Weeks 45 & 46 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

For the first time in the history of mankind, the world's richest nations sat down with emerging yet economically important nations around the same table to find a way forward to solve the world financial problem. The G20 nations met on the 14th & 15th November in the Summit on Financial Markets and The World Economy to work out what British Prime Minister Gordon Brown termed a "Route Map" to economic recovery. The G20 group of countries consists of 19 leading industrialised and developing countries, as well as the European Union. This will be the final act of world leadership of President George Bush [see pic. 1] before the transfer of power to Senator Barack Obama on the 20th Jan. 2009.

Key issues agreed by world leaders at this summit included, among others:
1) reform of international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund
2) an agreement by the end of 2008, leading to a successful global free-trade deal
3) asking finance ministers to draw-up a list of financial institutions whose collapse would endanger the global economic system
4) strengthening countries' financial regulatory regimes

This is the first of a series of global co-operation and regulatory events that will unfold in the End-Time.

On the same day (14th Nov.), Prince Charles turned 60 [see pic. 2]. . He was also born in the same year as the rebirth of the Nation of Israel and yours truly. The difference is that he was born a prince and I was born a pauper (but I am now a prince of the Heavenly King :o)). I believe he will play a very significant role in the End-Time drama!

I have been preaching from the Book of [1 Peter], preparing our people to be strong and ready to face the End-Time challenges. In this depressing time, it is important to hold our heads high, looking to God instead of hanging our heads low. Indeed, "I lift up my eyes to the hills.....My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." [Ps 121:1-8 NIV]

As Joshua was coming to the end of his life, he encouraged the Israelites to hold fast to God. "I am old and well advanced in years. You yourselves have seen everything the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the LORD your God who fought for you.......The LORD your God himself will drive them out.......before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you. 'Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. Do not associate.......do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now." [Josh 23:1-8 NIV] I would encourage you to do the same, although I am by no means coming to the end of my earthly life yet :o).

We are living in exciting times. God is trying to get our attention. "...... a loud voice in heaven say: "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers, who accuses them before our God day and night, has been hurled down. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short." [Rev 12:10-12 NIV] We may not hear a loud voice in heaven, you can be sure that the devil is very angry and is playing out its last days on earth.

"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding........then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones." [Prov 2:1-15 NIV]

Amen & amen!

Weeks 43 & 44 (08) - Blessings of Divine Guidance

The Americans have chosen their new President. A new era has dawned in the USA and in the world. It signals a change that will bring the End that much closer.

The election of an African-American Senator Barack Obama as the 44th President of the USA will bring a change to an America that has become very unpopular in the world community in recent years. It sets the scene for greater international co-operation in foreign, economic and, may I add, religious policies. America will continue to lead the western world, but it will be in partnership and not in isolation. It prepares the world for working closer together against radicalism and pave the way for a period of world peace, which will ultimately lead to a One-World Government and a One-World Religion in the years ahead.

I know in my heart that the true mover & shaker of the world is the Lord Himself. "He directs it like a watercourse wherever He pleases" [Prov 21:1]. I sense in my spirit that the Lord is creating a window of opportunities for the nations to be more open to Christianity and for the Church to reach out to all - Muslims, Hindus, Atheists, Gays, Greens..............& finally the Jews, and dispel the myths and lies about our God's true nature in Christ Jesus, which is righteousness and justice. God loves sinners, but not their sins, which include pride and unbelief.

The biggest challenge for the Church in the years ahead is balancing grace and truth, extending our hands to all people, yet standing firm on the Christian faith that salvation is found in Jesus ALONE [Acts 4:12]. There will be pressure for the Church to conform to an all-faith Religion, but only those who stand firm till the end will be saved [Matt. 10:12].

This passage in Ps. 119 reflects my heart and aspiration towards God. "I have done what is righteous and just; do not leave me to my oppressors. Ensure your servant's well-being; let not the arrogant oppress me. My eyes fail, looking for your salvation, looking for your righteous promise.......I am your servant; give me discernment that I may understand your statutes. It is time for you to act, O LORD; your law is being broken. Because I love your commands more than gold, more than pure gold, and because I consider all your precepts right, I hate every wrong path." [Ps 119:121-128 NIV]

I like to think of myself as the 21st century Caleb because his life inspires me. "....Caleb...said...."You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions,.....I....followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly......Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then......" [Josh 14:6-12 NIV] I wish I could still be fighting fit (in spirit) and strong in the Lord at 85. :o)

I firmly believe that the End-time Church will be an overcoming church, overcoming the world pressure to conform. The Church must be sensitive to God's voice and open to His rebuke and discipline at a time such as this. "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." [Rev 3:19-22 NIV]

Let us heed the Lord's exhortation that "A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes will suddenly be destroyed-- without remedy......A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor." [Prov 29:1,23 NIV]

Amen!