Encouragement

---

DAILY/EVENING REFLECTIONS

1 PETER
9for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.--NIV

I was watching the Passion of the Christ and this question came to me: What is the reason behind it all, Christ’s sacrifice and suffering, God’s commandments and His call for His people to be Holy?

The goal and the ONLY goal was salvation, yours, mine and the bringing about of the Salvation of others!

But we are losing sight of this--we are so caught up in what the world is doing and what rights secular people have and what rights we DON'T have, that we are losing sight of the goal.

SALVATION!

Salvation can't be obtained by changing laws or entering politics--if this was the case Christ would have advocated it. Instead he told us to spread the word. He told us to help the poor the disenfranchised. He wanted us to sit amongst the sinners and pray for them--not create laws to get bums off the streets so you don't have to look at them. Jesus sat with the very people today that Christian leaders are battling in some odd bid for legalistic and political supremacy.

What happened to SALVATION?!

Lured by the idea of power, even some of the elect are more involved with politics than with doing the will of God, although they fool themselves that the two are intertwined.

They are not. Jesus admonishes us to not be concerned with the things of this world--he wasn't merely talking about material things--he was also talking about cutural and societal structures.

I think Chrisians could be more effective choosing thier battles wisely, and trying to infiltrate the system with cunning and not with brawn.

Isn't that what Satan himself is doing?

Why not use the Devil's own weaponry against him? Be subversive, not combative.

Brethren, the goal of our faith is not only our own salvation but the bringing about of the salvation of others. Indeed, many will reject our message, and may even vilify us or scorn us in the process. Press onward, for the benefit of that one who will need the message and will receive it. Did Christ not say no one comes to the Father lest God draws Him? If we can’t reach someone in particular, do not fret. Perhaps it is not God’s will at that time-or maybe God intends to reach them another way. Sometimes with our good intentions, we can impede God’s progress.

We don’t want to be a stumbling block against the divine.

Now, because we have this faith we must be Holy, not giving in to temptation! We must please God more than ourselves or the people of this world. God even admonishes us in 1 Peter to be content even under the rule of a cruel master or government. Why? Because our time is better spent not in uprising or complaining, but in Holy service.

Christians in politics, while well meaning, are missing the point. Christ told us to be in the world, but not of it.

Christians getting into politics in an attempt to change the world are going counter to God's purpose. This corrupt world will not alter one atom through man made weaponry like politics. In trying to do so, Christians are saying they have no faith in God or his upcoming government, otherwise they would promote the coming kingdom more vigoroulsy through Christian organizations and forget about this one. This system of things is going to perish--why are we trying to save it?

We should also be working our own salvation with fear and trembling, and should our brothers fall we are to restore them lovingly but with care--so we are not also tempted.

Brethren, we are fighitng against spiritual forces and must fight spirit with spirt. If we therefore put on the whole armor of God, we'd have no time for unchangable and defeating world politics! EPHESIANS 6:11-13

Besides which, the world must unfold to this very drama. The great apostasy has to come before the great tribulation and then-the heralded and long awaited coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hindering the worlds spiral into spiritual darkness may be akin to when Peter told learned Christ was to die:

MATTHEW 16
22Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!"
23Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.".--NIV

Although Peter felt he was displaying compassion, Jesus knew that the idea was counter to God’s plan. Is it not wholly possible that Christians battling in political forums and arenas are standing in the way of God’s plan as well? All the things that are coming about were heralded in Revelations as necessary components with which to bring about the end of the world.

There are people drowning as we stand by and argue about putting the ten commandments on a government wall or whether rock music can be Christian music.

Wake up!

Save the drowning soul and let the "dead bury their dead". Brethren--these are the last days!!! As Christian’s, we must endeavor to keep our eyes on the prize-the purpose of our faith is salvation! While there are souls to salvage, let us work to bring about change through Christ love, without bringing in worldly distractions and concerns.-ARN under the instruction of THS.

NOTICE--I need PRAYER WARRORS--write me at [email protected] if you are interested. Much love--Alicia

EVENING REFLECTIONS-A POEM part deux

This poem hearkens to the idea of the Christian plan. Tonight reflect how you too can get people ON THE BOAT.

GET PEOPLE ON THE BOAT

By Alicia R. Norman

Last night I saw on my TV
Christians who were too blind to see
Acting just like Pharisee
When they should duly note
No worldly weapon will devise
This earthly government’s demise
So here’s a word to the wise
Get people on the boat

The reason for these evil days
Is so God can bring his plan to play
Do you really desire to get in His way
Just get people on the boat

Sir, can you stop the rain from its fall
Or the wind from it’s dark haunting call
Or do we have a will at all
Let’s get people in the boat!

There’s no free will in God’s domain
For those who seek His holy name
Who are we to stop this timely reign
Just get people on the boat!

Who cares what you can buy or sell
With people’s souls destined for hell
Their blood is yours, as you know well
Get people on the boat

Why store up riches and sinful gain
When so many souls in so much pain
Roll up your sleeves to heal the maimed
Get people on the boat

So busy with our politics
Refusing what we must admit
That we have lost our way a bit
Get people on the boat

Night is coming with no light of day
Great tribulation is on its way
They’ll be nothing we can do or say
Let’s get people on the boat

Now Noah tried as try he must
To earn the peoples faith and trust
He prayed cajoled and cried and fussed
To get people on his boat

Now we must forget our earthly ways
Stop marching against liberals and gays
But try to get them to see the way
Get people on the boat!

Politics just divide and sever
When we should gather all sinners together
To serve a righteous God forever
Get people on the boat

We are all the same as we can be
God created us all and wants us freed
But we have fallen into self righteous greed
Get people on the boat

An earthly weapon can’t battle Spirit
God told us to love and just how to wield it
Let prophecy come to those who’d hear it
Get people on the boat

Stop gossiping and backbiting,
stop lying and stealing
Stop pointing your fingers,
Stop raping and killing
Stop acting self righteous-you’re a sinner too!
Stop looking down on the poor-do what we are told we should do!

Harvest and reap
Reap and harvest
The work shall not be done!

Harvest and reap
Reap and harvest
We shan’t forget not one
Get people on the boat

FUNNY BONE YARD

What's your religion?

I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. I immediately ran over and said "Stop! Don't do it!"

"Why shouldn't I?" he said.

I said, "Well, there's so much to live for!"

"Like what?"

"Well ... are you religious or atheist?"

"Religious."

"Me too! Are you Christian or Jewish?"

"Christian."

"Me too! Are you Catholic or Protestant?"

"Protestant."

"Me too! Are you Episcopalian or Baptist?"

"Baptist."

"Wow! Me too! Are you Baptist Church of God or Baptist Church of the Lord?"

"Baptist Church of God."

"Me too! Are you Original Baptist Church of God, or are you Reformed Baptist Church of God?"

"Reformed Baptist Church of God."

"Me too! Are you Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1879, or Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915?"

"Reformed Baptist Church of God, reformation of 1915!"

To which I said, "Die, heretic scum!" and pushed him off.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE