A little divinely inspired Line from Scripture nearly seized me early this morning. It is found in the Book of Esther.

“for such a time as this”

It is not even a sentence! It’s just an Excerpt, from Esther 4:14.

In Esther (one of only two Books in Scripture named for a woman, the other being Ruth) “time” had become crucial. A whole nation (the Jews) faced extinction. That’s called genocide today, but then again that definition sort of depends on which people group is being threatened!

“Israel,” not so important in this godless, demonic age. This antisemitic age!

Now, leaving that train of thought … let’s focus on “America,” the “United States” to be more precise. Here … what was once “right” is now called “wrong.” Here … truth has been redefined, if not murdered! Here … we have seen Romans 1 fulfilled in front of our very eyes! Rebellious Reprobates everywhere!

Come to think of it, the whole world is virtually “leaderless.” No Churchill, no Eisenhower or Truman! No backbone! One might accurately say that a “vacuum” exists among the nations on this planet. Our globe is crying for someone to take over. Someone with a plan.

That’s why I asked the question “What time is it?” in the Lesson title a little while ago.

I am not sure we have ever faced a world-wide situation exactly like that which surrounds us now.

Friends, we may all be living “in such a time as this.”

“This” being the week or month (etc.) when Jesus could come again and call us home, en masse. (All us Christians, I mean.)

“This” being the year when world-wide Tribulation could break out across the continents!

“This” being the window of opportunity for a man the Bible calls “anti-Christ” to rear his deceptive head!

“This” could be the era when Russia and her allies (apparently Islamic) march south and invade Isarel! (Ezekiel chapters 38 and 39) By the way, that’s the last invasion that crowd will every attempt!

“This” could be the time when … for civilization … everything begins to crumble!

It is exciting, in a way.

I’ve heard about it all my years … but now I may be living …

“in such a time as this”

Wow!

It’s almost surreal.

“Even so, come Lord Jesus.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Much smaller than the State where we live, Georgia … ISRAEL has very little land mass to call its own. Yet that little born-again Land (since 1948) will have a future impact on the world beyond that of any other nation!

No other people have been called “the apple of God’s Eye!” See Zechariah 2:8, for proof.

In fact, of the nearly 200 nations on earth today … only ISRAEL is the very Centerpiece of God’s august Will!

But our Lesson Title is “Israel … among the nations.” Which leads me to notice that all the other nations of earth are only noticed in Scripture AS THEY PERTAIN AND RELATE TO ISRAEL!

Here are some examples … Assyria, Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome! Even smaller nations, by the same rule … Lebanon, Syria, Ammon, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Phoenicia and what has become present day Turkey!

ALL THE NATIONS OF EARTH … SEEM TO HAVE BIBLICAL SIGNIFICANCE ONLY AS THEY INTERACT WITH GOD’S CHOSE PEOPLE, THE JEWS, WITH ISRAEL!

So, where does that put the United States of America? Which, sadly, is drifting farther and farther away from our once very strong alliance with Israel.

This criterion completely ignores the USA in toto, entirely!

Remember, the Prophet Isaiah names a certain Persian King 200 years before the man was even born, Cyrus! See Isaiah 44:28 and Isaiah 45:1 for proof! So, God could have named America in the Bible, even before she came into existence as a nation! But He did not, because she will be a non-entity (or certainly not a vital player) in these last days, not concerning Israel!

Wow!

Folks, we are seeing the disintegration of a nation (ours if you’re an American) in front of our very eyes. National suicide! The once Christian Unted States is now post-Christian! And rapidly becoming anti-Christian!

Israel and the nations … here’s is God’s Standard: “Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: and I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: AND I WILL BLESS THEM THAT BLESS THEE, AND CURSE HIM THAT CURSETH THEE: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3

No exceptions that I can see.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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That’s precisely what Jesus told Peter in Luke 22:32. “I have prayed for thee.”

Think of the POWER of Jesus’ Prayers! Even to this point, “I knew that thou hearest me ALWAYS,” Jesus addressing His Father in John 11:42, standing by the grave of Lazarus.

I know our Lord prays for the Jews, for their salvation.

And I know He prays for His enemies.

I’m pretty sure that He prays for more laborers to be thrust into the harvest as well.

And He prays for the Church, the Body of Christ, no doubt.

But our verse today, again that’s Luke 22:32, says He prays for ME!

How can I fail as a Christian, knowing He is praying for me?

How can I feel discouraged, realizing His Eye is on me? I am on His “Prayer List!”

How can I not thank Him and praise Him and worship Him faithfully … knowing He never sleeps or slumbers, always in prayer! (“He ever liveth to make intercession.” Hebrews 7:25)

Really, how can the devil ever harm me, Jesus having encircled me with His Love and Grace and (yes) Prayers?

Paul once wrote (in Romans 10:5) that we are not only saved by Jesus’ Death (His shed Blood) … but also “being reconciled, we shall be saved BY HIS LIFE.”

I think that’s because He is praying for us, for YOU!

And for ME!

Glory unto HIM!

I’m typing these words at 4:00 AM on a March Sunday morning. Soon I’ll shave and shower and drive a few minutes to stand in a pulpit, preaching about the Glories of this dear Jesus, my Saviour!

And even while I am doing all that … He is praying for me!

Amazing!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

“It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.” Romans 8:34

If you’re saved … YOU too are on His Heart, His Mind, His Prayer List!

What a Saviour!

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I’ve always heard that if a Christian concentrates on the DEPTH of his or her spiritual life, a deeper relationship with God … that the Lord Himself would take care of the BREADTH of that person’s outreach.

That’s sort of the same idea today’s Text presents. Luke 8:13, a Parable speaking of sowers and seed and plants, announced of some samples … “These have no root.”

Wow!

Wheat cannot live without a root system, not for long.

Let’s read the next verse in Luke … “And that (seed) which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.”

See?

No root … no fruit!

I am no doubt writing to a Christian today who bemoans a fruitless life. You grieve over ineffectiveness! You feel useless.

I think I know the answer, or at least a major part of it.

Go for the DEPTH!

Let your roots grow deeper and deeper into the soil of God’s Word! Into the Blessedness of the Holy Spirit, His Communion.

And as you seek to be better grounded, hence more deeply rooted … I guarantee you (on the authority of God’s Word) … fruit will come!

2 Kings 19:30 captures the idea … “And the remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and bear fruit upward.”

As does Proverbs 12:12 … “The root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.”

Here it is in Hosea 9:16, but presented negatively … “Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit.”

An old hymn advised us to go … “DEEPER, DEEPER, INTO THE LOVE OF JESUS!”

Try that!

And fruit will be soon forthcoming!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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I have been asked to next month teach a three-hour (actually four hours but with lunch served in the middle) Bible Class at a Church not far from our home. Our Text for the event will be Ezekiel Chapters 38 and 39. Bible Prophecy to the core!

It foretells of a day when a coalition of nations (apparently Russia and a number of her Islamic allies) will attack Israel!

And that will also be the day of defeat for all those attacking hordes! God Himself will enter this Battle and decimate the rabid enemies of His chosen people. “The Apple of His Eye,” as the Lord loves to call the Jews.

(That Class is scheduled for April 9, 10:00 AM through 2:00 PM at the Sunnyside Baptist Church near Lafyette, Georgia. Pray for us in this regard, please. And YOU are invited to attend if possible.)

One of the greatest outcomes of that War will be the way this old world is going to see the Power of God displayed. In sum, GOD WILL BE GLORIFED THAT DAY IN AMAZING WAYS!

A repetitive Clause in Ezekiel is this … “Then shall they know that I am the LORD.” Again and again this sentiment is heard in that Book. (This world has grown so exceedingly sinful that it no longer thinks of God, certainly no longer knows Him. Or even wants to know Him!)

But after God’s (fierce) Display of loyalty to His people is seen in this unprovoked attack on Israel … HE WILL BE GLORIFIED FROM HERE TO YON, AROUND THE WORLD, HIS WORLD!

There’s a little verse in Isaiah, chapter 40 and verse 5, which states … “And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” Wonderful!

Some great Day this will happen.

God being so glorified!

Until then … we shall stay busy serving Jesus, with a fervent prayer in our hearts. “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”(Revelation 22:20)

Amen!

Some Day!

Some Glorious Day!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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