8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
8:4 As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
8:5 For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
8:7 Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
8:8 But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
8:9 But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
8:10 For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
8:11 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
8:12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: 1 Corinthians 7
7:1 Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.
7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
7:12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
7:13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
7:16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
7:17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
7:18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
7:21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
7:25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
7:26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
7:27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
7:30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
7:32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
7:33 but he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
7:34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
7:35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
7:36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
7:37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his earth that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
7:38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
7:40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
7:2 Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
7:4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
7:6 But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
7:7 For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
7:8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I.
7:9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
7:10 And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
7:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
7:12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
7:13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
7:15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
7:16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
7:17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
7:18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
7:20 Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
7:21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
7:22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
7:23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
7:24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.
7:25 Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
7:26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
7:27 Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
7:28 But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
7:30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
7:31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
7:32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
7:33 but he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
7:34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
7:35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
7:36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
7:37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his earth that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
7:38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
7:39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
7:40 But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Oh Christendom!
by William Penn (1644-1718)
It is at that day proud and luxurious Christians shall learn that God is no respecter of persons; that all sects and names shall be swallowed up in these two kinds, sheep and goats, just and unjust; and the very righteous must have a trial for it; which made that holy man cry out, "If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (1 Peter 4:18).
If their thoughts, words, and works must stand the test, and come under scrutiny before the imperial Judge of heaven and earth, how then should the ungodly be exempted? No; we are told by him that cannot lie, many shall then even cry, "Lord, Lord!" set forth their profession, and recount the works that they have done in his name, to motivate Him to mercy, and yet be rejected with this direful sentence, "Depart from me, you workers of iniquity; I know you not" (Matthew 7:23).
As if He had said, Depart from me, you evil doers; though you have professed me, I have never known you; your vain and evil lies have made you unfit for my holy kingdom. Go away from here and go to the gods whom you have served; your beloved lusts which you have worshiped, and the evil world that you have so much coveted and adored.
Let them save you now, if they can, from the wrath to come upon you, which is the wages of the deeds you have done. Here is the end of their work that built upon the sand; the breath of the Judge will blow it down, and woeful will the fall be. Oh! it is now that the righteous have the better of the wicked which made an apostate cry, in old time, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like to his" (Numbers 23:10).
For the sentence of the righteous [those had found everlasting peace and confidence while on earth] is changed, and the Judge smiles. He casts the eye of love upon his own sheep, and invites them, saying, "Come, you blessed of my Father" (Matthew 25:34); those, who through patient continuance in well-doing, have long waited for immortality.
The Judge tells them that you have been the true companions of my tribulation and cross, and, with unwearied faithfulness, in obedience to my holy will, valiantly endured to the end, looking to me, the author of your precious faith, for the recompense of reward that I have promised to "they who love me, and faint not." Oh! enter you into the joy of your Lord, and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Oh Christendom! My soul most fervently prays, that after all your lofty profession of Christ, and his meek and holy religion, your unsuitable and unchristian life may not cast you out at that great judgment court of the world, and lose you so a great salvation at last. Hear me once, I implore you: can Christ be your Lord, and you not obey Him? or, can you be his servant, and never serve Him? "Be not deceived, such as you sow, shall you reap" (Galatians 6:7).
He is not your savior while you reject his grace in your heart, by which He should save you by purification. Come, from what has He save you? Has He saved you from your sinful lusts, your worldly affections, and vain conversations? If not, then He is not your savior! For, though He is offered a savior to all, yet He is actually a savior to those only that are saved by Him; and none are saved by Him that live in those evils by which they are lost from God, and which He came to save them from.
It is at that day proud and luxurious Christians shall learn that God is no respecter of persons; that all sects and names shall be swallowed up in these two kinds, sheep and goats, just and unjust; and the very righteous must have a trial for it; which made that holy man cry out, "If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (1 Peter 4:18).
If their thoughts, words, and works must stand the test, and come under scrutiny before the imperial Judge of heaven and earth, how then should the ungodly be exempted? No; we are told by him that cannot lie, many shall then even cry, "Lord, Lord!" set forth their profession, and recount the works that they have done in his name, to motivate Him to mercy, and yet be rejected with this direful sentence, "Depart from me, you workers of iniquity; I know you not" (Matthew 7:23).
As if He had said, Depart from me, you evil doers; though you have professed me, I have never known you; your vain and evil lies have made you unfit for my holy kingdom. Go away from here and go to the gods whom you have served; your beloved lusts which you have worshiped, and the evil world that you have so much coveted and adored.
Let them save you now, if they can, from the wrath to come upon you, which is the wages of the deeds you have done. Here is the end of their work that built upon the sand; the breath of the Judge will blow it down, and woeful will the fall be. Oh! it is now that the righteous have the better of the wicked which made an apostate cry, in old time, "Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like to his" (Numbers 23:10).
For the sentence of the righteous [those had found everlasting peace and confidence while on earth] is changed, and the Judge smiles. He casts the eye of love upon his own sheep, and invites them, saying, "Come, you blessed of my Father" (Matthew 25:34); those, who through patient continuance in well-doing, have long waited for immortality.
The Judge tells them that you have been the true companions of my tribulation and cross, and, with unwearied faithfulness, in obedience to my holy will, valiantly endured to the end, looking to me, the author of your precious faith, for the recompense of reward that I have promised to "they who love me, and faint not." Oh! enter you into the joy of your Lord, and inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Oh Christendom! My soul most fervently prays, that after all your lofty profession of Christ, and his meek and holy religion, your unsuitable and unchristian life may not cast you out at that great judgment court of the world, and lose you so a great salvation at last. Hear me once, I implore you: can Christ be your Lord, and you not obey Him? or, can you be his servant, and never serve Him? "Be not deceived, such as you sow, shall you reap" (Galatians 6:7).
He is not your savior while you reject his grace in your heart, by which He should save you by purification. Come, from what has He save you? Has He saved you from your sinful lusts, your worldly affections, and vain conversations? If not, then He is not your savior! For, though He is offered a savior to all, yet He is actually a savior to those only that are saved by Him; and none are saved by Him that live in those evils by which they are lost from God, and which He came to save them from.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Monday, October 26, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: 1 Corinthians 6
6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteousness shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
6:14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
6:4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
6:5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6:6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
6:7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
6:8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteousness shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.
6:14 And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power.
6:15 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
6:16 What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
6:19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
6:20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
VIDEO: Regeneration vs. The Idolatry of Decisional "Evangelism"
from Lane's Blog
This is an hour and seven minutes that is time well spent. Here's Paul Washer speaking about decisional "evangelism" and what constitutes true regeneration.
This is an hour and seven minutes that is time well spent. Here's Paul Washer speaking about decisional "evangelism" and what constitutes true regeneration.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Others May, You Cannot
by G.D. Watson
If God has called you to be really like Jesus He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other people do things which He will not let you do.
Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful, may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it, and if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.
Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.
Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence upon Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.
The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity, because He wants to produce some choice fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others be great, but keep you small. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more precious He may let others get credit for the work which you have done, and thus make YOUR REWARD TEN TIMES GREATER WHEN JESUS COMES.
The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time, which other Christians never feel distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an infinitely Sovereign Being, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in Jealous Love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.
Settle it forever, then that you are to DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. Now, when you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this PECULIAR, PERSONAL, PRIVATE, JEALOUS GUARDIANSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OVER YOUR LIFE, then you will have found the vestibule of Heaven.
(~SOURCE: Faith, Prayer, & Tract League:
Tract #76; Grand Rapids, MI 49504)
If God has called you to be really like Jesus He will draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put upon you such demands of obedience, that you will not be able to follow other people, or measure yourself by other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other people do things which He will not let you do.
Other Christians and ministers who seem very religious and useful, may push themselves, pull wires, and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it, and if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.
Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their successes, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.
Others may be allowed to succeed in making money, or may have a legacy left to them, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, namely, a helpless dependence upon Him, that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.
The Lord may let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hidden in obscurity, because He wants to produce some choice fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can only be produced in the shade. He may let others be great, but keep you small. He may let others do a work for Him and get the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more precious He may let others get credit for the work which you have done, and thus make YOUR REWARD TEN TIMES GREATER WHEN JESUS COMES.
The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time, which other Christians never feel distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an infinitely Sovereign Being, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in Jealous Love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.
Settle it forever, then that you are to DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. Now, when you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this PECULIAR, PERSONAL, PRIVATE, JEALOUS GUARDIANSHIP AND MANAGEMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OVER YOUR LIFE, then you will have found the vestibule of Heaven.
(~SOURCE: Faith, Prayer, & Tract League:
Tract #76; Grand Rapids, MI 49504)
Friday, October 23, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: 1 Corinthians 5
5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning that hath so done this deed,
5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
5:2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
5:3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning that hath so done this deed,
5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
5:6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
5:9 I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
5:10 Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world.
5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
5:12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within?
5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Experiential Christianity...make it up as you go
by Lafe Tolliver
One of the defining methods of the emergent/emerging church is their acute ability to redefine words and relationships so as not to offend their targeted audience...the so called unchurched.
Without an exact time frame, the church that is not of the Lord in their orthodoxy or orthopraxy, have come to a consensus of belief that if they can redefine the mission of the church, they can reach the masses. But reach them for whom?
Does this emergent problem actually contend or believe that they have a better grasp of scriptures than the Holy Spirit of God? Do they actually believe in their heart of hearts that they are the sole possessors of truth by which they have the permission of liberty to change the boundaries of the gospel message.
And what change it is! To water down the gospel message and to throw doubt upon the non-negotiables of the faith is tantamount to outright heresy...unforgivable heresy.
Jesus who is God in the flesh is not going to alter his nature or character or divine attributes in order to placate sinful mankind. He is not going to visit these "pillars of the church" and negotiate with them because they have aught with submitting to what they believe is outdated images/beliefs about God.
When Jude indicated that we are to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints of God (Jude 3), that belief and principle was die cast in the Blood of the Lamb and backed by the Trinity.
No where do you find in the Gospels, the apostles bickering amongst themselves as to whether or not they will accept or reject the then written word of God as exemplified by the life and teachings of their Master Jesus the Christ.
Yet, what makes modern man think that he can, with polished arrogance, abrogate the fundamentals of Holy Writ to suit his own peccadilloes?
The answer lies in the fact that truth has been watered down by liberalism that it (truth) is now on a sliding scale of what works and what does not work in "your world".
If you wish to compromise the gospel as to sin or regeneration or holiness, then simply preach a different gospel to the unwary and by repeated utterances, they will accept what you say as true since they have not done their own discerning of the spirit of the speaker and what was uttered being conformed to the written Word of God. And, if you are challenged, you simply charge that the questioner is out of order or has an axe to grind or is not speaking in love.
With a flaccid gospel being presented by men and women who pose as teachers and prophets and who are accompanied by the power and manifestations of Satan (who can appear as an angel of light), their true father, these imposters led astray the weak and the lazy who refuse to be good Bereans (Acts 17:11).
Experiential Christianity is also expansive so that whatever wants it to be, it is. This allows the practitioner to engage in dubious acts and yet claim a salvific relationship with God because in their minds, they have been duped to believe that all is well with them and God.
Once truth as found in the source of truth...Jesus the Christ is allowed to be challenged on grounds that such truth was for another generation or it is not applicable in today's marketplace, error, albeit slight in nature or degree wins the day, and from then on, it is all a matter of time before that truth is seen as being optional or debatable.
The nature of unregenerate mankind is to sin and sin at will. It is the sin nature doing what it does best and that is to sin. So when the truth is presented to the sinner and that truth means he or she must repent and submit to the Lordship of Jesus the Christ, the squirming sinner either has two choices. He or she can repent and submit or they can deny the truth and substitute their own form of truth.
Experiential Christianity does not acknowledge absolutes in its worldview and much less the absolutes of the Word of God. For in the commands of God, the truth is revealed and obedience is demanded by a holy God and with no room for debate as to the righteousness of the debater.
Who is the debater of this age, or any age, that has been able to snick snarl God or been able to overturn his truths by their own invented Truths? None. Yet mankind continually tries to out best God and to take His throne away by intimating that there are other truths other than what God demands and these other competing truths should have equal standing with the Word of God.
The Antichrist's (or meaning in place of) favorite tactic is to not only question God but to place doubt in the mind of a person as to the sovereignty of God and with that doubt, truth becomes relative or experiential. The story of Genesis with Adam and Eve is the starting place of experiential Christianity. For they took their experience of trying to be equal with God as being valid and in place of God's command not to eat of the tree of good and evil.
Because if your personal unexamined experience convinces you that all is well, that is truth to you regardless of what judgment the Word of God states to that experience.
As we continue to see the church morph into acquiescing into error in order to bring in numbers and not disciples, we will begin to hear strange testimonies by these unregenerate persons of their experiences that led them to the "church" and why their experiences are not to be weighed and judged but accepted.
I believe that one of the developing challenges of the true church is to gently but firmly rebuke and repudiate these experiences as being of no value thus in effect their "experiential" born again experiences are null and void.
Whenever the false church tries to assert itself with its false message that one's experience is of value and is equal to a genuine born again experience or it tries to water down the standards of God, the satanic forces have won, for the moment, the battle of truth vs. experiential truth.
One of the defining methods of the emergent/emerging church is their acute ability to redefine words and relationships so as not to offend their targeted audience...the so called unchurched.
Without an exact time frame, the church that is not of the Lord in their orthodoxy or orthopraxy, have come to a consensus of belief that if they can redefine the mission of the church, they can reach the masses. But reach them for whom?
Does this emergent problem actually contend or believe that they have a better grasp of scriptures than the Holy Spirit of God? Do they actually believe in their heart of hearts that they are the sole possessors of truth by which they have the permission of liberty to change the boundaries of the gospel message.
And what change it is! To water down the gospel message and to throw doubt upon the non-negotiables of the faith is tantamount to outright heresy...unforgivable heresy.
Jesus who is God in the flesh is not going to alter his nature or character or divine attributes in order to placate sinful mankind. He is not going to visit these "pillars of the church" and negotiate with them because they have aught with submitting to what they believe is outdated images/beliefs about God.
When Jude indicated that we are to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints of God (Jude 3), that belief and principle was die cast in the Blood of the Lamb and backed by the Trinity.
No where do you find in the Gospels, the apostles bickering amongst themselves as to whether or not they will accept or reject the then written word of God as exemplified by the life and teachings of their Master Jesus the Christ.
Yet, what makes modern man think that he can, with polished arrogance, abrogate the fundamentals of Holy Writ to suit his own peccadilloes?
The answer lies in the fact that truth has been watered down by liberalism that it (truth) is now on a sliding scale of what works and what does not work in "your world".
If you wish to compromise the gospel as to sin or regeneration or holiness, then simply preach a different gospel to the unwary and by repeated utterances, they will accept what you say as true since they have not done their own discerning of the spirit of the speaker and what was uttered being conformed to the written Word of God. And, if you are challenged, you simply charge that the questioner is out of order or has an axe to grind or is not speaking in love.
With a flaccid gospel being presented by men and women who pose as teachers and prophets and who are accompanied by the power and manifestations of Satan (who can appear as an angel of light), their true father, these imposters led astray the weak and the lazy who refuse to be good Bereans (Acts 17:11).
Experiential Christianity is also expansive so that whatever wants it to be, it is. This allows the practitioner to engage in dubious acts and yet claim a salvific relationship with God because in their minds, they have been duped to believe that all is well with them and God.
Once truth as found in the source of truth...Jesus the Christ is allowed to be challenged on grounds that such truth was for another generation or it is not applicable in today's marketplace, error, albeit slight in nature or degree wins the day, and from then on, it is all a matter of time before that truth is seen as being optional or debatable.
The nature of unregenerate mankind is to sin and sin at will. It is the sin nature doing what it does best and that is to sin. So when the truth is presented to the sinner and that truth means he or she must repent and submit to the Lordship of Jesus the Christ, the squirming sinner either has two choices. He or she can repent and submit or they can deny the truth and substitute their own form of truth.
Experiential Christianity does not acknowledge absolutes in its worldview and much less the absolutes of the Word of God. For in the commands of God, the truth is revealed and obedience is demanded by a holy God and with no room for debate as to the righteousness of the debater.
Who is the debater of this age, or any age, that has been able to snick snarl God or been able to overturn his truths by their own invented Truths? None. Yet mankind continually tries to out best God and to take His throne away by intimating that there are other truths other than what God demands and these other competing truths should have equal standing with the Word of God.
The Antichrist's (or meaning in place of) favorite tactic is to not only question God but to place doubt in the mind of a person as to the sovereignty of God and with that doubt, truth becomes relative or experiential. The story of Genesis with Adam and Eve is the starting place of experiential Christianity. For they took their experience of trying to be equal with God as being valid and in place of God's command not to eat of the tree of good and evil.
Because if your personal unexamined experience convinces you that all is well, that is truth to you regardless of what judgment the Word of God states to that experience.
As we continue to see the church morph into acquiescing into error in order to bring in numbers and not disciples, we will begin to hear strange testimonies by these unregenerate persons of their experiences that led them to the "church" and why their experiences are not to be weighed and judged but accepted.
I believe that one of the developing challenges of the true church is to gently but firmly rebuke and repudiate these experiences as being of no value thus in effect their "experiential" born again experiences are null and void.
Whenever the false church tries to assert itself with its false message that one's experience is of value and is equal to a genuine born again experience or it tries to water down the standards of God, the satanic forces have won, for the moment, the battle of truth vs. experiential truth.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: 1 Corinthians 4
4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
4:8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
4:13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you though the gospel.
4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
4:18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
4:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
4:21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
4:3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self.
4:4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
4:6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.
4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?
4:8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you.
4:9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
4:10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.
4:11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;
4:12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
4:13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.
4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
4:15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you though the gospel.
4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.
4:18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you.
4:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power.
4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
4:21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
The Scoffing Church, 3
by Dene McGriff
Can't We All Just Get Along?
It's hard, well frankly, it's downright impossible for most God-loving, red-blooded Americans to "give it up" - listen, the Titanic is sinking - and no matter what you think will put Humpty Dumpty back together again, it's not in the cards. This appears to be what George Barna in his latest missive, The Seven Faith Tribes, is trying to do - salvage the unsalvageable. In trying to keep America from falling any further into a moral abyss, Barna advocates:
"Sadly, Christians in America are not seen as loving, but we currently have a window of opportunity to demonstrate our love in the midst of the hard times, confusion, and cultural chaos facing the nation. Achieving positive outcomes, though, requires that Christians work in harmony with non-Christians - and do so without a covert evangelistic agenda. The best evangelism is that which emanates from people's respect for our character and lifestyle.
"Unfortunately, the public perception of our character and lifestyle is one of the major reasons why our evangelistic efforts in the United States have been so ineffective in the past quarter century. Those who do not follow Christ watch those who do and see little reason to follow suit.
"So rather than seek to honor God by doing more of the same, which has not produced much fruit, it is time for us to take stock of reality and reinvent ourselves - as disciples of Christ who love the world, rather than argue the world, into God's presence.
"I believe that the most appropriate and effective means of doing so is by allowing people to make their own spiritual choices, with devout Christians simply peacefully coexisting with those who choose to believe differently. That can happen only if we mutually agree to focus on the things that we have in common rather than get ugly over the things that make us distinct.
"In other words, we need to stop competing, comparing, complaining, and condemning, and we must start cooperating, communicating, collaborating, and contributing. It's time to stop fighting and start loving. It's time to stop taking and start giving" (The Seven Faith Tribes, George Barna, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2009).
So, Barna is out to unite dedicated Christians with "casual Christians" with morally concerned Jews, Mormons, Pantheists, Muslims, and even "spiritual skeptics" in a grand cause to redeem the nonredeemable - making her, once again, that bright city upon that mystical hill which cannot be hid.
I ask one simple question: "What fellowship has light with darkness?" Whoops! Can't be disagreeable here, might offend someone who could join me in the grand cause of redeeming America. And, what about the Second Coming of Christ to judge Babylon? Let's not go there, instead, man the bilge pumps on the Titanic to keep her afloat; who knows, maybe the rivets will hold.
Listen, this isn't "American hate-speak" - come September 2009, 650,000 Americans will have exhausted their 79 weeks of unemployment insurance - and Obama's 1.8 Trillion (and counting will be the greatest deficit spending in the history of this Titanic (W. Bush's wasn't even $500B).
Talk about moral depravity and the greed of the merchants of the earth - who now delight in driving every man, woman and child left in this downturn into economic oblivion! You wonder why the Pope is advocating a one-world economic system posthaste - from his lips to your ears:
"There is a strongly felt need...for a reform of the United Nations Organization, and likewise of economic institutions and international finance, so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth. There is urgent need of a true world political authority" (The Last Days).
Yes, can't we all just get along...
Prophetic Babylon
There is a great world power referred to as prophetic Babylon that dominates the world militarily, economically, even in terms of religion and the identity of that country is hidden to most. The king (or head) of this country is the Antichrist who signs the "Treaty of Hell and Death" with Israel, a defense treaty that marks the beginning of the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:27). I would refer you to "In Search of Babylon", a book I wrote about five years ago but it is still relevant.
Whether America (the most "Christian country, largest economy, and most powerful military in the world) is prophetic Babylon or not, we will know if and when a leader signs a mutual defense treaty/pact with Israel. I can't imagine any other country that would and could defend Israel, can you?
It is almost impossible for us Americans to even imagine this possibility because we have been so brain washed as to our own goodness in the world defending truth, justice, and democracy around the world. Having spent my life traveling throughout the world, it is interesting to note that other people, even Christians in other countries don't have so much trouble imagining it. Again, it wouldn't be deceiving if it were easy.
Could America be the 800 pound prophetic gorilla in the room that no one sees? And, oddly enough, those sincere brethren, Like David Wilkerson or Kristie Johnson, who do see it, have got to get rid of Babylon the Great before the real action of Daniel's Seventieth Week comes down - can't imagine why, maybe they just can't handle Antichrist coming up out of the ten horns, as the Eleventh Horn, that younger kingdom and that the King of latter-day Babylon is actually the Antichrist?
Having Antichrist coming out of the United States of America as the King of Babylon, King of Tyre, is so distasteful to most patriotic Americans that it's simply overwhelming - who would have imagined it? That which we feared the most has come upon us!
We enter the realm of "deception" when everything we have ever been taught; when everything we hold dear and everything we believe with all our heart is not true. This will be the greatest deception of all time and the vast majority will go along. Only those enlightened by the Spirit of God will see through it.
The fact of the matter is that American Christians have been set up for deception because their pastors neither understand nor teach prophecy. Many expect to rapture early on. Others expect the Antichrist to rise up out of Europe, Germany, the Middle East (as a Jew from Syria or a Muslim) or the Catholic Church.
The deception is all around us on our T.V.'s, newspapers, magazines, movies, internet, and even our churches which ignore prophecy at their own peril. The economy is falling apart around us and families are afraid, hunkering down, working harder, paying off debt, trying to hold on to the "good life." There is an economic tornado approaching every one of us, but few see it coming. We are deceived.
The Scoffing Church
The result of the great deception is the scoffing church: "Where is the promise of His coming?" (2 Peter 3:4). We scoff at prophecy. We scoff at naysayers. We scoff at Israel. We scoff at those who don't believe that America is God's gift to the world. We scoff at those who think the church is lukewarm. We scoff at Christians who dare attack our sacred beliefs and our beloved country.
We scoff at words written thousands of years ago as irrelevant and out dated. We scoff at the Holy Spirit's conviction. We believe our trusted elders and clergy and scoff at any who would question them. We scoff by ignoring the Bible, ignoring the warnings.
Where is the hope of His coming? He has delayed too long. All the prophets so far have been proven to be false so why listen to any? Jesus will get here when He gets here. Why worry? Let's all just band together for the greater good and forget about all this prophetic negativity. I trust that when the time comes, He'll take care of me - that's all that matters, isn't it?
Broad is the way that leads to destruction (or in this case "deception") and there are many that go in it (Matthew 7:13). A few of my close friends (going back to the '60s) still believe God is speaking to this generation because we, above all others before, have a "need to know." But most of the younger generation scoff at prophecy (or give it lip service) and few are listening or even care "what the Spirit is saying to the churches." They are either into survival, the good life, or being good churchgoers.
And one day the scoffers will turn on true believers and deliver them up thinking they are doing God a favor. There are three types of people - the masses, the scoffers and the witnesses: unbelievers, the deceived apostate "believers" and the martyrs (lit. "witnesses") who stand for the testimony of Jesus. People are clueless, deceived, or overcomers. Which one will you be?
Can't We All Just Get Along?
It's hard, well frankly, it's downright impossible for most God-loving, red-blooded Americans to "give it up" - listen, the Titanic is sinking - and no matter what you think will put Humpty Dumpty back together again, it's not in the cards. This appears to be what George Barna in his latest missive, The Seven Faith Tribes, is trying to do - salvage the unsalvageable. In trying to keep America from falling any further into a moral abyss, Barna advocates:
"Sadly, Christians in America are not seen as loving, but we currently have a window of opportunity to demonstrate our love in the midst of the hard times, confusion, and cultural chaos facing the nation. Achieving positive outcomes, though, requires that Christians work in harmony with non-Christians - and do so without a covert evangelistic agenda. The best evangelism is that which emanates from people's respect for our character and lifestyle.
"Unfortunately, the public perception of our character and lifestyle is one of the major reasons why our evangelistic efforts in the United States have been so ineffective in the past quarter century. Those who do not follow Christ watch those who do and see little reason to follow suit.
"So rather than seek to honor God by doing more of the same, which has not produced much fruit, it is time for us to take stock of reality and reinvent ourselves - as disciples of Christ who love the world, rather than argue the world, into God's presence.
"I believe that the most appropriate and effective means of doing so is by allowing people to make their own spiritual choices, with devout Christians simply peacefully coexisting with those who choose to believe differently. That can happen only if we mutually agree to focus on the things that we have in common rather than get ugly over the things that make us distinct.
"In other words, we need to stop competing, comparing, complaining, and condemning, and we must start cooperating, communicating, collaborating, and contributing. It's time to stop fighting and start loving. It's time to stop taking and start giving" (The Seven Faith Tribes, George Barna, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2009).
So, Barna is out to unite dedicated Christians with "casual Christians" with morally concerned Jews, Mormons, Pantheists, Muslims, and even "spiritual skeptics" in a grand cause to redeem the nonredeemable - making her, once again, that bright city upon that mystical hill which cannot be hid.
I ask one simple question: "What fellowship has light with darkness?" Whoops! Can't be disagreeable here, might offend someone who could join me in the grand cause of redeeming America. And, what about the Second Coming of Christ to judge Babylon? Let's not go there, instead, man the bilge pumps on the Titanic to keep her afloat; who knows, maybe the rivets will hold.
Listen, this isn't "American hate-speak" - come September 2009, 650,000 Americans will have exhausted their 79 weeks of unemployment insurance - and Obama's 1.8 Trillion (and counting will be the greatest deficit spending in the history of this Titanic (W. Bush's wasn't even $500B).
Talk about moral depravity and the greed of the merchants of the earth - who now delight in driving every man, woman and child left in this downturn into economic oblivion! You wonder why the Pope is advocating a one-world economic system posthaste - from his lips to your ears:
"There is a strongly felt need...for a reform of the United Nations Organization, and likewise of economic institutions and international finance, so that the concept of the family of nations can acquire real teeth. There is urgent need of a true world political authority" (The Last Days).
Yes, can't we all just get along...
Prophetic Babylon
There is a great world power referred to as prophetic Babylon that dominates the world militarily, economically, even in terms of religion and the identity of that country is hidden to most. The king (or head) of this country is the Antichrist who signs the "Treaty of Hell and Death" with Israel, a defense treaty that marks the beginning of the Seventieth Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:27). I would refer you to "In Search of Babylon", a book I wrote about five years ago but it is still relevant.
Whether America (the most "Christian country, largest economy, and most powerful military in the world) is prophetic Babylon or not, we will know if and when a leader signs a mutual defense treaty/pact with Israel. I can't imagine any other country that would and could defend Israel, can you?
It is almost impossible for us Americans to even imagine this possibility because we have been so brain washed as to our own goodness in the world defending truth, justice, and democracy around the world. Having spent my life traveling throughout the world, it is interesting to note that other people, even Christians in other countries don't have so much trouble imagining it. Again, it wouldn't be deceiving if it were easy.
Could America be the 800 pound prophetic gorilla in the room that no one sees? And, oddly enough, those sincere brethren, Like David Wilkerson or Kristie Johnson, who do see it, have got to get rid of Babylon the Great before the real action of Daniel's Seventieth Week comes down - can't imagine why, maybe they just can't handle Antichrist coming up out of the ten horns, as the Eleventh Horn, that younger kingdom and that the King of latter-day Babylon is actually the Antichrist?
Having Antichrist coming out of the United States of America as the King of Babylon, King of Tyre, is so distasteful to most patriotic Americans that it's simply overwhelming - who would have imagined it? That which we feared the most has come upon us!
We enter the realm of "deception" when everything we have ever been taught; when everything we hold dear and everything we believe with all our heart is not true. This will be the greatest deception of all time and the vast majority will go along. Only those enlightened by the Spirit of God will see through it.
The fact of the matter is that American Christians have been set up for deception because their pastors neither understand nor teach prophecy. Many expect to rapture early on. Others expect the Antichrist to rise up out of Europe, Germany, the Middle East (as a Jew from Syria or a Muslim) or the Catholic Church.
The deception is all around us on our T.V.'s, newspapers, magazines, movies, internet, and even our churches which ignore prophecy at their own peril. The economy is falling apart around us and families are afraid, hunkering down, working harder, paying off debt, trying to hold on to the "good life." There is an economic tornado approaching every one of us, but few see it coming. We are deceived.
The Scoffing Church
The result of the great deception is the scoffing church: "Where is the promise of His coming?" (2 Peter 3:4). We scoff at prophecy. We scoff at naysayers. We scoff at Israel. We scoff at those who don't believe that America is God's gift to the world. We scoff at those who think the church is lukewarm. We scoff at Christians who dare attack our sacred beliefs and our beloved country.
We scoff at words written thousands of years ago as irrelevant and out dated. We scoff at the Holy Spirit's conviction. We believe our trusted elders and clergy and scoff at any who would question them. We scoff by ignoring the Bible, ignoring the warnings.
Where is the hope of His coming? He has delayed too long. All the prophets so far have been proven to be false so why listen to any? Jesus will get here when He gets here. Why worry? Let's all just band together for the greater good and forget about all this prophetic negativity. I trust that when the time comes, He'll take care of me - that's all that matters, isn't it?
Broad is the way that leads to destruction (or in this case "deception") and there are many that go in it (Matthew 7:13). A few of my close friends (going back to the '60s) still believe God is speaking to this generation because we, above all others before, have a "need to know." But most of the younger generation scoff at prophecy (or give it lip service) and few are listening or even care "what the Spirit is saying to the churches." They are either into survival, the good life, or being good churchgoers.
And one day the scoffers will turn on true believers and deliver them up thinking they are doing God a favor. There are three types of people - the masses, the scoffers and the witnesses: unbelievers, the deceived apostate "believers" and the martyrs (lit. "witnesses") who stand for the testimony of Jesus. People are clueless, deceived, or overcomers. Which one will you be?
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death" (Revelation 12:11).
Monday, October 19, 2009
Geting to Know Jesus: 1 Corinthians 3
3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
3:12 Now if an man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;
3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;
3:23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
3:2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
3:3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
3:4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
3:8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
3:12 Now if an man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
3:16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
3:17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.
3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's;
3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's;
3:23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
The Scoffing Church, 2
by Dene McGriff
Prophecy is of no Concern to Us
"Scholars" believe the question is purely academic. The church has been called to evangelize so the emphasis every Sunday is the gospel message and a "seeker friendly" church. You go into the average church today and you get Bible teaching or topical sermons with little mention of prophecy even though it represents a third of the Bible! Frankly they scoff at people who are into Bible prophecy for any of the reasons mentioned above.
Underlying it is a weariness and wariness with the subject. Frankly, who cares? It either happened already as Hank Hanegraaff claims, or we'll know when we rapture. To get caught up in prophecy is to dabble in conjecture, to play a guessing game. It is ignoring the problems of our times - the culture wars, immorality, poverty, and economic uncertainty.
We have way too many things to concern us than to speculate on difficult to understand subjects like prophecy - ten headed monsters, beasts coming out of the sea, plagues - way too much to wrap our heads around.
At the level of the people (the laity in contrast to the professionals), it is all they can do to make it to church once or twice a week. They are struggling so much in their everyday lives, striving to keep their jobs (amongst layoffs and furloughs), pay their bills, get the kids to soccer, swimming, baseball, mow the lawn, play with the dog, spend time with the wife, keep up with the latest TV...and they have time to worry about the Second Coming?
They can barely make it from one day to the next! Life has become overwhelming! Besides, Christians have been talking about His coming for years and where is He? Give me a break! You can't just sit on your duff and wait for something to happen when they've been playing the same waiting game for the past 2,000 years!
This generation is suffering from prophecy fatigue. Here we have all the arrows pointing in the right direction and nada, nothing, zero, zip! Hold on a minute. What is the main characteristic of the last days? Deception! Things are not as they appear to be. The whole thing has been rigged to throw us off (just ask Dracma). How does this deception work?
Why Prophecy is Not Understood?
Few clergy understand prophecy because, unfortunately, most Bible Schools and Seminaries deprecate the topic, or whatever they've been taught was within the context of a world-view (e.g., "Colonial Europe") so out-dated as to be utterly irrelevant given the immediate plight of present history.
Every generation of Christians tried to understand Bible prophecy through the prism of their own world view (political, economic, and cultural) which has resulted, for most, in a Eurocentric interpretation of Scripture. Doug Krieger has done some fabulous in-depth analysis on this "stagnant phenomenon." Please see The Prophetic Sequence or Antichrist: Reflections of the Desolator or my work on Recognizing Deception.
Christian scholars have made huge mistakes trying to understand prophecy because the timing wasn't right. In one of the most prophetic books of the Old Testament written about 600 B.C., it says, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end" (Daniel 12:9). In military intelligence, this is called "need to know."
Daniel was given incredible visions of the last days, but then tells the readers that the words are sealed until the time of the end. What does that mean? It simply means that these prophecies will not make any sense until the time of the end. Try and interpret them during 19th Century Europe and Napoleon is surely the Antichrist, mid 20th Century and it is Hitler and so on. (Again, please see Doug's work on the Antichrist). There have been more theories than you can shake a stick at.
If one is to understand last days prophecy, you need to be sure you are living in the last days before you try and figure it out. This accounts for why so many people feel prophecy is either irrelevant or completely discredited because the time was not right. At the very least, most Christians would agree that Israel has to go back to the land and become a nation with Jerusalem as her capital.
Now we can begin to understand but even then, events are unfolding daily and certain prophesy may not be understood until things happen. We look at the Bible and see that there is obviously a huge conflict brewing in the Middle East which culminates in the Gog Magog War. Again, please see Doug's thorough work on "Antichrist and the Gog Magog War."
Each generation needs to take a fresh look at prophecy, especially the last one. When you are looking at a page on the computer - say, Bloomberg.com, the numbers are changing so rapidly, you can't see them unless you refresh your screen. We need to constantly refresh our prophetic screen in the light of the Bible and the world around us. The closer we get to the "end" we will either see more clearly or be more deceived than ever.
Our preconceptions control what we see and how we see it. Teachings have been handed down by respected clergy. Who are we to question them? They are the experts, not us. The problem is, they have to keep their congregations happy. If they were to start sharing scary prophecy or unpopular teachings, they wouldn't have a job.
An example is our attitude toward our country which is revered from the pulpit. Most pastors teach that America was chosen by God to bless the nations - even going so far as to suggest that we are "God's redeemer nation." There is a certain mystique about America among Christians that America was chosen as a city set on a hill to be the light to the world and, as with any myth, there is a bit of truth and a lot of error in that thinking.
I was at a banquet last week and the speaker almost transitioned from British to "American Israelism" saying that Israel had lost the promise and we inherited their promises. A less popular position held by well known preachers such as Dave Wilkerson believe America needs to be judged for its many sins. Besides, America is a problem for those who are into prophecy. It isn't mentioned and therefore should not exist.
Like Carthage, America must be destroyed, wiped off the prophetic map because it just doesn't fit! In other words, the City Set on a Hill, that "Golden Cup in the hand of the Lord" has become nothing more than a vile and decrepit type of Babylon the Great, a Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the earth! Wow!
Wilkerson ought to know - no wonder he's fed up to here witnessing every day Babylon on the Hudson's degradations from the middle of Time's Square, NYC. Only thing she's good for is judgment - if the Wall Street bandits don't get you, then raunchy materialism, consumerism, and pure, unadulterated filth will! Yes, if there were something "full of abominations" it's Babylon the Great...so lets get rid of this once "City set on a hill" which ought to be hid from us all!
Prophecy is of no Concern to Us
"Scholars" believe the question is purely academic. The church has been called to evangelize so the emphasis every Sunday is the gospel message and a "seeker friendly" church. You go into the average church today and you get Bible teaching or topical sermons with little mention of prophecy even though it represents a third of the Bible! Frankly they scoff at people who are into Bible prophecy for any of the reasons mentioned above.
Underlying it is a weariness and wariness with the subject. Frankly, who cares? It either happened already as Hank Hanegraaff claims, or we'll know when we rapture. To get caught up in prophecy is to dabble in conjecture, to play a guessing game. It is ignoring the problems of our times - the culture wars, immorality, poverty, and economic uncertainty.
We have way too many things to concern us than to speculate on difficult to understand subjects like prophecy - ten headed monsters, beasts coming out of the sea, plagues - way too much to wrap our heads around.
At the level of the people (the laity in contrast to the professionals), it is all they can do to make it to church once or twice a week. They are struggling so much in their everyday lives, striving to keep their jobs (amongst layoffs and furloughs), pay their bills, get the kids to soccer, swimming, baseball, mow the lawn, play with the dog, spend time with the wife, keep up with the latest TV...and they have time to worry about the Second Coming?
They can barely make it from one day to the next! Life has become overwhelming! Besides, Christians have been talking about His coming for years and where is He? Give me a break! You can't just sit on your duff and wait for something to happen when they've been playing the same waiting game for the past 2,000 years!
This generation is suffering from prophecy fatigue. Here we have all the arrows pointing in the right direction and nada, nothing, zero, zip! Hold on a minute. What is the main characteristic of the last days? Deception! Things are not as they appear to be. The whole thing has been rigged to throw us off (just ask Dracma). How does this deception work?
Why Prophecy is Not Understood?
Few clergy understand prophecy because, unfortunately, most Bible Schools and Seminaries deprecate the topic, or whatever they've been taught was within the context of a world-view (e.g., "Colonial Europe") so out-dated as to be utterly irrelevant given the immediate plight of present history.
Every generation of Christians tried to understand Bible prophecy through the prism of their own world view (political, economic, and cultural) which has resulted, for most, in a Eurocentric interpretation of Scripture. Doug Krieger has done some fabulous in-depth analysis on this "stagnant phenomenon." Please see The Prophetic Sequence or Antichrist: Reflections of the Desolator or my work on Recognizing Deception.
Christian scholars have made huge mistakes trying to understand prophecy because the timing wasn't right. In one of the most prophetic books of the Old Testament written about 600 B.C., it says, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end" (Daniel 12:9). In military intelligence, this is called "need to know."
Daniel was given incredible visions of the last days, but then tells the readers that the words are sealed until the time of the end. What does that mean? It simply means that these prophecies will not make any sense until the time of the end. Try and interpret them during 19th Century Europe and Napoleon is surely the Antichrist, mid 20th Century and it is Hitler and so on. (Again, please see Doug's work on the Antichrist). There have been more theories than you can shake a stick at.
If one is to understand last days prophecy, you need to be sure you are living in the last days before you try and figure it out. This accounts for why so many people feel prophecy is either irrelevant or completely discredited because the time was not right. At the very least, most Christians would agree that Israel has to go back to the land and become a nation with Jerusalem as her capital.
Now we can begin to understand but even then, events are unfolding daily and certain prophesy may not be understood until things happen. We look at the Bible and see that there is obviously a huge conflict brewing in the Middle East which culminates in the Gog Magog War. Again, please see Doug's thorough work on "Antichrist and the Gog Magog War."
Each generation needs to take a fresh look at prophecy, especially the last one. When you are looking at a page on the computer - say, Bloomberg.com, the numbers are changing so rapidly, you can't see them unless you refresh your screen. We need to constantly refresh our prophetic screen in the light of the Bible and the world around us. The closer we get to the "end" we will either see more clearly or be more deceived than ever.
Our preconceptions control what we see and how we see it. Teachings have been handed down by respected clergy. Who are we to question them? They are the experts, not us. The problem is, they have to keep their congregations happy. If they were to start sharing scary prophecy or unpopular teachings, they wouldn't have a job.
An example is our attitude toward our country which is revered from the pulpit. Most pastors teach that America was chosen by God to bless the nations - even going so far as to suggest that we are "God's redeemer nation." There is a certain mystique about America among Christians that America was chosen as a city set on a hill to be the light to the world and, as with any myth, there is a bit of truth and a lot of error in that thinking.
I was at a banquet last week and the speaker almost transitioned from British to "American Israelism" saying that Israel had lost the promise and we inherited their promises. A less popular position held by well known preachers such as Dave Wilkerson believe America needs to be judged for its many sins. Besides, America is a problem for those who are into prophecy. It isn't mentioned and therefore should not exist.
Like Carthage, America must be destroyed, wiped off the prophetic map because it just doesn't fit! In other words, the City Set on a Hill, that "Golden Cup in the hand of the Lord" has become nothing more than a vile and decrepit type of Babylon the Great, a Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the earth! Wow!
Wilkerson ought to know - no wonder he's fed up to here witnessing every day Babylon on the Hudson's degradations from the middle of Time's Square, NYC. Only thing she's good for is judgment - if the Wall Street bandits don't get you, then raunchy materialism, consumerism, and pure, unadulterated filth will! Yes, if there were something "full of abominations" it's Babylon the Great...so lets get rid of this once "City set on a hill" which ought to be hid from us all!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: 1 Corinthians 2
2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
2:11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
Friday, October 16, 2009
The Scoffing Church, 1
by Dene McGriff
A pall of apathy seems to have descended upon the American church these days. No one talks about the coming of the Lord except at funerals when the reality of death, priorities, and eternity slap you in the face with a wake-up call. Other than that most people just keep on slugging through life as if it will never end.
We all know one day we will go off to the great by and by, but as the country song says, "Everybody wants to go to heaven - they just don't wanna go now." As to an excited anticipation of Jesus return, it just doesn't exist anymore. You don't hear it from the pulpit. You don't hear Christians talking about it. Everyone is just too busy to care.
There used to be a time when Christians were eagerly anticipating Jesus' return. I'll never forget listening to my older sister in about 1950 speak of the miracle that had just occurred in the Middle East. Jews were back in the Promised land.
After more than 2000 years, Israel was a nation. Surely this was a sign that "this generation would not pass away until all these things were fulfilled" (Matthew 24:34). The Lord was going to return, possibly in my lifetime.
In 1960, I was off to college and was captured by the Jesus movement. We brothers would sit around for hours excitedly talking about prophecy and what it would mean to our generation. In 1967 we sat glued to the television for six days watching Abba Iban describe Israel's plight - then Jerusalem was taken by the Israelis. The idea that we were a step closer to His return inspired us.
A Sad History of Misses
Along came Hal Lindsey's "The Late Great Planet Earth" in 1970 and interest in prophecy sky rocketed, attracting academics, kooks, and so-called prophets. Now they had something to go on - a real date - 1948. Now we could just do the math. If Israel was the blooming fig tree of Matthew 24 and "this generation" would not pass until all these things, including the return of Jesus were fulfilled, and if a generation was 40 years, then 1988 was the year! Whoops!
Maybe it was 1967 when Jerusalem and the West Bank were incorporated in Israel after the 6 day war. That brings us to 2007! Double Whoops! Or maybe it was 1980 when Jerusalem was declared the capital??? That would take us to 2020. Who knows?
You get the point. Not only were these dates wrong, but there were many more misses, all of which discredited Bible prophecy to such an extent that pastors began to shun the whole subject like the plague. There was no better way to lose credibility than to declare a date and be wrong! But something else has happened to the Western evangelical church. The clergy have divided into several camps:
1) There are those who strongly believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church which basically means Christians are "up and out of here" before any of the major events of the last seven years get underway. This position perhaps unwittingly leads to apathy - who really cares if we aren't going to be here anyway?
2) The "Preterists" now led by Hank Hanegraaff, the Bible Answer Man, believe the prophecies of Revelation were all fulfilled with the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.
3) Then there are the "Dominionists" who believe the church should take dominion over the earth and then Jesus will return.
4) There are many more positions, but a growing number just don't see it happening any time soon. One friend, a local pastor, thinks it may be several hundred years out, but the bottom line to these folks is that it just doesn't affect our lives now.
Rick Warren has declared that prophecy is none of our business and something we shouldn't be concerned about in the Purpose Driven Life (pp. 285, 286). He's not the only one. The sentiment is growing. Ignorance and apathy abound when it comes to prophecy.
"Where is the promise of His coming? For since the Fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation" (2 Peter 3:4).
A pall of apathy seems to have descended upon the American church these days. No one talks about the coming of the Lord except at funerals when the reality of death, priorities, and eternity slap you in the face with a wake-up call. Other than that most people just keep on slugging through life as if it will never end.
We all know one day we will go off to the great by and by, but as the country song says, "Everybody wants to go to heaven - they just don't wanna go now." As to an excited anticipation of Jesus return, it just doesn't exist anymore. You don't hear it from the pulpit. You don't hear Christians talking about it. Everyone is just too busy to care.
There used to be a time when Christians were eagerly anticipating Jesus' return. I'll never forget listening to my older sister in about 1950 speak of the miracle that had just occurred in the Middle East. Jews were back in the Promised land.
After more than 2000 years, Israel was a nation. Surely this was a sign that "this generation would not pass away until all these things were fulfilled" (Matthew 24:34). The Lord was going to return, possibly in my lifetime.
In 1960, I was off to college and was captured by the Jesus movement. We brothers would sit around for hours excitedly talking about prophecy and what it would mean to our generation. In 1967 we sat glued to the television for six days watching Abba Iban describe Israel's plight - then Jerusalem was taken by the Israelis. The idea that we were a step closer to His return inspired us.
A Sad History of Misses
Along came Hal Lindsey's "The Late Great Planet Earth" in 1970 and interest in prophecy sky rocketed, attracting academics, kooks, and so-called prophets. Now they had something to go on - a real date - 1948. Now we could just do the math. If Israel was the blooming fig tree of Matthew 24 and "this generation" would not pass until all these things, including the return of Jesus were fulfilled, and if a generation was 40 years, then 1988 was the year! Whoops!
Maybe it was 1967 when Jerusalem and the West Bank were incorporated in Israel after the 6 day war. That brings us to 2007! Double Whoops! Or maybe it was 1980 when Jerusalem was declared the capital??? That would take us to 2020. Who knows?
You get the point. Not only were these dates wrong, but there were many more misses, all of which discredited Bible prophecy to such an extent that pastors began to shun the whole subject like the plague. There was no better way to lose credibility than to declare a date and be wrong! But something else has happened to the Western evangelical church. The clergy have divided into several camps:
1) There are those who strongly believe in the pre-tribulation rapture of the church which basically means Christians are "up and out of here" before any of the major events of the last seven years get underway. This position perhaps unwittingly leads to apathy - who really cares if we aren't going to be here anyway?
2) The "Preterists" now led by Hank Hanegraaff, the Bible Answer Man, believe the prophecies of Revelation were all fulfilled with the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.
3) Then there are the "Dominionists" who believe the church should take dominion over the earth and then Jesus will return.
4) There are many more positions, but a growing number just don't see it happening any time soon. One friend, a local pastor, thinks it may be several hundred years out, but the bottom line to these folks is that it just doesn't affect our lives now.
Rick Warren has declared that prophecy is none of our business and something we shouldn't be concerned about in the Purpose Driven Life (pp. 285, 286). He's not the only one. The sentiment is growing. Ignorance and apathy abound when it comes to prophecy.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: 1 Corinthians 1
1:1 Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:
1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:
1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;
1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:
1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Refining Fire?
A Heretical Group Based on the Spirit of Error, Ignorance, Charlatanism & a Most Absurd Stupidity
by Jacob Prasch
Moriel has warned of various hyper-Messianic type groups with heretical Christologies (including Neo-Ebionism) and legalism placing even non-Jews under a Mosaic law that is fulfilled in Christ and no longer even biblically operative since 70 A.D.
This is not, of course, to negate the freedom in Christ for believing Jews to maintain cultural observances electively. Nor does it negate the importance of all believers comprehending the Hebraic origins of biblical Christianity and of both Testaments. Nor of being aware of the prophetic purposes of God for Israel and the Jews and of the serious error of replacement theology.
Among the more ludicrous of these groups is the "Sacred Name Movement" and the "Two House Movement". Most biblically grounded people describe these groups as cult-like or merely as cults with crazed megalomaniac leaders driven by schismatic, erroneous beliefs. This is the Greek New Testament definition of a heretic having its Hebrew equivalent in the term kopher.
Perhaps the most hideous of these groups, however, is the so-called "Refining Fire" organization about whom we have been repeatedly contacted, fronted by a rather ridiculous woman who calls herself "an ordained rabbi" going by the name of "Shali Bat Yehudit". (Some might be curious to know if this is her real original legal name, which is probably not likely).
This in itself is, of course, completely absurd as not only is New Testament congregational leadership clearly established as male, but even in Talmudic Judaism the notion of a female rabbi would be scorned by Orthodox Jews.
Liberal and Reformed congregations have female rabbis but these, too, would dismiss a supposed believer in Jesus claiming to be a female rabbi as utterly laughable as would any thinking person. In any case, there is no such thing as a rabbi in Torah. A rabbi in the First Temple Period in the days of Yeshua comprised a very different office and function than it does now.
Rabbinic Judaism itself was not even instituted until the Council of Yavne after the events of 70 A.D., predicted by Daniel and Yeshua, when the Levitical Judaism proscribed in Torah could no longer be ritually observed. There is no basis in either Testament for a female rabbi let alone a supposedly Messianic one who claims faith in Yeshua. Yet this is the kind of folly we find in this absurd cult.
The biblical illiteracy of this cult is its defining characteristic:
This group also attempts to make some capital of the fact the term "Jew" came only from the tribe of Judah and that Abraham was not a Jew. They seem unaware of the scriptural fact that in the post-Captivity period Scripture shows that "Jew" became an all-encompassing term (e.g., Ezra 4:23). Although from the tribe of Benjamin, Esther, Mordechai, and Paul the Apostle are all referred to as Jews in scripture and Abraham is called the father of the Jews by Yeshua in John 8.
These people have a "spirit of error". The heretical beliefs of this group are seriously demonic. The only "fire" they have is not that which refines but is rather the kind which originates from the pit of hell. The ignorance and biblical illiteracy of their female rabbi, however, can only be relegated to the status of a joke. There is no euphemism for pure mirth.
by Jacob Prasch
Moriel has warned of various hyper-Messianic type groups with heretical Christologies (including Neo-Ebionism) and legalism placing even non-Jews under a Mosaic law that is fulfilled in Christ and no longer even biblically operative since 70 A.D.
This is not, of course, to negate the freedom in Christ for believing Jews to maintain cultural observances electively. Nor does it negate the importance of all believers comprehending the Hebraic origins of biblical Christianity and of both Testaments. Nor of being aware of the prophetic purposes of God for Israel and the Jews and of the serious error of replacement theology.
Among the more ludicrous of these groups is the "Sacred Name Movement" and the "Two House Movement". Most biblically grounded people describe these groups as cult-like or merely as cults with crazed megalomaniac leaders driven by schismatic, erroneous beliefs. This is the Greek New Testament definition of a heretic having its Hebrew equivalent in the term kopher.
Perhaps the most hideous of these groups, however, is the so-called "Refining Fire" organization about whom we have been repeatedly contacted, fronted by a rather ridiculous woman who calls herself "an ordained rabbi" going by the name of "Shali Bat Yehudit". (Some might be curious to know if this is her real original legal name, which is probably not likely).
This in itself is, of course, completely absurd as not only is New Testament congregational leadership clearly established as male, but even in Talmudic Judaism the notion of a female rabbi would be scorned by Orthodox Jews.
Liberal and Reformed congregations have female rabbis but these, too, would dismiss a supposed believer in Jesus claiming to be a female rabbi as utterly laughable as would any thinking person. In any case, there is no such thing as a rabbi in Torah. A rabbi in the First Temple Period in the days of Yeshua comprised a very different office and function than it does now.
Rabbinic Judaism itself was not even instituted until the Council of Yavne after the events of 70 A.D., predicted by Daniel and Yeshua, when the Levitical Judaism proscribed in Torah could no longer be ritually observed. There is no basis in either Testament for a female rabbi let alone a supposedly Messianic one who claims faith in Yeshua. Yet this is the kind of folly we find in this absurd cult.
The biblical illiteracy of this cult is its defining characteristic:
- This cult assertively denies "One God in Three Persons" (akin to the the Peter Michas cult) and like the Jehovah's Witness cult denies the personhood of the Holy Spirit. At his martyrdom Stephen saw Jesus at the right hand of the Father, and Jesus plainly spoke of the Holy Spirit as a Person (only a person with personhood and personality can be blasphemed or grieved).
- This cult also denies the divine possibility of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in flagrant disregard of New Testament doctrine.
- Disturbingly they employ the Gnostic term "emanations" in addressing biblical texts that support a plurality in the Godhead. They may or may not realize that this Gnostic terminology is, of course, used in Caballah (mystical Judaism) and is found in the Zohar to describe the attributes of Ha Shem as the "En Saph" (the Gnostic concept which is also held by some New Age theosophists).
- Absurdly this group claims that the Patriarchs and others were Torah-observant before the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. Obviously they have no rationale, let alone scriptural compass, for their crazy cultic beliefs.
- This group also takes a radical exception to any reference to the God of Israel as "God" instead of exclusively as YHWH as being blasphemous. They are obviously too ignorant to know that more than 60 times the Old Testament alone does just that, usually with the term "Elahecha" (e.g. Leviticus 2:13).
This group also attempts to make some capital of the fact the term "Jew" came only from the tribe of Judah and that Abraham was not a Jew. They seem unaware of the scriptural fact that in the post-Captivity period Scripture shows that "Jew" became an all-encompassing term (e.g., Ezra 4:23). Although from the tribe of Benjamin, Esther, Mordechai, and Paul the Apostle are all referred to as Jews in scripture and Abraham is called the father of the Jews by Yeshua in John 8.
These people have a "spirit of error". The heretical beliefs of this group are seriously demonic. The only "fire" they have is not that which refines but is rather the kind which originates from the pit of hell. The ignorance and biblical illiteracy of their female rabbi, however, can only be relegated to the status of a joke. There is no euphemism for pure mirth.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: Romans 16
16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
16:2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
16:4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
16:6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
16:8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
16:9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
16:10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.
16:11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
16:12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
16:13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
16:14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
16:15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
16:21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
16:22 I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
16:23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
16:2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
16:3 Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
16:4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
16:5 Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
16:6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
16:7 Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
16:8 Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
16:9 Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
16:10 Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.
16:11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
16:12 Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
16:13 Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
16:14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
16:15 Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
16:21 Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
16:22 I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
16:23 Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
16:24 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
16:27 To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Precious Bible Promises
"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over" (Psalms 23:1, 5).
"There is no want to them that fear him. They that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing" (Psalms 34:9, 10).
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
"My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
"Godliness with contentment is great gain. Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:6, 17).
"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed" (Psalms 37:3).
"He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant" (Psalms 111:5).
"I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread" (Psalms 132:15).
"He filleth thee with the finest of the wheat" (Psalms 147:14).
"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" (Matthew 6:26).
"And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied" (Joel 2:26).
"Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty" (Isaiah 65:13).
"There is no want to them that fear him. They that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing" (Psalms 34:9, 10).
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
"My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
"Godliness with contentment is great gain. Who giveth us richly all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:6, 17).
"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed" (Psalms 37:3).
"He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant" (Psalms 111:5).
"I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread" (Psalms 132:15).
"He filleth thee with the finest of the wheat" (Psalms 147:14).
"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?" (Matthew 6:26).
"And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied" (Joel 2:26).
"Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry: behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty" (Isaiah 65:13).
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: Romans 15
15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
15:10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
15:11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
15:12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
15:15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
15:17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
15:18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed,
15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
15:21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
15:22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
15:23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
15:24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
15:25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
15:26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
15:27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
15:28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
15:29 And I am sure that, when I come to you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
15:31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
15:32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
15:2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.
15:3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
15:5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
15:6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15:7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.
15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:
15:9 And that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy; as it is written, For this cause I will confess to thee among the Gentiles, and sing unto thy name.
15:10 And again he saith, Rejoice, ye Gentiles, with his people.
15:11 And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.
15:12 And again, Esaias saith, There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust.
15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
15:14 And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
15:15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
15:16 That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
15:17 I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
15:18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient by word and deed,
15:19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation:
15:21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
15:22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
15:23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
15:24 Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
15:25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
15:26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
15:27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
15:28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
15:29 And I am sure that, when I come to you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
15:31 That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
15:32 That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Sanitation or Sanctification
by Bob DeWaay
A reader phoned me recently and explained how he has seen churches depart from Bible teaching only to institute various programs for better living. He made an intriguing statement: "These programs do not sanctify, they sanitize." And he was absolutely right about that. Let me unpack that idea and show from Scripture that this is the case.
It is possible to use human wisdom and good advice programs in order to help people achieve better living. It is possible to get an alcoholic sober, an abusive husband to be considerate and caring, a compulsive gambler to quit, a person driven to make money at the expense of family to change priorities, and to help an unhappy person become happy. All of this can be done without any special work of grace. In fact, it can be done without religion at all.
I once heard a debate between two college professors, one an atheist and the other a Christian. Toward the end of the debate the atheist made an interesting statement. He said, "You do not need a god or religion to have a good, happy life. I have been happily married for many years, have wonderful children and grandchildren, live a moral life, and could not ask for anything more from life. I do not need religion and neither do you."
Sadly, many Christians have so redefined Christianity that they would not know how to respond to such a statement. It is true that many people lead happy, relatively moral lives without God. But what they cannot obtain is right standing before the Holy God who created the universe.
When Christianity is reduced to a "better-living-through-religion" program it does not offer anything that some atheists (like the one in that debate) already have. It is telling when churches fill up their docket with seminars designed to help people solve life problems through general revelation.
General revelation is available to all through the normal means of knowing. All societies have their own aphorisms which they pass along - their collective "good advice." It is not a sin to give people good advice gleaned from general revelation, but neither is to confuse that advice with Christ's mandate: "Teaching them to observe all that I commanded you" (Matthew 28:20a).
Two key differences differentiate good advice from the commands of Scripture: 1) Good advice is never binding and can be safely (from an eternal perspective) ignored. 2) Good advice is not sanctifying. The atheist with a nice family and a happy life is clearly not sanctified. The term "sanctification" means to be made holy. Holiness cannot be gleaned from general revelation.
So those helped by good advice drawn from human wisdom may be sanitized, but unless they repent and believe the gospel they will never be sanctified. Sanctification comes through redemption and the means of grace.
Paul wrote: "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, 'Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:30, 31). That atheist was boasting against the Lord! Christians can only boast in the Lord.
Dispensing human wisdom can produce many satisfied customers. A local pastor, known for preaching the prosperity gospel, was exposed in the newspaper for his lavish lifestyle and possible misappropriation of church funds. One of his members wrote a letter to the editor defending the pastor.
The letter writer cited all of the positive changes that had happened since attending that church: a better family, better finances, freedom from addiction, and so forth. But he did not mention anything distinctive to Christianity. Some people who believe the health and wealth gospel actually are healthy and wealthy. But so are some atheists.
Many churches simply have given up salvation and sanctification and settled for sanitization - clean and happy "Christian" living without regard to holiness in the sight of God. Paul discussed this in Colossians:
The cleaned up sinner is still "fleshly" because the only alternative to the flesh is the Spirit and people do not receive the Spirit by works of law:
There is no definite article with "law" in the Greek; Paul is speaking of "works of law." Whether the Mosaic Law or any other, people do not receive the Holy Spirit by works of law.
Anyone without the Holy Spirit is unsaved and unsanctified (see Romans 8:4-8). Anyone without the Spirit is motivated by the flesh (1 John 2:16, 17). A person may be able to change his lusts (i.e., from the lust of the flesh to the boastful pride of life) through human wisdom dispensed through a program, but no one can escape the lusts of the world by any means except for a work of grace through the gospel. The law can restrain evil, but it cannot produce holiness.
We do not escape from worldly corruption by any means other than the promises of God found in Scripture: "For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust" (2 Peter 1:4).
This being the case, why have so many churches filled their sermons and programs with ideas gleaned through general revelation that amount to good advice? The answer is found most likely in their constituency. Clear teaching of the word of God will sanctify those who are truly saved. Jesus prayed: "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth" (John 17:17).
That means that God does a work of grace on the inside that changes the motivations of the heart, not just certain behaviors (Hebrews 4:12). The behavior does change, objectively, because the Bible contains instruction in godly living that should be taught with the binding authority of God. These instructions are commands, not good advice. They cannot safely be ignored. But the good news is that God's grace comes to us through His word, enabling and motivating us to obey Him.
A church becomes filled with unsaved people when "better living through Jesus" teachings and programs become the norm rather than gospel preaching and Bible teaching. The people are there to find the sort of life the atheist bragged about having. They may get a nice, happy life through human wisdom dispensed in the name of Christianity.
But holiness is what such persons cannot find through human wisdom. Holiness comes from a work of grace, not a decision to change some things for the better. Sinners lacking the gospel but sanitized through a church program may end up in a worse condition than before. If, in the name of Christianity, the drunkenness or marriage problems go away, those who benefited may think they are saved when, in fact, they are lost. False assurance is dangerous and if not remedied will lead to eternal damnation.
The good advice approach assumes that humans possess the motivation and ability they need; that they simply need instruction on how to put what they already have to work. The real situation is that we are sinners without hope and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12). We do not have an engineering problem; we have a spiritual one.
That spiritual problem is remedied by what God does by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8) - not what we do through human wisdom. The Bible tells us to "pursue" sanctification, because without it we will never see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Only sanctification through the blood of Jesus makes us fit to see the Lord. Sanitization through good advice cannot do that.
A reader phoned me recently and explained how he has seen churches depart from Bible teaching only to institute various programs for better living. He made an intriguing statement: "These programs do not sanctify, they sanitize." And he was absolutely right about that. Let me unpack that idea and show from Scripture that this is the case.
It is possible to use human wisdom and good advice programs in order to help people achieve better living. It is possible to get an alcoholic sober, an abusive husband to be considerate and caring, a compulsive gambler to quit, a person driven to make money at the expense of family to change priorities, and to help an unhappy person become happy. All of this can be done without any special work of grace. In fact, it can be done without religion at all.
I once heard a debate between two college professors, one an atheist and the other a Christian. Toward the end of the debate the atheist made an interesting statement. He said, "You do not need a god or religion to have a good, happy life. I have been happily married for many years, have wonderful children and grandchildren, live a moral life, and could not ask for anything more from life. I do not need religion and neither do you."
Sadly, many Christians have so redefined Christianity that they would not know how to respond to such a statement. It is true that many people lead happy, relatively moral lives without God. But what they cannot obtain is right standing before the Holy God who created the universe.
When Christianity is reduced to a "better-living-through-religion" program it does not offer anything that some atheists (like the one in that debate) already have. It is telling when churches fill up their docket with seminars designed to help people solve life problems through general revelation.
General revelation is available to all through the normal means of knowing. All societies have their own aphorisms which they pass along - their collective "good advice." It is not a sin to give people good advice gleaned from general revelation, but neither is to confuse that advice with Christ's mandate: "Teaching them to observe all that I commanded you" (Matthew 28:20a).
Two key differences differentiate good advice from the commands of Scripture: 1) Good advice is never binding and can be safely (from an eternal perspective) ignored. 2) Good advice is not sanctifying. The atheist with a nice family and a happy life is clearly not sanctified. The term "sanctification" means to be made holy. Holiness cannot be gleaned from general revelation.
So those helped by good advice drawn from human wisdom may be sanitized, but unless they repent and believe the gospel they will never be sanctified. Sanctification comes through redemption and the means of grace.
Paul wrote: "But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, 'Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:30, 31). That atheist was boasting against the Lord! Christians can only boast in the Lord.
Dispensing human wisdom can produce many satisfied customers. A local pastor, known for preaching the prosperity gospel, was exposed in the newspaper for his lavish lifestyle and possible misappropriation of church funds. One of his members wrote a letter to the editor defending the pastor.
The letter writer cited all of the positive changes that had happened since attending that church: a better family, better finances, freedom from addiction, and so forth. But he did not mention anything distinctive to Christianity. Some people who believe the health and wealth gospel actually are healthy and wealthy. But so are some atheists.
Many churches simply have given up salvation and sanctification and settled for sanitization - clean and happy "Christian" living without regard to holiness in the sight of God. Paul discussed this in Colossians:
If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (which all refer to things destined to perish the use) in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence (Colossians 2:20-23).
The cleaned up sinner is still "fleshly" because the only alternative to the flesh is the Spirit and people do not receive the Spirit by works of law:
This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Galatians 3:2, 3).
There is no definite article with "law" in the Greek; Paul is speaking of "works of law." Whether the Mosaic Law or any other, people do not receive the Holy Spirit by works of law.
Anyone without the Holy Spirit is unsaved and unsanctified (see Romans 8:4-8). Anyone without the Spirit is motivated by the flesh (1 John 2:16, 17). A person may be able to change his lusts (i.e., from the lust of the flesh to the boastful pride of life) through human wisdom dispensed through a program, but no one can escape the lusts of the world by any means except for a work of grace through the gospel. The law can restrain evil, but it cannot produce holiness.
We do not escape from worldly corruption by any means other than the promises of God found in Scripture: "For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust" (2 Peter 1:4).
This being the case, why have so many churches filled their sermons and programs with ideas gleaned through general revelation that amount to good advice? The answer is found most likely in their constituency. Clear teaching of the word of God will sanctify those who are truly saved. Jesus prayed: "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth" (John 17:17).
That means that God does a work of grace on the inside that changes the motivations of the heart, not just certain behaviors (Hebrews 4:12). The behavior does change, objectively, because the Bible contains instruction in godly living that should be taught with the binding authority of God. These instructions are commands, not good advice. They cannot safely be ignored. But the good news is that God's grace comes to us through His word, enabling and motivating us to obey Him.
A church becomes filled with unsaved people when "better living through Jesus" teachings and programs become the norm rather than gospel preaching and Bible teaching. The people are there to find the sort of life the atheist bragged about having. They may get a nice, happy life through human wisdom dispensed in the name of Christianity.
But holiness is what such persons cannot find through human wisdom. Holiness comes from a work of grace, not a decision to change some things for the better. Sinners lacking the gospel but sanitized through a church program may end up in a worse condition than before. If, in the name of Christianity, the drunkenness or marriage problems go away, those who benefited may think they are saved when, in fact, they are lost. False assurance is dangerous and if not remedied will lead to eternal damnation.
The good advice approach assumes that humans possess the motivation and ability they need; that they simply need instruction on how to put what they already have to work. The real situation is that we are sinners without hope and without God in the world (Ephesians 2:12). We do not have an engineering problem; we have a spiritual one.
That spiritual problem is remedied by what God does by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8) - not what we do through human wisdom. The Bible tells us to "pursue" sanctification, because without it we will never see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). Only sanctification through the blood of Jesus makes us fit to see the Lord. Sanitization through good advice cannot do that.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: Romans 14
14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations.
14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
14:4 Who are thou that judgest another man's servant? to his master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eatet not, and giveth God thanks.
14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of.
14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
14:20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eatet with offence.
14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
14:22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
14:2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs.
14:3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him.
14:4 Who are thou that judgest another man's servant? to his master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eatet not, and giveth God thanks.
14:7 For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.
14:8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.
14:9 For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
14:15 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.
14:16 Let not then your good be evil spoken of.
14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
14:18 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.
14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.
14:20 For meat destroy not the work of God. All things indeed are pure; but it is evil for that man who eatet with offence.
14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
14:22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
America Is Not Prepared For What's Coming
by Paul Procter
There's certainly a lot of fear, uncertainty, and confusion in our world today, isn't there? Many of us are just downright scared; but few are prepared for what surely lies ahead.
Recognizing storm clouds on the horizon really requires no discernment. Anyone with a TV can tell we're in big trouble.
Oh, we can sit around and complain about all the bad news being reported and crave a more positive spin on it all - but really, that would just be living in denial, wouldn't it? And,I don't believe that's the answer.
It seems to me that the vast majority of us find our solace these days in all the amusements our world has to offer as a means to evade and alleviate those fears and concerns - distractions and diversions, if you will - those who don't just surrender themselves over to drink or drugs to manage the stress of it all.
Sadly, those amusements have become a staple in the Christian life too, as evidenced by all of the coffee shops, recreation centers, celebrity concerts and high-tech venues required now just to gather crowds and hold their attention at church. What does this say about the power of God to draw all men unto Himself (John 12:32)?
It says to me that today's church no longer believes that Jesus is enough - that the Living Word of God can't really compete in a sensory-driven world and that the Holy Spirit needs our help.
It's not even enough to "tickle our ears" anymore. Now we need our eyes tickled, our noses tickled, our taste buds tickled, and our funny bones tickled just to keep them coming back for more!
Is this what Jesus hung on a cross for - to see that His church could one day have the best evangetainment and facilities that money can buy?
Could this be what the Apostle Paul was referring to when he wrote to Timothy about those who had a form of godliness but denied the power thereof (2nd Timothy 3:5)?
Has the love of money so perverted the minds of Christians today that they can't evangelize without it? Who needs the power of God when you've got the power of money (1st Timothy 6:10)?
Maybe this is why the economy is crashing to the ground - to remind us, yet again, that man cannot live by bread and circus alone - that he needs the power of God in Jesus Christ to put his fears to rest, find forgiveness and peace with Him, and have eternal life in a kingdom not of this world.
Preparation for what's coming begins on one's knees in humility, confession, and prayer.
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" - 1st John 2:17.
There's certainly a lot of fear, uncertainty, and confusion in our world today, isn't there? Many of us are just downright scared; but few are prepared for what surely lies ahead.
Recognizing storm clouds on the horizon really requires no discernment. Anyone with a TV can tell we're in big trouble.
Oh, we can sit around and complain about all the bad news being reported and crave a more positive spin on it all - but really, that would just be living in denial, wouldn't it? And,I don't believe that's the answer.
It seems to me that the vast majority of us find our solace these days in all the amusements our world has to offer as a means to evade and alleviate those fears and concerns - distractions and diversions, if you will - those who don't just surrender themselves over to drink or drugs to manage the stress of it all.
Sadly, those amusements have become a staple in the Christian life too, as evidenced by all of the coffee shops, recreation centers, celebrity concerts and high-tech venues required now just to gather crowds and hold their attention at church. What does this say about the power of God to draw all men unto Himself (John 12:32)?
It says to me that today's church no longer believes that Jesus is enough - that the Living Word of God can't really compete in a sensory-driven world and that the Holy Spirit needs our help.
It's not even enough to "tickle our ears" anymore. Now we need our eyes tickled, our noses tickled, our taste buds tickled, and our funny bones tickled just to keep them coming back for more!
Is this what Jesus hung on a cross for - to see that His church could one day have the best evangetainment and facilities that money can buy?
Could this be what the Apostle Paul was referring to when he wrote to Timothy about those who had a form of godliness but denied the power thereof (2nd Timothy 3:5)?
Has the love of money so perverted the minds of Christians today that they can't evangelize without it? Who needs the power of God when you've got the power of money (1st Timothy 6:10)?
Maybe this is why the economy is crashing to the ground - to remind us, yet again, that man cannot live by bread and circus alone - that he needs the power of God in Jesus Christ to put his fears to rest, find forgiveness and peace with Him, and have eternal life in a kingdom not of this world.
Preparation for what's coming begins on one's knees in humility, confession, and prayer.
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever" - 1st John 2:17.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: Romans 13
13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
13:2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
13:4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
13:5 Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
13:6 For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13:13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
The Old Cross and the New
An excerpt by A.W. Tozer
Unannounced and mostly undetected there has come in modern times a new cross into popular evangelical circles. It is like the old cross, but different: the likenesses are superficial; the differences, fundamental.
From this new cross has sprung a new philosophy of life, and from that new philosophy has come a new evangelical technique -- a new type of meeting and a new kind of preaching. This new evangelism employs the same language as the old, but its content is not the same and its emphasis not as before.
The old cross would have no truck with the world. For Adam's proud flesh it meant the end of the journey. It carried into effect the sentence imposed by the law of Sinai. The new cross is not opposed to the human race; rather, it is a friendly pal and, if understood aright, it is the source of oceans of good clean fun and innocent enjoyment.
It lets Adam live without interference. His life motivation is unchanged; he still lives for his own pleasure, only now he takes delight in singing choruses and watching religious movies instead of singing bawdy songs and drinking hard liquor. The accent is still on enjoyment, though the fun is now on a higher plane morally if not intellectually.
The new cross encourages a new and entirely different evangelistic approach. The evangelist does not demand abnegation of the old life before a new life can be received. He preaches not contrasts but similarities. He seeks to key into public interest by showing that Christianity makes no unpleasant demands; rather, it offers the same thing the world does, only on a higher level. Whatever the sin-mad world happens to be clamoring after at the moment is cleverly shown to be the very thing the gospel offers, only the religious product is better.
The new cross does not slay the sinner, it redirects him. It gears him into a cleaner and jollier way of living and saves his self-respect. To the self-assertive it says, "Come and assert yourself for Christ." To the egotist it says, "Come and do your boasting in the Lord." To the thrill-seeker it says, "Come and enjoy the thrill of Christian fellowship." The Christian message is slanted in the direction of the current vogue in order to make it acceptable to the public.
The philosophy back of this kind of thing may be sincere but its sincerity does not save it from being false. It is false because it is blind. It misses completely the whole meaning of the cross.
The old cross is a symbol of death. It stands for the abrupt, violent end of a human being. The man in Roman times who took up his cross and started down the road had already said good-by to his friends. He was not coming back. He was going out to have it ended. The cross made no compromise, modified nothing, spared nothing; it slew all of the man, completely and for good. It did not try to keep on good terms with its victim. It struck cruel and hard, and when it had finished its work, the man was no more.
The race of Adam is under a death sentence. There is no commutation and no escape. God cannot approve any of the fruits of sin, however innocent they may appear or beautiful to the eyes of men. God salvages the individual by liquidating him and then raising him again to newness of life.
That evangelism which draws friendly parallels between the ways of God and the ways of men is false to the Bible and cruel to the souls of its hearers. The faith of Christ does not parallel the world, it intersects it. In coming to Christ we do not bring our old life up onto a higher plane; we leave it at the cross. The corn of wheat must fall into the ground and die.
We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum.
God offers life, but not an improved old life. The life He offers is life out of death. It stands always on the far side of the cross. Whoever would possess it must pass under the rod. He must repudiate himself and concur in God's just sentence against him. What does this mean to the individual, the condemned man who would find life in Christ Jesus? How can this theology be translated into life? Simply, he must repent and believe. He must forsake his sins and then go on to forsake himself. Let him cover nothing, defend nothing, excuse noting. Let him seek to make terms with God, but let him bow his head before the stroke of God's stern displeasure and acknowledge himself worthy to die.
Having done this let him gaze with simple trust upon the risen Saviour, and from Him will come life and rebirth and cleansing and power. The cross that ended the earthly life of Jesus now puts an end to the sinner; and the power that raised Christ from the dead now raises him to a new life along with Christ...
Dare we, the heirs of such a legacy of power, tamper with the truth? Dare we...altar the pattern shown us in the Mount? May God forbid. Let us preach the old cross and we will know the old power.
This wise saint went to be with the Lord in 1963. His messages were written more than forty years ago, yet they are as relevant now as they were then!
Unannounced and mostly undetected there has come in modern times a new cross into popular evangelical circles. It is like the old cross, but different: the likenesses are superficial; the differences, fundamental.
From this new cross has sprung a new philosophy of life, and from that new philosophy has come a new evangelical technique -- a new type of meeting and a new kind of preaching. This new evangelism employs the same language as the old, but its content is not the same and its emphasis not as before.
The old cross would have no truck with the world. For Adam's proud flesh it meant the end of the journey. It carried into effect the sentence imposed by the law of Sinai. The new cross is not opposed to the human race; rather, it is a friendly pal and, if understood aright, it is the source of oceans of good clean fun and innocent enjoyment.
It lets Adam live without interference. His life motivation is unchanged; he still lives for his own pleasure, only now he takes delight in singing choruses and watching religious movies instead of singing bawdy songs and drinking hard liquor. The accent is still on enjoyment, though the fun is now on a higher plane morally if not intellectually.
The new cross encourages a new and entirely different evangelistic approach. The evangelist does not demand abnegation of the old life before a new life can be received. He preaches not contrasts but similarities. He seeks to key into public interest by showing that Christianity makes no unpleasant demands; rather, it offers the same thing the world does, only on a higher level. Whatever the sin-mad world happens to be clamoring after at the moment is cleverly shown to be the very thing the gospel offers, only the religious product is better.
The new cross does not slay the sinner, it redirects him. It gears him into a cleaner and jollier way of living and saves his self-respect. To the self-assertive it says, "Come and assert yourself for Christ." To the egotist it says, "Come and do your boasting in the Lord." To the thrill-seeker it says, "Come and enjoy the thrill of Christian fellowship." The Christian message is slanted in the direction of the current vogue in order to make it acceptable to the public.
The philosophy back of this kind of thing may be sincere but its sincerity does not save it from being false. It is false because it is blind. It misses completely the whole meaning of the cross.
The old cross is a symbol of death. It stands for the abrupt, violent end of a human being. The man in Roman times who took up his cross and started down the road had already said good-by to his friends. He was not coming back. He was going out to have it ended. The cross made no compromise, modified nothing, spared nothing; it slew all of the man, completely and for good. It did not try to keep on good terms with its victim. It struck cruel and hard, and when it had finished its work, the man was no more.
The race of Adam is under a death sentence. There is no commutation and no escape. God cannot approve any of the fruits of sin, however innocent they may appear or beautiful to the eyes of men. God salvages the individual by liquidating him and then raising him again to newness of life.
That evangelism which draws friendly parallels between the ways of God and the ways of men is false to the Bible and cruel to the souls of its hearers. The faith of Christ does not parallel the world, it intersects it. In coming to Christ we do not bring our old life up onto a higher plane; we leave it at the cross. The corn of wheat must fall into the ground and die.
We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum.
God offers life, but not an improved old life. The life He offers is life out of death. It stands always on the far side of the cross. Whoever would possess it must pass under the rod. He must repudiate himself and concur in God's just sentence against him. What does this mean to the individual, the condemned man who would find life in Christ Jesus? How can this theology be translated into life? Simply, he must repent and believe. He must forsake his sins and then go on to forsake himself. Let him cover nothing, defend nothing, excuse noting. Let him seek to make terms with God, but let him bow his head before the stroke of God's stern displeasure and acknowledge himself worthy to die.
Having done this let him gaze with simple trust upon the risen Saviour, and from Him will come life and rebirth and cleansing and power. The cross that ended the earthly life of Jesus now puts an end to the sinner; and the power that raised Christ from the dead now raises him to a new life along with Christ...
Dare we, the heirs of such a legacy of power, tamper with the truth? Dare we...altar the pattern shown us in the Mount? May God forbid. Let us preach the old cross and we will know the old power.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Getting to Know Jesus: Romans 12
12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith;
12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
12:4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:
12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith;
12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
12:11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
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