Last week we addressed the elements of truth in the saying, “In Jerusalem, Christianity became a religion. In Greece, it became a philosophy. In Rome, it became an institution. In Britain, it became a tradition. In America, it became an enterprise.”  Not all of this was bad or unintended. The Christian culture that was to be received by all nations was also intended to receive from all nations.

       When we have more faith in people than in God, we tend to get our security or confidence by how many people share our views. Jesus had a different perspective, saying in Luke 6:26:

“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.”

          Jesus Christ is the answer to every human problem. Every problem on earth is basically the result of man thinking that we can run our lives and this world without God. The answer to every problem is found by returning to Him. It is that simple.       

     Many Christians believe that we cannot understand the times because Jesus said that no man knows the hour in which He will return (see Matthew 24:36). Even though it is true that we do not know the time of His return, we can still know the times, and in fact we must. I Thessalonians 5:1-4 says:

          On February 9-11, we hosted the 2012 Oak Initiative Summit. It was an exceptional gathering with many calling it the best yet. It began with a stunning presentation by Kevin Freeman, the author of Secret Weapon, which well deserves its present rise on the New York Times bestseller list. It is a brilliant and scholarly work on one of the greatest threats to America in these times—economic terrorism.

     Some have said that the terrible outbreak last week has done more damage than Hurricane Katrina, more disaster, more damage. Thankfully, not as many lives were lost, but far too many were lost. “What is going on”? Christians are asking this. Christians were in those tornadoes, good families, good Christians were there. What is going on?

The Church at Smyrna—“Myrrh”

(Approximately A.D. 100 – 325)

              “And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, ‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: 

The church is called to be the bride of Christ as well as an army. As we approach the end of this age, we will begin to take on more of the nature and demeanor of both. This is hard for many to understand because the bride is to be feminine, and the martial nature of an army is more masculine. However, we will take on both of these natures at the same time, and it will greatly strengthen the health and effectiveness of the body of Christ.