DECEPTION.

Charles Baudelaire once said, “The devil’s finest trick is to persuade you that he does not exist.”

Alfred Tennyson once said, “A lie that is a half-truth is the darkest of all lies.”

“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth.” Proverbs 12:22

"16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another."

Galatians 5:16-26

Deception is from our enemy, the devil. His desire is to take everything God has created or said, and to deceive us into thinking it is NOT what he created or said. Deception will be the way the devil will draw masses and multitudes away from God and turn them against God.

“But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no wonder that his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. In the end they will get the punishment their wicked deeds deserve.” 2 Corinthians 11:14-15

“They will say, ‘See how our enemies have been destroyed. The last of them have been consumed in the fire.’ “Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you. Listen to his instructions, and store them in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored— so clean up your life. If you give up your lust for money and throw your precious gold into the river, the Almighty himself will be your treasure. He will be your precious silver! “Then you will take delight in the Almighty and look up to God. You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows to him. You will succeed in whatever you choose to do, and light will shine on the road ahead of you. If people are in trouble and you say, ‘Help them,’ God will save them. Even sinners will be rescued; they will be rescued because your hands are pure.””

‭‭Job‬ ‭22:20-30‬ ‭NLT‬‬

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP! POSITION PROPERLY. PAY ATTENTION.

The time is short. You may have heard this so many times in the past that it just rolls off your ears like a marble from a table. I mean, is Jesus really coming back? Is this really the end times? We believe it is. The signs are pointing us to the fact we are close.

““However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. “When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:36-39‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.””

‭‭John‬ ‭16:33‬ ‭NLT‬‬ ‭‭

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Romans‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."

Hebrews‬ ‭10:23-25‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.””

‭‭James‬ ‭4:14-15‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Keep the faith! Stay true to Jesus! Do not quit. Do not back down from loving God and loving others.

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP! POSITION PROPERLY. PAY ATTENTION.

LOVE and JUDGMENT

Both of these are so important to acknowledge. God's great love for us in creating us and giving us an opportunity to be in the right relationship with Him, AND if we do not, there will be a judgment for all who REFUSE to accept Jesus as the ONE Who reconciled the broken relationship between God and us.

7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.

13 And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. 14 Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 All who declare that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.

God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. 17 And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

18 Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. 19 We love each other[b] because he loved us first.

20 If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer,[c] that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? 21 And he has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.

1 JOHN 4:7-21 NLT

And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth—

blood and fire and columns of smoke.

The sun will become dark,

and the moon will turn blood red

before that great and terrible[a] day of the Lord arrives.

JOEL 2:30-32 NLT

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP! POSITION PROPERLY. PAY ATTENTION.

WHO DO YOU TRUST? WHO DO YOU WALK WITH?

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too. We know we love God’s children if we love God and obey his commandments. Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome. For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.”

1 John 5:1-5 NLT

“Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.”

Proverbs 13:20 NLT

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”

Proverbs 17:17 NLT

“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Isaiah 41:10 NLT

“There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”

John 15:13

“For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in the is dark world, and against evil spirits in heavenly places.”

Ephesians 6:12 NLT

The only way to truly overcome the evil in this world is to believe in Jesus as the Son of God. Period. God promises that he will be WITH you, to STRENGTHEN you, to HELP you, and to HOLD YOU UP with his victorious right hand.

TODAY IS YOUR DAY to accept Jesus...

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP! POSITION PROPERLY. PAY ATTENTION.

REMEMBER

"Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days, scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, "What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.

They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment when ungodly people will be destroyed.

But you must NOT forget this ONE THING, dear friends: a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment."

2PT3.3-10

"...And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for 'God opposed the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'

So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are."

1PT5.5-9

"Then another angel followed him through the sky, shouting, 'Babylon is fallen -- that great city is fallen -- because she has made all the nations of the world drink the wine of her passionate immorality..'"

REV14.8

Speaking of the Great Mystery Babylon Falling:

"The light of a lamp will never shine in you again. The happy voices of brides and grooms will never be heard in you again. For your merchants were the greatest in the world, and you deceived the nations with your SORCERIES."

REV18.23

So much to share today! Update on La Palma, earth news, wars and rumors of wars, things that lead up to the tribulation, and especially things that make you go hmmmmm...

But most importantly, we need to stay humble and remember God is never late and WILL carry out His plan of redemption.

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP! POSITION PROPERLY. PAY ATTENTION.

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Romans 12:2 NLT

What is your reality?

80% of the time your potential problems will not happen.

1. Your thoughts about God will determine how you walk with Him.

2. Where you sit determines what you see.

3. What you see determines what you say.

4. What you say determines where you step.

Thoughts control your words.

Your words determine your actions.

Your actions determine your outcome

What are you going to choose to think?

Where do you choose to sit?

What do you choose to see?

Where do you choose to step?

“From the depths of despair, O Lord, I call for your help. Hear my cry, O Lord. Pay attention to my prayer. Lord, if you kept a record of our sins, who, O Lord, could ever survive? But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you. I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn. O Israel, hope in the Lord; for with the Lord, there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows. He himself will redeem Israel from every kind of sin.”

Psalms 130:1-8 NLT

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP! POSITION PROPERLY. PAY ATTENTION.

“The chief of staff renamed them with these Babylonian names: Daniel was Belteshazzar. Hananiah was called Shadrach. Mishael was called Meshach. Azariah was called Abednego.” Daniel 1:7

“This is what the LORD says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

JER29.10-11

“You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

2TIM3.1-5

“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created… The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief.”

2PET3.3-4,9-10

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP! POSITION PROPERLY.

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"Tell the people, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will put an end to this proverb, and you will soon stop quoting it.’ Now give them this new proverb to replace the old one: ‘The time has come for every prophecy to be fulfilled!’ “There will be no more false visions and flattering predictions in Israel. For I am the Lord! If I say it, it will happen. There will be no more delays, you rebels of Israel. I will fulfill my threat of destruction in your own lifetime. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!” Then this message came to me from the Lord: “Son of man, the people of Israel are saying, ‘He’s talking about the distant future. His visions won’t come true for a long, long time.’ Therefore, tell them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: No more delay! I will now do everything I have threatened. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!’”

EZ12.23-28‬ ‭NLT

Is this the time? We don’t know, but what we do know is that when God says something will happen, IT WILL HAPPEN.

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself.[k] Only the Father knows.

“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.

“Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.

MT24.36-42 NLT

Keep Watch. Be alert. Pay attention. Be expectant.

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP!

SPECIAL INTERVIEW with ENDTIMES Author Kevin J Kurtz! The first 20 minutes are available here on FB, but the rest of the interview can only be found at www.ENDTIMES.CHAT

Kevin’s 30 years in ministry have given him a platform to preach and teach on the authority of God’s Word. His children’s trilogy books deliver a message of the Father’s plan for our life. His novel, The Coming, won the Gold Seal of Literary Excellence, weaving a suspenseful story focusing on end-times prophecies. Book II in the series, Imminent Return, prepares the reader for the coming man of destruction. Reviewers are calling it a must-read page-turner.

Kevin can be contacted through his website www.kevinjkurtz.com

“If the godly give in to the wicked, it’s like polluting a fountain or muddying a spring.” PR25.26

“Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.” EPH6.14

“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation. By faith, we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.” HB11.1-3

Where is your faith? Who do you count on when you cannot see how things will turn out? Who have you built your faith foundation on?

There is only ONE Truth, ONE Way, ONE Life that leads to God and it is through Jesus. HE is the One the entire foundation of the universe is built on. He is the strongest foundation in good times and in times of despair and trouble.

PRAY. PREPARE. PROTECT. PROCLAIM. PERSIST. PERSEVERE. PRAY AGAIN. PASS IT ON. POWER UP!