General Articles

Keep Your Faith in Jesus Christ :: By Nathele Graham 

Published on: by RR7

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). 

Everybody has faith in something. We have faith that the food we eat will nourish the body, or we have faith that we will reach our destination when we set out on a drive. These are reasonable assumptions, but not always true. Much of the food we eat has been filled with additives, hormones, and preservatives and doesn’t nourish us the way God intended. Sometimes when we head to the store or a friend’s house, things can stop us from reaching our destination. A flat tire or a wreck can change our plans. Still we have faith.

What about unseen things?

Many people deny God because they cannot see Him. People put faith in many things that are unseen, but we don’t doubt their existence. Have you ever blown up a balloon? I’ve never seen the air that inflates it, but I know for a fact that when I blow into the opening, the balloon will get bigger. I’m looking out my window right now and watching the trees sway in the breeze. I can’t see the breeze, just the effect of the breeze. The one that really astounds me is the people who get into an airplane and have the faith that something unseen will hold the plane and all the people in it thousands of feet off the ground. Yet, putting faith in the God of all creation is unthinkable.

Of all the unseen things that surround us, the most important is faith in God. The effects of His existence are everywhere.

In times of trouble, our faith can be sorely tested. We either turn to God or turn from Him. Satan is waiting for those who despair, and he tries to stop us from having faith that God hasn’t forsaken us. If you’re a Christian, then Satan cannot utterly destroy you, but he certainly can destroy the witness you have. Christians need to live life in such a way that it’s a habit to trust God and live to please Him, not the world.

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5-6).

The word “conversation” means your way of life. Our way of life needs to reflect Jesus. This world is ruled by Satan, but Jesus Christ overcame the world. Instead of living so that you reflect Satan, live so that your life is a reflection of Jesus Christ. No matter what we face in life, Jesus is our strength, and we need to keep our faith firmly planted in Him. Our faith may be tested, but if you don’t allow the world to confuse you, you will stand firm upon His word.

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:3).

That’s the perfect place to begin examining your faith. Do you believe that in the beginning there was nothing and it exploded to become everything? If that’s where your faith lies, then you have no faith in God. Genesis tells us that God created everything, and John gives us a bit more information.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1-3).

The Word is Jesus Christ, and that’s where you need to place your faith. He was in the beginning and will be with us to the end and throughout eternity.

Scripture is filled with examples of men and women who trusted and obeyed God, even when they didn’t understand His reasons. We can learn from their examples of faith. We learn that Enoch was 65 years old when he began to walk with God. He walked with Him for 300 years, but he didn’t die.

“And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24).

Enoch was raptured prior to God’s judgment by the Flood. Enoch’s faith was passed to his children and grandchildren. That’s a wonderful legacy to pass to the next generation. Because of Enoch’s example of faith, Noah believed God when He said He was going to send a flood as a judgment on all creation. God instructed Noah to build an Ark. Because Noah had faith, he obeyed. That Ark carried him and his family safely through the Flood.

God’s judgments will soon come upon the world, but, like Enoch, Christians will be Raptured prior to God’s judgments.

Abraham was another man who learned to have faith in God. He was very happy living in the idol-worshiping society which surrounded him. Then, he heard God’s voice and his life changed. Because of his faith, we have the blessing of the Nation of Israel and the Messiah who was born from that nation. We can also look at Mary’s faith. She was a virgin, but by faith she submitted to God and gave birth to the Messiah, Jesus Christ. We need to trust Him more and have faith in His truth.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Don’t put your faith in fallible man but put your faith in the infallible God of all creation. He is unseen to the non-believer’s eye, but Christians see Him everywhere.

Today there’s an unseen organism that has virtually brought the entire world to a standstill. It has stopped people from going to work, interacting with other people, attending worship services, going to school, and many more activities that we took for granted a few short weeks ago. The news media can talk of little else than the latest celebrity who has tested positive for coronavirus, or how many have died. Don’t forget, it’s not news when people survive, so that’s never reported. This virus is very much like Satan. He is unseen but a very real enemy to all of mankind. Satan thrives on fear, and his purpose is to separate people from God and destroy them. If he can compromise your faith, then he has won a battle. God won the war at the cross, but Satan won’t admit defeat.

Brothers and sisters, we need to keep our faith firmly set in Jesus.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world” (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Everyone is beset by troubles, and this coronavirus is affecting Christian and non-Christian alike. The difference is that no matter what is in our future, faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ makes an eternal difference.

Christians need have no fear of death. This pandemic didn’t take God by surprise. Most people, even those who claim to be Christians, ignore God unless there’s a great need. Stop ignoring Him and put your faith in Him. God isn’t a “fair weather friend” who is only with you in the good times. He’s with you in the good times and the bad.

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).

Don’t allow fear to rule your life. Be cautious. Wash your hands, cover your sneezes and coughs, eat healthy. Above all, keep your faith in Jesus Christ.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

www.straitandnarrowministry.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Ron and Nathele Graham’s previous commentaries archived at https://www.raptureready.com/featured/graham/graham.html

All original scripture is “theopneustos”— God breathed.

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Speeded Up :: By Daymond Duck

Published on: by RR7

One, because of the Coronavirus, the church I attend cancelled its regular worship services and started meeting in homes with no more than 10 people per home.

Some say this has never happened before, but is that right (maybe yes, maybe no)?

After Israel spent more than 400 years in Egypt (many as slaves), God raised up Moses to tell Pharaoh to “Let my people go,” but Pharaoh refused.

God sent 10 plagues, and the last plague is often called the “death angel.”

God told the Jews to sprinkle the blood of an unblemished lamb on the upper and side door posts of their houses, go inside, stay until the death angel passed, and be prepared to leave on a moment’s notice.

God said the firstborn children of those that obeyed God would be spared, but the firstborn children of those that did not obey God would die.

Many Jews spent the first Passover in their homes out of obedience to God because He said the death angel would pass over their house, if He saw the blood.

Following that incredible event, the Jews left their houses and embarked on a trip to the Promised Land.

Most lapsed into unbelief, and only two made it.

Church members that are worshipping in homes today need to be ready to go to the Promised Land on a moment’s notice.

I pray that I am wrong, but I am concerned that some will go back to Church for one or two Sundays when the Coronavirus is over (like what happened after 9/11), quickly become lukewarm and not be ready when the trumpet sounds.

Two, a reader in Australia reminded me that the beasts of the earth will kill multitudes during the Tribulation Period (Rev. 6:8).

He wondered if this could refer to something like the Chinese people eating animals (cats, dogs, bats, etc.; possible sources of the Coronavirus) purchased at the so-called Wet Markets.

We only know that beasts will cause the death of people in the Tribulation Period.

Three, another reader from Australia wrote that some of the parking meters in Melbourne and Sydney will no longer accept coins, notes or credit cards.

People that park there are instructed to download an app, transfer funds to an account and pay with their cell phone (the parking meters are cashless).

Four, Shiite Muslims want the Tribulation Period to happen because they believe it will speed up the appearance of the Muslim Mahdi and hasten the establishment of a one-world Islamic government and Islamic religion.

On Mar. 17, 2020, it was reported that a high-ranking Iranian official said the Coronavirus crisis is a prelude to the emergence of the Mahdi, and he urged the Iranian people to actively spread the Coronavirus because it will accelerate the Mahdi’s appearance (for God’s view on this, read Amos 5:18-20).

Five, several people have told me they are concerned that a vaccine for the Coronavirus will be developed and people will be required to be vaccinated before they can return to their usual lifestyle. (I am not advising anyone what to do, but if a vaccine is developed with a tracking device in it, at this point I am not inclined to let anyone vaccinate me.

On Mar. 19, 2020, it was reported that Big Pharma and Microsoft are working together on a way to put implantable chips in vaccinations.

Video: “Anybody Know Who This Man Is?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0tSbtUg1e0&feature=youtube

On Mar. 16, 2020, it was reported that Denmark has passed a law that gives the government power for one year to fine and/or jail citizens and deny them the right to “enter shops, grocery stores, public institutions and hospitals while also being restricted from using public transport.”

Six, I want to share something (not recommend) for those that might want to know.

A reader sent two links to me that purportedly show a way to heal the Coronavirus with heat, but both videos have been removed from the Internet over concern that people will harm themselves.

Know that Dr. Fauci, advisor to Pres. Trump, has suggested that the Coronavirus does better in colder weather than it does in hot, humid weather (and Pres. Trump has said it too).

Coronavirus could become seasonal: top US scientist

https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-could-become-seasonal-top-us-scientist-001146451.html

Know also that Dr. John Nicholls, one of the world’s foremost experts on viruses, believes sunlight, temperature and humidity are key factors in the demise of the virus.

Coronavirus expert says he knows when the virus ‘will burn itself out,’ according to leaked analysis

https://www.accuweather.com/en/health-wellness/coronavirus-expert-says-the-virus-will-burn-itself-out-in-about-6-months/679415?fbclid=IwAR10eVYHlvqj5KXA7U35IpLfIRhYIxKVdTcLvRYRPoFlJao1jYN37xgmU4o

As I remember, one of the videos suggested sitting in a sauna for about an hour, waiting 3 hours and repeating it.

Those that don’t have access to a sauna can use a hair dryer (low heat, at least 18 inches from the face; 5 minutes at a time) and a sprinkle of water (use a sprinkle bottle) on the face for humidity (for one hour at a time if possible and repeat).

I want to emphasize that I am not recommending this, each person is responsible for their decision, it should be a last resort decision, and I have no proof that it will work.

By the way, I believe the quickest and surest way to get rid of the Coronavirus in the U.S. would be to tear up Pres. Trump’s peace proposal to divide Israel, and the quickest and surest way to get rid of it in the world would be for the UN Security Council to abandon the Two-State solution (II Chron. 7:13-14 would also help).

Seven, remember what James, the half brother of Jesus said: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:8).

People all over the world are being told to wash their hands, but people also need to purify their hearts (repent and get saved).

Eight, remember that borders started with God, and He may be using the Coronavirus to show world leaders that closed borders can be a good thing before world leaders throw open their borders for the satanic one-world government of the Antichrist.

Nine, there will be hyper-inflation and a global economic collapse during the Tribulation Period (Rev. 6:5-6).

If millions of citizens are required to stay in their houses for several months, it is difficult for me to see how that wouldn’t create hyper-inflation and a global economic collapse.

Ten, starting about the middle of the Tribulation Period, the False Prophet will force people to worship the statue of the Antichrist and take the Mark of the Beast (Rev. 13:12-18).

If millions of citizens go without jobs for several months, many will gladly worship the statue and take the Mark for the right to buy and sell.

Eleven, one reader asked if God could be closing churches because they have compromised the Scriptures (ok with LGBTQ; ok with abortion; ok with gay pastors; against Israel; against preaching Bible prophecy; against preaching Old Testament; against literal Second Coming and Millennium; etc.).

I do marvel at our amazing God’s patience with what some are preaching (lack of sound doctrine; departure from the faith; but the Gates of Hell will not prevail against the Church).

Finally, the Tribulation Period hasn’t started, and it can’t start as long as the Church is here.

Also, Ten Kings (Ten Horns; Ten regional globalist leaders) have to appear before the Antichrist (Eleventh Horn; Little Horn) appears, and that could start shaping up soon.

Only God knows, but as far as I am concerned, we are getting warnings or foreshadows of things to come and the birth pains have speeded up.

Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus should be an urgent matter for those that haven’t accepted Jesus and repentance should be an urgent matter for those that have.

Prophecy Plus Ministries, Inc.
Daymond & Rachel Duck
duck_daymond@yahoo.com