November 2023
Thank you for your prayers on our behalf. I am taking somewhat of a sabbatical for several weeks. I will continue writing but especially seeking to hear from the Lord. The great shaking I write about in this SERMON OF THE MONTH should give everyone pause (as it has me!) to examine their lives, their ministries, their future scheduling and to, most importantly, “hear what the Spirit is saying.” For one thing, the Spirit is certainly is speaking by today’s news!
The extraordinary events happening in the Middle East, as I write, justify this month’s newsletter being dedicated fully to examine together the significance of what is happening. Prophets had predicted a “great shaking” was coming. I wrote about that in our August Newsletter. We don’t know if this is THE final biblically prophesied shaking before the Lord returns. Nevertheless, we certainly couldn’t call this anything but a kind of “Great Shaking.
Testimony…
In our meeting at Plant City, FL, we prayed for Tracy Thomas. For 11 years she had been suffering with pain from fibromyalgia. For the first time in over a decade she demonstrated how she could walk up the stairs to the platform with no pain and testified again of that two days later. Amazing picture at left! Your prayers and financial support helps make such testimonies possible!
Is The Great Shaking Here?
by Dea Warford
Jerusalem is the spiritual Capital of Israel and the epicenter of God’s plan and purpose on earth since the time of David, to Christ’s death on the cross and resurrection, till Christ rules with a rod of iron over His millennial reign from the city. We could be seeing on the news today the fulfillment of Zechariah 12:2:
“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.”
Experts are warning about the war between Hamas and Israel eventually involving many other countries in the area. I read where Hezbollah has been trying to buy a nuclear weapon from Korea. It is possible they were successful in procuring one and have it ready to deliver once their expected invasion from Lebanon takes place. Rick Joyner, a man I greatly respect, had a dream that a nuclear weapon was detonated in Israel. Are we at the brink of World War III? For decades prophetic teachers have interpreted Ezek. 38’s mention of “God and Magog” coming against Israel as referring to Russia. Well, added to Russia is now China and Iran. Many nations are defending Hamas and the Palestinians while trying to make the Jews look like the aggressors. Islamic nations could line up to join the ranks of those who will fight Israel. Zechariah 14:1, 2 speaks of the time when, “a day is coming for the Lord to act” (NEB). Most translations call it “the day of the Lord.” This phrase is used often in the Old Testament referring to a time (not necessarily one day) when God brings judgment. At this day of the Lord, “all nations (will come) against Jerusalem to battle.”
Referring to a repeated pattern throughout history (and now especially at this time?) Ps. 2 says: “Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us.” The spirit of antichrist has sought to destroy the Jews, their land, and their special chosen relationship by their Creator through the ages. Is, at last, this Psalm 2 prophecy being graphically fulfilled today as Muslim extremists and Iran vow the destruction of Israel? I think we need to look a little closer at Islam, as it is the church’s and Israel’s greatest enemy. It is often said, “Christians, Jews and Muslims, are all monotheistic and believe in and worship the same God.” This has incited much debate on the subject in Christian circles. But really, they are debating the wrong question. The real question is not if Muslims worship the same God, but rather, “Does God accept their worship? Does God hear and answer a Muslim’s prayers?” What does the Bible have to say about it?
1/ Are Muslims followers of the one true God”?
The Bible is very clear on this subject. Paul prophetically warned in 1 Tim. 4:1: “God’s Spirit clearly says that in the last days many people…will be fooled by evil spirits and by teachings that come from demons.” The devil, not Mahammad, was the founder of the Muslim religion! “Well, we are all just children of God.” (some tout). NOT TRUE! “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God.” Jesus told the unbelieving Jews (John 8:44): “You are of your father the devil.” To tell Muslims and Jews that they are “our brothers and sisters” sounds nice and politically correct, but it is contrary to the Scriptures. Jews, we know, are a specially chosen people and in the last days God will so deal with them that Paul could write,
“And so all Israel shall be saved …The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is my covenant with them, When I take away their sins” (Romans 11:26, 27-Read the whole story in the rest of the chapter). Do you think a nuclear explosion could get the attention of Israel and be a “shaking” that would bring national repentance and the acceptance of their true Deliverer?” Jews turning to Christ is one of the greatest signs of Christ’s coming! Watch for that sign. BE READY!
2/ Are Muslims “people of the book?”
Muslims believe that the Bible was divinely inspired, but believe that the revelation to Mohammed in the 7th Century was a more complete revelation and supersedes the teachings of Christ. So, they’re “people of the book” alright (The Koran), but NOT the book we use for our worship of God.
3/ Does God accept the worship of a Muslim?
Again, the Word is so clear on the subject. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one (That includes Muslims, doesn’t it?) comes to the Father except through me.” Because of that verse alone we can unequivocally say that Muslims who bow and pray to “Allah” are NOT coming to the Father! They may be coming to a demon, but they are not coming to God, the one true God of the universe! Furthermore, 1 Tim. 2:5 says, “There is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” Mohammed is not one of many so-called mediators between God and men. Only Jesus can do that! Additionally, Acts 4:12 makes clear, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we MUST be saved.”
John 4 settles the matter once and for all. Jesus went through Samaria. The Samaritans were originally ethnically Jews, but many of them had intermarried with Assyrians under captivity there (Assyrians are the seed of Esau!) and after returning to the Holy Land, they had corrupted the Jewish religion with heathen traditions, even building their own Temple. This is why the Jews had, “no dealings with Samaritans” (v.9). Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well,
“You worship what you do not know: we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.” Middle Easterners of all faiths who “worship” any God other than the God of the Jews and the Christians are so confused, they don’t even know what they are worshipping. Since Jesus said, “Salvation is of the Jews” any Islamic intent to wipe the Jews off the map is keeping them from the only way of salvation who is a Jew, Jesus!”
Tragically, Muslims are fulfillment of Paul’s word in Phil. 3:18: “For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ.” No wonder our soldiers while fighting in the Iraq were told to not wear a cross. Wearing the cross is outlawed in some Muslim countries. “Enemies of the cross” indeed! Hamas teaches if their soldiers are killed in trying to kill both Christians and Jews that they will go to Heaven. I feel so sorry for those who, instead, find themselves in an eternal Hell!
How then should we respond, as God’s people, when we see Islam, the church’s greatest enemy, being given equal footing with Christianity, defended in our colleges, and Washington DC? And now, how do we react to seeing them cutting off heads of the children of our greatest friend, Israel? We are all praying for Israel as the Word says, “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They shall prosper that love thee” (Ps. 122:6).
But more than that, we should learn how to witness to and love our enemies as Christ told us to do. Let’s consider further the mental and spiritual attitude we should take when we see on television the end times unfolding, Islam helping hasten the Tribulation and as we sadly witness even the USA taking first steps to eventually join the armies of “all nations” that will come against Israel.
1 Cor. 2:16 says, “We have the mind of Christ.” Since this is the case, we should ask, “What is Christ thinking about this satanically inspired Islamic plan to destroy Israel?” Ps. 2:4 tells us exactly what He thinks about it all. When the conspiracy begins developing, “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh.” Hallelujah!
In end times, if He can laugh, we can laugh! Why? Because the nation’s conspiracy will fail, His enemies will be destroyed and Christ will set up His throne in Jerusalem! PTL! We can laugh, not at it the destruction coming, but THROUGH it! Job 5:10-16, are promises we can claim:
“In famine He shall redeem you from death, And in war from the power of the sword. . . you shall not be afraid of destruction when it comes. YOU SHALL LAUGH AT DESTRUCTION…You shall know that your tent (home) is in peace (secure). You shall visit your habitation and find nothing amiss. You shall come to the grave at a full age.”
Israel soldiers and US soldiers may need to kill Muslims. But, though perhaps necessary to defend world peace, our attitude should be like God’s: “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezek. 33:11). We want to win Muslims (even Hamas and Hezbollah) to Christ! Surely that is difficult at this time in history. Nevertheless, David shows a way in Ps. 66:3:
“How awesome are your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You.”
If we do the works of Christ (John 14:12) and demonstrate his healing and delivering power, this also will help us win the Muslims to the Lord, so they can go to Heaven, instead of killing them so they’ll go straight to Hell. Let’s keep “the mind of Christ” paramount in this matter! Jesus taught us to turn the other cheek. David had enemies:
“False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not. They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul…(and what did David do?)… But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. I behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.
Notice “as though” his enemy were his brother (but he wasn’t!). We can treat Muslims as though they’re our brother-with love and compassion-but yet understand they are NOT our brother. “I bowed down heavily, as one who mourns for his mother.” Wow, now that is a powerful picture! Instead of saying, “These awful Muslims!” we should be mourning, praying, and carrying a burden (A prayer that keeps coming to our lips with all our heart as it did David’s). God give us such love and grace that we’d mourn in intercession for the salvation of lost Muslims (or any other earthly enemies) with the same intent and commitment we would intercede for our own dying mother to be saved! Israel and Muslims truly figure largely in these last days. Keep watching the news! When the armies surround Jerusalem, (if we are around!) we’ll know the Great Tribulation is here! That could be years off, or it could begin shortly! Understand the biblical prophetic significance and let the Word give clarity as to what you should do!
Yes, a worldwide shaking is here! That’s sobering news. Don’t sing with Elvis, “I’m all shook up!” Instead, claim the promise in Psalm 112:6 NIV):
“Surely the righteous will never be shaken.”
(I wrote in our April newsletter that the Lord had been speaking to me from Isaiah 55:5 and that I believed God was going to soon pour out the 55:5 glory on Warford Ministries. I still believe that more than ever! Recently, Prophet Chris Reed had the Lord speak to him that verse. Then he kept seeing or hearing about the number (as I have for some time). He shared about it in the October 8 service from Morning Star Ministries. (Watch it on YouTube starting at minute 59!).
Israel’s invasion is initiating His chosen people for their return to God. God revealed to me over 4 decades ago that my primary ministry was for the very last days. Great power to heal the sick and to finally see His glory on me, and necessary doors to open for me, may be busting open soon! Your last day ministry may also begin. Listen to what He is saying about it! Don’t cry about the world’s demotion (though mourning for its unsaved). Instead, laugh about our coming promotion!
Is the shaking in Middle East your sign?
Is YOUR time now?