End Times Exit Strategy Daniel 12

Return of Christ, Rescuing our own from the Apostasy


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Prophecy and End Times: “Has the East Wind struck us?”

blowing shofar3

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

 

God bless America video. Please watch first.

 

 

Has the east wind struck us? At a time when a foreboding darkness was rolling across the world, a Russian born Jew who had come to America wrote this song. He gathered many of us over and over again by our sentiments with songs like White Christmas, Easter Parade and of course God Bless America. He knew what the country needed and wrote a song to meet that need. I share this today, again, with tears in heart over our precious but violated America. In Ezekiel 17 1-10 you will read “Thus sayeth the Lord,” of two Eagles. The first gets its beginning seeds from the cedars of Lebanon and the roots were deep and healthy. A second Eagle, (I believe today’s America) in verse 7, had roots that bent upward toward the Eagle, not down toward the original roots. The roots looked for supply from the Eagle (the government) “It was planted in good soil beside abundant waters, that it might yield branches and bear fruit and become a splendid vine.”‘

9 “Say, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD, “Will it thrive? Will he (that second Eagle) not pull up its roots and cut off its fruit, so that it withers—so that all its sprouting leaves wither? And neither by great strength nor by many people can it be raised from its roots again. “Behold, though it is planted, will it thrive? Will it not completely wither as soon as the east wind strikes it—wither on the beds where it grew?”‘” Dear God people, this is America! Read it especially in a NASB. America has become the second Eagle. Where do we turn to and how do we vote? What about our fellow Americans? Does the majority turn to the Eagle for its sustenance? Are we turning away from our roots? Does this foretell our demise? What shall we do? Have we completely withered? Has the east wind struck us?

Whether it does or not, we each personally have a Deliverer, if we are faithful to get our nourishment from the original roots more so now than ever. Our original root system is not fully dead yet but according to this verse and Daniel 12:7 the power of the holy people will be broken, “shattering the power of the holy people,…. (then) all these events will be completed.”

Until then, we love like Jesus loved, interceding as we forgive, we rage against the Devil and his works with a holy and High Praise to God for the wisdom He has offered to us, wisdom that will save us as we endure.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $6.99


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Exit Strategy End Times: “Is America’s recovery possible?”

blowing shofar3

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

How can America recover her soul if we surrender to godless changes and intimidation?

“But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” Apostle Paul Acts 20:24 (NASB)

Was Paul the exception or the rule, was his attitude to be a model for us?

Jesus might very well have said these same words and since we believe Paul’s words are anointed by the Holy Spirit, Jesus IS saying these same Words to us ex post facto.

Paul also says just before verse 24,

“…And see, now I go bound in the spirit, to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.” Acts 20:22-23 (NKJV.)

Paul still goes to Jerusalem. Do we not hear these same warnings by the Holy Spirit, by Jesus, in today’s circumstances? Chains and tribulations await us? We hear Jesus speaking of lawlessness and persecution in chapter 24 of Matthew. Is He warning us that what we see in these days is meant to trap us, to cause a deadly chill over our soul, to render our hearts loveless?

If we can not endure, if the Christ-like love that is representative of the good news of the kingdom, that is supposed to be in our hearts, then falters and fails towards those we see and hear, from His enemies, then (Jesus says) we shall not be saved in the only salvation that counts, our actual salvation upon death or His return. If we cannot endure it is meant to be and is even now the final attack on our heart that kills us forever, if we let it.

The war being waged in the world is over whose God is more real, more powerful. Any nation that has renounced God and His importance becomes naked of God’s protection and at the same time they become the target of His jealousy. In history God has allowed enemies to target His people in order to get their attention and draw them back to Him.

The jihadists, the militant Muslims, think their God and beliefs are more powerful than ours. To them our renouncing of God on a national basis, “we are not a Christian nation”  is proof that WE are the great Satan. In fact, as a majority chooses ungodly ways, then we have become the great Satan by definition. Our choices without dispute, as a nation, are anti-Christ in nature.

The church has failed to be the light in the darkness. We have failed to adamantly contend for the faith. Add to that the things we now allow socially and even support under a tolerance agenda in America and we have doomed ourselves to an enemy full of self righteousness. Their suicide bombs and the outright murdering of Christians is the result. There is no national “Light” shining in the darkness.

This conflict has always been a spiritual war. ONLY the exaltation and return to God and Jesus Christ by our nation, ONLY the embracing of His Ways personally, beginning with our leaders, will speak to our enemies. ONLY by electing Godly, and I mean balanced Godly men who will choose God first, then the republic’s best interest when faithfully doing their job for our nation, do we have any hope to defeat the attack on our way of life.

God is NOT interested in restoring an ungodly way of life in America. God will willingly watch America go down as an enemy to the souls of true followers and the kingdom. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. His followers will survive even if only on a spiritual basis, where unbelievers stumbling blocks or those who did not take the commandments of Jesus seriously and obediently, will perish in an everlasting death of anguish over “why didn’t I do the right thing, why didn’t I repent?”

Our enemies know the history of dealing with a God strong nation. They have been pushed back before but God did not allow them to be destroyed. They had a future purpose. We see it now. Like Satan they are taking advantage of a weakened spiritual position in America and world-wide. We see the horror and lawlessness as a result.

Hating them is Satan’s goal for us. It can kill us. Shining the Light and love of God was God’s goal for us. Have we failed in our complacency? Where there is no light, there is no revelation. Do they remain the same because of us? Is God using them to wake us up to our abdication from being His light in a darkening world?

Around the world, ONLY the Single Light of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and God the Father in us will accomplish anything for the kingdom, for Him and for us.

If we do not have a vision for the recovery of America as a nation, walking in God’s righteousness, then we must unwaveringly choose righteousness for our selves, reject the tolerant agenda, intercede for our enemies, putting Christ and His the kingdom first. We must then trust God for our final and actual salvation however it is accomplished, whether by death or deliverance.

Do not allow anger to define you. There is no anger in heaven. Anger, bitterness and unforgiveness, will cost you the very righteousness you and God have sought, been taught and paid for, for your sake. “The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” James 1:20 NASB

Find the book Esau Rising by Bill Cloud, published by WND Books. This is a profound explanation of the spirit that is starting to dominate our nation and the world against all things of God. It is an amazing read. I do not know Bill personally but many of the things God has shown Him, God has also shown me and I have posted same. It is a conformation to me of being on the right track with God and blowing the trumpet on the wall as a guardian of His people. WAKE UP loved ones, wake up!

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $12.99


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Exit Strategy End Times: “Close reach, beating.”

blowing shofar3

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

When you have eyes to see you will see with ease and with understanding. Your senses will be attacked, your logic must be set aside, and you must lean into the wind of God’s plan.

As in sailing you do not sail or face directly into the wind. That point of sail is called “In irons.” It is a no go point of sail.

We must not be fearfully focused on the happenings of today. Most were clearly prophesied. The winds of change we are feeling will be dealt with far more successfully if we set our sails at an angle to the wind. We must use the wind to our benefit.

One of the fastest points of sail is called “Close reach or beating” Looking at a clock, your vessel is pointed at the 1:00 position to the wind even though your destination is at 12:00. The wind is coming from 12:00 so… the angle gets you moving along with drawing your sail in tight and keeping pressure on the rudder. If you let go of the rudder, the boat will turn into the wind and stop forward motion. Our hand is meant to be on that rudder. God’s sometimes turbulent instructions are not supposed to stop you rather He is trying to empower us.

The boat is our personal life, the sails are the understanding we have of the Word and the water is the resistant sea of life we all must cross.

Our understanding of how our boat operates tells is to find the best angle to the wind. Sometimes a sailor will spot a point on an opposite shore and use it to angle the boat into the wind properly. What if a person or a need were used to point our way, even though a “storm” is brewing? What if a condition God has wanted us to deal with is a point we could aim for?

When we sense God’s fury is rising according to His Word, why should we be fearful? Why not adjust our course toward a point on the opposite shore of our problems and head that way, deal with it. It is not our final destination! It is however a way to get us to our destination successfully.

The nature of sailing through the storms of life is that we almost always have to take a different “tack” or less direct direction in order to eventually get to where we want to go. We zig-zag as it were but we know we are moving up-wind. We are getting there.

Each time we “come about” zig or zag, we are looking at different shore line maybe a different problem or person that God wants us to aim at. The Wind will empower us as we turn our rudder accordingly, feeling the resistance vibrate the rudder as we gain speed.

Remember in turning to duck, as the boom swings to the other side of the boat and  catches the wind. Do not be half hearted about this maneuver. Let the forward momentum of your successfully dealing with what ever it was the Holy Spirit had you aim at before empower your next “tack.” If the boat does not complete the process of “coming about” if it lacks enough forward motion, you will find yourself heading into the wind, “luffing” at a dead stop or “In irons.”

In John 16:5 Jesus tells the disciples “I am going to Him who sent Me.” Sorrow filled their hearts. This was a storm to the disciples. “It is to your advantage that I go away.” (vs 7)

This is the angle, the “tack,” the point of sail they needed to see. Understanding will come if they embrace the correct point of sail. The best speed to their destination is achieved as the “all truth” is revealed to them. Their (our) sail must be set to take advantage of the Wind of these times. Our rudder is held firm against life’s resistance keeping the Wind, our source of forward propulsion, in our sails. We need the pressure.

Remember that night Jesus walked on the water it was storming. When He (and Peter) got into the boat, Jesus did not say “Peace…be still” to the Storm. One gospel says,
”Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.” John 6:21 (NKJV) 

That night God was the Storm. The disciples had failed to learn something.

“Then He got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished, for they had not gained any insight from the incident of the loaves, but their heart was hardened.” Mark 6:51-52 (NASB)

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

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Exit Strategy End Times: “Is there a lid on your vessel?”

blowing shofar3

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”  Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NASB)

“To you it was shown that you might know that the LORD, He is God; there is no other besides Him.  Deuteronomy 4:35 (NASB)

In a group discussion on 6-11-16, the Spirit asked me, “Is there a lid on your vessel?”

I come to you in the name of my savior Jesus the Messiah, “Yahweh is salvation, the anointed one.”

I also come to you in my name Michael which means “who…is like God?” for there is none like Him, who is gracious and kind towards those that are His in Spirit and truth, and even towards evil men which many of us were.

Even in the face of dreadful happenings, or in examining our own self, let us not weep as though we are forsaken, as though we are cut off from God. For if we grieve as though cut off where shall we run for help? There is only One to run to, our refuge, a high tower. Do we not have a God of mercy and justice?

For even as Nehemiah said over the weeping people, weeping because they had heard the Words of the Law being read by Ezra and the law without relationship is death; as it was supposed to be.

“This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law.”

”Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  Nehemiah 8:9 (NASB)

Nehemiah somehow knew that our grief is misplaced if when we finally hear the Word only sorrow comes to heart. What we did not understand we are not held accountable for.

“…for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.”

In His great mercy, it is not what we have done but what we do in our repentance, what we do next, that makes the difference with Him!

As the Lord is trying to expand our understanding is it to grieve us? Will He not strengthen us to walk in it? Will He not even give us a vision for it lest we perish?

As Jesus changes our paradigm; our “…generally accepted concept that explains a more complex idea or set of data ” * We must ask ourselves, if there is a lid on our vessel?

* Webster’s New World Dictionary, (revised and updated)

As a vessel of His do we say what He is to pour in or not? Like the pot, are we to say to the Potter how and for what shall we be made?

So was there a lid on the minds and hearts Jesus spoke to? A lid is a containing and protective device. Back then they were protecting what layers of credibility (Rabbi’s) had spoken and yet they did not see the Messiah standing right before them. (Matt 16:3) This is the danger we face as believers today. We must ask ourselves, “Do I have a lid? What is my lid protecting?” “God’s Word!” you say?” Maybe we should say, “Our understanding of God’s Word or the doctrines we have built our house upon!”

I am NOT saying everything we have believed is wrong. I am saying God in His sovereignty and by necessity is redirecting our attention to our part in His timeline and this must be understood by us with an entrusting belief and obedience.

Jesus came to heal our impaired judgment through teaching, Jesus had NO lid. Even in the anxiousness and distress in the Garden, He knew the future. Do we? Do we trust the future He has revealed or is our lid on too tight?

Is God still able to pour in? Is the Holy Spirit able to pour into you more of His “all truth?” He cannot with a lid in place. He can not pour in something fresh. What about when we are preparing to preach or when an alarming teaching comes forward? Are these not alarming times? We limit God and His Holy Spirit when a lid is in place.

Loved ones, I took the lid away a long time ago. Some of what I write about seems unorthodox. God is the most unorthodox of all. God is never inside the box except to grasp us by the collar and lift us out! He understands our reverence but points to His sovereignty. He is pouring out a new thing. Can He pour from us? In our claim to “believe” (Pisteuo entrust) in Him, will we then obey?

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36

God and what He pours into us does not need our protection. It, in all its freshness, needs to be poured out. We can neither receive, fresh truth and the critical insight for our times, nor pour it out as intended, if we have a lid… on our vessel.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $6.99


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Exit Strategy End Times: “Oh remnant of Israel “

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blowing shofar3

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

Dear Israeli brothers and sisters,

The Lord has been trying to get me to post this to you since prayer on 4-7-16.

“What has been the hold-up?” you ask?

I must admit a bit of discouragement. I am not sure you will even get this post. The Facebook and Google people are censoring our transmissions as well as those of other conservative people.

Never the less, that does not seem to be of concern to Father God.

Please consider this.

Saul, a Pharisee of Pharisee’s, a killer of Christians, became the Apostle Paul. He spoke once quoting,  “As He (G-d) says also in Hosea, “I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, ‘MY PEOPLE,’ AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, ‘BELOVED.'”26  “AND IT SHALL BE THAT IN THE PLACE WHERE IT WAS SAID TO THEM, ‘YOU ARE NOT MY PEOPLE,’ THERE THEY SHALL BE CALLED SONS OF THE LIVING GOD.” Romans 9:25-26 (NASB) Ref Hosea 2:23.

Who else but gentiles and where else can this be but in Israel! More and more Jews (and Muslims) are seeing that Jesus really is the Messiah and savior of all who will turn to Him. Why is this happening?

“But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; 16  but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.    2 Corinthians 3:15-17 (NASB)

Mankind must turn to Jesus first. It is required because of what He reveals about the Father. Mankind was not seeing the Father’s love through the eyes of Moses.

Paul also quoted a prophet. “Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, “THOUGH THE NUMBER OF THE SONS OF ISRAEL BE LIKE THE SAND OF THE SEA, IT IS THE REMNANT THAT WILL BE SAVED; 28  FOR THE LORD WILL EXECUTE HIS WORD ON THE EARTH, THOROUGHLY AND QUICKLY.” Romans 9:27-28 (NASB) Ref Isaiah 10:22

A remnant? A certain group. A portion of the people of Israel will be saved.

I know you think in terms of being children of Abraham. What about Isaac?

“But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed because of the lad (Ishmael) and your maid; whatever Sarah tells you, listen to her, for through Isaac your descendants shall be named.” Genesis 21:12 (NASB)

Isaac was the child of promise. As his father Abraham, Isaac birthed a multitude of nations, but being the child of promise was most important.

The Messiah was to be a child of promise; a miracle child, yes! Born of a virgin.

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.” (God is with us) Isaiah 7:14 (NASB)

How much more important might it be to identify with Isaac? If one could, then the man, the prophet, the stumbling block, Hosanna, (as He was called), the Teacher, Rabbi, Lord, and Master, Jesus of Nazareth, the carpenter’s son, might come into focus as the miracle child of Isaiah.

”God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.'”  Exodus 3:14 (NASB)

I must look into this further but could God be saying, “I AM Whoever I represent Myself to be.” God is sovereign yes?

Would this shed light on the phrase, “the Lord is One,” while He has represented Himself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

To Abraham the Lord was a visitor that prophesied the miracle birth of Isaac. To Joshua the Lord was a man with a sword, the Captain of the Host. Again to Abraham the Lord was an angel of destruction, willing to spare Sodom for the sake of ten souls.

In Christianity we think of these earthly manifestations as the pre-incarnate Christ. However, these individuals as heavenly contacts had there tasks to achieve, requiring different configurations or appearances. The Torah does not elaborate with physical descriptions of the individuals encountering Abraham or Joshua; only the reverence shown by our two patriarchs. To the women at the empty tomb, the resurrected Jesus looked like a gardener.

God in His sovereignty presents Himself as Who-ever He needs to. It is always Him but situations require different manifestations in order to accomplish His will in the world or in us. In dreams, in visions, by whisper, by shout, we never know how but we know it is Him.

35 years ago, I saw a pillar of fire in my dining room! I did not know God as a pillar of fire. Within days, my life was spared. My enemies were too great for me.

2 Samuel 22:2-34, is David’s prayer but it is my story.

“He said, “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; 3  My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence. 4  “I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies. 5  “For the waves of death encompassed me; The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me; 6  The cords of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. 7  “In my distress I called upon the LORD, Yes, I cried to my God; And from His temple He heard my voice, And my cry for help came into His ears.”

I call to you oh remnant of Israel. Trouble is increasing. Cleanse your garments (spiritually.) Purify yourself as the Lord is pure. He forgave all that we did to Him!

Paul says in Romans 4:25, “… who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.” He was raised, resurrected BECAUSE of our justification! He was set free unto eternity when He set us free to find eternity, through Him.

Seek the One who has made the last and final blood sacrifice, a perfect sacrifice. Come under the covering, the cleansing, that reconciles you to Yahweh as the Law required and allows you to marry a new husband as the law requires. This new husband is God’s idea! The Messiah is God’s idea! The simplification and achievability of the law has arrived with the Messiah Jesus, as we would expect.

The new husband is God manifested in the flesh, God presenting Himself to us in a more receivable form. I AM WHO I AM, I Am (in this case) One who you can see and identify with.

Come to know Father God the Way He wants us all to know Him. See Father God and His love, the same Way we see Jesus and His love. Both are sacrificial, submitting to the same Law required of you. A sacrifice had to be made.

It is Love that calls to you. It is His kindness that leads you to repent and be reconciled to Him. It is Jesus’ intercession that personifies the Father’s willing Spirit toward anyone who turns to Him. I have been at the Wall during Shabbat. It is festive and joyous to God. I have been asked to dance in the circles of young Jewish men. It is rest in the form of jubilation. I am saying continue in your heritage as you let Jesus enhance your experience with Yahweh before the world. This Christ is a Jew!

You too are to speak by the Spirit of Yahweh. “For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” This will happen a lot in the days of trouble.

The Lord told me just before my wife died “I am going to trouble you.” That trouble has come in different forms, including her death. However, because of 35 years of love and our One relationship with Father God, Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit, those troubles have not been so great that I would forsake Him. No way! I know in Whom I have believed.

This is not just frivolous flag waving. My God has taught, spoken, provided, improved, enhanced, spared and protected me. I have nothing to fear from Him. If I am troubled it is either for my good or for someone else’s good as I maintain my new nature in front of them and my relationship and trust in the most trustworthy One of all.

Just as my name Michael means, “Who… is like God?” Is there any other like Him?

Oh remnant of Israel, you must turn to the Lord as He manifests Himself in Jesus the Messiah. Did Jesus not say, “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30 (NASB) This great One whose name means “Yahweh is salvation” was NOT lying.  Even His name points to the goal of God.

Before long you will hear the message of “Enduring Love.” It is the antidote to the hatred of the world against Christians. It will be a witness to the world of our belief in Christ and our willingness to follow Him in the love that surpasses knowledge. This will be love even while dying at the hands of those who do not know what they are doing, as they kill us. You do not understand? They cannot kill us spiritually if we continue in His love.

Turn to Jesus the Messiah, then the veil will be removed from your understanding. 2 Corinthians 3:16.  Eternity waits.

“but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.”

Then beloved family, via the promised child of Isaiah, we know the Way, we then have the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

Oh remnant of Israel,  come!

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $14.99


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Exit Strategy End Times: “Knock, knock, knock’in on heavens door*. Part 2”

blowing shofar3

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! Deuteronomy 6:4 (NASB)

Knock, knock, knock’in on heavens door*. Part 2

* “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”  (Written and sung by Bob Dylan, CBS Records)

August 1981, Cruising south along Interstate 95 through the rolling hills of North Carolina, I am alone in my escape. Few cars are seen in the distance in either direction. It has a calming effect as my mind wanders through the moments, the flashes of warning I had experienced in the previous few weeks. In my ignorance I had almost missed them. Some of those warnings were so profound I could not help but ponder my short-sightedness.

If you knew what I knew, you would not wonder why I frequently checked the rear-view mirror. Their arm had a long reach if they decided to extend it. I knew they would, so I looked again and again until I saw it. The very thing I feared came upon me!

I was cruising down a long sweeping hill at seventy miles per hour. Up over the hill behind me pops a black Cadillac Sedan Deville with cream-yellow Jersey plates. He is catching up fast. “Oh Jesus….,” came to mind and mouth. Not that I was on such intimate terms with Him. It is amazing how we speak His name as though familiar. Why does He come to mind or mouth first anyway?

The car is the right color, the right plates, dark tinting, and I imagine anger in its ominous aggressive charge. “Oh God, please don’t let them catch me out here.” I knew what the headlines would read in the local Podunk Gazette. “Man found dead in bullet riddled car!” Dateline: Podunk “After careening off of Interstate 95, a car and its driver, both riddled with bullet holes, were found in a ravine. The young man appears to be the victim of extreme road rage. There were no witnesses. His identity is yet to be established.”

The black Caddy came bearing down on me. Fear consumed me as my heart raced. For some reason I did not try to outrun him. It would have been useless. I drove he drove, until finally upon me, He made his move to pass along side. The moment of truth had come. “Oh God….. “

How does my story relate to this book? We, yes we, are facing a moment of truth. The enemy of God is now overtaking us, pulling along side of us. Do we know our enemy? Do we know what is to come, how we will react?

Now wheel to wheel, I am looking at my adversary from the corner of my eye. I floored it and jerked the steering wheel hard to the left crashing against the Black Caddy! My car was heavier and pushed the other off the road in a cloud of reddish dust. It rolled over and over moving forward with me in slow motion as I wrestled my car under control. It was then I saw a small child thrown out of the broken rear door window. Ejected like a rag doll rocket, he flew through the air toward me, I slammed on the brakes! With a deadly smash, my windshield became a massive web of fractures. Framed by the chaos, looking at me as wide eyed as I was at her was the bloodied lifeless face of a little girl. Those chasing me would not have had …”Oh God, …OH GOD …OH GOD!” I screamed in wide-eyed terror, “What have I …?” 

What have I done? Fortunately, I have only told you a story, a story of me reacting the wrong way, in a true situation. In that imagined moment, fear chose for me. I failed to be sure who my enemy was or was not. I chose violence in the face of fear. They lose. I lose. Had this really happened, the life I was to receive from God would never have happened. Likewise, the eternal life we are to receive from God will never happen if our reactions to future fearful events are not held in check by His Spirit and His powerful understanding.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $14.99


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Exit Strategy End Times: “Clearly a two stage Salvation .”

blowing shofar3

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”learly a two stage salvation. 

How can that be? If so, what stage are each of us in?

Paul said, “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5  He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy,  whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7  so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7 (NASB)

Note two processes. 1. the washing of Regeneration (Greek means renewal or regenerated but is formed from 2 root words meaning to bring back and (to) life or birth) See Strong’s 1343

2. “Renewing” (Greek means “renovation) see Strong’s 342.

Paul (again) makes it a little clearer.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified, by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:8-10 (NASB)

Note: 1. Justified (declared righteous) and so reconciled to God by the blood of Jesus. 2. (future tense) through Him.   Again, 1. Reconciled (by justification) to God by the death of Jesus, we shall be saved by His (Jesus’) life.

We must first be declared righteous by identification with the blood of Jesus where we ask Him to be Lord of our lives. Then we enter into the process of making Him Lord by embracing His Way, Truth and Life.

John expresses the two stage experience this way, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36 (NASB)

Again two processes. Expressing trust while knowing that believing means to entrust yourself to the Lordship of Jesus, to obey the Son! Once reconciled, to not obey or disobey is rebellion and the breaking of the covenant you have entered into with God. The Ways of Jesus are meant to empower us further through life in righteousness by righteous choices. Only obedience accomplishes this.

Much of the church has not seen obedience as an expected fruit or criteria by God, I believe, because we have not recognized the two stage plan of salvation. Many have prayed a prayer and think OK I am good to go? You know they have! What about us? Are we obedient in the Lord’s ways? Do we hate anyone? Does anyone hate us? Who are we going to vote for? Do they adhere to Godly principles? Does this question make you angry with me?

Of course we have no chance of salvation without reconciliation. We have no chance of future salvation if we violate the rules and do not repent from our heart. We will have made our birthright of no account by choosing to hate or apologize, clinging to our bowl of soup, if you will. (Heb 12:14-16)

Remember Jesus said (I paraphrase) he who endures to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24 13-14) That is future tense. He is speaking to believers of their future reward, their eternal salvation in the future and the fact that something very specific will cause them to lose that reward. He also would have lost His resurrected life if He had not loved us enough to forgive and intercede for us from the cross.

“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13  “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.” Matthew 24:12-13 (NASB)

Jesus is also saying that a cross-like type of experience does not exempt us from loving our offenders and interceding for them.

Clearly there is a future understanding to our salvation. That is profound and contradictory to our thinking that nothing is required of us. Jesus came to tell us saying there are things required of us in our development as children of God IN Christ.

I heard a loved and honorable local preacher on the radio us a slogan that sounds good. “All you need is Jesus.” Yes that is true if you understand that there are two stages to salvation. Reconciliation which means mutual submission between God and us, and then the renovating of our souls in the renewing of our minds as demonstrated by us in our obedience to the Ways of Jesus the Christ.

Renewing (which follows reconciliation) is the result of learning what is expected of children of God, we the joint heirs with Jesus, and obeying these several commandments. John 14:15, 15:10,  “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name  of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18 (NASB)

Finally, in Sunday school the word “believe” was discussed. “Pisteuo” to believe, to entrust. Strong’s 4100, and I did not have to say a word at all in class! PTL! The Lord told me not to speak at all in class before I left home for church.

“He who believes [entrusts himself to] Him is not judged; he who does not believe [entrust himself to Him] has been judged already, because he has not believed [entrusted] in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:18 (NASB)

Jesus name means “Yahweh saves.” This is the meaning behind the name of Jesus and it is what we must believe entrust ourselves to. How do we do that? Proceed from being reconciled to God into a life of practiced obedience to Jesus and His commandments.

Our future salvation is arrived at by two stages, reconciliation and renewing or renovation by the Holy Spirit; resulting in our obedience.  “We are saved by His life.” Romans 5:10

One last point. The renewing to come after reconciliation had to happen after Jesus departed when the Holy Spirit would be sent. He would bring to our remembrance the Words of Jesus guiding us into all truth. Truth that requires a guide.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

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Exit Strategy End Times: “They overcame by….”

blowing shofar3

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”  Revelation 12:11 (KJV)

Last night during my walk I was thinking about this scripture. A question came to mind. Why didn’t God say, “…the blood of the Lamb and their testimony? Our testimony should be all about Him yes?

What scripture, what Word, has helped form your testimony? How did scripture, the Words of eternal life, the Words of Christ, lift you to a place in Him like you’ve never known before? Or is that yet to happen?

Your new birth, your reconciliation begins with the death of Christ and the covering of His blood as you request His Lordship. As Paul says, “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:10

Paul again says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

Just remember that newness, (new ‘kainos’ in freshness, not age ‘neos’) Jesus came to freshen up our understanding of God and His Word.

Yes, as babes in Christ we need the milk of the Word to thrive but it is not about age, it is about maturity in Christ.

At some point, the Word, your diet, changes because you are changing. You need the more mature Word, the meat of the Word.

As I heard it said in a sermon yesterday, “We need the protein of the Word, the building blocks of life, in order to grow and continue to thrive in Him.

As I share scriptures that challenge us, many of them are presented as new even thought they were always there. The opening of our eyes of understanding is a primary goal of the Holy Spirit.

My calling is to trumpet the Word God shows me (I truly believe by the Holy Spirit.) I pray your heart witnesses to it against traditional understanding. We are being guided into truth that requires a guide. IT WILL NOT look like it once did!

Another example in the sermon was a blindfolded boy of about 10 years who was led out into the congregation as 4 different women, each with a microphone, simultaneously gave him instructions. One was his mother.

It was dramatic! He would take a few steps, in the cacophony of voices, he would turn but hesitate, take a turn, a few more steps and finally took a step up, and another step up, into his mother’s arms.

In the confusing mass of voices, many similar to his mom’s, by concentrating he was able to focus on the voice he knew and trusted. He had never been tested this way before.

His Word is calling to us with a new urgency. We cannot deny scripture that guides us by warning. There have been many voices speaking to us over the decades. Speaking today, the Holy Spirit is revealing “all truth” as Jesus said He would.

They read scripture plainly. It took Jesus to show them more. The Holy Spirit was sent to show us even more. How much more will this understanding mean to us? Will we in deed grasp the Words of eternal life, hearing His voice in our hearts? Will those Words change us more, becoming the Word of our testimony?

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

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Exit Strategy End Times: “Are we like Jonah?”

blowing shofar3

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

Are we like Jonah?

 

“The magnanimous heart of God, forgiving the repentant heathen (Nineveh) appears in strong contrast to the narrow, bigoted and unforgiving spirit of Jonah.” (NASB Survey on the book of Jonah)

God chose to use that spirit in Jonah but Jonah knew something about God.

“He prayed to the LORD and said, “Please LORD, was not this what I said while I was still in my own country? [That Nineveh would repent.] Therefore in order to forestall this I fled to Tarshish, for I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.” Jonah 4:2 (NASB) [added for clarity]

In Jonah’s heart was judgment. God wanted him to warn of judgment. In Jonah’s heart was the truth. God can be compassionate toward the repentant.

God wants Nineveh to repent as much as He wants Jonah to repent of his “stinkin thinkin” so God gives Jonah a “whale of a good time” and getting his attention Jonah submits and Nineveh repents.

Jonah is asked, “Do you have good reason to be angry?” (About a plant God grew to shade Jonah which died the next day) YES! Was Jonah’s reply.

“Then the LORD said, “You had compassion on the plant for which you did not work and which you did not cause to grow, which came up overnight and perished overnight.
11  “Should I not have compassion on Nineveh, the great city in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know the difference between their right and left hand, as well as many animals?”  Jonah 4:10-11 (NASB)

As God does, that is the last word in this short book of 2 pages.

God confronts both many and one, nations and persons.

“For Thou art a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and one who relents concerning calamity.” Jonah 4:10-11 (NASB)

God relents if we repent.

“The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  2 Peter 3:9 (NASB)

That which bothered God then, bothers Him now.

“As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God.” Deuteronomy 8:20 (KJV)

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”  John 3:36 (NASB)

Many are to fall for lack of repentance; for their “stinkin thinkin.” Is God in His mercy warning us today? Like Nineveh, has our time of confrontation come?

Jonah was meant to be God’s mercy to Nineveh. Nineveh was meant to be God’s mercy to Jonah.

Jonah’s silence after God last questions him, may indicate success.

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6  and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”  2 Corinthians 10:4-6 (NKJV)

God warns us through the loving knowledge of Christ. We must obey, repenting as we are confronted by His Words.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

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Exit Strategy End Times: “Would a loving God do this?”

blowing shofar3

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! Deuteronomy 6:4 (NKJV)

Would a loving God do this? Did God’s harsh dealings with those who worshiped false gods in ancient times contradict His being a loving God?

Who is He a loving God to but His own? Where do we find mercy, grace and enduring love directed generously to but to His own?

In destroying the enemies of His own is this not an extension of the destruction seen in Noah’s day? Who were those He destroyed from the earth? Is He not going to do the same again? Luke 17:26

Does the Father not have a goal to achieve? Will He not achieve it?

Look around you. What is worshiped, what is revered, where are men’s hearts? WE, His own, wrestle with carnality when carnality should have died in us.

Rejoice!

Like the thrashings of a dying man our carnality is in its death knell. The rattle of last breaths, of anger, bitterness and harsh reactions is dying in those who are His. It is a terminal condition filled with hope for any who wish to live like new. For “all things become new..”

Is it not a process? Let us pursue the process of dying unto living and that living be a reflection of life in the kingdom and eternity. Let us live now like Him, having received through Christ, knowledge, by grace and peace, and all things pertaining to life and godliness. 2 Peter 1: 2-4

Both needs must be met. Not just one. Life and godliness.

Do not say, “It is not possible!”

Let your eyes and heart be lifted up to your potential and your calling in Him!

Amen and amen.

 

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $14.99