ECCE

      We are seeing signs in the current events today that make us aware that the return of Jesus Christ is near, especially as tensions mount in the Middle East. Scripture talks about foreigners who could read the spiritual signs while the people of God couldn't or wouldn't see them. At the birth of Jesus, the magi from the East followed the sign of a special star in the heavens that they knew would lead them to a new King. They followed the sign to Bethlehem, where they found the Messiah/Christ. Herod, a foreign-born king, recognized the signs and had all of the babies and children of Bethlehem killed to prevent the rise of the new King that might threaten his throne. Why didn't the religious leaders of the day recognize the same signs?      Jesus wept over Jerusalem because they had not recognized the time of their saving visitation by the Son of God. As a result, the city would see great destruction. Jesus said that if His disciples were silenced from d...

      The signs of the times are all around us and it is time for the Bride to trim her lamps and be ready for the return of the Bridegroom.       The prophet Daniel was given to see in the Spirit through dreams and visions certain kingdoms of the earth that would rise up, which Daniel called "beasts" because they appeared to him in that spiritual form. The fourth beast that he saw had ten horns, and he called it "dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong, with great iron teeth with which it devoured and broke in pieces. Daniel saw that this terrible beast would be slain and his body given over to the burning flame. ( Dan. 7:7 , 11 ).  Daniel also saw the Kingdom of heaven: "...and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, ...

      The Church should not just seem to be the Church, but it should BE the Church as Jesus intended. New groups like Christian Nationalism and new denominations full of false doctrines are springing up that have nothing to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, nor the Church as Christ purposed it to be. There is a lack of the wisdom, knowledge and understanding of Scripture that the Lord has called us to have: "Hear ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding...Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her." (Prov. 4:1-8, excerpt).      We are also told in scripture to hide God's Word in our hearts, but we seem to...

      Last week we began the message, "The Power and Authority of the Believer," and this week we will continue that message. The power ( dynamis - strength, power, ability, power to perform miracles, moral power and excellence of soul) and authority ( exousia - power, authority, privilege) do not come from man, or by man, but is by the Word and the Name of the Lord. This same Word promises that "these signs shall follow them that believe..." This is promised to all believers, not just to those with titled positions in the Church. Jesus gave not only this power and authority, but also His glory, to His disciples as He prayed to the Father before His death and resurrection. Jesus prayed that His Father in heaven had sent Him with power over all flesh, and has given Him glory. Jesus' pray continued: " I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word...For ...