Age 65, CA
Why do we insist on believing that whatever happens is always, somehow, God's Will?
We know that God allows things to go on in the Earth that is expressly not His Will...It wasn't His will that Israel would have a king until Yahshua came...it was not His Will that Israel should be divided and held captive many time...we are always acting outside His stated Will...we pray
"thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven...and even there in Heaven, it is not His Will that a third of His angels will follow satan...He has not imposed His Will on us...and to believe all that goes on in this world is His Will just because it happens, is to think evil of Yahweh our Father and Creator. He is not capable of evil, but He is capably wrathful, jealous, vengeful and He will meet out appropriate justice and punishment when He decides that the time of His patience has come to an end. Click here to reply to this post
Was passivity the Christian answer to slavery?
Posted On: 05/20/08 08:53:40 AM
Age 46, IL
Jan,
People like your critic do not seem to think very deeply.
I always want to ask these people if they believe the Christian abolitionists should have remained silent?
Consider the words of Booker T. Washington:
"If no other consideration had convinced me of the value of the Christian life, the Christlike work which the Church of all denominations in America has done during the last 35 years for the elevation of the black man would have made me a Christian."
(Up From Slavery, 1907)
Would it have been godlier to ‘love the Nazis to Christ’ and wait for them to stop killing the Jews than to forcefully confront them?
By examining this claim outside of our own cultural context we can recognize it for the nonsense it really is.
Ironically, although speaking out for righteousness is usually met with tremendous hostility by unbelievers, the church is blamed for the moral silence of its past, including its uneven response to the Abolition movement, the Holocaust, and even the Civil Rights movement. Christian inactivity in the face of injustice during those times didn’t communicate purity, but approval of great evil.
James 5:20 says, “Who ever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”. Click here to reply to this post
identifying the will of God
Posted On: 05/19/08 11:51:32 AM
Age 49, OH
Jan, I am in complete agreement with the way that you speak out and bring these many issues to light for so many of us out here that need to be aware of what is happening. Because the listener mentioned that something was God's will, well obviously that's true or it would not happen. But I'd like to take this opportunity to suggest that your readers/listeners read the appendix in John Piper's book "The Pleasures of God", entitled "Are There Two Wills In God?". This article describes John's viewpoint on scriptures which seem to be contradictory, but in fact are just showing us the different ways that God's ultimate will is manifest. I believe that the Bible teaches that we'll never have it all figured out perfectly this side of Heaven, but John's teaching here is a good way of addressing what is otherwise a point of confusion at times. Thanks so much for your good work Jan, and God bless! Click here to reply to this post
The greater commission
Posted On: 05/18/08 08:50:18 AM
Age 61, MO
We are appointed to be IN the world, but with the mind of Christ. In Luke 19:11-27, commonly refered to as the parable of the pounds, Jesus instructs His servants (disciples) to OCCUPY. The word "occupy" translates from the Greek to "trade" or "be busy." The "pounds" are the Gospel Message. Jesus rewards the servants who multiplied the Pound (Message), but severely chastised one servant who hid his pound in a napkin. Believers are not permitted to hide the Light they have been given under a bushel. (Matthew 5:15). It should be natural for believers to identify and confront the iniquities of the world. God may allow these iniquities as trials, temptations, and tribulations, but they are not His Will. He has given us the whole armor of God (Christ) that we may stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11-12). "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and WATCHING thereunto with all perserverance and supplication for all saints." (Ephesians 6:18). Complacency is not an option. George Cancilla Click here to reply to this post
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