Transcript: Last Days Prophecy: Understanding God's Warning for Christians

Music There is a famous quote. He said, the time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, you are mad, and you are not like us. And these words seem to parallel several prophetic scriptures in Deuteronomy, which were partially fulfilled in their day, but yet will come to complete fulfillment in a future time. Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 28 tells us The Lord will smite you with madness and blindness and dismay of mind and heart and you shall grope at noonday as the blind grope in darkness you shall not prosper in your ways and you shall only be oppressed and robbed continually and there will be no one to save you Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 33 declares a nation which you have not known shall eat up the fruit of your land and all of your neighbors and you shall only be oppressed and crushed continually so that you shall be driven mad by the sights which your eyes shall see it seems today that we are seeing these things coming to pass in certain ways with the invasion of other nations endeavoring to take over many aspects of the freedoms that America has known and been known for. We live in a time in this year of 2020 in which it seems that the prophetic word about people going insane or mad is coming to pass right before our very eyes. We live in a day and an hour in these United States of America, where we are seeing the attempt to undo what we have loved and cherished as patriotic citizens, and that is the freedom of rights that our nation is known for, and the reason for so many people from other countries who have immigrated to this land legally, as did my grandparents from Italy and Ireland many, many years ago. We are seeing and witnessing in the year of 2020 the undoing of law and order, the disrespect for genuine and legitimate authority, the hatred and insolence for our police, and the call to undo the necessity of police enforcement, and yes, fathom this, the call to do away with prisons in these United States of America. The unrest in some of these states in our union is being allowed by the burning of police precincts and police vehicles, the burning and destruction of businesses and homes, and the terrorizing and purposeful killing of innocent people and bystanders, all in the name of peaceful protesting? There is even an evil, illegal underground army in our nation who have been assigned an insidious contract on killing police and law enforcement personnel. There has been what many are calling the COVID-19 virus crisis as being a forerunner of biological warfare, and that is only an experiment. It is said to see how fast the disease might spread and infect whole populations. There are rogue groups located everywhere around the world who feel absolutely no responsibility for the welfare of people in any part of this earth who will now begin to experiment with deadly pathogens on whole populations. The world is presently in a crisis state, and governments around the world have gained control through fear and lockdown mandates over the COVID virus. People are homeless on the street and hungry because they've lost their jobs and homes. homes. Authorities have shut down businesses, and some states in the United States arrest people for not wearing a mask, but let murderers, criminals, and felons out of prison because they might contract the virus by being contained within the prison walls. Many people in our nation spin with confusion as to the bewilderment of why such awful injustices are allowed to take place in our beautiful nation, land of the free and home of the brave. As was stated previously, there is an underground army in the United States that has been formed by the rich elite in this nation and supported also by other wealthy elitists in other countries for the purpose of bringing America down with the intent of a takeover agenda of making her a socialist or communistic nation. This is the bottom line for what we see in this whole rotten plan of chaos, burning of businesses, homes, murder, and biological warfare that we are now experiencing in our country at this present time. Madness seems to incite more madness and insanity. All people need is a cause which is generated by an underground wealthy elite madmen and women who hide behind the cloak of innocence and pay the murderers and felons that they have let out of prisons and also the dangerous foolhardy who have no apparent fear or foresight of their deadly actions as they follow the lead of the narrative of these sick-minded people. In Isaiah chapter 5 verse 20, the prophet declared, Woe to those who call evil good and good evil and put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent and shrewd in their own sight. And also, verse 23, who justify and acquit the guilty for a bribe, but take away the rights of the innocent and righteous from them. A woe is pronounced in the word of God as an exclamation expressing mourning, grief, pain, deep sorrow, an affliction to the evil and wicked conniving of people who think they can outsmart the great creator God. Wicked people who are devising evil plans of destruction will be met one day by their almighty maker and will be called to give account of their unjust actions and deeds in the day of their great judgment. Jesus pronounced a woe on two cities in the gospel of Matthew and Luke. And these woes were aimed at the evil lawyers, the unrighteous scribes and Pharisees who were devising their evil plan to kill him, and also on Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver and a kiss. Judas was a betrayer. Judas was a lover of money. We have many betrayers sitting in the churches today and also standing behind the pulpits who profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ, but in fact are hypocrites and wolves in disguise whose hearts and souls have never been renewed by the cleansing power of the living God. Ephesians 5 verse 23 tells us, Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her so that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of the water of the word, that he might present the church to himself in glorious splendor, without spot and wrinkle, or any such thing, that she might be holy and faultless. We have many Judases who are betrayers sitting in the seats of government, who are called judges and those who hold government offices in every state of this United States of America, who have taken an oath to uphold the integrity of the Constitution and that of their position, whether it be the President of the United States or a governor, a mayor, city official, a policeman, sheriff, or justice of the peace. they have promised an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America which when cited and completed ends with so help me God it must be noted in many states and branches of government they've managed to remove so help me God from their promise or oath to uphold the law in their position they are serving in that seat of government The phrase, so help me God, is the affirmation to serve with honesty and integrity and is a solemn commitment. But betrayers give themselves away by refusing to make this commitment to the people and before God Almighty. Furthermore, and most importantly, you must understand as a believer in Jesus Christ, along with this bottom line for betrayers, endeavoring to destroy and bring America down is greed, but mostly it is the hatred for the righteous things of God. This is saying that within the realm of a communistic government, Christianity is eradicated and forbidden. Christians who live in nations where governments are socialistic or communistic, experience the abolishment of Christianity and even imprisonment or putting to death the believers in Jesus Christ. And this is Satan's biggest plan in using these wicked people in this great conquest or coup, just as he tried when he endeavored to overthrow the great and mighty eternal God and was cast out of heaven. Satan is busy behind the scene in any chaos in the world as he works through evil-minded people who scheme and endeavor to put to death the most wonderful, greatest, precious masterpiece God has ever created, and that is humankind, whether it be through instigated chaos or man-made viruses and pandemics, biowarfare, or wars. People with evil minds and hateful, greedy intentions are called the enemies of God. In the Old Testament, when Israel disobeyed God and forsook him, they were called evildoers or workers of iniquity. The eternal God and creator has given a remedy for every individual living on this earth in past times and even today. In the Old Testament, God spoke through prophet Ezekiel in chapter 36, verse 26, saying, I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you, and I will take out your stony heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. So this scripture tells us that this new heart comes only by one's attachment to Jesus Christ upon a true salvation experience. The stony heart is the unregenerate old nature that came with us from birth as a result of the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in the garden. Only the Holy Spirit, who was given to the new believer in Jesus Christ, can change a stony heart, which is an unaffected nature of the human soul. The Spirit of God alone can give us new appetites, new passions, and a loving heart. In the scripture that says, I will put a new spirit in you, this tells us that precious Holy Spirit will renew our minds and enlighten our understanding and give us correct judgments and godly wisdom. He will give us a will that is after God's will and not after our own hardened will that is only concerned with me, myself, and I, but rather is concerned with other people and their welfare as well. a heart of flesh represents the new heart that can feel the love of God and longs to please God in every way with a longing to represent him with a purity and a reverence towards him this new nature or new heart and love for God is not a doing of our own wills but it is a supernatural or a divine miracle It is not man generated, but it is from God's Holy Spirit who heard the call and the need of the individual who knew there was more to this earth life and knew there was life beyond this earth. And this is saying that a person who answered the call of salvation was fricked or convicted in their hearts and soul of the sinfulness of their own lives. They reached out to God and he answered them. This is God inspired, dear listener. This is the miracle of the new creation in Jesus Christ. This is called the call of salvation. This is called the light of eternity that God puts within each individual born into the earth. Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verse 11 declares he has made everything beautiful in its time he also planted eternity in men's hearts and minds a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy the scripture says I will cause you to walk in my statue meaning not only to believe my commands, but to reverence my commands and precepts and avoid every appearance of evil. You see, this new heart was prophesied by prophet Ezekiel, who was foretelling the coming of Jesus Christ, who alone was able to make possible in mere creatures of clay, that is humankind, and kind to have a new heart because his Holy Spirit would live within them and give or work in them and give them the mind of Christ. Jesus said before his death in John chapter 14 verse 15, if you love me, you will obey me. You will obey what I command and I will ask the father and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever. The spirit of truth, the world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him, but you know him and he lives with you and will be in you. Jesus said the world cannot accept it and neither sees him or knows him. They refuse to see, to know Jesus by virtue of his creation. And the Holy Spirit has spoken to them through other people who have witnessed Jesus to them, either in word, deed, or action. Jesus' spirit now lives within redeemed individuals and leads them in the way of all truth. He gives them this desire now to follow him and represent his nature and character, which is love, kindness, and respect for all people, because they are made in the image and likeness of Almighty God. Jesus also said in John chapter 13, verse 34, For a new command I give you, love one another. I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. Jesus gave this new commandment to those who follow him. This commandment is that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Beloved John the Apostle in 1 John 3, verse 10 declares, By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are his children, and who take their nature from the devil and are his children. No one who does not practice righteousness, who does not conform to God's will in purpose, thought, and action is of God. Neither is anyone who does not love his brother his fellow believer in Jesus Christ. 11. For this is the message, the announcement which you heard from the first, that we should love one another. Verse 12. And not be like Cain, who took his nature and got his motivation from the evil one and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? because his deeds, activities, and works were wicked and malicious, and his brothers were righteous. They were virtuous. Verse 13. Do not be surprised and wonder, brethren, that the world detests and pursues you with hatred. The old nature in the old regenerate self could not truly love anyone. This old nature is in conflict with the new nature. The old nature of the human soul is like the pig or the raven, which look for something unclean on which to feed. But the new nature in Jesus Christ is like the analogy in Scripture of the sheep and the dove, which long for those things that are clean and holy. indeed there is a struggle that goes on within the life of the believer the unsaved knows nothing of the battle because he does not know the Holy Spirit who will help guide and lead him to overcome the old rotten nature this old nature is miraculously transformed into a beautiful soul with a caring heart and the mind of Christ in John chapter 17 verse 6 Jesus was praying to his heavenly father and he said father I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world they were yours you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word and now they know that everything that you have given me comes from you and I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. You see, only Jesus gives us a new nature, a new spirit. And now this new person in Jesus Christ truly makes conscientious effort to conform to Jesus' commands found only in Holy Scripture. The Holy Spirit lovingly lives within you now and awaits for you to cooperate with him while he teaches you about the mind of Christ and his will for your life. This is an implanted divine supernatural love that grows for God and also for all whom God has created. Yes, that even includes the unlovable people that God puts within our path. In 1 John 4, verse 20, the beloved apostle tells us, If anyone says, I love God, and hates, detests, abominates his brother in Christ, he is a liar. For he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God. whom he has not seen. And this command, this charge, this order, this injunction we have from him, that he who loves God shall love his brother, fellow believer also. Every generation of the time since Jesus Christ came and walked on this earth and was crucified on the cross of Calvary for the salvation of those, all those whomsoevers would choose him as their hope of glory People have refused his generous offer and gift of eternal life that is found only in him. It is for this reason. We have what has been outlined in this message at the beginning with people who exhibit violent and cruel-hearted hatred towards others because their minds have never been miraculously renewed with the love and the kindness of their Savior who loves them and died for them. They have been given the choice and they refuse the truth and the love for their Creator who made them and has a plan for their life. This new beginning of a hope for these evil-minded people could begin with simply coming before the Lord God Almighty with a sincere, repentant heart for their sinful ways. Jesus is the light of the world who would shine his truth and love in their hearts if they would submit to him. God speaks through prophet Jeremiah 29, verse 11. He says to them, for I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you not to harm you plans to give you a hope and a future and then you will call upon me and you will come to me and pray and I will listen to you and you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart I will be found by you declares the Lord and I will bring you back from captivity. But without a true and sincere confession of one's sinful past, they will never know the plans for their lives that God has for them individually. They will remain among those who are called workers of iniquity and will continue with a distorted self-absorbed mind that plots their next evil plan, thinking of themselves as normal in the eyes of the world. In Micah chapter 2 verse 1, the prophet declared, Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds. Then the morning dawns and they perform it because it is in the power of their hand. But understand this, they remain without excuse before God upon their judgment day. And they will remain with their mad, sick, insane, troubled minds. Repeating again, it is very true what St. Augustine said many years ago. A time is coming when men will go mad. And when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, you are mad, you are not like us. In Romans chapter 1, beginning in verse 19, the word declares, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen being understood from what has been made so that men are without excuse. Verse 21, for although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Verse 24, therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served created things rather than the creator who is forever praised. Amen. Verse 26. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way, men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Verse 28, further, since they did not think yet worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, depravity, And they are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice. They are gossips, slanders, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent ways of doing evil. They disobey their parents. They are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. And although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, They not only continue to do these very things, but approve of those who practice them. This is the word of the Lord. His word never comes back void. It stands forever and it will remain forever. It is true. There is a great creator who decides the times and seasons of people's lives and the events of the world as we know it in our day today, our time. Job 14.5 declares by the word of the Lord, man's days are determined. You have decreed the number of his month and have set the limits. He cannot exceed. Yes, there are rich people and poor in every walk of life in the world who have confidence in their own mental ascent and are rich in their own self-conceived ideals, but are not rich in their relationship with God Almighty. Jesus gave the parable of such people in Luke 12, verse 19. In the parable, the man says to himself, I'll sit back and I'll say to myself, My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now, take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry. Verse 20. But God said to him, You fool, you will die this very night. Then who will get everything you've worked for? Verse 21. Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth. and not have a rich relationship with God. Although there are many in the world who deny and hate the one, the only awesome God, who is in control of all things, even in their very lives, yet they cannot stop the fact that time marches on towards the prophesied events that are slated to come to pass as God's all-powerful word lays out in the holy book of life called the Bible. Every individual one day will meet with their maker and stand before him and give an account of their lives, good or bad. The wicked-minded people will actually gnash their teeth, which means they will be so filled and full of hatred, that this foaming, living hatred for God and for mankind, if they can't contain it. Gnashing of teeth is a phrase that Jesus used to portray the futility of the wicked-minded people who will be judged by God in their time of judgment. and this is a mental derangement of a sound mind a preference for evil the evil side of life which includes lying cheating and deceitfulness simply described this is the mind of Satan and includes all of his works of deception these people's hatred and insanity will be an exhibition of enraged dementia against the joy that they see in those who are truly filled with joy, have love for God, and endeavor to live upright lives in his son, Jesus Christ. As mentioned in this message previously, God has provided through his son, Jesus Christ, the remedy for overcoming a troubled and anxious mind that gives the only way to be sane and filled with joy and peace as we live in an uncertain world today filled with hatred, war, perversion, and disease that are thrust upon whole nations in this earth by greedy, wicked people seeking to enrich themselves with money, fame, and fortune. Jesus tells those who will listen in John chapter 14, verse 1, do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust in me also. in verse 27 he says peace I leave with you my peace I give you I do not give to you as the world gives you do not let your hearts be troubled and don't be afraid in Romans chapter 12 verse 2 the instruction of our chief apostle says do not be conformed to this world to this age fashioned after and adapted to its external superficial customs, but be transformed, changed by the entire renewal of your mind, by its new ideals and new attitudes, so that you may prove for yourselves what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect, is in his sight for you. Ephesians chapter 4, verse 22 commands us to strip yourselves of your old former nature, the old man, the old person, the old self. Put off and disregard your old, unrenewed self, which is characterized by your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion and be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind, having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude. Put off the old nature and regenerate itself. Create in God's image, God-like in true righteousness and holiness. Verse 25, therefore rejecting all faultity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor. For we are all part of one body and members one of another. You see, God has made provision for all people everywhere to be saved from insanity, anxiety, and hatred. If only they will heed the word of God found in the Holy Scriptures. There are two trees in which all people are given to choose from. The tree of life, who is Christ, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, which belongs to Satan and the devil. People who purport to be Christian need to answer this question for themselves. Did or has my decision for Christ changed my life? Have I been following false prophets or teachers who teach a false doctrine which produces false righteousness? Do I follow those who magnify themselves and not Jesus Christ in their purpose to exploit people for personal gain and some other cause rather than build Christ in people's lives? All people who believe in any false doctrine, such as Buddhism, New Age religion, humanism, Scientology, and so on, will never experience a changed life because only Jesus Christ brings change that is eternal. unfortunately some people will not realize this until it's too late although they have had clear witnesses from people all along in their walk on this earth jesus told us in john chapter 16 verse 33 i have told you these things so that in me you may have perfect peace and confidence in the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration. But be of good cheer. Take courage. Be confident, certain, undaunted. For I have overcome the world. I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you. Hallelujah. Philippians 4, 7 declares, And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ. Again, only in Jesus Christ. That is the only place where true peace and joy in this world in which we live today will be found, and more so for all of eternity. It is a clear fact, according to scripture, that people who go on in their pride and offensive sinful lifestyles refuse God's wonderful offer of eternal life through his precious son, Jesus Christ, death, burial, and resurrection. They will experience the worst kind of pain and torment and agony forever as they are cast into outer darkness with their excruciating self-inflicted physical and mental agony for which there is no comfort that money could buy, nor words that they could ever take back. It is too late at this point in time. It is just too late. The Lamb of God, the innocent one, would have been your friend and would have also loved you and ruled your life and saved you. But now it is just too late. Cry not aloud for the Lord to save you. It is too late. Look what you have brought up on yourselves now, O wretched, stubborn, prideful soul. It is just too late. Today we are going to speak about the spiritual battles and strongholds of the mind and the soul. Last week we talked about the supernatural miracle of the renewal of the mind. This renewal or transformation of the mind is a whole new way of thinking and living in our Lord Jesus Christ. This new way of thinking is brought about by the power of the Holy Spirit working in a believer's life. This new way of thinking is not with our old mind of flesh, but now it is with the mind of Christ. The old mind of flesh was the burdensome baggage of anger, doubt, addictions, jealousy, spitefulness, torments of the mind, perversions of all kinds, and so on. These are called sins because they are called lawlessness or transgressions against the will of God. As mentioned, this awesome miracle is the divine work and power of the Holy Spirit working in a willing individual who is hungry for the promises, the knowledge, peace, and joy of God's will to be the rule and center of their life now. For those listening on radio internet or the audio Christian teachings on Shining Light Ministries' website, this message again is called The Supernatural Miracle of the Renewal of the Mind. As a part two follow-up today, we are going to talk about the spiritual strongholds that prevent an individual from actually experiencing true security, contentment, joy, peace, and absence of war in their minds. Please understand, the peace the Bible speaks of is an inner tranquility and stability in the Christian whose trust is in God through the Lord Jesus Christ's sacrifice on the cross. The peace that Jesus speaks about is a combination of hope, trust, and calm quietness in the mind and soul brought about by a true reconciliation with Creator God. This is all a direct result with a personal faith in Jesus Christ. True peace of the mind is not possible in any other way, no matter how many books one may read or other doctrines people may come up with, which try to circumvent the true path and way to the Father's heart. Knowing that we all like titles, We are going to call this message today, Spiritual Battles and Strongholds of the Mind and Soul. First of all, I believe we need to start with what God's Word tells us in whom and where our refuge and stronghold is found. King David, in Psalms 9, verses 9 and 10, declares, The Lord also will be a refuge, a high tower for the oppressed, a refuge and a stronghold in times of trouble, high cost, destitution and desperation. Verse 10, And they who know your name, who have experienced and acquainted with your mercy, will lean on and confidently put their trust in you. For you, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek and inquire of you on the authority of God's word and in right of their necessity. And Apostle Paul, in 2 Corinthians chapter 10, verses 3 through 5, declares, For though we walk, we live in the flesh, we are not carrying on our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical weapons of flesh and blood, for they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. Inasmuch as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings in every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, is our place of safety if we place our trust and place our confidence in Him. He promises to never leave us nor forsake us if we lean confidently and habitually on him. Apostle Paul tells us that the weapons of our warfare and strongholds as believers in Jesus Christ are not physical weapons of flesh and blood, but they are powerful supernatural weapons of warfare that disarm the devil and his co-laborers because we are trusting and living in accordance to this new way of life in Jesus Christ. Paul tells us that the battles begin in the mind with our thoughts. And King David shows us many scriptures that he prayed continually for the cleansing in heart life. In fact, he cried out from the deep chasms of his soul for the help from stumbling, falling, bad thoughts, thoughts that were hateful, and even the temptations that rose up against him. We have to ask ourselves, why did David pray for the cleansing of his soul and his appeal for help from the sanctuary? Well, it was because his inmost faults were truly secret. They were a secret from David himself. David knew that only God could save him from the prison of his mind and soul. In Jeremiah chapter 17, verses 9 and 10, the Lord tells us why. The heart is deceitful above all things and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely mortally sick. Who can now perceive or understand and be acquainted with his own heart and mind? Verse 10 I the Lord search the mind I try the heart even to give every man according to his ways according to the fruit of his doing In Mark chapter 7 verse 20, Jesus declared, What comes out of a man is what makes him unclean, for it is from within, out of a man's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance, and folly. All these evils come from the inside and make a man unclean. our Savior is confirming that whatever comes out of a man's heart is what makes him unclean and this is why King David prayed for God to cleanse his heart and make him pure Jesus provided everything we need regarding this victory dear one he requires that we do what is right to stop sinning he requires that we obey his word not just a part of it but all of it. First and foremost, he requires that we love him with all of our hearts, all of our souls, all of our minds, everything that is within us. By God Almighty's power alone, he brought the Israelites as a needy people to whom he had pity on into the promised land. And God will bring you and me through also if we are habitually obedient to his commands. Our Heavenly Father delights in helping his people, but we must understand one thing. He does not delight in people's can't do it myself or I am self-sufficient and need no one's help. God warned the Israelites in taking the land of Canaan. In Deuteronomy 8, verse 17, you may say to yourself, my power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me. Verse 18, but remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers as it is today. In the account of 1 John 3, verse 8, the beloved apostle John tells us that he who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to overthrow the devil's work. Verse 9, no one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him. He cannot go on sinning because he's been born of God. Verse 10, and this is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are. Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother. We have read the scriptural account in the book of Exodus 23 and Deuteronomy 7, where we saw that the promised land of Canaan was not a type of heaven, but rather it was a type of meeting with our spiritual enemies and driving them out in order to live a victorious Christian life in Jesus Christ. It is a place where we consider ourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ. The height spoken of in these chapters are the seven nations of Canaan, God commissioned Joshua to go forth and cast these physical ites out before they took the land. This act of Joshua in his book is a likeness, a picture which shapes into a prophetic picture or type of our literally taking possession of our land through the help of precious Holy Spirit with these spiritual ites. these eyes represent the evil spirits that trouble our hearts and souls before our salvation experience and even afterwards while our salvation is being worked out as Paul spoke about in Philippians 2, verse 12 therefore my beloved as you've also obeyed not only in my presence but now how much more in my absence work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Verse 13, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do his good pleasure. Let's look again at these ites and see what they really represent in Deuteronomy chapter 7, verses 1 and 2. When the Lord your God brings you into the land you are entering to possess and drives out before you many nations, the Hittites, Gragasheites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, the Hivites, Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you. Verse 2, And when the Lord your God has delivered them over to you and you have defeated them, then you must destroy them totally. Looking at each one of these, we see that the Hittites were a people, according to Joshua 9.24, who tricked Joshua into a covenant. They answered Joshua saying, Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servants Moses to give you the whole land to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems right to you. So Joshua saved them from the Israelites and did not kill them. 27. That day he made the Gibbonites woodcutters and the water carriers for the community and for the altar of the Lord at the place that the Lord would choose. That is what they are to this day. These Hinnite spirits signify the spirits of fear and discouragement. In Hebrew, this name Hittite means terror. These spirits discourage the soul continually with false fears, which habitually cause sudden and great fear or terror. These evil spirits' purpose or design is to keep the soul from a finishing work in Jesus Christ. These Hittite spirits raise up what the Bible calls infidelity. And this means, according to Webster's Dictionary, one who is not a Christian or who opposes Christianity, one who has no religious belief, an atheist. This spirit causes false reasoning through its earthly wisdom with continued disputing the faith and the power of God. It will tell you that it is impossible to come into perfection or maturity and that you will never overcome sin and self and the temptations and the assaults of the devil. This Hittite spirit will continue to discourage the soul, keeping it from going on into perfection or maturity. But please remember that the spirit of faith in the name of Jesus Christ and the blood of Jesus does conquer and overcome these Hittites in your life when you obey God's commands. Remember, it is not by power nor might, but by my spirit, says the Lord Almighty. The second that we look at are the Amorites, and they signify bitter and fierce talking and judging spirits. They have no bounds in their judging, as they will leap from one thing to another without an ounce of compassion. All of their judging is from the root of bitterness. Their name, according to the Hebrew dictionary, means warlike, lofty, clatter. Clatter is someone who makes a bunch of noise. They bring confusion into the room. They descend from Ham's son, who was brilliant, but he had the greatest tendency to degeneracy because they opposed and had hatred for the truth of God's word and God's ways. These perverse spirits would rather cause the soul to practice revenge, eye for an eye. They waited in the dark to bring revenge. They are unforgiving and merciless, and in their fierceness they rage against meekness, which is compassion and the law of love and tenderness and kind behavior. clearly said this Amorite spirit is of envy, jealousy, and rash judging. This is the very reason that Jesus came. He came to make a way for true believers victorious living in him by giving of his Holy Spirit to live within every true believing Christian who longs for the truth and way of God Almighty. The third we look at is the nation of the Canaanites, which signify and mean, according to the Hebrew dictionary, trader or merchants. These people were famous as merchants and for their artistic skill. Although they had many gods, the sun god was their most notable god. these merchandising spirits take a continual occupation in our minds, our wills and thoughts and in our senses and in our imaginations and yes, even in our affections they trap the soul into false concerns and they will convince you of what you are thinking and doing is good and right you become so preoccupied with false cares They will even act in the moment as you try to come close to the Lord God. And they put deep wedges or valleys between your coming into true relationship with your Savior by disrupting the necessary silence and pure stillness you need to learn in order to truly know the Lord your God. Their purpose is to keep you over-concerned with yourself and all things that concern you. The fourth is the parasites. And they represent the careless, secure spirit that open the door to false freedoms. they form a screen or a shield around the individual making it unable to see or know the hidden dangers that await them like traps their name means villagers they didn't put up walls around their cities they had unwalled towns they entered marriage with their captors and seduce the Israelites into idolatry. These Perizzite spirits will try to seduce the soul into false freedoms before the crucifying work of the Holy Spirit is done in your life. These spirits labor to take us off of our watchfulness in order to make us neglect the work of the cross, which Jesus won for our freedom from these ites. They come to oppress the life of Christ in us and desire to cause us to forsake our continual progress of circumcision of our hearts as we walk in this Christian path. They are purposed to get their toe in a door and keep us from going on into the perfection or maturity of our Lord Jesus Christ. King Solomon in the book of Judges captured and forced the Perizzites into forced labor. And Jesus has given us the authority and power to overcome these evil spirits that continually harass us. The fifth one are the Hivites, the talking spirits that move us to talk of vain and needless things. they were descendants of Ham and the Hebrew dictionary says they were an impulsive unsuspicious people who would fall for gaining wealth rather than waging war to defend themselves they would rather talk idly rather than fight many in this clan were murdered by Simeon and Levi after they assaulted their sister Diana Joshua made them servants These spirits are designed to awaken vain thoughts and imaginations, and they deceitfully endeavor to inspire empty fantasies, romantic scenes, and impure thoughts, and they will shift through your thought life and preoccupy your time with sinful ideas. They love to cause many, many words and vain thinking, especially amongst the intellectuals, with long discourses and great speculations and unnecessary disputes. Many people are trapped by their snares. They never know it unless they're awakened to the truth by the Holy Spirit. As a Christian, we are to exemplify a life of humility, of innocence and simplicity which the Lord finds more beautiful than all the other gifts or knowledge. The six that we look at is called the Jebusites. They are a type of spirit signifying pride and self-elevation. King David ran up against these people in the book of 2 Samuel chapter 5. They mocked David and said that he would never get in their fortress. They mocked him by saying, Even the blind and the lame can fight you off, King David. You are no match for us. We have to understand that pride and disdain were the defeat of these people. And today this fortress that King David took back in his day is called the City of David. God was with him. David's son Solomon put these bragging Jebusites into forced labor by making them slaves. And the name Jebusite signifies to trample upon and despise. These evil spirits are designed to cause the soul to despise meek and humble people and the way of the cross of Jesus Christ. They elevate themselves above the power and love of Jesus for his people. These spirits desire to cause apostasy by puffing us up in spiritual pride, making us think of ourselves as perfect and good just the way we are. Pride is the opposite of humility. Humility is found only in Jesus Christ alone. And we are told that we are to become like the innocent lamb of God by casting out all pride and self-life. And lastly, number seven are the Gargashawite spirits. According to the Hebrew meaning, Gargashawites mean those who dwell in clay soil. These are earthy, dirty spirits that tempt and draw us into the earthy life and all of its vanities. these Krakashuite spirits represent the animal nature of man which cause excessive lusts and perversions within the soul these are totally against the law of God's purity in all things and manner for his chosen people all of these sinful ites which we have just covered were conquered by Joshua in the Old Testament Joshua represents the type of Jesus who was yet to come. Joshua means Jehovah saves. The book of Joshua demonstrates God's faithfulness to his promises by leading Israel into the land of Canaan as he led them out of Egypt. Now, for us, Jesus Christ has come, and he has provided everything we need regarding the ites in our lives. Jesus has won the battle by taking the keys of life, of death, from Satan the devil. And he now lives in true believers and gives us the keys and power to overcome every ite in our lives. He says, trust in me, cooperate with me, love me, and we together will be victorious in kicking the ites out of your life. just as Joshua conquered the physical ites in his day. Through the process of time, you co-labor with the Lamb of God through His Holy Spirit who loves you and says to you and me in the New Testament the same words that He spoke to Joshua on the day He commissioned Him. These words are found in Ephesians 6, verses 10 through 15 finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes for our struggle is not with flesh and blood but against the rulers against the authorities against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm Verse 13, therefore, put on the full armor of God so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground. And after you have done everything to stand, stand firm then with the belt of truth buckled about your waist and with the breastplate of righteousness in place. let us learn from the life of this young warrior joshua who was almost without blemish and who learned to obey the lord with childlike faith with devout and deep reverence and worship for his god take the words for yourself and apply them in your life and trust god and what he says in joshua chapter 1 verses 4 through 9. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them be strong and very courageous be careful to obey all the laws of my servant Moses he gave you do not turn from it to the left or to the right that you may be successful wherever you go do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth meditate on it day and night so you may be careful to do everything written in it then you will be prosperous and successful Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. And finally, one of the key things for true believers in Christ to remember in order to overcome these ites is to bring into captivity every thought. We must avoid wrong self-estimate by thinking too highly of ourselves. Neither overestimate nor underestimate oneself. Someone wrote regarding being careful in our journey is mainly conscience awareness. They wrote, watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. watch your actions they become habits watch your habits they become character watch your character it becomes your destiny so very true as a believer in jesus christ we have our part in working out our own salvation in the synergistic work with the holy spirit It is just saying no to the things of the devil, yes to the truth and the things of God Almighty. Beware of pride, vanity, conceit, and kindred vices. Cultivate humility by living in the presence of God and his holy word called the Bible. His holiness and greatness empowers us to keep fresh and high ideals. Pride cannot exist where humility dwells. And finally, for our departing scripture, 2 Corinthians 10, verse 5 declares, Though we walk and live in the flesh, we are not caring about our warfare according to the flesh and using mere human weapons. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical weapons of flesh and blood, but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. Inasmuch as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings, every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ the Messiah, the Anointed One. may our Lord Jesus Christ be praised for his undying love and generous grace which he lavishes upon us as we submit to his way and the truth of his word Music There is a time coming very soon when the great God Jehovah, creator of heaven and earth, will withdraw his supernatural power from the living word of Holy Scripture, leaving it void and empty of his spirit's life-giving influence in the ministry of a majority of those who preach and teach the gospel of truth. You say, oh, that is a strong statement. Are you sure about that? Please, let's turn to our opening scripture today in Amos 8, verse 11. Let's see what the prophet declared in this word inspired by the spirit of truth thousands of years ago. Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine in the land, Not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but a famine for the hearing of the words of the Lord. And the people shall wander from sea to sea, from the north even to the east. They shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, inquiring for, requiring it as one requires food, but shall not find it. When the prophet announced these words before the people in his day, it was a prophecy for that time in part. But yet the greater fulfillment of this prophecy was for a later time in history, like in ours today. Amos was a shepherd prophet of the Old Testament who openly denounced or condemned the people of the northern kingdom of Israel for their sinful worship of idols and also for their corruption and oppression of the poor. By vocation, this prophet Amos proclaimed nothing but to be a herdsman and one who attended sycamore trees when addressed as to who gave him the authority to speak. He said, his right came from the highest authority of all. He said, The Lord took me as I followed the flock, and the Lord said to me, Go prophesy to my people Israel. Amos 7.15 It seems all through history, since the time God brought his people out of Egypt, whenever there was trouble and persecution, people had slipped back into ways that were contrary to God's precepts and ordinances. They inevitably sought God out with tears and fasting and pleading for his help to rescue them from their troubles and woes. Our modern-day example of this would be 9-11 bombing of the Twin Towers in New York City. The churches were full for several months until things calmed down and the fear of more trouble to come had subsided. People then stopped going to church and began to return back to their comfortable worldly ways. They forgot God again. Could we say people just use God in times of emergency or trouble? The theme of Amos' message was that Israel had rejected the one true God and began to worship the false god of the people that they lived around. Today in this world, there are many, many idols and troubles which distract people from the biblical mandate for all Christians, and that is to seek the Lord their God with all of their hearts, all of their minds, and all of our entire being. So once the fear and the trauma of the explosion and the horrible news of the needless death subsided, people went back to tending their idols and forgot their renewed commitments and vows to God. Amos also condemned the wealthy class of the nation for cheating the poor through obsessive taxes and the use of false weights and measures. Does this sound familiar in our present day and year of September 4, 2021, with the political ruling administration in our United States of America? Amos the prophet urged the people to turn from their wicked ways, to acknowledge God as their maker and redeemer, and to restore justice and righteousness in their dealing with others. that the Almighty God will teach us the worth and privilege of his truth, of his presence, his power, by depriving us of it, because people by the millions have denied and rejected him and his son Jesus Christ's gospel of salvation, not only in this nation, but also every nation on this earth. So it was for the people then in Naaman's day, And so it will be for those of us who live in this modern society, especially in the United States of America, where we have been given so much and blessed beyond measure compared to other nations around the world. The gospel of God's salvation, the very word that brings life and peace, is often used figuratively as the emblem of water. The word of God has a purifying effect from all uncleanness and it has a refreshing, a reviving and a healing effect for even the weakest spirit if they will only incline their ear to hear it and also and mostly practice it. The gospel has substance and is often likened in scripture as a symbol of bread. Jesus said in John chapter 6 verse 48, I am the bread of life that gives the living bread. Your forefathers ate manna in the wilderness, and yet they died. Verse 50. But this is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and never die. I myself am this living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. and also that bread I give for the life of the world is my flesh, my body. The bread and water which Jesus speaks of here signifies all the rich blessings of salvation, dear church. The bread is the word of God and the water is symbolic of the Holy Spirit who gives life to the very word of God. The threatened famine of which prophet Amos was speaking of was a shortage or a lack of God's heavenly manna, which again is speaking of his word. The unadulterated gospel message is God's truth, and it is by this truth that all people may be saved from the fiery pit of hell. When God withdraws the living power and influence of his precious Holy Spirit so that his power does not accompany the word, then there is a void, a drought, and powerlessness in the ministry of the word and in the church. This powerlessness is like a blight, which is like a disease to plants. As a young girl growing up on a farm ranch in Montana, I would see this occurrence regarding a dying plant in our garden. Sometimes the whole plant would perish or die, and sometimes only its leaves and blossoms would shrivel up and die as if they were scorched by too much heat. My father would often say, or mother, we need to pray for God to send the rain. You see, all of this in regards to blight or disease will prevent the plant from growing, and eventually then it would die. And with this abstract example, we can see then how the truths of the precious doctrines in scripture are greatly corrupted or maligned and perverted by those who are working as agents of Satan in the church in the past and also in our day to day. And how the prophesied famine, which our prophet speaks of, could come about ever so subtly. As it was mentioned, and we have seen this in part throughout the scripture, when God's people turned their backs on him and did what was right in their own eyes, and also in the times of what we know as were the Dark Ages. The Dark Ages represented a period of time about 400 years between the Old and the New Testaments. Today we see the disobedience of time over these past years emerging into what Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24. This was a time regarding the last days, the tribulation that would be a result of the wickedness of man and also the betrayal of multitudes of millions of professing Christians in this day. Today, this year, in the year of 2021, we see such a blatant disregard for the sanctity of life, for property and even the rights of others, which manifest itself in betrayal, in hatred, and disrespect for one's own fellow man, and more so for the great creator of the universe, who spoke all things into existence. Disease, war, and violent crimes around the world by militant groups are increasing in epidemic proportions. The whole world is being trained and disciplined to disregard the life and rights of their fellow human beings. And when we see a pandemic, which is orchestrated by evil people around the world, with a plan to depopulate the earth by germ warfare, We see the inhumane, heartless Satan-worshipping effects of death which are reported in every nation due to the vaccines which are loaded with dangerous toxins meant to destroy innocent people. I am very saddened and righteously angered when I tell you that we have many churches, yes, in the United States of America who encourage people to have these vaccines and even provide the vaccines at the churches. the reason for this accommodation for complying with government demands to vaccinate every person in the United States and her territories is because their churches get paid by the government for doing so. They are paid by your tax dollars. Thousands of church members in the United States and her territories have complied because people were told they cannot come to church unless they are vaccinated. Money talks. But to those churches who have compromised their membership, life is cheap. When we live in a world that allows the murder of over 55 million unborn children in every year, this echoes the message that life is cheap and without value. Stay with me. When we see an increase of euthanasia and other forms of so-called mercy killings, this becomes more acceptable by people all around the world than we know we have lost our respect for human life. It has been written in the news that elderly and mentally handicapped children born with mongoloidism and others with learning disabilities should be exterminated to prevent them from being a drain on society because they are not productive to society any longer. When the world accepts the horrendous notion that man evolved from lower life forms, and when he dies he is no different from a dog that merely goes to the grave when it dies, then it becomes easy to take lives or tell people that they just need to commit suicide. I am not done yet. And this might make many of you listening to me very angry at this point. We see today where human affections are being ridiculously lavished upon pets. It is disgusting to see signs in the back window of cars saying, I am a proud dog mom or I am a proud cat mom. I saw a video the other evening where a man rescued a mother dog and her newborn puppies. And as he was enticing the mangy, dirty mother dog out of her cardboard box along the roadside and picked her puppies up, he kissed each one before putting them in the carry case. And he made sure he was at the right angle of the camera so that his kissing these puppies would be seen. and afterwards then at the end of the video when he asked for donations, people's hearts would be touched to open their wallets for such a noble and affectionate cause. Also, there's an over-concern of animals experiencing pain when they are killed for human consumption. A little 10-year-old girl was heard saying that she didn't want to go fishing with her grandfather when she was coming to visit him. He asked her why. She said, because it hurts the fish. This is the kind of indoctrination that little children are receiving in school today. This ideology is mounting up by those who are manipulating and steering a controlling society called communism or Marxism. We comment so many times that the concern and outrage for the millions of aborted babies every year gets few of any crowds of rightfully angered protesters in the street of every nation around the world. Today as well, millions of little children and babies are kidnapped and sacrificed to Luciferian devil worship by the sick-minded elite people around the world. These psychotic, demented people use God's innocent human creation for their evil, perverted satisfactions. The body parts of these precious little ones who have been victims of murder have never had a chance in life. They're used for foods and cosmetics and many other products. Do your own research on this subject. Where is the righteous anger for these acts of violence and misuse of life for God's precious masterpiece called humankind? Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 that wickedness and love of sin would increase in the last days. Are you personally beginning to see this for yourself? I provoke you with this. Are you personally beginning to be awakened to see this for yourself? God's word tells us that even during the days of the tribulation, there will be an increase in man's attraction to the indulgence of sin. After the true church, which is made up of genuine and real Christians, is removed at the time of the rapture, all restraints on society will be removed as well. There will no longer be the presence of a people who are filled with the Spirit of God. There will no longer be a people crying out to God in prayer for society, for their neighbors and their families. The world and multitudes of millions of those who profess to be Christians, but do not live according to the integrity of God's word, will continue to fall into hell because they followed sin's dictates and all the powers it possesses to keep them craving for more of it. In Romans chapter 1, beginning in verse 24, the word declares, Therefore God gave them up to the lusts of their own hearts, to sexual impurities, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, abandoning them to the degrading power of sin. Verse 25, Because they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the creator, who is blessed forever. Amen, so it be. We see how close we are when we read 2 Timothy chapter 3, beginning in verse 1, which declares this statement to be true and without dispute. But understand this, that in the last days there will come set in perilous times of great stress and trouble, hard to deal with, hard to bear. Verse 2, for people will be lovers of self and utterly self-centered, lovers of money, aroused by inordinate greed, desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive, blasphemous, scoffing, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, and profane. thing. Verse 3, they will be without natural human affection, callous, inhuman, relentless, admitting of no truce or appeasement. They will be slanderers, false accusers, troublemakers, intemperate, and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce haters of good. Verse 4, they will be treacherous betrayers, rash, and inflated with self-conceit. They will be lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements and more than rather lovers of God. For although they hold a form of piety, true religion, they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it. Their conduct belies their genuineness and the profession. Avoid all such people, turn away from them. Wow. This is saying that these people sit in churches. I'm not done yet. Please understand that by recent polls today, here in the United States, we have 85% of the population claiming to be Christians. But when we look at the following numbers, we can only scratch our heads and say, please tell me how can this be possible when it doesn't line up with God's holy word? How can it be possible when 62% of all Americans believe that the Bible is not totally true and that 85% claim to be Christians? How can it be that when 75% of Americans do not believe in the existence of a personal and real devil? Or how can it be when pornography earns an estimated $14 billion per year in the U.S. alone? How can it be when 1.5 million unborn babies are aborted in the country in the name of convenience and the betterment of society? Where is the righteous anger here? Or how can it be true that 85% of Americans' population claims to be Christian when the rate of premarital sexual activity in the church is the same as that in the world? Records show that the divorce rate is dropping, and the reason for that is because the marriage rate is dropping. And today, people in the United States are just living together in their abominable sin. It is a fact also that 63% of pastors in a recent poll admitted to being hooked on pornography. 68% of the church-going men, and over 50% of pastors view pornography on a regular basis. And of young Christian adults, the ages 18 through 20 years of age, 76% of them actively search for pornography. I stated again, 76% of them actually search for pornography. Can we begin to see why? By all that has been discussed up until this point, is now the reason there is a famine of God's word now? Many denominations in the visible and secular church today teach there is more than one way to God besides Jesus Christ. You heard me right. But Jesus says in John chapter 14, verse 6, I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father but through me. And also in Acts chapter 4, verse 12, the apostle tells us, There is a salvation in no one else, for there is none other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must come and be saved. And that is Jesus Christ. There's no other way to be saved and enter into heaven but by and through Jesus Christ. The Muslims, the Buddhists, the Taos, or any other false religion cannot be saved and enter int