“Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD” (Psalm 31:24).

The news is bad. Everything is doom and gloom, and depression hangs heavy over the population. The political climate in the United States is ugly. And I get very discouraged when I listen to all the political babbling. A crazy young man who may or may not have been acting alone tried to assassinate Mr. Trump. What do many of the loony liberals say? “I’m sorry he missed.” That’s just cold-hearted. They take a miracle of God and turn it into something evil.

In speaking of the end of days, Jesus said, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12).

This makes me concerned for the state of America. On the other hand, I see so many video clips asking people why they will vote for the Democrats’ nominee, and their reasoning is absurd. “Because she’s a woman.” Really? She’s not running for president of the PTA but running for leadership of the United States of America. I’m a woman, but that doesn’t qualify me to be president. Where’s the hope for America if this is the basis of casting votes? What will she do when facing an important meeting with world leaders? I also have doubts that she even knows where our Southern Border is located, nor does she think there’s trouble there. It leaves me scratching my head.

The Bible is always the best place to look for answers and encouragement. Names and places change, but the same failures of humanity are always there, as well as the same love of God.

Job was a man who had many afflictions. Satan was waging war against this man who loved the Lord. All of Job’s children died, he faced horrific health issues, he lost his fortune, and his wife was little or no support in his trials. Nothing seemed worth living for, and he desired for God to take his life. He did have some so-called friends who would have been more help if they had stayed home; their advice was not good at all.

Job was very depressed. “Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One. What is my strength, that I should hope? And what is mine end, that I should prolong my life?” (Job 6:10-11).

The truth that Job would eventually come to realize is that God was his strength, his comfort, and his hope. “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and although after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:25-26).

Job’s hope was found in the Redeemer, and we know His name: Jesus Christ. America, Jesus Christ is our only hope. Christians cannot give up and stop praying.

The truth is, when studying prophecy, it seems as if America is missing. Americans tend to think that the world will stop turning without this nation to keep it going. America was once a great nation but has turned into a culture that esteems pagan lust and evil. We have fallen so far from God’s grace that I’m amazed we are still a nation. The only hope for any nation, or any individual person, is Jesus Christ. No national leader, whether conservative or liberal, will ever make a nation great.

The greatest human king that ever ruled a nation was King David. What made him great? He was a man after God’s own heart. The Apostle Paul gave a short history of Israel and told how the people desired a king, and God gave them what they deserved: Saul. Saul was a bit crazy. It was David whom God desired for their king, but the people demanded a king immediately, and David wasn’t ready. After years of poor leadership and crazy actions, Saul committed suicide during a battle.

David was ready to be king and led Israel to greatness. “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will” (Acts 13:22).

David wasn’t a perfect man, and he committed great sin. He committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed. When Nathan the prophet confronted him with his sin, David went to God and humbly repented and asked for mercy.

“For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightiest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest” (Psalm 51:3-4).

A truly repentant man or woman will be forgiven by God. We learn from the account of Jonah being sent to the city of Nineveh to preach repentance that that evil and wicked city repented from the king to the least of the populace. Their judgment was delayed. Sadly, Nineveh returned to their sin, God sent judgment, and they were destroyed. It seems as if it’s time for Americans to repent and turn from the sins that are destroying this nation.

Abortion and homosexuality are two of the worst things that show our rebellion against God. America is ripe for judgment. Even our churches are full of sin and false teaching. How can we ever find hope in this fallen world?

“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14).

We can’t expect God to continue to turn a blind eye to the sin in this nation.

No nation can survive if God isn’t honored. The only nation I can think of that has endured through many attempts to destroy it is Israel. History shows that they haven’t always honored God, and at those times, they have been taken captive, and their God-given land was defiled. Prophecy was fulfilled in 1948 when the nation of Israel was re-established.

“And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God” (Amos 9:14-15).

Prophecy gives me hope. No matter how evil the world seems, God is still God. He has foreseen all things and told us in advance so we can be aware of the times in which we live. Israel has returned to the land and will not be removed. The attacks on Israel that we are witnessing today are leading up to a very evil time known as the Great Tribulation. We see the various nations named in prophecy aligning for battle and the rise of the Man of Sin (the Anti-Christ). We also see the coming world monetary system… be wary of the World Economic Forum. The technology is being put in place to enable the Mark of the Beast to be implanted in everyone. God foretold all of this in prophecy. The troubles that are coming are caused by people turning away from God and embracing Satan’s lies.

All the people of the world will look to Satan for their hope, but there is no hope in evil.  We can only find hope in God. “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13).

God can’t fill you with joy and peace if you don’t turn to Him. That means repent and turn from sin. Without God, there is no hope.

There’s a teaching in some churches today that all you have to do is believe in Jesus, and you will find His grace with no need to repent and turn from sin. That teaching forgets the fact that repenting means changing your mind. That teaching also ignores many verses that tell of sins that will keep a person from Heaven.

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).

We have all sinned, and until we are safe at Home with Jesus, we will continue to sin. But when we place our hope in Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven. He is our only Hope. Is it acceptable, then, to profess Christ and hold tightly to sin? No. Jesus told the woman taken in adultery, “…Neither do I condemn thee: go and sin no more” (John 8:11b). God knows your heart, and if you are struggling with certain sins, He will help you overcome them, but don’t embrace sin as your right. In Christ, we have hope.

We cannot find hope in any human. “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). 

There is no hope in a human being, but there is hope only in Jesus Christ. God establishes nations and raises up men to rule. As Christians, we need to pray for whoever is in leadership, but we also must pray for guidance for whom to vote. It may be that God will allow an evil ruler, just as He did with King Saul ruling over Israel. The people of Israel got what they deserved, but when David became king, Israel flourished.

We are living in some very troublesome times. If you don’t study prophecy, you cannot understand what’s happening. You will not understand that Christians have a hope that nobody else on this earth has. That is the hope of the Rapture. Some will try to say the rapture is an erroneous belief started in the 1800s, but that’s wrong. Enoch was the first example of God removing His people from Earth prior to His judgment. Today, judgment is coming fast. Only Christians have the hope of escaping the very evil and wicked times coming quickly upon all the earth.

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:13-14).

Now, that’s hope. Jesus Christ is our blessed hope. Are you zealous to do good works? If not, why? Time is short, and there are many, many people who haven’t heard the Good News of salvation. We need to share our hope with the fallen world around us.

We need to make decisions based upon Scripture. Let the Holy Spirit lead you in all things. Share your hope with everybody around you.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com

www.prophecyupdate.com

www.raptureforums.com

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

If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).

 

 

“Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” Psalm 37:4.

What do you desire? Many people will answer that question saying they desire something more out of life, such as more money. Worldly things aren’t necessarily bad to desire, but Jesus said. “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).

As Christians, we need to take a good look at what we desire and what we treasure. Keep in mind, you’ll never have enough money. When I was in the working world, we had a saying that the outgo will always grow to fit the income. That was true then, and it’s true now. I can tell you that trying to find ways to stretch a dollar is very challenging, but God always provides.

Many Christians look at prayer as a magic way to get what you want. Name it and claim it, blab it and grab it, tell God what He can do for you in order to make you happy. That seems to be the way some Christians look at prayer. Prayer is an important part of a Christian’s life, but it’s not an order to a catalog store listing what you desire today.

Jesus said, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9-13).

Most of us know this prayer by heart and can repeat it without thinking. It might be a good idea to take a closer look.

First, God is honored. There’s peace that comes from worshipping God. Then, we are to desire that His kingdom come and His will be done just like it is done in heaven. If our desire is for God’s will to be done, we will humble ourselves before Him and desire what He desires. The only personal request is for our daily needs to be met, such as food. No worldly desires for fame and fortune, but for daily bread. Then, we are to acknowledge that not only do we need to be forgiven, but that we are also to forgive others. Finally, praise God. If we would truly pray this way and mean it, the desires of our heart just might change. We will begin to desire what God desires.

Later, Jesus said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).

What things? Food, water, clothing. If we desire simple things, our desire will draw closer to God’s desire for us. If we step away from the rat race, the desires of our heart will change.

If God allows you to have lots of money, draw close to Him to see how He desires for you to use that blessing. We have many examples of how some people are irresponsible with their fortunes instead of using it for the Lord’s work. Instead of desiring what pleases God, money can easily become your god.

I have a friend who has been blessed and is so willing to use her finances to serve the Lord. I admire her. When we desire what God desires, we are blessed. When we come to know Christ, we need to turn from the sin that has plagued mankind since Adam chose to sin. Jesus gave His life for our salvation, and we owe Him everything. There is nothing we can do to earn salvation; it’s a free gift from God. The only way we can show gratitude is to seek His will and humbly submit to it.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1-2). Let your desires be His desires.

As we go through life, our desires change. Peter is an example of changing desires. He was a fisherman, and his desire was to catch more fish. The more fish he caught and sold, the more money he would have. He had a wife, and Scripture is silent as to any children he may have had, but every Jewish man wanted sons and daughters. Then Peter met Jesus. Or, maybe it was that Jesus found Peter.

“And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him“ (Matthew 4:18-20).

I’m sure there are many Hollywood ideas of all that transpired, but the fact is Peter’s life was changed. He no longer desired to catch more fish, but he was going to be a “fisher of men.” Jesus had a lot of teaching to do with Peter, but Peter followed and was changed. If he had decided to remain a fisherman, he would have had a good job, and people would have food to satisfy them for a short time. Because Peter chose to follow Jesus, he was able to share the Bread of Life, which satisfies for eternity. Because Peter realized the desire of his heart was more than fishing, he has left a lasting influence on the world.

Paul was another man who was changed by Jesus. Paul desired to be the greatest Pharisee who ever lived. He just might have accomplished his goal if Jesus hadn’t changed Paul’s desire. Paul thought he was serving God by hunting down anybody who turned from the Jewish faith to follow the Good News of Jesus. Paul (then called Saul) was on his way to Damascus to arrest those who had fled to escape his persecution, and he went after them with a deadly purpose.

“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined around about him a light from heaven: and he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutes thou me?” (Acts 9:3-4).

This happened many years after Jesus’ resurrection, so it’s no wonder Saul was confused. His life and desires changed dramatically. Instead of tyrannical power, he only wanted to serve Jesus and share love and forgiveness with everybody. It was Paul who knew about spiritual gifts and encouraged us to desire them. He especially encouraged us to desire to prophesy.

“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the Spirit he speaketh mysteries” (1 Corinthians 14:1-2).

We need to desire what God desires for us. Paul became a man who truly served God. His missionary journeys should be the standard of missionaries today. He gave everything to serve Jesus. Yet, was he given the desire of his heart? He desired that God remove a “thorn in his flesh.” Whatever that was, we aren’t told, but it was a true problem for Paul.

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).

God knows so much more than we know, and somehow, this “thorn in the flesh” was necessary. Instead of pouting because God didn’t jump through hoops for him, Paul humbly submitted to God.

Solomon was very wise. Sometimes, he wasn’t very smart, but his errors in life taught him some hard lessons. He often desired worldly things in life and found out that there was no happiness in having lots of wives and lots of money. These worldly desires led to pagan worship. He learned that there is a greater treasure than anything this world has to offer.

“There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man spendeth it up. He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour” (Proverbs 21;20-21).

It’s too bad Solomon didn’t learn this truth at a young age and follow his own advice.

Most of us are guilty of desiring the wrong treasure, but Jesus spoke about how valuable the desire for the kingdom of heaven is. “Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field” (Matthew 13:44).

Do you desire the kingdom of heaven enough to give up your worldly desires and desire the things of God? This doesn’t mean we cannot have food, shelter, and clothing. It’s not a bad thing to have money in the bank. The question you need to answer is, what do you do with your wealth? Do you use what you have to spread the Gospel, or do you hoard your wealth? What about your physical desires? A Christian should submit to Christ.

As Paul said, “…that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1b).

When you desire what God desires, you’ll find it easier to let go of the desires of your flesh and live for Christ.

The way to know what God desires for you is to get to know Him. The more you know His will, the more you’ll desire His will for life. Temptation will always tug at your flesh, but if you are tempted to sin, that isn’t a desire of God.

“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed” (James 1:13-14).

The word “lust” is translated from the Greek word “alexithymia,” which means “desire for what is forbidden.” When temptation comes your way, if the thing you desire isn’t godly, then your desire is at odds with God’s desire for you. He won’t give you the desire of your heart if your heart desires to sin. God doesn’t want anybody to sin. He desires the best things for you.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). The gifts from God are perfect.

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3). Desire what God desires, and He will give you the desire of your heart. Then, use the desire of your heart to serve Him.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com

www.prophecyupdate.com

www.raptureforums.com

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

If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee” (Psalm 122:6).