Always In Prayer Network

Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
 2 To know wisdom and instruction,
To perceive the words of understanding,
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
4 To give prudence to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion--
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

smellthetruth.com

Dr. David Berman

Psalms 2:1-4 “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.”

The Obama Presidency is quite bold about the presidents desire to rule as a king. One can only come to that conclusion if his actions are looked at honestly. In his mind, Obama is not the president of a Constitutional Republic. He is the king of a country and makes no apologies for his complete disrespect for the principles of liberty, limited government, the Constitution and rule of law found in it. [Alleged] President Obama is a master of socialist class warfare and a genius in the art of voluntary enslavement of an uninformed citizenry. By “voluntary enslavement” I mean convincing people to put their faith, dependence, and future in the hands of the government. He has proven himself as one who can use language, and policies to ensnare the selfish mindset of those who deem government to be as their father and mother. With all his platitudes he became the president, even promising through his presidency to “heal the planet.” And now with intense class warfare he seeks to put the final nail in the principles of liberty, asking one more term to accomplish his elitist, socialist, Marxist enslavement of America. You got to hand it to him…what the Soviets could not do from the outside, Obama is doing quite well from within.

Let us understand something right now. Those of you who read this and are in favor of your “dear leader’s” world view will undoubtedly now point to George Bush. You will say “Bush did this and Bush did that.” You say this with two assumptions:

1) That anyone who does not support Obama must have been a Bush Republican.

2) That one behavior justifies another.

Both of these assumptions are simply wrong. I did not support Bush nor did I support his big government socialist institution of new entitlements. I did not support his unconstitutional “no child left behind” nonsense or any other unconstitutional policy of his. The assumption that everyone who opposes Obama is a cheer leader for the Republican Party is a lie.

[Alleged] President Obama has blatantly opposed the principles of liberty by forcing individual people to buy a product simply because the government tells them to by virtue of their existence (this he did through “Obamacare”). Then he went on to exempt many of his political allies from the plan that he imposed on the rest of us. Not only did [Alleged] President Obama take over private industry (GM & Chrysler) and put private bond holders out of their money in order to take care of his union supporters, then he goes in to destroy the 4th amendment by signing a bill making it a policy of America to imprison any American citizen with no charges, no trial, and no lawyer indefinably on simple “suspicion” of terrorist activity. Now we see the continued edicts of the “King” in the latest attack on religious liberty. This attack is so blatant that one must come to the conclusion that all-out war is happening against the Bill of Rights. “King Obama” has declared that religious institutions must provide contraception coverage paid for by the religious institution including the “morning after pill.” In doing so, he has defecated on the first amendment of the Constitution. He and his minions of despots have imposed their will on religious people under penalty of law. When a Catholic Bishop recently wrote a letter to priests in the military about this, he was told his letter was “sedition,” Sedition? Sedition means treason, and treason is a strong word. Now we have come to the point where an American citizen has to live in fear of being “suspected” of terrorist activity (that can mean whatever the government wants it to mean), must buy whatever the government orders him to, must obey government edicts concerning how religious institutions act under penalty of law, and must be careful what they say under fear of being intimidated by accusations like “sedition.”

[Alleged] President Obama is not an American patriot, he is not a defender of the Constitution, he is an enemy of liberty, the rule of law, and the principles of liberty that have made this country the envy of the world.

In fact, we have now come to the place where under “King Obama,” I, an American citizen, a preacher of the gospel, and an out spoken critic of [Alleged] President Obama, his government, and his policies can be taken without due process of law, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. By calling him an enemy of liberty they can say that I am guilty of sedition? Every American should be outraged by this infringement on the first amendment. The government telling the Churches what they have to cover and not cover? What they must do against their religious convictions under penalty of law? Some are defending the President by saying most women use birth control. This completely misses the point. This is not about birth control. This is about the government forcing a religious institution to pay for what they are against. This is a gross violation of the first amendment.

This is what we have come to and I for one refuse to be silent concerning it. I will not be intimidated by this administration. This administration is anti-Christ, pro homosexual, pro baby murder, anti-liberty. Obama is a king who “sets himself against The Lord and His anointed.” I will not be silenced and stand by while this president tramples on the sacred God given rights of the individual under the façade of what is good for the collective. Obama thinks he is king. He repeatedly says “If congress will not act I will.” What he is saying is that if the representatives of the people will not pass what he wants, he will simply make a decree as a king and make it happen by any means he chooses in the executive branch, through his so called “Czars.” This is tyranny, and it is quickly turning from soft to hard tyranny. First it’s threats, then it’s imprisonment.

When Obama was elected I wrote an article titled “Obama wins liberty loses” In that article I wrote the following:

“History teaches us that Government is the most vicious enemy of liberty. Socialism portrays itself as fair and caring with the idea that it will not allow you to fail. It exalts itself as your protector and provider and yet it cannot be. The truth is that without the possibility to succeed or fail, there can be no liberty! Government exacts its pound of flesh. It will never be satisfied with its power. Government is just as George Washington said it was; "Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is a force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master." The election of Barak Obama is the culmination of 50 years of liberalism. It is the triumph of radical socialistic ideology spawned in the 1960's.”

This is indeed what Obama has done, and continues to do. Increase government central planning and power, Fascist marriage of big business and government, and a dictatorial government that tramples on religious liberty, personal property, and rights of conscience. King Obama is doing exactly as I and so many others warned he would do. 67 million people are now in some way dependent on the central power of the federal government for everything from welfare and food stamps to education and healthcare. King Obama is having his way with us and there is hardly a spoken word to be heard amidst the loud cheers for more government hand-outs. Yes there are some who speak out but this nation has come to the point of dependence that makes it hard to see a real turn back to liberty.

Obama is presiding over a plantation. A system whereby the connected in government, education, unions and some big business get to be the house slaves while the rest of us work the fields to support the institution of slavery to government control. You say “What kind of a thing is that to say preacher?” It is a fitting analogy even if it is not politically correct. You see people; I am a student of history. I am a theologian, and a man who understands world view. What the Obama administration is systematically doing it dismantling our way of life as he promised he would. Obama said when running for the office of the presidency; “We are going to fundamentally change America.” One thing we should give Obama credit for is keeping his word. He is doing just that by getting rid of the fundamental principles of:

1)      Due process of law.

2)      Right to trial, Right to counsel

3)      Personal property rights

4)      Right to religious freedom

5)      Constitutional/Republican form of government

6)      Free speech

Congressional approval of war Only a narcissistic megalomaniac who rejects the foundational principles that this once great nation was founded on would do what he has done, and continues to do. With no regard for his oath of office he wields the presidency as a king wields his power. From securing a half a billion in government loan guarantees for his political fund raisers at the failed company “Solyndra” to exempting his political allies in the big unions from Obamacare, [Alleged] President Obama has shown his world view, his unethical actions, and his blatant anti American philosophy. It is king Obama that is guilty of sedition, not an American who resists The Obama administration’s tyrannical edicts.

Who does [Alleged] President Obama think he is? By what authority does he do such things? By what Constitutional principle does he justify his contempt for the Bill of Rights? By Who? By What? The answer is clear; [Alleged] President Obama thinks of himself as above the rule of law and in doing so he has in effect decreed himself King.

As the above scripture says; “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.” The Lord shall have the last word in the final Day of Judgment. There is only one eternal King and that is Jesus Christ. Obama can enjoy his kingdom now but in the end it shall be:

Philippians 2:9-11 “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

There can be only one King and that is why the cry of the American Revolution was “No King But Jesus!” Wake up America, your liberty is being systematically ripped from you under the guise of security and fairness. You want a King? Turn to the King of kings, and Lord of lords. Do not put your trust in a man. Man will find a way to put you under his power for his own good to the detriment of all others. That is what history teaches us. We do well to learn from it. Our trust must not go to centralized human power, but rather to God:

1 Timothy 1:17 “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Obama won and liberty lost. Our chance to get liberty back hangs by a thread. We have almost passed the point of no return. Listen to me Christian: Wake up! Speak out! Stand up! Fight already!

America's Party News

col317

_And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;...
...Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

                                             -- Luke 3:3, 7-14

The preacher of this brief, but very practical sermon was Jesus' older cousin, John the Baptist, whom, the context reminds us, was sent to prepare the way for the ministry of Jesus Himself.  In these few verses, John delivers an important message about the necessity and true nature of repentance.

As evidenced by the recent actions of Personhood USA in allowing four Republican presidential candidates--Michele Bachmann, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Perry--to sign their personhood pledge, John's lessons on repentence are still very much needed today.  What is it about repentance that Personhood USA and these four candidates--not to mention other leaders in the personhood camp, American Right to Life, Bob Enyart, Steve Deace, and Gregg Jackson among them--are failing to grasp?  Let's go to the text.

*****

First, notice to whom John's rather pointed rebukes are directed.  “Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (verse 7)  Perhaps this seems like an odd thing to say to those who were coming to him to be baptized--especially in light of the fact that baptism was a key theme of John’s message in verse 3:  “And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins”.  Why, if John is preaching baptism in verse 3, would he then in verse 7 refer to those who came to him to be baptized as a bunch of snakes?  The remainder of verse 7 contains a hint.  John says, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” 

John knew their motives for coming to him.  John knew that, rather than seeking a sincere relationship with God, they saw baptism as a quick fix to the problem of their own guilt.  They understood John when he said that baptism was “for the remission of sins” (verse 3).  They wanted remission of sins, and were willing to allow John to immerse them in order for them to receive it.  They understood, rightly, that John was commanding them to be baptized, and that he was presenting baptism as a condition to receive remission of sins. 

But what they were failing to see was baptism’s proper basis in repentance.  Look again at John’s message in vs. 3.  “ And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins”.  The multitudes correctly understood that baptism was “for the remission of sins”; but they failed to see that not just any baptism would do.  The baptism that John said was necessary was, specifically, “the baptism of repentance.”  These were attempting to come to John, allow him to immerse them, thinking this would remove their sins, and planning to go on their way with no real change of heart, intending to continue in the very sins from which they were seeking forgiveness.  They truly were a bunch of snakes, seeking salvation from God, but unwilling to walk according to His will; seeking to “flee from the wrath [of God] to come”, but not willing to flee to God Himself.

How did John know this?  His words to them in verse 8 tell us.  He commands them to “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance….”  Later, the Savior Whose way John was preparing would tell us that “Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16).  John knew them by their fruits--by the actions, attitudes, and results that were brought forth from their hearts.  And John could see that these results were not consistent with true repentance.

To their credit, John’s rebuked audience then asks what they were missing.  “And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?” (verse 10)  John had told them that seeking a quick-fix remission of sins through a baseless and meaningless ritual put them in the category of a “generation of vipers”.  For their baptism to have any meaning or effect it needed to be based on repentance.  Now they are asking, in practical terms, what they needed to do.  What does it mean to “bring forth fruits worthy of repentance”?  When we repent, what kind of effect will that bring about in our lives?

John tells them.  “He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.  Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?  And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.   And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.” (verses 11-14)  John is telling them that there needed to be some meaningful changes in their behavior.  If they wanted to know what true repentance is, and what kind of effect it would have in their actions, John would give them some examples:  Change your behavior to begin sharing with those in need.  Change your behavior, tax collectors, and stop your stealing and dishonesty.  Change your behavior, soldiers, and stop abusing your power.

This was what they were missing--a change in behavior.  And this lack of the effect of repentance showed John that there had, in deed, been no repentance, and that their attempts to receive a blessing from God (remission of sins) was not met with an equal desire to come to God on His terms.  For their outward, apparent appeals to have any substance, any truth, they needed to be accompanied by the kind of inward change of heart that resulted in visible changes to their behavior.  Otherwise, they were simply a generation of vipers.

*****

Two thousand years later, these same lessons can still be applied to the four candidates who have now signed Personhood USA’s pledge.  It is undeniable by those who truly understand the personhood principles that all four of these candidates have, in the past, espoused positions that are in direct conflict with the personhood of the unborn.  But now, these same candidates are seeking a benefit from Personhood USA and personhood voters, who they believe will be impressed by their signature on this document.  Personhood USA touts their willingness to sign the pledge as evidence that they have changed their views on personhood.  But, as yet, we have seen them bring forth no fruits worthy of this supposed repentance. 

John held his audience accountable for the lack of a change in their lives.  Personhood USA is utterly and miserably failing to do so.  When John’s audience came seeking to receive the remission of sins by means of a mere gesture, John told them plainly that a mere gesture was insufficient--that it was not just any baptism that would lead to remission of sins, but that it must be the baptism of repentance, as manifested in their lives by a change of behavior.  Personhood USA should, likewise, require a corresponding change from the signatories of their pledge, by letting them know plainly that it is not just any signature on this document that will win their favor, but that it must be a signature based on a true change of heart, manifested by a change in these candidates’ policies and behavior.  Otherwise, if there is no such repentance, then as John declares, these candidates are the latest generation of vipers in a long line of compromised, ineffective, panderers, seeking to gain favor through a meaningless gesture.

Had John baptized his hearers, knowing that their lives were showing evidence of a failure to repent, he would have been complicit in their insincere and offensive attempts to win God’s favor.  Likewise, Personhood USA, by allowing these candidates to sign their pledge without any indication that they have repented of their previously held ungodly positions and support for immoral legislation, shares the guilt of this generation of snakelike deceivers and flatterers; and perhaps worse, allows the candidates to believe (or pretend to believe) that there is no conflict between personhood and their unrepented utilitarian positions.

Let us pray that all involved with this pledge will learn from John’s discourse, and begin to bring forth fruits worthy of repentance.

_David Jeffers

Yesterday we asked why and how Paul could look at all the achievements of his life and comparing them to Jesus, consider them all garbage. The answer is found in today’s passage:

“Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” (Philippians 3:8-11)

Paul realized, once he met the Lord Jesus, that all he had been striving for in his spiritual life and religious endeavors mattered nothing. Why? Because through them he was trying to attain an unattainable righteousness. But when he met Messiah Jesus he knew he had met his true righteousness. Remember, Paul was a very learned Pharisee and knew the scriptures well. No doubt he remembered David’s psalm about the Messiah:

“He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.” (Psalm 24:5)

The initial shame Paul must have felt when he looked at his filthy rags of works, and he no doubt harkened back to the Prophet Isaiah’s declaration of the only true Savior:

“He shall say, ‘Surely in the LORD I have righteousness and strength. To Him men shall come, and all shall be ashamed who are incensed against Him.’” (Isaiah 45:24)

I say that with great confidence because Paul had quoted the preceding verse of Isaiah 45:24 in Philippians 2:10...

“I have sworn by Myself; the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.” (Isaiah 45:23)

Paul had written ofthis righteousness that exceeded the law in his letter to the Roman Church:

“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” (Romans 10:4)

Paul looked at his life and realized he had been pursuing worldly things. And he threw them all away to gain Christ.

Warren Wiersbe puts it this way:

“Yes, Paul gained far more than he lost. In fact, the gains were so thrilling that Paul considered all other ‘things’ nothing but garbage in comparison! No wonder he had joy in his life—his life did not depend on the cheap ‘things’ of the world but on the eternal values found in Christ. Paul had the ‘spiritual mind’ and looked at the ‘things’ of earth from heaven’s point of view. People who live for ‘things’ are never really happy, because they must constantly protect their treasures and worry lest they lose their value. Not so the believer with the spiritual mind; his treasures in Christ can never be stolen and they never lose their value.”

What about you dear friend? Are you striving for the riches of this world, depending on the cheap “things” in life?

Have you tried to attain a worthless righteousness through your good works?

Why not surrender your life to the Righteous One Jesus Christ? Lose this world of filthy rags and gain the eternal beauty and righteousness of Jesus Christ. He is so lovely, our Messiah. He is wonderful. We read and sing about Him every Christmas:

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

Do you see Jesus as Wonderful? So many things in life today are horrible; wouldn’t you like something wonderful?

Is He your Counselor? Have you spent hours on the couch of some limited human being trying to help you cope with life? Wouldn’t you rather “mount up with wings like eagles”?

Do you know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Mighty God and the Everlasting Father? He is one in the same!

The threat of war has many frightened today; wouldn’t you like to face these fears in the security of the Prince of Peace?

Oh I pray that you will receive Christ this Christmas season! What gift could be greater than one that is eternal?

Beloved, I have an early day tomorrow so the Lord willing we will meet on Friday. The Lord bless you.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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Copyright © 2011 David Jeffers