IN THIS ISSUE:
Discerning Lying Wonders and Signs–Betty Miller
Covenant (God’s Desire for a Covenant People) — R.S. “Bud” Miller
Share and Tell — Columbine Shootings — How God is Turning the Tragedy to Good
Spiritual Warfare — Overcoming Through Serving Others
Exposing Satan’s Devices — Actively Resist the Devil
End Times — The Beast Versus the Lord
Cybersex — Special Guest, Alfred H. Ells, M.C.
Book Review — Doing Business God’s Way by Dennis Peacocke
Quotable Quotes & Poetry Corner — Remembering Our Founding Fathers on the 4th of July
Little Foxes (Little Compromises) — Making Jesus Lord of the Fork
Personal Word From the Millers — Summer Greeting
Purpose and Vision — Ministry Information
DISCERNING LYING WONDERS AND SIGNS
Written by Betty Miller
2 Thessalonians 2:8-11: “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.”
We live in an hour when there is an emphasis on things that are supernatural. Many movie, video and T.V. programs are delving into the supernatural. What does the word supernatural mean? It is referring to things that cannot be explained with a scientific or natural explanation. It is beyond the natural, a wonder that seemingly defies logic and is not explainable by the known forces or laws of nature. There are two sources that supernatural phenomenon can come from. Supernatural manifestations are actually things that have their source of power from the spiritual world. The spiritual world has two active powers in existence: God and His angels and the Satan and his devils (also known as fallen angels).
Satan uses his supernatural “lying wonders and signs” to trap men into following him, while the Lord uses His miracles to lead men in a righteous path to follow Him. From the above verse we see that men can be deceived into believing a lie if they are deceived into accepting lying signs and wonders. The Church is experiencing a lot of miracles at this time, but along with the true miracles of God there are also false gifts of power, signs and lying wonders, that are not of God. How do we discern the difference so that we do not get caught up in something that is not of God which could lead us into error?
We can see that the devil is able to perform miracles as well as God by reading of a miracle that Satan’s magicians performed and how God did a greater miracle in Exodus 7:9-12: “When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you: then thou shalt say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent.
10 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pharaoh, and they did so as the LORD had commanded: and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent.
11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.
12 For they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents: but Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods.”
Most Christians want to receive those things that the Lord is doing that are miraculous, however some of the so called miracles of God are not coming from Him at all, but are glorifying men and not God. As Christians we cannot receive nor accept all miracles, signs and wonders just because the word “God or the Bible” is attributed as to being the source of those things. The Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:2: “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
What should our role as Christians be in regard to acceptance of a sign, miracle or wonder? We are told to prove all things, not to reject them because they might be strange or new to us. However, we should not receive them either, until we first prove them. How do we prove things? All true Christians are in agreement that our standard is the Word of God, the Bible. God left us this Book as a reference, standard, or gauge so we could know whether something is good or evil, truth or error, right or wrong. (II Timothy 3:16-17: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”)
Here are some questions we need to ask when proving things. Does the sign, miracle or wonder line up with the Word of God? Is God receiving the glory for this miracle or is a man or woman being exalted? Can you picture Christ performing this miracle? Does the miracle draw attention to Christ or to the man performing the miracle? Does this wonder cause you love and worship God more? What is the purpose for this miracle? The Lord does not perform miracles just to exhibit His power to men. He does them for specific purposes and reasons.
This is demonstrated by the account of Jesus’ temptation of the devil to perform a supernatural feat so people would know He was God’s son. Look at Matthew 4:5-7: “Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.”
Here, Jesus refused to do a miracle just to demonstrate He had power. He called this tempting God. God displays His power, signs, wonders and miracles for His purposes. Here are some of the reasons and purposes in the Bible where the Lord demonstrates His signs, miracles or wonders. This is only a very small listing of miracles in the Bible:
(1.) Wonders of Apprehension (There are accounts of many men and women throughout the Bible who experienced supernatural happenings to them individually when the Lord called them for a special purpose.)
Moses at the Burning Bush (Exodus 3) In the presence of God He experienced God’s requirement for holiness.
Saul on the Road to Damascus (Acts 9) In the presence of God, Saul was shown his rebellion.
(2.) Miracles of Provision (When God’s people had a need that could not be met at the moment in the natural.)
Feeding of the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:16-21)
Provision of the Manna to the Israelites (Exodus 16:35)
(3.) Miracles of Protection (God keeps His people with angelic protection when they are in danger.)
Daniel in the Lion’s Den (Daniel 6)
Three Hebrew Children in the Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3)
(4.) Miracles of Deliverance from Plotted Destruction (God sends angelic messengers to warn His people of danger and the way of escape.)
Joseph and Mary with Baby Jesus (Matthew 2)
Peter from Prison (Acts 11)
(5.) Miracles of Healing (God heals His people from all manner of disease and suffering through miracles.)
Healing of the Blind, Lame, Diseased and Sick by the Apostles (Book of Acts)
Healing of the Demonized Gaderene (Luke 8:26-39)
(6.) Miracles of Divine Revelation (God gives divine understanding of His Word and His plans.)
Jesus Reveals the Scriptures to His Disciples (Luke 24:45)
Daniel Receives Visions and Revelation from God (Daniel 10)
From these accounts of miracles, signs and wonders we can see that the purposes of God were performed. Some of the supernatural manifestations that are occurring in the present move of God do not come from God at all. They are from another source, the devil. Some Christians do not recognize them as coming from the devil as they quote having feelings of ecstasy in these meetings or feeling what they call the anointing or glory of God. There is a true feeling of the presence and the anointing of God however, some of what is happening is not of God. Many Christians live in a feeling realm with God and just go from meeting to meeting so they can “feel” good. God’s true anointing and glory will cause men to change, not merely feel good. If you are in the presence of God’s true glory you will begin to see your sin and repent and desire to do His will. God’s true glory is a revelation of His nature and attributes.
One of our major faults as Christians is that we tend to listen to men on certain subjects instead of referring to the Book God gave us. We recognize that God gave us men to lead us into the truths of God, but our problem becomes who are the true men of God and who are the false ones that Christ warned us about? Sometimes we tend to evaluate men according to the size of their ministries, their popularity with men, or their endowment of certain gifts, etc. The true test should be to test them by evaluating their fruit according to Galatians 5:22-24: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.”
Not only are we to test or try the spirits in men, but we are to do the same with any supernatural manifestations that we might experience. Today, when the world is being exposed to so many false things we need to be careful not to expose our spirits to false dreams, visions, revelations, prophecies, voices, signs, miracles, wonders, etc. The Word of God definitely teaches that God can manifest Himself in any, or all, of the above things; yet we are not to accept everything that comes in the name of Jesus. We need to test or prove these also. One of Satan’s greatest devices is to counterfeit the real things of God and come to us disguised as the working of the Holy Spirit.
One reason some people move too quickly to accept the things they believe to be God is that they are fearful of disobeying Him, and thereby angering Him. They do not yet understand the loving and patient nature of our Father. The Lord never minds us testing or trying things to see if He is in them. It is only when we put God on trial that we do wrong. If we come to Him with a humble and sincere heart, wanting to know the answer to an honest question, He is more than willing to reveal to us the truth about the matter. The only time we will not get an answer from God is when we approach Him rebelliously, demanding an answer from Him.
Many Christians are hesitant about proving or testing things as they tend to categorize this right along with “judging,” and they have been taught they are to judge no man. Most of us are familiar with the Scripture in Matthew 7:1 that says, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” If we look at only this one verse, and we are trying to judge a situation, we will feel guilty about making an evaluation. However, we should look at all the other Scriptures related to this one, so we know how we are to judge. Let us continue to read the rest of this Scripture, “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:2-5).
Examining all these Scriptures, we see that Jesus is not saying we are not to judge, but rather how we are to judge. We are to judge mercifully and according to the Word of God.We need to humbly submit the thing in question to the Lord and ask Him to show us if it is of Him or if the sign or wonder is from the devil. We need to go to the Word of God and seek the answer in the Bible. If the sign is from Him it will bear witness to our spirit, we who have the Spirit of Truth within us will be able to witness to and hear that truth. If we are uncomfortable about a sign, miracle or wonder, this could be the Holy Spirit warning us to test this thing. If a service is reduced to a circus atmosphere with weird things that don’t agree with God’s nature, His gifts and His Word, it simply isn’t our Lord. Some things just don’t pass the test. 1 Corinthians 14:40 says “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
Although things are different in certain services it does not mean it is not God however, you will have a witness in your spirit that this is of God if you are seeking God with your whole heart. Ask Him to show you the truth and be open to receiving all that is from Him. On the other hand, ask Him to show you when something is not of God so that you will not be deceived. I make it a practice to run everything through what I call “the Holy Ghost filter”. I always ask the Lord to show me the truth about things. I trust the Lord to guide me and show me what is of Him and to change my ideas if they are wrong about something. I also expect Him to confirm to me when I am right about things. John 16:13: “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.”
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COVENANT: GOD’S GUARANTEE FOR VICTORIOUS LIVING
By Pastor R.S. “Bud” Miller
God’s Desire For a Covenant People
Israel received the covenant promises by faith, but they failed to fully inherit them. They failed to take possession of the blessings. Just as Abraham’s covenant was originally sealed with his obedience, his descendants in many generations forfeited their covenant blessings and rights because of disobedience.
However, the good news is that the Abrahamic covenant is everlasting. It was carried down to Jesus, mostly because of God’s maintaining it and them through His “own arm” (Psalm 44:3) and His mercy. With Jesus, the old covenant was incorporated into a new one that will never be broken between God and man again.
The new covenant was established by one who is both God and man, and it is not possible for the final blood covenant ever to be broken.
The descendants of Abraham were allowed to continue under the covenant and not be destroyed during times of sin, because someone among them obeyed God and “stood in the gap.” Moses was among the first to stand in this role for God’s people.
And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped. And he said, if now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance.
Exodus 34:8,9
No matter how disobedient many of the Israelites were from generation to generation, God provided salvation by His “own arm.” Why did He do this?
*Was it because they were so special above all other peoples?
*Was it because they were so obedient?
*Was it even for the sake of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?
The answer to those questions is no, although God did put up with a lot from the Israelites simply because of His covenant with their fathers. The main reason God worked with Israel for hundreds of years is because He had determined to have a covenant people–and God never changes (Malachi 3:6).
His original purpose for creating the earth and man was to have a people who would fill the earth with His glory, and He will succeed in this.
God’s desire from the time He created Adam and Eve was for a people who would love and serve Him as a family. When our first parents fell into disobedience and forfeited their relationship with God, He already had a plan in motion to bring some of their descendants back into relationship with Him through an everlasting blood covenant.
God’s desire was for Abraham’s descendants to be established on the earth as a royal kingdom of priests who would show the knowledge of God to the other nations of the earth (Exodus 19:6). This was God’s primary reason for blessing them–so that they could be a blessing to others and their joy might be complete in that way.
God’s desire was for them to be “the head and not the tail” among nations (Dueteronomy 28:13)–blessed, sanctified, and separated from the world.
God’s desire was to be their King and rule over them as His people and children through the covenant with Abraham. His children were to be Abraham’s (those born by faith in Jesus), and Abraham’s children were to be His. That was a blood-covenant provision stronger than natural blood ties.
God’s desire was for them to remain as priests in right standing with Him. They would draw near to God in prayer and offer sacrifices as memorials-in-advance of the sacrifice of Jesus. They were to make it known a better covenant was coming. Through this “New” Covenant, there would never again be the possibility that God would not have His own people, created in His image. His plan was finished, as Jesus said on the cross (John 19:30).
From Calvary until now, God’s plan has been established, and His people are assigned to re-occupy enemy territory until God’s Kingdom on earth is as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10).
(Continued next issue)
Note: This teaching is continued from last month’s Overcoming Life Digest. See Table of Contents for Archives.
(Excerpt from the book entitled: COVENANT God’s Guarantee for Victorious Living by R.S. “Bud” Miller)
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SHARE AND TELL
“O Give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.”
Psalm 105:1
Columbine Shootings — How God is Turning the Tragedy to Good
Revival at Littleton, Colorado!
More about the Christian kids, who gave their life for Christ at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.
What the news is not reporting is the revival that’s begun. There were 2 other backslidden Christian kids in that library while people were getting killed, who watched as bold Christian classmates stepped up and gave their lives. They have now come out and vowed never to compromise their faith again as long as they live.
Christian kids that were in public schools in the whole area that had been embarrassed because they wanted to be cool, didn’t want to stand up for Christ, have all opened their mouths this week and there are hundreds of teenagers turning to Christ. They don’t want to hear about peer counseling and psychology, they’re falling on their knees and crying out to Jesus Christ.
In this group that gathered with the soccer team to pray, a little girl stood up to preach the gospel and all of these kids got on their knees and accepted Jesus Christ. Churches have been filled every night, all week. For the first time, all the youth pastors in the area are meeting together on Monday; all the senior pastors are meeting on Tuesday, what you are hearing about is there is a revival.
One after another young Christians stood and came forward and said “I believe in Jesus” and what that has done in the hearts of the people in this community is unbelievable. What the news isn’t reporting is what they don’t understand, a revival has begun.
Lord, give me the courage of a 17 year old, not to die for Jesus, but to live for Jesus. Joshua 23:14
Dr. Ed Tropp
Associate Pastor of Circle Drive Baptist, Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA
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SPIRITUAL WARFARE
By Betty Miller
OVERCOMING THROUGH SERVING OTHERS
God wants to bless us. He wants us to walk in victory and joy and peace. Christians should be enjoying the most blessed relationships on earth, especially in their marriages. We have the power of the Holy Spirit and His Biblical principles to follow that can result in a beautiful married life. What holds it back? Selfishness. “I, me, my…If you don’t do such-and-such for me, I won’t do thus-and-thus for you.” That selfishness is the number one killer of marriages as well as other relationships.
What’s the solution? Nothing less than the sacrificial love of Christ. “Let me serve you. Let me bless you.” Two people saying that makes for a successful marriage. For example in my life, my ministry is to promote my husband and his ministry; he does the same for me. When we both walk that way we are both fulfilled. If we all walked that way, none would lack. If we all served one another, none would be without. But if we move in greed and selfishness, we all end up losing.
What do we do when our hearts are set to serve, people but they despise us instead? Sad to say, we’ve been hated by certain ones whom we’ve loved. How does one handle, for example, a visit to an unsaved relative who’s so convicted by the presence of a Christian that he relates with animosity? Here’s what we’ve done. Before the encounter we’ve prayed along these lines: “Lord, give us such a love for this person. Let Your love prevail. Help us to bless this person in word and deed. We forgive him. We take authority over the work of the enemy. We bind you, Satan, from the conversation and from speaking your lies to this person. Lord, use us; let us be a gift of mercy today.” This spiritual preparation works. Visits that would have been disastrous have been made peaceful. During our conversation, the enemy was not able to speak a word. Later the individual may have continued his slander against us, but in our presence he couldn’t because Satan was bound.
It can be disastrous if we don’t pray and we go unprepared. If we’re thinking, “What’s that person going to say that will come against me today? I don’t even want to be around him. Must I go through with this?;” then the battle is already lost. We’re thinking evil thoughts back. To win, we’ve got to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good”). We’ve got to take the humble position, that of serving the individual. “Lord, how can I help this person today?” To walk in the headship position, we first have to take the low position of servanthood, servants of God.
(Continued next issue)
Excerpt from the book Personal Spiritual Warfare; Click here to order from the CHAPEL BOOKSTORE
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EXPOSING SATAN’S DEVICES
Betty Miller
THE SPIRITUAL WARFARE BATTLE
ACTIVELY RESIST THE DEVIL
To stand against the wiles of the devil, we must actively resist him and he will flee. The Bible does not say ignore the devil and he will flee, but rather resist him. The passivity and complacency of many Christians have allowed the devil to ravage their lives. The only thing necessary for evil to prevail is for the good to do nothing. We should be totally involved with the things of God instead of fostering complacency. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
Notice, this verse states we are in a “wrestling match.” This shows us that there is a struggle involved to overcome the enemy. We must understand our battle is not with people, but rather with the evil spirits working through them. Since all truth runs in parallels, and we know that the Holy Spirit operates through people, Satan works through people also. This does not mean they are of the devil, but that they are under the devil’s influence. We all have, at times, yielded to the devil and been his instruments. We do not want to continue to do this once we know the Lord; that is why we resist Satan.
We find an example of this happening to one of Jesus’ disciples. This is recorded in Mark 8:30-33, “And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.”
DON’T SPEAK SATAN’S WORDS
Jesus was speaking to Peter here when He rebuked the devil, for He recognized that Peter was speaking under Satan’s influence. This did not mean Peter was of the devil, but rather a devil was speaking through him, as we see later in his life he became an overcomer, and people who were merely in his shadow were healed. “Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them” (Acts 5:15).
Jesus also recognized the influence of the Holy Spirit on Peter as well as Satan’s influence because just prior to this Peter had proclaimed the Lord Jesus as the Christ. “And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven'”(Matthew 16:16-17).
The verse below is a beautiful example of how Jesus handled the problem of the enemy coming through His beloved disciple; after rebuking the devil and exposing this as a demonic response from Peter, He did something else. We find this in Luke 22:31-32, “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” Jesus prayed that Peter would be set free from the devil. We can learn through this example. When our loved ones allow the enemy to work through them, we need to go to the prayer closet, rebuke the devil, and pray that they be set free from his influence.
(Continued next issue)
Excerpt from the book Exposing Satan’s Devices; Click here to order from the CHAPEL BOOKSTORE
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END TIMES
MARK OF GOD OR MARK OF THE BEAST
Betty Miller
INTRODUCTION
Much has been said on this subject of the mark of the beast, but little said about the mark of God. Will there be a literal mark tattooed on people’s foreheads and/or their hands in these end times to make it possible to buy and sell in a one-world monetary system that is being set up by an antichrist?
We can certainly see the possibilities of this becoming a literal reality in our day with the technology of laser beam tattoos and our president speaking of a “new world order.” Even now, pets can be tracked by tiny computer chips about the size of a grain of rice which have an identification number programmed into it that can be injected under the skin with a hypodermic needle. A special scanner generates a radio signal that reads the number through the skin of the animal when it is found.
This book is not disputing the possibilities of a literal tattoo, but rather exposing the spiritual implications behind that plan of Satan. How will this come about? Will it be one of the above new technologies or something yet to come? We don’t believe men are going to be tattooed or branded with a literal set of three sixes on their foreheads or hands, any more than we believe the letters J-E-S-U-S will be on the foreheads of God’s servants as spoken of in Revelation 22: 3-4: “And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.”
How will the beast mark those who follow him, and what is the mark of God set upon those who follow Christ? Let us begin with the mark of the beast, then look at how we are to receive God’s mark which protects us from destruction in these end times.
Throughout the Scriptures, the word beast refers to a system, and not to a man. The beast is a system that rules the world; it’s an antichrist system. Daniel 7 speaks of beasts and identifies them as earthly kingdoms. So the beast in Revelation is a beastly system that’s ruling the world (it’s a dictator beast). This beast is not just one human being, rather it is a system that has infiltrated every area whether it be politics, medicine, art or science; the beastly system is everywhere. This system is typically overseen by a powerful government with those in power making decisions that perpetrate the worldly system throughout mankind. When Revelation 13:1 speaks of the beast rising up out of the sea, what is meant by the sea? The Scriptures speak of the sea as “masses of humanity.” This beastly system is rising up out of humanity, out of all the people on the earth. When John, the author of Revelation, stood upon the sand of the sea, he was standing upon that which could not be numbered, among all the people of the earth.
_______________
The Beast Versus the Lord
The beast is everywhere, in everything that is not of God. That’s why Christians have had difficulty in trying to identify the antichrist and the beast. They’ve tried to label one portion of the beast as being the whole beast, when the beast is bigger than that. The beast is Satan and his influence in the world system; his control has infiltrated the whole world. However, from the leadership in this last generation of this beast system, the devil will choose one human to have more influence than others. His choice could fit the picture of the so-called end- time antichrist. He could even be inhabited by Satan himself as he arrays his last battle against God and the church; however, he will not prevail as the Lord will win the final battle.
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great. And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone” (Revelation. 19: 11-20).
Here we see Satan’s corporate body making war against God’s corporate body — the beast system with its various leaders and Satan at the head, against Christ and his full body of believers at His return. The King of kings and Lord of lords shall win! Hallelujah! Satan will not win nor will any antichrist rule this world.
(Continued next issue)
Excerpt taken from the book The Mark of God or The Mark of the Beast; Click here to order from the CHAPEL BOOKSTORE
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BOOK REVIEW
Doing Business God’s Way!
By Dennis Peacocke
Doing Business God’s Way is a study of how God manages His resources so that we can begin to manage ours the same way. It is a book about applying God’s building principles to both ourselves and our culture. It provides an introduction to eleven master principles of management, growth, and productivity to help us see that Biblical Christianity truly brings life and increase to all that it touches.
Quoting Dennis, “Today we face many crises. None of them is more basic than the answer to this question: How should mankind justly care for the Earth’s resource and distribute its wealth? If Christianity really is God’s message to the world and the Bible is His “manufacturer’s handbook,” then the scripture must address this most fundamental question of human concern. Has our Maker established laws governing our labor, our currencies, our productive justice and other general laws related to what we commonly call “economics?” If so, how do they work? Does the Bible address those laws? What are the penalties for individuals, businesses and nations breaking those laws? This became the basis of my original search and my subsequent teaching. The answers to these questions are in this book.”
In my opinion you will not find a better book addressing Christian economics. Doing Business God’s Way is like no other book on this subject. It is not a book about tithing and giving, although these topics are addressed. This book addresses economic lifestyles that affect all levels of our society, with the explanation of why some of them work and some of them don’t. Anyone who is interested in how God is going to impact our generation in the economic realm should read this book. To give you a flavor as to the financial issues he discusses here is just one of the chapter titles: Justice and Equality Are Not The Same (Men are not equal, and economic redistribution cannot change this fact).
Dennis Peacocke is one of the most profound thinkers of our day. His book will challenge you and cause you to look at certain subjects in a whole new light such as stewarding property, generational wealth, family businesses and how godly government produces peace and productivity. If you are interested in how you can change your financial future, positively influence your community and the world economically and partake in “economic evangelism”—don’t miss reading this book.
….Book Review by Betty Miller
Dennis Peacocke is founder and president of Strategic Christian Services, Inc., a non-profit corporation that aids leaders in discovering how to apply Biblical truth to churches, business and culture. He teaches widely in the Americas, Europe and New Zealand. A graduate of the University of California at Berkley, former research economist, and business owner, Dennis was ordained to the ministry in 1973. He resides in Santa Rosa, California, with his wife and three children.
Dennis Peacoke can be reached by e-mail at: info@gostrategic.org or you can visit his Strategic Christian Services Website at: www.gostrategic.org
Doing Business God’s Way! by Dennis Peacocke is available for $10.00 each in our CHAPEL BOOKSTORE (Click here to order)
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QUOTABLE QUOTES & POETRY CORNER
Remembering Our Founding Fathers on the 4th of July!!!
Great Quotes from Early leaders in the United States
Current popular wisdom teaches that the founder fathers of the United States wanted nothing to do with religion being mixed with government. “Separation of church and state” is a popular refrain amongst those who would seek to eradicate all vestiges of God from our governmental system. Yet, is that what the founding fathers really wanted? Is that what they meant? By reading the following quotes, it would seem that the separation of church and state has been sadly misunderstood by our modern thinking. To the modern ear these quotes may sound like the words of “religious nuts” who should be barred from any public office. Instead they are the words of men whose wisdom and sanity produced perhaps the best governmental system the world has ever seen. In the name of being constitutional, have we have perverted the original vision of those who fought for the freedom we now possess today?
We pray these quotes will encourage you to stand fearlessly for godliness and to pray for the United States on her 223rd birthday.
Patrick Henry: “It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation was founded not by religionists, but by Christians, not on religions but on the gospel of Jesus Christ! For this very reason the people of other faiths have been afforded asylum, prosperity and freedom of worship here.”
Thomas Jefferson: “And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.
George Washington: “It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection, aid and favors.”
Benjamin Franklin: ” I have lived, sir, a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proofs I see of this truth…that God governs the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid?”
George Mason: “The laws of nature are the laws of God, whose authority can be superseded by no power on earth.” “All human laws which contradict His laws we are bound to disobey.”
James Madison: “We have staked the future upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves, to sustain ourselves, according to the Ten Commandments of God.”
John Adams: “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
John Quincy Adams: “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: It connected, in one indissoluble bond, the principals of civil government and Christianity.”
William Penn: “We will either be governed by God or ruled by tyrants.”
Andrew Jackson: “The Bible is true…I have tried to conform to its spirit as near as possible. Upon that sacred volume I rest my hope for eternal salvation, through the merits and blood of our blessed Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
Abraham Lincoln: “…We have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us. it behooves us then, to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”
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LITTLE FOXES
(Little Compromises That Cause Big Problems)
By Betty Miller
Song of Solomon 2:15 says, “Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.” Foxes sometime in search of food would enter into the grape orchards and devour the grapes and spoil the crop. However, the little foxes were too small to reach the grape bunches so they would chew on the vines and it would kill the whole vine. Instead of the farmer just losing his crop, he would lose his vine which was more disastrous. Spiritually some things we do or allow that we might think are little or insignificant can also be disastrous for us.
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Making Jesus “Lord of the Fork”
Proverbs 23:20-21: “Be not among winebibbers; among riotous eaters of flesh: 21 For the drunkard and the
glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.”
EATING UNTO THE LORD
One of the greatest sins in the United States is gluttony. Food has become the god of millions. Jesus has never been made “Lord of the Fork.” The Word of God has much to say about man’s eating habits. Many sicknesses that are plaguing mankind stem directly from unhealthy eating habits. How should Christians eat? How much should we eat? Are all the so-called health foods the answer to our diet problem? Does the Bible address these questions? Yes, the Word of God has the answer to our questions as to what is healthy for us to eat and how we are to eat.
Many people’s problem with eating is the problem of overeating. This problem usually develops by eating that little extra helping of food. This “little fox” can grow from one of just “one more cookie” or “another bite of candy” until there is no restraint and then the lust of food rules one’s life. In the above verse gluttony is listed along with drunkenness. Although, society doesn’t look down on overeating that much. The Bible declares this is a serious sin and warns us to resist yielding to this kind of appetite. Someone has said that the drug of the yuppies is gourmet food and fine wines. It is respectable to entertain and have expensive food served to one’s guests. Now God wants us to enjoy the good food He created for us and there is nothing wrong with cooking and serving guests in our homes. However, when all of our spare time revolves around cooking, entertaining and eating rich and expensive food, something is wrong, especially when God is left out of our lives.
Proverbs 23:1-3: “When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: 2 And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. 3 Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.”
With so much emphasis on proper eating and physical exercise here in America, it has caused many to examine their lifestyles. Many people have now become unbalanced by putting too much emphasis on the physical man while neglecting the spiritual man. The Lord desires this area also to be in balance as our physical condition, if it is not properly cared for, affects our spiritual condition.
The spiritual man should always be given top priority as its influence over the physical man is greater than the physical man’s influence over it. “For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come'”(I Timothy 4:8). We need proper balance between neglecting our bodies and giving them too much attention.
God is a good God and has promised us the blessing of enjoying the good food that He has created. Psalm 22:26: “The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever.”
It is only when we abuse our bodies through overeating or wrong eating that is wrong. Some people become very defensive over the issue that we should bring God to the table. They want to eat as they please, however as Christians we must bring the Lord into this area of our life as well as every other area. Remember the first sin in the Bible that led to all of mankind’s downfall was when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate something they were told not to eat (Genesis 3). This certainly was a seemingly little thing that caused sin to enter into the world. The real problem was the disobedience to God. We should ask the Lord to help us in this area if we are struggling with this problem. Although I can’t address the answer to our eating habits in this article I will list a few things that we should do that will help us lose weight and overcome gluttony. One note though, you do not have to be overweight to commit the sin of gluttony. If you lust after food it is a sin..
(1.) EAT GOD’S APPROVED FOODS LISTED IN THE BIBLE:
A good guideline would be to eat “living foods.” The natural, living foods are fresh vegetables, fruits, grains, meats and dairy products. The “dead foods” are those that are highly refined. They not only are expensive, but also in most instances do little to nourish. Many people are tired, run down and sick because a large part of their diets are made up of dead junk foods. We want to include at least an outline of some of God’s approved foods to help people get started on the road to proper eating. Although this list is not complete, it does give the basic foods that the Bible lists as good to eat:
Barley—Ruth 2:23
Bread—Luke 22:19
Butter—Isaiah 7:22
Corn—Ruth 2:14; I Samuel 17:17
Cheese—I Samuel 17:18
Dates—Genesis 3:2
Eggs—Job 6:6
Figs—Numbers 13:23; I Samuel 25:18
Fruits(All)—Genesis 1:29
Herbs (Leafy Plants) and Vegetables—Genesis 1:29
Honey—Deuteronomy 8:8
Meats—(Beef, Fish,Lamb,Poultry,Venison) Deuteronomy 14; Leviticus 11
Milk—Isaiah 7:21-22
Nuts—Genesis 43:11
Olives and Olive Oil—Leviticus 2:4; Deuteronomy 8:8
Salt—Leviticus 2:13
Wheat (Bread, Cereal, Pasta)—Psalm 81:16(2.) EAT IN MODERATION:
Ask the Lord to help you eat the proper amount of food. Eat only until full. He will help you. He loves you and cares about you. Philippians 4:5: “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.”(3.) GET REGULAR MILD EXERCISE: Walking is an excellent form of exercise.
(4.) FAST PERIODICALLY: Fasting helps cleanse the body of toxins that can lead to sickness.
As we seek the Lord in regard to our diets, He will gladly lead us in the right path. We must not get out of balance in this area and let menus and cooking absorb an exorbitant amount of time since this would be just as bad as ignoring diet altogether and eating anything we want. Here is a good verse to claim as we set our heart to overcome gluttony and the tendency to allow the enemy to tempt us little by little to fall into the trap of overeating.
Psalm 141:3-4: “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. 4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties”
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SPECIAL GUEST ARTICLE
CYBERSEX
Sex on the Internet
by Alfred Ells, M.C.
The Internet is filled with marvelous things to see and do. One can get a map of a city, e-mail missionaries in Turkey, chat with special interest groups and even get medical advice. With the advent of cyberspace has come an unbelievable array of benefits . . . and problems.
Chief among the problems is cybersex, the use of the Internet for sexual activity. The Internet has become the newest and perhaps easiest way to access pornography or become sexually involved with another person. The technological impact of the web has not just assisted us in accessing information, but has also become a major venue for sin.
A recent study on the impact of the Internet warns that Internet users who would normally be unlikely to develop sexually compulsive behavior do so as a result of their Internet usage. The anonymity and instant accessibility of the web has enticed many a curious user into giving in to the temptation of viewing pornography. This is very easy to do given that pornography is the third largest sector on the Internet. Consider the following statistics.
There are 19,542,710 unique visitors per month on the top 5 pay porn sites.
There are 98,527,275 unique visitors per month on the top 5 free porn sites.
70% of all e-porn traffic occurs during the 9 to 5 workday.
Last year the Internet porn industry generated over $1 billion.
200 new porn sites per day are being added to the Internet.
All sites offer free ?teasers?, meaning free viewing of porn pictures that are intended to allure the user to sign up to view more.
Though all porn sites require the person to say they are at least 18 years of age, any child can click ?yes? and then view the free porn teasers.
Studies indicate that the Internet has had a major impact upon both men and women. While men are mainly involved in porn viewing, women have greatly increased their involvement in unhealthy and ungodly relationships. Typically, a woman starts a relationship through chat room conversations that quickly become flavored with intimate disclosure. The relationship often progresses to the daily anticipation of hearing the voice box announce that ?You have mail?. From e-mail interactions comes the exchange of phone numbers, phone sex or even personal meetings. For the bored, unfulfilled or romantically inclined, the instant and confidential nature of the web makes participation too easy to resist.
Each day 37 million Americans sign on to the Internet from home and 32 million Americans use the Internet from work. The repercussions of misusage are staggering to contemplate. Usage of the Internet for sexual activity has already increased the number of referrals to my office of Christian men and ministers who are struggling with Internet pornography. I have also witnessed a number of marriages jeopardized by Internet romances. Family problems nowadays include teenage porn viewers who have been caught by parents.
What can be done to help stem the tide of cybersex? Please consider the following suggestions.
Make sure everyone in your family and ministry understands the dangers and practices described above. The scripture declares that people perish for lack of knowledgeable foresight (Proverbs 29:18). Christians who desire to keep their life pure need to be aware of the potential dangers of Internet misusage, especially related to cybersex.
Couples viewing Internet pornography together is damaging. Any exposure to porn viewing can bring arousal that encourages further viewing and ultimately a problem for one or both partners. Additionally, any introduction of pornography into the bedroom will eventually damage the emotional and spiritual intimacy of the act of marriage.
Monitor Internet usage by checking the computer history log. If you have a Windows based program you can check the History file and find out if anyone has been visiting Internet porn sites or chat rooms. Simply go to ?Start? and click with the right hand mouse button. Go to ?Explore? and then to ?All Folders?. Click on the ?History (Hx)? file and it will show you all visited Internet sites.
If you have had difficulty being tempted with Internet porn or ?chat room? relationships, confess it to another person. Change starts with open recognition and admission of one?s sin and weakness. Accountability to another, who will pray for you and check on you weekly, will help considerably.
If cybersex has become a pattern in your life, seek help. Once these practices become patterns and habits they fall into the category of compulsive or addictive sin bondages. An arousal template is being reinforced so powerfully that the individual needs expert help in order to gain freedom.
Restructure your computer and Internet usage. Once an unhealthy pattern has been established, the user will find himself or herself being aroused by just signing on to the net. Get a spouse or friend to help you walk through a different way to sign on or ask them to be present when you do. Anything you do to break the pattern or cycle will help.
Get a safe Internet provider. There is more than one net provider that now offers screened or assisted usage in eliminating porn from your address. Safe Access, Safe Net and Integrity Online are screened net providers that filter objectionable material. If you have America On Line you can get an address from them that forwards all unsolicited porn advertisements to a special mail- box which in turn inform the porn advertiser to take you off their list.
This article was taken from the Counselor’s Corner, Volume II, Issue 10, published by Counselor’s Corner. Used With Permission.
Alfred Ells is a senior therapist with New Life Clinic, a Chirst-centered counseling and educational ministry. He is a gifted marriage and family counselor, seminar speaker and author of several best-selling books, including One Way Relationships, Released to Love and Family Love.
Al has been counseling and consulting with churches, organization and individuals for over twenty years. He earned his Masters of Counseling degree at Arizona State University. He founded “House of Hope Counseling”; assisted in the establishment of “Hope Community (Rapha-Hope)” in Scottsdale, a Christ -centered residential addictions treatment facility; “Remuda Ranch”, a Christ centered program for women with anorexia or bulimia, located in Wickenburg, Arizona, and “Life Gate”, a residential treatment facility for adolescents and their families.
Al resides in Mesa, Arizona with his wife Susan. They have four children.
write to: Alfred H. Ells, M.C., Counselor’s Corner, 2855 East Brown Road, Suite 3, Mesa, Arizona 85213, U.S.A. Phone:(480) 325-9350.
Editor’s Note: If you have this problem you must stay away from the area of temptation and destroy all videos, games, magazines, etc. that are pornographic. If you must use the computer in your work environment, you should employ a filter service for your ISP so that those evil invitations do not enter your e-mail and cannot be accessed by your browser.
PERSONAL WORD FROM THE MILLERS
Dear Friends on the Internet:
Today the Internet is in its eleventh year of annual doubling. There are 165 million current Internet users worldwide. Experts believe that the number of users should reach 300 million by the end of the year 2000.
Thanks to the Internet, people have found the most effective way to connect with one another from around the whole world. People need community–it is our human condition. The Internet offers a global platform of voices that might otherwise not be heard. For BibleResources.org, the Internet becomes a rich haven for harvesting souls and feeding Jesus Christ’s sheep.
John 21:17 “…Lovest thou me?…. Feed my sheep.”
The American Bible Society’s Research Council, in a recent study, discovered that many people will view the Bible in a new and different way in the 21st Century. The study also found that more and more young people relate to the Internet better than books. More young people are looking at the Internet as their source of all information and even religion. Because of this, Christians must be there. There is a huge Christian learning curve. We as Christians have a choice; we can abdicate the Internet to the Antichrist or we can take the Internet for Jesus Christ. Where do you stand?
Dan 11:32 “…But the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.”
God spoke to my heart when we first started, that we were to be a light on the Internet.
Another fascinating study commissioned my Barna Research Group cites that one out of every six teens (16%) said that within the next five years they expect to use the Internet as a substitute for their current church–based on religious experience. The same study shows that 12% of the adult population is already using the Internet for religious purposes. This represents about 25 million adults in North America who incorporate the Internet as a part of their religious expression. Moreover, the research indicates that by the year 2010, as much as 20% of the population will rely primarily or exclusively upon the Internet for their religious input. Additionally, within the next 15 years a majority of Americans will be completely isolated from traditional church format.
At BibleResources.org, we are not a traditional church, nor are we trying to replace it. Our vision is to compliment the work of the local church, not be in competition with it. We want to nurture the Body of Christ when the church buildings are closed, or when people are physically unable to attend. The Body of Christ can grow exponentially around the world, proclaiming the kingdom message of Jesus Christ by coming together under this new phenomenon which I believe is a gift from God to help fulfill the Great Commission.
Mark 16:15: “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Praise God! When God does a new work it is often resisted by the established religious community because it does not fit with their former experience or paradigm of the church. Jesus Christ brought the most significant change that the world has ever witnessed. He brought man from the Old Testament (covenant) to the New Testament (covenant). He made a way for man to be reconciled with God; yet there were those who did not believe Him because they were unwilling to change.
In my day, I can remember those who thought that radio, TV and movies were all tools of Satan. Today, we can look back and see the untold millions of lives that have been changed by the gospel coming to them through the media. Let us not make the same mistake regarding the Internet.
We invite you to go through our website and read the vision and mission we have. We count it a privilege to be a part of expanding the cause of Christ worldwide, by equipping and evangelizing the people of all nations.
God bless you!
In Him,
Bud and Betty
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PURPOSE & VISION
THE OVERCOMING LIFE DIGEST is published for the purpose of strengthening the Body of Christ by furnishing teaching literature and a prophetic voice to the church in these last days. CHRIST UNLIMITED is helping and working with all Bible-believing Christians regardless of their church or denominational affiliations in promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. CHRIST UNLIMITED believes the hour is late and we must fulfill the great commission. We, as Christians, desire to cooperate with the Lord in breaking down denominational walls, for a united front line against the kingdom of darkness and setting up the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.
CHRIST UNLIMITED MINISTRIES, INC. and CHRIST UNLIMITED PUBLISHING provide such tools through literature as to enable the saints of God to take the Kingdom and walk in the overcoming life as promised us in John 10:10 & Revelation 21:7.
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CHRIST UNLIMITED PUBLISHING
President: R.S. “Bud” Miller
Editor: Betty Miller
Electronic Editor: William Mark Bristow
Printing and Design: Ironwood Lithographers, Tempe, AZ
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Scripture Quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible unless otherwise noted.