But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand. Ezekiel 33:6
I read the following and was saddened by the apparent attitude of the christian author:
"I know, some of you nasty, negative discerning types will continue to warn us that Beth Moore lacks understanding of basic hermeneutical principles; that she often twists Scripture to fit into her own propositions. Or you might remind us that she often claims direct revelation from God.
Yes, admittedly, some of her teachings are very similar to the heresies promoted by the Word of Faith crowd. And she tends to interject and employ a lot of pop-psychology, self-esteem stuff that is reminiscent of Robert Schuller. And you might object that she espouses the unbiblical model of spiritual warfare promoted by some “deliverance” ministries or that she teaches the kind of unbiblical, generational bondage that is promoted by Bill Gothard."
The article continues:
"But I say, SO WHAT? Why would any church want to remove her books, videos, and Bible studies from their library shelves? After all, it’s good for people to have sufficient information from all philosophies so that we can make informed decisions about what we believe to be truth. Beth Moore’s material isn’t nearly as heretical as other stuff on the shelves like “The Prayer of Jabez,” or “The Purpose Driven Life,” or the old classic, “God Calling.” And frankly, her teaching is no more problematic than most of the Sunday morning drivel we get from thousands of purpose pastors and seeker soothers each week."
So a little "heretical" is acceptable. No longer do we need cling to the truth of scripture - just be tolerant and accepting of other philosophies, bring the Koran into your church services, welcome orthodox rabbis and Muslim clerics to speak in your church, repent for your homophobic attitudes, SO WHAT.!.
Tolerance and acceptability of other religions and philosophies are destroying the body of Christ - our attitude must not and never can be - SO WHAT.
But, as a watchman on the wall, one who hopefully stands for The Truth of His Word, we must speak out -
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" 2 Corinthians 6:14
We are His children, called by His Name, if it does not matter to us, to whom does it matter.?.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
"Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is Truth." John 17:17
We spend more time in the world than we do in The Word. We are worldly wise but have no godly wisdom. We are separated from God through lack of knowledge and many are deceived, distressed, disillusioned and defeated.
No man has truly repented or seeks to change until his sin wounds him as it wounds the heart of God, until the wound runs deep enough to break the pride, arrogance and self-assurance that prevails in the sinful heart of each of us. We must be changed by The Living Word coming alive in our hearts. We must - read it, write it, pray it, live it, study it, and pass it on.
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing The Word of Truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
IF you do not know The Truth, you will believe the lie. IF you do not know The Truth, you will believe anything.
We spend more time in the world than we do in The Word. We are worldly wise but have no godly wisdom. We are separated from God through lack of knowledge and many are deceived, distressed, disillusioned and defeated.
No man has truly repented or seeks to change until his sin wounds him as it wounds the heart of God, until the wound runs deep enough to break the pride, arrogance and self-assurance that prevails in the sinful heart of each of us. We must be changed by The Living Word coming alive in our hearts. We must - read it, write it, pray it, live it, study it, and pass it on.
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing The Word of Truth." 2 Timothy 2:15
IF you do not know The Truth, you will believe the lie. IF you do not know The Truth, you will believe anything.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Consider this prayer from the journal of evangelist and author of Pilgrims Progress, John Bunyan:
"After my previous repentance, there is again one thing which makes me sad; that is, if I most severely examine the best thing I am now doing, in it I discover sins, new sins mingled in the best thing I do. Therefore now, I cannot help but conclude that no matter how proud of myself and how idealistic I was concerning myself and my work, and even if my former living were without blemish, yet the sins that I commit in a day are enough to send me to hell. In such a deep feeling of sins, he cried out: “Unless He is such a great Savior, He surely cannot save such a great sinner as I."
or these words from John Knox as he lay upon his death bed:
"O Lord, have mercy on me, do not judge my innumerable sins; amongst them, may you forgive especially those sins which the world cannot reprove. In my youth, my middle age, and until now, how much conflict have I passed through. I have discovered that within me there is nothing besides falsehood and corruption. O Lord, only You are the Lord who knows the secrets of man’s heart. Please remember that of all the sins which I mentioned, not one of them is pleasing to me. I often grieve over them: they are deeply hated by my inner man. Now I weep sorrowfully for my corruption. I can only rest simply in Your mercy."
And we 'Christians' of the twenty-first century walk an aisle, say a prayer, are baptised, then walk right back into the world - without repentance, without change, without grief over our sins - then wonder why we have no power to overcome when the trials and testings of our faith come like roaring lions into our lives.
We have forgotten, perhaps we never knew: Salvation is a process, not a one time thing.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2
"After my previous repentance, there is again one thing which makes me sad; that is, if I most severely examine the best thing I am now doing, in it I discover sins, new sins mingled in the best thing I do. Therefore now, I cannot help but conclude that no matter how proud of myself and how idealistic I was concerning myself and my work, and even if my former living were without blemish, yet the sins that I commit in a day are enough to send me to hell. In such a deep feeling of sins, he cried out: “Unless He is such a great Savior, He surely cannot save such a great sinner as I."
or these words from John Knox as he lay upon his death bed:
"O Lord, have mercy on me, do not judge my innumerable sins; amongst them, may you forgive especially those sins which the world cannot reprove. In my youth, my middle age, and until now, how much conflict have I passed through. I have discovered that within me there is nothing besides falsehood and corruption. O Lord, only You are the Lord who knows the secrets of man’s heart. Please remember that of all the sins which I mentioned, not one of them is pleasing to me. I often grieve over them: they are deeply hated by my inner man. Now I weep sorrowfully for my corruption. I can only rest simply in Your mercy."
And we 'Christians' of the twenty-first century walk an aisle, say a prayer, are baptised, then walk right back into the world - without repentance, without change, without grief over our sins - then wonder why we have no power to overcome when the trials and testings of our faith come like roaring lions into our lives.
We have forgotten, perhaps we never knew: Salvation is a process, not a one time thing.
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2
Saturday, June 11, 2011
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteausiess with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
This passage gives utterance to a Divine exhortation for those belonging to Christ to hold aloof from all intimate associations with the ungodly. It expressly forbids them entering into alliances with the unconverted. It definitely prohibits the children of God walking arm-in-arm with the world. It is an admonition applying to every phase and department of our lives-religious, domestic, social, commercial. And never, perhaps, was there a time when it more needed pressing on Christians than now. The days in which we are living are marked by the spirit of compromise. On every side we behold unholy mixtures, ungodly alliances, unequal yokes. Many professing Christians appear to be trying to see how near to the world they can walk and still go to Heaven.
"Be ye not unequally yoked together." We are fully persuaded that it is disregard of this commandment, for command it is, which is largely responsible for the low state which now obtains so generally among Christians, both individually and corporately. No wonder the spiritual pulse of many churches beats so feebly. No wonder prayer-meetings are so thinly attended; Christians who are unequally yoked have no heart for prayer. Disobedience at this point is a certain preventative to real and whole-hearted devotion to Christ. No one can be an unshackled follower of the Lord Jesus who is, in any way, "yoked" to His enemies, (the world and all it offers). He may be a truly saved person, but the testimony of his life, the witness his walk, will not honor and glorify Christ.
A Call to Separation
By A.W. Pink, March, 1928 (there is indeed nothing new under the sun).
This passage gives utterance to a Divine exhortation for those belonging to Christ to hold aloof from all intimate associations with the ungodly. It expressly forbids them entering into alliances with the unconverted. It definitely prohibits the children of God walking arm-in-arm with the world. It is an admonition applying to every phase and department of our lives-religious, domestic, social, commercial. And never, perhaps, was there a time when it more needed pressing on Christians than now. The days in which we are living are marked by the spirit of compromise. On every side we behold unholy mixtures, ungodly alliances, unequal yokes. Many professing Christians appear to be trying to see how near to the world they can walk and still go to Heaven.
"Be ye not unequally yoked together." We are fully persuaded that it is disregard of this commandment, for command it is, which is largely responsible for the low state which now obtains so generally among Christians, both individually and corporately. No wonder the spiritual pulse of many churches beats so feebly. No wonder prayer-meetings are so thinly attended; Christians who are unequally yoked have no heart for prayer. Disobedience at this point is a certain preventative to real and whole-hearted devotion to Christ. No one can be an unshackled follower of the Lord Jesus who is, in any way, "yoked" to His enemies, (the world and all it offers). He may be a truly saved person, but the testimony of his life, the witness his walk, will not honor and glorify Christ.
A Call to Separation
By A.W. Pink, March, 1928 (there is indeed nothing new under the sun).
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." Matthew 7:13-14
'Proud and unbroken sinners always choose the wrong road. That's why it is full of travelers. It's broad enough for everyone from out and out libertines to the strictest Pharisees. All of them like it, because no one has to bow low or leave any baggage behind in order to get on this highway. Furthermore, all the road signs promise heaven.
There is just one problem with this road, and it is a significant one -- this road does not lead to heaven but to utter destruction, outer darkness and hell.'
"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:21-27
[Pg. 148, The Jesus You Can't Ignore by John MacArthur]
'Proud and unbroken sinners always choose the wrong road. That's why it is full of travelers. It's broad enough for everyone from out and out libertines to the strictest Pharisees. All of them like it, because no one has to bow low or leave any baggage behind in order to get on this highway. Furthermore, all the road signs promise heaven.
There is just one problem with this road, and it is a significant one -- this road does not lead to heaven but to utter destruction, outer darkness and hell.'
"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” Matthew 7:21-27
[Pg. 148, The Jesus You Can't Ignore by John MacArthur]
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
A friend received an email admonishing her for her lack of knowledge regarding hell. The email went on to list several books my friend should read as well as a link to a must see forty-five minute video.
As Christians, called by His Name, bought by His blood, saved by His Amazing grace - we are called to be salt and light, not torch bearers for the enemy.
"There Is No Hell" is certainly wishful thinking at its worst and most destructive. The Bible is replete with warnings about the lake of fire and who will follow the Antichrist, False Prophet along with satan and his demons.
As we stumble and grope our way through life, tilting at windmills, majoring on minors, grumbling and complaining as did the children of Israel traveling in the wilderness, we must remember:
"the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Our battle is a spiritual one and can only be won when we employ the spiritual weapons that God has put at our disposal. Indepth studies of hell produce no fruit, shine no light into the darkness, give us neither peace nor joy and offer no hope to a lost and dying world.
The enemy of God would like nothing better than that you should take your focus off Jesus and all that He has done. How does knowledge of hell edify the lost, bring sight to the blind, or hope to the hopeless?
Do not loose site of your goal Christian, Do not loose your focus.
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof – but he that does the will of God abides forever."
1 John 2:15-17
As Christians, called by His Name, bought by His blood, saved by His Amazing grace - we are called to be salt and light, not torch bearers for the enemy.
"There Is No Hell" is certainly wishful thinking at its worst and most destructive. The Bible is replete with warnings about the lake of fire and who will follow the Antichrist, False Prophet along with satan and his demons.
As we stumble and grope our way through life, tilting at windmills, majoring on minors, grumbling and complaining as did the children of Israel traveling in the wilderness, we must remember:
"the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
Our battle is a spiritual one and can only be won when we employ the spiritual weapons that God has put at our disposal. Indepth studies of hell produce no fruit, shine no light into the darkness, give us neither peace nor joy and offer no hope to a lost and dying world.
The enemy of God would like nothing better than that you should take your focus off Jesus and all that He has done. How does knowledge of hell edify the lost, bring sight to the blind, or hope to the hopeless?
Do not loose site of your goal Christian, Do not loose your focus.
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust thereof – but he that does the will of God abides forever."
1 John 2:15-17
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