Many do not expect God to answer their prayers. Therefore, they do not listen for God to give a reply. We must become confident, as Christians, God is going to answer our prayers. God wants us to become strong in character and improve our endurance for living a holy life. He will continue to allow us to be tested, not to defeat us, but to improve that endurance that is needed to face the trials of life.

James 1:2 – 4 – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Most people are looking for happiness and joy in their lives. Do you know very many people who have found lasting happiness? Happiness and pleasure is usually a temporary state that we received from favorable sources. When these external circumstances become unfavorable we often find ourselves unhappy.

We may be happy when we win but unhappy when we lose. We may be delighted when we receive recognition or financial reward. But how long does happiness last? External situations change so often. Happiness can fade rather rapidly. Many times the unhappiest people are those seemingly having everything that most of us are dreaming for; yet, they do not always seem too happy.

Human nature seeks to be happy and joyful. When we find happiness difficult to achieve, many seek addictions as an escape from the frustrations of life. It is our carnal nature or human nature to look to the world for happiness, pleasure and joy. Does an alcoholic find joy in drinking? Does an obese person find happiness in overeating? Many find themselves in an unhappy situation and are looking for ways to change their external surroundings.

The entire world is looking for joy in their lives as defined in Webster’s dictionary. It is described as an emotional feeling of having good things, living a delightful life and generally having a feeling of gladness. It may be a state of bliss or gaiety. Many come to Las Vegas looking for that kind of joy, happiness and pleasure. How many find it and how long does it last? We have lived here 41 years and we haven’t seen too many find lasting happiness and joy in casinos.

We look for joy and happiness in marriage. If happiness fades, we look for other means of finding happiness. We continually ask the question: “How can I become joyful and stay that way?” You may not always find happiness. But, there is a joy that can take the place of happiness.

Many do not realize there are two kinds of joy: worldly joy and spiritual joy. It is unreasonable to think we will always be confronted with pleasant circumstances. But it isn’t unreasonable to expect and to always have a spiritual joy. This is the joy that is given by the Holy Spirit. This joy is described as a “fruit” of the Spirit. It is a “joy” that is continuous and is experienced even going through difficult times. This is an inner spiritual joy that comes only from God.

Show me a Christian who has been given the “fruits of the Spirit” as described in Galatians 5:22 – 23 and you will see a person who is full of Christ, non-divisive, neither an arguer nor a constant complainer. They have the heart of a servant. They are filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are the people who face trials, pray to God and listen to God for an answer and then follow His guidance. These are the people who have that inner spiritual joy that Scripture promises, is available to Christians.

The Apostle Paul says it was this inner joy that encouraged him during his times of imprisonment and his many trials. It is this spiritual joy that encouraged Paul to press on and be enthusiastic toward the goal of living for Christ as he encountered difficult eternal circumstances. We can have the same joy that Paul had, a spiritual joy that keeps us positive through unhappy times. The joy we are talking about does not come from an abundance of things. It does not come from the externals of life. It can only be received from the Holy Spirit as a “fruit” from Him. Read what Scripture has to say:

Acts 13:52 – The disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 14:17 – God fills your heart with joy. John 16:22 – Jesus says, “No one will take away your joy.” John 15:16 – “I chose you, (talking to His disciples), and appointed you to bear fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.” I Peter 1:8 – (Commentary) this spiritual joy possess the radiance of God’s glory. It is a joy that comes from heaven. It is a joy that can only come from being in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

The “fruit of joy” is always dependent upon living a vital relationship with Christ. It cannot be fabricated for it is spiritual and comes from the heart. Having this spiritual joy can keep you from seeking the world’s lusts and pleasures, which so many do. Daily we must die out to this self-centered nature we all have. Focus on Christ and ask the Holy Spirit to help each of us to totally surrender so that we can be filled with joy.

Normal people do not enjoy trials. In fact, most of us do everything possible to avoid the trials of life. However, James says we are to face trials with joy-pure joy. God wants to make us patient because that is the key to every other blessing. When the believer learns to wait on the Lord, then God can do great things for him. The only way the Lord can develop patience and character in our lives is through trials. It is essential that we go through the difficulties of life, trust God and obey Him. Therefore, when we go through trials we can become bitter or accept them with pure joy knowing it is God’s will and they will build patience and character.

I wrote a blog that has been read by approximately 2100. You can search it on the right of this page or go to Google, Bing or Yahoo. “HOW SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO DEAL WITH PRESSURE”. It deals with some of the same trials and pressures if you want further information.

I happen to read where owners of racing horses follow the bloodline of horses in order to breed champions. All through the Old Testament we are continually told about the bloodline from Abraham to Jesus. In fact, when a person did something evil, God occasionally destroyed the individual and punished generations after.

Jeremiah 29:30 – “Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “Send this message to all the exiles: ‘This is what the Lord says about Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send him, and has persuaded you to trust in lies, this is what the Lord says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good things I will do for my people, declares the Lord, because he has preached rebellion against me.’”

Numbers 14:18 – “The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’”

Being non-Jewish we could not break into the bloodline of Abraham and receive the blessings God promised to Abraham’s descendants. However, God had a plan from the very beginning that would allow us to become a part of Abraham’s bloodline.

Ephesians 1:3 – 7 – “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding.”

It wasn’t until Jesus died that the blood He shed, was shed that we might enter His bloodline that God had prepared for us prior to the creation of the world. By accepting Christ as our Savior we are redeemed by His blood and receive the same blessing that the Jews were promised through Abraham.

My mother’s side came to America in 1709. Every generation there were Christians and most generation had ministers. On my father’s side were Christians and ministers. My wife’s father was a minister. It isn’t surprising that our children and grandchildren have all accepted Christ as their Savior.

Many of us know the story of Esau and Jacob. Esau was the oldest son and in a Jewish culture that made the eldest eligible to receive the “birthright”. The birthright was a special honor given to the first born son. It gave him twice as much as any other sibling’s inheritance. Upon death of the father, it also made him the family leader and the judge of any disputes in the family. It gave them a different relationship to God than the others. The oldest son, if he chose to do so, could sell or give his birthright away. If he did, he would lose the material benefit and give up his leadership position. Esau by giving up his birthright gave up the spiritual blessing that came with it. He traded it for an immediate pleasure without considering the long-range consequence of what it would do. Something many do constantly with little or no thought about how it could change the lives of those who follow.

Genesis 23:30 – 40 – “He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.) Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.” “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?” But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright.”

Here is the consequence: The Bible probably would have read—Abraham, Isaac and Esau the father of twelve sons. Esau possibly gave up every benefit that Jacob received from God. We can fall into the same trap. When we see something that we really want, what are we willing to do to get it? Our first impulse may be to do whatever it takes. That could mean using the credit card unwisely, having an illicit affair, being dishonest to gain materially. What is it that tempts us? What is our bowl of stew? What are we willing to give up in the future, to satisfy an immediate craving or lust that we have at the moment?

Esau exaggerated his hunger. I doubt that he would die if he didn’t get the stew. Yet, don’t we think similar thoughts? No one will know. It won’t hurt anyone. I will ask God for forgiveness. The pressure of the moment gives us a different perspective making the decision seem urgent. Isn’t it possible for us to justify almost any decision we make?

Consider how Esau’s decision changed his future, his family’s future and the world’s future. If you have read the Bible almost everything from that time on, in the Bible, is about Jacob and his heirs. Follow Esau’s history and there is very little good that came out of it. From Esau came many of those who have accepted Islam and are Muslins. Esau and his descendants are bitter enemies with Jacob’s heritage. There has been jealousy and enemies for centuries.

The important thing is that regardless of your previous heritage, you can change your bloodline by accepting Christ as your Savior. It is His blood that makes you a new person who is redeemed and receives the Holy Spirit. This is how you become grafted into God’s family and will live with the Trinity throughout eternity. THINK! Accepting Christ and living a holy life will affect the lives of your third and fourth generation.

We have three enemies that Christians must continually battle. They are lusts of the body, Satan the deceiver and the world’s temptations. Anytime one of these three can cause you to yield and if you do, it may cause discouragement and a lack of hope. We are living at a time when it is easy to become discouraged and hopeless about almost everything that is happening.

We should know that God allows problems in our lives to build character, trust and patience. We may forget that Satan uses others to deceive and discourage us. We are told that Satan’s final plan is to attack and deceive our minds, pervert our morals and demoralize our armed forces which we are witnessing. We must realize Satan’s army is out to destroy the United States, Christianity and the church as well as every Christian. Can you not see Satan’s plan of attack today?

Revelations 13:5 – 8 – “Then the beast was allowed to speak great blasphemies against God. And he was given authority to do whatever he wanted for forty-two months. And he spoke terrible words of blasphemy against God, slandering his name and his dwelling—that is, those who dwell in heaven. And the beast was allowed to wage war against God’s holy people and to conquer them. And he was given authority to rule over every tribe and people and language and nation. And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in the Book of Life before the world was made—the Book that belongs to the Lamb who was slaughtered.”

No matter how corrupt or how much he lies and deceives nor how much he attacks Christians and the church, there will be a huge number of followers believing everything he says. He can do no wrong because of his charismatic personality and ability as an orator. He will perform miracles with supernatural powers.

Not only is Satan our enemy but we must realize that with salvation we become a new person. However, we still have to fight the lusts of the body. When we fail, we can allow discouragement to take over.

1 John 1:15-17 -“Do not love the world, or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

The pride of life is allowing pride and arrogance to become sinful. It can be a temptation to want acceptance, fame, power to be somebody important. It can also be a pride that we don’t need God. I think it is best describe as lacking humility. It can be thinking we are more important than we really are. We see it in persons who tear down another verbally.

We as Americans believe that we have been blessed so much that we forget that it was God Who provided it. Life is all about ourselves and we take the credit for all of the material things we have accumulated. We take pride in who we are, what we have and what we have accomplished without giving God any credit. This is why Scripture warns us about the Pride of Life.

II Timothy 3:1 – 5 – “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.”

There are many anti-God individuals and groups in politics, most universities and much of the media. They want the church to accept the world’s culture. They want Christians to become politically correct doers. They are becoming well organized and lobby our politicians. They are having tremendous influence on our judicial system. The ways of the world can be an enemy to a Christian. Just because everyone is doing it, does not make it right morally.

With the three enemies trying to defeat us because we are Christians, we must not become discouraged. Many individuals in the Bible seemed to have problems with being discouraged. We learned that discouragement takes away hope. Without hope it is easy to not trust in the promises Christ made to Christians. Many times we have a tendency to take our focus off of Christ and focus only on the problems and conflicts that we encounter.
I John 4:4 – “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

We must never forget the above Scripture. The Holy Spirit is in us and is sufficient to defeat all enemies that might tempt us. Remember, as long as we have hope and can focus on Christ we are able to overcome any discouragement. NEVER LOSE HOPE IN CHRIST’S PROMISES!

Have you been a member of a church that has not increased in attendance in years? Being transferred a number of times; our family has been members of a number of churches that rarely increased in numbers. In fact, I have been a board member of six churches that just never seemed to grow.

A friend told me about his church that over a period of time and changes of pastors, their church lost many members and was on the edge of bankruptcy. I have heard this story a number of times of churches having to close because of losing its members. However, after receiving a new minister and some key members left the church, it started growing and financially has healed. It has grown from about 100 to 500. God requires unity and obedience.

Remember God told Joshua that when they defeated Jericho they were to take nothing. One family took clothes and gold. The next city they tried to take they were defeated. Joshua asked God why and was told to take that family that was disobedient and their live stock and stone them. From then on the Israelites listened to God, obeyed His Commandments and won their battles. It doesn’t take many disobedient church members for God to withdraw His help. Normally, without God’s help, churches don’t grow. There are cults that grow rapidly but their help comes from Satan.

We joined Central Christian Church in Las Vegas, NV in 1981 and the church had an attendance of just over 450 and did not seem to grow. In 1983, I was elected to the board and saw what made a church this size, become one of the 10 largest churches in America. We have witnessed over 50,000 conversions, help start other churches and have a number of satellite churches and a prison ministry.

First, it is not what we did but what God did. But God did not help our church grow until we sought His direction and became obedient to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. The leadership met weekly at 6:30 a.m. praying that God would give us guidance in what He wanted our church to do in order to reach out and help others find Christ as their Savior. This took three years before we were able to determine that God wanted us to evangelize the Las Vegas area and beyond. It required a change in our services and our presentation that would reach out to those who were not Christians. Too many churches are traditional and fail to reach out to anyone who has not been saved. But that is not necessarily the problem.

I believe one problem is the membership wants what pleases them rather than what pleases God. It is more like joining Rotary or a service club. Second, there was not unity and everyone in agreement as to what the churches purpose is. My friend’s church and our church didn’t really start growing until some members, causing continual dissention, left the church. Our board kept pleading with God to help us know what we needed to do to keep so many from leaving our church when we made a number of changes to reach lost souls. We began to realize that the church would not grow while there was this disunity and with all the problems that were being created.

We believe, once the congregation became unified and saw what God was doing, the church grew rapidly. Our faith really grew when we had to start expanding our facilities and didn’t have the money to do it. We expanded and God found a way to pay the expenses.

We realized that we had to relocate because we were unable to handle the growing numbers. We decided we needed 80 acres and started praying that God would help us find the right property that we could afford. We made bids on properties and they were rejected. God gave us the opportunity to buy an 80 acre gravel pit for three million dollars. Across the road land was selling for $110,000 per acre or $8.8 million for 80 acres. We negotiated to buy the property but didn’t have the money to pay for it. A member said: “I will loan you the $3 million” and the property became ours. We designed a 150,000 sq. ft. building costing $21 million and still did not have the money. God led us in being able to build it and never missed paying the monthly mortgage.

The purpose in providing the previous information is to share with you that it wasn’t until we gave the church to Christ, as our leader, that things started to change. As long as it was our church and we did things our way, there was little to no growth.

You may not understand how difficult it was to give up our church to God. There were a number of members that believed it was their church and they wanted to run it their way. One of our previous churches asked me to be their treasurer. I did it for one year and said I would never do it again. I found that those wanting to run the church were not willing to tithe. Some were business people that lived a better than average life financially, but often gave little if any money to the church. It was no wonder there was little unity and God was not prospering and helping the church to grow.

Matthew 18:19 – “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.”

If you want a church to grow, it must become Christ’s church and there must be complete unity, trust and obedience to living according to God’s Commandments and His Ways. If God is not directing your church, you may be no different than a service organization.

Jeremiah 11:8 – “But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.’” Verse 14 – “Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress.”

Have you ever read Scripture and wondered what it means? Then later you hear the answer in a sermon or reading a book. God will answer our questions and we may not recognize that it was He Who answered them.

A recent poll indicated that 34% of Protestants and 67% of Catholics support same-sex marriage. Having had a number of employees and friends who are gay state that “this is how God made me”, my son and I were discussing what the Bible thinks of same-sex marriage. We happen to see a comment made by an individual that seemed to answer our question. The person wrote: “You don’t pray to take the sin nature away, you’re human, you’re stuck with it, you pray to FIGHT the temptation and to live a life denying yourself and surrendering to the will of Christ. Just because I’m married but have a lustful eye for other women does not give me license to entertain those thoughts and engage in adultery. We’re broken, we’re all messed up, but you take all those troubles to the cross, and live a new life in Christ. Your old self is dead, and a new man is born. You live after the Spirit, not after the flesh.”

Another question, if we held a poll, how many Christians would agree or disagree with the following Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 6:9 – 10 – “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” NKJV Jeremiah 3:2 – 3 – “You have defiled the land with your prostitution and wickedness. Therefore the showers have been withheld, and no spring rains have fallen.” Jeremiah 6:19 – “Hear, you earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law.” NIV

I have another question that I would like an answer. It is found in the Old Testament and it is how Moses was treated when he was told by God that he would not enter the Promised Land. Scripture says that Moses put up with rebellious Jews and at times he believed they would stone him. I would think God would have taken him to the high mountain, thanked him for his years of obedience and trust but tell him it was time to select a new leader, more of a warrior/general type because they had to defeat the people possessing the Promise Land. That is not what happened. Following is some background information.

Exodus 17:3 – 6 – “But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. “

Numbers 20:4 – 8 – “Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!” Moses and Aaron went from the assembly to the entrance to the tent of meeting and fell facedown, and the glory of the Lord appeared to them. The Lord said to Moses, “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

The first time Moses was told to use the staff and water would pour out. The second time God told him to speak to the rock and water would come out. However, Moses chose to do it his way and did not follow God’s instructions. He gave an angry lecture, hit the rock with his staff and failed to give God the glory. The Bible said that Moses did all of this in anger and frustration.

The Lord punished Moses and Aaron because of their actions. This was the reason God gave for not allowing them to see their 40 year dream of entering the Promise Land. God held Aaron just as responsible for not speaking up and stopping Moses from using his staff. Does that mean if we see something that is not right and do nothing about it, we will be held equally responsible?

However, when Jesus was at the Transfiguration, Moses was there. The two witnesses that will live and preach for 3½ years during the Tribulation that are killed and then raptured, one we think will be Moses and the other Elijah. It has to be that disobedience to God causes negative consequences regardless who you are. Most every major figure in the Bible was disobedient and paid a price. This must be a lesson for us to follow and not be disobedient. Colossians 3:6 – “Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience.”

It is quite evident that Moses and Aaron were punished for disobeying. Our being obedient is how we show honor to God. What is our responsibility as Christians seeing our government and judicial system denying God’s Commandments and His moral ways? In the Old Testament when government and religious leaders disobeyed God, the entire population often received punishment. Is this what we may expect?

America has become more liberal and conservatives are switching toward liberalism.  You cannot study the Old Testament and not see God being very unhappy with the U.S.  When the Israelites became more progressively liberal and disobeyed God’s Commandments and His ways of living, they were severely punished. Any Christian who has studied the Bible ought to realize that God is not pleased with the direction we are headed.  We should be expecting God to discipline our nation.

I have been a Christian for more than sixty years. Morality in America has changed tremendously.  I didn’t realize how much until I read a recent poll in The Investment Business Daily.  Following is the results of the IBD/TIPP poll.

——————————————Protestant             Catholic            No religion

Support same-sex marriage         34%                    67%                    84%

Climate change is century’s

most demanding issue.                 40%                    47%                    71%

Support ObamaCare                     41%                    53%                    60%

Agree racism is in our DNA          42%                    54%                    68%

Favorable to Obama                     42%                    53%                    61%

My real problem is the loss of religious freedom. It seems apparent, that progressive liberalism is influencing more people than Christianity.  The present Catholic Pope has allowed his political and economic views to be influenced by the progressives.  It doesn’t seem to square up with Scripture.

Every time I study the Book of Revelation, chapters two and three, I think of what has happened to America.  We are told in Revelation 2:1 – 5 – “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands. I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.   Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.  Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

Let us apply this Scripture to America:  There was a time in America when its people were full of good works and had many Christian programs and teaching about God in our schools.  But a time came when they felt they were not receiving enough blessings from God.

History tells us sin among them at the beginning of America, was not tolerated.  False witnessing was not allowed either.  Those who professed to be believers of God but did not live that way were looked down on.  Very few were unscrupulous in business or impure in conversation.  Most did not live immoral lives, they were not habitually intoxicated or drug addicts, given to fits of rage, unfaithful to their pledges or convicted of lying.  These acts were not acceptable to the general population.  Sexual immorality was not acceptable and those who did were shunned.

Gradually they began to walk away from their love of God and their love for others.  They allowed man-made-laws to become more of a guide for life than God’s Commandments.  They lost their passion for Christ.  Scripture tells us many times that love was the authentic proof of the gospel.  Anyone not having love in their heart for God and others missed what America was founded on.  At first, they realized that America’s success was mainly due to its morality of treating others as they would want to be treated.

God kept telling the church and Christians, as they continued to fall away, if you do not repent you will fall like Lucifer fell.  Or, God would no longer protect and prosper America.  This is exactly what had happen to Israel.  Scripture says: “Your light will go out”.

Revelation 3:15 – 17 – “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!  So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.  You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”

We believe the Scripture would say to Americans: I wish you were cold, meaning living lives that were pure and holy.  Or, by being hot, they would have a passion for Christ and the Word.  America became a very prosperous and powerful nation believing that it was because of God’s blessings and His plan.  They gradually developed an attitude of self-sufficiency and that they could survive very well on their own.  Many no longer tried to grow spiritually and determined to rely on themselves rather than God.  They lost their passion to care for the needy and allowed the government to take over.

Over the years America’s leaders have changed morally.  From the foundation of America, most were Christian men believing in God and put God and country before themselves.  That is not apparent today.

Romans 8:8 – 9  – “Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.   You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.”

A leader without the Holy Spirit is unable to subject themselves to God as God intended.  1 Corinthians 2:14 – “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.”  One’s belief system determines the quality of life on earth.  The Holy Spirit brings freedom and government can take away that freedom through laws and regulations.  Accepting Christ requires a repentant heart and a desire to go a different direction.

Bible prophecy tells us what happens to nations that reject God.  It also tells us what will happen in the end times.  Unless America and the world change their direction, we are headed for times worse than any time in the history of the world according to Scripture.  What are the chances our leaders and the world’s leaders will repent and change their ways?

If you knew that God was sending signs that something very supernatural is about to happen, would it make a difference in how you lived? The more I study the Bible, the more I have become aware that something very unusual could happen. We as Christians must live in a continual state of expectation according to Scripture.

Luke 21:25 – “There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea.”

God has used the sun: Isaiah 38:7 and 8 – “‘This is the LORD’s sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.”

Isaiah 30:26 – “The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.” God says the sun is going to get hotter. Satan wants us to believe it is because of man-made global warming or climate change.

The Star of Bethlehem revealed the birth of Jesus to the wise men from the east. June 30, 2015 this Star returned for the first time in over 2000 years. That same day the stock market fell 351 points. Is there any relationship? Is there a serious financial problem ahead? We just know that God uses a star or stars to signal that something unusual will occur.

I wrote extensively about signs coming from blood moons as follows:
Joel 2:30 – 31 – “I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”

Acts 2:20 – “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.”

On April 15, 2014 there was a blood moon or a lunar eclipse at midnight PDT. This occurred on Passover. Another blood moon appeared on October 8, 2014 on Feast of the Tabernacles. Then again a blood moon happened on April 4, 2015 on Passover and again on September 28, 2015 on Feast of the Tabernacles for the fourth consecutive time. Anytime there have been four lunar eclipses in a row, where the moon turns blood red, each appearing on a Jewish holiday, a major event has occurred.

In 1492 during four blood moons the Spanish inquisition of Jews occurred. All Jews were told to convert to Catholicism or leave the country. Many of those who stayed were killed. That same year an Italian Jew, Columbus, who was mostly financially supported by Jewish investors, set sail and discovered the American continent at San Salvador. Some believe many Jews from the lost tribes of Israel migrated to England. From England they came to help settle America. America may have been created partly to protect Jewish citizens, from the lost tribes, as well as militarily protection for Israel.

In 1948, the next time that there were four blood red moons falling on Jewish religious holidays, Israel on May 14, 1948 became a homeland to the Israelites and an official country. God began calling Jews from all over the world to return to their God-given covenant land as previously prophesied.

The next time this lunar eclipse phenomenon occurred was in 1967. Israel was attacked by Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon and they repelled their enemies. The war lasted six days and Israel captured Sinai, Golan Heights, Gaza Strip and the West Bank. They were able to unify control over Jerusalem their covenant land. The Soviet Union supplied most of their enemies’ military equipment and economic assistance. President Lyndon Johnson rallied to assist Israel. During this war there were a number of supernatural events that happened and the Jews believed it was because God was on their side.

Some believe by September, this year, when we again have the fourth blood moon and a lunar eclipse falling on a Jewish holiday, some major event will likely occur. Since Christ’s birth there have been seven times these red blood eclipses have happened and only three times in the last 500 years.

It also happens to be the seventh year. God told Moses that that the Israelites were not to borrow only to lend money. At the end of every seventh year all debts were to be canceled. September 13, 2015 is the “wipe out date” and usually it has affected the stock market. God also told Moses that every 50th year, the Year of Jubilee, all land had to be returned to the inherited owners. That will be in 2017 and usually something happens that affects people financially.

I am no prophet. I have no idea if anything supernatural happens. I am providing information that the Bible documents. If something were to happen are you spiritually ready? How much are you ready to risk if you are not spiritually ready? Shouldn’t you take this seriously enough to change, repent and accept Christ as your Savior if you haven’t? If God is sending signs of warning, you do not want to be like the Old Testament Israelites that denied God and failed to keep His commandments and ways. The punishment wasn’t gentle. For those that trusted and obeyed God, we are told there will be rewards here on earth and in eternity for us. Your choice!

Many Christians do not understand that God allows problems to change our direction or push us in a new way. God has a plan for our lives and most of us get off course. It took me years to realize that God uses problems to get my attention and for me to begin wondering, what do I need to change or do differently?

If you study the Bible it becomes very clear, everyone seems to have difficulties in their life. Sometimes, the more spiritual one was, the greater the conflicts.

Paul writes in 2nd Corinthians 23b – 27 – “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.”

It amazes me when Christians encounter a problem or a conflict and feel like God has forsaken them. Or they are asking God: “Why is this happening to me?” God allows us to go through problems and conflicts that we might grow spiritually and mature. Sometimes we make foolish decisions and receive negative consequences. However, many times things happen that are beyond our control. I have learned that adversity occurs sometimes to help us change jobs or even change churches. I have learned this by my own experiences and by watching others and seeing in most cases, God had something better in the change. I want to stress, it is only the conflicts that were beyond my control. I never made changes when I realized, the problems occurred from my mistakes or it was self-caused.

I had an individual, who was a high executive and was asked to take a different job that could be seen as a demotion, ask me whether he should quit. My experience was to suggest taking the demotion and see if God is in it. He took the new job and found it was something he really enjoyed, more than the previous position. I point this out that there are times when problems exist and we need to pray and see if God is in it. Does He have something better for us even though it may be a demotion or a completely different direction?

I was offered a job as a store manager across from DisneyLand in Anaheim, CA. I believed it was not what God wanted for my family and me. I was told if I refused, I may never be given a promotion again. After three years, the Regional Manager left the company and three months later I was offered Las Vegas, NV. We have been here 41 years. I believe it was a God thing and my entire family remains in Las Vegas and we keep in close touch. Having started my own business 28 years ago, my son and daughter work with me. There is no doubt that we did what God directed. We have learned to trust God and obey His commands and Ways.

In 2009, I learned of a Christian couple going through a number of financial problems caused by the bubble in housing and loss of a job. The wife was considering leaving her husband because things were not going well. She asked for prayer. We must realize that anytime we have a problem or a conflict, we must view it as if the problem was because God was allowing it. It is not God that is causing it but is using it for a reason we may not understand.

We must pray for a discerning spirit and ask God why is the conflict happening? We may pray that we made these financial decisions based on believing it was God’s will. Rather than blaming the husband she should ask: “Lord what is this all about?” Then ask yourself: “Do I really trust God to help us work through this?”

We must face problems and learn to deal with them and not run from them. Before we face conflict we must pray for a quiet spirit. We must be extremely careful what we say and how we say it. Conflicts or problems will never get solved if we cannot communicate what the problem is and how it is affecting us. We first must identify what is causing the problem and see if there are solutions that we can agree will correct the situation. How much easier it is to handle conflict when we do it quietly and humbly. Letting emotions boil over only causes others to become more defensive. Things worked out for the couple and they are doing very well.

Practice Ephesians 4:30 – 32 – “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

In every generation it seems that God does something so supernatural and spectacular that believers know, without a doubt, that God was involved. I believe we are living in a generation that God will intervene in such a degree that there will be no doubt God is Who He says He is. God was continually in the Old Testament doing things that protected the Israelites. He used all kinds of signs to guide their exodus from Egypt. He fed them with Manna and quail. He provided water out of a rock plus many more. Yet, they continually rebelled and denied God. When they failed to trust and be obedient to His commandments and His ways, they were punished. When they trusted and obeyed He prospered them.

In 1746 France had 70 ships and 13,000 troops off the coast of Boston with orders to destroy cities from Massachusetts to Georgia. The colonies were not militarily prepared to protect the east coast. The governor of Massachusetts called for a day of prayer and fasting. It was Sunday and the Reverend Thomas Prince from the pulpit had his congregation pray.

It was a warm and calm August day. Clouds began to blot out the sun and winds started to blow. Church bells in a number of churches began to ring and no one was in the bell towers. It begins to rain and a hurricane sank and scattered the entire French fleet. Those ships that remained, limped back to France. France never again tried to invade the American colonies.

In the 1967 war when four Arab nations attacked Israel with an army of 456,000 men. They were more capable from a military equipment standpoint as Russian had prepared them militarily. They had four times the number of airplanes. In six days Israel beat back their army and captured three times as much land and Jerusalem, which they had not controlled for over 2000 years.

Egypt made a number of mistakes. Israel bombed and dismantled the Egyptian Air Force. This appeared to be an important factor in why Israel won. Egyptians mistakes believed it was a result of God’s intervention. But there were a number of miraculous things that occurred not leaving any doubt that God saved Israel.

When America was attacked at Pearl Harbor by the Japanese and our entrance into World War II you saw a nation go to its knees and pray to God for protection. Believers could see the Hand of God intervene and supernatural events occurred that left no doubt that God would protect us. According to Admiral Nimitz the Japanese made three mistakes. It was a Sunday and 90% of the sailors were off the ships on shore. They did not destroy the dry docks and they were able to repair the ships damaged quickly; otherwise, they would have had to been towed to the West Coast. They did not destroy the fuel storage tanks just over the hill. The Navy recovered in a short time and the ships were able to help win the war.

Today, America has different leadership. We have politicians that claim to be Christians only to see them follow the ways of Satan and not our Lord. How many times have you heard any political Christian leader call for a day of prayer and fasting over what we should do concerning Iran? I believe we are entering the end times as described throughout the Bible. I think we will see things that only God is capable of doing. The second chapter of Isaiah says that God will shake the earth. We will see mountains fall and islands disappear. If you are a knowledgeable believer you will know that it is God. If not, false teachers will say it is the result of man’s causing of global climate change.

There will be a time coming that God will intervene in such a way that there should be no doubt it was a God Thing. Yet, the Bible says there will be many that will continue to deny God.

As a Christian, it is hard to believe how quickly our country has discounted Biblical principles in determining laws and rules by one’s personal beliefs and feelings.

I attended school when the Bible was often read and the Ten Commandments hung on the wall. In 1962, the Supreme Court banned prayers in schools. It was just a matter of time until people’s feelings replaced Judeo-Christian values and the Bible. If one’s heart or feelings are that it is okay to do something, then it is their right to do it whether it is morally right according to God’s Scripture or not.

Non-believers in God or agnostics convinced politicians that America did not need God or moral truth as found in the Bible. Gradually our leaders bought into this belief and America slowly began to change and now change is almost daily. Many of our founding fathers were Christians who accepted the Jewish Scriptures. They believed that the constitution would be what established the determination of what laws Americans should follow. We now have courts that believe laws do not matter as much as what is politically correct and what does their political party think and believe. What happened to the belief that our constitution states that the government has only certain powers granted to it? All other powers were given to the states and individuals. Who is in charge, are we in a free-for-all type of political leadership? Every law that is passed to protect gay rights seems to take one more freedom away from our religious freedom. Can’t both rights be protected equally or is this being done to deny Christians their rights by an anti-religious judicial system? Or am I one of a few that believe there is an attack on religious freedom in America?

If a Christian does not agree with judicial decisions pushed by the progressive left we are called all sorts of names. It seems they want to do away with the Bible and Christianity. If we say we do not agree with some of the decisions our courts and politicians push, it is because we are not compassionate. If a Christian minister refuses to marry a gay couple they could be fined. Where is our religious freedom that the constitution guarantees?

Where does the Christian get their belief; it comes from the Bible. Where do others get their beliefs; from the heart or their feelings. Who do you think is right? When the Rapture comes and takes all Christians and the Holy Spirit out of this world, tell me what it will be like living with those who allow the heart & feelings make their decisions. It may give you an understanding as to what Hell will be like without moral truth.

A Christian believes that they should raise children to respect authority and responsibility requires the teaching of a father and a mother in a moral household. Others believe that all children need, is just love. Until Americans repent and change their thinking, we can expect all sorts of non-peaceful demonstrations. We are raising children in homes that reject authority, are immoral and have little positive guidance. What can we expect in years ahead?

We find the government believes they can replace God. With all of the entitlements there is very little incentive to work. If a couple lives together without marriage and the women does not work, she can apply for all kinds of financial help. The boyfriend works and has very little expense as the woman pays most of the bills from government handouts. Why should young couples get married that have little moral values? This is what we see being pushed by those compassionate liberals who deny God.

Do we as Christians sit back and remain unorganized and let a well organized people who are anti-God and anti-religious change all the laws and disregard our constitution? We need the Moral Majority to come back to life. Is there a leader available to lead us? We need to counterbalance the movement that is trying to take away the tax exemptions of churches and religious institutions. These groups will not be content until they element all religious freedoms. Their intent is to change our countries value system. They will not accept that God is the final authority and His values and truths are what the first amendment guarantees to Christians and other religions. It appears their final goal is to eliminate the first amendment.