Living Stones In Christ

Living Stones In Christ: A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23

2012-01-26T19:50:00.000-05:00

Living Stones In Christ: A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23

Yes, indeed! We serve a Wonderful God!

2012-01-26T19:38:00.000-05:00

SALT AND LIGHT

Ye are the salt of the earth: so have peace one with another having salt within,
Salt is good but if it has lost its savour it's to be cast out under the foot of men.
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
God hates the leaven of discord sown in secret by proud lips having no humility!

God's chastening works a Godly sorrow, but nevertheless:
Afterward, it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
While we were yet enemies, Jesus died for the human race;
Legalism has no compassion, not knowing the Way of Grace.

Make straight paths: Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet,
And a Light unto my path;
And be ye soon reconciled to thy brother: do not let the
Sun go down on your wrath.

Self righteous religionists are unmerciful,
A blind, judgmental path they have trod;
The day they see His face they will know:
They have trampled on the Blood Of God!

Jesus said: Go forth and learn mercy as He sent them on their way;
They have so much religious pride without humility when they pray;
Truth learned from other men but Truth from God they did not seek;
If you go seven days without seeking Truth it truly makes one weak!

[For we're not ignorant of his devices:]
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us;
We commit all judgment to The LORD God:
Righteous God decides who to curse or bless.

Pray one for another, that ye may be healed,
Our faults one to another confess;
Abide in Grace and forgive unless in trouble:
Your heart springs into bitterness.
God chastens us that we might follow peace
With men, partaking His Holiness.

We are Salt and Light! In this world filled with hate and crime!
We thank God and give to God glory in all of our life so Divine!
Meekly bringing Hope to others for The Word makes us shine!

Be not afraid! Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
And be ready always to give an answer to every man
That asketh you a reason of The Hope that is in you
with meekness and fear: [Preaching Salvation's plan!]

written by Bruce R Allbright

Grace

2012-01-06T15:42:00.001-05:00

The blessings of salvation are freely given to us by God; therefore, they are not a temporary loan that is one day to be recalled. (Charles Spurgeon)

2011-07-30T11:22:00.000-04:00

When I read the book of Revelation it kind of reminds me of a big jigsaw puzzle written by God. At first glance it kind of looks like this. But as I really start reading it and studying it in proper context, a beautiful picture starts to take shape and I say to myself, oh, wow, now I can see what a beautiful picture of Jesus Christ and what He has done for us and what He continues to do for His church and what the future holds for His church!

The Incomparable Rock!

2011-03-05T16:39:00.000-05:00

James Smith, 1860

"There is no Rock like our God!" 1 Samuel 2:2

As creatures, we all need . . .
an object of trust,
one on whom we can lean,
one in whom we can confide,
one to whom we may look for defense and safety.

As lost sinners, we need more. Every creature has some rock, some object of dependence and trust; for without this, there would be recklessness or despair.

Some make a rock of their wealth,
some of their talents,
some of their station,
some of their friends,
some of their good deeds,
some of their religious observances,
some of their name or fame.

But the Christian's rock is his God, that is — God in Christ. Yes, Jesus is . . .
the foundation of his hopes,
the source of his strength,
the anchor of his safety, and
the fountain that supplies him!

In Christ, his Rock — he finds honey, and this rock pours out rivers of oil for him, "He nourished him with honey from the rock, and with oil from the flinty crag." Deuteronomy 32:13. This rock, Christ — is the rock of his salvation. This rock of ages — is the rock of his strength. Of this rock, he can sing, "The Lord is my Rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my Rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior!" 2 Samuel 22:2-3

Looking around upon all others he can say, "But their 'rock' is not like our Rock; even our enemies concede." Deuteronomy 32:31.

There is no rock like our rock:
none so great,
none so ancient,
none so durable,
none so suited to meet all a sinner's needs!

On this rock we build for eternity! We have no doubt that our immortal interests are safe. To this rock we run for safety, and smile at the opposition of all our foes. In this rock we hide, and are safe from the sword of divine justice, as well as the rage of infernal hell. In this rock we take shelter, and are uninjured by the windy storm and tempest.

From this rock we look for all our supplies — and we are not, cannot be disappointed. Beneath its shade — we enjoy peace and comfort! In its cleft — we are safe for evermore!

How gracious, how condescending is our God, to compare himself to such a natural object, on purpose to . . .
inspire us with confidence,
arm us with courage, and
fill us with comfort!

How safe, how happy is the believer — having God for his ROCK; for . . .
he builds on a foundation that can never decay,
he trusts in a stronghold that can never be taken,
he hides in a refuge from which he can never be expelled!

How foolish is the lost sinner . . .
to build on the SAND — with a rock so near;
to trust in himself — with such a defense at hand;
to expose himself to his foes — with such a refuge within reach!

Lost sinner! Jesus, in his person, obedience, and blood — is a firm foundation for you to build on! Jesus in his offices, relations, and engagements — is a hiding-place where you may find safety, in life and death, in time and eternity. Come then to Jesus, and build your immortal hopes on him. Believe in Jesus, and be saved perfectly and eternally by him. Hide yourself in Jesus, and then, let what will happen — you can have no cause of fear, no reason to be alarmed — for the eternal God is your strength and your portion forever!

"The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!" 2 Samuel 22:47

Great Rock for weary sinners made,
When storms of sin infest the soul;
Here let me rest my weary head,
When lightnings blaze, and thunders roll!

Within the clefts of his dear side,
There all his saints in safety dwell;
And what, from Jesus, shall divide?
Not all the rage of earth or hell!

O sacred Covert from the beams
That on the weary traveler beat,
How welcome are your shade and streams,
How blessed, how sacred, and how sweet!

And when that awful storm takes place,
That hurls destruction far and near,
My soul shall refuge in your grace,
And take her glorious shelter there!

To shake this Rock your saints are in.
Tempest or storm shall ne'er prevail
'Twill stand the blast of hell and sin,
And anchor sure within the veil!

What Makes A Child of God?

2011-03-03T19:54:00.000-05:00

A descendent from Abraham, David or any other godly person does not make a man a child of God:

John 1:13: "Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

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Who were born, not of blood.

Luke 3:8 "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

Matt. 3:9 "and do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

John 8:39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were

Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.

John 8:40 "But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.

Gal 3:6 Just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."

Gal 3:7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

Gal 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Nor of the will of the flesh. The efforts and exertions of our own human hearts and natures may reform, but cannot regenerate, the life.

Jhn 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Nor of the will of man. We are not begotten of God by the acts and deeds of our fellow-men no matter how much they may aid us in leading right lives.

But of God.

1Jo 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

1Jo 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.

The Christian Walk

2011-01-27T10:17:00.000-05:00

"As we get nearer to Jesus - we get farther from the world! The world loses its attractions - and old sinful habits lose their power." James Smith

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23

2011-01-17T09:19:00.000-05:00

Hundreds and hundreds of times I have watched an austere old ewe walk up to a younger one which might have been feeding contentedly or resting quietly in some sheltered spot. She wold arch her neck, tilt her head, dilate her eyes and approach the other with a stiff-legged gait. All of this was saying in unmistakable terms, "Move over! Out of my way! Give ground or else!"

And if the other ewe did not immediately leap to her feet in self-defense she would be butted unmercifully. Or if she did rise to accept the challenge one or two strong thrusts would soon send her scurrying for safety.

This continuous conflict and jealousy within the flock can be a most detrimental thing. The sheep become edgy, tense, discontented and restless. They lose weight and become irritable.

But one point that always interested me very much was that whenever I came into view and my presence attracted their attention, the sheep quicklly forgot their foolish rivalries and stopped their fighting. The shepherd's presence made all the difference in their behavior.

This, to me, has always been a graphic picture of the struggle for status in human society. There is the eternal competition "to keep up with the Joneses" or, as it is now - "to keep up with the Joneses' kids."

In any business firm, any office, any family, any community, any church, any human organization or group, be it large or small, the struggle for self-assertion and recognition goes on. Most of us fight to be "top sheep." We butt and quarrel and compete to "get ahead." And in the process people are hurt.

It is here that much jealousy arises. This is where petty peeves grow into horrible hate. It is where ill-will and contempt come into being, the place where heated rivalry and deep discontent is born. It is here that discontent gradually grows into a covetous way of life, where one has to be forever "standing up" for himself, for his rights, "standing up" just to get ahead of the crowd.

In contrast to this, the picture in the Psalm shows us God's people lying down in quiet contentment.

One of the outstanding marks of a Christian should be a serene sense of gentle contentment.

"Godliness with contentment is great gain."

Paul put it this way, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content," and certainly this applies to my status in society.

The endless unrest generated in the individual who is always trying to "get ahead" of the crowd, who is attempting always to be top man or woman on the totem pole, is pretty formidable to observe.

In His own unique way, Jesus Christ, the Great Shepherd, in His earthly life pointed out that the last would be first and the first last. In a sense I am sure He meant first in the area of His own intimate affection. For any shepherd has great compassion for the poor, weak sheep that get butted about by the more domineering ones...(Phillip Keller) To be continued...

Have You Ever Been Alone With God?

2011-01-12T09:33:00.000-05:00

The lives of others are examples for us, but God requires us to examine our own souls. It is slow work--so slow that it takes God all of time and eternity to make a man or woman conform to His purpose. We can only be used by God after we allow Him to show us the deep, hidden areas of our own character. It is astounding how ignorant we are about ourselves!

We don't even recognize the envy, laziness, or pride within us when we see it. But Jesus will reveal to us everything we have held within ourselves before His grace began to work. How many of us have learned to look inwardly with courage? (Oswald Chambers)

The Infinite Grace and Justice of a Holy God!

2010-12-09T13:27:00.000-05:00

The Untold History of the Bible part (1)

2010-12-05T17:26:00.000-05:00

The Law of Opposition

2010-12-04T09:42:00.000-05:00

“To him who overcomes…” (Revelation 2:7)

Life without war is impossible in the natural or the supernatural realm. It is a fact that there is a continuing struggle in the physical, mental, moral, and spiritual areas of life.

Health is the balance between the physical parts of the body and all the things and forces surrounding me. To maintain good health I must have sufficient internal strength to fight off the things that are external. Everything outside my physical life is designed to cause my death. The very elements that sustain me while I am alive work to decay and disintegrate my body once it is dead. If I have enough inner strength to fight, I help to produce the balance needed for health. The same is true of the mental life. If I want to maintain a strong and active mental life, I have to fight. This struggle produces the mental balance called thought.
Morally it is the same. Anything that does not strengthen me morally is the enemy of virtue within me. Whether I overcome, thereby producing virtue, depends on the level of moral excellence in my life. But we must fight to be moral. Morality does not happen by accident; moral virtue is acquired.

And spiritually it is also the same. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation…” (John 16:33) This means that anything which is not spiritual leads to my downfall. Jesus went on to say, “…but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” I must learn to fight against and overcome the things that come against me, and in that way produce the balance of holiness. Then it becomes a delight to meet opposition.

Holiness is the balance between my nature and the law of God as expressed in Jesus Christ….Oswald Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest).

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

2010-12-02T23:15:00.000-05:00

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” is really a condensed study of the Bible's view of the Messiah-who he was, what he represented and why he had to come to Earth. Even to this day, if one is a proficient Bible student, the song's lyrics reveal the unfolding story of the Messiah. For the people of the Dark Ages-few of whom read or had access to the Bible-the song was one of the few examples of the full story of how the New and Old Testament views of the Messiah came together in the birth and life of Jesus. Because it brought the story of Christ the Savior to life during hundreds of years of ignorance and darkness, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” ranks as one of the most important songs in the history of the Christian faith.

To sing a song and not feel the power and majesty of its meaning trivializes both the music and the lyrics.

The first verse of the song is taken from Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23. It introduces Emmanuel-“God with us”-and Israel held captive on a dark and sinful Earth.

Isaiah 11 serves as the theme for the verse that begins “O come, thou rod of Jesse, free" (in some translations this is called the "Branch of Jesse"). In it the rod of Jesse represents Christ, who is the only one who can defeat Satan and bring eternal life to all those who follow him.

“O come, O Dayspring, come and cheer” presents the image of the morning star, a concept that can be traced back to Malachi 4:2. In this verse, the song states that the coming Savior will bring justice, honesty, and truth. He will enlighten and cast out darkness as "The sun of righteousness will rise with healing in His wings.”

The lyrics then turn to "O come, thou key of David," a reference to Isaiah 22:22. The words in this verse explain that the newborn King holds the key to the heavenly kingdom and there is no way to get into the kingdom but through Him.

WAKE UP CHURCH!

2010-12-02T10:12:00.002-05:00

DO YOU NEED TO BELIEVE IN THE TRINITY IN ORDER TO BE SAVED?

2010-11-26T22:40:00.000-05:00

Question:
A Mormon asked me this question a number of years ago, and through the years here at church, I’ve asked a number of people this question, and I wanted to get your opinion. Can you become a Christian if you deny the Trinity?

Answer:

I would answer, "No." If you don’t believe in the Trinity, then you don’t understand who God is. You may say the word “God” but you don’t understand His nature. Second, you couldn’t possibly understand who Christ is--that He is God in human flesh. The Incarnation of Christis an essential component of the biblical gospel, as John 1:1-14 and many other biblical passages make clear. To deny the Trinity is to deny the Incarnation. And to deny the Incarnation is to wrongly understand the truegospel.

In saying that, I realize that such an answer is going to not only impact people that you may have witnessed to (like Mormons), but it also applies tosome in the broader Pentecostal movement, called United Pentecostals or "Jesus-Only" Pentecostals. Such individuals hold to a kind of modalism, where God is sometimes in the mode of the Father orthe mode of the Son or the mode of the Spirit, but He’s never all three at the same time. That too is a deficient and heretical view of the Trinity. It denies the distinct Personhood of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The same question sometimes arises about the Virgin Birth. I think it is possible for a personto become a Christian before learning about the details of theVirgin Birth, thoughthat personwould certainly assume that Jesus Christ must have had a unique birthsince He is both God and man. But, if someone knows about the Virgin Birth and says, “I deny the Virgin Birth,” then he is simultaneously denying the deity of Christ, and also the Trinity. Such a person betrays the fact that they do not understand the gospel, and therefore cannot have truly been saved. (John MacArthur)

Doctrine Matters

2010-11-25T16:51:00.000-05:00

"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctifed," Hebrews 9:14

"Therefore being justifed by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," Romans 5:1.

The Reformed Faith and Confession: Introduction

The Reformed faith is rooted in the Reformation of the church which began with Martin Luther's nailing of the ninety five theses on the door of Wittenburg church in October 31 1517. The seminal doctrine of the reformation for Luther, Zwingli, Calvin and the other reformers was justification by faith alone. This is the truth that we are righteous before God in Christ who is our righteousness. That righteousness is imputed to us by or through faith, which is the instrument of God's grace to justify the sinner in his conscience before God.

That we are righteous before God by faith, means also that salvation is solely of the Lord. It is a free gift, and not of works. It is grounded in the truth of sovereign grace, for faith is not a new work on the basis of which man is righteous, but a work of grace in man, by which God imparts the blessings of salvation. The expression "by faith," or "through faith" refers to the instrument of grace. It does not mean as this truth is corrupted today "because of faith." To teach that man is righteous because of believing, is the heresy of salvation by works repackaged. Faith is a blessing of salvation, bought in the cross, and applied by the Spirit
Rome taught and continues to teach the error of salvation because of faith and the works of faith. It is Rome that teaches the cross is only a provision, a treasury of merits, upon which men by their faith and works draw and which is made available by a repeated sacrifice in the mass. It is to these errors that the reformers responded.

It is this same error of salvation by works, a conditional or provisional salvation offered to man and depending on the will, decision, act or works of the sinner in some form for its reception which pervades so-called evangelicalism. Such doctrine is not protestant. It is not evangelical. And it is not reformed. It stands at odds with the truth of Christ's perfect and finished atonement and of justification by faith in him. "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified," Hebrews 9:14. Those sanctified by Christ's atoning death are God's elect, whom God effectually regenerates and calls unto faith and righteousness by faith in Christ.

It is exactly this truth of salvation by grace alone, which the genuine reformational doctrine of justification by faith represents. It is the gospel. Against it stands the doctrine of salvation by the works of man and his righteousness, which is the false doctrine of the Pharisees of Jesus' day. Jesus himself warns us against it, when he says, "beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees," and has in view their doctrine, Matthew 16:6, 11, 12. It is this corrupting leaven which repeatedly seeks to corrupt the life of the Christian church.
The truths of justification by faith and of sovereign grace are inseparable. They stand at the heart of every reformed confessional standard, both the Reformed continental standards: the Heidelberg Catechism, Belgic Confession of Faith, and Canons of Dordt and the Presbyterian standards the Westminster Confession and Larger and Shorter Catechisms. The purpose of the Reformed confessional standards is to maintain that truth as the personal confession of believers and the corporate confession of the churches over against the false leaven of salvation by works

One of the Scariest Moments in the Bible

2010-11-24T13:36:00.000-05:00

Walking in the Spirit

2010-11-08T09:58:00.000-05:00

The only consistent way to overcome the sinful desires of our human nature (the flesh) is to live step-by-step in the power of the Holy Spirit as He works through our spirit.

Galatians 5:19-26

The works of the flesh are these: Adultry, fornication, uncleaness, lewsness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkeness, reveleries. Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The fruit of the Spirit are these: Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Those who are in christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Where to Find Comfort and Encouragement in the Psalms

2010-08-01T13:31:00.000-04:00

When you feel abandoned - Psalms 10
When your world seems to be falling apart - Psalms 46
When you are afraid - Psalms 23; 91
When you feel guilty - Psalms 51
When your family gets on your nerves - Psalms 127; 128
When you are facing a daunting challenge - Psalms 27
When you are discouraged by the apparent prosperity of the wicked - Psalms 37; 73
When you do not feel very thankful - Psalms 107
When you feel as if God has forgotten you - Psalms 139
When you are tempted to lose faith in God - Psalms 62
When you have
lost your eternal perspective - Psalms 90
When you feel like you are barely hanging on - Psalms 86
When you are wondering what God expects - Psalms 15
When you want to know God better - Psalms 42; 63
When you need to be reminded of the goodness of God - Psalms 103
When you need to recommit yourself to serving God - Psalms 116
When you need wisdom - Psalms 119
When you need a reminder of God’s mercy - Psalms 136
When you feel like celebrating - Psalms 95-100

2010-07-31T10:07:00.000-04:00

WARNING: The Book of Revelation was intended to be heard and obeyed, not to be tampered with. The person who either adds to or takes away from its contents will receive from God the strictest punishment, a punishment with eternal consequences. This terrifying warning is even stronger than that of Deut. 4:2 and Prov. 30:6.

Rev. 22:18,19…”For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

Take heed, if you are giving the Book of Revelation a “private interpretation.” A private interpretation comes from the fables of men looking for sheep to follow them, and men selling their books, and is NOT based on what the Scriptures say. The Book of Revelation is interpreted for us through what is contained in the Old Testament and Christ’s fulfillment of everything that is contained in the Old Testament via the New Testament. Scripture interprets itself. We MUST NOT go beyond what is written. There are NO private interpretations.

"Work Out" What God "Works In" You..."

2010-06-13T10:24:00.000-04:00

"Work Out" What God "Works In" You..."work out your own salvation...for it is God who works in you..." (Philippians 2:12-13)

Your will agrees with God, but in your flesh there is a nature that renders you powerless to do what you know you ought to do. When the Lord initially comes in contact with our conscience, the first thing our conscience does is awaken our will, and our will always agrees with God. Yet you say, “But I don’t know if my will is in agreement with God.” Look to Jesus and you will find that your will and your conscience are in agreement with Him every time. What causes you to say “I will not obey” is something less deep and penetrating than your will. It is perversity or stubbornness, and they are never in agreement with God. The most profound thing in a person is his will, not sin.

The will is the essential element in God’s creation of human beings – sin is a perverse nature which entered into people. In someone who has been born again, the source of the will is Almighty God. “…for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” With focused attention and great care, you have to “work out” what God “works in” you – not “work” to accomplish or earn “your own salvation,” but “work it out” so you will exhibit the evidence of a life based with determined, unshakable faith on the complete and perfect redemption of the Lord. As you do this, you do not bring an opposing will up against God’s will – God’s will “is” your will. Your natural choices will be in accordance with God’s will, and living this life will be as natural as breathing. Stubbornness is an unintelligent barrier, refusing enlightenment and blocking its flow. The only thing to do with this barrier of stubbornness is to blow it up with “dynamite,” and the “dynamite” is obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Do I believe that Almighty God is the Source of my will? God not only expects me to do His will, but He is in me to do it.
(Oswald Chambers – My Utmost For His Highest)

Powerful Testimonies From Former False Converts

2010-06-09T18:25:00.002-04:00

WHAT'S NEXT TO DO?

2010-06-09T12:59:00.000-04:00

I believe that perhaps there is so much apostasy in the church today it’s because the church (organized denominations) is busy doing its own thing and it has lost all discernment and as a result of that has drifted away from the will of God and HIS purpose! Faith has been given to individuals and as individual believers we must learn from God and stop being spoon-fed in church buildings and seeking after personalities. They are feeding the saints pabulum (baby food), and in some cases POISON! The poison comes mixed in with the baby food, just a little at a time so as not to detect it. Jesus said in Matthew 16:6, “Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.” He was talking about the religious LEADERS, folks! The following was written by Oswald Chambers many years ago. God's truth does not change. I pray that God would give ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. Did you join a church so that you would have something to do on Sundays and to acquire new friends and have a good time. If that was your motivation for doing so, then the time has come for you to really sit down and examine yourself.

Be determined to know more than others. If you don’t cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to cut them to send you out to sea. Everything in your life should be afloat upon God. As you sail out on His sea of purpose, your eyes will be opened. If you are following Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy and always tied to the dock. You have to get out into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself—begin to have spiritual discernment.

When you know that you should do something and you do it, immediately you know more. Look back on times in your life when you have become disinterested spiritually, and you will find that it goes back to a point where you did not do something you knew you should do. You did not do it because there seemed to be no immediate call to do it. But now you have no insight or discernment, and at a time of crisis you are spiritually distracted instead of spiritually self-controlled. It is a dangerous thing to refuse to continue learning and knowing more.

The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you create your own opportunities to sacrifice yourself, and your zeal and enthusiasm are mistaken for discernment. It is easier to sacrifice yourself than to fulfill your spiritual destiny, which is stated in Romans 12:1—2. It is much better to fulfill the purpose of God in your life by discerning His will than it is to perform great acts of self-sacrifice. “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice…”(1 Samuel 15:22). Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been. “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know…” (John 7:17).

Believers in Grace

2010-06-05T10:09:00.000-04:00

by Bill Randles

Do you remember the social and moral revolution of the 1960s? The youth movement of the left was destined to break all the rules and liberate society from the dreary bondage of the past. They were going to show us how to do it the right way! As an anthem from that day proclaimed, “All the world over so easy to see, that people everywhere just want to be free.”

Isn’t it ironic that those same revolutionaries, now come of age, have created a society that is vastly more restricted than the one they worked so hard to undermine? We now live in a “brave new world” in which every aspect of daily life is hyper-regulated, speech is scrutinized to the point of absurdity, and even thought is criminalized (hate crimes laws)!

Although they have, in large part cast, off the shackles of any fear of God, they have a rigid concept of “righteousness”: they are very religious about global warming, population control , a woman’s right to choose (abortion), tolerance of all religions (except of course evangelical Christianity), woman’s liberation, transgender acceptance, and multi-culturalistic dogmas.

My theory is that they are so religious, although godless, because people are made in the image of God and must have some kind of religion. Furthermore, they are raised in America, where once a vast Christian consensus permeated our society and its institutions. It is for this reason that there has developed among the secular elite a “godless righteousness.”

The idea of any accountability for the sins enumerated in the ten commandments has been cast off, but they have their own tablets of stone. “Thou shalt not, ever, ever, make a moral judgment,” “Thou shalt not smoke (in public or private),” “Thou shalt support all forms of abortion,” “Thou shalt not claim any absolute truth,” “Thou shalt not think western civilization is any better than any other culture,” and so on and so forth.

It has often been pointed out that as long as these pieties are observed, it doesn’t really matter what a person does as an individual. All personal indiscretions are excused as long as these positions are held.

The real sins, which have proliferated and intensified as a result of the sexual revolution of the sixties (i.e. the rampant fornication, the destruction of marriages, homosexuality, adultery, abortion and pornography) affect the consciences of those who practice and promote them whether they believe in God or not. One cannot escape the psychological trauma of these evils by just dismissing the concept of a God or a binding personal morality.

That’s part of the reason why the Left has developed an alternative morality, to try to feel good about themselves, to assuage their conscience. They have to assure themselves over and over again that they are all right, because they support Cause x, and wear the ribbon in solidarity of Cause Y. They are good people, on the good side regardless of their personal immorality.

In short, godless righteousness isn’t individual – it is collective. As long as you hold to the positions of the Left Wing, you are “in right standing” regardless of your personal failings. This is why the counter culture has always shamelessly championed people like Che Guevarra, a mass murderer, Albert Kinsey a known fraud and pervert, and other personally sordid fellow travelers. As long as they hold to the dogma, it doesn’t matter.

The tragedy is that this righteousness is a sham and will be found to be as helpful as Adam and Eve’s fig leaves on the day of Judgment. It may feel good to “be in the right” with the culture – there is no doubt a certain satisfaction in it. But there is no way that “godless righteousness” can heal the troubled conscience. Is this why this generation needs so much valium? There is no possibility that “godless righteousness” can take away the shame of sin, and it certainly will not reconcile anyone to the true and Holy God.

There is a true righteousness, a right standing that can be obtained before God, but only as a gift to be received from Him. The good news is that what God demands, perfect righteousness, God provides for us, as Scripture says, “For he [God] hath made him [Jesus] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

A Good Soldier of Jesus

2010-06-03T09:42:00.000-04:00

"Christians will sin, but they will walk in repentance. They will not walk in rebellion as a way of life. Therefore, when we see professing Christians getting worse and worse in their apostasy, we must conclude that they are to be excluded from fellowship and exposed as wolves in sheep’s clothing if they are confronted and they do not repent. On the other hand, if we do confront these men about their sin and they do repent then we must accept that and include them in fellowship as long as they remain in that repentance."

A Good Soldier of Jesus

Your Will be Done!

2010-05-24T09:48:00.000-04:00

Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. - Matthew 6:10

God’s Word reveals three aspects of His will. First is His will of purpose—His sovereign, ultimate plan for the universe. “Surely, just as I [God] have intended so it has happened, and just as I have planned so it will stand” (Isa. 14:24; cf. Eph. 1:9–11). It has been within God’s purpose to allow sin to affect the world for a time. But that situation will end precisely according to His plan and foreknowledge.

Within God’s will of purpose is His will of desire. This will is more specific but not always fulfilled in the present age. For example, Jesus desired His people, the Jews, to be saved. However, only a relative few believed in His message. Jesus prayed, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together … and you would not have it!” (Luke 13:34). Like the Jews, most Gentiles are also unwilling to come to Christ for salvation (John 5:40; cf. 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

Third is God’s will of command, which is His desire that believers obey Him fully, as only they of all people can, with the help of the Spirit (see Rom. 6:16–18). Pride is the great enemy set against all of God’s will. But for us to obey His will, we must forsake self-will and “prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2; see also v. 1).

Ask Yourself

Understanding the many-layered aspects of God’s will is not nearly as important as being obedient to every aspect you do know. Don’t you long for His purpose, desire, and command to be met with full acceptance in your own life? Submit to Him in some new way today. Conform to His will.

(Daily Readings by John MacArthur)

Understand God's Heart Against Sin by Zac Poonan

2010-05-16T21:15:00.000-04:00

The message of Nahum was a message of God’s anger. In Nahum 1: 2 and 6, we see seven words - jealous, avenging, wrathful, vengeance, indignation, anger, burning, and rage. These words express God’s intense anger and blazing fury not just against sin, but also against the people who continue in sin. “The Lord is slow to get angry, but when He does get angry, you can’t stop Him” (Nah. 1:3). God is longsuffering and very patient. But finally, He will judge. And His anger and judgment are mainly directed against those who exploit others. He will bring justice to all who have been cheated on earth.

There was a difference between Adam’s sin and Cain’s sin. Adam hurt himself, but did not hurt anybody else. So he was not cursed. Only the ground was cursed (Gen. 3:17). But Cain’s sin hurt another person – Abel. So he himself was cursed by God (Gen. 4:11). When you do something that hurts another person in some way it is a serious sin. It can bring God’s curse on you like it did on Cain, if you do not repent and confess your sin. For example, you may have backbitten against someone and thus spoilt his reputation; or you may have become friendly with a girl and stirred up her emotions and then given her up (you may not have touched her body, but you have still hurt her). God is jealous, wrathful, angry and indignant, and His blazing fury will take vengeance and revenge on everyone who does such things. This judgment may not have come in you as yet, because He is still waiting for you to repent. But God takes note of the smallest things that we do against others, and He will punish us for it all one day. Many preachers have lost the anointing of God upon their lives because they spoke careless words against others, without knowing the truth – criticizing and spreading unverified stories. Then God removes His anointing from such preachers. And if they continue to be careless in their speech, God will one day take away their salvation too.

Why was God so angry with Assyria? It was not because they were smoking and drinking, or taking harmful drugs. We think taking drugs is horrible. It is. But in God’s eyes, it is not as horrible as backbiting – because when you take drugs you hurt only yourself, but when you backbite, you hurt others. I want to do what those Old Testament prophets did: Give you a proper understanding of what God considers as serious sins. God’s blazing fury against Assyria was because they hurt other people. In the same way, one day God will judge every single human being that ever lived, if he hurt anyone in any way by his words or his actions. People find it difficult to believe that. But that is just like people finding it difficult to believe in a real place called “Hell”. There are many who imagine that God will finally save everybody and that even those who go to hell will finally go to heaven!!! Some even go to the extreme of believing that Satan himself will get converted one day! But I believe God’s word. If you cannot believe in a God full of anger, then you do not believe in a God full of love either. Love demands anger and punishment - and I’ll explain why.

Suppose you have two children, whom you love equally, and one day you see the older boy hitting his younger brother with a stone and making him bleed. That poor younger boy is unable to defend himself against someone stronger than him. What will you do as a father? Will you just stand and watch that? You love both your boys. And because you love, you will be angry. If you don’t love your child, you will ignore what is being done and won’t be angry. But love will bring anger against evil, for love demands justice. You will punish the older boy for hurting his weaker brother. That is exactly what God did with Assyria too. And that is what He will one day do to all people who hurt others in any way. We will see this clearly in the Day of Judgment.

So I hope our study of Nahum will make us extremely careful in future to avoid words and actions that might hurt others in any way. Do you want to be a servant of God? Then be careful with your words - especially words that you speak about those whom you don’t like, or with whom you don’t agree.

In Nahum 1:7-10, we see God’s attitude towards His friends and His enemies. First we see His attitude towards those who respond to His word in repentance. He is good to them. When trouble comes He is a strong refuge. If you humble yourselves and respond to these strong warnings of the prophets God will be very good to you, and when trouble comes He will be like a refuge to you, protecting you like that father protects his little boy from being bullied by others. The Lord knows everyone who trusts in Him. He doesn’t forget even one person. You may be weak, poor and hopeless, but God knows you personally, if you are one of those who trust in Him.

Then in the next few verses we see God’s attitude towards His enemies. “He sweeps away His enemies like in an overflowing flood” (Nah. 1:8). When a flood comes, it just wipes out everybody in a moment. That’s how judgment is going to come upon God’s enemies. “He pursues His foes into the darkness of the night.” The prophet uses these expressions to show how God pursues those who don’t take His word seriously in order to destroy them. “Why are you scheming against the Lord? He will destroy you with one blow. He doesn’t need to strike you a second time. When God strikes His enemies they will stagger like drunkards and be burnt up like dry straw in a field. Who is this king of yours who dares to plot evil against the Lord?” (Nah. 1:9-10).

What were Assyria’s sins that God was so angry with them? First of all their pride towards God, and secondly their cruelty towards others. They took advantage of others and exploited them. These are the two things that the prophets always emphasised - the people’s attitude towards God and towards other human beings. It is because most believers don’t read these prophetic books sufficiently that they too remain proud towards God and hard towards others. Many believers say that these Old Testament prophetic books are boring. That’s exactly what the devil wants you to say, so that you understand nothing of God’s anger against pride and hardness of heart.

I want to encourage you to read these prophets, even if you find some of it laborious reading. You can get inside the heart of God as you read these words and understand how God feels towards such issues. By constant repetition, the message will hit home and finally be written in your heart – that God hates sin. Then you will fear and tremble to commit any of those sins.

Bank of Faith

2010-04-28T10:01:00.000-04:00

"Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope." --Psalm 119:49

Whatever your especial need may be, you may readily find some promise in the Bible suited to it. Are you faint and feeble because your way is rough and you are weary? Here is the promise--"He giveth power to the faint." When you read such a promise, take it back to the great Promiser, and ask Him to fulfil His own word.

Are you seeking after Christ, and thirsting for closer communion with Him? This promise shines like a star upon you--"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Take that promise to the throne continually; do not plead anything else, but go to God over and over again with this--"Lord, Thou hast said it, do as Thou hast said."

Are you distressed because of sin, and burdened with the heavy load of your iniquities? Listen to these words--"I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions, and will no more remember thy sins." You have no merit of your own to plead why He should pardon you, but plead His written engagements and He will perform them.

Are you afraid lest you should not be able to hold on to the end, lest, after having thought yourself a child of God, you should prove a castaway? If that is your state, take this word of grace to the throne and plead it: "The mountains may depart, and the hills may be removed, but the covenant of My love shall not depart from thee."

If you have lost the sweet sense of the Saviour's presence, and are seeking Him with a sorrowful heart, remember the promises: "Return unto Me, and I will return unto you;" "For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee."

Reinforce your faith upon God's own word, and whatever your fears or wants, return to the Bank of Faith with your Father's promise, saying, "Remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope."

Charles Spurgeon

The Mark of the Beast

2010-04-20T09:56:00.000-04:00

When I think about the Saints of old, the Patriarchs, the Prophets of God, and those who walked by faith in God and I compare them to modern man and how he walks by faith in himself, I can see what John was referring to when he wrote in Revelation about the Mark of the Beast 666 being the number of man.

I believe this symbolizes the worship of self. This is the “Age of Self.” Self has replaced God on the Throne. Self sits on the throne in the hearts of men and women. You can see it in the world and you can see it in the church.

The Beast of Revelation 13:18 is in the churches, sitting in the pews, standing in the pulpits. He sits on the thrones of their hearts. They have already taken his number and they are sealed.

This is what Jesus said in Luke 18:8. Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said, And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

Jesus’ question here is whether upon His return believers will still be looking for Him. In asking this question, Jesus is exhorting believers not to lose heart.

And men and women all throughout history have had to choose whether to worship the Beast (system) or to worship God. And those who serve the system and are having their “best lives now” have already taken the mark and are sealed and are worshiping the Beast. And those who are born from above and are following Christ are sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Temptation: The Two Adams Contrasted

2010-04-06T08:52:00.000-04:00

Both Adam and Christ faced three aspects of temptation, Adam yielded, bringing upon humankind sin and death. Christ resisted, resulting in justification and life.

"The lust of the flesh" -- 1 John 2:16 "The tree was good for food -- Genesis 3:6 First Adam
"Command this stone to become bread" Luke 4:1 - 13 Second Adam Christ

"The lust of the eyes" -- "It was pleasant to the eyes" -- "the devil showed him all the kingdoms"

"The pride of life" -- "A tree desirable to make one wise" -- "throw yourself down from here"

The Source of Apostasy - Seducing Spirits

2010-04-05T13:16:00.002-04:00

All false religion propagate doctrine energized by seducing spirits. False religion is the playground of demons. Second Corinthians tells us that Satan and his angels disguise themselves as angels of light and become the purveyors of various religions (2 Cor. 11:14).

Leviticus 17:7 The Lord Himself says that whatever men sacrifice to idols is in fact being sacrificed to demons (Deuteronomy 32:17; Psalm 96:5; Psalm 106:36 and 37).

1 Cor. 10:20 and 21 Paul said that those who come to the Lord's Table and then go worship at some pagan religious shrine, are fellow shipping with both the Lord and demons. False religious systems and the various idols that accompany them are simply focal points for demonic activity. We should not naively think that a false religion is simply a collection of misguided ideas. Realize that energizing it behind the scenes are fallen angels who are seducing people from the truth into an eternal hell.

Seducing Spirits

2010-04-03T13:07:00.000-04:00

The Great Apostasy -

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

To be an excellent servant of Christ, it is important that we have a good understanding of apostasy.

One example of apostasy would be the account of Amazia, king of Judah. He was king during the time of Isaiah the prophet. 2 Chron. 25:2 says, "he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart." On the outside he did everything in that was required in accord with the religion of Israel. He understood it and he behaved by its ethics, but "not with a willing heart." On the outside he looked good, but he did not have a personal relationship with the living God. He was soon lured away into idolatry and began to worship the gods of Edom, to which he bowed down and burned incense (2 Chron. 25:14). He was murdered by his own people after turning away from the Lord 2 Chron. 25:27).

Apostasy happens today just as it did in the Old Testament and in the church at Ephesus, where Timothy was when Paul wrote this letter. There are always people who understand the faith intellectually according to the revelation of God, but have no heart for living to please God. Hebrews 3:12 says that those who depart from God demonstrate an unbelieving heart.

Paul states in 1 Timothy 4:1 that some - like Judas, Demas, or the disciples of John 6 who walked no more with Christ - " shall depart from the faith" (Greek, aphistemi, "to remove yourself from the position you originally occupied"). Apostasy isn't an unintentional departure or someone struggling with doubt. It characterizes someone who deliberately abandons truth once affirmed for erroneous teaching. "The faith" refers specifically to the body of Christian doctrine, not the act of believing. Some will depart from "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). People who understand and outwardly affirm Christian doctrine but don't have a heart for God are prime candidates for being seduced by demons to depart from the faith.

An apostate is not someone who never knew the truth but someone who knew it and rejected it. He may have even been involved in various religious activities. But because he never truly knew God, he was lured away by the siren voices of the demons behind idols and false religious systems.

(Understanding the Seducing Spirit by John MacArthur)

Why is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Important?

2010-04-02T12:50:00.000-04:00

The resurrection of Jesus is important for several reasons. First, it witnesses to the immense power of God Himself. To believe in the resurrection is to believe in God. If God exists, and if He created the universe and has power over it, He has power to raise the dead. If He does not have such power, He is not a God worthy of our faith and worship. Only He who created life can resurrect it after death, only He can reverse the hideousness that is death itself, and only He can remove the sting that is death and the victory that is the grave’s (1 Corinthians 15:54-55). In resurrecting Jesus from the grave, God reminds us of His absolute sovereignty over life and death.

Second, the resurrection of Jesus is a testimony to the resurrection of human beings, which is a basic tenet of the Christian faith. Unlike all other religions, Christianity alone possesses a founder who transcends death and who promises that His followers will do the same. All other religions were founded by men and prophets whose end was the grave. As Christians, we take comfort in the fact that our God became man, died for our sins, and was resurrected the third day. The grave could not hold Him. He lives, and He sits today at the right hand of God the Father in heaven.

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul explains in detail the importance of the resurrection of Christ. Some in Corinth did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, and in this chapter Paul gives six disastrous consequences if there were no resurrection: 1) preaching Christ would be senseless (v. 14); 2) faith in Christ would be useless (v. 14); 3) all the witnesses and preachers of the resurrection would be liars (v. 15); 4) no one would be redeemed from sin (v. 17); 5) all former believers would have perished (v.18); and 6) Christians would be the most pitiable people on the earth (v. 19). But Christ indeed has risen from the dead and “has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (v. 20), assuring that we will follow Him in resurrection.

The inspired Word of God guarantees the believer's resurrection at the coming of Jesus Christ for His Body (the Church) at the Rapture. Such hope and assurance results in a great song of triumph as Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:55, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

How do these concluding verses relate to the importance of the resurrection? Paul answers, “...you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (v. 58). He reminds us that because we know we will be resurrected to new life, we can suffer persecution and danger for Christ’s sake (vv. 29-31), just as He did. We can follow the example of the thousands of martyrs through history who gladly traded their earthly lives for everlasting life via the resurrection.

The resurrection is the triumphant and glorious victory for every believer. Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose the third day according to the Scripture. And, He is coming again! The dead in Christ will be raised up, and those who remain and are alive at His coming will be changed and receive new, glorified bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ important to salvation? It demonstrated that God accepted Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf. It proves that God has the power to raise us from the dead. It guarantees that those who believe in Christ will not remain dead, but will be resurrected unto eternal life. That is our blessed hope!

Recommended Resource: The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas.

'Take Heed What You Hear" and Read!

2010-03-31T18:21:00.000-04:00

More than forty years ago the saintly Adolph Saphir wrote, “I think the fewer books we read—the better. It is like times of cholera, when we should only drink filtered water.” What would he say if he were on earth today and glanced over the deadly poison sent forth by the heterodox, and the lifeless rubbish put out by the orthodox? Christian reader, if you value the health of your soul, cease hearing and quit reading all that is lifeless, unctionless, powerless, no matter what prominent or popular name be attached thereto. Life is too short to waste valuable time on that which does not profit. Ninety-nine out of every hundred of the religious books, booklets, and magazines now being published, are not worth the paper on which they are printed!

To turn away from the lifeless preachers and publishers of the day—may involve a real cross. Your motives will be misconstrued, your words perverted, and your actions misinterpreted. The sharp arrows of false report will be directed against you. You will be called proud and self-righteous, because you refuse to fellowship empty professors. You will be termed censorious and bitter—if you condemn in plain speech—the subtle delusions of Satan. You will be dubbed narrow-minded and uncharitable, because you refuse to join in singing the praises of the “great” and “popular” men of the day. More and more, you will be made to painfully realize—that the path which leads unto eternal life is “narrow” and that FEW there are who find it. May the Lord be pleased to grant unto each of us—the hearing ear and obedient heart! “Take heed what you hear” and read!

A.W. Pink (1886 - 1952)

Fleecing Young Sheep

2010-03-28T21:52:00.001-04:00

Read between the lines, folks. These new Emergent Church leaders are after the souls of your children! They are selling their books and CDs and preaching a message that will send your kids straight to Hell! This is NOT the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Louis Giglio says that God has a plan for your life! He gives a positive and encouraging message. He said the secret is in the laminin. The secret is in a protein molecule called laminin. A molecular biologist told him that it's the glue that holds the human body together. A molecular structure, a cell adhesion molecule. He displayed a huge picture of laminin. It's in the shape of a cross.

This is a new breed of false teachers. They are using technology to wow the sheep. They use music to reinforce the message. They go to seminary and study the bible enough to learn which scriptures they can misapply to whatever the trend of the day is. They make it appealing to their audience. A "positive and encouraging" message.

This false teacher did not mention one word about the Death, Burial and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus!

Below is an ad I found on Amazon where he's selling his books. You decide for yourself what he's all about. Looks like he's all about ME!

"Louie Giglio: How Great Is Our God - DVD

A full-length message on DVD from Passion founder Louie Giglio recorded on the Passion tour

Recorded on Chris Tomlin's How Great is Our God tour.

Your life is a miracle, and the Creator of the universe knows you by name...

He's big enough to breathe out stars, yet intricate enough to fashion together the trillions of cells that make up every facet of who you are. The God who spoke the universe into existence made you, too, and knows everything about you. From the smallest molecule to the situation you find yourself in right now, He's aware of your circumstances and intimately acquainted with everything you do. And He cares about you and promises to carry you through.

That's where we find hope in the midst of the darkest places in life. The journey often complicated and painful, filled with confusion and chaos. Yet, the cross of Christ reveals God's promise to preserve and restore you no matter what the circumstance. He will hold onto you and hold you together, giving strength to those who hope in His unfailing love.

He is the everlasting God!

Get the Louie Giglio Pack and save!

The Passion movement and the messages of founder Louie Giglio have impacted the lives of millions of people around the globe, calling people everywhere to live for the glory of God. Focused on the collegiate age group - yet spilling over to people of all ages - Passion exists to unite students for spiritual awakening in this generation. From its' inception, the movement of Passion has birthed new anthems of worship, influencing countless churches and helping to define the current worship climate and establish artists Chris Tomlin, David Crowder Band, Charlie Hall, Matt Redman and others.

For the first time, Louie's messages are now available in The Passion Talk Series DVD's. Each DVD contains a full length message from Louie Giglio."

What is Truth?

2010-03-28T09:23:00.000-04:00

"Everyone that is of the truth hears My Voice.' Pilate answered, 'What is truth?' And then he went out again..." (John 18:37,38ff).
We are often unprepared for Truth, which is why Truth is revealed to us progressively. We must "grow up into Him" - we could not handle it otherwise. Even the little bit of Truth which is revealed to us often upsets us at our deepest foundations. We must be willing to live with the uncertainty and pain which Truth brings. Here again is another point in which many people turn back. People prefer ignorant bliss to uncomfortable Truth. Now that they have been given the Truth, it is too painful or inconvenient to deal with. They either fall back into their former ignorance or they rationalize or dilute the Truth until it is no longer Truth. They turn it into something which is more palatable and easily digested.

But if we accept the Truth, and totally give ourselves to it, it will begin to change us. We will begin to be conformed to it, and it will become less painful. I am convinced that if we refuse to accept the Truth we have been given then we will eventually lose it. Jesus concludes His parable of the talents by saying, "The one that has will have more added to him, and the one who does not have will have what little he has taken away." The one who buries the Truth in the ground for safekeeping will lose it, while the one who does something with the Truth will receive more Truth. This is why some grow spiritually and some do not. Even though they may acknowledge the same Truth, they may not be willing to accept the consequences of being transformed by that Truth, thus what little they have soon becomes dead manna.

Chip Brogden - http://www.theschoolofchrist.org/

The Role of a Prophet

2010-03-27T10:09:00.000-04:00

Question: What is the role of a prophet of God?

Answer:

To reveal the nature and atrributes of God.
To make known to m en the laws of God.
To call people back to obedience and worship of God.
To warn of devine judgment upon sin.
To foretell of devine judgment upon sin.
To fortell future events which God wills.
To equip the Saints for service.

The Day of the Lord - Repentance - Judgment - Restoration

2010-03-26T13:31:00.004-04:00

Zephania, Prophet of God

The first time I read this book of the bible was when I was looking through another book that was written about the bible and it happened to be lying open at this spot. Upon reading it I discovered the following:

The theme of the book: The Day of the Lord – Repentance – Judgment – Restoration

The name Zephaniah means “The Lord Hides.”

The key text: Chapter 3:17 …He will joy over thee with singing.” This is the first time I ever noticed anywhere in Scripture the Lord “singing.” I thought this is such a joyful event to the Lord that it causes Him to sing! This puzzled me because I always thought of the Day of the Lord as the day of judgment and that would give me chills just thinking about it.

I read on and found the key theme is “The Day of the Lord.”
Zephaniah prophesied coming judgment against the nations. His main message was against Judah, whose sins were so serious that they would go into exile on “the Day of the Lord,” but later they would be restored to righteousness.

Zephaniah argued that the coming Day of the Lord would involve God’s judgment on God’s people, as well as on pagan nations. God would later restore a remnant who would then worship Him forever as the King of Israel. (Could this be referring to Christ’s second coming? Look how rampant apostasy is…just like it was in Israel before God sent them into captivity in Babylon).

The people of Judah had sinned greatly, particularly the RELIGIOUS and POLITICAL leaders. (Does this sound familiar)?
Zephaniah 3:15 The Lord has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall see disaster no more.

It teaches about humanity…it teaches about restoration…it refers to covenant people. (Was this fulfilled by Jesus in the New Covenant)? Is 3:15 referring when Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is within you. Mark 15:26 THE KING OF THE JEWS (the sign they nailed to His cross).
As Judah did not recognize the presence of the divine king in their circumstances, so many Jewish leaders failed to recognize the presence of God in Jesus Christ.

The events that were taking place at this time in Israel’s history can be found in 2 Kings 22 – 23 and 2 Chronicles 34 – 35. It was during Josiah’s reign. There was a shift in world power that moved from Assyria and Egypt to Babylon. The most significant religious event in Judah was the “revival” and restoration of temple worship led by Josiah.

It was a decisive turning point in God’s dealings with people. The Day of the Lord will not reach its fullest expression until the days before Christ’s return. God’s plan to be the King in the midst of His people is a magnificent prophecy that will ultimately be fulfilled in the final expression of God’s kingdom. The last two chapters of the bible describe the complete realization of this promise.

He attacked the sins of the elite princes, priests, judges and false prophets and the religious corruption. His message fits the period of religious and social corruption present during the early rule of Josiah (2 Kings 22 – 23).

Judgment on Judah and the Nations appears inevitable.
The prophet even portrays God with searchlamps as He exposes the corruption of the city (Jerusalem) and marks it for His certain judgment (Zeph. 1:12).

Is this a message to His elect: Zeph. 2:3 …hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger.

Geneva Bible – Zeph 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORDS anger. (Jesus said that the meek shall inherit the earth. To seek righteousness is to seek Jesus. He is our Righteousness).
Overlooked theme is that of the happiness of God! God’s pleasure in the full ingathering of his people Zeph. 3:17.

Zeph. 3:9 – 13
The focus of the text moves to a time of national regeneration and restoration. Pure language refers to language used in the pure worship of God. One day human language will become a unifying element in the true worship of God. (Could this be referring to a reversal of when God confused the languages in Genesis 11:9 Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.)

The Purpose Drive Life - John MacArthur

2010-03-25T22:20:00.000-04:00

Women Pastors Preachers Teachers..Is it Biblical? Part 2

2010-03-25T22:12:00.000-04:00

Women Pastors Preachers Teachers...Is it Biblical?

2010-03-24T21:36:00.002-04:00

Golden Lampstand Church will be Destroyed

2010-03-06T09:55:00.000-05:00

Chinese Land Official Says 'Golden Lampstand Church will be Destroyed'
SHANXI, China, March 5 /Christian Newswire/ -- A symbol of unity for the 50,000-member Linfen Church Network, the central church building Jindengtai (Golden Lampstand) towers over the neighboring buildings in Linfen City. The building was confiscated by the Chinese government in the aftermath of the bloody attack and destruction of Fushan Church in September, 2009. Military police continue to surround the building around the clock, with soldiers stationed inside the building to prevent church members from gathering or entering. Now devastation is about to strike again.

On March 4, 2010, an official from the Land Resources Bureau of Yaodu District, in Linfen City, informed a ChinaAid contact that the "Golden Lampstand" Church will soon be destroyed by the Chinese government. The six-story Golden Lampstand Church (Jindengtai) is worth over 10 million Yuan ($1.5 million) and has been the central meeting location for Linfen Church members for more than a decade.

The tragic news is just one more blow by the Chinese Government. After the bloody crackdown on Fushan Church, subsequent arrests by military police resulted in the indictment and trials for five Linfen pastors, resulting in severe prison sentences. Five other Linfen pastors were sentenced to two years each Re-education through Labor. All ten pastors filed appeals in January 2010. In February, the Linfen Courts formally rejected the appeals of the five prisoners. The five sentenced to Re-education through labor still await news of their appeals.

Linfen Church members are now mobilizing for fervent prayer. They call on the churches around the globe to pray and have further asked ChinaAid to express their gratitude to the international community for the care, support, and intercessory prayers given in the past few months.

ChinaAid urges the international community to contact the local authorities and protest the destruction of Jindengtai. We call on believers around the world to pray for the end of persecution against the Linfen House Church, and the restoration of their property and buildings.

Call on the Chinese authorities to protest the government demolition of Golden Lampstand Church:

Land Resources Bureau of Yaodu District, Linfen City
Tel: +86-357-201-3263

Raodu District People's Government contact:
Tel: 86-357-222-8559
E-mail: info@yaodu.gov.cn

For more ways to get involved, visit
www.HelpLinfen.com

See Full Release.

ChinaAid grants permission to reproduce photos and/or information for non-fundraising purposes, with the provision that www.ChinaAid.org is credited. Please contact: Annee@ChinaAid.org for further information.
Christian Newswire

The Tribulation which is in Jesus - Zac Poonen

2010-02-27T11:47:00.000-05:00

In Revelation 1:9-10, John refers to himself as a "fellow-partaker in the tribulation which is in Jesus". Every wholehearted disciple of Jesus should be prepared to partake in the "tribulation which is in Jesus", as long as he is in this world. John did not get this unveiling while living in comfort. He received it, while experiencing tribulation at Patmos, because he had been faithful to "the word of God and the testimony of Jesus" (Rev. 1:9). He had to experience tribulation himself in order to be able to write about the saints experiencing the great tribulation from the Antichrist in the last days. God takes us through trials and tribulations first before giving us a ministry to others who are facing tribulation. Paul said, "God encourages us in all our affliction so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction, with the (same) encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God" (2 Cor.1:4 - Amplified).

It is not surprising therefore that the doctrine that Jesus would come secretly and take (rapture) His church out of the world, before the great tribulation, arose for the first time in a country (England) where Christians were living in comfort, and at a time (mid-19th century) when they were not facing any persecution for their faith at all. Today this doctrine continues to be proclaimed and believed by Christians who live in ease and comfort, in countries where there is no persecution against Christians at all. Since the prayers of most Christians are basically of this order : "Lord make my life more comfortable on earth", it is not surprising that they have gladly accepted this teaching of a pre-tribulation rapture of the church. Thus Satan has succeeded in lulling multitudes of Christians with a false comfort, so that they will be unprepared for the great tribulation when it does come upon them.

The words of Jesus are clear: "In the world YOU HAVE TRIBULATION. But take courage; I have overcome the world" (Jn.16:33). He never promised that we would escape tribulation - whether small tribulations or the great one. But He did say that we could overcome even as He overcame. He is far more interested in making us overcomers than in saving us out of tribulation, because He is far more interested in our character than in our comfort. Neither did Jesus ever say that escaping the great tribulation was a reward for faithfulness, as some teach. On the contrary, He said that those who forsook everything to follow Him would have even more tribulations than others who didn't follow Him (Mk.10:30). When He prayed to His Father for His disciples, He said, "I do not ask Thee to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil." (Jn.17:15). He did NOT want His disciples to be raptured out of the world at that time, just because they were going to face tribulation.

In the 3rd-century when Christians were being thrown to the lions in the Roman amphitheatres and being burnt at the stake in different parts of the Roman empire, the Lord did not rescue them from such tribulations. The God Who shut the lions' mouths and took away the power of the fiery furnace in Daniel's day, did NOT do such miracles for these disciples of Jesus - for these were new-covenant Christians who were going to glorify God through death. Like Jesus their Master, they neither asked for, nor expected twelve legions of angels to come and protect them from their enemies.

From heaven, God watched the Bride of His Son being torn to pieces by lions and being burnt to ashes; and He was glorified in their testimony - for they had "followed the Lamb, wherever He went", even unto a violent physical death (Rev.14:4). The only word that the Lord spoke to them was, "Be faithful until death and I will give you a crown of life." (Rev.2:10). Even today, when the disciples of Jesus are being tortured and persecuted for His Name in many lands, the Lord does not take them away from the earth. And He will not rapture us to heaven before the great tribulation either. He will do something far better. He will make us overcomers in the midst of the great tribulation.

Jesus is far more interested in saving us from evil than in saving us from tribulation. He permits us to go through tribulation because He knows that that is the only way that we can become spiritually strong. Such a message is strange teaching indeed to a comfort-loving Christendom that has been coddled in their pews every Sunday for years by ear-tickling preachers. But this is the message that the apostles preached to the early churches. "They (the apostles Paul and Barnabas) strengthened the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, saying, 'Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.'" (Acts 14:22). The little trials that we face at home and at work now, are but a preparation for the greater ones that will come in the days to come. That is why it is essential that we are faithful now. For God says, "If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses?" (Jer.12:5).

John speaks here about being a "fellow-partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus" (Rev 1:9). We have to enter into fellowship with Jesus in tribulation first, before we can share His throne with Him in His kingdom. Perseverance is a great virtue that is emphasised throughout the New Testament. Jesus Himself said "They will deliver you to tribulation.....but the one who endures to the end shall be saved" (Mt.24:13).

Street Preachers Gunned Down After Sharing the Gospel!

2010-02-18T09:01:00.000-05:00

Saints of God, this did not happen in a foreign country! It happened right here in the USA!

Faith Organizations to Address the Tragic Murders of Two Street Preachers in South Florida
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla., Feb. 18 /Christian Newswire/ -- The street preachers were gunned down on the public sidewalk in Boynton Beach, Florida after sharing the gospel with gang members.

** (Below is a copy of a news article of the shooting.)

The Christian Defense Coalition and the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission will be holding a news conference and prayer vigil on the same public sidewalk where the preachers were executed.

They will also be leaving flowers on the public sidewalk to honor the work and life of these heroic preachers.

The news conference will be held on Friday, February 19, at 11:00 A.M. at the 100 block of Southwest Second Ave. in Boynton Beach.

At the news conference, the groups will be:

*Calling for Attorney General Eric Holder to launch a federal investigation to see if these murders broke federal laws or federal civil rights statutes.

*Announcing plans for a rally and gospel witness on the exact spot where the two preachers were killed.

*Seeking a meeting with Boynton Beach police officials to see if they are pursing religious discrimination elements in this case.

*Seeking assurances that Christians preaching the gospel will be protected on the streets of Boynton Beach.

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition in Washington, D.C., states,

"We are coming to South Florida to first honor the lives and work of Mr. Ocean and Sufra. They were gunned down shortly after sharing God's love on the streets of Boynton Beach with struggling and hurting people.

"We are also coming to seek assurances that Christians preaching the Word of God on public streets will be protected by local and federal law enforcement officials and that any violations of federal laws and civil rights will be thoroughly investigated.

"Finally, the greatest tribute we can give these two preachers is organizing a prayer rally and day of publicly sharing the gospel on the streets of Boynton Beach. Something these men gave their lives for."

Dr. Gary Cass, Executive Director of the Christian Anti- Defamation Commission, shares,

"This senseless crime has made martyrs out of two fine young Christian preachers. Their courageous example has made us determined to not let their deaths be in vain.

"We cannot and will not allow the message of God's transforming love in Jesus Christ to be silenced anywhere in America."

For more information or interviews contact:

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney at 540.538.4741 202.547.1735

Dr. Gary Cass 954.551.9770

**
Man arrested on charges of shooting street preachers in Boynton Beach

February 03, 2010 By Jerome Burdi, Sun Sentinel Boynton Beach -- Preaching the word of God brought two street ministers to the man who killed them, police said.

Jeriah Woody, 18, was arrested Wednesday and charged in the double murder in Boynton Beach.

According to police: Victims Tite Sufra, 24, and Stephen Ocean, 23, were shot and killed Saturday night after meeting Woody on Southwest First Street and Second Avenue standing under a tree.

They preached to him for 15 minutes when Woody got a phone call and told the preachers he had to go. They kept walking down Second Avenue when Woody suddenly started walking toward them. Sufra walked up to meet him and was met with a gunshot. Ocean then ran and was shot in the back.

When he fell, Woody shot him in the head, execution style, police said.

Police found Woody through his street name, Plug, and he was identified through a witness. Woody surrendered to police on Wednesday and was charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

According to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records, Woody has been arrested on burglary, theft and drug-related charges.

In her Boynton Beach home, Sufra's mother, Vertilia St. Remy, said her son left behind a widow, but would not comment further after being told not to by her daughter, who was "very shaken."

"Everybody loves him," St. Remy said.

Staff writer Erika Pesantes contributed to this report.
Jerome Burdi can be reached at
jburdi@SunSentinel.com or 561-243-6531.
Christian Newswire

Watchman Alert!

2010-02-17T12:01:00.000-05:00

Explosive New Report Documents 'The Religious Face of the New World Order: From the Vatican to the White House to the United Religions Initiative'

MEDIA ADVISORY, Feb. 17 /Christian Newswire/ -- A new report from the public policy group America's Survival, Inc. (ASI), headed by veteran investigative reporter Cliff Kincaid, explores how and why the Pope's call for a "World Political Authority" plays into the hands of those demanding a "New World Order" and increased power and authority for the United Nations. Author Lee Penn says, "The question is not whether there will be a New World Order. The question is who will control it, and for what ends." The Vatican, he argues, is determined to be a major global player.

Kincaid comments, "This report, with almost 300 endnotes, examines in detail how and why the Vatican has abandoned its resistance to a New World Order. This is a major sea change in world events and the global political order." Penn, who previously wrote the book, False Dawn, about global religion, notes in this report that "When the Pope agrees with Mikhail Gorbachev, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Henry Kissinger, the new President of the European Union, and other secular leaders on the need for global governance and a new world order, we can know that the world has indeed experienced a 'harmonic convergence' and entered a new age." Kincaid's introduction to the report goes into substantial detail about the roles being played in this unfolding international drama by the Obama Administration and financial hedge fund operator George Soros, who is pouring large sums of money into various politically active "Catholic" groups.

Penn observes the significance of what is happening:

In the past, the proponents of "global governance" have faced Papal skepticism or opposition. With the publication of Caritas in Veritate, Benedict XVI has himself come out strongly for a new world order. He might wish to put a new international system to different uses than those supported by Mikhail Gorbachev, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Henry Kissinger, or others -- but he agrees that a new international system, "a true world political authority," must come into being.

In the explosive report, Penn offers his own provocative theory of what is happening and why. World government, he argues, depends on a global religion. ASI President Kincaid adds, "On a basic level, this can be viewed as an attempt to bring together the world's Eastern and Western spiritual traditions. It is not clear how Islam will be integrated into this global system but the United Religions Initiative (URI) seems designed to accomplish this goal. As Lee Penn documents, the URI even included practitioners of Wicca (witchcraft) as well as an Islamic cleric convicted of rape."

While much of this seems inevitable, Kincaid says that opposition is emerging from traditional Christians, most especially conservative Catholics.

The 84-page report is available at www.usasurvival.org. Interviews are available with ASI President Cliff Kincaid and Lee Penn, the author of the report.

Christian Newswire

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

2010-02-12T20:16:00.001-05:00

Did you know that there is a right way to study the Bible? Many Christians have fallen victim to so-called Bible teachers (crackpots)… and I will call them crackpots because that is just what they are. I believe that many of the modern prosperity preachers today are grounded in BAD doctrine, which is a result of the improper study of God’s Word. Their followers are their victims because they don’t take the time to verify for themselves what these false teachers write or tell them. They swallow it hook, line and sinker.

The Bible tells us in 1 Tim 5:17 Be diligent (study) to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

If you are not handling the word of God accurately, then you ought to be ashamed of yourselves. If you are going to handle it accurately, you have to be diligent, you have to work hard at it. It must be interpreted accurately and those that fail to do that have reason to be ashamed.

It’s hard work. That is why God has given teachers to the Church so that we can work hard in understanding God’s word and correctly instructing people in the scriptures through consistent, conscientious labor in the Word.

Those who are improperly teaching the saints invent theology as they speak. You should never, ever make a point at the price of a proper interpretation. Otherwise, you are the final authority and not the Word of God. We must protect the integrity of scripture by demanding a proper interpretation, otherwise it just feeds and promotes endless confusion.
The following are three areas that need to be avoided that are not always avoided in contemporary interpretation:

1. Do not make a point at the expense of a proper interpretation. Do not look for a verse to go with your message. Do not try to make the Bible fit with YOUR philosophy.

2. Don’t spiritualize or allegorize the text. This practice goes on with many well-known and popular TV preachers and other false movements, messianic movements, “churches.” It’s the invention of their own imaginations. This kind of preaching is a form of hucksterism. If you do that, you can spiritualize any text that will leave you with a fanciful conclusion. They are nothing more than a bunch of pulpit conmen (wolves in sheep’s clothing) ripping off God’s people spiritually and economically.

The correct approach is you need to go to Jesus and remember when he was walking on the road to Emmaus He said that beginning with Moses and all the prophets He explained to them the things concerning Himself and the scriptures. The word hermeuo (explain/interpret) which is where we get the word hermeneutics (the art of interpretation). He carefully interpreted the Old Testament. He used sound hermeneutics.

When we teach, we want to be sure that we don’t make severe errors.

3. Another area is superficial study. The Bible tells us in 1 Tim 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

Living By Faith - George Muller

2010-02-06T18:39:00.000-05:00

This is an example of living by Faith.

Robber Of The Cruel Streets: George Muller (2005)
George Müller (1805-1898) was a worldly young German man who found Christ and gave his life to serve Christ unreservedly. His mission was to rescue orphans from the wretched street life that enslaved so many children in England during the time of Charles Dickens and Oliver Twist. Müller did rescue, care for, feed, and educate such children by the thousands. The costs were enormous for such a great work. Yet, amazingly, he never asked anyone for money. Instead he prayed, and his children never missed a meal. This docu-drama presents his life story and shows how God answered prayer and met their needs. It is a story that raises foundational questions regarding faith and finances.

How to Ascertain the Will of God
By George Mueller

I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties areovercome when our hearts are ready to do the Lord's will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

2.--Having done this, I do not leave the result to feeling or simple impression. If so, I make myself liable to great delusions.

3.--I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word, I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them.

4.--Next I take into account providential circumstances. These often plainly indicate God's Will in connection with His Word and Spirit.

5.--I ask God in prayer to reveal His Will to me aright.

6.--Thus, through prayer to God, the study of the Word, and reflection, I come to a deliberate judgment according to the best of my ability and knowledge, and if my mind is thus at peace, and continues so after two or three more petitions, I proceed accordingly. In trivial matters, and
in transactions involving most important issues, I have found this method always effective.

George Muller lived Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Led By the Spirit

2010-01-31T09:15:00.000-05:00

Galatians 5:18-23
18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,[a] fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders,[b] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

When we are being led by the Spirit we are not under the law. This means that we are NOT walking by our own desires which lead to the works of the flesh that are listed in vs. 19 and 20. And when we are being LED by the Spirit we will bear fruit such as that listed in vs. 22 and 23. So how do we know when we are being led by the Spirit? It is when there is evidence of the fruit of the Spirit; then we can know we are being led by the Spirit.

In the Colossians 3 below, notice in vs. 8 that Paul tells us to “put off” all these. He is telling us not do the things we used to do when we were under the law. These are the deeds of the "old man." Notice how he tells us in vs. 10 that we should "put on" the “new man.” Notice that WE are "putting off" and "putting on."

This might seem like a silly example, but when we get up in the morning and we dress ourselves, we don’t wait for the Lord to dress us. We take off our night clothes and put on the clothes that we are going to wear that day. We are making a conscious decision in what we are going to wear that day. There is no reason why our walk with Christ shouldn’t be the same. Sometimes it’s easy to recognize the deeds of the old man; and sometimes it’s not so easy because self rears its ugly head and will tell you it’s impossible. But we know this: Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Colossians 3

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.
8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Why Does God Allow Suffering

2010-01-24T23:05:00.000-05:00

We understand that there is a reason for God allowing things to happen. And we know that the Bible tells us that mankind is desperately wicked. We are reminded of the wickedness of man when these awful things like child rape and so forth happen. And God, by allowing us to see these evils of men, His holiness and goodness stand out apart from men's decadence. We are reminded how evil the heart of man can be, and what wretched fallen creatures the children of Adam are. And how desperately mankind needs salvation. In fact, if God were not restraining the wickedness of man to a great degree, things would be far worse.

Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

The fact is, we live in a fallen sin-cursed world, and bad things happen. And we know that these trials of life prove us. God has ordained all that comes to pass, and nothing can happen outside of His control and plan. When some great evil or disaster befalls us, or the people we care about, our faith is tested. Do we curse God or find fault in Him? Or do we continue to trust in him like Job? We know that when these awful things occur, God uses them for his own sovereign purpose, even though we may not understand why God is allowing them to happen when we see them. We must trust in Him.

Genesis 50:20
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

And Romans 5:3,4 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

Suffering produces endurance (Greek - hypomone). How can we learn endurance without suffering? Take suffering away, and there would be nothing to endure.

Endurance produces character (Greek - dokime). In other words, we are tried and tested, and how are we going to be tested without suffering?

The last link is hope. Suffering produces hope. Hope for what? Hope of glory; and God, who gives the suffering, will deliver the glory.

And don't forget...
Job 19:25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;

Binding and Loosing

2010-01-21T14:04:00.000-05:00

Matthew 16:18-19
And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Addressing this promise to Peter (rock), is simply an illustration of the “power to loose (forgive sins) and to bind (retain sins) that the believers will receive to build the Church. Such power to conquer or prevail over Satan’s “Gates of Hell” can only come from “thee” Rock, which is Christ. Though the person to whom this promise is made in this instance is Peter, he is representative of all believers. The rest of the apostles also received this power of forgiveness of sins, and the judgment in binding sins. Christ gave all of them full power and authority by the Spirit, that their preaching the gospel is as the keys to both bind and loose . It (the Word of God) is what truly binds and looses, not Peter, Paul or John. And Christ is the only Rock (starting or foundation stone) upon which the Church can be built. He is the only foundation that can hold the weight of the Church. Certainly Peter could not have the Church rest upon him.

Nor were these keys to bind and loose given only to Peter. As John 20 plainly illustrates to anyone willing to read it, Christ gave this same power of the keys to all the Apostles.

John 20:22-23
And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

The same Power to bind and loose is the power of salvation and of judgment which Christ gave to His servants (Acts1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”). In their coming in the Spirit of God, preaching the Gospel, they receive this power to bind and loose. That is why in Matthew 16 Christ said, “whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven. It is a very clear illustration that the power to bind and loose, to forgive sins and retain sins, had already been prescribed in heaven, and Peter and the Church were only the vessels used by God to preach that the power of the gospel might bring what has been foreordained to fruition.

Notice that the power promised, the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Salvation and Judgment), is a symbolic figure of the ability to be able to “administer” what has already been ordained in heaven before. As the prophets of old, the gift of being a Messenger of the Gospel, the mouthpiece of God is by His Servants coming in the Spirit and power of God.

2010-01-17T09:32:00.000-05:00

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." Psalm 46:1-3

The 'Camel Method' of Evangelism is Not Biblical...Paul Proctor

2010-01-13T09:51:00.000-05:00

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide [is] the gate and broad [is] the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it." Matt. 7:13

I have addressed, on numerous occasions, the Church’s ongoing efforts to reinvent Christianity into a global religion of Results & Relationships by using the powers of pragmatism and consensus to artificially grow itself into something more widely accepted by the world instead of faithfully proclaiming the Word of God “in season and out” as we are commanded to do in 2nd Timothy 4:2. The leaders of the new spirituality and its church growth movement have always had a hard time avoiding the “wide gate” and “broad way” choosing clever methods of “evangelism” that are not only incompatible with God’s Word, but also prove them unwilling to trust Him with the increase – ever looking for something more clever, spectacular and impressive to glory in and boast about to a watching world.

“…for men to search their own glory is not glory.” – Proverbs 25:27b

“So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.” – 1st Corinthians 3:7

There’s no better example of this than a recent story from The Baptist Standard where Christians are encouraged by a “veteran missionary” to employ what’s called “The Camel Method” to evangelize, where the Quran is used, instead of the Bible, to share Christ with Muslims – a method that reportedly utilizes “selected verses” and “doesn’t teach or lecture, but asks questions.”

Isn’t this exactly what dialectically trained facilitators have done for years in many seeker-sensitive and purpose driven churches to draw and hold large and diverse crowds of potential converts with a lot of non-offensive opinion sharing and relationship building in order to find common ground and greater tolerance for one another through compromise and group dynamics? That may be the agenda of global socialists at the United Nations, but it’s not the Bible’s agenda for Christians or the gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m sure the UN would have no problem with a program like this where sidelining biblical truths for a contrived unity is celebrated and syncretism is the spirituality of choice.

“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” – Proverbs 14:12

According to the report, missionary Kevin Greeson, who “has served 16 years with the Southern Baptist International Mission Board,” is “working to start Christian movements among Muslims in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal…” adding that “his goal focuses less on individual conversions and more on starting spiritual movements that will result in thousands of Muslims becoming followers of Christ.”

Greeson: “Our generation can’t afford to be satisfied or happy with winning one lost person to Christ. There are so many lost people, we can’t be happy with that.”

“…I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” – Luke 15:10

Certainly most Christians would like to see more than one person they witness to repent and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, but where in God’s Word are we commanded to “take up thy Quran” and “go ye into all the world and start a movement?” Sure it sounds lofty and high-minded in our Big Box culture where consumers like to impress each other and get the most for the least; but isn’t this more of an exercise in ecumenical egomania and spiritual sleight-of-hand than humble obedience to Jesus’ call to “take up thy cross” and “go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature?”

It’s alarming enough that the Bible is set aside with this method of “evangelism,” but it’s outright heresy that Jesus Christ is presented as the son of Allah, since Allah was widely recognized and worshipped as a pagan moon god even before there was a Mohammed.

How then can the truth set you free if it begins with a lie?

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – Isaiah 55:8-9

"WHAT I WILL I DO NOT PRACTICE"

2010-01-01T11:40:00.004-05:00

Romans 7 is Paul’s commentary on the 10th commandment (“you shall not covet). I believe God used the 10th commandment to “kill” the self-righteous Pharisee that Paul was before his conversion.

I understand this now. Before I was converted I believed the same thing. I came out of Roman Catholicism and was taught how to be righteous by keeping the Law. When I left that religious system I got mixed up in another religious system and was taught a mixed mess of evangelical Christianity. I believed that Jesus died for my sins. I had an intellectual understanding of what Jesus did on the cross. Unfortunately, I was still filled with a self-righteous spirit. Nothing really changed in me.

In Philippians 3, Paul states that before his conversion he considered himself “blameless.” ...concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (Philippians 3:6) And we know that changed for Paul on the road to Damascus. Like the rich young ruler, Paul the Pharisee could say, “I have kept all these (several of the earlier commandments) from my youth. …concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. (Luke 18:21).
Convicted by the Holy Spirit, Paul had to admit he was in violation of the 10th commandment. He was a dead sinner before his conversion.

But what about after conversion? The 10th commandment showed Paul that sin was “utterly sinful.” Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful. (Romans 7:13).
Thus begins Paul’s present tense discussion of his Christian life:

Romans 7:14, 15 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.

The New King James Version translates thelo as “will,” rather than “desire.” If that is correct, Paul is stating that he wills (decides) to not practice certain things but still ends up practicing them (specifically coveting). Granted, the Greek term thelo has a range of meaning that includes both “will” and “wish” or “desire.” Which does Paul intend here?

Consider that Paul is a passionate and motivated person. No one reading the New Testament would doubt that. Paul can mean, “I would like not to sin” or he can mean “I decide not to sin” which is the stronger meaning. It is hard to imagine Paul using the weaker term when describing his own motivation not to sin.

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” (Romans 7:7). Paul is discussing coveting. He uses the Greek word for “lust” or “strong desire.” After muddling around in the Greek translation of what Paul meant it comes out like this: “I desire not to strongly desire.” We can take that to mean “I have a weaker desire not to lust than I have to lust.” That would make sense. But is that what he means?

It makes sense this way: “I resolve (make a decision) not to lust, but I still have lust.”

Based on this I believe Paul’s use of thelo (used 7 times in Romans 7:15-21) to mean “to will.”

Romans 7: 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. 16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. 17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.

More to follow…

The Human Will...

2009-12-30T09:01:00.003-05:00

Some Christians believe that God is powerless to overcome the human will. Many evangelical Christians today believe that humans are fully able to obey God as they are; they just need to get motivated. Unfortunately, this includes how the gospel is presented today, how people are counseled, how sermons are preached, and how people think about sanctification. Psychology has found its way into the church and has become a requirement for students in bible colleges and seminaries.

What about overcoming sin? What about Paul’s lament in Romans 7? “What I will I do not practice…”

I believe the human will is powerless to overcome sin. The key to sanctification is not willpower, but rather the grace of God operating through the power of the Holy Spirit. Grace comes to us not from motivational books and sermons but through God’s ordained means of grace.

More on this topic later…

'AVATAR' and PAGANISM - Movie Review

2009-12-29T09:06:00.002-05:00

Living in this world and not being affected or infected by its culture is very difficult. We try to educate our friends and family as to the dangers lurking out there; and if your family is like mine, they often protest our warnings and poo-poo our efforts to warn them. This movie review popped into my e-mail box this morning, and I felt compelled to share it with you.

-by Andrew Strom.

'Avatar' is an enormous worldwide blockbuster movie - the first to use truly lifelike 3D - a huge leap forward that is sure to revolutionize the entire industry. I managed to see the movie in 3D this week, and like everyone I was utterly wowed by the lifelike 3D images and special effects. But there were some things about the film that truly disturbed me.

Maybe we should expect spiritual outrageousness from Hollywood by now. After all, they hardly seem to be able to make a spiritual statement in their movies without alienating every Christian in the audience. (They have been warned about this before. As Michael Medved has stated, Hollywood loses billions of dollars simply by offending Christians and church-goers - who number in the hundreds of millions in America). They often don't seem to care.

But Avatar takes this to a new extreme. Many critics have commented that it has a deeply pro-environmentalist message.
And indeed, it seems almost loaded with every touchy-feely New Age environmentalist theme that you can imagine. Some critics are calling it "Dances With Wolves in space." But it sure does look amazing - in fact, stunningly real. It truly is a work of art.

The futuristic story revolves around an ex-marine posted to a planet with rich mining deposits - who has to inhabit an alien "avatar"
body so he can infiltrate the local tribe that opposes the mining.
Thus he becomes one of these blue-colored humanoids.

Though the film's images are stunning audiences worldwide, the spirituality in it is at the far extreme of New Age. And it is not "subtle" either. It is a huge part of the story. More and more you see the "Gaia"-type 'Earth-goddess' stuff - plus pagan or wicca-like rituals - until half the film seems almost saturated with them.

As I said, most people have grown to expect this stuff from politically-correct and spiritually-weird Hollywood by now. But we are talking here about the most expensive ($300 million) and most revolutionary new film in history. Surely they have to be concerned that preaching such a message may lose them hundreds of millions of dollars in potential revenue? Apparently not.

It always strikes me as sad when these great breakthroughs in the arts fail to glorify the One who gave us creativity in the first place. And sadly, this is one of those times. And I guess that is why, even after the awe and wonder of seeing one of the greatest visual spectacles of our age, I left the theatre feeling pretty flat.
And I wonder how many others felt the same - even non-Christians.
I wonder how many left sensing there was something very wrong at the core of this story. I would guess it might be quite a few.
(There have been a lot of complaints about the storyline). Even many non-Christians may not like seeing the "Earth mother goddess" getting all the glory. Which is why I think this movie will never take top spot as the most-watched film in history - despite all the money spent on it. And also why I think the sequel will never earn the kind of money that they hope for.

Will Hollywood learn its lesson? I strongly doubt it.

A Quiet Heart

2009-12-12T09:18:00.002-05:00

In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)

I really need to read this one for myself everyday!
The following is Spurgeon's comments on Isaiah 30:15:

It is always weakness to be fretting and worrying, questioning and mis-trusting. What can we do if we wear ourselves to skin and bone? Can we gain anything by fearing and fuming? Do we not unfit ourselves for action and unhinge our minds for wise decision? We are sinking by our struggles when we might float by faith.

Oh, for grace to be quiet! Why run from house to house to repeat the weary story which makes us more and more heart-sick as we tell it? Why even stay at home to cry out in agony because of wretched forebodings which may never be fulfilled? It would be well to keep a quiet tongue, but it would be far better if we had a quiet heart. Oh, to be still and know that Jehovah is God!

Oh, for grace to be confident in God! The Holy One of Israel must defend and deliver His own. He cannot run back from His solemn declarations. We may make sure that every word of His will stand though the mountains should depart. He deserves to be confided in; and if we would display confidence and consequent quietness, we might be as happy as the spirits before the throne.

Come, my soul, return unto thy rest, and lean thy head upon the bosom of the Lord Jesus.

Gift of Strength; Peace to Bless

2009-12-07T07:52:00.003-05:00

The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace. (Psalm 29:11)

The storms of life, the troubles and fears that are present are nothing when we have the Lord of Glory! I think Spurgeon said it well when he wrote:

David had just heard the voice of the Lord in a thunderstorm and had seen His power in the hurricane whose path he had described; and now, in the cool calm after the storm, that overwhelming power by which heaven and earth are shaken is promised to be the strength of the chosen. He who wings the unerring bolt will give to His redeemed the wings of eagles; He who shakes the earth with His voice will terrify the enemies of His saints and give His children peace. Why are we weak when we have divine strength to flee to? Why are we troubled when the Lord's own peace is ours? Jesus, the mighty God, is our strength; let us put Him on and go forth to our service. Jesus, our blessed Lord, is also our peace; let us repose in Him this day and end our fears. What a blessing to have Him for our strength and peace both now and forever!

That same God who rides upon the storm in days of tempest will also rule the hurricane of our tribulation and send us, before long, days of peace. We shall have strength for storms and songs for fair weather. Let us begin to sing at once unto God, our strength and our peace. Away, dark thoughts! Up, faith and hope!

Covered and Protected

2009-12-05T08:42:00.003-05:00

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. (Psalm 91:4)

This psalm gives me comfort and puts a smile on my face when I picture those little chicks being nestled and comforted by their mother! Spurgeon says it best:

A condescending simile indeed! Just as a hen protects her brood and allows them to nestle under her wings, so will the Lord defend His people and permit them to hide away in Him. Have we not seen the little chicks peeping out from under the mother's feathers? Have we not heard their little cry of contented joy? In this way let us shelter ourselves in our God and feel overflowing peace in knowing that He is guarding us.

While the Lord covers us, we trust. It would be strange if we did not. How can we distrust when Jehovah Himself becomes house and home, refuge and rest to us?

This done, we go out to war in His name and enjoy the same guardian care. We need shield and buckler, and when we implicitly trust God, even as the chick trusts the hen, we find His truth arming us from head to foot. The Lord cannot lie; He must be faithful to His people; His promise must stand. This sure truth is all the shield we need. Behind it we defy the fiery darts of the enemy.

Come, my soul, hide under those great wings, lose thyself among those soft feathers! How happy thou art!

True Walking Posture

2009-12-01T08:14:00.004-05:00

He that walketh uprightly walketh surely. (Proverbs 10:9)

If there is any question in your mind about how to conduct yourself in the daily activities of life, try to keep in mind this proverb. Our daily walk is with our Lord, Jesus. We should model ourselves after Him and not the people of the world, whose focus is on their lives in this world. Spugeon says it this way:

His walk may be slow, but it is sure. He that hasteth to be rich shall not be innocent nor sure; but steady perseverance in integrity, if it does not bring riches, will certainly bring peace. In doing that which is just and right, we are like one walking upon a rock, for we have confidence that every step we take is upon solid and safe ground. On the other hand, the utmost success through questionable transactions must always be hollow and treacherous, and the man who has gained it must always be afraid that a day of reckoning will come, and then his gains will condemn him.

Let us stick to truth and righteousness. By God's grace let us imitate our Lord and Master, in whose mouth no deceit was ever found. Let us not be afraid of being poor, nor of being treated with contempt. Never, on any account whatever, let us do that which our conscience cannot justify. If we lose inward peace, we lose more than a fortune can buy. If we keep in the Lord's own way and never sin against our conscience, our way is sure against all comers. Who is he that can harm us if we be followers of that which is good? We may be thought fools by fools if we are firm in our integrity; but in the place where judgment is infallible we shall be approved.

The Supremacy of Jesus Christ

2009-11-29T10:55:00.004-05:00

"He will glorify Me..." (John 16:14)

The New Testament example of the Christian experience is that of a personal, passionate devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ. Every other kind of so-called Christian experience is detached from the Person of Jesus. There is no regeneration--no being born again into the kingdom in which Christ lives and reigns supreme. There is only the idea that He is our pattern.

In the New Testament Jesus Christ is the Savior long before He is the pattern. Today He is being portrayed as the figurehead of a religion--a mere example. He is that, but He is infititely more. He is salvation itself; He is the gospel of God!

Jesus said, "...when He, the Spirit of truth, has come,... He will glorify Me..." (John 16:13-14)

When I commit myself to the revealed truth of the New Testament, I receive from God the gift of the Holy Spirit, who then begins interpreting to me what Jesus did. The Spirit of God does in me internally all that Jesus Christ did for me externally.

Know How to Wait

2009-11-29T10:12:00.002-05:00

He that believeth shall not make haste. (Isaiah 28:16)

He shall make haste to keep the Lord's commandments; but he shall not make haste in any impatient or improper sense.

He shall not haste to run away, for he shall not be overcome with the fear which causes panic. When others are flying hither and thither as if their wits had failed them, the believer shall be quiet, calm, and deliberate, and so shall be able to act wisely in the hour of trial.

He shall not haste in his expectations, craving his good things at once and on the spot, but he will wait God's time. Some are in a desperate hurry to have the bird in the hand, for they regard the Lord's promise as a bird in the bush, not likely to be theirs. Believers know how to wait.

He shall not haste by plunging into wrong or questionable action. Unbelief must be doing something, and thus it works its own undoing; but faith makes no more haste than good speed, and thus it is not forced to go back sorrowfully by the way which it followed heedlessly.

How is it with me? Am I believing, and am I therefore keeping to the believer's pace, which is walking with God? Peace, fluttering spirit! Oh, rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him! Heart, see that thou do this at once!

The Blood of the Lamb

2009-11-28T08:56:00.003-05:00

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. Rev. 12:11

The holiness movements of today have none of the rugged reality of the New Testament about them. There is nothing about them that needs the death of Jesus Christ. All that is required is a pious atmosphere, prayer, and devotion.

This type of experience is not supernatural nor miraculous. It did not cost the sufferings of God, nor is it stained with "the blood of the Lamb" Rev. 12:11.

It is not marked or sealed by the Holy Spirit as being genuine, and it has no visual sign that causes people to exclaim with awe and wonder, "That is the work of God Almighty!"

Yet the New Testament is about the work of God and nothing else.

Rest in All Thy Goings

2009-11-27T10:02:00.002-05:00

And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. (Exodus 33:14)

Precious promise! Lord, enable me to appropriate it as all my own.

We must go at certain times from our abode, for here we have no continuing city. It often happens that when we feel most at home in a place, we are suddenly called away from it. Here is the antidote for this ill. The Lord Himself will keep us company. His presence, which includes His favor, His fellowship, His care, and His power, shall be ever with us in every one of our marchings. This means far more than it says; for, in fact, it means all things. If we have God present with us, we have possession of heaven and earth. Go with me, Lord, and then command me where Thou wilt!

But we hope to find a place of rest. The text promises it. We are to have rest of God's own giving, making, and preserving. His presence will cause us to rest even when we are on the march, yea, even in the midst of battle. Rest! Thrice blessed word. Can it ever be enjoyed by mortals? Yes, there is the promise, and by faith we plead it. Rest comes from the Comforter, from the Prince of Peace, and from the glorious Father who rested on the seventh day from all His works. To be with God is to rest in the most emphatic sense.

Be Thankful For Suffering

2009-11-26T13:32:00.001-05:00

As Thanksgiving approaches once again, I am reminded of so many people who are learning to be thankful despite their suffering. However I want to encourage them to go one better — I believe we can even learn to be thankful for suffering.

It is a common response to question God’s goodness when we endure hardships — whether physical limitations, illness, job loss, the death of a loved one, you name it.

When I hear the question, Where is God? I am reminded of something I’ve learned through the years. God doesn’t say, Into each life a little rain must fall, and then turn a fire hose on the earth to see who gets the wettest. On the contrary, He screens the trials that come at us, always erecting invisible fences around the enemy’s fury and bringing ultimate good out of wickedness.

I wonder, how does He pull it off? I realize that we are a world of finite humans trying to comprehend an infinite God. What is clear is that God permits lots of things He doesn’t approve of. That fact doesn’t sit well with us, but think of the alternative. Imagine a God who insisted on a hands-off policy toward the evil barreling our way. The world would be much, much worse than it is. Evil would be uncontrolled. But thank God He curbs it.

Please know I’m no expert. There are days I wake up and think, I can’t do this. I have no resources for this. I can’t face another day dealing with total paralysis. But that’s when I plead, Lord, you have the resources I lack. I can’t do this, but you can. And He does.

The truly handicapped among us are those who start their mornings on automatic cruise control, without needing God. But He gives strength to all who cry to Him for help. So who are the weak and needy? Who are those who need this help? A brief pause in the dark shadows of recent events always allows the point to come home. It’s you and me.

These can be scary times in which we live. Never have the lines between the forces of darkness and light, of good and evil, seemed so clear. Never has the world, battered and bruised as it is, seemed so vulnerable, so fragile, so unsafe. In the years since Sept. 11, 2001, and through the last two years of our shaky economy, something has become clear to me. It was something I sensed was just ahead, something that began to appear on the horizon and that grew with each day, with each hug shared, with each word of encouragement spoken.

I’d been given eyes to see . . . an adventure.

In the long shadow cast by my wheelchair —the 43 years of my paralysis —I’ve been granted the privilege of living at such a time. No greater shadow has ever been cast in earth’s history. Today after Sept. 11 and the economic meltdown, humanity seems to have taken an on-ramp to an ever-broadening highway. It is a chance to remember the world’s most vulnerable — the disabled —while power brokers shift the planet’s levers and gears.

It is an opportunity – indeed, a gift – to witness the unfolding plan of a gracious God who draws near to the weak, stays close to the afflicted, and always seems bigger to those who need him most. It is an even larger, greater on-ramp to adventure.

And my wheelchair is taking me there.

God’s “no” answer to my physical healing more than 40 years ago was a “yes” to a deeper healing—a better one. His answer bound me to other believers and taught me so much about myself. It has purged sin from my life, it has strengthened my commitment to Him, forced me to depend on His grace. His wiser, deeper answer has stretched my hope, refined my faith, and helped me to know Him better.

So I thank Him, not despite His answer, but for it. For the wiser choice, the better answer, the harder yet richer path. I thank Him for showing me that there are more important things in life than walking.

Joni Eareckson Tada is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Joni and Friends, a Christian ministry to the disability community. After a diving accident in 1967 left her a quadriplegic, she has become an internationally known Christian author and radio host.

No Condemnation

2009-11-22T08:26:00.002-05:00

In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve. (Jeremiah 50:20)

Folks, please take note that in no way does the following say anything about a "license to sin." Because of the many false doctrines being put forth today, some people will read into this post that it's okay to do whatever pleases you without regard to the Holy God we serve. It does not say that at all!

If you read in Colossians 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Notice that verse 23 says: "IF INDEED YOU CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, GROUNDED AND STEADFAST, AND ARE NOT MOVED AWAY FROM THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL WHICH YOU HEARD..."

A glorious word indeed! What a perfect pardon is here promised to the sinful nations of Israel and Judah! Sin is to be so removed that it shall not be found, so blotted out that there shall be none. Glory be unto the God of pardons!

Satan seeks out sins wherewith to accuse us, our enemies seek them that they may lay them to our charge, and our own conscience seeks them even with a morbid eagerness. But when the Lord applies the precious blood of Jesus, we fear no form of search, for "there shall be none"; "they shall not be found." The Lord hath caused the sins of His people to cease to be: He hath finished transgression and made an end of sin. The sacrifice of Jesus has cast our sins into the depths of the sea. This makes us dance for joy.

The reason for the obliteration of sin lies in the fact that Jehovah Himself pardons His chosen ones. His word of grace is not only royal but divine. He speaks absolution, and we are absolved. He applies the atonement, and from that hour His people are beyond all fear of condemnation. Blessed be the name of the sin-annihilating God!

The Outward, Upward Look

2009-11-21T09:06:00.003-05:00

Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:22)

Why settle for what we can provide for ourselves. Our God has provided so much more for us. He has given us Eternal Life!

Charles Spurgeon wrote the following:

This is a promise of promises. It lies at the foundation of our spiritual life. Salvation comes through a look at Him who is "a just God and a Saviour." How simple is the direction! "Look unto me." How reasonable is the requirement! Surely the creature should look to the Creator. We have looked elsewhere long enough; it is time that we look alone to Him who invites our expectation and promises to give us His salvation.

Only a look! Will we not look at once? We are to bring nothing in ourselves but to look outward and upward to our Lord on His throne, whither He has gone up from the cross. A look requires no preparation, no violent effort: it needs neither wit nor wisdom, wealth nor strength. All that we need is in the Lord our God, and if we look to Him for everything, that everything shall be ours, and we shall be saved.

Come, far-off ones, look hither! Ye ends of the earth, turn your eyes this way! As from the furthest regions men may see the sun and enjoy his light, so you who lie in death's borders at the very gates of hell may by a look receive the light of God, the life of heaven, the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God and therefore able to save.

Limitless Riches

2009-11-15T08:53:00.002-05:00

My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

Paul's God is our God and will supply all our need. Paul felt sure of this in reference to the Philippians, and we feel sure of it as to ourselves. God will do it, for it is like Him: He loves us, He delights to bless us, and it will glorify Him to do so. His pity, His power, His love, His faithfulness, all work together that we be not famished.

What a measure doth the Lord go by: "According to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." The riches of His grace are large, but what shall we say of the riches of His glory? His "riches of glory by Christ Jesus"-who shall form an estimate of this? According to this immeasurable measure will God fill up the immense abyss of our necessities. He makes the Lord Jesus the receptacle and the channel of His fullness, and then He imparts to us His wealth of love in its highest form. Hallelujah!

The writer knows what it is to be tried in the work of the Lord. Fidelity has been recompensed with anger, and liberal givers have stopped their subscriptions; but he whom they sought to oppress has not been one penny the nay, rather he has been the richer; for this promise has been true, "My God shall supply all your need." God's supplies are surer than any bank.

The Lord's Free Men & Women

2009-11-11T07:27:00.003-05:00

For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:14)

Sin will reign if it can: it cannot be satisfied with any place below the throne of the heart. We sometimes fear that it will conquer us, and then we cry unto the Lord, "Let not any iniquity have dominion over me. This is His comforting answer: "Sin shall not have dominion over you. " It may assail you and even wound you, but it shall never establish sovereignty over you.

If we were under the law, our sin would gather strength and hold us under its power; for it is the punishment of sin that a man comes under the power of sin. As we are under the covenant of grace, we are secured against departing from the living God by the sure declaration of the covenant. Grace is promised to us by which we are restored from our wanderings, cleansed from our impurities, and set free from the chains of habit.

We must lie down in despair and be "content to serve the Egyptians" if we were still as slaves working for eternal life; but since we are the Lord's free men, we take courage to fight with our corruptions and temptations, being assured that sin shall never bring us under its sway again. God Himself giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Behold Your King

2009-11-09T12:02:00.000-05:00

Necessary Knowledge

2009-11-09T08:55:00.002-05:00

Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are my people, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 34:30)

To be the Lord's own people is a choice blessing, but to know that we are such is a comfortable blessing. It is one thing to hope that God is with us and another thing to know that He is so. Faith saves us, but assurance satisfies us. We take God to be our God when we believe in Him; but we get the joy of Him when we know that He is ours and that we are His. No believer should be content with hoping and trusting; he should ask the Lord to lead him on to full assurance, so that matters of hope may become matters of certainty.

It is when we enjoy covenant blessings and see our Lord Jesus raised up for us as a plant of renown that we come to a clear knowledge of the favor of God toward us. Not by law, but by grace do we learn that we are the Lord's people. Let us always turn our eyes in the direction of free grace. Assurance of faith can never come by the works of the law. It is an evangelical virtue and can only reach us in a gospel way. Let us not look within. Let us look to the Lord alone. As we see Jesus we shall see our salvation.

Lord, send us such a flood-tide of Thy love that we shall be washed beyond the mire of doubt and fear.

In God's Time

2009-11-03T10:07:00.003-05:00

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. (Habakkuk 2:3)

Mercy may seem slow, but it is sure. The Lord in unfailing wisdom has appointed a time for the outgoing of His gracious power, and God's time is the best time. We are in a hurry; the vision of the blessings excites our desire and hastens our longings; but the Lord will keep His appointments. He never is before His time; He never is behind.

God's word is here spoken of as a living thing which will speak and will come. It is never a dead letter, as we are tempted to fear when we have long watched for its fulfillment. The living word is on the way from the living God, and though it may seem to linger, it is not in reality doing so. God's train is not behind time. It is only a matter of patience, and we shall soon see for ourselves the faithfulness of the Lord. No promise of His shall fail; "it will not lie." No promise of His will be lost in silence; "it shall speak." What comfort it will speak to the believing ear! No promise of His shall need to be renewed like a bill which could not be paid on the day in which it fell due-"it will not tarry."

Come, my soul, canst thou not wait for thy God? Rest in Him and be still in unutterable peacefulness.

Heavenly Wealth

2009-11-02T07:48:00.003-05:00

No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)

Many pleasing things the Lord may withhold but "no good thing." He is the best judge of what is good for us. Some things are assuredly good, and these we may have for the asking through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Holiness is a good thing, and this He will work in us freely. Victory over evil tendencies, strong tempers, and evil habits He will gladly grant, and we ought not to remain without it.
Full assurance He will bestow, and near communion with Himself, and access into all truth, and boldness with prevalence at the mercy seat. If we have not these, it is from want of faith to receive and not from any unwillingness of God to give. A calm, a heavenly frame, great patience, and fervent love--all these will He give to holy diligence.

But note well that we must "walk uprightly." There must be no cross purposes and crooked dealings; no hypocrisy nor deceit. If we walk foully God cannot give us favors, for that would be a premium upon sin. The way of uprightness is the way of heavenly wealth-wealth so large as to include every good thing.

What a promise to plead in prayer! Let us get to our knees.

Perfection and Preservation

2009-11-01T09:17:00.002-05:00

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23 and 24)

What will He do? He will sanctify us wholly. See verse 23. He will carry on the work of purification till we are perfect in every part. He will preserve our "whole spirit, and soul, and body, blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." He will not allow us to fall from grace, nor come under the dominion of sin. What great favors are these! Well may we adore the giver of such unspeakable gifts.

Who will do this? The Lord who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light, out of death in sin into eternal life in Christ Jesus. Only He can do this: such perfection and preservation can only come from the God of all grace.

Why will He do it? Because He is "faithful"--faithful to His own promise which is pledged to save the believer; faithful to His Son, whose reward it is that His people shall he presented to Him faultless, faithful to the work which He has commenced in us by our effectual calling. It is not their own faithfulness but the Lord's own faithfulness on which the saints rely.

Come, my soul, here is a grand feast to begin a dull month with. There may be fogs without, but there should be sunshine within.

Impulsiveness or Discipleship?

2009-10-21T07:23:00.004-04:00

It never ceases to amaze me how the Lord knows me better than I know myself.

I was reading this morning in Oswald Chamber's book "My Utmost for His Highest". I am a few days behind for the daily reading and I haven't had a chance to catch up yet. I decided to open to today's reading and the words seemed to jump off the page and into my heart.

"Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God. Walking on water is easy to someone with impulsive boldness (confidence), but walking on dry land as a disciple of Jesus Christ is something altogether different. Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus, but he "followed Him at a distance" on dry land. But Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he sat with the servants and warmed himself at the fire. (Mark 15:54).

We do not need the grace of God to withstand crises...human nature and pride are sufficient for us to face the stress and strain magnificently. But it does require the supernatural grace of God to live twenty-four hours of every day as a saint, going through drudgery, and living an ordinary, unnoticed, and ignored existence as a disciple of Jesus.

It is ingrained in us that we have to do exceptional things for God...but we do not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things of life, and holy on the ordinary streets, among ordinary people...and this is not learned in five minutes."

I spent last evening with a small group "bible" study. There was a woman there who just wanted to talk and talk and talk. She outright admitted that she did not read her bible every day and had no such desire to do so. She also said that she didn't understand it when she did read it. But she was constantly pointing her finger at us and accusing us of being intolerant of other's beliefs.

My first impulse was to tell her that she was doing the exact same thing that she was accusing the group of doing. She was being intolerant of us. I wanted to be "bold" and tell her a thing or two of what the word of God says. But I bit my tongue and sat there silent and let the leader handle the situation. I woke up in the wee hours this morning thinking back on the events of the night before and asking the Lord if I reacted the way He would have me react. I got my answer in the reading for today!

One with Christ Jesus

2009-10-16T08:05:00.002-04:00

Because I live, ye shall live also. (John 14:19)

Jesus has made the life of believers in Him as certain as His own. As sure as the Head lives the members live also. If Jesus has not risen from the dead, then are we dead in our sins; but since He has risen, all believers are risen in Him. His death has put away our transgressions and loosed the bonds which held us under the death sentence. His resurrection proves our justification: we are absolved, and mercy saith, "The Lord hath put away thy sin, thou shalt not die."

Jesus has made the life of His people as eternal as His own. How can they die as long as He lives, seeing they are one with Him? Because He dieth no more, and death hath no more dominion over Him, so they shall no more return to the graves of their old sins but shall live unto the Lord in newness of life. O believer, when, under great temptation, thou fearest that thou shalt one day fall by the hand of the enemy, let this reassure thee. Thou shalt never lose thy spiritual life, for it is hid with Christ in God. Thou dost not doubt the immortality of thy Lord; therefore, do not think that He will let thee die, since thou art one with Him. The argument for thy life is His life, and of that thou canst have no fear; wherefore rest in thy living Lord.

2009-09-27T08:49:00.002-04:00

For thou wilt light my candle. (Psalm 18:28)

It may be that my soul sits in darkness; and if this be of a spiritual kind, no human power can bring me light. Blessed be God! He can enlighten my darkness and at once light my candle. Even though I may be surrounded by a "darkness which might be felt," yet He can break the gloom and immediately make it bright around me.
The mercy is that if He lights the candle none can blow it out, neither will it go out for lack of substance, nor burn out of itself through the lapse of hours. The lights which the Lord kindled in the beginning are shining still. The Lord's lamps may need trimming, but He does not put them out.

Let me, then, like the nightingale sing in the dark. Expectation shall furnish me with music, and hope shall pitch the tune. Soon I shall rejoice in a candle of God's lighting. I am dull and dreary just now. Perhaps it is the weather, or bodily weakness, or the surprise of a sudden trouble; but whatever has made the darkness, it is God alone who will bring the light. My eyes are unto Him alone. I shall soon have the candles of the Lord shining about me; and, further on in His own good time, I shall be where they need no candle, neither light of the sun. Hallelujah!

Among the Redeemed

2009-09-26T13:10:00.003-04:00

Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be redeemed among the nations. (Numbers 23:9)

Who would wish to dwell among the nations and to be numbered with them? Why, even the professing church is such that to follow the Lord fully within its bounds is very difficult. There is such a mingling and mixing that one often sighs for "a lodge in some vast wilderness."
Certain it is that the Lord would have His people follow a separated path as to the world and come out decidedly and distinctly from it. We are set apart by the divine decree, purchase, and calling, and our inward experience has made us greatly to differ from men of the world; and therefore our place is not in their Vanity Fair, nor in their City of Destruction, but in the narrow way where all true pilgrims must follow their Lord.

This may not only reconcile us to the world's cold shoulder and sneers but even cause us to accept them with pleasure as being a part of our covenant portion. Our names are not in the same book, we are not of the same seed, we are not bound for the same place, neither are we trusting to the same guide; therefore it is well that we are not of their number. Only let us be found in the number of the redeemed, and we are content to be off and solitary to the end of the chapter.

THE SEEDS OF APOSTASY

2009-09-23T10:57:00.004-04:00

THE SEEDS of APOSTASY
-by Paul Holdren.

John Wesley recounted that within every revival were the seeds
of apostasy. By this he meant that with revival came righteousness,
with righteousness came favor, with favor came prosperity, and with
prosperity came the temptation to self-reliance. The temptation of
self-reliance is the first step away from God. It is sad that people
are willing to serve the illusion of prosperity by means of self-reliance.

As Americans we can definitely see how this insight fits our country.
Our land was birthed with the ideal that a nation should have the
freedom to worship the true and living God according to one’s
conscience. The Almighty had blessed our nation with righteousness.
With righteousness came national favor, with favor came prosperity,
and now we, as a nation, bear the burdens of decline resulting from
our own self-reliance. As American Christians we can see how the
Spirit of the Lord could speak of a church that sees itself as
“increased of goods and have need of nothing” Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—(Rev. 3:17).

When idolatry’s seed of self-reliance yields its crop of perversion,
poverty, and struggle—many who claim to be worshippers of
Almighty God will turn to other gods. These gods are the gods
which originate in the satanically manipulated carnal heart. These
gods are conceived in the human imagination and constructed by
human hands. These gods of imagery are bombarding Americans
now, seducing us in a downward spiral of the media’s ongoing
promotion of abomination against God.

Our present “it’s the economy” or “it’s health care” politicians have
replaced Jeremiah’s prosperity prophets, giving us a false sense of
security by proclaiming blessing and peace upon the land. Our
“soft-sell” preachers are proclaiming health and wealth, while the
glory is preparing to depart from our places of worship. “Change
that makes a difference” will not come by the hands of men.
“Change that will make a difference” will only come when we cast
our idols down at the foot of the cross.

Where are the believers like Ezekiel today? Where are the watchmen
on the wall of a nation’s destiny—crying out that the enemy is
coming, that the glory is lifting, and that God is turning His back?
Political correctness tells us not to speak in such a manner.
Religious convenience tells us not to prophecy such, for the people
have ears that need to be tickled. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; (II Tim 4:3). As passionate believers,
we cannot help but speak a word of warning. As passionate oracles
of the truth, we must speak the promise of restoration grace in
order that many may be given the opportunity to cast down their
idols and return to the God of our fathers.

The Safest Shelter

2009-09-19T09:13:00.003-04:00

A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, and a cover from the tempest. (Isaiah 32:2)

Who this Man is we all know. Who could He be but the Second Man, the Lord from heaven, the man of sorrows, the Son of Man? What a hiding place He has been to His people! He bears the full force of the wind Himself, and so He shelters those who hide themselves in Him.

We have thus escaped the wrath of God, and we shall thus escape the anger of men, the cares of this life, and the dread of death. Why do we stand in the wind when we may so readily and so surely get out of it by hiding behind our Lord? Let us this day run to Him and be at peace.

Whenever I let my mind wonder off and away from Christ I find myself drifting back to the "old man's" way of thinking. Self rises up and floods my mind with things that I thought were long ago dead and buried. If you want victory in your life you must train yourself to recognize these times when your focus gets directed away from Christ and back on to your life and the worries and cares associated with it. I found a good way to redirect myself back to Jesus is simply to start thinking about Him. It's amazing how the worries of life seem to just melt away. It also helps to get His word into your heart and mind. The Lord Jesus is truly our hiding place and a shelter from the things of this world.

Often the common wind of trouble rises in its force and becomes a tempest, sweeping everything before it. Things which looked firm and stable rock in the blast, and many and great are the falls among our worldly supports.

Our Lord Jesus, the glorious man, is a cover which is never blown down. In Him we mark the tempest sweeping by, but we ourselves rest in delightful serenity.

This day let us just stow ourselves away in our hiding place and sit and sing under the protection of our Cover. Blessed Jesus! Blessed Jesus! How we love Thee! Well we may, for Thou art to us a cover in the time of storm.

The Wise and Foolish Virgins

2009-09-14T11:08:00.008-04:00

Matthew 25: 1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming;[a] go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour[b] in which the Son of Man is coming.

I have rewritten this post for a better understanding:

Notice that the ten virgins each had a lamp and they were expecting to meet the bridegroom. Jesus said that five were foolish and those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them. The wise took oil in their vessels (vessel: container, receptacle, a pail, a reservoir) with their lamps. Foolish had lamps, no oil. Wise had lamps plus oil in their vessels.

When the bridegroom was delayed, they all fell asleep. I am assuming they were inside a house sleeping and not alongside the road. Therefore, if they were asleep in a house, they did not need to have their lamps lit. (It doesn't say they were in a house, but it makes sense that they wouldn't be sleeping out in the road and it was the custom of the day that they would gather at the bride's house to wait for the groom.)

Here comes the groom! They arose and trimmed their lamps (adjust the wick and fill with oil). The foolish virgins couldn't keep theirs lit because they had no oil. The wise virgins had oil in their vessels so they were ready when the bridegroom came.

The oil is a symbol of the life of Christ in you.

"To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 2:27)

Have Thine Own Way, Lord!

2009-09-10T09:32:00.006-04:00

Today is the 147th anniversary of the birth of the woman who wrote this hymn. If you would like to read more about her, please check out Robert's blog on Hymn History!

http://practicalbiblicalinsight.blogspot.com/2009/06/hymn-history-my-jesus-i-love-thee.html

The woman who penned those words was an itinerant Bible teacher
who was discouraged because she didn't have the funds to make
a missionary journey to Africa. She found great comfort when she
put all her plans and desires on the altar and freshly surrendered
to God's will for her life. The song that sprung from her anguish
blessed millions, but today it has lost its popularity because we
simply don't relate.

The message of consecration has been lost these days.
It is not enough to know Christian doctrines or to paint a nice
Christian veneer on the surface of our lives. God wants our hearts.
We must embrace the cross daily. It is not enough to simply avoid
the sins that our Christian culture says are the "worst"; just as Abraham offered his son Isaac on the altar at Mount Moriah, those who claim to follow Christ should go to the place of self-sacrifice. Mount Moriah, as another Christian writer, (1890)A. B. Simpson wrote, "signifies the deeper
spiritual experience into which the fully consecrated person must
come. In this act of obedience, the sanctified self is laid on the
altar just as Isaac was."

We must also allow God's knife to slay the pride, the self-will, the self-
confidence and the self-glorification that our backslidden Christian
culture encourages.

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the potter, I am the clay;
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Hold o'er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see
Christ only, always, living in me.

2009-09-08T10:38:00.003-04:00

This is quite a statement, (1 John 2:28) "...because as He is, so are we in this world."

This statement implies to me that we are to be like Jesus in this world. The first part of this verse says, "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment;"

The mature expression of perfected love v. 12, ("No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.") produces confidence as a Christian anticipates Jesus' judgment of the world. A person who abides in love will not be ashamed when Jesus returns.

Paul said that he was gripped by the love of God and that is why he acted as he did. People could perceive him as crazy or sane -- he did not care. There was only one thing he lived for -- to persuade people of the coming judgment of God and to tell them of "the love of Christ." This total surrender to the "love of Christ" is the only thing that will bear fruit in your life. and it will always leave the mark of God's holiness and His power, never drawing attention to your personal holiness.

2009-09-07T09:35:00.003-04:00

Did you know that you can walk like Jesus walked in this world?

In 1 John 2:6 it says, "He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked."

Abiding is habitual obedience. It has the idea of settling down in Christ or resting in Him. It is evidenced by a life modeled after Christ. The phrase "ought to walk" is an admonition to live by the teaching of Jesus which reveals that this conformity comes from us.

Slaves must follow the commands of their masters or they will be punished. Employees need to do their work to keep their jobs. However, the Christian as a child of God ought to obey God because of a sincere desire to do so. It should be a joy to follow in the footsteps of the One who died for us.

(Webster's definition of the word "ought" is defined as a moral obligation or a duty).

A Promise For Those Who Seek God

2009-09-06T14:38:00.001-04:00

Rivers of Life

2009-09-05T17:10:00.006-04:00

"He who believes in Me...out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38)

Jesus said that, if we have received His fullness, "rivers of living water" will flow out of us, reaching in blessing even "to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Just think about that for a minute. You don't see the effects of this promise right now. And we really have nothing to do with this outflow because "This is the work of God that you believe in Him whom He sent" (John 6:29).

God doesn't always allow us to see how great a blessing we are to others.

Rivers are amazing to behold! A river is a persistent stream of water, overcoming all barriers. It goes steadily on its course until it comes to an obstacle. For a while the river is blocked, but eventually it will make a pathway around the obstacle. The river might drop out of sight for a while and then show up in another place even greater and stronger than before.

When we experience difficulties in our lives we get discouraged and sometimes dwell on the difficulty or obstacle that has appeared. It is at these times that we must pay attention to the Source, and God will either take you around the obstacle or remove it. The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles.

We must never focus our eyes on the obstacle or the difficulty. The obstacle means nothing to the river that will flow steadily through us if we will simply remember to stay focused on the Source. You must never allow anything to come between you and Jesus Christ. That includes emotions and experiences. Nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source.

Think of the healing and far-reaching rivers developing and nourishing themselves in our souls! God has been opening up wonderful truths to our minds, and every point He has opened up is another indication of the wider power of the river that He will flow through us. If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has developed and nourished in you mighty, rushing rivers of blessing for others.

(Source: My Utmost For His Highest)

Makers of H1N1 Vaccine Refuse To Take It

2009-09-04T15:46:00.002-04:00

Makers of the H1N1 vaccination are refusing to take it, and urging their friends and family to do the same. But what if Uncle Obama comes knocking on your door, National Guard in tow, wanting to force you and you family to take it? Um, no thanks.

The Perfect Righteousness of Christ

2009-09-03T16:05:00.003-04:00

God has provided a perfect divine righteousness for the sinner who believes what God has revealed in His Word.

The believing sinner stands before God, not in his own self-righteousness which in reality is no righteousness, but in the very righteousness of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is utterly holy and without sin because He is God. He is intrinsically righteous. Jesus always did what was pleasing to the Father (John 8:29b; 4:34; 5:30; 6:38). No one could ever prove Him guilty of unrighteousness (Jn. 8:46a). He is the one exception in history; He was absolutely sinless (Matt. 17:5; Jn. 12:28; 1 Pet. 2:22-23).

Moreover, Jesus is also perfectly righteous by His obedience to the law of God. He “fulfilled all righteousness” (Matt. 3:14-15).

Jesus lived a perfect life of obedience to the Law of God. He dotted every "i" and crossed every "t." In no manner did He fail to keep the Jewish law. No other individual has ever completely and absolutely fulfilled the law.

Not only did Jesus fulfill the law personally, but because He was deity He could therefore pay the full penalty demanded by the law for those who had failed to complete it. He paid the penalty in full. The law demanded the death penalty for all who broke it. "The wages of sin is death." "The soul that sins will surely die." Jesus paid this penalty not because He had broken it, but as a substitute for those who had failed. Jesus did not die for His own sins. He died as our representative for sin. He took your guilt and mine upon Himself, and He bore its punishment. The penalty of the law was measured out upon Him. Jesus fulfilled the law completely, actively and passively, positively and negatively. Therefore there is nothing further the law can demand because He has satisfied all its demands upon the sinner.

Now this is the very righteousness of Christ that God gives to sinners who repent and put their faith in Christ. The utterly amazing thing is He gives it freely, apart from any works or merits on our part. Because we are so sinful, everything we touch is contaminated by our moral and spiritual depravity. The perfect righteousness of Christ stands in stark contrast to our unrighteousness and condemns us. It condemns our attitudes and actions. We stand utterly condemned by His holy presence. “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God” (Rom. 3:10). Our own self-righteousness is worthless and condemns us. “There is no one who does good, not even one” is God’s judgment against sinful man.

The good news from God is that He has provided the righteousness of Jesus Christ as a gift to the believer. Faith is the channel by which the sinner receives the righteousness of Christ. God’s gift is “the righteousness that is by faith from first to last.” “The righteous person will live by faith” (Rom. 1:17; Hab. 2:4).

God imputes the righteousness of Jesus Christ to the sinner. That is the way He makes application of the righteousness of Christ to us. Spurgeon said that it is like putting the infinite moral capital of the Lord Jesus in our empty bank account. God takes the riches of heaven’s storehouse and puts them at our disposal. The way He makes it available to us is by faith.

What is faith? It is a resting in Christ and His saving work for us. Faith is not work. Faith is going to God with open hands and receiving the righteousness God gives freely.

C. H. Spurgeon wrote in All of Grace, “Faith is not a blind thing; for faith begins with knowledge. It is not a speculative thing; for faith believes facts of which it is sure. It is not an unpractical, dreamy thing; for faith trusts, and stakes its destiny upon the truth of revelation. Faith is the eye which looks. Faith is the hand which grasps. Faith is the mouth which feeds upon Christ.”

It is this simple trusting in Christ that gives us a right standing in the presence of a holy and righteous God.

Do you stand in a perfect relationship with God? Do you have peace in your heart because you know you are in Christ? Are you trusting in your self-righteous good works and religious accomplishments, or in the righteousness of Christ alone?

WAS GOD IN THE WHIRLWIND?

2009-08-24T10:47:00.006-04:00

The tornado has also reportedly damaged Central Lutheran Church in downtown Minneapolis.
A witness at the church said, "We saw the tornado, it was turning, real fast, it got real black out here and had the trees coming to us on the left, the windows were shaking real bad and all this stuff across the street in the church, they had a little dinner there, it tore it all up, and it was just lifting off the ground. And it just disappeared. It just disappeared."

WAS GOD IN THE WHIRLWIND?
By Jan Markell

My home state of Minnesota has lots of lakes, bitter cold, and Lutherans. Over 150 years ago, Scandinavians targeted this state and its climate, perhaps because it resembled their homeland. Ironically, the fathers and grandfathers of today's Lutherans left Sweden back then because they saw corruption and bad doctrine within Lutheranism in Scandinavia. But these Lutheran immigrants built Bible-believing churches for future generations. No doubt they would be crushed at such a culmination of apostasy in recent years.

Wednesday, August 19, was an average day. It was cool with not enough humidity to stir up a storm. No unusual weather patterns were forecast in the Twin Cities' metro area. As I was out driving, there were no tornado sirens. It was going to be a memorable day, nonetheless.

During the week, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was holding its annual convention in downtown Minneapolis. Attendees were using the facilities of the Minneapolis Convention Center and Central Lutheran Church which is directly across the street. At this year's convention, a blatant pro-homosexual position validating "chaste" same-sex relationships was to be voted on. It was to be voted on at 2 PM on Wednesday, August 19.

Then for the first time in decades, a tornado touched down in downtown Minneapolis at, you guessed it, 2 pm. The tornado went through the western section of downtown, causing damage to the Central Lutheran Church building, which was being used as a central meeting place for the convention. There was extensive roof damage at the Minneapolis Convention Center where the actual conference was assembled as well as votes on same-sex issues were actually cast. The church steeple on top of Central Lutheran Church was struck and split in two. It was left hanging upside down. The church was built in 1929 and certainly has had no tornado activity near it to date.

Meteorologists agree that such activity in a downtown area is extremely rare. Many could not recall when this had last happened to an area of structural cement rather than suburban homes or rural areas.

The vote was delayed past 2 PM but it did pass that same day. It passed by just one vote and it acknowledged the validity of same-sex relationships that are "chaste, monogamous and lifelong." There was a whirlwind outside of the convention center and inside -- to the degree that one person said, "We trust that the weather is not a commentary on our work." Conservatives in the ELCA, also observing the weather aberration, said it could have been a warning from God and an expression of His anger.

The ELCA went on to vote two days later to allow homosexuals to serve as pastors. If the tornado was a warning from God -- and we don't know that it was, but one could make a case for it -- those voting for abomination didn't get the message.

While we have no final word from God as to whether He sent the tornado, we can observe how God treated rebellious people and nations throughout the Old Testament who would not turn away from sin. If God didn't send the whirlwind, He did allow it. A holy God never approves of sanctioning sin and lifestyles that are destructive.

We can be sure of one message for it is right out of the Bible. A calamity happened near Jerusalem where 18 people were killed. Jesus said, "Those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13: 4-5).

Apostasy is allowed to remain rampant because the Bible is no longer preached in many churches. The liberal churches have plunging membership and ask why. It should be obvious that at least a remnant is not pleased with letting the world come into the church.

Additionally, churches are not preaching about God's judgment today. Rather, it's the gushy gospel with a God who doesn't hold to biblical standards anymore or else the church has changed the standards. Some would say those standards are outdated. "What would Jesus do?" is a bumper sticker or bracelet but not a guideline for holy living. However, today outfits like the ELCA even twist the words of Jesus. As the saying goes, the Ten Commandments are now the ten suggestions.

Lives were spared in this event, unlike the story in Luke 13. God was gracious. He is infinitely patient. Nonetheless, on a day when no severe weather was predicted or expected, a tornado forms, baffling the weather experts, most saying they've never seen anything like it. It happens right in the heart of the city. As if steered by an unseen hand, it targets a convention center whose occupants are talking about condoning blatant sin. To add emphasis, the hand then causes the tornado to tear into Central Lutheran Church just blocks away. This church was providing alcohol for attendees. Trees and homes just south of the downtown area had some damage.

God's message is repent because none of us will otherwise escape God's judgment. The message in many calamities is to repent while there is still time. I wonder if the ELCA delegates and leaders are even listening.

Since the vote on Friday I have heard from good Lutheran people who plan to leave the ELCA. May their vote with their feet send a message that urges others to follow them. The ELCA is likely not going to change, so lovers of truth and the Bible in all liberal denominations should take a cue from disgusted ELCA members now looking for a new church home.

God's Word cannot be mocked and whether He was in the whirlwind or not, the message is clear. We serve a holy God who does not sanction wickedness.

The Book of Ezra

2009-08-22T20:07:00.003-04:00

The Book of Ezra is a remarkable witness to God's faithfulness to His people. Together with Nehemiah, Ezra describes the events leading to the return of the Judeans from captivity in Babylon and the discouraging experiences of that small community in the harsh world of the Promised Land. But through every experience God proved Himself faithful. Through the leadership of Ezra and Zerubbabel, God fulfilled His promises announced by His prophets to restore His people from Babylon, to rebuild the temple at Jerusalem, and to renew their hope that the Davidic kingdom would be restored.

The message for Ezra's day -- as well as for our own -- is that the God of Israel is faithful to His promises. He will completely restore His people when they come back to Him.

Ezra reveals God's continued fulfillment of His promise to keep David's descendants alive. Zerubbabel, the grandson of Jeconiah, is part of Jesus' earthly genealogy (Matt 1:12 And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel; 13 And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor; 14 And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud; 15 And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob; 16 And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ).

It may seem insignificant that the remnant of David's extended family had to return to Jerusalem, but it isn't. The positive turn of events sets up the good fortune that will give way to the Good News of Jesus. Without access to the original "land of promise," Jesus couldn't have been born in Bethlehem, which was a requirement for the Messiah (Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.)

As Ezra documents the return from Babylon, the soundtrack of forgiveness and restoration plays in the background. It is a melody line that will accompany the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It is music to God's ears to hear His people confess and repent (Ezr 10:1 Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore).

Videos Eatonton Fellowship August 2, 2009 Steve Lumbley of Apostasy Watch

2009-08-20T10:12:00.006-04:00

http://www.ApostasyWatch.com

"The Unity of the Faith" - Part 1

"The Unity of the Faith" - Part 2

"The Unity of the Faith" - Part 3

"The Unity of the Faith" - Part 4

We Shall Be Like Him!

2009-08-10T11:32:00.002-04:00

We are Children of God

1 John 3:2 - 3 "...now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."

Though we do not know all the specifics of our future existence, we do know that we will have a body like Christ's (Php 3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself). Believers will put on immortality and become free from the sin nature that presently plagues us.

Everyone who has the hope of seeing Christ and being like Him (v. 2)"we shall be like Him" realizes that Christ is morally pure. This realization helps a person pursue purity even more.

Persecuted Church in China - Christians are Praying with Endurance

2009-08-08T20:26:00.002-04:00

Between June 2 and June 14, Luonan County authorities formally abolished Taochuan Christian Church, illegally searched the property, imposed a fine, detained and interrogated members of the church and banned them from assembling to worship. After seizing Liu Caili, Huang Shumin and Xu Fenying on June 14, 2009, the Luonan County PSB officers televised them in handcuffs being escorted by police. (Watch video.) Xu Fenying was released on June 19 after five days of detention, and Liu Caili and Huang Shumin were released at at 8:30 a.m. on June 24 after serving 10 days of detention. Zhang Miaoli's arrest and five-day detention followed on June 19th.

Pastor Bike was hopeful after witnessing these public trials. "I believe the Luonan Court will handle this case with fair judgment, and the government will change the erroneous views and mentality of the religious department of Luonan through the law." He says he hopes that all Christians in China will continue to follow the holy will of God, abide by the laws and the regulations of the state and protect their freedom of belief and human rights in accordance with law. Pastor Bike further encourages Chinese Christians to urge the public security departments and the departments in charge of religious affairs to correct their illegal conduct and bring God's blessings to the nation.

LEGALISM

2009-08-07T18:48:00.004-04:00

A teacher on Pal Talk was teaching on legalism and he posed this question:
“What if a person loves to go to church because he feels he gets spiritual life there, or he feels the presence of God there? What if it’s not a “duty” for him to go to church all the time, but rather, a pleasure? Is he still walking in legalism when he goes?”

He then went on to explain that “it’s not legalism because the issue of legalism doesn’t revolve around what we do. Legalism has to do with the motives and the reasons we are doing whatever it is we are doing. When we are doing something because we love God and we want to please Him, and we believe the thing we are doing is pleasing to Him, this is not legalism.” “…then we will have a strong desire to please Him. This is healthy and Scriptural.

And to back up what he said he quoted:
Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

1Jn 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

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Now, the bible says in Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

It also says in Pro 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Back to the teacher's question: "...he feels he gets spiritual life there; ...he feels the presence of God there."

The problem here is that we cannot know that we are pleasing to God by our feelings.

So how can we know that we are doing things that are pleasing to God? The answer is found in God’s word. This is a very personal thing. There is no list of do’s and don’ts.

In Col 1:9 Paul’s prayer for the Colossian Christians is a model for us. As soon as he heard of the new faith of the Colossians, he began interceding with God for them, asking Him to give them knowledge, wisdom, strength, and joy. He prayed that the new believers at Colosse would grow into Christian maturity so that they might walk before God, pleasing Him and producing good works.

Paul’s concern is that the Colossians would have full knowledge of God’s will. The desire to serve God will be in vain without a proper understanding of the One we want to serve. Thus Paul prays that the Colossians might be filled with full knowledge that encompasses all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

Wisdom is the practical outworking of knowledge (Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be dealt with, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy), and that knowledge cannot be separated from the spiritual understanding that comes through the discernment given by the Holy Spirit.

In addition to the full knowledge of the Lord’s will mentioned in v. 9, Paul desires that the Colossians may walk worthy of the Lord. Paul wanted the Colossians to live in a manner that adequately reflected what God had done for them and was doing in them.

Being “worthy of God” is a phrase that occurs in ancient pagan inscriptions throughout Asia. It pictures someone’s life being weighed on scales to determine its worth. If these devotees to false gods knew they had to walk in a worthy manner, certainly Christians should dedicate their lives to the living God in order to please Him.

In James 3:17 The main characteristic of godly wisdom is that it is pure, meaning “free from defilement.” Bitterness, envy, and selfish behavior thoroughly corrupt a person (Jas 3:14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. Jas 3:15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. Jas 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. ) Godly wisdom is also peaceable, describing a spirit of tranquility and calmness. It does not suggest compromising truth just for the sake of peace, which would promote falsehood. In addition, godly wisdom is undivided, without favoritism, unwavering and consistent, without hypocrisy. True wisdom is sincere and unpretentious (modest).

Here is some more advice that we can all use to be pleasing to God:
1Th 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
1Th 4:12 That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

My conclusion is if you want to be pleasing to God, you should seek His will; study to get a proper understanding of who He is by reading His word faithfully and purpose in your heart to study it for yourself and do not depend on others to feed you. Those "others" will not be there with you when you stand before the Lord of Glory!

Conference Video - Friday - July 31, 2009 (Four Parts)

2009-08-06T20:35:00.005-04:00

Part 1 of 4
Please forgive my poor camera work!

Part 2 of 4

Part 3 of 4

Part 4 of 4

Apostasy Watch Conference - Still More Pictures!

2009-08-06T11:03:00.005-04:00

Keith and Linda, Creeky, Ron, Josh, Brian (Wallwatcher)

Apostasy Watch Conference - And More Pictures!

2009-08-06T10:34:00.006-04:00

Steve and Bobbie; Peggy (in green) and Marcia (in pink)(Opera); Denise (Deal One); Creeky and Al

Apostasy Watch Conference - More Pictures!

2009-08-06T10:23:00.005-04:00

Radeane and Sterling, Emory, Charlie!

Charo Washer's Testimony - Paul Washer's Wife

2009-08-05T21:49:00.001-04:00

After serving for 12 years as a missionary the Lord shed His grace on Charo and saved her soul in 2004. She was hearing her husband, Paul Washer, preach on examining yourself. She came to realize, you either pass the tests in 1 John or you fail them, there is no middle ground.

Whom Do You Trust? Reposting

2009-08-05T18:44:00.004-04:00

I am re-posting this for clarification.

Do you rely on yourself, your own wisdom or the wisdom of family or friends to get you through a situation. Don't do that! Get in the habit of trusting the only One who will deliver you.

Have faith; He will NEVER let you down!

Implicit Trust

For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 39:18)

Behold the protecting power of trust in God. The great men of Jerusalem fell by the sword, but poor Ebed-melech was secure, for his confidence was in Jehovah. Where else should a man trust but in his Maker? We are foolish when we prefer the creature to the Creator. Oh, that we could in all things live by faith, then should we be delivered in all time of danger! No one ever did trust in the Lord in vain, and no one ever shall.

The Lord saith, "I will surely deliver thee," Mark the divine "surely." Whatever else may be uncertain, God's care of believers is sure. God Himself is the guardian of the gracious. Under His sacred wing there is safety even when every danger is abroad. Can we accept this promise as sure? Then in our present emergency we shall find that it stands fast. We hope to be delivered because we have friends, or because we are prudent, or because we can see hopeful signs; but none of these things are one-half so good as God's simple "because thou hast put thy trust in me."

Dear reader, try this way, and, trying it, you will keep to it all your life. It is as sweet as it is sure.

These words are straight out of the bible. Trusting the Lord is not a "concept;" it is a way of life for those who believe God, and take Him at His word. The outcome is not up to us, it is up to the Lord. "Ebed-melech was secure, for his confidence was in Jehovah." God delivered him because it was His will that he be delivered.

I cannot imagine anyone thinking that this post suggests that we will be spared from all physical harm. This verse gives an example of a man who trusted in God.

I want to trust God in all things; even if it means my death. There is nothing I can do to save myself. The bible tells us not to rely on our wisdom, knowledge or what seems right. The bible tells us to trust God, no matter how things look. It tells us to walk by faith and not by sight.

Nowhere in this post do I say that I believe in once saved, always saved. I believe that Jesus will keep me saved and I trust Him. I can't keep myself saved. How ludicrous for anyone who calls himself a Christian to think that he can keep himself saved.

Apostasy Watch Conference - Eatonton, GA

2009-08-05T18:00:00.003-04:00

Bobbie & Steve, Keith & Linda