Success and Failure Blog

What’s

your

thief?

    A woman that I had just met told me an incredible story. She was 74 years of age and her husband had passed away recently. One of the things that she did to keep active was clean the church. I am sure it was also a way to fill in the time; a void that her late husband had left. She had an amazing peace that her husband was now with Jesus and she rejoiced in the fact that he would never feel pain again.

 She described that the church paid her $25.00 per visit to clean the church. But, that she would not be getting paid any longer. She cleaned twice per week so, that came out to around $200.00 per month. In the short amount of time that we talked, she made it a point to let me know the incredible part of this story. The church had not decided to quit paying her. She did!

 Getting paid to serve was robbing her, of all her joy, working for the Lord. And she would either do it for free, or not clean. She was finding the work, as a way to say thank you to God for His Grace, and for taking care of her late husband. $25.00 was a thief to her expression of gratitude.

What’s your thief?

 Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness

grows up to trouble you,

corrupting many.

Hebrews 12:15 NLT

Remember watching the old poison tea trick in the movies. The angry person of the two, decides to sit down and have a friendly cup of tea with his enemy. The angry and bitter subject poisons the cup of tea that his enemy is supposed to drink. But, somehow; the wrong cup of tea is ingested. The bitter person drinks the poison and waits for the other to die. Surprise!

The same thing happened to the Coyote and The Road Runner. He would appear to be nice and put some bird seed out for the bird. The Road Runner would eat it and move on down the road. The Coyote, already in several disputes with ACME, gives the bird seed a nibble. He is instantly reduced to a cloud of smoke and an accordion body.

Who are we killing with bitterness? We spend all of our day dreaming up ways to spike the next tea, spread the next rumor, or go way (and I mean WAY!) out of ordinary routine to let someone know we are displeased with them. It does not seem that stupid while it’s going on. Until we realize that the investment in ACME has also wiped out our peace and joy account.

What do you say today we pick up the exploding bird seed and make things right? Does that mean the other person is going to change today? Nope! Does it mean we will? Yep! And at the end of the day, the only control we have over our neighbors is the example they see.

“ So after you have suffered a little while,

He will restore, support, and strengthen you,

and He will place you on a firm foundation.”

1 Peter 5:10 NLT

    I remember an incident from several years ago, and my attempt to anchor a newly planted tree. As I looked out the window on a particularly windy day, the tree was swaying violently from side to side. After watching this for over an hour, I decided to spring into action.

 I found some tent spikes, rope, and hammer; and went to work. I would save it’s life. I tightened it as best I could, and was pleased to see that it was now completely stationery. The tree was safe. The adversity it faced was over.

 Before I can reach the garage to put away the tools, the tree snapped in half. I had taken away the only defense the tree had to survive the wind. Without bending in the storm, it had no strength to stand any longer.

 The same can be said for helping a baby chick break out of the shell it is struggling to escape. By helping, the baby soon dies. It relies on the struggle to build enough strength to live.

 Sadhu Sundar Singh is quoted as saying, “A newborn child has to cry, for only in this way will his lungs expand. A doctor once told me of a child who could not breathe when it was born. In order to make it breathe the doctor gave it a slight blow. The mother must have thought the doctor cruel.

 But he was really doing the kindest thing possible. As with newborn children the lungs are contracted, so are our spiritual lungs. But through suffering God strikes us in love. Then our lungs expand and we can breathe and pray.”

  ‘Sin is crouching at the door,

eager to control you.

But you must subdue it and be it’s master.”

Genesis 4:7 NLT

We are all aware that sin is just waiting for us at the front door. Everywhere we are going, it is there. So, what about the back door? The places that we’ve been. These are the one’s we never expect to see again.

 Have you ever thought about the consequences of your past? How a sin from yesterday gains steam, and comes roaring like a freight train into today. How do we derail this runaway locomotive?

 God is speaking to us in this verse, and He say’s “be it’s master.”

 If we are to be a master, we must own it. We must own it to subdue it. Our confession to Jesus Christ will put it on a new course…..

 Psalm 103:12 NIV says, ‘ as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”

 This story describes a journey. The beginning of following Jesus Christ, and putting it into the terms of “shoes”. My prayer is that you will find yourself somewhere on this path, and that you will seek out His friendship and get……

 NEW SHOES

I have an old pair of shoes. I have had them for a long time. I guess the reason why I bought them was because everyone else had a pair. Sure does feel good to fit in. They were not really my style of shoe at first, but the more that people accepted them, I began to adjust and my thoughts that they were really not my style receded over time. I wore them faithfully and they carried me many miles. Did I mention that they were comfortable? Couldn’t imagine a reason to get another pair. Well, except for a few drawbacks.

 They were getting very worn. Holes began to develop in the sides of both shoes. And I could live with that if it were not for the rain and the snow. The tread was getting very worn and I could live with that. Except for rough terrain and hot surfaces. The shoelaces were getting very worn and I could live with that. Except every time I pulled them together to tighten them, another small piece of the shoelace would break and I could not tighten them up.

 I was really running out of excuses to keep them, but did I mention how comfortable they were? But, they really were causing me a lot of grief just to keep them. And not to mention they had really become my identity.

I was visited by a friend recently and somehow we got on the subject of the old shoes. He asked if I had considered a new pair. Of course, I had thought about it, but I did mention how comfortable they were! But, the reality was that they were really becoming a source of discomfort for me. My friend invited me to his home and their they were:

 A new pair of shoes. They were certainly not my style and I could not imagine what people would say if people saw me wearing them. I could tell they were not comfortable the minute I put them on. I did not like the way they felt when I walked. I could feel blisters form on my feet in a very short amount of time.

 And the reaction was less then desirable from everyone around me. The most cutting comment was “ What in the world do you have on? We won’t hang out with you if you wear those out in public! I was ready for my old shoes, these were worse than what I had before.

 I guess out of spite, I just kept wearing them. If all people care about is the shoes I wear, who needs them. They were breaking in and I was starting to feel better about them. The blisters were healing and I was no longer afraid to walk in the snow and rain. Rough terrain and hot surfaces were still rough and hot, but the tread was strong and it allowed me to deal with it. And the strings were so sturdy, though they would stretch, they would never break.

 I guess over time I noticed other people wearing the same type of shoe and it became a real conversation piece. Occasionally, I would have people wearing shoes like I used to wear approach and ask questions. I was really beginning to love this new pair of shoes. And even my friends, whom had turned away from me, began to ask questions about these new shoes and began to accept them. Heck, a few of them even got there own pair.

 You know, with all that, the best part of the new shoes is that they were a gift. I felt obligated to repay the gift, but my friend said just seeing me wear them was gift enough.

 I still remember my old shoes and one thing stands out in my mind. It took the old pair to get me to the new pair. I guess in the back of my mind, I wonder what will happen when these start to wear out and cause me discomfort. For some reason , I just never worry about it! I just want to thank my friend, Jesus; for the gift!

 ~ And I will give you a new heart,

and I will put a new Spirit in you.

I will take out your stony, stubborn heart

and give you a tender, responsive heart. ~

Ezekiel 36:26 NLT

The Bible says that weeds….

are the worries of life and the lure of wealth.

Matthew 13:22

My daughter, Olivia; had a story idea. The beautiful flowers of life, surrounded by weeds. The more I thought about her idea, the more I wanted to explore it. There really is more to weeds, than just an appearance problem. Much more.

I was amazed that by researching some simple gardening tips, that the advice for maintaining healthy growth in the garden; could be equally useful in our lives.

The first step in controlling your weed problem is to be able to identify the items, which are weeds. Unfortunately, by the time that some “weeds” are large enough to identify as good or bad, they are also large enough to grow and scatter undesirable seeds throughout your garden.

The key to effective and quick weed control is to eradicate the weeds while they are still small. You will quickly learn by your own experience, which items will grow into weeds. Once you know what to look for, it will just take a quick glance around the garden to spot an area that needs attention.

As you go about your prayer time, ask Jesus to help you identify weeds, and to help you eliminate them. Then, big time growth begins!

As you gain control over the weeds, you will gain the benefit of the light and the nutrients which the weeds were taking. Your life will gain a new vigor, and your healthy new growth in Christ will help to choke out future weeds before they get a chance to grow.

Being a parent I find myself repeating things over and over, seems sometimes my children don’t listen, don’t remember, or just don’t get it. about the third time I find myself rolling my eyes.

I Have been reading the book of John and wonder if Jesus ever rolled his eyes. He was fully man, right? & even though the bible may not translate it, I would think from time to tome Jesus was like “really? I’m pretty sure I told you this like 5 times”..so maybe, John 14:5(a) Jesus rolled His eyes. or, John 6:52 (a) Jesus let out a deep sigh and muttered “really” under his breath.

I’m not to be excluded from this, it seems I need to be reminded of what Jesus taught or how I should apply it. maybe it’s just me, but sometimes, after I loose my temper, or make a wrong decision, or dwell too much on crap, one word in my head tends to make me redirect…”Really?”

1.Suicide manifests a lack of faith in God, who has promised to meet a Christian’s every need. (Phil 4.19)

2.Suicide is disobedience to God’s command that Christians are to LIVE by faith. (Rom 1.17)

3.Suicide is murder of one’s own self. As such, suicide disobeys God’s command not to commit murder. (Exod 20.13)

4.Suicide violates the fact that a Christian’s body belongs to God. (1 Cor 6.19)

5. Suicide is killing ourselves and not willing to choose life. (Deuteronomy 30:19)

6. Suicide usurps the power that belongs only to God.(1Corinthians 6:19-20)

7. Suicide is self-murder and no murderer has eternal life (I Jn. 3:15)

8. A person who chooses to live is using a blessing from God. A person who kills himself is using the power of the Devil. [Psalm 64:1; Revelation 21:4; 1 Corinthians 15:26)

9. Suicider might end his life because of the problems and circumstances. But if we trust God we can overcome anything (1 Corinthians 10:13)

10. God has a purpose for every person's life. Instead of destroying life, we should use it to serve God.( Romans 12:1)

11. Suicide is not the answer to despair, disappointments or troubles. God loves us and is concerned about everything in our lives. (Matthew 10:29-31, Romans 8:28)

The Bible mentions people who committed suicide because of wickedness and sin:

Abimelech - Judges 9:50-56

Abimelech was a wicked man who usurped leadership of Israel. When a woman dropped a millstone on his head, he had his armor-bearer kill him so people would not say he was killed by a woman.

King Saul - 1 Samuel 31:3-5

Saul rebelled against God, so God rejected Him as king. He was about to be captured in battle, and fearing torture, he asked his armor-bearer to kill him. He refused, so Saul fell on his sword and the armor-bearer did the same. [1 Chronicles 10:4,5; cf. 2 Samuel 1:1-16]

Ahithophel – 2 Samuel 17:23

Ahithophel was an advisor who encouraged Absalom to rebel against David. He gave advice that would have led to David’s defeat, but the advice was not taken and David escaped. He hanged himself.

Zimri – 1 Kings 16:18

Zimri was a wicked man who killed the king of Israel and reigned 7 days. Then Omri led Israel against Zimri. Seeing he would be defeated, he burned his house down around himself.

Judas Iscariot – Matthew 27:3-5; Acts 1:18

Judas betrayed Jesus, then realizing his guilt, he hanged himself.

Conclusion: For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds. Titus 2:11-13

No other name has had an impact on more lives in the history of humanity than Jesus..
 Jesus Was Never Created Micah 5:2 
 Jesus Essence Has Never Changed Heb 13:8
 Jesus is God John 1:1
 Jesus is The Creator of Everything Col 1:16
 Jesus is All-Powerful Matt 28:18
 Jesus is All-Knowing Col 2:3
 Jesus is Ever-Present Matt 18:20
 Jesus is Holy Luke 1:35
 Jesus is Righteous Isa 53:11
Jesus is Just Zech 9:9
Jesus Had No Deceit 1 Pet 2:22
Jesus is Sinless 2 Cor 5:21
Jesus is Spotless 1 Pet 1:19
Jesus is Innocent Matt 27:4
Jesus is Gentle Matt 11:29
Jesus is Merciful Heb 2:17
Jesus is Forgiving Luke 23:34
Jesus Receives Worship by Demons Mark 5:2,6
Jesus Receives Worship by Men John 9:38
Jesus Receives Worship by Angels Heb 1:6
Jesus Receives Worship by Disciples Luke 24:52
Jesus Receives Worship in Heaven Rev 7:9-10
Jesus Will Receive Worship from Everyone Phil 2:10-11
Jesus Was Human 1 Tim 2:5
Jesus Was Conceived by the Holy Spirit Luke 1:34-35
Jesus Took On Man’s Nature Heb 2:9-18
Jesus Humbled Himself Phil 2:8
Jesus Was Subject To Human Emotions Heb 5:7
Jesus Raised His Body From The Dead John 10:18
Jesus Blood Brings Reconciliation With God Eph 2:13-16
Jesus Blood Brings Redemption for Man Rom 3:24-25
Jesus Blood Allows Man To Be Justified before God Rom 5:9
Jesus Blood Sanctifies Man Heb 10:29
Jesus Blood Brings Spiritual Victory Rev 12:11
Jesus Blood Brings Eternal Life John 6:53-56
Jesus Came to Save Sinners Luke 19:10
Jesus Will Bring in Everlasting Righteousness Dan 9:24
Jesus Destroyed the Works of Satan 1 John 3:8
Jesus Fulfilled the Old Testament Matt 5:17
Jesus Gives Life Now John 10:10
Jesus Is Our Advocate 1 John 2:1
Jesus Gives Eternal Life John 10:28
Jesus Is Eternal Life 1 John 5:20
Jesus Sends The Holy Spirit To Us John 15:26
Jesus Will Take His People To Heaven John 14:3
Jesus Will Return To The Earth After The Tribulation Matt 24:29
Jesus Will Return To The Earth In Power & Glory Matt 24:30
Jesus Completes Revelation Heb 1:1
Jesus Will Never Send You Away If You Come To Him John 6:37
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life John 14:6

We see many Christians claim to be continuing sinners saved by grace rather than using the past tense, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).God says that we can live without sin by God’s grace and the power of his indwelling Holy Spirit to pursue holiness to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. Many Christians are so defensive of sin because they have not been able to stop sinning in their own strength and effort. Instead of making the humiliating confession that they can’t conquer it, they fabricate arguments that it really doesn’t hurt them and quote “no one can be perfect” or “no one can really live without sin anyway” or ‘There is none righteous, no, not one ‘.Jesus Christ came to save sinners perfected through His own sacrifice. We are perfect in Christ not by our own human efforts. The wicked people encourage themselves in sin and also Delight in those who commit sins. They also have numerous unbiblical excuses to commit sin and to defend their sinful ways. When God’s people do not obey Him, He allows a spirit of blindness to come over them. The wicked and Sinful people do not have self-control, they hate discipline, hate God’s law, commandments and his ways.

we can be morally perfect When we walk in Gods ways ,fear god abstain from all sins ,be obedient to his commandments by being holy, pure, and living a godly life . Col 1:28 says:” Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”

Many often forget Jesus said, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48). Many people pick and choose the bible verse to defend themselves that suits their life style but ignore rest of the verses. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:11-14).

God hates sin, judges sin & chastises the sinner. No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient, For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly (Mark 7:21-22). Gods word says that the wicked encourage themselves in an evil matter, make a mock and Boast at sin, Cannot cease from sins and they throw blame on others and God (Psalm 64:5, Isaiah 3:9, Proverbs 14:9, Genesis 3:12, Genesis 3:12-13, Jeremiah 7:10)

Each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (James 1:14-15).

Scripture says that Man can live without sin: God wants us to pursue holiness. He wants us to live the Holy Spirit filled life. True Christian believer who has truly come to know Christ will be free from sin, they will be holy, in thought, in word and in deed. God’s power is at work in us (Eph. 3:20). Through Christ, we ARE dead to sin (Rom. 6) and we ARE crucified with Christ; He lives in us (Gal. 2:20) and Word of God keeps from sinning (Psalms 17:4, Psalms 119:11)

No one who abides in him keeps sinning. No one who sins knows who He really is…for God is holy and righteous. (1 John 3:5-9). God says that EVERYONE who sins is a slave to sin. James 4:7-10 says Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. We need to Watch and pray at all times and resist evil ways and pursue Gods ways by putting on the whole armor of God and cover ourselves with the Blood of Jesus. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Hence let us clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. (Romans 13:14). Eph 5:5-6. Those who are in Christ are dead to sin, under no circumstances they continue to live wickedly instead they have been raised to walk in newness and purity of life, lives of righteousness, morality and integrity.

Perfect and Righteous people in the Bible: obeying God’s will bring perfection. God says that saints are made free from sin and have became slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:18). Adam, Abel, Joseph the Earthly Father of Jesus Christ ,Enoch, Abraham, Joseph, Jacob, Isacc, Rahab, Ruth, Debrorah, John Baptist, Zacharias and Elisabeth, the parents of John the Baptist ,Miraim and many others were all found righteous before the Lord. God’s word says that as obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; (1 Pet. 1:14, 15). All of us have the Capability of Sinning yet we need to choose Not to Sin by the tools God has given to us to avoid sin.

In the first study of Ezekiel, we looked at who Gog is, what nations will be under his military control, and how and when they will attack. This next part is a study of the actual battle that is to take place.  Text is taken from the NIV translation of the Bible.

⁹ You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land.

Gog’s army will be like a cloud covering the land.  Imagine a dry dusty road that you drive down and picture the dust cloud behind your vehicle.  Now, picture an army of nations driving their vehicles and war machines.  There will be so many army movements that a cloud of dust will cover the land.  The imagery may also point to massive air forces.

¹⁰ ” ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme. ¹¹ You will say, “I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people—all of them living without walls and without gates and bars

Gog will plan this attack. It will not be a spur of the moment type attack.  It’s possible that it may be a retaliatory or a preemptive strike against Israel. In either case it will be premeditated.  We also learn that Israel will be a land of security and peace.  Israel will not be suspecting an attack from anyone, which leads me to believe that it will come after the peace treaty is signed with the Arab nations, facilitated by Antichrist.

¹² I will plunder and loot and turn my hand against the resettled ruins and the people gathered from the nations, rich in livestock and goods, living at the center of the land.” ¹³ Sheba and Dedan and the merchants of Tarshish and all her villages ^[d] will say to you, “Have you come to plunder? Have you gathered your hordes to loot, to carry off silver and gold, to take away livestock and goods and to seize much plunder?” ‘

The attack will come at a time when Israel is resettled, rebuilt, and wealthy.  If you look at the map of Israel, the city in the center of the land is Jerusalem.  In verse 13 it would appear that Gog has come to pillage and plunder the wealth of Jerusalem.  Perhaps this is the reason for the attack: Greed.

The physical location of Sheba is disputed, however modern evidence points towards Yeman in Southern Arabia (wiki). Dardan is now known as a city of Arabia, modern Al-’Ula (wiki). Tarshish is the name of a village in Lebanon. The village is located in the Baabda Kadaa at an elevation of 1400m and is 50 km away from Beirut.  It is also a province of Jerusalem. It’s interesting to not that even the Arabs are threatened by Gog (Dedan and Sheba both located in Saudi Arabia), however in Genesis 15:18, God makes a covenant with Abraham that God will give him the lands between the river in Egypt (the Nile river) and the Euphrates.

¹⁴ “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say to Gog: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: In that day, when my people Israel are living in safety, will you not take notice of it? ¹⁵ You will come from your place in the far north, you and many nations with you, all of them riding on horses, a great horde, a mighty army. ¹⁶ You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In days to come, O Gog, I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.

The attack will come from the far North.  Where is a good question, and I have no good answer to that, other than to wait and see.  We can only watch and be ready.  The army will largely be mechanized and machinery, and will be a massive horde. In verse 16 we see God’s purpose.  God has allowed this massive attack on Israel so that He will in the end be glorified through the battle, and so that Gog will understand the power and glory that is God.  This is how God operates, by the way, if you do not know.  Everything that has happened and will happen, does so according to God’s thoughts - Isaiah 14:24: The LORD Almighty has sworn, “Surely, as I have planned, so it will be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand’; and it does so for the Glory of God.

¹⁷ ” ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Are you not the one I spoke of in former days by my servants the prophets of Israel? At that time they prophesied for years that I would bring you against them.

God tells Gog that this is not news. God’s prophets have been prophesying against Gog for a long time.

¹⁸ This is what will happen in that day: When Gog attacks the land of Israel, my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD. ¹⁹ In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. ²⁰ The fish of the sea, the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, every creature that moves along the ground, and all the people on the face of the earth will tremble at my presence. The mountains will be overturned, the cliffs will crumble and every wall will fall to the ground.²¹ I will summon a sword against Gog on all my mountains, declares the Sovereign LORD. Every man’s sword will be against his brother. ²² I will execute judgment upon him with plague and bloodshed; I will pour down torrents of rain, hailstones and burning sulfur on him and on his troops and on the many nations with him. ²³ And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’

Verses 19-23 depict God’s retaliation to Gog’s attack.  It begins with a massive earthquake, so great that everything will be affected, even the birds and fish.  Mountains and cliffs will be flattened.  People will be terrified and there will be mass confusion and terror.  The armies of Gog will be so terrified that they will turn on each other. Gog’s army will suffer plagues and massive loss of life.   There will be torrents of rain and hailstone and burning sulfur, which could be in the form of a volcanic eruption. There are scientific reports of burning embers being in-cased in ice during volcanic eruptions from the blast shooting embers high into the atmosphere, giving one the impression of hail and fire falling from the sky, and many time massive earthquakes are contributed to volcanic eruptions.  The acidic plume of smoke that will cover the area is also known to cause skin sores, boils, and even death. Strangely enough, the nearest active volcanos are located around Madagascar, and South America.

As always, I would remind you that no one knows the hour nor the day. We can only watch and prepare.

God, open our eyes so that we may see the truth, and grant us wisdom to understand.  Amen.

I write a blog that studies the relation between current events and prophetic scripture.  With rumors of war (or peace)  in the Middle East becoming increasingly alarming,  a study of the War of Gog is prudent I believe.  The following is the first of two parts:

In the Vision concerning Gog, God reveals the the prophet Ezekiel that in the ‘latter-days’ Isreal will be invaded by a massive army lead by Gog, or the ‘chief prince’ of the next modern day Persia.  In the vision, it appears that the attack has already taken place, Isreal is occupied, and God is telling Gog that God’s will has been set against Gog, and He is going to pull them out of Isreal.  Ezekiel Chapter 39 gives account of the actual battle, and will be discussed in a later study.

Ezekiel 38 1-3 ¹ The word of the LORD came to me: ² “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; prophesy against him ³ and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal

Who exactly is Gog, this mighty king who will attack Israel with a mighty army in the ‘latter days’?  Gog is first mentioned in I Chronicles 5:4 as a descendant of Joel, son of Shemaiah.  We know that Gog is also the ‘chief prince’ of Meshech and Tubal.  Meshech and Tubal describe the people of ancient Anatolia which now is modern day Turkey.

The word given for ‘chief prince’ is ro’sh or ‘head’ and is used as an adjective (chief) in the passage. Some however relate the word ‘ro’sh’ as a reference to a country known as Rashu (or Reshu) which was an ancient land along the Tigris river.  Other’s have identified ro’sh as a people known as the Rus who lived in the region of the Taurus Mountains in present-day Turkey.  The reference to Russia comes only through resemblance in spelling or sound.

In verses 1-3 of Ezekiel’s vision, God reveals that he is against Gog.

^{Ezekiel 38:4-7 4} I will turn you around, put hooks in your jaws and bring you out with your whole army—your horses, your horsemen fully armed, and a great horde with large and small shields, all of them brandishing their swords. ⁵ Persia, Cush and Put will be with them, all with shields and helmets, ⁶ also Gomer with all its troops, and Beth Togarmah from the far north with all its troops—the many nations with you.⁷ ” ‘Get ready; be prepared, you and all the hordes gathered about you, and take command of them.

Here in verse 4, God tells Gog that he is going to turn him around as a horse is lead with a bit in it’s mouth and pull him out of Isreal.

The Ally’s of Gog:

• PUT - Phut or Put (Hebrew: פוט pûṭ; Septuagint Greek Φουδ Phoud) is the third son of Ham (one of the sons of Noah), in the biblical Table of Nations (Genesis 10:6; cf. 1 Chronicles 1:8). Put or Phut) is associated with r Phut) is associated with Ancient Libya by many early writers. (Wiki)
• CUSH – The existence of the historical Kingdom of Kush in what is now areas of southern Egypt, and Sudan cannot be reasonably questioned, although the term may later have been employed with some latitude. In addition, the modern Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family spoken by various populations in the Horn of Africa, is named after the Biblical Cush (Wiki)
• Persia – the empire included the modern territories of Iran,Afghanistan, Pakistan, parts of Central Asia, Asia Minor, Thrace and Macedonia, much of the Black Sea coastal regions, Iraq, northern Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon,Syria, and all significant population centers of ancient Egypt as far west as Libya. (Wiki)
• Gomer – According to tractate Yoma, in the Talmud, Gomer is identified as the ancestor of the Gomermians, modern Germans. (Wiki)
• Beth-Togarmah – In the Midrash compilation Genesis Rabbah, Rabbi Berechiah mentions Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah as German tribes or as German lands. (Wiki)

Ezekiel 38:8 - ⁸ After many days you will be called to arms. In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety.

‘In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war’, God reveals the state of Isreal before the attack. First Gog will invade a land that has recovered from war, which means that the attack will come when Isreal as settled and at peace.

‘whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate. They had been brought out from the nations, and now all of them live in safety.’ The attack will come after Israeli has been restored.  It is believed that a mass pilgrimage to Israel will take place sometime before or immediately after the Rapture.  I believe it may occur once the Israeli/Arab peace treaty is signed.  At no point in History have the Jews lived in relative safety as they do now.

The NIV (New International Version Bible) has ‘In future years’ and the KJV (King James Version) has ‘in the latter years’. The prophecy concerning Gog was written sometime during 593 B.C and history shows that Gog, sometime between 670 and 570  B.C,  was an ally of the people of Gomer (Cimmerians) and warred in Northwest Asia during this period.

In the next part, we will study verses 9-17 and see what happens during the battle.

Shining Perspective

“Wow, Isaiah look at the sky!” “Oh. Umm…Mommy? What about the sky?” (Ok back up! It was spectacular! I’ve tried to capture it with words several times now and I just can’t seem to do it justice, so I will just say it was absolutely beautiful! It was stunning!) God’s glory shines in each new day; He gives us a freshly painted sky every morning. I had to stop, because it was clear that we were not looking at the same sky. As I looked at it, I looked at him and identified why we weren’t looking at the same sky. Sunglasses. I removed my glasses and when I did the sun was so bright that its light actually overwhelmed the picture. I gave Isaiah my glasses and he said, “Wow mommy, you’re right that is an awesome sky!” So often it is the same with my circumstances, if they are not viewed through the cover of God’s grace and mercy, if I am not wearing my faith glasses, my circumstances are too bright, they are overwhelming and they blind me.

What do they blind me from? Not what, but who? Jesus. I simply lose sight of Jesus. We live in a world that is overloaded with gizmos and gadgets, and over-available media cramming the next “big thing” down our throats. A world that is convincing us that we need far more than we do and teaching us to constantly live in a state of discontent, essentially we are distracted. I know I am. It’s no wonder to me that many of the most amazing works, testimonies and devotions I’ve read were written sometime prior to the early 1900’s. By now the obstacles that steal my attention shouldn’t surprise me and yet they still do. I find when sitting down with the intention to write, I can get distracted by the vast choices of where I can go with a click of a button. (Somehow that doesn’t happen when I sit down with a journal and a pen.) I have also learned that even while I am serving the Lord, I can get distracted from Jesus Himself.

I am coming out of a difficult season. It has been filled with nothing but surprise after surprise, some good and some bad.  God has answered some prayers in surprising ways and I have received what I can only describe (for now) as a mind-blowing miracle in the midst of it all. Through the tough moments and wonderful blessings one thing remains…I fall so short. I almost never land where I think I will when I jump. My own will often deceives me. I repeatedly find myself left with these challenging questions that surface when I’ve been tested. Can I be as diligent in thanksgiving, in seeking Him, in the simple beauty of tarrying with Him, as I am in persistently asking for what I think my needs (my desires) are? Can I just love Jesus with the same dedication as I give to acts of service? Can I surrender all parts of my life, at all times, not just in worship or at certain times of the day, but always?

In and of myself, no I cannot. (“In whose hand is the life of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind?” ~Job 12:10 NASB) I can’t make myself breathe. I can’t make my heart beat. I can’t grow the hair on my head.  I can’t do anything apart from Him. (“For in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’”~Acts 17:28 NKJV. The NASB says it this way: “For in Him we live and move and exist…For we also are His children.” And the CEV says: “And he gives us the power to live, to move, and to be who we are.”We are his children…”)

When I choose to look at my circumstances, when I choose to look at the world, when I choose to walk by sight even though I know I’m called to walk by faith; I lose my clear view of Jesus. Once I take my eyes off of Jesus, essentially I lose my joy. (“…the joy of the Lord is your strength.” ~Nehemiah 8:10 NIV) I fail to see the details of my life, my circumstances through those indescribable faith glasses, where mercy and grace abound in Christ Jesus each and every new day.

What is the question that I should ask at the end of the day? The same one we all should be asking.

Did I walk with God today?

(“…walk humbly with your God.”~Micah 6:8 NIV “”…As God has said: ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people’.” ~2 Corinthians 6:16 NIV)

“Christ is not so much interested in pointing us to a place or path as he is in pointing us to a Person and a relationship.” -Ravi Zacharias

I came across an article that is a dangerous example of how people can be led astray from the truth of God.  Quoted portions are from the article, except for scriptural references.

Article - 

Jews, Christians And Muslims Are Cousins In Religion

FOR OyeTimes.com JACOB K. LUPA  - WRITER “The problem seems to be the adherents of the three religions who create problems through greed, marginalisation and humiliation of fellow human beings.”

Basically, those who adhere to the laws and doctrines of their faith are considered to be greedy, narrow minded, and alienate our fellow man.  As I can not speak for any other faith, as a greatful believer in Jesus Christ, the Bible teaches that there is only one true Word of God, and the laws that are given there-in are to be followed unquestioningly, unerringly, or retribution will follow :

Deuteronomy 28:57-59 “⁵⁸ If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the LORD your God- ⁵⁹ the LORD will send fearful plagues on you and your descendants, harsh and prolonged disasters, and severe and lingering illnesses.”

This is what God has spoken, and who am I to argue with God. He instructs and rewards obediance, conversely, He punishes the wicked :

Proverbs 10:16 “The wages of the righteous bring them life, but the income of the wicked brings them punishment.”

I can’t say what Mohamad teaches in the Qur’an, but the Deuteronomy and Proverbs verses are both from the Old Testament, out of Mosaic Law, which is of God via Moses, and the foundations of the Jewish doctrines.  Jews and Muslims perhaps may be cousins, to use the term loosely, and I’ll explain why, but Christianity is rooted in Judaism, the difference is Jesus Christ.  The Jews do not believe that He is Messiah, Christians do. The point is God’s law is definitive.

“Judaism, Christianity and Islam have the same concept of God. With regard to this in Judaism, Deuteronomy 6:4-5 says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength”. In Christianity according to the Gospel of Mark (New Testament) 12:29-30 “when asked what was the most important commandment Jesus replied, “The most important one is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one Lord: Love the Lord thy God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength”. In Islam when the faithful are called to prayer they hear, “God is great. I bear witness that there is no deity but God”.

To put correctly, Judaism and Christianity and Islam all have the same God. The main difference here is that the Old Testament(Judaism) and the New Testament(Christianity) of the Bible are written by many authors directed and inspired by God and compiled into one book, although there is still the Jewish Torah. There is still debate as to who authored the Qur’an be it God, an illiterate self-proclaimed prophet, or a group of Arab poets.

As to why Judaism and Islam are related in origin, the Jews trace their beginnings from Sarah and Abraham, while Islam claims birth right to Abraham and Hagar, a bonds-woman.

Genesis 16:15 “So Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram gave the name Ishmael to the son she had borne.”

Having the status of bonds-woman, the Jews view the Arabs to be of an inferior lineage, thus the reason for the hatred between the two.

“Sudan needs a Christian Islamic Council to work on issues that divide Christians and Muslims for development of concepts that promote mutual understanding, tolerance, respect and peaceful-co-existence. This is important for equality of religions for people who believe in the same one God held as loving, merciful and compassionate. Probably that could have saved the unity of Sudan as religion could not have been politicised that too far where the concentration would have been on equitable development in the country.”

See the problem here is, in the Old Testament, Jesus’ fulfillment of God’s purpose is revealed in many books of the Bible, this verse from Isaiah being the most notable:

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”.

God confirms this in the New Testament :

Matthew 3:17 “And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.

Matthew 17:5 “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Jesus explains that there is only one way to God:

John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

For whatever reason, the Jews do not believe the Messianic prophecies that are in the Old Testament, that through ritual fasting, prayer, and repentance, one will enter the Gates of Heaven.  The Qur’an says all you have to do is believe in the One True God, and repent of your sins, that you are pretty much free to do what you would like, as long as you do not deny Allah as the only god, and repent fastidiously.

The Bible makes it very clear that Jesus is the only key that is found on earth to unlock the gates of Heaven.  Without Jesus, salvation is unattainable.   The Jews may have missed the prophecies, but there will come a time when there will be a mass conversion from Judaism to Christianity.  There will be Muslims who will be come believers.  Sadly this will not take place until after the rapture, when realization of what is happening begins to settle on the world.

It is my opinion that Judaism and Islam is nothing more than a centuries old sibling rivalry.

Genesis 21:9 “But Sarah saw that the son whom Hagar the Egyptian had borne to Abraham was mocking.”

Jesus can trace his lineage back to Abraham and Sarah

Genesis 21:12 “But God said to him, “Do not be so distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.”

Isn’t that interesting? God reveals to us here that the child of Hagar will be a nuisance to Christianity, and God then tells Abraham to not worry about Ishmael, but listen to Sarah because through Isaac, Jesus will be born.

Always study the scriptures, know the truth.  Do not be fooled by silver tongues and pretty speeches.  Never take anything at face value always reference the bible and ask God for revelation, for the scales to be removed from your eyes so that you will not be deceived.  Even the devil can mimic God.

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