Repenting....Sorry for What?

 image link

I have been extremely busy that last few months (my garden has provided me with so much to do) and I have been woefully neglectful of this blog. Sorry!

But being sorry brings me to something I've been tossing around in my head today...when a person is convicted of sin and realizes God sees it all, and is "busted", is he or she (a) sorry for their sin or (b) sorry for being caught in their sin? The Investigative Discovery Channel  provides plenty of examples of true repentance vs. a pseudo-half-hearted variety of repentance to ward off the justice system giving them their due penalty for their sin....are we simply trying to defy the justice system? In other words... if a person, let's give her a name, Betty, if Betty comes under conviction of having become convinced that there really is a God, and He is not happy with Betty's sinful behaviour, and Betty wants to be saved from hell so she "repents" of her sins to gain God's favour, to get her "get out of hell free card"....but deep down she hasn't REALLY repented, she still thinks she isn't really THAT BAD (compared to ax murderers and pedophiles), she just wants to cover her bases and hedge her bet so she can avoid hell.... is  Betty truly saved?

The Bible says "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 1:7) so I personally think Betty might be saved even if she progresses no further spiritually in this life, because it does take the Spirit of God to  (James 2:19) reveal the truth of God to us....but I myself wouldn't be very comfortable at that point of the walk with the Lord because the word of God also states that even the devils believe and tremble...and devils are not saved, so it does require something besides simply believing.

I couldn't find the true way  to overcome the fact that I wanted to be saved for selfish reasons within myself, and not finding it in myself to be heartbroken over my sinful nature and my evil desires therefore I confessed to Jesus that I was unable to do it: to truly repent in a true manner that truly grieved over the sin that grieved God. In confessing the truth of that, and confessing my inability, I asked the Lord who in His mercy can supply us everything according to our needs (Matthew 7:7 & Luke 11:9). I would say that having a true and saving faith that leads one to true repentance is something that is VERY needful. (Mark 9:24)

I have seen so many who have made superficial confessions of faith, or confessions of guilt but only for the sake of getting something for nothing by appeasing "a god" with a half-hearted confession that isn't truly heartbroken about sin. If that is your situation, come to Jesus as a beggar knowing that nothing good can come from ourselves (James 1:17), that even true faith and true surrender comes from Him, and that He will richly provide those things to anyone who will ask Him, so ask Him!

In trying to locate a good image for this blog entry, I ran across this nice piece that explains what repentance is not:

http://ekklesiamuskogee.org/7-counterfeits-of-repentance/

Who Are You Listening To?

Last month I posted (on Bible Treasures) a sermon by R.C. Sproul on the topic of King Ahab...and in that post I focused on the fact that the scriptures are so multifaceted and complex that we tend to think in either/or and see what seem to be discrepancies. But there is so much more in this sermon, he speaks of the fact that Ahab rejected the truth that God spoke through his prophets, and only listened to the false prophets that spoke what Ahab wanted to hear, tickling his ears with flattery and falseness. Then, at the end of God's patience with Ahab, he uses his false prophets to lie to Ahab in order to bring Ahab using his own lying prophets to bring him to the place where God ends Ahab's life. Interesting side point that I also mentioned in the Bible Treasures post is that Elijah had told Ahab that his blood would be licked up by dogs at the pool where Ahab had Naboth murdered. (1 King 21:19), so Ahab avoided going to that pool...he thought he could outsmart God in this. So when Ahab followed the advice of his lying prophets that told him he'd have a great victory in battle, but just in case Micaiah was correct, he decided to hedge his bet and disguise himself so the enemy army wouldn't recognize him and kill him...but a stray  arrow strikes him, kills him.
Today, again, people would rather hear only what is pleasing to their own understanding rather than listening to the word of God. Judgment is at the doorstep. How much longer will God patiently endure the evil that people are flinging in His face?

If you haven't listened to this great sermon, please take the time, and if you already have heard it, it is worth a second hearing.

Fear, Faith, and Love

Proverbs 9:10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.(KJV)

There are many misconceptions about our God. We want to make Him into our image, our ideas about what is loving and true, instead of coming to Him truly we still hold that little portion back that says "I know this better than He does".

What is "the FEAR of the Lord"? Why should we fear Him? He is SUPPOSED to be loving, so how can this be true at all?

The wisdom of the proverbs gives us that this fear is a beginning point.

The Harbinger Revisited

On Coast to Coast:

(Disclaimer: I don't always agree with topics discussed on "Coast to Coast")

In this Coast to Coast broadcast Rabbi Jonathan Cahn discusses the  many coincidences that occured with regards to things surrounding 9/11 events and the judgment he sees coming to America. This broadcast includes some aspects that were not included in his " The Harbinger" movie:





Toward the end of this interview the rabbi answers a few callers questions. He is asked by a caller if America can possibly change the outcome of her coming judgment through prayer. Rabbi Cahn answers with scripture. He hesitates when saying "yes" stating that  we  must pray according to God's will, and prayer might not get a "yes" answer if that would go against His will. However, he adds that prayer CAN change things and reminds us of

2Ch 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

but he should have included the first part which gives more specifics:

2Ch 7:13  If I shut up heaven that there be no rain,
 or if I command the locusts to devour the land, 
or if I send pestilence among my people; 

These are: drought; famine; and disease

Saving the country from losing super-power status or wealth and economic stability is not mentioned here in things God would turn around..

Link to previous post which has the free movie "The Harbinger":
 The Warning of the Sycamore Tree

DOMA Decision

I cannot even begin to express how sickened I feel by the Supreme Court decision on the Defense of Marriage Act. I know I shouldn't be surprised, and yet I still am, and truth be told I am horrified. Dr. James White had a few words to say a few months ago which I find fitting. We are living in perilous times, no doubt about it. I hope and pray that "the church" wakes up. We need to be praying for our nation, praying for repentance and praying for the church to valiantly proclaim the truth in a world that hates the truth.

God Speaks

Oklahoma began "Gay Pride Week" on Sunday and gets hit with the worst tornado ever on Monday. Coincidence?

http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=14009

The Warning of the Sycamore Tree

I posted about the prophecy of the Sycamore tree before (links at bottom of this post). It is good to keep this reminder in mind, because it is coming, and we need to help others know to get ready:

( Edited to remove error which I became aware of through Ma's comment. Thank you Ma :)  )

Please see the warnings that God clearly gives, from His word, and as we see these things unfolding before us.

Links:

We Need to Heed the Signs

We Shall Rebuild

Compromise...

With the world


Is that ok? Let's just accept everything and pretend everything is good, and keep our rose-colored glasses firmly in place. Is that how to interpret:

Philippians 4:8  
Finally, brethren,
whatsoever things are true,
whatsoever things are honest,
whatsoever things are just,
whatsoever things are pure,
whatsoever things are lovely,
whatsoever things are of good report;
if there be any virtue,
and if there be any praise,
think on these things.

This is God's communication to the church from Revelation chapters 2-3 as given by Pastor John MacArthur (given April 1984 and still relevant)

. http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/1299/the-danger-facing-the-church

I agree with Pastor MacArthur on most things...with the exception of that little area of a pre-trib rapture, but he doesn't mention that in this sermon, and this is a very good sermon.

Today, our church is under so many different forms of attack from our enemy, and this one, compromise, is the most subtle of his weapons against us. He has lots of tricks up his sleeve, and yes, the Lord won't forsake us as we continue to seek His direction, His discernment...certainly we must not forsake compassion for those still in the world, but we must be wary of falling into accepting and conforming to what the world does, compromising with it, in the guise of "love"... that is not love, it is the antithesis of love, because it will numb us from being a witness and a warning to it of it's degeneracy and fallen-ness, and it's need for a Savior. If we compromise with the world, the devil succeeds in making us ineffective. Salt that has lost it's savor is worthless, bland, and adds nothing of value.

I pray that the Lord will strengthen us for what is ahead, and that our salt will not have lost it's savor, that we will be a witness for Jesus to the world that the world is terribly wicked and depraved, and hopelessly headed for hell, and to the fact that there but by the grace of God go I.

Signs....in the heavens and on the earth...

A video of strange things that took place the beginning of 2012...I thought maybe HAARP might have something to do with birds dying and the ground shaking, and even those weird tsunami shaped clouds...? But what about those dark balls shooting off of the sun???? What is that????

Back to School

I started my history of western civilization class this week. My instructor, for one of our assignments, gave us this:

http://eawc.evansville.edu/essays/brown.htm

We are to write our thoughts about Gilgamesh, an ancient ruler who ruled ancient Mesopotamia. But who was Gilgamesh? Is it possible that he was Nimrod? Are there any clues? Most Biblical scholars believe that Gilgamesh was indeed who most of us now know as Nimrod. Here's why (really cool Bible encyclopedia website):


http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/nimrod.html

******************************Edit to add  links***********************

This first link has information about the ancient dead language they call Akkadian, which is what the Epic of Gilgamesh was translated from:

http://epos.wordpress.com/epic-poetry-lessons/lesson-3-literary-introduction-to-gilgamesh/

And this second link has 11 parts of the 12 of the Epic of Gilgamesh as it was translated into English:

http://evans-experientialism.freewebspace.com/gilgamesh.htm

and another online encyclopedia that has more info on Gilgamesh and ancient times:

http://www.ancient.eu.com/article/192/

********************************End of edit****************************

"Here Come the Unicorns"

I don't fully agree with Gerald Celente, I personally believe he is behind a move for a revolution in America, and I never support a revolution, unless you are talking about the revolution to seek Jesus and accept our sinfulness and confess it before God. However, I do agree with him in that many people would rather pretend nothing bad is happening, and that's even worse than wanting to fight against this junk.

We need to acknowledge the truth, and we need to be penitent and remorseful. We need to humble ourselves and pray. The fact that there is a huge cover up regarding the Fukushima reactor meltdown and the fact that they are not testing the water, and not blasting the truth about what is really going on, should have us concerned, not apathetic and looking for imagined rainbows and happy faces drawn over the sad truth.

2Chronicles 7:14  If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This takes honesty and confession and commitment to the truth,
not hiding our heads in the sand.

We Shall Rebuild!

This is a continuation of the previous post about the prophecy of the sycamore. This is a 9 part video series, but I am only posting the 4th in the series. You can find the rest:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S_PBzVZ9NA&feature=related

The author of the Youtube link said this:


Sycamore: The 9/11 Tragedy is perhaps the most fascinating and important film in American history. Explore the prophetic warning signs that link the Old Testament Scripture found in the prophet Isaiah 9:8-10 to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in America.

The United States of America was founded upon the God of the Bible. What will be the fate of the nation as the majority of Americans continue to harden their hearts against the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Elliott Nesch and Raymond Schwab share some astonishing prophetic discoveries linking the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks to ancient Israel's apostasy and subsequent judgment of God through the Assyrians. Schwab and Nesch travel to New York City, the birthplace and gate of America, to preach the eight prophetic heralds of God's judgment on 9/11 and call the American people to repent from their sins and turn to God through faith in Jesus Christ.

This film is not to be bought or sold. Freely you have received, freely give. The producers encourage the viewers to reproduce this film and distribute freely that the nation would hear this important message and submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ before the point of no return and a more devastating judgment of God comes. Please pray for this nation. God's people hold the key to the fate of a America.

For more information or to obtain a free copy of Sycamore: The 9/11 Tragedy, visit:
www.911Sycamore.com
Contact Elliott Nesch and Raymond Schwab at the following websites:
www. HolyBibleProphecy.org www.TheShofar.org

Edit 

 I meant to put up part 5, not 4

Here is part 5, which dovetails with the previous post about the sycamore prophecy:

We Need to Heed the Signs

 The very specific sign in The Lesson of the Sycamore Tree:

Quotes from the clip: "they did it exactly according to the pattern of judgment" and "...the leaders did not realize what they were saying..." and "...he (John Edwards) used the same scripture without realizing he was pronouncing judgment on America"

God provides His people with a warning before He does what He does. We cannot avert God's judgment, but we can prepare for it spiritually by remaining alert and by being in prayer for each other and by trying to warn others. Some might think this is inconsistent with God's sovereignty ("why do anything? God is in charge, He will do everything!"). It is true, God is in charge, and He also charged us with a commission to warn others and to watch the signs. This is not inconsistent with His sovereign will. He has made it work hand in hand with His sovereign will, the plan that cannot be altered, and the plan that He has chosen to allow us to participate in.

http://911sycamore.com/Message.htm

Excerpt:


This bronze image of the fallen uprooted Sycamore is to be displayed on Wall Street which symbolizes America's financial prosperity. Bronze or brass is a metal "used as a type of severe judgment" (Wilson, Walter L. Dictionary of Bible Types. Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. 1999. p. 56). It is for this reason the Lord Jesus is pictured figuratively in the Book of Revelation with "his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters" (1:15).

http://911sycamore.com/Message.htm

Excerpt:

Just as recorded in Isaiah with Israel, America replaced this Sycamore tree with a 21-foot Norway Spruce called the Tree of Hope was planted in the Northwest corner of the churchyard at St. Paul's Chapel on November 22, 2003, replacing the fallen Sycamore tree. The tree was donated by the Imperatore Nurseries and lifted into place by crane. On November 29, St. Paul's hosted a prayer service and ceremonial lighting of the Tree of Hope. (Torres, Maria Luisa. "Ground Zero's Tree of Hope." See also pictures: http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/search/1f51b277dd7b44f9f10b1a54dfff149a). 


God is long suffering, and is slow to anger. He knows what He is doing and will do it. In His mercy He has made a way for those He has chosen, and will bring us unto Himself. Let us not be idle, but let us be diligent to warn others, and to watch and pray.

(sorry, I couldn't get those excerpts to come out the right size for some reason...my choice was going with too large or too small...I figured too large was better for those of us who are starting to become "vision impaired")

Found another link to a fallen tree that fell on 06-09-09 (interesting date, dontcha think?) The tree was a 140 year old tree that is pictured on the back of the $20 bill! It grew on the grounds of the White House:

Check out the link here

The signs are all around for those with eyes to see.

Good and Evil Scales

Ma had this on her blog last year...love it!

"I only read the articles!!!" LoL

More on the Topic of Goats

In trying to find more information on this topic, I found this at the End Time Pilgrim website:

Sheep and Goats Judgment

The problem for me with that article is that it states the sheep and goats of that parable are all unsaved Gentiles. Sheep (lost or not lost) in my way of thinking always applied to Jews or saved Gentiles so I have trouble with their interpretation.  They also say that everyone (all various theological perspectives) teach that it is different from "The Great White Throne Judgment". I personally believe it is possible they are the same, and that is the way it is presented here.

This is another site linked here that says the Sheep and Goats Judgment and the Great White Throne Judgment can be one and the same. I have found that because Jesus mentions something in a couple of sentences (in Matthew ch 25) doesn't mean the events that are told about happen moments (or even a few days) later... and conversely, if it is written about in another chapter using different word pictures, it doesn't mean it's about something else, it is possible the subject is the same but described differently.. There are at least two passages where a comma in the same sentence is separated by a couple thousand years in it's unfolding. I believe it is something that we can all have opinions about, but the final proof will be in the pudding....when it happens we will know exactly what God was talking about, and everyone will be amazed at how accurately God spoke and it will all be cleared up for us and  "the why" of why we couldn't understand it before the time it will happen (like we all disagree on how it will be at this time) won't even matter to us then when we see it played out. We will all just be glorifying God in how perfect He is and how perfectly He keeps all of His promises.

However, I was going to talk about goats...

...and more specifically, the scapegoat of the Day of Atonement. Why is it a goat that is being sacrificed when goats represent people that are going to hell in the Sheep and Goats Judgment? Please read Leviticus 16  where the subject is the sacrificing of the two goats, one on the altar, and one as a scapegoat sent away into the wilderness, is given to the Israelites.


This online lesson discusses the possibilities for Azazel (the scapegoat) being Jesus (He was made sin for us) or satan (who is the embodiment of sin), and this particular author concludes that both goats in this offering represent Jesus.


About Azazel (from my esword electronic Bible):


scape goats:  Heb. Azazel, that is, the goat-gone-away, The Hebrew עזאזל has been supposed by some to be the name of a place, either a mountain or cliff, to which the goat was led.  But no place of that name has ever been pointed out, except a mountain near Sinai, which was too distant for the goat to be conducted there from Jerusalem.  Other learned men think it was the name of the devil, who was worshipped by the heathen in the form of a goat.  But Bp. Patrick justly objects to this opinion; for it is difficult to conceive, that when the other goat was offered to God, this should be sent among demons.  The more probable opinion seems to be, that it was name given to the goat itself, on account of his being let go; from aiz, a goat, and azal, to depart.  So LXX αποπομπαιος, and Vulgate emissarius, sent away; Aquila and Symmachus τραγος απερχομενος, or απολελυμενος: the goat going away, or dismissed.

If I find more on the topic, I'll post it at a future date, Lord willing :-) Also if anyone has weblinks that would help to shed more light on this subject, they would be much appreciated. I have a feeling Arnold Fruchtenbaum might have insight into this topic, eh Ma?

Sheep and Goats

 picsearch

Did you know that there are alot of similarities between sheep and goats? I find that interesting in the light of the parable that Jesus gave us about the separating of sheep and goats:

Mat 25:31  When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
Mat 25:32  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
Mat 25:33  And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Mat 25:34  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
Mat 25:35  For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Mat 25:36  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Mat 25:37  Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
Mat 25:38  When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Mat 25:39  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
Mat 25:40  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Mat 25:41  Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
Mat 25:42  For I was hungry, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
Mat 25:43  I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Mat 25:44  Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Mat 25:45  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
Mat 25:46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. 

Do you notice what Jesus does here? The sheep come from a place of credit where anything they do is added to them. The goats come from a place of debit where the moment they fail to do the right thing, they have failed altogether and hopelessly so.

What can we learn from what these animals are like?

There's alot of info here about sheep and goats. One of the main differences is what they eat. Goats can eat just about anything and not get sick. If sheep eat the wrong things, they get diarrhea and it sticks to their wool, which can cause them further problems if the shepherd doesn't take care of his sheep properly. The link says sheep have tear glands, but doesn't say the same for goats..see also 

Goats are more independent while sheep get uncomfortable if they get separated from their group. 

Also check out this story told by someone who did some time as a sheepherder in New Zealand 

Most sheep don't have horns like goats do....but some do

Rev 13:11  And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.


Hmmm looks like a sheep, with two horns, and speaks like a dragon. What does a dragon speak like?

Dan 11:21  And in his estate shall stand up a vile person, to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom: but he shall come in peaceably, and obtain the kingdom by flatteries.
Dan 11:22  And with the arms of a flood shall they be overflown from before him, and shall be broken; yea, also the prince of the covenant.
Dan 11:23  And after the league made with him he shall work deceitfully: for he shall come up, and shall become strong with a small people.

He will tell people what they want to hear. He will appeal to people's fleshy desires.

Jesus knows what His sheep really need, and it isn't flattering...but He loves us so what He does for us is out of a gracious and loving heart.

Pe 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

1Pe 5:3  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.
1Pe 5:4  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.