"For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?" - Luke 14:28.
The story of the rich young ruler (r.y.r.) is faithfully recorded in Matt. 19:16-26, Mark 10:17-27, and Luke 18:18-27. Through this account, we gain insight into several profound truths, as well as warning and direction. We gain the composite description of this man from Matt. 19:20 (young), Luke 18:18 (ruler), and Luke 18:23 (rich); although all 3 accounts identify that he had great possessions.
In all 3 accounts, the r.y.r. addresses Jesus with the term, Good Master. When Jesus responds to this title with, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.", He is not denying His deity, but rather affirming it. Yet at the same time, He is discouraging undue respect of persons; for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23).
But the ruler's approach is given even greater description in the book of Mark; it states that he came to Jesus running, and kneeled down. His manner of approach, and the question he asked of Jesus, reflect well on the concern which he had for his immortal soul; "Good master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" How many today ever take the time to consider this most important question?
Jesus then reaffirms to the r.y.r. the importance of the commandments, mentioning 5-6 of the more obvious external behaviour ones. The young man readily attested to the fact that he had long observed all of these things, but in Matthew 19:20 he adds the question, "What lack I yet?"This question is a great indicator that inwardly, he still knew that something was missing!
When Jesus responded, Mark 10:21 tells us that He (Jesus) loved him (r.y.r.). Here was a man honestly seeking after God, and righteousness, which evoked a response of love from the Good Master! Then Jesus verbally tells him, that if he would be perfect, he must sell what he has materially and give to the poor; assuring him that he will have treasure in heaven; then he must come, take up the cross, and follow Him (Jesus). In the story, you find these words in Matt. 19:21, Mark 10:21, Luke 18:22. Yet it is another reaffirmation of the cost of discipleship, as found in Matt. 16:24,25, & Luke 9:23,24.
It was too much; Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh, had invited the r.y.r. to come and follow Him! What an invitation! But alas, he was unwilling to pay the price for this priceless gift. The Bible tells us that he then went away, being "sad, sorrowful, and grieved." Jesus' response to this circumstance is well known to most of us; "A rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven"; "Children, how hard it is for them that trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!"; and "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" And of course in all 3, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (composite).
The disciples' response at first might seem to be a bit perplexing. The Bible shows that they were "astonished", and "exceedingly amazed", as they asked, "Who then can be saved?" What were they thinking? The disciples were not rich men, nor was Christ, in the flesh (II Cor. 6:10, 8:9). The verses following this account, Matt. 19:27-30, Mark 10:28, and Luke 18:28 clearly show that indeed the disciples had left all to follow Jesus!
No, what the disciples were responding to was the upright character of the r.y.r. He was shown to be very God-fearing in behavior, loved by their Lord, and even invited to come along with them! There is also the chance that since he was a local rich ruler, that he was already well known to the disciples as a very righteous person. Don't we know those that are rich among us, and take note of their behavior?
Therefore the question posed by the disciples, and Jesus' response, are solidly applicable to all of us;
DISCIPLES: "Who then can be saved?"
JESUS: "With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible."
Many, many of us are in the exact same position as the r.y.r.; we have a strong desire to know God, and a fundamental form of godliness (II Tm. 3:5), yet still we are aware of a "lacking" within ourselves, and so we search for more. There is a general "good" behavior, and therefore a following of the externally visible commandments, for the most part. Yet we are missing that which is of utmost importance; that greatest commandment which is internal in nature, spoken of in Deut. 6:5 & Matt. 22:37;
"And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."
So many times, I see those that approach closely to the cross of Christ, and turn away! The cost is simply too high. Someone has told them, likely a self-serving shepherd (Ezek. 34:2), that their lives are well- pleasing to God- and there is no need for further dedication.
Believe me when I say, that you do not have to be "rich" in your own eyes to be unduly possessed by the material things of this world! Jesus strongly warns us of this in the parable of the sower, found in Matt. 13:18-22, Mark 4:14-19, and Luke 8:11-14.
According to this parable, a number of things of general description can turn a believer away from Christ. That seed which falls in shallow soil, has no depth. Luke says that though they initially receive the word with joy, and for a while believe, that they fall away in time of temptation. Mark states that they fall when affliction or persecution arise for the word's sake. Matthew states that when tribulation or persecution arise because of the word, they are offended. This can be anything, brethren! At some points in your life you must choose to follow the Word of God, regardless of the discomfort it brings (II Tim. 3:12).
And then for those "seeds among thorns", these hinderances are called the "care of this world", "deceitfulness of riches", "lusts of other things entering in", as well as "cares and riches and pleasures of this life." These are all spoken of generally, but there are specific issues in each life that will fit them.
What is it in your life, that must be laid aside for Christ? Will you be as the rich young ruler, leaving sadly at the thought of losing your earthly goods, or status among men? Jesus requires us to make Him our LORD. Nothing, but nothing, is worth coming between you and Christ, and your eternal destination.
"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was." - James 1:21-24.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Distinguishing signs (part 2)
It needs to be understood that no one ever earns an answer to prayer. This is important to realize. And yet, Jesus has told us that, " everyone that asks, receives." (Matt. 7:8, Luke 11:10). What I share with you now, I share as encouragement, and in honesty.
I could not emphasize enough the importance of the principles in, The Conditions of Prevailing Prayer. Please read through this article with prayer. In brief, the 5 conditions are; 1) Dependance on the merits of Jesus Christ as the basis. 2) Separation from all known sin. 3) Faith in God's Word to be His oath. 4) Asking in God's will; i.e., right motives. 5) Persistence in asking.
My story begins with Godly chastening. I had taken much debt in what I believed to be the pursuit of service for Christ, when the Lord led me into the study of the 19th century saint, George Mueller. It was through this repeated study that I was eventually shown a truth that Mr. Mueller knew well; that the taking of debt is sin. I did not practically learn this lesson very well, or very quickly...
In the years which followed discovery of this truth, I was at times confused. It did in fact seem that at times it was truly needful to take debt, and I wasn't sure where to "draw the line." Yet the Lord brought answers to my questions through a necessity for us- home heating oil.
It had been seeming to me like the ordering of oil to heat our home, without actually having the $, was something that was okay- as long as it was actually a need. I had misread 2 previous times when I had done this, and the bill had been readily paid. I assumed what God's will was. In truth, for each of those 2 times, it could be seen that the finance would be soon met by anticipated income, though the actual money was not yet in hand.
So when this 3rd time came, I could tell that our furnace needed servicing, and our oil was pretty low. I know that I prayed about this, but it is clear that I did it with a predetermined answer already in mind! A simple call provided the service and the oil, and I was sure that God would soon provide for this bill...
Three months later, no relief had come. We managed to forward a $100 payment to the oil company, and this was a mercy from God. Had we not paid that month, our debt would have gone to a collection agency. There was a note on our next bill that we could continue to make payments, and we would be in acceptable standing. Our load was eased, yet the Lord did not see fit to supply full payment for this bill until recently; a full 11 months after the service was done. Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself!
Since we were not meeting this bill as expected, I again took it to the Lord in prayer. He showed me the truth of the matter; when He had shown us that debt is a sin (James 4:17), we were not to take it- ever! He showed me the errors in my presumptions which had led us to this point. It did greive me to see that once again, I had not learned a lesson that should have been more obvious. Yet we hold the treasure of God's own Holy Spirit within these earthen vessels, that ultimately He will be glorified (II Co. 4:7)! I readily repented for what I had done, sharing these things with my wife. A part of true repentance is that we turn away from the evil behavior, and do it no more. By grace, I promised God that this would be so. What follows next is mostly from a letter previously written to share this blessing...
About 2 months later it hit; between 8-9 a.m. I noticed a large, growing puddle near the water heater cabinet. This was on a day that I had slated in advance to be one of prayer & fasting in regard to our debt! This issue was a direct challenge to the day and its focus, as well as to our commitment on debt.
Saturday was Labor Day weekend, and Jamie’s parents were away, camping. We were then able to access a shower at their place, while still not broadcasting our need. This may sound sneaky, but we knew that we would be welcomed by her parents to do so. Had we told them of our situation, they would have lent us the $ in a flat minute! We quickly saw that this could only be a one-time thing, due to the driving and the secrecy. We decided to make the best of it with our trickle of water at home, and wait for the Lord. I had committed Sunday & Monday in advance to prayer and fasting over this matter.
I could not emphasize enough the importance of the principles in, The Conditions of Prevailing Prayer. Please read through this article with prayer. In brief, the 5 conditions are; 1) Dependance on the merits of Jesus Christ as the basis. 2) Separation from all known sin. 3) Faith in God's Word to be His oath. 4) Asking in God's will; i.e., right motives. 5) Persistence in asking.
My story begins with Godly chastening. I had taken much debt in what I believed to be the pursuit of service for Christ, when the Lord led me into the study of the 19th century saint, George Mueller. It was through this repeated study that I was eventually shown a truth that Mr. Mueller knew well; that the taking of debt is sin. I did not practically learn this lesson very well, or very quickly...
In the years which followed discovery of this truth, I was at times confused. It did in fact seem that at times it was truly needful to take debt, and I wasn't sure where to "draw the line." Yet the Lord brought answers to my questions through a necessity for us- home heating oil.
It had been seeming to me like the ordering of oil to heat our home, without actually having the $, was something that was okay- as long as it was actually a need. I had misread 2 previous times when I had done this, and the bill had been readily paid. I assumed what God's will was. In truth, for each of those 2 times, it could be seen that the finance would be soon met by anticipated income, though the actual money was not yet in hand.
So when this 3rd time came, I could tell that our furnace needed servicing, and our oil was pretty low. I know that I prayed about this, but it is clear that I did it with a predetermined answer already in mind! A simple call provided the service and the oil, and I was sure that God would soon provide for this bill...
Three months later, no relief had come. We managed to forward a $100 payment to the oil company, and this was a mercy from God. Had we not paid that month, our debt would have gone to a collection agency. There was a note on our next bill that we could continue to make payments, and we would be in acceptable standing. Our load was eased, yet the Lord did not see fit to supply full payment for this bill until recently; a full 11 months after the service was done. Ah, but I'm getting ahead of myself!
Since we were not meeting this bill as expected, I again took it to the Lord in prayer. He showed me the truth of the matter; when He had shown us that debt is a sin (James 4:17), we were not to take it- ever! He showed me the errors in my presumptions which had led us to this point. It did greive me to see that once again, I had not learned a lesson that should have been more obvious. Yet we hold the treasure of God's own Holy Spirit within these earthen vessels, that ultimately He will be glorified (II Co. 4:7)! I readily repented for what I had done, sharing these things with my wife. A part of true repentance is that we turn away from the evil behavior, and do it no more. By grace, I promised God that this would be so. What follows next is mostly from a letter previously written to share this blessing...
About 2 months later it hit; between 8-9 a.m. I noticed a large, growing puddle near the water heater cabinet. This was on a day that I had slated in advance to be one of prayer & fasting in regard to our debt! This issue was a direct challenge to the day and its focus, as well as to our commitment on debt.
Because of prior lessons, I was determined to keep the fast- although now, most prayer emphasized the water heater (w.h.). We soaked up the water with towels, and turned off the circuit breaker, and the water. The water needed to be shut off from the softener system about 7’ away. Then, of course, we had no water! Both the hot & cold water are fully integrated into the unit, so there was no way to even just turn off the “hot” without calling a plumber. Did I mention that we couldn’t afford one?
Two significant Bible principles were coming into play here. First, the only way we had to fix this was to take more debt, of which there were 3-4 options. Internet research told me that this was a serious problem, with the consensus being that the unit should be replaced. At the very least it needed proper attention quickly, or a greater break would likely come; bringing with it extensive water damage to our home. The leak seemed only to be at the top, where the hot water pipe enters the unit. This condition was just as serious.
Secondly, secret prayer was the rightful remedy (Matt. 6:6). We couldn’t go broadcasting this need, but trust that our Father would hear and answer us in His own way. These things were very, very hard to do- this circumstance just seemed so urgent. We were determined to follow the Lord, but needed His help ASAP. This was a Wednesday (8/31), and Jamie had work that day. I was left alone to pray and consider, listening to the fan that we left running to dry things out.
The water we could turn on/off, but when on, it would leak at that top pipe on the w.h. We wrapped a towel around it, and replaced it occasionally. We left the heat turned off, not sure what effect that would have on the leak. Also, we sometimes drained the w.h.; hoping to lessen the pressure at the leaking point. Things were awkward through Thursday, and by Friday a.m. cold showers were the rule! Yet I had some bright ideas on Friday for how we could better cope, and was eager to share them with Jamie when she came home. But for some reason, when I went to turn the water back on that day, only a scant trickle would run out! This was still a little useful, but it dashed my plans altogether. And now, for any large need, we had to drain the w.h. into pans (like for doing dishes, flushing & refilling toilets). Things had gone from bad to worse.
Saturday was Labor Day weekend, and Jamie’s parents were away, camping. We were then able to access a shower at their place, while still not broadcasting our need. This may sound sneaky, but we knew that we would be welcomed by her parents to do so. Had we told them of our situation, they would have lent us the $ in a flat minute! We quickly saw that this could only be a one-time thing, due to the driving and the secrecy. We decided to make the best of it with our trickle of water at home, and wait for the Lord. I had committed Sunday & Monday in advance to prayer and fasting over this matter.
NOTE: we later came to see that even going to Jamie’s parents’ home for a shower was wrong. Not because her parents would mind, but because it was depending upon our own arm of flesh to cope (Jer. 17:5-8); taking the help of men in our own rationale, instead of waiting for the Lord. We still prayed, waiting for the right circumstance to reveal all of this to her parents; the Lord led us to do this 2 months afterward.
We went through our routine on Saturday night, determined to make the best of things; even if that meant draining water for baths (slowly!), or sponge baths. God had indeed made a way for us to endure in this trial (I Cor. 10:13), and we were committed to “revenge” our disobedience by not taking more debt this time, no matter how bad things might become. Having drained significant water for various uses before bed time, and with the water still flowing at a scant trickle, we decided to leave it turned on during the night. There was little fear of overflow, but the towel was still there, anyway!
It is usual for me to be up first during the a.m. At one point on this Sunday morning, I went to the kitchen sink for a “trickle rinse” of my coffee mug; the water came out full blast! Being yet weary, I was thankful, but a bit stunned. After 5 minutes it sunk in, and I thought to turn on the w.h. for Jamie- she would have a warm shower after all! At this point, I was only considering the w.h. to be more useable, and still in need of attention. I had been praying for the unit’s replacement, and also that God would “heal the infirmity” in our home (and continued praying throughout the week); but much of the time my prayers were in the Spirit (Rom. 8:26,27). This of course means that although I was praying, it was God’s Spirit offering the prayers; I had no way to know what those words were (I Cor. 14:2,4).
Over the next couple days, it was clear that the towel was no longer becoming wet. An inner wall of the w.h. cabinet had been initially wet up to a 4” height on the wall, and using the fan to dry it was a nearly all-day, every-day event; but now that was remaining dry, as well! By Wednesday or Thursday, Jamie told me that she believed God had healed the water heater; she later told me that she had believed it was healed for at least 2 days before she vocalized it to me. The evidence was on her side, but I was more cautious, however; still believing God, but uncertain of exactly what He would do (I thought He might move someone on our behalf, either with money or service). By Saturday, we left both the water and the breaker turned on all day. Sunday we resumed doing our wash at home.
The water heater is about 17 years old, a typical time that you might need to replace it; so I was believing in prayer that it should be replaced; God chose not to do that at this time. He later showed me that He has in fact healed our water heater! Better still, He showed me that He will keep it, until we are otherwise provided for another one. This is just like the provision made for the widow in I Kings 17; whose cruse of oil did not fail, nor the barrel of meal wasted, until God had sent relief by rain upon the earth.
There is no credit that I can take for myself in this. God has put up with me, and so many failed promises of mine that it is beyond comprehension. He led us this way, and His strength upheld us to see it through. All apparent means may fail, but when we trust in provision from God alone, we are beyond disappointment; His treasury is fantastically unlimited!
God enabled us to “revenge” our disobedience (II Cor. 10:6), but it came at a cost. The Lord’s way will naturally lead into trial, but the proving of faith will bring us strength, and hope- and glory to the Almighty God, who alone is worthy of all praise and honor! Please read I Peter 1:3-9.
Remember that God has promised to supply all of our need (Philip. 4:19); yet He will do that in His time, and in His way. He will indeed work all things for our good (Rom. 8:28), so we must learn to "glory" in our tribulations (Rom. 5:3; James 1:2-4). No one knows better exactly what we need, or when it is actually needed.
Trust in the Lord; lean not to your own understanding. Acknowledge Him in all your ways, and He will direct your path! See Proverbs 3:5,6. Be grounded in the Lord Jesus Christ according to His Word (Matt. 7:24-27), and then through His Spirit (I John 2:27) you will readily be enabled to distinguish the signs which are before you.
P.S.- At the time the Lord healed our water heater, He also healed our water softener system. It had not been functioning for a good many months, when it previously had run through its cycle about once per week. How our hearts were filled with joy to hear it start up again!
"Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think..." -Eph. 3:20.
P.S.- At the time the Lord healed our water heater, He also healed our water softener system. It had not been functioning for a good many months, when it previously had run through its cycle about once per week. How our hearts were filled with joy to hear it start up again!
"Now unto him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think..." -Eph. 3:20.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Distinguishing signs (part 1)
"If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or wonder, and the sign or wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him." -Deut. 13:1-4.
Yet the differences of what is true, and what is a lie, can be subtle. Today, it seems like you can get away with just about anything that the Bible calls sin, and still be accepted as a Christian! This is our foundation, and it is absolute- the Word of God. Contradictions to what the written Word of God espouses are how the nature of a "sign" will be distinguished.
Why don't we see more signs and wonders within the professed body of Christ? This I have found to be troubling. Just look at Jesus' words from Mark 16:17-20 (abbreviated);
"And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover... And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."
The positive, "plus" signs among those saved ought to be happening in the body of Christ. Thankfully, they still are! True faith has nearly vanished from the Earth, but God yet has a remnant, praise the Lord! Getting into the positive signs of gifts will be left for the next blog. This one is about warning God's people of Satan's powers to deceive; the signs and wonders that the enemy will perform!
Whenever you pray, please know that not only does God the Father hear you, but so does the devil! It is a profound thing to understand, but vitally important: Satan answers prayers, too. He seduces, deceives, and will convince people to continue on their destructive path by producing miracles. The Bible shows us that in these last of the "last days", that Satan's power will be at its peak.
"And then shall that Wicked be revealed... 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..." -from II Thess. 2:8-10 (please read all of chapter 2). I encourage you to read the following scriptures which also support the theme of this blog; Matthew 7:21-23, 13:24-30, 36-40, Rev. 13:11-15.
Satan need not possess a person to perform lying signs and wonders in their lives. My wife and I have witnessed both God's power and the devil's in different situations. One of the most profound was attested to in church...
The church we were attending had a bishop, who in turn oversees a number of churches within a district. He doesn't often preach at any one church, but on this particular Sunday morning he took time to share an apparent "miracle" of God in his life. I thought little about this episode at the time, but as I grew stronger in the Lord, years later I came to think of this as the working of Satan...
He claimed that he was wanting to grow in faith (admirable!), and to see God's hand for divine miracles. Somehow, he was convinced to choose a prayer request in which he could "really believe." His prayer was that God would change his ordinary teeth fillings into gold! Apparently it worked. Obviously, I didn't view it happening, but I don't have a reason to doubt it; he does have a wife and several children who were likely witnesses. So what could be wrong with this? The real question should be, is this a Godly request? Would the Lord prompt this prayer, and answer it? The scriptures certainly can direct us in this assessment...
As the bishop of a church district, and with young adult children, this man is no novice believer. I know that the Lord reaches out to His children compassionately, but expects more from us as we mature in Him. If there is one thing that I have learned regarding God's power for miracles, it is that they are done to supply a NEED (Philip. 4:19). Where was the need in changing this man's fillings to gold? Listen to this commissioning that Jesus gives His disciples;
"And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." -Matt. 10:7,8; what was the bishop giving? Just look at what comes next...
"Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey...the workman is worthy of his meat." -Matt. 10:9 & 10. And yet, he wanted gold!
There was simply no need for the request that was made; it helped no one! What happened was "asking amiss" according to his own lusts (James 4:3). You see, this man is quite rich, and likes being that way. This is a truth that we unfortunately know very well (But I don't want to dwell on negative examples). Had he wanted gold fillings, he could have afforded the $ needed to remove the old fillings, and purchase the new gold ones. Not only did this request help no one else, but it was also unnecessary for him.
Think of all the requests that could have been made; all the different people he could have helped, according to the gifts of the Holy Spirit! His thoughts went to gold fillings for his teeth? The scriptures show us that the wealth of the world is in Satan's hands (Luke 4:5,6). Considering all the various warnings that the Bible, especially in the New Testament, gives us about riches, how is this man's life & "miracle" justified? Knowing him quite well, and the "other" gospel which he preaches and lives, I have little doubt but that this man's wealth came straight from Satan; who was also readily available to perform the "miracle" which helped further his delusion (II Thess. 2:11,12). And not only did this further his delusion, but that of the various congregations, which hold him in high esteem.
Such an example is minor, I think, in relative scope. But I fear that professing believers will be all too readily enthralled with the displays of power that Satan will be bringing forth through antichrist. Even now, many miracles are being credited to Maitreya, the new age christ. Will you be ready for other incredible deceptions, like that of NASA's Project Blue Beam? It is high time that we get back to the holy Word of God, and trust in the Lord for what He has shown us.
Please know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the living God, and just as able to do needful miracles in our lives today, as He ever was! But Satan is powerful, too; and his power is growing. Please use diligent, prayerful searching when distinguishing what type of spirit you are dealing with.
"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." -Matt. 7:18,19.
Yet the differences of what is true, and what is a lie, can be subtle. Today, it seems like you can get away with just about anything that the Bible calls sin, and still be accepted as a Christian! This is our foundation, and it is absolute- the Word of God. Contradictions to what the written Word of God espouses are how the nature of a "sign" will be distinguished.
Why don't we see more signs and wonders within the professed body of Christ? This I have found to be troubling. Just look at Jesus' words from Mark 16:17-20 (abbreviated);
"And these signs shall follow them that believe: In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover... And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."
The positive, "plus" signs among those saved ought to be happening in the body of Christ. Thankfully, they still are! True faith has nearly vanished from the Earth, but God yet has a remnant, praise the Lord! Getting into the positive signs of gifts will be left for the next blog. This one is about warning God's people of Satan's powers to deceive; the signs and wonders that the enemy will perform!
Whenever you pray, please know that not only does God the Father hear you, but so does the devil! It is a profound thing to understand, but vitally important: Satan answers prayers, too. He seduces, deceives, and will convince people to continue on their destructive path by producing miracles. The Bible shows us that in these last of the "last days", that Satan's power will be at its peak.
"And then shall that Wicked be revealed... 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..." -from II Thess. 2:8-10 (please read all of chapter 2). I encourage you to read the following scriptures which also support the theme of this blog; Matthew 7:21-23, 13:24-30, 36-40, Rev. 13:11-15.
Satan need not possess a person to perform lying signs and wonders in their lives. My wife and I have witnessed both God's power and the devil's in different situations. One of the most profound was attested to in church...
The church we were attending had a bishop, who in turn oversees a number of churches within a district. He doesn't often preach at any one church, but on this particular Sunday morning he took time to share an apparent "miracle" of God in his life. I thought little about this episode at the time, but as I grew stronger in the Lord, years later I came to think of this as the working of Satan...
He claimed that he was wanting to grow in faith (admirable!), and to see God's hand for divine miracles. Somehow, he was convinced to choose a prayer request in which he could "really believe." His prayer was that God would change his ordinary teeth fillings into gold! Apparently it worked. Obviously, I didn't view it happening, but I don't have a reason to doubt it; he does have a wife and several children who were likely witnesses. So what could be wrong with this? The real question should be, is this a Godly request? Would the Lord prompt this prayer, and answer it? The scriptures certainly can direct us in this assessment...
As the bishop of a church district, and with young adult children, this man is no novice believer. I know that the Lord reaches out to His children compassionately, but expects more from us as we mature in Him. If there is one thing that I have learned regarding God's power for miracles, it is that they are done to supply a NEED (Philip. 4:19). Where was the need in changing this man's fillings to gold? Listen to this commissioning that Jesus gives His disciples;
"And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." -Matt. 10:7,8; what was the bishop giving? Just look at what comes next...
"Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey...the workman is worthy of his meat." -Matt. 10:9 & 10. And yet, he wanted gold!
There was simply no need for the request that was made; it helped no one! What happened was "asking amiss" according to his own lusts (James 4:3). You see, this man is quite rich, and likes being that way. This is a truth that we unfortunately know very well (But I don't want to dwell on negative examples). Had he wanted gold fillings, he could have afforded the $ needed to remove the old fillings, and purchase the new gold ones. Not only did this request help no one else, but it was also unnecessary for him.
Think of all the requests that could have been made; all the different people he could have helped, according to the gifts of the Holy Spirit! His thoughts went to gold fillings for his teeth? The scriptures show us that the wealth of the world is in Satan's hands (Luke 4:5,6). Considering all the various warnings that the Bible, especially in the New Testament, gives us about riches, how is this man's life & "miracle" justified? Knowing him quite well, and the "other" gospel which he preaches and lives, I have little doubt but that this man's wealth came straight from Satan; who was also readily available to perform the "miracle" which helped further his delusion (II Thess. 2:11,12). And not only did this further his delusion, but that of the various congregations, which hold him in high esteem.
Such an example is minor, I think, in relative scope. But I fear that professing believers will be all too readily enthralled with the displays of power that Satan will be bringing forth through antichrist. Even now, many miracles are being credited to Maitreya, the new age christ. Will you be ready for other incredible deceptions, like that of NASA's Project Blue Beam? It is high time that we get back to the holy Word of God, and trust in the Lord for what He has shown us.
Please know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the living God, and just as able to do needful miracles in our lives today, as He ever was! But Satan is powerful, too; and his power is growing. Please use diligent, prayerful searching when distinguishing what type of spirit you are dealing with.
"A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire." -Matt. 7:18,19.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Looking out for evil
"...Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." -Romans 12:9b.
Do you recognize evil when it presents itself? Can you see it in yourself? What are your feelings about it when you do? If there is anything that our enemy (Eph. 6:12) will attempt to do, it is to blur the lines between good and evil. This is where the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit are so vitally important. In our natural state, we tend rather to cling onto the evil, and despise good- even long after the work of regeneration has been done within us. Thus, we have the need to crucify the flesh on a daily basis; the Bible reminds us of this (Luke 9:23; Rom. 8:13; Col. 3:5).
Spotting evil within ourselves, however, does not come easily or naturally. We are inclined to justify what we do (Prov. 1:21; I Cor. 11:31), even as King Saul did in I Samuel 15 regarding the Amalekites. The Bible specifically takes time to mention evils which may not be directly spoken against;
"Abstain from all appearance of evil." - I Thess. 5:22.
How does your life appear to others? There are many, many unsavory things that we do in ignorance. Leviticus chapters 4 & 5 talk about this phenomenon; John 9:41 also briefly mentions it. The conclusion of this matter, is that when we sin ignorantly, we are not accountable for the deed. And yet it is still a SIN; God hates it! When we can see that what we have done is a sin, or at least is not pleasing in God's sight, we must repent before Him (I John 1:8-10). God loves us, but He never approves of our sin, and will not allow us to continue in it; He will attempt to correct us (Heb. 12:5-11).
The Lord gave me greater light concerning this topic (I still have much to see!) through Psalm 19:12 & 13;
"Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression."
Verse 12 calls for cleansing from secret faults. The very fact that they are secret, i.e., not known of, shows that they are not yet considered blatant sin. Yet they must still be dealt with, for they displease God.
Verse 13 speaks of presumptuous sins. These I think of as sins which we ought to acknowledge as such, but have somehow been deceived into justifying them. In my life, 2 distinct examples arose...
First, we occasionally received 2 sets of very good coupons to a local grocer; one at our residence, and one at a P.O. box. Typically, we availed ourselves of getting double bargains; we did so by having two orders rung up separately, when in fact we were together! Even this may not have been so bad, but the coupons specified; "One coupon per household." Yes, almost everyone does it, so that I was not even thinking of it as sin. We repented of this secret fault, which had become sin for us (James 4:17), and do it no longer.
Second, I was routinely breaking the posted speed limit. There were many ways to rationalize this behavior! I Peter 2:13 tells us to submit to the ordinances of man, and the posted speed limit is certainly one of those. What I was doing was presumptuous sin, believing that for some reason my behavior was justifiable.
This past Sunday was the Super Bowl, and many professing Christians watched it (as I once did). There is a great evil in professional sports, and you may view this linked article, Sports Deception, at your leisure. It was through an alternative media source that I became aware of the "Halftime Show" put on by Madonna.
I really hope that if you saw this thing, that it was offensive enough for you to give up the Super Bowl altogether. Whether you watched the show or not, you support it by watching the game.
Please take time to watch this video link, though the title is about Bill Gates. The whole thing is just under 15 minutes, but what you need to see is in the last 5 minutes. I apologize for the extra time it takes, but I have seen no other way to separate the analysis of Madonna's performance. Brethren, we are in the spiritual fight of our lives, and we must take our steps carefully.
We need to take offense at what our Father finds offensive! To see the iniquity around us, and within, should cause us distress when we become aware of it. Ask the Lord to "search your heart", along with the Psalmist in 139:23,24. He will!
"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." -I Cor. 9:27.
Do you recognize evil when it presents itself? Can you see it in yourself? What are your feelings about it when you do? If there is anything that our enemy (Eph. 6:12) will attempt to do, it is to blur the lines between good and evil. This is where the Word of God, and the Holy Spirit are so vitally important. In our natural state, we tend rather to cling onto the evil, and despise good- even long after the work of regeneration has been done within us. Thus, we have the need to crucify the flesh on a daily basis; the Bible reminds us of this (Luke 9:23; Rom. 8:13; Col. 3:5).
Spotting evil within ourselves, however, does not come easily or naturally. We are inclined to justify what we do (Prov. 1:21; I Cor. 11:31), even as King Saul did in I Samuel 15 regarding the Amalekites. The Bible specifically takes time to mention evils which may not be directly spoken against;
"Abstain from all appearance of evil." - I Thess. 5:22.
How does your life appear to others? There are many, many unsavory things that we do in ignorance. Leviticus chapters 4 & 5 talk about this phenomenon; John 9:41 also briefly mentions it. The conclusion of this matter, is that when we sin ignorantly, we are not accountable for the deed. And yet it is still a SIN; God hates it! When we can see that what we have done is a sin, or at least is not pleasing in God's sight, we must repent before Him (I John 1:8-10). God loves us, but He never approves of our sin, and will not allow us to continue in it; He will attempt to correct us (Heb. 12:5-11).
The Lord gave me greater light concerning this topic (I still have much to see!) through Psalm 19:12 & 13;
"Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression."
Verse 12 calls for cleansing from secret faults. The very fact that they are secret, i.e., not known of, shows that they are not yet considered blatant sin. Yet they must still be dealt with, for they displease God.
Verse 13 speaks of presumptuous sins. These I think of as sins which we ought to acknowledge as such, but have somehow been deceived into justifying them. In my life, 2 distinct examples arose...
First, we occasionally received 2 sets of very good coupons to a local grocer; one at our residence, and one at a P.O. box. Typically, we availed ourselves of getting double bargains; we did so by having two orders rung up separately, when in fact we were together! Even this may not have been so bad, but the coupons specified; "One coupon per household." Yes, almost everyone does it, so that I was not even thinking of it as sin. We repented of this secret fault, which had become sin for us (James 4:17), and do it no longer.
Second, I was routinely breaking the posted speed limit. There were many ways to rationalize this behavior! I Peter 2:13 tells us to submit to the ordinances of man, and the posted speed limit is certainly one of those. What I was doing was presumptuous sin, believing that for some reason my behavior was justifiable.
This past Sunday was the Super Bowl, and many professing Christians watched it (as I once did). There is a great evil in professional sports, and you may view this linked article, Sports Deception, at your leisure. It was through an alternative media source that I became aware of the "Halftime Show" put on by Madonna.
I really hope that if you saw this thing, that it was offensive enough for you to give up the Super Bowl altogether. Whether you watched the show or not, you support it by watching the game.
Please take time to watch this video link, though the title is about Bill Gates. The whole thing is just under 15 minutes, but what you need to see is in the last 5 minutes. I apologize for the extra time it takes, but I have seen no other way to separate the analysis of Madonna's performance. Brethren, we are in the spiritual fight of our lives, and we must take our steps carefully.
We need to take offense at what our Father finds offensive! To see the iniquity around us, and within, should cause us distress when we become aware of it. Ask the Lord to "search your heart", along with the Psalmist in 139:23,24. He will!
"But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." -I Cor. 9:27.
Monday, February 6, 2012
The Spirit of Whoredom: Christianity in America
"They feared the Lord, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations..." -II Kings 17:33.
The great, great majority of people still believe in God; "the devils also believe, and tremble." -James 2:19.
It is also apparent that a majority believe in Jesus, but so very few receive Him for who He is;
"...his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." -Is. 9:6.
This last of the last days' Christianity could be called many things; it is certainly Laodicean in nature (Rev. 3:14-19). Sometimes I refer to it as "anything goes" Christianity, for it seems that the professing Christian Church has few boundaries in what is considered right, or wrong. The Bible is treated as opinion, or suggestion, and is a far cry from what it claims itself to be; God's perfectly preserved Word (Ps. 12:6,7), and the believer's final authority in all matters of faith and practice (II Tim. 3:16,17).
"...for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." -Ps. 138:2.
In my current devotions, I am reading in Hosea, and came across a very relevant verse for our time;
"They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord." -Hos. 5:4.
The Bible often refers to spiritual whoredom; having more than one committed affection to things that basically supercede Christ's Lordship in our lives; varieties of idolatry. Biblical instruction has been written off, and all manners of compromise have entered in. Professing Christian churches embrace homosexuality, rock music, women leaders, Catholicism, pro sports, TV and movies, New Age teachers, and preemptive wars which kill tens of thousands who hadn't hurt us in the least. Does anyone remember to "love your enemies"? Probably a year ago now, we even saw that a church was having a huge prize-winning giveaway, including a new car! Do you really think that those drawn to church by the chance of enhancing their material possessions will come to know Christ that way? "Ye can not serve God and mammon."
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." -I Tim. 6:10.
When it comes to money, heed (and read) the warnings given in the Bible, such as to the Laodiceans in Rev. 3:17,18; or in the account of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus in Luke 16:19-25. Brethren, we need to separate from this world and its lusts as much as is possible! Let's look at an example or two, for "by their fruits, ye shall know them." -see Matt. 7:16-20.
Orel Hershiser was a great pitcher for the L.A. Dodgers back in the 1980s & 90s, and often touted to be a Christian. Whether or not he ever was, I do not know. Nor do I know where he is at spiritually today, or if he will die in right relationship with Christ. But I was witness to behavior that told me otherwise; he was the Baseball Player's Union representative, which was revealed during the 1994 strike! To say that this union is greedy, is highly understated- their demands showed as much. When a local pro player, Len Dykstra, expressed his frustration with the strike, saying that they ought to keep playimg for the fans' sake, Orel H. was extremely critical of him! Orel H. was just another money-grubbing pro athlete at this time; his god was mammon, and not Jesus Christ (Matt. 6:24).
Back in the summer of 2010, I worked unloading trucks at a dept. store. Music was played to work to, the greatest part of which I found offensive. Yet there was a song that caught my attention, and touched me deeply; we still occasionaly play Jesus Take the Wheel, performed by Carrie Underwood.
From the start, I never thought that the singer of such a song had to be Christian. No matter what she may claim about herself, the "fruit" in her life says that she is not! Without any initial study of this young woman, and about at the time I was hearing this song, I saw her picture on the cover of a Cosmopolitan magazine. She was in a tight, revealing red dress, with her face directly across from the title article, "Sixteen ways to touch a naked man." No, I needn't look into it any more deeply! She also got her start in fame from the show, American Idol, which is another ungodly source. Why would a Christian want to be on such a show?
A co-worker at this store said that Ms. Underwood claimed to be a Christian, and also that she was sexually "saving herself" for the right man in marriage. I never looked into it, but I take his word for it, not thinking he would deliberately lie about it. But with the claim of being "chaste", and then the cover & article of the magazine, it made me think of Carrie U. as a Pharisee referred to in Matt. 23:4; "For they (Pharisees; verse 1) bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." This is what C.U. was doing in Cosmopolitan; she was making herself an object of lust, and causing many to sin sexually, all the while touting that she was sexually pure!
In what research I did, in the video for the song, she wasn't as bad as many. But still, there was abundant makeup, expensive jewelry, and close-fitting jeans. I looked up her magazine photo shoot, just to see if she perhaps got herself into a bad thing ignorantly; only to find out that it was her third photo shoot with them! A corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit!
Remember what the Bible says, and lay it to heart:
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?...or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?...Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," - from II Cor. 6:14-18.
"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be the friend of the world is the enemy of God." -James 4:4.
"Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth." -Col. 3:2.
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love 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." -I John 2:15,16.
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." -Philip. 3:7.
Stop being your own Lord, and binding Jesus' name to it- that's what we used to do! Seek the Lord. Seek His righteousness, and stop giving undue respect to supposedly Godly men. Be led by the Lord directly, to please the one who bought you.
"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." -Hos. 10:12.
The great, great majority of people still believe in God; "the devils also believe, and tremble." -James 2:19.
It is also apparent that a majority believe in Jesus, but so very few receive Him for who He is;
"...his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." -Is. 9:6.
This last of the last days' Christianity could be called many things; it is certainly Laodicean in nature (Rev. 3:14-19). Sometimes I refer to it as "anything goes" Christianity, for it seems that the professing Christian Church has few boundaries in what is considered right, or wrong. The Bible is treated as opinion, or suggestion, and is a far cry from what it claims itself to be; God's perfectly preserved Word (Ps. 12:6,7), and the believer's final authority in all matters of faith and practice (II Tim. 3:16,17).
"...for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name." -Ps. 138:2.
In my current devotions, I am reading in Hosea, and came across a very relevant verse for our time;
"They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God: for the spirit of whoredoms is in the midst of them, and they have not known the Lord." -Hos. 5:4.
The Bible often refers to spiritual whoredom; having more than one committed affection to things that basically supercede Christ's Lordship in our lives; varieties of idolatry. Biblical instruction has been written off, and all manners of compromise have entered in. Professing Christian churches embrace homosexuality, rock music, women leaders, Catholicism, pro sports, TV and movies, New Age teachers, and preemptive wars which kill tens of thousands who hadn't hurt us in the least. Does anyone remember to "love your enemies"? Probably a year ago now, we even saw that a church was having a huge prize-winning giveaway, including a new car! Do you really think that those drawn to church by the chance of enhancing their material possessions will come to know Christ that way? "Ye can not serve God and mammon."
"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." -I Tim. 6:10.
When it comes to money, heed (and read) the warnings given in the Bible, such as to the Laodiceans in Rev. 3:17,18; or in the account of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus in Luke 16:19-25. Brethren, we need to separate from this world and its lusts as much as is possible! Let's look at an example or two, for "by their fruits, ye shall know them." -see Matt. 7:16-20.
Orel Hershiser was a great pitcher for the L.A. Dodgers back in the 1980s & 90s, and often touted to be a Christian. Whether or not he ever was, I do not know. Nor do I know where he is at spiritually today, or if he will die in right relationship with Christ. But I was witness to behavior that told me otherwise; he was the Baseball Player's Union representative, which was revealed during the 1994 strike! To say that this union is greedy, is highly understated- their demands showed as much. When a local pro player, Len Dykstra, expressed his frustration with the strike, saying that they ought to keep playimg for the fans' sake, Orel H. was extremely critical of him! Orel H. was just another money-grubbing pro athlete at this time; his god was mammon, and not Jesus Christ (Matt. 6:24).
Back in the summer of 2010, I worked unloading trucks at a dept. store. Music was played to work to, the greatest part of which I found offensive. Yet there was a song that caught my attention, and touched me deeply; we still occasionaly play Jesus Take the Wheel, performed by Carrie Underwood.
From the start, I never thought that the singer of such a song had to be Christian. No matter what she may claim about herself, the "fruit" in her life says that she is not! Without any initial study of this young woman, and about at the time I was hearing this song, I saw her picture on the cover of a Cosmopolitan magazine. She was in a tight, revealing red dress, with her face directly across from the title article, "Sixteen ways to touch a naked man." No, I needn't look into it any more deeply! She also got her start in fame from the show, American Idol, which is another ungodly source. Why would a Christian want to be on such a show?
A co-worker at this store said that Ms. Underwood claimed to be a Christian, and also that she was sexually "saving herself" for the right man in marriage. I never looked into it, but I take his word for it, not thinking he would deliberately lie about it. But with the claim of being "chaste", and then the cover & article of the magazine, it made me think of Carrie U. as a Pharisee referred to in Matt. 23:4; "For they (Pharisees; verse 1) bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers." This is what C.U. was doing in Cosmopolitan; she was making herself an object of lust, and causing many to sin sexually, all the while touting that she was sexually pure!
In what research I did, in the video for the song, she wasn't as bad as many. But still, there was abundant makeup, expensive jewelry, and close-fitting jeans. I looked up her magazine photo shoot, just to see if she perhaps got herself into a bad thing ignorantly; only to find out that it was her third photo shoot with them! A corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit!
Remember what the Bible says, and lay it to heart:
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?...or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?...Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," - from II Cor. 6:14-18.
"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be the friend of the world is the enemy of God." -James 4:4.
"Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth." -Col. 3:2.
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love 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." -I John 2:15,16.
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ." -Philip. 3:7.
Stop being your own Lord, and binding Jesus' name to it- that's what we used to do! Seek the Lord. Seek His righteousness, and stop giving undue respect to supposedly Godly men. Be led by the Lord directly, to please the one who bought you.
"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." -Hos. 10:12.
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