The Trumpet Will Sound

Born in the mid 1700’s were two brothers, sons of a Lutheran minister. Both of them followed in their father’s footsteps and entered ministry. The times were exciting and new; great hope was felt in America’s early beginnings, but soon… trouble came! The British army was advancing fast, burning down buildings and seizing a gun powder warehouse. John Mulenberg, the son that pastored in Virginia, stood before his congregation and quoted Ecclesiastes, “There is a time for war

Discouragement is one of those things that creeps into our lives slowly. So slowly, you almost can’t remember when it started, but it compounds with each bit of bad news, a strained relationship, or unanswered prayer. If only we recognized that it’s a path Satan never wants you to recognize as one of his favorites. The Children of Israel had so many great victories in a row… Pharaoh agreed to finally let them go! God led them by a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day

As we approach the Day of Atonement, we’re reminded of the beautiful picture of salvation this season brings. Two identical goats were brought before the great High Priest. One was slain, and its blood sprinkled on the Mercy Seat to pay for sin. The second goat was called the Scapegoat. Over him was pronounced and transferred all the sins of the people. Then it was led away to a “land uninhabited.” The two goats taught one truth… When Messiah comes to pay for sin by His blood

Jesus gave us three things to do until He returns. In the parable of the money, the Nobleman called his ten servants, and delivered to them ten pounds (minas), and said to them, “Occupy till I come.” This meant they should be about their Master’s business, trading for Him, doing what He would do, until He returns. This command speaks to our individual purpose in daily life, to reach the lost for Christ. Jesus also gave to the Churches a ceremony of remembrance… “As often as

Before Jesus went to the cross, He made three statements that should echo around the world… “Now is the judgment (sifting) of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw (invite) everyone unto Myself” (John 12:31,32). First, the Cross of Christ is the means by which everyone in this world is sifted for Heaven or Hell. It is God’s process of investigating hearts. God is looking for truth-seekers, who will h

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them… and the world is passing away, and the lusts in it: but the one who does the will of God abides forever” (1 John 2:15-17). That this world is passing away is hard for some people to grasp. But God has warned multiple times that the evils which are in it will not be allowed to last. While some claim that “all things continue as they have been since th

Jesus shared the signs of the end of days with His disciples in Matthew 24, but when asked what was THE main sign of the end, He replied, ”See to it that no one deceives you!” Pay close attention to the three institutions given by God in His Word - the government, the church and the family. Each one is under a demonic attack, intended to fully dismantle God’s design in order that our lives would no longer be orderly, fulfilling and abounding in purpose. “When the righteous

As a culture we seem to have forgotten that there are consequences to actions. Liberal judges are making sure there are little to no repercussions for bad behavior and the problem continues to metastasize. The alarming trend we see now, is that this mindset has wiggled its way into the church. This idea that we can obey God in the areas we want and ignore the other areas as though they are optional, is so dangerous. Believing that as long as the good outweighs the bad, they a

As Believers we know we are alive at this exact time by the will of God, not to build our own kingdom, but to be ambassadors of a Higher Kingdom. This is the meaning behind all we do. Whether we are raising children… it’s for the Kingdom of God and His glory, or we are working in a career, we work as unto the Lord and not unto men. But there is a problem… Many Christians today claim to not know their purpose… they live for the joy of the moment, but struggle with the deep

This week has been filled with memorials… the martyrdom of Charlie Kirk, the terror attack of 9/11, and the testimonials in Canada of the ruined lives by medical tyranny. How interesting that the Feast of Trumpets, the memorial of Jesus’ return, should also fall on the same weekend as these. And notice the contrast; in the midst of the tears and heartache of the first three, Jesus’ memorial is to be a day of absolute joy… “This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn

Both Ezra and Nehemiah kept the Feast of Trumpets and give us a picture of things to come… “When the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Jerusalem” (Ezra 3:1). Eighty years later, Nehemiah records… “And when the seventh month had come, the children of Israel were in their cities. And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the Water Gate…”

With the Feast of Trumpets beginning on Friday evening, it’s encouraging to look in the Bible and see what these Feasts celebrated in earlier times. King Solomon chose to celebrate the completion of the Temple on the Feast of Trumpets (1 Kings 8:2). The last item to be placed in the Temple was the Ark of the Covenant. As they placed it into the holy of holies… “The cloud (of glory) filled the house of the LORD, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the

“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the LORD: and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the Kingdom is the LORD’s, and He is the Ruler among the nations” (Psalm 22:27,28). Psalm 22 is a detailed prophecy of Jesus’ suffering on the Cross. It was the first verse of this Psalm that Jesus called out, “My God, My God! Why have You forsaken Me?” Had anyone stopped to wonder why He was quoting Psalm 22 and looked at it, they would have rea

God specializes in taking the evil intents of man and turning them into blessings. Joseph’s testimony to his brothers was exactly that… “What you have meant for evil God has used for good, to the saving of many lives.” From being sold into slavery to being second in command in all of Egypt! God flips the script! This is our great consolation, that as we try to the best of our ability to take the right steps, even if we misstep, God can turn it around for good. And for the

Nehemiah was a captive in Persia that worked in the palace as a wine bearer for the king. In this role he is to serve with no emotion, just perform the job efficiently while drawing no attention to himself. But one day his sadness was noticed by the king, and he inquired as to why he was depressed. Nehemiah told him of his heartache; that his hometown of Jerusalem lies in ruins. The king was touched by his genuineness and allowed him to go back to Jerusalem to bring restorati

As believers, one of the greatest acts of Christ-like love we can have is to unashamedly and happily love life and defend it. “I lay before you life and death, blessings and curses; now choose life that you and your descendants might live” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Everything that is precious to God, or made in the Image of God, is under attack… the life of the unborn, or just born, or now, toddlers and young children’s lives are viewed as having little to no value. These are n

“But the [Seed which fell] on the good ground, are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word (the Gospel message), keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). It’s hard the miss the hypocrisy before our eyes in the news. The murderers hope they don’t get the death penalty. The liars in our government threaten jail when someone lies to them. The thief rages when someone steals from them. The adulterous spouse is shocked when his cheat chea

When Cain killed Abel out of jealousy, who was there to hear the cries of Abel from the field? The Lord did. And He said to Cain, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries to Me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10). When sexual predators ruled in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, who heard the cries of the victims when parents and city leaders were too sin-hardened to care? The Lord did. He said to Abraham, “Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and be

The farmer was thrilled with his summer crop. It was abundant. Now he waited for the fruit trees and the grapes. The fruit must not be picked too early or too late. The grapes also, for the wine depended on it. Each day he went out and touched, smelled, and carefully examined the precious fruit. Almost there. Finally, the day arrived. All his laborers were called… the harvest had come. This is the truth of the days we’re in now… “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the com

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the Vine; no more can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:4,5). There is no secret formula to a fruitful Christian life. It is found in “abiding” which means “to stay in a given place; to continue; to dwell.” It describes the daily, consistent