HOW DID WE LOSE THEM? (PART 1)

Psalm 44: 1-3 (NKJV)

We have heard with our ears, O God,
Our fathers have told us,

The deeds You did in their days,

In days of old:

² 

You drove out the nations with Your hand,

But them You planted;

You afflicted the peoples, and cast them out.

³ 

For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword,

Nor did their own arm save them;

But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance,

Because You favored them.

The worldview of most people today goes only as far back as the day they were born. This is because there is such a lack of adults passing on their knowledge, of almost anything. It is becoming worse with each new generation. To compound this travesty, we also have a glaring lack of Biblically sound parents who are passing on the Knowledge and Wonder of the Lord to their children as may have been passed on to them.

The reason I say "may have been" is the proof we have just out from Barna Research (May 2013) that 59% of teens from age 18 to early twenties drop out of church, after going regularly most of their lives, while growing up! I see it in churches I have attended all my life and even up to now! This is horrible and not just an indictment of preachers clowning around in the pulpit and running the church as their own turfs or businesses, but parents who have no sense of God themselves. Sometimes you wonder if these people - both the preacher and the parent - are even saved and converted themselves!

Just look at this wonderful psalm above and marvel at the words of men who have always been told of the Goodness of God, who is not just deliverer from evil, but provider. The very last line above where he says "...because You favored them"....unless you have testimony time in a church on Sunday nights, which is a dying tradition, you will hardly hear gratitude like this where folks testify and glorify the King "because He favored them".

The bottom line is we are full of all kinds of noise, speed and light and no substance. Our own churches are just as guilty. I was once a member of church leadership and resigned rather than have to face judgment for any transgression against this same 59% we allowed to walk away from Christ, because we were playing church. I don't want that on my conscience. This is why my entire focus for the past decade is to make sure no stone is unturned, as much as possible to do the best I can to reach as many as I can for the Truth.

Over the next several posts, we will go deeper into some of the newest research to find the root of how we got where we are - in the depths of a spiritual pit....and Lord willing - what does God expect us to do about it. In the meantime, you and I need to pray very hard for even our own children who are walking in Christ in their early 20's s still - that they mature in Him and His Word. If we have any child who is not yet converted to righteousness and salvation - double down on your knees. Time is too short!

MILLSTONE NECKTIE COMPANY EXPANDS TERRITORY

 

The Collins English  World Dictionary describes a Millstone as  a pair of heavy flat disc-shaped stones that rotate against each other to grind grain. It was used for thousands of years until the modern day of grinding wheat etc into flour. A millstone is also "a heavy burden". It is something that weighs or crushes a person down - as in the saying "his credit card debt was like a millstone around his neck". The implication of such a statement is that the crushing weight of such a heavy debt is so intense that it takes a person down further, and you never get rid of it!

This is exactly what Jesus meant when he said in Mark 9:42 that “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea"! In the original language, here is what Jesus LITERALLY and FEARFULLY to those who practise this evil, said "THOSE WHO OFFEND AND CAUSE SHOCK TO THE SMALLEST OF THOSE WITH WHOM I HAVE BEEN ENTRUSTED, IT WOULD BE BETTER FOR THAT PERSON IF HE/SHE WERE FITTED FOR THE BOTTOM PART OF THAT MILLSTONE (SEE THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PHOTO ABOVE)....AND THEN THAT PERSON WERE DROPPED INTO THE SEA!"

If anyone think this is a picnic, they are sadly mistaken. This is the FIERCE WRATH of the CREATOR OF ALL THINGS, THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF HEAVEN'S ARMIES, THE REAL BOSS OF THE CLIMATE AND THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF ETERNITY AND THE EXECUTIONER. Yet, evil people continue to pollute this country with filth and degradation, ad nauseum. It does not matter if it is Victoria's Secret marketing inappropriate underwear to little children or Abercombie and Fitch's catalogs or MTV or NBC TV or....any number of music, movies or books.

Now we have people in government saying children from 15 years old can buy an abortion pill over the counter - the same kids who cannot take a Tylenol to school...or in some cases a Bible. Now some liberal politicians in the Illinois State House have rushed a Sex Education mandate through the Illinois House into the Senate to force some of the most vile sex teaching upon kids as young as 10 years old into all kinds of weird sexual indoctrination. Here is what Laurie Higgins of the Illinois Family Institute wrote in part (read the entire article here):

.......What’s shocking is that during the House debates, no research was provided. State Representatives Robyn Gabel (D-Evanston) stated and Camille Lilly (D-Chicago) concurred that “numerous studies show that comprehensive sexual health education that stress abstinence as well as provides information on prevention results in positive health outcomes for teens and young adults,” but neither representative cited any study.

In addition, they didn’t claim that these numerous studies proved that comprehensive sex ed reduced the rates of teen pregnancy or STDs. Even more troubling, neither Gabel nor Lilly claimed that these numerous studies proved comprehensive sex ed is more effective than SRAs in reducing rates of teen pregnancy, STDs or even in “positively affecting health outcomes.”

Lilly claimed that a Center for Disease Control (CDC) study had concluded that “comprehensive sex ed is more effective than abstinence only,” but she did not identify that study. I could find only two CDC studies on this topic, one from 2009 and one from 2012, both of which concluded that there was insufficient data to make a determination about the efficacy of abstinence curricula. In addition, she didn’t explain what the alleged CDC study claims comprehensive sex ed is more effective at doing.

Supporters in the House repeatedly emphasized the requirement in this bill that information in sex ed must be medically accurate. That is a point with which no one disagrees. The concern of many is with the ambiguous terms “age-appropriate” and “complete.” Typical comprehensive sex ed curricula include information regarding sexuality that many parents and educators consider age-inappropriate.

Similarly, the term “complete” is woefully ambiguous. Who decides what constitutes a “complete” curriculum? We now have campus clubs at the University of Chicago and Harvard dedicated to sadomasochism. Does a “complete” curriculum address the importance of “safe” words for those teens who may engage in sadomasochistic sexual activities? After all, some teens are engaging in these kinds of activities, so shouldn’t we ensure their “safety”? ....

Not satisfied with having the worst public school system in the midwest (to which they won't even send their own kids to), these Chicago-area liberals are also promoting a book which should outrage parents and WILL bring those promoting this to the Lord's attention. David Smith of the Illinois Family Institute wrote the following about a most troubling part of the Chicago-land Sex Ed HB2675 mandate to the Illinois schools:

[**WARNING: content of this article is not suitable for children.**]

.....When you hear the term “comprehensive” as a way to describe legislation, you can be sure the government has big plans to invade a new corner of your life.  “Comprehensive sex education” for public schools is no exception.  That’s why it’s critical HB 2675 be stopped!

HB 2675 would mandate that  highly objectionable sex ed material be forced on our public schools and into the impressionable minds of our children.   HB 2675 has already passed in the Illinois House and has moved to the Illinois Senate. Lawmakers must fully understand the type of curriculum this bill would mandate.

And we need your help to inform them and to safeguard children’s innocent minds!

For an good exposé of what our children are being taught and the rationale behind these types of curricula, which often come from organizations like Planned Parenthood, watch this video from American Life League.  [**WARNING: the content of this video is not suitable for children.**]

We know for certainty that one of the books mentioned in the video, It’s Perfectly Normal, is being used in Illinois schools.  It’s Perfectly Normal is written with 10-yr-old children in mind.  If the “comprehensive” sex education bill, HB 2675, is passed, it will establish a one-size-fits-all approach to sex education and remove local community control over choosing true “age- appropriate” curriculum, another term used in the bill.  (See what the national organization for “comprehensive” sex ed curricula, SEICUS, deems as “age-appropriate.”)

If HB 2675 is passed, young children will be exposed to graphic sexual information to which most parents would find highly objectionable and inappropriate. And teaching books like It’s Perfectly Normal will become more prevalent state-wide.  

According to HB 2675, children as young as eleven years old would be required to define sexual orientation using the so-called ‘correct’ terminology, such as ‘heterosexual, gay, and lesbian.’  Masturbation would be taught as normal and that everyone does it, with step-by-step instruction. Not just the biology of sexual reproduction would be presented, but explicit details of sexual intercourse. Slightly older children would be ‘educated’ on how to use condoms, obtain contraceptives or even an abortion without parental consent or knowledge, and would be encouraged to experiment with ‘alternative’ sexual behaviors.  

This bill has already passed the Illinois House, and is now being considered by the entire Senate. Please join us in trying to stop this terrible bill!  This sensitive topic should be controlled by parents and teachers, not groups who are in the business of selling sex to make a profit.....

This is the kind of stuff we expect out of those people in Sacramento, California which is sinking further into the cesspool of sin. If you have to put a warning about a warning, why are so called adults pushing this on schools to "teach" to children?! It all boils down to a this - our society has completely lost its Fear of the Lord, which we, the Remnant know, is the beginning of wisdom. But no one has ever accused those people of being wise. Let us then resolve to keep praying for our children - ALL our children - who are under assault by those who could care less about their immortal souls and their physical well-being. Our mission should be to share the love, power and transforming Grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who will deal with all this other stuff, on the Appointed Day.
Amen

OUTRAGES OF THE WEEK, PART 2

Columbus, Texas High School track team
 disqualified for Christian gesture

Since the LORD died on the Cross, rose again and did away with the Old Covenant (which Israel still lives under) men and women have given their lives by the millions to testify about the Transforming Power of the Truth of Jesus Christ. Even before that, the evil one - Satan, has tried to stop the Truth of God from going forth as he attacked mankind right up front, from Genesis 3.

The two verifiable truths have existed for almost 6000 years of Creation now in direct conflict with each other. We, who are saved...and being sanctified into the Image of His Very Son, know the entire scenario because our worldview is vertical. The learned, the "edumakated", the elite, the media, the politicians, the pagans of the United Nations and others like them are uni-focused. This is so because their view is horizontal, as is their man-made "religions". Our vertical view includes the ability to see the horizontal and discern. Their horizontal view is earth based and not grounded in the Eternal. They can only see their worldview from the lens of their own spiritually lost ignorance. 

Oh, they will be offended that the Redeemed of the Lord, said so! How dare we, the people of "The Book" (The Bible) call the super rich of Academia, Hollywood, Politics, Media and Culture...how dare we call them "spiritually ignorant"? Well, how about "misinformed on purpose"? Therefore, with all of that in mind, let's take a look at the growing list of outrages against Christ and the children of God.

NOTE:

Click here to view the last list of outrages!

Outrage #1 against God, happens as this world hurtles full speed into a collision with the Wrath of Christ at the Second Coming. A high school track team in Texas was disqualified because a runner raised his hands towards heaven at the finish line! 

Outrage #2 against God was discovered last week when word spread that the political civilians of the Pentagon have informed all US Armed Forces personnel they will be court-martialled for "proselytizing"! That means "evangelizing with a purpose"! Proselytizing will be in the eye of the beholder, so that even a US Chaplain who is seen talking to person knowingly not a christian, could be in big trouble! This has led an active commander of the Coast Guard Rear Admiral William D. Lee to say that nobody will tell him he does not have the right to share his faith!

ABORTION PILL NOW SOLD TO 15 YEAR OLD GIRLS!

Outrage #3 against God is the rule by the Food and Drug Administration to mandate the over the counter sale of the abortion pill to 15 year old girls! This unfettered sale to children is an abomination because there are severe health risks to females of any age, and even more so to someone so young. The National Organization for Women wants the sale of these things freely - no age limit! These people and their leaders and friends in high places are proving my point about spiritual ignorances. Here is their future, when they face the Lord on Judgment Day: "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea.(Mark 9:42)

Outrage #4 against God is the state of California now mailing out free condoms to kids as young as 12 years old! Their immorality is beyond imagination! It is not enough for their movie and music industry to corrupt our kids, but should they not repent and make peace with God, Mark 9:42 (above) applies to them too!

MIRACLE IN SPRINGFIELD, IL. ON NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER 2013!

GOD SHOWS WHO CONTROLS THE HEAVENS!

Jesus parted the Red Sea for Moses 3500 years ago, and today, the LORD Himself did not stop an annoying rainstorm. He literally sent the rain again around Springfield, Illinois to

the North and East...and the snow and ice over to the North West up the state of Illinois into Wisconsin!

SPRINGFIELD, IL MAYOR
MIKE HOUSTON READS THE
NDP 2013 PROCLAMATION

PASTOR STAN PRATT PRAYS FOR  GOV'T LEADERS

MY WIFE VICKI LUTCHMAN 
SINGS"LORD, I BELIEVE IN YOU"

This is another Miraculous answer to intense praying for days. While there were several days of sunshine leading up to our outdoor National Day of Prayer Worship Service on the main steps of the Illinois State Capitol, the forecast and weather radar were devastating for our meticulously planned city wide event. As the Lord brought out

PASTOR ROY NEWMAN
FRESH VISIONS COMM. CHURCH

the hot bright sunshine, He emphasized His Presence by a huge rainbow at the north eastern end of the city - right outside Riverton, Il!  The obvious grace and mercy shown His people day led to the largest National Day of Prayer event in this city, and the most spirit-led, anointed and Holy Spirit inspired in my 8 years of leading it.

INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER
CHRIS HOGAN
"THE NOBLE CALL"

PASTOR STEVE NORDYKE
IWORSHIP CENTER

Here are some of the photographic highlights of one hour in Springfield Illinois - where all

PASTOR TIM SADLER (SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION)
ON MY HOPE - THE FINAL BILLY GRAHAM CRUSADE BEFORE
PRAYING FOR EVANGELISM/OUTREACH.

races, backgrounds and evangelical denominations come together to worship the King. The songs selected and led by the Mobley Family wove right into the focus of each prayer segment. The beautiful song "Lord, I believe in You" by my lovely wife Vicki, pierced the Heart of Worship

EZELLA MILLS, GOD BELONGS
IN MY CITY PRAYER WALK

and the gratitude of a multitude for the amazing weather, led many to their knees, in Jesus' Name! We have had my blessed sister, and one of my best friends, Kathy Smith representing the St. Louis Cardinals organization for their annual Christian Day at the Park on July 7. Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson is the keynote speaker and he will be sharing the Gospel!

SOUND PROVIDED BY MOODY BIBLE INSTITUTE RADIO AFFILIATE WLUJ 89.7FM 

RADIO BROADCAST AT 9PM CDT AFTER MOODY'S CONCERT OF PRAYER

UPCOMING VIDEO RECORDED & PRODUCED BY IWORSHIP CENTER

ALL PHOTOS BY HANNAH JEAN SHAFER PHOTOGRAPHY

IL. STATE SENATOR
SAM MCCANN

HARLEY-DAVIDSON RIDERS FOR JESUS!

IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS

PRAY LIKE "OLD CAMEL KNEES"!

These are troubled, difficult and yes - evil times. These are times where leaders of society- from the highest to the lowest- call "good evil" and "evil good" (see Isaiah 5:20). 

But you and I are not to be like those whose souls are storing up wrath for the Day of Judgment. We called to  a life of Holiness, Righteousness and right communication with the Father day seals that for us. The half brother of the Lord Jesus Christ - since they had the same earthly mother Mary - is the Apostle James.   He, James, was one of Jesus' five half brothers and sisters who did NOT believe He was the Messiah until after the Resurrection. Jude is the other one. The proof of their salvation are the two New Testament that they wrote - The Books of James and Jude!

The Lord chose James to head up the main church - the one in Jerusalem and James is prominent in the early church right after Peter, John and Paul. He was the one who called for the first Council of the Believers to sort out the growing problem of the Judaizers telling new converts they had to live under the Law - even though Jesus set the captives free.

What most Christians do not know about James, apart from the facts that the evil pharisees murdered him, is that James was known as "Old Camel Knees"! That is right! James prayed so much to the Heavenly Father, through Christ the Lord, on his knees that he developed massive calluses on his knees! That growth of skin made his knees look like the tough outer skin of a camel...hence the name!

Do you and I have that kind of a prayer life? Are we on our proverbial knees, which is the position of submission? Of course, praying on your physical knees is wonderful but what the Lord wants most of all is a submissive heart....if the actual kneeling down for more than a few minutes distracts you from focusing on Prayer. If you and I are completely surrendered in our souls to the Will, Wonder and Way of Christ, our prayer life would reflect it - just like "Old Camel Knees" here!

I love the Books of James and knowing just how powerful this half brother of the King of Kings really was...knowing how rich his prayer life was...knowing that he gave all in the Service of that soon coming King, fires me up! Glory Hallelelujah! 

In light of us knowing just how great this man of prayer and a true warrior, direct from the earthly (and heavenly) family of Jesus, the Apostle James was, please read and prayer through the following scriptures and see the associated word in bold, where the Spirit leads:

PRAY THE SCRIPTURES FROM JAMES 1 (NKJV):

² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (COURAGE) ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (PERSEVERANCE) ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (PROVISION). ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him (GRACE). ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind (STAYING THE COURSE). ⁷ For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways (KEEP ME FROM SIN).

¹⁹ So then,my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; ²⁰ for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

HEAVENLY FATHER, I PRAY FOR THE WISDOM, DISCERNMENT, SPEECH AND A THOUGHT LIFE OF PURITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, EVEN IN THE FACE OF THE BOMBARDMENT BY A CORRUPT AND EVIL WORLD ALL AROUND ME. HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND THE TIMES AND TO WALK THROUGH THE FIRES AND TRIALS OF THESE DAYS, UNSCATHED BECAUSE YOUR HOLY SPIRIT IS WITH ME, IN ALL POWER, HOLINESS AND PEACE. I WILL SPEAK WITH SEASONED SPEECH, TOUCH WITH THE LOVE OF CHRIST, REACH OUT IN RESTFUL PEACE TO BE A JOY AND COMFORT TO OTHERS AND GENEROUS IN GRACE....BECAUSE YOU- OH FATHER OF LIGHTS HAVE GIVEN ME EVERYTHING I NEED TO MAKE IT THROUGH THESE DAYS, BEFORE THE APPOINTED TIME TO RETURN TO YOU. I PRAY TO BE A MAN OF CALLOUS KNEES FROM PRAYING LIKE YOUR SERVANT JAMES, AND FROM PRAYING SO MUCH WITH A SUBMITTED HEART TO CHRIST THAT I TOO, WILL BE KNOWN AS OLD CAMEL KNEES, IN JESUS' HOLY NAME, AMEN.

WHY AMERICA LOVES DUCK DYNASTY

This week, the A & E Reality Series "DUCK DYNASTY" became the most watched television show in America - on both network AND cable TV! It blew out anything else on NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox and all the other well-known cable nets like USA, TBS etc. The viewership of the Bearded Dudes from Da Bayou of Monroe, Louisiana has been rising steadily since February. This past week, it more than doubled the viewership of the perennial ratings giant - American Idol!

So why is a show about a family of self-confessed "rednecks", who don't shave and live faithfully and happily with their God-given wives; shoot guns and thank Jesus for their food so popular? I will tell you why - this is how the average traditional-minded American lives (or wished that he/she lived)! The Duck Dynasty concept is based on the true lives of the Robertson family, who worked hard, prayed hard and played by the rules. As a result, they did build it! They built a million dollar business based on selling one hand-made custom-made duck call, at a time!

With their hard-earned wealth, this family of rugged married family men, live lives which the average working man and woman can identify with. They face the same routines of middle-class America: teenage daughters dating; what to eat for supper; maybe lose a little weight and going to church on Sunday. They even have a midlife crisis once in a while, but instead of sinning, they join a gym or buy a powerful motorbike, which they can't ride!


The values of the Robertson Family are what the loud minority of liberals have been attempting to destroy in America for decades. These are: Biblical Marriage (Genesis 2:24 - between a man and a woman); the 2nd Amendment (the Robertson's loves them some powerful hunting firearms); Capitalism (everything about this family is free enterprise American) and Family (they're united and love being around each other). But the most scary to the average modern day liberal who drives around with a "CoExist" bumper sticker on their cars, but want everything under the sun to exist except Christians and our Bible, is the Robertsons' Faith! Si; Phil, Willie and Jace are bold, blatant and bounding in praise for the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. They proclaim Him every chance they get. They even talk about Him openly on the show and as their popularity increases and spreads outside the zone of Christians like us, more and more folks are inviting these well-informed and well-spoken men to speak at their events!

Willie Robertson is the keynote speaker for Christian Day at the great former World Series Champion St Louis Cardinals baseball team, in St Louis, Missouri this summer! This has not been announced yet, but he follows Coach Tony Dungy, who a few years ago, had many make a profession of Faith in Christ when he invited them to surrender their lives to Christ. I have worked a Christian Day at the Cardinals (2011) and over 10,000 sometimes stay back after the game to hear the message! Many of my friends in ministry use Willie's evangelism video in youth group and watching the faces of teens, who never knew Willie was a fired up Christian, is priceless! This video enhanced generation can be reached a lot easier if more and more celebrities would testify to the Transforming Power of Jesus Christ like Willie and the Duck Dynasty gang. This sort of thing then opens the door for folks on the ground like us, to then come around these youth and train them in the way they should go - the Way of the Cross!

So, as the guys get ready to start filming Season 4 of the most popular TV show in America, we celebrate the return to traditional values; faith, fun and family. Who needs to watch that perverted pap on the networks when we can DVR or watch the Robertsons on Xfinity or any of the many various ways we can now. They are a joy to behold above this rising cesspool of American culture.

HIGH HOLY DAY - FOR EARTH "WORSHIPPERS"

Professing to be wise, they became fools,  and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,  who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.....Romans 1:22-25

Today, April 22 is the annual Earth Day. While many see and use this as a day for actually doing some cleaning up of our surroundings, the philosophy behind it is not as pure.  The current "earth day celebration" was established by US Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970. But it began in the United Nations as a concept by a man named John McConnell, who wanted to observe it on the first day of Spring.

Anthropologist Margaret Mead, who strangely enough was part of the drafting of the US Episcopalian Book of Common Prayer, later boldly stated that "Earth Day is the first holy day which transcends all national borders, yet preserves all geographical integrities, spans mountains and oceans and time belts, and yet brings people all over the world into one resonating accord, is devoted to the preservation of the harmony in nature and yet draws upon the triumphs of technology, the measurement of time, and instantaneous communication through space..."

Did you know Earth Day was a "Holy Day"?! For whom? Well, just as an exercise, click on this one Googled page and you will exactly for whom and why! It has nothing to do with our Heavenly Father, the Savior Jesus Christ or the real Spirit of God - the Holy Spirit:

To further understand this day and for whom it is a "high holy day"....check out there "anthem":

Joyful joyful we adore our Earth in all its wonderment
Simple gifts of nature that all join into a paradise
Now we must resolve to protect her
Show her our love throughout all time
With our gentle hand and touch
We make our home a newborn world
Now we must resolve to protect her
Show her our love throughout all time....etc...etc...

I don't know about you, but Heaven is my Home and I adore Jesus Christ and Him Crucified. All creation is groaning now and longing for the Return of the Savior....and Joyful Joyful I adore HIM, Lord of Heaven and of Earth. Amen.

FESTIVAL OF HOPE REVIVAL- THREE POWERFUL MESSAGES

DR. FRED LUTER, PRESIDENT OF
THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION (LEFT)

Only among real children of God could the first African-American President of the Southern Baptist Convention, preach at a revival at a National Baptist church with worship music led by an American baptist musician minister! The just concluded  Festival of Hope - a three day revival in Springfield Illinois, offered the Capitol city its first visit by the historic Dr. Fred Luter. He is the pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church which was hard hit by Hurricane Katrina and the first Black leader of the world's largest Christian denomination!

It was my privilege to meet this powerful man of God whose messages stirred the heart and showed one and all what revival really is all about - a ministering to those already saved to remind them of the Power of God and the Savior Jesus Christ. I wish to present here the text of all three messages ;the theme and a brief summary, so you may be able to look into them yourselves to see how God will speak. His application to each of His children is different. This is the amazing thing about the Living, breathing Scriptures! 

You and I can read the same passage and most likely agree fully on the context....BUT then GOD, BUT, GOD, will then take one word from that verse and speak Truth, Revelation, Comfort and Encouragement into a situation we are dealing with! Then 100% of the time,  the Holy Spirit will direct us to another part of God's Word, in order to give us the explanation! Why? Because Scripture explains Scripture. This is what we, we- the People of the Book, call- The Sufficiency of Scripture!

NIGHT 1, MESSAGE 1:
THE ULTIMATE BATTLE - You and I are in a battle against evil for control of our souls. We are saved because The Good Shepherd - Jesus came to lay down His Life for us. But the devil - he has come to steal, kill and destroy...even the sheep or the saints of God. Are we going to let him? Are we going to let him disqualify us for God's service and destroy our testimony? NO! Meditate on these Scriptures used by Dr.Luter for this message and decide through Prayer, fasting and supplication how we're going to prepare for this battle of the ages:
JOHN 10 (NKJV):
⁷ Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who ever came before Me^[a] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

¹¹ “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. ¹² But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. ¹³ The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. ¹⁵ As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

NIGHT 2, MESSAGE 2:

JESUS MUST BE THE FOUNDATION - If Jesus is NOT the Foundation of the church, it will not stand! What are you and I basing on our Faith and Walk on? More importantly, Pastor Fred said, in this Declaration of Faith by Peter where he was given the "keys" to heaven by the Lord Jesus, some of these keys were fleshed out! Mr. President pulled up the largest bunch of keys and went down each key one by one. Each key represented a trial or trouble or even a praise we're experiencing and the appropriate Scripture to respond to it! For spiritual warfare, the key is Isaiah 54:17 "no weapon formed against me will prosper". For those seeking healing we have the key of Psalm 34:19 "many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers out of them all"...and so on,,,about 20 times! For whatever ails or troubles you, my brothers and my sisters, find a bible dictionary and seek out the verse, then speak it into your own life and meditate on this following text:

MATTHEW 16 (NKJV):

¹³ When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
¹⁴ So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
¹⁶ Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
¹⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹ And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed^[d] in heaven.

NIGHT 3, MESSAGE 3:
IF HE BRINGS YOU TO IT, HE WILL BRING YOU THROUGH IT- The powerful account of Jesus calming the storm in the boat, as His disciples freaked out is a great example for us. Even when we think we have all this Faith, we are actually more full of Fear than Faith! Jesus is hear to tell you that no matter what storm of life comes up against you, fear not - because He has beat that one too! Remember, my friends, while He was temporarily (for 33 years) the God Man, He is more importantly GOD - Divine and Powerful. Jesus has defeated death, sin and satan. So what have we to fear? Why are we so afraid and anxious? Whatever the storm is, He Who saves us, because He died for us, is there with us all along as He was with the men in this boat in the passage below...and He will take us right through it! Amen
MARK 4 (NKJV):
³⁵ On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” ³⁶ Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. ³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. ³⁸ But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”
³⁹ Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”^[d] 41 And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

WHAT IS YOUR WORTH? - TO GOD, I MEAN....

A short message I did at a retirement home this past weekend shocked several people. I mentioned that the highest US dollar denomination out there today - a $10,000 bill - was still around but then I took out a crisp $1 bill and proceeded to illustrate.

The thing about US tender, or most other currencies, is no matter what physical shape the item is in, that is what it is worth.  I crumpled up the dollar bill. It was still worth - a dollar. I stomped on the crumpled bill. It was still worth - a dollar. Then I shocked some and ripped it loudly and boldly in half. Even so, it was still worth - a dollar....because I can tape those two half a dollar together with masking tape, even duct tape and/or clear scotch tape - and still use it to buy me a cup of coffee off the McDonald's value menu!

Any and ALL of these acts were a metaphor for our own lives.  Father...our Heavenly Father, Abba, does not see view our worth in our present condition. He sees us as having value - the same value He imputed to us when He breathed life into us at birth. We are worth so much to Him. 

Life can beat us up. 

Life can throw us down.

Life can tear us apart.

People can trample all over us.

Circumstances can do us in.

We can inflict all kinds of damage unto ourselves.....and on and on...., YET, the moment we get to the end of all of that....the moment we get to the end of ourselves, come to our senses and cry out to Him....THAT VERY MOMENT - He takes some supernatural Scotch tape and puts our lives back together. He takes the stomped on; beat up; burnt out; crumpled up mess of our lives and holds us in His Almighty, Loving, Compassionate, Wonderful, Healing Hands.

Our God - the ONLY True, Existent and REAL God - is such a God. The pagan religions of the east and middle east, as well as the newer contrived cults of the West, have one thing in common - their "gods" are demanding; harsh and full of hate and no love. Their "gods" require impossible "good works" and even the lives of "infidels" or 5500 different "reincarnations" so they can "reach nirvana". The Lord you God - the Holy One of Israel - sees us as we are, puts out an invitation ("Come unto Me all who are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest) - and waits for us to respond. The Father of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is that God.

In Matthew 6:26, Jesus says "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  There it is! He even uses the word "Value"! We have so much worth to the Risen Savior.

The Bible says "precious in the Sight of the Lord, is the death of His Saints". We have so much worth in the grave, even though we go to be in His Presence if we are born-again.

Even those who reject Him, sadden Him. When the rich young ruler rejected following Jesus, it saddened the Master, because the Bible said Jesus "loved him". God takes no delight in sending people to hell. 

So today...and tomorrow and for the near future and for the rest of our lives, when the world goes after you; when even loved ones hurt you and when pain, ill-health or any circumstance brings you down, remember this - just like that torn up dollar bill, there is a Redeemer and One Who restores. There is this One, Who never made junk in the first place. There is this One, Who when He puts us back together and if we are truly His, the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 "we are a new creation".,.. and that LITERALLY means NEW! It is the same word that is used for CREATION in Genesis - 'ktesis'. He makes something new out of the nothing we  have made our lives. 

This is our value. This is our worth. Not the lies of the enemy - the devil.
This offer and His promises are all your - AND FREE with no guilt - all you and I have to do is - ask!