The Word, The Invitation and the Blessing

The Coming Days Of Awe

Days of Awe Message, 2005

Since the Tsunami of December, 2004, this Earth has begun to experience some of the most graphic examples of natural disasters in greater intensity than any time in recent memory. These events are the birth pangs of the beginning of sorrows which are bringing us into the season of the Antichrist, the Great Tribulation and the ultimate Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Prior to the Tribulation the rapture of the church, which could take place at any moment, will take millions of believing Christians from this earth. America as a nation is in trouble. The CHURCH in America is in trouble. Instead of these events softening our hearts they have hardened us and made society and even many in the church even more cynical. Our only hope is to turn back to God. In Jewish tradition, there was a ten-day period between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur to determine whether a person would live or die known as the Days of Awe. The message of the days of awe is repentance! In this message of repentance, there contains God's WORD, invitation and blessing to all those who will heed and obey!!!!

By Chris McDonald

TEXT: Hebrews 10:26-27 - For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

Rev. 3:19-22 - As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. [20] Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. [21] To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. [22] He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

According to Jewish tradition, the 10-day period from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur (the two high holy days of Judaism) is known as the "Days of Awe." We just completed that time yesterday as of the time of this writing. Accordingly it is a common teaching of Judaism that during this 10-day period divine judgment is rendered to determine whether a person will continue to live or die in the coming year. It is believed that God reviews the books of judgment on Rosh Hashanah (Tishri 1) and metes out final judgment on Yom Kippur (Tishri 10). These 10 days are believed to be the last chance to repent before God's judgment is finalized for the coming year. Thus, the title given to them "the days of awe," since such an awesome choice rests with each member of the Jewish race.

According to this same teaching, three books are opened on Rosh Hashanah:

The Book of Life for the wicked,
The Book of Life for the righteous
The Book of Life for the in-between

As God the Father, the Judge of the Universe reviews mankind deeds for the past year, He inscribes the name of every individual in one of these three books. Judgment against the wicked is final and irrevocable; they will have life cut short in the coming year. Those recorded in the book of the righteous will be mercifully granted another year of life and prosperity by the Lord. For the remainder (those not written in either of these books), the sealing of their fate is deferred and hangs in the balance until Yom Kippur. If they sincerely repent during the DAYS OF AWE, tradition holds God will grant them life until the following Yom Kippur. Reflecting this tradition, the common greeting during the Days of Awe is "leshanah tovah tikatevu" which means "May be you inscribed (in the Book of Life) for a good year!"

This judgment-book tradition, although greatly embellished and as stated a tradition this writer doesn't totally agree with, finds its origin to some degree in the Bible. King David penned the words:

Psalm 69:28 - Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

Moses pleaded with the Lord the following:

Exodus 32:32-33 - Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin--; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. [33] And the Lord said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

Because the Days of Awe are such a solemn time of self-examination, joyful activities are usually forbidden. Weddings and other festive occasions are postponed until after Yom Kippur. The week before Rosh Hashanah is usually marked by the recitation of penitential prayers called Selihot (forgiveness). These heart-rending prayers for forgiveness are in preparation for the Days of Awe and customarily begin at midnight the Saturday night before Rosh Hashanah As part of this soul-searching a Rosh Hashanah ceremony known as Tashlikh ("cast off") is carried out that symbolizes self-purification and the shedding of one's sins. It arose during the Middle Ages and is still widely observed today. On the afternoon of the first day of Rosh Hashanah, observant Jews congregate near a body of water such as the ocean, a river, or even a well, to recite the Tashlikh prayer. In Israel, thousands of worshipers, with prayer book in hand and dressed in their holiday attire, can be seen on the beaches of the Mediterranean or in Jerusalem at the Pool of Siloam, reciting the Tashlikh prayer on Rosh Hashanah. The brief prayer is composed of several Hebrew Scriptures in the following order:

Micah 7:18-20 - Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoned iniquity, and passed by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retained not his anger for ever, because he delighted in mercy. [19] He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. [20] Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

Psalm 118:5-9 - I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. [6] The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me? [7] The Lord takes my part with them that help me: therefore shall I see my desire upon them that hate me. [8] It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. [9] It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes.

Psalm 33:1-9 - Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. [2] Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. [3] Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. [4] For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth. [5] He loved righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. [6] By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. [7] He gathered the waters of the sea together as an heap: he lays up the depth in storehouses. [8] Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. [9] For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

Psalm 130:1-8 A Song of degrees. Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. [2] Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. [3] If thou, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? [4] But there is forgiveness with thee, that you may be feared. [5] I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in His word do I hope. [6] My soul waits for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning. [7] Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption. [8] And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Isaiah 11:9 - They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

After the prayer, the worshipers will often shake their pockets or cast bread crumbs into the water. This action symbolically rids them of clinging sins so that their sin may be carried away and remembered no more. Let me say something here. Sin can never be taken away by shaking our pockets and casting bread crumbs in the water!!! The only remedy for sin is repentance through the blood of Christ and through the power of the Holy Ghost!!

Rosh Hashanah is often referred to as Yom Ha-Din (Judgment Day) by the rabbis since it began the Days of Awe, the traditional time of God's judgment. Consequently, repentance is foremost in the Jewish mind at this time. Beginning with the sabbath before the new moon of the sixth Hebrew month and continuing throughout the month, the shofar is blown every morning after the Shakharit (morning prayer service). It serves as a call to repentance and a solemn reminder that the most awesome holy days on the Jewish calendar are approaching.

According to further tradition in relation to these days of awe, Satan is also called into accountability before God. Both Christian and Jewish theology view Satan (Hebrew for "the Adversary) as the great enemy of God and His people. In the Bible, Satan is often seen in the role as an accuser of God's people:

Job 1:6-2:7 - Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them. [7] And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence come thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. [8] And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and eschewed evil? [9] Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for naught? [10] Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

Zech. 3:1 - And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.

Rev. 12:10 - And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Jewish tradition teaches that, on Rosh Hashanah, Satan appears before the Almighty to accuse Israel as the books of judgment are opened. The ancient rabbis, therefore, suggest the traditional purpose for the shofar on Rosh Hashanah is to confuse Satan leading him to believe that the Messiah has arrived and his authority had ended on earth and his place in heaven as man's accuser to God and God's accuser to man stops. Based upon this tradition, it is customary to sound a total of 100 shofar blasts on each day of the Rosh Hashanah synagogue services. This too is just tradition. Satan's time on earth is coming to an end - but not just yet. Messiah has not returned a Second time to set up His earthly Kingdom. His FIRST coming however, destroyed the powers of darkness and broke the chains of sin and bondage off all humanity - to those who would but put their faith in His Finished Work!

The Word-The Knowledge of the Truth

Hebrews 10:26-27 - For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, [27] But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

The message of the days of awe is repentance! In this message of repentance, there contains God's WORD, invitation and blessing to all those who will heed and obey!!!!

The Lord longs to show mercy to ALL people, not judgment! But many times His judgment IS His mercy! Many have not listened to His many attempts to reason with them and grown callous to His WORD. Men love darkness and those who love the darkness will ALWAYS hate the light. That is really the state of this nation right now as we draw closer to the rapture of the Church. Those who do not love TRUTH will be given over to a serious delusion. Soon the Lord will pour out HIS wrath so that SOME might awaken from their stupor, REPENT, and be saved. The Lord wills that ALL men be saved and come to the knowledge of the TRUTH. JESUS is the TRUTH. There is no other way to God except JESUS! And there is no other way to Jesus except through the CROSS and the denying of one's self by the power of repentance and the help of the Holy Spirit! Just believing in "JESUS" does not save. It's putting our faith in what HE DID FOR US AT THE CROSS! THAT IS THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH!

2 Tim 2:25-26- Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

1 Tim 2:3-6- This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men-- the testimony given in its proper time.

The TRUTH pertains to Salvation through Jesus Christ and what He did at the Cross. That is the message of the Bible - the CROSS of Christ.

Romans 6:3-6
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? [4] Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. [5] For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: [6] Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Romans 10:9-10
That if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shall be saved. [10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The worst terrorism ever experienced on our country took place just four years ago in two separate attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and about 45 minutes later at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. There was a dagger driven into our hearts as a nation. While these events did not tear us apart totally, it never brought us fully back to God either. His name was mentioned a few times, many grew very patriotic but very few truly repented and humbled themselves before the creator. For us to survive what is ahead for us both corporately and individually as a nation - we must REPENT. We must HEED the WORD OF GOD that tells us to cast off the works of darkness and HEAR the truth of the gospel and be saved!!!!!

Since December 2004, this has been an awful period of time for many Americans and those in SE Asia and other parts of the world. We have sat glued to our television sets watching image after image go before us of carnage, destruction and horror brought on by catastrophic hurricanes, earthquakes and the tsunami in December 2004. We have heard story after story of loved ones looking for a miracle underneath the rubble of destroyed homes and washed out cities. You'd just about have to be non-human not to have shed tears with each story and hear the despair in the voices of those directly affected by these tragedies. This reminds me a bit of the days right after 9-11 when I was working in New England and saw the fear and despair on the face of hundreds of people I came into contact with during my travels there. Lisa and I both were in New York Harbor on a boat near the Statue of Liberty the Thursday before the attacks. We took pictures that afternoon of the New York skyline not knowing that four days later the two towers that loomed in the picture on Thursday would be nothing more than ash heaps on Tuesday the 11th of September, 2001.

In addition, Lisa flew out of Boston's Logan International Airport on Monday September, 10, 2001, one day before the hijackers took two planes from the same airport and used them to murder thousands of innocent Americans. We had tried to find her a ticket for Tuesday so she could stay an extra day but every time we tried either the schedule wouldn't work out or the ticket price was too high. Now we know that God was looking out for us in the most powerful way. Our Heavenly Father was watching over us and we THANK HIM for that.

I had been working in the New England area this week talking to those who were either directly or indirectly affected by this tragedy. People were scared. People were angry. People were shocked how a group of 18 terrorists could enter a mighty nation like America and drive a dagger into her heart unlike any formidable national foe has done in the history of this country. Even the Japanese didn't cause the carnage at Pearl Harbor that these 18 men did on Tuesday. Millions all over the country are searching for answers to the one question I don't think we will ever really have an answer for - WHY? Why did God allow this and these other disasters to take place? W

One of the most riveting and most memorable images from 9-11 was that of President, George W. Bush, who, with tears in his eyes, vowed to find the perpetrators and bring them to justice for these cowardly acts. A wave of unprecedented patriotism swept across America. I know God loves this country. I know God even loves those men who did this. He takes no pleasure in the acts nor the death of the wicked. He wills that ALL MEN BE SAVED.

1 Tim. 2:3-6
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; [4] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. [5] For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; [6] Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time

With a deep love and compassion for America, I am deeply concerned about the future of our country - especially for those who don't know the Lord Jesus Christ. We have sinned against God. And no theologian, no preacher, no priest, no politician, no Senator, no Congressman, can change that fact. And SIN MUST BE DEALT WITH. Sin separates us from God. Sin separates us from the love our Heavenly Father so wants to show us through His Son, the Lord Jesus. There is no "positive" way to put this.

I remember driving through New York City four days after the attacks in 2001 when I heard of a vigil of 200 people who were gathered to honor the dead. A man stood up in the middle of them and started preaching about Jesus and our need for more than protection in our search for redemption. The radio reporter reported the man was not rude but was just asking those gathered if they were ready to go into eternity should such an attack repeat itself and those gathered were killed. The crowd got very agitated at him and told him that they didn't want to hear such a "negative" message right now. They went back to their vigil asking God for His protection without any recognition that America has done anything wrong. Friend, that just isn't so. We have sinned and we have sinned grievously. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita brought catastrophic destruction to America in August and early September people grew callous to the Word of God instead of us humbling ourselves as a nation and asking God to grant mercy.

It's not popular to hear nor will some of you reading this agree BUT THE PRICE FOR OUR SIN IN AMERICA HAS GOT TO BE PAID - EITHER NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. And repentance does not need to start on the corner of the French district -it needs to start in the halls of our CHURCHES!!!!! We need to love America and support our President. We still need to fly the American flag with pride - but we also need to understand that America is not great because America is good. America is great because of GOD. America is great because of GOD. America is great because of GOD! America is great because God shed His grace on the United States of America. America the beautiful is only America the beautiful because of our LORD JESUS CHRIST who 2000 years ago shed His precious blood on Calvary's bloody cross and purchased a freedom more powerful than any bomb or bullet can protect or keep. Glory to Almighty God. America gives us liberty but JESUS CHRIST gives us the love that sets us free from sin. Praise God.

We are to HEED THE WORD OF THE LORD!!!!!!!!! There is a "WOE" to those who do not fear the Lord. Many sing of Him and use His name and the name of God's beloved Son, Jesus, but their hearts are FAR from the Lord! Many in the church world today steps on one another and exploit each other for their own gain. Many lie and deceitfully flatter one another, and withhold wages that are owed their workers. Many live in luxury with NO regard for the poor and weak. There is a deadly mixture of the Holy with the profane. And the sad thing is much of this is done in the name of Christ. There is a false humility that looks like humility to the casual observer and undiscerning but to those who have been to the CROSS and had their lives end and the power of Christ begin - KNOW the difference! True humility NEVER promotes FLESH! True humility NEVER puts our own needs before others! We are ALWAYS living to do ALL things for the gospel sake!

If we continue in our ways, the Lord will come in day when we do not expect Him! He is coming in an HOUR we are not aware of and He will assign us a place with the unbelievers! The wheat and the chaff is about to be separated. The WORD OF GOD is the instrument that does just that in our lives! The BIBLE is the source of TRUTH that points us to THE TRUTH - the LORD JESUS CHRIST. It's not a book to fight about or use as a weapon to destroy the lives of people. It's used to have an intimate encounter with JESUS and have His words live and breath into our hearts and soul.

A few weeks back I read a prophetic word about some of the events taking place even as I write this in mid-October, 2005:

"The tremors have already begun of what is ahead. They can been seen and felt by those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. Seven will be the beginning of the end, and eight will be a new beginning. The Lord will pour out His wrath on those great deceiving Serpents. Soon He will crush their heads. And He will pry the hand of the Pipe loose from its control. Their end is near! Fear not! The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. There is NOTHING to fear - unless you have reason to. There will be terrible destruction for those who are yet under the control of the Serpents when there things happen. Many will suffer greatly at this time. As the wounded Serpent flails in agony, everyone and everything in its path will be in terrible danger."

This spoke of those outside the realm of salvation and who do not believe in the Word of God unto Salvation! What about the child of God one may ask? The prophetic word continued:

"The Lord God has prepared His holy army for this time. He will be their refuge and shield, their strength and their song. They are the last-day warriors, equipped with the full armor and the blood of the Lamb. They will be found hidden in CHRIST and will not love their lives so much as to shrink back from death. For he who want to save his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for the Lord's sake will find it.

Those in this army will be freedom fighters. They will carry the POWER OF THE CROSS - the GOSPEL of the Lord Jesus Christ - to a dying world. When the Lord gives the command, they will rise up and move out from many hidden places as a vast and powerful army. They will be sent to slit the bellies of the spiritual Great Snakes that have bound many, but will be destroyed by the power of the Cross. These fighters will set the captives free in JESUS' name and by the power of His Spirit. They will be vessels of healing, mercy and love. These will be servants with a standard of TRUTH and will not compromise His Holy Word."

The Knowledge of the truth is the Bible way of Salvation and Victory, which is "Jesus Christ," and Him Crucified!

1 Cor. 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Paul said that if we reject this knowledge, there IS no more sacrifice for sins!!!! If the CROSS is rejected, there is NO OTHER SACRIFICE that God will accept and man will be eternally lost! We have victory over every enemy of the Lord's cross if we continue in HIM! He that endures to the end shall be saved! All who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved! Many have lost their way with God, but the Lord has not lost sight of them! I may be speaking to you sir, or you ma'am, reading this journal. The Holy Spirit is reaching out one more time to your heart today to bring the love of God and show you His compassion! He IS loving and king and has compassion on all He has made! The Lord has let many go their own way, but just as JONAH humbled himself and repented in the belly of a fish, or as the prodigal son repented in the swine pen, so WILL MANY repent in these last days - even though many will not.

Many are ready to turn from their selfish ways and come home. I pray you are one of those today! Neighbor, it's getting late and each time you or I push aside the Holy Spirit our souls creep further into eternal oblivion and jeopardy. It's a FEARFUL thing to fall into the hands of a living GOD. His love is great and powerful. He rejoices when we respond to His loving call. He chastens us to draw us to HIM! That is His judgment and mercy! MERCY rejoices over judgment!!! He'd rather SHOW MERCY!

Rev. 3:19-22 - As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Yet as great and deep as the Father's love is, there is also the side of Him that grows very angry at those who constantly rebel and refuse His call to life. They are considered His adversaries. Despite everything that God does to bring man to repentance, some will continue in their wicked ways without repentance and will suffer disaster; still others will escape, but only as one who escapes through fire. These will have nothing to show of eternal value for their lives, because their works have been carnal. Only, "the SPIRIT gives life, the FLESH profits NOTHING"

John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The Invitation of Repentance

Isaiah 1:13-17
Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting. [14] Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them. [15] And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. [16] Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; [17] Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. [19] If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: [20] But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Rev. 3:20-21 -Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. [21] To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

The Lord LONGS to show mercy friend to ALL people, including our nation, and NOT judgment! As I stated earlier though His judgment at times IS His mercy. Many who feel comfortable and safe are not. If we think we stand secure, we need to take HEED, lest we fall. Pride and deception enters our heart so easily as believers many times that clouds our focus and judgment in Christ. The invitation of repentance is a call for us to come to the CROSS and allow the HOLY SPIRIT to reveal the hidden areas of darkness so we may walk in the fear of the Lord. The FEAR of the Lord is the BEGINNING of wisdom. It's an invitation to see JESUS as He really is, the Son of God, who has given the CHURCH the SPIRIT OF HOLINESS through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Everything that can be shaken is about to be shaken. The Earth already is being shaken in the physical, natural realm! What you are seeing in the natural friend is but a tremor compared to what is about to take place with us in the spiritual. God is about to loose His church from the stench of idolatry and self-righteousness. If He has to move in a way that is unpleasant for us - HE WILL DO IT because of His DEEP LOVE FOR US!!!!!!! David said that when God moves in judgment, men look to heaven and brings PRAISE to Him! That is something that is sorely missing in our nation right now. There is NO conscience of God in any aspect of that in our churches today. There is such a smugness and self-assurance that we don't hear the invitation of the Lord any longer. If we do hear it, we don't think that invitation is for us but for the "sinners" outside the church walls. Neighbor the "SINNERS" are INSIDE the church wall. Those "sinners" are me and you, who have been washed in the blood of the LAMB! That is the only thing standing between us and the sinner world - THE BLOOD!

Ps 76:8-10 - From heaven you pronounced judgment, and the land feared and was quiet--when you, O God, rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land. Selah; Surely your wrath against men brings you praise, and the survivors of your wrath are restrained. (NIV)

Wow, what a powerful Psalm written by David, the sweet singer of Israel. David knew first hand the results of war with Israel's enemies as Her king. There were many occasions when God blessed David's efforts to destroy heathen nations around Israel so His chosen could rest in peace and not be threatened by outside enemies. But throughout Israel's history, she often backslid on God and during those times of backsliding, Israel faced defeat many times at the hands of some of those same enemies God had given Her grace to defeat in earlier battles. Israel has always had enemies around Her who have always sought her destruction. Was the same God who sent Her to destroy her enemies the same God who was allowing her enemies to destroy her? YES.

You see, God loves all humanity. EVERYTHING HE DOES IS ROOTED IN HIS LOVE. He just doesn't have love, HE IS LOVE! There is no dark side to God. Every GOOD gift and PERFECT gift comes from above. In HIM there is NO DARKNESS. When He judges a nation or an individual it is always rooted in His love for them to remove anything that would hinder that love being returned to Him. He's not a tyrant in heaven who sits back and enjoys seeing thousands and thousands of innocent lives lost in calamites, war or natural disasters. Everyone who died in these recent events that shook our nation and the world were loved by God. But many who died in these events did not love God. Many were lost and went out into eternity without Salvation which deeply wounds me more than even seeing the images of collateral damage suffered in these disasters. Many who woke up the mornings of these events never dreamed that that day would be their last day on Planet Earth. Eternity beckoned without notice and that is why the invitation to repentance must be heeded and heeded NOW! TODAY is the day of salvation! Today is the day to hearken to the voice of the Holy Ghost. TODAY is the day we HEAR what the SPIRIT is saying to our hearts and lives.

We have built idols throughout our homes and churches that has blinded us to our need for God and offended Him. We have blocked His love to us by our choices to love money, wealth, power, greed, lust, pornography, our own lives, more than Him. Abortion is the ultimate act of selfishness. It's a decision a woman makes to take the life of an unborn baby so she will not be inconvenienced by its existence. Many argue that if the baby is deformed or the mother's life is in jeopardy we still need to abort the baby. Friend, that is selfishness. It's rooted in the same thought, "what about ME?" That baby inside a woman's womb is a LIFE, not a choice! Do you think God is any more hurt over the thousands of lives lost over the past few months than He has been over the countless slaughter of the innocent MILLIONS of unborn babies in this country alone since 1973? You can't separate the two. These babies had lives just like every single one of us reading this message has a life. God loved every unborn fetus. Their blood just in full will one day be required at the hands of this nation friend. Mark my word. America will NOT escape the reaping of our cold hearted killing of innocent babies without blinking. The tally may be just beginning. David wrote, "Lord, You rose up to judge, to save all the afflicted of the land." These babies do not have a defender. They are murdered by choice in a selfish act. We need to repent!

Your Wrath Against Men Brings You Praise

What a strange statement coming from a loving God. His wrath brings Him praise. For a few moments following 9-11-2001, America was scared and quiet right now - just as the Psalm indicates the land becomes when God judges a nation.

It's hard to know how many came into the Kingdom of God as a result of what happened to us four years ago as a nation. Families who lost loved ones in those towers probably took at their lives and realized that life was more than Wall Street or the stock market. Life is a choice that we all make to either love God with all our heart or soul or love wealth, money and the things which profit us nothing.

MONEY cannot save you friend when eternity calls. You have a choice to answer the invitation of repentance, but ALL of us will answer the invitation of ETERNITY one day!!!!!!!!!!!!! My mom died in May of this past year a poor woman with nothing of this earth's goods as compared to most today. But even if she had had a million dollars stuck away in a bank - IT WOULD NOT HAVE STOPPED ETERNITY's CALL for her soul!!! The invitation comes to ALL - both poor and rich!

On 9-11-2001, all of America's intelligence, power and might did not keep safe nor save 3,000 souls during a 45-minute reign of terror. Life ended that quick!

It's a time we look UPWARD and recognize there is a God in heaven who, though His love and compassion is deep for our nation, has been offended at our idolatry and push to remove Him from our lives! His patience is long and He is longsuffering. He loves all of humanity not willing that any should suffer loss or die without Christ. Satan is the agent of destruction nothing Satan does on earth is done without God allowing him to do it.

Ps 85:9-13 - Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps. Ps 89:14 - Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.

Prov. 14:34 - Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.

David wrote that "righteousness" looks down from heaven. Righteousness and "peace" always kiss each other. The implication is simple, the lesson eternal. When a nation practices righteousness it usually remains a peaceful nation. Love and faithfulness - all good virtues that America stands for are being tested right now. At greater issue is not whether we can find Osama Bin Laden or win in Iraq or right the wrongs of our economy, it's whether we can recover the LOVE for God and the faithfulness TO GOD that we had when this country was founded over 230 years ago. Those virtues have been lost in our government, our institutions, our schools, our business world and in our daily lives. The church of the living God must show the world the love of Christ if the world is to understand this concept. As the church goes, so goes the nation!

Daniel 9:13 - As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.

Evil has come to America in unprecedented form. The evil that has come upon us will conquer us if we allow to divide us instead of it bringing America to her knees to God to repent and then in turn understand the truth of God. There seems to be a deep sensitivity right now in this country as not to offend our Arab brothers who believe Mohammed is the way to God. Again, not to sound like a broken record, but friend, Mohammed is NOT the way to God - Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. With all the recent tragedy, many citizens of our nation look like people who have been stunned. Yet with all what has taken place, the nation still has not humbled itself. If anything we have grown more arrogant and proud to levels we were prior to 9-11-2001. Yes, many were shocked four years ago at what we saw. Many have been shocked at the carnage and destruction brought on by the past two hurricane seasons. Yes, we have shed tears and grown numb at the growing death tolls in Iraq and Afghanistan. America is in trouble friend. We're bleeding slowly to a death that will not be pretty. Yes, we shed tears for those who have lost their lives and for their families. Yes, the tears we shed are genuinely felt as we have compassion as all American's should. But all our tears will do us no good unless they cause us to seek GOD!

More trouble is coming. The religious fiber of the region we're involved in right now militarily is held together by one of the most demonically inspired religions in the world called Islam. It doesn't matter whether these terrorists were a fringe element of this religion or not. The religion itself is still from hell. MILLIONS are deceived into its teaching and need to have salvation come to them in the LIGHT and the GLORY of the FACE of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are stories we hear everyday of Jesus physically appearing to many Muslims all over the world. That is going to increase even more the closer we get to the rapture.

America I don't believe understands fully YET what we are up against. I wish I could say the church in America will be a source of light and encouragement and truth during this time but most preachers have so drifted away from the CROSS and the foundational message of the gospel, most of what we hear behind Western pulpits can be likened to the blind leading the blind and both falling into a ditch. WE NEED REVIVAL! We need to turn from SIN. Listen, God loves the homosexual but HE DEPLORES and DETESTS the act of sodomy and homosexuality. Lesbianism and all other perverted forms of sex have crept into American society over the past 20 years and we have made it so commonplace that same-sex partners getting married don't even make us blush anymore. Jeremiah addressed this feeling when in deep weeping he was crying out to Israel to repent and turn back to God before destruction:

Jeremiah 8:8-18 - How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. [9] The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them? [10] Therefore will I give their wives unto others, and their fields to them that shall inherit them: for every one from the least even unto the greatest is given to covetousness, from the prophet even unto the priest every one deals falsely. [11] For they have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. [12] Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation they shall be cast down, saith the Lord.

Has America been ashamed of her sin? No. We have made fun of it. Has America even blushed at the perversion she so gladly accepts? No. We applaud it and make movies of it. No one sin is greater than another but God's DIRECT intervention came upon Sodom and Gomorrah because of these acts. And as the late Leonard Ravenhill once wrote in a now famous book, Sodom had no Bible! "Sodom had no churches. Sodom had no Christian television. Sodom didn't have the luxuries and wealth we enjoy today." It's not that we have done what we have done in ignorance. We've done it in spite of GREAT LIGHT that has been given to this country warning it of the repercussions if we persisted down this path. We have basically ignored and blasphemed God not caring about those things - AT LEAST NOT UNTIL NOW. And friend, when you sin against light, the judgment you receive is measured out proportionately in measure to the amount of light you have received.

So if the events since 9-11, and especially the last 12 months, are a beginning of a greater judgment coming to this country which I believe they are, then we need to understand that our judgment here in America will be worse than any other country on earth because of the LIGHT we have received by God. The very thing that was to be a blessing to us - affluence, wealth, prestige and power - will be turned into a curse.

We have been BLESSED beyond measure financially. We have been protected for 230 years from foreign enemies. No attack has EVER occurred on our own soil outside Pearl Harbor in 1941 and that was done in the Hawaiian islands. Those attacks in 1941 never affected the 48 contiguous states where 99% of the American citizenship lives. That all changed four years ago. America's time of protection ran out and 3,000 lives paid the ultimate price for it. When we reject light, the only alternative is darkness. There is no in-between. And yes there is great cause to be concerned about the natural disasters striking the coastlines as well. But the greater question in my own heart is this - what is next? NOTHING that has come to the nation in the recent months has done ANYTHING to change the hearts of people. WHAT WILL IT TAKE?????? That is to me the most sobering question. It is the invitation of the Lord.

"COME" Let Us Reason Together......

His invitation to the nation is simple- Come, let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as wool; though they be RED like crimson, they shall be white as snow!" He is not wanting to destroy us - He's wanting to SAVE US! He's wanting to send healing rain to a parched land that so needs a move from heaven to not only avert judgment, but to see a harvest of souls unlike we've ever seen in the past.

Jeremiah asks, "how do we say, we are wise and the law of the Lord is with us?" while we hold onto our sin without confessing it and repenting? As a result, all the pens of the scribes are in vain. In other words, no matter how much we utter with our mouth, without repentance and actions to remove idols from our land that hinder our love for God - all of that is in VAIN and God is not listening to it.

He Has Put Us To Silence

Jeremiah 8:13-16 - I will surely consume them, saith the Lord: there shall be no grapes on the vine, nor figs on the fig tree, and the leaf shall fade; and the things that I have given them shall pass away from them [14] Why do we sit still? assemble yourselves, and let us enter into the defenced cities, and let us be silent there: for the Lord our God hath put us to silence, and given us water of gall to drink, because we have sinned against the Lord. [15] We looked for peace, but no good came; and for a time of health, and behold trouble! 16 The snorting of his horses was heard from Dan: the whole land trembled at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they are come, and have devoured the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those that dwell therein. [17] For, behold, I will send serpents, cockatrices, among you, which will not be charmed, and they shall bite you, saith the Lord.

Powerful words from a powerful God. I can't say these things have made men silent. If anything the blasphemy has gotten greater in many ways. The tenor and tone of the news media has actually gotten worse against Christians and everything Godly. The current fight over the United States Supreme Court is over abortion!! The two judges President Bush is nominating have a shot of overturning Roe V. Wade. But everything the media portrays about them shows a negative slant on their fundamental Christian beliefs.

During the Great Tribulation, when judgment is poured out on humanity, men will refuse to repent, harden their hearts, and continue to blaspheme God. I'm afraid we're seeing the beginning of that spirit today. No matter what hits this nation, we harden our hearts and stubbornly refuse to acknowledge God.

Rev. 16:9-11
And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented not to give him glory. [10] And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, [11] And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.

Rev. 9:18-21 - By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths. [19] For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. [20] And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: [21] Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

We must LOVE the LORD with ALL our heart, all our soul, and ALL our mind! We must WORSHIP the LORD God and SERVE Him only! The one who is humble and contrite in spirit, and TREMBLE at His word! We must be broken before Him. Everyone who falls on the Rock will be broken, but the one on whom the Rock falls will be crushed. The one who is willing to be broken from their own will and ways, is the one who is free to fall fully in love with Jesus - the Rock of Salvation. This is the great invitation of repentance during the days of awe - FALL ON THE ROCK and be broken! Come to the cross and be saved and humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God.

The Blessings Of Repentance

He has blessed us with bountiful blessings, the choicest of all the good things of heaven He has given without measure to this country. He established us to be a beacon of freedom, light and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He didn't establish us to be the world's leader in capitalism. He established us to be Israel's protector and Her ally - He didn't establish us for us to shake hands with the her mortal enemy and force her into treaties and pacts that destroy her freedom and protection. Jeremiah cried, "we looked for peace and no good came, we looked for a time of health and behold TROUBLE!" Friend, trouble is coming and it's coming to our cities. We can no longer say America is safe because we are not safe outside God's protection. But we must confess as Jeremiah did for the nation, "we have sinned against the Lord."

Ps 94:14-15 - For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance; Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it. (NIV)

2 Chr 20:9-13 - 'If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.' 10 "But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance. 12 O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." 13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD. (NIV)

Repentance Is An Act Of Love

Repentance is an act of forsaking sin and choosing the love of the Lord Jesus instead. It's a choice between sin and the flesh for the righteousness of Christ which sets us free. Repentance is not a choice between sin and our own righteousness. Self-righteousness only blinds us to our true need of Jesus. His righteousness gives us light and liberty. Jesus never condemns the world for these choices - if we refuse to repent and continue in that sin - we will die lost and in the end - HIS WORD will be what judges us at the last day. And friend, the WORD OF GOD is something even GOD HIMSELF cannot change. Once something is decreed over us, unless we repent and God repents of the evil He has wished upon a nation - that nation is doomed!

This is a subject for another journal but Nineveh's plight is a great example of what happens when God decrees His judgment and repents. He sent Jonah to warn Nineveh that judgment was coming if they did not repent. When the people heard Jonah's word they believed God, declared fast and ALL OF THEM, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. Even the king took off his royal robes and sat down in the dust. When God saw the national repentance He was moved with compassion, LIKE OUR LOVING FATHER ALWAYS IS, and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.

Jonah 1:2 - "Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me."

Jonah 3:5-10 - The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust. Then he issued a proclamation in Nineveh: "By the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish." When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened. (NIV)

That is America's hope as well. I firmly believe judgment has been decreed BUT we can avert further judgment if we will repent as Nineveh did and humble ourselves. Notice though it was not just a few who did this in that nation. EVEN THE KING humbled himself and repented before God. I believe we have a Godly man in the White House and our prayer is that the Lord guide him and anoint him with leadership to carry us through the days ahead till he leaves office in 2008.

I know President Bush has made plenty of mistakes. His policies in Iraq make it clear we did not have a clear concise exit strategy and our refusal to admit what we're up against is just leading to more bloodshed. The conflict there is draining us as a nation by the BILLIONS each day. That cannot keep happening without serious economic consequences to our security and foundation. As much as I love and respect our President, he is still just a man. It will take everyone - from HIM down to the lowest person in our country - to REPENT. If we do, the Lord is gracious and merciful. He will be QUICK to show mercy and become America's defender again. But it takes REPENTANCE. It takes us turning around. It takes us forsaking sin and clinging to God. It takes redemption. It takes us heading HIS WORD, answering HIS INVITATION, and embracing HIS BLESSING that always comes when a nation or individual truly repents.

The Call To Repentance Has Become Individual, Not Corporate

Rev. 3:20-21 - Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. [21] To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

In the very last message to the seven churches, Jesus issues a call to come in and "sup" with us. That call is not a call to a nation, a country, a state, a city or even a church. It's a call to a MAN. It's an individual call. IF ANY MAN hear my voice, and open the door, He says, I will come in to him. Friend, who knows whether or not God will grant mercy to this nation on a large scale or if His call now will become more and more pronounced to INDIVIDUALS who will hear His call and flee from the wrath that is coming. I believe as we get closer to the rapture of the church that will be even more the case. The call of the gospel has always been to individuals. If the nation as a whole doesn't repent, then we as individual citizens can.

Individual repentance is where revival starts. Daniel confessed "his own sin," first, THEN he confessed the sins of the nation. That's powerful! It's getting late neighbor. Time is running short. Don't be lulled into sleep by a generation that is living for today only, not caring there is an eternity after this life is over. Jesus said a man's life does not consist in the number of THINGS he possesses but it's how rich that man is towards GOD that counts eternally. And the word that the Lord Jesus will use more and more and more before He comes is "REPENT."

Luke 13:3 - I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Our Only Hope For The Future

Ps 85:6-13 - Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation. I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints-- but let them not return to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other. Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven. The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest. Righteousness goes before him and prepares the way for his steps. (NIV)

The prayer of David is our prayer today. Lord, "please revive us again." America needs revival. But before America sees revival corporately, it must begin INDIVIDUALLY in everyone of us reading this journal. The Psalm says "he promises peace to his people, his saints-but let them not return to folly." The salvation of the Lord is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. When the glory dwells in the land, the land will yield its "harvest." What is that harvest? It's millions of souls who will come into the kingdom as a result of the Lord's Spirit moving across the land. This gospel shall be preached! This is America's only hope for the future. It's not one of two or three possible things to hope for - it's our ONLY hope! There are no alternative plans available to us. It's imperative we turn to God and turn NOW.

        America's days of awe are upon us. Who can say if this will America's last chance to repent before total judgment falls. Who can say that God was just getting our attention to bring judgment, but then glory and honor back to our land. Who can say that the terrible incidents of last Tuesday are but a foreshadowing of something coming on a global scale? Who will be able to stand the wrath of the Lamb when it's released in its total fury? These are the questions we need to ponder and ponder NOW during the days of awe.

        As I close I feel the word of the Lord to Joel is the word He is saying to us here in America right now:

Joel 2:12-14 - 'Even now,' declares the LORD, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.
13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. 14 Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing-- grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God. (NIV)

        As Joel says, "who knows?" Maybe the Lord will turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing. I believe with all my heart that will be left up to how we respond to the recent tragedies we have experienced in America. We can either seek God and return to Him with all our hearts or we can face whatever wicked scheme the enemy has in mind for us next. The Lord wants to be full of grace, compassion and slow to anger, abounding in love - RELENTING from sending calamity. But if we continue to sin against light in America, darkness will be our lot and friend, HOW GREAT WILL THAT DARKNESS BE!

The Days Of Awe were a 10-day period to give individuals a chance to repent. And THESE ARE THE DAYS OF AWE for America. We repent or we die. Not a real complicated message here but one I believe is coming from the Lord. Pray for our country. Be a good citizen and support our President. Continue this unified spirit we have. But more and most importantly - let's offer our confession to God and see His glory be our protection and reward as we face uncertain and more than likely turbulent days ahead.

Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus I come to you Lord interceding for America. Forgive us of our national sin and for the shedding of innocent blood in the numerous abortion clinics across the land. Lord, we know this country has a remnant of Your people here who still love You with all their heart, soul and mind. For their sake, protect America from her enemies and give us grace during this hour. But as You give us that grace make us very aware of our responsibility before you as a nation to once again become a nation that is worthy to say, "In God we Trust." Let it no longer just be a meaningless slogan on a bumper sticker, but something that each and every American truly does. Lord, save the lost who don't know You tonight. Save those out in sin. Send the Holy Spirit to them to convict and to convince them of judgment, sin and of righteousness. Let us as the Body of Christ see the harvest as You see it - with compassion, mercy and grace. Thank You Lord for touching the hearts of the hurting and wounded here in America. Heal those who have lost loved ones in this awful tragedy. Touch those who have been injured. Help the firefighters and rescue people who are working tirelessly to find as many survivors as they can. Give them extra grace for this task. Help our President and his Cabinet make the right decisions for America that we may once again be a nation with a Biblical heritage and honor that shines the light of the gospel to other countries who are sinking in the darkness of the Islamic stronghold spread by Satan. Protect us by Your might and hand. Give us wisdom as we repent. Show us our national sin so clearly Lord that there will no room to question what our responsibility is before You. Restore our foundations of righteousness that once girded us in our days of inception. Bring back a Godly fear among our citizens. Thank You once again and we love you LORD JESUS. Thank You for allowing us all to live in the greatest country on earth - the United States of America. And help us serve the Lord Jesus - who died for us and gave us TRUE liberty from the bondage of our sins - in Spirit, TRUTH and in faithfulness. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen!

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