Time Magazine calls Rob Bell a "rock star in the church world." The Church Report Magazine ranked Bell #10 on their list of "The 50 Most Influential Christians in America." Bell's books and NOOMA videos sell by the thousands. The Chicago Sun Times wrote an article entitled The Next Billy Graham, comparing Bell's influence to that of Billy Graham.
Rob Bell is a big, big, BIG leader in a new [yet there is nothing new under the sun] movement sweeping through our young people today called "Christian Universalism." - an oxymoron, nonetheless, with leaders like Rob Bell leading the way, many of today's church-going youth have slowly been seduced into believing this false teaching.
Speaking in a video promo for his new book - Bell states:
"Several years ago we had an art show at our church and people brought in all kinds of sculptures and paintings and we put them on display. And there was this one piece that had a quote from Gandhi in it and lots of people found this piece compelling. They would stop and sort of stare at it and take it in and reflect on it. But not everybody found it that compelling. Somewhere in the course of the art show, somebody attached a handwritten note to the piece. And on the note they had written "Reality check, he's in Hell."
Gandhi's in Hell? He is? And someone knows this for sure? And felt the need to let the rest of us know? Will only a few select people make it to Heaven? And will billions and billions of people burn forever in Hell? And if that's the case how do you become one of the few? Is it what you believe or what you say or what you do or who you know? Or something that happens in your heart or do you need to be initiated or baptized or take a class or converted or being born again? How does one become one of these few? And then there is the question behind the questions. The real question; what is God like? Because millions and millions were taught that the primary message, the center of the Gospel of Jesus is that God is going to send you to Hell unless you believe in Jesus. And so what gets subtly sort of caught and taught is that Jesus rescues you from God. But what kind of God is that that we would need to be rescued from this God? How could that God ever be good? How could that God ever be trusted? And how could that ever be "Good News?"
This is why many lost and dying want nothing to do with the Christian faith. They see it has an endless list of absurdities and inconsistencies and they say why would I ever want to be a part of that? What we believe about Heaven and Hell is incredibly important because it exposes what we believe about who God is and what God is like. What you discover in the Bible is so surprising and unexpected and beautiful that whatever we've been told or taught, the Good News is actually better than that, better than we could ever imagine.
The Good News is Love Wins - and God is love.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
"The hope of the New Age faith, or New Spirituality, [aka emergent church] is that when this One Humanity has achieved its 'divine potential' [aka socialism] and all separation has been purged from the world, then world problems such as 'tribalism' and poverty and hatred and violence will be left behind. The world will then be transformed by this New Humanity into a divine new world of peace, love, good will, and sharing where everyone can be free to worship his own inner (immanent) 'God' of his own understanding in his own way [aka deception].
"The call for this New Age 'kingdom of God' is now being so widely heeded, even in today’s Christianity, that the building of humanity’s Ark of Oneness is suddenly nearing completion." Tamara Hartzell
"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception...." 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
"The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart." Jeremiah 14:14
"The call for this New Age 'kingdom of God' is now being so widely heeded, even in today’s Christianity, that the building of humanity’s Ark of Oneness is suddenly nearing completion." Tamara Hartzell
"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception...." 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
"The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart." Jeremiah 14:14
Friday, February 18, 2011
Each child of God must ask themselves - Do I still believe...
“Do you believe He loves you; unconditionally—that you are right now
being led by the Holy Spirit—that every tear you shed He bottles —that you are right now in this place, in this very hour, in the perfect will of God?
“Do you believe all things still work together for good to them that love
God—that He hears our prayers, even when we have no audible words to express them, when all seems dark and we feel overwhelmed—when fear lays hold of our mind and soul—when it seems the heavens have been shut and no answer comes?
“Do you still believe He feeds all living things: the fish of the sea,
the cattle, the fowls, all creeping things? Do you still believe He counts every hair on your head—that He takes note of every fallen bird on the face of the earth? Do you truly still believe?
“Do you still believe—even when death comes to your loved ones? Do you still believe that He gives comfort and strength to face even the grave?
“Do you still believe He love you, that He has forgiven you all your past sins, your present sins—that He will forgive all future sins if you rest and trust Him? Do you believe He understands when satan sends his messengers against you to implant lies, doubts, blasphemies, fears, despair?
“Do you still believe you are in the palm of His hand—that you are more
precious than gold to your Savior—that eternal life is your future—that He is still touched by every infirmity and affliction you endure? Do you still believe these things are true?”
Read all of Psalm 103 and ask yourself, “Do I still believe it? Do I still believe it all?”
“Do you believe He loves you; unconditionally—that you are right now
being led by the Holy Spirit—that every tear you shed He bottles —that you are right now in this place, in this very hour, in the perfect will of God?
“Do you believe all things still work together for good to them that love
God—that He hears our prayers, even when we have no audible words to express them, when all seems dark and we feel overwhelmed—when fear lays hold of our mind and soul—when it seems the heavens have been shut and no answer comes?
“Do you still believe He feeds all living things: the fish of the sea,
the cattle, the fowls, all creeping things? Do you still believe He counts every hair on your head—that He takes note of every fallen bird on the face of the earth? Do you truly still believe?
“Do you still believe—even when death comes to your loved ones? Do you still believe that He gives comfort and strength to face even the grave?
“Do you still believe He love you, that He has forgiven you all your past sins, your present sins—that He will forgive all future sins if you rest and trust Him? Do you believe He understands when satan sends his messengers against you to implant lies, doubts, blasphemies, fears, despair?
“Do you still believe you are in the palm of His hand—that you are more
precious than gold to your Savior—that eternal life is your future—that He is still touched by every infirmity and affliction you endure? Do you still believe these things are true?”
Read all of Psalm 103 and ask yourself, “Do I still believe it? Do I still believe it all?”
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
"To suppose that whatever God requireth of us that we have power of ourselves to do, is to make the cross and grace of Jesus Christ of none effect." John Owen
John MacArthur writes ~
'We do not “make” Christ Lord; He is Lord.!.
Those who will not receive Him as LORD are guilty of rejecting Him.
“Faith” that rejects His sovereign authority is really unbelief. Conversely, acknowledging His lordship is no more a human work than repentance
( 2 Timothy 2:25) or faith itself (Ephesians 2:8-9). In fact, surrender to Christ is an important aspect of divinely produced saving faith, not something added to faith.
The two clearest examples on the way of salvation in all of Scripture both emphasize the lordship of Jesus Christ:
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved” Acts 16:31; and
“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” Romans 10:9
Peter’s sermon at Pentecost concluded with this declaration: “Let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ — this Jesus whom you crucified” Acts 2:36
No promise of salvation is ever extended to those who refuse to surrender and submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.!.'
John MacArthur writes ~
'We do not “make” Christ Lord; He is Lord.!.
Those who will not receive Him as LORD are guilty of rejecting Him.
“Faith” that rejects His sovereign authority is really unbelief. Conversely, acknowledging His lordship is no more a human work than repentance
( 2 Timothy 2:25) or faith itself (Ephesians 2:8-9). In fact, surrender to Christ is an important aspect of divinely produced saving faith, not something added to faith.
The two clearest examples on the way of salvation in all of Scripture both emphasize the lordship of Jesus Christ:
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved” Acts 16:31; and
“If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.” Romans 10:9
Peter’s sermon at Pentecost concluded with this declaration: “Let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ — this Jesus whom you crucified” Acts 2:36
No promise of salvation is ever extended to those who refuse to surrender and submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.!.'
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Paul...could never have conceived in his wildest imaginations, of a Gospel that does not take hold of a believer's heart and transform them into servants of righteousness. He didn’t preach perfection – we will never be perfect this side of heaven – but he preached a Gospel that transforms us into a people who hunger and thirst for righteousness and who demonstrate a consistent pattern of obedience to God’s Word and Command.
True children of God are children of righteousness and obedience. This Gospels does not summon us to demonstrate how good we are – because there is nothing good about us . . .
The True Gospel calls us to trust in God – who is able to establish us – who was able to raise Jesus from the dead – that trust fill us with the power to live lives of surrender and obedience to Him.
True children of God are children of righteousness and obedience. This Gospels does not summon us to demonstrate how good we are – because there is nothing good about us . . .
The True Gospel calls us to trust in God – who is able to establish us – who was able to raise Jesus from the dead – that trust fill us with the power to live lives of surrender and obedience to Him.
Francis Schaeffer
Champery, Switzerland
1951
"As I have thought perhaps more quietly than in previous days, it has seemed to me that in the past there has been a fallacy in my thinking. That fallacy is simply this: that insofar as we are so abundantly right (as we are concerning the Biblical position), therefore it would certainly follow of a necessity that God's rich blessing would rest upon us as individuals and as a movement. I no longer believe this is so. For increasingly the realization has welled up in my own soul that although this principle of separation is of tremendous importance, nevertheless there are other principles in the Word of God which must be kept with equal fidelity if God's full blessing is to be upon us...
What all this means I am not sure, except that it brings me increasingly to my knees - to ask that the Holy Spirit may have His way in my life; that I may not think just of justification and then the glories of Heaven, with merely a battle for separation between, but that I may also think of all the wonders of the present aspect of my Salvation, and that they may be real to me in my life and ministry. What a wonderful LORD we have, and how glorious it is to indeed have God as our Father, be united with Christ, and be indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Oh, would to God that our ministry could be under His full direction, and in His power without reservation."
If God is your Father then you too have been called into the ministry.
"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."
2 Timothy 4
Champery, Switzerland
1951
"As I have thought perhaps more quietly than in previous days, it has seemed to me that in the past there has been a fallacy in my thinking. That fallacy is simply this: that insofar as we are so abundantly right (as we are concerning the Biblical position), therefore it would certainly follow of a necessity that God's rich blessing would rest upon us as individuals and as a movement. I no longer believe this is so. For increasingly the realization has welled up in my own soul that although this principle of separation is of tremendous importance, nevertheless there are other principles in the Word of God which must be kept with equal fidelity if God's full blessing is to be upon us...
What all this means I am not sure, except that it brings me increasingly to my knees - to ask that the Holy Spirit may have His way in my life; that I may not think just of justification and then the glories of Heaven, with merely a battle for separation between, but that I may also think of all the wonders of the present aspect of my Salvation, and that they may be real to me in my life and ministry. What a wonderful LORD we have, and how glorious it is to indeed have God as our Father, be united with Christ, and be indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
Oh, would to God that our ministry could be under His full direction, and in His power without reservation."
If God is your Father then you too have been called into the ministry.
"In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."
2 Timothy 4
Sunday, February 6, 2011
"Why do the nations rage, and the people plot [conspire] a vain thing? ... the rulers take counsel together... saying, 'Let us break Their bonds in pieces...'" Psalm 2:1-3
article by Berit Kjos:
'Like many leaders today, Hitler knew how to use every crisis as an opportunity to grab more power. So did his anti-Semitic Muslim partners during Word War II: Mohammad Haj Amin al-Husseini (the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem) and the rising Muslim Brotherhood. Both aimed to eradicate Israel and radicalize the Middle East and North Africa. Their followers have come a long way!
Today, their grand target is America. As we are told in a Muslim Brotherhood document titled, 'An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America,'
"The Ikhwan [Muslim Brotherhood] must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and ‘sabotaging’ its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God’s religion is made victorious over all other religions.”'
For those who trust God, this should be a time of prayer and preparation for the challenging times ahead. As the West becomes increasingly hostile toward Christianity, it's fast forgetting the truths and moral standards that laid the foundation for Western freedom and order. Yet, we need not fear, for--'
"The Lord... will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You." Psalm 9:9-10
article by Berit Kjos:
'Like many leaders today, Hitler knew how to use every crisis as an opportunity to grab more power. So did his anti-Semitic Muslim partners during Word War II: Mohammad Haj Amin al-Husseini (the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem) and the rising Muslim Brotherhood. Both aimed to eradicate Israel and radicalize the Middle East and North Africa. Their followers have come a long way!
Today, their grand target is America. As we are told in a Muslim Brotherhood document titled, 'An Explanatory Memorandum on the General Strategic Goal for the Group in North America,'
"The Ikhwan [Muslim Brotherhood] must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and ‘sabotaging’ its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God’s religion is made victorious over all other religions.”'
For those who trust God, this should be a time of prayer and preparation for the challenging times ahead. As the West becomes increasingly hostile toward Christianity, it's fast forgetting the truths and moral standards that laid the foundation for Western freedom and order. Yet, we need not fear, for--'
"The Lord... will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You." Psalm 9:9-10
Friday, February 4, 2011
Bill Salus writes ---
"These are the days when the Bible is its own best commentary. Imagine Isaiah the prophet standing on the streets of Cairo today speaking in front of a mainstream news camera declaring:
'The burden against Egypt. Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst. I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; Everyone will fight against his brother, And everyone against his neighbor, City against city, kingdom against kingdom. The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst; I will destroy their counsel, And they will consult the idols and the charmers, The mediums and the sorcerers. And the Egyptians I will give Into the hand of a cruel master, And a fierce king will rule over them," Says the Lord, the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 19:1-4, nkjv)
Like a swift moving cloud, Isaiah predicts the rapid deterioration of events in Egypt. Civil unrest causes Egyptians to fight against each other. This fighting spreads from household to household and grows into a kingdom war. Probably quoting Isaiah 19:2, Christ warned kingdoms would rise against each other in Matthew 24:7. Unlike nation coming against nation, which alludes to world wars, "kingdom against kingdom" refers to regional conflicts. Christ taught these prophecies would come upon the world like birth pains. Like a woman about to deliver her newborn, these events are foretold to come with increased frequency and intensity each building upon the other.
Psalm 83 predicts the Arab kingdom will someday rise against the Jewish kingdom to banish the name of Israel forever. Both Egypt and Saudi Arabia along with eight other Arab populations join the Arab kingdom in this pending prophetic war.
Isaiah's prognosis for Egypt worsens as you read the rest of his chapter nineteen. Isaiah 19:5-12 tells us unprecedented religious and economic strife plagues the nation according to the purposes of the Lord. Apparently, this disastrous condition befalls Egypt because of its future involvement in Psalm 83 since we read in Isaiah 19:16-18 that Israel will take over five cities in Egypt and cause Hebrew to be the spoken language inside their city limits. One of these cities will be called "the City of Destruction," implying the I.D.F. destroys this city.
In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He waves over it. And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts which He has determined against it. In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the LORD of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. (Isaiah 19:16-18, nkjv)
Will the present protests inside Egypt metastasize into the fulfillment of Isaiah 19? If so will the coming cruel leader be the one who leads Egypt into the Psalm 83:6-8 confederacy?
We see through a glass darkly. All of this is unknown but entirely possible. The Middle East appears to be on the verge of fulfilling scripture -
Stay Tuned.
"These are the days when the Bible is its own best commentary. Imagine Isaiah the prophet standing on the streets of Cairo today speaking in front of a mainstream news camera declaring:
'The burden against Egypt. Behold, the LORD rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst. I will set Egyptians against Egyptians; Everyone will fight against his brother, And everyone against his neighbor, City against city, kingdom against kingdom. The spirit of Egypt will fail in its midst; I will destroy their counsel, And they will consult the idols and the charmers, The mediums and the sorcerers. And the Egyptians I will give Into the hand of a cruel master, And a fierce king will rule over them," Says the Lord, the LORD of hosts. (Isaiah 19:1-4, nkjv)
Like a swift moving cloud, Isaiah predicts the rapid deterioration of events in Egypt. Civil unrest causes Egyptians to fight against each other. This fighting spreads from household to household and grows into a kingdom war. Probably quoting Isaiah 19:2, Christ warned kingdoms would rise against each other in Matthew 24:7. Unlike nation coming against nation, which alludes to world wars, "kingdom against kingdom" refers to regional conflicts. Christ taught these prophecies would come upon the world like birth pains. Like a woman about to deliver her newborn, these events are foretold to come with increased frequency and intensity each building upon the other.
Psalm 83 predicts the Arab kingdom will someday rise against the Jewish kingdom to banish the name of Israel forever. Both Egypt and Saudi Arabia along with eight other Arab populations join the Arab kingdom in this pending prophetic war.
Isaiah's prognosis for Egypt worsens as you read the rest of his chapter nineteen. Isaiah 19:5-12 tells us unprecedented religious and economic strife plagues the nation according to the purposes of the Lord. Apparently, this disastrous condition befalls Egypt because of its future involvement in Psalm 83 since we read in Isaiah 19:16-18 that Israel will take over five cities in Egypt and cause Hebrew to be the spoken language inside their city limits. One of these cities will be called "the City of Destruction," implying the I.D.F. destroys this city.
In that day Egypt will be like women, and will be afraid and fear because of the waving of the hand of the LORD of hosts, which He waves over it. And the land of Judah will be a terror to Egypt; everyone who makes mention of it will be afraid in himself, because of the counsel of the LORD of hosts which He has determined against it. In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear by the LORD of hosts; one will be called the City of Destruction. (Isaiah 19:16-18, nkjv)
Will the present protests inside Egypt metastasize into the fulfillment of Isaiah 19? If so will the coming cruel leader be the one who leads Egypt into the Psalm 83:6-8 confederacy?
We see through a glass darkly. All of this is unknown but entirely possible. The Middle East appears to be on the verge of fulfilling scripture -
Stay Tuned.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
It becomes a soldier to die fighting, a minister to die preaching, and a Christian to die on their knees in prayer.
"And it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, that when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, LORD, teach us to pray."
Luke 11:1
It is through prayer that God has given the right to take hold of Him and His strength. It is through prayer that promises await their fulfilment: the kingdom for its coming and the glorious peace and joy of God for its full revelation.
The powers of the eternal world have been placed at the disposal of prayer. It is the very essence of true religion, the road on which our blessings travel, the secret of power and life. Not only for ourselves, but for family and friends, for the Church and for our lost and dying world.
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
LORD, teach us to pray.
"And it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, that when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, LORD, teach us to pray."
Luke 11:1
It is through prayer that God has given the right to take hold of Him and His strength. It is through prayer that promises await their fulfilment: the kingdom for its coming and the glorious peace and joy of God for its full revelation.
The powers of the eternal world have been placed at the disposal of prayer. It is the very essence of true religion, the road on which our blessings travel, the secret of power and life. Not only for ourselves, but for family and friends, for the Church and for our lost and dying world.
"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."
LORD, teach us to pray.
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