In light of explosive current events, Norbert Link will be continuing his series on prophecy. Services will begin at 2:30pm CT.

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at the appropriate time, just click on “Connect to Live Stream”.
 

When Christ admonished us to “pray that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things” it should be understood in the larger context of our responsibilities as Christians to “preach and publish the Gospel as a witness ” and “grow in grace and knowledge”. To the shepherds you can also add, “feed my sheep”.

We all have a responsibility in the areas God has assigned to us. We in the ministry are to feed the flock. Members are to pray for and support the work of getting the Gospel out. One should never underestimate the power of prayer in this regard. One thing to consider in the larger context is making sure everything we do and pray for is according to God’s will and not our own. It is nice to pray that we escape future trials and go to the place of safety for what I believe is final training and also to get the spots and wrinkles out but this should not be a means unto itself, that is, it must always be according to God’s will. I am sure Stephen was not looking forward to being stoned to death so early in his walk as a deacon in the church but history shows us it was God’s will and God gave him the strength to say what was needed at the time prior to his death.

Therefore our focus should not be to pray that our hides be spared but rather pray that God’s will be done in our lives. If our lives are spared in the future that is good — if not, that is good also. Whether we live or die at the end we all want to stand before our Lord and Savior at His return to rule the earth.
 

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES

Judah in the End Times

The nation of Israel that now resides in the Middle East is more appropriately identified as the descendants of Judah, and there are specific prophecies in the book of Zechariah that indicate a fiery, pugnacious role for this tribe of Israel.

In line with end-time prophecies found in Zechariah 12:1-9 a recent opinion column in the Denver Post revealed some surprising statistics about this tiny nation:

“…The Israeli Defense Force, as it is called, is now the world’s fourth-strongest military machine.
“Besides an awesome array of American-supplied weapons, it has the largest and most sophisticated nuclear arsenal outside the five declared nuclear powers-the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain–estimated at up to 2,000 warheads.”

Israel’s Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has successfully withstood America’s dictation of its security policy. But this will not come without a price. More and more, this area of the world will be the focus of events culminating in the return of Jesus Christ. However, this time, Judah will recognize their Messiah (Zech 12:10-14). At that future time, Jews will find themselves on the brink of destruction–along with a rebellious world inspired and dominated by Satan and his evil followers.

As never before, prophecy is cascading into dramatic fulfillment. Let us continue to WATCH and prepare for these fearful times!

Catholic Church

Although some within the Catholic Church are hoping to gain some positive interest from all of the negative press, Rome has finally had to step up to the issue of pedophilia and the Pope has called for a meeting with key American Church leaders.

Coupled with declining Church interest, huge monetary expenditures for lost court cases and an alarming lack of new candidates for the priesthood, there is a grudging admission growing that Catholicism is facing an embarrassing crisis.

Considering Biblical prophecies picturing the dominant role of this end time religion, we can expect this current debacle to be displaced with a very positive international presence. The current Pope’s ill health has left him unable to aggressively confront issues. In light of the irrepressible geo-political events now flooding onto the world stage, the Catholic Church will soon be allowed to step forward in a much more dynamic, policy setting presence. The most obvious path in this direction will be fostered by a NEW POPE coming to power!

Terrorist Attack

German officials are now convinced that the explosion of a synagogue in Djerba, Tunisia, on April 11, was another terror attack, that was carried out by a group close to Isama Bin Laden. Eleven German tourists were killed during the attack.

Update on the Middle East

The Los Angeles Times ran an insightful article on April 18, 2002, regarding Mr. Powell’s unsuccessful mission in the Middle East. When reading this analysis, one should clearly see that there will be more bloodshed and violence in the Middle East. Although some are hopeful for a peaceful solution, there really seems to be “no peace” in sight. Given the failure of the United States’ mission, voices are already becoming louder for a European intervention. Although at this point, Europe is not willing to get directly involved, it might not have the luxury to stand at the sidelines for much longer.

“The Blame Game Goes On” (L.A. Times)

“JERUSALEM — There is no evidence on the ground here that Secretary of State Colin L. Powell’s shuttle diplomacy between Israelis and Palestinians did anything to defuse the conflict he left seething behind him Wednesday. And it is far from clear that either Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat or Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon is entirely unhappy with Powell’s failure. Powell secured neither an Israeli military withdrawal from Palestinian areas nor a clear statement from Arafat that he was renouncing violence and recommitting himself to negotiations. In Bethlehem, Israeli tanks remain pointed at the Church of the Nativity, where more than 100 Palestinian gunmen are holed up. In Ramallah, Israeli soldiers are still bunking down on the grounds of Arafat’s battered and increasingly fetid headquarters…

“…during his final, stormy meeting with Powell on Wednesday, the Palestinian leader refused to meet Israel’s demand that he hand over the alleged killers of an Israeli Cabinet minister or accept an Israeli proposal that the gunmen in the Church of the Nativity surrender and face trial in Israel or go into exile…

“In his defiance, Arafat gains points with both his own increasingly embittered people and across an Arab world appalled by the scenes of destruction in the West Bank that they see on their television screens each night.

“Arafat’s insistence that he will offer no concessions until Israel ends its incursion has put moderate Arab regimes on the hot seat, hard-pressed to explain to their angry citizens why neither the Arabs nor the United States is forcing Israel to pull back…

“Israeli commentators said Powell’s failure to achieve a cease-fire offered certain political advantages for Sharon, who has declared Arafat an enemy of Israel and appears bent on dismantling not only armed militias in Palestinian areas but also the infrastructure of the Palestinian Authority that Arafat leads.

“Powell said Sharon promised that Israel will pull out of all areas except Bethlehem and Ramallah in the coming week. Sharon, commentators here say, will spend that week inflicting greater damage on Arafat’s administration. And in comments to reporters after Powell’s departure, Sharon said Israeli tanks and troops will continue to ring Palestinian cities, poised to reenter whenever Israel feels it needs to…

“Arab moderates warned that the Bush administration’s prestige was damaged by its failure to compel Israel’s withdrawal from recaptured Palestinian areas…

“POWELL NEEDS TO ENLIST THE HELP OF MODERATE ARAB STATES AND THE EUROPEAN UNION to pressure Arafat by threatening to cut off funding and end diplomatic support, [Israeli strategic analyst Joseph] Alpher said. The Secretary also needs to lean on Israel by holding up funding for some projects and publicly criticizing Sharon’s politics.”

UN Considers Military Intervention in Middle East
(excerpted from News Corp article “Sharon a man of peace”)

 

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan asked the UN security council to consider sending an armed multi-national force to help end violence. Annan’s Middle East envoy said the devastation was “horrific beyond belief” as he toured ruins in the West Bank, still mostly in the grip of Israeli troops despite Bush’s calls for an immediate withdrawal.

UN chief Annan said: “I believe the deployment of a multi-national force deserves serious consideration. The situation is so dangerous that the international community has an obligation to provide this assistance.”

But Israel quickly rejected his call. “We do not want it and I think also the United States do not want it,” government spokesman Avi Pazner said.

Erakat said: “This idea is the only right way to start fighting Israeli aggression.”

Annan’s special envoy to the Middle East, Terje Roed-Larsen, toured the remains of the shattered Jenin refugee camp, site of the fiercest battles in Israel’s West Bank campaign, and denounced the horror he saw. “It is totally unacceptable and horrific beyond belief,” he said. “The stench of death is horrible. We have expert people here who have been in war zones and earthquakes and they say they have never seen anything like it.”
 

This week Edwin Pope will be giving a sermon…Building Blocks for Character. Services will begin at 2:30 P.M.CT.

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org at the appropriate time, just click on “Connect to Live Stream”.

We are all aware that April 15 here in the U.S. is income tax day. It is settlement time for one more year with Uncle Sam. Of course, he makes it relatively painless for a majority of taxpayers with the current withholding system established to collect taxes at the time a person gets paid, thus transferring a good part of the burden of the collection effort to the employers in this country.

God has a system of collection for funds due Him to be used in carrying out His work on the earth. He calls that system tithing. The big difference in the two systems is that God depends on the honor of the individual, thus allowing the individual to properly pay the funds due Him.

The thing many do not consider is that the obligation to pay God’s tithes is just as binding under God’s system as is the obligation to pay the U.S. Government for taxes due. Most people, today, are not even aware that such an obligation is due from them. But those called of God have been apprised of the truth in this matter. Yet, many have begun looking for any and every reason not to pay God’s tithes. This is a serious error!

Christ tells us in Luke 20: 25 to “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

God told Adam, in the Garden of Eden, that he was not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, lest he die. (Gen 2: 16-17) He and his wife chose to go contrary to that command and established a pattern of death.

Today, God raises the question in Malachi 3: 8 … “Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me. When asked the question, “Wherein have we robbed You?” … The answer comes back … “In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse: for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation.”

This nation is cursed, brethren, because it has failed God in the payment of His tithes. But even more critical, many in God’s Church, today, are suffering from this same curse, because of disobedience. Let us not be guilty of committing this sin against our Creator.
 

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES

Update on the Middle East

The headlines of this week’s European magazines and newspapers are quite telling. Germany’s Der Spiegel wrote on April 11, under “Worldwide Appeal for Holy War Against Israel”, that Islamic groups have asked all Muslims to join a Holy War against Israel and the West. Signers of this “appeal” are terrorist groups like “Hezbollah,” the “Brotherhood of Muslims,” “Hamas,” and other fundamentalist groups. One additional signer is allegedly Turkey’s former Prime Minister, Necmettin Erkaban. However, Mr. Erkaban’s lawyer denied that his client signed the appeal.

In another article, titled, “And the Tanks Keep Rolling,” Der Spiegel pointed out: “Israel is not impressed by the strong appeal of the international community. While withdrawing from 24 Palestinian villages, they attacked two new ones.”

Der Spiegel also interviewed Paul Spiegel, president of the Jewish community in Germany. He stated that the one-sided condemnation of Israel by Germany and the Europeans is shortsighted and not helpful. The critics, according to Mr. Spiegel, do not understand what terror really is. He also said: “The people who are condemning Israel in this country are at the same time sitting in restaurants that are not blown into pieces.”

Still stronger words were uttered to Der Spiegel by Michel Friedman, Vice-President of the Jewish community in Germany. He stated, “The Europeans are hypocrites.” He continued, “Europe has always been reluctant to strongly criticize the Arab world, and especially the oil-exporting countries, even if they are dictatorships…. Terror comes from Syria, Iran and Iraq… At best, Arafat is unable to stop the terror. At worst, he is a participant… Saudi Arabia and others could have solved a long time ago the problem of Palestinians living in slums… 73% of the Jews in Israel believe that there must be a Palestinian state… We cannot rule out that this thing will get bloodier. We need a change in generations to bring about peace.”

The German magazine, “Stern,” stated that Secretary of State Powell plans to meet with Mr. Sharon, as well as with Mr. Arafat. Mr. Sharon described a meeting between Mr. Powell and Mr. Arafat as a “tragic mistake.” The magazine continued that the United States, The European Union, the United Nations and Russia have demanded of Israel to immediately withdraw from occupied Palestinian regions, including Ramallah.

The LA Times reported on Thursday, April 11, that “Israel on Wednesday again refused to withdraw from the West Bank cities it invaded thirteen days ago and said a deadly suicide bombing on a bus earlier today showed why the offensive must continue. ‘I hope our great friend the United States understands that this is a war of survival for us,’ Sharon told reporters.”

On Wednesday, CNN carried live an address of former Prime Minister of Israel, B. Netanyahu, to several US Senators. He reminded Europe that 60 years ago, they did not lift a finger when millions of Jews were exterminated on European soil. He continued that now, when Israel is trying to fight against terrorists, Europe is again turning their back on Israel. He described this as shameful, stating at the same time that he did not expect more from most of the European governments, but that he is anticipating a lot more support from the United States.

Some observers are reminded, however, of the United States’ rejections of boat loads of Jewish refugees at the time of World War II, and are wondering what the United States, as well as Europe and Russia, will ultimately do to stop this present war in the Middle East.

What’s Next?

Although we all are focused on the daily barrage of mind blurring news stories out of the Middle East, huge events are waiting in the wings.

American policy seems squarely focused on the removal of Saddam Hussein. The public display by the U.S. President to placate Arab countries by calling on Israel’s Ariel Sharon to immediately withdraw from Palestinian enclaves is considered by many to be a less than veiled policy to hold onto Arab support for a future attack.

Iraq, more than Israel and Palestine, is poised to draw in worldwide involvement of nations who have both political and, more importantly, financial considerations of epic importance.

Historically, the nations of Israel and Judah never truly prospered in their alliances with other nations. What the modern nations of America, Britain and Israel are seeking still follows the same misguided approach. These modern coalitions do not address the core problem which is that of national sins and national punishment from God.

In the current episodes of international intrigue, we have just witnessed a kind of double standard in the war on terror. All of these events continue to set the stage for the time of the end prophesied throughout God’s Word. Let’s make sure we are watching with a committed sense of readiness as momentous prophecies now unfold before us!

This week Dave Harris will be giving a sermon entitled Just Like Abraham. Services will begin at 2:30 P.M.CT.

The services can be heard at www.cognetservices.org on the appropriate days, just click on “Connect to Live Stream”.

While we are observing, with horror, the present violent events in the Middle East, we must remember that worse times are ahead of us. Future events will involve the city of Jerusalem. Prophecy paints a dark picture of indescribable suffering, pain and misery for that city and its inhabitants. At the same time, the bible portrays a bright and peaceful future following the soon-coming desolation of Jerusalem — once the Messiah, Jesus Christ, has returned to the Holy City.

The present and immediate future looks grim, and yet, the true disciples of Christ can already see the joy and hope that is in store for this world and the Middle East. God expects His people to fulfill a mission — to announce and to share the good news of the establishment of the Kingdom of God here on earth. They are to proclaim what is soon coming to pass. Listen to these encouraging words for us today, that can be found in the Scriptures of the prophet Isaiah:

“O Zion, You who bring good tidings, Get up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, You who bring good tidings, Lift up your voice with strength, Lift it up, be not afraid; Say to the cities of Judah, ‘Behold your God!'” (Isaiah 40:9).

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’ Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, With their voices they shall sing together; For they shall see eye to eye When the LORD brings back Zion.” (Isaiah 52:7-8).

“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” (Isaiah 62:6-7).

What a privilege, and what an awesome responsibility it is, to be called by God as one of His watchmen. Let’s all make sure that we are fulfilling our commission and that we are doing what God expects us to do.
 

WORLD NEWS HEADLINES

— CNN: U.N. Security Council votes 15-0 to demand Israel’s withdrawal from Palestinian towns “without delay.”
— Israel: Will comply, “once we achieve what we set out to achieve”

— Der Spiegel (Germany): “Enough is Enough! Dramatic change in the American Middle East Politics. President Bush issued a clear warning towards the government of Israel, and announced a new peace initiative.”

— Der Stern (Germany): “The United States intervene in the Middle East conflict. President George W. Bush announced that Secretary of Sate Colin Powell will travel to the Middle East next week to negotiate a cease-fire.”

— Focus (Germany): “Mr. President changes direction. George Bush has made a surprising appeal to Israel to end the violence and to respect the dignity of the Palestinian people.”

— The Times (UK) reported that Britain welcomes Mr. Bush’s intervention.

— The Jerusalem Post Internet Edition (Israel): “‘Post’ poll: 72% of Israelis for war.”

“Documents: Arafat approved payments to terrorists.”

— LA Times (USA): “Escalation pushes Bush onto a limb.”

— USA Today (USA): “Sharon: Assaults will continue.”
–“Bethlehem under Siege”

— New York Times (USA): “Bush is sending Powell to Middle East to Stop Incursions”
–“Bush says U.S. is to assume stronger role in ending violence”
–“Bush seeks a delicate balance”
–“Palestinians welcome Bush Initiative”
–“Bush wins praise, but Arabs remain wary”
— “Israel continues sweep of cities, taking Hebron”
 

This week Dave Harris and Norbert Link will be giving split-sermons from Colorado. Services will begin at the usual time of 2:30 P.M.CT.

We will also be broadcasting 2 NetServices for the Last Day of Unleavened Bread on April 3rd at 12:00 and 3:30pm Central Time. We hope to see you there!

Just as it happened to Adam and Eve, to the children of Israel and to anyone with whom God is revealing Himself, so-also-has it happened to us. We must make choices of life and death importance!

Today, we call this “free moral agency.”

Always making right choices is a quality of God’s character. Being a Christian and having the approach of Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit is the way in which we take on this same character of God. Hebrews 2:10 speaks of God “bringing many sons to glory”-eternal life in the family of God.

What we face in this process is learning to make right choices. The danger for us lies in making wrong choices. Wrong choices are usually the easy ones. We sugar coat these with justifications such as saying we told a “little white lie”. Oftentimes, we procrastinate instead of really engaging in what is good. This kind of action on our part can easily become a wrong choice.

In Deuteronomy 30, God commands us to choose life. Yet WE must choose!

Christ focused on this critical responsibility we face in Matthew 7 when He warned that the way to destruction was an easy path. However, He went on to reveal that the more difficult path does lead to life.

Just be aware that our choices are the hard ones! Each day we are to make the choice that God has set before us. Let us continue to fight the good fight and do
as God commands-“choose life”.

This week Dave Harris will be speaking about events in the life of King Hezekiah of Judah. The sermon, entitled “Deeds of Faithfulness,” will begin at 2:30 P.M. in the Central Time Zone.

We have posted the Net Service schedule for the next two Holy Days and the weekly Sabbath in between. We will be broadcasting TWO services on EACH Holy Day. Edwin Pope, Norbert Link and Dave Harris will be speaking on the meaning of the Holy Days and issues related thereto.

Well, brethren, the Days of Unleavened Bread are upon us. The feast of Passover begins at sundown on Tuesday, March 26, and ULB begins 24 hours later. These days picture our coming out of sin. We know that “Sin is the transgression of the law.” (I John 3:4) God’s law is the law of “Love,” and is defined by the Ten Commandments.

But Christ tells us (Mark 7: 20-22) “What comes out of a man, that defiles the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these things come from within and defile a man.”

The problem, then, begins in the mind. Notice (James 1: 14-15) “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” Thus, it is in the mind where we must begin in our effort to come out of sin.

So it is temptation that we must concentrate on, brethren. Temptation begins in the mind. Temptation begins with the things we think about, things we contemplate in our minds. It is here where the lusts of the flesh are conceived. And it is here where sin is born.

And we know this requires that God’s Spirit be in our minds, if we will ever be able to overcome the lust of the flesh. Once we have God’s Spirit, we have a fighting chance to do this. We must utilize that Spirit which God gives us at baptism, through the laying on of hands of the ministry, after we have repented of our past sins. (I Tim 4: 14) We must, then, change the way that we do things “…that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” (Rom 8: 4)

How do we do that?

We must fill our minds with thoughts of God’s Way of Life. “Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth.” (Col 3: 2) To do this we must be drinking in of God’s Truths from His Word, the Holy Bible. We must meditate on these things and make them so much a part of our lives that when we do begin to go off in our minds from God’s thoughts, from His Ways, we immediately replace those thoughts with God’s Truth, thus thwarting Satan’s effort to see us go contrary to God’s Way.

We must remember, brethren, to hold fast to that which we have been given, that no man (including ourselves) steal our crown.

WORLD NEWS

–As the world’s focus continues to center on the Middle East, momentous events that were virtually unthinkable in the recent past are now falling into place. A Vatican news source on the Internet reviewed comments from Rabbi Michael Melchior, Israeli Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and leader of the Meimad religious party in Israel. What he sought from the Pope was the Vatican’s support.

Behind the scenes, the Vatican has welded worldwide cooperation among this world’s major faiths. There is a kind of “position paper” on every major issue–the two Koreas, Russian religious freedom, wars and their resolution, etc. Although the recent scandals involving Catholic priests in America have drawn the attention and comments of the Catholic hierarchy, they portray these scandals as an American issue–one that is merely an outgrowth of society. Calls for a change in celibacy rules for priests have not penetrated the entrenched traditions that currently hold sway.

We now see the “need” for a stabilizing force in the Israeli-Arab debacle. Once again, American troops are being suggested. However, the more likely influence will begin to flow from Europe and the Pope as he exercises his unmistakable stature and global influence. It appears that the Jews must yield to outside help in the search for a peaceful approach or lose their hard fought respect among the world’s nations.

— The European Union made clear that they will seek compensation for President Bush’s tariffs on foreign steel. The EU is supported in this by Japan, Brazil and Australia. The EU claims that they will incur losses of $2 billion annually over the three year life of the tariffs, according to an article in Yahoo! News of March 16.

— President Bush defended a politically charged Pentagon proposal (Nuclear Posture Review, NPR) to create new types of nuclear weapons and expand the nation’s list of potential nuclear targets, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times of March 14.

— The Times in Great Britain reported on March 18 that former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher published a new book, advocating that “Britain must start to quit EU.” Mrs. Thatcher wrote that most of the problems that the world has faced, including Nazism and Marxism, have come from mainland Europe. The Times continued, “Lady Thatcher stops short of calling for a total withdrawal from Europe, preferring to retain some existing arrangements while opting out of ‘present and future mechanisms which harm our interests or restrict our freedom of action.'”