I wonder if others notice how the modern church is always trying to come up with novel ideas in hopes of getting the attention of the world at large?
Just over the last few years we have seen the "knock 'em down" revivals, the "holy laughter" revivals, the "shake-rattle-'n-roll" revivals where everyone who is in tune with God "manifests", and a host of other man-made, attendance-driven, ultimately useless attempts to garner crowds!
Beginning in the '70s, entertainment took center stage, and the era of the "Christian celebrity" was born. And, how it has grown! Just peruse "christian" TV and behold the crowds that fill huge venues listen to entertainers whose talents are on a par with celebrities of the world! (And, God help us, many times they are one and the same!).
But where are the soul-searching messages that bring conviction to saint and sinner alike? Where is the dire warning that except one repents, they will suffer the eternal torments of a very real hell? What has happened to silence the clarion call of Holy Scripture that calls people to a life of separation and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord?
Who wants to hear it? After all, we are rich,and increase with goods, and have need of nothing! Why, if the Lord isn't pleased with us, then why are we enjoying so much freedom and prosperity? SO, why not loosen up, and realize that God loves you!
Here is the question referenced in the title of this post: How is it with your soul?
Do you ever take time to get alone with God and allow the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart about your soul-condition? Do you ever examine yourself to know whether or not you are in the faith? Or have you been seduced by the worldly mixture that masquerades as the church today in many quarters?
Do not depend upon the smooth words of a smiling "preacher" telling you of God's love but nothing of His wrath! Do not trust in emotions that are hyper agitated by a high-power "worship service"! Rather, get in God's holy Book! Get alone in His holy presence, and wait there until you can sing with a blessed assurance "It is well with my soul"!
Sound judgmental? Wait until we stand before Him Whose eyes are as flaming fire!
But the great news is that He does not desire to receive us as our Judge, but as our Savior!
He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says unto the Church.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
TCB
Many of you may remember that Elvis had as a motto: "Taking Care Of Business". He wore a famous ring that contained the initials TCB, along with a lightening bolt.
It seems that many people of the world have embraced this philosophy, even if they didn't make an emblem out of it, as did Elvis.
Question: Don't you think that it's time for Christians to start "taking care of business"? After all, we have been appointed to the greatest business in the history of mankind! We have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to energize us for the task at hand, and we have clear marching orders in the word of God!
Yet, people perish at the rate of hundreds per hour, entering a Christ-less eternity without any hope whatsoever! Society is putrefying before our eyes! The devil ensnares billions of souls, and the Church looks on as if we are powerless to d anything about it!
Dear saints of God, it is time to take care of business! We have an arsenal of weapons that are mighty through God to the pulling down of the strongholds of the enemy! We are commissioned by Heaven to bind, to loose, to cast out devils, to set the captives free in the mighty name of Jesus Christ!
But this will never happen until a righteous indignation wells up within us and compels us to use all that God has given us.
Maybe this will help to stir us: Satan is trying to poison and destroy your family, your marriage, your children, your grandchildren, your health, your finances, your church, your freedoms, your job, your....., well, you get the point.
And, while he is working 24/7 to accomplish all of this, he successfully keeps Christians so "entertained" that they don't even know what he's up to!
Do you think that satan is bothered by "full-Gospel" people "falling out"? or, getting "blessed" in fits of "holy laughter"? BOLOGNA!
Here's the need: Christians pray up, hit the highways and hedges with the love of God in their hearts and the word of God in their mouths, and begin to pull down the walls of hell!
Well- how about it? what say we begin taking care of business!
It seems that many people of the world have embraced this philosophy, even if they didn't make an emblem out of it, as did Elvis.
Question: Don't you think that it's time for Christians to start "taking care of business"? After all, we have been appointed to the greatest business in the history of mankind! We have been given the power of the Holy Spirit to energize us for the task at hand, and we have clear marching orders in the word of God!
Yet, people perish at the rate of hundreds per hour, entering a Christ-less eternity without any hope whatsoever! Society is putrefying before our eyes! The devil ensnares billions of souls, and the Church looks on as if we are powerless to d anything about it!
Dear saints of God, it is time to take care of business! We have an arsenal of weapons that are mighty through God to the pulling down of the strongholds of the enemy! We are commissioned by Heaven to bind, to loose, to cast out devils, to set the captives free in the mighty name of Jesus Christ!
But this will never happen until a righteous indignation wells up within us and compels us to use all that God has given us.
Maybe this will help to stir us: Satan is trying to poison and destroy your family, your marriage, your children, your grandchildren, your health, your finances, your church, your freedoms, your job, your....., well, you get the point.
And, while he is working 24/7 to accomplish all of this, he successfully keeps Christians so "entertained" that they don't even know what he's up to!
Do you think that satan is bothered by "full-Gospel" people "falling out"? or, getting "blessed" in fits of "holy laughter"? BOLOGNA!
Here's the need: Christians pray up, hit the highways and hedges with the love of God in their hearts and the word of God in their mouths, and begin to pull down the walls of hell!
Well- how about it? what say we begin taking care of business!
Sunday, July 18, 2010
God's Plan For You
One of the greatest truths that anyone could ever know is that God has a plan for every life! In fact, Ephesians 2:10 tells us, that as Christians, God had a plan in place for us before we were ever born!
Can you imagine that? The One who spoke the universe into existence and sustains it by His awesome power has a personalized plan for you and I!
By this we can understand that our arrival in the Kingdom, via salvation, did not take Him by surprise, nor is He scrambling about trying to find a slot for us in His eternal plan. He knew that we would come to faith, and there is a special place in the Church, the Body of Christ, for each and everyone of us!
That being true, the greatest thing that we can do is find and fulfill our unique place in the Body! A place where our particular giftings and talents will fit, and they will mesh with those around us in order to accomplish His purpose for all involved.
I've talked with many people who are anxious about finding the will of God, and, I suppose that every Christian struggles with this to some degree. Here is what I have found through observation and personal experience: God's will is made clear to those who simply "show up", and stay faithful to that which we know to do. In other words, honor the Lord by obedience to what you already know and, in His time, He will give further revelation and direction.
If you will recall the parable of the talents, in Matthew 25, you will see that the Lord doesn't have the same position for all of us. Neither does He expect the same results from all of us. What He does require is that we be faithful with what He has given us!In light of this we can see that no position or task in insignificant if it is God's will. My contribution may look smaller, or larger, than someone else's, but if I am faithful to the call and purpose of God for my life, then eternity will show that He is as pleased with my results as He is with others who may have accomplished things on a larger scale.
So, "show up"! Be faithful and obedient to the Lord, don't be anxious about how your role may compare to that of someone else. If you are serving the Lord where He has placed you then there is nothing greater that you could be doing! And, doing something else, even if considered greater, will only meet with His displeasure in the day of judgment.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and the result will be righteousness, peace and joy!
God Bless
Can you imagine that? The One who spoke the universe into existence and sustains it by His awesome power has a personalized plan for you and I!
By this we can understand that our arrival in the Kingdom, via salvation, did not take Him by surprise, nor is He scrambling about trying to find a slot for us in His eternal plan. He knew that we would come to faith, and there is a special place in the Church, the Body of Christ, for each and everyone of us!
That being true, the greatest thing that we can do is find and fulfill our unique place in the Body! A place where our particular giftings and talents will fit, and they will mesh with those around us in order to accomplish His purpose for all involved.
I've talked with many people who are anxious about finding the will of God, and, I suppose that every Christian struggles with this to some degree. Here is what I have found through observation and personal experience: God's will is made clear to those who simply "show up", and stay faithful to that which we know to do. In other words, honor the Lord by obedience to what you already know and, in His time, He will give further revelation and direction.
If you will recall the parable of the talents, in Matthew 25, you will see that the Lord doesn't have the same position for all of us. Neither does He expect the same results from all of us. What He does require is that we be faithful with what He has given us!In light of this we can see that no position or task in insignificant if it is God's will. My contribution may look smaller, or larger, than someone else's, but if I am faithful to the call and purpose of God for my life, then eternity will show that He is as pleased with my results as He is with others who may have accomplished things on a larger scale.
So, "show up"! Be faithful and obedient to the Lord, don't be anxious about how your role may compare to that of someone else. If you are serving the Lord where He has placed you then there is nothing greater that you could be doing! And, doing something else, even if considered greater, will only meet with His displeasure in the day of judgment.
In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and the result will be righteousness, peace and joy!
God Bless
Friday, July 16, 2010
Abiding In The Love Of Christ
The love of God is available to everyone, but not everyone is receiving His love. There are some things that requisite to living in the love of the Heavenly Father, and Jesus plainly tells us exactly how to abide in His presence.
In John 15:10 Jesus says "If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept the Father's commandments, and abide in His love."
Many people would have us believe that any mention of keeping commandments, or rules, is an expression of "legalism" that is to avoided at all costs! Granted, our good deeds will never garner us favor with God, to believe so cheapens the whole concept of grace- unmerited favor.
However, There is a great gulf between working to secure God's favor, and walking in obedience to His clear direction.
If I may paraphrase the words of Jesus: "The commandments which come from the Father, and from Me, define, or outline, the pathway upon which our love flows. As you stay on the proper pathway, then you are in confines in which the love of God manifests."
Look at the word of God as a guidebook filled with signposts that clearly mark the way of blessing. We have learned this truth as it pertains to the natural world. We observe warning signs because we believe the warnings that they convey! And, by doing so, we avoid many perils, possibly even death, and abide in safety.
So, as we can see, legalism has absolutely nothing to do with our obedience. We obey the Lord because we love Him. And as we walk in obedience, we are recipients of His love and blessings.
Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?
God Bless.
In John 15:10 Jesus says "If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept the Father's commandments, and abide in His love."
Many people would have us believe that any mention of keeping commandments, or rules, is an expression of "legalism" that is to avoided at all costs! Granted, our good deeds will never garner us favor with God, to believe so cheapens the whole concept of grace- unmerited favor.
However, There is a great gulf between working to secure God's favor, and walking in obedience to His clear direction.
If I may paraphrase the words of Jesus: "The commandments which come from the Father, and from Me, define, or outline, the pathway upon which our love flows. As you stay on the proper pathway, then you are in confines in which the love of God manifests."
Look at the word of God as a guidebook filled with signposts that clearly mark the way of blessing. We have learned this truth as it pertains to the natural world. We observe warning signs because we believe the warnings that they convey! And, by doing so, we avoid many perils, possibly even death, and abide in safety.
So, as we can see, legalism has absolutely nothing to do with our obedience. We obey the Lord because we love Him. And as we walk in obedience, we are recipients of His love and blessings.
Sounds pretty good, doesn't it?
God Bless.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Prayer Of Jesus
I'm preparing to teach on prayer this evening. Ever since I came to Christ I have known that prayer is an absolute essential to living the Christian life, but even after almost 37 years, I am more convinced than ever that I am just playing around the fringes of what God means for prayer to be in, as well as through, the life of His children!
The 17th chapter of John is often called the High Priestly prayer of Jesus Christ. In this portion of Scripture we get a marvelous glimpse into the prayer life of our Lord, and we see the results of this prayer yet today! In fact, if you are truly saved, then this prayer was and is mighty in your behalf!
Isn't it amazing that the Lord would say that He set the pattern for us to follow? That those who believe in Him would do like works as He did? How in the world can this be possible?
By studying and emulating the prayer life of our Lord and Savior we will find ourselves born along by the very same Spirit that enabled Him during His incarnation! By having our mind transformed by the Word, and having our hearts challenged and changed by His indwelling presence, we will be conduits, or channels of His authoritative power that binds and casts out the enemy, bring healing virtue to bear upon the physical needs of humanity, and proclaims the Gospel with a power and anointing that will penetrate hard and doubting hearts!
Jesus prayed for me! As a result, I am saved! A new creation in Him! Now, He sends me forth to share His love, compassion and power with a lost, hurting and dying world!
Oh, by the way; He is sending you also. Will we say "yes Lord"?
God Bless
The 17th chapter of John is often called the High Priestly prayer of Jesus Christ. In this portion of Scripture we get a marvelous glimpse into the prayer life of our Lord, and we see the results of this prayer yet today! In fact, if you are truly saved, then this prayer was and is mighty in your behalf!
Isn't it amazing that the Lord would say that He set the pattern for us to follow? That those who believe in Him would do like works as He did? How in the world can this be possible?
By studying and emulating the prayer life of our Lord and Savior we will find ourselves born along by the very same Spirit that enabled Him during His incarnation! By having our mind transformed by the Word, and having our hearts challenged and changed by His indwelling presence, we will be conduits, or channels of His authoritative power that binds and casts out the enemy, bring healing virtue to bear upon the physical needs of humanity, and proclaims the Gospel with a power and anointing that will penetrate hard and doubting hearts!
Jesus prayed for me! As a result, I am saved! A new creation in Him! Now, He sends me forth to share His love, compassion and power with a lost, hurting and dying world!
Oh, by the way; He is sending you also. Will we say "yes Lord"?
God Bless
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Needed: An Army Of Pray-ers
Do you ever read of the exploits of the saints of old, those in the Bible, as well as others across the pages of history, and then consider the current state of the Church only to see a tremendous disconnect between the two?
Just think about those who are mentioned in Hebrews chapter eleven, those who shook kingdoms, turned their world upside down, even saw their dead restored to life! Consider godly individuals such as the Wesley brothers, who founded Methodism and stirred continents with the powerful Gospel of Christ! Such are the spiritual greats from whom we descend!
Brothers and sisters, it is in our spiritual DNA to accomplish things of significance for the Kingdom of our God and His Christ! We are in this world with divinely appointed destiny attached to our lives!
But, unless we pitch out tent in the fertile fields of God's promises and become people of fervent prayer we will see precious little, if any, of the results that our ancestors in the faith experienced!
Please consider this: If you are a Christian then you are commissioned and equipped to carry on the very works that Jesus Christ did! He came into this world to destroy the works of the devil! To liberate captive souls! To heal sick and infirm bodies, and to make know the love of the Father to a lost and dying world!
I fear that the Church, that powerful, world-wide organism enlivened and empowered by the very Spirit of the living God, has been distracted, sidetracked, preoccupied, mesmerized and deceived by the god of this world! It has become entangled with the affairs of this life and the deceitfulness of riches to the point that multitudes perish without a Spirit filled presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
The call comes forth from the Throne room today; a call to sacrifice and service! A call to self-denial and intercession for others! A call to take up our individual cross and to follow Jesus Christ in the highways and hedges of the world, seeking out those who are held captive by the great enemy of all that is good!
All who will hear and obey join the ranks of an elite army that is marching toward an assured victory of unimaginable proportions! A victory that will reach its climax at the very throne of the eternal God, and He will commend those who are called, chosen and faithful with the words "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Can you hear the call? Can you sense the Spirit beckoning us come away from the things of the world and join Him in the arena of prayer and of service?
He is calling! May we have ears to hear and hearts to say "Yes, Lord."
God bless
Just think about those who are mentioned in Hebrews chapter eleven, those who shook kingdoms, turned their world upside down, even saw their dead restored to life! Consider godly individuals such as the Wesley brothers, who founded Methodism and stirred continents with the powerful Gospel of Christ! Such are the spiritual greats from whom we descend!
Brothers and sisters, it is in our spiritual DNA to accomplish things of significance for the Kingdom of our God and His Christ! We are in this world with divinely appointed destiny attached to our lives!
But, unless we pitch out tent in the fertile fields of God's promises and become people of fervent prayer we will see precious little, if any, of the results that our ancestors in the faith experienced!
Please consider this: If you are a Christian then you are commissioned and equipped to carry on the very works that Jesus Christ did! He came into this world to destroy the works of the devil! To liberate captive souls! To heal sick and infirm bodies, and to make know the love of the Father to a lost and dying world!
I fear that the Church, that powerful, world-wide organism enlivened and empowered by the very Spirit of the living God, has been distracted, sidetracked, preoccupied, mesmerized and deceived by the god of this world! It has become entangled with the affairs of this life and the deceitfulness of riches to the point that multitudes perish without a Spirit filled presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
The call comes forth from the Throne room today; a call to sacrifice and service! A call to self-denial and intercession for others! A call to take up our individual cross and to follow Jesus Christ in the highways and hedges of the world, seeking out those who are held captive by the great enemy of all that is good!
All who will hear and obey join the ranks of an elite army that is marching toward an assured victory of unimaginable proportions! A victory that will reach its climax at the very throne of the eternal God, and He will commend those who are called, chosen and faithful with the words "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Can you hear the call? Can you sense the Spirit beckoning us come away from the things of the world and join Him in the arena of prayer and of service?
He is calling! May we have ears to hear and hearts to say "Yes, Lord."
God bless
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Back..... For Now
Some interesting events transpired last December that made it difficult to keep up regular postings here. But I do have a burden to communicate Biblical teachings via this avenue. So, hopefully, I'll be able to update here on, at least, a semi-regular basis.
Events of "Biblical proportion" have been unfolding over the last few months: Nations are tottering economically, rumblings of war are increasing in various parts of the world, and, right here in our own nation we are witnessing an ecological tragedy that may well prove to be the most devastating to ever touch the United States of America!
So, my desire is to stir up, or to instill, a sense of urgency in the hearts and minds of all that I can reach, to challenge them to consider all of these events in light of Bible prophecy. Folks, we are rushing toward the consummation of this age! Jesus really will come again!
All of this is extremely interesting, and it all make for stimulating conversation; but, the crucial consideration is this: Are we truly ready for His coming? Are we Bible saved? Have we acknowledged and repented of sin, and have we asked Jesus Christ to come into our life as Lord and Savior?
Are we pursuing a life of holiness? Or are we among those who believe that we can live as worldlings and still be acceptable to Him when He comes?
Have we embraced popular religious views that never mention sin, and only speak of all that Lord wants us to have? Or are we earnestly contending for the faith once delivered unto the saints?
Beloved, in light of all that is transpiring, seeing that eternity is swiftly coming at us, let's follow the example of the Apostle Paul and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!
God Bless.
Events of "Biblical proportion" have been unfolding over the last few months: Nations are tottering economically, rumblings of war are increasing in various parts of the world, and, right here in our own nation we are witnessing an ecological tragedy that may well prove to be the most devastating to ever touch the United States of America!
So, my desire is to stir up, or to instill, a sense of urgency in the hearts and minds of all that I can reach, to challenge them to consider all of these events in light of Bible prophecy. Folks, we are rushing toward the consummation of this age! Jesus really will come again!
All of this is extremely interesting, and it all make for stimulating conversation; but, the crucial consideration is this: Are we truly ready for His coming? Are we Bible saved? Have we acknowledged and repented of sin, and have we asked Jesus Christ to come into our life as Lord and Savior?
Are we pursuing a life of holiness? Or are we among those who believe that we can live as worldlings and still be acceptable to Him when He comes?
Have we embraced popular religious views that never mention sin, and only speak of all that Lord wants us to have? Or are we earnestly contending for the faith once delivered unto the saints?
Beloved, in light of all that is transpiring, seeing that eternity is swiftly coming at us, let's follow the example of the Apostle Paul and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus!
God Bless.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Lenten Season Begins
Today starts a 40 day "season" that has traditionally been a time some sort of fasting for the Christian Church. Some may abstain from solid foods during this time, others may partake of a restricted diet, while others may "fast" some activity, such as TV (although, this by no means fulfills the true intent of the season).
The purpose, at least in the early years of this practice, was to set aside worldly, physical endeavors, in order to focus upon the spiritual life.
The practice of fasting, if undertaken with proper motives, is a profitable discipline regardless of the season. The Bible says much about the flesh and it's detriment to our spiritual life, if not kept in check; and, fasting is a great way to deny the flesh.
But the real benefit comes from replacing the things laid aside with spiritual pursuits, such as prayer and studious reading of the Scriptures.
I would like to encourage all who read this to join with me in reaching across the ages to Christians of by-gone generations, and observing this season with prayer, fasting, and a genuine pursuit of the things of God.
This just may result in a personal revival in our hearts and lives that will bring us into a higher realization of God's great will and purpose for our lives.
God Bless.
The purpose, at least in the early years of this practice, was to set aside worldly, physical endeavors, in order to focus upon the spiritual life.
The practice of fasting, if undertaken with proper motives, is a profitable discipline regardless of the season. The Bible says much about the flesh and it's detriment to our spiritual life, if not kept in check; and, fasting is a great way to deny the flesh.
But the real benefit comes from replacing the things laid aside with spiritual pursuits, such as prayer and studious reading of the Scriptures.
I would like to encourage all who read this to join with me in reaching across the ages to Christians of by-gone generations, and observing this season with prayer, fasting, and a genuine pursuit of the things of God.
This just may result in a personal revival in our hearts and lives that will bring us into a higher realization of God's great will and purpose for our lives.
God Bless.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Living With A Divided Heart
This is a phrase that I came upon in the early days of my Christian walk. It seemed strange to me then, but after walking with the Lord for the better part of four decades, I more fully understand why a "divided heart" is something to be guarded against.
I have rarely recommended a movie, frankly because the vast majority of them are spiritually defiling, but there is a film from several years back entitled "Time Changers", starring Gavin McLeod, that, in my opinion, is well worth watching. The premise of the movie is that a Christian scientist from the 1800s invents a time machine and is transported to modern time.
There is very obvious "culture shock" as the ungodliness of modern living is encountered- even in the church! It is very eye-opening as the viewer is brought face-to-face with issues that modern society has become comfortable with. There is one particular scene where the visitor from the past flees from a movie theater, where he has gone as part of a church outing, totally shocked that there was open blasphemy, taking the Lord's Name in vain, being spoken in the film.
A divided heart rapidly loses awareness of the "wrongness" of such things. After all, such is just a part of life in 2010. Is it any wonder that God tells us to keep our heart with all diligence.
Friend, how is it with your heart today? Would you be inclined to flee evil, as our fictional friend from the past did? Or, would you sit, munching popcorn, wondering what was wrong with this "religious nut"?
I can answer for no one but myself, but I think the ability to be shocked, embarrassed, and made to feel uncomfortable in the presence of that which offends the Lord is a healthy attitude of heart that ought to be nurtured.
Jesus said it best of all: "No man can serve two masters...". May we choose wisely.
God Bless
I have rarely recommended a movie, frankly because the vast majority of them are spiritually defiling, but there is a film from several years back entitled "Time Changers", starring Gavin McLeod, that, in my opinion, is well worth watching. The premise of the movie is that a Christian scientist from the 1800s invents a time machine and is transported to modern time.
There is very obvious "culture shock" as the ungodliness of modern living is encountered- even in the church! It is very eye-opening as the viewer is brought face-to-face with issues that modern society has become comfortable with. There is one particular scene where the visitor from the past flees from a movie theater, where he has gone as part of a church outing, totally shocked that there was open blasphemy, taking the Lord's Name in vain, being spoken in the film.
A divided heart rapidly loses awareness of the "wrongness" of such things. After all, such is just a part of life in 2010. Is it any wonder that God tells us to keep our heart with all diligence.
Friend, how is it with your heart today? Would you be inclined to flee evil, as our fictional friend from the past did? Or, would you sit, munching popcorn, wondering what was wrong with this "religious nut"?
I can answer for no one but myself, but I think the ability to be shocked, embarrassed, and made to feel uncomfortable in the presence of that which offends the Lord is a healthy attitude of heart that ought to be nurtured.
Jesus said it best of all: "No man can serve two masters...". May we choose wisely.
God Bless
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Last Sunday
"The Last Sunday". That's the title of a song recorded by the Cathedral Quartet many years ago. It tells the story of a normal Sunday morning; some people off to church, some going to the lake, others mowing their lawn, some involved in illicit affairs, others seeking the things of God.
Suddenly, business as usual is interrupted by the sound of an angelic trumpet, and the sudden disappearance of those who are ready for the rapture of the saints.
The song speaks of the terror inside of a church as half the congregation is suddenly missing. While, at a local bar, no one notices anything unusual. An elderly woman is gripped with fear as children who were playing by her yard are gone!
Jesus actually said that it would be just this way. People would be eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage- business as usual.
There will be no 2 minute warning prior to this event! Yet, multitudes live as if this day cannot possibly overtake them as a thief in the night, but, this is exactly the way that it will happen according to the Bible.
So, in light of this, how are we to live? The answer is simple: Live as if you are expecting the Lord to come today! Do not foolishly presume upon some future opportunity to get ready that may never come.
We have His word, we have His promises, and we have the promptings of the Holy Spirit. In other words, we have everything that we need to be prepared for this blessed event whenever it transpires.
May we live in the light of this truth.
God bless.
Suddenly, business as usual is interrupted by the sound of an angelic trumpet, and the sudden disappearance of those who are ready for the rapture of the saints.
The song speaks of the terror inside of a church as half the congregation is suddenly missing. While, at a local bar, no one notices anything unusual. An elderly woman is gripped with fear as children who were playing by her yard are gone!
Jesus actually said that it would be just this way. People would be eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage- business as usual.
There will be no 2 minute warning prior to this event! Yet, multitudes live as if this day cannot possibly overtake them as a thief in the night, but, this is exactly the way that it will happen according to the Bible.
So, in light of this, how are we to live? The answer is simple: Live as if you are expecting the Lord to come today! Do not foolishly presume upon some future opportunity to get ready that may never come.
We have His word, we have His promises, and we have the promptings of the Holy Spirit. In other words, we have everything that we need to be prepared for this blessed event whenever it transpires.
May we live in the light of this truth.
God bless.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Salt & Light
Most Christians know that Jesus said we are to be salt and light in our world. But, often, there is not much of an effort made to impact society. Perhaps this is because we simply don't know what to do.
There is one issue in America that every person of faith should have a voice in: That is the heinous practice of abortion! The slaughter of the innocent will bring the judgment of God upon this, or any, nation! I recommend that every Christian carefully read II Kings 24:1-4. In this passage we see that even the chosen people of the Lord were taken into captivity because they had covered the land with innocent blood, which the Lord would not forgive!
Sadly, the vast majority of Christians never speak out on this issue. And, when it comes to voting, there is more concern about issues of monetary impact than about the recovering of Biblical morality in our land.
Unless God changes His character, America must be judged for the 50,000,000+ innocent babes who have been murdered since 1973! Judgment is inevitable, but I believe that it can be postponed IF Christians will intercede, and IF we will begin to be the voice of conscience that we are here to be!
If, indeed, the Lord means all of that stuff that He says in the Bible, then we had better repent (turn around) from our own selfish pursuits and engage our generation in light of the fact that we are here to be ambassadors of Jesus Christ!
What will it be like when I stand in His holy presence and He calls upon me to give an accounting of the way in which I chose to live my life!
May this be food for thought!
God bless.
There is one issue in America that every person of faith should have a voice in: That is the heinous practice of abortion! The slaughter of the innocent will bring the judgment of God upon this, or any, nation! I recommend that every Christian carefully read II Kings 24:1-4. In this passage we see that even the chosen people of the Lord were taken into captivity because they had covered the land with innocent blood, which the Lord would not forgive!
Sadly, the vast majority of Christians never speak out on this issue. And, when it comes to voting, there is more concern about issues of monetary impact than about the recovering of Biblical morality in our land.
Unless God changes His character, America must be judged for the 50,000,000+ innocent babes who have been murdered since 1973! Judgment is inevitable, but I believe that it can be postponed IF Christians will intercede, and IF we will begin to be the voice of conscience that we are here to be!
If, indeed, the Lord means all of that stuff that He says in the Bible, then we had better repent (turn around) from our own selfish pursuits and engage our generation in light of the fact that we are here to be ambassadors of Jesus Christ!
What will it be like when I stand in His holy presence and He calls upon me to give an accounting of the way in which I chose to live my life!
May this be food for thought!
God bless.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
How "At Home" Are We?
Have you noticed that the "blessed hope" isn't really much of a hope for most church folks nowadays? It seems to be all about eating, drinking, marrying, giving in marriage, etc. In other words, business as usual is the order of the day.
Remember when living in light of eternity was a major theme in the church? Sermons regularly challenged people to live godly, separated lives, and sin was soundly rebuked and warned against?
Today, people seem to pride themselves on the fact that "their" preacher is not one of them hell-fire and brimstone preachers! It's as if being polite and socially acceptable is of more importance than warning people to flee from the wrath to come!
The collective Christian mind in America is occupied with working less, making more money, accumulating more material goods, and learning how to feel good while the mandate of the Lord to reach the lost is somewhere on the back burner of the church!
Beloved saints, God is sending a wake up call to all will hear! Eternity is rapidly overtaking us! Either Jesus is coming or we are going by way of death! Either way, we will stand before the King and be constrained to give an account for the way in which we have spent our time, energy and resources while here on earth!
Perhaps it is time to dust off the lyrics of the old spiritual that says "This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through...".
God bless
Remember when living in light of eternity was a major theme in the church? Sermons regularly challenged people to live godly, separated lives, and sin was soundly rebuked and warned against?
Today, people seem to pride themselves on the fact that "their" preacher is not one of them hell-fire and brimstone preachers! It's as if being polite and socially acceptable is of more importance than warning people to flee from the wrath to come!
The collective Christian mind in America is occupied with working less, making more money, accumulating more material goods, and learning how to feel good while the mandate of the Lord to reach the lost is somewhere on the back burner of the church!
Beloved saints, God is sending a wake up call to all will hear! Eternity is rapidly overtaking us! Either Jesus is coming or we are going by way of death! Either way, we will stand before the King and be constrained to give an account for the way in which we have spent our time, energy and resources while here on earth!
Perhaps it is time to dust off the lyrics of the old spiritual that says "This world is not my home, I'm just a passin' through...".
God bless
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Sudden Changes
As I write this post, I'm preparing to go to church; but I am thinking about the devastating earthquake that Haiti experienced this past Tuesday.
people as this area were going about "business as usual", with no idea that this tragedy was about to overtake them. If I can draw from the words of Jesus: "They were eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage...", until this death-dealing quake, literally, shook their world!
Had they been warned would they have taken it seriously? Would there have been those who said, "we've heard these warnings all of our lives!" As they continued an in their own blind pursuits?
The truth is, that humanity, by and large, is choosing to ignore warnings of far more devastating consequences than anything ever before seen! Eternity judgment is rapidly overtaking every single human being, and there is little concern among saint or sinner that this inevitable reality is at the door!
An old song of the Church says "Judgment is coming, all will be there, each one receiving justly his due; sprinkle your soul with the Blood of the Lamb, and I will pass, will pass over you."
Have you fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope that is set before you in Jesus Christ! If not, I beseech, before the unavoidable judgment of God come, give your life to Jesus Christ! He, alone, can keep you safe in the face in the coming storm of God's righteous judgment!
God bless.
people as this area were going about "business as usual", with no idea that this tragedy was about to overtake them. If I can draw from the words of Jesus: "They were eating, drinking, marrying and giving in marriage...", until this death-dealing quake, literally, shook their world!
Had they been warned would they have taken it seriously? Would there have been those who said, "we've heard these warnings all of our lives!" As they continued an in their own blind pursuits?
The truth is, that humanity, by and large, is choosing to ignore warnings of far more devastating consequences than anything ever before seen! Eternity judgment is rapidly overtaking every single human being, and there is little concern among saint or sinner that this inevitable reality is at the door!
An old song of the Church says "Judgment is coming, all will be there, each one receiving justly his due; sprinkle your soul with the Blood of the Lamb, and I will pass, will pass over you."
Have you fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope that is set before you in Jesus Christ! If not, I beseech, before the unavoidable judgment of God come, give your life to Jesus Christ! He, alone, can keep you safe in the face in the coming storm of God's righteous judgment!
God bless.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Feelings vs. Faith
My observations of the Church in America lead me to the conclusion that most members are living by feelings rather than by faith. This, at least partially, explains the anemic condition of the "saints" today.
Consider the content of most services: A lot of music, mostly geared toward leading the singers/listeners into a state of "feel-good".
Then, the "message" is carefully built with concern that no one be made to feel judged, or "sinful".
End result: Millions of church-goers are getting their weekly fix of feel-good, positive-thinking psycho-babble that appeases the conscience, but does absolutely no good as far as preparing eternal souls to live Godly lives!
Beloved, unless I totally misunderstand the clear teachings of God's word, this nation is in for some very challenging times! We have sinned against more light, as a nation, than any other people in history! If the Lord is to be true to His character, as revealed in the Bible, He will judge this nation!
When the shaking begins the spiritual fluff that "Rev. Feel Good" has become rich off of will be revealed as inadequate, as far as sustaining those who have chosen to embrace such!
The solution? Get into the word of God! It is unconscionable that Christians who have been in "the way" for years have never read through the Bible! If this speaks to you, tell me, how do you expect to stand in the evil day when you are so lacking in the armor of God? (Eph. 6).
Faith, keeping faith, has no other source than the word of God! His word is the revelation of His will & purpose! You're either feeding your faith on a regular, frequent diet of Scripture, or you really have no faith!
Jesus said that "many are called, few are chosen." The chosen are those who have chosen to follow Him according to the truth of His word!
He that has an ear, let him hear!
God bless.
Consider the content of most services: A lot of music, mostly geared toward leading the singers/listeners into a state of "feel-good".
Then, the "message" is carefully built with concern that no one be made to feel judged, or "sinful".
End result: Millions of church-goers are getting their weekly fix of feel-good, positive-thinking psycho-babble that appeases the conscience, but does absolutely no good as far as preparing eternal souls to live Godly lives!
Beloved, unless I totally misunderstand the clear teachings of God's word, this nation is in for some very challenging times! We have sinned against more light, as a nation, than any other people in history! If the Lord is to be true to His character, as revealed in the Bible, He will judge this nation!
When the shaking begins the spiritual fluff that "Rev. Feel Good" has become rich off of will be revealed as inadequate, as far as sustaining those who have chosen to embrace such!
The solution? Get into the word of God! It is unconscionable that Christians who have been in "the way" for years have never read through the Bible! If this speaks to you, tell me, how do you expect to stand in the evil day when you are so lacking in the armor of God? (Eph. 6).
Faith, keeping faith, has no other source than the word of God! His word is the revelation of His will & purpose! You're either feeding your faith on a regular, frequent diet of Scripture, or you really have no faith!
Jesus said that "many are called, few are chosen." The chosen are those who have chosen to follow Him according to the truth of His word!
He that has an ear, let him hear!
God bless.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Our Plan vs God's Plan
Well, here we are, it's 2010! I'll have to get used to writing that when I write the date.
The first few days of a new year are always times of reflection for me; times of considering the past, looking at my present situation, and planning for the future. I believe that the changing of the year is a golden opportunity for us to think upon such things.
Just this morning, while jogging in single digit weather, my thoughts turned to the state of the Church; it's past, present, as well as it's future. As a result of this meditation, I want to share some of my thoughts with you.
We read about Church history in the Book of Acts, and in other writings that have chronicled Church events over the last 2000 years. The Church had a glorious start! A mighty rushing wind! Cloven tongues like as fire! Believers turning their world upside-down as they laid down their lives for the cause of Jesus Christ!
Throughout her history, the Church has known mighty revivals which have reignited that holy flame, and propelled disciples to the ends of the earth with a desire to introduce a lost and dying world to their King and Savior!
But, what about today?
It is my persuasion that the Church today, in general, stands in need of another great awakening! We have a preponderance pf "preaching" that is doing little more than telling people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear! It seems that so many preachers and Churches are more concerned with not offending people than they are with the fact that all without Christ are doomed to spend eternity in a place of unimaginable torment!
So much of what passes for ministry today is packaged and presented to make people feel good, when, all the while, the Lord is concerned with us being good! Turning from sin, embracing holiness, presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, in order to fulfill His calling and commandment to reach the world with the Gospel!
The future of the Church is bright! The true Church, that is. The Church triumphant will reign with Christ forever! There is absolutely nothing that can stop that from happening!
The crucial consideration is this: Am I a part of the true Church? Is Jesus Christ the Lord of my life, or have I bought into the lie that He will be my Savior without being Lord?
Food for thought! I have been thinking upon such things; I hope that you will too!
God Bless
The first few days of a new year are always times of reflection for me; times of considering the past, looking at my present situation, and planning for the future. I believe that the changing of the year is a golden opportunity for us to think upon such things.
Just this morning, while jogging in single digit weather, my thoughts turned to the state of the Church; it's past, present, as well as it's future. As a result of this meditation, I want to share some of my thoughts with you.
We read about Church history in the Book of Acts, and in other writings that have chronicled Church events over the last 2000 years. The Church had a glorious start! A mighty rushing wind! Cloven tongues like as fire! Believers turning their world upside-down as they laid down their lives for the cause of Jesus Christ!
Throughout her history, the Church has known mighty revivals which have reignited that holy flame, and propelled disciples to the ends of the earth with a desire to introduce a lost and dying world to their King and Savior!
But, what about today?
It is my persuasion that the Church today, in general, stands in need of another great awakening! We have a preponderance pf "preaching" that is doing little more than telling people what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear! It seems that so many preachers and Churches are more concerned with not offending people than they are with the fact that all without Christ are doomed to spend eternity in a place of unimaginable torment!
So much of what passes for ministry today is packaged and presented to make people feel good, when, all the while, the Lord is concerned with us being good! Turning from sin, embracing holiness, presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, in order to fulfill His calling and commandment to reach the world with the Gospel!
The future of the Church is bright! The true Church, that is. The Church triumphant will reign with Christ forever! There is absolutely nothing that can stop that from happening!
The crucial consideration is this: Am I a part of the true Church? Is Jesus Christ the Lord of my life, or have I bought into the lie that He will be my Savior without being Lord?
Food for thought! I have been thinking upon such things; I hope that you will too!
God Bless
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