II Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
“O Canada, our home and native land, God keep our land, glorious and free . . .”
It used to be that all children learned this “national anthem” in their schooling. I do not know how many children still learn this today. I doubt if the many Muslims who have been fast-tracked into our country would sing this. The Hindus might, but there are many people who do not believe in God and they might object as well. I am thankful that I live in Canada. I have visited the States and I have visited Israel. I have not been in either of those countries enough to suggest I would want to live there. In my younger years I was quite restless. We moved around parts of Canada often. Currently, I am not nearly as concerned about where I live. I am looking forward to heaven. The words of the song above are rather empty and hollow words. Which God are we talking about? I doubt there is a single politician who can honestly declare Who the true God is. The governance of this country certainly does not demonstrate there are any born again politicians. In Finland there is a politician who was tried for her belief that sodomy is sin. The very use of the word “sin” triggered emotions. The word “sin” should trigger emotions. The courts in Finland decided that this politician was not wrong in her stand. It is unclear if this woman is a born again Christian. It seems she is a Catholic which would then indicate she is not saved. However, she did something that is rare even among born again Christians. She stood up against tyranny and chose to point people to what God says about sodomy. I have not heard or read of one single politician in our country that has been willing to stand up for truth on moral issues. Born again Christians must stand up for truth. Our land is not glorious and freedom is under attack. We are rushing toward an open dictatorship. This week we were told of an event that has shaken the political system of this country for the moment. We had a judge declare that the federal government’s use of the Emergency Measures Act was illegal and unnecessary. Of course the government was quick to declare that they do not agree with this decision and they will appeal it. More tax dollars down the drain; lawyers getting rich and average citizens working hard to see their money blown out the window. This is an important decision that came down this week, but we need to give credit where credit is due. The judge that ruled on this case is not the one who needs the glory. He admitted that originally he sympathized with the government. He stated that if he had been at the table at the time this Act was enacted, he might have done the same. He is not a man grounded in truth. There are thousands of people in this country who cannot wait for the next election. They are ready to throw out the current government and install a P.C. government. Those people should reflect on the last three years. Where was the P.C. government when this whole control experiment was taking place. Apparently the P.C.’s took a timid position in opposition to the government’s actions. This whole event was a global experiment developed by the world elites who are part of the WEF and other groups. The P.C.’s agreed to shut down Parliament over a evil experiment. They supported the coercion of trying to get everyone to take the poison shots. This was an act that went against the Nuremberg Code. As we have witnessed all too often, we see that things written on paper are not even worth the paper they are written on. It is important to remember that our current government is in control even though they received just over 30% of the vote in the last “election”. They are using the NDP to prop them up. What good is your vote if 30+% of the vote will put a corrupt government in power with the ability to do as they please without any real opposition. If you watch the shenanigans that take place on Parliament Hill, it truly is a gong show. Little of any value is accomplished there. The One Who deserves the credit and the glory for this week’s court ruling is God. God keep our land glorious and free. The governments of this country were shocked to find out that there was a large element of the population that is not in agreement with what the ruling elites did. The government called it a fringe element of this country. They came down on this peaceful opposition with a massive sledge hammer, designed to instil fear in the minds and hearts of all of the citizens of Canada. That group was vocal, but not violent. There was and still is a much smaller group of citizens of this country, and even a few people from other countries, who chose to pray for the peace of God to rule in the hearts of people. Those people, who are born again Christians, actually have access to God’s throne of grace and they prayed for further opportunity to proclaim God’s truth. God has heard those prayers. The majority of the people of the world are still following the plan of Nimrod revealed in Genesis 11. The drive toward a one-world system is alive and very active.
John 17:21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
They like the first phrase in that verse: “that they all may be one”. That is the desire of many people. Their oneness is apart from the rest of that verse. Jesus prayed that we would be one as He and His Father are one. That oneness is unique to those who are truly born again and walking humbly with the Lord. That oneness is not even an automatic thing for those who are saved. The apostle Paul needed to address the carnality that was rampant in Corinth in his day. That carnality is still rampant across the globe today. It is unacceptable to God. It must be addressed. A few will heed the warnings and repent. The majority will get mad at the messenger and try to shut them down. I firmly believe that God intervened in the affairs of this country this week and slowed down the push to a one world system. The Supreme Court may overrule what the judge declared this week. Even if that happens, we will have had a short window to continue to proclaim God’s Word in a dark and desperate hour. God wants all people to be saved. He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ for the specific purpose to save sinners. God stepped into the path of Adam and Eve and rebuked them and told them that He would provide the way for them to be forgiven and saved. That promise was publicized for all their descendants to know. Each person is born a lost sinner and needs to know the truth and needs to respond favourably to the truth. There is a war going on today as in every generation. There is far more false religion than true religion. Our current government received a little more than 30% of the vote and they are ruling this country. The born again Christian population of this country is far less than 30%. God does not need a majority. He proved that again this week. He worked in the heart of an ungodly judge, to give us a short reprieve from the ungodly agenda that the devil is seeking to bring in. The day of the antichrist is not here yet. It is coming. Its’ coming is very visible to those who are awake. We do not know the day, nor the hour. The massive increase in deception that is taking place just in the past few years is a clear reminder of where things are going. Born again Christians are called to be light and salt in this world. Light exposes darkness. Light shines on the way man needs to go. Salt cleanses wounds. It stings as it does so. Salt also enhances the taste of food. Good salt is essential to healthy living. Born again Christians will not be popular. They never have been. However, we have a message that the world needs to hear. We need to be careful to study God’s Word and to let Him open our eyes and our understanding so that we can help others to see the importance of knowing the true God. Peter, John and Paul all lived in a time not much different from our time. False religion was rampant in their time. The Roman government was tolerant of the apostles for a time. Eventually they would remove them from this earth. The apostles that God mentions after Jesus’ ascension did not live comfy lives and they died as martyrs. None of the apostles we read about complained about their lot in life. They served God faithfully and they could not be silenced until they were dead. They demonstrated a true love of God in their hearts and in their lives. As the apostle Paul stated:
II Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
The word translated as “constraineth” means “to hold together, or arrest”. Paul was changed at salvation and his life was arrested. He could not be silenced. The love of Christ was the constraining agent. What constrains you? Pastor Bartel