Holy Desperation
By Dave Butts, Co-founder of Harvest Prayer Ministries, Terre Haute, IN
“In a recent radio interview regarding revival in America I was asked, after 20 years of traveling and teaching on prayer in the church, if I think things are better or worse. My answer? Both! That’s not intended to be a cute answer, but an accurate one. In so many ways, the church in America is in trouble. Stagnant church growth, abysmal discipleship, poor prayer life, confused leadership, a blending in with our culture rather than a prophetic stand… and the list goes on. Yet, to paraphrase Dickens, ‘it is the worst of times, it is the best of times.’ It is becoming the best of times because I am seeing a growing awareness of our desperate situation. Out of that awareness comes a realization that the critical need of our day is for revival!
Revival never comes to a self-satisfied people. Revival never comes to a people who think they can fix things with another new program or strategy. Revival only comes to those who are at the end of themselves and are convinced that only God can bring what is necessary for the healing of the land. There is a rising tide of that holy desperation in the church today! … May the Lord awaken His people to the presence of Christ in such a powerful way that it overflows from our churches in the streets and neighborhoods of our nation.”
Concerning the “Judgment Seat of Christ”
I have expressed as my observation that I do not see Biblical verification for the speculation that there is more than one final judgment. Where does the Word of God teach that there will be more than one final judgment? What does look obvious to me in the straightforward promises and warnings of our Lord Jesus and His apostles is that the second coming of Jesus is also referred to in Scripture as the Day, and the final judgment before the great white throne. Here are some references for you to pry into and ponder: “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one left. Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:36-44; “For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:11-15; “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.” 2 Corinthians 5:10; “This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.” 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10; “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15 (all ESV)
Has it occurred to you that when God destroyed the world the first time by a worldwide flood, the same water that saved believers because they were in the ark and were lifted up is the water that destroyed the unbelievers? Now faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior is our ark of safety!
The Power of Patience
On a broadcast, I heard Joni Eareckson Tada mention that “patience takes us off rabbit speed and puts us on turtle speed.” She mentioned that her broken neck and paralysis has put her on turtle speed for most of her life. Isn’t it amazing how much good and how many millions of lives God has touched and transformed by using Joni at “turtle speed”? By the way – do you remember that in the race between the tortoise and the hare – the tortoise won? Maybe Almighty God wants us to remember that “persistence pays” and that He is not handicapped by our weaknesses!
What’s Going On?
In view of the turmoil and corruption going on in our own nation along with the heartache of the war in Ukraine and the huge threat to Taiwan and Afghanistan (as well as many other nations), I’ve decided it’s time to share a copy of a letter I wrote to relatives more than two years ago, but I’ve changed their names to protect their identity. Early in the spring of 2020, the news mentioned Hunter Biden and Ukraine occasionally – but seemed to be constantly broadcasting the idea that Donald Trump was in collusion with Russia. The wife in this couple called me to ask what was going on in Ukraine and with Donald Trump. I doubt she was pleased with what I told her. This is a copy of the letter I sent them a short time later:
Dear Patty & Bill (names are changed),
We care about you, we appreciate you very much, and we hope you also realize that nothing this world has to offer will satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart – that’s why so many famous people (like Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe) become depressed, alcohol or drug-dependent – or even take their own life. We hope you realize the truth of the song, “You Are My All in All” (a song to Jesus). Jesus Christ gave the song artist, Dennis Jernigan, deliverance from homosexuality. He can give us the deliverance from fear, anxiety or any other enemy of the soul.
We hope you experience Christ as your all in all – and find a good Bible and Christ-centered church in your area where you can share life with others on this journey. We are members of Eagle Christian Church, where we are involved with helping the new West Valley Campus – and we get great teaching. Enclosed are some CDs that have very good messages.
Also, we re-watched our DVD by the gospel group, Legacy Five. Inspiring music, lots of humor, and powerful testimonies – especially from Roger, the leader, who has been battling cancer for over ten years. Would you like for us to order one of these DVDs for you?
Also, we hope you are not deceived by the prevalent propaganda of the Marxist agenda that has infiltrated most of our society.
The war against Donald Trump is one of the most obvious and most broadcast arenas of this war. It began immediately after he was elected because the Marxists wanted their candidate, Hillary Clinton, to be their president in order to complete the process of fundamentally transforming USA into a Socialist nation.
For example, if I were president of USA, their rage, propaganda, and firepower would be unleashed on me. Why? Because knowing what I know about the layers of corruption in Washington D.C., I would also have been asking the new president of Ukraine, Vladimir Zelenski, for accountability for nine billion dollars of U.S. money. I would want some clear assurance that it would truly be used to protect the poor people of east Ukraine rather than being pocketed by profiteers – Ukrainian or American. “Quid pro quo” is Latin for getting something for something. That makes sense! If they are getting nine billion dollars – I should be getting evidence that the money is going for the right purpose. Do I believe that Joe and Hunter Biden were involved in the corruption in Ukraine? Yes!
The Democratic party is pushing evil objectives:
- The socialist agenda that ruined the east European countries.
- The murder of unborn children.
- The promotion of immorality through the LGBTQ agenda and Planned Parenthood program of “comprehensive sex education” in schools – which is sickening propaganda.
In continuation of my reflections and pondering about your questions:
- Do I believe that Trump is guilty of collusion with Russia? No! The Muller probe wasted multi-millions of our tax dollars trying to prove this charge and produced nothing except the destruction of many people’s lives. If they had found collusion, they (the frustrated Democrats) would have initiated impeachment on that basis.
- Our country has been dangerously infiltrated with Marxist philosophy through our education system, our media (especially most major “news” sources, entertainment – especially Hollywood), and the Democratic Party. All the way back to 1944, Norman Thomas, who formerly ran six times for office of president for the Communist Party USA, stated that he didn’t plan to run again. Why? Because the Democratic Party had adopted their platform.
- Do I believe that Donald Trump is guilty of some of the immorality (dirt) that the Democrats are accusing him of? Perhaps. Perhaps! Certainly? I don’t know, but I do know that it’s possible to change, and I do know that I love the policies Trump is promoting and the promises he is keeping. And the hypocrisy of the Democrats is deplorable! They are pushing the immorality of the LGBTQ agenda and the murder of unborn children yet charging Trump with immorality to try to impeach him.
Do you know that Hillary Clinton refused economic support to Uganda because she disagreed with their “abstinence only” form of sex education (which had proven to save multitudes of lives from the AIDS epidemic)? She withheld support unless they would agree to her so-called “comprehensive sex-ed” (which promotes immorality and abortion under the guise of “health care”).
I remember that the Left demonstrated a much different attitude toward Bill Clinton when there was proof of his scandalous immoral behavior, and he lied under oath. Do you remember, “it all depends on what the definition of ‘is’ is”? Why the difference in attitude? Could it be because he is one of their own and was actively promoting their Marxist agenda? Is that why the Democrats in Congress and the major “news” media did not charge him with collusion with China, and helped cover up for Hillary in the Benghazi tragedy? They immediately promoted a fake story about the cause! One doctrine of Marxism is that the end justifies the means – so they believe they can lie, cheat, steal – even murder if it promotes their cause.
The problem with most Republicans is that they don’t have the guts to stand up for the Republican Party Platform or to stand against the evils being pushed by the Democratic Party. I decided several years ago to transfer to the Constitution Party. They don’t have many viable candidates, so I vote for individuals.
I hope this answers your questions. I realize that what I’m sharing with you is much different than what you will get from NPR, NBC, CBS, ABC, N.Y. Times, etc. Why? They have adopted the Marxist agenda.
Respectfully yours & His, Rick
Worried About Climate Change?
If you are a Christian – no worry! In fact, worry is sinful disobedience to our Lord’s many commands like, Fear not! and “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?… But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:25, 33-34; “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
There was massive climate change in Noah’s era when God sent His judgment of a worldwide flood on this earth because of violence and every thought of mankind being evil. The climate continued to change because the Flood brought on the ice age for hundreds of years. However, the rainbow signified God’s covenant promise to Noah to never again totally flood this earth. God told him “And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, ‘I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.’” Genesis 8:21-22 (ESV)
What Should We Focus On?
However, He has also forewarned us that another massive and permanent climate change is coming – and no human power can stop it. “Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:1-18 (NKJV) Are you ready? Have you committed your heart and life to Jesus?
From Our Mailbox
Beloved brothers and sisters,
Thank you so much for all your fraternal care, your sacrificial help, and your unceasing prayers in this unprecedented time of trouble! We experience the power of your prayers a lot!
This is the first update I am sharing after our recent return to Kyiv. Despite the air raid alerts, the gas shortage and high prices, a plentitude of checkpoints and many other challenges, we made it back safe and sound. May the Lord be praised! The trip took a while because on the way, we were visiting national partners and coworkers scattered across the country and beyond – providing them comfort, encouragement and help, sharing your love and care.
Upon arrival, we are pretty involved with catching up, doing cleaning and making arrangements after four months of absence. Despite heavy battles taking place just a dozen miles from the Eurasian Apologetics Center location, our facilities are absolutely undamaged. Praise the Lord! And although the uncertainties level is still pretty high, we have already started the most urgent part of the outdoor renovation – the terrace water resistance and the supporting pillars fixing and reinforcement (another winter would be really challenging for them otherwise).
As you know, a few of our partners and coworkers (including the books warehouse and online library managers) were recruited to the army, some joined the Civil Defense troops, and others are serving the refugees and involved with the Home Guard groups. So far, all of them are alive and well. Though there is no immunity from missile attacks anywhere in the country, the Lord still protects our team. Please continue to pray for all our teammates, especially those defending our land in one way or another, as well as their evacuated families scattered across the country and beyond.
We highly appreciate the special designated aid gifts you are making to Ukrainians in these times of disaster! Carefully and responsibly, we use those funds for the targeted help to meet specific needs. Your care allows us to provide medicines, food, transportation and evacuation options, means of survival, visits to lone seniors, etc., in many cases which are often under the radar of global humanitarian missions. Thank you so much for providing this opportunity! It helps many to experience the love of Christ, and they give thanks and praises to the Lord! May His name be glorified!
Our online resources for all categories, from primary school children to church and ministry leaders, are still demanded like never before. Nevertheless, more and more churches, schools and seminaries are missing in-class fellowship and going to restart classes in the fall at more or less safer locations in Central and Western Ukraine. Our teaching schedule for the semester is almost full already! But the main project we are especially excited about restarting is the Reliable Foundations online apologetics club. Initially, its beginning was scheduled for March but was cancelled due to the invaders’ attacks on Kyiv. Now we plan the first session for September the 3rd. It is going to be called “The good Creator of the evil world”. We are going to discuss how the loving nature of our Lord is revealed even in times of trouble like the one our people experience now. Please keep it in your prayers!
Please pray for Ukraine, for the Lord’s intervention in the midst of troubles, for many people in other countries who care and help, for the lives of soldiers and civilians, and the peace in our country! Most of all, please pray for the Lord’s guidance in these difficult times.
Yours by the grace of Jesus, Sergei”
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“Dear Mr. Deighton:
Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding red flag gun laws. I appreciate hearing from you. Like our Founding Fathers, I oppose any compromise of the right to keep and bear arms. And like many Idahoans, I enjoy exercising my Second Amendment rights-I hunt and participate in sport shooting. Gun control legislation is based on the faulty premise that guns cause crime. Gun control laws result in only criminals owning guns, which can increase the crime rate. I am deeply committed to Second Amendment rights. You have my word, I will do nothing to weaken gun rights.
Again, I value your effort to get in touch with me to share your thoughts, as many Idahoans do. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future on this or other issues.
Very Truly Yours, James E. Risch, United State Senator”
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Dear Readers – Here is an amazing testimony to our Lord’s power and grace that we had intended to share with you months ago. Isn’t it interesting that this attack on Sam (Samantha) came the same day Russia launched its brutal new attack on Ukraine?
“Dear Rick and Della,
Truly, we have not been ignoring you. Actually, I didn’t even know your email was here until last night, it had become so buried by (a lot of) other emails. Got a few minutes for a long story?
The same night your email came in unbeknownst to me, Feb. 24, I was taken to the hospital by ambulance with acute hypoxic respiratory failure. My right lung was so full of fluid I could not get a breath. My oxygen level was 68% when they took me out of the apartment. I was intubated, taken to ICU and put on a ventilator. Much of the first four days is gone for me, I literally was not conscious. Without Carroll & my discharge papers I would not know a lot of what happened to me. Within the next four days I was diagnosed with Covid, double-pneumonia, RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus: this virus usually happens to children and is highly contagious; no clue how I got it). I was also diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, severe protein/calorie malnutrition and, oh yes, a heart attack. Every single one of these diagnoses—with the probable exception of the protein/calorie malnutrition—could have been fatal on its own. Put them together and well, without God’s powerful, loving, merciful hand, and the prayers of the saints to whom He listened, I wouldn’t be here. Even my physical/occupational & speech therapists asked why I was still here, although one answered his own question with ‘it’s a miracle’ and the other two told me ‘God has something – something more for you to do!’
I was in the hospital for 12 days, 2/24-3/7, but I had been sick since Jan. 27. I was hospitalized from Jan 30th till Feb 1st, diagnosed with Omicron. Then, on 2/10 & 2/18 they drained one quart each (yep, two quarts) of fluid from my right lung. The third quart was taken from the same lung the early morning of 2/24. The Lord kept me safe! Praises to Him and His glorious name! I was discharged to a rehab facility for another 8 days. It was all a fun ride! No, not really. I am still doing physical, occupational and speech therapy (speech because of the hypoxia) at home, probably for another month…
We are praying for Ukraine and the Church in Ukraine as the Lord leads. War is ugly. And awful, what is being perpetrated on men, women and children. We pray all of your friends are safe and that many will turn to Jesus Christ during this time. God bless you and keep you!
In Jesus Christ, we are looking up. Carroll and Sam (Samantha)”
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“How blessed are the people of the Ukraine that you were missionaries there, and as a result, there are praying Christians in the face of their persecution! In America, we truly need praying Christians. I know I don’t pray enough, and I’m working on it. I don’t mean that I don’t pray, but rather that I don’t pray enough… (Can any of us relate to this? R.D.)
I really enjoyed your newsletter! They are an education! It’s good that you can do all that reading of Christian magazines. I’m going to try to find some of the radio presentations you mentioned. Can any of them be ordered from TV or by mail?…
In Christian love, Wanda (McGinnis)”
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“Rick,
I hardly know where to begin – I guess the best place to begin is by praising our Great God and Savior – YHWH – and His Most Holy Son Jesus our Lord – the Father of compassion and God of all comfort – the Lamb of God Who has taken away the sin of the world – Who now lives and reigns – and Who is poised to Return in Glory.
But I must also thank you and your dear wife Della for your lifetimes of faithfully serving my Dear Lord. Thank you for your monthly newsletters – this most recent July issue was certainly a blessing to receive. I do hope that your friend Nancy is experiencing my Lord’s healing. Glad that your time at the Creation Camp was a blessing – and may my Lord indeed touch hearts of many young people to commit themselves to labor for the harvest – including many young men to preach the gospel faithfully. And of special blessing are the words from Zhenya and other faithful Ukrainian brethren – thank you.
And thank you so very much for the sermon recordings – they are so much appreciated. May my Beloved Lord continue to bless and keep you and Della – and may He continue to work mightily in this nation – in Ukraine – in Russia – and may He be glorified and His Kingdom come. – Ken Morris”
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“Dear Brother Deighton, April 7, 2022
I just finished reading the current issue of One Body. As usual, I enjoyed all of it, but I especially enjoyed your essay on Why Creation Matters. It is disturbing to me that so many preachers and teachers have adopted the ‘millions and millions’ of years. I would love to have a copy of your brochure on Why Creation Matters. Thank you for making that available. – Larry Branum
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“Rick, August 16, 2022
As I mentioned when I wrote the other day, I so appreciate your sending the monthly newsletter. Thank you for your thoughts expressed in the August issue on end times events – and especially concerning the Book of Revelation. And I am thankful to learn of my Dear Lord’s protection of the co-workers in the Ukraine. I hope that you will provide more specific information as you are able. And please know that your writings are always ‘spot on’ in truthfulness and relevance.
May my Dear Lord Jesus Christ continue to bless you and Della as you so faithfully serve Him. – Ken Morris”
Prayer Request
For Christians to wake up and harvest the field!
A Good News Report from Stephen Y., Love Cradle International
“Dear Della and Rick…please share these pictures/notes below as you see best with the many folks who have helped and prayed this container to Mala Vyska.
The little boy in the picture… First gift given from the container…his name is Maksym. He and his parents and two sisters came from Chornobayivka, Kherson region with only what they could carry on their back. They arrived a week ago in Mala Vyska. They made their way by foot and traveled through the fields for three days to freedom. They lost just about everything, except their lives…the little boy was so happy and said, “This little bear will always be with me, and he can sleep with me.” Some needed kindness and good medicine for this little guy and his family too. He knows who this gift is from.
Chornobayivka is an occupied Russian territory…many people there have died at the hands of the Russian army.
Another note:
The container arrived/unloaded on Friday the 19th. Which so happened to be the recognized World-Wide Day of Humanitarian Help.
In His Grace, Stephen”
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Excerpts from Mulberry International’s recent reports:
Pictured on the left is a Pastor from Mariupol. He, his wife, son and his son’s wife all live in this tiny house in a small village in Western Ukraine. We want to help these and other displaced families in the southwest corner of Ukraine. A small local church has been receiving hundreds of displaced families from all over Ukraine.
Please keep these families in your prayers!
“Life in Western Ukraine is hard right now. There are no jobs, and no housing available for millions of displaced people. They either live in communal settings at churches, or find abandoned houses to live in. Most houses do not have central heating and only wood burning stoves. We want to help several families that evacuated from Mariupol to purchase firewood to survive the cold that is coming in a few months. In order to provide one family with enough firewood to last this winter, we need $400. We have about 15 families living in abandoned houses or old cabins with no central heat and they will need firewood as early as October. We have received enough donations to provide for 10 families already!” Can we do at least five more?
If you would like to help provide wood for more families, you can send your gifts directly to:
Mulberry International, P. O. Box 43623, Louisville, KY 40253. Designate them for “Firewood”.