Pamela Christian's Blog, page 7

Prophecy for the Marginalized

Are you among the marginalized? Do you feel as though you are a person, or part of a group, or that you hold to a concept that has resulted in you being treated as insignificant or peripheral? Certainly in our culture today, Christians have been woefully marginalized and unfortunately many have hidden themselves in subculture groups like King David and his band hid in caves. If we, as King David did, cooperate with God and use this time of hiding as preparation, we will emerge victorious.

Marginalization for Christ followers has been the case since Jesus walked this earth. Jesus addressed His own in the Beatitudes, offering eight blessings for those who are marginalized in His Sermon on the Mount, (Matthew 5:1-12). With what I heard from the Lord today, I remind you to take heart, for Jesus has already overcome the world. Read Matthew 5:1-12 along with John 16:25-33 and fortify yourself for you have been born for such as time as this.

Judge the prophetic word below and if you deem it accurate, please share. I welcome your comments.

I am among the obscure, virtually unknown people of God who have been secluded in a time of deep and lasting preparation for this new era. I am among those God has kept back, restrained and taught not to act on impulse but only His instruction. I am among those who have had to fight the accusations of the enemy by the power of the prophetic promises spoken over me. Surely the prophetic promises of God—the Word of God—has been the very bread, the sustenance allowing me to survive to this day. I am among those who experimentally know man does not live by bread alone. Our scrappy fight to survive at this point in God’s plan is evidence of our calling. We will not be detoured. We will not give up. We will take our rightful place in God’s plan to allow Him to do His good and pleasing will in and through us.

We have been enduring years and years of preparation, wrought with tremendous sorrow, great loss, and near spiritual death. But we’ve believed. We’ve been given a measure of faith that we’ve nurtured and developed with the help of the Holy Spirit until what the enemy used to defeat us became a powerful force of God’s to be reckoned with. As God has spoken through many proven prophets, our time is now to emerge on the scene simultaneously across this nation to take the world of darkness by surprise. Understanding this and seeking the Lord about this I heard Him say:

This is the time for many of My people to emerge upon the scene—to influence culture on all seven mountains of society for My Son. I have been setting the stage for centuries for this new era. The whole earth is responding to this point in My plans. Mighty mountains are cracking open and boulders are breaking off and tumbling down with great force. Platelets beneath the earth are shifting. The waters of the ocean are gathering to display mighty force. Even the molten lava within the earth is seething, ready to erupt. I am gathering the winds and the rains who stand at ready for My word to be released. Yes, there will be destruction but not of My people. What the whole world will observe is My mighty power to destroy to save.

The enemy destroys for the sake of killing. I destroy for the sake of giving life. My people must understand this. Much of the work I have done has been attributed to the enemy and this has got to stop! Unless My people discern My work from the enemy’s they will not experience My salvation. The enemy has confused My people—confusion is of the enemy. Where there is no confident clarity the enemy has made impact. My people need to become utterly dissatisfied with confusion, and questions that are unanswered or questions without satisfactory answer. Would I confound My own? No!

Today, I am calling forth those who belong to Me to come away to a quiet place and seek Me with their whole heart. Only those who seek Me with their whole heart will find Me and discover the way in these tumultuous times. Have I not revealed the end times would be both great and terrible? Great for My people who hear My voice, and heed My instruction. Terrible for those who do not. I always reveal My plans to My prophets and My friends in advance so they will not be taken by surprise. I want My people to partner with Me in My plans to redeem the world and receive all the people who will come to Me. Every opportunity is given to every individual to choose life or death, good or evil, Me or Satan.

Those who dismiss My work because it is different from what they expect or what I have done in the past are not properly connected with Me. Their understanding has been hindered by the whispers of the enemy instead of the loud roar of My Son. Look about you! President Trump is accomplishing My will in unprecedented ways. Look at the fruit of his doings. The method may not be what has been expected. But, were I to do what man expects, would I be worthy of worship? No, I am God and My ways are higher than man’s ways. Man cannot imagine what I will do and how I will do it. I reveal My plans to man. Man does not predict how, what or when I will act. The only thing man can expect of Me is what I have revealed. All else is a mystery and My pleasure to reveal as I please.

Without faith it is impossible to please Me. Will I find men and women of faith when I return? Many challenges face My people in these days and only those with the spirit of Joshua and Caleb or those willing to follow them will experience My goodness in the land of the living. This is indeed a new era where unprecedented moves of My hand will take place. Only those with eyes to see and ears to hear will properly experience My intervention. Have not intercessors been pleading for years for Me to intervene? The time has come and will continue in this decade where I visibly answer their prayers.

This decade is yet another stage setter for what is to follow. The increments of My plan—the phases of My plan are becoming shorter and shorter. Don’t look too far into the future. Remain with Me and I will remain with You. Trust Me that I have all of the future under control. As You abide with Me, you will see and hear My plans and I then can send you out not as sheep among wolves in this era, but as mighty warriors and My ambassadors carrying both my power and authority to accomplish what I have determined. Yes, the enemy is pulling out all the stops, but he is nothing of any sort of a match for Me, as proven by My Son who has already defeated him.

Take heart! Take Your rightful place in My plan. Stand at ready for your destiny to be fulfilled and watch and see what wondrous things I do through My people in the midst of the vilest opposition this nation has seen in a long time. Remember I am the God of revival who brings revival when things are at their worst for My people. Let those who have eyes to see and ears to hear discern the times in which you live—not only for America but for the nations of the world.

Truly we have been born for such a time as this.

 

Pamela Christian, as both an apologist and charismatic Christian is recognized as one who “Balances rational thought with spiritual reality.” She is an ordained international evangelist and apostle whose entire focus is to help people discover and live in life-giving truth. As a Bible student, her years of study have produced her as an effective Bible teacher, powerfully impacting conference speaker, and life-influencing  award-winning author with her Faith to Live By series, and her Blog has received two distinguished awards. She’s a radio and television host who brings difficult cultural topics to bear in effort to equip the Church to be prepared to receive and minister to the billions of souls predicted to come to Christ in these last days.

News:

Pamela’s newest book Prepare for the Harvest! God’s Challenge to the Church Today, is scheduled for release April 15, 2020. Endorsers include, Phil Cooke, PhD, filmmaker, media consultant and author; Steve Shultz, founder the Elijah List and Elijah Streams TV; Joe Battaglia, president Renaissance Communications, broadcaster and author; and Dr. Richard Land, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary, media host and author. Learn more about this newest book in the award-winning series at her  web site.

 

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Solution for America’s Chaos in Leadership

I wrote the article below years ago. However, I don’t think it’s ever been more pertinent than today. It was first published in The Godly Business Woman’s Magazine, 2004. I welcome this being passed along in its entirety for non-commercial use. Protected by copyright 2019.

Since God Ordained Civil Government, Why Aren’t Christians Involved?

By Pamela Christian – Copyright 2002-2019

I love a quote I heard the late Dr. Adrian Rogers, former Pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, make over the radio where he asked, “Would God ordain civil government for His people and then tell His people not to get involved?”  Any minimally studied Jew or Christian knows that it was God who ordained civil government. As documented in the first five books of the Bible, God established the religious, moral and civil laws for social order and society’s benefit.

In His sovereignty, God oversees all matters of law, but He has allowed mankind some participation in the process. Initially, priests and judges were ordained among men, by God to govern people. Moral laws were adjudicated by both priests and judges, while civil matters were the strict responsibility of the judges, (Leviticus 19:15; Deuteronomy 16:18-19). Religious ceremonial matters were that of the priests. The natural and spiritual laws remain in God’s direct control.

God desired His people remain under His care in a theocratic style of government, but His people weren’t satisfied. They demanded a king from among their own, thus worldly governments were birthed. According to the Bible, mankind is governed by men appointed by God, (Romans 13:1 & 6, Titus 3:1).

Some governments choose to recognize God of the Bible as Sovereign, some do not. America, gratefully, is one place that not only recognized God, but also the Bible as the guiding standard in the formulation of our laws and policies.

The Founding Fathers of this great nation all held to a Biblical worldview whether or not they personally professed Jesus Christ as their Savior. The evidence for this statement is found in the Declaration of Independence. It was their personal conviction or respect for the Biblical worldview that directly influenced the formulation of America’s government.

“The American community presumed a common set of values which were principally biblical.”1   The Bible is irrefutably the standard the Founding Fathers used to establish our American style of government.

So why aren’t more Christians involved in our governmental process? Could it possibly be because of politics?

Think about it: politics aren’t limited to civil government. Politics are essential in any government, family, office, even the government of the gospel. Consider the definition of politics as it applies to the Christian’s duty to share the gospel. A Christian is to be shrewd in managing and dealing with the facts, while tactfully promoting and convincing others about the Truth. Politics are essential and necessary in any effort where issues of promoting policy, ideologies, philosophies, preferences or matters of faith are exchanged. Politics are essential in the art of persuasion and the science of logic and reason.

Likewise, government is essential for every society. Government can control, direct or strongly influence the actions and conduct of others or it can exert a determining or guiding influence in or over others, or it can exert a determining or guiding influence in or over others. It can also hold in check, or restrain human conduct and serve as a precedent or deciding principle. Laws and politics are essential—politicians are not.

Today, it seems as though many “politicians” are primarily interested in political office from a selfish or other narrow interest. Those that conduct the business of government in this manner are violating the original intent for our American representative political process.

We need more statesmen and women and fewer politicians, and the only way we’re going to achieve this is by voting for those who are able to serve as a genuine public servant—which is in the best interest of the people, not themselves. The power in this government is still (at the present) held by the vote of the people. It is not in the hands of those who have been elected, but in the hands of those who do the electing.

Christians are to make disciples of all nations.2 To accomplish this requires that we get involved in every arena of influence. Our mission fields are not limited to foreign countries, but includes our neighborhoods, our community our county, state and nation, our businesses, schools and government. Government in America was established to be “for and by the people.” The idea is that the people direct the elected officials in how to represent them—to represent their ideals, their philosophies, and their preferences. Unfortunately, the “Separation of Church and State” (which is not part of the Constitution) has come to create the “The Separation of Christians and Government.”

For many self-serving reasons, including the philosophy of secular humanism, there is a growing number of people who want the disengagement of the Christian influence in our nation in order to further their own agendas. They claim they want religious diversity while working to extinguish the Christian influence. Today, from this perspective, the Constitution is being fractured and redefined by the judges of the land. This is a perversion of power.

Obedient to Christ, Christians should automatically be involved in all arenas of life, including civil government.  In fact, an argument can be made that the darker a place, the more it needs the light. Christians are to influence the world to uphold the God-given morals, values and ethics of the Judeo-Christian faith. We not only need Christians to engage in the political process by way of voting and communicating with their elected officials, we need to vote into office true Statesmen and women.

Irish philosopher and statesman Sir Edmund Burke is ascribed to have said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”3 There has never been a time in American history where the need for the Judeo-Christian influence in government has been greater than today. What is the correct response for the Christian? Considering the basis upon which our government was established, perhaps Christians have the greatest burden to be involved:

Register to vote.
Exercise your right to vote.
Stay informed through responsible media.
Support Christian media/organizations that proclaim the Truth and fight against lawlessness.
Communicate your position to your elected officials, your local newspapers, etc.
Get re-educated and trained about the process. It’s yours and your children’s future at stake.
Actively support honorable Statesmen and Stateswomen. Prayerfully consider running for office yourself.
Pray for those in authority. Pray that our precious rights and freedoms are protected.

A Little History…

The Founding Fathers, having experienced abuse of governmental power that radically imposed upon religion, set out to establish a new form of government that would protect the people from such oppression. “Religious Freedom” is a phrase they coined and a banner they waived as they established this American nation. The cry for freedom was from government oppression and control of religion. When the Puritans settled in New England, they were steadfastly opposed to the established Anglican Church. “Distrust of an established church influenced their descendants, who at the time of the American Revolution and thereafter, sought to restrain the state’s interference in the exercise of religion.”4

They sought a dual authority; one being state and one being church. According to Grolier, Inc. Encyclopedia copyright 1997: “This dualistic view of religion and politics began with the Jewish nation which, forced to submit to a succession of conquerors, nevertheless retained its independent religious identity, separating spiritual from worldly matters. Christianity, growing out of Judaism, preserved this distinction, as exemplified by Christ’s injunction to “render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Matthew 22:21). This doctrine of dual authority in church and state was referred to as the “two swords” doctrine.” This dual authority does not preclude Christians from work in and influencing government. Rather, it precludes government from working in and influencing religion.

The founding documents clearly claim that the people have certain inalienable rights, specifically including the rights to freedom of religion. Further, the American government was established based on the Bible, evidenced not only by the language in the founding documents, but also in practices of government while officiating. For example, the Bible was used to swear in George Washington and every President elected since. Closing prayers were, and still are, an integral part of various meetings and sessions for government. The minting of coinage, architecture, monuments, literature, music, the arts and more, all reflected then, and still do to this day, the Judeo-Christian perspective.

We still have the blessing of liberty and a representative style of government. Christians still have mandate from God to hold back wickedness, to be Salt and Light.5 Americans need to replace the corrupt self-seeking career politicians with men and women who are true Statesmen; men and women who will conduct themselves on behalf of the people. Further, we need people everywhere to uphold the Judeo-Christian morals, values and ethics by letting their voice be heard. Just as we can’t expect to enjoy the benefits of society, culture, government or family if we don’t participate in it, neither can we expect to experience the benefits of our representative style government if we don’t participate in the process.

END NOTES

“America’s Unchristian Beginnings?” by Greg Koukl, Stand To Reason https://www.str.org/articles/america-s-unchristian-beginnings#.V_UyeuArKUk (October 2016)
The Holy Bible, Matthew 28:18-20
The Columbia World of Quotations, 1996, Number 9118
Grolier Interactive Encyclopedia, Grolier, Inc. copyright 1997
The Holy Bible, Matthew 5:13-16

 

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Expect the Unexpected: Light Will Overcome Darkness

Many people, even Christians, look at the world and cultural events with dismay and increasing hopelessness. Would you say you entertain such thoughts and feelings at least from time to time? Considering the gross increase of darkness and deep levels of corruption it’s understandable. However, considering all of God’s promises and his proven faithfulness, it is not understandable. Yes, the Bible is very clear in the Last Days, all manner of evil and wickedness will increase. We are certainly seeing such increase epidemically. As children of the Light, we are not to walk by sight but by faith. What does the Bible say about the increase of righteousness in the Last Days? Actually a great deal, yet is seems many Christians are unaware of the promises for the increase of righteousness. As a result the enemy has many of us operating with a dooms day perspective. That’s his plan. If the enemy can get Christians focused on what he is doing, then our focus is not on Christ, from where our hope comes.

Many Christians need to determine to “expect the unexpected.” Instead of looking at current events from the natural perspective where it seems there is no hope of turn around, we need to perceive with our spiritual senses, and activate our faith. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1) What better time of year to look for miracles than at Christmas? The greatest miracle of all occurred some two-thousand and twenty years ago. The promised Redeemer, conceived by the Holy Spirit, was born. The Savior of the world of whom it is said,

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end,

on the throne of David and over his kingdom,

to establish it and to uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time forth and forevermore.

Meditate on the passage above from Isaiah 9:6-7. Then when you have time, read the entire chapter. Read also Psalm 37 and allow these truths to take residence in your soul.

God has gone to great lengths to prepare us for victory. He has revealed much about the great and terrible End Times so that His people would be forewarned, able to enact the victory that was accomplished for us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While most of us understand we  respond according to our focus, we can easily place our focus on what is false–what is a lie of the enemy for his advantage.  It is my prayer and encouragement for you to fix your focus on Christ, place your faith in an unwavering manner on the promises of God. Decree and declare God’s Word with childlike faith and wonder and watch what God does with this new decade beginning 2020.

Many prophets, myself included, see our next ten years and being the most incredible of all times on earth. With the backdrop of gross darkness, God will act through miracles, signs and wonders that will radically change the trajectory of the word. Believe and “expect the unexpected!”

I wish you a very merry Christmas and a most glorious new decade!

I welcome your comments. Please feel free to respond or ask a question below. Also, be watching for my next book to be released soon! Prepare for the Harvest! God’s Challenge to the Church Today. It’s an assessment of our cultural realities with strategies how the Church in America needs to become much more relevant to reach the lost for Christ, especially in these last days with the expected Great Harvest of Souls.

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With God It’s All or Nothing

 

Early September seeking the Lord for the message I was to present in October, I sensed a greater level of urgency about the Church not being ready for God’s plans. August 2018 God prompted me to write Prepare for the Harvest! Confidence in God’s End-Time Promises, which includes exhortation for Christians to prepare for the expected End-Time harvest of souls.  We’ve been in a seven year period of preparation, (beginning 2012) and we still are not ready. God has specific plans for the Church (all true genuine believers) but the Church is not ready. With awareness of the times in which we live, God is prompting me to sound an alarm to urge God’s people to prepare the way of the Lord.

John the Baptist preached repentance stating the Kingdom of God is at hand. He traveled all the region of the Jordan preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book Isaiah, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness; Make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straight and all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (Isa. 40:3-5).  If warning the people to repent was needed for Jesus’ first coming, how much more is it needed for His second coming when all opportunity to repent ceases?

Prophetic voices are speaking the importance for the Church to make herself ready. Jesus is returning for a Bride who has made herself ready (Rev. 19:7). With this revelation coming upon me, imagine how I felt when I read the September 19, 2019 prophetic post by Lana Vawser:

“The fear of the Lord came upon me strongly as I heard Him speak ‘The Church is not ready yet,

sound the alarm to make yourself ready through your yielding to Me, My Spirit and My way. I will make My people ready!”

Notice the exclamation point  . . .  God means business. The Bible teaches us to humble ourselves before the Lord and should we fail to do it, He will humble us. I’d far rather cooperate with God to humble myself than to have Him do it for me. Read what Jesus had to say to the seven church cities in the book of Revelation. Only the Persecuted church and the Faithful church were found to be ready. Five of the seven church cities were found woefully unprepared and therefore subject to God’s dealings, and forcefully urged to repent. Revelation chapters 1-3 provide us with a clarion call to repent before it’s too late. Notice too that Jesus is speaking to the Church, meaning people who have professed faith in Christ. Yet, five of the seven church cities were admonished.

We must somberly take spiritual inventory of ourselves, seeking the Lord to reveal where we are double-minded, have doubt, fear, guilt, have idols or anything that prevents us from being all in. With the great and terrible times the Bible reveals will occur in the last days, only those of us who are all in–completely surrendered to God through faith in Jesus, by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit–will prevail. Many Christians have a wrong understanding about the end times and live in fear and dread over the increase of evil. Yes, the Bible is clear all manner of evil and wickedness will increase in the last days. However, God’s plan is for His light to always surpass the darkness. This means Christians are commissioned to be the salt and light to overcome the evil. Prepare for the Harvest! God’s Challenge to the Church Today is the book the Lord has me writing at this time.

The popularity of a pre-tribulation rapture has increased. Who wouldn’t want to escape such terrible times. But is that what the Bible teaches? The father of all lies, continues to deceive people including Christians. What we believe determines our success and failures in life. We must make certain what we believe is based on truth. There is no provision for partial salvation, or partial sanctification. With God it’s all or nothing. Not because He is harsh. Notice how He offers the seven Church cities, opportunity to repent and get right with Him. God is not harsh, He is loving. He wants us to position ourselves to receive receive the fullness of blessings and success He wants us to have.

God works through His people, and we are called to be ready in season and out, so God can perform His good and perfect will.

All of my books are written to help us gain better understanding of God’s plan and be confident in our faith. Let’s be intentional about being wholly surrendered to God. Make sure your understanding of who God says He is and who God says you are, is based on truth. The father of all lies works day and night to deceive us. Unless we are intentional about what we believe and why we believe what we do, we can be deceived and not know we are. It is, after all the nature of deception that the victim is unaware of their condition. I welcome  your questions or comments or questions.

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Compassionate Christian Considerations: Society

Christians have the answer the world needs, but how do we get heard? We can’t expect people who consider the church irrelevant to come to the Church for the answers they need. Neither can we expect the lost to think the Christian Church has the answers they need, when they consider all religions equal. I don’t see many church leaders equipping Believers to reach the lost for Christ, even though the mandate of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) is for all of us to go and make disciples for Christ.

How would you respond to a transgender individual? How would you respond to an abortionist? How would you respond to a prostitute? How would you respond to any number of social ills that are plaguing our culture and destroying lives? Before our very eyes people are on the road to hell. If we can stand idly by and do nothing to help our neighbor, the love of God is not in us.  Jesus said as His disciples we are to be known, or recognized by our love for one another. Love must be the distinguishing mark of Jesus’ disciples and be expressed to both our neighbors and our enemies.

With this post I hope to tug on your heartstrings, inspire, and equip you to demonstrate God’s love to those who don’t know God. There are many things you can do that aren’t risky. Yet, for those who want to step out and take a risk, there are some ideas for you here.

Intercessory Prayer. Sincerely praying for: revival, reformation, salvation, exposure of corruption, opening eyes to the truth, increase of righteousness, more righteous men and women to be positioned in leadership, protection of the righteous men and women leaders, protection for all from evil, people to be hungry for truth, people to be dissatisfied with our culture and partner with God as change agents, unity among Christians, Christians to be increased and demonstrate God’s love and compassion, people to be awakened to the fact they have been partnering with evil, witchcraft to be utterly bound, God to reveal the plans of the enemy before implementation, plans of the enemy already in place to be shattered, God to send necessary resources needed to meet people’s real-world needs, workers of the harvest, increase of faith, courage and boldness among Christians. I”m sure there are many other prayer topics you can include.
Using Your Gifts and Fulfilling Your Calling. God has given each Believer gifts and talents and the mandate of the Great Commission, Matthew 28:18-20. How you will specifically “go” will be consistent with your gifts, talents and calling. Look at the list of spiritual gifts and places of service with intentional effort of finding your place in God’s plan. This article may be useful. While it’s good to use your gifts and talents within your church, all of us should find how we can serve outside the church. You may not be comfortable personally approaching a person in need of Jesus directly. If so, find a group you can join that is successfully reaching the lost for Christ. It may be a homeless shelter, soup kitchen, addiction counseling help group, abortion recovery help group, help a single parent, and more. There are countless groups that exist to help people who have been caught up in the ravages of sin and evil. Additionally, you might personally become a foster parent, disciple teens, speak at various events, write a blog or book, serve at your local school or school board, teach  or participate with a prison ministry, adopt a widow, support an orphanage, lead a small group at the workplace. Seek the Lord about what you are especially created to be able to do as His partner in the Great Commission.
Form an Outreach Effort. There are so many different ways we can reach the lost in our community for Christ. Holding a diaper drive, a back pack drive, a Vacation Bible School, community-wide concert or BBQ in the park, are just a few ways we can reach the people in our community. I’d like to see churches join together to create a community or regional event at a location other than a church, open to the public. My Exceptional Keynote Speakers bureau has been formed to help churches in this specific manner. Additionally, there are ways you can host a special movie screening in your local theaters. This is a low to no cost effort. I am personally hosting my first screening next month. To learn more, visit https://gathr.us/  A theater is a perfect, non-threatening environment to ask people in your community to come and watch a movie. Choose movies with a message that will help righteousness increase. Screening events are an excellent way to take the Church to the community.

These are just some ideas. I’d love to hear from you of other ideas you’ve come up with. Post them here so all reader can benefit. And if you have a success report consistent with this post, by all means I want to hear from you.

All of us want to hear “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” Yet, the only way we can hope to hear this is to put our feet to our faith. Looking forward to hearing from you.

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Waking to the Dawning of the Son

Waking to the quiet, deep, darkness of the very early morning I find my favorite place and open the window. The cool-damp air unfolds into the room, touching and refreshing my skin. The trees and structures just outside the window are not visible even with the street light positioned nearby.

It’s wonderfully eerie observing the depth of the night of several hours, soon to be exchanged for the beginning of another day. The stillness, calm and quite resonates with my soul. The sights, sounds and senses all engage me and I remain nearly mesmerized by the transitioning beauty.

Early stages of dawn change the deep-blue darkness into progressive hues slowly becoming blue-grey highlighting the sides of trees and buildings, making them seemingly emerge from the darkness. As this continues, the light allows shadows to be seen, bringing a depth and complexity to my view.

Slowly a bright glow begins to appear on the horizon. The sounds and sights are remarkable this time of day. The silence of the night is gloriously being met with the sounds of life. The chirping of birds slowly begin the morning concert. Soon the chirps are joined with tweets and then a melodious trill of a songbird. The world is waking up from its slumber with songs of praise as the first response of the day.

As the sun continues to rise, the golden glow is met with hues of pinks and oranges which soon cover the sky, announcing the impending arrival of the sun. It’s so majestic I dare not move. Slowly this palate of color gives way to a burst of the sun’s light—so bright and glorious I cannot look directly at it.

In cacophony a rooster joins the sounds of the day, making me smile, knowing his place in this world is as welcome and necessary as all. The street light yields itself to the light of the sun and gently dims to remain off for another day.

As the sun rises the blue-grey shadows shrink back. Dapples of bright light filtered by the branches of the tree appear on the buildings. Slowly cars begin to drive by. The beauty of the night has been fully exchanged for the hope of another day.

Father, I thank You for revealing Your glory in every aspect of creation. I am humbled by the entire experience knowing each day You repeat this display to help us experience and embrace the dawning of Your Son, Amen.

 

By Pamela Christian, Copyright 2019

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Compassionate Christian Considerations: Truth

Most of us observe the tremendous cultural confusion, shaking our heads with the sense there is no recovery. It’s overwhelming, even insane what people are claiming and doing. The voices demanding rights are overpowering any voice of reason, as reason has been exchanged for chaos amid the self-serving rebels.

I’ve given a lot of prayer consideration to this and am stepping out to be a voice of reason to appeal to those who are fighting to find their place in this world.

Each of us is created with specific needs that must be met. We intrinsically, even if unaware, search to satisfy these basic needs. One thing common to all: we don’t like to be lied to. We are born with the ability to recognize deception is bad and truth is good. When I travel and speak, I ask my audience, “Who in this room wants to live your life on the basis of a lie?” No one ever raises their hand to that question, which is highly revealing. It reveals we prefer truth over deception, which means we have the moral ability to discern right from wrong. We see truth as good and lies or deception as wrong. Additionally, since no one raises their hand, it means the preference for truth over deception is universal.

If the preference for truth is universal, why do we see so much wide-spread chaos? One word: deception. People are woefully deceived and because of the nature of deception, they are entirely unaware of their condition. They live under the belief they are right in their life’s beliefs. Who would fight for a claim or cause without believing it was correct? What we’re experiencing in our culture is the classic clash of right and wrong or good and bad.

Since deception means the victim is unaware, the only way a person could be confident they base their life on truth is to courageously examine what they believe and why they believe it.

Many claim truth is relative—what is my truth is right for me and whatever is your truth is right for you, even if they clash. A person who believes truth is relative, refutes the claim “truth is absolute.” Relativists loudly claim “There is no such thing as absolute truth.” Let’s open our minds a bit. To claim “There is no such thing as absolute truth” is using the law of absolutes to make the claim. Therefore, Relativists don’t really believe there is no such thing as absolute truth. They are simply seeking to embrace what they want to be true, without knowing if it actually is truth or not.

I’m reaching out to those who are dissatisfied with life, who are restless and believe there is something more they must discover Starting with understanding truth, seems the best place to begin.

Clearly there is the law of absolutes. For example, it cannot be both day and night at the same time. It is either one or the other. The way we can be confident a matter is true is with three simple truth tests:

Truth always lines up with reality
Only one thing can be true, all opposing maters are false
Truth is universal.

The paradox is that all people want to live their life on the basis of truth, yet many reject truth in preference of their own “reality.” This sets up the clash and confusion for the culture. The only way we can resolve this insanity, is to compassionately reason with one another, displaying utmost respect.

The best question we can ask others is, “Why do you believe that?” Unless the basis of a person’s truth claim is founded on the three objective truth tests, then it is based on subjective personal preferences and does not fully align with truth.

Since no one wants to live their life on the basis of a lie, the most loving and deeply compassionate thing we can do is to help people reconsider their beliefs to be sure they are basing their life on truth.

Since truth is essential to trust, the next post will consider trust

 

About the Author:

Pamela Christian is prophetically called to be a strong asset to the Church, speaking and teaching, offering wisdom and insight from God’s Word. Since 1991 Pam has taught Bible, spoken at countless retreats and conferences, hosted traditional radio and internet television, and authored several award-winning books. She’s recognized as Apostle and has been awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from the Holy Spirit Broadcasting Network International Fellowship of Ministries Apostolic Center, and is certified in apologetics with Biola. Pam’s ministry allows her to be an itinerant, International minister of God’s Word, wiling to speak and teach wherever invited. More at www.PamelaChristianMinistries.com Email: info@pamelachristianministries.com

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Word for Wednesday: Considering our Current Times

I fully believe we are in a new era—a time of revival and “second chance” for The Church to take its rightful place on earth according to God’s plan. In the words of Bill Johnson, “Many know much more about God and Magog, the ten-nation confederacy, the seven years of tribulation, the anti-Christ, etc. than they do about the simple command to pray “on earth as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10.)1

The Bible is very clear about the great and tremendous increase of evil and wickedness that will bring people to call what is wrong right, and what is right wrong. And we are most definitely witnessing this in horrendous measures today. However, the Bible is also clear that the Church holds the answers the nations seek. We who are followers of Jesus are commissioned to go into all the nations with all the authority of Christ, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things Jesus commanded, (Matthew 28:18-20). This mandate known as the Great Commission, was given to remain in effect until Jesus returns.

The Church has not only lost its salt and flavor, we have lost our identity and as a result have succumbed to fear, intimidation, and trembling.

We have given over our authority to the enemy of God who is presently, feverishly working his agenda increasing the evils of destruction upon humanity and all creation.

The Bible is also clear, according to 1 Peter 4:17, God’s judgment will begin with the Church first. This may shock many Christians who are of the understanding we have escaped judgment through faith in Jesus. This understanding is only a partial truth. Christians, meaning those who place their faith in Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord, escape the final judgment of sin that leads to death. However, Christians are held to a higher accountability when it comes to sharing God’s truth and love, and attracting others to faith in Christ. We are to do this by living according to the teachings of Jesus for our every day personal lives, in community with all others.

History reveals the successive rise and fall of both good and evil. When the righteous people fail in our commission, evil flourishes. When we rise again in obedience, righteousness flourishes. In this sense, God is exceedingly gracious giving His people countless “second chances.” However, there will be a time when this grace from God is no longer offered. In the same way Christians ought to be continually on the watch for Christ’s second return, we ought to understand God has appointed a day of judgment—beginning with the Church.

When I’m driving my automobile along the highway and a police officer is behind me, if I’m doing everything according to the law, I have no reason to fear. Conversely, I can be pleased, even celebrate the fact that I am in right standing, outside any need for discipline (judgment), and grateful for the existence of police overseeing the law to keep people safe. With a proper understanding that the law exists to protect people from harm, I embrace the law. However, when people are deceived about the purpose of the law, and come to believe it is oppressive, they rebel against the law.

We’re seeing this type of lawless, anarchy playing out every day in the news. This is yet another example of our times where righteous men and women are failing in their God-intended influence. This failure is what’s given way for the increase of wickedness and evil in our culture today—the Church, representing the law of God’s grace, as Ambassadors for Christ, is not actively and intentionally fulfilling the Great Commission. The judgement, or discipline of 1 Peter 4:17 is, in my considered opinion, upon us. We are being given over to the things we are yielding to, consistent with Romans 1:24-32.

Sir Edmund Burke is believed to have said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” This quote, according to The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, has become one of the most popular quotes of modern times. While it may be popular to state, it’s clearly not popular in application.

Gratefully, we still live in the times of God’s long-suffering grace, and we are being given another chance to rise up the standard of God’s truth, for the benefit of all who will believe. In my next posts, I will explore more about understanding our times, and what we as Christians must do to divert the 1 Peter 4:17 judgement/discipline and step into our rightful positions of power and influence as Ambassadors for Christ.

Bill Johnson, A Life of Miracles; A 365 day-guide to prayer and miracles, (Destiny Image Publishers, 2008), Day 276.

Pamela Christian welcomes your comments in the section provided below. If you enjoy this blog, you will likely also enjoy her Faith to Live By book series.

 

 

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Word for Wednesday: Confusion is of the Enemy

For decades now, society in America which once upheld Judeo-Christian beliefs, has marginalized those of us who hold to the Christian faith, declaring we are driven by emotions, not intellect or wisdom. People claim we are unenlightened people to be pitied and not taken seriously because we live in a type of delusion—woefully out of touch with reality. It’s said, Christians and the faith we represent, are irrelevant. As a result, Christians have increasingly refrained from bringing their influence to bear upon society. This is a cowardly position, clearly revealing a lack of understanding of our new identity in Christ and our mission as co-laborers with Christ to promote good and eradicate evil.

As one who has been called to be an asset to the Church, my clarion message is for the Church to take hold of the assured victory—to advance the Kingdom of God, in fulfillment of the mandate for Christians to help God’s will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. As Christians, it is our privilege, honor, and duty to partner with—to co-labor with Jesus in His mission. God does not need our help. Rather, He has permitted us a place in His plan to eradicate evil from human existence, according to His plan.

This is the second of several posts identifying the specific areas of loss of the Christian influence in our culture, and the demise of society as a result. With these posts, I hope to impart deep truths about the Christian faith to embolden Christians to demonstrate Christ’s love and power, consistent with God’s plan to eradicate evil. Please see the first article in this series: Good and Evil – Truth and Deception.

Jonathan Merritt, a student of American Christianity, the son of a prominent megachurch pastor, and author, addresses the decline in our spiritual vocabulary and the many real-world consequences in his book Learning to Speak God from Scratch: Why Sacred Words Are Vanishing—And How We Can Revive Them. As he aptly wrote, “For those who practice Christianity, such trends are confounding. It is a religion that has always produced progeny through the combination of spiritual speech and good deeds.” Nearly every New Testament author speaks about the power of spiritual speech, and Jesus’ final command to His disciples was to go into the world and spread His teachings. (Matthew 28:29-20). Merritt writes, “You cannot be a Christian in a vacuum.”

The power of words is often overlooked, even though the Bible makes clear, the power of life and death is in the tongue, (Proverbs 18:21). Simply consider the propaganda used by Nazi Germany to shape the beliefs and attitudes of the German public. Through posters, film, radio, museum exhibits, and other media, they bombarded the German public with messages designed to build support for and gain acceptance of their vision for the future of Germany.1

By confusing speech or reassigning meaning to words and phrases, truth is ultimately altered and the populace is redirected. This is how Nazi Germany was able to influence otherwise good men and women to support what they later learned were horrendous atrocities.

The enemy of God used the same tactic in the Garden of Eden when he sought to cause Adam and Eve to reassign meaning to God’s words. The result is hundreds of thousands of years of humanity suffering evil. While it’s true God has provided a way of victory over evil through faith in Jesus Christ, the victory is only evident when Christians intentionally advance. Conversely, victory over evil is unrealized (albeit not abated) when Christians retreat. Clearly, Christians have retreated in our modern-day culture.

The real and overarching issue is good vs. evil. So, what better way for the enemy of God to seek victory, than to cause humans to distort a proper embrace of what is good and true and what is evil and deceptive? If the enemy can cause humans to denounce what God calls good as evil, and instead embrace what God calls evil as good, he has won a victory. And this is precisely what we’ve been experiencing in our culture of recent decades.

The success of the enemy today has resulted in people increasingly rejecting God and His ways, deceived with the belief that God’s ways are restrictive, unfulfilling, and bigoted. Today, for Christians to speak out about the harm people suffer who choose to live inconsistent with God’s revealed instructions for life, is met with Christians being labeled restrictive, unloving, and bigoted.

Who better than God, the Creator of all that exists—who by His very nature is love—to reveal the best way for humanity to enjoy life and be free from the ravages of evil?

I welcome your thoughtful comments from a heart desiring to discover what is genuinely best for all people.

In my next post, I plan to explore the various ways our culture has embraced the deceptions of the enemy of God, thereby embracing errant beliefs and lifestyles, which rejects God and all that is good, and embraces the enemy and his evil ways.

https://www.facinghistory.org/holocaust-and-human-behavior/chapter-6/visual-essay-impact-propaganda

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Word for Wednesday – Good/Evil – Truth/Deception

Good and Evil—Truth and Deception

From the beginning of time, it has been apparent to all human beings that two forces exist in the world. The force of good and the force of evil. No matter what country, ethnicity, political or religious persuasion, culture, gender, education or economic status—regardless of your individual realities—you are subject to both good and evil.

You must agree both good and evil co-exist in the world where you live. The existence of both good and evil is undeniable.

Yet, what real thought have you given to this truth? How will you effectively answer, since as a whole, our culture has rejected absolute truth and has become convinced truth is relative? Many people have become convinced that it is good to claim truth is personal and whatever an individual believes is truth for themselves. Even though this results in serious conflict among people, a growing number of people embrace this thinking.

Is conflict good or evil? What force do you think is behind conflict?

We are human. We have specific needs in common with every other human being who has ever lived. Yet, we live in conflict with one another. Again, what force do you think is behind conflict?

In every instance where I’ve had the opportunity to ask people: “Who wants to live your life on the basis of a lie?” No one ever states they do. Not one. This means universally, all human beings regard truth as preferable or good, and deception or lies as bad. This reality alone, reveals all human beings have an innate moral compass. We all make distinctions between good and evil. We may not agree on the morality of many other topics, but when it comes to truth or deception governing our lives, we universally agree we want truth.

Then, what force do you think is responsible for moving culture from embracing absolute truth and adopting relative truth?

The reasoning for claiming truth is relative states the only reality is the one you know–the one you experience and perceive. Therefore, to claim someone else is out of touch with reality, implies the claimant’s reality is superior and our culture considers such a claim/person arrogant.  Really? Would it be arrogant of me to urgently warn you of an impending truck about to run you over, that you don’t perceive? No, you would expect me to warn you. In actuality claims that truth is relative are highly selective and applied to those matters the individual wants to indulge in, regardless of the opposition from others. However, as the example of the impending truck reveals, opposition to your perceived reality could very well be in your best interest.

Absolute truth is objective and based on reality. Relative truth is personal, subjective and able to disregard reality. Have you thought much about this? Have you studied the definition of the word insanity? When people are out of touch with reality, aren’t they considered insane? Reality is absolute and cannot be altered to accommodate anyone’s personal preference. However, many people live their lives on the basis of an invented truth of their own preference.

What force, then, do you think is responsible for influencing people to deny reality?

Consider: when a person is deceived, they are completely unaware of their condition. It is the nature of deception that the victim is unaware. Any one of us could be deceived and not know it.

How, then, can we be certain we are living our life on the basis of truth?

In all my work, I seek to appeal to people’s logic and reason, deeply respecting them as a contemporary, and wanting them to live their life on the basis of truth. No one ever raises their hand when asked if they want to live their life on the basis of a lie. At the same time, many people are deceived, and utterly unaware of their condition. Could this be you?

My first book in my award-winning Faith to Live By series was inspired by reading an article by ABC News that clearly revealed how deceived many people are about truth and matters of religious faith. Examine Your Faith! Finding Truth in World of Lies, is recommend for anyone who wants to confidently know their life is based on truth.

I welcome your comments and hope my work causes you to reconsider what you believe, and the foundation upon which you base your life. We all want to live our life on the basis of truth. I hope to encourage you to continue seeking truth as the life-long process of discovery it is.

 

 

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