Here in Minnesota parts of the Mississippi River is all dried up.
It’s kind of a sad sight.
A grey Heron is on a scavenger hunt.
I few low spots still have water, but not much.
The Dried-Up Mississippi River
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Paper Tiger — Ernie’s Musings
The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength. (1 Samuel 2:4) Unless you have completely isolated and insulated yourself from the outside world (and I would not blame you if you have; sometimes I wish I could completely detach from the constant flow of bad news), you […]
Paper Tiger — Ernie’s Musings
Those who say to Him, “Lord, Lord”
The Bible says that on the judgment day it will be revealed that some who think they are Christians are really not. In the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
This may seem to you to be a very strange thing, that some people will be so self-deceived, that they think they are Christians when they are not. How can this happen? How does someone not know that he is not a Christian? How does he or she live so much of a life thinking that they are Christians when they are not?
The only answer is that they haven’t really known what a Christian is. They evidently have allowed false prophets to influence them; and they, at the beginning, entered not at the narrow gate but at the broad gate and went down and lived in the broad way—the way of the world. And all along in their journey, they never at any point got to know the Lord and to be changed by Him. What a tragic deception.
But how is it that they are so deceived? And also, how is it that true Christians are also deceived into thinking that some false Christians are true Christians? Here are a few reasons why:
- Knowing Him does not mean saying the right words. It is possible for a person to say all the right words, to have a very holy and righteous speech, and yet not be a Christian. A changed language does not mean that there is a changed heart.
- Some unbelievers may use Scripture and Scriptural teaching as a kind of philosophy, but they don’t really know Christ or are converted.
- Some may speak and even preach the Scriptures fervently, but it may be entirely of the flesh and not for the sake of Christ.
The test of course is whether a person has the fruit of the Spirt, and also whether they know Him or not. Do they pray and read their bible regularly? Do they have a growing love relationship with Him?
Why Prayer is Necessary: #4 – To Obtain Good Things
God really wants us to have things—many things. But He wants us to have only those things that are good for us.
Sometimes we will desire something, and it really does seems to be a good thing; but then later, after we have prayed about it and sought God’s Word about it, He shows us that He isn’t pleased with what we desire.
Whatever we pray for we should ask ourselves these two questions:
1. Are these things going to bring me closer to the Lord or further away?
2. Will these things I desire help me to be a friend of the world, or a friend of God (James 4:3-4)?
There are many good things that God wants us to have, but if we don’t ask for them we will not receive them (James 4:2). And when we do ask, perhaps we don’t ask correctly—with the right motives (v. 3).
It may be that when we do ask for things we don’t really believe that God will give them to us, so that’s why we aren’t persistent in our asking. In other words, we may treat prayer as sort of a religious duty, or a ritualistic thing—something that we just do but we don’t really expect an answer.
My friend, God is real and personal. He is your Father. How do you ask your earthly father for things? You ask and keep asking until you get it, don’t you? And you ask that way because you know that sooner or later He will give it to you, because you know He loves you. Will not God who loves you far more give to you as much?
Sometimes, instead of believing and asking God for the things we want, we sit and worry, and we lust and envy and fight and even wage war over those things (Ja. 4:2). But if you want certain things, and if you know you need them, why not just ask God for them. He will give them to you as a gift. Everything you desire in life, if it pleases God for you to have it, He will give it to you if you just ask.
Do you need a job? Then ask. Yes, make your rounds to employment agencies and apply at various places, but you must also ask God. He will give you the job you really need, in quick time.
Are you worried about your friend who is lost? Then ask God for his or her soul. Who else will save your friend?
In all the things we desire but aren’t receiving, take these words to heart: “You do not have because you do not ask” (Ja. 4:2). Prayer is indeed necessary for obtaining things.
Why Prayer is Necessary: #3 – To Help Us Stand Firm Against the Devil
Jesus said, “Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation; the Spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” (Matt. 26:41). Jesus knew that prayer was absolutely necessary to resist temptation, that without it we are weak and vulnerable to the attacks of Satan.
Paul tells us in Ephesians 6 that we are in a struggle, not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in heavenly places. He therefore suggests that we put on the full armor of God so that we may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
As we see in Ephesians 6:18, prayer is part of this full armor. But we should not look at prayer as just one piece of the full armor, as if to have a little significance. Prayer, in fact, is significant for the correct use of each piece of armor. Moreover it energizes the armor and holds each piece of armor in place. In the final analysis, it is our power for victory.1
Prayer, as it is used in verse 18, is not just of one kind; it is “all prayer.” All kinds of prayer, therefore, are to be used against the enemy. And with “all prayer” we are to pray “at all times.” That is, we must pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17). What is meant here, according to Warren Wiersbe, is that we must “always be in communion with the Lord.”2 And this infers that we must always be drawing on His strength. Yes, we must be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might (Eph. 6:10), which cannot be accomplished without unceasing prayer in the Spirit.
Also, when we pray, we must “be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all saints” (v.18), knowing that the devil is on the prowl, seeking to destroy God’s people. We must therefore, be watchful and pray, not just for ourselves, but also for all other believers who are subject to the same temptations as we are. And when we are faithful to pray for others, God will be faithful to bless us and give us His strength.
1 Warren Wiersbe, Be Rich (Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books. A division of SP Publications, Inc., 1976), p. 172.
2 Ibid., p. 172.
Urgent Prayer Needed for Afghanistan
Though we are a long way from troubles in Afghanistan, Christians should take time to pray for them. Though prayer may at times seem to be a little thing, we are called to do it, and we must believe that God will hear and answer.
Pray for those who are waiting to get out. Pray for them to be patient and to cry out to God for His help. As they fear the Taliban, pray that they would cling to God for His deliverance. Pray especially for the young women who are in grave danger of being taken by the Taliban as wives—but they will be abused and raped. May God not allow it!
I pray that God will use this hard situation to turn people to Him for help and for their salvation. I pray that America will see how this administration and the President has really bungled it and that we will demand a new president. Biden is proving his poor leadership and mental deficiency.
Pray also for all Americans that in this time of trouble and chaos many will turn to God and trust Him. Pray that they will see that their only hope is a new life in Christ. That they will see the hopelessness in the old life.
Afghanistan and War
Afghanistan has been in the news lately. A tragedy! My thoughts are this: We never should have even thought about pulling out. I’m sure there are different things we could have done, but my view is that as long as there is evil in the world, good governments have the responsibility to resist evil—even by war. Yes, it is the role of a nation’s government to resist and fight against evil forces. We find this over and over again in the bible. Also, I believe God has put a war-like spirit in the heart of every man to fight against evil. It is a holy and righteous desire to fight and be victorious over evil and evil governments. I am not a war-monger. I am a realist and one who desires peace and righteousness for all. As long as there is evil in the world, war is necessary. I do think peace talks are good; however, when evil reaches a certain point to where talk is pointless, then groups like Isis and AL Qaeda and the Taliban, the only thing they will listen to is war. They need to be destroyed.
Hypocritical or Too Content
I’m writing this at McDonalds—the one near me. They are finally open for service after months and months. It has been one of my favorite hang-outs, where I can do my reading and blogging.
Today is Sunday. I love to come and worship with friends at my church. And the pastor always has a good message. But I hate it that he is missing so much in his doctrine in that he doesn’t ever preach on bible prophecy or the coming of Christ. As you know, I write on that subject frequently. For some reason I think God has called me to stay in this church. I am strong enough in my faith and beliefs that I will not be affected, and maybe someday I will speak up (to him and others) more on what I believe. But for now, I feel content in just writing about it. That almost sounds hypocritical, but I’m not sure that bible prophecy is something to be used as a witnessing tool or to be preached just for the sake of sounding my futuristic beliefs. It seems that when Paul wrote about it, it was always in response to a problem (1 Thess. 4) or as a matter of the course of his doctrinal message (1 Cor. 15). Anyway, I pray that someday soon I will be more vocal and excited about His soon coming. It is just really hard to do now since so many have different views and many reject the Rapture of the church. I know that that is not a good excuse for me. I kind of wish that I was more like Hal Lindsey. When he was younger, he used to preach outside in the open on college campuses about the rapture and future things. That was when he wrote his famous book, The Late Great Planet Earth. As far as I know he is still alive (about 90 years old) and he has a weekly program on line. God bless him.
Setting Up a New Global Religion
After the Rapture of the Church and Leading up to the Tribulation, along with the frenzied effort made to set up a new global government, there will also be an urgent effort to establish a new global religion. In fact, from the start, the new government and the new religion will work together as one. Though the Antichrist and the new false religious system (called the harlot in Scripture) are constantly struggling against each other and using each other, they will find a way to work together.
And though we are saying that this new global religion is new, it is essentially quite ancient. In some respects, it will be new, being made up of all the false religions of the world, but its base will be the ancient mystery Babylon religion, which began with Nimrod (the grandson of Ham) at the tower of Babel.
This false, Satanic religion of idol worship began at Babylon but quickly spread over the earth. And even as Abraham was called by God to leave his pagan country in order to establish a new God-believing nation, they too were eventually overcome by this Babylonian religion—as was the cause of their captivity in 586 B. C.
In 539 B. C., Babylon was destroyed; but Satan found a way to keep the religion going. The cultic high-priest, with his followers, fled to Pergamos and then to Italy where the ancient cult was eventually established in Rome. Beginning with Julius Caesar, the Roman emperors shared their power with the Babylonian chief priests; and then, tragically, under Constantine the Great, the devil began working to corrupt the church, as many pagan idolatrous practices became part of the Catholic/Christian religion.
In my observation, some Catholic churches have managed to be somewhat Christian; but on the whole I think the Catholic church has remained the same—embedded in idolatry. Nonetheless, whatever you think, as soon as the Rapture occurs, we will see it as it really is. That is, we will see its ancient roots. And I believe we will see it as Revelation 17 describes it: BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS.
I think the Roman Catholic Church will probably be the center of influence and control; however, I think all other false religions will be attracted to it, and will unite together as one under the False Prophet and the Antichrist.
It will certainly be strange to see this false religion rise up and to present itself as a true and holy religion, with the Antichrist declaring himself as God (2 Thess. 2:4). The places of worship will no doubt be beautiful and appealing, and the religious leaders may put on a great show of spirituality and power. But to all who find true salvation in that day, if they are fill with His Spirit, they will be able to see the evil powers at work and to see the pride and arrogance of the false teachers and their murderous hatred toward Christians.
However, just after the Rapture, there won’t be any believers; and so, this will be the time when the doctrine of demons (1 Tim. 4:1-3) will take hold and when many are corrupted by evil teaching. This evil corruption will be the devil’s preparation for his new false religion.
The world’s leaders will be the first to go, and then with their insistence and example, they will cause the world to follow them into corruption and harlotry.
We don’t know how long it will take before this new false religion is fully developed and when it’s official beginning will be, but whenever that is, I think it will coincide with the signing of the peace covenant with Israel. And that will be the actual beginning of the Tribulation. Here are …
Five Factors That May Contribute to The Official Start Of the New Global Religion
1. I think it may start just after the Ezekiel 38 and 39 war. This makes perfect sense to me, because since that war will eliminate most of radical Islam, that will conveniently open the door to a peaceful start, as well as to open the way to begin building the third temple.
2. It will begin as soon as the harlot and the beast discover that they can work together. We know from Scripture that there will be conflict, but we also know that they will learn to work together and support each other for the good of the new evil kingdom.
3. It will begin as soon as its leaders and sits evil system are in place.
4. It will begin as soon as all nations and all religions are united and committed to the new global religion. We don’t know exactly how this commitment and willingness will occur, but we may conclude that it will be either by force or by allurement—or by a combination of the two.
5. It will start when all the world leaders and all the people are beginning to be absorbed into it. When this drawing of the people begins to happen, the official start will be imminent; and you will see a movement of the nation heads toward the peace table to witness the signing of the peace covenant with Israel.
Things to see on the walking trail
This look like a Tiger Lily, but the hot weather has got to it.
All the way there was a paved winding path. And the surrounding trees were thick.
About half-way through the journey I came to a free little library. These are becoming more and more popular in this area of Minnesota. However, I passed up any free books. They seem to be all for the degenerate–romance novels, etc.
I came across a tree full of colorful helicopter seeds. The best part of my sightseeing journey.
Stephen Nielsen 