Payday Has Arrived :: By Daymond Duck

In 1926, a great Baptist preacher, Dr. R.G. Lee, published his sermon called “Payday Someday.”

“Payday Someday” became famous worldwide, it has been reported that Dr. Lee preached it once a year in his home church, and he preached it about 1,275 times altogether.

A friend sent me an article titled “What Has America Become” that appeared on the Editorial Page of a small Michigan newspaper called the Iosco County News Herald on June 9, 2010.

The article, written by Ken Huber, has received nationwide attention, it reminded me of “Payday Someday,” and I want to pass along some of Huber’s thoughts plus some of the thoughts of my friend that sent the article.

Almost 10 years ago, Huber asked, “Has America become the land of special interests and the home of the double standard?” Here is a partial list of what he said:

  • If we lie to the Congress, it’s a felony, and if the Congress lies to us, it’s just politics.
  • If we dislike a black person, we’re racist, and if a black dislikes whites, it’s their First Amendment right.
  • The government spends millions to rehabilitate criminals, and they do almost nothing for the victims.
  • In public schools you can teach that homosexuality is OK, but you’d better not use the word God in the process.
  • You can kill an unborn child, but it is wrong to execute a mass murderer.
  • You can have pornography on TV or the Internet, but you’d better not put a nativity scene in a public park during Christmas.
  • We can use a human fetus for medical research, but it’s wrong to use an animal.
  • We still have freedom of speech, but only if we are being “politically correct.”

Here is part of what my friend added:

  • We threw God out of our schools.
  • We threw God out of our courts.
  • We threw God out of our government.
  • We threw God out of our homes.
  • We’ve thrown God out of our churches.
  • We’ve drowned our land with the blood of innocents (abortion).
  • We have elected people to lead us who are pagans.
  • We have openly blasphemed our Father Creator for ages, in books, movies, and the media, but even Christians have come to regard it as ‘normal.’
  • What should we expect?

My answer is, “I believe America’s payday has arrived, and it is our own fault, but it is more than America; it is the whole world.”

Here are some stories that recently made the news:

One, an article dated Jan. 26, 2021, by a strategic risk consultant and lecturer named F. William Engdahl called the Great Reset “a new form of global total control.”

Engdahl predicted that “2021 will be a decisive year for this anti-human agenda.”

Two, very little information has come out of the recent “Davos Dialogues” meeting, but on Jan. 29, 2021, it was reported that the May 25-28 World Economic Forum (WEF) “Great Reset” meeting has been moved from Davos to Singapore.

Information on the WEF website says no institution or individual can address the world’s problems alone.

WEF globalists want to rebuild the world by changing the world’s economic, environmental, social, and technological policies.

In their mind, this will require a world government.

God has already said they can have one for 7 years.

Three, concerning the Battle of Gog and Magog in the latter years and latter days (Ezek. 38-39), on Jan. 26, 2021, the head of Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) warned that Israel will not tolerate a return to the original Iranian nuclear deal.

Two days later, it was reported that Israel is clearly letting the U.S. and Iran know that the IDF will act alone if Israel must, and Israel’s IDF is making plans to do just that.

Just a reminder that an Israeli attack on Iran is not the Battle of Gog and Magog, but it could trigger that world-changing war.

Also, know that Israel acting alone may be God’s will.

That way, God will get the glory for Israel’s victory, not the U.S. or any other.

Four, on Jan. 26, 2021, it was reported that a Biden official said the Biden administration will “support a mutually good, two-state solution, in which Israel lives in peace and security (peace and safety), alongside a viable Palestinian State.”

The Tribulation Period will begin when the Antichrist confirms a 7-year covenant with many for “peace and safety” in the Middle East.

Dividing Israel will eventually trigger the Battle of Armageddon (Joel 3:2).

Five, on Jan. 26, 2021, it was reported that Gay Pride flags will be going back up at U.S. Embassies around the world because the Biden Administration feels an urgent need to support the rights of LGBTQI people.

This is a denial of God’s Word and reprobate thinking (Rom.1:28).

Six, on Jan. 27, 2021, the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a nationwide terrorist alert in the U.S.

The DHS identified the potential terrorists as anti-government extremists that are opposed to the presidency of Joe Biden.

It is hard to believe that the DHS would label an entire political party as terrorists, but facts are facts, and the hate speech that is directed toward Republicans is growing louder by the day.

In response to the DHS terrorist alert, MSNBC political analyst Jason Johnson said, “Democrats should declare that all Republicans are terrorists.”

He added, “You can’t negotiate, you can’t legislate, and you can’t work with terrorists.”

Biden and others say they want to unite the nation, but they appear to be trying to divide it even more.

Seven, many Christians are familiar with the story about Joseph being sold into slavery, winding up in Egypt, and becoming the second most powerful man in Egypt when he interpreted Pharaoh’s dream about the seven fat years and seven lean years.

It turns out that Joseph believed in the resurrection of the body, and he wanted to be raised from the dead in Israel.

The Bible says, “Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he [Joseph] had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you” (Ex. 13:19).

Some Jews want to be raised from the dead in Israel because they believe the Messiah will raise the dead in Israel, and they want to be among the first to see Him when that happens.

On Feb. 1, 2021, it was reported that Israel recently normalized ties with Sudan and will allow Ethiopians in Israel to bring the remains of loved ones that died in Sudan to Israel for burial.

Eight, on Feb. 1, 2021, LifeSiteNews reported that the vaccine injury tracking system (VAERS) managed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is showing that as of Jan. 22, 2021:

  • More than 25 million Americans have been vaccinated.
  • At least 273 Americans have died (most within 48 hours of being vaccinated).
  • 9,845 have had an adverse reaction that is possibly related to the vaccination (and the actual number could be higher).
  • 8 seemingly healthy unborn babies were miscarried or stillborn.
  • The vaccine manufacturers and FDA have total immunity.

Finally, if you want to go to heaven, you must be born again (John 3:3). God loves you, and if you have not done so, sincerely admit that you are a sinner; believe that Jesus is the virgin-born, sinless Son of God who died for the sins of the world, was buried, and raised from the dead; ask Him to forgive your sins, cleanse you, come into your heart and be your Saviour; then tell someone that you have done this.

Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.

Daymond Duck

duck_daymond@yahoo.com

Gifts, Fruit, and the Ways of The Flesh :: By Nathele Graham 

There are many gifts that are available to believers in Jesus Christ. “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit” (1 Corinthians 12:4). Every Christian is given at least one gift, but some receive more than one. It’s possible that we’ll be temporarily given a gift of the Spirit in a time of need, but then we don’t see it manifest in our life again. Many times, we aren’t aware of what gift or gifts we’ve been given, but if we live our life to please God, then we can be assured that we’re using our gift in spite of being unaware of what it is.

“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

We bless others when we use the gifts of the Spirit. Don’t confuse the “gifts” with “fruit.”

Paul was a man who had given his life fully to Jesus Christ. He had been a servant of Satan, disguised as a Pharisee, before he met Jesus and his life changed dramatically. After his encounter with Jesus, Paul was fully dedicated to the service of our Lord. He understood about the gifts of the Spirit because he was given many gifts by God. He also knew that anyone who has truly been born again should have a changed nature… one that reflects Jesus. Paul’s nature had changed when he surrendered to Jesus, and he wrote about this change in his letter to the Christians in Galatia.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Notice that when talking about the Spiritual gifts, he uses the plural. There are many gifts of the Spirit, and not everyone has the same gift, but when listing the fruit of the Spirit, it’s singular. When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells us. That’s when our human nature should be changed to reflect God. Instead of many fruits, like there are many gifts, it’s just one new attitude that should rule our life. It’s not that some Christians should bear the fruit of love while others bear the fruit of joy or peace, but all the fruit should be manifest in a born-again Christian’s life.

What is “born-again,” you might ask? For the answer to that, we turn to Jesus’ own words. One evening, a Pharisee came to Jesus with some questions. As always, when someone truly seeks answers, Jesus makes things clear. Nicodemus had knowledge of the Jewish laws, but he wanted to know more about what Jesus taught. He had been aware of Jesus, what He taught, and the healings He had done. Nicodemus knew that Jesus came from God, but didn’t understand that Jesus was God. Jesus gave an answer that confused Nicodemus.

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). 

If we stop there, we too can be confused. This second birth isn’t a physical rebirth but a spiritual one. “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6).

We are all born into this physical world, and there are things we just have to accept, such as how tall we are. We learn to cope with physical challenges. It’s the spiritual side of us that’s affected when we’re born again… born of the Spirit.

When my husband gave his life to Christ, the change was dramatic. He was a great guy but reacted to things in a worldly manner. The day he yielded his life to Christ, I saw two immediate changes. The first day of his newfound faith, his language changed. Certain words disappeared from his vocabulary. That same day, the anger that had ruled many of his reactions in life changed to a peaceful way of dealing with challenges. The slower change was an insatiable need to know God’s word. He wanted to know if what the preacher taught was correct. Ron wanted to know what God said, not what a man thought. That meant this man who didn’t like to read began to study his Bible. He studied Hebrew and Greek, followed prophecy, and applied the example of Jesus to his life. Ron was born again, and it showed.

Everyone is different, but when you accept Jesus into your life, there should be a change in your actions.

We are all human and have a fallen nature. Every evil, pain, sorrow, and failure is caused by Satan. He lied to Eve and confused her. Ever since Adam chose to follow her in sin, the entire world has suffered under the curse of the Fall. Instead of desiring to be more like Jesus, our human nature fills us with pride and arrogance, then we give in to the lust of this life. Paul warned the Christians in Galatia about the things that aren’t of God.

“For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would” (Galatians 5:17).

Have you ever felt as if the joy of the Lord has escaped you? Maybe you need to take a look at your way of life and the choices you make. If you live opposed to Christ, how can you ever find joy? You can’t. You’ll always be pulled between what you know is the right way to live and the lust of sin. This makes you a very unhappy person. If you don’t follow Christ, you follow the lies of Satan. Instead of the love of the Lord being nurtured in you and the fruit of the Spirit showing in your life, the rotten fruit hurled at you by Satan and his minions poisons your attitude and steals your joy.

What are the ways of the world? Simply put, it’s anything that isn’t encouraged by Scripture. If Jesus is our example, we won’t follow the way of the world. Paul gave a list of some of the works of the flesh.

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).

Paul also spoke on this same topic to the Ephesian Christians. “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God” (Ephesians 5:3-5).

King James is sometimes hard to understand, but it’s very easy to find the definitions of words in today’s terms. Modern translations help, or a dictionary will give definitions. It’s a good idea to look up the words in a concordance and find the word in the original language and its original meaning. When you follow the ways of the world, the war within you will manifest in anger and pride. Sin separates us from God. Big sins and little sins are all the same… they’re all sin.

We all sin and fall short of God’s expectations, but if we claim to have placed our faith in Christ, our desire should be to move away from sin. Jesus gave His life so that we can be forgiven of all sin. If you’ve accepted His sacrifice, then you owe Him your life. You have become a new creation, and the old ways you followed should hold no joy for you. If you’re still embracing sin, then there’s no way you can have joy. You cannot serve two masters.

Next time you’re tempted to join in a lust of the flesh, try thanking God for what He’s done for you. If that doesn’t turn you away from sinning to nurturing the fruit that comes from the Holy Spirit, then perhaps you should take a strong look at your life. Ask yourself if you have truly repented (changed your mind about sin) and asked Jesus to forgive you. Then concentrate on the things of the Spirit and turn away from the works of the flesh.

“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

Remember, Jesus gave His life so you could live with Him eternally. If you prefer wallowing in the works of the flesh today, do you think you’ll be happy living with the fruit of the Spirit eternally? You should get familiar with the fruit now and nurture it in your life.

It isn’t too late to allow the Holy Spirit to rule your heart, mind, and soul. Humble yourself before the Lord and pray for forgiveness. Then, let the light of the Spirit brighten your way.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

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