October 30, 2015 Steps to Life Newsletter

 

Dear STL Supporter

My Grace

My grace is sufficient for you, My strength is made perfect in weakness. (2 Cor 12: 9) This is the promise Jesus made to Paul the apostle, when he was contemplating what he was being called by God to do, given that he had a thorn in the flesh. The promise is for everyone, not just Paul.

It's not about what we can do, it's about what we can let God do for us. It's equally as true for those who lived in the past, as for us who live in the present and for those who will live in the future. My grace sustained the persecuted prophets. It enabled the heroes of faith. (Hebrews 11) My grace has always been the only means for overcoming in the battles with sin. As we make, by faith, the decision to hand the battle over to God He strengthens us. The just shall live by faith. (Habakkuk 2:24, Romns1:17, Galatians 3: 11, Hebrews 10: 38)

At the end of time, those who try and obediently honour God, resisting the enormous pressure to worship at Satan's throne and resisting the licentiousness of the age, only survive the fearsome turmoil described as the time of trouble such as never was (Daniel 12: 1) because of My grace being sufficient.

The story is told of a conversation a former archbishop of Canterbury was having with a famous actor. The archbishop asked the actor why actors in a play affect their audiences so powerfully by speaking of things imaginary, while ministers of the gospel often affect theirs so little by speaking of things real. The actor replied permit me to say that the reason is plain: It lies in the power of enthusiasm. We on the stage speak of things imaginary as if they were real, and you in the pulpit speak of things real as if they were imaginary. (Education, E G White p 233)

Are we being influenced by the things imaginary or the things real? Do we think and speak of the things real with great conviction and enthusiasm? Are we simply Christian apologists or do we present a compelling personal testimony? We need to have an experience with God today, that allows us to speak of and experience the My grace which sustained Paul through life and death. My grace is real, not imaginary!

Do you find the unprecedented turmoil happening in the world in 2015 concerning, disturbing or even frightening? I do. There is no apparent solution. No one politician, group of politicians or religious

leader or collection of all of the above, are making real and sustained progress in tackling the pressing issues. My grace takes away the fear. God is in control according to his time line and merciful patience.

And Bible prophecy tells us the worst is yet to come. Here is a listing of many of the events that will one day soon break forth affecting everyone in some way - the good who are relying on My grace and the bad who choose not to accept My grace - there are only two categories.

Many of the events are catalogued in the daily worship readings complied in Ellen White's extracted book called Maranatha. With each of the events, judgements and calamities described, there is a promise of My grace for those who allow God to shape their characters so that they can be sealed as being His son's and daughters. The promise of My grace is sufficient to enable us to remain loyal through each momentous and calamitous event. We need to know the Christ of the crisis, so that we can be assured by the Christ in the crisis. Ultimately, it's His battle and He is in it with us all the way.

Major events to come include more increased lawlessness, economic and social collapse. Increased frequency and intensity of significant weather aberrations, earthquakes and disease outbreaks. Increased international conflict to the point where men's hearts fail them for fear in expectation of what will happen next. (Luke 21: 26) The completion of the imposition and enforcement of Sunday worship laws. The completion of the Investigative Judgement, which is the close of our probation and results in all humankind's fate, with regard to the forgiveness of sin, being settled one way or the other. We then stand before God without Jesus as our mediator. The Little Time of Trouble and the Time of Trouble. The Seven Last Plagues (Revelation Ch 16 / amazingdiscoveries.org/S-deception_Second-Coming_seven_plagues) - noisome and grievous sores (which impact those who have the mark of the beast), the sea becomes blood, rivers and springs turn to blood, the sun's rays/radiation scorches the Earth, those who have kept people in spiritual darkness will be engulfed in physical darkness, the way is prepared for Jesus to return - the spiritual 'waters' that support the spiritual Babylon are dried up, the powers that have supported Rome abandon her, a mighty earthquake and great lumps of heavy hail weighing about a talent. (A talent in Roman times was about 32 kgs. That's more than a bag of cement!) Then there is the sign of the little black cloud in the eastern sky that grows larger and brighter the closer it comes to planet Earth - it's the Second Coming!

 
 

We need My grace now, so we can be ready as all this happens.

David and Becky Gates Back in Australia for STL in November.

Preparing for the Second Coming: The Final Game Plan is the seminar title. There is an included brochure or an attachment with all the details accompanying this newsletter.

  • Melbourne, Heathmont Baptist Church and STL on the Sunday evening - November 6 to 8 (Full program - six sessions, all filmed)
  • Sunbury Bowling Club - November 9 (One night partial presentation)
  • Moe Town Hall Function Room - November 10, 11 (Two night partial presentation)
  • Sydney, Thornleigh Uniting Church - November 13 to 15 (Full program - six sesions)
  • Port Macquarie, Entertainment Centre - November 16, 17 (Two night partial presentation)
  • Coffs Harbour, Community Village, Meeting Room 1 - November 18. (One night partial presentation)
  • Brisbane, Beenleigh Entertainment Centre - November 20, 21 (Full program - condensed into five presentations)

The series DVD will be filmed in Melbourne. An invitation to these events is on STL Facebook and our website. You can invite your friends by sending them an invitation through your Facebook. Or downloading from our website.

Exciting News for 2016

Eric Wilson from Isaiah Ministries has accepted our invitation to be STL's featured speaker for our February/March Seminar in 2016. We hope his wife Sarah is able to come with him. She is presently trying to gain leave from her work to do so. Eric and Sarah will share their story of how God led Eric out of the world of martial arts, through a marriage breakdown and renuion. It's a true story of the sovereign power and love of Jesus in setting the captives free from the dark esoteric powers behind the martial arts. It's the story of Eric's redemption, deliverance and restoration from being engrossed in the dark depths of the martial arts to recognising what the Bible teaches about the presence and power of Satan in shaping today's world. It's an assurance that God is still in charge of world events and individual lives.

The seminar is in response to the growing fascination with the martial arts, particularly as young people seek identity and recognition through an involvement in them. It's for people of all ages and backgrounds. It will be presented for people with no church background as well as for those who attend churches.

Christian greetings from Cherryl and the Steps to Life team.

Brian Way/Programs Co-ordinator

http://www.steps.org.au/Shop/Specials/
 
 
http://www.steps.org.au/Shop/Specials/ http://www.steps.org.au/Shop/Specials/
 
 

Yes, I would like to help Steps to Life. Click the button below to donate online with Credit Card through Paypal

 
Loading...
.

Success! Redirecting...

Click Here if you are not automatically redirected in 10 seconds...