Dear loved ones,

“If you already knew, why would you need to be shown?”

This thought came to me as I was considering a verse.

John 16:13 (NKJV) 

In “shouting from the house tops” the protective message for the times we are now in, I am constantly asking for wisdom in how to express what I consider to be a world changing point of view. NOT my view but His view. It has always been there but only now are we in an emotional position to consider it. To consider it we must be shown what we have not seen yet.

Before the first “thought” quoted at the top of this post, it was preceded by this: “Your agreement is not expected until the Holy Spirit is allowed freedom over your soul. Even then you must decide (regarding what you hear). If you already knew why would you need to be shown?”

There is a reason why “all truth” needs a guide. It takes us to secret places in Him. The truth we need to arrive safely is hidden in His Words and deeds. They are the mysteries Jesus spoke of in Matthew 13:11. We are also cautioned that we can have understanding of these mysteries but if we have not LOVE, we are nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2 NASB)  All truth guides us to true enduring love. Saving love.

God knew we would not see what we needed to see without our faithful guide. This makes the saving truth off-limits to anyone who rejects the appeal of the Holy Spirit. This determines their fate, barring true repentance.

God leaves it up to us and always has. God does not condemn us. We condemn ourselves. God tries to save us. When we choose rightly it is by inspiration. Our decision reflects His influence. It brings an inner peace to us. Our conscience defends us, against the enemy’s accusations. We must let inspiration have His way.

Deuteronomy 30:19 (KJV) 

This level of truth in the inner most man is needed now more than ever. Holy Spirit help us please.

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

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

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

“Exit Strategy” (book seen below) is now available at most e-book venues.

Dear loved ones,

In reviewing the movie, “Killing Jesus” I referred to Peter being “presented” as the rock the church was to be built on. As you know this is the doctrine of the Catholic Church.

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

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

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

“Exit Strategy” (book seen below) is now available at most e-book venues.

       2 Peter 2:19b-21 (NASB) 

”…for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved. ²⁰  For if, after they have escaped the defilement’s of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. ²¹  For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them.

What defiles a man?

Matthew 15:11 (NKJV) (Jesus speaking)
¹¹  Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

Mark 7:20 (NKJV) (Jesus speaking)
²⁰  And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man.

What might the defilement’s of this world be?

Defilement’s are just what scripture says. That which comes out of other people’s mouths against us, offense, false accusations, hatred, persecutions, and more. Things meant to entrap us, entangle us, causing us “to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them (us).” (added for effect) (see 2 Peter 2:21 above)

Yes, the Ways of Jesus are commandments, from the same Father that gave us the Law! If Jesus accepts them, we must also. In fact they are the good news of the kingdom! By His commandments, the kingdom will be all we hope it will.

Jesus said in Matthew 15:18-20 (NKJV) ¹⁸  “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. ¹⁹  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. ²⁰  These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

We cannot let ourselves become entangled by reaction to such things once we have heard the warnings, the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Yes many of us have reacted wrong. What we do next is what matters. Rebellion is tolerated briefly in this life but not at all in heaven.

As Lord (and King) He orders us into submission to His Ways for our own good. Oh we can rebel but we know what happens to the rebellious. We are to be vigilant, walking circumspectly, judiciously guarding our heart from where our mouth is filled. As we do, Peace will fill our souls. Isn’t peace what we are looking for?

As Savior, Jesus achieved cleansing for us of our previous entrapment’s. Pray the interceding prayer for today’s challenges. Today, Jesus will pray the interceding prayer for us.

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

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

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

“Exit Strategy” (book seen below) is now available at most e-book venues.

We know God prefers obedience over sacrifice and yet obedience was not enough in the Lord’s effort for our sake. Why didn’t God stop the process like He did with Abraham when Issac was about to be sacrificed?

Mankind had a need. God had a need. Mankind needed to obey. God needs to see obedience. None of this would happen without proof of a life there after, resurrected eternal life. God had both personified in Jesus, a sacrifice and obedience.

The sacrifice of Jesus ended one season. The obedience of Jesus began another. Our self crucifixion ends one season. Our obedience begins another. One was meant to end. The other is meant to never end!

Hebrews 5:8-9 (KJV)
⁸  “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; ⁹  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;..”

2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 (NASB)
^{7 “}and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, ⁸  dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. ⁹  These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,”

Genesis 49:10 (NKJV) 

“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”

Genesis 49:10 (YLT= Young’s Literal Translation)
¹⁰  “The sceptre turneth not aside from Judah, And a lawgiver from between his feet, Till his Seed come; And his is the obedience of peoples.”

Romans 1:5 (NASB)
^{5 “} through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name’s sake,..”

Romans 6:12 (KJV)
^{12 “} Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”

Anger, bitterness, hatred, grudges, unforgiveness, judgments, these and other emotions like them cannot be allowed to reign in our mortal bodies. If they go unchecked, we cannot possibly be in Him. Will He try to reach us? Yes, like He is right now! When our reward is so great why would we refuse to reconcile our lives back to what God did freely by something as simple as sincere forgiveness?

Who are we to think we do not have to maintain that which we have been freely given? How can Holiness and righteousness ever be contaminated? Do we have that power? Yes and no. No because they cease to exist by definition when contaminated. Yes, we can and do contaminate ourselves, once made holy and righteous by His death, by failing to obey Him. Returning to contamination can happen even after we have first been reconciled. See Romans 5:10 NKJV, NASB.

“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;..” Hebrews 5:9

Our eternal perfection is obtained by obedience. So was the Son of Man’s.

( I am ministering in a prison Tuesday, pray the peace of the Holy Spirit would rest upon me that I might impart that which I have, to those divine appointments. )

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

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

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

“Exit Strategy” (book seen below) is now available at most e-book venues.

” Daniel 12:1 (NASB)
¹  “… And there will be a time of distress such as never occurred since there was a nation until that time; and at that time your people, everyone who is found written in the book, will be rescued.”

According to Daniel 12 during this (coming) “time of distress” we (those found written in the book) will be rescued. We must conclude there is something we still need, information that leads to an awakening, that leads to our rescue. Based on two things, our name in the book and our awakening to everlasting life, the Word Daniel gives, clearly says we will be rescued! It says more.

Only one in trouble needs rescuing. “I am saved!” Your name may be written in the book but something more is needed. According to Daniel or Jesus or John, Daniel says we must be awakened, John says we must obey to have eternal life in John 3:36 (NKJV, NASB) Jesus says we must “endure” to be saved. Oh yes it is all true. We must awaken, we must obey, we must endure.

The Five Fold League of Servants will truly believe this understanding. It is the Word of God. To them it will be expanded truth. Many of them will be awakened also. This understanding will spread and many in the church population will believe them. Like John the Baptist, this is their hour, the reason for their existence, their chance to “fulfill all righteousness.” This understanding of “enduring love” shall be preached and spread world-wide like Jesus said, “as a witness to all the nations.”

Many are sitting next to us in our churches who will be lost to the Apostasy. How do I know? I know the message, it is understanding that points to the path of actual salvation according to Jesus, John, Paul and Daniel.

There are believers everywhere with anger and bitterness in their hearts. You in the League know this to be true. Oh sure they are reconciled souls to God in Christ but they have not yet obeyed Christ and therefore disobeyed God. They have not gone forward from reconciliation to be obedient to Christ as Lord. See Romans 5:10, John 3:36 (NKJV, NASB) Obedience to the Way, as we see in the Lord’s life, has not yet “saved” them as Paul says it does in Romans 5:10. It still can!

This is very confrontational understanding. In your love for the flock remember, “Better is open rebuke than love that is concealed.” Proverbs 27:5 (NASB) In these treacherous times, DO NOT shirk your duty and calling. Their blood will be on your hands. Forget the church budget. Rescue those entrusted to you.

The message of enduring love from Matthew 24:13-14, has not been preached or presented as the good news referred to by Jesus. For centuries church authorities have not seen this critical message with its prophetic importance. Enduring love IS the good news of the kingdom. It describes the kingdom! We have preached “Jesus is Lord” to the nations thinking one day the last person to be saved will get saved and Jesus will return. Asking Jesus to be Lord is only the beginning. Making Him Lord means doing as the king says. His commands are the law in His kingdom.

Of course Jesus needs to be Lord. In Matthew 24 Jesus is imploring us to be saved by our embracing His enduring love.

Also, Matthew 24:13-14 in context Jesus is speaking of the end of our journey and how to finish and actually be saved finally and forever. He is not telling us how to meet Him for the first time. This is a serious correction. This changes our goal, our assignment, the topic Jesus wants addressed, as a witness to all nations.

Great distress will be in the hearts of believers as “enduring love” confronts our commitment to obedience and love. HOWEVER, according to Daniel it “will rescue those written in the book.” (Daniel 12: 1) as it also says, many will be “awakened to everlasting life and some to disgrace and everlasting contempt.” This is an awakening from our worldly entanglements and mentalities. That includes most of us. Revered bible commentator Matthew Henry agrees.

In their awakening and obedience, “many will be purged, purified and refined.” (Daniel 12:10 NASB) Some will chose not to be purged, purified and refined to their disgrace. This purging and purification is by the forgiveness and intercession granted by us to others. By our choice, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will grasp this absolute requirement and empty ourselves like Jesus did on the cross with the same understanding in our hearts. “They know not what they do.”

Our souls are being awakened to a true Christ-likeness.  He emptied Himself to leave! He purposely emptied Himself of what we might call “righteous anger”and  justified bitterness. By forgiving anyone for anything, just as Jesus did, OUR souls are being cleansed, refined to purity, in preparation for eternity.

The solutions He taught, if we receive them, will manifest the intended results of Christ’s efforts. There will be the restoration of all things as prophesied. (Acts 3:21 NASB) Also, “Those who have insight will shine brightly, those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars, for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12: 3 NAS) The awakening we experience will be a rescue for us and those we lead to righteousness; a journey to true Christ-likeness.

His messages, which actually preserve our eternal life, are included in the “restoration of all things.” (Acts 3:21 NASB) As it says, Christ will not come back before this happens. The restoration of Christ’s teachings and examples as He meant them, will occur as they are understood and taught by the League without compromise. Life will come to us all in our awakening to them.

Am I saying there are things we have not seen or understood? Yes, things man is yet to glean from God’s Word. Paul said, “For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. “ Galatians 1:12 (NASB) Can you believe the Holy Spirit is still revealing important things in these apparently important times? God used Paul. God will use you! I can testify, this understanding was not my own. The Holy Spirit by God will has enlightened me and I you. Paul and the others penned the Words before any of us.

Their is an understanding we have lacked. Along with the distressing comes the freeing truth behind Christ’s efforts. It will be understood for its eternal significance. His Words are being clarified, re-discovered, returning to the preeminence they were meant to; becoming eternal life to us like never before, to His glory.

The grasp and dissemination of this expanded truth, by the Five Fold League of Servants world-wide, will bring many to righteousness. What truth we have had until now is to be appreciated but it will become a step stool for His expanded and timely understanding.

God is calling out our change of course to enter the harbor of eternity. We will put our eternal life in jeopardy if we reject the instructions of Jesus as LORD. His declaration in Matthew 24, “… he that endures to the end will be saved.” holds a qualifier for eternal life that is crystal clear.

As The League leaps into action, at this same time, the hour of darkness will begin increasing to its God spoken fullness. God knows it will have been set in motion by the preaching of “this” enduring love. Like Jesus said to John the Baptist, “Let us fulfill all righteousness” (let us fulfill all prophecy) We too will be doing the same.

To not defend ourselves from persecution will by many “believers” be rejected outright. Even though Christ was our example. God knows darkness precedes or initiates the return of Christ, and we initiate the darkness! God knew Jesus entering the Garden of Gethsemane would initiate a season of darkness, the return to heaven of His beloved Son, and the eventual return to heaven of His new loving family.

If we lack a full grounding in Christ, especially if we are under duress, will cause us to renounce our faith in Him; fulfilling the prophecy of The Apostasy. On the other hand if we embrace with understanding the preparation He is offering us, we can…lovingly endure. The question is this. Will our love grow cold or will we have become “rooted and grounded in love” God’s kind of love, the enduring love we have all come to know from Him, in our lives?

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

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

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

“Exit Strategy” (book seen below) is now available at most e-book venues.

Epilogue or an Epiphany; which do we offer?

Has the future, the eternity we have spoken of with conviction and believed would one day come to pass, been displaced?

As leaders, do we find ourselves wondering at times, “When will the end come?” Are we so captured by our frustrations that our hope to succeed in this life overshadows the hope of the next life; is life so good that our joy is in our life?

Do you sense God is bringing eternity to the forefront as we daily see the Word being fulfilled? Is it shaking us awake or are we burying it in convenient denial, expecting a reprieve? Do we find ourselves parroting the common position which says, “This has happened before, things got better, it was not the time.”

Have we forsaken the Lord’s absolutes when those absolutes apply to our hearts today not just tomorrow right before He comes? When is our tomorrow? We do not know for sure. Be it sudden or prolonged suffering, our life, our heart and soul, will be measured by the Word of God upon our exit. How much more severe that measurement, to a member of the Five Fold League of Servants?

Reaching for the life preserver of God’s Word will come too late when the eastern sky splits open. The Word says people will mourn at His return. No wonder. Would we first agree it has been grace, that our Savior has not come yet? Are we truly ready? That grace indicates God does not think we are, desiring that none should perish.

God is now using trouble, to get our attention. This should indicate urgency to us. As we have prayed, “Thy will be done…” includes the horrific descriptions foretold by Jesus and confirming acts of violence, exceptional acts historically, that we see today. Everything that can be shaken will be.

So, what will happen to us between now and then? “Like in the days of Noah…” is how Jesus put it. In the end times, according to Daniel, “a steward … will rise up, who stands guard over the sons of your people.” (Daniel 12:1 NAS) Great distress occurs. (Daniel 12:1) His rising has something to do with it. Evidently he brings a distressing message? Jesus also brought a distressing message. He says, (I paraphrase) the preaching of the saving power of enduring love, the good news of, a description of the kingdom according to Jesus, will occur as a witness around the world. (Matthew 24:14 NASB) The message, to be willing to lay down our lives while with interceding with love for our lost persecutors, will be a shocking witness of our faith to unbelievers and marginal Christians. Christ did it first.

Jesus in Matthew 24;13-14, speaks of staying saved not getting saved. This is a dramatic change to the church’s common thoughts on this verse. This will shake things up but as God intended, it “saves” us. Enduring love “saves” us. Faith in that message “saves” us. Faith in the message because Christ delivered it, “SAVES” us IF we implement it.

Our living in these unique times is a prophesied opportunity! It requires our preparation. Living and reigning with Christ for a thousand years may depend on our preparation. (Revelations 20: 4-6) This verse may shake you up. It did me.

Darkness will rise as God has declared it would. It has its purpose. A necessary awakening occurs. Will it be a final comment about us or a life changing event for us?

Daniel’s messenger is offering either an epilogue or an epiphany. As the Five Fold League of Servants, our course is clear.

(See The Five Fold League of Servants 2)

PLEASE forward posts to your friends (pastors) via email or copy and paste site in your browser. Help get the message around the world.

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

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

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

“Exit Strategy” (book seen below) is now available at most e-book venues.

The posts you have read or will read are meant to prepare us for times ahead yes, but as I said to someone the other day when asked about the rapture, “What is unacceptable to God then, is unacceptable to Him NOW.

If we are removed “pre-trib” that is great but what about between now and then? To God, is unforgiveness an acceptable condition in our hearts ever? Is hatred? Is bitterness? The Law of the Spirit of Life must be functioning in us, otherwise condemnation kills us. Romans 8:1-2 (NKJV, NASB)
¹  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. ²  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. “For” primary particle assigning a reason. Strong’s 1063. The question we must all ask ourselves is, “has it made us free, is it ruling our heart?” We are subject to one law or the other. Implementing one negates the other. 

Our eligibility for the rapture, whenever it is, is absolutely linked to Christ first and then as we live, to our obedience, (John 3:36) to our embracing His Way, the only Way, implementing the Words of eternal life.

Keeping His Law of the Spirit of Life is how we avoid condemnation once reconciled to God by Christ’s death. This life-giving law is demonstrated by Christ’s life and confirmed in Roman’s 5:10 “…we are saved by His life.” 

What if the sins that were forgiven us by God were our sins previously committed and now (after reconciliation to God through Christ) we must forgive to be forgiven? That is really great news unless you have trouble forgiving. “Sins previously committed” is what Paul said in Romans 3:25 NKJV and NASB. Look it up. In addition, forgiving to be forgiven is in the Lord’s Prayer and reiterated in the verse following as spoken by Jesus. Matthew 6:9-14.

Regarding doctrine it is possible God’s biggest mountain to move, in bringing His children to actual salvation, is traditional or doctrinal adoptions. We cast it in stone when God does not or we forget the interconnecting aspects of His Word; aspects meant to balance or formulate our doctrines. I believe establishing doctrines is our constant search for safe ground but what if understanding comes that changes our thinking? This has only happened a gazillion times in history.

“So we have been wrong?” I address this throughout the book. I supply our escape route. I blame it on God. He is willing to take the blame because His sovereignty rules and His love for us reigns. It is not that what we have understood did not help or that we were wrong. We were faithful to what we understood.

Now, our Father is expanding on the truth we have relied upon because the Truth is meant to achieve a higher standard than we realized. It is and has always been a Christ-like standard. What that standard may entail begins now with our everyday life experiences and deepens should the Lord tarry and our faith be tested on a more serious level.

Never-the-less, becoming proficient in Christ-likeness is expected of us from our beginning reconciliation until we die or are raptured, entering salvation, like Janis has.

Whatever life doles out, once reconciled to God, we are to submit to Christ’s (The Father’s) instructions because they are meant to “save us.” If we do not submit here why should God expect us to submit there? There will be no more rebellions in heaven. Whats more, our submission must be heartfelt. This is our victory or our death-knell. It is our choice.

Grace may actually have fogged the glass we have been looking through darkly! Yes, it is very possible! Abraham did not know what the future held exactly. Noah had never seen rain. Did the Disciples know in advance they would die serving Christ? We know they only saw partially until life after death was proven to them by Christ’s resurrection. Imagine if when you answered God’s call to reconciliation (salvation) you were told clearly, “OK, at some point you must be willing to lay down your life, to be murdered, to see your family murdered, to be martyred for your faith!” ALSO, during this, you must pray sincerely for the salvation of those killing you!.” Oh sure, that is good news! There is a reason we see darkly. Today, we have an advantage. Real life context helps. Today, we are seeing real life biblical context. It will either steel our convictions or corrupt our concepts.  Apostasy is the latter.

It is hard enough to die to self spiritually. Many still find success fleeting. God’s grace is allowing us to practice grace by spiritually dying daily to offenses. Dying physically might be a relief after a lifetime of dying to self, enduring with love and intercession for those who (if we are here) will do harm to us. The fact that we are here now and understand cements our responsibility to fervently practice Christ-likeness now. Then is surely coming. “… and then the end will come. ” Matthew 24:14 (NASB)

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

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

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

“Exit Strategy” (book seen below) is now available at most e-book venues.

It has been 2 1/2 months since losing Janis to a prolonged lung disease. I understand the third month is most difficult. I would say yes it is.

I have been guarded by friends and family the entire time. A day does not go by without a call, text, or email from someone or several someone’s who care. Thank you and may God reward your kindness and love. It has been priceless to me. Janis’ request that you watch over me and  her knowing that our friends would do so without her asking has been a testimony to your love for Janis as well as myself.

I often said “Everyone loves Janis…. they tolerate me.” As it turns out maybe I wasn’t so bad after all. Even God has rebuked me to not speak that way. Everyone’s boundless love has left me ashamed to belittle myself diminishing their point of view and any effort on their part to love and comfort me. God is in their compassion and love. Not just Janis, I too am loved. Thank You Lord. Thank You.

Janis and I have friends around the world. I would love for you to hit the comment button saying where you are from and comment in whatever way you wish. Tolerating me is not to be …. well, if you feel that way.

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

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

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

“Exit Strategy” (book seen below) is now available at most e-book venues.

We are reaching into Canada, Belize, Russia and of course USA including Alaska. Praise God and thank you for sharing with others. You can find all posts easily at   exitstrategydaniel12.com

Thank you for the emails both expressing your support and also your concern for me relative to my Janis passing into the Lord’s care.

My reaction is this, I have one agenda, the rescue of souls now destined for the loss of their salvation because of the struggles coming. The Apostasy (the falling away of believers) will take many who at this moment believe they are secure in Christ. “Lord didn’t we…” (Matthew 7)

Have we become disciples? Do we study the Word frequently if not daily? Are we absolutely aware of HOW we are to endure so as to be saved? Do we even have a hunger for understanding or are we “resting” in our own ignorance of the Word while thinking Jesus has everything covered. Does He know us? Do we know Him beyond our Christmas and Easter (Resurrection Day) knowledge?

I know many reading this truly seek God and His wisdom. Many have taken into their spiritual grasp the keys to the kingdom of heaven, the good news of the kingdom, the understanding that Christ’s enduring love brings us into salvation. The foresight this holds will empower us to endure unto salvation no matter what we experience. We MUST share this power with others, saved or unsaved. Do not assume to know.

In my last post I compared God “taking” my Janis to a persecutor taking my Janis by killing her if we did not renounce our faith in Jesus. I meant to catch you off guard by using these uncharacteristic statements (for me) as a “hook.” The compassion I heard from you, the encouragement I received was wonderful. I also realize I often put out food that requires chewing on. “Hard questions” as one friend put it. “Deep thoughts” as another responded. They also questioned whether “borrowing tomorrow’s troubles” was wise and yet I know this person does not hide their head in the sand, they are hungry, hungry, hungry, and are in fact very mature in the Lord. Agreeing with them, as Jesus said, “Today has enough troubles of its own.”

My calling is to blow the Shofar, to blow it as long and as loud as I can, until God takes my breath away. It is the warning Jesus Himself first declared by the Father’s inspiration. “When you see these things happening..”

My post, “What should my reaction be?” laid out before you my choice. Was I willing to accept God’s will for my life and Janis’? Am I willing to accept His will for this world and eternity? Do I really have a choice? Do I have an eternal perspective including the defining enduring characteristics that Jesus taught as the good news of the kingdom?

As a comparison, IF we are to suffer persecution, am I ready to accept that truth as the will of God? Am I willing to be encouraged by realizing I myself will become a person of prophecy? Will I see beyond the moment into the great beyond?

God through Christ has told us these things WILL HAPPEN. If Christ submitted to the will of His Father, are we not being raised up to do the same? These troubles (and I have had some) certainly test us. By the fire of God, by the testing of our hearts, will we stand in faithful submission. “Tho He slay me yet will I praise Him.” “They loved not their lives, even unto death.” Is God in this difficulty? “They will hate you on account of Me.” If we reject, run from, or deny the prophecies of the Word of God and His Son, we not only abdicate our royal family place, we deny the Word of God, we deny Jesus, the Word. “If you deny (are ashamed of) Me before men I will deny you (be ashamed of you) before My Father.” (emphasis)

If my life experience can speak to you of preparation when Janis passing was NOT persecution but only a similitude, then you have understood. By grace God prepared me by sharing His will “I want her with me.” Of course I pressed on in prayer. Now I realize the grace that was in His preemptive kindness. There is no question. “Did I not pray enough Lord? Was I not faithful enough Lord? Did I not love Janis enough Lord?” NO. His will was done. My rest is in that fact. He is my peace. Will our rest be in the facts, as the future as He has told it unfolds?

I thank God that I have ONLY praised Him. ONLY!  As my loving Aunt Doris  shared, hearing her concern for me in a response after reading the post in question, she said in her (similar) times of distress, when it was she and God, she prayed to avoid bitterness, she kept the faith!” Oh yes. I have witnessed her bubbling joy and kindness. She loved Janis, as everyone did. She loves me and I am glad. What a beautiful example of Christ she is.

To my special friends, I am not borrowing trouble from tomorrow. Yes we must live day by day. What I lacked in clarity please forgive.

What I am saying is, in the same way we save money for the future, knowing the future is coming, let us prepare for the future knowing the future God has declared is coming. Live a life of joy today having prepared for tomorrow.

Let us check our preparation honestly “as we see these things happening.” Know in your heart each day that you let the Holy Spirit reign you in, not saying what you were about to say about someone, for instance. Then know that you have taken it one step further.

As you pray for some offending person or situation today, have joy knowing you are practicing your preparation, you are emptying yourself of a part of you that will never get into heaven, you are replacing that part with a new Way. In doing so, you are literally grasping and turning the keys to the kingdom of heaven today in practice for tomorrow; on a day when you may really need it.

If, like Janis, you go to meet Jesus before the challenge of personal persecution, like her, know you have practiced the grace filled life of eternity. You will have endured on the level God ordained for your life. So whether it is on TV news, at work or with family, you will know your love will not have grown cold toward anyone. You will have found the compassion of Christ for those who often do not know what they are doing. This is our goal. This has been God’s will since Adam. “This” is the good news of the kingdom. God is trying to help. Let Him! Then help others.

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

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

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

“Exit Strategy” (book seen below) is now available at most e-book venues.

In Matthew 24:3-23, Jesus speaks of the trials followers can expect to go through. These are frightening things, threatening things, deceiving things. He says we will be hated by all nations because of Him. In fact it is His love, His Way of loving, that we are to maintain, enduring to be saved. 

In verse Matthew 24:10 it says, “And at that time many will fall away…” (to fall away you must have believed at some point, Paul says “reconciled” in Romans 5:10. We say “saved” Look it up.)

In verse 24: 12-13 it says, “And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.  But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.”

If love growing cold is a lethal problem for us, saving enduring love must be our goal. Only we can prepare ourselves to (lovingly) endure. Paul spoke “I press on toward the goal of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14)

An effort must be made on our part as God calls to us through Christ Jesus. Paul certainly did not consider it works. He saw it as responding, obeying and in obeying he “pressed on.”

After years and thousands of people around the world praying faithfully for the healing of my Godly wife Janis, God says to me, “I want her with me.” Within hours, she departed. What about all those prayers, those promises? What should my reaction be?

We shudder as we ask ourselves if we can endure the terrible forecast of Christ? We have trouble enduring the evening news without a curse if not from our lips, it may be hidden in our hearts! Woe, woe, woe unto us. Lord please help us.

God did to me,…..exactly what our persecutors might have done, He took the love of my life away from me. What should my reaction be?

Everything we are seeing in life that provokes us to anger or unforgiveness can be used in the plot of the enemy to capture us. By provoking us WE violate the Word of God, we defeat ourselves. What Word? Probably several scriptures but one in particular.“For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”  Matthew 6:14 NASB  

Is it possible this Word set Jesus free of our sins before He actually died and will it set us free also before we actually die? What should my reaction be?

My reaction toward my persecutors must reflect my reaction toward God over the loss of my sweetheart. “Thy will be done Lord.”

I knew about Janis what I would have needed to know had we fallen prey to some persecutors of our faith. “Oh death where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

How could I be angry with God who gave Janis to me to begin with? I have thanked Him in sobbing tears for receiving her into His care. I have thanked Him for a love that was beyond my imagination, again tearfully missing her.

So what should my (our) reaction be to a persecutor?

By God’s grace I will see Janis again and be with her forever. This persecutor will go to hell forever unless he sees the light. How can I endure losing my sweetheart to God in total acceptance of His will and not obey His will that I intercede for those who might kill me? Do I know what Jesus knew? They cannot really kill me, in the same way that Christ and Janis still live in eternity? 

God desires that none shall perish. We must desire that none shall perish. Christ desired that we not perish. They have no chance unless they see the light.

What should my reaction be?

 The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

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

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