Would you make a pact with the devil if you could become a star and earn millions of dollars? The reason I ask is because a number of well-know stars, possibly 44 to date, have died at the early age of 27. The latest is an Ecuadorian soccer star, Christen Benitez, died at the age of 27 after signing a multimillion dollar contract with a new team. I have heard of people being propositioned by a person who offered them unbelievable opportunities if they would give them complete control of their lives. I have never heard from a person who accepted.

The Bible tells of Jesus being tempted by Satan. He was offered the chance to rule the world if He would bow down and worship Satan. I keep wondering if some have accepted a contract with the devil.

When I was in grade school and you could still pray and read the Bible, our teacher read us a short-story called “The Devil and Daniel Webster”. The story took place in New England and a farmer was having some very bad luck with his crops and farming in general. He said it was so bad that he was willing to sell his soul to the devil for better times. The next day, farmer Stone was visited by a stranger who identified himself as Mr. Scratch. Mr. Scratch said if you are serious about selling your soul I will give you seven very prosperous years. They made a binding contract and farmer Stone had seven of the very best years ever. We really do not realize the power and control the devil has.

After seven years he begged Mr. Scratch to give him just three more years. Again they made a contract and farmer Stone had another three prosperous years. However, farmer Stone no longer wanted to be controlled every minute by the devil and wanted out of his contract. He hired an attorney, Mr. Daniel Webster to take Mr. Scratch to court and force the contract to be broken.

The trial is really suspenseful and Daniel Webster won and the devil had to give farmer Stone back his soul. Ever since I was left believing that some politicians, business people, movie stars, pro athletes and others in general, may have sold their souls to the devil for prosperity, power, fame, etc. If this is true, I wonder how many people would be willing to sell their souls if the opportunity arose. We must recognize that the devil is skimming and wishes to deceive and trap us. Scripture warns us:

Ephesians 6:12 – “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” NLT

I previously wrote that it is extremely rare for a person who had sold their soul to break the contract. It is possible they allowed themselves to become possessed to gain the lime-light and did so not knowing the results. What would cause a superstar, receiving everything they could have ever dreamed of accomplishing, begin this very self-destructive behavior leading to eventual death? Could they have been offered a seven year contract at age 20 when they were too young to realize the future consequences?

I have absolutely no proof that anyone of these people dieing at 27 had anything to do with evil spirits. I just find it highly unusual. Then when I hear people telling weird stories about being offered unusual opportunities that seem strange, I just wondered: Is this what Scripture is warning us about?

Most ignore the fact that there are millions of evil spirits that are emissaries of Satan who are forever tempting and cursing people. They are constantly seeking to interfere with our relationship with God and are repeatedly tempting us. There may be times that they cause all sorts of problems. Their trick is to cause deception or disobedience. We cannot adequately stand against them in our own power.

It has been proven that we could have enemies who use evil spirits to persecute us, lie to us, cheat us, hurt us or even kill us. That enemy exits in the unseen world. There are wicked people who will do evil things that may affect us in many ways physically, mentally and materially. The battles that we go through may not be against flesh and blood and it may not be about people, but evil spirits.

Our struggles could be with the rulers of the darkness. Satan’s master plan is to deceive humans and get them to reject and rebel against God and His people. Their goal is to enslave people into various forms of idolatry, deceptive philosophies, evolution, humanism or even climate change. We are told we may even have to fight against wicked spirits in the heavens above. The immorality of our age has been inspired by demons.

How do we fight against evil spirits with power to exploit our human nature, to fan human passions and inflame human lusts and encourage us to make human errors? You don’t believe any of this? Then why would it be in the Bible to warn us? Scripture then goes on to tell us how to defend against these powers.
Are we conscious of the warning that we read in I Peter 5:8 – “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” My NIV study Bible states: Watch out for Satan when we are suffering or weak, when we are feeling alone, helpless or focused on our troubles that we forget to watch for danger. We are then especially vulnerable to Satan’s attacks.”

A number of people hear voices but we must be careful whose voice it is. It may be one of the devils emissaries trying to convince you that the voice is from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit would never do anything to inspire you to do anything against God or Scripture.

Your first thought may be a foreign nation having nuclear power.  Maybe it is terrorism.  But is it?

The cartoon character Pogo said: “We have met the enemy and he is us.”  How true that is.  Our government has become a part of the anti-God movement leading our country away from God toward a pagan nation.  Most have heard what happened to Sodom and Gomorrah.  Our society is becoming more evil and wicked in nature and practice.

I believe what God promised to Israel, He also promised to America.  At least history bears this out.  See if the following Scripture doesn’t describe what God has done for America in the past.

Deuteronomy 28:1 – 3 – “If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the Lord your God:  You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.”

Our constitution provides for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.  Most Christians realize that only God can provide that.  However, it seems the U. S. is one of a very few nations that has ever had these privileges.  As long as we were a truly Christian nation they were possible.  However, we now have a government that desires to take the place of God in the lives of every American.

I believe it was God Who inspired our founding fathers to establish a Republic so we could have the freedoms the Bible promises.  I believe God also guided us to develop a Capitalistic, free market economy.  America’s system has been far superior to all other nations.  It provided the opportunity for individuals to become creative, innovative and try harder to be successful.  As a result we were able to out produce every other nation.

One hundred years ago the airplane was invented.  Our development of transportation and the assembly line changed the world.  We developed electricity, electric lights and electric motors.  We developed computers and technology.  We established the Internet.  Look what we have done in medicine and what we are doing.  It is possible that shortly we can make artificial lungs, hearts, pancreas and livers to be transplanted into patients.  Before long it is possible we can add ten years to the average age at death. In the last 60 years we have added close to 20 years mostly because of America’s knowledge of health.  What other nation’s economic system can compare in creativity?

So I ask: “Are we fully obeying the Lord our God and carefully following all His commands such as the Ten Commandments?”

1. Thou shall have no other god’s before me?  Is the government and all of its handouts trying to replace God?  The Bible says that God promises to meet all of our needs.   Don’t let money, fame, work or pleasure become your god.
2. Thou shall not make any graven image.  Do not worship idols or allow any one or thing that will take His place by bowing down or showing devotion to them.
3. Thou shall not take the Lord’s name in vain.  God’s name is special and it is not to be used to cuss or in a frivolously manner. His name must be respected.
4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.  Take one day a week that we can rest and is set aside to worship our God.
5. Honor thy father and thy mother.  To live in peace we must respect and honor our parents.
6. Thou shall not kill.  The number of random and gang killings are enormous.  Unacceptable to God.
7. Thou shall not commit adultery.  One of America’s biggest problems is the breakdown of the family.  Our society seems to be out of control and disobeying God’s command to not have sex outside of marriage and only between a husband and wife.
8. Thou shall not steal.  Many believe it is o.k. to steal as long as you don’t get caught.  This is a result of an immoral society.
9. Thou shall not lie.  A justice system cannot function when individuals give false witness.  The system becomes corruptible.  The Capitalistic economic system works best when we have a moral society living by God’s commandments.
10. Thou shall not covet.  You must not wish to have the possessions of others.  Coveting includes envy, meaning, if I can’t have it I don’t want you to have it either.  Possessions don’t make anyone happy for long.  We must be content with what we have but always be preparing and working for greater success.

What we need is another Billy Graham who God inspires to evangelize Americans.  We have the Tea Party that has become political and is trying to change American politics.  We need a group of Christian people willing to take a stand for changing the morals of America.  The government can never promise what God has promised and it is free.

Psalms 32:8 – God will instruct, teach and council us.  He will direct us.

Psalms 37:4 – God will give us the desires of our heart.

Psalms 46:1 – He will give us help and strength in the time of trouble.

Psalms 103:1 – 3 – He will heal all of our diseases.

Philippians 4:4 – 7 – We are not to be anxious about anything for God will give us peace.

Hebrews 13:5 – God says He will never leave or forsake us.

Matthew 6:35 – 27 -Do not worry about life for God will meet our needs.

II Peter 1:4 – “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

I am afraid that if Christians fail to challenge the policies of our government we will be just another pagan nation.  The end time is coming closer.  It is possible that it can be delayed if we as a nation repent and begin worshipping God instead of big government.  What kind of a nation are we willing to leave to our children and grandchildren?  Is it a nation that has more and more evil and wickedness?  I think not!

God has presented prophecy and signs that will appear as the final end approaches. Jewish history tells us that God told the people on earth, prior to the flood, when judgment and punishment would come and it occurred as predicted through that flood. I believe God has given to all who have lived since the flood, definite signs that the earth again would end as we now know it and probably for the same reason, man’s immorality and wickedness. If God does not intervene with His plan, we could all be destroyed by a nuclear war. Then the only ones left would be Satan and his millions of demons.

In my research there are about as many versions as there are theologians. From all of the information I have gathered, the following is what I believed happened and is going to happen.

It begins in the fifth and sixth chapters of Genesis. It starts with a man named Enoch who at the age of 65 had a son Methuselah. There are different definitions for that name but a number believed it to mean: “When he dies judgment or his death shall bring judgment.” Enoch was also the grandfather of Noah, Noah’s name means: “He shall bring relief”. Enoch, Methuselah and Noah tried to persuade people on earth to live a godly life. It is possible that God provided as much prophecy in their time as ours. Of course, it would all have been destroyed. It seems there were a few who believed but most rejected their teaching. If history is accurate, it was not a surprise that a flood was coming and it would be the end for anyone who was not living as God had required. History also tells us that they knew for at least the life of Methuselah or 969 years. They were given a long time and a chance to repent. Yet, as today, most were unwilling to change. The carnal nature of man then seems to be the same today. They and our world neglect to alter how they lived and worship God.

Genesis 5:21 – 27 – “When Enoch was 65 years old, he became the father of Methuselah. After the birth of Methuselah, Enoch lived in close fellowship with God for another 300 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Enoch lived 365 years, walking in close fellowship with God. Then one day he disappeared, because God took him. When Methuselah was 187 years old, he became the father of Lamech. After the birth of Lamech, Methuselah lived another 782 years, and he had other sons and daughters. Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died.”

It was believed that as long as Methuselah was alive there would be no judgment but when he died then the flood would come. Of course, that would not happen until the ark was completed. We know our end-time will not come until the building of the Jewish Temple is complete and operating. This time instead of building an ark it will be the Temple. The flood came approximately 1656 years from the day Adam was created.

Genesis 6:5 – “The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.”

Genesis 6:12 – 14 – “God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth! “Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior.” NLT

For 120 years Noah and his family diligently worked building the ark as God had specified. The people were told that when the ark was finished there would be a flood and that was God’s judgment. They also knew that the end would come at Methuselah’s death. Of course, there was no knowledge as when that exact time would occur. However, God in His mercy allowed Methuselah to live longer than anyone, allowing everyone to repent and live a holy life to escape His punishment. Scripture says our end-time is being delayed to allow everyone who will accept Christ as their Savior to have eternal life with God.

I was able to see two parallels in the first judgment and the one to come. One was building an ark and the other building a Jewish Temple. Previous presidents have asked Israel to give up the West Bank which is Judea and Samaria. It appears that they will be required to do so. This also could be a sign of what is likely to happen.

Matthew 24:15 – 19 – “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!” Quotes from Jesus!

Let us look at the parallels. Enoch and Elijah both were raptured, taken to heaven without dieing. Believers are promised the same prior to our end. A day will come as stated in II Kings 2:11 – “As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” This is a prelude as to what happens in our future.

The building of the ark before the end to that civilization and the building of the Jewish Temple were signs that God gave as a warning the end was coming. Both were a measurement of time before the final curtain. There were followers of God prior to the flood but in God’s grace he allowed each to die and not face the devastation. The same will happen to believers now; they shall be raptured in order to escape the desolation to come. I Corinthians 15:52 & 53 – “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.”

For those who gave attention and listened then, and those of us today, were/are aware of the signs and what was/is to come. God ministered for years through the teaching of Enoch, Methuselah and Noah. They foreknew that the end would occur if they did not repent of their ways and worship God. However, their hearts were so hard and in the end everyone that was destroyed in the flood had hearts so hard they were unwilling to change their way of living.

God uses history to help understand the future. The plagues that happened during Moses time will again occur in our later days. When the end comes there will be absolutely no excuse for anyone to say: “I just never knew what God required or what was going to happen if I did not believe”. It wasn’t true in Noah’s time and there will be no excuses in our end-times. The only reason the end has not already come is because we have a God of love and mercy that wishes none shall perish and miss eternity with Him. We have the same God that gave those prior to the flood the same opportunity to change and believe, but they didn’t. The Bible is history just repeating itself! If He destroyed earth once chances are He will do it again as He said He will. But most never learn from history. It’s not too late to repent and worship God! But some day it will be!

If you want a balanced life, you will discover that it is important to love all three.  The more you love the more you will want to please.  If you only have self-love, chances are your life will have many missing ingredients.  You may love God and others and not yourself.  We have learned that if we do not love and respect ourselves it is difficult to love others adequately.

Is your life under control?  So many people lack contentment and a feeling of love in their lives.  They feel unworthy, they fear failing, lack purpose, have many unfulfilled needs, don’t get any breaks, feel inferior, lack knowledge and the list goes on.  As our world seems to be going through one crisis after another, so many are just financially holding on and many people are really struggling.  As a result they find little to be content about as they appear to have little control over what’s going on in their lives.  Feeling unloved, unworthy, worthless and not respected could possibly lead to being suicidal.

What do you need in life to make you content so you can love yourself?  Could it be you really don’t know who you are?  Many times we become who our parents or others tell us we are!  Who do you depend upon to take care of you?  Is it the government when you retire?  Or, is it your employer’s pension, family or your personal investments?  Do you ever put God first on your list to help meet your needs or does He come in last?  Here is what the Bible tells us: Philippians 4:11 – 13 – “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”   Is your life content or is it out-of-balance unable to properly love?

Many couples fall in love with each other while dating and will do almost anything to please their fiancé.  Once they become married they may fall out of love and no longer wish to please their spouse.  Thus, divorce results.

Ephesians 5:28 – 29 – “In the same way, husbands ought to love their wives as they love their own bodies. For a man who loves his wife actually shows love for himself.  No one hates his own body but feeds and cares for it, just as Christ cares for the church.”  Wives are told to encourage and respect their husband and allow him to be the family leader.

If we want true balance in our lives we need to take the advice given in Scripture:  Matthew 22:37 – 40 – “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’   This is the first and greatest commandment.  A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’   The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

The first and greatest commandment is to love God.  It sounds to me like we are to love God first, then ourselves and others equally.  Whoever you love the most they will be the one you will wish to please the most.  What has helped me from yielding to temptation is not wanting to displease God.  To please God I want to live a respectful lifestyle.  I know He will be pleased if I live a holy life.  That doesn’t mean I don’t sin because I miss the mark from time to time.  However, the Holy Spirit checks me from deliberately sinning.

I believe the closer our relationship is with God or Christ, the easier it is to deny one’s self.  No matter how important selfish desires are to ourselves, we must not reject God’s ways just to please and satisfy ourselves.

I Thessalonians 4:1 – 8 – “As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.  For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.  It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before.  For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.  Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.”

Living to please God must be every believer’s priority.  God requires each Christian to turn they lives over to Him.  We are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.  We are told to become sanctified and holy.  Sanctified means to separate ourselves from the world and give ourselves to God.  We are told to prepare ourselves for heaven in the way we live.  The Bible teaches us to let the Holy Spirit take our sinful, self-centered nature, our old habits and behaviors and let them be transformed to emulate the life of Christ.  It all works best when God is the most important one to please.  However, do not forget the importance of loving self and others.

The present protesting happening over the Martin/Zimmerman trial I believe is planned to divide America.  There are many Americans who detest our Capitalistic economic system and others who are anti-Christian.

When I see some who are leading the protest I am reminded of a number of Biblical Scriptures:

Matthew 7:15 – “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”  Matthew 24:11 – “and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”  1 John 4:1 – “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”  II Corinthians 11:14 – “ And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”

God established governments to provide protection and promote good behavior.  God directed judges to enact laws and oversee justice.  The Israelis wanted a king like the other nations.  When a king was allowed and selected it changed the dynamics of government.  Our founding fathers believed that all individuals, regardless of race or creed, were created by God with natural rights and that it was the government’s duty to protect those rights.

Therefore, these early Americans established a republic based on Christian principles.  It provided citizens the freedom to have initiative, innovation, competition and no government mandates.    As a result, we have a nation that changed the world through the invention of modern transportation, development of electricity, technology, the Internet, improved health care and drugs, etc.  No other nation has changed the world’s standard of living as America has done under our form of government.

I believe many who are protesting are those who hate the capitalistic, free market economic system. When Israelites wanted a king, God allowed them to have one and they have never been the same since.  There are many who see those who are visionaries and go-getters who become successful and prosperous and resent them.  They are not willing to prepare and diligently work. There are many who are envious and don’t want others doing better than themselves.  They prefer socialism and government hand outs.

We are seeing a form of socialism in the Obamacare health plan.  Mandates take away freedom!  Catholic hospitals and institutions are required to pay for contraception, sterilization and “morning after pills”.   Socialism does not allow the freedom that the Bible teaches.  Thus, an attack on Christianity!

Christianity must be attacked so government can make laws that the Bible calls sinful.  Attacking Christianity also results in attacks on Christians.  Therefore, the government enacts laws keeping Christians in check.  A wedding photographer and a Christian councilor have been penalized and sued for refusing to provide their services to same-sex couples.  It may not be too long before Christians will have to choose whether to obey anti-Christian government laws or obeying God’s laws.  Under socialism your freedoms will be limited.

Capitalism is a result of using Christian principles to establish its free-market economy.  Their goal is to replace God and the Bible with a socialistic government that will meet our needs rather than what God promises to do.  How much of your present freedom are you willing to give up.  Many are willing to give it all up to big government so that they have no responsibilities at all.  They believe in a nanny state and would be willing to accept less in order for others to have less.  It is the concept of which is worse: greed verses envy?  However, in most, capitalism creates ambition and socialism causes laziness.   Do you want a country that continues to raise the standard of living for those who are willing to actively participate or to live in a country that seldom improves and few want to aggressively work?   What would the world look like today if it were not for capitalism?  Would Christianity have been spread around the world without our present system?

Christians, if you feel that you have been persecuted you have not seen what could come.  Why are so many churches concerned about what they say or do politically?  They could lose their non-profit charitable deduction allowance for donations.  The IRS has a right to take it away and what would that do to income.  It could possibly cause a church to shut down.

The whole world is under the control of the evil one.  I believe there was a time when God kept us safe and the evil one could not harm America.  Are we seeing the same thing happen to our country that happened to Israel when they had leaders who refused to be obedient to God?  It was said that God told the Israelis if they want to live like the devil then go ahead.

Our country was established by Christian leaders who created a constitution based on Godly principles.  We became the most blessed and powerful nation ever created.  As a Christian you can see God’s intervention throughout history.  Fifty years ago some in our country decided God’s ways were too restrictive.  Today about twenty percent of our country is setting the standards for the other eighty percent.  That small minority is determined to control our schools, the media, the judicial system and politics.  Is it too late for at least part of that eighty percent to return to Christian principles and turn to God?

I want to encourage you.  God brought technology and the Internet to the world.  He has a wireless network that for over 2000 years has been connected to every believer’s heart through the Holy Spirit.  He is telling His Spirit that He has placed in us to provide us comfort and encouragement.  No matter what happens He is with us to remove all fear and increase our faith.

Revelation 11:15 – “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven: “The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever.”  That day is coming soon!  Once Christ takes over and Satan is gone it will be a different world entirely.  Keep the faith!

If you are a Christian, God wants you to become successful and prosperous.  He will provide adequate direction and purpose in order to meet your needs.  You may not want to take the time or the discipline necessary to become outstanding.  In fact, fear can be your greatest deterrent.  Most are unwilling to put forth the discipline or the effort and are willing to accept being less than average.  Many teens drop out of high school and never get an adequate education.  Do you think this pleases God unless done for emergency reasons?

Having spent over 30 years in management and supervising thousands of people over time, I looked for the same qualification in promoting those into management positions.  It was their character, their work ethic, discipline, reliability, attitude, confidence, pride in their work and their relationship with other people.  One of the greatest assets was their willingness to prepare for whatever was required.

Genesis 1:28 – “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  God provided everything they could ever want or need in the Garden.

Deuteronomy 8:18a – “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power (ability, talents, faith)* to get wealth,…” *(added)  The ability to obtain it.  It is not given as a gift.

Psalm 35:27b – ““Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”  God is pleased at our success.  Have a repentant heart, be humble, obedient and let Him bless you.

Knowing we were born and God had a plan for each one of us, we can accept or reject that plan!  We all know that our body’s carnal and self-centered nature in most, reject God and His plan at least for a time if not forever.  It is up to our soul and spirit if we want to accept God and what He has planned for us.  If we receive Christ as our Savior this requires a commitment and obedience to God’s ways.  Once we believe, we must prepare for temptations and trials that will come.  Probably the stronger our will and the more self-control we have, our testing may be greater.  We must know God’s general Will for believers who have become Christians before we get to His plan.  You can’t live by God’s ways if you don’t know what He requires.  This is why preparation is so important and so many fail to study.

We must emphasize the importance of developing a personal relationship with Christ and praying that God would reveal to each of us His purpose in life.  Many believers lack a passion for pleasing God.  They want to live their way and too often that is not pleasing to God.  Or, they have a passion to please and serve God but have not developed enough trust in God to believe He has a plan for their success and prosperity.  Therefore, they either do not recognize or ignore the Holy Spirit’s guidance and checking.

If we have the mind-set that no matter what happens in our lives it is God’s directing His plan and He is allowing what happens for a particular purpose; could we then handle adversities, temptations and trials more positively?  As we approach living, realizing that God has a suggested plan for us, then shouldn’t we be aware that He also wants us to succeed with the help of His Spirit, if we pay attention?

Even though we are all made differently; some were created with certain abilities, some handicapped and most of us average.  Each was given a purpose and a mission based on what God had in mind for us.  God didn’t say let’s create another human today and watch them fail.  He had the knowledge and ability to put the universe together; and He knew everyone of us prior to our birth. Then can’t He give each one of us a plan for our lives with the abilities to be prosperous and successful?

I wonder if some Christian’s problems are a lack of trust or self-confidence because they never study or accept how Scripture applies to them.   A Christian’s self-confidence comes from our relationship with God, Christ and the Holy Spirit.  If you lack confidence do you need to become more spiritually mature?  Do you need to spend more time in Bible study and prayer?  Pray that God challenges you to do something for Him that you feel incapable of doing.  Then do it and see if He doesn’t give you the ability and willingness to accomplish His task.  Do this a few times and you will realize that confidence can come from God.   Then apply that confidence to other projects.  Think positively, tell yourself positive thoughts and you will become positive!  Allow the Holy Spirit to make you into a new confident and successful person as God intended and the Bible assures.

Have you had a grandparent tell you: Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you your future?  Did they say: Find out who the president’s friends are and who he chooses for his cabinet and staff and you will know how he is going to officiate?

On October 24, 1945 the United Nations was founded.  Presidents, Republican and Democrat, since then have believed in a one-world economy, like the World Trade Organization,  a one-world currency, (electronically handled) and all nations to be under the governance of the United Nations.  Under our present administration there are those who believe socialism has always failed because the United States was too successful and its people too prosperous.  People under socialism wanted what the citizens of the U. S. had and they didn’t have.  Many believe to have a one-world government requires the United States to change to socialism.  If everyone on earth has the same form of government there would no longer be wars, everyone would be equal financially and there would no longer be any envy and the elite few will control us.   The Antichrist later, under Satan’s control, then comes into power.

Man-made global warming alarmists may know the coming Great Tribulation predicted in the Bible.  They either believe through science and being promoters of green energy they can stop climate change in the world from severe heat; or, they believe it will allow the redistribution of wealth and socialism.  Most have been deceived!

There are so many Scriptures in the Bible that predict what God will do as we near the end of this age.  Matthew 24:7 – Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.”

Revelation 16:8 & 9 – The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire.  They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.” NIV

Recently there was an environmental disaster caused by a runaway train.  It derails and destroys a small city in Canada.  It was a 72 car train filled with oil from North Dakota.  There could be as many as 50 people killed.  Presently 7/13/13, 33 are known dead but 17 are missing and assumed dead.

It has been stated that 26,000 gallons of oil have spilled in a river that could reach Quebec City and the St. Lawrence River shortly.  You would think that the environmentalists would be concerned but so far I have read not a word from them.

The reason for trains to be carrying crude is there are no adequate pipelines available.  Last year 233,811 car loads of oil were transported by train.  There have been 69 accidents where trains spilled oil last year.  One spill was 714 barrels in Minnesota.  Pipelines normally do not go through populated areas and there is much less spillage than by train.  So why isn’t the Keystone XL pipeline allowed to be built?  Why did President Obama recently state that he was going to put the production of coal out of business?  For the past 15 years there has been little change in temperatures.  You don’t hear any of the environmentalists making the public aware of this fact.  It all fits with the plan to socialize America.

God planned the earth so when a volcano erupted and spewed tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere it wouldn’t destroy our world.  Why do you think God created the earth with all of this fuel available to be used?  Because a number of environmentalists don’t believe in God or that He can control the weather.  But they believe they can.

The reason the United Nations has taken up man-made global warming is to create a one-world socialist government which is also predicted in the Bible.  In addition, we know that soon to come will be draughts, flooding, hurricanes, tornadoes, rivers drying up, intense earthquakes and a war that kills more than two BILLION people.   Because of man’s sin Scripture is very clear that God will punish the earth.  If the environmentalists really wanted to do something to stop global warming, they would have a better chance by “repenting and glorifying God” as stated in the Bible.  What do you think they will do?

Who doesn’t want clean air and water?  Is China and Russia polluting the atmosphere?  The past fifty years much has been done to improve the air, water and the atmosphere in America.  We just need to use some common sense when it comes to the use of our natural resources.  We also need to be aware of the purpose of man-made global warming or climate change.

One of the president’s priorities is to establish a peace treaty between Israel and Palestine.  The treaty will allow Israel to build their Temple on the temple mount and the West Bank, (Judea) will be controlled by Palestine, allowing the 500,000 Israelis to remain.  When that happens, Matthew 24:15 – 19 – says:   “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house.  Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak.  How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers!

When the Antichrist stands in the Jewish Temple, to be built, those Jews living on the West Bank had better evacuate immediately or they will be slaughtered.  Should America try to establish a peace treaty?   It is one of the signs of the end times.

If you want to know how important God is in your life; then determine how you spend your time and what is your relationship with Him?  What is your passion; is it your spouse, family, career, sports or a hobby?  Matthew 6:33 tells us: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  The Bible clearly tells us that God must be our number one priority.  God promises those who seek Him will be rewarded. 

I am utterly amazed at the way some Christians live their lives. They claim to be Christians but they spend hardly anytime developing a personal relationship with Him.  It doesn’t seem that they live to please God but they live only to please themselves.

They must believe that no matter what they do; any sin or immorality can be easily forgiven.  Therefore, anything goes.  They believe they can ask God for forgiveness and everything is o.k.  All sin can be forgiven then what’s wrong with telling lies or cheating?  Romans 1:18 – “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.”

Our hearts, attitudes and our deeds will judge us.  Earnest, confident, religious people could ultimately be lost because their hearts are hard.  Their hearts are not set on God, as required, but on money or a number of other things.  We can have all the knowledge, out serve the average Christian and not have accepted Christ into our hearts.  We have accepted Christ into our head only.

God tells us that He wants to see us continuously growing spiritually.  He wants us to have a spiritual purpose and a passion for Christ.  He wants to help and bless us but that requires living according to His ways.  Living to please God must be every believer’s priority.  God requires each Christian to surrender their self-centeredness and turn their life over to Him.  We are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.  We are told to become sanctified and holy.  Sanctified means to separate ourselves from the world and give ourselves to God.  We are told to prepare ourselves for heaven in the way we live.  The Bible teaches us to let the Holy Spirit take our sinful, self-centered nature, our old habits and behaviors and let them be transformed to emulate the life of Christ.

We may think living a Christian life can be done by accepting the do’s and don’ts taught in the Scripture.  Christianity is about a relationship with God and our willingness to please Him.  It seems many Christians find this hard to do. There are just too many other things going on in their lives.

We must ask ourselves: Is the way we are living affecting our relationship with God?  Will it keep us from being given a crown or a higher position in Heaven?  God has called us to live holy lives.  If we live impure lives what happens?  We are told that God gave us the Holy Spirit to help us resist temptation.      If we refuse to live by God’s rules are we not rejecting God?  We are further told that the Holy Spirit gives us self-control and the ability to have control over sinful desires and the ability to practice restraint.

We must continually ask ourselves: Is God the most important thing in our lives?  The Bible says we are to diligently seek Him.  That means we are to make Him first and the most paramount.    Isaiah 55:6 – 7  – “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.  Let the wicked forsake their ways
and the unrighteous their thoughts.  Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”

The way we live and the priority that we give to God can place a barrier between Him and ourselves.  Don’t think you can put off turning your life over to Him at a later time.  It may be more difficult to approach Him at a later date.  The more sinful a person becomes the harder one’s heart turns out.  There could be a time when the Holy Spirit will no longer try to convict you.  How can a person think that God is always going to be there for us and found near as the above Scripture indicates?

Hebrews 10:26 – 27 – “If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.”

A person who deliberately keeps sinning is different from a person who sins through ignorance.  It is an established way of thinking, believing and behaving.  (II Timothy 2:12 7 & 13) says – “If we deny Him, He also will deny us.”  (I John 3:9) says – “No one who is born of God practices sin” If His seed lives in us we cannot deliberately continue to sin.  Some people have attended church all of their lives and it has become a habit.  Others may attend for business, social or personal reasons. What priority have they placed on God?

A person who has put God first in their life, loves God with all of their strength and has a close relationship with Him will be careful about habitually sinning.  Their number one goal is to live their life in order to please God.  It can only be done by continually growing spiritually.  This takes reading the Bible, living according to God’s ways and praying to develop a personal relationship as the Old Testament prophets did.

“As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?”  Matthew 24:3

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 such people.” 

We are living in the last days and we should not be surprised at the moral degeneration of society around us.  The man’s state of depravity encompassing us is what we as Christians are to minister.   When people misdirect their love toward themselves and material pleasures there can be no love left to direct toward others.  Then moral corruption normally results. Here are other reasons for moral corruption: Boastful, proud – An inflated self-importance.   Abusive – People who speak disrespectfully to others. Disobedient to their parents – Behavior that breaks the fifth Commandment. Ungrateful – Cannot appreciate others or give gratitude for favors. Unholy – Disregard God in order to live only to please themselves. Without love – People who love only themselves.  Unforgiving – Cannot allow for other people’s mistakes or weaknesses.  Slanderous – Enjoy spreading gossip and malicious reports about others.  Without self-control – Cannot restrain the feelings or actions.  Brutal – Live like untamed animals.  Not lovers of good – People who hate anything good.  Treacherous – Ready and willing to betray anyone.  Rash – People who act foolishly and carelessly and normally head-strong.  Conceited – A person who is narcissistic and a very high opinion of themselves.  Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – People who are so misdirected that they can think only of themselves.  Having a form of godliness but denying its power – People who practice a form of godliness and used godliness as a cloak of respectability while denying God’s power over their lives.  Make a list of those areas that need work!

There were a number of people in the church at Ephesus who appeared to be Christians in name only. You will probably find these people in every church today.   Paul warned Timothy not to be deceived by people who only appear to be Christians.  He was told to watch them closely for their daily behavior will give them away.  Timothy was told not to become involved with them.  That does not mean we should not try to help them seek repentance.  However, it appears more Christians live to please themselves than to please God. 

We are raising children to be desensitized to violence.  They are playing violent video games, watching on the Internet pornography, following negative role models, their idols and developing the moral degeneration that the above Scripture points out will happen. 

I Thessalonians 4:1 – “Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.”

God wants each Christian to turn over our lives to Him.  We are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God.  We are told to be sanctified and holy.  Becoming holy is a process called “sanctification”.  It is living to prepare us for heaven.  God takes our carnal nature and our old habits and behaviors and transforms them to His standards and Will.  It is allowing the Holy Spirit to work in our lives.  Christianity is not a list of do’s and don’ts but it is a relationship with God and our willingness to live to please Him.  As we see the signs indicating that we are within just a few years of Christ’s return we must make every effort living to please God. 

Revelation 13:7 & 8 – “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.”

It appears the Antichrist’s goal is to eliminate every Christian from the world.  I have often believed those whose names are in the Book of Life will be given a power that will enable them such courage and a lack of fear that will allow them to face the Antichrist to do whatever, without losing faith.

The Bible does not say we are headed for a one-world government but it sure is indicated.  Daniel 7:23 – 26 – “Then he said to me, “This fourth beast is the fourth world power that will rule the earth. It will be different from all the others. It will devour the whole world, trampling and crushing everything in its path. Its ten horns are ten kings who will rule that empire. Then another king will arise, different from the other ten, who will subdue three of them.  He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time.  ‘But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed.’”  (3½ Years)

Are you living as if you have a great deal of time before you must make that decision to live a life that is pleasing to God?  Are you finding it hard to give up self-control and living as the world, rather than to surrender and dieing out to self and our selfish desires and lusts?