Col.1: 15 Who
is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in
earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or
principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Again, it continues to come down to this: Without Jesus as
the ONLY Lord and Supreme Master we are living a lie and the church is just
another religion similar to the Mayan temples or the Islamic Mosques or Druid
gatherings. And the “Jesus is Lord” mantra cannot be imprisoned within our self
serving doctrinal statements. His Lordship must permeate every area of our
lives and that permeation must exhibit sacrifice, self denial, and it must be
strikingly observable to this fallen world.
Can a light be lit in an underground tunnel and not be seen?
Can a car’s high beams be pointed at your eyes without you knowing it? Can a
bond fire be raging in the middle of the night and it blends into the darkness?
These are the kinds of questions which should stir our souls and spiritually
motivate us to re-examine what the Scriptures teach and what that means for
those who desire to follow Jesus. But how can professing believers be
extricated from the comfort zone in which they now dwell?
Without repentance nothing will change. And without a
dramatic commitment to prayer everything will be little more than an
interesting discussion. And if and when someone decides to repent (change their
minds) about what Jesus taught and how it should impact our lives, and when
that someone begins to seek the face of the Master, he or she must come to the
startling realization that something is very wrong in their own lives and in
the teachings and practices of the evangelical church. And I believe you cannot
help but see that the western church as it “operates” now is an obstruction to
a deeper and more Scriptural Christian life. But even if we come to that
conclusion that is only the beginning of a journey which will be painful,
emotional, full of questions and persecution, but which will experience a
spiritual glory which most will never know.
Our doctrines and theology say “Jesus is Lord” but our lives
serve any number of masters. And the church has become such a slave to the
culture and our own desires that it has long ago given up on any fasting and
prayer designed to bring an awakening repentance and a painful alteration in
the way we think. And being adverse to any re-evaluation because of the
implications that may arise, the church continues its redundant display of church.
Claiming to be the light, the darkness marches forward without revealing the
light we contend we give off. So shouting a bit at the darkness soothes our
conscience because sinners these days are so bad and much worse than are we.
And that kind of thinking imprisons the church within thick walls of self
affirmation and allows us to enjoy a tepid spiritual existence as well as much
fallen fruit from the surrounding culture.
This is the treadmill upon which the western evangelical
church walks and yet she claims to be making spiritual progress while going
nowhere. In fact this treadmill is empowered by the fallen spirits that have
formed the culture and which lead us toward the darkness and not the light. It
is bad enough to be living with a corpse, and it is worse yet to be chained to
that corpse, but to allow that same corpse to lead you is an horrific display.
The situation is desperate and yet the church shows no sign of desperation
concerning its own spiritual condition or the plight of the lost.
Fasting is for diets; tears are for dead dogs; late nights
are overtime football games; humility is for the weak; studying for hours is
for some earthly test; and repentance is for gays. Where oh where Dear Lord is
the mirror we so desperately need which can clearly show us the distance
between what the New Testament teaches and what we have come to embrace? Why
are we so content with such a mindless and comfortable religious practice which
bears so little Scriptural truth? Where did the ax head fall and how can it be
retrieved and how do we ever get the desire to have it reclaimed?
Why can a small handful (like us) get revved up for a season
only to return to the convenient place we now know is not where Jesus is? Are
we not the most indictable since we have peeked over the wall of hedonism and
nationalism and we have seen the grapes of Eschol and yet we still remain
behind that wall? The Spirit has graciously and miraculously opened our hearts
and allowed us to see that there is so much ground yet unclaimed and yet the
power of the fallen world and the lethargy which dwells within us has convinced
us that blogs like this are enough. In essence it is enough to see the
ecclesiastical ills without entering a personal and sweeping revolution
ourselves. That is pitiful for all of us.
And in that light I am going to post some things very shortly
which will call us to some practical and difficult steps. I am a nobody and I
receive no salary from any ecclesiastical organization. But I have come to
realize that there are many like me who have a lingering thirst for much more
but who like me need some guideposts and some specific exhortations. I hope
that I can be used of the Spirit in some people’s lives and most of all be more
like Jesus and have my life reflect His Words. That is a daunting challenge if
you consider where we all are and the amazing number of carnal parasites we
have allowed to attach themselves to our hearts and lives.
But if you are legitimately disgruntled and discontented with
your own spiritual life as it now stands then perhaps this is a call to you.
And I mean all of us, preachers and missionaries and mature believers. All of
us. So I exhort us all first of all to break up the fallow ground by a strong
and unwavering commitment to prayer. Maybe getting up earlier or staying up
later or sacrificially carving out some substantive time to get alone with God
and beseech Him to change your heart. I will still write about a variety of
things, but I feel led of the Spirit to call out to any who hear and begin
together a tangible journey to seek His face and allow the Spirit to little by
little, but dramatically as well, change us into His image and have His light
grow stronger and stronger within and without us.
After all, isn’t that what we have been saying for the last
several years and isn’t that what the Spirit desires in and through us? Jesus is Lord? If so then let
us be broken again and reformed into an image which lives an observable
revelation of the Lord Jesus Himself. In fact, let us be a broken vessel in
which Jesus lives through us as we crucify ourselves for His sake. And in the end
and every day let our lives be the fresco upon which the Spirit paints the
truth “ that in all things he
might have the preeminence”.
Posts
47 comments:
This is so encouraging and uplifting to me. Thank you my brother Rick. I really need this.
Pastor Rick, what are you saying?
Cherie c.
This is a very strong article which fully supports the words of the LORD from 2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Deep searchers for truth, let's continue to remember the loyalty of John the Baptist. Like him we ought to speak up boldly against sin and have the witness: I must become less and Jesus must become more.
Dear readers, unless God has blessed you with a passionate love for Lord Jesus He will not yet be preeminent in your lives.
Seek Him daily, for no one loves you more than the author of life!
Reine Gnade
Who is the Jesus that you believe in? Is it the Jesus who speaks in the book of Revelation or is it some other version of Jesus which misrepresents Him?
Do you realise that the Islamic version of Jesus and God is a misrepresentation of both God and Jesus? Do you realise that all religions other than Christianity misrepresent God in crucial areas?
Let's get back to basics. When Jesus lived on earth He was the image of the invisible God. Human beings were created by Him and for Him. All things consist by Him. If Jesus isn't Lord of our life we are still enslaved to Satan, no matter how voiciferously we claim that we believe in God.
Reine Gnade
Dear readers, do you trust Lord Jesus? Do you really trust Him or are you just feigning to trust Him?
Are you prepared to give up all to follow Him? Have you done this? Does He have your ear above all the other competing teachers?
When He says blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall be filled. What is your response? Is it Hallelujah! Blessed be the name of God's Beloved sinless Son?
Does He who died on a cross in Jerusalem have your time, talents and financial resources before anyone else?
Dear readers, how seriously do you take Jesus? Do you meditate on His word?
Do you delight in His witness and what He has done throught the whole span of history? Do you agree with His decision making pertaining to wars?
Whatever your answers are: let's praise the Lord of Lords for He truly is love!
I don't want to be an embarrassment to Jesus and I don't want to be lukewarm in my seeking Him. He gave all and I want to give Him all in return. I want to be fit for the Kingdom but I feel like such a misfit and loser. We just cant afford to mess this up. My lazy and distracted flesh needs crucified.
Rick, the Lord is already using you to encourage others onward in their walk with Christ. Your words always inspire me. Be blessed.
Julie Wilton
Friends, we can use the words I don't want to but even though this type of language is a reasonable starting point it will not assure us of success.
What we need to do is to bring the word commitment into our thinking and our commitment must be wholehearted to Christ.
We need to understand that He doesn't see those He saves as misfits or losers. How do we give Jesus all?
I believe the answer is found in being more thankful and praising toward the LORD.
Praise God for He is the cleanser of debilitating feelings. The good news is that the LORD God is the great conqueror, so in Him we are more than a conqueror.
Reine Gnade
Am here in my thoughts late at night and am undergoing confusion of spirit. There are 4 or 5 things which might be causing this. 1) my inability to pray hard enough 2) my weak mind and pain in my body 3) the end times, and Satan trying to deter us as hard as he can, which is causing the brethren to feel abandoned and a sense that God isn't near, or 4) we are so lacking in being shepherded and lacking in a priest in our lives that we are dry, as dry as a desert, or 5) it's a soundless time just before a great great spiritual revival, and we're just around the corner.
Whichever it is, I pray that I get out of the doldrums. I love all my sisters and brothers here, but we, may I say, we are all miserable encouragers. We are all on our own paths and because we don't know each other (like in Acts), we cannot fully edify each other. There's nothing like being 'present' with the Body. And I personally am missing that. As much and as often as you all, sweet brethren, have prayed and tried to encourage us all here, especially some of us who were sick, it has helped to know you all care and I believe your prayers are heard and so important. But, the Lord didn't create us to be alone. We were created to be together, learning to press toward the same goals and get a mission done. None of us know each other, and I would bet we are all so different, and some are legs, while some are hands, and we'd all have to start from scratch, if we were to work together as a group like in the Book of Acts. We'd have to sell everything that had value, put the money in a fund and divide it equally for each family (some of us would have to leave our families, like older adult children and grandchildren); our shelter would have to be modest - maybe rent a large home and each live in an apartment. We'd have to reach out to the poorer community, while preaching, and tending to those in the streets. We'd all have to use our special talents and we'd have to really lay hands on the sick and believe and see those miracles that follow those that believe in Him. Some of us would have to work odd jobs to keep paying for the lights, electricity food; we'd be buying our clothes at the second hand shops, we'd have to give up our little 'idiosyncracies' and we'd have to tolerate our quirks and oddities. It would be almost impossible for us to do this, wouldn't it? Now, that's giving all up for Jesus. Who's going first? OK, I'm sorry I am just joking.........but, it bothers me that I am so unwilling to be first. Or even willing to go that route. Does this mean I haven't given everything up for the Lord and is this what it really means?
J.
Cherie, I am simply saying that we need to go much deeper if we desire to follow Jesus as Lord.
Jackie, in my opinion what is very important is allowing the LORD to make us more and more like Lord Jesus. He is pure, so what is important isn't selling your precious belongings which are vitally important to you, but studying the Bible so that when you pray what you are praying conforms more to the Bible!
Once we get into our fifties we need the occassional reality check. Hold onto your husband and your possessions for they give you joy too!
And don't forget that the deepest sharing is on a spiritual level.
Reine Gnade
J,
We are all given a measure of Grace. Not that God favors one over the other, but we are all given what the Lord wills.
I have had the very same thoughts as you regarding the brothers and sisters in Christ. How it would be more fun, or blessed to be in live fellowship with them. This remote form of communication can feel like you're talking into a vast emptiness where your words or voice (if you were talking)seem to go on forever until someone replies.
It is no doubt that it can be a lonely existence for members of the body. But we live in different times than our church fathers. I read Acts and at times feel jealous. I know it is really silly, but I do. To me, they were family. I come from a big family and it is easier to go through difficult times when there are more around to share it with. But it was an illusion. Unless you are like minded as the Word says, it isn't as comforting as one would like it to be. We are told to be of one mind, one spirit.
Yes, I agree that is one thing the current invisible church is lacking, fellowship. But we do the best we can.
I use this time to draw nearer to the Lord. Sometimes I am lazy and just sit here and wish it could be better, then I repent because wishing is useless. It is self-centered sentimentality that only reflects our flesh and not very honoring to God.
There is hope however which causes me to look upward everyday. As I watch the news I see more and more of the Lord's prophecies come true. It does scare me a bit, but that is when my white knuckled clinging to the Lord is very evident. He is all I have, and frankly all I need and want. No one will ever do for me what He did, so He more than deserves my loyalty, my praise, my obedience, and my life. Today maybe raining, but the Son shines every bright. He is our present, and future. Our God who knows the end from the beginning. I have to remind myself of that some days. There is comfort in that as well.
In all my searching for answers to my questions, questions that at times are not so important than to just pray. Just pray. It is only hard to pray because we get in the way. I know, I have been there too. No matter what the reason, I can give you all of them, my excuse for not praying comes down to letting my flesh get in the way. God's Word says that we should let our words be few. At times I agree with that. Let our words be few. Kneel before our Great God, and let our words be few. And the words we do use, let it be repentant, entreating the Lord for His will to be done, praying for what God instructs us to pray for. Mercy, the brethren, those in authority, our Pastors and teachers. His written Word is the best way to hear from Him. I believe it should be part of our prayer life.
I too need to be more in practice in what I say because I have been blessed by doing so. May God have mercy on me when I do not.
May the peace as only the Lord Jesus Christ can give be with all my brothers and sisters in Christ this day.
your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.
"Carnal Parasites" - solid term. Transformation of our souls does mean exchanging worldly distractions for quiet time with Jesus. It can also mean exchanging these carnal parasites with new habits of study or involving ourselves in building up the body in a hands-on ministry. A spiritual fire spreads... Especially one the Holy Spirit anoints.
Isaiah 6:5 So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts."
:6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.
:7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged."
:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."
We are servants of the Most High God, servants to the Father of Lights. I have not had a vision like Isaiah had where he was able to look, with these eyes, into heaven and see the King of Kings sitting on His throne. But I am able to go into the inner sanctuary with my thanksgivings and my requests in prayer, because of the shed blood of Jesus. I am washed in the blood of the Lamb of God and that gives me special privilege to be in His presence.
Isaiah 56:1 Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, For My salvation is about to come, And My righteousness to be revealed.
:2 Blessed is the man who does this, And the son of man who lays hold on it; Who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And keeps his hand from doing any evil."
:3 Do not let the son of the foreigner Who has joined himself to the LORD Speak, saying, "The LORD has utterly separated me from His people"; Nor let the eunuch say, "Here I am, a dry tree."
:4 For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, And choose what pleases Me, And hold fast My covenant,
:5 Even to them I will give in My house And within My walls a place and a name Better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name That shall not be cut off.
:6 "Also the sons of the foreigner Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him, And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants— Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath, And holds fast My covenant—
:7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."
:8 The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, "Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him."
Since last Thursday I have now had five staph infections show up since February of this year. I am told this could go on for up to two years. It is a hindrance to be able to keep going as the medication that has to be used makes me very weak. So weak that just moving around the house is a struggle. The disability that I have is familial emphysema and chronic bronchitis. But I keep seeking what it is I need to learn from all this. Not just groan about the illness.
Cont. Joel
Job 38:2 "Who is this who darkens counsel By words without knowledge?
:3 Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me.
:4 "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding.
:5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
:6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone,
I have told you all that I had worked as a cowboy. That I worked most of the time by myself. If you think about it most missionaries are working by themselves also, some are married and their spouses are alongside them. The above verses in Job are the ones that come to mind when I would want to complain to Lord about what I am doing or my physical health. Is God’s arm to short to save? It is not our battle, the battle belongs to the Lord. We are just His instruments to be used as He sees fit. God has each one of us in a place where He wants us.
Joel
Pastor Rick,
Part 1
No disrespect just sincere honest questions; what does that mean? I hear it a lot but what does it mean? Do you mean that going deeper is being obedient? Do you mean that going deeper is actually having a real relationship with the real living God, our Father and His Only Begotten Son Jesus?
Is going deeper actually doing as Jesus said we are to do, in the Gospel as well as in the Epistles?
Why that is not going deeper! No where in the Word does it say that. It does however say to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength. It says to Love your neighbor as yourself. It says to Repent! It says to take up your cross. It says to care for the poor, the widows and fatherless children. It says to preach the Gospel in all the earth. It says to pray without ceasing. It says to give honor to whom honor is due. It says to fellowship as the day draws near. Obedience and faith. That is it. Go Deeper?!
That is a nice way of saying stop being lazy and if you really are who you claim to be, stop making excuses, stop replying upon others and seek God as we're supposed to do. And that goes double for those put in a position of authority in the Body of Christ. To preach Law and Grace. To preach Repentance of sin and ask for Forgiveness. To preach Salvation through Christ alone and His work on the cross. To point out error and then point to the Way. Go deeper? No Pastor, not go deeper, but Go.
I have been to more blogs, discernment and otherwise and no one is preaching to the body. Everyone is so concerned about discernment. I was told once that the US Treasury does not study counterfeit money. No, they study the real deal so that when they see a counterfeit bill they recognize it immediately. There is a place for discernment, but the need right now is to preach the True Word of God and discernment will take care of itself.
You write about the church sitting in pews listening to geopolitical nonsense with an expressed moral code that has no hint of the Gospel. Well, teach us the Gospel then show us the difference. Equip us Pastor. You are a Pastor/Teacher. Which means according to Scripture you are a shepherd of God's sheep. A tough position, but what are you going to do? Run like Jonah? You can't. Your blog bio says you are a minister of the Word. Well, go deeper Pastor Rick. Preach! No, you do not have a choice, you were placed in this position by God. Preach! I have seen you do so. Perhaps you don't notice, but you have! I have a copy of one on my wall in my room. It is a study about the 6th chapter of Luke. You preached! And we learned. What a blessing! The truth of God's Word not dressed up in narsagetical exegesis, but truth.
Part 2
You don't have to allow this comment through. It is your blog. I have no place to say what I am saying except as a member of the body of Christ, you are to feed His sheep. I am one such sheep. Now I appreciate all the warnings, the examples given here of what is happening in the visible church these last days. But I can almost guarantee, by authority of the Word of God that if the invisible church leaders, that's you too Pastor Rick, boldly stand and Preach the following just might happen:
True Holy Spirit Revival, not the fake one being planned as part of the Harlot Church
Persecution, from all over the place. You want persecution, this is one sure way to get it.
Reward, all stored up in Heaven.
Praise, from Jesus when you meet Him, " good and faithful servant".
Fulfillment of the great commission to Preach the Gospel throughout the earth.
New believers. If no one hears about their sins because of false doctrine, then how can anyone repent? Yes I know, they should read their Bibles, but they are not encouraged to do so. This will encourage them. Jesus said "who will hear, let them hear".
And lastly, to Glorify God. We don't need to go deeper. There is already too much to do that we have not yet done. Pastor, you left the visible church for a reason, a very good one. Here is the deep you must embark upon. Ravenhill said once, "no man is greater than his prayer life." This is especially true for Pastors. Want us to go deeper Pastor Rick, show us the way through God's Word. Why not go backwards? Back to the early church ways that did exactly as Jesus commanded.
I hope you are not angry at me for playing on your phrase to go deeper. I am not trying to be disrespectful or mean. I just want to get fed. I'm hungry, and when hungry I get cranky. =D
You have the keys to the gate to the pasture Shepherd Rick. The pasture is pretty deep.
with sisterly love to all my brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.
One more thing Pastor,
I am one of the laziest when it comes to prayer and the Word lately. God forgive me. I have spent too much time on discernment blogs and the like. I know I need more Word and less words.
I also need to hear the Word preached. The Bible does say that doesn't it. I mean Acts is packed full of descriptions of the Apostles preaching. Mars Hill, etc.
When I asked you what you were saying, I was hoping you were going to announce some kind of preaching site or something like that.
For now I listen to the sermons of Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones, Leonard Ravenhill and a few others. But they were yesterday, another era. Our time is now and things are worse.
We can go deeper, but God put you in the front of the line. Shepherd usually takes lead point. By the way, what do you think of Jack Hook's blog? He mentioned you.
one of the sheep,
Cherie c.
Cherie, I think what Pastor Rick is trying to convey to us all is this. There is song I have sung from early on a part of it is, "the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace".
It means to focus you on Jesus, if you continue to only focus on Jesus then everything else starts fading from our attention. All that is going on right now in the news, with our health, with our families and throughout the world are distractions of Satan. Satan is trying to distract us from being closer to God.
Joel
Yes Joel, I understand that, but what is it we actually do when we focus upon Jesus? Do we just read His words or do we also act upon them. If Jesus is our focus, what is actually meant by that? Jesus said that "they honor me with their lips but their hearts are far from me." We can focus all we want on Jesus, but if we do not do as He tells us it is just wasted time. Faith without works is dead. Need to act upon the Word. It is one thing to study it, quite another to act upon it.
What does it mean to love thy neighbor as thyself? Well, it could mean that you don't litter their lawn and you do not disturb them. But it also means to tell them the Good News. That they are sinners and that Jesus took their sin upon Himself. Acting upon the Word. Praying for them. Who is your neighbor? Everyone. We are so quick to speak, slow to listen, and even slower to act.
When was the last time someone saw a homeless person and just acknowledged them? This is where we "step out in faith". I know I don't always do what I should, but how long should we just talk about it?
I understand what Pastor Rick was saying, but how do we go deeper when we can't even do the basics?
Seems we need some old fashioned preaching to get us started back in the right direction.
Dear Brother Joel, you are a blessing and I thank you for expanding further upon this post.
If we, the invisible church, would just become more visible, and I don't mean false advertising, but openly be the church as described in the NT. Step out in faith to be what we have been called to be, I wonder what would happen. Not just stay seated during the national anthem, but really do as we are commanded to do. We would definitely be persecuted, but would it be the revival we so desperately need. Revival? How about bravado to be who we really are in Christ. I guess in order to obtain that bravado we do need to go deeper, but lets start with the basics and take it from there.
What do you think brother or sister in Christ?
your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.
Cherie, let me explain a little of what a cowboy has to do every day, all day, and even some nights, seven days a week, rain, snow or sunshine. From the rising to the setting sun, a cowboy’s work is never done. You can replace cowboy with born again believer if you like. It is the same work, you are never done!
I had to get myself out of bed before sunrise, feed my horses, feed the dog, then, feed myself. Head out to check for sick or injured cows and calves. During calving time, because I usually had the first calf heifer herd, you had to help with the birthing process on about half the herd, usually about 150 to 200 head. That work was hard, imagine you having someone grab the arms of the child you are about to give birth to and putting their boots on you, on the sides of the birth canal, then, pulling with all their might every time you were trying to push out that baby. Sometimes, I put the lariat on the front legs and let my horse do the pulling. There was also doctoring of calves, mostly pink eye, some just colicky and some so sick with pneumonia they could barely stand and nurse. If no one was there to do the doctoring you would not have any hamburgers.
It is the same with the life that God wants us to have with Him. You have to get out of bed every day, feed your family, feed your pets, then, feed yourself. Now you normally eat food when you feed your family, but when I mention feed yourself I am talking about reading the word of God, study it, ask the Holy Spirit to guide and open your eyes to see and understand what you are reading. That is feeding yourself. Pretty soon you are wanting to share with others your knowledge of God. That is the Holy Spirit working in you. Let the Good Sheppard take care of you, doctor you and pull out the distractions in your life.
One of the things that I learned very early in life was to work just as hard when no one else was around as if you were working with the boss standing behind you. In other words, work for God and not man. Do not be like the guy down at the local tavern, a bar stool cowboy, all words and no work, all hat and no cattle. Dresses like one, but there is no smell of sweat, no manure on his boots and a face that is not weathered. Born again believers have a look to them and also have the eyes on a face that tells everyone that there is something different and they want to know why with all that is going on today, you look different.
I could not have done any of the things that I have done unless the Lord had allowed me to do it with His help. It was Him, not me. I hope this helps. But it has to start with you.
Joel
Ladies, always be respectful of your teachers!
To love God and His words more deeply will result in a harvest of beautiful deeds. Dear readers, seek Lord Jesus earnestly and patiently and then you will be able to notice how Almighty God transforms you.
Bravado isn't the fruit of love. I encourage you to remind yourself of 1 Corinthians 13. Bravado is the wrong word. God's spirit is courageous, confident and bold. Our goal isn't to impress our neighbor but to preach them the gospel!
Reine Gnade
We need to reject bravado and embrace the teaching of Jesus in Mathew 6:9-13. Revival will come when someone truly trusts and obeys the Teacher of Teachers.
Cherie, you're asking almost the same questions I am.
One of the questions is what now? After reading the bible through, reading the words of Christ, reading the epistles to Revelation, I want to have a proper perspective on how to activate my faith. My young son asked me that recently. There's got to be more than just learning from a pastor, and all that is good and necessary. We, well I, need to hear something many times to get it into my heart. I've heard great teachings and know what I should do if I want to live a life worthy, and have a clean temple. But - Sometimes I miss the mark in doing them. I feel we're missing in so many other areas. I really am starting to see that we are stuck in a rut and have for decades, centuries, been lied to. We were gullible enough to believe we could make camp in towns and pursue trades careers and just allow one man to run a "church"; we should have followed the example from the Book of Acts and followed that blueprint centuries ago. Even the protestant reformation didn't go far enough to equip us all to be ready and instant in season to be a witness. We left it up to the "minister". Call the minister to pray for the sick, call the minister to visit the needy or those in crises. Call the minister to visit the prisoner, hospital, tend to the dying, and these are all things that we were commanded to be equipped to do ourselves. It's too late now for many of us, but if the ministry had taught us what God's plan is for each new saved child, we would have known it was to be in constant ministerial mode, using the spiritual gifts He gave us. But ministers wanted control. They fooled our ancestors into just giving money and trusting them to save souls. Thank the Lord that He knows our weaknesses and He still forgives us of our ignorance. But, we are in the dry and thirsty land of our own making now. We, this possible last generation before His return, are the product of the wolves in sheep's clothing and we are feeling the negative effects and stuck in mire. It may be too late for some of us to be an Acts disciple, but the youth may be the church's only hope right now. They are young and energetic and being anointed, could really make a change, in the highways and by-ways, without giving one ministry glory. There may not be time for this, but maybe the latter rain will be the replica of the former rain.
I found that being with the Body helped, in my early start as a christian; we encouraged each other a lot, kept tabs on each other, and we'd share our daily testimony on how good the Lord is. We were so excited about the Lord (we had a revival in our church), before the service started, we'd be conversing and just talking about every new revelation we got from reading a verse, or share a small miracle that happened, or share how we were led to do something that brought us to meet someone and shared the gospel. It was a good thing to give and receive a testimony, it raised our faith. J.
Whether or not we want to recognize it, we are in some ways to shy to do what the Lord would have us do. Bravado, as I used it, meant to be brave in stepping out in faith to do what the Lord would want us to do.
If we were meant to teach ourselves only we would not have Timothy or Titus in the NT. Why is it that people pick and choose what Scripture they want to live by when we are to take the whole counsel of God. Chapter after chapter of how the structure of a church should be. Sentence after sentence on the character of a church leader and their families. The admonishment of women NOT preaching or teaching in a church.
I got the meaning of what you meant about feeding yourself. I liked how you put it. But that is in addition to going gathering together with the Brethren as a body to worship. What I have learned this past few months is to read the Word in Context. I used to struggle with that, but no longer. People put too much into what they read instead of taking out. Exegesis of the Word in Context gives a better understanding. Also, as you may already know, the Bible interprets itself. So then when you are feeding yourself, love that, one can be filled. We still need to gather together for the Word from a Godly church leader. It is Biblical. To ignore that is very unbiblical. The Whole Counsel of God. I am not calling out anyone on this post. I am just saying that when it comes to going deeper, what it should really mean is to do what is our reasonable service. When Jesus was here on earth, He went about preaching the Kingdom of God. To the Jews, not to Gentiles. It wasn't until after He was rejected that He allowed the Apostles to go to the Gentiles. In Context. Leviticus tells us about the Temple system. We do not sacrifice sheep, goats etc today. The Church doesn't do that. The sacrificial system was for Israel and only in the Old Testament. Shadow. But the Book of Leviticus tells us the Holiness of God. That speaks to our spirit regarding who God is. Whole Counsel of God. Want to know how Awesome God is? Read chapters 38 to 41 of the book of Job.
I did not learn everything I have mentioned here on my own. I was taught by godly men. However, some of those godly men allowed themselves to be seduced by satan and lost their way. But by the Holy Spirit, those lessons, those teachings have stayed with me, Praise God!
Love you Joel, Reine! God bless you both.
your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.
J,
The teachings of false church leaders are not what our by product is today. If it is it is only because we choose to make it so. Once we know the truth we should not blame anyone. We need to pray for them. The Word is quite clear on what will happen to church leaders who lead the flock astray. They need our prayers, not our blame. Could it be you are holding bitterness? If you are put it down. It is flesh. Reading the Word and letting His Word speak to us are two different things. There is nothing else like it in this world or this life to have your eyes opened to Him and His Word. What it says and how it matters to Him not you/us.
I read the Gospels before, but I tell you the truth, not like now. I don't read. Somehow it is His Word and I hear him. God does not speak to me in my head. He speaks to me through my understanding of His Word, His Glorious Word! People tell me Jesus is the good news. Yes, but He was a man of sorrows. My husband says He preached nothing but good things, yes, but not what he thought! Praise God! When I showed Him what Jesus said in Matthew 24 he could not speak. When I showed Him what the Lord said about being born again, he got upset! Why, because it is easier to believe a lie than to believe the truth. Why? Because faith is not just a feeling it is action, it is a mind set, it is wearing the truth and speaking the truth all the while taking the eyes of others off of you and onto the Lord. It cannot be done unless you have the Holy Spirit! Why? The Word says the Holy Spirit does not bring attention to Himself, that is why those in the apostate church are committing blasphemy saying they hear from the Holy Spirit. It isn't true! The Holy Spirit helps us by way of remembrance of the WORD to point others to Jesus. We may be speaking but it is the Holy Spirit doing all the work. We are just the vessels God uses. We also need Spirit filled church leaders. How is it we are unchurched? We're not. We just don't attend apostate churches. We are still the church and we still need Pastor/Teachers. I believe that speaking in tongues (which is the ability to speak in other languages) was done for the purposes of demonstrating the power of God through the Apostles and the Apostles only. If Jesus warned us of signs, wonders and miracles as proof of the end times, then we know that those abilities are not for today. As I have been told J before when I was in the doldrums, it is flesh dear sister and nothing more. Have your season, but repent and seek forgiveness and be restored. The Christian life, I have learned, is hard, sometimes lonely, but never dull. Find the joy in the midst of the doldrums. It is there. As far as you saying the body today does not encourage enough is another example of flesh speaking. Could it be that what you are being told is not what you want to hear? Encouraging you is also reminding you to go to the Word. Get into more prayer. I know that when I slack in that area is when I go through not only doldrums but fear too. I get angry as well, and we all know that is not good.
Pastor Rick's post is about going deeper, but as we can see, we need to start with repenting of our laziness so that we can go deeper. I know for myself I am more than guilty of this and then like a fool wonder why when I fully know why. But it is still my belief that we need to gather under a godly church Pastor and be fed the Word as well as study on our own. We also need fellowship. It is written for a reason. That reason we are told is a way to strengthen one another as the day draws near. Glory to God!
your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.
Pastor Rick,
What did Jesus mean when He said in Mark:
27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
See, for as much as I think I know, I have so much yet to learn. Thanks Pastor Rick.
Cherie c.
That early church that we all read about in Acts had to start with one person. From there it grew into many persons. Maybe what we are to do is start our own gathering together, one by one, where ever you may be.
Joel
He meant that the law came after the creation of man, and that He (Jesus) was the Lord of the Sabbath. It was another instance where Christ was communicating His deity.
Very cool, thanks Pastor. It is mind boggling how so many people do not understand this verse, me included. I had an idea it was Jesus saying He is Lord, but not quite sure. This is a prime example of reading God's Word and not completely understanding it. I could be one of those who gets it wrong. Another reason for the brethren to gather for worship and teaching of God's Word.
Joel, you're cool too dear brother.
your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.
Dear Joel; I pray you recover fully and quickly from those staph infections. J.
Hi Cherie, thanks for the reply. It could be that I have bitterness, although I thought I got over that, yet, the heart is deceptive at times and I may harbor things I'm not fully aware of. But, I, as a commenter, reply to the subject that Rick writes about. The post is asking the readers to evaluate if "Jesus is Lord" in our lives to the highest degree. And, I appreciate reading every comment and answer from readers here because the sharing gives me insight into how to do some inner change for myself.
So, when I comment, I'm kind of doing an "inner man" soul-searching out loud, with brethren that I feel I can trust. I say things that are really deep within me. Whether it's feeling abandoned, or selfish reasons, or bitterness, I don't know, but, living in these times, with the winds of wickedness on us at every corner, and trying to manage a spiritual life alone without brethren near by, is a real challenge to me. With God, I'll make it through, but in the meantime, I express my frustrations from time to time.
If I could go back and do it again, (after I was truly saved), I"d probably do things differently, and should have made a lot of choices that steered me closer to doing missionary work. That's not something every child of God is called to do. Some are administrators, pastors, teachers, etc. I used to play piano in our worship team. It was a privilege to do that and I miss doing something, anything, to help out. I am certain every one here has had a call on their lives, to do some special thing for the Lord as he gives them their talents, gifts. It's just that in our society, in mine anyway, every church is set, is equipped with people, and all they want is my money, nothing else. The focus on higher education and bible college and theology study, accredited by the "right" college is what they want. Just those who study the Word themselves, need not apply.
It's an amen from me about Jesus being the pre-eminence in my life and for me to push through, despite my wrestling with my flesh right now. Maybe I shouldn't share my struggling on this blog. Maybe I should be quiet and do the pushing through without writing here. If it offends anyone, I am sorry. I'll be just an Amen from now on!!!!
J.
J, what you are going through is sanctification. When we are born again it can be an overwhelming time. And, if you're not in the right place for spiritual growth, the enemy can come in an distort, and steal. So as you find yourself dealing with so much. Take heart! He holds you in His hands and sometimes when I am in the same place as you are now, I just worship. Just keep in humble thankfulness and it does help.
You are spot on about the winds of wickedness. We really need to put on the whole armor of God, and that I sometimes hard to do for one reason or another.
I don't understand why you would say what you did on your last comment. I don't recall reading anyone's comment claiming you offended them. Please find peace. All I said, if that was the comment that upset you, was that sometimes we put ourselves out there and what we hope for or expect someone to say back to us isn't what we want to hear, but what we need to hear. I am sorry if I upset you, not my intention.
You don't have to share if you don't want to, but there are many brothers and sisters here who love you. May the peace as only Jesus can give fill your heart this day.
your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.
Jackie, the most important thing to understand is that we all offend other people from time to time. Jackie, don't allow yourself to give up what can short and long term bless you.Your spontaneous respones to Rick's articles are important for your development and many people find your honesty helps them desire to open up and be more sharing themselves.
If you stop doing that you wouldn't be being true to what you are experiencing! So stay as you are: a passionate woman who cares about her own spiritual development and someone who desires to honor God in spirit and truth.
By the way you can carry on your love of music by sharing .mp3 and or .midi files by email or posting them on a website. The easiest way to start with is by sharing them via email. A very useful resource for inspiration is hymnal.net.
As far as fellowship goes I believe you and your husband should look to fellowship with another married couple or if possible a small group of diligent followers of Lord Jesus. Be patient and persevering and your efforts will be rewarded.
Reine Gnade
Pastor Rick,
Does the Holy Spirit speak to us in dreams and wake us up in the middle of the night with a mission?
The Bible says God the Holy Spirit does not draw attention to Himself.
My Sabbath keeping sister just called me about the woman who was a long time stenographer in Congress, who spoke, what he husband says was a word from the Holy Spirit.
Can you please clear this up. Does the Holy Spirit speak to us in this way?
To borrow the phrase from Charlie Brown....." I can't stand it, I just can't stand it"
This happening is more deception. Now she is mad at me again because I told her this is the first I am hearing of it and that it didn't matter, I stay away from things like this, and I make no comments either way. I do not believe the Holy Spirit spoke to this woman, but I do believe some spirit did. It just wasn't God the Holy Spirit.
I cannot take, some days this nonsense. Please respond. Thanks Pastor Rick.
your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.
This is a difficult question. First let me say I admire this woman's boldness and she is the only one to ever speak truth to congress in their own building. She sacrificed her job.
I cannot say whether she was led or that the Spirit nudged her in a dream. The concept that the Spirit spoke to me has been so abused that one must be very skeptical.
However, after saying that. I do believe God can do anything He pleases and from time to time things like that do occur. But these communications must never hold the place of Scripture.
Here is something to read which I believe the Spirit did speak to two praying women.
http://www.holytrinitynewrochelle.org/yourti19195.html
Josef Sefton needs to go to spelling school.
Dear Jackie, be encouraged for your spontaneous responses to Rick's articles are important for your development and many people like me find your honesty helps them desire to open up and be more sharing themselves.
Jackie, may the LORD continue to deepen your love for Him in the testing, challenging yet rewarding and joy-bringing times that lie ahead for you and your husband and family.
Josef Sefton
God the Holy Spirit speaks or communicates in a way that true believers can understand, for Jesus said in John 10:27-28
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
Yes, the sheep of Jesus hear His voice through His Word.
If one can use that the Lord spoke to them other than in Scripture, we are saying that signs, wonders and miracles are not of the end times and that Jesus is selling us a bill of goods. I firmly do not believe that. God gave power to the Apostles to do what they did so that the church could be built. Once we had the New Testament, it was no longer necessary to spread the Gospel this way. Peter said we have a more sure WORD of prophecy. That Word is the Bible. That Word is not a voice. This would also go as far as to say cleverly devised fables, also said by Peter by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
I will look at the url you referenced but deception is all around us and to go outside the boundaries of Scripture is dangerous. Also, God is orderly and never changes. Why would he use a woman to deliver a message to Congress? I think that she became privy to information that allowed her conscience to convict her and instead of going to God, she allowed some spirit to have her behave in this manner so that instead of the message being the object, it was her behavior and now if it was a message is now lost.
The great deception is not that this is a Christian nation. Anyone who is a student of the Word can tell you that. I think the great deception setting the stage for the Anti-Christ is instances such as this. So that when he, the Anti-Christ says he is god, no one would discredit him.
Remember what Jesus said about those coming in His Name? Well since Jesus is the Word... and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...... so God the Holy Spirit did not, by His own Word, speak to this woman. Jesus didn't go into synagogues and create a ruckus, His words caused the ruckus. She forced herself into a place she did not belong. If we are to follow the law of the land, why would God cause her to sin if He had given her this message. He would have found a way to get His message while still keeping His Word. God does not allow sin in order to prevent, or destroy sin.
Like my father in law told me once that if his kids were starving and he was out looking for a way to get food, and he came upon a bakery window, and he looked around and found a stone, it was God who gave him the stone to break the window and take the bread. Ummm NO! Ring the door bell, tell your plite to the owner and ask him to help. Not break the law.
The New Testament never discusses the women with the Apostles having power to heal the sick etc. Why would God use women now? He doesn't. The Bride of Christ is not women only. It is a gathering of all brothers and sisters in the Lord. When the Bride is taken, we will be neither men or women. As John wrote, we know not yet what we will be, but we know that when He appears, we will be like Him. Praise God!
Please forgive me if I sound like I am preaching, I am not, or if I am being disrespectful, I did not intend to be. But this stuff is really getting to be too much, and it breaks my heart to see brothers and sisters looking to these events. If I am wrong, and I could be, may God forgive my unbelief. But from what Scripture says, this cannot be of God.
What we should be looking for is not women speaking in the halls of government, but two witnesses. If the Pre-tribulation Rapture is true, we can only look at the birth pangs. If the Rapture happens at the time Jesus steps down on the Mount of Olives, then we need to look for two witnesses, a temple built in Jerusalem, the massing of a very large army, death of thousands of Christians, and all the other signs Jesus gave us both in Matthew 24 and Revelation. Our focus is on the wrong things sometimes church. Just saying.
your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.
I didn't read it all Pastor Rick, but what I did read I am both skeptical and a believer.
I believe that the men who prayed all night, God answered. But the two old women, sisters, I do not believe God spoke to them. I believe God answers prays. He did just this past spring with Jackie and Kim.
Why is it that in 1949 God the Holy Spirit spoke to this lady from this isle, but when men and women say so today we find they are in gross error of Scripture. There is no new revelation! How can this be okay? Because they were old and most likely lovely ladies? But that doesn't mean they heard from God.
This is really causing confusion and I again find myself with many questions.
All this attention getting antics cannot possibly be from God. Jesus said to seek God in a prayer closet. Pray in secret to the God that seeth in secret.
Can you imagine the attention this woman is getting in both the world and Christianity? Give her a week and she will be on the 700 club or TBN or Daystar. She is being praised by man as well as scorned by the world.
Unless I have the wrong Bible, God does not operate this way. I will seek the Lord about this. I am tired of seeing Him blasphemed and He is the only one I can go to about this. He will let me know if I am wrong, but it won't be by a voice I hear in my head.
your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.
Prayer, God answers prayers. Other stuff...well... I don't know but this Scripture comes to mind.
2 Corinthians 11:14
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
God does not speak in an audible voice. But He still communicates with His people. However as you pointed out this woman will be used by the religious profiteers. The "God told me" issue will continue to be used and abused, however if we seek Him diligently and with fasting and prayer God can and sometimes does communicate with our spirits.
Yes, there will be new revelation however there can always be a deeper revelation of the written revelation.
(Cherie - be careful about listening to Chris Rosebrough and the Pirate radio. They are cessationists and he believes in salvation through baptism as well as transubstantiation.)
Believe me Pastor Rick, I hold everything at arms length these days. But I do not believe in new revelation either, nor do I believe that God has to tell us things other than what He has already said.
But I do know that God speaks to us, how is still a mystery to me. It's almost like a knowing. Can't explain it other than this. Christmas is coming and instead of being happy about it, I am anxious. I know the truth and the anxiousness is trying to get through it while keeping peace in my home. Don't want to compromise. So instead of trying to convince the world in my home, I will just be obedient to whatever my husband says. I have no choice but to do so. Pray for God to open the eyes of his understanding. Give the day up to the Lord and hope He has mercy on me. But I will not partake in the decorating or anything of that nature. Its like knowing someone lied but you cannot say anything. Very uncomfortable.
I am a cessationist Pastor Rick. I believe in the power of prayer, but none of the other stuff that is happening today. How can one be after Matthew 24? Those gifts of the power of the Holy Spirit was given to the Apostles and those of the early church as a means to win souls for Christ. To build the church. They did not have the Bible as we have today. We have God's Word, they did not. Jesus said plainly about signs, wonders and miracles and I listened. That does not mean that He will not hear our prayers. I pray for my husband and sons everyday although they are growing worse. If God the Holy Spirit is still doing today in the fashion of the Apostles, why do we need the Word of God? He would just tell us everything and then we wouldn't need to have a more sure word of prophecy. It would make the Word of God of none affect. The Holy Spirit does move, but not in the way they say it is happening. You are the Pastor though, a position given by God. Do you really believe that the Holy Spirit moves today as He did in the early church?
When I read the Bible, by the way where did we get that title? When I read the Word, I read it in context as to who it is speaking about, pay attention to what is an event vs. what is spiritual. Paul was bitten by a poisonous viper and lived. A miracle, yes, but it wasn't his time to die. Today, unless we get anti-venom we will die. Or, the rare person who has such an immune system that it causes only minor damage and not death. I don't remember who taught me this lie, but I used to believe that if I said thanks at meal time and the food was somehow bad that could make me sick or kill me, that saying thanks protected me. How stupid is that? A lie and I fell for it. That comes from not reading the Word.
I don't know Pastor Rick. There is so much deception it is getting harder and harder.
I never heard Roseborough mention anything about transubstantiation. He has mentioned repentance, and the asking for the forgiveness of sins. Aren't we supposed to get baptized after coming to a saving knowledge of Christ? I don't agree about infant baptism, but the Bible is unclear about that, so I don't know. Jesus was baptized, the Apostles baptized. Isn't it part and parcel of being a Christian? Be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? I don't believe it is a one part for all, but all together, can't have one without the other. As far as transubstantiation, he hasn't mentioned that since I have been listening. He plays the Empire theme from Star Wars just before he calls out something the Pope says or does, but I thought they were against Catholicism? Like I said in early comments, everyone, even me has error. I just hope it is in the category of doubtful disputations and not something that will affect me when I face Jesus at His judgement seat.
Thank you Pastor Rick, I will be careful. God bless you sir.
your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.
Reine/Josef - thanks for the kind words. Will take that good wisdom.
I was going to do some soul-searching and listen to more teaching but here I am, talking again.LOL.
Cherie, you were discussing the stenographer story, and it was very curious. Whether she was true or not, I don't know. But I've known good christians who worked with the gifts of prophecy, and wisdom, and faith, and healing and miracles. These gifts were for His Church. A prophet warns the church. Whether they go about Washington and warn the politician or national leader, that's a question I have too. It was done in OT Israel, but, I don't believe that prophets of the NT speak to leaders, but are to minister only to the Church. Now, I could be wrong. All I care about is that He is right, whatever that is. I have to follow that with verses, and don't have them ready right now, but I'll check. I believe that the Lord speaks to us also individually when we pray to Him, or when we require a warning or a lesson from Him. So, with that, I won't share any personal examples, because I will not throw His mercy and my relationship with Him to those who would call it strange fire or not of His Spirit.
I've learned one thing through this long road and that's that I'll never please anyone, and I have those seconds/moments of doubts, and there'll always be christians who have different interpretations of things and we certainly will all disagree. But one thing we can agree on is that Jesus is Lord.
With every kind of deception out there, I too keep an arms length from trusting speakers and ministries. But, we have to realize that we will be living in a day where we won't recognize what true christianity is any more. We'll have to depend totally on our relationship with Him. Yet, now, if we throw stones at those who profess being gifted with the gifts of the Spirit, then we certainly won't be ready to hear what the Two Witnesses have to say and we won't believe the miracles they do. We'll call them those of the "Strange Fire". If ministers accuse every spiritual manifestation 'strange fire', we may be quenching and grieving the Holy Spirit. It's a dangerous time to be in, as Satan will masquerade as God, but our heart knows who we trust, and no man can take that away from us.
J.
Hi J,
Amen sister, but those who are His will know the two witnesses because they will be on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. And those who are His will know the true church from the fake. He gives us the information in His Word. We cannot rely upon our hearts because Jesus said out hearts are evil.
I do not put anyone down regarding what they go through as a believer. But the Word says to test the spirit.
We will all have some error because of our flesh, that is why we must pray in the fashion that David did asking the Lord to reveal the evil in his heart so he could repent. This takes lots of prayer. No J, I do not believe that God the Holy Spirit speaks to us in the manner most say He does today. When Jesus said He was like the wind, it tells me that it is a kind of knowing about something we would not ordinarily know unless it was the Holy Spirit but that it's inward not on the outside, meaning something we hear. I cannot explain it, but we can know the wind because it is around us, but we don't know where it comes from. The Holy Spirit works like that in us. We know the truth by way of the Holy Spirit if we are deligent in the Word of God. I am not putting anyone down, but I do believe there are times under the purposes of God for certain things, and today since we have a more sure word of prophecy, we no longer need movement of the Holy Spirit as He did in the early church.
If Jesus warned us about these current day signs, wonders and miracles, why then would He not tell us that the Holy Spirit would continue as He had in the early church? Because He told us there would be signs, wonders and miracles done for deception purposes not His purposes. That people would come in His name and saying they were the Christ. Why would God confuse us? He wouldn't. What satan is doing to day is emulating what occurred in the early church to bring about the Anti-Christ. The counterfeit.
The Holy Spirit worked as He did through the Apostles to bring about the church. Today we have His Word they didn't. The Word of God is both the history of the world and His story. It is also very much alive. Praise God for His Word.
Our job today is to spread the Gospel. Law and Grace. To preach (well the men of God)the forgiveness of sins through Jesus. We are also supposed to help the poor, widows and fatherless children.
I could go on and on but I hope you see what I am talking about. The opposite is true, if we believe every sign and wonder out there we won't recognize the two witnesses. In the absence of these things we then can know the real from the fake. God gave powers to different people at different times in this age. Our power is His Grace but not to do signs, wonders and miracles. To pray to Him in spirit and truth and then He will take action, but not as you see happening today. Unless you have the Holy Spirit one cannot pray in spirit and truth. That is what the Word says.
your sister in Christ Jesus,
Cherie c.
Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Jeremiah17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
One of the blessings because of Lord Jesus Christ's victory on the crosss is that the LORD God can now bless us with a pure heart, so that we can see Him!
Reine Gnade
In our day to day living we rely on our body, soul and spirit. We ought to be fully submitted to God and constantly feed from His word, but until Jesus returns we must use what the LORD has blessed us with otherwise we could neither help ourselves, our fellowman or honor God.
The condition of our heart depends on our relationship with Almighty God. When we trust and obey Him He will certainly purify our heart, so that He is glorified. If we treasure truth, Lord Jesus is the truth, the condition of our heart will glorify the LORD God.
Reine Gnade
Praise the LORD God for His living word. His grace is sufficient for us and He can certainly do wonderful, miraculous things through true believers.
Satan isn't involved in anything God honoring. Everything he does is undergirded by lies. He is the father of lies.
Reine Gnade
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