MINISTRY UPDATE - WINTER 2002

Greetings to you in Jesus' name!  Please see below our quarterly Ministry Update for the Winter of 2002.  As you read this at the time of this writing, Christmas has just passed and we are still awaiting the celebration of the new year on New Year's Eve.  We pray you had a blessed time in the Lord during the Christmas holiday season and pray that your new year in Christ will be even more blessed as you continue to make an impact for Jesus Christ in the lives of those He puts in your path.  

This newsletter will focus on the world situation as we see it unfolding according to scripture in these last days for the nation of Israel.  We pray that you will be blessed and encouraged as you read it, and to also please take to the Lord in prayer anything we've said that you may have questions or doubts about.  It is not our intention to bring any doubt or confusion, but only want to bring to you what we believe God is speaking to our hearts in what we share here.  Thank you and God bless you!

As we close out 2002 and move into a new year … we appear to be headed to war in the Middle East, unless it gets delayed (but not solved).  Some in high places wants people believing it’s not about containing terrorism at all, but really about oil.  There may be some merit to that allegation. If terrorists could force Americans to pay $50 a gallon for gas or higher at the fuel pump due to oil shortages, they would be delighted.  Outrageously high priced oil can bankrupt our nation, folks! A bankrupt nation cannot maintain a first-rate military and intelligence community.  It takes money to maintain a first-rate military.  It takes money to contain terrorism through our intelligence agencies in our back yard, which is only bound to grow.  Thus many believe it truly is about slowing down and attempting to contain terrorism, and partly how we do that is to make certain as a nation that no one holds us hostage to the basic needs of our nation, of which oil is. 

Yet the devil’s headlines will be screaming loud and clear: ‘Letting your loved ones give their lives for cheaper oil?  Outrage!’  Let’s shed a little further light on this delicate and extremely touchy matter.  We all cry out for means by which we’re not dependant on foreign oil.  Makes “logical sense,” right?  If you can be open to the remote possibility – there are those that are not totally convinced God will allow that to happen in the near future, no matter how “preposterous!” the reason/s might sound.  Here’s why.  If God was to allow America to be energy self-sufficient, certain politicians would let Israel fend for herself, because we would no longer would “need her” as our ally.  Nevertheless, many believe that those who take the position that America should remain a close ally with Israel will become the most despised and most hated people on this planet until the return of Jesus Christ, so we believe Christians now need to pray and receive revelation about Israel from God, because this issue is going to divide Christians like little else has or will.  If you’ve ever wondered what God meant: “I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling” (Zech. 12:2)… we’re all going to become strongly convinced He knew what He was talking about, because the “Jerusalem” God is referring to here happens to be in the heart of the nation of Israel. 

Can we agree that God has sovereign say about the oil on planet Earth - not man?  God can give control of that oil to whomever He pleases.  Is there any country more deserving of fairly priced oil than the nation who still allows Christianity to prosper, and will continue to support the defense of Israel.  No matter how much objection comes to defending Israel, we must remember: God revealed himself to the Jewish people of the Old Testament, and gave us the Messiah as written about in the New Testament.  The very Bible we read and promote came from Jewish authors.  No matter how resistant the Jewish people are of Jesus being the promised Messiah of 2,000 years ago, there are prophecies yet to be fulfilled about national Israel.  The wise nation  --the wise person --will support the defense of Israel … and pray for that nation on a regular basis.  For Christians to believe that the Church is now the real Israel and God is all done with the nation of Israel is major deception and a lie.  (The Church is spiritual Israel and spiritual Jerusalem, but so what?) Those praying often for the peace of Jerusalem and the defense and safety of the literal nation of Israel are obeying God’s will as recorded in scriptures.  (See: Psalms 122:6)   [Of course, those praying for and blessing spiritual Israel can’t go wrong either, and are only wise, but that’s not the point].

There are voices growing, and will continue to grow, that if America would just quit supporting Israel, terrorism against Americans would go away.  For a while, that might be so.  However … it would be short lived.  What the devil hates about America more than anything else is the freedom America gives to Christians and Jews.  Only until America controls, suppresses and silences Christians and Jews will the devil be satisfied. (Satan killing every last one of us would be total victory for him).  Let’s remind ourselves of some of the most important reasons why that is:

1)  Christians (some) understand that God involves Himself in human affairs because Christians pray.  God has ordained His Church to be the agency (or instrument) in which His will gets accomplished on planet Earth more than what most realize since Pentecost.  If Christians don’t pray, Satan gains influence, simple as that.  What’s one of the best ways to get Christians to stop praying?  Discourage them through oppression, persecution, torture and fear.  [And of course, simply get them to believe that God “doesn’t need” Christians praying about anything, because “God always has and always will work sovereignly all by His own doing, independently of Christians or anyone else.”  What a lie!  Tell a devout militant follower of Islam that God works independently of people, and they will laugh you off the face of the earth.]

2)  Christians understand that “control without a viable vote with checks and balances” is Satan’s way of controlling nations.  A majority of praying Christians wrote America’s constitution, knowing what “unrestrained control” of Government control can lead to from the country they left.

3)  Devoted Christians are the best employees of companies, because they believe their vocation is God’s call on their lives.  They are influenced by the Holy Spirit in them to be “shining stars” of integrity, honesty and upright character, desiring their employer to be financially blessed of God to be a financial blessing to others. 

4)  Enlightened Christians understand that God is a rewarder of those who deserve to be rewarded through Godly sowing and reaping principles: not just because of race, origin, gender, religious affiliation or family connections.  Those who work the hardest with honesty for their employers are the ones who deserve to be rewarded the most financially.   Satan’s way is to promise “financial equality for all” whether one deserves it or not … as long as those in control receive more than just their “fair share.” (That’s what Communism was all about.  On the other extreme, Socialism wants to rob from the hard-working, industrious haves to give to the lazy have-nots, and those in control will stay in control by the votes of the have-nots – getting very well paid for it, of course).  

5)  American Christians have financed the spreading of the Good News of Jesus Christ and dissemination of the Bible to more countries than any other nation in modern times.  They have been able to do that because of their financial overflow.  Satan wants Christians financially poor as much as he can get them.  He has everything to gain and nothing to lose by attempting to bring this about.  If America is financially crippled, so will most Christians be.  (That’s the way it works in third world nations.) 

6)  Enlightened Christians realize that because Satan is constantly trying to place his own vessels in government, the judiciary, the media, the workplace, and in all high visibility and influential positions … they must also avail themselves to political and judicial offices, and to seek influential and high visibility positions as well.  (Vessels Satan can use to oppress Christians are amply within America’s borders and in high positions.  They are doing a very good job for him without their even knowing.  Spiritual terrorism is prospering greatly in America.  Who but enlightened and devoted Christians will fight our war for us, if we don’t fight it ourselves through prayer and active involvement in all levels of society?). 

7)  This is worth repeating: Satan hates Christians in America because they pray for Israel’s security and actively participate in Israel’s economic viability.  Satan knows that God will bless the people who pray for Israel and support Israel’s economic viability, and will remove His blessing from those who don’t.  Satan hates Israel because God has chosen Israel for specific purposes that will affect the future of this world.  Contrary to some, Jesus is not going to set up His command post to rule the nations in America when He returns.  He’s going to do it in the land He was born and shed His blood in: national Israel.  God the Father has ordained it to be so, and it’s recorded in scripture.  (See: Isaiah 4:2-6).   

Let’s examine the human condition from a little different perspective, yet still sticking with the theme of terrorism and war.  From the moment Adam and Eve were created, Satan was looking for an opportunity to “terrorize” them.  Through his lying to Eve, he manipulated her into sinning against God.  His deceptive lie was the weapon of terror that accomplished his goal.  From that point until now, deception and lies have been his two most effective “terrorist weapons.”  Sometime in the future, Satan is going to spring another “terrorist attack” upon planet earth through deception and lies.  As suffering, fear, and chaos grows across the world … Satan has a “plan of rescue” for the world.  It should not surprise anyone that a likeable and charismatic individual will have answers to the “problems” of this world in the future.  If God should allow, this “being” might even step off a UFO or appear from out of nowhere. That would probably be the best way I can think of to convince the world that this “being” is the “long awaited messiah” (notice little “m”).  In the proper time, he will be thought of as the real messiah who has finally arrived and manifested himself to Israel, and many “Christians” will also be deceived into believing this individual (being) to be the real messiah, though he (this being?) will truly be a counterfeit Satan has provided.

Although it’s difficult to determine exact time frames and sequencing of events, expect financial uncertainty to increase around the globe, and America will not be exempt.  With terrorist acts happening ever more frequently, and the threat or fear of certain nations selling nuclear and biological weapons to anyone who wants to buy them (preferably to be used against Israel and the U.S., of course), the world is going to eventually be sold on the “necessity” and the “wisdom” of digital money.  It might start out slowly as something that is strictly voluntary, or it might happen so fast it will all become a blur.  But in due season, it will not become optional.  Digital money will no doubt appear to solve a lot of the world’s problems in the short term, but Satan has one thought in mind and that is to control as much of the world economy as he can.  Whether digital money will be implemented by him, taken over by him, or simply handed to him, is probably irrelevant.  Once he has sufficient control of the digital money system, 15-year-old gee-wiz kids will find a way to hack into the system (not to mention full grown gee-wiz terrorists) – thus the need for “security” of the system to keep “economic peace.”  The end of the story should not surprise any student who has read the book of Revelation.  “No one will buy or sell without the mark of the beast.”  The mark would seem to be a unique code that each individual will be given that is different for each person, though it could be more than just that.  Anyone yelling, “Don’t let digital money gain a foothold!” will probably be silenced in the name of “Necessary Security.”  

Again - it may be many, many years yet before these events unfold, yet there are too many brothers and sisters in the Lord by the witness of the Holy Spirit that feel we’re heading towards digital money.  God forbid, it may happen sooner than what many care to imagine.  If so, each of us needs to be ready in the Holy Spirit to do as He leads us -- to maintain.  Sin is what makes us dull to the Holy Spirit and affects our ability to hear Him, which then diminishes our desire to obey Him … so let’s address the issue.

God tells us in scripture to not be overly concerned about tomorrow, because there is enough evil going around today to have to deal with.  If we think too much about the future, it will rob us of our hope, peace and joy that God has for us today.  God does not want His people fearing tomorrow.  He wants us fearing Him.  He wants us fearing what the consequences of our on-going sin can do to us if we have stopped fearing any consequences of our on-going sin.   

Here’s a hard word for many to swallow, though we believe God wants it delivered.  Hell is going to be full of “religious people” who didn’t fear God enough to get ruthless with the on-going sin in their life and put it to death forever.  Simply riding on 1 John 1:9 … constantly asking forgiveness for our sin, and never getting ruthless enough in God to stop giving into it/them … gives God every right to say that some us of were “goats” all along and never “sheep” when we lay prostrate before Him on the Judgment Day.  We all want to hear:  “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of the Lord.”  Do any of us want to hear:  “Depart from Me, you disobedient, self-serving, self-pleasing reprobate.  All Christianity ever meant to you was being given 'a fire insurance policy.'  All you wanted was relief from your eternal torment that you know every sinner deserves. You abused and took advantage of my grace during your time on earth.  I will not tolerate anyone abusing my grace indefinitely, which you are guilty of.  Nor will I tolerate indefinitely those who deceived others with their deception, doing so without any fear of the eternal consequences.  Depart from me into everlasting torment!” Those are not exactly words taken from scripture, but the spirit of them is.  God didn’t die for believers of Ephesians 2:8-9 only.  He died for doers of His New Covenant that well understand and appreciate Ephesians 2:8-9, but also realize that believers only and not doers of OBEDIENCE of the entire New Covenant as well are only fooling and deceiving themselves.  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  (James 1:22)

Can we lovingly exhort everyone reading this to make 2003 the year that pet, addictive sins are put to death forever?  For our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we do it, praise His holy name!

We feel to leave the Body of Christ a sobering word as we move into the New Year.  Don’t find reasons to stay away from praying with other believers about geo-political events, and the leaders of your nation.  God desires our corporate and individual prayers more than what most of us believe.  And whatever you do, don’t let the devil talk you out of praying regularly for the peace and security of Israel, and that through Israel’s chastisement, they will come to receive full revelation of who Jesus Christ really was and is.  As we take care of God’s business, He’ll take care of ours.  If we neglect His … He may not be so quick to take care of ours. 

As always, we so much appreciate all those who pray regularly for this ministry and for us personally.  Speaking on the very topic we’ve written about here makes us high on Satan’s “hit list” to put out of commission, and like we tell everyone, “We would rather have too many praying for us than two few.  Having too many people praying for the ministry and us is a nice “problem to have” … one that God has no problem dealing with we can be pretty much assured.  

Likewise, feel free to funnel your prayer requests to us as well, as the Holy Spirit leads, though for those who have serious prayer needs, we highly encourage saints to funnel their prayer requests to established prayer ministries called for that very purpose.   Thank you so much  for your financial support from those who gave in 2002 as well, and please ask God if He would have you help support this ministry financially in 2003.  If not, be at peace.

With the remaining space, here are some noteworthy scriptures (NKJV) to prayerfully ponder:

“I will bless those who bless you, and curse him who curses you...”  (Gen. 12:3)

“But Zion said, The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me...”  (Read all of Isaiah 49: 14-26)

“It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”  (Zech. 12:9)

“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in...“  (Read all of: Romans 11:25-36)

Lovingly in His Service,

Norm & Kathleen Rasmussen