Welcome to True Light Ministries' Blog

By Vince and Lori Williams
vinceandloriministries.blogspot.com
 
“My fellow pastors, could it be that many of our hearers each week aren’t saved, even many of our members?” This was one of the questions that Pastor Mark Dever asked to about 8000 ministers at 2012′s Together For the Gospel conference, according to The Christian Post. He went on to say that the problem isn’t just the “occasional hypocrite lost in unrepentant sin,” but, “systems that seem to produce false converts – not just one man, but whole congregations.” 
 
Pastor Dever is dead on. So many churches today are experiencing a seismic pandemic – and yes, we mean a pandemic, and one that’s only beginning. The goats are a majority and favored, while the sheep are the minority and are being flogged.
 
It’s because of “pastors” who think that their silly antics, self-help series sets, and “funny” stories/jokes about themselves will win people for Christ that people are being falsely confirmed into the Kingdom of God. Rick Warren and Bill Hybels adopted their purpose driven and seeker-driven strategies that started a tsunami of a movement years ago that has escalated to a point of no return. While he and other “leaders” are busy teaching masses of pastors in America and around the world how to train their churches to be purpose/seeker-driven, masses of regular church-goers are being lied to. They are being told that they need to find their purpose in life through Jesus plus everything else they tell you to do. False conversions are the result.
 
On the other side of America, Steven Furtick has just begun his seventh year of seeker-friendly madness, and now a mix of word-of-faith gospel, in the Carolinas, teaching his followers that they must pray “audacious” prayers in order to please God. All this and more, with Scripture being twisted every which way. (see the video of Steven on our blog posted at the end of this article for further details) The result once again? False conversions.
 
Then right in between Dallas and Ft. Worth, TX, at Fellowship Self-Help Center, we have Ed Young Jr. who is rapidly gaining popularity with his creative self-help baggage of “sermons” focusing on marriage, sex, sharks, Twilight, Rev Run, and more, along with Scriptures being taken out of context, and inappropriate jokes. Therefore, false conversions are the norm.
 
It’s no wonder this is pandemic.  People aren’t hearing the gospel or any part of the Word in context, and even if they are hearing the Gospel, it’s maybe once a year at Christmas or Resurrection Sunday when pastors decide they should mention it for the sake of that time of year.
 
The sheep are starving. They are being left behind by a stampede of people running for their spiritual poison given to them by men who only want fame and fortune and care nothing about anyone but themselves. A great many men, calling themselves pastors/teachers, are claiming they are called of God to preach/teach, but are not proclaiming the Word of God (Titus 1:10, 2 John 1:7). Instead, they ramble on about themselves and their great accomplishments so they can be popular, have big churches, and make lots of money. SHAME ON THEM! True teachers of the Word preach the Word when it’s popular AND when it’s not popular (2 Tim 4:1-2). They rebuke sin and false teaching. They reprove when needed. They exhort. They do this with patience and instruction.
 
 
Vince talks about some of these things in Chapter 10 of their book FALSIFIED: The Danger of False Conversion. Also, in 2 Tim. 4:1, Paul says to Timothy “I solemnly charge you…..” (emphasis ours).Paul is serious. The word “solemnly” expresses a dead seriousness, like when one vows, or makes an oath. This is not to be taken lightly. This is not a game. This is not about popularity. This is not about jokes, entertainment, or money (Titus 1:7, 11; I Peter 5:2). This is about the Word of God. This is about Truth. This is about shepherding the flock of God (1 Peter 5:2). This is about eternity. Lives are at stake.
 
“He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God.” (1 Cor 5:21)
“Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.” (Rom 3:24)
This is the Christian good news. Jesus died for sinners. We are all sinners. God requires perfection (Matt 5:48), and we cannot be perfect. All our good works are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) apart from faith in Jesus Christ. Those who do not flee to Him will spend a conscious eternity in Hell. You must throw yourself at the mercy of Jesus and ask Him to save you, and because of His grace He will grant you repentance, faith to believe, and eternal life in His presence.
 
For you pastors out there, whether in a very small church, or in a larger church, who are faithfully proclaiming God’s Word to us, His flock, His sheep…….thank you. We realize that you are under attack from all sides with pressure to go WITH the flow, instead of against the flow. Stay faithful. We encourage you with our brother Paul to “Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is NOT in vain.” (emphasis ours, I Cor 15:58).

bennyhinn.com

Our Lord Jesus promises that “he that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father” (John 14:12).

According to Webster’s, a miracle is an “event that appears to be contrary to the laws of nature and is regarded as an act of God; an event or action that is totally amazing, extraordinary, or unexpected.”

Most believers in the world today, regardless of their denominational background, generally acknowledge that God is able to heal and that He wants to pour blessings upon His children. However, their views on how and when He heals vary widely.

Some Christians hold firmly to the belief that God does not heal today, maintaining that He healed only in what they refer to as “the day of miracles,” a time when the Lord Jesus was on earth. People who believe this way assert with deep conviction that since Jesus is no longer on earth physically to perform supernatural works, miracles are no longer possible.

Others reluctantly admit that God, at times, may still heal some needy individual, rescuing that person from certain tragedy through an act of divine intervention.

Still others advocate a mind-over-matter approach, insisting that by maintaining a strong mental attitude, victory can be realized over sickness and adversity.

The world has many theories about God, of course, and the question of miracles has been discussed and debated for centuries by great theologians. Yet mankind’s opinions have no bearing on God Almighty. The Bible is the final authority on healing and miracles, and only through its sacred pages can we discover the true nature and character of God, along with the benefits and blessings that belong to us as His children.

What Does the Bible Say?

The Scriptures tell us clearly that it is God’s will to heal His children today and that it is His desire for us to enjoy the blessings of divine health and His healing touch. Both the Old and New Testaments have much to say about miracles of healing.

God’s ever-present disposition toward us regarding health and healing is revealed in His covenant of healing with the children of Israel: “I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians, For I am the Lord that healeth thee” (Exodus 15:26). He said, “I am the Lord”—in present tense. He didn’t say, “I was,” not “I will be,” but “I am!”

God is ever present. We serve “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8). There are no boundaries, limitations, or time constraints on God’s promises. His promise to us for healing and health is the same today as it was to any past generation.

The words of David acknowledged that covenant when he said, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases” (Psalm 103:1-3).

The Scriptures reveal how the Lord Jesus ministered healing to the sick, performing miracles and healing to all who came to Him. God is and has always been the Healer. Throughout the Word of God, repeated reference is made of Jesus healing all who come to Him, never refusing anyone or turning them away: “When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick” (Matthew 8:16).

Again and again, the Scriptures declare that Jesus went and healed all—not one, not two, not three, not ten, but all!

In addition to performing miracles of healing, the Lord Jesus also gave power to His disciples to heal: “Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:1-2).

Miracles Are Part of God’s Provision

Today many believers acknowledge God’s ability to heal. But like the leper who came to Jesus in Matthew 8 begging for healing, they pray, “If it be your will, Lord, heal me.” They are just not sure that it is God’s will for them to be healed.

God’s promises are timeless. When you bring your need to the Lord in prayer, take the “if” out of your asking and pray in faith, expecting to receive! As Scripture promises, “The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up” (James 5:15).

It is God’s will for you to walk in divine health and be in a right relationship with Him: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth” (3 John 2). God assures us that He has not and will not change: “I am the Lord, I change not” (Malachi 3:6).

Just as it was when the Lord Jesus walked on this earth, signs, wonders, and miraculous acts, still occur today. Miracles still happen today. Blind eyes still receive their sight. Deaf ears still begin to hear. The crippled and the lame still leap to their feet and walk.

God’s unchanging character is certain. He truly desires to pour out blessings on His children, and as His child you can expect them to be showered on you: “Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above” (Genesis 49:25). Miracles are certainly part of the vast provision that God has made available for you.

Whether a miracle occurs instantaneously or by process of time, God does heal today and forever!

Thank you for serving Him as my faithful partner. Thank you for all you are doing for the kingdom of God, for we know that it is “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).

Preaching the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ,
teaching the unchanging Word of God, and
expecting the mighty and miraculous
power of the Holy Spirit,

Benny Hinn

Charisma Magazine.
-Jennifer LeClaire

I recently heard a prophetic word that described an angelic visitation.
Of course, I am all for angelic visitations. Both the Old and New
Testament offer plenty of examples of angels appearing to people
to deliver heavenly messages. But this angel apparently had a
creative name. Its name was supposedly “Safe Passage.”

It grieves me that we have to go around this mountain yet again in
the body of Christ. Wasn´t the controversy over Emma – the female
angel who purportedly started the modern-day prophetic movement -
enough to put an end to this sort of nonsense? Apparently not.

Let me be clear: There is no angel named Emma and there is no
angel named Safe Passage – and it´s assignment is not to escort
you safely into new opportunities or to clear fearsome corners
and honor your unsung courage.

However, if you Google the keywords “angel safe passage,” you
might see where a misguided prophetic pen could draw such
erroneous inspiration. There´s a Safe Passage playing card that´s
a prominent “white angel” in a Dungeons & Dragons-style game.
In this context, “Safe Passage” is a sorcerer. On the more benign
side, “Safe Passage” was the title of a script for a 1997 episode
of Touched by an Angel. Either way, there is no God-sent angel
named Safe Passage.

It just so happened that when I stumbled upon the so-called
revelation of this angel named Safe Passage I was already
studying the topic of angels. In fact, I was in the midst of reading
Dr. Lester Sumrall´s Angels to Help You for a second time.
Sumrall offered abundant Scripture about the reality of angels,
the categories of angels-including their names and ranks – what
angels do, what angels know, angels and prophecy, what kind of
people receive angelic service, and much more.

Angels are real. Angels are mentioned 108 times in the Old
Testament and 165 times in the New Testament. Angels are
messengers. Angels are innumerable. The Bible mentions three
angels by name: Michael, Gabriel and Lucifer. But beyond that,
you have to go to religions like Zoroastrianism to find the names
of angels.

Zoroastrianism, also called Mazdaism, is a religion based on a
self-styled prophet named Zoroaster (also known as Avestan or
Zarathustra). Zoroastrianism was once among the largest religions
in the world, a political power in pre-Islamic Iran. Mazdaism believers
prayed to angels like Ameretat, Asha Vahishta and Vohu Mano
for protection.

In modern times, the New Age movement has an A-to-Z list of
named angels, some of which are supposedly rooted in Scripture.
There´s Abdiel, the professed “Angel of Faith.” At the end of the
New Age list, you´ll find Zuriel, the “Angel of Harmony” who has
dominion over the sun sign of Libra.

As you can see, false teaching about angels has been circulating
the world since before Christ was born and well after He ascended
to the right hand of the Father. False teachings about angels was
an issue in the early church and it´s an issue in the end-time
church. “And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into
an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14).

Paul had an apostolic message for those who hyper-focused on
angels and their “teachings” at the expense of exalting Christ.
Paul was so bold as to say that if he – or an angel from heaven -
preached any other gospel than the gospel of Christ he should
be accursed (Gal. 1:8). Those are pretty strong words and ones
that should be heeded before we preach sermons or pen articles
that exalt angels.

Paul also said, “Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight
in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things
which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and
not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished
and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase
that is from God” (Col. 2:18-19).

Matthew Henry, an 18th century minister whose well-known
commentary provides an exhaustive verse-by-verse study of the
Bible, gets to the root of such angel exaltation: “They advanced
those notions to gratify their own carnal fancy, and were fond of
being thought wiser than other people. Pride is at the bottom of
a great many errors and corruptions, and even of many evil
practices, which have great show and appearance of humility.”

Yes, angels are ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those
who will inherit salvation (Heb. 1:14). That´s us! Angels are sent
to execute God´s Word. By revelation of the Holy Spirit, David
wrote, “Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength,
who do His word, heeding the voice of His word” (Ps.103:20).
Angels stand ready to obey the Word of God and bring it to pass.

Yes, in a way angels may help provide us with safe passage.
When we make the Lord our dwelling place, no evil shall befall us
nor shall any plague come near our dwelling; for He shall give His
angels charge over us, to keep us in all our ways. In their hands
they shall bear us up, lest we dash our foot against a stone
(Psalm 91:9-12). But there is no angel named Safe Passage, at
least none of God´s angels.

One last thought: John mistakenly fell down to worship at the feet
of an angel who had shown him the revelations he recorded in the
book of Revelation. The angel immediately told him to worship
God (Rev. 22:8-9). We don´t know the name of this angel. If it
were important, the Holy Spirit would have revealed it. I suppose
some in the modern church would name him “Revelation,” – some
may even claim “Revelation” is a female – and that would be yet
another error.

Let me end with the words of Jesus Himself: “Take heed that no
one deceives you… for false christs and false prophets will rise
and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the
elect” (Mk 13:5; 22). Amen. -Jennifer LeClaire, news editor, Charisma.

By: David Wilkerson

Let me give you the heart of the true grace message: It is not a permissive gospel but one that teaches holiness!
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13).
According to Paul, we are not walking in grace until we have broken from worldly corruptions. Unless we are endeavoring through the power of the Holy Spirit to lead godly and righteous lives, looking for the Lord’s coming in our every waking moment, we do not know God’s grace.
Many Christians want forgiveness, but that is all. They do not want to be delivered from this present world, because they love it. They are attached to their sins, not wanting to give up the pleasures of this earth. So they cling to a doctrine that says, “I can live as I please — as long as I say that I believe.”
They do not want to hear about obedience, repentance, self- denial, picking up their cross, taking on the yoke or burden of Christ. They simply want to be excused on Judgment Day — to have all their iniquities overlooked. They expect Jesus to open up the pearly gates, put His arms around them, and lead them down a golden street to their reserved mansion, even though they have never broken from the spirit of this world!
Paul writes, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:2). We are to break from this world completely and be conformed to Christ alone!
Jesus justifies us through faith for a purpose: It is to embolden and empower us to resist the devil and overcome the world.
“[Jesus Christ] gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Galatians 1:4).

Posted by Christine Pack

For those who think the Emergent Church Movement is just another flavor of Christianity, Exhibit A for your consideration:

Samir Selmanovic, a rising star in the Emergent Church Movement, thinks it is just fine for someone who is a professing Christian to attend a worship service “with a wonderful Wiccan community.” In An Emergent Manifesto of Hope, some of Selmanovic’s writings gave us a hint of his beliefs:

Can it be that the teachings of the gospel are embedded and can be found in reality itself rather than being exclusively isolated in sacred texts and our interpretations of those texts? If the answer is yes, can it be that they are embedded in other stories, other peoples’ histories, and even other religions?…

God’s table is welcoming all who seek, and if any religion is to win, may it be the one that produces people who are the most loving, the most humble, the most Christlike. Whatever the meaning of “salvation” and “judgement,” we Christians are going to be saved by grace, like everyone else, and judged by our works, like everyone else…

For most critics of such open Christianity, the problem with inclusiveness is that it allows for truth to be found in other religions. To emerging Christians, that problem is sweet… Moreover, if non-Christians can know our God, then we want to benefit from their contribution to our faith.

This kind of teaching has become increasingly more mainstreamed and accepted – through a false – but very popular – teaching called “The Wider Mercy Doctrine,” a form of Universalism that has – amazingly – somehow taken root in some of today’s churches.

The Wider Mercy Doctrine

The “Wider Mercy Doctrine” is a belief that salvation can be obtained even when a person has not heard the gospel and does not know Jesus Christ. It is a belief that, somehow, God grants salvific status to persons who are sincere in their religious beliefs, even if those beliefs are false. Therefore, according to this false teaching, a sincere Buddhist or Shintoist or Toaist or any other religious adherent can obtain salvation, simply because they are sincere in their belief and desire to approach God.

Billy Graham espoused it in years past, and Rob Bell, William P. Young, and Leonard Sweet (among others) espouse it today. Now, most professing Christians who hold to the Wider Mercy Doctrine have made at least some effort to have Jesus figure somewhere in their redemption story through a heresy which originated in the 3rd century A.D. with a false teacher named Origen. This teaching is known today by various names, including Christian Universalism and Universal Reconciliation. But Samir Selmanovic is showing that for some, this is no longer necessary. If you think about it, it makes sense. Where Samir Selmanovic has ended up is the natural “end” of this Wider Mercy doctrine…..which states, “Hey, who are we to “put God in a box,” and say that He can’t save people in any way He wants to?”

The Wider Mercy heresy sounds so good and loving and tolerant, but think of it like a bullseye with concentric circles: Jesus and the narrow way in the center, then Catholicism in the next ring, then next would be the Christian cults (Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons, etc.), then next would be Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, paganism, and continuing outward, with the very outermost ring being straight up Satan worship. (Obviously, the false religions in the closer in circles would more closely mimic Christianity, in that they would possess similar terminology, have similar worship practices, they might even sing hymns and quote Scripture. But as you move outward, more and more of that would drop away.)

Samir Selmanovic has just followed this heresy to its natural conclusion…he may be a few rings short of straight up Satanism….but he’s not that far off. Wicca is very dark.

I have been watching in amazed astonishment for several years as the Emergent Church Movement has grown increasingly more apostate and brazen in its heresies. The developments have been fast-moving and continually surprising. But I have to say, this one surprised even me. Worshiping with witches? I believe that we may have just witnessed the the merging of the Emergent Church with New Age Spirituality. Can our Lord’s return be far off?

Self-centeredness and idolatry are the two greatest destroyers of marriage, said one pastor at a panel on marriage and dating in Raleigh, N.C.

J.D. Greear, lead pastor of The Summit Church, which sponsored the talk, said that being single “is [the] time to go to war against the things that will destroy marriage.”

He, along with his wife and three other couples from the church, spoke candidly about how Christians should approach dating and marriage on a video posted on his blog this week. The video featured the “Determine The Relationship Talk” his church held for an audience of nearly 1,000 college students.

Greear emphasized during the talk that the culture approaches the idea of romance the wrong way. He said that people choose a mate base on how they make them feel.

Greear’s wife, Veronica, explained this idea in more detail, saying people try to pick a mate based on attractiveness or social status and wealth, but “this leaves you in a mess if you get married on this basis,” she said.

She said that single adults need to base the way they look at those of the opposite sex not on who is “the hottest,” but rather, “who could be a good friend, and see out of good friendship what arises.”

Veronica emphasized that our society has made marriage into an idol. “Society has determined that if you don’t have a significant other you’re not worth anything.”

She told the nearly 1,000 students in the crowd that this is a lie because “God is enough, Jesus is enough. You can be perfectly fulfilled [through Jesus], but you don’t see this done very often because it’s an uphill battle. A battle of not bowing down at the altar of being married.”

Omar King, an assistant pastor at The Summit, was also part of the panel discussion with his wife, LaToya. LaToya King echoed Veronica’s thoughts saying that she got married later in life, and that it’s important to “cherish the season [of singleness] the Lord has given you. You have your own life and God has his plan for you.”

She said it is easy to get blinded by our own wants and desires, but if you do then “you’ll miss out on what God is doing in your life right now.”

LaToya also noted that oftentimes people think marriage is going to solve all their problems. “That’s not necessarily true,” she said. “You might think you know what you sign up for, but you don’t know.”

She said marriage is about growing together and “growing in grace with the Lord,” and that doesn’t mean it’s always going to be easy.

Greear agreed, saying, this idea that marriage will be perfect as long as both parties are compatible is a myth. He explained that marriage of course should have a level of compatibility, but the biggest emphasis should be on cultivating “a gospel-based relationship.”

It’s about “learning to love within,” and that is a different kind of fulfillment and love, he said. All of those on the panel agreed that the greatest human desire is to be known and loved. But Greear said, regardless of relationship status, “In Christ we are fully known and loved.”

He told those in the crowd, most of which were unmarried, to use the season of singleness in their life to “ground yourself in the Gospel. The greatest thing you can do now is focus on growing in Christ and seeking him first.”

GEORGE FOX – Too RADICAL!!

Andrew Strom:-  A reader wrote to me recently about the radical
ministry of George Fox from centuries ago. Here was a man who
feared nothing, who walked the earth in leather clothes, who was
so against the organized religion of his day that he called church
buildings “steeple houses” and frightened off many a “hireling” in
the charge thereof – before preaching to the congregation himself!!
There has rarely been an anointed Reformer or Revivalist as radical
as George Fox.

As reader ‘Tom’ wrote to me:

“I have read a number of items on revival, but to my knowledge, no
one has referenced George Fox who lived in the 1600s in England
during a tumultuous time. He spent times in jail for his outspoken
faith and because he challenged the clergy of the day. His teaching
was the most practical and uncompromising I have encountered
on the matter of holiness and regeneration.

An interesting thing about him and perhaps the reason he goes
unnoticed, is that his ministry mirrors that of the book of Acts,
except that his foes are not Judaism but apostate Christianity.
In other words, his time is contemporary in many ways with ours.
Because of this, many may avoid him since he was entirely
separated from organized religion!”

GEORGE FOX – the HOLY RADICAL
-by David Smithers.

In the year of 1647, a large man with piercing eyes named George
Fox started preaching throughout the towns and villages of England.
He prayed and fasted often, traveling with no other companion but
his Bible. He proclaimed a gospel of purity, power and repentance.

When George Fox began preaching, many churches were dead
and bound in man-made traditions and formalism. When the Church
drifts into formalism, the world drifts into further ungodliness. The
methods and appearance of George Fox to some, seemed quite
offensive and extreme. It is sometimes necessary for God’s
prophets to be unconventional in order to thoroughly awaken the
indifferent and hard hearted.

Soon after George Fox began to preach, he had a remarkable
spiritual experience that lasted fourteen days. A certain Mr. Brown,
while on his death bed prophesied many great things concerning
Fox. “When this man was buried,” says Fox, “a great work of the
Lord fell on me.” During this mighty baptism of the Spirit, Fox
received a remarkable gift of discernment. “He seemed to be able
to read the character of men by looking at them.” Miraculous
healings also accompanied his ministry. Through prayer and the
laying on of hands, the sick were often healed and devils were
cast out to the glory of Christ. When George Fox preached men
would shake and tremble. “The name Quaker was given to Fox
and his followers because of the quaking of the men who came
to scoff but stayed to pray.” This remarkable power seemed to
accompany the preaching of Fox wherever he went.

Fox preached that Jesus Christ is the author of a faith which
purifies and gives victory over sin. He fervently exhorted men to
pursue complete holiness rather than empty religious ceremonies.
As a result, he was often beaten, stoned and driven out of town.
It is estimated that perhaps no other man since the time of the
Reformation was persecuted and imprisoned as often as George
Fox. He usually went about the country on foot, dressed in his
famous suit of leather clothes, which it is believed he made
himself. He often slept outside under a tree or in some haystack.
Fox also often pointed out that what was commonly called the
Church was only a building. He boldly declared that only the
fervent believers of Christ were the living stones of the true Church.

“Above all George Fox excelled in prayer.” It was his habit to wait
in silence for the movement of the Holy Spirit and then begin to
pray, causing whole congregations to be shaken and humbled
under the hand of God Almighty. “As he prayed the power of God
came down in such a marvelous manner the very building seemed
to rock.” Through the ministry of George Fox, a glimmer of Apostolic
power was revealed to seventeenth century England. He was a man
of the Spirit in an age that emphasized theological and scriptural
accuracy at the expense of the power of the Holy Ghost. He always
stressed the importance of a Spirit filled life and refused to let dead
orthodoxy be a veil for the works of the flesh.

If we as believers are content with a gospel that merely comforts
our conscience and perseveres our traditions, then we are also
content to forsake the gospel of Christ and the Apostles. God
help us to truly seek the kind of praying and preaching that will
once again make men tremble in the presence of Jesus Christ.

Taken from the Berean Call Newsletter…

Question: Recently I joined a yoga class for fitness and relaxation. During the

class, mantras are used. The teacher explained the meanings such as “all is truth.”

Is it wrong to participate in these mantras? Can I just substitute Christian words

such as “Jesus”? Or should I not participate in the class at all? Everyone I have

asked seems to think there is no problem with this but I feel uncomfortable and

do not know why.

 

Response: I am glad that you feel uncomfortable about being involved in yoga. Drop

the class immediately! Yoga is the very heart of Hinduism. It is sold in the West

as science but in fact is religion. It is promoted in the West as beneficial to

health, but in the East it is a technique for dying. The goal is to reach moksha,

allegedly escaping the world of illusion (maya) of time and sense into liberation

from the endless cycle of birth and death and rebirth through reincarnation.

 

The latter is another of Satan’s appealing lies that offers endless chances by denying

God’s declaration that it is “appointed unto man once to die” (Heb 9:27). Many Roman

Catholic priests and nuns practice yoga, and some who have become deeply involved

in Eastern mysticism of various kinds, such as Thomas Merton, are highly honored

among Catholics.

 

Yoga is a sanskrit word that means “yoking” and refers to union with Brahman, the

ultimate god in Hinduism. The goal of yoga is “self-realization,” to realize that

atman, the individual soul, is identical with Brahman, the universal soul, i.e.,

that you and god are one; indeed, that you are god but just don’t know it and need,

through yoga, to discover this great “truth.”

 

Your yoga teacher will probably deny all of this, but he (or she) cannot deny that

this practice comes from Hinduism. It was not invented in the West. Yoga was introduced

by Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita as the sure way to the Hindu heaven. Shiva,

one of the most feared Hindu deities, known as The Destroyer, is addressed as Yogeshwara,

which means “Lord of Yoga.”

 

Hatha yoga, known as physical yoga, is alleged to be devoid of the mysticism in

other forms. Not so. One of the most authoritative hatha yoga texts, the fifteenth-century

Hathayoga-Pradipika, declares that Lord Shiva was the first hatha yoga teacher.

As for the mantras, if one of them means “all is truth,” that should give you the

pantheistic Hindu connection. You know that all is not truth; indeed, this very

idea is a satanic lie!

 

Substitute “Jesus” as your “Christian mantra”? No! Any mantra (like the Catholic

rosary) violates Christ’s command to “use not vain repetitions as the heathen”

(Mt 6:7). I don’t know what mantras you have been taught, but the fact is that true

yoga mantras are all the names of Hindu gods. Furthermore, the greatest yoga teachers

all declare that the repetition of a mantra is a call to that god (i.e., the demon

it represents) to come and possess the meditator. I have interviewed people who

became demon possessed through yoga. The great yogis all warn of the grave dangers

involved, even though at the same time they promote the alleged benefits.

 

Yes, you could benefit physically from stretching your muscles, etc. However, the

spiritual price you pay is not worth it. If you are interested in physical fitness,

then practice exercises designed for that, not those designed specifically for achieving

union with Brahman!

 

One of the most popular forms of yoga in the West is Transcendental Meditation (TM).

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at first introduced TM to the West as a Hindu religious practice.

He openly taught that its purpose was to produce in the meditators’ bodies “soma,”

a legendary substance that would allegedly feed and awaken the pantheon of Hindu

gods. But when TM was excluded from public schools and government funding, Maharishi

quickly and dishonestly deleted all reference to religion and began presenting TM

as pure science. Such deliberate deceit says much about Maharishi’s integrity. Nothing

was changed except the labels.

 

Former TMers have filed lawsuits asking millions of dollars in damages because of

the traumas they suffered through the practice of TM. More recently, TM has practically

taken over the town of Fairfield, Iowa, where Maharishi University of Management

is located.

 

The latest push in the promotion of TM comes from television personality Dr. Mehmet

Oz. This protégé of Oprah Winfrey is a national spokesman for Transcendental Meditation,

as well as being a medical advisor/teacher in Rick Warren’s “Daniel Plan,” an alleged

biblical health and fitness program begun at Saddleback Church. The curriculum features

occult meditation advocated by Oz and two other medical consultants.

 

Question: Do you believe smoking to be a sin? Please don’t quote “If any man defile

the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple

are ye.” That verse is about causing divisions in the Church….From my studies,

 I cannot say that smoking is a sin. Otherwise breathing in smoke from burning firewood

would be a sin since that is harmful. God did not specifically prohibit breathing

in smoke in the Old Testament and Jesus did not specifically speak about it in the

New Testament.

 

Response: Although 1 Corinthians 3 begins with a discussion of divisions in the

church, in context verses 10-13 speak about the judgment of individuals: “Now if

any man build upon….Every man’s work shall be made manifest….If any man’s work

abide which he hath built thereupon, etc.” Yes, the “temple” speaks of the entire

body of believers, but the judgment is against individuals whose choices, whose

actions,  defile the body. “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not

expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power

of [controlled by] any” (1 Cor 10:23). Are you under the power of cigarettes?

 

Regarding specific verses, “Thou shalt not kill” doesn’t limit whether the killing

is instantaneous or spread out over many years. Look at the statistics. You are

destroying your body. Look at it from God’s view, see how it violates what He made

you for, and ask Him to help you to hate and despise it for what it is and what

it does. Drinking a “little wine” is recommended by Paul. But if you drink it to

excess, it ruins your life, destroys your liver, etc. Again, simple common sense

would deliver you from desires that are destroying you. Don’t leave it up to God

to miraculously cause you to stop something that you yourself have the willpower

to do and every reason to stop. He will help you if you desire to stop for the right

reasons: because it is sinful, harmful, and dishonors Him. We need to confess our

sin as sin and believe that Christ can deliver us.

 

Paul’s heart for the church seems so much greater than ours at times: “Wherefore,

if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth,

lest I make my brother to offend” (1 Cor 8:13).

 

Finally, I think it’s a given that we all know there is a vast difference between

someone accidentally inhaling smoke from a fireplace or woodstove and purposely

from a cigarette. How many people have you had to stop from sticking their heads

into a fireplace to inhale? Let’s be objective.

-by David Wilkerson.

Our minds have a natural tendency to wander and drift. Often we
can’t sleep because we are unable to shut down the barrage of
thoughts that invade our minds. I call these “unwilling distractions.”

As I sat in church during worship recently, my mind was flooded
with invading thoughts-thoughts of ministry, my next sermon,
church finances, the need for more space. These are all important
things, but I was totally distracted from worshiping the Lord. I had
to keep bringing my thoughts into captivity.

When God communed with Abraham and made covenant with him,
Abraham killed five animals and laid them out as a sacrifice.
Scripture says, “When the fowls came down upon the carcases,
Abram drove them away” (Genesis 15:11).

That is exactly what happens to us during worship. Thoughts fly
down on us like bothersome birds, interfering with our intimacy
with Him, trying to devour our sacrifice. And, like Abraham, we
need to drive them all away.

Every time I shut myself in to pray, within ten minutes my thoughts
begin to run off in all directions. I hear my mouth worshiping the
Lord, but my mind is completely on something else. I try fighting
off the flood of thoughts, but even more come pouring in. The flesh
constantly wars against our spirit, wanting our attention.

The same happens to me in God’s house. I can be praising the
Lord, full of love for Jesus, when suddenly my mind begins chasing
after some other matter. Our wandering thoughts are not always
of the devil. Sometimes they simply crowd in on us-thoughts of
business, family, problems, difficulties. They must always be
brought into captivity, however, because we are at war!

The flesh will always try to interfere with our worship or our prayer
time. We are commanded to resist the flesh, and we must keep
bringing Jesus back into focus. If we keep our mind centered on
God, His fire will fall on our holy sacrifice.

John MacArthur

Those who are familiar with my ministry know that I am committed to expository preaching. It is my unshakable conviction that the proclamation of God’s Word should always be the heart and the focus of the church’s ministry (2 Tim. 4:2). And proper biblical preaching should be systematic, expositional, theological, and God-centered.

Such preaching is in short supply these days. There are plenty of gifted communicators in the modern evangelical movement, but today’s sermons tend to be short, shallow, topical homilies that massage people’s egos and focus on fairly insipid subjects like human relationships, “successful” living, emotional issues, and other practical but worldly—and not definitively biblical—themes. These messages are lightweight and without substance, cheap and synthetic, leaving little more than an ephemeral impression on the minds of the hearers.

Some time ago I hosted a discussion at the Expositors’ Institute, an annual small-group colloquium on preaching held at our church. In preparation for that seminar, I took a yellow legal pad and a pen and began listing the negative effects of the superficial brand of preaching that is so rife in modern evangelicalism.

I initially thought I might be able to identify about ten, but in the end I had jotted down a list of sixty-one devastating consequences. I’ve distilled them to fifteen by combining and eliminating all but the most crucial ones. I offer them as a warning against superficial, marginally biblical preaching—both to those who stand behind the pulpit and to those who sit in the pew.
1. It usurps the authority of God over the soul. Whether a preacher boldly proclaims the Word of God or not is ultimately a question of authority. Who has the right to speak to the church? The preacher or God? Whenever anything is substituted for the preaching of the Word, God’s authority is usurped. What a prideful thing to do! In fact, it is hard to conceive of anything more insolent that could be done by a man who is called by God to preach.

2. It removes the lordship of Christ from His church. Who is the Head of the church? Is Christ really the dominant teaching authority in the church? If so, then why are there so many churches where His Word is not being faithfully proclaimed? When we look at contemporary ministry, we see programs and methods that are the fruit of human invention, the offspring of opinion polls and neighborhood surveys, and other pragmatic artifices. Church-growth experts have in essence wrested control of the church’s agenda from her true Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Puritan forefathers resisted the imposition of government-imposed liturgies for precisely this reason: They saw it as a direct attack on the headship of Christ over His own church. Modern preachers who neglect the Word of God have yielded the ground those men fought and sometimes died for. When Jesus Christ is exalted among His people, His power is manifest in the church. When the church is commandeered by compromisers who want to appease the culture, the gospel is minimized, true power is lost, artificial energy must be manufactured, and superficiality takes the place of truth.

3. It hinders the work of the Holy Spirit. What is the instrument the Spirit uses to do His work? The Word of God. He uses the Word as the instrument of regeneration (1 Pet. 1:23; Jas. 1:18). He also uses it as the means of sanctification (John 17:17). In fact, it is the only tool He uses (Eph. 6:17). So when preachers neglect God’s Word, they undermine the work of the Holy Spirit, producing shallow conversions and spiritually lame Christians—if not utterly spurious ones.

4. It demonstrates appalling pride and a lack of submission. In the modern approach to “ministry,” the Word of God is deliberately downplayed, the reproach of Christ is quietly repudiated, the offense of the gospel is carefully eliminated, and “worship” is purposely tailored to fit the preferences of unbelievers. That is nothing but a refusal to submit to the biblical mandate for the church. The effrontery of ministers who pursue such a course is, to me, frightening.

5. It severs the preacher personally from the regular sanctifying grace of Scripture. The greatest personal benefit that I get from preaching is the work that the Spirit of God does on my own soul as I study and prepare for two expository messages each Lord’s Day. Week by week the duty of careful exposition keeps my own heart focused and fixed on the Scriptures, and the Word of God nourishes me while I prepare to feed my flock. So I am personally blessed and spiritually strengthened through the enterprise. If for no other reason, I would never abandon biblical preaching. The enemy of our souls is after preachers in particular, and the sanctifying grace of the Word of God is critical to our protection.

6. It clouds the true depth and transcendence of our message and therefore cripples both corporate and personal worship. What passes for preaching in some churches today is literally no more profound than what preachers in our fathers’ generation were teaching in the five-minute children’s sermon they gave before dismissing the kids. That’s no exaggeration. It is often that simplistic, if not utterly inane. There is nothing deep about it. Such an approach makes it impossible for true worship to take place, because worship is a transcendent experience. Worship should take us above the mundane and simplistic. So the only way true worship can occur is if we first come to grips with the depth of spiritual truth. Our people can only rise high in worship in the same proportion to which we have taken them deep into the profound truths of the Word. There is no way they can have lofty thoughts of God unless we have plunged them into the depths of God’s self-revelation. But preaching today is neither profound nor transcendent. It doesn’t go down, and it doesn’t go up. It merely aims to entertain.

By the way, true worship is not something that can be stimulated artificially. A bigger, louder band and more sentimental music might do more to stir people’s emotions. But that is not genuine worship. True worship is a response from the heart to God’s truth (John 4:23). You can actually worship without music if you have seen the glories and the depth of what the Bible teaches.

7. It prevents the preacher from fully developing the mind of Christ. Pastors are supposed to be under-shepherds of Christ. Too many modern preachers are so bent on understanding the culture that they develop the mind of the culture and not the mind of Christ. They start to think like the world, and not like the Savior. Frankly, the nuances of worldly culture are virtually irrelevant to me. I want to know the mind of Christ and bring that to bear on the culture, no matter what culture I may be ministering to. If I’m going to stand up in a pulpit and be a representative of Jesus Christ, I want to know how He thinks—and that must be my message to His people too. The only way to know and proclaim the mind of Christ is by being faithful to study and preach His Word. What happens to preachers who obsess about cultural “relevancy” is that they become worldly, not godly.

8. It depreciates by example the spiritual duty and priority of personal Bible study. Is personal Bible study important? Of course. But what example does the preacher set when he neglects the Bible in his own preaching? Why would people think they need to study the Bible if the preacher doesn’t do serious study himself in the preparation of his sermons? There is now a movement among some in ministry to trim, as much as possible, all explicit references to the Bible from the sermon—and above all, don’t ever ask your people to turn to a specific Bible passage because that kind of thing makes “seekers” uncomfortable. Some churches actively discourage their people from bringing Bibles to church lest the sight of so many Bibles intimidate the “seekers.” As if it were dangerous to give your people the impression that the Bible might be important!

9. It prevents the preacher from being the voice of God on every issue of his time. Jeremiah 8:9 says, “The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken. Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord; so what wisdom do they have?” When I speak, I want to be God’s messenger. I’m not interested in exegeting what some psychologist or business guru or college professor has to say about an issue. My people don’t need my opinion; they need to hear what God has to say. If we preach as Scripture commands us, there should be no ambiguity about whose message is coming from the pulpit.

10. It breeds a congregation that is as weak and indifferent to the glory of God as their pastor is. Such preaching fosters people who are consumed with their own well-being. When you tell people that the church’s primary ministry is to fix for them whatever is wrong in this life—to meet their needs, to help them cope with their worldly disappointments, and so on—the message you are sending is that their mundane problems are more important than the glory of God and the majesty of Christ. Again, that sabotages true worship.

11. It robs people of their only true source of help. People who sit under superficial preaching become dependent on the cleverness and the creativity of the speaker. When preachers punctuate their sermons with laser lights and smoke, video clips and live drama, the message they send is that there isn’t a prayer the people in the pew could ever extract such profound material on their own. Such gimmicks create a kind of dispensing mechanism that people can’t use to serve themselves. So they become spiritual couch potatoes who just come in to be entertained, and whatever superficial spiritual content they get from the preacher’s weekly performance is all they will get. They have no particular interest in the Bible because the sermons they hear don’t cultivate that. They are wowed by the preacher’s creativity and manipulated by the music, and that becomes their whole perspective on spirituality.

12. It encourages people to become indifferent to the Word of God and divine authority. Predictably, in a church where the preaching of Scripture is neglected, it becomes impossible to get people to submit to the authority of Scripture. The preacher who always aims at meeting felt needs and strokes the conceit of worldly people has no platform from which to confront the man who wants to divorce his wife without cause. The man will say, “You don’t understand what I feel. I came here because you promised to meet my felt needs. And I’m telling you, I don’t feel like I want to live with this woman anymore.” You can’t inject biblical authority into that. You certainly wouldn’t have an easy time pursuing church discipline. That is the monster that superficial preaching creates. But if you are going to try to deal with sin and apply any kind of authoritative principle to keep the church pure, you must be preaching the Word.

13. It lies to people about what they really need. In Jeremiah 8:11, God condemns the prophets who treated people’s wounds superficially. That verse applies powerfully to the preachers who populate so many prominent evangelical pulpits today. They omit the hard truths about sin and judgment. They tone down the offensive parts of Christ’s message. They lie to people about what they really need, promising them “fulfillment” and earthly well-being when what people really need is an exalted vision of Christ and a true understanding of the splendor of God’s holiness.

14. It strips the pulpit of power. “The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (Heb. 4:12). Everything else is impotent, giving merely an illusion of power. Human strategy is not more important than Scripture. The showman’s ability to lure people in should not impress us more than the Bible’s ability to transform lives.

15. It puts the responsibility on the preacher to change people with his cleverness. Preachers who pursue the modern approach to ministry must think they have the power to change people. That, too, is a frightening expression of pride. We preachers can’t save people, and we can’t sanctify them. We can’t change people with our insights, our cleverness, by entertaining them or by appealing to their human whims and wishes and ambitions. There’s only One who can change sinners. That’s God, and He does it by His Spirit through the Word.

So pastors must preach the Word, even though it is currently out of fashion to do so (2 Tim. 4:2). That is the only way their ministry can ever truly be fruitful. Moreover, it assures that they will be fruitful in ministry, because God’s Word never returns to Him void; it always accomplishes that for which He sends it and prospers in what He sends it to do (Isa. 55:11).

This speech was broadcast by legendary ABC Radio commentator Paul Harvey on  April 3, 1965.

“If I were the Devil . . . I mean, if I were the Prince of Darkness, I would of course, want to engulf the whole earth in darkness. I would have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree, so I should set about however necessary to take over the United States. I would begin with a campaign of whispers. With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whisper to you as I whispered to Eve: “Do as you please.” “Do as you please.”   To the young, I would whisper, “The Bible is a myth.” I would convince them that man created God instead of the other way around. I would confide that what is bad is good, and what is good is “square”.  In the ears of the young marrieds, I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you. I would caution them not to be extreme in religion, in patriotism, in moral conduct. And the old, I would teach to pray. I would teach them to say after me: “Our Father, which art in Washington” . . .

If I were the devil, I’d educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull an uninteresting. I’d threaten T.V. with dirtier movies and vice versa. And then, if I were the devil, I’d get organized. I’d infiltrate unions and urge more loafing and less work, because idle hands usually work for me. I’d peddle narcotics to whom I could. I’d sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction. And I’d tranquilize the rest with pills. If I were the devil, I would encourage schools to refine yound intellects but neglect to discipline emotions . . . let those run wild. I would designate an athiest to front for me before the highest courts in the land and I would get preachers to say “she’s right.” With flattery and promises of power, I could get the courts to rule what I construe as against God and in favor of pornography, and  thus, I would evict God from the courthouse, and then from the school house, and then from the houses of Congress and then, in His own churches I would substitute psychology for religion, and I would deify science because that way men would become smart enough to create super weapons but not wise enough to control them.

If I were Satan, I’d make the symbol of Easter an egg, and the symbol of Christmas, a bottle. If  I were the devil, I would take from those who have and I would give to those who wanted, until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. And then, my police state would force everybody back to work. Then, I could separate families, putting children in uniform, women in coal mines, and objectors in slave camps. In other words, if I were Satan, I’d just keep on doing what he’s doing.

Paul Harvey, Good Day.”

A must to go to this link to listen to the audio itself.  What an awesome thing!

http://nation.foxnews.com/paul-harvey/2012/03/21/1965-if-i-were-devil-warning-nation-paul-harvey

By: Riley

www.afaithfulsaying.wordpress.com

Theme: Mt. 9:30

If there are three words that people use to sum up the message of the gospel they are “go and tell”. They refer to the scripture where Jesus is commanding his disciples to fulfill the great commission…“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel…” (Mr. 16:15; Mt 28:19). It is a good thing to open your mouth and preach the gospel. Jesus commanded that we do it, and there is no doubt about that. But there are times, depending on the circumstance, in which a Christian should just keep his/her mouth shut. We have to apply common sense to what Jesus teaches us because he is the one who gave us reason in the first place (Isa. 1:18). In fact, there are many circumstances where Jesus commanded people NOT to preach the gospel (Mt. 9:30; 12:16; 16:20; 17:9). Why would Jesus not want people to know who he truly is? Jesus knew it was not time for His glory to be revealed.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, the Bible tells us that there is a time for everything and more specifically a due season even for our words in Proverbs 15:23. If Jesus would have let his true identity be revealed from the very beginning of His ministry, His enemies would have found a way to kill Him before he barely got His ministry off the ground. Jesus wanted to perform His work and teachings peacefully for as long as possible. That didn’t mean that He wasn’t going to offend those who were living in sin, because He certainly did. At the same time, He knew that claiming deity was something that was going to get Him murdered. Jesus wanted to be the one to reveal Himself to the people at the right time. It wasn’t until after His death that He wanted His name to be preached throughout all the world.

Most of the people Jesus “straightly charged” not to preach, did anyway because they did not understand His wisdom.

 “And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;” – Mark 7:36

Sometimes we as Christians think that God calls us all to be big fanatical blabber mouths that do nothing but talk people to death about Jesus and every detail of what He is doing in our lives. I’ve seen it worse when Christians are talking to other Christians. We think that just because we are a family in Christ we can spill it all and it will do nothing but good. We need to go back and read the Bible. Many times in Proverbs it is counted wise not to speak in 17:28. Proverbs continually warns that what you say could very well be your destruction (Pr. 18:6-7; 17:27; 23:9; 29:20; 6:2; 8:13, 11:9). We also know the verse that warns us about “taming the tongue” in Proverbs 21:23 and that words can bring life or death (Pr. 18:21). We know what we say can destroy others, but do we ever stop to think that what we are saying might be destroying ourselves? Whenever someone receives a word from the Lord, all they want to do is proclaim it here, there, and everywhere. But unless God has told you to “go and tell”, you are asking for trouble.

Even Paul knew the boundaries of speaking certain things (2 Cor. 12:4). Now, I am not saying we shouldn’t confide in one another about personal matters or making a case to refuse the call to preach. I am showing that sometimes God just wants us to “shut up”! Maybe it is NOT God’s will for you to tell your promises to your friends, or spend hours debating a friend about Christ, or tell every person you meet that Christ saved you from a life of murdering people. Sometimes words can work against what God is trying to do. We need to seek what God wants us to do in every situation. Jesus knew the effect of words, and we should too. Do you think God is going to tell you the secrets of finance or of kingdoms and future wars if you can’t keep your mouth shut? God only tells those whom He can trust and it is our responsibility to understand that and ask Him if telling people is the wisest thing to do. How many times have I heard the old saying, “God told me that I was to marry so and so, and I told them and now they run from me”.  If God did tell you it surely was not to blab it! Most times that story doesn’t end the way “God” said it would if that even was even God in the first place! Let us learn from the example of Jesus and understand that not everything is meant to be “proclaimed from the rooftops”, but to be lifted up in prayer only.  If Satan does not hinder what God is trying to do in our lives, what we foolishly say just might!

Dear Friends, Thank you for your continued prayers and support this last month. On every front, you can feel the pressure, and the narrowing of options for believers on a national level. I believe the party is about to end – the time when believers in this country were “a force to be reckoned with” politically. As more and more pastors and preachers continue to lower the bar on their definition of church, the Bible, and discipleship, the voices left to stand for uncompromised truth will become more” annoying” – and “potentially dangerous” to the rising tide of world antichristism. I have been reading  Bonhoeffer  by Eric Mataxas, which a dear friend sent me (Thank you David) and I highly recommend it to you. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a young German Lutheran pastor, was both one of the only true” evangelical” Lutheran pastors in Germany, but also one of the few pastors in all Germany who resisted Hitler – and who was executed for doing so. It is resonating deeply with me, as I see us entering into a time when we are going to have to decide who we are, what we believe, and where we will stand. At one time, not long ago, abortion, homosexuality, gay marriage, and being yoked with other religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam, were unacceptable in the church. It wasn’t politics. It was truth and Scripture. Then, the nation began tearing down the moral bar. Still, for a time, the church largely stood fast on these issues. Then 9/11 came. And suddenly, we began to weaken, then compromise… And now, we are being forced into the political arena; not to vote, but to defend our consciences and our churches against being forced to violate Scripture. The healthcare/abortion provider issue, gay marriage and “hate crimes” are just the opening volleys that are going to be directed at the Western Church. Locally, a pastor may well go to jail for organizing a recall petition on the mayor over gay issues. It’s complex, and I did not agree with the pastor on his methods or premise. But to watch the city judicial system then be used as a weapon to find justification for the arrest of a pastor in retaliation is chilling. And, it’s our future. Like Israel before Babylon invaded, instead of repentance, our nation and most churches simply have continued in “careless ease” and now the true church must know who they are and where they stand – as individuals and communities. (I also recommend The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn. It paints an undeniably precise picture of where we are before God in this hour.) How stunning it was to see an article written by multibillionaire George Soros concerning the Middle East peace process. He said, in part,” The main stumbling block is Israel.” He is helping fulfill Zechariah 12: 2 – 3: “And in that day I will make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people.” One has to be completely blind spiritually to not know the hour we are in. None of this changes our mandate. Rather, it reaffirms it: to proclaim the gospel, heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out devils, make disciples, feed the poor, care for the widows and orphans…to work while it is yet day, for the night is coming when no man can work. In other words, in a world that is hurtling toward certain godless tribulation, we stay steady, stand strong, preach loud and bring in the harvest! And come on folks – it’s really time for the church to stop playing footsie with the world in order to be accepted and be liked. We need to get a spine and rise up. We’re in a war. No more games. We are a situation room –and a hospital – not a game room and a resort. I have numerous items to address but will have to wait till next month. Let me just share one : Our local university is quickly being transformed into some kind of Buddhist center – Buddhist temple spires have been erected on all the rooftops, prayer wheels and other Buddhist elements are showing up in buildings, and apparently a recently dismantled/shipped Buddhist temple is soon to be put on campus. Not a word of protest. Can you imagine if it was a cross? All new students at the University have to take a semester course called “ethics,” the purpose of which I have not yet discerned after several students I’ve known have gone to it over the years. But, its anti-Christian underlying theme and tone has been consistently reported to me. This semester, one of my college guys sat stunned as the professor stated that doctors are finding that Christians seem to have something wrong in their central nervous systems related to schizophrenia. Apparently Moses and Jesus could have hallucinated everything and were probably victims of schizophrenia. Christians need to be “helped” and “treated.” I e-mailed the professor, saying I was anxious to review his medical findings. I sent a carbon copy to the president of the University, a well-known new ager. The philosophy professor responded instead, saying I’d been “completely misinformed” –basically inferring my young friend was lying – and he’d be delighted to sit with me and explain his conclusions. Since then, the professor hasn’t uttered a single anti-Christian world. Two conclusions:  One, What we do to stand up against such indoctrination of students can make a difference, and Two, it confirms what I believe God showed me long ago: If Jesus doesn’t return first when persecution begins here, it will not start with the prisons but with mental hospitals and treatment centers to correct our social maladaptation. It will come! I am enclosing a short “pouring out” that I wrote at 4 AM recently in the midst of wrestling prayer. None of these things are easy to write. And I don’t feel the compunction to” balance” all this with chipper reports. This newsletter is called, after all, “Things as They Are” not “Things as I Wish They Were.” And I believe most of you are mature enough to understand that none of this takes away from the awesome, miraculous, soul saving, redeeming ministry work going on in pockets all over this country – all over the world. Where sin abounds, grace much more abounds. In the midst of the turmoil and storm, let us daily be about that business – our Father’s business! In His Grace, Gregory Reid P.S. if you have not seen The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, I recommend it highly. It is extraordinarily difficult to watch, but in an age when the Holocaust is rarely even taught to our youth, it is a must-see.   YOUTHFIRE MINISTRIES Box 370006 El Paso TX 79937 915-595-3569 www.gregoryreid.com www.youthfire.org YouthFire is a nonprofit member of American Evangelistic Association (Donations are tax deductible and can be made by mail or through the PayPal site on our websites)

When Judgment Comes Judgment comes to a nation and a lifeless church world, in many forms and ways, and in increased increments, each followed by a pause as if the Angels are holding their breath, hoping for a change of heart and repentance and turning back, prepared for the world’s deafened ears, the defiance – and from the church world, the numbness and the casual unconcern – followed by the next round of what must inevitably come when sin turns men into unfeeling cruel beasts. Mercy still triumphs over judgment, when hearts cry out for mercy. But when they rage, and raise a mocking fist to the living God, they are given over to a reprobate mind, and given over to Satan to await, with him, the final judgment. On a national level, I see the inevitability of a post – 911 people, not drawing near in repentance, but increasing the bloodshed of abortion, pursuing the pride and foolishness of political solutions without God, the debauchery of their sexualities, and the mockery of Jesus, His Word, and God’s ways. I see an election in which the choices are between moral destructiveness on one hand, and spiritual deception on the other – in fact, a choice of no choice but to not choose – a moral Catch-22 for believers who take seriously God’s Word – or perhaps just the reality of God withdrawing from the political square and letting us have the full measure of our sinful delusions. It may be that our choice will not change the outcome. How can we believe that a nation so overwhelmingly blessed can continue as it is when we have invited the creator out of our nation in almost every arena? There does come handwriting to the sons of the warned who once knew truth – handwriting not of a chance, which had already been ignored, but of conclusion, announcing and pronouncing the “penalty for their error which was meet.” The wild party will soon be replaced with trembling and reality. Are we there yet? No one can say definitively, but certainly, those with ears to hear can hear the distant but approaching shofars – and see the hand poised to write. Oh, that God would grant one last reprieve, “space to repent”! Oh God, let us not be a national Babylon who says arrogantly, “I sit as a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.” (Revelation 18:7) Grant that we would yet beat our national breast and cry out,” God have mercy on me a sinner!” The weighing in the balance has begun. Perhaps decided, I do not know. But it is fearful to see a picture of our nation as a bloated Herod, believing that he was God, and was smitten by God, eaten up with worms, and died. (Acts 12:21 – 23.) But should that happen, O my God, I know the next will follow until you return for us: “But the word of God grew and multiplied.” Those who know You will remain victorious. In the words of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, “I believe that the nobility of this calling will become plain to us only in the times and events to come. If only we can hold out.” By God’s grace, we will. But what about the Western church, to whom so much has been given? The much requiring has come. While pockets of believers and pastors and preachers and servants have remained true to the word and the faith once delivered to us at great stress, ridicule and even peril, much of the Western church is beginning to resemble nothing more than a three ring circus, come one come all! Something for everybody! We dance around the cross and the broken bloodied body of Jesus with our secular music and our humanistic worldly video and carnal, flesh-pleasing activities much as Aaron and the people danced and made mockery of the God who called them with images made out of worldly gold. Oh how God’s heart breaks, that so costly a gift of salvation is now dispensed like a re-gifted cheap trinket from the dollar store. The world is drawn to us because we are simply a cleaner version of itself, able to assuage guilt without ever requiring surrender to the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh how I ache over this lost generation of youth. There is yet hope, Father, is there not? O God, for them I cry out. But to whom do we bring them? Yes, we can sometimes be as a nurturing mother to bind their wounds in some places, but do we not heal the hurt of the people slightly, saying peace, peace when there is no peace? (Jeremiah 6:14) One must first heal, yes, but then one must rise. Resurrection is the word of the Savior and do we not, must we not walk in the power of His resurrection as well? Where are the true fathers and mothers who stand ready to raise up battle-tested and trained sons and daughters able to withstand – more, to cut a blazing swath through the atheists and deniers and Christ haters with the powerful Word of God, that Word that no man can gainsay, that will stop the mouths of cynical antichrist professors and cause them to cry out, “What must we do to be saved?” I see, instead, in this “new paradigm” for “doing church,” challenge-less pulpits, untrained and untested “youth leaders”, compromised and worldly-drenched youth pastors, and “My people love to have it so.” There is an onslaught coming to take down a whole generation, and God help us, this new breed of leaders can barely withstand their own uncrucified flesh – how can they general a young Army looking to be prepared, equipped, ready? If we have run with the footman of petty concerns and religious ladder climbing pursuits and they have wearied us, then what will we do in the flood and battle? O God grant that young generals – Gideons and Deborahs and Daniels and Josephs and Annas and Stephens and Lydias and Priscillas – be raised up to lead the charge against the onslaught of darkness in this hour of impending judgment on our land. Shine forth upon them, Spirit of God! Let the voices of those young and old who cry for your redemptive resurrection power, your pure and righteous word and your powerful salvation be heard in heaven! Oh Lord forgive! O Lord, hear, and act! Give us repentance – and give us souls – in this final hour. Gregory R Reid

By: Riley

afaithfulsaying.wordpress.com

Theme: 1 Sa. 17:32

Have you ever found yourself without faith and alone? Meet the exact opposite. His name was David and he had so much faith that he brought it into other’s lives. David was not just a boy fighting a man’s battle, but a boy fighting many men’s battles.  The conclusion does not match up with the facts! He was the youngest of his brethren (1 Sa. 16:11), a keeper of his father’s sheep (1 Sa. 17:20), and his original purpose was to deliver food (1 Sa. 17:1).  Those are hardly qualifications for a warrior! David did kill a lion and bear once each, but only he knew the exact size or details of the situations (1 Sa. 17:34-35).  How did David have the confidence to face Goliath and convince the entire army of Israel (including the King) that he could fight this battle? He brought faith with him.

David was a man after God’s own heart (1 Sa. 13:14). We know that David got his faith and confidence from God. No doubt he got it from spending a lot of time alone with God, because tending the sheep was a lonely duty. David didn’t leave his faith with the sheep though! We might have a lot of faith when we worship with our friends or witness a miracle from the Holy Spirit, but what about when we are alone and when it counts? David didn’t go looking for a battle to fight, but he wasn’t going to back down from one either. He brought his faith with him and he intended on using it! David didn’t lose his faith by hearing the words of fear from the people’s mouths, and he didn’t lose it when the King doubted him. Actually, David had to convince the King to let him go. David didn’t rethink the situation and he didn’t hesitate. David demanded to know the situation before he was going to let others ruin his faith!

“And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

When David said this, he had already made the decision to fight Goliath in his mind. We know David didn’t feed off of the faith of those around him who were “…sore afraid” (1 Sa. 17:24). David found no encouragement, no partner, and no…faith. David brought it with him. From the shepherd’s field to the battlefield, his faith remained unchanged. When David finally did convince the King and met Goliath, he broadcasted his faith to everyone (1 Sa. 17:47). David broadcasted it to Goliath and the Philistines, but most importantly he broadcasted it to King Saul and the army of Israel! He said, Look here, how sad is this that I have to fight your battle for you! The battle became David’s battle, and it also became his victory. David didn’t rely on the faith of his friends, family, or even King. David relied on his personal relationship with God, and he obtained the victory!

As Christians, if we think our friends, families, or pastors will always be there to have the faith for us…we are setting ourselves up for a fall. You better be ready to bring your own faith and fight your battles to win the victory! Satan doesn’t wait until you are ready to attack you. Satan will bring you a battle when you are not looking for it, and you better bring your faith with you! It is at that moment you either prove yourself to God, or confirm the doubts of men. This wasn’t just any army; it was the army of Israel that left David to fight for himself! But David turned to God and fulfilled the prophecy of kingship over him! We serve an Almighty God, but He requires us to be mighty warriors too. God gives us the objective, tools, and directions, but we have to do the rest!

“And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hands.”

Dear Friends,

I was thinking the other day of how much has changed in the last several years since I wrote Trojan Church. At the time, Rob Bell was a rising star, the idea of Christianity and Islam being considered compatible was abhorrent to the average believer, there were some standards still being upheld in the church and in our government concerning homosexual marriage…the list continues. It has been absolutely breathtaking how many walls have been torn down since then. I remember when I was first shown in a prophetic dream how the church was going to be absorbed into the coming one world religious system and how absolutely real and overwhelming it seemed. It was clear, the details were specific, and the task of putting this out in written form was daunting and unwelcome. By God’s grace, the book was written, it has gone out, and now, I believe we are mid-point in all I wrote of. The bizarre new movements are increasing within the church. Necromancy –subtly gaining ground through the idea that “the veil between the cloud of witnesses and us is becoming thin”, and furthered by The Shack – is now in full bloom. A flood of new “I’ve been to heaven/hell” books – all of which make me a little nervous – and the newest offering, “Have Heart” – are all serving to create a spiritual atmosphere of opening the doors to speculative, unproveable and potentially dangerous experiences. The anti-Israel sentiments in the church are on the rise. The idea of a one world economy – once a certain indicator that we were in the final days by most thinking believers – is now “not such a bad idea” in the minds of many.

The loosening of all common sense and spiritual discernment was never so clear to me as it was this month, as Eddie Long, the scandalized pastor who settled out of court on several sexual abuse charges with young men, was wrapped in a Torah scroll – from Israel – one salvaged from the Holocaust – as Long was proclaimed as King as he was carried around his congregation on a “throne.” I feel sick even writing about it. (The video is available on YouTube if you have the stomach for it.) The complete lack of spiritual sanity – to say nothing of dignity and respect for the Holy – is absolutely breathtaking. We’ve entered an era in the western church where anything goes.

It is as if the die has been cast, and all that we have allowed into the church that is not biblically sound is now in full blossom, and only those who are fully committed to the basic and fundamental truth of the Word of God – no matter what the world and the backslidden church will do to distort, change and dilute it – will survive intact. It almost feels like the eye of this dark storm – somewhat calm right now, but we are in fact on the very precipice of events and changes that will “shake everything that can be shaken”. Are we ready for that?

For the believer grounded in the Word of God, there is nothing to fear. Jesus said these things would come to pass. We are to look up and rejoice in this hour, because our redemption is drawing nigh.

So we must “occupy till He comes.” How do we do that? By doing what He has always asked us to do throughout history, in easy times and treacherous: Preach the gospel. Make disciples. Grow in grace and truth. Provide for our families. Care for the widows, orphans and the least of these.

I imagine it was not easy for Noah to endure the mocking and the ridicule as he prepared the boat that would take them through the flood. He must have looked like a fool. In the same way, believers who are determined to stand for the truth of God’s Word, stand up in the face of the world, the flesh and the devil come what may, stick to their spiritual guns on matters of morality, biblical inerrancy and last days realities, will be increasingly the target of mockers, ridiculers and even many believers who have gone the way of those “whose doctrine eats like a cancer.” But stand we must. And stand we will.

While studying Philippians recently, I came across one of my favorite verses, one that most of us are familiar with: “Be careful for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6) One of the inherent meanings of the first part of this is, LET NOTHING DISTRACT YOU. That is a powerful, now-word for His people. We are being beset on all sides by technology, crises, entertainment, fears and busy-work. At Christmastime, it occurred to me that we have become Pavlovian humans who run in our cages all week long and then are let out to reward ourselves by an orgy of spending at the mall on weekends. We are being reduced to merely consumers, and our value – and values – are being formed, molded and dictated by the steady and furious input through media on every front. And God is saying, DO NOT BE DISTRACTED. Be sober and vigilant. May God help us to divest ourselves of all that is taking our eyes off of the prize of the high calling in Christ Jesus, whether it is time-wasters or material obsessions, and become steady servants of the Lord who are diligent in prayer, the Word and preaching His salvation and healing to all we can.

There is so much more to share, and no time this month. My level of  spiritual responsibility has been raised a great deal this year. I am now teaching youth group, two Bible studies and an upcoming Sunday School class on the Jewish roots of our faith. I really need your prayers. There is a new level of spiritual activity in some of the local churches that are of grave concern, in that they have the ability to reach a number of young people and pull them into movements that are almost cultish in their behavior – as many as 500-600 in one case. I am praying for discernment, strength and stamina, and more than anything, to stay very close to Jesus and the Word of God in this hour. I remember Dag Hammarskjold’s statement, “Time passes. Reputation increases, ability declines.” But I am praying for an INCREASE in all abilities to carry out His call, and a decline in human “reputation” so that I may decrease as He increases in every way in this work.

I cannot thank you enough for your prayers and support. Without your giving, I would not be able to carry out all the Lord has given me to do. I thank Jesus for you with all my heart!
In His Grace,

Gregory Reid

J. Lee Grady

Question of the week: What should you do when a megachurch pastor is accused of serious financial and/or sexual misconduct?

A.  Ask the pastor to step down so he or she can receive ministry, and then conduct a thorough investigation.
B.  Flatly deny all allegations and wait until the storm blows over.
C.  Use church funds to pay off the people who made the sex abuse accusations.
D.  Ask a guest preacher to call the pastor to the stage, wrap him in a 312-year-old Torah scroll and ask an “expert” in Old Testament language to declare him a “king” so he can be exonerated of all wrongdoing.

Until Jan. 29, when Bishop Eddie Long of Atlanta was coronated on the stage of New Birth Baptist Church in front of thousands of his congregants, I would never have dreamed of option D in the list above. I thought I had seen it all. Yet the odd ritual (I hesitate to call it a “Jewish ceremony”) performed by Denver minister Ralph Messer is now officially the most bizarre religious video ever posted on YouTube. (If you are one of the 16 people in the world who have never seen it, click here.)

After the 14-minute video clip went viral, it pretty much angered everyone—the Jewish community, especially, but also many Christians who don’t believe it is kosher to put a pastor in a chair and parade him on a stage like he is The Most Highfallutin V. When Long and Messer realized the video had sparked an embarrassing controversy, Long apologized for it while Messer downplayed the ceremony as a sincere attempt to “honor” the embattled bishop.

Watching recent events at New Birth play out in the media is like viewing a train wreck in slow motion. I hurt for the innocent people trapped in this mangled mess—people who deserve better leadership than this. Here are three lessons I hope we learn from it:

1. We must guard our pulpits. The apostle Paul warned that the church would be preyed upon by imposters, liars, false teachers and greedy opportunists. He also told Timothy to be on the lookout for men who focus their teaching on “speculation” and ear-tickling doctrines. “For some men,” he said in 1 Timothy 1:6-7, “have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are talking about or the matters about which they make confident assertions. (NASB)”

For some reason, many charismatics today are wowed if a Bible teacher pulls out a Jewish prayer shawl, wears a yarmulke, recites a Bible verse in Hebrew or claims to know the numerical value of an Old Testament word. He gets extra points if he understands biblical feasts (or can show you how to obtain financial blessings through a “Day of Atonement Offering.”) I believe there is certainly value in understanding the Hebrew roots of Christianity. But if we aren’t careful this can also become idolatry—or an opportunity for charlatans who have lots of “Jewish” products to sell. Note: If someone’s teaching does not point his hearers 100 percent to Jesus, don’t buy it.

2. We must raise the standard of holiness. When a church leader falls into serious sin or scandal, those around him should—if they truly love him—cover and rehabilitate him. But covering a leader who has sinned should not involve cover-up. True restoration requires a lengthy process of repentance, restitution and inner healing. If we practiced biblical restoration on a wide scale, the cancer of immorality that is eating the church alive today would go into remission.

3. We must reclaim biblical discernment. What appalled me most when I watched the Eddie Long coronation video was the fact that people in the audience applauded this blasphemous spectacle. It is bad enough that a leader allowed it to take place on his platform; it is even worse that thousands of people watched without flinching, and went home thinking their pastor was now a king in God’s eyes. Lord have mercy.

The people should have immediately fallen to their knees and begun praying against deception—or run out the doors in disgust. With so little discernment among “Spirit-filled” believers today, it’s not hard to imagine that an anti-Christ figure could boldly march right into a church, climb in a leather chair and be anointed as a king. Oh wait … I think that has already happened.

by David Wilkerson

[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

When Paul first taught the truth of justification by faith, it shook the

church. It was incredible news at that time. In fact, some theologians

responded, “If I’m pardoned, if God is so merciful to forgive me freely by

faith alone, then let me sin even more, so God can enjoy giving me more grace!”

Those theologians did not understand the gospel.

Because of the cross, God considered everything about our old flesh-man done

away with. Paul asked, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?”

(Romans 6:1) and he continued quickly, “Certainly not!” I believe Paul was

saying, “Why would any Christian, having been set free from such death, go back

and resurrect the corpse? Why go back to a life of sin when God wants to take

away all guilt and condemnation and give you security and peace? Now, because

of the cross, you can serve the Lord with joy and gladness and obey Him in a

new obligation called love.”

“So,” you ask, “are we simply to take by faith the righteousness of Jesus?”

Yes, absolutely! That is what the Christian walk is all about—resting by

faith in what Jesus accomplished.

Our old man is dead, and the new Man is Jesus. When we put our faith in Him,

God fully accepts us. He considers us righteous, hidden in the bosom of His

dear Son. So whenever you sin or fail, run quickly to your Lawyer, your

Advocate. Confess your failures to Him, and rest in His righteousness.

You may ask, “Don’t good works have any place in this doctrine?” Of course they

do, but on this condition: Good works cannot save you, justify you or make you

righteous or acceptable to God. The only thing that saves you is your faith in

what Jesus did!

What did Jesus do? He saved you, pardoned you and accepted you in the

beloved—sins, failures and all. God sees you now only in Jesus Christ and

that is why we must come to our Savior every time we fall. The blood that

forgave and cleansed us the first time we came to Jesus is the same blood

continues to keep us until He returns.

Along with this security comes a higher obligation of doing all our works in

His strength and power rather than trying to do them on our own. “If by the

Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13).

JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD

by David Wilkerson [May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

Picture yourself standing before God’s throne with no excuse, no alibi. Satan, your legal adversary, is reading off the list of charges, with times, places, every shameful detail. He makes accusations of pride, prayerlessness, covetousness, unfaithfulness, and your heart smites you because you have to admit, “Yes, that’s me. I did it all.” It looks hopeless for you. You know God’s eyes are too holy to look upon sin, and His justice demands that you pay for your crimes against His holiness. You are helpless.

But suddenly, here comes your Lawyer, your Advocate. He stretches forth His nail-scarred hands and you know something is about to happen. He smiles and whispers, “Don’t be afraid; none of these charges will stand. You’re going to walk out of this courtroom free and fully pardoned. When I’m finished, your accuser won’t have one charge left against you!” Best of all, your Lawyer tells you He has adopted you as His brother. Then He tells you He is the Son of the Judge so you now belong to the Judge’s family, as well!

But there is still the matter of justice. What about the charges against you? You listen in absolute wonder as your Advocate pleads your case: “Judge, You know that I fulfilled the law, living a sinless life. And then I took this person’s place, taking on all the punishment for his crimes. Through these nail-scarred hands and My pierced side, blood came forth to blot out all of his transgressions. All these charges were put on My back and I paid the penalty for every one of them.” Your Advocate then looks at your accuser and says, “Satan, you have no grounds to accuse My child. Each of his sins was placed on Me and I have fully pardoned them all. He is not guilty because his faith in the victory of My sacrifice gives him full pardon. You have no case!”

 As the devil slinks out of God’s court, you can hear the Lord cry out: “Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies” (Romans 8:33).

By: Riley

afaithfulsaying.wordpress.com

Theme: Jon. 2:9

One of the most familiar stories from the Bible that is often shared at Sunday school lessons is the story of Jonah. Most know the story. The Prophet that disobeyed God and was swallowed up by a whale for three days and three nights and eventually did what the Lord asked him to do. Is there more to it than that? Yes, there is so much more. When I was told this story throughout my youth through teachers in school, the focal point of Jonah’s disobedience was fear. They taught that he feared the people of Nineveh because they were very wicked, implying that he was afraid of physical harm. But reading the scriptures for myself, I found that it wasn’t that kind of fear that kept him from going. It was a different kind of fear. It was the fear of God blessing the people of Nineveh.  Being a man of God, that would sound ridiculous, right?

Jonah’s story begins when the word of the Lord came to him saying “Arise, go to Nineveh…and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me” (verse 2). Nineveh was not a Jewish city. It was a gentile city, filled with idolatry and pagan practices. The very fact that God desired to have mercy on this place is interesting in itself! God had mercy on certain gentile cities and peoples in the Old Testament showing that He searches the hearts of men no matter who they are (Jer. 17:10) and that He is in every place beholding the evil and the good (Pr. 15:3).  As a Prophet of the Most High God, Jonah should have obeyed. In verse 3, Jonah immediately fled to a ship that was headed to Tarshish to escape the Lord.  The Lord, angry with Jonah, sent a “great wind into the sea” so much that “the ship was like to be broken” (verse 4).  The Lord wasn’t playing around. The crew of the ship somehow immediately knew it was supernatural and they were afraid (verse 5). They all called upon their own gods and the shipmaster woke up Jonah so he could do the same (verse 6).  It is amazing how even nonbelievers in those days believed in some kind of god in contrast to modern day where people give all credit to man alone.

Jonah told them his story and they threw him overboard to save themselves by his request (verse 12). After the wind died down, the crew of the ship all made vows to God and offered sacrifices to Him…so much for not doing the Lord’s work (verse 16). It is interesting to note that Jonah would have rather drown than to obey the Lord. He had no knowledge of a whale or a guarantee that God would save him. He flat out did not want to go.  The Lord had a way of dealing with Jonah though. God sent the whale to swallow Jonah and to digest him for three days and three nights (verse 17). Whether Jonah was alive or died and was resurrected again is not clear in the scriptures, though it is more favorable toward the latter because Jesus quoted it as an example of Himself (Mt. 12:40). Jonah finally was humbled and said…

“But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.” –Jon. 2:9

He was ready to obey the Lord, but was his motive right? Jonah told Nineveh that the Lord would overthrow them in forty days (verse 4). Amazingly, the people of Nineveh believed Jonah and proclaimed a fast upon not only the people but upon the animals too (verse 7)! No food or water until further notice…they meant business. God, being gracious and plentiful in mercy, forgave them and repented of the evil (verse 10). Everybody wins right? Not for Jonah. Jonah was “displeased…exceedingly, and was very angry” (verse 1).  In the next verse, we finally see what Jonahs problem is. Jonah was prejudice against Nineveh!  He knew that God would turn from His wrath if they repented, and Jonah wanted to see His enemies destroyed. Jonah didn’t care about the moral state of Nineveh; he just wanted His enemies to burn!  Jonah, again in verse 3, desired for God to kill him. How pathetic. Jonah would rather die than see his enemies obey the Lord! He was in delusion. Jonah then went outside the city to have a pity party in hopes that God might still destroy the city (verse 5).  The night came and went and Nineveh was still there. Then Jonah, again, asked for God to kill him saying “…it is better for me to die than to live” (verse 8). Aren’t you glad God doesn’t take us seriously sometimes? The book ends with God trying to convince Jonah that many lives were spared and that Jonah should be grateful (verse 11).

What a sad story. A Prophet of God so blinded by his prejudice that he would rather die than see people turn to the Lord. If there is anybody that had a right to be angry at people it is God. And if God can have mercy and forgive people, so should we. Jonah let his prejudice destroy his life. He was so consumed with it that it almost caused him to destroy his relationship with the Lord and to die. That is a terrible place to be. No matter how bad or how terrible a person is, we should never let their problem become our problem. If we do nothing but think and talk about how much we hate people, maybe people that we don’t even know, it will destroy our lives. If it can almost destroy a Prophets life, it can surely destroy ours. We must learn to see things through Gods eyes, and to put aside every hindrance that would cause us to do things contrary to God’s word (He. 12:1). Whatever it is, it’s not worth our relationship with the Lord. It doesn’t matter what your prejudice is. Whether it be people with a different skin color, a different geographic location, or occupation: God wants all to repent and know Him. We should never allow traditions or formed prejudices to ruin our lives, but instead be willing to invite God to use us to reach whatever people He calls us to! Ask God to help you see people through His eyes right now! The price of being prejudice is a life of anger and sorrow!

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” – Mt. 5:44

Sorry for the formatting….

If you were required to
name the one thing which you pursue, what would it be? Many men would say that
they spend most of their time pursuing success in their business. Many women
would say they spend most of their time pursuing success for their children.
Today’s society has people who pursue all sorts of different things. Some of
the things most frequently mentioned are: (1) business success; (2) success for
children; (3) political success; (4) wealth; (5) a good reputation in their
community; (6) personal attractiveness; (7) athletic success; (8) pleasure; (9)
personal hobby; and, (10) ability to influence others. There are others, of
course, and variations of the aforementioned, nevertheless, numerous surveys
and polls show that people usually pursue some variation of power, prestige, or
pleasure. Their one real passion in life may be to become the top hunter,
fisherman, tennis player, golf player, salesman, developer, construction
contractor, lawyer, doctor, Senator, Congressman or other political figure.
Scripture says:

“Follow [pursue] peace with all men, and
holiness without which no man shall
see the Lord.” In Leviticus, God says, “For I am the Lord your God:
Ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy, for I am holy:
Neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that
creepeth upon the earth. For I am the Lord that bringeth you out of the land of
Egypt, to be your God: Ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” (See
also Leviticus 20: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16)

“Holiness denotes a state of inward or
internal purity (Ephesians 1:4). ‘Without blame’ means an outward or external
condition of purity. Holiness is the greater and stronger term because it is
concerned about the inward condition; but the outward condition is also
important.”[1][1]

I. THE
CALL TO HOLINESS

 

The Lord God repeatedly
calls His children to be holy. The Apostle Peter, when writing his first
Epistle, called the Christians to whom he was writing to be serious and sober.
Obviously, in the context in which Peter was writing, he was not merely calling
the recipients of the letter (and us) to abstain from drunkenness, but to be
serious minded Christian children who are to take particular care to conduct
themselves as the Lord commands. The Apostle writes the following:

“Wherefore, gird up the loins of your mind,
be sober, and hope to the end, for the grace that is to be brought unto you at
the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves
according to the former lusts in your ignorance, but as He which has called you
is holy, so you too are to be holy in all manner of conversation (living). [You
are to do this] because it is written, be ye holy for I am holy.”

This is not a new
admonition, nor is it a new call to holiness. Moses, addressing the people as
God had instructed him to speak, specifically addressed their conduct in their
manner of living, telling the people that they were not to do anything to make
themselves abominable. In the Book of
Leviticus, verses 44 and 45, Moses addressed the people as follows:

“For I am the Lord your God, you shall
therefore sanctify yourselves and ye
shall be holy for I am holy, neither shall you defile yourselves with any
manner of creeping thing that creeps upon the earth. For I am the Lord that
brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be
holy, for I am holy.”

One of the first things
that we notice here is that Moses is addressing both internal holiness, i.e.,
sanctification, as well as external holiness, i.e., their manner of life that
can be seen. For example, in the 20^th Chapter of Leviticus, the Lord
spoke to Moses, and Moses was commanded to say to the people not to give his
seed unto Molech, to defile the Lord’s sanctuary, or to profane His holy name.
Moses goes on to tell the people not to consort with “wizards,” those
that have “familiar spirits;” not to curse one’s father or mother;
not to commit adultery with another man’s wife; and many other admonitions that
appear in the 20^th Chapter of Leviticus, including for a man not to
lie with another man as he lies with a woman (i.e., homosexuality). And the
reason that is given is “both of them have committed an abomination.”
Indeed, it is put in the same category in Leviticus Chapter 20 as bestiality.

Clearly, God’s Holy Word
is addressing both internal and external holiness.

Dr. D. Martyn
Lloyd-Jones, in his great commentary and exposition on Ephesians Chapter 1,
says that salvation means “primarily and essentially being in the right
relationship with God – nothing less than that!” Then Dr. Martyn
Lloyd-Jones goes on to say: “Because salvation refers essentially to our
relationship to God, it must, of necessity, always, from beginning to end, be
thought of in terms of holiness. Everything in salvation is destined to bring
us to this end of holiness.”

In the beginning of the
first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Church at Ephesus, he tells the church
that the church collectively and the
church individually have been blessed
with spiritual blessings from before the foundation of the world. Then Paul
says:

“According as He has chosen us in Him
before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”

Therefore, we see very
clearly, without any ambiguity, that we are created for the purpose
of holiness. God, thus, does not
merely excuse our sin, He actually
has become the propitiation, that is, the full and complete payment for OUR
sin. Moreover, we are given salvation (thus, salvation is a sheer gift) for the
purpose of making us holy, and, indeed, making us to pursue holiness. Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones says:

“We must never think of holiness as
something we may decide to go in for;
if you’re not holy, you’re not a Christian. You are either in Christ, the whole
Christ, or you’re not ‘in Him.’ And if you are, ‘in Him,’ you are holy.”

Dr. D. Martyn
Lloyd-Jones goes on to say:

“. . . we are not
chosen with the possibility of
holiness, but to the realization of holiness. God has not chosen us before the
foundation of the world in order to create for us the possibility of holiness; He has chosen us to holiness. It is what
He has purposed for us; not possibility, but realization.”

Dr. D. Martyn
Lloyd-Jones states that where the Apostle Paul uses the words that we are
chosen, “that we should be holy and without blame,” is a use of two
different words, both of which refer to sanctification. Dr. D. Martyn
Lloyd-Jones says this is not referring to justification but to sanctification.
“Holiness denotes a state of inward or internal purity; ‘without blame’
means an outward or external condition of purity.” Continuing, Dr. D.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that it is the same idea that is conveyed in the 5^th
Chapter of Paul’s Epistle to the Church at Ephesus where he says that it is
Christ’s ultimate purpose for the Church, that she should be not only
“holy” but also without “spot or wrinkle or any such
thing.” In other words, just as God made known unto Moses for his delivery
to the children of Israel, the command to “be ye holy for I am holy”
refers both to internal holiness and external holiness, both to sanctification
of our inner persons and also bringing our actions, or manner of life, into
conformity to God’s standard.

Finally, Dr. D. Martyn
Lloyd Jones makes the point that:

“If you knew that you were to be presented
to some great or august person, you would prepare yourself for the occasion.
The very realization of the privilege makes you do so; and the more you realize
biblical truth and believe it and understand it, the more you will give
yourself to striving after holiness. You will pursue it, as the author of the
Epistle to Hebrews urges us to do in the words ‘follow peace with all men and
holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.’” (Hebrews 12: 14)

According to Dr. D.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones:

“There is nothing that so promotes holiness
as this great doctrine and this precious truth, which tells us that because we
are chosen of God, we are going to be with Him, and are going to be like
Him.”

II. THE
MEANING OF HOLINESS

 

Holiness means “to
hunt peace.” According to a sermon preached at Briarwood Presbyterian
Church (PCA) on February 3, 1974, Frank M. Barker, Jr., the Senior Pastor at
that time, referring to this passage of scripture in Hebrews, stated that
holiness actually means “to hunt peace and to hunt holiness.” This means
with our fellow Christians as well as peace with all men. Of course, as Barker
stated at that time, “a Christian is not going to experience peace with
all men if he is really living for the
Lord Jesus.” The Apostle Paul states in II Timothy 3:12: “All
they that live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” Jesus
Himself said that the servant, that is us, is not above his master. Jesus also
said, “They have hated Me; they will hate you.” Indeed, that is one
of the marks of a Christian! If we are really and truly living for Christ, we
will really and truly upset people that are not Christians. Indeed, the
Psalmist says that the wicked plotted against the just (righteous), and they
gnash their teeth upon him. (Psalm 37).

Thus, we see that
insofar as it lies within me to do so without compromise, I am to pursue peace!
Barker said that we should never compromise on the commands of God, for
example, the heart things in scripture such as: “The fact that Jesus
Christ is the only way to the Father, that unless men repent (surrender their
will to the Lord’s will), and believe in Him (place their trust or faith in the
Lord Jesus Christ alone for their salvation), they are going straight to
hell.” Thus, the writer of the letter to the Hebrews states, without
equivocation, that we are to pursue peace!
We are also to pursue holiness “. . . without which no man shall see the
Lord.”

A. What
is Holiness?

Bishop J.C. Ryle was an
evangelical in the Church of England who had a great power and grip on the Word
of God. One of the number of books that he wrote that is extremely helpful is
entitled, “Holiness.” In speaking of this particular passage of
scripture in Hebrews, he defines the holy life as follows:

“Holiness is the habit of being of one mind
with God, according as we find His mind described in Scripture. It is the habit
of agreeing in God’s judgment – hating what He hates – loving what He loves –
and measuring everything in this world by the standard of His Word. He who most
entirely agrees with God, he is the most holy man.

A holy man will endeavor to shun every known
sin, and to keep every known commandment. He will have a decided bent of mind
toward God, a hearty desire to do His will – a greater fear of displeasing Him
than of displeasing the world, and a love to all His ways. He will feel what
Paul felt when he said, ‘I delight in the law of God after the inward man’
(Romans 7:22), and what David felt when he said, ‘I esteem all Thy precepts
concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way.’ (Psalm 119:
128)

A holy man will strive to be like our Lord Jesus
Christ. . . . It will be his aim to bear with and forgive others, even as
Christ forgave us – to be unselfish, even as Christ pleased not Himself – to
walk in love. . . . to be lowly-minded and humble. . . .

A holy man will follow after temperance and
self-denial. He will labor to mortify the desires of his body – to crucify his
flesh with his affections and lusts – to curb his passions – to restrain his
carnal inclinations, lest at any time they break loose. . . .

A holy man will follow after charity and
brotherly kindness. . . .

A holy man will follow after a spirit of mercy
and benevolence towards others. He will not stand all the day idle. He will not
be content with doing no harm – he will try to do good. . . .

A holy man will follow after purity of heart. He
will dread all filthiness and uncleanness of spirit, and seek to avoid all
things that might draw him into it. He knows his own heart is like tinder, and
will diligently keep clear of the sparks of temptation. . . .

A holy man will follow after the fear of God. I
do not mean the fear of a slave, who only works because he is afraid of
punishment, and would be idle if he did not dread discovery. I mean rather the
fear of a child, who wishes to live and move as if he was always before his
father’s face, because he loves him. . . .

A holy man will follow after humility. He will
desire in lowliness of mind, to esteem all others better than himself. He will
see more evil in his own heart than in any other in the world. . . .

A holy man will follow after faithfulness in all
the duties and relations in life. He will try, not merely to fill his place as
well as others who take no thought for their souls, but even better, because he
has higher motives, and more help than they. . . . Holy persons should aim at
doing everything well, and should be ashamed of allowing themselves to do
anything ill if they can help it. . . .

Last, but not least, a holy man will follow
after spiritual mindedness. He will endeavor to set his affections entirely on
things above, and to hold things on earth with a very loose hand. . . .

I do not say for a moment that holiness shuts
out the presence of indwelling sin. No: far from it. It is the greatest misery
of a holy man that he carries about with him a ‘body of death;’ – that often
when he would do good ‘evil is present with him;’ that the old man is clogging
all his movements, and, as it were, trying to draw him back at every step he
takes. (Romans 7:21) But it is the excellence of a holy man that he is not at
peace with indwelling sin, as others are. He hates it, mourns over it, and
longs to be free from its company. The work of sanctification within him is
like the wall of Jerusalem – the building goes forward ‘even in troublous
times.’ (Daniel 9:25) . . .

This I do boldly and confidently say, that true
holiness is a great reality. It is something in a man that can be seen, and
known, and marked, and felt by all around him. It is light: if it exists, it
will show itself. It is salt: if it exists, its presence cannot be hid.

I am sure we should all be ready to make
allowance for much backsliding, for much occasional deadness in professing
Christians. I know a road may lead from one point to another, and yet have many
a winding and turn: and a man may be truly holy, and yet be drawn aside by many
an infirmity. Gold is not the less gold because mingled with alloy, nor light
the less light because faint and dim, nor grace the less grace because young and
weak. But after every allowance, I cannot see how any man deserves to be called
‘holy’ who willfully allows himself in sins, and is not humbled and ashamed
because of them. I dare not call anyone ‘holy’ who makes a habit of willfully
neglecting known duties, and willfully doing what he knows God has commanded
him not to do.”

B. THE
LOCATION OF HOLINESS

 

“Where can one find
holiness?” Pastor Barker stated:

“It is not something we can generate in
ourselves. It is something that is produced on the branch when the branch is
vitally united to Jesus Christ. And we find it only from our relationship with
the Lord Jesus Christ.” (John 15: 1-10)

I personally had the
privilege of hearing Dr. Barker on many occasions through the years. I never
heard him speak without giving the content of the Gospel of Christ. He was
truly “zealous to tell men of Jesus, who is mighty to save.” He
frequently said, in substance, that one must first hear the gigantic claims of
Christ, who He is and what He claims that He has done. Jesus stated that He is
God, the Son. He has made all things, and without Him, was not anything made
that was made. He lived a perfect life without spot or blemish in any way, even
though He was tempted in all respects just as we are. He voluntarily surrendered
His life and went to the cross to die an atoning death for our sins, and not
just for our sins, but for the sins of the whole world. On the third day, he
was raised from the dead, and now sits on the right hand of the Father. Of
course, just knowing these claims is
not sufficient. One must surrender one’s will to the Lord’s will in true
repentance and place their trust or faith in Jesus Christ alone for their
salvation. Therefore, we find holiness when we surrender to Christ, trusting as
our Savior, as the one who died for our sins and who unites us to himself in a
vital union. He will work within us to produce holiness, but . . . WE ARE TO
WORK OUT WHAT HE WORKS IN! “. . . Work out your own salvation with fear
and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both the will and to do of
His good pleasure.” (Barker, February 3, 1974)

III. THE
FAILURE TO PURSUE HOLINESS

 

The consequences of not
living holy lives are truly awful. Scripture says, “Without holiness, no
man shall see the Lord.” Of course, that means that without holiness, a
person will not go to heaven. That does not mean that we earn heaven by our
holiness, for salvation is a sheer gift. John Owen said that “God has, by
an eternal decree, ordained that the road that leads to heaven is holy.”
Ephesians 1:4 tells us that Christ died to
make us holy! Barker states that the whole purpose of Jesus in dying for us
would be frustrated were we without holiness. Jesus “gave Himself for us .
. . that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works. Heaven is holy. God is holy. Heaven is
going to be extremely holy, said Barker. “God is of pure eyes than to
behold iniquity and cannot look on evil.” (Habakkuk 1: 13) There shall in
nowise enter into heaven anything that will defile it. It is simply the nature
of things that we MUST BE HOLY in
order to go to heaven. This holiness is the product of that vital relationship
with the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the vine and we are the branches, and we must
be united to Him. When we are united to the Lord Jesus Christ, He produces the
holiness that is required.

Barker asked the
question:

“Are you holy? Do you fit the description
of holiness as given by Dr. Ryle, the great Biblical scholar who lays before us
what the Scriptures teach? Is your life the kind of life in which the light can
be seen and the salt tasted? The question is a solemn one. It is the most solemn question I have ever asked from this pulpit. It
is crucial that we ask it of ourselves.“

IV. THE
CALL TO WATCH OVER AND PROTECT OTHERS

 

The Lord God calls us to
salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ through the miracle of His atoning death by
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. He gives us the gift of repentance unto
life. The surrender of our will to His will. He does these things, as we have
seen, to make us holy. We are called to be holy, for He is holy. In doing that,
we see here in verses 15 and 16 of the 12^th Chapter of the Epistle
to the Hebrews that we no longer live unto ourselves. The writer calls us to
watch over others:

“Looking diligently lest any man fail of
the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and
thereby many be defiled; lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau,
who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”

Clearly, we are to be on
the lookout for professing brothers in Christ. It is our job to do what we can
(the use of the means of grace, God’s Word, prayer, confrontation, etc.) to
keep anyone from “failing of the grace of God.” What this is really
saying is if they fail of the grace of God, it means they’re not going to
heaven. The writer to Hebrews in Chapter 4 says:

“Let us therefore fear, lest a promise
being left us of entering into His rest, any of you should seem to come short
of it.”

We are charged with the
responsibility to make sure that no man fails of the grace of God. Are you
seeking to make sure that no member of your family “fails of the grace of
God?” Do you pray diligently and instruct diligently your children and
your grandchildren? Do you watch carefully over those who are not of your
family by blood, but are professing Christians? We are to try to make known
unto others this great grace which brings salvation and is a gift of God by faith
in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is available to us and to others. We must take
particular care to try to make sure that not only have we laid hold of and hold
onto this great gift, but that those that we know, all that we can reach, are
laying hold of and holding onto the Lord Jesus Christ. Dr. Frank Barker in
commenting on these verses in Hebrews said: “When we see anyone beginning
to stray, we’re to go after him. Don’t let any person among us stray without
somebody going after him and saying “Brother! Come back! It is dangerous
over there on the edge of the road. Get back in the middle. Come on with
me!” Look, put your arm under him, lift him up, bandage his knee and arm,
pray for him and encourage him. Take heed! Look diligently for those lest there
be any among us who fails of the grace of God.

Is this not the same
call that God gives to the prophet Ezekiel in the 3^rd Chapter of the
Book of Ezekiel? There we see the Lord God saying to the prophet the following:

“And it came to pass at the end of seven
days, that the Word of the Lord came unto me, saying, ‘Son of Man, I have made
thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: Therefore, hear the word of my mouth,
and give them warning from me.’ When I say unto the wicked, ‘thou shalt surely
die’; and you give him not warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his
wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity;
but his blood will I require at your hand. Yet if you warn the wicked and he
turn not from his wickedness nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his
iniquity, but you have delivered your soul. Again, when a righteous man does
turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block
before him, he shall die: Because you have not given him warning, he shall die
in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered;
but his blood will I require at your hand.” Nevertheless, if you warn the
righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he does not sin, he shall surely
live, because he is warned; also you have delivered your soul.” (Ezekiel
3: 16-21).

This is a solemn
responsibility. Look around you and see who may be in danger of failing of the
grace of God. Do not let any root of bitterness spring up and trouble you, but
look to see if there are any who have a root of bitterness springing up to
trouble them. We have been given a great gift. Our sins have been forgiven. We
have been given eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ alone. We know the
secret that will cure the greatest disease in the history of the world. Sin!
The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. We cannot sit idly by while
others perish. We are charged with the responsibility to go and reach those
that we can reach.

In his sermon in 1974,
Dr. Barker pointed out, as this verse talks about, the danger of a root of
bitterness, people who are just bitter, putting out poisonous fruit, poisoning
the water so to speak. Also, one whose heart turns away from the Lord to serve
other gods; pursuing pleasure, power, position, any other thing that takes
first place in our life other than the Lord Jesus Christ; false teachers, who
are open and notorious in their preaching of openly immoral conduct; of another
gospel; of alleging many ways to salvation; of alleging that light and darkness
such as Christ and Mohammad can have fellowship together. No such thing can
happen. We are to be careful, for “a little leaven leavens the whole
lump.”

The writer of Hebrews
refers to Esau as being one who lives in open immorality. He sold his
birthright for a mess of pottage. Barker says that Esau is a “type . . . a
symbol . . . of those people within the church who do not value their spiritual
heritage.”

In a book called,
“The Arena of Faith,” Eric Sauer says that

“Esau lived for things visible and bartered
them for things spiritual. Esau lived for human enjoyment and bartered away
God-given blessings. Esau lived without discipline and self-control and
bartered away his position of authority and honor. He despised God’s promise of
an offer of dignity and brought himself thereby into shame. He lived for his
own ego and bartered away the high-calling of his family. Through all of this
he proved himself a godless and profane man. He was a worldly minded descendent
of a God-devoted bearer of high, divine promises. He esteemed a passing
enjoyment above the most noble, permanent privileges ordained of God.”

That is what we must
avoid. That’s what we must assist others to avoid. Call their attention to it.
Call them to repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The
Apostle Paul says in his letter to the Church of Colossi: “Let the Word of
Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom: Teaching and admonishing one another
. . . .” (Colossians 3:16(a))

This applies to every
Christian, not just to the officers and pastors of a particular church. We are
to exercise this mutual discipline in love toward one another when we see
someone beginning to go astray. “Exhort one another daily, while it is
called today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of
sin.” (Hebrews 3:13)

Thus, we see that we are
called to be watchmen over the flock. Do not let anyone fall by the wayside.
Pick him up and help him get back in the race. God expects us to bring him
back. That’s part of our call to holiness, for God is holy.

In J.C. Ryles’ book,
“Holiness,” he says:

“Are you holy? Do you know anything of the
holiness of which I’ve been speaking? . . . Alas, what searching, sifting words
are these! What thoughts come across my mind, as I write them down! I look at
the world and see the greater part of it lying in wickedness. I look at
professing Christians, and see the vast majority having nothing of Christianity
but the name.”

“You may say, if I were so holy, I would be
unlike other people. I answer, ‘I know it well.’ It is just that you ought to
be. Christ’s true servants always were unlike the world around them – a
separate nation, a peculiar people; – and you must be so too, if you would be
saved!” You may say, ‘at this rate, very few will be saved.’ I answer, ‘I
know it.’ It is precisely what we’re told in the Sermon on the Mount. . .
.”

“I fear it is sometimes forgotten that God
has married together justification and sanctification. They are distinct and
different things beyond question, but one is never found without the other. All
justified people are sanctified, and all sanctified people are justified. What
God has joined together, let no man dare to put asunder.”

Be ye holy as God is
holy!

May Him who is able to
do exceeding abundantly above all that we even ask or think work in you both
the will and to do of His own good pleasure.

Your Friend and Brother
in Christ,

William Gray

 By: anonymous

Pastors preaching about sex while camping out in bed on the roof.

A tattoo parlor being put into a church.

Pastors who call the church to be “Idiots for Christ”.

A Pastor who makes his grand sermon entrance coming out of a casket.

Where does it end???

I am floored at what antics we are seeing in the pulpit and in the churches especially in the younger generation. I guess this is due to people (including many Pastors) who have been dumbed down and pumped up (self-esteem) in our educational system with inflated grades and emphasis on agendas like tolerance, safe sex, Harry Potter and other non academic deceptions. They haven’t learned many of the fundamentals of knowledge and haven’t had to work for their grades. The bible is too hard so the church brings in The Message bible which is full of occultic phrases. Little time is spent reading or studying any bible. We get little to none of the Word or the Holy Spirit or prayer in the average church. We are entertained to the point we are all on the verge of ADD – no attention spans and little self control or discipline. Our entertainment, electronics and music desensitizes us to sin. I guess some of these preachers think whatever gets the crowd into the church is good. Many of the churches have become like the world;  dumbed down, desensitized to sin, entertainment factories and whatever makes everyone feel good about themselves.
Maybe they will get saved too, who knows?

by David Wilkerson

[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

Genesis tells us that the more man multiplied on the earth, the more violent he

became.

“The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with

violence. So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all

flesh had corrupted their way on the earth” (Genesis 6:11-12).

There is another, different kind of violence taking place in this last day.

Indeed, I see a godly people with an aggressive faith being raised up. This

holy remnant is full of Jesus, loving Him with all their hearts. These

believers see a mad devil coming at them with everything in his power and they

know they have more of hell to face than any other generation before them.

Jesus said: “The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by

force” (Matthew 11:12). This remnant is going to rise up and say, “I’m not going

to let the devil steal my joy and peace. I will not let him plant seeds of

grudges, murder, hatred or violence in me. No! I’m going to rise up in Jesus’

power and live victoriously above this demonic filth.”

Dear saint, God wants to put a fight in you! If you have been guilty of any of

these forms of violence, quickly repent before the Lord and obey His Word.

That’s all He asks. May God put a holy zeal and faith in you beyond anything

you have ever known. He wants you to be able to stand against Satan’s wicked

devices.

The only spirit of violence we are going to have is a violent faith. It will be

a strong, holy violence that comes full force against the gates of hell and the

strongholds of the enemy. And, by the power of God, we will bring them all down

in Jesus’ name!

Dear Friends,

2012 arrived, and we are all still here.

Even though the dire predictions abound, do not be deceived – this “Mayan end of the world” thing isn’t an endgame for the world players, but a resetting of the stage. I do believe it will be a time of great crises on several fronts – politically, spiritually, economically and climatically. But be aware that all of them are simply going to be tools to position the world into accepting a one-world economic, religious, social and political direction or “unification” in order to avert “ultimate disaster and annihilation.”

Knowing these things, how then shall we live? For me, I entered the new year with a great sense of JOY. and of PEACE. It is simply because the kingdoms of this world are NOT what rules our lives as believers but the PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING that only JESUS can give. All these things that will come – disasters, moral collapse, mocking God, persecution of believers, surely will come and are already upon us – and much of what is coming will be so overwhelming it will literally take our breath away. But it will not take our PLACE away, seated with Christ in heavenly places. We are NOT TO FEAR what is to come. We are to be SOBER, VIGILANT WATCHMEN, defending the faith, ready to give an answer for the hope within us at all times, and STEADY. The Word I feel God gave me for the coming year is, “Wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times.” (Isaiah 33:6). And where do we get that wisdom? Where do we get the knowledge we will need to stay stable? Not from Wikipedia, or Fox News, or the latest “I can fix this” politician. No, beloved friends, there is only ONE SOURCE from which we can gain the stability we need, and that is the SURE WORD OF GOD. No wonder Satan has spent so much energy detracting from, defaming, diluting and denigrating the very words of God.

He knows if he can take that from the heart of believers, all they will have left is feelings and experiences, and they will be vulnerable to every false thing that comes along.

In the midst of this new year of changes and troubling times, we can and must have PEACE and the JOY OF THE LORD, not because things are good, or going well, but because HE IS LORD and we are NOT ruled over by circumstances. The thing that is going to draw people to Jesus in this hour is the steady confidence and love of those who claim Jesus’ Name who are not panicked or downcast by these things but who know that they are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Him who loved us. We offer eternal hope in a world that is quickly descending into eternal hell. We have much to be thankful for, and so, so much work to do in this last hour. Steady on, dear friends, Jesus is with us!

The Next Phase

It seems like with each new unchecked, undiscerned popular book, such as The Shack, it is just conditioning the church for the next weakening of spiritual boundaries. The new one appears to be a book called “Have Heart: Bridging the Gulf Between Heaven and Earth” by Steve and Sarah Berger, pastors of a large church in Franklin, Tennessee. It is the story of the loss of their teenage son in an auto accident – and of subsequent visitations from their dead son to their church members. In addition, the book appears to go to great lengths to Biblically justify this sanctified necromancy; in their words, communicating with the dead draws upon “a sanctified imagination within the confines of biblical truth.” And therein lays the serious problem. You CANNOT sanctify what God clearly forbids. God was VERY SERIOUS when He forbade necromancy (communicating with the dead). (It is dangerous to use the story of Jesus, Elijah and Moses on the mount as an example of allowed communication with the dead. The disciples even then were NOT ALLOWED TO TALK TO THEM NOR BE TALKED TO.)

One does so at one’s own peril. I find that a great majority of Christians read the scriptures forbidding necromancy but merely accept that it shouldn’t be done, (as if any of them would go to a trance medium!) but never understanding WHY. And really, God’s answer of “because I said so, that’s why” should be enough, but rarely is.

However, and I rarely hear this one very crucial issue addressed: When you attempt to break God’s commands and either talk to the dead or listen FOR the dead, there is a very real, and very virulent army of demons who spend a great deal of time and energy LOOKING for those who seek to speak to the dead. They are called familiar spirits. In the occult world, these familiar demons are “information gatherers.” They gain as much knowledge about a person as they can, and when the person dies, the demons look for open doors through people who are willing to talk to the dearly departed: and the demons, armed with information “only their loved one could know,” can easily begin to communicate back, sometimes with flawless imitation both verbally and sometimes physically.

You have to understand this: although we don’t know for SURE where demons come from, it is fairly clear that they seem to at one time to know what it was like to have a body. Now they are homeless, and tormented. They seek only A HOUSE; a human body through anyone who has allowed them in. And one of the easiest ways for them to gain entrance is through those who try to contact the dead.

It is no shock that the authors of Have Heart are huge fans of The Shack. In fact they say they have passed it out by the cases. The Shack was the first open door to Christian necromancy, a tale of a man supposedly able to reconcile with his dead father while in a coma. This book is just the next open door. It breaks my heart. I imagine these are good, God-loving people – clearly grieving, and also clearly already compromised through The Shack and perhaps other dilutions of Biblical faith. Folks, I understand grief, I have had a lifetime of losses of parents, family, loved ones, friends. There are times it hurt so bad I wished I was with them. But I had BEEN in the occult. I KNOW what happens when you try to solace yourself through attempting to reach out to where GOD HAS FORBIDDEN. And I am more than a little concerned that this book is going to open up another MAJOR DOOR to demonic influence among believers. These people have had EXPERIENCES, and they are trying to wrap the Word of God around it to justify why “it’s not necromancy.” But whenever we manipulate the Word of God to force it to conform to our experience, we have opened some dangerous doors indeed. (Gay church theology, for example.) Please STEER CLEAR of this book. It will be poison to anyone who grieves and longs for comfort. Without a more thorough review of the book that is all I will say for now, but pending that, please understand that the scriptures are VERY clear on this, and we violate His command to our own deception and demonic delusion as a result.

Along that line, Hasbro is now marketing the Ouija board for 8-12 year old girls. Pink with cute bubble lettering, the ad copy says, “It has always been mysterious. It has always been mystifying. And now the OUIJA Board is just for you, girl. With 72 fun questions included, you’ll never run out of things to ask. Make up your own questions, and let the OUIJA Board satisfy your curiosity in virtually endless ways. OUIJA Board will answer. It’s just a game – or is it?”  No. It is NOT. It’s one of the oldest forms of divination in recorded history. And, again, an almost instant open door to demonic influence and demonization.

Be Careful Where You Search

I was recently looking for some salvation scriptures I could print for our youth group. After one or two searches, I came across a stellar compilation of verses under the web title, “Deep Truths.” I am glad I read the entire webpage and sourced it – it was put together by “The Family” which is the NEW name for one of the most dangerous “Christian” cults of the last 30 years – also known as “The Children of God.” COG was started by a discouraged minister who found a young hippie following and started communes around the world. David Berg, aka Moses David, was a raging alcoholic who used his following as his own sex cult. He began to teach his young women followers to go prostitute themselves for Jesus to bring people to the Lord. Soon the COG was filled with free sex, and ultimately, incest and pedophilia. Berg’s own son was sexually abused almost since birth. They were so deceived that they actually put together a “picture book” of young Davidito as he was being engaged in sexual activities even as a little boy, chronicling this abuse for some time to show their members how glorious and wonderful it all was for him and all of them.

Davidito grew up, left, melted down. Just a few years ago, Davidito, aka Ricky Rodriguez, by then in his early twenties, made a video while he was cleaning his gun, getting ready to take vengeance for all the abused children of the cult. His initial plan was to kill his mother. Failing to locate her, he instead found his nanny who had sexually abused him on many occasions. He invited her over, stabbed her repeatedly until she died, then drove to California, locked himself in a hotel and killed himself.

The Children of God – and Davidito’s mother – is alive and well and continuing to gain recruits all over the world. Please be careful of anything or anyone who is part of “The Family” or “The Family of God.” If I had not known what I knew, and been a careful researcher, I could have easily been deceived by this slick and “Christian” looking website.

I continue to be disturbed by how little we discern. I am a big fan of Franklin Graham and Samaritan’s Purse. How disheartening it was to hear him say that he had no issue with the fact that Mitt Romney was a Mormon. “Yes, the fact that Mitt Romney is a Mormon doesn’t bother me at all,” Graham told CBN. It should. A moral leader with a corrupt spiritual belief system is very dangerous; and I must remind you again, Hitler was both moral (in many ways we count morality: i.e. against drugs, pro-marriage etc.) and conservative. We simply cannot close our eyes to Romney’s spiritual roots. It DOES motivate what he does, and why. It is one thing to have someone as marginal as Joel Osteen endorse the Mormon church; quite another to receive at least a lack of concern from one of the most important evangelical leaders in America. Pray for him to be shown the truth, and hopefully, issue a retraction.

What’s Ahead

On January 19^th I will be doing training for the JAG officers here in El Paso on human trafficking. Please pray for this crucial class that I can give them exactly what they need to do an effective job.

On January 13^th, I will be giving my testimony for the recovery program at Jesus Chapel West here in El Paso.

In April, I will be once again traveling to St Louis for our annual conference on cults and the occult. Please pray for this upcoming event. Dates and information will follow soon.

In closing, I want to thank God for all He did last year. It was grueling in many ways, a lot of heavy lifting spiritually and sometimes physically (i.e., the Navajo youth trip!) Your prayers and support have been such a blessing to me. January 26^th is the 36^th anniversary of the launching of this ministry. It has undergone many changes and many transitions, locations and focuses. But what has remained is the call, the heart’s compelling to reach every young generation with the power and love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. My prayer this next year is to be broken, obedient and faithful to even His faintest whisper of direction in seeking to further the Kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ this next year. Thank you for standing with me. Let’s see what God does!

In His Grace,

Gregory Reid

By: Riley

afaithfulsaying.wordpress.com

Theme: Jn. 3:16

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” -Ro. 6:23

• Sin entered through Adam (Ro. 5:12-19; Gen 3:12)
• All mankind is guilty of sin (Ro. 3:23; Isa. 53:6; Ps. 51:5; Ro. 3:11-12)
• Jesus, the Son of God, was sent to save men from their sins (1 Tim. 1:15; Jn. 3:16-17; Mt. 1:21; Mt. 8:18; Lu. 9:56; Lu. 19:10; Jn.  12:47; Heb. 7:25)
• Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice for all sin on the cross (Heb 10:12; Heb. 10:10-14; Eph. 5:2; Ro. 8:3; 2 Cor. 5:15,21; Heb 2:9)
• Jesus rose from the grave and conquered sin and death (2 Cor. 5:14; 1 Th. 4:14; 2 Tim. 1:10; 1 Cor. 15:55; Ro. 6:9; Rev. 1:18)
• Jesus is the only way to heaven (Jn. 14:6; Jn. 10:9)
• One must repent to be saved (Mt. 4:17; Lu. 13:3; Ac. 2:38; 8:22; 17:30; 26:20; Rev. 2:5)
• One must believe in God, that Jesus is the Son of God, that He rose from the dead, and is able to save them (Mr. 1:15; Mr. 9:23; 11:24; Lu. 8:12; Jn. 6:29; 6:69; 8:24; 11:42, 13:19; 20:31; Ac. 16:31; Ro. 4:24; Ro. 10:9; Heb. 11:6; 1 Pe. 1:21)
• Confess orally (Ro. 10:9)
• Recognize that we are saved through faith (Hab. 2:4; Ac. 26:18; Ro. 3:25, 27; Ga. 3:8; Eph. 2:8; 1 Pe. 1:5)

 

“The Lord is…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”

–2 Pe. 3:9

What to do next

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1. Read the New Testament
2. Seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit
3. Pray that God would lead you to the RIGHT church for you!
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“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

-2 Cor. 5:17

By: Riley

afaithfulsaying.wordpress.com

Theme: Nu. 22-24

The story of Balaam is very misunderstood by most. Because he was not a Prophet of Israel, many think he was a soothsayer used by God. The assumption that he used divination, of course, is ridiculous because we know that God does not nor will ever condone divination (De. 18:10; Rev. 22:15). Balaam was, in fact, a true Prophet of God that accurately heard God’s voice even though he did not belong to a tribe of Israel (Nu. 22:9).  However, Balaam did not die as a true Prophet of God (Jos. 13:22). Later in his life, he did turn to divination to cause Israel to sin by tempting their men to lay with pagan women (Nu. 31:16-18). The New Testament mentions Balaam’s error as a result of his greed for reward (Jude 1:11; 2Pe.2:15). Though he did fall into sin, his former days of righteousness paints a picture of God’s perfect will versus God’s permissive will.

Many Christians don’t know that God has two different types of wills that we can choose to follow. Didn’t you know God gave us a choice? His “perfect” will, is the 100% absolute best possible path that we can take. It is what He chooses for us!  Then there is His “permissive” will. It is the path that we choose for ourselves that he will “permit” us to follow. In conclusion, His perfect will is what He says is best. His permissive will is what we want with God’s permission.  What is the end result to both scenarios? God’s perfect will gives you exactly what God wants you to have or do. God’s permissive will gives you want you want or want to do according to his permission…but it’s not His best! If the Lord ever tells you that he will “allow” you to do something, you should stop and ask God what is His better option! His ways are higher than our ways, even if he “allows” our way (Isa. 55:8-9)! Balaam should have gone with God’s way as opposed to what he wanted.

In Numbers 22, we find a king named Balak the son of Zippor over Moab. Israel was on a conquest, destroying every enemy in his path and Moab was “sore afraid” and “distressed because of the children of Israel” (verse 3).  So what did Balak do? He did what many kings of that era did when man’s wisdom failed: He sought supernatural help.

Balak sent his messengers to Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor saying “Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blesses is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed” (verses 5-6). How awesome that God rescued slaves from Egypt and made them into a force of fear amongst their enemies! Balak didn’t even know where his supernatural power came from, all he knew was that whomever Balaam blessed was blessed and whomever Balaam cursed was cursed…so he thought he could bribe him with rewards (verse 7). Balaam did what most Prophets of God did when messengers come to their house with a task: he prayed God’s direction (verse 8).  We know Balaam was of God because God came to him and said “What men are these with thee?” (verse 9).  After Balaam brought the situation before God, God answered this:

“And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed. And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land: for the Lord refuseth to give me leave with you.” (verses 12-13)

God said no, now get outta here! That should be the end of the story. God said His perfect will and Balaam submitted. But Balaam let his flesh get in the way, and the story continued. After Balak’s servants told their master what Balaam said, he sent them back with more rewards and promises of exaltation (verses 14-17”. Balaam said, “If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more” (verse 18). Look at Balaam! Why can’t all Christians be so stubborn when it comes to God’s Word! Though he knew God’s answer he inquired of the Lord again (verse 19). God spoke to him again and said, “If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them: but yet the word which I shall say unto thee that shalt thou do” (verse 20). The Lord was very strict with his command, he told him to go only if “the men come and call thee”. Balaam didn’t listen. He rose up and went on his way with the men even though they didn’t call him first. Balaam already knew God wasn’t going to let him curse Israel, but he insisted on going with the men anyway. It wasn’t God’s perfect will, but God allowed it.

We find that lovely phrase again in verse 22 that always means God is furious, “And God’s anger was kindled because he went…”. God pays attention to detail people. God responded by sending an angel to block Balaam’s path (verse 22-23).  The angel drew his sword and would not allow Balaam nor the donkey he rode upon to proceed.

Balaam, being blinded by the natural eye, could not see the angel and raged at his donkey for its stubbornness (verse 23-27).  Balaam was eager to walk in God’s permissive will, wouldn’t you say? Finally, God opened the donkey’s mouth to correct Balaam (verse 28-34). God was patient with Balaam seeing He still “allowed” him to continue with the men (verse 35).

The rest of the story is very simple. Multiple times Balak offers Balaam more riches in hopes that he will curse Israel and multiple times Balaam asks God if he could do it even though he already knew God’s perfect will (23:1-10; 13-24; 27-30). In the end, Balaam was convinced that God wasn’t going to curse Israel. Instead God told Balaam to bless Israel (verse 10). It was a complete waste of time for Balaam to follow those men in the first place. He wasted his time, God’s time, and Balak’s time. Balaam ultimately did accept God’s perfect will, but he was trying to get God to allow him to walk in His permissive will. What drove Balaam to want to walk in God’s permissive will? Earthly rewards. He kept testing God to see if He would make an exception so he could curse Israel and get all the rewards. Most times when Christians choose not to walk in God’s perfect will but rather His permissive will, it is pure selfishness. Balaam should have just stayed home and submitted to God. He instead allowed his flesh to overcome his emotions and tried to tempt God. That same problem came back to haunt him when he eventually did abandon God and caused is Israel to sin.

God has His perfect will for all of us! He knows what is best in every area of our lives (1 Cor. 2:9). It is so important that we follow His best will for us so we can produce as much fruit for his kingdom as possible! God has made each and every one of us for a specific purpose. They only way to fulfill the destiny He wants for your life is for you to accept the best that He wants for your life. In prayer, tell God that you accept His perfect will for your life and ask Him to speak to you what that is. We must also do our part by submitting to Him (Jas. 4:7).  Don’t allow Satan to steal what God wants for you!

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9)

By: Riley

www.afaithfulsaying.wordpress.com

Theme: Nu. 25:1-15

Many stories in the Bible are shared today without mention of one honorable man named Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the Priest. David mentions him in Ps. 106:30, “Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed.” He was the grandson of Aaron the Priest who was Moses brother (Ex. 4:14). He came from a very important line of blood, and he knew it. So in the face of defilement he stood up and took such an action that turned away Gods judgment from Israel.  In his holy anger, he did Israel a great service. It was much like Jesus cleansing the temple in Jerusalem (Jn. 2:15). Many times God looks at the actions of a few who are the leaders of a people to determine whether or not the whole is pure.

 That is why it is important to follow Godly leaders!

In verses 1-6, Israel is found in a terrible state. In verse 1 is says “And Israel abode in Shittim, and the people began to commit whoredom with the daughters of Moab.” The Lord always stressed to Israel the importance of abstaining from pagan people because of such instances as this. Israel yet again, found itself committing whoredom, eating pagan sacrifices, and even forsaking God to worship these foreign gods (verse 2)! As usual the Lord was displeased. In verse 3 it says the anger of the Lord was “kindled” against Israel. Whenever that phrase is used in the Old Testament it meant God was terribly angry. And rightly so, wouldn’t you say? After all God has done for them

?

The Lord, in his wrath, commands Moses to “take all the heads of the people, and hang them before the Lord against the sun” (verse 4) so that God’s anger will be turned away from Israel. What a penalty! Moses then gathered his judges together and told them to slay them (verse 5).  Picture Moses standing before his judges in a closed meeting, giving them directions directly from the Lord…watch what happens next. An Israelite takes brings a naked Midianitish women in front of the whole congregation to temp them into sin (verse 6)! Today, Christians must battle filth like this on the internet and TV, but this was the real thing! The people of the congregation were weeping for their people, and this wicked man commits such a sinful act (verse 6)!

“And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.” (verses 7-8).

Phinehas stood up for truth. He did not wait for Moses command nor did he wait for someone else to deal with it. Phinehas, by his action, proved he was the grandson of Aaron the Priest! Through his action he proved he had faith in God (Jas 2:17). Later, in verses 14-15, scripture tells us the man and women he slew were actually people with big names. He boldly slew people that probably had many angry friends. But they underestimated Phinehas, because he was “zealous for his God” (verse 13).  He was so zealous that when defilement arouse, he could not just stand there and watch it happen. In verses 10-13, we see that God was pleased with Phinehas so much that not only was the plague turned away, but God granted him and his seed after him “a covenant of peace, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood”.

One man and one action is all it took. Phinehas was a man zealous for his God and God rewarded him for it. But in order for God to reward him, he had to prove it. God calls us all to be like Phinehas and to be bold enough to destroy sin in our lives, homes, and churches. God calls us all to be holy (1 Pe. 1:16). And to be holy, we must act to remain holy. We need to prove to God that we are serious when we come to him and ask him to change us. It is time that we took the javelin of God’s Word and thrust it through every sin and hindrance in every part of our lives! Remember Phinehas, and pray that God would give you such a zeal and boldness for him!

By: Riley

afaithfulsaying.wordpress.com

Wine and Drinking Examined in the Bible

In the culture in which we live in today, one of the most anticipated and popular things one can do is socially drink.

No matter how good or bad the economy gets people hold fast to their glasses and bottles. It has been around almost forever and will most likely stay until the end of this world. As long as you are of age, people say it’s an okay thing to do. But what if one becomes a Christian? Is there still a place for drinking? Some Pastors and Deacons do it, they must know right?

There is only one authority on the Christian faith that can supersede any word or action of even a Pastor. That authority is The Bible. God’s Word to man that will never fail (Lu. 21:33). It’s time we started living from a Biblical perspective instead of just what our Christian friend or Pastor says or does.

Biblical Reasons NOT to Drink

1. When Israel performed Tabernacle duties –Lev. 10:9
2. When one had taken the Nazarite Vow – Nu. 6:3
3. Children of Israel abstained from drinking for God– De. 29:6
4. Angel commanded Samson’s barren mother  not to drink for it would interfere with the miracle – Jg. 13:4
5. Samson’s mother commanded by Angel not to give him strong drink ever – Jg. 13:7
6. Angel stressed point again to Father of Samson–Jg. 13:14
7. Hannah beseeches God by abstaining from drinking -1 Sa. 1:15
8. Drinker s of wine are not wise– Pr. 20:1
9. Lovers if wine shall not be rich– Pr. 21:17
10. Do not associate with winebibbers – Pr. 23: 20
11. People who are filled with woes seek wine – Pr. 23:30
12. Solomon warns of being deceived by the very appearance of wine – Pr. 23:31
13. Not for kings or princes to drink –Pr. 31:4
14. Give wine to those ready to perish – Pr. 31:6
15. Isaiah warns of being consumed with wine – Isa. 5:11
16. Terrible for strong and mighty men to drink – Isa. 5:22
17. Isaiah proclaims that Ephraim is overcome with wine. – Isa. 28:1
18. Gods people error through strong drink – Isa. 28:7
19. Isaiah attributes drinking wine with greedy and selfish people – Isa. 56:12
20. Cheap prophecy associated with strong drink – Mic. 2:11
21. Jeremiah compares his broken state to one being overcome with wine -Jer. 23:9
22. God uses Joadab’s commandment to his family to abstain from wine as a standard against Israel -Jer. 35:12-17
23. Priest shall not drink when they enter into inner court -Eze.44:21
24. Daniel refuses to defile himself with the king’s wine –Dan. 1:8
25. Belshazzar and servants honored pagan gods with wine –Dan. 5:29
26. False gods and wine are bundled together -Hos. 3:1
27. Whoredom bundles with wine -Hos. 4:11
28. God Commands not to drink wine of conquered people -Zep. 1:13
29. Angel foretells John the Baptist will abstain from strong drink and wine – Lu. 1:15
30. Wine causes Christians to stumble -Rom. 14:21
31. Not to be drunk with wine –Eph. 5:18
32. Bishop cannot be given to wine -1 Tim. 3:3
33. Deacon cannot be given to wine -1 Tit. 3:8
34. Elder women cannot be given to much wine –Tit. 2:3
35. Non-Christians bundled with drinkers of excess wine -1 Pet. 4:3

Instances When Wine Was Used for Evil

1. Noah was naked in shame-Gen. 9:21;24
2. Lots daughters gave Lot wine so they could sleep with him –Gen. 19:32-35
3. Isaac had wine when he mistakenly blessed Jacob- Gen. 27:25
4. Benhadad and 32 kings were drunk when they were defeated-1 Ki. 20:16
5. David tried to get Uriah drunk to pass blame- 2 Sa. 11:13
6. Absalom sought to kill Amnon with the help of wine-2 Sa. 13:29
7. People were sold for wine- Joel 3:3
8. Princes made king sick with wine- Hos.
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9. People gave unto the Nazarites wine and ruined their vow to God -Am. 2:12
10. The people transgressed by wine –Hab. 2:5
11. Church members getting drunk from communion-1 Cor. 11:21

Instances Where Drunkenness Was Confused With Prayer

1. Eli confused praying with drunkenness- 1 Sam. 1:14-15
2. Apostles thought to be drunk- Ac. 2:13

ONLY Purpose in the New Testament where Wine Is Encouraged by Apostles

1. Wine used for medicine-1 Tim. 5:23

Jesus and Wine

1. Jesus is “claimed” to have drunken wine-Mt. 11:19
   1. His enemies said this, no evidence he absolutely did it
   2. Jesus refuses wine -Mark 15:23
   3. Jesus will abstain from “fruit of the vine” –Lu. 22:18
      1. Grape juice is referred to here, no proof it was fermented or intoxicating

Though wine is a praised in parts of the Old Testament, one must consider that the amount of alcohol in one drink used in those days cannot be compared to the great amounts that are used today. Thus to use those verses to advocate consumption of alcohol is not as strong of an argument as one would think. The book of Ecclesiastes, which many use as an argument for drinking, was written by Solomon in his backslidden state. One can easily see that many verses conflict with overall themes of the Old Testament.  Many of his books were included by God to show how the wisdom of man falls short of the wisdom of God. It can be concluded that while in times past drinking was permitted in certain circumstances, drinking was always forbidden when dealing with a holy duty or calling. The benefits of drinking are very small and do not offset the great woes that it is capable of bringing. God knew this, and that is why he forbids it so many times in the Old and New Testament. Whenever a person had a high calling in the Lord, they were never allowed to consume alcohol as a sign of holiness (ex. Samson, Nazarite, Temple Priests, John the Baptist).

Yes, it is true that drinking itself is not a sin (unless the Lord gives a command). The excess of it is. But in my life, I have never seen an anointed saint of God that drinks. The Christians that drink are the ones that are backslidden and rarely consider what God’s will is for their lives. Living a life sold out to God is a life of holiness and separation from the world. If you look like the world, act like the world, and talk like the world…you are of this world. So why would a saint of God knowing that Satan is after them ever want to give him such a foothold (1 Pe. 5:8)? That is where the “…is not wise” (Prov. 20:1) part comes in.  Wisdom is not for drinkers. The Holy Spirit desires Christians to have wisdom (1 Cor. 12:8).  Put the rest of the puzzle pieces together yourself, if you are a Christian then drinking should not be an option.

 

• Pray for those who “tarry long at the wine…” (Pr. 23:30)
• Pray Isaiah 24:9, that it would be a bitter taste in their mouth…

Isaiah 24:9 “They shall not drink wine with a song; strong drink shall be bitter to them that drink it.”

 

 

 

 

Arguments for an Old Universe

Arguments for a young universe

1. Expansion of the Universe. 2. Special and General Relativity. 3. Gravity as found in the universe. 4. Radioactive half-lives. 5. Light-speed. 6. Existence of stars. 7. Concept “Age consistency.” 8. Evidence of middle-aged galaxies–older galaxies than them. 9. Evidence from solar- system. antibiotic 10. Evidence from sun- earth- Swift Code Lookup moon system. 11. Stellar burning–brightness of stars. 12. Abundances of Radioactive elements. 13. Erosion on Mercury, Mars, and the moon. 14. Anthropic Principles. 15. The appearance of prehistoric men and creatures before humanity. 16. Meteorites landing upon the earth. 17. Mass and Angular Momentum of our solar system. 18. Orbital regularity of our solar system. 19. Chemical evidence of our solar system. 20. Highly Organized Carbonate Deposits underneath the surface of the earth. 21. The formation of Ooids [spheroidal bodies]. 22. Oceanic Sedimentation. 23. Deposits of Sandstone and Shale. 24. Coral growth. 25. Distribution of Marine Fossils. 26. Forest Deposits. 27. Sea-floor Spreading. 28. Magnetic Reversals.

1. Continents are eroding too quickly. 2. Dust accumulates too quickly on the moon’s surface; its rotation slowing down. 3. The earth’s magnetic field is decaying too rapidly. 4. The sun burns by gravitational contraction and as such must be young. 5. Galaxy clusters are not dispersed widely enough for the universe to be old. 6. Granite Crystal halos can only arise from 218 Po decay only if the earth is young. 7. Eruptions of Mount Saint Helens demonstrate that all geological processes are not gradual but rapid. 8. Spiral galaxies must be much younger due to the fact that computer model show that the spiral collapses after two or three rotations. 9. Human footprints alongside dinosaur prints prove that dinosaurs were contemporary with humans. 10. Comets by their short life span prove that the universe is very young. 11. If the sediments of the earth were deposited more than a hundred of millions of years, one should find meteorites throughout various levels of sediment on the earth’s surface. 12. Radioisotope dating is unreliable; Polonium-218 and its half-live prove a young earth; the absences of so many humans indicate a young earth. 13. Fossils support young earth. 14. The closeness of Venus, and its temperature support young earth; its temperature would be too hot if billions of years old. 15. Stars are burning out too fast for them to have been in existence for a very long time. 16. Limited amounts of Helium. 17. Rings around Saturn are being rapidly bombarded by meteoroids.

Gap Creationism is an ancient idea. The first theologian who thought of such an idea was St. Justin Martyr. He was born in the year 100 and converted to Christianity in the year 130 of our Lord. He was persecuted for his faith and was beheaded in the year 165. St. Justin Martyr supposes an indefinite period between the Creation and the first ordering of all things. This puts the idea of gap creationism 1,700 years before the scientific data of geology gave it credibility.

Another great theologian and philosopher that believed in gap creationism was St. Augustine of Hippo. He was born in the year 354 and died in 430. He believed in a considerable interval between the Creation related in the first verse of Genesis and of an account given in the third and following verses.

There is a great space of time since gap creationism was taught in our history. The reason was that many false teachings of our Lord and Savior came into existence by falsely lead believers, and much time was spent straightening out such false doctrines. Also, the Dark Ages entered into the existence of the world, and education was frowned upon.

After the Dark Ages, the gap theory was traced to a man named Simon Episcopius who was born in 1583 and died in 1643, and who was a theologian and scholar of his time. In the works of Episcopius, the gap theory of creationism show up in more detail. Thus, the gap theory of the old-earth theory predates the present-day geology by 200 years.

The gap theory has been portrayed as an attempt to change the Word of God as a way to appease the scientific discoveries. Scientist have gotten its idea of an age-old universe from ministers of the Word of God years before geological evidence came into existence. How is it possible then to claim that the gap theory compromises the Word of God? Also, present-day evolution was not coined until after the writings of Charles Darwin. By the way, Charles Darwin was a minister of the Word of God who graduated in the top ten of his theology class. Some major changes were made to his work for approval by the unbelieving scientists of the time. Darwin believed in God as the creator of the universe.

Charles Darwin has been misunderstood by both religion and science. His teaching have been misrepresented by science and condemned by most believers in God when it ought not to be the case. The word evolution is not even in his writings, but some geologist insist that we come from apes. It is a historical fact that many modern-day geologist believe in evolution, but the early geologist were Christians, and they believed in a vast amount of years for the Creation to occur. Evolutionists have taken the geological evidence and twisted these facts to promote evolution of the species. No such evidence is seen in geological formations.

Rev. Thomas Chalmers (1780-1847), a mathematician and a respected minister, was a leader in the Free Church of Scotland. Thomas Chalmers became one of the most popular preacher of his time. He taught the gap theory, and it was accepted by many. Rev. Thomas Chalmers, in a review of Cuvier’s Theory of the Earth, taught that there was a vast period for the formation of the geological ages and the organic ages to have occurred after Genesis 1 when God created out of nothingness. Genesis 1:2 was a period, which life became void and formless; and the sun, the moon, and the stars were temporarily extingushed. Genesis 1:3 was to be preserved as the natural twenty-four-hour periods and the restoration of the old heavens and the earth.

Science in this author’s opinion has made a terrible mistake. They have taken the fact of the geological ages, the fossils of vegetable and applied those fossils to the idea that man must have developed just the same way without any fossils of man evolving from apes. Man was made in the image of God so he could have not evolved from apes, your are implying that God himself has evolved, for man was made in his image. Man was far more superior to the plants or beasts of the field.

Dr. John Pye-Smith (1774-1851), who was a good acquaintance of Thomas Chalmers, had almost the same view as Rev. Chalmers. In the Congregational Lecture Sixth Series, Scripture and Geology in 1840, he gives a brilliant defense of the gap theory of creation and a scholarly offence for the promotion of that theory. This man’s credibility was attacked by ignorant believers in God and also by geologists.He wrote more extensively on the subject of gap creationism than most others who believed in this gap theory.

Rev. Denis Crofton was another advocate for the gap theory of creation. In his book Genesis and Geology printed in 1853, he gives many scriptures on the gap theory and biblically defends the theory with boldness and brilliance. There were many other ministers that defended such a theory. Yet many evangelical Christians tell us that they all changed their minds about the gap theory of creation, which simply is not true. This is a misrepresentation of the historical fact of the gap theory of creation.

Rev. William Buckland was the first to read rock formations and the first to find a lizard that was considered a dinosaur.

He was the first to find a complete skeleton that predates Adam. He believed that it was the minister’s duty to study what the creator has created and to learn more about God. In 1820, he published a book The Connection of Geology with Religion explained. William Buckland believed in a gap-theory catastrophe. In 1823, he published a book Observations on the Organic Remains Contained in Caves, Fissures, and diluvial Gravel and Other Geological Phenomena, Attesting the Action of a Universal Deluge. When you read this book, you can see the subtleties against the young-earth concept.

Other geologists agreed with the age-old theory of creation. Hugh Miller in his 1857 book The Testimony of the Rocks states both sides of the issue of young-earth and old-earth theory of Creation. He personally makes a stand for the old-age earth theory though it is different than gap creationism, and it is stated in this book although we are told that he believed otherwise.

Also, reverend and professor of geology, Edward Hitchcock defends the concept of the old-age earth and gap creationism with scripture and geology. In his 1851 book Religion of Geology and Its Connected Sciences, he clearly states the gap of time between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2. The list continues to grow while I do my research and buy rare book on the gap theory of creation. These are just a gew of the major players in the old-earth concept. Why do we not teach this concept anymore and pretend that the great minds of Christians from the past are insignificant?

These are just a few prominent individuals that believed in the gap theory of creation. Creationists have labeled them as compromisers of the Word of God. Compromisers believe in scientific evidences in geology and say that the world is old, and the scriptures do support those ideas, Creationists believe in a literal six-day Creation and believe the universe is no older than 10,000 years and say the scriptures do not support the universe as being old. Therefore, creationists have given those that believe in the gap theory of creation a negative label to discourage others from believing in the same way as gap creationist.

Our best expositors of scripture, says Rev. David King of Glasgow, seem to be now pretty generally agreed, that the opening verse in Genesis has no connection with the verses that follow. They think it may be understood as making a separate and independent state ment regarding the creation proper, and that the phrase in the beginning may be expressive of an indefinitely remote antiquity. On this principle the Bible recognizes, in the first instance, the great age of the earth, and then tells us of the changes it underwent at a period long subsequent, in order to render it a fit abode for the family of man. The work of the six days was not, according to this view, a creation in the strict sense of the term, but a renovation, a remodeling of preexisting materials. (Principles of Geology Explained and Viewed in Their Relations to Revealed and Natural Religion first edition p. 40)

Source:  http://gapcreationism.com/blank.html

THROUGHOUT THE whole process of the preparation of the earth for man, there seem to have been not merely periods of great creative activity but also periods of great destruction. And these periods of destruction seem to have been related in some way to the times of creative activity, not causally but as a kind of prelude or clearing-of-the-decks. Perhaps Agassiz was a little extreme in his view that there were innumerable such clearings-of-the-decks, believing as he did that there were at least hundreds of these catastrophes, wiping out every plant and animal over vast areas of the earth’s surface, but he was by no means alone in recognizing the profound effect such would have upon the earth’s ecology.

Like the other major interruptions in geological history, they seem to mark real boundaries between the eras, the largest divisions of geological time. Normal D. Newell of the American Museum of Natural History in New York has put it this way: (153)

Abrupt paleontological changes at these stratigraphic levels are real, approximately synchronous, and recognizable at many places in different parts of the earth where fossiliferous rocks of approximately similar age are represented and have been carefully examined.

These are seemingly global events, which “are characterized by the abrupt dropping out of all the species, most of the genera, and many of the higher categories (superfamilies, orders, and classes) characteristic of the times.” When the earth settled down again, we seem almost to be in a new world. Otto H. Schindewolf of Tubingen, who has been particularly concerned with this problem, noted that in the recovery period the new categories of life that suddenly appear without antecedents often seem to be representative of types in the later, more completely occupied world. It looks as though God was indeed introducing the archtypes that were to mark the new order, giving them the wide potentials for later diversification that my thesis proposes.

Newell notes such abrupt changes of scene, especially at the end of Permian, at the close of the Mesozoic, and just before the present order of life was introduced. He pointed out that “geologists have long supposed that rates of evolution and extinction are in some manner influenced by the ecological changes induced by orogeny (i.e., mountain-building).” But he added: (154)

In recent years it has become increasingly evident that orogenic disturbances and associated ecological changes are actually rather restricted in extent and therefore of minor evolutionary importance…. Evolutionary episodes as revealed in the record of fossils apparently do not coincide closely with times of mountain building.

When the age of the great cold-blooded reptiles passed away and warm-blooded animals appeared on the earth in their place, there actually was one such abrupt discontinuity between the old and the new worlds on a global scale. Henry F. Osborn observed: (155)

The most dramatic and in many respects the most puzzling event in the history of life on the earth, is the change which exterminated this vast array of creatures. These reptiles were in the climax of specialization and grandeur…. We have no conception as to what world-wide cause occurred…. We can only observe that the world-wide effect was the same: the giant reptiles both of sea and land disappeared.

Some of the proposed explanations could apply readily enough to the land animals, as for example the diminishing food supply in the form of plant life. But this does not help very much with respect to those animals which lived in the sea. Whatever the cause, it was one which operated equally on land and sea, and it was surprisingly sudden. George Gamow has put it: (156)

The kingdom of giant reptiles with its innumerable representatives on the land, in the sea, and in the air, was certainly the most powerful and extensive animal kingdom during the entire existence of life on the earth, but it had also a most tragic and unexpected end. During a comparatively short period towards the end of the Mesozoic Era the Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus, Ichthyosaurus, Plesiosaurus, and all the other “sauri” disappeared from the surface of the earth as if wiped away by some giant storm…. The causes that led to such a sudden extinction of the most powerful animals that ever existed on the surface of our planet have remained rather obscure.

Not only do we have the evidence, of a negative kind, that such creatures suddenly vanished from the scene, but we have a more positive evidence in the existence of so-called animal cemeteries which are considerably later. These take the form of very extensive beds in which millions of bones of a very wide variety of species of animals are found indiscriminately mixed together. In these cemeteries there are the remains of herbivorous as well as carnivorous animals and the bones of the former apparently show no signs of having been gnawed. This is a proof that both types of animals perished together. Furthermore, there is little evidence of weathering, a fact which is taken to mean that they were buried almost as quickly as they were destroyed–perhaps by the very agency which destroyed them. And finally the bones are forcibly intermixed; that is to say, the leg bone of one species may be found rammed tightly into the eye socket of the skull of another species, a circumstance which suggests that these creatures were overwhelmed, not merely suddenly, but violently. Such cemeteries have to be seen to be believed. No simple explanation such as that the bones of centuries of dead creatures merely accumulated by being washed into a depression, or that they represent the after-dinner remains of generations of some particular local predatory species (such as hyenas for example) will suffice. These bones have not been exposed to the sun or the air for any length of time prior to burial, nor are they gnawed.

Newell leaned heavily on the work of Schindewolf (the importance of whose work, incidentally, has been recognized by G. G. Simpson) and emphasized the reality of these discontinuities and the widespread nature of them. And he admitted frankly that they seem (at least in some cases) to be caused by quite exceptional circumstances, circumstances not commonly observed at other periods of geological history or often affecting aquatic life as dramatically as terrestrial

life. So exceptional are the circumstances, in fact, that according to Newell: (157)

Schindewolf believes the best way to explain many of the innumerable small as well as the few large discontinuities in the fossil record. . . is by means of catastrophic extinctions and simultaneous creation of new faunas.

Of course, this kind of explanation is unacceptable to the great majority of recognized authorities on matters geological. Ernst Mayr felt that the explanation is really quite simple. (158) He said, “Ultimately their extinction is due to an inability of their genotype to respond to new selective pressures,” an explanation which sounds impressive but merely pushes the problem one step further back to the prior question, Why this inability? There might also be many equally simple answers to this question in terms of current genetic theory, but the problem still remains as to why such an inability to respond should suddenly arise in hundreds of thousands of animals of different categories and all in the same geological time frame. It is not at all a comparable situation to the somewhat limited but none the less sad extinction of species which seem to be associated with the propensities for overkill by early man in his hunting forays, (159) or by the buffalo hunters of recent memory. These humanly induced extinctions had only a small effect on the total ecology, comparatively speaking, for they concern only a small number of species.

Perhaps the most striking extinction of all that is still essentially unexplained is the one which seems to have immediately preceded the appearance of true man and which is in some way linked to the coming of the Ice Age. It is difficult to discuss this particularly disastrous event without appearing to be overdramatic, and those who constitutionally find any kind of catastrophism distasteful try hard to play down the quite extraordinary character of the fossil record from which we must reconstruct the event. This catastrophe was sudden in the extreme. It was violent. It seems to have been very widespread. It was accompanied by a fundamental change in climatic conditions in many parts of the world. It wiped out enormous numbers of animals of all kinds–large and small, land and aquatic. And it literally marked the end of a whole world order. Look at some of the facts of the case as set forth by various authorities since the early years of the last century.

In 1821, Benjamin Silliman of the Department of Geology at Yale University, wrote of the large number of species which were apparently overwhelmed in this single catastrophe. He pointed out that whales, sharks, crocodiles, mammoths, elephants, rhinoceroses, hippos, tigers, deer, horses, various species of the bovine family, and a multitude of others were found in strata “in most instances indicating that they were buried by the same catastrophe which destroyed them all.” (160) A contemporary of Silliman’s, Granville Penn, wrote: (161)

The great problem for geological theories to explain is that amazing phenomenon, the mingling of the remains of animals of different species and climates, discovered in exhaustless quantities in the interior parts of the earth so that the exuviae of those genera which no longer exist at all, are found confusedly mixed together in the soils of the most northerly latitudes. . . The bones of those animals which can live only in the torrid zone are buried m the frozen soil of the polar regions.

And to quote one more contemporary, George Fairholme, who described similar evidence in Italy from the Arno River Valley: (162)

In this sandy matrix bones were found at every depth from that of a few feet to a hundred feet or more. From the large and more apparent bones of the elephant, the rhinoceros, the megatherium, the elk, the buffalo, the stag, and so forth, naturalists were led by the elaborate studies of Cuvier and other comparative anatomists to the remains of the now living bear, tiger, wolf, hyena, rabbit, and finally the more minute remains even of the water rat and the mouse. In some places so complete was the confusion . . . that the bones of many different elephants were brought into contact, and on some of them even oyster shells were matted.

Both Darwin and Wallace were impressed by the evidence of mass destruction just before man appeared. In his Journal of Researches, the former wrote of his wonder at the picture presented by the fossil record in South America, which he visited on the voyage of the Beagle in 1845: (163)

The mind is at first irresistibly hurried into the belief that some great catastrophe has occurred. Thus, to destroy animals both large and small in South Patagonia, in Brazil, in the Cordillera, in North America up to the Behring Straits, we must shake the entire framework of the globe. Certainly no fact in the long history of the world is so startling as the wide extermination of its Inhabitants.

His contemporary, Alfred R. Wallace, in 1876 wrote in a similar vein: (164)

We live in a zoologically impoverished world, from which all the hugest and fiercest, and strangest forms have recently disappeared…. Yet it is surely a marvelous fact, and one that has hardly been sufficiently dwelt upon this sudden dying out of so many large mammalia not in one place only but over half the land surface of the globe….

There must have been some physical cause for this great change, and it must have been a cause capable of acting almost simultaneously over large portions of the earth’s surface.

One of the most thorough students of this last great catastrophe was Sir Henry Howorth whose works are now virtually unobtainable. Although his interpretation of the evidence was, and still is, rejected by geologists committed to Lyell’s principle of uniformity, he nevertheless put on record a tremendous amount of data, much of it gathered at firsthand, which is not nearly as well known as it should be. In one of his major works, The Mammoth and the Flood, he collected data regarding the innumerable known cases of mammoths frozen in northern latitudes, particularly in Siberia. (165) And yet in spite of this information, which is always very well documented, a comparatively recent paper by William R. Farrand entitled, “Frozen Mammoths and Modern Geology,” spoke of only some 39 known frozen carcasses, of which only four are by any means complete; and it never once mentions the books and papers published by Sir Henry Howorth. (166) To Dr. Farrand, there is no real evidence of catastrophe in spite of the extraordinary circumstances under which these giant creatures evidently died. Howorth, however, gives many details which it is quite impossible, I believe, to account for in any other way than by assuming a very sudden catastrophe followed almost immediately by intense cold. It was encouraging to see that a correspondent countered Farrand’s statements very effectively: (167) but Farrand replied with considerable sarcasm, clearly being on the defensive.

In 1887 Howorth wrote: (168)

In the first place, it is almost certain in my opinion that a very great cataclysm or catastrophe occurred . . . by which the mammoth with his companions was overwhelmed over a very large part of the earth’s surface. This catastrophe, secondly, involved a widespread flood of waters which not only killed the animals but also buried them under continuous beds of loam or gravel. Thirdly, that the same catastrophe was accompanied by a very sudden change of climate in Siberia, by which the animals that had previously lived in fairly temperate conditions were frozen in their flesh under the ground and have remained there ever since.

When the facts are stated, they are of such a nature as to be almost incredible and they are drawn from the works of such men as Wrangell, Strahlenberg, Witzen, Muller, Klaproth, Avril, Erman, Hedenstrom, Betuschef, Bregne, Gemlin, Brandt, Antermony, Liachof, Kusholof, Chamisso, Maljuschkin, Ides, Baer, Schmidt, Bell, Tatishof, Middendorf, von Schrenck, Olders, Laptef, Sarytschef, Motschulsky, Schtscukin, Maydell, besides the official documents of the Russian Government.

One of the rivers of Siberia that empties into the Arctic is the Yenessei. Concerning the buried animals revealed in the strata along the sides of this river, Howorth remarked: (169)

Pallas reports that the mammoth bones which fall out of the cliffs are so numerous that on decomposing they form a substance called “osteocolli” or “bone glue.” The next great river eastward towards Alaska, emptying into the Arctic, is the Lena. It is a vast stream which consists of twists and turns, making a course of over 2000 miles. The natives who live in the regions of the Lena river make a living travelling up and down the river in boats, gathering up the ivory tusks that they see sticking out of cliffs along the river banks and which they find fallen to the edge of the water.

The number of animals that are buried in Siberia must be stupendous. Some conception can be obtained from the fact that since A.D. 900 men have made it a business to collect the ivory of the region and sell it in China, Arabia, and Europe. In one case where a record was secured, Lyddeker stated that in a period of twenty years tusks from at least 20,000 animals were taken from the Siberian mines to markets in Europe during the nineteenth century. (170) Howorth reported what has since been confirmed many times, that the contents of the stomachs of many of these giants had been examined carefully and been shown to contain undigested food, composed of leaves of trees now found in southern Siberia. (171) Microscopic examination of the skins of some of these animals has since revealed red blood corpuscles. This is thought to be proof, not only of sudden death, but death due to suffocation either by gas or water. (172) One particular animal with an undigested meal still in its stomach had been eating buttercups, sedges, grasses, the beans of wild oxytropis, and young shoots of fir and pine. In l901 an expedition to Kolomysk was made by some Russian scientists to convey to St. Petersburg a particularly fine specimen with hair, skin, and flesh perfectly preserved–which also had the remains of undigested food in its stomach. (173)

Fig. 1. Imperial Mammoth (Elephas imperator) of Nebraska and Texas, after a painting by C. R. Knight in the American Museum of Natural History, New York City. This is typical of specimens such as the various Siberian finds mentioned in the text. Photo used courtesy of the American Museum of Natural History.

Perhaps no one single discovery can ever quite convey so strong an impression of the suddenness and immensity of the catastrophe as one reported first by Brandt, (174) and subsequently accredited by others, in which three mammoth mummies were found standing erect and facing north. A similar discovery was made by Fisher of a single specimen in the same extraordinary attitude of arrested flight.

We have mentioned the existence of rhinoceroses in a similar condition. In a letter to Baron Humboldt from the same Professor Brandt (of St. Petersburg), particulars are given of a rhinoceros obtained by Pallas in 1772 from Wiljiusky (latitude 64º), from the banks of the Wiljiu, a tributary of the Lena. Brandt wrote concerning it: (175)

I have been so fortunate as to extract from cavities in the molar teeth of the Wiljiu rhinoceros a small quantity of its half-chewed food, among which fragments of pine leaves, one half of the seed of a polygonacious plant, and very minute portions of wood with porous cells or small fragments of coniferous wood were still recognizable. It was also remarkable on a close examination of the head, that the blood vessels discovered in the interior of the mass appeared to be filled, even to the capillary vessels, with a brown mass (coagulated blood), which in many places still showed the red colour of blood.

Before considering similar animal cemeteries in other parts of the world, it might be well to point out that it is not a normal occurrence to find dead animals anywhere --except on our highways! For example, Baron Nordenskiold remarked: (176)

In the first place I must call attention to the extreme rarity of the occurrence of the remains of animals which have recently died....

During my nine expeditions in the Arctic regions, where animal life during summer is exceedingly abundant, I can recall very few occasions upon which I have found remains of vertebrate animals which could be proved to have died a natural death. Near hunting grounds there are to be seen, often enough, the remains of reindeer, seals, foxes, or bears that have died from gunshot wounds, but no naturally dead polar bear, seals, walrus, white whale, fox, goose, auk, lemming or other vertebrates. The polar bear and the reindeer are found there in hundreds: the seal, walrus, and white whale in thousands: and birds in millions. These animals must die a natural death in untold numbers. What becomes of their bodies? Of this we have for the present no idea....

The only conclusion that one can draw from this is that the death of these hundreds of thousands of large animals was unnatural, and virtually simultaneous. How do we know it was simultaneous? Because, as we shall see, similar vast cemeteries are found elsewhere, in which the predators and the preyed upon died together, and there is no evidence of the bones of any of the animals having been gnawed. The only difference between these animal cemeteries in other parts of the world and those in Siberia is that the former were not preserved by refrigeration, and therefore appear rather as vast assemblages of bones. (177) In the Harvard Museum a slab six feet by ten feet contains bones so thickly packed and in such confusion that there is every evidence of violence in their compaction. In the Colorado Museum of Natural History a similar geological exhibit is to be seen, taken from an animal cemetery at Agate Springs, in which it is estimated that the bones of about 9000 complete animals are buried in one hill. One section of such a bone cemetery is shown in Fig.2.

Fig. 2. Part of an animal cemetery taken from a quarry at Agate Springs, Nebraska, and now exhibited in the Denver Museum of Natural History. It contains bones of thousands of animals, extending over a wide area. Photo used courtesy of the Denver Museum of Natural History.

Howorth had this to say about these animal cemeteries: (178)

The most obvious cause we can appeal to as occasionally producing mortality on a wide scale among animals is a murrain or pestilence, but what murrain or pestilence is so completely unbiased in its actions as to sweep away all forms of terrestrial life, even the very carriers of it--the rodents-- including the fowls of the air, the beasts of the field, elephants, tigers, rhinoceroses, frogs, mice, bison and snakes, landsnails, and every conceivable form of life, and this not in one corner only but, as far as we know, over the whole of the two great continents irrespective of latitude or longitude.

The fact of the bones occurring in great caches or deposits in which various species are mixed pell-mell is very important, and it is a fact undenied by geologists that whenever we find such a locality in which animals have suffered together in a violent and instantaneous destruction, the bones are invariably mixed and, as it were, "deposited" in a manner which could hardly be explained otherwise than by postulating the action of great tidal waves carrying fishes and all before them, depositing them far inland with no respect to order.

Howorth continued later:

If animals die occasionally (in large numbers) from natural causes, different species do not come together to die, nor does the lion come to take his last sleep with the lamb! The fact of finding masses of animal remains.of mixed species all showing the same state of preservation, not only points to a more or less contemporary death, but is quite fatal to the theory that they ended their days peacefully and by purely natural means.

If they had been exposed to the air, and to the severe transition between mid-winter and mid-summer, which characterizes Arctic latitudes, the mammoths would have decayed rapidly. But their state of preservation proves that they were covered over and protected ever since.

This renowned but neglected authority concluded: (179)

It is almost certain in my opinion that a very great cataclysm or catastrophe occurred by which the mammoth and his companions were overwhelmed over a very large part of the earth's surface. And that the same catastrophe was accompanied by a very great and sudden change of climate in Siberia, by which the animals which had previously lived in fairly temperate conditions were frozen . . . and were never once thawed until the day of their discovery. No other theory will explain the perfect preservation of these great elephants.

From the Antarctic also there is evidence, according to geologists of the Byrd Expedition, (180) of similarly different climatic conditions. Great coal fields, evidence of luxuriant growth, were discovered at the head of Thorne Glacier in the Queen Maude Range within 200 miles of the South Pole. Such conditions so near to that frightful wilderness of ice and snow, which is so much more terrible than the North Pole in its coldness and barrenness, is remarkable witness of a previous world which must have been a very different one. So numerous are the fossils there that the explorers actually had difficulty making a selection. Today life in these regions is conspicuously absent.

Evan Hopkins remarked that the fossil plants of north Greenland proved that the land has been favored with a climate at least 30º F, warmer than at present. (181) He pointed out also that among the animals entombed in the deposits in Siberia besides the mammoths are bears, hippos, hyena, lions, tigers, and others which can only live and flourish in or near the tropics. Moreover, the fossil forest at Atanekerdluk at a latitude of 70º is indicative of a temperature of at least 30º F, higher than is now found at that parallel. Similar conditions are likely to be found now at the 48º parallel, a fact which shows a shift of climate with respect to the equator.

What has been said of land animals is equally true of fishes and even of plants. Some years ago Philip Le Riche presented a paper before the Victoria Institute in London in which he made this statement: (182)

It can easily be shown that many of the strata contain the fossil remains of fish which have been suddenly interred before putrefaction had acted upon their fleshy bodies, for their bodies are preserved as they were during life. And this remarkable state of preservation of fish life is also found in the flora. For plants as fine as maidenhair ferns are found embedded in the strata with even their venules intact, showing that they must have been buried very shortly after their deposition in the sediment, otherwise they would have become converted into leaf mold and indistinguishable, whereas a botanist can place the fossil plant in its proper order of plant life.

The suddenness of this destruction is further strikingly borne out by the fossil cuttlefish of Lyme Regis that were killed and entombed with such inconceivable rapidity that they still retain the dark fluid with which their ink bags are filled when alive. (183) But these animals when disturbed release this protective device within a matter of seconds. Speaking of fish, Howorth even recorded a whale which was found entombed with the elephants, a discovery which Pallas confirmed--mentioning also buffalo in situ with the heads of large fishes.

In spite of the fact that many of these authorities would now be considered quite out of date, so that their interpretations would almost certainly be rejected, the evidence itself remains undeniable; and it is difficult to explain it satisfactorily in any other way. In concluding this brief survey, and referring this time to accumulations of bones which were washed pell-mell into fissures and clefts in the rocks, one can reflect upon the words of the venerable Joseph Prestwich, affectionately styled the Father of the Geological Society. After speaking of such animal cemeteries and pointing out how the bones of carnivores are mixed indiscriminately with those of their natural prey, the bodies seeming to have been torn apart with violence, he summed the situation up by saying: (184)

These bones cannot be of animals which fell into these fissures (where they are found in such profusion), for no skeleton is complete. They cannot have been brought by beasts of prey, for none are gnawed. They were not brought by streams (i.e., spring floods), for none are rolled. The bones could not have laid exposed for long, for none are weathered. They were not covered up normally, for they were broken by the violence of their deposition together with the associated rocks....

The formation of these fissure deposits in so many places . . . seems to confirm the belief that the rubble drift itself did not owe its origin to normal causes, but to something catastrophic in the nature of earth movements.

Such, then, is the kind of evidence which is to be found all over the world of the sudden death of an enormous number of animals of very recent and modern times. Some of these creatures died in latitudes that were almost at once plunged into an Ice Age which preserved them by freezing. Some of them died in more temperate zones and were accumulated by the action of torrents of water sweeping hither and yon as the earth reeled, before the waters had been sufficiently gathered together in one place to expose the dry land. And, finally, some were accumulated and rammed together forcibly and indiscriminately into clefts in the rocks which served to sieve them out of the draining waters.

The suddenness of the event is everywhere attested, in the Arctic by the extraordinary state of preservation of mammoths and other creatures, and in the more temperate zones by the very fact that predators and preyed upon came to a sudden end together. Even within the waters, the movements of silt and water-washed materials were sometimes so sudden and overwhelming that fishes were trapped before they had the few seconds necessary to react in a characteristic defensive way. Some bivalved forms, in fact, were overwhelmed so rapidly that they did not have time to close.

Furthermore, we may conclude, I think, that the catastrophe which was worldwide profoundly affected world climate. There are some who believe that the Ice Age is bound up with the sudden subsidence of the waters . They argue that the effect of this subsidence was greatly to increase the exposed land area. I am not competent to assess the mechanics of this hypothesis, but there is little doubt that what has been observed was related to the coming of the great cold which brought ice down over half of the northern hemisphere and introduced the world to an Ice Age from which we really have not yet altogether recovered. We may say that the ice caps have merely retreated far enough to allow most of us to ignore them. And the event was recent indeed. The present is, geologically speaking, the end of the Pleistocene. It is as Shull has observed: (185)

At few points in geological history has there been extermination comparable to that of mammals in the time just preceding the recent. In part this may be due to repeated glaciation, but most of it is unexplained. Only the tropical regions, notably Africa, escaped this great diminution of mammals, and the Pleistocene mammals of that continent were essentially the same as today.

A study of the rocks indicates that the same may be said largely of Australia. The pattern of fossil marsupials has continued on in that continent and is still with us. It is probably true, as Baker pointed out, that not a few species of animals--indeed, large areas of living things--might very well have survived the catastrophe. But those which perished irretrievably as species had to be recreated. (186) Those species which had not perished altogether began once more to multiply. Possibly this is why in Genesis 1 God said in some cases, "Let the earth bring forth.

. . ," while in other cases Scripture says, "So God created. . . ," etc. Not everything had to be recreated; and as for plant life, the earth perhaps did indeed bring forth seed which was in itself--in the earth (Gen. 1:11).

Perhaps the tilting of the earth' s axis by as much as 40º or more at the time of the last great convulsion of nature may have been partially responsible for the fact that in the New World, for example, the great ice sheet reached down over New York State. Possibly we shall yet discover what upset the earth's equilibrium at the time to cause this tilt. When--and if--this axis of rotation becomes completely vertical again, the ice caps will presumably disappear entirely and the whole earth could enjoy a temperate climate. The recovery at present is only partial (23º), so that although the ice retreats annually, we still have polar caps with us. If we assume that the axis of rotation of the world that then was, was normal to the earth's plane of rotation around the sun, then that world would have enjoyed a much more temperate climate over its whole surface. This could have important theoretical implications, for as H. Hamshaw Thomas of Cambridge, in a letter to Nature, pointed out: (187)

The possibility that changes have occurred during the past in the position of the earth's axis of rotation. . . is of great interest to all students of fossil plants.

It has long been clear that the geological evidence of former vegetation shows that the lands around the Arctic Sea bore an ample covering of plants during a long period, probably from Devonian to Tertiary times. This vegetation included many large trees and was very different from the scanty flora of these regions living today.

And so the Old World was suddenly brought to an end just when it had seemed ready to receive man as its paramount chief. But God had formed it and given it its appointments and established its natural order; and He had not created all this in vain (Isa. 45:18). He had intended it in the first place as a habitation for man, and although His intention had been forestalled by some counteragency, that intention stood firm: and so the process of reconstitution was once again undertaken by the Lord to put everything ready for the introduction of man, for whom it had all been planned.

Thus man finds himself in a world in which there are strange contradictions. Everywhere to the eye of faith there is evidence of plan and purpose--such evidence, in fact, that even the unbelieving find it hard not to recognize it. At the same time, equally ubiquitous, is the evidence of catastrophe and judgment, as though some contrary planner had been at work seeking to thwart the Creator's design, and more particularly and more dramatically just when man's coming was drawing near.

Perhaps it is time to reassess the geological evidence in the light of these two opposing forces, one for good and one for evil.

153. Newell, Norman D., "Catastrophism and the Fossil Record," Evolution 10, no. 1 (1956):97.

154. Ibid.

155. Osborn, Henry F., The Age of Mammals in Europe, Asia and North America, Macmillan, New York, 1910, p. 98.

156. Gamow, George, Biography of the Earth, Mentor Books, New York, 1948, p. 173.

157. Newell, Norman D., ref. 153, p. 100.

158. Mayr, Ernst, ref. 128, p. 620.

159. On the concept of overkill, see: Pleistocene Extinctions, ed. P. S. Martin and H.E.Wright, Jr., Vol. VI., Proc. of 7th Congress of the International Association for Quaternary Research; especially Martin's own paper, "Prehistoric Over-Kill," Yale U. Press, 1967, pp. 75-120.

160. Silliman, Benjamin, in Amer. Jour. Sci. 3 (1821):47f.; 8 (1827):130f.

161. Penn, Granville, A Comparative Estimate of thc Mineral and Mosaical Geologies, Vol. II, 2nd ed., London, 1825, p. 81.

162. Fairholme, George, New and Conclusive Physical Demonstrations of the Fact and Period of the Mosaic Deluge, n.p., 1837.

163. Darwin, Charles, Journal of Researches, Ward Lock, New York. 1845, p. 178.

164. Wallace, Alfred Russell, Geographical Distribution of Animals, Vol. 1, Hafner, New York, 1876, pp. 150, 151.

165. Howorth, Sir Henry, Thc Mammoth and thc Flood: Uniformity and Geology, London, 1887.

166. Farrand, William R., "Frozen Mammoths and Modern Geology," Science 133 (1961):729-735.

167. Lippman, Harold E., Letter to the Editor, under the heading "Frozen Mammoths," Science 137 (1962):449ff.

168. Howorth, Sir Henry, ref. 165, p. 47.

169. Ibid., p. 54.

170. Lydekker, Richard, Annual Report, Smithsonian Instit., 1899, pp. 361-366.

171. Undigested food: cf. Charles Lyell, Principles of Geology, Vol . I, p. 183, quoting a letter to Humboldt from Prof. Brandt Of St. Petersburg; also Sci. American, August 1901, for a similar observation; and Sci. American, September 1951, p. 164.

172. Death by suffocation: first remarked upon by Prof. Brandt in 1846 in the Proc. of Berlin Academy, p. 223.

173. Brandt: quoted by Howorth, ref. 165, p. 61.

174. Brandt, in Lyell's Principles of Geology, Vol. I, p. 183.

175. Ibid.

176. Nordenskiold, Baron N.A.E., Voyage of the Vega, Vol. 1, 1881, pp. 322, 323.

177. Animal cemeteries: see more recently the New York World, reporting from Alaska, June 1, 1930, and Associated Press, April 16, 1949.

178. Howorth, Sir Henry, ref. 165, p. 180.

179. Ibid.

180. Reported from Little America in the Toronto Telegram, December 13, 1933.

181. Hopkins, Evan, "On Terrestrial Changes and the Probable Ages of the Continents," Trans. Vict. Instit. 2 (1867): 4, 8.

182. Le Riche, Philip, "Scientific Proofs of the Universal Deluge," Trans. Vict. Instit. 61 (1929):86.

183. Cuttlefish of Lyme Regis: see Byron C. Nelson, The Deluge Story in Stone, Augsburg, Minneapolis, 1931, p. 113.

184. Prestwich, Joseph, in the Quart. Jour. Geol. Soc. 48 (1912):326.

185. Shull A. F., ref. 48, p. 65.

186 Baker, Howard B., The Atlantic Rift and Its Meaning, publ. privately, 1932, with numerous illustrations and extensive bibliography, pp. 181-183 (obtainable only from Library of Congress).

187. Thomas, Hamshaw, Letter to the Editor, Nature, August 20, 1955, p. 349.

Corrections, June 4, 1997.

by David Wilkerson

[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

I believe God’s vision for His last-day church is based on His revealed

Word—because the Bible clearly outlines what the church of Jesus Christ will

be like just prior to His coming.

The church in America is far from what God envisioned it to be. For the most

part, entire denominations today operate without the Holy Spirit. They are

devoid of the presence of Jesus and bankrupt of all spiritual gifts. They

practice a form of religion without any power, conviction or saving message.

They are cozy with the world and are more political than spiritual. They

appease sin, wink at divorce and ridicule the supernatural, while tossing aside

all teaching about heaven, hell, repentance

and judgment.

The New Testament church made devils tremble! It drove legions of demons into

the abyss, prayed prison doors open, made rulers cringe in fear.

Those early

believers had such faith and power that cripples rose up leaping and beggars

became evangelists. They believed in the supernatural and they opened blind

eyes, unstopped deaf ears and healed all manner of diseases. They even raised

the dead!

I am not saying God’s last-day church will be a repeat or copy of the

first-century church. No—I am saying it will be even greater than that! It

will be mightier, stronger, with an ever greater revelation of Jesus. It will

have greater unction from the Spirit than ever—greater even than at

Pentecost! God always saves His best wine for last!

The prophet Daniel confirms this. He said that certain prophetic truths were

locked up, only to be revealed in the last days: “For the words are closed up

and sealed till the time of the end. . . . And none of the wicked shall

understand, but the wise shall understand” (Daniel 12:9-10).

Today the Holy Spirit is revealing these things to spiritual, discerning

saints! “It is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered

into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love

Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit

searches all things, yes, the deep things of God” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

The Lord is preparing a powerful yet humble army of shepherds after His own

heart and also a remnant congregation of hungry sheep who have turned away from

the deadness and sin of the modern church. The scene is being set for that

church which will be hot, not lukewarm—and it will rock the very foundations

of hell. No power on earth will be able to ignore or despise it!

 

Dear Friends,

Thank you for all your prayers during the busy month of October. The youth conference went well, and on Halloween night I ministered to a packed Spanish Pentecostal church filled with youth in Northeast El Paso.

I am grateful God opened doors on that day to minister the truth in the midst of what is one of the darkest, most satanic nights of the year. By His grace we are able to proclaim truth and say, THIS is the day that the LORD has made, and we will rejoice and be glad in it! God made EVERY day of the year, and we will glorify HIM on Halloween and NOT bow the knee to the enemy.

In conjunction with that event as well as the human trafficking event, we did three separate television interviews with KSCE Christian television and were able to bring a strong message on many issues, but especially concerning sexual abuse and the exploitation of our children and teens.

Our day workshop on human trafficking was attended by close to 100 people. We were able to have ICE there to give out information on human trafficking, and a representative from the Sheriff’s office and the Salvation Army, Virginia McCrimmon. Our local Salvation Army is deeply involved in the rescue and care of victims of human trafficking. El Paso is a major hub for this evil.

Many thanks to Beti Stanghellini and all the great folks at JHOP for sponsoring and helping us carry out this event.
It was very timely, and I believe important, especially in the light of recent events at Penn State. Now that the initial victim count of 7 children and young teens violated by coach Jerry Sandusky has gone public, we are learning about not just the MASSIVE FAILURE to report on the part of coaches, campus police, presidents and even Joe “JoePa” Paterno, but we saw the completely  insane initial reaction as some students RIOTED because Paterno was fired. There was no concern for the victims; all many cared about is the reputation of the school, and the reputation of people who are revered because of football, rather than the devastation of family and friends and victims that NONE of these people did to doanything about.

I think this could get very deep. I keep feeling that there is far more to this than just one pedophile and several kids. In fact, the DA who tried and failed to indict Sandusky in 1998 on child sexual abuse charges disappeared in 2005. Only his submerged car with his laptop – hard drive missing – was found.

Listen, folks. I’ve been in this business a long, long time. And a great deal of my efforts more than a decade ago were devoted to investigating and trying to bring to light the cases of two missing kids and the horrible connections to one of the largest sexual abuse cover-ups in our history, that of the Franklin case in Nebraska. And everything about this case smacks of networks, cover ups, high level people, and perhaps more. If you have the stomach – or the compassion and concern that will GIVE you the courage to read it  despite its graphic and horrible factual coverage of  the case I am referring to  – you must readTHE FRANKLIN COVER UP by former Nebraska senator John DeCamp. It will give you a very clear picture of how these things work when it gets to this level.

We are all concerned about human trafficking – and we should be. But as a reporter very presciently pointed out, right now human trafficking is a “sexy issue,”  as the media puts it – in other words, it gets great media because it gets people emotional, and wanting people to do something, and that is GOOD, and NECESSARY.

But in all of it, we are failing to tell the whole story -  that there are children all over this nation that are being exploited by pedophiles and child pornographers, and yes, even being taken and shipped overseas for the sex trade. I believe with all I have that the Penn State case is just the TIP OF THE ICEBERG, and you’re going to see a flurry of fall guys (Sandusky may have been made to fall on the sword) who are fired and even prosecued to make sure it doesn’t get investigated too far or lead outside the obvious suspects. PRAY PRAY PRAY that the perpetrators – ALL of them – will be exposed this time around.

***Last minute update: Jerry Sandusky is working the media this morning , trying to convince people that showering with little boys is just “jock stuff and horsing around,” while his lawyer is poised to try to discredit  all the victims. In fact, I am concerned at his confidence that many of them are going to recant. That is what happened in the Franklin case – and victims recanted because their lives and their families’ lives were threatened if they didn’t drop the charges.

 

Other News

Joel Osteen went on national television recently stating his belief that Mormons are Christians, not much different than any other denomination in the church world. Although one could see this coming –as a natural progression of those who are more concerned with “felt needs” than core truth – it is still a rather stunning statement, considering the large amount of followers Mr. Osteen has. The Mormons have been working toward this kind of acceptance for years: “We’re just another denomination!” The have even co-opted the popular evangelical fish for their cars. But even THEY know they are not “just another denomination,” nor does the Mormon church teach that; they believe themselves to be the only and superior truth. Only the modern strain of scripture-deprived evangelical actually believes that they are just a different kind of church. Mormons in fact believe that Jesus and Lucifer are brothers, and that we are gods in the making, progressing toward being saviors on other planets with our wives and celestial children. Once you understand their origins and what they really teach, you will understand why they are a cult and not a denomination.  Please go to: www. Saintsalive.com to educate yourself on the real truth about Mormonism. We pray for Mormons; but we cannot see them saved if we ignore the gross deception behind Mormonism.

The whole world is racing toward the ultimate unification of governments and religions. I was able to get this in the e-edition of my letter last month but the info came in too late for my mailout, so here is a repeat:

 “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is financing a new organization designed to bring all the world’s religions together. The King Abdullah Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, initiated and financed largely by Saudi money, is set to have its seat in Vienna. Plans envision an organization with a governing body composed of 12 representatives from the world’s five largest religions.”

I just finished watching an interview with my friend Gary Kah on Sid Roth’s prophetic program “It’s Supernatural” which I highly recommend you go online to view. Gary was presenting some extremely important information, including the meeting between some Sanhedrin leaders and Muslim Imams concerning the future of Jerusalem. Apparently discussion is taking place about the possibility of an interfaith Temple in Jerusalem being built on the Temple Mount, and Jerusalem becoming an INTERNATIONAL CITY  and the center for unifying all religions. It makes perfect sense to me in the light of Bible prophecy and where everything is going right now.

 It was also startling, in part of the broadcast, to see a photo of an “Interfaith” banner that was identical to the banner I saw in the dream God gave me concerning what was coming that was the reason I wrote The Trojan Church. It’s stunning to see it all unfold. I am not going to be surprised if before long we see an attempt to unify Judaism, Christianity and Islam justified by unredeemed church leaders using John’s words, “And these three are one.” (1 John 5:7)

In the meantime, the evangelical world continues to spiral into deeper forms of deception and delusion. Just weeks ago, Rupert Murdoch, multimillionaire and owner of Fox News, porn channels and many other entities, purchased Thomas Nelson, one of the largest Christian publishers in history. Murdoch had already purchased Zondervan, as I reported before, and has been responsible for the influx of Rob Bell, Christian Yoga, etc. (Everyone thought the concerns about Bell were too extreme at the time, but now that he has come out of the Universalist closet, he’s been kicked over to Harper Collins for the publication of his latest book, Love Wins. I imagine Bell’s move will allow Zondervan to keep unsuspecting Christians believing that Zondervan is still a good Christian company, concerned with our spiritual growth. They will keep Bell’s older and still profitable – but not blatantly heretical – material, of course.) Trust me; Zondervan is concerned with WHAT SELLS, not what is good for our spiritual growth. And now Nelson is poised to go the same way.

As these last two giants in the Christian publication world have made a deal with the world, if not the devil, they continue to market materials to the unaware and scripturally uninformed that are going to further weaken the wall of truth in our midst. Zondervan’s latest gimmick is a DVD series by emergent pastor Mark Batterson called “The Circle Maker”. The DVD begins with what at first glance could easily look like a Wiccan drawing a “magick circle.” (All magick involves drawing a circle around yourself or in one location to “contain the power.” That is classic, standard witchcraft.)

But it was actually pastor Batterson drawing a chalk circle around himself, introducing his Bible study series which is based on “a Jewish legend”. The legend is also a KABALISTIC Mishnah  called “Honi the Circle Maker,” about  a Jewish mystic who drew a circle around himself  and didn’t move until his demands to God for rain were answered. For those unfamiliar, Kabbalah is one of the highest forms of occult working there is. Even though orthodox Jews consider it acceptable, I do not. It is mystical occultism, dangerous, and a violation of God’s commands against the occult. Even Orthodox Jews are not allowed to practice its rituals (which are used to open doors into the angelic world) until they are over 45, thoroughly orthodox, and understand that it may make you insane or even kill you if you do it wrong.

 I have long had concerns that the Kabbalah was going to begin  to be investigated by, practiced by and then introduced to the church in different forms, especially through the extremes of the signs and wonders movement, and the emergent church. It is already being introduced to the Messianic community. Now this is the latest. Batterson says, “Dream big.You can’t just read the Bible; you have to ‘circle the promises.’” And, “You have to pray power around your problems.” And, “If you have ‘drawn the circle,’ God will MULTIPLY the miracles in your life.”

          As with so many that are behind much of the spiritual darkness that is now infesting the church, I cannot speak to Pastor Batterson’s motives. I can only tell you this DVD series concept is, spiritually, WICCA IN CHRISTIAN DISGUISE. Wiccans draw circles – demand answers – draw down the power, etc.  We have long known, and had proof of, Christian witches seeking acceptability and credibility among evangelicals. This latest offering from Zondervan, if it catches on, will surely make our “beliefs” more COMPATIBLE with Wiccans and make them more “at home” with this revised version of the evangelical church.

           I think a comment by one person who posted on the ad site for “Circle Maker” should speak to this clearer than I can: “Oh, this is not new! I’ve seen this draw-a-circle, say-a-prayer thing before in the Wiccan gatherings I used to visit every once in a while 20 or so years ago. In fact, there are several practices they did which I’ve seen come into the “church”. Stations and labyrinths and walks and speaking blessings into someone’s life. I confess I’m no longer alarmed. Just sad. Very, very sad.”

And so am I. Folks, we don’t need another gimmick, especially one that appears to just be repackaged witchcraft practices. Jesus told us how to pray. Prayer isn’t a gimmick; there are no NEW ways to pray. Prayer is getting a hold of God, and pouring out our hearts – not drawing a magick “prayer” circle to try to get God to give us what we want. Honi was a Kabalistic teacher and is a legend and symbol for Kabbalah practices. Please reject this kind of material. Just get out your Bible and do the HARD WORK of PRAYING THROUGH! There IS no formula!

          I am again late in getting this letter to you, and have actually left a lot of things out so I can get this to you as soon as possible, especially in the light of the developing Penn State situation.

          I appreciate so much all of your prayers, and your diligent support. It was a bit of a rough month in November, and I am grateful for every gift that helps this work move forward. Thank you! May your Thanksgiving be greatly blessed with His love and bounty. We are so, so rich, aren’t we?

Let us look up and rejoice, for surely our redemption is drawing near!

In His Grace,

Gregory Reid

Thinking over the development of Seeker-Friendliness, I have come to a clear conclusion.  The seeds that gave way to the success of Seeker-Friendliness and all that belongs to it must be seen to have been birthed at least forty years ago or more.

During that time, there arose a generation focused on themselves and their own amusement and comfort.  This generation and the next generation want fun, amusement and comfort.  A gospel that is formed or changed to that image will be greatly welcomed and the pastors who preach such a gospel will

be very popular. But that is not the real Gospel.  The real Gospel is not about feeding our flesh.  It is not about amusement either.  It is about decreasing so that He (Christ) can increase.  It is about righteousness and repentance.

Amusement in the Churches will not affect the end desired by those who follow such techniques.  In truth, it has and always will work havoc among young converts.  We must understand that amusement within churches produce no sustaining converts.  They will be those who go to and fro, with no foundation at all.  The need now is re-visiting the realm of Biblical Doctrine, so understand and felt, that will set us on fire with a sustaining conversion.

The Modern Christians in America are the Me Christians, if something like that can truly exist.  The Me Christian is a revelation to me.  It explains the success of Seeker-Friendliness.  It explains the growth of their churches.  It explains any modern technique or theory that pulls the church away from its foundation.  And it explains the shape and condition of the church in America as a whole.  The Seeker Friendly churches are all about me, not about Christ.

Seeker Friendliness and its philosophy have made church “Play Time for Bonzo.”  Many modern churches and their new techniques have made it almost impossible for any God-Loving, God-Honoring, and Bible Standing Pastor to have a church.  The Me Christians must be changed and that is very hard for any to contend with.  Me Christians must change; their flesh (self) must die.

The hippies of the 1960’s have invaded the churches with their Me Doctrine.  Many of their followers are now in the pulpits.  Their philosophy is an assault on the previous generations.  It echoes we can do it better.  It is all about marketing.  It has nothing to do with the True Gospel regardless of any claim.  It has been suggested that the Me Christians, if such exists, are a bunch of silly Children that have never grown up.

Christians, please listen!  We are amusing ourselves to death within our churches.

The Me Christians requires several things.

1.  Me must be satisfied.
2. Me must be amused.
3. Me Must be  comforted.
4. Me Must not be offended.
5. Me must be entertained.
6. Me must not receive messages that will show repentance, righteousness, or a need to lead an Obedient Life before God and Christ.
7. Me sees success in numbers, fancy dramas, money, and fame.  Success in Christ Jesus is not this.  It is learning to submit to Christ.

The True and Real Gospel, like always, will outlast the tide of modern inventions and prove to be the only sure means of salvation.  But what about the Me Christians?  The only hope for the Me Christian is to submit to change, accept the Real Gospel, accept the Real Word of God, and reject all amusement coming from the pulpit or within the church.   Me Christians are lukewarm and defenseless against the wiles of the Devil.

The Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Church logo

tattoos are the latest in offbeat testimony at an Orange County church that holds Sunday services in a punk rock nightclub and collects offerings in KFC buckets. City Church of Anaheim is celebrating its first year in operation and the goal of reaching a 200-member flock with a radical commitment to the congregation and community: Tattoos of the red-heart church logo.

Pastor Kyle Steven Bonenberger told worshippers that God “tattooed your name on his heart” and it was time for an everlasting commitment to Him and the church.

The Orange County Register reported about a dozen people got inked, fulfilling the pledge they made if the church doubled its normal attendance.

City Church started in a living room and moved to Anaheim’s Chain Reaction Club as the congregation grew.

Jesus just wasn’t into titles. We shouldn’t be either.

I am often asked if I have a title, and my answer doesn’t satisfy some people. I travel a lot, so I don’t consider myself a pastor.

All kinds of labels have been pinned on me: Reverend, prophet, apostle … even bishop. Once I was introduced to a church as “Dr. Grady” and I almost crawled under my seat. I only have a college degree. There are no letters after my name.

I tell people: “You can call me Lee. Or if you want to sound formal, you can say, ‘Brother Grady.’”

“Jesus is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Son of David, the Prince of Peace and the Apostle of our Confession. Yet when He came into this world He laid aside His heavenly glory and took on the lowly name of Jesus.”

Today it seems we’ve developed a title fetish.

For a while everyone in charismatic circles was becoming a bishop (and some were installed into this office with rings, robes and funny-looking hats). Then the same guys with the pointy hats started calling themselves apostles. Then the prophets got jealous and started calling themselves apostles too! I knew one lady who, not to be outdone, required people to call her “Exalted Prophetess.”

Now the latest fad is requiring church folks to address certain people as apostles. (As in, “When Apostle Holy Moly arrives, please only address him as, ‘Apostle,’ and then make sure he is seated in a private room while his two adjutants, wearing dark glasses, guard his door.”) They’ve even invented an elaborate theology to go along with this ridiculous rule. It suggests that you can’t receive the true anointing from a man of God if you don’t honor him with the right title.

Sounds so very ooo-ooh spiritual to the naive. But it’s garbage.

Jesus didn’t play this religious game, especially when he was around the Grand Poobahs of His day—the long-robed scribes and Pharisees. After accusing them of loving the best seats in the synagogues, He pointed out that they loved to be called “Rabbi” by men (see Matt. 23:7).

Then He warned them: “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. … the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (v. 8-12, NASB).

People have quibbled over these words for centuries, insisting that ecclesiastical titles are not the problem; pride is what Jesus was rebuking. I would agree that Jesus was going to the root sin. But He was also asking these title-crazy guys if they’d be willing to ditch their labels and act like normal people.

When I was in China several years ago, I met some amazing leaders who had planted thousands of congregations. They had also spent a lot of time in jail for their faith, and they’d been beaten with iron rods for preaching the gospel. They were the bravest apostles I’ve ever met. But when I asked them if they used “apostle” as a title, one guy said: “We believe in those roles in the church. But we prefer to call each other ‘brother’ or ‘sister.’”

That settled it for me. A few years later I met Iftakhar, a Pakistani apostle who has oversight of 900 churches. He also has two scars on his arm from gunshots fired by Muslim extremists who have put a price on his head. When I asked him how I should address him, he smiled and said, “Iftakhar.”

If these two giants of the faith—and true apostles—don’t require to be addressed with titles, then Your Worshipful Grand Master Rev. Dr. Bishop Jones (who claims oversight of maybe four churches) shouldn’t wear his ministry role around his neck like a tacky neon name badge.

If people can’t see the anointing on your life through your character, then don’t cheapen the gospel by wearing a title you don’t deserve.

I’m not saying people shouldn’t use reverend, minister or even bishop to identify their roles in the church. But can we please dispense with the insecurity, and the childish “I’m more important than you” appellations, and get back to the simplicity of the gospel? Let’s get over ourselves!

Jesus is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Son of David, the Prince of Peace and the Apostle of our Confession. Yet when He came into this world He laid aside His heavenly glory and took on the lowly name of Jesus. He wore no fancy robes. He demanded no titles. He did not come to be ministered to, but to minister. If we want to serve Him honorably, we must forsake our need for fame and cast our crowns at His feet.

Studying Revival History, I am fully amazed of how each revival sprung forth, how each revival flourished, and how each revival finished (or ended).

One of the things that finished the Azusa Street Revival was the fact that Seymour married.  The marriage itself was not the problem.  He did not marry wrongly, nor did he do anything ungodly.  The fact is that he married and certain ones, mostly women, rejected the marriage.  They were jealous of his marriage and probably jealous of the one whom Seymour chose as his wife.

Here are some rules that all unmarried ministers need to follow:

1.  Do not date any woman from your congregation.

2.  Do not marry any woman from your congregation.

3.  Wisdom dictates that if you have been unmarried for all your life, it would be very wise for you to marry someone who has never been married.

4.  Let your business be your business.  The dating aspect of your life, as long as it is godly, needs not to be presented to the church.

5.  Prepare for opposition.  Prepare for some leaving, if you decide to marry.   Try to be as private as you can until it must be told.

6.  Prepare the church/ministry in all areas and especially financially.

7.  Just because the person whom you marry is now one with you, that does not mean she has a right to have a position in the church/ministry.  That is up to God.

GOD KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR US!

by David Wilkerson

[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

There are times when God takes things from us and other times when we pray for

things we think we need and God does not give them to us. Nevertheless

“…the Lord knows the way of the righteous” (Psalm 1:6). One day God’s

action will prove to be for the benefit of us and for His kingdom!

The truest satisfaction in life comes from being in the perfect will of God,

doing His work, living according to His choosing. But most of us are convinced

that only we know what we need in order to be fulfilled and happy. And, in most

cases, what we believe is best for us actually would ruin us!

Never in the

history of mankind has God taken anything from one of His children without

bringing in something better, more beautiful, more fulfilling.

God’s best is not something to fear; He not only knows what is best for you,

He wants you to have His best! If we truly believed this it would produce such

rest, peace and joy in us! We would not grieve over letting go of things; we

would know we’ve been set free from all bondage! We would say, “Lord, if

You are taking this from me, it must mean You have something much better for

me. So take it—You can have it!”

Beloved, we need to rest in the loving hand of our Father! We need to come to

the point of trust where we say, “I have a loving Father who wants the very

best for me. He knows it all!” How did Job finally come to a place of rest?

He persuaded himself that God knew what He was doing and

that everything was

under control! Job said “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested

me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

Many Christians see God at work in their lives yet they still wonder, “What

if I blow it? What if I do something wrong and God gets angry or impatient with

me? Will all His promises fail me? Will I have to settle for something less than

His best?” No—never! If your heart is right before God, if you keep

returning to Him and seeking Him with all your heart, nothing will change His

plans for you!

CARELESS WORDS

by David Wilkerson

[May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]

“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give

account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified,

and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).

We seem to think our words simply fall to the ground and die, or vanish into

thin air and dissolve into nothingness. Not so! Our words live on—they do not

die!

You may say, “But I only told this gossip to one friend and he promised never

to repeat it. It will end with him.” No, it will not! Every single word you

and I utter is recorded, written down in eternity, and we will hear them all

repeated to us at the judgment.

I recall coming under deep conviction after sharing a vicious bit of gossip

with a friend. What I said was indeed true. It was about a moral situation I

had had to deal with concerning a minister. His name came up in the

conversation and I said, “Don’t trust him. I know something about him!”

Even as I mouthed off,

I felt condemned. The Holy Spirit whispered to me,

“Stop right there! Nobody needs to know that. Don’t say more, because

there’s no purpose to it. Even though it’s true, don’t repeat it!”

What I had already said was bad enough. But then I blurted out the lurid

details! I knew I should have been quiet and sure enough, I was deeply

convicted by the Holy Spirit. So later I called my friend and said, “I’m

sorry, that was gossip. I was out of order. Please don’t repeat it. Try not

to even think about it.”

Is my sin covered by the blood of Jesus? Yes, because I fully acknowledged that

I had sinned and I allowed the Holy Spirit to show me some of the legalistic

pride left in me. I allowed Him to humble me and heal me! Now, whenever I begin

to say something against somebody, I obey the Holy Spirit as I hear Him say,

loud and clear, “Stop!”

David Wilkerson

 

The prophet Isaiah provides us with an example of how we can heal our tongue.

1. Isaiah drew near to the Lord and prayed for a vision of God’s holiness.

“I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up” (Isaiah 6:1).

Anyone who wants to live pleasing to the Lord must constantly go into His

presence until he obtains a vision of God’s holiness. All healing, all true

blessings, all victories begin at His throne. That is where we see God in His

holiness!

2. In God’s holy presence Isaiah was deeply convicted of having unclean lips.

“Then I said: ‘Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean

lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have

seen the King, the Lord of hosts’” (6:5).

Why did Isaiah cry out, “I am a man of unclean lips”? It was because he had

seen the King of Glory! Our transgressions become exceedingly sinful when we are

in God’s presence. The light of His holy countenance exposes everything that

is unlike Him!

3. Isaiah allowed the Lord to touch him and cleanse him with His holy fire.

“Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he

had taken with the tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth with it, and

said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity is taken away, and

your sin purged’” (6:6-7).

God’s Word is a live coal and the Holy Spirit is its fire!

Right now you have

been touched by the Holy Spirit through this message and God wants to put His

fire to your tongue and sanctify it. He can do it for you if you will let His

Word convict you! He is the only One who can do it. Your part is simply to

confess, as Isaiah did, “Woe is me, I am unclean!”

Let this word go straight to your heart and purge you with its fire. Confess,

“Yes, it is me, Lord! I will not let this word pass me by! Purge my lips and

my tongue. Cleanse my mouth and my heart!”

- by David Wilkerson.

The seventh chapter of Micah contains one of the most powerful
messages on the new covenant ever preached. In this incredible
sermon, Micah is speaking to natural Israel—yet he is also
speaking to the church of Jesus Christ in these last days. He
begins his sermon with a heartbroken cry—one that is still being
heard from spiritually starved believers around the world today:
“Woe is me! . . . There is no cluster to eat” (Micah 7:1).

Micah is describing the effect of a famine in Israel—a famine of
food and of God’s Word. It echoes the words of an earlier prophecy
by Amos where the Lord says: “Behold, the days are coming . . .
that I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a
thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall . . .
run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but shall not find it”
(Amos 8:11–12).

It was harvest time in Israel and the vineyards should have been
bursting with fruit, but there were no clusters hanging from the
vines. Micah watched as people went into the vineyards looking
for fruit to pick and finding none. In his prophetic eye, Micah saw
multitudes in the last days running from place to place, seeking
to hear a true word from God. He envisioned believers scurrying
from church to church, from revival to revival, from nation to nation—
all seeking to satisfy a hunger and thirst for something to nourish
their souls. The cry is still heard, “Woe is me—there is no cluster!”

There is a great famine in the land. Yet, in spite of multitudes
running about looking for spiritual food, those who truly desire
God’s Word comprise only a remnant (see Micah 7:14, 18). This
is certainly as true today as it was in ancient Israel. Few Christians
today truly hunger to hear the pure word of the Lord.

Instead, the
majority fatten themselves on Sodom’s apples, feeding on the
straw of perverted gospels.

Visiting ministers can be a great blessing to any church. But if you don’t do your homework, you could be inviting disaster.

A friend of mine recently told me that the leaders of a ministry invited a prominent American preacher to speak at a conference. During discussions about the engagement, the preacher’s handlers explained two of the terms of his visit: (1) he was always to be addressed as “apostle” by anyone who spoke to him; and (2) he was to be ushered out of the auditorium and into a green room immediately after he delivered his sermon, to guarantee that he would not have to fraternize with the audience. He needed his privacy.

If I had been on the other end of the telephone conversation that day, I would have offered this reply: “Please tell Apostle Arrogance that since he is so concerned about being bothered by the little people, never mind. Just don’t come. We don’t need the disease he is spreading in the body of Christ. God bless you.” Click.

“I have heard horror stories of ministers who required their hosts to provide shopping money, certain types of exotic bottled water, limousines and manicurists. A childish rock star might be expected to ask for these luxuries, but such behavior is reprehensible for a minister of the gospel. Don’ t ca

ter to their appetites.”

That may sound harsh, but I don’t think there’s any other way to prevent the spread of this plague. The “celebrity syndrome” is still alive in 2011, in spite of the recession, and the only way we are going to stop big-headed charlatans from corrupting churches is to boycott them. We need to hand them a pink slip. I recommend these safeguards:

1. Investigate before you invite. There are many wonderful traveling ministers who carry genuine anointings and can bring great blessing to churches and ministry events. They have been called by God as evangelists, prophets, teachers and apostolic leaders—and those who walk in the anointing of the Holy Spirit will produce fruit wherever they go.

But there are also imposters on the preaching circuit. Some of them once carried the anointing and lost it; others actually entered the ministry as fakes and learned to prey on naïve congregations. Don’t give anyone a platform who has a questionable record. Always find out who they are accountable to. If they have no relationships, no oversight or no reference board, you are taking a great risk by having them in your church.

2. Slam the door on egotism. The celebrity syndrome is easy to detect. Does the visiting preacher have a servant’s spirit? Or does he come across as cocky and unapproachable? Any man or woman engaged in ministry should have the attitude of Jesus, who was willing to ride a donkey into Jerusalem and wash the feet of His disciples. If you allow a prideful, unbroken preacher in your pulpit, you are giving a spirit of Lucifer the opportunity to infect your congregation.

3. Don’t feed the spirit of entitlement. Every traveling minister appreciates a gracious host. You show honor when you provide him or her with a nice hotel room, meals and transportation during their stay. But you should be alarmed if a preacher demands celebrity treatment.

I have heard horror stories of ministers who required their hosts to provide shopping money, certain types of exotic bottled water, limousines and manicurists. One preacher who recently ministered in Australia demanded a certain type of steak that had to be flown across the Pacific Ocean from the United States! A childish rock star might be expected to ask for these luxuries, but such behavior is reprehensible for a minister of the gospel. Don’t cater to their appetites.

4. Don’t tolerate financial rape. I know of an American minister who traveled to a church in Canada and insisted that the pastor rent a civic auditorium that seated more than a thousand people. The pastor couldn’t afford the hall, but the evangelist said she wouldn’t come unless a large venue was provided. In the end, the evangelist canceled the trip because not enough people registered for the conference—and the pastor was left holding the bag. His church went bankrupt.

A true minister of the gospel would never push a church to go into debt just to satisfy his or her egotistical need for a big crowd. Jesus was just as comfortable preaching to a few disciples as he was to a multitude, and He didn’t base success on numbers. If you fall into the numbers trap you will be sorry.

Also, a shepherd who cares about his or her flock will never allow a visiting preacher to manipulate a congregation financially. Visiting speakers who spend 30 to 45 minutes begging for money, or making outlandish claims of “supernatural returns” for investing in their work, are shysters who need to leave the ministry and find a job on a home shopping network.

5. Beware of strange fire. A minister imparts his life, not just the words of his sermons.

That is why it is so important for preachers of the gospel to walk in humility, sexual purity and financial integrity. If a minister has allowed compromise in any of those areas, his anointing will be hindered and he may pollute your pulpit and leave a toxic environment in your church.

I talked to one pastor in California who had invited a speaker to his annual conference. But before the speaker arrived, the pastor learned that this man often used drug imagery in his sermons and even compared the Holy Spirit to marijuana. When he asked the speaker to refrain from such references, the man arrogantly refused. Thankfully the pastor did the right thing: He politely but firmly canceled the man’s visit.

It is possible for us to “just say no” to the charlatans, shysters, con men and rock star evangelists who have never submitted their lives to the discipline of the Spirit. Please heed the warnings, inspect the fruit and be willing to disinvite.

Propped Up: Part Two

Contrived  Or Anointed?

Some time ago I wrote an article called “Propped Up,” which was about the church’s desperate attempt to continue to make itself look relevant and powerful long after they had ceased to be either.

Since then, not much has changed. But it’s allowed me to clarify some things in my own mind and heart about where we are – and possibly what we need for God to change it. It has to do with two Kingdoms – the Kingdom of this world, and the Kingdom of God – the Kingdom that rules by flesh and man, and the Kingdom whose Lord is Jesus and whose children and servants carry out His work and His will. And the lines of delineation could not be clearer.

I have observed that, as I saw would happen eventually, the lines are being blurred not just between the world and the church, but between different movements within the church which are eventually going to blend together, join hands and become part of the worldwide, peace-promoting, social service agency known as the One World Church (or whatever it will be called when antichrist finally gets into power.) I am seeing it happen in a practical way now, and it seems to be a product of GroupThink and cultural pressure by which the church HAS to do certain things to attract the world.

Thus, there is a strong blending right now going on between Megachurch and the Emergent church, where these two children of the flesh are borrowing and learning from one another, and you can no longer tell much difference between them. Before, the “get in the game” philosophy of Purpose Driven was far different from the “sharing our ancient stories from the Bible” philosophy of Emergent thought. Before, only Emergents were pushing breath prayers, eastern-style blending and meditation, but now the Megas are giving it a shot. All wrapped around the wheel of media and entertainment. Technology is now what binds us together, not chords of Holy Love. Or the Word of God. Or the presence of the Holy Spirit. And it breaks my heart.

It would be funny, if it weren’t so sad, to see that there are detectable ways to figure out if you are in an Emergent/Purpose Driven/Megachurch. Some have made their own list, but here is my small “you know you might be an Emergent/Mega if” list…

1. 1.     You have a countdown to “showtime” on your PowerPoint ten minutes before church.
2. 2.     Coldplay is the new intro music before church.
3. 3.      You are “servant-leaders”.
4. 4.     You “serve the world” through “service projects”.
5. 5.     You “preach the gospel as often as you can (which turns out to be rarely) and if necessary, use words (which, surprisingly, are needed to achieve salvation. Jesus was the WORD not the “silent witness”.)
6. 6.     Worldly videos gobble up much of the message time, padded by pithy warm stories and a couple of scriptures to pin it all together.
7. 7.     You speak to the culture by adapting and incorporating worldly music, movies, sports, politics, etc. Because we know people will be attracted by things that they already attracted to and immersed in. Then, when they get there, we do the “bait and switch” – well, we know you thought this was going to be just like a night at the movies, BUT…it’s really church…but don’t worry, it’s just barely…

I am joking, somewhat, but a big part of me is just super-grieved. And I finally found a word that explains my frustration and spiritual resistance to it all – the word is CONTRIVED. We are contriving church. It is no longer something born of the Spirit and filled with His life and His power, but it is a contrivance. It is manufactured. It is a device built to draw people no matter what we have to do. Shows, extravaganzas, events to rival sports games and worldly concerts, whatever we have to do to compete for the world’s attention. Even to the point, in one place, of hiring Vegas showgirls for their Christmas production.

And what is the harm, right? Isn’t it  bringing people IN

? But I have to ask, to what aim, to what purpose? To bring more, but what for? What Kingdom are we building?

And it is no mystery to me that the more churches are beginning to suffer from the economy, the more contrivances we are producing so that we can make sure of our financial and physical continuance.

But at some point, we have to ask, which Kingdom are we building, and what are we seeking to do? It’s hard to ask, because the answers may be very painful.

Recently our beloved Christian mayor, who has been courted by all the major Christian players in town, shocked all of us by not just overturning (along with the city council – not a group of virtuous Christians by any stretch) a vote in which the PEOPLE decided to NOT extend benefits to unmarried or gay “spouses”. I don’t know all the ins and outs of it, but I do know THE PEOPLE DECIDED. And our Christian mayor overturned it. So a pastor decided to put out a recall petition on the mayor. Which, legally, may have some issues, and personally, I am not wanting to sign because the scriptures say that “No man who warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Tim. 2:4) Regardless, we were further shocked when our Christian mayor turned the IRS on the church, the pastor, and any other church who got involved! What a wake-up call to what I have tried to tell you for some time: Be careful who you vote for.

Here’s the larger issue: The western church is hurting and failing to attract new members, so is coming up with a number of contrivances to make it happen. But the IRS is being positioned to come into the situation, and start to lay down new rules as to what we can and cannot do: rules regarding homosexuality, abortion, politics, finances, social works, how much we can “preach” and where. And when that happens, I do not believe the IRS will have any problem at all with most of the Emergent/Mega activity;  only those who are too evangelical and public. They will be allowed to continue under these new “guidelines.” But those who do not will have their tax exempt status taken away. Which, in the long run, will be a good thing, because we’re going to find out who is tithing because of the write-off and who is giving no matter what. So the church will be a bit more broke, a lot more prosperous spiritually, and perhaps much smaller, but much more powerful. It’s a weeding out that will take place.

What are we going to be willing to sacrifice in order to retain our favored financial governmental status, our appeal to the world, our approval by society? It may be that in a year or two, we may be so compromised that it won’t be an issue.

I see us at a precipice and a crossroads with it all. If we continue to follow the road that is leading to a blending of eastern thought, worldly media and compromised Biblical principles, it will put us over a cliff, joined firmly at the hip with the rest of the coming World Religion.

Our contrivances – our desperation to get people to come, even when we forgot WHY we were bringing them in (to lead them to the Cross and give them a new life in Jesus) are depleting us of the last vestiges of true Holy Spirit anointing and outpouring.

But how do we take the other road? What is that road?

It has to do with a restoration of true leadership, and true anointing to the church of Jesus Christ.

The Book of Acts is still THE template for how the church should run, and what believers are to be about. Centuries have come and gone, but that is STILL the model the Holy Spirit left us with – because besides locations, outside modifications and cultural changes, the HEART of how the Holy Spirit works does not change.

The term leadership is one of the most misused, overused and bandied about church phrase I have heard in decades. And I think it is very important that we understand what true leadership is Biblically, how we find and recognize it, and how it works in real life. I think this particular writing will only be able to outline the problem – and in the next writing, I will try to direct us to some answers.

I often cringe at the term “servant-leadership,” mainly because like so many other terms we have adapted, we got it from the world. AT&T, specifically. Not that some of the concept is not ok; we are called to be servants. 

I must digress before moving on, because I am truly troubled by this concept of “serving the world.” By nature, believers are to care for the sick, the orphans, the widows, anyone on the Jericho road. But I am concerned that our new idea of “serving the world” is NOT coming (if we are TRULY honest) from a broken heart seeking to love the lost into salvation, but rather just another program to prop up our numbers and prove that we are just really nice, loveable people. And truly, once one actually gets out and starts doing these things, it’s possible for God to break your heart so that caring for the lost becomes a 24/7 way of life and not just a project. But nowhere are we told to “serve the world.” Nowhere. We are told to preach the Gospel to a lost world. The OTHER things will come BY NATURE of who we are in Jesus. We need to really examine our hearts as to the WHY of this new trend.

 Again, we are called to be servants. And we MAY be called to lead. But the ability to lead is an ability. That’s not a “calling.”  The ability to lead and the calling from God to do so are two different things. Dathan in the wilderness surely was a leader. But he wasn’t God’s leader. I wonder how many people we are asking to lead in church based on skills and abilities without even a concern to whether they have to anointing of God in their lives to do so?

And this really is the crux of the thing: Leadership and anointing are not the same thing. It is one thing, as in the book of Acts, to appoint people to serve tables; quite another to lay hands on, anoint and send forth. I am increasingly concerned, especially as we get farther and farther away from a Biblical template of calling and anointing, that we are simply “filling slots” as any corportation would do, and in the way they would do it: Do they fit the bill? Can they ____ (shuffle papers, recruit, fire up the church base, organize, get excited, mentor, teach, etc? ) Bring them on board. And yes, we may add a few addendums: Don’t drink publicly. Don’t sleep around or look at pornography. Try to be a good example. And yes  that’s important too.

But increasingly, we are on a mad rush to fill slots and are short on discernment as to who we choose, and we are not good at actually recognizing calling in the making, or at nurturing that calling over a period of time and bringing that calling into fruition. Thus, we barely know those we slot in, and we are in the business of appointing but not anointing. That is a fatal flaw. I am concerned because after a couple of generations of lack of true discipling and raising up, we are dealing with a growing dearth of seasoned ministers of the Gospel, or true leaders in the work of the Lord Jesus. Instead we are seeing more and more “ministers gone wild” scenarios and more and more of the idea of “volunteers to run ministries.” Watch that trend. As more and more churches fail to be able to pay childrens’ ministers and youth ministers, it will go more and more to a volunteer ministry structure overseen by committees. And ministry by committee is like breakfast by committee. You may get some kind of breakfast, but it’s going to be a mess, take a long time, and have a lot of angry kitchen workers serving it when they think they could have done it better.

Seriously, in all of our efforts to get everyone “in ministry” – and they SHOULD be – we are erasing the lines of authority and anointing, and it’s beginning to become kind of a spiritual free-for-all in which anyone who sells a lot

of books or gets big crowds is considered a leader in the church. And we have no ability left to even DISCERN whether that person carries either the authority or the anointing for such a thing. Frankly, in a western church where visibility=God’s approval, we are hard pressed to find those who truly carry the anointing and authority in fullness. The passing of brother David Wilkerson, in my eyes, signaled the passing of a whole generation of generals who truly understood – and modeled – these things for the church. Now we just go to church growth institutes, figure out who’s got the talent, spiritualize their “giftings” and they are good to go.

It’s great if you are running a business, but deadly in the long run if you are trying to further the Gospel. Despite the “pile-on” philosophy of ministry (“Is Moses the only one who can hear from God?”), there remains a protocol of leadership and authority in the church, and it is important that we grasp exactly what that means.

I know this is very fragile territory I am seeking to tread, because there have been SO many abuses of the whole authority issue. Multitudes were spiritually slaughtered in the 1980’s due to the extremes of Shepherding and authority in the church. But I have found, since then, as the church becomes more “corporate”, this abuse of God’s authority easily mutates into another form: One of committees, board meetings, council meetings, HR committees, job descriptions, expectations, monitoring, surveys and a host of other corporate tools that may succeed in eliminating anyone who doesn’t “come up to code” and also to empower people who have been raised with corporate mentality, switched it over to God-concepts, made it fit (like a square peg in a now beaten up round hole) and put people in place simply on the basis of their skills and abilities – and abilities to sound spiritual.

We certainly don’t want to go back to butchering people spiritually because of warped authority in the church. But we cannot be a true army if we do not truly recognize godly authority, protocols of warfare and recognize once again the difference between anointing and human ability.

God uses our human – and God-given abilities. There would have been no rebuilding of the ruins in Jerusalem without those “willing to work.” And EACH one’s work was crucial. But make no mistake, there had to be a Nehemiah – one who heard the call, had the heartbreak, and was given the COMMISSION by both king and God to lead the people into this vital work.

Wars must have generals – and commanders, and lieutenants, and soldiers. We are entering into the most serious battle of the history of the church. And we need to understand from God’s Word and God’s heart how all this works, so we do not go out as an army of millions, with no direction but our own or those of our small circle of friends – but we are at all times responding to and acting on orders from on High, graciously provided to each of us according to our ability, our rank and our calling, through His Word, and led by those who have been called to lay out the battle so we may fight with clarity, security and victory.

The way out of a spiritual mentality that seeks to prop up the church when the Spirit of the  Lord has in many ways “departed,” is to seek true anointing and outpouring, genuine commitment to the Word of God and true authority through which the world may yet be turned upside down. God needs no more church growth specialists. He is seeking a new generation of generals in the making.

Gregory Reid

 

 

 

Things As They Are
From YouthFire Ministries
	OCTOBER, 2011
Dear Friends, October is going to be a very intense and busy month and I need your prayers. I will be one of the speakers at our yearly Unify Youth Conference on the 15th. On the 24th I will be doing a day seminar on “The Darkest Side of Human Trafficking” at LifeGate Church, in which I will be educating people on the issues of internet dangers, child and teen pornography, child and teen trading and human trafficking, and on some aspects of the occult connections of much of it. The local media has already taken an interest, so I am asking for prayer for God’s help in putting together a powerful presentation, that God would bring us good information about local criminal activities we can pass on to those in a position to help, and that God would keep out predators and those who wish to harm. Unless, of course, God is bringing them to find Jesus! I now have a two inch stack of news items I wish I could pass on to you, but I will just have space for a few. The escalation of things continues to a degree I would have never envisioned, especially in terms of world events – i.e., the world turning on Israel, the economic meltdown worldwide which will lead to a one world economy and eventual antichrist rule. It’s exciting and terrifying all at the same time, isn’t it? Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled.” That sounds easier on paper than when the tides actually come in; but nonetheless, it is possible, and necessary, to keep His peace no matter what storms come. Alzheimer’s and Pat Robertson It is absolutely tragic and wrong that the onetime Christian super-leader and father of modern Christian broadcasting has stated, for all to hear on the 700 club, that divorce is justifiable if your spouse has Alzheimer’s and no longer able to remember you. In a recent broadcast, Robertson told viewers it was justifiable because Alzheimer’s was “a kind of death.” “I know it sounds cruel,” he said, “but if he’s going to do something, he should divorce her and start all over again, but make sure she has custodial care and somebody looking after her.” While I honor the pioneer work brother Robertson has done over many years, his proclamations have increasingly been unbiblical and out of character. I cannot imagine the terrible situation of a spouse with Alzheimer’s; but that does not change God’s Word. “What God has joined together, let NO MAN rend asunder.” Robertson added a whole new level  of insecurity to the current breakdown of marriage among believers. You know, I recently spoke with a friend whose mother in law was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s before she died. He told me, “She didn’t remember me, her husband, her kids or her grandkids. But if I started to talk about Jesus, she would talk about Him all day. She remembers Him.” Doesn’t that say it all? The mind may be gone but the spirit is VERY MUCH with Jesus – all the way to the end. May God grant Robertson repentance for such a damaging statement. The Homosexual Dragon Poised to Strike I wrote recently about the two headed dragon of Islam and homosexuality. This month, the homosexual issue has emerged all over the news. -          A Ft. Worth honors student was punished for telling a classmate he believed homosexuality is wrong. Dakota Ary, 14, was sent to in-school suspension. When his teacher, who had put up posters of two men kissing on his “world wall” and was using his class as a forum for his gay activism overheard Dakota, he started yelling at him and sent him to the principal. Liberty Counsel was called in by the family and the Ft. Worth School District rescinded its decision and reinstated Dakota. But no one answered the question as to why the teacher was allowed to use his GERMAN class to push his gay activism.   -          Leisha Hailey, Star of the lesbian cable show “The L Word”, was escorted off of Southwest Airlines for “excessive kissing” that even passengers were offended by. She cried “discrimination” and called for a boycott. This is part of the new gay and lesbian political tactic; to create confrontation for the cause. Gay activists are now so bold, that they aren’t content with just being allowed in the military, or in antibiotic the schools, nor having the right to marry. It’s not about just being accepted. It’s about forcing acceptance and agreement with homosexuality on every man woman and child in this nation, and going after ANYONE who objects to their ‘lifestyle” Frankly, I would applaud a straight couple being escorted off a plane for the kind of behavior these women exhibited. But turning it into a political cause is just another sign that something else was at work, and something else is coming. (This is NOT against gay people. I have made that VERY CLEAR previously – and I dare anyone to challenge my years of compassion and outreach in this area. But we cannot be fooled by the national brainwashing that has brought us to this point of spiritual erosion. Believe me, someone – SOMETHING else is driving this train. The U.S. Census bureau just admittedthat they had “overestimated” the number of same-sex couples in the US – by about 40%! ABC Family T.V. has gay issues in 55% of its programming hours. If the TRUE census results are correct, that less that .55% of American households are gay, then ABC Family is designing HALF of their programming for .55% of the US population! The insanity of it is stunning. Why does all this matter? Because demonic spiritual powers are driving the gay agenda. It is part of a triad of spiritually destructive demonic bondages that include rampant drug/alcohol abuse and occult/new age practices that are bringing spiritual destruction to this generation in a profound way.   I may be taking a leap into the future here, but I feel I must draw the line ahead for us. Two things are coming: (1) Look for people from the gay community to begin attending churches and being openly gay and physically affectionate in our midst. They won’t just be “wandering in”. They are going to be sent as legal “test cases” in order to begin putting pressure on churches to accept homosexuality – or face lawsuits, discrimination suits and then lose their tax status. Very soon speaking negatively of homosexuality will be considered a violation of civil rights. It is coming. (2) Right now, sexual activity among teens is at an all- time high, and at a younger age. (One in three teens has sent or received sexual images online or by phone).  And for whatever reason, early onset puberty is now a social and physiological reality. In the wings, is the still very active pedophile community- such as NAMBLA – and these social sexual changes are the catalysts they have been waiting for to bring their agenda forward – lowering the age of consent for sex so that eventually pedophilia will become the next “civil rights” issue. You think it won’t happen, but if I would have written 30 years ago when I first began in ministry that we would have seen gay marriage, gay ministers in major denominations, and people being punished for speaking against it, I would have been dismissed as an extremist. This will also come if Jesus doesn’t return soon. Satan wants this generation of youth and children destroyed and bound With every spiritual wall that collapses- he gains more ground. We have got to pray for our kids and for God to move in this generation in power while there is still time.   “Keep Your Mouth Shut”   The silencing of believers is right at the top of Satan’s agenda. Recently, in California, a High School student took 25 points off a student’s grade for saying “God bless you” to a sneezing student. He was forced to remove that punishment when the parents got involved. In March, an El Cajon student was suspended for two days for bringing his bible to school and sharing with interested students.    It is becoming apparent that parents have two choices in these last days: either give your kids a backbone of steel in their faith and be willing to stand against the antichrist school system, or HOME SCHOOL. And home school is looking increasingly like a better option. Mocking Sodom Photographer Spencer Turnick, who has gained fame for doing nude group photos from around the world, secured the site of ancient Sodom and Gomorrah at the Dead Sea for his latest nude photo shoot. It is as if satan is just mocking everything God holds sacred – and is brazen enough to go to the very spot that was destroyed for its debauchery to thumb his nose at God. Swift Code Lookup A Note About Steve Jobs   I am sad about the passing of Steve Jobs. It is especially sad when there is little indication that he knew Jesus. In fact, unfortunately, Steve Jobs was a committed new age follower. I mention this just because I had a couple of thoughts occur to me recently in light of the explosion in technology as well as our growing dependence on it:   -          Have we ever asked why there is an apple with a bite out of it on Apple products? Doesn’t it ring a bell from Genesis 2? Just curious…   -          Satan was called Lucifer – light. Almost our entire world is now dependent on the “light” of 1’s and 0’s generated by computers. Even the church is nearly nonfunctional without all of the “light” sources – computers, power point projectors, sound systems. Not that they are all bad; I just wonder how well we would function without them now. My next thought was that when mankind decided to usurp God, they built Babel, so they could “reach into the heavenlies.” God scattered them so that they were no longer of one language.   For the first time since then, the whole world is once again of one language – the computer. Babel has been rebuilt. Computer technology has changed the world to bring it into global oneness. And God is not behind that plan. Here it Comes… Along that same line, it appears that The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is financing a new organization designed to bring all the world’s religions together.   (Read more: http://blog.beliefnet.com/news/2011/10/saudis-underwrite-organization-to-bring-worlds-religions-under-one-roof.php#ixzz1aynOdUk9)   “The King Abdullah Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, initiated and financed largely by Saudi money, is set to have its seat in Vienna. Plans envision an organization with a governing body composed of 12 representatives from the world’s five largest religions.”   When I wrote Trojan Church, it was based on a prophetic dream I was given about all nations coming together with all religions becoming one, just as the Scriptures say. We are right there, folks.   The Drug Wars Continue Juarez continues to be a very dangerous city. They just found a large cache of weapons that were part of the “Fast and Furious” program in the home of one of the major drug kingpins here – including antiaircraft weaponry.   At the same time, the wife of the wealthiest and most feared and murderous drug lords, Joaquin Guzman, was allowed to come into San Diego, enter the hospital, have twin babies and then go back across the border without even a blink. All paid by us. Something is REALLY wrong here. Finally… I thank each of you who helped with the Trojan Church project. We came up about $500 short but I will  able to pay between myself and other resources. Thank you so much for your help!   The next project is to take the remainder of my books which I have been running off on my computer and making available as bound 8 ½ X 11 books, and have them uploaded, formatted and available as regular paperbacks through Amazon’s CreateSpace program. This is going to take a lot of work and I need your prayers for the time and wisdom to do it. I am also hoping to start redesigning YouthFire’s websites and update them before the year’s end. I need to be three people, but with God, all things are possible!   I have attached a recent article I wrote entitled, “Propped Up, Part Two: Anointed or Contrived?” If you do not have Word or cannot open it and want me to send it as a text e mail, please let me know.   Again, thank you and bless you for your prayers and love and for standing with this little ministry in these difficult times.   I close by dedicating this issue to my dear friend Darrell Dunham, whom I have known since 1978, who passed away two weeks ago. He was a brilliant man who loved Jesus, made us all laugh harder than we ever have, and left to me memories of a caring and loving friend who was always in my corner. I will miss you, friend.   In His Grace,   Gregory Reid

“A BURDEN”
-Michael Carl.

‘Have you ever wondered how we can have million dollar church  
buildings and pack-in huge crowds on Sunday, but have no power in our  
witness? Do you wonder how about half of the people in this country  
claim to have had a born again experience and how the churches are  
having so little of an impact? Have you been amazed at the fact that  
American society is becoming increasingly antagonistic to the church.

How can this be?

The answer seems to be that it’s because the pastors in the pulpits  
have sold out to the ‘Seeker Sensitive’ movement. We’ve opted for  
programs, lights, smoke machines, stage props, and the prosperity  
Gospel.

Pastors preach the Gospel of Self-Fulfillment and talk about how we’re  
destined to reign. Our pulpits echo with: ‘God wants you to be happy’  
and ‘You can have your best life now’. We have major tele-preachers  
holding ‘camp meetings’ where the ‘preacher’ shouts, ‘Let’s celebrate  
you!’

I heard a preacher say once that if you have trials in your life, then  
you don’t have enough faith. What a ludicrous statement and how  
utterly un-Biblical!

Paul had more faith than most of us and he never stopped going through  
trials. We talk faith and prosperity while the church around the world  
grows in not merely number, but in depth and maturity. They see  
miracles and God’s power; they sense His presence.

How? They’ve learned to persevere through trials. A Charismatic  
Episcopal Church Bishop in Pakistan had a Muslim slit his throat,  
throw him off of a bus and leave him for dead just because the Bishop  
was a Christian.

But the Bishop’s ministry grows and he sees the fruit.

Christians in other parts of the world weep for revival in the  
American church. What does that say about us?

It means that we are weak and self-absorbed.

I heard another television preacher turn the tables and suggest that a  
preacher who focused on subjects like F. F. Bruce’s The Hard Sayings  
of Jesus was not preaching the Gospel and ignoring the truth of the  
Word! ‘They didn’t want to hear that’ he claimed!

What utter disregard for the truth! Jesus said, ‘”The Son of Man has  
nowhere to lay His head,”‘ and told His followers of His coming  
arrest, trial, torture and crucifixion.

This means we’re deceived and taken with greed.

There are no tears for revival and the only One weeping is Jesus. He  
bled and died for us and we proclaim that the Gospel is a means to  
prosperity, power and influence. Church services look more like pop  
concerts and the preaching is only a babbling collection of self-
absorbed slogans and how God wants us to be happy!

No, God wants us to be holy!

Where is the message of repentance? Where is the ‘”If anyone would  
come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and  
follow Me”‘?

Folks, the message of the cross is foolishness and offensive to the  
world. Paul told us that 191/2 centuries ago.

Paul also told us that if he wanted to please the world, he would not  
be a follower of Christ.

Can you imagine Elijah having a chat with the wicked King Ahab about  
how we can ‘Coexist’? Or, do you think John the Baptist should have  
opened a dialogue with Herod about tolerance

?

No, those mighty men of God were sent to confront the leaders of their  
time about the sin in the society! Why is it that our evangelicals  
spend their time trying to cozy up and make nice with our politicians  
while there are souls perishing hourly and going into a Christ-less  
eternity?

This is the message that will transform this culture and turn this  
country around.

GEORGE WHITEFIELD’s IMPACT on AMERICA
-extracts by Eddie Hyatt.

George Whitefield (1714–1770) was uniquely prepared for his role
as the firebrand of the Great Awakening that would bring all the
individual flames of revival together into one blazing inferno of Divine
Awakening… At Oxford he had come under the tutelage of John
and Charles Wesley and had experienced a dramatic conversion
that forever changed his life. His gifted preaching ability drew great
crowds and quickly launched him into leadership, along with the
Wesleys, of the Methodist revival in England. Having eyes that
were crossed, his critics poked fun at him calling

him Dr. Squintum.

Sensing a Divine call to America, he departed England in August
of 1739 with a burden for the colonists and a prayer that they would
not live as thirteen scattered colonies, but as “one nation under
God.” As he travelled up and down the eastern seaboard, shop-
keepers closed their doors, farmers left their plows, and workers
threw down their tools to hurry to the place where he was to preach.
Crowds of 8-10 thousand were common. At a time when the
population of Boston was estimated at 25,000, Whitefield preached
to an estimated crowd of 30,000 on the Boston Common. Through
his incessant travels he became the best known and most
recognized figure in colonial America.

The Awakening Impacts all Segments of Society

Whitefield became a friend of Benjamin Franklin and stayed in his
home on at least one of his visits to America. Franklin’s testimony
of the power of the revival is particularly significant since he did
not profess to be a Christian. In his Autobiography, he tells of the
incredible change that came over his hometown of Philadelphia
when Whitefield came there on his first of seven visits to America.
He writes,

“In 1739 there arrived among us from Ireland the Reverend Mr.
Whitfield who made himself remarkable there as an itinerant
preacher. He was at first permitted to preach in some of our
churches, but the clergy, taking a dislike to him, soon refused
him their pulpits, and he was obliged to preach in the fields. The
multitudes of all sects and denominations that attended his sermons
were enormous, and it was a matter of speculation to me, who
was one of the number, to observe the extraordinary influence of
his oratory on his hearers. From being thoughtless or indifferent
about religion, it seemed as if all the world were growing religious
so that one could not walk through the town in an evening without
hearing psalms sung in different families of every street.”

Franklin admits that he was skeptical of reports of Whitefield’s
preaching being heard by crowds of 25,000 and more.

While
listening to Whitefield preach from the top of the Philadelphia
courthouse steps to a huge throng, Franklin, having an enquiring
and scientific mind, retired backward to see how far Whitefield’s
voice would reach. He then did some calculations and decided
that Whitefield’s voice, which he described as “loud and clear,”
could be heard by crowds of 30,000 and more.

The Awakening Touches All Sects & Denominations

Everywhere he went the Holy Spirit was poured out in great power.
On one occasion after preaching to a huge throng gathered outdoors,
Whitfield surveyed the crowd and noted the amazing response.
“Look where I would, most were drowned in tears. Some were
struck pale as death, others wringing their hands, others lying on
the ground, others sinking into the arms of their friends and most
lifting up their eyes to heaven and crying out to God.” In Delaware
there was such an outpouring of God’s Spirit and grace that
Whitefield himself was overcome along with many of his audience.

Although a native of England, Whitefield became best known for
his ministry in America’s First Great Awakening. He loved America
and made seven visits to this land. A tireless worker, he travelled
incessantly from Georgia to Maine preaching primarily in the open
air and raising money for his beloved orphanage, Bethesda, which
he had founded in Georgia. He died during his final visit to America
at the age of 58, probably of congestive heart failure brought on
by fatigue.

The Significance of Whitfield’s Contribution

Whitfield’s contribution to the First Great Awakening was enormous.
More than any other person he, by his incessant travels, helped
make the Awakening a national event. It was the first time the
scattered colonists of various denominational and theological
persuasions had participated together in a single event.
Denominational walls were broken down and, for the first time,
they began to see themselves as a single people with one Divine
destiny—“one nation under God,” as Whitfield had prayed.

The preaching of Whitefield, Edwards, Frelinghuysen, the Tennents,
and others thus paved the way for nationhood. This is why Harvard
professor, William Perry, said, “The Declaration of Independence
of 1776 was a result of the evangelical preaching of the evangelists
of the Great Awakening.”