Day: March 25, 2024

Our Greatest Joy by William Oldham

On By Brother BillIn Brother Bill3 Comments

“Beside the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept as we thought of Jerusalem. We put away our harps, hanging them on the branches of poplar trees. For our captors demanded a song from us. Our tormentors insisted on a joyful hymn: “sing us one of those songs of Jerusalem!” But how can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a pagan land? If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget how to play the harp. May my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I fail to remember you, if I don’t make Jerusalem my greatest joy.” Psalm 137:1-6

The most powerful and fierce nation on earth, Babylon, had not only conquered the kingdom of Judah and destroyed Jerusalem, but had removed the Jews from their homeland and their beloved city, and brought them to live in the wicked, pagan land of Babylon. And, according to the Scriptures, on the saddest and darkest day of their lives, the enemy taunted them by insisting on them singing songs of praise to Jerusalem.

The captive Jews’ first thought was, “When we were brought into this dark place, the last thing we wanted to do was sing. We put away all of our musical instruments, for we were in no mood to celebrate or rejoice. We have lost everything, and are now living among foreigners and heathens who worship many gods, but not Jehovah God.” When dark days settle around us, do we not feel the same way?

But then they had a second thought: “Jerusalem is our greatest joy; even here, at this dark hour, Let us sing! Let us lose our ability to play and sing if we don’t.”  In times of darkness and trial, our flesh will often give us a thought that dishonors God; but the Holy Spirit will give us a contrary thought that DOES honor God. Let us seek to be led by the Holy Spirit.

When tribulation strikes the saints, it can surely bring a darkness to their spiritual vision. A perfect example of this is John the Baptist. Concerning him, Jesus said this, “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist…” Matthew 11:11 The Lord caused John to be born, filling him with the Holy Spirit, while still in his mother’s womb. God had ordained him to be the forerunner of Jesus, officially introducing Him to the nation of Israel.

And this he did. Jesus was hidden from Israel until He was about 30 years of age. John the Baptist, who was six months older than Jesus had also been hid from Israel for the same period of time. At the Lord’s appointed time, John came forth, calling Israel to repent of their sins and turn to God, saying, “…The kingdom of Heaven is near.” When they confessed their sins, he baptized them. Many Jews obeyed John’s preaching, but most of the Jewish leaders did not.

But there came the day when Jesus came forth in obedience to His Father’s will, to be baptized by John. John didn’t know Jesus by sight, but the Holy Spirit revealed to John that here was the long-awaited Messiah of Israel. As John saw Jesus coming towards him, he said, “Look! The Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 It was a bold declaration of the Messiah.

But then later, John found himself in prison, looking at getting his head cut off. There in prison, John called his disciples to go and find out if Jesus was the Messiah they were looking for. What happened to John’s vision of Jesus? The darkness of prison had temporarily clouded the great man of God’s vision; trials and temptations do that to all of us. We oft find ourselves locked up into troubling situations where we cannot see any way out. What can we do? What must we do?

We can do like Job did after he lost all ten children, all his assets, and his livelihood: he fell to the ground and worshipped the Lord, praising Him, because the Lord was his greatest joy. At our darkest hour, may we remember that our greatest joy is the Lord Jesus Christ, and we will praise Him, regardless.

Brother Bill is a Bible teacher and can be contacted at bboldham@sbcglobal.net

Russia adds ‘LGBT movement’ to list of terrorist organizations after Supreme Court ruling

On By Geri UngureanIn Russia Adds LGBTQ to Terrorists List3 Comments

From christianpost.com

Russia has designated the “LGBT movement” on its list of extremist and terror organizations, aligning with a Supreme Court decision last year.

State media reported that the “LGBT movement” was added to the list maintained by the Rosfinmonitoring agency, which works to combat terror financing and has the power to freeze the bank accounts of over 14,000 entities and individuals designated as extremists. 

The designation applies to the “international LGBT social movement and its structural units,” according to state news agency RIA. The Rosfinmonitoring list currently contains 511 organizations.

Russian media also notes that the Russian Ministry of Justice included the “LGBT movement” on a list of banned and liquidated organizations in March. 

The move has sparked international condemnation and concerns over human rights violations.

In November, Russia’s Supreme Court ruled LGBT activists as extremists based on a motion filed by the Russian Justice Ministry to ban the movement’s “activity on the territory of the Russian Federation.”

According to the human rights group Amnesty International, a person convicted of involvement in LGBT-affiliated “extremist organizations” could face between five to 10 years in prison.

“This phrase, used by the Russian Ministry of Justice, appears to target not an established, clearly defined group or initiative, but any activism in defense of the human rights of LGBTI people or even any public association with the LGBTI community,” Amnesty International reported. 

At the time, a spokesman for the Russian Orthodox Church, which has faced international scrutiny for its leaders’ support of the invasion in Ukraine, called the ruling a “form of moral self-defense by society” against attacks on “the Christian idea of marriage and family from the public and legal realms.” 

This ruling followed a broader trend of tightening restrictions on LGBT expressions in Russia, emphasizing traditional family values. Laws have been enacted against promoting “non-traditional” sexual relations and gender changes, reflecting the government’s stance against Western liberal attitudes.

In 2022, Russia expanded laws to allow against “LGBT propaganda,” with critics saying it gives authorities the ability to fine any person or group that promotes homosexuality.

The European Union criticized the Supreme Court ruling. 

“Amid the decades-long crackdown on rights of LGBTIQ persons unleashed under President Putin, this decision aims at further persecuting the LGBTIQ community in Russia and aims to stifle civil society and those courageously defending human rights,” the EU said in a statement at the time. “This decision will prevent LGBTIQ persons from enjoying their human rights and dignity over fears of unjustified persecution.”

Last year, the Russian Orthodox Church severed ties with Western churches supportive of LGBT rights. 

Putin’s rhetoric has increasingly targeted Western liberal values, accusing them of undermining traditional family structures and promoting harmful ideologies.

Last February, Putin appeared to suggest the advancement of same-sex marriage and other rights for LGBT-identified people destroys the institution of the family and promotes pedophilia.

“Look at what they’re doing with their own people,” he said. “It is all about the destruction of the family, of cultural and national identity, perversion and abuse of children, including pedophilia, all of which are declared normal in their life.”

As an illustration, Putin claimed priests were being forced to “bless same-sex marriages.” Although Putin was likely referencing the Church of England’s plans to bless same-sex marriages, the policy grants priests autonomy not to bless same-sex marriages.

“Look at the holy Scripture and the main books of other world religions,” Putin said at the time. “They say it all, including that family is the union of a man and a woman, but these sacred texts are now being questioned.”

My prayer for the LGBTQ community is that their eyes and hearts would be opened and many will turn away from the sins and trust Jesus for their Salvation.

HOW CAN I BE SAVED?

MARANATHA!!