Proverbs 10
11. The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
12. Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
13. In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
14. Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
14 years with A Laymans Discourse. Thank you Lord.
The camera lens homes in, mapping the man’s face—measuring the space between his eyes, the distance between the nose and mouth, the angle of his cheekbones, the shape of his chin. Instantly, that data is converted into a string of numbers or points, called a “faceprint.”
His face is recognized, compared with tens of millions of photos of faces in a database. His identity is confirmed. And he doesn’t even know he has been “detected,” “recognized” and “tracked.”
You’ve seen the images in movies. Many of us willingly submit our “data” every day, holding up our phone as the operating system algorithm detects, identifies and recognizes our face.
This is the mass AI technology that China has developed. And it is one of the most powerful surveillance tools—and Christian persecution tactics—ever made, especially when you consider that the country has installed millions of these cameras on streets, in public venues, on university campuses—and churches.
See why China is No. 17 on the 2021 World Watch List.
Reports from counties in Henan and Jiangxi provinces say cameras with facial recognition software are now in all state-approved religious venues.
China maintains it moved decisively to contain COVID-19 after the virus took flight in Wuhan, but for the country’s 97 million Christians, the cost in heavy restrictions—as surveillance reached into their homes, online and off-line interactions were tracked, and their faces were scanned into the Public Security database—is high.
Reports from counties in Henan and Jiangxi provinces say cameras with facial recognition software are now in all state-approved religious venues. Churches that have refused to install these cameras have been fined raided and even banned, like the 1,500-member Zion Church in northern Beijing.
In April 2018, Zion Church, one of the Chinese capital’s largest house churches, received a letter from city officials asking them to install 24 surveillance cameras in their sanctuary for “security reasons.”
“The church decided this was not appropriate,” Zion Church Pastor Ezra Jin told Reuters. “Our services are a sacred time.”
After the church refused, state security officials and police began to harass churchgoers, contacting their workplaces and asking them to promise not to go to church. In August 2018, authorities threatened to close Zion Church because they refused to install the cameras. A month later, officials banned the church and confiscated materials.
Zion leaders understood what the government was asking. Reportedly, many of these cameras are installed next to standard CCTV cameras, but they link to the Public Security Bureau, meaning artificial intelligence can instantly connect with other government databases. The facial recognition software will eventually be linked to China’s “Social Credit System,” which monitors the loyalty of citizens with regards to the tenets of communism. With 415 million surveillance cameras and counting, the state has the infrastructure and legal framework to pressure religious minorities in both direct and indirect ways we’ve never seen before.
And these potentially detrimental systems are spreading beyond China.
Galatians 5
16. This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21. Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Standing on the eve of a new world, one where sin & wickedness will become mainstream unlike anything we’ve known before, with war & death looming over the horizon, economic collapse & hunger along with desolation of societal norms, the immediate future of this age or epoch of humanity seems to be reaching its endtime scenario.
I predicate these ideas on not only scripture but mainline news articles. Not stories from the fake news but from those sources the MSM ignores, sources which can be verified from various other sources. Examples such as the nations around the world are prepping for war & economic collapse. Ideas such as the Great Reset being touted as the solution to all that ails the world.
Christian persecution growing exponentially around the world, the religious cultism of Wokeism spreading its tentacles into every aspect of our lives, the lists could go on with Islamic violence, corruption across all levels of western societies, sin & wickedness rolling across the landscape like a darkening fog, clouding all lying within it.
Seeing, we need to see with the Spirit, we need to ask the Father to help us to see the world we are now facing. Some will say “..I’m not going to worry, God will provide..”… Indeed, DON’T worry, but understand when GOD is providing. HE warns us across the ages through Scriptures to prepare both spiritually and physically for wicked times, meaning more than just praying.
Ezekiel 38:7 “Be prepared, and prepare yourself, you and all your companies that are assembled about you, and be a guard for them.
Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Ezekiel 12:3 Therefore, son of man, prepare for yourself baggage for exile and go into exile by day in their sight; even go into exile from your place to another place in their sight. Perhaps they will understand though they are a rebellious house.
Preparing for our physical needs can be nearly as important as preparing for our spiritual needs. As evil continues to engulf our world please seriously consider that this new reality isn’t going to be conducive to the old views of faith & church. Persecution is coming to a neighborhood near you. War & desolation looms on the horizon, people of faith need to prepare with food storage, having plans in place to evacuate or bug out if necessary, have plans to be able to worship in private locations, and on & on. Jesus warned us about coming persecution, He never told us to voluntarily lay our head on the block and wait for evil to lop it off.
We are told to endure:
Matthew 24;12. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
13. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
2 Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
5. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
Mark 13:13. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Enduring in both soul & body, how are you going to be able to reach out to someone with the Good News of Jesus if you’re dead? Yes you may be with the Lord but there may have been that one person left that only you could have reached out to with God’s plan of salvation before that unsaved person dies. We need to prepare out heart, our mind, our body, and spirit for the days coming, if we don’t & miss those times when our Savior is pointing out preps then we’ll be at a loss when we are faced with evil times.
So watch and prepare, make plans & watch.
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Matthew 7
13. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
In the famous Sermon on the Mount, as recorded in Matthew 5, we read the following;
7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for their’s is the kingdom of heaven.
11. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Also later we can read in Matthew 9:
11. And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
12. But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
13. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Throughout the life and ministry of our Savior consistently upended the mainstream viewpoint and tradition’s of His day. In the Beatitudes He clarifies on the Mount challenged the mainstream scriptural interpretation of daily life, both actions and thoughts. In the verses quoted in chapter 9 He states the Father desires us to both have and to show mercy to others, quantifying that this trait and action is more important than our attempts at sacrifice.
I cut into both chapters with the intent to emphasize the concepts of mercy. Our Creator loved us enough to allow HIS Son to die in our place, showing us the greatest of both mercy and sacrifice. Mercy because we deserve death, sacrifice because HIS Son chose to accepted the suffering and act of being placed on on the cross to die so others could live.
Our lives, as believers, are to reflect the example of our Saviour. We all fall short, every day we fail, yet every day we are to continue in our walk to be a reflection of GOD’s grace. We need to remember as believers our life is going to have both joy and heartaches, both success and failure; but whatever we encounter, see, hear, choose, or experience, we must always remember, “…But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice:…”.
Have and show mercy to others, we may suffer persecution for our faith, show mercy even when you’re shown none.
God bless.
Psalms 63
A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.
1. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;
2. To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
3. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.
4. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
5. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:
6. When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.
7. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice.
8. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.
9. But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10. They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes.
11. But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.
Seems time gets away from ya easier now since everything has gone haywire. Hospital visits, surgery, recup, new clothes; then riots, mandated fear, families being torn apart, rising crime, car getting shot at, and on it goes.
Time isn’t slowing for me or anyone, we just lose a sense of time when events cause a sensory overload.
Slowing down the mental processing of everything can give one a recalibrated outlook on their perspective of time. Relaxing, refocusing on the important things in our lives can work wonders with all the bitterness & hatred out here around us.
Praying to & trusting in the only one truly in charge of everything, that being GOD Himself, knowing HIM through the Son, Jesus the Christ. That’s what brought me back to the sense of reality in which we exist within this wicked and sinful world.
Understanding the fact that as believers we are part of something greater than ourselves, this bringing some kind of relief, knowing whatever hardships we may experience, it’s all part of HIS plan for our lives.
People claiming to be Christian are getting caught up in the travails surrounding their lives. Since this so-called pandemic media & governments have continually bombarded everyone with fear. Now fear & panic, on top of the bitterness & anger are cresting as a large wave engulfing a coastline, crashing against and destroying everything in its way.
Faith is under attack in America, some may disagree but regardless, churches are shut down across the country because of advertising fear. Congregants are separated, fearing meeting others because of advertised fear. Aninus has grown in the hearts and minds of the unsaved to the level that, to them, all former things need a violent end and something new needs to emerge from the ashes of the old.
As the world waits in anticipation time continues, life, death, four seasons, the sun, moon, clouds all continue as do we.
Pray the Lord opens the hearts & minds of those in your circle of influence. Pray the Spirit will convict them of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; then maybe you’ll lead them to faith in Jesus.
John 12
22. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
23. And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
25. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26. If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
Matthew 25
1. Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9. But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh
Matthew 6
31. Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32. (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
33. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp URGENT: Cyclone heads for India and Bangladesh Friends, please pray with us for our family in India and Bangladesh as super Cyclone Amphan’s 150 mph winds head for the countries’ border—the two countries are already battling escalating COVID-19 infections and severe food shortages the lockdowns have caused. Pray for protection, provision and strength—the need is dire.
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/prayerapp Injured Christian in Bangladesh refused help Friends, 29-year-old Ruhul Amin, a new Christian convert from Islam, was in an accident last month and broke his right hand and leg. When his neighbors heard about the accident, they started to curse him and his family saying, “This is the curse of Allah for your conversion and rejecting Islam. You still have time to repent and return [to Islam].” They are refusing to help the family and encouraging other villagers to do the same. He was released from the hospital after several days because there were no doctors available to treat him due to the coronavirus pandemic. A doctor told his family, “[Ruhul] will be OK, but he may need several operations.” Ruhul’s father, a pastor and Open Doors partner, was able to borrow some money to send Ruhul for surgery in another hospital. However, his father shares the cost for the surgery is more than the amount he could borrow: “It is very expensive and we cannot afford to pay.” Thanks to your prayers and support, Open Doors local partners have since been able to provide Ruhul with some financial support. Please join us in praying for God to provide the finances needed for Ruhul’s continued treatment. Pray for other believers to come alongside Ruhul and his family and support them in their needs. Pray for Ruhul’s full recovery, both physically and emotionally, and that he will be able to start work to support his family soon. Pray for the family to have a strong faith in Christ during this crisis. Pray the villagers’ mocking and defaming will not affect Ruhul and his family’s faith in Him and that the villagers would come to know Christ themselves. If God moves you to become more involved in supporting believers facing persecution, we encourage you to tap here to explore our Frontline Partner Program. *Representative names and photos are sometimes used to protect identity.
James 3
5. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6. And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12. Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
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