February 9, 2004
We have been studying how racism will play a major part in the last
days, as the Lord indicated in Matthew 24:7: "For nation will
rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom." As we studied,
the Greek word, translated "nation" in this verse, is 'ethnos' from
which we derive our English word "ethnic." This is speaking of ethnic
conflicts being one of the major signs of the end times. We also examined
some of the roots of this most tragic evil, and how we must be free
of it if we are going to be a light in the midst of the coming darkness.
Now we want to look at another aspect of this evil, that will be increasingly
important for us to understand, as the future unfolds.
As we have also mentioned earlier, when the Lord said in Matthew 13:39:
"The harvest is the end of the age..." this not only speaks
of the greatest ingathering of souls into the kingdom, but it also implies
the coming to maturity, and the reaping of everything that has been
sown in man, both good and bad. The light will be brighter and more
glorious, but evil will also come to full maturity at the same time.
As Paul wrote in Galatians 6:7: "Do not be deceived, God is not
mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap." This
is a spiritual truth that gives us much insight into the things that
are going to come upon the world at the end of this age. As I heard
one man say, "I sowed a lot of 'wild oats' when I was younger, and I
have been praying for a crop failure ever since." This is true of us
as individuals, and as the human race. We need some crop failures, and
the way to insure they happen is the cross. The cross of Jesus breaks
this curse.
Applying the Blood
However, just as it would not have been of any benefit for the children
of Israel to slay and eat the Passover lamb if they had not applied
the blood to their doors, there are doors or gates to our lives that
also must have the blood applied to them. It is not enough to just know
that atonement was made for us - the blood must be applied. This is
true of us as individuals, and as nations, or ethnic groups. The Lord
does tend to see the nations as ethnic groups rather than just national
borders, which politics and wars have drawn up. This is why we see in
Matthew 24:7 that the Lord distinguishes between "nations" and "kingdoms."
The kingdoms addressed here are what we tend to think of as nations.
These are human realms of authority, which we will address later, but
for now we are focusing on the ethnic groups, or nations.
If we examine the racial conflicts in the world today we will find historical
roots to the contemporary conflicts. We often refer to this as "bad
blood" between them. What they need is the good blood, the blood of
Jesus, to be applied to them. Nothing else will heal the source of these
conflicts.
"There Will Be Peace in the Middle East Before
the End of the Age"
Can we eliminate all of these ancient wounds? No. The Scriptures will
be fulfilled, and at the end there will be conflicts between both ethnic
groups and kingdoms, which are realms of human authority. However, we
know that at least some of these conflicts can be reduced, and some
can be avoided. One of the most dramatic of all is in the place that
is now experiencing the deepest and seemingly most implacable conflict
- the Middle East. This we see in the remarkable text of Isaiah 19:19-25:
"In that day there will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of
the land of Egypt, and a pillar to the Lord near its border. And it
will become a sign and a witness to the Lord of hosts in the land of
Egypt; for they will cry to the Lord because of oppressors, and He will
send them a Savior and a Champion, and He will deliver them.
"Thus the Lord will make Himself known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will
know the Lord in that day. They will even worship with sacrifice and
offering, and will make a vow to the Lord and perform it.
"And the Lord will strike Egypt, striking but healing; so they will
return to the Lord, and He will respond to them and will heal them.
"In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the
Assyrians will come into Egypt and the Egyptians into Assyria, and the
Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians. In that day Israel will be
the third party with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the
earth, whom the Lord of hosts has blessed, saying, 'Blessed is Egypt
My people, and Assyria the work of My hands, and Israel My inheritance.'"
The land of Assyria is included in what is now Iraq, and all of the
land around Israel to the Sinai. This is a text that very few include
in their end time teachings because they do not know how to make it
fit with some of their other beliefs. Those who have addressed it have
usually relegated it to the millennium, which could not be because there
will not be "oppressors" then. This is a prophecy that has not yet been
fulfilled, so we know that it must be before the end. And, as impossible
as it may seem, there will be peace in the Middle East before the end
of this age.
Have Faith for Peace in Other Nations
If this ultimate conflict which goes back thousands of years could be
healed, how can we not have faith for others? The devil has been working
overtime to sow his evil seeds, and water those which he sowed in man
six thousand years ago. There will be great darkness and conflict at
the end, more than the world has ever known before, but there will also
be the greatest light, and some of the greatest victories, because the
truth that God sowed in man will prove itself even greater before the
end.
This does not negate the fact that if the Lord did not shorten these
days there would not be anyone left on the earth. The devil is trying
to destroy not only mankind, but the earth as well, because it is going
to be God's dwelling place, and the witness for all time that truth
is greater than the lie. Even though the Lord will intervene to prevent
this ultimate destruction, when the end of the age comes there will
be many triumphs of the truth, and witnesses of the ways that are true
and right, which will be such witnesses for eternity. It will be the
devil's desperation because he knows that his time is short which will
bring about some of the most dangerous and deadly conflicts.
It has been one of the devil's main goals to wipe out the Jewish people
since the Lord first gave His promises to Abraham. Regrettably, the
devil seems to understand God's purposes with the Jewish people better
than many Christians. The devil thought he could destroy them by scattering
them throughout the nations. To his surprise, that did not work, and
the Lord has now re-gathered them to their land "a second time" just
as He promised.
The devil is now making every effort to destroy the Jewish people by
destroying Israel, but it will not work. In fact, in due time, peace
is going to break out in the Middle East which is a greater peace than
can be found between nations anywhere else on the earth. The devil will
then rage against the rest of mankind, seeking desperately to destroy
the whole earth. He will come close to succeeding, but the Lord will
shorten those days.
"How Will the Cross Heal These Ancient Wounds
Between Races?"
Even through this great time of trouble there will be a number of other
places where there will be peace between nations and kingdoms - those
places which have bowed the knee to the Lord, just as we see in the
text above happening in Egypt, who will then "worship (the Lord) with
the Assyrians." How will the cross heal these ancient wounds between
races? This is one of the ultimate questions that we should now be asking.
First, there is a misunderstanding with many that time will heal all
wounds. This is not true of any wound. It may take time to heal them,
but time itself does not do the job. For any wound to be healed it must
be dressed with something to prevent infection and then closed. This
is true of physical and cultural wounds. History testifies repeatedly
that those who attempted to just cover up, or close a wound, caused
deadly infections that allowed that wound to burst open again. For this
reason the Lord made certain that the unrighteous wounds caused by His
people were addressed before the issue could be closed, as we see in
II Samuel 21:1:
"Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years,
year after year, and David sought the presence of the Lord. And the
Lord said, 'It is because of Saul and his bloody house, because he put
the Gibeonites to death.'"
The Cross Can Be Applied To National & Cultural
Wounds
David's administration was under judgment for the sins of the previous
administration because there had been a major injustice done by his
people that had not been addressed, and the Lord would not let it go.
Our God is a God of justice, and every wrong will eventually be made
right. This begins with His own household, but it will ultimately be
true of the world when He takes His rightful dominion over it.
Because of this injustice David had to give Saul's sons to the Gibeonites,
who put them to death as restitution for Saul's injustice. The reason
David could only relieve this judgment by restitution to the Gibeonites
was because this happened when they were under the Law, and under the
Law there was only one way for these sins to be remitted... "An
eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." (Matthew 5:38)
Now if the whole world was required to pay for all of its injustices
in this same way, there probably would not be any people left. The cross
of Jesus is the restitution that God made for the sins of the world,
and when we turn to the cross our sins are remitted, forgiven, and cancelled.
As we see throughout the New Testament, the gospel was not just to be
preached to individuals, but to nations. The cross can also be applied
to nations. The power of the cross can heal these national and cultural
wounds, and it is the only remedy that can.
Just as we see at the end there being famines in diverse places, these
too are being caused by covered up injustices that have not yet been
healed, just as it was in the case with King David. This is why the
reconciliation movements that have been raised up recently, which seem
to be unique to our times, are so important for breaking the curses
and saving many in the
times to come as the seeds that have been sown start fully maturing.
"In Christ, Troubles Are Turned into Triumph"
Again, we are belaboring some of these issues because our goal is more
than just knowing the signs of the times - we want to be prepared for
them. There is a true apostolic ministry about to be restored to the
church, and as with all true apostles, they will be proactive in engaging
the darkness of this world, and the ultimate issues that keep mankind
in darkness. In the greatest times of trouble the world has ever known,
or will ever know, the church will shine in its greatest glory.
In Christ, troubles are turned into triumph, so in Him we look at what
is coming as the times of the greatest triumphs the world has ever known!
The conclusion of all things is that we win! The cross will prevail.
This is the foundational truth that all of our understanding of these
times must be based on. There will be no retreat in those who walk in
the true light. When you open your shades at night, darkness does not
come in and flood the room. Rather the light shines out into the darkness
because light is stronger than darkness. The darker it becomes, the
brighter our light will be. Where sin abounds, grace will that much
more abound.
It is now time to understand how this is practically worked out, and
how it fits with the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom to all nations.
Therefore, we will continue this theme next week. Great victories are
already being won, but this is a foundational issue in these times,
and the work is really just beginning.
We have been made ambassadors, and given the ministry of reconciliation
for this purpose. It is now time for the church to rise up and become
the force that it is called to be in this. The time is coming when,
if there is honesty in the Noble Peace Prize, it will go to Christians
every year. Not that we would do it for this, but because Christians
are going to become the greatest force for peace on earth among men,
as the Lord originally intended.
by Rick Joyner
Web: www.morningstarministries.org/
email: Mpiservice@aol.com
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A Personal Note From Rick
On April 8-10, 2004, we are hosting a Prophetic Equipping Conference
in Charlotte. We only have room for 500, so please register ASAP if
you are planning to come, as these conferences always fill up very fast.
This conference is especially devoted to practical teaching and training
in the prophetic gifts and ministries, as well as how to pastor those
who have these gifts.
For more information, or to reserve a seat,
please call our toll free number at 1-800-542-0278.
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New Year's Conference 2003 -
Turning Troubles Into Triumph
MorningStar Fellowship Church, with Rick Joyner & Others
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Titles Include the Below
from
December 29-31, 2003 - Charlotte, NC:
"TURNING TROUBLES
INTO TRIUMPH" PART I
by Rick Joyner
2004 will be a year of knowing what's for; it will be a year for
understanding the ways and purposes of God. He will be pouring out
great understanding of the scriptures. Turn your criticism into
intercession. Everything that happens in your life is to help you
to be conformed into His Image; if you will change, then your circumstances
will change. There will be a new reformation of the Church.
"YOUR NEXT STEP"
by Steve Thompson
The Lord wants us to move forward individually & corporately, in
some cases, as we have began to enter in to our inheritance. God
wants us to enter into a new relationship with Him. As we move further
into the purposes of God, it will seem more natural and less supernatural
in experience. We should not be living hand to mouth.
"IT'S WORTH IT ALL"
by Kingsley Fletcher
Kingsley teaches on the trials of life and gives some examples of
his life. Kingsley is a pastor from Africa and he shares what he
came out of, ancestral worship, animal sacrifice, etc. This is a
message of hope in the midst of your trials. It's time for the Church
to become the salt of the earth
"CREATIVE RELEASE"
by Suzy Wills
Suzy teaches on how to help the creativity that the Lord has put
in you to be released.
"KNOWING JESUS AS KING"
by Kingsley Fletcher
This teaching is on how many know Jesus as Lord, but that they need
to know Him as King. Most people ask, "What is my ministry?" The
question is, "what did God deliver you from?" He will give you the
grace to go back and deliver others out of that.
"PROPHETIC VISION FOR 2004"
with Steve Thompson, Rick Joyner & Bob Jones
Many words from Steve, Rick & Bob about this year and the coming
year. One word is that Peter's fishing net is about to be released
again. Get ready for increase; get ready for evangelism. The color
for this year is lavender - which is purple & pink together - this
is a word for women and the Church as the bride of Christ. Bob shares
2 visions that he had plus much more from Rick, Steve & some our
Amish brothers in Christ sharing powerfully.
"TURNING TROUBLES INTO TRIUMPH" PART II
with Various Speakers
Rick expands upon Peter's net being released again. The basic's
of evangelism is coming back. Rick shared about what has been happening
with the children going to the third heaven and more.
New
Year's Conference 2003 -
Turning Troubles Into Triumph
MorningStar Fellowship Church,
with Rick Joyner & Others
$29.00 7 Sessions on 8 Audio Cassettes
Feel free to
order
online OR by phone (1-8.6.6-881-0477)
http://www.elijahshopper.com/detail.aspx?ID=1269
New Year's Conference 2003 -
Turning Troubles Into Triumph
MorningStar Fellowship
Church, with Rick Joyner & Others
$79.00 7 Sessions on 7 Video Cassettes
Feel free to
order
online OR by phone (1-8.6.6-881-0477)
http://www.elijahshopper.com/detail.aspx?ID=1270
Worship from the New Year's Conference
2003 -
Turning Troubles into Triumph
MorningStar Fellowship
Church, with Rick Joyner & Others
$59.00 Worship from conference on 4 Video
Cassettes
Feel free to
order
online OR by phone (1-8.6.6-881-0477)
http://www.elijahshopper.com/detail.aspx?ID=1271
|
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