To Christian Singles

TO SINGLE CHRISTIANS:

  I was pondering why the love of my life hadn’t come into my life, and asking our Father where she was, when He reminded me of a couple of lines from a movie I’ve watched several times. The movie was based on the life of Charles Spurgeon and was set in an early meeting with the woman who was to become his wife, Suzanna.

  They were sitting at a concert in London when he handed her a book of poetry he’s reading and asked her to read a particular poem. When she finished reading the poem, Charles asked her “do you pray for the one who is to be your husband? I pray for she who is to be my wife.” I think this is a question that should be asked of all single Christians, especially in today’s society. Do you pray for the one that is to be your wife or husband?

  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’ve had some very bad experiences with singles. I’ve met several who claimed to be Christians but, when pressed, I found that they were either name only Christians or that they were involved in some weird denomination with some very strange beliefs. I’ve even met a couple who held more to what some “prophet” had taught as opposed to what the Bible teaches. I even had one try to tell me that the Bible was wrong and what this “prophet” taught was actually the truth. Didn’t take me long to get out of that situation at all. Poof, I was gone.

  As single Christians we should be praying for the one we’re to marry long before we ever meet them in person. We need to be praying for them, blessing them and asking the Father for His divine protection over them every single day. This is the person that we’ll spend the rest of our lives with. We will pray with them, study the Bible with them and attend services with them so, it’s vital that we believe much alike and that we’re both rooted and grounded in the Word of God. You and I don’t want to be unequally yoked together with an unbeliever or with someone who doesn’t have the same core beliefs we have. We want the one our Father in Heaven chose for us and nothing less.

  So, as you’re going through your day, my dear single Christian friend, make time to pray for that special someone who is to share your life. Pray for their safety, for their soul and pray that you will know them when you meet them. Don’t waste your time on anyone who isn’t a Believer because all it will get you is hurt. Pray about the person you’re thinking about dating and follow where the Lord leads you. Keep a prayerful eye out for “red flags” that would could be a warning that they aren’t really a Believer. It is far better to be alone than to be in a relationship that isn’t blessed by God. It might be a bit tough at times, but we’ll be a whole lot better off waiting on God’s timing than trying to force something that just isn’t what He planned for us.

  Thanks for reading this little blog and remember, pray for the one that is to be your wife or husband. Pray for them like they were already in your life and Yehovah will bless you and will answer your prayers with the ONE He made, just for you.

Shalom,

Pastor Dave

Social Networking

  Social networking is a wonderful tool in the hands of every Believer, if it’s used in the right way. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and MySpace can all be used as tools for spreading the word about the love of Christ, or it can be a tool used to tear down, ridicule and embarrass.

  Over the past few weeks I’ve become more and more aware of how supposed Christians, supposed ministers are using the social networking media to wage war against fellow Believers or, in the case of a recent minister who fell from grace, to mock and ridicule. This isn’t right and, in fact, it is SIN! Nowhere in the Bible can you find a passage that gives anyone the right to mock, ridicule, tear down or make fun of anyone. This isn’t what God calls love, not at all.

  Let me ask you a question, a serious question. Let’s suppose that, in a moment of weakness, you go out one night and get intoxicated. You’re a Christian minister and you know better, but for whatever reason, you did it. On the way home you get pulled over by a state trooper; you’re given a field sobriety test and fail it. You’re handcuffed and taken to the county jail where you are book for suspicion of driving under the influence.

  I’ve never been arrested like this, but I was a police officer for many years and have taken numerous people to jail. I can tell you that many of the people I took to jail never dreamed they would ever find themselves in this embarrassing situation. This is a very humbling experience.

  Before the end of the day, some of your “Christian” brethren find out that you’ve been arrested for DUI and they start plastering all over Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social networking sites. These people who should be expressing sorrow, grief and love, rather than express disbelief or words stating that they’re praying for you, they opening relish in the fact that you’ve been arrested and begin calling you everything in the book; these people who are commanded in the Scriptures to bare one another’s burdens, to restore one who falls are joining in with the world and making a mockery of you. How would you feel if this happened to you?

  Earlier this week I watched as a noted minister was torn apart by people who claim to be Christians, who claim to be ministers and who should know better. Rather than express words of love, concern and prayer: these people spoke with words of disdain and self-righteousness. They mocked and made fun of this minister and seemed to imply that he was a fake preacher, though there was no evidence to support such a claim.

  The Bible tells us that Satan is the accuser of the brethren and that he delights in making accusations against the saints. When someone who claims to be Christian begins making accusations against a fellow Believer, you cease to become a Believer and you become a sinner! When you point your self-righteous finger at someone who has fallen, rather than offer prayers, forgiveness and love, you have become no better than Satan and he is soon to be in Hell forever. 

  Our job isn’t to spread such news; it isn’t to call attention to someone who, in a moment of weakness, fell from God’s grace. Social networking isn’t for us to use as a means of pushing a brother or sister father down than they already are. How would you feel if every time you made a mistake, every time you sin or fall from God’s grace, you found the sorted story being played out on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and YouTube, not by the liberal and sinful world media: but by those who claim to be your family?

  We need to use our social networking sites not to put others down or to point out when one of our relatives fails or falls; we should be using them to show love, forgiveness and to tell the story of Jesus. We should be using them to motivate people to come to Christ, motivate people with words of encouragement and put Scriptures out that could lead someone to our Lord and Savior.

  Rather than use your social networking sites as a tool to embarrass, ridicule or put down a Believer… remember that to do so is sin. When you point a finger at someone to point out their sin, especially if you do it in any form of self-righteousness – there are three fingers pointing at you quoting Jesus. “Ye who are without sin may cast the first stone.”

  Father, forgive us for being accusers of our brethren rather than loving them, praying for them and doing all we can to restore them. Help us Lord to not allow this great sin to ever be found on our doorstep because it isn’t right and brings a bad light on Your precious name, Amen.

What I Believe

  I was ingaged in a conversation with a friend tonight who had told another friend about me and my online ministry. The question came up about what I believe and why it wasn't posted on any of my Internet sites. In answer to this this question, I'd like to post this for everyone to read so they know my basic core beliefs. While this isn't all I believe, it is teh foundation to which I have anchored my spiritual house and the anchor to which I hold.

  For the record: I am a Born Again Christian. I believe in the great God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; the God who delivered the children of Israel form Egypt; the God who sent His only Son to become the sacrificial Lamb that bought back man's dominion on this earth with His death on Calvary's Cross; the man named Jesus who rose from the dead on the third day and is now seated at the right hand of Jehovah in Heaven. I am a Believer, a Born Again Christian who is eagerly awaiting the Rapture of the Church and the moment when I will slip from this sinful world into the presense of my King. Until that day, I will be doing all I can to sing, preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and lead as many souls as I can to a saving knowledge of Christ.

  For those of you who may be wondering, for those you who have asked; here are my core beliefs.

What I Believe:

The Lord Jesus Christ

I believe in the deity of Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God. I believe in His substitutionary death for all men, His resurrection, and His eventual return to judge the world.

Salvation

I believe all men are born with a sinful nature and that the work of the Cross was to redeem man from the power of sin. I believe that this salvation is available to all who will receive it.

The Holy Spirit

I believe in the existence of the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Trinity and in His interaction with man. I believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit as manifested by the fruit and the gifts of the Spirit.

The Sacred Scripture

I believe in the scripture as the inspired Word of God and that it is the complete revelation of God's will for mankind. I believe in the absolute authority of the scripture to govern the affairs of men.

Stewardship and Tithing

I believe that every man is the steward of his life and resources which ultimately belong to God. I believe that tithing is a measure of obedience to the scriptural principles of stewardship.

The Church

I believe in the Church as the eternal and universal Body of Christ consisting of all those who have accepted the work of the atonement. I believe in the need for a local assembly of believers for the purpose of evangelism and edification.

Prayer and Praise

I believe in the worship of the Lord through singing, clapping, and the lifting of hands. I believe in the authority of the believer to ask freely of the Lord for his needs.

Body Ministry

I believe in the ministry of the Holy Spirit to the Church body through the anointing of oil by the elders of the church.

Evangelism

I believe that evangelism is the obligation of every follower of Jesus Christ. The Lord commands us to go out and make disciples of all the earth. I believe that each person is first responsible to evangelism in their own family as the Holy Spirit leads them and gives them the ability.

Water Baptism

I believe in the ordinance of water baptism by immersion in obedience to the Word of God. All those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior should be baptized in water as a public profession of their faith in Christ and to experience what the Bible calls the "circumcision of the Spirit."

Our Commitment to Israel

I believe in the promise of Genesis 12:3 regarding the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. I believe that this is an eternal covenant between God and the seed of Abraham to which God is faithful. I support Israel with my prayers (Psalm 122:3), with my finances (Romans 15:27) and love my Jewish brothers and sisters.

The Priesthood of the Believer

I believe that every believer has a unique relationship to the Lord. As His children, every Christian has immediate access to the throne of Grace and the ability to manifest the power of the Lord Jesus Christ in ministry.

Because of His saving grace,

Dave

An End Time Scenario

  As I've been looking at all the news pouring out of the Middle East, New York and Israel I'm faced with the fact that Bible prophecy is coming to pass faster than ever before. We're seeing the foundation for the beginning of the end coming together at light speed. We're seeing the Muslim nations, all of which are mentioned in the end time prophecies, banding together and threatening war with Israel and the United States should the Palestinian Authority not be granted statehood by the United Nations.


  The time has come for all of us to make sure that our souls are right with God. We need to make sure that we're right, and that we're sounding the alarm to our unsaved family and friends. We, as Christians, must take this very seriously and not waste a moments time. Yes, while all the signs indicated that Jesus could very easily come back during the season of Rosh Hashanah, there is also a chance He won't. The beautiful thing here is this; even if Christ doesn't come back at the end of this month, we all need to be saved because, the signs say it won't be long. There can be no mistake, Jesus is coming VERY soon.

 As I'm looking at the news coming out from the Middle East and the United Nations, I've been dealing with thoughts and feelings in my spirit. With the Palestinian National Authority trying to force a statehood vote in the United Nations this week, and their threat to go to war if they don't get what they're seeking, I'd like to put forth a scenario that could very easily present itself as this week unfolds. This scenario could very easily happen and the sad fact is, it just might.

1. The vote for the Palestinian Authority statehood fails in the United Nations;
2. Failure send the Muslim's into the streets of East Jerusalem and an armed conflict explodes;
3. The Palestinian Authority calls on all Muslim nations in the region to come to the aide of their "brothers" and attack Israel. This puts the entire region into a war footing where thousands are wounded and killed;
4. The Hamas terrorist group in Damascus launches a chemical and or biological attack on Northern Israel and the West Bank. This attack results in hundreds, perhaps thousands of wounded and dead. Israel would then be forced to counter-attack and they would wipe Damascus off the face of the earth; thus fulfilling the prophecy found in Isaiah 17;
5. Damascus gone, the Arab/Muslim world would thus be out of control and wanting a Jewish blood bath. Russia, who is now Iran's greatest ally, would step in and muster all the Muslim nations together for war. They would select a location near Jerusalem to gather this massive army together and prepare the attack. The only perfect place in Israel, the only location big enough to hold an army the size of what would be coming, is the Jezreal Valley. This location is also known as Armageddon;
6. We would the see Ezekiel chapters 38 & 39 come to pass as God comes down to defend the apple of His eye, Israel. Five out of six attackers will be killed in this battle as God let's the world know, He is God and Israel is His;
7. As soon as the smoke begins to clear, a Muslim man will emerge claiming to have a peace plan that will give everyone what they want. The Palestinian's would have their state, Israel would have their Temple and peace would be brought to the region. The parties will meet immediately, probably in Jerusalem and in a very short period of time, news will come that a seven year peace agreement has been reached and will be signed quickly;
8. While this is taking place, at some point near Rosh Hashanah, the world suddenly finds itself dealing with millions of missing people. All over the world millions of people are suddenly missing and the missing have one thing in common: no matter where these people are, the missing are Christians. While peace is reached in the Middle East, the world is trying to explain why all these people are missing;

  At the moment the first signature is affixed to this seven year peace treaty, the Tribulation Period will begin. The Muslim man who brokers this peace deal is the Antichrist of the Bible. This is the one who will soon become the world dictator and the one who will kill millions of Christian's and will bring about the Mark of The Beast, 666.

  Yes, I do believe that this could be the year that Christ will return for His bride, the church. Yes, I do believe that Rosh Hashanah (The Feast of Trumpets) is the most likely time of His returning. My main concern is that there are so many who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior and, there are so many who are lukewarm Christians and needing to rededicate their lives to God. Folks, there is a very good chance that Jesus could return in the coming days. We all need to make sure that our souls are right with God, that we warn our family and friends and that we do all we can to spread the word and sound the alarm.

  My greatest desire, my greatest prayer is that we all will begin sounding the alarm and win as many souls to Christ as we can. Come on, let's put our theological and doctrinal differences aside and band together as the Church and win souls. Come on, time is short and we need to come together as a family, as children of God and do all we can, while we can.

Blessings and peace,
Dave

War Clouds In The Middle East

I'm watching The Hal Lindsey Report on TBN and hearing proof of what I've been afraid was building. It seems that the Middle East is poised to go to war with Israel over the Palestinian desire to split Israel in order to create a state of its own. Turkey, which was the home of the Turkish Muslim Empire, is calling on the Muslim world to war against Israel.

It seems that the Muslim world is ready, should the UN vote go against the PA, to immediately go to war against God's people. If they are unable to force a successful vote for statehood, they seem to be ready to attempt to take it by force. This is far more serious than many believe because it will ignite a war that will include all the nations of the Bible prophecy on the end time.

I am calling the Christian world to prayer for Israel, her leaders and the IDF. I'm asking all Christians to purchase a small globe and to hold it in their hands as they pray for the nations of the world and especially for Israel. I'm asking that every Christian pick a time they can pray each and every day and to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, to pray for the Jewish state and to pray for the government of the United States. Pray for all the nations of the world that the wisdom of the Holy Spirit will fill their hearts and souls. Pray like you've never prayed before.

Also, I want you to consider that there is a very real possibility that Christ could return for His church during the season of Rosh Hashanah, the Feast of Trumpets. There is a real possibility that, in the coming days or weeks, the "man of sin," which is the Antichrist, could be revealed to Christians. This would indicate to us that we're about to be making our mass exodus from this world and finally going home. There is much to consider here as we're watching what's happening in the Middle East.
Pray my friends, and make certain that your sins are forgive and that you're doing all you can to warn your family and friends. Pray for them and show them with the Bible and the headlines how this is all coming together. We are at the end of the church age and when it is over, we're going home to be with God our Father for all eternity.

God bless you and keep you, may He grant you the ability to win your family and friends to Christ.

In Christ's service,
Dave Lillard