Turning Point with David Jeremiah

[Judy Harder]

Wednesday, March 7

Future Vacancy

  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
  1 Thessalonians 4:14

  Recommended Reading
1 Corinthians 15:12-26 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians%2015:12-26&version=NKJV )

If you're looking for a new kind of vacation destination, Reuters reports that a Russian company wants to launch a hotel in orbit 217 miles above Earth by 2016. A five-day stay in the space hotel, including the exciting ride to get there, is estimated at a cool $1 million.1

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

Temporary lodging, a billion dollar industry today, has been around for centuries. It's the wonderful word that New Testament Christians used to describe the temporary place where they buried their loved ones. The believer's body was placed into a  koimateriam , Greek for hotel or inn. The word choice reflected the believers' firm expectation in the resurrection. If a believer dies before the Rapture, Christ will come to the hotel where their body is and reunite it with their spirit--which has been with Him.

The Rapture assures us the cemetery is only a motel for the body of the believer. Our hope is in the resurrection--that glorious moment when all believers are suddenly caught up into glory and hope bursts into reality. If you're missing a loved one whose spirit is with Jesus, fix your hope on the Resurrection (John 11:25).

  Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone but in every leaf of springtime.
  Martin Luther

  1travel.usatoday.com/hotels/post/2011/08/russia-space-hotel-plan-room-with-a-view-217-miles-above-earth/416165/1 accessed November 29, 2011.

  Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 9:1-11:23 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%209:1-11:23&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, March 8

Good Morning After Goodnight

  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
  1 Thessalonians 4:17

  Recommended Reading
John 14:1-3 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2014:1-3&version=NKJV )

The death of a loved one through prolonged illness, serious memory impairment, or unexpected trauma is a life-changing experience. But when families are separated by distance, illness, or death, we experience the bond of family love that cements souls together. How comforting to know that God sees each tear and hears each cry. He also sees the joyful reunion that awaits believers.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet...the dead will be raised incorruptible..." (1 Corinthians 15:52). The imagery describing the Rapture is noteworthy: In biblical times ambassadors were sent to usher a visiting king into a city. That's what Almighty God has planned for us. He's sending Jesus to escort the living and those who have died into heaven--to never be separated again.

We do sorrow when death parts us from loved ones--but not without hope. The Cross removed the sting of death that permanently separates. If you are grieving a loss today, meditate on the destiny that awaits believers--that most blessed reunion in the sky!

  ...It is but a good night to those we hope to see with joy in the morning.
  Matthew Henry

  Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 12:1-14:15 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2012:1-14:15&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Friday, March 9

Beware Charisma

  [A]nd the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows.
  Daniel 7:20

  Recommended Reading
Isaiah 14:12-17 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2014:12-17&version=NKJV )

Think of the leaders who have risen on the world stage and become destroyers of people and nations: Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Mao Tse-tung, Pol Pot, and others. Tens of millions of people died at the hands of these ruthless leaders. So how did they gain positions of such power? Largely through charisma. Unfortunately, charisma can be a veil that obscures a person's true motives.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

Spiritual leaders can also use charisma for evil, as did Jim Jones, founder of the People's Temple who led the suicide of nearly a thousand of his followers in 1978. Another spiritual-political leader is destined to rise on the world stage. His charismatic personality and persuasive words will cause many to worship him before his evil motives are revealed. Thankfully, the Antichrist will be subdued by the returning King of Kings.

Charisma can be a tool for good or ill. The admonition of Scripture is to "be sober, be vigilant" (1 Peter 5:.

  All through the New Testament, when God's work in human lives is spoken of, the ethical takes priority over the charismatic.
  J. I. Packer

  Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 15:1-17:18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2015:1-17:18&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Weekend, March 10 & 11

March Madness: Marching Around Jericho (Obedience)

  You shall march around the city, all you men of war; you shall go all around the city once. This you shall do six days.
  Joshua 6:3

  Recommended Reading
1 Samuel 15:22 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Samuel%2015:22&version=NKJV )

God told Moses to part the Red Sea. God told Gideon to defeat an army with 300 soldiers. Jesus told Peter to walk on the water. Jesus told His disciples to feed thousands of people with some bread and fish. Jesus told a blind man to go wash the mud off his eyes to regain his sight. Jesus told a paralyzed man to stand up and walk home.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

God has issued some impossible-sounding directions to people, but perhaps none so impossible as those issued to Joshua: March around Jericho with the Ark of the Covenant once a day for six days. On the seventh day march around Jericho seven times. Blow the trumpets and shout, and the walls will come tumbling down. Marching around the city must have sounded like madness to Joshua, but there is no indication he hesitated. He did exactly as God directed and God's words were fulfilled. On the seventh day, the walls fell down and Jericho was captured.

God may ask you to do something impossible-sounding: forgive an enemy, give generously to an ungrateful person, or serve at an incredibly inconvenient time. Calling Him "Lord" carries the expectation of obedience.

  Faith is the starting-post of obedience.
  Thomas Chalmers

  Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 18:1-22:34 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2018:1-22:34&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Monday, March 12

The One You Feed

  Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
  Galatians 5:16

    Recommended Reading
Galatians 5:16-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%205:16-18&version=NKJV )

An anonymous poem says: "Two passions beat within my chest, the one is foul, the other blessed. The one I love, the other I hate; the one I feed will dominate." This is similar to the message of Galatians 5, which says: "The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another...." While God's children are on earth, we're subject to the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil. We need to make sure we're feeding the right passions, impulses, and attitudes.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

As it relates to the future, that means keeping our eyes on Christ in faith, not on the world in fear. While being aware of the events of the Last Days and the coming of the Antichrist, we mustn't overly focus on that, but on our Lord and His glorious return.

Keep your eyes on the Lord, feed on His faithfulness, resist the devil, and draw near to God. Feed your faith and starve your fears.

  Don't give your fears any of your time or energy. Don't feed them with gossip or negative news shows or frightening movies. Focus on your faith and feed it.
  John Maxwell

  Read-Thru-the-Bible
Joshua 23:1-Judges 1:36 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2023:1-Judges%201:36&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Tuesday, March 13

666
  Here is wisdom. Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man: His number is 666.
  Revelation 13:18

    Recommended Reading
Revelation 13:11-18 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2013:11-18&version=NKJV )

A Georgia man was recently fired for not wearing a sticker saying 666. It represented the number of days his factory had operated without an accident. The man had no trouble wearing 665 the day before or 667 the day after, but he refused to wear 666. He was dismissed, but his case is pending in the courts.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

I'll let you decide if he has a valid case, but the day is coming during the Great Tribulation when those who refuse to wear the "Mark of the Beast" will be objects of intense discrimination and persecution. The exact nature of this mark is a mystery, but it will be some kind of universal identification code. Six is the number of humanity, even as seven is the number of God. God is 777--a Trinity of perfection. Humanity is 666, and it represents the inability of man to measure up to the perfections of God. But don't get too worried about 666. We have a perfect Savior, a perfect salvation, and a perfect future in heaven.

  Whatever may come, we will stand strong for Him and bear His testimony to the world in which we live.
  David Jeremiah

  Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 2:1-4:24 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%202:1-4:24&version=NKJV )
   

[Judy Harder]

Wednesday, March 14

Satanic Deceiver

  And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you."
  Matthew 24:4

  Recommended Reading
2 Thessalonians 2:3-9 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Thessalonians%202:3-9&version=NKJV )

Harry Houdini, perhaps the world's most famous magician, performed death-defying escapes from handcuffs, straightjackets, underwater handcuffs, and his famous Chinese Water Torture Cell. He was also quick to negate any help from the supernatural world and wrote books explaining his techniques.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

But there's a beastly magician with satanic powers who will visit the earth during the Tribulation. He will deceive people into receiving the Mark of the Beast--aligning people with the worship of Satan. This False Prophet will perform awesome signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven.

The spirit of deception is already embracing victims in our world today. Truth is pushed aside as people create their own morality and systems of belief. Pray for discernment as you navigate through society's lies and countercultural messages about God. Keep God's Word central in your life with your spiritual armor firmly in place: Take heed that no one deceives you.

  Satan's lie is still the same today: "You can be free. Do whatever you want. It is your life. There are no divine laws; no absolute authority; and above all, no judgment. You will surely not die."
  John MacArthur

  Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 5:1-7:25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%205:1-7:25&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Thursday, March 15

The Hallelujah Party

  Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!
  Revelation 19:9

    Recommended Reading
Revelation 19:1-6 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2019:1-6&version=NKJV )

What would Handel think if he knew 7-1/2 million people had viewed his "Hallelujah Chorus" on YouTube--filmed at Macy's in Philadelphia, when more than 600 choristers mingling with regular shoppers burst into song?1 The video shows the shoppers' faces aglow with amazement, some singing along, all caught up in the joy of the moment.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

When believers listen to the "Hallelujah Chorus," we long for that day of final victory when God's reign is established forever. That blessed event will culminate at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, recorded in Revelation 19:1-9. Some consider this passage to be the New Testament's "Hallelujah Chorus." The text clearly reminds us of why we'll be at this celebration: God has provided our redemption through His Son.

If you're not sure you'll be at that blessed event, trust Christ now as your Savior from sin, and give God the rightful adoration that belongs to Him.

  ...and He shall reign for ever and ever. King of kings! And Lord of lords! Hallelujah!...
  George Frideric Handel

  1associatedcontent.com/article/6017628/impromptu_hallelujah_chorus_sung_at.html accessed November 29, 2011.

  Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 8:1-9:57 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%208:1-9:57&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Friday, March 16

Cause for Celebration

  "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready."
  Revelation 19:7

    Recommended Reading
Song of Solomon 3:6-11 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song%20of%20Solomon%203:6-11&version=NKJV )

If you look closely at the word "celebrate," you will see within it the root of another familiar word: celebrity. They both have their origins in a Latin word for "famous." Not every celebrity is famous for the best of reasons, but there is one famous Person who is--and who will be celebrated for all eternity.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

Revelation 19 describes what the apostle John saw in his vision of heaven and the future: the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and the return of Jesus Christ to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And the celebration of praise John heard for the Lamb was like "the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings" (verse 6). There will be no paparazzi in heaven with their cameras, only the Bride of Christ, the Church, "arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright," praising the Lamb of God for having been made righteous, washed clean by His shed blood (verse .

If you want to be part of that celebration soon to come, you must be ready for the Rapture--when Christ gathers His Bride to Himself and takes her to heaven. It's a celebration you don't want to miss.

  Faith is the marriage of the soul to Christ.
  Richard Sibbes

  Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 10:1-13:25 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%2010:1-13:25&version=NKJV )

[Judy Harder]

Weekend, March 17 & 18

March Madness: Marching Lite (Trust)

  Then the LORD said to Gideon, "By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand."
  Judges 7:7a

    Recommended Reading
Psalm 28:7 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2028:7&version=NKJV )

Jesus lived a Spartan life--at least during His three years of ministry. Yes, He came from a home in Nazareth, but His ministry years are best characterized by Matthew 8:20: ". . . the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." His was a life of dependence on His Father--we never see Him packing a bag when He left to journey from one place to another. In the human realm, an example of dependence we might more easily identify with is Gideon.

Listen to Today's Radio Message ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/radio.aspx?tid=email_listenedevo )

Gideon was a simple farmer who God called to drive the Midianites out of Israel. When Gideon rallied an army of 32,000 men, God first reduced it down to 10,000, then to 300--and equipped them only with torches and trumpets. Marching against the innumerable Midiantes, ("as numerous as locusts"; Judges 6:5) with 300 men would have seemed like madness to Gideon--and to us. But Gideon learned that victory comes from the Lord, not from human strength or resources.

As the saying goes, God plus one equals a majority. If you are facing a formidable challenge, don't be discouraged by a lack of resources. Be encouraged by the presence and promises of God.

  We never test the resources of God until we attempt the impossible.
  F. B. Meyer

  Read-Thru-the-Bible
Judges 14:1-20:48 ( http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%2014:1-20:48&version=NKJV )