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IN THIS ISSUE:
1. EDITORIAL: The Praying Mantis
2. FEATURE ARTICLE: How (or Why)?
3. PRAYER REQUESTS.
4. CONTACT US.
1. EDITORIAL:
The Praying Mantis - a lesson in discernment!
Jan sent me this article about the Praying Mantis, from the Encouragement for
the Soul series. I hope it enlightens you as it did me:
I stood looking at the workbench because something was different. I could
not put my finger on it at first, but after looking for a minute or so, I
noticed a piece of wood that was not there before. I wondered why my husband had
put it there. Maybe to add extra strength to the leg.
Looking closer though, I saw it was not a piece of wood, but a six inch long
Praying Mantis! It was perfectly still, and because of its color, it
looked like a piece of wood.
I gently prodded the Praying Mantis on to a gloved hand, then took it outside
and placed it in the Lilac bushes. It moved into position on a branch and became
motionless, waiting for dinner. If I had not known it was there, it would have
appeared just like another branch.
I had never seen a Praying Mantis before, so I decided to look it up on the
internet. I was surprised to learn that there are thousands of different
kinds, but spotted one that looked like mine. One of the behaviors of the
Mantis, is to sway back and forth; to give the appearance that it is just a
branch swaying in the breeze. While it is swaying, it slowly moves toward its
pray. It can move so slowly that it is hard to detect its movement, but once it
is close enough, it quickly snatches the pray.
When it's not hunting for food, a Praying Mantis will sit relaxed, with its
spiked forearms folded as if praying. Thus, the name of course.
In the church today, there are many false teachers who appear to be part of the
body of Christ. They look like they belong, and they act like it too. It is hard
to tell them apart from the real body of Christ. Their motives however, are
evil. The enemy uses them to bring diversion from the truth. The changes are
subtle. They sway and get close to us.
The word of God says there will be a great falling away in the last days. (1
Thessalonians 2:3.) Already many churches have succumbed to the false teachers
who look real and act real, but who have led them down a road of deception. The
term "fall away," indicates they knew the truth and fell from it
anyway.
If I had not looked at that work bench every time I walked into the garage, and
was familiar with it from top to bottom, I would have never noticed the
difference. Neither will we notice the difference unless we exercise our
minds in the Word of God; learning His truth from His Word, forward and
backwards. Neither will we be able to detect the false branches or wood pieces,
unless we learn to heed the Holy Spirit in us.
We have a built in alarm system, via the Holy Spirit. We just have to learn how
to listen. We need to be exercised in the Word of God, so that we can spot
the Praying Mantis among us. We need to know when the truth has been altered.
Today society spends a great deal of time on nutrition. We seek to eat
healthier. We spend hours studying and searching for information. We spend
millions of dollars on books, pills and health food, trying to attain some sense
of health. Meanwhile, we don't have the time to spend searching and seeking for
our spiritual food. There is nothing wrong with eating right, but God says His
Word is health unto our bones. It is our protection from the fake, it is
nutrition for our souls. It opens our spiritual eyes.
All the salve in the world cannot cause our eyes to see in the spiritual world.
Only the Word of God can heal our spiritual eyes, so that we might see.
All the ear wax remover won't heal our spiritual ears, only the truth in Gods
Word will give us keen hearing, so we can know when something spoken is not the
truth.
Do we have the knowledge and understanding, to know when something is not really
truth? Are we able to spot those who are not really part of the branch? Today
more than ever, we need to have our spiritual eyes open, so we can see the
pretenders; the false teachers. Can you discern the Praying Mantis sitting next
to you?
A lot of times, it's the small lies that lead to major deceptions. It may not
seem like much and seem unimportant, but small deceptions can lead to big
errors. A little change here, a little change there.
The Praying Mantis, although just a small insect, is capable of catching and
eating a small hummingbird. I had no idea the power it has. If I had not had the
sense to put on gloves, I'm sure I might have received a nasty bite. Do we have
the sense to put on our spiritual gloves?
Though the deceiver may have his forearms folded in prayer, can you discern when
a Praying Mantis is present?
2. FEATURE
ARTICLE: How (or Why)?
Like the rest of the world, I have been intensely following the tragic events of
this past week. During this time of observation, however, I have overheard
and witnessed conversations on the radio talk-show circuit, internet chat rooms,
television news / call-in programs and even the primary memorial service from
Washington, D.C., in which brothers and sisters in our loving Messiah have
attempted to testify to this world about our need to return to God, but who have
also been confronted and confined by that one question that almost always sends
them reeling in retreat.
The question? How (or Why) could a loving and merciful God allow these
things to ever take place?
I am certain that you have all been involved in conversations like these...
Sadly though, the reply that is normally forthcoming is weak, mumbled and
uncertain. It need not be that way, brethren, because Elohim (God)
provides the very answer for us throughout His Word:
In the beginning, after Elohim created the heavens and the earth, He walked in
His most perfect garden with His most perfect human creations. All was
well!
That is, until WE decided to sever our perfect relationship with Him by
voluntarily violating His rule. WE elected to remove ourselves from His
most perfect care, and in so doing WE placed ourselves under the rule and
dominion of the founder and ruler of sin. From that point on, our own
actions have brought upon us every evil and every tragedy that has ever
occurred.
We need to be very clear about this, beloved, because any explanation that does
not speak of these matters, is a lie, and is from Satan. OUR sin has brought
every evil and every tragedy upon us!
Today, many will argue and contend with this TRUTH, saying that we have not
sinned in the manner and fashion of Adam and Eve! Many will argue for the
'goodness' of America, insisting instead that we are, "One nation under
God"...
Sadly though, Nothing is further from the truth!
In truth, the United States abandoned God a very long time ago. How? The
list is nearly endless, but I will provide just a few examples as a reminder:
We have barbarously murdered nearly FIFTY MILLION children in our abortion
mills.
We have intentionally removed ELOHIM from every school and government facility
in the nation, refusing to even permit a
child to pray during school
hours - or at a sporting event.
We have turned away from ELOHIM
and the truth of His Word, choosing instead to tolerate and participate in every
form
of idolatry and self-indulgence
imaginable:
Pornography - including every illicit and despicable act of pedophilia
conceivable.
Witchcraft - the soothsayers and fortune-tellers are thriving in America.
(And, it should not escape our notice that none
of these self-proclaimed 'prophets' forewarned any of Tuesday's events).
Drugs!
Violence - every form conceivable, including spousal and child abuse, which are
all on the increase.
Literally, the list is endless -
but we do not need to belabor the point...
WE have turned out back on Elohim at nearly every juncture, and have compounded
our arrogance by pretending that we are a "Christian" society.
Sadly, however, most of what presents itself as the 'church' in this country
today, is a pure and clear representation of Babylon! The truth of Elohim's Word
has long been abandoned at the pulpit, and the proof of this is found in the
short list provided above. A truly Christian nation would never have
tolerated any of these things. Few have tried to speak out on these
matters, but we have all been shouted out from the halls and assemblies of the
unrighteous and unfaithful!
And yet, in spite of all this, there is hope! And what a tremendous hope it is...
In spite of our disobedience (SIN),
Elohim had a plan. Right from the "Beginning" He had a plan.
Because of our election; our free-will choosing, His plan had to permit us to
return to Him voluntarily. He could not force His will upon us, because
that would serve no everlasting purpose whatever. Sadly though, His plan -
because of the fact that WE had voluntarily subjected ourselves to the ruler of
sin - required a tremendous amount of grief, pain and anguish, for Him and for
us. Nevertheless, in spite of the required suffering, His plan allows us
to return to Him; return to His perfect rule and kingdom. His love for us
was such that He was willing to endure whatever it might take to rescue us, even
including the sacrifice of His very Son.
And this is no insignificant matter either, beloved. The Son of Elohim,
Yahshua Mashiach (Jesus Christ) walked among us - as a man. Voluntarily, That
Man laid down His Life for us, dying a most horrendous death on a cross.
But, these things He did - for US. And for US, as a forerunner, He rose
from the dead, so that WE would know that all who believe upon Him shall have
two things: Forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Truly, a
significant matter!
Now, "Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with
their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the
promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues
just as it was from the beginning of creation.' For when they maintain this, it
escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and
the earth was formed out of water and by water. But the present heavens
and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment
and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your
notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a
thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some
count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for
all to come to repentance" (Peter 3:4-9 NASB).
The despicable and cowardly actions of man against man, as witnessed last
Tuesday, are merely the beginnings of many long ago prophesied atrocities.
Sadly, however, by the Word of Elohim, we know that there is much, much more to
come. And, it will get worse! In and through our sin, we have asked
for these things.
But Elohim has a plan for our rescue and salvation. He has remained
Faithful and True to His plan. All we need to do - is return to Him,
through His Son Yahshua Mashiach (Jesus Christ). We need to repent (Change
our heart and our way) and abandon that which defies Him. We need to
humble ourselves before our Great and Glorious Creator and Messiah, and in this
humility we need to sincerely and faithfully ask for His forgiveness, seek for
the revival of our hearts, minds and souls, and pray for the restoration of His
protective hand over our lives - and our nation!
He will forgive every sinful act. He will revive and restore every
faithful heart. He will extend His protective hand over us again. If
only we will humble ourselves before Him!
In His forgiveness, in His kingdom, He has promised that He will never bring to
recollection the failings and sins of our lives. In His revival He has
promised to extend every bit of wisdom, knowledge and understanding that we need
to abide faithfully in accord with His will. And in His restoration He has
promised that we will be complete, and that we will never encounter His wrath.
In agreement with all of these things, therefore, we need to know that we must
walk the walk of faith and renewal. We need to stand against every form of
evil and despicable act. We need to rise from the ashes of the dead and
walk for the glory of our loving Messiah. Talk is cheap, beloved, but today is a
day of revival and renewal! In Him and through Him, and in and through His
faithfulness to us and our faithfulness to Him, we will find eternal peace...
Remind them of these things, beloved, because many are asking today - and we
must have answers that glorify our loving Messiah.
3. PRAYER
REQUESTS:
Overwhelmingly: Pray for our nation and world - that our heavenly Father
would use the events of these past days to turn the hearts, minds and souls of
humanity back to Him, through His Son, Yahshua.
For the victims and the families of everybody involved in Tuesday's terrorist
attack (Including the recovery teams and our military - now being activated, and
surely to be sent into harms way - and their families as well).
For our leaders; that wisdom, knowledge and understanding would flow directly
from the throne of heaven, so that our Father's will is done in all that we say
and do.
Pray for Vickie who has just undergone surgery to remove a malignant tumor - and
who now must undergo about eighteen month's of therapy. May Yahshua reach down
and heal her - today!
4. CONTACT:
larry vosen
If you have any questions about the Bible, Elohim (God), Yahshua Mashiach (Jesus
Christ), Qodesh Ruach (the Holy Spirit), the Gospel, Faith or any pressing
spiritual matter, please feel free to contact me. While I may not possess the
answers personally, I know Who Does! Every effort will be made to answer your
questions in a timely and Scripturally supported manner.
Do you have a prayer request? Please share your needs with us... We will
post your needs in our "Prayer Request" sections, so that we can
approach the Throne of our Father in heaven in a united front on your behalf.
We can be reached through our email address at: Contact
larry
Or, please feel free to mail your thoughts, requests or support to:
Larry Vosen
2600 E. Seltice Way, #203
Post Falls, ID 83854
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