Back to Church or Kenya Will Become Islamicized

Go Back to Church or Kenya Will Become Islamicized

Kenya will grow more “Islamicized” if Kenya ’s Christian do not start praying, and going back to Church.

The fact is that, as a people, we are becoming ever more pagan and the religious vacuum is inevitably filled by other proposals and religious forces. As religious practice diminishes in Kenya ’s Christianity, indifference spreads; Christianity and the Church are attacked.

If we consider ourselves a Christian country, we should return to the practice of Christian life, which would also solve the problem of empty cradles.

According to the research done there is closure of Christian facilities and churches in Nairobi and the country the deterioration of schools and family life due to high divorce rates in the Land.

They replace the Church-run facilities with the clubs that many call centers of distribution of alcohol and drugs.” Secularism has created a culture in which teenagers and youths run wild, a new phenomenon in Kenya .

The culture promoted in these clubs, is one in which “perversion and chaos and spiritual emptiness reign supreme.”

That is where there are a big number of youth musicians performing in clubs and in bars where beer and drugs are sold.

Drugs, alcohol, free sex and psychedelic music for hours at high volume are some ‘diversions’ that kids seek and find allowed in these places, which are sometimes encouraged and financed by local tycoons.

All this is the fruit of our civilization ever more distant from God and then from the education of young people.

It’s the high time people Kenya come out and preach the Gospel to our youths like never before.

If the Church’s Future is Our Youth, Why do they Leave ?

A new study from LifeWay Research reveals that more than two-thirds of young adults who attend a Protestant church for at least a year in high school will stop attending church regularly for at least a year between the ages of 18 and 35.

As young people transition from high school into the workforce or college life, they are faced with many choices – including whether to continue attending church. Although this decision is a source of concern for parents and church leaders, discussion of the reasons young adults choose the direction they do has largely been speculative.

“Lots of alarming numbers have been tossed around regarding church dropouts,” said Ed Stetzer, director of Life Way Research, the research arm of Life Way Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. “We wanted to get at the real situation with clear research – and there is some bad news here, no question. But, there are also some important solutions to be found in the research. When we know why people drop out, we can address how to help better connect them.”

To uncover the reasons young people leave church, LifeWay Research conducted a survey in April and May 2009 of more than 1,000 adults ages 18-35। Each indicated that they had attended a Protestant church regularly for at least a year in high school.

Should I stay or should I go?

According to the study, 70 percent of young adults ages 23--40 stopped attending church regularly for at least a year between ages 18-35।

In most cases, the decision to leave was not planned far in advance. Only 20 percent of these “church dropouts” agree that while they were attending church regularly in high school they “planned on taking a break from church once [they] finished high school.”

Among those who predetermined to leave church, few told anyone about their desire। One reflected, “I just told my parents I didn’t like it,” rather than sharing an intention to actually leave. Another said, “I kept my feelings secret for fear of losing my friends.”

Why do most young people leave?

Life changes or life situations cause young people to leave the church. In fact, 97 percent of dropouts list one or more specific life-change issues as a reason they left church.

Six of the top 10 reasons church dropouts leave relate to life changes. The most frequent reason for leaving church is, in fact, a self-imposed change, “I simply wanted a break from church” (27 percent).

The paths toward college and the workforce are also strong reasons for young people to leave church: “I moved to college and stopped attending church” (25 percent) and “work responsibilities prevented me from attending” (23 percent).

In addition to moving to college, others simply “moved too far away from the church to continue attending” (22 percent) and, it can be assumed, did not find a closer church.

A previous LifeWay Research study of church switchers confirmed that a residential move is the most frequent reason adults switch churches. “A move beyond your local community breaks the existing ties to a local church,” said Scott McConnell, associate director of LifeWay Research. “It requires intentional effort to search for a new church home that may not occur immediately, even for those interested in church.”

How young people use their time and the relationships they choose can also lead them away from church. Twenty-two percent “became too busy, though still wanted to attend,” and 17 percent “chose to spend more time with friends outside the church.”

“In our three studies related to church attendance practices: The Formerly Churched, Church Switchers and now the Teenage Dropout study, one thing is abundantly clear,” stated Brad Waggoner, vice president of research and ministry development at LifeWay. “Relationships are often the glue that keep people in church or serves as the attraction to begin attending again following a period of absenteeism. Many people are deeply influenced by friends and loved ones.”

Waggoner advised, “Church leaders should passionately and consistently challenge church members to maximize their influence with youth and young adults. Frequent and intentional contact can either prevent or counteract the tendency of some to drop out of church.”

Fifty-eight percent of church dropouts selected at least one church or pastor-related reason for leaving church. Most common was, “church members seemed judgmental or hypocritical” (26 percent). Another 20 percent “didn’t feel connected to the people in my church.”

The final category of reasons, “religious, ethical or political beliefs,” contributed to the departure of 52 percent of church dropouts.

Two reasons for leaving reflect this category: “I disagreed with the church’s stance on political or social issues” (18 percent) and “I was only going to church to please others” (17 percent).

“Clearly the reasons young people leave are a reflection both of their past experience in church and the new opportunities they have as young adults,” McConnell summarized. “To remain in church, a person must have experienced the value of the teaching and relationships at church and see the relevance for the next phase of life.”

Why do some young people stay?

Although they only represent 30 percent of those who attended a Protestant church for at least a year in high school, young adults who stay in church through ages 18-22 see the relevance, benefits and purpose of the church now and for their future.

The two most frequent reasons young people stay in church relate to the relevance of church: “Church was a vital part of my relationship with God” (65 percent) and “I wanted the church to help guide my decisions in everyday life” (58 percent).

Half of those who stayed in church recognize benefits and say, “I felt that church was helping me become a better person” (50 percent).

Forty-two percent remained in church because they were “committed to the purpose and work of the church.”

“The vitality and everyday relevance these young people experienced in church is a stark contrast to church dropouts who wanted a break from church and felt unconnected,” McConnell said.

Already returning

Many of those who drop out do eventually return. Among church dropouts who are now ages 23-30, 35 percent currently attend church twice a month or more. Another 30 percent attend church more sporadically. Thus, about two-thirds of those who leave do return at some level.

This return to church after being gone for at least a year is primarily the result of encouragement from others. The most common reason for returning is “My parents or family members encouraged me to attend” (39 percent). Twenty-one percent attribute their return to “My friends or acquaintances encouraged me to attend.” Combined, 50 percent of those who return were influenced by the encouragement of either family or friends.

Young adults also return to church when they feel the desire personally or sense God calling them back: “I simply felt the desire to return” (34 percent) and “I felt that God was calling me to return to the church” (28 percent).

Women are more likely than men to feel “the desire to return” (41 percent vs. 22 percent) and to feel “God was calling me to return to church” (34 percent vs. 18 percent).

In contrast to the life changes that drove many away from church, life events also bring young adults back to church.

Twenty-four percent return to church because “I had children and felt it was time for them to start attending.” This reason is significantly more common for women than men (31 percent vs. 13 percent). Twenty percent “got married and wanted to attend with my spouse.”

Turnover among attendees

Attendance patterns among teenagers and young adults reveal that each year many move in and out of consistent church attendance. Young adults were asked to indicate at which ages they attended church at least twice a month beginning with “under 14″ through their current age.

Two out of three indicate they attended at the four youngest ages tested: under 14 (70 percent), age 14 (66 percent), age 15 (68 percent), and age 16 (68 percent). However, each year some began attending while others stopped attending twice a month. In fact, only 53 percent indicate they attended at all of these ages. This low level of loyalty through age 16 is a precursor to the declines that follow.

The percent attending twice a month drops sharply at ages 17, 18 and 19, with only 31 percent attending at age 19. Attendance remains low through age 22, and then slowly begins to climb.

“When, by God’s grace, young people see the church as essential in their lives and choose to continue attending, their loyalty remains strong,” McConnell said. Among young adults ages 23-30 who stayed in church during ages 18-22, only 6 percent do not currently attend church.

Stetzer noted, “There is no easy way to say it, but it must be said. Parents and churches are not passing on a robust Christian faith and an accompanying commitment to the church. We can take some solace in the fact that many do eventually return. But, Christian parents and churches need to ask the hard question, ‘What is it about our faith commitment that does not find root in the lives of our children?’”

The God of the Second Chance

. Restarts and second chances aren't given out very freely in the world we live in.

So maybe that's why so many people find it hard to believe that God is all about second chances.

Maybe so. They aren't used to second chances. Maybe they just feel that there is so much distance between God and them. He's so holy; they're so unholy. He can't possibly bridge that gap between them.

Now think about this: The Bible depicts the character of God in a variety of ways. The Bible says that God is sovereign. The Bible says that God is loving. The Bible says that God is purposeful. The Bible says that God is holy. The Bible says that God is glorious. The Bible says God is a God of mercy. .

Listen to this: Exodus 34:6, "The Lord God is merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abounding in goodness and truth." Now I want you to remember that description because that goes all the way back to Exodus 32. Exodus 32, Exodus 33, Exodus 34--the story of the people of Israel sinning with the golden calf. Remember the story? In the middle of that terrible tragedy in the life of the Israelites, we have this reminder that God is gracious.

Think about this. Deuteronomy 4:31, "The Lord your God is a merciful God." Now what an apt description of God that is.

Psalm 103 and verse 8, "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in mercy." Now I'm really interested in two things in that verse: I'm interested in the fact that God abounds in mercy because I need a lot.

How about this one? This is from Joel 2:13. "Return to the Lord your God for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and of great, great kindness."

And then there's Jeremiah 3:12, "'Return, backsliding Israel,' says the Lord, 'For I will not cause my anger to fall on you for I am merciful,' says the Lord. 'I will not remain angry forever.'"

So does God ever get angry with me? Oh, yeah on a daily basis I'm sure because of my shortcomings. But I do cling to the promise of God's Word that He will not remain angry with me forever.

One other verse, Nehemiah 9:17, "But you are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness." .

I want to take you to the Book of Jonah in the Old Testament. If you want to follow along at home please do so. Jonah 1 is the story of Jonah running from God. You know the story, God comes to Jonah. He says, "Look, I have a message I want you to deliver to the Ninevites."

See God not only prepared this horrendous wind to bring Jonah into place, he also prepared a great fish to save Jonah from death. Jonah would have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea. But God prepared a three day "whale of an experience" for him and this was just kind of a motel on the sea and just--he stayed in this fish--and three days later, he's back!

That means that chapter 3 shows us that God gives Jonah a second chance. I want to read some verses to you out of chapter 3 beginning in verse 1. "Then the Word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time. He said, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.'"

Now this is not a new message; this is the message God had already told him before, but Jonah paid no attention to the message the first time.

So now, God is telling Jonah, "Look, I want you to go back; I want you to do exactly what I told you to do. And what I want you to do is simply this: I want you to go to Nineveh and I want you to cry out against that great city. And I'm giving you a second chance to do this because [for] two reasons: 1) I'm slow to anger. I'll put up with a lot, not forever, but I'll put up with a lot. 2) I want you to go because--well, uhm--because I'm merciful."

When you've trusted Jesus and you've walked His way,
When you've felt His hand lead you day by day,
But you're steps now take you another way,
Start over.

When you've made your plans and they've gone awry,
When you've tried your best 'til there's no more try,
When you've failed yourself and you don't know why,
Start over.

When you've told your friends what you plan to do,
When you've trusted them but they didn't come through,
Now you're all alone and it's up to you,
Start over.

When you've failed your kids and they're grown and gone,
When you've done your best but it turned out wrong,
And now your grandchildren have come along,
Start over.

When you've prayed to God so you know His will,
When you've prayed and prayed but you don't know still,
When you want to stop 'cause you've had your fill,
Start over.

When you think you're finished and want to quit,
When you've bottomed out in life's deepest pit,
When you've tried and tried to get out of it,
Start over

When the year's been long and successes few,
When December comes and you're feeling blue,
God gave a January just so you could
Start over.

Starting over means victories won.
Starting over means a race well run.
Starting over means the Lord's "Well done!"
So don't just sit there;
Start over.

The Bible and Abortion

Jer 2:34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

Abortion is the killing of the unborn infant. What does the Bible teach about little children and abortion? Is it all right to do? Some maintain that the Bible gives permission to perform an abortion.

Here are the facts about the entire subject:

It seems well at this point to consider what the Bible has to say about the entire subject, especially since the present writer notes that comparatively little dealing with this Biblical background is to be found in anti-abortion material available.

Children are a special gift sent from God:

"I have gotten a man from the Lord."—Gen 4:1

"God hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew."—Gen 4:25.

"Because the Lord hath heard . . He hath therefore given me this son also."—Gen 21:33.

"God hath heard my voice, and hath given me a son."—Gen 30:6.

"And God hearkened unto Leah, and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son."—Gen 30:17.

"And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children, and said, Who are those with thee? And he [Jacob) said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant."—Gen 33:5. [The children were given to the mother and to the father also.]

"So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son."—Ruth 4:13.

"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."—Job 1:21.

As we have also noted above, children are not only a special gift from God, they are a prayed for gift, also:

A child was given to Abraham in answer to prayer: Gen 15:2-5 (Gen 21:1-2) [The Lord promised Abraham a child from God, and because he believed it, it was counted to him for righteousness—Gen 15:2-6].

Children were given to Isaac in answer to prayer: Gen 25:21.

And in answer to prayer they were given to Leah (Gen 30:17-22), Rachel (Gen 30:22-24), and Hannah (1 Sam 1:9-20).

Here is what the angel said to Zacharias:

"But the angel of the Lord said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John."—Luke 1:13.

The people of God valued every child that they received:

"And God remembered Rachel, and God hearkened to her and opened her womb. And she conceived, and bare a son; and said God hath taken away my reproach."—Gen 30:22-23.

"And she called his name Joseph; and said, The Lord shall add to me another son."—Gen 30:24.

"He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord."—Psalm 113:9.

Children are a precious heritage from the Lord:

"Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is His reward. As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth. Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."—Psalm 127:3-5.

It is God's special plan that families have children:

"And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth."—Gen 1:28.

"He created not [the earth] in vain, He formed it to be inhabited."—Isaiah 45:18.

"Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord."—Psalm 128:3-4.

PEOPLE ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD—EVEN BEFORE BIRTH "My substance was not hidden from Thee, when I was made in secret, and intricately wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unformed; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. "—Psalm 139: 15-16.

God's plan is that Christian families will have children So that they can be taught of God and raised to serve Him:

"And thou shalt shew thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt."—Ex 13:8 (and verse 9).

"And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come, saying, What is this? that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage. ."—Ex 13:14-16.

"Only take heed to thyself . . lest thou forget . . but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons [grandchildren]. Specially . .[tell them about Mount Sinai]. ."—Deut 4:9-10.

"And these words, which I command thee this day [the laws of God], shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. ."—Deut 6:6-9.

"And ye shall teach them [to] your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way. ."—Deut 11:19-20. [The future spirituality and success of God's people could only be assured by obedience to this command.]

"Gather the people together: men and women and children . . that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law. And that their children, which have not known anything [of how God earlier called and cared for you] may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it."—Deut 31:12-13. (Joshua 8:35.)

"Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord."—Psalm 34:11.

"Give ear, 0 my people to my law; incline your ears to the words of my mouth . . We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength, and His wonderful works that He hath done. For He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who [in turn] should arise and declare them to their children. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments."—Psalm 78:1-7. (Prov 1:1.)

"Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it."—Prov 22:6. (Isa 28:9-10.)

"Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation."—Joel 1:3.

"Feed My lambs."—John 21:15.

The people of God thanked Him for the children that He gave them:

"And she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the Lord: therefore she called his name Judah ["The Lord be praised"]."—Gen 29:35. (Psalm 113:9.)

They recognized that when God sent a child, it was not only a special gift to be dedicated and trained for Him, but it would become a blessing to them personally:

"And I will bless her, and give thee [Abraham] a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her."—Gen 17:16.

"And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people."—Gen 28:3.

"And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed."—Gen 5:29.

"Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers."—Prov 17:6.

God predicts that in the last days men will try to change God's perfect plan in various ways:

"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith . . forbidding to marry."—1 Tim 4:1, 3.

"In vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."—Matthew 15:9.

God also commanded that we were not to hurt the fatherless child (or children who might not otherwise have someone to intercede on their behalf):

"I will be a swift witness against . . those that oppress . . the widow and the fatherless."—Malachi 3:5.

"Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto Me, I will surely hear their cry. And My wrath shall wax hot."—Ex 22:22. (Deut 10:18; 14:29.)

"I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him."—Job 29:12.

"Thou art the Helper of the fatherless. Thou wilt cause Thine ear to hear: To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress."—Psalm 10:14.

"When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up."—Psalm 27:10. (Psalm 68:5; 146:9; Jer 49:11; Hos 14:3.)

[All children have a father, but "fatherless children" are those whose father has died or who no longer wants them. Babies aborted intentionally are "motherless" also.]

The covenant of salvation is offered both to us and to our children:

Gen 6:18; 12:7; 13:15; 17:7-8; 19:12;21:13; 26:3-5, 24; Lev 26:44-45; Isa 65:23; 1 Cor 7:14.

The children are not to be punished for the mistakes and sins of the parents:

"The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers: every man shall be put to death for his own sin."—Deuteronomy 24:16. (Ezekiel 18:2-4.)

"The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him."—Ezekiel 18:20. (Children are not to be punished for what the parents did: Ezekiel 18:1-30. Also: Jeremiah 31:29-30.)

God sets before us an example of saving children that are cast off when born alive [or aborted alive] by mothers who do not want them:

"Thy father was an Amorite and thy mother an Hittite. And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the loathing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live . . Yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest Mine. Then washed I thee with water; yea, I thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee . ."—Eziekiel 16:3-6, 8-10.

"When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called My son out of Egypt."—Hosea 11:1.

The only Biblical records of men who arranged large-scale killings of infants were the acts of very wicked men:

Pharaoh: Ex 1:22; Herod the Great: Matt 2:16-18.

In Bible times, only the wicked destroyed their children:

They sacrificed them to appease their gods: 2 Kg 17:31; Ezek 16:20-21.

They caused them to walk through fire that they might be consumed in it: 2 Kg 16:3; Jer 32:35; Ezek 16:21.

Some sold them for the money they could make from the sale: 2 Kg 4:1; Neh 5:5; Job 24:9; Matt 18:25.

"Behold, I and the children whom the Lord hath given me."—Isaiah 8:18.

God gives us an example to follow in adopting. Children not wanted should be made available for adoption by others:

"It shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God."—Hosea 1:9.

"I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring My sons and My daughters from the ends of the earth."—lsaiah 43:6.

"And they shall put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them."—Numbers 6:27.

"When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called My son out of Egypt."—Hosea 11:1.

"As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name."—John 1:12.

"Ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ."—Romans 8:15-17.

"For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren . . Behold, I and the children which God hath given me."—Hebrews 2:11, 13. [And earthly mothers should not be ashamed of their little ones, either.]

Examples of adoption: Joseph's sons: Gen 48:5, 14, 16, 22. Moses: Ex 2:5-10; Acts 7:21. Esther: Esth 2:7. Israel: Ex 4:22; Hos 11:1; Rom 9:4.

God tells us that the harmlessness and humility of the littlest child is an example of what God loves in humanity [There is no doubt that the smallest child is very precious in His sight]:

"And Jesus called a little child unto Him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in My name receiveth Me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."—Matthew 18:2-5. (Mark 10:5.)

God tells us that those who are willing to take and care for such little children, are accepted by God as His children [It is the attitude that counts. Not all of us are in a position to actually raise a child for God.]:

"And He took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when He had taken him in His arms, He said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in My name, receiveth Me, and whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth not Me, but Him that sent Me."—Mark 9:36.

"Whosoever shall receive this child in My name receiveth Me, and whosoever shall receive Me, receiveth Him that sent Me. For he that is least among you all, the same shall be greatest."—Luke 9:48. [The greatest among us are those willing to do the humble, needful work in caring for the little ones.]

The Bible teaches that the unborn child has a definite personality. It is a human being:

Jesus was conceived in His mother's womb. He was there—a distinct personage—before birth as well as at birth:

"When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost . . But while he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, . . fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins."—Matthew 1:18, 20-21. [It was the person of Jesus, not a blob of growing cells that was in Mary. And He who was fully God was made in human form fully as we are made within our own mothers' wombs: "For verily He took not on Him the nature of angels; but He took on Him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved Him to be made like unto His brethren."—Hebrews 2:16-17.]

"Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel."—Matthew 1:23.

"When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law."—Galatians 4:4-5.

"The Son of Man came to give His life a ransom for many."—Matthew 20:28.

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.."—John 3:16.

Scripture indicates that John the Baptist was a distinct person within his mother's womb:

"And Mary arose in those days [while pregnant with Jesus], and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah. And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth [the mother of John the Baptist. John was conceived six months before Jesus.] And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou . . and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed."—Luke 1:39-45. [The living personhood of the embryo and fetus is indicated in these passages of Scripture.]

According to the Bible, it is wrong to willfully, intentionally slay any person—any human being:

Is abortion of the unborn child commanded in the Bible?

No, it is never suggested, requested or commanded by God. Never.

According to the Bible, does God consider any form of abortion to be an acceptable practice?

No. There is no passage of Scripture that indicates that God ever wants men or women to do this terrible thing.

Does not Exodus 21:22-23 teach that God considers abortion to be of no consequence, that it is all right for people to unintentionally or intentionally perform an abortion on a woman?

Here is what Exodus 21:22-24 says:

"If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe."—Exodus 21:22-24.

Some people say that the Bible teaches that if a man kills another man, he is to be slain; but that if he kills a fetus [unborn child], he has done nothing noteworthy and will only receive a small fine.

Here is the truth of the matter:

(1) If a man accidentally slays another (manslaughter), he can flee for refuge so that he can be protected from being killed: Ex 21:13, 28-32; Num 35:11-15, 22-28, 32; Deut 4:41-43; 19:1-10; Josh 20:1-9.

(2) If a man intentionally slays another person (murder), then he should die for what he has done: Gen 4:9-12; 49:7; Ex 20:13; Deut 5:17; Rom 13:9; Ex 21:29-32; Num 35:16-22, 30-31; Deut 17:6; 21:1-9. Many more Scriptural passages could be cited.

(3) Exodus 21:22-23 teaches that if a man accidentally injures a woman so that her child is born prematurely, then that man must pay a fine which will be determined by the judges. (Fines are paid as a "ransom for his life" (Ex 21:30), and this indicates how serious the matter is. Just because he is fined does not mean that the event was of little consequence.)

(4) Exodus 21:22-23 also teaches that if "any mischief follow," then a more severe penalty must be meted out. What is the "mischief?" It is injury or death to the infant or to the mother. And what is the penalty? It is clearly stated in verses 23 and 24: "And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life. Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe."—Exodus 21:23-24.

(5) Thus, if a man accidentally causes a premature birth, then he shall pay a fine; but if it then results in crippling, or death, the man is to receive in kind. And we are here only speaking about accidental abortions.

(6) Although the concepts of accidental manslaughter and premeditated (preplanned) murder are both in the Bible (see "1" and "2," above), and the concept of accidental, unexpected and unplanned abortion of a baby is given once in the Bible (Ex 21:22-24),—yet the concept of intentional, preplanned abortion is to be found nowhere in the Holy Scriptures. The very idea of intentionally killing an unborn child—or even worse, killing them by the hundreds and thousands,—is totally foreign to the lives of God's people in the Bible, and so it is never mentioned. Some events are so terrible that they go beyond the simple accidental slaying of a person, or even the premeditated slaying of a human. Such is the case of modern on-demand abortion as requested by mothers and as carried out by certain physicians, hospitals and clinics.

This need not be surprising. Some crimes are so serious that they are mentioned in Scripture as occurring, but no penalty is described. They are obviously so terrible that they would receive the only sentence ever commanded in Scripture for premeditated murder: Death by stoning. An example would be cannibalism. It is an extreme form of preplanned murder, and the penalty would, of course, be a sentence of death. (Lev 26:29; Deut 28:53-57; 2 Kg 6:28-29; Jer 19:9; Lam 2:20; 4:10; Ezek 5:10.) But as you will see from an examination of those Scriptures, only the event is mentioned, no penalty is affixed. Such a terrible crime would obviously receive the death sentence.

We know from the Bible that any sin can be forgiven. David prearranged the death of a trusting helper who was one of his closest friends (2 Samuel 11). And David pled for forgiveness and received it (Psalm 51). So also may anyone reading this article who has earlier committed an abortion or permitted it to be done, can now seek God and ask for and receive forgiveness. But do not imagine that you can receive forgiveness if you accept abortion as morally right, acceptable, or something you may encourage others to do. Great evils must be abhorred and put away. There is no other recourse in regard to sin. It must be fled from. We cannot dally with it; we cannot toy with it; we cannot consider the suggestions of those who would recommend approval of it.

The truth is that, as we would apply the words today, Exodus 21:22-23 is referring to a miscarriage as a result of an accident; it is not speaking about an intentional abortion.

The advocates of abortion teach that the Bible does not forbid modern abortion operations. That is correct. But neither does the Bible forbid smoking, heroine, LSD, and a number of other modern immoral acts. But the principles are there, nonetheless.

The advocates of abortion also teach that Exodus 21:22-24 teaches that a man only has to pay a fine if he aborts a child and it dies.

But

(1) a fine, or something very severe (to be determined by the judges) had to be done, for, Scripture says, "he shall be sorely punished." (Ex 21:22.) So whatever this fine or punishment may have been, it was considered very serious. Neither mothers who request abortions, nor their physicians who do it, are paying fines today for what they are doing to the unborn children.

(2) The fine was only paid if the child was born alive prematurely. For then the woman's "fruit" came out of (departed from) her "and yet no mischief" followed (read Exodus 21:22). The "mischief" would be injury or death to the child or to the mother.

(3) The result is a very serious punishment. It is stated in verses 23 and 24. "life for life, . . wound for wound," etc. And that is serious punishment.

(4) The above was for accidental abortion, not intentional abortion. Such would be premeditated murder.

Here is what C. Everett Koop, M.D., former U.S. Surgeon General, says about the matter. He was surgeon-in-chief of Children's Hospital, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and has authored books on the topic of abortion:

"I have spent thirty-six years in the practice of pediatric surgery, longer than anybody else now practicing in this country..

"Some raise Exodus 27 as a proof text that God doesn't regard the unborn child in the same way as He does the newly born child. But if you read the text carefully, you will find it says that if a man in argument with another man accidentally strikes a woman and she has a premature birth, there is to be a fine. Nothing here is premeditated.

"But if any further mischief is done—and I take that to mean a deformity of the baby or the death of the baby—then the old law applies of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

"Francis Schaeffer [author of a number of books on abortion] checked the exegesis [meaning] of these verses with five Hebrew scholars and was convinced that God means just that, and in no way does He mean to downgrade the worth of the unborn child."—C. Everett Koop, M.D., as told to Dick Bohrer, "Deception-On-Demand," in Moody Monthly, May, 1980.

Here is what Heaven thinks of men who make a practice of killing people:

"Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbor secretly. Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person."—Deuteronomy 27:24.

"The murderer rising with the light killeth the poor and needy, and in the night is as a thief."—Job 24:14. [Few people are as poor and needy as the unborn child.]

"When He [God] maketh inquisition for blood, He remembereth them: He forgetteth not the cry of the humble."—Psalm 9:12.

"The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor. He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent."—Psalm 10:2.

"Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men, in whose hands is mischief."—Psalm 26:9.

"The wicked watcheth the righteous and seeketh to slay him."—Psalm 37:32.

"Lord, how long shall the wicked triumph? . . They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless."—Psalm 94:3, 6.

"These . . things doth the Lord hate: . . A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood."—Proverbs 6:1617.

Saving Marriage: Beyond Constitutional Amendments

In response to same-sex marriages in some states, many are pushing constitutional amendments to preserve the traditional marriage relationship. But it will take much more if marriage is to be saved.

by John Miller

And I now pronounce you husband and wife!" These or similar words have long marked the union between a man and a woman in marriage, the time-honored institution that has been the bedrock of stability for society.

When several judges and other government officials in some American states broadened the definition of marriage to include same-sex unions last year, thousands of couples took vows to legitimize their relationships. Conservative Christians and others cried foul. The traditional meaning of marriage, they insisted, must be preserved. The consequences of changing marriage would be dire, they warned, including the destruction of the traditional family, staggering health-care costs, impair-ment of religious freedom and suffering of children.

Their opponents called them hypocrites. Could both have been right? Let's examine what the Bible teaches and compare that to the current efforts of professing Christians to save marriage. You may be surprised by what we find.

Same-sex relationships: What does the Bible say?

The biblical position on same-sex marriage is not difficult to understand. Moses, under God's inspiration, wrote: "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination" (Leviticus 18:22).

The apostle Paul reaffirms the unacceptable nature of this lifestyle in his letter to the Corinthian church: "Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders . . . will inherit the kingdom of God" (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, New International Version). Unless there is real repentance, the ultimate penalty remains the same: "The wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).

Some Corinthian church members had repented of and forsaken these unacceptable lifestyles. "And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Corinthians 6:11, NIV, emphasis added).

The Bible clearly states that "marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled" (Hebrews 13:4). There is permanence and social stability in the exhortation, "Man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh" (Ephesians 5:31). This family unit has been the basis of social and economic stability for millennia.

That is in serious danger of changing if proponents of same-sex marriage have their way. Still, the matter is far from settled. The conservative political base in America is actively pursuing legislation and constitutional amendments at the state and federal levels to preserve the traditional meaning of marriage.

However, recent studies, even within the ranks of this conservative base, indicate that marriage is in much deeper trouble than one might first expect. The advent of same-sex marriage may be more symptomatic of the moral mind-set of the nation than merely a legal issue. Stated bluntly: Marriage is under assault from many sides, and it will take more than a constitutional amendment—much more—to save it.

Declining support for biblical standards

Consider these statistics: 52 percent of those who profess to be "born-again" Christians do not believe divorce for reasons other than adultery is a sin. They are just as likely to divorce as non-Christians. And 49 percent of born-again Christians believe cohabitation—men and women living together outside of marriage—is morally acceptable. Only half of Protestant pastors have a biblical worldview. Only 1 in 10 born-again teenagers believes in absolute moral truth.

These statistics, compiled by respected religious pollster George Barna, are quite an indictment against today's religious establishment. Clearly, the larger Christian community has failed to integrate basic tenets into daily lives. A profession of Christian belief does not ensure the practice of Christian principles and standards. Sadly, marriage has little chance of surviving in such an environment.

Interestingly, Paul's letter to the Romans, which describes homosexual relationships as "vile passions" (Romans 1:26), has equally strong words for those who deliberately oppose the behavioral standards revealed in God's Word. "For the wrath of God," Paul declares, "is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them . . ." (verses 18-19).

To suppress the truth, Paul maintains, is deliberate "unrighteousness" that blinds their thinking and reasoning. "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting" (verse 28).

Paul lists a number of "unfitting" behaviors that debased minds produce, including sexual immorality, pride, lack of spiritual understanding and deceit (verses 29-31). What is worse, according to Paul, these individuals "not only continue to do these evil things, they applaud others who do them" (verse 32, New Century Version).

What can be done?

Clearly, society at large and a huge number of professing Christians have lost their way. What then can be done?

If marriage is to survive, the undiluted Word of God with respect to marriage must be taught today with the same force it was given in the first century by the apostle Paul and others. Mincing the Scriptures to fit contemporary and ungodly perspectives will not save marriage.

Neither will preaching "old-time damnation" that evokes only fear and emotion but produces little or no sustainable change. What society needs is a clear delineation between right and wrong—plain and simple so people can make informed moral choices.

The uncensored Word of God has an amazing capacity and authority to give clear direction. It becomes, as King David said, a "lamp" to our feet that guides us down a safe path in our journey through life (Psalm 119:105).

The supreme authority

God is the supreme authority. His authoritative instructions are written down for us in the Bible. Jesus Christ, God's incarnate Son, acknowledged, recognized and submitted to this authority.

The prophet Isaiah, in a widely recognized messianic prophecy, foretold the Messiah's attitude on this matter. "His delight is in the fear of the LORD," the prophet explained (Isaiah 11:3)—centuries before Jesus Christ so eloquently expressed the prophecy's fulfillment: "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work" (John 4:34).

Jesus consistently acknowledged the supremacy of God in everything He did: "I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me" (John 5:30). His life's work demonstrates His unwavering commitment to yield to the will of the Father in word and deed.

The yielded mind or attitude of Christ, which Paul exhorts us to emulate, is at the foundation of what it will take to save marriage. This attitude cannot be constitutionally legislated; it must be sincerely embraced by each individual.

Jesus Christ recognized God as the only supreme authority and source for universal truth. "Your word is truth," He declared (John 17:17). This universal truth provides timeless principles to direct our lives. Jesus taught His followers that "you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32).

Recognizing, yielding to and ordering our lives according to universal truth revealed by a higher authority is clearly being out of step in our self-determined society. The notion that yielding one's will to God is a delight and that embracing and living within the restrictions of God's law brings freedom is scoffed at by today's freethinkers.

Sadly, this attitude of self-determination, standing in stark contrast to the teachings and example of Christ, has infiltrated the professing Christian community. When half of pastors surveyed lack a biblical worldview, is it any wonder that their constituents fail to recognize that divorce "for just any reason" (Matthew 19:3-6) is not biblically justifiable? Or that they don't see unmarried cohabitation as morally unacceptable? Or that teenagers don't believe in absolute truth?

Without a biblical worldview based firmly in the Scriptures, even pastors unwittingly suppress the truth. And their parishioners reap the predictable consequence described by Paul.

Clearly, if marriage is to be saved, a lot of work must be done on the home front—among professing Christians. It must begin by moving beyond simply professing Christ to actually practicing what He taught—delighting, as He did, in the laws of God, which are an expression of love.

God is the author of marriage

Make no mistake. Marriage derives its definition and authority from God rather than from contemporary cultural ideas. Jesus Christ explained the original intent of marriage: "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate" (Matthew 19:4-6).

These words of Christ, spoken nearly 2,000 years ago, should give us encouragement because His perspective remains unchanged. In a society with ever-changing values, Christ's definition of -appropriate moral conduct, including that relating to marriage, remains the same. From the beginning, marriage was intended by God as a union between a man and a woman.Even in Jesus' day, many had lost sight of the true meaning of the marriage bond. Apparently it was common to divorce one's wife "for just any reason," a concept Jesus was asked about in Matthew 19:3. When He disagreed, even His disciples were surprised. Their initial response was, "If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry" (verse 10). That response is indicative of the tendency of human beings to ignore God's instructions and drift away from the way of life He has revealed to us.

Paul explained to the Romans that those who had suppressed divinely revealed truth "did not like to retain God in their knowledge." Hence, "God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting" (Romans 1:28). These words are strong, but also very instructive. When people reject God, bad things happen.

Consider how we got to the present moral crisis concerning marriage. In the 19th century those who "professed to be wise" dispensed with the Creator in favor of the Darwinian theory of evolution. This shook the foundation of the purpose for marriage. Without a Creator the institution of marriage had lost its moral foundation.

The sexual revolution of the 20th century dispensed with the permanence of the marital relationship in lieu of newfound sexual freedom. And finally, it appears that those "professing to be wise" wish to redefine or dispense with marriage altogether by sanctioning all types of sexual relationships between same-sex and multiple partners.

Paul explained the pattern in his message to the Romans. First there is the rejection of creation in which "His invisible attributes are clearly seen." Then God gives them over to a "debased mind," which results in all kinds of depravity from sexual immorality (adultery, fornication, etc.) to "vile passions," defined by Paul as homosexual activity. Rejecting God as our Creator distorts the mind.

Marriage doesn't come with a divorce clause

Marriage was intended by God to form a union that transcends all human relationships. A man and woman are to become one flesh, and what God has joined no one is to trivially separate. Contrast God's intent with the accepted practice of our current culture where divorce is an accepted and easy exit strategy to the marriage covenant. Prenuptial agreements even define the terms much like a termination clause in a business contract. However, this permissive view is incompatible with sound Scriptural teaching.

In a study released in September 2004, pollster George Barna found that "although many Christian churches attempt to dissuade congregants from getting a divorce, the research confirmed a finding identified by Barna a decade ago (and further confirmed through tracking studies conducted each year since): born again Christians have the same likelihood of divorce as do non-Christians."

The divorce rate for professed born again Christians was "statistically identical to the figure among non-Christians." This should not be so. Christ makes it clear that He expects those who would be His followers to follow a different standard; to be the salt of the earth and light to the world (Matthew 5:13-14).

Could it be that the light among the professing Christian community has been so dimmed by a mediocre attitude toward commitment in marriage that the current calls to abolish or prohibit same-sex marriage are justifiably viewed by its proponents as hypocritical?

Jesus Christ expects His followers to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven," He said, "but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).

All sex outside marriage is sin

The New Testament puts sex outside of marriage between heterosexual partners in the same category as sex between same-sex partners—sin! Sin with enormous physical and spiritual consequences! In New Testament parlance such sins are against the body. Paul says: "Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body" (1 Corinthians 6:18).

With the proliferation of sexually transmissible diseases these timeless words of Paul ring true. Millions have literally died because they "sinned against their bodies" by engaging in elicit sexual behavior.

Paul reveals a different purpose, a higher standard: "Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body . . . Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not!" (1 Corinthians 6:13-15).

For a genuinely committed Christian, the human body is much more than a sex object. "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit . . . and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Premarital sex is no laughing matter

The movies might depict that first fling as fortuitous fun. The high school social scene makes sex the ultimate expression of passion. Some see it as a test of manhood. Adults giggle at these youthful indiscretions.

These attitudes simply highlight our contemporary moral state. According to the New Testament, premarital sex, as with extramarital sex in general, is no laughing matter: "fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Hebrews 13:4). Strong language yes, but strong dilution requires a strong antidote to be effective.

Sex outside of marriage brings all kinds of undesirable consequences, not to mention spiritual alienation from God. Movies, music and popular culture suppress this truth and even millions of professing Christians suffer from the consequences these promiscuous lifestyles bring.

Marriage preservation begins with you

Marriage is vital. Marriage is a God-ordained institution that must be preserved or the cost to our society will be incalculable. But if marriage is to survive, more is required than constitutional amendments—much, much more.

Action is required on the home front. Those who still believe in the institution of marriage must shed cultural influences and practice what they proclaim to believe. They must embrace the challenge to preserve marriage by preserving it among their own ranks. No constitutional amendment is required to do that!

All of us need to put on the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5) and embrace the truth about marriage as delivered by God through His prophets, Jesus Christ and His apostles. We can only change the world one family at a time. So let's get started today. GN

Transforming power of God's spirit.

Scripture tells us that we, too, need to undergo a transformation—a change, with God's help, from "the old man" to "the new man," a human being "renewed in knowledge" and "created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness" (Colossians 3:9-10; Ephesians 4:22-24). In this lesson we discuss this remarkable change, made possible by the transforming power of God's Spirit.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect."—The apostle Paul (Romans 12:2, New Revised Standard Version)

Few creatures can rival the beauty of the monarch butterfly. Its stunning oranges and black are an astounding sight, a delight to the eye.

But the monarch doesn't start out that way. Before it reaches maturity it must undergo a series of remarkable transformations. Starting as a half-millimeter egg, the butterfly-to-be grows inside the egg for several days before it reaches the larval stage, when it begins a time as a bright-yellow-green striped caterpillar. In this stage it repeatedly molts, adding a new skin and shedding the old so it can continue to grow. It is then ready for the next stage of its life as a chrysalis, or pupa.

In this stage the caterpillar hangs upside down, usually from a twig or branch, and encases itself in a protective cocoon. Here, over about 10 to 14 days, it undergoes yet another amazing transformation. At the end of this stage its protective shell becomes transparent, and a majestic adult monarch butterfly emerges.

Its metamorphosis complete, the butterfly starts its new life. The new creature is vastly different from what we saw before. As it matured it changed in many ways. It transformed into something far different. Its end result is far different from its beginning.

Scripture tells us that we, too, need to undergo a transformation—a change, with God's help, from "the old man" to "the new man," a human being "renewed in knowledge" and "created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness" (Colossians 3:9-10; Ephesians 4:22-24).

FAITH THAT MOVES "THE MOUNTAIN"

" The Mountain represents Jesus the Christ, and His kingdom,
not your problem "
For too long now we have been looking at problems that are bigger than us as mountains, and they appear as mountains if you focus on them. When you focus on the problem God looks small, when you focus on God the problem looks small. The truth is your problem is a speck of dust, and maybe even an illusion, but Jesus and His Kingdom are the Mountain. God takes us into the "Faith Zone" by allowing us to face situations that are bigger than us so that we can see demonstrations of His love, by His power.

An important lesson about faith is given to us by Jesus in (Matthew 17:14-21 NKJV) And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. "So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him." Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."

A mustard seed was one of the smallest known examples that Jesus could use as an illustration during that time. Jesus was not teaching that they needed more faith, but rather where to place their faith. The disciples had some faith or they would not have tried to cast the demon out in the first place. But their faith was in themselves, they asked, "Why could we not cast it out?” They failed to recognize that even with the authority that Jesus had given them to cast out demons, that it was actually Jesus doing the work. Supernatural events are accomplished by His power not our own. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (John 14:14) Jesus told them, “However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting”. So what is important is what moves God to intervene in a situation.

Since faith as small as a mustard seed will move a mountain and nothing will be impossible, just a little faith focused in the right direction will cause God to move in a situation. Their focus was on themselves and the same was true with the father of the boy who came to the disciples first.

But when the boy's father came to Jesus and asked for His mercy and compassion, Jesus was moved, which caused the demon to move out. The story is also recorded in (Mark 9:22-24 NKJV) "And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." {23} Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." {24} Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Even a little faith in God's compassion, mercy, and grace will move Jesus and the whole Kingdom of heaven to intervene in the situation. True faith is directly related to knowing God, His will, and His love.

This faith in God's compassion and mercy, His grace, moves the Mountain, which is Christ and His Kingdom. Which is greater, to be able to say to Mount Everest move from here to there and have it obey you; or to be able to move the Creator of the universe to intervene in a situation through prayer, and faith in His compassion, mercy, and grace?

The resources of the Kingdom of heaven are listed in Hebrews chapter 12. Mount Zion is used to symbolize the Kingdom.

(Hebrews 12:22-28 NKJV) But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel. See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, "Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven." Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

All Christians go through times of shaking, when the Lord causes us to refocus on Him, to become more dependent upon Him. These are times that are faith is refined into pure gold. The things that are shaken are physical; the things that will remain are spiritual. It is time to focus on things that we cannot see with our physical eyes, but only with the spiritual eyes of our heart. (Hebrews 11:3 NIV) By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

In the book of Daniel there is another example of Christ and His Kingdom symbolized by a mountain. Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream is recorded in Daniel chapter two. It tells of four great kingdoms on the earth and then a final kingdom that destroys all the other kingdoms, which is the Kingdom of God, a Kingdom without end.

(Dan 2:35-36) "Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed together, and became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; the wind carried them away so that no trace of them was found. And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. "This is the dream. Now we will tell the interpretation of it before the king. …(Dan 2:44-45) "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. "Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure."

In the passage above it is obvious that the stone cut out of the mountain without hands that grows into a mountain that fills the whole earth is referring to Christ and His Kingdom. Several times in the Bible Jesus is symbolized by the term Rock, or Stone. In the above passage Jesus is the stone, God the Father is the Mountain, which Jesus came out of. Christ Kingdom then grows into a Mountain that fills the whole earth.

Christ is expanding His Kingdom on earth through His body, the church. We are part of the Kingdom, the kingdom is in us, and we are in the Kingdom, (Luke 17:21). When the gospel message of Jesus Christ is received and believed by a person they are added to the Kingdom. Everywhere that we take the gospel we are advancing the Kingdom of God until it covers the whole earth. (Matthew 24:14 NKJV) "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Another place where “mountain” symbolizes the expanding kingdom is in Isaiah 2:2. And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. We are in the last days now. Peter told us in Acts 2 that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit was the prophecy of Joel chapter 2 being fulfilled. (Acts 2:16-17) But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh… The last days are the days of the expanding Kingdom of God and then the end shall come.

When the Lord began to speak into my heart that He is the Mountain, I said, "Lord show me in your word", I then began to see many places where God and the Kingdom are symbolized as a Mountain. But my biggest question was "Lord what about where it says that if we believe we can cast the Mountain into the sea, it seems disrespectful to throw you in the sea.?" When I asked this I immediately knew the answer. When you put a Mountain in the sea you make an island, the sea represents lost humanity, drowning in sin, bondage, despair, and hopelessness, and they need a Savior. We do not bring them a little lifesaver so they can float. But we bring them Jesus, the Mountain, where they can climb out of the sea, take refuge, and be safe from the storms of life. (Psalms 27:5 NKJV) For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; In the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock.

(Mark 11:22-26 NKJV) So Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. "For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. "But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

Here is a list of some things that are important to God so that we can pray in true faith and see God move:

· Forgive everyone that has offended or hurt you, even in the slightest way. As the scripture above states God will not forgive you if you don't forgive others, it causes separation between you and God and He will not hear your prayer. Unforgiveness is also an open door for Satan to enter and cause division, which God hates. (Luke 6:35-36 NIV) But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. {36} Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

· Have a clean heart. (Psalms 24:3-5 NKJV) Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? {4} He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully. {5} He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation. (1 John 3:21-23 NIV) Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God {22} and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. {23} And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

· Pray in God's will. (John 15:7 NIV) If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. When Jesus and His words are in us and guiding us then His will becomes our will, and prayers that speak forth God's will move the Kingdom of Heaven into action. Here are some things that you can do and pray for that will move all of heaven into action, for in these God delights. (Isaiah 58:6-12 NKJV) "Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? {7} Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? {8} Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. {9} Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' "If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, {10} If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. {11} The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. {12} Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.

· Call upon the Lord with a humble heart. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV) "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Humility always moves us closer to God, pride always moves us further away from God. (Isaiah 57:15 NKJV) For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

· Pray for God's compassion, mercy, and grace. (Jeremiah 9:24 NKJV) But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight," says the LORD. The Lord loves to demonstrate His lovingkindness, his justice for those that are oppressed, and to bring His righteousness into the hearts of people. These kinds of prayers touch God's heart and move Him into the situation. (Micah 6:8 NKJV) He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

· Focus on Jesus, not the problem. (Matthew 14:29-31 NKJV) So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Peter was able to walk on the water when he focused on Jesus, but when he began to focus on the physical situation it caused fear, which is doubt, the opposite of faith, doubt caused him to sink. Fortunately He knew where to look when things got really bad, and of course Jesus was moved with compassion to save him.

• Hope is faith without the confidence, the assurance. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1). But even hope placed in the Lord and His mercy will move Him. (Psalms 33:18-22 NKJV) Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, To deliver their soul from death, And to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in Him, Because we have trusted in His holy name. Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You.
• (Colossians 3:2 NKJV) Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.