“The Message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18)
To the person who rejects Christ and His death on the cross, the cross and its message seem simply foolish.
But this “foolishness”, as unbelievers see it, is precisely the power that changes lives and things. Yet, the “message of the cross” is the power, that is missing in the walk of an increasing number of proclaiming believers.
Jesus on the cross is not a picture of a defeated and misguided leader.
On the contrary, it is one of victory over sin and death…it is supernatural power in action….love.
Some of the same people who thought that Jesus and His death were foolishness were later “shaking in their boots” when “the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. And the earth did quake and the rocks were split. And the graves were opened and many bodies of the saints that slept were raised…” (Matthew 27:51-52).
Real power was evidenced in those moments, it is no wonder then, that, “the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus…feared greatly, saying, Truly, this was the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:54).
What then is the message of the cross?
It is the power that tore open the curtain of the temple that separated man from God and is still tearing down curtains and walls that separate us from God; the power that shook the earth and split the rocks is still shaking and crumbling the rock-like hearts of men and women today; the power that broke open the tombs and raised many of the dead to life and continues to do so today when people who are spiritually or emotionally dead respond to the message of the cross.
“it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:21).
Those who believe are saved, as it is, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ and His finished work alone.
In verse 22 of the same chapter we see that the “Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom.”
It is the same in many places today, with men applauding those who will teach them from a worldly wisdom of a promise of comfort, health, and wealth, and with others promoting glimpses of the supernatural that do not appear as promoted.
To the unbelieving, the message of the cross is foolishness, as they search for ways to come to God without His perfect sacrifice.
Many are led to believe that this power should manifest itself in them through supernatural signs and miracles; otherwise they have not experienced the power of God.
They stumble blindly along, impervious to the truth, unsatisfied, always looking for one more proof, until they open those blinded eyes and see the simplicity of the message of the cross.
There is the greatest of all miracles that takes place when you are touched by Gods power and you are born again.
Your broken life is exchanged for a new whole one.
Despair turns into hope, darkness becomes light, death is replaced by life! Chaos becomes order and there is harmony and beauty.
Yes the world looks for signs and wonders, but there will never be a more powerful sign that that of the cross. “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Gentiles foolishness”. (1 Corinthians 1:22).
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Sunday, March 27, 2011
In the early morning hours of February 25 1956, future Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev stood before a closed session of the Twentieth Party Congress, in what has become known as the “Secret Speech.” During the speech, Khrushchev denounced the late Premier Joseph Stalin’s abuse of power and repressive style of leadership. For Khrushchev, who had played an intimate role in Stalin’s corruption, it was a moment of truth and cleansing. However, while he was speaking, a note was passed through the audience and up to Khrushchev which asked,” What were you doing when Stalin committed all these atrocities?” Khrushchev shouted again, “Who sent up this note?” Not a person moved or spoke a word. Khrushchev again shouted, “Ill give him one minute to stand up!” The one minute of time passed and no one stood. Khrushchev then said, “All right, Ill tell you what I was doing. I was doing exactly what the writer of this note was doing--nothing! I was afraid to be counted.” From time to time, flags are flown at half mast around our country. It is a reminder to us that someone important has died. Perhaps the reason our generation of Christians are flying there flags of profession so lowly is because something vitally important is dying within our ranks. When you compare our twenty first century brand of Christianity with that possessed by first century Christians you can easily see that courage is dying a slow death. Courage is no longer demanded from our leaders, and our leaders no longer demand courage from us. Our lack of courage is both our failure and our fault. As Joshua assumed the leadership role after Moses death, the Lord encouraged him in Joshua 1:9, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage…” God has the right to both command and demand courage from the lives of those who serve as His ambassadors. In our generation there are Pharaohs we must face, mighty giants that we must fight, and many steep mountains to be climbed for the sake of the Gospel. The challenges and struggles that lie ahead of us can only be met with “good courage.” Do you have the mettle it takes to keep standing tall when everyone else around you has already sat down? Courage is a trait that demands we hold no reserves. In Daniel 6, when Daniel defied the decree of King Darius and prayed, he not only exposed himself to the potential of peril and pain, but he also laid his position and popularity on the line. For Daniel, spiritual courage was never a risk because a man who has surrendered the whole of his life into the hands of God no longer has anything to lose! Several years ago a missionary in India watched as a woman approached the Ganges River with a crippled son in her arms and a healthy son by her side. To his amazement, she sacrificed her healthy son into the crocodile infested waters. When asked why she had not sacrificed her crippled son instead, she replied, “In our country we always give our gods our best.” If only more Christians exhibited such faith! Saul kept “the best of the sheep and of the oxen…and all that was good” for himself, but lost his courage, his mind, and ultimately his kingdom. Annanias and Sapphira “kept back part” of the offering for themselves, but lost their reward, their credibility, and ultimately their lives. Nineteenth century evangelist George Mueller said, “God judges what we give by what we keep.” Anytime we are holding back something from God, it might just surprise us what God is holding back from us! Courage is a trait that demands we honor no retreats. In Nehemiah 6:3, when enemy messengers tried to distract, discourage and defeat the project of rebuilding the wall, Nehemiah said, “I cannot come down..” He kept pressing forward and refused to back off, back up or back down! Spiritual progress is never achieved from hearts that are always moving backwards. During the heat of a difficult battle, Napoleon shouted to his drummer, “Beat a retreat!” Standing heroic and saluting loyally, the drummer said, “Sir, you never taught me to beat a retreat. I can only beat a charge!” With renewed courage, Napoleon then shouted ,”Then beat a charge, drummer boy!” Certain defeat, quickly was turned into a resounding victory. Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather a fixed resolve in the face of panic. Because David refused to run from the intimidating shadow of Goliath, he became the tallest man left on the battlefield. Because three Hebrew children would not budge on their conviction, they could not be beaten, blemished or burned. When his enemies demanded that he recant his writings, Martin Luther said, “Here I stand! I can do no other! God help me.” True faith does not commit in the face of confirmation, but rather it surrenders and presses forward in spite of consequence. Courage is a trait that demands we harbor no regrets. In Esther 4, Israel is facing annihilation and only Queen Esther is in a position to save them. After weighing out the consequences, Esther says in verse 16, “I will go into the king,…and if I perish, I perish.” That’s living with your mind made up! Twentieth century pastor and author Clarence McCartney once wroth, “Men who hesitate and linger are left behind by men who have decided and who bind what shall be to their will.” Life can often produce sudden and strategic moments that demand our courage. However, to delay or hesitate in that moment can leave you holding a lifetime of regret. Lot had the chance to leave Sodom courageously, but “while he lingered,” he lost the respect of his family. David had the chance to be courageous on the battlefield, but while he “tarried still in Jerusalem,” the enemy pierced his soul with a sword that ran throughout his family. Gifted preacher Tom Elliff recently reminded me of an old saying, “A man knows he is growing old when his regrets outnumber his dreams.” The courageous are never guaranteed fame and fortune, but cowards never have monuments erected in their honor either. In his 1978Harvard Commencement address, Russian novelist Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said, “Must one point out that from ancient times a decline in courage has been considered the beginning of the end?” Jesus said in Matthew 12:30, “He that is not with Me is against Me..” The implication is clear that the position of neutrality is never given to us! Can the Lord count on us to be the courageous voices, faithful prayer warriors, and extravagant givers to His work in these final hours of the church age?
Friday, March 11, 2011
The Great Apostasy: Lost Forever
An apostate soul is lost forever.
There is an abundance of Biblical proof that shows anyone that apostatizes cannot repent – and even stronger – has been given a reprobate mind and will not repent.
The Greek word apostasion means a divorcement.
The apostate person has divorced the truth of God and has been divorced by the Holy Spirit. They are lost forever.
There is a multitude in today’s church, which are so captured by the watered down message that they refuse to even believe “plain truths” from the Holy Scripture.
Please consider what is evident in the very term apostate.
We are not discussing someone going back into sin or simply ceasing to walk with the Lord.
That is backsliding and we see a clear picture of that in the prodigal son in chapter fifteen of Luke. He left the Father’s House and wandered far from home, but he came to himself and returned.
I have often said that there is a little of the prodigal in every one of us. We have all had to repent because we failed to be fully obedient.
This state of a soul has no real kinship to apostasy.
Apostate people are more religious than the true saints.
They have departed from the great principles and established doctrines of the Holy Bible and are committed to guaranteeing that everybody else does the same.
Apostasy is a departure from truth while being convinced that they have discovered greater truths.
It is the replacement of the eternal truth with religious human imagination.
The book, The God Chasers, by Tommy Tenney is an excellent case in point. He states that the Bible is where God has been and the new revelation is where God is now at work. Rick Warren is clearly at the same point. He has replaced the Born Again life by the Holy Ghost with a “purpose driven life” of psychological relativisms.
In the apostate world there are many paths to God, and Jesus Christ is only one of them.
The absolute teaching of Jesus Christ about an eternal Hell and eternal Lake of Fire is now to simply lie in the grave and fail to enjoy God forever.
The Bible can be pen-knifed by the apostate church and almost every truth can have varied meanings.
Separated living is a relic of the past and the Christian is free of all restraints in the Ten Commandments, etc.
A ballgame on Sunday night is just as spiritual to this company as a great sermon from God’s eternal truth.
Romance music has replaced the music that lifts the spirit of man into the Holy of Holies, where God’s Spirit sanctifies and purifies the soul.
The Holy Bible warned us of this End Time phenomenon.
The most powerful Scripture about apostasy is in the great book of Hebrews.
This passage has been almost ignored by most Bible teachers because it upsets their weak theology. “And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall “Fall Away,” to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:3-6).
Apostle Paul does not just suggest the end results; he proclaims without question that this state of apostasy cannot repent.
Please note the words, “fall away,” which identifies the apostate person and states that they were once partakers of the Holy Ghost, were once enlightened, and had tasted the Word of God and the world to come.
But, now, they have turned from all of that great life and cannot return to their former spiritual state.
The term “fall away” is from a unique Greek word that applies to the person that is part of the “falling away” or “apostasia” we see in II Thessalonians chapter two, verse three.
The prophecy of II Thessalonians is a clear companion to the truth in Hebrews. As the apostle writes about the coming Antichrist and the Day of Christ, he warns us of the “falling away.” “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (II Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Again, we see “falling away” from the two Greek words, apostasia and apostasion.
These are very religious persons who have turned to “another gospel.” They did not love the pure word of God and were wise in the flesh to create their own theology.
They watered down the truth to draw the crowds into their great fold. And, then, they must keep compromising to keep the crowds.
The Holy Ghost takes the apostle right down to the fine point of what the results will be, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (II Thessalonians 2:7-12).
God’s omniscient Spirit warns them that He will give them “strong delusion,” and “that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned.”
It is not the truth that saves the soul.
The world is full of people that know the Bible.
Many souls study the Bible just to argue their deception more successfully.
It is the “love of the truth” that saves the soul.
Now, we are discovering the real heart of apostasy. It is to reject the truth for error and our highly intellectual church world is fulfilling this prophetic design to a tee.
There is clear evidence that this condition of apostasy is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.
The Spirit of Truth is absolutely the Holy Ghost.
To reject truth, to change truth, to water down truth is to grieve, quench, and blaspheme the Spirit. The whole matter of apostasy is the forsaking of truth.
The Holy Ghost inspired every Bible writer and they wrote as “they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:21). There is no way you can blaspheme Him more readily than when you attack His revelation. From Moses, the writer of the Pentateuch, to John, the writer of the Book of Revelation, the Bible is the pure Word of God.
The final proof of apostasy is found in Revelation chapter twenty-two. The Spirit said, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).
When you alter the Bible, you are an apostate person and will be eternally lost.
Joseph R. Chambers
An apostate soul is lost forever.
There is an abundance of Biblical proof that shows anyone that apostatizes cannot repent – and even stronger – has been given a reprobate mind and will not repent.
The Greek word apostasion means a divorcement.
The apostate person has divorced the truth of God and has been divorced by the Holy Spirit. They are lost forever.
There is a multitude in today’s church, which are so captured by the watered down message that they refuse to even believe “plain truths” from the Holy Scripture.
Please consider what is evident in the very term apostate.
We are not discussing someone going back into sin or simply ceasing to walk with the Lord.
That is backsliding and we see a clear picture of that in the prodigal son in chapter fifteen of Luke. He left the Father’s House and wandered far from home, but he came to himself and returned.
I have often said that there is a little of the prodigal in every one of us. We have all had to repent because we failed to be fully obedient.
This state of a soul has no real kinship to apostasy.
Apostate people are more religious than the true saints.
They have departed from the great principles and established doctrines of the Holy Bible and are committed to guaranteeing that everybody else does the same.
Apostasy is a departure from truth while being convinced that they have discovered greater truths.
It is the replacement of the eternal truth with religious human imagination.
The book, The God Chasers, by Tommy Tenney is an excellent case in point. He states that the Bible is where God has been and the new revelation is where God is now at work. Rick Warren is clearly at the same point. He has replaced the Born Again life by the Holy Ghost with a “purpose driven life” of psychological relativisms.
In the apostate world there are many paths to God, and Jesus Christ is only one of them.
The absolute teaching of Jesus Christ about an eternal Hell and eternal Lake of Fire is now to simply lie in the grave and fail to enjoy God forever.
The Bible can be pen-knifed by the apostate church and almost every truth can have varied meanings.
Separated living is a relic of the past and the Christian is free of all restraints in the Ten Commandments, etc.
A ballgame on Sunday night is just as spiritual to this company as a great sermon from God’s eternal truth.
Romance music has replaced the music that lifts the spirit of man into the Holy of Holies, where God’s Spirit sanctifies and purifies the soul.
The Holy Bible warned us of this End Time phenomenon.
The most powerful Scripture about apostasy is in the great book of Hebrews.
This passage has been almost ignored by most Bible teachers because it upsets their weak theology. “And this will we do, if God permit. For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall “Fall Away,” to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:3-6).
Apostle Paul does not just suggest the end results; he proclaims without question that this state of apostasy cannot repent.
Please note the words, “fall away,” which identifies the apostate person and states that they were once partakers of the Holy Ghost, were once enlightened, and had tasted the Word of God and the world to come.
But, now, they have turned from all of that great life and cannot return to their former spiritual state.
The term “fall away” is from a unique Greek word that applies to the person that is part of the “falling away” or “apostasia” we see in II Thessalonians chapter two, verse three.
The prophecy of II Thessalonians is a clear companion to the truth in Hebrews. As the apostle writes about the coming Antichrist and the Day of Christ, he warns us of the “falling away.” “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God” (II Thessalonians 2:3-4).
Again, we see “falling away” from the two Greek words, apostasia and apostasion.
These are very religious persons who have turned to “another gospel.” They did not love the pure word of God and were wise in the flesh to create their own theology.
They watered down the truth to draw the crowds into their great fold. And, then, they must keep compromising to keep the crowds.
The Holy Ghost takes the apostle right down to the fine point of what the results will be, “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (II Thessalonians 2:7-12).
God’s omniscient Spirit warns them that He will give them “strong delusion,” and “that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned.”
It is not the truth that saves the soul.
The world is full of people that know the Bible.
Many souls study the Bible just to argue their deception more successfully.
It is the “love of the truth” that saves the soul.
Now, we are discovering the real heart of apostasy. It is to reject the truth for error and our highly intellectual church world is fulfilling this prophetic design to a tee.
There is clear evidence that this condition of apostasy is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost.
The Spirit of Truth is absolutely the Holy Ghost.
To reject truth, to change truth, to water down truth is to grieve, quench, and blaspheme the Spirit. The whole matter of apostasy is the forsaking of truth.
The Holy Ghost inspired every Bible writer and they wrote as “they were moved by the Holy Ghost” (II Peter 1:21). There is no way you can blaspheme Him more readily than when you attack His revelation. From Moses, the writer of the Pentateuch, to John, the writer of the Book of Revelation, the Bible is the pure Word of God.
The final proof of apostasy is found in Revelation chapter twenty-two. The Spirit said, “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19).
When you alter the Bible, you are an apostate person and will be eternally lost.
Joseph R. Chambers
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Every Christian is called to successfully minister Jesus to this world and to the church.
To that end all of us, especially Christian leaders, should understand the difference between worldly and spiritual success.
Worldly success consists of the things highly valued in this present social order, such as power, position, wealth and fame. Prideful and selfish in spirit, it seeks popularity, financial increase, numerical growth, recognition and reputation. It is a crass outward show, not a noble inward state; a work of fleshly ability, not of the Spirits grace and power. Its products are visible, never spiritual. Its goals are immediate, never eternal. It focuses on this world, never the next.
Utterly ignoring the Bibles revelation of Gods desires, plans, methods and standards, worldly success is measured solely by human standards.
Too often Christians, churches and ministers judge success by these worldly standards instead of setting their sights on spiritual success.
Spiritual success focuses on receiving and retaining Gods favor.
It is measured by biblical, not popular, standards.
Succinctly, its goal is fulfilling Gods will.
To spiritually minded Christians, success is fully being and fully doing Gods will-being all He wants us to be and doing everything He charges us to do in life.
The components of spiritual success are simple things such as faithfulness, truthfulness, steadfastness in adversity and humility in victory.
These things are motivated by love for God and His people, never pride.
They move us to serve others for Christ’s sake, not use them for selfish ends. They prompt us to seek eternal rewards, not those of this passing world.
Spiritual success seeks to build permanent character in Gods people, not personal kingdoms in a passing world.
It covets more of the Spirit, not more mammon.
It dreams not of being blessed but of being a blessing.
Spiritual success occurs whenever God is honored. His truth is proclaimed, and His will is done in individuals, churches and ministries, irrespective of all other worldly measures of success.
The Apostle Paul was a spiritual success.
Yet when Paul’s execution day drew near in Rome, his life was a total failure, if measured by worldly standards.
He was unknown among the leaders of Roman high society.
He was not financially wealthy.
He was not politically influential.
He held no high office in any respected religious body. (The faith of Christianity was not legalized until 250 years after Paul’s execution.)
His achievements went unnoticed.
Though inspired and extensive, his writings were not acclaimed by the great philosophers and educators of the Greco-Roman world.
Though he planted many churches, he had not founded any great universities, libraries or religious institutions. Yet Paul’s last words to his prize student Timothy and to us, were not the sad concessions of failure, but the glad declarations of a successful soul.
Why?
He had fully seen and done Gods will.
Not tragically but triumphantly he wrote, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown [reward]…” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
And there is a reward laid up for you, too, if you follow Paul’s example.
Guard and nourish your faith, fight well your spiritual fight and finish the course of your calling.
Be a roaring spiritual success and have no fear of finding all of your efforts eaten by moths or covered in rust..
To that end all of us, especially Christian leaders, should understand the difference between worldly and spiritual success.
Worldly success consists of the things highly valued in this present social order, such as power, position, wealth and fame. Prideful and selfish in spirit, it seeks popularity, financial increase, numerical growth, recognition and reputation. It is a crass outward show, not a noble inward state; a work of fleshly ability, not of the Spirits grace and power. Its products are visible, never spiritual. Its goals are immediate, never eternal. It focuses on this world, never the next.
Utterly ignoring the Bibles revelation of Gods desires, plans, methods and standards, worldly success is measured solely by human standards.
Too often Christians, churches and ministers judge success by these worldly standards instead of setting their sights on spiritual success.
Spiritual success focuses on receiving and retaining Gods favor.
It is measured by biblical, not popular, standards.
Succinctly, its goal is fulfilling Gods will.
To spiritually minded Christians, success is fully being and fully doing Gods will-being all He wants us to be and doing everything He charges us to do in life.
The components of spiritual success are simple things such as faithfulness, truthfulness, steadfastness in adversity and humility in victory.
These things are motivated by love for God and His people, never pride.
They move us to serve others for Christ’s sake, not use them for selfish ends. They prompt us to seek eternal rewards, not those of this passing world.
Spiritual success seeks to build permanent character in Gods people, not personal kingdoms in a passing world.
It covets more of the Spirit, not more mammon.
It dreams not of being blessed but of being a blessing.
Spiritual success occurs whenever God is honored. His truth is proclaimed, and His will is done in individuals, churches and ministries, irrespective of all other worldly measures of success.
The Apostle Paul was a spiritual success.
Yet when Paul’s execution day drew near in Rome, his life was a total failure, if measured by worldly standards.
He was unknown among the leaders of Roman high society.
He was not financially wealthy.
He was not politically influential.
He held no high office in any respected religious body. (The faith of Christianity was not legalized until 250 years after Paul’s execution.)
His achievements went unnoticed.
Though inspired and extensive, his writings were not acclaimed by the great philosophers and educators of the Greco-Roman world.
Though he planted many churches, he had not founded any great universities, libraries or religious institutions. Yet Paul’s last words to his prize student Timothy and to us, were not the sad concessions of failure, but the glad declarations of a successful soul.
Why?
He had fully seen and done Gods will.
Not tragically but triumphantly he wrote, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown [reward]…” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
And there is a reward laid up for you, too, if you follow Paul’s example.
Guard and nourish your faith, fight well your spiritual fight and finish the course of your calling.
Be a roaring spiritual success and have no fear of finding all of your efforts eaten by moths or covered in rust..
Monday, January 10, 2011
WOULD YOU PRAY FOR THOSE YOU LOVE
One of the greatest stories ever told is the narrative Jesus gave of the prodigal son.
It is the tale of the young man who asked for his inheritance prematurely, then ran off and wasted it all, in wild living.
(The word prodigal comes from the word for “wasted”).
Finally he comes to his senses and goes home to his fathers house.
This story is a picture of the emptiness of running from God.
It tells of the wayward coming home to God.
How wonderful is the statement that Jesus made revealing the awesome love of the father.
He was watching, waiting, and willing for his prodigal child to come home.
“So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran toward him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.” Luke 15:20
Maybe you have loved ones who have wandered far from home.
Perhaps you have grown weary in your heart, from the burden of worry as they live in the “hog pen” of the world.
You can know for certain that prodigals do come home in response to prayer.
If you truly love them, pray for them daily using the following model if you wish.
Lord please;
Bring them to a place of famine and need (Luke 15:14)
Create within them a holy hunger and homesickness (15:16-17)
Cause them to come to their senses (15:17)
Draw them home (15:18)
Give them the desire to receive the gift of repentance (15:18-21)
Give us welcoming grace (15:20)
Hold fast to the truth that God wants none to perish in a lost state, but for all to come home, and has already paid the fare for the voyage to His house. (John 3:16)
It is the tale of the young man who asked for his inheritance prematurely, then ran off and wasted it all, in wild living.
(The word prodigal comes from the word for “wasted”).
Finally he comes to his senses and goes home to his fathers house.
This story is a picture of the emptiness of running from God.
It tells of the wayward coming home to God.
How wonderful is the statement that Jesus made revealing the awesome love of the father.
He was watching, waiting, and willing for his prodigal child to come home.
“So he got up and went to his father. But while the son was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran toward him, threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.” Luke 15:20
Maybe you have loved ones who have wandered far from home.
Perhaps you have grown weary in your heart, from the burden of worry as they live in the “hog pen” of the world.
You can know for certain that prodigals do come home in response to prayer.
If you truly love them, pray for them daily using the following model if you wish.
Lord please;
Bring them to a place of famine and need (Luke 15:14)
Create within them a holy hunger and homesickness (15:16-17)
Cause them to come to their senses (15:17)
Draw them home (15:18)
Give them the desire to receive the gift of repentance (15:18-21)
Give us welcoming grace (15:20)
Hold fast to the truth that God wants none to perish in a lost state, but for all to come home, and has already paid the fare for the voyage to His house. (John 3:16)
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Christmas 2010 card
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zh-yR0pbmU
It seems like such a short time ago, yet in reality was at least 40 yrs ago when I first noticed the worlds attempt to destroy the memory of the day when PEACE began.
It started as best as I remember with a magazine article announcing to the world that God was dead.
Then seemingly just a short time later the Secular Humanist agenda began a well thought out and patient campaign to modernize the Christmas message and to market it to a generation who was beginning to fall away from the only truth that is unchanging, that truth of God coming in the form of man in the body of Christ Jesus .
It all started with an “X” the universal symbol that means no, or stop, or cease.
Innocent enough at first, yet unrelenting in its effort to change the mind of the world in its belief in the birth of a Savior of all who would only accept Him in faith.
The “X” was despised by some, yet embraced by so many, and was more evident as the years went by.
A few Christmases after the “X” appeared, the greeting was changed to “ Happy Holidays” and again went unchallenged by most who claimed to have met the child who was born in a manger, as all of Heaven rejoiced.
Consumerism was in full drive by now and there was no end to the amount of things that the world made us lust for, with the full result becoming disappointment and discouragement to far too many who could not afford to purchase all that the world insisted that we should.
Happiness seemingly must be measured by the amount of things that we can either give or receive.
It is now December 18 2010, and in my little city, of approximately 10000 folks, I have been told Merry Christmas by only 2 people and one of them only after I initiated the greeting.
A few days back it dawned on me that the greeting had almost disappeared in the streets and market place.
After searching storefronts and businesses along with Churches and ministries, I have seen only two places among 100s of possibilities where Christmas is mentioned. Mostly for the first time that I can remember the places of businesses and Churches have undecorated windows and properties, and if they are decorated it is with only candy canes, snowmen, and the like.
Whenever the greeting “Happy Holidays” is given to me, I have begun to respond by looking the greeter squarely in the eye and asking them “Which one?”
It is humorous to see the quizzical looks and stuttering tongues as they try to respond, as they apparently have overlooked the day of Christmas, that we are approaching.
Christmas to many has been forgotten or at least overlooked as our culture has been driven to other concerns.
The Bible tells us without doubt that there would be a time when humanity would fall away from truth, (2 Timothy 2:4) and would follow the lies of the world.
The same Bible tells us of a story that we as Christians have not put into application often enough.
In the book of Acts ch 3 is a story of a man who is reading the story of the Savior to come and cannot understand its full meaning until it is explained to him by someone who has knowledge of the gift.
The same Bible has many eyewitness accounts of the child that was born fully God and fully man.
It does not however give us His exact birthday, and thus it is that we have chosen a day from our calendar to celebrate His birth, the exactness is unimportant the memory of the event is what matters.
Here are a few words from the Bible that tells us who was born on that day that the world wants to “X” out.
John 3:16 tells us “That God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, and that whoever believes in Him that was sent, would not perish but would inherit eternal life.”
Isaiah the prophet wrote in ch 9 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
He had foreknowledge of the day that peace would be realized.
In ch 2 of Matthew we see that the "wisemen" learned of him through a diligent study of scripture, and were questioned about their knowledge by the unlearned, yet the same scriptures are not often read by organizations who have changed the meaning of Christmas to a time to garner a larger offering to further the agenda of builders of buildings and not of builders of a heavenly kingdom.
In the 2 chapter of Luke we see the Heavenly armies of Angels declaring that Peace was now birthed and available to all men.
The disciple Peter made this statement regarding whom the baby of Christmas had become, Matthew 16:16 “thou art the Christ the son of the Living God.”
Pilate the earthly judge of record, stated that “I bring this man to you and declare that I find no fault in Him.” John 19:4
Pilates wife declared Jesus a just man.
Judas after betraying Him to his murderers, declared Him as innocent.
The Centurion who was in charge of civil order at the execution site, “The Cross” stated that “truly this was the son of God.”
Thomas, who doubted for so long, realized the truth and named Jesus as my Lord and my God. John 20:28
The Apostle Paul was so captivated by Jesus that he wrote “Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”
In the book of Luke ch 3 is that account written “ And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”
He is born, it is well evidenced.
He is not a myth.
He is not a liar, nor are those who witnessed his birth, his life, his death, or his resurrection.
He is coming again, please know that it may be very soon.
Christmas is here again.
Will you shun the Progressive Humanist desire to place an “X” over the name above all names.
We celebrate the birth of Peace, and of Hope.
Merry Christmas from d2lifeministries.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zh-yR0pbmU
It seems like such a short time ago, yet in reality was at least 40 yrs ago when I first noticed the worlds attempt to destroy the memory of the day when PEACE began.
It started as best as I remember with a magazine article announcing to the world that God was dead.
Then seemingly just a short time later the Secular Humanist agenda began a well thought out and patient campaign to modernize the Christmas message and to market it to a generation who was beginning to fall away from the only truth that is unchanging, that truth of God coming in the form of man in the body of Christ Jesus .
It all started with an “X” the universal symbol that means no, or stop, or cease.
Innocent enough at first, yet unrelenting in its effort to change the mind of the world in its belief in the birth of a Savior of all who would only accept Him in faith.
The “X” was despised by some, yet embraced by so many, and was more evident as the years went by.
A few Christmases after the “X” appeared, the greeting was changed to “ Happy Holidays” and again went unchallenged by most who claimed to have met the child who was born in a manger, as all of Heaven rejoiced.
Consumerism was in full drive by now and there was no end to the amount of things that the world made us lust for, with the full result becoming disappointment and discouragement to far too many who could not afford to purchase all that the world insisted that we should.
Happiness seemingly must be measured by the amount of things that we can either give or receive.
It is now December 18 2010, and in my little city, of approximately 10000 folks, I have been told Merry Christmas by only 2 people and one of them only after I initiated the greeting.
A few days back it dawned on me that the greeting had almost disappeared in the streets and market place.
After searching storefronts and businesses along with Churches and ministries, I have seen only two places among 100s of possibilities where Christmas is mentioned. Mostly for the first time that I can remember the places of businesses and Churches have undecorated windows and properties, and if they are decorated it is with only candy canes, snowmen, and the like.
Whenever the greeting “Happy Holidays” is given to me, I have begun to respond by looking the greeter squarely in the eye and asking them “Which one?”
It is humorous to see the quizzical looks and stuttering tongues as they try to respond, as they apparently have overlooked the day of Christmas, that we are approaching.
Christmas to many has been forgotten or at least overlooked as our culture has been driven to other concerns.
The Bible tells us without doubt that there would be a time when humanity would fall away from truth, (2 Timothy 2:4) and would follow the lies of the world.
The same Bible tells us of a story that we as Christians have not put into application often enough.
In the book of Acts ch 3 is a story of a man who is reading the story of the Savior to come and cannot understand its full meaning until it is explained to him by someone who has knowledge of the gift.
The same Bible has many eyewitness accounts of the child that was born fully God and fully man.
It does not however give us His exact birthday, and thus it is that we have chosen a day from our calendar to celebrate His birth, the exactness is unimportant the memory of the event is what matters.
Here are a few words from the Bible that tells us who was born on that day that the world wants to “X” out.
John 3:16 tells us “That God so loved the world that He sent His only Son, and that whoever believes in Him that was sent, would not perish but would inherit eternal life.”
Isaiah the prophet wrote in ch 9 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
He had foreknowledge of the day that peace would be realized.
In ch 2 of Matthew we see that the "wisemen" learned of him through a diligent study of scripture, and were questioned about their knowledge by the unlearned, yet the same scriptures are not often read by organizations who have changed the meaning of Christmas to a time to garner a larger offering to further the agenda of builders of buildings and not of builders of a heavenly kingdom.
In the 2 chapter of Luke we see the Heavenly armies of Angels declaring that Peace was now birthed and available to all men.
The disciple Peter made this statement regarding whom the baby of Christmas had become, Matthew 16:16 “thou art the Christ the son of the Living God.”
Pilate the earthly judge of record, stated that “I bring this man to you and declare that I find no fault in Him.” John 19:4
Pilates wife declared Jesus a just man.
Judas after betraying Him to his murderers, declared Him as innocent.
The Centurion who was in charge of civil order at the execution site, “The Cross” stated that “truly this was the son of God.”
Thomas, who doubted for so long, realized the truth and named Jesus as my Lord and my God. John 20:28
The Apostle Paul was so captivated by Jesus that he wrote “Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”
In the book of Luke ch 3 is that account written “ And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”
He is born, it is well evidenced.
He is not a myth.
He is not a liar, nor are those who witnessed his birth, his life, his death, or his resurrection.
He is coming again, please know that it may be very soon.
Christmas is here again.
Will you shun the Progressive Humanist desire to place an “X” over the name above all names.
We celebrate the birth of Peace, and of Hope.
Merry Christmas from d2lifeministries.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zh-yR0pbmU
Friday, October 22, 2010
One of the most crucial and challenging commands Jesus issued is found in the Sermon on the Mount…”Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33)
Are we truly looking after our relationship to God “first,” before all other responsibilities and interests however necessary or desirable?
The unflattering reality is that Jesus doesn’t enjoy first place in most Christians hearts and days.
In all fairness, He’s not in last place either, but instead He’s somewhere near the top of our list of loves and duties.
Why is He not at the top of our life agenda?
Several things may account for this.
For instance, we may have neglected to destroy heart idols from our old life.
Or in these lukewarm times we may never have seen any “sold out” Christians who actually put Jesus first in all areas of their lives.
Or we may have seen others who loudly proclaim their zeal bur were frankly fanatical and scary.
Or we may have never been taught how to seek the King and His kingdom “first.”
How do we do this?
Specifically, we do so by seeking God first every morning, feeding on His Word, praying, and worshiping before doing other things.
In every situation daily, we first “give thanks” to God (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and go to Him about every question and need first, before seeking counsel and assistance from human sources.
We put God first in our friendships, turning away from acquaintances who impenitently practice sin and turning to others who live righteously.
We put Gods truthfulness first, confessing our sins quickly and thoroughly and abiding consistently in the light of full honesty before God.
We put the fear of the Lord first, choosing to stand in awe of Him and refusing to be overawed or intimidated by anyone.
We put Gods guidance first, trustingly following the leading of His Holy Spirit, even when we don’t know our ultimate destination.
We put Gods chastening first, humbly receiving our heavenly Fathers correction, whether through His Word, voice, counselors, or instructive interventions, and quickly changing our ways to please Him.
We put God first in our finances, giving His tithes promptly and our offerings cheerfully, prayerfully for divine purposes in diabolical persecutions.
We put God first in our worship, worshiping by choice, not feeling, and learning to always refuse to be offended with Him who is always good.
These are the “building blocks” with which we build a life of seeking Christ first.
And here is another hard fact to face: Putting Christ first means putting other people and interests second.
Are we prepared to say “No thank you,” to people in order to say “yes” to Jesus command?
And we ready for the ridicule and shaking of the head that comes when our choices and commitments cause other peoples wishes to be deferred or denied while we do the things Jesus wants first?
If we are wise we will choose to always please God and pray for those who take offense with us for doing so.
Remember, we cant have it both ways.
Would we rather make Jesus take second place?
Many Christians do just that.
Our response to Christ’s challenge is crucial for this reason: Were just not going to go very far in God until we put Him first, not religiously but practically and passionately.
Are you tired of nominal Christianity and ready to step boldly into phenomenal Christianity?
Then reprioritize your life.
Seek the King and His kingdom interests first.
Fresh life, flowing joy, and a new, deeper sense of Gods approval await your bold step.
Are we truly looking after our relationship to God “first,” before all other responsibilities and interests however necessary or desirable?
The unflattering reality is that Jesus doesn’t enjoy first place in most Christians hearts and days.
In all fairness, He’s not in last place either, but instead He’s somewhere near the top of our list of loves and duties.
Why is He not at the top of our life agenda?
Several things may account for this.
For instance, we may have neglected to destroy heart idols from our old life.
Or in these lukewarm times we may never have seen any “sold out” Christians who actually put Jesus first in all areas of their lives.
Or we may have seen others who loudly proclaim their zeal bur were frankly fanatical and scary.
Or we may have never been taught how to seek the King and His kingdom “first.”
How do we do this?
Specifically, we do so by seeking God first every morning, feeding on His Word, praying, and worshiping before doing other things.
In every situation daily, we first “give thanks” to God (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and go to Him about every question and need first, before seeking counsel and assistance from human sources.
We put God first in our friendships, turning away from acquaintances who impenitently practice sin and turning to others who live righteously.
We put Gods truthfulness first, confessing our sins quickly and thoroughly and abiding consistently in the light of full honesty before God.
We put the fear of the Lord first, choosing to stand in awe of Him and refusing to be overawed or intimidated by anyone.
We put Gods guidance first, trustingly following the leading of His Holy Spirit, even when we don’t know our ultimate destination.
We put Gods chastening first, humbly receiving our heavenly Fathers correction, whether through His Word, voice, counselors, or instructive interventions, and quickly changing our ways to please Him.
We put God first in our finances, giving His tithes promptly and our offerings cheerfully, prayerfully for divine purposes in diabolical persecutions.
We put God first in our worship, worshiping by choice, not feeling, and learning to always refuse to be offended with Him who is always good.
These are the “building blocks” with which we build a life of seeking Christ first.
And here is another hard fact to face: Putting Christ first means putting other people and interests second.
Are we prepared to say “No thank you,” to people in order to say “yes” to Jesus command?
And we ready for the ridicule and shaking of the head that comes when our choices and commitments cause other peoples wishes to be deferred or denied while we do the things Jesus wants first?
If we are wise we will choose to always please God and pray for those who take offense with us for doing so.
Remember, we cant have it both ways.
Would we rather make Jesus take second place?
Many Christians do just that.
Our response to Christ’s challenge is crucial for this reason: Were just not going to go very far in God until we put Him first, not religiously but practically and passionately.
Are you tired of nominal Christianity and ready to step boldly into phenomenal Christianity?
Then reprioritize your life.
Seek the King and His kingdom interests first.
Fresh life, flowing joy, and a new, deeper sense of Gods approval await your bold step.
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