Five Fold Today Straining Out Gnats - Naked Before God - The Latter Rain - Foreboding Influences, Assurance of Coming Glory - Ted Turner Says Iraq War among History's "Dumbest"

October 8th, 2006

Straining Out Gnats

David Servant

Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and so teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5:19).

Jesus obviously believed that there were lesser commandments, as revealed in the quote above. He therefore must have also believed that there were greater commandments.

To their credit, the scribes and Pharisees kept the lesser commandments, yet Jesus condemned them for ignoring the greater ones:

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! (Matt. 23:23-24).

God has made both little gnats and big camels. Likewise, He has given some "weighty" and "less-weighty" commandments. None should be neglected, but the person who gives all his attention to God's minor commandments and ignores the major ones is like the man who finds both a gnat and a camel in his soup, and who removes the former and swallows the latter.

Majoring on minors and minoring on majors is a fault that is universal among pharisaic and religious people, whose spirituality consists of doing what costs very little, and what is likely to be ritualistic rather than heart-felt. Going to church and paying tithes are normally high on their list. Yet notice in the just-quoted scripture that Jesus put tithing in the "less-weighty" category. As far as the biblical record is concerned, that one instance is the only time He mentioned tithing during His entire earthly ministry. And He never once uttered a word about attending church services. (He did say we should make disciples and love one another, which certainly require gathering together and interaction, but honestly, how much Luke 14:25-35 discipleship and self-denying love occurs in the average church service?)

Of greater importance, notice what Jesus listed in the "weightier" category: justice, mercy and faithfulness. These should have been no surprise to His hearers who knew Scripture. In the Old Testament, at least two of those three were listed as being "weighty" by the prophet Micah:

He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? (Mic. 6:8).

I love verses that simplify spirituality, don't you?

Let's combine Jesus' and Micah's lists of "weighty commandments," which then gives us a list of four: justice, mercy, humility and faithfulness. I wonder, how many of us would list those four as our foremost Christian responsibilities? Is it not more likely that church attendance, Bible reading, prayer, and tithing (all good things, of course) would be highest on our list? Notice that those four are all things that we can "check off our list" once they've been done according to our predetermined schedule, whereas justice, mercy, humility and faithfulness are things that we must strive to walk in continually. That is a revealing contrast between what can amount to dead religious works and what characterizes a living relationship with God. The Pharisees attended religious services, studied Scripture, prayed long prayers and tithed...and then went to hell.

Because they are all so "weighty" in God's eyes, let's briefly consider what it means to walk in justice, mercy, humility and faithfulness.

(1) Justice: "To do justice" implies treating everyone fairly, showing no partiality, and taking no bribes. It implies working against injustice, always being honest, and exposing what is evil (see Eph. 5:11). In the Old Testament, "doing justice" is sometimes associated with caring for the rights of orphans, widows and strangers (see Deut. 24:7, 27:19). It has always been a "weighty" commandment: "To do righteousness and justice is desired by the Lord rather than sacrifice" (Prov. 21:3, emphasis added).

Who is benefitting because of your "doing justice"?

(2) Mercy: The Hebrew word for "mercy" found in Micah's list is perhaps better translated "kindness," and in Jesus' list the Greek word can also be translated "pity" or "compassion." Meeting people's pressing needs, sharing our resources with the poor, and visiting the sick and incarcerated all fall into this category. Jesus once quoted from the prophet Hosea to emphasize the "weightiness" of compassion. Once again rebuking the Pharisees for straining out gnats and swallowing camels, He said,

But if you had known what this means, "I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice," you would not have condemned the innocent (Matt. 12:7).

The Pharisees were sure to bring their sacrifices to the temple, but they had little compassion for hurting people, just like those whom Hosea condemned in his day.

You will recall that when Jesus once illustrated the concept of loving one's neighbor, He told a story about someone who showed mercy. A good Samaritan had compassion upon a wounded crime victim, expending his time and treasure to help him. That victim had been ignored by two very religious men, a priest and Levite, who each doubtlessly could have quoted the second greatest commandment---but who didn't keep it (see Luke 10:25-37).

Are you more like the good Samaritan---or the priest and Levite? Who is benefiting because of your compassion?

(3) Humility: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (see 1 Pet. 5:5). The humble live with an understanding of their dependency upon God. Humility also means considering others as being more important than ourselves and serving them (see Phil. 2:3-4). Proud people expect to be served. One of the very last things Jesus emphasized to His closest disciples was that they should wash each other's feet, humbly serving each other, following His example. In God's eyes, the servants are the greatest (see Matt. 23:11).

Whom are you humbly serving?

(4) Faithfulness: Being faithful implies keeping your promises, being consistent, and persevering when you feel like quitting. Generally speaking, it is impossible to be faithful unless you are tempted to be unfaithful. Faithful people earn the trust of God and others.

Do people who know you trust you?

For the most part, justice, mercy, humility and faithfulness are four aspects of another commandment, and one that Jesus said should be second highest on our list---loving our neighbor as ourselves (see Matt. 22:39). The only greater commandment is to love God with all our hearts. Yet how does one love God with all his heart? How is love for God expressed? Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15), and John wrote, "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments" (1 John 5:3). This being so, we keep the greatest commandment by keeping the rest of the commandments. And according to Scripture, keeping the second-greatest commandment fulfills all the rest (see Matt. 7:12, 22:40; Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 5:14).

Thus it could be rightly stated that to follow Jesus is to be a lover of others! How much more simple can it get? Of course, the kind of love of which I am speaking is more than just a feeling. It is a self-denying love that results in action.

Scripture repeatedly emphasizes the preeminence of loving others, especially fellow believers, above all other duties. Love is the camel that the gnat-focused Pharisees ignored. Love is the camel that all religious people ignore, including pharisaic "Christians," who are continually straining out gnats. What are some of those gnats? Read Paul's thoughts on the subject:

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing (1 Cor. 13:1-3).

Speaking in tongues, prophecy, and mountain-moving faith can all become strained gnats when love is missing. To be in the presence of people who are focused on such things---while self-denying love is absent---is as pleasant as sitting next to a clanging cymbal.

Did you notice a few other strained gnats that Paul mentioned? Two are (1) understanding mysteries and (2) having knowledge. Doctrine, even right and good doctrine, is meaningless apart from love. Theologians and Bible scholars beware! You are, according to Scripture, absolutely nothing without love. Some of the nastiest people I've ever met are those whose Christianity consists solely of doctrines they defend, who are ready to pounce on anyone who differs in even some minor matter. They can prove their points using Bible verses, but orphans and widows will starve waiting for a crumb from their tables.

Being a Christian is not defined by what you know or say you believe---it is defined by what you are and what you do. Doctrine that cannot be translated into action is utterly useless. Reading your Bible every day amounts to nothing if you don't do what is most important to God---love others.

But am I saying that doctrine is unimportant? No. Am I saying that giving to the poor is the only important thing? No. According to Paul, giving to the poor, if done for a motivation other than love---to be seen by others, for example, or to receive your "hundred-fold blessing"---also amounts to nothing (see 1 Cor. 13:3).

How important is loving others? Love for other believers is the mark of being born again (see 1 John 3:14). Without love, one proves he is not truly born again (see 1 John 3:14, 4:8).

How important is loving others? Our love for each other identifies us to the world as being Christ's disciples:

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:35, emphasis added).

Along those same lines, our love for one another is what will convince the world, above anything else, of the truth of the gospel, which is why Jesus prayed,

...that they may all be one...that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me....that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me... (John 17:21, 23, emphasis added).

This being so, preaching the gospel itself can become a strained gnat if love is absent. The most effective evangelists are lovers. Both Jesus' and Paul's ministries were characterized not by just preaching the gospel, but by caring for the poor (see John 13:29; Gal 2:10). And how strange it seems for a pastor to preach the gospel while a denominational sign stands in front of his church, broadcasting to everyone who passes by, "We do not want you to associate us with other Christians who hold slightly different doctrinal beliefs." If I put a sign in front of my house that says, "My name is David Servant, and I'm a Republican!," and the next day my wife puts a sign beside mine that says, "I am Becky Servant, and I'm a Democrat," what might my neighbors conclude about our love for one another?

How important is it that we love one another? If we allow the flesh to overcome the Spirit and yield to "enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, and factions" (Gal. 5:20)---all indications of a lack of love---Paul warns us, "those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:21). Jesus likewise warned that the disciple who hatefully calls his brother a fool, "shall be guilty enough to go into the hell of fire" (Matt. 5:22). Thus if one is presenting his offering at the altar and remembers that his brother has something against him, he should leave his offering at the altar (stop focusing on the gnat), and be reconciled with his brother (no longer ignoring the camel; see Matt. 5:23-24).

How important is it to love one another? Jesus will not one day say to the sheep on His right, "You went to church...you paid your tithes...you read your Bible...you didn't smoke...your understanding of the Trinity was accurate...you had the timing of the Rapture figured out...you read only from the King James Version...your worship music was really good" or a thousand other things that seem to be what is most important to so many. Rather He will say, "I was hungry...I was thirsty...I was naked...I was sick...I was in prison...I was a stranger...and you proved your love for Me by loving the least of My brothers and sisters, expending your time and treasure." Self-denying love, or our lack of it, will reveal if we are sheep or goats at the judgment.

Church tradition tells us that the apostle John lived to be a very old man in Ephesus, where, during the last years of his life, he was carried by the disciples to the church gatherings because of his frailty. At those meetings he was accustomed to say no more than, "My dear children, love one another." His disciples, eventually weary of always hearing him say the same thing asked, "Master, why do you always say this?" "It is the Lord's command," was the reply of this elderly spiritual giant. "And if this alone be done, it is enough!"

In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets (Matt. 7:12, emphasis added)

For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Gal. 5:14, emphasis added).

www.shepherdserve.org

Naked Before God

Ryan Wyatt

With all that is going on in the world right now I really feel that we are in a season of stripping and refinement before the Lord. God is confronting the church and the world in this season and challenging us to lay down all the worldly things that we have covered ourselves with and allow Him to strip us and cover us with His glory. These are serious times and God has incredible plans to fulfill through this generation but the church seems to be asleep and God is waking them up. We have come to a fullness of time juncture and God is accelerating His plans in the earth.

CLOUD OF WITNESSES IN TRAVAIL FOR THIS GENERATION

In September I was ministering at a Joel´s Army conference in England and had an incredible encounter in the midst of worship. The worship band was playing and the people were loudly praising God and I began to hear people shouting my name. I audibly heard people shouting, “RYAN, RYAN, RYAN.’ I looked all around me and found no one calling to me. I then realized that I was having a spiritual encounter and entered into an open-eyed vision. I saw the Cloud of Witnesses and God´s Generals from the beginning of time and they were lined up side by side in a very long line. Every generation from the beginning of time was represented in this line. Every person was someone who during their life had pressed into their promised land and tasted of the powers of the age to come and like the spies, they brought something back that touched their whole generation with the love and power of God.

I noticed that the space in the line between each person represented many years and the line came up to this present day. It was obvious to me that with each previous generation there were very few that affected a whole generation. I then noticed that the line continued on past this present day with forms of people but there was no one to fill those slots.

I then saw the Cloud of Witnesses enter into a state of travail as they were vigorously interceding for this present day generation. They were not just calling my name but countless thousands of names. Suddenly I saw the hand of the Lord come and very quickly begin to pick people up out of the world and fill those empty slots in the line of God´s Generals. There was a massive acceleration that was taking place as God began to fill each slot with thousands of revivalists and nation shakers from our time.

Things are accelerating in the earth and for this reason God is pulling out all the stops and calling upon this generation to wake up and lay hold of Him like never before. For this reason God is beginning to strip his church of every worldly thing that keeps her from full devotion to Him. It is only when the church comes to realize her nakedness that she will begin to cry out in holy desperation for God to fascinate and empower a whole generation. We must first be stripped and come to realize our dire need for God.

The Bible says in Matthew 5:3;
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The message of the hour is that the “Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’ Being poor in spirit is realizing our level of emptiness and crying out for His fullness. The eyes of the Lord are roaming to and fro throughout the earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are completely loyal to Him (2 Chron. 16:9).

THE HAND OF GRACE IS BEING PULLED BACK “SLIGHTLY’ AND THE SHAKING OF THE LORD HAS COME!

For many years I believe the hand of the Lord, in the form of grace, has covered us and allowed us to continue on our own path. During this time God has given the church a chance to repent and turn whole-heartedly to him on their own. However, the church and the world have continued to slip further and further down hill and away from Him.

The church has cried out for the Lord to come and He has come and is coming and now the church is being faced with the results of the coming of the Lord. Look with me at Isaiah 64:1-3:

Oh, that you would rend the heavens! That you would come down! That the mountains might shake at your presence – as fire burns brushwood, as fire causes water to boil – to make Your name known to your adversaries, that the nations may tremble at Your presence! When You did awesome things for which we did not look, You came down; the mountains shook at Your presence.

When the Lord begins to come He brings a shaking and a melting away of everything worldly in our midst. Look at Malachi 3:1-3:

Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold He is coming, says the Lord of Hosts.

But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner´s fire and like launderer´s soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness.

When the Kingdom of God begins to come it shakes everything off of your life that is not of God and it leaves only those things behind that God has worked into your life (Heb. 12:25-29). I firmly believe that God is in the process right now of actually preparing us for the next great move of God to sweep the earth. However, before He can clothe the church with another level of His glory, He is first stripping us of every worldly thing that we have held onto.

THE LAODICEAN AGE

We are currently in the time of the Laodicean age. This generation is one of the most messed up generations to ever walk the earth yet we are also the generation that has the potential to walk in the most unprecedented level of power and glory, however, only if we submit to the current pruning of the Lord.

God is pulling back His hand just enough for a small portion of His judgments to touch the earth. He is doing this because what He might have allowed in the lives of believers in times past He is no longer allowing. When God begins to pull back His hand of grace you find yourself in a moment of great decision. This is not a time when God is going to allow nominal, middle of the road Christians in “His’ church.

Those believers that will not embrace the Lord in this season will most likely grow more and more hardened to Him. Remember that as soon as Jesus came to earth in the flesh it was the religious people that hardened their hearts and persecuted Him. It will be no different in these days. Those that have been lukewarm will either grow colder or burn hotter for the Lord.

We are in a time of decision. Many in these days are coming to a place of realization that their life is empty and they are feeling the burning of the Lord upon their hearts. These believers are turning closer to Him and learning to live a live of intimacy and passion with the Lord.

The Bible says in the book of Joel that many are in the valley of decision and we have always preached that as unbelievers being in the valley. However, I also want to say that many believers are in the valley of decision as well and the Lord is no longer giving the church the option to just sit in the middle of the road. Battle lines are being drawn and we must choose to either grow colder or hotter for Him.

When the Lord spoke to the church of Laodicea He rebuked them because they thought they had every thing together when in fact they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. God first had to alert them of their desperate status before they would repent and follow whole-heartedly after Him.

Most of the church right now has sunk into a state of apathy and passivity because for the most part the western church lives a life of self-sufficiency. I was really struck with just how self-sufficient the western church really is after I ministered in Jakarta, Indonesia this last January. I have not seen a hunger for God like that of the Indonesians anywhere in North America or Europe. The Indonesians prayed and sought after God as if they were absolutely spiritually bankrupt and could not live another moment without a touch from heaven.

Most pastors in the western church have to poke and prod the people to even act like they are hungry for God. The church in North America is sitting in the middle of the road and has grown self-sufficient, thinking they need nothing. Below is the address that Jesus gave to that church:

Revelation 3:15-19
I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing´ – and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked – I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

NOT A HEARTLESS REBUKE BUT RATHER A LOVING WARNING

I don´t see the above passage from Revelation as a heartless rebuke. It is actually a loving warning from a loving God that wants to alert His Bride of her state so that she might wake up and turn and seek the Lord.

The admonition from the above reference in Revelation is that if the church will realize her nakedness and begin to seek the Lord with desperate hunger then the church will hear the sound of the Lord knocking on the door and dine and rule and reign with Him.

SEEK “FIRST’ THE KINGDOM OF GOD

In a day where everyone is doing what is right in their own eyes and just seeking to live the American dream, God is looking for a Bride that will do the exact opposite. One of the greatest enemies to the western church is “how blessed we are.’ The western world has lived under such a state of grace and blessing for so long that it has caused the church to slip into a state of apathy and passivity. The church has joined the rat race of the world that says, “Do what you have to do to not only make it but to be on top!’ So we have become a generation totally consumed with “self’.

The Bible calls believers “pilgrims’ in this world. We are citizens of another realm and are to live our day-to-day lives from the place of abiding in heavenly realms and ruling on earth with heavenly love and power. The challenge for the church in this hour is to submit to the pruning and stripping of the Lord and turn our eyes and affections from every temporal thing and begin to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.’

When the church begins to live for heavenly things rather than for earthly satisfaction than the grace and favor of heaven will be poured out upon us abundantly.

Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?´ or ‘What shall we drink?´ or ‘What shall we wear?´ “For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.’

OUR RESPONSE TO THE SHAKINGS

I know that people are trying to figure out why all these hurricanes and earthquakes and tsunamis and all the other disasters are happening on the earth at this time. Some believe it is God judging us, some believe they are the result of man´s sinful actions and still others believe they are attacks from the devil. I believe they are a result of all three.

Yes, I believe that the devil is trying to wreak havoc. Yes, I believe that some of these disasters are occurring as the result of the world´s sinful actions. And yes, I do also believe that God is using them to teach the world righteousness and lead them back to Him.

Isaiah 26:9
With my soul I have desired you in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek you early; For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.

Instead of joining the rest of the world and allowing our emotions to get the best of us in response to these world shakings, let´s allow these events to awaken us to the reality and seriousness of the times we are living in. Let´s allow these things to cause us to seek the Lord with all that is within us and lay hold of our divine destiny to walk upon this earth fully clothed in the glory of God!

NAKEDNESS PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY FOR FULLNESS

Let me close with this. Before the fall, Adam and Eve were naked and did not know it. I believe this was because their minds and hearts were so enthralled with the Lord that they were literally clothed with the glory of God. All they knew was 24 hour a day God-consciousness and face-to-face encounters with Him.

After the fall, the first thing they realized was that they were naked and they were ashamed. They immediately looked for something to cover their nakedness and wrapped themselves in fig leaves. God came to visit with them as He normally would and found them hiding and ashamed because of their nakedness. One of the first things God did was take off the fig leaves and clothe them with skins of animals.

God clothed them with animal skins because it required blood and the shedding of blood was the only thing that could cover their sin. God´s divine design was to send Jesus to shed his perfect, sinless blood to cover and wash away our sins forevermore. This was so that we could, again, have our nakedness covered by His Glory!

God is again looking throughout the earth for those who have not covered themselves with the things of the world but for those who are willing to submit to His stripping and pruning work and be clothed again from glory to glory! Are you naked before the Lord? Do you need to be awakened and come to a realization that you are nowhere near laying hold of your high calling? Are you truly poor in spirit and desperate for a touch from heaven?

Allow the Lord to touch you afresh and put his finger on those areas of your soul that are not of Him. This is the season to invite the refining fire of God into your life because He is a consuming fire and He is jealous to fully lay hold of you!

By Ryan Wyatt
Abiding Glory Ministries
http://www.abidingglory.com

The Latter Rain

Francis Frangipane

The phrase "latter rain" can mean different things to different people. To its critics, it is a movement that promotes doctrinal heresy. To many others, however, the phrase "latter rain," though slightly antiquated, is a term used by the King James Bible to describe the final, worldwide outpouring of the Holy Spirit before Christ returns.

Although I do not personally use the term "latter rain," I do believe in this last great move of God. In fact, I have held this vision since 1970. Admittedly, my faith was tested during the 1970s, when many church leaders were predicting the end of the world. Frankly, not many actively believed there would be a great harvest during the seventies and eighties. However, in 1990, with the stunning collapse of Soviet communism, an accelerated era of worldwide evangelism truly began. Since then, the Holy Spirit has brought hundreds of millions into the kingdom of God.

Thus, in spite of wars and other difficulties, my focus remains fixed on the great work of the Holy Spirit in these last days. The last great outpouring will not end until the Spirit of God has been poured out "upon all mankind" (Acts 2:17). "All" means all. It means God is serious about reaching Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and other religions. Indeed, the Lord is so passionate about the lost that He says He will "grant" undeniable "wonders in the sky above" and incontrovertible "signs on the earth" (see Acts 2:19-20). I wholeheartedly believe that, during this last great move, we will see the true church united, many believers raised to Christlike maturity and a great harvest.

So, you decide: Is the doctrine of worldwide evangelism a heresy? Or is Christ-centered unity among believers a false doctrine? Is reaching for Christlike purity and power a deception?

Remember, I am not saying life will get easy. The truth is, many already are dying for their faith. Yet, "those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting" (see Psalm 126). Jesus said the harvest was plentiful (Luke 10:2). And, I agree with those who warn of the spread of the apostate church; there is, indeed, deep darkness upon the earth. But it is in these very conditions that the Lord commands us to arise and be radiant with His glory. His promise is that nations shall come to our light and kings to the brightness of His rising (see Isaiah 60:1-3). The end of the age is a time of both darkness and light (see 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5). We must see both.

The Bible and the Latter Rain

Still, the issue is not what I say about the latter rain or what the critics say, but what does the Bible teach? The phrase "latter rain" comes from several places in the Scriptures; the most prominent perhaps is from the book of James. Speaking of the Lord's return, the apostle writes:  

"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand" (James 5:7-8 NKJV).

James is talking specifically about "the coming of the Lord." Many first century Christians expected the Lord to return in their lifetimes. They experienced the initial outpouring of the Spirit; they saw miracles, growth and multiplication. Yet, still the Lord did not come. Thus, James encourages the church to "be patient," saying there is something yet to come for which God is waiting. In this verse, the apostle frames all of church history metaphorically between two seasons of spiritual outpouring, which he calls the "early and latter rain." Agriculturally, it was understood that the early rains awakened the newly planted seeds and initiated the process of growth. Then, after several dry months, the latter rains came that revitalized the harvest and brought it to maturity (see also Deuteronomy 11:14; Joel 2:23; Zechariah 10:1, all King James version).

You see, God had much more on His heart than the early Christians anticipated. The church saw a limited outpouring that fell upon a smaller world. The truth was that both the world and the final outpouring is proving to be much larger.

Bible Scholars and the Latter Rain

It is important to note that a number of Bible scholars also support the idea of a second outpouring. Charles Wesley interpreted James 5:7, saying, "The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit - Which will recompense his labour and patience. Till he receives the former rain - Immediately after sowing. And the latter - Before the harvest." Wesley wrote, "the latter" rain came "before the harvest" (or the end of the age).

Go to Crosswalk.com, click on "study helps" and research this yourself. Look at Jamieson, Fausset and Brown's commentary on James 5:7. They explained: "The early rain fell at sowing time, about November or December; the latter rain, about March or April, to mature the grain for harvest. The latter rain that shall precede the coming spiritual harvest, will probably be another Pentecost-like effusion of the Holy Ghost" (Crosswalk.com).

This isn't Charismatic chaos! It New Testament theology, and Jamieson, Fausset and Brown are distinguished, time-tested scholars who wrote their Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible in 1871.

Plainly, we are to expect a special outpouring. This is not "manifest sons" doctrine nor "kingdom now" theology. This doesn't mean there aren't churches in all forms of apostasy; nations will still be judged at the end of the age. We are simply stating, according to the word of God, that between now and when Jesus Christ returns, there will be another great outpouring, and that we are in the beginning of that outpouring now.

Do Not Be Afraid

My friends, the enemy has put a blockade of false warnings, fear and accusation around one of the most powerful end time realities: the final work of the Holy Spirit to bring the gospel worldwide! I am not saying we should be naïve or blind to all that is wrong in the church, but neither should we be blind to what God is doing

To have faith for this outpouring is not heretical, even if it seems like heresy to those in unbelief. Therefore, do not fear being labeled a "heretic" when you speak of your vision. Pray for your nation with confidence, without intimidation, knowing that the reality of the latter rain is occurring even as we speak. Remember, hundreds of millions have come into the kingdom of God over these last years - revival can occur in your nation as well! Consider the growth of the church in China, from ten million in 1974 to over 100 million today. We are in the time of outpouring, beloved, whether critics agree with it or not!

The world only sees the headlines from hell, yet the gospel of the kingdom is advancing. God will not stop until "all nations" hear the gospel.

In truth, a time is coming when, as suddenly as the Soviet Union collapsed, so the stronghold of Islam will crumble as well. God has determined to reach to the Muslim world, and once again, "wise men from the east" will come looking for Him who was born King of the Jews. Yes, even radicalized Muslims will look upon the Son of God and, in their new found freedom, they will love Christ most fervently. Indeed, the Lord shall even reveal Himself to key Islamic rulers, individuals whose influence will draw multitudes closer to Jesus Christ.

"Thus He will sprinkle many nations, kings will shut their mouths on account of Him; for what had not been told them they will see, and what they had not heard they will understand" (Isaiah 52:15).

Whether the breakthrough occurs in the immediate years, or tarries beyond a decade or more, an awakening is destined for the Muslim world. Just as the Lord has promised, He will pour out His Spirit upon all mankind (see Acts 2:17). Thus, the last, great outpouring shall reach all cultures of the world, and "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21).

http://www.frangipane.org/

Foreboding Influences - Assurance of Coming Glory

Priscilla Van Sutphin

Foreboding:
1 : to have an inward conviction of (as coming ill or misfortune)
2 : FORETELL, PORTEND

Isaiah 60:1-3 KJV Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Darkness: OT: 2822 choshek (kho-shek'); from OT: 2821; the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness: KJV - dark (-ness), night, obscurity.

OT: 2821 chashak (khaw-shak'); a primitive root; to be dark (as withholdi ng light); transitively, to darken: KJV - be black, be (make) dark, darken, cause darkness, be dim, hide.

Gross Darkness: OT: 6205 `araphel (ar-aw-fel'); probably from OT: 6201; gloom (as of a lowering sky): KJV - (gross, thick) dark (cloud, -ness).

I heard the Lord say: "You have felt the darkness and you have been oppressed by it. The darkness is getting darker, and so must I also arise and shine My light through you that My quest for souls may be fulfilled. For judgment comes quickly and there is much to be done for My Kingdom. I am arising My sons and daughters and as surely as the sun arises in the east, I will arise and I have set My eyes upon you to make My light to SHINE upon you and through you.

Darkness arises quickly and I am ESCALATING ALSO MY WORK WITHIN YOU that you mi ght be ready for the rise in evil. So many are not even aware yet of the darkness around them, other than obvious news matters. You must SHOUT from the rooftops what you hear in your ear ! You must SHOUT to the heavens and rebuke the enemy of your souls. Prophesy to HIM his end as he whispers torments in your ears ! SHOUT My praises and let him hear it LOUD AND CLEAR ! SPEAK THE WORD and use it to WAR. Keep proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord !

The stench of war and perversion, corruption and destruction is in My nostrils, and I am bent on wrath in the days to come. Know that My time is VERY near and I am wanting you to be about My Father's business, that the world may be SHOWN the love that I have for them. Do not cast your pearls before swine beloveds ! Do not waste your tears on the heartless and damned. ASK ME who to reach out to. Sow and sow, and sow. Cast your bread upon the waters, and after a time, the y will come in !

Eccl 11:1 AMP CAST YOUR bread upon the waters , for you will find it after many days.

Renew your hope in My ability to sustain you and yours. Renew your FAITH in My ability to DEFEND you against the forces of evil in this fallen world ! RENEW your confidence in MY LOVE FOR YOU ! Do NOT DOUBT My love for you no matter what happens. For I will work it for GLORY if you will not faint. Many things happening in this hour are going to pierce your heart. Many things will seem unbearable to hear. Much deception abounds and much of it is under your noses oh western Bride without you even seeing it !

WAKE UP oh sleeper and rise from the dead and Christ will arise upon you ! WAKE UP and hear the battlecry ! ARISE AND FIGHT MY WARRIORS. FIGHT IN WORSHIP ! RAISE YOUR VOICES IN PRAYER AND SONG ! DANCE UPON INJUSTICE AND WATCH ME UNCOVER THE SKIRTS OF THE WICKED ! Arise in CONFIDENCE that I am willing to disrupt the plans of evil. Not all plans will be thwarted, because the Book is already written, and things will go as FORESEEN. But My care for you is unalterable ! I love you My bride and I will not abandon you in this dark hour.

I am getting you ready for disaster comes from afar, and it will not be slack in hitting it's mark ! Arise and thresh oh daughter of Zion ! ARISE and shout the TRUTH each one to his neighbor. ABIDE in ME. WORSHIP ME in spirit and in truth for I am answering the call of My bride and I am purifying her and making her strong against the bulwark of opposition coming from the east and coming from within your borders.

Do not stray away from the camp of the remnant. I f you want to keep humble, then have fellowship with the humble ! Don't delay making peace with any with whom you've had offense. Keep your heart free from bitterness. DO not go back to your vomit ! For if you do, you may not return this time. The savagery of the enemy is strong in this hour. You need the fellowship of other believers ! Pray together and worship in the beauty of holiness, for the hours is at hand when you will see the Son of man ARISE in your lands. Hold on to the hope of GLORY ! The winds are blowing again and you will see a great Wind soon that will lay waste the chains of My people and cause revolution in the hearts of the youth. Come, come, come, for the train is escalating, escalating, escalating. You are in for the ride of your life!"

www.upstreamca.org

Ted Turner Says Iraq War among History's "Dumbest"

Daniel Trotta
 

NEW YORK - The U.S. invasion of Iraq was among the "dumbest moves of all time" that ranks with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and the German invasion of Russia, billionaire philanthropist Ted Turner said on Tuesday.

The founder of CNN and unabashed internationalist also defended the right of Iran to have nuclear weapons and the effectiveness of the United Nations and, in a jocular mood, advocated banning men from elective office worldwide in a Reuters Newsmaker appearance.

Alternately combative and humorous, Turner spoke nine years after his pledge to donate $1 billion to the United Nations over 10 years and on the same day President Bush addressed the U.N. General Assembly a mile away.

The U.S. invasion of Iraq has caused "incalculable damage" that will take 20 years to overcome "if we just act reasonably intelligently."

"It will go down in history, it is already being seen in history, as one of the dumbest moves that was ever made by anybody. A couple of others that come to mind were the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and the German invasion of Russia," Turner told the forum.

"It literally broke my heart. You don't start wars just because you don't like somebody. ... I wouldn't even start a war with Rupert Murdoch," Turner said, referring to his onetime cable network rival.

Often contrarian, Turner called it a "joke" that Bush demanded that Iran abandon any ambitions for nuclear weapons while at the same time hoping to ban all such bombs.

"They're a sovereign state," Turner said of Iran. "We have 28,000. Why can't they have 10? We don't say anything about Israel -- they've got 100 of them approximately -- or India or Pakistan or Russia. And really, nobody should have them.

"They aren't usable by any sane person."

POWER TO THE WOMEN

One way to reduce such dangers in the world would be to leave women in charge, said the former husband of Jane Fonda.

"Men should be barred from public office for 100 years in every part of the world. ... It would be a much kinder, gentler, more intelligently run world. The men have had millions of years where we've been running things. We've screwed it up hopelessly. Let's give it to the women."

In the meantime, the United Nations represents the best hope, Turner said.

While the world body is ridiculed as ineffective and irrelevant by its harshest critics and often criticized by its strongest advocates, Turner offered what was then one-third of his net worth to the world body nine years ago.

"I am absolutely certain we would not have made it through the Cold War without the U.N.," Turner said. "When Khrushchev at the U.N. took his shoe off and hit podium he was so mad, but he had a place to let off steam. If the U.N. hadn't been there, that would have been war right then."

When a questioner from the audience challenged Turner on the United Nations's value, Turner shot back.

"The war between Lebanon and Israel and Hizbollah would still be going on if it hadn't been for the U.N., and that's only in the last two weeks, Bubba."

Reuters 2006
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/0920-01.htm

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