Prayer Power: What Do You Want?

For this post I'll be writing more in a similar style to my original 2010 posts. Id est just sharing experiences and what I learned from them. I'm just basically going to share some of my prayers and how they were answered.

1. While on vacation at the beach for a week last year I prayed that I would not get sunburnt (I usually do at least a little). God answered my prayer by...surprise! Cloudy almost everyday. Even got to experience swimming in the ocean in the rain, something I'd never done before, and it was fun. I wasn't about to let the clouds and rain ruin my vacation.

2. Prayed to loose weight. ....And I did, because I became sick for a whole month...at times I couldn't eat or keep down food. But I lost the weight I wanted to loose and I didn't miss any work so it was all good. Never did find out what was wrong with me, never went to the doctor, but that was about 9 months ago now and I've been healthy since (and still without the extra weight).

3. Prayed for safety while driving. All these years. All these miles. I have no doubt in my mind that the daily prayers for safe travels have kept me safe. At least twice this year and many times more in the last couple I have had many close encounters with ice or deer or falling asleep on the road. Twice recently at night, driving 75 MPH there was a deer directly in front of me on the road..just standing there. I saw it both times and swerved just in time to avoid a collision.

4. The Mimosa tree. At my parents house growing up we always (or at least often) had little mimosa trees that would grow up as "weeds" in the driveway or the garden. I always liked them and their light and touch sensitive leaves and when I moved to my own house I prayed that a mimosa tree would grow up at my house. And...one did...unfortunately at a location considered bad by some. But nevertheless it is there and it is beautiful, right by my porch steps. I've always liked plants.

5. Oh...this one goes back quite awhile. But it is very important. And one of those things I haven't shared for years because I'm not sure how people will take it.

The pastor at the church I usually attended stopped preaching good sermons. Something was wrong. He would rarely preach about anything except the end of the world. Which is fine, because it is certainly getting closer, but all that he would talk about was "the rapture" which was really annoying and unedifying. Annoying because I disagreed with his "theory" of a pretribulation rapture, and unedifying because he never talked about anything else. So I began praying hard for his preaching to improve and for him to really get into the word and preach true and useful lessons like he used to. Then he almost died. He fell down a flight of steps and was discovered sometime later. I believe he had a stroke also. He was in a nursing home for months and had to go through rehabilitation...and we didn't know then if he was going to ever be back. But we prayed much for him. He came back! And since then has preached good messages every Sunday.

So these experiences are being shared primarily for two reasons. First, as a testimony that God answers prayers. Second, as an example of how God does not answer our prayers in the same manner that we necessarily intend, and that in order to answer prayers certain events must take place. God uses people and events to create changes in our life experiences....thus effecting and creating physical, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual adjustments to each person which bring about the answers to our prayers. For example, when I prayed not to get sunburnt, God didn't just surround me with a magical force field...he sent clouds to block the sun. When God helped me loose weight he sent sickness....so I could not over eat. So when we pray a prayer desiring a change in our life...we must be accepting to the fact that a change requires a change. Fruit does not magically appear on a dead tree. We can't pray to be rich without expecting to work hard. We can't pray to do well on a test without expecting to study. We can't pray for a closer relationship with God without expecting to spend time alone with God in prayer and Bible Study. We can't expect God's power to work in us and through us if we do not have Faith and a willingness to take the time to strengthen our Faith. We can't expect our everyday life to reflect the values taught by God if we do not take the time to study His word and what it is that He teaches and desires us to be. (2 Timothy 2:15) We can't pray for someones life to be changed without expecting some type of major event to happen in their life which brings about that change. We can't pray to avoid a sin without learning to hate that sin. We can't pray for the garden to grow if we refuse to take time to water it. (Matthew 6:6,18, Isaiah 3:10, Luke 8:15)

God let us change the world for your Glory. Amen.

False Prophets: One Current Example

Harold Camping is one example of a false prophet. He predicted the "Rapture" of Christians to be May 21, 2011.

How do we know he is a false prophet?

The Bible guarantees it!*

In Mark 13:31-37 the scripture is clear that no one but God the Father knows the hour or the day of Christ’s coming. No one but the Father knows the day or hour this world shall end.

“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.” - Mark 13:31-37

In Deuteronomy 18:21-22 we read how to identify a false prophet.

“And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.”

In Jeremiah we read the word of the Lord against the false prophets of Jerusalem. See Jeremiah 23:16, 25-26, 32, 36, 39, 40

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.”

“I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed. How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart”

“Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.”

“…for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the LORD of hosts our God.”

“Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence: And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.”

"The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him." - Jeremiah 28:9

Many professed Christians have actually done one of the same things as Mr. Camping. They choose to ignore parts of scripture which they do not like. (He disregarded Mark 13:32) They disregard parts of the scripture because it requires them to do something to which their flesh (their carnal mind) is opposed. Many modern (unbiblical) “Christians” who mock Camping are hypocrites in this way.

Just as Camping’s ignorance (weather purposeful or not) of the scriptures resulted in lies, wasted resources, anger, and destruction (both on his part and from his followers) so too does disobedience of the scriptures result in lies, waste, anger, and destruction in the lives of all who disregard them.

But most importantly, those who disregard the Gospel message will not experience the Joy and blessings of knowing Christ their Saviour (Ephesians 1:3-14). They will suffer the consequences of a vain life, and everlasting damnation in Hell where the fire is not quenched and the worm does not die (Ecclesiastes 11:8, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Daniel 12:2, Revelation 21:7-8, Isaiah 66:24, Mark 9:44, Mark 9:46, Mark 9:48, John 3:36, John 3:18, Hebrews 10:31).

Beware the many false prophets and false Christs today!

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before.” - Matthew 24:24-25

"Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." - Matthew 7:13-23

See the following two links for more information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Camping

http://www.katu.com/news/local/122235709.html

or Google "May 21 Harold Camping" or "the rapture of Christians May 21, 2011"

*(to rightly use a phrase he misused).

March 2012 Update: Harold Camping Admits Sin, Announces End to Doomsday Predictions

Paul Washer on False Prophets

Tribulation? Rapture? The Second Coming of Christ?

A Short Defense for the Historical Post Tribulation Rapture

First, if Church history is understood and considered regarding the rapture and the tribulation it will appear that a pretribulation rapture is a rather ridiculous idea. But I do not plan to go into history at all in this article, but merely point out that understanding the views of earlier church leaders, and history itself would alone make the common day “pretribulation rapture belief” appear foolish.

Rather, the focus will only be on the word of God, as he has spoken quite clearly on this matter which is more than evident. The fact is that whenever in scripture that the tribulation and the rapture are mentioned together the rapture ALWAYS comes after the tribulation. Those who believe a pretribulation rapture split Christ’s coming into two. They say he has one coming for the church in the rapture, and another when he comes to rule on the earth. Never in scripture does the rapture come before the tribulation. The 2nd coming of Christ is always spoken of as one occurrence in scripture. This should be simple enough to understand, but some have cleverly devised lies and wrested the scripture to their own destruction (2 Peter 3:16).

First, consider John 17:15. Here Jesus prays to the Father that we (Christians) would not be taken out of the world, but that we may be kept from evil. This shows us a theme in the Bible that had perhaps begun with Deuteronomy 4:30-31. That theme being that we are to have faith in the Lord calling upon him to deliver us in time of tribulation. This is just as true in the tribulations we face commonly as it would be if we were to experience the great Tribulation.

There are three arguments that will be considered which revolve around four subjects; the last trumpet, the plagues of Revelation, the day of Christ, and the abomination of desolation/son of perdition. The strongest and clearest argument will be saved for last.

First, it appears that the “trump of God” in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, the “last trump” of 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, and the trumpet in Revelation 10:7, 11:15 (see Rev. 8:2, 9:1, 9:13 for context) and Matthew 24:31 are all the same trumpet. This would fit the rapture in perfectly with the order of events in Matthew ch 24 and Revelation (and shows the rapture as after the tribulation).

Second, the plagues of revelation (of the tribulation), namely the locusts of Rev. 9:2-4, and the angels horsemen of Rev. 9:14-21 were sent to torture only those who had not received the seal of God (Rev. 6:9-11, 7:3, Eph. 1:13, 4:30, 2 Cor. 1:22; we are sealed after we believe by the Holy Spirit) . It can be clearly seen that those who are marked with the seal of God are still on the earth at this time, but they are protected by God from these plagues. I also believe that they are protected by God from the other plagues of Revelation chapter 8. So how are the servants of God harmed during this time of tribulation? They are “slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held” as is seen in verse 11 and 9 of Revelation chapter 6 (Also see Matthew chapter 24).

Now from the letter’s of the Apostle Paul we are given perhaps the clearest argument, but the references to other books of scripture to which Paul refers will also be pointed out. In 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 we can see a number of important details. In verse 1-4 we see Paul telling the Thessalonians not to be troubled and that they should let no man deceive them. He says that the day of Christ shall not come “except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be reveled, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” It should be noted that verse 4 refers to the same event as Matthew 24:15 and Daniel 11:36 (The antichrist, and when he is there is tribulation). So in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 it is said that the day of Christ shall not come until after the falling away and the antichrist comes first (Also that those who do not love the truth will be damned.) In Philippians 1:10 and 2:15-16 we can see that the day of Christ is the final, or last thing that Christians are to be blameless until, and should be able to rejoice in, unless they have failed to “hold forth the word of life.” So the order of events should be more clear by the pointing out of these verses and there relation to each other.

We see in Romans 14:8, Luke 20:38, and 1 Thessalonians 5:10 that weather we live or die (in the flesh) we are with the Lord. But when Christ returns at his second coming the dead shall be raised first and then we who are alive and remain shall also go to be with the Lord (in our new resurrected bodies, see 1 Corinthians 15:51-54, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, and Philippians 3:20-21). So to be clear, both the resurrection and the rapture take place at the same time when Christ returns after the tribulation.

Also see

http://post-triborpre-trib.blogspot.com/2007/06/end-times-bible-prophcey-conference.html