God Does Not Tempt

James 1:2-15 International Version

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Commentary:
God is holy and has no inclination toward evil.  He is not the author of sin, nor is He responsible for sin's entrance into the human race.  God is permitting evil to run its course until His plan of redemption reaches its culmination.  God cannot be tempted, nor does He tempt anyone.  Though He allows us to tempted.  God has placed limits on Satan's activities and the extent of his power to tempt us.  God is always in control.  Though it might seem so, evil does not reign unbridled on the earth,  In the true story of Job, Satan reports in to God and discusses Job in order to obtain permission to tempt him (Job 1:6-12) God permitted Satan to subject Job to a severe though limited, temptation.  God sustained Job through the trial, and gave him far more than Job had lost.

NO EXCUSE SUNDAY

To make it possible for everyone to attend church next Sunday, we are going to have a special “No Excuse Sunday.”  cots will be placed in the foyer for those who say, “Sunday is my only day for sleeping.”  There will be a special section with lounge chairs for those who feel that our pews are too hard.  Eye drops will be available for those with tired eyes from watching TV late Saturday night.  We will have steel helmets for those who say, “The roof would cave in if  I ever came to church.”  “Blankets will be furnished for those who think the church is too cold and fans for those who say it is too hot.  Scorecards will be available for those who wish to list the hypocrites present.  Relatives and friends will be in attendance for those who can’t go to church and cook dinner, too.  We will distribute “Stamp Out Stewardship” buttons for those who feel that the church is always asking for money.  One section will be devoted to trees and grass for those who like to seek God in nature.  Doctors and nurses will be in attendance for those who plan to be sick on Sunday.   The sanctuary will be decorated with both Christmas poinsettias and Easter lilies for those who never have seen church without them.  We will provide hearing aids for those who can’t hear the preacher. 

Prayer For The Oppressed (Black Lives Matter) To Jesus

A Prayer for Protection Psalms 64 
(International Standard Version) 
64 Hear, God, as I express my concern; protect me[a] from fear of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the mob of those who practice evil, 3 who sharpen their tongues like swords, and aim their bitter words like arrows, 4 shooting at the innocent from concealment. Suddenly they shoot, fearing nothing. 5 They concoct an evil scheme for themselves; they enumerate their hidden snares; they say, “Who will see them?”[b] 6 They devise wicked schemes, saying, “We have completed our plans, hiding them deep in our hearts.” 7 But God shot an arrow at them, and they were wounded immediately. 8 They tripped over their own tongues, and everyone who was watching ran away. 9 Everyone was gripped with fear and acknowledged God’s deeds, understanding what he had done. 10 The righteous rejoiced in the Lord, because they had fled to him for refuge. Let all the upright in heart exult. 

 Proverbs 14:31-32 
 International Standard Version 
 31 Whoever oppresses the poor defies their Creator, but whoever is kind to the needy honors them. 32 The wicked person is thrown down by his own wrongdoing, but the righteous person has a place of safety in death. 

 Proverbs 22:16 International Standard Version 16 Whoever oppresses the poor to enrich himself and whoever gives gifts to the wealthy will yield only loss.

Dear Lord And Savior Jesus Christ...

Dear Lord:

I want to thank you for what you have already done.  I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards, I am thanking you right now.  I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better.  I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me, I am thanking you right now.  I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears.  I am thanking you right now.  I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves, I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet.  I am going to thank you right now.  I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job.  I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief.  I am going to thank you right now.  I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed.  I am thanking you right now.

I am thanking you because I am alive.  I am thanking you because I made it through the day’s difficulties.  I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.  I am thanking you because I have the ability and opportunity to do more and do better.  I am thanking you because you have not given up on me.

Thank you, Lord

Five Finger Prayer

FIVE FINGER PRAYER

1.  Your thumb is nearest to you.  So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you.  They are the easiest to remember.  To pray for our loved ones is, as C.S. Lewis once said, a “sweet duty.”

2.  The next finger is the pointing finger.  Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal.  This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers.  They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction.  Keep them in your prayers.  

3.  The next finger is the tallest finger.  It reminds us of our leaders.  Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators.  These people shape our nation and guide public opinion.  They need God’s guidance.

4.  The fourth finger is our ring finger.  Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest ring; as any piano teacher will testify.  It should remind us to pray for those who are weak in trouble or in pain.  They need your prayers day and night.  You cannot pray too much for them.

5.  And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all.  Which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others.  As the Bible says, “The least shall be the greatest among you.”  Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself.

By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.  Should you find it hard to get to sleep tonight, just remember the homeless family who has no bed to lie in.

America Is A Modern Day Babylon

Revelation 17:1-2 Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast 
17 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries.”

Revelation 17:3
3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.

Revelation 18:1-3
Lament Over Fallen Babylon
18 After this I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illuminated by his splendor. 2 With a mighty voice he shouted:

“‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great!’[a]
    She has become a dwelling for demons
and a haunt for every impure spirit,
    a haunt for every unclean bird,
    a haunt for every unclean and detestable animal.
3 For all the nations have drunk
    the maddening wine of her adulteries.
The kings of the earth committed adultery with her,
    and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries.”

Is the USA the “Babylon” of Revelation 18, marked for destruction?
Revelation 18 talks of a country the Bible calls “Babylon” that is destroyed by fire in “one hour” and plagued with “death, mourning and famine”. Revelation 18:8
Could this “Babylon” be the USA? Does it fit?
Revelation 18 describes the following about the Babylon mentioned:
1. It is a literal place, with lots of wealth and products to sell. Rev. 18:12-13
2. It is a wealthy country that even sells its money (gold & silver). Rev. 18:11-12
3. It is a country that deceives all other countries. Rev. 18:23
4. It spreads its sexual immorality to other countries. Rev. 18:3
5. It lives in luxury. Rev. 18:7
6. It helps others get rich. Rev. 18:19, Rev. 18:3
7. It is ‘married’ to another country. Rev. 18:7
8. It is suddenly and utterly destroyed by fire. Rev. 18:8, Rev. 18:9-10, Rev. 18:17-18
9. It is responsible for many deaths. Rev. 18:24
Does the USA fit? Let’s go down the list one at a time.
It is a literal place with lots of wealth and products to sell. Rev. 18:12-13
Unlike the desert city of Babylon, Iraq, (map) which hasn’t sold much of anything, the USA has been a major producer. Until recently, its products were sold all over the world.
It is a wealthy country that even sells its money. Rev. 18:11-12, Rev. 18:3
The USA’s paper “Dollar” has been the world’s currency since the end of World War 2. Global trade is mostly done in “dollars”. Until recently, countries have bought lots of “dollars”. China owns about a trillion of them. LINK (That is changing. Satan’s new gold backed currency is fast approaching.)
It is a country that deceives all other countries. Rev. 18:23
Most in the USA think of ourselves as the ‘good guys’. After all, the USA is for “Liberty and Justice for all!”, right?
Maybe not. Let’s review USA history:
1. The early American Indians received little “liberty and justice”. LINK
2. African Americans received and still are receiving the WORST and LEAST liberty and justice. LINK
3.  In the early 1900’s Germany was becoming a world power to rival Great Britain and the USA. Two “great” wars beat them back down. LINK
4. The Korean War was all about global (United Nations) dominance. LINK
5. So was the Vietnam disaster. LINK
6. Iraq, Afghanistan, perhaps soon Pakistan and all of these Middle East “uprisings” are about money and control by the global banking elite. LINK

It spreads its sexual immorality to other countries. Rev. 18:3
Rather obvious. One word: “Hollywood”.

It lives in luxury. Rev. 18:7

The USA has been a very wealthy country indeed!

It is now experiencing increasing poverty as criminal bankers foreclose on the planet. For a heartbreaking example here is a link to a 60 Minutes piece about banker foreclosure fraud. LINK

It helps others get rich. Rev. 18:19, Rev. 18:3

Examples of this abound. One of the most obvious is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. King Abdullah’s oil fields were not developed by the Bedouin, but by Rockefeller’s Exxon Mobile and Rothschild’s Royal Dutch Shell.

It is a country that is tied to another country. Rev. 18:7

The USA is tied to England. 1776 was a family squabble. Just follow the money:

1. The world’s “dollar” monetary system is controlled by the New York Federal Reserve Bank. LINK

2. The Federal Reserve is privately owned by global bankers with names like Rothschild, and others. LINK

3. Rothschild also controls the Bank of England. LINK (Bank of International Settlements, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, etc.)

Ergo, the USA is, economically speaking, England’s “Queen”; and not a “widow”. Rev. 18:7

It is suddenly and utterly destroyed by fire. Rev. 18:8, Rev. 18:9-10, Rev. 18:17-18

Obviously this has not happened yet. How could it?

One possible answer: Yellowstone. It is one of the world’s greatest calderas; a cauldron into the belly of the earth that is capable of producing a monster volcano. LINK

It could cause the whole of North America to be covered by a devastating cloud of ash.

It’s been discovered that earthquakes, 2000 miles away, off the North West coast, are linked to geyser increases in Yellowstone! LINK

It is a country responsible for many deaths. Rev. 18:24

This subject is horrible to contemplate. Examples: Hiroshima LINK, Agent Orange LINK. War’s cost in misery and death is incalculable.

True statement: Wars are deliberately planned by Satan and his global rulers for profit and control, always leading us closer to his coming world government.

Example A) Here is the real reason why The USA is currently leading the charge in the Middle East. LINK

Example B) The USA government finally admitted the Vietnam War began with a lie. Vid LINK

Example C) Here is obvious evidence that the endless, so called “War on Terror” sadly began by using professional demolition experts on 911. LINK Hundreds of thousands of folks have been hurt or killed ever since.

Other countries are forced to get into debt and trade in USA paper “dollars” or else! If you don’t want to participate in the “dollar” denominated banking system you can find yourself at the wrong end of a very big gun. (Video LINK: Economic Hit Man.)

The USA has lots of guns. The USA Military is currently stationed in 150 of the 194 countries of the world. LINK & LINK

This doesn't mean it's black people ONLY but Hollywood plays an IMPORTANT ROLE.

Courage To Face Abuse

Psalm 34:4-18New International Version (NIV)

 4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. 6 This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. 9 Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. 10 The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 11 Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 13 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. 14 Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Abuse Victim
You are not alone; many others have gone through abuse similar to what you have experienced.  You may be find it hard to express your feelings about your situation--This is quite common.  But it is important for you to get past this.  You need to learn to express yourself in a healthy way and realize your God-given value as a person.  We encourage you to find a pastor or Christian counselor (or perhaps a mature Christian friend of the same sex) whom you feel you can trust and begin to talk what you are going through.  You do not "deserve" the treatment you have experienced; God does not want you to be a victim.  He wants to give you courage to deal rightly with your situation.  Though your abuser may blame you and justify his or her actions against your, the abuse is not your fault, and it must stop.  Pray for the courage to be decisive and firm.  the actions your abuser is taking against you are illegal and could even lead to imprisonment.