Tag: signs

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Can you spot the counterfeit?

How good am I at detecting the counterfeit?

Rev 13-15 In the book of Daniel, the king demanded that all bow down and worship the image he had erected. It was neither authentic nor had power, but Jesus said people would follow and worship the beast and the dragon. Jesus came and provided evidence of His identity, but the people cried crucify him. People are easily duped into believing that which is false. In fact, God said He “would send on them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false.” [2Thess 2:11]

In the time of Christ, some of the crowd said, “this is really the Prophet, but others said don’t the scriptures say that Christ is a descendant of David and comes from Bethlehem?” [Jn 7:40-42] Yet no one took time to check the authenticity of His claims. Do we check what is said?

Do we check the claims of men who come and produce signs, yet they are of the evil one? The Jews asked Jesus for a sign. Jesus said, “you study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about me,” [Jn 5:39]

Here in Revelation, we find one of the signs of the counterfeit is what is said about God. “The beast opened his mouth to blaspheme God.” [Rev 13:6] What are we hearing about Christ and God from men?   Am I discerning about that which is counterfeit?

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Keep Looking for Advent signs!

Phil 1 to 4 advent

Looking for Advent: Phil 1-4 “Complete your joy”

The heavens rang aloud that Advent night so very long ago and hymns have shared that joy which we sing at Christmas time. As we read scripture each day we should be looking for advent clues such as joy and Paul ensures that we do.

Paul says “complete my joy.” Be unified n spirit and in purpose. As you seek to complete the gift of joy do it humbly with the purpose of being unified. Look at the Savior as your role model who proclaimed joy wherever he went and in whatever he did. The result? God exalted him and honored him with a name above every name. The prophet Isaiah gave us that name along with other names given to him:

Isa 9:6 For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called:

Amazing Adviser, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This day as you read, keep looking for advent clues to help you celebrate this season with joy!

 

Photo courtesy of Amazon

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“Be Alert!”

ImageIn today’s cyberworld we are cautioned by veteran spies to be ever alert to the scams that come across in emails, texts etc. In the time of Jesus He warned his disciples to “be alert,” be observant, be on guard, be vigilant to their world around them because soon their quiet time where they could sit and ask questions of the Master would come to a screeching halt. All of life would then become a world in which they must be on guard against those who would claim to be He but in fact were false. Today we live in a world that moves at “warp speed” with our texts, twitter, facebook posts. Our phones rarely ring but they warble with the vibration of a new text message or a new twitter, or a new post on facebook. We have alerts to scams, alerts to a missing person, alert phone numbers, and alert signs abound! Thus Jesus’ warning to “be alert” comes at a precipitous moment. But, how does one remain at alert 100% of the time? Here are some helpful hints:

Be in the mode of prayer: Mar 14:38 Stay awake and pray that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Be discerning: 1Pe 5:8 Be sober and alert. Your enemy the devil, like a roaring lion, is on the prowl looking for someone to devour.

Begin your day rightly: Isa 50:4 He wakes me up every morning; he makes me alert so I can listen attentively as disciples do.

Why be alert? Rev 3:3 I will come like a thief, ITh 5:2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord will come in the same way as a thief in the night.

Today, be ever watchful for the Lord’s return. He has given us the signs that we might be aware but only the Father knows the time. Thus to be alert is to be vigilant and prepared lest He come and we are not involved in the task He has left: the gospel must be preached to all nations.

 

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“What Are You Looking For?”

ImageJesus no sooner finished his miraculous feeding of the 4000 when appeared on the scene the Pharisees seeking a sign. Where had they been when this was all taking place? Surely had they been there that would have been sign enough or so we would think. However, since early times they and the Jews have been looking for signs and no matter how many God has given, they always seem to need just one more. This reminds us of John D. Rockefeller when at the height of his incredible wealth was asked how much money is enough and responded “one more dollar.” So when the Pharisees asked Jesus for yet another sign he asked: “Why does this generation look for a sign?” 1Co 1:22 For Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks ask for wisdom. Would they have believed him then as THE Messiah? Probably not and that is the way it is today with many who refuse to see and believe the evidence before them because: what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them in creation and still they refuse. Their spiritual insight is as the blind man we see next.

Someone brought Jesus a blind man for healing. Now this man had not seen THE Messiah nor had he seen the miracles that he had performed. He did not come to seek a sign nor did he come on his own seeking healing. Imagine being blind and then being restored to sight and seeing THE Messiah as your first image. How would you have responded? Would you want to see “more?” What more could there be than the very image of God Himself in living flesh? His physical sight and his spiritual sight were both restored to wholeness.

The Pharisees like many want to “see more” but the blind man was content to “see” and believe that the Messiah himself was standing before him. How often are we like the Pharisees and want God to provide just one more piece of evidence that Jesus is who he said he was? Listen to what Jesus said: I tell you the truth; no sign will be given to this generation. Perhaps that is why Jesus told the disciples to beware of the yeast or leaven of the Pharisees for they would never be satisfied to have just plain sight, they needed more convincing.

Beloved, are you content for sight to see or are you looking for yet another sign? May we yearn not for signs but spiritual truth.

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