It's Here, It's Now

It's Here, It's Now

by David Brenneman 

“Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.” Matthew 12:43-45.

"What in the world is going on!?"

"Why do people think that way?"

"Where did they ever get such an idea? That could only end in disaster!"

"Did you see the look on his face? Something certain was going on!"

I read something a long time ago that said something about people not recognizing what Satan's doing and he isn't even trying to hide anymore.  

"But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived." 2 Timothy 3:13.

It's sometimes a topic of conversation with a few people that I know that it's really interesting that 2,000 years ago people had little difficulty in recognizing demon possession. Today it's so prolific that people can't see who is from who isn't. 

Paul warned about evil men and impostors infiltrating the Church. 

This too has happened all over the world and again, it goes unnoticed or more sadly, unchallenged. People see them and won't rise up to remove them.

These are the days in which we live. The world is ripe for Jesus to return. All that only remains is the last Believers to come to Christ for salvation to complete the Church. 

A prevailing sense even in the professing Church is that witnessing is the other person's job. This ideology prolongs the wait for Jesus to come back.  

Everyone who is in Christ represents Christ to the world. Everyone who is in Christ is supposed to be ready to give a reason for the hope that they have within themselves in Jesus. 

The world at large refuses to acknowledge not just the prolific spread of demonic activities but refuses to acknowledge the war between good and evil. Between Satan and God. Between sin and righteousness. It takes less than a day, more likely less than an hour, to look across the world news to see the truth that most try to deny.

"Peace and safety!" will be the cry heard around the world right before Jesus returns and that particular cry keeps getting louder. 

There's a trigger event coming that's forever going to alter the landscape of mankind.

Jesus returns and takes home all who have rightly called upon His Name unto salvation in Him.  

The best Hollywood could ever come up with concerning the global disasters that will happen can't even come close to what that will look like. Millions and millions of vehicles crashing in an instant. Thousands of planes crashing. All because of the millions of Believers leaving this world. A global earthquake of unprecedented proportions. I highly doubt that the Richter scale will be able to go high enough. Then comes the ridiculous recovery process and it will be at this time people the world over will cry out for someone to lead them. The Antichrist will arise to be that person. This is but the beginning my Dear Reader, only the beginning. Soon afterwards all the judgments we read of in the book of Revelation come to be. Nothing is left out. Yes people will still find salvation in Jesus Christ but won't be raptured, in the state of the world, they will be the hunted because they will have refused to worship this world leader. Yes don't miss that part. After this Antichrist rises he will want the worship of mankind as their savior through these times and people WILL give it willingly. 

Reading these judgments...1/3rd of mankind dies in a moment. Do the math. That's nearly 3 to 4 billion people dead. Then of that it will see more billions die.  

We are indeed seeing the end of what a 'normal' life is like coming to bear upon the world.  

Mike Wingfield said in a recent newsletter (www.ptnews.org) that it certainly looks like Jesus is standing at the door of Heaven getting ready to call for His Church to come home.  

The focus of the world has shifted to mostly the middle east. That too is significant because that's all that is the only area of the world that matters in the times after the Rapture occurs. 

People today give in to all kinds of psychological mumbo-jumbo about how to get their heads on straight. The use of astrology, crystals, etc. And don't realize they are inviting demons to come and give the very result that Jesus said would happen in our opening passage. 

Look at the Gospels. Look at the age groups of those recorded who were demon possessed. Look at the orders the 70 were given, the 12 were given. Casting out demons was right there with healing people.  

If you are a Believer you are in the thick of battle. Your sin nature isn't going to roll over because of the Spirit within you. Paul admonishes us to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Protect what you have learned and received from the Spirit of God.  

I have had the displeasure of shaking hands with a demon possessed person. Probably more than a few that I didn't even know about yet. They are as real a foe as any human beings that openly oppose Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. 

I try to look to the Spirit when I seek understanding on the irrational erratic behavior I read about. The Spirit of God always knows who is or isn't possessed. 

Those in the Church should be fighting the good fight as Paul taught Timothy. Fighting back against thoughts, feelings, emotions, that are contrary to Godly teaching. Fighting back against the subtle attempts Satan's minions try to get us to buy into that will only lead to a slippery slope of compromise. 

If people can't see your good works in order to glorify your Father in Heaven, then for certain, for sure, you are doing life all wrong. 

If you stick your head in the sand rather than fight for what is right in Christ Jesus you are doing life all wrong. 

If you are not in the practice of daily Bible reading or effectual prayer, you are doing life all wrong. 

Demons cannot inhabit a Believer but they can get a foothold to keep them from the righteous life that God desires for them. They can keep them from living a life in Christ the way they ought to and even make them be ok with it. 

Oh Jesus come quickly. We have indeed been waiting so long.  

For those reading this who only now see that they're on the outside looking in. Coming to Christ for salvation isn't complicated or difficult. The Bible says that to everyone it has been given a measure of faith in order to be able to choose Jesus Christ to save them. Grab onto that. 

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.

Oh to see the world that is really the world as God sees it.  

Recognize these people around you and in the news? "But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Come Jesus Come...

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org 

Character Revealed

Character Revealed
by David Brenneman

“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.  You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.  The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.  But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:33-37.

The character of people is seen in your interactions with others.  Be it a good thing or a bad thing it reveals to whom your heart belongs. 

We read the words of Jesus a moment ago and straight from Jesus we know what being fruit inspectors is all about.  Here and in other Scriptures we read of what we are to look for and how we're to react or maybe interact with others. 

We all too often utter the phrase "you shouldn't judge!".  That is a grossly incorrect perception of what we are to be doing and in most cases its a cop out to keep from utilizing the Scriptures as the Spirit intended in order to: "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

We are supposed to help one another, by way of the Word of God, towards love and good deeds.  Towards the path of righteousness for His name’s sake.  Towards growing in Christ rather than backsliding.  You're either pressing on towards the upward call of God for you in Christ Jesus or you are sliding backwards.  This too is the reason Paul admonishes Timothy,  and by extension all of us, to fight the good fight, finish the race.

Oh how Satan's schemes play on the emotions of people.  Getting Believers to not do what we are called to do.  If this "you shouldn't judge!" thing was a real teaching of the Spirit of God...why is it written that Paul confronted Peter to his face?  Why is it written of Paul facing people when he visited them to do better, to be better in Christ?

It's nothing but a cop out.  A means of never learning how to view a person's character. 

We learn who we can trust and who we shouldn't by their character.  We are to walk with Jesus to learn His character and to grow that into our lives.

We are supposed to confront and condemn sin in our own lives.  We read in Matthew 18 of what to do when it's within the Church. 

What we are never to do either by way of decisions not to forgive or by choice of mind, to condemn a person as unworthy of the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Regardless of who it is, the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ alone is for everyone.  We have no right to sit as a judge and deny anyone the right to become a child of God in Christ Jesus.

THAT is what shouldn't be judged.

What if someone decided, my Dear Reader, that you were unworthy of eternal life through Jesus Christ?  Where would you be?

We are to forgive others as many times as it takes.  If we don't forgive then the Bible is clear, we won't be forgiven.

This cop out goes down the real path of responsibility.  We find that we might get invested in either restoring such a one to a right relationship with Jesus or we might get invested in leading such a one to salvation in Christ Jesus.  Hate to break it to everyone, aside from personally growing in Christ, we're here to point people to Jesus for salvation.  We aren't saved in order to create a personal utopia and await the Rapture of the Church, free from the troubles of this world.

We are told that those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus are going to be persecuted.  We are going to have troubling days.  It's us who are behind enemy lines. 

Pray for those who persecute you.
Does this sound like we should retreat from people?  Absolutely not.  It's prayerful engagement. 

Set your mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world.  The things that are above are people and Jesus Christ seated at the right hand of God the Father.

Harboring bitterness of any amount is self-destructive.  It's taking poison with your vitamins each day.   Even trace amounts will eventually kill you and never the person whom you won't forgive or help.

You cannot possibly "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and spirit.  Love your neighbor as yourself" if you're unwilling to view a person's character in light of the character of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus sees every single thought and intention you and I make or have.   We get away with nothing.

Pray for your heart and mind to be tender towards the word of God.  Pray for those difficult people in your life. 
Pray for those whom you harbor ill feelings about.
Pray for the people in the fields in which you are working for the Lord.

Our rights don't matter.  In Christ we gave them up. 

Your character is revealed in how you approach others and your interactions with them.  Either it shows a person growing in Christ or it shows a person bent on self.

Who will be honored when you stand before Jesus to give an account of your life?

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
A corporation not for profit.  
La Habra, CA All rights reserved
www.lockman.org

Mired in a Worldview

Mired in a Worldview 

by David Brenneman 

"At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath, and His disciples became hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat. But when the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples do what is not lawful to do on a Sabbath.” But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he became hungry, he and his companions, how he entered the house of God, and they ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for him to eat nor for those with him, but for the priests alone? Or have you not read in the Law, that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and are innocent? But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here. But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” Departing from there, He went into their synagogue. And a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse Him. And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep! So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand!” He stretched it out, and it was restored to normal, like the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, as to how they might destroy Him. But Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. Many followed Him, and He healed them all, and warned them not to tell who He was. This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, My Servant whom I have chosen; My Beloved in whom My soul is well-pleased; I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He shall proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel, nor cry out; Nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets. A battered reed He will not break off, And a smoldering wick He will not put out, Until He leads justice to victory. And in His name the Gentiles will hope.” Matthew 12:1-21.

Many times well meaning people unknowingly or unwittingly establish legalistic ideas in churches by way of wrongful opinions rather than by viewing the proper administration of the Church of Jesus Christ from a truly Scriptural basis.  

Much conflict arises at times about what to wear at a church service. What translation of Bible to read. What should or shouldn't be done on a Sunday. Should people work on a Sunday.  

Sad to say it's these areas of conflict that some are so convinced of that are not drawing people to Jesus but rather in their observation of these Christians they want nothing to do with those types of Christians. As it was in Jesus's days so it is in ours.

Our society has businesses that work on Sundays. It's a fact of life in the world in which we live. It's not Biblical to sit out in protest of having to do so. The Scriptures say whereas it is possible be at peace with all men. Nobody is sinning by being required to work. As Jesus pointed out who doesn't do good on the Sabbath? 

Bible translations are up to the reader's understanding as well as on them to want to read one they understand and that has a reputation for accuracy. My personal preference is the New American Standard Bible pre-1995. I also read the ESV and CSV versions while studying. I was given a King James version after I came to Christ for salvation but always found it confusing to me.  

Using a reputable version that allows understanding of God's word is fine.

Clothing also doesn't matter much because it's not our outward appearance that matters more than our inward appearance. Modesty should be a defining factor but nothing else matters more than a person's soul. I have heard of stories of people being turned away from entering a church because of what they were wearing. 

Would Jesus turn such a person away? Absolutely not. 

Would Jesus turn someone away because of what Bible they held in their hands? Absolutely not. 

Would Jesus condemn someone who had to work? Absolutely not. 

Our relationship with Jesus is paramount, not our strict adherence to rituals or ideals. 

Jesus wants a vibrant growing relationship with you. He's not seeking people who only know how to do things or look a part.  

If you're going to a church that pushes ideas that an outward appearance matters more than a right relationship with Jesus...leave it. It is a place that has no blessing of God upon it.

If you're going to a church that looks down upon you for using a version of the Bible that differs from what they teach and preach from...question it. The Heaven we are going to inhabit is not based upon any particular denomination. It's not going to be only NASB people or KJV people or ESV people. Truth isn't a translation it's a person, the person of Jesus Christ.  

If people are more concerned with your appearance than your soul, leave. It only means that the Spirit isn't a part of that so-called church. 

Jesus Christ looked to who a person was on the inside so must we too.

Compromises and restrictive ideals are what formed the basis for denominations. The truth of the Gospel message is what's the only thing that is important for people to receive. 

Christians are supposed to be living in the character of Christ Jesus in this world.  

Where the raw people aren't welcomed...those who can't afford anything more than to bring themselves as they are to a church service...then Jesus isn't welcome either.  

There's a well circulated story of a guy who looked like a bum who went into a church. He didn't smell the greatest, certainly didn't look the greatest either. He entered and very cautiously took a seat in one of the pews. Many many parishioners avoided him. Wouldn't go near him. The church had been cleaned up particularly well for that particular day. The new pastor was beginning that day. Many were embarrassed to have this man in their midst. The service started and this man tried to smile at those looking his direction. He sang with them as best he could. Then one of the Deacons went to the pulpit and made mention that the new Pastor was there and would be giving the sermon. This smelly disheveled man got up and approached the pulpit and introduced himself as the new Pastor. The service took a rather different turn when this truth came to light. He pointed out how he was treated from the moment he came in. He made mention that their Deacons and Elders were in on this charade.  

We are in this world but are not to be of this world.  

Doing churchy things doesn't save us nor make us look more religious. We need a right relationship with Jesus. A bona-fide real relationship with Jesus. One where He has full reign in our hearts. One where the Spirit can go anywhere in our hearts. One where we are Christ to those around because the character of Christ is so prevalent in our lives. Praying for those whom we encounter in our world. People whom others turn their faces from.  

What needs to change in your life?

Are you being legalistic as those Pharisees and Sadducees were in Jesus's days?  

How many people turn away from the professing Church all because worldly ideas meant more to those going to that Church than changing lives for Jesus Christ?

We don't need to adapt the church to attract people to Jesus. We just need to be who we are supposed to be in Christ. Be that part of the body of Christ that is ours to fulfill. 

Be.

All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. 

New American Standard Bible 

(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation. 

A corporation not for profit.   

La Habra, CA All rights reserved 

www.lockman.org