Step Out and Prophesy

Earlier this year at a home meeting, I kept having thoughts that God has a mate for a young woman there. I didn’t step out until hearing someone say she’s been dealing with loneliness. So I approached her and asked, “Have you been believing God for a mate?” This woman seemed reluctant to reply. Then another woman sitting nearby said the Lord also told her that and should have said something. God confirms His word in the mouths of two or three witnesses (2 Corinthians 13:1). Not wanting to intimidate the lonely woman, I gently told her, “God has a mate for you if that’s a desire of your heart.” 

Sometimes when evangelizing, I perceive certain individuals are called to full-time ministry. Rather than declaring to them “thus saith the Lord”, I ask if anyone has told them they are called to preach. Usually, these individuals reply, “Yes.” Then I point out this is a confirmation. In rare instances, some say no one has told them that. In response, I encourage them to pray about it. God may be calling them but they haven’t yet received the revelation.

Perhaps some Christians are afraid to give a word from the Lord because of being labeled a “false prophet” if they are wrong. A false prophet is someone who lacks character and doesn’t submit themselves to the lordship of Jesus Christ. It’s true the Mosiac Law commanded the stoning of false prophets. Under the New Covenant, we should extend grace to brethren who are practicing to prophesy but occasionally miss it.

Over the years, a few prophecies given to me were off target. One of which happened at a conference in Indiana. During an altar call, an evangelist told me I would work with two ministers I knew and then asked (as if he sought my approval), “Isn’t that good?” The prophecy didn’t bear witness with my spirit. One of the ministers he mentioned had started teaching things that were inaccurate and unscriptural. The other minister later unfriended me on Facebook and now drops f-bombs on his Twitter page. 

Another time in Florida, a Bible school student prophesied that God was calling me to attend his particular school. I politely replied, “God has told me I don’t have to go to Bible school.”

One shouldn’t be flippant about giving “words from the Lord.” We don’t want to misdirect another believer’s life. Ultimately, the one receiving the word is responsible for it. We shouldn’t despise prophecies (1 Thessalonians 5:20) but be discerning enough to reject those that aren’t divinely inspired.

When you perceive God is giving you a word of knowledge for someone, don’t be afraid to share it. That’s how we learn to flow in the gifts of the Spirit.

“Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” 

- 1 Corinthians 14:1

Why I Don’t Go to Many Movies

A recent poll in my hometown newspaper determined 58% of their readers “almost never” go to the movies. One woman wrote a letter exhorting us to go to more of them. She recommended seeing one in particular called “Eighth Grade.” I wrote a letter in response pointing out that movie is rated R due to its sexual themes and use of four-letter words. Ironically, that prevents actual eighth graders from seeing it unless an adult accompanies them.

I was saddened to learn “Eighth Grade” was released internationally by Walt Disney Studios. Disney used to be synonymous with family-friendly entertainment. While I was growing up, Mom and Dad took my sister and me to many Disney movies. 

I also remember wanting to see “Saturday Night Fever” as an eighth grader in 1978. My parents wouldn’t take me after seeing it for themselves and heard lots of foul language (we later watched an edited version on TV). Now as a God-fearing adult, I refuse to spend my money on movies filled with swear words and condoning immorality. 

One exception happened on a Monday night in January 1998. I felt led to skip an evangelism outing and went for a drive around the Twin Cities area. Suddenly, I kept having thoughts of seeing “Titanic.” At first, I questioned this being direction from God knowing there would be inappropriate scenes in the film. Eventually, I drove to a movie theater. When “Titanic” was over, I walked out to my car and had one of my hardest cries ever! I believe God used the movie to help me release suppressed emotions. Friends of mine who saw it told me they wept because of the many unsaved people that died in the tragedy. My tears were triggered more by the love story in the film. I desired a romantic relationship like the one portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet (except I would wait on making love until our wedding night). 

In recent years, I’ve probably gone to an average of two or three movies per year. As a former employee of Billy Graham’s film ministry World Wide Pictures, I can appreciate good filmmaking. Some of WWP’s releases could’ve been of higher quality (one coworker compared them to the “ABC Afterschool Special”). Other productions were worthy of theater showings. One of the latter is “The Hiding Place” about Corrie Ten Boom’s imprisonment at a Nazi concentration camp. My personal favorite is “The Ride” starring Michael Biehn and Brock Pierce. These films powerfully demonstrate God’s love and the gospel. When I called pastors to find out what happened during film showings at their churches, I often heard praise reports of people getting saved or recommitting their lives to the Lord.

It’s almost laughable how generations ago some ministers preached against movies even through they were much cleaner compared to what’s playing in theaters today. Prior to 1968, Hollywood had higher moral standards due to what was known as the Hays Code. You didn’t see the violence, profanity, and nudity that later became prevalent in many motion pictures. There was even a time when Hollywood avoided “ridicule of the clergy.”

Nowadays, I shun rated R flicks. The last one I watched in a theater was “The Passion of the Christ”, which received its R rating because of the excessive blood shown during the Lord’s beating and crucifixion. Even some PG-13 movies need to be scrutinized. Until a few years ago, movies with that rating were allowed only one F-bomb. Then the Motion Picture Association of America relaxed its ratings code to allow more usage of that offensive word.

The success of faith-based films like “War Room” and “I Can Only Imagine” indicate there’s still an audience for productions extolling Judeo-Christian values this nation was founded upon. Perhaps more Americans would flock to the theaters if Hollywood cleaned up their product. 

There are other reasons why I don’t go to many movies. In my opinion, tickets have become too expensive (not to mention the inflated prices theaters charge for food and drinks). I almost always go to matinee showings or wait and rent the DVD. Another thing that’s turned off many moviegoers is the Academy Awards becoming a platform for bashing the president and promoting ungodly political views. The last ceremony in March was the least-watched show in the Academy’s history.

Oscars are frequently given to motion pictures I consider trash (reminds me of the like-named Grouch on Sesame Street). Those golden trophies don’t mean a thing from an eternal perspective. Everyone should be more concerned with heavenly rewards.

“And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” - 1 Corinthians 9:25

Does God Hear Sinners?

A few days ago I walked by a woman who said “hello” to me. I greeted her in return and then gave her a gospel tract seeing this as an evangelism opportunity. She wasn’t certain of going to heaven but believed the gospel. After offering to pray with her, this woman claimed God heard her prayers every night. She got defensive after I told her one must know Jesus to get into heaven. During our conversation, I kept thinking of what John 9:31 says, “Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him.”  

The Amplified Bible clarifies the meaning of this better…

“We know that God does not listen to sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing and a worshiper of Him and does His will, He listens to him.”

There is a difference between hearing and listening. The New Oxford American Dictionary defines hearing as “the faculty of perceiving sounds.” That same dictionary defines listen as “give one’s attention to a sound.” A person can hear somebody but not listen to what he is saying. As a child, you might have heard your mother calling you to come inside the house but didn’t listen to her because you wanted to stay outside longer.

This reminds me of a humorous story told by Jesse Duplantis. The Louisiana-based evangelist was talking with a pastor who didn’t think God was hearing his prayers. So Jesse encouraged this pastor to cuss. The pastor refused to consider doing such a thing. Jesse then asked, “What’s the matter? You think God will hear you?”

While God may hear all our prayers, He will not listen and respond to some of them for various reasons. James 4:3 mentions people asking for things with the wrong motives. The following parable in Luke 18 illustrates the importance of having the right attitude when praying…

10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 

12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 

13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Once while I lived in Pensacola, Florida, my roommate told me our next-door neighbor was a Muslim. One afternoon I saw this man sitting on his front steps and perceived this was the right time to approach him with the gospel. Although this man was reluctant to let go of some of his Islamic beliefs, he did pray to receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. When he showed me his copy of the Koran, I noticed it was written in both Arabic and Old English. That prompted me to give him a King James Bible to read (usually I give away newer translations because it’s easier reading for young believers). This man then told me he had asked God to give him a Bible and wanted it to be a King James Version. God definitely answered his prayers.

There is one type of prayer from sinners that God will always answer...the call for eternal life. One of the thieves on the cross was promised to be with Jesus in paradise (Luke 23:43). In Acts chapter 10, Cornelius’ prayers ultimately resulted in him receiving salvation when he got together with Peter. So if you are not yet born again, your prayers can be heard if you repent of your sins and make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior. He will listen to you!

“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” - Romans 10:13

A Eulogy for My Mom

Carolyn Mae Tweiten was born on March 28, 1946. She was the second of five children who grew up in a carpenter’s family in Fargo, North Dakota. In 1963 at the age of 17, Carolyn married Richard Post and gave birth to me the following year. My sister Tanya followed a couple of years later. Because Mom loved animals, there were often one or two dogs plus an occasional cat in the household. She was also a teddy bear fanatic. That made it easy to pick out gifts for Christmas and her birthday.

Carolyn had grown up with a violent alcoholic father. Therefore, she did her best to make sure Tanya and I had a stable environment at home. Mom often played along with various games my sister and me did. A few Saturday mornings, we played school with me being the teacher. Occasionally Mom would knock on my bedroom door saying Tanya needed to be “excused from class” so she could clean her room or do something else.

As we got older, Mom worked outside the house more. One of her jobs was a sales representative for a candy company. Tanya and I got to enjoy a lot of free samples. Another thing I appreciated about my mother was her sense of humor. Whenever Tanya and I did something naughty but wouldn’t fess up, Mom sarcastically declared, “Ol’ Tom is at it again!” (Tom was my imaginary twin brother.) A few years ago while finishing a phone conversation, I told Mom I would “keep her posted” on my happenings. She replied, “Don’t take our name in vain.”

I wasn’t fond of the traditional Lutheran church we attended when my sister and I were little. Still, my mother made sure we said our prayers before going to sleep. If there was a thunderstorm outside, Mom told us God’s angels were bowling (the loudest claps of thunder meant they got a strike). She happened to be an avid bowler and watched the "Pro Bowler's Tour" on TV.

Football was another sport my mother enjoyed. We spent many Sundays watching the Minnesota Vikings on TV. Mom got more emotional about the games than I did. She would jump off the couch and yell at the players while nearly knocking me over in the process. 

Like with my father, Mom and I had spiritual differences after I became born again. She had started watching Dr. Robert Schuller’s “Hour of Power” on TV and gradually drifted into New Age beliefs. Then in the fall of 2012, Mom had a stroke and was moved into an assisted living facility. A few weeks later I returned to Fargo for the holidays. One afternoon (which happened to be “doomsday”), I stopped to see Mom. After we talked for a while, she let me lay hands on her to receive healing. Then I asked if I could lead her in a prayer to receive Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. She agreed and prayed the sinner’s prayer with me.

Mom’s health slightly improved but still remained in hospice for the rest of her life. The last time I saw my mother, I wanted to entertain her somehow. I got out my smartphone and on YouTube played an old comedy routine by Jack Webb and Johnny Carson that we watched years before on “The Tonight Show.” Mom really enjoyed that.

When my dad passed away last month, I perceived Mom would soon do the same (“January” kept coming up in my spirit). Yesterday I was informed she had gone home to be with the Lord. Carolyn Post was 71.

It’s not easy when a close relative dies. However, as Christians, we have the Holy Spirit to comfort us and experience supernatural peace especially if our deceased loved ones were saved. Someday we will be reunited at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. So in the meantime, keep praying and sharing God's love if you still have lost family members.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 

- Acts 16:31

A Eulogy for My Dad

Richard “Dick” Post was born on June 28, 1943, in Hood River, Oregon. His father was stationed there during World War II. The family later moved to Fargo, North Dakota.

After graduating from Fargo Central High and taking some college courses, Dad settled into a career as an interior decorator. Over the years he worked at various furniture stores in the Fargo-Moorhead area. Dad could have made more money as a traveling salesman but opted for jobs that allowed him to come home every night to be with my mother, sister, and me. Often our evenings were spent watching TV and playing an occasional board game. Dad sometimes brought meals home for us such as hamburgers, pizza, and Mexican food. In recent years when I came home for a visit, Dad and I usually ate out at Asian buffets.

During the 1970s, Dad’s work prospered him enough to own three cars including a corvette that he sometimes drove me to school in (to the envy of my classmates). Summer weekends were usually spent at Big Sugar Bush Lake in central Minnesota where we had property with a mobile home and speedboat. My dad won numerous sales contests. Prizes included vacations he took with my mother to Greece, Hawaii, Ireland, Mexico, and Switzerland.

We had our share of family trips. Among them were drives to the Badlands, Canada, and Wisconsin that included a stopover in the Twin Cities to see the Bee Gees in concert. Once we flew out east and saw relatives in the Rochester, New York area where my dad’s parents were originally from. Eight years after that, Dad won another trip to Hawaii and brought us kids along. It was the first time I got to escape freezing temperatures during the winter.

Many boys desire to follow in their father’s footsteps career-wise. That wasn’t really true for me. I worked a few sales jobs but never had an interest in furniture. Dad and I were briefly involved in a couple of business ventures together. One of them was a video recording service that might have succeeded through better marketing. Eventually, I went into the ministry.

Dad and I had disagreements regarding spiritual matters. He was raised in a strict Methodist home but later explored other religions. Still, we occasionally attended the Lutheran church my mother’s family went to and a couple of times visited an Evangelical Free church my sister’s family were part of. Prior to him having open heart surgery in 2008, I asked Dad if he knew Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He said he did. A year later after we had dinner together, Dad told me, “Even though we don’t agree on some things, I’m proud of you for reaching out to others.”

Dad never retired. He continued selling furniture up until a month ago when he was rushed to the hospital for breathing difficulties. Initially, Dad appeared to be recovering. Then last Tuesday, I received a text from my uncle informing me my father had passed away. Richard Post was 74.

For a while, my mind struggled with the certainty of Dad’s eternal destiny. As an evangelist, I desired to hear him make a bolder declaration of knowing Jesus and even hoped we would minister together someday. Talking and praying with friends have since increased my confidence in my earthly father being with our Heavenly Father. It will be interesting to see how Dad’s heavenly home compares to the homes he decorated on earth. 

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” - John 14:1-2

What About Your Friends?

There’s an old saying, “Birds of a feather flock together.” The people we associate with can deeply influence our lives. 

As a boy, I had decided to stay away from alcoholic beverages. But during my late teens, many friends of mine and co-workers were into drinking beer. Wanting to have fun with them, I started going to parties and nightclubs. Gradually I fell into a lifestyle of sin. 1 Corinthians 15:33 says, “Do not be deceived; evil company corrupts good habits.” By the time I committed my life to the Lord, many of my drinking buddies didn’t want to hang with me anymore.

I’ve also noticed God will allow certain relationships with other Christians to end. This is so He can connect you with like-minded believers who will encourage you in your calling. Once I had a blind friend who didn’t believe it was God’s will to heal everyone. I shared Scripture proving otherwise since I wanted my friend to receive his sight. This man wouldn’t accept the truth and one day announced he didn’t want to be my friend anymore. I decided to strike back at the devil by going out witnessing that night. My former friend who rejected me was quickly replaced by many friendships made through my church’s evangelism ministry.

While God desires unity within the body of Christ, we need to be cautious being with some church-going people. Not everyone claiming to be a Christian is serious about becoming a disciple of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 5:11 (NLT) instructs us, “…not to associate with anyone who claims to be a believer yet indulges in sexual sin, or is greedy, or worships idols, or is abusive, or is a drunkard, or cheats people. Don’t even eat with such people.”

Another minister made this powerful statement, “Show me your friends and I will show you your future.” Think about the people you pal around with. Do they inspire you to go after God or the things of this world? Do your friends respect and honor you or constantly violate your boundaries? One thing I often pray is “Lord, bring the right people across my path and keep me away from the wrong people.” This prevents a lot of bad relationships from developing.

Good friends bring out the best in each other. What about your friends?

“There are ‘friends’ who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.” - Proverbs 18:24 (NLT)

Suicide is Not a Solution

Comedian Rodney Dangerfield often joked that he got no respect. One of his famous one-liners was, “I called suicide prevention…they put me on hold.”

In real life, suicide is no laughing matter. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, each year more than 32,000 Americans take their own lives. This past January, an eight-year-old boy in Cincinnati hung himself with a necktie in his bedroom. This happened two days after he was attacked in a school bathroom.

I can relate to people who contemplate ending their lives. During eighth grade, I experienced much name-calling and physical abuse from my classmates. Going to school had become so traumatic I wanted to die. If my father had a gun, I probably would have shot myself. I considered swallowing poison but fortunately was too scared to follow through with that.

A couple of months before giving my life to the Lord in 1991, I was driving on the freeway one night when suddenly I had recurring thoughts of taking my own life. Two days later, I ended up meeting a woman God used to get me back into church. Eventually, I realized those suicidal thoughts were a demonic attack.

There are people in the Bible who struggled with the will to live. Elijah and Jonah both wanted to die after experiencing disappointments with their ministries. While they went on to do the work of the Lord, other characters in the Bible ultimately committed suicide…

• King Saul drifted away from God, lost a key battle, and killed himself before the Philistines could capture him. Saul’s armor-bearer did likewise (1 Samuel 31:4-5).

• A royal advisor named Ahithophel regretted his defection from King David’s side to Absalom’s side and hanged himself (2 Samuel 17:23).

• After reigning Israel for only seven days, King Zimri saw his throne was about to be taken and burned down his palace around himself (1 Kings 16:18).

• Judas Iscariot killed himself after being overwhelmed with remorse for betraying Jesus (Matthew 27:1-5; Acts 1:18-19).

One might argue Samson should be included on this list, even though his final act of causing the temple to collapse could be seen as a heroic sacrifice against Israel’s enemies (Judges 16:23-31).

I’ve met Christians who believe individuals who kill themselves will spend eternity in hell since one of the Ten Commandments is “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). Personally, I believe suicide is forgivable if committed by someone who had faith in Jesus. I know a man who had a teenaged daughter with serious health issues. She died in the hospital after intentionally unplugging herself from a life support machine. It’s possible this girl got a glimpse of heaven and desired to be with the Lord more than winning the battle against her disease. She should not be judged by the same standard as someone who intentionally commits murder.

Nevertheless, God gave us life and should be the One who decides when it’s time for us to go home to be with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:20 says, “For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 

If you’re dealing with thoughts of hopelessness and don’t know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I strongly urge you to give your life to Him right now. Suicide is not a solution and would result in eternal torment far worse than whatever you’re facing right now. God created you for a purpose and has a good plan for your life. He will provide a way for you to emerge successfully.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” - Jeremiah 29:11

Whose Child Are You?

One song often heard during the holiday season is “What Child Is This?” A question many people need to answer for themselves is “Who’s Child Am I?”  

Sometimes while evangelizing, sinners tell me they are going to heaven because they claim to be a child of God. My hometown newspaper recently published a letter applauding Sen. John McCain’s declaration (regarding the Syrian refugee situation), “All of us are God’s children.” That inspired me to write a response pointing out this is not an accurate statement.

It’s true that all men “have been made in the similitude of God.” (James 3:9)  But not every person on this earth is technically a child of God. A man or woman who doesn’t become born again has Satan as their spiritual father even if they don’t believe he exists.

Look at this conversation Jesus had with the Pharisees in John 8…

39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” 

Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. 

40 But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God.  Abraham did not do this. 

41 You do the deeds of your father.” 

Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.” 

42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. 

43 Why do you not understand My speech?  Because you are not able to listen to My word. 

44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

Jesus also said in Matthew 13:38-39, “The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.”

Paul confronted a sorcerer named Elymas by calling him a “son of the devil.” (Acts 13:10) The Apostle wrote in Ephesians 2:2 that “the prince of the power of the air [Satan]…works in the sons of disobedience.” Among those works is murder. 1 John 3:12 says that Cain “…was of the wicked one and murdered his brother.”

You might say to yourself, “I’m not a murderer.” Maybe you never killed anyone (a popular reason people think they deserve to go to heaven) but 1 John 3:15 goes on to say, “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” Verse 9 from this same chapter says, “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” The Common English Bible clarifies in this verse, “Those born from God don’t practice sin because God’s DNA remains in them…”

Anyone can become a child of God by becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17). From that point on, he or she has the supernatural ability to “walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)

Whose child are you?

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”  - John 1:12-13