Chosen People Ministries visited Cornerstone during this year’s missions conference. Chosen People is a ministry dedicated to bringing the gospel to the people of israel throughout the nations. Mitch Foreman (of Chosen People) came to share a two day conference (five sessions) with us regarding the histor and prophetic nature of God’s chosen people.
Here is Pt. 5: http://cornerstoneag.net/2012/10/02/middle-east-conference-part-5/
Chosen People Ministries visited Cornerstone during this year’s missions conference. Chosen People is a ministry dedicated to bringing the gospel to the people of israel throughout the nations. Mitch Foreman (of Chosen People) came to share a two day conference (five sessions) with us regarding the histor and prophetic nature of God’s chosen people.
Here is Pt. 4 : http://cornerstoneag.net/2012/10/02/middle-east-conference-part-3/
Chosen People Ministries visited Cornerstone during this year’s missions conference. Chosen People is a ministry dedicated to bringing the gospel to the people of israel throughout the nations. Mitch Foreman (of Chosen People) came to share a two day conference (five sessions) with us regarding the histor and prophetic nature of God’s chosen people.
Here is part 3: http://cornerstoneag.net/2012/10/02/middle-east-conference-part/
Chosen People Ministries visited Cornerstone during this year’s missions conference. Chosen People is a ministry dedicated to bringing the gospel to the people of israel throughout the nations. Mitch Foreman (of Chosen People) came to share a two day conference (five sessions) with us regarding the histor and prophetic nature of God’s chosen people.
Here is Pt. 2: http://cornerstoneag.net/2012/10/02/middle-east-conference-part-2/
“When you see all these signs look up! Your redemption draweth nigh!” Luke 21:28
They will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of the sky with power and great glory” MA. 24:30
Don’t miss this! It’s alarming where we are today!
In case you are just logging on, “Reinventing the We’ll” is in the middle of a word study. In the Heaven series we are taking time to meditate on every verse where “heaven” is mentioned. So far the Word has taken us over much territory as we think about The Far- Off-Country!
“This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon the nations under the whole heaven, who shall hear the report of you, and shall tremble and be in anguish because of you.” Deut. 2: 25 NKJV
The God promise to Israel of a home land was a fearful thing to the other inhabitants of Canaan. It meant certain destruction for all those who refused to accept God’s decree.
I am mindful that this is how it is with God and His promises. As He fulfills His promises to his faithful ones everyone who stands aligned outside of those promises faces anguish as what they have is taken away.
The Book of Revelation says that in the last days “the kings of the earth, the great men … hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?” Rev. 6:15-16
It’s important to note that in these verses Israel is not the source of judgment. The church is not the source of wrath. God is the source of judgment and wrath. He is the one who creates fear and anguish among those who refuse to make Him God. I shudder to think about the Day of the Lord and the wrath that will come with it.
Let’s pray: God we have heard your Word. We know it’s true. A day of wrath and punishment is coming for all those who will not bow their knee to the cross of Christ. Jesus intensify our witness and melt the hearts of the rebellious with Your love. Have mercy Oh God for our sakes! Have mercy on those we know who are lost. Let our love draw them into the promise dear Jesus A-men!
“Teacher,” they asked, “when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to take place?” 
He replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and saying, ‘The time has come!’ But don’t believe them. And when you hear of wars and insurrections, don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place first, but the end won’t follow immediately.” 
Then he added, “Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 
There will be great earthquakes, and there will be famines and plagues in many lands, and there will be terrifying things and great miraculous signs from heaven. 
“But before all this occurs, there will be a time of great persecution. You will be dragged into synagogues and prisons, and you will stand trial before kings and governors because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you, for I will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you!
Even those closest to you—your parents, brothers, relatives, and friends—will betray you. They will even kill some of you. And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But not a hair of your head will perish! By standing firm, you will win your souls. And when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then you will know that the time of its destruction has arrived. 
Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. Those in Jerusalem must get out, and those out in the country should not return to the city. For those will be days of God’s vengeance, and the prophetic words of the Scriptures will be fulfilled. 
How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. For there will be disaster in the land and great anger against this people. They will be killed by the sword or sent
away as captives to all the nations of the world. And Jerusalem will be trampled down by the Gentiles until the period of the Gentiles comes to an end.
“And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. 
People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory. So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!” Luke 21:7-28 NLT
Lately I have been looking up! What have you been looking at?
It has been one hot summer around our nation. Have you noticed? I was watching the news one day two weeks ago and Minnesota was experiencing record heat. On that day parts of the state were slated to experience temperatures of 124 degrees! Myself I think it’s global climate change. I think it’s a sign of the soon return of Jesus. How about you?
I notice these weather changes with great interest. But I do not get too excited or fearful about them. I’m not as concerned with the physical temperature of Minnesota as I am concerned with the spiritual temperature of the church. The time has come brothers and sisters to raise the temperature of the Body of Christ. The time has come to make all lukewarmness go and to bring back the fervent fire of the Holy Spirit of Pentecost. We can do it you know! We must do it to! And this our work.
Some of us are waiting for revival as though it’s somehow only up to Jesus. But revival is a choice that the church has to make. Walking away from lukewarmness is a choice the church makes. Oh make no mistake we need Jesus’ full power to accomplish it. But we must make the choice first and then continually if the revival is to come and lukewarmness is to go. The time has come to raise the temperature.
What choices do you think the church must make to raise the spiritual temperature of our nation?
“I have told you these things so that you won’t abandon your faith. For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing a holy service for God. This is because they have never known the Father or me. Yes, I’m telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember my warning. I didn’t tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer. ” John 16:1-4 NLT
My Dad was none too happy when I started going to church with my Uncle Tom. Uncle Tom was and is a dyed in the wool Pentecostal, blood bought, Spirit baptized, Holy Ghost sanctified Christian. In Dad’s estimation a nice nut but a nut none the less.
When I decided to become a Christian and was born again Dad threatened to forbid me from church if I didn’t start thinking through my philosophies in life. From that point on Dad and I had lots of “lively discussions” about faith. I never considered it persecution really but it was definitely opposition. Dad made room for my Christianity but was sure to point out it was only because he was free thinking enough to let me make my own mistakes in life. He was sure it was all just a phase I would grow out of.
As I reflect on my situation I am so thankful my Dad was a free-thinker. The extent of my persecution has been some jocular ribbing from family members who think me the next generation of “nice nut”. Meanwhile brothers and sisters around the world are giving their lives for the cause of Christ.
This week we received word that Christians in Laos were raped and murdered while their families were forced to watch. Churches in India were burned to the ground and our denominational headquarters in the Ivory Coast was pillaged.
Paul in writing his second letter to Timothy said “everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. ” II Tim 3:12 NLT
As the church in America faces these last days we need to recognize that we are in a blessed position that is not guaranteed to continue. In fact Scripture pretty much assures us that if we do our job of sharing Jesus it will not continue. It is an oddity that a gospel of love and hope should elicit a reaction of violence but that’s the way our world operates.
We used to sing a song in the church called “Hold the Fort” The chorus says ““Hold the fort, for I am coming,” Jesus signals still;
Wave the answer back to Heaven, “By Thy grace we will.” (Hold The Fort, Philip Bliss)
These are good words for the church to grasp hold of in these days. It’s time to trust in God’s grace to help us endure and more than that to powerfully spread the Good News that Jesus has died and risen again to save the lost! Any price we might pay will be made up as souls are added to the kingdom!
How do you think persecution will come to American Christians?
Reinventing the We'll 