Some Things Are Not Negotiable.
Excerpt from ‘The Dwelling Place of God’
A.W. Tozer
“WILL ROGERS ONCE OPINED that a sure way to prevent war would be to abolish peace conferences.
As usual, Will Rogers had his tongue in his cheek; he meant only to poke fun at the weak habit of substituting talk for action. Still there is more than a little uncomfortable truth in his remark.
This above all others is the age of much talk. Hardly a day passes that the newspapers do not carry one or another of the headlines "Talks to Begin" or "Talks to Continue" or "Talks to Resume." The notion back of this endless official chatter is that all differences between men result from their failure to understand each other; if each can discover exactly what the other thinks they will find to their delight that they are really in full agreement after all. Then they have only to smile, shake hands, go home and live happily ever after.
At the bottom of all this is the glutinous, one-world, all-men-are-brothers philosophy that has taken such hold on the minds of many of our educators and politicians. (The hardheaded realists of the Communist camp know better; maybe that is why they are making such alarming advances throughout the world while the all-men-are-brothers devotees are going around in confusion, trying to keep smiling if it kills them.)
Tolerance, charity, understanding, good will, patience and other such words and ideas are lifted from the Bible, misunderstood and applied indiscriminately to every situation. The kidnapper will not steal your baby if you only try to understand him; the burglar caught sneaking into your house with a gun is not really bad; he is just hungry for fellowship and togetherness. The gang killer taking his victim for a one-way ride can be dissuaded from committing murder if someone will only have faith in his basic goodness and have a talk with him. And this is supposed to be the teaching of Jesus, which it most certainly is not.
The big thing now is to "keep in touch." Never let the dialogue die and never accept any decision as final; everything can be negotiated. Where there is life there is talk and where there is talk there is hope. "As long as they are talking they are not shooting at each other," say the advocates of the long palaver, and in so saying they forget Pearl Harbor.
This desire to confer has hit the church also, which is not strange since almost everything the church is doing these days has been suggested to her by the world. I observe with pained amusement, how many water boys of the pulpit in their effort to be prophets are standing up straight and tall and speaking out boldly in favor of ideas that have been previously fed into their minds by the psychiatrists, the sociologists, the novelists, the scientists and the secular educators. The ability to appraise correctly the direction public opinion is moving is a gift not to be despised; by means of it we preachers can talk loudly and still stay out of trouble.
A new Decalogue has been adopted by the neo-Christians of our day, the first word of which reads "Thou shalt not disagree"; and a new set of Beatitudes too, which begins "Blessed are they that tolerate everything, for they shall not be made accountable for anything." It is now the accepted thing to talk over religious differences in public with the understanding that no one will try to convert another or point out errors in his belief. The purpose of these talks is not to confront truth, but to discover how the followers of other religions think and thus benefit from their views as we hope they will from ours.
The ability to settle quarrels between members of God's household is a heavenly gift and one that should be assiduously cultivated. The discerning soul who can reconcile separated friends by prayer and appeal to the Scriptures is worth his weight in diamonds.
That is one thing, but the effort to achieve unity at the expense of truth and righteousness is another. To seek to be friends with those who will not be the friends of Christ is to be a traitor to our Lord. Darkness and light can never be brought together by talk.
Some things are not negotiable."
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Exposing Error: Is it Worthwhile?
Dr. Harry Ironside: 1876 - 1951
Objection is often raised even by some sound in the faith regarding the exposure of error as being entirely negative and of no real edification. Of late, the hue and cry has been against any and all negative teaching. But the brethren who assume this attitude forget that a large part of the New Testament, both of the teaching of our blessed LORD Himself and the writings of the apostles, is made up of this very character of ministry, namely, showing the satanic origin and, therefore, the unsettling results of the propagation of erroneous systems which Peter, in his second epistle, so definitely refers to as "damnable heresies."
Our LORD prophesied, "Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." Within our own day, how many false prophets have risen; and oh, how many are the deceived!
Paul predicted, "I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch." My own observation is that these "grievous wolves," alone and in packs, are not sparing even the most favored flocks. Under shepherds in these "perilous times" will do well to note the apostle's warning: "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers." It is as important in these days as in Paul's, in fact, it is increasingly important-to expose the many types of false teaching that, on every hand, abound more and more.
We are called upon to "contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints," while we hold the truth in love. The faith means the whole body of revealed truth, and to contend for all of God's truth necessitates some negative teaching. The choice is not left with us. Jude said he preferred a different, a pleasanter theme-
"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 3, 4).
Paul likewise admonishes us to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11)
This does not imply harsh treatment of those entrapped by error-quite the opposite. If it be objected that exposure to error necessitates unkind reflection upon others who do not see as we do, our answer is: it has always been the duty of every loyal servant of Jesus the Christ to warn against any teaching that would make Him less precious or cast reflection upon His finished redemptive work and the all-sufficiency of His present service as our great High Priest and Advocate.
Every system of teaching can be judged by what it sets forth as to these fundamental truths of the faith. "What think ye of Christ?" is still the true test of every creed. The Christ of the Bible is certainly not the Christ of any false "-ism." Each of the cults has its hideous caricature of our lovely Lord.
Let us who have been redeemed at the cost of His precious blood be "good soldiers of Jesus the Christ." As the battle against the forces of evil waxes ever more hot, we have need for God-given valor.
There is constant temptation to compromise. "Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach." It is always right to stand firmly for what God has revealed concerning His blessed Son's person and work. The "father of lies" deals in half-truths and specializes in most subtle fallacies concerning the LORD Jesus, our sole and sufficient Savior.
Error is like leaven of which we read, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Truth mixed with error is equivalent to all error, except that it is more innocent looking and, therefore, more dangerous. God hates such a mixture! Any error, or any truth-and-error mixture, calls for definite exposure and repudiation. To condone such is to be unfaithful to God and His Word and treacherous to imperiled souls for whom Christ died.
Exposing error is most unpopular work. But from every true standpoint it is worthwhile work.
To our Savior, it means that He receives from us, His blood-bought ones, the loyalty that is His due. To ourselves, if we consider "the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt," it ensures future reward, a thousand-fold. And to souls "caught in the snare of the fowler"- how many of them God only knows-it may mean light and life, abundant and everlasting.
Dr. Harry Ironside: 1876 - 1951
Objection is often raised even by some sound in the faith regarding the exposure of error as being entirely negative and of no real edification. Of late, the hue and cry has been against any and all negative teaching. But the brethren who assume this attitude forget that a large part of the New Testament, both of the teaching of our blessed LORD Himself and the writings of the apostles, is made up of this very character of ministry, namely, showing the satanic origin and, therefore, the unsettling results of the propagation of erroneous systems which Peter, in his second epistle, so definitely refers to as "damnable heresies."
Our LORD prophesied, "Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." Within our own day, how many false prophets have risen; and oh, how many are the deceived!
Paul predicted, "I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch." My own observation is that these "grievous wolves," alone and in packs, are not sparing even the most favored flocks. Under shepherds in these "perilous times" will do well to note the apostle's warning: "Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit hath made you overseers." It is as important in these days as in Paul's, in fact, it is increasingly important-to expose the many types of false teaching that, on every hand, abound more and more.
We are called upon to "contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints," while we hold the truth in love. The faith means the whole body of revealed truth, and to contend for all of God's truth necessitates some negative teaching. The choice is not left with us. Jude said he preferred a different, a pleasanter theme-
"Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ" (Jude 3, 4).
Paul likewise admonishes us to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11)
This does not imply harsh treatment of those entrapped by error-quite the opposite. If it be objected that exposure to error necessitates unkind reflection upon others who do not see as we do, our answer is: it has always been the duty of every loyal servant of Jesus the Christ to warn against any teaching that would make Him less precious or cast reflection upon His finished redemptive work and the all-sufficiency of His present service as our great High Priest and Advocate.
Every system of teaching can be judged by what it sets forth as to these fundamental truths of the faith. "What think ye of Christ?" is still the true test of every creed. The Christ of the Bible is certainly not the Christ of any false "-ism." Each of the cults has its hideous caricature of our lovely Lord.
Let us who have been redeemed at the cost of His precious blood be "good soldiers of Jesus the Christ." As the battle against the forces of evil waxes ever more hot, we have need for God-given valor.
There is constant temptation to compromise. "Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach." It is always right to stand firmly for what God has revealed concerning His blessed Son's person and work. The "father of lies" deals in half-truths and specializes in most subtle fallacies concerning the LORD Jesus, our sole and sufficient Savior.
Error is like leaven of which we read, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump." Truth mixed with error is equivalent to all error, except that it is more innocent looking and, therefore, more dangerous. God hates such a mixture! Any error, or any truth-and-error mixture, calls for definite exposure and repudiation. To condone such is to be unfaithful to God and His Word and treacherous to imperiled souls for whom Christ died.
Exposing error is most unpopular work. But from every true standpoint it is worthwhile work.
To our Savior, it means that He receives from us, His blood-bought ones, the loyalty that is His due. To ourselves, if we consider "the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt," it ensures future reward, a thousand-fold. And to souls "caught in the snare of the fowler"- how many of them God only knows-it may mean light and life, abundant and everlasting.
Friday, July 24, 2009
GETTING BACK to 'CLASSIC' CHRISTIANITY
by J. Lee Grady
We need voices from the past, voices like Andrew Murray, Corrie TenBoom and Charles Spurgeon—to help us find our way to the future.
During a visit with my parents in Georgia, two of my daughters asked if they could listen to a tape recording my father made in1962 when I was only 4 years old. So my dad rummaged through some drawers and found the old reel-to-reel tape, which was amazingly still intact. Then he went to the garage and found the old Realistic tape player that no one in the family had used since the Nixon administration. To our surprise the scratchy tape actually played without breaking, and my girls laughed when they heard me—in a babyish Southern drawl—describing a Florida vacation and a fishing trip with my grandfather. After my "interview," it switched to an older recording made in 1956. It included a conversation with my dad's mother, who died before I was born. It was eerie to hear her voice. I'd never heard it before yet it sounded hauntingly familiar. After that brief segment of the tape ended we listened to comments from my other three grandparents—all of whom died in the 1960s or 1970s. Their voices unearthed long-buried but fond memories.These sounds from the past reminded me of some other distant voices I have been listening to recently.
Voices of Christians long passed — writers of classic books and hymns are all but forgotten in this the twenty-first century.
Names such as Jonathan Edwards. John Wesley. Charles Finney, Catherine Booth, Evan Roberts, Fanny Crosby, E.M. Bounds, Watchman Nee, A.W. Tozer, William Seymour, A.B. Simpson, Leonard Ravenhill, Fuchsia Pickett. All could be labeled revivalists. All challenged the Christians of their generation to embrace repentance and humility.They understood a realm of spiritual maturity and a depth of character that few today even aspire to obtain. When I read their words I feel much the same way I did after hearing my grandparents' voices on that old tape. I feel as if I am tapping into a realm of spirituality that is on the verge of extinction.What was the secret of these great Christians who left their legacies buried in their books and songs? They considered humility, selflessness and sacrifice the crowning virtues of the Christian journey. They called the church to die to selfishness, greed and ambition. They knew what it meant to carry a "burden" for lost souls.
They saw the glories of the kingdom and demanded total surrender. They challenged God's people to pursue obedience—even if obedience hurt. Hymns, messages, books from bygone years reflected a level of consecration that is foreign in most churches today.
They sang and spoke often of the cross and its wonder. Their worship focused on the blood and its power. They sang words of heart-piercing conviction:
"My richest gain I count but loss / And pour contempt on all my pride / Forbid it Lord that I should boast /Save in the death of Christ, My God."
In so many churches today the cross is not mentioned. The blood is avoided because we don't want to offend. Worship is often a canned performance that involves plenty of rhythm and repetition with orchestration or keyboard but little or no substance. We produce noise, but often no heart ... and certainly no tears.
In the books Christians buy today you will find little mention of brokenness. We are not interested in a life that might require suffering, patience, purging or the discipline of the Lord. We want our blessings ... and we want them now! So we look for the Christian brand of spiritualized self-help that is quick and painless.
We're running on empty. We think we are sophisticated, but like the Laodiceans we are actually poor, blind and naked. We need to return to our first love but we don't know where to begin the journey. These voices from the past will help point the way. I've found myself drawn to reading books by Ravenhill, Ten Boom, Murray and Spurgeon in recent days. I've even pulled out an old hymnal and rediscovered the richness of songs that I had thrown out years ago—because I thought anything old couldn't possibly maintain a fresh anointing.
We must dig for this buried treasure.
We will never effectively reach our generation if we don't reclaim the humility, the brokenness, the consecration and the travail that our spiritual forefathers considered normal Christianity.
by J. Lee Grady
We need voices from the past, voices like Andrew Murray, Corrie TenBoom and Charles Spurgeon—to help us find our way to the future.
During a visit with my parents in Georgia, two of my daughters asked if they could listen to a tape recording my father made in1962 when I was only 4 years old. So my dad rummaged through some drawers and found the old reel-to-reel tape, which was amazingly still intact. Then he went to the garage and found the old Realistic tape player that no one in the family had used since the Nixon administration. To our surprise the scratchy tape actually played without breaking, and my girls laughed when they heard me—in a babyish Southern drawl—describing a Florida vacation and a fishing trip with my grandfather. After my "interview," it switched to an older recording made in 1956. It included a conversation with my dad's mother, who died before I was born. It was eerie to hear her voice. I'd never heard it before yet it sounded hauntingly familiar. After that brief segment of the tape ended we listened to comments from my other three grandparents—all of whom died in the 1960s or 1970s. Their voices unearthed long-buried but fond memories.These sounds from the past reminded me of some other distant voices I have been listening to recently.
Voices of Christians long passed — writers of classic books and hymns are all but forgotten in this the twenty-first century.
Names such as Jonathan Edwards. John Wesley. Charles Finney, Catherine Booth, Evan Roberts, Fanny Crosby, E.M. Bounds, Watchman Nee, A.W. Tozer, William Seymour, A.B. Simpson, Leonard Ravenhill, Fuchsia Pickett. All could be labeled revivalists. All challenged the Christians of their generation to embrace repentance and humility.They understood a realm of spiritual maturity and a depth of character that few today even aspire to obtain. When I read their words I feel much the same way I did after hearing my grandparents' voices on that old tape. I feel as if I am tapping into a realm of spirituality that is on the verge of extinction.What was the secret of these great Christians who left their legacies buried in their books and songs? They considered humility, selflessness and sacrifice the crowning virtues of the Christian journey. They called the church to die to selfishness, greed and ambition. They knew what it meant to carry a "burden" for lost souls.
They saw the glories of the kingdom and demanded total surrender. They challenged God's people to pursue obedience—even if obedience hurt. Hymns, messages, books from bygone years reflected a level of consecration that is foreign in most churches today.
They sang and spoke often of the cross and its wonder. Their worship focused on the blood and its power. They sang words of heart-piercing conviction:
"My richest gain I count but loss / And pour contempt on all my pride / Forbid it Lord that I should boast /Save in the death of Christ, My God."
In so many churches today the cross is not mentioned. The blood is avoided because we don't want to offend. Worship is often a canned performance that involves plenty of rhythm and repetition with orchestration or keyboard but little or no substance. We produce noise, but often no heart ... and certainly no tears.
In the books Christians buy today you will find little mention of brokenness. We are not interested in a life that might require suffering, patience, purging or the discipline of the Lord. We want our blessings ... and we want them now! So we look for the Christian brand of spiritualized self-help that is quick and painless.
We're running on empty. We think we are sophisticated, but like the Laodiceans we are actually poor, blind and naked. We need to return to our first love but we don't know where to begin the journey. These voices from the past will help point the way. I've found myself drawn to reading books by Ravenhill, Ten Boom, Murray and Spurgeon in recent days. I've even pulled out an old hymnal and rediscovered the richness of songs that I had thrown out years ago—because I thought anything old couldn't possibly maintain a fresh anointing.
We must dig for this buried treasure.
We will never effectively reach our generation if we don't reclaim the humility, the brokenness, the consecration and the travail that our spiritual forefathers considered normal Christianity.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Obama Keep His Promises -
by: Bill Wilson
The man who occupies the Oval Office (OOO) will hold a news conference to give an impassioned plea for the American people to support socialized medicine that forces government healthcare upon the people, tax funded abortion, politically appointed healthcare tribunals and opens the door to euthanizing our senior citizens. No matter how this is explained, it is socialized medicine that takes healthcare choices out of the hands of private individuals and puts them into the control of an overreaching federal government.
It is a bad thing.
It is an evil and immoral attempt by the government to fund killing both the pre-born and the elderly, while controlling most every other aspect of private lives. In addition to the high pressure televised scare tactics OOO will use to try to convince people that socialized healthcare is good for them, he also will give a report on the six month progress of his administration.
He will say that due to his administration's aggressive action that the economy will be saved.
He will say that while unemployment is going up, and the economy he inherited will take a long time to heal, that America is on the right track.
He will tout that most everything he promised during the campaign--economic stimulus, climate control, nationalized healthcare, hate crimes, nuclear reduction, improved relations with Islamic nations, and more--has been either accomplished or put on track.OOO has delivered his agenda successfully to the American people.
His attempt to "remake" America, as he promised, is well on the way.
Trouble is - Truth is it is destroying the economy, appeasing America's enemies, weakening America's defenses, stepping on the Constitutional rights of citizens and strapping future generations with debt never before seen in the history of mankind. Rights regarding freedom of religion, freedom of speech, bearing arms, privacy, life, liberty, and property ownership are being violated on a daily basis.
This nation in six months has been set on a fast track to socialism, which will destroy everything that has made it great.
When one thinks of America in historical perspective, one thinks of freedom.
It has been the rugged individualism of the American that has not only kept all generations of Americans free, but those around the world who also desired it. And it was the Christian values either closely held by Americans or subscribed to by American citizens that blessed this nation with God's divine protection, His goodwill, His anointing as the standard-bearer of what was good and right in the world. Americans were known for standing up for what was right. Now are they to be known for submitting in fear to the evils of humanism?
Ephesians 6:13 says to take up the full armor of God, "and having done all, to stand"
Are you ready to stand?
by: Bill Wilson
The man who occupies the Oval Office (OOO) will hold a news conference to give an impassioned plea for the American people to support socialized medicine that forces government healthcare upon the people, tax funded abortion, politically appointed healthcare tribunals and opens the door to euthanizing our senior citizens. No matter how this is explained, it is socialized medicine that takes healthcare choices out of the hands of private individuals and puts them into the control of an overreaching federal government.
It is a bad thing.
It is an evil and immoral attempt by the government to fund killing both the pre-born and the elderly, while controlling most every other aspect of private lives. In addition to the high pressure televised scare tactics OOO will use to try to convince people that socialized healthcare is good for them, he also will give a report on the six month progress of his administration.
He will say that due to his administration's aggressive action that the economy will be saved.
He will say that while unemployment is going up, and the economy he inherited will take a long time to heal, that America is on the right track.
He will tout that most everything he promised during the campaign--economic stimulus, climate control, nationalized healthcare, hate crimes, nuclear reduction, improved relations with Islamic nations, and more--has been either accomplished or put on track.OOO has delivered his agenda successfully to the American people.
His attempt to "remake" America, as he promised, is well on the way.
Trouble is - Truth is it is destroying the economy, appeasing America's enemies, weakening America's defenses, stepping on the Constitutional rights of citizens and strapping future generations with debt never before seen in the history of mankind. Rights regarding freedom of religion, freedom of speech, bearing arms, privacy, life, liberty, and property ownership are being violated on a daily basis.
This nation in six months has been set on a fast track to socialism, which will destroy everything that has made it great.
When one thinks of America in historical perspective, one thinks of freedom.
It has been the rugged individualism of the American that has not only kept all generations of Americans free, but those around the world who also desired it. And it was the Christian values either closely held by Americans or subscribed to by American citizens that blessed this nation with God's divine protection, His goodwill, His anointing as the standard-bearer of what was good and right in the world. Americans were known for standing up for what was right. Now are they to be known for submitting in fear to the evils of humanism?
Ephesians 6:13 says to take up the full armor of God, "and having done all, to stand"
Are you ready to stand?
Monday, July 20, 2009
LIKE HAND MADE QUILTS
by: Carrie Walker-Todd
Like hand made quilts the Master
Takes the tangles of our lives
And cuts, and shapes and washes
Each piece He now revives.
Our lives awash in evil
Our hearts once black with sin,
Now safe, in Hands of mercy,
Transformation will begin.
The ragged hard beginning
Of lives once fraught with sin
Must now become a witness to,
The LORD who reigns within.
****~~~~****~~~~****
HARD BEGINNINGS
by: M.E. Townsend
“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She shall do him good and not evil, all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:10-12
Clutching her purse tightly, Jewell looked over the town one last time, thankful she would not be returning.
Paint from last years Halloween pranks covered the side and back of city hall. Kids looking for excitement had broken a window in the mayor’s office; a yellowed newspaper covered the gaping hole, a clumsy attempt to repair the damage. A fading sign in the drug store window read, “Going out of Business Sale.”
Tears filled Jewels’ eyes as she took the precious photograph of her mother from her purse. A beautiful woman whose eyes had shown brightly the love of the LORD in spite of hard work, an unfaithful husband, pious preachers and poverty. Too late mama learned to ‘be not unequally yoked with an unbeliever’. Wanting to believe she could change the lost soul into a godly husband and father she had married for better or worse, and it had been on so many occasions far worse than she could ever have imagined.
Now, mama rested, safely in the arms of the only man who had ever truly loved her, her Saviour and her LORD - Jesus the Christ.
Mama had stepped quietly into His presence and there was peace - The scripture in Isaiah coming alive:
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:1-3
Jewel boarded the bus, found a seat and bowed her head. She ask that same Saviour who loved her mother and whom her mother loved to come into her life, to forgive her sins and to be for her - LORD OF ALL.
Each one must meet their Maker ~ we know not date nor time. But this we know, we can be sure, there will be given neither explanation nor excuse, there will be no discussion and there will be no second chance.
We will all stand face to face before Almighty God and hear Him say:
“Welcome good and faithful servant”- or “Depart from Me I never knew you”.
by: Carrie Walker-Todd
Like hand made quilts the Master
Takes the tangles of our lives
And cuts, and shapes and washes
Each piece He now revives.
Our lives awash in evil
Our hearts once black with sin,
Now safe, in Hands of mercy,
Transformation will begin.
The ragged hard beginning
Of lives once fraught with sin
Must now become a witness to,
The LORD who reigns within.
****~~~~****~~~~****
HARD BEGINNINGS
by: M.E. Townsend
“Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She shall do him good and not evil, all the days of her life.” Proverbs 31:10-12
Clutching her purse tightly, Jewell looked over the town one last time, thankful she would not be returning.
Paint from last years Halloween pranks covered the side and back of city hall. Kids looking for excitement had broken a window in the mayor’s office; a yellowed newspaper covered the gaping hole, a clumsy attempt to repair the damage. A fading sign in the drug store window read, “Going out of Business Sale.”
Tears filled Jewels’ eyes as she took the precious photograph of her mother from her purse. A beautiful woman whose eyes had shown brightly the love of the LORD in spite of hard work, an unfaithful husband, pious preachers and poverty. Too late mama learned to ‘be not unequally yoked with an unbeliever’. Wanting to believe she could change the lost soul into a godly husband and father she had married for better or worse, and it had been on so many occasions far worse than she could ever have imagined.
Now, mama rested, safely in the arms of the only man who had ever truly loved her, her Saviour and her LORD - Jesus the Christ.
Mama had stepped quietly into His presence and there was peace - The scripture in Isaiah coming alive:
“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:1-3
Jewel boarded the bus, found a seat and bowed her head. She ask that same Saviour who loved her mother and whom her mother loved to come into her life, to forgive her sins and to be for her - LORD OF ALL.
Each one must meet their Maker ~ we know not date nor time. But this we know, we can be sure, there will be given neither explanation nor excuse, there will be no discussion and there will be no second chance.
We will all stand face to face before Almighty God and hear Him say:
“Welcome good and faithful servant”- or “Depart from Me I never knew you”.
Friday, July 17, 2009
"CHRISTIAN PIMPS" - a HARD WORD-
by Coach Dave Daubenmire
QUOTE- “Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise.” -Sam Pascoe.“
An enterprise. That’s a business.” .... “A business? But isn’t it supposed to be a body?” I could not envision where this line of questioning was going, and the only response I could think of was,“Yes.” She continued, “But when a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?” - As told by David Ryser. I’ve been fighting for a long time the prompting of my inner man to take on this subject. Although I have chewed around the edges like I used to do as a child when I would break off the crust from a hot, home-made apple pie in attempt to appease my hunger without my mother finding out, I never really stuck my thumb into the middle of the pie.
I have been a sellout. A pimp, if you will. Not on purpose. It is easy to justify our lack of courage when confronted with difficult issues. I try to faithfully deliver the mail as the Lord hands it to me, but I have been negligent by eating the crust out of fear of spoiling the pie.You see, I have pulled my punches. I have softened the blow. I have spanked with a newspaper when they deserved a belt. I have sold out on the Truth. I have not called a spade a spade. I have nibbled at the crust when I should have been hammering the pie. I have taken the be-nice approach and have listened to the “touch not God’s anointed”mentality. I have prostituted the Truth. For that I am sorry.
Oh, my intentions were good. I had hoped that as I exposed the“unfruitful works of darkness” that the churches would eventually awaken and begin to push back against the enemy. After ten years of trying to awaken “The Church” to the problem I have finally mustered the courage to say what I have known all along. “The Church” IS the problem. It has become a pimp, selling the works of “the body” for personal satisfaction. Most of the pulpits are filled by “hirelings” (more on that in a future commentary), men and women who stand in the pulpit without a calling, without an anointing, and without courage. They are man pleasers, living off of “the Body” as they sell it out for their own whims and pleasures. Greedy Dogs, Isaiah called them. Blind watchmen…loving to sleep…leading the flock astray.
Not all of the churches. If you are a pastor and have read this far then I am probably not talking about you. I have met many courageous men who boldly live out the command to “lead them out.” You know who you are. You are the ones who have been criticized, belittled, and called names by the “pimp in the pulpit” at the big church downtown.You see, to him, the church is a business…an enterprise…a social club totally dependant on butts and bucks. It is a place to make business contacts, network with others in the community, and soothe one’s conscience through weekly attendance and philanthropy. It is no different from a whore house where a woman’s body is sold for the pleasure of another. Love-less intercourse is prostitution. Most church goers love the service that Jesus provides (membership has its privileges) but don’t really know the Jesus who provides it.
I’ll be honest. I’ve been afraid to say some of these things for fear of alienating even more pastors. I was afraid that my harshness might alienate those “frozen chosen” pastors and eliminate opportunities to “minister” to their congregations. That’s where I have pimped-out my call. The pastors are not the answer, they are the problem. Instead of cleaning out Congress perhaps we should start by cleaning out the pulpit. Judgment begins first in the house of God.
America is a reflection of the churches and the churches are a reflection of the pulpits. It is time to “throw the bums out”…even if they do hide behind the “touch not my anointed.” When a football team is under-performing who gets the boot? Yep, the coach. Allow me to be frank as I cut to the chase. Pick up your family and get out of the mausoleum you are attending and find a place that serves the Lord. I could not care less how many generations your family has been a member, how many pews your family has donated, and how many of your friends attend. Sitting on your butt every Sunday is not serving the Lord, it is the Lord serving you. The feel-good Gospel is a fraud. Jesus taught self-sacrifice not self-fulfillment. “Greater love has no man than this than he would lay down his life for his friends….”
Love demands sacrifice.What have you sacrificed for your faith? You are engaging in Spiritual welfare…living off of the efforts of others. Start fighting back by no longer giving them your money. Don’tallow them to hit you over the head with the “bring all of the tithes into the storehouse” hammer without asking yourself some very important questions. What is a storehouse and what is its purpose?What does the Scripture mean by “meat in my house” and who is the meat for? Are there families in your “church” who are losing their homes? Is that not who the “meat in the house” was stored up for or were the storehouse funds used for a new parking lot?Is the purpose of the tithe (by the way, my wife and I believe in tithing) to pay senior pastors, associate pastors, youth ministers,worship leaders, and secretaries to do “ministry?” Can’t you “tithe”different places? Did the New Testament church teach the concept of “professional” Christians or were the elders of the church also tent-makers? Does “meat in my house” mean bigger buildings, paved parking lots, and padded pews?
Is your “church” experiencing a budget crunch right now because they have eaten the meat that should have been placed in the storehouse? I know, “let them eat blacktop.”Is storehouse money supposed to be spent on the already converted or on seeking and saving that which is lost? What percent of your church’s budget go to “missions”…as if that is a separate job…in comparison to utilities, paper, salaries, and operating expenses?
Don’t stop giving, just change where you give.
Find a ministry that is using the money to reach out to the community and send your tithe there. Remember, it is the “Lord’s house” into which your finances are to be offered….not some social club to which your tithe is nothing more than monthly dues. It is time you asked yourself if the Spirit still dwells in your church. My wife and I have spent the last few weeks reading the book of Acts in our morning devotionals. You should do the same. They spread the Gospel around the world at great personal peril and sacrifice.
The self-serving American-Church is a pathetic step-child to Christianity’s founding fathers.
Most churches love money, chase money, compromise over money. A pastor in New York was just fired from his $600,000 salary! The national average for pastors is $84,426! No wonder they won’t speak against sin! Why not include those wealthy homosexuals in the congregation!People have asked me to start a church. I tell them that they are nuts.
Truth empties churches, it doesn’t fill them.
My friend Flip Benham says guys like me would be the Dr. Kervorkian of church growth. What man of God would want to wipe noses when he could fight evil? No thanks. At least on the streets I can recognize the enemy.“And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.”
Yep, the pimps are the ones wearing the nice clothes. Funny isn’t it? The pimps in the pulpits accuse street preachers of being undignified.What did Jesus say about the ultimate street preacher John the Baptizer? “Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptizer.”
Take the time to read what Jesus had to say to the religious pimps of His day!
by Coach Dave Daubenmire
QUOTE- “Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise.” -Sam Pascoe.“
An enterprise. That’s a business.” .... “A business? But isn’t it supposed to be a body?” I could not envision where this line of questioning was going, and the only response I could think of was,“Yes.” She continued, “But when a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?” - As told by David Ryser. I’ve been fighting for a long time the prompting of my inner man to take on this subject. Although I have chewed around the edges like I used to do as a child when I would break off the crust from a hot, home-made apple pie in attempt to appease my hunger without my mother finding out, I never really stuck my thumb into the middle of the pie.
I have been a sellout. A pimp, if you will. Not on purpose. It is easy to justify our lack of courage when confronted with difficult issues. I try to faithfully deliver the mail as the Lord hands it to me, but I have been negligent by eating the crust out of fear of spoiling the pie.You see, I have pulled my punches. I have softened the blow. I have spanked with a newspaper when they deserved a belt. I have sold out on the Truth. I have not called a spade a spade. I have nibbled at the crust when I should have been hammering the pie. I have taken the be-nice approach and have listened to the “touch not God’s anointed”mentality. I have prostituted the Truth. For that I am sorry.
Oh, my intentions were good. I had hoped that as I exposed the“unfruitful works of darkness” that the churches would eventually awaken and begin to push back against the enemy. After ten years of trying to awaken “The Church” to the problem I have finally mustered the courage to say what I have known all along. “The Church” IS the problem. It has become a pimp, selling the works of “the body” for personal satisfaction. Most of the pulpits are filled by “hirelings” (more on that in a future commentary), men and women who stand in the pulpit without a calling, without an anointing, and without courage. They are man pleasers, living off of “the Body” as they sell it out for their own whims and pleasures. Greedy Dogs, Isaiah called them. Blind watchmen…loving to sleep…leading the flock astray.
Not all of the churches. If you are a pastor and have read this far then I am probably not talking about you. I have met many courageous men who boldly live out the command to “lead them out.” You know who you are. You are the ones who have been criticized, belittled, and called names by the “pimp in the pulpit” at the big church downtown.You see, to him, the church is a business…an enterprise…a social club totally dependant on butts and bucks. It is a place to make business contacts, network with others in the community, and soothe one’s conscience through weekly attendance and philanthropy. It is no different from a whore house where a woman’s body is sold for the pleasure of another. Love-less intercourse is prostitution. Most church goers love the service that Jesus provides (membership has its privileges) but don’t really know the Jesus who provides it.
I’ll be honest. I’ve been afraid to say some of these things for fear of alienating even more pastors. I was afraid that my harshness might alienate those “frozen chosen” pastors and eliminate opportunities to “minister” to their congregations. That’s where I have pimped-out my call. The pastors are not the answer, they are the problem. Instead of cleaning out Congress perhaps we should start by cleaning out the pulpit. Judgment begins first in the house of God.
America is a reflection of the churches and the churches are a reflection of the pulpits. It is time to “throw the bums out”…even if they do hide behind the “touch not my anointed.” When a football team is under-performing who gets the boot? Yep, the coach. Allow me to be frank as I cut to the chase. Pick up your family and get out of the mausoleum you are attending and find a place that serves the Lord. I could not care less how many generations your family has been a member, how many pews your family has donated, and how many of your friends attend. Sitting on your butt every Sunday is not serving the Lord, it is the Lord serving you. The feel-good Gospel is a fraud. Jesus taught self-sacrifice not self-fulfillment. “Greater love has no man than this than he would lay down his life for his friends….”
Love demands sacrifice.What have you sacrificed for your faith? You are engaging in Spiritual welfare…living off of the efforts of others. Start fighting back by no longer giving them your money. Don’tallow them to hit you over the head with the “bring all of the tithes into the storehouse” hammer without asking yourself some very important questions. What is a storehouse and what is its purpose?What does the Scripture mean by “meat in my house” and who is the meat for? Are there families in your “church” who are losing their homes? Is that not who the “meat in the house” was stored up for or were the storehouse funds used for a new parking lot?Is the purpose of the tithe (by the way, my wife and I believe in tithing) to pay senior pastors, associate pastors, youth ministers,worship leaders, and secretaries to do “ministry?” Can’t you “tithe”different places? Did the New Testament church teach the concept of “professional” Christians or were the elders of the church also tent-makers? Does “meat in my house” mean bigger buildings, paved parking lots, and padded pews?
Is your “church” experiencing a budget crunch right now because they have eaten the meat that should have been placed in the storehouse? I know, “let them eat blacktop.”Is storehouse money supposed to be spent on the already converted or on seeking and saving that which is lost? What percent of your church’s budget go to “missions”…as if that is a separate job…in comparison to utilities, paper, salaries, and operating expenses?
Don’t stop giving, just change where you give.
Find a ministry that is using the money to reach out to the community and send your tithe there. Remember, it is the “Lord’s house” into which your finances are to be offered….not some social club to which your tithe is nothing more than monthly dues. It is time you asked yourself if the Spirit still dwells in your church. My wife and I have spent the last few weeks reading the book of Acts in our morning devotionals. You should do the same. They spread the Gospel around the world at great personal peril and sacrifice.
The self-serving American-Church is a pathetic step-child to Christianity’s founding fathers.
Most churches love money, chase money, compromise over money. A pastor in New York was just fired from his $600,000 salary! The national average for pastors is $84,426! No wonder they won’t speak against sin! Why not include those wealthy homosexuals in the congregation!People have asked me to start a church. I tell them that they are nuts.
Truth empties churches, it doesn’t fill them.
My friend Flip Benham says guys like me would be the Dr. Kervorkian of church growth. What man of God would want to wipe noses when he could fight evil? No thanks. At least on the streets I can recognize the enemy.“And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.”
Yep, the pimps are the ones wearing the nice clothes. Funny isn’t it? The pimps in the pulpits accuse street preachers of being undignified.What did Jesus say about the ultimate street preacher John the Baptizer? “Verily I say unto you, among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptizer.”
Take the time to read what Jesus had to say to the religious pimps of His day!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
I pray you will take the time to listen to this brief word from John Macarthur.
http://www.ltwleadstory.com
"See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away Him who warns from Heaven." Hebrews 12:25
In Him - met
http://www.ltwleadstory.com
"See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away Him who warns from Heaven." Hebrews 12:25
In Him - met
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Have the Courage to Care
By: M.E. Townsend
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. But why do you call me LORD, LORD and do not do the things which I say?”
Luke 6:45-46
Elie Wiesel wrote:
“In those times there was darkness everywhere. In heaven and on earth, all the gates of compassion seemed to have been closed. The killer killed, the Jews died, and the outside world adopted an attitude either of complicity or of indifference. Only a few had the courage to care.”
Those dark times allowed the enemies of men and of God to roam freely, unchecked and unquestioned, dark times that went unchallenged as eyes looked away and heads turned from truth, fear gripped faint hearts and men suffered.
Not unlike today where the same spirit of complicity rules and reigns in the hearts and minds of too many within the walls of the church. Today complicity has joined with tolerance and the two have embarked upon a quest to bring unification through faith, unification through thought and idea.
Yet scripture teaches those who will hear and believe:
“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then those that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:6-8
Tolerance as defined by Webster is “a willingness to let others have their own beliefs, ways, etc. even though these are not like ones own.”
Complicity is defined as “the fact of being involved with another in doing something wrong or unlawful”
In the spirit of tolerance and complicity, the Word of God has been so defiled, modified, watered down, twisted and ignored until the undiscerning and unrepentant remain lost in a sea of compromise and distortion while those who profess ‘Christianity’ stand in muted silence – refusing to speak out, refusing to judge.
We have forgotten Paul’ admonition to Timothy – perhaps we never knew:
“…I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case, you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you...” I Corinthians 5
"Idolatry is not simply worshiping a stone image; idolatry is any concept of God that reduces Him to less than Who He really is." Dr. Ron Carlson
Joel Osteen said when ask; "one cannot know who would or would not go to heaven." Perhaps the Bible held up each week before his congregation has never been opened and the truth of scripture never allowed to pierce through the deception. When pressed, Joel Osteen admitted he did not know if those who did not profess Jesus as LORD were wrong. Recalling his time in India Joel Osteen said he knew the people of India loved God and he saw their sincerity.
They may be sincere, but they are sincerely wrong. An atheist is sincere in what he believes, but he too is sincerely wrong. Scripture tells us that those who love God will keep HIS commandments – 1 John 5:3
“He [Jesus the Christ] IS the Stone which the builders rejected, but which became the Chief Cornerstone. And there is Salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12
To deny the redemptive work of Jesus the Christ is to deny the Word of God.
In the name of tolerance, we stand as complicit observers as homosexual men and women enter into the ministry of our LORD. We tolerate the practice of the Hindu religion disguised as “Christian Yoga.” In the name of tolerance, we accept the prosperity theory – teaching that God wants you healthy, wealthy and prosperous – that the goal of the Christian life is financial prosperity and health, so send them your money and watch for your miracle. Yet our LORD had no place to lay His head and taught those who would follow Him to take up their cross daily and follow Him. Paul was a tent maker in order to provide for his needs and the needs of those who traveled with him.
In writing to the church in Corinth Paul said:
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived [a good word for the day in which we live]. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards not revilers, not extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Why do we wink at sin as we sit before television screens, feeding our hearts and minds on false teachings while financially supporting the many televangelist whose agenda is self-gratification rather than self-sacrifice?
“They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it yields no grain. Should it yield, strangers would swallow it up.” Hosea 8:7
How many must die, eternally separated from God before we will have the courage to care?
By: M.E. Townsend
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. But why do you call me LORD, LORD and do not do the things which I say?”
Luke 6:45-46
Elie Wiesel wrote:
“In those times there was darkness everywhere. In heaven and on earth, all the gates of compassion seemed to have been closed. The killer killed, the Jews died, and the outside world adopted an attitude either of complicity or of indifference. Only a few had the courage to care.”
Those dark times allowed the enemies of men and of God to roam freely, unchecked and unquestioned, dark times that went unchallenged as eyes looked away and heads turned from truth, fear gripped faint hearts and men suffered.
Not unlike today where the same spirit of complicity rules and reigns in the hearts and minds of too many within the walls of the church. Today complicity has joined with tolerance and the two have embarked upon a quest to bring unification through faith, unification through thought and idea.
Yet scripture teaches those who will hear and believe:
“For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace, because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then those that are in the flesh cannot please God.” Romans 8:6-8
Tolerance as defined by Webster is “a willingness to let others have their own beliefs, ways, etc. even though these are not like ones own.”
Complicity is defined as “the fact of being involved with another in doing something wrong or unlawful”
In the spirit of tolerance and complicity, the Word of God has been so defiled, modified, watered down, twisted and ignored until the undiscerning and unrepentant remain lost in a sea of compromise and distortion while those who profess ‘Christianity’ stand in muted silence – refusing to speak out, refusing to judge.
We have forgotten Paul’ admonition to Timothy – perhaps we never knew:
“…I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case, you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you...” I Corinthians 5
"Idolatry is not simply worshiping a stone image; idolatry is any concept of God that reduces Him to less than Who He really is." Dr. Ron Carlson
Joel Osteen said when ask; "one cannot know who would or would not go to heaven." Perhaps the Bible held up each week before his congregation has never been opened and the truth of scripture never allowed to pierce through the deception. When pressed, Joel Osteen admitted he did not know if those who did not profess Jesus as LORD were wrong. Recalling his time in India Joel Osteen said he knew the people of India loved God and he saw their sincerity.
They may be sincere, but they are sincerely wrong. An atheist is sincere in what he believes, but he too is sincerely wrong. Scripture tells us that those who love God will keep HIS commandments – 1 John 5:3
“He [Jesus the Christ] IS the Stone which the builders rejected, but which became the Chief Cornerstone. And there is Salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12
To deny the redemptive work of Jesus the Christ is to deny the Word of God.
In the name of tolerance, we stand as complicit observers as homosexual men and women enter into the ministry of our LORD. We tolerate the practice of the Hindu religion disguised as “Christian Yoga.” In the name of tolerance, we accept the prosperity theory – teaching that God wants you healthy, wealthy and prosperous – that the goal of the Christian life is financial prosperity and health, so send them your money and watch for your miracle. Yet our LORD had no place to lay His head and taught those who would follow Him to take up their cross daily and follow Him. Paul was a tent maker in order to provide for his needs and the needs of those who traveled with him.
In writing to the church in Corinth Paul said:
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived [a good word for the day in which we live]. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards not revilers, not extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Why do we wink at sin as we sit before television screens, feeding our hearts and minds on false teachings while financially supporting the many televangelist whose agenda is self-gratification rather than self-sacrifice?
“They sow the wind and reap the whirlwind. The standing grain has no heads; it yields no grain. Should it yield, strangers would swallow it up.” Hosea 8:7
How many must die, eternally separated from God before we will have the courage to care?
Sunday, July 5, 2009
A Coming Revival – Fact or Fable
By: M.E. Townsend
Revival as defined by Webster is - “the act of bringing or coming back to life, health or activity. The act of bringing or coming back into use or popularity, " a meeting at which there is excited preaching for the purpose of ‘stirring’ up religious feeling.”
The teaching of a coming revival has been circulating in some American churches for over 20 years - talk of repentance - noticeably absent from such teaching.
Repentance as defined by Webster is - “to feel sorry for having done wrong, to feel regret over something done and change one’s mind.”
“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing [revival] may come from the presence of the LORD. Acts 3:19
The teaching of a ‘coming revival’ is often predicated on the non-Biblical doctrine of Dominion Theology.
Dominion Theology holds that the church will continue to get stronger and stronger until it takes over the world and cleans it up in preparation for the Lord’s return. With authority from the King, we are to reclaim the earth for our Saviour; not just spiritually, but socially, economically and politically; with organizations such as Promise Keepers, The Institute for Christian Economics and the Coalition of Revival leading the way. Those who follow Dominion Theology teach that the mission of the church goes beyond the spiritual transformation of individuals into ‘moral patriotism’. For Jesus the Christ to be pleased with Christians, they must become political and social activist.
We cry out for revival to come to the church of the twenty-first century – an apostate church that is lukewarm, poor, blind, naked, motivated by greed and overcome by the teachings of seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. Un-motivated by godly living, based upon the Word of God and the hope we have in His imminent return, the church of today is consumed by the task of reconstructing society, the work of our hands, embracing all faiths as one and have embarked on a quest for enlightenment and truth found apart from scripture.
We continue to cry out; “Let Your fire fall.”
This is in direct opposition to what the Bible says about the responsibilities of the church and the End Times. Jesus the Christ tells us over and over our duties as Christians. The Great Commission found in Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19 and in Mark 16:15 tells us to –
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
We as Christians are to be salt and light to this dark and dying world, not social activist or moral patriots. Jesus the Christ said, “I AM the AMEN.” God made a promise; Jesus sealed that promise with His blood. He is the proof that what God said was and is true. Our lives all too often do not reflect holy fear, neither is reverence nor respect for our LORD in evidence. All too often our lives reflect a desire for the gift - not the Giver. While refusing to look at the sin deep inside ourselves, we have chosen to love the pleasures of this world more than we love God.
Far too many attempt to distort and change the Word of God. Teachings are plentiful that absolute unity is more important than absolute truth, feelings and fellowship more important than faith and facts. We desire to be entertained rather than enlightened, tickled rather than tested, stroked rather than submitted.
We have become addicted to the emotional trappings, psychological maneuverings, and sensual seduction taught from pulpits across America. No longer is Jesus enough. There is no fervent teaching of scripture, no mention of sin or the depravity of man.
None cry out - “we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled..." Daniel 9
“Instead of sound doctrine, believers are feed “junk food” of contemporary psychotherapy, wrapped in Christian terminology that deceives the unwary as well as the elect.” The Berean Call
The Bible teaches the 'true' Church will continue to decline in influence while the apostate church will grow stronger as the end of the age approaches. As evidenced in our society, many are becoming less and less tolerant of the Christian worldview while more and more tolerant of the sins which so easily entangle, keeping those who are unaware far from their God.
“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 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4
BUT YOU – be watchful in ALL things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your mission." 2 Timothy 4:5
By: M.E. Townsend
Revival as defined by Webster is - “the act of bringing or coming back to life, health or activity. The act of bringing or coming back into use or popularity, " a meeting at which there is excited preaching for the purpose of ‘stirring’ up religious feeling.”
The teaching of a coming revival has been circulating in some American churches for over 20 years - talk of repentance - noticeably absent from such teaching.
Repentance as defined by Webster is - “to feel sorry for having done wrong, to feel regret over something done and change one’s mind.”
“Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing [revival] may come from the presence of the LORD. Acts 3:19
The teaching of a ‘coming revival’ is often predicated on the non-Biblical doctrine of Dominion Theology.
Dominion Theology holds that the church will continue to get stronger and stronger until it takes over the world and cleans it up in preparation for the Lord’s return. With authority from the King, we are to reclaim the earth for our Saviour; not just spiritually, but socially, economically and politically; with organizations such as Promise Keepers, The Institute for Christian Economics and the Coalition of Revival leading the way. Those who follow Dominion Theology teach that the mission of the church goes beyond the spiritual transformation of individuals into ‘moral patriotism’. For Jesus the Christ to be pleased with Christians, they must become political and social activist.
We cry out for revival to come to the church of the twenty-first century – an apostate church that is lukewarm, poor, blind, naked, motivated by greed and overcome by the teachings of seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. Un-motivated by godly living, based upon the Word of God and the hope we have in His imminent return, the church of today is consumed by the task of reconstructing society, the work of our hands, embracing all faiths as one and have embarked on a quest for enlightenment and truth found apart from scripture.
We continue to cry out; “Let Your fire fall.”
This is in direct opposition to what the Bible says about the responsibilities of the church and the End Times. Jesus the Christ tells us over and over our duties as Christians. The Great Commission found in Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:19 and in Mark 16:15 tells us to –
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
We as Christians are to be salt and light to this dark and dying world, not social activist or moral patriots. Jesus the Christ said, “I AM the AMEN.” God made a promise; Jesus sealed that promise with His blood. He is the proof that what God said was and is true. Our lives all too often do not reflect holy fear, neither is reverence nor respect for our LORD in evidence. All too often our lives reflect a desire for the gift - not the Giver. While refusing to look at the sin deep inside ourselves, we have chosen to love the pleasures of this world more than we love God.
Far too many attempt to distort and change the Word of God. Teachings are plentiful that absolute unity is more important than absolute truth, feelings and fellowship more important than faith and facts. We desire to be entertained rather than enlightened, tickled rather than tested, stroked rather than submitted.
We have become addicted to the emotional trappings, psychological maneuverings, and sensual seduction taught from pulpits across America. No longer is Jesus enough. There is no fervent teaching of scripture, no mention of sin or the depravity of man.
None cry out - “we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled..." Daniel 9
“Instead of sound doctrine, believers are feed “junk food” of contemporary psychotherapy, wrapped in Christian terminology that deceives the unwary as well as the elect.” The Berean Call
The Bible teaches the 'true' Church will continue to decline in influence while the apostate church will grow stronger as the end of the age approaches. As evidenced in our society, many are becoming less and less tolerant of the Christian worldview while more and more tolerant of the sins which so easily entangle, keeping those who are unaware far from their God.
“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 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 2 Timothy 4:3-4
BUT YOU – be watchful in ALL things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your mission." 2 Timothy 4:5
Friday, July 3, 2009
Silence and Treason
By: Bill Wilson
Greetings in the Name of Him Who Is Truth!
As we stand in the threshold of the annual celebration of our national Liberty, I wonder what firebrand statesman will arise and proclaim to this nation that God's Liberty is perfect liberty and that humanist freedom is akin to slavery.
Galatians 5:1 says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
The bondage spoken herein is the bondage of satanic driven sin from which Christ's death and resurrection freed all believers. Yet, in the name of freedom, it is the humanist sin that threatens to wrap itself around the very existence of this nation and squeeze its lifeblood. Have we become a nation where the grace of God in His perfect Liberty is laid as an excuse to become enslaved in humanistic bondage because what God judges as unrighteous, man judges as righteous? Have we become a silent kingdom of God's people, betraying our Father in Heaven in tolerance of human correctness? Are we to remain with a mouth to speak, but our words are empty and powerless because we fear man rather than God? The doctrines of men are the deceptions to freedom and the chains of bondage.
If you have ears to hear, and know the truth of that Liberty which frees all, to keep silent upon it is shear treason.
Patrick Henry in his speech to the Virginia House of Commons on March 23, 1775 said,
"For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings."
Jesus said in Matthew 15:9, "but in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
If God's word is the standard to govern heaven, then those of us who profess Christianity should accept nothing less than God's precepts to govern our lives and our nation which was founded in His name. It is the responsibility of being Christian and American. Therefore, speak forth Liberty in its truth and totality.
As Patrick Henry said, "Give me Liberty or give me death." Liberty is of freedom in Christ, death is slavery to sin and humanism.
By: Bill Wilson
Greetings in the Name of Him Who Is Truth!
As we stand in the threshold of the annual celebration of our national Liberty, I wonder what firebrand statesman will arise and proclaim to this nation that God's Liberty is perfect liberty and that humanist freedom is akin to slavery.
Galatians 5:1 says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."
The bondage spoken herein is the bondage of satanic driven sin from which Christ's death and resurrection freed all believers. Yet, in the name of freedom, it is the humanist sin that threatens to wrap itself around the very existence of this nation and squeeze its lifeblood. Have we become a nation where the grace of God in His perfect Liberty is laid as an excuse to become enslaved in humanistic bondage because what God judges as unrighteous, man judges as righteous? Have we become a silent kingdom of God's people, betraying our Father in Heaven in tolerance of human correctness? Are we to remain with a mouth to speak, but our words are empty and powerless because we fear man rather than God? The doctrines of men are the deceptions to freedom and the chains of bondage.
If you have ears to hear, and know the truth of that Liberty which frees all, to keep silent upon it is shear treason.
Patrick Henry in his speech to the Virginia House of Commons on March 23, 1775 said,
"For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings."
Jesus said in Matthew 15:9, "but in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
If God's word is the standard to govern heaven, then those of us who profess Christianity should accept nothing less than God's precepts to govern our lives and our nation which was founded in His name. It is the responsibility of being Christian and American. Therefore, speak forth Liberty in its truth and totality.
As Patrick Henry said, "Give me Liberty or give me death." Liberty is of freedom in Christ, death is slavery to sin and humanism.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Emergent' Wishful Thinking
By: Pastor Bob Dewaay
The Bible speaks about those who base their beliefs on imagination:
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:16
The issue in Jeremiah’ day is the same issue that has arisen in our day because of the emergent church movement. Jeremiah prophesied coming judgments. Those who gained their insight from their own imaginations said it was not coming. The Biblical apostles and prophets also have prophesied coming judgment and have issued warnings. They speak authoritatively:
“While they say; “Peace and safety!” Then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape." I Thessalonians 5:3.
While emergent teachers are saying peace and safety, Biblical writers say: Get ready and be prepared for the wrath that is to come.
Either the Biblical writers have spoken the truth or the emergent writers have, but not both. Our eternal souls depend upon whom we believe. Both Jeremiah and Paul spoke truth. They have proven to be 100 percent right, 100 percent of the time.
"Santify them in truth; Thy Word is Truth." John 17:17
By: Pastor Bob Dewaay
The Bible speaks about those who base their beliefs on imagination:
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, Not from the mouth of the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:16
The issue in Jeremiah’ day is the same issue that has arisen in our day because of the emergent church movement. Jeremiah prophesied coming judgments. Those who gained their insight from their own imaginations said it was not coming. The Biblical apostles and prophets also have prophesied coming judgment and have issued warnings. They speak authoritatively:
“While they say; “Peace and safety!” Then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape." I Thessalonians 5:3.
While emergent teachers are saying peace and safety, Biblical writers say: Get ready and be prepared for the wrath that is to come.
Either the Biblical writers have spoken the truth or the emergent writers have, but not both. Our eternal souls depend upon whom we believe. Both Jeremiah and Paul spoke truth. They have proven to be 100 percent right, 100 percent of the time.
"Santify them in truth; Thy Word is Truth." John 17:17
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