Part I of these articles, “If You Have Already Taken the Covid-19 Vax, Your Health is in Danger, PART I” presents overwhelming evidence that Covid-19 vaccines are NEITHER EFFECTIVE NOR SAFE. It included shocking results of the vaccines that never make it into the corrupt mainstream media, but are impacting billions of people and their families world-wide.
In this post – PART II – “If You Took the Vax, YOUR SOUL is in Danger”, we will see that the ultimate agenda of the globalists is depopulation (another word for MASS MURDER or GENOCIDE), and even worse, the Covid-19 vaccines threaten our eternal destiny.
How is that possible, you ask? There are four key points, the first of which is that these vaccines are NOT VACCINES (they don’t fit the legal definition of vaccines), but are self-replicating ‘spike protein’ depopulation bioweapons that alter our God-given DNA and turn us into genetically modified organisms (GMOs). And there are three more compelling reasons.
But the good news – the GREAT NEWS – is that all who are vaxxed have a second chance – to repent, with healing and restoration from our Lord.
This post provides many details of the above, so you won’t want to miss it. You can see it here: If You Took the Vax, PART II:
The compelling messages from Jesus Christ to the seven churches in the book of Revelation are below. To take the quiz, review the description of the seven churches below, then choose two of them that best describe your church. Better yet, share this quiz with the leaders of your church, then ask them what does this mean for their church and its future?
Finally, take the quiz or your own spiritual life, and ask if you are comfortable with the results? ___1) The Loveless Church (Ephesus) – “I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.” Revelation 2:4-5
___2) The Persecuted Church (Symyrna) – “I know your works, tribulation, and poverty. Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” Revelation 2:9-10
___3) The Compromising Church (Pergamos) – “But I have a few things against you, because you have those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. Repent, or I will come to you and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.” Revelation 2:14-16
___4) The Corrupt Church (Thyatira) – “Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I will give to each one of you according to your works.” Revelation 2:20-22
___5) The Dead Church (Sardis) – “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent.” Revelation 3:1-3
___6) The Faithful Church (Philadelphia) – “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Revelation 3:10-11
___7) The Lukewarm Church (Laodicea) – “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich…” Revelation 3:14-18
To God be the glory LifeintheSpirit.net Source of image: Pexels
Our Lord is calling us to be ambassadors for Christ:
“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” II Corinthians 5:20
I will never forget the day I met the ambassador to the United States from the Fiji Islands. He exuded confidence, warmth, and a sense of purpose, giving us a glimpse into the soul of his nation and an invitation to have a relationship with him, His king, and his people.
Have you ever met a real ambassador of Christ from the Kingdom of God? Although all Christians are called to be ambassadors for Christ, most of us fail to fulfill our calling fully. The best examples are the apostles. Filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, they became bold preachers that would not be stopped, regardless of persecution.
Each of us is called to be an Ambassador for Christ – filled with the Holy Spirit, equipped to do His work, and sent forth to reach the lost. We then do not just work for God, but God works through us.
Those who see evangelism as a job or career ask what they have to do and what is in it for them. Those who are called by the Lord have only one request: “Send me, oh Lord. Send me!”
The big question facing you and me is: are we willing to accept the call and seek the lost in the mission field? (And we are ALREADY IN the mission field). We need to decide quickly, for time is short and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.
To God be the glory, Mark Peterson LifeintheSpirit.net Source of image: Pixabay
Time is short before judgment and war comes to America (https://tinyurl.com/judgmentwar), and it will be a time of great distress such as never been, nor will be again. So it important for us to do three things:
1) Draw close to the Lord and spend time with Him in your secret place, in prayer and in His Word. In the chaotic times to come, it will be critical for us to know His still, small voice, so we can hear Him as He guides and protects us through the chaos. If we do not spend time with Him, we will have nothing special – nothing supernatural – to share with others in their time of need.
“Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things which you do not know.” Jeremiah 3:3
2) Commune with other believers in worship and prayer, so that we may minister to them and they can minister to us. A primary way for this to happen is through a local church. But it must be a Bible-believing church that holds up Jesus Christ as Savior above all else. This is described here: https://lifeinthespirit.net/2024/12/03/25-signs-of-a-healthy-church/
“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25
3) Reach out to the lost. Many, many people don’t know our Lord. They may know about Him, but they don’t know Him and His still, small voice that gives guidance and peace. They will be lost as cataclysmic events unfold and their lives are shaken to the core. So reach out to them with the truth and love of Christ, for life is short, eternity is a very long time, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28:18-20
To God be the glory LifeintheSpirit.net Image by Splitshire from Pixabay
A healthy church is not just a building, leadership structure, or weekly service. A healthy church is a vibrant community where God is present and members grow in their faith and service. Here are 25 signs of a healthy church: ___1. There is a divine sense of mission and purpose to carry out The Great Commission. ___2. The presence of God is evident in worship services and the assembly of the saints. ___3. The Word of God is presented with authority and anointing. ___4. There are functional prayer gatherings. ___5. There is a real expectation for answered prayers. ___6. People are getting saved and baptized. ___7. The leadership of the church – elders, deacons, teachers, and pastors, seek to serve the Lord and the congregation with humility and integrity. ___8. The church is more in love with the future (with a compelling vision) than the past. ___9. Fellowship and relationships are warm, and people do not jockey for position and titles. ___10. Many people volunteer to serve. ___11. Many people support the church with tithes and offerings. ___12. The community gets impacted in real ways. ___13. Your leaders have great passion. ___14. There is more attention, resources, and enthusiasm devoted to the work of the Lord than to maintaining the church organization and facilities. ___15. There is an established pattern of disciple making, equipping members to be ambassadors for Christ. ___16. Homeless and street people are seen as a mission field and are treated with compassion. ___17. There is greater emphasis on what unites us in Christ than how we are different from other Christians. ___18. There is an increase of members and finances over time. ___19. Openness to change and support of innovation is evident. ___20. Sermons engage both the mind and the heart. ___21. You are seeing many first-time visitors. ___22. Your church is welcoming and diverse; everyone in your church does not look and think just like you. ___23. You’re focused on reaching new people as well as keeping church members. ___24. Communication is clear and conflicts are resolved when they arise. ___25. There is a sense of urgency and passion to reach lost souls.
How many of these describe your church: _ out of 25?
Action steps you can take: • share this list with other members and leaders of your church, • hold this up to the Lord, seeking His guidance, • develop action steps to build on your strengths and address problem areas, and • take action, giving glory to God for the results.
To God be the glory LifeintheSpirit.net Image by Arnie Bragg from Pixabay
Source of image: JosephMaterra.org “The word of God teaches us that there are times God’s presence can leave the corporate expression of His people. We see this in I Samuel 4:21-22 when the name Ichabod was given to the grandson of Eli, the high priest, after the ark of the covenant was captured by the Philistines. Also, in the book of Revelation 3:1 Jesus told the church of Sardis that they had a reputation of being alive but was dead. Hence, it is possible for communities of faith to be dead or dying.
Furthermore, in Revelation 2:5, Jesus warned the church of Ephesus that if they did not repent He would remove their lampstand. Since the lampstand represents the true church (according to Rev.1: 20) then Jesus was either threatening to shut down the church and or remove Himself from it (which would mean it was dead spiritually).
Since Jesus said that the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church (Matthew 16) then, it is impossible for Satan to close down a church; hence, whenever a church ceases to exist it is the Lord Himself who shut it down. This is the reason many denominations will cease to exist in the next few decades as well as why many congregations close their doors every year. (To blame Satan for this is not biblical since Jesus said He is the One who removes them).
Having established the biblical precedent for dead or dying churches, the following are signs of a dead (or dying) church. Check the ones that fit your church:
___1. There are no functional prayer gatherings.
Within dying churches, few people show up to pray and seek God together since they have no sense of His Presence or that He is present in the midst of them (E.G. You would not be motivated to speak to your friend if you didn’t think they were listening).
___2. There is no expectation for answered prayers.
Few, if any, pray together since there is no anticipation that God will actually answer prayers. When you are in a church without faith to believe God, it is either dead or dying.
___3. The presence of God is missing in the assembly of the Saints.
Metaphorically, the heavens are like brass over the skies of dead or dying churches (Deut.28: 23). There is no sense of God’s presence during worship even though Jesus promised that where two or three gather in His name there He is in the midst of them (Matt.18: 20).
___4. The Word of God is presented without authority or anointing.
The religious leaders (who practiced a dead faith during Jesus’s time) were shocked when they heard Jesus speak because He taught with authority (Mark 1:22). In dead or dying churches the preacher has no unction to instill faith, motivate action or convict of sin.
___5. Few if any people are saved, or get baptized.
In the early church, the Lord regularly added people to the church. (Acts 2:47). When there are no people being saved or baptized, it is a sign the Lord is no longer working in their midst.
___6. Every church service is predictable by the minute.
Whether it be high church services or a non-denominational charismatic church, when every aspect of the worship, liturgy, and preaching is predictable as if choreographed to the minute, then it may reveal there is no room for the Holy Spirit to operate. Like Samson of old, the Spirit may have departed without the people knowing it (Judges 16:20). Truly, any aspect of our church that can function without dependence on the Holy Spirit shows that it is a machination of men and not God.
___7. There is no pattern of disciple making.
The bottom line in all churches is the making of committed Christ followers, better known as disciples. It doesn’t matter how large a church is, what matters is how many mature sons [and daughters] are being developed that will positively affect the created order (Read Romans 8:19-21).
___8. The people jockey for position and titles.
When people are not seeking the glory of God they depend even more upon getting affirmation from men. Hence, a church without the Presence of God will most likely have a hierarchical culture with people posturing for positions and titles. The less you know God intimately, the more your identity will be connected to credentials and titles.
___9. There is no divine sense of mission and purpose.
When there is no vision the people are perishing (Proverbs 29:18), when a congregation is dead or dying they have no compelling transcendent purpose that motivates them to fulfill their biblical calling.
___10. Few people volunteer to serve.
Psalm 110:3 say that the people will volunteer or offer themselves willingly in the day of His power. Consequently, in dead or dying churches very few people volunteer to serve in the ministry.
___11. Few people support the church with tithes and offerings.
Jesus said, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be” (Matthew 6:21). When a church is dying or dead, few people will be motivated to invest their finances into it. Conversely, when people see God moving within the church, they will have more faith and be more motivated to give of their finances knowing that it is being sown on good soil.
___12. The community doesn’t get impacted.
God called believers to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-16). When our lamp goes out, the surrounding community is no longer changed by the power of the gospel.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you see any or all of these signs of a dying church in your congregation, ask the Lord what He wants you to do to help resuscitate it. Humbly present your concerns to the leaders of the church before making any decisions. Perhaps God is doing a lot behind the scenes that you do not know about.
Also, at times in American history, the turn of the 19th century in particular, the church in general was in a very low spiritual state; God raised up men like Charles Finney to usher in the Second Great Awakening which revived thousands of congregations and awakened lost sinners. Like the prophet Habakkuk of old, let us seek the Lord to revive His work in the midst of the years and beseech Him that in wrath He would remember mercy (Hab. 3:2).
The greatest challenge we have in this nation is not our political leaders but a lack of power and conviction in the pulpit and the pews that can produce world- changing Christ followers.” Source: 13 Signs of a Dying Church
Thirteen More Signs ___13. Your leaders are losing their passion.
Leaders of growing churches have a white-hot passion for their mission. You can hear it in their voice and can see it in their eyes. By contrast, leaders of stuck or declining churches or organizations generally do NOT burn with drive, desire or passion.
Passionate leaders are obsessed with the mission and get more excited about possibilities than get weighed down by problems. They also bring the love and hope of Jesus in some way into every aspect of their lives. Most leaders who make a significant difference don’t live balanced lives; they live passionate lives and see ministry as something they GET to do. For them, ministry is a privilege, not a burden.
___14. There is more attention and resources dedicated to maintaining the church organization and facilities than enthusiasm for the work of the Lord.
While internal organizations and maintaining church facilities is important, the true work of the church – the called-out ones, is to go forth to reach the lost with the truth and love of Christ. This also reflects an emphasis on management – managing the affairs of the church, rather than leadership – inspiring members to go out and reach the lost. When maintenance begins to trump mission, the end is near.
___15. Keeping traditions is more important than a compelling vision for the future.
If the past is the guideline for action rather than “what would the Lord have us do in this situation”, the church is ill-equipped to respond to changes impacting the church. The past also does not generate enthusiasm or excitement. That comes from a sense of purpose and direction, and plans and actions to realize a compelling vision for the future.
“Vision is prayed down, not borrowed or thought up. It is a picture of what could be and what should be, and results in passion. A leader with vision motivates people to move into action toward a greater good for the church and community. Vision is directly attached to calling.”
___16. Homeless and street people are seen more as a nuisance and threat to church property than a mission field.
Even though homeless and street people are not easy to minister to, they are fellow image-bears of God, and Jesus commands us to not be respecter of persons but to minister to all. In Matthew 25:45, He states: “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
___17. There is greater emphasis on how we are different from other Christians than what unites us in Christ.
In Ephesians 4:4-6, the apostle Paul declared there is (only) one body and one Spirit. So while it is important to hold to the core beliefs of one’s church, what different Bible-believing Christian churches hold in common – belief in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior – is more important than our differences.
___18. There is a slow loss of members and finances over time.
Unless there is a crisis or major division, dying churches typically don’t lose members and finances all at once. More common is a gradual attrition, as a few members leave for a variety of reasons, some move away, and older members pass on. This is often accompanied by a lack of influx from the younger generation, who find other churches more appealing, or quit going to church completely. The result is a gradual loss of momentum, members, and finances, like the story of the frog in the boiling water.
___19. Strong resistance to change and innovation is evident.
Change is uncomfortable but necessary. One sign of a dying church is resistance to change and innovation. However, if your church is dying, change needs to be made quickly. Is your church is resisting change because they’re stuck in the past, or for valid and Biblical reasons?
Resist change, and innovators will eventually leave your church. Down the road, even when you want to innovate – you can’t because all the idea people have abandoned ship. When was the last time you did something truly new? If you can’t answer that question, beware. Dying churches typically fiercely reject change.
___20. Sermons engage the mind but not the heart.
We are bombarded by messages from many sources all throughout the week. Sermons that are not personal, compelling, and engaging, that point members to a transformed life, but sound like theological lectures are not very effective. Even worse are sermons that embrace our pagan culture and espouse non-Biblical perspectives.
___21. You are seeing very few first-time visitors.
If a church doesn’t continually attract and connect with first-time visitors, then it will eventually die because of attrition. To attract more first-time guests, the church will need an online strategy and an invite strategy. Your website, social media ads, and online church service are vital to people finding the church. An invite strategy uses invite cards on the 3 big days of the year which are Fall, Christmas and Easter, as well as throughout the year.
The key is to get first-time guests to the Sunday worship experience and then connect them to the life of the church as quickly as possible. That is one of the major differences between dying churches and growing churches.
___22. Everyone in your church looks and thinks just like you.
Does your congregation truly represent a cross-section of your community? Or do they all fit neatly within the same racial, economic, age, cultural, and political boxes? Churches that lack diversity in terms of age, race, and socio-economic status often struggle to connect with their communities and reach new people.
Furthermore, if members of your congregation don’t feel comfortable expressing doubts, asking questions, voicing concerns, or engaging in respectful dialogue on sensitive issues and topics, then your church is probably attractive to one type of person: People just like you. And that’s a well that’ll run dry fast.
___23. You’re focused more on keeping church members than reaching new people.
A subtle sign of a dying church is that it has completely given up on evangelism and is directing all of its resources to keep its members from leaving. In these situations, the goal simply becomes making the congregation as happy and comfortable as possible to prevent any more exits.
The long-term consequences – not investing in young families or community outreach – will inevitably signal a death blow down the road.
___24. Unresolved conflict
Study after study correlates unresolved conflict with church decline. And if there’s one thing dying churches are good at, it’s ignoring problems or making excuses. Even worse, conflict ignored is conflict multiplied, so if the conflict has been going on for a while, chances are your church is a toxic family system, even as it shrinks in size.
That raises the question: If leaders know there is a problem, why isn’t anyone being an adult and doing something about it?
___25. There is no sense of urgency and passion to reach lost souls.
In Matthew 28:16, Jesus calls us to carry out the Great Commission, to make disciples, baptize them, and teach them to observe all that Christ has commanded. Dying churches do not have this as a high priority.
How many of these describe your church: __ out of 25?
Hopefully this can spur you and the leadership of your church to consider your current state, what you would like to become in the near future, and how you can get there, starting with the Lord!
You are about to receive a call that will change your life. A good patriotic American, you support our country, you excel at what you do, and you have always liked adventure.
One day your phone rings, and it is the President of the United States. He tells you that he has heard a lot about you, and is calling to offer a position to you. You feel deeply honored, and can’t wait to hear what he has to say. He explains that the position is to be an ambassador in a country in on another continent, far from America.
The president continues: • I want you to go in and establish a presence in this nation; develop relationships, and be a witness to these people about our nation, our way of life, and what we value most about life. • They have a different culture and worship many gods. So I want you to be on guard against it, and do not embrace it as your own (don’t go native). • We have a window of time before their government turns against us totally, so I am sending you in to do important work. • This is a dangerous mission and your life may be in danger, but I will support you all the way.
This might be the most important call of your life. So what do you think? Would you take this call and accept this assignment?
NOT A CALL, BUT A CALLING
Ring ring. You are now receiving another call, but it is not on your phone or from the President of the United States. It is a call from the sovereign, living God of the universe, calling you to serve as an Ambassador of Christ from the Kingdom of God to the U.S. and to the world.
The position description is similar to the one above, except you will be representing the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, not merely the President of the United States. And you will not merely be seeking to establish good will; you will be sharing a life-saving message – the love and truth of Christ – with lost souls who do not know the Lord.
The Holy Spirit explains that although there is danger in this position, He has your back and will be with you all the way, guiding you, protecting you, and opening doors for you to do His work.
So what do you think – would you take the call and accept this assignment? If you do, it will be the most important thing you will ever do in your life, and you will never be the same.
“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: be reconciled to God.” II Corinthians 5:20
To God be the glory Mark Peterson LifeintheSpirit.net Source of image: Pixaby
There is a high likelihood that prices of food, fuel, and other goods are going to double in the U.S., driven by one or more powerful forces.
In Matthew 16, Jesus admonished the Pharisees and Sadducees for not understanding the times. This blog post seeks to shed light on the times we now live in by exploring how prices (food, fuel, other items) are highly likely to double in the near future, due to three main causes:
BRICS+ nations,
politics, and
the elephant in the room – WAR.
This blog post will also address what we can about it, including what God tells us to do about it. Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would remind us of His Word, lead us into all Truth, and show us things to come. (John 14:26, 16:13-15). The Holy Spirit is warning us about these coming events and how we can and should prepare – spiritually and physically. For we are not here by chance, but for such a time as this (Esther 4:13-14).
Finally, question everything, do your own research, and take this to the Lord for confirmation and interpretation.
This blog is for all who seek the truth. You won’t want to miss it, and you can see it HERE:
On October 27, First Lutheran, Little Rock, Arkansas will be celebrating its Annual Special Reformation Day Service followed by our true German themed Oktoberfest Dinner. Our Guest Speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Kurt Taylor, Associate Professor of Theology and in charge of the Director of Church Ministries Program at Concordia College, Wisconsin.
Area circuit pastors will be assisting First Lutheran’s Pastor Ronald Bacic for the special Reformation Service. Also, we will have choir members from area churches joining the First Lutheran choir to offer special dedicated music
Immediately following the service, the First Lutheran Men’s Club will be sponsoring the Oktoberfest Dinner with the traditional offering of German Bratz, Potato Salad and Sauerkraut. A heartfelt donation will be requested to help cover our costs.
Water, tea, and coffee will be available along with a true German Beer; “Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest Marzen” which was brewed in Munich this year for their very own traditional ‘Oktoberfest’ celebration. Note: This brewery started in 1417. The desert table will be outstanding with many sweet selections from the women of First Lutheran. We will have ‘live’ toe-tapping polka music to enjoy with the dinner! See you there!
We are not here by chance, but for such a time as this (Esther 4:13-14). We are called, equipped, and sent forth into battle – spiritual battle, to reach the lost with His Truth, Love, and Compassion. We need to start the day on our knees before God, praying and feasting on His Word. Then we are to put on our spiritual armor (Ephesians 6), and go forth to reach those He brings across our path. When we surrender to Christ and seek His guidance, we will see the Holy Spirit work through us, bearing much spiritual fruit and even miracles.
We will only experience His Joy – the joy of the Lord, when we discern His will for our lives and carry it out with gladness in our hearts. So we need to stand strong, be bold, and be courageous. We are to be the man or woman He has called us to be, and speak His Word and His Truth with love and compassion.
He brings people into our lives for a reason and a season. We are to discern the reason (from the Holy Spirit), but typically we will not know the length of the season, for things are happening fast in the world, and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.
Time is short, and He is leading us on a great spiritual adventure. It is truly exciting, it is the most important thing we have ever done in our lives, and we will never be the same.
It is time for us to buckle up, go forth, and enjoy the ride. And then He will bring us home. God loves us more than we can imagine, and He can’t wait to welcome us home through the gates of heaven.
So let us go out with GODFIDENCE, walking and speaking as if God sent us, because He has!
Life in the Spirit 
